₦airaland Forum

The Peoples Democratic has won the bye-election into the Oyo State House of Assembly, beating the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to the second place.

The seat of Ibarapa East became vacant following the death of the former speaker of the State Assembly, Michael Adeyemo.

Adebo Ogundoyin of the PDP was declared the winner.
https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/lead-news/apc-loses-oyo-bye-election-to-pdp/

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday faulted the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation for not inviting a former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsay Orubebe, to the 2018 Democracy Day Lecture.

Mr Buhari regretted the oversight by the organisers for not inviting Mr Orubebe to come and listen to the lecture delivered by the then Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Attahiru Jega at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

Recall that during the 2015 general elections that produced Mr Buhari as the president of the country, Mr Orubebe attempted to disrupt the process, a development that triggered reactions and ridicule from different quarters.


During the collation of results in Abuja, the former minister nearly engaged Mr Jega into fisticuffs over what he described as an anomalous process.

LeadingReporters reports that this year’s Day has as its theme: “Peacebuilding and good governance for sustainable development.”
https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/democracy-lecture-boss-mustapha-in-troubles-for-not-inviting-orubebe/

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has commenced the process of recruitment as approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria by opening its Portal to receive applications from suitably qualified candidates for employment into the various cadres of the Corps , namely, the Officer cadre, Marshal Inspectorate (MI) cadre, and the Road Marshal Assistant (RMA) cadre in a nationwide recruitment exercise.
According to Bisi Kazeem, the Corps Public Education Officer, for the Officer cadre, candidates are expected to possess a first degree from recognized institutions, NYSC Discharge Certificates, and must not be more than 30 years of age.
For the Marshal Inspectorate cadre, he explained that there are three subcategories namely, Marshal Inspector I (MI-I), Marshal Inspector II (MI-II), and Marshal Inspector III (MI-III). According to him, the requirements for MI-I are Higher National Diploma from recognized Institutions, NYSC discharge certificates, Registered Nurse, and Midwife, and must equally not be more than 30 years of age.
The requirements for MI-II are Nigeria Certificate of Education (NCE), Registered Nurse or Registered Midwife. Applicants to this cadre must not be more than 28 years of age. For MI-III, Applicants must possess National Diploma (ND), Community Health Extension Workers Certificate (CHEW), and must equally not be more than 28 years of age.
https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/lead-news/frsc-begins-process-of-recruitment/

Nigeria staffs working in German Embassy are bewailing the double high taxes charged them by both Nigeria Government and their employer – German Government.

The workers who spoke to our General Investigation Editor accused the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama and his team of insensitivity, tactlessness and outright ignorance of their functions and duties.

According to our source:


“The following series of complaints of double taxation of the Nigerian staff working in Germany Embassy, the Embassy magnanimously promised to look into the case. That led to instituting a team made up of German delegates and delegates from Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The first meeting was held. Germany Embassy gave their own position that following their laws, people working for German Government pay tax. They opted for a middle way with Nigeria Federal Inland Revenue, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/lead-news/nigerians-working-in-german-embassy-accuse-foreign-affairs-minister-of-insensitivity-over-double-taxation/

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday alerted Vice President (VP) Yemi Osinbajo that his position as VP was being “threatened’’ by Nigerian women in politics.

The president stated this while reacting to a request by Nigerian women who asked for the slot of Vice President of Nigeria in subsequent elections in the country.

The women under the auspices of the Nigerian Female Parliamentarians made the request when they paid a courtesy call on Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/women-want-to-take-your-position-buhari-tells-osinbajo/

Owning a farm in Nigeria is no big deal. In fact, to guarantee food sufficiency in a country that hitherto depended solely on oil is encouraging. But something is amiss. Our investigation reveals that the current political elites are the greatest beneficiaries of President Buhari-led farming revolution policies and schemes. This way, the only small fraction of the market is left for the over 180m Nigerians who are at the lowest social rung to compete.

The investigation further reveals that Nigeria political elites benefit more from all the pro-agricultural incentives and schemes than the average peasant farmer who just strive to eke out what he and members of his family could survive on.

You’d be surprised that virtually all the agricultural loans and schemes by the likes of Central Bank of Nigeria, Bank of Agriculture, BOI and NIRSAL directly benefit the elites, most times through proxies. But, the great news is that they are producing. Producing what the poor Nigerians may or may not afford to buy. They cash in on their positions to create the needed market for their produce.


In the first part of this investigative report, we will bring to your reading pleasure the farms and the current top government functionaries that own them.
https://www.leadingreporters.com/investigation/top-government-functionaries-and-their-multi-billion-naira-farms-part-i/

Amnesty International on Thursday urged Nigeria to act on claims soldiers and members of the civilian militia have raped women and girls in remote camps for people displaced by Boko Haram.

The rights watchdog said it had gathered multiple testimonies about alleged abuse by the security forces, including claimed that soldiers coerced vulnerable survivors into having sex in exchange for food.

But despite long-standing complaints about sexual violence and repeated promises by the Nigerian authorities that they would address concerns, “no tangible action” had been taken.


In November 2016, police vowed to look into allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation in the camps but several months later, the military rejected the allegations.

“It is not always clear if these investigations were carried out and no reports have been made public,” the London-based rights group said in a statement.

PROTECTION

Amnesty’s Nigeria director, Osai Ojigho, said it was time for President Muhammadu Buhari “to demonstrate his frequently-expressed commitment to protect the human rights of displaced people in northeast Nigeria.
https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/amnesty-highlights-sex-for-food-claims-in-the-north-east/

Officers of the Nigerian Police have decried what they call criminal negligence and deductions in their monthly salary, resulting in a situation where for many months, most officers have not received their salaries in full.

An investigation carried out by LeadingReporters revealed that most officers for a period of over three months have not received their salaries and the only official explanation given by the police authorities is that the fault is that of operators of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, IPPIS.

Some officers who spoke to LeadingReporters on condition of anonymity said that for years now no officer could say with all certainty how much he earns every month as salary because their salaries are paid in piece meals, with massive deductions which is as much as over 50% of the actual salary.



https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/nigeria-police-officers-decry-negligence-and-criminal-deductions-in-their-salaries/

A New Zealand sheep farmer has been arrested after authorities were warned by the CIA and MI6 that he was doing business with ISIS militants in Syria.
Allan Seymour, 52, was sending an “intriguing large number” of livestock to Syria, destined to locations in Syria which are not controlled by the local government but are presently under the rule of ISIS forces, which alarmed CIA and MI6 officials monitoring the region.

Although New Zealand Customs Services believed at first he was hiding weapons or explosives within the shipments, further investigations found no such evidence.

Instead, CIA and MI6 reported that the sheep “were not used for food” but instead “were used for satisfying ISIS soldiers sexual appetite” confirmed a spokesman for the New Zealand’s Ministry of Defense to reporters this morning.

https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/news-2/new-zealand-farmer-arrested-for-selling-sheep-as-sex-slaves-to-isis/

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State has told operators of football betting platforms, NaijaBet, operating in the state to pack their loads and leave.

The governor stated this on Sunday while speaking at the Borno State-owned BRTV 14th Annual Ramadan Lecture held in Maiduguri and monitored by our reporter in the state.

Governor Shettima had also lamented on the negative effect NaijaBet is having on the social and spiritual life of youths in the state. Dailycorrespondents

https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/lead-news/gov-shettima-asks-naijabet-to-leave-borno-state/

Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Commonwealth Africa on Friday rounded off its 8th Regional Conference with the appointment of Ibrahim Magu, Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as its new chairman, with a resolve to strengthen cooperation and collaboration among member countries for the purpose of facilitating assets recovery and return.

This is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of its five-day conference held at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

The conference, with the theme, “Partnering Towards Assets Recovery and Return” among other things, expressed concern “about the heavy losses that Africa suffers as a result of illegal transfers of proceeds of corruption and crime out of Africa” and stressed the need for synergy among member countries to combat illicit financial flows.

https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/lead-news/magu-emerges-chairman-of-commonwealth-anti-corruption-agencies-in-africa/

The Oyo State government has allayed fears among the residents, especially in Oke-Ogun area, over the likelihood of an earthquake in the state.

Last month, there was a suspected earthquake incident in Oke-Ogun.

The government assured that the land-shaking incident was the result of a “force exploration leading to Meteorite breakages of Galatica Rock on the earth surface”.

https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/lead-news/panic-in-oyo-over-earthquake-govt-says-no-cause-for-alarm/

The Senate and the House of Representatives have passed the the 2018 appropriation bill into law, with addition of N500 billion.

The lawmakers on Wednesday passed the total sum of N9.1 trillion, an increase of M508 billion from the N8.6 trillion originally presented to the assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari on November 7, 2017.

The chairman of the Senate committee on appropriation, Danjuma Goje, said the increase of oil benchmark from the proposed N45 to N51 led to the addition of N500 billion.
https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/breaking-lawmakers-pass-n9-12-trillion-2018-budget-after-190-days/

I am making this narrative from a true life experience and also as a witness. Life presents itself in different forms and people live with the various outcomes at different stages of their being. We either accept to live with what is here with us today or we work to change future outcomes.

I will be using a case study of the recent Maiduguri ‘’confusion’’ which I am much aware of.

Recently, like 4 weeks ago (19th April, 2018), something happened in Maiduguri. The run for safety in the face of insurgency manifested itself in my presence. My friend and I just got back from work when this happened; sporadic gunshots, and people running from their homes to every direction, dashing around for safety. At this point, the concepts of ‘’danger’’ and ‘’safety’’ defined the mindset of these fellows all moving out for safety.

https://www.leadingreporters.com/opinion/our-wounds-are-still-fresh-please-end-this-conflict-victims-cry-out/

Facebook said Monday it has suspended “around 200” apps on its platform as part of an investigation into misuse of private user data.

The investigation was launched after revelations that political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica hijacked data on some 87 million Facebook users as it worked on Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign.

“The investigation process is in full swing,” said an online statement from Facebook product partnerships vice president Ime Archibong.

https://www.leadingreporters.com/business/facebook-suspends-200-apps-over-data-misuse/

When I said we will abolish JAMB in Enugu state-owned universities and work to reduce the time for a standard degree to three years I mean every bit of it. It is not an empty promise and it is not an impossible task. It is a possible project that will liberate our intelligent youths from the shackles of those who want them to remain in the school forever because they have no jobs for them. Our leaders do not want you to graduate on time because they have no jobs for you.

We have 6-3-3-4 system of education.
6 years primary school
3 years junior secondary
3 years senior secondary
4 years tertiary/ university studies
so where are the 1, 2, 3 years people waste taking JAMB? or is the 6-3-3-4 just a joke?

Anyway, JAMB is not only a waste of time, it is also a waste of money and proliferation of exams. What school do people attend to take JAMB? None. Do they want to examine you on what you learned in secondary school twice? They set the SSCE exams based on your secondary education and do the same for JAMB. Don’t they trust WAEC anymore?

https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/quality-vs-quantity-education-when-jamb-is-a-waste-of-time-and-money/

The Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, has ordered the closure of Kano State House of Assembly by the police to protect the speaker, Abdullahi Ata, from imminent impeachment.

DAILY NIGERIAN reports that already nearly 30 members of the 44-member house have appended their signatures in support of Mr Ata’s impeachment.

“The impeachment was imminent but for the closure of the Assembly,”

https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/breaking-police-seal-kano-assembly-over-plan-to-impeach-speaker/

At least 17 people have died in an area of the Democratic Republic of Congo where health officials have declared an Ebola outbreak.

A health ministry statement said the central African country was “facing another epidemic” less than a year after its last Ebola outbreak killed eight people.


Medical teams dispatched to the zone took five samples from suspected active cases and two tested positive for the Zaire strain of the Ebola virus, the ministry said in a statement.

https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/african-news/fresh-ebola-outbreak-at-least-17-dead-of-virus/

The Minister of State for Education, Anthony Anwuka, on Wednesday, reiterated that federal universities nationwide are tuition-free, saying that government would investigate some universities accused of flouting the law.

The minister made the disclosure at the end of the Federal Executive Council’s meeting presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo in Abuja.



“The FEC restated government’s position that no federal university should charge tuition fees,” Mr Anwuka said.

https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/no-federal-university-should-charge-tuition-fees/

The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has noted with pleasure the openness and orderliness of the just conducted governorship primary in Ekiti State by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), urging its members to not only emulate the exercise but improve on the level transparency.

The umbrella body of all registered political parties and associations in the country in a statement issued by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, noted that “the time has come for Nigerians to consciously stop the current retrogression in the country’s democratic journey and see every election as an opportunity to showcase one’s leadership qualities and a means to express interest to serve the people.”

https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/ekiti-pdp-guber-primaries-cnpp-urges-member-parties-to-emulate-ekiti-political-transparency/

Let me start this statement by thanking Vice President Osinbajo for his attempt at responding to my last statement calling on him to substantiate his allegations that three persons under the Jonathan administration stole $3 billion from the public till.
However, even the Vice President’s statement has vindicated my earlier assertion that he had lied.

To refresh the memory of Nigerians and the international community, while speaking at The Platform, a programme organised by the Covenant Christian Centre, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo alleged that three individuals stole $3 billion under the Jonathan administration.
When challenged to provide proof, the Vice President went on to identify those three individuals as Messrs Jide Omokore, Kola Aluko and the former Petroleum Resources Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

He then went ahead to cite a commercial transaction, saying inter alia that “the companies of both Jide Omokore and Kola Aluko lifted Nigerian crude oil and kept the proceeds. The total sums converted is in excess of three billion dollars including royalties, taxes, and fees unpaid for the asset from which the crude was taken.”

https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/lead-news/never-in-the-history-of-nigeria-has-a-vice-president-reduced-himself-as-osinbajo-has-done/

In an emotion-laden voice, Joseph Obichukwu Nnagbogu a kidney failure patient has pleaded with all men of goodwill to save him from dying as he battles to free his self from the clutches of this life-threatening illness; a treatment medical experts say will require the sum of thirteen million Naira only, about ($36641.57) for the kidney transplant.

Speaking in his Iju- Ishaga, Lagos, abode recently, the 43years old father of four children explained that his humble appeal stems from his desire to live in order to fulfill his dreams of saving his family from the throes of excruciating hardship.

In his words, I am appealing to all men and women of goodwill to come to my aid as I have lost everything I labored for in life and would not want to lose my life too. He pointed out that the sickness started in the year 2004 when he was diagnosed with diabetes, which according to him graduated with a full-blown kidney breakdown. Since then he added, things; both financially and otherwise have fallen apart.

https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/save-me-from-dying-nnagbogu-kidney-failure-patient-pleads-2/

Aisha Yesufu, the co-convener of Bring Back Our Girls campaign group, on Tuesday, reacted to President Muhammadu Buhari’s trip to the United Kingdom for a medical check-up.

Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, had on Monday disclosed that Mr Buhari would leave this Tuesday for a four-day trip based on his doctors’ request.

Reacting, the activist called the president’s attention to the degrading nature of public hospitals in the country.

https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/lead-news/aisha-reacts-to-buharis-london-medical-trip-says-nigerians-deserve-best-healthcare/

Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai on Friday threw decency to the wind, cursing the three senators from the state who rejected the $350 million World Bank loan which the lending institution had approved.

The loan was eventually rejected by the Senate on the grounds that Kaduna was the second most indebted state in the country.

The three senators are Senator Shehu Sani APC, Kaduna central senatorial district, Suleiman Hunkuyi APC Kaduna North senatorial district and Danjuma Laah, PDP southern Kaduna senatorial district.

https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/lead-news/el-rufai-says-sen-shehu-sani-hunkuyi-laah-are-useless/

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye on Friday said Nigeria may not live to see 2019 elections if religious war breaks out in the country.

Adeboye made the declaration at the ongoing Holy Ghost service for the month of May, 2018 tagged:’ Greater Than Your Enemies’.

He stressed that Nigeria may cease to exist as a country if the deadly act continues while reacting to killings of Christians in some parts of the country.
https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/pastor-adeboye-nigeria-may-cease-to-exist-as-a-country-ahead-of-2019-elections/

The embattled field officers of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board, AEPB has fatally crushed a hawker today, between Sahad Supermarket and Ceddi Plaza in Central Business District Abuja, LeadingReporters can authoritatively revealed.

The victim of the latest killer-field men of the agency has been identified as Mariam from Benue State.

Eye witnesses who spoke to LeadingReporters confirmed that the incident happened some few minutes after 11am this morning when the hawker sighted the Hilux vehicle of AEPB and began to run. It was learnt that the driver of the vehicle in an attempt to catch Mariam increased its speed and ran her from behind, killing her on the spot.

https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/breaking-aepb-vehicle-crushes-hawker-to-death/

A new study by the CIES Football Observatory research group has revealed that the Super Eagles of Nigeria have no chance of winning the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Many Nigerian supporters have shown optimism that the Super Eagles will progress beyond the round of 16 at this year’s World Cup.

However, the prestigious research agency did not include the Super Eagles among the teams expected to lift the trophy in July.

out of the 32 teams that will compete in Russia, the research group ranked Nigeria 22nd favourite to win the trophy.

https://www.leadingreporters.com/sports/nigeria-have-no-chance-of-winning-2018-world-cup/

We Didn’t Endorse President Buhari For A Second Term; Greedy Politicians Did – FCT Indigenes


The indigenes of Abuja have described the so-called endorsement of President Muhammadu Buhari for the second term in office as a misplaced priority by greedy Abuja politicians who cannot flaunt one single project they did for the indigenes.

The group under the umbrella of Coalition of FCT Indigenous Associations affirmed that the so-called endorsement did not in any way represent the position of the indigenes of the FCT.

In a press conference, the group referred the endorsement of President Muhammadu Buhari as a “Kangaroo Endorsement” by political jobbers and desperados who cannot give an account of their stewardship to the people.

https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/lead-news/we-didnt-endorse-president-buhari-for-a-second-term-greedy-politicians-did-fct-indigenes/

5000 APC Members Decamp To PDP In Bauchi: 500 Arrested For Attempting To Stone Governor




No fewer than five thousand APC members in Wariji Local Government Area of Bauchi State have defected from All Progress Congress APC to Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP within less than one month now, LeadingReporters can authoritatively report.

The last defection of thousands of APC members took place few days before the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari who was most recently on a working visit to Bauchi.

A source who spoke to our correspondent in Bauchi State confirmed the defection and hinted that more would still defect to protest what he called the Governor’s pride, insensitivity, and incompetence which has pitched him against the state Chapter of APC and most electorates in Bauchi State.

https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/lead-news/5000-apc-members-decamp-to-pdp-in-bauchi-500-arrested-for-attempting-to-stone-governor/

The Director-General of Voice of Nigeria, VON, Osita Okechukwu, has stated that Ndigbo would learn from President Muhammadu Buhari’s trip to the United States of America.

Mr. Okechukwu, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, said this when he spoke with reporters at the weekend during a reception for an APC chieftain, Emperor Baywood Ibe.

The politician also called on Igbos not to vote for any other Northerner...

https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/lead-news/2019-dont-vote-for-any-other-northerner-von-dg/

The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, has expressed worry over the high rate of accidents at road construction sites in the country.

Speaking with newsmen in Abuja on Monday, Oyeyemi said that most of the accidents were caused by lack of traffic signs at diversion points in construction areas.

“We have been having problems with the construction companies, and we have taken this up with the Minister (Power, Works, and Housing).


“The major problem is at diversions; we lost 22 people on the Lagos-Ibadan road just two days and 25 people recently.

“The crash that happened between Bauchi and Kano on Feb. 13, in which school children died, was also at a diversion point in a construction area.

“I will step up my meeting with the minister to ensure that these construction companies comply with the statutory mandate of ensuring appropriate signage in construction areas,’’ he said.

However, Oyeyemi said that the Corps had recorded about 70 percent compliance by commercial vehicle owners with the installation of speed limiting device, whose enforcement started on Feb. 1, 2017.



According to him, most of the local assembly plants had complied with the policy by installing the device in vehicles being produced at the factory.

He commended the National Automotive Design and Development Council and the Dangote Group for complying with the policy.

He said, “the only thing remaining now is to get the full buy-in of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, and we are almost at the last stage.

“The essence of this is to cut down the rate of crashes. Notwithstanding, we have made provision in our budget this year to buy more radar guns and focus on private vehicles.’’

Oyeyemi stated that although accidents involving commercial vehicles had dropped, their fatality rates had remained “a bit high’’ due to a large number of people involved.


https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/lead-news/frsc-goes-after-construction-companies/

Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, Joseph Nwobike sent to prison

Joseph Nwobike, a senior advocate of Nigeria SAN, has been sentenced to one month jail for bribing judges and court officials.

The sentence, a slap on the wrist, was handed out today by an Ikeja High Court, with Justice Raliat Adebiyi agreeing that Obidike bribed court officials to pervert justice.

Nwobike was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, on 11 counts bordering on perverting the court of
justice and offering gratification to public officials.


One of the counts read: “That you Nwobike, on the 19th day of March,
2015 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court,
intentionally gave the sum of N750, 000 to Hon. Justice Mohammed Nasir
Yunusa of the Federal High Court directly through your United Bank for
Africa Plc Account No.1002664061 in order that the said Judge acts in
the exercise of his official duties.

Another count read: “That on the 28th day of September 2015 in Lagos
within the jurisdiction, you intentionally gave the sum of N300, 000
to Hon. Justice Mohammed Nasir Yunusa of the Federal High Court
indirectly through Awa Ajia Nigeria Limited’s account No. 0000971931
domiciled in Access Bank Plc, belonging to Hon. Justice Nganjiwa
Hyeladzira Ajiya of the Federal High Court, in order that the Hon.
Justice Mohammed Nasir Yunusa acts in the exercise of his official
duties.”

https://www.leadingreporters.com/news/nigerian-senior-lawyer-nwobike-sent-to-prison/