₦airaland Forum

ComeToJesus:
🥳Come on You Gunners 🥳 COYG!

Common you gunners

I doubt, if the advice will be acceded to.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called for the inclusion of students in private universities as beneficiaries in the Student Loan Scheme being floated by the federal government.

He made the call during the inauguration of the Asiwaju Onafowokan, Coleman Wires and Cables building at Bells University’s College of Postgraduate Studies in Ota, Ogun State.

“The Vice Chancellor has spoken about the need to include students in private universities as beneficiaries of the Student Loan Scheme. I urge the government to listen to that and take heed to include them too. I doubt if the scheme will be run without corruption, that is another matter entirely, ” he said.

Obasanjo, the proprietor of Bell University of Technology, opined that the loan scheme was crucial to the development of the society and the welfare of the citizens and that excluding a group of people would be counter-productive.

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of Bell University of Technology, Prof. Jeremiah Ojediran, had pleaded for the inclusion of private universities’ students in the scheme.

“That is how they excluded students in private universities from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the recent decision to exclude them from the student’s loan scheme is unfair. These decisions were out of touch with the current realities of the society and the expectations of the people.

“Many parents struggle to keep their children enrolled in schools, whether public or private, due to the economic downturn in the country,” he said.

Recall that the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND, Mr Akintunde Sawyerr, had last week told media men that students in private institutions would not benefit from the loan scheme, at least for now.

His argument was that it was a programme for social re-engineering and redistribution of wealth meant to assist the poor in the society.

According to Sawyerr, though parents of students in private institutions are also tax payers from which fund for the scheme is sourced, they should not be seen as being in the same financial conditions as many parents of students in public schools.

Also, fees paid in private schools are quite higher than what obtains in public ones, he said.


https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/04/student-loan-scheme-include-private-universities-students-obasanjo/

IBUYACCOUNTS:
Predict the winner and win 1GB data.

Just quote this message

Liverpool 2 - Manchester United 1

"It is unknown if the animal has expressed remorse for his crime"

.... But wait oh.... What is this that I just quoted?

Congratulations Bigwiz. Another Grammy on the way. More grace, great man.

Higher you, Laycon! Your sun will shine brighter. Your success is assured.

Congratulations. May God grant the baby and the mother good health. She shall be well known all over for the good reasons.

2-1 Sevilla

Congratulations!

Hala - Madrid!

Established or upgraded, that is not what we're need.

Higher Institutions of Learning in Nigeria should be properly funded.

I hope, they will also suspend the minister for aviation and FAN!


Awon oniyeye oshi

okay

Believe the EFCC at your peril

Radarada oshi!

Inside life

Founder of Christ Embassy, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, has backtracked on his claim that the introduction of 5G networks was responsible for the coronavirus pandemic.

Oyakhilome had alleged that 5G — the fifth generation of wireless communications technologies supporting cellular data networks — was initiated to facilitate a “new world order”.

He had argued that the coronavirus pandemic was created to instil fear among people in actualising the alleged agenda and that the 5G technology was an initiative of “the Anti-Christ”.

The comments generated heated debate among Nigerians, with Senior Pastor of Kingsway International Christian Centre, Matthew Ashimolowo, criticising pastors, who he did not name, for presenting false information with respect to the pandemic.

But Oyakhilome, in a video shared on social media on Sunday, stated that he was only opposed to the initiative because of its perceived health risks and the seeming silence of authorised regulators to address its advantages and disadvantages.

He said, “I have to look at my calling as a priority and I’m into the healing ministry. You may be a pastor or a minister and not be into the healing ministry, this may not concern you. I’m a science and technology enthusiast. I love technology.

“Just studying the capabilities of the 5G makes me, like, ‘Wow! I’d like to go on it like tomorrow morning. I’d like to start it right away.’ But at the same time, I’m into healing, I know what it means for people to be sick. I meet with sick people all the time. And so, no matter how interested I am in the 5G, I’m going to put health first.

“Are there health risks? What are the health implications? Those are my concerns and I became even more concerned when I found out that regulators didn’t seem to care much in looking into the details and the cause of the independent scientist and experts, medical doctors.”

Oyakhilome said, though he would love to go on the 5G network within hours if they rolled it out, it was important that all its health risks be understood and the challenges are fixed.

COVID-19: Lockdown not a political decision, says presidency
“If there are health risks, they should be fixed. We want to go on extraordinary technology but we must also consider all the health implications. That’s my point,” he added.
https://punchng.com/5g-controversy-oyakhilome-makes-u-turn-cites-health-risks/

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday granted posthumous presidential amnesty to Ambrose Alli, a former governor of the defunct Bendel State, and a foremost nationalist, Anthony Enahoro.

It is clear for what reasons Mr Alli was granted pardon: a military tribunal during Mr Buhari’s first coming as head of state convicted Mr Alli in 1983 for misappropriating ₦983,000 funds for a road project. The pardon, therefore, means he ceases to be considered an ex-convict, officially, although the military tribunal was condemned by local and international rights groups for being draconian and non-transparent.

However, the case of Mr Enahoro is different. He was jailed alongside other leaders of the defunct Action Group (AG) – then Nigeria’s main opposition party led by Obafemi Awolowo. Mr Enahoro, Mr Awolowo, Lateef Jakande, who would later become governor of Lagos State, and other AG leaders were tried by the Tafawa Balewa civilian government for plotting to overthrow the government. They were jailed for treasonable felony.

However, as contained in a Gazette (No. 81 of vol. 53) dated August 12, 1966, and signed by Lt. Colonel Yakubu Gowon, the then military head of state, Mr Enahoro was granted full pardon for the offence of treason for which he was jailed in 1963.

Although during the British colonial era, Mr Enahoro was jailed at least on three occasions, all on the count of sedition. These were for his critical exposés on the British government as a journalist.

Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon
Whether or not this was the reason for which Mr Enahoro got the posthumous pardon is unclear.

Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola who announced the presidential amnesty on Thursday offered no details aside listing the beneficiaries of the pardon.

The ministers of interior and information, as well as the attorney-general of the federation, could not provide further clarification on Mr Enahoro’s pardon.


A spokesperson of the interior ministry referred all enquires on the matter to the justice ministry.

When contacted, Umar Gwandu, spokesperson of the justice minister, said, “You’re sure that he was pardoned in the past? If there is any response I’ll provide for you.”
He is yet to get back or respond to further enquiries.

Information Minister Lai Mohammed and his spokesperson, Segun Adeyemi, declined to comment. So did presidential spokesperson Garba Shehu. Calls and messages to their phones were unanswered.

Enahoro’s Family Speaks

President Muhammadu Buhari was appreciated in a statement shared on Facebook on behalf of the Enahoro family, by the son to the late Mr Enahoro, Eugene Enahoro.


President Muhammadu Buhari
Mr Eugene Enahoro acknowledged the initial pardon by the Gowon regime. He added that the latest pardon would exonerate the late Enahoro for the persecution he got under the military junta.

Also, in what he described as an “erroneous trending post,” the younger Enahoro said his father’s pardon was not “related to his famous Treasonable Felony trial. IT IS NOT. Buhari’s pardons relate to what happened under military government.”

Odia Ofeimun, who worked as an administrative officer in the Federal Public Service Commission, and as a private secretary to late Mr Awolowo, also said Mr Enahoro was not convicted in any other trial apart from that of treasonable felony alongside Mr Awolowo.

“No, not at all,” he said.

“I can remember that there was a probe on FESTAC under Obasanjo (as military head of state). At the time, Chief Enahoro was probed for $15,000 FESTAC funds. But he was not convicted.”

The Initial Pardon

In 1966, there was a turn of fate for Mr Enahoro and other Action Group members. After Nigeria’s second military coup which brought in Yakubu Gowon, the new military ruler granted them amnesty.

The gazetted directive read thus: “Whereas Chief Anthony Eronsele Enahoro, having been duly convicted of the offences of treasonable felony, conspiracy to commit a felony and conspiracy to effect an unlawful purpose, and sentenced to imprisonment for seven, three and one years respectively on all three counts:

“And whereas the said Chief Anthony Eronsele Enahoro, having served a portion of the sentence originally imposed on him in September 1963:

“And whereas the Supreme Military Council after reviewing his case, is pleased to remit the sentence and to grant a full pardon:

“Now therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 101 (1) of the Constitution of the Republic and of all other powers enabling it in that behalf, the Supreme Military Council do hereby remit the unexpired portion of the sentence imposed on the aforesaid Chief Anthony Eronsele Enahoro and grant him a fall pardon.

“Given under my hand and the Public Seal of the Republic of Nigeria at Lagos this 2nd day of August, one thousand nine hundred and sixty-six.”

Mr Gowon would later appoint Mr Enahoro as Federal Commissioner (Minister) for Information and Labour in 1967.
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/387456-controversy-as-buhari-pardons-already-pardoned-anthony-enahoro.html

Despite repeated assurances by successive governments, Nigeria has consistently underfunded its agricultural sector, leaving the country at the risk of food insufficiency and slow economic growth.

The country has the largest number of people living in extreme poverty, according to the world poverty clock in 2018. With very low income and insufficient food, Nigeria has a high number of malnourished children.

Agriculture is recognised globally as one of the most effective tools of reversing this trend. With proper financing, more people can be lifted out of poverty, the country’s GDP will grow faster and the country can easily meet its food needs for its over 200 million people.

However, administration after administration, Nigeria failed to invest substantially in agriculture despite calls by experts and international organisations.

Between 2000 and date, Nigeria’s agriculture financing was at its best only during the Yar’adua government, a review by PREMIUM TIMES has shown. In 2008, that administration budgeted N2.92 billion for agriculture which was 5.41% from the total budget, and in 2009, it budgeted N3.101 billion again for agriculture, showing 5.38% from the total budget.

The percentage of those allocations compared to the total budgets remains the highest of any government till date. Previous and subsequent governments fared very abysmally.

Here is the data of how the country has performed in the last two decades:

YEARS PERCENTAGE %

2000 3.10%

2001 1.90%

2002 1.69%

2003 1.85%

2004 1.46%

2005 1.14%

2006 1.62%

2007 1.69%

2008 5.41%

2009 5.38%

2010 1.32%

2011 1.47%

2012 1.67%

2013 1.67%

2014 1.43%

2015 0.90%

2016 1.25%

2017 1.82%

2018 2.01%

2019 1.50%


2020 1.73%


Looking at different administrations in the last two decades, the average of those allocated percentages can also be shown thus;

NAMES AVERAGE ALLOCATION(%)

OBASNAJO 1.81

YAR’ADUA 5.39

JONATHAN 1.46

BUHARI 1.67


This implies that Jonathan’s tenure voted the lowest allocation to the sector with total average allocation of 1.46, closely followed by Buhari and Obasanjo’s tenure that shows an average of 1.67 and 1.81 respectively.

However, Nigeria experienced the highest allocation in the agriculture sector under Yar’adua’s administration with total average of 5.39, significantly higher than others.

It can be recalled that in 2003, Nigeria was part of the Maputo declaration treaty that mandated all its member countries to allocate at least 10% of its total annual budget to agriculture, this was done as a response to the current poverty level in Africa; to increase food sufficiency but from the available data gathered so far in the last two decades, opposite of the agreement is the case. Meaning that Nigeria can still do more in the sector through an increase budget allocation.

According to Victor Ebong, an associate professor of Agribusiness and Development Economic at the University of Uyo, funding of the agricultural sector by the federal government is an investment in the sector in which there must be adequate returns even above the investment funds.

“Funding of the agricultural sector by the Federal Government is an investment in the sector in which there must be adequate returns above investment funds with the attendance improvement in the wellbeing of the various stakeholders in the agricultural implementation process.” Mr Ebong said.
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/387354-agric-funding-comparing-nigeria-under-obasanjo-yaradua-jonathan-buhari.html

The United States of America, has threatened the Federal Government of Nigeria, to ensure that the over $308million looted and laundered abroad by former Head of State, late Gen Sani Abacha, is not re-stolen in Nigeria again, otherwise, it will recover it back from Nigeria.

The warning was sequel to the February 4, 2020, repatriation pact the Federal Government signed with the US, and the government of Jersey to return the money.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which was also involved in the pact, said the US government warned against the money being re-looted.

The Anti- Graft Agency’s Secretary, Mr. Olanipekun Olukoyede, said this in Lagos last Friday during an anti-corruption walk organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Youths and Sports Development and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

“You know what the Oyinbos told us when we wanted to sign the treaty? They had the audacity to look into our eyes and said: ‘If you people steal this money again, we will collect it back from you.’

“I stood up against them, I said: ‘We are not a corrupt nation. A few people might have stolen money, but Nigeria is not a corrupt nation. We have a lot of youths who are not corrupt.

“And you know it is not their fault, (they said that) because they have seen recovered loot being looted again.”

Public money looted by Abacha during his five years in power is estimated to be about $5 billion.

The anti-corruption walk, Themed: “Nigerian Youth Walk against Corruption” held simultaneously across the country, the Lagos zone, walk across Lagos Island and Ikoyi, included EFCC staff, NYSC members and officials, among others.

Olukoyede urged the youths to shun corruption and be diligent in whatever they do.

He said: We have arrested so many youths. If we keep putting youths in jail, what is going to be the future of Nigeria?

“So, we want to encourage you; where ever you see corrupt practice, say no to it. Resist it. If anyone is trying to lure you to it, say no. You can win by integrity. Integrity pays.

“Very soon as Youth Corp members will start job-hunting. But where are the jobs? Why aren’t you getting the jobs? A few people have plundered the country’s resources.

‘But let me assure them that at the EFCC, we are not relenting. Let corruption fight back, we will stand against it. We will fight corruption. We will send them to jail. We are not going to give them any chance again in Nigeria.”

“I want to implore you, this is just the beginning. We will soon be calling and inviting you to join us for more battles against corruption. Nigerian youths don’t believe in those engaging in 419 (fraud). 419 does not pay. You’ve seen some of the ones we’ve arrested. For instance, Mompha. Would you be proud to be like him.”

“Anyone you see displaying wealth on social media is corrupt and a thief. One day, the arms of the law will catch up with them. It’s only a matter of time. So, don’t fashion your life after theirs. If you’re diligent in what you do, you will make it. The EFCC Chairman is diligent, look at where he is today. Diligence pays. Hard work pays, “He said.

Olukoyede said “Do you know that some of the buildings built with taxpayers’ money, corrupt people are buying those buildings and privatising them? We will monitor them, profile them, we will find out where that money came from. If they cannot justifiably defend it, we will take it back from them.

“The assets we recovered from corrupt people are going to be justifiably used to develop our infrastructure, I can assure you of that. All the assets we are recovering, nobody is sitting on those assets. It is going back into the budget, into infrastructure.

“Now we have a president who has the will to fight corruption. He is not a corrupt man, I can tell you that. So, if we can support what the EFCC is doing, what the NYSC is doing, then we can create a new future for Nigeria.
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/02/us-govt-threatens-fg-over-abacha-308million-looted-fund/

The free-agent right back skippered his country to a triumph on home soil and collected the Player of the Tournament award in the process

Dani Alves has become the first footballer to win 40 trophies after his Brazil side won the Copa America - the right-back’s second Copa trophy.

The 36-year-old, who captained the side, also won the Best Player of the Tournament award in a star-studded field.

The Selecao saw off Peru 3-1 in the final at the Maracana on Sunday, to seal their first Copa triumph since 2007.

They took the lead through Everton after a wonderful cross from Gabriel Jesus.

The Manchester City forward scored their second in first-half injury time, restoring the lead after Peru had equalized through a Paolo Guerrero penalty just four minutes earlier.

Jesus was sent off in the 71st minute after two yellow cards, but Brazil held on and sealed the game through a Richarlison spot-kick in the final minute.

They were inspired throughout the tournament by the ageless Alves, easing the pain of a disappointing home World Cup in 2014.

It was Alves' fourth international trophy, with a pair of Confederations Cups added to his Copa victories.

Coral
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@Coral
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@DaniAlvesD2 is the first player in history to win 40 trophies.#CopaAmerica

4,415
11:00 PM - Jul 7, 2019
2,251 people are talking about this

He won five trophies with Sevilla before making the move to Barcelona in 2008.

It was at the Camp Nou he got his hands on the majority of his trophies, winning an incredible 23 tournaments with the Blaugrana in eight years in Catalonia.

He moved from Barca to Juventus in 2016 and scooped up the Italian double in one season in Turin, before switching to Paris Saint-Germain two seasons ago.

He collected six trophies in France, including the double in both seasons, and is now a free agent.

His former international team-mate Kleberson, who saw out his playing days in the United States, has said he would like to have seen Alves make the move to America, but sees him as a good option for European Champions Liverpool.


“I feel maybe he could fit in well at Liverpool,” the former Manchester United man said ahead of Sunday’s final.

Alves has also been linked with a dream return to Barcelona, where he won three Champions League titles, after he said he would not return to PSG next season.

Wherever he ends up next season, Alves will bring an unprecedented trophy haul with him.
https://www.goal.com/en/news/brazils-copa-title-brings-alves-historic-40th-trophy/13hqup8ylffif1cm0py19wcqmj

A judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Okon Abang, on Thursday threatened to withdraw from a suit brought by a former Senator for Ogun East district, Buruji Kashamu, to stop his extradition to the United States.


Mr Kashamu in the suit is praying for a court order to prohibit the federal government from extraditing him to the United States of America for trial on drug possession charges.

Mr Abang, who claimed to have given judgement in two suits in 2015 on the same matter, said that he would opt out of the fresh suit filed last year if it is related to extradition matter.

The reaction of the judge followed an observation by counsel representing the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Joseph Sunday, who drew the attention of the court, to the fact that he had in 2015, delivered two judgements on the same extradition issue.


Mr Sunday said the two judgements of the high court had been set aside by the Court of Appeal, Lagos division.

He added that the appeal on the said judgement has been filed at the Supreme Court.

The NDLEA lawyer, who commended the judge for raising the issue of propriety by him to adjudicate on the two fresh suits filed by Mr Kashamu in 2018, pleaded with the court to take notice that similar extradition matters by the same person had been decided.


But Ifeoma Esson, the counsel to Mr Kashamu, insisted that the fresh suit of her client is not related to the issue that brought about the two judgments that Mr Abang delivered in 2015.

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She stated that the current suit was predicated on the unlawful invasion and siege laid to his client’s house for six days by operatives of the NDLEA.

Ms Ifeoma told the court that her client in the fresh suit is challenging the violation of his fundamental right to dignity of person and freedom of movement; and urged the court to go ahead with the hearing of the new suit.


Mr Kashamu had in the second suit marked FHC/ABJ/CF/530/2018, sued the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the NDLEA, praying the court to prohibit the two respondent from extraditing him to America to face the trial in an alleged hard drug offence.

The former senator applied for an order of the court to also stop the two respondent from giving effect to the extradition request of the USA on him.

However, in a brief ruling, the judge adjourned the hearing of the substantive matter till 30th September on the ground that the court will proceed on annual vacation by July 8 and that he would not be able to write judgement during the vacation.


The former senator, who was expelled from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the run-up to the general election, had sued the AGF and the NDLEA for the enforcement of his fundamental rights.

He is praying the court to stop the two respondents from extraditing him to the U.S. where he is wanted for drug-related offences. He has repeatedly claimed he is innocent but has resisted moves to extradite him.

In May last year, the appeal court ruled against Mr Kashamu, signifying a possibility he could be arrested before extradition commences.
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/337408-judge-threatens-to-withdraw-from-kashamu-extradition-suit.html

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) received N1.47 billion to replace and maintain computer servers for use during the 2019 general elections, PREMIUM TIMES has confirmed.

It is not clear though how the servers, which store computer data, were used during the polls. But the finding raises fresh concerns over the commission’s recent claim it had no server for the elections.

Determining whether the commission operated a central computer database that received election results has become central to the 2019 presidential election dispute, after former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said results on the server proved he defeated President Muhammadu Buhari.


The electoral commission declared Mr Buhari winner of the February 16 election, but Mr Abubakar, his main challenger, has rejected the decision, saying his win was suppressed by INEC.

The electrocal commission, INEC, has disputed Mr Abubakar’s claims, and has denied transmitting election results electronically or saving them on a server.

PREMIUM TIMES has seen details of INEC’s budget for the 2019 elections, and the spending plan shows the electoral body collected from the federal government N1.47 billion for servers. The commission requested N2.27 billion.


It is not clear whether these servers were used for the elections , or whether election results were transmitted electronically. INEC insists it did not send results electronically to a server, but some ad hoc staff used during the polls have claimed they were instructed to send the results to a “central server”.

A spokesperson for the commission, Festus Okoye, told PREMIUM TIMES the budget for servers was made in anticipation that President Buhari would sign the amended Electoral Act to allow electronic transfer of voting results.


He said the commission will at the appropriate time explain to Nigerians how it expended the money it got for servers and the entire huge N143.5 billion budget it got for the polls.

Controversy
Mr Abubakar, backed by his party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said he won the election with about 1.6 million votes, contrasting the results released by INEC.

The former vice president said he sourced his figures from INEC’s database. In response, INEC has strongly denied operating a server for the election, saying such activities were not permitted by the electoral law.


The commission accused Mr Abubakar of circulating fake results. Mr Buhari and his ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) also sided with the electoral umpire and alleged criminal interception of a public institution’s communication by Mr Abubakar and the PDP.

In a response to INEC’s denial of the server and its purported result, Mr Abubakar hassubmitted affidavits from 12 persons they said worked for INEC as election officials.

A civil society group, Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA), said its observers saw polling officers ‘attempting’ to transmit results electronically in 65 per cent (961 of 1489) of polling units observed on the presidential Election Day.


After the postponement of the election by a week, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Akwa Ibom, Mike Igini, lso said the commission made provisions for a central collation server.

“…The fact is that I am aware that at the polling unit, the same result is there, the duplicate has been given to the party agents and transmitted to the central server. Without talking to me, both of you have the result,” the official said during a Channels TV programme aired on February 18.


While it is not clear what servers INEC says it does not have, the budget details, published by the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, a civil society group, showed INEC allocated N2.27 billion for servers in the N143.5 billion approved for the commission.

Another N157.5 million was budgeted for the renewal and maintenance of cloud infrastructure.

PREMIUM TIMES reported last August how the National Assembly Joint Committee on INEC approved N143.5 billion for INEC for the 2019 general election as requested by the president.


A breakdown of the budget for servers in the N143.5 billion is as follows:

1. N1.37 billion budgeted for nationwide replacement of servers for 25 states and National Data Centre.

2. N99.7 million budgeted for an upgrade of the server version of OpenVR for compatibility with new Dell server.

3. N157.5 million budgeted for the renewal and maintenance of cloud infrastructure.

INEC’s Responds

In a response via text message on Saturday, Festus Okoye, INEC’s National Commission said the commission did not use electronic servers for transmission of results because the amended electoral act was yet to be signed into law.

“The Commission prepared and assumed that the amendment to the Electoral Act may be signed into law”, Mr Okoye said.

He said the commission will eventually give account of the resources budgeted and used for the election but failed to clarify questions on the type of servers INEC budgeted for and how the money was spent.


“…It is patently wrong to write ruling and judgments for the Courts. The onus is on the petitioners to prove their assertions relating to the issue of results and servers,” he said, referring to the litigation filed by Mr Abubakar.

Rotimi Oyekanmi, INEC’s spokesperson, said the commission stood by the position made by its lawyer in court on the matter.

“I cannot say anything outside what the lawyer said. What he said is the position of the commission,” Mr Oyekanmi said in a phone interview Saturday.


Nigerians React
Meanwhile, Nigerians are criticising the INEC over the confusion surrounding the use of servers during the election.

While some expressed shock, others demanded that INEC be held accountable for misappropriation of funds meant for servers.

Shehu Sani, former Kaduna senator twitted, “It’s interesting and wonderful to know that INEC has no server or rather ‘serverless’.”

“Dear National Assembly, did you dole out large sums just for INEC to misappropriate the funds meant servers?” asked John Danfulani @john_danfulani.


“INEC on this day denied that they didn’t have server during 2019 presidential election. My question is: Me that worked as a P. O during the election where did I transmit my Elections results? With this am seeing many people not making heaven at last,” One.acre @NekkaSmith said.

“The anyhowness in Nigeria is why INEC will stand in court &dare to say that they do not have servers. Why did INEC request the large sums to deploy IT infrustracture?”

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/335577-inec-received-n1-47-billion-for-servers-ahead-of-2019-election.html

Contestation for 2019-2020 Spanish Laliga Title is going to be fierce!

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President Muhammadu Buhari won a second term of four years after the violence-marred March 2019 elections.

Across the country, an atmosphere of insecurity persists with resurging lethal attacks by at least two Boko Haram factions in the northeast; communal violence between nomadic herdsmen and farmers spreading southward from north-central states; and increasing spate of banditry, kidnapping, and general criminality especially in northwestern states of Kaduna, Katsina, and Zamfara.

While some measures towards accountability for crimes have been taken, including against members of Boko Haram, Nigeria has failed to conduct credible investigations into allegations of human rights abuses by government security forces.
https://www.hrw.org/africa/nigeria

A male hippopotamus has been killed by another hippo in Dadinkowa River of Gombe State on Friday.

Around 7:00 p.m., when our correspondent got to the Local Government Area, attempts were being made by youths to pull the dead animal out of the river.

A fisherman, Abubakar Ruwa, told The PUNCH that the hippos were fighting over territory and that the fight had lasted for days.


He said, “Usually Hippopotamus migrate from distances. Recently, we noticed that a hippopotamus migrated from Kiri Dam, to Dadinkowa River but as you know two males cannot stay together within the same space. Originally, we had a male and a female in that section of the river.

“We often noticed countless fights between the hippos until the visiting hippo finally killed the host hippo in other to dominate and take over the partner,” he said


The Director of Forestry, ministry of environment, Gombe State, Saad Hasidu, who arrived the scene of the incident with his team to find out the true state of things and the cause of death begged relevant agencies to come to the aid of the ministry in other to arrest the situation of hippo activities in the area.

He said, “I want to call on relevant bodies to assist this ministry to build Hippopotamus Sanctuary, where they (hippopotamus) can be taken care of, in other to reduce their attacks on crops, serve as a revenue generation option and reduce their self-inflicted deaths, which can lead to their extinction” he noted.

Meanwhile, community members welcomed the fact that they had meat that could be shared by several families.
https://punchng.com/hippopotamus-kills-another-in-gombe/

The Nigerian Television Authority has been removed from the largest digital satellite television service platform in Europe, Sky Limited.

A visit to Sky’s website showed that NTA had been barred indefinitely from airing on Channel 794.

A message on Sky’s website read in part, “794: NTA International; currently temporarily removed from EPG (Electronic Programme Guide).”

A Sky customer service official told our reporter on the telephone in the UK that it had no control over NTA International whose rights are owned by Ben TV.

The news of the suspension of NTA International began to trend barely 24 hours after the National Broadcasting Commission, Nigeria’s broadcast regulator, suspended the licences of Africa Independent Television and Raypower 100.5FM.

However, sources within BEN TV told our correspondent that the NTA was pulled down two weeks ago.

Sky Limited is a British media and telecommunications conglomerate owned by Comcast and headquartered in London.


According to Wikipedia, it has operations in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and Spain.

Sky is Europe’s largest media company and pay-TV broadcaster by revenue (as of 2018) with 23 million subscribers and more than 31,000 employees as of 2019. The company is primarily involved in satellite television and broadband services.

The NBC headed by Kawu Modibbo had on Thursday announced the suspension of AIT and Raypower FM both owned by opposition politician, Chief Raymond Dokpesi.

Although the NBC had cited several infractions as the reason for the suspension, human rights groups claim the suspension was an attempt to stifle press freedom.

The founder of BEN TV, Alistair Soyode, did not respond to telephone calls on Friday.

https://punchng.com/nta-removed-from-largest-uk-cable-platform-sky/

The war against terrorism has suffered a setback as Boko Haram captured Marte Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno State after an attack on a military base in the area.

One of the soldiers who was in the military base, but who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the insurgents stormed the 153 Task Force Battalion base on Sunday and opened fire on the troops. The terrorists later set the military base on fire.
The source said the attack, which took place at about 6 p.m. caught the troops unaware.


News of the capture of Marte broke as troops from the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) battled insurgents, mostly fighters of the Islamic State for West Africa Province (ISWAP), in Arege and Malkonory in the Lake Chad area, killing 20 insurgents.
“We engaged them in a fierce encounter for about an hour. Initially, we were about getting victorious over them, but they overpowered us, and all troops in the burning base were set asunder, with all of us fleeing in all directions in the bush,” the source said.

However, efforts to get Army spokesman, Col. Sagir Musa, to give details of the clash were abortive as calls made to his telephone line were not answered.
But MNJTF spokesman, Col. Timothy Antigha, who gave an update on the killing of the insurgents, said the multinational troops killed over 20 terrorists operating around Arege, Malkonory and Tumbum Rego general area.

The clash between the multinational troops and ISWAP came just as the terrorist group,
Antigha said gun trucks, arms and ammunition, as well as a Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device, which was meant to disrupt troops advance, was also destroyed in the gun duel between the troops and the terrorists.
https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/06/04/boko-haram-captures-borno-lg/amp/

See money!