₦airaland Forum

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday ordered the re-opening of
Daar Communications Plc, owners of Africa Independent Television (AIT) and Ray Power, which was shut down by the federal government
on Thursday.

The National Broadcasting Commission (NB) had, Thursday evening suspended the licence of Daar Communications Plc., owners of Africa Independent Television (AIT) and Ray Power until further notice.

Director-General of NBC, Modibbo Kawu, who announced the shutdown said the action was taken for failure of the TV and radio stations to abide by the broadcasting code.

Daar Communication Plc, represented by its founder, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, in a exparte motion which has the Federal Ministry of Information and the Attorney General of the Federation as defendants, prayed the court to order the maintenance of status quo ante bellum as at 30th May, this year, pending the hearing and determination of its suit challenging the closure of its broadcast stations.

The company also prayed the court to restrain the defendants from blocking and/or interfering with the air waves of Daar Communication Plc in any way and manner howsoever, in its broadcast and airing of news, views, documentaries, or any other legitimate broadcast material that is usually associated with television, radio or social media broadcast pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed along with the exparte application.

The plaintiff also prayed the court to restrain the defendants from invading or closing down the premises of Daar Communication, its operations or broadcast services, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed along with this application.

Alternatively, the plaintiff prayed for an order for maintenance of status quo ante bellum, as at May 30, 2019, pending the hearing and final determination of the Motion on Notice filed along with the exparte application.

But, the trial Judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, in his ruling, after he had perused the affidavit in support of the exparte motion deposed to by one Kelly Elisha and heard from plaintiff counsel, Benson Igbanoi
held that, he will not grant prayers one and two of the plaintiff without hearing from other parties.

“I have noted the eight grounds upon which the exparte application was hinged upon, application of this nature must be considered judicially and judiciously, that, I have done.

” I hereby ordered that parties shall maintain status quo ante bellum as at May 30, 2019 pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed in this case”, Justice Inyang stated and ordered the defendants to appear before the court on June 13, 2019 to show cause why they should not be stopped from interfering with the operations of Daar Communication PLC.

The plaintiff, Daar Communication Plc is the first privately owned Independent Broadcasting Organisation in Nigeria, having been licensed to broadcast on television and radio since 1996 and currently, operating the African Independent Television (AIT), Ray Power 100.5 FM, Faji FM and Darsat stations.


https://globalsentinelng.com/2019/06/07/breaking-court-orders-reopening-of-ait-ray-power/

Game of Thrones’ star, Kit Harington, who acted the character, Jon Snow, has reportedly checked into rehab for stress and alcohol following the show’s ending.

The London-born actor was working on “personal issues” at a retreat in the US before the HBO series came to end in May after eight seasons, NAN reports.

Sources report that Harington is reported to have checked into the luxury centre weeks before its May 19 finale.

According to the New York Post’s Page Six, he remains at the luxury health retreat Privé-Swiss in Connecticut and checked in almost a month ago.

Sources told the website that the actor checked into the centre over stress and alcohol use, especially wirh the show ending which “really hit him hard”.

A representative for the star said Harington was spending time at the retreat to “work on some personal issues”.

The news emerged after a documentary about the show, ‘The Last Watch’, showed Harington in tears as he learned about his character’s fate.

Harington told Esquire in April that he broke down after filming Jon’s final scenes.

He said, “The final day of shooting, I felt fine… I felt fine… I felt fine… Then I went to do my last shots and started hyperventilating a bit.

“Then they called, ‘Wrap!’ And I just broke down. It was this onslaught of relief and grief about not being able to do this again.”

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Harington is married to his Game Of Thrones co-star, Rose Leslie.

Nine Nigerians have been arrested in the United States for defrauding individuals and businesses of more than $3.5 million.

Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States attorney for the southern district of New York, and James C. Spero, special agent in charge of the Tampa, Florida, field office of U.S. immigration and customs enforcement’s Homeland security investigations (“HSI”), disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

The suspects are Oluwaseun Adelekan, Olalekan Daramola, Solomon Aburekhanlen, Gbenga Oyeneyin, Abiola Olajumoke, Temitope Omotayo, Bryan Eadie, Albert Lucas and Ademola Adebogun.

The US officials said the suspects committed the fraud through business email compromises, a Russian oil scam, and a romance scam.

“As alleged, these defendants deployed three different email schemes to defraud their victims. The common denominator in all three schemes was the defendants’ alleged fleecing of their victims through fictitious online identities,” said Berman.

“The schemes allegedly earned the defendants $3.5 million – and also arrests on federal felony charges.”

The defendants are accused of participating in a scheme to defraud businesses and individuals through several categories of false and misleading representations.

“Sending victims email messages that appeared to be, but were not, from legitimate business counterparties that included instructions to the victims to wire payment to those seemingly legitimate business counterparties into bank accounts that were actually under the control of, and/or maintained by, Adelekan, Daramola, Aburekhanlen, Oyeneyin, Olajumoke, Omotayo, Eadie, Lucas, and Adebogun (the “Business Email Compromise Scam”),” read the statement.

“Sending email messages and text messages to at least one victim offering an opportunity to invest in oil stored in Russian oil tank farms conditioned on that victim wiring upfront payments into bank accounts purportedly affiliated with the purported oil investment but actually opened by and under the control of Aburekhanlen, Olajumoke, and Oyeneyin (the “Russian Oil Scam”).

“Sending email messages and text messages to at least one victim from an individual (or individuals) purporting to be a female with romantic intentions toward the victim requesting, further to establishing a romantic relationship, the wiring of payment into a bank account under the control of Omotayo (the “Romance Scam”).”

They are each charged in the indictment with one count of conspiring to commit wire fraud and each defendant faces a maximum potential sentence of 20 years in prison.

https://globalsentinelng.com/2019/04/27/nine-nigerians-arrested-in-us-for-3-5m-fraud/

No fewer than Five oil wells are currently on fire in Ondo State

It was gathered that fire broke out on Thursday morning in Ajegunle-Ikorigho community and spread to parts of Ojumole which is located in Ikorigho land.

The oil wells affected in the incident are said to be Isan-West field, Parable field, Malu field, Ororo and Opokaba.

The inferno was also reported to have affected Otumara, Ikorigho, Ajegunle-Ikorigho, Zion Ikorigho, Iluayo, Kendo Ayeren and Ehinmoghan-Ikorigho communities.

The cause of the fire had not been ascertained as at press time and it’s not clear yet if there are casualties.

Femi Joseph, spokesman of the Ondo state police command said that he is yet to be briefed about the development.

https://globalsentinelng.com/2019/04/25/five-oil-wells-on-fire-in-ondo/

Let he who is without sin be the first to cast the stone

The Nigerian Presidency has explained why Boko Haram terrorists have not released Leah Sharibu, captured last year February from Science Secondary School in Dapchi, Yobe state.

In a statement, Garba Shehu, the senior special assistance on media to President Buhari said the fear of Nigeria’s military by the terrorists is what is making her release a complicated and prolonged affair.

The interlocutors have reported encouraging progress so far, Garba Shehu said in a commemorative statement marking five years of the abduction of schoolgirls in Chibok, neighbouring Borno state.

“The report reaching us says her return to her family has unfortunately been hindered by the fear of the militants,” Shehu said.

“They worry that heavy military presence in areas where they previously moved about freely could affect their safety after they return her to the government.

“At the same time, the military cannot jeopardise the security of the entire north-eastern region by halting their operations to accommodate Boko Haram’s fears.

“Leah Sharibu will be reunited with her family as soon as any conclusions are reached on a number of options being considered for her safe transportation.

“The success of the Nigerian military in subduing Boko Haram is evidenced by the large numbers of militants who have surrendered recently, especially in neighbouring Cameroon and Niger.

“A similar mass surrender of militants is expected to happen soon in Nigeria.

“While Nigerian military operations are ongoing, the government is also engaging with the militants but the talks have been affected by the factionalisation of Boko Haram – with one group adopting a hard line attitude and intensifying attacks on Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad, and another group engaging with the government for peaceful resolution.

“President Buhari also uses this opportunity of the commemoration of the Chibok tragedy to commend the girls, now women, who have triumphed over it all.”



https://globalsentinelng.com/2019/04/13/why-leah-sharibu-is-still-in-boko-haram-captivity-presidency/

The United States of America’s Department of State has warned its citizens against travelling to Nigeria because “violent crime, such as armed robbery, assault, carjacking, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, rape and piracy, is common throughout the country.”

The State Department, in a travel advisory recently released on its official website, said it has labeled high-threat countries with a ”K” indicator.

Nigeria was listed among 35 countries with the “K” indicator which indicates where its citizens could be at risk of being kidnapped or taken hostage.

The department said: “The new “K” indicator is part of our ongoing commitment to provide clear and comprehensive travel safety information to U.S. citizens so they can make informed travel decisions.

“The Travel Advisories for 35 countries have been updated to include a “K” indicator for the risk of kidnapping and/or hostage taking: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Kenya, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Russian Federation, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine (in Russian-controlled eastern Ukraine), Venezuela, and Yemen.”

While Nigeria was placed on level 3, the US department of state issued a level 4 travel alert for Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

“The security situation in northeast Nigeria is fluid and unpredictable, particularly in Borno and Yobe States and northern Adamawa State,” the department said.

“Terrorist groups based in the Northeast target churches, schools, mosques, government installations, educational institutions, and entertainment venues. Approximately two million of Nigerians have been displaced as a result of the violence in northeast Nigeria.”

The 35 countries were placed in four levels of travel with respect to their safety and security risk.

1.Exercise normal precautions.

2. Exercise increased caution

3. Reconsider travel

4. Do not travel


https://globalsentinelng.com/2019/04/13/reconsider-travelling-to-nigeria-us-warns-citizens/

Former fighters say taking the addictive opioid was essential for launching assaults. Could tackling its illicit trade cripple Boko Haram attacks?

Adamu Musa remembers clearly the first Boko Haram offensive in which he took part. It was about a week after he’d been abducted along with a dozen other boys in Gwoza when he was ordered to join a mission. He was to be part of a group of militants that would attack a nearby community and kidnap more fighters. Musa and the other young boys were tasked with chasing men who tried to escape.

Before the assault, and all the others that Musa would later take part in, each of the boys was forced to take several tablets of Tramadol.

“Everyone took it before leaving the camp. Even if there was nothing else in the camp, there was always Tramadol,” says Musa, who escaped from Boko Haram in the middle of the night over a year ago.

Tramadol is undoubtedly the drug of choice for Boko Haram with several former militants reporting its widespread usage. Nigeria’s anti-drug agency routinely intercepts hundreds of millions of tablets of the drug, much of it believed to be destined for the insurgency in the northeast. Tramadol is an opioid primarily used for pain relief, but when taken at higher doses it can produce similar effects to heroin.

“Whenever we took Tramadol, nothing mattered to us anymore except what we were sent to do,” says Musa. “Because it made us very high and very bold, it was impossible to go on a mission without taking it.”

https://globalsentinelng.com/2019/03/27/if-you-take-tramadol-away-you-make-boko-haram-weak/

The Police Command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has imposed restriction on vehicular movement in Bwari, Kuje and Kwali Area Councils of Abuja from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday.

Deputy Spokesman of the command, ASP Danjuma Tanimu, made this known in a statement on Friday.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the restriction of movement is aimed at ensuring peaceful and credible Area Council supplementary elections in the FCT on Saturday.

Tanimu added that the restriction would be limited to only the wards affected in the three councils.

He said that ambulances, fire service trucks and others on essential duties would be exempted from the restriction.

The spokesman expressed the command’s regrets for the inconveniences the restriction might cause residents.

“The Command wants to assure residents that proactive security measures have been put in place to facilitate the peaceful conduct of the election,“ he said.

He urged residents to call the Joint Operations Centre on the following numbers in case of distress: 09052397880, 08024130926, 09051488448, and 07014951751.

https://globalsentinelng.com/2019/03/22/supplementary-polls-police-restricts-vehicular-movement-in-parts-of-abuja/

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has rescheduled the conduct of Unified Tertiary Matriculation (UTME) to 11 April.

The board also fixed 1st April, for the 2019 mock examination earlier scheduled for Saturday, 23rd March,2019.

The JAMB Head of Media, Fabian Benjamin in a statement made available to journalists on Monday explained that the change is due to certain circumstances beyond the Board’s control.

According to the statement candidates are directed to begin the printing of their UTME notification slips from 2nd April.

The full statement reads:

https://globalsentinelng.com/2019/03/13/jamb-fixes-new-dates-for-2019-utme/

President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that he would want to be remembered as a leader who kept his word that elections in Nigeria must be free, fair and credible.

Garba Shehu, the President’s spokesperson in a statement in Abuja, said President Buhari made this known he received Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State at his private residence in Daura, Katsina State, on Monday.

Masari was in Daura to formally inform the president of his election victory in March 9 Governorship poll.

President Buhari commended Nigerians who heeded to his pre-election appeal to cast their votes peacefully.

The President, who described the governorship and state assembly elections across the country as largely successful said: ‘‘I have maintained a position that elections must be free and fair and people have the right to make their choices and vote their conscience.

“I am happy they understood the message and did just that.

‘‘Power is a public trust that belongs to the people. Power is not by strength or wisdom but by Providence.

“Elected persons must be fair and just. This is the legacy I want to leave behind. A leader must be fair and just. All leaders should strive to do that,’’ he said.


https://globalsentinelng.com/2019/03/12/how-i-want-to-be-remembered-buhari/

Experts in the medical Field has revealed that a new technology known as genetic testing will prevent the birth of children with sickle cell anaemia and other genetic related diseases in Nigeria irrespective of the genotype of both parents.

The Chief Executive Officer of NISA Premiere Hospital and a fertility gynaecologist, Ibrahim Wada explained that Genetic Testing will allow even parents with sickle cell traits give birth to normal children and also remove genotype obstacles for couples considering marriage.


Speaking at a workshop at the weekend in Abuja, Wada, while lamenting that sickle cell disorders has a high prevalence in Nigeria with one out of 30 Nigerians carrying the gene, and over 300,000 sickle cell affected children born every year stressed that gene testing awareness could not be more apt.

He explained that Genetic testing involves the process of checking the embryos for genetic disorders such as sickle cell before it is implanted in their wombs


https://globalsentinelng.com/2019/02/24/experts-harp-on-genetic-testing-to-end-sickle-cell-births-in-nigeria/

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has postponed the presidential and National Assembly elections to Saturday, February 23.

The governorship and state assembly elections is now scheduled to hold March 9.

The decision was reached in the early hours of Saturday following an emergency meeting INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, had with the 12 national commissioners in Abuja.

Addressing journalists, Yakubu explained that the shift was largely due to logistics problems faced by the commission.

He said the decision will enable the commission deliver a free, fair and credible exercise.

“Following a careful review of the implementation of its logistics and operational plan and the determination to conduct free, fair and credible elections, the commission came to the conclusion that proceeding with the elections as scheduled is no longer feasible.

“Consequently, the commission has decided to reschedule the Presidential and National Assembly Elections to Saturday, 23 February 2019.

“Furthermore, the Governorship, State House of Assembly and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Elections is rescheduled to Saturday 9th March 2019. This will afford the Commission the opportunity to address identified challenges in order to maintain the quality of our elections.

“This was a difficult decision for the Commission to take, but necessary for the successful delivery of the elections and the consolidation of our democracy.” Yakubu said



https://globalsentinelng.com/2019/02/16/breaking-inec-postpones-presidential-national-assembly-elections-till-february-23/

The Kano Police Command says it has arrested two suspects in possession of 14 bags of fake specimen ballot papers in Kano metropolis.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abdullahi Haruna, who confirmed this to newsmen in Kano on Thursday, said the suspects were apprehended around Metro Police Area Command.

He said that the suspects were arrested on Wednesday evening by some Police officers attached to Metro Area Command in the metropolis.

Haruna said during interrogation, the suspects said they came from Jigawa State, and that the materials were meant for sensitisation and orientation purpose.

“The ballot papers are specimen, so, they are not genuine ballot papers,” Haruna explained.

He said investigation was still ongoing, as the case had since been transferred to the state Criminal Investigation Development.

https://globalsentinelng.com/2019/02/14/police-arrest-two-in-kano-with-14-bags-of-specimen-ballot-papers/

Ahead of the general elections, the Defence Headquaters on Thursday warned that any military personnel not on duty wearing uniform on the election days will be arrested, while urging personnel to exercise their right to vote.

The Acting Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen. John Agim, who issued the warning at a press conference in Abuja also reiterated the Military’s resolve to be neutral and impartial and charged personnel not to fraternize with any political parties and association.

He said: “let me emphatically state that the Defence Headquarters has warned all Officers, Soldiers, Ratings, Airmen and Women of the Nigerian Armed Forces must remain neutral and exhibit exceptional professionalism before, during and after the upcoming eletions.

“To this end, with the exception of those on essential duties, no military personnel should be found wearing uniform on the election days.

Furtber, Agim, noted that ongoing exercise ‘Ewu EkE III in the South East and other similar exercise in various parts of the nation are not targeted at any particular set of people or groups in manipulating the electoral process.

He added that exercise is to ensure that eligible citizens, irrespective of the religion or political inclinations are given the opportunity to carry out their right to vote and be voted for in a peaceful environment devoid of violence and intimidation by criminal elements.


https://globalsentinelng.com/2019/02/07/military-personnel-found-wearing-uniform-on-election-day-will-be-arrested-dhq/

The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has announced that Nigeria will on Monday join other countries of the world to experience a total lunar eclipse.

Felix Alle, head, media and public communications of the agency, made this known in a statement on Friday.

A lunar eclipse is a celestial incident where the moon appears darkened as it passes into the earth’s shadow. It occurs only when the sun, and the moon are exactly aligned with the earth between the two.

“There will be a lunar eclipse over Nigeria on Monday, Jan. 21, 2019,” the statement read.

“The eclipse, expected to be total, will begin in the evening of Sunday and end on Monday. The eclipse will start across Nigeria in the early hours of Monday at approximately 3:36 am to reach its maximum at 6:12am and end at about 6:43am.

“The total duration of the occurrence over Nigeria will be three hours and 15 minutes.”

Alle said the lunar eclipse would, by 4.33am, become a partial eclipse, where the moon would start getting red.

He added that “at exactly 5.41am, a maximum eclipse of the moon which may be visible to human sight will be
witnessed, while the moon eclipse is expected to end at 6.43am”.

He said this year’s eclipse would be the last to be experienced until 2021.

https://globalsentinelng.com/2019/01/18/nigeria-to-experience-lunar-eclipse-monday/

A suspect, Shuaibu Rabi has disclosed that the reason why they murdered the past Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (rtd.), was to rob him.

Rabi said this while being interrogated by policemen in Hausa language.

The suspect said he and his friends received information that Badeh was in possession of a huge sum of money which he wanted to use in purchasing a parcel of land in Nasarawa State.

The 25-year-old suspect said after killing Badeh, he and his friends stole a bag which contained a huge sum of money.

Rabi said, “What happened was that, on a certain day, my elder brother went to a market, where he met with one Churuma. Churuma told him that he got information that an old soldier (Badeh) wanted to buy a parcel of land but would be buying the land in cash.

“He said we would trail the soldier on that day and we would block him and collect the money. So, on that day, when we saw him coming Churuma signalled to us that it was him. Some of us stayed behind his vehicle in case he would want to reverse while Churuma stayed in front.

“But when he (Badeh) saw Churuma with a gun, he did not do like he wanted to reverse, he attempted to hit Churuma with his car but Churuma dodged to the side and then opened fire on him.

“After that, we opened the car and found a bag of money and went with it. When they opened the bag, the money was beyond what I had ever seen before.”

When asked if the money was in naira or foreign currency, the suspect said it was in naira.



See video

https://globalsentinelng.com/2018/12/27/why-we-killed-alex-badeh-suspect/


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duHvTVHOhwc

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has on Tuesday withdrawn its recent call on federal lawmakers to boycott the Wednesday joint session of the National Assembly during which President Muhammadu Buhari will present the 2019 Appropriation Bill.

The coalition’s first national spokesperson, Imo Ugochinyere, in a statement made available said the CUPP’s decision to change its position followed an intervention of the Senate President Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara as well as other eminent leaders.

Ugochinyere however urged parliamentarians to scrutinise the budget documents when presented and ensure it reflects the wishes of the people.

The statement read, “The opposition coalition has yielded to the pressure of an early morning intervention by the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki; and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, calling on opposition coalition CUPP to sheath their sword and withdraw their call on opposition boycott.

“The opposition leadership, after reviewing the intervention of Senate President and the Speaker as well as other eminent leaders, including two former presidents, wish to announce a withdrawal of the call.

“The opposition coalition says they will continue efforts to ensure that they deploy all lawful arsenal at their disposal to ensure that the President is defeated and urges parliamentarians to scrutinise the budget documents when presented and ensure it reflects the wishes of the people.

“The opposition, however, holds strongly to the views expressed for the boycott over the three-year reign of impunity of the President, despite the call off.

“The opposition also condemns the IGP for illegally holding activist Deji Adeyanju and moving him by 4am to Kano in a plot to hold him behind bars over a case he has been discharged and acquitted of by a court of competent jurisdiction.”

https://globalsentinelng.com/2018/12/18/cupp-withdraws-call-on-lawmakers-to-boycott-buharis-budget-presentation/

The ISIS branch in West Africa, ISWAP, otherwise known as Boko Haram, has released infographic on its recent attacks on military bases in Northern Borno on its media channel.

ISIS also displayed the fourth Vicker Tank it allegedly captured from the Nigerian forces on the fringes of Lake Tchad.

On November 23, the Islamic State group claimed to have killed 118 people in its self-styled West Africa province in the last one week, after a series of attacks against military bases in northeast Nigeria that have raised fears of a resurgent Boko Haram.

The Islamist militant group said in a video posted online late on Thursday that it conducted five operations in Chad and Nigeria between November 15 and 21, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadist activity.

No other details were given but the claim follows recent attacks on army bases in Borno state, northeast Nigeria, which has been the epicentre of the deadly nine-year conflict.

Security sources said at least 44 soldiers were killed in an attack in Metele village, near the border with Niger, on Sunday, although one soldier who escaped gave a higher toll.

“The truth is we lost more than 100 men because we were quickly routed,” he said on condition of anonymity from the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, on Friday.

“We were outgunned, so we tried to fight. We realised it was unrealistic so we decided to leave.”

Most of the soldiers were killed as the trucks they were in tried to crash through a perimeter fence at the base but got stuck. Senior officers were among the dead, he added.

Even a search team that came to find the bodies of fallen soldiers on Tuesday was attacked, the soldier said.


https://globalsentinelng.com/2018/11/26/isis-releases-infographic-after-boko-haram-attacks-on-nigerian-military-bases/

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, on Tuesday agreed to pay a national minimum wage of N22,500 from the existing N18,000.

The chairman of the Forum and Governor of Zamfara State, Abdul’aziz Yari disclosed this while briefing newsmen at the end of its 2nd emergency meeting held in Abuja.

Mr Yari said that the decision was arrived at  after a briefing from the forum representatives at the Tripartite Committee.

He said that the  welfare of all Nigerians was the ultimate concern of the governors,  saying  in all our states, we are concerned about the deteriorating economic situation experienced by the vulnerable segment of our population.

He said that in  agreeing to a National Minimum Wage, the Forum was even more concerned about development, particularly in the health, education and infrastructure spheres.

“It is therefore our considered position that since the percentage of salaried workers is not more than five per cent of the total working population, our position must not just reflect a figure, but also a sustainable strategy based on ability and capacity to pay, as well as reflective of all our developmental needs in each State.

“After all, Section 3 of the National Salaries Income and Wages Commission Act provides that “the Commission shall recommend a proposition of income growth which should be initiated for wage increase and also examined the salary structure in public and private sector with reasonable features of relativity and maximum levels which are in consonance with the national economy”

“It is in this sense that we feel strongly that our acceptable minimum wage must be done in such a way that total personnel cost does not exceed 50 per cent of the revenue available to each State.

“Governors therefore agreed to pay a national minimum wage of N22,500.”

https://globalsentinelng.com/2018/10/30/new-minimum-wage-governors-agree-to-pay-n25000/

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday night reassured that the brutal activities of the Boko Haram sect would soon become history.

The president gave the assurance when he hosted members of the Kannywood entertainment industry to a dinner at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said that the Federal Government would not allow any group hiding under religion to unleash terror on innocent citizens.

Buhari, who spoke in local language, said: “It’s totally wrong for any believer in God to kill innocent people either in the Mosque, Church or the market place.

“You can’t be shouting Allahu Akbar (Allah is Great), Allahu Akbar, and killing innocent citizens and destroying properties all in the name of God.

“It is either you don’t know what you are saying or you don’t even believe in the existence of God Almighty. God has nothing to do with injustice.

“So, now we are confronting them and by the grace of God we will destroy them.”

Buhari, who recalled his political struggles since 2003 when he made his first attempt to clinch the presidential seat, lauded former President Goodluck Jonathan for accepting defeat in the 2015 general elections.

“I’ll continue to hold former president Jonathan in high esteem as a result of that singular act.

“He (Jonathan) was in power as Deputy Governor, Governor (Bayelsa), Vice-President and President, all for about 10 years and he voluntarily accepted defeat and surrendered power to me,” he said.

The president enjoined members of the Kannywood to use their respective talents in promoting the culture of peaceful co-existence and unity among the diverse socio-political groups in the country.


https://globalsentinelng.com/2018/10/19/you-cant-be-shouting-allahu-akbar-killing-innocent-citizens-buhari/

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has announced that it would hold presidential and governorship primaries on October 5 and 26 September respectively.

PDP took to Twitter on Tuesday to announce the dates of the primaries.

Below is the tweet.

Official PDP Nigeria

✔@OfficialPDPNig

PDP Presidential Primary To Hold on Oct. 5 & 6, 2018: In the same vein, the party’s governorship primary holds on Wednesday, September 26, 2018. While the senatorial primary on Friday, September 28, The House of Representatives primary will hold on Sunday, September 30, 2018.

https://mobile.twitter.com/OfficialPDPNig/status/1039577453830787073

The U.S Agency for International Development (USAID) has given Nigeria $26.5 million to support good governance and healthcare.

USAID said at the weekend that the additional support to Nigeria was made because of the country’s achievement in the development goals outlined in the bilateral Development Objectives Assistance Agreement signed in 2015,

The agreement was signed between the U.S. and Nigerian governments.

The Acting Mission Director, Erin Holleran, confirmed the new financial support and said that USAID would partner with federal and state health ministries to build stronger health systems.

According to Mr Holleran, this is aimed at guaranteeing equitable access to quality healthcare services nationwide.

According to him, “$25 million will strengthen good governance by supporting state governments’ efforts to bolster Nigeria’s Open Government Partnership commitments to improve transparency and fight corruption.

“An additional $1.5 million will support a healthier, more educated population in targeted states through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), for a total of $26.5 million in additional assistance.”

The additional new funding brings the total U.S. government assistance provided under the five-year Development Objectives agreement to $1.1 billion, he said.

According to Mr Holleran, USAID is committed to assisting Nigeria because of the huge influence the nation has on the future of Africa.

“The United States believes that as the most populous country in Africa, with the largest economy on the continent, Nigeria holds tremendous influence over the future of Africa.

“USAID is committed to partnering with the government and the people of Nigeria to address its development challenges,” Mr Holleran said.

USAID collaborated with Nigeria’s ministries of Budget and National Planning, Health, Agriculture, Power, and Education, as well as state-level government counterparts to structure the bilateral assistance agreement, which runs through 2020.

https://globalsentinelng.com/2018/08/25/usaid-gives-nigeria-26-5-million-to-support-good-governance/

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it has registered 13,013,989 new voters from its nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) between April 2017 and Aug. 20 2018.

A consolidated CVR report released on Friday in Abuja by the commission revealed that 3,981,502 voters were registered in 2017, while 9,032,487 were registered in 2018, up to Aug. 20.

The infographic overview of the report shows that 7,173,683 of the fresh voters were male, while 5,840,306 were female.

A breakdown of the report shows that Lagos has the highest number of CVR with 685, 503, followed by Rivers with 665,560 and Abia 536,039. States with the lowest number of voters were Ondo with 136, 8827; Ekiti, 179,518; and Kwara with 181, 920.

The report also revealed that 847, 693 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) had so far been collected, while transfer requests of 641, 274 had been made. Card replacement requests of 999,656 had also been accomplished.


https://globalsentinelng.com/2018/08/24/2019-inec-records-over-13m-new-voters/

Seven persons have been sentenced to death by an Akure High Court for the murder of an US-based businessman, Banji Adafin, in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

The deceased who was in Nigeria for the holidays with members of his family was shot dead by armed robbers in the presence of his wife and child .

His family heaved a sigh of relief after the judgment was delivered on the case after over a year in court.

The deceased and his wife, Funmi, ran into their bedroom on arrival of the convicts at about 8:30p.m. on July 31, 2017. But two of the robbers climbed the ceiling and shot the deceased.

The convicts were arrested by officials of the Department of State Services, DSS, at different locations within and outside the state, even as one of them hid inside a plastic filled with water to evade arrest.

Delivering judgment, Justice Ademola Bola said the convicts would be killed by hanging and firing squad,they include; an Okada operator, Jimoh Sodiq, alias Akamo; Blessing Ogunlade, Yomi Balogun alias Regal, Akeem Adedayo, Oso John Omoniyi, alias Bosco and Sodiq Babatunde.

The charges preferred against the convicts included conspiracy to commit armed robbery contrary to and punishable under Section 6(b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision)Act cap R11 Volume 14 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

Apart from killing the US-based businessman, the accused also stole N33,000 and other valuables in his residence. Some of the items stolen included an i-Pad, phones belonging to the deceased and their housemaid Deborah, television sets, laptops, and a huge amount of money.

The judge said the convict were also found guilty of aiding and abetting contrary to and punishable under Sections 6 of the Robbery and Firearms Special Provision Act Cap R11 Vol 14 Laws of the Federation.

Also, Justice Bola found them culpable in illegal dealing in arms and ammunition contrary to Section 9 and punishable under Sections 271(1)(b) of the Firearms Act, Cap F26 Laws of the Federation.


https://globalsentinelng.com/2018/08/24/7-sentenced-to-death-for-killing-us-based-nigerian/

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has raised the alarm that Nigeria is importing and consuming expired rice meant for animals.

The minister disclosed this on Tuesday while speaking with newsmen in Oro, Kwara State.

He noted that most of the rice are not fit for consumption in their own countries of origin as they have been on the shelf for more than six years and had expired.

Mohammed blamed the development on smuggling, pointing out that if the affected rice had been put under scrutiny they would have failed NAFDAC test.

He, however, vowed that in the next one and half years Nigeria will become self-sufficient in rice production given the commitment of the administration to agriculture.

“The rice being imported now are not fit for consumption in their countries of origin.

“They are also being subsidized and sent here even in credit because those people know that they are unfit for consumption; they are only fit for animals.

“Imported rice are mostly smuggled into the country because they cannot pass NAFDAC test. No Nigerian rice is more than one-year-old but the imported ones have spent even six years in their countries”, he said.

“In the area of agriculture, it has been a huge revolution. Let’s take one of our national staples, such as rice, as an example. When we came in, there were 5 million rice farmers,” he added.

“Today, we have in excess of 11 million rice farmers. Our rice import has been cut by over 80 per cent. These didn’t happen by accident. It was a result of our Anchor Borrowers Programme. There are more millionaire farmers today than at any other time in the history of our nation.”

“Today, Nigeria is close to achieving self-sufficiency in rice than at any other time in the history of our country.”

https://globalsentinelng.com/2018/08/22/nigerians-consumes-expired-rice-meant-for-animals-fg/

President Muhammadu Buhari has returned from his 10 working-days leave from London.

Buhari who left Nigeria on the 3rd came back on Saturday evening.

Reacting on Buhari’s return, the social media aide to Buhari, Lauretta Onochie said that the Eagle has landed to continue his good work.

She called Buahri the ‘nightmare of the corrupt and the wicked’. “We love you, friend and hope of the poor, the weak and the vulnerable”, she finally said.


https://globalsentinelng.com/2018/08/18/buhari-returns-from-london/

The Nigerian Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has revealed intention to run against President Muhammadu Buhari when Africa’s top oil producer holds elections in February 2019.

“I am consulting and actively considering it,” Saraki, 56, said Tuesday in an interview with Bloomberg at his residence in the capital, Abuja. “I believe I can make the change.”

After recently defecting from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Saraki said that if he decided to run, it would be under the banner of the People’s Democratic Party, the main opposition group. He would need to win the party’s ticket during primary elections in October.

At odds with Buhari ever since he emerged as the senate leader against the president’s wishes in 2015, Saraki is a former member of the PDP who despite joining the APC, often went against the party line.

His defection last month back to the PDP came amid a wave of such departures from the APC, including dozens of senators and at least two state governors. After security operatives surrounded Saraki’s home last month for undisclosed reasons, the secret police temporarily blocked access to the National Assembly on Aug. 7, in what Saraki said was an illegal attempt to impeach him. The head of the State Security Services was dismissed over the deployment.


https://globalsentinelng.com/2018/08/15/saraki-reveals-intention-to-run-for-president/

The President of the Senate Dr Bukola Saraki has commended acting President Yemi Osinbajo for the firm decision taken to punish those who invaded the National Assembly on Tuesday by sacking the DG of DSS.
This is even as he referred to those who orchestrated the siege on the National Assembly as cowards.
Saraki condemned the act stressing that it was an attack on democracy and an attack on Nigeria as a whole.
Saraki stressed that he as well as his deputy and the Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara are willing to resign the day that two thirds of the members of each of the chambers lose confidence in them.


Read full speech

https://globalsentinelng.com/2018/08/08/nass-invasion-saraki-says-he-is-willing-to-resign/

Operatives of the Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad (F-SARS), of the Police Command in Imo says it has arrested a member of the U.S. Army, Mr Garrick Michael, over alleged advance fee fraud.

The Commissioner of police, Mr Dasuki Galadanchi, disclosed this on Wednesday in Owerri while presenting to Journalists the suspect, Michael, and other suspects involved in different crimes ranging from armed robbery, kidnapping and child trafficking.

Galadanchi said Michael is an American citizen who specialised in defrauding women of their huge money under the pretext of securing American visa for them. He named victims of the suspect as Sylva Chineyenwa, Wuchi Peace and Duny Glory.

Michael told newsmen that he returned to Nigeria to visit his wife who resided in the country before he met his three alleged victims.

He said his business deal with the women was still valid before his arrest. The commissioner also said that a kidnapper who had been on the police blacklist, one Reginald Durunzenwata, was arrested on Aug. 4 and would soon be charged to court.

He said the suspect was allegedly involved in the kidnap and murder of a businessman, Chidi Eburuaji, in Imo, who was kidnapped and murdered in July.

Galadanchi said apart from kidnapping, the suspect also specialised in diverting petrol tankers.




https://globalsentinelng.com/2018/08/08/nigerian-police-arrests-u-s-army-over-fraud/

SENATORS of the All Progressives Congress, APC are at the moment engaged in a marathon meeting to how the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki would be impeached.

Some APC Senators with the National Chairman of APC Adams Oshiomhole after their meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday Vanguard gathered that the meeting is presently on going at no. 13, Aso Drive, Asokoo, behind the Golf Course and not too far from the National Assembly which was under siege by heavily armed men of Department of State Services, DSS.

A douche said that buses and Prado jeeps have taken over the Aso drive, venue of the meeting. The DSS personnel who masked themselves have been at the entrance of the National Assembly.

Vanguard also gathered that the National Chairman of APC is asking the lawmakers to sign the impeachment paper that would help remove Saraki. Meanwhile, both Senators and House of Representatives of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP are still at the lobby waiting to guide against any eventuality.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/08/breaking-apc-senators-in-marathon-meeting-to-impeach-saraki/