Righteousness2: Vain recongnition. Recongnition not rectified by ISRAEL is only an Imagination. Recongnition of Palestine in Europe not in the Land of ISRAEL.
Most important! It does not matter who recognizes. It is not recongnizes by the CREATOR of the Heavens and Earth.
When HE SHAKES and THUNDERS on these misguided souls and nations we will be here to hear you Cry ,Shout and Scream Genocide as usual
I STAND 1000% WITH ISRAEL
Standing with Israel on empty stomach and hoping on from ignoramus is banality.
[ICYMI] From ‘I do’ to jail: Wedding cancelled after couple’s arrest for alleged $3m fraud
From ‘I do’ to jail: wedding cancelled after couple’s arrest for alleged $3m fraud From 'I do' to jail: wedding cancelled after couple's arrest for alleged $3m fraud
A planned wedding for Saturday has taken a dramatic turn as the soon-to-be-married couple, Darlington Akporugo, 46, and Jasmin Sood, 35, have been arrested on charges of defrauding elderly Americans over $3 million through online romance scams.
Information provided on the website for the wedding revealed that the ceremony was scheduled to take place on May 25 in Houston, Texas.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Texas, Akporugo and Sood allegedly conspired for over seven years, targeting widowed victims on social media and dating platforms.
A statement by the USAO in April read, “A Nigerian man who resided in Fulshear is set to appear in court on allegations he conspired to defraud over a dozen elder Americans who thought they were in romantic online relationships and sent millions to a network of fraudsters, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
“Darlington Akporugo, 46, is scheduled for a detention hearing at 9 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew Edison. Akporugo allegedly conspired with Jasmin Sood, 35, also of Fulshear, to commit wire and mail fraud.”
The statement further mentioned that the fraudulent act went on between 2015 and 2022, as they cultivated trust with their targets, eventually coaxing them into transferring substantial sums of money to various accounts, reportedly controlled by Akporugo and Sood.
It claimed that they defrauded no fewer than 13 victims of $3,123,073, and a notice of forfeiture has been issued for all unlawfully acquired proceeds stemming from the scam.
It read, “The indictment also charges Akporugo with aggravated identity theft and fraud in connection with an access device.
“The scheme allegedly resulted in at least 13 victims being defrauded of an approximate $3,123,073. The indictment includes notice of forfeiture for all illegally derived proceeds from the fraud scheme.”
The indictment revealed that if they are convicted, both face up to 30 years in prison.
“If convicted, both face up to 30 years imprisonment for each of the wire fraud counts and conspiracy. Akporugo faces an additional 10 years on fraud in connection with an access device and another mandatory two years if convicted of aggravated identity theft,” it added.
They are men, facing their responsibilities....if you don't know, they are far ahead of you. You will definitely regret this statement someday when you decide to be responsible.
This is a picture of a man who is about to be executed using the execution device called the garrote.
The garrote is an execution device that is documented to have been used in the first century BC Rome. This torture method found its way into modern history.
The condemned would sit with a metal clap wrapped around his neck before the executioner turned the screw that would theoretically burst his brainstem, killing him instantly.
So name categories of criminals that deserve this punishment.
Rivers crisis: Clark asks PDP, APC chairmen to caution Wike
Elder statesman and national leader of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum, Chief Edwin Clark, has asked the acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Umar Damagum, and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdulahi Ganduje, to dissociate themselves from the alleged attempt by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to bring down the government of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
Clark made the call in a letter dated May 20, 2024 and addressed to both party chairmen.
The letter was made available to our correspondent on Monday
According to him, the letter was in the interest of peace and stability in the country, adding that the support given to Wike by both men resulted in the attempt to topple the Fubara-led administration.
“I am therefore appealing to you, in the interest of peace and stability in Nigeria to disassociate yourselves from plan by Wike for no just cause to bring down the government of his successor, Governor Fubara.
“I strongly advise both of you to retrace your steps and take charge of your political parties in Rivers State and not leave it for Wike who is neither PDP nor APC.
“The support given to Nyesom Wike by both party’s chairmen has made him courageous enough to intimidate and anger the Rivers State Governor and government and this is seen as an act to overthrow the duly elected Governor, which is criminal”, the letter read.
He faulted the Chairman of the APC for relating with the Caretaker Committee in the state, whom he alleged Wike appointed under the former Chief of Staff to ex-Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Chief Tony Okocha, after the legitimate Chairman, Emeka Beke, was suspended.
“One may be tempted to ask the National Chairman of the APC why he chose to deal with a caretaker committee of APC which the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, had earlier presented the committee to him in the APC secretariat in Abuja, before constituting it as a caretaker committee.
“But curiously, you now deal with a caretaker committee instead of the elected Chairman. I hope you are aware of the court action filed against you and APC by the elected Chairman of APC in Rivers State, Emeka Beke. The old APC members by law are the APC leaders because they were never removed before the illegal caretaker committee was imposed on Rivers State, who are loyalists to Wike.”
The Ijaw leader similarly questioned the PDP Chairman’s knowledge of the FCT Minister’s anti-party activities, by seeking court injunctions against certain party chieftains, to prevent them from attending the National Executive Council meeting of April 18, 2024.
“Ambassador Damagum cannot honestly claim to be unaware of the grave anti-party activities being executed by Wike when he (Wike) secretly took court injunction against founding and senior members of PDP and senior officials from Rivers State like the former National Chairman of PDP Prince Uche Secondus, His Excellency Celestine Omehia, former Governor of Rivers State, Austin Okpara who was Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives in Abuja, Dr Abiye Sekibo, former Minister of Transportation, Sen Lee Maeba, etc to prevent them from attending the PDP NEC meeting of 18th April 2024.”
Clark therefore asked the party chairmen to caution Wike and to withdraw from what he described as the “madness of politics” of Rivers State while alleging that both men were equally involved in the crisis.
“As a patriotic old statesman, I strongly believe that I should address this letter to you to call to order FCT Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike because he is dancing naked in the open market in the politics of madness in Rivers State with one leg each in the two parties.
“I know both of you are fully aware of and involved in the political crisis in Rivers State, which is caused by Wike, who is controlling the two parties in Rivers State, particularly the PDP. I strongly advise both of you to withdraw from the madness of politics of Rivers State to avoid the dangerous crisis facing Rivers State, one of the most important states producing the resources used to sustain the economy of this country,” he added.
RonuFools: Shame Sometimes I wonder if you have consciousness at all Nigerians are now happy that a cup of garri is 200 Naira abi? There is an extent to being foolish and unserious even if you are being paid or you are benefiting from Tinubu directly.
Stop engaging this fool.....that's what gives h orgasm.
When she could have simply taken a vacation to Kenya......and relief herself of her industrial sexual urge by Kenyan Bushmen tribe, he vagina would have been speaking in tongues and stay clear of children's inexperienced pencil joysticks.
Convicted billionaire kidnapper Evans opts for plea bargain
The convicted billionaire kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, alias Evans facing attempted murder has approached the Lagos State High Court, in Ikeja for settlement.
Evans alongside his co-defendant Joseph Emeka, facing murder, and attempted kidnap has opted for the option of a plea bargain.
The state prosecution counsel, Mr. Yusuf Sule, on Thursday, informed the court about the plea bargain option after the case was called for the re-arraignment before Justice Adenike Coker.
Evans and his co-defendant are to be re-arraigned on an amended five-counts bordering on murder, attempt to murder, and conspiracy to commit felony to wit: kidnapping and attempt to murder.
Sule informed the court that the case was for re-arraignment but he was aware the defendant had applied for a plea bargain.
The prosecutor, however, said that the plea bargain terms were being considered by the Attorney-General of Lagos State, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN).
The National Judicial Council has resolved to issue warning letters to Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court; Justice G. B. Brikins-Okolosi of the Delta State High Court and Justice Amina Shehu of the Yobe State High Court
The trio were found guilty of different degrees of misconduct, during the 105th plenary meeting of the council, held between May 15 and 16, 2024; under the Chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the council’s Director of Information, Soji Oye, dated May 16, 2024, and sighted by PUNCH Online on Friday, May 17, 2024.
Ekwo and Brikins-Okolosi were barred from elevation to a higher Bench for two years and three years, respectively.
The statement noted that Ekwo is “warned for abuse of discretionary power of a judge by wrongly granting an ex parte order in suit no. FHC/ABJ/C/626/2023 Juliet Ebere Nwadi Gbaka & 2 Ors V Seplat Energy Plc & 12 Ors,
“The Hon. Judge is also barred from being elevated to a higher Bench for two years.
“Hon. Justice G. B. Brikins-Okolosi of Delta State High Court is also issued a warning for failure to deliver judgment within the stipulated period in Joseph Anene Okafor Vs Skye Bank, suit no. A/94/2010 after parties had filed and adopted their final Written Addresses.”
Brikins-Okolosi “will also not be elevated to a higher Bench for a period of three years,” the statement noted.
For Shehu, the council cautioned him “for issuing Writ of Possession Conferring Title on the Defendant in suit no. YBS/HC/NNR/1cv/2020 when there was no subsisting judgment of any court to enable His Lordship issue the Writ.”
The NJC also recommended two reports written against judges of the Federal and State High Courts for further investigation.
“Council at the meeting considered two Reports of its two Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees that filtered 35 petitions written against Judges of the Federal and State High Courts and decided to empanel eight Committees to further investigate the petitions that were found meritorious by the Committees,” the statement added.
Furthermore, the council dismissed petitions against several judges “for lack of merit, evidence of misconduct, subjudice or that they were matters that could be appealed.”
The dismissed petitions were against Justices A. M. Liman, A. A. Okeke, D. E. Osiagor (Federal High Court); Justices S. B. Belgore, and Bello Kawu (High Court of the Federal Capital Territory), among others.
“The Council deliberated on the notification of retirements of three Judicial Officers including that of the Chief Justice of Nigeria Hon Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON and notification of death of three Judges of the Federal and State Courts,” the statement concluded.
‘My plan was tradeport, not airport’ -Ex-Abia gov Ikpeazu refutes N10bn fraud allegation
A former Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, has responded to Governor Alex Otti’s remarks regarding the utilisation of N10bn for the Abia airport project, saying, “My aim was to develop tradeport, not airport.”
Addressing the matter in a viral video post on Olu ndi Igbo with the Twitter handle @VoiceOfTheEast, on Thursday, Ikpeazu defended his decision, stating that as the state governor, he had the power to alter projects based on priority and prevailing circumstances.
Ikpeazu further clarified that while critics question the allocation of funds for the airport, his primary concern was the judicious use of resources.
He emphasised that as the state’s leader, he had the prerogative to defer certain projects, stating, “I don’t want this airport now.”
Ikpeazu said that his intention was not merely to construct an airport for the sake of it, highlighting the financial constraints involved in maintaining such a facility in Abia State.
Explaining further, Ikpeazu said he was not thinking of building an airport for the sake of having aircraft land and take off, adding that Abia State had no money to maintain such an airport.
He said, “Right from the outset, we were thinking about trade port. All we do in Nigeria is airport, airport, airport and they don’t seem viable, I wasn’t thinking that Abia doesn’t have money to sustain an airport if it is for aeroplane will land an aeroplane will take off.
“So, we were saying we can bring small Ariaria into the airport so that somebody can come to the airport to shop and sleep, and wait and then connect the next flight to the next location as they do in Dubai – small conference centre, small hotel and whatever so people can be. There will be life even after you know, but at some point, we found out that we had 15 markets in Aba.
“At the point we were thinking about this trade port, we realised that the road to Ariaria was bad, the road to Eziukwu Market was bad, the road to Ngwa Road Market was bad.
“So we couldn’t connect all our markets and my vision obtained from my desire to drive trade and commerce was to interconnect all the markets. So, we decided to suspend the airport project. Today, when people talk about money for airport and whatever, I think they are questioning my decision to change my mind and I had the right at that time as governor to say I didn’t want this airport now because if you land at the airport, where are you going to?”
He said he agreed with the State Executive Council at that time for the government to fix some of the roads.
He added, “I am happy that today, I finished Eziukwu Road from that airport fund, I finished Faulks Road from that fund, Ngwa Road is okay, Osusu Road is okay. So, today you can connect with Ariaria through Osusu Road to Eziukwu Market and connect Eziukwu Market to Ngwa Road Market.
“So I succeeded in interconnecting all the markets courtesy of that fund.”
The former governor, while lauding his decision, said if his government had gone ahead, the N10 billion would not have built an airport.
“I know about some airports right now that were commissioned and are yet to receive aeroplanes. So, how would I tie down N10 billion for nothing? So, I assure you no time that the money was diverted,” he said.
On the allegation by his successor, Otti, that the money was diverted into 32 accounts, he said, “No, that’s far from it. We published the 32 contractors. In short, they were not 32, they were about over 20 because the Ministry of Works got money from that, and the Ministry of Public Utilities got money for streetlights from that, so it is wrong to say 32 contractors.
“But among the contractors, over 20 of them got as small as N30 million, some got N12 million.”
The former governor wondered what would he divert N12 million and N30 million for.
He added that then his administration gave the dates when the money was paid into the contractors’ accounts, it also revealed the identities of contractors given road contracts and the projects they were to handle.
He continued, “So, what I expect a discerning mind to do is to follow the trail. Nothing was paid in cash. You follow the trail and see if a dime was diverted into somebody’s account apart from the said purpose but if you trail and see that the man was buying asphalt, buying sand, buying gravel and you go to Faulks Road, you see that Faulks Road is still standing, the matter speaks for itself.
“The good thing is that if they follow the trail of that N10 billion, they will acknowledge with their mouth that some jobs are contrary to the opinion that they have out there. It will be clear that Faulks Road was done by this government with that fund, Eziukwu Road was done, and Ojike Lane was done, among others.”
Otti had recently said the immediate past administration transferred the N10 billion airport funds into 32 different company accounts before it was shared, adding that the money had already been transferred out of the state government account before they approached the Abia State House of Assembly for approval.
While noting that the denial of the former governor was not unexpected, Otti pointed out that it was reported in the media, that instead of denying spending the fund, they then claimed that they used it for road construction which is against the evidence available.
Cybercrime: Police lack power to arrest Nigerians over cyberstalking — Falana
HUMAN rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, yesterday, insisted that the police and other security agencies lack the power to arrest, detain and prosecute Nigerians over cyberstalking.
Falana, who called for the discontinuance of all pending cases filed on Section 24 of the Cybercrime Act 2015, added that the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS Court, had declared Section 24 of the Cybercrime Act 2015 illegal.
According to him, the ECOWAS court had also directed the Federal Government to amend the section to conform with the rights of Nigerians to freedom of expression.
In a statement, the rights activist said: “It has become illegal to arrest journalists for cyberstalking, insult, causing annoyance, offensive message and criminal intimidation.
“Section 24 of the Cybercrime Act, 2015 had criminalised ‘cyberstalking’, ‘insult’, ‘causing annoyance’, ‘sending offensive messages’, and ‘criminal intimidation’ ‘insult’, ‘causing annoyance’, ‘sending offensive messages’, and ‘criminal intimidation’. Specifically, section 24 provided as follows: (a) Any person who, knowingly or intentionally sends a message or other matter using computer systems or network that (a) is grossly offensive, pornographic or of an indecent, obscene, or menacing character or causes any such message or matter to be so sent; or (b) He knows to be false for causing annoyance, inconvenience danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will or needless anxiety to another or causes such a message to be sent: commits an offence under this Act and shall be liable on conviction to a fine of not more than N7million or imprisonment for a term of not more than 3 years or to both such fine and imprisonment.
“However, in the cases of Laws and Rights Awareness Initiative (Suit No. ECW/CCJ/APP/53/18) and Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (Suit Laws and Rights Awareness Initiative (Suit No ECW/CCJ/APP/09/19), the Ecowas Court declared section 24 of the Cybercrime Act 2015 illegal and directed the federal government to amend the section to make the law conform with the fundamental rights of Nigerian citizens to freedom of expression guaranteed by section 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999 and article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
“In line with both judgments of the Ecowas Court, the Government of Nigeria has repealed section 24 by removing the provisions relating to ‘cyber stalking’, ‘insult’, ‘causing annoyance’, ‘sending offensive messages’, and ‘criminal intimidation’ from the Cybercrime Act 2015 and replaced same with Section 5 of the Cybercrime Amendment Act which provides as follows: Any person who knowingly or intentionally sends a message or other matter using computer systems.
An Algerian man who had been missing for 26 years has been found in his neighbor's house.
Omar B disappeared at the age of 19 during the Algerian Civil War in 1998, and his family assumed he had been kidnapped or killed.
Now aged 45, he was discovered amid haystacks only about 200 meters away from his home in the city of Djelfa.
Algerian media reported that the victim said he had been unable to call out for help "because of a spell that his captor had cast on him."
The captor, a 61-year-old doorman at the municipality in the nearby town of El Guedid, was taken into custody after attempting to flee.
This man, who held Omar captive for over two decades, was not just a neighbor but also a municipal worker. His position might have helped him keep this heinous act hidden for so long.
The discovery of Omar was not a result of a planned search or investigation, but rather a fallout between the captor and his brother over an inheritance dispute.
The captor’s brother aired his grievances on social media, which led to the recovery of Omar.
After being held captive for 26 years, Omar is now receiving medical and psychological care.
The years of trauma he had to go through have left their mark, and his recovery process is likely to be a long one.
NEW: Man who disappeared 27 years ago at the age of 17, found alive 200 meters from his family's home in a neighbor's cellar.
Omar Bin Omran of Algeria disappeared 27 years ago. He went missing in 1998 on his way to a vocational school.
A 61-year-old is in police custody after his brother apparently exposed him on social media over an inheritance dispute.
The post tipped off the family of Omar who then stormed the man's home in search of their son. He was found under haystacks.
Omar was held in captivity by a man who lived alone and worked as a "civil servant." He was often seen purchasing food for two people.
"The Public Prosecutor's Office received a complaint against an anonymous person claiming that the complainant's brother, Omar bin Omran, who has been missing for about 30 years, is in the house of one of his neighbors, inside a sheepfold," a court official said.
It's not completely clear why Omar did not call for help for nearly 30 years.
Algerian media is reporting that Omar claimed he was unable to call for help because of a spell the abductor cast on him.
The Federal Government has charged tax practitioners to work harder in getting more revenue from taxes, stressing that tax revenue is currently the highest income source for the federation.
It disclosed this on Tuesday through the Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, at the 26th Annual Tax Conference of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria in Abuja, with the theme: Sustainable Tax Culture and Economic Roadmap for Nation Building.
The government pointed out that based on the current high revenue from taxes, members of the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee were always looking forward to the figures from the Federal Inland Revenue Service every month, in order to have funds to share to the three tiers of government.
Madein said, “Like the CITN, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation is committed to a sustainable tax culture that will ensure the continuous flow of revenues even at an improved level.
“Tax revenue as at today is the highest source of revenue accruing to the federation. Therefore at the Federation Account Allocation Committee meetings we eagerly await the numbers coming from the FIRS because the performance keeps on increasing and brings succour to all tiers of government.”
FIRS exceeded its 2023 revenue target by N816bn, as its total actual revenue collection for last year stood at N12.37tn, outperforming the N11.56tn target.
This is contained in a presentation by Amina Ado, Coordinating Director of Special Tax Operations Group at the FIRS.
At the CITN conference on Tuesday, the accountant-general tasked tax practitioners to step up efforts in collecting taxes, so as to shore up more revenue for the government to provide infrastructure and other amenities.
Madein said, “Let us remain steadfast in our commitment to building a better future for all. Together we can harness the transformative power of taxation to create a more prosperous, equitable and sustainable world.
“Like I said earlier, at FAAC we eagerly look forward to tax numbers because at the moment revenue from non-oil has been a great revenue source to the federation. “Therefore, to tax practitioners, you are doing so well, but we need more of this to be able to deliver on all the areas that the citizens are looking forward to, because for even infrastructure development, it is only through funds that we can get it done.”
She further stated that it was her strong belief that “the conference will go a long way to deepen the collaboration between our organisations in building capacity for all the professionals, experts and tax payers for better understanding of the tax laws, rules and regulations.”
On his part, the President/Chairman of Council, CITN, Samuel Agbeluyi, while delivering his remarks earlier, pointed out that the withdrawal of subsidies on fuel and electricity had reduced the purchasing power of the masses.
He noted that raising electricity tariff for a selected band after fuel subsidy was withdrawn “is going to reduce the purchasing power of the masses. So we urge govt to consider these actions on the masses. He, however, stated that the institute was happy to know that President Bola Tinubu had asked the Central Bank of Nigeria to slow down on the recent cybersecurity levy that was approved by the apex bank.
“We will continue to advise the govt on its policies, considering how these polices affect the citizens,” Agbeluyi stated.
It was reported on Sunday that President Bola had asked the CBN to suspend the implementation of the controversial cybersecurity levy policy and ordered a review.
This followed the decision of the House of Representatives, which, last Thursday, asked the CBN to withdraw its circular directing all banks to commence charging a 0.5 per cent cybersecurity levy on all electronic transactions in the country.
The CBN on May 6, 2024, issued a circular mandating all banks, mobile money operators, and payment service providers to implement a new cybersecurity levy, following the provisions laid out in the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) (Amendment) Act 2024.
According to the Act, a levy amounting to 0.5 per cent of the value of all electronic transactions will be collected and remitted to the National Cybersecurity Fund, overseen by the Office of the National Security Adviser.
Meanwhile, the CITN president explained that in building a sustainable tax culture in Nigeria, government at all levels have a great role to play.
“Taxation, in all its aspects, demands the utmost level of professionalism due to its critical importance to economic sustainability.
“In furtherance of efforts at sustaining a tax paying culture, it is important to emphasise judicious use of tax revenue to engender trust between government and the taxpayer thereby entrenching a taxpaying culture and by extension contributing to nation building.
“At the subnational level, particularly at the various revenue authorities, there is the need to invest in technology and people to effectively track revenues in the digital space including cryptocurrency to maximise government revenue flow,” he stated.
I’ll support death penalty for corruption; kill anyone who steals N1trillion, not N1m – Ndume
The Chief Whip of the Senate, Ali Ndume has revealed that he would support the death penalty for those stealing government money, cautioning that those who steal one million or one billion should not be killed, “but someone who steals one trillion of government money should be killed.”
Ndume also noted that corruption in Nigeria is people-driven, admitting that politicians steal and share with the people.
The Chief Whip stated this when he was featured on Channels TV Politics Today On Tuesday when questions about the death penalty as the deterrent for those caught with drugs were being fielded.
According to Ndume, “If you compare us, politicians, to all the corruption, it is very small. Our corruption is people-driven. If you steal it, you will go and share it with the people. If you don’t, you are not coming back for four years. There is no reason for stealing.
“I have been to the National Assembly, I can’t say because we are on TV now and not telling the truth. If the death penalty is supposed to be included in corruption, I will support it but you don’t go and kill someone that stole one million or one billion, no. But someone who steals one trillion of government money should be killed.
“The death penalty is the best deterrent for those being caught for drugs. If you do drugs, you are killing people.
“That means you have destroyed the lives of so many people and killed so many people,” he said.
Vanguard reported that the Senate passed the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act (Amendment Bill) 2024 bill, which prescribed the death penalty for persons found guilty of trading in hard drugs and narcotics.
Many legal Icons and CSOs have condemned the bill noting that it is not the way out to stop drug trafficking in the country while many clamoured for strict border control, some think that tackling the poverty rate in the country will stem the ugly tide of drug trafficking.
Keyamo: Emirates has given date to resume flight operations to Nigeria
Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development, says Emirates Airlines has given a definite date to resume flight operations to Nigeria.
The minister made this known on Wednesday in a post on his X page.
Keyamo said he got correspondence from Emirates Airline when he visited Salem Saeed Al-Shamsi, ambassador of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Abuja.
“Yesterday, I paid a working visit to the Ambassador of the UAE to Nigeria, His Excellency, Salem Saeed Al-Shamsi at the UAE Embassy in Abuja. He handed me a correspondence from the Emirates Airline indicating a definite date for their resumption of flights to Nigeria,” Keyamo said.
“That date will be formally announced by Emirates Airlines in a matter of days.”
In October 2022, Emirates Airlines suspended flight operations to Nigeria over its inability to repatriate funds trapped in the country.
The airline suspended operations twice last year, with the first in August 2022.
Emirates Airline said the suspension in October was due to its $85 million revenue trapped in Nigeria.
On November 19, 2023, Keyamo said Emirates Airlines would soon announce the exact date of their resumption of flight operations to Nigeria.
He also said the federal government is working on some details concerning the resumption.
The Nigerian Correctional Service NCoS has dismissed as untrue, online reports that it has established a hotel in Abuja, urging the public to be wary of misinformation.
Service Spokesman, Abubakar Umar, an Assistant Controller, disclosed this in a statement Wednesday in Abuja.
He said a malicious report making the rounds in some sections of the media has it that the Nigerian Correctional Service NCoS has just built a magnificent hotel.
According to him, the said report is not only misleading, but also targeted at misinforming the public.
He said for the avoidance of doubt, the said hotel was built in 2021 “And it is exclusively owned by the Correctional Cooperative Society COCOS), a Cooperative Society for all personnel of the Service which was formed in the year 1996”.
“The Cooperative Society operates a Microfinance Bank that provides financial soft-landing to both serving and retired personnel with the aim of improving their welfare through the provision of soft loans and other financial services.
“The Cooperative Society also serves as a fallback welfare system for retired and deceased personnel, while those who have been dismissed from Service get back their due entitlements upon disengagement. Presently, all such payments of entitlements to beneficiaries are up-to-date. The Cooperative Society has acquired housing estates, providing personnel, serving and retired, the opportunity to own personal houses without hassles.
“The said hotel has been opened for business since its establishment in 2021, and located along Bill Clinton Drive Airport Road, Abuja. In terms of funding and day-to-day administration, the hotel is owned by COCOS and managed as a corporate entity. The hotel has so far provided employment opportunities for many youths, and attracted commendations from dignitaries both within and outside.
“In his familiarization tour of the Service’s National Headquarters upon assumption of office, the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo commended the Service for the initiative of establishing the hotel and enjoined other institutions to emulate the Nigerian Correctional Service in this regard.
“The Controller General of Corrections (CGC) hereby advises the general public to disregard the said report as it is meant to cause chaos where none exists. He enjoins the public to patronize the hotel as it provides excellent services at competitive prices.
Nigerians compare sparkling ‘prison’ service’ hotel with nation’s infamous dilapidated cells
Nigerians have been comparing the Nigerian Correctional Service Hotel with the nation’s infamous correctional facilities.
The 105-room hotel said to be an investment of the Correctional Service Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society, was inaugurated by the immediate past Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, in 2021.
However, the sparkling pictures of the “investment” posted on the correctional service’s Facebook page, left many Nigerians wondering as to the irony of such building.
The Nigerian Correctional Service Hotel was opened in 2021 Presently, many correctional facilities are reported to have fallen short of the best standard.
Inmates are said to be held in dilapidated, overcrowded cells, leading to hazardous living conditions.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, recently stated that since the name of the Nigerian Prison Service was changed to Nigerian Correctional Service, there have been more jailbreaks in the country.
Unsatisfied with the images of the hotel, many users commented their frustration.
Sadeeq Shehu decried the modern facility in contrast to what he called prisons “built of mud”
He wrote, “While Nigerian Correctional Service (alias prisons) has a modern hotel, it has prisons built of mud. All Nigerian security agencies should be divested from all business ventures so that they can concentrate on the job.”
Sunday Peter Pepa opined that such an edifice is a deviation from the core objectives of the service.
“What is Nigerian Correctional service doing with hotel? This is a clear deviation from objectives. When there are so many challenges that require urgent attention in the prisons, this money should have been channeled to the appropriate areas,” he declared.
Osita Edekobi’s thoughts were not far from others.
He stated that the prisons should be better improved than having a hotel.
“Nigeria Correctional Service is an agency of the Federal Government, financed, sponsored, and empowered by the FG. What’s the essence of building hotels instead of improving our prisons across the nation? I hope it’s not what I’m thinking,” he wrote.
On assumption of office as the Minister of Interior, Dr. Tunji Olubunmi-Ojo, revealed plans that he would reform the correctional service, noting that his administration would see towards alleviating congestion in custodial centres as well as providing inmates with the opportunity for rehabilitation and reintegration into the society.
“I also would like to give assurance that under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, we would do everything humanly possible to reform our custodial centres, such as the decongestion of those centres —of course, with beaming life, and hope we’d groom inmates and help inmates to ensure proper re-integration into the society,” he said.
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