₦airaland Forum

Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-John is currently battling for her life after being hospitalised in Abuja for suffering acute poisoning from unknown origins.

Her family members who fear time was running against their efforts to save her life spoke to Peoples Gazette on Friday.

Lola Ade-John was said to have been rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, shortly after she started manifesting symptoms of her poisoning, according to family sources familiar with her ordeal. She has spent four days at the facility as of Friday morning.

Ms Ade-John, a career banker and tech investor, has been on a machine to aid her breathing, our sources said. The specifics as to what substance she ingested and how could not be immediately established.

The police and the State Security Service did not immediately return a request on whether or not any investigations had been opened into the matter.

Her worsening situation has further set the family against the government, with the permanent secretary of her ministry said to be in disagreement as to whether she should continue receiving treatment at a public hospital or be moved to a better-equipped private facility downtown.

The permanent secretary, Ngozi Onwudike, was said to have insisted that the minister should not be transferred because the FMC is a public hospital and its services wouldn’t attract substantial charges to the government, a position her family rebuffed.

But they remained with her as they could not raise funds to move her to a private hospital, sources said. A phone number for the permanent secretary did not connect on Friday morning.

Ms Ade-John was appointed as a minister by President Bola Tinubu in August. She was immediately touted as one of the few cabinet members appointed from outside the political beltway. She was based in London for years before she was asked to return to the country to serve by the president.

https://dailygistonline.com.ng/just-in-tinubu-minister-poisoned-in-abuja-battles-for-life-daily-gist/

A serious tragedy has been averted after a plane carrying the Osun State governor, Ademola Adeleke and his special advisers caught fire at take-off point at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos.

According to Leadership, the incident happened on Tuesday at the domestic wing of the Airport when the jet was about to take off from Lagos to Abuja.

However, the incident wasn’t formally communicated to the concerned Aviation regulatory authorities, a development that is against standard protocol.

The private jet is believed to be owned by billionaire businessman, Chief Adedeji Adeleke, father of Afrobeat singer, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido.

According to report, the jet, with Osun State governor, Ademola Adeleke, on board and his top aides at the time of the incident, had taxied to the end of the runway, shortly before departure, when a loud explosion was heard from the engine of the jet, causing it to abort take-off immediately.

“No deaths or injuries were reported, and other passengers in the plane as of the time of the incident could not be ascertained,” a source privy to the development said.

It was gathered that the jet had been parked at the Executive Jet hanger of the Airport before it was deployed on September 5.

Athough there were no injuries or deaths recorded from the incident, however, it was learnt that all parties including the Airport authorities, the Osun State government and the owners of the private hanger have been desperate to ensure that the news of the incident doesn’t get to the public domain.

The chief executive officer (CEO), Executive Jets, owners of the hangar where the private jet was parked, Sam Iwuajoku confirmed the incident

He revealed that the Chief Adeleke’s private jet had Foreign Object Damage (FOD) that made the aircraft experienced high temperature, which resulted into the explosion.

According to him, the FOD was caused by a bird nest in one of the engines of the jet.

“At take-off, the engine had high temperature and it was caused by bird nest in one of the engines of the aircraft. It happened when an aircraft is parked and not properly covered so, birds will build their nest and anything they bring into the aircraft can spark high temperature.

“It happened to one of my aircraft in 2021, we had to remove the engine and the engine was in Germany for 14 months. So, it’s a common thing in Africa because we have birds around,” he stated.

https://dailygistonline.com.ng/plane-carrying-gov-adeleke-aides-catches-fire/

The Government of Canada has announced various scholarship programs to support international candidates from Nigeria and other countries.

This fully-funded scholarship is for individual interested in studying, conducting research, or pursuing professional development in Canada for short durations.

These scholarships are administered at the University of Alberta and encompass programs such as the Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program (ELAP), Canada-ASEAN Scholarships, Educational Exchanges for Development (SEED), and the Study in Canada Scholarships.

SCHOLARSHIP DETAILS

1. $15,900 CAD - 8 months - Undergraduate - SEED, Study in Canada Scholarships
2. $12,700 CAD - 5-6 months - Graduate - SEED, Study in Canada Scholarships
3. $11,100 CAD - 5-6 months - Graduate - ELAP (Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program)
4. $10,200 CAD - 4 months - Both Undergraduate and Graduate - SEED, Study in Canada Scholarships
5. $8,200 CAD - 4 months - Both Undergraduate and Graduate - ELAP (Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program)

ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible for the Government of Canada International Scholarships at the University of Alberta, applicants must fulfill the following criteria:

- Undergraduate applicants seeking research-based opportunities should provide an institutional collaboration agreement or a Letter of Invitation from a University of Alberta professor willing to supervise them.
- Graduate applicants may benefit from an inter-institutional agreement but it's not mandatory.
- Students must be enrolled full-time in their intended degree program during the application.
- Proficiency in the language of instruction (English or French) at the Canadian institution is required before arrival since language training is not covered by the scholarship.

INTERESTED INDIVIDUAL SHOULD CLICK THIS LINK TO APPLY

https://dailygistonline.com.ng/apply-canada-announces-fully-funded-scholarships-for-nigerians-others/

Famous Nigerian Actress and comedienne, Adeyela Adebola, popularly known as Lizzy Jay and Omo Ibadan has begged for prayers from concerned Nigerians after her n▪︎d£ video surfaced online.

The video was said to have released by a yet-to-be-identified person who have been blackmailing her.

The comic actress in a statement via her Instagram page on Friday explained the circumstances behind the video and how it eventually got into wrong hands.

According to Lizzy Jay, the blackmailer got hold of her priv@t£ recording after hacking her email. His efforts to extort her with the clip was futile, so he made the private video public.

She also noted that she would be officially reporting the case to the rightful authorities for further investigations.

Her statement reads: “For the past few days, I have received calls and message from someone who claim to have my n•d€s. The calls and comment on my page are aimed at forcing me to a negotiation table to become a victim of blackmail.

For the records, the said video is a video I made to my doctor to complain about a reaction I am having to a particular medication which includes Rashes on my body and in my priv@t€ part, Pile, bleeding E.t.c I couldn’t have a physical examination with my Doctor , so I made a video of my body and priv@t€ part, then screenshot the part I wanted my doctor to see from the video and send to him so that he could prescribe me drugs to use.

And I deleted the video immediately the video which I made over a year now, was made via Snapchat because I hardly use it and it felt safer.

The man trying to blackmail me hacked in to one of my email accounts and use it to gain access into my Snapchat. He took hold of the video and has since shared it since I refused to deal.

I am putting this statement out for the records.

I will be visiting the police PRO to make a formal complaint and give them every details and pictures I was able to find connecting to the blackmailer.

Please put me in your prayers as I survive this storm of blackmailer.

NB: What I sent to my Doctor was a screenshot from the video I made, not the entire video, so my Doctor is not in anyway connected to this blackmail at all.”

https://dailygistonline.com.ng/just-in-blackmailer-releases-popular-comedienne-lizzy-jay-omo-ibadan-video/

Nationwide blackout is looming after the national grid system, operated by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) from Osogbo in Osun State collapsed in the wee hours of Thursday

According to report, the grid plummeted to a meagre 273 megawatts of electricity coming from two out of the over 27 electricity generation.

This comes barely a week after TCN, rolled out the drum to celebrate a questionable 400 days of grid stability.

Electricity distribution companies (DisCos), in different notices to customers, said the national grid collapsed at about 12.40 am on Thursday.

Ndidi Mbah, spokesperson for the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), also confirmed the development.

“It is a system collapse, but we are trying to restore it,” she said.

As of 4:00 a.m. on Thursday, five generating plants were on the grid. Afam VI had 0.70MW, Dadinkowa was generating 0.00MW, Ibom Power had 32.90MW, Jebba had 240MW and Olorunsogo was on the grid with zero generation.

At about 1AM midnight, the total power on the grid was 35MW, indicating that the country experienced a total collapse.

The grid went to 193MW at about 3AM before climbing to 273MW when this report was filed.

This is the first time the electricity national grid will be collapsing in more than one year.

https://dailygistonline.com.ng/breaking-nigerias-electricity-grid-collapses-nationwide/

The federal government through the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission(FCCPC) has delisted more illegal loan apps in the country.

The number of delisted loan apps has risen to 37, according to a statement on the commission's website. The number of fully approved loan apps also grew to 164 from 154

The number of loan apps with conditional approval declined to 38 from 40, and the number of apps on the commission’s watchlist grew to 56 from 20.

This followied a sustained shakeup of the digital money lending space by the FCCPC, after harassment of Nigerians by the lenders.

According to the commission, delisted loan apps were permanently deleted by Google from Play Store.

It stated that the list of delisted apps included, “Swiftkash App, Hen Credit Loan App, Cash Door App, Joy Cash-Loan Up To 1,000,000 App, Eaglecash App, Luckyloan Personal Loan App, Getloan App, Easeloan Apps, Naira Naija, Cashlawn App, Easynaira App, Crediting App, Yoyi App, Nut Loan App, Cashpal App, Nairaeasy Gist Loan App, Camelloan App, Nairaloan App, Moneytreefinance Made Easy App

“Cashme App, Secucash App, Creditbox App, Cashmama App, Crimson Credit App, Galaxy Credit App, Ease Cash App, Xcredit, Imoney, Naira Naija, Imoneyplus-Instant, Nairanaija-Instant, Nownowmoney, Naija Cash, Eagle Cash, Firstnell App, Flypay, and Spark Credit."

https://dailygistonline.com.ng/full-list-fg-delists-37-popular-loan-apps-in-nigeria/

A Nigerian Pastor, identified as Reverend Sowata has been caught red-handed allegedly $l3£ping with the friend of his wife.

DAILY GIST gathered that the incident happened in Delta state.

According to the clergyman, it was a mistake.

Reverend Sowata was caught in the act with a woman whom he admitted was his wife's friend and also a worker in his church.

He also revealed that he slept with her twice.

WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CxFvhvhsyoF/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

https://dailygistonline.com.ng/trending-video-nigerian-pastor-caught-red-handed-with-his-wifes-friend/

This is so sad

All she wanted to do was to get a better life

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced plan to inject $10 billion into the foreign exchange market to clear the forex backlog as scarcity persists.

The Acting Governor of the CBN, Folashodun Shonubi who made this known in Lagos said the financial regulator will work with Nigerian deposit money banks (DMBs) to disburse the forex.

According to him, business owners, international students, importers are eligible for the Forex clearance

He stated that the banks will be vital in clearing the backlogs, considering the DMBs control 75 per cent of forex transactions.

The backlogs pertain to different structures within the foreign exchange market, as requests for forex cut across businesses and education and personal needs.

Breaking down the applications that will be sorted after being stalled for years due to a drop in Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs), Foreign Portfolio Investments (FPIs) inflows and international reserves, the apex bank chief mentioned manufacturers and importers of raw material inputs.

Other applicants listed are requests for dollars to pay international school fees, and medical bills abroad, as well as Business Travel Allowances (BTAs) and Personal Travel Allowances (PTAs).

Explaining the situation around the forex backlog, Shonubi said: “As matter of fact, there is a large amount of the obligations that the banks in Nigeria have already taken on. So, what happened was that at maturity, they actually make the foreign exchange available for those who needed to use them like importers and what have you.

“There are some customers who still have their obligations and part of the restructuring with the banks in Nigeria, is also to clear that backlog. That is something we have been discussing for a while. I expect that we will do that, within the next one or two weeks.

“What that means, therefore, is that this obligation that people keep on talking about will not be left. Today, we still intervene in the market, so it is not as if it has affected our ability to make monies available to banks in the Investors and Exporters foreign exchange market.

“When we look at the volumes, the Central Bank of Nigeria today contributes less than 25 per cent into the forex market. And the aim if you remember about a year and a half ago, was that the Central Bank did not want to be a regular player, but more of intervening to stabilize the rates and that is where we are going.

“There are so much more foreign exchange that people don’t talk about, that is being made available through the banking system and banks are selling to their customers. It doesn’t come to the Central Bank, it doesn’t appear as part of the demand that comes to us. And it is significant. It is almost three times what we as a Central Bank make available.”

https://dailygistonline.com.ng/just-in-cbn-lists-students-others-as-beneficiaries-of-10billion-forex-clearance/

A 100 level student of the Federal University of Oye Ekiti, FUOYE, identified as Atanda Modupe Deborah has been found dead two days after she went missing.

DAILY GIST gathered that her body was found buried in a shallow grave on Wednesday 6 September, 2023 with eyes reportedly plucked out.

Recall that Deborah, a student of Nursing Department, stream A, Faculty of Basic Medical Science, went missing after she had gone to study in a class on Monday night, September 4, 2023.

Her roommates declared her missing when she did not return to her room. But her body was found buried in a shallow grave behind her faculty with her eyes plucked out.

Reacting to this incident in a statement on Wednesday evening, the Registrar of the University, Mufutau Ibrahim, ordered all students to vacate the campuses.

The university management stated further that armed security personnel have been quickly deployed for patrol, surveillance and security purposes, and that several arrests have been made.

“The University Management has received a report on the case of Ms Modupe Deborah Atanda who was reported missing as at Wednesday, 6th September 2023; and Management is saddened at the current turn of events,” the statement read.

“It is pertinent to promptly inform the entire University community that immediate steps have been taken in this regard, as all National Security Personnel have been drafted to handle the situation. As a matter of fact, several arrests have been made of suspects.

“To this end, all students (Stream A and any other full-time student still on any of the University’s campuses) are hereby directed to vacate the premises with immediate effect to ensure a proper, holistic and unimpeded thorough investigation, please

“It is worthy of note that armed security personnel have been quickly deployed for patrol, surveillance and security purposes.

“Rest assured that all steps would be taken by the University to fish out any and all culpable persons; and they shall face the full and unmitigated consequences of their action(s)

“A new resumption date for all students would be conveyed accordingly. We sincerely regret any inconveniences these may have.

The Registrar of the university also released another statement confirming Deborah’s death.

“It will be recalled that earlier today, the Management had made public the disturbing development of the missing of the deceased and assured that investigation was ongoing as to unravel the whereabouts of the poor students.

“But current information reaching the security outfit of the University has disclosed that the said student is dead.

“While the University Management condoles with the deceased family and the generality of the University community, particularly our dear students, the Management reiterated that investigation is still ongoing and this is being done in collaboration with national security agencies to get to the root of the sad development and bring to book the culprits.

“We, therefore, appeal to students and all other stakeholders to remain calm,“ the statement reads.

https://dailygistonline.com.ng/missing-fuoye-student-deborah-killed-on-campus-with-eyes-plucked-out/

The robustness and strength of a currency is primarily attributed to factors such as the nation's stable economy, minimal inflation, and low interest rates.

In the continent of Africa, there are 54 countries and despite the challenges facing most governments in the continent, some countries have maintained a resilient and stable currency.

The highest currency in Africa in 2023 is the Tunisian Dinar but the North African country is not the only one that has a strong currency; below are a list of strong African currencies in 2023 and in no particular order.

1. Tunisian Dinar (TND)

Tunisia’s TND was introduced in 1960 which replaced the Franc. The TND is strong because of the country’s political stability and diverse economy which has made it Africa’s most valuable currency.

1 pound equals 3.89 TND , 1 USD equals 3.08 Tunisian Dinar and 1 Naira equals 0.0041

2. Libyan Dinar (LYD)

The official currency for Libya is the Libyan Dinar. Introduced in 1971 to replace the Libyan Pound used from 1951 to 1971, the Libyan Dinar has become one of Africa’s strong currencies.

1 pound equals 6.10 LYD , 1 USD equals 4.82 Libyan Dinar and 1 Naira equals 0.0064

3. Moroccan Dirham (MAD)

The Moroccan Dirham is one of the continent’s most stable currencies. The notes are available in denominations of 20, 50, 100, and 200, and the Bank al-Maghrib issues them. The Dirham comprises 100 santims and is available in nine coins and four banknote denominations.

1 pound equals 12.62 MAD , 1 USD equals 9.98 Moroccan Dirham and 1 Naira equals 0.013

4. Ghanaian Cedi (GHS)

The cedi is the Republic of Ghana’s fourth historical and only current legal tender. The Ghanaian cedi replaced the Ghanaian Pound in 1965 and the current currency was reintroduced in 2007 after it was devalued three times due to economic difficulties.

1 pound equals 14.35 GHS , 1 USD equals 11.35 Ghanaian Cedi and 1 Naira equals 0.015

5. Botswanan Pula (BWP)

The currency of Botswana is called the Pula which was gotten from the Tswana word meaning rain – which is also the country’s national motto. It was inntroduced in August 1976, replacing the rand.

1 pound equals 17.01 BWP , 1 USD equals 13.46 Botswanan Pula and 1 Naira equals 0.018

6. Seychelles’ Rupee (SCR)

The Seychelles Rupee is the official legal tender in Seychells and another strong and valuable currency in Africa. 1 pound equals 16.72 SCR , 1 USD equals 13.23 Seychellois Rupee and 1 Naira equals 0.017

7. Namibian Dollar (NAD)

The Namibian dollar has been the official currency of Namibia since 1993 when it was replaced by the South African Rand but the rand can still be used or exchanged in Namibia as it is still considered a legal tender in the country.

1 pound equals 23.57 NAD , 1 USD equals 18.65 Namibian Dollar and 1 Naira equals 0.024

8. South African Rand (ZAR)

In March 2023, the South African Rand ranks tenth in the continent with an exchange rate of 18.75 ZAR versus the US dollar. The rand was introduced in 1961, three months before South Africa became a republic. It is also legal tender in the Common Monetary Area (Eswatini, Lesotho, and Namibia).

1 pound equals 23.68 ZAR , 1 USD equals 18.75 South African Rand and 1 Naira equals 0.025

It is important to note that the strength of a currency can fluctuate over time. The currencies listed above may be stronger or weaker in the future depending on the economic and political conditions in these countries.

https://dailygistonline.com.ng/full-list-top-8-strongest-currencies-in-africa/

An investigative report by PREMIUM TIMES has exposed how a committee of the House of Representatives charged with investigating job racketeering in government parastatals has been engaging in extortion of money from heads of federal ministries, departments and agencies, including those of tertiary institutions across the country.

The committee, which initially gained public support for its anti-corruption stance, is accused of intimidating agency heads into paying bribes to avoid public disgrace and indictment.

The report indicts heads of the nation's federally-owned universities; 51 vice-chancellors; rectors of the 35 federally-owned polytechnics and provosts of the 27 federally-owned colleges of education.

So far, the probe has reportedly collected over N267 million ($652,000) in bribes from tertiary institutions alone, with the potential to extort billions from various federal agencies.

The committee, known for loudly posturing as an anti-corruption body, has ironically been intimidating heads of agencies into paying huge bribes to avoid being disgraced in public and indicted in a report to be issued after the ongoing hearings to which almost all the heads of the nation’s federal institutions have been summoned to appear.

The corrupt ad hoc committee of 39 lawmakers was constituted following a motion on 5 July by Oluwole Oke, a Peoples Democratic Party member representing the Obokun/Oriade federal constituency of Osun State, who urged the lower legislative chamber to investigate the monumental graft surrounding personnel recruitment in government parastatals.

“The process of employment into the civil service has become one that is fraught with endemic corruption,” Mr Oke told his colleagues as he read a prepared motion listed on the Order Paper of the day.

“Public institutions have since stopped the process of advertising for jobs and vacancies. Even in the few instances where adverts are published, the slots are already commodified and available for the highest bidders. Most institutions now sell employment notwithstanding the qualification of the applicant and the ability of the applicant to perform optimally on the job,” he added.

Mr Oke then requested the House to set up an ad hoc committee to investigate all MDAs and tertiary institutions. The Deputy Speaker, Ben Kalu, who presided over plenary on that date, agreed. He then went ahead to constitute an ad hoc committee with 37 members—one lawmaker per state and the Federal Capital Territory.

Deputy Speaker Ben Kalu did not announce a chairperson for the Committee. It was Speaker Tajudeen Abbas who, the following day, appointed Yusuf Gagdi (APC, Plateau) to lead the panel. Mr Gagdi, one of the contenders who stepped down for Mr Abbas during the June speakership tussle, was not on the original list announced by the deputy speaker.

Mr Oke was also not on the list announced by Mr Kalu. Neither was he mentioned by the speaker as a member of the committee. It remains unclear how he became a very active member of the panel.

Many Nigerians, especially those feeling shortchanged by the routine recruitment misconducts in several federal agencies, praised the formation of the committee and had high expectations that the panel would produce shocking revelations and restore sanity to the recruitment processes in the federal service.

The highly anticipated inquiry began on 25 July with a classic case involving the Federal Character Commission (FCC), an agency established to ensure every state of the federation is equitably represented in the federal public service, but which soon became notorious for aiding and abetting job racketeering.

The dramatic and nauseating FCC case gave the Committee widespread publicity and heightened public interest in the proceedings. Mr Oke was very active and was highly critical of Muheeba Dankaka, the chairperson of the FCC, who sent representatives to the committee with a letter saying she was too ill to personally attend the hearing on the opening day. But shortly before the letter was read, Mr Oke and another lawmaker from Nasarawa, Jonathan Gaza, walked into Hearing Room 034, the venue of the proceeding.

Not long after the lawmaker’s arrival, Mrs Dankaka’s letter was read by Mr Gagdi, who almost agreed with the request to fix another date for her to reappear. Proving tough, Mr Oke disagreed sharply with his colleagues and insisted that Mrs Dankaka should provide a medical report that she was sick.

PREMIUM TIMES investigation revealed that the initial drama and tough stance of the so-called anti-corruption committee were orchestrated to gain credibility and intimidate agency heads before launching a well-designed scheme to extort money from them through fronts disguised as consultants.

While a few agencies with uncompromising leadership were being scapegoated and harassed during the daily hearing as TV cameras rolled, some committee members were detailed to, behind closed doors, negotiate illicit payments by heads of institutions considered culpable of recruitment irregularities, our findings show.

In exchange for the money paid, those agency heads were to be exempted from scrutiny and public humiliation. They would also be exempted from indictment in the committee’s report. Those who failed to pay were to be subjected to public humiliation and disgrace during sham public hearings flooded by journalists, cameras and microphones.

For instance, on Tuesday, August 15, some committee members met with heads of the nation’s federally-owned universities – 51 vice-chancellors – and afterwards secretly negotiated two million naira bribe from each of them to save themselves from public humiliation and eventual indictment.

During the negotiation with the leadership of the Committee of Vice Chancellors, representatives of the committee demanded three million naira from each institution. The professors protested, saying their institutions were poorly funded and that it would be difficult to raise the bribe money.

The committee members then shifted ground, reducing the bribe payment to two million naira each but warning of dire consequences for anyone who failed to pay. The vice-chancellors were then given Account Number 5400495458, domiciled in Providus Bank, to pay into. The lawmakers even instructed the vice-chancellors to “clearly indicate the name of the institution in the payment invoice”.

List showing names of the 37 members of the committee where some have been accused of extortion.

The committee members also held separate meetings with rectors of the 35 federally-owned polytechnics and provosts of the 27 federally-owned colleges of education. Three million naira bribe was then demanded from each of them.

When contacted, the chairperson of the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU), Lillian Salami, said she was at a meeting and would call our reporter back. The University of Benin vice chancellor has yet to do so as of the time of publishing this report. Subsequent calls to her did not connect as her mobile telephone appeared to be switched off . She also did not reply to a text message sent to her on the matter.

Sagir Abbas, the alternate chairperson of the group and vice-chancellor of Bayero University Kano, did not answer or return calls. He also did not reply to a text message sent to him.

The officials were given a deadline of Thursday, 24 August, to pay or be ready to incur the wrath of the entire House of Representatives, not only in the job racketeering case but in other matters as well.

We were able to determine that several agency heads, panicked by the threats of the lawmakers, have since paid the bribes.

From the tertiary institutions alone, over N267 million is estimated to have been collected by the panel in illicit payments. And with the scope of the committee now expanded to cover the federal government’s almost 1,500 MDAs and corporations, the committee may be on its way to extorting billions from the nation’s federal institutions.

The newspaper investigation found that one of the bank accounts into which the bribe payments are being made belongs to a certain Ama Business Solutions, a company fronting for the committee as a consultant. The company, with registration number 3156889, was incorporated on 12 August 2020 to engage in the business of general contract and merchandising. Company documents gave the firm’s principal place of business as Plot 2249, Zone 4 Plaza, Constantine Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.

AMA Business Solution has two directors – Abubakar Lawal Sambo (44) and Abdulrahman Lawal Sambo (48). Both men, who appear to be brothers, claim to be businessmen, according to their corporate filings.

But the older of the brothers, Abdulrahman Sambo, was also profiled as having served as a senior legislative aide to former Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila between 2019 and 2023. That meant he served as director of a private enterprise while being a public servant, a violation of Nigeria’s Code of Conduct law.

His profile also claims he served in the 2019 APC presidential campaign council and sits on the Board of Chrysalis Youth Foundation, of which Olawale Edun, the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, is chairperson.

The Sambos could not be reached to comment on our findings. Their company has no online presence, and our reporters could not find them or their business when they visited the address listed on the company’s corporate fillings. They also have yet to respond to an email sent to them.

https://dailygistonline.com.ng/exposed-fg-committee-set-up-to-probe-bribery-caught-collecting-bribe-from-agencies/

The authority of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State has said the institution is working on reviewing the dress code for students on campus.

The management also disassociated itself from a viral memo banning students from ki$$ing, hugging, and wearing s€xually provocative dresses, among others.

The Public Relations Officer of the university, Abiodun Olarewaju stated this in a response to DAILY GIST's enquiries on the new purported dress code.

Mr Abiodun disclosed that the viral statement circulating online was not from the institution, noting that the management was working on releasing the authentic circular.

The viral memo seen by DAILY GIST but which was not signed nor contained OAU letterhead had indicated that students who defaulted in 26 offenses risk punishment of either one-semester or two-semester rustication, depending on the nature of the offense.

The memo had said, “In view of the contemporary trend of events in the university, any student found guilty of violation of the following dress codes in the university risks rustication for one semester.”

“In addition to the above, any student found guilty of violation of the following dress codes in the university risks rustication for two semesters.”

But Mr Abiodun said the circular was not from the university.

He said, “No, it’s not from us, and that is not news, news items are what you think are authentic. So, this is just designed malice fabricated by some scrupulous element.

“Look at it very well, nobody signed the document, no logo of the university and the write-up is not even clear enough, so such a thing cannot emanate from a university of our standard.”

"Let's just wait and see how it goes. I will properly write an official statement when the time comes" Mr Abiodun told DAILY GIST.

While reiterating that the memo was not from the school, the PRO however said the university will not hesitate to punish any student who flouts its rules or its matriculation oath.

In a memo addressed to the students’ union and the staff unions of the institution, titled “Review of the Code of Conduct for the University Community and Other Policies in the University.” all the unions were urged to send feedback to the Directorate of Legal Services of the university.

https://dailygistonline.com.ng/exclusive-oau-speaks-on-new-dress-code-for-students-to-release-authentic-circular/

The newly appointed minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, is still a serving member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has revealed.

HURIWA, in a statement signed by its National President, Emmanuel Onwubiko, on Wednesday said Musawa was posted to Onyilokwu Onyilowa and Co., said to be located at the old Banex Plaza, Abuja.

The management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) also confirmed that Hannatu Musawa is a serving corps member.

In a statement titled: “You can’t be a serving NYSC Corper and Minister at the Same Time” HURIWA alleged that her NYSC posting details are FC/23A/505.

Blasting the Senator Godswill Akpabio-led 10th Senate for allowing Musawa to “take a bow and go” HURIWA questioned the gesture by the lawmakers, some of whom, it hinted, had prior knowledge that there were unanswered posers over her NYSC status.

Onwubiko said, “The Nigerian Senate allowed Hannatu Musawa, then ministerial nominee, to ‘bow and go’ despite the controversy surrounding her National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) certificate.”

Musawa was the last ministerial nominee to show up for Senate’s screening during penultimate Tuesday’s plenary session of the Nigerian Senate.

HURIWA described as “despicable what was a routine with the Godswill Akpabio-led Senate, in which the then ministerial nominee Ms. Musawa was asked to ‘take a bow and go’ without being asked any questions about her academic qualifications, including the controversy surrounding her NYSC certificate which, as confirmed to HURIWA by a credible source in the NYSC, that the Minister is actually a Youth corps member.”

HURIWA also recalled that in 2020, the Lawan-led Senate rejected Musawa’s nomination as the Commissioner into representing PENCOM.

It said, “Her failure to submit her National Youth Service (NYSC) certificate was cited as reason for her rejection. While it is compulsory for every Nigerian graduate to take part in the National Youths Service Corps for one year, graduates who are above 30 years are exempt from the national service.

”Section 13 of the National Youths Service Corps Act stipulates that any Nigerian graduate below 30 who refuses to make himself/herself available for the compulsory one-year service has committed an offence “and liable on conviction to a fine of N4,OOO or to imprisonment for a term of two years or to both such fine and imprisonment.”

HURIWA which also condemned Musawa for her alleged display of illegality by spreading crispy N1,000 notes to some local Hausa musicians at an event in which she was reportedly being celebrated over her appointment as Minister.

The rights group has asked the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) investigate her and possibly arrest and prosecute the Minister ”for breaching the extant law which prohibits such abuses of the national currency of Nigeria.”

HURIWA also challenged the NYSC to compel the Minister to choose “between completing her engagement as a corps member under the NYSC and then bag her NYSC Certificate or to disengage from being a Youth corps member and then focus on her new task as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

HURIWA wondered why Musawa’s accurate status was not disclosed to members of the public even as the Senate “sensationally failed to screen her as it should.”

Onwubiko added: ”HURIWA wonders the kind of scrutiny being conducted by the Department of State Services so much so that it wasn’t disclosed that the Minister is actually a Youth corper…Years back, Musawa abandoned her NYSC in Ebonyi State but later showed interest to complete it in which she was mobilized this year and posted to a law firm in Abuja where she is as a corper before President Tinubu picked her as a ministerial nominee, she was confirmed by Senate without proper screening and sworn in by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Minister of Arts.”

The NYSC Public Relations Officer (PRO), Eddy Megwa confirmed that the Minister is indeed a serving corps member.

Responding to enquiries made about the Minister, He said: ”Yes, she is currently doing her compulsory one-year National Youth Service. She was mobilised some time ago when she was below 30 years of age, but she absconded from service.

”Some time ago, she came back and indicated interest to complete her service, and she was re-mobilised in line with the NYSC Act.”

When asked if it was proper for her to still serve even when she is above 40 years of age, the NYSC spokesman said that the scheme acted in line with NYSC Act because the reason for any Corps member not being able to complete his or her service may stem from natural cause such as ill health.

“A Corps member may fail to complete his or her service due to natural cause, for example ill health. If such a Corps member comes back to complete the compulsory one-year service, the scheme must re-mobilize such a person since we cannot just give out the certificate without completing the service.”

Also asked if her appointment as Minister contravened the NYSC Act, Megwa said “According to NYSC Act, it’s illegal for her to hold any government position in Nigeria. It contravenes the laws of NYSC Act.”

https://dailygistonline.com.ng/extra-president-tinubu-swore-in-serving-corps-member-as-minister/

Niger junta leaders have sent a message to President Bola Tinubu who is doubled as chairman of Economic Community For West African States, ECOWAS amidst military coup in the country.

The message was submitted to Tinubu by the Leader of the ECOWAS delegation to Niger Republic, General Abdulsalami Abubakar

Abdulsalami expressed hope that diplomacy and not war would prevail as stakeholders brainstorm to find a lasting solution to the coup in Niger Republic.

The former Nigerian Military Head of State spoke to reporters Tuesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, after a meeting convened by the President, who is the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The meeting was also attended by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, and the National Security Adviser (NSA) to the President, Malam Nuhu Ribadu.

General Abubakar, who had over the last weekend held a meeting with the ousted President of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, and the leaders of the junta in the country, said he had delivered the terms of the Abdouramane Tchiani-led junta to ECOWAS.

According to him, correspondences had begun between the West African regional bloc and the military in Niger.

He said the line of contact opened by ECOWAS through his appointment as envoy had been very fruitful, expressing hope that something concrete would soon come out of it.

“As you are aware, the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government have made me an envoy to Niger Republic and we were there over the weekend to see the military people and discussed to find a way out of the lacuna we find ourselves.

“So, that’s why I’m here this afternoon, together with the President of the ECOWAS Commission, to give a report back to Mr. President on our discussions in Niger. I must say that our visit to Niger has been very fruitful and that it has opened an avenue to start talking and hopefully we’ll get somewhere,” he said.

On the divergence in opinions of both the regional bloc and the junta about quick return to democratic rule, Abubakar said “Well, like I said, we’ve started talking, they have made their own points and then I made my report to the Chairman of the ECOWAS Heads of state and President. He will now consult with his colleagues and then we’ll get somewhere hopefully.”

Asked if there was any possibility of avoiding a military action, he said “hopefully diplomacy will see the better of this. Nobody wants to go war, it doesn’t pay anybody, but then again, our leaders have said if all fails and I don’t think all will fail, we’ll get somewhere we’ll get out of this mess”.

ECOWAS had on Sunday through its Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Abdel-Fatau Musa, rejected Niger junta’s three-year power transition plan.

General Abdourahamane Tchiani, leader of the Niger junta, had said in a televised broadcast on Saturday night that the army will hand over power to the civilian government within the next three years.

But in the interview Abdel-Fatau Musa said that General Tchiani’s proposal is just a smokescreen for dialogue and diplomacy.

Earlier Saturday, Nigeria’s former Military Head of State led a delegation of ECOWAS to Niger in a last-ditch diplomatic effort to reach a peaceful solution with the Niger junta.

The delegation met with Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine who received them at the airport and led them to the presidential palace. They later met with the ousted Niger’s president Bazoum, after meeting General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the head of the junta.

It was the first peace talk led by Gen Abubakar after ECOWAS activated its standby force.

https://dailygistonline.com.ng/military-coup-niger-junta-sends-message-to-presidenttinubu/

The federal government has approved an upward review of feeding allowance for corp members across the country.

The Kaduna State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps, (NYSC) Hassan Taura made this known while addressing journalists after the opening/swearing-in ceremony for the 2023 batch B stream 2 orientation course

The coordinator, however did not specifically disclose which of the corps member’s allowances was reviewed.

When asked what plans were made for the corps members in terms of welfare while in the orientation camp and beyond, he said “first, the federal government in its wisdom has reviewed the feeding allowance of the corps members.”

The coordinator who promised to prioritize corps members’ welfare in his state said, “I told them (corps members) I’m going to make their food of good quality and quantity.

“I told them I will ensure that they won’t spend their money in the camp market. This is the promise I made to them and I’m fulfilling them.

“I’m going to feed them in such a way that they will not spend from their pocket. They don’t even have the money, so it is our duty to ensure we feed them well.

On arrangements by the state government and private organizations to ensure timely payment of stipends of corps members posted to them for Primary Assignment, he said, “In line with our operations of the monthly stipend we pay corp members, we expect their employers, be it state government, private organization we post corps members to pay them some little stipend in addition to what Federal Government sends them. This employers should be able to fulfill that.”

https://dailygistonline.com.ng/breaking-fg-approves-increase-in-feeding-allowance-of-corps-members/

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has said the Control of Infectious Diseases Bill was conceived in the best interests of the Nigerian people.




Read More Here: http://aibomupdate.com/2020/05/06/infectious-diseases-bill-gbajabiamila-clears-air-on-covid-19-vaccine-legislation/

Following reports that the university has found coronavirus drug, the management of the school has reacted.


Read More Here: http://aibomupdate.com/2020/05/06/is-it-true-unizik-has-discovered-covid-19-drug-see-what-management-revealed/

A woman has cried out for help as her conscience continues to torment her after she slept with her landlord in order to provide for her family.

The woman who expressed remorse for sleeping with her landlord, asked for help on what to do next.

She sent her message to Cynthia Valerian Raphaels on Facebook and said:


Read More:http://aibomupdate.com/2020/05/06/how-i-slept-with-my-landlord-during-coronavirus-lockdown-repentant-wife-confesses/

Check Out The List Of Footballers Who Tested Positive For COVID-19


http://aibomupdate.com/2020/05/03/check-out-the-list-of-footballers-who-tested-positive-for-covid-19/

COVID-19: WHO Releases List Of African Countries With Highest Cases,Deaths


Read Details:https://newspoint.com.ng/covid-19-who-releases-list-of-african-countries-with-highest-cases-deaths/