₦airaland Forum

Neurosurgeon treats a police man to full recovery, corporal refuses to pay up his medical fees then proceeds to abduct the neurosurgeon.
And you tell me we are okay in this country?

PRESS RELEASE FOLLOWING THE EMERGENCY STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING OF NIGERIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION ANAMBRA STATE BRANCH, WHICH HELD ON SUNDAY 17TH MARCH 2024 ON GOOGLE MEET PLATFORM

PREAMBLE

Warm greetings gentlemen and ladies of the press.

This press briefing is in response to an unfortunate incident involving the kidnap and assault of our member by armed men later identified as policemen from Anambra State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).

This dastardly act warranted an emergency state executive council meeting, arising from which this press briefing is being granted.


OBSERVATIONS

1. Our colleague, Dr. Ofodile Ekweogwu, a Consultant Neurosurgeon, managed a patient in a private facility in Nnewi. The patient, Corporal Okona Stephen Ifeanyi of Nigerian Police Area Command Nnewi, was involved in a road traffic accident and sustained head injury in January 2024.

2. He was referred to Eastern Specialist Hospital Nnewi after some days at another hospital where he was taken to after the accident due to persistent loss of consciousness. Dr Ekweogwu was invited and he gave Neurosurgery care to Corporal Okona, who fully recovered and was eventually discharged. His medical bill was clearly itemized and given to him. He requested for a rebate and it was given to him. He absconded from the hospital by scaling the perimeter fence but later returned, paid part of the bills but was allowed home on self recognition to complete the balance afterwards.

3. Corporal Okona, rather than pay the balance of his bills, resorted to use intimidation to escape his debt.

Firstly, he came with armed policemen to the consulting room of Dr Ekweogwu in February 2024, to summon him without an official invitation to Nnewi Area Command of Nigerian Police Force. The Area Commander on learning about the case, admonished Corporal Okona and asked him to pay his outstanding bills for medical services given to him.
Still not satisfied, on Saturday 16th March 2024, in connivance with some policemen from Anambra SCID, they trailed Dr Ekweogwu as he was leaving his clinic in Nnewi in the afternoon, blocked him with a Toyota SUV (not an Official/branded Police vehicle) with 4 armed men in mufti identifying themselves as policemen from SCID, grabbed him and whisked him away in the boot of the vehicle. This is without any prior invitation. He was able to place a call to his wife to alert her of his situation before his phone was taken from him and switched off.

4. Dr Ekweogwu identified one of the occupants of the vehicle as Corporal Okona he had treated. While in transit for over 3 hours driving around different parts of the state, Dr Ekweogwu was being threatened to "settle" with Corporal Okona before getting to their office, which he refused.

5. Upon their arrival at SCID, in the presence of the Chairman of Medical and Dental Consultants of Nigeria, NAUTH Nnewi Chapter who had arrived earlier, Dr Ekweogwu was made to write a statement in response to a document of petition he was shown there. After which they drove him down to Nnewi at night, to get evidence of documentation of care he rendered to Corporal Okona.

Residents of the Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State, have narrated how soldiers opened fire on them and killed about 50 persons.

This is just as the Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, visited the embattled community, four days after 16 military personnel, including a lieutenant colonel, lost their lives in an ambush.

The residents spoke from hiding, as they fled into the bush after the March 14 ambush of soldiers.

However, military authorities described their claim as propaganda.

Army Headquarters said: “Regrettably, the community complicit in this dastardly act has resorted to media propaganda and shenanigans, rather than engage in a positive effort to fish out the perpetrators of this heinous crime.”

Residents’ story
The terrified indigenes, who preferred anonymity, said there were many dead bodies in the bush where they were taking cover.

They echoed that the military personnel arrived in two gunboats purportedly for a peace talk with the community chairman, and leaders on Thursday, March 14, and the community warmly received and offered them kola nut, leading to a peaceful dialogue.

However, tension escalated when the military insisted on whisking away the community chairman and some leaders for further questioning after the peace talks, which the people refused.

The refusal allegedly angered the military men, who opened fire right at the town hall, where they held a meeting with the people, resulting in casualties within the community.

They did not explain the role of the community in the dastard killing of the 16 later the same day but revealed that on March 15, the military returned for a second attack, wherein they set ablaze houses in the community, forcing residents to flee.

One resident said, “On March 14, military personnel visited Okuama and the people welcomed them. They first said they wanted to walk around the community; they walked around and said they wanted to go to the town hall for a peace talk. The people entertained them as it is customary with such visit.

“They asked for the community chairman and community leaders. They sat with them and they held peace talks together. After that, they asked the community chairman, and some other leaders to follow them.

“The people said they have already held peace talks with them, but they said they must take the leaders away.

“The community refused, and from there, the army turned the whole story to violence, right there in the community town hall, the army started shooting our people there.

“People started running, some were killed instantly, and people ran away because nobody expected shooting by the army that very day.

‘They killed 70’
“Then, the army left, but within a while, they came back with more reinforcement, gunboats, and other things.

“And instantly, about 20 persons were killed, and when they came back again, they began to shoot, they killed nothing less than 50 persons on that day.

“Then, the following day, they mobilized again, some from Bomadi, Okwagbe, they came together and burned the whole community down, that was on March 15.”

A community leader asserted, “That very day (March 14), we did expect what happened as we saw two gunboats come with the army. We were surprised, but the army maintained that they came for peace talk, so we welcomed and entertained them.”

“When they wanted to go, they said they wanted to take our chairman and the leaders along, but the community refused, so the army changed all of a sudden, and they did not act as people we just entertained.

“They opened fire, and in that process of firing, our youth, old women, and children died on the spot. More than 20 died instantly.

They left but came back again and opened fire again, raising the casualties to 50, and they returned on March 15, and burnt every house in the Okuama community.”

Another runaway mother said, “Some of us have yet to see our children since March 14. We have been hiding in the bush, some dead bodies are there, therefore, we want the government to come and rescue us.”

On the killing of soldiers, she denied that the community initiated the attack on the army, saying, “The army came to meet us and we entertained them, it was after the peace talk they said they want to take our leaders away. We did not attack the army in the River; it was their insistence to take away the community chairman, secretary, and other leaders that led to the shooting.”

“They killed the youth, women, and children in the town hall but there was confusion everywhere, therefore, people ran helter-skelter.

“We are calling for a full-scale investigation into this incident by the government to find out those killed our people and the soldiers also,” she said.

Meanwhile, as the Okoloba community points fingers at Okuama leaders, who they alleged hired a militant leader that purportedly spearheaded the ambush and killing of 16 soldiers, the Okuama community also claims that an Ijaw top shot instigated the shooting and killing of 50 indigenes on March 14 by soldiers.

The Okuama people called on President Bola Tinubu and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to call the military to order as their operations in the area should be neutral, not under any guise.

Falsehood, Army reacts
The Army headquarters has decried what it called the resort to propaganda by a certain community claiming the troops opened fire on civilians noting that such propaganda is callous and condemnable.

Director of Army Public Relations, Major Gen Onyema Nwachukwu made the disclosure on Monday.

He said, “The unfortunate killing of troops of 181 Amphibious Battalion of the Nigerian Army (NA), while on a peaceful and mediatory mission, after a reported case of communal clash between Okuama and Okoloba Communities in Ughelli South and Bomadi LGAs of Delta State respectively is not only despicable but should be unreservedly condemned by all.

“These were troops committed to peace and security of lives and property of citizens and non-citizens alike in the Niger Delta Region, murdered in cold blood by an armed youth gang, in the most gruesome, heartless and cruel manner and went ahead to sacrilegiously debase their remains by ripping out their hearts by the very people they were there to protect.

“Regrettably, the community complicit in this dastardly act has resorted to media propaganda and shenanigans, rather than engage in a positive effort to fish out the perpetrators of this heinous crime.

“This again is a clear indication that the murder of the troops was a communally orchestrated attack against legitimate forces.

“The falsehood being peddled by these criminals and their cohorts to whip up sentiments and sway the public to cover up, endorse or support the outrageous criminal acts of their armed youth gang should be disregarded in its entirety.

“It is only a ridiculous attempt at justifying their crime, rather than turn in themselves to security agencies.

“There is no amount of propaganda that would arm-twist the narrative, they are complicit and must be ready to face the wrath of the law.

“While law-abiding citizens are assured that there will be no reprisal on the part of the troops, we enjoin all to go about their normal activities, even as ongoing efforts are scaled up to positively identify and isolate the criminals to account for their atrocious deeds.

“The Chief of Army of Staff, Lt Gen Toareed Lagbaja, while commiserating with the families of the officers and soldiers who lost their lives, has directed that no stone should be left unturned until the perpetrators of this gruesome acts are apprehended to face the full wrath of the law.

“Troops are determined to get to these criminals, there is certainly no hiding place for them.”

Some personnel of the Nigeria Police Force attached to Delta State Command were seen on Monday morning shooting at protesters in Asaba, the state capital.

In a video uploaded by a popular blog, NigeriaStories which was seen by SaharaReporters, the armed policemen were seen shooting directly at the protesters.

Giving more clarification on the incident, the spokesman for the state police command, Bright Edafe said that the police personnel seen in the video were deployed by the command to stop the ongoing protest being held against a taskforce in the state.

“They are policemen deployed to quell an ongoing protest against one of the State taskforce in Asaba pls,” the police PPRO said.

Edafe’s reaction generated backlash from Nigerian netizens who felt the officers acted recklessly.

“Deployed to quell by shooting directly at the people, in a busy area? what kind of quelling is that,” a social media user, Emuoborsan said.

Another user, DR El Mo said, “And they are shooting directly and not up? Is that OK? Is that how to quell a protest?”

This comes barely 24 hours after the Nigerian Army reportedly set Okuama community in the Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State ablaze over the killing of 16 soldiers on a peace mission by the community youths.

ERREKUNDA, Gambia (AP) — Lawmakers in Gambia will vote Monday on legislation that seeks to repeal a ban on female genital cutting, which would make the West African nation the first country anywhere to make that reversal.

The procedure, which also has been called female genital mutilation, includes the partial or full removal of external Instruments, often by traditional community practitioners with tools such as razor blades or at times by health workers. Often performed on young girls, it is incorrectly believed to control a woman’s sexuality and can cause serious bleeding and death. It remains a widespread practice in parts of Africa.

Jaha Dukureh, the founder of Safe Hands for Girls, a local group that aims to end the practice, told The Associated Press she worried that other laws safeguarding women’s rights could be repealed next. Dukureh underwent the procedure and watched her sister bleed to death.

“If they succeed with this repeal, we know that they might come after the child marriage law and even the domestic violence law. This is not about religion but the cycle of controlling women and their bodies,” she said. The United Nations has estimated that more than half of women and girls ages 15 to 49 in Gambia have undergone the procedure.

The bill is backed by religious conservatives in the largely Muslim nation of less than 3 million people. Its text says that “it seeks to uphold religious purity and safeguard cultural norms and values.” The country’s top Islamic body has called the practice “one of the virtues of Islam.”

Gambia’s former leader, Yahya Jammeh, banned the practice in 2015 in a surprise to activists and with no public explanation. Since the law took effect, enforcement has been weak, with only two cases prosecuted.

On Monday, a crowd of men and women gathered outside Gambia’s parliament, some carrying signs protesting the bill. Police in riot gear held them back.

Gambia’s parliament of 58 lawmakers includes five women. If the bill passes on Monday’s second reading, it is expected to pass a third and final review before President Adama Barrow is expected to sign it into law.

The United States has supported activists who are trying to stop the practice. Earlier this month, it honored Gambian activist Fatou Baldeh at the White House with an International Women of Courage Award.

The U.S. embassy in Gambia declined to say whether any high-level U.S. official in Washington had reached out to Gambian leaders over the bill. In its emailed statement, Geeta Rao Gupta, the top U.S. envoy for global women’s issues, called it “incredibly important” to listen to the voices of survivors like Baldeh.

The chairperson of the local Center for Women’s Rights and Leadership, Fatou Jagne Senghore said the bill is “aimed at curtailing women’s rights and reversing the little progress made in recent years.” The president of the local Female Lawyers Association, Anna Njie, said the practice “has been proven to cause harm through medical evidence.”

UNICEF said earlier this month that some 30 million women globally have undergone the procedure in the past eight years, most of them in Africa but some in Asia and the Middle East.

More than 80 countries have laws prohibiting the procedure or allowing it to be prosecuted, according to a World Bank study cited this year by a United Nations Population Fund Q&A published earlier this year. They include South Africa, Iran, India and Ethiopia.

“No religious text promotes or condones female genital mutilation,” the UNFPA report says, adding there is no benefit to the procedure.

Girls are subjected to the procedure at ages ranging from infancy to adolescence. Long term, it can lead to urinary tract infections, menstrual problems, pain, decreased sexual satisfaction and childbirth complications as well as depression, low self-esteem and post-traumatic stress disorder.

XpressVerify.com, a private website, has unrestricted access to the National Identification Numbers (NINs) and personal details of every registered Nigerian, FIJ has found.

This website has monetised the recovery of NINs and personal information on the Nigerian identification database.

The website and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) are yet to tell FIJ what relationship both entities have.

Section 14 of the NIMC Act 2007 mandates NIMC to be the body that creates, manages, maintains and operates the National Identity Database.

NIMC has its specialised website and mobile application.

FIJ has found that XpressVerify, a standalone website, has been managing and using information from the National Identity Database.

Anybody can retrieve details such as phone numbers, full names, NIN, address and photographs of any Nigerian whose data is on the National Identity Database with as low as N200.

The website does not confirm what type of person can check what type of information. There were no restrictions to the number of NIN-related data that could be fetched when FIJ checked.

Vendors across different Nigerian cities have been checking the NINs and phone numbers of citizens from the same database NIMC ought to maintain and keep secure.

“I’ve found my (lost) NIN phone number… Everyone’s NIN information, including phone number and address, can be found here. That’s pretty scary,” a lady told FIJ on Friday.

She had gone to a kiosk, where private vendors promised to resolve countless NIN challenges in Lagos, to recover a NIN-linked phone number she had forgotten about.

The vendor asked for a N1,000 service fee to recover her phone number, but the unprecedented March network downtime forced the vendor to abort after several trials. A peep at his computer screen gave away the website: xpressverify.com.

When FIJ checked xpressverify.com, the website only asked the new user to register and sign in with a new profile.

The new user then had to buy units. A unit costs N200, and each unit can be used to make one verification at a time.

The user can use either a phone number, a NIN or a few demographic details to retrieve more data from any individual’s registration slip on the National Identity Database.

This reporter found his personal information and those of a colleague on xpressverify. For N200 each, our respective states of origin, phone numbers, cities of residence, home addresses, heights, central ID and tracking identifications were public information.

A random phone number search also brought up the full details of a random Nigerian whose data was registered by NIMC.

Xpressverify has no social media presence. NIMC never mentioned a partnership with Xpressverify or any other private website to manage the national database.

FIJ sent a mail on Friday to ask NIMC if it had third-party vendors gaining access to the National Identity Database. The commission had not responded at press time.

Xpressverify has only one phone number on which it receives complaints and inquiries. It had not told FIJ its relationship with NIMC at the time of this report.

After FIJ’s Story, Namecheap Suspends Private Website Selling Nigerians’ NIN, Other Data

Xpressverify, an identity verification website that makes money from selling out the personal information of Nigerians, has been suspended by its domain registrar, FIJ can report.

This development follows a report by FIJ detailing how Xpressverify had unrestricted access to the National Identification Database and personal details of Nigerians despite being a privately owned website.

Namecheap Incorporated, the domain registrar through which the website’s domain was bought, hinted at the domain suspension via its official social Media handle on Sunday.

However, FIJ found that this website might still be available to some individuals, despite the domain’s suspension. This, according to the domain registrar, might be due to a phenomenon called propagation.

Typically, requests to view websites do not go to host servers directly. Depending on the location of the person searching, requests to view a website go to the memory of the local internet service providers to source information.

It takes 24 to 72 hours for these internet service providers to update their caches. It could therefore take the same amount of time for the suspension to take effect for internet users in some locations.

Meanwhile, in response to FIJ’s story, Bosun Tijani, the minister of information and digital economy, has stated that the Nigeria Data Protection Commission will work with the National Identity Management Commission to investigate the situation.

SITUATION REPORT ON THE ATTACK AND KILLING OF MILITARY PERSONNEL ON PEACE MISSION BY OKUOMA COMMUNITY

The troops of 181 Amphibious Batallion, Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State While on peace mission to OKUOMA community in BOMADI LGA of Delta State were surrounded by some community youths and killed on Thursday, 14 March, 2024. The unfortunate incident occurred when the troops responded to a distress call after the communal crisis between the Okuama and Okoloba communities both in Delta State.

The reinforcement team led by the Commanding officer was also attacked, leading to the death of the Commanding officer, two Majors, one Captain and 12 Soldiers.

The Chief of Defence Staff ( CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa has directed the immediate investigation and arrest of those involved in the heinous crime. The occurrence has been reported to the Delta State Govt.

However, the military remains focused and committed to its mandate of maintaining peace and security in the country. So far, a few arrests have been made while steps in place to unravel the motive behind the attack. Additional details later.

TUKUR GUSAU
Brigadier General
Acting Director, Defence Information.
16 March, 2024.

We cannot call for a new way and not show example with our actions. I have been unhappy with many Labour Party Lawmakers conduct. The Party must show integrity and understanding of the fact that Nigeria and its democracy are both failing because of the failure of the parties

FG eases access to student loan in new bill sent by President Tinubu to the National Assembly 👇

1. STUDENT LOAN FUNDING SOURCE

- 1% of all collectable revenue by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to fund the scheme.

2. STUDENT APPLICANTS CAN NO LONGER BE DISQUALIFIED BASED ON THEIR PARENT'S LOAN HISTORY

- The hurdles of a guarantor, a parent’s debt profile and others in the old Act have been removed in the new Bill, thereby making it easier for the loan to be accessed.

- It also removes the guarantor requirement so that students can apply for and receive loans subject to application and identity verification guidelines as provided by the Fund.

- Applicants to the Fund may apply for loans to cover tuition and other fees payable to the school and maintenance allowance payable to the student.

3. REMOVAL OF FAMILY INCOME THRESHOLD CONDITION

- On eligibility criteria for applicants, the new Bill removes the family income threshold to enable Nigerian students to apply for loans and accept responsibility for repayment according to the Fund’s guidelines.

4. LOAN REPAYMENT (FORGIVENESS IN CASE OF DEATH OF BENEFICIARY)

- On repayment of loans, the Bill indicates that beneficiaries of the Fund shall begin as soon as the beneficiary becomes employed in any capacity.

- According to the bill, the Fund shall not initiate loan recovery efforts until two years after the completion of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme

- A beneficiary may request an extension of enforcement action by the Fund by providing an affidavit indicating that he is not employed in any capacity and is not receiving any income.

- It makes provision for loan forgiveness in the event of death or acts of God causing inability to repay.

5. FALSE DECLARATION ATTRACTS 3 YEARS JAIL TERM

- It provides out that any person who provides a false statement to the Fund under the loan repayment section is guilty of a felony and is liable to imprisonment for three years.

6. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NIGERIA EDUCATION LOAN FUND (NELFUND)

- The Bill Seeks to Establish the Nigerian Education Loan Fund as a Body Corporate to Receive, Manage and Invest Funds to Provide Loans to Nigerians for Higher Education, Vocational Training and Skills Acquisition and for Related Matters.

- Establishment of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as a body corporate that can sue and be sued in its name and has the power to acquire, hold, and dispose of movable and immovable property for the purpose of its functions.

- The Bill establishes a justice and fairness provision mandating the Board to ensure a minimum national spread of loans approved and disbursed in each financial year.

- NELFUND can legally enter contracts, including loan agreements and may also initiate action to ensure repayment by beneficiaries.

- It also empowers the Fund to provide loans to qualified Nigerians for tuition, fees, charges, and upkeep during their studies in approved tertiary education institutions and vocational and skills acquisition institutions in Nigeria.

Our findings on Senator Ningi’s allegations of N3.7 trillion budget padding for 2024 budget shows that a breakdown of N25.4tn was provided for the budgets of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies…

…while the comprehensive budget breakdown of GOEs, @nassnigeria, National Judicial Council, Public Complaints Commission, INEC, and TETFUND totaling N3.32tn was excluded from the budget that was passed and published.

This does not mean the country operates two separate budgets.

There’s only one final 2024 budget known to us.

However, the summary budget of the aforementioned agencies was passed by the National Assembly and included in the published approved budget.

The practice of omitting the breakdown of certain government MDAs, the National Assembly, and the National Judicial Commission goes against one of the core principles of public budgeting which instructs that all expenditure breakdowns be presented in the same budget document.

Although the FG published the proposed budget of GOEs, it is yet to publish the approval of GOEs.

As a lady, you cant settle for a man with 800k as salary in lagos. One wig and your man’s salary is finished baby girl

It's sad that most people aren’t bold enough to accept the reality of things in this country. Ordinary $500 is what’s making this man shed tears? What do I expect from a man whose source of livelihood is TikTok gifts, looking for any opportunity to jump in front of a ringlight.

The office of the accountant-general of the federation (OAGF) held a workshop on public financial management and international public sector accounting standards (IPSAS) in London, the United Kingdom.

TheCable understands that the workshop was held at Copthorne Tara Hotel, Kensington London, from March 4 to March 9, 2024.

The workshop was titled, ‘Public Financial Management and IPSAS Workshop for State Commissioners of Finance and Officials of OAGF’.

According to the event’s brochure, the five-day programme was attended by the federation account allocation committee’s (FAAC) sub-committee on IPSAS implementation in Nigeria, office of the accountant-general of the federation, Abuja.

The topics covered during the workshop include IPSAS — overview, objectives and impact on accountability; IPSAS board strategy and work programme 2024-2028 — challenges of IPSAS implementation in Nigeria; and key issues in the preparation of IPSAS-compliant financial statements.

Others include accounting and reporting in a hyperinflationary economy, public financial management (PFM) in Nigeria — implementation and challenges, budget implementation in Nigeria and challenges.

Part of the workshop activities also included a courtesy visit to the high commissioner of the Nigerian high commission in London.

The sessions started at 10 am daily and ended at 2:30 pm, with participants departing on March 9, 2023, to their various destinations.

WHY WORKSHOP WAS HELD IN LONDON

Speaking on the rationale behind holding the workshop in the UK, Bawa Mokwa, director of press at the accountant-general’s office, said the event is organised annually and was not a one-off meeting.

“It is an annual event. The OAGF members present at the meeting are sub-committees of FAAC,” he said.

“Members of the implementation committee are commissioners of finance of the 36 states.”

Mokwa said the event was held in the UK because the facilitators are residents of the country.

“They usually go to the UK to do it annually because the resource persons are resident in the UK and they implement it to the letter,” he said.

The spokesperson said the event was approved by the National Economic Council (NEC).

Nigeria is currently facing a chronic foreign exchange (FX) crisis that is worsening the plight of businesses — particularly manufacturers — amid a prolonged economic hardship that began following the petrol subsidy removal and naira float policies by the incumbent government.

Although significant efforts have been made to clear the $7 billion FX backlog, the country still has about $1.8 billion outstanding.

Yemi Eberechi Alade (born 13 March 1989), is a Nigerian Afropop singer, songwriter, actress and activist. She won the Peak Talent Show in 2009 after which she signed to Effyzzie Music Group, and had a hit with her single "Johnny" in 2014. Since then Yemi has gained prominence in the music industry and considered one of the biggest artists in Africa. Following the releases of her albums King of Queens and Mama Africa with huge commercial success recorded for both albums, this made her embark on world tours consecutively.

She won the MTV African Music Awards for Best female in 2015 and 2016 consecutively and was nominated for Artiste of the Year in 2015, making her the first female to win the MAMAs for Best female consecutively twice and nominated for Artiste of the Year. In 2015, Alade was the first African female to be nominated for the MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) and She was nominated for the BET awards for Best International Act: Africa in 2015 and 2016. Yemi is also applauded for her creative and overwhelming stage performances, fashion and music videos, She has won The Headies Award for Best Performer twice, 2018 and 2019. The slot was initiated at The Headies 2018 and she was the first artiste to win the category.

Alade sings in English, Igbo, Pidgin, Yoruba, French, Swahili and Portuguese. Her music has been of influence in many African countries and the world as she is acclaimed "Mama Africa" for her versatility in using different African languages and attires in her songs and music videos. Alade's father was a police commissioner of Yoruba descent, while her mother is of Igbo descent.

On 9 June 2020, Alade was mentioned to be among the forefront artists/musicians from across the world to perform at The Global Goal: Unite for our future sponsored by the Global Citizen aimed to highlight the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic especially in the most remote places in Africa and across the world. On 27 June 2020, Yemi Alade performed in the Global Goal: Unite for Our future alongside Miley Cyrus, Shakira, J Balvin, Jennifer Hudson, Coldplay, Usher, Justin Bieber, Quavo, Christine and the Queens and Chloe X Halle.

Early Life
Alade was raised in a multi-ethnic home from Nigeria, Her father James Alade was a commissioner of police from Ondo State, Nigeria while her mother Helen Uzoma is a native of Abia State, Nigeria. According to Yemi, She taps from the Igbo and Yoruba ethnicities of her parents. Alade attended secondary School at Victory Grammar School, Ikeja, and the University of Lagos, (both in Lagos, Nigeria).

Victoria Alo, a student at Abdu Gusau Polytechnic in Zamfara State, has narrated how a mobile police officer hit her at a checkpoint along the Sokoto-Gusau highway.

In the first few seconds of a video posted on social media by Zagazola Makama, a security pundit, on Monday evening, the student was seen standing by the roadside with what seemed to be bloodstains on her clothes.

While narrating the incident via an audio recording, the student said the officer had threatened to either kill her or break her head because she refused to disclose her state of origin.

She revealed that she was on her way to Sokoto State for her National Identification Number (NIN) registration when a group of mobile police officers manning the highway stopped the vehicle she was in.

According to Alo, the officer who attacked her labelled her a prostitute because she could not provide her student identification card. She also said that the police officer accused her of prostitution despite having told him that she was a student.

While recalling the incident, she said: “I was travelling to Sokoto that afternoon for my NIN. [I decided to go] before we finished the semester to do my NIN so that I could use it for service. On getting to the checkpoint, they stopped our vehicle, and the driver stopped. I had my earphones on because I was watching a movie. He now came to my doorside and said, ‘Hello.’ He hit the door. And he was asking questions about my indigeneship. I told him I was coming from Talata Mafara, that I was a student, and that I was heading to Sokoto. Then I asked him why he wanted to know my indigene, considering that we don’t even know each other and he had no business asking me that. I told him that I was a student of Abdu Gusau Polytechnic.

“I did not even know that a lecturer from another school was inside the vehicle. He was the one who recorded the video. I came out of the vehicle, and he [the officer] said he would break my head. He asked for my ID card, and I said it had not been issued by the school. He asked for my NIN, and I told him that it was what I was travelling to Sokoto for.

“That was when he started calling me ‘Ashawo.’ He accused me of prostitution. Before he even finished saying that word, the lecturer stepped out of the vehicle too and confronted him. He asked that did the officer not hear when I said I was a student. Then the oga came and was begging me. He said we should go. I was about to enter the vehicle when this man put a stick on my face, and I said, ‘Please, remove your stick so that I can enter inside.’ Before I knew what was happening, he hit me intentionally because he already said he would either kill me or break my head.”

A follow-up post from the security expert reveals that the police officer who attacked the student had been identified as Iliya Gabriel.

“According to her, upon seeing the viral video on social media, the policemen visited the victim in Gusau, where they attempted to bribe her with N100,000 not to sue the police. The case has been reported to the police headquarters in Gusau,” Zangola wrote.

CHALLENGE OF SOME SO-CALLED AVIATION ‘EXPERTS’ TO A PUBLIC DEBATE

AIRCRAFT LEASING (in particular, DRY LEASING) is ONE factor that will help boost the business of local operators in our Airline industry. No airline company in the world or even any Government for that matter can afford to purchase its fleet of aircrafts one hundred percent. The biggest airlines in the world depend on DRY LEASING in particular. One other factor, amongst others, is the establishment of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities within the country. We are currently wooing investors in this regard.

Should Government completely abandon local operators to fend for themselves? What can Government do to help in this regard? It is simple: Government should provide the enabling environment for these businesses to thrive by providing the assurances to Aircraft manufacturers and leasing companies around the world that their aircrafts are safe within the country if they lease them to our businesses here; that includes assurances and guarantees that these creditors can secure their assets anytime there is a default. This is in line with the CAPE TOWN CONVENTION to which Nigeria is a signatory. It is our duty as Government to provide this comfort and assurance to the potential lessors. We are currently on top of that and the package would be revealed soon. The lack of this is ONE big factor that has led to the high mortality rate of airlines in Nigeria in the last 40+ years. There are other factors too.

SOME so-called Aviation ‘experts’ who have failed to do anything over the years to help revive the industry are suddenly pontificating (as they have always done) as if they hold some ‘magic wand’ to turn the industry around, when in fact we know they are speaking for some interests who think the Aviation industry in Nigeria is their birthright. I CHALLENGE THEM TO A PUBLIC DEBATE on this.

We are determined to go far and near to woo Aircraft Leasing Companies and Aircraft Manufacturers to come to our aid. There is no shame in doing this now since we lack capacity to produce our own aircrafts or to purchase them. SO, PLEASE EXPECT MORE VIDEOS OF US INTRODUCING AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURERS AND THEIR PRODUCTS TO NIGERIANS AS WE CONTINUE OUR DRIVE TO WOO THEM TO INVEST IN OUR NIGERIAN BUSINESSES.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has increased the charges against Abiodun Agbele, an ally of a former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, from 11 to 24.

The EFCC had in 2016 arraigned Agbele, alongside a former Minister of State for Defence, Musliu Obanikoro; Sylvan Mcnamara Limited; Lt. A.O Adewale; Tunde Oshinowo and Olalekan Ogunseye (all at large) at a Federal High Court in Abuja on 11 charges of money laundering to the tune of N1.219bn.

The money is part of N4.7bn allegedly transferred from an account belonging to the Office of the National Security Adviser in the Central Bank of Nigeria.

In the amended charges, Agbele, Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, De Privateer Limited, and Spotless Investment Limited were listed as the first to fourth defendants.

The EFCC accused Agbele of indirectly accepting N1.219bn cash through an official of Zenith Bank in Akure from Obanikoro on behalf of Fayose in June 2014 without going through a financial institution.

The EFCC said he committed an offence contrary to Section 1(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011(As Amended) and punishable under Section 1503) of the same Act.

The EFCC also accused Agbele of aiding De Privateer to commit an offence to take possession of N200m which formed part of N1.219bn, a proceed of money laundering on behalf of Ayo Fayose contrary to section Section 18(A) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 18 of the same act.

When the charges were read to him during the proceedings on Tuesday, he pleaded not guilty.

At the resumed trial, a former Central Bank of Nigeria official, Aliyu Mukadas, had while being led in evidence by counsel for the EFCC, Wahab Shittu told the court that a total sum of N4.15bn was paid to Sylvan Mcnamara Limited’s account.

At the proceedings in November 2023, a former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro while giving evidence in the court stated that Sylvan Mcnamara Ltd’s account “was created to deal with the issue of Boko Haram in Lagos, the account was created by Taiwo Kareem and was used for the purpose of disbursing funds for election.”

Mukadas stated that money was paid in trances to the company’s Diamond Bank account.

The retired CBN staff also confirmed that the National Security Adviser maintains an account with the apex bank meant to fund security operations and not elections.

He said, ” I worked with CBN for 30 years at its Abuja branch and banking services department where I retired last year.

“We effected payments to all ministries or departments. The Office of National Adviser is one of the agencies having an account with the CBN.

“The purpose of the NSA account is for security operations, not for election purposes.

“We paid N200m to Sylvan Mcnamara Limited through Diamond Bank.
We also paid N2bn, N700m, N1bn and N225m into Sylvan Mcnamara Limited.”

When asked if he knew what the money was used for, Mukadas replied that he was not aware.

During cross-examination by Agbele’s counsel, Lekan Ojo (SAN) Mukadas confirmed to the court that the payment mandate was verified before the payments were made.

When asked if the payment mandate showed the purpose for which the funds were to be paid to the company, the retired CBN official said, “For services rendered.”

He, however, said he had no suspicion the money was for fraudulent purposes.

Another witness called by the EFCC, a former Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank, Peter Amagbo denied the bank funded the Ayo Fayose’s re-election campaign.

He said, “We did not fund election for Ekiti state. We didn’t have any meetings with my chairman and Fayose. I have never seen Agbele before. I met Fayose once as MD/CEO. My second meeting with him was an ex-governor during a friend’s father’s funeral.”

Amagbo informed the court that the bank was with the state before the emergence of Fayose and sustained that during his tenure.

He said, “We had a relationship before Fayose and it was maintained during his time. ”

When asked if he was privy to all conversations or interactions between Fayose and the bank he said, “No. The governor deals with people in their location.”

When further asked since he was not privy to the conversation between Fayose and the bank, he was not in the position to know if the bank had promised to assist Fayose.

Amagbo said, “I am the head of the management of the bank. The chairman is a part-time member of the management. He needs my approval to do that and he knows that we do not sponsor elections.”

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, however, adjourned the matter till May 2, 2024, for the continuation of trial.

Nigeria is actively seeking information from Binance regarding its top 100 users in the country and all transaction history spanning the past six months, according to a Financial Times report.

This news overlaps with the revelation of the names of the two executives from the cryptocurrency exchange who were detained two weeks ago: Tigran Gambaryan, Binance’s head of investigations, and Nadeem Anjarwalla, the crypto platform’s regional manager for Africa, the Wired reported today.

Last month, Gambaryan, who was a former crypto-focused U.S. federal agent, and Anjarwalla had their passports confiscated and have been held in confinement at a government facility in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital. Their detainment is part of Nigeria’s broader crackdown on cryptocurrency exchanges, coinciding with questionable efforts by the government to revive the naira, the country’s national currency.

Before their detention, Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen, and Anjarwalla, a dual citizen of the U.K. and Kenya, responded to an invitation from the Nigerian government to discuss Binance operations and the restrictions imposed on the cryptocurrency exchange.

Nigeria’s central bank had expressed concerns about the loss of tax revenue from unregistered crypto exchanges. Additionally, it accused Binance of operating illegally and facilitating “illicit flows from sources and users who we cannot adequately identify,” amounting to $26 billion. As a result, a Bloomberg report said the detained executives may face charges related to currency manipulation, tax evasion and illegal operations.

However, according to their families, none of the executives have been formally charged with any criminal offenses as of today. The Financial Times reports that Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency was granted permission to detain both Binance executives for 14 days, which concluded on Tuesday. A proposed hearing to extend the court order is scheduled for Wednesday.

In response to this heightened regulatory scrutiny and contentious negotiation tactics in Nigeria, Binance discontinued its naira (NGN) services last week.

Nigeria’s request for Binance’s top users in the country is the new focal point in negotiations between the largest crypto platform and Africa’s top crypto market. Just last week, local reports claimed that Nigeria’s parliament threatened to issue a warrant of arrest for the company’s executives and summoned Binance CEO Richard Teng to provide explanations regarding investigations into the company’s alleged involvement in money laundering and terror financing.

Meanwhile, documents reviewed by FT reveal that Nigeria, through its national security adviser, has requested that Binance address any outstanding tax liabilities.

Armed bandits have kidnapped another 61 residents in Kaduna state barely 3 days after 232 primary students.

This is very unfortunate.

Terrorists abduct scores in fresh Kaduna attack

No fewer than 61 people were reportedly abducted by suspected terrorists who attacked the Buda community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The state and police authorities are yet to confirm the attack, but a resident of the area told PUNCH Online on Tuesday that the bandits invaded the village on Monday night at about 11:45 pm, where they kidnapped 61 people.

According to a resident, Dauda Kajuru, the kidnappers stormed the community in large numbers and started shooting indiscriminately.

“What happened yesterday was terrifying. The bandits came intending to abduct scores of people that’ll outnumber that of school pupils in Kuriga Village of Chikun Local Government Area, but the swift response of soldiers who were not more than 2 kilometres away from Kajuru curtailed the number.

“My siblings were part of those abducted yesterday and based on the information available as of this morning, the bandits with their victims are yet to get to their destination, ” Manyu said.

He lamented that since the removal of an Army Commander popular known as (Tega), banditry activities have resumed in full force around the Kajuru Local Government Villages.

” I’ll tell you in confidence that when Commander Tega was around, their activities stopped, and one could go for occasions without any fear of being kidnapped because he knows their terrain and the mode of their operations.

“It is unfortunate Commander Tega was removed from Kajuru Local Government when we’re experiencing the return of peace in our villages,” he said.

Another resident, Lawal Abdullahi, who escaped the incident but his wife was among the victims, also confirmed 61 people were abducted.

He said men, women, and children, including a nursing mother of two weeks, were among the victims.

“The situation devasts me because we have not heard from them since the incident happened on Monday.

“We’re appealing to the government to take action and ensure our loved ones return immediately,” he said.

“Baba Suwe That Stopped Downloading at 23 Per Cent”: Seyi Law Dragged Over Comment About Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour

Famous comedian Seyi Law is currently trending on social media after he shared his opinion about the Labour Party governorship candidate in Lagos state, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, aka GRV, who he labelled as the son of a returned slave.

Seyi Law, who made headlines after threatening to beat Noble Igwe, stated in a viral tweet that if his children emulated GRV’s qualities, then they should not be considered fit to lead the Yorubas.

See his post below:

I never made a single post about GRV during the elections, but somehow, you people find a way of including me in his predicaments. His utterances during the elections betrayed him and not anybody.

I have said it repeatedly that if my children lack the culture of respect, honour, truthfulness, bravery, and traditional understanding of the Yoruba people, may they not be honoured in Yoruba land. I am a very PROUD YORUBA MAN. You will be de*d before I renounce it.

Somehow, you want to gaslight me with my colleagues who voted for your party candidate for not talking about elections again. They're not talking because their candidate lost. Stop tagging me to your bull craps if you don't want me to reply.

RESPECT IS RECIPROCAL.

Seyi Law compared with Baba Suwe

A Social media user, Unkle Ayo, accused the comedian of using slavery to score cheap points on social media. He described Seyi Law as an uncompleted version of the late comic actor Baba Suwe.

“You’re an African man using slavery to score cheap social points. You’re nothing but a lanky, mentally twisted failed comedian. Angels on internship moulded you, God saw the prototype then stepped out to the backyard to laugh. Baba Suwe that stopped downloading at 23%."

Lord Your goodness, Your mercy
Your blood that covers me..
And your love
Never runs, never runs out !
No matter what I did
Your love will cover it
It looks beyond my mistakes
Your grace and your Mercy
It never runs out..
Jesus you keep looking out for me 🙏🏾
.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME 🎈🥳💃🏾💃🏾💃🏾💃🏾💃🏾💃🏾💃🏾
Grateful for another year. I owe it all to you My Saviour and My King 👑
Thank you for the covenant of Life ! 🙏🏾

March 10, (THEWILL)- After over 30 years of marital bliss and just at the twilight of her marriage, former society matriarch turned minister of the gospel, Folorunsho Alakija has suffered a devastating marital crisis.

According to very reliable sources close to THEWILL, the mother of four who is also Nigeria’s wealthiest woman, has allegedly separated from her husband, Modupe.

The businessman allegedly, no longer spends cold nights in the arms of his wife on their matrimonial bed in their highbrow Ikoyi, Lagos home.

The couple were alleged to have been having frequent squabbles which allegedly necessitated the wealthy woman to demand utmost privacy in her home. He was forced to seek accommodation elsewhere. He allegedly lives alone within the same Ikoyi neighbourhood.

Calls and text messages to him seeking clarification went unanswered. Sources reveal that it has not all been smooth sailing for the couple these past few years and they have allegedly been forced to put up a united front because of their status in the society.

This latest development is coming barely five months after THEWILL exclusively reported that the former fashion designer and founder of FAMFA Oil Limited, an Oil and gas exploration business has allegedly been battling some health challenges particularly with her eyes. Family and friends tried as much as they could to put a lid on it just as they tried to with her current marital status. Her health challenge became more pronounced when one of her sons tied the knot early last year and very unlike the Alakijas of old, there was little or no noise about the marriage ceremony. During the wedding, the media was tactically controlled, photographers were not allowed to take pictures arbitrarily and anyone found doing so was asked to delete them. The planning of the wedding was on a need-to-know basis and guests who got the invitations were well scrutinized.

The poster alleges that infidelity is the reason the man died. His wife is shamed on the poster and tagged ''The adulterous wife''...
The man is a native of Irri in Isoko, Delta state and he is survived by the wife and 4 children , amongst others.

May his soul rest in peace

Flutterwave, Africa’s biggest startup, is shutting down Barter, a virtual card service it launched in 2017, as it focuses on its enterprise and remittance business segments. The fintech told customers to withdraw their money in the app over the past month.

“The decision to sunset Barter was based on a comprehensive analysis of market trends and evolving customer needs,” the fintech shared in a mail with TechCabal.

Flutterwave is doubling down on proven winners by focusing on remittance and enterprise. In October, the fintech told TechCabal enterprise services was its biggest revenue driver. In comparison, Barter only accounted for about 1% of the company’s $2 billion-worth transactions, one of the company’s cofounders told Quartz Africa in 2018.

“While retail remains important to us, our immediate focus is optimizing services for businesses and remittance solutions,” the company said.

Meanwhile, Flutterwave’s remittance products, Send and Swap, aim to capture a significant market share in Africa’s $54 billion remittance market. It is unclear how much progress both.

Barter is a storied product. When it launched in 2017, it was one of the first tech startups to offer Nigerians the ability to make international payments.

“Barter will leverage on Flutterwave’s virtual card API and platform to allow users create an unlimited number of virtual dollar cards for single or repeat transactions,” said a TechCabal Daily announcing its launch in March 2017. But the product has seen its share of troubles.

In 2022, Barter was unavailable for weeks because of “an update from the company’s card partner.”That partner was Union54, the Zambian card issuer that got hit with a $1.2 billion chargeback fraud attempt.

Customers also complained about downtime issues with the platform and card rejections by merchants, including Netflix, Facebook, PayPal and Apple Music.

Dear Nigerians in Diaspora, the sweet experience is here.

#RenewedHope

Hi Nigerians abroad!

You can now apply for your passport from the comfort of your home. The sweet experience is here. No hassles. No middleman.
Apply now

passportintl.immigration.gov.ng

https://passportintl.immigration.gov.ng/

How it started and how it’s going

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and her husband Dr. Ikemba Iweala a Neurosurgeon.