₦airaland Forum

http://www.titopeblog.com/2017/07/dino-melayes-recall-court-reschedules.html

A Federal High Court sitting Abuja on Thursday fixed August 7, to hear the suit that stopped the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from going ahead with the recall process of Senator Dino Melaye.

The suit which was originally fixed for September 29, was rescheduled for August 7.

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court revealed he was reminded to exercise discretion to hear the matter within the court’s vacation period.

Through its lawyer, Sulayman Ibrahim, INEC had requested accelerated hearing of the suit during vacation.

INEC said it was constrained under section 69 of the 1999 constitution, as amended, to finish the recall process within 90 days.

The Commission had earlier asked the court to vacate the interim order that stopped it from going ahead with the recall process.

INEC is challenging the legality of the restraining order that Justice John Tsoho of the High Court issued against it on July 6.

Justice Tsoho had ordered all the parties involved in the recall process to maintain the status quo until September 29 which the case was previously adjourned to.

http://www.titopeblog.com/2017/07/drama-as-osinbajo-compels-wike-to-enter.html

It was a mild drama on Thursday as the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, was escorted to the commissioning of some projects in Rivers State by Minister for Transport, Rotimi Amaechi and Senator Magnus Abe.

It started when Amaechi stepped out of the Presidential Jet, with shouts of “the Lion” by APC faithful who besieged the airport, then next was Senator Magnus Ngei Abe.

Both Rivers APC leaders then walked down to where the chopper was waiting for Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

As the Acting President alighted from the Presidential Jet, he was received on hand by Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and a handful of traditional rulers and others who queued for a formal handshake with the visitor.

The climax was when Wike pointed at the already waiting BMW to chauffeur drive Osinbajo who insisted rather that they walked to the already waiting Chopper where Amaechi, Abe and others were already seated.

Wike worries were visible as he tried hard to convince the Acting President to go with him and commission just one project, but Osinbajo insisted that they head to the Chopper for the venue of the commissioning of the World standard Fertilizer project built by the INDORAMA Group.

Disappointed, the governor had to leave his aides, supporters and convoy behind and joined Osinbajo to the Chopper where APC faithful were already singing the praise of Amaechi.

As soon as the Acting President climbed into the Chopper and Wike made his way to join him, the youths began to boo him with shouts of, “Come down!, Come down!” while some others continued with shouts of “the Lion!” until the Chopper left.

http://www.titopeblog.com/2017/07/nysc-senate-moves-to-amend-constitution.html

The Senate on Wednesday voted in favour of the amendment of the constitution establishing the National Youth Service Corps Scheme.

This is coming after the senate passed Not Too Young To Run bill to allow Nigerian youths vie for electoral positions.


Majority of the eighty-eight Senators voted for the ammendment while 3 Senators voted against it.

The result of the vote is on number 29 of the constitution amendment reviews.

http://www.titopeblog.com/2017/07/nigerian-law-school-explains-expulsion.html

The Nigerian Law School in Bwari, Abuja, yesterday, gave reasons why it expelled a law student, Olusegun Kayode Bello.

The school said the law student had penchant for misbehaviour.

Bello was sent packing from the Law School on July 11 by the Council of Legal Education and before then, he had been previously rusticated from the Faculty of Law, University of Ibadan in the 2008/2009 academic session for disrupting the peace and tranquility of the university campus.

In a statement by its Head of Information & Protocol, Chinedu Ukekwe, the school maintained that Bello repeatedly conducted himself in a manner unbecoming of an aspirant to the Nigerian Bar.

Also, the law school debunked claims that the student was sent packing after he allegedly protested against reservation of seats for select students.

According to the school, “Mr. Olusegun Kayode Bello applied for admission to the Nigerian Law School in July, 2012. His application form and Dean’s Reference revealed that he was rusticated from the Faculty of Law, University of Ibadan in the 2008/2009 Academic Session for disrupting the peace and tranquility of the university campus.

“The Dean’s confidential report showed that he defied the authorities of the university and continued his programme without serving out the rustication period. It was when his defiance was discovered that he was forced to comply.

“After his studentship was reinstated, he was unrepentant as the report indicated his further involvement in a case of gross misconduct (insubordination), which made the Board of the Faculty of Law to recommend him for further disciplinary action.

“In line with the extant policy at the Nigerian Law School, the candidate’s application for admission in 2012 was referred to the Council of Legal Education, which resolved that the candidate should only be considered for admission in the 2016/2017 School Year in view of his negative antecedent in the university.

“Invariably, he applied for admission in 2016. When he was eventually to be offered admission in October 2016, the Council of Legal Education further directed that he should be issued a letter of warning, to avoid any acts of misconduct and indiscipline while at the Nigerian Law School; and that his admission was on probation, subject to good character.

“Sometime in March 2017, there was a report of an altercation between him and one of his female colleagues over a preferred seat in the venue of lecture.

“The report from his colleagues was that a female student left the hall to visit the toilet. In her absence, Mr. Bello left his seat at the rear of the hall and took the seat of the absent student. All entreaties of the Auditorium Marshall, the Chairman of the Students Representative Council (S.R.C.) and other students fell on deaf ears. It was further reported that Mr. Bello nearly went into a scuffle with the female student on her return from the rest room.

“Because of his disorderly behavior, a query was issued to him by the Head of Students Affairs Department. Rather than addressing the issues, he went into irrelevant narration, alleging bias by the officials.

“Thereafter, he went on to procure and print on a polo shirt inciting inscriptions and embarked on a solo protest around the School premises. He followed this with a petition against the ‘Head, Control Room’, addressed to the Secretary to the Council of Legal Education and Director of Administration, which he circulated to the whole world, including the Secretary-General of the United Nations and Amnesty International.

“His continued disruptive behavour raised concern among his colleagues. In consequence, the Students Representative Council issued a disclaimer of his actions which was addressed to the Head of Academics on March 21, 2017 and read in part as follows: “This is to bring to your notice that the S.R.C…………….distances itself totally from the unnecessary and inordinate acts of one Mr. Kayode Bello.

“This is coming after the S.R.C. through the appropriate Committee met with the said Mr. Kayode Bello to aggregate interest, but he walked out on the Committee.

“Following the disclaimer and Mr. Bello’s continued acts of intransigence and nuisance in the hostel, the Students Affairs Officer issued him with another query, but he refused to accept it.

“Considering his estranged relationship with his colleagues; and to avoid any break down of law and peaceful co-existence, a letter of advise was written to him to vacate the Hostel in his interest. Mr. Bello however refused to accept the letter.

“Instead, he went to the Bwari Divisional Police Station to lay a complaint of criminal intimidation against the management of the Nigerian Law School, seeking the arrest of all the officers. He further urged the Police to invite the Chairman, Council of Legal Education for interrogation.

“Consequently, he was invited, along with the female student he had an altercation with, the Chairman of the Students Representative Council and the Auditorium Marshall, to appear before the Students Misconduct Committee, for various infractions of the Students Code of Conduct. Even though he received the letter of invitation, he refused to acknowledge receipt of it and failed to appear before the Committee, despite repeated invitations.

“At conclusion of its deliberations, the Committee found Mr. Bello liable of the allegations against him. It noted that: “The Council of Legal Education was magnanimous in its decision to approve the admission of Mr. Bello to the Nigerian Law School, despite the adverse report from his University.

“It further noted that: “Mr. Bello lacks the core attributes, disposition and comportment of an aspirant to the Bar.”

“It therefore recommended his expulsion from the Nigerian Law School. The report of the Committee was considered by the Council of Legal Education at its meeting of July 11, 2017, which approved the recommendations accordingly.

“The decision of the Council of Legal Education was delivered to Mr. Bello, but he refused to accept the letter and further refused to vacate the Students Hostel as he was directed.

“Instead, he armed himself with an iron rod and threatened to injure whoever went near him. The security personnel left him alone, to avoid a situation in which any of them would be injured by Mr. Bello.

“He was eventually sighted in the Library unarmed, as a result of which the Security Operatives were able to escort him to the Bwari Divisional Police Station. The Police later brought him to the hostel to evacuate his belongings.

“Mr. Bello’s penchant for misbehaviour was also recently brought to the fore via the letter from the Principal Partner (a Senior Advocate of Nigeria), of the Law Firm to which he was attached, during the just concluded externship exercise by all students of the Nigerian Law School.

“The Firm was constrained to terminate his stay there even before the period expired because of Mr. Bello’s incorrigible behaviour.”

http://www.titopeblog.com/2017/07/biafra-why-nnamdi-kanu-cannot-stop.html



A former aide of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, Ezenwanyi Eberechukwu Anigbogu has said kanu has no right to stop elections in Anambra State and the South-East in general.

Anigbogu, who is the Director General of the Movement of Biafrans in Nigeria (MOBIN) said this while addressing journalists in Awka, Anambra State.

She said Kanu must see participation of Igbos in the coming Anambra governorship election as a way of electing a governor, who is sympathetic to the cause of Biafra.

She said, “Nnamdi Kanu should be aware that Biafrans are hungry for good governance. Biafrans are tired of governors who only shed crocodile tears when Fulani herdsmen kill their families without taking any action. Biafrans are tired of governors who sit and watch while unarmed, protesting Biafrans are being shot on the streets.

“Biafrans are tired of weaklings who pay allegiance to Emirates and sultanates of the north in order to oppress their own people. We are raising an army of Biafra conscious politicians to take over the political space of Biafraland, and sack them all. We are raising politicians who think, talk and act Biafra.

“We have discussed with him (Kanu) to see reasons why Biafra, as a matter of urgency, needs its own sons and daughters in power. We will not allow Fulani military administrators become the administrator in Anambra when their is chaos here.

“We will not allow people who who don’t have value for our lives rule over us and kill us. Kanu cannot stop the take over of this land by Umu Biafra. I am Ada(daughter of the land), and I speak the voice of my ancestors. Kanu cannot stand in the way of the same Biafra he and I have worked together to achieve. He must understand this.”

http://www.titopeblog.com/2017/07/what-ambode-told-newly-elected-local.html

The Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, has told the newly elected local government officials to do all that lies within their powers to ensure they fulfill their electoral promises to the people.

Ambode made this known at the swearing-in ceremony of the new chairmen in Ikeja, the state capital.

He said: “To the newly elected chairmen, the conclusion of the electoral process marks the beginning of real governance which has been activated by your swearing-in today. It is now time for hard work and the fulfilment of all promises you made to our people.

“People have voted and discharged their responsibilities, it is now your turn to discharge your part of the social contract. Let me remind you all that you are assuming the mantle of leadership at a time when our people expect so much”.

Meanwhile, the governor commended the Court of Appeal ruling in Lagos which set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court that empowered the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority to regulate transportation and sand dredging in the state.

He expressed hope that the development would go a long way to aid the efforts of the Lagos State government in abating flood across the state.

http://www.titopeblog.com/2017/07/those-who-dumped-pdp-can-now-return.html



A former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Professor Ahmed Rufai Alkali has stated that the recent verdict by the Supreme Court, which sacked the Ali Modu Sheriff caretaker committee has opened the door for those who deserted the party to return.

Alkali, who was the Special Adviser on Political Affairs to former President Goodluck Jonathan, said the victory of Ahmed Markafi at the apex court showed that the party was back on its feat and ready to reclaim its lost glory.

Speaking with Vanguard, the PDP chieftain said the former ruling party had learnt its lesson and would never allow history repeat itself.

His words, “Already, Senator Ahmed Makarfi and other leaders of our party who spoke immediately after the Supreme Court judgment were all on one page that the door remains open and is open not only for Sheriff but for all members of our party who deserted the party out of anger, frustration and bitterness.


“The opening of the door is the most important point, and I believe that in this process of reconciliation, it is very important that people put Nigeria first and put the party first. If you are fighting to serve this country, then it doesn’t.”

Asked what the party leaders were doing to regain the party’s lost glory and the confidence of the people, the ex-presidential aide said, “I know the party has been going through crises at various times and of different dimensions but the crisis that the party faced in the past two years has been unprecedented.

“Since all of us are living witnesses to what happened and how this crisis evolved and led to last Wednesday (decision of the Supreme Court). This is not the time for jubilation but for deep reflection.

“We have to ask ourselves what went wrong and also to know that it is not over until it is over because, in politics, you need at least three levels of victories. You need the legal victory, the political victory and the moral victory.

http://www.titopeblog.com/2017/07/what-awaits-nigeria-will-be-worse-than.html

Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima has begged governors in the country to stop milking the public treasury dry.

He said that unless something was done fast to address the plight of the common man, ´´what awaits the country will be worse than the Boko Haram insurgency.”

The governor gave the advice on Tuesday in Abuja at the 2017 graduation of Internally Displaced Girls under the Organisation of Female Students Scholarship Scheme.

“The most important yard stick has to do with the quality of governance; there is more to leadership than primitive capital accumulation.

´´No matter how much you accumulate beyond a certain point, it’s just a number,” the governor said.

According to him, violence cannot be separated from poverty, and a hopeless, jobless, ill-educated and ill-paid young man is the most dangerous.

Shettima stated that it was the responsibility of governors to enthrone good governance by “wearing their thinking caps” and working for the people.

He, therefore, stressed the need for governors to create more jobs, invest in education and create work space and work stations for the next generation of youths.

He noted that women and children bore the brunt of insurgency, adding that the Boko Haram sect had so far created 54,911 widows and 52,311 orphans in the state.

“These are official figures, probably the unofficial figure may be twice this number.

“The truth is that we either take care of these orphans or 10 years to fifteen years from now, they will be the monsters that will drive us out of this land,” he said.

According to the governor, some elite and political bigwigs were already afraid of visiting rural areas to meet with common men for fear of being molested.

http://www.titopeblog.com/2017/07/presidency-finally-explains-why-fayose.html



The presidency has finally explained why Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State was not included in the list of delegates sent to visit ailing President Muhammadu Buhari in London.

DAILY POST reports that seven governors led by the Chairman of Governors Forum and Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari would be jetting out to London this night to visit Buhari who is nursing his health in the UK.

Explaining the reason’s for Fayose’s non-inclusion, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina said the presidency had no hand in the selection of the delegates to London.

“The selection was by the governors forum and you will see that the delegation is headed by governor Yari who is chairman of that forum. So that question should go to the forum”, he said


He explained that unlike the previous visit to the President made by only members of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) governors, this delegation was on a broader platform, the NGF, with membership also drawn from the opposition.

On why the president does not prefer the broadcast option while addressing Nigerians, he said, “It is a question of what he prefers and this is what he prefers for now. He would rather receive that delegation and that is what is happening. If the president opts for address option, he will do it.

“Instead of being curious, it should be the right time for the visit. When somebody has recovered or something has happened, it’s in our culture to visit such a person. So, this is the right time to visit the president because the news is that he is recovering and recovering well.”

http://www.titopeblog.com/2017/07/olu-onagoruwa-former-minister-of.html

Former ​Nigeria’s ​Attorney-General, Dr Olu Onagoruwa, 80, is dead.

The human rights activist reportedly passed on in the early hours of Friday.

Onagoruwa was appointed the Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 1993 and

​later appointed as the African representative to the body that drafted Ethiopia’s constitution that same year.

The deceased was also the Group Legal Adviser/ Company Secretary of Daily Times Nigeria for several years.

​Femi Falana, in a tribute in September 2014 titled ‘​Dr. Olu Onagoruwa’s Belated Admission To Inner Bar​’​, wrote: “Dr. Olu Onagoruwa studied law at the University of London where he obtained his LL.B; LL.M and PhD degrees. Upon his return to the country he attended the Nigerian Law School and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1971.

​”​After his pupilage he set up his law firm in Lagos with bias for popular causes. As a liberal scholar he combined his legal practice with regular commentary on socio-legal affairs. He wrote several books and has to his credit over 250 published articles.

​”​At a period when human rights had been put in abeyance by martial law, Dr. Onagoruwa handled many cases of constitutional significance which questioned the basis of continued military rule. He had cause to challenge the arrest of “political extremists” like Ken Saro-wiwa, Minere Amakiri, Tai Solarin et al.

​”​When Chief Fawehinmi, Beko Ransome-Kuti and I were detained at the Kuje prison in 1992 under the obnoxious State Security (Detention of Persons) Decree No. 2 of 1984, Dr. Onagoruwa was on hand to defend us. On account of his leading role in the defence of public interest cases he was subjected to crude intimidation by the military junta.​”​

http://www.titopeblog.com/2017/07/apc-taking-nigerians-for-granted.html

Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Timi Frank, has warned the party leadership against playing with the sensibility of Nigerians who want the country restructured.

The former APC spokesperson was reacting to a 10-man committee set up to articulate APC’s notion on restructuring, and strongly frowned at the appointment of Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-rufai as the committee chairman.

Frank made his position known in a statement he signed in Abuja on Friday.

He said ,“Governor El-rufai has not hidden his opposition to the issue of restructuring since Nigerians began to remind us of our promise which is boldly written in our party promise book, hence the need to remove him because he does not believe in it.

“The Kaduna state Governor has also called some of our leaders and former Head of State different names because of this issue.”

He recalled that the Kaduna State governor while speaking recently in a interview had described those calling for the restructuring of Nigeria as “political opportunists and irresponsible”, a comment, Frank said earned the Governor a nationwide condemnation.

Comrade Frank believes that, “for the fact that restructuring is one of the promises in APC manifestoes, it will amount to deceit if the party renege on its promise.”

He said the governors and the National Working Committee (NWC) should know that the promise of restructuring was one of the reasons Nigerians massively voted for the party in 2015, saying therefore “such issue is a non-negotiable and should be a priority that must be fulfilled.”

He added, “I see not reason for setting up a committee for something that is not negotiable at this time.”

http://www.titopeblog.com/2017/07/nysc-releases-call-up-letter-for-2017.html

The management of National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, has released call-up letters for 2017 Batch A stream II.

Prospective corps members have been advised to print out call-up letter to know their state of deployment.

This was contained in a statement by the scheme on their twitter page @NYSCHQNG on Wednesday evening.



The statement reads: The “Judgement Day” has come.

“All things being equal, you should be able to view your state of posting by 6PM today.

“ Let the countdown begin!

The orientation camp is set to commence on Wednesday, July 26th, 2017.

http://www.titopeblog.com/2017/07/nigeria-not-mature-for-state-police-igp.html

The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris has warned that Nigeria’s political system is not ripe for state police.

He, however, called for improved funding for the agency to enable the Police do better.

“I sincerely believe that the Federal Police is still the best for the country and with improved funding the challenges of crime will be addressed.

“Those agitating for state police should consider the level of our political maturity,” police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, quoted the IGP as saying.

“It is my sincere believe that once the Police Trust Fund Bill is passed into law, the necessary finances required to effectively police the nation will be available”, he added.

The IGP said this would also reduce the pressure on the state governments in the funding of the Police.

Idris noted that the Nigeria Police were one of the “least paid” security organisations in the world in spite of operating under the UN ratio of 1:400.



He added that with the current ratio of 1: 602 the Nigeria Police was operating far below the United Nation’s ratio.

“About 10,000 police officers have been recruited recently to fill the gap but this is still a far cry.

“To meet up with the UN ratio of 1:400, the Nigeria police requires additional 155,000 Police Officers for the next five years,“he said.

He said a request to recruit 31,000 policemen had been sent to President Muhammadu Buhari for approval.

Idris said the current Police Management was making efforts to establish structures that would bridge the communication gap between the Police and members of the public.

Idris said one of such structures included the establishment of the Nigeria Police Broadcasting Service (NPBS).

“When commissioned, it will broadcast Nationwide on TV, Radio, online and the National Emergency Communication Command Control Centre (NEC4).”

http://www.titopeblog.com/2017/07/19-year-old-pregnant-school-girl-shot.html

A 19-year-old pregnant schoolgirl, Nare Beanice Malebana has been shot dead by an unknown gunmen in Xikundu village in Malumelela, Limpopo South African.

The incident happened on Thursday when the deceased was attacked in her home by unknown suspects who broke into the house and shot her several times before fleeing the scene. Her mother managed to escape unharmed.

The deceased was a Grade 12 learner at the Jim Chavani High School at Xikundu village. Malebana was six months pregnant before the unfortunate incident.

The reason for her murder is still unknown, however, manhunt for her killers has been lunched by the South African Police.

See photos…

http://www.titopeblog.com/2017/07/breaking-budget-osinbajo-sends-n1356bn.html

Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday presented a virement proposal of N135.6bn to the National Assembly.

The money is meant to cover projects in the Ministry of Works, Power, Housing and many MDAs.

Osinbajo signed the 2017 budget which was transmitted from the National Assembly to the Presidency at the Presidential Villa, Abuja last month.
Details shortly…

http://www.titopeblog.com/2017/07/okocha-reveals-how-super-eagles-died-in.html



Former Super Eagles skipper and captain, Austin Jay Jay Okocha has revealed how the dwindling fortunes of the Nigeria’s senior national football team, the Super Eagles started.

The former PSG legend traced the disbandment of the Super Eagles after the floppy performance of the team at the Mali 2002 African Cup of Nations as the beginning of the misfortunes for the national team.

Okocha, who is in Morocco at the ongoing CAF symposium on African football, said regrettably, that decision to disband the team caused the ‘death of the team’.

He said, “Everytime I remember that decision to disband the Eagles, my heart bleeds because it set back the hands of the clock in the growth of the team. It shattered the succession plan of the team and that has affected the growth of the team up to now”, Okocha, who is the toast of many Moroccans here, said.

“The Super Eagles third place finish at the 2002 African Cup of Nations forced Government to disband the team to assuage the anger of fans after the Semi- final loss to Senegal.

“A second string team of the Super Eagles managed to beat Mali by a lone goal to grab the bronze medal. Coaches Shaibu Amodu, Stephen Keshi and Joe Erico who handled the team, then, were also sacked. Okocha feels strongly that the decision to sack the team turned around to destroy the growth of the team.


‘’When you disband a team, you start from zero. It upsets all the progress you have made”, he insisted. Okocha who dazzled with his amazing skills was to be made captain of the team, taking over from Sunday Oliseh and their relationship waned.

“Those who disbanded the team pegged their relationship on curtailing the excesses of the so-called mafia in the team. They believed that some players were instrumental to fomenting trouble and holding officials to the jugular because of bonuses.

“That is not true. We were just like any other worker. We wanted our wages to be paid, our bonuses and ticket allowances refunded. We know our officials too well. If you listen to their sweet talk and don’t get your dues, that automatically disappears.

“What they call mafia was the love and understanding we had in the team. All the players were one and agreed in getting what was owed us from them. They didn’t like that and gave us a bad name. Mafia. It was like giving a dog a bad name.

“We also knew that they got more allowances than us and still wanted to deprive us our own. It was inhuman. We closed ranks to fight for our rights. Imagine flying on economy class without leg room.

“And they expect you to do magic on the pitch. Some players ended up getting injuries before the match or not giving their optimal best.”

http://www.titopeblog.com/2017/07/biafra-why-igbos-yorubas-hausas-must.html

The Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir has urged those calling for secession to shelve the idea.

He stated that Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo and other tribes are brothers.

Kabir said this when the Pro-Chancellor of University of Ilorin, Abdullah Oyekan paid him a visit at his palace in Katsina.

This was contained in the institution’s weekly publication released on Wednesday.

The traditional ruler, who is the Chancellor of the institution also harped on the need for Nigeria to remain united, noted that although the situation of the country was serious, break-up wasn’t the solution.



Kabir noted that the renewed agitation was caused by “agents of disunity, especially those who do not want the present administration to succeed.”

Speaking further, the traditional ruler said, “This country must remain one indivisible sovereignty that it has been since time immemorial.

“Igbos, Yorubas, Hausas and other tribes in the country – we are all brothers and sisters and we must be wary of these unscrupulous people.”

http://www.titopeblog.com/2017/07/rccg-assistant-general-overseer-odesola.html

The Assistant General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Johnson Odesola has thrown his weight behind calls for the restructuring of the Nigerian nation.

Odesola made the church’s stand known when he addressed newsmen after the monthly Special Prayer programme hosted at the national headquarters, Throne of Grace Parish, Ebutte- Metta, Lagos tagged: “Born to excel.”

The cleric stressed the importance of restructuring the nation, noting that it would go a long way to providing solutions to several unnecessary agitations across the nation and open doors for Nigeria to settle down and address important issues that would give Nigerians a sense of belonging.


He said, “I am happy that all stakeholders and leaders of thought have agreed on the need to restructure and I agree with it too. It will provide us an opportunity to discuss and address the teething problems that led to agitations in several quarters.

“We need restructuring that will further unify the country guided by selfless love, peace, good conscience and prosperity for all.”

He called on Nigerians to help one another grow instead of calling for separation.

“Nigerians should take advantage of the diversification and think of what to do instead of criticising the government.

“I submit that the present economic situation is an avenue for Nigerians to come up with a lot of bright ideas in the area of entrepreneurship”, he said.

http://www.titopeblog.com/2017/07/dino-melaye-apc-sues-inec-over-senators.html

The Kogi State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos over the Commission’s insistence on the recall of Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye.

The leadership of the party in the state is challenging the recall of Melaye without affording him fair hearing.

Plaintiff in the case are, the Chairman of the state arm of the party, Alhaji Haddy Ametuo, and other principal officers: Shaibu Osune, S.T. Adejo, Yahaya Ismail, Isah Daniel, Chief Gbenga Asagun, Ahovi Ibrahim, Ghali Usman, Isa Abubakar, I.Molemodile, Abubakar Adamu and Daniel Sekpe.

The plaintiffs are praying the court to determine: “Whether upon a proper interpretation of the provisions of Sections 65 (2) (b), 68 (1) (g) and 69 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the first plaintiff’s sponsored member, Senator Melaye, to the Senate is not entitled to a fair hearing before the process of his recall as contemplated by the provisions of the aforesaid section 69 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) is initiated or commenced. Sen. Dino Melaye

“Whether by the provisions of Sections 68 and 69 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Senator Melaye, the plaintiffs party’s sponsored member to the Senate can be validly recalled from the Senate upon an invalid petition presented to the chairman of INEC.

“Whether the process of recall of Senator Melaye by a sponsored member of the plaintiffs party as envisaged by the provisions of section 69 of the 1999 constitution (as amended) can be valid and proper based upon a petition purportedly signed by fictitious persons, dead persons, persons who are not members of Kogi West senatorial district or constituency and with the same and similar hand writing belonging to a few persons.


“Whether in the face of a shortfall or less the number of the registered and qualified voters who allegedly signed the petition in contrast to the provisions of the section 69 (a) of the constitution, the process of recall of Senator Melaye can validly and properly be commenced under the provisions of section 69 of the 1999 constitution (as amended).”

They are also praying the court to declare the petition presented to INEC for the recall of Senator Melaye as illegal, unlawful, wrongful, unconstitutional, null, void and of no effect whatsoever.

“A declaration that the recall process initiated vide a purported petition against the plaintiffs sponsored senator by some of his constituents pursuant to section 69 of the 1999 constitution ( as amended) is illegal, unlawful, wrongful, unconstitutional, null, void and of no effect whatsoever for being contrary and in contravention of the rules of natural justice and constitutionally guaranteed right to fair hearing under section 36 of the 1999 constitution (as amended).

“An order of injunction restraining INEC acting by itself or through its servants, employees, agents and privies from commencing or continuing or completing the process of recall of the plaintiffs sponsored senator.

“An order of injunction restraining INEC acting by its self or through its servants, employees, agents and privies from commencing or further continuing to act on the purported petition presented to it by some constituents of the plaintiffs sponsored member representing the Kogi West senatorial district.

“An order of injunction restraining INEC acting by its self or through its servants, employees, agents and privies from, conducting any referendum based on the purported petition allegedly presented and signed by dead, fictitious and purported constituents of the plaintiffs sponsored member of the senate for an incompetent and fundamentally defective petition.”

http://www.titopeblog.com/2017/07/flood-nigerian-government-gives-lekki.html

The Federal Government has directed residents of flood prone areas to quickly evacuate to safer places to avoid impending danger.

This is just as environmental experts have predicted intense flooding across the country this year.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), in their rainfall prediction and flood outlook for 2017, had listed local council areas in almost all the states of the federation as likely to be affected by flooding.

Director General of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr. Garba Abari, who gave the advice, while speaking with newsmen, said residents of the states and councils listed should take it seriously by taking measures to move out of the areas in the first instance to safeguard assets and property in and around the area.

Abari also urged Nigerians to, “adopt simple environmental safeguards, including opening of waterways and stopping the dumping of refuse in gutters, among others.”

He further warned Nigerians to, “stop building houses along designated water channels to avoid blockage that could cause flooding and brace up to their responsibility of clearing drainages and possibly invoke environmental laws towards flood mitigation in the country.”

The Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, had said that summary of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, showed that approximately 30 states and over 100 local government areas were categorised as high flood risk areas and therefore should expect flooding.

He said, “In the coastal areas, including Lagos, Port Harcourt and Calabar, possible coastal flooding in these places were mentioned in the NlHSA’s flood outlook.‎”

http://www.titopeblog.com/2017/07/how-we-uncovered-706-ghost-students.html

Sokoto State Government, through a committee set up to verify the actual number of students entitled to its scholarship, has uncovered 706 “ghost” students.

The Committee Chairman, Shehu Wurno, made this known on Tuesday when he presented the probe findings to Governor Aminu Tambuwal.

Wurno said that the committee visited 40 tertiary institutions within and outside the country where it verified and confirmed 14,532 students as qualified for the scholarship.

He said: “We have also confirmed that N544, 613,724 is the total cost of students registration for the year 2016/2017 academic session, while N143, 560,855 is the allowances to the verified students.

“We have also verified and confirmed that N688, 174,579 is the actual amount owed as students registration and allowances for the current 2016/2017 session.”


Responding, Tambuwal, who thanked the committee for its efforts, restated his administration’s resolve to give top priority to the education sector.

Tambuwal said: “To boost funding for the sector, we have introduced an education levy where civil servants and political office holders are being taxed to complement other sources of funding.

“We have so far realised N260 million from that levy. We hope to liaise with the state consultative committee on revitalisation of education, headed by Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad, to intensify our work in the education sector.”

The governor assured the committee that its recommendations would be implemented, and declared that no investment would be too much for the education sector.

http://www.titopeblog.com/2017/07/n40bn-pension-fayemi-blows-hot-vows-to.html

Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has threatened to sue the Social-Economic Rights Accountability Project (SERAP) if it fails to prove an allegation that he had been earning pensions from the Ekiti State Government.

SERAP, in a statement on Monday, listed Fayemi among serving public officials who are drawing pensions and other allowances as retirees.

Reacting to SERAP’s claim on Tuesday, Fayemi said he would sue SERAP if it does not make public details or proof of pension and any other remuneration he was alleged to be enjoying from Ekiti government since leaving office as governor of the state in 2014, or publicly apologise to him.

Fayemi, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Yinka Oyebode, said he had not received “a kobo either as pension (as passed by the State House of Assembly) or as severance package (approved by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission) from the state government since leaving office on October 15, 2014.”

The Minister said while he subscribes to public scrutiny of public officials, such an endeavour should be done with due diligence in order to avoid making wild allegations that are capable of misleading the public.

“Contrary to SERAP’s statement, the fact is that Dr Fayemi does not enjoy any pension from Ekiti State government neither has he received any severance package as approved by RMFAC.

“All SERAP needed to have done in this case was to place a call to the Minister or carry out a thorough investigation at the Ekiti State Ministry of Finance, before going public on such a sensitive matter.

“The leadership of SERAP is urged to do the needful- substantiate the allegation with proof or retract the highly embarrassing statement and offer a public apology to the Minister within seven days or be prepared to defend it in the law court.”, the statement said..

http://www.titopeblog.com/2017/07/paris-club-refund-fg-releases-details.html

The Federal Government has released details of payments to the 36 states as the refund of “over-deductions on Paris Club, London Club Loans and Multilateral debts on the accounts of States and Local Governments (1995-2002).”

This is the second tranche of the refunds to the states.

A total of N243.8billion was released to the 36 states and Abuja.

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo approved the disbursement of the monies on May 4, according to the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun.

“The releases were conditional upon a minimum of 75 per cent being applied to the payment of workers’ salaries and pensions for States that owe salaries and pension,” Salisu Dambatta, a finance ministry spokesperson. said in the statement.

See the full details of the amount received by each state below:
Hide quoted text

RE-REIMBURSEMENTS OF OVERDEDUCTIONS ON PARIS CLUB LOANS FROM STATE GOVERNMENT
MANDATE TO THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA: 2ND INSTALMENT
S/N STATE AMOUNT PAYABLE (NGN)
1 ABIA 5715765871.48
2 ADAMAWA 6114300352.68
3 AKWA-IBOM 10000000000
4 ANAMBRA 6121656702.34
5 BAUCHI 6877776561.25
6 BAYELSA 10000000000
7 BENUE 6854671749.25
8 BORNO 7340934865.32
9 CROSS RIVER 6075343946.93
10 DELTA 10000000000
11 EBONYI 4508083379.98
12 EDO 6091126592.49
13 EKITI 4772836647.08
14 ENUGU 5361789409.66
15 GOMBE 4472877698.19
16 IMO 7000805182.97
17 JIGAWA 7107666706.76
18 KADUNA 7721729227.55
19 KANO 10000000000
20 KATSINA 8202130909.85
21 KEBBI 5977499491.45
22 KOGI 6027727595.8
23 KWARA 5120644326.57
24 LAGOS 8371938133.11
25 NASARAWA 4551049171.12
26 NIGER 7210793154.95
27 OGUN 5739374694.46
28 ONDO 7003648314.28
29 OSUN 6314106340.62
30 OYO 7901609864.25
31 PLATEAU 5644079055.41
32 RIVERS 10000000000
33 SOKOTO 6441128546.76
34 TARABA 5612014491.52
35 YOBE 5413103116.59
36 ZAMFARA 5442385594.49
37 FCT 684867500.04

http://www.titopeblog.com/2017/07/dpr-2016-recruitment-aptitude-test.html


Instructions/Requirement

Please do not be at the center ealier than 30 minutes to the commencemnent of the test for registeration, and endeavour to arrive not later than 15 miunutes before your scheduled test time.

You are to come along with valid identification e.g International Passport, Voters ID-card, National ID-card or Drivers License.(Note:Ordinary photographs or photogrtaphs stamped before being attached to an identification documents are not acceptable).

NOTE: All electronic devices, including Cell phones, USB, Cameras, bags(personal belongings), packages, wallets, key rings etc. are prohibited at the Test centers. Candidates who refuse to comply with this will not be allowed to take the test.

Please do not come to the center with a friend/escort.

Candidates found attempting to cheat/beat the system will be disqualified
General Test Instructions

When you arrive, checks will be conducted for prohibited items at the gate of the test venue and entrance into the test hall.

When you are cleared from the gate, you are required to do a quick biometric registration and candidates are advised to dress presentably as pictures taken during biometric registration will be used later

Candidates will not be reimbursed for transportation to and from venues of the test

Calculators are allowed for this test. You may bring a pencil for rough calculations. A clean sheet of paper will be provided for you

Remember your log on details(Username & Password) which was used for registering into the portal as this credentials will be used to log in to the exam portal.

http://www.titopeblog.com/2017/07/how-jonathan-reduced-electrify-tariff.html

Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola has claimed that the immediate past President, Goodluck Jonathan reversed electricity tariff to get votes from Nigerians during the 2015 Presidential elections.

Speaking at a public lecture organised by the department of Economics, University of Lagos, on Thursday, the former governor of the state insisted that the privatization of the power sector was deceptive.

Fashola maintained that the reduction of electricity tariff by the past administration created “massive debt” for Nigeria as it did not conform to the realities of the country’s economy.

He said, “While I fully support privatisation, I believe what took place in 2013 in the heat of politics was a privatisation that was well intentioned since 2005 but delivered with some deception in 2013 with the expectation of political profit.

“It led many uninformed Nigerians to believe that once the privatisation was concluded, the assets sold to the distribution companies (DisCos) and the Generation companies (GenCos) there was immediately going to be power. I cautioned then that people’s expectations were being unduly raised without telling them that there was a lot of work to do.

“Government must also not interfere with the power of the regulator when it fixes tariff in the way the last administration ordered a reversal of tariff in order to win electoral votes in 2014.

“It created a massive debt for Nigeria, because while the government ordered a reversal of tariff, it did not reduce exchange rate, interest rate, cost of wages or cost of gas and other inputs necessary to produce power. Why should Nigeria carry a debt created by an individual’s electoral ambition? This is what the Buhari administration has to contend with.”

http://www.titopeblog.com/2017/07/obasekis-death-edo-apc-senator-owie.html

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo state, former Deputy Governor of the state, Rev. Peter Obadan, former Chief whip of the senate, Senator Rowland Owie, have lamented the death of Justice Jackson Obaseki, saying it was a great loss to the people of the state.

The late Obaseki, who is the uncle to Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki, died aged 93 at about 5pm on Thursday after a brief illness.

APC, through its Edo state secretary, Lawrence Orka, stated that, “the news came to us as shock and we are still in shock. He was like a father to our governor, Godwin Obaseki and we know the role he played during the electioneering campaign even as an old man.

“But we celebrate him for what God has used him to achieve. May his soul rest in peace”.

On his part, Senator Owie said, “the news of his death was shocking. He was a great Nigerian, disciplined Benin man, he was a man of integrity. He believed in truth, he stood on truth and delivered truth at every point in time, throughout his public life.

“I pray that the Almighty God, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and the intercession of our Blessed Virgin Mary will grant him a place in heaven and protect members of his family in Jesus name”.

Obadan who described him as a man who excelled in his career, asserted that,
“he was at the peak of his career the time when Midwest region was at the forefront of the many activities of this country. It was obvious that his judgments were very sound and up till tomorrow he is being referred to in the legal profession.

“He did us very proud, it is a big loss to the entire people of Edo state and Nigeria because he has become an icon and a reference point. It is obvious that the Obaseki’s looked up to him for counsel as the head of the Obaseki family. And one is pleased today to see one of those he mentored as governor of Edo state.”

http://www.titopeblog.com/2017/07/el-rufai-will-become-vice-president.html

El-Rufai will become vice-president when Buhari is declared dead – Fani-Kayode


Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has claimed that Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, will become vice-president “when President Muhammadu Buhari is declared dead”.

Fani-Kayode, took to his Twitter account Friday morning, to state this in reaction to the visit of former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, to El-Rufai this week.

He wrote: “When Buhari is declared dead the plan is for Osinbajo to appoint Nasir El Rufai as his VP. Tony Blair has come to Kaduna to convey British approval of that plan. El Rufai is slotted to take over from Osinbajo in 2019 but God will shock them. When will the Brits leave us alone?

“When will they stop manipulating us and interfering in our affairs? The blood of the Christians and Shiite Muslims of S. Kaduna speaks against El Rufai and the Buhari admin. Their time is over and their power is broken. The Lord shocked Buhari. He will shock this lot too.”

http://www.titopeblog.com/2017/07/nigerian-newspapers-10-things-you-need_14.html

Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers:


1. The Independent Electoral National Commission, INEC, Thursday said it will suspend the recall process of Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye due to a court order given in that regard. The INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Committee on Information and Voter Education, Adedeji Soyebi, said in a statement on Thursday that while the commission would obey the court order, it would make efforts to ensure an immediate vacation of the order.


2. Relatively, kogi state Chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, (ALGON) Alhaji Taufiq Isa on Thursday told a kogi state High Court sitting in Lokoja that he was not part of the assassination attempt of Senator Dino Melaye. He dismissed the allegations against him before the court presided over by Justice Arome Akogwu, Taufiq Isa, noting that he didn’t know the people that allegedly attacked the serving kogi West senator.


3. The police have arrested seven suspected kidnappers allegedly abducting commuters along Kaduna-Abuja highway. The suspects are Ibrahim Gurgu, 45; Abdulazeez Idris, 40; Shuaibu Ibrahim, aka Kadi, 29; Ibrahim Isiyaku, 30; Usman Datti, 30; Kabiru Musa, 27 and Haruna Umar, 24 years old.#


4. Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Thursday approved the suspension of the Baale of Shangisha in Magodo, Chief Yusuf Ogundare for faking his kidnap which he claimed took place on July 5, 2017. The monarch and his brother, Mohammed Adams, were paraded during a press briefing at the Lagos House, Ikeja. by the police.

5. Reports at different quarters has it that Etisalat Nigeria on Thursday changed its brand name to 9Mobile. The change of name, it was gathered, was approved at a management meeting, with the Public Relations Consultant to the company. There is not official statement yet from the company on the development.


6. Northern youths, have again, called on the United Nations, UN, to declare the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, as a terrorist group. Addressing newsmen in Abuja, on Thursday, the Arewa youths, under the aegis of Coalition of Northern Groups, also called on the UN to intervene, by initiating processes for a peaceful referendum.


7. The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party has offered “general amnesty” to all its members who participated in the crisis that almost crippled the party in the last 14 months, but warned that anyone who participates in another plot against the former ruling party would not be forgiven.


8. The Naira on Thursday exchanged at N364 and N3464 at the parallel market. It also exchanged at N468 against Pound Sterling and N415 against Euro. The Naira has not dropped below N365 in the last one week.


9. Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr has denied that he had threatened to resign from his job, following meddlesome activities by Nigeria Football Federation officials. Gernot Rohr said it not his philosophy to resign, assuring that the team was focused ahead of their next match and that he had not such plan.


10. A Kaduna State High Court, on Thursday, remanded a whistle-blower, Abubakar Sani-Chindo, in prison for allegedly providing false information that led to the raid on former Vice-President Namadi Sambo’s residence in Kaduna by officials of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offence Commission on June 28.

http://www.titopeblog.com/2017/07/nigerian-government-approves-equal.html


The Federal Government has approved same salary for holders of University degrees and Higher National Diploma in all the para-military services.

To this end, the Civil Defence, Fire Service, Immigration and Prisons Board has directed that ‎all officers with HND should be upgraded to COMPASS 08, which is the salary grade level for holders of degree certificates at entry point.

A board meeting chaired by the Minister of Interior, Lt Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, approved the regularization of the salaries on Tuesday in Abuja, according to a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Abubakar Magaji.

It said, “The board directed that all officers with HND to be upgraded to COMPASS 08, which is the salary grade level for holders of degree certificates at entry point.

“While the nomenclature for the HND holders will start with the rank of Senior Inspector, the degree holders are with the rank of Assistant Superintendent II.”

http://www.titopeblog.com/2017/07/obaseki-dies-at-93.html

Retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Andrew Otutu Obaseki, has died at the age of 93.

The deceased was the head of the Obaseki family worldwide to which the current governor of Edo state, Godwin Obaseki, belongs.

The late Justice was said to have died at about 5pm Thursday after a brief illness.

According to the Acting Chief Medical Director of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (CMD), Prof. Darlington Obaseki, the death of the patriarch, who holds the Chieftaincy title of the Obaseki of Benin Kingdom, was a great loss to the Obaseki family and Edo people at large

He said: “Late Justice Obaseki was the patriarch of the Obaseki family so it is a great loss for us.

“He is irreplaceable because of the role he played in our lives. He will surely be missed but we give God glory for everything”.