₦airaland Forum

The United States mission in Nigeria has announced that it will prioritise applications for student visas and plan interview appointments “well in advance” of school resumption.

Susan Tuller, US mission country consular coordinator, also said on Friday that the mission “will make every effort to assist student visa applicants in a timely fashion while keeping personnel and customers safe.”

The lockdown introduced to slow the spread of the coronavirus had hindered operations at the US embassy in Abuja and the consulate general in Lagos.

However, with the next round of school resumption in September, Tuller said efforts are in place to ensure that Nigerians travelling for studies are not stranded regarding their application for visa.

A statement from the mission explained why this is priority for the US: Nigeria sends more students to American colleges and universities than any other country in Africa and is the eleventh largest worldwide source of international students to the country.

Tuller was quoted her as saying: “As we continue to prioritize the health and safety of our staff and customers, processing student visas remains a high priority for the U.S. Mission in Nigeria.

“We will increase the number of student visa appointments in May and June to ensure that we can offer appointments to as many students as possible. If your U.S. studies are scheduled to begin this Fall, we encourage you to schedule your appointment as quickly as possible."

The consular coordinator explained that all student visa appointments must be booked through the specified US travel website.

She also warned applicants against the use of third-party services, including touts, and fixers who broker visa appointments.

“Both Nigeria and the United States benefit when Nigerian students study at one of our world-class educational institutions,” she added.

“To prepare for your U.S. educational opportunity, we encourage you to check out EducationUSA Advising Centers at our American Spaces in Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan, and Calabar, or at educationUSA.state.gov.”

In the 2019-2020 academic year, a record-breaking number of nearly 14,000 Nigerians were said to have pursued graduate and undergraduate degrees in the US.

Nine persons who participated in the attack against the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo have been arrested.

Prof. Soludo was last month attacked by unknown gunmen in his community, Isuofia, Aguata Local Government Area, during an interactive session with youths of the community.

Three policemen were killed during the attack, while a commissioner in Anambra State, Mr Emeka Ezenwanne was abducted by the gunmen, but later released.

Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano on Wednesday revealed that nine of the suspected criminals who participated in the attack has now been apprehended and will not be spared.

Obiano who disclosed this at the Prof. Dora Akunyili Women’s Development Centre in Awka said: “What happened last month is unfortunate, but let me tell you, we have restrategized and we are coming out like a smoking gun.

“We are not going to take prisoners. The nine people that attacked Prof Soludo are in our net now. We are going to eliminate them. We will go after the others.

“We are not going to take prisoners any longer. A special squad have already been put together, and they are already working everywhere,” Obiano said.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has kept mute over the scandal rocking the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami.

The minister has been under pressure to step down over allegations that he endorsed Taliban and Al-Qaeda extremist sects in the past.

The angry reactions to the utterances made the minister to own up, blaming immaturity and limited knowledge for his views back then.

The debate over the issue and the calls for Dr Pantami’s resignation have already taken regional and religious slants.

Pantami attended Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, who briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the council meeting, said the issue was not raised at all.

Mohammed was asked whether the council discussed the matter and whether the government was comfortable with its burden on its image.

Mohammed responded: “I’m not going into the issue of whether government is comfortable or not. I will answer your questioned directly. It was not discussed at the council meeting.”

The communication minister had said during his daily Ramadan lecture at Annur Mosque in Abuja last Saturday that he now knows better about some of the comments he made in the past.

Pantami said the current campaign against him is politically motivated.

He said: “For 15 years, I have moved round the country while educating people about the dangers of terrorism. I have traveled to Katsina, Gombe, Borno, Kano states and Difa in Niger Republic to preach against terrorism.

“I have engaged those with Boko Haram ideologies in different places. I have been writing pamphlets in Hausa, English and Arabic. I have managed to bring back several young persons who have derailed from the right path.

“Some of the comments I made some years ago that are generating controversies now were based on my understanding of religious issues at the time, and I have changed several positions taken in the past based on new evidence and maturity.

“I was young when I made some of the comments; I was in university, some of the comments were made when I was a teenager. I started preaching when I was 13, many scholars and individuals did not understand some of international events and therefore took some positions based on their understanding, some have come to change their positions later.”

A personnel of the Oyo State Security Network Agency codenamed Amotekun, Suleiman Quadri, has been killed by gunmen.

Quadri was said to have been ambushed by the bandits numbering about 11 while escorting the staff of a farm to the farmland in Fiditi on Tuesday.

The gunmen opened fire on the security operative and his colleague Amoo Yisau.

While Yisau survived with gunshot injuries, Quadri gave up the ghost.

Yisau is receiving treatment at the General Hospital, Owode, Oyo.

The commandant of Amotekun Corps, Col. Olayinka Olayanju (rtd), confirmed the incident.

Quadri, 25, has since been buried according to Islamic rites.

No fewer than 1000 supporters of former Governor, Abdulaziz Yari and Senator Kabiru Marafa from Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State have dumped the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) and embraced the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The decampees were yesterday evening received earlier by the PDP State Chairman, Alhaji Tukur Umar Danfulani Maikatako who later presented them to Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle at his residence in Gusau, the state capital.

The leader of the decampees, Comrade Abdullahi Danda Bungudu said they were at the Governor’s residence to register their support as they had declared their defection earlier at the state PDP Secretariat and were received officially by the state Party Chairman, Alhaji Tukur Umar Danfulani.

Comrade Danda further stated that the reason they defected from APC to PDP was due to the way and manner the Governor handled the security situation in the state and the many laudable projects he is executing in less than two years of being in office.

He observed that it is on record that before the coming of Matawalle’s administration, Zamfara State residents were in a serious war with bandits which almost destroyed the state to a failed one as all government machineries were not working.

Bungudu, however, averred that the vision and foresight of Governor Matawalle and his style of leadership changed all that and convinced them to join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from their former political party, APC.

Responding, Governor Matawalle said his administration was determined to bring development to the people of the state at all levels with a view of making the state more secured and economically viable.

He further said, “as a leader, my primary responsibility is to protect the lives and property of the citizens including their dignity for the coming generations.”

Matawalle assured them of equal treatment in the party and also commended their foresight and positive decision of joining his party, the PDP for the purpose of developing Zamfara State collectively.

The Governor added that with people of their calibre in the party, he is sure that a lot will be achieved.

Notable among those who defected were Comrade Abdullahi Danda Bungudu, Alhaji Adamu Abu Samawa and Alhaji Abbas Abdullahi Bela who was the current Vice chairman of APC in Bungudu Local Government.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) is enmeshed in the crisis of zoning its National Working Committee (NWC) offices and when to conduct its National Convention.

The National Convention is due for June but the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee is yet to start the processes of the Convention. Earlier this week, a list appeared on some social media sites, stating that the party has zoned the presidency to the South, while the National Chairmanship was zoned to the North.

It went on to share other offices between the South and the North. But the Secretary of the Caretaker Committee, Senator John AkpanUdoedehe, described it as speculation. “People who are interested in running for one office or the other can speculate.

As far as I am concerned, the last Caretaker Committee meeting we had, we did not discuss that. That is not what we are concerned with now. What we are concerned with is data collection; how to collect data without making mistakes.”

However, sources within the party told Sunday Telegraph that the Caretaker Committee was planning to complete the tenure of the sacked NWC, led by the former Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. The Oshiomhole-led NWC would have ended June 2022 but was terminated in June 2020.

By the APC constitution, the tenure of a Working Committee is four years, as Oshiomhole was voted in as APC National Chairman in 2018. The Caretaker Committee that was constituted in June last year with a mandate to conduct a National Convention, but got an extension of its tenure for another six months in December last year.

But a party source said that the Committee is pushing for another extension that would make them complete the tenure of the sacked NWC next June, 2022. It was learnt that some stakeholders are already planning a showdown, as they claim no National Executive Committee (NEC) was in place to grant an extension of tenure to the Committee.

According to some of them who spoke on the condition of anonymity, since the organs of the party have been dissolved, the party has no more NEC, which is in position to grant extension to the Caretaker Committee.

It would be recalled that the Caretaker Committee in December last year presented a proposal to NEC to dissolve all the organs of the party from the ward to the national levels and constitute caretakers committees in all the states’ party chapters.

The stakeholders said the Caretaker Committee did not envisage that there would be need for them to look for another extension when they proposed for the dissolution of the party organs.

One of them said: “They proposed that all the organs of the party should be dissolved and they got that but now they want extension of tenure. There is no NEC to sit to grant that.”

Also, the Progressive Governors Forum’s Director General, Salihu Lukman, warned against the extension of the tenure of the Caretaker Committee, but called for the conduct of a Convention to usher in new NWC.

Another source also revealed that beyond the conduct of the National Convention, the Caretaker Committee was faced with the crisis of zoning the NWC positions.

According to the source, the Caretaker Committee believed that if the National Chairman was zoned to North-East, a former Governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, would come with the assistance of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN.

The source said the party leadership does not want Sheriff as its Chairman. Sheriff was Acting National Chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and he was removed in a controversial circumstance after the party had a series of crises.

The source also said that the party was constrained by zoning the National Chairman to North Central because of the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, who has indicated interest for the Presidential ticket of the party.

According to the source, the North Central might get the Vice Presidential slot of the party if the National Chairmanship was not zoned to the geopolitical zone. However, a group from the zone (North Central) recently asked Bello to drop his Presidential ambition, so that the party could zone the National Chairmanship to the geopolitical zone.

Speaking on the tenure extension for the Caretaker, another chieftain of the APC said that the President should be very careful not to attract a legal battle against the party from members.

According to the source, if the tenure of the Caretaker Committee was extended without NEC, people would go to court to challenge it. The source advised that the APC governors should come in and save the party as the only known body of the party for now.

His words: “Let the Progressive Governors Forum meet and address the crisis that is about to erupt in APC. It would be wrong to extend the tenure of Caretaker Committee without NEC or the Committee on their own decides to extend their tenure.

This would attract a legal battle that might jeopardize the chances of the party in 2023.”

Nollywood mourns again as veteran Nollywood actor, Chief Bruno Iwuoha has been confirmed dead.

Bruno died after battling with diabetes and going blind for years.

His painful death was made known by close associates and filmmaker, Derik Zai who revealed that the actor died at the National Hospital, Abuja.

According to him, Chief Bruno has been in coma for about 3 weeks, and everything done to stabilize him couldn’t bring him back to life.

His remains has been deposited at the hospital mortuary.
His family members is yet to put out official notice and announce his burial arrangements.

African Cinema has lost a veteran, winner of AMAA 2007 Best actor in supporting role: Bruno Iwuoha. He died today (10th April, 2020) after a protracted illness. Condolences goes out to family, friends, fans & loved ones. He will be greatly missed

Mike Ozekhome, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), says the appointment of Usman Alkali Baba as the acting inspector-general (IGP) of police is unconstitutional.

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, directed Baba to take over the office of the IGP with immediate effect.

Reacting to the appointment via a statement on Tuesday, Ozekhome said the president lacks the power to single-handedly appoint an IGP.

Citing “sections 7(6) and 18( of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020, in addition to the clear provisions of sections 214 ,215 and 216 and paragraph 7 to the 3rd Schedule of the 1999 Constitution”, Ozekhome said “the president cannot single-handedly appoint an IGP, as he has again unconstitutionally and illegally done.”

“He can only do so in conjunction with the Nigeria Police Council comprising Mr. President as chairman, all the 36 state governors, the chairman of the Police Service Commission and the IGP,” he said.

“Such an appointment as just happened before the new acting IGP is capricious, arbitrary, whimsical, unconscionable, illegal, unlawful, wrongful and unconstitutional.”

The senior advocate also raised the issue of tribalism, saying that the president is “opaque” in his appointments.

“Today, Buhari has again appointed DIG Usman Alkali Baba, a northern Muslim, as acting inspector-general of police, to replace Adamu Mohammed, another northern Muslim,” he said.

“With Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, another northern Muslim as the minister of police affairs, the circle of policing in Nigeria is complete.

“Of course, Buhari controls the police by virtues of sections 214, 215 and 216 of the 1999 Constitution. It is the same situation with the ministry of petroleum resources and NNPC, the entire security architecture of Nigeria, and other key sectors and commanding heights of the economy.

“The illogical and puerile argument is always that the president only appoints people he can trust and that such persons are qualified in any event. That argument is insulting and insensitive to the intelligence, sensibilities and plurality of Nigeria.

“Can’t President Muhammadu Buhari for once, just for once, in his opaque appointments look beyond his religion and immediate and forsake sectionalism, cronyism, prebendalism, tribalism, favouritism, and act as a true statesman?

“Is he truly saying he cannot trust any of the other over 15 million Nigerians who voted for him, or that he cannot find any of them that is qualified to be made an IGP?”

Ozekhome added that the president has not kept his campaign promises on securing the country, and ensuring fairness.

“I thought he gleefully told Nigerians on 29th May, 2015, while taking his first oath of office, that he was for “everybody and for nobody”? So, Buhari had actually deceived Nigerians and is desecrating his solemn oath of office? So, he just wanted power for the sake of it, after three serial failures in 2003, 2007 and 2011, leading to him even weeping publicly, swearing never to contest again? Is that why he has failed abysmally in deliverables in all his self-appointed campaign promises of a buoyant economy, anti-corruption war and a secured Nigeria?” he queried.

“Is Buhari telling Nigerians that under his governance, Nigerians are indeed living in the federal republic of the north, or northern republic of Nigeria, or the republic of northern Nigeria, or northern Nigeria republic, republic of northern Nigeria and other vassal states?

“I can’t decode Buhari’s defiant refusal to respect the federal character principle enshrined in section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution. Or, can you?”

Prof Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), Vice President of Nigeria, this afternoon, decorated, newly appointed Ag. IGP @PoliceNG, Alkali Baba Usman at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on March 25, 2021 arrested 18 suspected internet fraudsters at a hideout in Gwarimpa and Dawaki Extension, Abuja.

The arrest was sequel to credible intelligence obtained by the Commission on their alleged criminal activities.

The suspects are: Akpotegho Profit, 20; Aseimo Prince, 21; Ekhaguere Favour,19; Ekhaguere Esewi , 25; Kelvin Ekhaguere, 25; Temola Adex,25; Ezuzu Happiness, 21and Ekhiyokwo Emmanuel, 25.

Others are: Mena Ejife Emmanuel, 25; Clement Ifietekhai, 29; Babatunde Ilori, 35; Ejoor Joseph, 22; Okunuwe Frank Durkio, 22; Agbaga Kelvin, 22; Ajayi Kehinde David, 25; Akinwale Taiwo, 30; Joseph Henry Junior, 25 and Agbaje Opeyemi, 31.

Items recovered from the suspects include six exotic cars, twenty six mobile phones, eleven laptop computers, Flash and Hardrive, three International passports, and six hand bags.

In a related development, three suspected internet fraudsters were arrested by operatives of the Commission on Friday March 26, 2021 in Niger State. The suspects are Abubakar Haruna, Nuhu Alfa Katuna and Mohammed Adamu.

Items recovered from them include mobile phones and SIM cards

The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate for the Aba North/South Federal Constituency bye-election, Chimobi Iheanyichukwu Ebisike, has been declared winner of the Saturday polls.

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC’s Returning Officer, the PDP candidate polled a total of 10322 votes to defeat his closest challenger and candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Mascot Uzor Kalu who scored 3674 votes.

I’m the Returning Officer for the 2021 Aba North/Aba South Federal Constituency bye-elections held on the 27th day of March, 2021.

The All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Action Alliance, AA, MRM and APM were the other political parties that fielded candidates in the election.

”The election was contested and the candidates received the following votes: AA candidate, 199 votes; Mascot Uzor Kalu, of the APC scored 3674 votes; Akaraka Destiny of APGA polled 1554 votes; Abraham Okonkwo of APM scored 10 votes; Uwando Chima of MRM polled 13 votes; Chimobi Iheanyichikwu Ebisieke of PDP, polled 10322 votes,” the Returning Officer announced on Sunday morning.

“That Chimobi Iheanyichukwu Ebisike of PDP, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and returned elected,” he added.

The Police Command in Kaduna State on Friday, said it had arrested seven suspected rustlers and recovered 427 livestock.

The Spokesperson of the Command, ASP Muhammad Jalige revealed this at a news briefing at Jere Area Command of Nigerian Police in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna state.

Jalige said on March 22, at about 1500hrs, an intelligence report was received from a Good Samaritan at SCC Market through Area Commander of Jere about a suspected cattle rustler in possession of stolen cows at Ganta village market in Kachia LGA.

The suspected rustler was said to be looking for buyers for the stolen cows.

“On getting the report, detectives were immediately dispatched to the market where they arrested the suspect and recovered the cows.

“Upon investigation into the matter, it was discovered that the cows were among the 217 rustled at Kangere village of Bauchi state.”

According to him, the revelation prompted the command to deploy more operatives with a view to recovering the remaining rustled cattle.

“The efforts immediately paid off with the recovery of 60 cows, 20 sheep and the arrest of six suspects in a forest in Kachia LGA, Kaduna state.

“Further investigation revealed that more of the cows were kept in the forest.”

He explained that the rigorous onslaught yielded more positive result on March 24, with the recovery of additional 223 cows, 69 sheep, 43 goats, five donkeys and three dogs.

“Thereby bringing the total of 427 livestock recovered, which include 287 cows, 89 sheep, 43 goats, five donkeys and three dogs,” Jalige said.

The command spokesman said that the owner of the livestock had since been identified, and the animals would be handed over to him, while the suspects would be charged to court.

Jalige said the command and its men were relentless in their efforts to ensure sustainable peace, and security of lives and property of residents in the state.

EFCC Arrests 10 Suspected Internet Fraudsters in Delta

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Benin Zonal Office in the wee hours of Friday March 26, 2021 arrested 10 suspected internet fraudsters in Oghara, Delta State.

Those arrested are Ifeakachukwu Prince, Vincent Ikechukwu, Oki Morrison Onome, Lucky Morrisson Efe, Ejiro Nwaju, Onyije Ifeanyi, Sunday Fejiro, Wisdom Agharadoro and Peace Omaghoni.

Items recovered from the suspects include laptop computers, phones, Mercedes-Benz 350 4Matic and C330.

The suspects have made useful statements and will be arraigned in court as soon as investigations are completed.

Ten Convicted for Internet Fraud in Warri

The Benin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday March 25, 2021 secured the conviction of ten internet fraudsters before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State

Those convicted are Agbi Favour Alaba, Otasowie Kelly Osaremen, Chukuwdi Greater, Simeon Asein, Onosemuode Eyube Abel and Aigbata Joseph. Others are Momodu Abdulmalik,  William David, Erhirouture Precious and Obibi Odemaro.

The suspects who were arraigned on separate one count charge of impersonation and obtaining by false pretenses, pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to them.

The charge against one of the defendants, Alabi, reads: “That you Agbi Favour Alabi (a.k.a LEI WEI) on or about the 12th day of  February, 2021 at Ogieva Street off Auchi-Benin Road , Benin City, Edo State within the jurisdiction of this Hounourable Court did fraudulently impersonated one LEI WEI (a Chinese) who is a U.S.A. Army personnel by using his pictures on WeChat App Account with intent to obtain money, which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(i) and (ii) of the Cybercrime ( Prohibition Prevention, Etc.) Act ,2015 and punishable under Section 22(2)(b)(IV) of the same Act”.

In view of their pleas, the prosecution counsel, Ahmed Arogha prayed the Court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly.

The defence counsel, Pascal Ugbome and John Arih asked the Court to temper justice with mercies as the defendants were first time offenders and have become remorseful.

Justice Nwite convicted and sentenced Alaba, Osaremen, Chukuwdi Greater, Asein, Onosemuode Eyube and Aigbata Joseph to two years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 each. Alaba is also to forfeit a Mercedes GLK 350, 2015 model to the Federal government.

The duo of Odemaro and Precious also bagged two years imprisonment but with a fine of N500,000 and N300,000 respectively. Odemaro is to forfeit a Lexus 350 SUV to the Federal government of Nigeria.

However, the duo of Abdulmalik and David were sentenced to six months imprisonment each with option of fine of N100,000 each.

The convicts are to forfeit the phones recovered from them to the Federal government of Nigeria.

EFCC Arrests 24 Suspected Internet Fraudsters in Ogun

Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested 24 suspected in internet fraudsters in Ogun State.

The suspects are: Oladitan Olakunle Dauda, Olapade Olawale Segun, Babayemi Oluwaseun Adeyemi Yahyah, Adesoye Olayode Samuel, Sani Lekan Olaniyi, Sulaimon Adeyinka abdulahi, Sanni Olanrewaju Saheed, Oladele Adebola Felix, Idowu Afis Olamilekan, Adeniran Emmanuel Oluwaseun, Alarape Sakiru Olawale,Yusuf Waheed, Olajide Segun Yinka, Aderibigbe Ibikunle Adedeji, Okerin Olamilekan Emmanuel and  Adelakun Owolabi Samuel.

Others are: Olajide Ayobami Paul, Okenla Hammed Adetola, Akorede Adebayo Aderemi,  Ajibola Azeez Olayinka, Salaudeen Taofeeq Olawale, Solomon Akintoye Omisakin, Ibraheem Saheed Ayinde and Odusanya Olawale Abiodun.

They were arrested at their various residences in the Sango area of Ogun State, on March 21, 2021, following intelligence reports received by the Commission about their involvement in the alleged criminal activities.

Items recovered from the suspects include exotic cars, mobile phones of various brands, laptop computers, Wi-Fi and modem devices.

The suspects will soon be charged to court.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC Ibadan Zonal Office secured ten convictions on Wednesday, March 24, 2021 before Justice Mohammed Abubakar of the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The convicts are: Beyioku Olatunji (a.k.a Bashorun), Beyioku Oluwayomi Oluwafemi (a.k.a Ola 1),Adeleke Ridwan Adekunle, AbdulFatai Waliu, Adelani Sarafa Yomi, Folarin Ikeoluwa Akinleye, Adebisi Abiola Victor, Adio Toheeb Oladimeji, Ogundulu Oluwashola Temitope and Amoo Rilwan Babatunde,

The Beyioku brothers, Olatunji and Oluwafemi were arrested in November 2019 for allegedly falsely presenting themselves as operatives of the Commission to defraud members of the public.

The two notorious Supernumerary Policemen, popularly known as Spy Police, were initially arraigned on January 23,2020 before Justice Mohammed Abubakar of the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, on 18-count charges bordering on conspiracy, impersonation, forgery, money laundering and obtaining money under false pretenses.

They pleaded not guilty when the charges was read to them. The duo thereafter approached the commission for a plea bargain.

Beyioku brothers and the eight other defendants today pleaded guilty to one count of impersonation separately filed against them the EFCC.

Following their pleas, prosecution counsel Murtala Usman, Oyelakin Oyediran and Shamsuddeen Bashir, prayed the court to convict them accordingly.

Justice Abubakar, in his judgment, convicted and sentenced Beyioku Olatunji Joe Oladapo and Beyioku Oluwayomi Oluwafemi to Eighteen months imprisonment from the day of arrest without option of fine, while Adelani bagged twelve months imprisonment without option of fine.

Adio was jailed six months with an option of N200, 000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) fine; Adeleke, and Waliu four months imprisonment with an option of N100, 000(One Hundred Thousand Naira) fine while Ogundulu bagged four months with an option of N150, 000 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) fine.

Amoo was given three months jailed term with an option of N200, 000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) fine while
Adebisi, and Folarin are to spend three months in a Correctional Centre.
They however have an option of N150, 000 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) fine each.

The court also ordered the convict to pay restitutions to their victims.

The Beyioku brothers are to restitute their victim, Tawakalitu Lasisi through the EFCC the total sum of N1,450,000 (One Million Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira); Adelani - $3,900 (Three Thousand Nine Hundred United State Dollars); Adeleke - $750 (Seven Hundred and Fifty United States Dollars); Wali - $130(One Hundred and Thirty United States Dollars); Folarin- $500 (Five Hundred United States Dollars); Adebisi - $800 ( Eight Hundred United States Dollars) and N26,000 (Twenty Six Thousand Naira); Adio - $1,500 (One Thousand Five Hundred United States Dollars); Ogundulu - $100 (One Hundred United States Dollars) and Amoo - N990,694,66 (Nine Hundred and Ninety Thousand, Six Hundred Ninety Four Naira and Sixty Six Kobo ).

The Beyioku brothers are to forfeit the following items: two Iphone 11, one white Nokia mobile phone, one black Iphone8 plus mobile handset, one small black Nokia mobile phone, one black 4G LTE MTN mobile WiFi, one Gold Apple watch series 3 42MM, three Nigeria Police warrant cards belonging to Beyioku Yomi.

Others are: one Nigeria Police warrant card belonging to Olatunji Joe, one gold necklace, one Honda Crosstour V6 with registration No: BASHORUN, one Mercedes Benz GLK 350 4MATIC with registration number OLA1.

The eight other convicts are also to forfeit all items recovered from them to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Ahead of the Super Eagles and the Squirrels Africa Cup of Nations Cup qualifier match on Saturday, some fans of Benin Republic’s national team have boasted that the Eagles will be no match for their team when they face off at the Charles de Gaulle Stadium, Porto Novo.

Nigeria defeated Benin 2-1 in the first fixture of the AFCON qualifier at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo courtesy of goals from Victor Osimhen and Samuel Kalu after Stephane Sessegnon’s early minute goal.

Speaking with The PUNCH on telephone, the fans were optimistic that the Squirrels would crush the star-studded Nigerian side on Saturday.

“I am very confident that we are going to defeat Nigeria on Saturday in Porto Novo,” Vinabrede Paul said.

“Sierra Leone almost did it right in Nigeria, who says we cannot do that and more so, we have a lot at stake than the Sierra Leoneans.”

Hungbeji Agosu added, “The days when some countries were regarded as minnows in football are gone. If there is anything that has changed in African football in the last few years, it is the fact that you cannot underrate any team.

“We know that the Nigerian side is star-studded with players who ply their trades in Europe, but we are not afraid of them and we are going to surprise them here in Benin.”

Husitode Kuton said, “I don’t want to boast, but I am sure we are going to beat Nigeria here in Porto Novo. They have a lot of quality players who play for big clubs in Europe but at the national team level, they have not been that impressive and that gives me confidence that they are in for a shocker.”

“I used to have sleepless nights whenever we wanted to play Nigeria, but not anymore. We have players who can match the Eagles because some of our players now play abroad and are in the same class with the Nigerian players,” Vodounon Hunsa boasted.

One of the umbrella bodies of herdsmen in Nigeria, the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, says South-West governors, with their anti-herdsmen stance, are creating problem for the All Progressives Congress Chieftain, Bola Tinubu, and his rumoured presidential ambition in 2023.

Spokesman for the group, Saleh Alhassan, spoke on Wednesday while featuring on PUNCH Online interview programme, The Roundtable.

Of late, nomadic herders in parts of the country, especially in the South-West geopolitical zone, have been accused of trespassing on farmlands of host farmers with their cattle. Farm produce worth millions of naira have been destroyed in the last few months. Some herders have also been accused of raping women in host communities, kidnapping the rich and in some cases, killing host residents, amongst other unprintable crimes.

Governors in the zone under the aegis of the South-West Governors’ Forum chaired by Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, have come up with many proposed solutions including prohibition of open grazing, night grazing, under-age grazing, amongst others.

Many leaders in Yorubaland including leader of socio-political group, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, had also said Tinubu was afraid to speak on the herders crisis because he does not want to jeopardise his 2023 presidential ambition and because he does not want to offend the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

But the former Lagos State governor broke his silence on the matter on March 13, 2021 in a statement titled, ‘Tinubu’s Statement On The Herder Crisis’.

In the statement made available to The PUNCH, the former Lagos State governor urged state governments to convert unoccupied public lands to ranches for herdsmen.

Reacting to the proposed idea by Tinubu as a way of solving the near-perennial farmers-herders crisis rocking the nation, the Miyetti Allah spokesman lauded the idea but said the country was not yet ready to embrace or implement “progressive solutions”.

Alhassan said, “I sympathise with him (Tinubu) because if he says more than what he is saying, they will say may be he is pushing for his presidential ambition. That is why he takes time before he even respond but I expected him to call all his political godsons — who are governors — that are causing this confusion to order. He should call them and say, ‘Hey, when I become president, I will solve this problem for us’ (and) not to create problem for him, for his ambition.”

When asked whether the farmers-herders crisis could affect the political ambition of Tinubu, Alhassan alleged, “When you have a group of people attacking citizens, does it translate to political love? When you have the supposed Amotekun joining militants to attack traders in Shasha (in Oyo State), burn their properties, does it give a good political value to whoever wants to get support from those people?”

He also said the crisis was being exaggerated to score political points, adding that the Fulani herders who are of the same ethnic stock as the President are not enjoying any special preference or benefits from the Buhari regime.

Muhammad Badaru, governor of Jigawa state, says the national elective convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is likely to hold in June.

Badaru spoke with reporters on Tuesday at the APC national secretariat in Abuja after he was inaugurated as chairman of the party’s strategy and contact committee.

The governor said his committee is working with the timeline of the national caretaker committee.

The party’s membership revalidation exercise – a prerequisite to the convention – has since commenced across the country.

The national working committee (NWC) led by Adams Oshiomhole, former APC chairman, was dissolved by the national executive committee (NEC) in June 2020, paving the way for the caretaker committee and the need for an elective convention.

“It is very feasible. I know the national caretaker committee is committed to delivering in June,” Badaru said.

“And we will support them and do whatever it takes to make sure we deliver by June.”

According to him, 10 million people have been registered as members of the APC because of the performance of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“You have seen the tremendous progress that the APC-led administration by President Muhammadu Buhari has done. You look at the road infrastructure,” he said.

“You look at railways and social interventions in this country. You look at power, food security even with the dwindling resources that we received. President Muhammadu Buhari has done wonderfully well.

“That is why during the registration exercise, you will see people trooping in thousands into the party. Initially, we printed only 12 thousand members but now we have gone [to] 10 million members.”

The monetary policy committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has voted to retain the monetary policy rate at 11.5 percent.

Godwin Emefiele, the CBN governor, announced the committee’s decision on Tuesday at the end of a two-day meeting at the CBN headquarters.

The committee also retained the liquidity ratio at 30 percent and cash reserve ratio (CRR) at 27.5 percent.

According to Emefiele, six members voted to maintain all parameters while three voted to increase the MPR.

Benin Republic coach, Michel Dussuyer, has said his side will be ready for Saturday’s showdown against Nigeria in Porto Novo.

Dussuyer’s side will host the three-time African champions in the 2022 Group L African Cup of Nations qualifiers encounter on Saturday.

The Squirrels are a point behind the Super Eagles and a win will boost their hope of finishing on top of the Group ahead of the neighbors.

Speaking in a news conference on Monday, Dussuyer said his side has respect for Super Eagles but they will approach the game with everything they have.

“We have respect for Nigeria but we also have our assets. We will approach the game with a lot of seriousness and determination.

“We know what we have to do On Saturday our ambition is to win. It will not be an easy task. We have hopes,” he said.

Update! 23 players now in camp. Musa, Troost-Ekong, Aina, Ajayi, Onyekuru, Etebor, Adeleke, Awaziem, Shehu, Iwuala, Noble, Iwobi, Balogun, Aribo, Ebuehi, Maduka, Collins, Onuachu, Uzoho, Sanusi, Ndidi, Chukwueze, Osimhen #SoarSuperEagles #Team9jaStrong