A draw with Cape Verde sees Nigeria's Super Eagles qualify for the playoff round of qualification for Qatar 2022 World Cup.

Nigeria win Group C by two points. Cape Verde finish second on 11 points, followed by Liberia in third and the Central African Republic last.

Nigeria needed just one point from the game and the Super Eagles started the match well as Victor Osimhen opened scoring after one minute.

The fast start continued as Cape Verde equalized five minutes later. Stopira held off Nigerian defenders as he fired the equalizer from a corner kick

Super Eagles had plenty of chances in the first half to reclaim their lead but Cape Verde, to their credit, stayed in the game right until the very end.

It wasn't to be for Cape Verde, who finish second in Group C. Nigeria can now look forward to joining nine other teams in the playoffs next March for a place at Qatar 2022.

https://www.newslead.ng/2021/11/16/super-eagles-qualify-for-world-cup-playoff-round-after-draw-with-cape-verde/

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has issued a two-week ultimatum to the federal government over the non-implementation of agreements entered with the union.

NUPENG said it would commence a nationwide strike if some legitimate welfare and membership-related issues are not conclusively addressed at the end of the period.

The ultimatum was contained in a statement released on Monday and signed by Williams Akhoreha, NUPENG president, and Olawale Afolabi, general secretary.

The union had reached its decision during a special national delegates conference convened last Thursday.

It listed reasons for its resolution to include non-payment of workers’ salaries, title benefits, among others.

“We write to convey to the general public and all relevant government agencies the resolution of the special national delegates conference to issue a 14-day notice of a nationwide industrial action if some legitimate welfare and membership related issues that have been variously resolved in our favour even by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment are not adequately and conclusively addressed and resolved within the next 14 days. This ultimatum takes effect from Monday, November 15, 2021,” the statement reads.

Outlining some of the issues, the union said the first one was the outstanding short payment of terminal benefits to its members that were declared redundant in 2012 by the management of Chevron Nigeria Limited.

It also accused the management of Chevron of terminating the employment of contract workers for joining the union.

This, it said, was despite the fact that the workers had put in between 10 to 20 years in continuous employment and that their jobs were terminated without payment of terminal benefits.

“There is also the matter concerning PYRAMIDT workers, who for more than 20 years now are being moved from one labour contractor to another without conditions of service and union representation/recognition,” NUPENG added.

The union said that contract workers working in oil mining licence (OML) 42 of the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), an upstream subsidiary company of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), were being continuously owed salaries and allowances for upwards of eight to 10 months.

NUPENG said efforts to make the management of the NPDC and the contractors do the needful on the pitiable plights of the hapless workers had yet to receive any meaningful attention and actions.

“Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and its Contractors are also owing Contracts Workers’ salaries and allowances for upwards of 10 months,” the statement adds.

“These workers are being denied salaries and allowances on very inhuman and wicked excuses that the contractors are yet to fulfill certain due process, yet this due process is not stopping NAOC from exploiting the skills and sweats of these Nigerians for profits while the workers and their families are wallowing in hardship and poverty.

“In a similar manner, NAOC has since early 2020 been using the excuse of COVID-19 to keep several of our members away from work while using casual/daily paid workers to do their work even while there is a subsisting contract.

“The Special National Delegates Conference in session noted with deep disappointment that despite the fact that these issues have been tabled before different government agencies/institutions and they have been resolved, the decisions remain unimplemented while our members keep suffering in excruciating jeopardy.

“It was therefore resolved and directed that these issues do not require any further meetings or negotiations but decisive actions and implementation of all established issues within the period of our notice to all concerned.”

https://www.newslead.ng/2021/11/16/fuel-scarcity-looms-as-nupeng-threatens-nationwide-strike/

The Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and Other Matters (Lagos EndSARS Panel) has reported the Lekki Tollgate shootings of October 20, 2020 as a massacre.

The panel indicted soldiers and implicated Nigeria’s security agents in the killing and forced disappearances of harmless and unarmed youths protesting at Lekki Tollgate on October 20, 2020.

The Justice Doris Okuwobi-led panel made the revelation in a 309-page report submitted to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Monday.

Read more: https://www.newslead.ng/2021/11/15/endsars-lagos-panel-says-security-operatives-shot-killed-lekki-tollgate-protesters/

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a three-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to address all issues in the December 2020 Agreement.

ASUU President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, stated this on Monday while addressing reporters in Abuja.

He warned that the union might be compelled to embark on another nationwide strike should the government fail to implement the Memorandum of Action signed with ASUU prior to the suspension of the last industrial action.

According to the ASUU President, all the issues, including those of unpaid academic earned allowances and the universities revitalisation fund have not been addressed almost one year after an agreement was reached.

The ultimatum is part of the resolutions reached at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of ASUU held in the nation’s capital.

ASUU embarked on a nationwide strike in March 2020 following its disagreement with the government over the funding of the universities and the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), among other issues.

It had proposed the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) to replace IPPIS.

In a bid to get the lecturers back to class, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, convened a series of meetings with leaders of the union and relevant government officials.

Amid the strike that lasted several months and negotiations that ended in a deadlock, the government and ASUU later signed a Memorandum of Action in December 2020.

This led to the suspension of the protracted industrial action that lasted nine months, although not after the government offered a cumulative N65 billion to the lecturers to address earned academic allowances and revitalisation of universities.

On the IPPIS tussle, both parties agreed on the UTAS, while the university lecturers’ salary arrears would be paid by the government on a different platform.

ASUU had, however, warned that it would resume the strike should the government fail to meet its part of the agreement reached with the university lecturers.

https://www.newslead.ng/2021/11/15/ASUU-threatens-fresh-strike-issues-fg-three-week-ultimatum/

Justice Sherifat Solebo of an Ikeja Special Offences Court has remanded Chima Igwe, a former Director-General of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi, over alleged certificate fraud.

It was reported that The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission would arraign a former Director-General of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi, Chima Igwe, on Friday (today) for allegedly collecting salaries for 18 years with a phantom doctorate certificate.

The arraignment borders on “use of false/fake PhD certificate and using office to confer corrupt/unfair advantage.”

The crisis at FIIRO started after the immediate past DG of the institute, Prof. Gloria Elemo, left office in April 2019.

Igwe’s appointment as acting DG was opposed by the governing board after the PhD with which he gained promotions for over 18 years became a subject of investigation by the ICPC.

https://www.newslead.ng/2021/11/12/ex-fiiro-dg-remanded-for-alleged-certificate-fraud/

A Nigerian, Itunu Babalola, who was wrongfully incarcerated in Cote D’lvoire, is dead.

Freelance Investigative journalist, David Hundeyin, who brought her case to Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NIDCOM, confirmed her death on Sunday night in a thread on his Twitter page.

Babalola was said to have contracted an infection in prison which led to her death last night.

In a series of tweets, David Hundeyin wrote: “I just received a message from Cote d’Ivoire about Itunu Babalola. She is still in prison in Abidjan where she has contracted a serious infection and apparently she is dying.

“All those promises by NIDCOM, Abike Dabiri, OYSG etc – audio.She’s finally dying. Well done to the Nigerian government. Well done to NIDCOM and everyone responsible for this another young Nigerian is biting the dust. Round of applause for all of you.

“Write a federal petition, do a thread with 15,000 retweets, engage with government, do an investigative story. Even travelled illegally to Cote d’Ivoire in a fucking canoe to gather facts.


“Nothing we have not done to try to save this girl’s life but we come from Nigeria. Eight months of effort, 8 months of “Uncle David God bless you, eight months of hoping for Nigeria to prove me wrong FOR ONCE.

“It’s all over Itunu is dead. She died this night, just confirmed.”

It should be recalled that NIDCOM had promised to do everything to secure Itunu’s release after the case was brought to their attention.

Gabriel Odu, the commission’s Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit officer, in Abuja, had mentioned that the Nigeria Mission in Abidjan, Cote D’ivoire confirmed that Babalola was wrongfully charged and incarcerated for a crime she didn’t commit following series of investigations.

Also, the Charge D’Affaires of the Nigerian Mission in Côte D’Ivoire, Mr Mohammed Gana, disclosed that plans were underway to engage the services of a lawyer, to prove the innocence of Babalola at the Court of Appeal.

Babalola got entangled in a legal battle, when she reported the burglary of her house to the Ivorian police.

According to him, “Investigations carried out also indicated that the former prosecutor, in collaboration with the police, twisted her case and accused Babalola of human trafficking which led to her conviction for 20 years even though the sentence was reduced to 10 years from which she has served two years so far.”

https://www.newslead.ng/2021/11/15/wrongfully-convicted-nigerian-itunu-babalola-dies-in-cote-divoire-prison/

Talented Nigerian singer, Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid has clinched the award for the Best African Act in the 2021 edition of the MTV Europe Music Awards (EMA).

The award-winning star beat the likes of Tems, Diamond Platnumz, Amaarae, and Focalistic to win the award in the competitive category.

MTV in a post on its Instagram account wrote, “HUGE congratulations to BIG WIZ @wizkidayo for winning Best African Act! From Lagos to the world.”

The singer also took to his Instagram story to repost a video snippet of this announcement as the winner of the category.

In another development, popular Nigerian singer and producer David Adeleke, with the stage name Davido, has proven his talents does not end with singing alone.

In a video uploaded on his Instagram page, the singer was seen dancing beautifully with two foreign women.

Some Nigerians have often stated that David is more of a singer than a dancer but it seems he might become quite a pro in salsa if he sticks to it.

https://www.newslead.ng/2021/11/15/mtv-ema-2021-wizkid-wins-best-african-act/

The Nigerian Army has disowned a publication purportedly warning soldiers against any attempt to overthrow President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

The Director of Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement said the publication titled: “Defence Headquarters warning soldiers against overthrowing Buhari’s regime,” attributed to him was riddled with outrageous lies and fabrications.

He insisted that the DHQ has denounced a call for the military to take over power.

The statement read: “The only reason the fake report is receiving any attention is the attribution of the false statement to the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu.

“The authors of the story must be the only news reporters who do not know that army spokesman does not speak for the Defence Headquarters.

“However, for the sake of clarity and to keep the records straight, we wish to state that at no time did the Director, Army Public Relations, issue any statement on the subject matter.

“It is, therefore, a figment of their imagination, which did not in any way emanate from Nwachukwu.”

Read more: https://www.newslead.ng/2021/11/14/nigerian-army-disowns-statement-warning-soldiers-against-coup/

A Brigadier General of the Nigerian Army has been killed in an ambush by terrorists of the Islamic State of West Africa Province in Borno State.

ISWAP had attacked troops at a military base in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State on Saturday morning according to reports.

Four other soldiers were reportedly killed in the incident at Bulguma, a few kilometres from Askira town in Askira/Uba LGA.

Troops of the 28 Task Force Brigade, Chibok, had mobilised to provide reinforcement to the troops under attack in Askira, Daily Trust reports.

Some civilians in the area had claimed to have seen the terrorists in a convoy of gun trucks along the Ngude axis towards Askira in the early hours of Saturday

Read more: https://www.newslead.ng/2021/11/13/army-general-others-killed-in-iswap-terrorist-attack-on-borno-military-base/

Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, issued a directive that a part of the $136 million belonging to the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) should be paid in naira equivalent, Keystone Bank has said.

The bank made this revelation during a hearing of the Ad-hoc Committee on Assessment and Status of all recovered loots, Movable and Immovable Assets, covering loots and assets from 2002 to 2020 by agencies of the federal government.

Mr Malami, who had established that a total of $136,676,600.51 was to be paid to NNPC, directed that 96 million be paid in dollars, while 40 million should be paid in naira.

https://www.newslead.ng/2021/11/13/keystone-bank-abubakar-malami-forced-us-to-pay-40-million-owed-to-nnpc/

The Federal Government has raised the cost of both single-phase and three-phase electricity meters beginning from November 15, 2021.

It announced this in a circular dated November 11, 2021, issued by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and addressed to managing directors, all electricity distribution companies and all meter asset providers.

The circular, with reference number NERC/REG/MAP/GEN/751/2, was entitled ‘Review of the unit price of end-use meters under the Meter Asset Provider and National Mass Metering Regulations’.

In the document, the regulator raised the price of a single-phase meter from the current cost of N44,896.17 to a revised price of N58,661.69.

It also increased the price of a three-phase meter from the current cost of N82,855.19 to a revised rate of N109,684.36.

https://www.newslead.ng/2021/11/12/nigerian-govt-increases-prices-of-electricity-meters/

The Vanguard Newspaper reporter who went missing last month, Tordue Salem, has been found dead.

The newspaper reported that details of the recovery of his remains were sketchy as of 9.30pm on Thursday.

The Federal House of Representatives correspondent was last seen around Total filling station, close to the Force headquarters, Abuja.

An alarm was raised the day after he was last seen when his whereabouts became unknown.

One suspect, Prince Enyenihi, 25, has been arrested for attempting to extort the reporters family. He had sent a text message to Salem’s wife with a concealed number demanding N100 million as ransom.

https://www.newslead.ng/2021/11/12/missing-journalist-tordue-salem-found-dead/

The Senate on Wednesday approved President Muhammadu Buhari’s External Borrowing (Rolling Plan) request in the sum of $16,230,077,718, and €1,020,000,000.

Also approved by the upper chamber was a grant component of $125 million.

The loans are to be funded by the World Bank, China Exim Bank, industrial, and commercial banks as well as African Development Bank (AfDB) among others.

https://www.newslead.ng/2021/11/10/senate-approves-buharis-16bn-e1bn-loan-request/

There is a heavy security presence at the Federal High Court in Abuja ahead of the trial of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

The trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako, would hear the application challenging the jurisdiction of the court and the competency of the charge against him during the hearing on Wednesday.

However, security operatives have prevented Maxwell Opara, one of the lawyers of Nnamdi Kanu from entering the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Also barred from the courtroom include journalists, Igbo traditional leaders, as well as observers and activists.

Read more: https://www.newslead.ng/2021/11/10/kanus-lawyer-journalists-igbo-leaders-barred-from-court-premises-amid-heavy-security/

Comedienne Damilola Adekoya, popularly known as Princess, broke down in tears as she called out fellow comedians who failed to support her forthcoming show.

Princess went live on her Instagram page on Tuesday to lament that some comedians and musical artists did not publicise her show for her.

The comedienne is set to host a show tagged ‘#Nothingbutthetruth’ at Muson Centre, Lagos on the 14th of November.

The show would feature musical performances by Vector and Jaywon, whom she claimed did not promote the show on their Instagram pages.

Princess mentioned comedians like Julius Agwu, Buchi, Gbenga Adeyinka, Alibaba, amongst others, stating that they failed to promote her show after some even promised to support her.

Towards the end of the video, the comedienne added that she missed the late music artist, Olanrewaju Fasasi popularly known as Sound Sultan, who died in July.

Breaking into tears, she said, “In times like these, I miss Sultan. I am stressed”

Watch video here: https://www.newslead.ng/2021/11/09/comedienne-princess-laments-as-fellow-comedians-fail-to-support-her-show-video/

Bitcoin and Ethereum hit new all-time highs on Monday evening.

Bitcoin’s price at one point rose above $67,700 – eclipsing a previous record set in late October – while ether, the native token of ethereum’s blockchain, surpassed $4,800 for the first time ever.

These record-breaking moves come amid a wider rally in the crypto market. So-called “ethereum killers” Solana and Cardano are up 23% and 9% respectively in the last seven days.

The ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF, which launched in October and tracks bitcoin futures contracts pegged to the future price of the cryptocurrency, was up more than 8% on Monday.

Read more: https://www.newslead.ng/2021/11/09/bitcoin-ethereum-hit-new-all-time-highs/

A Nigerian senator, Ali Ndume, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari, to urgently sign or issue an Unexplained Wealth Order to strengthen the fight against corruption.

Mr Ndume made the call on Saturday, in Ibadan while delivering the 2021 Distinguish Leadership Lecture Series, organised by the University of Ibadan.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the lecture, with the topic: ‘The Unexplained Wealth and the Fight Against Corruption in Nigeria’, was held at the Trenchard hall of the university.

The Senator, who is the Chairman, Senate Standing Committee on Army, also urged President Buhari to prevail on the National Assembly to pass the Proceeds of Crime Bill in time “regardless of bickering on the management of the proceeds recovered”.

He said there was need to look at the incidence of corruption, “most especially, those occasioned by public officers who are in trust of public wealth.

“Our crusade against this monster (corruption) should start from politicians, top public servants, civil servants down to local governments’ staff.

“For the perpetrators, it is not difficult to identify the tendencies exhibited by these officers; acquiring landed property in and outside the country, having fat bank deposits, buying expensive cars, or marrying so many wives,” he said.

Mr Ndume said the fight against corruption was a fight for the nation and must start from the top to the bottom.

“It changes our good culture, it breeds injustice and impunity, every citizen has a role to play.”

Speaking further on how to address the menace, Mr Ndume said the government must go a step further to protect the whistleblowers.

He said that the whistleblower policy must be revisited; stressing motivation for whistleblowers shouldn’t just be the reward, but patriotism.

According to him, the whistleblowers must be active at all levels inclusive of local areas, adding that the blowers must not be scared but be protected by law at whatever cost.

He called on relevant anti-corruption agencies “to take whistleblowers seriously, carry out investigation on whistleblowing reports however casual it may be”.

The lawmaker, however, said that the whistleblower alleged to have lied should be taken to court.

He said that the Code of Conduct Bureau owed it a duty to request every public officer to make a declaration of asset periodically and should verify the claims periodically or when complaints are lodged.

The lawmaker also charged the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and other relevant agencies of government to embark on a vigorous sensitisation against corruption.

Mr Ndume announced the donation of N1 million as scholarship to assist some indigent students of the institution

Earlier in his welcome remarks, Kayode Adebowale, Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, said the institution was tackling corruption in an “organic way”.

According to him, “nearly every undergraduate student in the University takes a course in Ethics, either as a compulsory general studies course or as a regular department-based course”.

Read more: https://www.newslead.ng/2021/11/08/ndume-urges-buhari-to-sign-unexplained-wealth-order/

Nothing came easy for Kamaru Usman but the reigning welterweight champion still left UFC 268 with the title wrapped around his waist despite a valiant effort from Colby Covington.

What looked like a potential blowout when the action started turned into a very close fight by the end with Usman gutting out a few more punches in some key exchanges to stay ahead on the scorecards. The judges scored the fight 49-46, 48-47 and 48-47 with Usman retaining his title in a five-round decision over Covington.

Afterwards, Usman and Covington actually embraced as they appeared to put the animosity between them to bed, at least for a few minutes.

“I gotta give it up,” Usman said when addressing Covington after the fight. “There’s a lot of trash talk. There’s a lot of bad blood here and I’m sure there’s still going to be some after tonight, but this guy’s a tough son of a b*tch. He’s tough as sh*t.”

Unlike the first fight, Covington rushed forward with an early takedown attempt in order to use his wrestling this time around but Usman was quick to counter in order to get back to the feet. As Usman was looking to establish his jab, Covington was throwing strong punches in succession to keep the champion guessing.

Usman was a little more reserved with his combinations but he did manage to clip Covington with a shot that opened a gash under his right eye before the first round ended.

While Covington was active on the feet, Usman was still connecting with the harder shots as he went headhunting and then also digging hard to the body. Late in the second round, Usman continued his pursuit and it paid off after he clipped Covington with a short left hook that rattled the former interim champion.

Usman followed that with another devastating left that put Covington down hard and it appeared he might be headed for a finish but time ran out before he could really add much more damage on the ground.

When the third round got started, Covington attempted to alter course while staying more patient with his strikes but he always seemed to be a step behind Usman in the exchanges. Covington had his best moments when he lunged forward with a combination that caught Usman off guard before rushing ahead to drag the fight to the ground.

As time passed, Covington actually started landing with more regularity on the feet when he was a little more willing to just let his hands go. He cracked Usman several times with a variety of punches and it was clear Covington’s confidence was starting to swell.

A hard kick to the body was also effective for Covington as he started to force Usman to engage more in the exchanges.

With five minutes remaining, Covington was staying busy and he stuck Usman with a hard uppercut and then followed with a takedown attempt. Usman was able to shrug him off and reset on the feet where he was once again looking to land the jab but Covington was showing much better defense than the early part of the fight.

Usman never backed down as he was still stinging Covington with solid punches but he was also much more wary because his opponent was showing a lot more power than last time out. After the final horn sounded, Usman seemed confident in his victory but Covington gave him everything he could handle over 25 minutes.

“I wanted to get crazy and I wanted to get him out of there but I knew with a guy like this, he’s going to creep back in there and we’re going to end up in a situation we don’t wanna be in,” Usman said.

“When you share an octagon with someone this tough. You can’t help it. You know that respect is going to come.”

Never one to bite his tongue, Covington paid credit to Usman on a job well done and getting the better of him on Saturday night.

“I had my moments,” Covington said. “I wobbled him a couple of times at the end of the round. I wasn’t able to capitalize. It was his night. He had a better night. Love me or hate me, I’m just getting started. You haven’t seen the best of Colby ‘Chaos’ Covington yet.”

https://www.newslead.ng/2021/11/07/ufc268-usman-beats-covington-to-retain-ufc-title/

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, and the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, on Saturday, faulted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the malfunctioning of the Bi-Modal Voter Accreditation System (BIVAS).

The machines failed to work in many units, leaving voters stranded.

The machine could not capture Dr Ngige in Alor Ward 1 Polling Unit for over an hour.

He feared the failure of the technology could disfranchise over 35 per cent of voters in his ward.

The former governor said INEC should not keep such equipment for too long in the warehouse.

Ngige is optimistic that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would be victorious at the end of the election.

Soludo, who was also kept waiting in his unit, described the BIVAS technology as a complete failure.

He said: “I kept getting calls all over the state about the breakdown of the BIVAS machine.

“Two fundamental points are that the technology has collapsed. This BIVAS technology is a complete failure so far.

“By 12.30 in the day, voting is yet to start in most polling units in the state.

“In a few places where they’re going on, the technology that I understand does not take seconds, now takes 20 minutes, sometimes 30 minutes or more.

“With the crowd that you can find here, I mean hundreds of people, even if the machines start working now, and it takes a minute to accredit each person, you are not going to finish this crowd today.

“It raises fundamental questions about the technology. I’m quite a bit shocked to learn that this is happening all over the state.

“I’ve been getting calls from virtually every local government without exception about the glitches and the fact that people are not voting.

“Places where you have 800 Orr 900 people, you could probably have five or six that have voted so far.

“Maybe, we will keep being optimistic that it is going to be fixed. So far, we have been here for 20 minutes but the technicians have been fiddling with it but no way.”

https://www.newslead.ng/2021/11/06/anambra-polls-ngige-soludo-slams-inec-over-faulty-card-readers/

The police in Federal Capital Territory announced that all abducted victims of the university of Abuja have been rescued and reunited with their families.

The police also said the feat was achieved through a joint operation with other security agencies, DSP Josephine Adeh, Police Public Relations, said in a statement on Friday.

Newslead had reported how two professors, a non-academic staff, and three others were abducted from their official quarters.

The hoodlums numbering over 20 were said to have shot their way into the compound and whisked away their victims.

Twenty-four hours later, they demanded N300 million ransom.

ASUU seeks prayers as gunmen kidnap two UNIABUJA profs, family members
It could not be confirmed whether ransom was paid before the victims were reportedly rescued by the police.

However, Adeh in her statement said, “The FCT Police Command wishes to inform members of the public that all abducted victims of the University of Abuja were rescued and reunited with their families through a joint operation with other security agencies. More details coming soon.”

https://www.newslead.ng/2021/11/05/abducted-uniabuja-staff-members-rescued-suspects-arrested/

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has cancelled its sit-at-home order in the south-east.

The proscribed group had threatened to lock down the region from November 5 to protest the detention of Nnamdi Kanu, its leader.

Emma Powerful, IPOB’s spokesperson, on Thursday, said the sit-at-home order has been cancelled to allow people in Anambra to participate in the governorship election on Saturday.

“Following the genuine intervention of our elders, esteemed traditional Institutions/Rulers and Religious Leaders, and after a due consideration of the positive impacts of their engagement, and sequel to the fact that our elders have spoken in our terms, the Leadership of IPOB ably lead by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu hereby and immediately call off the one week sit-at-home earlier declared to commence tomorrow, November 5 to November 10, 2021,” the statement reads.

Read more: https://www.newslead.ng/2021/11/04/anambra-decides-ipob-cancels-one-week-sit-at-home-order/

Gunmen who kidnapped six persons from the University of Abuja Staff Quarters on Tuesday have demanded N300 million ransom.

It was gathered that the gunmen contacted the mother of one of the kidnapped boys and asked for N50 million each for the abductees.

A source in the university said that the gunmen have opened a line of communication, using the woman to pass their demands across.

The source said: “The kidnappers contacted the woman whose son is with them. They allowed her to speak with the boy , then they told her what their demands are.

“The kidnappers asked for N50 million each for the six persons kidnapped.”

Asked if the university is involved in the negotiations, the source said: “The University is not involved. They contacted the woman whose child they abducted and they permitted her to speak to her son.

“They refused to speak with individual family members.

“It is not advisable for the university to get involved directly. That is the truth.

“If the families are negotiating they may even get a better deal so to speak. If it is the university that is negotiating with them , you know that they will not budge.

“It is better for the families to negotiate, when they come down , then the university can do whatever it dims fit to do. I think that is the strategy.”

The spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, DSP Josephine Adeh, couldn’t be reached for comment as at press time.

Gunmen suspected to be bandits, in the early hours of Tuesday, invaded the University’s staff quarters and abducted four lecturers and some of their children.

The gunmen were said to have stormed the staff quarters in Giri and held lecturers hostage.

It was gathered that the gunmen numbering about 20 gained access to the staff quarters from the east end of the permanent site of the university, close to the mountains, pulled down the fence and attacked houses in the area.

Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, in 2020, complained about the presence of bandits in the university community.

The VC, in a statement by the Head, Information and University Relations, Dr. Habib Yakoob said staff and students were “living in fear of bandits.

“The truth is that this great university is in trouble right now. I say this because we have all sorts of people who are living on the campus, who are using the land without respect for the environment.

“It is worse now because bandits are coming in and taking over land both within staff residences and outside. Our students are being attacked; we are living in fear of bandits. Some of the indigenes give land to these bandits without really knowing them.”

https://www.newslead.ng/2021/11/03/abductors-of-uniabuja-staff-demand-n300m-ransom/

Two more bodies were pulled out early Wednesday from the debris of a collapsed Lagos high-rise building, bringing the death toll to 22 people, the emergency services said.

The 21-storey building was still under construction when it crumbled on Monday in the upscale Ikoyi neighbourhood of Nigeria’s commercial capital.

Rescuers said Wednesday they had recovered 22 dead bodies so far and rescued nine people who survived, but construction workers feared dozens of their colleagues were trapped inside.

“We recovered two male bodies early this morning, bringing the toll to 22,” Ibrahim Farinloye of the National Emergency Management Agency told AFP.

Read more: https://www.newslead.ng/2021/11/03/updated-ikoyi-building-collapse-death-toll-rises-to-22/

A Federal High Court in Abia State has adjourned a suit filed on behalf of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu against the Federal Government on matters relating to infringement of human rights.

A member of Kanu’s legal counsel, Aloy Ejimakor disclosed this in an interview with Newsmen on Tuesday.

Newslead had reported that Kanu through his lawyers had filed a lawsuit against the Nigerian government and the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF Abubakar Malami, SAN.

The suit is regarding matters relating to the IPOB leader’s extradition, alleged maltreatment by security operatives and his release.

The court had assigned the suit for hearing on November 2, 2021.

However, Ejimakor told newsmen that the suit had been adjourned to a later date.

He said, “Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s human rights suit which was slated for November 2, 2021, has been adjourned to November 19, 2021, by the Federal High Court in Abia.

“We are saddened by this development which primarily seeks the unconditional release of Kanu from his illegal detentions.”

https://www.newslead.ng/2021/11/02/human-rights-violation-court-adjourns-nnamdi-kanus-suit-to-november-19/

Gunmen suspected to be bandits have killed two worshippers at Baptist Church, Kakau Daji, Chikun LGA of Kaduna state.

The worshippers were attacked during the church’s Sunday service.

The gunmen were said to have surrounded the church before they started shooting sporadically.

A yet to be ascertained number of worshippers were also abducted from the church.

Ishaya Jangado, president of the Kaduna Baptist Convention, confirmed the attack to TheCable.

“The incident occurred this morning but we don’t know the exact number of people that were kidnapped yet,” he said.

Read more: https://www.newslead.ng/2021/11/01/two-killed-worshippers-abducted-in-gunmens-attack-on-kaduna-church/

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national convention scheduled for tomorrow October 30 will hold as planned.

This followed the decision of the three-man Appeal Panel sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to dismiss an interlocutory injunction suit filed by its embattled former national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, seeking to stop the convention from holding.

Reading the judgement, Justice Gabriel Kolawole said Secondus’ suit before it was as after-thought and abuse of court process.

The court blamed him for not acting when his ward and local governments suspended him until now.

It urged the party to go on with the planned convention.

Details Shortly…

https://www.newslead.ng/2021/10/29/court-strikes-out-secondus-suit-seeking-halt-of-pdp-convention/

A total of 34,000 police officers have landed in Anambra for the governorship election.

Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP Echeng Eworo Echeng, declared this on Thursday, stressing that the officers’ impact will be felt across the state from now on.

Echeng declared at a press conference that the troops and other assets needed for the November 6 governorship election in the state have arrived.

“Assets and boots have been deployed to the State by the IGP. The IGP is very passionate and has a psychological attachment to this election; for everything, this command has asked for he has given us an addition.

“We have the support of the helicopters for aerial surveillance. We have gunboats to patrol the waterways. We have enough vehicles to operate during this election. And from tomorrow, you will be seeing us in the streets.

“We intend to dominate everywhere in this state and the dominance is to reassure the good people of Anambra that they’re secured. Everybody should come out and exercise their civic responsibility on the 6th of November.

“We are going to be very civil to them. But for the troublemakers, we are going to be firm and decisive on anybody who tries to prevent anybody from doing what is the right thing to do,” Echeng said.

https://www.newslead.ng/2021/10/29/anambra-2021-34000-police-personnel-deployed-cp-guarantees-safety/

The eNaira application designed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and launched on Monday, October 25, 2021, in Abuja by President Muhammadu Buhari is back on the Google Play Store.

Contrary to reports that it was pulled down due to incompetence on the part of the regulatory board, the app went through an upgrade and is functioning properly now, CBN spokesperson said.

Before the app went missing, negative reviews were gotten from Nigerians who were disappointed with the process of registering for the app as required by the CBN.

The main complaints about the eNaira app ranged from issues relating to errors occuring after signing up, date of birth not correct, customer support not found, information not matching, among others. Many users encountered problems linking their email to the app which is a major requirement to be granted access.

However, representatives of the CBN responded to users’ complaints in the comment section of the review.

“The challenge was a technical one because the desired result was not gotten, that is why the app was down and efforts have been made at the backend to get it resolved. The eNaira wallet has a major advantage, which is one can send the actual amount they need to without extra transfer charges, and the issue of failed transfer is not associated with the app,” a source at Sterling Bank who will not be named told Newsmen.

While some experts are optimistic about the initiative, others shared their concerns.

“If you ask me, the CBN should have simply given the eNaira to the Telcos to run with. Let them compete with banks, consumers will be better off with lower cost,” Kalu Aja, a financial analyst tweeted.

Technology expert, Osaretin Victor Asemota explained via a tweet that every point-of-sale (POS) agent knows what is called eMoney. “That is their digital float. Every bank customer who transacts digitally already knows that funds can be represented electronically. I am still at a loss on what eNaira is meant to solve other than helping the government print money.”

With the recent upgrade, Nigerians are expectant to see the digital currency app operate without further glitches.

https://www.newslead.ng/2021/10/28/cbn-updates-enaira-re-uploads-app-on-google-playstore/

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is to take over reconstruction of 21 federal roads across the six geopolitical zones.

Briefing newsmen at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday, at the State House, Abuja, Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, who presented three memoranda, said the total lengths of the highways were 1804.6 kilometers.

“The whole package is N621,237,143,897.75. But this is not a one-off payment. So, let’s be clear, it will be spread over a period of about three years. They have scheduled completion times,” he clarified.

Read more: https://www.newslead.ng/2021/10/28/nnpc-to-fix-21-federal-roads-with-n621bn-in-three-years-fashola/

Ronald Koeman has been sacked as head coach of Barcelona after 14 months in charge.

After weeks of speculation, Koeman's final game was the 1-0 defeat by Rayo Vallecano in La Liga on Wednesday night, their fourth defeat in six games in all competitions.

Pressure had been building on the Dutchman since a 3-0 defeat at Benfica in late September, which made this season the club's worst-ever start to a Champions League campaign.

Read more: https://www.newslead.ng/2021/10/27/breaking-barcelona-sack-manager-ronald-koeman/

The African Union said Wednesday it had suspended Sudan until civilian rule in the country is restored, saying it rejected the military takeover as an “unconstitutional” seizure of power.

The continent-wide bloc said it “strongly condemns the seizure of power” and was suspending Sudan from all AU activities “until the effective restoration of the civilian-led transitional authority”.

Later, the World Bank also decided to suspend aid to Sudan.

Read more: https://www.newslead.ng/2021/10/27/sudan-suspended-from-african-union-over-military-coup/