All Posts in "Day: October 14, 2022"

Nasarrawa: Female Lover Stabs Boyfriend To Death

Police in Nasarawa State on Friday arrested a female lover Alice Mulak, who allegedly stabbed her boyfriend Ungwan Gwari with a knife to death

The arrest was contained in a press statement signed by Police Public Relation Officer Ramhan Nansel, and made available to newsmen in Lafia, the state capital.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the incident happened behind City Rock Hotel, Mararaba at about 0330hrs when the deceased and his girlfriend engaged themselves in fisticuffs as a result of a misunderstanding.The suspect was arrested and the knife used in perpetrating the offence was consequently recovered based on the directives of the Commissioner of Police, CP Adesina Soyemi,” the statement read.

The statement also said that the suspect has been transferred to State Criminal Investigation Department, Lafia for further investigation and subsequent prosecution.

admin by — October 14, 2022 in Crime/Metro 0
Ohanaeze Ndigbo To FG:Don’t Appeal Court Verdict On Nnamdi Kanu

Ohanaeze Ndigbo socio-cultural group has implored the Federal government of Nigeria not to appeal the judgment of the court that granted discharge of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of IPOB.

The group advised the government to immediately open a window of discussion with Kanu-led Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

The Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Mazi Okechukwu Isigozoro conveyed the plea in a statement.

He advised the Federal Government to “resist the temptation of appealing the Court verdict on the illegality associated with the abduction of the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu in Kenya and his illegitimate extradition to Nigeria.”

He added that the Federal Government “should be mature enough to know that Kanu’s victory is ‘a no victor no vanquished verdict’.

He said:”The best way for the Federal Government to reconcile with Biafra agitators should be through dialogue, they should kick-off the process of reconciliation by not appealing Kanu’s victory. This will guarantee a window of opportunity for IPOB to dialogue with the Government. This is the rarest chance in history to end insecurity challenges in the South-East”.

He stated that it would be in line with President Buhari’s commitment to end insecurity and handover a more United Nigeria in 2023.

“Dialogue should be the next phase and options for the Federal Government to achieve peace in South-East, Igbo leaders are ready to accompany Kanu to Buhari for genuine dialogue, it’s up to the Federal Government to do the needful,” he assured.

admin by — October 14, 2022 in News 0
ASUU Suspends Strike,Directs Lecturers To Resume Work Today

The Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU has officially suspended its eight months strike in Nigeria.

It directed all its members to resume all services with effect from today,14th October, 2022″.

The suspension was contained in a statement signed by the President of ASUU, Emmanuel Osokode on Friday in Abuja.

He gave conditions while announcing the suspension.

He said: “The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) held an emergency meeting at the Comrade Festus lyayi National Secretariat, University of Abuja, Abuja, on Thursday, 13th October, 2022. The meeting reviewed developments since the Union declared an indefinite strike action on 29th August, 2022.

“During the intervening period, the Minister of Labour and Employment, through a referral, approached the National Industrial Court (NIC) for the interpretation of “the provision of sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 18 (1) of the Trade Dispute Act, Cap T8 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, whether the on-going prolonged strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities which started since 14th February, 2022 is legal even after statutory apprehension by the Minister of Labour and Employment?” In addition, he asked for an interlocutory order against the continuation of the strike.

“The National Industrial Court in its wisdom gave an order compelling ASUU to resume work pending the determination of the substantive suit. Given the nature of the order, and in the opinion of our counsel, there was the need to appeal the interlocutory injunction granted against our Union at the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal acknowledged the validity of the grounds of the union’s appeal but still upheld the order of the lower court and ordered our Union to comply with the ruling of the lower court as condition precedent for the appeal to be heard.

“NEC noted the series of meetings with the leadership of the House of Representatives led by the Hon. Speaker, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, as well as intervention efforts of other well-meaning Nigerians both within and outside government and the progress made so far.

“NEC deliberated on the recommendations of the Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila-led Committee within the framework of the FGN/ASUU’s Memorandum of Action(MoA) of 2020 on the contending issues that led to the strike action. For the avoidance of doubt, the issues include: Funding for Revitalisation of public universities Earned Academic Allowances, proliferation of public Universities

“University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) as a broad spectrum software to stop illegality and provide for an alternative
Payment platform in the university system. Renegotiation of the 2009 Agreement.While appreciating the commendable efforts of the leadership of the House of Representatives and other patriotic Nigerians who waded into the matter, NEC noted with regrets that the issues in dispute are yet to be satisfactorily addressed.

“However, as a law-abiding Union and in deference to appeals by the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria. His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, and in recognition of the efforts of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, and other well meaning Nigerians, ASUU NEC resolved to suspend the strike action embarked upon on 14th February 2022.

admin by — October 14, 2022 in News 0
MRA Condemns Arrest, Detention Of Ilorin Journalist

Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has condemned yesterday’s arrest and detention of Ilorin-based broadcast journalists, Mr. Dare Akogun, by the Kwara State Command of the Nigeria Police Force in an effort to coerce him to retract an allegation of corruption he reportedly made against an official of the state government.

In a statement issued in Lagos by its Director of Programmes, Mr. Ayode Longe, MRA implored the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Usman Alkali Baba, to stop the incessant practice whereby politicians, government officials and other powerful individuals use the police to shield themselves from scrutiny or criticism and to harass or intimidate journalists and media organizations reporting on their activities.

Mr. Akogun was invited by the Police through a letter dated October 7, 2022, which was delivered to him on October 12, 2022, to meet with the Deputy Commissioner of Police in the Criminal Investigation Department of the Kwara State Command of the Nigeria Police, Mr. Steve Yabanet, on October 13, 2022 at 11am.

The letter claimed that the office was investigating cases of inciting disturbance, injurious falsehood and criminal defamation against Mr. Akogun but said the invitation for him to report at the office was “just a fact-finding invitation.”

But,when Mr. Akogun honoured the invitation on October 13, the Deputy Police Commissioner asked to write a letter of apology to the Chief Press Secretary to the State Governor, Mr. Rafiu Ajakaye, who had petitioned the State Police Command asking it to investigate and prosecute Mr. Abdulrasheed Akogun and Mr. Dare Akogun for alleged criminal defamation against him.

The spokesman of the governor had claimed in the petition that the two men committed the offence through their WhatsApp posts on September 30, 2022 in which they accused him of facilitating the use of over N15 million in public funds to prosecute the last chairmanship election of the State council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

When Mr. Akogun reportedly arrived at the station, accompanied by his lawyer, Mr. Taiwo Olaitan, the Deputy Police Commissioner asked him to write the letter of apology to the Chief Press Secretary.

He, however, declined on the ground that it would amount to admitting to the charge of injurious falsehood and criminal defamation, whereupon the Deputy Police Commissioner ordered that he should be detained.

Mr. Longe describing the action of the Deputy Police Commissioner as unlawful and abuse of power

He added: “It is embarrassing that the Police now consider it that it is their primary function to protect the reputation of political office holders, politicians and other powerful individuals and misusing their coercive powers to play this role. The Inspector-General of Police should immediately call his officers to order and advise them to desist from making themselves tools in the hands of the rich and powerful.

He called for the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Akogun, warning that if this was not done within 24 hours, MRA would take legal action to protect and enforce his fundamental rights and seek substantial damages for the oppressive violation of his rights.

admin by — October 14, 2022 in Media 0
Ayu Must Go, Wike Insists,Defends Appointment Of 50,000 Aides

Nyesom Wike,Rivers State Governor, insisting that he would not rescind from his earlier position of calling from the removal of Dr. Uyorchia Ayu as the national chairman of the party.

During a media chat on Friday,Governor Wike noted that if Ayu is a man of integrity, he should resign so that the position would be moved to any zone in the south as a balance structure for the party.

He said Ayu would have integrity burden to explain to Nigerians what the PDP would do for them during campaigns because he has refused to live up to his earlier promise of abdicating the chairmanship position if a presidential candidate should emerge from the north.

Wike, however, revealed plans to increase appointments of Special Assistants on political units from 50,000 to 100,000, saying he is not bothered about what the people are saying.

He explained that the essence of get adequate information at various polling units.

He added:”Employment is part of what we promised our people, information is key but is sad that we are not getting enough information from the polling units, so we will increase the number to 100,000.Unemployment rate is too much in the State, so this plan is aimed at tackling unemployment in the state”

The governor further urged the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) not to push him and his team to the wall, warning that if they do, what they will see will be shocking.

He added:”Nobody should talk to me about my stance on the position of the party chairman because i maintain my earlier position that the Southern region must be given a space ”

admin by — October 14, 2022 in Politics 0
Ekiti Requires $50billion To Implement 30- Year Development Plan -Fayemi

Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has launched a 50- year development plan that would guide the policy thrust of the government.

Fayemi,spoke in Ado Ekiti, on Friday, during the official launch and presentation of the Ekiti State Development Plan 2022-2050,disclosed that the state would need a staggering sum of $50 billion to implement the economic masterplan.

Admonishing the incoming government to implement it,Fayemi said: ” If this plan must succeed, it must not be seen as Ekiti government, Biodun Oyebanji or civil service plan, every segment of our population must take ownership of the plan, since they contributed to its development and run with the document.

“The people must insist on its implemention according to the timeline that has been provided in the document as well as the expectation articulated. Ekiti will need $50bn to be able to implement the economic master plan and this requires outside the box thinking to meet”.

Fayemi, who harped on the imperative of the incoming government wholesomely adopting the document said; “I believe the it will have the privilege of using the plan, which is a product of collective thinking to further propel Ekiti State to the much desired destination of irreversible prosperity, peace and progress.

“The success of this plan, therefore depends largely on discipline in implementation, discipline in finance, discipline in monitoring and evaluation. The successive governments must be committed to it and implement it accordingly as we all pray for a state where poverty is history”.

He added that the development plan was deliberately crafted to achieve various outcomes like mitigating current and anticipated future global threats as learned after COVID-19 pandemic.

He said:”It also a new strategy for tackling unemployment and improving productivity toward prosperity, to achieve improved quality of life for the citizenry, enhance coordination of government activities, sectors planning, budgeting and performance review processing.And to provide state leadership and successive administration with a detailed direction of it’s productivity, competitiveness, vision and strategy required for implementing and economic and social investment”.

Besides, Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Hon Femi Ajayi ,said the development plan, which he described as all- inclusive will be easy to implement due to the involvement of critical stakeholders in its development.

admin by — October 14, 2022 in News 0
Nigerian Firm, Five Others Emerge As Finalists In Ecobank Fintech Challenge 2022

Ecobank Group, the leading private pan-African banking group, has announced the six finalists for the fifth edition of the Ecobank Fintech Challenge.

The finalists come from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Togo.

They include;Moni Africa, Nigeria,Paycode, South Africa,MaishaPay, Democratic Republic of Congo,DizzitUp, Togo,and Cauri Money, Senegal

The six fintechs stood out from a highly competitive pool of over 700 applicants from 59 countries in and outside Africa. The six finalists will compete for the top price of $50,000 at the Grand Finale, which is being held at the Ecobank Pan African Centre in Lomé, Togo, on Friday 28 October 2022.

The 5th edition of the Ecobank Fintech Challenge, which is sponsored by Arise, will allow all finalists to benefit from Ecobank’s Fintech Mentoring Programme. During this programme, Ecobank will help them to explore opportunities including rolling out their products on a pan-African scale.

Tomisin Fashina, Ecobank Group Executive, Operations and Technology, said: “I am impressed by the growing number of applications for the Ecobank Fintech Challenge. Applications have grown from about 412 applications in 2018 to over 700 in 2022. This demonstrates a definite paradigm shift within the African continent, with Africans’ desire to transform technological innovation into a real lever for socio-economic development. We thank all applicants for their participation and applaud the highly impressive quality of their entries. We look forward to partnering with them for their groundbreaking digital financial solutions to our continent’s unique challenges and to help promoting financial inclusion on the continent.”

Gavin Tipper, CEO of Arise, partner and co-sponsor of the Ecobank Fintech Challenge 2022 competition, said: “Fintechs play a central role in creating innovative digital solutions that improve customer experience, deliver value propositions and reduce costs. Our investments in fintechs are based on collaborative partnerships that advance financial inclusion on the continent and offer opportunities for mutual synergies with our balanced investment portfolio.”

The Ecobank Fintech Challenge is designed to identify innovative fintechs that are ready to grow, that we can partner with, mentor and give access to Ecobank’s 33 African markets, so that they can realise their potential and become pan-African success stories. This competition is in line with Ecobank’s Fintech strategy of building partnerships with African fintechs to help transform digital finance and banking.

admin by — October 14, 2022 in Banking&Finance 0
#WithChude First Film, ‘Awaiting Trial’

Host of #WithChude, Chude Jideonwo, has announced his first film ‘Awaiting Trial’ to acclaim across social media.

‘Awaiting Trial’ is a documentary film that explores both the #EndSARS protests and the ‘deeper illness’ they point to – the phenomenon in Nigeria’s communal justice system called ‘awaiting trial’ where people are arrested and detained indefinitely without charge.

Jideonwo made this announcement in an Instagram post… Full text below:

“About 14 years ago, Toyin Oyemade invited myself and others to an outreach at Kirikiri Prisons in Lagos, Nigeria.At the prison, I heard the most heart-rending story from the inmate I was assigned to help.He had been in prison for more than a decade. He was arrested before phones came to Nigeria, and had been awaiting trial ever since – his family back in the north not knowing if he is dead or if he is alive.

“I knew, somewhere in my heart, that if I ever followed the calling to make films, and no one had yet told this story, this was the first film I was going to make.Here we are in 2022, and I am deeply thankful to my partners, team and the courageous cast for the privilege of making that dream a reality.After two years of heart-felt work, we present ‘Awaiting Trial’ – the first film from our studio”

“Over the next 24 months, you will be seeing a slate of factual and unscripted content from our studio – docuseries, docudramas, biopics, reality soaps, stand-up, and true crime – that tell the stories of our common humanity in a way that connects deeply with audiences in and from Africa”

admin by — October 14, 2022 in Arts/Entertainment 0
Exclusion Of Gombe Governor From National Honours Award Unfair, Unacceptable -Aide

The Special Adviser to Gombe State Governor on information and strategy management, Shuaibu Gara-Gombe, has flayed the federal government for excluding his boss, Governor Muhammadu Yahaya from the list of recipients of the recent National Honours by President Muhammadu Buhari.

In a statement to newsmen, Gara-Gombe said that it was grossly unfair and unacceptable to have excluded a vigorous action Governor Yahaya from the list, lamenting that the list “comprises some governors who have not achieved half of what Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya had been able to achieve in their various states.

“In terms of primary healthcare, Governor Inuwa Yahaya is the only governor in Nigeria who has renovated all of Gombe State’s primary healthcare centers in every ward. I saw people who are selling whiskey and engrossed in nightclubbing on the list. Why exclude one of the best governors in Nigeria?” He queried.

He added: “I feel it is unfair to exclude Governor Inuwa Yahaya from the list. I have seen the list, which has governors and many others who have not achieved half of what Governor Inuwa achieved. It is unfair.”

Politicians, public officers, security officers, businessmen, traditional rulers, members of the academia, retired public officers, religious leaders and artistes were among the 437 awardees.

Some serving governors who received the CON award were Mai Mala-Buni of Yobe State, Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, Simon Lalong of Plateau State, Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna, and Babagana Zulum of Borno State.

Other awardees in the category included Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Idris Wase; Minister of Works, Babatunde Raji Fashola; Finance Minister, Zainab Ahmed, and Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Ishaq Oloyede.

Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari; Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Bishop Ignatius Kaigama; and a legal scholar, Dr. Muiz Banire, were awarded OFR.

National Assembly members, including Hon. Alhassan Doguwa, Hon. Muktar Betara, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, Hon. Nkiruka Onyejeocha, a former Permanent Secretary, Sunday Echono, and Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Yakubu Maikyau, Grammy Award winner Burna Boy and late DIG of Police Joseph Egbunike (posthumous) bagged the MFR award, while Innocent 2Face Idibia, Shehu Othman, and another entertainer, Teniola Apata, were in the category of those who received the MON award, among others.

admin by — October 14, 2022 in News 0
NEDG, NESG To Host Presidential Debate On Economic Policy

The Nigerian Elections Debates Group (NEDG), in partnership with the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) is facilitating a Presidential Debate on Economic Policy billed to hold on 15th of November, 2022, and serve as a launch pad to discussions on the roadmap towards an inclusive and prosperous Nigeria.

Chairmen of NESG and NEDG,Asue Igbodalo and John Ugbe,conveyed this in a statement made available to PremiumNews.

The debate,thestatement,said will be organized by NEDG and NESG with support from the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE), Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), Enough is Enough Nigeria (EiE), BudgIT and Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union (RATTAWU).

According to the statement,Nigeria is at a decisive point in its history, and as we countdown to the 2023 polls, it is critical, like never before, to nudge Nigerians towards making informed voting choices.

“The challenge before us, therefore, is to ensure the evolution of transformational leaders with a broad knowledge of the issues and the political will to steer the ship of our great nation towards shared economic prosperity. The partnership is strategic and will kick off the process of making this Nigerian dream happen.

“The debate, scheduled for November is part of the NESG’s #IfNotNowWhen? Initiative. #IfNotNowWhen is geared towards sensitising stakeholders and citizens of Nigeria on peaceful, informed and accountable democratic participation. The NEDG is poised to facilitate this effort, being a coalition of broadcast organisations, civil society and professional groups tasked with organising and hosting live televised debates for presidential, vice presidential and gubernatorial candidates since 1999.

“The Presidential Debate on Economic Policy seeks to curate content that focuses on the state of the economy and addresses the citizens’ concerns. This process will empower them to choose among the presidential candidates and other leadership positions scheduled for the February national polls.This debate is also unique because of a formidable partnership across the media, civil society and academia”

admin by — October 14, 2022 in News 0