Mohammed Shosanya
The FCT Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has shut three Private Guard Companies (PGCs) for operating illegally in the Federal Capital territory (FCT).

The NSCDC FCT Commandant, Olusola Odumosu alongside personnel of the operations and PGC unit embarked on a monitoring and enforcement exercise on Wednesday in Abuja.

The three PGCs sealed were Ochacho Security Nigeria Ltd at Idu Industrial layout, Justigo Security and Allied Services in Gwarimpa and Macro Security Consult and Service at Wuse 2, Abuja.

Odumosu said that Ochacho was sealed on the offence of failure to register as a PGC, refusal to be subject to licensing authority, employment of guards without approval and threat to national security and public interest.

“We have invited them and they refused to comply, so we are left with no choice but to seal so that they will stop operating illegally and be compelled to register appropriately,” he said.

He added that Justigo security company was sealed on the basis of non renewal of operation license, and the usage of two different uniforms for one company, which he tagged illegal and a violation of set guidelines for the use of uniforms and accoutrements for private guard companies.

“You are also charged on offence of threat to national security, refusal to be subjected to licence authority, employment of guards without licence approval.

“You are expected to conspicuously display your operation license in the office but here there is no such thing.

“You have not renewed your license in the last two years and if you claim you have, show us the evidence because there is no receipt or anything whatsoever to show for your renewal over the last 3 years,” Odumosu queried.

He further said that Maco security company was sealed because the company had not registered and had been operating illegally for years.

He decried the inappropriate one room office the PGC is operating from, which also doubled as a quantity surveyor firm and did not meet the required standard of operations.

“They have been operating since the last 3 years without operation license, this is an illegality and it would not be allowed,” Odumosu said.

According to him, it was illegal of the company to resume operations without appropriate registration.

He said the Corps was saddled with the responsibility to license and regulate the operations of PGCs, hence the sealing of the three companies over compliance violation.

He added that PGCs formed a major part of Nigeria’s internal security system which necessitated the need for the monitoring and enforcement.

“This is a matter of serious security concern which can not be compromised, we can’t allow quacks or miscreants to handle our security, so this effort would be sustained.

“Security operations is not an all comers affair because we are already facing too many security challenges and that is why we will not allow any operation that is illegal.

“Under the leadership of the Commandant General, Ahmed Audi, we will not condone such illegalities and threat to national security,” the Commandant said.

He said that once all sealed PGCs fulfill the necessary operational requirements, their companies will be unsealed and given operational approval.

Joseph Aloba, the father of the late Nigerian musician Ilerioluwa Olademeji Aloba, aka Mohbad, has said that the Deoxyribonucleic acid, popularly known as DNA of his deceased child’s son, Liam, must be done in his presence

He explained that the development was necessary in order to clear air on the paternity controversy of the child and other surrounding issues between the former Marlian singer and his wife.

He also emphasized the import of the test,while discrediting the rumour about the DNA being done in a post made by popular skit maker, OGBCultist, who is believed to be Mohbad’s friend.

He also suggested that the test be conducted at two different hospitals to ensure the accuracy of the results.

He said: “Concerning the DNA test, it’s a must they do it. Nigerians are demanding it. I heard rumours that they did it, but no matter what, I’m Mohbad’s father, so I’ll give consent to the DNA test or send anyone who can represent me during the test if I’m not there to know how they’ll do it. And even when they want to do it, it should be done in two different places so we can be very sure and know the truth.

“Also, where I am from in Ikere Ekiti, even Olu Ikere just left my side now after visiting me. We don’t accept bastards where I’m from, but it will be a thing of joy for me if this child is Mohbad’s because this is the only child he said he left for me. Three days before his death, I was with him, he even served me food, and he put Liam on my hands, and he was taking pictures.

According to him,he is also interested in the police rounding off their investigation process so that the burial rites of his late child would be done.

“I will call the police boss to know if it is possible for us to bury him. In fact, many have complained of seeing Mohbad’s ghost and this is only possible because he has not been buried. I would really be glad that this is looked into as early as possible,” he said.

Mohammed Shosanya

The new Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede,says Nigeria lost N2.9trilion to contract and procurement fraud between 2018 and 2020.

He said that the money would have been enough to build 1000 kilometers of road, build close to 200 standard tertiary institutions, educate about 6,000 children from primary to tertiary levels at N16million per child.

He said that for corruption to be eliminated in the country, there must be a collective decision.

Olukoyede, who was confirmed along side the secretary of the Commission, Muhammad Hassan Hammajoda, said that as EFCC Chairman, he can investigate even the President of the Senate.

Olukoyede vowed to ensure accountability, transparency and preventive measures that will eliminate too many litigations .

He said that the EFCC under his watch will not hesitate to prosecute any Nigerian irrespective of there social political status,including the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio.

Calling for collective responsibility, the newly confirmed EFCC Chairman said, “for Nigeria to earn a reputation for transparency and accountability, there must be a collective decision that indeed corruption must be eliminated.

“We must build international reputation in transparency, and as an agency I can investigate even the Senate President, because we must call a spade a spade, we must look at evil and call it evil no matter who is involved.

“We must look at more of the preventive measures than curative, corruption has become too rampant in our society and we will do our work diligently and with respect to the provisions of the constitution.”

He also explained that the commission under his watch will avoid dublication of roles with the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) in other to save the country unnecessary deployment of funds by the two anti graft agencies for the same purpose.

He said that the time has come for all anti-corruption agencies to focus more on prevention than enforcement, adding that enforcement is a very strong tool in the hands that must be applied seriously.

Explaining further how corruption can be eliminated, the EFCC Chairman noted that the savings of an average civil servant in Nigeria all through his service years cannot build the type of houses they are building and cars they are riding.

He said: “The problem we have is just like the proverbial monkey that was locked up in a cage with a bunch of ripe banana. The owner stood outside with a cane. The monkey would either eat the bananas got beaten and be alive, or allow the bananas to get rotten and die of hunger.

“Everyone wants to live a luxurious life and the incentives are all over the places. I will do more in the areas of blocking the leakages. We spend more money fighting corruption when we could have spent less to prevent it.

“Without downplaying the importance of enforcement. There is what we called transactional credit system. If we continue to allow Nigerians to buy houses, cars and other luxurious properties by cash, because we don’t have an effective credit system, 1000 anti-corruption agencies will not do us any good and that is the reality.

“We must create an atmosphere to make sure that people have choices. If I don’t steal money, can I afford to train my children in school with good standard? If I don’t steal money, can I buy a car after I have worked for five years? If I don’t steal money, can I put three room bungalow in place after I had worked for 20 years? An average Nigerian does not own a home, when he has the opportunity, he would steal. Even if he did not have the opportunity he would create one

“In order to encourage our criminal justice system to work, the substance should be taken above technicalities. We must encourage our criminal justice system to adjudicate in such a way that it will not drag for a very long time. Prosecution should not be allowed to last for maximum of five years from the Court of first instance to the Supreme Court.

“The Senate can work on that very seriously. If we make the administration of criminal justice system really work, you will see the great work the anti-corruption agencies are doing.”

Emphasizing how deeply corruption has destroyed the nation, Olukoyede said, “I did a survey between 2018 and 2020 on fifty entities in Nigeria. Both human and corporate entities.

“I picked just one scheme, one specie of fraud, which is called contract and procurement fraud. I discovered that within the three years, Nigeria lost N2.9trillion.

“When I put my figures together, I discovered that If the country had prevented the money from being stolen, it would have given us 1000 kilometers of road, it would have built close to 200 standard tertiary institutions. It would have also educated about 6,000 children from primary to tertiary levels at N16m per child.

“It would have also delivered more 20,000 units of three bedroom houses across the country. It would have given us a world-class teaching hospital in each of the 36 states of the country and the federal capital territory.

“This is where we are coming from, this is where we are. Where we are going, depends on the decision the Senate would take this afternoon.”

The Senate, has also confirmed Mrs Halima Shehu for appointment as National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency.

X, formerly known as Twitter,announced a new programme requiring new and unverified users to pay a $1 annual subscription fee to sign up.

This was contained in a statement shared on the support account of the popular social media platform today, October 18.

The program is now being tested in New Zealand and the Philippines. The test will allow new accounts to post and interact with other users.

The statement said: “Starting today, we’re testing a new program (Not A Bot) in New Zealand and the Philippines.

“New, unverified accounts will be required to sign up for a $1 annual subscription to be able to post & interact with other posts. Within this test, existing users are not affected.

“This new test was developed to bolster our already successful efforts to reduce spam, manipulation of our platform and bot activity while balancing platform accessibility with the small fee amount. It is not a profit driver.

“And so far, subscription options have proven to be the main solution that works at scale.”

In a tweet Wednesday, Elon Musk, X’s chairman, disclosed the reason for the annual subscription fee.

According to Musk, the charge will reduce spam and automated bot accounts.

“Correct, read for free, but $1/year to write. It’s the only way to fight bots without blocking real users.This won’t stop bots completely, but it will be 1000X harder to manipulate the platform.”

Mohammed Shosanya

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has dismissed two personnel and sanctioned thirty-five others as
part of efforts to enforce a culture of discipline among its personnel and entrench international Correctional best practices.

The officers, according to the service , were sanctioned for misconducts ranging from trafficking in contrabands, unauthorized absence from duty, stealing, negligence of duty, criminal conspiracy, as well as aiding and abetting.

The offences constitute threats to security of correctional facilities, and can jeopardize public safety and national security.

The Controller General of Corrections, Haliru Nababa has clarified that the Service will continue to reward diligence and exceptional performances, while it will not hesitate to punish erring personnel according to the provisions of extant laws.

He maintains that the Service will leave no stone unturned to ensure that ‘bad eggs’ are flushed out of the system.

He assures that the Service will continue to perform its statutory mandates with integrity and ethical standards in line with international best practices.