Fifteen traditional leaders have been dethroned by the Sokoto State Government for various offences. Four others are being investigated for other offences. The offences, according to information reaching us, bordered on aiding insecurity, land racketeering and others. The dethronement followed recommendations of the committee set up by Governor Ahmed Aliyu to review appointment of traditional leaders, renaming of higher institutions and dissolution of Governing Boards of parastatals other than the statutory bodies. Their dethronement with immediate effect was announced by Press Secretary to the Governor, Abubakar Bawa. Bawa said that seven other traditional leaders were retained while the District Heads of Sabon Birni local government and his counterpart from Binji were transferred to Gatawa and Bubkari districts respectively. The statement reads: “District Heads of Tsaki and Asara are to retain their seats. Cases involving District Heads of Isa, Kuchi, Kilgori and Gagi were recommended for further investigation. “The District Heads of Sabon Birni and that of Binji have been transferred to Gatawa and Bubkari Districts respectively . “The District Heads of Unguwar Lalle, Yabo, Wamakko, Tullawa, Illela, Dogon Daji, Kebbe, Alkammu and that of Giyawa have been relieved of their appointments for various offences bordering on aiding insecurity, land racketeering, conversion of public properties for personal use amongst others. “The District Heads of Marafan Tangaza, Sarkin Gabas Kalambaina, Bunun Gogono, Saekin Kudun Yar Tsakkuwa, Sarkin Tambuwal and Sarkin Yamman Toroankawa have all been dropped hence their appointments didn’t follow process.” The government said that Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar has been retained as the Ciroman Sokoto, Ibrahim Dasuki Mohammed Maccido as Barayan Zaki, Abubakar Bukari Salame as Sarkin Arewan Salame, while Alhaji Aminu Aliyu Balle remained Sarkin Yamman Balle. Others who retained their positions include Alhaji Mahmud Shahu Yabo as Sarkin Gabas Dandin Mahe, Alhaji Muntari Muhammad Tukur Ambarura as Sarkin Gabas Ambarura while Malam Isa Aliyu Rarah retains Saekin Gabas Rarah.”
The battle between ex Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has taken a new turn as the ex-governor insisted that the EFCC is an illegal organisation. According to him, the Federal Government did not consult the 36 States of the federation before it enacted the EFCC Act through the National Assembly. He argued that section 12 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, required the various Houses of Assembly of states to ratify the Act before it could become operative. “This is a very serious matter that borders on the constitution and the tenets of federalism. It has to be resolved because as it stands, the EFCC is an illegal organisation.” The former Governor, who spoke through one of the lawyers in his legal team, Adeola Adedipe (SAN), told the Federal High Court in Abuja today, April 23 that his client was ready to appear to answer to the 19-count charge the EFCC, but was afraid that he would be arrested. “The defendant wants to come to court but he is afraid that there is an order of arrest hanging on his head,” Adedipe submitted. He urged the court to set aside the exparte order of arrest it earlier issued against the former governor. Adedipe contended that as at the time the order of arrest was made, the charge had not been served on his client as required by the law. He said that it was only at the resumed proceedings on Tuesday that the court okayed substituted service of the charge on the defendant, through his lawyer. “As at the time the warrant was issued, the order for substituted service had not been made. “That order was just made this morning. “A warrant of arrest should not be hanging on his neck when we leave this court.” Responding, the EFCC, lawyer, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), urged the court to refuse the application, insisting that the warrant of arrest should not be set aside until the defendant makes himself available for his trial. Pinheiro said: “The defendant cannot stay in hiding and be filing numerous applications. “He cannot ask for the arrest order to be vacated until and when the defendant is present in court for his arraignment. “He cannot be heard on that application. “The main issue should be ascertaining the whereabouts of the defendant. “All these applications he is filing are nothing but dilatory tactics intended to delay his arraignment and frustrate the proceedings. “If he wants the order of arrest to be discharged, let him come here and make the application. “Our position is that the defendant should be denied the right of being heard until he is physically present before this court.” The EFCC’s lawyer argued that in line with section 396 of ACJA, 2015, the court could not effectively assume jurisdiction to decide any application or objection in the matter until the defendant is arraigned. The anti-graft agency said it would not execute the arrest warrant if counsel to the defendant undertook to ensure his presence on the next adjourned date. “If he gives an undertaking that his client will be in court on the next date, I can assure him that the arrest warrant will not be executed. “If he gives that assurance, as the prosecution, I will personally apply for the warrant to be discharged.” The EFCC told the court that the Supreme Court had since settled the issue of its legality. “The charge before this court is not against a state or House of Assembly, but against an individual who is said to have laundered public funds. “It is against an individual who is said to have taken public funds to buy houses in Lagos, Maitama and also transferred funds to his accounts abroad.” Source: Vanguard News.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery has again announced a further reduction in the prices of both diesel and aviation fuel to N940, N980 per litre respectively. This is coming in the wake of its price reduction to N1,000 barely two weeks ago. The price change of N940 applies to customers buying five million litres and above from the refinery, while the price of N970 is for customers buying one million litres and above. Speaking on the new development, the Head of Communication, Anthony Chiejina, explained that the new price is in consonance with the company’s commitment to cushion the effect of economic hardship in Nigeria. “I can confirm to you that Dangote Petroleum Refinery has entered a strategic partnership with MRS Oil and Gas stations, to ensure that consumers get to buy fuel at affordable price, in all their stations be it Lagos or Maiduguri. “You can buy as low as 1 litre of diesel at N1,050 and aviation fuel at N980 at all major airports where MRS operates.” He said that the partnership will be extended to other major oil marketers. “The essence of this is to ensure that retail buyers do not buy at exorbitant prices. “The Dangote Group is committed to ensuring that Nigerians have a better welfare and as such, we are happy to announce this new prices and hope that it would go a long way to cushion the effect of economic challenges in the country. The reduction in the prices marks the third major reduction in diesel price in less than three weeks when the product sold at N1,700 to N1,200 and also a further reduction to N1,000 and now N940 for diesel and N980 for aviation fuel per litre. President Bola Tinubu had commended Dangote for the initial price reduction, describing it as an “enterprising feat.” Reacting to the latest development, the Director General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Ajayi Kadiri said: “the decision of Dangote Refinery to first crash the price from about N1,750/litre to N1,200/litre, N1,000/litre and now N940 is an demonstration of the capacity of local industries to positively impact the fortunes of the national economy. “The trickledown effect of this singular intervention promises to change the dynamics in the energy cost equation of the country, in the midst of inadequate and rising cost of electricity. “The reduction will have far-reaching effects in critical sectors like industrial operations, transportation, logistics, and agriculture, contributing to easing the high inflation rate in the country; a lot of companies will be back in operation.”
International Pop star, Rihanna has expressed regret over her past nude appearances, saying that she would “never again” engage in such behavior.
In an interview with British Vogue, the 36-year-old singer, who has two sons with partner A$AP Rocky, reflected on her past fashion choices, admitting that she now views them with “mild regret”.
Rihanna, who has been open about her past provocative outfits and topless appearances, said: “As a mom and an evolved young lady, I feel I would never do those things again. I’m like, ‘Oh my god, I really did that? Nips out?'”
The singer also opened up about her relationship with A$AP Rocky, saying that they started dating with caution after knowing each other for years.
“We knew what we were capable of, and the trouble that we could bring to each other’s lives. We can make or break each other’s heart.”
Rihanna’s newfound perspective on nudity and relationships comes as she launches her new Fenty X Puma shoe collection and graces the cover of Interview Magazine.
The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, has hinted that the federal government will review the age requirement for admission into tertiary institutions in the country.
The Minister has pegged 18 years as the benchmark for admission into universities and advised parents not to push their underage wards to seek higher education, especially university education, below the age of 18.
Mamman spoke after monitoring the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in some centers in Abuja today, April 22. He expressed concern over the age of some candidates who applied to write the examination, noting that they were still far below the required age for university admission.
This review is expected to ensure that students are mature enough to handle the academic and social responsibilities of university life, and to reduce the incidence of underage students dropping out of school.
National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has said that Nigeria is now dealing decisively with all the financiers and sponsors of Boko Haram and other violent extremism. Speaking today, April 22, at the African High-level Meeting on Counter-Terrorism in Abuja, Ribadu said that intelligence gathering is at highest peak through enhanced inter-agency collaboration and confidence building with citizens. He said Nigeria is strengthening its judiciary to effectively deal with cases of terrorism and has earmarked a fund to boost counter-terrorism efforts. “We have resumed the prosecution of Boko Haram suspects across the country.” The NSA observed that terrorism in Africa is driven by a number of factors, including organized crime, foreign terrorist financing and training, poverty, inequality, prolonged conflicts, among others. This was even as the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ms. Amina Mohammed suggested that one of the ways to remove the causes of terrorism on the continent is for Africa to work to rebuild its social contract with its citizens, and deliver good governance. “Rebuilding the social contract is necessary for recovery. “We must pay attention to women and girls who are greatly impacted by terrorism, including the youth. Providing support and healing for those impacted by terrorism is important.” Also, the Under- Secretary-General of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), Vladimir Voronkov commended Nigeria for its leadership in counter-terrorism in Africa and for hosting the meeting. “Terrorism is a threat to peace and security, particularly in Africa where its impact is mostly felt. The success of UNOCT in Africa hinges on its support for Africa-led programmes and solutions.”
President Bola Tinubu has identified illegal mining as one of the major causes of terrorism in Nigeria and across Africa and called for the establishment of a regional counter-terrorism centre that will serve as a hub for intelligence sharing, operational coordination, and capacity building throughout Africa.
The President, who spoke today, April 22, at the African High-level Meeting on Counter-Terrorism in Abuja, insisted that Africa must attack the roots that feed on terrorism, which he said, are ransom and illegal mining.
“Look at the illegal mining that plagues so many of our nations today. Those who think illegal mining has no connection with financing terrorism are sorely mistaken. “The international community has both the moral and legal obligation to help in this cause because it is external finance, not African money, that fuels these illegal operations. We shall be knocking on this door of the international community to answer this call for justice, peace, and fair play.” Tinubu stressed the need for Africa to take a comprehensive approach to combating terrorism, not only through might, but by addressing the root causes of the scourge, which include poverty, inequality, and social injustice. “Not only does it kidnap people, it kidnaps precious resources. Billions upon billions of dollars that legitimate governments should be using to sculpt better societies by providing education, healthcare, and food for its people now go to pay for weapons and response to mayhem. “Key to our collective efforts against terrorism is the urgent need for a fully operational Regional Counter-Terrorism Centre.” The President asked that the African region should strengthen the existing counter-terrorism structures, such as the Regional Intelligence Fusion Unit (RIFU) in Abuja, the African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism (ACSRT) in Algiers, and the Committee of Intelligence and Security Services of Africa (CISSA) in Addis Ababa. He stressed the importance of a regional standby force that includes tackling terrorism as part of its mandate. “It must not be abandoned. “I am mindful of the funding, legal, and logistical complexities that face the proper establishment of such a force. However, with a prudent and clearly defined mandate that accords with the international law and respects national sovereignty, such a force can serve as a rapid deployment mechanism, capable of swiftly responding to major threats and bolstering the security of our region. “Such a force can stand as a strong deterrent to large scale and protracted terrorist operations and the capture, occupation or disruption of strategic land and resources. We must continue to make careful yet meaningful progress toward this goal. “Establishing an all-inclusive African Union Ministerial Committee on Counter Terrorism is also a high priority as envisaged in the Declaration of the 16th Extraordinary Summit of the African Union Assembly two years ago in May 2022. This would ensure that a forum of high-level government officials meets regularly to assess our counter-terrorism efforts and provide guidance on how to further improve.”
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun has cautioned against state controlled police which he said the country is not yet riped for. According to him, bedsides the fact that state governors may engage them in oppressing opposition, the centralized police as it is currently, is battling with inadequate training as well as lack of adequate manpower. Speaking today, April 22, at the National Dialogue on State Policing in Abuja, the IGP said that also most of the police barracks have dilapidated due to lack of maintenance and renovation. “This has had a negative impact on the performance of the policemen.” Egbetokun insisted that with the situation on the ground, Nigeria should not be talking about state police, adding that state police would create avenues for state governors to suppress the opposition in their states. He said that creating state police would also lead to the problem of jurisdiction, which would bring about conflicts of interests. According to him, state police would not be able to combat terrorism, kidnapping and banditry, because they require enormous resources to combat. He stressed the need to improve the training of personnel to enable modern policing, adding that funding is necessary to help maintain internal security. He suggested that instead of state police, the Federal Government should merge the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) with the police for effectiveness. Egbetokun argued that the NSCDC and the FRSC are a duplication of the police. The IGP was represented at the event, organised by the House of Representatives, by the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Ben Okoro. Also speaking at the event, the Chief of Defense Staff, General Christopher Musa, said that there is the need for a comprehensive and effective security framework to tackle rising security challenges in the country. General Musa said that the security and safety of the country is paramount, saying: “it is imperative that we come together to find sustainable solutions. ”It is through collaboration and a shared commitment to the common good that we can develop policies and strategies that will enhance the security infrastructure of our dear nation.” General Musa said that it is imperative to create a security framework that would be inclusive, responsive, and capable of safeguarding the rights and freedoms of all Nigerians.
Veteran Nollywood actor, Zack Orji, has narrated how he slumped in the bathroom, leading to him undergoing two brain surgeries in Nigeria. Speaking in an interview on Channels TV on Sunday, Zack Orji said: “I slumped in the bathroom, and I can only say that it’s by the grace of God that I’m alive today because I passed out. I was out for like five and a half hours before help came. “Benedict Johnson rushed to the house, and I was there on the floor, incoherent. I couldn’t even stand because when he raised me, I slumped again and he had to call another colleague whom we call Labista. “So the two of them lifted me on their shoulders from the second floor to the ground floor and took me to the National Hospital.” It was learnt that Orji’s wife, who was in Lagos at the time, flew to Abuja upon receiving the news, and on January 1st, the first surgery was performed by Dr. Biodun Ogungbo, a neurosurgeon. It was gathered that a month later, after scans revealed a residual blood clot, Orji underwent a second surgery by the same doctor. Orji said that he received support from prominent figures, including the President of Nigeria, the President’s wife, the Vice President’s wife, the President’s son, and various ministers. “But in all of it, I’m grateful to God Almighty and I’m also grateful to so many people who stepped in. “The President of Nigeria, the First Lady, the wife of the Vice President, the President’s son, the Minister for Women’s Affairs, the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, the Minister for Works and a whole lot of other people. “I was receiving calls from South Africa, from the UK, from the US, some of them were willing to; they were asking me, how can we help? How can we be of assistance? So it was overwhelming the way people responded to the whole thing.” The ace actor later went to the United Kingdom to seek post-surgery assessment with Dr. John Yeh. “I’m grateful to God Almighty and I’m also grateful to so many people who stepped in.”
The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida has predicted that social media will very soon play pivotal roles in driving electoral processes both in Nigeria and other countries. He said: “it requires little clairvoyance that with the spike in upheavals instigated by economic dysfunctions across the world, social media will certainly play more consequential roles in driving electoral choices going forward.” Dr. Aminu Maida, who spoke today, April 19, at a special Book Reading and Further Reviews of “Cyber Politics: Social Media, Social Demography and Voting Behaviour in Nigeria” at the University of Ibadan, said that the preponderance of data these days more easily reveals the impact of social media on political engagement and elections, both in emergent and evolved democracies. Book, titled: “Cyber Politics: Social Media, Social Demography and Voting Behaviour in Nigeria” is authored by the Head of the Media Relations Management at the Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr. Omoniyi Ibietan. The NCC Boss said that Dr. Ibietan’s book speaks to the reality of how the demographics of voting is now in favour of digital natives, whose engagements are set to upend the traditional media approaches, hence the great value in seeking an understanding of the growing interface across cyber politics, social media networks and social demography. “Specifically, the author utilises tested theoretical models and research methods to scrutinise the impact of social media on contemporary politics. “Most significantly, the cutting edge of this vibrant scholarly endeavour is its proposal of a bold new methodology and approach to communications, described as the Channel-Factor Model, which situates the relationship among social media and other variables within a political environment. It is a framework for re-engineering political communication in Africa that is as radical as it is innovative. “Cyber Politics: Social Media, Social Demography and Voting Behaviour in Nigeria is an absorbing and persuasive book that adds huge insightful value to an understanding of the interactions between politics, social media networks and other variables that influence the behaviour of voters in a democracy.” Dr. Maida noted that Internet and its associated technologies and tools, including software applications, have created some of the most radical possibilities in the human experience, particularly in the last decade. “These have certainly extended the frontiers of human freedoms and expression, while similarly enabling innovation across different forms of utilisation, and more so serving as catalyst to the ability of citizens to engage with political processes – for good and for bad. “Despite an earlier period in which there were deliberations on the possible roles and impacts of digital platforms, such as the social media, on political participation and elections, the increased access to the Internet and broadband, alongside the wider uptake of social media as essential to human reality, have made the interface between these platforms and elections a lot clearer.
… the author… “This has especially been evident in the last few electoral cycles, whether in the United States, Europe, or Nigeria.” He recalled that the 2008 presidential election in America was the watershed moment for a new form of voting behaviour, evolving with the widespread usage of platforms like Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, podcasting and mobile messaging in the communication of political interests with citizens. He said therefore that Dr. Ibietan’s path-breaking book, Cyber Politics: Social Media, Social Demography, and Voting Behaviour in Nigeria, has broached a radical new territory in bridging psephology (the study of elections) and communications scholarship through an examination of the interface between social media networks and voting behaviour in the country. “It draws its insights from a deeply methodical study of Nigeria’s 2015 presidential election, unearthing the intersections of social and demographic factors, digital social mediation and the remarkable impact of these variables on the voting behaviour of the electorate. “It is worthy of note that the referenced national polling presented one of the most significant evidence of how social media use can shape the course of an election, having the then political opposition gaining huge mileage from its ability to deploy social media platforms towards shaping and controlling public debates, and hence triumphing at the ballot.”
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