Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Abdullahi Mukhtar has been invited for interrogation by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC). Sources in the anti graft agency who spoke to us through phone would not be specific on the charge against the hajj commission boss, but information had it that it had to do with false declaration of assets which runs into millions. It would be recalled that the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), had similarly invited Alhaji Mukhtar for questioning a fortnight ago on the same alleged false asset declaration. Our EFCC sources hinted that Mukhtar arrived in their office in the noon of Thursday, and might not be left off the hook before the close of the day. The sources said that his release would be tied to how quickly he positively respond to vital information the anti graft agency would require from him. Mukhtar, who was Director of Operations in the hajj commission, succeeded the former chairman, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, who is now minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the Muhammadu Buhari government. [myad]
A police officer was alleged to have shot a commercial motorcycle rider, known as Okada man for refusing to bribe him with the usual N20 or N50, thus raising hell in Ilaro, Ogun state of Nigeria. Eye witness accounts said that because of the shooting of the Okada man, Ilaro town has turned into conflagration as civilians hauled missiles at any police man on site and burn government structures. It was gathered that in retaliation, the police people have been everywhere, firing their guns thereby throwing the once peaceful town into total confusion. Our reporter on ground said that he saw many dead bodies littering the streets even as police continued to shoot at hundreds of people that are running in different directions to take cover. “As I am typing this message, police continue to shoot sporadically,” the reporter lamented. He added frantically: “demonstrators took to the streets now, burning here and there.” Ilaro is located in Yewa Local South Local Government, Ogun State. [myad]
A 13-year-old student’s child has impregnated his 24 year class teacher, Alexandria Vera.
The teacher teaches English in the middle school and was said to have engaged in an intimate relationship with the young student.
And in quick reaction, police have filed a criminal charges in Houston, Texas, against the teacher.
The teacher, who is believed by many to be very beautiful based on her Facebook photo, is in a position to enter into a relationship with a man of her own age without any problem, but she chose to start having affair with her 13-yr-old student until she eventually got pregnant.
According to police, Vera acknowledged having a love relationship with the student, telling them that the two of them began getting intimate last September after she fell in love with him.
Vera allegedly told investigators she had first met the student when he tried connecting with her via Instagram, which she initially ignored.
Then, when he failed to show for classes, Vera allegedly sent a message to the boy, who responded by asking for her phone number. She gave her phone number and that’s how they got started with the relationship.
Police claim that Vera told them the student asked if they could meet up and she agreed.
Court records indicate Vera told detectives she drove to the student’s house to pick him up. Thereafter, the two kissed in her car.
Police said that Vera told them that when she met with the boy’s parents in October, he introduced her as his girlfriend.
The parents approve of their relationship and are also happy about the pregnancy.
The boy’s parents were aware of the relationship, and were so approving of the union that they let their child spend nights at her house. [myad]
An inmate of the Ikoyi Prisons, Albert Emmanuel Ajogbor, was on Wednesday, presented with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree in Theology, having successfully completed his studies at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).
Ajogbor, who was incarcerated in July 2004 was among the over 10,000 others who graduated during the institution’s 2016 convocation held in Abuja in January.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ajobor was honoured at a ceremony at the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons by the NOUN authorities alongside another inmate, Moshood Folarinmilekan, who was presented with a certificate of exemption from NYSC.
Folarinmilekan has spent 25 years out of a life jail term he was sentenced to at the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons.
He graduated in 2015 alongside other graduating students of NOUN after completing his studies at its facility.
The inmate, awarded a degree in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, is currently pursuing his Master’s Degree at the institution.
Ajogbor speaking on the sideline of the event told NAN that the achievement was a dream comes through for him.
According to him, the prisons, as reformative centres were living up to their mandates, having provided the enabling environment that led to the feat he has attained.
“I want to say that I am short for words in explaining how I feel.
“Indeed, I see myself among heroes, those to move the country forward and make it one of the greatest countries in the world.
“I want to thank the prison officials for their support and encouragement as well as all my sponsors as well as my co-inmates.
“They have all contributed in one way or the other to make this happen,’’ he said.
He, however, pleaded with authorities of the university to speedily address the challenges faced by the inmates in accessing course materials.
Earlier in his speech, the Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, Prof. Abdallah Adamu, acquiring the degree was a commendable feat, which would serve as a stepping stone to greater heights for the graduands.
He said that the institution was the only university in the country that was providing education to inmates in the nation’s prisons.
“Due to shortage of sponsorship offers for inmates therefore, and to help make the journey of producing a university degree a little less daunting and more achievable, the university over the years has supplied course materials for free and paid 50 per cent of payable fees for inmates.
“The other 50 per cent paid for by philanthropic bodies such as religious and non-governmental organisations as well as well meaning Nigerians.
“May I use this opportunity to thank all your sponsors for their generosity and contributions towards your education.
“I am sure that a number of your peers who are also incarcerated will like to register to study one of our programmes but for the fact that they have no means of funding their education to improve their destinies.
“It is in this light that I have decided to offer 100 per cent full scholarship to all inmates who are undertaking a NOUN degree programme,’’ he said.
The Vice-Chancellor who was represented by the institution’s Director, Learner Support Services, Prof. Nebath Tanglang, noted that already modalities were being worked out to ensure that the process was as seamless as possible.
He assured them that plans were on to upload all their course materials on the I-Learn platform, which would subsequently be downloaded in their computers for easy access.
Also speaking, the Controller of Prisons in charge of Lagos Command, Timothy Tinuoye, said one of the greatest challenges facing the inmates in the institution was that of inadequate facilitators.
He appealed to both the state and the local governments to assist the facility by sending some of the corp members and even full time teachers to assist the inmates in their quest for knowledge.
“We are in dire need of teachers for these people especially at the secondary school level.
“We all know today that the prison is not just to keep offenders in custody, but rather to reform and get them re-integrated into the society.
“Now, we discover that some of them came here without any form of basic education.
“We feel that giving them education will be one of the best values we can entrench in them in an attempt to change their orientations and perspectives about life and thinking, toward making them better citizens,’’ he said.
Tinuoye added that of the 75 inmates enrolled into NOUN, 59 of them were from the maximum prisons, which comprised of the medium, female and maximum sections. myad]
A senior lecturer in the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Ibadan, Dr. Wole Abbas, has advised Muslims in the country to be spiritually and physically prepared for 2016 Ramadan in order to tap the full benefits.
Abbas gave the advice in Ibadan during the pre-Ramadan lecture of Bodija Muslim Youth Forum.The lecture was titled: “Welcoming Ramadan.”
The lecturer said the best way to welcome Ramadan was to have the consciousness of Allah and remember that He is all knowing, adding that it is necessary for Muslims to meet Ramadan with the fear of Allah and discipline.
The university don said that it is regrettable that more docile Muslims would be active only during the fasting period of Ramadan.
He said that in preparing for Ramadan, Muslims should pay back last year’s fast if they are owing, especially the Muslim women, and to be physically fit to undertake the fasting.
Dr. Abbas said that it is wrong for any Muslim to turn into a beggar at any period of Ramadan fast with the excuse that the fasting is made compulsory by Allah, saying: “begging in whatever form is frowned at during Ramadan.”
He advised Muslims to recite a lot of Qur’an during the month of Ramadan and give charity as there is a lot of benefit to be derived from such act.
He reminded Muslims that Ramadan is a period of forgiveness, and asked them to seek for forgiveness and forgive others who might have wronged them in one way or the other.
“It is important for Muslims to know that the culture of Islam should be the culture of Muslims and such you should display good character as exemplified by Prophet Muhammad who urged us to be best in character.”
Dr. Abbas advised Muslims not to limit their worship of Allah to the month of Ramadan, saying that Allah should be worshipped “all days of our lives.”
Earlier, the Chairman of BOMYOF, Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Balogun, said that the choice of the topic was to create awareness of the forthcoming Ramadan fast and to educate Muslims on the dos and don’ts of the fasting.
Balogun said that various programmes have been lined up by the community as well as the Youth Forum to engage the faithful spiritually during the forthcoming Ramadan fast.
He listed such programmes as the annual Tafsir (Explanation of Quran) session, iftar (breaking of fast) throughout the month of Ramadan as well as weekly public lectures to nourish the souls of the Muslims.
The 30-day Ramadan fast is expected to commence on June 6, subject to the sighting of the new moon. [myad]
An Igando Customary Court in Lagos has dissolved the marriage between a 42-year- old pastor and evangelist, Racheal and her businessman-husband, Joseph Aduwo.
The President of the court, Adegboyega Omilola, who gave the verdict, cited frequent fighting between the man and his wife.
To the former husband, the dissolution of the 10-year-old marriage is good riddance to bad rubbish.
“My wife, who is a pastor, an evangelist, a church interpreter and women leader, fought with nine persons in a day on our street, wearing only bra and underpants.
“She is a shameless street fighter,’’ he told the court.
The court’s president said he was convinced that the couple could no longer live together as the petitioner insisted on divorce after several unsuccessful interventions.
“The court has no choice than to dissolve the union in spite of the fact that the wife claims she still loves her husband.
“The court hereby pronounces the marriage between Joseph Aduwo and Racheal dissolved today; both parties henceforth cease to be husband and wife.
“You are free to go your separate ways without hindrances and molestation.”
The petitioner, Aduwo, 59, had approached the court seeking the dissolution of the marriage with his pastor wife who he described as a street fighter.
“My wife one day engaged in fights from 8.00 a.m. to 11.00 p.m. and residents were begging her to stop but she refused.
“I also pleaded with her but instead she cursed me and I was ashamed of myself. I had to take her pictures with my phone when she was fighting in the public with only brassier and sent the pictures to her family.”
He accused Racheal of maltreating his three children he had from another woman.
“My wife has been hostile to my children and they had to vacate my house and rent an apartment elsewhere.
“She fights my friends and relatives anytime they visit me and this has prevented them from coming to my house.’’
But Racheal denied all the allegations, saying: “I used to prepare food in the morning, afternoon and evening for my husband.
“The court should not grant his request for a divorce as I still love him.’’ [myad]
Kogi state governor has appointed 15 commissioner nominees and forwarded the list to the state House of Assembly for screening and ratification.
A statement on Wednesday in Lokoja by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Mallam Abdulkarim Abdulmalik said that the nominees cut across the state.
They are Engineer Abdulmumini Sadiq from Adavi Local Government Area, Dr. Saka Haruna from Ajaokuta local government, Alhaji Sanusi Haruna from Ankpa local government, Dr. Tim Dichie from Bassa local government ande Hon. Enema Paul is from Dekina local government.
Others are Dr. Tolorunleke Sunday from Ijumu local government, Barrister Oloruntoba Kehinde from Kabba/Bunu local government, Mohammed Awal from Kogi/ Koton Karffe local government, Mrs. Bolanle Amupitan from Mopa Muro local government, Arome Adoji from Ofu local government, Prince Salisu Sani Ogu from Idah local government and Barrister Salami Momodu Ozigi from Okehi local government.
Barrister Mohammed Ibrahim from Okene local government, Mrs. Rosemary Osikoya from Olamaboro local government and Alhaji Idris Asiwaju from Yagba East local government also made the list.
The statement said that the Governor also appointed Eight Special Advisers. [myad]
Some members of Greenlanders, a suspected cult group have taken over Ibaa community in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, killing no fewer than six people. The suspected cult members were said to have arrived in the village in the wee hours of Monday, shooting sporadically at any moving object, resulting in the killing of people like Prince Nyenke, Mr. Dirinna, Mr. Kpomasiruchi, Mr. ThankGod Obisike and two others. The group were said to have invaded the village in reaction to another rival cult group, known as the Icelanders that had earlier attacked their community. One of the community youth leaders who simply gave his name as Chizika said that members of the group laid siege to the community and operated freely without interruption from any quarters. According to him, the strange visitors were moving from house to house in search of the members of the Icelanders, saying that the Greenlanders had chased the Icelanders out of their camp in the community and taken over the place. It was gathered that the mini-police post situated in the community has been closed since the shootout. Meanwhile, the Caretaker Chairman of Emohua LGA, John Wokoma, who visited the affected people, described the situation as pathetic. Addressing the displaced people of Ibaa community at Rumuji junction, Wokoma asked the people to go back to the community. The LG boss said that the council will provide adequate security for the people of the displaced community even as he vowed that he would do everything to ensure protection of lives and property of the people of the area. When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State Police Command, (DSP). Ahmad Muhammad confirmed that it was a supremacy clash between the two cult groups. He confirmed the killing of three persons even as said that peace has returned to the area. “It was a supremacy clash between deygbam and islander cult groups which left three fatal casualties. Normalcy has since been restored due to police intervention.” [myad]
The Ebonyi State Government has earmarked 40,500 hectares of land for rice cultivation this farming season.
Governor David Umahi, said that as part of his government’s move to revolutionize the agricultural sector, the state had procured 40 tractors to till the land and make it easy for farmers to plant rice.
Addressing supporters during the Democracy Day celebration and his one year in office at the Abakaliki Township Stadium, the governor said that 40,500 hectares are spread across the 13 Local Government Areas of the state.
Each of the LGAs has 2,500 hectares mapped for the rice production while IFAD has six thousand hectares and FADAMA, 2,000 hectares.
Governor Umahi said: “We have 2,500 hectares of land in each of the LGAs. And we have 6,000 of farmland in our partnership with IFAD. We also have 2,000 hectares of land in our partnership with FADAMA. These are all for rice production.”
The governor said that as part of the measures to revolutionize rice production in the state, his administration had taken delivery of the three rice parboiling machines procured by the previous administration in the state.
He added that the installation of the parboiling machines at the three state-owned modern rice mills in Ikwo, Izzi and Oso Edda had commenced.
The governor noted that the government was partnering UNIDO to install another modern rice mill that would be handed over to the Abakaliki Rice Millers when fully installed.
He assured that the N2bn Federal Government Loan for rice production was intact and would be disbursed to genuine farmers who met the conditions attached to it.
Umahi further stated that the government would give out seeds, fertilizer and chemicals worth over N400m to farmers as loan this farming season.
He said that the government had signed an agreement with Union Dicon Salt Plc for the establishment of a cassava farm and a cassava processing factory in the state.
Governor Umahi said that his administration had introduced school agriculture, and was currently working on three schools as pilot farms in each of the three senatorial zones.
The governor said that all the available land at the permanent site of the state university had been converted to tomato farmland for massive production of tomatoes for domestic and international consumption. [myad]
Two members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have announced their defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the floor of the House of Representatives. They are Hon. Tony Nwoye from Anambra State and Hon. Emmanuel Udende from Benue State.
While Nwoye is representing Anambra East and West Federal Constituency of Anambra State, Udende is the representative of Sankera Federal Constituency of Benue State. The announcement of their defection threw the House of Representatives into confusion as the PDP members were calling for their heads and halting the session for some minutes. [myad]
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Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Abdullahi Mukhtar has been invited for interrogation by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).
