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Post Date : February 17, 2021

WTO: Three Swiss newspapers call Ngozi Okonji Iweala “a 63 year-old Nigerian grandmother”

At least three Swiss newspapers — Luzerner Zeitung, Aargauer Zeitung and St. Galler Tagblatt — have all primarily described Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the recently-elected director-general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), as a 66-year-old Nigerian grandmother. While Okonjo-Iweala is indeed a grandmother and a 66-year-old, describing her as such after such a major appointment has led to a heavy backlash on and off social media. The reportage from this section of the Swiss media has been referred to as an expression of racism and gender discrimination. “This Grandmother will become the new boss of WTO,” the headline of a report by Luzerner Zeitung read, announcing Okonjo-Iweala’s selection as the director-general. The article was published in the online and hardcopy version of the newspaper. But following the backlash on social media, the online version of the article was edited to read “This 66-year-old Nigerian will head WTO”. Linda Klare-Repnik, the coordinator environmental and social management system, at the International Union for Conservation of Nature, called the newspaper out on Linkedin. “Gender discrimination and racism: Swiss newspaper headlines the nomination of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for WTO Director General as ‘This Grandmother will become the new boss of WTO,” she wrote. “If it had been a white man, the title would have been along the lines of ‘Harvard Economist, ex-World Bank Managing Director and ex Minister of Finance …’ Nadja Schnetzler, who co-founded a Swiss magazine called Republik, asked how the reporter would have written the election of Joe Biden as American president. “What would you think if you wrote about Biden ‘this grandfather will be US President’?” she tweeted. Aargauer Zeitung, which also published the same article written by Jan Dirk Herbermann, apologised for the “wrong” reportage. “Nigerian Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is the first woman to head the World Trade Organization. We presented the 66-year-old economist and former World Bank deputy head in a portrait and focused on her role as a grandmother in the title. That was wrong,” the newspaper tweeted, after the backlash. “Okonjo-Iweala is much more than that. For example, Harvard economist, as you can read in our text,” the newspaper added, sharing an updated version of the article. A Ugandan-born academic and development economist in Germany highlighted that the same media would refer to Angela Merkel, who is also 66 as mother, but refer to Okonjo-Iweala as a grandmother. Okonjo-Iweala has a Bachelor’s in economics from Harvard University and a Ph.D. in regional economics and development from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She also holds honourary degrees from over a dozen universities globally. She was a two-time minister of finance in Nigeria and minister of foreign affairs. She is the first female to take up both jobs. She is a board member at Twitter, Standard Chartered Bank, and African Risk Capacity. The 66-year-old was up till February 2021, the co-chair of the Global Commission for the Economy and Climate. She is a member Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) international advisory board; IMF external advisory board; and AU special envoy. She won the global finance minister of the year 2005 by Euromoney. She was one of the top 100 most influential people in the World for 2014 by TIME Magazine. She was also one of the top 100 global thinkers for 2011 and 2012 by Foreign Policy. The top 100 most powerful women in the world by Forbes Magazine would not have been complete in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 without her name. She holds some of the highest national honours from Nigeria, Liberia, and Cote d’Ivoire.

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Post Date : February 17, 2021

No amount of falsehoods will distract governance in Ebonyi ― Gov Umahi

Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi has maintained that no amount of stories, falsehoods from the opposition will distract the governance of the state. He charged his party members to desist from attacking the opposition, stressing that he will use projects to punish all those that do not wish the state well. Umahi stated this at Unu-ofuruku polling unit in Uburu while revalidating his APC membership. The governor also commended President Mohammadu Buhari for approving N6 billion to kick-start limestone grinding in order to support fertilizer plant in the state. He also noted that the president also approved N400million for the full evaluation of salt deposit to build hypochloride solution for water treatment. He said: “There is no amount of stories, no amount of falsehoods that will make me distracted at all. From here, I am going to inspect my projects and it can never stop it. And so these projects are a punishment to those who don’t wish us well and that is what they will continue to do. “We are at the next level and South East has since moved on. South East is APC. Just a few days ago, Mr President approved N6 billion for us to start limestone grinding to support our fertilizer plant. “Just two days ago Mr President approved N400 million for us to do full evaluation of our salt deposits so that we can build hypochloride solution for the entire water treatment in Nigeria, table salt and also commercial usage. I became a sacrifice so that Igbo may regroup at the centre.

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Post Date : February 17, 2021

Police nab Kano Hisbah commander with married woman in downtown hotel

A senior official with Kano Hisbah has been arrested in the northern commercial hub after being caught with a married woman in a hotel. Freedom Radio Kano reported on Tuesday that the official was arrest in Sabon Gari area of the city. His name was not immediately mentioned, but he was described only as police chief when the matter featured on Freedom FM’s popular magazine programme “Inda Ranka”. The arrested commander is said to be in charge of arresting beggars and prostitutes in Kano metro area. He was taken into custody after the husband of the woman with whom he allegedly had affairs filed complaints. Kano Hisbah Commander Muhammed Haruna, while describing the incident as unfortunate, said a two-man committee has been established to investigate the matter, Freedom Radio said. Hisbah officers regularly arrest unmarried people caught in the hotel, presumably for sexual activities, as part of their enforcement of the Sharia.

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Post Date : February 17, 2021

Imo traders accuse NCS of midnight invasion of market

…Allege removal of bags of rice, money-savers, cash Barely one week after the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Colonel Hameed Ali (rtd) directed his men to storm warehouses and markets in search of smuggled foreign rice, the Relief Market in Owerri was over the weekend invaded by the operatives in a midnight raid. This was disclosed to newsmen by traders of the Relief Market, Owerri. The traders complained of the nocturnal operation of suspected NCS operatives in the market. But the Nigeria Customs Service, FOU Zone C, Owerri have denied raid saying their command did not embark on any raid of any market. Rice sellers in the market however alleged that men of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) believed to have been deployed from the Federal Operating Unit Zone C, broke into shops and warehouses and carted away bags of rice particularly foreign rice around the midnight hours, last weekend Lamenting their woes, the traders alleged that the said NCS operatives damaged padlocks and doors of over fifteen shops located inside Relief Market while carting away more than 1500 bags of rice. A few of the traders also accused the operatives of taking away their private tills (saves) where they kept the proceeds of their weekend sales. One of the market security men who was referred to as ‘Eben’ averred that the NCS operatives raided the market at about 1.00 am with about four trucks. A rice dealer who also craved anonymity confided in newsmen that he equally lost bags of rice to the nocturnal invasion. He said, “I was in my house around 1.45 am, when one of the security men in the market who is an Hausa man, called me that some customs men came to the market and forced their way into the market. They broke into about fifteen shops including my own and left with up to four truckloads of rice.” When contacted, the Public Relations Officers, Nigeria Customs Service, FOU Zone C, Owerri, Jerry Attah was contacted, he dismissed the allegations, saying that no such operation was carried out by operatives under their unit in Owerri.

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Post Date : February 17, 2021

EFCC dismisses corruption allegation against it’s new boss Bawa

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday absolved its new Chairman , Abdulrasheed Bawa , of allegations of corruption. A few hours after President Muhammadu Buhari appointed him as the EFCC chairman on Tuesday, there were reports of his involvement in corruption. But the commission defended him , saying he had no corruption record. The EFCC Spokesman, Mr Wilson Uwujaren , said this in a statement on Tuesday while reacting to reports that Bawa was arrested and removed from his position as Port Harcourt zonal head of the commission for allegedly diverting 224 forfeited trucks . The PUNCH recalls that the diversion of 224 forfeited trucks was one of the allegations levelled against Magu which was brought up before the Salami- led panel. Bawa was also said to have appeared before the panel over the issue but said he had no hand in the auction of the assets as it was supervised by a different department . The EFCC statement titled , ‘ Abdulrasheed Bawa Has No Corruption Record – EFCC ’ read in part, “ The commission wishes to state categorically that Mr Bawa was never arrested or detained over sale of any assets. “ As zonal head of the Port Harcourt office of the commission in 2019, Bawa ’ s responsibilities did not include the sale of assets as the commission has a full -fledged Directorate of Assets Forfeiture and Recovery Management , which remit such matters . “ For the avoidance of doubt , the disposal of finally forfeited trucks in the Port Harcourt zonal office through public auction , was conducted after the exit of Bawa as zonal head . It is therefore illogical for him to have been indicted over an auction that was not superintended by him . “ The auction of trucks at the Port Harcourt Office was among the issues examined by the Justice Ayo Salami Panel , leading to the suspension of some officers of the commission. The commission, therefore , enjoins the public to disregard the false publication which is believed to be sponsored by mischief makers to impugn the integrity of the EFCC chairman -designate. ” The PUNCH learnt that a shake-up was imminent at the EFCC following the appointment of 40-year – old Abdulrasheed Bawa as the substantive Chairman of the EFCC . Bawa succeeded Ibrahim Magu , who was suspended in July 2020 when the President set up a panel led by Justice Ayo Salami ( retd . ) to investigate allegations of corruptions against him . Bawa , who joined the EFCC in 2005 and who currently serves as the Head of the Lagos EFCC zonal office , still has several officials senior to him , most of whom are policemen including the current acting Chairman of the EFCC , Mr Umar Mohammed, who is 55 years old . It was learnt that based on the Salami panel recommendation and in a bid to ensure that Bawa is given full control of the commission, many policemen would return to the Nigeria Police Force. A former EFCC director, who spoke to The PUNCH , said Bawa , who is currently a deputy chief detective superintendent , would have been a Divisional Police Officer if he were in the police force. He said it would thus be difficult for senior police officers some of whom are deputy and assistant commissioners, to take orders from him . The former director said , “ Bawa is a member of Course 1 which is the first set of the EFCC detectives . They have been reporting to police officers since 2005 when they joined the EFCC. Bawa currently reports to the Head of Operations, Umar Mohammed, who is the acting chairman . “ I would not expect Mohammed to turn around to begin to take orders from Bawa . In the coming weeks and months , policemen would return to the Force while the core EFCC staff members will take over . That is what the Salami panel recommended and the President is already implementing it. ” On Tuesday, The PUNCH learnt that the President was waiting for a White Paper on the report of the Salami panel to decide the fate of Magu. It was further learnt that the fate of embattled Magu would be determined by the Chief of Staff to the President , Prof Ibrahim Gambari ; and the Attorney- General of the Federation , Abubakar Malami ( SAN) , who had been saddled with the responsibility of producing the White Paper. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity , Garba Shehu , confirmed this in an interview with The PUNCH . One of our correspondents had sought to know the fate of Magu following Buhari ’ s nomination of Bawa as the new Chairman of the EFCC . He had asked whether Magu, a police officer , who was probed by the Salami panel would be recommended for trial or would be returning to the Nigeria Police Force with the announcement of a replacement. In response, Shehu said , “ There is going to be a White Paper on the report of the Justice Salami Judicial Commission of Inquiry and the responsibility for doing that is with the office of the Chief of Staff , Prof Gambari . “ That is being done with the supervision of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice. “ The question you asked about the suspended Chairman , Ibrahim Magu ’ s fate will be determined by a decision of the President upon the receipt of the White Paper . ” Earlier in the day , the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity , Femi Adesina, had through a statement quoted Buhari as naming Bawa as the substantive EFCC chairman . Adesina, in the statement titled , “ President Buhari requests Senate to confirm Abdulrasheed Bawa as EFCC boss, ” noted that the President had requested the Senate to confirm Bawa ’ s

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Post Date : February 17, 2021

Ibadan Crisis: Governors’ Forum Pledges To Help Rebuild Shasha Market

The Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), has pledged to help rebuild the Shasha Market in Ibadan, Oyo State after it was burnt down in the wake of a crisis. A delegation of the NGF led by the Governor of Kebbi State, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, delivered the promise after a tour of the troubled spot on Tuesday. Bagudu, who was joined by his colleagues from Zamfara, Kano, and Niger States, however, noted that contrary to the pictures being circulated on social media, the calm had been restored in the city. He also commended the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, for what was described as his efforts in restoring peace and normalcy to the community. “We, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, are going to support. As a matter of fact, we have given a token to those who are already displaced, and we will meet at a wider table tomorrow and can assure that more support will be mobilized,” Bagudu was quoted to have said in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, Taiwo Adisa. Governor Makinde, who led Governors Atiku Bagudu, Kebbi; Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Kano; Bello Muhammad Matawalle, Zamfara; and Abubakar Sanni Bello, Niger, to Shasha community, said that his government would continue to look for avenues to restore peaceful co-existence. He declared that the unity of Nigeria and the need to restore peace were weightier than political divides, adding that his administration was ready to ensure peaceful co-existence among the residents of Shasha community in Akinyele Local Government Area of the state. While speaking at the palaces of Seriki Shasha and Baale Shasha, the governor called for calm and unity among the Hausas and Yorubas living in the community, urging everyone to join hands with the administration. “As a government, we will continue to look for an avenue to restore a peaceful co-existence for all of us. Please, I want you to join hands with us and we also acknowledge that sometimes, we process information and we may not get to the roots of the issue. If you see something, say something to us and we will address the challenges frontally,” the governor was quoted to have said. Speaking further, he explained that his relationship with the Arewa community through the Seriki, dated back years before he became governor of the state, adding that his message to all sides is to give peace a chance. The governor said: “Even before I became the governor, I have always had solid interaction with the Arewa community through Baba. I still remember that in 2013, I came here, and Baba was trying to make me feel comfortable. “So, we have been together for long. I feel the pain of everybody involved here because properties were lost, and we can replace properties. It may be painful, but when the fire started, and I was contacted. I said they should send a fire truck here and the fire truck was vandalised, damaged. “So, I told the people that it is annoying that we have to use money that could have been used for something else to replace the fire trucks and to rebuild all of these places. But those are minor cases; when a life is lost, we can’t replace it. We cannot make life. So, my message is that of peace.” Governor Makinde also commended the NGF for coming together to identify with the state and to show solidarity with efforts to unite all sides. “We all have to come together, and I thank my brother governors that have come here, first to identify with us in this period of crisis and also to show solidarity with our efforts towards uniting everybody. “So, again, on behalf of the government and people of Oyo State, I want to thank Your Excellencies for your time this morning. This is a period to show leadership for the country at the top level and you can see that it is appalling seeing that some people are trying to politicise issues of security and loss of lives. “My brother here is the governor of Zamfara, and he is from the PDP. I am PDP but the issue of unity in Nigeria transcends PDP, APC, and all of that. That is why we are coming together in one accord to find a solution that will restore peace to Oyo State and to our country.” Meanwhile, the governor urged those he described as promoters of fake news to desist from spreading falsehood, saying that fake news can easily stoke fires in society. “And we have observed also that some people have made it a duty to be mongering fake news. They are the ones stoking fire around here and some of the people that are not aware will easily buy into it and start doing something that we will all regret later. “I want to urge the promoters of fake and divisive news to please desist. Let us have the chance to give our people the opportunity to earn their decent living,” he added. Speaking on the relocation of some traders to Iroko, governor Makinde declared that he has also closed the said market, adding that every stakeholder in the markets must sign an undertaking to maintain peace before he would agree to reopen the market. While speaking on behalf of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum shortly after the inspection, Governor Bagadu, explained that the motive of the governors’ visit was to commiserate with the government and people of the state on the unfortunate incident that led to the destruction of properties in the state. He called on Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, and other tribes living in fear to send their community leaders to the Government House in Ibadan, so that the government could address their fears. Atiku Bagudu said: “For the generality of all Nigerians, it is important to know that the streets of Ibadan are calm. People are not chasing one another. People are supporting one another to resume normalcy. “To those outside Ibadan, particularly

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Post Date : February 17, 2021

COVID-19: Nigeria records 1,368 new infections, 16 deaths

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has recorded 1,368 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 148,296. The NCDC disclosed this on its official Twitter handle on Tuesday. Nigeria also recorded 16 COVID-19 deaths, raising the total fatality in the country to 1,777. “On the 16th of February 2021, 1368 new confirmed cases and 16 deaths were recorded in Nigeria. “Till date, 148296 cases have been confirmed, 124483 cases have been discharged and 1777 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. “The 1368 new cases are reported from 28 states- Anambra (344), Oyo (172), FCT (148), Benue (107), Rivers (95), Ogun (59), Ondo (56), Ebonyi (53), Kaduna (52), Plateau (46), Kwara (36), Enugu (30), Akwa Ibom (26), Osun (22), Edo (20), Abia (17), Kano (16), Borno (15), Cross River (10), Delta (8) Gombe (8), Imo (7), Ekiti (5), Sokoto (4), Jigawa (3), Bayelsa (3), Nasarawa (3), and Zamfara (3),” the NCDC said.

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Post Date : February 17, 2021

Appointment Of New EFCC Chairman Came As A Shock – Magu’s Lawyer

Tosin Ajaomo, the lawyer to the former acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, on Tuesday said the appointment of a new boss to head the anti-graft agency came as a shock. President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier today asked the Senate to confirm Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa as substantive EFCC Chairman. In a letter to the President of the Senate, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, the President said he was acting in accordance with Paragraph 2(3) of Part1, CAP E1 of EFCC Act 2004. But speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Ajaomo said justice has not been served in the allegations of corruption levelled against the erstwhile EFCC boss. “Sincerely I need to tell you that this appointment came to me as a shock. There is still an unfinished assignment that was pending. I was expecting that the issue of Magu would have been sorted out before moving to another stage,” he said. “Unfortunately, we just got this news today that a new Chairman has been nominated by the President and his name has been forwarded to the Senate.” The legal practitioner admitted that President Buhari has the power by law to appoint a new tzar for the anti-graft agency. He however noted that when Justice Ayo Salami-led panel set up by the President to investigate Magu on the graft allegations, the Federal Government should have made the report of the findings public. “It is obvious that when you talk of justice, you know what justice is all about. Somebody was suspended to be investigated, waiting for the report on the same issue. As an acting Chairman of the commission, he was suspended for an allegation that has not been proven against him. “At the end of the day, the report which everybody was expecting to know whether the man has been found wanting or not, suddenly no report came out and another appointment was made,” he added. Magu was on July 10, 2020 suspended from office by President Buhari, who directed the EFCC Director of Operations, Mohammed Umar, to take charge and oversee the activities of the commission. The presidential directive, according to the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, was to allow for an unhindered inquiry by the Presidential Investigation Panel under the Tribunals of Inquiry Act and other relevant laws. In July, Magu was arrested dramatically in front of the EFCC Wuse II office and driven to the Presidential Villa where the panel sat. He was also detained for more than four days on the directive of the panel. The corruption allegations were levelled against him by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami. Four months after his suspension, the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) summoned Magu who appeared before it on November 17 with documents of all his landed properties.

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Post Date : February 17, 2021

Buhari: We’ll convince those constituting a nuisance that they need Nigeria

President Muhammadu Buhari says his administration will continue to see to it that the stability of Nigeria is maintained. Speaking when he received a delegation of Borno/Yobe elders forum on Tuesday, Buhari said Nigeria will succeed over those who feel they do not need the country. The president blamed the crisis in different parts of the nation on “a few people with resources and influence”, whom he said will be identified and dealt with in due course. He expressed optimism that the country will prevail over whatever challenges it faces. President Muhammadu Buhari says his administration will continue to see to it that the stability of Nigeria is maintained. Speaking when he received a delegation of Borno/Yobe elders forum on Tuesday, Buhari said Nigeria will succeed over those who feel they do not need the country. The president blamed the crisis in different parts of the nation on “a few people with resources and influence”, whom he said will be identified and dealt with in due course. He expressed optimism that the country will prevail over whatever challenges it faces.

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Post Date : February 17, 2021

Ihejirika, Former Chief Of Army Staff, Joins APC

Former Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant-General Azubuike Ihejirika has joined the All Progressives Congress (APC). Ihejirika, whom former President Goodluck Jonathan appointed Chief of Army Staff in 2010 remained in the position till 2014. He joined the APC at his Isuikwuato country home in Abia-North Senatorial District, Abia State, on Tuesday and subsequently registered at Ezere ward 2 in Isuikwuato. Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, who represents the Senatorial district, witnessed Ihejiriaka’s entry into the party. The retired General he joined the APC to contribute to the “progress of the party” at the state and national level. The former COAS said further that having served in the Army for almost 38 years he has gathered sufficient experience to contribute to the democracy of the nation and the fortunes of the party. “I am delighted by the presence of the leader of the party in our state, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu to honour this event. “Having served almost 38 years in the military, I am convinced that it will be a waste of experience for me to remain outside government activities. “This is because I have a lot to offer and assure you all that I will operate an open-door policy, I will also learn fast. “My first goal is to unite the party, unity is very important because if we are united we can achieve all our goals for the state and the nation at large.”

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