Crime Facts

37 directors fail FG’s promotion exam for permanent secretary

  Thirty-seven directors in the federal civil service have failed a promotion examination for the position of permanent secretary. According to the Punch, 37 out of 74 directors who sat for the examination failed. The other 37 candidates passed the examination and have been invited for an “ICT proficiency test” on Thursday in Abuja. The office of head of service said the highest score was 74 percent while the least score was 26 percent. In a circular, Olusola Idowu, on behalf of the examination committee in the office of the head of civil service, said the ICT test would take place at the National Intelligence Agency (NIA). “The invited candidates are to note that the ICT proficiency test will take place on Thursday, February 24, 2022 by 8am at the Muhammadu Buhari Centre, National Intelligence Agency, Asokoro,” the newspaper quoted Idowu as saying in the circular with reference number HCSF/PS/CMO/154/I/70. The exercise was meant to fill vacancies for solicitor-general of the federation and permanent secretaries retiring in 2022. The head of service had said those eligible to take the test must have attained the position of substantive directors on salary grade level 17 on or before January 1, 2020, Also, they must have updated their records on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System verification portal.

Ngor Okpala: PDP alleges plot by APC to abduct party leaders, unleash violence on election day.

  ……Imo APGA Kicks Against Violence, Calls For Peaceful Polls …….We Are Ready- INEC Ibe Pascal Arogorn, OWERRI The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Imo, has alleged plot by the APC-led administration to disrupt voting in polling units across Ngor-Okpala on Saturday. Emenike Nmeregini, Imo PDPPublicity Secretary in a statement on Tuesday in Owerri said that APC has planned to station ten hoodlums per pooling unit, to perfect their plans of rigging the election. PDP also alleged that APC planned to arrest and whisk away notable PDP leaders in the local government area just to ensure no one stands on their way to rigging the state constituency bye-election slated for Saturday in Ngor Okpala. The statement reads, “the APC in Imo, realizing how unpopular it is and that it cannot win any peacefully conducted election, has now resorted to violence. The party candidate on Monday, 21st February, 2022 unleashed havoc on PDP supporters using hoodlums and militiamen and dispersed a PDP rally in Ntu community in Ngor-Okpala. They threatened to maim anybody who dares to attend the rally. But of course, Ntu people resisted them and came out in their hundreds”. “The PDP notes with dismay the desperate move by Uzodinma to give ten bags of rice to each polling unit to entice the voters. We therefore condemn vote buying and undue inducement of voters in Ngor Okpala. It is unfortunate that the APC government which has brought untold hardship to lmo people, is trying to use food as a bait to catch votes. Ngor Okpala people are proud and hardworking, so their conscience cannot be bought with mere rice”. “Imo PDP therefore, wishes to use this medium to alert the security agencies in the state of the atrocities the APC plans to perpetuate in Ngor-Okpala and calls on them to move in and ensure a hitch-free election and the security of lives and property of the people”. “The PDP also uses this medium to call on the international community, civil society organisations and all lovers of peace and democracy to be at alert as APC plans to subvert the wishes of Ngor-Okpala people on Saturday, 26th February, 2022”. “The PDP, though a peace loving political party, will resist all forms of intimidation on her leaders and teaming supporters in the coming days ahead, during and after the bye-election as no one has the monopoly of violence”. “We call on Ngor-Okpala electorate to come out en masse on the day of election to collect their rice and money which are proceeds from our common patrimony, but vote PDP”, Nmeregini concluded. MEANWHILE, The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Imo State, has said it is ready to conduct the February 26, 2022 bye election for Ngor Okpala State Constituency. The Commission is conducting similar elections in six other states of the Federation. INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in the State, Prof Francis Ezeonu, disclosed this when he hosted Exco members of National Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, Imo State chapter, at the Commission’s headquarters in Owerri. He however noted that the electoral umpire in the State has been hit by some challenges such as burning of its offices in some local governments, insecurity and lack of adequate manpower. Ezeonu made it clear that the Commission remains impartial, because it is not affiliated to any group or individual. INEC is holding the Ngor Okpala bye election after the Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Kennedy Ibe, declared the seat vacant after the member representing the Constituency, absconded from sitting. In her remarks, the Chairman of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NWAOJ lmo state chapter,Mrs Dorothy Nnaji, PhD, has called on INEC to check the high rate of Voter apathy in the state. ALSO, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Imo State chapter, has condemned in its entirety an attack said to have been carried out by some hoodlums against supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Ngor Okpala LGA PDP New Media Director, Mr. Collins Opurozor, had in a statement on Monday, alleged that Imo PDP campaign trail were ambushed and attacked by hoodlums who wielded assorted weapons at Ntu in Ngor Okpala. He further claimed that members and supporters of the party sustained various degrees of injuries, and campaign vehicles smashed. Reacting to the attack, Chairman, APGA in Imo State, Mr. John Iwuala, condemned the attacks, which he described as uncalled for, unacceptable and unnecessary. He called for issues based campaigns which would afford the good people of Ngor Okpala the opportunity to make an informed choice at the bye elections. Iwuala also sued for a peaceful election, devoid of manipulation from any quarters. He however warned that APGA in Imo State would resist any attempt to attack its members or supporters ahead of the bye election. “We would resist any attempt to attack our party members in Ngor Okpala. Anyone who unleashes violence on our members would be resisted and we would equally return violence for violence” he said

Ukraine: Russia’s interests ‘non-negotiable,’ says Putin

  Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that Moscow was ready to look for “diplomatic solutions” amid raging tensions with the West over Ukraine but stressed that the country’s interests were non-negotiable. “Our country is always open for direct and honest dialogue, for the search for diplomatic solutions to the most complex problems,” Putin said in a video address to mark the Defender of the Fatherland Day, a public holiday in Russia. But he added: “The interests of Russia, the security of our citizens, are non-negotiable for us.” Putin spoke after parliament’s upper house, the Federation Council, on Tuesday gave him unanimous approval to deploy “peacekeepers” to two breakaway Ukrainian regions now recognised by Moscow as independent, and potentially into other parts of Ukraine. In the video address, Putin congratulated the country’s men and said he was certain of the “professionalism” of the Russian military and that they will stand up for the country’s national interests. He praised the battle-readiness of the Russian army and said the country would continue to develop state-of-the-art weapons. “We will continue to develop advanced weapon systems, including hypersonic and those based on new physical principles, and expand the use of advanced digital technologies and elements of artificial intelligence,” the Kremlin strongman added. “Such complexes are truly the weapons of the future, which significantly increase the combat potential of our armed forces.” Western officials have been warning for weeks the Russian leader has been preparing an all-out invasion of Ukraine. On Tuesday, US President Joe Biden announced tough new sanctions against Russia for “beginning” an invasion of Ukraine but said there was still time to avoid war. AFP

BREAKING: Fire razes Ministry of Finance headquarters

  The Federal Ministry of Finance Headquarters n the Central Area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, is on fire. The cause of the fire outbreak as of the time of filing this report is sketchy. But firefighters have arrived the scene to control the situation. The spokesperson of the Federal Fire Service, Abraham Paul, confirmed the incident. He stated that the operatives of the fire service were battling the fire. Details shortly…

Biden orders deployment of troops in Eastern Europe amid Ukraine-Russia crisis

  US President Joe Biden says the country will deploy additional troops and equipment to Baltic members of the American-led North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) in Eastern Europe. The development is coming hours after Russian President Vladimir Putinreportedly ordered troops into two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine. The Baltic states — Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania — are the only ex-soviet countries to have joined the European Union (EU) and NATO — which Ukraine aims to join. Although an imminent attack on the Baltics hasn’t been declared, the three countries are said to be concerned about Russia’s ability to cut them off from the rest of Europe via the Polish-Lithuanian border, seen as one of NATO’s most vulnerable points. Speaking on Tuesday at a media briefing, Biden said the “United States will continue to provide defensive assistance to Ukraine in the meantime”, adding that the US will also “continue to reinforce and reassure our NATO allies”. “Today, in response to Russia’s admission that it will not withdraw its forces from Belarus, I have authorised additional movements of US forces and equipment already stationed in Europe to strengthen our Baltic Allies – Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania,” he said. “Let me be clear these are totally defensive moves on our part. We have no intention of fighting Russia. We want to send an unmistakable message that the United States together with our allies will defend every inch of NATO territory and abide by the commitments we made it to NATO. “This is the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. So I’m going to begin to impose sanctions in response — far beyond the steps we and our allies and partners implemented in 2014.” Biden also said the US is implementing sanctions on two Russian financial institutions, adding that sanctions would also be imposed on Russia’s elites and their family members.

Sylvester Oromoni: How some Dowen College parents hindered investigation – Police

  CSP Bamidele Olusegun, on Tuesday, told an Ikeja Coroner’s Court that parents of some Dowen College students hindered investigation into the death of 12-year-old student of the school, Sylvester Oromoni. Olusegun, who works at the Homicide Section of the Lagos State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Panti, Yaba, told the court that the parents hindered the investigation by refusing to release their wards for interrogation. Olusegun, the Lead Investigating Officer of the case, made the claim at the continuation of his cross-examination before the court. ‘Investigation not comprehensive’ While responding to a question from the Coroner, Mr Mikhail Kadiri, Olusegun said that three roommates of the deceased were not released by their parents due to fear of trauma. Olusegun also said that investigation into the death was not comprehensive due to unavailability of the three roommates of the deceased. Olusegun also said that investigation into the death was not comprehensive due to unavailability of the three roommates of the deceased. “Having not been able to interview the remaining three students, I can say the investigation was not comprehensive. “There were four bunks of eight students in the deceased’s room and we (police) were given all the names of the roommates of the deceased. “We, however, succeeded in interrogating four out of the seven roommates. “This is because some of the parents said their children were going through trauma,” he said. Responding to a question by Mr Anthony Kpokpo, counsel to Dowen College, as to how many students confirmed that the deceased was beaten, Olusegun said ‘None.’ “All the students at the police station said the alleged beating never happened,” he said. The witness added that investigation into the death did not reveal anything against house masters at Dowen College. Allegation It was alleged by the Oromoni family that the 12-year-old student died on November 30, 2021, from injuries sustained in an attack by five senior students of Dowen College for refusing to join a cult. It was also alleged that he was forced to drink a substance by his attackers. Advice by the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions released on January 4, however, disputed the allegation. It stated that an autopsy revealed the cause of the student’s death as acute bacterial pneumonia due to severe sepsis. The coroner adjourned proceedings until February 28. (NAN)

Lagos-Ibadan transport projects saved people from trekking, Buhari says

  The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Tuesday, in Abuja said the Lagos-Ibadan transport projects saved people from trekking. This is as he stated that prioritising infrastructure projects ameliorated hardship in some parts of the country. Buhari said this when he received a delegation from Kaduna State, led by the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, and Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Hadiza Sabuwa Balaraba, at the State House. “My objective was very clear, despite the dwindling resources, I wanted to deal with infrastructure across the country,’’ the President was quoted by his aide, Femi Adesina. “We should look at advancement in terms of Infrastructure. No country can advance without infrastructure. There used to be railways, especially people from Southern Kaduna will remember this. “Which country can really advance without road, rail and power, that’s why I wanted to sort out infrastructure, knowing that Nigerians are competitive by nature, and they will face their businesses when there’s road, rail and power.” The President said commuting in the South-West has been improved just as the thanked China and others who supported the Lagos-Ibadan transport projects. “The people from South-West can tell better because between Lagos and Ibadan by now, if we hadn’t done what we did, people would have been trekking because the road was not there, the rail was not there and there was so much insecurity. “But we thank the international community. We thank China and Chinese investors who came along to support the Lagos-Ibadan transport projects,’’ he said. Adesina stated that Buhari gave the assurance that the construction and rehabilitation of infrastructure will be sustained, which include the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Express Road being handled by Julius Berger to ensure good and long-term quality. He said the President commended the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai, for the transformation of the state, with growing infrastructure and socio-economic projects, while noting the growing liberality, which welcomes all Nigerians. “Please extend my gratitude to the Governor for doing so well. I have been living in Kaduna for many years before I came here, but now I will need a modern compass to go around because of the transformation,’’ he added. In her remarks, the Deputy Governor thanked the President for his working visit to the state, where he commissioned projects in Kaduna, Kafanchan and Zaria. She said the Urban Renewal Programme will be sustained and spread across the state for more impact on the lives of the people, with many already near completion, and will be ready by May, 2022. The Emir of Zazzau also thanked the President for the visit in January and support to the Government, adding that the memory will be long cherished by all Kaduna State citizens.

Biden Announces Sanctions That Cut Russia Off From Western Financing

  US President Joe Biden on Tuesday announced the “first tranche” of sanctions against Russia, including steps to starve the country of financing, saying Moscow had started an invasion of Ukraine. And Biden threatened tougher steps if Russia “continues its aggression.” “We’re implementing sanctions on Russia’s sovereign debt. That means we’ve cut off Russia’s government from Western financing,” Biden said. “It can no longer raise money from the West and cannot trade in its new debt on our markets or European markets either.” The measures also target VEB, Russia’s state development bank, and members of the country’s “elites,” the US leader said. “They share the corrupt gains of the Kremlin policies, and should share in the pain as well.” The announcement came after the European Union unveiled its own sanctions in a coordinated Western effort to pressure Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Biden said the responses “have been closely coordinated with our allies and partners” and added, “We’ll continue to escalate sanctions if Russia escalates.” However, Washington’s response did not seem to go as far as the European Union, nor as far as some expected. Biden announced “full blocking sanctions” on both VEB and Russia’s “military bank,” which likely means the institutions will have their foreign assets frozen and will be prohibited from using the US financial system. However, the penalties cover fewer financial institutions, and do not appear to have severed the country from the SWIFT system used to move money around the globe. Nor did Biden resort to export controls, which would have cut Russian firms off from key high-tech equipment and software, which some analysts said was a possibility.

Abia Speaker adjourns plenary indefinitely as plot to impeach Deputy Speaker, Majority Leader thickens

  Chinedum Orji, the speaker, Abia House of Assembly has adjourned the plenary session Indefinitely, following a motion to impeach the Deputy Speaker and Majority Leader , Hon. Ifeanyi Uchendu and Hon. Solomon Akpulonu on Tuesday. The Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Paul Taribo, who moved the motion which was seconded by the Minority Leader, Hon. Chijioke Chukwu, accused the two principal officers of failing to play their statutory roles well and have lost the confidence of the House. The motion which was thrown open for debate by the Speaker, Chief Chinedum Orji, caused confusion in the House with those for and against the move. Ruling on the motion after several debates by members, the Speaker held that the reasons given for the removal of the two principal officers were not good enough.