Crime Facts

Abia Doctors Threaten Indefinite Strike Today

  Worried by the non-payment of salaries by the Abia State Government, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) said it will commence an indefinite strike in the state on December 8. This is contained in a communique issued by NMA’s Chairman, Dr Abali Isaiah, and Secretary, Dr Daniel Ekeleme, after meeting on Wednesday in Aba, the state’s commercial nerve. The associated lamented that their colleagues working at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH) and the Health Management Board (HMB) are being owed between 21 to 25 months and 13 months’ salary arrears respectively. Noting that doctors are facing untold hardship, the NMA accused the state government of not showing any serious commitment to the course. “Failure to meet the above-mentioned demands on or before 8th of December 2022 would force ALL Doctors in Federal, State, and private sectors in Abia State to proceed on total and indefinite strike,” the communique read. “The ABSG should be held responsible for any medical mishap that may occur during the period of industrial disharmony. “The 21 days Ultimatum given to ABSG to clear the aforementioned salary arrears is currently in its 17th day.” See the full communique issued by the NMA in Abia State below: Communique Issued at the End of an Emergency General Meeting of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Abia State Branch held at Prof Prosper Igboeli House( NMA Aba Zonal Secretariat) on Sunday 4th December 2022   Observations: 1.That doctors working at ABSUTH and HMB are currently being owed between 21 and 25 months and 13 months salary arrears respectively.   That the 21 days Ultimatum given to ABSG to clear the aforementioned salary arrears is currently in its 17th day. That ABSG is yet to show any serious commitment to the course. That doctors working with ABSUTH and HMB are currently undergoing an untold hardship Resolution Following robust deliberation on the above-mentioned observations, NMA Abia State Congress resolved as follows:   NMA Abia State Branch condemns in its strongest terms the non payment of our Doctors in absuth and HMB. 2.Our Ultimatum to the ABSG still stands and running.   The Congress insisted that payment of 50% of what is been owed as their minimum demand. 4.That failure to meet the above-mentioned demands on or before 8th of December 2022 would force ALL Doctors in Federal,State,and private sectors in Abia State to proceed on total and indefinite strike.   That the ABSG should be held responsible for any medical mishap that may occur during the period of the industrial disharmony. Signed Dr Abali Isaiah Chairman Dr Daniel Ekeleme Secretary.

IGP Launches Portal To Report Stolen Vehicles

  As precautionary measures to tackle vehicle theft, the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has launched a platform for Nigerians to report cases of stolen vehicles. Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, said the digitalized platform – Central Motor Registry (CMR) – successfully completed and commissioned by the IGP is situated at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.   He said the platform launch followed the “IGP’s quest to ensure a digital environment for policing the country for robust and more proactive measures in crime prevention, investigation, and prosecution.” “The newly digitalized Central Motor Registry Command Centre will make it possible for members of the public to report vehicles stolen from as far back as 1st January, 2018, and yet-to-be-recovered to input the vehicle details on the online platform to serve as a reliable data point for the possible recovery of the vehicle,” he stated. “The platform will also process motor vehicle information to support police operations and efforts toward enhancing national security.” With the CMR having two Command Centres in Abuja and Lagos, Adejobi said 37 Information Centres are located across the Country and in the Federal Capital Territory, with 200 e-Enforcement Operational Patrol Vehicles with automatic number plate recognition on each vehicle as part of the first batch. He also asked Nigerians and other residents in the country to take advantage of the platform at https://reportcmr.npf.gov.ng to upload their vehicle information on the website with effect from today 7th December, 2022, as a security step for preventing it from being stolen and re-registered.

Peru President Ousted After Bid To Dissolve Congress

  Peru’s leftist leader Pedro Castillo was impeached and replaced as president on Wednesday in a dizzying series of events in the country that has long been prone to political upheaval. Dina Boluarte, a 60-year-old lawyer, was sworn in as Peru’s first female president just hours after Castillo tried to wrest control of the legislature in a move criticised as an attempted coup. The day of high drama began with Castillo facing his third impeachment attempt in almost 18 months of power. However, in a televised address to the nation, the 53-year-old announced that he was dissolving the opposition-dominated Congress, installing a curfew, and would rule by decree. As criticism poured in over the address, lawmakers defiantly gathered earlier than planned to debate the impeachment motion and approved it, with 101 votes out of a total of 130 lawmakers. Castillo, a former school teacher, was impeached for his “moral incapacity” to exercise power, after a litany of crises including six corruption investigations against him and his family, five cabinet reshuffles and large protests. The constitutional provision allows impeachment proceedings to be brought against a president based on the subjective premise of political rather than legal wrongdoing, and has made impeachments commonplace in Peru. Castillo became the third president since 2018 to be sacked under the “moral incapacity” provision in the constitution. After months of power struggles with Congress, Castillo told the nation that “his intolerable situation cannot continue.” He said he would convene a new Congress to draft a new constitution within nine months. However, after the impeachment vote, Castillo left the presidential palace with a bodyguard, heading to the Lima police headquarters where he remained. Images released by the Peruvian prosecutor’s office showed Castillo in a room surrounded by prosecutors and police, without clarifying his legal situation. – ‘Now former president’ – House speaker Jose Williams Zapata criticized Castillo for trying to “dissolve Congress and impede its function in an unconstitutional manner.” Hundreds of protesters had gathered in front of Congress ahead of the vote. “We are tired of this corrupt government that was stealing from day one,” said 51-year-old Johana Salazar. Ricardo Palomino, 50, a systems engineer, said Castillo’s attempt to dissolve parliament was “totally unacceptable and unconstitutional. It went against everything and these are the consequences.” Ahead of the impeachment decision, the United States demanded Castillo “reverse his decision”, before saying it no longer considered him to be the president. “My understanding is that, given the action of the Congress, he is now former president Castillo,” State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters, saying lawmakers took “corrective action” in line with democratic rules. Castillo’s failed effort to fend off the impeachment bid comes more than 30 years after then-president Alberto Fujimori suspended the constitution and dissolved Congress in April 1992. “President Pedro Castillo has carried out a coup. He has violated Article 117 of the Peruvian Constitution and has become illegal. This is a self-coup,” political analyst Augusto Alvarez told AFP of the bid to dissolve Congress. “Today, there has been 20th century-style coup. It is a coup destined to fail, Peru wants to live in a democracy. This coup d’etat has no legal basis,” the president of the Constitutional Court, Francisco Morales, told the RPP radio station. AFP

Why we are harvesting Voter Identification Numbers from PVCs – INEC

  The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has explained its decision to harvest Voter Identification Numbers VIN from Permanent Voter Cards PVCs of Nigerians registered several years ago but are yet to collected their PVCs. INEC National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education Committee, Barr. Festus Okoye in a statement on Wednesday said the commission had become aware of a video circulating on various social media platforms, showing some INEC staff at our FESTAC Town, Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area Office, Lagos extracting Voter Identification Numbers (VINs) from Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) and entering same into their cellphones. The makers of the video had insinuated that they were doing this for the purpose of undermining the 2023 General Election. However, INEC said the development was far from the truth. “Actually, the video shows staff of the Commission harvesting VINs from PVCs, but only as part of an inventory of uncollected cards, provided for in the new Guidelines for the Management and Collection of PVCs, approved by the Commission for implementation nationwide”, said Okoye. He said INEC in its determination to enhance the rate of collection of PVCs, the Commission decided to establish a PVC collection process that includes an online component. The procedure entails that registered voters with access to the Internet could go to a dedicated portal to ascertain whether their PVCs are ready and to find their locations for subsequent collection. “All they are required to do is to provide their details such as name, date of birth, state of registration or the last six digits of the VINs that they provided/received during registration, to locate their cards. This would improve the PVC collection process, but without prejudice to those who wish to go directly to the collection centres. “For the newer PVCs, that is those from the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) that took place between January and July 2022, the VINs were harvested automatically and made available online. However, for the older uncollected PVCs that predate the new guidelines, their VINs must be harvested manually and painstakingly for upload to the PVC collection portal (www.voters.inecnigeria.org). The portal will also improve the records of the Commission regarding collected and uncollected PVCs”, he explained. While the Commission appreciated the vigilance of Nigerians and their determination to see the conduct of free, fair, credible and inclusive elections in 2023, INEC said it was exceedingly important that information such as contained in the said video is verified before sharing it with the public. “A major threat to the upcoming general election comes from fake news and disinformation. The Commission appeals to Nigerians to remain conscious of this, even if the prior intention is worthy. “Finally, we remind Nigerians that all uncollected PVCs will be available for collection at our 774 Local Government offices nationwide from 12th December 2022 to 5th January 2023. From 6th January to 15th January 2023, the cards will be made available for collection at the 8809 Registration Areas/Wards across the country in order to bring them closer to their owners. “Subsequently, from 16th January to 22nd January 2023, collection shall revert to our Local Government offices. Meanwhile, the online facility will be available throughout the exercise to assist registered voters in locating their PVCs for collection”, the commission added.

New CBN withdrawal policy draconian, will hurt poor Nigerians – Metuh

  Former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisah Metuh, has described the new cashless policy as draconian and an inconvenience to poor Nigerians. He noted that if allowed to hold, it would, in the long run become counter productive. Read also: EFCC conducts public auction of over 400 cars in Lagos Metuh stated this in Abuja on Wednesday. He said, “The recently released circular on new cashless policy by the CBN is counter productive and an inconvenience to poor Nigerians. “It is inconceivable that in an economy bedevilled with random and multiple bank charges, the Nation’s Central Bank will decide to inflict the lowest level of citizens with a mandatory acquisition of Point of Sales(POS) machines. “This exposes the poor to multiple deductions by banks and may be an opportunity to fleece the people. “How do you expect Nigerians to patronise the banana and fruit sellers? Should we stop buying from petty traders because of network delays in effecting transactions? “What of the attendant ceaseless and multiple deductions from the accounts of these petty traders? What of the security scare of waiting to confirm payments by the roadside? “Is this a good time to effect a sudden, immediate and almost total cashless policy in our economy? “We have witnessed cash transactions even in developed economies of the world. There is no thriving economy where people are restricted from withdrawing less than $30 in a day and $120 in a week. “This new directive by the CBN is as draconian as it is counter-productive to self employment at the lowest cadre.” Metuh also said, “I call on the CBN to mitigate these measures with a freeze on withdrawal charges by banks and introduce policies to ensure that transfers and transactions are not impeded by network problems. “Otherwise the policy will be reminiscent of Idi Amin’s order to print more money in the old Uganda. “The CBN should not allow the lives of very poor Nigerians to be frustrated to such an extent as openly embracing crime as an alternative to mean policies of the government. “At times like this, we all expect our elected and appointed representatives to defend the interest of the ordinary people. “A society that does not care for the poor will eventually witness anarchy and violent revolt.”

REPORT: Elon Musk loses world’s richest spot to Louis Vuitton owner, Bernard Arnault

  Twitter and Tesla owner, Elon Musk has lost his place as the richest man in the world to Bernard Arnault, the chief executive of luxury brand Louis Vuitton’s parent company LVMH. Forbes revealed this on Wednesday after Musk experienced a sharp drop in the value of his stake due to the recent purchase of Twitter to the tune of $44 billion. Musk sold stocks in his electric-car company in order to fund the acquisition of the social media company. Despite Musk’s net worth dropping below $200 billion earlier on November 8, he still remains number two on Forbes’ billionaire list with a personal value worth of $185.4 billion. Arnault’s wealth is worth $185.8. The 73-year-old French man is a business magnate whose headquarters is based in Paris, France.

Ignore Simon Ekpa, there’s no sit-at-home – MASSOB

  THE Movement For The Actualization Of The Sovereign State Of Biafra, MASSOB, has urged people to ignore a certain Simon Ekpa and his call for five days sit-at-home. While condemning Ekpa and his misplaced order, MASSOB said that people should go about their businesses, stressing that there is no sit-at-home of whatever sort. In a statement by MASSOB’s Director of Information, Samuel Edeson, MASSOB said that it was unfortunate that some people have allow themselves to be used by agent’s of Nigerian government to turn South East into a war zone . “How can someone who claimed to be fighting for the freedom of his people will at the same time turn around and kill, destroy the economy of the same people he is fighting for. “A lot of Biafra innocent youths have been killed by Nigerian security agents, many are still in various prisons in Nigeria, and now you are adding more pains and sufferings to our people. This is no longer agitation for the libration of Biafra people. “MASSOB will not support anybody who lives outside Biafra land and be given order and counter order that will effect the life of Ndigbo negatively. MASSOB is urging Ndigbo to ignore the threat and go about their normal business. “It is clear that the main aim of these people ordering for sit at home is nothing but to create crisis in south East, giving Nigeria government reasons not release mazi Nnamdi Kanu. These agents of Nigeria government must stop this evil acts against Ndigbo now. “MASSOB and other Biafra agitators will not allow faceless people paid by Nigeria government to destroy all the pro-Biafra groups has laboured for years . This is the same act of sabotage Raph Uwazuike did, and it has relegated Ndigbo to became the list populated tribe, because we refused to participate in the last census.”

Muslim/Muslim ticket ‘ll change Nigeria’s political narrative in 2023 — Tinubu

  Wife of the All Progressives Congress, APC Presidential candidate, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has assured Nigerians that the controversial Muslim/Muslim ticket will set a new tone and narrative in political future of the country from 2023. Tinubu, made the remark on Wednesday, during APC South-West Women presidential rally, at Mobolaji Johnson Arena, formerly Onikan Stadium, in Lagos, said the country in future would also witness Christian/Christian ticket. Thousands of women thronged the venue as early as 8 am to express their support for the Tinubu-Shettima presidency in 2023, as well as other candidates of the party in the 2023 general polls. Earlier, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, expressed his confidence that APC would come out victorious in the forthcoming presidential election. Sanwo-Olu, gave the assurance when he received Remi Tinubu and wife of APC presidential running mate, Kashim Shetima, Nana, ahead of the women rally in Lagos. Mrs. Tinubu, on behalf of the Grand Patron of the Tinubu/Shetima Women Presidential Campaign Team, the wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, commended the tremendous support given by Governor Sanwo-Olu and his team towards the Presidential bid of Bola Tinubu and his developmental strides in the state. She said the delegation was in Marina to intimate him about the flagoff of APC Women Mega rally, urging Nigerians to vote for the party’s Presidential candidate. Those in the entourage were: Wives of of Governors of Ogun , Bamidele Abiodun, Borno Fanmata Zulum, Kebbi State, Zainab Bagudu, wife of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Salamatu Gbajabiamila, wives of top Party Representatives, among others. Wife of the Lagos State Governor, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, Deputy Governor’s wife, Oluremi Hamzat, Chief of Staff, Tayo Ayinde, were also present to receive the delegation. Subsequently, while addressing the large crowd of women supporters, Tinubu said, “I bring you warm greetings from the First Lady, Her Excellency Aisha Buhari. She sends loves to Lagos and wish you well and to the Governor that is making things work in Lagos State. “We thank you for coming out in large number despite the challenges. My coming here is another homecoming. About 23 years ago, God bless my husband to become the Governor, I supported him as the first lady.” Commenting on the influence of social media on the youths, she stated, “Social media is good for you to seek proper information. I want to tell them today I stand tall in my state. “I want to thank the people of Lagos Central for sending me to represent them. I’m the first woman to emerge as a senator three times. This is a wonderful opportunity. Since 2007 when my husband left office, I kept working for the good of our people. “God rewards good work, what is happening to us is God that is doing this. He pleases people without people paying attention but heaven pays attention.” He added, “As regard Muslim/Muslim ticket, this one will set the tone for the future. Sometime in future we will have a Christian/Christian ticket. What God has done is marvelous in our land.” Also, Mrs. Sanwo-Olu, said Nigeria in the next dispensation needs somebody of political sagacity as Tinubu to manage the affairs of the nation in 2023. She said, “We are delighted to receive you all as we flag off the Tinubu/Shettima Women’s Presidential Campaign in the South-West. “As we know, our great leader, President Muhammadu Buhari has laid the right foundation for progressive governance. He has been responsive, progressive, and totally committed to the needs of the people, especially women and children. “As women, there is a strong need for us to use the 2023 elections to vote for APC across all levels for consolidation and continuity of the remarkable work and achievement of the present administration. It is crystal clear that the continuity of the APC government is the sure way to greater progress. “At this point in time in our democratic experience and history, Nigeria needs the financial expertise, intellectual acumen, progressive capacity, and political sagacity of Bola Tinubu to manage the affairs of our great country. “Tinubu has a track record of outstanding performance. He has the astonishing ability to identify talents and galvanize them to catapult our Nation to the deserved height and rightful position in the comity of nations. He has done it in Lagos and he will do it in Nigeria. “The commitment of the Tinubu-Shettima Presidency is that all Nigerians, regardless of age, colour, gender, ethnic, religious, and political affiliations, will be supported to achieve their dreams and aspirations. “They are people-friendly, reliable, and trustworthy. The Tinubu-Shettima Presidency will do everything humanly possible to increase opportunities for women in politics and decision-making. “Indeed, Nigerian women can count on the Tinubu/Shettima Presidency. This is a ticket that will ensure gender justice, fairness, and equitable participation of women in governance and the political process. It is a ticket that will close gender gaps and address the many challenges women still confront in public and private.” The APC National Women Leader, Dr Beta Edu said, “Our mission is simple, we want to deliver 40 million votes for Asiwaju. We want to win at every ward.” While urging them to get their Permanent Voter Card, PVCs, ready, Edu said Tinubu would empower women and provide jobs for the youths. A representative of Youths Ambassadors, Comfort Olabare, noted that the state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s initiative on leadership training had impacted greatly on the youth. She also urged women to vote for Tinubu and the Governor, assuring that their emergence would address unemployment and poverty in the country.

NNPP Denies Alliance With PDP

  The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has denied that it is aligning with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 presidential election. NNPP Secretary of Board of Trustees Engr Buba Galadima was quoted to have said the party would form an alliance with the PDP to bolster the rank of Atiku Abubakar, the PDP standard bearer. But the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Agbo Major, in a statement Wednesday said that Rabiu Kwankwaso was in the race to win. He said: “NNPP notes with concern the story making the rounds and credited to the Secretary of Board of Trustees Engr. Buba Galadima that our great, party may go into alliance with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2023 general election and state as follows: “That there is no such arrangement on ground as our presidential candidate is in this race to win and provide purposeful leadership in line with our party programmes and manifesto. He is determined to go all the way due to his passion to serve Nigerians. “As a mass movement, NNPP welcomes electoral alliances from like-minded political parties in our quest to rescue our great country but insists that any such arrangement must be the one that would see them joining us to deliver our presidential candidate Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso FNSE and never the other way round. “That the said report is a figment of the imagination of those who engineered it and we see it as antics of mischief makers and propagandists due to the towering profile of our candidate after the series of town hall meetings held so far. “The party roundly dismissed this mischievous report that has created unease amongst our teeming members and followers.”

Next president must build strong institutions — Agbakoba

  A former president of the Nigerian Bar Association Dr Olisa Agbakoba SAN, on November 29, 2022, said that what drives a state is the legal, institutional and regulatory framework but that Nigeria still has a long way to go in terms of development. He said that Nigeria is in an extremely fragile state as available indices showed the characteristics of a failing state. The learned silk stated this in the OAL Policy Report 2022, titled: “Big Issues for the 2023 General Elections” He said that it is generally agreed that a country with a weak legal, institutional and regulatory framework cannot develop economic opportunities but unfortunately, Nigeria suffers from legal, institutional and regulatory failure. According to him, there are conflicts and agitations everywhere, feelings of marginalization and exclusion, a rise in political and criminal violence, loss of control of borders, rising ethnic, religious, and cultural hostilities, weak institutions, food shortages, unemployment, inflation, crumbling infrastructure, deteriorating human development indicators such as infant and maternal mortality, and literacy rates. Agbakoba stated that these troubling realities make the 2023 general elections a defining moment for the country which, in turn, raises the need for a thorough and insightful search for who will succeed President Buhari. He added that the candidate who emerges as president must understand all the issues and have a clear vision of where to take the country. OAL has read and followed the manifestos and issues of all the presidential candidates and is happy the campaign is issues-based, unlike previous elections. Agbakoba said, ”OAL policy report 2022 is our little contribution because Nigeria is in a critical position and we all need to put our heads together to solve the problems.’’ He, however, recommended that any Nigerian President that comes into office next year must focus on building strong institutions.