Amid the 2023 election campaigns, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has paid a visit to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and the Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland, Oba Gabriel Aromolaran. The former Vice President shared photos with the monarchs via Twitter. “Today, I met with the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II and the Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland, Oba (Dr.) Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran,” he said in a series of tweets. “My consultations with them underscore the critical roles that traditional institutions play in social cohesion. “I am also humbled by the blessings these revered monarchs invoked on our mission. I am honoured and pleased for the generous time spent hosting my team and I.” Today, I met with the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II and the Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland, Oba (Dr.) Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran. My consultations with them underscore the critical roles that traditional institutions play in social cohesion. pic.twitter.com/1MKcoO5E2t — Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) December 6, 2022

  The Nigerian government says it had realised at least N120 billion as proceeds from criminal financial operations since the Bill on Proceeds of Crime Recovery Management was signed into law earlier this year by President Muhammadu Buhari. The Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made the announcement at a news conference when the Minister of Environment presented the scorecard of the ministry under the Buhari administration in Abuja on Wednesday. Mohammed said, “I have an update on the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act (POCA), 2022. In line with the new law, all relevant government agencies have now opened ‘A confiscated and Forfeiture Properties Account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). “I can confirm that the Federal Government has realized over 120 billion Naira, among other currencies, from POCA. “This money will be used to fund the completion of ongoing critical infrastructure projects in the country like the Second Niger Bridge as well as the Lagos-Ibadan and Abuja-Kano Expressways. We will continue to update you on this,” the Information Minister said.

  A soldier, Lance Corporal Philomena Nnamoko, has begged the Nigerian Army to allow her disengage due to her health condition and the maltreatment she received from her superior officers. PUNCH Metro gathered that the 38-year-old widow, who joined the Army on August 15, 2009, was attached to the 22 Support, Engineering Regiment, Intelligence Department, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State. Nnamoko said her trouble began early 2017 when she was diagnosed with fibroid and asked to leave the Army because of her illness. The Enugu State indigene, with force number 09 NA/64/5618, said her request was turned down. She said, “Around that time, late evening, I was tying a wrapper on my chest about to go relieve myself in the toilet when I met a commanding officer in my camp, so I greeted him. But he complained that I did not greet him properly. I instantly apologised but he became furious and started beating me. I fainted in the process with my wrapper off my body. “The next day, he was transferred to Abeokuta, Ogun State, and I was advised to go there and lodge my complaint or write a statement. On getting there, I was thrown into the guardroom for four weeks and denied access to the cantonment commanders. “When I was released, I went back to my barracks at Ijebu Ode. I had to go to a hospital because my medical condition was already getting worse. The hospital referred me back to a hospital in Abeokuta. But my commanding officer refused to give me pass to go to the hospital.” The victim said she, however, found her way to the Onabisi Onabanjo University Hospital, Sagamu, to receive treatment. She claimed that she was scheduled for an operation on August 29, 2017. “Early that morning, I heard a knock on my door. I opened it and seven soldiers grabbed me. They took me to the guardroom and dropped me there. I bled profusely till I fainted. They rushed me to the Ijebu Ode Military Hospital. “While I was on drip, an order came from the acting commanding officer that once the drip ended, I should return to the guardroom with immediate effect. I was taken back to the guardroom from there. I was so heartbroken that I almost committed suicide. “I stayed in the guardroom for another three weeks. It was a civilian working there that went to my superior to plead with the acting commanding officer on my behalf. She also went to beg the Mowe Barracks Cantonment Commander Officer, who claimed he did not know I was locked up. “After her pleas, they took me to a hospital in Ibadan and treated my wounds and said my fibriod would be operated when my blood pressure was normal. I stayed there for two weeks,” she added. Nnamoko said when she returned to the barracks, her former commanding officer had returned and ordered her to get to work immediately despite her health condition. She said, “From that day, my name appeared on the daily roaster. I worked every day tirelessly. I was demoted and put in the guardroom several times for offences I did not commit. “I went to the Army Legal Service, Osogbo, Osun State, and they kept saying I should forgive them. I also went to human rights and they were invited but my commanding officers did not honour the invitation. I got a lawyer, the court also invited them, but they did not go to court. “I have been writing for voluntary discharge. I have written nine times, they received five but never responded. I still have four that they refused to collect. “I am passing through hell; since 2017 till date, they have been oppressing and intimidating me. I do not have rest or peace. I am not feeling fine; I want justice for the inhuman treatment and I also want access to resign from the Army.” When contacted, the spokesperson for the 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Major Olaniyi Osoba, said he was not aware of the matter. He, however, advised the victim to see him over the matter. He said, “I do not think the officer has exhausted all administrative procedures. So, she should come and see me. I have to look into the complaints and ensure that she completes the administrative procedures for what she is complaining about.”

  The Federal Controller of Works in Delta,Mr Jimoh Olawale has said the new Second Niger Bridge will be opened to traffic on Dec. 15. Olawale, who spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Asaba, however, said that the bridge would be opened for only 30 days. According to him, the Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola, ordered the opening of the bridge, which is 95 percent completion stage, to ease traffic during the Yuletide. “As we know, during the Christmas celebration, commuters suffer hardship accessing the old Niger Bridge due to traffic jam but with this arrangement, traffic congestion on Asaba-Benin Expressway will ease. “We have notified the state government on this arrangement and we are working with the Federal Roads Safety Corps to ensure a hitch free vehicular movement. “Motorist going towards Owerri direction would divert through the access road near the old Niger Bridge to the new bridge,” the controller added. Olawale debunked claims by a group alleging that Federal Government had abandoned the payment of compensation to property owners along the access road to the second Niger Bridge. He explained that the government had not taken possession of any property along the 17 kilometre Okpanam-Ibusa-Asaba-Oko bypass to the new bridge, but only served notice that their structures were within the government right of way. The controller assured that the modalities for payment of compensations were being worked out. “The federal government has appointed a consultant, Messrs C.O. Akpabor and Company to enumerate the properties for compensation. “Each claimant has an attorney that liaises with the consultant, so there is totally no need for protest, more so that the federal government has not taken possession of the properties nor commenced construction work on the access road. “As at moment, nobody’s structure or property has been demolished. “Federal government verification team have visited and submitted its report to Abuja and government will pay all compensation before work will commence on the access road,” he said. Olawale assured that government would complete construction work on the 17 km access road before May 29, 2023. The controller said that contract for the 110.63km Sapele-Eku-Agbor road dualisation project would be reviewed in line with current realities. Olawale added that the N64 billion project, which began in November 2017, has been at 12 percent completion level. He added that the federal government recently completed and inaugurated a ring road project connecting communities in Isoko area of the state. On the Yuletide, the controller advised motorists to maintain 100km per hour speed limit in order to get to their destinations safely. (NAN)

  Wednesday 07 December 2022 APC Has Failed Northerners, Muslim-Muslim Ticket Won’t Work – Shagari ASUU faction, CONUA to sue FG over withheld salaries Gunmen abduct corps member, seven others in Abuja Supreme Court alleges plot to silence CJN, other judges I won’t vote Atiku, Peter Obi if I wasn’t contesting  – Tinubu Gunmen storms market in Sokoto kill policemen, 3 others 2023 elections: Nigerians in diaspora sue Buhari, INEC CBN limits cash withdrawals to N100,000 weekly Massive crowd as Obi’s campaign train storms Owerri Obi Holds Mega Rally In Imo, Vows To End ASUU, Doctors’ Strikes No Proof I Get Share Of Lagos Revenue, Says Tinubu CJN Not Under DSS Investigation – Supreme Court Troops Kill Several Bandits During Clearance Operations In Kaduna TikTok Challenge Circulates Info-Stealing Malware, NCC Warns Police arrest three for ‘hacking POS platform to steal N16m’ in Oyo Tenant sues landlady for refusing to sell her house to him Student loan bill, attempt to abandon public funding of Nigerian universities — ASUU Election Now Difficult To Rig In Nigeria – Buhari Tragedy In Asaba As Team Imo’s Boxer Dies Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…

  PREMIUM TIMES is reporting that popular Nigerian musician, Oladapo Oyebanji, popularly known by his stage name, D’banj, has been arrested. The newspaper said that the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, (ICPC) arrested and detained the kokomaster crooner on Tuesday after operatives closed in on him, forcing him to surrender himself at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, sources familiar with the matter said.   D’banj, insiders said, had dodged summons for weeks, claiming to be overseas for scheduled concerts each time he was invited to appear for interrogation over fraud allegation. The pop star, a wealthy Nigerian celebrity, is accused of fraudulently diverting hundreds of naira earmarked by the Nigerian government for N-Power project, an empowerment programme set up by the Nigerian government in 2016 to address youth unemployment and increase social development.   Investigators allege that D’banj colluded with some compromised government officials to introduce ghost beneficiaries into the payroll of the scheme. The stipend paid to those beneficiaries are then paid to accounts that have now allegedly been linked to the pop star. After the musician failed to show up for interrogation despite multiple invitations, the ICPC moved to arrest him anywhere in Nigeria and abroad, forcing him to show up at the commission’s office on Tuesday. On arrival, D’banj was subjected to a prolonged interrogation session after which he was detained. His plea for administrative bail was rejected by officials who said the musician could not be trusted to attend his trial if released on bail. Our sources said the ICPC might approach the court on Wednesday for an extended remand order to enable the agency complete its investigation before charging the musician to court. The spokesperson for the ICPC, Azuka Ogugua, could not be reached to comment for this story. She is said to be attending a programme abroad. Being in detention, the musician too could not be reached for comment.

  The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has accused the Nigerian government of attempts to ‘systematically’ wash its hands off the funding of public universities with the introduction of a student loan bill by the National Assembly. Both chambers of the National Assembly have passed a student loan bill that was first introduced to the house by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, in 2016. If assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari, the government would be mandated to establish an education bank which the bill proposes would provide education loans to students. But ASUU, in a statement by its President, Emmanuel Osodeke, a Professor of Soil Science, condemned the move, describing it as an attempt to make university education beyond the reach of poor Nigerians. In the statement released after its quarterly National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the University of Calabar at the weekend, ASUU claimed the education loan being proposed has failed in other countries where it was introduced. “We find it troubling that the proponents of the policy are so eager to foist it down the throat of Nigerians when they have done more to push the working people of this country into poverty through sheer incompetence in handling the economic fortunes of our nation,” the statement reads in part. On salary The union rejected what it described as the government’s “arrogant insistence on handing down an award” instead of a bargained salary package for its members. It also accused the government of attempts to turn the relationship with the workers inito a master–slave situation. The union also condemned the government’s continued withholding of the academics’ salaries for seven and a half months, saying it would not accept the alleged casualisation of its members’ work through the payment of October salaries on a pro-rata basis. ⓘ “The union calls the attention of Nigerians to the lingering issue of renegotiation of the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement which was the initial issue that led to the just suspended strike action. More worrisome is the increasing anti-labour posture of the government, suggestive of attempts to abrogate the principle of collective bargaining agreement. NEC rejects in totality the government’s arrogant insistence on handing down an award instead of a bargained salary package,” the statement added. ASUU, therefore, called on Nigerians to prevail on the government to urgently address all outstanding issues between it and the union in the interest of the students and the country. “Finally, NEC appreciates the resilience of our members and their families. Their understanding and perseverance, in the face of hardship and provocation occasioned by government’s intransigence and insensitivity, shall be rewarded by posterity.” Backstory The industrial dispute between ASUU and the Nigerian government, which has resulted in incessant strikes that characterised the country’s university system has ushered in conversations about the funding of the universities. Government officials have on different occasions stated that the government cannot continue to fund the universities alone but ASUU has rejected this. At a recent event, the registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Is-haq Oloyede, suggested a model similar to the National Health Insurance Scheme where the government can help indigent individuals pay a certain percentage of the school fees after they must have subscribed to the initiative.

  The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) says it has arrested three suspects over hacking of a Point of Sale (POS) platform to steal N16 million in Oyo state. Olumuyiwa Adejobi, spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), announced the development in a statement on Tuesday. The suspects — identified as Sanmi Ayodeji, aged 29; Felix Oluwaseun, aged 24; and Adeleye Oluwaseun, aged 34 — were said to have signed up on a POS platform, known as Tmoni Technologies Company, using their bank verification numbers (BVN) and those of their friends and relatives without their consent. They reportedly opened valid wallet accounts with Tmoni, bypassed the company’s network security system, and fraudulently transferred N16,149,195 from the Tmoni platform to various online accounts from where they made withdrawals. Adejobi said the suspects were arrested in Ibadan, Oyo state, by operatives of the NPF national cybercrime centre, after a complaint was lodged by the financial controller of the Tmoni platform. “Upon their arrest, the suspects were found in possession of several mobile phones, POS machines, SIM cards, Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Cards, and one Toyota Matrix car with registration no. KUJ 548 CN which they confessed was bought with proceeds of the crime,” the statement reads. “The Inspector-General of Police, while calling on users of online banking platforms to be vigilant with regard to their personal information, urges all citizens and residents in the country, as stakeholders in ensuring maximum security, to report all suspicious cyber activities via 09168343711, interpolnigeria@npf.gov.ng or on the NPF Cybercrime Reporting Portal – https://incb.npf.gov.ng/.   “The IGP similarly commended the Director, NPF National Cybercrime Centre, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Uche Ifeanyi Henry, for his diligence and dedication which has led to the breakthroughs recorded so far. “The suspects will be charged to court as soon as possible.”

  The Supreme Court of Nigeria has dismissed an insinuation that the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola was subjected to interrogation by the Department of the State Service (DSS) over alleged pro-Wike political remarks. The apex court also debunked claims that five Justices of the Court have demanded resignation from office by the CJN over the same issue. In a statement by the Director of Information and Press of the Court, Dr Festus Akande, the apex Court warned those peddling the rumours to desist in their own interests. The reaction of the Supreme Court is in response to a publication by an online medium, which reported that Justice Ariwoola has been grilled by DSS over his alleged political remarks in Port Harcourt at a public function. The statement read in part, “We have read with dismay and shock a publication with the above caption by an online media outfit, “People’s Gazette,” alleging that the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, was grilled by the DSS for the remarks he made in ‘Port Harcourt at a state banquet’ and that ‘five Justices of Supreme Court are calling for his resignation.’ “Just like our earlier press statement debunking this barefaced falsehood and mischievous antics aimed at scoring very cheap and unpopular political gains in this era of aggressive and mudslinging politicking, we wish to state in very clear and unmistaken terms, that this is yet another round of the avalanche of lies that have been disingenuously packaged by individuals with an unenviable pedigree to malign the character and personality of not just the CJN but several other Judicial Officers that they considered to be too unpliable and principled to be approached for any form of underhand dealings, especially as election cases (petitions) will soon be streaming to the tribunals (courts) for adjudication.” According to the statement, it had become very obvious that those with sinister motives have perfected plans to unleash all manner of coordinated attacks on Judicial Officers, starting from the CJN with a view to arm-twisting and blackmailing and ridiculing them to silence, ultimately for their ulterior motives. The statement further added that the publication is laced with tissues of lies, non-existent sources of information and unsubstantiated claims and it clearly showed the unwholesome intentions of the authors. It also clarified that no single Justice of the Supreme has asked the CJN to resign, and no Justice of the Supreme Court has or is writing any letter of protest whatsoever. “Neither the CJN nor the Honourable Justices of the Supreme Court or other Courts for that matter, are politicians, so, none of them should be dragged into politics in any form whatsoever. “Our advice to this set of rabble-rousers whose stock in trade is character assassination via dissemination of false information to create tension and disaffection is to have a rethink and engage in meaningful productive activities that will move the nation forward. A word is enough for the wise,” the statement said.