A human rights organisation, under the aegis of George Uboh Whistleblowers Network, on Monday advised President Bola Tinubu to direct law enforcement agencies to collaborate with whistleblowers in solving crimes and recovering stolen funds. The organisation highlighted the significance of whistleblowers in exposing corruption and wrongdoing and emphasized the need to shield them from retaliation. The Chairman of GUWN, Dr George Uboh, who canvassed the views during a press conference held at the Abuja council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, also revealed how he was arrested and detained for 101 days in 2019 after he exposed the Forex scam by the embattled former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele. He, therefore, suggested the implementation and strengthening of the whistleblower policy, with the establishment of an independent office to safeguard and compensate whistleblowers. Uboh commended President Bola Tinubu for his courage in arresting a partisan CBN governor whose unprecedented crimes against humanity, the Nigerian masses were many. The activist also highlighted the importance of appointing a person with prior experience in whistleblowing to lead the office and protect whistleblowers from any adverse treatment. Uboh said, “While the media is replete with reports of Emefiele’s corruption post-arrest, pre-arrest, however, no Nigerian dared criticise the Almighty Emefiele. George Uboh Whistleblowers Network (hereinafter GUWN) exposed Emefiele’s corruption regarding forex fraud of over US$3 billion via letters written to Emefiele on or about April 1, 2019 “On May 15, 2019, the day Emefiele appeared before the Senate for screening and clearance for his second tenure, I was arrested in my Maitama office. I was detained for 101 days for defamation of Emefiele’s rotten character. The then Chief Judge, FCT, Ishaq Bello refused to hear my bail application. DIG Mike Ogbizi verbally denied me bail after I fulfilled the administrative bail granted to me by his men at Force CID. “We humbly request that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR direct law enforcement agencies to work with whistleblowers in order to solve crimes swifter, trace and recover mind-boggling funds stolen or trapped. “Whistleblowers play a vital role in the fight against corruption, and it is crucial to protect them from adverse treatments and compensate them.”

  The flood that resulted from a Sunday night rainfall has drowned a young man simply identified as Chukwudi in his basement apartment located by the edge of a narrow drainage between Nkpokiti and Presidential Road in Ogui Township, Enugu. The diseased who had reportedly performed traditional rites and was preparing for a wedding with his fiancée, was said to be putting up in one of the underground rooms sandwiched under a block of flats constructed in obstruction to a channel through which waters running down from the Institute of Management and Technology, IMT, and environs collate and empties into Asata River. According to an eyewitness and a co-tenant in the compound, Mrs. Nkechi Eze, the flood from the blocked drainage into their compound had been persistent for over six years. It had on Monday last week wrecked havoc in the same compound with no life lost, but made some of the basement occupants to pack out from the apartment.   She said, “Even the girl and boy don’t sleep there again, but came to check their property and the rain started. The flood came and he was the one that came out telling people that the flood has come again and his fiancé and every other person came out, but he said he wanted to bring his properties out. He went in and didn’t come out again. There is a deaf and a dumb girl that occupies one of the apartments and was almost drowned but was rescued by those who went to help. “The police came around 12am and started scooping the water out from the basement; a water draining machine was also brought and they worked from 12 to 5am this morning. All of us were outside, nobody slept, waiting to see that boy and at about 5am, his lifeless body was seen and the police came and took his corpse away. When the DPO came, he said no, that even an animal cannot live here let alone a human being.” Another tenant in the compound blamed the recent increase in the flood in the area to the new development of properties around the drainage way which narrowed the drainage and made water overflow into their compound. “This flood happens almost every year but this year’s flood is higher because of the new fence being constructed around the drainage. The water used to overflow that side of the new face but now they have blocked it and the water has to find another exit route,” the tenant said. Head of Physical planning in Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, ECTDA, TPL Chinedu Ozochioke, said that the agency had marked the structures blocking the waterways for demolition, yet the developers remain defiant with their constructions. He however disclosed that with the tragedy of the death of the young man who was about to wed with his fiancée, the agency has given 24 hours final notice to abate the nuisance against the drainage system. Ozochioke said: “This incident was caused by developers who narrowed the waterway and when you narrow the waterway the velocity will increase and that was what led to the water rise that led to the degree of water into the basement; one thing led to the other and the young man died because of the pressure of water coming into the house. “The manhole is too small to carry the storm water, and the area beside the bank is where people are dumping refuse and during rains, the refuse will block the flow areas. There are also shops sitting on top of drainages and we had made removal notices on them before now but by tomorrow we will commence appropriate evacuations, remove and open the waterways on both sides and take it down to Presidential Road. That will be a better solution to this problem.” He advised residents to always report blockages to his agency so as to avert such ugly incidents. The landlord of the property where the young man died, Sir Francis Ilo, who is said to be over 80 years old, said he was in shock and was unable to speak to newsmen about the incident.

  The Student Loan Bill was proposed by the former speaker of the 9th House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, and it was passed by the lawmakers in late May 2023. In November 2022, Gbajabiamila urged the Education Bank to provide interest-free loans to students in tertiary institutions in order to make funding education at that level more accessible to all. He made the remarks while delivering the 52nd convocation address at the University of Lagos. The topic of the presentation was “Building Back Better: Creating a New Framework for Tertiary Education in Nigeria in the Twenty-First Century.” In this regard, he stated that he has supported a bill in the National Assembly named Student Loans (Access to Higher Education Bill). As a lawmaker and politician, he remarked that one of the most common requests he always heard was money for tertiary education, as the future of talented kids could be jeopardised. “The bill proposes to provide students with interest-free loans.” Following the passage by the House and assent by President Tinubu, here are seven things to know about the Student Loan Act: 1. The new act will establish the Nigerian Education Bank, which will supervise, coordinate, administer and monitor the management of student loans in Nigeria. 2. Applicants will go through screening to determine whether they meet the requirements for the loan. 3. Students in all the higher institutions are eligible for the loan. 4. It provides funds for all education-related matters, including textbooks, and research. 5. It is only accessible to students studying in Nigeria. 6. There will be jail terms for student loan defaulters. 7. The repayment of the loan will begin two years after the National Youth Service Corps Scheme is completed.

  Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, has expressed confidence that Senator Godswill Akpabio will emerge as the next president of the 10th Senate. He made this known while speaking with pressmen after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He said the committee set up by President Tinubu to resolve the controversy over the forthcoming leadership race has achieved substantial progress. Uzodinma, who is also the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, said the move was in collaboration with the outgoing Senate President, Ahmed Lawan. He also assured that Lawan would work for the emergence of the preferred candidates of the party. A new set of leadership of the National Assembly will emerge tomorrow. This is as the race for the Senate presidency has been tied among the trio of Akpabio, Abdulaziz Yari and Orji Kalu.

  Three members of the All Progressives Congress from Imo State who were travelling to Abuja for the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly on Tuesday, have died in an auto crash. It was gathered that the bus they were travelling in had a head-on collision with another bus at Agbor in Delta State. Several sources told our correspondent that three persons in the bus had been confirmed dead, while others who sustained various degrees of injuries were rushed to hospitals. Two males from the Amaraku community in the Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of the state and a female from the Ogbor community in the same LGA died in the auto crash. A chieftain of the party, who doesn’t want to be mentioned, said that the victims were the coordinators of the senator-elect for Imo North, Patrick Ndubueze, and the House of Representatives member-elect for Okigwe North Federal Constituency, Mirriam Onuoha. The source said, “Three persons died while others who sustained injuries have been rushed to hospitals. Their bus had a head-on collision with another bus and three persons, two males and a female, died. Two males from Amaraku community and a female from Ogbor community all in the Isiala Mbano LGA. “They were travelling in two buses. It is a sad development. The party is saddened by the development. It is a sad commentary and we pray God accepts their souls.” When Ln247news correspondent contacted, the spokesperson for the APC in the state, Cajetan Duke, confirmed the incident.

  President Bola Tinubu has kept his promise to Nigerian students by signing the Student Loan Bill into law, according to his aide. ⁣ A representative of the Federal Government, Dele Alake, disclosed this to State House Correspondents today.⁣⁣ ⁣ The bill will enable Nigerian students to access loans at interest-free rates. ⁣⁣ ⁣ Our Correspondent reported that the bill had passed second reading at the House of Representatives on May 25, 2023. ⁣ ⁣⁣ Details Later…⁣⁣

  There is no end in sight to the controversy rocking Nigeria Air, the national carrier supposedly unveiled at the twilight of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government. Ex-Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, had unveiled the name and logo of Nigeria Air at the Farnborough International Air Show in July 2018, with the promise that operation would begin within five months. At the time, Sirika had said the airline would have flights on 81 domestic, regional and international routes. But two months down the line, the Federal Government put the project on hold, saying it was a tough decision. However, the public kept asking questions on the project, given the publicity and funds spent on it. The ex-minister repeatedly assured Nigerians that the project would kick off, at some point disclosing the plan for aircraft which will be used in the fleet. On May 26, 2023, the ministry under Sirika’s watch organised a programme for the unveiling of Nigeria Air. At the event which held at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, the minister expressed delight that the Federal Government had matched its words with action regarding the project. There was a backlash after the event, especially over the Ethiopian Airlines plane that was used for the unveiling. The ministry had avoided commenting on multiple issues raised, but in an ARISE Television interview, Sirika cleared the air and addressed multiple issues. But the former minister denied the involvement of the aviation ministry in the unveiling, putting it at the door step of Ethiopian Airlines, which has 49 per cent majority shares in the project. “It was the owners of Nigeria Air, the consortium of the federal government (five per cent) that decided to do the unveiling as part of their marketing strategy. So it is not the government that was doing the unveiling to start the operations. Not at all. It was them who did it and I was invited,” Sirika had said on the live television programme. However, several documents in the public domain revealed that the unveiling was organised by the Ministry of Aviation. An invitation letter was issued by the ministry inviting guests to the launch. The invitation letter read: “The Federal Ministry of Aviation cordially requests your presence at the official unveiling of Nigeria Air.” The venue of the unveiling was put as Nigeria Air Operations Control Centre, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. Also, the order of event saw the Permanent Secretary in the ministry reading the welcome address followed by the goodwill messages by Chairmen, Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Aviation. The next speaker according to the order of event was the CEO of Ethiopian Airlines while the minister unveiled the aircraft. Some aviation stakeholders who spoke to our correspondent confirmed that they receieved invitation from the ministry. Source: Daily Trust

  The parish priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Karku in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Reverend Father Jeremiah Yakubu has been kidnapped by gunmen . Although the police authorities in Kaduna are yet to comment on the incident, the Chancellor of Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan, Reverend Father Emmanuel Okolo said in a statement that Father Yakubu was kidnapped from the parish rectory in Kauru LGA at about 11pm on Sunday.   While calling for an intense prayer for the quick and safe release of the victim from his abductors, the chancellor also appeals to the parishioners to refrain from taking laws into their hands. He assured parishioners that the church will use all legitimate means to ensure the quick return of the kidnapped Reverend Father.

  National Judicial Institute will have in attendance all heads of tertiary institutions and regulatory bodies such as the National Universities Commission, National Board for Technical Education, the National Commission for Colleges of Education, among others. In the weekly bulletin made available to our correspondent by the Director of Public Affairs, JAMB, Dr Fabian Benjamin, the board said, “Only two representatives each from respective tertiary institutions, comprising the Head of the Institution and one official of the institution, who shall be nominated by the Head, will be welcomed. “Other critical issues slated for discussion at the Policy Meeting aside from issues emanating from the presentation of the Registrar, JAMB, on the just-concluded UTME are other issues of national importance, particularly as they concern the education sector. issues of national importance, particularly as they concern the education sector. Related News Grandmother’s maths skills inspired me – Enugu pupil who scored 337 in UTME 15-year-old scores 99% in UTME maths Certificate racketeering responsible for DE crisis – NANS “The meeting is also expected to chart policy directions for the nation’s tertiary institutions, set admission guidelines, present and analyse application statistics, and candidates’ performance, as well as evaluate the 2023 admission exercise. “Furthermore, the policy meeting, among other things, would decide the acceptable minimum admissible score to be applied in all admissions to be undertaken by all tertiary institutions in Nigeria.” The PUNCH reports that in 2022, the meeting granted institutions the power to set their minimum allowable cut-off marks for admission, which they cannot go below once adopted and general concessions are reached.

  A former military Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida, has said that Nigerian politicians have failed to exploit the gains of June 12 election. He spoke on Sunday ahead of Democracy Day which is marked June 12 of every year. According to a statement by his Kassim Afegbua, Babangida lamented that politicians have blatantly ignored the “beauty part” of June 12, 1993 election which he said was adjudged the freest and fairest election in Nigeria. “The gains of June 12, 1993 presidential election have not been exploited by political leaders in succeeding elections in Nigeria,” he said. “It was adjudged the freest and fairest election in Nigeria, yet politicians have blatantly ignored that beauty; the beauty of credible elections.   “Remember, it was an election Nigerians came out en mass to choose their leaders, irrespective of their cultural/traditional and religious affiliations.” The former military leader said political violence and incessant litigations in Nigeria’s elections are part of the issues affecting democracy. “There is thuggery in politics in Nigeria, too many litigations in Nigeria, too many issues that transparent elections ought to have addressed,” he said.   He also condemned the declining turnout in elections, attributing it to the trust deficit between the people and their leaders. “June 12 should naturally encourage more voters to endorse democracy and election, but the turnout during our election is gradually declining,” he added. “Right now there is voter apathy, that’s the more reason why something must be done to ensure mass participation in elections.” He, however, expressed confidence that Nigeria can get it right if leaders invest their time and resources in deepening democratic ideals.   “It is a learning curve and a work in progress. Our leaders must continue to invest their time, energy, and resources to deepen democracy and sustain democratic ideals,” he said.