The Nigerian Army, on Monday, said it has dismissed two soldiers, Corporal Innocent Joseph, and Lance Corporal Jacob Gani, accused of stealing armoured cables at the Dangote refinery on April 14, 2024. The PUNCH had reported how the soldiers entered the facility in an Acura jeep but were caught at the company’s main gate with 897 armoured cables that had been cut to size. Confirming their dismissal in a statement on Monday, the spokesperson for the Nigerian Army, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, noted that the two soldiers were found to have abandoned their duty post and “to be in unauthorized possession of the (897 armoured cables) materials,” and had since been handed over to relevant authorities for further prosecution. Nwachukwu said, “In line with the Nigerian Army’s commitment to upholding high standards of professionalism, integrity, and discipline, the NA wishes to update the general public on the outcome of the investigation into the alleged theft of armoured cables at the Dangote Refinery premises on April 14, 2024, involving Corporal Innocent Joseph and Lance Corporal Jacob Gani. “Sequel to a thorough investigation conducted in collaboration with the management of the company, the two soldiers were found to have abandoned their duty post and to be in unauthorized possession of the materials. “Subsequently, they were both charged with Failure to Perform Military Duties punishable under section 57, sub-section (1), and Other Civil Offences punishable under section 114, sub-section (1) of the Armed Forces Act CAP A20, the Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. “They were summarily tried. During the trial, the evidence against them was presented, and they were allowed to present their cases and defend themselves. They were, however, found guilty of the charges levelled against them in accordance with military laws. “As a demonstration of NA’s zero-tolerance for misconduct and criminality within its ranks, the two soldiers have been dismissed from the NA with immediate effect and handed over to relevant authorities for further prosecution.” Last week, Onyema said the soldiers who had been dismissed had been hired by a contractor identified as Smart. He noted that a preliminary investigation conducted into the incident revealed that Smart informed the soldiers that he needed to retrieve some cables that had been left behind at the facility. Onyema added that when they got there, Smart sensed trouble, then excused himself and left the scene.

  The Investigation and Enforcement Directorate of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has uncovered the illegal activities of a fake cosmetics producer at the Balogun Trade Fair Gate, Trade Fair Complex, Lagos State. NAFDAC disclosed this on its X handle on Monday. The agency said the fake cosmetics producer, Mr Pius Effiong Eyoh is the owner of Pasco Global Limited.   It said Eyoh was apprehended for manufacturing, packaging, distributing, and selling a range of substandard and counterfeit cosmetic products. “These included items like skin balance, perfect knuckle, organic peel therapy, and golden face triple action concentrated perfect skin. “Eyoh was caught in the act of processing and packaging these cosmetic products with false labels bearing French inscriptions and a Cameroonian address. “NAFDAC’s intervention led to the sealing of the illegal manufacturing premises, Eyoh’s arrest, and the scheduling of his substandard products for destruction,” it noted. Last Thursday, operatives of the agency raided popular supermarkets in Abuja, including Sahad Stores and H-Medix in Wuse 2 and Gwarinpa, uncovering counterfeit products. The enforcement team also targeted markets in Garki, Wuse, Utako, Kugbo, Nyanya, and Mararaba, seizing counterfeit cosmetics and drugs.   During the operation, counterfeit cosmetics were discovered and seized at Sahad Stores, H-Medix, and various markets while fake drugs were confiscated at Utako market. “Counterfeit Nivea products, cosmetics, Jik bleach, Harpic toilet cleaner, and Airwick room freshener were all confiscated. The total value of the seized goods amounted to ₦50 million, with fake Nivea products alone valued at ₦45 million,” it said.

  The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has sealed the Abuja-based Chinese supermarket located within the China General Chamber of Commerce in Abuja. The development followed allegations of discriminatory practices against Nigerians. The FCCPC officials shut the supermarket when they stormed the premises on Monday. The commission’s officials sealed up the place after interrogating Nigerian workers at the supermarket. This was as facilities workers at the store disclosed that the owner of the supermarket had fled the premises. The workers mostly Nigerians stated this on Monday when the officials of the Commission stormed the supermarket. The workers said that the owner of the supermarket, a Chinese lady, Cindy Liu Bei, fled on Monday at 8:26 am with her family as confirmed on the Closed-Circuit Television camera. The FCCPC officials subsequently shut down the supermarket. The PUNCH had exclusively reported on Sunday that the supermarket had implemented a controversial policy restricting entry solely to your Chinese nationals, excluding Nigerians from patronising the establishment. This policy sparked widespread condemnation across various social media platforms, as Nigerians voiced their concerns over the discriminatory treatment. Details Soon…

  The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman on Monday, said the Federal Government is considering the adoption of 18 years as the entry age for admission into universities and other tertiary institutions of learning. Mamman also said underage students were responsible for some of the problems being encountered in higher institutions. Mamman gave the hint while monitoring the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination in Abuja on Monday. The minister, however, cautioned parents against pushing their children and wards “too much,” to allow them to attain some level of maturity to be able to better manage their affairs. He said, “The other thing which we notice is the age of those who have applied to go to the university. Some of them are too young. We are going to look at it because they are too young to understand what a university education is all about. “That’s the stage when students migrate from a controlled environment where they are in charge of their affairs. So if they are too young, they won’t be able to manage properly. That accounts for some of the problems we are seeing in the universities. “We are going to look at that. 18 is the entry age for university but you will see students, 15, and 16, going to the examination. It is not good for us. Parents should be encouraged not to push their wards, or children too much.” The minister who commended the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board for a seamless examination process, noted that the adoption of technology had helped in reducing the cases of examination practices. “Right from screening to those who are here…the examination process is seamless. The environment is comfortable for students. That’s how it should be, especially the use of technology in our affairs and the educational system. It makes life easy for everybody and seamless. “As we know this examination is going on throughout the country. It is being monitored everywhere seamlessly and from the report I have heard, the malpractice level is very low. Just a 100 out of the 1.2m. It has gone down drastically and believe that it is the use of technology that has made that happen so this is very good.” Commenting on the high number of candidates seeking admission into the limited slots available in tertiary institutions, Mamman maintained that skills acquisition remains a critical component in preparing the youths for a brighter future. “It is not a question of being employed but how many will be admitted from this set. I think the figure overall on average is about 20 per cent; universities, polytechnics and colleges of education. “The question you ask is where are the 80 percent? They are our children, our wards living with us. This is why the issue of skills acquisition is important because any student who is not able to proceed to tertiary education should be able to have a meaningful life even after secondary school, even primary education. “The only solution to that is skills; by taking skills right from the time they entered school, for the primary right through the educational trajectory. Somebody should finish with one skill or another. That is part of the assumption of the 6-3-3-4. “It is assumed that by the time a student finishes up to the JSS level, he will have acquired some skills. If he does not proceed to the senior secondary level, he will have acquired some skills that will help him navigate life and cease to be a burden on his parents and society. “That’s why this skill is just the most important skill for us now that we are going to drive through the education sector for both public and private sector to empower the young ones.” The Minister of State for Education, Dr Tanko Sununu who was excited the UTME was also ongoing in Saudi Arabia as a result of the standards set by JAMB’s management, noted that the examination has transcended to a very high level of objectivity and reliability of results. “Right from when the candidates arrive, they would be seated comfortably in the waiting room, screening and other necessary instructions will be given and they will proceed to do biometrics. “There are some instructions that will be pushed that even if you are just coming into contact with a computer for the first time, provided you have been using the handset or smartphone, that will properly guide you to have access. “One of the major things I see here, which is a major characteristic of online exams, is the speed. The speed in the centre is excellent; pages are turned when candidates need them without any delay in booting. “Also in the exam, there are lots of steps to prevent examination malpractice, adjacent candidates will be taking different subjects and even when you are answering the same questions, question number one will be different from question number two from the next person. The standard of the exam is commendable. I am not surprised that JAMB has to go outside Nigeria to go to other countries to conduct exams, they were in Saudi Arabia and right now the exam is also going (on) in Saudi Arabia. “I have not heard people complaining of answers leaked, it shows that with online exams we can do a lot.” The standard admission age currently set by most tertiary institutions in the country is 16 years a candidate is certified as gifted. In 2021, the Senate announced plans to amend the law establishing the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, to limit the age of a candidate sitting the UTME to 16 years and above. The then Vice-Chairman of, the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, indicated during the committee’s oversight visit to JAMB, said this would prevent under-aged candidates from participating in the examination to gain admission into universities in Nigeria.

  A 60-year-old man, Malam Danjuma, his son, Ibrahim, 35, and Aminu Gaye, also 35, died in a pit latrine while trying to recover a cellphone at Yar’Gwanda village in Tsanyawa Local Government in Kano State on Sunday. Abba Alasan, 28, one of the rescuers, was, however, rescued from the latrine. According to Alhaji Saminu Abdullahi, the Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Fire Service, the incident occurred Sunday morning.   “We received an emergency call from Tsanyawa Fire Station at about 11:00 a.m. from one Aminu Yar’gwanda, that four men had been trapped inside a pit latrine. “We immediately sent our rescue team to the scene at about 11:15 a.m. “Danjuma was trying to retrieve a cellphone that fell into the pit latrine when he got trapped. Thereafter, his son entered the pit toilet to save his father and also got trapped. “Gaye and Alasan also entered to rescue both men and got trapped,” he said. Abdullahi said the first three victims were rescued unconscious, while the fourth victim was rescued alive. He said that all the victims were handed over to Mr Iro Lado, a superintendent of police, at the Tsanyawa Police Division. The Public Relations Officer said the police conveyed the victims to Bichi Special Hospital for medical attention, where doctors confirmed the trio dead and one still alive. (NAN)

  Emmanuel Victor, the suspect in the viral video depicting the killing of a student of Abia State University Uturu (ABSU), Emmanuel Uche, last March, has confessed why he killed the victim. Victor stated this while being paraded alongside 110 others in Umuahia on Sunday by the Abia State Command of the Nigeria Police. When asked by newsmen, the suspect said, “I am here because I committed murder. I actually killed Emmanuel Uche,” stating that he is from Mbaitolu in Imo State and based in Port Harcourt. “I am a student of Abia State University, Uturu and studying Optometry, level 500. I killed him. He is a member of another cult group that came to pick up a phone from us. “After we finished talking, we told them that they should come back later in the day to pick the phone. One of Emmanuel’s members, that is the one I shot at, escalated and then I shot him in the leg. “I do regret the action. A day before that day, they come looking for one of my members. That night, my member was walking around their lodge and saw one of them. Then he took the phone from them and brought it to his own lodge. “The next day, when they came back to take their phone, the thing happened” He pleaded for a second chance, stating that this was his first time killing somebody. According to the Police, “On 11/3/2024, a viral video surfaced depicting the murder of Emmanuel Uche, a 500-level student of Abia State University, in front of Miracle Lodge, Uturu. “Acting on credible intelligence, on 18/4/2024, at about 1100hrs, a team of police detectives from Abia State Police Command apprehended the principal suspect at Isiukwuato who was captured in the viral video committing the murder of Emmanuel Uche at Miracle Lodge, Abia State University, Uturu. “The suspect, identified as Emmanuel Victor, has confessed to the crime. He is currently in lawful custody and will be charged to court”. Earlier, the Abia Police Command said it successfully arrested 110 other suspects of various offences, out of which are 108 males and 3 females between January 2024 and date. The state Commissioner of Police, Kenechukwu Onwumelie, who spoke through the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Maureen Chinaka, said there are also the “rescue of 9 abducted children, arrest of 16 pregnant women who attempted to be involved in child trafficking, rescue of Kidnap victims, and rape, among others, while several exhibits were recovered. The Command further disclosed, “On 23/01/2024, based on credible intelligence, the Central Police Station (CPS) Umuahia, received information that a 4-man gang in EFCC uniforms came to Enyioma Christ lodge, Umudike, dispossessed some students of their phones at gunpoint and forced them to transfer a total of ₦120,000 to their account. Upon receipt of this information, officers from Central Police Station (CPS), Umuahia commenced an investigation and visited the crime scene where they arrested three men from the Man ‘O War base MOAU namely: Onyedikachi Ihechukwumere ‘m’ 25 years, Onwuka Christopher ‘m’ 26 years and Tochukwu Obinna ‘m’ 30 years. “They also recovered three (3) out of the six stolen phones, a tricycle with Registration No. HAF 011 VG, fleet No. 5868, which was used to facilitate their criminal act. On 24/01/2024, James Prince Victor ‘m’ 39 years of Ohuhu, Umuahia North L.G.A who claimed to be an EFCC personnel and led the Man ‘O War suspects to the students’ lodge, was arrested together with Chidozie Onwuzuruike ‘m’ 40 years of same address. “The following items were recovered from them; 4 red coloured jackets with EFCC inscriptions, Two (2) EFCC ID cards, One of the stolen phones, One toy gun, and Four (4) EFCC search warrants”, stating that the case has been charged to court. Fielding questions from newsmen after the parades, CP, Kenechukwu Onwumelie said, “The command has achieved significant milestones in curtailing incidents of armed robbery, kidnapping, and vandalism of government property, child trafficking rape and arson. “A good number of cases were charged to various courts out of which, some were successfully prosecuted in the court of law”.

  A 49-year-old woman, Mrs Idowu Victoria, has reportedly committed suicide in Ogun State. She was said to have hanged herself on the ceiling fan inside her room in the Magboro area of the state. Police spokesperson in the state, Omolola Odutola, said the case was reported to the Ibafo Divisional Police Officer on Sunday by her son, Idowu Qudus, of Gan-un town of Magboro. “The divisional police officer immediately drafted men to the scene. No suicide note was found, and photographs were taken,” Odutola said. She said the Commissioner of Police, Alamutu Abiodun, advised families to seek experts’ help for relatives or loved ones who need emotional support. Odutola described suicide as unlawful, saying “sufferers of mental health need more support from family members to prevent fatality.”

  Gunmen have killed a professor of law at Babcock University, Ilishan, Ogun, Yinka Olomojobi, and abducted two others in the Iperu area of the state. Olomojobi was shot dead on Friday for allegedly refusing to be taken away by the suspected gunmen. While he was shot dead, two residents were kidnapped and taken to an unknown destination. But the spokesperson of the Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, said one person had been arrested in connection with the incident. A two-week-old security man was arrested based on reasonable suspicion as police commence discreet investigation,” she said. “A report from the Iperu Division indicates that a kidnapping and murder incident occurred on the 19th of April, 2024, at about 9:20 pm.” “A suspicious coincidence led the police to arrest one Awada Ishaya of Plateau state who was employed two weeks ago when the event centre was launched as a security man for further interrogation,” Odutola said. “The lecturer was taken to Babcock University Teaching Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Efforts are underway to apprehend the culprits and rescue the kidnapped victims. Further updates will be provided as the situation develops.” Gunshots were heard at the Ajadeh Event Centre on Sagamu Road, in the Iperu area in Ogun State. Eyewitnesses said eight men dressed in black, and armed with guns emerged from an unknown place, went into the relaxing lounge, and opened fire indiscriminately. They later identified Prof Olowojobi as the victim shot in the chest for resisting to go away with the hoodlum. At the same time, a manager of a car stand known as Dare, and one other yet-to-be-identified person, were said to have been taken captive by the gunmen.

  The Yoruba Self-Determination Movement, led by Prof Banji Akintoye and Chief Sunday Adeyemo, alias Sunday Igboho, has written an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, seeking a peaceful breakaway of Yoruba people from Nigeria. The open letter, dated April 17, 2024, was signed by both Akintoye, Igboho and one Ola Ademola. They called on the President to within the next two months set up a negotiation team to negotiate the exit of the Yoruba people from Nigeria. The letter by the Yoruba Nation arrowheads came about a week after some armed agitators invaded the Oyo State Government House, attempting to hoist their flag on the premises of the state House of Assembly. The agitators were subdued and 29 of them were last week taken before a magistrates’ court in Ibadan, which ordered that they should be remanded in the prison custody. Both Akintoye and Igboho dissociated themselves from the violent action. However, in their open letter made available to our correspondent in Ibadan on Sunday, the Yoruba Self-Determination Movement, said, “We have the honour to send to Your Excellency this important letter on behalf of the many millions of Yoruba people at home in Yorubaland in Nigeria and in the Yoruba Diaspora in almost all countries across the world. “We send this letter as a follow-up to our earlier letter, dated August 06, 2022, which we delivered to your predecessor, President Muhammadu Buhari, in his exalted position then as President of Nigeria. “Since 2015, the Fulani have been killing widely among the other peoples of Nigeria, including us Yoruba, destroying farms, villages and other assets, kidnapping men, women and children, extorting large amounts of money as ransom from friends and family of the kidnapped, and repeatedly asserting their intention to seize the homelands of all the indigenous peoples of Nigeria for the purpose of turning all into a Fulani homeland.” The group said in the Middle Belt, horrendous blood-letting was going on with many families forced into Internally Displaced People Camps while many of their villages were seized by the Fulani and renamed as Fulani villages. “In our Yoruba homeland, our people are resisting somewhat better, but the Fulani attacks and killings and kidnappings are unrelenting and are coming daily, leading to horrific instability, and forcing most of our farmers to abandon farming altogether, thereby dooming Yoruba people to years and years of famine.” It further alleged that an unofficial estimate showed that Fulani had killed as many as 29,000 Yoruba people since 2015 till date, adding that aforementioned reasons were enough for them to seek breakaway from Nigeria. “All these actions by the Fulani are, to us Yoruba, a sufficient reason for our seeking to separate our Yoruba Nation from Nigeria. Most of us, Yoruba have no confidence in the ‘restructuring’ that some of our most respected Yoruba leaders (such as our fathers in our highly exalted Afenifere) are advocating. “And our reason is that we know that restructuring cannot keep the Fulani marauders away from our homeland. Since, after restructuring, the Fulani would still be Nigerians like us, and would still have full citizens’ rights to come in large numbers, and with weapons and intent to kill and destroy and seize land, to our homeland. “The Fulani elite seem to be saying in effect that they intend to make Nigeria ungovernable for President Tinubu, and that they would never accept any official action of his. “We are acting for and on behalf of our 60 million Yoruba people of the Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, and Oyo State, respectively, plus the Yoruba Local Government Areas of Kogi and Kwara State, and plus the Itshekiri homeland of Delta State, all together constituting the Yorubaland in Nigeria, hereby most humbly place our crowning request before Your Excellency as follows: “That the Nigerian Federal Government shall, within the next two months, but not later than June 15, 2024, inform us Yoruba Self-determination Movement that the Nigerian Federal Government has graciously agreed to our proposal for negotiation and that they have set up a negotiation team that will meet and have a dialogue with our Yoruba Nation’s negotiation team. “That the Nigerian Federal Government shall invite the United Nations, African Union and the Economic Community of West African States, to send observers to the negotiation meetings.” It, therefore, promised to forward the list of its negotiation team to the government as soon as it received a message in response to its request for the negotiation.

  Monday 22 April 2024 Fear of arrest: Partygoers, musicians invent new ways of ‘spraying Naira’ Appeal Court hears EFCC appeal against Yahaya Bello’s arrest today Emefiele social programmes: Banks withhold N530bn CBN funds, Cardoso may order refund Protesting Zamfara community barricades Govt House, faults troops withdrawal Kwara shuts abattoir to probe poisonous meat allegation Two Officers, Four Soldiers Killed In Niger Terrorist Ambush Protest Breaks Out In Ondo Over APC Gov Primary Bandits Invade Zamfara Market, Kill Three, Injure Several Others There’ll Be Ups And Downs But We’re Working Towards Stable FX Rate – Cardoso NDLEA Nabs Three Wanted kingpins, Intercepts Oman-Bound Drug Consignment Bandit Neutralised As Security Agents Repel Attack On Katsina LGAs Account For Trillions Of FAAC Allocations Or Face Legal Action, SERAP Tells 36 Govs, Wike Top manufacturers list woes, incur N266bn losses in 1yr Energy crisis: DisCos still under pressure as allocation drops to 3,059MW Massive banking stocks sell-off persists FG to launch CNG initiative before May 29, private sector invests $50m ‘1% interest rate’ — Nigeria secures $2.25bn World Bank loan 2,583 Nigerians Killed, 2,164 Abducted In 3 Months – Report Despite Increased Derivation Fund, Oil Producing States Owe N1.6trn Editor’s detention: NPO refers matter to media ombudsman Hands off Kanu’s case, IPOB tells Justice Nyako Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…