Yahaya Bello in court as judge frowns at rowdy supporters

Posted on November 27, 2024 by Newsaccessadmin

Former Governor of Kogi, Yahaya Bello, billed to be arraigned at the FCT High Court, on Wednesday, took over crowd control of the court room when Justice Maryann Anenih walked out.

Justice Anenih, who came in to take the plea of the former governor and his co-defendants, rose abruptly and announced not to come back until there is sanity in the court room.

Shortly after the judge left the court room, Bello who sat in the front of the court room stood up and moved to the surging crowd.

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He immediately directed his followers and sympathisers to vacate their seats and leave the court room.

His actions doused the tension without resistance, as the followers left the court room one after the other.

To ensure sanity in the court room, the former governor sat at the entrance to the court room and ensured that non of his followers disobeyed the order of the court,

Meanwhile, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN is leading the Federal Government legal team for the arraignment while Joseph Dauda, SAN, leads the legal team of the former governor in the 16-count charges.

(NAN)

15,000 applicants make list of Oyo Civil Service jobs

Posted on November 22, 2024 by Newsaccessadmin

…To shortlist only 900

Only 900 persons will be picked from the list of more than 15,000 who applied for recruitment into the Oyo state civil service, an official said on Friday in Ibadan.

The Chairman, Oyo State Civil Service Commission, Alhaji Kamoru Aderibigbe, told newsmen that the ongoing recruitment process would see the applicants sitting for a computer-based test between Monday and Thursday.

“The commission received 22,235 applications on its job portal but only 15,000 applicants met the vacancies’ requirements.

“However, 900 from the 15,000 qualified applicants who will sit for the test (CBT) will be recruited into over 60 cadres across ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) in the mainstream of the state’s civil service,” he said.

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The chairman said the applicants who would participate in the test have been divided into two groups in examining for competence.

“Those seeking employment as Education Officers, Environmental Health Personnel, Social Welfare and Youth Officers will sit for the test on Monday and Tuesday.

“The others will sit for theirs on Thursday,” he stated.

Aderibigbe further said the Commission had already sent invitation letters to successful applicants.

“Where an applicant is yet to get such, he/she should continue to try and hopefully he will be invited if qualified,” he added.

Aderibigbe also said the applicants were not expected to bring phones and other devices into the examination venues

“Applicants are strictly to come to the examination centre at the indicated time on their individual invitation slips with printed copies of their application form and the invitation slip.”(NAN)

FG confirms arrest of Simon Ekpa by Finnish authorities

Posted on November 22, 2024 by Newsaccessadmin

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the arrest of Simon Ekpa, a Nigerian-Finnish citizen and prominent leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), on Thursday by the Finnish authorities.

The ministry disclosed this in a statement by Kimiebi Ebienfa, the Acting Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Friday in Abuja.

He said that Ekpa was arrested on charges of inciting terrorism and promoting violence.

Ekpa, a Finnish politician and Biafran political activist, was reported to have in 2022 declared activation of Biafra Government in exile and himself leader in 2023 while in exile.

“The ministry wishes to confirm the arrest of Ekpa, a Nigerian-Finnish citizen and prominent leader of the proscribed IPOB, by Finnish authorities on Thursday, Nov. 21.

“He was charged with inciting terrorism and promoting violence. The Finnish District Court of Päijät-Häme ruled to detain him on probable cause for publicly inciting crimes with terrorist intent.

“The Finnish authorities alleged that Ekpa used social media platforms to spread separatist propaganda, incite violence and encourage illegal actions, which had caused significant disruptions in the South-East of Nigeria.

Read Also: JUST IN: Simon Ekpa arrested in Finland over charges of terrorism

“Finnish investigators had also linked him to incidents of violence in Nigeria, which were believed to have been fueled by his online activities.

“The arrest of Ekpa follows sustained diplomatic pressure by the Nigerian government on Finland, to take action against his activities, linked to violence and instability in the South-East of Nigeria.”

It explained that the request for action featured during high-level engagements between the two countries.

It described the arrest of Ekpa as a significant development in tackling the activities of IPOB and neutralising the influence of transnational actors, and their impact on national security.

“The ministry will continue to monitor the legal proceedings and provide further updates as the case progresses,”he said.

(NAN)

Fubara prays Appeal Court to vacate order stopping Rivers’ allocations

Posted on November 22, 2024 by Newsaccessadmin

Gov. Siminalayi Fubara, on Friday prayed the Court of Appeal to set-aside the judgment that barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from releasing monthly allocations to Rivers .

The governor, through his counsel Yusuf Ali, SAN, prayed a three-member panel of the appellate court led by Justice Hamma Barka, to vacate the high court order which he said was issued in bad faith.

He urged the appellate court to allow his appeal marked CA/ABJ/CV/1303/2024, and nullify adverse orders that Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court made against the state in the judgment she delivered on Oct. 30.

Fubara’s plea came on a day the Justice Barka-led panel consolidated five other appeals that arose from the said judgment of the high court.

The appeals were marked as: CA/ABJ/CV/1277/24, CA/ABJ/CV/1196/24, CA/ABJ/CV/1287/24, CA/ABJ/CV/1293/24 and CA/ABJ/CV/1360/2024.

Aside Fubara, other appellants in the matter are the Rivers State Government, the Accountant-General of Rivers State and Zenith Bank Plc.

The lower court had restrained the CBN from further allowing the Rivers government to draw funds from the consolidated revenue account.

The restraining order followed a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/984/24, which was brought before the court by the Martins Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers House of Assembly.

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Defendants in the matter are the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Zenith Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc and the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF).

Others are Fubara, the Accountant-General of Rivers; Rivers Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC; Chief Judge of Rivers, Hon. Justice S.C. Amadi; Chairman of RSIEC, retired Justice Adolphus Enebeli and the Government of Rivers .

The appellants, through their respective counsel, urged the appellate court to allow their appeal.

Similarly, the The Martin Amaewhule-ledfaction of the Rivers State House of Assembly, through their team of lawyers led by Mr. J. B. Daudu, SAN, asked the court to dismiss the appeals and affirm the high court’s judgment.

After all the parties adopted their briefs of argument on , the panel reserved its judgment till a date that would be communicated to the parties.

The factional members of the Rivers Assembly loyal to the immediate past governor of the state and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike, had persuaded the lower court to withhold all federal monthly allocations meant for Rivers state.

They predicated their case on the ground that gov. Fubara refused to comply with an order of court that directed him to represent the 2024 Appropriation Bill of the state, before them.

Gov. Fubara had insisted that the Amaewhule-led group had since ceased to be lawmakers in the state.

He alleged that, having defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which sponsored their election, to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
(NAN)

EFCC arraigns REA director Garba Bulkwang for alleged N223.4m fraud

Posted on November 22, 2024 by Newsaccessadmin

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned the Director of Human Resources Management of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) Mr. Sulieman Garba Bulkwang before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja for fraud.

According to a statement on the agency’s official X page on Friday, Bulkwang is being prosecuted on a five-count charge bordering on criminal diversion of funds and money laundering to the tune of N223,412,909 (Two Hundred and Twenty-three Million, Four Hundred and Twelve Thousand Nine Hundred and Nine Kobo).

The statement reads: He is being prosecuted on a five-count charge, bordering on criminal diversion of funds and money laundering to the tune of N223,412,909 (Two Hundred and Twenty-three Million, Four Hundred and Twelve Thousand Nine Hundred and Nine Kobo).

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“Count one of his charge reads: That you SULEIMAN GARBA BULKWANG, while being the Director of Human Resources Management of the Rural Electrification Agency, REA within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did counsel one Umaefulem Donatus Chibueze, the Managing Director of Cees Assist Resources and Brainstask Value Resources (consultants to REA) to transfer the sum of N138,123,969 (One Hundred and Thirty-eight Million, One Hundred Hundred and Twenty-Three Thousand, Nine Hundred and Sixty Nine Naira) out of the sum of N279,330,000.00 (Two Hundred and Seventy-Nine Million, Three Hundred and Thirty Thousand Naira) paid to the consultants by REA, when you knew that the said sun of N138,123,969.000000 constituted proceed of unlawful activity and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21 (a) of the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.

“Count two reads “That you SULEIMAN GARBA BULKWANG while being the Director of Human Resources Management of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) sometime in July, 2023 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court indirectly converted the sum of N45,000,000.00 (Forty Five Milion Naira) being part of the money cumulatively paid to the bank accounts of Dammy Gold Programme Ltd, World Class Business, Green Haven Company And De-Sam Rose – Base Ltd by consultants to REA when you know that the said sum of N45,000.000 .00 constituted proceed of unlawful activity and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(b) (b) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

“He pleaded “not guilty” to all the charges after they were read to him and in the absence of defence counsel.

“The prosecution counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN prayed the court for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded in a correctional center.

“Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter till February 3, 2024, for the defendant’s bail application and ordered that he be remanded in Kuje Correctional Center.”

Police nab two over alleged kidnap, murder of aged woman

Posted on November 22, 2024 by Newsaccessadmin

The Police Command in Enugu State has detained two suspects from Akpugo community in Nkanu West Local Government Area for alleged conspiracy, kidnapping and murder of a 70-year-old woman.

The Command’s Spokesman, DSP Daniel Ndukwe made this known in a statement on Friday in Enugu.

Ndukwe said that the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Tactical Squad had detained Ikechukwu Okoye, 33, and Juliet Ogbodo, 39, who are both lovers.

Ndukwe said that the suspects were accused of the kidnapping, murder, and burying of their kinswoman, Mrs Mary Nwatu in a shallow grave sometime in September 2024.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the victim was reported missing on Sept. 15, 2024, after all efforts to locate her proved unsuccessful.

“On Oct. 5, 2024, Ikechukwu Okoye, identified as the principal suspect and a kinsman of the victim, began contacting her children, demanding a ransom of N6m.

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“Upon his arrest, which followed credible intelligence reports, Okoye confessed to kidnapping Mrs Nwatu on Sept.14, 2024, around 8a.m.

“He stated that the children of the aged woman came to look for their mother when he kidnapped, murdered, and buried her in a shallow grave inside an uncompleted building in a neighbouring compound,” Ndukwe said.

The command’s spokesman said that Okoye also confessed to demanding a ransom from the victim’s children, initially asking for N6m which was later negotiated to N3m.

Ndukwe said that he eventually received payment of N20,000 which was for him to allow the children to hear their mother’s voice via the phone before further payments.

“On her part, Juliet Ogbodo, who is Okoye’s intimate girlfriend, confessed to being aware of the crime but failed to report it to the police or any other relevant authorities.

‘The victim’s remains have been exhumed and deposited at a mortuary for preservation and autopsy.

“The suspects, along with any other individuals found complicit in this heinous crime will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations,” he said.

(NAN)

Why Nigerians must pay to obtain new national ID card – NIMC

Posted on November 22, 2024 by Newsaccessadmin

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) says Nigerians will have to pay for the new multipurpose national Identity card due to limited government revenue.

The Head of Card Management Services at NIMC, Dr Peter Iwegbu, said this at a two-day roundtable organised for journalists in Lagos.

He said the payment was to ensure that it was produced for only those who needed it.

Iwegbu said the decision was made to avoid repeating the mistake of the past efforts to issue physical cards to Nigerians for free, which many did not collect.

Iwegbu said over two million cards were produced in a previous attempt to issue free National ID cards by the NIMC, but many of them had not been collected till date.

“The government’s limited revenue is also a major factor in the decision to make Nigerians pay for the new ID card,” he said.

Iwegbu explained that the government could not fund the production of ID cards due to limited revenue.

Also speaking, the Director of Information Technology at NIMC, Mr Lanre Yusuf, said the idea of a free national ID card did not turn out well in the past.

Yusuf described the new ID card as a post-paid identity card, which meant that individuals must need the card before initiating a request for it.

“To get the new national ID card, Nigerians will need to make a payment, select a pickup location, and then collect their card from the chosen location.

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“The government has implemented programmes to make the card accessible to the less privileged Nigerians who cannot afford it but require it to access government support.

“This initiative demonstrates the government’s commitment to inclusivity and equality,” Yusuf said.

He noted that the multipurpose ID cards were expected to launch soon, with sample test cards already received.

Yusuf added that the NIMC had partnered with banks for Nigerians to request and collect their cards from any bank branch to facilitate a seamless experience.

“NIMC is working with banks across the country, which will make it possible for people to walk into any bank closest to them and request the card.

“The new national ID card is a multipurpose card that can serve the purpose of identity verification, payments, and even government services,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the card powered by AfriGO, was launched in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria, and the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System.

The card will be enabled for all government intervention and services across multiple Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.

(NAN)

Magistrate orders man to sweep court premises for three weeks for stealing tiles

Posted on November 20, 2024 by Newsaccessadmin

A Kaduna Chief Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, ordered an unemployed man, Vincent Danladi, to sweep the court premises for three weeks for stealing one carton of floor tiles and other items worth N130,000.

The police had earlier charged Danladi, 30, of Ungwan Pama in Kaduna, with theft.

Delivering ruling, Magistrate Ibrahim Emmanuel, said the court took into consideration the fact that Danladi was a first time offender.

He ordered the convict to report to the court for three weeks to sweep the premises, after he pleaded guilty to the offence without an option of fine.

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Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp Chidi Leo, told the court that defendant and two others at large, on Nov. 9, stole a carton of 3×3 floor tiles from a house under renovation in Sabon Tasha in Kaduna.

Leo said the defendant and his accomplices also stole one bucket of paint and one carton of wall tiles, all valued at N130,000.

He added that the defendant was however arrested and the items were recovered from him in the cause of investigation.

He said that the offence contravened Penal Code of Kaduna State 2017.

(NAN)

25 things to know about winner of Ondo election Gov Lucky Aiyedatiwa

Posted on November 17, 2024 by Newsaccessadmin

The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), has declared Ondo Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of Saturday’s governorship election in the State.

Aiyedatiwa was declared winner after he won all the 18 local government areas of the state..

He defeated former deputy governor Ajayi Agboola of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olorunfemi Festus of the Labour Party, LP, and Abbas Mimiko of Zenith Labour Party, ZLP, among others, in Saturday’s poll.

Announcing the result in Akure, the state capital, INEC’s Returning Officer and Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Lokoja, Prof. Akinwumi Olayemi Durotimi, said Aiyedatiwa polled a total of 366781 while Ajayi got 117845 while LP had 1162.

He said, “Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa of the APC having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of lawful votes cast, is hereby returned elected.”

Here are things to know about Lucky Aiyedatiwa

1. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa was born on January 12, 1965.

2. He hails from Obe-Nla, an oil-bearing community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.

3. Lucky had his Primary education at Saint Peter’s UNA (now FAC) Primary School, Obe Nla/Obe Adun in Ilaje LGA of Ondo State between 1970 and 1976.

4. He had his secondary education at Ikosi High School, Ketu, Lagos, in 1982.

5. In 1986, he obtained Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) in Economics and Government from Lagos State College of Education (now Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education), Ijanikin, Lagos, he later attended University of Ibadan for Advanced Diploma in Business Administration in the year 2001.

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6. He became an alumnus of Lagos Business School – Pan Atlantic University, Lekki, Lagos where he obtained Post Graduate Certification in Chief Executive Education (CEP) in Business Management in 2009.

7. In 2013, he obtained a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from University of Liverpool, United Kingdom.

8. He worked as an Inventory/Store Officer at Scoa Assembly Plant Plc. Apapa, Lagos, between 1982 and 1983.

9. In 1987 he was Assistant Head Teacher at Reliance International Schools, Ijokodo, Ibadan.

10. He became Marketing Officer at Universal Pharmaceutical Supply Co. Ltd, Ikeja, Lagos in the year 1990.

11. In 1992, he was an Assistant Investment Analyst. Global Trust Limited, Gbagada, Lagos, he was General Merchandise Manager, Biz Mart Nigeria Limited, Lagos Island, Lagos, 1994.

12. He is the MD/CEO of Blue Wall Group of Companies which he established in 1996 which includes; Blue Wall Nigeria Ltd, a Trading Company, Blue Wall BDC Nigeria Ltd, a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) licensed foreign exchange trading company and Blue Wall Safety Travels and Tours,[8] an IATA licensed Travel Agency and Logistic Company.

13. He joined active politics in 2011 as a card-carrying member of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) which later merged with other political parties and became All Progressive Congress (APC).

14. He was one of the National Delegates from Ondo State at the All Progressive Congress (APC) National Convention at Abuja in 2014.

15. He contested for the federal House of Representative[9] for Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency in 2015 Presidential and National Assembly General Election.

16. Aiyedatiwa served as the federal commissioner who represented Ondo State on the Board of Niger Delta Development Commission from 2018 to 2019.

17. He was selected as the running mate of the governor of Ondo State Rotimi Akeredolu in the 2020 Ondo State gubernatorial election.

18. On 11 October 2020, Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa were elected governor and deputy governor of Ondo State as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

19. On 25 February 2021, they were sworn into office as governor and deputy governor of Ondo State respectively.

20. Aiyedatiwa became acting governor of Ondo State on 13 December 2023, as Akeredolu left for end-stage leukaemia treatment.

21. He became Ondo State governor on December 27, 2023, after Akeredolu died.

22. He previously served as deputy governor of Ondo State from 2021 to 2023 under Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.

23. He is a former commissioner of Niger Delta Development Commission.

24. On December 13, 2023, Aiyedatiwa became acting governor following the departure of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu on medical leave.

25. He had previously served as acting governor from June to September 2023 when Akeredolu was on medical leave.

TIMELINE: African Countries where opposition won Presidential elections

Posted on November 2, 2024 by Newsaccessadmin

Duma Boko of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) on Friday beat the incumbent President of Botswana, Mokgweetsi Masisi to emerge winner of the 2024 Presidential election.

Voters in Botswana rejected the country’s long-serving governing party, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) in a result that marks a political earthquake in the diamond-rich southern African country.

BDP which has ruled since independence from Britain in 1966, only won four parliamentary seats as of Friday afternoon.

In a phone call to UDC leader Duma Boko, President Masisi conceded and congratulated his opponent.

Masisi said he would “step aside” after his party suffered a resounding defeat in general elections.

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“I wish to congratulate the opposition on their victory and concede the election,” Masisi told reporters at a press conference, adding it had been “a good journey”.

Here are African Countries where opposition parties won presidential election

2024 – Botswana, Senegal
2023 – Liberia
2022 – Lesotho, Somalia
2021 – Zambia, Cape Verde
2020 – Seychelles, Malawi
2018 – DR Congo, Sierra Leone, Madagascar
2017 – Liberia, Somalia, Lesotho
2016 – Ghana, Benin, The Gambia
2015 – Nigeria
2014 – Mauritius, Malawi
2013 – Madagascar
2012 – Mali, Senegal, Lesotho, Somalia
2011 – Niger, Zambia, Cape Verde
2010 – Cote d’Ivoire
2008 – Ghana
2007 – Sierra Leone
2006 – Benin
2005 – Mauritius
2002 – Kenya
2001 – Madagascar
2000 – Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal, Mauritius, Ghana
1998 – Lesotho
1996 – Benin, Madagascar
1995 – Mauritius
1994 – Malawi
1993 – Burundi, Central African Republic, Niger, Madagascar
1992 – Congo
1991 – Zambia, Benin, Cape Verde
1982 – Mauritius