Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, the former Finance Minister, has been cleared of the scandal surrounding her participation in the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) scheme by a Federal High Court in Abuja.
Recalled that Premium Times reported in 2018 that the former minister obtained her NYSC exemption certificate “illegally” in order to enter public office.
This provoked a backlash, forcing Adeosun to resign from her position.
However, the minister, who was charged with forgery, eventually filed a lawsuit in Abuja’s Federal High Court.
In a ruling on Wednesday, Justice Taiwo Taiwo, held that Adeosun was not qualified to have participated in the scheme when she graduated at 22 years because she was then a British citizen.
The judge further held that as at when she formally returned to Nigeria, and became a Nigerian citizen, at over 30 years, she was not eligible to present herself for the NYSC service.
Justice Taiwo said the plaintiff or anyone did not require a discharge certificate of NYSC to qualify to contest election to the House of Representatives or be appointed a Minister in Nigeria.
The judge proceeded to grant the four reliefs sought by the plaintiff, to include “a declaration that the plaintiff, being a United Kingdom citizen as at 1989 when she graduated from the University of East London, London, United Kingdom at the age of 22 years, was ineligible to participate in the National Youth Service Corpse scheme, established by the National Youth Service Corps Act, CAP N8, LFN, 2004.”
Despite his open indictment for corruption and abuse of authority, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has attacked the suspected intention to promote Ibrahim Magu, the former acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
According to the PDP, the claimed proposal indicates that the President’s rule is a “haven of corruption.”
This was revealed in a statement signed by the party’s spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, headed, “Reported Proposed Promotion For Magu Shows Buhari Presidency Is Condoning Corruption.”
The statement read in part, “The party describes as outrageous and a direct slap on the sensibilities of Nigerians that the Buhari administration is reportedly planning to promote Magu to Assistant Inspector General of Police, despite being indicted in the alleged stealing of billions of naira recovered by the EFCC as well as cases of abuse of office in the commission by the Justice Ayo Salami Presidential investigation panel.
“It is indeed ludicrous, though true to its proclivity to cover corruption, that the Buhari Presidency, instead of allowing the law to take its course, is rather rewarding corruption by reportedly planning to promote an individual indicted for treasury looting and compromising of high-profile corruption cases for pecuniary gains.
“Our party invites Nigerians to note how the Buhari administration has failed to take disciplinary action against Magu, as recommended by the Salami panel, but seeks to reward him with a promotion in spite of the report by the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, which nailed him for alleged diversion of recovered funds and fraudulent sale of assets seized by the EFCC.“This is in addition to reports by the Department of State Services (DSS) which also stated that Magu had failed “the integrity test and will eventually constitute a liability to the anti-corruption stand of the current government.”
“The reports of planned promotion for Magu has heightened apprehension in the public space that certain top officials in the Buhari Presidency are overburdened with corruption complicity and fears that a docked Magu would expose their atrocities.
“Nigerians could recall how the counsel to Magu, Wahab Shittu, boastfully declared that he has Magu’s instruction to inform the public that “he will be reinstated back to office.”
“The PDP, however, calls on the Police Service Commission (PSC) and the Police high command to resist the pressure from the corrupt cabal in the Buhari Presidency to pitch them against Nigerians over Magu but rather commence processes for his prosecution in a court of competent jurisdiction in the interest of justice.
“The PDP further counsels President Buhari not to “ease off” the allegations of corruption against Magu but should make the Justice Salami’s report open and if necessary, prosecute the former EFCC chairman.”
The Osun State Muslim Community (OSMC) has requested that the masquerade who attacked Muslims while worshiping at a mosque in Osogbo, Osun State, be prosecuted.
The attack on the Qamarudeen Mosque in Ita Olookan, in which the Muslim group’s head, Alhaji Alfa Moshood Salahudeen, was killed and 14 others, including children and women, were injured, was termed by OSMC as regrettable.
The Muslim community stated the guy who spearheaded the attack, Kayode Esuleke, must face the full wrath of the law in a statement jointly signed by OSMC President Alhaji Mustafa Olawuyi and General Secretary Alhaj Hashim Olapade.
The Muslim Community said that Esuleke, who is a Chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state, was boasting that he cannot be prosecuted because of his connection with the state government.
Olawuyi warned that the patience and tolerance of Muslims in the state should not be allowed to reach the elastic limit before security agencies would take necessary steps.
The statement reads in parts , “Islam preaches peace and tolerance of other faiths, but this has been taken for granted by the Egungun worshipers for them to have the audacity of attacking a mosque during prayers.
“Unfortunately, there are very strong rumours that the leadership of the perpetrators of the dastardly act and their backers are going and boasting about that the case is just a child’s play that will soon be swept under the carpet.
“Osun State Muslim Community believes in justice, thus requesting the law enforcement agents handling the case to do the needful and ensure justice takes its due cause without delay.”
The Muslim community commends the state governor, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, for his timely intervention in ensuring treatment of those injured.
“While we ensure to do all things possible to reinforce peaceful co-existence by all and sundry, including all religious groups in the State, we demand prompt justice on this volatile issue as some people believe they are untouchable because of connections in high places”, Olawuyi said.
Four members of the House of Representatives from Zamfara State who were elected on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform switched to the All Progressives Congress (APC) (APC) on Tuesday.
They justified their actions by citing a crisis within the party.
Bello Hassan Shinkafi, Ahmed Bakura, Ahmed Shehu, and Suleiman Gumi are their names.
The lawmakers said they were leaving the PDP because of a crisis within the party, which led to the national leadership of the party dissolving the state chapter, according to a letter written by Rep. Suleiman Gumi and read at Tuesday plenary.
Prof Wole Soyinka, a Nobel laureate, has criticized efforts for a Yoruba nation to be formed.
He stated that, he preferred a united Nigeria, but under certain “rigorous conditions”.
Describing the country as a “basket case”, he said the political arrangement was not working.
Soyinka spoke out against the raid on the Yoruba activist Sunday Igboho’s home in an interview with BBC Pidgin which our correspondent monitored .
On secession calls, he said: “I don’t like the sound of a Yoruba nation any more than I like the sound of a Tiv nation or an Igbo nation.
“The reason is this: there are certain pejorative overtones, chauvinistic overtones attached to it. That’s not the issue.
“When you talk about a Yoruba nation, are we talking about the creation of a nation within Nigeria alone or across colonial borders into Cotonou, Benin Republic, where Yoruba exists, moving on to Togo and even Ivory Coast?
“So, when we talk about Yoruba nation, I have to know exactly what you mean. Do we even talk about the Yoruba in the Diaspora?
“So, it’s a question which is not for me to answer at this particular moment.”
Speaking on the need for restructuring, he faulted the existing revenue-sharing formula.
According to Soyinka; “All I know is this: on a sentimental level, I will prefer us to mend and manage what we have, but under certain, rigorous conditions.
“The condition is decentralisation. We have to move away completely from this constitution which was imposed on us by an internal, neo-colonial force called the military.
“Now, if it had worked, if it were working, my position would have been different.
“My conditions are non-negotiable. We have to get away from the present political arrangement because they clearly are not working.
“They are creating internal overlords, they are creating a skewed, lopsided revenue-sharing system. They are robbing Peter to pay Paul.
“Right now, what we have is not a nation, but a basket-case, a real basket-case which is disintegrating all over the place, and all the contents are spilling over the basket.
Soyinka said: “All I know is this: on a sentimental level, I will prefer us to mend and manage what we have, but under certain, rigorous conditions.
“The condition is decentralisation. We have to move away completely from this constitution which was imposed on us by an internal, neo-colonial force called the military.
“Now, if it had worked, if it were working, my position would have been different.
“My conditions are non-negotiable. We have to get away from the present political arrangement because they clearly are not working.
“They are creating internal overlords, they are creating a skewed, lopsided revenue-sharing system. They are robbing Peter to pay Paul.
“Right now, what we have is not a nation, but a basket-case, a real basket-case which is disintegrating all over the place, and all the contents are spilling over the basket.
Professor Adedibu Ojerinde, the former Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has been remanded in prison detention by a Federal High Court in Abuja.
In a judgement issued on Tuesday, Justice Obiora Egwuatu ordered that Ojerinde be held in a detention facility until his bail application is heard on July 8.
Ojerinde was arraigned on an 18-count charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/97/2021, in which he was accused, among other things, of participation in the diversion of public monies worth over N5.2 billion, Justice Egwuatu issued the ruling.
The prosecuting agency – the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission(ICPC) – said Ojerinde committed the alleged offences, contained in the charge, from 2003 when he served as the Registrar of the National Examination Council (NECO) till 2021.
Ojerinde pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him.
His lawyer, Peter Olorunnishola (SAN), subsequently informed the court about a bail application he filed and served on the prosecution.
Olorunnishola however sought time to react to the counter-affidavit filed by lawyer to the prosecution, Ebenezer Shogunle, which the defence lawyer said was served on him late.
Shogunle, who did not object to Olorunnishola’s request for time, opposed the defence lawyer’s application that his client be allowed to remain on the administrative bail, earlier granted him by the ICPC, pending the hearing of his bail application.
The House of Representatives has passed a bill amending the 1999 Constitution to allow the construction of state police and the legalization of regional security outfits for a second reading.
By transferring police from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent List, the current police system will be decentralized.
The bill’s sponsor, Onofiok Luke, chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, stated in the explanatory note that it intends to amend the Constitution “to provide for state police and other state government security agencies to promote security and preserve lives and properties in Nigeria.”
The bill especially proposes an amendment to Section 197(1) by inserting new Paragraphs ‘e’ and ‘f’ to provide for ‘State Police Council’ and ‘State Police Service Commission,’ respectively.
The Second Schedule to the Constitution will also be altered in Part I by deleting Item 45 from the Exclusive Legislative List; and in Part II by inserting after Item 30 on the Concurrent Legislative List, new Items 31 and 32.
The proposal reads, “(31) The National Assembly may make laws for the establishment of the federal police and other federal government security services;
“(32) A House of Assembly may make laws for the establishment of state police and other state government security services.”
The Third Schedule to the Constitution will also be altered by inserting new Paragraphs 9 to 12.
The new paragraphs read, “(9) A State Police Council shall comprise the following members: (a) the governor, who shall be the chairman; (b) the chairman of the State Police Service Commission; and (c) State Commissioner of Police.
“(10) The functions of a State Police Council shall include (a) the organisation and administration of a State Police Force and all other matters relating thereto (not being matters relating to the use and operational control of the Force or the appointment, disciplinary control and dismissal of members of the Force); (b) the general supervision of a State Police Force; and (c) advising the governor on the appointment of State Commissioner of Police.”
Leading debate on the bill, Luke said, “Many years after independence, Nigeria has continually been beset with insecurity ranging from terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery and domestic violence. Granted that there is no society without crime or manifestation of criminal behaviour, our inability to bring to the barest minimum crime is a scathing indictment on the current security architecture and structure in the country.
“The federal structuring of our security does not encourage community policing or localisation of policing. Recruitment and subsequent deployment of police officers in their local area is one of the major ways of curbing crime. Such officers understand the area, terrain, language, behaviour and attitude of the people he or she is policing.
“Nigeria, a country with over 201 million people, is grossly under policed with about 400, 000 police personnel. This number falls far short of the United Nation’s recommendation of ratio 1 per 400 citizens.
“The Constitution envisages Nigeria as a federal state. Granting allowance to state governments to establish police force and other security apparatuses will bring Nigeria into original constitutional contemplation of a federal state.”
The Deputy Minority Leader, Toby Okechukwu, stated that creation of state police is long overdue with the current security crises across the country.
Dr. Faisal Shuaib, the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), has expressed concern over the spread of COVID-19 vaccination misinformation and disinformation on social media.
Any patriotic Nigerian who hears this will question how long the world’s mischief-makers want the world to be involved in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
He announced this at a press conference to inform Nigerians about the COVID-19 vaccination, on Tuesday in Abuja.
He stated that ; “The creativity with which some people misinform others and spread misconceptions about COVID-19 vaccination calls for more deliberate, decisive, and consistent steps to counter as well as provide correct and accurate information that will help more people to make informed decision to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
“It is unfortunate that the right of the public to true and accurate information on matters of collective concern is being threatened by just a few others who are taking advantage of the social media to mislead people about their health. Let me quickly state here that this breach of public right to true and accurate information about COVID-19 vaccination is a challenge to the media, which should be taken seriously.
“It is evident that Nigeria has made significant progress towards utilizing the 4 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine we got from COVAX facility, and that is why our vaccine roll out has been described as the best in the African sub-region. As the country prepares to receive additional vaccine supply to commence phase 2 of its strategic vaccination plan, our attention has been drawn to, yet another level of disinformation targeted at discouraging people from seeking vaccination against COVID-19.
“The anti-vaccination elements have come up with magnetic conspiracy, in which they claim, and are deceiving people with videos, that COVID-19 vaccine creates magnetic field around vaccination site and can cause the body to light up an electric bulb.
He continued; “As ridiculous as this and other conspiracy theories are, vulnerable people believe them and are therefore continuing to take the risk of avoiding COVID-19 vaccination. Although the people who are manufacturing conspiracy theories about COVID-19 are in the minority, the virulence of the social media increases their reach. For this reason, ladies, and gentlemen, it has become necessary for us to confront the false theorists if we really want Nigeria and the world to overcome COVID-19 and recover from its adversities.
“At the onset, it was claimed that COVID-19 was introduced to justify developing vaccines that would be used to depopulate Africans. Those who came up with this theory said that anybody who takes the vaccine would die immediately. Today, as we all can see, nearly 4 million doses of the vaccine have been administered in Nigeria and we have not recorded any case of death linked to the vaccination.
“On seeing this reality, the rumour mongers changed their narratives into saying that the vaccines used in Europe and America are not the same as the ones used in Africa. Again, as evidence have come to show, it is now clear that the COVID-19 vaccines used in Europe, America and elsewhere in the World are the same used in Nigeria and other countries in Africa. The conspiracy theorist went silent about this claim and are now saying that anyone who takes the vaccine will die after two years. Nigerians are predominantly a country of Muslims and Christians. We know that these religions are clear that no-one knows the year of the day they will die. So why would we even pay attention to such spurious claims?”, he explained.
Shuaib further hinted that,” this same falsehood of children dying after vaccination was spread about Polio vaccine, but after many years, children who took polio vaccine are still alive and have grown into adulthood and having their own children, as expected. There has not been any case of a child’s death that is linked to polio vaccination, and many more children have been born to discount another claim that polio vaccination would lead to infertility.
“Today as I speak, 2,495,632 people have been vaccinated with the first dose, while 1,370,130 have received their second dose of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria. Overall, Nigeria has successfully utilized 3.9M doses, representing 96% of the 4,024,000 doses of the vaccines received in the country. Nigeria is poised to achieve 100% utilization of the doses of vaccine it has received in the next few days. This is to ensure that people are protected against COVID-19, and normalcy is restored.
“We must take informed steps to guard ourselves from being misled by those who are spreading misconceptions about COVID-19 vaccines. It is important for our media to understand that the TRUTH, which they hold so high in principle, is at war with falsehood, and therefore every effort must be made to ensure that people are vaccinated against COVID-19 if we want TRUTH to be victorious.
“Today I would like to make very clear and demonstrate publicly that COVID-19 vaccine does not create any magnetic effect around the vaccination site or any part of the body for that matter, neither does it cause the body to light up an electric bulb. It is also a well-known fact that persons with wet, moist, or sticky skin can have objects stuck to their skin especially in smooth areas. Strong friction also allows for objects to stick to the skin. COVID -19 vaccines do not contain any metal – this is another fact! So how can it generate magnetic field or light an electric bulb?”.
He ,however ,urged everyone to please do more research on your own using credible information sources so that we do not promote ignorance in an age of civilization.
NPHCDA boss, invited his team to publicly demonstrate the magnetic conspiracy theory is false, as COVID-19 vaccine does not create any magnetic field on any part of human body, neither can it cause the body to light an electric bulb.
He assured Nigerians that the Presidential Steering Committee and indeed the Federal Government is committed to providing safe and effective vaccination against COVID-19 in Nigeria. Their Excellencies, President Muhmmadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and other strategic leaders, have taken their first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. This is the leadership by example that Nigerians want to see, and our President and his team has shown demonstrated this unequivocally. It therefore behoves every one of us to seek correct and accurate information about COVID-19 from credible sources so that we can make the right decision to get vaccinated against COVID-19!
He also urge everyone to and continue to wear your face masks, wash your hands frequently, observe social distancing and take other precautionary measures against COVID-19.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Masudur Rahman has called for collaboration in filmmaking between Bangladesh’s film stakeholders and Nollywood, Nigeria’s film industry.
The Envoy made the statements during a courtesy visit to the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
The goal of Rahman’s visit, which was welcomed by the NFVCB’s Executive Director/CEO, Alhaji Adedayo Thomas, and his management team, was to enhance ties with the NFVCB, which regulates the Nigerian film and video industry.
He said such collaboration will further strengthen bilateral relationship between the two countries ,and also serve as a platform to further expose and grow both countries film industries, promote exchange and transfer of cultural heritage.
He added that both Nigeria and Bangladesh, as common wealth countries, have a lot of similarities in their journey to independence, history and culture, adding that collaboration in motion pictures will offer opportunities in telling their stories together.
According to him : “ Bangladesh and Nigeria has a lot of commonalities; as we are both secular countries colonized by the British, and then with similar historic and cultural heritage.
“Many Nigerians are going to Bangladesh for education, sport, and now I want us to strengthen our relationship through film and culture.”
The High Commissioner noted that the Nigerian story and culture as showcased through Nollywood films were widely accepted in his country.
He said the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation would be willing to champion collaborations in acting, production and distribution and capacity building.
Thomas, in his remarks, expressed delight in the High Commissioner’s visit, and pledged the board’s willingness to work with him.
He noted that the Nigerian film industry has grown exponentially over the last decade, as the industry was no longer for entertainment alone, but has offered great investment opportunities.
The Executive Director said the board under his watch was willing to champion collaborations between stakeholders in the Nigeria film industry and their foreign counterparts.
He however, decried the high rate of piracy as a major bane facing the evolving Nigerian moving industry, especially with the emergence of digital distribution platforms.
“All the foreign films that are being sold in our markets today did not pass through censorship and classification, so they are illegal, and the board has been carrying out raids to sanitize our industry of such products.
“A collaboration such as this will present the right opportunity for both countries to legally distribute their films.
“I strongly believe that Government should provide policies and enabling environment for players in the industry, and that is what President Buhari has done through the Ease of Doing Business initiative.
“As a board we will facilitate a meeting that will kick start the process where our filmmakers to link your professionals for a co-productions and other collaborations,” he said.
On Monday afternoon, gunmen abducted yet-to-be known numbers of passengers at Odo-Osun around Imesi-Ile in Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State
It was gathered that the commercial vehicle from Ekiti State was going toward Ikirun through Ila road when the gunmen waylaid it at Odo-Osun and took passengers to a nearby bush.
A security source revealed that the gunmen shot severally to force the vehicle to stop before all the passengers were whisked away
Another source said volunteers of Kiriji Heritage Defenders, Hunter’s group and the police were combing bushes where the passengers were abducted.
The DPO of Imesi Police Station was said to have joined in combing the forests.
The Director-General of Kiriji Heritage Defenders, Dr Ademola Ekundayo, confirmed the development to our correspondent.
He assured volunteers of the socio-cultural group were on the trail of the abductors.
Spokesperson of Osun Police, Yemisi Opalola said: “I have not been briefed. I will get back to you on the matter”.
