In order to teach his family a lesson about staying in touch, 45-year-old David Baerten faked his own death and flew a helicopter to his own funeral in Belgium.
According to DailyMail on Wednesday, Baerten, a TikTok developer, told his wife and kids about his plan, and they assisted him by posting it on social media.
By saying, “Rest in peace, Daddy,” one of Baerten’s daughters deceived her father’s social media followers into thinking he had passed away. I’ll never cease considering you.
How come life is so unfair? You, why? You still had the rest of your life ahead of you and were going to become a grandfather. I adore you. We will never forget you.”
The family staged a funeral, and when mourners gathered, Baerten arrived by helicopter with a video team.
Baerten explained his actions, saying he did so to see how his extended family would react after he stated they had lost communication with him.
He said, “What I see in my family often hurts me. I never get invited to anything. Nobody sees me. We all grew apart. I felt unappreciated.
“That’s why I wanted to give them a life lesson and show them that you shouldn’t wait until someone is dead to meet up with them.”
The embattled president and chairwoman of the institute’s governing council, Dr. Victoria Okoronkwo, has ruled the alleged election of Dr. Jamilu Yankwashi as president at its special general meeting on Tuesday in Abuja null and void. This has been done just twenty-four hours after the meeting.
In addition to distancing the Institute from the purported election that chose Yankwashi as its new head, Okoronkwo, who claimed to be the Institute’s Founder, insisted that she is still the Institute’s legitimate President and Chairman of the Institute’s governing board.
It was discovered that the alleged serious problem affecting the Institute’s leadership started with the alleged court order or judgment that removed Dr. Okoronkwo as the president and Chairman of the governing council of the Institute took another dimension when Yankwashi was declared as the new leader, at the end of the Tuesday’s disputed election.
Speaking at a press conference , Dr. Okoronkwo, who vehemently denied Dr. Yankwashi’s claim, noted that he had no authority to call for a special meeting or conduct any election.
According to her:” I had already appealed the court judgement, and obtained a Stay of Execution.
“I therefore declared that the actions of Dr. Yankwashi is contemptuous of the court and that the election is null and void”, he stressed.
A 40-year-old commercial biker named Akpo has been detained by the Nigerian Police’s Benue State Command for raping a 25-year-old pregnant woman (names withheld) in Benue state.
On her way home from the market last Wednesday, he sexually assaulted the 8-months-pregnant woman who had hired him to drive her. They were traveling down a bushy route.
However, the suspect’s detention has been confirmed by the State Command of the Nigerian Police.
The event was confirmed on Thursday by Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Sewuese Anene, who stated that the suspect had been detained and was currently in police custody.
Narrating the incident to our correspondent in Makurdi, a source close to the family said, “The woman was going home from the market. She flagged down an okada man and bargained with him to take her home.
“So on their way home, the okada man diverted from the main road to a nearby bush, held her down and raped her.
“As he was raping her, the woman became unconscious and the bike man, thinking that the woman was dead, dragged her and dumped her by a river bank where she laid till the next day.
“In the morning, she woke up and discovered herself in a state of subconsciousness. She was too weak to stand so she laid there praying that help will come her way.”
The source further explained that it was in that state that a search party found her and took her to the hospital while the matter was reported to the nearest police station leading to the arrest of the culprit. End.
Charles Chukwu, better known by his stage name Crayon, a budding musician, has explained why he decided to pursue music instead of a college education.
The Ijo Laba Laba singer claimed in an interview with Hip TV that he started writing songs after taking the unified tertiary matriculation examination five times.
The singer claimed that during his fifth attempt, he met a musician friend named Baby Fresh who gave him the motivation to make a “big sacrifice” for his career.
He said, “At the fifth time, I met Baby Fresh already, he used to work at Mavin. I won’t be able to juggle school and music at the same time because in Nigeria it’s quite stressful. Music alone is crazy.
“So I sat my parents down. I was like, ‘Mum and Dad, I want to make music.’ I said I feel like that’s what my heart is going for. My dad said just try this fifth one, if it doesn’t work out, you can go ahead and do music.”
He added that he walked out of the Post-UTME hall in the University of Lagos, mid-way through the exams, because he didn’t want to scale through with the administration, but face music instead.
The Mavin star stated that it was at that time that he met Don Jazzy, who signed him into the record label.
The Lagos State Police Command rescued a baby girl from beneath a parked bus in the state’s Ketu district.
A homeowner heard the newborn girl’s cry from under a bus about 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday and took her into safe custody.
The command’s spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, revealed this on his Twitter page on Thursday, noting that investigations were continuing.
“A Lagosian set out for work at about 4:30 a.m. yesterday and heard the cry of a baby under a parked bus somewhere in Mile 12 Ketu,” he tweeted, along with a photo of the infant.
“After being alerted, police officers from Ketu Division took the healthy baby girl into custody.” Investigation is ongoing.”
The immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, took over as President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff on Wednesday.
This comes just hours after he resigned from his seat in the Tenth House.
Gbajabiamila handed his resignation letter on the House floor on Wednesday in front of Abass and the members of the House.
He shared pictures from his resignation and resumption at his new office saying, “To the glory of God, I resigned my membership of the newly Inaugurated 10th House of Representatives today. I had the privilege to move the first motion in the new House which was on the need to prepare to avert the negative effects of the forecast of heavy flooding in some parts of the country. The House passed the resolutions accordingly.
“Thereafter, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas read my resignation letter and declared my seat vacant. An opportunity for the people of Surulere 1 Federal Constituency to elect my replacement.
“I have assumed my new office as the Chief of Staff to the President in readiness to work with Mr. President in delivering his Renewed Hope agenda for Nigeria.”
The Securities and Exchange Commission has said that it will keep working with different market parties to facilitate the capital market’s effective digitalization.
Mr. Lamido Yuguda, director general of the SEC, provided the assurance during a conversation in Lagos.
Yuguda stated that the capital market’s demographics are currently aging, and that the Commission is addressing this issue via the Revised Capital Market Master Plan. confirms changes to the way the foreign exchange market operates
The elimination of segmentation and the reintroduction of the “Willing Buyer, Willing Seller” model at the I&E Window, among other modifications, were confirmed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Wednesday night.
According to him, “We are encouraging Capital Market operators to develop technology. The youths do not want to come in and start filling five page forms because they want to access the market, they want to pick their phones and make their investments.
“For example, our keen support of the innovation by the Issuing House to the MTN IPO in 2022, Chapel Hill Advisory, further promoted the benefits of electronic-IPO (e-IPO) which made it possible for over 100,000 new accounts to be opened on the CSCS, most of which belong to youths and women- key subsets of our demography which is considered critical to sustainable growth
“That is why we are improving our Know Your Customers; we are improving so many things to make it easier for them. That is why we are introducing these Fintechs. We are allowing these Fintechs to come because we see the Fintech as an important gateway for youths to enter the market. We are conscious of that and we are working towards it.”
Yuguda said that the youths must understand that the capital market is a viable platform for wealth creation assuring them that the SEC and the market is working on how best to serve them.
“We are striving to improve the way we deliver our products, to improve market efficiency and to make the market attractive to them. Most importantly, we are doing all we can to ensure that investors are adequately protected in the market and that they are able to get the benefits of their investments” he stated.
As part of the digital transformation, the SEC DG disclosed that last year, the Commission signed an MoU with the African Development Bank to enable the SEC have a surveillance system.
“This surveillance system is a system that allows the SEC, the regulator as a watchdog, to truly see transactions in the market live as they are happening, just to make sure that no market manipulation is happening.
“Right now, we tried to get this information but basically it’s with a lag but with the system that we are getting, it’s real time. This will help this market; this will help the operators themselves. The regulator has their eyes on the market then people who are tempted to do any market manipulation will think twice before they do that. That is really healthier for the market” He stated.
Yuguda emphasized that when capital markets are developed, the entire engine of savings and investments and the allocation of resources would have the highest expected returns.
“It is actually made easy and if you do that, you will create more jobs in the economy, more revenues for the government. Life will be made easier for the investors and because of that you will have a lot of interested parties that actually want to put in their own money to help the capital market to develop” he added.
The elimination of segmentation and the reintroduction of the “Willing Buyer, Willing Seller” model at the I&E Window, among other modifications, were confirmed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Wednesday night.
The CBN’s Director of Financial Markets, Angela Sere-Ejembi, signed a statement announcing the adjustments and assuring that more information will be provided on the subject in due time. The statement was made available to journalists in Abuja.
The following immediate changes to how the Nigerian Foreign Exchange (FX) Market operates are being made, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) wishes to alert all authorized dealers and the general public of: “Abolishment of segmentation. All segments are now collapsed into the Investors and Exporters (I&E) window. Applications for medicals, school fees, BTA/PTA, and SMEs would continue to be processed through deposit money banks.
“Re-introduction of the “Willing Buyer, Willing Seller” model at the I&E Window. Operations in this window shall be guided by the extant circular on the establishment of the window, dated 21 April 2017 and referenced FMD/DIR/CIR/GEN/08/007. All eligible transactions are permitted to access foreign exchange at this window.
“The operational rate for all government-related transactions shall be the weighted average rate of the preceding day’s executed transactions at the |&E window, calculated to two (2) decimal places.
“Proscription of trading limits on oversold FX positions with permission to hedge short positions with OTC futures. Limits on overbought positions shall be zero.
“Re introduction of order based two-way quotes, with bid-ask spread of 41. All transactions shall be cleared by a Central Counter Party (CCP).
“Reintroduction of Order Book to ensure transparency of orders and seamless execution of trades.
“The operational hours of trades shall be from 9am to 4pm, Nigeria time.
“Cessation of RT200 Rebate Scheme and the Naira4Dollar Remittance Scheme, with effect from 30 June 2023.
“Further guidance on these matters shall be communicated in due course. All market participants and the general public are kindly enjoined to abide by these rules” reads the statement in parts.
On Thursday, Lagos residents and Nigerians will gather for a special prayer in honor of the late Alhaja (Dr.) Abibatu Ashabi Mogaji, Iyaloja-General of the Association of Nigerian Market Women and Men.
Mother of Nigeria’s President, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and business tycoon Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji passed away on June 15, 2013, at the age of 96.
Governor Sanwo-Olu will attend the 10th annual Fidau (Prayer) for the late Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji on Thursday at Blue Roof, Agidingbi, Ikeja, along with President Tinubu, prominent politicians, business moguls, Muslim clerics, clergymen, and market leaders.
The Fidau (Prayer) is organised by the Lagos State government to celebrate the late politician, whose legacy lives on through the transformative policies and initiatives championed by her son, President Tinubu, when he was governor of Lagos State.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a statement issued on Wednesday by his Media Adviser, Gboyega Akosile, said Alhaja Mogaji was a woman of tremendous grace, resilience, and devotion to her family and community, adding that the late Iyaloja General left an indelible mark on the nation and the people.
“Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji’s life was one of service, dedication, and compassion. As a staunch advocate for the welfare and development of her community, she championed numerous causes that provided opportunities for the less-privileged and uplifted the lives of many. Her unwavering commitment to social justice, equity, and fairness earned her the respect and admiration of all who knew her.
“As Iyaloja General of Nigeria, Alhaja Mogaji was a trailblazer, breaking barriers and paving the way for women to take up leadership roles in business and commerce. She was a beacon of hope and inspiration to thousands of market women and entrepreneurs across the nation, empowering them with the skills and resources to flourish in their respective trades,” Governor Sanwo-Olu said.
The Nigeria Data Protection Bill, 2023 has been signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The admission was made at the Nigeria Data Protection Bureau Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP) validation session in Abuja by Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner, NDPC.
The Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, according to Information Nigeria, establishes a legislative framework for the preservation of personal data and the practice of data protection in Nigeria.
On Tuesday, April 4, 2023, former president Muhammadu Buhari wrote a letter to the Senate and House of Representatives introducing the bill for review and approval.
The new law, now an Act, establishes the Nigeria Data Protection Commission and replaces the Nigeria Data Protection Bureau (NDPB) established by former President Buhari in February 2022.
The Commission will be led by a National Commissioner with the responsibility of regulating the processing of personal information.
Another mandate of the Commission is to foster the development of personal data protection technologies, in accordance with recognised international good practices and to ensure compliance with data protection obligations.
Olatunji who expressed delight over the growth of Nigeria’s data protection ecosystem said that “the Nigeria Data Protection Bureau is now a commission by law. Nigeria now has its Data Protection Act signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on 12th of June 2023.”
While appreciating the efforts of the former administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari who started the journey under the former Minister Isa Pantami, the National Commissioner stressed the need for effective partnership and stakeholder engagement especially in the areas of awareness and sensitization.
“We agree that Nigeria is well positioned to move data protection ahead in Africa. We agree that Nigeria is well positioned to move. The whole of Africa is waiting for us.
“In Nigeria, we have identified over 500,000 job opportunities in the Data Protection and Privacy ecosystem which is in line with one of the campaign mantra of the current administration to create million jobs in the digital economy sector in 12 months,” he stated.
On his part, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, Williams Alo, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fostering a culture of trust and accountability in the digital sphere.
“We can create an ecosystem that protects the rights of individuals while fostering a vibrant and innovative digital economy.
“Together, let us embark on this validation workshop with a shared vision—a vision of a Nigeria where personal data is treated with the utmost respect, where individuals have control over their own information and where innovation thrives in an environment of trust,” he admonished.
The Director General, National Information Technology Development, Kashifu Inuwa, in his remarks, stressed the importance of data as the currency of the digital economy, and urged the committee to look at the key principles for data protection.
“Firstly, we need to prioritize freedoms and rights of our citizens. Secondly, we need to promote transparency and accountability. And thirdly, we need to foster an enabling environment for innovation and economic growth.
“We can only create jobs when we are innovative and look at how we can create prosperity in our country,” he said.
The Committee Chairman, Nigeria Data Protection Bureau Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan, Abdul-Hakeem Ajijola, said the roadmap “is intended to help identify some of those things we need to do to build the ecosystem so that we empower people to be able to have some kind of say and management over their own private data.”
Ajijola also emphasised the need for more awareness and sensitization to build a robust data protection and privacy ecosystem which is inclusive and viable.
