IGR: Court Grants CSO Permission to Sue UNIABUJA VC, DG SEC

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday granted leave to a Civil Society Organization (CSO), the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), to commence legal action against the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja over allegations bordering on fraud and non-remittance of Internally Generated Revenue ( IGR) to the purse of the federal government. Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu granted the permission while ruling in an application for an order of mandamus against the VC. The court also gave the centre the nod to institute another legal action against the director-general, Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) over alleged failure to remit certain percent of the commission's IGR to the government. The court compelled the respondents to grant to the applicant access to the details of documentation evidencing the remittance to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) of the sum of N603,446,911: 37 (Six hundred and three million, four hundred and forty-six thousand, nine hundred and eleven naira, thirty-seven kobo) being 25 percent of the IGR. The application for an order of mandamus against the UniAbuja VC was brought pursuant to Order 34 Rule 3 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedures Rules 2019, Sections 20 and 21 of FOI Act. The plaintiffs/applicant in the suit is praying for a declaration that denying the applicant access to the details of the documentation evidencing the remittance to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) of N603,446,911.37 being 25 percent of the IGR, which was a total sum of N2,413,787,645.48 (Two billion four hundred and thirteen million, seven hundred and eighty-seven thousand, six hundred and forty-five naira, forty-eight kobo) realised in 2016 and 2017, and which failure to remit same by the respondent contravened the provision of Finance Circular No: BO/RVE/12235/259NII/201 of November 11, 2011, and the recommendation of the Auditor General for the Federation in page 196 of the Auditor General’s Annual Report on the Accounts of the Federation of Nigeria for the year 2017 without explanation, constitute an infringement of the applicant’s right guaranteed and protected by section 1 (1) of the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act 2011. In the suit against the SEC DG, the CSJ wants a declaration that denying the applicant access to the details of the documentation evidencing the remittance to the CRF the sum of N160,271,545.85 being the interests from investing the sum of N5,910,269,443.43 into the Nigerian Treasury Bills (NTBs) by the respondent and which was not remitted to the CRF as required by the Federal Treasury Circular No: TRY/A5&B5/2009 OAGF/CAD/OZGN.32 of June 19, 2009, and as contained in the recommendation of the Auditor General for the Federation in page 179 of the Auditor General’s Annual Report on the Accounts of the Federation of Nigeria for the year 2017 without explanation, constitutes an infringement of the applicant’s right guaranteed and protected by section 1 (1) of the FoI Act 2011.

House Asks FG to Order DSTV to Reverse Service Price Hike

The House of Representatives on Tuesday asked the federal government to give marching order to the Broadcast Satellite Service providers, particularly DSTV, to reverse the recent June 1, 2020, subscription price hike, and revert to the old price. The House Ad-hoc Committee investigating the non-implementation of the pay-as-you-go tariff by Broadcast Satellite Service Providers in Nigeria made this known at a hearing, saying there is no going back on the decisions of the parliament. The Chairman of the committee, Hon. Uyime Idem, stated that this was not the best of times to increase the prices of services no matter the reasons for such increase, taking into consideration the ravaging effect of COVID-19 on the economy of Nigerians. He urged the federal government to come up with a strategy to break the monopoly and open up the industry for larger participation. The lawmaker also asked the federal government to implement Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) tariff regime for the digital TV broadcasting in Nigeria with particular reference to DSTV, GOTV, Startimes and Kwese TV. The committee further called on the federal government to ensure the deregulation of content right by Direct-to-Home (DTH) Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) and Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) operators, and encourage local content participation through content sharing. Responding to lawmakers questions on various issues raised, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said the pay-as-you-go model is achievable in Nigeria, and a pay TV provider, Startimes, is already offering it, thereby puncturing the fallacy that it is not possible. He stressed that all that’s required is that the existing content should be taken back to the drawing board to accommodate the PAYG options. According to Mohammed, “When I became minister some years ago, I was seriously concerned about the issue of monopoly. We did include it in the amended new broadcasting code, which I just signed following due process, as a draft was submitted to me. All the stakeholders who went through it went to Lagos and it was approved. ''On DSTV reversing the price hike, from the outset of COVID-19, one of the first thing we did with the ministry and NBC was to provide succour to broadcasters, I think we suspended payments for the initial two months to all broadcasters so that they will be able to absorb the impact of COVID-19, therefore it will be unfair for those for whom we have suspended payment to also at the same time increase their own fees. I’m sure that the director-general of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) will take up this matter.” The acting Director-General of NBC, Armstrong Idachaba, on his part assured the lawmakers that he would give a marching order to DSTV to halt any action on price hike and go back to the old tariff.

Discos: N'Assembly Initiated Suspension of New Tariffs

Power distribution companies (Discos) on Tuesday rejected insinuations that they connived with the National Assembly to force the postponement of the review of extant electricity tariffs paid by consumers in the country. Describing the report as a “conspiracy theory,” the Discos stressed that the call for the suspension of the proposed service reflective tariffs was initiated by the National Assembly last Monday due to their concerns on its timing and what they saw as lapses in the internal workability of the plan within the sector. The Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED) made the clarification in a statement signed by its Executive Director on Research and Advocacy, Mr. Sunday Oduntan, in response to a report published by a national daily that he wrongly claimed that the Discos lobbied for the postponement. He said while several attempts at justifying the conspiracy theory are being cooked up, what is actually being insinuated is that the leadership of the National Assembly can easily be manipulated by anyone or group of people. "The members of the National Assembly are representatives of the people. Based on the feedback they have been getting from their constituents, mainly around the difficult financial realities, they called for a meeting which we attended, and during the meeting, they laid out their concerns. "Discos have spent the last couple of weeks carrying out massive sensitisations across different platforms preparing their customers for the new service reflective tariff as instructed by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). Discos have also been at the forefront of the call for a reviewed tariff for many years. "Over the weekend, we had to publicly voice out our concerns about an instruction from our regulator which we felt will make our task of winning public confidence more difficult. “This is because we have committed ourselves to removing obstacles that will stand against the success of the take-off date. It is therefore extremely disingenuous for someone to come and suggest that on the eve of this coming to fruition, we will now be the ones to initiate its postponement," the Discos said. Although July 1, 2020, had been pegged as the commencement date for the new service-delivery-based tariff regime, the new tariffs would now take effect from the first quarter of 2021.

Aviation Unions Kick against FG’s Plan to Concession Airports

Labour unions in the Nigerian aviation industry have utterly kicked against the plan by the federal government to concession the country’s airports and bring in the private sector to invest in the development of the facilities. The unions in a world press conference held on Tuesday at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos vowed to frustrate the government’s plan, saying they represent the interest of ordinary Nigerians, and therefore, would not support the handing over of the country’s wealth to few individuals. Last week, the federal government announced that the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) had given the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, the certificate of compliance to concession four major airports in the country, including that of Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano. Aviation unions, comprising the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE); Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association (ATSSSAN); Association of Aviation Professionals (ANAP), and National Union of Pensioners (NUP) branch of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), have vowed to stop the planned concession, saying the plan would only destabilise the country’s aviation progress rather than uplift it. Speaking on behalf of the unions, the General Secretary of National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Ocheme Aba, told journalists that the Minister of Aviation was allegedly fraudulent in his attempt to concession the airports. He insisted that the plan to concession Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano was criminal and against public interest. Aba argued that the airports slated for concession were the live wires of other 22 airports in the country, adding that several staff of the FAAN would lose their jobs. He insisted that efforts to resolve the issue with the minster had been futile in the past, and vowed that the unions would continue to kick against the attempt. According to Aba, “It is highly regrettable that both the minister and the ICRC are engaging in a ruse, and are indeed taking Nigerians for a ride. We can say authoritatively that everything so far about the issue of concession for the four airports have been single handedly decided by the minister, and the ICRC has not carried out any due diligence on the concession exercise. If it did, the commission would have discovered wide gulfs of deception in the exercise. “For example, while the Project Delivery Team (PDT), which includes the ICRC, was still discussing the issue of Transaction Adviser (TA), the Minister of Aviation was on air announcing the approval of FEC of a TA and his fees. Both the TA and the fees were apparently decided solely by the minister. Up till date, the PDT has not been allowed to take a position on the matter, and its effort in that direction is being frustrated surreptitiously.” The unions also explained that: “At the last meeting of the Project Delivery Team in late 2019, it was decided that the airports concession issue be degraded to the bottom of the list of aviation priority projects while upgrading the national carrier, Aviation Leasing Company, and the Aircraft Maintenance and Repair Organisation for quick delivery.” They insisted that lack of sincerity in the whole process has confirmed that the concession programme would not serve the interest of Nigerians, and therefore, they must abort it before it takes off.

Group Raises N22.1m for Children of Woman Killed by Fiancé

A digital hub for female entrepreneurs and professionals, Accessing Grants for Startups (AGS), has raised a total of N22.170 million from its members to ensure the education of the two children of late Olamide Alli, who was allegedly murdered on June 21, 2020, by her fiancé. AGS, a pan-African community, built to connect and build the capacity of young entrepreneurs and professionals, started the fundraising after the suspect, Chris Ndukwe, brutally murdered his fiancé, Ali, a mother of two. Ndukwe would afterwards commit suicide by allegedly drinking a poisonous pesticide, after allegedly stabbing his 25-year-old spouse to death with knives. AGS in a report issued yesterday by its founder, Ifedayo Durosinmi-Etti, on her Instagram page, confirmed that late Alli, was their member. According to her, "In the early hours of June 21, Olamide Alli, a lady very dear to our community, was horrifically killed by her fiancé, Chris Ndukwe, who was the father of her two children at their home in Victory Park estate in Lagos state. He, however, committed suicide after the deed." She said following the tragic incidence, with permission from Alli's family, AGS Tribe started a "fundraising in her honor, and all proceeds from the fundraising will be used to set up a Trust Fund for her children ages 7 and 3 respectively. "The Trust Fund will be managed by FBN Quest Trustees." Durosinmi-Etti further revealed that N20 million was earlier targeted, but was surpassed by over N2 million, totaling N22.170 million, as she thanked well-meaning Nigerians for their donations and support for the deceased children.

UNILORIN Student Sentenced to Nine Months’ Imprisonment for Fraud

An Ilorin High Court in Kwara State on Tuesday sentenced a 19-year-old Chemistry student of the University of Ilorin, Mr. Ajayi Joshua Oluwatobi, to nine month's imprisonment for defrauding three students seeking accommodation. The Ilorin zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed the court case against the affected student. According to the charge sheet presented against the student in court by the EFCC, "That you, Ajayi Joshua Oluwatobiloba, in the month of November 2019 in Ilorin, within the jurisdiction of this court, did cheat by deceiving one Anjorin Oluwabukolami Eniola, a University of Ilorin student, when you fraudulently induced her to pay N45,000 into the GT bank account 045262140 of one Hassan Adefemi Daniel for hostel accommodation, a representation you knew to be false, and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 320 of the Penal Code and punishable under section 322 of the same law." Justice Sikiru Oyinloye, who delivered the ruling, also ordered Oluwatobi to pay the sum of N105, 000 fine to serve as deterrent to others. He said: "The defendant was brought before this court on a three-count charges, which were read to him, and he pleaded guilty, and this court accepted the evidence of the prosecution; the testimonies of the sole prosecution witness; the unchallenged and uncontradicted testimonies. "This court is of the view that the prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, therefore, the court hereby finds you, Ajayi Joshua Oluwatobi guilty of count 1, 2 and 3. You are hereby convicted for the offence." However, the defence counsel urged the presiding judge to temper justice with mercy and give his client an option of fine rather than custodial sentence. Responding, the prosecution counsel, Andrew Akoja, said: "My Lord, the issue of sentencing is within the discretion of the court, so I want the court to use its discretion in sentencing the convict." After hearing both parties, Justice Oyinloye sentenced Oluwatobi to three months imprisonment on count 1, 2 and 3. According to him, the sentence is to run concurrently while the convict is to also pay a fine of N105, 000 only. The convict ran into problem when the University of Ilorin reported his conducts to the EFCC that he defrauded three accommodation seekers.

CLO Threatens to Sue IG over Seven Bayelsa Policemen Killed By FSARS

The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has threatened to sue the Inspector-General of Police (IG), Mohammed Adamu, if the police failed to investigate and take action on the killing of seven policemen from the Bayelsa State Police Command by members of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Ughelli, Delta State, last month. Speaking at a press conference in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, on Tuesday, the state Chairman of CLO, Nengi James, and civil rights activist, Morris Alagoa, said the organisation, like many other well-meaning organisations and individuals, would not allow the matter to be swept under the carpet. The seven policemen, made up of sergeants and corporals, attached to the Bayelsa State Police Command were two weeks ago allegedly shot dead in Ughelli by some men of the FSARS, who alleged that they were involved in armed robbery. But some other accounts had alleged that the deceased were caught in the middle of an arms deal that went awry and were executed. The pictures taken from the scene of the crime showed the bodies of the deceased policemen lined up in their uniforms with bullet injuries and their rifles. CLO gave out the names of six of the seven dead policemen as Sergeants Hitler Mumbo, Dieyete Joweigha and Brown Abedinigo. Others are Omoro Akpoe, Philip Seikpo, Oyanidine Ongogha, all police corporals. But organisation said the silence of the police high command on the incident is suspicious, and called on President Muhammandu Buhari, the Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Human Rights, the Amnesty International, rights groups and the media to take up the matter. Nengi said: "In view of the current unprecedented security challenges facing Nigerians, it gives more concern when uniformed personnel, in this case, policemen, were gunned down by fellow policemen in circumstances that have been shrouded in silence from the police authorities. "Without making references to other continental and global instruments on Human Rights, the CLO draws ample strength from Chapter 4 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. The chapter of the constitution deals with fundamental human rights and the right to life is recognised as number one. “The CLO is interested, for the general good of all, in knowing the circumstances that led to the killing of seven serving policemen. Seeing the photos of their lifeless bodies with rifles placed on them presents an unnatural situation. We want to once again express our unacceptability of the extra-judicial killing. "Was there an exchange of gunfire? If yes, at what location or environment? At what hour of the day or night and were there no other options like immobilising the car they were traveling in? "Who are the accomplices, if these victims of FSARS were alleged criminals? Even if they were criminals, does it profit the society when such alleged criminals are killed without proper investigation and accorded fair hearing? "The above and more remains mind burgling. And that is why the questions require answers, and in the common interest, CLO is hereby calling on the IG to do the needful. "While we hope that the police high command will do what is expected, we want to also state that the president should be aware that as the head of the executive arm and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, this matter ought not to be swept under the carpet.” The group called on "the Senate and House Committees on Human Rights, the National Human Rights Commission, Amnesty International, rights groups and the media to play theirs traditional roles on this matter "It is our basic concern as an organisation that is concerned with human rights activism. We are using our strategy and tracking system in getting information and that does not mean we will abuse the office of the security. "After this press conference, we will now have some steps, including legal. We have been following the matter carefully. First we didn't have their names, now we have their names. "With their names now, we can now reach out to our legal colleagues. CLO is set to pursue this matter legally, and other human rights group will start from here because it is a national issue. "These are Nigeria Police officers, who have families. The situation is worrisome. We have never seen police execute five armed robbers the same time and now we are having a case of policemen killing seven policemen.”

Obaseki: Edo Group Asks APC to Tender Apology to Edo People or Face Litigation

A political pressure group, Edo First for Growth, has called on the dissolved National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the screening committee for the Edo State governorship primaries and the appeal committee which disqualified the state Governor, Godwin Obaseki, to tender a public apology to the Edo people or be ready to face litigation. The group, in a statement signed by its Convener, Earl Osaro Onaiwu, on Tuesday noted that now that the courts has discarded all the suits challenging the efficacy of Obaseki's certificates, the Prof. Jonathan Ayuba-led Screening Committee must apologise to the Edo people for defaming the character of their governor. A part of the statement read: "The whole world can now see the hatchet job which Adams Oshiomhole used Ayuba and his committee members to achieve. In the process, they offended the sensibilities of the Edo people; impugn our integrity and made our state a cheap talking point in the Nigerian polity, all in the wicked bid to drag down the hardworking Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki. "Now that the courts have made it clear that they have no locus to disqualify the governor, we demand a written public apology from the dissolved APC NWC, screening committee led by Prof. Ayuba and the appeal committee which ratified the injustice in the next 72 hours, otherwise we will have no other choice than to drag them to law court for character defamation." Recall that the APC screening committee disqualified Obaseki from the governorship contest in the party over what it termed "defective certificate". Obaseki had since crossed over to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where he successfully secured the party's ticket to contest in the September 2020 governorship election in the state.

Saraki: Senate under My Leadership was People’s Parliament

The President of the eighth Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, who is also the board chairman of the Africa Political Institute, yesterday publicly spoke glowingly of his tenure as the Senate president, stating that his life in the Senate was devoted to making the parliament relevant to all Nigerians. He said: "My life in the eighth Senate was devoted to making the parliament relevant to Nigerians of every social class and in every field of endeavour. I worked for us to have a ‘People’s Parliament’, and that was what we had. "I know it was the best way to get the people to understand, support and get involved in the work of the parliament. I have the belief that we will be securing the future of our democracy if this is achieved. The parliament remains the critical barometer to measuring the success and growth of democracy." Speaking on Tuesday on the International Day of Parliamentarianism, which was organised by the Nigerian Youth Parliament, Saraki said: "In 2018, I visited Russia to attend the 137th Session of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and decided to use the occasion to meet Nigerian students there. There and then, I saw myself confronted with the case of stranded students on federal government scholarship whose tuition fees and allowances had not been paid for many years by the government. On my return, we invited all relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and raised the issue. And they promised to resolve the issue. That is how significant a parliament should be to the people." Continuing, the former Senate president said: "The National Assembly under my leadership was the first to implement the provision of the law on Basic Healthcare Provision Fund when we included in the 2018 budget one percent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund to be devoted to primary health care. It was part of our plan to ‘Make Nigeria Stronger’ by helping to maintain a healthy citizenry. The then Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, described that move as a ‘Game Changer’. From Bill Gates to Bono, the musician, to the Director-General of World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr. Tedros, it was commendation galore for the eighth Assembly." According to Saraki, "When we passed the Disability Bill and included a provision that makes it mandatory for public buildings, roads, and sidewalks to provide for facilities that guarantee the right of People Living With Disability to have easy access, we were making the parliament relevant to that constituency. We also passed the Senior Citizens Centre Bill 2016, which was to set up care facilities across the country for the aged. That was to make the parliament useful to our old people. "If you also look at some of the laws we passed in the eighth Senate, they were meant to positively affect the lives of different strata of the Nigerian society. When we amended the UBEC Act to ensure that the free education programme covered the entire secondary school years instead of just basic education, we were reaching out to parents and their wards. We also ensured the amendment included reducing counterpart funds to be paid by states from 50 percent to 10 per cent so that state governments could easily access the funds for infrastructure development in schools." Giving details of his stewardship, Saraki, said: "For example, when electricity and data consumers complained about the planned hike in data prices, we got across to the regulatory agencies, NERC and NCC, and engaged them constructively to stop what would have been an additional burden on the people. "We introduced the OpenNASS campaign in which we had a website providing information on the initiative, highlighting the role of the legislature in deepening governance and democracy.”

Police Arrest Three for Allegedly Raping Daughters, Twin Sisters

The Lagos State Police at the weekend said they arrested three men, Eke Kanu, 61, and Chibuike Kalu, 33, who both allegedly raped their daughters; and Chinedu Obi, 26, for allegedly raping twin sisters, who are minors. According to a statement signed by the state police spokesperson, DSP Bala Elkana DSP, "On June 6, 2020, at about 3:30p.m., the Ikorodu Police Station received a complaint from a member of FIDA that one Eke Kanu, 61, of Ebute road, Igbogbo in Ikorodu was having unlawful sexual affair with his 19-year-old daughter (name withheld). "The survivor stated that her father started having sexual intercourse with her when she was a little girl, and threatened to deal with her if she told anyone. "She further stated that when her father discovered that she was pregnant, he took her to a chemist where she was administered some drugs and injection to abort the pregnancy. "The survivor was taken to Mirabel Centre by the police for medical attention and forensic examination. The suspect was arrested and taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, for discreet investigation and diligent prosecution.” Elkana added: "In a related development, on June 26, 2020, at about 7:30p.m., Bariga Police Station received a report that one Chibuike Kalu, 33, of Amodu Street in Bariga defiled his 14 years old daughter. "The survivor was also taken to Mirabel Centre in Ikeja for medical treatment and forensic examination. The suspect was arrested and he confessed to the commission of the crime. He will be charged to court. "Also, in another event, on June 16, 2020, at about 2:55p.m., a woman of over 30-years (name withheld) reported at the Aguda Police Station in Surulere that her salesman, Chinedu Obi, 26, allegedly had sexual intercourse with her 12-year-old twin daughters (names withheld) when she left the two girls with him in her house. The suspect was arrested and he confessed to the crime. He stated that he started having sexual intercourse with the girls in 2019. "The state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, has ordered the transferred of the case to Gender Unit at the state headquarters in Ikeja for discreet investigation and diligent prosecution." Meanwhile, Odumosu in the statement advised parents not to trust anyone with their kids, especially female children. He further reaffirmed the commitment of the police command to continually apprehend sexual offenders, wherever they are in the state and make them face the full weight of the law.

Rivers Attracting More Investors, Says Wike

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has said more companies are relocating to the state because of the attractive investment climate. He told journalists after an inspection tour of some on-going projects in the state that a deliberate implementation of strategic policies has brought the investments to the state. The governor stated that the improvement in the state security architecture with the help of security agencies and the provision of critical infrastructure are responsible for the turnaround. He also reiterated the resolve of his administration to return Port Harcourt to its garden city status. "I can tell you now that more companies are coming into the state. The security has also improved so much with the help of security agencies, and the people feel safer to invest in the state. "I have also resolved to leave Port Harcourt far better than what I met on ground. Everybody can see that it is not easy, considering the present economic situation in the country. "To sustain the execution of infrastructure and developmental projects and also fight COVID-19, when most of my colleagues are complaining of paucity of funds, shows political will and strategic leadership. "People are wondering how we are doing it. But we are determined not to disappoint our people and they will be happy when I have served out my tenure that they had a governor who really came to serve," Wike said. The governor also announced that the contract for the expansion of Rumuola flyover project has been signed. He said work would soon begin on the flyover as well as on the dualisation of Ezimbu Link Road popularly called Mummy B Road, and the Tombia Extension Road. Wike stated that the urban renewal programme of his administration is achieving its purpose particularly with the commitment shown by the contractors handling the three flyovers at Rebisi, Rumuogba and Okoro nu Odo.

Akinyemi Opposes Call to Set up Parallel Body to WHO ...Knocks Trump, Bolsonaro over COVID-19

Former Nigerian Foreign Affairs Minister, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, has objected to a recent call by former United Kingdom Prime Minister, David Cameron, to set up a separate body aside the World Health Organisation (WHO). Cameron, who expressed his disappointment in the operations of the WHO, had called for the setting up of a separate body outside the WHO to deal with the challenges of COVID-19, while expressing his worries over the operations of the global health body. Reacting to Cameron’s comment on WHO, Akinyemi said the call by the former prime minister showed that he (Cameron) was only focusing on the wrong issue. According to him, his comments could be likened to a situation of leaving leprosy to attack a less infectious disease like eczema. “He is saying that he is not satisfied with the way WHO is handling COVID-19 in terms of giving early and sufficient notices to allow different governments to put the appropriate measures in place, but the truth is that even after WHO raised the alarm on COVID-19 pandemic, there were several governments that did not take WHO serious, and they did not put the appropriate measures in place, even though most countries did. For instance, the United States of America and the UK did not adhere to the WHO’s warnings on COVID-19,” Akinyem said. Reacting further, the former foreign minister said: “We are aware that Cameron is advocating for a new organisation dominated by scientists and funded by the private sector, but if such body is even set up, will these same governments that are opposing WHO not also oppose the new body? The fact is that politicians who are in position of governance do not really show respect for scientists. The call by Cameron for another body outside WHO is just a diversion of resources from WHO to a new organisation when there is no guarantee that such thinking is practicable. I do not have regard for politicians who attempt to become statesmen after leaving office.” Addressing the issue of non-compliance of COVID-19 measures, Akinyemi faulted the situation where President Donald Trump of the United States and President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil would flagrantly violate the precautionary measures put in place by WHO. According to him, “What is happening in Brazil and the United States is actually due to recklessness and lack of leadership on the part of the Presidents of Brazil and United States, who continue to play games with the COVID-19 virus. “Until recently, a court in Brazil insisted that it would fine the president if he ever appears in a crowd of people without wearing a face mask. He has been going around without mask and this has to stop. “In the case of the United States, the judiciary is yet to force President Trump to always put on his face mask whenever he appears in a public gathering, despite the fact that a lot of the personnel attached to him in the White House have been knocked down by COVID-19. Some of them have gone into self-quarantine. Such act exhibited by President Trump, where he attends rallies without wearing a face mask, is a sign of recklessness, yet they ask people who attend such rallies to sign waivers that they will not sue the Trump campaign organisation if they become affected with COVID-19. This is wickedness in the highest order.” He said: “In Portugal, China, Germany, Nigeria and South Africa, we are seeing an upsurge in the numbers of COVID-19 infected people on a daily basis. Some of these countries have started re-imposing lockdown to curb the spread of the virus. The challenge of COVID-19 is huge and I do not blame any government that is applying the lockdown measure to curb the spread of COVID-19.”

EEDC to Begin Implementation of New Electricity Tariffs on July 1

The Enugu Electricity Distribution Plc (EEDC) has said it will commence the implementation of the new service reflective electricity tariff effectively from July 1, 2020. The Head of Corporate Communications of EEDC, Mr. Emeka Ezeh, who made the disclosure in a statement, said the new tariff became necessary to improve the efficiency of EEDC in delivering quality service to its customers, and to equally ensure the sustenance of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) in view of the prevailing economic realities, such as the high rate of inflation and the depreciation of naira, which have largely impacted the foreign exchange rate. According to him, “This development is consistent with the feedback received from customers during the various stakeholders’ consultations for extraordinary tariff review application held in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States in February and March this year. “The new tariff, which is service reflective, is designed to ensure that the company delivers improved services to customers, while ensuring that they are billed based on service quality. “It is expected that the implementation of the new tariff will enable EEDC execute most of the capital-intensive projects already outlined, which are geared towards strengthening and expanding its network and delivering the expected quality service to its customers.” The new regime has given rise to changes in customer class categorisation, as they are now represented in clusters, namely: NonMD, MD1 and MD2. In the same vein, five distinctive bands (A-E) have been created to reflect the various service level and minimum hours of availability, a situation where a blanket/uniformed tariff no longer applies to all category of customers. Ezeh said customers in ‘band A’ were expected to enjoy supply for minimum of 20 hours and above; those in ‘band B’ were expected to enjoy supply for minimum of 16 hours and above; those in ‘band C’ were expected to enjoy supply for minimum of 12 hours and above; those customers in ‘band D’ were expected to enjoy supply for minimum of eight hours and above, while those in ‘band E’ would enjoy supply for minimum of four hours. According to the statement, “As a result of these changes and the service reflective nature of the new tariff, customers who enjoy premium services are expected to pay higher tariff based on their guaranteed hours of availability and service quality, while there won’t be any tariff increase for those customers that have low level of supply and lower service quality.” He, therefore, solicited the support of all EEDC customers, while assuring them of unrelenting commitment to consistently improve the quality of electricity supply.

Plateau Reads Riot Act to Citizens over Violation of COVID-19 Protocols

Plateau State Government has said its COVID-19 enforcement teams will wage a robust action on defaulters of protocol to curtail the spread of the virus from today. Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof Danladi Atu, who addressed journalists in Jos at the weekend, said the enforcement team would commence in six local government areas of Jos North, Jos South, Barkin Ladi, Mangu, Kanam and Kanke. Atu said the state government has viewed with dismay the non-compliance with regards to the wearing of face masks, social distancing, hand washing and the use of sanitizers and others outlined measures despite the increasing cases. He said: “We have since commenced enforcement, and as you are aware, last week, we sealed some places and arrested violators. This was the pilot phase where we measured the impact of our strategies. “This is because the state government is worried about the increase in the number of cases in the state. This means that the risk of COVID-19 is still very high, and as such, we cannot relax. "That is why the Chairman of the Plateau State COVID-19 Task Force, Governor Simon Lalong, has directed that we redouble our enforcement efforts across the state with special emphasis on six of the local government areas with the highest prevalence of the cases.” Atu reminded the state that the next phase would see other local government areas also witnessing the type of enforcement and enlightenment that would be launched on today. He added that the enforcement would go simultaneously with public education campaign by health educators to further enlighten the citizens on the dangers of the disease and what needs to be done for protection. Atu said the action is not in any way aimed at stigmatising people living in these local government areas or affected communities, but an exercise targeted at ensuring their safety and the containment of the pandemic. The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nimkong Lar, who also spoke at the occasion, said: “So far, the state has conducted 4,076 COVID-19 tests, and over 3,471 results have been received while 605 are still pending.”

PDP Mocks Yahaya Bello on Alleged Defection of Govs to APC

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the weekend described as outright lie by the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, that some PDP governors are planning to defect to the ‘crisis-ridden’ All Progressives Congress (APC) as childish, laughable and pathetic. The party stated that such peddling of falsehood explains why nobody in Nigeria and beyond takes Bello seriously. The PDP lampooned the governor's claim as a desperate attempt to divert public attention from the imminent mass exodus from the APC. The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan said Nigerians are aware that among the ranks of APC governors, Bello has no personal relationship with up to three of his colleagues, stating further that: "No APC governor is ready to associate with Bello openly. In other words, not up to three APC governors take him seriously." Moreover, PDP said: "Governor Bello has no relationship of any sorts with any governor elected on the platform of the PDP. His current delusion on national television about PDP governors is driven by his usual character of engaging in petty lies." PDP said it is however imperative to state that nobody abandons a cruising liner, which the PDP represents, to jump into a sinking ship like the APC. According to Ologbondiyan, "It is public knowledge that the APC is disoriented; having sleepless nights and holding endless meetings because they are losing members in droves to the PDP, as most of their key leaders are already on their way out ahead of the collapse of the APC. "Unfortunately, Governor Yahaya Bello knows that he has no space in any other political party. No party will accept him after the collapse of the APC. He will therefore not mind telling brazen lies to create the impressions that the APC is still breathing."

2,000 Fake NCE Certificates Uncovered in Kwara College

The Provost of Kwara State College of Education(CoED), Ilorin, Professor Yusuf AbdulRaheem, at the weekend hinted that the authorities of the institution have discovered about 2,000 fake National Certificate of Education (NCE) allegedly issued in the name of the institution. He, however, said some of the certificates were tendered as genuine in government agencies and establishments for employment. AbdulRaheem dropped the hint to journalists in Ilorin while speaking on the state of education in the country. He alleged that some staff members of the institution were responsible for the issuance of the counterfeit results. The provost stated that the college had detailed the Department of State Service (DSS) to trail one of the suspects, who he identified as a dismissed staff of the institution. He stated that the institution had requested the state Ministry of Education, State Universal Basic Education Board and the state Teaching Service Commission to undertake verification of their staff to ascertain the genuineness of the certificates being paraded. The don pointed out that the institution was able to fish out several fake certificates issued in its name during the revalidation exercise. According to him, “More than 2,000 fake results are outside which were given to students from this school. We went to SUBEB, Teaching Service Commission, and Ministry of Education and asked them to do a verification of results. "Many of them have come back and we have discovered that many of the results were fake. They were produced by our own people here. “Many of my staff members were taken to the DSS, as we don’t have problem with our lecturers. It is now left for those who are holding the certificates to own up. “But we thank God now that nobody can give assistance except it is within the confines of the law. Our lecturers are now going to their classes and the students are happy.”

Niger NUT Cautions against Hasty Reopening of Schools

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has cautioned the government against ‘hasty’ reopening of schools, saying the lives of teachers and their pupils should be seriously considered before such action is taken. The Principal Assistant Secretary of the Union in Niger State, Labaran Garba, gave the advice in Minna at the weekend after conducting journalists round the ultra-modern state secretariat of the organisation. According to him, "We should not rush into it (opening of schools) so as not to draw pupils into the pandemic "Teachers are more prone to contacting the diseases because they are closer to the pupils, as they are the first to meet the pupils in the event of either a pupil or teacher has contacted the disease, and that will aid the spread easily." Garba said the Union has submitted a memoranda to the Niger State Government on steps to take before the reopening of school, urging the government to, apart from critically looking into the submission, organise a ‘critical stakeholders meeting’ to fashion out the best approach that will lead to the reopening of schools. He also asked the government to "seriously consider teachers in the sharing of palliatives when the schools reopen." Garba disclosed that N150million has been spent on the construction and furnishing of the ultra-modern secretariat, saying the funding of the project "is purely from the Union dues "We do not owe anybody on this project; we did not collect any bank loan, there is no government intervention, this is done purely from our own 45 percent share of members’ contributions." The administrative building will accommodate all the principal officers of the Union and supporting staff. It also has two board rooms and a conference hall; it has a 1,000 capacity multi-purpose conference centre which is still under construction.

Ekiti Assembly Denies Sabotaging Fayemi Administration

Contrary to speculation that some members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly are harbouring ill-feelings against the state Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the lawmakers have clarified that their relationship with the governor remains strong and cordial. The 26 lawmakers, who were elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said the state executive and legislature have mutual respect for each other, adding that this will be deployed to overhaul every sector of the economy to benefit the masses, rather than sabotaging the system. The Assembly stated this is a statement in Ado Ekiti at the weekend responding to a caustic comment allegedly made by the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, while appearing on a radio programme. During the interview on a local radio station, Ojudu was said to have claimed that some unnamed members of the state House of Assembly were availing with documents of wrongdoings allegedly perpetrated by Fayemi in the running of the state. Debunking the claim in a statement signed by the Chairman, Assembly Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon Yemisi Ayokunle, at the weekend maintained that the statement was intended to cause disaffection between the executive and legislature to derail governance. "Ordinarily, we would not have dignified the erstwhile senator with a response, but because of the evil machinations of human minds and the possibility of some gullible minds believing his lies, he should not be allowed to go away with his blue murder and barefaced lies. "We, as an Assembly, and with all emphasis at our disposal, categorically state that there's no member of our respected Assembly that has any relationship with the ex-senator. "We are men of integrity. We are a set of focused representatives of our people, who cannot be swayed by a character like Ojudu, who prefers to rule in hell than serve in paradise," he said. The lawmakers challenged the Senator to come clear to substantiate the allegation with verifiable facts and point out the personalities involved in the accusation. According to him, "With our knowledge of the performance and relevance of Ojodu in Ekiti State politics, the regular question our people have always asked him is: ‘Senator Ojudu where are your masses?’ "The sixth Assembly is too focused in law making for the good of our people. We are doing this in active collaboration with the other arms of government especially the executive arm. "We are indeed glad that all the efforts of good governance have been made possible by the enabling laws emanating from the Assembly. They are yielding positive results despite the general dwindling financial resources. Everybody can see these except the ostrich among us-like the former senator. "The road infrastructure is there for everyone to see-Oye-Otun; Aramoko- Erijiyan; New Ado- Iyin Road; Airport project; Agbado-Omuo; Ilupeju-Igbemo among others. Only in the week, the contract for the dualisation of Ado-Akure road, influenced by the governor was awarded by the Federal Executive Council (FEC)." The lawmakers, therefore, advised Ojudu to look elsewhere for his co-travellers in the alleged desperate bid to recruit those that will help his battle against the state government, saying the assembly will never be involved in such a sinister adventure.

Lagos Begins Non-restrictive Integrity Test on Schools’ Infrastructure

Following the long absence of schooling in the state as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory (LSMTL) has flagged off the non-destructive test exercise on public school infrastructure to prevent any possibility of collapsed buildings and to ensure safety of pupils, students and staff of the institutions. The General Manager of the agency, Mr. Abiodun Afolabi, who disclosed this at a ceremony held at Omole Senior Secondary School, Omole, Ikeja, where the integrity exercise was flagged off, said it is another significant effort that affirms the commitment of the present administration to reform the Education and Environment sectors in line with the ‘T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda’. According to him, “We are flagging off the commencement of this exercise, which will be carried out in phases. The first phase includes the conduct of non-destructive test on 25 selected primary and secondary schools across the state, which will last for two weeks.” Explaining that the non-destructive tests being conducted by the agency are diagnostic in nature and will reveal any structural defects in the school buildings, the general manager disclosed that similar exercise had been extended to private schools in conjunction with the Ministry of Education with over 50 educational institutions in Ikeja subjecting their buildings to the test. Afolabi revealed that the agency in 2019 also carried out a similar exercise on government buildings within the old and new secretariat complexes at Alausa and Oba Akinjobi respectively, asserted that all the buildings passed the integrity test and were, therefore, declared structurally fit. He maintained that Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory is well equipped to carry out various quality assurance tests, including soil, water, concrete, non-destructive, geoscience among others. While advising residents to subject their buildings to requisite tests, the GM of the agency maintained that the process would go a long way in reducing the loss of lives and property resulting from building and civil engineering infrastructural defects.

Court Adjourns Ruling on Suit Seeking to Restrain APC from Using Direct Primary

The Federal High Court in Benin-city, Edo State, on Monday adjourned the ruling to July 6, 2020, to decide either to hand off or to go on with the case on the direct mode of primary adopted by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the nomination of the party's governorship candidate. The presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Umar, adjourned the suit filed by the factional state Deputy Chairman of the party, Pastor Kenneth Asekomhe, and one of the disqualified governorship aspirants of the party, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, challenging the decision of the party's NWC to adopt direct primary election for the nomination of its governorship candidate. The defendants in the suit are APC, Adams Oshiomhole, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Inspector General of Police (IG. The plaintiffs had earlier filed an ex parte motion restraining the party from adopting the direct mode of primary. They also prayed the court to restrain INEC from monitoring the primaries, and the police from giving effect to the NWC's direct primaries order. At the resumed hearing yesterday, counsel to the second defendant, Roland Otaru (SAN), said he was not satisfied with the ruling of the Appeal Court of June 18, and has decided to approach the Supreme Court for further interpretations He told the court that since the matter has been taken to the superior court, the Lordship should resign himself from the matter. "What happened in court today (yesterday) is that I filed an application for the stay of further proceedings predetermination of my appeal against the decision of the Court of Appeal which was delivered on June 18, 2020, to the Supreme Court. "We are entitled to do that under the constitution. We are entitled to do that under the rule of court. So, I am fortified to have filed the application having regards to the relevant laws. "We are appealing against it because my appeal was struck out at the Court of Appeal because they said I appealled in respect of the substantive matter. ‎ "I have now said that I was dissatisfied with that judgment because what I appealed upon was issue of jurisdiction. "Basically, it is an issue of jurisdiction which is in relation to the internal or domestic affairs of a political party. Because, how can a plaintiff be asking the court to direct the mode of primary to be conducted by a party and the Court of Appeal said we appealed in the respect of the substantive matter? But I then said having regard to the decision of the superior court, they can even decide the matter at that level. "So, they struck out my appeal, but my client has the right to appeal to the Supreme Court," Otaru said On his part, Counsel to the plaintiff, Ken Mozia (SAN), said since both parties could not reach agreement on the matter, they all agreed that the matter should be adjourned.

PDP Mocks Buhari, APC over Demolition of High Commision in Ghana

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday said the demolition of the Nigerian High Commision in Ghana has further shown how Muhammadu Buhari presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) incompetence has destroyed the respect and honour other nations had for the country. The party said the embarrassing situation in Ghana has again highlighted the poor rating of the Buhari presidency by other nations; exposed its lack of capacity to exude the nation pride as well as its failure to meaningfully engage other world leaders on diplomatic issues. The PDP in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, described as disheartening that since the incident, President Buhari and the APC have not demonstrated the littlest effort to preserve Nigeria’s integrity beyond the tepid statements by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema. Ologbondiyan said: "Our party holds that the demolition of our country’s embassy is a huge contempt, which the Buhari presidency could have stopped through engagements at the highest level of diplomatic relations, but failed as a result of sheer incompetence and incapacity to articulate our national pride before other world leaders. "This situation has further explained why attacks on Nigerians and Nigerian interests in foreign lands had escalated under the Buhari administration, with Nigerians being harassed and killed in various parts of the world by assailants, who take advantage of the incompetence and weaknesses of the current government in Nigeria." The PDP particularly recalled how the Buhari administration exhibited unpardonable weakness, and failed to protect innocent Nigerians who were being killed in violent xenophobic attacks in South Africa last year. The party, therefore, called on President Buhari to wake up both to his domestic and international responsibilities, and save Nigeria from further embarrassing situations across the globe.

Ondo 2020: PDP will Not Impose Candidate, Says Secondus

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Uche Secondus, on Monday said the party would not impose candidate on the people ahead of the October 10, 2020, governorship election of Ondo State. Secondus made the promise in Akure, the state capital, when he led some members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to welcome the state Deputy Governor, Mr. Agboola Ajayi, back to the PDP from All Progressives Congress (APC). The PDP chairman said his coming to the state and of the NWC was not to endorse any aspirant. "PDP shall not do anything contrary to its constitution. We have the constitution of Nigeria, we have the constitution of the party and we have the party rule. "Everybody is equal in the party. Agboola Ajayi is like any other aspirant in the party. He is not asking that the rule should be bent for him. He has not come to alter the rule, but to contest under the rule. "We are going to conduct free, fair and credible primary which will make us win the forthcoming governorship election. "It takes courage and commitment for the deputy governor to leave the ruling party for the opposition," Secondus said. He said the party would take up the last Saturday's harassment of the deputy governor and the conduct of the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Bilaji Salami, up when he gets to Abuja. Secondus stated this sequel to the call by a member of Board of Trustee (BoT), Chief Segun Adegoke, and the PDP state Chairman, Mr. Clement Faboyede, that the state Police Commissioner, Salami, be posted out of the state before the governorship election. The duo of Adegoke and Faboyede alleged that the police commissioner was biased and had given himself out with the conduct of the last Saturday against the deputy governor. They asked the Inspector General of Police (IG), Muhammed Adamu, to redeem the image of the police by posting Salami out of the state, saying the man cannot perform fairly during the forthcoming election. Secondus urged party members and aspirants not to play spoilers role in the forthcoming election, but that they should support whoever emerges as the candidate of the party to win the main election.

Midnight Fire Razes Oba Market in Benin-city

The famous Oba Market in Benin-city, capital of Edo State, was on Monday gutted by fire. The fire, which was said to have started in the midnight of yesterday, affected mostly the areas where wears are sold. The Oba Market fire is the forth in the series of markets in the city razed by fire. Other market like Spare Parts Market at Uwelu; Santana Market, Ekiosa Market and now the Oba Market have experienced such ugly incident. This is coming three days after the sellers relocated to the market due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to media report, the fire which began at about 12 midnight raged till about 6 a.m. before fire service from the state and Asaba, Delta State, in conjunction with the NPDC and Nigeria Air Force fire services brought the situation under control. Recounting their losses, one of the traders who sells clothes in the market, Edith Amayo, said she couldn't salvage any of her wares as her shop was completely burnt down. She said: "They called me around 1a.m. today that Oba Market was on fire, on reaching here, we could not find any of our goods.” She, therefore, appealed to the government and well-meaning Nigerians to provide assistance for them. Another trader who deals on cosmetics, who, simply identified herself as Habib, said she lost her goods worth millions of naira. According to her, “Immediately they opened the market last week, I decided to stock my shop. Sadly, I have lost my only means of livelihood. "The fire consumed all my wares. I do not have anything in my store as all my commodities burnt." As at the time of filing this report, the state government was yet to react to the fire incident.

Ndume Berates Bogus Salaries Earned By N'Assembly Members .Calls for referendum to switch to parliamentary system

.Reiterates position on high cost of governance Former Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, has flayed the present presidential system of government practised in the country under which a few privileged public officials including federal legislators earn bogus salaries. He is also canvassing for the conduct of a referendum for the nation to switch from presidential to parliamentary system of government as a means of cutting down the high cost of governance in the country. Ndume, who spoke on Sunday, wondered why a few selected public officials including federal legislators will be paid fantastic salaries as against the pittance being paid an average public worker. He said: "In the current system, workers are not being paid living wages whereas a privileged few are earning luxury wages. The National Assembly members, including me for instance, are paid luxury wages. "How can we live comfortably when only a few of us are living a life of luxury when the majority are living in abject poverty? The N30, 000 minimum wage is too small, it can make workers engage in corruption in order to survive". "We have a budget of over N10 trillion and only 30 per cent is going to the majority whereas 70 per cent would be spent on a few minority. The system we are practising now is not fair in terms of moral, religious, or socially. The ranking Borno South Senator said the change from presidential democracy to parliamentary might be difficult for the current National Assembly to undertake because the present system is also in favour of the federal parliamentarians saying it will be difficult for the system to be changed now because the National Assembly is solely responsible for lawmaking in the country and the amendments to the constitution. He stated further: "The National Assembly may not provide the necessary support that is needed to amend the constitution to accommodate the proposal that the cost of governance should be critically examined. "The excess power bestowed on an individual in the presidential system of government can be abused and had even been abused by many occupants of the office. Therefore, it is high time for Nigeria to look at the original system of government that we inherited". On how to effect a change in the current system of government, the Chairman of the Senate committee on Army opined that legal luminaries should come together and fashion out an acceptable arrangement that can lead to a constitution amendment through referendum. His words: "Legal luminaries should look at the way the parliamentary system could be implemented. Like coming up with a national debate which should compel the National Assembly to either make it as part of the constitution amendment, or a resolution that emanated from the debate. "After the debate, there should be a referendum to look at the system of government we are practising now and the alternative we are proposing because we cannot as a nation, sustain the current arrangement. "So, Nigerians should demand for a referendum to effect the type of system that would improve their wellbeing through drastic reduction in the cost of governance. The system we are running now, which I'm part of, is not fair to majority of Nigerians". "Since Nigeria was a British colony, we started with the Parliamentary system. All over the World today, parliamentary system of government is more popular than the Presidential system. "It is also more effective in the sense that the head of government is more or less, one among equals of the parliamentarians. Therefore accountability is achieved in the chamber in the sense that the prime minister has to be in the parliament every day, and he must give account of government to his colleagues. "Also, Ministers are selected among the elected parliamentarians. The idea is to reduce the cost of governance and make it more effective. Ndume also reiterated his position on high cost of governance in the country saying the recent stand of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Sanusi Lamido, have vindicated his position on the high cost of running a presidential democracy, which he insisted was no longer realistic. According to him, “the current cost of governance is too much in Nigeria and the system is benefiting only a few people, which is not fair, if this country will move forward. "You can imagine what we would have achieved as a government, if 70 per cent of the resources we are currently spending in running the presidenial democracy in Nigeria is appropriated every year for capital projects that would benefit the larger members of the society. "The irony of it is that the service delivery is not commensurate with the huge resources we are deploying in overhead and personnel cost, which formed 70 per cent of our annual budget. "I am happy that the views expressed by the Vice President and the former Emir are in agreement with my position which I maintained in recent interviews I granted to the media. The comments of the two highly respected Nigerians have vindicated me", Ndume had said.

CNPP Threatens N'Assembly Lockdown over Detention of CUPP Spokesperson

The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) on Sunday warned that the National Assembly will be lockdown over the detention of the spokesperson of Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), Mr Ikenga Ugochinyere by the police. Recently the House at the plenary resolved to take legal actions against Ugochinyere for alleging that the lawmakers collected $10 million bribe from American billionaire, Bill Gates to pass the Control of Infectious Disease Bill. Addressing journalists in Abuja, the CNPP Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu said Ugochinyere was arrested by policemen last Thursday in Abuja, allegedly on the orders of the leadership of the House of Representatives, despite an existing Order of Court which had been served on the police. He said Ugochinyere’s life is currently in danger, as he is kept in a crowded cell of about 40 people and the police authorities should be held responsible if he tests positive for COVID-19 after 14 days of his release. He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to order all security agencies to henceforth obey all court orders in the country. According to Ezugwu, ''The House cannot be a judge in its case, noting that it cannot make laws, interpret and enforce the laws, when there is separation of power in the country. Our major fears at the moment is that Mr. lkenga may not come out of police detention alive. Our findings show that not only that Mr. lkenga is kept in a crowded cell of about 40, people who were arrested for contravening the COVID protocols and curfew have continued to be added to the cell.'' ''It is surprising that at a time the Police authorities are expected to decongest detention facilities nationwide as a result of the COVlD-19 pandemic, the contrary is the case. We will not hesitated to mobilise all pro-democracy forces and civil society groups for a lockdown of the National Assembly if the CUPP spokesman is not released.''

Delta SSG, Information Commissioner Test Positive for COVID-19

As the number of the COVID-19 cases across Nigeria continued its upward movement at the weekend, two top-ranking members of the Delta State Government have tested positive for the novel Coronavirus. The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, who disclosed this in a statement in Asaba on Sunday, said that the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Chiedu Ebie, and the state Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu had been confirmed to have been infected with the disease. The two functionaries have be on the frontline of the state government efforts to contain the COVID-19 since the index case on February 7, 2020 not only at the planning and strategy levels but also in intensified enlightenment campaign and state-wide monitoring of citizens' compliance levels with medical protocols. Only last week, the information commissioner disclosed that he had taken the test for the disease while appealing to the people of the state to take the precautionary regulations more seriously and to volunteer themselves for testing if they suspected certain symptoms similar to those associated with the COVID-19. Nonetheless, CPS Ifeajika said that the two government officials had been taken into an isolation centre after showing "mild symptoms of the virus and consequently subjected themselves to the test." Mr Ebie and Mr Aniagwu were "stable and responding well to treatment" the statement noted and reiterated the need for citizens and residents of the state "to adhere strictly to the COVID-19 protocols as anyone, irrespective of status, could contract the virus." Ifeajika said, "Let me advise all Deltans to, as a matter of top priority, always obey the COVID-19 protocols, which have been in public domain, so as to curb further spread of the pandemic. “The fresh cases in our hands in Delta further testifies to the fact that COVID-19 is not a scam. It is real and people should take the issues of the virus and personal hygiene seriously. “COVID-19 is not a death sentence; so, when you begin to feel unwell, reach out to approved government hospitals for appropriate tests to be carried out. “We can save ourselves and others from this virus if we obey all the protocols of wearing face masks, regular washing of hands in running water, use of alcohol-based sanitisers and maintaining physical-distancing while congregating in any form. “All our hospitals and isolation centres across the state are on 24 hours alert to receive any case(s) of the Coronavirus or other health challenges.” Meanwhile, a Catholic clergyman, Rev Fr Norbert Uchuno of SS Peter and Paul parish, Issele-Azagba, a suburb of Asaba, has decried the widespread flouting of the government guidelines against the COVID-19, saying Christians are duty-bound not only to protect lives but also to ensure that they do not endanger the lives of others. Speaking on Sunday during a homily titled "Trust and Obey", Fr Ochuno wondered who the people could not abide by simple instructions like wearing of a facemask, personal hygiene observances and social distancing when the Obi of Issele-Azagba who is more than 80 years was seen keeping the rules strictly. From Monday, 22nd June, nobody would be allowed into the SS Peter & Paul Catholic Church building without properly wearing a facemask, the priest warned.

Anambra Man Goes Berserk, Kills Son, Daughter, Injures Father

A 34-year-old man, Ifeanyi Apusiobi in Ogbunike in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State on Sunday reportedly killed his daughter and son, when injuring his 72 years old father. A resident of the area said the man suddenly went berserk early at about 1am on Sunday and attacked his children in their sleep, killing them. "I can't just say what happened to him. Maybe he took something that made him run amok. I can't just say. It's painful. The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Haruna Mohammed who confirmed the incident said the man killed the children, Chinecherem and Obinna with a wooden pestle in their sleep, while injuring his aged father on the head. Mohammed said, "At about 1am on Sunday, police operatives attached to Ogbunike police station arrested one Ifeanyi Apusiobi, aged 34years of Azu Ogbunike in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State. "Suspect allegedly ran amok in circumstances yet to be ascertained and attacked two of his biological children namely Chinecherem Apusiobi( daughter) aged seven years and Obinna Apusiobi (son) aged five years with a wooden pistle on their heads while they were sleeping. "Suspect equally used same object and injured his father one Dominic Apusiobi aged 72 years on the head. "Police detectives visited the scene and rushed victims to the hospital for medical attention where the children were certified dead by a medical doctor while the aged father is responding to treatment. "Corpses were deposited at Isienyi hospital morgue for autopsy. Exhibit recovered and case transferred to State Criminal Investigation Department, Awka for discreet investigation," he said.

Immigration Intercepts Two Indian Illegal Immigrants

The authorities of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, have intercepted two Indian nationals for illegally entering Nigeria without proper documentation. The Indian suspects, who entered the country through land border, would be prosecuted by Immigration Service. Lagos Airport Comptroller of the NIS, Abdullahi Usman, made this known at the weekend in his briefing, stating that the two Indians, both male, were intercepted during the screening of Indian nationals that were being evacuated from Nigeria through the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos. Usman also disclosed that while profiling the men, it was discovered that they entered Nigeria through the land border and had visa on arrival application approval, which they failed to present to Immigration at the border. He further disclosed that the men had been in Cotonou, Benin Republic, for a month as they had the stamp of that country dated February 9, 2020, when they left and entered Nigeria illegally as they did not present themselves for immigration checks at the border. The Command said the two Indians, 32 and 29 respectively, would be prosecuted according to the Nigeria Immigration laws as deterrence to others Meanwhile, 446 Indian nationals were evacuated from Nigeria last Saturday as part of the ongoing evacuation of foreign nationals as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Spokesman of NIS, Sunday James, said the Comptroller-General of NIS, Muhammad Babandede, has warned migrants to desist from breaking the Immigration laws of countries of transit or destination to avoid sanctions that may result in stopping them from coming to Nigeria or payment of fees chargeable, depending on the gravity of the offence committed and what the law stipulates for any of such offence.

COVID-19: Techpreneur Tasks Telecoms, Govt on Free Internet Access for Indigent Pupils

Sunday Okobi In an effort to bridge the seeming inequities in the education sector for indigent primary and secondary school pupils in Nigeria, telecommunications operators in the country have been urged to provide free internet access to aid virtual learning amid the COVID-19 lockdown on schools. Making the appeal in a statement issued and made available to THISDAY yesterday, a leading Nigerian Techpreneur, Mr. Joel Popoola, said this is the best period for telecoms operators to make learning easy for indigent pupils by providing free internet access on learning resources. Popoola, who stated that the coronavirus pandemic has forced schools globally to switch to online learning, lamented that millions of children in Nigeria have been left behind “because they have no access to remote-learning,” adding that telecoms operators should urgently bridge the digital-divide. The digital democracy campaigner averred further that: "That is why we’re pleading with the Minister of Communication, Dr. Isa Patami, to compel both indigenous and non-indigenous telecommunication providers to play their part, support millions of helpless children and their parents, think creatively and ensure the digital-divide is breached at this unprecedented time. Last Sunday, Nigeria crossed the 20,000 mark of confirmed COVID-19 infections and has recorded over 500 deaths. The Federal Ministry of Education had announced the shut-down of all schools in Nigeria from March 23 and subsequently launched free e-learning portals for all students in primary and secondary schools following the closure. Popoola, who is the creator of the leading Digital Democracy Project-Rate Your Leader app, said Nigeria’s already appalling position as the headquarters of the world's out-of-school children may exacerbate during and after the school lockdown except the government and telecoms operators come to the aid of the disadvantaged young people. According to him in the statement, “No doubt, the coronavirus pandemic has adversely affected all aspects of humanity. But it is disheartening that the educational system in Nigeria has been worst hit and children from poor families are bearing the brunt of what can be largely fixed. "The pandemic is widening educational gaps and indigent students are now being disadvantaged. Wealthier Nigerian families have access to the internet, and schools in affluent areas enjoy seamless right of entry to educational resources. “On the contrary, we have millions of home which can't receive home lessons, teaching and follow government's learning portal because they don't have means of purchasing data to access internet." While commending states like Lagos, Ogun, Kwara and others for airing school lessons on radio and television, Popoola, however, said inadequate resources for deployment to under-served communities remain a challenge. "We are not oblivious of the fact that some of these telecoms companies have donated one way or the other to government during the COVID-19 pandemic, but our call for such creative support from the firms is to make a contribution to support the most vulnerable and the poorest during this time and this will lift the society especially in rural communities," he said.

Anambra Bars Journalists from Visiting Airport Project Site

Anambra State Government last Tuesday barred journalists from visiting the site of the proposed cargo airport project in Umueri, Anambra East Local Government Area. The journalists, who were on an independent investigation to find out the level of work at the site, were stopped by youths who insisted that they had the order of the state Commissioner for Works, Marcel Efejiofor, not to let journalists into the site. The state Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, had flagged off the $2.2billion Umueri Cargo Airport project in April 2017, with a promise to complete the project in 18 months. He had added that the project was being undertaken by a Chinese Company, Sinoking International on a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) agreement, with the state donating land as its only contribution to the project. The project remained undone, while its delay was blamed on seizure of a drone meant for aerial surveillance by the federal government. Obiano, however, budgeted N6billion for the project in the 2020 budget, saying the state would recover its N6billion once the Chinese company returns to site. He also promised to finish the project in 18 months. Eight months to the 18months deadline, it is not certain how much work has been achieved. Attempt to visit the project was vehemently rejected by the state works commissioner, who instead, opted to speak to THISDAY in his office in Awka, even though he was at the site. "I don't know what you want to be told about the project. Go and quote me, just say work has not started. I am not ready to talk further on the project, so you can say that I said no comment. "If you have other things to know about the state of roads in Anambra State, I will be ready to speak to you, but I am not willing to talk about the airport," he said.

Bayelsa Gov Mourns Capt Owonaro, Isaac Boro’s Ally

Captain Sam Owonaro, one of the leaders of the 1966 12-day revolutionary war led by late Major Isaac Adaka Boro to free the Niger Delta from Nigeria, is dead. Reacting to the death of Owonaro, who was the Chief of Staff to Boro during the war, the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, said the Ijaw nation has lost a giant. In a statement issued yesterday by his acting Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, the governor expressed sadness over the passing of Owonaro, whom he described as a giant, father, hero and one of the greatest leaders of modern Ijaw in Nigerian history. Diri said Owonaro's steadfastness and dedication to the cause of the Ijaw nation was a source of inspiration and motivation to him just as it was a guiding light to millions of people. While extending his condolences to the Owonaro family of Kaiama, the people of Kolokuma/Opokuma and Bayelsa State in general, the governor said he was comforted by Pa Owonaro's legacy of self-denial, commitment and loyalty with which he battled for equity, fairness and justice. He recalled that these were the same issues that propelled the late Major Isaac Adaka Boro and his colleagues, at very tender ages, to be involved in the legendary 12-day revolution. According to him, “These issues are still dear to Bayelsans and the Ijaw nation. Owonaro was indeed a giant and we are privileged to have had the benefit of his erudition and wise counsel. His steadfastness and dedication to the cause of the Ijaw nation was a source of inspiration and motivation for me and a guiding light to millions of others. Today, that light has been extinguished and it feels as though we have been engulfed by darkness. "We are blessed to have shared in the life of Owonaro, who embodied such values and ideals." The late Owonaro, who would have been 76 years on July 22, is reputed for his gallantry alongside the late Isaac Boro, Nottingham Dick and others who declared a Niger Delta Republic in 1966.

Nigerian Economy in Shambles, PDP Insists ...Defends Atiku's debt assertion

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday berated the federal government over attempts to hoodwink Nigerians by concealing official documented data on debts and the alarming state of the country’s economy. According to the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, "Our party insists that it is in public knowledge that our country's economy has been mismanaged arising from excessive borrowings by the President Muhammadu Buhari's administration." The PDP described as scandalous, disgraceful and highly irresponsible that the Buhari-led administration attempted to disprove already known facts as presented by former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar that the Nigeria’s debt profile under the Buhari administration has risen to 99 percent of the revenue profile in the first quarter of 2020. PDP said it is reprehensible that the federal government, through the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, would deny that its first quarter 2020 financial report stated that federal government’s retained revenue stood at N950.56 billion while the total debt services was N943.12 billion. In the federal government denial, the PDP said the minister forgot that the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy document from the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, which showed the figures, was already in the public domain. The party said for the avoidance of doubt, tables 3.4 and 4.3 of the report respectively state that: “As at end of March 2020, FGN’s retained revenue was N950.56 billion,” and that “of the expenditure, N943.12 billion, was for debt service.” The PDP urged Nigerians to note how the response by the federal government to issues raised by Atiku has further exposed the falsehood and concealments inherent in the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration and why the country’s economy has been in a dire strait. According to the PDP spokesperson, “The fact is that the Buhari administration has destroyed the economy with accumulation of debts to the extent that the debt profile has risen to 99 percent of the retained revenue,” adding that no amount of whitewash by the Minister of Information can distort such fact. He explained that it is equally inexcusable for the minister to claim that the debts taken by the administration was meant to address the poverty it brought to the country, when it cannot point to any tangible project it had done in any critical sector apart from turning the country into the poverty capital of the world. PDP stated, therefore, that it is, however, clear that with the prevailing situation and the refusal by the Buhari-led government to take responsibility for its actions, the economy is heading to the brinks. It counseled the Buhari administration to desist from its denials and take responsibility for the economic crisis and debt burden it has plunged Nigeria into, declaring that the earlier they wake up and begin to think of what legacy their eight years in office will be remembered for, the better.

FG Knocks Atiku over Alarm on Debt Profile

Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has come under criticism from the federal government for portraying an apocalyptic scenario about the country’s debt profile. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, likened Atiku's prophetic submission to one anchored on a false premise. Mohammed said although the federal government is open to constructive criticism, such must be based on verifiable facts rather than conjectures and innuendos. ''There is no doubt that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar loves our country and wishes it well, otherwise he would not have sustained his serial quest for the country's highest position. One can only hope that his resort to the use of such words as 'precipice', 'foreclosure' and 'economic ruin' does not reflect anything but best wishes for the country at this time,” Mohammed said. The minister punched hole in the figure of Nigeria’s debt to revenue ratio of 99 per cent in the first quarter of 2020 quoted by Atiku, saying it was not in the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper, where the former vice-president claimed he got it from. He said: ''We are also not able to ascertain the source of the first quarter figures of N943.12 billion for debt servicing and N950.56 billion for retained revenue, which he also quoted.” According to the minister, the debt service provisions in the annual budgets included principal repayments, interest payments and all other applicable charges. ''Therefore, the statement that debt servicing does not equate to debt repayment is not only wrong, but ill-informed,” he added. In response to the assertion by Atiku asking for revenue to be scaled up, Mohammed noted that the federal government has introduced several measures to boost revenue drive. He listed some of the measures to include the passage and implementation of the Finance Act 2019, various on-going reforms in the oil and gas sector, tax administration and collections, as well as the strategic revenue growth initiatives. In addition, Mohammed also waved off the possibility of foreclosure on Nigeria by creditors as predicted by Atiku. He said such scenario is unlikely as the country's debt service is expressly provided in the annual budgets and the debt service payments are made as and when due. He said contrary to Atiku's allusion that Nigeria has experienced alarming and unprecedented increase in the ratios of debt to GDP and debt service to revenue, the country's ratio of debt to GDP is one of the lowest in the world at 19 per cent as at December 31, 2019.

Boko Haram Displaces over 10,000 Registered Farmers in Chad Basin

The Managing Director of Chad Basin Development Authority (CBDA), Abba Garba, has lamented that Boko Haram insurgency in the North-east region has displaced no fewer than 10,000 farmers within the Chad Basin. Garba, who spoke to journalists on Wednesday in Maiduguri, further decried that the terrorists also destroyed farming equipment and infrastructures worth billions of naira belonging to CBDA during their siege on the Basin. He said the CBDA remains the largest casualty of Boko Haram terrorism in the country, with its projects in Marte, Ngala and other parts of the region completely grounded and equipment totally vandalised. Garba, who spoke on the planned return of the CBDA to the vandalised and subsequently abandoned projects in the Chad Basin towards enhancing food security in the Northeast region and the country in general, lamented that most of the registered farmers who were displaced in 2014 when the terrorists struck their project sites are living as internally displaced persons (IDPs) across the various camps in Maiduguri. He commended the interest of Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, to reviving the agriculture sector in the state, noting that the governor was recently in Marte, one of their project sites, where he promised to assist in reviving the projects. Garba said: "In collaboration with us, he (Borno State governor) has already started rehabilitating the burnt down houses with a view to relocating the farmers out of the IDPs camps to the farming sites in New Marte. "In New Marte, we had about 4,000 registered farmers while in Ngala, which is another project site in the Basin, we had about 1,500 registered farmers who were all displaced by the insurgency.” He regretted that presently, of the 90 percent Borno residents who are farmers, 40 to 50 percent of them are living in IDPs camps, depending on NGOs and governments to feed daily. Garba said with the relative peace in the state and massive rehabilitation of structures and replacement of equipment destroyed by the terrorists, food and economic life of the North-east region would soon be revived. He said the staff need not be afraid of their security, noting that most of the areas such as Marte and Ngala have adequate security presence with troops on ground regularly.

Edo Election: Court Adjourns Hearing in Suit Seeking to Stop Ize-Iyamu

Edo State High Court in Benin-city on Wednesday adjourned hearing till June 19 in the suit seeking to restrain the All Progressives Congress (APC) from recognising Osagie Ize-Iyamu as an aspirant in the party's governorship primary election scheduled for June 22, 2020. ‎ Justice Emmanuel Ahamioje, the presiding judge, who gave the defendants 24 hours to file their response, subsequently adjourned the matter till June 19. Recall that the court had earlier refused to grant exparte application seeking to restrain the APC from recognising Ize-Iyamu as an aspirant in the party's governorship primary election scheduled for June 22. The suit instituted in the court by the state factional Deputy Chairman of the party, Kenneth Asekomhe; Benjamin Oghumu, Mathew Ogbebor and Unweni Nosa is challenging the membership waiver granted to Ize-Iyamu. But the defendants in the suit, APC, Adams Oshiomhole, and Osagie Ize-Iyamu), are saying the court has no jurisdiction to meddle in the internal affairs of the party. ‎ At the resumed hearing yesterday, counsel to the first and second defendants, Victor Ohiosumua, told journalists that they were supposed to take their first and second preliminary objections and then take the originating summons itself together. "But unfortunately, as we were moving for the first and second preliminary objections, which we were just served today by the Clerk, and the rules of court is very clear on the subject that we need time to file our response, and because of that, the case could not go on today," he said.

We'll Overcome Security Challenges, Says NSA

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Muhammad Babagana Mungono (rtd), said Nigeria would soon overcome security challenges facing it. Mungono disclosed this on Wednesday at the Government House in Sokoto State when he led a delegation to commiserate with the state Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, and the people of the state over the recent bandits attack which claimed the lives of 74 persons. He added that he was in Katsina and Sokoto States in the instance of President Muhamnadu Buhari on assessment and consultation visit. According to the NSA, the president was extremely worried about the security situation in the North-west region, stressing that security matter is a collective efforts of all stakeholders. He said insecurity in some parts of the country has brought lack confidence in the system, adding that President Buhari has assured Nigerians that he would do everything humanly possible to curb the menace. "We are not dampening hope yet ‘Insha Allah’, we will overcome the challenges,” he said. Mungono further explained that the present administration has done a lot in the areas of security, saying earlier, security challenges were conventional, but now it has taken a new dimension in asymmetric manner where it required human, technical and signal intelligence. At the palace of the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar 111, NSA delivered the president heart felt condolence to the people of the state. He averred that the federal government has resolved to solving the security challenges in the country. Responding, Sultan thanked the president for remembering them at this trying period. He assured the NSA and his team of maximum support. Those in the entourage of the NSA were Inspector General of Police (IG), Muhammad Adamu Suleiman; Director-General of Department of State Service (DSS), Yusuf Magaji Bichi; Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ahmad Abubakar, and the Director General of Defence Intelligence Agency.

You Are Nigeria’s Problem, PDP Mocks APC

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday said the All Progressives Congress (APC) is Nigeria’s major problem, noting that the ruling party has proven to be nothing but a “despotic platform; a soulless mob and political virus that has no interest in the wellbeing of Nigerians.” The PDP berated the APC leadership over its unwarranted tirade against River State Governor, Nyesom Wike’s unflawed comments on the overbearing conduct of APC leadership, particularly in trying to impose itself on the people of Edo State. The PDP, however, in a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, noted that the outburst by the vindictive APC leadership under Adams Oshiomhole does not reflect the views and opinions of majority of APC governors and democratically-minded leaders in the APC, who are completely averse to the unbridled impunity being exhibited by the national leadership of the party. According to him, "Our party invites Nigerians to note that such impunity, arrogance, egoism, recklessness and disdain for rules and order, which are symptomatic of crass incompetence and cluelessness, are at the root of the problems which the APC, under the leadership of Oshiomhole, has brought upon our country. "It is on record that the contemporary political, security and economic situation in our country has never been as bad as being experienced under the current APC leadership, which has brought nothing but confusion, acrimony, failures and impunity within the ruling party and its government, leading to the perilous situations in our country today." The PDP stressed that Wike’s position reflects that of most APC members, particularly in Edo State. Sadly, the Oshiomhole-led leadership has become so irredeemable in its arrogance that it cannot realise that it is standing alone, particularly on all issues related to Edo State governorship election. The party said majority of Nigerians are aware how Wike and other PDP leaders across board have been resisting the relentless ploy by the APC leadership to destroy the nascent democracy, subjugate Nigerians and appropriate their wishes and aspiration, especially during elections. PDP said: “It is therefore not surprising that the APC leadership, having been exposed, would resort to hauling of invectives and tirades on the Rivers State Governor, Wike, and other democratically-minded Nigerians. "Our party sternly cautions that it would not accept any such venting of frustration by the APC on any of our governors or members." The PDP stressed that the APC leadership should blame nobody but itself for its self-inflicted problems, and come to terms with the fact that the train has already left the station.

Bayelsa Youths Flog Otuoke Varsity Student over Facebook Post

Students of the Federal University Otuoke in Bayelsa State are in crisis with the youths of the community after the youths in the area publicly flogged a 300-level student of the institution for making a post on Facebook that they felt was offensive to their community. The student, Obi Nezie, had allegedly described Otuoke, the university town, as a small community in a literary piece he posted on Facebook. But the youths considered that the description disparage their community. So they found him, tried him, found him guilty and flogged him severely. Otuoke is also the hometown of former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. Nezie described the town thus: “Otuoke is a small place. A very small place! It might seem big, but it's a small place.” The action of the youths, media check revealed, is raising tension between students and the community youths. The youths, it was gathered, had stormed Nezie’s hostel and dragged him to the community town hall where he was given a dose of their brutality. A leader of the youths said on his social media page that the student defamed the community by referring to it as a small community infested with ninja mosquitoes and harsh weather. "It has come to our notice that some individuals, including few students and former students of the Federal University Otuoke have taken it upon themselves to regularly dent and ridicule the image of the community and other respected personalities in the land of Otuoke on social media for no just cause," the post said. The Divisional Police Officer in Kolo Area Division was said to have intervened when the student was taken captive and had asked the youths to free the student. But they refused and went ahead to flog him. The student union government of the university in its reaction, said it had discovered that Nezie’s post was just a fictional piece. It however demanded an unqualified apology from the community youths. "The students’ leadership demands that an apology be tendered to the student for the physical abuse, abuse of his fundamental human right (freedom of expression/freedom to thought) as a full citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “That no students should henceforth be taken to the community town hall to face any panel without the inclusiveness or authorisation of the school management and the SUG. “Also, that no students should henceforth be arrested by the police on the orders of the community without approval by the school management and SUG. “Negligence to these demands will lead and charge the SUG to involve relevant agencies, authorities, organisations, and or bodies concerned with students welfare in conjunction with the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS),” it said.

UNICEF Identifies over 36,000 Children as Victims of Violence in Nigeria

As the world celebrates the Day of the African Child 2020, it is estimated that Nigeria is facing a child rights crisis with more than 36,000 children being identified as victims of violence, including 5,693 survivors of sexual violence. This was disclosed by UNICEF Nigeria in a statement signed by Communication Specialist, Geoffrey Njoku, and made available to journalists on Tuesday in Bauchi. The statement said the victims were identified and documented in seven states of Nigeria since 2017, stressing that “very few of those cases made it to the courtrooms, let alone resulted in justice for child-victims.” It further said the number of children awaiting trial for what are often petty crimes is estimated to be more than 1,000, with children often held in detention with adults and in conditions that no child should live in. While lamenting the plight of the children in such situations, UNICEF’s Representative in Nigeria, Peter Hawkins, said: “Access to a child-friendly justice system is essential for protecting children’s rights and addressing violence against children. Without access to a child-friendly justice system, children’s rights will remain elusive, and as a society, we cannot serve the best interests of children especially in the face of violations of their rights.” According to the statement, as part of activities marking the week, experts in various fields will discuss these and other issues relating to the need to develop a child-friendly justice system in Nigeria. It is expected that no fewer than 800 participants and panelists will deliberate and develop strategies to address the challenge of ensuring that children can access a justice system that considers their special needs and their rights. On 16 June every year, the African Union and its partners celebrate the Day of the African Child (DAC) in commemoration of the 1976 protests by school children in Soweto, South Africa. The students protested an education designed to further the purposes of the apartheid regime. The brutal response of the apartheid security agencies to the unarmed students’ protests resulted in the death of several of them. The 1976 protests contributed greatly to the eventual collapse of the apartheid regime. In 1991, the African Union Assembly (then Organisation of African Unity) passed a resolution designating 16 June as a Day for the celebration of the African child. This year’s event is tagged: ‘Access to a Child-Friendly Justice System in Africa’.

Landlord, Two Others Killed in Yenagoa Cult War

Three people, including a 50-year-old landlord, were killed in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, when some people suspected to be cultists attacked a drinking joint last Monday evening. Several other people were injured in the attack. The attackers were suspected to be on a reprisal mission at the drinking spot on Customs Road in the state. The landlord, Mr. Niceman Agonebi, popularly known as ‘Honorable’, was an in-law to former Deputy Governor of the State, Hon. Peremobowei Ebebi. The owner of the bar, popularly called Madam Odey, had her jaw shattered by stray bullet. The gunmen had arrived at the place in a tricycle at about 8p.m. and opened fire on their target, who was in the midst of other people at the joint. They continued shooting their way as they escaped, wounding many passersby. Although the police and Bayelsa State Vigilante Service and Volunteer went after the gunmen, they could not get them. The acting Chairman of the State Vigilante Service, Hon. Doubiye Alagba, told journalists that the state government has gathered useful information on the activities of the rival cult groups involved in the killings and would nab them soon. Alagba condoled with the families of the victims, and warned cult members to steer clear of the state. There has been a confrontation between the Icelanders and the Bobos, who are known as De Bam-two cult groups operating in the state. About eight people have been killed in cult clashes since last month. A clash between the groups had claimed the life of a 17-year-old boy and four other people a few days ago in Amarata. The spokesperson of the State Police Command, Asinim Butswat, confirmed the incident, and assured the people that the perpetrators would be brought to book.