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  • ICPC arrests 4 ex-Kogi commissioners over alleged fraud

    ICPC arrests 4 ex-Kogi commissioners over alleged fraud

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says it has arrested and detained four Commissioners in the administration of former Governor of Kogi, Cpt. Idris Wada, over alleged fraud.

    Spokesman of the commission, Mrs Rasheedat Okoduwa, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

    Okoduwa identified the ex-commissioners as Kayode Olowomoran (Culture and Tourism), Abdulrahman Wuya (Transport); Godwin Onama (Works) and Ali Ajuh (Budget and Planning).

    She said the suspects’ arrest followed ICPC’s investigations into an alleged misapplication of a N2 billion SME loan they secured from the Central Bank of Nigeria on behalf of the state.

    According to her, they acted in connivance with the former governor, his Accountant-General, Ibrahim Idakwo, and a former Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Commerce, Frank Onoja.

    “Preliminary investigations by the Commission also revealed that the suspects allegedly partook in the mismanagement of another N8 billion bond that was raised to fund 57 projects across the state.

    “The large sums of monies released for the projects were allegedly far beyond the levels of work done.

    “Furthermore, the suspects are alleged to have benefited from illegal deductions to the tune of N1.3 billion made from the funds of 21 local government councils of the state by the same administration,” she said.

    The ICPC spokesperson said the suspects would remain in custody until they fulfilled the administrative bail conditions granted them by the commission, while investigations continue.

    NAN

  • I remain in APC- Sen. Boroffice

    I remain in APC- Sen. Boroffice

    Sen. Ajayi Boroffice, representing the Ondo North Senatorial District in the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Thursday, said that he had not joined another political party as being speculated.

    Borffice made this clarification in a statement made available to newsmen in Akure by his media aide, Mr Kayode Fakuyi.

    “Few days ago after a successful APC stakeholders’ meeting in Akure, a plot to link Sen. Boroffice to another party in Ondo State was hatched; the plot is diversionary.

    “The senator remains a chieftain of the APC in Ondo State and has not at anytime resigned his membership of the party nor at any moment joined another party,’’ Fakuyi said.

    “As a grassroots politician and one of the founding fathers of APC in state, if he has any reason to join another party, it will attract statewide rallies and political carnivals.

    “The evolution of the APC did not start with the 2016 governorship primary election in the state.

    “It started in 2011 when Sen. Boroffice, as the only elected member of the Action Congress of Nigeria ( ACN ) in Ondo State, mobilised fellow progressives to build the progressive family in the state,’’ he said.

    Fakuyi advised the citizenry to disregard any false report that the senator had left the APC, saying it was untrue.

    “On the circulated letter, which purportedly appointed the deputy chairman of our party as the acting chairman, the letter is fake.

    “Mr Isaac Kekemeke remains the state chairman of the party,” he said.

    “If there is any allegation against the state chairman, the allegation should be investigated.

    “Only the National Executive Committee of the party has the power to sack the state party chairman and appoint an acting chairman.

    “It is on record that the NEC of our party has not considered the matter and has not taken any position on it. Any letter seeking his removal is fake in its entirety.

    According to Fakuyi, Boroffice reaffirms his confidence in the state chairman of APC in Ondo State.

    He said, “about 75 per cent of the party’s followers have declared support for the state chairman and no outsider can impose any pro-tempore chairman on our party.

    “The letter, which purportedly appointed the deputy chairman as the acting chairman is fake.

    “The well-attended meeting held on Nov. 27 deliberated on a number of issues and made far-reaching resolutions.

    “Stakeholders passed a vote of confidence on Mr Isaac Kekemeke-led State Executive Committee ( SEC ) of the party and reiterated support for the APC-led Federal and Ondo State Governments,” he said.

    However, Mr Abayomi Adesanya, the state party spokesman, told us that the investigative committee did its work thoroughly and invited the former chairman three times but he refused to turn up.

    Adesanya said the hearing was open and transparent, adding that the national leadership of the party wrote and approved the Acting Chairman of the party, Mr Ade Adetimehin, pending the final resolution of the issue.

    Kekemeke was suspended by the State Working Committee ( SWC ) of the party on June 1, 2017.

    The suspension arose from a division in the party, occasioned by the outcome of the last governorship primary election, which produced Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu as the party’s flag bearer in the last governorship election.

    NAN

  • Atiku ‘s defection from APC, UNILORIN fake admission list dominate Google search

    Atiku ‘s defection from APC, UNILORIN fake admission list dominate Google search

    The defection of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar from the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) and the University of Ilorin fake admission list dominated searches on the internet search engine, Google, this week.

    Mr Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Google’s Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Anglophone West Africa, disclosed this in a dispatch on Thursday in Lagos.

    According to him, this week’s top trending search terms on Google Nigeria were dominated by both foreign and national new items.

    “Abubakar, on Tuesday resigned from the ruling APC and plans to seek the opposition Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) presidential ticket to run for President in 2019.

    “In his statement of resignation, he cited maltreatment by the party and the failure of the party to live up to the expectation of Nigerian youth as one of the major reasons for his resignation.

    “Interested Nigerians raced to Google search to read his full statement of resignation,’’ Kola-Ogunlade said.

    The Google manager said that the University of Ilorin came on the search light when a fake admission list was circulated on the social media.

    “The management of UniIlorin has urged candidates seeking admission into the institution for the 2017/2018 academic session to patiently wait for the release of the authentic admission list by the Institution.

    “The university in a statement on Tuesday said that its attention had been drawn to a fake admissions list currently circulating on social media, and urged students not to fall prey to admission fraudsters.

    “The institution has directed students to check their Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board ( JAMB ) portal for admissions’ updates.

    “Concerned students raced to Google to search for more information about the anticipated admissions list,’’ he said.

    Kola-Ogunlade said that the rhythm and blues singer, Bankole Wellington and wife, Nollywood actress, Adesua Etomi trended when Banky W mistakenly posted picture of his naked wife on social media.

    “On Nov. 25, R&B singer, Banky W and Nollywood actress, Etomi tied the knot in a ceremony held in Cape Town, South Africa.

    “A day after, Banky W wanted to give a shout-out to his fans, by showing them their honeymoon lodge and Zebra right outside his bedroom window but, unknown to him he posted an image on social media which had his naked wife in the background.

    “The image went viral before the mistake was noticed. Banky W deleting the image has not stopped fans from searching for more details, making ‘Banky W’ a top trending search term on Google,’’ he said.

    On the international scene, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle engagement got people’s attention online.

    “The Prince of Wales, Charles announced the engagement of his second son, Prince Harry to his American girlfriend, actress Meghan Markle on Monday at Kensington Palace.

    “The happy couple who will tie the knot by spring next year granted their first interview as an engaged couple to the BBC, where Prince Harry described how he proposed to Meghan.

    “Since the announcement, controversy has arisen about Meghan’s background, which made her name a top trending search term on Google this week,’’ he said.

    Kola-Ogunlade said that the Brazilian professional footballer, Robson de Souza, commonly known as Robinho, was sentenced to nine years in prison after being found guilty of gang rape.

    He said that the Brazilian striker was sentenced by a court in Milan for being one of a six-people involved in the assault of a 22-year-old woman at a Milanese nightclub in 2013.

    Kola-Ogunlade said that Robinho’s current club, Atletico Mineiro, had declined to comment on the sentence, stating they would only speak through the team’s lawyers, if necessary.

    The news of Robinho’s sentence has made his name a top trending search term on Google, he said.

    Google Trends launched in May 2006, allows one to see how popular, search terms and its demography have been over time on Google.

    NAN

  • Aisha Buhari provides free medical services for 3,000 patients in Zamfara

    Aisha Buhari provides free medical services for 3,000 patients in Zamfara

    The wife of the President, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, through her NGO “Future Assured Initiative”, on Thursday flagged off her free medical services for 3,000 women, children and the aged in Zamfara.

    Aisha Buhari, who was represented by the Coordinator of the project, Mrs Zuwaira Gambo, said in Gusau that the project was aimed at providing free and improved health services for the vulnerable groups.

    She said that is was also aimed at assisting the Federal Government in addressing the health problems affecting women and children.

    The 3,000 beneficiaries of the prgramme were from the 14 local government areas of the state.

    She commended the efforts of the wife of the state Governor, Hajiya Asma’u Abdul’aziz-Yari and the state Ministry of Health for their support to the programme.

    She urged the beneficiaries to cooperate with health personnel in the state to ensure the success of the programme.

    The wife of the president said the NGO had launched similar programme in other states across the country.

    Hajiya Abdul’aziz-Yari thanked the wife of the president for initiating the project, saying that it would assist the people of the state.

    In his remarks, the state Commissioner of Health, Alhaji Sulaiman Gummi, also thanked Buhari for her intervention, describing it as timely and a welcome development.

    Gummi said the state government in collaboration with some development partners had been making efforts to improve health care delivery in the state.

    The free medical outreach would provide assistance to patients with high blood pressure, eye problems, diabetes and children in need of de-worming.

    NAN

  • 54 babies born HIV positive in Nasarawa – Official

    54 babies born HIV positive in Nasarawa – Official

    Dr Zakari Umar, the Executive Director of Nasarawa State Aids Control Agency ( NASACA ), said 54 babies delivered between January and September in the state tested positive to HIV.

    Umar made this known on Thursday in Lafia in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    Umar said out of the 1,194 pregnant women who keyed into the Prevention of Mother- to- Child Transmission (PMTCT) HIV programme in 2017, 54 of them transmitted the virus to their babies.

    He explained that cases of transmission recorded were due to lack of adherence to medical advice and refusal to take prescribed drugs.

    “Science has proven that it is possible to totally eradicate mother to child transmission of HIV if pregnant women adhere to medical advice and take their drugs regularly.

    “Those women whose babies tested positive must have refused to comply with their drug regimen during pregnancy,” Umar added.
    According to him, the case of mother to child transmission of HIV in the state has reduced over the years due to sensitisation and other preventive measures taken by stakeholders.

    He said available records from 2016 indicated that 66 babies were born with HIV.

    Umar attributed reduction in transmission of the disease to babies in 2017 to sensitisation and adoption of the PMTCT programme.

    He also advised members of the public to avoid acts that would make them vulnerable to the virus, adding “the virus is not yet over hence the need for people to take preventive measures.”

    The executive director urged people to get tested to enable them know their status in order to curtail spread of the disease.

    He said the state had domesticated the anti stigmatisation law aimed at protecting those living with the virus.

     Umar, therefore, advised those being stigmatised on the account of the disease to always seek redress at the appropriate quarter.

    NAN

  • Ondo Assembly approves repayment of N27bn bond by 3 years

    Ondo Assembly approves repayment of N27bn bond by 3 years

    Ondo State House of Assembly on Thursday approved three years extension for the repayment of the state government N27 billion bond inherited from the previous administration.

    The House’s resolution followed a letter by Gov. Olurotimi Akeredolu, seeking the lawmakers’ approval to restructure the payment period of the bond.

    Akeredolu said in the letter that restructuring of the payment period of the bond would enable the state government to attend to other financial expenses.

    The House, at the plenary presided over by its Speaker, Mr Bamidele Oleyelogun, unanimously approved additional tenure of three years for repayment of the bond.

    The House also agreed that restructuring of the bond would reduce the state monthly debt services and inject more funds to the recurrent expenditure.

    The House Majority Leader, Mr Olusegun Araoyinbo, while debating on the governor’s request, said that the letter should be given express approval.

    Araoyinbo said that this would enable the state government to make more fund available to cater for relevant items in the recurrent expenditure.

    He explained that about N775.88 million was scheduled to be deducted monthly from the allocation accruing to the state within the period of 2012 and 2019.

    According to him, this has actually reduced the financial strength of the state.

    The majority leader said that if the House could approve the bond restructuring, “the state will be saving about N400 million at the end of every month’’.

    According to him, if the loan repayment period is rescheduled to between 2019 and 2022, the monthly repayment will come down to N311.11 million.

    Also at the plenary, a bill for an amendment of the 2017 Appropriation Bill sent by the governor scaled through the second reading.

    The speaker, however, referred the bill to the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation for proper scrutiny.

    NAN

  • Boko Haram: VSF launches peace building project for Borno, Yobe

    Boko Haram: VSF launches peace building project for Borno, Yobe

    As part of the healing process after the devastating effect of the Boko Haram crisis in the northeast region of Nigeria ( in this case Borno and Yobe ), the Victims Support Fund (VSF) has launched a peace building project  the will promote  peace, security and social cohesion through  inter/intra religious peace building  among communities ravaged by the crisis.

    The Executive Director of VSF, Prof. Sunday Ochoche who lunched the project both in Borno and Yobe called on the people to begin to learn how to forgive one another in order to regain peace within the region.

    According to Prof. Ochoche who while addressing stakeholders at the  Musa Usman Secretariat complex in Maiduguri  said;  “Today’s peace building project; was designed to enhance peace, reconciliation and social cohesion in the society, particularly the ones affected by the eight-year Boko Haram insurgency that claimed many lives and property in Borno state.

    “While the campaigns of traditional and religious leaders; also sought to streamline the full implementation of various humanitarian interventions for rapid resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons ( IDPs ) in affected communities in the war ravaged region of northeast.

    “This project was to reconcile and forgive among members of the communities that were seriously hurt, destroyed and traumatized during eight-year insurgency period”.

    He explained further that implementation of the project; has already began  in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC) and Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno state, as a pilot peace building project, adding that, the  project will  be extended to insurgency affected states of Adamawa, Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi and Taraba.

    He disclosed that the  peace building process embarked upon by VSF  is a coordinated  strategy of  putting together the different interventions to fast track reconciliation, rehabilitation and cohesion among the various communities affected by insurgency.

    “We want people to return to their normal ways of living and smile again, live in confidence and sleep with their two eyes closed,” Prof Ochoche said.

    He mentioned some of the workable strategies to include  “pulling  and tapping  from available local and international resources in the state that could mitigate conflicts and promote  peace through; “Construction of networks of peace and conflict resolutions to achieve sustainable peace and development of communities affected by insurgency.”

    Prof. Ochoche noted that the project will facilitate and sustain a strong multi-levels forum for inter and intra religious and cultural dialogue and reconciliation, adding that, “this could enhance sustainable research and documentation on trends and dynamics of conflicts in the northeast”.

    At   Damaturu, Yobe State, Professor Sunday Ochoche again took his message of forgiveness, reconciliation and peace to the people of the state who gathered at the Cultural Centre in Damaturu in the view of spreading the message to the rural communities.

    He stressed that VSF will not relent in connecting the gaps that the insurgency has brough to the region through its comprehensive activities with the peace building project on the radar.

    He added that VSF  over the years has  rebuilt, reconstructed  and reconciled the affected persons in the north east and will not relent in restoring hope among the returning communities.

    “VSF has been actively involved in the peace building process in the north east over the years and we will continue to do that to achieve lasting peace.

    “We have been doing with economic, educational, health, and security components and everybody is doing his own to ensure that peace is been built in the returning communities because people have been divided around religious, political and other divides so this peace initiative will bring back the loss confidence in the minds of the people and that is actually what we are working on”, Prof. Ochoche said.

    Speaking on the level of the participation of stakeholders, Prof. Ochoche said, “so far has been excellent and assure that the objectives of the initiatives will be realized” as the stakeholders will work towards achieving the desired goals”.

    Both the representative of the Muslim community, Ustaz Hudu Mohammed and that of the Christian Association of Nigeria ( CAN ), Pastor Martin Ikem promised  to take the message to their followers on the need to forgive one another and  embrace peace at all times.

    The Nation recalled that VSF was established early 2014 by the Federal Government under its Presidential Initiative for the North-East (PINE) to assist and treat Boko Haram victims injured in the eight year insurgency.

    Since inception, it assisted six hospitals in the northeast and other parts of the country with funds to treat victims of terror attacks.

    In Borno State for instance, VSF has provided education support to 80,000 primary schools pupils displaced by Boko Haram insurgency and rebuild destroyed schools, health centres and public structures at in Bama and Dikwa as well as supported farmers in dry season farming in Borno and Yobe State.

  • APC S/Africa lauds FG`s decision to return Nigerians from Libya

    APC S/Africa lauds FG`s decision to return Nigerians from Libya

    The All Progressives Congress ( APC ), South Africa chapter has commended the Federal Government for its decision to evacuate hundreds of Nigerians migrants stranded in Libya.

    President Muhammadu Buhari, at the European Union-African Union summit in Ivory Coast, said that government would ensure that stranded Nigerians in Libya are brought home safely.

    The government said that 242 Nigerians had returned home on Tuesday while more than 4,000 others stranded in Libya have been safely brought back this year.

    Mr Abiodun Oguntuase, Coordinator of the APC in South Africa, spoke on the telephone from Johannesburg, on Thursday that government`s move was a step in the right direction.

    “The APC South Africa chapter commends President Buhari for the action he took in ensuring that stranded Nigerians in Libya are brought home safely.

    “ It is a welcome development aimed at saving the lives of our people who are unable to return home. It shows also that government is pro-active on the welfare of Nigerians at home and in the diaspora,” he said.

    Oguntuase said that the South Africa chapter of the party was in support of major decisions taken by the Federal government, especially, the fight against corruption.

    According to him, the government has shown the zeal and determination to fight corruption in the country.

    “We are happy that the international community has seen government`s desire to fight corruption.

    “For the first time in our country, a government is out to win the war against corruption.

    “We appeal to Nigerians to support the federal government achieve this great objective and our country will reap the benefits,” the coordinator said.

    NAN

  • 127 Ghanaian illegal migrants evacuated from Libya – UN agency

    127 Ghanaian illegal migrants evacuated from Libya – UN agency

    The International Organisation for Migration ( IOM ), a related organization of the United Nations ( UN ) on Thursday said it evacuated 127 Ghanaian illegal migrants from the volatile situation in Libya.

    Kojo Wilmot, a national officer of IOM said the aircraft carrying these migrants arrived Ghana around 10:15 p.m. on Wednesday local time.

    Wilmot said that there was one female and two minors among the rescued migrants.

    “We promote orderly migration, but these people were caught up in a volatile situation and were being held under various forms of inhumane treatment.

    “We, therefore, intervened to protect their human rights and return them home in a dignified and safe manner,” Wilmot explained.

    Majority of the returnees, the official said, were not from Accra, Ghana’s capital, but from Takoradi, 218 km west of the capital and Kumasi, 280 km north of the capital.

    Others are from Sunyani, 400 km north of the capital and other areas across the country.

    The IOM, therefore, provided them with a means of transportation back to their final destinations and would be supporting their re-integration into their communities.

    “Due to the inhumane conditions they were being kept, most of them would need psychosocial counselling.

    “We would also work together with government of Ghana and the EU mission in Ghana to support them with basic livelihood to help enhance their integration process,” he added.

    Wilmot explained that since these immigrants were mostly undocumented, who used illegal means to enter Libya and they were forced to do menial jobs, mostly “Malaga” (plastering buildings) but were usually handed over to the police when they pursue those, who hired them for payment.

    “One Ghanaian, who had painted a complete house went to the owner to receive payment, but instead the owner called the police, who came to arrest him.

    “While trying to escape from the police, the Ghanaian was knocked down by a vehicle,” the official said.

    He added that there was also sexual violence against the female migrants being held in Libyan detention camps, where they were captured and being kept.

    IOM has identified three more detention camps across Libya with at least 266 Ghanaians among the detainees.

    “We will work with all stakeholders to ensure safe and humane return of these Ghanaians and other sub-Saharan African migrants in these conditions.

    “Considering the conditions in Libya, most of them come to us voluntarily seeking help to return home.

    “The situation is dire and we invite all stakeholders to get their hands on deck to help in bringing back these migrants to their final destinations,” he indicated.

    Xinhua/NAN

  • Examination Malpractice: Committee lauds WAEC, ministries over sanctions

    Examination Malpractice: Committee lauds WAEC, ministries over sanctions

    The National Examination Committee ( NEC ) on Thursday in Lagos lauded West African Examinations Council (WAEC) for networking with state ministries of education nationwide in to stem examination malpractice.

    The committee after its 64th meeting, particularly commended the collaborative efforts to identify and carry out disciplinary actions against perpetrators of examination malpractice.

    NEC said such disciplinary actions were also carried out on supervisors and invigilators who aided and abetted examination malpractice during the 2017 West African Senior School Certificate Examination ( WASSCE ) for School Candidates.

    “The council noted the recurring cases of returned certificates, where candidates willingly made confessional statements to the effect that they were impersonated,’’ it said its communique made available to our souce.

    The communique by Mr Damianus Ojijeogu, Head of Public Affairs of WAEC, said the committee received a report on irregularity, special and clemency cases arising from the conduct of the 2016 WASSCE for Private Candidates, 2016.

    It that in the course of considering the various reported cases of malpractice, the committee, after diligent deliberations, approved appropriate sanctions in all established cases of malpractice.

    This, it said, will be carried out as prescribed by the rules and regulations governing the conduct of the council’s examinations.

    “ It approved that the entire results of candidates involved in proven cases, which attract Cancellation of Entire Results (CER) be cancelled, while subject results of those involved in proven cases, which attracts Cancellation of Subject Results (CSR) be similarly cancelled.

    “Some candidates will also suffer other sanctions such as barring them from sitting for the council’s examinations for a certain number of years, while some schools will have WAEC recognition withdrawn or de-recognised for a specified number of years.

    “The decisions of the committee will be implemented without delay and the affected candidates and schools duly informed by the council.

    “However, the results of candidates who were exonerated by the committee will be released,’’ the communique said.

    “Council agreed that apart from the National Universities Commission ( NUC ), details of such candidates such as examination numbers, certificate numbers and years of examination, should be made available to the National Board for Technical Education ( NBTE ).

    “It should also be made available to the National Commission for Colleges of Education ( NCCE ) and posted on the council’s corporate website as well as published in national dailies twice a year.

    “The committee, therefore, commended WAEC for liaising with the Ministries of Education in the states of the federation to identify and carry out disciplinary actions against such Supervisors and Invigilators for their roles in such shameful acts.’’

    On the issue of appointment and deployment of supervisors during the conduct of the WASSCE, the committee advised that WAEC should continue with the practice of swapping supervisors during its examinations.

    It added that such swapping should be monitored to ensure that supervisors do not connive with school authorities and staff of WAEC to compromise the process.

    The committee is the highest decision-making organ of WAEC on examination-related matters in Nigeria.

    It meets twice a year to consider matters relating to the conduct of the WASSCE for both the school and private candidates.

    NAN