Tag: Popular Nigeria News

  • Why sex enhancers are dangerous —Clerics

    Clerics on Sunday warned youths against the use of trending sexual booster called “Kayan Mata”, saying that it has spiritual implications.

    Some of them who spoke with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja said that in spite of the fact that some couples believed it’s helping their marriages, it has future repercussions.

    Speaking on the effects of using such products, Reverend Joshua Aribisala of the Tabernacle of Glory Church, warned users that there’s always a price for using such products.

    “I have heard so much about this Kayan Mata, so many married women in my church have come to ask me if using it tampers with their faith.

    “Due to these many questions, I decided to look into the whole Kayan Mata thing and I discovered that some of these sellers invoke demons to make their products effective.

    “An example is one blue eye bead that they claim gives protection, the blue eye bead is an amulet that was forged by calling on spirits to grant the user protection.

    “However, the devil does not give without taking, the originator of this amulet had to give a sacrifice to the spirits she invoked.

    “These things definitely have spiritual implications that may not manifest until much later in the user’s life.”

    Aribisala went further to narrate the experience of one of his church members who was given a waist bead by her friend as a gift before her wedding.

    “She found out that for the period she kept the waist bead on, she enjoyed good sexual relationship with her husband but the moment she decided to do away with it, her husband suddenly no longer found her attractive and refused to sleep with her.

    “Now, she had no idea the waist bead was the cause of her problem until her friend confessed that she had bought the waist bead from one of these Kayan Mata vendors on social media.

    Read More: From pleasure to grave: Why some men die during sex

    “She claimed the waist bead possessed some hypnotic qualities and that the woman should have allowed it to break on its own instead of destroying it herself, so you can imagine the mess she is in,” he said.

    High Chief Kukoyi Ijakande, a practicing traditionalist, said that there is a spiritual implication in using such products.

    “I am a High priest of Ifa and Orunmila teaches us that whatever you get forcefully will not last, a lot of these Kayan Mata products, though are made with herbs, are concocted calling on spirits that could be dangerous.

    “When you use products that are said to bond you to your husband forever, don’t you know that the bonding goes beyond the physical realms?

    “Some women have altered their husband’s destinies through the use of these products, they call on spirits to keep their husbands tied to them and in return, the spirits begin dining on the husband’s ethereal form.

    “Or when a woman uses a kajal guaranteed to get her anything she wants, the day she gets tired of the man, he might run mad, every spiritual action has a reaction,” he said.

    He, however, appealed to people especially women to stop using such items for their husbands because it might affect them in the long run.

    Also, Imam Yakubu Umar said that spiritual leaders had always warned against the use of such products but because of the rate some men cheat on their spouse, women still use such products.

    He said that those products would definitely have their repercussions in the future but some men won’t stop cheating on their spouse and women who don’t want to lose their homes engage in it.

    According to him, everyone should seek the face of God for mercy and forgiveness of sins because a lot is happening in this present generation.

    According to Mrs. Rekiya Adamu, a 63-year-old housewife, the purpose of Kayan Mata has been defeated.

    “During my days as a young newly married lady, Kayan Mata was used to sweeten the marriage bed. It used to be a means to get sexual satisfaction for both the husband and wife, but now, there are different spiritual manipulative tools that people claim is Kayan Mata.

    “They have bastardized the whole purpose with some sellers of the new ones even going as far as invoking spirits into those products.”

    She, however, said that some Kayan Mata were made from natural products like nuts and seeds.

    Adamu added that a lot of the products in the market have been mixed with things beyond the physical, asking youths to desist from them. (NAN)

  • Court threatens to order Senator Uzodinma’s arrest

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has threatened to order the issuance of arrest warrant against Senator Hope Uzodinma should his lawyer renege on his pledge to produce him in court on April 18.

    The Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SPIP) said it has, since filing a criminal charge against Uzodinma in October last year, been unable to have him attend court to plea to the charge.

    Lawyer to SPIP, Celcius Ukpong, on Friday, recounted efforts made by his agency since filing the charge, to make Uzodinma honour court’s hearing notices, but without success.

    Ukpong told the court that the SPIP was also investigating the Senator, representing Imo West in respect of a $10million contract for the dredging of Calabar Port, which he and his company allegedly failed to execute after being paid by the government.

    He faulted claim by Uzodinma’s lawyer, I. E.Ogueju-Dike that the senator, who was the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last governorship election in Imo State, was abroad on medical grounds.

    Ukpong said it was impossible for Uzodinma to lawfully travel out of the country without being arrested.

    He said having jumped the administrative bail granted him by SPIP, he has since been placed on watch list and would be arrested anytime he attempts to leave the country.

    Ukpong then urged the court to order Uzodinma for deliberately refusing to attend court despite being served with the charge and several hearing notices.

    Ogueju-Dike faulted Ukpong’s claim and accused him of unduly portraying his client as a criminalm

    He said the case before the court was in relation to allegation of non-declaration of assets. He said the prosecution’s reference to a purported unexecuted contract was extraneous.

    Ogueju-Dike said his client was not aware of the charge on time and that he (Uzodinma) was currently outside the country on health ground.

    He prayed the court to adjourned the case to a later date to enable his client attend court.

    Ogueju-Dike undertook to ensure that Uzodinma was in court on the next adjourned date.

    Ruling, Justice Okon Abang said he would consider the passionate plea by lawyer to the defendant and his undertaking to produce the defendant in court by adjourning the case to a later date for him to attend court.

    Justice Abang said the prosecution was at liberty to repeat his application for a bench warrant against the defendant should he fail to attend court at the next adjourned date.

    The judge, who noted that no one is above the law, adjourned to April 18 for arraignment.

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    The two-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/107/2018, pending against Uzodinma before the court, reads as follow:

    “That you, Senator Hope Uzodinma (M) on or about the 5th day of March 2018, being a public officer with the National Assembly Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, committed an offence to wit: refused to declare your assets without reasonable excuse and upon notice to declare your assets before the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, Abuja, contrary to and punishable under S. 3 (3) (1) (a) of the Recovery of Public Property (Special Provision) Act 2004.”

    “That you Senator Hope Uzodmma (M) on or about 5th day of March 2018 being a public officer that the National Assembly Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, committed an offence to wit: neglected to declare your assets without reasonable excuse and upon notice to declare your assets before the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, Abuja, contrary to and punishable under S. 3 (3) (1) (a) of the Recovery of Public Property (Special Provision) Act 2004.”

  • How proxy orphanages storm Niger Customs Command to claim Rice for IDPs

    Hundreds of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) posing as owners of orphanages besiege the Nigeria Customs Service Command in Niger state when they heard bags of rice would be shared to IDPs and Orphanage homes.

    A Source in the Command said that before the Committee responsible for sharing of the foodstuff came, the Command had recorded hundreds of applications.

    The proxy Orphanage homes stayed on at the Customs office in Minna on Thursday and Friday despite warnings that they will not be attended to as most of them were found not to be fake.

    As at 11 am on Friday morning, out of over 50 applicants screened, only 15 were verified to operate genuine orphanage homes.

    The Spokesman of the Committee, Ikepi Kadiri Angulu who spoke to newsmen disclosed that 70 per cent of the applications they received were not genuine orphanage homes neither were they operating an IDP camp.

    “I will not say they are fake NGOs but over 70 per cent applications we received were not running orphanages or IDP camps. Some are not orphanages; they are foundations or welfare homes.

    “Before we came, we had sent intelligence to investigate the addresses provided by these orphanages and we discovered that most of them were not orphanages.

    “We are doing verification before we allocate the bags of rice to them and immediately after each verification, we tell them if they met with the requirements or not.”

    Stating some challenges faced by the Committee especially from government officials, Angulu said the Committee had to refuse a letter from a Permanent Secretary in Niger state who wanted to lay claim on some bags of rice and the state Prisons Service.

    “Those that came claiming to have come from Government House were refused. Government knows NGOs that deals with orphans, so they should direct us to them or ask them to come.

    “A letter by a Permanent Secretary was refused. The PRO of Prisons came but they were also refused. We cannot come as a Committee and give to those who are not verified and who do not meet our mandate. ”

    He assured that the Committee will make sure that only genuine orphanage homes and operators of IDPs camps are given allocation for the foodstuff.

    Read Also: Customs seizes smuggled items worth N10.6b

    “As many verifiable orphanages and IDP camps that are in Niger will be given allocation. It is sad that some people will tell you they have orphanages but at the end of the day, it was discovered that they were not orphanages.

    “We discovered one of the addressed submitted was a religious institution which does welfare and assist the less privileged but the committee essence is to deal directly with the operators of these orphanages and IDP homes, we do not want intermediaries, we want to give it to them directly.

    “We cannot go beyond our mandate. We briefed them on our mandate and terms of reference and we expect them to adhere to it. So if they are still outside the gate waiting to be called, maybe they are confident that they have genuine orphanage homes.”

    The Spokesman said that for the Niger/Kogi/Kwara Command, 12,000 bags if rice would be distributed but only 1,900 bags would be distributed in Niger state.

    He disclosed that 250 bags of rice had already been allocated to the IDP camp in Zugeru while 150 bags to the Niger state Orphanage home in Minna.

    “We saw IDPs in Zugeru with our own eyes, 1,100 IDPs in camp and we have allocated 250 bags of rice to them. We have also verified the Government orphanage in Minna and allocated 150 bags to them.”

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  • Boy drowns in stagnant pool in Kano

    A 14- year-old boy, Huzaifa Abdulrashid, has drowned while bathing in a stagnant pool called “Promise” at Gwarzo Road in Gwale Local Government Area of Kano State.

    The spokesman of the Kano State Fire Service, Mr Saidu Mohammed, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the incident happened on Friday morning when the deceased went to take his bath.

    “We received a distress call today from one Malam Habibu Ibrahim at about 07:35 a.m. that Abdulrashid’s body was found floating in the water.

    Read Also: House of Reps Speaker: Kano legislators endorse Gbajabiamila

    “On receiving the information, we quickly sent our rescue team to the scene at about 07:43 a.m.

    “Abdulrashid was found dead and his corpse was handed over to the Ward Head of Dandago, Alhaji Abubakar Sani,’’ he said.

    Mohammed advised the general public to be more careful when bathing in open water.

    NAN reports that there had been frequent deaths in open water through drowning since the commencement of the heat season in Kano over a month ago.

  • Banditry: 46 suspects arrested, 10 killed in six days

    The Inspector-General of Police, Ag. IGP Mohammed Adamu has disclosed that 46 suspects have been arrested for their involvement in kidnapping and banditry in some states in the North.

    The Police boss also said 10 suspects have so far been arrested in the onslaught against bandits.

    According to the IG, the success was recorded after Operation Puff Adder was launched on the 5th of April.

    The IG also noted that the country is experiencing an upsurge in crime since the general elections was concluded.

    He disclosed this in Abuja at the Force Headquarters during the monthly meeting with police management and other senior police officers.

    Giving details of the successes recorded, the IG said: “Indeed, it is in furtherance to our commitment to complimenting you that Operation Puff Adder was conceptualized and launched on 5th April, 2019 to address in the shortest possible time the threat of kidnapping, armed robbery and armed banditry in Kogi, Niger, Zamfara, Kaduna, and Katsina States as well as the FCT.

    “It is gladdening to note that this initiative has recorded remarkable achievements. Between 5th April, 2019 when the operation was launched and today, the initiative has recorded the following achievements:

    “Number of kidnapping suspects and armed bandits arrested are 46, ten suspects were killed in operations while two victims have been safely rescued.”

    On the number of firearms recovered from the suspects, Adamu said: “18 AK 47 rifles and 9 other locally fabricated and automatic weapons were recovered, 1300 live AK47 ammunition were recovered, 28 live cartridges were recovered while ten extra rifle magazines were recovered.”

    On the increasing rate of crime, the IG said: “Criminal records point to a significant rise in crime following the conclusion of the general elections. While some security experts have attributed the trend to the disengagement of the criminal elements from politically-related activities for which they might have been engaged during the elections, others have attributed the trend to socio-economic factors.

    Read Also: IGP vows to smoke out bandits and kidnappers

    “While the debate on the cause of the upsurge in crime could be a subject of debate or academic conjecture, what remains undebatable is the fact that the primary and statutory duty of the Nigeria Police as the lead agency in internal security framework, is the prevention and detection of crime and the maintenance of our internal security order.

    “This places on us the responsibility of assuring the citizens of their safety and security without any form of excuses. It also challenges us to rededicate ourselves to our statutory duties, constantly review our law enforcement strategies and re-order our policing priorities towards stemming the tide of crime. It is within this context that this meeting was summoned.”

    The IG while charging his men said: “I expect you to replicate this strategy in your various commands in order to restore order in the public space and enhance public confidence in the Police.

    The IG while seeking the support of the citizens, assured them of the renewed commitment to emplacing effective strategies towards addressing the current security challenges.

    “The threats might appear challenging, but I can assure that they are surmountable and we shall provide the requisite leadership needed to address them.

    “We, however, cannot do it alone. We seek the citizens’ support and we trust that you shall all partner with us to present a common front in the war against criminal elements that are bent on re-ordering our national values and testing our common will.”

  • Why Ogoni clean up exercise may fail, by Abe

    The Senator representing Rivers South East, Magnus Ngei Abe, on Thursday, warned that the ongoing Ogoni cleanup programme may not succeed due to increasing spate of security issues.

    He also said that unrestrained pollution of Ogoni land is another reason the cleanup exercise may fail.

    Abe who stated this as part of his lead debate on a Bill for Act to establish the Federal University of Environment, Science and Agriculture in Ogoni Land noted that every day at least six people are killed in Ogoni land.

    He said that he is aware that contracts have been awarded for the cleanup programme but feared that insecurity is a major issue in the area.

    He lamented that the security situation in Ogoni land is not one that any meaningful cleanup programme could go on.

    The people of Ogoni, he said, were running away as a result of the worsening security situation being experienced in the area.

    Urging the Federal Government to take measures to stem the tide of insecurity, Abe insisted that unless the security and continuous pollution of the environment are addressed, no meaningful cleanup programme can take place.

    For government must address security and pollution issue to enable contractors to work effectively.

    Read Also: Abe: I knew Supreme Court would strike out my motion

    Abe said, “I am aware that contracts for the clean-up of Ogoni land have been awarded. Right now as we speak, the security situation in the area does not provide for a meaningful economic or even contractual activity could go on. As we talk now, every day, at least six people are killed in one community or the other. There is no day they are not killing people. Many residents of the various communities have abandoned their homes and ran away due to violence. So, in that kind of atmosphere, it will be difficult for me to say there is any contractor somewhere in the bush alone working? I don’t think that is possible at this time but I know that contracts have awarded and I believe that it is our responsibility as a nation to address these security issues so that real development can take place.

    “Any clean-up that goes on without first addressing the issue of the continued pollution of the environment is a waste of everybody’s money because as the clean-up is going on, the criminals will be spoiling the exercise. Addressing the security issues in Ogoni land, is foundational to the success of the clean-up. However, due to public pressure, people want to see the clean-up exercise going on and that contracts are awarded, people want to believe that something is going on not considering the security challenges in the area.”

    On how to address the situation he said: “What I think should be done to address the issue of insecurity, every society rewards the behaviour you want and punish the behaviour you don’t want. In the Niger Delta, violence is being rewarded. If you engage in violence you are rewarded. All over the country criminality is being rewarded.

    “People must be held accountable for their action. When people kill people, you say it is cult, it should be murder.

    “What does Nigeria expect of Nigerians, we don’t know because we have not agreed. We must be a nation that stands by the truth. If we really want change in Nigeria, everybody must stand up for it. What is happening is that everybody thinks that they can secure their space. We must decide that we can not tolerate what is wrong. Everybody cannot go to jail, it is not possible. Stand for the truth.”

    On the proposed university, he said, ‘One critical objective of the University will be to establish improved scientific standards and train more competent apprentices and student that will fill the vacancies that expatriates are currently occupying due to lack of local competencies.”

    He added that the university when established will produce specialists and graduates in different areas of environmental challenges such as: Environmental Management/Engineering, Environmental Accidents, Water Pollution, Hazardous waste detection and management, Soil Contamination, Ozone Depletion, Assessment, Remediation, and protection of air and water resources, River Basin Management, Flood Protection and Drought prevention.

  • Senate set to override Buhari’s veto on two Bills

    The Senate on Wednesday resolved to override President Muhammadu Buhari’s veto on two bills passed by the National Assembly.

    The upper chamber also agreed to reconsider and pass 15 other Bills rejected by President Buhari.

    The resolution to override the president’s veto on the bills and reconsider 15 others was unanimously adopted on the floor of the Senate.

    The two affected bills are the “the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fourth Alteration No. 28,) Bill, 2018” and “the Industrial Development (Income Tax Relief) (Amendment) Bill, 2018.

    The Forth Alteration No. 28 Bill, a constitution amendment, seeks to provide for the time within which the President or Governor shall lay the Appropriation Bill before the National or State Assembly.

    The Bill also seeks to encourage early presentation and passage of Appropriation Bills.

    President Buhari declined assent to the Bill on the grounds that it did not take cognizance of the provisions of Section 58(4) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

    The Industrial Development Amendment Bill, is 2018, on the other hand, aimed to enable companies that expand their operations in pioneer industry or product to apply for a new pioneer status.

    Records showed that President Buhari declined assent to the Bill on the ground that ongoing inter-ministerial consultations would be affected if the Bill is signed into law.

    Findings showed that since the inauguration of the Eight National Assembly, President Buhari has vetoed more than 36 Bills passed by the National Assembly.

    The President has vetoed over 15 Bills passed by the National Assembly this year alone.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator David Umaru, whose committee considered the rejected Bills, presented the report of the committee.

    Umaru said that the 1999 Constitution, (as amended), gives the Senate the right to override the President in the event that a Bill is vetoed.

    The Niger East Senator quoted Section 60 of the Constitution and Rule 88 of the Senate Standing Orders 2015 to back the position that the Senate is constitutionally empowered to override the President in the event the a Bill is vetoed.

    He said: “Therefore, the Bills having been rejected by Mr. President, the National Assembly even if it considers Mr. President’s observations or not, must pass the Bills again and be assented to by Mr. President or override the veto, in which case, Mr. President’s assent would not be required.”

    The 15 Bills the Senate resolved to reconsider and pass were also rejected by the President.

    The Bills are expected to be represented on the floor of the upper chamber for normal legislative process, before passage into law.

    The affected Bills include the Fourth Alteration, No. 20, expected to strengthen the Judiciary and accelerate dispensation of justice.

    Fourth Alteration, No. 8, which seeks to alter the Constitution to

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  • We’re working on clashing timetables, says WAEC, JAMB

    The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has said it would work out the clash between its timetable for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School candidates and that of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) which begins tomorrow.

    WAEC Nigeria’s Head, Public Affairs, Mr. Demianus G. Ojijeogu, told The Nation at the examining body’s headquarters in Yaba, Lagos, that the Council was in touch with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), and would work out the clash “internally and administratively”.

    He assured that candidates would not have to sacrifice one examination for the other.

    “I assure you that no candidate would miss their exams. We are working on it. The JAMB Registrar is in touch with the WAEC Head of National Office and we will sort it out internally,” he said.

    JAMB Public Relations Officer, Dr Fabian Benjamin, also said the board had received assurance from WAEC that there would be no clash.

    “The Registrar has reached out to the HNO and he was assured that there would be no clash,” he said.

    According to the WASSCE timetable, WAEC scheduled two subjects, Animal Husbandry (Alternative B) 2 (Essay) and Store Management 2 (Essay), to be written 9:30am-11:30am – the same time some candidates would be busy with the UTME which would hold in Computer Based Test (CBT) centres nationwide. Animal Husbandry (Alternative B) 1 Objective and Store Management 1 (Objective) was scheduled for 11:30am-12:10pm.

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    A parent, Mr Suleiman Olagunju from Akure expressed concern that his daughter was to write Animal Husbandry same time as her UTME tomorrow.

    He said: “I called the JAMB office and was told they were aware and would do something about it. But up till now nothing has been done. It was JAMB that rescheduled its examination because of the elections. That is the reason for this clash. WAEC timetable for the examination had been fixed.”

    The UTME is to last for one week. Meanwhile, WAEC has scheduled practical sessions for about 20 subjects between Monday, April 15, 2019 and Thursday, April 19, 2019 from 9:30am to 4.45pm each day. They include Metalwork, Home Management, Food and Nutrition, Arabic 3 (Oral), French 3 (Oral), Physical Education, Clothing and Textiles, Foods and Nutrition, Home Management, Music, Applied Electricity, Basic Electricity, Health Science, Health Education and Fisheries.

    The 2019 WASSCE for School Candidates began on Monday with three subjects, Catering Craft Practice, Marketing and Salesmanship.

  • Insecurity:Police arrest five suspected kidnappers in Ondo

    Five suspected kidnappers terrorizing Ondo state citizenry were on Wednesday arrested by men of the Nigeria Police.

    They were apprehended following the abduction of one Omoghae Igbegbon along Akunnu – Akoko/Auga – Akoko road.

    They allegedly disposed him of N185,000 and demanded for N30m ransom for his release.

    Addressing reporters at state police command headquarters, Akure, Police Commissioner, Undie Adie said it took the spirited efforts of his men to track the kidnappers to their hideout in Ibilo, Edo State.

    He said”On April 2 one Prince Omoghae Igbegbon of Senior Staff Quarters, NIFOR, Benin City Edo State was attacked by unknown gunmen numbering six along Akunnu Akoko/Auga Akoko Road in Ondo State.

    “The hoodlums robbed him of N185,000 and dragged him into the bush. The abductors demanded N30m as ransom for his release.

    “On April 3, a team of Policemen with members of vigilante group trailed the kidnappers to their den at Ibilo, Edo State and after exchange of gunfire, the kidnappers fled to unknown destination.

    “They left behind one pump action, one double barrel and two single barrel guns. The victim escaped to a community in Ibilo where he explained his ordeal in the hands of the kidnappers.

    Read Also: Insecurity: Police deepen strategy, launch new operation against bandits – IGP

    “The Police placed the community on red alert to watch out for any strange faces. Thereafter, one Ismaila Wakili,19 years, from Niger State whom the victim later recognized as one of the kidnappers was arrested and handed over to the Police.

    “Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed committing the crime and mentioned other members of his gang.

    “The suspect later led a team of detectives to the hideouts of the hoodlums at Aduwawa in Benin City, Edo state.

    The CP said Abdullahi Sanni, 33, from Kogi State, Mohammed Abdullahi, 36, from Sokoto State, Umoru Usman,25years, from Kebbi state and Sheu Usman, 25, from Niger State were arrested.

    He said the suspect identified them as members of the gangsters terrorizing Akoko axis of the state.

    Adie said efforts were on to arrest other fleeing members of the gang, while those already apprehended would be charged to court after conclusion of the ongoing investigation.

    However, Wakili who had earlier admitted to have participated in the crime denied knowing the other four suspects, stressing that the operation was his first outing.

    On last Monday bank robbery in Idoani, where seven persons were killed, the Police Commissioner said investigation was on to unveil the perpetrators.

    Adie added that security measures have been scaled up around bank premises across the 18 local government areas of the state.

  • Breaking: Damaturu under Boko Haram attack

    Suspected Boko Haram fighters are reportedly in gun duel with military along Damaturu-Maiduguri road, Yobe state.

    Details shortly…