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  • Three arrested over UTME centre scam in Lagos

    Two siblings and a technical officer were arrested at a computer-based test (CBT) centre in Lagos on Tuesday for perpetrating examination malpractice in the 2019 United Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

    They were caught selling fake UTME questions to candidates.

    The siblings, Godswill and David Ukpai, are children of the owner of the CBT centre, Risk Global Company Limited, Anthony, Mr Emeka Ukpai, a former banker.

    JAMB Registrar, Prof Is-haq Oloyede, who ordered their arrest, said the siblings, as well as centre’s technical officer, Obinna Ebere, were exposed by the Closed Circuit TV (CCTV) at the centre.

    Godswill is an Accounting graduate of Abia State University, while David was scheduled to write his UTME at the centre 1.30pm on Wednesday (tomorrow).  Obinna, is an HND II student of Civil Engineering at the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH).

    Confessing their misdeeds, the suspects said they took pictures of UTME questions on the screens while the examination was ongoing and sold same to the proprietor of a tutorial centre called Embassy Tutorial Centre in Lagos.

    They claimed the owner of Embassy used their centre for registration of candidates and examination venue.

    Oloyede said the suspects’ phones contained evidence of their illegal activities even though they were not supposed to be in the hall during the examination.

    Read also: JAMB gives update on 2019 UTME exams process, results

    Ebere’s phone showed he had charged the Embassy centre boss N5,000 for some questions.

    With the UTME questions shuffled for each candidates such as they cannot be repeated until after five years, the JAMB Registrar said the questions the suspects sold would be of no use to anyone.

    The centre’s involvement in the scam led to its suspension by JAMB. Oloyede said candidates to write the examination there on Wednesday, the final day of the UTME, would be rescheduled.

    Oloyede said in the course of the examination JAMB had caught over 100 fraudsters using technology.

    “When a whole professor was sent here as supervisor, they did not know what we meant.  The sacrifice by these eminent personalities is to ensure that there is no compromise.

    “Prof Kabir Usman is a former director of CMD in Lagos and you can see how perfectly he has helped to apprehend these fraudsters.  If we had sent a young person, may be they would have just offered the individual N10,000 and the rot would be covered,” he said.

    Reacting to his sons’ arrest, Mr Ukpai said they should be tried accordingly.

    “They are old enough to face the music for their actions.  They are only allowed into the hall in the morning to help power the computer systems before the examination starts.  How they got themselves involved in this mess I cannot explain and I feel that they should be tried appropriately. It is very unfortunate and regrettable,” he said.

     

  • 2019 ITTF World Championships: Quadri ready to rumble in Budapest

    Aruna Quadri has spring surprises when nobody expected and this has continue to shoot him to the pinnacle of table tennis in the world and again the African champion is ready to rock the boat with the heavyweights at the 2019 ITTF World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

     

    At present, Quadri is warming up for the biggest table tennis tournament in 2019 in an organized camp in Budapest and he believes that he would be in shape to compete for space at the one-week championship.

     

    “I am getting myself prepared for the championship in Budapest, but I must fight my way back from the injury I had from Portugal Open. Of course I will put my 100% best to be well prepared and see how it goes. By God’s grace I will stay in Budapest for my final preparation few days before the beginning of the tournament,” he told NationSport.

     

    Not specific with his objectives in Budapest and the Oyo State-born star said: “Just like I said that I am still fighting with an injury and I hope to be back fully in few days. I will be 100% ready as a professional and I hope to have great days in Budapest. I always set same objectives like all other participants and I pray to have a better draw from my previous world events. I hope and pray to go far better than my previous outings

    in world events.

     

    He, however, said: “My targets are to be a great ambassador for my country and represent it in a great way. Be a great ambassador for my partners and sponsors and give my 100% best in all my events. And finally I will be very happy if I can do better than my previous outings. But I must acknowledge that it is going to be very difficult as always for all participants but I have to have a better draw.”

  • Buhari condoles with France, Christendom over Notre Dame fire

    President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with President Emmanuel Macron of France and all citizens over the tragic fire incident that gutted parts of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

    A statement by the President’s spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu in Abuja on Tuesday, said Buhari extended his sympathy to Christians in Nigeria and all over the world following the partial destruction of the historical Cathedral.

    Read also: Notre Dame Cathedral ‘saved from total destruction’

    ”President Buhari and Nigerians joined the world in shock and disbelief as the highly revered and historical church building went up in flames on Monday, praying that the almighty God will provide resources and capacity for full restoration.

    ”As one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites, a central place of worship for Christians and symbol of France, the President urges joint faith in prayers for the country and its citizens,” the statement added.(NAN)

  • Police in Anambra arrest 151 suspected cultists

    The Police in Anambra say they have arrested 151 suspected criminals and cultists following raids on criminal hideouts in the state.

    SP Haruna Mohammed, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Anambra State Command made this known in a statement issued on Tuesday in Awka.

    According to him, the police raid took place between April 1 and April 16, 2019, and the command recovered weapons and substances suspected to be cannabis sativa.

    He explained that the raid was part of the command’s strategy to stamp out cultism and ensure safety of lives and property in the state.

    The PPRO further explained that the command’s Special Anti-Cultism unit, Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and Divisional Police headquarters carried out the coordinated raids.

    “Between April 1 and April 16, the State Command has arrested 151 suspected cultists from various parts of the state.

    Read also: Police arrest suspected killers of herdsman in Ebonyi

    “We arrested 16 suspected cultists at Okija, 12 arrested at Nanka, 11 suspects at Nkwelle and nine arrested at Ogidi area.

    “Our men equally arrested eight suspects in Awka, 14 suspects from Ajali /Oko, 18 suspects were also caught from Enugwu Ukwu /Nimo/Nise, 12 suspects arrested at Fegge/Awada.

    “The command also arrested 13 suspects from Inland Town in Onitsha, seven from Achalla, four suspects from Urum and three from Ogbunike while 15 were arrested at Amawbia and nine from Ukwulu /Ukpo respectively,” he added.

    Mohammed stated that the some exhibits were recovered including three machetes, four axes, two berets and some quantities of dry leaves suspected to be cannabis sativa.

    He noted that out of the 151 suspects arrested, 40 suspects have confessed to the crimes and charged to courts, 62 suspects were screened and released.

    He said 20 suspects were underage and placed under supervision while 29 others are undergoing investigations.

    The command’s image maker appealed to the public to report any suspicious persons or movements to the nearest police station or call the emergency number 07039194332 for prompt response. (NAN)

  • Borno elders: we didn’t endorse Ndume for Senate Presidency

    The Borno Elders Forum has denied the purported endorsement of Ali Ndume (Borno South) for the senate presidency.

    The forum said doing so would amount to splitting other Borno citizens like a member of House of Representatives from Biu, Betara Aliyu who is aspiring to become speaker.

    Secretary of the forum, Bulama Mali Gubio, said the clarification became necessary in view of repeated media reports that have prompted diverse reactions and enquiries from citizens of the state.

    Gubio said: “First of all, the Borno Elders forum holds Distinguished Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume in very high esteem as an accomplished son of Borno State.

    “However, the forum will want to issue clarification to forestall any more confusion. Last week, there were media reports claiming that Borno elders had endorsed the aspiration of Senator Ndume for the President of the ninth Senate.

    Read also: Lawan: I won’t preside over a rubber-stamp Senate

    “When we saw that report, we felt there was no need to respond to it since Ndume is a son of Borno and like other sons and daughters he is entitled to the support of Borno elders.

    “To our surprise, this week, we saw another round of media report claiming that Borno elders have for the second time endorsed Ndume’s aspiration.

    “Although the reports bears the names of other people in the state, it is however public knowledge that whenever the phrase ‘Born elders’ is mentioned, what immediately comes to mind is the Borno Elders Forum, which has gained prominence as a pressure group that promotes and defends the interest of Borno sons and daughters.

    The elders added: “For instance, we are aware the one of our sons from Biu, Hon. Betara Aliyu is aspiring to become Speaker of the House of Representatives.

    “If people assume that Borno elders have endorsed Ndume, it is like saying we are opposed to Betara’s aspiration because it will be politically foolish to endorse two sons for the Senate Presidency and Speaker of House of Reps at the same time.

    “We also know that some of our sons have open and quiet aspirations. In addition to that, in our political history, Borno and Yobe states are one and the same.

    “Yobe was carved out of Borno in 1991. Majority of Yobe leaders have houses in Maiduguri. Yes, sons and daughters of Borno and Yobe have the legitimate rights to pursue their political aspirations but we elders of Borno and Yobe normally do not come out publicly to endorse anyone because whatever comes to Borno is celebrated by the people of Yobe and whatever comes to Yobe is celebrated by us in Borno.

    “We don’t oppose each other in public. It is against our tradition as elders of Borno and Yobe states to oppose our sons. We support all of them or we keep silent.

    “I will call on whoever is using the name of Borno elders to please understand our history and promote our peace and unity.”

  • Corruption breeds terrorism, says INTERPOL scribe

    The Secretary-General of INTERPOL, Jurgen Stock on Monday met with the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu to explore partnership on how to fight corruption.

    Stock said since corruption breeds terrorism, the anti-graft war must be sustained.  

    He commended the zeal and concerted efforts of the  EFCC in ridding Nigeria of all forms of economic crime, and stressed that partnership between INTERPOL.

    He said: “Working with the EFCC will help in building a strong network in the fight against corruption across the globe.

    “The fight against corruption will help in the fight against terrorism as the main source of terrorism financing comes from corruption”.

    While emphasizing the need for collaboration between international law enforcement agencies in the fight against corruption, Stock said the INTERPOL was establishing a link with the EFCC in achieving the mandate of the anti-graft agency.

    On his part, Magu, who expressed great delight at the visit, praised Stock for finding time out of his busy schedule as the Secretary-General of INTERPOL to visit the EFCC.

    Magu said corruption had become an organized crime in Nigeria, and it needed concerted efforts within and outside of the country, to combat.

    Read also: EFCC officials apprehend Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia in court

    Magu said: “EFCC and Nigerians in general are delighted with the visit by the Interpol, and this visit gives the Commission hope in partnering with the Interpol.

    He gave assurance that the EFCC will remain unrelenting and resolute in its fight against corruption.

    “The EFCC deals with partnership with other countries in order to address the issue of terrorism financing,” he said.

    He highlighted the importance of exchange of information, stressing that it was key to winning the fight against corruption, money laundering and terrorism financing.

    “Other countries need to support the EFCC in achieving our goal of ensuring the repatriation of funds stashed out of the country by corrupt people,” he said.

    The delegation from the Interpol was taken on a tour of the new EFCC Head Office Complex.

  • Supreme court to give verdict on Fayemi eligibility

    The Supreme Court will on Wednesday deliver judgment in the appeal filed by former Ekiti State Governor Segun Oni challenging the eligibility of Governor Kayode Fayemi to stand as a candidate in the July 14, 2018, governorship poll.

    Oni in the suit claimed that Fayemi was not eligible to run as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate having not resigned as Minister of Mines and Steel Development 30 days before the party’s primary election.

    The ex-governor who came second in the APC governorship primary also claimed that Fayemi shouldn’t have contested on the strength of an indictment by a Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by former Governor Ayo Fayose.

    The Panel’s White Paper which indicted Fayemi and banned him from office for 10 years has been quashed by a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court.

    Read also: Ekiti set to implement Supreme Court’s verdict on council relocation

    Oni’s cases before a Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti and the Court of Appeal, Ado Ekiti were dismissed for lacking merit.

    The judgment notice of the case marked SC 205/2019 which was seen by our reporter was signed by one Ibrahim Gold, Director/Head of Litigation, on behalf of the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court.

    The notice reads: “Take notice that the judgment on the above appeal will be delivered at 9.00hrs before the Supreme Court of Nigeria sitting at Abuja on Wednesday the 17th day of April, 2019.

    “And further take notice that this Notice is deemed sufficiently served on you if it is delivered on your legal e-mail or/and telephone via this number even if same is not acknowledged.

    “This Notice Supersedes the earlier one.”

  • Court halts INEC conclusion on Imo North senatorial election

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been forced to delay decision on Imo North senatorial election.

    According to a statement signed by Mohammed Haruna, National Commissioner and Member, information and Voter Education Committee, the commission committee that reviewed the election has concluded work.

    However, the ex parte order served on the commission, according to Haruna has placed an embargo on further action on the matter.

    Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu. the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate had instituted the case against INEC a day after it set up Committee.

    Hearing on the matter has been adjourned to 30′ April 20l9.

    Read also: Tribunal: INEC allay fears of petitioners

    The statement reads: “Further to our statement of 4′ April 20l9 on the setting up of a Committee by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate the veracity or otherwise of allegations of misconduct in the Imo North Senatorial election, the Commission wishes to inform the public that the Committee has completed its assignment.

    “However the Commission has been served with an ex parte order halting further action on the matter.

    “The order. issued by the Federal High Court Abuja on 9* April 20l9. specifically ordered the Commission to stay “ALL FURTHER PROCEEDINGS AND ACTIONS by the Respondent (INEC) pertaining. relating or connected with the declaration of [mo North Senatorial District election results of 23*

    “February and 9 March 2019, pending the determination of the application for prohibition”.

    “The case. which was instituted by Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu. the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate against INEC a day after it set up Committee. has been adjourned to 30′ April 20l9 for hearing. “

  • Appeal Court affirms conviction of Congolese for $551,225 money laundering

    The Court of Appeal in Lagos Tuesday affirmed the conviction of a Congolese, Kutumisana Blaise, and the forfeiture of $551,225 to the federal government.

    In a unanimous judgment, three justices of the appellate court l – Mohammed Garba, Tom Yakubu and Jamilu Tukur – upheld the July 7, 2015 verdict of Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos.

    The appellate court further concurred with the decision of the lower court over the forfeiture of the money, saying that the said amount was properly forfeited to the Federal Government.

    On why the judgment of the lower court was affirmed, Justice Yakubu, who read the lead judgment, said, “I have myself perused the pieces of evidence proffered by the witnesses at the court below vis-a-vis the findings made by the learned trial judge which ultimately culminated in the conviction of the appellant (Blaise).

    “I am satisfied that those findings are clearly borne out of the evidence placed before his lordship. The findings are, to my mind, unassailable. I have no reason whatsoever to tamper or interfere with them. I affirm them accordingly. In the end, I resolve the sole issue in this appeal against the appellant.”

    Read also: Court orders DSS to produce Dasuki

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) had arraigned the convict on April 21, 2015 before Justice Buba.

    EFCC counsel Abba Muhammed urged Justice Buba to convict Mr. Blaise, following his failure to declare the said $551,225 in his possession to the men of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at the point of entry into Nigeria.

    According to Mr. Abba, Blaise’s action is contrary to Section 2 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended by Act No 1 of 2012.

    In his judgement on July 7, 2015, Justice Buba upheld the argument of the EFCC’s lawyer and sentenced Mr. Blaise accordingly

    The judge further directed that the said $551,225, which Mr. Blaise failed to declare, be forfeited to the federal government.

    Dissatisfied with the verdict of Justice Buba, the convict approached the Court of Appeal, Lagos, for intervention, asking the appellate court to set aside the judgment of the lower court.

  • Vote buying: EFCC arrests suspects, seizes huge cash

    The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu on Tuesday said the commission arrested some suspects for vote buying during the just-concluded 2019 poll.

    He said the EFCC also seized cash running into several millions of Naira to prevent vote buying.

    He said the anti-corruption agency also engaged law enforcement agencies with anti-money laundering mandate in neighboring countries to check incidence of illicit financial flows before, during and after the general elections.

    Magu, who opened up at the National Policy Dialogue on Eradicating Electoral Corruption (Vote-Buying) at the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria said electoral corruption is the worst form of corruption because it undermines the will of the people and invests power in illegitimate hands.

    Magu who spoke through the Secretary of the Commission, Ola Olukoyede said a government that pays its way into power is hardly expected to be accountable.

    He said: “Our officers made some arrests and seized money running into several millions of Naira.

    “While prosecution of a number of offenders are currently ongoing, we have secured the conviction of a local government councilor in Gombe State for vote buying and also finalizing arrangement to file charges against more offenders and those arrested for vote buying and others with large sums of money which purpose they could not explain.

    “But beyond the arrests, the presence of EFCC operatives at polling stations and collation centres was a major deterrence to vote buyers. We believe that the fear of possible arrest by the commission dissuaded many who would have turned such voting centers into trading posts for votes.”

    The EFCC acting chairman said the EFCC’s intervention was driven by passion to do something to engender public confidence in our electoral process.

    He recalled experience of financial infractions in previous elections and recommended a blueprint from participants at the dialogue to check vote buying.

    Read Also: EFCC arrests businessman for raking N7b from 20,700 investors

    He added: “This dialogue is critical to our collective aspiration to clean up the institutions and process of election management for the good governance of our nation”.

    “No doubt, there is a lot that the law enforcement community in Nigeria can benefit from such a blueprint, which should also clearly spell out rules of engagement agencies in the electoral process.

    “Such blueprint when formulated will, hopefully address some of the criticisms against the participation of security and law enforcement organizations in the electoral process.”

    Magu explained why EFCC took keen interest in 2019 poll and checkmated politicians from engaging in vote buying unlike the previous elections.

    He said: “It was in appreciation of the damage, which the incidence of vote buying does to the integrity of our electoral processes that we resolved to play a more active role in stemming the practice in the just concluded general election. The EFCC’s intervention was moderated by our understanding of the pattern of vote buying in the elections that were held in two states, Ekiti and Osun states, in 2018.

    “To stem the ugly practice, the Commission decided to employ a combination of preventive and enforcement strategies. Before the political actors became aware that the commission had become unusually interested in the electoral processes, the EFFC held sensitization meetings with critical stakeholders in the financial sector, impressing on them the need not to lend their institutions to be used as vehicles to subvert the will of the people. Some of the stakeholders included bankers and Bureau De Change Operators.

    “Our engagement with them was informed by our knowledge of the roles which some of them played during the 2015 general election, helping politicians to move huge sums of money which were intended to be used to compromise election officials and other actors in the electoral process”.

    He further explained that the Commission had to engage with law enforcement agencies with anti-money laundering mandate in neighbouring countries to check incidence of illicit financial flows before, during and after the general elections.

    He said: “Additionally, we stepped up surveillance of financial system, to track suspicious cash movement which led to some arrests. These measures, we believe, helped to reduce the amount of cash available to politicians for vote buying.

    “But the intervention that was most visible to politician actors and the electorates was the unprecedented step to physically police all the polling stations and collation centres to deter prospective vote buyers and sellers. From Birnin-Kebbi to Ilorin, from Sokoto to Awka, from Kano to Abeokuta, from Lafia to Port Harcourt, officers of the Commission were massively deployed across the country to polling units and collation centres to disrupt vote buying and arrest offenders. Some of the officers were kitted in customized EFCC jackets while many wore plain clothes.”

    The EFCC chairman pleaded with Nigerians to shun inducement from politicians.

    He said: “A government that pays its way into power is hardly expected to be accountable; its priority upon assumption of office would be how to recoup its investment.

    “That is the open sesame to corruption in public life, a phenomenon that has held us down as a nation.”