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$3million bribe: Farouk Lawan bags 7 years in prison

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$3million bribe: Farouk Lawan bags 7 years in prison

A federal capital territory (FCT) high court sitting in Apo, Abuja, has sentenced the former chairman of the federal house of representatives ad-hoc committee on fuel subsidy, Farouk Lawan, to seven years imprisonment over the $3 million bribery charges preferred against him by the federal government.

Lawan was the chairman of the house of representatives ad hoc committee probing the multi-billion naira fuel subsidy fraud in 2012.

He was accused of demanding $3 million from Billionaire Femi Otedola to remove Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited (Otedola’s company) from the list of oil companies allegedly involved in the fuel subsidy fraud in 2012.

Lawan, who was arraigned on seven counts of bribery by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), was alleged to have collected $500,000 bribe from Otedola.

The charge was later amended to three counts.

The oil billionaire, Femi Otedola, has alleged the lawmaker demanded the $3m bribe in order to have his company, Zenon, removed from a list of those involved in the scandal.

Part of that money was handed over and a video recording of the transaction was given to police, he said.

“You Farouk Lawan… in the course of your official duty corruptly asked for the sum of $3m for yourself from Femi Otedola… to afterwards show favour to Femi Otedola,” Reuters news agency quotes the charges read out in the Abuja High Court.

Another member of Mr Lawan’s parliamentary fuel subsidy committee, Emenalo Boniface, was also charged in court on Friday with corruption for accepting $120,000 of the $3m bribe from Mr Otedola.

Mr Lawan has said he accepted the money in order to expose blackmail and informed the committee and the anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), about it.

#EndSARS detainee who gave birth in prison, is out on temporary release

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#EndSARS detainee who gave birth in prison, is out on temporary release

Kemisola Ogunniyi, the #EndSARS protester who gave birth to a baby in the prison recently, has regained freedom temporarily.

She was freed on Tuesday afternoon from the Surulere Prison in Ondo West Local Government following an order by an Ondo State High Court Judge, Justice Omolara Adejumo.

The judge earlier granted her a N10 million bail before giving an order that she should be allowed to attend her child’s naming ceremony.

Ogunniyi, who was arrested by the Nigerian Army in October 2020 following the #EndSARS protests.

Ogunniyi, who was two months pregnant at the time of her arrest, gave birth to a baby boy on June 16, 2021.

#TwitterBan: Buhari appoints Malami, Pantami, Lai Mohammed, Chris Ngige to engage Twitter

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#TwitterBan: Buhari appoints Malami, Pantami, Lai Mohammed, Chris Ngige to engage Twitter

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the composition of a federal government team to engage Twitter over its suspension in Nigeria.

Segun Adeyemi, special assistant to the president on media, confirmed the development in a statement on Tuesday.

According to Adeyemi, Lai Mohammed, minister of information, announced that the decision came after Twitter wrote to the president seeking an engagement.

The team, which will be chaired by Mohammed, includes Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation; Isa Pantami, minister of communications and digital economy; Geoffery Onyeama, minister of foreign affairs; Chris Ngige, minister of labour and employment.

Mohammed said “other relevant government agencies” will also be part of the team.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the composition of the Federal Government’s Team to engage with Twitter over the recent suspension of the operations of the microblogging and social social networking service in Nigeria,” the statement said.

“The approval was announced in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who will chair the team. The Federal Government’s team also comprises the Attorney General of the Federation and Honourable Minister of Justice, Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Honourable Minister of State for Labour and Employment as well as other relevant government agencies.

“Following the indefinite suspension of its operations in Nigeria, for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence, Twitter wrote to President Buhari seeking to engage with the Federal Government over the suspension, with a view to charting a path forward.” the statement further read

NCDC says 289 Nigerian have died of cholera in six months

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NCDC says 289 Nigerian have died of cholera in six months

The Nigerian centre for disease control (NCDC) has said a total of 289 Nigerians have died from Cholera disease between January and June, 2021.

NCDC, which disclosed this in a statement on Monday, noted that the disease is currently ravaging eight states of the federation.

The disease centre listed the affected states as Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe, Kano, Zamfara, Bayelsa and Kaduna.

Cholera — a diarrheal disease that can kill within hours if not promptly treated, is endemic in Nigeria, with outbreaks reported as far back as the 1970s.

According to NCDC, in the last one month, an increasing number of cholera cases has been reported in most of the aforementioned states, with 441 suspected cases and six deaths recorded in Plateau alone, last week.

The cholera outbreak in Bauchi last month has spread across nine districts in the state with the state capital, Bauchi, being the worst hit, Mohammed Maigoro, the state health commissioner said, in a report by African News in late May.

“So far, we have recorded 20 deaths and 322 cases from the cholera outbreak in nine local government areas of Bauchi in the past two weeks,” Mr Maigoro was quoted as saying, in the publication.

“The Bauchi metropolis has been worst affected, accounting for half of the fatalities and 147 out of the 322 reported cases,” he added.

The NCDC said between January and June 22, 2021, a total of 10,833 suspected cholera cases have been reported including 112 laboratory confirmed cases.

To prevent the risk of large outbreaks across states, NCDC said it has activated a multi-sectoral National Cholera Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), following an increase in the cases.

The agency said; “The National EOC has been supporting states to ensure a coordinated, rapid and effective response to the ongoing outbreak. This includes the deployment of National Rapid Response Teams (RRT) to support the response at state level, provision of medical and laboratory supplies, scale up of risk communications amongst other activities.”

“Additionally, the resources that have been developed as part of Nigeria’s COVID-19 response are being used to strengthen the response to the cholera outbreak. This includes the digitalisation of the national surveillance system, establishment of laboratories and treatment centres, training of health workers among others.” the agency said.

Buhari Appoints George Ekpungu As EFCC Secretary

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Buhari Appoints George Ekpungu As EFCC Secretary

President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Mr. George Ekpungu as the Secretary of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, one of the country’s anti-graft agencies.

Ekpungu is a lawyer from Cross River state. He was the former Commissioner for New Cities.

President Buhari also appointed the Board Members of the EFCC to include; Luqman Muhammad, from Southern Nigeria, Anumba Adaeze, South East, Mr. Kole Raheem Adesina, North Central and Mr. Yahya Muhammad from North East.

A statement from the office of the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami said, “the appointment was in line with Section 2 (1) and Section 4 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act, 2004”

According to the statement, the EFCC has been operating without Board Members since 2015.

“President Buhari has already directed the names be forwarded to the Senate for confirmation,” the statement added.

The appointment is for a fresh tenure of five years.

Senate has confirmed Farouk Yahaya as Chief of Army Staff

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Senate has confirmed Farouk Yahaya as Chief of Army Staff

The Senate on Tuesday confirmed the appointment of Major General Farouk Yahaya, as the new Chief of Army Staff.

The red chamber took the decision following the consideration of the report of its joint committee on Defence and Army led by senators Aliyu Wamakko and Ali Ndume.

The President of the Senate had on June 2, referred the request of President Muhammadu Buhari, for Yahaya’s confirmation to the committees.

The Defence Committee which is chaired by Wamakko was mandated to be the lead panel to screen the newly appointed Army Chief.

President Buhari had named Major-General Farouk Yahaya as the new Chief of Army Staff. His appointment comes days after the former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Attahiru Ibrahim died in a Kaduna air-crash along with 10 other military officials.

A coalition of women and civil society groups under #SecureOurLives compiles the names of hundreds of Nigerians killed nationwide

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A coalition of women and civil society groups under #SecureOurLives compiles the names of hundreds of Nigerians killed nationwide

A coalition of women and civil society groups under #SecureOurLives is compiling the names of the hundreds of Nigerians killed across the country with the idea of building a database for victims of conflict and insecurity in the country.

The project which commenced in April 2021 has since verified the names of 1, 499 victims across the country which it will make public on Tuesday.

A member of the coalition, Buky Williams, of the Plan for Action Group said, “When we read the news, or we look at what is happening, we forget that there is a person behind what has happened and we forget that it is happening to people’s families, people’s friends, people’s loved ones and by saying their names we are honouring them and saying that we didn’t need to lose them if we had put in place early warning systems, and if the security structure had responded to situations like kidnappings, the safety of our schools, all of these critical things. We don’t want this to continue. We can’t continue to lose loved ones. It’s not like there is no solution, it’s just that we have not prioritised this enough.”

Another member of the coalition, Ayisha Osori, said it is surprising that Nigeria does not have a database of victims of the violence that has been engulfing the country over the years.

“We noticed that there is a gap in keeping records of victims. Nowhere is there a comprehensive list of people affected by the insecurity and conflicts so we thought we should start putting one together,” she said.

Ms Osori said they will eventually build a “Red Register” which will be publicly available online and will be updated with the names of every Nigerian killed in conflict or as a result of insecurity.

“By October, we hope to put on an exhibition that will capture the enormity of the losses we have suffered, something that will be symbolic of the names we have been able to verify,” she said.

She added that they are in the process of verifying hundreds of victims like those killed during the Shiite/Military clashes in Kaduna and those killed in the violence in Southern Kaduna. The names will be added to the list when the verification process is completed.

READ THE COMPLETE STATEMENT BELOW

Nigerian Women’s Call: 

End the Insecurity & Bloodshed 

#SecureOurLivesNow

Nigeria is one of the most unstable and terrorized countries in the world. We are currently ranked third in the world with a death toll of 25,711 people killed between 2010-2019. This does not include those murdered, kidnapped, assaulted, raped, and abducted since 2020. Nigerians are gradually being paralyzed with the fear of violence, unable to farm, travel, socialize or go to school and even in our homes, we are still not safe.

Women and Children bear the major brunt arising from wars and conflict and are often time the worst hit, we are therefore concerned about this spate of violence pervading the nation, we call on the government to TAKE ACTION to end the insecurity and bloodshed.

In its Mass Atrocities Report 2020, Global Rights Nigeria estimated that 4,556 Nigerians were killed in 2020, especially in the restive northeastern part of the country. In the first quarter of 2021, over 220 kidnapping incidents were recorded with at least 2,114 victims. In the same first quarter of 2021, over 600 schools closed across six states in the North. Violence is raging in Abia, Benue, Imo, Kebbi, Niger, Ondo and Oyo due to non-state actor violence, insurrection, the proliferation of weapons, farmer-herder conflict and state security operations. The death of Shekau and Deby, herald the terror of a more organized Islamic West Africa Province and hundreds of thousands are displaced from their homes and means of livelihood while women and children are being captured for rape & indoctrinated into a life of violence.

Nigeria’s security forces are stretched, dogged with allegations of corruption and abuse and the country is awash with small arms and light weapons in the middle of an economic recession, high unemployment and food insecurity. The increasing rate of crime and violence is alarming and of great concern to everyone. Few can sleep soundly for fear and the uncertainty is unbearable. Nigeria is inflicted with a thousand cuts and hemorrhaging and we need to stop the bleeding and needless deaths. The insecurity endangers the continued existence of the country, and every citizen is at risk.

 The demands:

  1. Reform community security policing: Engage and involve states and communities in security management especially in security provisioning and ensure state and community needs and risks influence the deployment of security assets. 
  • Setup early warning mechanisms and ensure women’s participation in peace and security decision making: Establish an early warning and early response mechanism to track in real time when an incident occurred and when state security agents respond. Incidences of attackers spending hours killing and maiming citizens in communities must end. Build on women’s indigenous knowledge to involve them in the community peace architecture as mediators and negotiators.
  • Daily security briefings: Nigerians need the assurance that the attacks around the country are being recorded and addressed collaboratively by relevant state actors under the supervision of the President.  During the COVID19 pandemic, we had daily briefings; insecurity is killing more people and should be accorded a higher level of urgency.
  • Transparency & accountability on security spending: The link between our huge defense budget and the safety and security of Nigerians must be reinforced. Nigerians demand accountability from state security forces and governors on how defense budgets and security votes are implemented. 
  • National response to kidnapping: Until the menace of kidnapping is brought under control, all kidnapping cases should be handled centrally, aligned to a strategy/policy to be implemented by the Office of the National Security Adviser.

We the undersigned organisations are members of the Feminist Womanifesto Group:

9jafeminista

Abiodun Essiet Initiative for Girls

Above Whispers Foundation

Above Whispers Media Foundation

Action Aid Nigeria

ActionAid International

ACTS Generation GBV

Ade Grange Child Foundation

ADEM Community & Human Development Foundation

Adinya Arise Foundation (AAF)

Advocate for Health and Development Initiative

African Women's Initiative/ Verity CNET

African Women’s Initiative (AWI)

Ajegunle Community Project

Ajoke Ayisat Afolabi Foundation

Alliances for Africa (AfA)

Aminchi Women Cooperative Society

Amnesty International Nigeria

ARDA Development Communication Inc.

Arise Nigerian Woman Foundation.

ASWHAN

ATATA Development and Empowerment Foundation (ADEF)

BLECCA Foundation

Bring Back Our Girls

Briskila Emefesi Women Foundation (BEWOF)

Cece Yara Foundation

Cedar Seed Foundation

CEE-HOPE Nigeria

Center For Economic Empowerment And Gender Activities (CEEGA)

Centre For Alternative Development And Self-Enhancement (CEADESE NG)

Centre For Health And Development In Africa(CHEDA)

Centre for Nonviolence and Gender Advocacy in Nigeria (CENGAIN)

Centre For Peace Education And Community Development

Centre For Women’s Health And Information (CEWHIN)

Change Managers International Network

Charity Women Spring of Salvation

Chedal Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society

Child Care and Adult Protection Initiative (CCAPI)

Choung-Dung Women Association.

Christian Women For Excellence And Empowerment In Nigerian Society (CWEENS)

Christian Women In Nigerian Politics

Citizens Center for Integrated Development and Social Rights (CCIDESOR)

Community and Youth Development

Community Education Advancement of Peace And Development Initiative (CEAPDI)

Community Initiative for Healthy And Peaceful Society

Community Life Project (CLP)

Community Rescue Initiative (CRI)

Community Women Initiatives

Country Associates Network

Courageous People Health and Development Initiative (CPHDL)

Crestville Development Foundation

Development in Practice Gender and Entrepreneurial Initiative (DIPGEI)

Diaspora Womanifesto2019

Dinidari Foundation

Dorothy Njemanze Foundation

Dream Alive Women And Orphans Support Foundation (DAWOS Foundation)

Echoes Of Women In Africa Initiatives

Edo Women's Development Initiative

Education As A Vaccine (EVA)

EiE Nigeria

Emerge Women

Empowerment And Action Research Centre

Equality Through Education Foundation (ETEF)

Equity Advocates (EA)

Equity Advocates and The Woman Today Newspaper TWT

Equity Advocates/ The Woman Today Newspaper

FACICP Disability Plus

FAME Foundation

Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja

Federal Ministry of Women Affairs

Federation of Informal Workers of Nigeria (FIWON)

Federation of Muslim Women Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN)

Federation of Paralegal Network (FEDPAN)

Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA)

Fembridge Development Initiative (FEDI)

FIDA Nigeria

First Future Leadership

First Future Leadership Company/Gte

FOMWAN

Ford Foundation

Forward in Action For Education, Poverty And Malnutrition (FACE-PAM)

FRED

Gender Action Awareness Trust

Gender and Constitution Reform Network (GECORN)

Gender and Development Action (GADA)

Gender and Environmental Risk Reduction Initiative(GERI)

Gender Awareness Trust (GAT)

Gender Development Initiative

Gender Equality Center

Gender Equality, Peace and Development Centre

Gender Equality, Peace and Development Centre

Gender Technical Unit (GTU)

Girl Child Advocacy and Education Initiatives

Girl Child Africa

Girl Child Education, Care & Rehabilitation

Girl Education Rehabilitation and Care (GERAC)

Girls Power Initiative (GPI)

Global Hope for Women and Children Foundation (GLOHWOC)

Green Spring Development Initiative

Habiba Dangana (Hadis) Foundation

Heal Disability Initiative

Health Education and Human Rights Advocacy Initiative

Health Reform Foundation Of Nigeria(HERFON)

HEIR Women Development

Help Initiative for Social Justice & Humanitarian Development

Hope For New Life

Initiative for Research, Innovation and Advocacy in Development IRIAD

Inter Africa Committee (IAC)

Inter Gender Peace Foundation

International Action Network On Small Arms Women Network Of

International Federation of Women Lawyers (Fida Nigeria)

International Hairstylists, Barber and Body Therapists (IHSTOBAN)

International Society of Media In Public Health (ISMPH)

International Women Communication Centre

IRIAD

Iyaniwura Children Care Foundation

Jamatul Nasir Islam, Women Wing

Jana Health Foundation

Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies

Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC)

Justice Development and Peace Mission (JDPM)

K/Mashi Gamji Women

Kebetkache Women Development And Resources Centre

Kimpact Initiatives

Kudirat Initiative For Democracy (KIND)

Kungiyar Tallafin Mata Development Initiative

League Of Queens International Empowerment

League of Women Voters of Nigeria NILOWV

LEDAP

Lift Initiative

MBULA Women Association

Media & Teens Network.

Media Concern Initiative

MODAC

Mojubaolu Olufunke Okome

More Women in Politics

My Voice My Future NGO

Nasrul – Lahi-L- Faith Society (NASFAT)

National Association of Women Journalist (NAWOJ)

National Centre for Women Development

National Council of Women Societies (NCWS)

NECA’s Network of Entrepreneurial Women

Neighbourhood Care -Well Foundation

Network of Reproductive Health Journalists Of Nigeria, NRHJN

Next Initiative for Gender Actions (NIGA)

NGAS Women Farmers’ Cooperative Society

Nigeria Association of Women Journalist (NAWOJ)

Nigeria For Women Project

Nigeria Labour Congress, Women Committee

Nigeria Union Of Teachers (NUT)

Nigerian Express

Nigerian Women Politics Forum

Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NTWF)

Ogayem Merciful Care and Support Initiatives (OMCSI)

Ogun Women Alive

Olive Community Development Initiatives

Onomese Foundation

Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA)

Osi Joe Touching Lives Initiative

Ovie Brume Foundation

Partners West Africa

Peasant Dragnet

Proactive Gender Initiative (PGI)

Project Alert on Violence Against Women

Quinnipiac University

Ray of Hope Community Foundation

Relief Development Initiative Kaduna

Responsible Citizenship and Human Development Initiative

Responsible Citizenship and Human Development Initiative

She Forum Africa

Sheforshe Africa Initiative

Shout Global Health

Small-scale Women Farmers Organization of Nigeria (SWOFON)

South- South Professional Women Association.

Stand to End Rape (STER)

Stephanie Peace Building Development Foundation

Support For Needy Children And Women Initiative (SUNCHI)

SWOFON National Abuja

Taraba State University

TechHerNG

The Inclusion Project (TIP)

The Priceless Jewels Foundation

THR Media – HERFESSIONS INITIATIVE

Tonia Bruised But Not Broken Foundation

Transformation and Development Center (TDC)

Transition Monitoring Group

Tunde & Friends Foundation (TAFF)

UC Women Commission

UN Women

Vision Spring Initiatives (VSI)

Voice Of Ogun Women (VOW)

West African Network for Peace

Widows Development Organization (WIDO)

Woman-Being Concern Nigeria

Women & Youth Awareness Empowerment Network (WOYAEN)

Women Advocacy, HIV Prevention and Other Diseases (WAHPOD)

Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center (WARDC)

Women Aid Collective

Women and Youth Empowerment for Advancement and Health Initiative

Women Consortium of Nigeria (WOCON)

Women education advocacy and development Initiatives (WEADI)

Women Empowerment and Initiative Development

Women Empowerment and Reproductive Health Centre (WERHC)

Women Empowerment Education and peace building lnitiative (WEPBI )

Women Environmental Programme

Women Farmers Alliance

Women For Peace And Gender Equality Initiative (WOPEGEE)

Women for Women International

Women Foundation Initiative

Women Foundation of Nigeria (WFN)

Women in Action for Positive Development and Gender Enhancement Center (WAPGADEC)

Former Women Action Organization (WAO)

Women In Africa Initiative

Women In Agriculture

Women In Mining

Women in Politics Forum

Women Information Network (WINET)

Women Initiative for Democracy and Empowerment (WIDE)

Women Law and Development Initiative (WOLDI)

Women Law Development Center of Nigeria (WLDCN)

Women Lead Agric

Women League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF)

Women of Vision Development Initiative

Women Protection Organization (WOPO)

WOMEN RADIO 91.7

Women Wing of The Christian Association Of Nigeria (WOWICAN)

Women, Infants and Children Care Initiative (WICCI)

Women, Youths and Children Advancement Program

Women Aid Collective (WACOL)

Women Optimum Development Foundation-WODEF

Women Right to Education Programme (WREP)

Women’s Crisis Centre Owerri

Women’s Rights and Health Project

Women’s Rights and Health Project (WRAHP)

Working Moms Africa

Wumi Asubiaro Dada

Youth Future Savers Initiative

Zonta International Club of Lagos 1

Akwa Ibom University expels 500 level student over facebook comment on Governor, Udom Emmanuel

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Akwa Ibom University expels 500 level student over facebook comment on Governor, Udom Emmanuel

Akwa Ibom State University has expelled a 500 student of its department of Agricultural Engineering, Ekpo Iniobong Isang over a “derogatory and defamatory” Facebook article against the state governor, Udom Emmanuel.

In a Facebook post published on November 9, 2019, Iniobong Isang known as (Afrosix Jaara) on Facebook told the state governor to redeem his pledge of employing first class graduates of the institution as well as giving them N100,000 each, as promised.

“May 17th, 2017, the 2nd and 3rd convocation took place that attracted men from different walks of life, parents, village heads, scholars and most importantly the Governor of Akwa Ibom State “DEACON UDOM GABRIEL EMMANUEL” were he promised to give the graduands double of the amount given by the school and also give jobs to the first class graduands,” the final year student wrote.

“Each graduands that was given 50k by the school will receive 100k from the governor. It’s 2 years and 166 days since he promised, yet none of the graduands received a naira even the first class graduands were unattended to when they went to his office.

“It’s 2 years and 166 days since he promised, yet none of the graduands received a naira even the first class graduands were unattended to when they went to his office.”

Following the post the university Senate allege that the Facebook post was a breach of the matriculation oath and a violation of the regulations enshrined in the Student Information Handbook.

On September 7th, the institution suspended the Ekpo for what they termed “gross misconduct.” And in a letter dated 9th April 2021, the university announced the expulsion of the student for the same “gross misconduct”.

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Akwa Ibom University letter expelling Ekpo

In the letter signed by John E. Udo, the registrar of the school, they also directed the chief security officer to deny him access to the institution henceforth.

The student has however challenged his expulsion in a petition written to the university by his lawyer, Inibehe Effiong on 18th June 2021.

He claimed the university authorities did not give him fair hearing as he was never invited to appear before a disciplinary committee before his suspension.

“It is particularly distressing that Akwa Ibom State University which is supposed to be a citadel of learning, an intellectual sanctuary for academic research and a fortress for human capital development as envisaged by Section 1 (3) of the Akwa Ibom State University Law, 2009, has relegated its statutory objects and arrogated to itself a politically actuated mandate of monitoring favourable or critical views expressed by citizens on social media about the Governor of Akwa Ibom State,” Ekpo representative wrote in the letter.

“We will like to know whether the Matriculation Oath Of the Akwa Ibom State University requires students to surrender their fundamental right to freedom of expression as guaranteed them by Section 39 of the Constitution Of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) upon admission into the University?”.

The student and his legal representative however said gave the university a 7-day ultimatum to meet their demands or commence with the legal proceedings.

The demands are:

“Immediate and Unconditional Reinstatement of our Client to continue with his studies and academic programme as a student of Akwa Ibom State University without encumbrances.

Restoration of all studentship rights accruable to students of Akwa Ibom State University to Our Client, including access into the campus, attendance of lectures and participation in all academic and University activities that every registered student is entitled to.

A special opportunity and waiver for Our Client to write all the tests and examinations which he registered and paid fees for but was prevented from taking part on account of his wrongful indefinite suspension and unconstitutional expulsion.

Payment of the sum of N20,000,000.00 (Twenty Million Naira) to Our Client representing General Damages for the gross breach of Our Client’s fundamental rights and the resultant trauma and depression he has suffered.”

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Troops arrest fleeing bandit in possession of military kits – Army

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Troops arrest fleeing bandit in possession of military kits – Army

The Nigerian Army says its troops operating along Mokwa-Jebba road, intercepted and arrested a fleeing bandit in a vehicle traveling from Zuru to Ibadan during a stop and search operation on Sunday.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, said this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

Nwachukwu said the vigilant troops spotted an occupant of the vehicle, who claimed to be Sgt. Aminu Sule.

He said the suspect was found to be in possession of a pair of camouflage, military boots, knife and substance suspected to be charms.

He said on further interrogation; the suspect confessed to be traveling to Ogbomosho in Oyo State, and further claimed that the uniform and boots belonged to his brother who was a soldier.

He added that the suspect was discovered to be fleeing from the ongoing operations in Niger State to a safe haven.

According to him, the suspect was immediately apprehended and handed over to the police at Mokwa for further investigation.

“The heat on bandits and other criminal elements in Niger State has caused them to start fleeing to supposed safe havens.

“Members of the public, particularly around Niger and contiguous states are, therefore, enjoined to be vigilant and report any suspected movement of fleeing bandits to security agencies,” he said.

According to him, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, has assured law-abiding citizens of Niger State and, indeed, all Nigerians of the safety of their lives and property.

“He further enjoined them to be wary of such sinister movements by fleeing bandits and continue to support the security agencies with useful information to enable them maintain peace and security of the country,” Nwachukwu said.

Lagos Eti-Osa East Local Council Chairman has died

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Lagos Eti-Osa East Local Council Chairman has died

The Chairman of Eti-Osa East Local Council Development Area in Lagos State, Hon. Olufunmi Rafiu Olatunji is dead.

NewsWireNGR gathered that the Chairman died on Monday night of an undisclosed illness

His media team, confirming his death on Facebook, announced that he would be buried on Tuesday according to Islamic rites at his residence in Sangotedo, Ajah, Lagos State.

“With sorrow in our heart but in total submission to the will of Almighty Allah (S. W. T), we announce the passing, after a long battle with illness, our dear father, brother, friend, confidant, role model, Nation-builder, Hon. Olufunmi Rafiu Olatunji.

“He was until late night of Monday 21st June, 2021 the Executive Chairman of Eti-Osa East Local Council Development Area, Eti-Osa Local Government.

“He will be buried in accordance to Islamic rite by 9 am prompt at his residence in Sangotedo,” the statement read.

Yemi Osinbajo says young Nigerians do not vote or even register to vote

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Yemi Osinbajo says young Nigerians do not vote or even register to vote

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says Young people in Nigeria do not register to vote or vote because most of them engage the government on social media or via pressure groups.

Osibajo made the assertion during the maiden Progressives Youth Conference organised by the APC Youth wing at the International Conference Centre, Abuja on Monday.

Speaking on the theme, ‘The Future is a Decision,’ Osinbajo said increased participation by majority of the country’s youths would, more importantly, help them to contribute to making meaningful changes which only those in government can can bring about.

“It is evident just from voter-turnout alone that the vast majority of young people either do not register to vote or do not vote.?

“Those who even participate at all would rather engage within the very constrained space of social media platforms or join pressure groups.

“Neither of these is necessarily bad, but while media engagements and pressure groups may draw attention to the issues, they do not transform the lives of millions for good or ill. So, if you are keen on how the future will turn out, you must be involved in politics.”

Osinbajo added that “growing up, I was also in a number of pressure groups, concerned with corruption, human rights and democracy.

I wrote papers and argued at conferences but it was only in 1999 when the AD won elections in Lagos that I was able to serve as Attorney General, and working with several colleagues, we carried out a major reform of the justice sector in Lagos State. We had to participate politically, otherwise all our great ideas may never be tried.”

The vice president added that it is crucial for young Nigerians, with like minds, and who are already involved in politics, to influence others to also participate.

“You are in your prime, at your most creative and most prolific stage. You also have the largest numbers.

“Clearly, you underestimate your role and abilities if you do not see your role as taking over the ideological and intellectual direction of the party. The big ideas, the great solutions, the creative plans, must come from you. And this is your moment.

“Politics is about service to the people, but at the heart of that is that it is about ideas, and, of course, numbers. Movements of every kind are activated around ideas, and numbers. The larger the number of those persuaded by an idea, the stronger the movement.

“So being involved and getting others involved is crucial. The task then is to aggregate the majority of the party around your preferred point of view.”

“That has to be done by standing firm on sound principles, but also being ready to give-and-take on methodology for achieving shared objectives and common causes.

“We have a duty to raise the bar of political discourse and focus the minds of the public on the issues that matter most to the majority.

“It is the strength of your ideas and the depth of organisation that will retire those ahead of you, not your age,” the vice president charged.

INEC opens portal for voters e-registration

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INEC opens portal for voters e-registration

The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) has introduced an online portal for registration in preparation for the continuous voters registration exercise scheduled to begin next week.

In an statement released on Tuesday, INEC Chairman, Mahmoud Yakubu, said that the online registration will help to reduce the burden of long queues during CVR.

He said, “In the next one week, Monday 28th June 2021, the Commission will resume the Continuous Voter Registration nationwide.

“In doing so, the Commission is introducing a portal to enable eligible Nigerians to commence registration as voters online before completing the exercise physically at designated centres nationwide”.

This is the first time a major exercise of this nature is handled partially online, consistent with the Commission’s commitment to continue to deepen the use of technology in the electoral process in Nigeria

“Just like the expansion of voter access to Polling Units, the Commission appeals to the media for support so that this novel idea will also be successful.”

The success of the exercise depends, to a considerable extent, on citizens’ awareness through voter education. There will be new registrants, requests for intra-state and inter-state transfers as well as the replacement of voters’ cards as provided by law,” he said.

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