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Dubawa inducts 26 fact-checkers for 2021 West Africa-wide fellowship

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Dubawa inducts 26 fact-checkers for 2021 West Africa-wide fellowship

West Africa’s verification and fact-checking platform, Dubawa, has concluded plans to induct twenty-six (26) fellows into its 2021 cohort of fact-checkers to combat misinformation in the sub-region.

The platform, under the aegis of the Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ), announced the commencement of the yearly fellowship in Abuja on Monday 17th May, 2021. 

Now in its third year, the 2021 fellowship is christened Kwame Karikari Fact-Checking and Research Fellowship in honour of Ghanaian Professor, Kwame Karikari.

Twenty-six (26) successful applicants, drawn from over 200 applications in The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone, will from Tuesday, 18th May undergo training that will equip them in combating the widespread regime of misinformation in the West African sub-region.

“Upon completion and evidence of competence after a ten-course module the participants will graduate into the six months in-country fellowship,” Dubawa programme manager, Adedeji Adekunle, said in a statement.

Mr Adekunle said the training faculty for the programme are drawn from a pool of the leading global experts in the field of fact-checking who come with individual and organizational talents which includes Peter Cunliffe-Jones, founder of Africa Check, and current course co-director/researcher at the University of Westminster in the United Kingdom; Youri van der Weide, researcher and trainer at the global investigative organisation, Bellingcat; and Craig Silverman, author, trainer, and the digital editor, at BuzzFeed.

Others are Prof. Kwame Karikari, former professor, School of Communications, University of Ghana, Legon and Chairman of the Board of the Daily Graphic newspaper in Accra; Dr Chido Onumah, coordinator of the African Centre for Information and Media Literacy, AFRICMIL; Kemi Busari, Editor of DUBAWA; Deji Adekunle, DUBAWA Programme Manager; Caroline Anipah, Ghana Programme Lead for DUBAWA; and Dapo Olorunyomi, Executive Director for the PTCIJ.

Participants at the course will learn about the accountability journalism ecosystem in the sub-region; how to fix the current information disorder through legal, regulatory responses and through misinformation literacy. 

They will also learn fact-checking methodology, the skills and steps involved in fact-checking, ethics of journalism and fact-checking; data presentation and analysis for fact-checking, media literacy, monitoring and analysis of social media content and accounts; investigating websites, as well as freedom of information/right to Information laws in West Africa and the verification of digital tools.

Named after Professor Kwame Karikari, redoubtable media freedom advocate and founder of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), the fellowship is inspired by the need to tackle the menace of mis- and dis-information within the sub-region and beyond.

About DUBAWA:

DUBAWA is an independent, transparent and non-partisan verification and fact-checking platform, initiated by the Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ) in 2018.

Dubawa aims at instituting a culture of truth and verification in public discourse and journalism through strategic partnerships between the media, government, civil society organisations, technology giants and the public.

Governor El-Rufai declares NLC President Wabba wanted

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Governor El-Rufai declares NLC President Wabba wanted

Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has declared the National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba wanted, over a strike action that has all but paralysed the economy of the north-western state.
The 5-day warning strike across all sectors of the state’s economy, commenced on Monday, May 17, 2021.

The governor says Wabba and his team at the NLC will be charged with economic sabotage and vandalism under the Miscellaneous Offences Act.

The NLC says it asked workers to down tools in the state because due process was not followed in the recent sack of thousands of workers from the Kaduna payroll.

Schools have been shut, airport activities grounded, banks locked, the electricity system grounded, and all sectors of the Kaduna economy have been left reeling from the industrial action.

“What is happening now in Kaduna is not an industrial action but a campaign of social and economic sabotage,” says Head of Service in Kaduna State, Baritu Mohammed.

“NLC is aware that inflicting pain on citizens, locking hospitals and public institutions, shutting down electricity will not change or affect the decision of Kaduna State government.

“It will not change the intention of the Kaduna State government to use Trade Union Act which prohibits strike by essential workers,” Mohammed adds.

Kaduna Governor curses rights activist, Chidi Odinkalu

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Kaduna Governor curses rights activist, Chidi Odinkalu

Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has placed a curse on Nigerian lawyer and rights activist, Chidi Odinkalu in an unprecedented display of temper.

The exchange happened on the social media platform, Twitter on Tuesday morning after Odinkalu posted on the platform, alleging that public schools, hospitals, petrol stations have been shut down in the state due to the ongoing labour unions strike.

Reacting with an angry tweet, Governor El Rufai responded by accusing Odinkalu of sharing ‘fake news’, stating that schools, and public hospitals were operating by noon on Monday. “You are cursed”. He wrote.

Governor El Rufai has been under pressure since the Nigerian Labour Congress embarked on a five day warning strike and protest in the state.

The NLC National President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, had said that the five-day strike action would run its full course unless the State Government attended to the workers grievances.

Some of the grievances included the recent sack of 7,000 local government workers and refusal of the state government to settle the entitlements of about 50, 000 it disengaged from service from 2017 to date.

Government activities in the state were completely paralised on the first day of the strike on Monday, with banks, schools, hospitals, water, electricity, rail and air services shut.

This is not the first time the Governor and Odinkalu will clash. In November 2020, Nasir El Rufai filed a N2billion suit against Odinkalu and others for alleged character defamation.

In the suit against Odinkalu, Daniel Elombah and Elombah Communications, El Rufai contended that the publication titled, ‘Litany of 25 critics who have suffered at El Rufai’s hands, compiled by Chidi Odinkalu’ and published in Elombah.com on Wednesday, September 2, 2020 was malicious, unlawful and without justification.

He also demanded the sum of N500m for the damage and an apology for the defamation and damage to his reputation.

Police rescue kidnapped UNIJOS professor, husband

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Police rescue kidnapped UNIJOS professor, husband

Professor Grace Ayanbimpe, who was kidnapped with her husband on Monday, has been rescued.

The professor with the Department of Medical Microbiology in the University of Jos was kidnapped by gunmen on Monday at their residence located behind Haske quarters, Lamingo in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State

NewsWireNGR gathered that the gunmen had made contact with the family shortly after their abduction and demanded N15 million ransom.

However, it could not be established whether any ransom was paid but a family source confirmed their release to reporters on Tuesday.

The spokesman for the State Police Command, ASP Ubah Ogaba who also confirmed the couple’s release said they were rescued by a joint operation by security agents including hunters.

“With the concerted effort of the Police Tactical team Plateau State Command, hunters and vigilantes, the kidnapped victims – Prof Grace Ayanbimpe and her husband Mr Isaac Ayanbimpe – were released unhurt,” the police spokesman stated.

ASUU joins NLC strike in Kaduna in solidarity

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ASUU joins NLC strike in Kaduna in solidarity

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Kaduna State University Chapter, has directed its members to join the ongoing warning strike by public sector workers in Kaduna State.

The ASUU Chairperson, Dr Peter Adamu gave the directive in a circular to the members of the union, issued in Kaduna on Monday.

Adamu said: “I am directed by the National Secretariat of our great union through the Zonal office Kano, for members to join the warning strike.

“Members should remember that ASUU is an affiliate of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the principal officers of ASUU were part of the NLC National Executive Council that took the decision on the strike action.

“Also, members that violate the strike action must note that the union will not be there for them when the wrath of the governor falls on them.

“We must unite for a just cause because injury to one is injury to all.”

The NLC National President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, had said that the five-day strike action would run its full course unless the State Government attended to the workers grievances.

Some of the grievances included the recent sack of 7,000 local government workers and refusal of the state government to settle the entitlements of about 50, 000 it disengaged from service from 2017 to date.

Government activities in the state were completely paralised on the first day of the strike on Monday, with banks, schools, hospitals, water, electricity, rail and air services shut.

‘Nigeria may experience worse hike in food prices’ – Farmers Association

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‘Nigeria may experience worse hike in food prices’ – Farmers Association

The National President of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Kabir Ibrahim, says Nigeria may experience a worse hike in food prices beyond 2021, unless urgent steps are taken to save the situation.

According to him, the trend of insecurity, poor farming activities, lack of access to credit facilities among other factors militating against agriculture, it is impossible to guarantee food security in Nigeria.

In an interview with VON on Monday, Ibrahim said, with the present skyrocketing of food prices, it is going to be more costly for the nation to feed itself if there is no bumper harvest from the 2021 wet and dry season farming.

He called on the Federal government to consider evidence-based policies and programs, taking lessons from interventions and other countries that have been successful.

“We don’t even have a policy for agriculture up till now, the one we had expired, we must work our talk in agriculture, and target the real farmers, we must move towards agricultural investment, mechanisation, quality seed and amend our water resources for dry season farming.

“With the present skyrocketing of food prices, if the 2021 harvest is not bumper, it is going to be more costly to feed ourselves further”, he said.

Also, National President of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Ezekiel Ibrahim, who spoke in an interview said, the poultry industry is at the verge of shutting down as most farmers can’t cope with the high cost of production materials.

He attributed the high cost of production materials to insecurity, climate change and hoarding.

Ezekiel who noted that the Association has been drawing the attention of the government to take drastic action for the country to be food secured, said many Nigerians can’t eat what they were eating in the last five years.

He maintained that small and medium-sized poultry farms, which are major players in the industry, are shutting down, thereby threatening millions of jobs created by the industry.

“Since 2019, we have been saying let us import maize and soybeans so that we will keep our agro industries floating, which means we are maintaining employment rate. As at today, most factories and poultry farms have closed, the ones that are producing now are producing at a loss, if they continue, sooner or later, they are going to close down”.

“This will not only heighten the crime rates but increase malnutrition.

“We have never had the worst experience as we are experiencing today, a lot of people can’t afford anything in the market currently.

“The economy of any nation depends on its purchasing power and many Nigerians go to bed today without eating food. We must secure this nation to allow farmers to go to farm and give credit facilities to genuine farmers.

“If we are serious, we can transform this country in three years , we have vast land and very productive youths. we should use what we have, mobilize the youths and make agriculture attractive so as to make it business, we can always do rainy season and dry season farming”, he said.

Kaduna Strike: El-Rufai accuses NLC of ‘unlawful practice’

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Kaduna Strike: El-Rufai accuses NLC of ‘unlawful practice’

The Kaduna State Government has accused the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) of unlawful actions and assaults on the rights of other people in the state as the labour union kicked off a 5-day warning strike.

Part of the unlawful activities levied against the NLC included shutting down electricity and healthcare access for several of the citizens of Kaduna State.

The government claimed NLC closed several hospitals and chased away the patients from General hospitals in Kawo, Tudun-Wada, Kafanchan, Giwa, Rigasa, Kakuri and Sabon Tasha.

NLC on Monday said it had undertaken the strike to protest against the Kaduna State government’s decision to disengage thousands of civil servants in the state and to correct the state Governor, Nasir El-Rufai for anti-people policies.

The Labour union mobilised people of interest to protest against the government and ground activities in the state.

Reacting to the labour union in a press statement signed by the special adviser to the governor on media and communication, Muyiwa Adekeye in Kaduna, the government insisted that it is on the right path with its decision.

According to the statement, the labour union’s strike is a “needless exercise in futility” and the state government remains firmly committed to using all the resources it can generate to serve the interests of the majority of its citizens, putting the many ahead of the few.

The government added that it is committed to running the state operations to serve the people despite the strike action.

‘PDP Governors’ Forum meeting is a waste of time’ – APC says

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‘PDP Governors’ Forum meeting is a waste of time’ – APC says

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the Monday meeting held by the governors on the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ibadan as a complete waste of time.

APC further accused the governors of engaging in name calling and abuses.

National Secretary of the APC Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee CECPC, Sen. John James Akpanudoedehe disclosed this in a statement issued Monday in Abuja.

The statement reads; “Going by the communique issued by the Peoples Democratic Party PDP Governors’ Forum, at the end of its meeting on Monday, it is unfortunate that the PDP governors chose to engage in misplaced name calling and abuses instead of seizing a golden opportunity provided by the meeting to offer meaningful and patriotic contributions on the review of the state of the Nation.

“It is disappointing that the supposed PDP Governor’s consultative meeting turned out to be a political jamboree and its outcomes a waste of time, with no substance.

“The efforts and records of the President Muhammadu Buhari government on revamping the economy, devolution of powers, upgrading the country’s security architecture, governance and electoral reforms, addressing perennial farmers/herders clashes, public sector reforms is visible and unmatched.

“Nigerians will recall that President Buhari on 20th May 2020 signed an executive order on implementation of financial autonomy of state legislature and state Judiciary which the same PDP governors have rejected.

“This government will continue to identify and partner with patriotic and well-meaning individuals and interests in our determined efforts to make the country better and address our challenges”.

The PDP Governors led by the Chairman of PDP Governor’s Forum, Sokoto State’s, Aminu Tambuwal were hosted by Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State at the International Institute For Tropical Agriculture.

They charged President Muhammadu Buhari to implement the creation of state policing, citing it as the solution to insecurity plaguing the country.

Governor Dapo Abiodun’s aide arrested in the US for alleged identity theft and unemployment scam

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Governor Dapo Abiodun’s aide arrested in the US for alleged identity theft and unemployment scam

A senior special assistant to the Ogun state Governor, Abidemi Rufai has been arrested in the United States for alleged identity theft and fraud.

the 42-year-old former House of Reps aspirant and real estate businessman is accused of stealing more than $350,000 in fraudulent unemployment claims from Washington state according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Abidemi Rufai, whom FBI agents recognized from social media accounts and images from U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, was arrested on Friday at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York while they said he was trying to leave the country.

U.S. attorneys said Rufai stole the identities of more than 100 people in Washington state to funnel unemployment benefits into his own bank account from the Washington state’s Employment Security Department.

Investigators said Rufai used small variations in email addresses in a Gmail account, which made it appear like he was multiple people, to slip through fraud detection at ESD. He primarily uses the address [email protected] but would scatter periods in variations like [email protected] and [email protected]. But investigators said Gmail addresses do not recognize periods, so anything sent to the different addresses went straight to Rufai’s inbox.

The criminal complaint alleges that Rufai used the stolen identities of more than 100 Washington residents to file fraudulent claims with ESD for pandemic-related unemployment benefits. Rufai also filed fraudulent unemployment claims with Hawaii, Wyoming, Massachusetts, Montana, New York, and Pennsylvania. Rufai used variations of a single e-mail address in a manner intended to evade automatic detection by fraud systems. By using this practice, Rufai made it appear that each claim was connected with a different email account.

Rufai caused the fraud proceeds to be paid out to online payment accounts such as ‘Green Dot’ accounts, or wired to bank accounts controlled by “money mules.” Some of the proceeds were then mailed to the Jamaica, New York address of Rufai’s relative. Law enforcement determined more than $288,000 was deposited into an American bank account controlled by Rufai between March and August 2020.

“Since the first fraud reports to our office in April 2020, we have worked diligently with a federal law enforcement team to track down the criminals who stole funds designated for pandemic relief,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Gorman. “This is the first, but will not be the last, significant arrest in our ongoing investigation of ESD fraud.” The department said in a public statement.

“I am certain that they’re all connected,” said Tommy Parker, an IT security expert who was out of work during the pandemic. For months, someone who stole his identity was also stealing his benefits.

“They made my life miserable when not only did I have to prove I didn’t get that money, but then I actually needed my insurance money, and I couldn’t get that either,” he told a Local New York paper

Parker believes Rufai and others were tipped off that security was weak or disabled at the Employment Security Department.

“There is no doubt in my mind,” Parker said. “You don’t undertake an operation of this scope without assurances that it’s going to work!”

The state of Washington confirmed it paid fraudsters $642,954 and only recovered $369,789 of that amount, which means more than $273 million are still gone. Parker believes the arrest of Rufai could be a game-changer.

Breaking: EFCC arrests the immediate past governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed

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The immediate past governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed, has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Sources at the anti-graft agency told Channels Television that the former governor is being questioned by a crack team of operatives at the EFCC headquarters in the Jabi area of Abuja, the nation’s capital.

He was said to have arrived the EFCC headquarters at about 10am on Monday, in response to the invitation extended to him by the agency.

Following his arrival at the anti-graft agency’s office, Mr Ahmed was in the interrogation room for about seven hours, writing statements.

His arrest was in connection with how funds to the tune of about N9 billion were allegedly diverted from the coffers of Kwara State government.

The money was alleged to have been diverted during Mr Ahmed’s tenure as governor of the state, and when he served as the Commissioner for Finance in the administration of former governor Bukola Saraki.

Breaking: Actor, Baba Ijesha has been granted bail

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Breaking: Actor, Baba Ijesha has been granted bail

Olanrewaju James, popularly known as, Baba Ijesha, detained by police for alleged sexual assault has been granted bail.

His lawyer, Adesina Ogunlana, confirmed this to newsmen on Monday.

“He has been granted bail about one hour ago. We are working to perfect the bail. He was granted bail on health grounds. He has not been released. He will be released after his bail conditions have been met,” he said.

NewsWireNGR recalls that, the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), Lagos State Ministry of Justice, had stalled any possibility of releasing the embattled Yoruba actor, Olanrewaju James, popularly known as, “Baba Ijesha” on bail.

The DPP said it arrived at the decision “because of the criminal charges Baba Ijesha has to answer”.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, had made the disclosure to reporters at the Police Public Relations Office, Oduduwa, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos State. Baba Ijesha was arrested in April for allegedly sexually molesting a minor.

Mr Adejobi said that the DPP advised the police to still detain Baba Ijesha, because the case against him, according to legal advice, “is sexual assault by penetration”, pending when he would be charged to court.

“Invariably sexual assault is more like defilement too, considering the age of the victim.

“So, Baba Ijesha is being kept with the police not within our own power, but because of the legal advice from the DPP pending when Baba Ijesha’s case will be charged to court.

“If the DPP has advised us to release Baba Ijesha, we will have released him,” the spokesperson said.

FG says it has uncovered 476 online publication sites dedicated to daily churning out of fake news to fight the government

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FG says it has uncovered 476 online publication sites dedicated to daily churning out of fake news to fight the government

The Federal Government says it has uncovered about 476 online publication sites dedicated to daily churning out of fake news to fight the government.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja when he received officials of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations on a courtesy visit

Mohammed said the latest of the hatchet jobs by the traducers was the fake publication on President Muhammadu Buhari’s mental status.

“It will amaze you that recently we unveiled almost 476 online publication sites that are dedicated to daily engaging in churning out fake news to fight the government.

“The latest which I found ridiculous is the one that said days ago, that they had information that when Mr President was in the UK the last time, he was advised to step down because he could not even recognise members of his immediate family.

“I begin to wonder how they can go this far, simply because they know that people are gullible and they will make the fake news to go viral,” he said.

The minister noted that fake news is taking a new dimension and threatening the existence of the country.

He said the debilitating effects of the menace was not only on the government but on every Nigerian.

Mohammed noted that many marriages had been wrecked as a result of fake news, particularly through the social media while people had lost their lives and many others committed suicide.

To buttress his position, the minister recalled a recent report where fake news almost led to killing of 600 applicants by scammers.

“A young man sent out letters to 600 people to enlist into Nigerian Army and collected N10,000 from each of them.

“He asked them to report at the Okitipupa Army Barracks in Ondo state on a particular day to collect their letters of appointment.

“At the same time, he alerted the Commandant of the Barrack that Boko Haram insurgents were coming to invade the barrack on the same day,” he said.

Mohammed said his ministry had spearheaded the campaign against fake news years back before the menace got so bad.

He said the NIPR had critical role to play in ensuring the fight against fake news.

“This is where your body comes in because you have a powerful platform to ensure that the menace of fake news is confronted squarely.

“Regrettably, however, members of this institute have been found wanting, they have most times placed pecuniary interest and motives above patriotism and nationalism

“You will recall the sad incidence of the P&ID saga.

“It was a member of this institute, a firm of PR consultants that was hired to give impression to the world that Nigeria entered into agreement with P&ID and renege and have to pay about nine billion dollars.

“It took the combined interventions of this ministry and the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation to go to the UK to change the narrative to prove that the purported contract was a huge scam,” he said.

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