Nigeria’s popular website and the most visited forum has been down for hours since yesterday (Sunday).
A check by NewsWireNGR at the time of publication revealed the platform is still down and expected to be so for some more hours.
Updating netizens on the development, Nairaland founder, Seun Osewa, revealed via a post on X (formerly Twitter) that the problem is “a human issue, not a technical issue”.
Explaining, Seun said; “Nairaland’s server was taken down because I overlooked an abuse report that was originally sent on the 14th. After the takedown, I removed the offensive content.
“The UI for bringing back the server didn’t work so it took hours to get support on how to get that done. Minutes after the forum was brought back, they took the server down again with no warning.
“I’m guessing that the content I removed was still cached on Cloudflare servers, so they could still see it. I have cleared the caches now, but they are not communicating. I hope they will communicate tomorrow.
“If you have any ideas for working with abuse teams, please share. My track record is abysmal.
“The technical support team has informed me that only the abuse team has the power to reinstate our server, that their review could take up to 48 hours, and that nothing can be done to speed up the process. I’ve been informed that the only thing I can do is wait. It’s humbling.”
Clarifying who took the site down, Seun responding to an X user’s question, said, “Our host took the server down as punishment for not responding to the abuse report on time.
“All we need is for a kind human to review the case and reverse the block.
“It is really a small issue that should have been resolved in less than 2 minutes.”
Meanwhile, netizens have reacted to the development, with many disappointed that a platform with such traffic does not have autonomy on its own server.
The Adamawa branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has identified corruption as one of the major impediments hindering the legal profession and its practice in Nigeria.
Mr. Jibril Jimeta, Chairman of the organising committee of the just concluded Law Week organized by the branch, made the statement when he addressed a news conference in Yola.
“Corruption in the legal profession is now in full-scale as some of our members serve as the conduit for exchange of money between the judges and litigants,” he said.
“We are not measured by our success but by the number of us who proved to be deviants,” he added.
He said the legal profession had found itself in disarray due to a breach of the rules of professional conduct and other practices that were inimical to the profession.
“Giving clients false hopes on the true fate of their cases while some lawyers approach judges for bribes among other things were some of the bane in legal practice today.”
According to him, to redeem the image of the profession, legal practitioners need to engage themselves in capacity development, obeying court orders, and strengthen the discipline mechanism at the NJC and the bar branches nationwide.
“The battered image of the profession can only be redeemed, strengthened, and cleaned by the legal practitioners themselves,” he said.
He advocated for a robust working relationship and synergy between the Bar and the bench, saying the judiciary was the last hope of the common man.
Jimeta said an interactive session was held during the week and issues affecting Police Duty and the Solicitor Scheme (PDSS) were thoroughly addressed.
He said issues like the gap between the legal aid and lawyers, actions of Police in taking statement of a suspect, and the need for a good working relationship between lawyers and security agencies were also deliberated upon.
The Police Command in Anambra has arrested a couple suspected of trafficking a one-month-old baby from Lagos to Onitsha.
This is contained in a statement signed by the State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, and made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Onitsha.
Ikenga said that the interception was made at Bridgehead in Onitsha on Sunday.
According to him, the couple was travelling in a luxury bus belonging to a popular transport company with the baby when a co-passenger observed that the mother could not breastfeed the baby despite its cry for food in the course of the journey.
“The good samaritan put a call through to Anambra Police on its Control Room hotline in Awka which then relayed the information to the Police at Bridgehead in Onitsha.
“The Police laid in wait for the luxury bus described and intercepted it in the evening hours. The couple and the baby were identified and brought down for questioning,” he said.
He noted that she confessed to buying the child from its mother in Ajah, Lagos for the sum of N30,000.
He further said that the Commissioner of Police, Aderemi Adeoye, thanked the public spirited citizen for his humane concern in giving the information that led to the rescue of the child.
He stressed that Adeoye commended the police operatives for their vigilance and dedication to duty.
He said that the commissioner directed that the couple be handed to National Agency for Prohibition in Trafficking of Persons (NAPTIP) for further investigation and prosecution.
Ikenga said that the baby had been handed over to the state Ministry of Women Affairs for care pending investigation.
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja has issued an order attaching the accounts of the Oyo State Government in ten commercial banks in the country.
The order was issued by Justice A. O. Ebong, in a ruling on a garnishee proceeding initiated by ex-council chiefs in Oyo State, who were sacked on May 29, 2019, by Gov. Seyi Makinde.
The sacked local government chairmen and councillors had, in 2021, got a N4,874,889,425.60 judgment against Makinde and other officials/agencies of the state.
The other officials/agencies listed with Makinde as judgment debtors, by virtue of the May 7, 2021 judgment of the Supreme Court, are the Attorney-General, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Accountant-General of Oyo State, Speaker of the House of Assembly, the House of Assembly and the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC).
The garnishee proceeding was intended by the ex-council chiefs, led by Bashorun Majeed Ajuwon, to recover the balance of N3,424,889,425.60 (N3.5 billion) which is outstanding from the actual judgment sum, from which Makinde paid only N1.5 billion in 2022.
What was outstanding in respect of the Supreme Court judgment was N3,374,889,425.60, but the Court of Appeal in Abuja added N50 million, which it awarded as cost against Makinde and others in a judgment on Dec. 8, dismissing their appeal.
The banks in which the state government’s accounts were blocked are Zenith Bank, United Bank of Africa (UBA), Wema Bank, First Bank of Nigeria, Ecobank, Guaranty Trust Bank, Access Bank, Polaris Bank, Jaiz Bank and Union Bank.
Justice Ebong delivered the ruling on Dec. 15 on a motion marked: BW/M/85/2023 but its certified true copy (CTC) was gotten on Monday.
He ordered the garnishees (the banks) to file affidavits and attend the court on the next adjourned date to show cause why the garnishee orders nisi hereby granted should not be made absolute.
The judge awarded N300,000.00 as cost against the judgment debtors; ordered that a copy of the order be served on Makinde and others and adjourned till Jan. 5, 2024 for hearing.
NAN recalls that on May 7, 2021 when the Supreme Court gave judgment, voiding Makinde’s sack of elected local government chairmen and councillors in Oyo State, the apex court gave similar judgment in respect of Katsina State and ordered both states to pay the salaries and allowances of the effected ex-council chiefs.
Justice Ejembi Eko, who delivered the lead judgment in the Oyo State case, condemned the decision by Makinde to unlawfully sack the elected council chiefs before the end of their tenure.
But, while the Katsina State Government had since paid its ex-council chiefs, who were unlawfully sacked, the Oyo State Government had failed to pay the ex-council chiefs in the appeal marked: SC/CV/556/2020.
The Abia Police Command has confirmed Saturday’s alleged abduction of four underaged children in Umuahia by their unidentified female neighbour.
The incident happened barely three weeks after the alleged disappearance of four school children of the same parents in Umuda Community, a suburb of Umuahia.
The command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Maureen Chinaka, confirmed the latest abduction in a statement issued in Umuahia and made available to newsmen on Monday.
Chinaka stated that the command had arrested some suspects in connection with the Saturday’s incident.
She explained that one Mrs Ifeanyi Udoma-Ibe, a resident of Ubakala Street/Ossai Road, Umuahia, had on Sunday reported to the command that she left four children in the care of a new female tenant in their compound.
According to reports, Udoma-Ibe, who visited her sister, also a tenant in the compound, left the children with the tenant to fetch water within the neighbourhood, taking her sister’s son along.
She was said to have returned to the compound to discover that the tenant had moved out with the children.
The PPRO quoted Udoma-Ibe to have reported that two of the children were hers and that the other two belonged to her sister and another family in the compound.
She gave the names of the children as Joy Ufuoma (Female – three years), Ogbonna Udoma (Male – six years), Chioma Kingsley (Female – five years) and Miracle Ikechukwu (Female – five years).
“Unfortunately, on the same day, the new tenant made away with the four children,” the statement added.
It stated that investigation was in progress to determine the whereabouts of the children.
“Police interaction with Udoma-Ibe revealed that the tenant moved into the compound three days before the incident.
“And she could not provide details, such as the tenant’s name or GSM number,” Chinaka stated.
She warned the public against entrusting underaged children in the care of unfamiliar persons.
She also urged the public to be vigilant, particularly when they come across minors in the company of adults.
“Endeavour to interview both the child and adult person, if unsatisfied with the explanations, involve the police for necessary action,” she further advised.
She, therefore, urged anyone with useful information regarding the missing children to report to the nearest police station or contact her via 07059951536.
President Bola Tinubu has said the Niger Delta region of the country where most crude oil are being extracted must be treated with the deserved respect and care.
The president stated the region “must be seen as the goose that lays the golden egg”.
Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, in a statement, said Tinubu said this while inaugurating the Board of the NNPCL at the State House, on Monday in Abuja.
He urged the Board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to immediately get to work, warning that non-performance would not be tolerated.
Tinubu also said that conduct suggesting a sense of entitlement would not be tolerated, warning that the Board could be dissolved without prior notice to members over non-performance.
“The challenge is corporate governance. Yes, we will improve the security situation. We are working very hard. Sincerely, the Chief Executive Officer, Kyari, is doing very well, and doing all that I know.
“But you could be suddenly dissolved if there is no sustained excellence in performance. It is my honour to inaugurate this Board, which has people of great integrity. I am honoured that we are doing this. I recognize all of you,’’ he said.
Tinubu said corporate social responsibility for the Niger Delta must be taken seriously, considering the devastating effects of oil exploration and exploitation on the environment.
“Niger Delta must be seen as the goose that lays the golden egg, and we must treat that region with the deserved respect and care. It is not asking for too much to ensure quality and constant water supply, schools, medical facilities, and roads.
“It is not about us. It is about the well-being of the entire country and the lifeblood of the nation. We should care more about the environment. We will do more for security to minimise stealing and vandalisation,’’ he stated.
The President directed that more attention should be given to gas as Nigeria transitions to cleaner energy, adding: “We need to show that we are committed to the welfare of our country.
“Take a look at the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), and know what the pitfalls are. The Cabinet members and Board should decide what we can do differently for production increase, profitability, and governance. It is in your hands. I will work with you,’’ he said.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Board, Chief Pius Akinyelure, commended the President for the removal of petrol subsidy, noting that the nation would have drowned in debt, but for his decisiveness.
“Our focus is to increase production. We must address the problem of stealing and pipeline vandalisation in the Niger Delta. We are aware of the efforts in the past, but we will do more,’’ he said.
Her real name is Bulelwa Mkutukana, and her stage name is Zahara. Some of her fans also call her Spinach.
Age
Zahara was born on November 9, 1987. She was 36 years old as of November 9, 2023.
Bulelwa Mkutukana died on December 11, 2023, which means she died when she was about 36 years, 1 month, and 2 days.
Tribe
She was born in Phumlani Informal Settlement of East London in Eastern Cape, South Africa.
Parents
Her parents are Nokhaya and Mlamli Mkutukana. She is the sixth of seven children.
Cause of death
Bulelwa ‘Zahara’ Mkutukana died at the age of 36 years old on December 11, 2023, after battling a liver problem.
A few weeks before her death at Johannesburg Hospital, her manager, Oyama Dyosiba, confirmed she had been hospitalized “following complaints about physical pains”.
Dyosiba, in 2019, confirmed she (Zahara) had suffered liver disease after problems with alcoholism.
Her sister Nomonde, at the time, said doctors had told her, “if [Zahara] continues drinking, she is going to die … We are making sure that there is always someone around her to monitor her so that she doesn’t start drinking again”.
Marriage
Husband
Hours after her untimely death, details of a planned traditional wedding, between the late singer and her lover, Mpho Xaba were leaked online.
Prior to the recent development, Zahara in 2017 became engaged to Amaza Nstshange. The details of their relationship were not made public.
Meanwhile, in 2019, she announced a second engagement with Ian Sibiya, before they parted ways.
Children
As per different reports, Zahara does not have any children and was unmarried until her death.
Career
Bulelwa Mkutukana music genre is classified as Afrosoul. Her songs were in her native language, Xhosa, as well as English and performed with an acoustic guitar
Zahara’s music career started as a chorister in her school choir when she was six years old. At the age of nine, she was asked to join the senior choir because of her strong voice.
Her stage name means “blooming flower” in Arabic. As a child, she was known by the nickname “Spinach” after her love of vegetables.
She was self-taught on guitar and broke through in 2011 with her debut album, Loliwe, a commercial hit that also won Album of the Year at the South African Music Awards.
Zahara performed the title track for Nelson Mandela at his home before his death in 2013, and later wrote a tribute song with the lyrics: “Hero of heroes / There’s none like him.” That song, like the rest of her discography, was sung in a blend of Xhosa and English.
Her second album, Phendula, opened with a collaboration with Ladysmith Black Mambazo, while the country-influenced follow-up, Country Girl, went three times platinum. She signed with a major label, Warner Music, for her fourth album, Mgodi, following a dispute with her previous label, TS Records.
She also campaigned against violence against women, which she described in 2020 as a “pandemic” in South Africa. She said she was a survivor of an attack from a man who pepper-sprayed her in his car.
Controversy
‘It is my first time in Africa’
The “Loliwe” singer in 2013 generated lots of media reactions for saying “It is my first time in Africa” following her visit to Zimbabwe.
Fans and other African music lovers criticised her, stating she meant South Africa is not part of Africa.
She, however, clarified her statement, saying she was misquoted. According to her, she actually meant it was her first time in another African nation aside from South Africa.
DJ Sbu denied Zahara’s claims that his label owed her millions
In an interview with eNCA in 2019, the songstress emphasized that the record label founder, Sbu Leope and Thembinkosi Nciza, owed her millions of money.
However, Dj Sbu counterclaimed Zahara’s assertion, alleging that Zahara isn’t aware that she is the one who owns the label money and not vice versa.
Fined for failing to appear in court for tax case
In June, 2021, the South African songbird was fined for failing to appear in court for charges related to the non-submission of personal and company income tax returns.
Mkutukana was found guilty of failing to appear on 19 April. The Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court issued a warrant of arrest for her on the same day.
She was charged in her personal capacity and also as a representative of her company, Zahara Trading (Pty) Ltd.
Disclaimer
The information in this article was curated from online sources. All details cannot be independently verified by NewsWireNGR or its editorial team.
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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is considering the first week of February for the conduct of re-run and by-elections arising from the 2023 general elections.
Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, INEC chairman said this at an extraordinary consultative meeting with political parties in Abuja on Monday.
Yakubu said that the commission intended to hold the two elections on the same day.
He said that as the Election Petition Appeal Tribunals set up in the aftermath of the 2023 General Election gradually wind up proceedings, the commission was required to conduct re-run elections in some constituencies by court order.
He added that INEC was also required to conduct bye-elections to fill vacancies arising from the death or resignation of members of the National of State Houses of Assembly.
“As you are aware, re-run elections only involve the parties and candidates that participated in the general election unless a party wishes to replace a deceased candidate.
“However, bye-elections are fresh elections. Consequently, political parties must conduct fresh primaries within the limited period of time provided by law.
“So far, the Election Petition Appeal Tribunals have ordered the Commission to conduct re-run elections in 34 constituencies made up of one Senatorial District, 11 Federal Constituencies and 22 State Assembly constituencies.
“However, the 34 constituencies constitute 2.8 per cent of the 1,191 petitions filed by litigants. Significantly, out of the 34 re-run elections, it is only in three cases that the Commission was ordered to conduct elections in the entire constituencies.
“In the other 31 constituencies, elections are to be held in a few polling units,” he said.
Yakubu said that at the end of all the litigations, including the governorship elections pending on appeal at the Supreme Court, INEC would present a comprehensive analysis of the petition.
This according to him includes cases where INEC was ordered to issue Certificates of Return to other candidates and the reasons for the decisions by the Courts as part of the lessons learned from the 2023 General Election for the consequential reforms to improve the conduct of future elections.
Yakubu said that at the end of this consultative meeting, INEC would meet to review preparations and announce a definite date, including the detailed Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the elections.
He said that delimitation details, including locations, number of Polling Units, registered voters and Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) collected in each constituency would be uploaded on INEC website for public information.
No fewer than two persons were injured in an early morning fire incident that occurred on Monday at the residence of late former Gov. Adebayo Alao-Akala in Ogbomosho, Oyo State.
The Director of Operations, Oyo State Fire Service, Mr Ismail Adeleke, confirmed the incident to newsmen in Ibadan on Monday.
Adeleke said the service got a distress call at about 8.30 a.m. from one Tolu Ikusagba, Managing Director of Parrot101.1FM, Ogbomoso.
He said that the cause of the fire incident could not be immediately ascertained, but that the fire had been put out to prevent further spread.
Adeleke said from the two persons that sustained the injury, one was severe, adding that further update would be provided about the incident.
However, an eyewitness who spoke on condition of anonymity told NAN that the fire incident was caused by gas explosion.
The eyewitness said that the incident led to the death of one person which was yet to be confirmed by the appropriate authority.
The eyewitness also said that the two people that sustained injury had been taken to hospital for treatment
The Nigeria Police Force has arrested Barrister Ekere Ebong who is seen in a disturbing viral video abusing his wife.
On Monday that the lawyer was arrested by the Akwa Ibom Police Command and that he would be charged shortly.
“Barr Ekere Ebong who was seen abusing his spouse in a viral video has been arrested by the Akwa Ibom Police Command. To be charged shortly,” a police source told SaharaReporters on Monday.
On Sunday that the Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Uju Kennedy Ohanenye, had condemned Mr Ebong over the disturbing viral video in which he was physically assaulting his wife.
The lawyer who is reportedly based in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital is seen in the video beating his wife whose mouth and nose have been bloodied.
One of their neighbours said the Ebong had been brutalizing his wife every night for four years.
“No be today, I have lived in this compound for four years, every night he would be beating this woman,” the neighbour said.
Reacting to the disturbing video, Ohanenye condemned the action of the man on her official X (Twitter handle) handle, saying, “This remains one of the most insane and unbelievable scenes one has seen in the brutalization of women. As I have always emphasised, this is a ‘Renewed Hope’ government and such an act can not be allowed in our country.
“On that note, the federal Ministry of Women Affairs @FMWA_ng has ordered the arrest of this demonized lawyer Mr Ebong, who must face the law squally and I promise this act can not be swept under the carpet. Even if the woman decides she doesn’t want her husband to be sued, due to family pressure. the man must face the law as justice will have its way.”
The performance of Nigerian artist Oludipe David, popularly known as Spyro, at the Harvesters International Gospel Center’s Christmas carol service in Lagos State on Sunday has stirred mixed reactions among attendees and online audiences.
The event flyer, the church invited celebrities such as Daniel Effiong, Bisola Ayeola, Dorathy Bachor, Sharon Ooja, Uzor Arukwe, Adeh Gbolahan, and Kenneth Ophopho for the event.
Many individuals have expressed their disapproval of the decision to feature a secular artist in a church event.
Criticism has emerged on various social media platforms, with Nigerians voicing their concerns regarding the appropriateness of inviting such artists to perform in a religious setting.
Stop saying Pastor B invited Spyro and skales to perform in the church. They are active members of Harvesters church and serve in the creative unit of the church. When celebrities become your members, condemn them if you like but till then, Let Pastor B be pls
Again there's no justifiable reason why a secular artiste should be performing in a church auditorium or premises; Anyone defending it is spiritually bl!nd. The church is a place of worship, not a place to party & boost one's popularity. Spyro should've known better.
LET FALSEHOOD DIE – Apostle Arome Osayi spoke about Pastors that use Comedian to promote their church meeting and he was dragged and insulted on here, now Pastor B invited Skales and Spyro to minister in church altar.
Spyro and Skales are active members of the church. Their performances was part of the play and in which Spyro was beheaded immediately after his performance.
President Bola Tinubu has accepted the resignation of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, the Presidency confirmed Monday.
Lalong will now proceed to the National Assembly as Senator representing Plateau South Senatorial, a seat he won as affirmed by an appeal court ruling dated November 7, 2023.
“Lalong has resigned. But it was not at the FEC meeting itself. It must have been after the meeting because, if it were earlier, the President or SGF would have announced it during the meeting,” a presidential aide told our correspondent.
The former Plateau State Governor is due to be sworn in later this week by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, it was gathered.
Lalong served as Director-General of the Tinubu Campaign Organisation in the months leading to the February Presidential election.
He ran for the Senate office but lost, according to results by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
However, he challenged the result in court and won at the Court of Appeal.
It was gathered that Lalong, a lawyer and two-term Speaker of Plateau State House of Assembly, tendered his resignation privately to the President after last Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting at the State House.
Confirming this, a Twitter user in the President’s camp, Imran Mohammad said, “President Tinubu, Accepted Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, Resignation from the cabinet, his valedictory will hold next FEC meeting.”
However, our correspondent confirmed that there would be no FEC meeting this week, making last Wednesday’s meeting Lalong’s likely final appearance as a council member.
