Police operatives in Lagos have arrested a couple attempting to sell their two-year-old son to travel to Canada.
The spokesman for the state police command, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the news journalists on Thursday in Lagos.
He said the couple were arrested on Tuesday while trying to sell the child off.
Hundeyin said: “At 2: 45 p.m. on Tuesday, the Isolo Divisional Police Officer received information that the couple went to Isolo General Hospital and expressed their intention to sell their baby boy.
READ ALSO: Police in Bauchi arrests man for attempting to sell daugther for N1.5m
“Upon receipt of the information, operatives from the station moved swiftly to the hospital where they were about to sell their child.
“The baby’s age is two and he has been rescued. Upon interrogation, the couple confessed that they decided to sell the baby to enable the man to travel to Canada for a greener pasture.
“However, the investigation is ongoing.”
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Couple arrested for attempting to sell two-year-old child to fund Canada trip
Soyinka attended my programme, spoke when he barely knew me — Osinbajo
Immediate-past Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, has said Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka attended a programme he organised when he barely knew him.
Osinbajo also maintained that the literary icon spoke at the same event while cheering his friends.
He made this known while delivering a speech entitled, “Soyinka: The Imperative of a Public Conscience” at the Soyinka International Symposium organised by the Nigerian Academy of Letters in honour of Soyinka who turns 90 on July 13, 2024.
The symposium, with the theme, “Eni Ogun: An Enduring Legacy”, which was held on Thursday at the J.F. Ade Ajayi Auditorium, University of Lagos had Emeritus Professor at the University of Orleans, Prof Niyi Osundare, as the keynote speaker.
While delivering his speech, Osinbajo narrated how Soyinka accepted his invitation to attend the launch of The Orderly Society Trust which he and his wife Dolapo formed in 2007 when he was 50, even though he (Soyinka) hadn’t known him at the time.
According to him, not only did Soyinka attend the event and deliver a speech, but he also created a controversy among his pastor friends when he suggested that there might not be heaven.
“Soyinka interfered and still interferes with everybody’s space. So one must not be shy to interfere with his. I am also grateful for this opportunity because it gives me a chance to repay or return a priceless favour.
“In 2007, I turned 50. My wife and I decided to launch the Orderly Society Trust, a non-profit organization dedicated to a sane and organised society. My own preferred person to speak to just about 50 guests was no other than Professor Wole Soyinka. He could be anywhere in the world. And anyway, why should he bother to attend an event in honour of someone who he barely knows?
“I called Makin, his son, my friend, and asked him if he would make the request on my behalf. He did. Prof. was travelling and he wasn’t sure he would make it to Lagos let alone to attend the event.
“But the unbelievable happened. Prof came and attended the event, spent the whole time there and even created controversy among my many pastor friends when he suggested that there might not even be heaven,” Osinbajo said, and the hall roared with laughter.
The event was attended by creme-de-la-creme including former governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi and his wife, Dr Bisi Fayemi; Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola; former Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Duro Oni; President of the Nigerian Academy of Letters, Prof. Sola Akinrinade; and the Secretary, Nigerian Academy of Letters, Prof. Olakunbi Olasope.
Police dismisses corporal nine years after he rejected transfer
The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed Corporal Buba Adamu, for rejecting transfer to Katsina in 2015.
Adamu, who was attached to the Cross River police command, was transferred to Katsina State but refused to report at his new station.
The command’s spokesperson, Irene Ugbo, confirmed the development at a press briefing on Thursday in Calabar.
She said dismissed police officer promoted himself to the rank of superintendent and operated illegal activities in the command.
Adamu, according to Ugbo, had operated as a mobile police officer” without any supervision or reporting to a specific police command since 2015.
The spokesperson added that the opetive was has been receiving his salary despite staying away from his new station.
“As of today, Corporal Adamu is no longer a policeman because he has been relieved of his duties.
“Every item of property belonging to the Nigeria Police in his possession, including uniforms, identification card,s and others, has been retrieved.
“The matter has now been charged in court. It is left to the judiciary. The court will take it up from where we stopped, as we have done the needful,” Ugbo added.
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FG’s free CNG conversion centres across Nigeria
The Federal Government, on Thursday, said the conversion of petrol and diesel-powered commercial vehicles to run on Compressed Natural Gas is going to be free of charge.
The Programme Director/Chief Executive, Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative, Michael Oluwagbemi, disclosed this to journalists after the government agency signed agreements with various companies involved in the conversion of petrol and diesel-powered vehicles to operating on CNG.
He said commercial transporters under their different unions, including the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, National Union of Road Transport Workers, and Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners, among others, would benefit from this.
The PCNGI director also disclosed that the second group of commercial transporters were the ride-share operators.
Oluwagbemi said through the implementation of this programme, Nigerians would start paying less for transportation.
According Online reports that CNG provides Nigeria with affordable alternatives to existing fuel products. It will be about 40% cheaper than petrol and, with continued investments, will become a significant part of the nation’s energy mix.
Below is the list of CNG Conversion Centres across the country
Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ibafo, Ogun
NIPCO GAS LTD IBADAN, Mobil Filling Station, New Toll Gate, Ibadan-Lagos Road, Ibadan
NIPCO GAS LTD EVEAN-17, Benin-Auchi Road, Adjacent Zatike Hotel, Eyaen, Benin City
NIPCO GAS LTD LAGOS ROAD 1, Uselu, Lagos Road, Benin City
NIPCO GAS LTD 2ND EAST CIRCULAR ROAD, East Circular 2nd Road, Avbiana, Benin City
NIPCO GAS LTD AGBOR ROAD STATION, Urualla Street, Agbor Road, Benin City
NIPCO GAS LTD LAGOS ROAD 2, Lagos Road, Oluku, Benin City
NIPCO GAS LTD SAPELE ROAD, KU Plaza, Benin-Sapele Road, Opposite P2 Junction, Benin City
NIPCO GAS LTD TEXTILE HILL, Canaan Street, Textile Mill Road, Benin City
NIPCO GAS LTD WARRI, Wam-Sapele Road, Okolavu, Delta
NIPCO GAS LTD AJAKUTA, Ghumene, Ajaokuta, Kogi
SALMA AUTO, By AFDIN Filling Station, Opposite House on the Rock Church, Airport Road, Abuja
NIPCO GAS LTD OKENE, Okene-Lokoja Road, Okene, Kogi
NIPCO GAS LTD DEALER 72, Dealer 73, Umaru Musa Yaradua Road, Abuja
NIPCO GAS LTD KUBWA, Cadastral Zone 07-05, Alang Kubwa Expressway, Abuja
NIPCO GAS LTD ORON, Edikor Village, Balika Road, Lidurig Uko LGA, Oron, Akwa Ibom
AXXELA LTD, Block M, Plot 22, Isolo Industrial Area, Ilasa Maja, Lagos
RT BRISCOE NIGERIA PLC, Plot 410 Cadastral Zone, Opposite NPC Filling Station, Airport Junction, Jabi, Abuja
TOTAL SUPPORT, Rumuokwurusi, Elelenwa, Port Harcourt, Rivers State
MBH POWER LIMITED, Lagos State
PORTLAND, Obafemi Awolowo Way, Utako, Abuja
PORTLAND, Opta Interchange Terminal, Bayo Shodipo, Ojota, Lagos
MEZOVEST, KM 23, Lekki-Epe Expressway, Ajah, Opposite Kilimanjaro, Beside Libmat Motors, By Abraham Adesanya Bus Stop, Lagos
MECHO, Yaba, Lagos
AUTOCLINICNG SOLUTIONS LIMITED, NNPC Service Station (Queen Elizabeth II), Agodi, Ibadan
AUTOMATION AUTOGAS LTD, Plot 2, Block 7, Podo Industrial Village, Ibadan
AUTOGIG, Gbagada, Lagos
NENIS ENGINEERING, Ikorodu, Lagos
FG AUTOCLINIC, Ikeja, Lagos
FIXITRITE, Abule-Egba, Lagos
HOUSE 27, Apo, Abuja
FIXIT 45 – (AUTOHUB), Abuja
AUTOLUBRICITY – Lagos Expressway, Asaba, Delta
CNG TECH/ZITAJ AUTOMOBILE – Plot C15, Sabon Lugbe, By Wood and Frame, Airport Road, Abuja.
The European Union has pledged £10.4m to electrify primary health centres across Nigeria.
The European Union has pledged £10.4m to electrify primary health centres across Nigeria.
The project, which would be implemented by NTU International, is aimed at providing a 24-hour green and reliable electricity supply to health centres and reducing CO2 emissions.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Steering Committee for the Nigeria Solar for Health Project in Abuja on Thursday, the Head of Cooperation for the EU in Nigeria, Massimo De Luca, announced that five health centres in nine states would be selected for the electrification project.
He said, “This project is standing out not only because we are going to install infrastructure in these centres, but because they are going to establish a management system of the health care and the community surrounding the health care so that the infrastructure and the solution that we are going to bring with this project may really provide a long-term solution for the provision of electricity.
“Another thing is that also an element of the integrity of this project is about the identification of the 45 sites, broadly in nine states. We are going to select nine states and 45 sites, five per state.
“The methodology for the identification of the sites is based on scientific principles that are basically mastered and implemented by the Joint Research Service of the UN, and they include not only the financial contribution that may be required on the other side of the alliance.”
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, who was represented by the Director, Renewable Energy and Rural Access, Federal Ministry of Power, Owolabi Sunday, said the absence of constant power supply in health centres has limited their abilities.
He said, “The lack of access to sustainable electricity limits health facilities’ ability to provide quality care. Without a reliable power supply, hospitals and clinics cannot store vaccines, operate for longer hours or perform life-saving complicated procedures. Also, the lack of reliable power supply is a major hindrance to SME performance in the country.
“Over the past few years, the Federal Ministry of Power has been steadfast in its mission to transform Nigeria’s power sector.”
The Stakeholder Manager, NTU International, Tinyan Ogiehor, said 10 states had so far indicated interest in the project.
He said, “The EU has done quite a lot in supporting the energy system in Nigeria towards achieving clean and accessible energy in Nigeria.
“A counterpart funding from state governments is required, which would be used for the operations and maintenance of the deployed solar systems. We are having discussions with the community to be involved themselves.
“States are eager to support the electrification of their health facilities, so far, at least ten states have already approached us to get involved in the project. We look forward to it being expanded.”
Public officials collected N721bn bribe in 2023 -Report
Nigerian public officials collected an estimated N721bn in cash bribes in 2023.
This was disclosed in the ‘Corruption in Nigeria: Patterns and Trends’ report, prepared by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and published by the National Bureau of Statistics on Thursday.
According to the report, the amount paid as bribes equals 0.35 per cent of the entire Gross Domestic Product of the country.
“The average cash bribe paid was 8,284 Nigerian naira. While the nominal average cash bribe size increased since 2019 (from N5,754), this does not account for inflation.
“The inflation-adjusted average cash bribe in 2023 was actually 29 per cent smaller than in 2019 in terms of what could be bought with the money. Overall, it is estimated that a total of roughly N721bn ($1.26bn) was paid in cash bribes to public officials in Nigeria in 2023,” part of the report read..
Also, cash remained king among bribe takers and givers as more than 95 per cent of all bribes paid in 2023 were paid in monetary form (cash or money transfer).
However, in certain instances, food and drink (16 per cent), an animal (8 per cent), exchange for other services (7 per cent) or valuables (4 per cent) also served as a bribe.
Meanwhile, the survey found that in 2023, 5.1 bribes were paid on average by each bribe payer representing “A modest and statistically insignificant decrease in the frequency of bribe-paying from 2019, when on average 5.4 bribes were paid by each bribe payer. It is estimated that some 87 million bribes were paid in 2023 (compared with 117 million estimated in 2019) – the equivalent of an average of 0.8 bribes per adult.
“The frequency of bribery is, on average, higher in rural areas than in urban areas. In 2023, bribe-payers living in urban areas paid on average 4.5 bribes, while those living in rural areas paid on average 5.8 bribes.”
On a positive note, it was discovered that bribery is becoming less accepted in Nigeria as 70 per cent of Nigerians who were asked to pay a bribe in 2023, refused to do so on at least one occasion.
The report said that the bribery refusal rate was found to be highest in the North-West (at 76 per cent), although all zones recorded refusal rates above 60 per cent.
Also, the portion of Nigerians who think that bribery requests are acceptable to fast-track administrative procedures decreased from 29 per cent in 2019 to 23 per cent in 2023.
“Fewer citizens report suffering negative consequences after refusing bribe requests in 2023 (38 per cent) compared with 2019 (49 per cent). This suggests that Nigerians feel increasingly empowered to confront corrupt officials without fear of repercussions,” the report revealed.
Insecurity: Zamfara govt bans night movement of motorcycles
The Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has signed an Executive Order banning night movement of motorcycles in the state.
The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Sulaiman Bala Idris, said in a statement on Thursday in Gusau said the order restricted the movement of motorcycles in the state from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., daily.
He added that the move was part of decisions taken during an emergency meeting of the state security council on Wednesday.
According to him, Governor Lawal signed Executive Order No. 07, 2024 after the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Abdul’aziz Sani (SAN), presented it to him at the Government House in Gusau.
The statement read: “Today, Governor Dauda Lawal signed an order to restrict and prohibit the movement of motorcycles from 8:00 pm to 6:00 am in Zamfara State.
“This is to protect the lives and property of the people, as well as to curb security challenges and broaden the scope of government measures to strengthen the fight against banditry and other forms of social vices in the state.
“Effective immediately, all motorcycles are now restricted within the state between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
“No motorcycles are allowed to travel on any road in the state during these hours.
“Security agencies are instructed to arrest anyone who violates this order.
“The Attorney General of Zamfara State is authorized to prosecute those who disobey the restriction order.”
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Police arrest couple trying to sell two-year-old son to fund Canada trip
Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested a couple (name withheld) attempting to sell their two-year-old son to travel to Canada.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Lagos.
Hundeyin said that the couple, aged 28 and 22, were apprehended on Tuesday while trying to sell their child off.
He stated that around 2.45 p.m. on Tuesday, the Isolo Divisional Police Officer received information that the couple went to Isolo General Hospital and expressed their intention to sell their baby boy.
“Upon receipt of the information, operatives from the station moved swiftly to the hospital where they were about to sell their child.
“The baby’s age is two and he has been rescued. Upon interrogation, the couple confessed that they decided to sell the baby to enable the man to travel to Canada for a greener pasture.
“However, the investigation is ongoing,” he said.
NAN
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Soludo, Otu hail Supreme Court verdict
Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State, on Thursday, commended the Supreme Court’s verdict on Local Government Autonomy, describing it as “great and final.”
He also blamed a series of litigation in court for his inability to conduct local government elections in Anambra state despite his campaign promise.
Soludo stated this when he addressed State House correspondents after closed-door talks with President Bola Tinubu alongside the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq of Kwara State, Usman Ododo of Kogi and Bassey Otu of Cross River State at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
On the Supreme Court judgement granting local government autonomy, he said, “That’s great. I mean, the Supreme Court is supreme, it is the final authority, and I’m a democrat. I believe in the rule of law.
“And once the Supreme Court has spoken, it has spoken. And the Governors Forum is meeting to review this. But at a fundamental level, yes, we need resources to get down to the grassroots and we need the people’s money to work for them at all levels, whether at the federal or the state and the local government.
“We need to promote accountability. We need to promote transparency in the utilization of public resources at all levels, to be able to lift the burden of the common man.”
The President had earlier said the judgement would ensure that “only those local officials elected by the people…will control the resources of the people.”
However, there have been no council elections in Anambra state for nearly a decade.
Reacting to questions on this, the governor said a series of litigations have stalled council elections in the state.
According to him, “When I was elected into office, that was one of the things I promised our people because in Anambra, we haven’t had that, to be honest with you.
“I think the first local government election we had was in 1998 or something thereabout, and then the next one was in 2014 or 2013. And that was it. I promised the people of Anambra that we were going to have a local government election. We’ve just passed the Independent Electoral Commission law of Anambra state and we’re putting together the institutions to be able to organise that.”
“And so, for my state, there has been a lingering litigation that stopped local government elections in the past, and that particular litigation is still in the courts, so to speak. We’re going to see how we handle all of that and to organise a local government election as appropriate.”
Meanwhile, the Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, said that the governors have taken the Supreme Court judgement in good faith.
He told State House correspondents, “I believe that the judgment is taken in very good faith. All Nigerians should be happy about it. I don’t think anybody is against development in the local governments. I don’t think so.
“I believe that the application of it should add some pet to our local government restriction.”
The Cross River governor said that he was at the State House to discuss boundary matters with President Tinubu.
Otu said, “Actually, I came to meet with Mr. President about security and boundary issues in my state. I believe that the meeting will still continue because there are a few things that will need some other officials to also participate.
“Cross River State boundaries are quite very big. You can drive about five to 600 kilometres along the boundary.
“In between those boundaries, we just have about four military platforms, which I’m trying to tell Mr. President that we actually do need more, and we do need some high-level security more than what we have now and then some drones to also fly the area in order to make it safe.”
Respect Supreme Court verdict, Akpabio tells govs
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio on Thursday appealed to state governors to respect the Supreme Court’s judgement that granted autonomy to the 774 local government areas in Nigeria.
This came as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, said the judgement holds possibilities for Nigeria’s future.
The Supreme Court had on Thursday declared that it is unconstitutional for state governors to hold funds allocated for local government administrations.
In the judgment delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the seven-person panel declared that the 774 local government councils in the country should manage their funds themselves.
The apex court also held that the power of the government is portioned into three arms of government, the federal, the state and the local government.
Speaking to State House correspondents after talks with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the Senate President said, “Recall that the request was placed before the courts by the AGF because the Federal Government through President Bola Tinubu feels strongly about separation of powers and the need for autonomy of all arms of governments.
“And so for us in the legislature, the Supreme Court has spoken and we have no option than to abide by the Supreme Court ruling.
“So, I will just call on all states of the federation to respect what the Supreme Court has done and then we will go back to the legislature and see where we can dot the i’s and cross the t’s to ensure the full implementation.”
He expressed hope that the local governments can now undertake projects on their own.
Akpabio appealed to governors who have not conducted elections at the local government level to do so.
“I advise that there should be an impartial election at the local government level so that all the political parties can participate.
“At the moment there’s a lot of lethargy and nonchalant attitude by many political parties whose parties are not in power at the state level, they hardly partake in local government elections because of the perceived bandwagon effect and all that.
Describing the judgement as an impossibility turned reality, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, said, “All the constitutional amendments that were so far carried by the National Assembly, one aspect of it has always been local government autonomy and how to make the LG to work independently. Today, that impossibility became a reality.”
On his part, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi hopes that local government officials will take the initiative to develop their communities.
“I call it local government emancipation judgement because it has really emancipated the local government from the shackles of the past and I hope that local government officials will look at it as an opportunity to develop their various local governments,” said Fagbemi,
On how to ensure compliance with the aspect of the judgement requiring state governments to conduct elections for local government areas, he said, “The ball is in the court of the governors, let us see what they will come out with, but the judgement is clear as to what they should do, the judgement is clear as to what consequences will be attached to failure or refusal to follow the judgement of the Supreme Court, which takes immediate effect.”