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Court remands two REA staff members in prison

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Court remands two REA staff members in prison

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Abuja Federal High Court, on Thursday, ordered two staff of the Account and Finance Department of the Nigeria Rural Electrification Agency to be remanded in Kuje prison over their involvement in a N1.853 billion fraud.

Justice Nwite had last week issued a warrant for the arrest of three REA officials, who are defendants in four separate criminal charges brought against them by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.

The judge ruled that the officials, identified as Emmanuel Pada, Umar Laraye and Henrietta Okojie, should be arrested for failing to appear in court for their scheduled arraignment.

The judge gave the order after ICPC lawyer, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, moved an oral application to the effect.

Afterwards, Justice Nwite adjourned the matter for ICPC to produce Laraye and Pada in court today, while Okojie’s case was fixed for June 14.

At today’s proceedings, the two officials, Laraye and Pada, were present for their arraignment.

ICPC counsel, Akponimisingha, told the court that the matters are for the defendants to take their plea.

Akponimisingha also asked the court to vacate the June 6 bench warrant issued against the defendants given that they have made themselves available in court to take their plea.

Justice Nwite granted the request.

The defendants were docked and the separate four-count charges read to them. They, however, pleaded not guilty to all charges.

After the duo took their plea, Justice Nwite ordered that they be remanded in prison pending their bail.

The defendants’ counsel, Idoko Alhassan, who appeared for the duo, informed the court that he had already filed a bail application on behalf of his client dated June 11.

He claimed the application was duly served on the prosecution on Tuesday.

Responding, Akponimisingha said he was yet to receive the copy of the bail application.
The judge however held that the prosecution was still within time to respond to the application.

Akponimisingha applied for commencement of trial and date.

Justice Nwite adjourned the matter until June 20 for a hearing of the bail application and fixed July 10 for trial.

All four defendants are facing a four-count charge bordering on misappropriation of public funds meant for the provision of electricity to rural communities across the country.

In the first charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/204/24, where Pada, is the sole defendant, ICPC accused him of defrauding the REA to the tune of N261m.

The ICPC said he received the funds in different tranches under the “false pretence of project supervision” in violation of the Advance Fraud and Other Related Offences Act of 2006.

According to the proof of evidence attached to the charges, the monies were “illegally paid out to the defendants from the Government Integrated Financial Management System without requisite approvals.”

In the second charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/202/24, which has Karaye, as a defendant, the anti graft-agency, accused him of N165m fraud. The anti-graft agency alleged that he moved the funds out of government coffers through the GIFMIS payment platform being payment for “project supervision” in March 2023.

Okojie, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/203/24, was accused of cornering N342m “under the guise of project supervision” in breach of the Advance Fraud and Other Related Offences Act of 2006.

Recall that the fourth defendant, Usman Kwakwa, was arraigned on June 6, before Justice Nwite, on a four-count charge bordering on fraud.

Kwakwa also pleaded not guilty to the charge brought against him.

He appealed to the court to grant him bail which was granted.

Justice Nwite granted him bail in the sum of N50 million.

Bill seeking six-year single term, “anti-democratic”

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Bill seeking six-year single term, “anti-democratic”

The National Association of Nigerian Students on Thursday, rejected the bill seeking a single term of six years for the President and state governors, describing it as “anti-democratic” and an attempt to stifle citizens’ choices.

It will be recalled that 35 members of the House of Representatives, under the auspices of Reformed-minded Legislators, had last week proposed a bill seeking a single term of six years for the President and state governors.

The lawmakers are equally seeking for rotation of the presidency among the six geopolitical zones of the country, arguing that the proposition if implemented would lead to a reduction in the cost of governance.

However, NANS while reacting to the bill, called on Nigerians, pro-democracy groups, organised labour and trade unions to mobilise against the bill.

Speaking at a press conference in Abeokuta, Ogun State on Thursday, the National Clerk of the Senate of NANS, Yekini Adewale described the bill as “a smokescreen” to divert the attention of Nigerians from the current economic pains and agonies that Nigerians are facing.

The apex student body threatened to mobilise students across the country in a protest against the bill.

Adewale said that if the bill is passed into law, it would erode accountability, probity, transparency and responsibility on the part of political leaders.

‘Yes, democracy thrives on the pedestal of a synergy between the three arms of the government, but when a key arm such as the legislature, proposes bills and peradventure, passes laws that stifle people’s choices or throw spanners at the wheel of the tenets of democracy, then, it is disheartening and must not be allowed.

‘NANS as a non-governmental organisation and the only pressure group that has been agitating for the continued survival and sustainability of our hard-earned democracy from being truncated does not only condemn the proposed bills but calls on Nigerians to move against such step aimed at achieving a selfish agenda by some unscrupulous politicians.

‘If the proposed bills are allowed to see the light of day, then, our democracy is in total jeopardy.

‘Any president or governor who realises that he cannot seek a second term in office, may rather busy himself feathering his own neat instead of delivering good governance to the electorate.

“Expunging the second term from our constitution is synonymous with extinguishing the only power the electorate has to vote out any non-performing president or governor.

‘As a student body in the country, we shall mobilise our members massively against these bills seeking to efface accountability, probity, transparency and responsibility from the elected executives and lawmakers.

‘To further demonstrate our rejection of these anti-democracy, anti-people and anti-progress bills, a day will be set aside for Nigerian students to embark on a mass march against the National Assembly,” Adewale said.

The Enone Congressman, a perfect reason for celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Nigeria’s Democracy!

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The Enone Congressman, a perfect reason for celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Nigeria’s Democracy!

Ordinarily, one would have coursed this day, the June 12th cum new democracy Day in Nigeria, for several glaring facts, most of which are inflicted on the Nigeria Citizens by their own successive governments and administrations.

From a few harsh economic policies; disdain to the country’s Labour Force, to such extent that inflation from the economic policies could just consume the wage or salary of the average Nigerian Labour within 24 hours of his credit alert even if there was no debt on ground, the domestic and family cares, would have!

Conversely, the insecurity level in the country particularly the metamorphosis of the religious ideological sect, known as the Bokoharam sect into Bandits and banditry and marauding Herdsmen, worsen and threatens the sanctity of life and livelihood in Nigeria! The insecurity has made the abject poverty index a child:s play, if not, such hopeless situation due to inflation on goods & services that the common citizens cannot afford amidst plenty that’s daily being walloped by unpatriotic Citizens in powers across the Arms of government, is now seen as tip of the iceberg when compared to the defenseless deaths that have taken the lives of thousands of our loved ones by these marauding Herders and Bandits! Statics shows that in the North Central alone, from 2016 to this 2024, more than 4000 persons have been killed by these marauding Herders alone!

We can add to it that while the Labour Force justles with successive governments about the issue of either minimum or living wage we have the daredevil unemployment rate that’s statistically placed at 5% in 2024 for youth, and over 18% for the general unemployment rate in the country!

In a nutshell, our democracy has been that of lamentation since the past 25 years of this 4th democratic dispensation from 1999.

Today, in the Radio Studio of the Eagles FM 102.3, in the Federal Capital City, Abuja, I reflected that thus far, the only thing to celebrate about our democracy, is the non-military interference with the democratic processes! However, in every democracy, there must be Pathfinders in one or all the Arms of democratic government, namely, the Executive, the Legislative and the Judiciary, for which one could adjudge or celebrate such a democracy as great hope of the nearest future of our country; such a Pathfinder is the Enone Servant, the Congressman for Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency, Chief Hon Philip Agbese Ph.D, he is the Deputy Spokesperson of the Nigeria’s House of Congress; he is an epitome of legislative and Youth representation in positive light; he has shown capacities and dexterity in the course of representing us at the NASS; his benevolent of paid and payable appointment of over 67 Constituents in his first tenure, has endeared us to liking the democracy which we had almost given up on; his humble attitude amd political tutelages has given us hope in our democracy; he has passed to us, his Constituents, the white Candle given to him by the Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen; all the opportunities and supports from his colleagues in the House, as well as that of the Chairpersons of the House Committees that he belongs as either Member or statutorily, so far, he delivered to us his Constituents; he never held back any Constituency project, palliative or succur extended to us by President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu under whose administration he serves as a Congressman.

Chief Okanga as he is traditionally called, has redefined democratic laws of inclusion like Mr. President himself, by appointing members of opposition parties, into his Appointees as Senior Legislative Advisers and Aids!

Under one year of this administration, the Congressman Philip Agbese ‘s pragmatism deferred all critics, and his Legislative insight has made the House of Representatives, considered his bill for the establishment of a College of Agriculture in Agila, the very Constituency he represents to have passed two Readings and a public hearing, ready for Mr. President to assent already!

So, we are certain that if the Speaker of the House of Representatives, could have such democratic Pathfinder and Icon in this 10th National Assembly, he definitely has more like the Enone Servant and Congressman is the same Assembly, then we have a course to celebrate the anniversary of our democracy as we have the hope that with these calibres of LawMakers, the Nigeria’s journey in democracy, shall be redefined soon as truly for the masses and citizens of this country.

Engr Dan Atayi writes this opinion from the Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency where Chief Philip Agbese Ph.D, represents in the Nigeria’s House of Representatives.

Police ban Durbar activities in Kano

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Police ban Durbar activities in Kano

The Kano State Police Command has banned Durbar activities during the forthcoming Eid-el-Kabir celebrations in the state.

A statement issued on Thursday by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Usaini Gumel, noted that the ban became necessary to sustain the peace by the police command in conjunction with all the relevant security stakeholders.

“In furtherance, a ban on all contending parties has been placed restraining both from conducting Durbar activities for the upcoming Eid-el-Kabir celebrations,” Gumel said.

He, however, advised worshippers to conduct their normal Eid Prayers at the various designated praying grounds, as was traditionally done in the past.

“In this trying period, the Police will enforce the existing Court Order and prevail on the two contending parties regarding the Kano Emirates tussle and urge them to remain apart and respect the court order,” he said.

The commissioner said the command would want to see continued collaboration and cooperation from all stakeholders to collectively work together to build a safer and more secure environment.

He urged the general public to keep reporting any suspicious movement of persons or items to the nearest police station.

Deposed 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero days ago directed his District Heads to come to the Sallah Durbar celebration in the state.

Meanwhile, the command, on Wednesday, denied receipt of a letter from Bayero seeking permission to organise Sallah durbar during the forthcoming Eid-el-Kabir festivities.

Bayero was deposed as the Emir of Kano on May 23, 2024, following the repeal of the Kano Emirate Council Law 2019, which split the Kano emirate into five.

The Kano State House of Assembly repealed the 2019 law, thus scrapping the five emirates created under former governor, Abdullahi Ganduje.

Acting on the newly passed Kano State Emirate Council Law 2024, Governor Abba Yusuf sacked the five emirs and reinstated Lamido Sanusi, who was deposed in 2020 by Ganduje, as the 16th Emir of Kano.

The 15th Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero, however, rejected his dethronement and continued to lay claim to the ancient stool while operating from a mini palace at Nasarawa.

(NAN)

US Supreme Court rejects bid to restrict abortion pill

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US Supreme Court rejects bid to restrict abortion pill

The US Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a bid to restrict an abortion pill widely used in the United States to terminate pregnancies.

The court, in a unanimous opinion, said the anti-abortion groups and physicians challenging the medication, mifepristone, lacked the legal standing to bring the case.

Abortion rights are one of the key issues in the November election and the administration of Democratic President Joe Biden had urged the court to maintain access to the drug, which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2000. His opponent Donald Trump leads a Republican Party broadly favoring blocks to abortion access.

The mifepristone case was the first significant abortion case heard by the conservative-dominated Supreme Court since it overturned the previously long-held constitutional right to abortion two years ago.

“We recognize that many citizens, including the plaintiff doctors here, have sincere concerns about and objections to others using mifepristone and obtaining abortions,” said Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who wrote the 9-0 opinion.

“But citizens and doctors do not have standing to sue simply because others are allowed to engage in certain activities,” Kavanaugh said. “The plaintiffs lack standing to challenge FDA’s actions.”

The conservative justice said the federal courts were “the wrong forum for addressing the plaintiffs’ concerns about FDA’s actions” and they could present their objections through regulatory procedures or through the “political and electoral processes.”

Abortion opponents have been seeking to restrict nationwide access to the pill, claiming it is unsafe and that anti-abortion doctors were being forced to violate their conscience by intervening in patients who suffered complications after using it.

A conservative US district court judge in Texas, who was appointed during Trump’s presidency, issued a ruling last year that would have banned mifepristone.

An appeals court overturned the outright ban because the statute of limitations on challenging the FDA’s approval had expired, but restricted access to the drug.

The appeals court reduced the period during which mifepristone can be used from 10 weeks of pregnancy to seven weeks, blocked it from being delivered by mail, and required the pill to be prescribed and administered by a doctor.

The Supreme Court ruling lifts those restrictions.

Medication abortion accounted for 63 per cent of the abortions in the country last year, up from 53 per cent in 2020, according to the Guttmacher Institute.

Some 20 states have banned or restricted abortion since the Supreme Court in June 2022 overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling that enshrined the constitutional right to abortion for half a century.

Polls show a majority of Americans support continued access to safe abortion, even as conservative groups push to limit the procedure or ban it outright.

AFP

Single term of six years: NANS kicks against proposed bill

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Single term of six years: NANS kicks against proposed bill

The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has kicked against the bill seeking a single term of six years for the President and state governors, describing it as “anti-democracy and an attempt to stifle people’s choice”.
35 members of the House of Representatives, under the auspices of Reformed-minded Legislators, had on Monday proposed a bill seeking a single term of six years for the President and state governors.
The lawmakers are also canvassing for the rotation of the presidency among the six geopolitical zones of the country, arguing that the proposition if implemented would lead to a reduction in the cost of governance.
But, NANS while reacting to the bill in a press conference held in Abeokuta, Ogun State on Thursday, called on Nigerians, pro-democracy groups, the organised labour and trade unions to mobilise against the bill.
National Clerk of the Senate of NANS, Yekini Adewale described the bill as “a smokescreen” to divert the attention of Nigerians from the current economic pains and agonies that Nigerians are facing.
The student body threatened to mobilise students across the country in a protest against the bill.
According to Adewale, the bill if passed into law would erode accountability, probity, transparency and responsibility on the part of political leaders.
“Yes, democracy thrives on the pedestal of a synergy between the three arms of the government, but when a key arm such as the legislature, proposes bills and peradventure, pass laws that stifle people’s choices or throw spanners at the wheel of the tenets of democracy, then, it is disheartening and must not be allowed.
“NANS as a non-governmental organisation and the only pressure group that has been agitating for the continued survival and sustainability of our hard-earned democracy from being truncated, does not only condemn the proposed bills but call on Nigerians to move against such step aimed at achieving a selfish agenda by some unscrupulous politicians.
“If the proposed bills are allowed to see the light of the day, then, our democracy is in total jeopardy. Any president or governor who realises that he cannot seek a second term in office, may rather busy himself feathering his own nose instead of delivering good governance to the electorate.
“Expunging the second term from our constitution is synonymous with extinguishing the only power the electorate has to vote out any non-performing president or governor.
“As a student body in the country, we shall mobilise our members massively against these bills seeking to efface accountability, probity, transparency and responsibility from the elected executives and lawmakers.
“To further demonstrate our rejection of these anti-democracy, anti-people and anti-progress bills, a day will be set aside for Nigerian students to embark on a mass march against the National Assembly”, Adewale said.
Single term of six years: NANS kicks against proposed bill

AFCON 2025 qualifying draw holds in South Africa July 4

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AFCON 2025 qualifying draw holds in South Africa July 4

The qualifying draw for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations will take place in Johannesburg, South Africa on July 4, according to the Confederation of African Football.

The 48 competing teams will be split into 12 groups of four, with the top two in each group reaching the finals in Morocco.

The tournament hosts will be included in the draw but, given the Atlas Lions are already assured of qualification; only one team in their group will book a ticket to Morocco.

However, the date for the 2025 AFCON has not been announced by CAF.

The qualifiers for the tournament will take place in September, October and November, with the Super Eagles of Nigeria set to slug it with other foes in the qualifying series.

Liberia, Chad, South Sudan and Eswatini all progressed through a preliminary round to join the continent’s 44 highest-ranked nations in the group draw.

(NAN)

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FCT Police bust gang selling unregistered SIM cards to criminals

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FCT Police bust gang selling unregistered SIM cards to criminals

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command on Thursday paraded six suspects who specialise in registering Subscriber Identity Module cards with other innocent citizens’ identities and selling them to criminals.
The suspects are Ndubuisi Okeh; John Jock; Nafiu Tijani (a dispatcher); Nasiru Sulaiman; John Njoku and Suleiman Musa.
Addressing journalists while parading the suspects, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igwe, said the suspects sold the SIM cards to criminals between N3,000 and N5000.
He noted that a total of 1,100 registered SIM cards; three registration machines; two fingerprint machines and a mobile phone were recovered from the suspects.
Read Also: Bandits leader Buharin Yadi, others killed along Kaduna-Katsina border
The arrested gang is alleged to have obtained citizens’ personal information, likely through fraudulent means, and used it to register SIM cards. These cards were then sold at inflated prices to criminals seeking anonymity for their activities.
Igwe said, “On May 29, 2024, at about 3:00 pm, a team of detectives from the State Intelligence Department led by ACP Mohammed S. Baba, acting on credible intelligence, lured and arrested six suspects namely: Ndubuisi Okeh, John Jock; Nafiu Tijani (a dispatcher); Nasiru Sulaiman; John Njoku and Suleiman Musa Who specialises in the sales of already registered sim cards to criminals who operate with other people’s identity to avoid being traced or tracked through their own details at the price rate of three to five thousand naira.”
Unregistered SIM cards, easily obtainable from street vendors, have long been a concern for law enforcement. They offer criminals a way to avoid detection when making calls or sending messages. However, registered SIM cards, linked to a user’s identity, provide a layer of accountability.
The post FCT Police bust gang selling unregistered SIM cards to criminals appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.

Presidents Kenyatta, Yayi join list of Presidents to stay at The Delborough

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Presidents Kenyatta, Yayi join list of Presidents to stay at The Delborough

Presidents Thomas Boni Yayi of Benin Republic and his counterpart, Uhuru Kenyatta of Republic of Kenya have joined the list of presidents to stay in ‘The Delborough Lagos’.
They both dropped notes of “excellent experience” at ‘The Delborough Lagos’.
Presidents Yayi and Kenyatta, like other Presidents have had their share of “excellent experience” at the best hotel in Lagos, Nigeria as they had lunch together in the DANI Restaurant at ‘The Delborough Lagos’.
In separate notes, they both appreciated and commended the “professionalism” of the staff of the hotel and their “exceptional quality of welcome”.
President Yayi, at the end of his stay, dropped a note in French (translated), “I give thanks to the Lord for my stay at this Delborough Hotel, thanks to the founder.
“I commend the professionalism of all the staff and the exceptional quality of the welcome.
“I pray to my Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth to bless this hotel with His eternal grace.
“Long life to everyone for the warm welcome.”
President Kenyatta on his part wrote, “An excellent experience! Congratulations to your entire team. I look forward to be back.”
Presidents Kenyatta, Yayi join list of Presidents to stay at The Delborough

Flamingos coach optimistic of victory against Liberia in Abuja

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Flamingos coach optimistic of victory against Liberia in Abuja

The head coach of the Under 17 national female football team, Flamingos, Bankole Olowookere, says his team is certain to win against  Liberia in Abuja on Friday.

The Flamingos defeated Liberia 4-1 in the first leg of the 2024 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualification series on Sunday in  Monrovia, Liberia.

Olowookere told the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Abuja that the team’s target is to secure a ticket and represent the country in the Dominican Republic.

“We participated in the last edition of the Under 17 World Cup in India and we will participate in this year`s championship and surpass our previous position.

“This is possible with the help of God and that is our prayers,” the coach said.

Olowookere urged residents of the Federal Capital Territory and its environs to come en masse to support the girls.

” I was impressed with the crowd at our last match against Burkina Faso at the stadium, we want spectators to come and support these young female players.

“The girls are determined to win this last match of the qualifying series, they have done it before and they will do it again.

“The team is ready for the final encounter, the defenders, the strikers, midfielders, attackers and the entire technical crew are set for the game,” he said.

Flamingos will face Liberia in the second leg match on Friday at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium 4pm Nigeria time.

This year’s FIFA Under 17 Women’s World Cup finals will be staged in Santiago de los Caballeros, and Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic from October 16 to November 3.

(NAN)

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