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Lagos judiciary announces N30,000 fee for virtual hearing

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Lagos judiciary announces N30,000 fee for virtual hearing

The Lagos State judiciary has announced the payment of N30,000 fee per session for all remote or virtual court proceedings across the state from April 1.
This is contained in a circular by the Acting Chief Registrar of the state, Mr Tajudeen Elias, dated March  28, obtained by the News Agency of the (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.

The circular said all applications for virtual hearings must be made to the court hearing the matter.
It added that payment shall be made upon approval to the court.
The circular said that the Assistant Chief Registrar Litigation in Ikeja or Lagos would schedule the case for hearing upon receipt of payment.
“No other office or officer is authorised to conduct or schedule cases for virtual proceedings in the High and Magistrate Courts of Lagos State.

“The First Hightower Infotech Ltd. (FHTI) will continue to provide internet access and service for the courts where they currently offer such services.
“Court registrars are directed to ensure strict compliance with the circular,” it said.
Commenting on the development, Mr Musbau Famuyiwa, the Managing Director of Global T & T New Solutions Ltd., told NAN that the virtual hearing became popular in Nigeria during the COVID-19 pandemic.

NAN reports that Global T&T partnered the Lagos State Ministry of Justice on virtual court proceedings.
Famuyiwa said it virtual hearing was a means to ensure the continuity of court operations while adhering to social distancing guidelines.
He said  that  the virtual hearing had been free from inception and its usage started since the beginning of COVID-19  to attend to pressing cases.
He said that the payment of the fee would make th

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e virtual hearing more effective by scaling it up to achieve and aid justice system.
He said: “In terms of scaling it up, judiciary does not have the capacity and infrastructural development that is why Global T& T is involved to help achieve the goal.
“If the judiciary finds the third party to fill in that gap to provide this service, it will go a long way.
“Imagine someone coming from Port-Harcourt to attend a matter in Lagos, you know how expensive that is but if such a person can join virtually, it will dramatically reduce the cost.
“Also, imagine a witness flying down from outside the country to give evidence when he can easily pay the sum of N30,000 to avoid flight tickets and other expenses.”
He reiterated that court was not forcing anyone to pay for the fee or make use of virtual hearing.
“People are already tapping into this service but the court is not forcing anyone to use the virtual hearing.
“The virtual hearing has also been extended to all magistrate courts in the state.
“The service charge of N30,000 is going to our company’s purse,” he said. (NAN)

By Adenike Ayodele

Super Eagles star Boniface back in Bayer Leverkusen

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Super Eagles star Boniface back in Bayer Leverkusen

Bayer Leverkusen striker, Victor Boniface will be back in the squad for Wednesday’s German Cup semi-final against Fortuna Dusseldorf following a three-month injury absence, coach Xabi Alonso said on Tuesday.

 The 23-year-old Super Eagles forward underwent surgery on an adductor muscle injury in January after being injured while preparing with Nigeria for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote D’Ivoire. “We are in a super situation. We have no injuries and a full squad. Boni (Boniface) is also back in the squad,” Alonso told a press conference, with the Bundesliga leaders in the hunt for three trophies this season. Asked how long Boniface could play in the game, Alonso said: “Not 90 minutes. 45 maybe not. But maybe 30. He has done a good recovery and has trained well. “He has a strong mentality to come back. He can’t wait to get back.” Boniface had scored 10 goals and set up another seven in the Bundesliga before his injury. Leverkusen are on course for a first ever Bundesliga title with a 13-point lead over second-placed Bayern Munich and seven games remaining. They are also through to the Europa League quarter-finals having gone 39 matches unbeaten across all competitions this season. “We have to take it one game at a time. That’s the way we have done it until now and we will not change that,” said the Spaniard, who confirmed last week he would be staying at Leverkusen despite interest from major European clubs.

 “We have done a lot but have won nothing so far. We still have a lot of work to do. We have done a few things well to get here but we should not speak too early.” “We have to remain focused and that is the message I give my players and they know it,” he said. Saarbruecken face Kaiserslautern in the other semi-final on Tuesday. (Reuters/NAN)

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Commission treats 819 civil servants cases in Kano

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Commission treats 819 civil servants cases in Kano

The Kano Civil Service Commission (SCS) said on Tuesday that it treated no fewer than 819 various cases affecting civil servants in the last eight months.
The chairman of the commission, Alhaji Umar Minjibir, said this while speaking with newsmen in Kano.

Minjibir said that about 558 civil servants were promoted, while 104 were transferred across the state Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
He also said that 61 civil servants were deployed to various organisations, 11 substituted with their cadres in addition to treatment of 67 cases affected by retirement, resignation, withdrawal and death.
Minjibir said that five disciplinary cases were treated and disposed of while seven staff appointments were converted.

He said that the commission received one case of impersonation adding that the culprit was handed over to the police for prosecution.
He called on the state civil servants to reciprocate government gestures through redoubling their efforts and cooperating with the commission to enable it to continue to discharge its responsibilities effectively.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the functions of the commission include recruitment, promotion, advertisement, confirmation of appointments and transfer of service.
Others are: disciplinary, merger of service, petitions and related issues affecting the welfare of civil servants in the state.
The CSC derives its powers from Section 197(a) of part 11b chapter of 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria.( NAN) 

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By Aminu Garko

Gotomo community lauds FG for road project, solar installation Newsdiaryonline

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Gotomo community lauds FG for road project, solar installation Newsdiaryonline

 Residents of Gotomo community, Argungu Local Government Area (LGA) of Kebbi have commended the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) for the execution of road project and streetlights installation in the community.

The residents of the community told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday that the project would go a long way to alleviate the suffering of the masses.

NAN reports that the agency installed modern solar streetlights, repaired cell culvert and maintained constant repairs of federal road that passed through the community.

Malam Musa Mai-Tarwada, a resident from the community, who lauded FERMA for the construction of cell culvert and installing streetlights in the community, said it would ease businesses.

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“The completion of the projects will ease the sufferings we face connecting one village to another especially during the rainy season.

“The streetlight has facilitated the springing up of petty businesses in the community as traders throng and flank during the night to market their stuffs,” he said.

Mai-Tarwada said the Gotomo Development Committee would visit the state field office of FERMA in appreciation of the gesture done to them.

He said the solar streetlights have beautified and enhanced the security of the area, calling on other agencies to emulate FERMA in the state.

Malam Murtala Argungu, a commercial driver, also lauded FERMA for the construction of culverts and drainages along the Argungu- Sokoto road.

“The construction of the culverts has eased the suffering we face in our vehicular movements from Argungu LGA to some major towns in Sokoto State, especially during the rainy season.

“We sometimes thrown in oblivion, thinking that there were no waterways and drainages along the road, and it will cut off the road by the heavy downpour.

“With the construction of the new culverts and drainages, we are happy, and we are thankful to the Federal Government as well as FERMA for saving our lives and that of our passengers,” he said.

Argungu urged motorists to drive safely and abide by the road safety rules and regulations in order to protect lives, property and infrastructure in the area.

Earlier, FERMA officer -in-charge in the state, Rilwanu Usman, briefing newsmen, said the renewed hope in FERMA under the leadership of Dr Chukwuemeka Agbasi, believed in carrying out its mandate to the fullest.

“You can see it for yourself that we addressed the problem of water ponding along the same Gotomo-Argungu-Sokoto road by constructing four cells box culverts at Wali in December, 2023.

“We also reinforced concrete line drain and repair of a completely failed section, making Birnin-Kebbi to Sokoto border pothole free through a very impactful programme called “Operation Safe Connect to Your Destination.

“Through the programme, we made Kalgo- Kamba road pothole free.

“The agency deemed it fit to consolidate by installing solar streetlights at Gotomo town,’’ he said.

This, Usman said was now receiving huge applause as trading activities go on unhindered 24 hours.

Usman added that similar solar street lights were provided in Yauri town in front of the General Hospital along Kebbi-Niger states border road and at Federal Medical Centre, Birnin-Kebbi road, among others.

“Dr Chukwuemeka Agbasi, the Managing Director of FERMA resolve is to make all federal roads in the state and even beyond pothole free, and motorable all year round within the limit of available resources.”

Usman commended Gov. Nasir Idris of Kebbi for efforts in constructing befitting roads and providing them with solar streetlights and providing enabling environment for the agency to thrive.

“We also commend the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, for his supper and encouragement to the agency in the state in particular and country at large,” Usman said. (NAN)

By Ibrahim Bello

JAMB uncovers 1,665 fake A’Level results

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JAMB uncovers 1,665 fake A’Level results

The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has uncovered at least 1,665 fake A’level results during the Direct Entry registration process.

By Funmilayo Adeyemi

The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has uncovered at least 1,665 fake A’level results during the Direct Entry registration process.

The board’s weekly bulletin made available to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday, said the Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede gave the figures when he received officials of the National Association of Nigeria Colleges of Education Students, in his office.

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He explained that the A’level results verification was occasioned by the endemic corruption associated with the system and the need to restore the integrity of the admission process.

According to him, out of the fake results, 397 were from Colleges of Education, 453 university diplomas and the rest for other A’level certificates.

Oloyede said the institutions must take measures to safeguard the integrity of their certificates, adding that JAMB would continue to scrutinise the  certificates through measures that would stand the test of time.

The registrar recalled that in the past, when a candidate applied for Direct Entry, the Board would simply ask awarding institutions to do the necessary screening and due diligence.

He however said that JAMB was dumbfounded by the startling revelations from Bayero University, Kano, where out of the 148 Direct Entry applications to the institution, only six of the certificates forwarded for processing were genuine.

The registrar added that it was the discovery of this monumental fraud that prompted the meeting of critical stakeholders, who met to chart ways of combating the menace.

Part of the measures suggested, he said, was the constitution of an A’level result verification task force as well as the creation of a common platform for the verification of A’level results and certificates.

He said the platform was reliable and user-friendly as it only took five minutes to verify any certificate.

Oloyede also disclosed that the board had adopted “No verification, No admission” policy.

The registrar said 15 institutions had not sufficiently complied with the verification requests from the board, adding that more than 20 unverified candidates were affected.

He said that the board would have to pre-verify candidates applying with the certificates of the 15 institutions before they could complete their  DE registration process.

According to him, in the ongoing DE registration, candidates could go ahead and register while the school verify them at the backend.

He, however, declared that the 15 institutions, which were yet to fully comply, would have to pre-verify holders of their certificates before they complete registration process. (NAN)

Minister seeks mobile courts to free unjustly incarcerated women

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Minister seeks mobile courts to free unjustly incarcerated women

Minister of Women Affairs, Uju-Kennedy Ohanenye, says the ministry is working with stakeholders for the establishment of mobile courts to get justice for women incarcerated for years in correctional facilities without trial.

The minister said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of a women empowerment conference to mark the 2024 International Women’s Day, on Tuesday in Abuja.The conference, organised by Arise Monalisa Foundation in collaboration with One Percent International Management Services Limited, discussed issues affecting women, young female entrepreneurs and children.Ohanenye said many women awaiting trial over minor offences have been abandoned in correctional facilities for years, with no hope of getting justice.

She said that the establishment of the mobile court would help such women and aid in decongesting the correctional facilities.“Remember when I came in as minister and they said women were suffering I had to go to the prison yard, I saw many women abandoned in the prison for over four years awaiting trial over minor issues like owing debt of N10,000, N15,000, N20,000.“Out of what I said before on inhumanity to humans, they just drop them there because they feel they don’t have anybody to speak for them, we don’t want that to continue to happen.

“That’s why I was looking for a mobile court to get these women released, and I went straight to Mr President and I asked for a mobile court and, Mr President said go ahead and gave me a nod,” she said.According to the minister, she had contacted the Attorney General of the Federation and state governors to collaborate in the endeavour.“I wrote to the governors’ forum and I was called to make a presentation and it was approved and the consent letter was given to me.“I need to go now and ensure it’s implemented in all the states,” Ohanenye added.She said in spite of some stumbling blocks, she was determined to get the mission accomplished.“This is something that could allow our fellow women to breathe; this is something that can decongest the prisons.“When people said it’s impossible to have a mobile court I said it will be possible, because this is something that will protect the lives of women and children,” the minister said. (NAN)

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Zenith Bank emerges best bank in Nigeria  in Global Finance Awards 2024

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Zenith Bank emerges best bank in Nigeria  in Global Finance Awards 2024

Zenith Bank Plc has emerged as the Best Bank in Nigeria in the Global Finance Best Banks Awards 2024, winning the award for the fourth time since 2019. 

The Bank was among other banks from 36 countries in Africa recognised as the prestigious Global Finance announced its 31st Annual Best Bank Awards Winners.

The editors of Global Finance made the selections after extensive consultations with corporate financial executives, bankers and banking consultants, and analysts worldwide. Factors considered in selecting the top banks ranged from the quantitative objective to the informed subjective. Objective criteria considered included: growth in assets, profitability, geographic reach, strategic relationships, new business development and innovation in products. Subjective criteria included the opinions of equity analysts, credit rating analysts, banking consultants and others involved in the industry.

Commenting on the award, the outgoing Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of Zenith Bank, Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu said: “This award serves as a powerful affirmation of our resilience and tenacity despite headwinds and a very challenging macroeconomic environment. Indeed, it is a testament to our status as the leading financial institution in Nigeria, dedicated unwaveringly to delivering exceptional value to our stakeholders”. 

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He expressed profound gratitude to the founder and chairman, Jim Ovia, CFR, for his exceptional vision and foundational role in establishing a resilient and enduring financial institution. He also lauded the board for their astute insights and exemplary leadership, the staff for their steadfast commitment and unwavering dedication, and the customers for their staunch loyalty to the Zenith brand.

Joseph D. Giarraputo, publisher and editorial director of Global Finance, said: “Banking has reached another watershed moment with the debut of generative artificial intelligence, which promises to rewrite the industry playbook,” 

He added that: “In this ever-changing environment, the Best Bank Awards recognize the financial institutions that offer the broadest range of services, long-term reliability, and technological innovation.”

Global Finance’s “Best Banks Awards” are recognised amongst the world’s most influential banking/finance and corporate professionals as the most coveted and credible awards in the banking industry, with winners chosen in 150 countries and territories across Africa, AsiaPacific, the Caribbean, Central America, Central & Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, North America and Western Europe. 

Founded in 1987, Global Finance regularly selects the top performers among banks and other financial services providers, and the awards have become a trusted standard of excellence for the global financial community.

Zenith Bank’s track record of excellent performance has earned the brand numerous awards, including being recognised as the Best Bank for Digital Solutions in Nigeria in the Euromoney Awards 2023, being listed in the World Finance Top 100 Global Companies in 2023; being recognised as the Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital, for the 14th consecutive year, in the 2023 Top 1000 World Banks Ranking published by The Banker Magazine; Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria, for three consecutive years from 2021 to 2023, in the World Finance Banking Awards; Best Corporate Governance Bank, Nigeria in the World Finance Corporate Governance Awards 2022 and 2023; Bank of the Year (Nigeria) in The Banker’s Bank of the Year Awards 2020 and 2022; Best Bank in Nigeria, for three consecutive years from 2020 to 2022, in the Global Finance World’s Best Banks Awards; Best in Corporate Governance’ Financial Services’ Africa, for four successive years from 2020 to 2023, by the Ethical Boardroom; Most Sustainable Bank, Nigeria in the International Banker 2023 Banking Awards; Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria and Best Innovation in Retail Banking, Nigeria in the International Banker 2022 Banking Awards.

Also, the bank emerged as the Most Valuable Banking Brand in Nigeria in the Banker Magazine Top 500 Banking Brands 2020 and 2021; Bank of the Year 2023 and Retail Bank of the Year for three consecutive years from 2020 to 2022, at the BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards. Similarly, Zenith Bank was named Bank of the Decade (People’s Choice) at the ThisDay Awards 2020, Bank of the Year 2021 by Champion Newspaper, Bank of the Year 2022 by New Telegraph Newspaper, and Most Responsible Organisation in Africa 2021 by SERAS Awards.

FG has so far enrolled 2m out-of-school “Almajiri” children in basic

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FG has so far enrolled 2m out-of-school “Almajiri” children in basic
Senate approves FG’s 2022-2024 external borrowing plan

 The Federal Government has enrolled two million out-of-school “Almajiri” children in basic and Arabic literacy programmes.

Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman , made this known at the Citizens and Stakeholders Engagement on Nigerian Education Sector Ministerial Deliverables in Abuja on Tuesday.

NAN reports that President Bola Tinubu, on assumption of office organised a Cabinet Retreat for the Ministers, Permanent Secretaries and top government officials to prepare and sensitise them on the workings and processes of his administration.

This is with a view to ensuring that Ministries, Departments and Agencies deliver on the Presidential Priorities of the Renewed Hope Agenda for 2023 – 2027.

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“To deliver on the mandate of the president, there is need to engage with stakeholders to provide opportunities to critically examine the progress in the implementation of 23 Ministerial Deliverables.

“It is one of the major focus of this administration to reduce the numbers of out-of-school children. While the commission set up to reduce this number, the problem of out-of-school is still ongoing.

“What we reported is the outcome from other agencies of the ministry that are doing their own part to ensure the problem is addressed,” he said.

Regretting the recent kidnap of some students of University of Calabar, he said the ministry is working with security agencies to bring back the students and as well getting TETFund to help fence the university.

Speaking further, the minister said that in months, the ministry had been able to develop guidelines and training manuals for the implementation of inclusive basic education.

According to him, these have helped increased access, enrolment, and retention completion at both basic, secondary, and tertiary school levels.

Corroborating this, the Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu said the ministry deployed technology in education to promote learning as well as promoting skills development and acquisition at all levels.

Sununu said this would address teachers and learning crisis at basic education level

“We quite believe that there is a need for strong team approach in addressing the numerous challenges confronting our education sector.

“Education being a tool for individual, community, country and global development cannot be treated in isolation.

“It was in realisation of this that International Labor Organisation classified education as exportable commodity. By extension therefore, the need for both local and international collaboration becomes a necessity,” he said.

Also speaking , the Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun expressed worry over increment in WAEC fees to N27,000, noting that most parents could not afford to pay such.

He appealed to the federal government to come up with policy on how the fees could be subsidised so as to give Nigerian children quality and affordable education.

On the out-of-school challenges, he said the recent inflow of children from other parts of the country to Lagos state was constituting a problem, saying if not handled could spur more social vices.

Also, the Commander, National Safe School Response Coordination Centre, Dr Hammed  Abodunrin said it was time the country took security of the citizens serious.

Abodunrin said there was need to give security education to the citizenry, noting that the centre in collaboration with the education ministry was ready to take-off security education in schools.

On his part, Dr Mikayla Ibrahim, Education Adviser of the British High Commission, said the UK Government has supported Nigeria’s basic education through the implementation of the GEP III project.

According to him, the GEP project has giving about 1.5m girls access to learning.

The GEP project, he said, has also worked well in the Reading and Numeracy as well as the Cash Transfer Programme.

NAN reports that among the deliverables the ministry is expected to work on are: strengthening research and innovation in education sector, reviewing the status of technical and vocational education board, strengthening the education management information system. (NAN)

By Funmilayo Adeyemi

NECO ready for 2024 NCEE — Director

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NECO ready for 2024 NCEE — Director

The National Examination Council (NECO) says it is ready for the 2024 National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE)
slated for April 20, and urged parents of candidates to maintain decorum during the examination.

Mr Azeez Sani, the acting Director, Directorate of Information and Digital Communication of NCEE, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency
of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday.

Sani said that the NCEE organised by NECO for final year pupils in primary school is to create openings for admission into JSS1 in Federal Unity Colleges
across the country.

He added that “the examination is on April 20 and we are doing everything necessary to ensure a successful conduct. However, we need maximum
cooperation of parents.

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“While parents bring their wards for the examination on that day, they must not overcrowd the centre but should as much as they can, exhibit extreme decorum.

“The candidates are children who need concentration and we don’t want noise or any form of distraction during the examination. This is an appeal.”

The NECO official explained that pupils siting for the examination are expected to be in the age bracket of 10 and 13 years by September 2024, in line with Federal Government’s
directive.

According to him, it’s been clearly stated that pupils below 10 years are not qualified.

He said “we’re using this opportunity to tell parents to appeal to their conscience and stop rushing their children’s education because it will affect them later.”

He expressed optimism that school authorities and management have educated the pupils on what is expected of them while attending to the questions as a guide.(NAN)

By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu

Police arrest suspected armed robber in Kaduna

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Police arrest suspected armed robber in Kaduna
Police arrest man for allegedly printing, distributing fake Police ID Cards
Police arrest man for allegedly printing, distributing fake Police ID Cards

The Police Command in Kaduna State has arrested a 22-year-old armed robbery suspect in Marabar Jos area of the state.

The suspect, who resides in Badarawa-Kwaru area of Kaduna, was arrested on March 24, at about 2030 hours.

According to the command’s spokesman, ASP Mansir Hassan, in a statement issued on Tuesday in Kaduna, the suspect was in possession of one AK47 rifle with Breach No. 01585, along with three rounds of 7.62 x 39mm live ammunitions.

He said other items recovered from the suspect included a Nigerian Immigration Service camouflage singlet and face cap, a sharp knife, flier, desert handbag, wallet containing First Bank ATM card and complimentary card belonging to a Brigadier General of the Nigerian army.

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“This successful operation underscores the Command’s unwavering commitment to maintaining law and order in the state,” Hassan said, adding that the Commissioner of Police, Ali Audu, has commended the swift response of officers involved in the operation. (NAN)

By Mohammed Tijjani

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