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Tinubu presents APC flag to Edo gov candidate, running mate

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Tinubu presents APC flag to Edo gov candidate, running mate

President Bola Tinubu, on Monday, met the leadership of the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress at the State House, Abuja.⁣
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The According understands that Monday’s meeting was meant to address disagreements brewing in Edo APC for weeks now and officially present the party’s flag to its candidate in the September 2024 governorship elections, Monday Okpebholo, and his running mate, Dennis Idahosa. ⁣
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The delegation was led to the Villa by the APC Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje. ⁣

While the full details of the closed-door talks remain unclear, our correspondent learned that Idahosa has been asked to withdraw his court case against Okpebholo’s candidature. ⁣
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The primary election through which Okpebholo emerged as a candidate has been mired in controversy.

Idahosa was first declared the party’s nominee by the Governor Hope Uzodimma-led committee. ⁣
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The first round of voting saw the trio of Okpebholo, Idahosa, and Dekeri lay claim to the party’s governorship ticket.

Consequently, the party’s National Working Committee declared the exercise inconclusive owing to several irregularities.

Okpebholo eventually secured victory with 12,433 votes in the February 23 re-run.

Also present at the meeting was the Senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, Adams Oshiomhole, and former representative of Edo South in the Senate, Matthew Urhoghide, among others.

Details shortly…

Stephen Angbulu

With three years of experience, Stephen, The According correspondent, has been covering Nigeria’s presidency, politics, security, immigration and trafficking in persons

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Fintech startup, Zone raises $8.5m seed to expand coverage

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Fintech startup, Zone raises $8.5m seed to expand coverage

A Nigerian fintech startup that uses blockchain networks to enable payments and acceptance of digital currencies, Zone, has raised $8.5m in a seed round.

The new funding will enable Zone to further expand the coverage of its network domestically and connect more banks and financial services companies, the startup said in a statement on Monday.

The funding was led by TLcom Capital and Flourish Ventures. Additional capital was raised from Digital Currency Group, Verod-Kepple Africa Ventures, Alter Global, and Endeavor Catalyst.

Zone is one half of the Appzone Group, founded by Obi Emetarom, Emeka Emetarom, and Wale Onawunmi in 2008.

However, it underwent a rebrand in 2022, with Zone becoming its blockchain-powered payment infrastructure and its cloud-based software as a service becoming Qore.

The CEO and co-founder of Zone, Obi Emetarom, said despite the funding drought, the fact that Zone had more interested investors than needed was a sign of trust in the fintech brand and investor excitement about the opportunity to redefine payment infrastructure in Africa.

“As we step into this new phase at Zone, we are re-energised, and our commitment to transforming Africa’s payment infrastructure is renewed. Our new investors and existing shareholders, including CCA, Lateral Capital, Constant Ventures, and V8, bring more than just financial backing, as their global scope and deep expertise make them invaluable partners for us.

“With their support, we are poised to accelerate our mission to connect every monetary store of value and enable real-time payments within and across geographical borders. Zone is committed to staying at the forefront of technological advancement and industry evolution in financial services,” the CEO said.

Zone poses as Africa’s first regulated blockchain network for payments and has already signed up over 15 of Africa’s largest banks and fintech companies.

Flourish Ventures, an early-stage global fintech venture firm, will provide Zone with a global perspective, networks of industry influencers, and extensive Africa fintech expertise, paving the way for expansion into new markets.

Partner at Flourish Ventures, Ameya Upadhyay, said the fundraise was a fundamental leap that will allow customers to experience a completely new standard of reliability, speed, and cost efficiency at the ATM, at POS machines, and online.

“We are excited by the potential for Zone’s technology to be replicated across borders to advance payment innovation globally.

“The fact that Zone is led by Obi and Wale, who are veterans of the banking industry, reinforces our conviction that Zone can fulfill our shared goal of moving the entire sector forward,” he said.

Benue varsity joins SSANU, NASU strike

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Benue varsity joins SSANU, NASU strike

The Joint Action Committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and Non-Academic Staff Union of Joseph Sawuan Tarka University Makurdi, formerly Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi, joined their counterparts nationwide on a seven-day warning strike on Monday.

Our correspondent, who visited the school, observed that the two unions commenced the strike after an emergency congress held on Monday, March 18, 2024.

According to a letter jointly signed by the chairpersons of the unions, Kpamor Ruth and  Saa Girgi Moses, SSAN and NASU said JAC waited patiently till the expiration of the ultimatum without positive response to the demands of the unions.

“Consequently, JAC directed her members in the universities and inter-university centres nationwide to commence a seven-day warning strike effective Monday, 18th March, 2024 in the first instance,” the letter read in parts.

The unions, in the letter addressed to the Vice Chancellor of the university tagged “Commencement of A-7 Day JAC Nationwide Warning Strike,” therefore craved the indulgence of the university management to understand with SSANU and NASU JOSTUM Branch as they embark on the warning strike.

The union cited some of the issues driving the strike, including “Renegotiation of 2009 Federal Government/SSANU agreement, reconstitution of governing councils of universities, payment of four months withheld salaries, the release of earned allowances, and improved funding of our universities.”

The Secretary of SSANU, Festus Omemu, who spoke to journalists, condemned the government’s failure to implement its agreements with the unions, especially as it concerns withheld salaries and funding of the institutions.

He said, “The Federal Government is not funding the universities. We have to fund the universities. These are people, in their own time, when they went to the universities, they were treated like special candidates, giving them food and other things free and before they finished, some of them had appointments already waiting for them with cars.”

Omemu faulted the government for not fulfilling its agreement, saying, “This is the first time in the history of the university system, especially since some of us joined, that it is heard that a union went on strike and their salaries were withheld without paying them.

“When they withheld ASUU salary and ours, many people died because of the economic situation. We lost many professors, and many of our staff died because they had health issues and were on medication. They couldn’t afford it, and they had no options and died.

“This means that the government is killing people without weapons, using hardship to kill people without using arms. They are killing people and saying we should not cry. The government is not doing the right thing.

“We are already on strike for seven days, and at the end of it, if the Federal Government fails, we will go into indefinite strike.”

SSANU, NASU strike ground activities at UNIJOS

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SSANU, NASU strike ground activities at UNIJOS

Activities at the University of Jos, Plateau State, were on Monday paralysed following a seven-day strike embarked upon by members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non-Academic Staff Union of the institution.

When our correspondent visited the institution on Monday, the gates of the university were shut, while staff and students who tried to gain entrance were left stranded.

Last Monday, SSANU and NASU declared a seven-day warning strike.

The unions said the declaration was made to demand the payment of four months of withheld salaries of their members by the Federal Government after the 2022 nationwide strike.

Meanwhile, the National President of SSANU, Muhammed Ibrahim, informed The According on Sunday that the two unions were set for their nationwide strike.

But the Minister for Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, said he was unaware of SSANU/NASU’s planned strike.

However, in a letter that SSANU and NASU jointly addressed to the Vice Chancellor of the University, the chairman of the institution’s branch of NASU, Monday Danjuma Kpaji and his counterpart in SSANU, Anthony T. Joro, said the strike that would last for seven days  was in line with the directive of their national secretariat

The letter which was copied to the Plateau State Commissioner of Police and the Director of State Services was sighted by our correspondent in Jos on Monday

It read in part “We bring you fraternal greetings from the secretariat of the Joint Action Committee of NASU and SSANU, University of Jos branch.

“This is to officially inform you that our National Secretariat has declared a seven-day warning strike with effect from Monday, March 18 to Sunday, March 24, 2024, respectively.

“Accordingly, this is to put you on notice that all our services will be withdrawn with no concession, from midnight of Sunday, March 17, 2024, till Sunday, March 24, 2024.”

According Online earlier reported that SSANU and NASU members at the University of Ilorin on Monday also embarked on strike in compliance with the directive of the national bodies of the two unions.

Ganduje Presents Idahosa As Edo Deputy Governorship Candidate

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Ganduje Presents Idahosa As Edo Deputy Governorship Candidate

The National Chairman, All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Ganduje, has presented Dennis Idahosa as the party’s deputy governorship candidate in Edo State during a meeting with the party’s governorship aspirants and stakeholders in Edo State.

This was disclosed in a statement on the party’s official X handle on Monday.

The caption read, “The National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, met with APC governorship aspirants and other stakeholders in Edo State. During the meeting, Hon. Dennis Idahosa was presented as the party’s deputy governorship candidate in the state.”

According Online reports ( that former Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, on Monday, congratulated Senator Monday Okpebholo on his emergence as the governorship candidate of APC in the state.

This comes one month after his alleged anointed candidate, Idahosa, lost to Okpebholo in the February 22 APC primary election.

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Court orders Binance to release data of Nigerian users to EFCC

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Court orders Binance to release data of Nigerian users to EFCC

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered Binance Holdings Limited to provide the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission with comprehensive information on all persons from Nigeria trading on its platform.

The court handed down the order in an ex-parte motion filed by the EFCC demanding information about Nigerians trading on Binance.

The suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/259/2024 and dated February 29 according to the anti-graft agency was brought pursuant to Sections 6(b), (h), (I), 7(1), (a)(2), and 38 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Establishment Act, 2004 and Section 15 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 (as amended).

In the affidavit in support of the motion deposed to by an operative of the EFCC, Hamma Bello, he stated that the Special Investigation Team of the commission domiciled in the Office of the National Security Adviser received intelligence that money laundering and terrorism financing was carried out on Binance.

He said, “The Special Investigation Team of the commission domiciled in the Office of the National Security Adviser received an intelligence stating the nefarious activities (money laundering and terrorism financing) on Binance, a cryptocurrency exchange platform.

“That on receipt of the intelligence, the team began an investigation by conducting surveillance of the activities of the platform.

“The team uncovered users who have been using the platform for price discovery, confirmation, and market manipulation, which has caused tremendous distortions in the market, resulting in the Naira losing its value against other currencies”

Bello also said the team uncovered some users whose activities on Binance resulted in the country’s currency losing its value against other currencies.

He said, “That the team uncovered users who have been using the platform for price discovery, confirmation and market manipulation which has caused tremendous distortions in the market, resulting in the Naira losing its values against other currencies.

“That the damage the platform has caused was clearly explained to the operators of the platform, and they were requested to delist the Naira and avail the ONSA on the activities of the Nigerians on their platform.

“That from the information afforded to the team by Binance shows trading volume from Nigeria in 2023 alone stood at $21.6bn.

“Attached and marked as Exhibit EFCC 1 is a copy of the document from Binance to the ONSA stating this fact amongst others.
“That the commission will ensure that investigation is conducted within such reasonable time,”
Bello stated that the requested data would help the commission complete its investigation.

According to a certified true copy of the ruling, which was delivered on February 29 but sighted by journalists on Monday, Justice Emeka Nwite granted the interim order.

Nwite said, “The applicant’s application dated and filed 29th February 2024 is hereby granted as prayed.

“That an order of this honourable court is hereby made directing the operators of Binance to provide the commission with comprehensive data/information relating to all persons from Nigeria trading on its platform.”

Binance is an online exchange where users can trade cryptocurrencies.

The Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, at a press briefing after the 293rd meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee in Abuja on February, disclosed that more than $26bn was channelled through Binance without traces in the last one year.

Financial Times had on February 28 reported that two executives of the company were arrested and detained after they flew into the country as a result of a ban on their website.

On March 12, 2024, the FT reported that the EFCC asked Binance to share data on its 100 top users in Nigeria as well as all transaction history for the past six months.
According to the report, the request is at the centre of negotiations between Binance and Nigeria.

Nike unveils Super Eagles 2024/25 jersey

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Nike unveils Super Eagles 2024/25 jersey

The new Super Eagles jerseys for the 2024–2025 football season have been unveiled by clothing powerhouse, Nike.

Nike’s Instagram page published a post on Monday with a launch video of the new jerseys.

“The 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝑵𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑻𝒆𝒂𝒎 𝒌𝒊𝒕𝒔 disrupt convention with bold twists on icons.

“Featuring 𝑫𝒓𝒊-𝑭𝑰𝑻 𝑨𝑫𝑽 innovation, each kit is engineered for the needs of the modern footballer, from kick-off to the final whistle,” the post read.

Green hoops at the ends of the sleeves and shorts adorn the white home jersey. In a striking combination of colours, the word “Naija” is written in green across the kit’s breast.

In a stylistic nod to Nigeria’s national colours, the away uniform is patterned in a pastel version of the same colour, dark green.

For their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, the Super Eagles are anticipated to wear the new jerseys.

The team’s third qualifying match is scheduled for June 3 at home against South Africa. Seven days later, they are scheduled to travel to Benin Republic.

Before that, the Eagles will visit Grand Stade de Marrakech in Morocco for friendly matches against Ghana and Mali on March 22 and 26, respectively.

See photos below;

PHOTOS: Nike unveils Super Eagles 2024/25 jersey

PHOTOS: Nike unveils Super Eagles 2024/25 home jersey [Credit: Soar Super Eagles]

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Danger looms, FRSC warns truck drivers parking on Benue bridge

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Danger looms, FRSC warns truck drivers parking on Benue bridge

The Federal Road Safety Corps in Benue State has raised the alarm on the imminent collapse of the Katsina-Ala bridge following the insistence of truck drivers turning the bridge into a parking lot.

Katsina-Ala Unit Commander, FRSC RS 4.23, Terngu Adagba, lamented that several warnings on the articulated truck drivers to stop parking on the bridge were ignored.

Speaking with journalists in Makurdi, the state capital on Monday, Adagba said parking trailers with contents on the bridge could be dangerous and lead to imminent collapse.

The bridge links the North Eastern part of Benue State to Taraba and Cross River states and was recently rehabilitated by the Federal Government.

Adagba said, “For trucks, tankers, and trailers parking on the Katsina-Ala bridge, we are sitting on a keg of gunpowder.

“When these vehicles are stationary on the bridge for a long time, they have a negative impact, including deterioration, bridge fatigue, damage, or even collapse.

“An empty 20 feet tanker weighs 2,000kg , a 40 feet empty tanker doubles the kilogrammes. With an average truck weighing 14,000kg, the total weight of 25 stationary trucks on a bridge, for instance, could be around 450,000kg.

“It’s therefore not right, for trucks and tankers to park on Katsina-Ala Bridge because the bridge was not designed as a park for them.”

While calling on articulated truck drivers to henceforth stop parking on the bridge, Adagba said the indiscriminate parking of articulated trucks that has started along the Katsina-Ala Bridge could pose a danger to the bridge.

Moment Nigerian footballer, Osayi-Samuel defends teammates against pitch invaders

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Moment Nigerian footballer, Osayi-Samuel defends teammates against pitch invaders

Nigerian defender, Bright Osayi-Samuel, who plays for Turkish club, Fenerbahçe, was seen knocking a violent pitch invader to the ground during a chaotic on-pitch brawl on Sunday night.

Tension escalated at the end of Fenerbahce’s 3-2 victory over Trabzonspor in the Turkish Super Lig.

Former Manchester United player, Fred, netted two goals in the first half, as Fenerbahce secured the victory with a late 87th-minute goal from Michy Batshuayi.

Fenerbahce players gathered in the middle of the pitch to celebrate their victory when suddenly, a single Trabzonspor fan made his way onto the pitch to taunt them.

A security team swiftly apprehended the individual, who was wearing a mask.

As the situation unfolded, a growing number of Trabzonspor supporters managed to bypass the security staff, causing difficulties in maintaining control.

Video captured the 26-year-old Osayi-Samuel in the midst of the commotion.

Bright Osayi-Samuel
Bright Osayi-Samuel

A video that went viral on social media captured the Nigerian chasing a fan and landing a punch to his face, causing the masked supporter to fall to the ground.

In another clip, Osayi-Samuel can be seen celebrating when he suddenly noticed a pitch invader.

In the video, he confronted the aggressor, defending himself against a punch and retaliating with one of his own, as a security guard swiftly subdued the unruly fan.

During the incident, Osayi-Samuel had to be held back by his teammates and security as the situation became more intense.

One particular fan was seen brandishing a corner flag as a potential weapon.

According to a report from Mirror UK, the atmosphere became heated as some home supporters resorted to throwing objects onto the pitch, aiming at players, coaches, and referees.

A number of Fenerbahce’s players and staff had hurriedly made their way to the tunnel for safety.

Osayi-Samuel made the move to Fenerbahce from QPR in 2021, following his early career at Blackpool.

The Nigeria international has made 126 appearances for the Turkish team.

Below are pictures captured from the incident that portray the chaotic scenes on the pitch:

Soldiers bar journalists as Delta gov visits troubled community

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Soldiers bar journalists as Delta gov visits troubled community

Four days after the killings of military officers and civilians in the Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, on Monday, visited the troubled community to assess the extent of the destruction.

The military Joint Task Force, however, barred journalists from covering the governor’s assessment tour of the troubled community.

The JTF operatives barricaded the major entries to Okuama with an armoured personnel carrier tank, thus preventing vehicular and human traffic, including media men, from gaining access to the community.

But Oborevwori, who was received by the leader of the military JTF, General Officer Commanding 6 Division Nigeria Army, Major General Jamaal Abdulsalam.

They went for a closed-door meeting that lasted for about one hour.

Details later…

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