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Ex-lawmaker urges Muslims to indicate love

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Ex-lawmaker urges Muslims to indicate love

A former member of the House of Representatives, Shina Peller, on Tuesday, urged Muslims to extend acts of charity to fellow Muslims who are in need during this Ramadan period.

Peller, in his goodwill message to Muslims on the commencement of the 2024 (1445 AH) Ramadan fast, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, reminded them that every month of Ramadan presents a rare opportunity to purify one’s body and soul.

Peller, who represented Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa Federal Constituency of Oyo State at the Ninth National Assembly, also advised them to leverage the momentum of the holy month to pray for Nigeria and her leaders, adding that there is a need to support them with prayers so that they can lead the country in the right direction.

He said, “Best wishes to fellow Muslim brothers and sisters, home and in the diaspora, as we commence Ramadan fast for the year 2024 (1445 AH). One of the benefits of Ramadan is that it presents to us an opportunity to purify our mind, body and soul as well as an opportunity to reach out to the less privileged in whatever way we can. So, we must put this into use as we fast, particularly considering the economic hardship that we are presently confronted with as a nation.

“Also, I urge us all to seize the opportunity of this Holy Month to pray for Nigeria and our leaders. We must support them with prayers that God purifies their souls and guides them right so that they can lead us to a better Nigeria.

“Once again, I wish everyone of us a blessed Ramadan and pray that God strengthens in all ways and accepts all our good deeds as an act of Ibadah. Aaamin. Ramadan Mubarak.”

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Guinness guarantees to help feminine employees

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Guinness guarantees to help feminine employees

In celebration of International Women’s Day, Guinness Nigeria Plc has promised to support the female workforce at every step of their journey.

The 2024 International Women’s Day campaign, titled, ‘Inspire Inclusion,’ echoed the significance of diversity and empowerment across all sectors.

A statement by the firm on Tuesday, said, through its Spirited Women’s Network, Guinness Nigeria Plc spearheaded initiatives aimed at uplifting and empowering female employees.

Speaking at the International Women’s Day event hosted at the Guinness Nigeria headquarters in Lagos, the firm’s Managing Director, Adebayo Alli, reiterated the company’s dedication to diversity and inclusion.

He highlighted the transformative impact of the Spirited Women’s Network and emphasised the importance of creating an environment where every individual could thrive.

“Our commitment to inclusivity is not just rhetoric; it’s a fundamental aspect of our organisational culture,” remarked.

“From lactation rooms to progressive benefits like paid pregnancy loss leave and fully paid six months’ maternity leave, we strive to support our female workforce at every step of their journey. In addition, we have implemented training programs aimed at enhancing the leadership skills of our female employees, resulting in a 25 per cent increase in women in leadership positions over the past three years,” said Alli.

The statement added that the event featured a keynote address by the Executive Chair, African Food Changemakers & Trustee, The Rockefeller Foundation, Mrs Ndidi Nwuneli, who emphasised the importance of creating supportive communities for women’s growth.

She said, “In our journey towards success, creating supportive communities is paramount. However, let us remember that the path to success is not always smooth. It requires constant self-improvement and resilience. Together, as we uplift and empower one another, let us embrace the challenges ahead, for they are the rungs on the ladder of our collective growth.”

Additionally, a panel discussion, titled, ‘Invest in Women, Accelerate Progress,’ explained the necessity of investing in women to drive societal advancement.

The panel session, moderated by Head of Reserves, Guinness Nigeria, Opeyemi Makinwa, delved into various aspects of women’s empowerment and featured esteemed panellists including Executive Director, AAA Limited, Ijeoma Taylaur, GM & Group Head, Investor Relations & Corporate Development, Zenith Bank Plc, Rolake Akinkungbe-Filani, Site Director (Ogba brewery), Guinness Nigeria Plc Dolapo Oshiegbu, and Managing Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Adebayo Alli.

The panellists highlighted the need for society to be intentional in investing in women, noting that a society without the full engagement of women cannot thrive properly.

They emphasised the importance of raising the girl child to become a confident woman and discussed strategies for accelerating progress toward gender equality.

One died, 5 injured in Lagos-Ibadan expressway crash

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One died, 5 injured in Lagos-Ibadan expressway crash

One person was reported dead, while five others sustained varying degrees of injury in a lone accident that occurred along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Tuesday.

The spokesperson for the Ogun State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Florence Okpe, confirmed this to According Online in a telephone conversation on Tuesday.

According to Okpe, 23 persons were involved in the accident that occurred around the Fidiwo axis of the expressway.

She said, “23 persons involved, all male, five injured and one person killed.

“It was a lone crash involving a truck.”

Okpe, while blaming the cause of the accident on tyre bust and speeding, urged motorist to exercise caution when driving on the expressway.

“The cause of the crash was tyre bust and speeding.

“Motorists are advised to always drive with caution on the expressway so as to prevent needless loss of lives,” Okpe said.

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Gumi gives to barter with bandits

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Gumi gives to barter with bandits

Kaduna-based Muslim cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has revealed his intention to dialogue with bandits who abducted about 287 schoolchildren from Kuriga Government Secondary and LEA Primary Schools in the Chikun Local Government Area of the state.

Gumi said this in a bid to facilitate the release of the abducted schoolchildren should President Bola Tinubu give him the opportunity to negotiate.

According to the prominent Islamic scholar, Tinubu must not repeat the mistake made by former President Muhammadu Buhari, who refused to dialogue with bandits.

The According reports that bandits invaded the Kuriga area of the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, shooting at their victims before taking away at least 280 of the pupils and teachers from both schools.

The incident occurred barely 24 hours after insurgents abducted 200 internally displaced women in Borno State.

The women were kidnapped in Ngala, the headquarters of Gambarou Ngala in Borno State, while fetching firewood in the bush.

Penultimate Thursday, bandits invaded the Gonin-Gora in the same Chikun LGA, prompting residents to barricade the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway in protest against the abduction of an unspecified number of people in the area.

Meanwhile, the government of the affected state has refused to dialogue with the bandits to release the schoolchildren and has also refuted claims that it had hired a private negotiator to facilitate the release of the victims.

However, reacting to the development, Gumi said in a statement, “The government’s stand of no negotiation with the bandits is an unfortunate position. My advice is that the government should dialogue with the bandits not only for these Kuriga school children’s abductions but all cases.

“Also, the government should use the same approach it used in releasing passengers that were abducted on the Abuja–Kaduna train in 2022 to release the Kuriga school children and others.

“I am ready to lead a holistic dialogue between the government and bandits. It is my religious duty to do so for peace.

“I hope the present government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will listen by dialoguing with the bandits because the past administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari refused to do so.”

Gumi had previously negotiated on behalf of state governments to free abducted people by bandits.

In May 2021, one of the parents of the kidnapped students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka, Kaduna State, said rather than point an accusing finger at Gumi for being complicit in the banditry ravaging the country, Nigerians should commend the cleric for his interventions in seeking the release of abducted persons in the country.

200 ladies get N4m grant, PoS machine in Edo

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200 ladies get N4m grant, PoS machine in Edo

The Edo State Government, through the Ministry of Social Development and Gender Issue, has empowered 200 women with a Point of Sale machine and N4m as a start-off grant.

The ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Osato Ekhator, who disclosed this on Monday, said the scheme was part of activities to mark the International Women’s Day, which was held on Friday.

She said that 75 women got their POS and grants on Friday while an additional 125 would start getting theirs this week.

She noted that the gesture is expected to help the women become independent.

She added that the programme was done in conjunction with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, Wema Bank and other partners who are passionate about women’s empowerment.

“The Edo State Government has ensured that 200 women benefitted from this programme. Seventy-five got their POS machine on Friday with the N20,000 grant each while others will get theirs this week.

“Hopefully, it will help them become self-sufficient as they navigate this ever-changing world”, she said.

On his part, the coordinator, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, Joel Zombu, noted that GIZ has implemented a lot to empower women in different spheres, as well as contributing to gender policies with the ministry.

He added that GIZ has been in collaboration with Nigeria for 50 years and also empowering MSMEs, youths and women to run their businesses better.

Asian markets push larger as US inflation knowledge looms

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Asian markets push larger as US inflation knowledge looms

Asian markets mostly rose Tuesday following the previous day’s sell-off, with focus on the release of US inflation data that could play a key role in the Federal Reserve’s decision-making on cutting interest rates.

The broadly upbeat performance came despite a tepid showing on Wall Street, and with analysts warning the recent rally across equities could stall as investors lock in profits and assess the outlook for monetary policy.

According to an AFP report on Tuesday, there is a lot of nervousness on trading floors ahead of the February consumer price index report due later in the day after a surprise uptick in January that dented hopes the central bank would begin cutting rates sooner rather than later.

Futures traders are now betting on three reductions this year, compared with the six forecast at the start of the year.

“It is imperative to avoid a repeat of the last CPI release,” SPI Asset Management’s Stephen Innes told AFP.

“Another report similar to January’s could raise doubts about the Fed’s rate cut wisdom in 2024. If the inflation dragon shows up again, it will not sit well with risk appetite.”

Hong Kong pressed ahead with its recent advance, helped by fresh buying of tech firms and following above-forecast Chinese inflation data at the weekend that soothed worries about the country’s economy.

Electronics giant, Xiaomi surged more than 10 per cent after saying it will start deliveries of its first electric vehicle by the end of this month.

There were also gains in Sydney, Seoul, Singapore, Taipei, Mumbai and Manila.

However, Tokyo drops again as speculation swirls that the Bank of Japan will next week shift away from its ultra-loose monetary policy that has helped strengthen the yen.

Shanghai, Wellington and Bangkok also fell.

Traders brushed off a broadly negative day on Wall Street, where investors have pushed equities to multiple record highs this year, and analysts suggested the rally could peter out.

“Stocks are likely overdue for some consolidation or even an extended period of modest declines at some point in the year,” Anthony Saglimbene at Ameriprise said.

“Without a meaningful shift in the fundamental picture, we suspect investors would welcome such a downdraft and treat the event as a buying opportunity.”

The prospect of US interest rates coming down this year has played a role in pushing bitcoin to new record highs, with the cryptocurrency peaking at $72,880.

Moves by US authorities and now regulators in Britain to allow exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for the unit have also provided support, opening it up to new classes of investors.

-Key figures around 0700 GMT –

Tokyo – Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.1 percent at 38,797.51 (close)

Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: UP 2.6 percent at 17,014.40

Shanghai – Composite: DOWN 0.4 percent at 3,055.94 (close)

Dollar/yen: UP at 147.39 yen from 146.96 yen

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0938 from $1.0929 on Monday

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2818 from $1.2812

Euro/pound: UP at 85.34 pence from 85.28 pence

West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.4 percent at $78.20 per barrel

Brent North Sea Crude: UP 0.4 percent at $82.54 per barrel

New York – Dow: UP 0.1 percent at 38,769.66 (close)

London – FTSE 100: UP 0.1 percent at 7,669.23 (close)

AFP

Brooklyn preacher convicted of fraud, extortion

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Brooklyn preacher convicted of fraud, extortion

A Brooklyn preacher, Lamor Miller-Whitehead, was on Monday found guilty in the federal court of wire fraud, attempted extortion, and lying to the FBI.

According to the Associated Press on Tuesday, following a trial that commenced late last month in federal court in Manhattan, 47-year-old Miller-Whitehead was found guilty on five counts.

Prosecutors argued that he exaggerated his connections to Mayor Eric Adams and succumbed to greed, letting greed overtake him as he looted a parishioner’s retirement savings and tried to extort a businessman to fuel his lavish lifestyle.

Additionally, he was accused of lying to FBI agents by denying possession of a second cellphone.

Miller-Whitehead’s attorney, Dawn Florio, stated their intention to appeal the verdict, maintaining that the evidence presented during the trial didn’t support the charges.

In July, Miller-Whitehead gained attention when bandits interrupted his church service and robbed him of $1 million worth of jewelry.

Known for his flamboyant lifestyle, Miller-Whitehead often drove a Rolls Royce and resided in a $1.6 million home in Paramus, New Jersey, with records indicating ownership of apartment buildings in Hartford, Connecticut.

Prosecutors alleged that Miller-Whitehead deceived a parishioner into surrendering $90,000 from her retirement savings, falsely promising to secure housing for her and invest the remainder in his real estate ventures.

Instead, they claimed, he squandered the funds on luxury goods and clothing.

He was also accused of convincing a businessman to lend him $500,000 and give him a stake in real estate deals by claiming his ties to city officials could earn favourable treatment for the businessman’s interests.

While serving as Brooklyn’s borough president, Adams developed a close relationship with Miller-Whitehead.

However, Adams, a former police captain, has since said he spent decades enforcing the law and expects everyone to follow it.

Miller-Whitehead’s sentencing is scheduled for July 1.

Boxing legend, Muhammad Ali to be inducted into WWE Corridor of Fame

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Boxing legend, Muhammad Ali to be inducted into WWE Corridor of Fame

Boxing legend, late Muhammad Ali, famously known as “The Greatest,” will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024 ahead of this year’s WrestleMania festivities in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on April 5, according to Foreign news outlet, Variety on Monday.

Ali, a three-time World Heavyweight Boxing Champion and Olympic gold medalist, captivated audiences worldwide.

His influence transcended sports, as his work as an activist, artist, and personality established him as a renowned figure.

On June 26, 1976, he participated in “The War of the Worlds,” an exhibition match against Antonio Inoki at the Nippon Budokan arena in Tokyo, Japan.

The event, held under specific rules, ended in a 15-round draw, captivating 32,000 spectators in attendance and garnering significant viewership via closed-circuit television, including 33,000 fans at Shea Stadium in Queens, New York.

This event is often regarded as a precursor to modern mixed martial arts, further underlining Ali’s influence.

Despite retiring from boxing with an impressive record of 56-5, including 37 knockouts, Ali continued his association with combat sports. He notably served as the special guest referee for the inaugural WrestleMania in 1984, officiating the main event between Hulk Hogan & Mr. T and “Rowdy” Roddy Piper & “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff.

Ali’s pivotal moment in the match, delivering his signature right-hand punch to Piper restored order and left an indelible mark on the event.

Ali died on June 3, 2016, aged 74, marking the end of an era, but his legacy as one of the greatest athletes of all time endures.

Edo meeting to serve Shaibu’s impeachment discover by substitution

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Edo meeting to serve Shaibu’s impeachment discover by substitution

The Edo State House Assembly has directed that the impeachment notice on the state Deputy Governor, Phillip Shaibu, be published in national dailies.

This followed the alleged refusal of the deputy governor to acknowledge the notice served on him by the House last week.

Last Wednesday, the lawmakers commenced impeachment proceedings against Shaibu, accusing him of perjury and leaking of government’s secrets.

The impeachment notice is believed to be the latest development in the rift between Shaibu and his principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki.

There had been an uneasy calm between the deputy governor and his principal since last year when Shaibu declared his interest in joining this year’s governorship race.

The House took the decision to serve the notice by substitution on resumption of plenary on Monday where the Speaker of the Edo State House Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku, alleged that Shaibu had rejected the impeachment notice served on him by the House.

He then directed the Clerk of the House, Yahaya Omogbai, to publish the notice in the Nigerian Observer newspaper and other national dailies.

The Speaker said, “It is clear that the deputy governor has rejected the impeachment notice served on him by the House.

“The House will serve him by substitution by publishing the letter in three national dailies, The Observer inclusive.”

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Rivers PDP grassroots coordinators dump Wike for Fubara

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Rivers PDP grassroots coordinators dump Wike for Fubara

The coordinators of the Grassroots Development Initiative, a political arm of the Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State formed by ex-governor Nyesom Wike, have announced their withdrawal from the initiative.

The GDI coordinators in 12 local government areas revealed the development on Monday when they paid a courtesy visit to Wike’s successor and estranged political godson, Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

The GDI coordinators were led by Collins Onunwo, who was the coordinator for the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.

According to Onunwo, the GDI played a major role in Wike’s election as governor but the coordinators have now decided to dump the platform and team up with Fubara in the overall interest of the state.

There is currently an undercurrent of acrimony between Wike and Fubara.

Their relationship broke down last year as revealed by an attempt by 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to Wike to impeach Fubara.

Wike accused Fubara of destroying his political structure only a few months after taking the reins of power.

The coordinators who dumped the GDI were from Obio/Akpor, Ogu/Bolo, Port Harcourt City, Opobo/Nkoro, Gokana, Bonny, Ahoada West, Ahoada East, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Oyigbo, Asari-Toru, and Akuku-Toru local government areas.

Speaking to newsmen after their meeting with Fubara, Onunwo, a former Chairman of Obio/Akpor LGA, said the key mission of the GDI was to protect, defend and promote the interest of Rivers State and its people.

He stated, “We want the public, Rivers people and all Nigerians to know that GDI is the group founded by the former governor and now Federal Capital Territory Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike. That group brought him to power in 2015 and supported his ambition in 2019. That group is his strength.

“But today, we and our supporters have decided we are no longer members of GDI. The reason is simple: we want to be with Rivers people. Rivers’ interest is paramount.

“In 2012, GDI interest was to protect, defend and promote our brother-in-law, President Goodluck Jonathan, because of our mother and sister, Dame Patience Jonathan; and it yielded good dividends to the state.

“Through that struggle, our brother, Chief Nyesom Wike, became governor in 2015; and in 2019, when Abuja politicians said he would not return for a second term, we all rallied round him and defended our votes, and he served for eight years.

“Today, Rivers interest is to protect our votes that brought in Sir Siminalayi Fubara, Executive Governor of Rivers State, in the most credible, fair and violence-free election.

 “We have come to join millions of Rivers women, youths, elders, and other well-meaning people who insist that we must protect our votes to sustain democracy.

“Our concern is that we voted for the PDP and Sir Siminalayi Fubara, and we must protect that mandate with all we have.”

Onunwo cautioned those fighting against the Chief of Staff, Government House, Dr Edison Ehie, to retrace their steps, or prepare to face the wrath of Rivers youths, women, and elders.

Also speaking, former Public Relations Officer of GDI, Christian Abu, described the group as the vehicle and political structure for the successes recorded in the previous elections in the state.

He said it was time to move on and join forces with Fubara.

At the meeting were the State Chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria, Ambassador Chijioke Ihunwo; Special Adviser to the Governor on Power, Prince Solomon Eke; among others.

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