Man found guilty of murder in Ekiti, to die by hanging

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April 25, 2023

Ismailia Mohammed Ojo was found guilty of murdering Kareem Adu in an argument over ownership of a Hajue motorcycle and was sentenced to death by hanging by a high court in the state of Ekiti.

The one-count charge of murder against Mohammed was upheld, and Justice Olusegun Ogunyemi found him guilty. Infractions of this law, which are punishable under section 319 of the Criminal Code Law Cap C16 Law of Ekiti State 2012, are in violation of section 316.

Inspector Arowosola Tunde, who was the Prosecution Witness1 (PW1), reported that one Mrs. Agnes Adu rushed to the station with the complaint that her husband had been killed at Odo-Uro by Mohammed over an ownership dispute and physical tussle in respect to a Hajue motorcycle. Mrs. Agnes Adu’s husband had been killed by Mohammed over an ownership dispute and physical tussle in respect to a Hajue motorcycle.

She asserted that the defendant was responsible for the decedent’s death by choking.

Given that the defendant came to the state C.I.D. to report himself in relation to the case, the incident was charged to court for prosecution upon the adduced evidence of the possible commission of the crime. This was done based on the evidence of the possible commission of the crime.

This information is in addition to the facts and figures that emerged from the preliminary investigations conducted by Inspectors Arowosola Tunde, Lasisi Bashiru, and Adewusi Adefisayo of the Police and the Criminal Investigation Department separately.

Read also: Nigerian students trapped in Sudan are subject of FG action

According to the judgment, “the PW2, (i.e. Inspector Lasis Bashiru, A.P. Number 237442 of the state C.I.D., Ado Ekiti, Homicide Section), said: “the Defendant confessed to the crime, that on 13/5/2018, when he was taking his bath inside a bathroom, Kareem Adu, the deceased, came to carry a motorcycle which he parked in front of his house.”

“The Defendant added that after he took a bath, he went to the house of the deceased and found him sleeping. He then jerked him with his cloth on his neck until he passed out and then left the house.

The defendant, on the other hand, asserted that he neither intended nor caused the death of the deceased, stating that this was due to the fact that the two of them fought without the use of any weapons or hard objects.

In spite of this, the judge who presided over the case, Justice O.I.O. Ogunyemi, decided that the defendant should be executed by hanging after carefully considering and weighing the evidence presented in court by both the prosecution’s witnesses and the defendant’s own witnesses.

The judge stated his conclusion, “It is my finding that the defendant caused the death of the deceased by holding and pressing his neck and throat,” and went on to explain his reasoning.

“In general, I find the defendant guilty of the charges against them.

“The defendant is hereby sentenced to be hanged on the neck until the day that you die.”

Nigerian students trapped in Sudan are subject of FG action

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coic

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April 25, 2023

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While the deadly fighting in the nation of Sudan continues, Nigerian students are still stranded there.

40 buses are reportedly on the ground and ready to transport students from Khartoum to Cairo as plans are being made to evacuate about 5,500 Nigerians who are stuck in Sudan via the Egyptian town of Luxor, according to reports that the Federal Government has made public.

In order to guarantee the safe transfer of the stranded Nigerians, the Nigerian government has asked Egypt for assistance.

In a letter dated April 23, 2023, and signed by the Charge d’Affaires, Haruna Garko, the Embassy of Nigeria in Sudan made a formal request for buses to transport students from Khartoum to Cairo on Tuesday at 6 am.

I am directed to request your 200-seater buses’ services to transport 3500 Nigerian students from Khartoum to Cairo, Egypt, on April 25, 2023, at 6 a.m.

This action is being taken as nationals of other foreign nations rush to leave Sudan amid the ongoing, deadly fighting between forces loyal to two opposing generals.

While millions of terrified residents have sought refuge inside their homes, many of whom are running low on basic necessities like water and food, many foreigners have fled the nation’s capital city of Khartoum in a lengthy United Nations convoy. Since April 15, army and paramilitary forces have been fighting fiercely in the streets of the five million-person city, leaving behind burned tanks, demolished structures, and looted stores.

We are still in Khartoum, a student who spoke with the Punch on Tuesday and begged to remain anonymous said. Time has been changed by the Embassy to 12 p.m. I’m worried that the Embassy will decide differently.

According to Umar Abubakar, president of the Jigawa State Students Association in Sudan, “we are yet to move.”

“Hello everyone,” was written in a message forwarded to the students and seen by our correspondent on Tuesday. Please be aware that the take up will be delayed due to some logistical issues.

“We will announce as soon as the arrangements are finished.

People should make an effort to do so in the interim by staying put. But rest assured that God’s grace is what keeps us moving.

I appreciate your understanding.

In one of the poorest countries in the world, the United Nations reported that thousands of people had been injured and over 420 people had died.

APC chieftain: The first two years of Tinubu’s health insurance will cover 87 million Nigerians

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coic

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April 25, 2023

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In his first two years in office, President-elect Bola Tinubu hopes to provide health insurance for at least 87 million Nigerians.

Oyakhilome Bello, national youth leader for the APC in the United States in Abuja, made this announcement on Monday.

The APC youth leader noted that Mr. Tinubu planned to accomplish this expansion by increasing the financing available for the Basic Health Care Provision Fund and the Vulnerable Group Fund, which President Muhammadu Buhari recently established. Mr. Tinubu will make sure that 40% of Nigerians benefit by implementing the mandatory National Health Insurance Scheme, according to the APC youth leader.

The plan, he continued, was to protect the vulnerable Nigerian population’s health.

Read Also: CBN defends its forex importation ban on stockfish

In order to unify all Nigerians under a single, national program that would be run by the National Health Insurance Authority, Mr. Bello added that Mr. Tinubu planned to decentralize the social health insurance program.

The APC leader counseled Nigerians to regularly check their vital signs in order to live longer and in better health. In order to support the political pressure group Patriots in Defense of Democracy, Ade Omole, the director of diaspora for the disbanded APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), sponsored the medical outreach event that he provided the advice at.

For a healthy and long life, Mr. Bello emphasized the importance of vital signs monitoring because it “gives us a glimpse into our overall well-being and signal early signs of an infection as well as prevent a misdiagnosis.”

Since March 26, the group had been meeting for pre-inauguration hangouts every day at the Abuja Unity Fountain for Mr. Tinubu, who is widely thought to be suffering from an unspecified illness and occasionally presents as a bumbling, inarticulate figure.

The gathering, according to the group’s convener Tosin Adeyanju, was held in support of Mr. Tinubu’s election on February 25 by Nigerians. He explained that until May 29, when Mr. Tinubu would be sworn in, the hangout aimed to refocus the ongoing narratives about the presidential election and the emergence of their principal as the president-elect.

(NAN)

CBN defends its forex importation ban on stockfish

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coic

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April 25, 2023

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The Central Bank of Nigeria has stated that the importation ban on stockfish was put in place to protect foreign exchange (forex), revive the domestic fishing industry, and increase job creation.

This comes after the Norwegian Seafood Council made public the fact that stockfish imports from Norway to Nigeria fell by 5.9% in 2022, from N3.4 billion in 2021 to N3.2 billion.

According to the Council, 10,740 metric tons of stockfish, which include the head and body, were imported into the nation in 2022, trailing the imports of 14,997 and 13,845 metric tons of mackerel and herrings, respectively.

Speaking at the recently concluded Norwegian Seafood Seminar in Lagos, the CBN’s Director of Trade and Exchange Department, Dr. Ozoemena Nnaji, explained that due to the country’s current lack of foreign currency, stockfish had to be added to the list of 43 products that are prohibited from accessing foreign exchange.

Nnaji, who was represented by Mrs. Bukola Adenubi, a representative of the apex bank, added that the action was also intended to increase Nigerians’ capacity for local fishing with a view to exporting aquatic products.

In order to preserve its limited foreign currency, the CBN in 2015 restricted access to 43 items, including stockfish.

“The restriction’s goals are to preserve foreign exchange, revive domestic industries, and increase job creation. Be aware that the restriction affects access to FX rather than imports.

The Federal Government was urged to reconsider removing stockfish from the list by Mr. Trond Kostveit, Director Africa of the Norwegian Seafood Council. He stated: “We started the process three years ago to see if it is possible to delist stockfish from foreign exchange ban because there are many good arguments why the product should not be on the list.

“Stockfish is now quite expensive in local markets, especially for consumers, due to the forex ban.

Read also: NDIC starts checking insured Peak Merchant Bank depositors’ accounts

“Stockfish imports are suffering as a result of the price of obtaining foreign exchange on the black market. Stockfish heads are the only source of protein for consumers.

If we can gain access to the official exchange rate, we can lower the price of fish for consumers, according to Kostveit.

He said Nigerian fish species were not in competition with Norway.

Although the product is not a threat to Nigerian aquaculture, we understand that the ban is intended to support local aquaculture production.

“When we tried to argue that stockfish has grown to be such a crucial component of the Nigerian diet and that it is crucial that we make it more affordable.

As a result, he said, “we will continue this appeal and hopefully, we can see that stockfish can soon be delisted from the foreign exchange ban.”

NDIC starts checking insured Peak Merchant Bank depositors’ accounts

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coic

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April 25, 2023

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In accordance with its mandate to guarantee deposits and compensate depositors in the event of bank failure, the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has started to verify insured Peak Merchant Bank depositors’ inability to pay their insured sums.

According to a press release from the NDIC’s Director of Communication and Public Affairs, Bashir Nuhu, the verification exercise would allow depositors of the bank to close to cross-check and determine their account information and balances.

The process, according to the press release, is a step before such depositors receive their insured sums.

Read Also: Youths bury two Benue men alive

To complete the exercise, depositors are advised to go to the bank’s former location or the Corporation office that is closest to them with identification that can be verified and proof of account ownership.

According to the NDIC, the insured sum is the initial and required payment that depositors receive in the event that a bank fails, up to the predetermined limit.

Additionally, as liquidation dividends from the proceeds of the closed bank’s assets as realized by NDIC as liquidator, depositors are later paid sums in excess of the insured sums.

New Group Forms In Reps, Recruits Members For Key Positions

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coic

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April 25, 2023

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The 10th Assembly’s struggle for the Speaker of the House of Representatives took an interesting turn on Monday with the emergence of the pressure group known as “New Dawn,” which is vying for lucrative leadership positions.

The organization declared that it was profiling each candidate for the Speakership and other positions before making a decision as a group as to who would receive votes to become the Speaker.

‘New Dawn’ is reportedly being led by recently elected House of Representatives members, and its membership crosses political boundaries.

They claimed to be united and steadfast in their commitment to working with every member of the House of Representatives to draft strong legislation that would improve the lives of Nigerian citizens and give birth to a new Nigeria.
the meeting’s invitation signed by the incoming House representative for the AMAC/Bwari federal constituency,

According to Joshua Chinedu Obika and information obtained by journalists on Monday, the meeting took place at the Transcorp Hilton in the capital.

Esan West, Esan Central, and Igueben federal constituency member-elect and Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Marcus Onobun, organized the “New Dawn.”
Hon. Ukodhiko Jonathan Ajirioghene, representing the federal district of Isoko South in Delta State, Hon. Yusuf Kure Naraje, representing the federal district of Bosso/Paiko in Niger State, and Hon. Jafaru Gambo, representing the federal district of Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa in Bauchi State, are other notable members of the organization.

According to Onobun, the goal of the group’s formation was to set a new course that would promote Nigerian unity through deliberate legislative engagement on the part of the house.

He claims that the group is worried about true federalism and the constitutional amendments that the 9th National Assembly failed to pass.

The APC, PDP, APGA, LP, SDP, NNPP, ADC, YPP, and other intellectuals from various political parties make up the New Dawn caucus of the 10th Assembly, he claimed. This New Dawn is made up of newly elected National Assembly members who have excelled in their various fields of endeavor, regardless of political allegiances or religious background, in order to steer Nigeria in a new direction. Additionally, it pertains to legislation, the creation of Bills, policy development, and member welfare. We’ll also keep an eye out for any areas where Nigerians have expressed a desire for legislation and support those programs. For instance, the 9th Assembly was unable to pass the constitutional amendment that would have allowed for true federalism and a portion of the constitutional review.

Read Also: Gunmen kidnap NPC commissioner for Bayelsa, demand N500m

In the 10th National Assembly, we hope to revive those bills and convince the Executive to support them. In addition, a leader for the 10th Assembly will be chosen in the House of Representatives, irrespective of party. Even though we are aware that the APC constitutes a numerical majority, the other political parties are combined to create a larger majority.

“It means that we are trying to look at the North and that the New Dawn caucus wants to be fully involved in selecting the House leadership. however, profiling each candidate for the Speakership and other positions before voting as a group to determine who will take the position of Speaker.

Hon. Martins Esin, the member-elect for Akwa Ibom State’s Oron/Mbo/Udung Uko/Urueoffong Oruko Federal Constituency, echoed the convener’s assertion that the membership was passionate about enacting positive change in the House of Representatives.

“We are a group of newly elected members who are enthusiastic about the development of this nation. We have come together to say that we want to see bills, and the 10th Assembly will precisely reflect the aspirations of Nigerians. It is not a group that experiences racial or religious prejudice, he claimed.
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Hon. Jeremiah Umaru, a member-elect for Nasarawa State’s Akwanga/Wamba Nasarawa Eggon federal constituency, said the new group was ready to support leadership that would serve the interests of Nigerians.

Pastor Ojema Ojotu, a member-elect for Benue State’s Apa/Agatu federal constituency, claimed that the results of the most recent election made it abundantly clear that Nigerians were fed up with the status quo.

We are aware that our people appear to be sick of the status quo and that there is a strong desire for a change, he said. There is no better way to explain that desire, as you will find out if you examine the voting trends and how we performed.

“Over 300 people were voted out of the House and 360 were voted in as new members; that one action of our electorates would convey to you that they are not happy with the way things are being done. That indicates that Nigerians are more determined than ever to bring about change.

We at “New Dawn” want to do away with the idea of money politics, so we’ve promised not to take donations from any candidates instead choosing those who have integrity, capacity, and a clear plan.

Gunmen kidnap NPC commissioner for Bayelsa, demand N500m

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coic

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April 25, 2023

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Gloria Izonfuo, the Federal Commissioner who represents Bayelsa State at the National Population Commission, has been abducted by some gunmen.

According to reports, she was kidnapped on Sunday night in the Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, close to the Ogbakiri junction on the East-West Road.

At around 6:30 p.m., the thugs reportedly ambushed Izonfuo as she was traveling to Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, from a visit to Bayelsa State’s Brass Local Government Area.

It was discovered that the NPC federal commissioner’s vehicle was stopped by the kidnappers, who took the woman, her driver, and her maid at gunpoint.

Read Also: New group forms in Reps, recruits members for key positions

Our correspondent discovered that the bandits had asked for a N500 million ransom in exchange for the release of the captives.

Grace Iringe-Koko, a spokeswoman for the Rivers State Police Command, confirmed the incident.

She claimed that the tactical teams of the command were to mobilize immediately in order to rescue the victims as per the Commissioner of Police’s directive.

New group forms in Reps, recruits members for key positions

By

coic

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April 25, 2023

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