President Bola Tinubu says he will work to ensure Nigerians are taken out of poverty.

A statement by Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesperson, on Thursday, said Tinubu spoke while receiving a 62-person delegation from Rivers state, at the State House, Abuja.

The delegation comprised leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT) and Siminalayi Fubari, governor of Rivers state, were part of the delegation.

The president said neither Rivers nor Nigeria has any business being associated with poverty, insecurity or under-development.

He assured that under his leadership, the narrative would be “permanently and positively changed”.

“We are not meant to be in a position to be poor. We will turn the tide! Somewhere, somehow in this storm, there’s a quiet and peaceful place for us. We will locate it,” the statement quoted Tinubu as saying.

“We are not lazy people. We are richly endowed. We just need to be our brother’s keeper, and good neighbours to one another.

“I am not a President that will give excuses. I will work hard for our nation with purpose, determination and dedication to create wealth for all Nigerians. We have no reason to be poor! We will not look back, we will run aggressively forward.

“Today, we may be swimming against the tide. But the waves will soon propel us forward from behind. We will achieve the goals and dreams of our forefathers. I am inspired by the nation of people I now lead.”

The president pleaded with the younger generation to be more patient with the processes of government and pledged to work hard for the country.

“I am the captain and chief salesman of the country. We have to reverse the trend and achieve possibilities within a short period of time. Our people have high expectations for us,” he said.

While speaking, Fubara told the president that the people of Rivers voted for him in the last elections based on their belief in fairness, equity and justice.

“This is the first time that Rivers State is truly feeling the impact of the federal government since the inception of democracy in 1999,” he said.

He also commended Tinubu for the appointments of Wike and Ngelale as the FCT minister and presidential spokesperson, respectively, as well as other sons and daughters of Rivers state into the boards and management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and other institutions.

The Nigerian police say it will conduct a comprehensive investigation into the death of Mohbad.

The fast-rising singer, 27, passed away on Tuesday and was laid to rest on Wednesday.

In a statement on Thursday, the police also extended “our deepest condolences” to the family, friends, and fans of the late singer.

The statement signed by Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) spokesperson, said the Lagos police commissioner has been tasked to unravel the circumstances surrounding Mohbad’s demise.

The police PRO also urged family members and friends of the late singer to come forward with useful information that will assist in the investigation.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and fans of late Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, known as Mohbad, who tragically passed away recently. We understand the concerns surrounding his untimely demise and the various speculations that have arisen,” the statement reads.

“The Nigeria Police Force is committed to a comprehensive investigation into this matter, as the Lagos State Commissioner of Police has been tasked to unravel the circumstances surrounding his death. Rest assured, updates will be provided as investigations unfold.

“We encourage family members or close associates with valuable information to approach the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to assist in this process.

“In the meantime, we kindly request that individuals refrain from making statements or engaging in activities that could jeopardize the ongoing investigation.

“Your trust and support are deeply valued.”

While the cause of Mohbad’s death is still unknown, tributes have been pouring from friends and well-wishers including celebrities.

Joseph Aloba, the father of Mohbad, revealed he died shortly after an auxiliary nurse was invited to give him an injection.

Omowunmi, the partner of Mohbad, also recounted the singer’s struggles when he was alive.

A total of 151 terrorists have been killed by the Nigerian military, while 456 others were captured in different op­erations across the country.

The Director, Defence Me­dia Operations at the Defence Headquarters, Maj.-Gen. Ed­ward Buba, stated this in an update of military operations across the country on Thurs­day in Abuja.

Buba said the troops of Operation Hadin Kai neu­tralised 44 terrorists, arrest­ed 21 and rescued four kid­napped hostages during the period.

He said the troops recov­ered 17 AK47 rifles, three lo­cally fabricated rifles, three locally made guns, one Ber­etta pistol, three Dane guns and 116 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo.

Also recovered are five rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 13 rounds of 9mm ammo, 20 rounds of 7.62 mm x 54 ammo, 42 empty and cases of 7.62 mm x 54 ammo.

Others are 12 magazines, 50 jerry cans of PMS, three vehicles, five mobile phones, six motorcycles, three cut­lasses and the sum of N3.18 million.

Buba said the troops ar­rested some suspected ter­rorists’ collaborators in Jere and Biu in Borno, as well as Gujba Local Government Area in Yobe.

He said that troops also ambushed and raided sus­pected terrorists’ hideouts in Konduga and Gwoza local government areas of Borno.

The director said that the offensive resulted in elimi­nation of terrorists and re­covery of arms and ammu­nitions.

In North Central, Buba said the troops of Operation Safe Haven neutralised 16 ter­rorists, arrested 16 and res­cued one kidnapped hostage within the period.

He said they also recov­ered 12 AK47 rifles, two pis­tols, five locally fabricated ri­fles, six Dane guns, 32 rounds of 7.62mm special, 15 maga­zines and three motorcycles.

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Under Operation Whirl Stroke, he said the troops neutralised 15 terrorists, ar­rested six and rescued one kidnapped hostage as well as recovery of arms and am­munition.

In North West, the defence spokesman said the troops of Operations Hadarin Daji and Whirl Punch neutralised 35 terrorists, arrested eight and rescued 17 kidnapped hostag­es within the period.

He added that the air components of the various operations had continued to annihilate the terrorists from their various hideouts with series of air strikes.

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has assured residents of the three states holding their gubernatorial elections on November 11 of adequate security and violence-free exercise.

The affected states are Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo. Giving the assurance today during a meeting with strategic police managers, yesterday, in Abuja, the IGP explained that with just three states having their polls, the force would not be burdened, as adequate personnel are on ground.

He, therefore, advised the electorate to play by the rule and shun aggression. Egbetokun acknowledged the challenge posed by the continued presence of unauthorised persons on the nation’s highways in the guise of revenue collection and other shady activities to obstruct flow of traffic, seize vehicles and impose fines.

Consequently, he said: “All state Commissioners of Police are hereby directed to immediately commence the dismantling of all such non-security checkpoints within their areas of responsibilities, and arrest all violators for prompt prosecution.

“To bolster accountability and transparency within the Force, we have taken steps such as reinforcing the IGP Monitoring Unit and the Complaint Response Unit (CRU) based at the Force Headquarters, and efforts are ongoing to establish CRU offices in all states.”

Reacting to the gruesome killing of a Divisional Police Officer (DPO), SP Bako Angbashim, in Rivers State, the IGP stated the Force has put everything in place to ensure arrest and trial of the perpetrators.

The leadership of the Labour Party has lambasted Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, over his comment that Peter Obi attempted to deceive Nigerians that he won the 2023 presidential election.

A statement on Thursday by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, excoriated Soyinka for his comment noting that he may have been brainwashed by those he said shared ’emilokan’ sentiment.

Emilokan, a Yoruba word that means “It’s my turn” became popular after Bola Tinubu, then presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, used to make case for his aspiration why no one, not even then President, Muhammadu Buhari, should stand against his bid to become Nigerian President.

The Labour Party chided Soyinka for not being properly informed for insinuating that Obi was out to deceive Nigerians when in actual fact he lost the election.

The Nobel Laureate had, while speaking at an event in Stellenbosch, South Africa titled, “The Lives of Wole Soyinka — A Dialogue,” stated that Obi knew he came third in the election but that he had tagged along the Labour Party “to force a lie on the people, especially the youthful population.”

Describing Soyinka’s words as an uncharitable remark, the Labour Party said, “Prof. Wole Soyinka is a Nigerian whose accomplishments in the literary world are without doubt intimidating.

“The facts are before the courts and, out of respect for our judiciary, we will reserve our comments until the Supreme Court makes a final pronouncement.

The party in the statement titled, ‘Soyinka: Statesmen are not double-faced, not blind to truth,’ further said, “We understand that the literary giant is human and thus susceptible to emotions and probably said what he said based on information made available to him by those who share the ‘Emilokan’ sentiment.

“It is most befuddling as well as disconcerting that a detribalised and activist like Soyinka would succumb to the ‘groupthink syndrome’ that subscribes to state capture by those belonging to the criminal fringe by any means, based on primordial considerations.

“We really appreciate him for at least giving some credits to the Labour Party and its presidential candidate for breaking the monopoly of power hitherto held by the two other parties.”

The party added that, “The whole world followed the 2023 general election and there was a global condemnation on not only the outcome of the election but also the process, particularly, the ‘glitch’ that occurred only during the transmission of presidential results to IREV.

“We didn’t hear as much as a whisper from Kongi on reminding INEC to stand by its word.

“We will not allege selective amnesia as the reason for Soyinka’s wrong prognosis but we would have expected him to be a statesman, which we thought he was by remaining on the side of caution.

“We want to also let him know that building a New Nigeria is a dream whose time has come and Nigerian youths will not relent until such a dream is realised,” the statement said.

The Nasarawa State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal has reserved judgment in a petition filed by the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and its Governorship Candidate, David Emmanuel Ombugadu, challenging the re-election of Governor Abdullahi Sule.

This followed the adoption of final written addresses by all counsel in the matter during the sitting of the Tribunal Thursday in Lafia.

For the first time, Governor Abdullahi Sule, who is the second respondent in the petition, and his Deputy, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, appeared in the election trial court.

Adopting their final written address, INEC Lead Counsel Ishaka Muddie Dikko SAN urged the Tribunal to dismiss the petition on grounds that it is unnecessary, submitting that the difference of votes as submitted by the petitioners is reflected on exhibit RW2.

He added that his client, INEC, declared Engineer Abdullahi Sule the winner, who led the petitioners with 64, 193 lawful votes, saying the petitioners alleged that they would have led with 4,130.

Ishaka Muddie Dikko said the petitioners, having called all witnesses, claimed in their final written address that they would have led with 841 votes, adding that PDP has not established any wrongful deduction of votes.

Chief Wale Olanipekun SAN for Governor Abdullahi Sule, while adopting their final written address, explained that the job of the Tribunal has been reduced in terms of evidence and position of the law, as well as the testimonies of some prosecution witnesses, saying the tribunal has no jurisdiction to admit the Witnesses and their documents presented by the petitioners.

Chief Olanipekun submitted that based on the testimony of the PDP’s Star Witness, Barrister Ayiwulu Baba Ayiwulu, who admitted that his party, the PDP, inflate figures in its favour and deplete those of the APC, attributing the anomaly to “human error” the Senior Learned Silk argued that the tribunal cannot compute the figures for petitioners.

He added that the PDP has failed to score 25% in any of the 13 LGAs of the state during the March 18 governorship election in Nasarawa State, urging the tribunal to dismiss the petition.

Similarly, Dr Hassan Liman, SAN for APC, while adopting their final written address, prayed the tribunal to dismiss the petition on grounds that it lacks merit, describing it as a “waste of resources for the good people of Nasarawa State”.

Relying on some documents admitted as exhibits before the tribunal, Dr Liman said Engineer Abdullahi Sule led the election with 64,193, adding that electoral matters are valued on figures, arguing that the petitioners’ have determined the matter against themselves.

Dr Hassan Liman SAN further argued that in the four polling units where the petitioners’ alleged overvoting occurred, they did not refer to the voter register, the BVAS machines presented before the tribunal by INEC were not demonstrated, and witnesses were not called from the affected polling units.

He added that the that they would have led with 1,780 votes in the affected polling units was not proved.

However, the PDP Lead Counsel Kanu Agabi SAN’s submission of the list of authorities in their final written address was objected to by the respondent’s counsel, who all argued that the document was submitted out of time.

Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Ezekiel Ajayi, reserved his ruling on the application until the day of judgment.

Kanu Agabi, having adopted their final written address, argued that the decision of the Presidential Election Court does not inhibit the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal on subpoenaed witnesses, saying the INEC subpoenaed witnesses were advisories.

He told the tribunal that they filed a number of polling unit results, maintaining that they contended the results of some Polling Units across the State, just as he explained that most of the documents tendered do not require testimonies of witnesses and urged the Tribunal to grant their prayers.

Having listened to the arguments of both parties, the Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Ezekiel Ajayi, reserved judgment on the matter.

Super Eagles Victor Boniface has been named the Bundesliga Rookie of the Month for August.

The Bayer Leverkusen striker who joined the Bundles Liga side from Belgian Pro League side Union Saint-Gilloise has had a good start to life in Germany has scored two goals and provided one assist in the colors of Leverkusen.

The Nigerian forward beat RB Leipzig’s winger Xavi Simons and Freiburg goalkeeper, Noah Atubolu to the Award.

The striker is also in contention for the Bundesliga Player of the Month.

The Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) has once again warned telecommunication consumers on the rising trend of electronic frauds perpetuated on telecom platforms across key sectors of the Nigerian economy.

The warning was given by NCC’s Director, Consumer Protection and Advocacy Unit, Consumer Affairs Bureau, Mr. Alkasim Umar, during a sensitisation programme in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.

At the event tagged: ‘Shine Your Eyes-No Fall Mugu’, Umar noted that as part of the strategy to actualise the protection and promotion of the interest of consumers, the department collaborates with Consumer Advocacy Groups and relevant stakeholders to empower telecoms consumers with the knowledge and advocate for their protection within the telecoms industry.

The director, who was represented by the Head of Consumer Advocacy and Production Unit of NCC, Clems Omeife, said the development and deployment of robust infrastructure to support innovative technologies and services have no doubt positively transformed our socio-economic space.

Cyber criminals targeting telecoms networks

The NCC Director said, “As the telecom industry evolves, there is a growing concern over the rising trend of fraud perpetuated on telecom platform (electronic fraud) across key sectors of the Nigerian economy.

‘’The menace that follows the wide acceptance of new methods of mobile money electronic banking and payment systems has been discovered to cost the country a whopping amount of money.

• “Cyber criminals are targeting telecoms networks, interrupting service provision and accessing bank data. Victims are often left with enormous losses from SIM swaps and USSD e-payment frauds.
• “The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has identified electronic fraud as the biggest risk to the sector, which has embraced a range of electronic payment solutions, including Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBBS), instant payment as well as mobile banking.
• “A lot of people are highly ignorant of how losing their phones to fraudsters can lead to a complete clean-up of their bank accounts. These fraudsters do this by stealing victims’ identities, names, addresses, and bank information, which they use to gain access to their bank accounts.
• “They also use the stolen identity to defraud other people and even apply for loans, leaving the victim with debts. It is in view of this and in line with the commission’s consumer-centric posture that the commission in collaboration with relevant advocacy groups embarked on the sensitisation programme tagged: ‘Shine Your Eyes, No Fall Mugu’, across the six geopolitical zones in the country.”

Collaboration with CBN, EFCC, others

Umar stated that the commission also collaborated with critical stakeholders such as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigerian Police Force, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and other relevant agencies in the fight against e-banking fraudsters.

He further advised telecom consumers to be vigilant and cautious when it comes to financial transactions on the telecom platform as fraud can occur through various channels, including unsolicited text messages, voice calls, emails, and fake mobile applications.

FIFA has nominated Lauren James for best women’s player 2023, despite her largely criticized foul against Super Falcons player, Michelle Alozie.

The 16-player list released by FIFA on Thursday included James who had stepped on Alozie in the knockout stage clash between Nigeria and England.

FIFA said, “A double winner with Chelsea, this exciting forward also emerged as a key player for her national team, providing three goals and as many assists in the Lionesses’ run to the Women’s World Cup final.”

In the 84th minute of the knock-out game against England, James picked up a yellow card for an impetuous stamp on Alozie’s back after both players tussled for the ball.

Referee Melissa Borjas after reviewing the video monitor withdrew the yellow card and showed off a red card.

Although England were down by a player, they held the Falcons to a draw and later won 4-2 on penalties.

FIFA reviewed the foul and handed her three-match ban.

She played in the finals based on FIFA judgement.

FIFA had said, “The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has imposed a two-match suspension on England’s player Lauren James following a violation of article 14 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code at the FIFA Women’s World Cup match England vs Nigeria.

“The suspension will be served for the FIFA Women’s World Cup quarter-final and the next international fixture following that.”

The FIFA decision had sparked reactions on social media.

In the group-stage match between Nigeria and Canada, Deborah Abiodun was sent off after she unintentionally tackled Ashley Lawrence and hit her shin.

But FIFA upgraded the 19-year-old’s ban from a one-match ban to a three-match ban.

However, FIFA rule says, “A player will be suspended for at least three matches for violent conduct; at least three matches or an appropriate period of time for assault, including elbowing, punching, kicking, biting, spitting, or hitting an opponent or a person other than a match official.”

President Bola Tinubu has appointed a new acting chairman for the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in the person of Zacchaeus Adedeji.

Adedeji, 45, replaces Muhammad Mamman Nami who will attain compulsory retirement in December 2023.

The new appointee was the 5th substantive Executive Secretary of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC).

Announcing Adedeji’s appointment, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu’s media adviser, said his principal “directed the erstwhile FIRS Chairman, Mr. Muhammad Nami, to proceed on 3 months of pre-retirement leave, as provisioned by Public Service Rule (PSR) 120243, with immediate effect, leading to his eventual retirement from service on December 8, 2023.

“Hon. Zacch Adedeji is hereby appointed in acting capacity for a 90-day period before his subsequent confirmation as the substantive Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service for a term of four (4) years in the first instance.”

Ngelale added, “Hon. Zacch Adedeji is a first-class graduate in accounting from the Obafemi Awolowo University. He most recently served the nation as the Special Adviser to the President on Revenue, following meritorious service terms as the Oyo State Commissioner of Finance and as the Executive Secretary / CEO of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC).

“By these directives of the President, the new appointment takes immediate effect.”