The Vice President of Equatorial Guinea, Teddy Nguema, on Tuesday, announced a new policy to install surveillance cameras in all state offices as part of a crackdown on misconduct and to bolster transparency and accountability.

The new development announced on X account is coming amid the scandal involving the arrest of Baltasar Engonga, the country’s Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF).

Engonga, a 54-year-old economist, is under investigation after authorities discovered over 400 sex tapes of prominent individuals’ spouses in his possession, uncovered during a fraud inquiry.

The surveillance policy aims to uphold ethical standards in public service and prevent further misconduct.

The Vice President, however, emphasized that the measure is designed to ensure adherence to the nation’s public service laws and to maintain the integrity of the administration.

“We have taken this measure to ensure compliance with the law on public officials and to eradicate improper and illicit behaviour,” the Vice President’s post read.

The government has made it clear that any unethical conduct captured on camera will face strict consequences, reinforcing its zero-tolerance stance against breaches of public trust.

Nguema further announced a decisive suspension policy, stating that any official caught engaging in sexual relations within ministry offices, a violation of the country’s Code of Conduct and Public Ethics Law, would be immediately be suspended.

“Responsibility and professionalism must be the pillars of our work as servants of the state,” he affirmed, calling for a renewed commitment to ethics and respect within public service.

The CCTV rollout underscores Equatorial Guinea’s firm stand against corruption, with authorities vowing severe repercussions for violations caught on camera.

While many officials support the initiative as a step towards reform, some have raised concerns about privacy implications.

The government, however, maintains that the surveillance aligns with legal frameworks aimed at enhancing governance and safeguarding public resources.

The timeline and scope of the installation remain undetermined, but the administration’s commitment to transparency signals a pivotal move towards restoring public trust.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has terminated the treason charges brought against the #EndBadGovernance protesters by the Inspector General of Police.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu threw out the charges on Tuesday upon its withdrawal by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN on behalf of the Federal Government.

Fagbemi SAN represented by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation DPPF M.D Abubakar had at the proceedings announced his exercise of section 174 of the 1999 Constitution to take over the case from the Inspector General of Police.

Upon the grant of the request by Justice Egwuatu, the AGF proceeded to request for invocation of the same section of the Constitution to discontinue the trial of the 150 accused persons.

Following no objections to the request from various lawyers representing the accused persons, Justice Egwuatu granted the request and struck out the charges.

Although, the accused persons were not in court, the Judge ordered their immediate release from prison remand.

President Bola Tinubu had on Monday directed the AGF to terminate the charges against the accused persons, most of who are said to be minors and prohibited by law from facing such trial.

The Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Justice Oyewole Adeyeye is dead.

An unconfirmed report stated that the Justice died in the early hours of Tuesday, November 5.

It was also gathered that Justice Adeyeye has been indisposed since July 12, 2023 following the serious injury he sustained when a section of the state high court complex wall collapsed on him in his office, in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti state capital.

As of the time of filling this report, no official statement has been issued to announce his death, but the association of international female lawyer FIDA in the state has sent condolences to the family.

The condolences message read: “With deep sorrow in our hearts and in total submission to the will of God, FIDA Ekiti consoles with the family of the Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Hon Justice Oyewole Adeyeye on his call to glory.

“May He find rest with his maker.

“I pray that God grants the family, the Judiciary and the people of Ekiti State, the grace to bear this irreparable loss.
Adieu great one.”

When contacted for confirmation, Ekiti State Chairperson of FIDA, Oyinade Olatunbosun confirmed the incident.

Recall that Justice Adeyeye was born 1960 in Araromi Ugbesi in Ekiti East Local Government of Ekiti State and was called to bar in 1986.

He started his career as a State counsel in the Civil service of the old Ondo State before joining the Ekiti State Judiciary Service Commission shortly after the creation of the State in 1996.

He got elevated to the position of a judge in the Ekiti State high court in 2002 and has served at different time in the election petition tribunal.

Voting in Dixville Notch, New Hampshire have resulted in a tie after Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump both secured three votes in the ongoing United States (US) presidential election.

Harris and Trump are tied with three votes each in the first result produced on election day.

Dixville Notch, where there are just six voters, has a tradition dating back to 1960 for being the first town in the country to complete in-person voting.

An accordion version of the US national anthem rang out before voters cast their ballots at midnight.

The count was completed 15 minutes later.

Details later….

Famous American streamer and social media influencer, Adin Ross has placed a $1 million bet on the Republican candidate, Donald Trump to win the ongoing United States (US) presidential election.

Adin Ross who made this pledge while sharing the slip of the bet via Instagram on Monday said Trump is the best candidate for America.

He wrote, “Put a million on President Trump, the only candidate for America that makes sense. Trump 2024.”

New Telegraph had earlier reported that Trump will face the Democratic Party’s candidate, Kamala Harris, in a tight contest on Tuesday, November 5.

It would be recalled that Harris emerged as the Democratic Party’s candidate after President Joe Biden stepped down as the party’s candidate in July and endorsed her.

A former Director-General of Peter Obi’s 2023 presidential campaign council, Doyin Okupe, has said he would never support the former Anambra State governor again.

Okupe who spoke while featuring on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ on Monday, however, said those abusing and insulting him for supporting President Bola Tinubu’s economic recovery plan are ignorant.

Okupe who was in the camp of Peter Obi in the build up to the 2023 general election as the Labour Party (LP) Presidential candidate, said “I cannot support Peter Obi again.

“The reason is because what we agreed was that a Southern President must emerge.

“Baba Adebanjo called me and said if a Southern President must emerge, which zone must it emerge from? And I said South East. Let’s support them.

“And all eminent Yoruba people supported you, why now bring us down publicly? It’s wrong.”

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has signed the 2024 supplementary budget of N96.7 billion appropriation bill into law, capturing the N73.000 minimum wage and salaries of newly recruited workers.

The Governor also signed into law the law expanding the board of the State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC).

The signing of the law brought the total budget for 2024 to a total of Four hundred and ninety-two billion, forty-five million, one hundred thousand naira.

This is made up of recurrent expenditure of N246, 727, 852, 786 and capital expenditure of N245, 317, 247, 214.

The supplementary budget captured the payment of the new minimum wage of N73,000 recently approved for workers by the Governor, as well as the salaries of newly recruited workers across various sectors.

Governor Aiyedatiwa said the supplementary budget reflected the determination of his administration to cater for the welfare of workers and the overall development of the state.

The Governor also signed into law the bill providing for the expansion of the board of the OSOPADEC, saying the new law will ensure inclusivity and better equitable representation from the mandate areas.

Governor Aiyedatiwa also signed the Amendment of the Ondo State House of Assembly Service Commission Law, thanking the leadership and members of the House of Assembly for their diligent efforts on the bills.

Speaking at the event, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt Hon Olamide Oladiji, commended the leadership style of the Governor and the various milestones he has achieved since he assumed office.

Oladiji said: “These giant strides have not only transformed the State in all facets but have demonstrated your vision, capacity, intellectual ability, zeal, passion, direction, and a clear understanding of the enormous job ahead.

“I want to, on behalf of my colleagues, assure Mr. Governor of our continuous support and cooperation to ensure the success of this administration. It is therefore hoped that the implementation of these Laws will impact meaningfully on the lives of the good people of the State.”