The Lagos State Police Command said it has uncovered what appears to be a staged kidnapping involving a 20-year-old student, Collins Ikwebe, and five of his schoolmates.

The case came to light on Saturday after a distressing social media post by a friend of one of the suspects went viral.

According to the post, the friend, identified only as 888 @FlackoT on X, claimed, “Guys, I’m locked up in Ikeja Police Station. I don’t have enough time and I don’t know what to do. So, this is my only alternative. So, y’all know what happened to me.

“Someone faked his kidnapping and requested for ransom from his dad. his dad reported the case to SARS. They tracked his phone. I genuinely knew nothing about it until I reached the station.”

The X user further expressed concern about potentially facing a lengthy legal process, stating, “His dad came to the station and requested his release but they insisted on taking the case to court which could take up to three years to resolve. Oher people that were in the apartment with him are locked up as well.”

Responding to these claims, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, provided police report and details of the case.

“Following a report from his family, our investigation established that 20-year-old Collins Oluchukwu Ikwebe faked his own kidnap,” Hundeyin confirmed.

The police spokesperson revealed a complex scheme involving multiple ransom demands. “His dad received several calls from Collins’ number but with different voices giving instructions on what amount of money to be paid and methods of payment,” Hundeyin explained.

He added that over two weeks, various sums were demanded, ranging from $500,000 to as low as N30,000.

“At different times spanning two weeks, different sums – $500,000; $200,000; N2,000,000; N50,000 and N30,000 – were requested from Collins’ dad,” he wrote.

The breakthrough in the case came on Thursday, June 20, 2024, when “detectives of the Lagos State Police Command eventually busted a short-let four bedroom apartment in Lekki where Collins and five of his school mates (one male, four females) had been staying for the past 10 days,” Hundeyin stated.

While the investigation is ongoing, the police said they are working to determine the level of involvement of the other five individuals found in the apartment.

Hundeyin emphasised, “For now, none of the suspects has been exonerated.”

Talented Nollywood actress cum producer, Funke Akindele, has expressed concerns over the ‘baddies’ trend among females on social media.

Naija News reports that the movie star, in a recent interview with Arise TV, advised fans and content creators on the need to make good use of social media and positively influence lives.

Funke said she worries about the “so-called baddies” online because they have to be more than just flaunting their bodies and luxurious lifestyles.

She also advised fans to be mindful of the kind of content they consume.

She said, “I enjoy watching beautiful content, but you have to watch what you churn out. You need to focus on your brand, what you’re selling, what you want people to learn from you.

“If you’re an actor, a self-made person, what are you churning out? You must influence lives positively with the content you churn out. And for you that are watching content, are you watching to be entertained, to learn? ‘A’ is carrying designer bag and showing you on video, how sure are you that’s she’s not borrowing the bag? How sure are you she’s rich? Don’t believe everything on social media.

“I’m so worried about these so-called baddies. A baddie without showcasing what you have upstairs? We need to know what you are doing, what positive content you are doing that people would be proud of. Give us that on the table. Yes, it’s good to showcase fashion. But what do you have upstairs to show us? Are you just a baddie for mouth? Even is you are a dancer, what else do you have?”

The President, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Emeka Obegolu, on Saturday, lamented the persistent surge in the price of food commodities across the country.

Obegolu said the situation, if unaddressed, would cripple small-scale businesses which are struggling to adjust to various economic reforms by the Bola Tinubu-led administration.

Recall that food inflation rose to 40.66 per cent with the country’s headline inflation rate sitting at 33.95 per cent in May 2024.

This figure is the highest historical record the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has announced through its Consumer Price Index (CPI) report.

Obegolu in a statement in Abuja said, “The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry expresses deep concern over the persistent rise in commodity prices, which is adversely affecting small-scale business owners and escalating poverty levels in the country.

“The surge in prices of essential food items such as rice, beans, cassava flour, tomatoes, pepper, onions, and others has aggravated the plight of the average citizen, rendering basic meals increasingly unaffordable for many households.

“However, on-ground observations suggest that the true food inflation rate exceeds 50 per cent, highlighting the severity of the situation and its dire impact on livelihoods.

“Experts attribute this economic hardship to the drastic depreciation of the national currency, the naira, which has significantly eroded citizens’ purchasing power.

“The resulting exchange rate volatility has disrupted businesses, increased production costs, and thwarted projections for economic growth”.

Speaking on controlling and corrective measures to be implemented, Obegolu emphasised the urgent need for government intervention to address the escalating food crisis, warning that failure to act promptly could lead to future health and state crises.

“Food is a fundamental necessity of life, and its affordability directly impacts the well-being of citizens. The escalating food inflation crisis poses a severe threat to food security and exacerbates poverty levels.

“The government must take decisive action to mitigate this crisis and alleviate the suffering of the populace,” the ACCI boss said.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has apprehended two former employees of Union Bank in Makurdi for the alleged embezzlement of ₦4,199,500 that belonged to a deceased client of the bank.

EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, made this announcement on Saturday in Abuja.

He mentioned that the individuals, identified as Idah Ogoh and Agbo Okwute, were detained on Friday in Makurdi, Benue State.

He further stated that their capture was a direct result of a complaint filed by the bank regarding unauthorized transactions on account of the deceased, Emmanuel Azer Agenna.

Their activities were revealed when the deceased’s family sought the account balance for the purpose of probate proceedings.

“The family disputed the balance given to them by the bank and subsequently sent a complaint to the bank regarding unauthorised debits on the account,” Oyewake said.

The EFCC spokesperson further noted that based on their complaints, the bank carried out an internal investigation and its findings revealed that a debit card was procured on the deceased’s customer account on May 10, 2023.

He said that the debit card was procured by Ifah Ogoh, one of the bank’s Sales and Service Associates which the bank authorised on the same date.

“Further findings by the bank showed that the procured card by Ogoh was handed over to another Sales and Service Associate, Agbo Okwute, who eventually delivered the card to an accomplice for transfer and withdrawal of funds from the account of the deceased.

“Several withdrawals were allegedly made by the suspects through the accomplice.

“The suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded,” he said.

Nigeria’s elevated global profile is a testament to the purposeful and experienced leadership of President Bola Tinubu, according to Fredrick Nwabufo, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Engagement.

Nwabufo emphasised that this achievement is not due to luck but a result of effective governance and strategic foreign policy.

Nigeria has historically been significant in global discussions due to its status as Africa’s largest democracy, most populous nation, and one of the continent’s biggest economies.

However, under President Tinubu’s leadership, the world’s focus on Nigeria has intensified for positive reasons.

Nwabufo attributed this to a broad-minded, enlightened leadership approach that enhances global perception.

Over the past year, despite facing numerous challenges, Tinubu’s administration has demonstrated driven and efficient leadership, providing clear direction and fostering stability.

Nwabufo in a post on his official X handle on Saturday stated, “Nigeria has always mattered in the chat rooms and chopping tables of global discourse — as pertaining Africa. It has always been significant as the largest democracy in Africa, and as the most populous nation and one of the biggest economies on the continent.

“But the world is paying more attention to Nigeria. It is taking more interest in the nation for good reasons. Effective domestic leadership, reinforced with a deliberate and well-designed foreign policy, reflects critically on global perception. A broad-minded and enlightened leadership at home will, by a good shot, colour the grey canvas of global disinterestedness.

“The past one year has not been without some challenges, but there has been a driven and efficient leadership with clear direction to help the nation navigate through any vortex. Reports from credible rating agencies and global financial platforms betoken stability and the return of vibrancy to critical sectors of the economy.

“Early this month, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) commended the government of Nigeria for clearing 98 percent of airlines’ trapped funds, which the carriers had previously been unable to repatriate.”

According to him, the Director-General of IATA, Mr. Willie Walsh said ‘’as of April 2024, 98 percent of these funds have been cleared. The remaining 19 million dollars is due to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s ongoing verification of outstanding forward claims filed by the commercial banks.’’

Tinubu’d aide continued, “And months before, in March precisely, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) announced that it had settled valid outstanding foreign exchange obligations. On October 23, 2023, at the 29th Nigerian Economic Summit (NES) in Abuja, the President pledged that his administration would honour legitimate foreign exchange obligations and restore market confidence. This pledge he is following through ever so dutifully.

“There is a strong, focused, disciplined, and patriotic leadership at home, and this is influencing the global perception of Nigeria on governance.

“President Tinubu, Nigeria’s chief promoter, has brought a fine hue of respect, command, and dignity to the brand Nigeria by his audacious, candid, cerebral, and deep declarations on seminal matters as regards Nigeria, Africa, and the world around them, on important global platforms.”

Miss Elizabeth Christopher Etim, switched from the business of selling fruits to selling premium motor spirit (PMS) in measured plastic kegs popularly called “black market”, by the roadside.

She was sitting behind her kegs of petrol along Ikpa Road in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State when our correspondent engaged her in a chat. According to her, since the economic hardship in Nigeria is squeezing life out of the ordinary Nigerian, ingenuity is required to navigate the ugly tide of the galloping inflation of the country.

“The government officials in this country are not treating us well oo. We thought we were voting for development and for a good government, but now, it’s worse than before.

“I mean, it was a little bit better during the Buhari government but when President Bola Tinubu came, everything has worsened. Everywhere is hard.

“The masses are complaining. I believe that it is only those in government positions that are not complaining in this country as of today,” she lamented.

Elizabeth, who hails from Ibiono Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, holds a secondary school certificate; unable to proceed to the university because her parents are indigent, she ventured into selling fruits, then petrol business, rather than prostitution, to evade hunger and privation.

Having witnessed, first hand, some better days in the past in Nigeria according to her, Elizabeth ventured into the labyrinth of his journey and ongoing struggle for survival.

She tells her story:

“There has never been a time when petrol is sold for N700 in this country.

“If someone had told me two years ago that I would be buying fuel for N900 per liter in the black market, I would have cursed the person to go to hell with his misfortune but now, we are having it worse.

“A distance that one could cover for N50 before, is now up to N200. Sometimes I wonder how Keke (tricycle) drivers cope with the increase in the prices of fuel.

“I’m 26 years old. I am not married. I have parents but I believe that I am an adult so I shouldn’t depend on my parents to feed.

“Also, they are struggling and as a grown up lady, I should be the one supporting them not the other way round.

“I finished secondary school in 2015, though I had loved to have a tertiary education, there was no money to do so.

“After I finished my Senior Secondary Certificate Education (SSCE) in 2015, there was nothing for me to do since my parents did not bother about sending me to the university because of lack of funds.

“In 2020 after the lockdown, a friend of mine took me to a lady’s sewing shop where I learnt how to sew, and in 2022, I was done with my training, but there was no money to get a sewing machine so I went to stay with my elder sister who later bought me a machine after a year.

“When I was staying with her, I was helping her with her fruit business. Later, I decided to leave her to start up my business.

“Though there is profit in the fruit business, I decided not to continue because of the stress involved in going to different bush markets to buy good fruits at cheaper rates so that you can get profit after selling to consumers.

“So, I decided to sell fuel by the roadside (black market) so that I will have what to eat. With the economy of the country, I couldn’t stay idle waiting for somebody to feed me.

“If your hope is having someone feeding you all the time without doing something to earn an income, you might have problems with the person as a result of consistent dependency.

“I started this business about a week ago. Before I decided to venture into this business, I was working as a seamstress; I have a sewing machine at home. I learnt the trade after my secondary school.

“Since I haven’t been able to get a lucrative spot for my sewing business, I decided to use the small money I had with me to start this business.

“I wanted to start working as a sales girl to raise money for my sewing skills but decided to start with the fuel business first.

“I buy fuel at the rate of N750 from the petrol station and sell at the rate of N900 per liter. So far, the business has been profitable.

“I make about N12,000 to N15,000 daily. Good thing I haven’t faced any form of harassment since I started. So I like this business. If I have money, I will like to expand it.

“I think what I make from this business complements the increase in the price of foodstuffs in the market. Now, two cups of garri is N500, so selling this fuel, at least I will have money to buy the garri.

“I prefer sitting outside like this with these liters of fuel to sitting down idle waiting for a man to feed me. Men don’t pay and so does idleness.

“I can’t go into prostitution or hookup all in the name of waiting for someone to pay my bills when I have hands and legs.

“In fact, men don’t pay these days because they are also struggling with the economy of the country to survive.

“It’s better I buy a liter of fuel for N750, sell it and make a profit of N150 than to sit idle and beg for food.

“I still have plans of going back to my sewing skills and I believe that one day, I will make enough money to be able to open a big fashion house.”

src[Tribuneonline]

Governor Siminalayi Fubara has called for unity and cooperation from traditional rulers across Rivers State, highlighting the importance of collective efforts in fostering peace and progress.

Speaking to the esteemed leaders, Gov. Fubara recalled a past incident where a predecessor had issued threats to a traditional leader during a visit to Ahoada-East in Ekpeye land.

Reflecting on this experience, Gov. Fubara emphasized a different approach. “I remembered when we went to Ahoada-East, Ekpeye land, to perform an activity,” he recounted.

“A former Governor openly threatened one of you and warned that if you try it, I will do this, I will do that.”

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, has asked the affected workers to undergo one-year mandatory training before their conversion from Executive to Officers cadre.

Yemi-Esan said this at a virtual interactive session with civil servants in commemoration of the 2024 Civil Service Week with the theme: “Educate an African Fit for the 21st Century: Building Resilient Education Systems for Increased Access to Inclusive, Life-long, Quality and Relevant Learning in Africa.”

The one-year mandatory training programme to bridge the gap between polytechnic awarded Higher National Diploma (HND) and university degree has been a subject of controversy between the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

Stakeholders have over the years called for an end to the age-long disparity between HND offered by polytechnics and bachelor degrees offered by universities.

A bill was passed at the ninth national assembly in 2021 to end the dichotomy but it was not signed into law by the last administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Thus, NBTE, which regulates technical and vocational education, had to introduce what it describes as a one-year top-up programme which offers a platform for HND holders to level up towards obtaining a bachelor’s degree.

The move was rejected by NUC on the basis that it was not within NBTE jurisdiction to determine what is required to bridge the two certificates, the Commission argued were diametrically different by curriculum content and faculties which produce the students in each case.

While fielding question from one of the civil servants during the virtual meeting, Yemi-Esan, corroborated that the curriculum for HND and B.Sc holders were not the same, hence, HND graduates would have to undergo mandatory one year training before conversion from Executive to Officers’ cardre.

Mr. Adebayo Bamidele Hassan on Grade Level 14 had earlier asked on the dichotomy between B.Sc and HND holders in the Service and what the Federal Government was doing to bridge the gap.

Speaking on the theme of the 2024 Civil Service Week, Yemi-Esan emphasized on the need for education to be accessible, inclusive and of high quality, while highlighting the need for it to constantly remain relevant to the rapidly evolving demands of the modern world.

According to her, ”The theme also speaks to how the Nigerian Civil Service is leveraging learning and development to enhance the capacity and capability of its workforce with a view to delivering on national priorities.”

She further stated that the first priority area/pillar of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP 25), is Capacity Building and Talent Management, which is in line with the theme selected by the African Union for this year’s celebration.

Yemi-Esan affirmed that the lessons learned in the recent years further underscored the need for civil servants to commit to continuous self-development, particularly in view of emerging global challenges and emerging technologies and the new world of work.

The Head of the Civil Service disclosed that the rapidly changing work environment as well as demands for greater efficiency have necessitated the adoption of Performance Management System (PMS) by the Nigerian Civil Service, adding that PMS Policy and Guidelines have been developed and circulated to all Ministries, extra-ministerial Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

She pointed out that core teams for its implementation have been duly constituted.

According to her, “PMS implementation has been cascaded to the Ministries, with the Permanent Secretaries serving as the primary drivers.

“In this regard, performance contracts are to be further cascaded down to the last officer in each MDA.

“This new system will assess each officer’s performance solely based on their respective Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and it will enable tracking of job objectives across all MDAs.

“By implication, each officer across the Service can clearly link his goals and objectives with those of his department, those of the respective Ministry and the national KPIs.

She described the digitalisation of work processes in the Service as another reference point in the on-going transformation of the Federal Civil Service.

She further stressed that the Office has fully digitalised all personal and policy files and is implementing digital transaction of workflow processes, as all official correspondences, in the form of memos, internal and external circulars, are now being processed electronically through the Enterprise Content Management (ECM) solution.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office (CMO), in the Office of Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Adeleye Adeoye, while welcoming participants, noted that education is the most powerful weapon which can be used to change the world.

He further noted that Africa stands a chance to be the best Continent in the world, if only Africans have the best of education.

Adeoye urged civil servants to improve and equip themselves on daily basis with necessary skills and expertise in order to enhance productivity as well as ensure service delivery in the overall interest of the citizenry and the nation at large.

The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State, Sanusi Bature, has declared that Aminu Ado Bayero was never an Emir of Kano.

Bature said former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje appointed Bayero as Emir of the eight Metropolitan local governments of Kano city.

Featuring on Arise Television, Bature said Ganduje made Bayero emir of the metropolitan Kano city due to the bastardization of the emirate.

According to Bature, Ganduje introduced politics into the Kano Emirate that predates Nigeria.

He said: “The action of the governor was to protect the integrity of the emirate as an institution. The Emirate of Nigeria pre-dates Nigeria and the country’s constitution, it’s over a thousand years history of people living together under one Emir.

“The previous administration of Ganduje decided to bastardize that history and bring politics into it.

“The politicisation of the Emirate is what the Yusuf promised to restore the lost glory during the campaign.

“This is not the first time an Emir was deposed, Ganduje did it and Sanusi left Kano for peace to rain. Sanusi is now back to Kano after the repealing of the law.

“I want to put it clear that Aminu Ado Bayero was never an Emir of Kano, he was appointed an Emir of eight metropolitan local government of Kano city.

“So, with the revision of the law under one United Kano, the Emirate Aminu served no longer exist. He was an Emir of Kano city Emirate, he was at that status because the main Emirate was bastardized by Ganduje by the 2019 Emirate law.

“He was the 14 Emir of Kano but his jurisdiction was not for the 44 local government of Kano, he’s just only for the eight metropolitan areas which is now abolished.”

Governor Yusuf had deposed Ado Bayero while reinstating Muhammed Sanusi as Emir of Kano.

Despite the action of the governor, Ado Bayero has refused to vacate his Nassarawa palace.

Bayero had since contested the action of the state government in court.

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has confirmed that Nigerians will begin utilising the proposed three-in-one identity card services in August this year.

Recalls that on Friday, April 5, 2024, the NIMC announced that it had launched a new card layered with payment capabilities and social service features in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System.

It explained that the identity solution was equipped with payment capability for all types of social and financial services.

An official of NIMC, in an interview with Punch, said the commission had been working tirelessly to meet its goals, stressing that the plan remains on track and will be launched in the upcoming months.

The official, whose name was not disclosed, added that the commission had begun the testing and deployment stage.

The source said, “We actually plan for July although there have been a few delays but we are still hopeful that it would come in July. So we are hoping to get it done between July and August. We are still on plan and if there is any shift, the public will know.

“When you are deploying a new technology, there is a lot of work to be done, you need to configure the card, enable the outlet, and enable the wallet to work. We also have to do tests and that is what is ongoing.

“The deployment is ongoing, the portal that people need to access the service has to be deployed, and we have to make sure that it is scaleable and those are the ongoing works.

“There are integrations that all the banks need to do to enable the card and all of those little details are ongoing. We have that target and we are working extra hard to make sure that we achieve that.”