Supervisors and advisers of Ikere-Ekiti LGA in Ekiti state were sworn in with an ‘Ògún’ totem and the Quran.

Ògún is one of the deities in African traditional religion. It is often regarded as the “god of iron”.

The swearing-in ceremony took place on May 2 at the conference hall of the office of Olu Adamolekun, chairman of Ikere-Ekiti LGA.

The oath of office was administered on the appointees by Adamolekun.

In a video making the rounds on social media, the appointees could be seen taking turns to wield a cutlass (a totem for the god of iron) in one hand and a Quran in the other.

While administering the oath of office, Adamolekun asked the appointees to repeat the following in Yoruba: “From today, I will be loyal and truthful to BAO (Ekiti state governor), and Monisade (deputy governor), APC and its leaders.”

“I will take instructions from the leaders. If I refuse to do so, Ogun or Quran should kill me. For this, I will be truthful,” they said.

In Nigeria, public office holders usually swear an oath of office using the Quran or Bible, while pledging allegiance to the constitution.

In this instance, however, the appointees were asked to swear allegiance to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its leaders in Ekiti — while invoking a deity.

LIST OF THE APPOINTEES

SUPERVISORS

1. Femi Ayeni — Are/Aramomi/Ayetoro Ward
2. Olu Ogundipe — Okeruku Ward
3. ldowu Ojo Omowumi — Atiba/Aafin Ward
4. Ajayi Mathew Oladele — Ogbonjana Ward

ADVISERS

1. Sola Alonge — Odose Ward
2. Boluwaji Daramola — llapetu/ljao Ward
3. Toyin Owolabi — Agbado/Oyo Ward
4. Akojiyan Olamilekan Rasaq — Oke Osun Ward
5. Filani Motunrayo — Afao/Kajola Ward

Workers under the aegis of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives; the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees; and the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies on Wednesday protested against the sacking of 391 of the Lagos State Water Corporation (LWC) by the state government.

The protest rally kicked off at Ikeja under-bridge.

The protesters carried different banners with inscriptions like “Water Corporation needs more staff not sack!”, “Recall sacked staff of Lagos Water Corporation”, “Sanwo-Olu, employment is a right”, among others, are demanding the reinstatement of the sacked workers.

In April, the state announced the disengagement of the staff members, which it described as “redundant staff”.

LWC in a statement shared by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s senior special assistant on New Media, Jubril Gawat, on his official X handle, stated that the disengagement of the staff was part of ongoing restructuring in the corporation aimed at enhancing operational efficiency.

According to LWC, the decision to streamline the workforce was in response to the perennial challenge of water scarcity in the state.

No fewer than 425 staff of the corporation were served last year.

The corporation explained that its inability to reliably supply water has led to the shrinkage of its customer base, thereby affecting revenue generation.

“The Lagos Water Corporation has announced the disengagement of 391 redundant staff as part of its ongoing restructuring efforts aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and meeting the evolving demands of the organization. The decision to streamline the workforce is in response to the persistent challenge of water scarcity in the state despite extensive infrastructure projects.

“LWC has faced substantial financial and operational challenges, struggling to generate adequate revenue to meet its obligations. The corporation’s unreliable water supply has resulted in a shrinking customer base and declining revenue.

“In October 2023, the Corporation initiated a comprehensive Personnel Audit to realign its operations. Engr. Mukhtaar Tijani, the Managing Director, stated that the audit, led by the Office of the Head of Service since August 2023, identified the need for phased actions. The first phase involved the disengagement of 425 temporary staff with outdated contracts. The ongoing second phase targets permanent staff whose roles or offices have become redundant. The upcoming third phase will focus on retaining competent technical staff to enhance the utility and commercial efficiency of the Corporation.

“As part of the restructuring efforts, a performance improvement process has been established for the retained permanent staff, along with the formulation of precise job descriptions and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to foster organizational excellence and efficiency,” LWC said.

The corporation noted that in line with the public service rules, the state government has approved the payment of three months’ salary in lieu of notice and redundancy payments. This, it said, is in addition to other statutory benefits.

“In line with the Public Service Rules, the State Government has approved the payment of three months’ salary in lieu of notice and redundancy payments, in addition to statutory benefits such as pensions for the affected staff.

“Furthermore, the Corporation has adopted a new organogram to enhance operations and financial sustainability. This strategic shift underscores the Corporation’s commitment to delivering sustainable and reliable water supply to the residents of Lagos State.

“The Lagos Water Corporation appreciates the hard work and dedication of the affected staff members over the years; however, this action is deemed imperative for the development of the state,” the statement added

The relatives of the embattled former Chairman of the Park Management System (PMS), Alhaji Lamidi Mukaila, also known as Auxiliary, have expressed displeasure over his recent arrest.

Recalls that operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested the embattled former Oyo State PMS boss.

The recent arrest comes a year after Auxiliary was arrested after being linked to an alleged attempt by his loyalists to cause trouble in the state following the dissolution of the PMS committee by the state Governor, Seyi Makinde.

Auxiliary was again rearrested at about 4:00 pm on Tuesday at his residence in the Olodo area of Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.

Two women who claimed to be relatives of Auxiliary but hid their identities have since responded in a video that Vanguard claimed to have obtained. The video detailed the incident involving the former NURTW leader and security personnel.

One of the women recording the video mentioned that the individuals who took Auxiliary did not disclose their identities before taking him into custody.

“One of his junior brothers called me that they have arrested Papa without doing anything. He told me that Papa was busy enjoying himself at the table there.

“Then, one of his boys who happens to be my child saw a black unidentified security van and said, “are these not DSS men?”

“Before Papa (Auxiliary) lifted up his head, the masked men had cornered him. When Papa saw them, he didn’t run away since there is no skeleton in his cupboard. It is someone who has done a bad thing that should be afraid.

“As he wanted to go upstairs, one of his boys was trying to shield him but the security men moved faster to stop him. They took him into a waiting van. The van has no number plate or any inscriptions on it. They took him away without telling us where they were taking him to.

“This is not fair now. How should they arrest an innocent man?” she said.

Auxiliary has been on the run since last year after security forces were informed about his intention to incite chaos and disorder in Oyo State.

His house was raided, leading to the discovery of a significant cache of weapons, including firearms, machetes, and other hazardous tools.

Despite his attempt to ascend the stairs, he was prevented by armed individuals who fired warning shots into the air.

The Aguttes auction house announced on Tuesday that Diego Maradona’s Golden Ball trophy, awarded for his outstanding performance as the best player at the 1986 World Cup, will soon be up for auction in France.

This iconic trophy, the first of its kind to be auctioned, is expected to command a significant price tag, with the auction house anticipating bids in the millions when it goes under the hammer on June 6th.

Maradona, who passed away in 2020, clinched the prestigious award after leading Argentina to victory in the 1986 World Cup held in Mexico. His remarkable contribution included five goals throughout the tournament, as he captained his country and showcased his brilliance on the field during every minute of play.

The 1986 World Cup remains etched in memory, particularly for Maradona’s unforgettable performance against England in the quarterfinals, where he scored two remarkable goals.

Global cryptocurrency platform Binance has accused top Nigerian government officials of demanding a $150 million bribe in crypto to settle criminal charges filed against the company.

The allegation was made public by Binance Chief Executive Officer, Richard Teng, in a blog post published by the New York Times on Tuesday.

According to the report, Tigran Gambaryan, a compliance officer at Binance, received the unsettling message during a visit to Nigeria in January earlier before his arrest alongside a colleague.

Gambaryan alongside a colleague, Nadeem Anjarwalla, who escaped from lawful custody, are currently trial in Nigeria over alleged money laundering and tax evasion charges.

“On a trip to Nigeria in January, Tigran Gambaryan, a compliance officer for the giant cryptocurrency exchange Binance, received an unsettling message: The company had 48 hours to make a payment of roughly $150 million in crypto,” the report stated.

Gambaryan, a former U.S. law enforcement agent, interpreted the message as a request for a bribe from officials in President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

“Mr. Gambaryan, a former U.S. law enforcement agent, understood the message as a request for a bribe from someone in the Nigerian government, according to five people familiar with the matter and messages reviewed by The New York Times,” the report continued.

“He and a group of his Binance colleagues had just met with Nigerian legislators, who accused the company of tax violations and threatened to arrest its employees.”

The New York Times also revealed that Gambaryan and his colleague, Nadeem Anjarwalla, were subsequently arrested and detained on orders of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. Anjarwalla managed to escape and has since been traced to Kenya.

Gambaryan has been transferred from a safe house to the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja since April 8. Both he and Binance are now facing charges of tax evasion and money laundering to the tune of $35.4 million.

However, in response to the allegation, Zakari Mijinyawa, spokesman for the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), assured that the Federal Government would follow due process.

In a message to the New York Times newspaper, Mijinyawa emphasised that the government would make its case “on the strength of the facts and evidence, in accordance with due process.”

“We are confident that Nigeria has a good case. Binance equally will have every opportunity under the rule of law to make its case and see justice delivered,” he concluded.

Jose Peseiro, the former head coach of Nigeria’s senior national team, continues to explain his decision to overlook NPFL players, citing their inferiority to foreign-based counterparts.

During his 20-month tenure, no NPFL player earned a spot in competitive matches for the Super Eagles, despite fervent discussions regarding their inclusion.

Peseiro departed after leading the team to a commendable second-place finish in the African Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire, narrowly losing 1-2 to the host nation in the final.

Reflecting on his time with the Super Eagles, Peseiro emphasized the pressure to select NPFL talents but asserted his commitment to choosing the best players, especially after the team narrowly missed the World Cup.

“I watched many NPFL games, but none showcased the calibre of talent seen in foreign leagues. Quality must prevail over mere representation,” he remarked.

In a related development, former Super Eagles player Moses Kpakor urged Peseiro’s successor, Finidi George, to consider homegrown talents for national team selection.

Kpakor, renowned for his stints with BCC Lions and Abiola Babes, emphasized the importance of nurturing local talent and ensuring fair competition for national team spots.

“As a former NPFL player, I understand the value of giving home-based talents a chance. Finidi should prioritize merit over geography,” Kpakor asserted, advocating for inclusivity in player selection.

Popular Nigerian singer, Simisola Kosoko, popularly known by her stage name as Simi, has finally responded to flirtatious comments about her made by fellow artists Brymo and Samklef.

Speaking with Angela Yee in a recent interview, Simi expressed confusion over the intentions behind the duo’s comments, dismissing them as comedic rather than serious.

Recalls that Brymo sparked controversy last year after admitting that he had demanded sex from Simi before agreeing to collaborate with her for a project while she was unmarried. When Simi rejected his proposition, Brymo declined to work with her.

Similarly, music producer-turned-blogger Samklef recently admitted that he had been in love with Simi during their early days as struggling artists but refrained from pursuing a relationship to avoid mixing business with pleasure.

It can also be recalled that on both occasions, Simi’s husband and singer, Adekunle Gold, had protested against what he viewed as disrespect for his wife from both Brymo and Samklef.

However, responding to the jibes from the duo in the interview, Simi said: “I don’t know what these people [Brymo and Samklef] are going on about. The funny thing is that these are two different people, and I don’t know why they keep talking about me like that. When you even look at what they’re saying, you can’t even pick out anything. I’m still confused.”

She further emphasised that their remarks have no impact on her, highlighting her husband’s supportive role in the scenario.

“I just feel like it doesn’t matter to me. It doesn’t change anything. My husband is speaking out for me, and he’s fighting for his woman as he would.”

Simi also emphasised her indifference to the Brymo and Samklef’s comments, noting that she has nothing to hide.

“I don’t feel anything about this. It doesn’t impact me. I don’t have anything to hide. If you’re going to post that you asked me out, and so what? Or that I had an ex [laughs]. The whole thing, to me, is more comedy than anything else,” she stated.

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Jesutega Onokpasa, has alleged that certain appointees of President Bola Tinubu are plotting to succeed him before the end of his tenure and are seriously wishing that he will not make it to 2027 for their selfish reasons.

He also accused them of responsibility in the current ordeal of former governor of Kogi State Yahaya Bello and his Kaduna State counterpart, Malam Nasir el-Rufai.

Onokpasa, a lawyer and former member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who lamented the alleged hypocrisy, pull him down syndrome and anti-party activities going on in the governing party, laid curses on those he accused of wishing Tinubu dead.

He said, “If they don’t repent, Asiwaju will attend their funeral.”

He stated this in a video, where he addressed party members and drew their attention to the belief that the ongoing drama around the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC’s) allegations against former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello and the continued attack on former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, were plans mapped out by these individuals to allegedly perfect their plans.

While expressing concern over ill treatments, selective prosecution and hounding meted out on some prominent chieftains of the party since the emergence of Tinubu’s presidency, Onokpasa alleged that the particular appointees he was referring to in Tinubu’s government were behind the ordeals of former Governors Yahaya Bello, Nasir El- Rufai and Abdullahi Ganduje in order to perfect their “satanic” succession plans, while allegedly wishing that the President would no longer be around by 2027.

Referring to a particular appointee of Tinubu whose name he did not mention, the APC chieftain said, “You drive el-Rufai away, you start hounding Ganduje, although there are other things involved, you start attacking Yahaya Bello, what did you do? You don’t have a mandate my friend, you are just an appointee… you think we don’t know what is going on?

“Listen, Asiwaju is a child of God. Asiwaju will rule this country for eight years. There is nothing anybody can do about that. He will rule this first four years, he will perform, Nigerians, again, will vote for him and next time around, we will win a majority of the total votes cast. So, all these satanic plans, plotting that our President will not make it to 2027, you are wasting your time. Get that through your head,” Onokpasa said.

The APC chieftain, who Nigerians know to be a die-hard supporter of Tinubu, bemoaned what he called the attitude of “using and dumping” people who worked for the victory of the president in 2023, while those who were against him and even insulted him, were being given priorities “over authentic supporters and genuine Batists.”

Onokpasa, who was also a member of the APC Presidential Legal Team and Chairman, Tinubu Media Support Group, said, “Of recent concern to me is the case of my younger brother, His Excellency, the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello. In this party, we have had our brother, the former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El Rufai basically chased out of our party despite what he did for us to make us win. Now, it is Yahaya Bello. A few weeks or months ago, it was our National Chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje that was basically almost being chased from our party.”

On the Bello-EFCC controversy, he said it was for the court to decide, stating, “Nobody is supporting corruption. However, we fight corruption according to law and you will not have a personal indifference with somebody and then you use the instrumentality of office to torment that person. We will not tolerate that in this party. We must not.”

He also lambasted a particular appointee that he portrayed to be high-handed, alleging that the appointee funded an opposition member against the APC candidate, Usman Ododo, during the Kogi State governorship election.

Jose Mourinho would love to manage Manchester United again but the club does not want to reappoint the Portuguese, according to the Manchester Evening News.

It is claimed the 61-year-old has told confidants he would “walk” to Manchester to manage United for a second time, having been sacked by the club in December 2018. 

Mourinho, who was sacked by Roma in January after two-and-a-half years in charge, is reportedly a friend of United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe but the two-time Champions League winner is not expecting an approach from his former club.

Mourinho’s reported interest in the Man Utd job comes after the Red Devils suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat at Crystal Palace on Monday which has left Erik ten Hag’s side eighth in the Premier League table.

Mourinho became Man Utd boss in May 2016 and won the Europa League and League Cup in his two-and-a-half years in the job.

The ex-Chelsea boss has since managed Tottenham and Roma, having won the Europa Conference League with the Italian side in 2022.

The Kano State Police Command has arrested 17 suspected forex hawkers during a raid in the Wappa Bureau De Change area of Fagge local government area on May 7, 2024.

Spokesperson of the Command, SP Abdullahi Kiyawa disclosed this in a statement.

Kiyawa said the operation was carried out in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS), with the aim of stabilising the foreign exchange market and eliminate unauthorised operations.

The police raid targeted locations where foreign exchange transactions were taking place, ultimately resulting in the arrest of 29 individuals.

After thorough screening, 12 persons were released over their proven innocence from lack of evidence, while the remaining 17 were taken into custody.

The statement partly reads, “At the end of the operation, a total of twenty-nine (29) people were arrested out of which twelve (12) were screened out for lack of evidence while Seventeen (17) were arrested with the following exhibits recovered; (1) Sum of Sixty-eight Thousand (68,000) CFA, and (2) Thirty (30) Rupees (Indian Currency).

“Further investigation revealed that the seventeen (17) suspects were operating under one Association of unlicensed Bureau De Change and they will be charged to Court for prosecution,” the statement read.

Kiyawa said essence of the operation was to flush out elements that operates illegally in a bid to stabilise the foreign exchange market in the country.

The arrest excludes genuine Bureau de Change operators who carry on their legitimate businesses in their offices, the police spokesman explained.

Commissioner of Police in the state, Mohammed Gumel commended the combined efforts of the police and DSS operatives for their success in the operation.

He emphasised the importance of upholding the law while maintaining legitimate operations within the financial sector and warned that illegal practices will not be tolerated.

The statement also stated that the suspects will be prosecuted, while encouraging the public to report any suspicious movements or activities to the police.