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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has handed over a total sum of $120,548.43 and N70,602,841.46 to American, Spanish and Swiss victims of local fraudsters.
The EFCC said the handover is a gesture of its commitment to tackling economic and financial crimes and, offering restitution to victims of fraudulent practices.
Speaking at the handover on Friday at the EFCC’s corporate headquarters in Abuja, Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Ola Olukoyede said the event demonstrates President Bola Tinubu-led administration’s commitment to the fight against corruption and financial crimes.
Olukoyede further said the restitution marked a commitment to good governance, stimulation of the economy and measure to prove that Nigeria is not a safe haven for financial crimes.
He further described it as a “commitment to international cooperation and international synergy in the fight against financial crimes, which you will agree with me, has become a global crime.”
Handed over in addition to the money are vehicles and real estate which were returned to citizens of Spain, United States of America and Switzerland.
Acting Ambassador of Spain to Nigeria, Maria Higon Velasco received the sum of $1,300 and evidence of N30 million already transferred to the Embassy of Spain in Nigeria for onward transmission to a victim, Maria Del Rosario San Jose.
Also, Senior Political Officer, First Secretary, Embassy of Switzerland, Florent Geel, received $100,011.43 on behalf of a victim, Chantai Helene Lavancy, formerly known as Chantai Helene Maeder.
Similarly, Legal Attache, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Embassy of the United States, Charles Smith received the sum of $7,344; N7,963,483.35 and Bitcoin cryptocurrency valued at $4,470.00 on behalf of the US Embassy in Nigeria for onward transmission to a victim, Maria Jesus Brockell.
Also received by Smith was Mercedes Benz E550 4Matic Chasis with No:WDDHF9AB6AA111112; Mercedes Benz C450 AMG with Chasis No: WDD20J0641F282467, and one residential bungalow, located at 17/19 Seaman Street, Unguwar Maigero, Kaduna, Kaduna State on behalf of the Embassy for onward transmission to the crime victim.
Additionally, Smith received the sum of $7,527 on behalf of the United States Embassy in Nigeria for onward transmission to the victim of the crime, Michael Smith.
He also received the sum of $11,710.00 on behalf of the US Embassy in Nigeria for onward transmission to the crime victim, Cheryle Williams.
Lastly, Smith received the sum of N32,639,358.11 for onward transmission to the crime victim, Marva Marrow.
In her remarks, Velasco expressed gratitude to the Nigerian government and the anti-graft agency, saying, “This is a sign of the collaboration between Nigeria and Spain, and we are very grateful for this collaboration.”
Nigerian singer Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, known also known as Ayra Starr, has revealed that she was a social media troll before becoming famous.
She disclosed this on the I Said What I Said podcast, co-hosted by Feyikemi Abudu and Jola Ayeye.
“I had a troll page, I had a Nicki Minaj fan page before I became Ayra Starr,” she said.
Since becoming famous, Ayra Starr has been very vocal about bullying from online trolls.
She has been repeatedly trolled over her skimpy dressing and postures. She once responded to trolls, saying her “bad postures” were due to the weight of carrying Afrobeats singlehandedly.
The Edo State High Court, sitting in Benin City, has convicted and sentenced 11 internet fraudsters to various jail terms for offences related to obtaining by false pretence, advance fee fraud, and possession of fraudulent documents.
According to a statement on Friday via X by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Justice W.I. Aziegbemhin handed down the sentences after the EFCC’s Benin Zonal Directorate prosecuted the individuals on separate one-count charges.
The convicts include Izomor Samuel Efe, Nosakhare Bright, Emovon Destiny, Vincent Arogbo, Osarentin Morgan Aduwa, Osagiede Destiny Oghosa, Nosakhare Ernest Theophilus, Junior Emmanuel Efe, Osimen Princewill, Obamedo Clinton, and David Iyobor.
According to the EFCC, the convicts were apprehended in a sting operation following credible intelligence linking them to fraudulent internet activities.
One of the charges, as presented against Efe, read, “That you, Justice Samuel Efe (m), on or about the 8th of February 2025, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did have in your possession documents which you knew or ought to have known contained false pretence, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 6 and 8(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006, and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”
All 11 individuals pleaded guilty to the charges when read to them. Following their pleas, prosecution counsels F.A. Jirbo, I.K. Agwai, and Salihu Ahmed urged the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
In response, the defence counsel pleaded for leniency, stating that the accused had shown remorse for their actions.
In his ruling, Justice Aziegbemhin sentenced Izomor Efe and Nosakhare Bright to two years imprisonment, with the option of a N200,000 fine each. Emovon Destiny and Vincent Arogbo received similar two-year sentences but with a N400,000 fine each.
Additionally, Aduwa, Oghosa, Theophilus, Junior Efe, Princewill, Clinton, and Iyobor were sentenced to three years imprisonment, with the option of a N200,000 fine each.
“In addition to their sentences, all the convicts forfeited their phones, laptop computers and sums of money seen in their bank accounts to the federal government and undertook in writing to be of good behaviour henceforth.
“The convicts’ journey to the correctional centre began with their arrest in a sting operation by operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC following credible intelligence that linked them to fraudulent internet activities,” the statement added.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has made alarming discoveries in its ongoing enforcement operation at the Idumota open drug market in Lagos.
The agency uncovered unregistered narcotics, counterfeit GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) medicines, and vaccines improperly stored, with some shockingly found in toilets.
This was revealed in a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday. The statement reads, “In the ongoing enforcement operation at the Idumota open drug market, NAFDAC has uncovered more alarming products, including unregistered narcotics, counterfeit GSK medicines, and vaccines stored in toilets.
“During an operation on Tuesday, officials also seized expired USAID-donated condoms, which had been repackaged and sold under the name “Kiss Condom.”
The statement added, “More from the Idumota enforcement exercise, NAFDAC officials have seized, “Banned drugs such as Analgin, Vaccines meant for cold chain storage, Oxytocin for maternal health, improperly stored outside the cold chain and donated medical products.”
NAFDAC has vowed to continue its crackdown on counterfeit and substandard medicines, emphasising the grave health risks posed by these illicit products. The enforcement operation remains ongoing as officials work to dismantle illegal drug networks and ensure compliance with safety regulations
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The Osun State Police Command and the state Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps may not be deploying operatives for today’s local government election, Saturday PUNCH has learnt.
While the two security organisations did not officially confirm or deny their participation in the poll, top sources said security agencies were not directed to participate in the election.
A senior police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “We have not been directed to participate in the poll. You know the position of the Federal Government through what the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) said.
“The police and other security agents will be in town to ensure security but they are not told to participate in the election. But no one will speak to you about it here. The decision about it was made in Abuja.
“If you listen to IG’s remarks about the Osun local government crises when he spoke in Abuja on Thursday, you will have a better idea about the position of the police regarding the election.”
But the Osun Amotekun Corps said its men had been deployed in obedience to the order of an Osun State High Court sitting in Ilesa, which mandated all security agencies to maintain law and order during the poll.
Speaking exclusively with Saturday PUNCH, the Osun Amotekun Corps Commander, Isaac Omoyele, said operatives of the corps had been deployed for the exercise.
Omoyele, while responding to enquiry from our correspondent on whether the agency would join the poll, asked, “Have you seen a copy of the court order that said we should participate in the election?
“In obedience to that order, we have deployed men across the state for the election to ensure that we have a peaceful exercise. Amotekun will participate and provide security during the poll. We have been served the court order and we will obey.”
OSSIEC staff abandon office
Checks by our correspondents at the headquarters of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission in Osogbo showed slow pace of activities.
There was heavy security presence at the entrance of the building as those going in were subjected to thorough checks. But the premises were not sealed as speculated.
Party leaders, journalists and ad hoc staff were observed waiting for materials and identification tags to be distributed to them. But no official of the commission was on ground to attend to them.
The mobile phone number of the chairman of the commission, Hashim Abioye, was switched off when called around 5pm on Friday.
There was no distribution of materials on the premises and at the hall of Fakunle Comprehensive High School, Osogbo, where the ad hoc staff recruited by the commission were told to converge.
Some staff members of the commission, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they stayed away from the office to avoid arrest.
One of them said, “We envisaged this and we have moved our materials out of the commission’s office since. Those that do not want the election to hold may arrest us.
“We have our offices in different places in the town. Our people are afraid. We have not been going to the office since Wednesday evening.”
Low awareness among residents
There was apparent low awareness about the poll among residents as some of them that spoke on the election were indifferent about it.
A trader around Olaiya area of Osogbo, Yusuf Olutope, who said he was unaware of the poll, said he was unsure he would vote.
“Election is being held tomorrow? (Saturday)”, he asked. “I am not sure I will vote. You can observe there’s no enthusiasm about it among residents.”
Another resident, who identified herself only as Kudrat, said, “I know the election is scheduled for tomorrow but you can see people don’t feel it. There’s nothing to suggest people are preparing for it.”
Osun court mandates OSSIEC to conduct election
Meanwhile, an Osun State High Court sitting in Ilesa on Friday held that vacancies existed in all the 30 LGAs in the state and mandated the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission to fill the offices.
Justice Adeyinka Aderibigbe, while ruling on a motion on notice filed by the Peoples Democratic Party in a suit number HIL/M/.192025, against the Osun State Electoral Commission and Hashim Abioye, the OSSIEC chairman, also directed law enforcement agencies to provide security during and after the local government election.
Aderibigbe held that vacancies exist in Osun LGA, after the election conducted by OSSIEC on 15th October, 2022, was invalidated by the Federal High Court in a judgement delivered on November 30, 2022.
He also said the judgement of the Federal High Court was confirmed by the decision of the Court of Appeal delivered on January 13, 2025.
APC kicks
Reacting to the ruling, the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress berated the PDP over the injunction calling on security agents to supervise the council election.
A press release by the Osun APC chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, said the interim order was a ‘joke taken too far.’
He contended that Nigerian statutes did not prescribe that a lower court should override an Appeal Court judgement.
He called for firmness with the way security agents had been enforcing the February 10, 2025, Court of Appeal judgement that reinstated the “cruelly sacked local government political functionaries by Governor Adeleke in 2022.”
“I can’t imagine a state in very civilized South Western Nigeria to be drifting into abyss and brigandage and perverting the rule of law which the ineptitude of its leadership is breeding,” Lawal added.
Labour Party seeks postponement
Also, the Forum of Labour Party candidates in the Osun council election, has called for a shift in the poll, lamenting that OSSIEC had not made available needed identification for party agents and others that would work during the poll.
Addressing journalists in Osogbo, the leader of the Forum, Mr. Bode Babalola, who is the chairmanship candidate of the party for Osogbo LGA, also said security situation was not encouraging and feared asking agents of the party to go out for the election might be a risk.
Speaking in a similar vein, the Labour Party Chairman in Osun, Adebayo Bello, who said the party spent over N5m to obtain nomination form for the election, said the decision of the candidates should be respected.
Police ask Adeleke to suspend poll
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force has called on the Osun State Government to suspend the LG election.
The police stated that joint intelligence assessments revealed that various groups, including political elements and other interested parties, were mobilising to instigate unrest, disrupt public peace, and undermine the democratic process.
In a statement on Friday, the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the intelligence reports at the disposal of the police showed a high possibility of violence in the state should the election be held.
“The Nigeria Police Force has received credible intelligence indicating a high likelihood of violence and significant security threats should the planned Local Government elections proceed in Osun State.
“Given this imminent threat to security, the NPF strongly advises the Osun State Government to suspend the planned elections forthwith in the interest of public safety and national stability.”
One of the children of the couple who killed each other on Tuesday at the Ita Eku area of Igirigiri, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, has recounted how his parents engaged in a deadly machete fight that led to their deaths.
The couple’s lifeless bodies were discovered in a pool of blood on Tuesday at their residence where they lived with their four children.
According to reports, the deceased wife usually accused her husband, identified as Caleb, who was said to be a policeman, of infidelity.
Sources said the couple killed each other during a fight as deep machete wounds were visible on their bodies.
However, in a viral video shared on Instagram by Daodu Sammy Gbenga on Thursday, a boy said to be one of the couple’s children, revealed that there was no noticeable dispute between his parents on the night of the tragic incident.
Aged about 13 years, the boy, seen in the video wearing white underwear and blue jeans, recalled that his father had promised to share his struggles with him but was always afraid whenever his mother was around.
“Before my daddy died, he said he would tell me his story. But whenever my mum came home, he became afraid. I asked him why, but he never gave an answer,” the boy recounted.
He explained that before the fatal fight that led to their deaths, his parents had played and prayed together with the family, giving the impression that all was well between them.
“My father came home around 9 p.m. that day. He refused to eat because my mum wasn’t back yet. But when she finally arrived, they played together. They were talking, laughing, and even telling us stories,” he stated.
After spending time with the family, the boy said his father picked up his Bible, and they all had their night prayers before heading for bed.
According to the boy, chaos erupted in the middle of the night. “I started hearing the sound of a cutlass,” the boy said.
Providing further details, he continued, “I quickly woke my sister up, and we tried to get into their room, but they had locked the door. My sister ran outside, picked up a big stone, and hit it against the door, but it didn’t open still. Meanwhile, we could still hear our dad and mum screaming at each other. So, we ran to the next house to get help from the boys living there.”
“But there was silence by the time we returned. The boys forced the door open, and we found our parents lying on the floor, covered in blood. The boys rushed them to the hospital.”
A resident of the area, who spoke about the incident, corroborated the boy’s narrative.
“From what I saw, it looked like they had a serious disagreement, but no one can say for sure. It seemed as if the woman cut off the man’s private part, and in retaliation, he inflicted a fatal wound on her. Nobody knows exactly what happened, but that’s what I suspect,” the source said.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Sunday Abutu, stated that law enforcement authorities had launched an investigation into the matter.
Wunmi Aloba, the widow of the late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, has alleged that her father-in-law, Joseph Aloba, has taken the side of Naira Marley, one of the friends of her late husband accused of bullying him prior to his death.
Wunmi made this claim when she appeared as a guest on the With Chude show during the week.
She said, “I knew he reacted to an injection and the fact that at the end of the autopsy, it came out inconclusive just because of the one mistake my father-in-law made, which was burying him. This is one thing I don’t want to accept. Liam will grow up and see all of these things one day and he will ask me questions, and the story will not be interesting if, at the end of the day, there was no justice for his father.
“The fact that he was bullied by his oppressors, and up till this moment, nothing has been done. Liam will see the bullying that happened to his father, which was what brought the world out for justice. Even though the police promised they would bring them to justice, nothing has been done up till this moment.
“You know you don’t have to kill somebody with a sword before you kill him. They cannot deny the fact that they made life unbearable for my husband. A lot of people everywhere might be supporting them in bashing me so that I wouldn’t talk about the bullying but the few clips online cannot be erased and Liam will grow up to see all of those things.”
“And his father, (Joseph Aloba) has been on Naira Marley’s side. He has been speaking for them and trying to save them for reasons best known to him, so who am I? The ‘justice for Mohbad’ my father-in-law is asking for is not the same justice the public is asking for.
She also voiced fears that her son might be traumatised when he grows up and learns about all that happened to his father.
“I pray Liam doesn’t grow up traumatised from seeing what happened to his father. Imaging witnessing a group of people beating his father that way, it is traumatizing. Even me, whenever I think about those things, they break me but at this point, I’m fighting for my life and that of my child.”
Referring to the alleged bully, she said, “One thing I will tell him is that even if the whole world does not believe what I have been saying, you know deep down that you maltreated my husband. It has got to a point when I will speak up and not die in silence.”
Former Military Head of State, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, IBB, has admitted that he feared that the presumed winner of June 12 presidential election, late chief MKO Abiola, might not be an effective president.
IBB said that the military was factionalised into rival groups between those opposed to the transition to civil rule and those who thought the military should keep its word and hand over to a democratically elected government.
In his just launched book, ‘A Journey in Service’, the former military Head of State recounted how tensions in the country were compounded by conspiracy theories meant to justify the annulment.
He said: “Tensions in the country were compounded by baseless conspiracy theories meant to justify the annulment. One such theory was that Abiola had pencilled down a list of top military officers to be dismissed upon assuming office as president.
“Another conspiracy theory was that the government had let the June 12 elections go ahead in the knowledge, based on security reports, that Tofa would
win. However, once Abiola won, the government sought a way to
frustrate his mandate.
“These were spurious theories circulated by those opposed to an Abiola presidency. Some persons indeed expressed their reservations about an Abiola presidency before the elections. There were times
when, deep down inside me, even I feared that Abiola might not be an effective president.
“However, having allowed the process to go ahead in which Abiola appeared to have emerged victorious in an
election deemed the freest and fairest in our country’s history, I was committed to ensuring that the results should stand. To do otherwise would amount to a subversion of the will of the Nigerian people.”
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has failed to remit N13.763 trillion in revenue to the Federation account.
This is according to a document obtained from the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee after its January 2025 meeting on Wednesday.
The unremitted revenue covers a period between 2012 and 2024, indicating concerns between NNPCL’s revenue from crude sales and what is remitted to the Federation account.
Accordingly, the document showed that out of N27.28 trillion payable from sales of domestic crude within the period, only N13.524 trillion was deposited into the Federation account, leaving N13.763 trillion unremitted.
The development follows a recent accusation by the Auditor-General of the Federation, which claimed that NNPCL diverted a total sum of N2.68 trillion and $9.77 trillion in the last four years.
Similarly, the Nigeria Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative also accused the NNPCL of failing to remit N3.6 trillion in taxes to the government.
The Public Accounts Committee had initiated an investigation into the outstanding debts worth $1.6 billion in royalties owed to the Federation Account by NNPCL and oil companies.
The Naira has continued its appreciation streak against the dollar at the parallel foreign exchange market.
This comes as the Naira strengthened to N1,500 against the dollar in the black market on Thursday from N1,505 exchanged on Wednesday.
A Bureau de Change operator in Wuse Zone 4, Abubakar Alhasan, told DAILY POST that “dollars are sold at a minimum rate of N1,500 per dollar on Thursday from N1,505 the previous day.”.
This showed that the Naira gained N5 against the dollar compared to N1505 traded on Wednesday.
DAILY POST reports that the Naira has maintained sustained appreciation at the parallel FX market.
Meanwhile, at the official market, the Naira stood at N1,509.03 per dollar as of Wednesday from N1,507.2 traded on Tuesday this week, according to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s official data.
The rate across FX markets showed that the discrepancy or difference has been eroded, resulting in FX rate convergence.
Nigeria benchmarked its N54.9 trillion 2025 annual budget yet to be signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at N1500 per dollar mark.
This is also as the CBN Monetary Policy Committee agreed to pause interest hikes in Nigeria.
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Omowunmi Aloba, widow of late Nigerian music star Mohbad, has revealed how she met the late singer.
The mother of one disclosed that she met Mohbad 12 years ago when they were both teenagers on social media app 2Go.
She stated they began their relationship as friends before progressing to lovers.
Speaking in a recent interview with TVC, Omowunmi said, “I met him when I was 13 on 2Go. That was 12 years ago. I used to be a rapper and he sang, too, so we started as friends. We were very young then. He was 15. He proposed relationship to me and I accepted. We later got married and had a child together.”
Mohbad died on 12 September 2023, and less than 24 hours after his tragic passing, his father, Joseph Aloba, buried him in Ikorodu, Lagos State.
His body was exhumed on 21 September for an autopsy due to controversies surrounding his death.
The results of the autopsy are still pending but the father of the deceased, Joseph Aloba, has previously stated that the body of the singer would only be reburied when the autopsy results are released and a DNA test is conducted on his grandson, Liam, to ascertain his true paternity.
Controversial Nigerian actor, Yul Edochie has accused any woman kicking against DNA test for her children of hiding something.
The actor made the assertion in a post on his Instagram page on Friday.
While advising men not to fall for any justifications provided by such a woman, Edochie noted that a clear conscience has nothing to be scared of.
“Any woman who refuses to do a DNA test on her child when it is demanded, is hiding something. Don’t fall for any excuse she gives to you. She is hiding something. A clear conscience fears nothing.”
This is coming months after the ex-husband of Judy Austin, who is Yul Edochie’s second wife, accused her of going out with the actor while still married to his.
Reacting to her former husband, Obasi, Judy denied the allegation, stating that he met Yul after her separation from her first marriage.
•Says, Persons of Interest attempting to use neighbouring countries to access Nigeria
•Says: ‘Nigeria, not a safe haven for criminals’
The Federal government has announced plans to cancel its Visa-on-Arrival policy, saying “it is not working”. Accordingly, government is set to introduce landing and exit cards which prospective visitors would pre-fill before coming into the country.
Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo spoke on Friday during the closing ceremony of the week long capacity building training on Advance Passenger Information / Passenger Name Record API/PNR Data in National Security and Law Enforcement held at the headquarters of the Nigeria Immigration Service NIS in Abuja.
According to him, some persons of interest have been trying to evade the new systems out in place across Nigeria’s five international airports. He said intelligence has revealed that such persons now travel to neighbouring countries in order to access Nigeria through its vast land borders.
Consequently, he said the ministry will work with relevant partners to deploy the API/PNR system across its land borders, noting that Nigeria cannot be a destination for criminals.
At the event, Comptroller General Immigration Service CGIS, Kemi Nandap said the programme originated from discussions held with the United Nations Organization on Counter Terrorism in Bangkok, Thailand last year. Nandap said the immigration service has a crop of well-trained and patriotic personnel who are ready to give their best to the country.
Objective profiling
The Interior minister said the API/PNR is not optional, recalling that system was not on place when he was made minister. He said; “What the API, PNR gives us is objectivity in decision making, objective profiling, not subjective profiling. What we had was subjective. The visa system, that is one of the core, because I always tell people the visa is not just an approval of entry, it is a migration management device. It is a security device to manage migration into your country. So the way it is at the moment is very subjective. We are not really too objective and that is why we are automating the whole process end-to-end. And the e-visa solution, we are working hard to be able to meet the first of March or peradventure if we are unable, the 1st of April, we will hit it live.
“We automate the system. People apply online and we will do what we need to do. That solution will be integrated with the Interpol system, the criminal records system, so that we can be able to take decisions. We do not want foreign attachés approving and issuing visas. It is not going to be that any more, we want to be able to screen people more. This cannot be a destination for wanted criminals in the world. Nigeria is not a safe haven for any criminal and it will never be.
“Another thing we are trying to do even for our expatriates is to see how we can integrate all these our immigration solutions. What we are doing is to harmonize all these solutions in our data centre, harmonize the database and be able to let the solutions speak to one another rather than having solutions in silos. “We want to have integrated solutions. So what we are looking at is that for any decision that borders on immigration into Nigeria, it will be impossible for approvals to be given without the clearance of interpol, criminal records system and all background checking agencies in real time. Security is not a sector where you can afford to be 99.9% correct.
“People must fill the landing card which will be integrated with the visa solution, integrated with the passport solution, then to all background checking systems across the world before you come. So we will be able to share this data with other agencies and across the world. This is to sanitize the process. A scenario where it is difficult for NIS,on the tip of a finger, to tell me the number of foreigners who are into Nigeria is unacceptable. A scenario where somebody comes into Nigeria, disappears, and becomes untraceable is unacceptable. A scenario where there is abuse of immigration policies and processes is unacceptable. A scenario where somebody needs to come to Nigeria, stay for six months, waiting to regularize the residency in Nigeria is unacceptable. It is not done anywhere in the world. So we are going to bring these massive reforms and these reforms start between March 1 and April 1. Why we are trying to do these is to be able to safeguard our people, is for us to be responsible in the comity of Nations, and for us to be able to contribute our fair quota to international peace”, he added.
FG approves relocation of 29 custodial centres
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has approved the relocation of 29 out of Nigeria’s 256 Custodial Centres due to rapid urbanization. Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo disclosed this on Friday in ABUJA when he commissioned 39 mini green maria for conveyance of inmates to and from courts, and five bullet resistant guard booths at the headquarters of the Nigeria Correctional Service NCoS in Abuja. The minister also explained the idea behind the establishment of a paramilitary academy, saying paramilitary jobs are not poverty alleviation schemes but lifelong careers that young Nigerians should aspire to get.
[Vanguard]
The Labour Party (LP) in Osun has announced its withdrawal from Saturday’s LG election in the state.
According to NAN, Adebayo Bello, chairman of LP in Osun, announced the party’s withdrawal in Osogbo, the state capital, on Friday.
Bello said the party’s decision to withdraw from the election was due to a lack of preparedness of the State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) to conduct a peaceful poll.
The Osun LP leader added that the election should be postponed for one or two months to enable OSSIEC to prepare adequately.
On his part, Oyebode Babalola, a chairmanship candidate on the platform of LP, said there are “some traces that the election might be disrupted tomorrow,” adding that participating will “put the lives of our people in jeopardy”.
“Although we are ready for the election, but we are not going to participate due to security concerns,” Babalola added.
Adewale Adebayo, the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) chairman, also said his party will not participate in the election.
Adebayo added that when he attempted to officially deliver the party’s withdrawal letter to the OSSIEC office on Thursday, no commission official was present.
“We want to confirm that we are not participating in the illegal local government election, slated for Saturday,” he said.
“We are very disappointed that all OSSIEC staff, including its chairman, have absconded from their headquarters since Wednesday.”
The Osun LG elections are scheduled for Saturday across 30 LGAs and 323 wards in the state.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has also withdrawn from the elections, citing that participating in the poll would contradict an appeal court’s ruling.
Also, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has called for the suspension of the LG election in the state over a high likelihood of violence and security threats.
[TheCAble]