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The National Assembly yesterday waded into the controversy generated by the Federal Government’s plan to peg the age limit for students to write the West Africa Senior Secondary School Certificate, WASSCE, examination at 18 years.
It will be recalled that the Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, announced plans on Sunday by the federal government to set the age limit for the examination to 18 years.
This is even as the government’s decision yesterday elicited more condemnations, as former Vice President Abubakar Atiku and civil society organisations, CSOs, described it as archaic and draconian.
They also asked the government to put it on hold and call a meeting of stakeholders in the education sector to deliberate on the matter.
It’ll be subjected to public hearing — Senate
Reacting to the development yesterday, the Senate said it would subject the issue to public hearing when it comes before senators.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South), said: “The Senate will consider, through it’s relevant committee, public views on any government policy brought to our legislative notice. Whatever is brought to the Senate for constitutional and statutory stamps shall be subjected to legislative crucible which includes public hearings.”
We haven’t been briefed — Reps
On his part, spokesman of the House of Representatives, Akin Rotimi, said the Green Chamber has no position on the matter yet, as members have not been briefed.
‘’I cannot say anything for now. When the House resumes and the matter is brought before it, it will be looked into,” he said.
However, aside from the former vice president, others who reacted included founder of Concerned Parents and Educators Network, CPE, Mrs Yinka Ogunde; the National Coordinator of Education Rights Campaign, ERC, Hassan Soweto; Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education, CHRICED; and Global Rights Nigeria, among others.
They were reacting to the statement by the Minister of Education, on Sunday night that the government had pegged the age at which candidates would sit for the examination at 18 beginning from next year.
The development would also mean that such candidates would not be able to write the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, for placement into higher institutions until they are 18, since candidates need WASSCE results to back up their admission processes.
Mamman had earlier in the year, suggested making 18 the admission age into higher institutions during a stakeholders’ meeting called by JAMB, but was opposed by most of the participants
Policy archaic, barrier to academic freedom — Atiku
Condemning government’s declaration yesterday, Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2023 elections, described the policy thrust as absurd and a barrier to academic freedom.
Atiku aired his thoughts in a piece, titled “Tinubu’s policy on age limit for tertiary education admission belongs in the Stone Ages,” posted on his Facebook page.
He wrote: “The recent policy of the Federal Ministry of Education pegging age limit for entry to tertiary institutions is an absurdity and a disincentive to scholarship.
“The policy runs foul of the delineation of responsibilities in a federal system of government such as we are practising, and gives a graphic impression of how the Tinubu government behaves like a lost sailor on a high sea.
“Otherwise, how is such anti-scholarship regulation the next logical step in the myriad of issues besetting our educational system?
“To be clear, the Nigerian constitution puts education in the concurrent list of schedules, in which the sub-national governments enjoy more roles above the Federal Government.
“Therefore, it is extra-constitutional for the Federal Government to legislate on education like a decree.
“The best global standard for such regulation is to allow the sub-national governments to make respective laws or rules on education.
“It is discouraging that even while announcing this obnoxious policy, the government inadvertently said it had no plan to cater for specially gifted pupils.
“The statement is an embarrassment to the body of intellectuals in the country because it portrays Nigeria as a country where gifted students are not appreciated.
“The irony here is that should the Federal Government play any role in education, it is to set up mechanisms that will identify and grant scholarships to gifted students, not minding their ages, before applying for admission into tertiary institutions.
“This controversial policy belongs in the stone ages and should be roundly condemned by everyone who believes in intellectual freedom and accessibility.”
FG should not act like a military regime —CPE
In her reaction, the founder of CPE, Mrs Yinka Ogunde, noted that the Federal Government has not considered many things before deciding on the policy.
“The Federal Ministry of Education cannot be run by making arbitrary decisions. It has created dilemmas and confusion all over the country. We need to start from the foundation. If stakeholders in the sector agreed that students should be at least 18 before seeking admission to tertiary institutions, among others, it is not something to be done by fiat.
“We will have to start from primary school where no pupil is allowed to be in primary one unless he or she is six years. Then we enforce such and if any private school defaults, the owner can be penalised and if it is a public school, the head teacher can be sanctioned too.
“But to wake up and say from next year, we would do this, is not realistic. We are not in a military regime and people should be consulted.
“If we are starting it this year, what becomes of millions of secondary school students who are not going to clock 18 before they graduate from their schools? We are not in a dictatorship and necessary consultations must be done and if we are starting now, it should be from the foundation, which is primary school,” she said.
No minimum age for marriage but education —Global Rights
Also reacting, Executive Director, Global Rights Nigeria, Abiodun Baiyewu, called on the Federal Government to review the policy.
Baiyewu said: “I think the policy needs to be reviewed, given the global competition Nigerian children will be confronted with, aside taking away their right to be self-determining, and right to development, which are fundamental human rights.
“Most advanced countries mandate that children remain in school till they turn 17 to ensure they get as much education as possible, given that in most systems, they can complete secondary education.
“In Nigeria, education is not compulsory. Nigeria has the most number of out-of-school children in the world (20 million).
“Barring children from accessing higher education till they turn 18 does not guarantee them the security of staying in secondary school till they turn 18. A break in their education might mean the end of their education.
“It is amusing that the government has a minimum age for accessing tertiary education but no minimum age for marriage!
“Thousands of girls are withdrawn from school and married off before they are equipped physically, psychologically and/or economically to contend with marriage and the responsibilities it comes with.
“Even in countries where there are minimum access age, there are exceptions for exceptionally gifted children to access tertiary education or their curriculum before they attain the minimum age.
Another retrogressive policy — ANEEJ
Executive Director, Africa Network for Environmental and Economic Justice, ANEEJ, Rev David Ugolor, disagreed with the policy, describing it as retrogressive.
Ugolor accused policymakers of having their children school abroad and failing to consider children back home.
He said: “This is another retrogressive policy that will retard the progress of the country. Unfortunately, most of the policy makers have their families outside the country and they continue to release policies that have no basis for progress.
“The issue of age looks absurd, considering global best practice. I would like to see evidence why this policy will be a good option because the government hardly cares about data.”
Suspend policy immediately – ERC
Similarly, the National Coordinator of Education Rights Campaign, ERC, Hassan Taiwo Soweto, called for immediate suspension of the policy because the minister did not follow due consultation before making such a directive.
“We ask for the immediate suspension of this policy, pending democratic consultation by stakeholders in the education sector. Our call for suspension is based on the following.
‘’First and foremost, the sudden enforcement of this policy has negative implications for thousands of young people who have applied for admission into tertiary institutions and were supremely qualified to do so until the minister of education suddenly decided to enforce this policy.
“As far as we are concerned, we do not agree that the lives and future of our young ones should be forfeited as a result of this policy, which has been dormant for years. Many of these young children and aspiring undergraduates knew nothing about it.
‘’They applied to primary school at an early age, completed this, and moved on to secondary school meritoriously. It is not their fault they graduated from secondary school at an age earlier than the standard prescribed in law, so they should not be punished for something they know nothing about.
“Two, the minister cannot suddenly wake up to remember a policy that has been dormant for years and begin to enforce it just like that. Where is the space for consultation? Where is the respect for the public?
‘’This policy has been routinely flouted by school authorities for decades. The greatest culprits are private primary and secondary schools, which admit pupils at ages earlier than what the standard prescribes.
‘’To make matters worse, the policy of double and triple promotions of brilliant students by these private schools has added to the distortion of educational standards by ensuring that many pupils jump over different stages of their education.
“These are the issues the minister should address first. Where is the inspectorate directorate of the Ministry of Education in all these? To us, what should be enforced first is the respect of school authorities for laid down educational standards.
‘’What the Ministry of education is trying to do now is to ambush students when the real problem is the irresponsibility of the ministry towards the discharge of its function as a monitoring and inspectorate agency for both public and private schools.
“The last reason we are calling for suspension is that this policy does not appear relevant to our reality at present, especially at a period when our understanding and conception of the age of adolescence and adulthood is evolving before our very eyes.
‘’Particularly, in this millennium, adulthood often comes earlier than 18 years. This is why many countries in the world are reviewing the legal framework for the age of adulthood in their respective jurisdictions.
“At the same time, we recognise the concern that many have, that children are being robbed of their childhood because of the demand and pressure of early and rushed education. This is a valid concern, but it is not something that can be imposed, especially by a Ministry of Education that has been brazenly irresponsible in the discharge of its functions.
“We need a middle point, and the only way to arrive at that is to subject this policy to a thorough discussion by stakeholders before rushing to enforce it.
‘’To this extent, we ask the minister to convene a summit of stakeholders in the education sector, including parents, unions, and civil society organisations, to have a thorough discussion that can link Nigeria’s national policy on education with current realities. In the meantime, this policy should be immediately suspended.”
Policy’ll lead to capital flight — Don
Also, a university lecturer, Dr Stella Aririguzuh, said the policy would lead to capital flight.
Aririguzuh, who is the Head, Department of Mass Communication, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, said this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sango-Ota yesterday.
“More parents will send their children to schools outside Nigeria, further depleting our resources,” Aririguzuh said.
She explained that the policy would kill the zeal of students to push themselves to achieve more in their younger days.
Aririguzuh, however, noted that the advantage of the policy was that the country would have matured students coming into the universities.
CHRICED, Northern Youths Blast FG over policy
In their reactions yesterday, the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education, CHRICED, and Arewa Youth Assembly faulted the policy, describing it as absurd and unconstitutional.
According to Dr. Zikirullahi Ibrahim, Executive Director of CHRICED, the policy violates the 1999 Constitution which lists education as a concurrent responsibility of local governments, states, and the Federal Government.
Dr. Ibrahim noted that the federal government’s move was absurd and doubted anyone would comply with it.
He warned that the policy might lead to increased forgery and age falsification, undermining its intended purpose.
He stated: “I believe this is the problem we face with the current regime; the government continually makes ‘wrong’ decisions.
“Education is part of the concurrent list in the 1999 constitution, as amended. Local government councils and states also have roles to play in education. Is the Federal Government attempting to override that section of the constitution?
“If a state government decides not to comply with the Federal Government and the SSCE is conducted nationally, will the state be exempted?
“Therefore, the Federal Government’s move is absurd, and I’m not sure anyone will comply with it. Such actions may push Nigerians toward forgery of birth certificates and age falsification.
“Every child has unique potential and is endowed differently. Insisting that 18 years is the minimum age for WASSCE will not work; it is a flawed idea because Nigerians are unlikely to comply.”
Reacting in the same vein, Mohammed Danlami, Coordinator of Arewa Youth Assembly, argued that the policy will hinder Nigeria’s progress by stifling the intellectual growth of young prodigies.
He questioned whether rapid promotions due to natural intelligence or intellectual gifts should be halted because of age.
Danlami also raised concerns about its impact on Nigeria’s education system, already plagued by ASUU strikes and prolonged JAMB registration processes.
He stated: “Some students experience rapid promotions due to their natural intelligence or intellectual gifts. Are we going to halt their educational advancements because of their age? This is not the kind of law we need in Nigeria.
“If we can have university graduates at 18, it should be a source of pride for the nation. Do we want to be a country that graduates its youth at the age 30 or 35?
“If we want Nigeria to progress, we should focus on empowering our young people early in life. How do we harness their agility and idealistic perspectives? By educating them early and helping them graduate in their early twenties.
“With ASUU strikes and multiple attempts at JAMB before admission, many may not graduate before turning 30. In the job market, employers prefer graduates in their early twenties.”
Wale Edun, minister of finance, says the whistleblowing policy has helped the federal government to recover N83 billion, $609 million, and €5 million.
Edun spoke on Wednesday at a one-day sensitisation workshop on implementing the policy in Nigeria.
The policy was introduced by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2016, but attempts to enact a legislative framework have failed repeatedly.
“The policy has already shown promise, with significant recoveries made since its inception in 2016,” Edun said.
“The whistleblowing policy has recovered funds totalling N83,019,178,375.86; $609,083,391.91; 5,494,743.71 Euros between 2017 and 2023.”
Edun, however, said more needs to be done to encourage Nigerians to own the fight against corruption and report financial misappropriation.
The minister said the bill is being prepared and will be presented to the national assembly soon.
He said the proposed bill seeks to provide a robust legal framework for protecting whistleblowers and ensure that reports are handled with confidentiality and prompt action.
Edun assured of the Tinubu-led administration’s commitment to ensuring that the policy is pursued with strict compliance with the rule of law to achieve transparency and accountability in governance.
‘POLICY PROVEN TO BE A TOOL IN UNCOVERING CORRUPT PRACTICES’
In his remarks, Okokon Ekanem Udo, the permanent secretary of special duties at the ministry, said the whistleblower policy, since its inception, has proven to be one of the veritable tools in uncovering corrupt practices within the public and private sectors.
Udo said it intends to empower citizens to report identified misappropriation of public funds and other fraudulent activities to the relevant authorities, thereby contributing towards the institutionalisation of transparency and accountability in governance.
The permanent secretary said the implementation of the policy has encountered some challenges just like other government policies.
“At the initial stage, there was widespread enthusiasm on the part of Nigerians about the introduction of the policy. The momentum and popularity that heralded its introduction need to be reinforced and sustained,” he said.
Udo said the sensitisation workshop was designed to deepen the understanding of the policy in Nigeria and also foster cooperation among the key stakeholders.
These stakeholders, he said, include the implementing team, the civil society organisations, as well as members of the media.
Also speaking, Lydia Shehu Jafiya, permanent secretary at the ministry, said it is important to focus on strengthening the protection of whistleblowers and safeguarding their identities.
This, she said, would encourage more individuals to come forward and contribute to the fight against corruption and misconduct.
Jafiya, who was represented by Olusola Dada, the ministry’s director of human resources, said there is a need to improve reporting mechanisms to make reporting channels more accessible, user-friendly and effective.
“It is essential that these mechanisms not only facilitate the reporting of concerns but also ensure that those concerns are addressed promptly and transparently,” Jafiya said.
She said the journey towards an effective whistleblowing regime is a collaborative effort.
According to the statement, with the reinvigoration of the whistleblower policy, the government aims to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of public finances and preserve the country’s assets.
The ministry said the draft bill is a significant step towards achieving this goal and demonstrates the government’s commitment to fighting corruption and promoting good governance.
...husband seeks financial assistance
A 54-year-old Nigerian woman, Alake Latoyosi gave birth to 11 babies in Cotonou, Benin Republic.
While her husband, Yahaya Nafiu, 56, is seeking help to support his family’s care for the babies and their mother.
Nafiu, the Missioner of Ilorin Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU) in Port Novo, Ajasse, and Cotonou in the neighbouring West African country, said his 54-year-old wife delivered the babies in two batches. The first set of six arrived on 7 August, while the second arrived seven days later, on 14 August.
According to the father, a birth attendant took delivery of the babies on the two occasions.
The babies consisted of eight males and three females, but two of the girls died during delivery.
Nafiu said the remaining nine are hale and hearty. However, he said he struggled to meet the huge financial cost of caring for them and their mother.
“A few days after the delivery of the first set of children, my wife said she felt strange movements in her stomach. After a scan was carried out at the hospital, the doctor revealed that she was carrying another set of children, which led them to contact the initial birth attendant, and the next set of five babies was delivered”, Mr Nafiu said.
According to him, the pregnancy lasted over three years before the delivery.
He said the hospital could not ascertain the pregnancy position of his wife, resulting in the doctors being unable to carry out a Caesarian operation. The cleric attributed the experience to an evil spiritual influence on the doctors.
Canada is currently witnessing widespread protests as approximately 70,000 international students take to the streets against the new immigration policies implemented by the federal government under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
These demonstrations, which have spread across various provinces such as Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Manitoba, and British Columbia, highlight the growing unrest among foreign students.
According to a report by City News Toronto, the discontent stems from a series of policy changes that have significantly impacted international students.
In 2021, Canada eliminated the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program, which previously allowed international students to gain work experience after completing their studies.
Further tightening of immigration rules came last year when the federal government introduced a two-year cap on international student visas.
The changes have had a profound effect on the student population. By 2023, international students made up 37% of all study visa holders in Canada, contributing to the strain on housing, employment, and other services.
The new cap on student visas is expected to reduce the intake of foreign students by 35%, further exacerbating the situation.
In response to these challenges, the Canadian government announced in June that foreign nationals would no longer be able to apply for a PGWP at the border, adding to the difficulties faced by international students.
The protests have been fueled by fears that many graduates may face deportation when their work permits expire at the end of the year. The Naujawan Support Network, a student advocacy group, has been vocal in its concerns, warning that the situation is dire for many students.
The situation has been compounded by new provincial policies that have reduced the number of permanent residency nominations by 25%, making it even harder for international students to remain in the country.
Mehakdeep Singh, a former international student now facing deportation, expressed his frustration to City News Toronto: “I spent six years taking risks to come to Canada. I studied, worked, paid taxes, and earned enough Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, but the government has taken advantage of us.
A 71-year-old man has been admitted to lacing his wife’s Coca-Cola drink with drugs, including cocaine and MDMA, with the intention of killing her and marrying her daughter.
Alfred W Ruf pleaded guilty to spiking his wife’s beverages at least a dozen times in 2021, state court documents obtained by WXIN.
Ruf’s wife reached out to cops in January 2022 after Ruf admitted to attempting to poison her to death.
The wife said she had been to the hospital a half dozen times in a matter of weeks after experiencing headaches, diarrhoea and drowsiness, among other symptoms.
She tested positive for a few drugs she did not knowingly consume herself, including cocaine, MDMA and benzodiazepines.
Responding Richmond police officers reportedly heard Ruf say that he added an "unknown substance" to his wife’s drink that her own daughter had given to him.
The wife turned over to cops a pill bottle that was filled with an off-white coloured powder, as well as a Coke can with a similar residue.
Ruf then admitted that he tried to kill his wife in order to marry her daughter. He said the substance made his wife sleep for about 13 hours straight.
"He stated that he would do this to eventually kill her," stated the court documents.
Ruf claimed that the daughter and a friend told him to put the powder into his wife’s Coke can and wait for her to doze off, and that the pair would then go to his Indiana home to "put on a show".
He added that he had s3xual intercourse with one of the women while the other woman stole his wife’s possessions. Ruf said he paid the women for the s3x acts.
The daughter told Ruf to "get mom out of the picture" and cash in on her insurance policy, he claimed. Ruf said that the daughter planned to tie the knot with him after they "took care of" his wife
Ruf reportedly confessed to what he did to his wife "because he felt bad".
But the wife told authorities that Ruf admitted he was "drugging" her in order to engage in s3xual activities with the daughter and her friend.
Ruf on Monday, August 26, pled guilty in Wayne County Court to aggravated battery posing a risk of death. He had a charge of conspiracy to commit m*rder dismissed.
Ruf has been sentenced to four years behind bars, as well as five years of probation.
The federal government has revealed the identity of the woman behind a viral video clip threatening the mass killing of Nigerians in Canada.
Her identity was revealed by the chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
The woman, in a viral video on social media, threatened to poison Nigerians living in Canada.
She added that she is a resident of Ontario, Canada, and dared anyone to report her to the Canadian authorities.
The woman, who spoke mainly in Pidgin English, is believed to have made the threat in a virtual meeting on Tiktok.
She vowed to take poisonous substances to her workplace and poison any Yoruba or Benin person she came across due to the ‘hate’ against Igbos.
She said: “Record me very well; it’s time to start poisoning the Yoruba and the Benin. Put poison for all una food for work. Put poison for una water, make una dey kpai one by one.”
“I want make Ndi Igbo get that heart of wickedness. Una too dey quiet,” the woman added.
“Enough is enough! If you have any means of kpaing them, kpai them commot for road,” she said.
However, on Wednesday, 28th August, Dabiri-Erewa identified the woman as Amaka Patience Sunnberger.
Amaka Patience Sunnberger
In a post via her X account, the NIDCOM chairman disclosed that the woman has deleted her Tiktok account but added that a group of Nigerians in Canada are reporting her officially to authorities in the North American country.
“This is the picture of the lady behind the voice.Amaka Patience Sunnberger. She has deleted her TikTok account and a group of Nigerians in Canada are reporting her officially to the relevant authorities in Canada . Thanks for alerting everyone,” Dabiri-Erewa said.
The Nigeria Immigration Service has deported a Zimbabwean Bishop, Eben K. Nhiwatawi, for participating in the Methodist Church leadership election process while on a tourist visa.
In a statement issued by its Public Relations Officer, Kenneth Udo, on Wednesday, the NIS described the Bishop’s actions as a clear violation of the terms and privileges associated with the tourist visa, as outlined in the Nigeria Visa Policy 2024.
The statement read in part, “On 24th August 2024, Mr Eben K. Nhiwatawi, a Zimbabwean Bishop, was apprehended in Yola, Adamawa State, for violating Immigration protocols.
“The Bishop arrived in the country on 21st August 2024, with a Tourist Visa (F5A) meant solely for tourism purposes.
However, he was found to be participating in the Methodist Church leadership election process, which is in clear violation of the terms and privileges associated with the Tourist Visa as provided in the Nigeria Visa Policy 2024.
“In light of the above, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, with Ministerial approval, has ordered his immediate repatriation from the country.
“While the Service encourages the lawful inflow of Foreign Direct Investment and individuals engaging in business and social activities, as key facilitators of economic growth and development, it will not tolerate any violation of the country’s Immigration laws.
“The Service remains committed to preserving the country’s national security and will continue to monitor the activities of foreigners for such purposes.”
A policeman identified as Inspector Collins Wilson has reportedly killed three individuals in an attempt to cover up a theft committed by his girlfriend, known only as Esther.
The incident occurred on Monday, August 26th, when Esther was accused of stealing a phone from a tricycle driver who had been transporting her.
Eyewitnesses report that the theft became apparent when the stolen phone rang in her possession, prompting a confrontation between Esther and bystanders. As tensions escalated, Esther called her boyfriend, Inspector Wilson, to the scene.
Upon his arrival, Inspector Wilson, in a desperate bid to protect Esther and conceal her crime, drew his service weapon and ordered her to stand behind him. He then opened fire at close range, killing two individuals on the spot.
One of the victims was the tricycle driver who was transporting Esther, while the other was a bystander who was attempting to mediate the situation.
A third victim, the motorcyclist who had brought Inspector Wilson to the scene, was critically injured, and initially taken to Garki Hospital but was reportedly rejected. He later succumbed to his injuries at the National Hospital were he could not get proper attention as the doctors are said to be on strike.
After the shooting, Inspector Wilson commandeered another tricycle and fled the scene with Esther. He later abandoned the tricycle and switched to a motorcycle to evade detection. However, the motorcyclist who transported Wilson back to his post was able to direct outraged residents to his location.
Residents swiftly mobilized and apprehended Inspector Wilson and Esther at the estate where he was stationed. The vicious was cop and his girlfriend were later handed over to the police.
Authorities of the Force have yet to release an official statement on the incident, but residents on Tuesday are said to have brought two of the victims’ bodies to the police command, demanding justice.
Several passengers were injured following a late-night collision involving two Bus Rapid Transit buses at the Iyana Ipaja area of Lagos on Tuesday.
The collision happened within the BRT lane on Lagos-Abeokuta Express Way, near Danco Filling Station.
According to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, the injured passengers were rushed to a nearby medical facility for treatment. Fortunately, no lives were lost in the incident.
An additional statement by the head of the public affairs unit, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Nosa Okunbor said, investigations revealed that the accident occurred when one BRT bus attempted to avoid hitting a commercial motorcyclist illegally using the BRT corridor, resulting in a collision with an oncoming BRT bus.
According to Okunbor passengers from both buses suffered varying degrees of injuries and were taken to the hospital before the arrival of the response team.
“However, passengers of both buses reportedly suffered various degrees of injuries and were all taken to the nearest hospital before the arrival of the Agency’s Response Team,” he said.
He added that two tow trucks were deployed to remove the damaged buses from the road, ensuring a smooth flow of traffic.
Media
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— Punch Newspapers (@MobilePunch) August 28, 2024
Several passengers were injured following a late-night collision involving two Bus Rapid Transit buses at the Iyana Ipaja area of Lagos on Tuesday.
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A Yoruba Nollywood actor, Yusuf Olorungbede is reportedly dead.
His death was announced by some of his colleagues in the Yoruba movie industry.
Announcing his death, Nollywood actress, Foluke Daramola, wrote on her verified Instagram handle, “We lost Yusuf Olorungbede… We submit to God’s Will. Thank You Everyone!”
Another actor, Oladimeji Peter on Facebook said, , “It is Sad to hear you are gone.
“As an Actor you gave me courage, you are the first director that will invite me to movie location and pay me, not just that alone, my feeding and personal accomodation was settled without stress,how will I write up my stories in this industry and slide your name EGBON????Ko possible through you I met alot and I learnt so much from you. Good night Boss man ? Yusuf Olorungbede ???”
Olorungbede had been sick for a while and was placed on life support days before his death.
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Popular prophet of the Celestial Church of Christ, Israel Ogundipe, has revealed how a bank offered him N1 billion loan.
Ogundipe, who is the founder of Genesis Global Ministry, Lagos, said he was offered the loan to help him expand his ministry to reach more members globally.
He revealed this while speaking on a show of popular Nigerian On-Air Personality, Ifedayo Olarinde, also known as Daddy Freeze on Tuesday.
He also mentioned that the bank, which he refused to name, showed him details of churches that have collected similar loans.
Ogundipe explained that from the list he was shown, some churches took loans ranging from N3 billion to N4 billion.
“A bank called me two months ago and said they wish to loan me N1 billion. They offered me the loan and I asked them what for. They replied that they know churches are getting it (loan) and I would be able to pay it back because they know my church is big.
“Then I asked them how they want me to be paying back, and they said when we are doing revivals, crusades, we’ll be paying back monthly.
“And they mentioned some churches who got loans from them ranging from N3 billion to N4 billion. And I asked them how they expected me to pay back such an amount and they said those that collect such loans, that’s why they would never stop doing conferences, crusades, and revivals, and from there, they would get money to pay back,” the pastor said.
Ogundipe was in 2020 convicted and sentenced to jail for defrauding a London-based architect and converting her property for personal use.
The pastor was arraigned on a seven-count which includes stealing, unlawful conversion of property, forgery, and fraudulently collecting sums of N14m and £ 12,000 from the victim between 2002 and 2005.
The International Criminal Police Organisation has arrested more than 300 people with links to one of West Africa’s most feared criminal networks, Black Axe, and other affiliated groups.
In a series of covert missions, tagged, “Operation Jackal III” in 21 countries between April and July 2024, Interpol said the highly-coordinated cybercrime group was responsible for some of the world’s cyber-enabled financial fraud and many other serious crimes, BBC reports Wednesday.
While the police labelled the operation as a “major blow” to the Nigerian crime network, it equally warned of its worldwide reach and technological sophistication — making the Black Axe a global threat.
The report noted that Operation Jackal III had led to the seizure of $3 million of illegal assets and more than 700 bank accounts being frozen.
A senior official at Interpol’s Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre, Tomonobu Kaya, stressed the significance of financial technology and cryptocurrency in aiding the operations of cybercrime syndicates which are renowned for multi-million dollar online scams.
He said, “They are very organised and very structured. These criminal syndicates are early adopters of new technologies… A lot of fintech developments make it easy to illegally move money around the world.”
The Black Axe is a secretive criminal network involved in trafficking, prostitution and killing operations around the world. However, cybercrime is the group’s largest source of revenue.
The report noted that several members of the dreaded group are university-educated and were recruited into the group during their schooling.
In a 2022 report by Interpol, it said, “Black Axe and similar groups are responsible for the majority of the world’s cyber-enabled financial fraud as well as many other serious crimes.”
Multiple so-called “Jackal” police operations have taken place since 2022. Dozens of Black Axe and other gang members had been arrested and their electronic devices seized during these transnational raids.
In one example, Canadian authorities said they busted a money-laundering scheme linked to Black Axe worth more than $5 billion (£3.8bn) in 2017.
Dealing with highly sophisticated criminal groups requires a high level of technological expertise and personnel.
Interpol said it had launched the Global Rapid Intervention of Payments system which enables the authorities in its 196-member countries to freeze bank accounts around the world with unprecedented speed.
The mechanism was used to halt a $40m scam targeting a Singaporean business in July 2024, the police said.
Kaya noted, “We need to have data and to collate our findings from these countries to help build a picture of their modus operandi. If we can gather this data, we can take action.”
In his view, the West Africa Regional Coordinator from the Institute for Security Studies, Dr Oluwole Ojewale, blamed the government for its laxity in curtailing criminal groups such as the Black Axe, among others.
He also said politicians use members of these syndicates for their gains, providing them with the necessary tools to defraud innocent people and commit other atrocities.
“The general failure of governance in the country has put pressure on people to be initiated (into the Black Axe). It is the politicians who are arming these boys,” he asserted.
Ojewale added that “the emphasis must be on prevention not on outright operations against these criminal groups.”
President Bola Tinubu, in February 2024, pledged increased support for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to increase its capacity to tackle digital offences.
This was as he deplored what he termed “mislabelling and blanket stereotyping” of Nigeria as a country with the highest prevalence of cybercrime and other forms of corrupt practices among its population.
In November 2023, the Nigerian Senate expressed concerns over an annual loss of $500m to various forms of cybercrime across the country.
It warned that if the national cybersecurity programme was not effectively funded, the gains of the digital economy would be defeated.
The report also recalled that Interpol’s Jackal Operations originated from Ireland.
In 2020, the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau identified 1,000 people with links to Black Axe and arrested several members, paving the way for the exposure of a far wider network.
A detective superintendent at the GNECB, Michael Cryan, who led the operation, said Ireland had experienced a surge in money laundering, owing to the criminal acts of the Black Axe.
“They were very under the radar, very low-key. The amount of money being laundered through Ireland was astronomical.
“Bank robberies are now done with laptops – they are far more sophisticated. This is not a typical or ordinary crime… People who make decisions need to know how serious this is,” Cryan said.
He estimated that €200m ($220m; £170m) had been stolen online in Ireland in the past five years and that only accounts for the 20% of cyber-crimes that are believed to be reported.
More than €1m in crypto-assets were also seized during one operation, the report added.
Award-winning cinematography and music producer, ThankGod Omori popularly known as TG Omori, has revealed that he had a failed kidney transplant after his brother donated to him to improve his kidney-related ailment.
Omori revealed this on Wednesday, shortly after disclosing that he was going through hell and that Nigerians should pray for him.
He wrote, “One year after my kidney crashed, I just had a failed transplant at St Nicolas Hospital Lagos. Pray for me.”
The cinematographer also noted that he had gone into the theatre three times already and that he was not just destined to die today.
The PUNCH earlier reported that Omori recounted his brother donating his kidney to him.
“Yesterday, my only brother gave me one of his kidneys so I could live again.
“Keep my spirit alive. I don’t wanna die,” he wrote.
The music producer, who has been away from the public for some time now, shared the picture of him crying on the hospital bed while receiving oxygen.
Although he has been making cryptic tweets about his health before the recent transplant.
Last month, the award-winning music producer wrote on his X handle, “If I cross your mind, sometimes say a prayer for me.
“Poor marijuana, they blame you for all my rasclaat.
“You wanna eat, I wanna live.”
These revelations have left netizens concerned about his health; many have left words of encouragement and prayers for his quick healing and recovery.
A user on X.com, who tweeted with the handle #Mr Ebony, said, “The biggest sacrifices are from families, especially brothers. Quick recovery bruh.”
Another user who tweeted anonymously with the handle #Ikorodu President wrote, “Ohh really, hadn’t been you tell me I would have gladly give you one of mine so you can live.”
“Stay strong, wishing you speed recovery. Nothing go do you in Jesus name,” A user with handle #Honest30bgfan said.
“When they tell you to stop smoking, you guys won’t listen. Thank God for giving you a second chance,” a user with the handle #Realtimmywrld opined.
One Winifred, who tweeted on X.com as Winifred, said, “Such a sweet soul he is. Wishing you a quick healing.”
TG Omori, also known as Boy Director, is a familiar name to Nigerian music lovers.
He has been active in the music industry since 2018 and has directed videos for a diverse range of music recording artistes, including Olamide, Wizkid, Burna Boy, Tekno, Kizz Daniel, Fireboy DML, Falz, Naira Marley, Asake, and many others.
Nigeria At The Mercy Of Terrorists And Bandits, We Have A Nearly Ineffective Government To Protect Us – Peter Obi
AFOLABI
The 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has lamented the growing insecurity in Nigeria, fuelled by the activities of terrorists and bandits.
Obi, in a statement on Wednesday, decried the collapse of the nation’s security infrastructure, lamenting that Nigerians are at the mercy of terrorists and bandits.
Speaking against the backdrop of the recent killing of the Emir of Gobir by kidnappers and the subsequent return to abduct 150 innocent people, and steal 1,000 cattle by the bandits after the brutal killing of the traditional ruler, Peter Obi described the event as beyond tragedy and now a national emergency.
The former Anambra State Governor demanded the government take decisive action on the challenges of insecurity bedevilling the country, noting that it is time to put an end to rhetoric statements without corresponding action.
“Still reeling from the shocking news of the tragic murder of the Emir of Gobir, my earlier message reflected my deep sorrow and dismay. Yet, even those words now feel insufficient to convey the weight of one’s feeling of tragic loss.
“This most recent atrocity marks the tipping point in the decline of a failing state. The fact that, according to widely circulated reports, the terrorists returned to the emir’s domain, abducted 150 innocent people, and stole 1,000 cattle, after his brutal murder serves as a grim indication of the continued collapse of our national security infrastructure. We are now at the mercy of terrorists and bandits, with a nearly ineffective government to protect us. This is not just a tragedy, but a national emergency.
“We demand decisive action, not empty rhetoric, to confront this crisis. This is why I strongly advocate for a declaration of war on insecurity, the food crisis, and poverty—a stance that some have twisted, distorted, and used for their agendas.
“It’s time for us to take collective responsibility. We cannot stand by as our nation deteriorates to this unacceptable level. We must revive our commitment to the safety and security of all Nigerians. Enough must now be enough. -PO,” Obi wrote via his account on the X platform.