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Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has revealed how he saved President Bola Tinubu’s political career.
Atiku stated this while reacting to the widely held position that the President Tinubu came to his rescue following his spat with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, leading to his contesting the presidential election on the platform of Action Congress (AC) in 2007.
The former president said without his support to President Tinubu, his political career could have ended as the governor of Lagos State.
Atiku, in a statement through his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, said, “Vice President Kashim Shettima goofed when he claimed that former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar benefited from President Bola Tinubu’s goodwill when he was being “persecuted” in the PDP.
“Truth be told, it was Tinubu that actually benefited immensely from Atiku’s goodwill. But for Atiku’s support, hinged on his pro-democracy instincts and rule of law, Tinubu’s tenure as governor of Lagos would have been rough with a wide possibility of termination of his political career.
“For some time, and especially leading up to the 2023 election, there has been a deliberate attempt to distort the history of the politics of the early 4th Republic by ascribing the AC, the political platform that Atiku ran in 2007 as Tinubu’s party.
“Nothing can be further from the truth. Vice President Shettima, obviously carried away with the euphoria of the unveiling of his official residence as Vice President, repeated the same lie.
“Shettima needs to be reminded that Atiku did not run under the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), but Action Congress (AC). AC came out of a coalition of ACD (Advance Congress of Democrats), formed by mainly PDM members and other associates and Tinubu’s faction of AD.”
According to him, President Tinubu was not in a position to lend the platform to Atiku “as erroneously being suggested, as he (Atiku) was nominated by all the delegates from all the states.”
He then went further to name the delegates to the primaries of the election that threw up the former Vice President as the party’s presidential candidate to include Atiku Abubakar himself, Lawal Keita, Amb. Yahaya Kwande, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, Alexis Anielo, Titi Ajanaku, former Governor Rasheed Ladoja, Chief Tom Ikimi, and Chief Dapo Sarumi.
Others he said were Chief Sergeant Awuse, Alh. Lawan, Dr. Chris Ngige, Prof Ango Abdulahi, Dr Farouk Abdul Azeez, Chief Audu Ogbeh, Chief Ejiofor Onyia, and Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, among others.
He added that from Tinubu’s Alliance for Democracy were Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Chief Segun Osoba, Chief Adebayo Adefarati, and Chief Bisi Akande, among others.
Popular Nigerian actress, Yvonne Jegede has opened up about her separation from her ex-husband, Olakunle ‘Abounce’ Fawole, in 2019.
Speaking on a snippet of the upcoming episode of “The Honest Bunch” podcast, Jegede expressed regret in choosing love over financial stability in her marriage.
She said her ex-husband’s inability to handle jokes on age difference contributed to their marriage crash.
“He’s eight years older than me, but the moment we got married, if I tell am say e dey craze he will say I’m disrespecting him. It’s the same me, it’s the same se orie ope (are you crazy) that you know. I’ve always said this for over 10 years,” she said.
When questioned about her decision to leave the marriage, Jegede clarified that the cause was not merely the perceived disrespect.
“That was what made me pause, but it was not even close to what ended it,” she noted.
She disclosed that financial imbalance added to their separation. “Let me just state the fact I was bringing more of the money. Today I’m taking care of my son like nobody exists around me. It’s not easy and it’s not funny. I for go for money,” she stated.
While recalling her pregnancy period, Jegede said, “I get belle, e know say I get belle, I will go my friend house for Ikoyi go stay,” she recounted, while noting the difficulties she endured.
In 2019, the mother of one confirmed the end of her marriage to fellow actor Olakunle ‘Abounce’ Fawole, barely a year after they tied the knot.
Former employees of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have criticized their abrupt termination, pointing fingers at the management for mistreatment and injustice.
They alleged that numerous individuals were not compensated with their entitlements before their termination, a decision they contended breaches the bank’s human resource regulations and policies.
In a statement made on Sunday in Jos, the capital of Plateau State, the North Central Coordinator of the Conference of Autochthonous Ethnic Communities Development Association Youth Wing, Paul Dekete, demanded the immediate reinstatement of the dismissed workers.
The statement partly read, “The purge wasn’t limited to high-level executives. It extended far beyond directors, impacting Deputy Directors and Assistant Directors who formed the backbone of departmental operations. These were not junior staff; they were seasoned professionals with deep institutional knowledge.
“For example, the Director of Information Technology was overseeing crucial projects on the very day they were terminated, including efforts to secure international information security certifications for the bank.
“In a particularly egregious case, a Director on special assignment, tasked with leading the bank’s efforts to secure an ISO certification for information security, was sacked on the very day the bank successfully achieved this crucial milestone.
“Central banking relies heavily on robust cybersecurity measures, and this certification is a testament to the Director’s competence and the bank’s commitment to financial security. This abrupt dismissal, on the day of a major accomplishment, raises serious questions about the planning and rationale behind the mass layoffs.
“The mass sack violated the bank’s own HR policy, which mandates board approval for executive terminations.
“This blatant disregard for due process has raised serious questions about transparency. The CBN, a federal institution, must adhere to public service rules. This dismissal exercise, carried out without board approval, lacks a solid legal foundation.
“Making matters worse, the bank offered no clear criteria for the mass sacking. This is a stark departure from their established culture of clear communication with staff during downsizing exercises.”
Dekete, speaking on behalf of the dismissed CBN workers, highlighted the abrupt termination process, which left long-serving employees jobless without consideration for their loyalty and dedication.
The dismissals not only caused financial distress, with loans tied to salaries immediately deducted, but also raised concerns of ethnic bias, particularly affecting the North Central and South Eastern regions.
Additionally, the removal of the entire Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU) raised worries about the bank’s ability to combat financial crimes effectively.
Dekete urged for a review of the termination decisions and called upon regional governors to intervene and address the concerning situation.
According to seasoned Nigerian comedian Atunyota Alleluya Akpobome, also referred to as Alibaba, some people are now liquidating their investments in order to flee the nation.
In the past few years, a large number of people in the entertainment business have departed the nation, he added.
Alibaba claimed that given their abilities and opportunities, some of the individuals who leave Nigeria could have survived the country’s current economic conditions during an appearance on Channels TV’s Sunrise programme.
He said, “When I said unpredictable, it is that some things that have been happening are things that people have not prepared for. So, you found out that people are now dipping their hands into savings, if there were any, and trying to manage their resources.
“Also, between January and now, out of 10 people that I said ‘they would not Japa’, you just hear somebody call you later and say, ‘Oh, you know, I’ve not been around’. And you say, Okay, ‘when are you coming back?’ And they say they’re not coming back.
“I know about four comedians who have travelled and many more in entertainment who have travelled. The sad thing is that some of these people who are travelling are some people who seemingly could have survived in the economy because of the talent that they had, the potential, and the opportunities that had come to them.”
The ace comedian also narrated how his friend left the country to give his children a better life.
“So, when you find those kinds of people leaving, they’re now thinking, What do I have over these people that I’m still here? Right? Is it patriotism? Is it family ties? Is it hope and expectations? but many people are liquidating investments and travelling,” Alibaba said.
“A friend of mine travelled two days after Valentine’s. We had a Valentine’s party, and he was there. Everything was okay. And then he called me in May to say, ah, ‘how are you? How are you? How’s Nigeria?’ I said, You’re here, too. Then he said he left on February 16.
“I said, What happened? He said that he had weighed it over time, that if he was spending X amount of money raising three of his kids, it would be good if somebody took off the cost of education from him so that he could then express himself in other ways and have a good life.
“He also said that if you raise your children, and after you raise the children at the age of 21, or 22, you still have to take care of them, then it’s good to go to a society where if you raise them to 18, or 20, they can begin to take care of themselves or find work somehow.
“Besides, if you raise them in a certain country, by the time they’ve done four, five, or six years, certainty is what you can say about citizenship. So they then have dual citizenship, and you’ve opened more opportunities for them to survive and succeed.”
[OpinionNigeria]
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, Nyesom Wike, last week, drew the ire of Nigerians during the commissioning of a road named after Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, when he ordered some newly appointed Permanent Secretaries to bow before President Bola Tinubu.
President Tinubu had named the road from Northern Parkway to outer Northern expressway in Abuja after the playwright, following the recommendation by the FCT minister.
In a post via his X on Tuesday, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the highway would now be called Professor Wole Soyinka Highway.
Naming the road, President Tinubu highlighted Soyinka’s contributions to literature and his role in elevating Nigeria’s global cultural standing.
The president also asserted that the novelist had brought honour and fame to Nigeria through his contributions to literature and commitment to human rights and social justice.
Tinubu added that the gesture was a fitting tribute to a man who has dedicated his life to the pursuit of truth, freedom, and artistic excellence.
He said: “Professor Wole Soyinka has brought immense honour and fame to Nigeria through his unparalleled contributions to literature and his unwavering commitment to human rights and social justice.
“Naming this highway after him is a fitting tribute to a man who has dedicated his life to the pursuit of truth, freedom, and artistic excellence,” the president said.
Commending Wike for his recommendation, the President also said: “Your recommendation to name this road as ‘Wole Soyinka Way’ is well received. He is our foremost playwright, novelist, and Nobel Prize winner, who has brought fame to Nigeria; a pride of international acclaim.
“Thank you for thinking that way. We accept your recommendation on behalf of the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Recall that Soyinka has been under fire in recent times for saying that the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, was unfit to lead the country.
The poet said this had become evident with the conduct of his supporters, popularly known as ‘Obidients,’ during the electioneering period of the 2023 general elections.
Soyinka stated that Obi’s failure to intervene in his supporters’ attacks on others with opposing views online was a sign that he was unfit to become Nigerian president.
However, with the road named after him by the President, many had started to connect one and two to arrive at a conclusion that it was a reward well deserved for Soyinka’s acerbic attacks on the Labour Party presidential candidate, Obi.
As Nigerians were still struggling to wrap their heads around the propriety or otherwise of the highway naming after Soyinka, the FCT minister, again, stirred the hornet’s nest.
Wike caused a frenzy after he ordered the newly appointed permanent secretaries to bow before President Tinubu in appreciation of their appointment.
He stated that the Permanent Secretaries had lost the hope of rising to the peak of their career, and should be grateful and appreciative that President Tinubu had helped them to attain that height.
Speaking during the event, Wike said: “Most of them have never dreamt in their lives that they will ever get to the peak of their careers. That is very important; not just the infrastructure every day.
“So, if you permit me, I don’t know those beneficiaries; I don’t know whether the Permanent Secretaries are here. Come out, come out.
“You are the beneficiary here; you are supposed to be the agents of the Renewed Hope Agenda, come out.
“Both women and men, everyone; face here and take a bow before Mr. President; you are the lucky ones. Your Excellency, these are the first set of permanent secretaries that you made.
“Head of service, are you not a permanent secretary? And that is their head of service. These are the technical teams now that we have. So I want to sincerely thank you.”
Wike also said most of the Permanent Secretaries had been visiting churches and mosques, praying for the new position.
He added that they should be happy that God has answered their prayer and that they could only express their gratitude by bowing down before the President through whom their prayers were answered.
“Now, most of them have been going to churches and mosques. They have been praying that God should help them to be head of service. But it was not there before.
“For them to be head of service, it was not available. But now, you have made it available. I know some of their pastors who have been praying for them.
“So, I also told them that they should pray for me to recommend them to you. That is also very important.
“Your Excellency, this road was awarded in 2020. In fact, this is the fastest; not the one that was awarded 15 or 16 years ago.
“It was awarded in 2020 at the cost of N30.6 billion, and luckily, this is the one that has never had variations,” he said.
On March 12, Tinubu appointed Atang Samuel as head of the civil service in the FCT. He also appointed some permanent secretaries in the FCT.
The permanent secretaries were Adam Babagana (North-East), Wanki Adamu Ibrahim (North-East), Asmau Mukhtar (North-West), Dogo Bodinga (North-West), Olusa Olusegun (South-West), Adetoyi Rabiu Kolawole (South-West), Grace Adayilo (North-Central), Olubunmi Olowookere (North-Central), Ibe Prospect Chukwuemeka (South-east), and Okonkwo Florence Nonubari (South-south)
However, while some Nigerians saw Wike’s action as a joke and laughed over it, others saw it as a serious insult on the sensibilities of not only the permanent secretaries involved, but also on the entire country.
But, as some Nigerians were still attacking Wike for reducing the position of a permanent secretary to such a low level, by ordering them around as if they were his domestic staff, Wike repeated the drama on another occasion.
This time, it was the turn of the six area council chairmen to take a bow before the President.
The FCT minister, who ostensibly was aware of the barrage of attacks on him for ordering the permanent secretaries to bow before the President, did not feel he did anything wrong.
Instead, he wondered why Nigerians find it difficult to appreciate somebody’s good works, and were always willing to criticise unnecessarily.
Speaking at the second event, he said: “Some Nigerians can never see anything good in what we do. They keep criticizing and asking: how can you ask people who are Permanent Secretaries in their level to come out and take a bow?
“Instead of them to comment that Mr President has done well by giving hope to these people who had no hope before. Their anger is that the Permanent Secretaries were asked to come out and take a bow before Mr President.
“Today, I want to call on the agents of the Renewed Hope Agenda; let me call on the Area Council Chairmen.
“These are the six area council chairmen; Mr President, it is not about party, it is about agents of Renewed Hope Agenda in the Area Councils and they are doing well working with us. And I want them to take a bow before you.”
One of those who took serious exception to the minister’s action is a top civil servant with the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Ray Mufti, who said Wike should understand that the permanent secretaries were not appointed by the president because he loves them or because they belong to his ethnic or religious group.
He said they were appointed because they merited the position following their long years of service, coupled with their dedication and hard work.
He warned the minister to desist from reducing the self esteem of civil servants, particularly the very senior ones among them because it will not do him any good in the long run.
“With the way Wike is telling the permanent secretaries to bow before Tinubu, you will think that whatever promotion they got was from the president.
But, it was their hard work and years of service to the nation that got them there, and not Mr President as Wike was trying to paint the picture.
“So, if the minister wants to be in the President’s good books, he should know that running down the senior civil servants the way he did will not help him in any way,” he said.
Also commenting on the development on Arise TV’s Morning Show, Reuben Abati equally said the FCT minister didn’t do well at all.
He was also of the view that nobody has done any favour to the senior civil servants as they got what they deserved as a result of hard work and years of service.
He said: “Nobody has done those Permanent Secretaries any favour. These are career civil servants, who rose to the very top.
“I think the Minister didn’t do well by asking them to bow before the President; that was not good enough.”
He added that if the minister wanted to impress the president, he should have asked the permanent secretaries to bow down the Yoruba way since the president is a Yoruba man.
“The President is a Yoruba man, so, Wike should have asked the men to prostrate, and the women to kneel.
“So, next time he wants to do this kind of thing, the men should prostrate, while the women kneel down. That will be more appropriate,” he submitted.
Another concerned Nigeria and legal practitioner based in Lagos, Marcellus Onah, also said he wouldn’t have obeyed the minister if he was among the permanent secretaries.
“Well, if I were in their shoes, I would politely tell the minister that I will not bow before any man.
“We can only bow before God. Perhaps, if you are in court, the judge there is your lord, so you can bow before the judge,” he said.
For Chidiebere Eze, he wondered why such seasoned men and women who have risen to the highest office in the Nigerian civil service would line themselves up in servile subservience and took their turns to bow before the president, just because a minister, an appointee of the president commanded them to do so.
He stressed that after all the ceremony was not an item on the programme for the day’s event, but Wike deliberately forced it in, just to curry the President’s favour.
He condemned Wike’s contempt and disrespect for the Perm Secs.
“The disdain was so clear, as demonstrated by every word with which he summoned the men and women to that enterprise.
“The permanent secretaries disappointed me and a lot of Nigerians as they marshaled themselves out in a single file to bow before the President.
“What I saw was a group of men and women who were completely stripped of any iota of respect and who have lost the aura of their offices in exchange for their seats,” he said.
[DailyPost]
'God works in mysterious ways' - Drama As Prophet Gets Banned From Casinos For Winning Too Much
AFOLABI
Prophet Archbishop Emmanuel Mutumwa, a Zimbabwean prophet who made a claim that God has provided him with the winning formula at casinos, has been banned from gambling establishments after reportedly winning $30,000 at one of the outlets.
Commenting on getting banned, Prophet Archbishop Emmanuel Mutumwa, the leader of the Johanne Masowe eChishanu Apostolic Sect, who revealed that his winning is the biggest at a local casino said; “This is the biggest win ever recorded at the casino. I broke the previous record by almost double, and it was the biggest jackpot won on the site this year.
"My celebrations were cut short, however, because I have been banned by other casinos for winning too much. They claim that since I am a prophet, I am receiving visions from God about the winning numbers. They fear they will go bankrupt because I will win too often”
Defending his winnings, he disclosed that he used the money to pay school fees for some of his church members and to provide start-up funds for their businesses. He also defended gambling.
He added; “God works in mysterious ways. This win wasn’t about luck, but a test of faith. I prayed for guidance, and the Lord provided the numbers through a vision. Isn’t it a blessing to use these winnings to uplift my congregation? Gambling, when done responsibly, can be a source of good fortune that can be channelled towards helping others.
"Many people also come to me for spiritual guidance on winning lottery games, at casinos, or when placing bets. Interestingly, many of them have reported winning much more frequently since seeking my guidance.”
A manager at a local casino confirmed that betting establishments typically restrict or close accounts of those who win consistently. This policy aims to protect the financial stability of the casinos.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested 127 suspected internet fraudsters during a “Yahoo Party” in Akure, Ondo State.
The suspects were apprehended in an early morning raid on Saturday, June 8, 2024, at simultaneous parties held at Signature and Abah Clubs in the state capital.
According to an EFCC Statement on Saturday, credible intelligence indicated the party was initially scheduled for Wednesday, June 5, but was postponed to Saturday in an attempt to evade the commission’s security and intelligence networks.
“Operatives of the Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the EFCC arrested One Hundred and Twenty-Seven (127) suspected internet fraudsters in Ondo State. The alleged internet fraudsters were arrested in an early morning sting operation at a ‘Yahoo Party’ held simultaneously at Signature and Abah Clubs on Saturday, June 8, 2024, in Akure,” the statement said.
The statement further revealed that the suspects have provided useful information to investigators, and various items were recovered from them, including ten exotic cars, phones, laptops, a motorcycle, wristwatches, and many incriminating documents.
“Items recovered from them include ten exotic cars, phones, laptops, motor-cycle, wristwatches and many incriminating documents,” the statement added.
The EFCC assured that the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
The raid is part of the commission’s ongoing efforts to clamp down on internet fraud, commonly known as “Yahoo Yahoo,” which has become a growing concern in the country.
Boko Haram Terrorists Attack Commercial Bus In Yobe, Execute Three Identified Christians - CAN Laments
AFOLABI
Some suspected Boko Haram militants have reportedly killed three passengers in a commercial bus, who were identified as being of the Christian faith in Yobe State.
SaharaReporters reports that the terrorists stopped the bus near Kamuya village in the Biu Local Government Area of Borno State and whisked away four persons identified as Christians.
Three of them were later executed by the terrorists in a nearby bush. The whereabouts of the fourth person is not known as of the time of this report.
Sources in Kamuya village told SaharaReporters that the executed christians were travelling from Biu in Borno State to Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, when the tragic incident happened.
"At about 9am, they stopped the bus a few kilometers away from Kamuya village and led four passengers into the bush as we watched from afar. We immediately scampered to leave the area.
"It is really sad that they killed three of the abducted, as we later saw on Facebook. May God expose these terrorists and bring an end to their nefarious activities," a source who pleaded anonymity said.
The Secretary of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Yobe State, Reverend Ibrahim Abako also confirmed the incident in a statement.
“I want to inform you that, we are not happy. Very sad news! On behalf of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Yobe State chapter, we condemn in totality, the killing of three Christian youths along Damaturu-Biu Federal Highway.
"CAN is urging the state government, military and the police to take measures to protect the citizens regardless of their religious affiliation," Abako stated.
When contacted on the incident, the spokesperson for the police in Yobe State, DSP Dungus Abdulkarim declined to confirm the matter. He however told SaharaReporters to direct the question to the military.
On his part, the spokesperson for the Nigerian Army, Major Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, did not answer repeated calls, just as he did not reply to a text message sent to his mobile phone.
Rep Member, Ibe Osonwa, Kicks As EEDC Charges Constituency N2.1bn Electricity Bill Despite Five Years Of Darkness.
AFOLABI
The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) has handed the residents of Ohafia with an electricity bill for N2.1 billion naira, which has alarmed Ibe Okwara Osonwa, the member of the House of Representatives representing Arochukwu, the federal constituency of Ohafia.
Osonwa claimed that the ridiculous charge was issued to his constituents despite the fact that Ohafia has been without power for almost five years.
The House of Representatives member, who disclosed this in Umuahia while briefing journalists on his first year in the green chambers, said he had taken moves to end the crazy bill saga, among other accomplishments.
He suggested that the Federal government should cancel the licence of any electrical provider that is unable to produce electricity, claiming that inadequate power supply is the cause of Nigeria’s economic problems.
The legislator bemoaned the recent murder of a woman in Isu community constituency, stating that he had worked with the security services and administration of Abia State to bring peace back to the volatile region.
In addition to claiming to have introduced a bill in the National Assembly to rename Ohafia General Hospital the Federal Medical Centre, Osonwa added that his constituency’s crumbling bridges, poor roads, and threat of gully erosion needed to be addressed.
On the Nigerian Labour Congress’ (NLC) minimum wage demand, the legislator stated that the N400,000 demand is unreasonable, suggesting that workers should be paid N100,000 as a living wage.
He utilised the occasion to point out that members of the National Assembly do not receive large salaries, and that those who accuse them of being indifferent to the condition of Nigerian workers are just being unfair to the legislators.
The Federal Government has banned hoteliers across the country from lodging teenagers and underage girls in their facilities.
Naija News reports that the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, read the riot acts on Saturday at the ‘Unlock Training and Grants’ ceremony in Abuja.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education, Abiola Arogundade, organised the programme, which saw 200 young entrepreneurs receive N100 million.
Speaking at the event, Kennedy-Ohanenye vowed it would no longer be business as usual as hoteliers who lodge underage girls risk being sanctioned.
To further depict the seriousness of the Federal Government, the minister disclosed that hoteliers, especially in the Federal Capital Territory, have been directed to mount a signpost outside their hotels warning prospective clients not to lodge underage girls in their premises.
She also extended the riot acts to school proprietors across the country, warning that they should ensure that no student is allowed to be bullied by either teachers or students.
She said, “Nigeria must be better. From 20th (June), we have directed hotels to put a sign outside from the Ministry of Women. No lodging of underage girls. (Otherwise) what happened in Niger State will be an understatement of what will happen in the FCT and I mean it.
“No more lodging of underage girls and no more bullying in schools.”
While speaking with journalists, Kennedy-Ohanenye said the FG has commenced a probe into the distasteful viral clip of 10 Nigerian teenagers who were rescued from neighbòuring Ghana, where they were trafficked for prostitution.
The minister promised that the government would take decisive action on the matter next Monday.
She added, “Women are suffering in this country. Today, we have talked about the need to allow the poor to breathe in this country.
“Meanwhile I am sure you saw the video circulating about our girls taken to Ghana. Did you see it? Very good. Action will start on Monday. You will hear about our action first thing on Monday morning. That is the first thing I am going to approach and see what we can do about it.”
More...
Court orders final forfeiture of private varsity built by ex-civil servant with stolen funds
AFOLABI
The federal high court sitting in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of NOK University and all of its assets said to be linked to one Anthony Hassan, a former director of finance and accounts at the federal ministry of health.
In a 2022 ruling on an ex parte motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/688/2022, and filed by Ekele Iheanacho, counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the federal high court had ordered that the institution be temporarily forfeited to the federal government.
The commission had alleged that Hassan diverted public funds with which he acquired the identified assets.
The EFCC also alleged that the former director diverted the funds running into billions of naira through the government integrated financial management information system (GIFMIS).
GIFMIS, an IT-based system for accounting and budget management, was designed by the federal government to actualise integrated and automated information systems and promote modernised fiscal processes.
In a statement on Saturday, the EFCC said it had filed an order of final forfeiture of the said properties.
The statement said Iheanacho established before the court the fact that Hassan built NOK University using proceeds of unlawful activities traced to him.
Physical assets of the university forfeited include the senate building, ICT building, faculty of medicine building, science deanery building, two academic buildings, a faculty hall and other buildings.
The judge also ordered the interim forfeiture of Gwasmyen water factory, Gwasmyen event centre and Gwasmyen international hotel, all said to be linked to Hassan.
“The Commission, had, through its investigative Officer, Adaora Asabe Oragudosi investigated some verified intelligence bordering on criminal conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and money laundering against some staff of the Federal Ministry of Health where the properties ordered forfeited were traced to the defendant,” the statement reads.
Delivering judgment on the matter on Friday, the court held that the respondent failed woefully in tilting the scale of evidence in his favour.
Nollywood actress cum movie producer, Peju Johnson, has opened up about using financial demands to scare men requesting a romantic relationship with her.
Naija News reports that the movie star, in an interview with Punch, condemned women’s financial demands from men who desire to date them.
However, Peju stated that some men keep disturbing women even when they are uninterested in the relationship, and she uses financial demands to chase such men away.
She said, “I wouldn’t say it’s right (to make financial demands from men). But, I like to chase men away (from me) by making financial demands. For example, after telling some men that one is not interested in a relationship with them, they would still keep sending one lots of messages daily, professing how they love and care for one, even when most of what they are saying are lies. Many of them, especially married men, just want to sleep with one. That can be disturbing and exhausting for me. So, instead of blocking them, I use financial demands to chase them away. One won’t see their ‘brake light’ after that.”
On what she considers the most challenging role she has ever played, Peju said, “That would be the role I played in the movie I produced titled, ‘Payback’. I played the role of a tout. I did not believe I could play the role, and it was really challenging for me. But, with the help of the director, I pulled it off.”
Asked about the biggest sacrifice she had ever made for love, the actress said, “Many years ago, my former boyfriend, who I thought I would settle down with, asked me to stop my acting career for his sake. He did not want me to be an actress, because he is a jealous type. He wanted me only to himself. And, I actually quit acting because of him. But, he ended up cheating on me and impregnated someone else. Thereafter, we broke up and I went back to acting.”
President Bola Tinubu has named the M18 road in the Guzape district of the federal capital territory (FCT) as Chinua Achebe expressway.
Olusegun Dada, special assistant to the president on social media, said the president inaugurated the expressway on Saturday before naming it after the late renowned novelist.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Commissions the M18 road infrastructure in Guzape District of Abuja. Names road after Nigerian Novelist and Poet, late Professor Chinua Achebe,” he wrote.
Achebe died in 2013 at the age of 83. He was a Nigerian novelist, poet, and critic who is regarded as one of the fathers of modern African literature.
On Tuesday, Tinubu named the inaugurated arterial road N20 from the northern parkway to the outer northern expressway (ONEX) in the nation’s capital after Wole Soyinka, a famous playwright.
Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, had said the naming of the road after Soyinka was recommended by the FCT administration.
Soyinka is the first African to win the Nobel Prize for literature.
In May, Nyesom Wike, the FCT minister, named Abuja’s southern parkway after Tinubu.
The southern parkway stretches from the National Christian Centre to ring road one and is considered one of the city’s major spines.
'She didn’t tell me she was going to die' - Lady Who Admitted Having Sexual Relations With Dogs Kills Self
AFOLABI
A young lady who recently confessed on a podcast to engaging in sexual activities with her dogs has tragically taken her own life.
The confession was made during a candid discussion on a podcast hosted by Nollywood actress, Abiola Adebayo, where the lady discussed her struggles stemming from early trauma and subsequent exploitation.
Throughout the episode, the lady’s identity was kept confidential as her face was blurred, while she shared her distressing experiences of abuse during her childhood.
The woman shared, “When I was in school, in my room, I would lock my room and call my two dogs to lick my private parts. I would start crying afterwards and start cursing myself. I was not attracted to any man.”
However, in a short video on her official Instagram page on Saturday, Adebayo revealed the news that the woman had taken her own life.
Through tears, Adebayo said, “For the first time in my life, I feel like a failure. Nike died. The lady I just interviewed who said she slept with dogs committed suicide. People heard her story. They abused me. They said we formulated the story that they are not real. I gave her a listening ear, but she didn’t tell me she was going to die.
“She committed suicide. I sent her number to therapists. I didn’t know she was going to commit suicide.”