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FEATURES

FEATURES

Controversial Islamic scholar, Ahmad Gumi has made an allegation against security agencies.

He claimed that security agents know the hideouts of bandits.

Gumi said security agents who accompanied him during negotiations knew the hideouts of the bandits in the Northern part of the country.

Speaking with Nigeria Info FM, on security agencies not knowing the hideout of bandits, the cleric said: “I don’t think they (security agents) are truthful with you. When I go, I go with them; I don’t go alone.”

On the identities of the bandits, Gumi said they are mainly herdsmen, who are largely Nigerians with few foreigners.

The cleric also emphasized the necessity of negotiation with the perpetrators behind the recent abduction of approximately 287 students from Kuriga Government Secondary and LEA Primary Schools in the Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna State.

He proposed that negotiation could lead to a safe return of the captives without necessarily involving financial transactions, hinting at potential prisoner swaps.

Gumi portrayed the bandits as marginalized citizens deprived of basic social services like education, infrastructure, and water.

Last modified on Thursday, 21 March 2024 06:45

The suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, Prof Cyril Ndifon has made a claim against the lawyer representing the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC.

Ndifon claimed that ICPC lawyer is not registered to practice in Nigeria.


He told the Federal High Court, Abuja, that this contravened Section 2 of the Legal Practitioners Act which states that a practicing lawyer’s name must be contained on the roll of legal practitioners in the country.

Recall that the professor is currently standing trial on amended four counts of alleged sexual harassment and gratification.

Also joined in the matter is his lawyer, Sunny Anyanwu, who was alleged to have harassed ICPC’s star witness, urging her to shun the ICPC’s invitation.

Dr. Osuobeni Akponimisingha has been appearing in court for the ICPC alongside Joshua Alobo.

In a motion on notice filed on behalf of the suspended Dean by their lawyer, Joe Agi, they urged the court to acquit them of the sexual harassment and cybercrime charges filed against them by the ICPC.

The motion on notice partly read, “The amended charge in this case is incompetent and preferred by a person whose name is not on the roll of legal practitioners in Nigeria under Section 2 of the Legal Practitioners Act and thus robbing this court of its jurisdiction.

“The amended charge was preferred by one Dr Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha, a person whose name is not on the roll of legal practitioners in Nigeria under Section 2 of the Legal Practitioners Act.”

The defendants also urged the court to refer the two prosecution counsel to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee.

“We hereby seek an order of court striking out the amended charge, in this case, same being incompetent and preferred by a person whose name is not on the roll of legal practitioners in Nigeria under Section 2 of the Legal Practitioners Act and thus robbing this court of its jurisdiction.

“An order of court striking out all the appearance of Joshua E. Alobo from the prosecution counsel for appearing as a private legal practitioner in a criminal case without the fiat of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation.

“An order of court referring both Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha and Joshua E. Alobo to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee for answering and caused to printed on their processes the title ‘Dr.’ ‘Professor’ when they do not have the academic qualifications to show for the titles thereby misrepresenting themselves to the public and bringing legal profession to ridicule and shame.”

President Bola Tinubu has been issued a warning by the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

The party says Tinubu will struggle to get two per cent votes in the 2027 presidential election in the capital if he fails to stop the minister, Nyesom Wike from killing the party.


The party leaders stated this at a press conference in Abuja, lamenting the disregard of APC members in recent appointments made by Wike.

They also said the party may lose the next Area Councils election if the situation remains unchanged, claiming that the minister is killing the political structure of the APC in FCT due to his lack of regard for the party and its leadership.

The APC chieftains, led by convener, Comrade Abdulwahab Ekekhide, and co-convener, David Omobolaji Obaje, said the minister, since assuming office, has refused to sit with the leadership of the party, even though the party has written him a series of letters for him to grant them audience, but all to no avail.

Recall that Wike, a PDP member, was appointed FCT minister by President Tinubu, the leader of the APC.

Ekekhide, however, said the leadership and entire members of the APC family in the FCT, in unison, reject “in very strong terms the continuous lopsided appointments, abandonment and total disregard for the APC in FCT by the minister.”

“We call on Mr. President, who is the Governor-General to call the Minister to order, so that he can retrace his steps and start empowering the party or else, the party will struggle to get 2% for the President in the 2027 Presidential election and may lose the next Area Councils election if the situation remains this way.

“As we all know, the President is the Governor-General of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), but delegates his powers to a Minister, and today Barr. Nyesom Wike is standing in for the President as Hon. Minister of the FCT,” he added.

Last modified on Thursday, 21 March 2024 06:45

Vote NO May 22 2015

 

Clerics have advised the federal government and National Assembly not to succumb to the pressure of legalising gay marriage in Nigeria.


They spoke at the 16th edition of St. Patrick Archdiocesan Feast Day celebration and cultural fiesta and launching of N70 million for community bus, organised by St. Patrick Edo/Delta Catholic Community, Holy Rosary Parish, Wuse-Abuja.

Addressing newsmen at the event, Bishop of Uromi Diocese, Donatus Ogun, said homosexuality was against God’s plan of creation.

He said: “Naturally, homosexuality is contrary to the divine plan. Homosexuality for many reasons opposes God’s plan because it doesn’t lead to procreation.

“When God created man and woman, he said be fruitful and multiply. To multiply is one of the vocations of the human person. The supposed orientation of people going after the same sex, is not part of God’s plan.

“I think personally we are managing a crisis of global economy, those who call themselves the bigger economies, are trying to manipulate the poorer nations.”

DNA test

 

A Nigerian man, Steven Opeyemi Moses, has cried out after a DNA test revealed that he is not the biological father of a child with an SS genotype, which his wife had claimed was his.

Moses had appeared on a Nigerian-based TV courtroom show last year to present the matter.


He revealed on the show that his wife gave birth one year after marriage, only to discover that while he was AA, his wife, who was AS, had an SS-carrier son. During the hearing, the judge reportedly ordered a DNA test to be carried out, and the DNA analysis revealed a 0% probability of paternity, indicating a negative result.

Following a clip shared by an X user, Moses provided an update revealing that his ‘wife’ has since refused to undergo a maternity test.

He made this known in a series of posts on his X account (@SteveMosoes) on Monday.

He wrote: “I am still in awe of how we got here. We got married precisely on May 21, 2016. A year down the line she got pregnant and gave birth on her birthday November 8, 2018. The first crisis the body had we spent thousands in hospital and that’s when we first discovered he was SS.

“At this point I was confused. She first told me it was the enemy that was doing us through the boy. I didn’t believe and at the same time I didn’t argue with her. I started making my research if it was possible for AA + AS to produce SS.”

“I saw some rare occasions of extreme weather conditions but it wasn’t possible in Nigeria as a result of good weather. I spoke to few councillors and midwives in Ifako General Hospital and Lagos State teaching Hospital.

“We kept on living together, & we kept praying & fasting and nothing change. The boy kept on going through crisis. At this point we were already out of cash and could not afford a DNA test because I was already uncomfortable, having confirmed from many sources that it was impossible.

“For me to produce SS even when I marry SS as a AA. So I started voicing my displeasure out to my friends and one of them pointed me to Justice Court that they will do the DNA test for free. So I contacted them and arranged a sample for me and the boy for Paternity test.


“Paternity test results came out in December, and we had a court session where it was unveiled as seen in the video. Since December, she has been dulging and refusing to pick calls from Justice Court to carry out the Judge verdict to run a maternity test.

“So as I write this story, Justice Court has not been able to reach her over the phone. She is not picking calls. One funny thing in all this is, in November last year. Her family got me arrested from Ajuwon Police Station because I was not dropping upkeep for the said child.

“It took intervention of our family lawyer to get the case out of police station. I remember the police were supporting her. In December, DNA results came out and it was negative. The need to clear herself arises and she went into isolation.”

He also dismissed the possibility of a ‘child-swap’ at the hospital.

“The above video shows the last part that says ‘Is the child swap in hospital?’ It may be possible, but the chances are slim. I was present in the labour room and there were only two woman in labour that day. It wasn’t a hospital; it was Ojodu Health Center at Gbadamosi, Ojodu.


“The other woman already gave birth while she was in labour. I remember following the nurse to clean him up & collected him back. I dropped him beside her on the bed waited for her sister to come and then I left to cook something for her. Honestly, this marriage wrecked me.”

Last modified on Thursday, 21 March 2024 06:45

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has released its timetable and schedule of activities leading to the party’s selection of a candidate on April 25, 2024, ahead of the November 16, 2024 governorship election in Ondo State.

The APC timetable released late Monday was signed by the party’s National Organising Secretary, Sulaimon Argungu.

According to the party, the sale of nominations, expression of interest and delegate forms for contestants will begin on April 3 and end on April 10, 2024, while the primary election is slated for April 25, 2024.

The APC pegged the price for the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms at N10m and N40m respectively for Ondo.

The party stated that female aspirants and persons living with disabilities are to pay for Expression of Interest while the Nomination Form is free.

“Youths from 25 to 40 years are to purchase Expression of Interest forms with a 50% discount on Nomination Forms,” the APC stated.

Contenders for the APC ticket in Ondo include Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, former Ondo deputy governor, who succeeded the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu after the latter’s death on December 27, 2023.

A former Commissioner for Finance in the state, Wale Akinterinwa; as well as Senator representing Ondo South, Jimoh Ibrahim, also want the party’s ticket.

Ondo and Edo are two of the eight states where governorship elections are held off-season due to litigations and court judgements.

The others are Anambra, Bayelsa, Ekiti, Imo, Kogi and Osun.

The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) began a three-day national mourning period on Monday to commemorate the 17 soldiers who were killed by angry youths in Okuama, Ughelli South Local Government Area (LGA) of Delta State.

Naija News reports that the soldiers who were deployed on a “peaceful and mediatory mission” were killed during a communal clash between Okuama and Okoloba communities.

Among the deceased are Lieutenant Colonel Abdullahi Hassan Ali, the Commanding Officer of 181 Amphibious Battalion Oleh, Major Gembu Shafa, the JTF Commander in Bomadi, along with another Major and a Captain, making up the total of 17 killed.

To commemorate the lives of heroic personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice for their nation, flags will be flown at half-mast across all military installations nationwide, symbolizing respect and mourning.

According to sources, a communication has been dispatched to the Nigerian Army, Navy, and Air Force conveying this instruction.

The source said, “A directive has been issued by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa to the three Services to that effect.

“From Monday March 18, 2024, up till March 20, 2024, all colours, (flags) are to be flown at half-mast in honour of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) personnel Killed In Action (KIA).”

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has warned the Okuama community in Delta State that they should brace themselves for the full force of legal repercussions.

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, joined Muslims at the Central Mosque in Maraba-Nyanya in Abuja to participate in breaking the Ramadan fast.

In a now-viral video shared on X (formerly Twitter), the former Governor of Anambra State sat beside a child on a mat while sharing a bowl of rice with the boy.

The viral video also showed almost 1000 people at the mosque waiting to break their fast while others watched as the LP presidential candidate fed the child.

The Ramadan season is regarded as a month of charity and communal sharing, especially for people in need. During this time, Muslims also self-reflect and increase their acts of worship and devotion.

It is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar and is said to be one of the pillars of Islam. The Ramadan period usually lasts between 29 and 30 days based on the sighting of the crescent moon.

See the video below.

Media

Last modified on Thursday, 21 March 2024 06:45

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has warned Nigerians against the practice of employing underage housemaids.

Naija News reports that during a press conference in Abuja on Monday, the agency’s Director of Legal and Prosecution, Hassan Tahir, stressed that engaging in such a practice is against the law.

He offered the advice in response to employers of domestic workers facing challenges with their employees, which sometimes escalate to causing injuries.

He stated that according to Section 23 of the Trafficking in Persons Act, TIP, employing a child as a domestic worker is deemed unlawful, constituting an offense under the law.

Tahir quoted Section 23 of the TIP Act as saying, “Any person who willfully employs, requests, recruits, transports, harbours, receives or hires out a child as a domestic worker commits an offence and is liable to conviction of imprisonment for a minimum term of 6 months, and not exceeding 7 years.”

However, the director advised that those interested in employing a house help must ensure fair treatment, including providing shared accommodations and schooling with the master’s children.

Tahir said, “The domestic worker must attend the same school with your children, eat the same food with your children, wear the same cloth with your children, he or she must be treated equally with your children.

“There could be a situation whereby you employ a child and at the same time inflict injury on him or her, if you want to violate their right, please don’t do that, and if certainly you do, NAPTIP will do the needful.“

The founder of the Mount of Solution Redeemed Church (MSRC), Apostle Elisha Asuquo and the pastor in charge of the church, Aniekan Ibanga, have been shot dead by gunmen, in Ikot Ekang, a community in Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom state.

Naija News learnt that the tragic incident occurred when the gunmen stormed the National Headquarters of the Church at about 7:30pm at the weekend, disrupting an ongoing Parish meeting.

The unidentified gunmen reportedly left through the Abak-Ikot Ekpene Federal Highway after committing the crime.

It was gathered the late Apostle Asuquo hailed from Adiasim in Essien Udim Local Government Area, while Pastor Aniekan Ibanga, was a native of Ikot Obioikpa village, Afaha Obong Clan, in Abak LGA.

A community leader in Ikot Ekang, Bishop John Jeremiah Kpongkpong, in an interview with Leadership, described the killing of the two clerics as shocking, noting that such an ugly incident had never happened in the community before.

According to him, Apostle Asuquo was handling a crucial and heated marital reconciliation matter between a lady and her estranged husband before the sad incident.

He said, “It was around 8 p.m., I was attending a church programme when somebody called and asked me whether I had heard that Prophet Elisha and his Pastor had been shot dead. While still on that call, another person came in and told me that Prophet Elisha and Pastor Aniekan had been killed.

“I had to close from the church and rush to the palace of the Village Head to inform him of what had happened. After informing the Village Head, he instructed me to call the Police, which I did.

“On getting to the Church premises, I saw many people gathering while Policemen from Abak Division were performing their duty.”

Also speaking on the incident, the Youth President of Ikot Obio Ikpa Village, Alphonsus Alphonsus Okoro, described the killing of their son as painful and a great loss.

He further called on the two villages to cooperate and investigate the matter to bring the culprits to book, to which the Youth President of Ikot Ekang village, Godwin Adahada, agreed.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the state police command, CSP Odiko MacDon, said the Commissioner of Police, CP Waheed Ayirara, had ordered a manhunt for the suspects.

He assured that the ongoing discreet investigations would culminate in the arrest and subsequent prosecution of the culprits.