FEATURES
The senator representing Delta North senatorial district at the upper chamber of the National Assembly, Ned Nwoko, has said he can’t marry a woman who is not a virgin.
Naija News reports that the Senator made this known in a snippet of the Mic On podcast, hosted by Nigerian journalist, Seun Okinbaloye.
According to the Nigerian billionaire, some people always assumed they had an idea of the woman he liked to marry and had brought some girls to him, but the ladies did not meet his standards.
Ned noted that he has a taste and sight for women, stressing he cannot marry a woman who is not a virgin.
When asked why she married Nollywood actress Regina Daniels, Ned noted that the movie star hails from his hometown.
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The Citadel Global Community Church’s Serving Overseer, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has said some Nigerians are being forced to rob warehouses in order to avoid going to bed hungry due to the country’s economic hardships.
In his keynote speech on Friday at the 70th birthday celebration of Pastor Chinedu Ezekwesili, the husband of the former minister of education, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, Bakare blamed corruption and poor governance for the current state of the economy.
In the past two weeks, there have been numerous complaints of some Nigerians breaking into warehouses and taking food and other valuables.
Naija News reports that the preacher cautioned that no single institution can eradicate corruption from a nation, adding that Nigerians should not expect the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other anti-graft institutions to act in isolation.
Bakare said, “Somewhere in the equation, something has to be done, whether in the homes that produce the fabrics or even in the institution of states that have failed to liquidate this criminal enterprise and facilitate alternative pathways for young people; somewhere in the societal equation where corruption and bad governance are crippling the economy, leaving no fewer than 133 million Nigerians in multidimensional poverty and 26.5 million in acute hunger across the country.
“With families going to bed hungry, a citizen is forced to take to the streets and to loot warehouses in their quest for survival. It means somebody has failed in his duty. In other words, somewhere in the governance equation is where we have the real issue. The good news however is that man has the capacity to reverse the situations. With the help of his Creator, man is himself a creator with the ability to recreate his world.
“This is a mission and purpose of every man. No citizen deserves to sleep under the bridge in a nation that has government. Until the righteous people are appointed into office, we are wasting time. There is only one antidote to fight corruption. EFCC and ICPC cannot fight it alone. Anybody that sits on the committee to investigate corruption who is corrupt himself can’t fight corruption in Nigeria.”
A former spokesman of the defunct Atiku-Okowa Presidential Campaign Council, Daniel Bwala has stated that he does not regret joining the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or supporting Atiku Abubakar.
He, however, explained that due to the crisis in the nation, he has decided to focus on nation building rather than politicking.
Bwala argued that an election can only hold in 2027 if the country is safe and secure.
He stated this on Friday during an appearance on Arise TV’s Morning Show.
The PDP stalwart explained that he decided to join hands with President Bola Tinubu’s administration when he noticed that he was trying to rewrite the wrongs of his predecessor.
He insisted that there must be a Nigeria before politics.
Bwala, “I have no regret going to PDP or supporting Atiku, I do my things based on conviction and at the end of the day, if it doesn’t work out, I accept my fate.
“The reality I have accepted now is that this politicking is gone and because of the crisis in Nigeria, the only way we can have a 2027 election is when Nigeria is safe and secure.
“I saw that this president I supported in APC is trying to ensure he rewrites the wrongs of the past administration.
“When he said he wanted all opposition to come together for nation building, I felt it was the right time to look at nation’s building rather than politicking. There must be a Nigeria before we do politics.”
Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has asserted that bandits are getting more vicious due to the kinetic approach used by the Nigerian government.
Naija News reports that Gumi made this known in an interview with Arise Television on Thursday, following the recent kidnappings in Kaduna State and the demand of N40 trillion as ransom by the bandits.
Gumi suggested that the government should have a dialogue with bandits rather than pay any ransom for victims’ freedom.
The cleric while referencing the case of Isreal and Hamas sitting down to exchange prisoners said there is need for a change of approach by the Nigerian government to issues of banditry and terrorism.
He said, “I believe no ransom should be paid but engage these people, give them hope and not only in this children’s case. I’m so sad that the leaders are just realizing that it is turning into a war. It has been a war and not mere criminality. If we can see Israel and Hamas sitting down to exchange prisoners, I don’t see why we cannot negotiate.
“I support that the government should not pay any ransom but what I say is that the government must dialogue and from my knowledge about their psychology, that amount they are pitching is because they want to have a bigger bargaining power, otherwise, I don’t think in their wildest dreams, they would think the government would give them that money.
“What is happening now is that we are seeing that these bandits are getting more and more vicious. Before now, they didn’t do what they do now. We can only attribute that to the kinetic approach which is over emphasized. When we hear the politicians talk, nothing is done about it to overcome these people. For example, now we are fighting bandits.”
Nigerian singer Michael Adebayo Olayinka, popularly known as Ruger, expresses his desire to find someone special to share his life with, reveals that he is on the lookout for a meaningful connection.
The singer opens up on his past relationships, stated that even though he has never been lucky with relationships, he is still willing to commit to someone.
He also admitted that he somehow contributed to the failure of his past relationships.
Ruger revealed this in the most recent episode of the Bahd And Boujee Podcast co-hosted by Tolanibaj and actress Moet Abebe.
He said:
“I want to see if I can actually be committed to someone”.
Ruger also opened up on his sex life, recalls having a threesome with a white lady and a black woman.
Speaking further, he revealed that he has never been involved in orgy
In another story, Ruger and his colleague BNXN surprises fans with reconciliation as they tease possible collaboration.
The reconciliation was teased through a photo shared by Ruger on the X platform and Instagram during what appears to be a music video shoot.
Ruger, who recently parted ways with his record label, Jonzing World, posted the picture of himself and BNXN, capturing the moment .
He wrote:
MAYBE ROMEO MUST DIE.” The critic message has left fans speculating about the nature of their newfound alliance.
The unexpected announcement has sparked a wave of excitement among fans who have closely followed the two artists’ feud, which began in 2022.
At that time, an anonymous X user informed Ruger that BNXN had more hit songs than he did, leading to a public exchange of words and tension between the two Afrobeat sensations.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has re-emphasised that banks are barred from paying dividends to shareholders or spend on operating expenses from foreign currency revaluation gains but are expected to set the gains aside.
Foreign exchange revaluation gains occur when a bank’s assets or liabilities denominated in foreign currencies increase in value due to fluctuations in exchange rates.
In the context of Nigerian banks, these gains typically arise from the revaluation of foreign currency-denominated assets, such as loans, investments, or deposits, when the value of the naira depreciates. So far in 2024, the value of the naira had depreciated by 76.5 per cent from N915 to the dollar which it sold officially on the first trading day this year to N1,615 to the dollar.
Banks’ foreign-currency loans when converted back to naira on their balance sheets have ballooned as a result of the devaluation, causing some banks to breach both their lending limits and open positions on foreign exchange trading.
In a letter titled ‘Re: Impact Of Recent FX Policy Reforms: Prudential Guidance to the Banking a Sector,’ issued to all banks on Thursday, the apex bank referring to a circular it had issued last year stated that “banks shall not utilise such FX revaluation gains to pay dividends or meet operating expenses.”
Last September, the CBN had noted that changes to the currency regime have impacted banks to varying degrees and that “banks are required to … set aside the foreign currency (FCY) revaluation gains as a counter-cyclical buffer to cushion any future adverse movements in the foreign exchange rate.”
In the letter issued on Thursday and signed by acting director, Banking Supervision department of the apex bank, Dr Adetona Adedeji, the CBN said: “further to our letter dated September 11, 2023.referenced BSD/DIR/CON/LAB/16/020 on the above subject, the Central Bank of Nigeria wishes to reiterate that banks are required to exercise utmost prudence and set aside FCY revaluation gains as a counter-cyclical buffer to cushion any adverse movements in the FX rate.”
The Tin-Can Island Command of Nigeria Customs has made a significant interception of arms and ammunition suspected to be smuggled into the country by a criminal gang.
Among the seized items are military camouflage uniforms and illicit drugs, including Colorado. The recovered arms include automatic single-barrel rifles and pump-action guns.
Although details of the interception are still emerging, sources indicate that the arms were discovered during an inspection of imported consignments at the port. It remains unclear whether any arrests have been made at this time.
This interception comes less than a year after Customs seized 31 arms of various types at the Tin-Can and Multi-Purpose Terminals (PTML) ports in Lagos. During that operation, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, confirmed that two suspects were apprehended in connection with the seizure.
The recent interception underscores the ongoing efforts by Nigerian Customs to prevent illegal arms smuggling and maintain security at the nation’s ports.
Political economist, Professor Pat Utomi has taken a swipe at Labour Party federal lawmakers.
The economist said he's not happy with them.
Utomi said the party must show integrity and understanding of the fact that Nigeria and its democracy are both failing because of the failure of the political parties.
He spoke in a post on his X handle on Friday.
“We cannot call for a new way and not show example with our actions. I have been unhappy with many Labour Party Lawmakers conduct. The Party must show integrity and understanding of the fact that Nigeria and its democracy are both failing because of the failure of the parties,” he wrote.
The statement followed allegations that 2024 budget was padded.
Recall that Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had alleged that N3.7 trillion was padded into the 2024 budget.
Ningi, a lawmaker from Bauchi, was subsequently handed a three-month suspension for raising the allegation, which the Nigerian government and the leadership of the Senate denied.
However, Labour Party lawmakers in the National Assembly have been silent on the matter.
Utomi had recently, attacked the opposition political parties for failing to protest the worsening economic hardship in the country.
According to him, opposition parties lead protests in other climes.
Nigeria’s headline inflation for February increased to an all-time high of 31.70 per cent, compared to 29.90 per cent recorded in January 2024, amid rising food prices nationwide.
The National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, disclosed this in its latest Consumer Price Index and Inflation Report.
The February 2024 headline inflation rate increased by 1.80 per cent compared to the January 2024 headline inflation rate.
On a year-on-year basis, the headline inflation rate was 9.79 per cent points higher than the rate recorded in February 2023, which was 21.91 per cent.
This shows that the headline inflation rate (year-on-year basis) increased in February 2024 compared to the same month in the preceding year (i.e., February 2023). Furthermore, on a month-on-month basis, the headline inflation rate in February 2024 was 3.12 per cent, 0.48 per cent higher than in January 2024 (2.64 per cent).
The implication is that the rate of increase in the average price level is more than in the average price level in January 2024.
Similarly, food inflation rose to 37.92 per cent in Febuary from 35.41 per cent recorded in January, 2024.
Accordingly, this is the 13th straight time the country’s inflation soared without respite.
DAILY POST recalls that last month, the Central Bank of Nigeria raised the monetary policy rate, known as the interest rate, by 400 basis points to 22.75 per cent from 18.5 per cent.
The police arraigned a 26-year-old lawyer, Ekunife Emmanuel in a Lugbe Grade I Area Court Abuja for allegedly assaulting a commercial sex worker.
The police charged Mr Emmanuel of Jahi Abuja with criminal breach of trust, assault, causing hurt and inciting disturbance, an offence he denied committing.
Earlier, the prosecuting counsel, Olisaemeka Okeke, told the court that the complainant, Queeneth John, a commercial sex worker of Wuse Zone 5 Abuja, reported the matter at Asokoro police station on March 12.
Mr Okeke said the complainant claimed that on March 11 at about 10: p.m the defendant approached her at Wuse where she was hawking and took her to Bannex Plaza and demanded sex.
He said the defendant also took the complainant to a Hotel Guzape and promised to pay her N 50,000 after having sex with her.
Mr Okeke told the court that the defendant had sex with the complainant and when she demanded her money he refused to pay her the money as he promised.
He said in the process the defendant started beating the complainant as a result she sustained bruises all over her body.
He said when the defendant was brought to Asokoro Police Station he started videoing the station and the police officers on duty thereby inciting disturbance in a public office.
The prosecutor said during police investigation, the defendant made a confessional statement.
Mr Okeke said the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 312, 365, 244 and 114 of the Penal Code.
The judge, Aliyu Kagarko, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N1 million and a surety in like sum.
He said, “I hereby grant the defendant bail in line with section 165(2) of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 to deposit 10 per cent of the bail sum at the court registry pending the determination of the case.’’
He ordered that the surety must be a legal practitioner of not less than five years in practice and must summit his or her call to bar certificate.
He said the surety must reside within the court jurisdiction and adjourned the case until April 18 for hearing.(NAN)
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A 37-year-old Point of Sale (POS) operator at Kurnar Asabe Quarters in Kano State, Mohammed Sani Abdulrahman, has returned the sum of N10 million wrongly transferred to him by a customer.
The spokesperson of Kano Police Command, SP Abdullahi Haruna, who confirmed the development, said the POS operator reported the incident to the command when he realised that the customer had wrongly transferred N10 million instead of N10,000.
SP Haruna, however, said it took the police investigation three (03) months to identify the owner of the excess money, and after a painstaking investigation and being satisfied with proofs of ownership, the money was returned to the owner’s same account.
He said the Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Usaini Gumel, commended the POS operator for his honesty and good conduct while encouraging others to emulate the good habits exhibited by Abdulrahman.
According to him, “It was since on 21/12/2023, that a Point of Sale (POS) Operator known as Mohammed Sani Abdulrahman, 37 years, ‘m’, of Kurnar Asabe Quarters Kano, reported himself at the Bompai Police Headquarters Kano, where he stated that someone among his customers has overpaid into his POS business the sum of Nine Million, Nine Hundred and Ninety Thousand Naira (N9,990,000:00) while he wanted to make an online transfer of Ten Thousand Naira (N10,000:00) only and mistakenly transferred the sum of ten million naira (N10,000,000:00).
“On receipt of the report, the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, CP Mohammed Usaini Gumel, directed a team of detectives led by SP Abdulwahab Zubairu from the Command’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to carry out discreet investigation with a view to identify the owner and return his money.
“On the 14th of March, 2024, the investigation was concluded by uncovering the identity of the rightful owner, who is a businessman at Dawanau Grain Market in Kano Metropolis.
“After a painstaking investigation and being satisfied with proofs of ownership, the money, the excess sum of Nine Million, Nine Hundred and Ninety Thousand Naira (N9,990,000), was returned to the owner’s same account. The owner admired the gesture of which, out of joy and with pleasure gave the POS operator cash gift of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000:00). The owner also thanked the CP for his honesty, integrity, and showing good example.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Usaini Gumel, who is famously nick-named by the good people of the state as “A Fada a Cika,” commended the POS operator for his honesty and good conduct and referred to this kind gesture as rare, enabled the owner also encourages others to emulate,” the statement reads.
The Defence Headquarters has said that the 287 students of a school in Kuriga, Kaduna State, who were kidnapped last week are being held in locations that are difficult to get to.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba who spoke to newsmen on Thursday, March 14, said the kidnappers are using their victims as human shields to prevent further air and land offensive against them.
He further revealed that it took more than six hours after the students were abducted for the information to get to security agencies before machinery was commenced for the rescue efforts.
Buba said;
“We have depleted their ranks, neutralized many of their commanders and foot soldiers. The terrorists exhibited gross cowardice by going after children. We have taken their Commanders out. We recently acquired new air platforms to further decimate them. They know we mean business. It is to protect themselves that they went after the students. But we will not rest until all the kidnapped victims are rescued.
“As in every war, there are complexities and ours is no exception. Recently, cases of citizens being abducted in the North East, North West and North Central theatres of operations were recorded.
“These citizens were abducted by a brutal and blood tasty group that should only be addressed as tettorists not bandits. I repeat, these are terrorist and not bandits.
“They are holding these citizens against their will and against all norms of human behaviour, and against the laws of armed conflict and any good measure in the world.
“Several of their leaders and commanders have been neutralised as a result of troops onslaught. They want to use these hostages as human shield for their survival. Nevertheless, be assured that we will not rest until the hostages are returned.
“No doubt, this is a difficult situation, but not one that is insurmountable. The hostage situation is an extremely sensitive one which unfortunately is not unprecedented in the history of the ongoing war.
“These hostages are being held in locations that are difficult to get to, but not out of reached. The situation is however indicative of the desperation of these terrorists to avoid troops onslaught by all means.
“Recall that in recent times troops have decimated several of the terrorists leaders, commanders and foot soldiers and fast closing in one several others.
” These terrorists have exhibited cowardice by going for such soft targets to impede troops advances. I assure you that we will not rest until they are returned.
“Given the hostage situation, it can be deduced that the search and rescue effort was grossly affected by the none timely notification of troops of the incident. Nevertheless, I can assure you that we will not rest until these hostages are returned.
“However, because of the sensitivity of the matter, I can not go into further details as to signs of life, location, and the different options that we have in order to get these hostages back.
“Let me further assure that, getting these hostages back is very clearly on the top of our priorities. It is for this reason we have leveraged on our international partners for support.
“Accordingly, they are providing the necessary support including intelligence that is giving us the advantage in dealing with the ugly situation."
The General Overseer of the Mountain of Holy Ghost Intervention and Deliverance Ministry, Chukwuemeka Cyril Ohanaemere, popularly called Odumeje, has refuted claims that he revels in occultism and diabolism.
This is even as he disclosed that assertions that he’s a fake prophet are false.
He made clarifications amid admonition by gospel singer Dunsin Oyekan that Christians should be weary of the ‘abido shaker’ trend, stressing that it makes a mockery of the Christian faith.
“Been seeing videos and people writing ‘Abido Shaker’ and the rest… Believers, the things we find funny are a mockery of our faith. We should shut things like this down! No, it’s not funny! You will be shocked at how gullible some people are! #wakeup,” Oyekan said.
However, Odumeje, in a viral TikTok video, said that his miracles are all about Jesus, adding that he’s Christlike.
According to Odumeje: “I don’t have anything to do with fake power; only Jesus appears to me. I have never gone to any place or native doctor to seek power. It’s all about Jesus.”
The Nigeria Police Force Lagos State Command has arrested one Olaseinde Ojo, a suspected armed robber and kidnapper at Post Officer Isokoko who disguises as a lunatic to get close to his victims and then rob or kidnap them.
The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi who disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday March 14, also said another arrest was made along Dolphin Bridge when police operatives patrolling that axis intercepted a dispatch rider identified as Samson Shina ‘m’ in possession of a locally made pistol and some charms.
The statement reads in part:
“The operatives of the Nigeria Police Force in their quest to tackle crimes and criminality across the country have once again recorded milestone achievements in various areas. It is our responsibility as the lead Security Agency in Nigeria to update the public of our efforts to curb the menace of crimes in our society, and also educate Nigerians on the series of antics adopted by Criminals so as to guide against them
For instance, our operatives in Lagos State and FCT Command, having intensified their operational strategies, have successfully arrested several criminals connected to atrocious crimes. Among these is the arrest of one Olaseinde Ojo ‘m’, a suspected armed robber and kidnapper at Post Office, Isokoko who disguises as a lunatic to get close to his victims and rob or kidnap them.
He added
‘’Operatives of the FCT command on stop at search duty around Taxi Park area, Abuja, accosted a motorcycle carrying 3 passengers one Usman Musa ‘m’ and 2 others, and found in their possession a locally fabricated Beretta pistol with 11 rounds of live ammunition. Search conducted in their premises also led to recovery of $5,800 fake dollar notes and other incriminating items.
Amid rising concerns about personal safety, the Nigeria Police urges citizens to remain vigilant and prioritize their security. With recent reports highlighting various incidents, including thefts, defilement, and assault, it’s essential for individuals to take proactive measures. These include being sensitive to their surroundings, especially in unfamiliar areas, and avoiding isolated or poorly lit places, particularly at night.
Moreover, members of the public are encouraged to keep their belongings secure and to report any suspicious activities to the authorities promptly. By staying alert and cautious, everyone can play a role in fostering a safer society for all, and we will not fall into the antics of the criminals.”