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What if Hollywood, a key Democratic financial pillar, cut off Joe Biden’s campaign funding? That possibility now looms large after actor George Clooney and other wealthy donors urged the US president to withdraw from the White House race.
“I love Joe Biden. But we need a new nominee,” Clooney wrote in a column in the New York Times on Wednesday, after Biden’s disastrous performance in a televised presidential debate against Republican rival, Donald Trump rekindled fears around the 81-year-old’s fitness for office.
The statement dealt a serious blow to Biden, coming just three weeks after Clooney headlined a major fundraiser in Los Angeles for his reelection campaign.
At the gala, the president was able to raise more than $30 million in one evening, a record amount that showcased the industry’s might in financing the American left.
“If all these big donors pull out, he’s sunk,” said Steve Ross, professor of history at the University of Southern California who wrote a book on the influence of Hollywood on American politics. “Hollywood is still the one shop stop for candidates.”
Clooney is not the only one worried. In recent days, Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings, Walt Disney’s granddaughter Abigail and Hollywood mega agent, Ari Emanuel, whose brother, Rahm served as Barack Obama’s chief of staff — said they would not be financing Biden citing concerns over his age.
Historic Influence
Even though the millions generated by the American entertainment industry are essential to both parties, Hollywood’s hearts and wallets have predominantly leaned left for decades.
Both Bill and Hillary Clinton relied on Hollywood support in their respective White House bids. In 2007, Obama famously benefited from the “Oprah Winfrey effect,” receiving a boost to his profile after the star TV host organized a dinner to promote the man who was then still only a senator.
During the presidential race in 2020, the entertainment industry gave $104 million to Democrats compared to $13 million to Republicans, according to Open Secrets, a nonprofit that tracks campaign financing.
It wasn’t always that way.
In the 1980s, Republican president Ronald Reagan, himself a former actor, enjoyed the support of stars like Frank Sinatra and relied heavily on Hollywood’s coffers.
“Hollywood started as a conservative base for the Republican Party,” Ross told AFP.
“When Louis B. Mayer took over MGM Studios in the late 20s, he turned it into a fundraising publicity wing for the GOP, and he raised enormous amounts of money,” Ross said, referring to the Republican party.
The four Warner brothers, on the other hand, supported Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930s with their studio and their stars.
It was the election of John F. Kennedy in 1960 that marked Hollywood starting to shift to the left, as the era of blacklisting actors for suspected communist sympathies came to an end.
“It was a new era of free speech for movie stars who weren’t going to be blacklisted if they said anything deemed too radical,” the expert said.
Just hitting pause?
But even with its cultural and financial prowess, does Hollywood have the power to axe Biden from the race?
Clooney’s New York Times op-ed “is another pressure point, for sure,” said Steven Maviglio, a Democratic adviser who worked with former California governor Gray Davis.
But Maviglio believes the panic of certain donors to be “a temporary phenomenon.”
“If the president decides to stay and it becomes clear that it’s going to be Biden and Trump, Hollywood will be right back where they started, supporting Joe Biden,” Maviglio said, adding that the industry’s defections are not yet numerous enough to end Biden’s campaign.
Everybody’s eyes are now on billionaire Jeffrey Katzenberg, a former Disney executive and co-founder of Dreamworks, who organized the June gala fundraiser for Biden.
Since Biden’s disastrous debate, Katzenberg has been heavily criticized but has himself remained silent.
“He’s the engine behind the machine. So if he stops, that’s significant,” Maviglio said.
AFP
Following the Supreme Court’s judgement granting financial autonomy to the 774 Local Government Areas in the country, Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State and his Cross River State counterpart, Senator Bassey Out, yesterday, said they accepted the verdict in good faith.
However, efforts to get the Chairman of Nigeria’s Governors Forum, NGF, and governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq proved abortive as he evaded questions from State House correspondents after meeting with President Tinubu.
Landmark judgement
The apex court, in a landmark judgement, ruled that it is unconstitutional for governors to hold onto funds meant for local governments.
The Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision by a seven-member panel of justices, barred governors of the 36 states of the federation from receiving, withholding, tampering or utilizing funds that stand to the credit of the local government areas.
The ruling, however, generated mixed reactions.
While President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the National Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, Labour Party, LP, and Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP hailed the Supreme Court judgement, former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, said the verdict has dealt a severe setback to the principle of federalism in the country.
Recall that the Federal Government had in a suit marked SC/CV/343/2024, filed on May 24, 2024, prayed to the Supreme Court to give full autonomy to local governments.
It also urged the court to issue an order prohibiting state governors from embarking on unilateral, arbitrary and unlawful dissolution of democratically elected local government leaders.
Besides, the Federal Government prayed to the Supreme Court for an order, stopping governors from further constituting caretaker committees to run the affairs of local governments, against the constitutionally recognised and guaranteed democratic system.
It equally applied for an order of injunction, restraining the governors, their agents and privies, from receiving, spending or tampering with funds released from the Federation Account for the benefit of local governments when no democratically elected local government system is put in place in the states.
It argued that Nigeria, as a federation, is a creation of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, with the President, as Head of the Federal Executive Arm, swearing on oath to uphold and give effects to provisions of the Constitution.
It’s unconstitutional for govs to hold LG funds
Ruling on the matter, yesterday, the apex court held that it is illegal and unconstitutional for governors to continue to receive and seize funds allocated to the benefit of LGAs in their states.
According to the court, the “dubious practice” which has gone on for over two decades, is a clear violation of Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
In its lead judgement delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the Supreme Court further held that no House of Assembly of any state has the power to make laws that could in any manner, grant governors the right to interfere with statutory allocations meant for the council areas.
Stressing that the law mandated that LGAs must be governed by democratically elected officials, the Supreme Court ordered that forthwith, funds meant for councils must be directly paid to them from the federation account.
“Demands of justice require a progressive interpretation of the law. It is the position of this court that the federation can pay LGA allocations to the LGAs directly or pay them through the states.
“In this case, since paying them through states has not worked, justice of this case demands that LGA allocations from the federation account should henceforth be paid directly to the LGAs,” the apex court held.
It further declared as unconstitutional, the appointment of caretaker committees, by governors to run the affairs of the LGAs.
It held that the 36 states are under obligation to ensure democratic governance at the third tier of the government.
Consequently, the Supreme Court ordered that, henceforth, funds of local governments where democratically-elected officials are not in place should be withheld.
It equally barred governors, their agents and privies from dissolving democratically elected local government officials in their state, adding that such action would amount to a breach of the Constitution and an act of misconduct.
Earlier, the apex court dismissed as lacking in merit, preliminary objections the state governors filed to challenge the competence of the suit.
It held that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, being the chief law officer of the federation, is statutorily qualified to institute the action on behalf of the LGAs.
The court equally held that Section 232(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, conferred it with the original jurisdiction to hear and determine the matter.
Orji Kalu reacts
Also reacting, the senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, said: ‘’The Supreme Court judgement is one that should be hailed and applauded, especially for the courage and independence shown by the judiciary.
‘’The Supreme Court, being a policy court, did what is right and beneficial to the society. While it may look like interference in the states, we should accept that all the calls for end of insecurity, kidnappings and banditry has just begun with this autonomy granted to local governments.
‘’When the local governments are in total control of their funds, there is flow of resources and activities in the local areas. For instance, when I was governor between 1999-2007, the autonomy of my local government chairmen was a major breakthrough to the success of my administration.
‘’The local government chairmen built roads and gave contracts to local contractors. The chairmen were able to take full responsibility of what happened in their local government and crime was reduced to the barest minimum.’’
Judgement is great, final —Soludo
Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State described the judgment as great and final.
Professor Soludo stated this while speaking with State House correspondents after meeting with President Tinubu, alongside chairman of Nigeria’s Governors Forum, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq of Kwara State, Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State and Prince Bassey Otu of Cross River State at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Asked to react to the Supreme Court judgement granting local government autonomy, he said: “That’s great. I mean, the Supreme Court is supreme, the final authority and I’m a democrat. I believe in the rule of law.
“Once the Supreme Court has spoken, it has spoken. I think the Governors Forum is meeting to review this. I haven’t seen the document myself. I’ve been extremely, very busy all through the day but I’ve seen snippets of it.
“But at a fundamental level, yes, we need resources to get down to the grassroots and we need the people’s money to work for them at all levels, whether at the federal or the state and the local government.
Judgement taken in good faith — Gov Otu
Also speaking to State House correspondents after meeting with President Bola Tinubu, Governor Bassey of Cross River State, yesterday, said the governors had taken the judgement in good faith.
“About the Supreme Court judgement, Nigeria is a democratic country, and we know very well that President Tinubu and the Renewed Hope Agenda is a democratic one.
“I believe the judgment is taken in very good faith. All Nigerians should be happy about it. I don’t think anybody is against development in the local governments. I don’t think so.
Judgement is resounding affirmation —Tinubu
Also reacting to the Supreme Court’s decision, President Tinubu stated that a fundamental challenge to the country’s advancement has been ineffective local government administration, as governance at the critical cellular level of socio-political configuration was nearly absent.
President Tinubu, in a statement by his spokesman, Mr Ajuri Ngelale, was quoted as saying: “The Renewed Hope Agenda is about the people of this country, at all levels, irrespective of faith, tribe, gender, political affiliation, or any other artificial line they say exists between us.
“This country belongs to all of us. By this judgement, our people, especially the poor – will be able to hold their local leaders to account for their actions and inactions. What is sent to local government accounts will be known, and services must now be provided without excuses.
“My administration instituted this suit because of our unwavering belief that our people must have relief and today’s judgement will ensure that it will be only those local officials elected by the people that will control the resources of the people.’’
Respect S-Court judgement, Akpabio tells govs
In his remarks, President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, yesterday, advised governors to respect the Supreme Court judgement that granted autonomy to local governments.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Trajudeen Abbas, on his part, described the judgement as an impossibility that has become a reality.
Speaking to State House correspondents after meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Senator Akpabio said: “For us in the legislature, the Supreme Court has spoken and we have no option than to abide by the Supreme Court ruling.
“So, I will just call on all states of the federation to respect what the Supreme Court has done and then we will go back to the legislature and see where we can dot the i’s and cross the t’s to ensure full implementation.
Impossibility has become reality —Reps Speaker
Describing the judgement as an impossibility that has become a reality, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Trajudeen Abbas, said: “Today (yesterday) the impossibility became a reality, everyone is happy and we are looking forward to local government that will work functionally and that will be able to work on there own and extend goodwill to their own people undisturbed by the excesses by the state Governors.”
It’s a win for Nigerians —Atiku
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has described the ruling of the Supreme Court as a “win for the people of Nigeria”.
Reacting in a post on his X page Atiku said: “The judgment of the Supreme Court earlier today (yesterday) affirming fiscal autonomy to local government councils in the country is a win for the people of Nigeria.
“The court’s ruling is a step in the right direction and a major corrective action in greasing the wheels of national development across the country.
“The decision by the federal government to consolidate disbursements of local councils’ revenues into the state government accounts was a decision borne out of politics of hasty compromise.
“I align with the decision of the Supreme Court that the structure of the Nigerian government is portioned in three layers, and of these, the local governments should be centres of development.
“I also share the belief that fiscal autonomy to the local governments should not be limited to revenues from the federation account but, indeed, should apply to internally generated revenue from the respective local government authorities.
“Many of our states, especially those in the ultra-urban areas with high-density economic activities, have become notorious in muscling local councils from generating revenue on items that border on motor parks, outdoor advertising, rents and many more.
LGAs emancipated, says AGF
On his part, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, said: “Naturally, one will be happy, should be happy, Nigerians are happy about it.
“I call it local government emancipation judgement because it has really emancipated the local government from the shackles of the past and I hope that local government officials will look at it as an opportunity to develop their various local governments.”
On how to ensure compliance to the part of the judgement that requires state governments to conduct elections for government areas, he said: “The ball is in the court of the governors. Let us see what they will come out with, but the judgement is clear as to what they should do, the judgement is clear as to what consequences will be attached to failure or refusal to follow the judgement of the Supreme Court, which takes immediate effect.”
It’s victory well deserved —NULGE
Also commending the verdict, the National Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, described it as a victory for workers and all residents of the third tier of government.
National President of NULGE, Mr Ambali Kazeem, said: “We appreciate God Almighty, President Bola Tinubu, the incorruptible justices of the Supreme Court, the President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero; his Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, Festus Osifo, the media and other social partners who stood by us in the long struggle. It is a new dawn for local governments across the country. We are indeed very grateful.
“By next week, especially on Thursday, we will organize a solidarity rally to celebrate this victory in Abuja. We are indeed very happy and grateful. Local Government Autonomy is an idea whose time is now.”
Return LGA funds or face legal action, SERAP tells 36 govs, Wike
On its part, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has urged Nigeria’s 36 governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Mr Nyesom Wike to account for and return the local government funds which they have collected over the years.
SERAP, in a statement by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said: “We applaud the Supreme Court for this groundbreaking decision which will end the persistent alleged misappropriation by several of trillions of Federal Account Allocation Committee, FAAC or public funds meant for local governments.
“Implicit in the Supreme Court judgment is the requirement for the governors and FCT minister to immediately account for and return the funds meant for local governments but retained and used or allegedly misused by them.
“The National Assembly must urgently amend the provisions of Section 162 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) to ensure that local government allocations from the Federation Account are directly paid to local government areas and not collected by governors and FCT.’’
Judgement, a setback on true federalism —Ibori
Faulting the verdict of the apex court, former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, yesterday, said that the financial autonomy granted to local government councils has dealt a severe setback on the principles of federalism.
Reacting on his X handle, Ibori said: “Supreme Court has dealt a severe setback on the principle of federalism as defined by section 162(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“The court’s ruling on the matter is an assault on true federalism. The Federal Government has no right to interfere with the administration of Local Governments under any guise whatsoever. There are only two tiers of government in a federal system of government.
“I’m opposed to fiddling with the allocations to the Joint LG Accounts at the state level but that in itself does not call for this death knell to the clear provisions of section 162 of the constitution. The implications of the ruling are far-reaching.
“In the coming days, we will begin to fully understand the implications of the Supreme Court decision. An assault on the constitution is not the answer to fiddling with the Joint LG Account. If the ruling is saying Governors cannot tamper, touch, or fiddle with the Joint Accounts, that’s fine because they shouldn’t be doing that in the first place.
“It is my sincere hope that the judgement delivered will be reviewed at the earliest time possible because it stands the concept of federalism on its head.”
LP, CUPP welcome S-Court judgement
Also, the Labour Party, LP, and the Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, yesterday, commended the Supreme Court’s decision granting financial autonomy to Local Government Councils and the Federal Capital Territory.
LP’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Obiora Ifoh, said the Supreme Court judgement has removed a yoke from the necks of local councils thus giving them greater freedom to initiate and complete projects which will reduce suffering at the grassroots.
Ifoh, in a chat with Vanguard, said: “It (judgement) is a welcome development. What Nigerians now expect is for local governments to take up the challenge of their newfound independence to ensure prudent management of public funds that will be given to them to make the lives of ordinary citizens meaningful.’’
Speaking in a similar vein, the National Secretary of the CUPP, Chief Peter Ahmeh said: “By this judgment, the suffering masses have been unshackled financially from the shackles of the governors who have been holding them hostage since 1999 as a result of their warped interpretation of Section 162(6) of the 1999 Constitution as Amended.”
It’s victory for democracy— MBF
Also reacting, the Middle Belt Forum, MBF, yesterday, expressed satisfaction the Supreme Court verdict, saying it is a victory for democracy, victory for Nigeria and all Nigerians.
The MBF, in a statement by its National President, Dr Bitrus Pogu, said: “The ruling was a beautiful victory for democracy. The President does not have to be tied down by the bottlenecks created by the Governors.
“I believe that there is going to be development in rural areas; and serious people will now come out and contest to be Chirmen and Councillors in the Local Governments and by so doing we will get the best materials for Local Government administration in this country.”
[Vanguard]
The Federal Government has launched a pioneering initiative to enhance the oversight of medical rehabilitation professionals in the country.
According to it, the move became necessary because, with only 170 staff members and limited funding, the Medical Rehabilitation Therapists Board (MRTB) struggles to monitor the entire country effectively.
To address this challenge and enhance health security for Nigerians, the Federal Government unveiled 200 volunteers from across the country to serve as Surveillance Officers.
The volunteers have undergone rigorous screening, training, and preparation to uphold professional standards and report any misconduct to the Board, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Tunji Alausa, said yesterday.
While also unveiling the operation manuals of the Surveillance Officers, Alausa said the milestone marks a significant step forward in the fight against healthcare quackery and the enhancement of healthcare governance.
He emphasised the officers’ role in reducing quackery and improving healthcare delivery, saying, “Your job will not be easy, but remember that you are helping to ensure every Nigerian receives meaningful and comprehensive healthcare, as mandated by President Bola Tinubu.”
The Federal Government and crude oil producers in Nigeria have committed to working towards a sustainable supply of crude oil to local refineries under a market-determined pricing system.
Both parties said the aim of the commitment was to ensure that while the operators (crude oil producers) do business optimally, the refineries are not starved of feedstock.
Accordingly, the industry regulator, the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission has directed oil refiners in the country to provide monthly price quote on crude supply.
This came as the $20bn Dangote Petroleum Refinery is reportedly ramping up the importation of crude from the United States, Bloomberg reported on Thursday.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, Nigeria’s upstream regulator stated that oil producers under the umbrella of the Oil Producers Trade Section of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, at a meeting called by NUPRC, agreed to concede to a framework that would be mutually beneficial with the aim of ensuring that local refineries are not strangulated due to off-the-curve prices.
“The focus of the meeting held at the instance of the Commission Chief Executive, Gbenga Komolafe, was on the status review of the Framework for Seamless Operationalisation of Domestic Crude Oil Supply Obligation Template.
“It was part of efforts to effectively implement key sections of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, especially the issue of pricing and crude supply to the domestic refineries,” the commission stated.
In the statement, Komolafe said President Bola Tinubu is fully committed to providing a level playing ground for producers and refiners to do business in the industry.
He expressed the need for a rule of engagement to ensure that the pricing model from the oil producers does not hinder the domestic refineries.
He directed producers and refiners to provide the NUPRC with cargo price quotes on crude supply and delivery for effective monitoring and regulation of transactions among parties. “We need to have the price quotes monthly,” he directed.
The NUPRC boss pointed out a convergence between the Domestic Crude Oil Supply Obligation and the nation’s energy security, indicating that his team is re-engineering its regulatory processes to address the challenges.
“We allow all our processes to be transparent. While the Federal Government targets the implementation of the regulation, all parties must submit to the rules of engagement as a guide for operation,” Komolafe stated.
He said NUPRC is committed to driving the willing buyer/willing seller provision.
“We have to discuss pricing, especially as parties have committed to respecting their domestic crude oil obligation. As the regulator, we don’t want the upstream sector to be operated sub-optimally through cost under-recovery.
“So, the regulator is very alive to that. In crude pricing we will never allow price strangulation to disincentivise our domestic refining capacity optimisation. The regulator does not support cost under-recovery in the upstream sector, and we will continue to work to ensure that crude supply profiteering as a negative factor that can strangulate our domestic refining capacity optimisation is disallowed,” Komolafe declared.
Dangote raises alarm
Last month, the Vice President of Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, had accused International Oil Companies in Nigeria of plans to frustrate the survival of the new Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
Edwin had said the IOCs were deliberately and willfully frustrating the refinery’s efforts to buy local crude by hiking the cost above the market price, thereby forcing the refinery to import crude from countries as far as the United States, with its attendant high costs.
“Recall that the NUPRC recently met with crude oil producers as well as refineries’ owners in Nigeria, in a bid to ensure full adherence to Domestic Crude Oil Supply Obligations as enunciated under section 109(2) of the Petroleum Industry Act. It seems that the IOCs’ objective is to ensure that our petroleum refinery fails. It is either they are deliberately asking for a ridiculous/humongous premium or they simply state that crude is not available.
“At some point, we paid $6 over and above the market price. This has forced us to reduce our output as well as import crude from countries as far as the US, increasing our cost of production. It appears that the objective of the IOCs is to ensure that Nigeria remains a country which exports crude oil and imports refined petroleum products.
“They (IOCs) are keen on exporting the raw materials to their home countries, creating employment and wealth for their countries, adding to their Gross Domestic Product, and dumping the expensive refined products into Nigeria – thus making us to be dependent on imported products. It is the same strategy the multinationals have been adopting in every commodity, making Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa to be facing unemployment and poverty, while they create wealth for themselves at our expense,” Edwin had stated.
But on Thursday NUPRC emphasised the imperative for appropriate pricing to drive willing buyer willing seller referencing guided Fiscal Oil Price published by the commission in line with the provisions of the PIA.
“NUPRC is committed to attracting the needed investments to boost upstream development and optimisation of our hydrocarbon resources just as we want sustainability of domestic energy supply in the midstream and downstream sector.”
Crude importation
Also on Thursday Bloomberg reported that Nigeria’s Dangote mega-refinery was ramping up the importation of crude oil from the United States, stating that the Lagos-based refinery had created a new flow of long-haul crude from the US, as inflows of American feedstock could be about to rise further.
The report stated that the Dangote mega-refinery was lapping up ever more US crude, bringing the barrels thousands of miles across the Atlantic ocean.
It stated that Dangote bought more than 16 million barrels of West Texas Intermediate crude oil so far this year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
In August and September, the proportion it will take from the US — as opposed to Nigerian barrels — may be set to rise, based on tenders for new supply seen by Bloomberg.
The Federal Government has announced that Teesside University in the United Kingdom has implemented a more compassionate payment method for Nigerians schooling in its institution.
The Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa stated this on Thursday at a press conference ahead of the National Diaspora Day Celebrations 2024 on July 25, in Abuja.
The financial crisis in Nigeria, exacerbated by a shift from a seven-installment to a three-installment payment plan by the university, left many students struggling to cover their expenses.
On May 22, 2024, a group of Nigerian students at Teesside University were ordered to leave the United Kingdom due to difficulties in paying their tuition fees on time.
The students cited the devaluation of the naira as a significant barrier to meeting their financial obligations, which has led to a breach of their visa sponsorship requirements.
Several students found themselves locked out of their university accounts, reported to the Home Office, and mandated to leave the UK. The university maintained that strict external regulations necessitate these actions.
The affected students, numbering 60, expressed deep distress and disappointment, accusing the university of being unsupportive and “heartless.”
They banded together to urge the university for assistance after witnessing their peers face severe consequences for late payments.
On May 29, 2024, the Federal Government stepped in to address the deportation orders issued against some Nigerian students at Teesside University.
A delegation led by a representative of the Nigerian Embassy in the UK, Amb. Christian Okeke, along with leaders of the Nigerian Students Union in the UK, met with the university’s management to seek a resolution.
Giving updates on intervention outcome, Dabiri-Erewa noted that while the students were still required to pay their fees, the new arrangements aimed to make the process more manageable.
For those students who were near completion of their payments and were asked to leave, Dabiri-Erewa stated that an agreement had been reached allowing them to finish their payments and receive their certificates once all fees are settled.
“The Teesside University has come up with a more compassionate payment method. The students are going to pay their fees. It is not charity, but they have devised ways that can be a bit more convenient.
“For those who were almost done with payment and were told to leave, they agreed that they would pay their fees but would not receive their certificate until they complete their payment,” she explained.
The NiDCOM boss also mentioned that Teesside University was not the only institution affected, saying many other universities have Nigerian students facing similar issues.
“We are working closely with the student organisations in the UK and the Nigerian Mission to address these challenges,” she added.
The NiDCOM boss highlighted economic instability, security concerns, and inadequate living standards as the primary drivers behind the increasing migration of Nigerians abroad.
She noted that the theme for this year’s National Diaspora Day, “Japa Phenomena and its Implications for National Development,” reflected growing concerns over the demographic most affected by this migration—Nigeria’s youth.
“Factors such as economic instability, security concerns, and inadequate standard of living are ranked high among reasons for the exodus of Nigerians abroad.
“The consequence of this phenomenon is the decline of strong human resources because most of the Nigerians relocating are the youths,” Dabiri-Erewa noted. “This in turn, makes a downward turn on labour and productivity in the country.”
Despite these challenges, Dabiri-Erewa called for a change in perspective, urging Nigerians to see the positive side of the situation.
“We have to turn our lemons into lemonade. Today, we change the story by celebrating those vibrant Nigerians who are making positive impacts in the Diaspora and making the country very proud.
Also, those who, while abroad, are contributing positively to national development,” NiDCOM Boss noted.
The Yobe State Police Command has begun the probe into the case of a self-proclaimed marabout, Auwalu Haruna, arrested for allegedly abducting and impregnating his wife’s friend.
PUNCH gathered that the 20-year-old girl, after days of disappearance, was found pregnant at Haruna’s custody in Anguwan Arewa, in the Gaya Local Government Area of Kano State.
In a telephone interview, Dungus Abdulkarim, the spokesperson for the state police command, revealed to our correspondent that Haruna was accused of hypnotising the victim with a concoction that rendered her unconscious.
Abdulkarim said the case was transferred to the state Criminal Investigation Department, and a discreet investigation was ongoing.
“The suspect is just like a marabout, he does rituals for people. So, he allegedly forced her to drink a certain medical concoction that made her fall in love with him, then he eloped with her to Anguwan at Kano.
“The abduction case was reported to the Tarmuwa Divisional Police Headquarters by her father, who alleged it was Mallam Haruna who perpetrated it. After thorough research, the command operatives arrested him in Kano with the girl, whom he had already impregnated. It was medically confirmed that she was two months pregnant.
“The case is still under investigation at the Yobe SCID, and you know there are processes. After we are done, we still have to transfer his file to the Yobe State Ministry of Justice. The ministry, which is our counterpart, will now go through the file and vet it.”
If satisfied with the investigation, they can now provide legal assistance to the police, and he will be arraigned in court,” Abdulkarim concluded.
PUNCH Metro reported in June that a 71-year-old landlord, identified simply as Adesina, for allegedly defiling and impregnating his tenant’s 14-year-old girl at Akegbeyale Street in Ifesowapo Akute, Ifo Local Government Area of the state.
Our correspondent gathered that the residents and other tenants were thrown into a state of shock when the septuagenarian suspect was found on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, having sexual intercourse with the minor at about 10:15 pm in the bathroom.
The Anambra State Police Command said it has identified the officers allegedly fingered in a viral video of telephone theft in a community in Otuocha Local Government Area of the state.
In a video that circulated on social media on Wednesday, a resident of the area narrated how police officers from the Otuocha Police Division invaded their houses and forcefully took away mobile phone sets that people were charging.
The voice, who identified himself as a resident of the community, said the heavily armed police officers invaded the locations in a commando-like style, unplugged the telephones from the sockets, one by one, and carted them away for no reason.
According to the voice in the three-minute video, the police officers invaded their community late on Tuesday and carted an undisclosed number of telephones.
He, therefore begged the police authorities in the state to look into the situation and returned the telephones to the owners.
In the video, the residents blocked a major road in the community and used it to protest the action.
The development generated reactions from different quarters with residents calling for a probe of the police officers’ action.
But while reacting to the development in a statement on Thursday, the Anambra State Police spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the command had identified the officers involved in the act.
Ikenga called on the victims whose telephones were forcefully taken to come forward to help facilitate the necessary action involved in the investigation.
He said, “The Anambra State Police Command has intercepted a video of a protest against police action and wishes to state that the police team and the officers mentioned in the video have been identified.
“The command also invites the victims to come forward to help facilitate the necessary action involved in the investigation.
“To this end, the Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam, calls for calm and urges citizens to utilise the channels of the complaint against police officers rather than being unruly as seen in the video blocking the express road, thereby infringing on the fundamental rights of others which is the very course citizens want to protect.
“We seek for a police that is civil and professional in discharging their duties. Aggrieved residents should make use of police complaint channels to express any grievances.
“These channels include the CP Monitoring Unit of Command, the Police X-Squad under the State Criminal Investigation Department Police Complaints Bureau or the newly resuscitated Complaint Response Unit under the Police Public Relations Department Awka.
“You can call the Command Control Room at 07039194332 or the Police Public Relations Officer at 08039334002 in the event of any distress. Also download the ‘NPF Rescue Me App’, usable on Android and Apple iOS phones, to make reports. Further details shall be communicated, please.”
Nigerian Afrobeats singer, Divine Ikubor, also known as Rema, has revealed that the Nigerian music industry is filled with ‘fake people’, which helped inspire his song.
The singer made this known while speaking at the listening party for his sophomore album, ‘HeIs,’ in Lagos on Thursday night.
According to Rema, one of the tracks on the album “Now I Know” was inspired by the “fake” nature of the Nigerian music scene.
He said, “There are a lot of fake people in the [music] industry, the industry is fake. So when people come and say ‘Yo, I love this guy,’ nobody should tell them that they’re chasing clout. No, it’s real.
“When somebody comes out, it’s because they’ve seen someone who’s real among everybody in the crazy industry, mixed with both the fake and the real. And that’s what this song [‘Now I Know] is all about. Now I know who dey for me.
“All those I loved turned enemies. Now I know who dey for me. All those I trust turned enemies.”
As Nigerians’ confidence in govt anti-corruption effort drops
A National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, survey report has shown that Nigerians paid N721 billion in cash bribes to public officials in 2023.
The Survey report titled: “Corruption in Nigeria: Patterns and trends”, released yesterday, indicated that more than 95 per cent of all bribes Nigerians paid in 2023 were in monetary form.
Meanwhile, the report also showed that Nigerians’ confidence in the government’s anti-corruption effort declined during the review period.
The report stated: “Overall, it is estimated that a total of roughly N721 billion ($1.26 billion) was paid in cash bribes to public officials in Nigeria in 2023, corresponding to 0.35 per cent of the entire Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Nigeria.
“In 2023, bribes paid in a public official’s office and the street accounted for around 35 and 36 per cent of all paid bribes, respectively.
“11 per cent of bribes were paid in the respondents’ own homes, while 7 per cent were paid in public buildings such as restaurants, malls, or stations.
“In 2023, the largest share of Nigerian citizens that had contact with health care professionals and public utility officers for bribery was at 30 per cent and 24 per cent respectively.
“Police officers came third, with a contact rate of 20 per cent.”
On Nigerians confidence in government anti-corruption efforts, NBS said: “Nigerians’ confidence in the government’s anti-corruption effort has been declining over time and across regions.
“While in 2019, more than half of all citizens thought that the government was effective in fighting corruption, in 2023, the share declined to less than a third of all citizens.”
NBS report also revealed that private sector bribery increased from 6.0 per cent of citizens who had at least one contact with a private sector actor in 2019 to 14 per cent in 2023.
Hon Akinremi Jagaban’s death OyO state city boy ambassador pay tribute to Hon Akinremi Jagaban.
Hon Omotosho Muyiwa (Maury) The National financial Secretary of City Boy Ambassador and leader in Oyo state. On behalf of the group, commensurate with the family, friends, APC Party members, the good people of Ibadan North LG and Oyo state, on the death of Hon Akinremi Muslieu Jagaban.
He described the late Hon.as lover of the people, a dutiful law maker of the national assembly and a philanthropist of great repute.
He then pray that the Lord will grant late Hon Akinremi Jagaban family the fortitude to bear the lost of the great man.
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A Ugandan court has sentenced Edward Awebwa, 24, a tiktoker to six years in prison for insulting President Yoweri Museveni, First Lady Janet Museveni, and their son Muhoozi Kainerugaba in a TikTok video.
The charges included hate speech and spreading “misleading and malicious” information against the first family, as reported by BBC.
Awebwa had shared content alleging a rise in taxes under President Museveni’s administration.
Despite pleading guilty and asking for forgiveness, the presiding magistrate, Stella Maris Amabilis, noted Awebwa’s lack of remorse and the vulgar nature of his language.
She emphasized the need for a punitive measure that would teach him to respect the president and his family.
“The accused deserves a punishment which will enable him to learn from his past so that next time he will respect the person of the president, the first lady, and the first son,” said Magistrate Amabilis.
Awebwa received a six-year sentence for each of the four charges, to be served concurrently.
This case has drawn attention from rights groups, who frequently criticize Ugandan authorities for human rights violations and curbing freedom of expression.
In a similar case, award-winning author Kakwenza Rukirabashaija was charged in 2022 with “offensive communication” after making unflattering remarks about the president and his son on Twitter.
Rukirabashaija fled to Germany after a month in jail, claiming he was tortured.
Activist and writer Stella Nyanzi, who is also in exile, faced imprisonment after publishing a critical poem about President Museveni.
President Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, signed a law against hate speech in 2022, which rights groups argue is designed to suppress online freedom of speech.
While the constitutional court later ruled a section of the law penalizing “offensive communication” unconstitutional, Awebwa was charged under the broader law still under challenge.
Ugandan human rights lawyer Michael Aboneka argued that the president and his family should expect criticism from the public.
“Unless they are saying that they are going to arrest every Ugandan for criticizing them at every point,” Aboneka told the BBC Newsday program.
Nollywood actress Joke Silva has celebrated her husband, veteran actor Olu Jacobs, on his 82nd birthday.
In a heartfelt message on her Instagram page, Joke Silva expressed her wishes for the legendary actor.
She said, “82 just like that… Agba ko mi nira l’agbara Jesu… Sir J of life @_olujacobs. Wishing you an amazing year ahead.”
The celebration comes amid recent rumors about Olu Jacobs’ health.
Speculation had surfaced suggesting that the ailing actor had passed away.
These rumors were quickly dispelled by the Jacobs family, reaffirming that the actor is alive.
Joke Silva had previously disclosed that her husband is battling dementia, a revelation that explained his absence from the public eye in recent years.
Despite his health challenges, the couple continues to cherish their moments together, with Silva’s recent tribute highlighting their enduring bond.
Bashir El-Rufai, son of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, stirred controversy on Thursday after claiming in a series of social media posts that no politician in Nigeria is immune to being voted out of office.
The statement, perceived by many as a veiled criticism of President Bola Tinubu, ignited a heated debate among Nigerians on social media and further revealed deep divisions along political, regional, and ethnic lines, among Nigerians.
Bashir, on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), said: “Nobody is too big to be elected out of office by the people. It will happen & wallahi nothing will happen.”
In the veiled attack on the current administration headed by Tinubu, Bashir urged Nigerians to remain patient and disregard intimidation tactics.
The reactions to Bahir’s statement are mixed. While some welcome the comments as a necessary reminder of democratic principles, others perceive them as politically motivated criticism.
One Facebook user, Joe Joe, accused Bahir of hypocrisy, stating, “Just because your father is not part of the government will not make President Tinubu successful. Your father was the worst tyrant leader.”
This sentiment was echoed by Ikenna Nwachukwu, who questioned the motives behind Bashir’s statement and suggested that it might be driven by personal political interests.
The debate also took on regional dimensions, with some commentators viewing Bashir’s statement through the lens of North-South politics.
Kenneth Ekah, a Facebook user, voiced his displeasure with alleged northern political maneuvering: “The north thinks they can remove people anyhow they want whenever they want to put their own person. Tinubu is not like Jonathan ooooo.”
But supporting Bashir’s stance, one Musa Nurul Adnan said “He is right! Even Tinubu, if he did not amend his incompetency Nigerians will [show him the] way out of the presidency.”
While Bashir did not directly mention Tinubu’s name in his posts, his subsequent comments seemed to target the president’s political stronghold.
“Even IMF & World Bank no go save una that time. Political strategist una. That one na for Lagos [State],” he wrote, in what some have interpreted as a direct challenge to Tinubu’s influence in Lagos, where he served two terms as governor.
“Wallahi, none of you will force anyone to support this utter failure of governance disguised as useless, dangerous ethnocentric political strategy,” the former Kaduna governor’s son added.
Bashir’s comments come amid allegations of betrayals within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Recent events have fueled speculation about a deepening divide between President Tinubu and key northern political figures, including Nasir El-Rufai.
Adding to the intrigue, former Governor El-Rufai recently hosted Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the presidential candidate of the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP) in the 2023 elections, at his Abuja residence. The meeting followed El-Rufai’s visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura, Katsina State, and a meeting in March with the national chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The events have led to speculation about El-Rufai’s intentions ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Former Senator Shehu Sani had claimed that El-Rufai’s visit to Buhari was part of a plot by prominent northern politicians to unseat President Tinubu in the next election.
Meanwhile, the seeming tension between El-Rufai and the Tinubu administration can be traced back to the former’s failed ministerial nomination. Despite being put forward by President Tinubu, El-Rufai’s appointment was rejected by the Senate under unclear circumstances.
Segun Showunmi, a chieftain of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), recently accused President Tinubu of betraying key APC leaders who supported his 2023 election bid.
Showunmi pointed to the rejection of El-Rufai’s ministerial nomination by the Senate, and ongoing prosecution of former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Amid this, El-Rufai appears to have distanced himself from the Tinubu administration.
In April, he criticized the Tinubu-led Federal Government for allegedly spending more on petrol subsidy than previous administrations despite announcing an end of the subsidy regime.
“Asiwaju ( President Bola Tinubu) announced the withdrawal of fuel subsidy on 29th May , but believe it or not , fuel subsidy is back , we’re spending more now, about N8 trillion on subsidy than before 29th of May,” El-Rufai had said.
“For example, if you appoint a person to a position and he is not performing to expectations, you should have the humility to say look, I need a better person to do the job perfectly. Leadership is a continuous thing and in a term of four years, you can’t assess a government of nine months.”
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) on Thursday said market associations across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory are responsible for the persistent hike in the price of food commodities.
The Acting Executive Vice Chairman (FCCPC) Dr Adamu Abdullahi, stated this in Abuja during a one-day webinar with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Consumer Protection Groups (CPGs) themed “Collaboration for competition and consumer protection.”
Abdullahi said that although insecurity is a major problem in food production, some individuals in the market have become dictators in the supply and distribution chain of food products into the market.
He said, “We are not a price regulatory agency, but there are some sharp practices in the market that we have to ensure they don’t occur. Issues like price gauging and cartel must be addressed.
“Every market now has associations for different products. Farmers who are not members of the association are prevented from entering the market which defeats the essence of a market. These associations have evolved into cartels and they now decide the price of food products.
“But they go beyond price fixing. Now they decide the rate of food supply into the market to create scarcity and inflate the price of available products.
“These are issues we have found out and have taken action against. We have warned the Abuja Market Management and the Chairman of the Local government on the association practices which are against the law.”
Speaking further Abdullahi noted that a market survey done by the commission in collaboration with the National Consumer Advocacy Group discovered that increase in prices of food was caused by faulty vehicles, and diesel prices amongst others.
He added, “Farmers provide incentives above N100,000 for various payments at checkpoint, local government along the way before their product gets to their destination for sale.
“Most of the Vehicles used for transportation are all dilapidated and along the way, they may have breakdowns. For instance, a faulty vehicle transporting perishables like tomatoes if broken down will lead to waste on the product. A farmer transporting the next batch will increase his price to cover up for the earlier loss encountered.
“The issues of the price of fueling and diesel are affecting products. To make matters worse there, are no standard roads leading to farms or small markets. So, farmers have to use a more expensive product which is petrol to transport the goods in smaller vehicles to the small market.
“When they get to the small market, the foods are then moved to diesel trucks, and trailers to transport the products to the urban markets and beyond.”
Speaking on the federal government’s plans to address the cost of transportation, Abdullahi said through the implementation of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), traders and farmers would save at least 60 per cent of the cost of fueling these vehicles.
Abdullahi assured of the commission’s commitments to control market politics and price gauging.