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‘Nollywood Is A Petty, Dirty Industry, If They Can’t Use You, They Will Block You’ – Kunle Remi
AdminNollywood actor, Kunle Remi, has claimed the movie industry is petty and dirty.
Naija News reports that the movie star who failed to secure any award in the 2023 African Magic Viewers Choice (AMVCA) despite his outstanding performance in the movie ‘Anikulapo’ made this known in a post via X (formerly known as Twitter).
According to Kunle, if people can’t use you in the movie industry, they will block or unfollow you.
He wrote: “Petty, dirty industry if they can’t use you, they will block or unfollow you. Shiorrr..
“It’s only God I give my soul to and allow to use me anyhow and anyway. Everyone or thing that is not God can REST!
“See you in the future.. oh ye users. I still no go gree.”
AMVCA Award Is Not Mansion, It Doesn’t Reduce My Value As Screen god
Meanwhile, Kunle Remi, has said, he is unbothered about the exclusion in the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Award (AMVCA) nomination.
Speaking during an interview on TVC ‘Your View’ on Friday, Kunle Remi said the AMVCA snub does not reduce his value as an actor or screen god.
According to the thespian, his greatest award was the privilege to play the character, ‘Anikulapo’ and despite being challenging, he gave his best.
A victim of car theft, Modupeola Durojaye has narrated how her vehicle was snatched by armed thieves on Monday night along the Benin-Sagamu Expressway in Ogun State.
The armed thieves who disguised themselves as officials of the Nigeria Police Force snatched the black 2018 Toyota Sienna with the license plate AA447GS from the highway.
The victim told the Punch newspaper that her husband was lured into parking her car at night on the Benin-Sagamu Expressway, where armed thieves took it from him.
She said, “My husband took the car to work that day, then when he was on his way home, around that 8:30pm, he was stopped by some men, who were assumed to be men of the police force with their flashlights.
“When he parked, they rushed to attack him, and they fled with the car. My husband is still trying to recover from the shock because the incident was traumatising.”
According to Durojaiye, her spouse was hurt while attempting to protect himself from the robbers’ attack.
“They were masked, the incident happened quickly, and my husband and the criminals engaged in combat,” she said.
The woman claimed they struck him with a machete and other dangerous weapons, causing him to suffer severe injuries.
“It was not only the car they snatched, they also carted away his gold wristwatch and ring. He has gone to the court for an affidavit because they went with his purse too, which contains his bank ATM card and driving licence,” she added.
The Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, on Thursday, said the state had uncovered on its payroll some doctors who left the state employment and migrated abroad to seek greener pastures, in what is commonly known as japa.
According to the governor, such doctors are still collecting salaries from the state despite that they have left the state employment and are now working abroad.
Otti made the revelation while speaking at the first Abia State Council on Health at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia with the theme, “Providing an Accessible, Affordable and Quality Healthcare System for the New Abia”.
The governor, while observing that doctors’ emigration had impacted negatively on the state’s health sector, promised to tackle the trend by giving doctors a special welfare package from next year.
He said, “The ‘japa’ syndrome has indeed taken its toll on the health sector; however, this administration is not leaving any stone unturned in addressing this challenge. To this end, the government has resolved to motivate our health care workers through prompt payment of their wages and improvement of welfare packages that we will introduce from 2024.”
The governor added that his administration would recruit more health workers to strengthen the health sector.
“We are in the process of recruiting new skilled birth attendants to improve healthcare service delivery in the state. Furthermore, our ongoing digitalisation of the Abia State civil service has uncovered some staff that have left their duty post for greener pastures, yet still receive remuneration from the government. While the criminality involved in this is going to be addressed by the relevant agencies of government, the important thing here is that we do not have the number of hands that were hitherto reported. We are working hard to fill these gaps,” he said.
Otti said his government was strengthening primary health care and ensuring that health facilities were manned by personnel across the state.
The Minister of Health, represented by the Permanent Secretary of Abia State Ministry of Health, Dr Ifenyinwa Uma-Kalu, stressed the need for state governments to support the Federal Government by providing the necessary infrastructure in the health care system.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Ngozi Okoronkwo, described the first State Council on Health as a demonstration of the commitment of Otti’s administration to prioritising developmental initiatives that capable of unlocking the potential of Abia’s strategic human capital.
As cash scarcity occasioned by the redesign of three naira notes continues to bite Nigerians about a year after the implementation of the policy, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has warned against collusion between Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) and Point-Of- Sale (PoS) operators.
In a statement on Thursday by its spokesperson, Sidi Ali, Hakama, the apex bank said such collusion was affecting the availability of cash and the seamless circulation of the naira in the country.
The CBN said it was investigating reported cases of collusion between banks and PoS operators “capable of undermining the smooth running of the economy”.
“The CBN frowns at such inappropriate actions by certain individuals and is investigating the reported cases capable of undermining the smooth running of the economy,” the statement partly read.
“The CBN has, therefore, warned banks and PoS operators to desist from such activities as relevant sanctions shall be meted out to those found wanting.”
The apex bank encouraged members of the public to use alternative payment channels as well as report any case of unauthorised activities, such as capping and hoarding, by banks or PoS agents to the CBN branch in their locations.
Despite the recent intervention by the federal government, many passengers across Nigeria said they have shelved their plans to travel home for the Christmas and New Year holidays due to lack of money among other issues.
Others who trooped out to bus stations said they wondered why the discount was yet to commence.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had, on Wednesday, approved 50 per cent rebates for Nigerians willing to travel via some specified minibuses and luxury buses across various states in the country for the Christmas and New Year.
The president also directed that commuters on all train services be granted 100 per cent free trips across Kaduna -Abuja, Lagos-Ibadan, Warri-Itakpe routes from yesterday, Thursday, December 21, 2023 till January 4, 2024.
Subsequently, the federal government enlisted five transport companies for the fare subsidy, including GIG Logistics, Chisco, Young Shall Grow, God Bless Ezenwata and Area Motors.
Many people who spoke to Daily Trust yesterday said they thought the initiative covered all commercial vehicles especially those in recognized parks, but discovered that the intervention was limited to certain transport companies.
Drivers and commuters in Kano, Kaduna, Lagos, Bayelsa and other parts of the country who spoke with our correspondents, yesterday, complained of low turnout of passengers and the hike in fares.
‘President’s directive too late’
In Lagos, transport fares have spiked ahead of the yuletide forcing many people to shelve travel plans for the festive period.
Checks by our correspondent showed that transport fares from Lagos to the South East and South South regions have remained on the high side despite the government’s intervention.
At Iyana-Ipaja Park, one of the popular interstate parks in Lagos, it was learnt that most of the vehicles leaving for the East had been fully booked.
The motorists told our correspondent that many people were not travelling this year because of the hike in transport fare.
Despite the president’s directive, it was gathered that Okeyson Motors at Iyana-Ipaja to Owerri was charging N32,500 from N27,000, while God Is Good Motors charged N41,100 to Port Harcourt from Lagos.
One of the drivers who spoke with our correspondent, Chukwuemeka Ike, said, “My vehicle is filled up for Thursday and Friday but I can tell you that you would still get a bus or a car anytime you come around because many people are not traveling.”
The Young Shall Grow bus service at Iyana-Ipaja on the luxurious bus charges N30,100 for Owerri from N27,100 charged a few days ago.
Another passenger, who acknowledged the 50 per cent cut by the president, said it was coming late as many of them had booked way ahead.
“For instance, many of us traveling on Friday have already paid N41,000 with God is Good; before it was N20,000. What we learnt is that this affects only the luxury bus. What about small cars? We are still paying the same amount,” said the passenger at Iyana Ipaja park.
At Oshodi Interstate Park, luxury bus operators including Bonnyway Motors, Chimezie and Bros, God Bless Ezenwata and Izu Chukwu were yet to slash prices.
For instance , Lagos to Onitsha, Owerri, Aba, Ihiala and Delta, which used to be N16,200 is now N22,500. Port Harcourt on Chisco was increased from N19,200 to N25, 200.
At Jibowu yesterday, Ekesons Bus to Owerri was N26,500 and N30,500 to Port Harcourt; Young Shall Grow charges N26,500 to Abakaliki and Enugu while God is Good to Owerri is N42,300 on the mini buses.
One of the operators said, “We read about the development in the paper. Government should reduce the cost of fuel and diesel before giving such a directive to reduce prices.”
No reduction yet in Kano
Our reporter in Kano reports that the 50 per cent slash was yet to take effect as confirmed during a visit to luxury buses parks.
One of the park attendants, Ramatu Hassan, said “The issue is that there is no money for people to travel. The truth is people are thinking about what they can eat first and everything will be okay,” she said.
“If you use the little you have to travel because of 50 per cent reduction, you will go and come back to continue living. What happens to those who exceed the deadline? How will they come back?” Ramatu asked.
When our reporter visited Kano Luxury Park at Hotoro Eastern bypass, it was gathered that the number of vehicles leaving on a daily basis had shrunk while many people had resorted to sending messages through waybill to family members.
Speaking on the development, Bashir Muhammed, an official at the park, said, “People are travelling but not like last year. There is no money in people’s hands. They only come here to send items through waybill to their respective family members.
“Last year, from Kano to Onitsha was N18,000 to N20, 000 but now it is N30,000 and Lagos is N26,000,” he said.
Also speaking, Umar Idris, another official, said, “Last year by this time, you will see a mad rush by people going back home for Christmas. You will see the park very full of people.
“By this time last year, at least 20 buses must have left but now it is only two that have left since morning. People are not travelling because of the high cost. In fact, many have started resorting to going by truck,” he said.
“The fare to Enugu, Aba, Port Harcourt is N28,000 from Kano now while coming back is more than that,” he explained.
Residents forgo Christmas trips in Kaduna
Our correspondent who visited the Kawo Motor Park in Kaduna reports that there has been a dramatic decrease in the number of travellers due to the high cost of transportation caused by the increase in pump price.
The situation is similar at the Mando Park in Kaduna where it was gathered that transport fares to Kogi State have increased from N6,000 to N9,500 while that of Enugu has gone up from N7,000 to N18,000.
A resident, Juliet Nyang said, “Since I cannot afford to travel home for Christmas, I just sent the little money I have to my parents for the celebration while I do my own little one here. Things are really difficult but we are hoping it will get better.”
Another resident, Isaiah Peter, said he was spending Christmas in Kaduna for the first time since he got married eight years ago.
“Christmas is usually the time I take my family to the village to see my people and their mother’s people. Unfortunately, because of the high cost of fuel and transportation I cannot afford to take them.”
He called on government to review pump prices downward to reduce the burden on citizens, saying. “The increase has affected every sector making life very difficult for the common man.”
The Secretary of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), in Kawo, Malam Bature Suleiman, said the number of travelers had reduced by 50 per cent.
Suleiman highlighted the financial strain on travellers, stating that they now prefer to send messages to their loved ones. “Sadly, if you go to our motor parks now, you will see a lot of vehicles waiting without passengers,” he said.
Ticket racketeering returns to Rigasa train station
Our correspondent also reports that despite the declaration of free train rides, many passengers were turned back.
Passengers without valid tickets were barred from boarding the train at the Rigasa train station in Kaduna while black market dealers were making brisk business from passengers.
Daily Trust reports that the federal government had told Nigerians to book online and print their tickets for the free ride before approaching any train station.
A passenger, Moses Egwu, who spoke to our correspondent, said he was forced to buy tickets at N6,000 when he was unable to board the train.
“I came to the station full of hope of getting a free ride to Abuja only for me to be prevented from boarding it. The staff insisted that I could not board the train if I did not have a ticket.”
Travelers in Jos decry non-implementation of directive
Mr Isioman Young, the manager of Young Shall Grow, one of the contracted companies, expressed doubt about the implementation in Plateau State.
He said, “Most of our Luxurious buses are grounded due to the economic hardship, because we can’t maintain them. So, I don’t know how we are going to implement the 50 per cent announced by the federal government.”
Passengers said the discount offered to Nigerians traveling to celebrate Christmas, was yet to be implemented in the state.
The passengers who spoke said though the discount was scheduled to run from December 21 to January 4 of next year, they have not seen any action by transport operators towards implementing the directive.
Our correspondent, who visited some motor parks, reports that while some passengers at the Plateau Riders Motor Park said they were not aware of the federal government’s pronouncement regarding the discount, others said they were aware of the development but paid their normal transport fare while some reportedly paid higher than what they used to pay.
David Aga, a passenger said “There is no discount because as I am talking to you, I have paid N8,500 instead of N6,000 that we used to pay.”
Robert Kwap, who is the terminal officer at the Plateau Express Motor Park, spoke on why the directive has not been implemented yet.
He said “We heard about the story but we haven’t been communicated. We have to be supported because the fuel is very expensive.”
Passengers reluctant in Bayelsa
A commercial driver at Ekeki Motor Park in Yenagoa, Okpokiri Luckyman, said passengers were not forthcoming because of the high cost of fares.
“This particular Christmas, it is only God that will help us, no passengers,” he said.
5m commuters targeted for support – FG
The federal government has said series of meetings and consultations went down to come up with the 50 per cent reduction in transport fares for luxury and minibuses.
The Minister of Information, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, disclosed this yesterday while speaking yesterday in Abuja during the end of year world press briefing.
The minister, who said the decision was taken to cushion the effects of the high cost of transportation during the yuletide, added that the federal government targets to lift five million commuters during the yuletide season with 50 per cent transportation rebate.
He noted that all train services were free for all Nigerians traveling from yesterday Thursday, December 21, 2023 to Thursday, January 4, 2024.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, yesterday also posted a document showing 28 routes the buses will run.
They include Lagos- Kano, Lagos-Abuja, Lagos-Kaduna-Zaria, Lagos-Jos, Lagos-Enugu, Lagos-Onitsha, Lagos-Owerri, Lagos-Aba, Lagos-Abakaliki, Lagos-Nsukka, Lagos-Uyo, Lagos-Port-Harcourt, Onitsha- Kano, Onitsha-Lagos.
Others are, Onitsha-Jos, Onitsha-Abuja, Onitsha-Sokoto, Onitsha-Gombe, Onitsha-Zakibam, PH-Owerri-Aba-Kano, Aba-Owerri-Abuja, Aba-Lagos, Abuja-Sokoto, Abuja – Lagos, Abuja-Onitsha-Owerri-Port-Harcourt, Abuja-Enugu-Abakaliki, Abuja-Gombe and Abuja-Kano.
On the scarcity of naira, Idris said the government was aware of the challenge and had compelled the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to print more naira notes and make it available for Nigerians.
He said the government was not planning to make naira scarce like the days of the ex-CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele but in the New Year, Nigerians would have lots of naira to spend.
On the issue of unemployment, he explained that the government was doing its best to curb it, stressing that in the New Year, the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics figure of unemployed youths would reduce drastically.
The Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, has appointed the former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Attahiru Jega, as the Pro-Chancellor of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi.
This was contained in a statement by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Aliyu Ubandoma, on Thursday in Lafia, the state capital.
Jega is a former Vice Chancellor of the Bayero University, Kano and a former President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
Ubandoma said the appointment was based on the powers bestowed on the governor as the visitor to the institution, adding that the governor approved the appointment in furtherance to the commitment of his administration to ensure the institution’s academic excellence.
He said the governor also approved the appointment of Mr Shuaibu Kore, Mr Thomas Ogiri and Mrs Mary Enwongulu as members of the governing council.
He added that the governing council would be inaugurated on a date to be announced later.
The hope for a Nigerian movie to win the International Feature Film at the 2024 Oscars has been dashed as the country’s contender for the award failed to make the cut.
Hopes were high when Nigerian Official Section Committee (NOSC) picked Sundance Festival award-winning film, “Mami Wata” as its contender for the 96th Academy Awards’ International Feature Film (IFF) category.
However, the film fell short following the release of the shortlisted movies from 15 countries that made the cut.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Thursday announced shortlists in 10 categories for the 96th Academy Awards.
Films listed for the International Feature Film are:
Armenia, “Amerikatsi”
Bhutan, “The Monk and the Gun”
Denmark, “The Promised Land”
Finland, “Fallen Leaves”
France, “The Taste of Things”
Germany, “The Teachers’ Lounge”
Iceland, “Godland”
Italy, “Io Capitano”
Japan, “Perfect Days”
Mexico, “Totem”
Morocco, “The Mother of All Lies”
Spain, “Society of the Snow”
Tunisia, “Four Daughters”
Ukraine, “20 Days in Mariupol”
United Kingdom, “The Zone of Interest”
The Nigerian Official Section Committee (NOSC) for the IFF had said it selected the ‘Mami Wata’ film for its “relevant theme – multiple generations of women at the forefront of society’s well-being, its unique approach to a story of pre and post-colonial African societies, as well as its technical and artistic excellence.”
The film was written and directed by C.J. Obasi. The film is an exploration and creative reimagination of the mythology of a titular mermaid-deity of West African folklore, and one which, among other things, celebrates womanhood.
Shot on location in the Republic of Benin, “Mami Wata” tells the story of a beach-side community that must interrogate previously held beliefs when a stranger washes up ashore and further threatens its harmony.
The film, which had its theatrical releases in Nigeria and other countries, won the Special Jury Award at the Sundance Film Festival 2023 for its vivid black-and-white cinematography.
Having now missed out on the 2024 Oscars, Nigeria will be hoping to produce a movie that will make the shortlist for the 2025 Oscars and eventually win the coveted award.
The 96th Oscars will take place on Sunday, March 10, 2024. The show will air live on ABC and in more than 200 territories worldwide from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation, Hollywood.
Men of the Zone 2 Police Command, comprising Lagos and Ogun states, have apprehended one Moshood Najimdeen ‘m’ at his residence in Oke-Ola area of Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State with two suspected human hearts.
Confirming the arrest to newsmen, the spokesperson of Zone 2 Police command, SP Ayuba Tunni Umma, said the suspected human part was discovered during a search at Naresiden's residence.
‘’During interrogation, the suspect implicated one Adebanjo Wasiu ‘m’, whom he claimed to have paid Fifty Thousand Naira (₦50,000.00) to assist in obtaining the two human hearts. Adebanjo Wasiu ‘m’, in turn, pointed to one Segun Asunni ‘m’, as the source of the hearts.
Investigation has commenced into the alleged offence while the two suspected human hearts have been sent to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) for thorough examination and confirmation, further findings will be communicated"Umma said
‘Fast & Furious’ star, Vin Diesel has been accused of sexual assault in a lawsuit filed by his former assistant Asta Jonasson, multiple outlets report.
The suit which is filed on Thursday, December 21, 2023 in Los Angeles by Jonasson, claims that the incident took place in a St. Regis hotel suite in 2010 when she was working for the Fast and Furious star during the filming of Fast Five.
The plaintiff alleged that Diesel groped her, forcibly kissed her, and masturbated in front of her in his hotel room in Atlanta in 2010. The assault she claimed took place just a week after Diesel and his production company, One Race Productions, hired her while filming Fast Five.
According to Vanity Fair, “the suit alleges that late one night in September 2010, Jonasson was asked to wait in Diesel’s suite at the St. Regis hotel while he entertained hostesses he had brought back from a club. Once the other women were gone, the lawsuit claims, Diesel ‘grabbed Ms. Jonasson’s wrists, one with each of his hands, and pulled her onto the bed.’ She asked him to stop, escaped his grasp, and waited by the front door of the suite for him to leave.”
The suit also claims that the actor again approached Jonasson and began to grope her breasts and kiss her chest, despite her pleas to stop.
Vanity Fair quoted portions of the suit sited by it as saying “Ms. Jonasson was afraid to more forcibly refuse her supervisor, knowing that getting him out of that room was both crucial to her personal safety and job security…But this hope died when Vin Diesel dropped to his knees, pushed Ms. Jonasson’s dress up toward her waist, and molested her body, running his hands over Ms. Jonasson’s upper legs, including her inner thighs.”
Vanity Fair adds that, “Diesel moved to pull down her underwear, Jonasson screamed and ran down the hallway toward the bathroom, where Diesel pinned her to the wall, placing her hand on his erect pennis, even as she verbally refused. He masturbated, the suit alleges, while ‘terrified, Ms. Jonasson closed her eyes, trying to dissociate from the sexual assault and avoid angering him.’”
Diesel is yet to respond publicly to the lawsuit.
At an event on Thursday, Commissioner of Police Hamzat Adebola announced the dismissal of the culprits, promptly removing them from their positions.
According to the police boss, the duo defied numerous orders and directives against professional misconduct, extortion, incivilities towards members of the public and corruption.
“Consequential on the above, the Command re-affirms its commitments towards fighting corruption and all cases of professional misconduct at all levels by causing a deliberate increase in the layers this yuletide season and beyond.
“Lastly, while this action is to serve as deterrence to other officers with a similar disposition, Special Constabularies Kareem Fatai and Jimoh Lukmon cease to be part of the noble policing profession from today Thursday, 21/12/2023,” the police said in a statement.
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Dr Edozie John Akunyili, the son of the late former Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dora Akunyili, has said his mother died in vain for Nigeria.
Edozie spoke in reaction to recent reports regarding the upsurge of fake food and drugs in Nigeria despite NAFDAC’s 31-year existence in the country.
Edozie tweeted on Tuesday, “It pains me that we lost our mother for nothing”.
He added, “Nobody has sacrificed more for Nigeria than our family, yet we constantly ask ourselves if it was worth it?
“We would give anything to have our parents with us but Naija moves on with corruption and impunity from the top down seen as normalcy.
“Sadly, she died because she was so engrossed in her work for NAFDAC that she delayed her fibroid hysterectomy for years, which later was found to be cancerous.
“When I see all the lies, corruption and dirty politics, it pains me that we lost our mother for nothing, was it worth it?”.
Replying to Edozie’s tweet, the former Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, Dr. Joe Abah, said Akunyili gave her life to save the lives of millions.
“Well @dogzigee, I think that she told me that she had lost her own sister to fake insulin. Was her fight against fake and substandard drugs worth it? Absolutely! She gave her life to save the lives of millions.
“That’s what heroes do. Your mum was a hero. We are grateful to her”, he tweeted.
Late Akunyili was the DG of NAFDAC from 2001 to 2008. She died at a specialist cancer hospital in India on June 7, 2014, after a two-year battle with uterine cancer.
NAFDAC recently intercepted counterfeiters involved in the production of a variety of beverages, including wines, soft drinks and consumables in Eziukwu Market (Cemetery Market) in Aba, Abia State.
But despite the agency’s activities, fake drugs and food items have reportedly continued to flood Nigerian markets.
The Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the recent remarks credited to the former All Progressives Congress (APC) national chairman, Comrade Adam Oshiomole, regarding the alleged deployment of funds to influence the 2019 elections in Kwara state.
Comrade Adam Oshiomole, an erstwhile National Chairman of the APC is now a Senator representing Edo North at the National Assembly, Abuja.
The Kwara PDP in a swift reaction through its State Publicity Secretary, Olusegun Olusola Adewara, called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately investigate Senator Oshiomole.
“Our attention was drawn to a reckless anti-democratic statement credited to the disgraced former APC National Chairman, Mr. Adam Oshiomole, where he proudly declared that the APC, under his leadership, committed more than N1.2 billion to secure victory over Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and the PDP in Kwara in 2019 general elections.
“As a Party, we feel such a revelation is not only affirming our position that there were no elections in Kwara in 2019 but a political coup targeted at Bukola Saraki using the federal powers and all state apparatuses to hound and intimidate Kwarans and imposed the current accidental leadership on the state in a coup detat style. We are vindicated by Oshiomole’s public admittance that the 2019 elections in Kwara were rigged to dislodge Saraki.
“However, we want to assert that Oshiomole’s public confession of indulging in vote-buying politics constitutes a serious breach of Nigerian law. It is disheartening that Mr. Adam Oshiomole, who currently holds a position as a Nigerian lawmaker, has unequivocally crossed the red line by attacking the political decorum expected of a responsible legislator. As a lawmaker, Oshiomole is duty-bound to uphold the values of democracy, champion the cause of justice, and represent the interests of the people. Regrettably, a figure entrusted with the responsibility of making laws for the nation has openly celebrated the subversion of the democratic processes through the undue influence of money.
“It is essential to emphasize that vote buying is a punishable offense under Nigerian law. We, therefore, urge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to promptly initiate an investigation into this voluntary admission by Oshiomole, as it aligns with the legal definition of a punishable offense for which young boys and girls who were caught with just N50,000 at various polling booths were made to languish in various prisons while a national vote buyer who has openly confessed is being rewarded with a member of a hallowed chamber.
“We also call on relevant parliamentary bodies to investigate Oshiomole’s conduct and hold him accountable for his actions, as he has not only undermined the credibility of the legislative institution but also eroded public trust in the democratic system. This egregious display by Oshiomole further underscores the need for comprehensive electoral reforms and the strengthening of institutions that safeguard the integrity of our democracy.
“It is truly disheartening to witness a national lawmaker like Oshiomole, who should serve as a role model for upholding democratic values, engage in actions that are not only morally wrong but undermine the very foundation of our political system. Oshiomole’s arrogant and ridiculous utterances, confessing to the use of money to win elections, epitomize the deplorable state of our democracy today.”
Hon. Justice Olufunke Anuwe of the Abuja Judicial Division of the National Industrial Court has dismissed the alleged appropriate promotion or allocations of notional date filed by one retiree, Babatunde Awoniran against the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Federal Civil Service Commission for being academic and lack of proof.
The Court held the issue of Awoniran’s promotion or allocation of notional date is now academic because he (Awoniran) can no longer lay claim to any promotion or proper placement which was not accorded him while in service, and he cannot derive or enjoy any benefit from the decision any longer.
Justice Anuwe expressed that instead of Awoniran to take an action in court at the time or when he was still in service to have the court make pronouncements and orders on his promotion or proper placement, he was rather patronizing the ICPC who clearly lacked the powers to interfere in how the Federal Civil Service Commission exercises its constitutional responsibilities.
From facts, the Claimant- Babatunde Awoniran had submitted that he retired from the Federal Civil Service on 30th January 2021 after having served for 35 years in service, and averred that the failure of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Federal Civil Service Commission to promote him to the proper grade level or to allocate appropriate notional date to him upon his reinstatement into service in June 2004 so as to put him in parity with his colleagues who were in the same grade level with him at the time of his alleged dismissal in 1999.
However, the defendants- Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Federal Civil Service Commission failed to defend the case despite service of the court’s process.
Mr. Awoniran submitted that in compliance with the letter from ICPC, the Head of the Civil service of the Federation and the Federal Civil Service Commission only reviewed the aspect of the conditions on payment of arrears of salary but refused to restore his seniority, and he wrote several letters demanding his proper placement in line with the Civil Service Rules but to no avail.
In a well-considered judgment, the Presiding Judge, Justice Olufunke Anuwe held that Awoniran did not plead or mention the condition of service which applied to his employment while in service, and did not state anywhere in his pleading and evidence that he is entitled to be allocated appropriate notional date on the basis of any term of the condition of service which regulated his employment.
The Court stated that the issue of Awoniran’s claim on promotion or allocation of the notional date upon his reinstatement is an issue which he ought to have sought the court’s intervention when he was still in service.
Justice Anuwe held that since 2004 when he (Awoniran) was informed by the Federal Civil Service Commission in his reinstatement letter that he was not entitled to promotion during the period of his purported dismissal, he didn’t approach any court on the issue until he retired in 2021, that the issue of Awoniran’s promotion is no longer a live issue after he had retired from service.
The Court stated that the entitlement to, which Mr. Awoniran seeks to assert against the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Federal Civil Service Commission, must be based or founded on the terms and conditions of his employment.
A Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday, struck out a suit praying the court to compel the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to investigate and prosecute Mr Peter Obi over allegations bordering on asset declaration breach.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a short ruling, threw out the suit for lack of diligent prosecution.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Olukoya Ogungbeje, who claimed to be a human rights activist and a lawyer, had, in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/44/23, sued CCB as sole respondent.
In the motion on notice dated July 3 but filed on November 6 by the applicant himself, he sought an order of mandamus compelling the CCB to, forthwith, exercise its constitutional and statutory duty, function and obligation to invite, investigate complaints; refer and prosecute Obi before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on the allegations and complaints of breaches of the constitutional provisions on assets declaration.
Ogungbeje alleged that Obi, the Labour Party (LP)’s presidential candidate in the February 25 presidential election, failed to declare his offshore holdings and their associated assets.
Besides, he alleged that the LP candidate operated foreign account while being a public officer and was a director of Next International (UK) Limited for 14 months after becoming the governor of Anambra.
He said this was contrary to provisions of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
He also sought a declaration that the failure and or refusal of CCB to act based on his application dated March 23 amounted to “crass dereliction of public duty, gross abdication of statutory responsibility and brazen infraction of constitutional obligations and functions imposed on the respondent by law.”
NAN reports that Justice Ekwo had, on November 1, granted Ogungbeje’s motion ex-parte moved by Odafe Ojisua, for leave to apply for an order of mandamus compelling the CCB to invite, investigate and prosecute Obi before the CCT.
The judge, who directed Ogungbeje to file his application within seven days, ordered him to serve CCB at least 14 days before the next adjourned date.
But when the matter was called yesterday, neither the applicant nor his lawyer was in court, and Justice Ekwo consequently struck out the suit.(NAN)