Former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili has stated that she will not revert to the old national anthem newly signed by President Bola Tinubu.
Ezekwesili who disclosed this in her X handle on Wednesday, stated that no one will suppress her right to dissent an obnoxious ‘law’ that is repugnant to all.
In the post which she tagged ‘Public Service Announcement’, she wrote, “Let it be known to all and sundry that I, Obiageli “Oby” Ezekwesili shall whenever asked to sing the Nigerian National Anthem sing:
“1. Arise, O compatriots, Nigeria’s call obey
To serve our fatherland
With love and strength and faith
The labour of our heroes past
Shall never be in vain
To serve with heart and might
One nation bound in freedom, peace and unity.“2. Oh God of creation, direct our noble cause
Guide our leader’s right
Help our youth the truth to know
In love and honesty to grow
And living just and true
Great lofty heights attain
To build a nation where peace and justice reign.“This is my own National Anthem and let it be known that no one can suppress my right to dissent an obnoxious “law” that is repugnant to all that is of good conscience in Nigeria.
“Whatever else is #NotMyNationalAnthem.”
In another post, the former Minister, stated that she actually thought the revert to the Old Anthem was a joke and wondered why it was a priority for the government.
“I frankly thought it was a joke and gave it no attention. With all the horrible indicators on the state of governance? So, it is a new National Anthem that is their priority?
“I frankly thought it was a joke and gave it no attention.
“What an egregious case of “Majoring in the Minor” this is! Wow!.”
She urged Nigerians to rise up and fight for themselves as none of their leaders will fight for them.
“Again, no one is coming to save us, Citizens of Nigeria. We’re all we have.
“We all must someday decide to collectively save ourselves and this country from these overpaid, unethical, incompetent and incapable “Lawbreakers” in the @nassnigeria and their similarly characterized collaborators in the Executive and Judicial branches of Government across this Land.
“The Citizens of this country must understand this absolute truth by now that the Political Class is the biggest curse on this country,” she posted.
A 24-year-old bricklayer, Adedapo Ayobami, has been arrested by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for allegedly breaking into and stealing from the residence of a herbalist who allegedly provided him with money attraction charms.
According to Michael Adaralewa, the Osun State Commandant of the NSCDC, Ayobami, a resident of 13, Oja Oba in Osogbo, unlawfully entered a house in the Osunjela area of Osogbo and made away with a plasma television, ten cooking pots, two frying pans, two cable decoders, a solar panel with bulbs, curtains, and other household items.
In his statement to the police, Ayobami allegedly confessed that before the homeowner’s death, he was a herbalist who provided him with traditional soap to improve his financial fortunes.
Ayobami had been collecting the soaps on a monthly basis.
On May 23rd, after learning of the herbalist’s passing, Ayobami returned to the house, found the keys, and stole various items, intending to sell them to unsuspecting buyers.
The NSCDC commandant stated that Ayobami’s actions contravene Section 411 of the Criminal Code Act in Nigeria, which deals with theft and related offenses.
The statement reads: “In his confessional statement, the suspect said, before the owner of the house died, he was a herbalist and he gave him traditional soap to improve his financial status.
“He would be collecting the traditional soap on monthly basis. He went to the herbalist’s house to collect the soap for the month of May, on getting there, he was told the herbalist had died, he went home disappointed.
“The following day Thursday, 23rd of May, he went to the herbalist’s house, checked where he used to keep his key while alive, opened the door and carted away Plasma television, cooking utensils, Solar Panel, bulbs, two different cable decoders and other household items.
“The Suspect, Adedapo Ayobami disclosed that he intended to sell the stolen items to unsuspecting members of the public.”
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has again, ordered the interim forfeiture of $1.4m allegedly tied to the former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos granted the EFCC’s ex-parte application on Wednesday. The order freezes the funds held in the account of Donatone Limited, domiciled at Titan Bank Limited.
The EFCC suspects the money to be proceeds of unlawful activities. According to the affidavit filed by the EFCC investigator, David Jayeoba, the investigation suggests the funds may be linked to bribes and gratification received by Emefiele in exchange for facilitating access to foreign exchange (Forex) during a period of scarcity in 2021 and 2022.
He stated, “Between 2021 and 2022, when accessibility to Forex in Nigeria was difficult, several international entities operating in Nigeria had to resort to different means to source Forex.
“That Uzeobo Anthony and Adebanjo Olurotimi used the firm, to collect bribes and gratification on behalf of Godwin Emefiele, to get approval for accessing Forex. And that one of the entities (NP) paid a total sum of $26,552 million USD, into the account of a firm domiciled in Titan Trust account number 2000000500.
“That the said credits came into the account of firm on November 9, 2021: $6,450,000; November 5, 2021: $6,050,000.00; December 16, 2021: $5,400,000.00; December 23, 2021: $652,000; January 31 2022; $3,000,000.00 and September 21, 2022: $5,000,000.00.
“The investigation traced the funds to having been fixed into interest-yielding accounts, dissipated and laundered through a foreign account in Mauritius, and transported back to Nigeria under disguise.
“That of the total sum of $26, 555, 000.00 US dollars received by the firm, the balance standing in the said account as at today is the sum of $1, 426, 175.14 million USD.
“That it is the balance in the account that the applicant seeks to forfeit to the Federal Government of Nigeria, which has been traced to be the proceeds of unlawful activities of (GE) and his cronies. And that investigation further revealed that the international entities sourcing for forex were pressured into parting with huge funds to access forex during the period.
“That the signatories to the account warehouse the sum of $1, 426, 175.14 million USD, sought to be forfeited are at large and are making frantic efforts to dissipate the funds electronically. And that based on our investigation findings, the funds sought to be forfeited are proceeds of unlawful activities of (GE) and his cronies. And that it is in the interest of justice to grant this application.”
This is the second such order against Emefiele this month. On May 25, Justice Yellim Bogoro of ordered the interim forfeiture of over $4.7m, N830m, and properties linked to the former CBN governor.
The court has ordered the EFCC to publish the interim forfeiture order in a national newspaper. This allows any interested parties to challenge the order within 14 days. The case is adjourned until June 25, 2024, when the court will hear arguments for the final forfeiture of the funds.
The properties forfeited in the interim include 94 Units of an 11-floor building under Construction at 2, Otunba Elegushi 2nd Avenue (Formerly Club) Road, Ikoyi, Lagos; AM Plaza, 11-floor office space, situate on 1E, Otunba Adedoyin Crescent, Lekki Peninsula Scheme 1, Lagos; Imore Industrial Park 1, Esa Street, Imoore Land purchased with (Deep Bive Industrial Town, Oriade LCDA, Amuwo Odofin LGA, Lagos, Mitrewood and Tatler Warehouse (Furniture Plant at Bogije) near Elemoro Lagos, Owolomi Village, ibeju-Lekki LGA, Lagos and two properties purchased from Chevron Nigeria, Closed PFA Fund, Block B. Lot twin completed property in Lakes Estate, Lekki, Lagos.
President Bola Tinubu has announced that the Abuja Rail Mass Transit will offer free rides to the public until December 2024.
The announcement came during the commissioning ceremony of the newly completed project in Abuja on Wednesday, to mark the first anniversary of his administration.
During the event, President Tinubu commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike for the “speedy completion of the project.”
Wike had declared that the Abuja Light Rail would operate freely for two months, starting on Tuesday, as part of a ministerial press briefing in Abuja.
The minister added that the initiative was introduced as a part of President Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda for FCT residents.
However, Tinubu revealed that the free rides would now be available until the year’s end to enhance the mobility of Abuja residents and support the overall economic activity in the region.
Speaking earlier, Wike said his administration is aware of the difficulties residents of the territory pass through in order to commute from one spot to the other and is committed to changing the situation through the provision of adequate and modern transportation system
The newly commissioned rail project is expected to provide a much-needed boost to the transportation infrastructure in Abuja, and to ease traffic congestion and offer a reliable transit option for the city’s residents.
A former Director of Operations at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Ahmed Umar has claimed that the naira redesign embarked upon by the immediate-past Governor of the apex bank, Godwin Emefiele did not have the approval of the Committee of Governors.
Umar made the claim at the resumed trial of Emefiele on Tuesday.
At the trial opening on Tuesday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), fielded Umar as its first witness.
Led in evidence by the EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), Umar told the court that his department in 2022 was directed to come up with the new design for the naira.
He said, “The management of CBN directed my department to come up with a memo on the design of the naira note sometime in August 2022.
“We prepared the bill with the Committee of Governors and passed it through the line Deputy Governor Operations, which he forwarded to the Governor and it was listed for consideration by the Committee of Governors.”
The ex-director, who told the court that he joined CBN 35 years ago and retired in July 2023, explained that the Committee of Governors comprised five members, including the CBN Governor as chairman.
The witness told the court that the naira redesign memo was presented to the Committee of Governors for their consideration/ review on October 26, 2022, but the committee did not approve it.
Umar said, “We humbly requested the implementation of the amendment. (But) the extract from the COG did not approve item one and item three. While item two was modified to include N200 denomination, the proposal for the exercise in 2023 wasn’t approved by the COG
“The procedure requires the Board of Directors to recommend to the President for design and form.
“The design shall be contained in the currency after the approval of the President then the production of the currency will commence.”
Justice Maryanne Anenih admitted in evidence the Certified True Copy of the memorandum filed by the Operations Department and marked it as Exhibit A.
The EFCC, in the charges, accused Emefiele of spending N4.4bn to print “coloured swapped N500 notes.”
The ex-apex bank chief, however, denied all the allegations, pleading not guilty.
‘I Broke That Jinx’ – Popular Female Drummer, Ara Speaks On Why Women Were Prevented From Playing Talking Drum
AFOLABI
Famous talking drummer cum cultural ambassador of the Ooni of Ife, Aralola Olamuyiwa, better known as ‘Ara the drummer’, has recalled how she broke the jinx of women being prevented from playing talking drums.
Ara, Africa’s first female talking drummer, said in an interview on the latest episode of the ‘Terms And Conditions’ podcast that people tried to discourage her from playing the talking drum.
According to Ara, she self-taught with the musical instrument because she was told that playing the talking drum might prevent her from having children, but she broke the jinx.
She said, “There are some drums females cannot play. I started with the traditional drums. But I evolved over the years. I played different instruments like bass guitar, keyboard, and set drums.
“But I wanted something different, so I started learning how to play the talking drum. People I asked to teach me were skeptical about teaching me because I am a woman. So I am self-taught.
“Although at some point, I was afraid. I was like, ‘what could happen to me?’ They were like, ‘you might not be able to have kids.’ It’s a traditional thing but I broke that jinx.”
Ara has a son with her estranged husband, Prince Nurudeen Olalekan Saliu.
International students at the University of Sussex, particularly those from Nigeria, are facing a tense situation regarding tuition fee payments.
The Students’ Union has accused the university of being insensitive to the economic hardships faced by students from the Global South, where inflation and currency devaluation are taking a toll on their ability to pay fees.
It said that the University sent emails on April 15th demanding full payment of outstanding fees by May 31st, adding that the ultimatum has caused distress among many students, with the SU reporting that over 1,000 students have outstanding debts.
One anonymous Nigerian student explained, “We’re willing to meet our obligations, but we’re pleading for the university to grant us some time.
“Since the exchange rate tripled, my monthly income of £800 is barely enough to cover the £182 weekly accommodation, leaving me struggling to survive.”
A similar situation faced by Nigerian students at Teesside University, who were reportedly removed from their courses due to difficulties paying fees.
The university maintains it takes student well-being seriously and has offered various forms of support, including a hardship fund, welfare loans, and access to well-being resources. However, the letter sent to students with outstanding fees mentioned potential consequences of non-payment by the deadline, including revoked access to IT and library services, withheld certificates, and potential debt collection.
“If payment of your fees remains outstanding after May 31 2024, the university may take action to permanently withdraw you from the university,” the letter read in part.
The most concerning consequence, as highlighted by the university, is the possible withdrawal of student visas by UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) if the university reports their non-payment.
Riko Kunisue, the Students’ Union’s International Students’ Officer, emphasized the significant stress and fear students are experiencing and called for an extension on the deadline.
While acknowledging the challenges faced by some students, the university maintains it is being flexible and has proactively reached out to affected groups.
“No students have been or will be removed from their courses, or from university accommodation this academic year due to their debt.
“We take the wellbeing of our students extremely seriously and understand that some of our students are currently facing challenging circumstances.
“The university is being as flexible as possible and has proactively engaged with those student groups affected. We have also been offering wellbeing and other support, and signposting available financial support in our communications,” she added.
Nigerian iconic table tennis star, Quadri Aruna has reclaimed his spot as the number one table tennis player in Africa.
Recall that Quadri Aruna had a difficult first quarter of the year which forced him to lose the first spot on the continent for two months.
According to the latest ITTF rankings released by the world table tennis ruling body on Tuesday, May 28, Aruna is currently the 17th-ranked table tennis player in the world, and first-ranked in Africa.
The 35-year-old table-tennis icon displaced Omar Assar of Egypt who has now dropped to the second spot in Africa and 22nd spot in the world.
Recall that Assar took the first spot and remained there for two months after winning the 2024 African Games in Ghana.
The Egyptian lost points after the expiration of the quarter-final points he earned at the Durban 2023 World Championships in South Africa.
Egypt’s Mohamed El-Beiali is the third-best player in Africa and he is ranked 49th in the world after losing 4-0 to Quadri Aruna at the 2024 ITTF Africa Cup.
For women’s table tennis, Dina Meshref from Egypt remains the highest-ranked African player according to the latest ranking of the ITTF. She is ranked 24 in the world.
She is closely followed on the continent by her countrywoman, Hana Goda who is currently ranked 31st in the world.
The Golden Eaglets of Nigeria have failed to qualify for the U-17 Nations Cup despite beating Ghana 3-2 to win the bronze medal at the WAFU B tournament, which serves as the qualifiers for the competition.
Imrana Muhammad opened the scoring for Nigeria in the ninth minute following a goal mouth scramble.
Ghana restored parity when a Golden Eaglets defender diverted the ball into his own net.
Ghana took the lead for the first time in the game in the 27th minute when Harve Gbafa profited from a defensive blunder to beat goalkeeper Dominic Chinedu in goal for Nigeria.
Adeleke brought Nigeria back into the game before scoring a last minute winner to hand the Golden Eaglets a deserved 3-2 win.
The Confederation of African Football has clarified that next year’s Africa U17 Cup of Nations will still have 12 finalists in attendance, as against the minimum of 16 teams being projected by African football enthusiasts.
This means that despite defeating host nation Ghana in Tuesday’s third-place match of the WAFU B U17 Championship, the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria have not qualified for the finals.
CAF’s Director of Competitions, Samson Adamu confirmed that the final competition will have 12 teams and not 16, meaning the Golden Eaglets will miss out on the U-17 Nations Cup and ultimately the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.
He said: “The final tournament will still have 12 teams.”
Expectations had been high among African football aficionados that the 2025 Africa U17 Cup of Nations would be expanded, following FIFA’s allocation, at its Congress in Bangkok, penultimate week, of 10 slots to the continent for the 2025 FIFA U17 World Cup that Qatar has been designated to host.
Qatar will host five consecutive FIFA U17 World Cup finals beginning next year, each having 48 teams in attendance.
A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, discharged the President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Kore, Alhaji Bello Bodejo, of an alleged terrorism charge filed against him by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a short ruling, discharged Bodejo after counsel for the AGF, Aderonke Imana, moved an oral application for the withdrawal of the three-count charge.
Upon resumed hearing, Imana informed the court that she had an oral application.
The lawyer said the application was pursuant to Section 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015.
She said the request was further predicated on the power of the AGF under Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“Consequently, the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation has instructed me to withdraw this charge against the defendant in the interest of justice.
“That is our humble application my lord,” she said.
Bodejo’s lawyer, Ahmed Raji, SAN, did not oppose the application.
The senior lawyer thanked the AGF, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, for his “magnanimous gesture.”
“We urge your lordship to discharge the accused person under the sections referred to by the prosecutor,” Raji said.
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Controversial media personality Saida Boj stirred up a storm by expressing her unconventional views on marriage and divorce.
Saida Boj, known for her outspoken nature and controversial opinions, boldly stated that she finds joy in women divorcing their husbands, citing her belief that men are plentiful and easily replaceable.
During the podcast, Saida Boj asserted her stance, explaining that she respects and even feels happy when a woman decides to end her marriage because it likely signifies her unhappiness in the relationship.
The influencer didn’t stop there. Saida Boj went on elaborate on her perspective, claiming that if she desired marriage, she would have tied the knot years ago, emphasizing her belief that men are not scarce commodities.
According to the influencer, men are “cheap,” and she proudly declared having numerous suitors filling her direct messages.
Saida Boj’s comments sparked controversy and divided opinions among listeners and social media users.
Prices of essential food items in Nigeria surged significantly in April 2024 compared to the same period last year, according to the latest Selected Food Price Watch report from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The report revealed a concerning rise in the cost of staple foods across the board. Here’s a breakdown of the price increases:
- Rice: The average price of 1kg of local rice sold jumped a staggering 155.93 per cent year-on-year, reaching N1,399.34 in April 2024. This is compared to N546.76 recorded in April 2023. There was also a slight increase of 3.47 per cent from March 2024.
- Garri: Garri, another Nigerian staple, saw a significant year-on-year price increase of 134.98 per cent. A kilogram of white garri sold rose from N362.50 in April 2023 to N851.81 in April 2024. The price also increased by 13.59 per cent compared to March 2024.
- Tomatoes: The cost of tomatoes also skyrocketed, with a year-on-year increase of 131.58 orr cent. The average price of 1kg of tomatoes reached N1,123.41 in April 2024, compared to N485.10 in April 2023. Additionally, there was a month-on-month rise of 17.06 per cent from March 2024.
- Beans: Similar trends were observed for beans, with a year-on-year price increase of 125.43 per cent. The average price of 1kg of brown beans sold rose from N615.67 in April 2023 to N1,387.90 in April 2024. The price also saw a 12.44 per cent increase compared to March 2024.
- Yam: Yam, a popular root vegetable, was not spared either. The average price of 1kg of yam tubers increased by 154.19 per cent year-on-year, reaching N1,130.37 in April 2024 from N444.69 in April 2023. The price also saw a modest increase of 5.76 per cent compared to March 2024.
These sharp price hikes are likely to put a strain on Nigerian households, especially those with low incomes.
The government may need to consider implementing measures to address the rising cost of food staples and ensure food security for Nigerians.
Nigeria’s first professor of capital market studies, Uche Uwaleke said the inflationary pressure in Nigeria today is more on the food component reflecting the impact of cost push factors arising, especially from high cost of electricity and fuel as well as flooding and insecurity, which continue to impact food supply.
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He said, “There’s also the demand side occasioned by increasing money supply from rising FAAC allocations, fiscal dominance, and CBN’s Ways and Means, which feed into high exchange rates.
“Given these demand and supply inflation dynamics in Nigeria, both monetary, fiscal, and trade policies must be properly coordinated in order to boost production and tame inflation.
“State governments should endeavour to apply the increase in FAAC allocation due to naira devaluation on productive activities.
“The current effort by the government in boosting agriculture through the cultivation of 500,000 hectares of land, including the plan for Agric mechanisation, is a step in the right direction. I equally applaud the plan to set up special security teams to rid our forests of bandits, kidnappers, and insurgents.
“On its part, the CBN should ensure that direct advances to the FG in the form of Ways and Means are curtailed within the ceiling specified in the CBN Act.”
Famous content creator Ogechi Ukonu, popularly known as Caramel Plugg, has captivated her fans with stunning photos as she celebrates her 24th birthday.
The social media influencer took to Instagram to share her joy and reflect on her journey with a heartfelt letter addressed to herself.
In the emotional post, Caramel Plugg expressed deep gratitude and self-pride, thanking God for the strength, grace, and determination that have seen her through challenges.
She prayed for continued blessings, wisdom, peace, and prosperity as she steps into a new year.
The influencer went on to share a series of heartfelt prayers and wishes for herself.
In her words: “DEAR OGE,
I can’t start to explain how proud I am of you. Your strength, grace and determination to carry on regardless can only be from God. This is another year around the sun and The world won’t stop until it meets you, one step a time!
May the heavens continue to pour out blessings
May the angels never leave my sides
May Gratification never depart from my lips
May this new year bring blessings and joy!
May I continue to be the salt of the earth
May the favour of God be at my beck and call
May the blood that was shed on the cross stand for me all my life
May this new age bring me wisdom, peace, happiness and prosperity.
May I never lose my smile and cheerful heart ?
—————-
Happy birthday to me!!!!! ???#24 ?
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Big Brother Naija reality star Alexandra Asogwa, popularly known as Alex Unusual, has left fans in shock with her latest revelation.
Taking to her Snapchat page recently, Alex Unusual shared a surprising detail about herself.
The screen goddess disclosed that she was still a virgin at 28.
Sharing a drink on her Snap, she wrote: “This drink is still a virgin like me.”
Her claims elicited mixed reactions, with many taking to the comment section to express their shock at her statement while others commended her for keeping her virginity intact.
Alex has not been publicly known to be in any romantic relationship since her breakout in 2018 after her appearance on the Big Brother Naija Season 3 reality show.
Recently, there were rumours that she is having an affair with popular comedian, Ayo Makun, aka AY.
However, she debunked the rumours including reports that she is pregnant with AY’s child.