The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has made a damning accusation against the military.
Following the killing of military personnel in Okuama Community, Delta State, IYC alleged that military men invaded Igbomotoru 2 in Bomo-Ibe Clan of Bayelsa State in the early hours of Sunday 17th March, 2024 and killed 40 people.
While condemning the recent killing of military personnel, the council maintained that Okuama is not also a community in Bayelsa State.
The President of IYC, Dr. Alaye Theophilus, in a statement issued Wednesday, emphasised that the killing of the military personnel did not happen in an Ijaw land and has nothing to do with the Ijaw nation.
It added that the council has also set up an investigation and fact-finding team which is open to supporting the military and other security agencies to get to the root cause of the matter, and possibly bring the killers to face the law.
The council pleaded that while fishing out the killers, that the whole community should not be destroyed because of the action of a few individuals.
It said: “We as a council condemn in its totality the killing of military personnel on official peacekeeping assignment at Okuama Community in Delta State.
“This incident is devilish and inhuman and therefore, no sane minded person can support such an act in any guise.”
The council said as the largest ethnic block in the Niger Delta region, it was concerned about the stability and business-friendly environment of the oil rich region, stressing that “whatever that happens in any part of the region is of serious concern to us.”
It said as a people, what they had experienced over time “is that when an individual does something bad to military men operating in the region, reprisal from the military is always against the entire community.”
The council further noted that: “As we speak, the fears of our people have shown up again as the said Okuama Community has been completely burnt down and all the occupants made homeless, and are now refugees in neighbouring communities.
“We will also draw your attention to the onslaught going on in one of our Ijaw communities in Bayelsa State, Igbomotoru 2 in Bomo-Ibe Clan where the Nigeria military evaded the community at early hours of Sunday 17th March, 2024.
“They opened fire on innocent men, women and children. They killed over 40 people and still counting, without any form of provocation.
“As a council, we condemn what the military is doing in Igbomotoru 2 community.
“What is happening in this community is purely a humanitarian crisis. As we speak, they have held every member of the community hostage as there is no entry or exit to the community. People are now starving to death.”
The council called on the President Bola Tinubu and the Chief of Defence Staff to call the military to order.
A member of the House of Representatives Saidu Abdullahi (APC-Niger) has explained why he wanted a law passed to grant five months leave for female and male workers who lost their spouses.
Abdullahi spoke when the bill he sponsored on the issue scaled second reading at the plenary of the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
This followed the presentation of the general principles of the bill by Abdullah.
While presenting the bill, Abdullahi said the legislation, if passed, was to place Nigeria among the top countries in the world in terms of workers’ welfare as the law existed in many countries.
“This crucial piece of legislation aims to address the pressing issue of supporting individuals who have lost their spouses, helping them navigate the challenging period of widowhood,” he said.
He said that research findings had shown that in Nigeria, public sector organisations grant up to 14 days leave for workers who lost their spouses for the burials.
“Therefore, one may say the 14 days prescribed by Public Sector Rules is sufficient but when one looks at the prevalent cultural and religious practices of Nigeria, it seems inadequate.
“It is always necessary that an organisation looks at the cultural context as the way people mourn is deeply rooted in culture.
“In Eastern Nigeria, for instance, the burial of the deceased usually takes place after a few weeks or months and the mourning period for a widow in modern times is three months, even though traditionally it is up to a year.
“In Islam, while mourning is usually three days, the waiting period for a widow is up to four months,” he said.
Abdullahi added:“During this period the bereaved spouse receives visitors for at least a month.
“Therefore, with our culture in view, giving a widower 30 days and a widow five months of widowhood leave for the death of a spouse may be reasonable.”
In his ruling, the Speaker of the House, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas referred the bill to the House Committee on Public Sector Reforms for further legislative actions.
(NAN)
The senate says the process through which the Central Bank of Nigeria awarded N30 trillion Ways and Means loan to the former President Muhammadu Buhari government was fraught with illegality.
This is as the Nigeria upper legislative chamber disclosed that 13 irregularities and infractions were discovered in the process of obtaining the loan.
The Senate ad hoc committee probing the disbursement and usage of the loan by Buhari’s government made the disclosure on Tuesday.
The chairman of the committee, Senator Isah Jibrin (APC, Benue East), said former governor of CBN Godwin Emefiele single-handedly signed billions of naira in the approval of different tranches of the loan.
Speaking during an interactive session with the CBN team led by Bala Bello, one of the deputy governors of the apex bank, he stated that Emefiele did not follow due process in these signings, adding that the erstwhile CBN’s helmsman illegally signed billions of naira in 13 documents.
He asserted that Emefiele actions violated extant laws of the CBNm
The committee chairman said Emefiele ought to have consulted and get the consent of the CBN board of directors before signing off on the loans.
“The committee of governors ought to be the signatories to the ways and means account but in the document we have here, the governor signed billions of naira in about 13 places.
“We want to know the total figure of the ways and means. We want to know the summation of the figure,” Senator Jibrin said.
“On the Anchor Borrowers Programme, you have done well. You did about 70 per cent, but we must ensure the completion of the remaining 30 per cent.”
Senator Jibrin, however, informed that the committee will summon the CBN governor, Olayemi Cardoso, to give a detailed account of what he knows about the ways and means.
“Your governor, who took over from Emefiele, should be able to stand for Emefiele because he took over from him, including his assets.
“Emefiele should provide an explanation to the existing governor. We will invite the governor and in case he does not have a response, he will contact Emefiele,” he stressed
African best footballer and Napoli of Italy star striker Victor Osimhen, Nottingham Forest of England forward Taiwo Awoniyi and the dou of Tyronne Ebuehi and Gabriel Osho have all been ruled out of the Super Eagles’ friendlies against Ghana and Mali.
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirm this in a statement signed by its director of communication, Ademola Olajiri and shared with Media Houses on Tuesday, saying the quartet will not be available for the friendlies due to Injuries.
12 players are already at the team’s Adam Park Hotel in Marrakech, Morocco.
The players at the camp in Marrakech are goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali and Olorunleke Ojo, defenders Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi, Jamilu Collins, Bruno Onyemaechi and Benjamin Tanimo, midfielders Alex Iwobi, Raphael Onyedika and Alhassan Yusuf, and forwards Moses Simon, Nathan Tella, Cyriel Dessers, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Sadiq Umar and Ademola Lookman.
Goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, defender Chidozie Awaziem, midfielders Frank Onyeka and Wilfred Ndidi, and forward Kelechi Iheanacho were being expected at the team’s training camp at time of filling in this report on Tuesday. Only Turkey-based defender Bright Osayi-Samuel is being expected on Wednesday.
The 2023 AFCON runners up will square up against the Black Stars of Ghana on Friday before lock horns with the Les Aigles of Mali at the same Grand Stade de Marrakech on Tuesday, 26th March.
Former Nigerian forward Finidi George will occupy the chief’s corner in the dugout when the Super Eagles confront West African arch-rivals Ghana and Mali in friendlies in Marrakech, Morocco.
The 52-year-old former Ajax and Real Betis winger, who made a scoring debut for Nigeria in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Burkina Faso in 1991, has been appointed by the NFF to hold the reins in the meantime as a group of 22 players take on Ghana and Mali in this month’s international window.
On his debut in 1991, George, who also featured for Calabar Rovers and Sharks FC in the domestic scene before heading to Europe, scored one and made four assists for legendary ‘goalsfather’ Rashidi Yekini (of blessed memory), and also assisted the latter to score Nigeria’s first-ever FIFA World Cup goal against Bulgaria in Dallas, USA on 19th June 1994.
Actually, George scored the goal that took Nigeria to her first FIFA World Cup finals, when he put Nigeria ahead against hosts Algeria in a crucial qualifier in Algiers on 8th October 1993. The match eventually ended 1-1 and earned Nigeria a ticket to the finals in America.
The former Enyimba of Aba gaffer will bellow instructions from the touchline, 21 months after he began to understudy Portuguese José Santos Peseiro, who led the Eagles to runner-up position at the 34th Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire earlier in the year.
Olympian Elizabeth Anyanacho defeated African number 1, Mohammed Aya of Egypt in 3 rounds to win gold medal at the ongoing 13th African Games in Ghana.
2019 African Games bronze medalist started the day defeating W. Zaboure of Burundi in the Quarter-final to at least get into the medal range.
In the semi-final, Elizabeth Anyanacho maintained her winning spirit to defeat Salih Sofia of Morocco in another 3 rounds on the mat.
Coming into the final, Elizabeth who has already qualified for this year Paris Olympics took her time and studied her opponent Mohammed Aya in the bout losing the first round but came back strong to win the second and third round to claim the gold medal.
With this gold medal, Team Nigeria Taekwondo has won one gold medal and one bronze.
Zenith Bank Plc has announced the appointment of Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji, OON, as Group Managing Director/Chief Executive with effect from June 1, 2024, subject to approval by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
She takes over from Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, whose five-year term expires on May 31, 2024, after a very successful tenure. Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji is the first female GMD/CEO since the inception of the bank, and her appointment is consistent with the bank’s executive transition tradition, succession plan, and strategy of grooming leaders from within.
Prior to this appointment, Dr. Umeoji has been the Deputy Managing Director of the bank since October 28, 2016 and has close to thirty (30) years cognate banking experience of which twenty-six (26) years has been with Zenith Bank.
She is an alumnus of the prestigious Harvard Business School where she attended the Advanced Management Program (AMP) and an alumnus of Columbia Business School with a Certificate in the Global Banking Program. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from the University of Jos, a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and a First-Class honors in Law from Baze University, Abuja. She holds a Master of Laws from the University of Salford, United Kingdom, a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Calabar, and also has a doctorate in business administration from Apollos University, USA.
She holds a Certificate in Economics for Business from the prestigious MIT Sloan School of Management, USA, and has attended various management programmes in renowned Universities around the world including the strategic thinking and Management programme at Wharton Business School, USA. She also attended the executive program in Strategic Management, and has a Certificate in Leading Global Business all from Harvard Business School, USA.
She is a fellow of notable professional bodies including the Chartered Banker Institute, UK, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Nigerian Institute of Management, Institute of Credit Administration, Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Nigeria, Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators, and the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria among others.
In 2022, the Federal Government of Nigeria honored Dr. Umeoji with Officer of the Order of the Niger, as a recognition of her contributions to nation building. She is a Peace Advocate of the United Nations (UN-POLAC).
She has impacted many lives through her philanthropic and humanitarian activities through her NGOs; Pink Breathe Cancer Foundation and the Adorable Foundation that educates, caters for Cancer patients and indigent children education especially the Girl-Child. Her contribution to humanity was recognized by the Sun Newspaper which recently bestowed on her the Humanitarian Service Icon Award for 2023.
As a result of her passion for promoting professionalism in the banking industry and improving the well-being of the less privileged, Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON founded the Catholic Bankers Association of Nigeria (CBAN), a platform she uses to promote ethical banking and service to humanity.
She is a Lady of the Order of Knights of St. John International (KSJI), and was awarded a Papal Knight of the Order of St. Sylvester by His Holiness Pope Francis.
Popular crossdresser, Bobrisky has issued a warning to Instablog.
He lamented after the blog had called him a crossdresser.
Reacting, he claimed that since he no longer has a male organ, he should not be referred to as a crossdresser.
His words:
“Now let me school you instablog
A cross dresser is a man who haven’t done any surgeries yet, a man associating himself with alot of women dresses, hair,makeup etc…
TRANSGENDER: trans are men who has done almost all d surgery to became a WOMAN. They have physically done almost all d surgeries, their boobs, face, hairline, body etc..but still have their pim pim there £4, In some cases many want to leave it there cos they want it that way.
TRANS WOMEN: A trans woman (short for transgender woman) is a woman who was assigned male at birth. Trans women have a female gender identity and may experience gender dysphoria (distress brought upon by the discrepancy between a person’s gender identity and their sex assigned at birth).[1] Gender dysphoria may be treated with gender affirming care . In other word trans women don’t have their pim pim anymore, they are now a woman . That’s who is bob. Hope you learned instablog”
See the post below:
Former Nigeria forward Finidi George will occupy the chief’s corner in the dugout when the Super Eagles confront West African arch-rivals Ghana in an international friendly in Marrakech on Friday.
The 52-year-old former Ajax Amsterdam (The Netherlands) and Real Betis (Spain) winger, who made a scoring debut in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Burkina Faso at the National Stadium, Lagos on 27th July 1991, has been appointed by the NFF to hold the reins in the meantime as a group of 22 players take on Ghana and Mali in this month’s international window.
On his debut in 1991, George, who also featured for Calabar Rovers and Sharks FC in the domestic scene before heading to Europe, scored one and made four assists for legendary ‘goalsfather’ Rashidi Yekini (of blessed memory), and also assisted the latter to score Nigeria’s first-ever FIFA World Cup goal against Bulgaria in Dallas, USA on 19th June 1994.
Actually, George scored the goal that took Nigeria to her first FIFA World Cup finals, when he put Nigeria ahead against hosts Algeria in a crucial qualifier in Algiers on 8th October 1993. The match eventually ended 1-1 and earned Nigeria a ticket to the finals in America.
On Friday, Finidi George, from a family of football stars (elder brother Alari and younger brother Igeniwari of blessed memory were established players), will bellow instructions from the touchline, 21 months after he began to understudy Portuguese José Santos Peseiro, who led the Super Eagles to runner-up position at the 34th Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire earlier in the year.
As at Tuesday lunchtime, 12 of the 22 players expected had arrived in Morocco’s fourth-largest city, with defenders Gabriel Osho and Tyronne Ebuehi, and forwards Victor Osimhen and Taiwo Awoniyi having been knocked out by injury.
At the team’s Adam Park Hotel in Marrakech are goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali and Olorunleke Ojo, defenders Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi, Jamilu Collins, Bruno Onyemaechi and Benjamin Tanimo, midfielders Alex Iwobi, Raphael Onyedika and Alhassan Yusuf, and forwards Moses Simon, Nathan Tella, Cyriel Dessers, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Sadiq Umar and Ademola Lookman.
Goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, defender Chidozie Awaziem, midfielders Frank Onyeka and Wilfred Ndidi, and forward Kelechi Iheanacho were being expected in Marrakech by Tuesday. Only Turkey-based defender Bright Osayi-Samuel is being expected on Wednesday.
The African vice champions will also take on the Les Aigles of Mali at the same Grand Stade de Marrakech on Tuesday, 26th March.
Court Grants N300,000 Bail To Phone Repairer Accused Of Flogging Child With Belt & Electric Wire
AFOLABIThe police in Lagos State on Tuesday arraigned a 37-year-old phone repairer, Abdulhafiz Adewale, for allegedly flogging his four-year-old child with a belt and an electric wire.
The defendant, who resides at 4, Alhaji St., Ladega, Ikorodu, Lagos State, is charged with assault and causing grievous harm.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, ASP Raji Akeem, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on February 11 at his residence.
Akeem said the defendant’s neighbour, Mr Babatunde Olowonisaye, brought the child to a police station.
Akeem said that the complainant saw the boy crying, with bruises all over his body, and asked what was the problem.
The prosecutor said that the boy told the complainant that his father flogged him with a belt and an electric wire. The alleged offences, he said, contravened Sections 172 and 173 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Bola Osunsanmi, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N300,000 with two sureties in like sum. Osunsanmi adjourned the case until April 17 for mention.
The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu has listed his losses in the cause of his agitation for Biafra.
Speaking on Tuesday, he said his parents were sacrificed as part of efforts to liberate the Southeast from Nigeria.
To this end, Kanu blamed the insecurity in the Southeast on some people in government and not himself.
Speaking during his appearance at the Abuja Federal High Court, Kanu said some people in government are sponsoring the bloodbath in the Southeast.
According to the Biafra agitator, those behind the insecurity in the Southeast are not IPOB members and should be dealt with for the crime they are committing.
Kanu said: “Some People In government are making money from the insecurity happening in the Southeast. They’re sponsoring the bloodbath. Anyone responsible for the insecurity and killing in the Southeast must be dealt with. You can’t be Killing our people and say you’re fighting for Biafra. I sacrificed my parents, so why would I want to kill our people?
“Anybody committing a crime cannot go free. I swear it. Anybody committing a crime in the East cannot go free. They are doing it because I am in the DSS (custody).
“Anybody involved in any form of violence in the South East in the name of IPOB is a goner and they know it. Let me come out of this mess, only two minutes there will be peace in the East.”
Media
VIDEO: Detained IPOB Leader Nnamdi Kanu speaking today at the FHC Abuja, I like his stand on criminals/terrorists threatening the peace of South East region of Nigeria. Mazi doesn’t support violence/criminality under any disguise pic.twitter.com/X8ulXva6rI
— UNCLE DEJI™️ (@DejiAdesogan) March 19, 2024
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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has advised the Nigerians to educate themselves and their children on the activities of fraudsters and scammers, as a means of protecting their money from such criminals.
peaking yesterday in Abuja in a message at the 2024 Global Money Week (GMW) celebration, Deputy Governor in charge of Financial System Stability (FSS), Mr. Philip Ikeazor said that children should be educated on how criminals dupe unsuspecting members of the public of their hard-earned money and that people should take every necessary step to protect their money from fraudsters.
ccording to him, “The theme for this year’s edition ‘Protect your Money, Secure your Future’, captures the importance of learning, from an early age, to always think about your future when making financial decisions and plan accordingly.
“It emphasizes the importance of not only making money, but understanding frauds and scams, saving, and investing for your future. Equipped with such skills at this young age will enable you achieve financial independence and a financially secure future.
“Truth be told, having an income, and making a substantial amount of money does not guarantee financial security. What is important is your ability to develop and hone skills and attitudes to manage your financial resources to have a secure future.
“In addition to this, it is vital to know the types of frauds and scams, how to respond to scammers, and various ways to protect your money online and offline.
“This also implies knowing how to report to a bank if you do have an encounter with scammers or fraudsters. In essence, the financial decisions you make today and the education you acquire today have a huge impact on your future.
“Therefore, when you learn these skills at a young age and with consistent practice, you will have a brighter future. So, be smart about your money while you are still young; save, budget and become educated.
Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have arrested a 22-year-old man, Rukevwe George, in military camouflage for alleged possession of arms.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Funsho Adegboye, who paraded the suspect before newsmen in Benin City on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, said the onslaught against crime and criminality in the state has led to tremendous achievements, including recovery arms and ammunition of different caliber.
According to the Adegboye, the suspect was arrested based on intelligence information in Benin City, where one pump action, a double barrel gun and military camouflage were recovered from him.
The suspect on interrogation confessed that the guns belong to his master, Ralph, who is now at large.
“Our operatives have been on the trail of the suspect and the long arms of the law will soon catch up with him,” the commissioner stated.
“He is yet to give a satisfactory explanation as to what he does in military camouflage.
”But we know that this is the kind of people that will disguise himself as a military personnel and use it to commit some unimaginable crimes under whatever guise.”
The CP while encouraging members of the public to continue to assist the security agencies in the State by giving actionable and accurate information which will be beneficial to all and sundry as fighting against crime and criminality in the state is concern.
Nigerian sprint icon, Tobi Amusan has won the women’s 100m hurdles Round 1 heat at the 13th Africa Games in Ghana.
Amusan won the heat with a time of 13.03s.
By virtue of the victory, Amusan secured a spot in the semis of the women’s 100m hurdles at the ongoing Africa Games.
Meanwhile, Team Nigeria lost the men’s and women’s 100m gold to Cameroon and Gambia respectively, settling for silver and bronze in the events on Tuesday.
Usheoritse Itsekiri returned at a time of 10.23secs to lose the men’s 100m surprisingly to Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme who finished at 10.14secs while Namibia’s Hainuca Gilbert took the bronze with a time of 10.25secs.
Nigeria’s other entrant in the men’s 100m, Emmanuel Ekanem returned at a time of 10.42secs to finish a distant fourth.
In the Africa Games women’s 100m, Olayinka Olajide could only muster a third place finish to win bronze with a time of 11.55secs behind Miriam Bittaye of Gambia who won the gold with 11.36secs and Alyse Miccoy of Liberia whose 11.49secs gave her the silver medal.
You Love Drama But Will Still Lose Elections In 2027 - Bashir Ahmed Slams Peter Obi Over Breaking Of Ramadan Fast
AFOLABIFormer Presidential aide, Bashir Ahmed has taken a swipe at the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, after a video surfaced online of him joining Muslims to break their Ramadan fast.
In the viral video, Obi was spotted sitting at the mosque to have Iftar.
While describing the action, the former Anambra governor, wrote on his X account in a series of tweets that it was an opportunity for him “to perform a sacred duty in line with the Ramadan season.”
“I had the honour of travelling to Lafia in Nasarawa state, where I had the privilege of meeting with the Emir of Lafia, Honorable Justice Sidi Bage Muhammad JSC Rtd, a very revered, leader and also extended my courtesy to Governor Abdullahi Sule.”
“This visit was more than a mere formality, it was a genuine expression of my deep respect and unwavering solidarity with the community,” Obi wrote.
Reacting to the gesture on X, Ahmad said Obi was engaging in acting many scripts, questioning why he did not join Muslims to break Ramadan fast when he was governor for eight years in Anambra.
According to Ahmad, the former governor travelled to Lafia, the Nasarawa capital, to break fast when he could have done it in his home state, criticizing him that he has started paying politics because of the 2027 general elections.
The former presidential aide wrote, “Peter Obi loves dramas; he would have to act in many scripts from now to 2027 and still end up producing an unsellable movie in the ballot boxes. I just watched his latest hit, his visit to a mosque in Nyaya where he joined Muslims during their breaking of the Ramadan fast.”
“For eight years as a governor, Obi didn’t deem it fit to break fast with Muslims in Anambra even years after leaving office. 2027 politics is in the offing,” he added.
Meanwhile, Obi’s action has continued to generate mixed reactions among Nigerians as some people commended him for displaying love and tolerance, while some labelled the action as an eye service.