Israel said it struck “dozens” more Hezbollah targets in Lebanon on Sunday, after dealing the Iran-backed group a seismic blow by killing its leader, Hassan Nasrallah.
Nasrallah’s killing and the past week’s waves of strikes on Hezbollah strongholds around Lebanon have plunged the tiny Mediterranean country and the wider region into fear of even more violence to come.
Hezbollah launched low-intensity cross-border strikes on Israeli troops after its Palestinian ally Hamas staged its unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, sparking the war in the Gaza Strip.
Nearly a year later, Israel announced a shift in its focus to battling Hezbollah on its northern front with Lebanon.
Hezbollah confirmed Nasrallah’s killing on Friday in a massive strike on the group’s main bastion in south Lebanon’s capital, Beirut.
The Lebanese health ministry said the strikes on the densely populated area also left 55 people dead, while thousands of others have fled their homes in the neighbourhood.
“I can’t describe my shock at this announcement… we all started crying,” Maha Karit told AFP in Beirut after Nasrallah’s death.
With Lebanon already deep in political and economic crisis, the escalation has pushed it to the brink, with the bombardment killing more than 700 people in a week, according to health ministry figures.
The Israeli military said on Sunday its air force had struck “dozens of Hezbollah terror targets” after carrying out “hundreds” of strikes on Friday and Saturday.
Lebanon’s National News Agency reported a string of raids in and around the city of Baalbek in the east, with “factories, warehouses” and residential areas among the targets.
At least six people were killed in a strike on a house in the northeastern Hermel region, the agency reported, while an emergency response group affiliated with Hezbollah ally Amal movement said five of its rescuers were killed in the south.
Hezbollah said its fighters launched “a volley of Fadi-1” rockets at an Israeli base in the Golan Heights early Sunday.
The Israeli military reported “approximately eight” launches from Lebanon that fell in unpopulated areas near the Israeli-annexed territory.
Cult status
Nasrallah was the face of Hezbollah, enjoying cult status among his supporters.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had “settled the score” with Nasrallah’s killing, while Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari said the world was “a safer place” without him.
US President Joe Biden – whose government is Israel’s top arms supplier – said it was a “measure of justice for his many victims”.
Analysts told AFP that Nasrallah’s death leaves bruised Hezbollah under pressure to respond.
“Either we see an unprecedented reaction by Hezbollah… or this is total defeat,” said Heiko Wimmen of the International Crisis Group think tank.
The assassination also showcased Israel’s military and intelligence prowess in its battle against its foes.
“It demonstrates not only significant technological capacity but just how deeply Israel has penetrated Hezbollah,” said James Dorsey of Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.
Hezbollah backer Iran has condemned Nasrallah’s assassination, with First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref threatening it would bring about Israel’s “destruction”.
Iran’s UN envoy Amir Saeid Iravani urged diplomacy to prevent Israel “from dragging the region into full-scale war”.
Hamas, which has fought Israeli forces in Gaza since the October 7 attack, condemned Nasrallah’s killing as a “cowardly terrorist act”.
Lebanon, Iraq, Iran and Syria all declared public mourning.
Allied armed groups across the region like Yemen’s Huthi rebels, already drawn into the Gaza war, have vowed action against Israel.
An “unmanned aerial target” approaching Israel over the Red Sea – where the Iran-backed Huthis have launched attacks before – was intercepted on Sunday, the Israeli military said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.
[DailyTrust]
Senator Ali Ndume has decried the level of corruption in Nigeria, saying the trend is a major challenge facing the nation.
Ndume stated this during an interactive session with newsmen in Kano on Saturday.
“Our major challenge in this country is corruption.Uptill now, we have no law that can proactively or reactively address the issue of corruption in the country.
“If you see somebody in our system, especially in politics or government,and he is not corrupt,then he is lucky that he is God-fearing.
“Otherwise,it is only in Nigeria that you steal money and you walk freely and you are celebrated.
“If you come into an area like this, people would start lobbying you and prostrate before you even when they know that the money was stolen.
“It is only in this country that somebody had no money yesterday or last week,but the following week he buys 10 cars; buy jets and his family will celebrate with him,” he said.
The lawmaker said that in other developed countries, people would ask how, when and where he made his money but the reverse is the case here.
Ndume said he had made several efforts to pass a law on unexplained wealth in Nigeria,but that such endeavours never saw the light of the day.
He said he approached a former Head of State if he could sign an Executive Bill to that effect but he declined.
“Up till now, there is no law on unexplained wealth Act in Nigeria and there is no Executive Order on it,” Ndume said.
He expressed concern over the hunger in the country and called for an increased cultivation of food crops to address the problem.
“There is hunger in the land and up till now we have not cultivated up to five per cent of our land, Nigeria is blessed with massive arable land.
According to him, Nigeria is blessed with cultivable land everywhere such that could be used to grow food crops and feed the nation.
[DailyPost]
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as Director-General and Global Liaison for the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership.
This move follows the president’s visit to China in early September, where Nigeria and China agreed on key areas of cooperation.
This was contained in a statement issued on Sunday, September 29, by Special Adviser to the President on Information on Strategy, Bayo Onananuga.
Tegbe, a 1988 first-class graduate in civil engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University, will report directly to the President.
He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA) and a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria.
He will immediately submit a strategic action plan to enable Nigeria to benefit from the agreements between the two countries in Beijing.
As the czar of the strategic partnership, he will lead day-to-day operations, engage continuously with the Chinese counterparts, and ensure that all deliverables are met and synchronised with national development goals.
In the strategic plan, he will outline the specific deliverables, timelines, and key performance indicators for each area of cooperation. This will include priority projects, projected investments and expected socioeconomic outcomes.
At the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), President Xi Jinping pledged 360 billion yuan, or about $51 billion, in new financing to African nations in the next three years. He also pledged support for 30 infrastructure projects to boost connectivity across the continent and create one million jobs.
During his official visit before the FOCAC, President Tinubu also obtained a commitment from President Xi to support Nigeria’s economic diversification plans, infrastructure development, technology transfer, and job creation.
The two countries committed to establishing hospital alliances and collaborating on medical research. Under the agreement, Chinese healthcare professionals will be deployed to support Nigeria’s healthcare system.
China and Nigeria agreed to collaborate to advance education and talent development, focusing on vocational training, STEM education, and academic exchanges. Joint initiatives, such as establishing engineering technology academies and providing scholarships, will help equip Nigerian youth with skills needed in a modern workforce.
The two countries also planned to improve Nigeria’s agricultural practices through knowledge sharing, technology transfer and investment in sustainable farming techniques.
Tegbe, who will ensure the actualisation of the agreements, is 58 years old.
After his education at Federal Government College, Ogbomosho, and Obafemi Awolowo University, he had about 35 years of experience in business strategy.
He was the senior partner and head of advisory services at KPMG in Africa, with a portfolio and responsibilities that included the Middle East.
He has worked for many Fortune 500 companies and African conglomerates, advising on strategic planning, investment, and portfolio reviews.
He also led subnational governments, such as Oyo, Ekiti, Ondo, Benue, and Bayelsa, in investment drives to South Africa, Denmark, China, India, Singapore, and the UAE.
[TheNation]
BARELY two months after the August 1-10 protests tagged #EndBadGovernance, some Nigerians are warming up for fresh nationwide protests planned to hit the streets on October 1, that is, about 48 hours away.
The date coincides with the 64th Independence Day celebration of Nigeria, and the protests are basically to reinforce demands earlier made by protesters but largely greeted with silence from the Federal Government despite President Bola Tinubu’s promise in a broadcast to dialogue with protest leaders.
Another reason perhaps is that #EndBadGovernance protesters, numbering over 1,000, remain in various prison facilities across the country after being charged with treason by the government.
Some of the protesters have been granted bail but under the stringent condition of paying N10 million each, particularly the 10 that were charged in Abuja.
Meanwhile, some Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, speaking with Sunday Vanguard, expressed worry over the demands made by the protesters that are yet to be addressed about two months after President Bola Tinubu, in a national broadcast in August and amidst the #EndBadGovernance protests across the country, promised to dialogue with them.
Time for dialogue is now – ANEEJ
In his reaction to the October 1 proposed protests, the Executive Secretary, African Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ, Rev David Ugolor, said, “The government’s response to the October 1 protests could depend on the scale and public reaction. If the protests gain significant traction, media attention, and public sympathy, the government may feel pressured to engage”, Ugolor said.
“But in the absence of a well-defined strategy for dialogue, the demonstrations would encounter opposition rather than cooperation which might escalate tensions.”
He further stated that after the August protesters presented their demands to the government, “there has been no widely reported or concrete dialogue between the Federal Government and the protesters since President Bola Tinubu mentioned the possibility”.
“Despite the fact that a few government representatives indicated they were open to negotiations, no meaningful interaction has been seen”, the activist stated.
“The government has expressed readiness for dialogue in principle, but practical steps towards initiating structured discussions with protesters remain unclear. This hesitation suggests that the government might not yet have a clear strategy or timeline for engaging directly with protesters.”
Ugolor also spoke on the protesters still remanded in prison, saying: “The ongoing detention of protesters raises serious concerns regarding human rights violations and civil liberties.
“Due process rights for those who are still in detention are being violated in an attempt to quell criticism, which can exacerbate social unrest and erode public confidence in the legal system.”
On the intervention by the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, and National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, to release the protesters in prison unconditionally, Ugolor asserted, “Both the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, and the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, have historically intervened in cases of rights violations.
“There have been efforts by these bodies to advocate for detained protesters, but the scope and success of their interventions vary. These organizations are crucial in pressuring the legal system to ensure fair trials and respect for human rights.”
No guarantee govt. will take a different approach to protests – Global Rights
On her part, the Executive Director, Global Rights Nigeria, Abiodun Baiyewu, said, “There is no indication that the Tinubu administration will take a different approach to handling protests.
“Since the August protests, the government has intensified its crackdown on civic actors such as Omoyele Sowore and the NLC President. The government has also taken the extreme step of besieging the offices of SERAP.
“This is a government that has shown a deep intolerance to dissent, and there is little reason to believe they will be more receptive to protesters’ demands this time around.
“The citizens are angry. The spurious charge of treason has also driven dissent underground. At this point, no one knows what is next. If it does not happen on the 1st of October, it would eventually spontaneously combust.”
On the Federal Government engaging protesters for dialogue as mentioned by Tinubu, the Global Rights Nigeria boss said, “Not in any meaningful way. The President addressed the nation on August 4th during the initial days of the protests.
“In his speech, he avoided addressing the core issues driving the protests, namely, high inflation, widespread poverty exacerbated by the removal of fuel subsidies, and the increasing insecurity across Nigeria.
“He highlighted programs and initiatives his administration was implementing and urged citizens to be patient with economic reforms, insisting things would improve in the future.
“However, his speech lacked clarity on how the government would share the burden of these challenges. Many civic actors and commentators expressed disappointment with the substance of the address.
“On August 8th, the Head of Media, Presidential Community Engagement Office, Ms. Seun Ajayi, stated that she and six Senior Special Assistants to the President on Community Engagement had been tasked with engaging citizens about the protests. However, none of us is aware that such engagements took place or what their outcomes were.
“The frustrations that fuelled the #EndBadGovernance protests largely persist. In fact, there has been an increase in the price of petrol since the protests, worsening citizens’ discontent.”
Asked if she thought the government was ready for dialogue with protesters, she asserted, “I don’t believe so. The initial reaction to the #EndBadGovernance protests was to dismiss them as politically motivated by opposition forces.
“The government then paid lip service to understanding the grievances, but its actions did not reflect this. In his August 4th speech, President Tinubu advocated for patience, but the government cannot in good faith expect Nigerians to bear the economic burden while it continues to spend taxpayer funds recklessly.
“The President frequently embarks on extravagant foreign trips accompanied by large entourage, with no benefits felt by Nigerians. The recent purchase of a presidential yacht and plane is just as wasteful, especially when citizens struggle to afford the barest necessities.
“Moreover, Tinubu has insisted that there will be no reversal on the fuel subsidy removal, a central demand of the protesters. Given these fundamental differences in viewpoints, it is unlikely the government is genuinely interested in engaging with protesters.
“The government has also gone to great lengths to suppress the protests, infringing on protesters’ human rights. From obtaining court orders to limit the protests’ scope to the unlawful arrests and prosecution of protesters for charges as serious as treason, the government has little appetite for dialogue. In some instances, protesters were even killed by Nigerian law enforcement!”
Baiyewu also spoke about her concerns about protesters still remanded in prison custody.
“The main concern is that the Nigerian state is violating their constitutionally guaranteed rights to peacefully assemble, associate, and express themselves”, the activist stated.
“Another issue is the judiciary, which was once regarded as the ‘Last Hope of the Common Man,’ being wielded by the state as a tool against the people. It is absurd that peaceful protesters were arrested and charged with crimes like treason.
“Equally troubling is that some judges are imposing extreme and excessive bail conditions for their release, rather than dismissing these baseless charges. Additionally, some of the arrested protesters are children who have no business being detained.”
She expressed her view on intervention by the NBA and the NHRC for the release of protesters in prison custody: “The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has worked with civil society organizations to secure the release of protesters in Kano.
“However, regarding the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, while the Commission acknowledged human rights violations during the #EndBadGovernance protests, there is no information that suggests that they are working to ensure the release of the protesters.”
Don’t leave protesters’ release for the NBA, NHRC alone – HOMEF Director
The Executive Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation, HOMEF, Arc Nnimmo Bassey, counselled that Nigerians should take it upon themselves to pressurize government to unconditionally release protesters in prison facilities across the country instead of leaving that effort to the NBA and the NHRC.
“The issue of detention of peaceful protesters is not a matter to be left to the Nigerian Bar Association or the National Human Rights Commission. It is a matter for all Nigerians. Arresting, detaining and prosecuting peaceful protestors is against the basic tenets of democracy”, Bassey said.
“It is a very dangerous situation for citizens to be muzzled and stopped from expressing how they feel or what is affecting them. It is a clear indicator of a slide into dictatorship, a harbinger of harsher actions ahead.
“Having a protest announced weeks ahead should give the government time to act on the demands of the people. Refusing to take steps in response to demands built around conditions that are known to all citizens is not strategically sound at all.
“And if the government insists that the actions they are taking will yield positive outcomes in the future, they have to tell the people when that future will arrive and how the people are to bear the current pains and deprivations until such a time.
“Government should not forget that in all planning scenarios, there must be key indicators for expected short-term, medium term and long-term outcomes. Defending actions with only long term outcomes is not a saleable option”.
October 1 protests likely to happen – ActionAid Director
Meanwhile, the Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, AAN, Andrew Mamedu, said, “There is a hint of another protest likely to happen on the 1st of October 2024 tagged the ‘Take It Back’ Movement. This is a great opportunity for the government to organize dialogues with Nigerians especially the youth to fathom what they want and what can be done very fast.
“I cannot quite say. The indications for dialogue so far have been discouraging; although, we have seen some minute dialogue and conversations with intended protesters by the Lagos State police, we need this discussion on a larger scale and by the President himself.
“Like I said earlier, the government would save itself a lot of frustrations by listening to the grievances of the young people. Fighting civil society is not the answer, we are here to help the government and ensure it stays on track. We are not the enemy and should not be seen to be so.”
He added, “There’s been no clear indication that the Federal Government has engaged protesters in dialogue as promised by President Bola Tinubu.
“The call for dialogue is not new, as many have advocated for this approach to address Nigeria’s challenges. Unfortunately, without concrete evidence of engagement, it’s difficult to assess the government’s commitment to a dialogue on this matter.
“Recently we learnt that six protesters were released by the DSS in Kaduna after an investigation was carried out, this is just six out of the 2,111 protesters arrested during the protests nationwide.
“The Nigerian government’s response to the #EndBadGovernance protests has been concerning, to say the least. Despite President Bola Tinubu’s promise of dialogue, there’s been no concrete evidence of engagement with protesters. It’s been nearly two months since the nationwide protests, and the government’s inaction and irresponsiveness suggest they’re not ready for dialogue.
“We cannot speak for the government, but we think whatever demands the protesters are making, the government should try to meet them mid-way. Mr. President is the father of the country and a formidable activist in his days.
“He has contributed immensely to promoting democracy through many means including dissent and protests. He should be able and willing to dialogue with the young people who are today frustrated about the economy, insecurity in the country.”
‘Protesters remanded for 60 days without bail violates right to life’
The AAN boss expressed concern about protesters still remanded in prison custody for 60 days without bail.
“The fact that there are still protesters in detention is a sad commentary on the freedom to express our disagreement in a civil manner”, Mamedu said.
“Protest is a legitimate means of registering disagreement with the government. How it has suddenly turned to a charge of treason is beyond everyone.
“We are all concerned about the shrinking civil spaces, and I think it is about time the President steps in and halts the descent and needless war against civil society. Every Nigerian watching the trial is also concerned about the bail conditions which are too stringent.
“You could see those accused of planning treason, is it even logical that those boys are capable of such an act? Protest, we must say again, is not treason and Mr. President should not allow certain elements to deem it so.
“This detention so far clearly violates their human rights and undermines the fundamental principles of justice and freedom. Being remanded for 60 days without the possibility of bail violates their right to life, the dignity of the human person, health and freedom of movement.
“I still stand that the Nigerian authorities must take immediate action to address these concerns, ensure the release of detained protesters, and guarantee their safety and well-being. The right to peaceful protest is a fundamental human right, and it’s essential to protect and promote this right.”
According to him, the NBA and NHRC have been able to secure the release of some protesters.
“The detention of protesters is a clear violation of their human rights, undermining justice and freedom. The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has expressed deep concern over human rights abuses during these protests, urging Nigeria to respect peaceful protest, end excessive force, and conduct independent investigations”, Mamedu said.
“The Nigerian Bar Association is providing pro bono representation to detained protesters and has set up a monitoring committee to track interactions between law enforcement and protesters.
“We currently learnt that through their intervention six protesters were released in Kano, that is an applaud-able effort, but we need more effort from them to ensure more protesters are released.
“The Nigerian government is expected to respond to these concerns and take necessary actions to protect human rights and prevent further violations”.
Choi Soon-hwa, the 80-year-old South Korean fashion model, has made history as the oldest-ever contestant in the Miss Universe competition.
Born in 1943, Choi became a sensation after she made it to the final of the annual Miss Universe Korea competition.
The fashion model will go head-to-head with 31 other finalists who are young enough to be her granddaughters for the crown on September 30.
Suppose Choi wins the Miss Universe Korea competition, she gets the chance to represent her country at the 73rd Miss Universe pageant in Mexico City on November 16, making her the oldest contestant in the history of the international pageant.
Speaking with CNN on why she took part in the beauty pageant, the fashion model, who divorced in her 40s and has two children and three grandchildren, said she aims to show the world that “we can live healthily even when we get old”.
Choid, who turns 81 in October, said she hopes to inspire people to understand that wellness and weight can be maintained well into old age.
“I want to stun the world, like, ‘How is an 80-year-old lady so healthy? How did she maintain that body? What’s your diet?’” she said.
“When you get old, you gain weight. So, I want to show that we can live healthily even when we get old.
“A lot of people do their eyes or raise their nose. Back in the day, it used to be something others spoke ill of, but it’s not like that now. It’s not just Koreans — a lot of women around the world are undergoing plastic surgery?”
While this is Choi’s first pageant, she began modelling at 72. She debuted at Seoul Fashion Week at 74 in 2018 and appeared in major magazines like Harper’s Bazaar and Elle.
The Miss Universe Organization recently lifted its upper age limit for contestants, previously set at 28, making Choi eligible to participate in the beauty contest.
Last year, the organization also updated eligibility criteria to remove a longstanding ban on pregnant women or mothers, and women who were — or ever had been — married.
[TheCable]
Several ministries and agencies under the administration of President Bola Tinubu have reportedly expended no less than ₦1.8 billion on air tickets, estacodes, and duty tour allowances between July and September 2024.
This data, sourced from GovSpend, raises questions about the government’s spending priorities amidst ongoing economic challenges facing the nation.
The expenditures encompass a wide range of ministries and agencies, including the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Police Affairs, the Ministry of Youth Development, and the Ministry of Women Affairs.
Other notable entities involved are the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation, and the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Additionally, the Technical Aid Corps, the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission also contributed to this substantial spending.
Checks by Punch showed that the ministries and agencies spent ₦755,884,949.44 on Duty Tour Allowances and another ₦1,044,858,941.48 on estacodes and air tickets and foreign trips, totalling ₦1,800,743,930.92 spent between July and September 26, 2024.
Among the biggest spenders are the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, which spent ₦322m; the Ministry of Finance with a total spending of ₦187.2m; the ICPC with ₦150m; and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources with ₦108m all in the space of three months.
Recall that the President, Bola Tinubu, had placed a three-month ban on publicly-funded trips for Ministers and heads of agencies beginning April 1 2024, in a letter dated March 2 2024, from the Office of the President’s Chief of Staff.
The letter explained that the ban aimed to reduce the rise in expenses incurred by MDAs on international travel and ensure that the ministers and heads of agencies were focused on their respective mandates.
While the ban period has elapsed, it was discovered that some ministries incurred as much as ₦21m in expenses for travel tickets and estacodes within days.
The Chairman of the Centre for Accountability and Open Leadership, Debo Adeniran, who spoke with Punch on the development described the figures as “a wasteful expenditure,” saying, “We have advised the government that during these austere times, they should implement their policy that government officials should not spend on frivolities. We can even excuse the Ministry of Blue Economy because it is new, we are just learning about Blue Economy and how to make it work for us.
“But some other ministries have been operating for ages, and most Nigerians know what they are supposed to do and what they should not do. So, there is no reason for the Ministry of Women Affairs and several of them like that to spend so much on foreign trips and seminars.”
The Executive Director of the Rule of Law Accountability and Advocacy Centre, Okechukwu Nwaguma, described the spending as “a misallocation of government resources”, adding that the development underscored the need for stringent policies regarding travel and expenditure by government officials.
“These expenditures should prompt a re-evaluation of government spending practices and policies to ensure that public funds are used effectively and in the best interest of the populace,” He said
Also, the Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative and Advocacy Centre, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, lamented that the travels had not attracted needed foreign direct investments to the country.
Bishop Oyedepo: It Is Insensitive To Buy Rolls Royce During These Austere Times – Patrick Doyle
AFOLABI
Veteran actor, Patrick Doyle has stated that it is insensitive for members of a church to buy Rolls Royce for their general overseer at a time when many Nigerians can barely feed themselves.
The thespian submission is coming barely 24 hours after the founder of the Living Faith Church, Bishop David Oyedepo, was gifted two Rolls Royce Cullinan at his 70th birthday party.
Speaking via his social media account, Doyle argued that the money used in purchasing the luxury cars could have been used to erect structures that would be of benefit to the general public.
He warned that showing off wealth while the masses are suffering might lead to the spark that would cause the anticipated revolution.
The actor wrote, “In these austere times, we all need to be sensitive how we mark landmark celebrations for ourselves or in honour of persons we hold in high esteem. We should even be sensible enough to tone down the public appearance of our affluence. Now is not the time to ride around our streets filled with hungry and despondent Nigerians in our luxury cars.
“I personally know of a friend of mine who has a Rolls Royce and many other luxury cars in his fleet. He now drives around in a Ford Escape, not as a show of false modesty, but as a gesture of sensitivity to the prevailing hardship in the land. Sadly, not many others in his socio-economic class are doing the same thing. The insensitivity of the elite may very well provide the spark for the long anticipated revolution Nigeria needs for a reset. I am still in a wonder bubble how or why congregants of a denomination chose to celebrate the birthday of their founder by buying him a Rolls Royce at this time.
“In my naive opinion, I find it to be insensitive in the extreme. While I appreciate the importance of celebrating a man like their founder, a more sensitive gesture would have been to build a socially relevant facility or institute a scholarship scheme in his honour. The cost of the Rolls Royce could certainly have funded any of the things I just mentioned. We appear to be a people who get stuck on old formats and ways of doing things. When congregations used to buy cars for their pastors, it was at a time many of the pastors could not on their own muster the resources to buy one themselves. This is certainly not the case in this instance. The celebrator, in this case, already has a fleet of luxury autos and even aircrafts. A more befitting birthday gift might have been the construction and equipping of a vocational training centre in his name or any other such thing.
“The public already has the impression that as the founder of 2 elite private universities, he is not sufficiently acquainted with the sufferings of the masses. So, a gesture such as I have suggested might have helped to mitigate that impression. This is my humble opinion offered from the depth of my affection for the great man who I personally hold in the highest esteem.’’
An investigative report by FIJ reveals that social media influencer and crossdresser, Bobrisky spent only three weeks of her or his sentence in prison and the rest in a secret location
Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, the Nigerian crossdresser popularly known as Bobrisky served only three weeks of her or his six-month sentence in prison, a report by FIJ has revealed.
The report follows the revelation on Tuesday by Martins Vincent Otse, a social media activist popularly known as VeryDarkMan of an audio in which Bobrisky was alleged to have claimed that she or he spent his or her sentence mostly out of prison and that she or he compromised operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with N15m to drop the ‘money laundering’ charge against him or her.
According to the FIJ report, while Bobrisky was indeed taken to Kirikiri prison in April after his or her sentence was pronounced, the news report deposes that he or she left after just three weeks.
According to the FIJ report, Bobrisky was guided like a president for the three weeks she or he spent in prison before he was moved out.
GWG.ng had also reported that Bobrisky looked very chubby after she or he came out of prison spurning reports as to whether she or he became pregnant while in custody.
‘GUARDED LIKE A PRESIDENT’
“Bob spent only three weeks here with us in Kirikiri before she was taken out to another place we don’t know,” a prison official told FIJ. “That was where she spent her time; it was an ‘arrangee thing’. And money was involved.”
The source also told FIJ how Bobrisky was “guarded like a president” until she was “secretly taken away after three weeks”.
“She received VIP treatment all through,” said the source. “She lived in a special cell. The money she said she paid is actually true; no lies. Yes, she paid the money.”
The revelations by the source are in consonance with a 2019 undercover investigation by FIJ founder ‘Fisayo Soyombo, for which he deliberately got himself detained for five days by the police and incarcerated for eight days by the prison service, discovering that it was possible to pay money to live in well-furnished apartments inside prisons, pay to bring in phones, drugs and sundry outlawed items, strike one’s name off the prison records and even live outside the prison while supposedly serving out a jail term.
VIDEO CALL CAMERA ON BOBRISKY
Although the prison authorities did not allow Bobrisky to mingle freely with other inmates, consequently reducing the chances of her eventual disappearance being spotted, the prison official told FIJ about one noteworthy incident.
“There was this day one guy was on a video call with his girlfriend, and he suddenly turned the camera on Bobrisky,” the official said. “It was deemed an invasion of Bobrisky’s privacy, so, as punishment, he was locked up in his cell for nearly two months.”
The source added: “As I said, she was heavily guarded, so there weren’t many of such incidents to point at. And she was quietly taken away after three weeks.”
Source: FIJ
Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has said he is too big for anybody to fight him, adding that all his imaginary and potential political enemies cannot fight him.
Wike said contrary to reports that Ijaw people were against him in the ongoing political crisis against Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, Ijaw nation is solidly behind him.
Speaking at a civic reception organised in his honour by Rivers Ijaw People’s Congress, in Port Harcourt, yesterday, Wike said he chose to make Fubara his successor against the opinion of some Ijaw people in 2023.
His words: “It is not true that Ijaw people are fighting me. A father may have 12 children, one can be an armed robber. These people who are going to television to attack me, where were they when we made an Ijaw governor? Nobody is fighting me. I am too big for anybody to fight. All these people put together cannot fight me.
“I told them if you put your hand in Rivers State matter, fire will burn you. Today, they are crying everywhere. Instead of concentrating on how to win elections in their states, they were busy having meetings in Enugu and Taraba states. Who is losing now?”
He warned politicians outside the state to stay out of the Rivers State politics, noting that “Rivers state is very special to me”. Wike alleged that before the civic reception, some boys were sent to bomb the venue of the event at Rainbow Town.
“They sent some boys to come and bomb this place with dynamite. They were arrested by the police. You are encouraging crime in Rivers State. Nobody has a monopoly on violence. We cannot turn investors away from our state through violence.
”I initiated the ring road project. Today, they are going about bragging that they started it. Go to Abuja, I am repeating what I did in Rivers State,”he added.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the PDP Elders Council in the state, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, described Wike as the “most celebrated Rivers politician at the national stage.’’
Wike was accompanied to the reception by members of the G-5 also known as the integrity group led by former Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, former Governor Chikezie Ikpeazu and David Umahi. Others include Adamawa State governor, Umaru Fintiri, and Minister of State for Petroleum, Heineken Lokpobiri, among others.
A Nigerian woman has come forward with an account of how her boyfriend, a lecturer at Auchi Polytechnic in Edo State, abandoned her with a twin pregnancy after securing his visa to the UK.
The yet-to-be-identified woman, who shared her story on Saturday via X under the handle #dat_edogirl, revealed the painful details of her ordeal.
In a series of posts, she recounted how she met the lecturer in mid-2019 and fell deeply in love, believing they had a future together.
“He told me about his plans to travel outside the country where his elder brother was,” she said, adding that when they met, he expressed his dissatisfaction with his lecturing job at Auchi Polytechnic, saying he was seeking greener pastures abroad.
By 2022, the lecturer informed her that his visa had been approved, and while she was initially thrilled for him, the joy quickly turned to sorrow when she discovered she was pregnant.
“When I told him about the pregnancy, he said he wouldn’t advise me to keep it because he was traveling and wasn’t ready to be a father,” she recounted.
Despite the potential risks to her life, he pushed her to terminate the pregnancy, even suggesting the use of pills.
“I just told him I wasn’t ready to lose my life,” she added.
Unknown to her at the time, she was carrying twins. Throughout her difficult pregnancy, the lecturer completely cut off contact.
“This guy never called, even once, or replied to my WhatsApp messages,” she said, adding that her nine-month journey was filled with sickness, and she was frequently hospitalised.
The twins were eventually born through a difficult Caesarean section, with one of the babies placed on oxygen due to complications. Even after sharing the news of the birth, the father remained unresponsive.
“I did a video with my phone and sent it on WhatsApp to Kola, still he didn’t reply,” she said.
The financial strain soon became overwhelming as her family struggled to pay the hospital bills.
“My mum was running helter-skelter just to source funds,” she said, with the final bill amounting to 233,000 Naira.
After being discharged, she continued to care for the children alone.
“I named my children myself, did everything myself; he didn’t care or show interest,” she lamented.
Reaching out to his family also proved fruitless, as his brother in Nigeria blocked her after promising to speak with him.
The situation worsened when she travelled to Ondo State to confront her father’s family. She borrowed money from a loan app to make the journey with her mother and children.
Upon arrival, the lecturer’s brother intercepted them at the gate of Adeyemi College of Education and took them elsewhere to avoid creating a scene. When they eventually spoke with the father, he refused to accept responsibility.
“He insulted me and my family to the extent I started crying,” she said, devastated by the verbal abuse.
She blocked his number and finally decided to share her story publicly, appealing for help.
“Please if you know his family in Ondo kindly help me reach out to them. The economy is hard, feeding, clothing, and the kids need to go to school,” she said.
She added, “I am not interested in marrying Kola or having any relationship with him… I just want my kids taken care of.”
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An aide of former President Mohammed Buhari has refuted the claim of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Yemi Cardoso, who blamed the current economic hardship in the country on the poor handling of the nation’s economy between 2015 and 2023 when Buhari served two terms.
The aide said the money supplied by the CBN during the review period was N7.5tn, far less than the N35tn Cardoso stated.
This came as the latest data from the CBN showed that the total money supply in the Nigerian economy increased by 14.22 per cent to N107.1tn between January and August 2024. The country’s money supply was N93.77tn in January 2024.
At a recent media briefing to disclose the decisions of the September edition of the Monetary Policy Committee meeting of the apex bank in Abuja, Cardoso said, “In 2015, the money supply was about N19tn. And in 2023, it was N54tn. That’s a huge increase, a very, very huge increase, and a substantial amount of that was through Ways and Means.”
According to him, the printing of N35tn led to a huge amount of money in circulation, translating to too much money chasing the same amount of goods.
Cardoso’s remarks referred to the large-scale issuance of money through ‘Ways and Means,’ a process where the CBN lends money to the government.
This approach, not backed by equivalent economic output or productivity, flooded the economy with excess naira, reducing its value, he argued.
But Buhari’s aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to lack of authorisation to comment on the matter, argued that the figures were inaccurate.
The senior aide said the aggregate total of the Ways and Means advances on the Consolidated Revenue Fund was N7.5tn in the eight years Buhari served.
“I have read the story and my thinking is that Nigerians will just be laughing at them. The real position of things is that from the beginning, when the then-acting Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (was in office), that issue arose from that moment.
“The CBN was called by the National Assembly, what were their numbers? And the numbers for Buhari were not more than N7.5tn for all eight years.
“The Cable newspaper did a report challenging the National Assembly that they had promised to release a report. They (NASS) said they were going to release a report. The last time we heard that, they said they would release it in September. There are numbers, as given authoritatively by the central bank,” he stated.
The aide backed his argument with a letter that he claimed was the response of the CBN to a request by the Senate on the matter at the time.
The letter, dated January 16, 2023, and titled, ‘Re: The Senate Special Committee on Ways and Means,’ was addressed to the office of the Senate Majority Leader.
It read in part, “All letters received by the CBN for processing of the advances are provided in Appendix 1 & 2. However, kindly note that the figure of -22,719,7033,774,306.90 is the balance of the Treasury Sub-Treasury Account as of December 19, 2022. This account is the account mandated for granting overdraft facilities to the Federal Government account.
“We have also attached a summary page that details the Ways and Means granted between 2015 and 2022 as Appendix 3.”
Buhari’s administration, from 2015 to 2023, faced significant fiscal challenges, including falling oil prices and reduced oil revenues.
To manage deficits, the government increasingly relied on the central bank to finance its spending, printing trillions of naira.
This monetary expansion, according to both Cardoso and Finance Minister Wale Edun, was not matched by productivity, leading to runaway inflation and a weakened currency, which made everyday goods and services less affordable for Nigerians.
Several efforts to get the CBN and presidency officials to react to the claims made by the former ex-President’s aide were not successful, as they had yet to respond to enquiries up till when this report was filed on Saturday night.
Money supply rises
Meanwhile, the total money supply in the Nigerian economy has increased by 14.22 per cent to N107.1tn between January and August 2024, according to the latest figures from the CBN. The country’s money supply was N93.77tn in January 2024.
The CBN also stated that there was a 0.75 per cent month-on-month increase from N106.3tn in July and a 5.6 per cent rise from N101.4tn in June.
Year on year, it was an increase of 65 per cent from N64.8tn recorded in August 2023.
Money supply is the total of all of the currency and other liquid assets in a country’s economy on the date measured. It includes all cash in circulation and all bank deposits that the account holder can easily convert to cash.
The money supply M2, consisting of currency outside banks, narrow money, demand deposits, and quasi-money, is indicative of the growing liquidity in the Nigerian economy.
Hence, this sharp rise in liquidity continues to pose challenges for the CBN’s Monetary Policy Committee as it grapples with balancing economic growth and controlling inflation.
A breakdown showed that currency outside banks stood at N3.8tn, while demand deposits reached N31tn, and quasi-money surged to N72.2tn in August 2024.
At the last MPC meeting, Cardoso blamed the high money supply in the economy as part of the reasons for the high inflation rate in the country.
Checks by our correspondent to confirm this figure using the money supply data on the CBN website showed that the total money supply moved from N18.9tn in January 2015 to N20.03tn in December 2015.
By 2023, the figure increased from N52.83tn in January 2023 to N78.83tn as of December 2023.
Increased liquidity in the system can stimulate short-term economic growth by making credit more accessible to businesses for expansion and investment. This can, in turn, boost production, job creation, and overall economic activity.
However, the downside is that too much money circulating in the economy can fuel inflation, especially if production does not keep pace with the rising demand for goods and services.
...seeks perfect gift
Dignitaries, prominent clerics, friends and family members celebrated with the founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, also known as Winners Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo on September 27, as he marked his 70th birthday.
The birthday celebration was held at the church’s headquarters in Ota, Ogun State, and the auditorium was filled to the brim as guests all dressed in white and blue attires rejoiced with the popular cleric.
Although before his birthday, Oyedepo had requested his members to win souls as birthday gifts for him, he was blessed with several gifts, including a luxurious Rolls Royce Cullinan and N1bn donation towards feeding 50,000 people at Canaanland.
Earlier, President Bola Tinubu had lauded Oyedepo’s legacy in grooming leaders and his church’s contributions to education, health, and entrepreneurship.
Basking in the love and celebration, the birthday boy danced gleefully to music by Adeyinka Alaseyori and Nathaniel Bassey.
In his remarks at the event, Oyedepo said, “I give glory to God. I am a representative of the icon of icons, who is Jesus; my glory and lifter of my head. I am simply fronting for him. He is the one behind the scenes working 24 hours every day. A man cannot be any more than the grace of God at work in him. I will never pose to be an achiever but one who is a beneficiary of God’s grace.”
His wife also expressed pride in being in spouse, stating that she wishes to have a mansion beside his in heaven.
Guests at the event include former President Olusegun Obasanjo, governors of Lagos, Ogun and Delta states, Dapo Abiodun, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Sheriff Oborevwori respectively; Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; and top clerics such as the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Enoch Adeboye and his wife, Foluke; Poju Oyemade, Jerry Eze and Matthew Ashimolowo.
Football fans have a thrilling Sunday ahead, with key fixtures including a Madrid derby among others scheduled across Europe’s top leagues.
In the Premier League, Ipswich Town will face Aston Villa at 14:00. Villa, coming in as the favourites, will aim to secure an important away win.
The spotlight later shifts to a much-anticipated clash between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at 16:30, in what promises to be an intense encounter.
In La Liga, action kicks off at 13:00 as Celta Vigo hosts Girona. Girona enters the match as the favourites, while Celta hopes to upset the form book. Later, at 15:15, Athletic Club takes on Sevilla, followed by Real Betis facing Espanyol at 17:30. Both Sevilla and Espanyol are considered favourites in their respective matches.
The day in Spain wraps up with a blockbuster Madrid derby at 20:00 as Atletico Madrid locks horns with Real Madrid, with Los Blancos tipped to edge out their rivals.
Germany’s Bundesliga offers two key matches, starting with Holstein Kiel against Eintracht Frankfurt at 14:30. Frankfurt is expected to dominate the tie. Hoffenheim will then take on Werder Bremen at 16:30, where Hoffenheim is favoured to come out on top.
Over in Italy’s Serie A, Torino plays Lazio at 11:30, with Lazio tipped as favourites. Later, at 14:00, Como faces Hellas Verona, and Roma battles Venezia, with Verona and Roma expected to triumph. Fiorentina, the favourites, will visit Empoli at 17:00 before Napoli closes the day with a 19:45 fixture against Monza, where Napoli is widely expected to secure a win.
In Ligue 1, Toulouse will host Lyon at 14:00, with Lyon considered favourites. The afternoon will see two simultaneous matches at 16:00, as Reims takes on Angers and Nantes plays Saint-Etienne. Both Reims and Saint-Etienne are expected to take the points.
The day will conclude with Strasbourg facing Marseille at 19:45, with Marseille tipped to secure the victory.
With major teams in action and crucial points at stake, it promises to be an electrifying day of football across Europe.
The FCT police command has dismissed rumours of an alleged plan by some persons to abduct students from University of Abuja.
In a statement on Friday, Josephine Adeh, FCT police spokesperson, described the report as “baseless”.
“The report is nothing but baseless publications propagated by rumour mongers aiming to create unfounded panic and apprehension among FCT residents and university community,” she said.
Adeh restated the command’s commitment to safeguarding the lives and property of FCT residents.
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She added that personnel and equipment have been deployed to enhance security within the FCT.
She asked residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to the FCT police command.