Nigerian singer, Davido, was today December 1, honoured as an Outstanding Georgia Citizen, at the Georgia General Assembly.
Davido shared a video of the lawmakers giving him a standing ovation when it was announced that he was present.
‘’This morning I attended the U.S. State of Georgia General Assembly meeting with the Georgia House of Representatives and Georgia state senate to be recognized as an ‘Outstanding Georgia Citizen’ … God is good.''
When you drive past the National Stadium in Lagos, you don’t know what to make of it.
Has it been completely abandoned? Is it now home for destitutes? Or is it a meeting point for promising athletes making use of what is left to achieve their dreams?
The stadium has not functioned effectively for over 15 years due to poor maintenance of the facilities.
In April this year, Sunday Dare, who served as Minister of Sports under Muhammadu Buhari, ordered the temporary closure of the stadium.
This came after the collapse of one of the giant floodlights at the facility.
The floodlights pillar caved in from the middle, following a windstorm.
More worryingly perhaps, Dare also revealed that a large percentage of the stands were in a precarious state and could crumble as well.
The current Sports Development Minister, John Owan-Enoh, has also indicated that the Federal Government might pull it down to rebuild and bring it to a functional state.
Owan-Enoh, who had earlier said he would go ahead with the planned concession of the facility, noted that the government would only take the path that would breathe life into the nearly moribund edifice.
Would it be a wise decision amid the current economic crunch?
“Oh sure. It’s an old structure, with archaic architecture, best to build a modern stadium that will serve generations,” Latifat Adebayo-Ohio, a reporter at Making of Champions, tells DAILY POST.
“Also the last cost of remodelling the structure was unrealistic.
“No (other) options as far as I’m concerned. Build a modern stadium.”
What about the proximity of Lagos National Stadium to the Teslim Balogun Stadium, which has in fact hosted recent matches?
“National Stadium Lagos is historical,” Adebayo-Ohio insists.
“(The Lagos) State government will maintain Teslim Balogun Stadium, as it is a state-owned stadium.”
Wale Agbede, the Head of Sports at Plus TV, had earlier disagreed with rebuilding the Lagos National Stadium.
He told DAILY POST: “It is clear that from every action that has been taken from successive governments and everyone that has been in charge of sports in Nigeria, that they will not pay the kind of attention needed to that stadium.
“Neither will they put in the investment that is required for the stadium to be brought back to life.
“And quite frankly, if you look at the amount of work that the Lagos State government has put into the stadium that is just opposite- the Teslim Balogun Stadium, I don’t think the National Stadium is anymore necessary.
“I understand the emotional attachment. A lot of people grew up watching the Green Eagles.
“But I think that place with its location in the heart of Lagos, that place is a prized asset and it is wasting away.
“If there’s a private investor that has a solid plan that could bring profit to the government and will help the immediate community in Surulere, I am absolutely in favour of it.
“I think the stadium should be pulled down if possible. Look at what Arsenal did with Highbury. A large section of it was converted into a very big shopping plaza with offices and businesses and they are still making money even though they moved to the Emirates.
“I think that asset should be converted. Because if you give to a private institution, what do they stand to benefit? Any team that wants to play there, maybe the Super Eagles, could as well use the Teslim Balogun Stadium.
“If the Lagos State government continues to maintain the Teslim Balogun Stadium, there is no need for duplicity.
“If the Super Eagles have to absolutely adopt a national stadium, it should be the one in Abuja. Revamp it. If it has to be Lagos, then there’s a stadium around the corner. Use that one.”
[DFailyPost]
Bank accounts without Bank Verification Number (BVN) and National Identity Number (NIN) will be frozen by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) with effect from March next year.
This is part of sweeping amendments rolled out by the CBN to the regulatory framework for BVN operations and watch-list for the Nigerian banking industry.
These changes, impacting account holders across tiers, mark a significant shift in banking compliance and customer requirements.
The new directives announced by the CBN entail several changes. Individuals holding Tier-1 bank accounts and wallets are now mandated to possess BVN and/or National Identification Number (NIN).
Tier1 accounts are bank accounts that require minimal documentation, usually the mere presentation of a BVN and a means of identification before opening with a maximum withdrawal limit of N50,000 daily and a cumulative balance limit of N300,000.
The requirement for BVN and NIN remains applicable to individual accounts within Tiers 2 and 3.
The account opening process will now involve electronically retrieving BVN or NIN-related information from the NIBSS’ BVN or NIMC’s NIN databases. This data will serve as primary information for onboarding new customers.
Existing individual customer accounts with validated BVNs will now be profiled in the NIBSS’ ICAD within 24 hours of account opening.
The implementation procedures are multifaceted. According to the CBN circular, opening new Tier-1 accounts and wallets without BVN or NIN is prohibited with immediate effect.
From March 1, 2024, funded accounts without BVN or NIN will face restrictions. Unfunded accounts will also be restricted until compliance. All BVN or NIN associated with accounts/wallets must be electronically revalidated by January 31, 2024.
The CBN has urged compliance officers to familiarise themselves with the Guidance Notes accompanying the circular as they apply to all institutions regulated by the CBN.
Furthermore, a comprehensive BVN and NIN audit is imminent, and sanctions will be imposed on identified breaches.
The revised protocols for onboarding new customers stipulates the prohibition of manual creation of customer profiles with subsequent BVN or NIN attachment and mandatory electronic authentication using BVN or NIN details for new customers.
Any inconsistencies, the CBN warned, will halt the onboarding process.
Banks are now required to profile customers’ accounts on NIBSS ICAD within 24 hours of generating an account number.
These amendments, the CBN said, are geared towards fortifying the integrity and security of the Nigerian banking system.
The apex bank noted that compliance with these directives is imperative for all regulated financial institutions to ensure seamless operations and avoid penalties.
[TheNation]
Human trafficking: Nigerian man in court for forcing woman, teenage girl into prostitution in South Africa
AdminA 38-year-old Nigerian man, Adeyefa Adedamola Adetoye has been denied bail by the Kimberley District Court in the Northern Cape, South Africa.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Northern Cape Division spokesperson, Mojalefa Senokoatsane, who disclosed this in a statement on Friday, December 1, 2023, aid Adetoye is facing charges of human trafficking, assault, rape, and compelled rape, possession of illegal drugs as well as being an illegal immigrant.
The accused was arrested after an intelligence-driven multi-disciplinary operation led by the DPCI, Organised Crime, Intelligence, and other specialized units within the South African Police Service after the law enforcement agencies received information regarding the accused transgressions.
During his arrest at one of the chain motels in Kimberley, two victims were found in his room.
The victims, a 17-year-old teenage girl and a 29-year-old woman informed the police that they had been trafficked from the city of Johannesburg in Gauteng to the city of Kimberley in the Northern Cape.
That they had been locked in the hotel room and prostituted as sex workers by the accused. The police also found illegal drugs in the room belonging to the accused during their search.
During his bail application, the court heard that the accused who is from Nigeria, does not have legal papers to be in South Africa as his permit expired in 2018. That he did not have a fixed address where he could be located and that he could be a flight risk.
The court also heard how the victims were lured by the accused and trafficked and exploited for sex work from one place to another. The case has been postponed to 30 January 2024, and the accused will be remanded in custody until his next court appearance.
Investigations led by the Directorate Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) are continuing in this matter. The National Prosecuting Authority welcomes this decision by the Kimberley District Court to deny the accused bail as the country continues to celebrate 16 Days of Activism.
Issued by:
Mojalefa Senokoatsane
NPA Regional Spokesperson
Northern Cape Divisio
The Edo State Labour Party Governorship aspirant, Kenneth Imansuangbon has urged party faithful in the state to not give tickets to political neophytes.
He stated this at the LP secretariat in Igarra, Akoko-Edo Local Government of Edo State on Thursday during a visit to the party’s executive members to interact with them on his intention to run for the 2024 governorship election.
He said, “If given the mandate to fly the party’s flag and elected as governor, my administration will address the dearth in infrastructure and open up Akoko-Edo to massive investment and development.
“You cannot compare me with Olumide or Dorry. They are newbies in politics. Don’t make the mistake of giving your votes to unpopular candidates. We need an experienced and popular candidate who can take on the APC and the PDP.”
He lamented that his attempts to govern Edo State were frustrated by political godfathers and enemies, who have continued to hold the state by its jugular and appealed for support to emerge the candidate of the party.
Meanwhile, a former Commissioner for Information in Edo State, Kassim Afegbua, on Friday, declared his intention to run for governorship under the All Progressives Congress, noting that there has never been a zoning arrangement in the state.
Afegbua said that those clamouring for zoning were missing the point and the whole essence of democracy.
He said, “There has never been zoning of governorship positions in Edo State. Anybody who is saying that there is zoning will be missing the point altogether.
“In 2007, Adams Oshiomhole contested for the governorship position and he brought his popularity as the National President of the NLC to Edo State. He contested on the platform of AC which later became ACN and later APC and won against the PDP.
“Then the state had four ministers from Edo Central and also, Prof Osunbor, who was governor then, and nobody zoned anything to anybody. From then to now, every primary conducted by PDP or APC has been contested by candidates from the three zones,” he added.
Afegbua, who is from Edo North, said he was offering himself for service as Edo people are presently disoriented by the politics of pretence and high-handedness occasioned by the needless squabbles and altercations among the leaders of the ruling party in the state.
He also said that the state is begging for attention over decaying Infrastructure.
[Punch]
Last Thursday, purely out of curiosity and the unusual invitation I received from Augustine Eguavoen, former captain as well as former Manager of the Super Eagles, for whom I have a lot of respect, I attended a Nigeria Football Federation program for the first time in ages.
The invitation aroused my curiosity.
FIFA is promoting and funding a new development program targeted at the global grassroots. It involves supporting Member Associations to identify, educate and train young football talents, and nurture them to become the best. This automatically means proper involvement of schools and football academies in the country’s football development agenda and architecture.
It was all sweet music to my ears. I dropped everything I was doing and headed to Abuja for the one-day workshop. I am glad I did.
Air Peace Ambassador
I had not been to Abuja for a while. This was my second trip only, and my second opportunity since July 28th 2023, experience, first-hand, travelling as an Air Peace Ambassador. On July 28th 2023, Dr. Allen Onyema, Chairman of the biggest airline in Nigeria presently, and one of the fastest growing on the African continent, Air Peace, celebrated, honoured and decorated a group of forgotten national sports heroes. He made them Air Peace Ambassadors with the unprecedented benefits of flying to any destination in Nigeria without any limitation for the rest of their lives. There is also the additional privilege of doing so in style by flying in Business Class whenever a vacant seat is available. Such generosity has never been seen in history! My American friends, world-renowned athletes, find it hard to believe that any such reward was possible. That’s the magnitude of Allen Onyema’s humanity, patriotism, and generosity.
Last Thursday morning, I had the opportunity of a ‘taste’ of it. It was an absolute treat. Now I understand why a few of my colleagues will not stop harassing me about wishing to see Allen personally to thank him, and to make him understand how much he has touched and even changed their lives for good, forever, with his uncommon munificence.
I was amply reminded about all of these things last Thursday as I booked a seat, took the early morning flight out into Abuja, and returned on Friday morning, also on the first flight out. My experience is only be better imagined.
In summary, both flights, in an almost brand-new aircraft, were great experiences – the ease of booking the flights, the friendly reception at the desks, the elevating courtesies on board, the timely departures and the smooth flights. It was all a dream!
I know it will not always be so for every passenger and on all flights. Yet, our responsibility as beneficiaries is to continue to acknowledge and to testify to the uncommon and unprecedented gifts that have changed the lives of the surviving members of the 1976 Olympic contingent, as well as the 1980 AFCON football winners.
On Saturday, December 2, 2023, some members of those teams will join me on “90 minutes with Mathematical7” on Eagle7 Sports Radio, to share our experiences. Have all the pledges made to them been redeemed? Are they truly enjoying free-flights around Nigeria?
Now, back to the primary reason for my going to Abuja.
FIFA and Nigerian grassroots Football
FIFA is driving a new football development program called FIFA Talent Development Scheme. The program gives every boy and girl an opportunity and space to play football, the most gifted to be discovered and to be trained to become elite players, and subsequently made to play more often and at higher levels enough to prepare them for the highest levels of football, particularly, in their national teams.
This means focusing on young players between the ages of 11 and 16 in all Member Association countries; introducing new FIFA competitions deliberately designed to impact football at grassroots levels; involving stakeholders through their national federations by playing a role in this grand vision; developing training programs to improve the human capacity to drive the entire project; and provide the essential funding, expert guidance and supervision for the project to succeed.
Two technical experts from FIFA came to Abuja to explain the details of the project, guide stakeholders into playing a role and how to partner with FIFA through their national federation in the implementation process. The assembly of stakeholders were from academies, clubs, state football associations, schools sports, the NIS, and so on.
The event went well enough. I was surprised about the large turnout of grassroots stakeholders from different parts of Nigeria, particularly the owners of academies mushrooming in every cranny, the largest constituency in Nigerian football today.
The main highlights are that the academies must meet certain criteria to be set, in order to be officially registered with the Football Federation to enjoy the benefits of being in the FIFA family. FIFA is creating more competitions for the youths. The Under-17 Championship shall become an annual event with an increase in the number of participating countries. There is also an increase in women’s competitions.
Austin Eguavoen presented the assembly with an ambitious vision for grassroots football in Nigeria, setting the standards and targets at every level to be achieved by 2027.
It was all very interesting. If properly implemented, I believe it will fill the missing gaps in Nigeria’s transition from juniors to seniors.
I can’t wait to observe the outcomes, of this very laudable program, on paper.
Special time with diplomats
Shortly after the FIFA program I decided to honour my friend, the Director-General of the Nigerian Council for Arts and Culture, NCAC, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, who was officially re-opening the re-furbished Arts and Culture Centre in Abuja. He had invited me to the ceremony targeted at the diplomatic committee in Abuja.
It turned out to be a good outing for me, particularly in my role as Head of the Sports Diplomacy Unit of the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs, NIIA.
About 16 Ambassadors turned up, plus several lesser officers from various other embassies.
An opportunity came for me to pass on a remark, and trust me, I went into reminiscences, recalling my experiences in some of the countries whose ambassadors were physically present.
I recalled how, in 1973, I played my first international match against the national team of the Central African Republic, and scored my first international goal. The Ambassador was pleasantly shocked at the revelation.
To the excitement of the Cameroonian Ambassador, I recalled my first international football trophy. It was a confrontation with the legendary Roger Milla, Africa’s best player at the time, and captain of Tonnerre Kalala FC. We won and I was a scorers again.
I recalled the trip of the Green Eagles to Varna for camping on our way to the All-Africa Games in Algiers in 1978; how driving down one of the major highways we saw an exact replica of the National Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos, in the Bulgarian city. It was an eerie experience. The Ambassador was relieved as I did not recall Nigeria’s trouncing of Bulgaria in the 1994 World Cup. We have become friends.
I recalled the Green Eagles’ visit to China, the first Black and African national team in the world to play across several cities in China. The China Ambassador was mesmerized.
My message to the American and Jamaican Ambassadors was about Nigeria’s mission to conquer the world through deployment of soft power diplomatic tools. Nigeria’s music has taken over the world. Nigerian films and sports are on the warpath.
Arts and Culture will soon join them, and together, Nigeria, with some of the smartest people on earth, will soon rule the world by using soft tools.
I must have left many of the Ambassadors basking in the brief moments of history of past relationship with Nigeria that they may not know existed, at the new Arts and Culture Centre in Abuja.
Nollywood actress Ann Njemanzehas has taken a deep breath from life challenges, and has every reason to be grateful to her maker for helping her to pull through despite her shortcomings.
In her Instagram posts these days, Domitilla as she’s fondly called by her fans and colleagues, poured her heart out, while taking a critical look at her life journey.
She said she had overcome everything that almost ruined her life and career. According to her, “my heart is at peace as God has saved me from the spirit of anger, self abuse, and madness.”
She wrote” “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I came back from everything that attempted to kill me: a grandmother that lived with bitter, jealous relatives, wrong relationships, wrong marriages (2) if the second one can be called marriage and the first being the worst mistake in my life.
“Yet thanking God to letting me see that to get a blessing, a disturbed mind, some nasty friends, an almost dead career, a pocket always dry, always sad but today, November 2023, another Christ the King month, I come again to give Jesus praise for bringing out beautiful testimonies from all the trials.”
Ann said despite her stubbornness, her parents and siblings were there for her while she was through the ordeal. “Today I can see everything turning around for my good,’ Ann asserted.
Recall that Ann Njemanze was once married to actor Segun Arinze, a former President of Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN. The marriage which produced a beautiful daughter, Renny Morenike hit the rocks after a while. The actress later remarried in 2023. But like the first marriage, her second marriage also hit the rocks forcing Ann Njemanze to go underground.
[Vanguard]
Veteran Nigerian singer Chibuzor Orji, popularly known as Faze, recently opened up about his personal choices that set him apart from many others in the entertainment industry.
The ex-member of the defunct Plantation boiz disclosed that he has never smoked cigarettes, consumed alcohol, or used illegal drugs.
The 46-year-old attributed his vocal longevity and overall physical health to leading a balanced lifestyle.
In order to stay healthy, he claimed to drink a lot of water.
The singer added in a recent interview that musicians are no longer concerned with writing catchy lyrics since people are more interested in dancing.
In an interview with TVC, Faze stated :
“I don’t do anything special to maintain my voice. I think it has to do with my lifestyle. I don’t take drugs and I’ve never drank alcohol or smoked in my life.
“It has to do with health too. I’m the kind of person that likes to check up on my health.”
In 2021, Faze lost his twin sister two days to birthday
Artiste and entrepreneur, Chibuzor Oji, popularly known as Faze is bereaved over the untimely death of his twin sister, Ifeyinwa Asia who died on Monday.
Faze disclosed this via a post he shared on his social media handle. He revealed that she died 48 hours to their birthday.
“It’s a sad day. My Twin sister has left me just two days to our birthday”, he wrote
“We the Oji family take strength in knowing that she’ll never have to deal with this world’s problems anymore. We know she’s in a better place now.”
Faze was a member of the Plantashun Boyz, along with Blackface and TuFace.
The trio went separate ways in 2004 to pursue solo careers
Gospel singer, Nathaniel Bassey recently called the attention of Frank Edwards to marriage.
This comes after the ‘Omenma’ hitmaker took to his Instagram page to share a vlog post about his trip to Abuja from Lagos.
The gospel artiste began the video by capturing his moment at home up to the moment he exited his house into a car that drove him to the airport.
Unfortunately, a flight delay occurred; a journey scheduled to commence by 8am was shifted to 9am which made him opt for shopping some perfumes while waiting for the takeoff time.
Taking to the comment section of the post, Nathaniel Bassey reminded Frank Edwards about marriage by telling him that his house needed a ‘Mrs’.
In his words: “By the way, this home needs a MRS…”
Reacting to the comment, Frank Edwards confirmed and agreed with Nathaniel Bassey’s observation.
He wrote: “Mog you have sparked oh and there will be a MRS!!.”
Other exchanges also followed suit.
See screenshot below:
Watch the video that triggered the comment from Nathaniel below:
View this post on Instagram
As we match into December, Nigerian female footballer, Asisat Oshoala has taken to social media to announce her search for two or three boyfriends.
Expressing her single status and openness to romantic connections, Oshoala revealed her interest in entering relationships with a least 2 or 3 guys; one based abroad and the other two in Nigeria.
Outlining her preferences, the sensational Barcelona forward emphasized a desire for tall men, specifically those with a dark complexion, and the additional requirement that they must be financially well-off.
Expressing herself, she wrote:
“December don come oo…. Abeg where dem dey apply for BF, I go need like 2 or 3 edakun see. 1 abroad, 2 for Naija. Rich niggas only, please. Must be TALL too, preferably dark skin.”
See the post below:
More...
Two men, Isah Haruna and Ibrahim Sani, have been sentenced to life imprisonment for sodomising seven boys in Jigawa State.
The Jigawa State High Court sitting in Dutse presided over by Justice Muhammad Abubakar Sambo, sentenced Haruna to life imprisonment for sodomising a 14-year-old boy.
The convict was arraigned on May 2, 2023, on a charge of rape contrary to Section 3 of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law 2021 of Jigawa State.
The facts of the case were that on 10th June 2022, the convict lured the 14-year boy to a shopping plaza at Gwaram Sabuwa, Gwaram Local Government Area of Jigawa, where he had anal intercourse with him against the order of nature.
The prosecution counsel, Sunusi Sani, called five witnesses and tendered exhibits against the defendant, while the defendant testified in his defence.
The presiding judge held that the prosecution had proved all the ingredients of the offence of sodomy against the defendant, thereby convicting and sentencing Isa Haruna to life imprisonment
In another verdict, the High Court No. 6, sitting at Birnin Kudu presided over by Justice Musa Ubale, convicted and sentenced one Ibrahim Sani of Kiyako Village, Birnin Kudu Local Government, to life imprisonment for sodomising six boys.
The convict was arraigned before the court on six counts charges of sodomy.
He was alleged to have sodomised six boys aged between 11 to 16 years, by having unlawful anal intercourse with them against the order of nature. The offence was contrary to section 284 (1) of the Penal Code (Miscellaneous Amendments) Law No. 09, 2014.
The prosecution counsel, Yahaya Abdullahi, in proving the case against the defendant, called seven witnesses, tendered four exhibits and finally closed his case while the defendant testified in his defence.
Justice Musa Ubale while delivering the judgment, held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt and sentenced Ibrahim Sani to life imprisonment.
Former Super Eagles coach, Chief Festus Onigbinde, has told Nigerians not to expect any miracle from the senior national team in their quest to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
Nigeria secured a 1-1 draw against Lesotho and another 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe in their qualifying campaign and now sit third on the Group C table.
Onigbinde now says the state of football in Nigeria is not what it used to be in the past.
“What is happening to Nigerian football is very bad and we should not focus only on the 2026 World Cup qualifiers or 2023 AFCON." He told Complete Sports.
“These things are not achieved overnight but something you have to prepare for over a period of time. But we always expect magic to happen from Eagles.”
Citing article two of the FIFA status, the former CAF and FIFA technical instructor said that there is need for proper developmental programmes where the game of football will be improved upon.
“Again, FIFA has a status, and in article two of that status, under objectives and why are you running football. There is a very important point which is to improve the game of football constantly. But, what are we doing to improve the game of football in Nigeria?
“Do we have developmental programmes. If we don’t then why are we crying if we lose a match. Or when we don’t qualify for a competition? Things were not like this in the past. But the people who are running football now know what they are doing. I will always wish them the best of luck.
Onigbinde also revealed that the decision to sack the coach of the senior national team, Jose Peseiro lies with the Nigeria Football Federation.
“The decision to sack Peseiro is that of the people who are managing the football now. And I am not one of them because I am not close to them. If Peseiro is sacked now, I understand that there is a clause in his contract that he will be paid certain amount of money and that money going to him alone.”
Kano state government has announced that out of the 138,430 tested for HIV, 4,728 have been found to be positive from January 2023 to date.
With this figure, it indicates that a total of 46,732 persons are living with the disease and receiving treatment in the state.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran, made this known on Friday while delivering a speech at the commemoration of this year’s World AIDS Day in Kano.
He, however, disclosed that the state has improved its strategies to halt mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS by successfully conducting tests for 95 percent of all pregnant women during their first ANC visit, out of which only 0.04 percent are found positive.
He stated, “We have tested a total of 138,430 people for HIV and found 4,728 positive and have successfully initiated new 4,140 HIV-infected persons on ART from January 2023 to date.”
He noted that “Currently, the state has 46,732 people living with HIV receiving treatment.
“We have improved our strategies to halt mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS by successfully conducting HIV testing for 95 percent of all pregnant women during their first ANC visit, out of which only 0.04 percent turned HIV positive,” the Commissioner stated.
Dr. Ladan further explained efforts by the state in managing the situation where he said, for the first time, the state has achieved a state HIV budget target of 3 percent, N2 billion, of the total health budget in the proposed budget submitted to the Kano state Assembly.
The event themed “Let Communities Lead” was in collaboration with the USAID in Kano as well as other partners.
He said that the state government appreciated the support of partners like USAID, LHSS, NEPWHAN, and KanSLAM for their advocacy engagements towards achieving the KSACA’s budget.
Earlier, the Director-General of the State Agency for the Control of AIDS (SACA), Dr. Usman Bashir, said SACA has brought on board 600 persons living with AIDS to benefit from the free healthcare service package introduced by the state government.
Dr. Bashir then hinted that “Most of the beneficiaries are children of those who died of HIV, as well as those children living with the disease.”
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have cleared a Nigerian singer, Dapo Oyebanjo, popularly known as D’banj, of fraud and rape allegations.
Naija News learned that the anti-graft agency and the police cleared D”banj of N-power fraud and rape allegations in different clearance reports upon completion of investigations.
According to The Punch, an affidavit deposed by Toheeb Lawal of an Abuja-based law firm, Law Corridor, before the District Court of Abuja shows that the Nigerian singer is free from any allegation.
The newspaper said in the reports of the Nigeria Police Force Investigation and clearance from the ICPC were marked exhibits A and B, the legal practitioner averred that the police and the ICPC cleared the singer of rape and fraud allegations.
Recall that in 2020, the singer was accused of rape, and then Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, ordered an investigation into the allegation.
In a report dated November 14, 2023, with case number CR:3000/X/FHQ/ABJ/SEB/T.1/VOL 18/284 and signed by ACP YY Abubakar of the Special Enquiry Bureau at the Force Criminal Investigations Department at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, the police said the matter was investigated but there was no evidence to substantiate the claim.
The police report read in part: “The allegation was investigated. The complainant, witnesses, and suspects made their statements.
“The investigation was extended to the Glee Hotel Lagos, where the staff on duty on the date of the alleged incident made their statement.
“The management and staff of the Glee Hotel averred that the first suspect was not seen in the hotel on the date of the alleged incident, nor was he given a spare key to gain access to any room in the hotel where the complainant lodged, and they have only one key to each room, which completely debunked the allegation of the complainant.
“The management of the hotel also held that it had no record to show that the complainant checked into the hotel as a guest on the alleged date, and she did not, at any time, raise the alarm, complain, or report any indecent assault or rape.
“There is no medical report on the victim to ascertain that she was raped. There are no adduced facts or corroborative evidence to substantiate the allegation of rape against the suspect. Prima facie offences of indecent assault, rape, and intimidation are not made out.
“However, the complainant, through her counsel, Ojoge, Omileye & Partners, submitted a letter, dated July 17, 2020, to the DIG Force CID, to withdraw the petition and discontinue the investigation voluntarily.”
Also, in 2022, the ICPC accused D’banj of diverting funds associated with the N-Power Programme of the Federal Government.
However, after its investigation, the ICPC said that D’banj was not guilty of any fraud allegation and cleared D’banj of any infraction on the matter.
The clarification was dated November 29, 2023, with document number ICPC/OPS/SDD/SPT.LG/31/23.
The clearance reads: “The commission investigated issues of fraud in the administration of the N-POWER Scheme, where Mr Daniel Oladapo Oyebanjo’s name came up. However, there was no prima facie case of fraud against him.
“Kindly be advised that Mr Daniel Oladapo Oyebanjo is not under investigation with the Commission for any fraud-related offence.”
D’banj’s lawyer, in his deposition filed before the Chief District Court of the Federal Capital Territory at Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, also averred that the singer was never a government official.
He added that his client never had any access to government funds and that the N-power campaign he supported was free and was never paid a penny by anyone or the government.