Tottenham are reportedly considering testing the resolve of Inter Milan by making a move for midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu as a potential replacement for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

New Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou is keen to strengthen all areas of his squad ahead of the start of the new season, with defence and midfield particular areas of concern for the Australian.

James Maddison has arrived from Leicester to add some creativity in Tottenham’s engine room but there have been strong rumours circulating that Postecoglou is happy to allow Hojbjerg to move on this summer.

The Dane was one of the club’s best performers in a woeful campaign last time around but there are suggestions that his play is too slow for what the former Celtic boss wants from his holding midfielder.

That has led to talk of a move for other targets and that list includes Turkey international Calhanoglu.

The 29-year-old has excelled since his switch from cross-City rivals AC Milan 18 months ago. However, no player at the San Siro is considered ‘non-transferable’ this summer due to the club’s economic predicament.

Calhanoglu’s flexibility makes him an attractive proposition, given that he can play in a variety of midfield positions.

The report from InterLive.it states that Postecolgou’s men could tempt the Nerazzurri by submitting an offer of €35m (£30m) for the player.

Several clubs chasing Inter midfielder

Spurs are not alone in their admiration for the midfielder though, with Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea all linked in the past.

However, the report goes on to say that, as things stand, Inter have no plans to sell the player and will only do so if a ‘shock proposal arrives’.

That could well be on the horizon though, if Spurs opt to cash in on Hojbjerg – especially given that Rodrigo Bentancur is unlikely to be fit for the start of the new campaign.

The absence of the latter is, however, likely to give Yves Bissouma a chance to show what he can do in pre-season after failing to shine in his debut campaign for the club.

[teamtalk]

Listening to (and reading) the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s spokesperson, Dr. Fabian Benjamin’s pointed accusations of Ejikeme Mmesoma, the candidate who claimed she was robbed of the top scorer award in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, one would think he was there in the room where the said mutilation happened. For an organisation that claimed they handed the case over to security agencies and would prosecute her for forgery, they could have laid out the facts from their end without rushing to conclusions as to how the said forgery happened. I understand they have their facts and are eager to protect their image but making grievous accusations (and personal comments) on what they do not yet know is unprofessional. What they know for a fact is that the result slip did not emanate from them. Whether the girl is the forger or not, or whether she is working with a criminal syndicate, is presently out of their purview.

For those about to ask why I chose to focus on JAMB’s professionalism rather than the candidate under scrutiny, the answer is easy. The former is the institution that will remain after candidates have come and gone with their seasonal dramas. JAMB cannot control the accusations people will direct, but they can establish institutional protocols for managing issues without yielding to public hysteria. An institution going against a teenager and then issuing a ban over a case not yet formally concluded risks turning a case of forgery into a top dog vs. underdog contest. Nigerian institutions are typically guilty of this. Even when they are doing the right thing, they conduct themselves so poorly that public opinion shifts to reading the situation as a case of David and Goliath.

Also, I would like to implore them to consider respecting people’s right to privacy even when under pressure. Not only did they announce Mmesoma’s scores, they also publicly broadcast the name and scores of another 2021 candidate unconnected to the issue beyond the misfortune of a QR code attached to her name. Presently, Mmesoma’s UTME result slip with details that ought to have been redacted is floating around. For anyone who thinks that the circumstances warranted such undue exposure, please know that their lack of concern for privacy is more of an institutional attitude. In 2019, when I read the UTME top scorer Ekene Franklin tell a journalist how surprised he was to hear his name stated as the highest scorer, I was surprised they did not call him first. An examiner announcing your score without giving the courtesy of asking you to waive your right to privacy is like your doctor broadcasting your medical result.

Overall, I suppose the reason people became invested in this case goes beyond Mmesoma herself. Whether JAMB knows it or not, they influence the shaping of destinies.  There is virtually no path to upward social mobility in Nigeria that does not pass through JAMB so people are relating to the case based on the significance of their existence. Yes, there are many lowlife folks out there lashing out because their narrowed minds have reduced this issue to ethnic victimisation. However, there are also others who are convinced that JAMB is the guilty party because of their bitter experiences. The case would not have resonated with them if they had not been jammed by JAMB sometimes for reasons beyond their control. I speak from some experience.

The first time I took the UTME, my score was so good that everyone around me took it for granted that I would be admitted to the university of my choice. The admission season ended without any correspondence from the schools. The conclusion by people around me was that my place must have been switched with that of another—probably less performing—candidate. When I sat for the exam the second time, I made the same choices of subjects and universities. This time, my mother consulted an admission officer who told us that my first choice of university could not have admitted me because of my subject combination. The other school might have admitted me based on scores, but they will never consider a candidate who consigned them to a second choice. These were not stated in the JAMB brochure. I chose the subjects on the advice of the school counsellor who thought they were my areas of strength. Between my mistakes due to gaps in communication and years of ASUU strike, I wasted three and a half years of my life before going to the university.

Looking back now and considering the experiences of others too, I can put it to JAMB that some aspects of their operations are outmoded and need an overhaul. I will be fair to the organisation by noting how much they have improved their processes, but the integrity of the examination should not be at the expense of those who write it. Some of the changes I will propose to them might require a legislative framework, but they can advocate for it.

One, they should run the examination multiple times yearly. Presently, it is structured as an annual festival where you either show up or lose out. A candidate might be a potential top scorer but still fail the exam because they were flustered by an incident on their way to the examination venue. Rather than condemn them to waiting for a whole year, they could simply retake it within a shorter period.  Those who take it multiple times can select the best of their results within an admission cycle. An examination that significant should not restrict people’s chances to just one shot per year when their options can be expanded. In April, I read about a candidate who complained that the University of Lagos did not admit her despite her UTME score of 326. Unilag responded that she failed to upload her SSCE result on time and was therefore disqualified. Such an unfortunate mistake, but why must she wait till 2024 to retake the UTME?

Two, they should extend the validity of their examination beyond one year. Going back to the case of 15-year-old Franklin, the 2019 top scorer who, we were told at the time, would not go to the university because the school he chose only admits 16-year-olds and above, it would have been helpful if he could present the same result the following year. Rather than an outstanding candidate retaking an exam (with the probability of diminishing returns), the process can be flexible to make their results valid for three years.

Three, expunge the whole “first choice” and “second choice” etc. categories entirely. What it asks of candidates is to hedge their chances of being offered university admission on an examination they have not taken and whose eventual outcomes they cannot determine. Many students whose chances were locked into some big-name schools that eventually did not admit them either overestimated their own abilities or were pressured by other agents around them. Better to let candidates see their scores first and retrospectively match with the school/programmes with a cutoff that can admit them. The role of JAMB in that arrangement would be to grant the student’s request to forward the result to the schools where they have a chance.

Finally, the founder of Innoson Motors, Innocent Chukwuma, who was going to give Mmesoma a scholarship said, “The little girl I saw looked so innocent that I can’t believe that she can manipulate her score. If I find out that she deliberately faked her result, I will cancel the scholarship because I can’t encourage a criminal; such a person cannot be useful to society.”

There are two assumptions here. One correlates the face to character and the other judges someone’s future based on a single incident. Who is to say Mmesoma cannot learn a lesson from this be useful to society? In a country where people vote candidates with sketchy certificates as president, we should stop preaching values that run against the grain of reality to young people. It is only a matter of time before they find out that if you have gained enough money and power in this life, there are really no repercussions for anything you do!

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has filed a six-count charge against Hudu Yunusa-Ari, the suspended resident electoral commissioner in Adamawa state.

The charges were filed at the high court in Yola, the state capital.

In a statement on Thursday, INEC said it took the action after reviewing the case file from the police which established a prima facie case against Yunusa-Ari.

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) had arrested Yunusa-Ari over his conduct during the governorship election in Adamawa.

He was, however, granted administrative bail and asked to report to the headquarters of the NPF every weekday.

The electoral umpire, in its statement, said the court has fixed July 12, 2023, for the commencement of trial.

“As provided by Section 145(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, an offence committed under the Act shall be triable in a Magistrate Court or a High Court of a State in which the offence is committed, or the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja,” the statement reads.

“Furthermore, Section 145(2) of the Act provides that a prosecution under the Act shall be undertaken by legal officers of the Commission, or any legal practitioner appointed by it.

“Having reviewed the case file from the Police which established a prima facie case against Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari, the Commission has filed a six-count charge against him at the Adamawa State High Court sitting in Yola.”

BACKGROUND

Yunusa-Ari had stirred controversy by declaring Aisha Binani Dahiru of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the Adamawa election when the collation of the results was yet to be completed.

INEC declared the announcement null and void and summoned the REC to its headquarters in Abuja.

Subsequently, the electoral umpire wrote to the police to prosecute Yunusa-Ari over the electoral infraction.

On April 20, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the suspension of the Adamawa REC pending the completion of the investigation by the police.

A day later, INEC said it was not aware of the whereabouts of Yunusa-Ari.

Speaking in an interview published by BBC Hausa, Yunusa-Ari said he wasn’t offered money to declare Binani as the winner of the election.

The suspended REC also said he never went into hiding.

The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) has summoned ex-Governor Abdullahi for questioning over the controversial dollar videos.

In 2017, Daily Nigerian, an online publication, had released some videos of Ganduje allegedly collecting kickbacks from contractors.

The ex-governor had denied the allegation, saying the videos were doctored.

But speaking Wednesday at a one-day public dialogue on ‘Anti-Corruption Crusade in Kano’, Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado,Esq chairman of PCACC, said the authenticity of the videos had been confirmed.

He said the videos were subjected to forensic analysis which indicated that they were authentic.

Speaking further at a programme on Thursday, Rimingado said Ganduje had been invited for questioning.

The new terminal charges imposed by fintech like Opay and Moniepoint Inc. and the high cost of operation have turned the Point of Sales (POS) business which was very lucrative a few months ago into an unattractive venture.

In Nigeria, millions of people survive and feed their dependents with the proceeds from POS business.

As of November 2022, POS machines deployed by merchants and individuals across Nigeria rose to 1.6 million.

The business saw its peak in February 2023 when the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) withdrew N1,000, N500 and N200 old notes valued N2trn and printed only N400bn.

During the period, currency circulation was N982bn down from N1.33trn in January.

Operators across the Federal Capital Territory who spoke to THE WHISTLER lamented how the recent review in terminal charges by at least N10 and the cost of buying receipt paper and other expenses have cut into their profit.

Sylvia Ojonne, a resident of Karu who is in her late 20s is an operator struggling to keep her POS business afloat.

She said, “Before terminal charges of N10,000 was N50 now it’s N60 and my customer’s charge rate is N150. So, I make N90, from every N10,000 transaction. We are just financing the rich while getting poor.

“I tried reviewing my charge, and my number of patronages dropped, this is because people have varieties of POS operators to patronize, and with the availability of cash in the system, chances of reviewing the charge rate are slim. Mind you, I transport myself to the bank to withdraw this cash. “

Ojonne also said the industry is saturated, adding that there are issues with the uniformity of charges among Abuja POS operators.

Since the removal of the fuel subsidy on May 29 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the floating of the naira, inflation has spiked across the country. The Bank of America projects that inflation will hit 30 per cent in the coming months.

In Gwarinpa, Ubgon Etim, a father of three, told THE WHISTLER that the cost of financing his POS business is becoming overbearing.

Etim now spends double on transportation, almost 67 per cent more to buy printing papers and he is debited N10 extra for terminal charges.

Etim said, “In January a packet of receipt paper was sold for N900, now it’s N1,500. When I asked why it’s increasing almost every time I visit the market, I was told the dollar has increased.

“Aside from terminal charges, there is still a target that must be met daily, and it’s based on the nature of POS to be used. The government should have removed subsidy during the cashless policy, so we can suffer everything once.”

Elsewhere in Lagos and Enugu, POS operators have readjusted their prices to conform with economic realities.

Udoka Ikemefuna, a resident of New Haven extension, Enugu state told THE WHISTLER that charges on withdrawals and deposits from N6,000 to N9,500 are pegged at N300, while N10,000 to N13,000 is charged at N400.

Just recently, the Association of Mobile Money and Bank Agents in Nigeria, Lagos Chapter reviewed prices for transfers and withdrawals.

The Public Relations Officer of the association, Lagos Chapter, Stephen Adeoye tagged it as a unified price list for Point of Sales (PoS) transactions.

He said “N1,000 to N2,000, will be N100 for withdrawal. N3,500 to N4,000 N200. N4,100 to N6,400 N3,00. N6,500 to N7,900 is N4,000. Also, N8,000 to N10,900, N500. N11,000 to N14,000 is N600. N14,500 to N17,900 will be charged N700 and N18,000 to N20,000 is N800 for withdrawal.

“Like we said, depending on your location, you can also step it down for people depending on the circumstance but it should not go more than this.

“For deposits, N1,000 to N4,900 is N100; N5,000 to N10,900 is N200. N11,000 to N20,900 is N300. N21,000 to N30,900 is N400. N31,000 to N40,000 is N500 and N41,000 to N50,000 is N600 for a deposit or you call it transfer.”

DCP Abba Kyari has been granted bail by the Federal High Court in Abuja on charges that may involve money laundering.

In addition to being accused of money laundering, Kyari is also being held without bail on a primary accusation of trafficking cocaine.

On Thursday, Hamza N. Dantani, one of his attorneys, said on his Facebook page that the court had granted Kyari bail on the accusations of money laundering.

He wrote: ”Alhamudullhi! Abba Kyari’s Bail Granted by Federal High Court Abuja today.”

Recall that Kyari’s trial centres around the $61,400 cash and 25kg parcel of cocaine seized as evidence and believed to have been used as bribe to influence operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

According to the NDLEA, Kyari allegedly attempted to bribe a senior agency officer with $61,400 at a restaurant in Abuja to prevent testing a portion of the seized cocaine connected to two individuals arrested for drug pushing.

He is also under investigation after the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the United States of America indicted him in the case of fraud involving Instagram celebrity Ramon Abbas, aka Hushpuppi.

Kyari was arrested and has been in detention since February 14, 2022, after he was declared wanted by NDLEA over alleged drug links.

Justice Nwite of the Federal High Court had refused Kyari’s bail application on charges relating to trafficking of cocaine.

The bail application was also rejected at the Court of Appeal.

Ag. IGP Olukayode Adeolu Egbetokun, the acting Inspector-General of Police, has dissolved the police crew that ran over a man in handcuffs in Edo State.

This was disclosed in a statement on Thursday, the force’s spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said this was a brave effort to address the unprofessional behaviour of some police officers assigned to the State Police Command.

In addition to restoring public confidence in the Police Force, Adejobi said that this action intends to regularise and standardise police activities in the axis.

The statement read further, “Additionally, the operatives involved are currently facing disciplinary charges and administrative procedures. This move underscores the commitment of the IGP to hold officers accountable for their actions which will never be tolerated in the Nigeria Police Force.”

He not that the IGP reiterated his commitment to ensuring the highest standards of professionalism and ethics while urging members of the public to always cooperate with Police Officers in the discharge of their statutory duties.

The Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Nasir Kwarra, on Thursday, revealed that President Bola Tinubu will announce the new date for the national population and housing census that was postponed last April. ⁣

This followed a meeting with the president at the Presidential Villa, Abuja where the Commission provided him an update on its activities so far.

Briefing correspondents after the meeting, Kwarra said the Commission has submitted its report to the president who will take a decision on the new date after studying it.

The NPC boss affirmed that the Commission, which has already expended N100 billion from the N200 billion requested so far, is likely to incur additional expenses because of the delay in the conduct of the exercise.

On the meeting with the president, he said: “We briefed him fully on the level of our preparedness, the outcomes that we envisage and I’ll like to say that Mr President has graciously approved to support the Commission in the conduct of census and our preparatory activities, though we’re not stuck at all, but he has given us the courage and the impetus to upscale our preparation.

“So, we’ll continue our preparations and we’ll hear from him eventually, the date that the census will take place because we’ve made a submission to him that he will study before getting back to us.

“But as for the assurance of support, he has given that to us and we thank him immensely for this for also realizing the importance of data for the purpose of national planning and development.”

More details to come later…

The acting executive chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Abdulkarim Chukkol, also said that cybercrime is a major crime, particularly, among undergraduates and fresh graduates of tertiary institutions due to presence of a number of academic institutions in the state.

Speaking at a one-day media training/workshop organized by the EFCC for print/electronics/online reporters in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital on Thursday.

Represented by the zonal head of the anti-graft agency, Michaels Nzekwe, at the workshop on Effective Reporting of Economic and Financial Crimes, the commission said that activities of illegal solid mineral operators posed grave threat to the local and national economy, through non-payment of royalties, taxes and other dues.

“The commission has been active in tackling their criminalities and will continue to ensure that extant laws against illegal miners are enforced”, he said.

The EFCC boss, who said that Nigerians should not wait until they suffer any loss on economic and financial crimes before they move against corrupt practices, added that, “economic and financial crimes remain a threat to our individual and corporate progress.

“It is not only by being a victim of these crimes that we suffer losses. We also suffer limitations when our neighbours, colleagues, institutions and nation fall prey to them”.

He charged the nation’s journalists on patriotism, saying that, “as journalists, we owe our nation and the entire world an obligation of exposing every shadiness and criminal acts through our reporting.

“Journalism is the best gateway to whistle blowing and I charge the media to deploy more time, energy and commitment in exposing all fraudulent activities in our midst”.

In one of the presentations, titled, “New trends in cybercrime: how not to become a victim” by Alex Ocheme of the EFCC, the commission said that cybercrime had eaten over $8 trillion of victims’ hard earned finances in the world.

He, however, said that legal bottleneck is one of the factors hindering cross border corruption investigation in the anti-corruption war.

Ocheme said that not all African countries, for example, had passed the law on cybercrime, adding that since one cannot compel those countries to try corruption offenders with such law, means that, “the money stolen is gone”.

“Each nation is entitled to its laws. They are not necessarily there to work with you. Some countries are fast to assist you in the war against cybercrime while some are not. For instance, if the UAE is not ready to collaborate with you on a cybercrime investigation, it means the money lost is gone”, he said.

Legendary Nigerian Actor Richard Mofe-Damijo, also known as RMD, has surrendered his life to God as he turns 62.

The actor took to Instagram to share a dark-themed photo of himself on Thursday, expressed how overwhelmed and grateful he is.

“SIXTY-TWO! Completely grateful and thankful.

“God I surrender, Use me! I’m ready.

“Again and again. Enable me!,” he captioned.