The Federal Government has released the full list of individuals and organizations financing terrorism in Nigeria.

The list released by the Federal Government include Tukur Mamu, a close ally of Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi.

The list also include six Bureau De Change, BDC, operators.

Recall that information earlier released by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, said those financing terrorism include nine individuals and six Bureau De Change operators.

In its report titled, ‘Identification of Persons and Organizations as of March 18, 2024’, the NFIU said the Nigeria Sanctions Committee convened on March 18, 2024, during which certain individuals and entities were identified for sanction due to their ties to terrorism financing.

Subsequently, a post released on X on Monday by former President Muhammadu Buhari’s Media Aide, Bashir Ahmad, reads: “The Federal Government has released names and BDCs funding terrorists in Nigeria. We hope that those individuals will face the necessary legal consequences for their actions.

1. Tukur Mamu
2. Yusuf Ghazali
3. Muhammad Sani
4. Abubakar Muhammad
5. Sallamudeen Hassan
6. Adamu Ishak
7. Hassana-Oyiza Isah
8. Abdulkareem Musa
9. Umar Abdullahi

The six BDCs and firms are:

10. West and East Africa General Trading Company Limited
11. Settings Bureau De Change Ltd
12. G. Side General Enterprises
13. Desert Exchange Ventures Limited
14. Eagle Square General Trading Company Limited
15. Alfa Exchange BDC

The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman has met with striking unions in a bid to end the ongoing warning strike.

The meeting took place on Wednesday in Abuja.

The unions include Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities, NASU, and National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT.

Mamman told newsmen after the meeting that the Federal Government would continue to dialogue with the unions to forestall an escalation.

Recall that the unions commenced a seven-day nationwide strike on Monday to protest the refusal of the Federal Government to release their four-month salaries withheld in 2021 because they embarked on a strike.

“It is our expectation that it will not go beyond what it is. We have a good understanding with the unions to ensure stability in our tertiary institutions.

“We will do everything possible to maintain confidence in the unions so that the issue of the strike can be resolved,” he said.

The General Secretary of NASU, Prince Peters Adeyemi, while commending the openness of the government in ending the strike, insisted that the strike will continue until a favourable response from the government is received.

“We have been duly briefed by the government team led by the Minister of Education on the efforts that the government is making in respect of our demands.

“We have said that since this is a warning strike, these efforts should continue and hopefully, before the end of the warning strike, something reasonable and tangible will come from the government.

“We appreciate their openness but this struggle will continue [until] as soon as we receive a positive response from the higher authorities.

“We assure the Nigerian public that the strike will be reviewed appropriately, but, for now, the strike continues while the government continues with efforts to get the desired results so that the universities will come back on stage,” he said.

Corroborating this, the President of NAAT, Comrade Ibeji Nwokoma, reiterated the decision of other unions, saying that the parties would further consult with their principals and thereafter would come back and brief the minister.

The Senate has passed the Student Loan, Access to Higher Education, Act 2024.

The senate’s resolution followed its consideration of the report of the senate committee on tertiary institutions and TETFUND.

The chairman of the committee, Senator Muntari Dandutse presented the report during plenary.

Last week, President Bola Tinubu transmitted the Bill to the National Assembly for its consideration and passage.

The Upper Legislative chamber had given the Bill an accelerated hearing by suspending relevant sections of its standing rules and referred the Bill to the Committee of the Whole for consideration.

After debate on the Bill, Senate President Godswill Akpabio referred the Bill to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND for further legislative work and to report back in one week.

The Bill seeks to provide easy access to higher education for indigent Nigerians through interest-free loans from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund established in the Act to provide education for all Nigerians.

The senate’s resolution followed its consideration of the report of the senate committee on tertiary institutions and TETFUND.

The chairman of the committee, Senator Muntari Dandutse presented the report during plenary.

Last week, President Bola Tinubu had transmitted the Bill to the National Assembly for its consideration and passage.

The Upper Legislative chamber had given the Bill an accelerated hearing by suspending relevant sections of its standing rules and referred the Bill to the Committee of the Whole for consideration.

After debate on the Bill, Senate President Godswill Akpabio referred the Bill to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND for further legislative work and to report back in one week.

The Bill seeks to provide easy access to higher education for indigent Nigerians through interest-free loans from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund established in the Act to provide education for all Nigerians.

Salawu, Akingbolu & Co., the legal representatives of Mrs. Wunmi Aloba, wife of the late singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, known as Mohbad, have refuted a publication by UK-based Nigerian blogger Bukky Jesse. The claim made by Jesse alleged that the law firm had conducted a DNA test on Mohbad's son, Liam.

According to a disclaimer issued on Wednesday and signed by Kabir Akingbolu, the blogger had made a publication alleging that the law firm was involved in carrying out a DNA test on Mohbad’s son in connivance with one Latona Hospital and later, Lagoon Hospital, all in Lagos State.

SaharaReporters had reported how Bukky Jesse, a blogger and social media influencer who is based in Manchester, had intensified her cyberbullying of Mohbad’s wife.

Bukky Jesse had in a Facebook and Instagram live of over three hours accused Wunmi of killing her husband and taking possession of Mohbad’s properties, and using the media to gather the records she will use at the embassy of a foreign country to seek asylum and flee Nigeria with her son, Liam.

SaharaReporters had also reported how Bukky Jesse embarked on cyberbullying of renowned human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), for requesting the intervention of the Nigeria Police Force over death threats coming to Mohbad’s wife.

She had in a Facebook post used derogatory words for Falana and his co-workers for taking the brief of MohBad’s wife.

Akingbolu said that the allegation has no iota of truth but one made by a “self-serving, jobless attention seeker and overseas fugitive” who believes in making money by maligning people with integrity so as to attract followers on the Internet

The disclaimer read, “The attention of the law firm of Salawu, Akingbolu & Co. has been drawn to an online publication by a Blogger named Bukky Jesse, who, in her desperate quest to garner more online followers threw caution to the wind by making an unfounded allegation that our Law Firm was involved in carrying out a Deoxyribonucleic (DNA) test on one Liam, the son of late Hip-hop Singer Aloba Ilerioluwa Promise popularly known as Mohbad in connivance with one Latona Hospital and later Lagoon Hospital.

“For the record, we state and maintain that we are Professional Litigation Lawyers of repute and our integrity in that light has never been in doubt since the inception of our Law Firm, for we are Lawyers who believe strongly in ethics and professionalism.

“As a matter of fact, our track records in defending the masses and fighting poor government policies and corruption are testimonials to what we do.

“Although Mrs. Wunmi Aloba, the wife to the late Singer, Aloba llerioluwa Promise (Mohbad), recently briefed our Law Firm and our service was retained to represent her in her cases and we have been doing our job strictly as Lawyers, we are, therefore, surprised by the unfounded allegation made by the so-called Blogger that we are into Deoxyribonucleic (DNA) test when we are not medical practitioners.

“NOTICE is hereby given to the general public to disregard the unsubstantiated publication made by the said Blogger. We have never, at any point in time, carried out any Deoxyribonucleic (DNA) test for Mrs. Wunmi Aloba nor any person whosoever because we are not running a hospital but a Law Firm.

“This is an allegation that has no iota of truth but one made by a self-serving, jobless attention seeker and overseas fugitive who believes in making money by maligning people with integrity so as to attract followers on the Internet.”

“We hereby urge the general public to discountenance and jettison the spurious, unfounded, baseless and puerile allegation by Bukky Jesse who has been dishing out falsehood and contradictory information to the general public under the pretence of seeking justice for the death of late Aloba Ilerioluwa Promise (Mohbad).

“For us, we know that under the law, it is only the father of a child, in this case, MOHBAD, that can question the paternity of the child, LIAM, but he never doubted the paternity of the child when he was alive. 

“As a matter of fact, he had two lands, one was bought in the name of LIAM. This is more so because even if MOHBAD had adopted another child out of wedlock when he was alive, so far as there was/is such acknowledgement, the whole world cannot gang up to deny such a child of his inheritance even though he was born out of wedlock.

“So why would I bother myself with DNA (to prove what?) instead of facing the legal issues involved?

“Having said that, we assure the public that the long hands of the law will catch up with this impostor and accidental blogger of infinitesimal value with no traceable address in Nigeria, as soon as we are able to unveil her identity which has been shrouded in secrecy and we dare her to come out if she can defend any of her gutter vituperations.”

Nollywood actress Bimpe Oyebanji Adedimeji aka Mo Bimpe has revealed the problems she faced just for marrying popular actor Lateef Adedimeji.

According to her, she was insulted and cursed online for marrying her husband.

In a recent podcast, Mo Bimpe said she has been getting trolled daily since she married her husband. Her words: “Since I got married to my husband, the trolls have increased, from one troll to another. In fact, I get trolled on my social media accounts every day since I got married to Lateef Adedimeji.”

Mo Bimpe gave an instance of a lady, who trolled her and went to her husband’s page the next day to ask him to marry her as a second wife.

“An instance was when a lady came to my page and asked when I was going to get pregnant or something and I was like what kind of comment was that and fans took her up and she was responding to the fans, insulting and cursing some others. One thing I am sure of is that trolls don’t have a happy life.

They are not happy, they are sad, they don’t have a life and don’t have anything doing or going good for them. I feel like trolls are miserable and they just want to talk.

They just want other people to be sad like them. So, this instance I gave earlier on, after all this lady did on my page, she went on my husband’s page a day after and asked him to marry her as his second wife. At the end of the day, I am living well, I am happy and it is the trolls’ loss.”

Continuing, the actress said, “As a public figure, people will have different opinions about you. There is no way you can avoid it as long as you are great unless you are not out there. I am a public figure and got married to a star myself, how would I not be trolled? I am a private person and before I got married, I was not as outgoing as I am now but with marriage, you can only find me on the red carpet probably supporting my husband doing my wifely duties. It is impossible for me not to be out there and I am not going to shrink myself because of some certain individuals, this is my life, I chose it and can’t avoid all that comes with it.”

A 42-year-old driver, Ifeanyi Okafor, has been arrested by the Edo State Police Command, with 11 wraps of Indian hemp and other illicit drugs in the state.

Parading the suspect on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, the state Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye, said he was arrested by Operation Safer Highway while on stop and search along the Benin-Lagos Road on his way to deliver the drugs to someone in Onitsha, Anambra State.

“The police intercepted Okafor’s vehicle and when a search was conducted on the vehicle, three well-conceived substances later found to be Indian hemp and other drugs were recovered from him,” the CP stated.

"But upon thorough search of the vehicle, another eight wraps were found concealed inside the vehicle spare tyre bringing the total recovered drugs to 11 wraps.”

"The driver of the vehicle one Ifeanyi Okafor was arrested and he has confessed that he was asked to deliver the items to someone in the Easter part of the country

In an interview with journalists, the suspect who hails from Anambra State, said he was not aware of the content of the waybill.

“The items were given to me as a waybill to be delivered to someone at Onitsha. The owner told me it was clothes and shoes inside the waybill," he said.

“But on getting to Edo State, I discovered it was drugs when the police arrested my vehicle.”

Media personality Denrele Edun has revealed that he was a cage dancer before hitting fame.

He spoke during an interview on Arise News TV while talking about his media journey.

He recounted his days dancing at the African Shrine, where he hustled to make ends meet while still a student.

Denrele reminisced about being a backup dancer for the African Shrine on weekends and also performing with the Iroko band.

Looking back on his struggles, he noted that May 21st would mark his third decade in the entertainment industry, tracing his professional start back to 1994.

In his words, “I used to dance in the shrine. I used to be in the cage, yes, I used to be one of the cage dancers. I did everything to hustle at that time. And I was still in Unilag at that time. So I was a backup dancer every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at the African Shrine and I was a cage dancer. Also, I used to dance for the Iroko band which was headlined by Dr Ola Balogun, one of the pioneers of filmmaking. Come May 21st I will be marking 3 decades in the Entertainment Industry. I started professionally in 1994, on a TV soap opera. My first paycheck was N150”.

Nigeria's First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has revealed how Nigerians could tackle the hardship and hunger in the country.

She urged Nigerians to go into farming.

She said agriculture still held the key to bettering the lot of citizens.

The wife of the President said the Commander in Chief was making the right decisions to build a Nigeria that is more respected in the long run.

She also admonished Nigerians to be more accountable as a people as regards resources.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu gave the advice when she received the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed in her office at the Presidential Villa, Abuja Wednesday.

The First Lady noted that the various interventions of the Renewed Hope Initiative, RHI, especially in the areas of Agriculture, Empowerment, Education, Health and Social Welfare are to complement the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

“The President has made the right decisions. These decisions will help us build a Nigeria that is more respected. We should be more accountable as a people as regards our resources”.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu said there is a need to inspire the youth to think appropriately about the nation.

“We have to inspire them to think Nigeria first before any State”.

She explained that this necessitated her, through the Renewed Hope Initiative, RHI organise the #ONE NIGERIA/Unity Fabric.

“Youth between 15 years to 25 years will design the fabric depicting Nigeria and not just their State or tribe. The prize money is huge”.

On the Issue of IDPs, Senator Oluremi Tinubu said the RHI has commenced the monthly Food Outreach Program to the IDPs and Persons with Disabilities.

“I am not being deterred. I will continue to do all I can for the people”.

In her remarks earlier, the Deputy Secretary General of the UN Amina Mohammed, explained that the Organisation is looking forward to the country committing more funds to Youth, Women and Girls.

The eyes of a young boy have been plucked out by suspected ritualists in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

Details of the incident are still sketchy at the time of filing this report but it was gathered that the victim was herding animals in the bush when the unknown assailants ambushed him and forcefully gouged out his eyes.

 
The boy is currently admitted in a specialist hospital in Gombe State.
 
It was further gathered that the suspects were arrested.
 
A media aide to the Adamawa State Governor, Emmanuel Phillip Tumba, who confirmed the incident in a Facebook post on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, described the attack as an unspeakable act of violence and cruelty.
 
He called on relevant authorities to ensure that the perpetrators of the heinous crime are brought to justice swiftly.
 
“A distressing incident occurred in Alkaleri LGA of Bauchi State, where a young boy who was tending to his flock was viciously attacked by a gang of ritualists. They brutally gouged out his eyes and abandoned him in the wilderness,” he wrote.
 
"The perpetrators of this heinous act have been captured and are currently in the custody of law enforcement. It is imperative that these malevolent individuals face the harshest consequences of the legal system without any leniency.
 
"The incident serves as a grim reminder of the dangers that exist in the world we live in. The sheer brutality of the attack on the innocent young boy, who was only tending to his flock, is a stark depiction of the darkness that lurks within our society.
 
"The fact that there are individuals out there who are willing to harm and mutilate others for their own sick rituals is a chilling realization. It is a stark reminder that there are those who are capable of unspeakable acts of violence and cruelty, existing in a world that we often like to believe is safe and just.
 
"The perpetrators of this heinous crime must be brought to justice swiftly and face the full consequences of their actions. It is imperative that the law punish them severely, sending a clear message that such acts of violence and evil will not be tolerated.
 
"As we grapple with the chilling reality of the strange and dark world we live in, it is crucial that we remain vigilant and work towards creating a safer and more just society for all.
 
“Let us stand united against such acts of violence and cruelty, and strive towards a world where such horrors are nothing but a distant memory.”