The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig Gen YD Ahmed, says the discharge certificate being flaunted by Enugu State Governor-elect, Barr Peter Mbah, is not from the body.
Brig Gen Ahmed made this known during a chat on Arise Television on Friday.
Ahmed said there was no point dwelling on the authenticity or otherwise of Mbah NYSC certificate because he has told the PDP candidate in the 2023 governorship elections that what he presented as a certificate was fake.
“He came to me and I called my director to confirm the certificate and we discovered that the certificate was fake and I told him…I wonder how elites who have gone to school will resort to black market certificates.
“Everyone knows how we issue our certificate in NYSC we don’t give it in hotel rooms or houses,” the DG said.
Peter Mbah has reportedly filed a case against the NYSC, allegedly claiming N20 billion in damages for the injuries he claims have been caused him by the controversies surrounding his discharge certificate.
The controversy surrounding Mbah’s discharge certificate became public knowledge in February 2023, when the NYSC, in response to an inquiry by a non-governmental organisation, released a letter stating that the certificate submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was not issued by them.
In April 2023, another letter repudiating the certificate was again issued following another inquiry by an Aba-based law firm, Silver & Co. Associates.
On the purported suit by Mbah, the NYSC Director General said he was not aware of any suit, and will not respond based on hearsay.
“Concerning the suit, the NYSC has not been sued. I am yet to see anything from any court, all you are saying, I have been hearing from outside. I have not received any court order, but I must tell you, we do not tolerate certificate racketeering. If it is from any of our staff, that is not our problem. But that certificate is not from us,” he asserted.
Peter Mbah’s NYSC discharge certificate has morphed into a national issue, drawing attention to the possibility of many public office holders getting into office with fake qualifications.
Recently, Mbah, through his lawyer, Emeka Ozoani, SAN, had obtained an order from a Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, restraining the NYSC and any of its personnel from commenting on the controversial certificate.
The First Lady, Aisha Buhari, has stated that the newly inaugurated 21 billion Presidential Wing of the State House Medical Centre will eliminate the need for future presidents and their families to seek medical treatment abroad.
Aisha stated this when she joined President Muhammadu Buhari and other dignitaries for the commissioning ceremony of the facility situated on the premises of the presidential villa in Abuja on Friday.
According to the first lady, she was the first to nurture the idea of a presidential wing in 2017, following her husband’s lengthy stay in London for medical treatment.
Aisha added that she insisted that the presidential wing have a VIP wing within proximity of the presidential villa.
“I’m quite happy, feeling fulfilled. Though we are leaving, all the same, we thank God that the project has become a reality,” Aisha said.
“I have opted for it for six years now. I initiated this project six years ago when my husband spent three months abroad, consecutively, for 90 days. And it shouldn’t be because we have all the experts in Nigeria. We only need a good platform.
“The hospital that is supposed to serve the First Family is serving like 35,000 people, which is quite much. That’s why I insisted we should have a VIP Wing within the proximity of the presidential villa.”
When asked if the medical centre would eliminate the need for Nigerian leaders to seek treatment abroad, she replied, “Yes! This one is for the health and wellness of the First Family. They don’t need to go abroad now. They only need to maybe fly in experts to help our people. You know.
“So, no need for any leader to spend months and months abroad because of health care.”
Former Governor and Senator-elect for Ogun East Senatorial District, Chief Gbenga Daniel has said that Nigeria has lost an icon with the passage of the founder of First City Monument Bank. Otunba Subomi Balogun.
Daniel in a statement made available to the Nigerian Tribune, on Friday, said that the late Olori Omooba of Ijebuland lived a life worthy of emulation.
The statement reads, “I received with shock the passing unto eternal glory of the Olori Omoba, Otunba Tunwase of Ijebuland, Otunba Michael Subomi Balogun, CON.
“As the Asiwaju of Ijebu Christians, Otunba Subomi Balogun brought the fear of God into everything that he did and believed in, and united the Body of Christ while promoting interfaith relationships in the entire Ijebuland to the best of his ability.
“A frontline businessman and astute banker, Otunba Balogun lived a life worthy of emulation by carrying the weight of royalty into his enterprise. He lived a graceful life with colour and candour.
“I share a lot in common with Otunba Subomi Balogun who served as a father figure to me and supported our administration without let when I had the privilege to serve as the Governor of Ogun State.
“He was a man whom I have the greatest respect for both in royalty and in the business world.
“Yeye and I will miss this great icon of Ijebu culture and business enterprise, and we are consoled that God granted him a bountiful life to a ripe old age.”
The National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration Control (NAFDAC) has sealed off an illegal and unapproved herbal mix factory while the suspected owner was arrested in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The illegal factory which is sited around Adedola area of Ibadan was uncovered by NAFDAC operatives at weekend.
The herbal Concoction, according to the suspect, is meant for the treatment of Malaria, body ache, hypertension among others.
The herbal mix, as reliably informed is being distributed across major cities in Nigeria but without formal approval from the regulatory agency.
The suspect revealed that he had been into the production of the products for over five years before the long arm of the law caught up with him.
On whether the herbal product has the mandate and approval of NAFDAC, he declared that he’s yet to perfect all necessary documents with the Agency.
The Zonal Director, National Agency for Food, Drugs and Administration Control, Roseline Ajayi, in an interview with newsmen expressed deep concern regarding the discovery, stating that some concerned members of the public hinted her organization about the illegal operation.
She declared that the suspect has no pending application before the Agency, noting that his operation has no backing of NAFDAC in any way.
The premises of the unauthorized factory have been sealed by officials of the National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control while the suspect has been handed over to the Police for prosecution.
The founder of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Otunba Subomi Balogun has passed away.
In reports gathered by Tribune Online, the Olori Omoba of Ijebuland reportedly died in a London hospital on Friday morning.
Balogun who was the chairman of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) celebrated his 89th year birthday on 9th March 2023.
Singer, Innocent Idibia, also known as 2Baba, has said that men are genetically programmed to cheat on their partners.
He said this during season 2 of a reality TV show, ‘Young, Famous and African’, which premiered on Friday.
The singer said, “Men are wired like that. A man will love a woman to h*ll. Maybe he is somewhere, his d**k would just decide to do something else.
“He will f*k, but he won’t even give a f*k about that person. He just wants to sort out that sh*t.“
His wife, Annie, who is also a cast on the show, asked him if what he said was on a general basis or based on what he believed in.
The singer, however, stated that his opinion was based on his beliefs.
President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed the Benin Monarch, His Majesty, Ewuare II, Oba of Benin as Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Abuja.
This was officially conveyed by the Vice Chancellor of NOUN, Professor Olufemi Peters, during a courtesy visit to the Oba on Friday in Benin City.
He said that the courtesy visit to the monarch was informed by the need to introduce the University’s Management team to the Oba, which he said was routine in the University.
“We are grateful to His Royal Majesty, Ewuare II, Oba of Benin for his granting us the audience to come and pay a courtesy visit to him.
“It is normal what we have done especially when a new Chancellor is appointed in the University. We must come to see him so that he will know members of the University’s management team.
“We have had so much about the Benin tradition and culture, we thanked the Benin people for keeping to their culture and tradition.”
The NOUN Vice Chancellor, however, disclosed that the university is the biggest in the country, adding that the rationale behind the establishment of the University is to bring University education to many Nigerians irrespective of their locations, circumstances and social hindrances.
“That is why Your Royal Majesty that we have study centres across Nigeria and we have over 120, 000 students across the country.
“It is the biggest University in Nigeria that Your Royal Majesty has been appointed to be the Chancellor,” he said.
Responding, Oba Ewuare II, expressed appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for the appointment, saying that his appointment as Chancellor of NOUN was in recognition of the Benin Kingdom as well as the work being done by the kingdom.
‘I am most grateful to the Commander-In-Chief, President Muhammadu Buhari, for deeming me fit and appointing me as Chancellor of the University.
“I am elated and happy that I have been appointed as Chancellor of the University. We thank God and our ancestors for the recognition.
“It is a recognition of the work we have been doing, recognition of Benin Kingdom, the cultural ways we have displayed all along,” he said.
The Oba, however, promised to bring all his wealth of experience to bear as Chancellor of the school.
It would be recalled that the Oba of Benin was recently appointed as Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano by President Buhari.
The West African Examinations Council(WAEC) has insisted that private schools are the worst culprits among social agents aiding malpractice in its West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in the country.
The council said it had never claimed that public schools were not also guilty of examination malpractice but the fact remains that private schools are worse comparatively.
The Head of Public Affairs Department of WAEC Nigeria, Mrs Moyosola Adesina, made this clarification as a response to an earlier report by Tribune Online and credited to the National President of National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Yomi Otubela, that WAEC always accused private schools of aiding examination malpractice and make it appears as if public schools are not involving in the practice.
In the report, NAPPS boss said even though private schools had never and would never support or justify exam malpractice in any form, WAEC should not exempt public schools when it is making such accusations.
WAEC, however, in a statement exclusively obtained by Tribune Online, on Wednesday, said though it would not have bothered to engage private schools in argument over this matter and the others raised in the report, it is doing so to put the record straight particularly for the public.
According to WAEC, the council has never said that public schools are not involved in exam malpractice in the country.
“What we know is that there are some bad and good private schools, just as we have some good and bad public schools but comparatively, private schools are worse in exam malpractice in Nigeria.
“WAEC does not also shy away from exposing any guilty persons or institutions in our exams.
“So, for the avoidance of doubt, WAEC, in the past, has named and disgraced all perpetrators of examination malpractice during and after the conduct of its examinations, no matter their status or who they are. And both private and public schools have been named, among others as pepetrators of this dastardly act.
“However, the naked truth remains that the volume of examination malpractice cases is higher in private schools than in public schools.
“So, the reaction of the National President of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) in the fight against examination malpractice is quite unfortunate, and the collective justification for the actions of private school owners is laughable.
“While the onus of conducting credible examinations on candidates lies on the Council, WAEC is not solely responsible for administering the examination on candidates.
“It takes the collective efforts of critical stakeholders such as Candidates, Parents, Schools, Government and Ministries of Education to ensure that the examination is conducted without interference.
“So, as regards the inability of WAEC to conduct malpractice–free examinations, it is these individuals and schools that seek justification for the heinous act that make such a feat impossible; we advise them to turn over a new leaf.
“On the issue of non-adherence to registration deadlines, it is again unfortunate that the NAPPS Chief made those utterances.
The utterances is that WAEC has sole liberty to determine when it opens and should end registration of candidates for its exams and should therefore not blame a third party for undue prolonged registration.
WAEC on this said, “With regard to registration deadlines, WAEC adheres strictly to registration deadlines and NAPPS needs not to remind the organisation what exactly it needs to do.”
It has, however, pointed out it is only private schools that are guilty of non-adherence to candidates’ registration deadlines as public schools duly comply year- in, year-out on that.
It explained further that, “WAEC, on several occasions, comes under attack by some private schools (not public schools) who fail to do the needful at the right time, which is why some are not participating in the ongoing examination.
“Unfortunately, NAPPS is making this allegation when it is actually guilty of it by constantly asking for endless extension of the registration period.
“So, Proprietors, principals or examinations officials are warned that anyone culpable of aiding and abetting examination malpractice during this ongoing examination and those in the future would face the wrath of the law guiding the conduct of WAEC exams.
“We as an institution, WAEC will remain committed to our mandate of conducting credible examinations and awarding certificates comparable to that of reputable counterparts globally.”
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has launched a nationwide raid of drug joints in an exercise code-named, Operation Mop Up as part of law enforcement efforts to remove enablers of crime and violence in the form of illicit substances and those who deal in them with a view to ensuring peaceful inauguration of new administrations at national and sub-national levels across the country on May 29, 2023.
A statement by the spokesman of the NDLEA, Mr. Femi Babafemi on Friday said, not less than 534 suspects have been arrested in the first few days of the commencement of the operation, during which tons of illicit drugs including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, tramadol, codeine-based syrup, cannabis sativa and various new psychoactive substances among others, were recovered across the states and the FCT.
Top on the list with high arrests and seizures, the statement said, are Lagos, Kano, Abuja, Kaduna, Rivers, Bayelsa, Adamawa, Osun, Benue and Plateau state
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Brig-Gen. Mohamed Marwa (Rtd) who ordered the operation commended all the officers and men of the state commands and other formations involved in the exercise for their professionalism and following the NDLEA standard operating procedure.
“i am impressed by the level of compliance with the directive to all our commands and formations to dismantle all drug joints within their areas of responsibility, mop up all illicit substances in such locations and arrest all those culpable.
“This will, in no small measure take out of the equation, enablers of crime and violence such as illicit drugs, their dealers and all those relying on mind altering substances to disrupt the May 29 inauguration ceremonies across the states and the Federal Capital Territory”, Marwa stated and charged them to continue with the operational maxim of offensive action against drug cartels and traffickers until the last gram of illicit drug is taken out of the streets and communities across the country.
The Presidential Election Petitions Court sitting in Abuja has adjourned till Monday to rule on a motion filed by Labour Party and Peter Obi seeking live broadcast of proceedings.
On Friday, the petitioners’ lawyer, Awa Kalu SAN, urged the court to grant his motion for public interest sake.
But the lawyers representing the Independent National Electoral Commission, President-elect Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress, opposed the motion.
“Ruling is reserved to Monday, meanwhile, pre-hearing session will continue on Saturday by 10 am,” the five-man panel of the court led by Justice Haruna Tsammani held.
Recall that Obi’s petition is seeking the annulment of Tinubu’s victory.
The LP candidate is claiming that he won the presidential election by majority of lawful votes cast.
But INEC wants the court to uphold Tinubu’s victory, thereby denying the allegations in Obi’s petition.
The pre-hearing session, which is time bound (14 days), is aimed at streamlining all processes to ensure that it is narrowed down to main issues.
PDP equally has the same motion seeking live broadcast of proceedings.
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Alex Otti, the Abia State Governor-elect, has dismissed reports purporting the nullification of his candidature in the March 18 governorship election in the state.
Earlier reports had said that the Federal High Court sitting in Kano, presided over by Justice M N Yunusa nullified his candidature and those of other candidates in Abia and Kano state elections.
Justice Yunusa was said to have declared that the candidates’ emergence in their respective party primaries did not comply with provisions of the Electoral Act.
But speaking to THE WHISTLER on Friday, Otti’s lawyer, Chief Umeh Kalu SAN, described the development as “dead on arrival” as his client was not mentioned as a party to the suit filed before the Kano court by one Ibrahim Haruna Ibrahim against the Labour Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Kalu, a former Attorney General of Abia State, said: “The judgement is Inconsequential and dead on arrival. It is dead on arrival because Alex Otti is not a party to the suit. I have seen the judgement. You cannot make an order to anybody that is not a party before you.
“The issues they raised there are the same thing they raised at the tribunal. They said that the membership register of the Labour Party (LP) was not submitted 30 days before— and— all these issues were raised at the tribunal. Elections have come and gone; candidates accepted by INEC, elections conducted, and results declared.
“Any issue that has to do with that election, the only arena for it is the election tribunal. The issue they raised is a pre-election matter.
“But, even on the merit, the Kano case is dead on arrival. You cannot shave anybody’s head in his absence. Alex Otti’s name was not mentioned in that judgement even though I think he is the target.”
The Presidential Election Petition Court sittings in Abuja has reserved rulings in separate applications filed by the Independent National Electoral Commission, president-elect Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress, against the People’s Democratic Party’s petition challenging the outcome of the presidential poll.
INEC’s lawyer A.B. Mahmoud SAN told the court on Friday that he has two applications which seek an order striking out certain paragraphs of PDP’s petition against Tinubu’s victory.
He urged the court to grant his application.
But PDP’s lawyer, Chris Uche SAN, tackled INEC, alleging that all the electoral umpire has done is to defend Tinubu in court.
“INEC is fighting proxy war in favour of Tinubu,” Uche said, insisting INEC should remain a neutral body.
On its part, lawyers representing Tinubu and the APC, Wole Olanipekun SAN and Lateef Fagbemi SAN, filed separate applications calling for removal of certain paragraphs of PDP’s petition which alleges Tinubu’s declaration as winner of the election was illegal.
Tinubu’s legal team contended that PDP’s petition was fundamentally defective.
They further argued that the Tribunal has no jurisdiction to determine PDP’s case.
Again, Uche asked the court to dismiss the applications of APC and Tinubu for lacking in merit and to hear his petition on its merits.
“Ruling is reserved, and to be delivered together with the final judgement,” the panel said while adjourning the pre-hearing session to Saturday for parties to adopt their pending processes.
Two staff of the United States of America Embassy in Nigeria who were kidnapped in Anambra on Tuesday have been rescued by security forces.
The rescued staff are part of a group attacked in Ogbaru Local Government Area on Tuesday.
The attack killed two embassy staff, including four policemen and a driver, making seven persons. Some of those killed were burnt in their vehicles, while the hoodlums took two staff of the embassy hostage.
But police, in a press statement released on Friday morning, said the kidnapped staff of the embassy were rescued on Friday morning.
Spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga who revealed this in a press statement, said: “In the early hours of today, 19/5/2023, the joint security forces rescued unhurt the two remaining victims abducted during the attack on a US convoy attack along Atani/Osomalla road in Ogbaru Local Government Area (LGA) of Anambra State.”
No details of the rescue were given, including the location or any other information on the rescued victims’ health.
He stated that operations are still ongoing and that further details will be communicated to journalists.
The Nigerian government had condemned the attack on the officials, Anambra State government and several other institutions and individuals alike.
Surgeons in Saudi Arabia have successfully separated Hassanah and Hussaina, the conjoined Nigerian twins.
The surgery began on Thursday at the King Abdullah Specialist Hospital for Children and was said to have lasted for 14 hours.
The procedure involved eight different phases and a team of 35 doctors, medical experts and nurses.
Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Rabeeah, supervisor-general of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, and leader of the surgical team, said following the separation, the reconstruction process has begun.
“We still have a couple of hours left for the reconstruction process, but thanks God the decisive phase has passed,” he said.
The twins, who were born in January 2022 at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Kaduna, were conjoined at the abdomen, pelvis, liver, intestines, urinary and reproductive systems and pelvic bones areas.
They were moved to the National Hospital in Abuja, where they stayed for about eight months without undergoing surgery due to lack of funds.
The government of Saudi Arabia, however, offered free surgery to the family.
Hassana and Hussaina, accompanied by their parents, arrived in Saudi Arabia on December 8, 2022, on an air medical evacuation plane.
The twins’ separation is the 56th carried out by Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian programme in 33 years.