AFOLABI

AFOLABI

The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and socio-political organisation, Afenifere and ex-Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, on Monday, commended legal luminary, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), for agreeing to withdraw the defamation cases instituted against human rights activist and lawyer, Dele Farotimi.

Afenifere and Obi gave the commendation in separate interviews with The PUNCH on Monday.

Babalola and Farotimi had been locked in a legal battle since last year, following Babalola’s complaint that Farotimi defamed him in a book titled ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’.

Following Babalola’s petition, the police had arrested Farotimi and arraigned him before two courts in Ekiti.

 
 

Consequently, Farotimi was charged with criminal defamation before the Ekiti State Magistrates’ Court in Ado Ekiti; and was also arraigned for alleged cyber-bullying before the Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti.

The activist was remanded for 20 days before perfecting his bail and regaining freedom on December 24, 2024.

However, Babalola, on Monday morning, announced that he would be withdrawing the court cases against Farotimi, following the intervention of Yoruba monarchs, led by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

 

 “I will tell my lawyers to withdraw the case,” Babalola said after a midnight meeting with the traditional rulers at ABUAD.

Reacting to the development in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, Afenifere, who had earlier called for Farotimi’s release, commended Babalola for his peace move.

Afenifere said that by heeding the calls of the traditional rulers “Aare Afe Babalola has demonstrated, as a true Yoruba son, certain core ethos of being an Omoluabi.

“He  came to defend his reputation and when he was appealed to by our foremost traditional institutions, he dropped the gauntlet. This is highly commendable.

“We also applaud Ooni and other monarchs ‘for the  bold step they took’. They acted as true elders in line with the saying ‘Agba kii wa loja, ki ori omo titun wo’ – Elders would not sit-by in a marketplace to watch the dangling head of a child!’

“This act has further demonstrated the valuable roles that our Obas – who are the custodians of our culture and tradition  – can play in the society, if given the chance.”

In a similar vein, Obi, Obi, who had also last year visited Babalola over the matter, described Monday’s outcome as positive.

 

Speaking through his media aide, Ibrahim Umar, the former Anambra governor said, “We are pleased that this matter has been resolved amicably, and we believe that this outcome is a testament to the power of dialogue, and constructive engagement. Let me set the record straight: Obi’s visit to Afe Babalola was not about begging for pardon for Dele Farotimi, but rather a genuine effort at intervention and conflict resolution.

“As a leader, Obi recognises the importance of peaceful resolution of disputes, and his actions were guided by this principle. Now, with the news that Afe Babalola has agreed to withdraw the suit against Dele Farotimi, we welcome this development as a positive outcome of Obi’s intervention.

“This decision demonstrates that Chief Babalola is also committed to finding peaceful solutions to conflicts, and we commend him for this gesture. It’s worth noting that Mr. Obi’s actions were driven by his desire to facilitate a peaceful resolution that would allow all parties to move forward positively and constructively.”

At the reconciliatory meeting led by the Ooni were the Chairman, Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers and the Olojudo of Ido Ekiti, Oba Ayorinde Ilori-Faboro; the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe; the Ajero of Ijero Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adewole: the Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Adu; the Oloye of Oye Ekiti, Oba Michael Ademolaju; and the Alaaye of Efon Ekiti, Oba Emmanuel Aladejare.

Babalola, who restated the importance of the Yoruba traditional institution and the influence it wielded, said, “The monarchs are here, they have appealed to me over a criminal charge involving somebody who said I was corrupt.”

The Senior Advocate of  Nigeria said he felt so bad that Farotimi accused him of winning all his cases through corruption; hence, he rejected all earlier appeals to him to take the cases out of court.

He also listed those who earlier appealed to him to take the matter out of court, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo; the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Kukah; and the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adejugbe.

 

He said, “If you go through the pamphlet (Farotimi’s book), you will find that he attacked many judges by names, he attacked Supreme Court judges, and none is bothered, but I am bothered. I am bothered because of where and how I started life, from the farm to where I am.

“There is nothing I am going to gain from his imprisonment, there is nothing I am going to gain from so-called damages. I am not on the quest for more wealth, but rather, how to spend what I have for the benefit of others. The only time I am happy is when I give.

“The request is simple, take away this criminal case in court. When Obasanjo wrote, he came here, I said no. When Kukah phoned and came, I said no, but on this occasion, I say yes. Thank you, Kabiyesis. I will speak to my lawyers to withdraw it.”

The Ooni, Oba Ogunwusi, who spoke on behalf of Yoruba monarchs, had requested Babalola to withdraw the case in court, assuring him that “Nobody can tarnish your name. Your name is more than silver and gold and you have stood for your name with the message that nobody can joke with your name.”

Oba Ogunwusi, who acknowledged Babalola’s contributions to the development of Yoruba, Nigeria and the world, said, “We (monarchs) came here to discuss the matter with him and he gave full respect to the obas and agreed.

“We, the obas, can attest to the hard work of Aare Afe Babalola and how he has invested so hard to build his name. The name cannot be tarnished or rubbished by anyone. Aare Afe Babalola has proven to the world that he cherishes his name and the world has heard him clearly.

“Baba, we want to appeal and also use our race to instruct you. Dele Farotimi is your son, you may not know him, we give birth to different children in this world, some are tough, some are soft, some are hard. Why we are here is our ethos as a race.

 

“We are using our race because some of our elders in Yorubaland and even beyond Yorubaland have spoken, but combining forces with the traditional institution, we have heard you, enough, enough and enough. Your name is intact. We have resolved the matter in our own way, we have done the needful,” the Ooni said.

On Saturday, January 25, tears flowed freely as families mourned the death of 18 persons in a petrol tanker accident along the Ugwuonyema section of the Enugu-Onitsha expressway. The driver of the petrol tanker reportedly had a brake failure, then lost control and crashed into the vehicles in front of him. Petrol poured out and caught fire. The surrounding vehicles and their passengers were incinerated instantly. Eighteen persons were burnt to ashes, many more were severely burnt. Those who could be rescued were taken to the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (Park Lane) and the National Orthopaedic Hospital for treatment. Both hospitals were overwhelmed. One of the victims was on holiday from his overseas base. 

 

A week earlier, January 18, a fuel tanker carrying about 60, 000 litres of fuel crashed at the Dikko junction near Suleja in Niger State. Residents within the vicinity, including children, immediately rushed to the scene with all kinds of containers: buckets, kegs, bottles, some even carried their generators with them to scoop free fuel. In the hustle and bustle that ensued, there was an explosion! Over 80 lives were lost, 69 persons were critically injured, about 20 nearby shops were burnt down and destroyed. On January 22, 2025, in Jalingo, Taraba state, less than a week after the tragedy in Suleja another petrol tanker overturned, spilling its contents onto the road, and despite the obvious risks, the people again rushed out to collect fuel. They had to be chased away by Civil Defence Officers. In October 2024, a similar incident in Majiya, Jigawa resulted in the death of about 200 people and injured over 120 others. Again, it was reported in that incident that the tanker which was travelling between Kano and Yobe State overturned while trying to avoid a collision with another truck. Its contents spilled and people quickly looked for containers to scoop free fuel. And an explosion occurred. In September 2024, there was yet another case of tanker explosion in Niger State when a petrol tanker ran into a herd of cattle and collided with a truck.  Over 50 persons died. Thus, petrol tanker explosions have become so frequent in Nigeria, North to South, East to West, so much that Nigerians are beginning to accept this as a fact of life. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to convey the tragic nature of the problem stated that in the year 2020 alone, there were about 1, 531 such accidents, claiming 535 lives. In the last three months, more than 250 persons have died. 

 

Oil was discovered in Nigeria in 1956 by the Royal Shell Company, with exploration beginning in earnest in 1958, and over the years Nigeria became the sixth largest producer of crude oil in the world, with petrodollar accounting for 80% of the country’s total export revenue and foreign exchange earnings. The country also has the finest, in-demand grade of crude: the low sulfur, sweet, Brent crude. Ordinarily, this should be a blessing to the country, but the biggest problem that Nigeria faces is the curse of oil, that is “resource curse”. Either in a crude form or processed form, oil has been the cause of Nigeria’s woes. The mismanagement of this resource, poor leadership, and corruption within the oil and gas industry have since combined to lead to rebellion in the Niger Delta, and a scramble for oil wealth. Nigeria has over 5,000 kilometres of pipelines, but these pipelines are routinely vandalized, resulting in spills and environmental degradation, and tragedy, oil thieves continue to compromise the weak pipelines trying to get their share of the national cake, the oil companies have not done enough to maintain infrastructure in the face of the menace of restiveness in the Niger Delta. Only about 1% of the population benefits from oil revenue. Fuel is transported on the roads, and most of the roads in Nigeria are bad. When fuel tankers overturn, members of the Petrol Tanker Drivers Association of Nigeria are quick to blame the bad state of the roads, but that does tell the full story. The true story is so bad that each time there is an omission in the oil and gas sector, hundreds or thousands die as they did in Jesse, in Delta State on October 18, 1998 pipeline explosion; Atlas Creek Island, Lagos in 2006; Ijegun, 2008; Ejigbo, Lagos in 2018; and gas explosion in Abule Ado area of Amuwo Odofin in Lagos in 2020. 

 

Whether it is pipeline, or gas or fuel explosion, the story line has remained similar and repetitive, and the people who lose their lives and properties are the victims. The responses from the relevant authorities are predictable: prominent Nigerians including Governors and the Presidency would immediately issue statements describing the incident as “worrisome, heartbreaking, unfortunate, regrettable and tragic,” with the usual condolences duly expressed. The Emergency Management Agency in the affected states, the Fire Service and the FRSC would rush to the press to demonstrate that their officials and the “ogas at the top” are on top of the matter. Nobody is actually on top of anything. The Federal Government would announce that it has set up a committee to investigate the matter, and advise the government on pipeline safety and petroleum transport safety protocols.  Religious leaders will offer prayers for the souls of the dead, and the community would bury the remains in mass graves. Opposition political leaders would visit the elders of the community and make some very open donations, the pre-planned publicity of which would almost gain greater prominence in the media. As it was in 1998, so it is today. After the rituals of statements and investigations, the results of which may never be released, the country moves on. The road lies in wait. When the next “worrisome, heartbreaking, unfortunate, regrettable and tragic accident” occurs in another part of the country, we go through the same ritual again. It looks like a repetitive cycle of failure. It is right to commiserate with the bereaved families in Niger and Enugu states, but it will, sad to say, happen again. It is certainly tragic that in many of the cases, entire families are wiped out, for no reason other than that they are in a country that suffers from the curse of oil. How about a Nigerian in diaspora who comes home on holiday only to end up dying on the road because a fuel tanker crashes and explodes?   

 

But why do people rush to scoop fuel each time a tanker discharges its contents on the road? Why do people choose to willingly commit suicide knowing that fuel is combustible and death is the only certainty when an explosion occurs? Since May 2023, the pump price of fuel has increased by about 400%, the cost of living as a result of inflation has also increased. Those who own cars can hardly fill their tanks anymore. Generator owners need fuel but the cost is also high, and there is no regular electricity supply in a country of over 200 million people. When there is news of free petrol gouging out of a fallen tanker, or a burst pipeline, the people rush for gold, and they often die in the process. The people live in a blessed country but they are so adrift, so lost, they would rather embrace death with faith and hope. The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has been directed by the President to sensitize the people, and educate them. In other words, Nigerians must be advised not to commit suicide. The current leadership of NOA says it is ready to take on the task. But will the people listen? It is the yawning disconnect between the people and their government that will in part cause the next fuel tanker explosion. 

 

Fuel tanker drivers are quick to blame the state of the roads. Frequent accidents on the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway have been traced to the poor state of the roads, and indeed, this is a major problem nationwide. If the roads are full of potholes and bumps, the drivers knowing that they are transporting dangerous content ought to drive more carefully. No, they don’t. They are forever struggling for space with other motorists. They drive at high speed, and nobody enforces speed limits on highways. The Petrol Tankers Owners Association of Nigeria, National Association of Transport Operators, Container Truck Owners Association of Nigeria and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) claim that they would enforce safety protocols. But they do not. And they will not. The drivers leave their loading depots, for the most part, fully stoned, or energized by psychotropic drugs. They are also made to travel long distances. Many of them doze off on the steering wheels. Petrol tanker owners want their cargo delivered at the destination. They don’t care much about the accidents that occur on the roads. Many of the tankers are not properly maintained. The brakes often fail. Both the tanker drivers and the tanker owners must be held liable for the havoc that they cause. Until a tanker driver and the tanker owner are tried and convicted, made to pay damages to the government and the families of victims, or banned outrightly from ever running a tanker business, we may never see any improvement. Going forward any truck bearing unlatched containers, which fall over, endangering lives and properties, must be seized, along with the container and its entire contents. The driver and the owner of same must be made to face the full wrath of the law. Setting up committees and issuing statements will never help. 

 

Where are the government agencies on the roads, the security personnel: the police, road safety, fire service who are supposed to ensure safety on the roads? Even when they are on the roads, they are also busy trying to survive. There are not enough fire safety units in the country to start with, certainly not on the highways, making a mockery of every attempt at emergency response. The policemen collect bribes. Road safety officials are overstretched. There are too many bad vehicles on Nigeria’s bad roads, and most of the vehicles violating rules and regulations are owned by Nigeria’s big men: an untouchable class of non-citizens with an elephantine sense of entitlement. We should be tired of the law enforcement agencies playing to the gallery. They need to become professional. 

 

And in any case, why should we transport petrol and other dangerous cargo by road and often during daytime at busy hours, either within the city or the highways. In the past some state governments have had to restrict the movement of tanker drivers to specific times of the day or to designated routes. In 2018, the Lagos state government directed articulated vehicles to obtain road worthiness certificates within 30 days, Anambra state did so too in 2019, directing that tankers and containers could only travel within the state between 1 am to 4 am. Following the accident in Suleja, Niger State, on January 18, the state Governor Mohammed Umar Bago has since banned heavy-duty trucks from plying the Dikko Bridge where the accident occurred. State governments lack the capacity to enforce their own orders. The tankers and containers are owned by very powerful persons and organizations in Nigeria: the same people who donate money and sponsor candidates during elections. Over the years, corporate Nigeria has perfected the art of putting the professional political class in its pocket. The owners of the murderous tankers and containers are the Godfathers of the men in political offices. This combination of capital and social connections stands in the way of any effective policy making and implementation in Nigeria, with the people at the mercy of the conspiracy of the business and political elite. 

 

What is the best practice in other parts of the world, with regard to the transportation of fuel and other cargo? The fact that toxic and inflammable materials are still being transported so carelessly on Nigerian roads is yet another sign of the country’s underdevelopment. Nigeria is a member of OPEC like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Angola, Gabon, Algeria, and the UAE. You may never hear that a petrol tanker on the roads crashed in those countries and people rushed to scoop fuel and got murdered by the state. It is a question of how much value we place on human lives around here. 

 

And when these accidents occur, why is it that the hospitals are not of any significant use? The usual excuse is that we have good doctors and specialists, but most of the hospitals are poorly equipped. It is either there is no electricity or there is no diesel to power the generator. There was a students’ protest recently at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, once a pride of the nation, because there was no electricity. The Ibadan Disco had to cut off power supply to the hospital for months due to unpaid electricity bills! How can such a hospital respond to any medical emergency? The story is the same in other parts of the country where hospitals reject accident and emergency cases due to the lack of basic facilities, including oxygen tanks. And yet many of these hospitals were supposedly built and equipped by the government at double or triple the actual cost. When people get burnt to ashes in Nigeria, in a fuel tanker accident for example, there is virtually no means of identifying them either through biometrics and dental records. The ashes are collected and buried in unmarked and unknown graves. Nigeria is a vast country of undocumented non-citizens, no reliable data, no ready-to-access medical records, and even those that may be documented can only pray that Nigeria does not happen to them. The fact that it is possible for anyone to wake up in the morning and disappear without trace and permanently is what is truly tragic about our Nigerian experience. 

A Nigerian-American woman, Victoria Ogunremi, returned the cash sum of $5,700, which she had found in the toilet at her workplace in New Jersey, United States.

Most Nigerians living abroad have described the gesture as one of the remarkable acts of honesty and kindness.

Ogunremi told the News Agency of Nigeria in a telephone interview on Monday that the gesture had earned widespread praise from her employer, colleagues and the person who lost the money.

According to her, the decision to return the money was made with concern for the person who had lost the money.

 

Ogunremi said, “The thought of the pain or trauma it could cause inspired me.

“I did not hesitate to return it because of my Christian faith and beliefs. Honesty brings peace of mind, and it is the key virtue I cherish.”

She said that she had found the owner of the money before informing her employer’s organisation management.

 

Ogunremi said that her co-workers also admired her gesture, and many were not surprised by her act of kindness.

 

“The management was very pleased and proud of me. The owner was incredibly grateful and showered me with praise.

“They told me that it could only have been an act of kindness by a woman with the fear of God to do something like this,” she recounted.

The Nigerian-American attributed her kind nature to her late father’s teachings on moral upbringing, adding “he taught us never to take what does not belong to us.

“Such principles have guided me throughout my life, knowing that honesty is a principle I hope to instill in my children and grandchildren.

“Whether someone is watching or not, doing the right thing matters. A good name is priceless, and peace of mind is golden.

“No matter how tough your situation is, always return what does not belong to you. Doing the right thing brings rewards far greater than anything material.”

 

NAN reports that Ogunremi’s gesture is a shining example of integrity and compassion, of doing what is right even when it is not the easiest path.

NAN

Al Nassr are making efforts to sign Nigerian striker, Victor Boniface from Bayer Leverkusen before the end of the winter transfer window.

The Saudi Arabian club is looking to bring in Victor Boniface to fill the void left by Anderson Talisca, who is set to transfer to Fenerbahçe in Istanbul, football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano shared this on his official X page on Monday, January 27.

Romano wrote, “Al Nassr have initiated official talks for Victor Boniface as their new striker! Negotiations are underway with Bayer Leverkusen to secure the Nigerian talent to succeed Talisca. Another potential candidate is Jhon Durán, but Aston Villa remains determined to retain him.”

Despite recently extending his contract with Bayer Leverkusen until 2026, making him one of the top earners at the club, Boniface is not deemed unsellable. It’s anticipated that Leverkusen will seek at least €50 million for the 24-year-old striker from prospective clubs.

Meanwhile, Rangers forward Cyriel Dessers has said he is not rushing to leave the Light Blues this month.

After losing his starting position to Hamza Igamane, Dessers has been the subject of transfer speculation. However, he remains focused on his performances, having scored six goals in his last four matches for Philippe Clement’s team.

In an interview with Daily Record, Dessers indicated he has not yet engaged with senior figures at Rangers about a potential departure. “I have not had any talks. I’m focusing on my football and the events on the pitch,” he said.

“What I can control is my performance. I’m enjoying being on the field with my teammates, fighting for points, and contributing. I have unfinished business at Rangers, which is why I’ve been pushing hard in training and maximizing my minutes.”

The administration of President Bola Tinubu has announced the commencement of the process for recruitment of Nigerians into the Federal Civil Service.

This was made known in a statement on Monday by the Head, Press and Public Relations of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Taiwo Hassan.

 

The vacancy announcement was published on the Commission’s website and also announced in several national dailies.

 

Applicants who are physically challenged should state the nature of their disability.

Applicants are to upload the following documents as applicable:
i. Curriculum Vitae
ii. Ph.D/Master’s Degree Certificate
iii. Degree/HND/NCE Certificate
iv. WAEC/NECO/NABTEB Certificate
v. Primary School Certificate
vi. NYSC discharge/exemption/exclusion certificate
vii. Birth Certificate/Declaration of Age
viii. Local Government Identification
ix. Recent Passport photograph

Naija News reports the deadline for the submission of applications is Monday, 10th March, 2025.

Eligible applicants are to apply for only one position via the application link: https://recruitment.fedcivilservice.gov.ng.

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerian universities that his administration was committed to addressing challenges confronting the university system.

 

Naija News reports the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Said Ahmad, stated this as she represented the President at the 44th Convocation Ceremony of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, on Saturday.

Tinubu challenged universities to intensify research efforts and bring out practical solutions to challenges affecting the economy.

Brazil’s government has slammed the US government and President Donald Trump.
 
This comes after Trump deported dozens of immigrants from the United States to Brazil in hand cuffs.
 
 
The government accused the US government of “flagrant disregard” for their rights.
 
The government said on Saturday that it would demand an ‘explanation’ from the United States.
 
According to AFP, this is coming after President Trump’s order on border closure and crackdown on illegal immigrants in the U.S. becomes effective with ongoing mass deportations.
 
Several planes have taken illegal immigrants to different countries like Guatemala and Brazil.
 
According to the country’s justice ministry, the authorities ordered US officials to “immediately remove the handcuffs” when the plane landed in Brazil’s northern city of Manaus on Saturday.
 
The statement added upon hearing of “the flagrant disregard for the fundamental rights of Brazilian citizens” through that justice minister Ricardo Lewandowski, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva mobilized aircraft to transport the Brazilians to their final destinations.
 
“Upon learning of the situation, President Lula ordered that a Brazilian Air Force (FAB) aircraft be mobilized to transport the Brazilians to their final destination, in order to ensure that they could complete their journey with dignity and safety,” the justice ministry said.
 
The foreign ministry stated that 88 Brazilians were aboard the aircraft, vowing to request “explanations from the US government about the degrading treatment of passengers” on the Friday night flight.
 
Several deported immigrants told the media that they weren’t given water during the flight and were brought with their hands and feet tied, AFP reported. The report also suggested that some of the passengers on the plane even fainted due to the heat.
 
While Donald Trump’s directive to crack down on illegal immigrants is becoming effective, the flight wasn’t linked to that but a 2017 bilateral agreement between both countries.
 
A Brazilian government source told AFP that the deportees who arrived in Manaus travelled “with their documents”, which shows that they agreed to return home.
Lawyer and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Afe Babalola has stated that he's not corrupt.
 
He made the claim while revealing that he rejected offer of an oil bloc and ministerial appointment twice.
 
 
Babalola said this on Sunday when he received Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and other top traditional rulers who had come to appeal to him to withdraw the criminal defamation suit he filed against lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi.
 
Afe Babalola who was rejecting allegation that he is corrupt as insinuated by Dele Farotimi said, “I rejected an oil block and defended the EFCC law and also rejected ministerial nominees twice, wondering why anyone would just wake up and try to rubbish all he had laboured for."
 
But Afe Babalola added that he has no choice but to obey the appeal of the Ooni and other traditional rulers to obey appeal of the traditional rulers to withdraw the suit against Farotimi.
 
Babalola had dragged Farotimi to court over claims contained in his book titled “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System” where he alleged that the legal luminary corrupted the Judiciary
 
“I have nothing to gain from his imprisonment, I am happy each time I give,” Afe Babalola said.
 
Speaking earlier, the Ooni of Ife commended Afe Babalola for his contribution to the development of the Yoruba race, the nation and the world at large.
 
He also urged him to heed the appeal to withdraw the suit he filed against Dele Farotimi.
 
“We all came together to discuss the matter with him and he gave all the full respect to the Obas and agreed.
 
“We Obas can attest to the hard work of Aare Afe Babalola and how he had invested so hard to build his name and that can not be tarnished and rubbished by anyone.
 
“Aare Afe Babalola has proven to the world that he cherished his name and the world has heard him loud and clear.
 
“Dele Farotimi is your son, we give birth to different children in this world and as elders when our children offend us as Yoruba after a little spank, we also pardon such children,” Ooni said during his appeal to Babalola.

Former presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has accused the Kano State Command of the Nigeria Police Force of acting in an unprofessional manner.

 

 

Kwankwaso, accused the Kano Police Command of issuing a false security alert in an attempt to prevent the Tijjaniyya Sufi Order’s annual Maulud celebration from taking place.

 

According to him, the action not only jeopardized the success of the gathering, but put the lives of the people of the state at risk. 

 

Naija News recalls Kano Police had, on Friday, issued a terror alert on the eve of the planned gathering of the celebration scheduled for the Sani Abacha Stadium, saying terrorists planned to attack public gatherings in the state.

 

However, Kwankwaso, in a reaction on Monday via his account on the X platform, said the Police took a partisan decision by allowing itself to be used by the federal government in dabbling into the affairs of Kano State.

 

He said the alert issued by the Police turned out to be false and left a bad impression about the conduct, integrity, and activities of the Police.

 

While congratulating the Tijjaniyya Sufi Order, their Spiritual Leader, Shiekh Ibrahim Inyass, the Emir of Kano, Khalifa Muhammad Sanusi II, and the Governor of the state, Abba Kabir Yusuf, for successfully hosting the event, Kwankwaso went ahead to caution the federal government against interfering in the local activities of Kano State.

 

 

He said: “I wish to congratulate the Tijjaniyya Sufi Order on the successful completion of the annual maulud of Shiekh Ibrahim Inyass, their Spiritual Leader, at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano.

 

“I particularly felicitate with His Royal Highness, Khalifa Muhammad Sanusi II, the Emir of Kano and His Excellency, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, the Governor of Kano State for successfully organising the monumental event.

 

“However, I am concerned by a ‘terror alert’ from the Kano State Police Command on the eve of the event. This alert, not only jeopardised the success of the gathering, but put the lives of the people of the state at risk by creating palpable fear among the people of Kano, those that came from other countries and parts of Nigeria.

 

“Such conduct by the police, which has already been marked as a willing partner for the Federal Government in its habitual dabbling into the affairs of Kano State further puts its integrity in doubt.

 

 

“Issuing a threat alert of this magnitude, which later turns out to be false sets a dangerous precedent. I am afraid that it will lead to people to be complacent in the event of a genuine threat in the future.

 

“Due to the international nature of the event, the conduct of the police leadership in Kano also leaves a bad impression of the Nigeria Police Force globally.

 

“I urge the Police Force in Kano to be professional and avoid being identified as deeply partisan in the affairs of Kano State and in other parts of the country.

 

“For the umpteenth time, I also urge the Federal Government to avoid dragging itself into unpleasant situations by further putting its hands in affairs that are strictly under the jurisdiction of the good people of Kano State and its Government

The Federal Government has commenced the selection process for a new Accountant General of the Federation and is also working to fill vacancies for permanent secretaries within the Federal Civil Service.

 

A memo dated 24 January 2025 from the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Career Management Office, Fatima Mahmoud, outlined the timeline for the process.

 

The memo was sent to the Offices of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Chief of Staff to the President, ministers, and heads of ministries, departments, and agencies.

 

 

Naija News recalls that in December 2024, President Bola Tinubu appointed Babatunde Ogunjimi as acting Accountant General following the commencement of pre-retirement leave by the then-AGF, Dr Oluwatoyin Madein.

 

The appointment was announced in a statement by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

 

However, Dr Madein’s tenure was subsequently extended until 7 March 2025 by a directive from the Head of Service, allowing her to return to her duties.

 

This decision led to the reassignment of Ogunjimi, who was redeployed to the Public Service Institute of Nigeria as Director of Accounts.

 

Spokesperson for the Office of the Accountant General, Bawa Mokwa, clarified that civil service regulations permit terminal leave to be optional.

 

He noted that Dr Madein’s reinstatement raised questions within the treasury department regarding its impact on Ogunjimi’s acting appointment.

 

Recruitment Process for Accountant General

The memo from the Head of Service detailed the accreditation process for candidates, set to begin on 28 January and end on 1 February 2025.

 

 

It also outlined the examination schedule for eligible candidates:

 

– Stage 1: Written Examination for eligible Candidates from North-West Zone and Oyo State on Monday, February 10, 2025.

 

– Stage 2: Written Examination for eligible Candidates/Directors (Accounts) in the Pool of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation on February 11, 2025.

 

– Subsequent Stages: Computer-based tests scheduled for 12 and 13 February 2025.

 

– Final Stage: Oral interviews to take place on 14 February 2025

A report has claimed that some lawmakers in the National Assembly have set up a bribery scheme targeting federal universities and other tertiary institutions in the country.

According to the report by Premium Times, lawmakers are using intimidation and threats to force the heads of universities to pay ₦8 million each to approve their allocations in the 2025 budgets.

 

The extortion scheme allegedly involves senators and members of the House of Representatives.

 

The lawmakers, operating through the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFund and the House Committee on University Education, are demanding money from universities to approve their budgets.

 

Using an elaborate and complex system created by the lawmakers, 60 federal university vice chancellors are required to pay ₦8 million each (₦4 million each to Senate and House Committees).

 

The lawmakers are expecting ₦480 million from the extortion, and they have assigned two vice chancellors from the North Central and North West geopolitical zones to coordinate the payments to avoid detection.

 

It was gathered that the House Committee, chaired by Hassan Fulata (APC, Jigawa), set the extortion scheme in motion on 16 January during a meeting with some vice chancellors. At the meeting, the VCs were given clear and firm instructions about what was expected of them.

 

Initially scheduled for 10 a.m. that day, the meeting was delayed until 3 p.m. due to behind-the-scenes discussions between lawmakers and some vice chancellors.

 

Speaking anonymously to the aforementioned publication, one of the vice chancellors said the lawmakers were explicit in their demands.

 

The source revealed that the lawmakers criticised the vice chancellors for not cooperating, unlike other institutions that comply without resistance.

 

At one point, the tone of the meeting became more threatening. Sources at the meeting said the committee members “cajoled, threatened, and even humiliated” some vice chancellors.

 

“They threatened us with probes if we failed to play ball with them.

 

“Most other agencies are not grumbling like the VCs”, one attendee told the publication.

 

The majority of the vice chancellors reportedly grumbled and complained about the lawmakers’ demands, expressing frustration over the repeated extortion.

 

However, the more they complained, the more aggressive the lawmakers became, escalating their threats of probes