2025 - Page 147 of 260 - SocietyGazette.com

Ground rent hike is coming, says Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has revealed that his administration is considering an increase in ground rent payments, while describing the refusal to pay ground rent and other taxes as his greatest challenge in office.

The PUNCH reports that the FCT administration began sealing properties belonging to ground rent defaulters on Monday. These included the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party, the National Agency for Trafficking in Persons, the Federal Inland Revenue Service, a branch of Access Bank, and a TotalEnergies filling station.

The leadership of the PDP and the FIRS criticised the actions of the Wike-led FCTA, describing them as unprofessional and an affront to the country’s democracy.

President Bola Tinubu intervened, granting a 14-day ultimatum for the payment of the owed sums, as well as penalties ranging between N2 million and N3 million, depending on locations within the FCT.

Addressing journalists on Wednesday after inspecting ongoing projects in Abuja, Wike lamented that while residents demand infrastructure in the FCT, they fail to support the government by paying their taxes.

He noted that many debtors owe as much as 20 years’ worth of ground rent, despite the fact that the ground rent has remained unchanged for many years.

“My greatest challenge is the refusal of people to pay what they owe. I will elaborate on this in the next media chat. People want facilities, they want infrastructure, but nobody asks where the funds come from. Abuja is not an oil-producing city; we rely solely on taxes. These are not new taxes; they have been in place for years.

“It is unfortunate that many elites own houses overseas. They understand the consequences of not paying taxes abroad — such properties can be forfeited. Yet, when it comes to their own country, they refuse to comply simply because they believe there are no sanctions.

“Look at the arrears — 20, 30 years. And how much is it? We have not increased the ground rent, but we are working towards that, and I can assure you we will do so. The President has granted a two-week waiver. Let no one think that blackmail or intimidation will deter us; we will do what is necessary,” he stated.

The minister also disclosed that he had recently signed over 1,500 Certificates of Occupancy and Deeds of Assignment, while again urging residents to pay their taxes and ground rents to support development in the FCT.

“If you pay your taxes, you will see the difference it makes. That is what we are striving to achieve,” he added.

Police arrest Rivers pastor over defilement of 10-year-old girl

Operatives of the Rivers State Police have arrested a 45-year-old Pastor of a new generation church simply identified as Lucky, for allegedly defiling a 10-year-old girl in the Ihuaje community in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State.

It was gathered that the arrest of the said cleric was carried out by members of a local security outfit formally called ‘ONELGA Security Planning and Advisory Committee’ led by its Commander code-named OSPAC.

Punch Metro further gathered that the Commander of OSPAC in Ahoada East LGA, Precious Ihuruzu, led his men to the community after receiving the news of the incident.

The suspect, who is the pastor of a branch of the church in the area and handed over to the Ahoada Police Division.

Speaking to newsmen on the incident, a member of the association Against Child Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Dennis Otobo, said he had received a call from the gender desk of the State Ministry of Health about a case of child abuse which they wanted him to follow up; which he obliged.

Otobo added, “In the course of my investigation, I got to know that one Pastor Lucky (surname withheld), who is also the proprietor of a group of schools (private) in Ihuaje community in Ahoada East, has been having sexual affairs with a 10-year-old girl in his care.

“This got to the knowledge of the parents. When the parents visited her on that Saturday at the Pastor’s house, the girl now informed them of what she had been going through. That anytime he had affairs with her, he would give her N500 to keep quiet.

“Her parents immediately took the girl to the hospital, where they did a preliminary investigation.

“On that level, I decided to call the Divisional Police Officer for assistance and arrest. It was in the evening that the DPO told me that they should come on Sunday and that he was going to handle the case professionally. Truly, he did that because, as we are talking, the man (pastor) is in Ahoada Police station, Ahoada East.”

Otobo commended the DPO of Ahoada Police Division, the Chief Security Officer of Ahoada East LGA, Hector Ekeakita, the OSPAC and a rights activist, Prince Wiro, who is the National Coordinator of the Centre for Basic Rights and Accountability Campaign, for their various roles in ensuring the suspect’s arrest.

The gender advocate, therefore, called on the police to carry out a thorough investigation into the matter and if found culpable, the suspect should be charged in court for prosecution.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the pastor’s arrest, saying it followed a complaint of alleged defilement by the parents of the tween girl.

Grace Iringe-Koko stated, “Yes, I can confirm his arrest. The Pastor is with us here in the Command. We received a complaint from the parents of the girl and our men working with a local vigilante there arrested him. Investigations are ongoing.”

Emefiele appeals final forfeiture order of 753 housing units estate

Former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, has petitioned the Court of Appeal in Abuja to overturn a judgment granting the government full control of a substantial estate in Abuja comprising 753 housing units.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had earlier obtained a court order to seize the estate, situated in the Lokogoma district of Abuja.

Initially, the estate was linked to another unnamed former government official. However, Emefiele, through his legal representative A.M. Kotoye, contends that he ought to have been involved in the proceedings, as he holds an interest in the property. He is now seeking the Appeal Court’s reversal of the lower court’s ruling.

“I was unaware of the forfeiture,” Emefiele asserts.

He informed the court that the EFCC published the interim forfeiture notice in an obscure section of a newspaper, making it difficult to detect.

Additionally, Emefiele explained that he was simultaneously managing three criminal cases in both Abuja and Lagos, which hindered his ability to notice the publication.

He further accused the EFCC of deliberately concealing the forfeiture case from him, despite their ongoing engagement with him on other charges.

The trial court, however, dismissed his claim, ruling that the EFCC had followed due process and that the newspaper notice was sufficient.

The judge declared that the notice “could not reasonably be described as hidden.”

Dissatisfied, Emefiele lodged an appeal on April 30, 2025, requesting the Court of Appeal to: reverse the judgment delivered on April 28, 2025; annul the interim and final forfeiture orders dated November 1 and 2 December 2024 respectively; and grant his application filed on January 28, 2025.

He argued that the trial court had misconstrued his application and erroneously dismissed it without proper consideration of critical facts, asserting that the orders were founded on “hearsay, suspicion, and no proper evidence.”

Emefiele also maintained that he possessed both legal and equitable interests in the estate, despite the court’s assertion that he failed to provide proof of ownership.

“The entire ruling is a miscarriage of justice,” Emefiele declared.

He added, “The failure of the trial judge to properly evaluate the affidavit and documents before him is perverse and has caused a miscarriage of justice.

“The orders were made in breach of the 1999 Constitution and are therefore null and void.”

Meanwhile, Emefiele’s legal team has written to the Minister of Housing, urging the government to halt all plans to sell the estate until the appeal is resolved.

“We are aware that the properties may soon be sold to the public. We have already served the EFCC with a notice of appeal and an injunction,” the letter stated.

The federal government had recently announced intentions to auction the estate to low- and middle-income Nigerians.

Police arrest pro-Biafra member over sit-at-home plot in Anambra

The Anambra State Police Command has arrested one Friday Obeta, a member of the Movement for Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra, for planning to enforce the May 30 sit-at-home declared by the pro-Biafran group.

Recall that the pro-Biafran group had reportedly declared May 30 as a sit-at-home across the South-East, to honour its heroes who died during the civil war of 1967-1970.

The spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed the arrest of the 37-year-old suspect in a press statement he released on Wednesday, adding that one motorcycle, a branded t-shirt and an operational identification card of the proscribed organisation were recovered from the suspect.

Ikenga said operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, Nnewi Sector, arrested the suspect based on intelligence gathering on how he and his gang members had set out plans to enforce the sit-at-home.

The statement said, “Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, Nnewi Sector, acting on credible information on how the proscribed Movement for Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra has set out plans to enforce sit-at-home on May 30, 2025, arrested one Friday Obeta aged 37 years and recovered one motorcycle, a branded t-shirt and an operational identification card of the proscribed organisation.

“The suspect confessed to being a member and an informant for the proscribed group and has made useful information that is aiding the investigation for the possible arrest of other gang members.

“To this end, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, charged the operatives to intensify their onslaught operations, given the suspect’s confessions.

“He further urged them to step up surveillance operations to thwart any unlawful gathering in the state.”

Natasha’s lawyers allege bias over unaddressed petitions 28th May 2025

The legal team representing Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on Wednesday raised the alarm over what it described as a disturbing pattern of selective justice, following the Federal Government’s decision to file criminal charges against her despite multiple unresolved petitions she lodged earlier this year.

In a statement released by her counsel, Uju Nwoduwu, the team outlined 12 petitions submitted by the senator between March and May 2025.

The petitions reportedly detail allegations including cyberstalking, defamation, threats to life, and an alleged assassination attempt.

According to the legal team, none of these complaints have been acted upon by the Nigeria Police Force or any relevant security agency.

“There is a legitimate public expectation that law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies uphold the principles of fairness, due process, and equal justice—regardless of who is involved,” the statement said.

The lawyers further expressed concern that while Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petitions remain unattended, counter-allegations filed by those she accused—including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello—have been swiftly pursued, leading to criminal charges against her.

“This glaring disparity raises serious concerns about a biased and uneven application of justice,” the statement continued.

Some of the petitions, they added, involve high-ranking officials and incidents as grave as the abduction and attempted assassination of a protocol officer.

Though currently abroad on personal engagements, Akpoti-Uduaghan has acknowledged receipt of official communication regarding the charges and has pledged to make herself available for arraignment as soon as a date is set.

“She remains resolute in her commitment to due process,” the legal team affirmed, while also thanking members of the public who have voiced concern over what they called “an extraordinarily questionable criminal charge.”

The statement concluded with a renewed appeal for impartial investigations into all outstanding petitions and a call for justice to be applied equally, without fear or favour.

Gateway Games: Participants stranded as Ogun athletes protest unpaid allowances

Athletes representing hosts Ogun State at the 22nd National Sports Festival on Wednesday, left other athletes and officials stranded at the Games Village at Babcock University, as they protested the non-payment of their allowances with two days to the end of the Gateway Games 2024, PUNCH Online reports.

In videos and pictures circulated by officials at the games village, buses conveying athletes to different venues of events were stranded as athletes in Ogun tracksuits were seen blocking the gate.

It was said that the situation began as early as 5.30am.

Ogun athletes blocking buses at the Gateway Games 2024 event venue in protest over unpaid allowance. Photo: Abiodun Adewale

One of the athletes representing Ogun State also confirmed to PUNCH Online that they had held a meeting over the protest last night and proceeded with their plans this morning.

According to him, they were yet to be paid and do not know how much the state would pay them in terms of allowances.

Before the start of the sports festival, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, pledged a cash reward of N2.5m for every gold medallist from the state, N1.5m for silver and N1m for bronze medallists.

The state is third on the medals table with 48 gold, 38 silver and 47 bronze medals.

PUNCH Online is still awaiting the reaction of the Ogun State Commissioner of Sports, Wasiu Isiaka, as of the time of filing this story.

Ooni donates land for construction of world Ifa temple

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has donated three acres of land to the International Council for Ifa Religion for the construction of the World Ifa Temple.

This was aimed at promoting its activities and establishing the largest pilgrimage site for Yoruba traditional worshippers across the world.

The ICIR announced this in a statement released by its President, Fayemi Fakayode, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Wednesday.

Fakayode said, “This gesture of our referred first class Oba has demonstrated his love for tradition and Yoruba culture and spirituality.

“On behalf of the Council of Araba and Oluwo, under the Chairmanship of His Eminence, Awodotun Aworeni, the Araba/Olu-Isese Agbaye and all practitioners of Ifa and Orisa Worldwide, we thank His Imperial Majesty, Oba Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, for this good and historic gesture.

“With this step, Ooni’s commitment to preserving and promoting Oduduwa’s cultural heritage and spirituality is obvious to all to see.

“This project is going to be the largest World Ifa Temple across the world, and it will serve as a major pilgrimage site for practitioners of Oduduwa’s spirituality across the globe.”

He said the three acres of land are located around the Stadium Area, Route 7, Ile-Ife, Osun State, and work has begun on the site.

It will be recalled that ICIR, whose headquarters is located at Oke-Itase, Ile Ife, had recently requested the land for the construction of what the body tagged “the Largest World Ifa Temple” in Ile Ife.

Schools shut as diphtheria outbreak claims lives in Imo community

A diphtheria outbreak in Mbutu Community, Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State, has led to the deaths of several children, prompting an immediate closure of schools in the area.

The exact number of fatalities remains unconfirmed, Daily Trust reports on Wednesday.

The Chairman of Aboh Mbaise LGA, Iheukwumere Alaribe, confirmed the development in a statement issued on May 26, 2025.

Diphtheria, a highly infectious disease caused by the toxin-producing bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae, primarily affects the nose and throat but can also impact the skin.

It spreads through respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing, or via direct contact with infected individuals or contaminated objects.

In response to the outbreak, the local government has taken swift action to curb further spread.

Schools in Mbutu have been temporarily closed, and parents have been advised to keep their children indoors.

“Diphtheria claimed the lives of the children less than a week after its outbreak.

“The chairman stated that the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Department of Disease Prevention and Control in the Imo State Ministry of Health, and health workers from Aboh Mbaise LGA were working tirelessly to investigate and contain the outbreak.

“An isolation centre has been established at Mbutu Health Centre, with health workers deployed to quarantine children who may have been exposed to the disease and to provide care for affected families,” said Godspower Dike, the spokesman for the chairman.

Alaribe also urged parents to take urgent steps to vaccinate their children.

“In light of this outbreak, parents who have not yet vaccinated their children are strongly urged to do so without delay.

“Vaccinations are crucial for preventing the spread of diseases and protecting our children’s health,” he stated.

The chairman’s spokesman, Dike, appealed to the public to remain calm and cooperate with health authorities.

“We encourage the public to remain calm and cooperate with the relevant authorities as we work to control this outbreak. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available,” he added

In the first week of May, the disease killed two children in the Tukur-Tukur community of Zaria, Kaduna State.

Diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable disease.

Health authorities have reiterated the importance of routine immunisation to protect children from preventable diseases like diphtheria.

Nigeria has recorded 25,812 confirmed cases of diphtheria out of 42,642 suspected cases across 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory, and 350 local government areas, with confirmed cases spread across 184 LGAs in 26 states.

PUNCH Online reported that as of March 9, 2025, the outbreak has led to 1,319 deaths, according to the latest situation report from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, covering the period from week 19 of 2022 to week 10 of 2025.

Scandal-hit judge steps down from Maradona death trial 28th

A key judge in the trial of late Argentine football superstar Diego Maradona’s medical team stepped down on Tuesday, amid a scandal that has thrown the future of the high-profile case into doubt.

Julieta Makintach, dubbed the “judge of god,” recused herself after it emerged she had been shooting a racy miniseries about the months-old trial, potentially breaking a string of ethics rules.

Maradona died in November 2020, at age 60, while recovering from brain surgery.

His seven-person medical team is on trial over the conditions of his home convalescence, described by prosecutors as grossly negligent.

After a series of police raids and a one-week suspension of the case, 47-year-old Makintach was on Tuesday accused of violating her impartiality, of influence peddling and even bribery over her role in the documentary miniseries “Divine Justice.”

A trailer for the feature was played in court showing Makintach stalking the halls of justice in high heels as grim details of the footballing legend’s demise were relayed.

According to a script, the miniseries would follow Makintach as she “reconstructs the death of Maradona and certain painful milestones of his life related to abandonment.”

Footage appeared to contain unauthorised recordings allegedly made inside the courtroom, a violation of court rules.

Tuesday’s hearing was marked by insults, recriminations, shouting and tears.

In a bitter exchange, prosecutor Patricio Ferrari accused Makintach of behaving “like an actress and not a judge.”

As the trailer was played, defense lawyer Rodolfo Baque jumped out of his chair to shout “trash!” at the judge.

Daughter Gianinna Maradona tried to calm him, before she and Maradona’s former partner, Veronica Ojeda, both began sobbing uncontrollably.

Makintach sat with her head bowed, biting her lip and eventually said she had “no choice” but to recuse herself as one of the case’s three justices.

– ‘Dark, ugly and lonely’ –

Her removal is an embarrassment for Argentina’s judicial system and could yet derail a trial being watched by football diehards around the globe.

Maradona — considered one of the world’s greatest ever players — died of heart failure and acute pulmonary edema.

Those responsible for his medical care face prison terms between eight and 25 years if convicted of homicide with possible intent.

The charges relate to their decision to allow him to recover from major surgery at home, and the conditions of his care.

Gianinna Maradona has claimed her father was kept in “a dark, ugly and lonely” place and that his carers were more interested in money than his welfare.

The court will decide on Thursday whether the trial will go ahead or be scrapped and then restarted.

Some of the plaintiffs have called for a new trial, saying they felt proceedings have been tainted by scandal.

“Everyone now feels that this is compromised,” said Mario Baudry, the lawyer for Maradona’s ex-partner Ojeda.

“It’s healthiest to start over from scratch,” he added.

AFP

Chiderije Mbah Wins One Day MD/CEO Of Wema Bank PLC

Chiderije Mbah Wins One Day MD/CEO Of Wema Bank PL

… Set To Run The Bank’s Affairs For 24 Hours In An Unforgettable Children’s Day Experience

In a heartfelt celebration of 2025 Children’s Day, Wema Bank, Nigeria’s most innovative bank and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has unveiled 12-year-old Chiderije Mbah as its One-Day Managing Director/CEO for May 27, 2025, as part of a special initiative aimed at nurturing the next generation of Nigerian leaders. The memorable experience, which took place today, at the bank’s headquarters in Lagos, Marina, spotlighted Wema Bank’s ongoing commitment to investing in the future even as it marks 80 remarkable years of legacy and impact.

Chiderije Mbah became the winner of the One-Day Wema Bank MD/CEO initiative launched in May 2025, to mark this year’s Children’s Day celebration. He was chosen after sharing a spirited video explaining his dream of leading a bank and his vision for making finance more fun and accessible for children. His entry, submitted through a social media challenge, stood out among dozens who applied to be in the position.

The One-Day Wema Bank MD/CEO was the high point of a broader Children’s Day initiative by Wema Bank, which invited children across the country to participate in an online challenge. To qualify, children were asked to post a short video dressed in Wema colours and share the banking role they aspired to, while either holding or opening a Royal Kiddies Account (for ages 0–12) or an ALAT Xplore Wallet (for teenagers 13–17). The campaign blended fun with purpose, introducing thousands of young Nigerians to early financial education and the power of dreaming big.

On Tuesday, May 27, 2025, Chiderije stepped into the spotlight at Wema Bank’s Lagos Headquarters, receiving a purple-carpet welcome and taking his seat at the helm of the bank for a day packed with leadership, learning, and excitement. Enjoying a full day of activities; from a guided tour of the head office to holding his own executive briefing session in the boardroom, he will also be addressing senior executives of the bank.

“This is the best day of my life,” said Chiderije Mbah. “Wema Bank made me feel important. I am learning so much about being a leader and how banking works. I’ll tell all my friends to open a Wema Bank Royal Kiddies Account so they can also start learning how to save and maybe one day, they can be MD too!”

Speaking on the initiative, Wema Bank’s Managing Director/CEO, Moruf Oseni, said,

“Our 80th anniversary is a time to reflect on where we’ve been and where we’re going, knowing fully well that the future belongs to the young stars like Chiderije. Today’s activity is one of our ways of showing that we believe in the children, that we’re listening, and that we’re committed to helping them succeed financially, personally, and professionally all the way.”

This unforgettable experience reinforces Wema Bank’s vision of a future-ready Nigeria; one where financial inclusion starts early, and every child has access to tools, inspiration, and opportunities to thrive. As Wema bank celebrates eight decades of resilience and innovation, its gaze remains firmly fixed on the horizon, championing the dreams of tomorrow’s leaders, one child at a time.