Nigerians have dragged controversial singer, Zlatan Ibile to filth over his comment to street hawkers who approached him to beg for money.
Apparently, the singer was going to a location with his car when the hawkers moved over to him to request for money.
Zlatan began sharing some money to the street hawkers one at a time, but at a point he stopped and asked them to go and hustle.
His comment did not sit well with most Nigerians on social media who bashed him for asking them to hustle while they are already hustling in the streets.
Others bashed him for making a video recording of the kids while they were stretching out their hands.
Multiple award-winning American rapper and songwriter, Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar professionally known as Cardi B, has reached yet another major milestone as her records get diamond certified.
The mother of two becomes the first female rapper in history to have two Recording Industry Association of America diamond-certified songs.
The RIAA award certifications are based on the number of albums and single sales. When a song or album is certified Diamond it means it has 10,000,000 sales and counting.
Before this achievement, Cardi B was the first female rapper to have a Diamond certification.
Her massively successful hit single ‘Bodak Yellow’ gave her the honor.
Shortly after, Nicki Minaj’s Super Bass was the second single by a female rapper to be diamond certified but it took about ten years to reach the prestigious honor.
Cardi B however, shares the second certification honor with Maroon 5 for “Girls Like You” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks.
Reacting to the good news, the songwriter said, ”Wow I got two Diamond records! Thank you sooo much @maroon5 for including me on this song and this is the song I cater to my daughter every time I perform it.I’m forever grateful.”
The Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo, has refuted some claims made by the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, and his Labour and Employment counterpart, Festus Keyamo, regarding the judicial panel constituted by the state to investigate the October 2020 #EndSARS protests.
Mohammed had dismissed the report which indicted the Nigerian army and Lagos government as one riddled with “errors, inconsistencies, discrepancies, speculations, innuendoes, omissions and conclusions that are not supported by evidence”.
The information minister had claimed that members of the panel concentrated on the protesters and allegedly failed to mention cases of police personnel who were “brutally murdered” during the protest, saying “Does this mean that the panel didn’t consider policemen and women as human beings?”
But Onigbanjo exonerated the panel in that regard when he appeared on Arise TV’s ‘The Morning Show’ on Wednesday to speak on the white paper released by the state government on the #EndSARS report. The state government had described the panel’s findings as “totally unreliable” and “unacceptable” in the white paper.
The attorney-general said that the panel submitted a two-part report to the Lagos Government, noting that the part which leaked to the media “dealt with the issues from the Lekki Toll Gate”.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) said the other part of the report contains cases of EndSARS-related violence in other parts of the state, including petitions submitted by police officers and their families.
“On the issue of the allegation that the panel made no reference to the policeman or didn’t take them into consideration. To their credit, they did,” said Onigbanjo.
“They issued two reports. The report which leaked only dealt with the issues from the Lekki toll gate, there’s another report which they issued which was not leaked. That report deals with all the #EndSARS petitions, about 253 in number. Out of that 253, policemen also brought their own petitions. And in that report, they (the panel) awarded the sum of maybe N36.2 million to policemen who were affected one way or the other by the protests.
“So, to be fair to them. They did consider the plight of policemen too. And look at most of their recommendations…. for better welfare for the police, better equipment, more training, psychological evaluation, so they took them into consideration. Most certainly they did.”
The Lagos Attorney-General further deflated the claim by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Keyamo, who had faulted the constitutionality of the judicial panel.
Keyamo had claimed that state governments have no powers whatsoever to inquire into affairs affecting the Nigerian army or the police or any federal institution.
Onigbanjo, however, said: “…as to the legality of the panel, I do not agree with him (Keyamo) with all due respect, because firstly, it was the National Economic Council that directed states to go and set up the judicial panels of inquiry.
“Under the law, the tribunal of inquiry law of Lagos state, the state government is vested with the power to set up an inquiry into anything of public concern in the state.
“Now, what are we talking about here? Largely abuse of human rights. As far as I know, abuse of human rights is a matter on the residual list, which means it’s only the states that can handle such matters, and in fact, there are a couple of Supreme Court cases which say categorically that the federal government cannot set up tribunals of inquiry for the Federation. So, on so many fronts, that statement by the Honorable Minister, Mr. keyamo, is incorrect, that’s not the position of the law.”
A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit that sought to disqualify the governorship and deputy governorship candidates of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the last governorship election in Anambra State – Charles Soludo and Onyeka Ibezim.
The plaintiffs – Adindu Valentine and Egwudike Chukwuebuka – are contending that Soludo and Ibezim provided false information in the affidavit (Form EC9) that they submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and should be declared as unqualified to stand for election.
In the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/711/2021 the plaintiffs claimed that Soludo indicated, in his Form EC9, Aguata 2, Anambra Constituency as the position he was contesting when, in fact, he was contesting the Anambra governorship seat.
Ibezim was said to have indicated Awka 2, Anambra Constituency, as against the deputy governorship seat he was contesting.
In his judgment on Wednesday, Justice Taiwo Taiwo held that the suit was frivolous as the plaintiffs failed to show how they were misled by the information supplied by Soludo and Ibezim.
Justice Taiwo noted that Soludo and Ibezim clearly ticked the positions of governor and deputy governor in the forms they submitted to INEC and only indicated their constituencies, which did not amount to supplying false information as envisaged under the Electoral Act.
The judge said it was known to all, including the plaintiffs, that only governorship election was held in Anambra on November 6 this years.
He resolved all the issues raised for determination against the plaintiffs and declined all the reliefs sought by them.
The judge awarded N2million cost against the plaintiffs, and in favour of APGA, Soludo and Ibezim.
Defendants in the suit were INEC, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Soludo and Ibezim.
The Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination (NINAS) has said the President of Ilana Omo Oodua, Prof Banji Akintoye, and his deputy, Shade Olukoya, have unresolved issues within their Yoruba separatist group, which have nothing to do with NINAS.
The self-determination group disclosed that the main problem started when Prof Akintoye accused Olukoya of receiving N350million from Abuja to support Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to be the next President of Nigeria.
While wishing Prof Akintoye a success in his endeavour, NINAS affirmed that it had not retrogressed from seeking self-determination for the indigenous peoples in Nigeria.
These were contained in a press release signed by NINAS Secretary, Tony Nnadi in reaction to an announcement made by Prof Akintoye that he had quit his chairmanship role with NINAS.
In a copy of the statement which was made available to SaharaReporters on Wednesday, NINAS also stated that it was Olukoya that introduced Akintoye to the group in 2018.
The statement was titled, “NINAS Alliance Is Intact And Focused On Its Stated Mission Despite The Resignation Of Its Erstwhile Chairman, Prof Banji Akintoye And The Exit Of His Faction Of Ilana Omo Oodua.”
It read, “An emergency conclave of the board of the conveners of the Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination (NINAS) was held today December 1, 2021 to review amongst other things, recent developments in one of our alliance organisations, Ilana Omo Oodua; the resignation of Professor Banji Akintoye from the Chairmanship of NINAS and the exit of his faction of Ilana Omo Oodua from the NINAS Alliance.
“This statement is to address the deluge of enquiries that has poured into the NINAS Secretariat from concerned members of public regarding these developments: Let us recall that the Secretariat of NINAS, while reaching out to all sides involved, had on the 18th of November 2021, issued a statement to calm altercations arising from an Ilana Omo Oodua press conference addressed November 18, 2021 by the Deputy Chairman of Ilana Omo Oodua, Otunba Shade Olukoya concerning months of lingering difficulties within Ilana Omo Oodua, bordering on certain actions and liaisons of the Leader of Ilana Omo Oodua, Prof Banji Akintoye that could imperil the Self-Determination Campaign of Ilana Omo Oodua, inviting Prof Akintoye, therefore, to step back from his role as Ilana Leader in order to abate the many conflicts and controversies emanating from the aforementioned actions and liaisons.
“While frantic mediation efforts were still being made by the Secretariat to douse tension, Maxwell Adeleye who described himself as “Communications Director” of Ilana Omo Oodua, issued and massively circulated in the media, outlandish falsehoods in which he avoided the well-known issues rocking Ilana Omo Oodua and claimed amongst other things, that the sum of N350million was disbursed by Abuja to procure the Ilana Press Conference of November 18, 2021. Adeleye also deliberately created the impression that NINAS was somehow behind the Ilana Press Conference of November 18, 2021.
“Unfortunately and to our utter shock, Prof Banji Akintoye who knew for certain that these claims of Maxwell Adeleye were just fabrications, went on to corroborate the fabrications in a virtual meeting of a Yoruba Global Audience the next day, putting names and motives to Maxwell’s falsehoods. (In that virtual Meeting, Prof Akintoye said that the money from Abuja came from Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and given to Otunba Shade Olukoya, for the purpose of dragging him (Akintoye) off the stage. To compound matters, Prof Akintoye went on to allege that Otunba Olukoya had been pressuring them in Ilana to help work Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo into becoming the next President of Nigeria. We do hope that Professor Yemi Osinbajo will take up this matter with those who crafted and circulated this tale.
“The statement issued by Maxwell Adeleye on behalf of Prof Akintoye and 43 others, November 30, 2021, conveying the resignation of Prof Banji Akintoye from the Chairmanship of NINAS as well as the exit of his faction of Ilana Omo Oodua from the NINAS Alliance, contained even more egregious falsehoods.
“The false impression was deliberately created by the said November 30, 2021 Statement that there was a type of Self-Determination being pursued by NINAS and LNC that was different from the type that Ilana Omo Oodua was pursuing.
“This is strange because the Objectives, RoadMap and Strategy Outlines of NINAS are very clearly stated in all of NINAS’ Public Communications over the years particularly the December 16, 2020 NINAS Constitutional Force Majeure Proclamation.
“Combined with the earlier falsehood that Abuja had procured the November 18, 2021 Press Conference, it is clear that the orchestrations of the departed faction of Ilana were targeted at deceiving the Public into believing that NINAS was somehow working for other Objectives apart from its Clear-Cut and Unwavering Pursuit of Self-Determination for all the Indigenous Nationalities of the Alliance Territories being the South and Middle/Belt of Nigeria.
“For the Records and for the avoidance of doubt, Prof Banji Akintoye was first introduced sometime in 2018 to NINAS by Otunba Shade Olukoya who had been involved with the processes for many years.
“There is no doubt whatsoever that Prof Banji Akintoye meritoriously advanced the NINAS Campaign, particularly in Yorubaland, reaching out to his Associates across the Country and substantially shattering the long-standing jinx around the Igbo-Yoruba Collaboration which he said was Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s Solemn prescription in the last days of the sage – who was Prof Akintoye’s Political Mentor. Credit for this feat will forever go to Prof Akintoye and we wish him Good Health and Longevity even as he veers off in another direction in search of the Destination we all identified in NINAS.
“In closing, the NINAS Board of Conveners is pleased to announce to all the organisations across the South and Middle-Belt of Nigeria which have been clamouring to join the NINAS Alliance, that modalities have been emplaced to admit all organizations that publicly and fully subscribe to the propositions and prescriptions of the December 16, 2020, NINAS Constitutional Force Majeure Proclamation, into regional delegations to NINAS. These modalities will be made public in the second week of December 2021 by the NINAS Secretariat.”
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced the detection of the Omicron COVID-19 variant in Nigeria.
According to a statement by Ifedayo Adetifa, the NCDC director-general, the variant was detected in two Nigerians who arrived in the country last week
The Omicron variant, a new strain of the coronavirus disease, was first reported by South Africa.
Following the detection in South Africa, NCDC said there was no case in Nigeria but proper monitoring would be done.
On Tuesday the government of Canada had also stated that it discovered two cases of the variant from two passengers arriving from Nigeria.
The Federal Government through the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 had, however, said it was investigating the issue to get more details.
But the NCDC on Wednesday morning confirmed that the two cases were detected and linked to two passengers from South Africa.
“In line with the routine travel tests required of all international travelers and genomic sequencing at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control through its National Reference Laboratory, Abuja, confirms Nigeria’s first case of the Omicron variant.
“Retrospective sequencing of previously confirmed cases among travelers to Nigeria also identified the omicron variant among samples collected in October 2021”.the statement read.
Musician Folarin Falana (Falz) and comedian Debo Adebayo (Mr Marcaroni) have rejected the invitation of Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to a peace walk for “the healing of Lagos”.
The duo, in their separate reactions, rejected the invitation.
Mr Marcaroni said genuine peacemaking should begin by first implementing the recommendations of the panel.
Falz, on his part, described the ‘walk of peace’ as a joke and a very disrespectful one at that.
But Segun Awosanya popularly known as Segalink said Sanwo-Olu has shown leadership with his mature response to the current controversy.
The Nation reports Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday, had invited some known faces of the EndSARS protest in the State in October 2020 to a peace walk slated for December.
The Governor, in his speech, specifically invited Folarin Falana (Falz), Debo Adebayo (Mr. Marcaroni), Dele Farotimi, Temitope Majekodunmi, Segun Awosanya (Segalink), Adedotun (Just Detoun), Seun Kuti, Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu and Commander of Rapid Response Squad (RRS), CSP Yinka Egbeyemi and others to join him in the “historic march for our dear Lagos.”
Reacting, Mr. Macaroni said: “I humbly decline the invitation of Mr Governor. The Government themselves set up a panel. The panel has made recommendations.
“I believe that genuine peacemaking will begin by first implementing the recommendations of the panel. Then we can begin to trust the government.
“Mr Governor has said it in his speech that to be a Centre of Excellence, we have to be a Center of Truth. Before there can be healing, the government has to be sincere. There must be acceptance of wrongdoings and willingness to correct them.
“The last walk wey I do, na so dem bundle me, strip me naked, brutalize and dehumanize me. I no carry gun, I no carry weapon. As dem dey beat me, dem dey ask why I dey disturb Mr Governor. Now dem say make I come do walk. For another round of beating??
“Abeg o. If I wan lose weight, I go go gym. Same peaceful Walk wey Nigerian Youths do wey dem kill them? Some are still in prison.. Some have gone into hiding. Their lives no longer theirs all because we decided to walk against police brutality.”
Falz said: “This suggestion of a ‘walk of peace’ sounds like a joke and a very disrespectful one at that. People were murdered in cold blood and absolutely no iota of justice has been served more than a year after. How can there be peace without justice?
“In this same speech, you said ‘To be a smart city, we first must be a just one. Remember the young Nigerians that had their lives snatched away by weapons wielded by our own Armed Forces? You want to sweep that under the carpet? Is that how to establish a just city? #ENDSARS
“Young Nigerians, till today, are still being constantly harassed and extorted by police officers!! You were awfully quiet about that. Or are you not aware? #ENDSARS.”
Segalink, in his reaction, said: “Mr Governor @jidesanwoolu has shown leadership with this matured response and we hope the WhitePaper will mirror his sentiment. We all want closure, Justice and healing for our society. The experience of 20th October 2020 must never be repeated. #EndImpunity.”
A former Minister of Aviation in Nigeria, Femi Fani-Kayode, was on Tuesday re-arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He was arrested at a Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos State.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart, who was in court over his forgery trial, was exiting the courtroom after the matter was adjourned till January 24, 2021, when he was approached by an EFCC investigator.
He was subsequently arrested and moved to a nearby EFCC custody — a week after his earlier arrest.
It is understood that he is still being quizzed over false documents.
The All Progressives Congress, Anambra State chapter, has announced that a disciplinary committee had been formed to examine Minister of Labour and Employment Dr Chris Ngige and Director-General of National Inland Waterways Chief George Moghalu after both were accused of conducting anti-APC activities.
The news was announced by APC State Chairman Basil Ejidike in Awka on Monday, in which he also accused them of causing a crisis in the party.
“We are seriously disappointed by Senator Chris Ngige and Moghalu, who benefited greatly from the party,” said Mr Ejidike. “As a party, we are seriously disappointed, particularly with Ngige. Ngige is the brain behind the crisis in Anambra state APC.
“Whatever is the problem of the party has always come from Ngige because he wants to remain the leader of the party in the state forever.
“He cannot be the leader forever. Today, we have a sitting deputy governor, Dr Nkem Okeke, a serving senator, Chief Stella Oduah, and governorship candidate in the state, Dr Andy Uba.
“We have set up a disciplinary committee to unravel those who are engaged in anti-party activities; including the activities of Ngige and Moghalu. Any person found culpable shall be dealt with according to the letters of our constitution.”
Mr Ngige previously warned Mr Ejidike against creating “a Trojan Horse” in the party and “look inwards and manage the self-inflicted tear in the State Exco and Working Committee of the Party”.
Photo caption: At The Shalina Young Talents Awards (SYTA) National Grand Finale at Radisson Hotel, Lagos . L-R: Mr Folorunsho Alaran, Marketing Manager (West Africa), Shalina Healthcare; Ms Okafor Cynthia Chidera, University of Ibadan, 2nd Runner Up; Ms Zakariya Farida, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Winner, Shalina Young Talents Award, SYTA Season 3, (Best Pharmaceutical Student in Nigeria); Oyenyi Adedoyin Emmanuel, University of Lagos, 1st Runner Up; and Mr Arun Raj, Vice President/ Head, Shalina West Africa at the National Grand finale of SYTA 2021 held in Lagos, Tuesday November 23, 2021.
National grand winners have emerged in this year’s Shalina Young Talents Awards (SYTA) organized by Shalina Healthcare, a leading pharmaceutical company in Nigeria.
They emerged after a keenly contested competition amongst the final year pharmacy students in universities across Nigeria.
The grand event took place in Lagos recently at the Radisson Hotel, where Ms Zakariya Farida of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Oyenyi Adedoyin Emmanuel of University of Lagos, Idi- Araba, Lagos State and Ms Okafor Cynthia Chidera of University of Ibadan, Oyo State emerged the Grand Winner, 1st Runner up and 2nd Runner Up respectively.
According to the Vice President & Head – West Africa Shalina Healthcare, Arun Raj, the Shalina Young Talents Awards (SYTA) “is a Value-Added Initiative designed to bring the best out of pharmacy students in Nigeria”.
“This pharmacy contest tagged ‘The Quest for the Best Pharmacy Brains in Nigeria’ began in August with Zonal Championship Contests. The zonal winners who emerged from the University of Lagos, University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria competed for the coveted crown at the grand final where the national winners emerged. In this process, we had put in place, the right resources and appropriate structure to ensure that the best brains in the Nigerian universities emerged in the exercise”, Arun said.
Speaking in the same regard, Folorunso Alaran, the Head of Corporate Marketing said, “the contest had indeed lived up to its aim and objectives”.
He stated, “this is the 3rd edition of the academic contest and had been an improvement from the past editions. From zonal levels where great numbers of students participated to the grand final where the zonal champions slugged it out among themselves, it had been a battle of wits, excellence, and ideas. Eventually the national winner had emerged, endorsed by our respected panel of judges made up of Deans of the Faculties of Pharmacy, thus by many standards is the current best pharmacy student in Nigeria”.
Speaking about her experience in the competition, the grand winner, who was visibly elated at the event, Ms Zakariya Farida of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria said the contest had given her the opportunity to study more and had also spurred her to double her efforts to ensure that she remained focus.
Thanking the organizers of the academic contest, Farida said “Shalina Healthcare must be well acknowledged for their contribution to the development of the pharmaceutical industry in Nigeria and most especially in creating competitive platform for pharmacy students to drive best standards in pharmacy study through the Shalina Young Talents Award (SYTA)”.
The event witnessed a roll call of top Pharmacy professionals and personalities led by the Special Guest of Honour and the #1 Pharmacist and President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Prof Cyril Odianose Usifo, and the National Secretary – Pharm Gbenga Falabi. The rollcall also includes Pharm Ken Onuegbu, National Chairman of the NAIP; Pharm. Adewale Oladigbolu, National Chairman of the ACPN; Pharm. Olabode Ajayi Ogunjemiyo, National Chairman of the AHAPN; Dr Ezekiel Olugbenga Akinkunmi, National Chairman of the NAPA; Pharm Folasade Lawal, the MD/CEO Victory Drugs representing the National Chairman of CPAN; Pharm (Chief) Yetunde Moroundiya, Vice Chairman Board of Fellows representing the National Chairman of the ALPS.
In attendance were also Pharm Gbolagade Iyiola, Chairman of Lagos State PSN, and his Vice Pharm Babayemi Oyekunle; Pharm Shakirat Adeosun, DPS Primary Healthcare Board Lagos State; Pharm Paul Owolabi, Vice Chairman ACPN Lagos; Dr Arinola Joda, Chairman NAPA Lagos; Pharm Hafusat Adesina, Chairman ALPS Lagos. Pharm Layi Ogidan, representing the Registrar of the PCN; Pharm Mrs Olufunke Awopegba, MD/CEO Funket Pharmacy Ltd; Pharm Mrs Olaide Soetan, MD/CEO NHC Pharmacy Ltd; Pharm Tunde Oyeniran, President of SocPharmSMN, and many more who had graced the occasion with their presence.
