Oluwasegun Adesuyi, Author at SocietyGazette.com

Niger Govt Sacks 764 Civil Servants Over Fraudulent Acts, Violation Of Extant Rules

No fewer than 764 civil servants have been sacked by the Governor Abubakar Sani Bello-led government of Niger State.
Society gazette understand that the government workers were relieved of their duties for involvement in fraudulent acts and violation of extant rules.

The development was confirmed to newsmen today in Minna, the state capital by Chairman of the Niger State Civil Service Commission, Shehu Yusuf Galadima.

Galadima revealed that a total of five thousand, two hundred and fifty-eight (5,258) civil servants have been retired in the past three years in the state.

He noted that 46 personnel violated the extant rules and after thorough investigations were dismissed. Galadima went further to explain that a medical doctor and five accountants were among those dismissed.

He said: “Among them, a Medical Doctor, five Accountants, thirty-one (31) Pension Board staff, two Health workers and four ICT Personnel.

“Also, three hundred and eighty (380) civil servants were forcefully retired due to their involvement in fraudulent acts of alteration of date of birth or first appointment”

On certificate racketeering, he explained that 328 personnel were dismissed from service after the commission undertook a forensic examination of all certificates they presented during an interview and the institutions they purported to have attended declared them as forgeries.

He added: “Since the year 2018, a total of 5,258 civil servants who have completed the mandatory 35 years of Service or have attained the age of 60 have retired voluntarily.“

Meanwhile, the Niger State government has declared that it can’t be scared by the activities of bandits terrorizing the state.

Society gazette reports that the state governor stated this as he launched the Niger Special Vigilante Corps (NSVC) comprising nine vigilante groups and equipped them with ten Hilux vans and 20 motorcycles to aid their operations.

Nnamdi Kanu Makes Fresh Statement After His Arrest, Reveals Why He Fled Nigeria

The self-acclaimed leader of the proscribed Indigenous People Of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu on Tuesday, opened up on why he escaped from the country inspite of the criminal charges of terrorism and treasonable felony brought against him by the federal government

Looking heavily weighed down, Kanu, who was brought to court for the continuation of trial shortly after he was intercepted by security operations, sought the permission of Justice Binta Nyako to address the court and present his side of the story.

Upon the permission, Kanu told the court in the presence of heavily armed security operatives that his house was unlawfully invaded by security men with his life seriously threatened.

The self-acclaimed Biafran leader further alleged that he would have been killed along with others on the day of the invasion if not for the wisdom he applied to jump out of the country.

Kanu’s reaction was provoked by the federal government’s information through its counsel, Shuaib Labaran that Kanu jumped the bail granted by the court to escape trial by running out of the country.

Labaran had applied to the court for an order to remand Kanu in the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS).

The counsel said the request became imperative because lawyers to Kanu were yet to be abreast of his re-arrest.

Justice Binta Nyako granted the request and ordered that Kanu be remanded in the custody of DSS till July 26 for the continuation of his trial.

Although the continuation of trial was originally slated for October 20, 2021, it was brought downward to July 26, 2021, for his lawyers to appear for his defense.

Kanu appeared to have been given the VIP treatment while being moved out of court.

He was taken away in handcuffs through a special gate reserved for Judges and highly placed persons from where he was moved to the DSS detention centre.

Hordes of photographers and cameramen who had positioned themselves to take his photographs were disappointed upon discovery that Kanu had been taken away.

SOURCE: DAILY POST

Nnamdi Kanu Remanded In DSS Custody, Trial Resumption To Begin July 26

The Federal High Court in Abuja has remanded the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

In a short ruling on Tuesday, the trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako ordered that Kanu be remanded based on an application that was brought by the Federal Government.

Justice Nyako ordered that Kanu should remain in custody till July 26 when his trial will resume.

The court proceeding took place barely 15 minutes after the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami(SAN), disclosed to journalists that Kanu had been arrested.

The IPOB leader was brought to court on Tuesday by heavily armed security operatives from both the DSS and the Nigerian Police Force.

Recalled that the trial court had, on March 28, 2019, issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the IPOB leader after it revoked the bail that was earlier granted to him.

Placing reliance on Section 352(4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015, the court equally okayed Kanu’s trial in absentia.

Kanu, whose whereabouts was unknown since September 2017, was hitherto answering to a five-count charge FG entered against him and three other pro-Biafra agitators— Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi.

Shortly after he was declared “missing”, trial Justice Nyako, on February 20, 2018, okayed separate trial for the other three defendants.

The IPOB leader, who has dual citizenship, was before his arrest on Sunday, reportedly sighted at various locations outside the country, including Jerusalem and the United Kingdom.

FG Arrests IPOB Leader, Nnamdi Kanu

The leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has been apprehended by the federal government, News Agency of Nigeria reports.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr Abubakar Malami announced this on Tuesday in Abuja, according to NAN
Mr Kanu, who left the country mysteriously after Nigerian soldiers attacked his country in Abia State had been under prosecution by the federal government for treason.

Details later…

SOURCE : NAN

Senate Confirms Alabi As CPC Executive Commissioner

The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Kolawole Oladipupo as Executive Commissioner of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).

The confirmation of the South West Zone nominee followed the presentation and consideration of the report of the Committee on Trade and Investment.

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi (PDP, Osun East), in his presentation, noted that the nominee satisfied the requirements of Sections 153 and 156 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended.

He added that the nominee satisfied Section 5 subsection (1) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018 and Order 121 of the Senate Standing Orders 2015, as amended.

He added that Alabi’s nomination for appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari was made in compliance with the provision of Section 5 subsections (1) and (2) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018.

The lawmaker explained further that the nomination of the nominees for appointment as Chairman, Executive Vice-Chairman/Chief Executive, Executive Commissioners, and Non-Executive Commissioners of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) are made pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission Act, 2018.

According to him, Kolawole Alabi’s nomination became necessary following President Buhari’s assent to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018 on 30th January 2019.

Actress Biodun Okeowo Speaks On Rumoured relationship With Dino Melaye

Popular Yoruba actress, Biodun Okeowo popularly known as Omoborty has taken to Instagram dismissed damaging rumours stating that she’s romantically involved with Dino Melaye whom she snatched from her colleague.

The actress in a long post on Instagram denied the report, noting that her alleged relationship with Dino was a misconception aimed at tarnishing her image.

In the long post she wrote;

Few days ago my attention was drawn to an audio recording circulating on social media which I also listened to myself, purportedly accusing me of being romantically involved with Dino Melaye. It was shocking to hear about insinuations of snatching him from my colleague and being in a romantic relationship with him.

Considering my current engagement with my businesses and acting career, I ordinarily would have ignored and keep mute about it. But I decided against such action as my silence would seemingly and inadvertently give it a semblance of truth…as silence is termed to mean consent.

I met Dino Melaye at a certain wedding ceremony in 2017 where we took photographs together just as I did with other guests and dignitaries at the party. Thereafter, I posted on my Instagram. Unknown to me posting a picture of myself and Dino only gave rumour mongers a field day to spread lies and unfounded allegations against me that I’m dating this particular man.

I unequivocally state and reaffirm that I am not and was never in any amorous relationship with him and neither am I in any form of entanglement with him.

I will appreciate it, if this settles any misconception, assumptions, innuendos and falsehood about my alleged relationship with Dino Melaye. At this point I will like to state explicitly that I am certainly not involved in any form of relationship with him whatsoever.

To all my BORTY Nations, I will never let you down. For now, my focus is on my kids, my man, my businesses and my acting career. I have set my face like a flint on that path. Thank you to all who reached out to me and believed in me.

2023: Why Tinubu May Drop Presidential Ambition, Back Another Candidate

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, may drop his 2023 presidential ambition and throw his weight behind another candidate.

Olusegun Bamgbose, National Coordinator, Concerned Advocates for Good Governance (CAGG) made the claim while speaking to DailyPost on Tuesday.

According to the presidential hopeful, the former Lagos State Governor does not have the backing of the cabal running the current Presidency.

He stated that Tinubu knows that his presidential ambition may end his political career is he is not smart.

“The battle of who becomes the next President of Nigeria come 2023, has assumed a new dimension, as Tinubu considers pulling out of the Presidential race,” Bamgbose said.

“The truth of the matter is that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has commenced vast consultation as per his ambition to be the next President of Nigeria come 2023.

“It’s becoming clearer to him that it may be an uphill battle for him to win the APC Presidential ticket, given the stand of the cabals that may not eventually favor him.

“In order not to be politically stranded and thereby become irrelevant, he has decided to come up with his plan B. Plan B is to support a candidate that will be acceptable to all Nigerians, be it from the South or the North.

“The APC National leader has come to realize that his presidential ambition may mark the end of his political career if he does not play the card well enough.

“He has come to embrace the reality that his political fortune can end abruptly, should he make a wrong decision.

“This has given serious concerns. He considers it a very big risk to confront the power that be in APC. No Northerner will be prepared to back Tinubu against the wish of Buhari.

“The general feeling among the top notchers in APC is that Tinubu has had enough, having produced the President and Vice President in 2015. They are not very comfortable with his ambition to take over from Buhari.”

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EXTENDS NIN-SIM REGISTRATION TILL JULY 26

The Federal Government of Nigerian has extended the deadline for NIN-SIM data verification to July 26, 2021.

The Director, Public Affairs Nigerian Communications Commission, Ikechukwu Adinde; and the Head, Corporate Communications, Nigeria Identity Management Commission, Kayode Adegoke, disclosed this in a joint statement on Monday titled ‘FG approves July 26 as NIN-SIM verification deadline as enrolment systems increase to 5,410 .’

According to the statement, the decision to further extend the deadline was made based on a request by stakeholders.

N900m fraud: ICPC to arraign Former Jamb Registrar Prof. Ojerinde July 6

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) will, on July 6, arraign Prof. Dibu Ojerinde.

The former Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), will be arraigned at the Federal High Court, Abuja, for alleged N900 million fraud.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu fixed the date on Monday, after counsel to the ICPC, Ebenezer Shogunle, disagreed with the terms of the plea bargain application the defence counsel, P.A.O. Olorunnisola, SAN, had planned to file before the court.

The operatives of the anti-corruption commission had, on March 15, arrested Ojerinde, in Abuja, on allegations bordering on misappropriation of funds.

The commission said that the former chief executive officer allegedly committed multiple frauds while heading JAMB and the National Examination Council (NECO).

18 APC Governors, Other Chieftains On Hand To Welcome Matawalle As He Defects From PDP

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has revealed that it is planning a massive reception for Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle as he defects from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The Chairman, Publicity Sub-Committee of the organizing ceremony, and Zamfara Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Ibrahim Dosara said no fewer than 18 All Progressives Congress (APC) governors, national and state legislators, as well as other party chieftains, are expected to welcome Matawalle when he officially defects on Tuesday.

Speaking on Monday in Gusau with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Dosara said apart from the Governor, many other politicians and political office holders in Zamfara are expected to announce their defection from the PDP to the APC on Tuesday.

He said: “the Progressive governors will be led by the APC Chairman Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) and Gov. Mai Mala-Buni.

“We are also expecting all our national assembly members as well as state legislators to declare their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC during the occasion.

“Similarly, all the 14 local government caretaker committee chairmen who just finished their tenure, council members and teeming supporters will join the hundreds of thousands of the Matawalle loyalists, friends and supporters in our movement to our new party, the APC.’’

Also speaking, the Director-General, Press Affairs, to Gov. Mai Mala Buni, Mr Mohammed Mamman, praised the efforts of the Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee under the leadership of the Yobe State Governor, noting that three PDP governors have already joined the APC and others are still expected.

”With Matawalle joining the APC, it means Mala-Buni, as the Chairman of the Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee, has been able to convince three governors into the party.

“They are Dave Umuahi of Ebonyi, Prof. Ben Ayade of Cross River. This is also a confirmation that the APC is doing well both at the national and state levels under the purposeful, focused, and people oriented leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari,’’ Mamman said.

Meanwhile, in a statement on Monday, PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbodiyan, said the opposition party is not bothered about the governor’s defection.

Ologbodiyan the governors and leaders of the party had met with the governor to convince him not to dump the party.

He added that the PDP has exhausted all means of dissuading Matawalle from leaving its fold.

According to Ologbodiyna, the governor is free to determine his political future, adding that the ultimate decision lies with the governor to make.