Oluwasegun Adesuyi, Author at SocietyGazette.com

World Bank Suspends Nigeria’s SoftTech IT Solutions, MD For Bribery

The World Bank has suspended SoftTech IT Solutions and Services Ltd, and its Managing Director, Mr Isah Kantigi, for allegedly bribing officials to renew consultancy deals.

SoftTech IT Solutions and Services Ltd is a Nigerian information technology solutions company based in Abuja.

The company has been suspended for 50 months, while the MD is facing a 60-month sanction.

The Bank made the disclosure in a notice titled ‘World Bank Group debars SoftTech IT Solutions and Services Ltd. and its managing director’, which was published on its website.

The corrupt practice is in connection with the National Social Safety Nets Project, according to the World Bank.

According to the bank, the project is designed to provide access to targeted cash transfers to poor and vulnerable households under an expanded national social safety nets system.

The World Bank said, “The World Bank Group today announced the 50-month debarment of SoftTech IT Solutions and Services Ltd., an information technology solutions company based in Nigeria, and the 60-month debarment of its managing director, in connection with corrupt practices as part of the National Social Safety Nets Project in Nigeria.

“The debarments make SoftTech and Mr Isah Kantigi, a Nigerian national, ineligible to participate in projects and operations financed by the World Bank Group.

“They are the result of settlement agreements under which the company and Mr. Kantigi acknowledge their responsibility for the underlying sanctionable practices and agree to meet specified corporate compliance conditions as a condition for release from debarment.

“According to the facts of the case, as an individual consultant, Mr. Kantigi made ‘appreciation’ payments to project officials as a reward for his receiving of a Bank-funded consultancy services contract.

“Mr. Kantigi also entered into an arrangement with other individual consultants and facilitated similar payments by them to project officials. This constitutes a corrupt practice under the World Bank’s Consultant Guidelines.

“SoftTech, acting under the direction of Mr. Kantigi, who is also the company’s Managing Director, served as the conduit through which he and the other individual consultants made the payments to project officials.

“Under the arrangement, SoftTech received into its bank accounts multiple payments from the individual consultants and then transferred the funds into the personal accounts of the project officials, effectively serving as a financial intermediary for these consultants. This constitutes a corrupt practice under the World Bank’s Anti-Corruption Guidelines. “

The World Bank said the offence committed by both Kantigi and of SoftTech qualify for cross-debarment by other multilateral development banks (MDBs) under the Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions that was signed on April 9, 2010.

Singer Portable Loses Canadian Show After Sacking Manager, Promoter Others

Fast rising Nigerian singer, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable has lost the chance to perform at a forthcoming show organized by a comedian, MC Morris, in Canada.

MC Morris disclosed this in a statement on his Instagram account shortly after Portable sacked his manager, Deejay and his promoter.

The comedian wrote, “For those that are asking why I removed idamu adugboyin from my May 22 show. Talent is not enough, a beautiful song without a beautiful attitude is a beautiful nonsense.

“Two managers in less than a year, even sack innocent DJ that his job na to play song and scratch shaka shaka. I cannot koshi mero am sorry. All transactions canceled and ijoba danku am sorry.”

The Zahzoo crooner on his Instagram account had accused his manager and promoter of being dependent on him.

He said, “Am I your father or brother? Manager, DJ, promoter, I will feed una, buy cloth for una, put money into your accounts, I go con do like say I broke, ask the manager for money but he will tell me he has no money as if he is building a house.

“Deejay will also say he has no money, promoter will also say he has no money. They think the grace will finish but it won’t. If you are not gaining from me, maybe you should clear from me.”

Nigeria Vs Ghana: CAF doctor killed at Abuja Stadium

Dr Joseph Kabungo who served as the Confederation of African Football (CAF’s) doping doctor in Abuja has been confirmed dead following the stampede which broke out after Nigeria lost to Ghana on Tuesday in a world cup qualifier.

Kabungo lost consciousness after he was stepped on as unhappy Nigerian fans tried to make their way out of the stadium.

It is not yet clear if there are other causalities from the stampede.

Late Kabungo
There was pandemonium on Tuesday at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja after the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Nigeria was beaten to a place in Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup by Ghana after playing a 1-1. The Black Star of Ghana qualified on an away goal advantage.

After the game, Nigeria fans, who were angry the Super Eagles did not qualify, invaded the pitch, trying to attack the players and destroying any objects in sight.

Nigeria would most likely be sanctioned by world football governing body, FIFA, for the ugly scenes that followed the final whistle on Tuesday.

Heartbreak For Nigerians As Ghana Stop Super Eagles From Qualifying For Qatar World Cup

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have failed to qualify for the Qatar 2022 World Cup after being held to a draw by the Black Stars of Ghana.

The World Cup qualifier second-leg encounter between Nigeria and Ghana ended 1-1 on Tuesday.

The Nigerian side lost by the away goal rule having held Ghana to a goalless draw in Kumasi.

Super Eagles defender, William Troost-Ekong, scored a penalty in the 22nd minute to level Ghana’s lead.
The Black Stars of Ghana took the lead in the 11th minute through a goal by Thomas Partey.

JUST IN: Ex-Kano Gov Kwankwaso Dumps PDP For NNPP

A former governor of Kano State and leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, has defected to the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Kwankwaso in a letter dated 29th March, 2022 and addressed to the Chairman of the PDP in his ward, said he was leaving due to some serious and irreconcilable differences.

The letter read, “It is with deep sense of humility that I write to notify you that, as a result of some serious and irreconcilable differences, I have reached the conclusion that my continued stay in the PDP is untenable.

“Therefore, effective from today, Tuesday the 29th of March, 2022 I have withdrawn my membership from the Peoples Democratic Party.”

Earlier, close political associates and supporters of Kwankwaso had defected to the NNPP.

The defectors include a former PDP governorship candidate in the 2019 general election, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, also known as ‘Abba Gida Gida’, as well as his deputy, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo.

THE WHISTLER had earlier reported how stakeholders in the PDP moved to withdraw the leadership of the party from Kwankwaso’s control over his ‘political romance’ with the NNPP.

Nigeria VS Ghana: Massive Turn Out At MKO Abiola Stadium As Ticket Price Rises By 25%

The price for a regular ticket at the MKO Abiola Stadium has risen to N2,500 few hours to the FIFA ’22 World Cup Qualifiers.

The Super Eagles are playing the Black Stars of Ghana in the second leg of their play-off in Abuja.

The regular ticket was pegged at N2,000. The Ministry of Sports and the Nigerian Football Federation said 20,000 tickets will be distributed for free.

But the amount of the ticket is different at the Stadium where unlicensed vendors have hiked the price by N500.

A vendor, Musa who spoke to THE WHISTLER said “We bought the ticket for N2,000 and we have to make profit.”

Another ticket seller who gave his name as Bayo said, ” I have sold over 20 tickets at 2,500. Very soon, it will increase to N3,000.”

Meanwhile , many fans are stranded at the various gates of the stadium.

Kaduna Govt Gives Update On Abuja-Kaduna Train Attack

The Kaduna State Government has said that passengers trapped in the Abuja-Kaduna train have been completely evacuated by Nigerian security agents.

The state Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Kaduna.

Naija News earlier reported that bandit terrorists had planted explosives on the rail track which saw the Kaduna-bound train which has 970 passengers on board derail.

It was gathered that the train which took off around 6 pm from the Idu train station at the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja on Monday hit an explosive device about 30 minutes to Rigasa train station in Kaduna.

According to the commissioner, security operatives have rescued and evacuated the stranded passengers from forests and rocky locations close to the scene of the attack.

Aruwan disclosed that passengers who sustained injuries have been moved to hospitals and their medical bills would be footed by the state government.

The commissioner added that the state government is still liaising with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to ascertain the list from the passengers’ manifest for efficient tracking

He, however, disclosed that search-and-rescue operations were still ongoing in the general area as of Tuesday morning.

The statement reads: “Evacuation of passengers on the trapped Kaduna-bound train from Abuja has been concluded this morning by security forces, officials of Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and Nigerian Red Cross.

“Passengers who sustained injuries, and other fatalities, have been moved to hospitals.

“The passengers were evacuated from different hard-to-reach areas in forests and rocky locations in Audujongom, off the Kaduna-Abuja Road.

“As stated yesterday, the Kaduna State Government is still liaising with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to ascertain the list from the passengers manifest for efficient tracking.

“Governor Nasir El-Rufai who commended all those who participated in the evacuation appealed to the hospitals to attend to the victims diligently.

“The Governor also directed the Ministry of Health to be in contact with the hospitals as the government will bear the cost of their treatment.

“As of the time of this update, search-and-rescue operations are in progress.”

‘Violence Is Poisonous’ — Will Smith Pens Apology After Slapping Chris Rock At Oscar 2022

Popular American actor, rapper, and film producer, Willard Carroll Smith, has apologised after he slapped Chris Rock for making a bad joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, during the 2022 Academy Awards.

The Fresh Prince, as he is fondly called, had taken to the podium to smack Rock while making his jokes during the 94th Oscar awards.

The comedian made a joke about Jada’s baldhead, which she had shaved as a result of ‘Alopecia areata’ which is a health condition that causes sudden hair loss.

Smith had won his first Oscar in the best actor category for his role in “King Richard” after the incident with Rock.

After the awards, Smith took to his Instagram to publicly apologise to Rock, the producers of the Oscar Award, and his family for his misconduct during the Sunday ceremony.

He wrote, “Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive. My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted
emotionally.

“I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.

“I would also like to apologize to the
Academy, the producers of the show,
all the attendees and everyone watching around the world. I would like to apologize to the Williams Family and my King Richard Family. I deeply regret that my behavior has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us. I am a work in progress.”

Jada had announced in December last year that she was shaving her head because she has Alopecia.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich suffers suspected food poisoning in Ukrain

The Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich was poisoned along with Ukrainian negotiators, it has been claimed.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the Vladimir Putin ally and Chelsea FC owner – who has been sanctioned by the UK government – was hit by symptoms after a suspected poisoning at a meeting in Kyiv earlier this month.

Abramovich, and at least two senior Ukrainian officials, are said to have developed peeling skin on their faces and hands, red eyes, and constant and painful tearing, the paper reported.

Quoting ‘people familiar with the matter’, it added that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has met with Abramovich, was not been affected.

The lives of the Chelsea owner and negotiators are not thought to be in danger.

Widespread reports have previously suggested Russian forces are attempting to assassinate Zelensky, but it is unclear who the target of the alleged poisoning would have been.

Russia has been widely blamed for a series of poisonings around the world, including a Novichok incident in Salisbury, Putin critic Alexander Litvinenko and opposition figure Alexei Navalny.

The investigative media group Bellingcat said the incident took place overnight from March 3 to 4, with three people experiencing ‘symptoms consistent with poisoning with chemical weapons’ including Abramovich.

‘Abramovich, along with another Russian entrepreneur, had taken part in the negotiations alongside Ukraine’s MP Rustem Umerov’, it tweeted.

‘The negotiation round on the afternoon of 3 March took place on Ukrainian territory and lasted until about 10 pm.

‘Three members of the negotiating team retreated to an apartment in Kyiv later that night and felt initial symptoms – including eye and skin inflammation and piercing pain in the eyes – later that night.

‘The symptoms did not abate until the morning.’

‘I Need Space’ – Portable Cries Out As He Sacks Manager, Promoter And DJ

Controversial Nigerian singer, Habeeb Okikiola also known as Portable has announced to the general public that he has relieved his manager, DJ and promoter of their duties.

The zazoo crooner insisted via a video posted on his Instagram handle that his manager, show promoter and DJ does not do anything in building his career and he feels cheated because he pays them.

He maintained that he also wanted other people to have a taste of his money therefore the need for new set of people.

Portable who is known to be erratic and quite controversial recently bagged a whopping N50m endorsement deal.

The singer took to his Instagram account to announce that he had signed an endorsement deal of N50m as the brand ambassador of a bitters drink.

He thanked Obi Cubana for giving him the opportunity to market the product.

He wrote: “obi_cubana don show love ooo. 50 million kwen don zeh for my Aza ooo. Official Ambassador @odogwu_bitters of Africa”. Read more