A drug addict, Steven Jiya, has set his mother Comfort ablaze in Minna, the Niger State capital, after several failed attempts to kill her.
Comfort was a former Principal at the Maryam Babangida Science College Minna.
She owns a private school, where Steven is the manager.
It was learnt that Steve poured petrol on his mother while she was in the kitchen cooking in her residence behind the Total Filling Station in Durulsalam area of Kpakungu in Minna.
Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu left; a corps member holding a ring as he knelt to ask the female soldier to marry him.
The family of a youth corper simply identified as Remi, who proposed to a female soldier, Private Sofiyat Akinlabi, at the National Youth Service Corps Orientation Camp in Yikpata, Kwara State, has said that the duo started their friendship three years ago in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
According to the family member, Remi and Akinlabi’s friendship started in Abeokuta over three years ago before the latter joined the military.
The Nigerian Army had detained Akinlabi on December 14, 2021, when viral video clips showed her accepting the marriage proposal of Remi at the camp in Yikpata, Kwara State.
The lovebirds had shared a hug and kiss to the delight of other corpers at the Mammy market.
The Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, told our correspondent that Akinlabi’s action amounted to taking advantage of her trainee, noting that the public would have been outraged and accused the Army of coercion had a male soldier proposed to a female corper during NYSC parade.
He said, “The female soldier in question violated the following rules of the NA: fraternisation while on official duty at the NYSC camp. That is, indulging in an amorous relationship with a trainee. Personnel must have served for three years before he/she can qualify for marriage.”
Speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the nature of the matter, the close family member of the corps member told Saturday PUNCH that they had lost each other’s contact, but was surprisingly brought together by fate at the NYSC camp late November.
He said, “They have known each other before they got to camp. They met in Abeokuta over three years ago before she joined the Army but lost contact sometimes ago. Meeting on NYSC camp was like a reunion.
“They have been friends all along and Remi thought it wise to seize the opportunity of their meeting again to propose to her. He had to walk up to her as a man and not worry about her new status as a soldier because she would eventually get married.
“He got the courage and proposed to her out with a ring which she accepted. The whole thing was totally a surprise to her.
“It happened after the passing out parade on December 14, 2021. She was at the Mammy Market pressing her phone, she was just on her own and she never knew something of such would happen.
“When he walked up to her, she was over joyous and dumfounded at the same time. She is a lady and her reactions were triggered by emotions. Like men, women are still emotional beings no matter who they are.
“Remi was not holding any phone and did not record the moment. He didn’t post anything on social media and she didn’t also post it on social media. It was the fellow corpers around that did the posting on social media.”
Asked why Remi preferred Akinlabi, who is a soldier, the family source said, “He can’t explain his love for her because they so connected emotionally when they met again and he believes it is true love.”
The NYSC Director-General, Brig.-Gen. Ibrahim Shuaibu, had during a briefing in Abuja on December 21, 2021, said though the scheme “encourage(s) them to inter-marry, we have never had a situation where a corps member will go and propose (to a soldier).”
He added that the Army won’t joke with its traditions.
‘Romantic soldier may be sentenced to one-month punishment after trial’
Asked whether the soldier has been released, an impeccable military source, who craved anonymity because he was not allowed to speak on the matter, told Saturday PUNCH that Akinlabi would be tried in line with extant military laws.
The military source said upon trial, Akinlabi might be sentence to one-month punishment.
He said, “She will go through summary trial because the offence she committed is not a grievous offence that will attract court-martial.
“During her trial, if she is able to prove that she was not the one who did that (posted on social media), they might overlook it but if she had not violated the military laws by fraternising with the corper, that wouldn’t have happened.”
According to the military official, there is a law guiding soldiers and officers when it comes to marriage.
He said, “There is an extant provision in the harmonised terms and conditions of service for soldiers, ratings and airmen. The provision has been there for years. If you are a soldier, whether male or female, you are not allowed to marry in the first three years of your service.
“It is a law and it is not contestable because the first three years of service, you will be engaged as a soldier, you cannot marry. The law is there and all recruits are told at the point of joining the Armed Forces.
“Also, no soldier is allowed to marry before joining the force. Some people conceal their marriage status, but if it is known, they will charge you for perjury.
“Even after three years in service and you want to marry, you must write to your commanding officer, informing him that you want to get married and the commanding officer will make some enquiries. ‘This officer, this soldier, how is his/her way of life? Is he or she ready for marriage? If she/he marries, hope the marriage will not distract him/her from his military works?’
“When the commanding officer is convinced, he will approve it and then the soldier or officer will start his or her process of getting married.
“If an officer wants to get married to a soldier, one of them must leave the service, but an officer can marry an officer and a soldier can marry a soldier; there is no problem in that. Aside from that, an officer or a soldier, whether male or female, can marry any decent civilian.”
Family appeals
Meanwhile, the family source, who said Remi had been very devastated since the arrest of his lover, begged the military to release Akinlabi.
“We appeal to the Nigerian Army to tamper justice with mercy and release her. She is a woman and she has emotions. We don’t want her to be dismissed; we want her to continue her job in the military,” the source said.
In a related development, civil society organisations, including the Women Empowerment & Legal Aid, chaired by Funmi Falana, have called on the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Farouk Yahaya, to respect the decision of Akinlabi to accept Remi’s proposal.
She argued that no male soldier had been punished for proposing to a love interest in public as seen on social media.
She, therefore, declared as illegal, the detention of Akinlabi.
Also, two petitions on Change.org platform by activists Deji Adeyanju of Concerned Nigerians and Omoyele Sowore of Revolution Now have attracted over 10,000 signatures.
The petitioners shared photos of male soldiers proposing to their love interests in uniform on Facebook and called for the release of Akinlabi.
The federal government on Friday, announced that there will free train services from between December 24 and January 4, 2022.
The Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) Spokesperson, Mr. Mahmood Yakub, disclosed this in a statement.
The free train services are between the routes of Abuja-Kaduna , Lagos-Ibadan , Warri-Itakpe, Kano-Lagos; Minna-Kaduna and Aba-Port Harcourt.
The NRC Managing Director, Engr. Fidet Okhiria, urged Nigerians to maximize the opportunity while urging them to observe covid-19 protocol.
“The decision which was made in collaboration with the Ministry of Transportation, is to ease movement of citizens during the yuletide.
“This is to help ease the cost of transportation and enable citizens move easily enjoy the festive period.
“Passengers are, however, advised to ensure they obtain their tickets from appropriate quarters at no cost, to enable them gain access and enter the trains.
“All passengers are also enjoined to observe and obey COVID-19 rules by wearing of face mask, washing and sanitising of hands,” he said.
Nollywood veteran actor, Chiwetalu Agu who was arrested by the Department of State Service, DSS, for donning a Biafran outfit has unveiled his new rising sun outfit.
Naija News recalls that the 65-year-old actor was arrested in Upper Iweka Bridge by soldiers in October while carrying out a charity activity, for wearing a Biafra-themed outfit, in Onitsha, Anambra State.
He was, however, released but rearrested by the Department of State Services.
The actor who promised to make a new outfit of the rising sun was seen with a new attire with the inscription ‘Rising sun’.
It would be recalled that the comic actor revealed that the soldiers and DSS operatives treated him with respect while in detention.
He said: “It didn’t start well but God took control. I was only buying bread for the poor. Soldiers came in and started scattering things. They said they are calling me in the office but they did not tell me my offence. Because they did not tell me my offence, I refused to follow them.
“That drama that took place was important so that they will know that Igbo are here. That moment of Upper Iweka till the time we got to the army barracks close to Zik Mausoleum, to 82 Division of the Nigerian Army and to DSS office in Abuja, nobody touched me. They treated me with respect.
“Every officer wanted to be involved in the case so that they can have the opportunity to interact with Chinwetalu Agu.”
DSS released him following the intervention of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN.
The loan is meant to ensure speedy completion of projects like the Lekki-Epe Expressway.
The approval was granted at a sitting presided over by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Mudashiru Obasa, after a report on the loan request was laid and presented by the chairman of the House Committee on Finance, Hon. Rotimi Olowo.
Giving further information on the report, Hon. Olowo told his colleagues that the loan facility comes with an interest rate of five percent in the first two years and nine percent in subsequent years, with a two-year moratorium.
Many of the lawmakers who contributed to the debate supported that the facility be approved as it would further help the State sustain its mega-city status.
They commended the State Government for its proactiveness, saying that the loan will bring immense infrastructural benefits to Lagos.
They further said that the loan was favourable considering the conditions that come with it.
In his contribution, the chairman of the House Committee on Information, Hon. Setonji David, noted that the loan has a single-digit interest rate with a repayment period of 30 years.
He said the project for which the loan was being sought would drive sustainable economic growth and development in the State.
Speaker Obasa, after a voice vote of the lawmakers in support of the approval, directed the Acting Clerk of the House, Mr. Olalekan Onafeko, to send a clean copy of the approval to the Governor.
Meanwhile, Speaker Obasa has described Nigeria as a blessed nation loved by God in a message released by his media office in commemoration of the 2021 Christmas celebration.
Dr. Obasa urged Christians and other Nigerians to continue to replicate this love from God in their daily activities as love is what the country needs at this phase of its journey to greatness.
“Jesus Christ, the celebrated face of the Christians around the world, preached and taught love as one of the greatest commandments from God.
“If we think deeply, we will understand that love is an ultimate solution to the many challenges facing mankind.
“All the commandments that God handed man can be summarised into the need to love Him and love our neighbours.
“There is, therefore, no gainsaying that if we maintain our resolve, individually and collectively, to love one another as emphasised by Jesus, the world would be a better place,” the Speaker said.
While urging Christians not to relent in their prayers for Nigeria, he advised Lagosians and other citizens of the country to ensure a peaceful celebration, remain conscious of their environment and continue to adhere to COVID-19 rules.
Eromosele Ebhomele
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
It’s no longer news that Queen Naomi who has a one-year-old child with Ooni Of Ife, King Ogunwusi took to her social media account on Instagram to announce that she shouldn’t longer be considered as a Queen in the palace of Ooni.
She added that she is no longer a slave to perfection and she has endured a lot until this moment but it seems that this will not be the end of it as Ooni Of Ife Media Director, Moses Olafare debunks the rumors.
As reported by Punch Newspaper News Outlet a few minutes ago, Moses Olafare revealed that Queen Naomi and the Ooni Of Ife slept together as couples on Wednesday night and they are currently investigating a possible hacking of Queen Naomi Instagram account.
They were born just like any other person. They have fathers, mothers, uncles, aunts, wives, children, just like the next man or woman. They pound their beats, in thunder, lightning or rain. The sun beats them till their eyes almost pop out of the sockets. But we accord them no respect, we esteem them as men of sorrow, acquainted with grief. They are policemen, and must be treated like something the cat dragged in, article of no commercial value.
During the EndSARS protests of October 2020, see what happened to our cops: 39 were killed, with one roasted and eaten, 210 injured, their stations and barracks worth N11.6 billion were burnt, along with 198 police vehicles, 9 Armoured Personnel Cars. Also razed were Police Communication Equipment worth N5.8 billion, and 422 exhibit vehicles valued at N5.5 billion.
The police were the main reason the protests took place in the first instance, but then, do you first annihilate an institution that needs reforms? They had their excesses, but is decapitation the cure for headache?
President Muhammadu Buhari in the wake of the EndSARS protests promised to reform the police, including looking into their welfare and enhancing their status. It is now promise made, and promise kept, as the Federal Executive Council unfolded a new deal for the police. It is like a Christmas bonus, which came at the end of the year.
Following the promise of the President in 2020, probe panels were instituted by states to look into the excesses of the police, and recommend sanctions and compensations where necessary, while a stakeholders committee was also set up to look into the welfare of the police.
See the parlous conditions of members of an institution we gave arms and ammunition to, and we asked to protect us.
*At least 1,898 personnel were not paid outstanding insurance benefits for the period of 2013 to 2020.
*Death benefits were not paid to families of 5,472 personnel, who died on active duty between 2013 and 2021.
*Financial claims amounted to N1,128, 174, 150.00 in respect of the 1,898 uninsured personnel.
Read Also: We’re not all gloom and doom, are we?, by Femi Adesina
*Death benefits amounted to N13,127,197,269.48, while burial expenses amounted to N1,234,520.000.00, for personnel who died between 2012 and 2021.
A working group set up at the instance of President Buhari, came up with recommendations, which have now been approved by the Federal Executive Council. They include:
*The release of over one billion, one hundred and twenty-eight million for the payment of outstanding benefits to 1,898 personnel for the period 2013 to 2020.
*The release of over 13 billion for the payment of outstanding death benefits.
*Tax waiver in the sum of over N18 billion per annum for all junior personnel in order to increase their take-home emoluments.
*Increase of rent subsidy from 15-20% to 40% of the Consolidated Police Salary Structure (CONPOSS).
*Payment of additional 6% shift duty allowance.
*Payment of 20% of COMPOSS as peculiar allowance to boost morale and take-home pay of the police.
All these, and more, are to take effect from the 2022 appropriation act, thus improving the welfare of our police personnel.
Will it automatically translate to better behavior, and elimination of bribery and corruption? Not by the waving of a wand. But it would signpost the beginning of caring for the police. The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.
History will record President Buhari as the man who began to take practical steps in repositioning the welfare of the police. They would no longer be regarded as scum, and would earn respect from a society that loves to look down on them. I tell you, this President cares.
*Adesina is Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity
Ude recently embarked on a mission to malign patriotic and industrious businessman, Scott Tommey, whose exploits in the business sector have become a source of worry and sleepless nights to Ude and perhaps, his sponsors.
Ude in a manner unbecoming of a journalist launched an attack against the businessman, writing to harass the latter with trumped-up allegations fed to him by his malefic cohorts.
In the performance of his hatchet work, he contacted the illustrious businessman, quoting slanted facts and outright lies, in the purported discharge of his journalistic role.
But since he has deemed it fit to whore himself out to corrupt and faceless elements with destructive intent, the Media Consultant to Osmoserve Global Limited, Obafemi Ajayi, has slammed the controversy-prone blogger, over his story in which he imputed wrong and malicious motives into the business transactions of the Managing Director, Scott Tommey.
In the latest tirade tweeted by one Jackson Ude, whose stock-in-trade has been to fabricate utter falsehood, and disseminate same via multiple social media platforms, the pen-for-hire writer alluded that Scott Tommey is fronting for the Niger Delta Affairs Minister, Godswill Akpabio.
In all ramifications, Tommey possesses home-grown intelligence that complements his sophistication. A shrewd manager of resources and a billionaire with benevolent mien, Tommey’s journey to the summit of entrepreneurial success is strewn with tales of struggles, determination and destiny.
Tommey has done extraordinarily well to have built a world class multi-billion business enterprise in the mould of Osmoserve, whose specialty has brought physical infrastructural transformation to the Niger-Delta region. In his bid to play down his ingenuity and business savvy, Ajayi attributes Osmoserve’s climb to the pinnacle of entrepreneurial success to sheer determination, providence and God’s grace. He is not anybody’s bagman.
Debunking the story as utter lies, Prince Obafemi Ajayi, considers “very laughable the fact that Ude and his sponsors, as well as those mischievously escalating the fake news, were so blinded by mischief and pull-him-down syndrome that they could see the clear holes in their fabrication. Mr Scott Tommey is well respected businessman and he is not Akpabio or anyone’s front. The assertion is not true”.
Ajayi explained that Jackson Ude “is in the trade of tarnishing Nigerian brands with unsubstantiated contents. He pointed to the petition of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to the Inspector-General Police, demanding a thorough investigation of the blogger after publishing malicious story, in which he alleged that the suspended acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, facing a presidential probe, told the investigative panel that he gave N4bn to Osinbajo. Not only has Magu debunked the claim; the panel has also released statement putting a lie to Ude’s allegation.
“This is calling on unsuspecting public to be wary of Ude’s shenanigans, as we also wish to sound a note of warning to all those who have made it their pastime to sponsor malicious write-ups, tweets and online publications against Osmoserve Global and our MD, that their day of reckoning is not far away,” Ajayi expressed.
“We have put our legal team on notice to deal with such malicious write-ups. We also urge the general public to kindly disregard the Ude mischievous tweets and similar others, for what they are: blatantly false and malicious,” he advised.
The (NOUN) on Thursday matriculated 72 inmates of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre, Abuja to study various courses.
The Vice-Chancellor, NOUN, Prof. Olufemi Peters, urged the students to make use of their study materials judiciously.
The VC who was represented by the National Coordinator, Special Studies, NOUN, Mrs Modupe Adesina, described the collaboration between NOUN and NCoS as very smooth.
According to him, NOUN remains the largest in Africa, and the only accredited single-mode Open and Distance Learning Institution in Nigeria.
“We have 12 study centres that are for inmates. We have 970 students from Correctional centres nationwide and we have graduated 42 inmates across the nation since 2012.
“We have five people enrolled for PhD programmes and still counting. We produced the best graduating students in 2014 in Enugu.
“And when you look at their results, they have been very studious, very eager to graduate with the best result,” he said.
Peters urged the public to encourage the federal government by employing the graduated inmates in the society to help them keep up with their lives outside the Correctional Centres.
He said the efforts of the government should be embraced as the inmates were fully sponsored to acquire the certificates from the University.
“The efforts of the government and the university should be encouraged. This is not a joke.
“The environment and society at large should embrace students coming from NOUN, particularly inmates from correctional centres.
“If they are out, that means they have most likely been reformed. Education goes a lot to open their mind and make them what the society requires.
“A lot of them are gifted, they have gone beyond going to school, they have acquired several skills and not in any way lesser than anyone out there,” he said.
The VC expressed the determination of the university toward ensuring that the newly admitted students were provided with an excellent learning environment with a view to making their study rewarding and satisfactory.
He urged them to desist from all forms of anomalies such as cultism, sexual harassment among others that exist in the conventional university, saying that NOUN was not a regular University.
The FCT Controller, NCoS, Ahmed Musa, said the NCoS had continued to deliver on this mandate through a plethora of academic and vocational skills acquisition, as well as psycho-social support programmes for inmates.
Musa said the significance of the occasion could not be overemphasised as it underscored the very core of the mandate of the NCoS.
This he said were to reform and rehabilitate those in its care and subsequently reintegrate them into the society.
According to him, it is worthy of note that changing the behaviour and orientation of persons in conflict with the law and putting them on the right path is no mean task.
“The Kuje Custodial Centre has always been outstanding in academic exploits.
“Since the command embraced education as a foremost means of reformation in 2010, the centre has recorded over 850 students who have sat for their WAEC and NECO exams.
“Over 750 inmates passing outstandingly with over five credits, which include maths and English.
“With the advent of the National Open University, the centre has registered over a hundred students and also graduated about 10 BSc and one Master’s degree student,” he said.
Musa urged the matriculating students as well as the returning students not to let the service down and to be outstanding in their chosen academic fields.
He noted that the command had also extended this opportunity to the Suleja Custodial Centre, adding that the centre had about 32 inmates who were presently sitting for their WAEC and NECO exams.
“I, therefore, implore all those matriculating today and, indeed, other inmates, to take advantage of this golden opportunity to add value to their lives.
“Like I always say, incarceration is not the end of one’s life you can gain the time while you serve the term,” he advised.
The Service Public Relations Officer (SPRO) Mr Francis Enobore, urged the matriculating students to focus on their studies to enable them go farther in life.
“I also want to assure you all that the necessary support you need will be duly provided by the service,” he said.
Boko Haram insurgents have fired rockets at Ngomari Airport area in Maiduguri, Borno State, as President Muhammadu Buhari visits the state capital today.
POLITICS NIGERIA learnt that that one of the missiles landed at Ajilari Cross area. Another landed near Maiduguri airport where there is a military base.
Per a source, one person died at Ngomari, while several others sustained injuries at Ajilari area.
Recall that earlier this month, Boko Haram attacked the same area with mortar bombs. The explosives landed on several houses around the vicinity causing extensive damage.
The governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum visited the scene at the time, calling on the military to wake up to its duties just as he said he was setting up a committee to assess the damages.
