Home Blog Page 1092

PDP, APC candidates paying for support — LP

Beloved JOHN
-
0
PDP, APC candidates paying for support — LP

A SPOKESPERSON of the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Campaign Council, Kenneth Okonkwo, has accused candidates of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of renting supporters for campaigns and other electoral activities.

He said the APC’s Bola Tinubu and the PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar, paid to pull crowds at their campaigns and have to buy electorates’ votes to stand a chance in the 2023 election.

READ ALSO:

Fiscal rascality, not Emefiele, responsible for Nigeria’s monetary problems – Peter Obi

2023: El-Zakzaky denies endorsing Peter Obi

2023: After Obasanjo, Clark, Ortom endorse Peter Obi for presidency

Video does not show Governor Wike leading campaign rally for Peter Obi

Okonkwo said this on Monday, January 30, while speaking on a Twitter space organised by The ICIR.

He described both parties as cross-coordinators of corruption and asked that their candidates be withdrawn from the leadership structure.

Okonkwo said financial benefits have influenced anyone supporting Tinubu or Atiku.

He said, “No one would vote for Tinubu or Atiku unless they gave the person money.

“They rent crowds for their campaigns. I have seen some of their groups fighting over the money they were promised.

“The structure the APC and PDP have now is a structure of criminality, poverty, unemployment and corruption. These parties know that no one will follow them if they don’t spend money.

“Tinubu and Atiku should be removed from the leadership structure cos they are cross-coordinators of corruption.

“People want change. They want it now, and what Nigeria needs to achieve this is a young leader of character.”

Nekede Poly to punish lady who claimed she graduated through ‘sex for grades’

Marcus FATUNMOLE
-
0
Nekede Poly to punish lady who claimed she graduated through ‘sex for grades’

The Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri, Imo State, has vowed to punish a graduate who claimed in a viral video that she graduated from the school with the help of God and her private part.

Although the unnamed lady pleaded on Monday, January 30, while speaking during a telephone interview on a radio station based in the state capital that she didn’t mean ‘pussy’ but ‘popsy’, her school told The ICIR after that it would not spare her the punishment it planned to unleash on her.

READ ALSO:

UNILAG sacks lecturers fingered in sex-for-grades documentary

Sex-for-grades scandal: Atiku kicks, SERAP sues for Justice

Lecturer demanded sex in return for better grades, Nigerian student says

Disgraced OAU lecturer, released after serving two year jail term for demanding sex from student

The school has set up a panel to probe her, but she is yet to honour the invitation.

After defending her HND 2 project this month, the lady went to do a series of videos, some of them from a night party she attended, the polytechnic told this newspaper.

The school’s Deputy Rector Academic, Chris Onyemenonuwo, who spoke with The ICIR, condemned her conduct and said she was not a good ambassador of the institution that prides itself as an institution with high academic and moral standards.

He said the lady’s plea for making a mistake in the video was unacceptable. According to Onyemenonuwo, the lady is deceitful, and her pleas are fake. He said the school had three versions of her video, which proved that her confession to using her private part in school was genuine. The official said the graduate did not know that the school had other versions of her videos.

In the video available in the public space, the lady said, “Today is the final day, meh! Nekede (the Polytechnic) bye, bye. This Nekede’s stress ends today. Nekede’s stress ends today.

“I’m now a graduate. Finally, I’m now a graduate of Federal Polytechnic, Nekede Owerri. It can only be God (ooo) It can only be God and my pussy (ooo).”

Many Nigerians who saw the video on Tik Tok interpreted her to mean that she graduated with God’s help and used her private part to curry favour from lecturers and other persons – a practice referred to as ‘sex for marks’, as has been reported in some higher institutions in the country.

Reacting to the backlash the video caused, the lady spoke with the radio station in the state Monday morning.

Speaking with a mix of Igbo and English languages, she said she didn’t mean ‘pussy.’

“To say the truth, nothing happened. That day, I just went to take pictures, and I was excited because it’s been five years without any issues in school. I came out, and I made that video that it could only be God. I was walking. If you watch that video very well, I was walking. I meant popsy, that is P-O-P-S-Y. That is what I meant.

“But you know Nigerians and their lifestyle, they took the thing in another way, saying I said God and my pussy. You know it is bad things that trend more than good things. What I meant at that moment was ‘God and my popsy.”

The lady, who had worked as a waitress at a club and with a popular staple food-producing firm in the state, explained that even if people assumed she referred to her genitals, only her boyfriend would have access to it.

She said she and her boyfriend started the polytechnic in year one till her last day on campus.

“He is my serious date, but we don’t live together. So, I met him from day one when I came to school until I finished. So even if that is what they have in mind, it is my boyfriend. Some of my lecturers, I don’t even know their names.

“I just know them facially. I know them, but I don’t know their names. Even if they bring anything for me to swear, I will swear with it. If they say we should go anywhere, I will go there and swear.”

According to her, she never had any relationship with any lecturer in the school nor had a problem with any of her courses.

“The panel has been calling me since yesterday… They have been calling me all these while, but I am not in Owerri. As it stands now, I travelled. Even this morning, one of them called me, but once I enter Owerri, I will go into the school to meet them myself.”

The polytechnic had condemned the behaviour in the strongest terms in a statement released before The ICIR contacted its official.

The school’s registrar, E. C. Anuna, issued the statement titled ‘Management Investigating Student Involved in a Show of Shame on Social Media’.

The institution said it had launched full investigations into the identity of the student “who gloated on TikTok about how she graduated with the help of God and her private organ. It is even most blasphemous and antithetical that the said student peddled the name of the Almighty in her deleterious act.

“Management considers the action of the student most unacceptable and preposterous. The Federal Polytechnic Nekede prides itself as an institution with high academic and moral standards. Both staff and students are quite aware of the consequences of any misconduct.”

The school said it had hotlines through which students could report any act of exploitation or corruption, and any staff or student found culpable is meted with appropriate punishment.

“The despicable post of this supposed student does not, therefore, represent the standard of our institution. The Rector of the institution, being a clergyman, has been very committed and consistent in instilling discipline in our students through seminars, solemn assemblies, sensitization outreaches and publications.”

The school promised to make its findings known after investigating the incident. But it added a caveat: “It is in our purview to ensure that only students found worthy in learning and character are certified. This is a commitment to which we shall remain consistently resolute.”

 

Police stray bullet injures one as APC rally turns violent in Ekiti

Vincent Ufuoma
-
0
Police stray bullet injures one as APC rally turns violent in Ekiti

A POLICE stray bullet hit one person after violence broke out at a rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti on Monday, January 30.

An eyewitness told The ICIR that the incident happened at Ikoro, in the Ijero Local Government Area of the state.

It was gathered that the Senator representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, had led other candidates seeking various elective positions in the forthcoming election in the zone to Ikoro for the rally.

Trouble started when the lawmaker and those in his entourage were leaving the town.

The eyewitness said some motorcyclists, also known as okada riders, who had accompanied the convoy to various wards in the town blocked the convoy to demand for money.

The attitude of the okada riders was said to have infuriated police officers attached to the convoy who shot sporadically into the air to disperse the crowd.

A bullet hit the ankle of a young girl identified as Yemisi.

The girl was seen being rushed to the hospital in several videos sighted by The ICIR.

Attempts to get the reaction of the Ekiti State Police Command were not successful as the spokesperson, Sunday Abutu, did not answer several calls as of the time of filing this report.

He also did not reply to the text message sent to his phone at the time of filing this report.

No single govt can solve Nigeria’s problems – Buhari

Beloved JOHN
-
1
No single govt can solve Nigeria’s problems – Buhari

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari says that solving Nigeria’s problem requires successive governments to build on what has been in place.

Buhari said this on Monday, January 30, at the ‘National Dialogue on Security, Economy and Administration of Justice’ organised by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Abuja.

Buhari, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, said no single government could solve Nigeria’s problems.

“I would say no one government in this country would be able to solve the problems of Nigeria. But as we build on the precedent set by successive governments, not discarding what has been put in place, we would, in the course of our desire to create a Nigeria of our dreams, be able to pick one or two things on which we can concentrate and move.

“As a government, the outcome of this dialogue can be transmitted to us so that whatever resolutions are reached, that would become part of the documents that would prepare as we transit and hand over to an incoming government,” he said.

$1.32m fraud: Lawyer’s absence stalls arraignment of Senatorial candidate

Bankole ABE
-
0
$1.32m fraud: Lawyer’s absence stalls arraignment of Senatorial candidate

THE absence of the defense counsel has stalled the arraignment of the Kano Central Senatorial candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Abdulkarim Saleh Abdulsalam, aka A.A.

The Economic And Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Zaura on multiple fraud charges before a Federal High Court in Kano.

According to a statement by the EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, the case suffered yet another postponement on Monday, January 30, owing to the absence of the defence counsel.

“It is the fourth time the arraignment failed to proceed, primarily because of the politician’s failure to appear in court.

“At the last adjourned date, the matter could not go on due to the absence of both Zaura and the trial judge.

“But Zaura was in court today, having been picked up at his residence by operatives of the Commission,” the Commission said.

EFCC said that when the matter was called, the prosecution counsel, A.T Habib, informed the court that she received a letter from the defence counsel, I.G Waru, informing her that he would not be in court as he had a matter at the Supreme Court.

Justice M. N Yunusa adjourned the matter till February 6, 2023, to enable Zaura to take his plea with his counsel present in court.

Zaura is being re-arraigned by the Kano Zonal Command of the EFCC following a Court of Appeal ruling which directed his retrial after dismissing his acquittal by Justice A. L Allagoa of the Federal High Court.

He was accused of allegedly defrauding a Kuwaiti Citizen of the sum of $1,320,000 (One Million Three Hundred and Twenty Thousand Dollars) on the pretext that he is in the business of building properties in Dubai, Kuwait and other Arab countries.

NCDC warns of high risk of Lassa fever transmission

Theophilus ADEDOKUN
-
0
NCDC warns of high risk of Lassa fever transmission

Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has warned that the country is at a very high risk of increased Lassa fever transmission.

NCDC disclosed this in a statement released on Monday, January 30.

The Centre said it has activated the national multisectoral emergency operations centre for Lassa fever (LF-EOC) at level 2 to coordinate and strengthen ongoing response activities in the country.

It emphasized that the operations centre was activated following a risk assessment carried out by its experts and relevant stakeholders on January 20.

According to the NCDC, “The outcome of the risk assessment placed the country at a very high risk of increased Lassa fever transmission due to an unprecedented upward trend in the number of confirmed cases being reported compared to previous years, increased number of states reporting cases in comparison to previous years and increased risk of healthcare worker infections and deaths due to Lassa fever infection.”

The agency stressed that Lassa fever has infected five health workers and accounted for the death of one.

“Infection and death among the healthcare workers accounted for 5 and 1 of the confirmed cases and deaths respectively, highlighting the need for an increased index of suspicion among healthcare workers.”

The NCDC said the emergency operations centre activation was aimed at achieving a coordinated national response and mitigating suffering and death due to the disease.

“Ahead of the projected rise of Lassa fever cases and as the country began to witness a rise in cases in the last week on November 2022, the NCDC prepositioned supplies for case management, infection prevention and control, laboratory diagnosis, etc. in all historical Lassa fever hotspots in the country.

“This was complemented by correspondence sent to the Honourable Commissioners of Health, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, State Ministries of Health, and respective professional bodies of healthcare workers to alert and sensitize them on the situation as well as to advocate for in-State activities to respond to Lassa fever,” the NCDC added.

The ICIR earlier reported that Edo State has recorded 13 deaths and 115 cases of Lassa fever.

Countries not prepared for future pandemics — IFRC

Beloved JOHN
-
0
Countries not prepared for future pandemics — IFRC

THE International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has said another pandemic might be around the corner, and countries are “dangerously unprepared”.

The world’s largest humanitarian network said this in a report published on Monday, January 30.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which began in 2020, led to a total death toll of over 6.5 million people across the globe.

Despite this, countries are still ill-equipped to protect their citizens should another pandemic break out, the group said.

According to IFRC, countries must be prepared for multiple health hazards as societies can only be resilient by planning for more than one disaster.

“As of the time of writing, all countries remain dangerously unprepared for future outbreaks.

“Despite the COVID-19 pandemic showing the world the importance of being prepared, countries are not ready for another Public health emergency.

“The next pandemic could be just around the corner: if the experience of Covid-19 won’t quicken our steps towards preparedness, what will?”

The Red Cross urged governments to update pandemic preparedness plans by adopting a new treaty and revising International Health Regulations.

The group also asked governments to increase domestic health finance by 1 per cent of the gross domestic product and global health finance by at least $15 billion annually.

IFRC tied the rise in climate-related disasters to waves of disease outbreaks, noting that COVID-19 was just one.

Future health crises could collide with increasingly likely climate-related disasters, according to the group.

The humanitarian movement also said significant hazards harm vulnerable people the most.

NRC to resume Abuja-Kaduna railway operations

Ijeoma OPARA
-
0
NRC to resume Abuja-Kaduna railway operations

THE Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has said services along the Abuja-Kaduna rail lines would resume on Tuesday, January 31.

The NRC’s Director of Operations Niyi Alli disclosed this in a statement on Monday, January 30.

“The Board and Management of Nigerian Railway Corporation are pleased to announce the recommencement of the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service. The service was suspended on Jan. 27 due to the derailment that occurred at Kubwa Station on the same date.

“Subsequently, the service will resume on Jan. 31, with the following daily schedule – KA2 departs Rigasa at 0700; AK1 departs Idu at 10.00; KA4 departs Rigasa at 13.00; AK3 departs Idu at 16.00. However on Wednesdays, only KA2 will depart Rigasa at 0700 and AK 3 will depart Idu at 16.00,” Alli said.

He noted that the Federal Government was committed to providing better services and expressed regret for the inconvenience caused during the period of suspension.

The NRC announced the suspension of train services along the Abuja-Kaduna route on Friday, January 27.

The suspension came shortly after a train derailed near the Kubwa station in Abuja. Although there were no casualties from the derailment, several passengers were left stranded following the incident.

Last week, a train travelling along the Itakpe-Warri railway also derailed in Kogi State, leaving over 140 passengers stranded.

Fallen container: Sanwo-Olu orders probe

Vincent Ufuoma
-
0
Fallen container: Sanwo-Olu orders probe

LAGOS State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has ordered a thorough investigation into the fallen container incident that led to the death of not less than eight people in the Ojuelegba area of the state on Sunday.

The governor gave the order in a statement issued by Commissioner for Transportation, Frederic Oladeinde.

While sympathising with the families of those who died in the incident, he promised a thorough investigation by the state government to avert a future occurrence of such incident.

“The accident will be thoroughly investigated so as to prevent a recurrence of such tragic incidents,” he said.

“We are working with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to install vehicle/truck barriers on the inward and outward sections of the bridge.

“We share the grief of those who lost their loved ones in the accident and pray that the Almighty God will strengthen them at this difficult time.”

He noted that the government would continue to implement its Transport Master Plan, which has safety strategies that would ensure that roads are safer in the state.

Meanwhile, another container has reportedly fallen in the Dopemu area of state on Monday morning.

According to Punch newspaper, a tweep, who shared the video said his sister recorded the scene on her way to work.

“January 30, 2023. My sister, on her way to the office before Tower company going to Iyana Ipaja.”

It was also confirmed by the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA).

The agency said that the fallen 40-feet container occupied 90 per cent of the road.

“A 40ft container laden truck fell at Sawmill inward Dopemu under bridge, it’s occupying 90 per cent of road. Our men are on ground doing the needful as effort is on for recovery,” the agency was quoted saying.

Banks working with syndicates to sell new naira notes – DSS

Bankole ABE
-
0
Banks working with syndicates to sell new naira notes – DSS

THE Department of State Services (DSS) says it has arrested some members of organised syndicates involved in selling the newly redesigned naira notes.

The security agency further disclosed that its operations across the country has established that some Commercial Bank officials are aiding the trade in the new currencies.

Spokesperson of the DSS Peter Afunnaya disclosed these in a statement on Monday, January 30.

“The Department of State Services (DSS) hereby informs the public that it has intercepted some members of organised syndicates involved in the sale of the new redesigned naira notes.

“In the course of its operations, in this regard in parts of the country, it was also established that some Commercial Bank officials are aiding the economic malfeasance,” the statement said.

The agency warns the currency racketeers to desist from the act, or face the wrath the law.

“Appropriate regulatory authorities are, in this same vein, urged to step up monitoring and supervisory activities to expeditiously address the emerging trends.”

The DSS added that the it had ordered its Commands and formations to further ensure that all persons and groups engaged in the illegal sale of the notes are identified.

The agency urged anyone with useful information relating to the issue to pass the same to the relevant authorities.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) finally bowed to pressure on Sunday, January 29 and extended the deadline for swapping old naira notes at commercial banks.

CBN governor Godwin Emefiele announced that the new deadline is now February 10.

He added that Nigerians will still be able to deposit their old notes directly with the CBN until February 17, 2023.

The CBN has been under immense pressure from Nigerians calling for the extension of the January 31 deadline due to their inability to swap their old N200, N500 and N1000 notes for the new ones.

1...1,0911,0921,093...3,440Page 1,092 of 3,440