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Sanwo-Olu orders reopening of tertiary institutions September 14

Niyi OYEDEJI
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Sanwo-Olu orders reopening of tertiary institutions September 14

BABAJIDE Sanwo-Olu, the Governor of Lagos State, has ordered the reopening of tertiary institutions in the state effective September 14.

The governor disclosed this development during a regular briefing on the state’s COVID-19 status.

He stated that tertiary institutions in the state will re-open from September 14.

Sanwo-Olu further said that primary and secondary schools are also tentatively scheduled to re-open from September 21.

The Governor explained that the decision was based on indications that the pandemic has peaked in the state, as the number of new cases continues to steadily decline.

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“This decision is not cast in stone and is subject to review of our ongoing modelling and what procedure comes out from the Ministry of Health,” he said.

He further reiterated that restaurants are now permitted to open for in-dining services in the state, although they must continue to ensure spaces are only filled up to 50 percent capacity at all times.

The governor said a review will be done in September to decide whether to allow a re-opening of event centres, bars, night clubs, beaches, cinemas and other public spaces.

He, however, said that the Federal Government’s 10 pm curfew still holds in the state.

Money has become the god of many Christians, no discipline in the church- CAN President

Vincent Ufuoma
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Money has become the god of many Christians, no discipline in the church- CAN President

SAMSON Ayokunle, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) says lack of discipline among Christians has led to the maligning of the name of the Lord, saying ” money has become the god of some (if not many) Christians”.

Ayokunle who is also the President of the Baptist Convention stated this on Saturday at the opening of the virtual Convention of the Baptist Convention.

While speaking on the theme of the Convention, ““Moving Forward: Becoming a More Disciplined Church”, the CAN President noted that theme was timely as the church was at a time where there was little or no discipline among Christians.

“This theme is crucial to the state of the present-day church. The church is now in a state where lack of discipline has led to many instances of sexual immorality, gluttony, financial impropriety, laziness, court cases, etc,” Ayokunle said.

“The name of the Lord is being maligned in our society today because of the way Christians are behaving. Obscene dressing and all forms of impurities are happening in our midst.”

According to him, some Christians cannot be trusted for any noble assignment, noting that there appears to be no difference between them and the unbelievers.

“Money in particular has become the god of some (if not many) Christians, including Church leaders! What a shame to the Church! The Lord of the Church is sad concerning the state of the Church. We are robbed of our powers and molested by the children of Satan because of our careless living,” he said.

The clergyman said the convention should be a call to sober reflection among Christians noting that was through discipline that Christians  would enter into the kingdom of God and equally move forward.

“We, the body of Christ known as the Nigerian Baptist Convention, though we have come a long way, but if we would move from where we are presently to where we ought to be, if we would not be swept away by the wave of indiscipline and immorality that is daily tearing the fabric of our society and the world at large, we must continue to emphasize discipline in the House of God,” Ayokunle emphasised.

“It is through discipline that we would remain holy and enter the kingdom of God! Hence this year’s Convention is a call to self-examination as individuals, family, church, Convention. It is a clarion call to be more disciplined in areas where we have shown discipline and exercise discipline in areas where we lack such.

“It is my prayer that none of us would leave this place without experiencing the touch of God and the determination to go out there and make a positive difference for Christ in this corrupt world, in the name of Jesus.”

He thanked all the participants and all those who have contributed immensely to this year’s convention.

Sanwo-Olu visits Lagos helicopter crash site, promises to repair damaged properties

Niyi OYEDEJI
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Sanwo-Olu visits Lagos helicopter crash site, promises to repair damaged properties

BABAJIDE Sanwo-Olu, the Governor of Lagos State on Saturday visited the site of helicopter crash that happened at Opebi, Ikeja on Friday.

The governor, who disclosed this development on his Twitter page, promised the residents that the state under his leadership would rebuild the buildings damaged by the helicopter.

He stated that his visit to the site was to have on-the-spot assessment of the crash, just as he sympathized with the families of the victims,” Sanwo-Olu said.

“I was at the site of the helicopter crash at Opebi for an on-the-spot assessment. We sincerely sympathize with the families of the victims. I met with the residents of the buildings and we all thanked God for his abiding grace.”

Sanwo-Olu, who said he has ordered the immediate integrity test on the affected buildings promised to give necessary support to cushion the effects of the tragic incident.

“I have ordered an immediate integrity test conduct on both of the affected buildings to know the level of impact.

“We are taking on the responsibility of renovations and will provide all the necessary support to cushion the effects of this tragic incident,” he said.

Meanwhile, reports say Captain Ernest Chika, the pilot involved of the ill-fated helicopter emptied the fuel tank before the crash to ensure there’s no explosion that could kill so many people.

He also avoided roofs and crashed on a fence.

My reaction was disproportionate and unduly harsh, Fani-Kayode apologises to NUJ

Amos ABBA
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My reaction was disproportionate and unduly harsh, Fani-Kayode apologises to NUJ

FEMI Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation on Saturday, apologised to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), over his verbal attack on Charles Eyo, a journalist with Daily Trust, at a press conference in Calabar, Cross River State.

The ex-minister had been on a tour of some  South-South states controlled by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and was holding a press conference in Calabar to talk on what he saw during the tour.

But a question by the journalist about who was bankrolling the tour drew the ire of Fani-Kayode who said he was stupid for daring to asking him such question.

In a letter to the NUJ, Fani-Kayode described his reaction to the Daily Trust journalist as “disproportionate and unduly harsh”.

“I wish to convey my regrets to the reporter for my response to him and I also wish to express my regrets to the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and members of the Nigerian media, whom I hold in high esteem,” he said.

“I believe that my reaction was disproportionate and unduly harsh even though I felt deeply provoked by the fact that the reporter asserted that I was being bankrolled by somebody for something that I was funding entirely on my own.”

He pleaded with the media to continue their cordial relationship with him as it had been in the past.

“I do hope that our relationship will continue as it has always been,” the letter read.

“Thanks for your understanding and be rest assured that I not only hold you, your union and your members in high esteem but that I also remain one of those that are committed to Press freedom and free speech in our country.

“I consider myself to be a friend, a supporter and a strong ally of the Nigerian media and my hitherto excellent relationship with members of your organisation and your colleagues spanning over the last thirty years proves this to be the case. I wish you all the very best,” he said.

Fani-Kayode’s apology comes after the NUJ asked its members not to attend his press conference at Uyo, the Akwa Ibom capital on Friday.

ICPC quizzes NDDC directors, other officials over diversion of COVID-19 funds

Niyi OYEDEJI
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ICPC quizzes NDDC directors, other officials over diversion of COVID-19 funds

THE Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has quizzed top management staff of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), over allegations bothering on diversion of funds, procurement fraud and misappropriation of the Commission’s COVID-19 funds.

The ICPC in a statement on Saturday said some directors of NDDC were interrogated at the Commission’s headquarters recently, after months of intelligence gathering.

It said the interrogation followed the receipt of petitions from Nigerians on alleged illegalities and contracts fraud by some officials of the NDDC.

“The NDDC officials are being investigated for complicity in an alleged diversion of N5.474 billion meant for the purchase of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for health workers handling the COVID-19 pandemic in the nine states of NDDC,” the ICPC statement read.

The anti-graft agency stated that it is also investigating the payments of millions of naira to staff of the agency for foreign training during the COVID-19 full lockdown which were never attended, as well as the non-payment of entitlements to students on foreign scholarships.

“Other allegations being investigated by ICPC include the selling of back-dated contract award letters for projects and awards of contracts that were not captured in the budget of the NDDC”, the statement read.

The Commission noted that relevant documents with which to continue investigations towards the recovery of diverted funds and prosecution of breaches of the law have been retrieved.

Chadwick Boseman: World leaders, Hollywood stars, pay tribute to Boseman, “Black Panther” actor

Amos ABBA
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Chadwick Boseman: World leaders, Hollywood stars, pay tribute to Boseman, “Black Panther” actor

THE death of Chadwick Boseman, popularly known for his role in the blockbuster marvel superhero film “Black Panther,” has continued to generate from across the globe.

Boseman, 43, died of cancer of the colon four years after he was diagnosed of having the terminal disease.

He died at his Los Angeles home in the presence of his wife and family after undergoing countless surgeries and chemotherapy since he was diagnosed with colon cancer four years ago, according to a statement by his publicist Nicki Fioravante.

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“A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all and brought you many of the films you have come to love so much,” the statement on behalf of his family read.

Born in South Carolina, Boseman graduated from Howard University and had small roles in television before his first-star turn in 2013. His striking portrayal of the stoic baseball star Robinson opposite Harrison Ford in 2013′s 42 drew attention in Hollywood and made him a star.

He is survived by his wife and a parent and had no children.

His T’challa character in the movie Black Panther which was first introduced to the blockbuster Marvel movies in 2016′s Captain America: Civil War and his Wakanda Forever salute was an instant hit around the world after the release of Black Panther in 2018.

Black Panther, was the first major studio superhero movie featuring a predominantly African American cast, that became one of the highest-grossing films of the year and was nominated for six Oscars, including best picture.

It won three Academy Awards – in the best original score, best costume design and best production design categories.

However, the news of Boseman’s death has sparked an outpouring of grief on social media by prominent figures in arts and civic life.

Jordan Peele, actor and director called Boseman’s death “a crushing blow,” while filmmaker Nia DaCosta tweeted, “I’ll miss waiting to see what he does next.” Issa Rae simply tweeted, “This broke me.”

Hollywood actor, Denzel Washington, in a statement, eulogised the illustrious career of Boseman.

“He was a gentle soul and a brilliant artist, who will stay with us for eternity through his iconic performances over his short yet illustrious career. God bless Chadwick Boseman,” he said.

Below are more tributes on Twitter to Boseman.

Joe Biden, US Democratic Presidential nominee in the 2020 US Presidential election tweeted that Boseman’s personality transcended the screens and was an inspiration to our generation.

Kamala Harris, US Democratic Vice Presidential nominee in the 2020 US Presidential election said she was “heartbroken” by the news of his death.

 

Oprah Winfrey, American talk show host, television producer described Boseman as “a gentle gifted SOUL.”

Oby Ezekwesili, Co-Founder of #BringBackOurGirls Movement, also paid tributes to Boseman for his impact on screen.

 

Mark Ruffalo, who appeared alongside Boseman in “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame” remembered his co-star as one of the all-time greats.

Chris Evans, popular Captain America actor called Boseman “a true original. He was a deeply committed and constantly curious artist. He had so much amazing work still left to create.”

‘No, it’s not true, not up to 100 Nigerian students have died in Northern Cyprus’

Vincent Ufuoma
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‘No, it’s not true, not up to 100 Nigerian students have died in Northern Cyprus’

GIDEON Jude, the President of Nigerian Students Association in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) zone, has countered claims by Abike Dabiri-Arewa, Chairman, Nigeria in Diaspora Commission on killings of Nigerians students in the country.

The ICIR reported how Dabiri-Arewa claimed that about 100 Nigerians studying in Northern Cyprus have been murdered without justice.

She also asked that the country be blacklisted as major courses offered by her universities were not accredited.

Reacting in a video on YouTube, Jude who said he has been in Northern Cyprus for eight years said such claims did not exist.

“I clearly to want to point out first that we have never had such a record. It is not correct that 100 of Nigerian students have died in this highland, it is not correct,” Jude said.

“That is not true. I have been on the highland myself for eight years and I am still in the highland. I have taken my responsibility from my predecessor who has been here longer than I did, and we have never had in total, there is no such record that we have up to 20 Nigerian students that have died not even to talk of 100,” he added.

While expressing his condolences to families of those who have lost their loved ones in Northern Cyprus, he called for an investment into the Nigerian education sector by Nigerian Government in order to stop Nigerians looking for quality education from going abroad.

“We have 8000 students on this highland, and more than 10,000 have graduated since early 2000, Nigerians have been coming to this highland,” he said.

“Nigeria Government has to step up such that we need to build this structure, let us revamp our universities so that students can’t travel because Nigerians are everywhere in the world because of education.”

Jude also called on fellow students who are on the highland to conduct themselves in manners that befits themselves, their families and country, as some of them are caught perpetrating in crimes and drugs.

“Students who have found themselves here should also be able to conduct themselves in manners that will be well spoken of and to represent themselves, family and country. We have lots of students here who are into drugs and frauds. These are some of the vices and many others that some of the Nigerian students have been involved in.

“We have Nigerian students who fought themselves. We have some cases where a Nigerian student killed another Nigeria student. We have cases where students died because of overdose of hard drugs. We have issues like this happening on the highland.”

He called on the Nigerian Government through the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission (NUC) to liaise with the Northern Cyprus Ministry of Education if they feel that there are some courses in their universities that were not accredited.

Abike Dabiri-Erewa had called for blacklisting of universities in Northern Cyprus following a petition by Justice Amina Ahmad Bello, a Judge in Kaduna State High Court on the mysterious and, inexplicable death of her son, a third year Civil Engineering degree student of Girne American University in Girne (Kyrenia), Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus ( TRNC) via Mersin 10, Turkey in Abuja on Monday.

The late 25-year old Ibrahim Khaleel Bello was reported by his school to have fallen from a seven-storey building in Cyprus.

Justice Bello believed that her son was murdered as opposed to the report from her son’s school report. She added that her son’s death is equally being covered up by the university authority.

She said hours before her son was killed, she spoke with him, and he was expressing fears on his safety in the university environment.

Helicopter crashed two minutes before landing, investigation to commence – Authorities

Seun DUROJAIYE
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Helicopter crashed two minutes before landing, investigation to commence – Authorities

THE helicopter that crashed on Salvation Road, Opebi, in the Ikeja area of Lagos State on Friday, was two minutes away from landing at Murtala Muhammed Airport, authorities have disclosed.

The Bell 206-B3 helicopter belonging to Quorum Aviation crashed into a residential apartment located at No 16 Salvation Road in at about 12 noon leaving three dead including the pilot.

In a Twitter post, Hadi Sirika, the Minister of Aviation shared his condolences to the family of the deceased and revealed that investigation has commenced to unravel the cause of the crash.

” With heavy heart I wish to condole the families, friends and the Aviation community on the death of the occupants of the Quorum Helicopters that crashed this afternoon in Lagos. Investigation has commenced and will be fast tracked. The outcome will be made public,” Sidirika said.

Punch reports that Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), the investigating body in charge of all aviation-related accidents and incidents in Nigeria, also disclosed that investigation was ongoing.

The AIB however, noted that the helicopter didn’t have a black box, a device that stores data about planes and often used to determine cause in air accidents.

“It is not every aircraft that carries black boxes, especially helicopters, some of them have but some of them don’t have based on the manufacturer’s design. But in this case, the Bell 206-B3 helicopter did not carry any black box,” Tunji Oketumbi, AIB General Manager, Public Affairs was quoted as said.

The AIB in a statement urged eye-witnesses to provide footage to help in its investigation to unravel circumstances which led to the crash.

Blasphemy: Nigerians knock Ganduje, say he does not have a single shred of religious legitimacy

Olayinka SHEHU
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Blasphemy: Nigerians knock Ganduje, say he does not have a single shred of religious legitimacy

ABDULLAHI Ganduje, Governor of State Governor has come under criticism from Nigerians for saying that the Kano State government would not add one minute to sign the execution order passed on Shariff Sharifai, a musician convicted for blasphemy.

Ganduje reportedly said during at a stakeholder meeting on the death penalty at the Government House, Kano on Thursday that the State Government has accepted the death penalty on Sharif noting that the verdict would be signed in 30 days.

“Kano State Government has accepted the judgement passed by the Sharia Court and it has also accepted the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Ganduje  had said.

He noted that the convict has a 30-day grace to appeal the judgement, adding that failure to do so within that time would lead to the government signing the death penalty.

“In the event the convict appeals the judgement, we shall wait and follow the case up to the Appeal Court. If he further appeals to the Supreme Court, we shall follow the case there. If the Supreme Court upholds the two lower court judgement, the governor of Kano State will not add one minute to sign the execution order,” the governor said.

He also raised alarm on the growing issue of blasphemy adding that the government would ensure that it is curbed in the state.

Sharif, a resident of Sharifai in Kano metropolis, was accused of committing blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad in a song he shared on WhatsApp in March 2020.

Subsequently, the singer’s home was razed down by angry protesters who marched on to Kano Hisbah command’s headquarters to lay a complaint against the actions of Sharif.

In a verdict delivered by Aliyu Kani, the judge presiding over the case at the Kano Upper Shari’a Court, sentenced Sharif to death by hanging.

He was convicted based on Section 382 (b) of Kano Penal Code of 2000.

However, moments after Ganduje’s decision on the verdict, Nigerians reacted by calling him out for stating that he would carry out the execution of the musician.

Many of those who reacted wondered why anyone would want to fight for God by killing another human being.

Abdulbasit Kassim, a Ph.D. candidate in Religion and a Visiting Doctoral Fellow at the Institute of Islamic Thought in Africa at Northwestern University in a tweet said the governor does not have a single shred of religious legitimacy.

“Governor Abdullahi Ganduje does not have a single shred of religious legitimacy. He is neither an Imam nor a caliph. His role in this verdict is an abuse of the sharīʿa itself. What happened to the rule of “ʿidraʿu al-ḥudūd bi-l-shubuhat” and Istitābah?” Kassim’s tweet read.

“This disposition of actively seeking for people’s death by all means in a region where Shari’a is class-based and full of egregious irregularities and irreconcilable contradictions is unbecoming. As ugly as Yusuf’s utterances, he is repentant and deserves another chance.”

A Twitter user @FakhuusHashim, a member of North-Normal, a Non-Governmental Organisation calling for the end of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Nigeria said the Nigerian President should intervene to stop this judgement from being carried out.

She said, “I continuously call for the condemnation of the death sentence of #FreeYahayaShariffAminu on the false charges of blasphemy in Kano. @NGRPresident must intervene to stop this judgement from being carried out. Lawyers must advice Mr Yahaya to seek an appeal.”

“Today, Ganduje is Khadimul Islam but I see him with both hands on him even though he was caught stealing with evidence. They have re-crowned him & forgiven him for theft for the price of killing a man whose allegations cause no harm to another human, Certainly not the Prophet.”

“But do you know the cost of Ganduje stealing? On a spiritual level, as Muslims we all know what Allah said on Leaders that betray the trust of their people. On a practical level, that’s your schools, your safe roads, your hospitals, your clean water source in his pocket.”

“Do you know what happens when public funds are not redirected to where they should go? # You have unequipped hospitals, unpaid doctors, dilapidated schools, your children in Limbo, unpaid teachers, the degradation of education, potholes in your roads, road accidents, people die.”

Also, Inibehe Effiong, a constitutional and human right lawyer, said Ganduje has not signed death warrant for criminals convicted for murder and armed robbery in Kano State but wants to use the corrupt hands he used in collecting bribes to sign the death warrant of a citizen over a comment deemed to be blasphemous. Boko Haram will be celebrating.

Kaduna Govt, DSS, Police silent six days after kidnap of school children in Kaduna

Olayinka SHEHU
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Kaduna Govt, DSS, Police silent six days after kidnap of school children in Kaduna

KADUNA State Government and security agencies have not issued any official statement on the abduction of seven school children by unknown gunmen at a private school in the state.

Prince Academy, a school located at Damba-Kasaya village in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State was reported by Premium Times to be where seven students and a teacher were abducted on Monday.

The ICIR contacted the Department of State Security (DSS), Kaduna State Governor and the Police authorities in the state to confirm the incident and the number of casualties.

There was no response to all enquiries sent to their spokespersons as of the time of filing this report.

The ICIR waited three days for responses to messages sent to Peter Afunanya, DSS spokesperson, Muyiwa Adekeye, Special Adviser on Media and Communication to Governor Nasir El-rufai and Mohammed Jalige, Kaduna Police Command Spokesman but didn’t receive any response.

The abduction which has not received any attention from the appropriate government agencies happened around 8 a.m. when the gunmen stormed the rural community while the students were preparing for their Junior Secondary School examination.

The abducted students were said to be JSS3 students who were among the exit students asked to resume by the Federal and State Governments for their examination.

The bandit according to a resident of the area spoken to by Punch Newspaper, Bawa Wakili, said they came in large numbers and shot sporadically.

He was also reported to have said that the gunmen broke into the Aminci Baptist Church within the community where they destroyed musical instruments, including the public address system valued at thousands of naira.

Also, a youth, Akila‎ Barde, said the assailants arrived on motorcycles well-armed.

“They came into the village shooting before they went to the school and picked the students who were receiving lessons in preparation for their Junior examination.

Sources in Kaduna however, confided in The ICIR that the state government does not want to engage along with the families to resolve the matter, noting that the most important thing to the government was to ensure the release of the school children and teachers and united with their families.

“The most important thing to the government at the moment is for those children to be released and united with their families,” said a source who did not want to be named.

But the another source said government was being careful not to allow its officials or parents of the children to talk to the press in order not to aggravate the matter.

Meanwhile, Oby Ezekwesili, a former Minister of Education, on Friday condemned the abduction of school children and a teacher.

She also condemned the silence by the Kaduna State Government and the Federal Government five days after the abduction of the school children.

The former minister of education said that the country has a penchant for repeating terrible patterns of not learning from past mistakes.

“Still no word from @GovKaduna and @NGRPresident on schoolchildren and their teacher who were abducted in Kaduna several days ago? Ezekwesili’s tweet had read.

“What a penchant for repeating terrible patterns by never learning lessons from past mistakes do we have in governance! Give JUSTICE to the children. Right to human dignity must always matter to us.”

“Those who derided @BBOG_Nigeria for stepping up to amplify the voice of the families of our #ChibokGirls for 6 years now painfully have another chance to correct their attitude of “just-look-away-when-others-are-in-pain-syndrome.”

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