THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced investigation into the alleged financial misappropriation at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) in Ekiti State, The ICIR can report.
“Investigation on the matter has just commenced,” an operative of the EFCC who did not want to be named because he is not authorised to speak to the press told our correspondent.
This followed a petition by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Akure Zone to the anti-graft agency seeking its intervention in the crises rocking the university.
The academic union in a petition sighted by The ICIR dated September 23, 2019, addressed to the EFCC and also to the Independent Corrupt and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had sought the intervention of the anti-corruption agencies in what it described as gross maladministration at the university administration.
“The administrative style of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Shoremekun has led to consistent crises in the university for the past three years and recently, the students protest that claimed lives of two students,” ASUU said in the document.
In view of the above, the union hereby seeks urgent intervention of your office for justice.”
The document was signed by Olu Olufayo, Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Akure Zone, Adeola Egbedokun, Chairperson ASUU, OAU, Yinka Awopetu, Chairperson ASUU, FUTA, Kayode Arogundade, Chairperson, ASUU EKSU and Akinyemi Omonijo, Chairperson ASUU, FUOYE.
It alleged financial recklessness against the management of the university under the leadership of the Vice-Chancellor, Kayode Shoremekun.
According to the petition, ASUU among other allegations accused the management of the university of diversion and misuse of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund) money of about N11.7million to another account that would be difficult to trace for accurate supervision.
The union wants an investigation into the allegation against the university’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Abayomi Sunday, who it alleged received double salary during and after his Sabbatical leave at the university.
It also alleged the management of diversion of N13.560million into one university special imprest account with UBA and award of SIWES logbook to a company that did not bid for the contract at the rate of N550 per copy as against N220 per copy submitted by UNILORIN Press.
The Union sent copies of the petition to the National Universities Commission (NUC), the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
A source at the Ibadan Zonal office of the ICPC who also declined to be named confirmed to our reporter that the Commission received a petition against the management of FUOYE written by ASUU.
He said action would be taken once necessary procedures of scrutiny on the petition have been concluded assuring that once it is established that there violations according to the Act of the Commission and the approval of the Chairman is granted, all those indicted would be invited for questioning.
The ICIR reported that the university has been embroiled in series of crises in recent time notable among which is the face-off between the academic union and the management over The State of FUOYE report which detailed the infrastructure decay and other issues at the university.
The crises have led to the termination of appointments of some lecturers and suspension of the union’s chairperson, Akinyemi Omonijo.
ON Monday, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC announced it was set to establish two new condensate refineries with a production capacity of 200,000 barrels per day in a bid to boost Nigeria’s refining capacity.
Mele Kyari, Group Managing Director, GMD of the NNPC in a statement released by the oil firm in Abuja revealed when the project is completed, the condensate refineries would put Nigeria in the frontline of top exporters of petroleum products.
“Our objective is to make Nigeria a net exporter of petroleum products and you can only achieve that by complementing each other, both the public and the private sector.”
Condensate refineries primarily refine condensate, not crude oil. They often produce one product, mostly Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol.
He said the export of petroleum products from the condensate refineries will be achieved together with the expected 650,000 barrels per day from the Dangote Refinery when it is completed.
“We are going to do more and we actually need more of these private sector refineries for Nigeria to become a net exporter of gasoline and other associated products,” he said.
In 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari had pledged to fix the refineries when elected into office but currently, the combined installed capacity of Nigeria’s existing refineries still stagnates at 445,000 barrels per day.
An estimated $1.2 billion was projected to be raised to upgrade the country’s refineries in 2017 according to former Minister for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu who spearheaded the contractual process promising to end reliance on petroleum imports into the country by 2019.
The details of the contract with the oil firms to refurbish the refineries remain sketchy as the NNPC did not publicly disclose their identities.
In a report, Kachikwu said the NNPC mobilised its engineers and local oil servicing firms to carry out the turn around maintenance refineries at $10 million in 2015 but an estimated $50 million was also assigned for maintenance costs at the refineries in 2016.
Maikanti Baru, immediate past GMD of the NNPC according to a news report in January said the country’s refineries had not experienced any Turn Around Maintenance,TAM, for over 42 years.
He also confirmed that major rehabilitation works were being carried out in all the three refineries at the time but the amount involved was not disclosed to the public.
Also in September 2018, the Nigerian Bank of Industry acquired a $500 million loan from China to make available loans to investors interested in modular refineries to boost the increase of petroleum products for local consumption.
However, the loan has not translated into tangible results for the installed refining capacity of petroleum products in the country.
Kyari said these complementary efforts by NNPC and Dangote Group would guarantee energy security for Nigeria as well as crude oil feedstock and other necessary inputs.
He also stated that the national oil company was not in a contest for market share with the Dangote Refinery, but would support the project to give a boost to the country’s refining capacity.
THE African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) in Abuja has made a call to the Nigerian youths to be actively involved in the political decision-making processes of Nigeria.
This statement was made at a two- day roundtable tagged: Raising Political awareness among Students in Tertiary institutions: Duties and Obligations of the Youth in the Nigerian Political System.
The event was organised by AFRICMIL in collaboration with the International Institute of Journalism and Rosa Luxemburg Foundation
Chido Onumah, Executive Director, AFRICMIL and the author of the book We are all Biafrans said the role of the Nigerian students in ensuring equality in social relations within the country is undeniable.
He, however, bemoaned the current trend of events in Nigeria campuses where student body has destroyed the main purpose of the formation of the student union, unlike in the past, when student union was a central voice that spoke the mind of students.
“Do not agonise, but organise. It is a message we would be passing along today,” he said.
Emphasising the need to raise political awareness of the students and youths, Angela Odah, programme director, Rosa Luxemburg Foundation said cultism has replaced political reasoning, hence the need to raise the consciousness of the students in tertiary institutions.
In addition, the discussants highlighted the cost of securing political tickets as a hindrance to political participation by the youths.
Dr Emman Usman Shehu, Rector, International Institute of Journalism, identified laxity on the part of parents as one of the reasons for the erosion of good character among the youths. He blamed Nigerians leaders and their followers.
“The people in governance are not playing their role, but the frustrating aspect of it is that citizens are not also carrying out the obligation of holding their leaders accountable.
Unfortunately, this same pattern is also seen in different campuses with increment in cultism and cultic groups springing up, and the youths also are not talking about this problem, he lamented.
Shehu in a lecture titled Student Radicalism and the Nigerian Project: A Critical Analysis of the Nigerian Student Movement, said Nigerian higher institutions have birthed great student activism despite the bleak situation and government interference.
“As long as the salient issues that affect aspects of the Nigerian Project persist, students will react to the degree that they are directly affected,” he said.
Students at the event told The ICIR that student activism is certainly not ending on campuses, especially with the role of “Not too Young to rule” political platform.
AFRICMIL has assured the stakeholders at the event that social media platforms would be utilised for the Political Education Project.
POOR supply of water in Nigeria’s Federal Secretariat Complex located in the nation’s capital, Abuja, is frustrating government workers, as toilets within the building are filled with filths, producing unpleasant smell around the corridor.
For two days, The ICIR visited Phase One of the complex and the reporter observed the poor sanitary condition of the government facility that houses offices of federal ministries including the Ministry of Niger Delta, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Ministry of Aviation, Ministry of Women Affairs and Police Service Commission.
There was no water in most of the toilets from the first floor to the fourth floor when the reporter visited on Tuesday, October 22.
That day at about 11:30 am, a woman in her late fifties was pressed and hurried to the ladies on the first floor close to Wing A, but a voice stopped her. “Madam, no water!”
It was the voice of a woman selling sachet water by the staircase near the toilets on the first floor. she had noticed that the woman going to the toilet had no water with her. Too pressed to bother, the middle-age woman hurriedly bought a sachet of water at N10 before she proceeded to ease herself.
Taking a cue from the woman, this reporter also purchased two sachets of water at N20 and entered the restroom. Inside, water nylons littered the floor and the offensive smell of the lavatory became stronger. The handwashing dispenser was not functioning, and there was no single roll of tissue paper in sight.
“So, if there is no water, can pure water flush anything?,” the woman asked The ICIR reporter without expecting an answer.
Workers turn to using sachet water for urination due to lack of water. Photo credit: Rebecca Akinremi/ICIR. October 22.
The reporter visited the toilet on other floors, and the situation was the same. Some in fact were in worse condition because they have been abandoned.
A federal staff on the third floor where the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs is situated told The ICIR there has been an irregular supply of water in the complex for more than a month. When there was water, it never circulated to all the floors, she told The ICIR.
“There could be water on the sixth floor, and not on the second floor,” she said.
“If they should bring it around 7 am, before 9 am it has gone,” she added.
“As I am talking to you now, I want to use the toilet that is why I am holding this tissue in my hand, I want to use the toilets but there is no water. It is not easy,” she had lamented.
A toilet turned to dumpsite on the second floor, phase one at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja. Photo credit: Rebecca Akinremi/ICIR. October 24.
Employees contribute money to buy gallons of water from “mei ruwa”
A cleaner at 12 noon pulled a jerrycan of water to the convenience of the Wing B, third floor, holding a bottle containing detergent soap and a small broom. When The ICIR approached her, she said she was about to clean the toilets for the day because some staff contributed money to buy a keg of water.
“We bought the water outside for N150. E don tey since water run for here. Till last month sef. We wash the toilet just once in a day if there is money for water,” she said in pidgin.
She said workers are allowed only to urinate, but not to defecate. “The day we get money, we buy water, the day we no get money, the toilet will remain locked,” she added.
A source who also works in the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs confirmed that the workers usually contribute money for the purchase of jerry-cans of water from local sellers of water, popularly called “mei ruwa”.
Every week, he contributes N200, he told The ICIR last Thursday, and most of the toilet structures of the phase were spoilt.
“We have a big challenge,” he said. “All the urinary from the eleventh floor to the ground floor, you will hardly find any urinary that is working”.
A washing basin inside a toilet on the second floor, phase one, Federal Secretariat in Abuja. Photo credit: Rebecca Akinremi/ICIR
Speaking to another source, she said the situation that she could not defecate at work made her neglect being at work on Friday, October 18.
“Because On Thursday from morning till evening I was so pressed, there was nowhere to use,” she explained.
A woman should not to be exposed to bad toilets, she said.
Abandoned toilets, leaking roofs at Federal Secretariat
Of the 20 toilets The ICIR saw at the five floors of the Phase One complex, there were nine of them that have been abandoned, showing various degree of neglect.
At the ground floor, where the police station is situated, the two conveniences near it were wrapped with yellow tape. On it was written: “Police line- Do not cross”.
The barricade tape marked the toilets unsafe. The two restrooms on the other side of the same ground floor were blocked with notice board made of plywoods. The furniture leaned against the doors of the toilets.
Then going up, on the first floor towards Wing A, the two toilets (both male and female) were also closed down with woods. At the other side, towards the Wing B, the male convenience entrance was blocked with a flat wood. Only one was working.
Both the male and female conveniences on the second floor towards Wing B have spoilt with one left slightly opened, the door of the other was blocked with wood.
“Police Line-Do Not Cross” : toilets on the ground floor unsafe. Photo credit: Rebecca Akinremi/ICIR October 24.
Most of the toilets had dilapidated roofs. The roof of a toilet on the second floor had broken and a wide gaping hole is visible.
According to Laz Ude, a public health physician, dirty toilets could cause urinary tract infections and genital tract infections,. While both males and females could be infected with UTIs, women, he said, are at higher risk because of their short urethra which allows bacteria to travel quickly to the bladder.
Based on an article of the United States Centre for Disease Control (CDC), many diseases and conditions are spread by not washing hands with soap and clean running water.
Soap and clean-running water are major provisions for handwashing, meanwhile, nothing of such was at the restrooms of Phase One at the Federal Secretariat.
CDC noted handwashing with soap removes germs from hands. This helps prevent infections like diarrheal-related sickness and respiratory diseases.
A toilet turned to dumpsite on the second floor
Used foams dumped at the entrance of a convenience
On the first floor, a toilet has been abandoned.
Two toilets on the ground floor were blocked with plywoods to indicate they were bad
The conveniences on the first floor towards Wing A of phase one already abandoned
An automatic dispenser not functioning in a toilet on the second floor.
A water basin filled with dirty water in an abandoned toilet on the second floor of phase one
A bad roof of a toilet in the Secretariat
Millions budgeted for water rates and maintenance services in four years
The approved budget between the 2016 fiscal year and 2019 stated the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation budgeted a total of N679 million naira for water rates and maintenance services for its headquarters domiciled at the Federal Secretariat.
The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) is responsible for the leadership, management and capacity development of the Federal Civil Service.
For four years, more than N30.6 million naira was the amount budgeted for the water rates. And 649,211,578 million for maintenance-related services that included maintenance of the offices in the building.
The federal ministries also access monies every year for water rates and maintenance services for their headquarters. The Ministry of Niger Delta occupying offices at the third and ninth floors of Phase One in the complex budgeted on its recurrent expenditure a total of 26.4 million for water rates between 2016 and 2019, while 226 million nairas was for maintenance services.
A Servicom box in a toilet on the second floor, Phase one of the Secretariat turned to wastebin. Photo credit: Rebecca Akinremi/ICIR. October 24.
The Labour and Employment Ministry with offices on the ground floor and the second floor of the complex budgeted N26.4 million for water rates in four years. More than N226 million was budgeted for maintenance-related services.
The Police Service Commission occupying the ground floor of phase one of the complex also budgeted a total of N709,401 for the water rates, and N30 million was for maintenance services. Of these N30 million, 10 million was for the maintenance of office building and residential, and N2.7 million for any other maintenance-related work at its headquarters in the secretariat.
THE People’s Democratic Party has called upon its members to disregard the report making rounds the media that the party will retain the zoning of the 2023 Presidential election in the North East and South East respectively.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, on Sunday, the party said, it is just the speculations of mischief makers who are bent on causing dissatisfaction among its members.
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described reports in a section of the media suggesting that the party plots to retain the zoning of its presidential slot in the North East and South East, as merely speculative.
“The PDP says those behind the reports are political terrorists whose plan is to mislead the public and cause disaffection within the ranks of our party with the hope of using such fabrications to further their own selfish political ambitions.”
It said the party’s governors are not “divided along any lines of ambition towards 2023,” neither will it deter any of its members from pursuing their political ambitions.
It said the party is working with states governors and members of the legislatures within the party to deliver on the party’s manifesto to improve the welfare and development of Nigerians.
The party said the governors are not divided along any lines of ambition towards 2023, neither is there any plot to stop the ambition of any of our members.
“As a party, we are also working with our respective state governors and legislators across the country as they work hard, in line with the manifesto of our party, to improve on the welfare and development of Nigerians.”
The party said it is yet to discuss the 2023 Presidential election, as it is focusing all its effort towards winning the forthcoming governorship elections in both Kogi and Bayelsa States.
“For the avoidance of doubt, our party is yet to discuss the 2023 presidential election, overtly or covertly, at any time whatsoever.
“If anything, the PDP is currently working with Nigerians on how to win its elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states and will not be distracted by individuals who found themselves operating in the highest offices of the land but failing in governance.”
It warned the enemies of the party to be wary of their incessant attacks on Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers state. It said the party appreciates Rivers State governor and other governors of the party for their contributions towards the party.
“Moreover, it is also imperative to counsel, without any equivocation, that the enemies of our party, who feel threatened by the rising profile of Governor Nyesom Wike, should have a rethink on their incessant attacks on the governor.
“The PDP appreciates the contribution of Governor Wike, as well as all our governors, to the growth of our party and urge all members and supporters to ignore those seeking to cause disaffection in our ranks.”
EMBITTERED family of late Benedict Etonu, on Sunday, expressed disappointment over N200, 000 compensation offered by the Dangote Coal Mining Company Limited, after the late father of seven died in a landslide at the coal site located in Awoakpali, Ankpa Local Government of Kogi State.
The mining firm is a subsidiary of the Dangote Group of companies that commenced operation in 2016.
The ICIR had exclusively reported the landslide incident which occurred on Tuesday, 22nd October, and how the victim got buried alive with two heavy-duty machines used for excavation, until almost 24 hours when the deceased was found dead.
He was buried the next day – Wednesday 23rd October.
“They came yesterday (Saturday) and gave us N200, 000 and paid N29, 700 his last salary,” Ferogeh Etonu, the first daughter told The ICIR.
“They also said that my junior sister Faith can replace my father so she can take care of my smaller siblings.”
However, she agonised over the debts left behind by her father including a bank loan yet to be repaid.
“Our father borrowed N50,000 from a cooperative and another N90,000. I don’t know what to do anymore because I still have siblings.”
Faith Etonu, who is 23 years was said to have dropped at Class 2, (Senior Secondary School) due to the inability to pay tuition fees. “She is still at home. We don’t have money for her to resume.”
“I’ll tell you frankly, I am not happy with what they gave my son,” Agagu-Baba Stephen, an uncle to the late Etonu told The ICIR.
“He died while working for them. But is N200, 000 worth of his life?” he queried.
He said efforts to reject the money during the visit failed because he was stopped by his nephews.
“I wanted to complain right there but my other sons who are graduates but retired civil servants stopped me from talking. They said I don’t know the system Dangote uses to manage their staff.”
When this reporter contacted Awoakpali Community Representative, Fredrick Ahmadu, he acknowledged the visitation. He said the deceased family was paid N200,000 and the last salary for the month of October which was handled over to the wife.
However, he expressed concern over the amount saying it was too small knowing that the deceased died on duty.
He added that 80 percent of workers at the coal site are casual workers.
“They came yesterday. They also went to our chief. They paid the man’s last salary N29, 700 and gave the wife N200, 000 as compensation over the husband’s death,” says Ahmadu. “They gave our chief N1, 000, 000. They also promised to employ the daughter.”
The ICIR had earlier called the attention of Dangote Mines to the circumstance of Etonu’s death through the company’s verified Twitter account.
Ahmadu recalled how the company was persuaded to visit the deceased’s family after burial but never turned up until yesterday.
“We told them to come and sympathise with the family, even if they are not ready for compensation but they refused,” he said.
Also present at the meeting were vice-chairman of the community and two elders.
NIGERIAN President Muhammadu Buhari has given directive to the Nigeria Custom Service (NCS) to keep the nation’s border closed till January 31, 2020.
The directive was contained in an official memo dated November 1, 2019, with reference number NCS/ENF/ABJ/221/S.45 addressed to the Sector Coordinators of the Joint Border Operation Drill – Sectors 1, 2, 3, and 4 and signed by Deputy Comptroller of Customs in charge of Enforcement, Investigation and Inspectorate, Victor Dimka,
Dimka wrote that the border closure so far has achieved overwhelming success considering its benefit to Nigeria’s security and economy.
However, he said Buhari has approved an extension of the exercise to January 31, 2020 due to an observation that a few strategic objectives are yet to be achieved.
He instructed that the development be communicated to all personnel of the Custom Service for awareness and necessary action.
The memo further read that allowances for personnel sustenance and fueling of vehicles for the period of extension shall be paid as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, the spokesperson for the Joint Border Security Exercise and National Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Customs Service, Joseph Attah, said the exercise so far has been able to record seized items worth N2,309,336,000,880.
He said the items consist of 437,225 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit,, 363 vehicles, 32,814 bags of rice as well as several drugs, ammunition and guns.
He added that 203 illegal migrants and eight human traffickers had also been arrested since the inception of the operation.
The border closure has caused leaders of the neighbouring countries to appeal to their Nigerian counterpart, and has caused mixed reactions from Nigerians. While some believed it is a good step taken by the government, others believed otherwise.
Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Femi Falana also recently advised the Federal Government as a matter of urgency to open the borders for national interest.
Analysis has shown that price of rice would continue to increase despite the hike from N12,500 to N25,000.
NIGERIA President Muhammadu Buhari has departed Saudi – Arabia for a two-week private visit to the United Kingdom.
Buhari left Abuja for Saudi-Arabia on Monday October 28 to partake in the Future Investment Initiative (FII) 2019 conference in Riyadh, Saudi.
He held bilateral discussions with the King of Saudi-Arabia, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in Riyadh, during which they committed to deeper partnership between the two nations most especially in the areas of oil and gas for mutual development.
He was visited by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammad Bin Salman in his hotel room in Riyadh who initiated the establishment of Nigeria-Saudi Council as an effort to foster bilateral relationships between the two nations.
They agreed that the council will be established in two months and shall consist of government officials and business leaders of Nigeria and Saudi-Arabia with focus on mutual economic growth and development.
While in Saudi, the president also participated in the “What is next for Africa” summit with delegates of more than 90 countries of the world.
During the summit, he met with African presidents including President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta and Burkina-Faso President, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré.
Buhari also met with the United States Treasury Secretary, Steven Mnuchin in Riyadh and discussed investments in Nigeria under the new United States International Development Finance Corporation (USIDFC).
USIDFC is an executive agency of the United States of America that provides 60 billion dollars foreign aid through financing of private developments projects in developing countries.
Buhari has however left for the United Kingdom for a two-week private visit.
Twitter has locked the handle @Witan17, (Na’Gwaggo) believed to be a pseudo name, for using the platform to spread hate speech.
This means that the owner of the handle cannot use it to post or update old posts. The handle also faces the possibility of being fully suspended.
Twitter took the decision on Saturday following a flood of calls for it to pull down the handle, which on Friday apparently publicly called for the execution of three prominent Nigerians: Chidi Odinkalu, former National Human Right Commission, NHRC, chairman; Farooq Kperogi, Professor of Journalism and Emerging Media at Kennesaw State University and Ahmad Salkida, a journalist who specialises in conflict reporting.
Na’Gwaggo on Friday tweeted “@ishakaa we need to do plenty of such to people like @A_Salkida @faooqkperogi so @chidiodinkalu can twerk his life away.
To explain exactly what he meant, the Twitter user referenced another tweet by @DonKlericuzio (Edward) who on June2 had said ” Iran Thursday executed Colonel Jamal Haji Zavareh an Iranian IRGC officer for espionage against Iran. He was accused to have being working against Iran’s interest on behalf of Israel and Russia.”
Edward’s tweet had a photograph with several persons, including three men in military uniform, who appeared to be undergoing some kind of trial.
In a reply, @tfx47 said, “that Chidi esp.”
@Witan17, Ishakaa and @tfx47 are known to be strong supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration on social media.
A check on their twitter handle shows them tweeting in support of the ruling government’s policies and attacking those who have posted against any plans by this administration, trolling their handles with threat and condemnation.
Na ‘Gwaggo’s call to arms on social media has elicited enormous condemnation, with many calling for him/her to be arrested and for Twitter to pull down the handle.
Social Commentator and member of the Bring Back Our Girls movement, (BBOG), Aisha Yesufu, condemned the tweet and called on twitter to suspend the account of both social media users stating that the posts could lead to violence.
She said, “Dear @Twitter my account has repeatedly been suspended for stating that the President of my country is incompetent, clueless, inept and a failure #ICIF which he is. These fellows @ishakaa @witan17 @tfx47 call for harm to citizens all the time so why are they still here?”
Also responding to the threat post by the social media users, Odinkalu called on Twitter administrators to take down the handles of both Na’Gwaggo and Abdul Ishakaa.
He said, “I am today requesting @Twitter formally to take down the handles of @ishakaa & @witan17 for using the platform actively to advocate killing. I have also instructed appropriate notification to #Nigeria’s security authorities.
I am today requesting @twitter formally to take down the handles of @ishakaa & @witan17 for using the platform actively to advocate killing. I have also instructed appropriate notification to #Nigeria's security authorities. pic.twitter.com/ftrBTQZIzR
“U may dislike @farooqkperogi or @A_Salkida or @ChidiOdinkalu but it’s another thing to openly advocate their extermination. When that happens, the rules of the platform have clearly been violated & @twitter has a duty to apply the rules firmly.
Ishakaa in reply to Odinkalu tweet’s said, “The same @A_Salkida that has become the spokesperson of the Boko Haram terrorist group, who on daily basis post fake pictures of our fallen heroes? The three of you are the most dangerous fake news purveyors in the whole universe, constantly exposing the @HQNigerianArmy to danger.”
Also condemning the call for his execution, Salkdia, in a series of tweets stated:
“We know what @witan17 represents. It is that shameless cult of personal supremacy above nation and democratic values. Faceless characters like this hide under pseudo-regime supremacy to do incalculable damage to national ethos and sanctity of life.”
“Nigeria is actually at such critical point where characters like this without any claim to professional heritage will go to any length to shut out every voice of democratic dignity, every passionate work of journalism and every expression of the human conscience.”
“The forebears of journalism never promised us a day when the desperate wickedness of the lawless tribe will be no more. Rather, they assured us that they could be found among every generation and that our duty is to use the amour of truth to make them eternally uncomfortable.”
Twitter on Saturday said the handle @Witan17 had been locked for breaking its rules.
The tech company said to one request made for the handle to be suspended, “After our review, we’ve locked the account for breaking our rules.”
“Please keep in mind, the account does have the option to take the actions we’ve requested to have their account unlocked. This can include deleting the Tweet(s) that violated the rules, having their account features be temporarily limited or updating specific information on their account.”
But Ishakaa in his reply to Odinkalu’s complaint to Twitter said, “Good morning patriotic Nigerians, yesterday in an unprecedented move @ChidiOdinkalu who is arguably the most dangerous fake news purveyor in the world led the yahoo yahoo NGO/CSO community in Nig demanding Twitter suspend my account for exercising my right to freedom of speech.”
Good morning patriotic Nigerians, yesterday in an unprecedented move @ChidiOdinkalu who is arguably the most dangerous fake news purveyor in the world led the yahoo yahoo NGO/CSO community in Nig demanding Twitter suspend my account for exercising my right to freedom of speech
The Nigerian government only recently expressed alarm at the increasing use of social media to spread hate speech and fake news, promising to introduce new regulations to stem the tide
The Minister of Communication and Culture, Lai Muhammed during a press briefing outlining the government’s plan said the Federal government plans on sanitizing the social media against fake news and hate speech.
He said, “Gentlemen, since we inaugurated our reform of the broadcast industry, many Nigerians have reached out to us, demanding that we also look into how to sanitize the Social Media space.”
“I can assure you that we are also working on how to inject sanity into the Social Media space which, today, is totally out of control.”
“No responsible government will sit by and allow fake news and hate speech to dominate its media space, because of the capacity of this menace to exploit our national fault lines to set us against each other and trigger a national conflagration.
“That is why we will continue to evolve ways to tackle fake news and hate speech until we banish both,’’ he said.
While the government plan has been deemed an attack on free speech and media oppression in some quarters, the tweet by Na’Gwaggo and the controversy it generated culminating in Twitter clamping down on his/her handle, might be the very first test of bot the resolve and sincerity of the government to deal with the misuse of social media platforms. Na’Gwaggo, Ishakaa and @tfx47 threat falls under the CyberCrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) ACT, 2015.
Cyberbullying or cyberharassment also known as online bullying is a form of bullying or harassment using electronic means.
Section 24 which deals with cyber stalking makes it an offence to threat or bully anyone using a computer Cybercrimes Act.
Any person who knowingly or intentionally sends a message or other matter by means of computer systems or network that a) is grossly offensive, pornographic or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character or causes any such message or matter to be so sent; or (b) he knows to be false, for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will or needless anxiety to another or causes such a message to be sent:
Commits an offence under this Act and shall be liable on conviction to a fine of not more than N7,000,000.00 or imprisonment for a term of not more than 3 years or to both such fine and imprisonment.
(2) Any person who knowingly or intentionally transmits or causes the transmission of any communication through a computer system or network
(a) to bully, threaten or harass another person, where such communication places another person in fear of death, violence or bodily harm or to another person;(b) containing any threat to kidnap any person or any threat to harm the person of another, any demand or request for a ransom for the release of any kidnapped person, to extort from any person, firm, association or corporation, any money or other
thing of value; or (c) containing any threat to harm the property or reputation of the addressee or of another or the reputation of a deceased person or any threat to accuse the addressee or any other person of a crime, to extort from any person, firm, association, or corporation, any money or other thing of value: commits an offence under this Act.
Any offender is liable to a jail term of between five and ten years or a fine of up to N25 million.
Na’Gwaggo tweet contravenes Twitter rules which state that “We may lock an account or place temporary limitations on certain account features if an account appears to be compromised or in violation of the Twitter Rules or Terms of Service. If you log in or open your app and see a message that your account is locked or that some of your account features have been limited, follow the instructions to restore it or continue reading for more information.”
@Ishakaa twitter handle is still operational, same with TeeJones (@tfx47)
A NOTORIOUS armed robber identified as Justice Amadi, aka Italian, and his gang members have been declared wanted by the Rivers State Police command.
Punch reports that the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Nnamdi Omoni, in a statement on Friday said that Amadi and his gang members were declared wanted in connection with the killings of two policemen, among other heinous crimes.
According to the police, Amadi who hails from Omueke Isiokpo in the Ikwerre LGA of the state, was responsible for the kidnap of one Mrs. Chioma Ewor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
Justice Amadi alias Italian is a notorious armed robber and leader of a cult group whose gang is responsible for all the criminal activities in Ikwerre and its environs. He is dark in complexion, 5.6ft tall, in his mid 20s, speaks Ikwerre and English languages fluently.
Among the criminal activities carried out by Amadi and his gang members are as follows; the murder of two policemen on June 1, 2019. The policemen were ambushed at the Elele/Omerelu Road while responding to a distress call.
It was reported that the leader of the police team, DSP Yusuf Abdullahi of the Anti-Cultism Unit sustained life threatening gunshot wounds while a police sergeant was killed and his rifle taken.
However, the command appeals to any person with useful information that can lead to his arrest, to report to the nearest police station or call the following security phone numbers: 08032003514, 08028915462 and 08098880134.
