Home Blog Page 2743

Fayose: If you put me in the den of lions, I cannot be harmed

Kingsley OBIEJESI
-
0
Fayose: If you put me in the den of lions, I cannot be harmed

 

Ayodele Fayose, the Governor of Ekiti State, says he will continue to be outspoken irrespective of the criticism that constantly comes his way, as the Bible remains his watchword.

Speaking shortly after delivering the 13th convocation lecture at the Benson Idahosa University in Benin, Edo State, Fayose said he has been termed controversial because of his courage to speak truth to power.

He went as far as saying that if he is placed in the den of lions, the animals’ claws would go inside.

He said: “Some people chose to be under the table; they don’t want to die. They are afraid. But remember that the Bible says that those who want to gain their life will lose it and those that lose their life will gain it.

“And the same Bible tells me, ‘Fear for nothing’. My strength lies in God Almighty. If you put me inside running water, the water will become still. If you put me the den of lions, the teeth, the claws will go inside; you can find that in the Bible too.

“I am the man to watch in this generation. So, I am controversial because I am doing things other men like me cannot do. They are scared. They are afraid; they don’t have courage.”

Fayose further urged Nigerians not to be scared to express their opinions even when it does not favour the powers that be.

Quoting some passages of the Bible, he said, “I draw my power from those things (Bible passages). When I wake up, I lie down in my bathroom and say, ‘Lord, many are the afflictions of the righteous. But the Lord God will deliver him from them all’.

“What I am saying to you is that controversy is necessary for democracy. We must have our voice. I am not an APC member and I will never be.

“But remember the fact that our leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a courageous man in his own right, our leader in Yoruba land, forget about politics… if they give Asiwaju appointment, he will give a Yoruba man. Whether he is in the APC does not matter.

“‎And I came out strongly; I defended him. I am not defending politics. I am defending the truth. Our politics must have where we would stop it and say the truth as may be necessary.‎”

Bradley Lowery, six-year-old cancer-stricken Sunderland fan, has died

Rebecca Akinremi
-
0
Bradley Lowery, six-year-old cancer-stricken Sunderland fan, has died

 

Bradley Lowery, the six-year-old Sunderland FC fan suffering from neuroblastoma, has died.

Lowery died on Friday in the arms of his parents, and surrounded by family members.

“My brave boy went with the angels today 07/07/17 at 13:35, in mammy and daddies arms surrounded by his family. ????????????,” her mother wrote on the Facebook page dedicated to Lowery’s ordeal.

“He was our little superhero and put the biggest fight up but he was needed else where. There are no words to describe how heart broken we are.

“Thank you everyone for all your support and kind words. Sleep tight baby boy and fly high with them angels ????????????????????.”

Bradley Lowery 2
Defoe and Lowery… inseparable

Neuroblastoma, a type of cancer that forms in certain types of nerve tissue, is the most common cancer in babies and the third most common cancer in children after leukemia and brain cancer.

About one in every 7,000 children is affected at some point in time, with about 90% of cases occurring in children less than five years old.

Lowery became popular after Jermaine Defoe, ex-Sunderland striker, developed interest in the boy and visited him in hospital during his time at the Stadium of Light.

In May, Defoe famously clad Bradley Lowery in his arms as the terminally-ill lad led out Sunderland in the Black Cat’s final home game against Swansea.

Earlier in match, Defoe, in his first international appearance in many years, allowed Lowery lead England out in a clash against Lithuania at Wembley.

Nigerian bags 12-year imprisonment for forging Indian visa documents

Kingsley OBIEJESI
-
0
Nigerian bags 12-year imprisonment for forging Indian visa documents

 

Okonkwo Chukwuemerah, a man who tried to fraudulently obtain Indian visas, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Chukwuemerah forged the First Bank of Nigeria Plc statement of account of Arkleen Oil and Gas Nig. Ltd, with account number 3098725340, and other documents that he presented at the Indian High Commission in Nigeria in fulfillment of requirements for visa issuance.

Other documents forged by the convict are: “Letters of introduction to the Consulate High Commission of India, Abuja, by Arkleen Oil and Gas in favour of one Mrs Maduabuchukwu Nwamaka and Mrs Okeke Chinyere Faith.

“Sagar Hospitals medical reference on Okeke Chinyere Faith and Mrs Maduabuchukwu Nwamaka addressed to India High Commission Nigeria.

“Letter of Domino Medical Centre Maitama Abuja dated 6th August 2013 addressed to The High Commission of India in respect of Mrs Maduabuchukwu Nwamaka Marcelina.

“Summit Medical Centre letter dated 8th August 2013 on Mrs Okeke Chinyere Faith signed by Doctor Williams.”

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) commenced prosecution in January 14 before Justice Folasade Ojo of the Federal Capital Territory High Court 13, Abuja.

Judgement was eventually delivered on June 28 this year.

Chukwuemerah was sentenced to two years imprisonment on each of the six counts, which will run concurrently.

He was however given an option of N500,000 fine on each of the count.

READ ALSO:

QUESTION: How long will it take Dogara to swear in Hembe’s replacement?

Kingsley OBIEJESI
-
0
QUESTION: How long will it take Dogara to swear in Hembe’s replacement?

It is exactly two weeks since the Supreme Court sacked Herman Hembe, the lawmaker representing Konshisha/Vandekiya federal constituency of Benue State at the National Assembly, and ordered that Dorathy Mato be issued a certificate of return by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and be sworn in immediately.

But that court order is yet to be obeyed as Yakubu Dogara, Speaker of the House, has refused to swear Mato in for reasons best known to him. Hembe, who has had a seesaw legislative career, was a strong Dogara loyalist during his time at the lower chamber.

DESPAIR

Mato was at the National Assembly premises on Thursday, the last legislative day for the week, hoping to eventually get sworn in, but she left in apparent despair after being kept for long hours and nothing was done.

She refused to speak with journalists as she exited the premises, but one of the persons with her said they had complied with all the necessary requirements listed by the House leadership.

“We all came in anticipation of this swearing-in and they kept us waiting and dilly-dallying; at the end of it they said ‘wait we are in plenary session,”said Mati Acka, a member of the Benue State House of Assembly who accompanied Mato to the National Assembly complex.

“We all waited patiently, only for them to come out and nothing happened and we are wondering. Papers and things need to be filed and things need to be done; she has done everything that is required to have been done. I just pray and hope that this is not some kind of a game because it will not be right.”

She suggested that Mato was being persecuted because she is a woman.

“This issue of gender equality, empowerment and all of that, you intimidate us, we swim, we manage to swim across. When we swim, we get victory at the court, you now want to shove us back to drown.

“She was manipulated out of the election, just as I was by this same person whom God gave victory against him. I’m rejoicing with her and the women, and they are truncating our victory. There is no tangible reason that has been given.”

‘CERTAIN PROCESSES’ TO UNDERGO

However, Abdulrazak Namdas, Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Publicity, said the delay in swearing Mato in was to ensure that she complied with all due process.

“I’m not aware it has been done, I have to look at it and I can tell you that if all the right processes have been fulfilled, I don’t think there is any reason that she will not be sworn in”.

“But the truth is that as far as I’m concerned there are certain processes that if there is any pronouncements by the court, they are also some processes you have to undergo in the house before you are sworn in.”

NO WORD FROM DOGARA

When ICIR contacted Turaki Hassan, the Chief Press Secretary to Speaker Dogara, he said he was in a noisy place and could not comment. He asked this reporter to send him a text message; this was done but he did not reply.

Meanwhile, the judgement from the court is for Hembe to “immediately” vacate the seat for Mato, whose success did not come on a platter of gold.

With Mato still not sworn in, it is likely that Hembe still hasn’t returned all the money he earned in the position, which by the ICIR’s calculation, is approximately N198.5million.

‘Glory be to God’, says man who escaped lynching after he was mistaken for ‘a Badoo’

Kingsley OBIEJESI
-
0
‘Glory be to God’, says man who escaped lynching after he was mistaken for ‘a Badoo’

Akinrinlade Ayodeji, a resident of Ikorodu, Lagos State, has narrated how he was almost killed by a mob in his area after he was mistaken for a Badoo cultist.

In the write-up, titled ‘Ikorodu’s Badoo brouhaha: My story’, Ayodeji said he had gone to fetch water at a nearby tank and on his way home, he was accosted by a man who thought he was carrying condemned engine oil – an item for which Badoo is notorious. Before he could explain himself, a mob had formed and started pummeling him.

“I got back from work at around 5:21pm; after putting off my wears, I decided to take a nap on my bed. Suddenly i felt into a deep sleep only to wake up at about 7:39pm. Immediately I became conscious to the fact that I didn’t have water in my gallon,” he said.

“Then I quickly decided to go get some water at a nearby tank. I was with my hands-free on when I heard ‘hey hey! what are you coming here to do at this time’? I replied, ‘Sorry sir, I am actually here to fetch some water.

“Before I could finished explaining myself, I saw a very furious man and decided to just turn back jejely to my house. Before i could take three steps forward, I just felt a big and severe bang on my face through the back.

“At this point I was lost, wondering if the world was ending that day. Immediately, I saw people gather, asking in Yoruba, ki lo de? Ki lo sele (what happened? Whats going on?)”

“To cut the long story short, people testified that they know me, even asking the said man, don’t you know him? They all apologized after several slaps and molestation, initially.

“Then i just jejely carried my gallon that someone else had helped filled, obviously out of pity, then walked towards my house, entered my room, put off my already tattered cloth, sat down and started imagining what just happened, hoping it was just a dream. Behold! it wasn’t; it was REAL!”

Ayodeji said that some elders of the community, including the man who wrongly accused him, later came to his house to further apologise.

“They all said they were sorry for the ugly incident, with the man that punished me particularly holding me tight just to show his level of sorry. I almost shed tears at that point, but had to be a man,” he said

Ayodeji said though he bore no grudges about what happened to him, he however wants residents of Ikorodu to “take things easy” because “two wrongs can never make a right”.

He recalled that “that was how one of our friends too was lynched to death last Sunday at Odongunyan but glory be to God mine was not beyond control”.

He must have been referring to the lynching of Paul Chinedu, who many people later identified as an upcoming comedian and MC.

Some reports have it that Chinedu, whose stage name was ‘MC Think Twice’, was returning from an event when his car broke down around Ikorodu area by past 2 am. He called his friend who arrived with an SUV to help tow the car, but they were accosted by men of the local vigilante group.

According to the reports, the security men refused to allow them explain themselves; and when a stone was found in the trunk of one of the cars, the mob needed no other evidence and beat them to death, setting their bodies alight.

Ex-Bayelsa lawmakers enacted law enlisting ex-govs for pension — now they want to be part of it

Kingsley OBIEJESI
-
0
Ex-Bayelsa lawmakers enacted law enlisting ex-govs for pension — now they want to be part of it

Former legislators in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly are demanding their inclusion in the pension scheme just like past governors and deputy governors in the state.

Robert Enogha, the Acting Chairman, Forum of Bayelsa Ex-legislators, made the demand in Yenagoa during a special session to mark the end of the second session of the sixth Assembly of the State.

Enogha said that it was wrong to treat the former lawmakers as “casual workers” after their service to the state, irrespective of the fact that they were the ones who enacted laws for former governors to enjoy pension benefits.

“Since it was the Assembly that passed the law making ex-governors and their deputies beneficiaries of pension after serving the state, it is wrong to treat the former lawmakers as ‘casual workers’ without any benefit after contributing their own quota to the development of the state.

“We, therefore, urge the Speaker and members of the House to do the needful and enact a legislation that will accommodate former lawmakers in the state pension scheme.”

Enogha explained that the inclusion of former lawmakers in the pension scheme would help them pursue other meaningful ventures after they must have left office.

The session was attended by current and former members of the Assembly, including those who were lawmakers in the old Rivers State House of Assembly.

However, notable former state legislators in the state who are no longer in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), did not attend the event. They include, Timipre Sylva who was a member in the old Rivers House of Assembly, and Heineken Lokpobiri, Pioneer Speaker of the Bayelsa House of Assembly.

One of the high points of the event was the defection of Gibson Monaleyefa, member representing Ogbia Constituency 2, from the Labour Party to the PDP.

LIVE: Final day of ICIR training for journalists on covering procurement processes

Damilola OJETUNDE
-
0
LIVE: Final day of ICIR training for journalists on covering procurement processes

 

15 organisations get MacArthur’s $9m grant to combat corruption in Nigeria

iCiR
-
0
15 organisations get MacArthur’s $9m grant to combat corruption in Nigeria

 

 

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation has announced nearly $9 million in funding to advance accountability and anti-corruption efforts in Nigeria.

The grants are part of the Foundation’s On Nigeria grantmaking, which seeks to reduce corruption by building an atmosphere of accountability, transparency, and good governance in the country.

The grants will support nonprofits working to advance criminal justice reform or fight corruption in Nigeria. The organisations will collaborate with other Foundation-supported partners in Nigeria, including several that are focused on enhancing investigative journalism and reducing corruption in the electricity and education sectors, two services that Nigerians report as being critical but difficult to access due to corruption.

“Addressing corruption requires action and partnership among a wide array of people and groups, including those in government, the media, civil society, communities, and consumers,” said Kole Shettima, Director of MacArthur’s Nigeria Office. “These grants will reinforce and expand the growing network of organizations partnering across disciplines to contribute to a culture of investigation, advocacy, accountability, and transparency.”

The Grants are in two places. The first, the Criminal Justice Grants, are in support of criminal justice organisations seek primarily to further state-level adoption and implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), which aims to ensure that administration of criminal justice in Nigeria promotes efficient management of criminal justice institutions, speedy dispensation of justice, protection of society from crime, and protection of the rights and interests of the suspect, defendant, and victim. The grants include:

  • CLEEN Foundation (Abuja): To create a comprehensive online repository that catalogs, analyzes, and provides detailed information on corruption cases and to facilitate monitoring of implementation and compliance with the ACJA in corruption cases.
  • International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA)/Nigeria: To provide technical assistance to states working to adopt and implement the ACJA.
  • Nigerian Bar Association (Abuja): To promote the adoption and implementation of the ACJA by providing technical support to state governments.
  • Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (Abuja): To promote understanding of the ACJA through tailored trainings and continuing legal education for judges, prosecutors, and defense lawyers.
  • Rule of Law and Empowerment Initiative (Abuja): To promote the implementation of the ACJA in Lagos and Ondo states by enhancing citizen participation in judicial processes through case monitoring, daily observation of court cases, and user satisfaction surveys.

The second, the Civil Society Grants, were given to civil society organizations to support activities related to reducing corruption, including efforts to leverage and respond to investigative journalism regarding corruption. They include:

  • African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Abuja): To educate civil society organizations on Nigeria’s plan for implementing the Open Government Partnership, an initiative to secure commitments from governments to promote transparency, empower citizens, fight corruption, and strengthen governance.
  • African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (Abuja): To build public awareness, support, and advocacy for Nigeria’s new whistle-blower policies, which seek to encourage and protect citizens who report corruption-related offenses.
  • Arewa Research & Development Project (Kaduna): To amplify investigative news reports on corruption and organize civil society and community organizations to actively participate in the campaign against corruption.
  • Center for Transparency Advocacy (Abuja): To mobilize Nigerians to embrace non-violent forms of campaigns and protests against impunity and corrupt governance in the country.
  • Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (Abuja): To amplify the reach of investigative reports related to corruption and to improve mechanisms and systems for preventing, detecting, and punishing corruption.
  • Connected Development (Abuja): To monitor and advocate for accountability in the flow and use of Universal Basic Education Funds in Kaduna state.
  • Human & Environmental Development Agenda (Lagos): To mobilize community engagement around corruption cases and to strengthen the capacity of Nigerian civil society to understand international mechanisms to reduce corruption.
  • Social Development Integrated Centre (Port Harcourt): To respond to investigative reports on corruption by organizing, mobilizing, and coordinating with community groups.
  • Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation (Abuja): To establish an anti-corruption advocacy and mobilization platform focused on the education and electricity sectors and to feature stories of success and progress in the fight against corruption.
  • Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (Abuja): To engage and mobilize young people in the fight against corruption through social media and various forms of journalism.

MacArthur’s On Nigeria grantmaking supports Nigerian-led efforts to address the corruption, impunity, and lack of accountability that have posed major governance challenges in Nigeria, with far-reaching impacts on the well-being of Nigerians and development in the country.

The Foundation is focused on reducing incidences of petty or retail corruption that citizens experience every day, addressing issues of grand corruption that reinforce a culture of corruption, strengthening the criminal justice system, and building citizen demand for and confidence in anti-corruption efforts.

MacArthur has been making grants in Nigeria since 1989, opening an office in Abuja in 1994 staffed by Nigerians.

Jigawa declares one-day public holiday to pray for Buhari’s recovery

Kingsley OBIEJESI
-
0
Jigawa declares one-day public holiday to pray for Buhari’s recovery

 

Muhammad Abubakar, Governor of Jigawa State, has declared Friday as a public holiday so that the state’s civil servants can offer special prayers for the quick recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari as well as the repose of the soul of Maitama Kano.

Isma’il Ibrahim, Public Relations Officer in the Office of the state’s Head of Civil Service, made this known in a statement on Thursday.

According to Ibrahim, the decision was reached at the state executive council meeting of Wednesday.

“During this day, it is expected that all public servants and the entire people of the state will pray to Almighty Allah to grant our president quick recovery.

“It is also expected that they will also pray to Almighty Allah to grant Jannatul Firdausi to late Danmasanin Kano, Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule.”

Buhari’s state of health and consequent travel to London for the past 60 days has become a subject of public worry.

But Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, expressed certainty only on Wednesday that the President would be back in no time.

“Let Nigerians be at rest,” he said. The president will be back soon; even though i have not spoken with him. I know my oga.”

READ ALSO:

Osun doctors protest against ‘recalcitrant’ Aregbesola for ‘mutilating’ their salaries

Kingsley OBIEJESI
-
0
Osun doctors protest against ‘recalcitrant’ Aregbesola for ‘mutilating’ their salaries

 

Medical doctors took to the streets of Osogbo, the Osun state capital, on Thursday to protest the “mutilation” of their salaries by the state government.

Tokunbo Olajumoke, Chairman of the Osun State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), said the protest is also about unpaid salary arrears and poor conditions of public hospitals.

A similar protest was held by the doctors over the same issues in June but nothing was done by the state government.

The doctors marched from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital to Oke Fia Roundabout, chanting anti-government songs and accusing Governor Rauf Aregbesola of insensitivity to their suffering.

Olajumoke told journalists that doctors’ salaries had been slashed drastically as they were now being paid only 30 percent of their salaries while the government continues taxing them based on 100 percent of the salaries.

“Our protest is not only centred on our salaries but state hospitals lack equipment and drugs,” he said.

“The conditions of our hospitals are bad. There are no drugs; the most expensive drugs in many hospitals are paracetamol and other painkillers.

“We say no to obnoxious tax regime; we say no to amputated salaries and we want our hospitals to work in the interest of people who cannot afford to seek treatment abroad.

“That is why we are calling on major stakeholders in the state to talk to the governor. We cannot give half treatment to our patients because we are being paid amputated salaries.

“We have done everything humanly possible but the governor is recalcitrant. We also will not allow our rights to be trampled upon and keep silent.”

However, Adelani Baderinwa, Commissioner for Information, appealed to the doctors to show understanding with the government, adding that the state is facing financial challenges just like many others in the country.

“Our appeal to the doctors is that they should take the ethics of their profession seriously; they should consider the financial status of Nigeria which Osun State is part of,” he said.

“There should be synergy and understanding between the government and the doctors on the need to save lives. This administration was never found wanting in the area of workers’ welfare including the doctors when the economy was better than it is now.”

1...2,7422,7432,744...3,440Page 2,743 of 3,440