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The Norbert Zongo African Investigative journalism award seeks entries

Blessing OTOIBHI
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The Norbert Zongo African Investigative journalism award seeks entries

THE Norbert Zongo National Press Center (CNP-NZ) and the Norbert Zongo Unit for Investigative Journalism in West Africa (CENOZO) are calling for applications for the Norbert Zongo African Investigative Journalism Award (PAJI-NZ).

PAJI-NZ aims to reward the work of African journalists in print, radio, television, and online media who have carried out quality investigations on issues such as corruption, organised crime, violation of human rights human rights, governance, environmental crime, terrorism, etc.

Applicants must be regularly employed in a media organisation or regularly collaborating with one or more media organisations. Non-African journalists residing in Africa for at least two years prior to application and covering Africa are eligible.

Any production submitted for the PAJI-NZ must have been published between May 3, 2021, and May 3, 2023.

African investigative journalists can apply.

The deadline for the submission applications is August 15, 2023. Interested applicants can apply here.

MRA asks NBC to obey court order stopping fines on media houses 

Bankole ABE
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MRA asks NBC to obey court order stopping fines on media houses 

THE Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has urged the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to abide by a court ruling which restrained it from fining broadcast stations.

A Federal High Court in Abuja on May 10 barred the NBC from issuing fines to broadcast stations nationwide.

In the ruling, the presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho, declared that the NBC does not have judicial powers to impose penalties on broadcast stations.

The judge held that the NBC Code, which gives the Commission the power to impose sanctions, conflicts with Section 6 of the 1999 Constitution, which vested the authority in the law courts.

The judge also set aside fines imposed on 45 broadcast stations by the NBC.

Reacting to the development in a statement issued on May 11, the Director General of the NBC, Balarabe Shehu llelah, said the Commission would appeal against the judgment.

He noted that the May 10 court order conflicted with a previous court judgment, which empowered the Commission to issue fines while regulating broadcasting in Nigeria. 

Ilelah said the Commission had applied for a Certified True Copy of the judgment.

“The attention of the National Broadcasting Commission has been drawn to a ruling by the Federal High Court, Abuja nullifying the powers of the Commission to impose fines on broadcast Stations that violate the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.

“In view of the foregoing, the Commission has applied for a Certified copy of the judgment.

“The Commission will appeal against the judgment when found to be in conflict with previous judgments of the Court, which empowers the Commission to regulate broadcasting in Nigeria,” parts of the statement read.

Meanwhile, reacting to NBC’s response, Executive Director of the MRA Edeatan Ojo, in a statement issued on Monday, May 15, said the Commission should abide by the court order.

Ojo asked the Commission to uphold the Court’s ruling while filing its appeal.

“We recognise and respect the right of the NBC to appeal against the judgment of the Court if it is dissatisfied with the decision, so long as it does not flout the orders of the Court when those orders have not been set aside by an appellate court.

“Whatever the NBC’s view of the Court’s judgment may be, it cannot deny that there is a valid and subsisting order of a court of competent jurisdiction prohibiting it from imposing fines on radio and television stations.”

Ojo assured that the MRA would take immediate and vigorous action to maintain the integrity of the court and its orders.

He described the NBC Director-General’s statement as a feeble attempt to mislead the public. 

“We do not dispute the power or authority of the NBC to regulate broadcasting in Nigeria, and we have not challenged its right to do so.

“We appreciate that the NBC cannot be happy that we have shut down this major source of revenue for the Commission, but we urge it to tread the path of constitutionalism and the rule of law and obey the orders of a court of competent jurisdiction, established by the constitution, especially if it expects individuals and entities subject to its regulatory authority to comply with its own lawful directives,” he added.

Some lawyers who reacted to the May 10 judgment in separate interviews with The ICIR advised media houses fined by the NBC to head to court to seek a refund of money already paid as fines.

UN-17 AFCON: Senegal, Morocco to play final

Dotun OMISAKIN
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UN-17 AFCON: Senegal, Morocco to play final

SENEGAL and Morocco will clash in the final of the ongoing 2023 UN-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Friday, May 19.

The two teams qualifed for the final after winning their semi-finals encounters.

Senegal survived a penalty shoot-out to beat Burkina Faso at the 19 May 1956 stadium in Annaba, on Sunday, May 14.

The game went to penalties after a 1-1 draw in regulation time.

This is the first time the Senegalese team will get to the final.

Also, the second semi-finals match between Morocco and Mali was decided by a penalty shoot out after a 0-0 stalemate in regulation time.

The penalties ended 6-5 in favour of Morocco. The Moroccan goalkeeper, Taha Benrhozil, was the hero after saving three out of eight penalties.

For the third-place match, Burkina Faso will slug it out against Mali on Thursday, May 18.

Senegal’s road to the final

Senegal began their campaign with a slim victory against Congo in their opening group match. Then, they went ahead to beat Algeria 3-0, rounding off by defeating  Somalia 3-0.

Senegal overpowered South Africa 5-0 in the quarter-finals before defeating Burkina Faso 5-4 on penalties to get to the final.

Morocco’s journey to the final

Morocco started with a 2-0 win against South Africa in their opening group-stage match before defeating Nigeria 1-0 in the second match.

In the third match, Morocco lost to Zambia but eventually qualified for the knockout stage.

In the quarter-finals, Morocco defeated Algeria 3-0, after which they won 6-5 on penalties against Mali to get to the final.

Amotekun clarifies clash with traders in Hausa community in Ekiti

Vincent Ufuoma
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Amotekun clarifies clash with traders in Hausa community in Ekiti

THE Ekiti State Security Network (ESSN), popularly called Amotekun, has offered clarifications on the circumstances surrounding a clash between some operatives of the network and some traders in a Hausa community in some areas of the state capital.

There was pandemonium in the Atikankan area of the city when operatives of the Corps had gone to the area to enforce a relocation order of the state government on Thursday, May 11

Reports had it that one of the traders was allegedly shot dead, while several Amotekun officers were said to have suffered injuries. It was also reported that the gun duel lasted several hours, as nearby traders and shop owners closed abruptly and scampered for safety.

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Men of the Rapid Response Squad of the Nigerian Police force were later drafted to the area to restore normalcy.

However, in an interview with newsmen in Ado Ekiti on Sunday, May 14, the Corps Commandant, Joe Komolafe, denied that men of the ESSN deployed to enforce a government relocation order in the Atikankan area of the state fired shots at the traders.

According to Komolafe, the Network’s operatives met stiff resistance from the traders in the course of enforcing the relocation order of the state government.

He alleged that the traders attacked his operatives with dangerous weapons and injured them, while claiming ownership of the parcels of land in the area.

He explained that the government had informed the traders a month ago that they should vacate the place.

Komolafe said that some of the traders told his operatives that they were not going to leave the area because they had Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) and they had paid some money to some of the chiefs.

He explained that some chiefs held the land in trust for the government, and the traders could not stay there as it is government land.

He said that the government had made provisions at the Agric Olope area where state-of-the-art facilities had been put in place for the traders to relocate to.

“The following day, which was Thursday, my operatives went there to see the level of compliance to that instruction only to get there and discovered to our shock that these people had prepared for us attacking us with stones, some put nails on the sticks and other offensive weapons to attack my operatives.

“In the process, four of my operatives were seriously injured with deep cuts on their heads and bodies. One of them even lost his teeth. In the process, we heard some gunshots from the crowd,” he said.

Komolafe said that his men did not go there to use force on anybody but employed persuasion, but were shocked by the attitude of the traders.

He believed that hardened criminals who were hiding in the area orchestrated the resistance.

“They even went as far as holding one of my operatives hostage inside their den.

He said, “When it got to that level, Atikankan is a criminals den, I have no choice than to first go and rescue him, and secondly, I had to call policemen and other sister security agencies to our aid because Atikankan is notorious.

”If we had gone there to use force, the story would have been different but unfortunately we thought they would listen to our persuasion.”

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On reports claiming fatalities from the fracas, the Amotekun boss said he was not aware of any.

He stressed that he had not seen any dead body, and nobody had brought any dead person to his attention.

Established in 2020 by the Southwest governors to combat growing insecurity in the region, the Corps have been accused by various stakeholders, including the Amnesty International, of human rights abuses.

Nigeria’s wheelchair basketball team qualifies for African Paralympics

Toyosi AFOLAYAN
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Nigeria’s wheelchair basketball team qualifies for African Paralympics

NIGERIA’S men’s wheelchair basketball team has qualified for the 2023 edition of the African Paralympics, which is to be held in Ghana.

The team qualified for the tournament after defeating Ghana, Gambia and Senegal at the just-concluded International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) African Para Games qualifiers in Accra on Sunday, May 14.

President of the Nigeria Wheelchair Basketball Federation, Seyi Johnson, praised the team’s players and technical staff for their tenacity.

The board members, according to Johnson, did the right thing by getting sponsors to support the men’s wheelchair basketball team’s participation in the qualifiers.

Johnson, who also doubles as the project manager of Nilayo Sports Management Limited said: “I am joyful that the men’s wheelchair basketball team has qualified for next year’s African Para Games. The decision of Nigeria to participate in the qualifiers took place 24 hours after our elections and we are excited our sacrifice was worth it.

 

 

“The players showed dedication off and on the court to ensure Nigeria is represented at the African Games. They played every game like their lives depended on it for survival and they eventually brought home the ticket”.

He urged prospective sponsors to back the Wheelchair Basketball Federation’s new board’s development initiatives.

In the same vein, the women’s wheelchair basketball team got an automatic qualification to participate in the 2023 African Paralympics scheduled to hold in Ghana.

Hilda Baci: Nigerians fret over ‘delay’ as Guinness World Records reviews evidence

Itoro ETUKUDO
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Hilda Baci: Nigerians fret over ‘delay’ as Guinness World Records reviews evidence

SOME Nigerians have taken to the social media to express concern as the Guinness World Records (GWR) ‘delay’ the confirmation and announcement of the new world record for marathon cooking set by Nigerian chef Hilda Baci on Monday, May 15.

The ICIR earlier on Monday reported that Baci, 27, had already surpassed the time set by the former holder of the record, Indian chef, Lata Tondon.

Tondon’s previous record stood at 87 hours, 45 minutes.

At the time of filing this report, Baci is already 93 hours gone into achieving her 96 hours target.

However, some Nigerians on the social media have expressed anger that Guinness World Record is yet to make an official announcement on Baci’s achievement.

Screengrab of comment from netizens
Screengrab of comments from netizens

A Nigerian Twitter user, @AlexanderDGreat asked why the Guinness World Record (GWR) has not acknowledged the development.

“Why is @GWR not showing or talking about Hilda’s cook-a-ton? Can’t see anything on their pages (Twitter, Facebook, YouTube)”, @AlexanderDGreat asked in a tweet on Monday.

Guinness World Records replied the tweet through its official Twitter handle, @GWR, explaining that it is reviewing the development.

“We’re aware of this amazing record attempt, we need to review all the evidence first before officially confirming a record 💫”, the organisation said.

Other Nigerians expressed concern over the Guinness World Record’s response.

“I hope you won’t come up with a technicality to disqualify her” @jagganiyu tweeted.

Another Twitter user, @kayzywizzzy, write: “When Hilda finish cooking and you don’t drop correct updates on time, we cook you next on Twitter for 96hours”.

“I didn’t even drink Guinness but my body dey hot. People stood in the rain for this. Don’t play with us ooo” @effizzzy said.

@Nsukka_okpa warned, ”I dare una to make any funny movement. I dare una”.

“Nothing must do our mandate o. Review well. Aa ni p’ofoo o🤝“ @zhurg tweeted.

“Make nothing do your BVAS o” @eniturn added.

[Updated] N305 exchange rate: Court orders CBN to grant HEDA’s FOI request on details of beneficiaries

Bankole ABE
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[Updated] N305 exchange rate: Court orders CBN to grant HEDA’s FOI request on details of beneficiaries

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to provide information regarding the volume of US dollars it sold at the subsidised rate of N305 and details of those that benefited from its forex intervention scheme.

The CBN was ordered to provide the information to Incorporated Trustees of the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) Resource Centre, which sought the details through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, which the apex bank declined.

In its judgment, delivered on May 3 and obtained by The ICIR on May 11, marked No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1622/2020,  the court presided by M. O. Olajuwon held that under sections 4, 7(4) and 20 of the FOI Act and Order 34 Rule 3(1) of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules, the respondent was obliged to make the information requested by the applicant available.

The judge noted that “I hold that the Applicant is entitled to the information requested in Exhibit HEDA2, which is deemed to have been denied the Applicant by the Respondent.

“The Respondent, as a Public institution, has a duty under the FOI Act to provide details of the information requested by the Applicant. The failure of the Respondent to disclose the information on request by the Applicant is, therefore, unlawful.

“I find and hold that the Applicant is entitled to the reliefs sought as per its Motion on Notice filed on the 22nd day of September 2021.”

“Consequently, this Court makes the following Order: An Order of Mandamus compelling the Respondent to release the information requested by the Applicant in its FOI Request, dated 14/10/2020 (Exhibit HEDA2).”

Responding to the Court judgment in a chat with The ICIR, The Executive Director of HEDA Olanrewaju Suraju, said the verdict was a remarkable development.

He added that though the case took so long, the outcome is a measure of achievement.

“It took so long, almost like four years, because of the delay we have in the Nigerian judicial system and court.” 

“For the court to have gone this way finally in also supporting the citizens and the civil societies to ensure that public officials understand that the occupation of the office is for the purpose of good governance, we are very happy that at long last we eventually get the required result,” Suraju said.

He added that HEDA will ensure that the judgment is enforced.

Speaking on CBN’s response to the judgment, Suraju said, “CBN does not have any response for now except going for an appeal because they were represented in court and the judgment went against them.”

Also commenting on the judgment, Legal Officer, HEDA Resource Centre David Ogungbesan stated that the court verdict shows that the FOIA will always be a viable tool in promoting transparency and public accountability.

He hoped the development would help reduce corruption and promote transparency, public accountability and good governance.

“It is an acknowledgement that all our efforts in the campaign for good governance, public transparency and the fight against corruption is gaining ground. It is also a positive outcome for the hard work HEDA has put into this campaign over the years,” he stated.

Prior to HEDA’s request, another CSO, Civic Media Lab, had made a similar FOI request to CBN which was not acceded to.

The Civic Media Lab had told the press that the request was prompted by claims by the then-chairman of the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, Tunji Oyebanji, who said that he was not aware of any marketer obtaining foreign currency at the rate of N305 to the US dollar.

The CBN had rolled out a forex intervention scheme it co-managed with the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Oil marketers were supposed to be part of the beneficiaries of the subsided forex.

NOTE: This report was edited to reflect that Civic Media Lab was not part of the suit.

Nigerian chef, Hilda Baci breaks world record for marathon cooking

Itoro ETUKUDO
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Nigerian chef, Hilda Baci breaks world record for marathon cooking

NIGERIAN chef, Hilda Baci, on Monday, May 15, broke the world record for marathon cooking by an individual, setting a new Guinness World Record in the process.

At the time of filing this report, Baci, 27, had already surpassed the time set by the former holder of the record, Indian chef, Lata Tondon, by 15 minutes.

Tondon’s previous record stood at 87 hours, 45 minutes.

The moment Hilda Baci hit 88 hours
The moment Hilda Baci hit 88 hours
Source: Instagram

Baci’s new record time is still counting as she is set to cook for 96 hours. She will set a new Guinness World Record for marathon cooking at the end of the event.

Baci, whose original name is Hilda Bassey Effiong, hails from Akwa Ibom State and owns a food brand in Lagos called ‘My Food by Hilda’.

Tinubu supports Hilda
Tinubu supports Hilda

The cookathon which is still ongoing at Amore Gardens, Lekki, Lagos State, Nigeria has had Baci cooking round the clock with a break of 5 minutes each hour making it a total of 1 hour rest every 12 hours.

The World Record title is about cooking within a time frame, not about what is cooked. As long as she is cooking, she is on track.

Meanwhile, Nigerians have come out in their numbers to support and cheer her up both at the venue and on different social media platforms.

She has also received support from top Nigerian government officials including Vice President Yemi Osinbanjo, the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, and Lagos State governor Babajise Sanwa-Olu, who was present at the venue on Sunday, May 14.

H for Hilda, Uyo support group. Source: Instagram
H for Hilda, Uyo support group. Source: Instagram

The wife of the Labour Party presidential candidate, Margaret Obi, was also among those who were at the venue to encourage Baci.

Also, she had support from A-list celebrities in the country including Tiwa Savage, Wizkid, among others. Other organisations in the country has shown support in different ways including a support group in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.

Barcelona end 5 years La Liga title drought, claim 27th Cup

Dotun OMISAKIN
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Barcelona end 5 years La Liga title drought, claim 27th Cup

FC Barcelona has emerged as the winner of the top-flight Spanish league- Laliga for the 2022-2023 season after a 4-2 wining against city rivals Espanyol.

This feat will make it the 27th league title to their credit as a club and the last time they won their 26th title in the 2018-2019 season.

Also, it is their first La Liga title since club legend Lionel Messi left in August 2021 and the first since Xavi was appointed manager in November 2021.

The ICIR did an analysis of their last 5 years.

2018 -2019

On 27 April 2019, Barcelona won their 26th La Liga title finishing 87 points, winning 26 matches, 9 draws and 3 losses. They won the title with 11 points behind Atletico Madrid who were second on the log.

2019-2020

The next season, they finished second on the log with 82 points. Real Madrid topped the log with 87 points.

In 2020, the club was rocked by a crisis which was stirred up by worsening finances and a decline on the pitch in the previous season.

This led to Josep Maria Bartomeu announcing his resignation as president on 27 October 2020.

Also, during the year 2020, the club coach Ernesto Valverde was replaced by former Real Betis coach Quique Setién as the new coach.

On 17 August 2020, the club removed Setién as a manager with Director of Football Eric Abidal also dismissed from his position. Two days later, Ronald Koeman was appointed as the new head coach of Barcelona.

That was the year, Barcelona finished the season trophyless for the first time in 12 years.

2020–2021

They finished third on the log with 79 points. They won 24 won matches, had 7 draws and 7 losses.

This was the year Messi departed the club after 21 years as a Barça player. He was regarded as the club’s all-time leading goalscorer and signed on a free transfer with French club Paris Saint-Germain.

Also, On 7 March 2021, Joan Laporta was elected president of Barcelona with 54.28% of the vote.

Barcelona won their 31st Copa del Rey, their only trophy under Ronald Koeman, after defeating Athletic Bilbao 4–0 in the final.

In August 2021 Barcelona found themselves unable to comply with La Liga’s Financial Fair Play requirements and revealed a club debt of €1.35bn and a wage bill accounting for 103 per cent of total income.

The financial implications also restricted Barcelona in the transfer market and as a result, most of the incoming players were either free transfers or loans and they had to reduce players’ wages to register the incoming players.

Ronald Koeman on 28 October, was replaced with a club legend Xavi.

2021-2022

They finished second on the log with 73 points. They won 21 matches, 10 draws and 7 losses.

2022-2023

Under Xavi as a coach, he guided Barcelona to their first trophy since the 2021 Copa del Rey, as the Catalans defeated Real Madrid 3–1 in the Supercopa de España final.

They are four points from safety with four matches left to end this 2022-2023.

Nigeria movie industry suffers losses as Saint obi, Murphy, others pass on

Itoro ETUKUDO
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Nigeria movie industry suffers losses as Saint obi, Murphy, others pass on

BARELY 24 hours after the death of Nollywood actor, Obinna Nwafor, popularly known as Saint Obi, broke, the Nigerian movie industry has been thrown into sadness once more as renown Yoruba actor and filmmaker Murphy Afolabi has been announced dead.

Afolabi died in the early hours of Sunday, May 14 from injuries he sustained after falling down in the bathroom.

His death was confirmed by one of his colleagues in the industry, veteran film director and producer, Tunde Ola-Yusuf, via his social media platforms (Facebook and Instagram)

“REST IN PEACE… May God give the family and close associates the fortitude to bear the loss. Good night Muphy Afolabi”, he wrote on his Facebook wall.

“We lost a strong filmmaker Murphy Afolabi. May God rest your soul bro,” he also wrote on his Instagram.

Afolabi recently celebrated his 49th birthday on Thursday, May 5.

The actor was born on May 5, 1974, in Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria and began his acting career in the late 1990s.

He had appeared in numerous Yoruba language movies and was also a movie producer. He produced several successful movies, including ‘Igberaga’, ‘Awele’, and ‘Asise’.

Afolabi won several awards for his performances, including the City People award for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Yoruba) in 2014, and the Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Yoruba) at the Best of Nollywood Awards in 2015.

He was well known for his versatile acting skills and his ability to interpret roles in a convincing and realistic manner.

Some of his fans took to the social media to mourn his demise.

One wrote, “You graced our screen with your loving intonation. Our light skinned ibile. I see you in movies and start laughing waiting for you to speak. Your incantations with Ibadan accent was top notch. You gave us memes that will stand the test of time. Murphy Afolabi, Rest easy. 🕯🕯🕯”…@lollypeezle”

Saint Obi was reported to have died from a protracted illness. In his hay days the Nollywood star starred in romance movies as well as action movies.

Some of his works include ‘Festival of Fire’, ‘Executive Crime’ and ‘Last Party’.

According to an actor Kunle Afod, aside Saint Obi and Afolabi, the movie industry lost two other persons; an actor Adedigba Mukaila (Alafin Oro) and  a crew, Techno sound.

On his Instagram, Afod wrote  “Black weekend in the industry. We lost 4 people in the space of 2 days… RIP Murphy Afolabi, RIP Saint OBI,  RIP Adidigba, RIP Techno sound”.

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