A Nigerian newspaper and Online version of the Vanguard, a daily publication in Nigeria covering Niger delta, general national news, politics, business, energy, sports, entertainment, fashion,lifestyle human interest stories, etc
Abuja – The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted cloudy weather conditions over the central states of the country on Thursday morning with with prospects of localized thunderstorms over Abuja and its environs.
NiMet's Weather Outlook by its Central Forecast Office (CFO), on Wednesday also predicted localized thunderstorms over Abuja, Minna, Lokoja, Lafia, Jos and Bauchi in the afternoon and evening hours.
It added that the region would have day and night temperature of 25 to 34 and 18 to 27 degrees Celsius respectively.
The agency predicted that Southern states would experience increased morning cloudiness over the inland cities with chances of localized rains over Lagos, Ijebu-Ode, PortHarcourt and Calabar.
It also predicted Localised thunderstorms over Ado-Ekiti, Akure, Ibadan, Enugu, Awka, Obudu, Ogoja, Calabar, Port Harcourt, Yenogoa and Eket in the afternoon and evening hours.
NiMet added that the southern cities would have day and night temperatures of 29 to 31 and 21 to 24 degrees Celsius respectively.
According to NiMet, northern states will experience partly cloudy conditions with chances of localized thunderstorms over Kebbi and Yelwa axis in the morning hours.
"In the afternoon, partly cloudy conditions will persist with prospects of thunderstorms over Nguru, Dutse, Kano, Potiskum and Damaturu with day and night temperatures of 32 to 36 and 23 to 28 degrees Celsius respectively.
"Increased cloudiness with prospects of localized rains and thunderstorms are expected across the country in the next 24 hours," NiMet predicted.
The president of the French Football Federation has said he expects Zinedine Zidane to eventually manage France.
Zidane
“That is a logical continuation. It is likely that one day he will be interested,” Noel Le Graet told RMC radio on Wednesday when asked about the prospect of Zidane coaching Les Bleus in the future.
The 44-year-old, who was the star of the France teams that won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, is fresh from a stunningly successful first full season in charge of Real Madrid.
The Spanish giants, where Zidane finished his playing career, retained the Champions League title having pipped Barcelona to take the crown in La Liga for the first time since 2012.
“For the moment I think he still has a lot to give to Real and the club suits him perfectly,” added Le Graet, surprised by his rapid rise.
“I can’t believe what he is doing. I spoke to him two or three years ago, and at the time I was strongly advising him to go to Bordeaux or somewhere else, to start his career at a Ligue 1 club or somewhere more modest.”
By Emeka Aginam The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment , MITI has partnered with Microsoft, through its Africa Open4Business programme, to digitally transform the delivery of services to the investor community in Nigeria and evolve the regulatory and procedural environment governing business incorporation.
By harnessing advances in cloud technologies, MITI aims to transform the reach and scope of government-to-investor services in the country, creating an agile and investment-friendly environment.
With the new partnership, MITI strongly believes that digital technologies play a pivotal and fundamental role in evaluating and changing the landscape for reforms, with e-reforms becoming the next big thing for Nigeria, for government operations and services, and for the economy at large.
"Our partnership with Microsoft is designed to drive business model innovations, which will transform the delivery of services to current and prospective investors in Nigeria," Okechukwu Enelamah, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, said, adding that, "The objective is to deliver self-provisioned, expedient and technology-driven services to the highly-valued constituencies of investors that we are mandated and keen to serve".
According to him, the partnership between MITI and Microsoft is expected to tap into the portfolio of services availed through the Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative, to jointly drive digital transformation and advance Nigeria's Ease of Doing Business ranking.
Speaking on the support from Microsoft, Hakeen Adeniji-Adele, Public Sector Director at Microsoft Nigeria, says: ""The Africa Open4Business programme helps to tackle one of the main challenges deterring investors: A lack of credible and timely investment-related information. By helping MITI modernise and digitise this information, we will enable MITI to engage with investors on a frequent and timely basis, to increase investment levels and, ultimately, the pace of job creation."
Also speaking, Azza El Shinnawy, Director of Government Solutions, Microsoft Africa Initiatives, "By integrating cloud technology, we will be able to cut down both the time and costs investors spend to incorporate and maintain their businesses in Nigeria.
Cloud technology will also help MITI proactively communicate opportunities to a global community of investors, expanding investment horizons and showing that Nigeria is indeed open for business."
Meanwhile, in World Bank’s compilation of Ease of Doing Business ranking annually in partnership governments, Nigeria is currently ranked 169 out of 190 economies.
Country rankings are highly observed by the global investor community, as they generally reflect not only the conduciveness of the regulatory and procedural environment facing new market entrants, but also how businesses interact with government regulatory agencies throughout their lifecycle.
Republican lawmaker Steve Scalise, one of five people shot by a gunman during practice for a charity baseball game, remained in critical condition following surgery, the hospital treating him said.
Steve Scalise
“Rep. Scalise was critically injured and remains in critical condition,” said MedStar Washington Hospital in a statement via Twitter. Earlier in the day his condition had been described as stable, and he had spoken by telephone with his wife.
The gunman, identified in the media as James T. Hodgkinson, 66, died in a shootout with police.
Two members of the Capitol Police were injured but were in good condition.
Lobbyist Matt Mika, hit several times in the shooting, remained in critical condition at George Washington University Hospital.
The fifth, congressional aide Zack Barth, tweeted that he was in the hospital and “okay”.
——–To meet all ethnic leaders, stakeholders next week Thursady By Johnbosco Agbakwuru ABUJA – Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo Wednesday told people of South East not to panic over recent quit notice given to them by the coalition of Arewa youths to leave the 19 Northern States on or before 1st October, saying that the Federal Government has made adequate arrangement to protect every citizen of the country.. President Yemi Osinbajo exchanging pleasantries with Former Finance Minister, Kalu Idika Kalu (l) during the meeting between the Presidency at South east Leaders of Thought at the State House, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida
This is as Prof. Osinbajo has said that he will be meeting with the leaders of all ethnic groups in the country as well as stakeholders to discuss issues on the continuous unity and existence of the country.
Recall that the Acting President had on Tuesday while meeting with the Northern Elders including the Arewa Consultative Forum, vowed that the Federal Government would deal with any person or group that threaten the peace of the country through hate speeches.
The Federal Government has also explained that the series of interactions lined up with the relevant stakeholders in the Nigeria project that started on Tuesday, will be rounded off on 22nd June.
Briefing journalists after the Federal Executive Council, FEC, presided over by the Acting President, Prof. Osinbajo, the Minister of Information; Alhaji Lai Mohammed said that the Acting President will be addressing traditional rulers and leaders of thought from the South East on Friday.
He explained that the idea behind the consultative meeting was not just to assure that the administration was doing something about the quit notice to the Igbos to vacate the North before 1st October, but that the situation was under control.
According to the minister, "On the 22nd of June there will be a joint consultative meeting of all the groups, that is the traditional rulers, religious leaders and leaders of thought from both the south eastern part of Nigeria and the northern part of Nigeria,” he said.
“The call for people from certain parts of the country to relocate to their region is generally very disquieting voices.
“We just want to assure Nigerians that the federal government is on top of the matter. ….Yesterday (Tuesday), the Acting President addressed leaders from the northern part of the country. At 4 p.m today (Wednesday) he is going to address leaders from the South Eastern part of the country.
“The idea is not just to assure Nigerians that we are doing something about it but also to give comfort to all Nigerians that this matter is completely under control. To assure Nigerians that any Nigerian anywhere is save, the security authorities are completely on top of the matter and that they will deal decisively with any group of people whose conduct that is believed is going to create instability in the country.
“So there is no need for anybody to panic, there is no need for anybody to move from any part of the country. The security agencies are on top of the matter and there is no reason for anybody to panic.”
Also briefing journalists, the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun said that she presented a memo that was approved by the FEC to sign a multilateral convention for the implementation of tax treaty related matters.
She said, "I presented a memo which was approved by council today and permission was granted to sign a multilateral convention to implement tax treaty related matters to prevent us prevent base erosion and profit shifting.
"In simple language, this administration is very focused on revenue generation and mobilisation and part of that work is to improve our tax collection. One of the means by which major companies evade is a practice called base erosion and profit shifting which means that the profit that was made in Nigeria using accounting methods shift it to a country that has little or no tax.
Senator Mudashir Husain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has expressed his commitment to the welfare of the people of Osun West Senatorial District in advancement of democracy and good governance in the country.
Senator Husain stated this in his acceptance Speech shortly after Hon Sanusi Rikiji, who chaired the screening committee for the Osun West Senatorial District Bye-election declared him as the winner of the election.
Rikiji, an incumbent Speaker of the Zamfara State House of Assembly announced that Hussein polled 2,412 out of 2,560 delegates who participated in the primary election on Wednesday, June 14, 2017
Senator Husain described his victory at the primary as significant for the All Progressives Congress (APC), the people of Osun West Senatorial District and the people of the State of Osun in General. The APC candidate maintained that the primary held at Egbedore Local is a further testimony of the life-changing developments of APC led administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
Husain used the occasion to call for the observation of a minute silence in Honour of the late Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke whose death he described as painful.
While appealing to all party faithful to always toe the line of obedience and submission to party leadership in tandem with democratic tenets, Senator Husain emphasized party supremacy at all times just as he reflected on circumstances that earlier surrounded his disqualification.
“It is to the public knowledge, that this contest was characterized by twists and turns, amongst which was my earlier disqualification by the Screening Committee of the party, which decision was upheld by the Appeal Screening Committee. However, as stipulated in the guideline of our party, the NWC upheld my further appeal to it as the body with power to make final verdict on the qualification of any candidate”
He then expressed appreciation to the National Chairman, Chief John Odigiwe-Oyegun, Governor Rauf Aregbesola and all the Leaders and members of APC throughout the country for their unflinching support leading to his emergence as the flag bearer for the rerun election.
“I believe in the oneness of our party, and I took the decision to use legal means to correct what I felt has been wrongly done by both the screening committee and the Screening Appeal Committee. Fortunately, the National Working Committee of our party upheld our contentions. This is the beauty of democracy, especially in a political party like ours.”
Senator Husain tasked party members to work together as a team to secure ultimate Victory at the poll come July 8.
“Our contenders, I mean the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), though scattered and disorganized, are looking for loopholes to ridicule us, but we must remain undivided so that we can all coast to victory at the election.”
He gave an assurance that if he is return to the Senate, he will effectively use the mandate to serve the people of Oṣun West Senatorial District and build on the successes he recorded when he was in the Senate between 2011 and 2015, and also build on achievement recorded by the late Senator, Isiaka Adeleke.
He was the lone candidate in the primary election following the withdrawal of his co-contestant, Dr Ademola Adeleke.
By Johnbosco Agbakwuru ABUJA – CHAIRMAN, South East Governors Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi Wednesday said that it was within the fundamental human rights of people to agitate but what mattered most was the way the person goes about to agitate.
Governor Umahi who stated this while fielding questions on behalf of the South East delegation that met with the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, in a closed-door session at the Old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said that the meeting was not about the Indegenous People of Biafra, IPOB, but on the unity of the country.
On how confident he was that the messages from the meeting would be accepted by the IPOB, Umahi who spoke on behalf of the Igbo delegation said, "The meeting is not about IPOB, it is about to stressed the need for security of lives and properties of Nigerians all over Nigeria and to stress the need for a united, honest, fair and equitable Nigeria. That was what the meeting was about.
"It was a wonderful meeting and the message we taking back is that there is hope for a united and peaceful Nigeria and everybody should work hard. We emphasis the need for everybody to restrain from making hate statements. We should be making statements that will be binding us together, statements of love, statements of unity, and statements of hope and of course we should also work very hard."
On the message the delegations would be sending to the agitators, he said, "Everybody has a right to agitate but we emphasis the need for peaceful agitation. Even you agitate, your wife agitates at home that the feeding money is not enough, so it is fundamental right but is the manner you go about it. So it is not an issue that cannot be resolved."
The delegation included traditional rulers, the academia, political class and clerics from South East.
The Mallam Nasir el-Rufai-led Kaduna State Government, on Wednesday, formally announced the introduction of residency card for all its residents to enable it plan and provide social services.
The state's Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Alhaji Muhammad Abdullahi, told newsmen that the initiative was crucial for planning purposes.
He spoke shortly after he was registered for the card at the North West Zonal Office of the National Identity Card Management Commission (NIMC) in Kaduna.
He said: "Kaduna State Government is currently providing a number of free social services for the people in the state.
El-Rufai
"But to achieve the desired impact, we need to have the accurate figure of those residing in the state. We need to know who and who resides in our state and where.
"When we know the number of people residing in the state and where they are, it will help us to plan and provide better services and for all residents.''
He said people would soon be required to present their residency card before they could access such services.
"Kaduna state is open for everyone due to its strategic location, geographically, economically and politically.
"But if you are going to stay in the state beyond 180 days, you would be required to register and obtain our residency card.
"This is very important not only in planning, but also in ensuring security. We gathered that most of the security issues we are having in the state are cause by people from other states," he said.
The commissioner explained that the registration exercise was being carried out in partnership with NIMC and open to all residents of all ages.
He appealed to everyone to come out en mass and get registered in the more than 31 centres across the state.
The NIMC North West Zonal Director, Mr. Oyesola Taiwo, explained that registration for the residency card was linked with the NIMC data base.
"The process is very easy, if you already have the national identification number, all you need to do is just to present the number and you will be captured immediately.
"In a situation that you do not have, the first step is to register for the national identification number, after, you will be captured for the state residency card, "he added.
Alhaji Idris Abdullahi, Chairman, Kaduna House of Assembly Committee on Budget and Planning, said that the exercise had legal backing and was appropriated for in the 2017 budget.
He enjoined all residents in the state to support the government in meeting their needs by coming out with their families, friends and relations to register.
Out of the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria, the Igbo have by far the worst politicians.
Among the different ethnic groups in Nigeria, the Igbo are without a doubt, one of the most remarkable. So remarkable, indeed, that some have even traced their ancestry to biblical Israel, as the far-flung descendants of Jacob, the Jewish patriarch.
Gad, Jacob's seventh son, is said to have had three sons who settled in South-eastern Nigeria. These sons; Eri, Arodi and Areli, are believed to have fathered clans in Igbo-land and to have founded such Igbo towns as Aguleri, Arochukwu, Owerri and Umuleri.
Femi Aribisala
Igbo genius
Even the bitterest adversaries of the Igbo cannot but admit that, as a people, they are very resourceful and ingenious. Indeed, this has often been the cause of their envy and dislike by others. However, more enlightened non-Igbo Nigerians see this as a cause for celebration. While today, the centre-point of Nigeria's manufacturing is situated in the Lagos/Ogun axis, there is no doubt that the real locomotive of Nigeria's indigenous industrialization lies farther afield in Aba and in the mushrooming cottage-industries of the Igbo heartland.
In one of the paradoxes of Nigerian history, the terrible civil war provoked homespun industrialization in the South-East. Military blockade left the Igbo with little alternative than to be inventive in a hurry. While Nigeria as a nation failed woefully to harness this profitably after the war, it has nevertheless ensured that the Igbo are at the forefront of Nigeria's economic development today.
Indeed, the way we disregard "made in Aba" today is the same way we disregarded "made in Japan" yesterday. For those of us who believe against the odds that Nigeria is the China of tomorrow, we equally recognize that the ingenuity of the Igbo is an indelible part of the actualization of that manifest destiny.
Hall of fame
The Igbo have been a great credit to Nigeria. They have given us a great number of our favourite sons, including international statesman Nnamdi Azikiwe; military leader Odumegwu Ojukwu; regional leader Michael Okpara; vice-president Alex Ekwueme; mathematical genius Chike Obi; literary icon Chinua Achebe; world-class economist Pius Okigbo; world boxing champion Dick Tiger; international statesman Emeka Anyaoku; and world-class artist Ben Enwonwu. Pemit me to include in this illustrious list even some of my very good Igbo friends: Pat Utomi, Ojo Madueke, Olisa Agbakoba, Joy Ogwu, and Stanley Macebuh.
Let us get one thing straight: Nigeria would be a much poorer country without the Igbo. Indeed, Nigeria would not be Nigeria without them. Can you imagine the Super Eagles without the Igbo? Not likely! Who can forget Nwankwo Kanu, Jay Jay Okocha and our very own Emmanuel Amuneke? Can you imagine Nollywood without the Igbo?
Impossible! Just think of Stella Damascus-Aboderin; Rita Dominic and Mike Ezuruonye. And then there are the diaspora Igbo who many are unaware are of Igbo descent, including concert singer and actor Paul Robeson; Oscar award-winner Forest Whitaker; mega-pastor T.D. Jakes; Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu; and BAFTA actor award-winner Chiwetel Ejiofor.
You may well wonder why I have found it necessary to present this small litany of Igbo who-is-who. I think it is important to emphasise how the Igbo have been very vital to the Nigerian project. They have more than represented Nigeria creditably in virtually all walks of life. This makes it all the more absurd that this same people have been consistently denied the position of executive president of the country in all but six months of Nigeria's 54 year history.
Civil-war legacy
Of course, a major reason for this was the 1967-1970 civil-war which had the Igbo on the losing side. But that was over 40 years ago. If there is really to be "no victor, no vanquished" in anything more than mere rhetoric, then the rehabilitation of the Igbo back into post civil-war Nigeria will not be complete until an Igbo man finally becomes president of the country.
That imperative should be of interest to every Nigerian nationalist, committed to the creation of one Nigeria where everyone has a deep sense of belonging. The problem, however, is that the Igbo themselves seem to be their own worst enemies in this regard. They appear to be doing their very best to ensure that this inevitable eventuality continues to be denied and delayed.
The Igbo need to forgive Nigerians. No one who lived through the horrors that precipitated the secession of Biafra and led to the civil-war cannot but admit that the Igbo were abused and mal-treated in one of the worst pogroms ever. It was not just that they were senselessly massacred in their own country; it was that they were butchered. I remember vividly gory pictures of scores and scores of the Igbo with hands chopped up and with legs amputated. And then there were the ravages of the three-year civil-war itself, resulting in the death of millions of Igbo; many through starvation and attrition.
The end of the war brought no respite, as the Igbo were pauperized by fiscal decrees that wiped out their savings and their properties were blatantly sequestered by opportunists. All this is more than enough to destroy the spirit of any group of people.
But God has been on the side of the Igbo. It is a testament to their resilience that, in spite of this terrible affliction, they have survived, bounced back and have even triumphed in Nigeria. Forty years have now gone by. The Igbo may never forget what happened to them and, indeed, should never forget. But it is past time for them to forgive.
We are sorry
This is one voice in the Nigerian wilderness saying to the Igbo from the depth of his heart: we are sorry. We are sorry for the way we mistreated you. We are sorry for the way we abused you. We are sorry for starving your children to death. We are sorry for killing your loved ones. We are sorry for stealing your properties. We are sorry for making you feel unwanted in your own country. Please forgive us. It is time to forgive us. It is way past time for the Igbo to forgive Nigerians. We beg you in the name of God.
There was a civil war in the United States, but the defeated South rose from the ashes. Five of the last nine presidents of the United States have been from the South, including Jimmy Carter from Georgia, George Bush from Texas and Bill Clinton from Arkansas. The time is overdue for an Igbo president of Nigeria, but it is not going to happen as long as the Igbo continue to hold a grudge against Nigeria and Nigerians.
There is no question about it: the Ibos cannot elect a president of Nigeria on their own. To do so, they have to join forces with others. They have to form alliances with people from other parts of Nigeria. That is not going to happen as long as the Igbo continue to bear a grudge against practically everybody else.
The Igbo have a gripe against virtually all the people they need. They have this tendency to antagonise their possible alliance partners. They keep dredging up the past, refusing to let sleeping dogs lie. Until they drop these gripes, they are not likely to realise their dreams.
Demonising Yorubas.
For example, the Igbo have this tendency to demonise the Yorubas. It is alarming when reading the Vanguard blogs today to see the animosity often expressed between Igbo and Yoruba contributors. The hatred is most unhealthy. Insults are traded with abandon. What is the point of this? For how long will the Igbo demand emotional retribution from every Yoruba for the betrayal of Awolowo? Most of the contributors were not even born when the civil-war took place more than a generation ago.
There is now even transferred aggression against Babatunde Fashola, who made the blunder of repatriating some destitute Igbo from Lagos back to their home-states. The man has apologised for the infraction. He should be forgiven. Blunders are not the exclusive preserve of the non-Igbo. The Igbo have made more than a few themselves and will yet make others.
Paradoxically, the redemption of the Igbos to prominent national office moved apace under President Obasanjo; a Yoruba man. Recognising that Igbos are some of the most seasoned, competent and experienced public-servants, Obasanjo relied heavily on their expertise.
Thanks to him, we got Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala at Finance, Charles Soludo at Central Bank, Obiageli Ezekwesili at Education, Ndidi Okereke at the Stock Exchange, and Dora Akunyili at NAFDAC. Indeed, Igbo statesmen came into more prominence under Obasanjo than did Yoruba statesmen. But for some strange reason, this does not seem to have succeeded in assuaging the ill-feeling of the Igbos toward the Yorubas.
Bad politicians
Within the framework of Nigerian politics, the Igbo also have a fundamental problem. Out of the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria, the Igbo have by far the worst politicians. They have no recognizable leaders, and have no discernible strategy as to how to negotiate power at the centre. As a result, the Igbo have tended to be short-changed at the federal level. Traditionally, the inconsequential ministries, such as the Ministry of Information, have been zoned to them.
The Igbo need to work out a plan that will take them to Aso Rock. First, they need to choose and groom a de-tribalised leader of the Azikiwe mould who can be sold to non-Igbos. Then, they need to give him undiluted support. At the moment the internal politics of the Igbo militates against this.
The Igbo seem to hate themselves as much as they hate others. They seem to fight themselves with as much venom as they fight others. Every potential Igbo leader seems to have more enemies within than without. This must not be allowed to continue.
The Igbo need to help themselves in order that their friends can help them. In this centenary of Nigeria's amalgamation, as we embark on the arduous process of crafting our future through a National Conference, we salute the Igbo for their fortitude and implore them to stake their claim in Nigeria. Nigeria cannot survive without the Igbo.
By Johnbosco Agbakwuru ABUJA – ACTING President Yemi Osinbajo Wednesday said that the Federal Government will not shy away from its responsibilities and vowed that the government would do everything within its power to defend and uphold the terms of the nation's constitution, which declares that Nigeria is 'one nation under God.'
The Acting President stated this when he met with the leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo, the five governors of the South Eastern zone and the leadership of the zone in the National Assembly and other stakeholders from the area.
The meeting was on the wake of the recent agitation for the Sovereign State of Biafra, the sit-at-home order by the Indegenous People of Biafra, IPOB and the ultimatum by the coalition of Arewa Youths that Igbos should vacate the 19 states of the North on or before 1st October.
In his opening remarks before going into close session, the Acting President reminded the Ohaneze and other leaders from the South East that violence and war were terrible things, stressing that they were easy to start but impossible to end.
He further stated that one of the reasons for the consultative session was to see a way of addressing the agitations and proclamations urgently and decisively, adding, "Burying our heads in the sand and expecting the storm to blow over of their own accord is not an option."
A bullion van driver and a police officer lost their lives in an accident in Jos on Wednesday, when the van collided with a truck loaded with soft drinks.
Newsmen report that three other persons, who sustained injuries, were rushed to the Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Jos.
The accident, which occurred around 5.30 pm along the Polo-Gada Biyu route, caused a heavy traffic gridlock as fear-stricken motorists and pedestrians scampered to safety with the arrival of fierce-looking security officers to guard the van.
Mr Andrew Bala, FRSC Public Education Officer, who spoke with newsmen on the incident, confirmed the death of the two people.
He also confirmed that the three injured persons had been taken to hospital.
"FRSC personnel are already at the scene to clear the road and ease traffic flow," he said.
Mr Terna Tyopev, Public Relations Officer of the Plateau Command, also confirmed the accident, but said that further details were not ready.
"I cannot tell you much about the casualties because were are still gathering information," he said.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has blacklisted 48 Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres over their involvement in extortion and organised examination malpractices during the 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
JAMB's Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, made the disclosure on Wednesday in Abuja at a news conference at the end of an enlarged meeting with external examiners and other stakeholders in the conduct of the 2017 UTME.
Oloyede, who also announced the cancellation of the results of 59,698 candidates who sat for the examination, said another 24 CBT centres had been suspended for one year for failing to live up to expectations.
"The (24 CBT) centres will not participate in the 2018 UTME, but they can be reconsidered for 2019 and above.
"The delisting of 48 centres from participating in the board's examination in future is as a result of serious technical deficiencies, extortion, organised examination malpractices and other damaging infractions."
He said that JAMB had fixed July 1, 2017 as the date for supplementary examination for candidates who registered late for this year's UTME.
Oloyede added that some of the candidates whose results were cancelled, would also take part in the rescheduled exam.
The JAMB boss said the decision to allow the candidates sit for the rescheduled examination was reached after a thorough review of all the reports that emanated from their centres.
According to him, 1,386 candidates have their results cancelled over examination malpractice; 57,646 results were also affected as a result of centres-induced malpractices while the results of 666 candidates were cancelled due to multiple examinations.
He listed the categories of candidates whose results were cancelled but would take part in the rescheduled examination to include candidates of centres with mass malpractices but who are deemed innocent, biometric non-verification machine related issues.
Others include technical and log out issues, late registration, incomplete results and candidates who lost examination sessions due to malfunctioning of servers at the affected centre.
A member of the House of Representatives, Mr Peter Akpatason, says the trial of the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has proved that nobody is above the law in Nigeria.
The lawmaker, who represents Akoko-Edo Constituency of Edo, stated this on Wednesday in Abuja, while reacting to the trial of Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, by Code of Conduct Tribunal and his acquittal on Wednesday.
He told newsmen that the trial was, in the first instant, not the best for the polity, but that it had demonstrated the fact that nobody was above the law.
Akpatason said that in a democratic system, the rule of law must be obeyed.
He said that the tribunal's judgment itself came at a time when the judicial system in the country had suffered much setback as a result of the unwarranted tension.
"At a time like this, we need some amount of peace to enable the country work as a united nation."
According to him, the Judiciary, Executive and Legislature need to be properly focused to enable us do the needful to get out of the present economic situation.
Akpatason added that it was a big plus that after the judiciary exercised its right, the senate president was vindicated.
"I hope that will apply to other arms of government.
"If the Senate President can be tried, others, apart from president and governors who enjoy immunity, should be tried too.
"They should use the opportunity to reconsider forms submitted by members of the executive,'' he said.
The lawmaker noted that some Nigerians may be disappointed with the tribunal's judgement, but said that majority of Nigerians appreciated that the senate president humbled himself and passed through the entire process.
"I will believe that the senate president being tried was in a way like the whole National Assembly was being tried.
"However the point has been proven that nobody is above the law. Today, it is the turn of Bukola Saraki; tomorrow, it will be the turn of another person.
"What is important is that there should be fairness and justice at the end,'' he said.
In his reaction, another legislator, Rep. Prestige Ossy (Abia-APGA), said that judgment of the tribunal was historic and a demonstration that the CCT was "truly independent''.
"It is a historic judgement. The CCT has given its verdict and we should all respect it.
"The prosecution failed to prove its allegations beyond any reasonable doubt that the senate president under-declared his assets and he has been set free.
"I will say that this is good for our democracy as it will further enhance Nigerians' faith in the judiciary.'' he said.
The lawmaker, therefore, advised that Saraki to concentrate on delivering good legislative and democratic dividends to Nigerians "now that he has been left off the hook''. "I believe this judgement is not only good for him but for the anti-corruption war, for lovers of democracy, and indeed for the entire system,'' he added.
Manchester United on Wednesday completed the signing of Swedish international centre-back Victor Lindelof from Benfica for a fee believed to be £31 million (35m euros, $39.6m), the English Premier League side announced.
Victor Lindelof
“I am thrilled to be joining Manchester United,” said the 22-year-old after penning a four-year deal.
“I have enjoyed my time at Benfica enormously and I have learned a lot there. But I’m looking forward to playing in the Premier League at Old Trafford and for Jose Mourinho.”
Former aide to Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on electronic media, Pastor Reno Omokri who is equally the author of the latest and widely talked about book on the Nigerian politics and Jonathan’s government, Facts Versus Fiction: The True Story of the Jonathan Years, Chibok, 2015 and the Conspiracies, has, in the video below, revealed that the ex-U.S President Barack Obama’s government and the Borno state Governor and others greatly worked against Jonathan before the 2015 elections.
Former France and Barcelona defender Eric Abidal, who returned to top-flight football despite a liver transplant, was on Wednesday named as an ambassador for the Catalan club.
Former FC Barcelona’s French defender Eric Abidal (L) holds a football jersey as he poses with Barcelona’s president Josep Maria Bartomeu during his presentation as FC Barcelona’s ambassador at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on June 14, 2017. / AFP PHOTO
Barca said they had reached an agreement with the 37-year-old “to be an ambassador and representative of the club at different events in the next few years”.
He will also now form “a permanent part of the globetrotting (Barcelona) veterans team, as well as collaborating with institutional events in liaison with the Social Area and assisting with activities related with the FCBEscola soccer schools”.
Abidal spent six years as a player with Barcelona, making 193 official appearances and winning 15 major trophies, including four Ligas and two Champions Leagues. He left in 2013 after recovering from his transplant but was not offered a new contract.
Abidal was first diagnosed with a liver tumour in March 2011 but remarkably he played the whole of the Champions League final against Manchester United two months later which Barca won 3-1.
A year later he underwent the transplant.
Capped 67 times by France, he played in all bar one of the games in the 2006 World Cup where the French reached the final only to lose in a penalty shoot-out to Italy.
Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, has called on Nigerians to unite irrespective of their tribe, religion and ethnic group to move the country forward.
The governor made the call on Wednesday in Ilorin while addressing supporters of Dr Bukola Saraki, President of the Senate, who came to the Government House, on solidarity visit.
Newsmen report that the supporters were rejoicing and jubilating at the victory of the President of the Senate at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
The Code of Conduct Tribunal sitting in Abuja on Wednesday had discharged and acquitted Saraki on a case of false declaration of assets, which started in Sept. 2015.
Ahmed said the situation of the country at the moment called for sober reflection and prayer, but it can only get better.
The governor explained that indication and indices are pointing to the end of the current hardship the country is facing.
He called on Nigerians at all levels to put personal sentiments apart and join hands with all arms of government to further fast track the development of the country.
The governor recalled that the CCT judgment has shown that Saraki's colleagues at the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly made the right choice by electing him as the President of the Senate.
In his reaction, the former Chairman of the Education Committee at the Kwara House of Assembly, Alhaji Isiaka Mogaji described the judgment of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), as victory for democracy.
He thanked politicians and people of the state for their support, prayers and solidarity for the President of the Senate.
Also, the special Adviser to Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed on Energy, Alhaji Musa Abdullahi described the victory as a testimony to the love Nigerians have for Saraki.
Abdullahi advised mischief makers to have a re-think and join hands with Saraki in his bid to further better the welfare of Nigerians.
The special adviser urged the people of Kwara to intensify prayers for Saraki for more development to come to the state.
The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Wednesday called for the arrest and surrender of Late Gaddafi's son, Saif.
Saif is wanted on war crimes charges for allegedly suppressing opposition to the rule of his father, former Libya ruler Muammar.
On Sunday, Saif's lawyer said his client had been released under an amnesty law passed by parliament from prison in the eastern Libyan town of Zintan, where he had been held since 2011.
ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda in a statement called on Libya and other states to arrest Saif Gaddafi.
(FILES) – A file picture taken on August 23, 2011, shows Saif al-Islam Kadhafi, son of Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi,
Saif was freed by an armed group in western Libya where he had been held since shortly after the 2011 revolt against his late father.
He was released in the town of Zintan under an amnesty law passed by a parliament based in eastern Libya, lawyer Khaled al-Zaidi said on Sunday, adding that Saif was headed to another Libyan city that he could not name for security reasons.
Saif, 44, is the most prominent of the late leader's children, and was touted by some as a reformist successor before the uprising six years ago in which Muammar Gaddafi was toppled and killed.
It is unclear what, if any, role the younger Gaddafi could play in Libya, where a complex array of armed groups and competing governments are vying for control.
Gaddafi loyalists outside Libya as well as some in the east of the country, where military commander Khalifa Haftar has been building power, have been pressing for Saif's release amid a push from former regime figures to reassert influence.
Saif's lawyer Zaidi said Saif could play an important part in national reconciliation efforts because he was popular in Libya: "He will play a pivotal and detailed role in this stage."
Zaidi told Reuters in an interview in Cairo that Saif would make a statement at some point and would not be turning himself in to the International Criminal Court, which is seeking his arrest.
Mr Adams Nangba, the District Head of Wakama in Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, has called for the restoration of electricity supply to the community.
Nangba made the appeal when he led other community leaders to the site of a vandalised 500KVA transformer donated by Rep. David Umbugadu (PDP-Nasarawa) to Awogbre on Wednesday.
He told newsmen at the scene that unknown criminals vandalised MD metres and armoured cables of the transformer.
The traditional ruler expressed sadness over the criminal destruction of the source of power supply to the area on the night of June 12.
"As you can see, I with my village heads and my community people are assessing the level of damage done to the transformer which was donated to the community by Hon. Umbugadu, member representing Akwanga/Nassarawa Eggon/Wamba federal constituency.
"We are really very sad and disappointed on what has happened. As you can see, this transformer was installed for the benefit of my people but we discovered that the transformer has been vandalised by unknown suspects.
"We are calling and appealing to the management of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) to provide adequate security to guard its facilities across the state so that the people can enjoy constant power supply," he said.
Nangba also called for 24 hours police patrol in his domain in the interest of peace and national development.
He also called on the members of the community to remain calm, adding that the matter had already been reported to the appropriate authorities for necessary action.
Besides, the district head enjoined people of the area to be security conscious, law abiding, respect constituted authorities and live in peace irrespective of ethnic, religious and political affiliation for the overall development of the country.
Some of the residents of the community who spoke with newsmen lamented over the situation and called on government to provide adequate security to rural communities in order to protect lives and properties.
By Ikechukwu Nnochiri ABUJA – The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, on Wednesday, nullified the decision of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, which found former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe guilty of allegation that he falsely declared his assets in 2007.Orubebe
In a unanimous judgement, a three-man panel of Justices of the appellate court led by Justice Mohammed Abdul Aboki, voided Orubebe’s conviction on the premise that the CCT verdict occasioned a miscarriage of justice against him.
Orubebe had in his Notice of Appeal marked CA/A/633c/2016, urged the appellate court to not only set-aside judgment the Justice Danladi Umar-led tribunal delivered against him on October 4, 2016, but to equally discharge and acquit him of the charge.
The tribunal had in its verdict, said it was satisfied that Orubebe shielded his ownership of Plot 2057 Asokoro District, Abuja.
Justice Umar who maintained that there was merit in the one-count amended charge the Federal Government entered against the former Minister, held that the said property should be forfeited to the government.
The tribunal noted that though Orubebe claimed that he had already sold the land before he submitted the assets declaration form, the title documents still had his name six years after.
Even though the tribunal confiscated the land from the defendant after it found him guilty of the offence of false declaration of assets contrary to section 15 of the CCB & Tribunal Act, Cap C15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2007, it however declined to ban him from holding any public office.
Meanwhile, dissatisfied with the verdict, Orubebe, through his lawyer, Mr. Selekowei Larry, SAN, raised three grounds he said the appellate court should consider and nullify his conviction.
He prayed the appellate court to determine “Whether the tribunal was right in convicting the defendant for false declaration of plot 2057, Asokoro District, Abuja.
“Whether the tribunal was right in holding that the said plot 2057 remained or remains the defendant's property despite exhibits D1, D2, and D3 being documentary evidence of transfer of interest executed in favour of one Divention Properties Ltd by the defendant.
As well as, “Whether the tribunal was right in suo motu raising the issue of non registration of Divention Properties Ltd's title in respect of plot 2057 Asokoro District, Abuja and convicting the defendant thereon without granting party opportunity to be heard thereon”.
The embattled ex-Minister prayed the tribunal to allow the appeal on the premise that the prosecution woefully failed to prove the false declaration of assets against him.
According to him, “The said plot said not to be declared in the charge on September 26, 2007 was not yet given to the appellant as at then.
“The appellant did not make any declaration of assets on June 29, 2011 as alleged on the charge. He only made a declaration on June 28, 2011, by which time he was no longer the owner of plot 2057. The plot 2057 Asokoro District, Abuja, was a gift of empty land by the respondent (FRN) which he received on June 13, 2011 and parted with the same day.
“Having sold the said plot and executed D1, D2 and D3, he could not be reasonably expected to still declare it as his assets.
“That the tribunal based its decision on an issue that was not put before it, but raised suo motu by it without giving parties opportunity to be heard, thereby rendering it a nullity
“Accordingly, that the decision of the tribunal be set aside, the conviction quashed and the appellant be discharged and acquitted”.
While upholding the appeal on Wednesday, the appellate court panel held that the tribunal went beyond the case that was brought before it by the prosecution.
The court held that Orubebe’s trial was not based on his none declaration of title deed of the said property, but his alleged false declaration of his assets.
It stressed that as such, the unregistered instrument of transfer of the said property was admissible evidence in proof of the payment of purchase price, which showed that the property was already acquired by Divention Properties Ltd.
The appellate court stressed that the appellant could not have declared the same property he had parted with.
The court faulted the CCT for raising the issue of non- registration of title deed of the property suo motu (by itself).
“On the whole, it is our view that this appeal succeeded on its merit and is therefore allowed. The appellant is accordingly discharged and acquitted”, the court held.
