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  • 2023: Why Wike was forced to back Atiku after Tinubu meeting

    2023: Why Wike was forced to back Atiku after Tinubu meeting

    Fresh facts have emerged about Bola Tinubu’s meeting with Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State in London, United Kingdom (UK) last week.
    It was learned that Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) showed “zero commitment”, as it was alleged that he declined to commit to all of Wike’s conditions before they can work together during the 2023 presidential election.

    All has not been well with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following the presidential primary election which produced former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the flag-bearer of the party ahead of the 2023 general elections in Nigeria, and the subsequent emergence of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as Atiku’s running mate.

    Wike and his top political associates – Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) – had met in London with Tinubu last Monday to consider the possibility of working together.

    However, after Wike tabled his demands, the former Lagos State governor reportedly failed to accede to Wike’s terms.

    According to sources that were present at the meeting, Tinubu believed Wike’s demands were generally not feasible.

    As an example, Wike demanded that the APC candidate “ensures if he wins the presidential election, which comes first, he will ensure he does not influence the outcome of the governorship and House of Assembly polls in Rivers, Benue, Oyo and Abia states, so that candidates in his camp and those of the other governors could win maintain control of the states”.

    The sources said of Wike: “He also wanted assurances that their men should be allowed to win Senate and House of Representatives seats, including the governors contesting senatorial elections. There was no headway on this demand either, since the presidential and National Assembly elections would take place same day.

    “Tinubu, however, didn’t make any commitment and that was a red flag for Wike.”

    In the end, no agreement was reached between the PDP chieftain and the former APC National Leader, thus when Atiku travelled to London a few days later to settle the grudges Wike had with him, the Rivers State governor had no hesitation listening to his party’s presidential candidate and standing with him.

  • Aubameyang, wife ‘robbed, beaten at gunpoint’ in terrifying attack

    Aubameyang, wife ‘robbed, beaten at gunpoint’ in terrifying attack

    By: Michael Adesina

    Spanish newspaper El Pais has reported that there was a terrifying attack in the home of Barcelona striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on Monday morning.

    According to the report the Gabonese was physically assaulted during an armed robbery.

    At least four men are reported to have entered the garden of Aubameyang’s home in the Castelldefels area of the Catalan capital, armed with firearms and iron bars.

    Aubameyang was threatened with the weapons before being beaten, with the men also intimidating the footballer’s wife to ensure they gained access to a safe inside the property.

    The men are said to have taken multiple valuable items from the safe, including pieces of jewellery, before fleeing in a white Audi A3.

    The details are outlined by a report in Spanish newspaper El Pais, which claims that the incident took place at 1am on Monday morning with Aubameyang and his wife submitting statements to local police, who are now trying to identify and find the robbers.

    This is coming 11 days after Aubameyang’s teammate Robert Lewandowski was robbed on his way to training.

    According to Barca Universal, Aubameyang and wife have refused to go to the holspital after the attack inorder not to scare their children.

    Meanwhile Bracelona are reported to be preparing a psychologists to talk to the kids.

  • Ibru: South-south can influence Nigeria politically if United

    Ibru: South-south can influence Nigeria politically if United

    Gboyega Akinsanmi

    Former Chairman of Ikeja Hotels Plc, Chief Goodie Ibru, has said South-south, a geo-political zone comprising six oil-producing states, can influence Nigeria politically if the people work in unity across the federation.

    Ibru therefore, called on the people of South-south that chose Lagos as their residence to work together and take advantage of numerous empowerment and investment opportunities in the state to better their lives and families.

    According to him, about six million people of South-south live in Lagos.

    He made these remarks at the inaugural general assembly of CREDAB Peoples Association held at the Airport Hotel, Lagos recently while expressing satisfaction at the creation of the movement of the South-south people.

    CREDAB, an acronym of Cross Rivers, Rivers, Edo, Delta, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa, is a socio-cultural organisation that aims at uniting all the people of the South-south that live in Lagos.

    The assembly, mainly convened to foster robust cultural relations among its members, was attended by the National Leader of Labour Party, Prof. Pat Utomi; Senior Pastor, Trinity Church, Pastor Ituah Igodalo; Lagos Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Sam Egube and CREDAB National Coordinator, Chief Lucky Oyakhere, among others.

    Speaking at CREDAB’s inaugural assembly in Lagos, Ibru urged the south-south people living in Lagos to take advantage of their numbers, currently standing above six millions, to benefit their lives, families and businesses.

    Ibru, who recently turned 80, observed that the South-south states “are all oil producing states. There are nine oil-producing states in the country. The others are Ondo, Abia and Imo States.

    “If we partner with other oil producing states, we can make up 25 percent of Nigeria. That also means that we are politically relevant. Consequently, we can determine the political future of this country to a large extent if we are united.”

    Ibru, former President of Nigeria Stock Exchange, further said Lagos “is very strategic, the fifth largest economy in Africa, although some say it is the third. Lagos is bigger than many member-states of the African Union.”

    He, therefore said: “Lagos is a place to be in because it has a wonderful economy and the development is enormous. In the South-south, we have a lot of commonalities.

    “We are endowed with natural resources, common culture and common heritage. It is only natural that we get together and forge ahead. I am pleased we are able to get together at last. We can leverage our number, which is over six million, to benefit from opportunities.

    “If we want to raise money today to help members of the South-south in Lagos and we get a contribution of N1, 000 from each member, we will have N6 billion. That will empower our people in Lagos State. That is significant,” Ibru said.

    In his remark at the assembly, Egube revealed that the association was created about two years ago to give people of the South-south a platform to have a voice as well as gain empowerment opportunities abound.

    Egube, currently Chairman, CREDAB Board of Trustees, said the executives of the association have sought a partnership with Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) to log in over 150 registered members of the association for free in the Lagos Health Insurance scheme.

    “We are glad to announce to us that because of the importance to the health systems and healthcare to our people. CREDAB has partnered with LASHMA on ILERA EKO to offer free healthcare insurance to over 150 registered members.

    He, therefore, urged members of the association “to tap into many of the programmes provided by the Lagos State Government like the LAGRIDE; empowerment schemes in the Ministries of Wealth Creation and Employment, Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and, as well, in Agriculture.”

    Also at the assembly are Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Mrs. Yetunde Arobieke; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Olatokunbo Emokpae and Director, Poverty Alleviation Department, Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

    They attended the assembly to enlighten over 800 members of CREDAB at the inaugural assembly on the numerous benefits of the state government empowerment initiatives.

  • 2023: How APC will win presidential election, reclaim Edo – Oshiomhole

    2023: How APC will win presidential election, reclaim Edo – Oshiomhole

    By Ozioruva Aliu
    A former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as part of the national reconciliation efforts after the party’s presidential primary election a few days ago called a stakeholders meeting in Edo State and thereafter had a chat with journalists.

    What is the essence of this stakeholders’ meeting
    The whole idea is to have a conversation because as they say, a house divided among itself cannot stand. I believe that the irreducible precondition for winning an election is that we must be united and the only way to be united is to have an inclusive meeting. If leaders want to meet, there has to be agreed criteria to select those leaders from each local government and everybody must be present. If we are going to have women meetings, all women leaders must be present, that is the way to avoid division, which is the way to avoid suspicion, which is the way to avoid rumour mongering. And we must recognize the formal institution of the party. No matter who we think we are as individuals, we can’t be taller than the party leadership that we all elected. Every one of us has the right to have ideas, but channel those ideas in a way that the leadership takes them on board and takes ownership of it and makes decisions that each and every member of the party will readily accept.

    Message
    After the governorship election which unfortunately we lost, this meeting was the first meeting that we invited these number of people per local government to attend so that we have to move on because we cannot continue to cry over spilled milk but if we work together, we will win not only the next presidential election, we also win the next governorship but there is no other formula than unity. I think when you make party structures to function, then these issues will be easily addressed.

    The local government chairmen are the ones that produce leadership at the local government levels and without them communicating with the people of their local governments, and through them to the ward leaders, the party will be floating in the air so local government leadership is extremely important and also very important are those our strong ward leaders across the 192 wards in Edo State which has all the offices and my appeal today is that as local government party chairmen should call a meeting of the local government executive and challenge each of the wards leaderships to go and constitute unit executive councils because everybody here comes from a unit, without units you cannot be in the ward, without the ward you cannot be in the local government and without being in the local government, you cannot be in the state and if you are not in the state you cannot be in the national level so whoever you are, myself inclusive, I must pay attention to what is going in my unit.

    Let it not be that you talk about the roof and forget that there cannot be a roof without foundation so the solid foundation is the unit. If you organise ten people in a unit, encourage them to meet, if each of them brings ten people each, do you what that will amount to per unit?

    Our political environment is changing, the dynamics are clear, the era of carrying ballot boxes is gone, it is one person one vote and to get that, you need to take these messages to the grassroots.

    Presidential primary
    Primaries are over and regardless of how you voted and who you voted for or against, that is gone. Our party recognises the need for intra-party contestation that is why the rule is provided for primaries so the fact that you voted for somebody else, when a candidate has emerged, all of us should put those behind us and work together.

    We have to learn from the presidential candidate. Upon his election, he visited each of the aspirants and if you look at those speaking for the campaign, some of them are not necessarily people who were in his camp during his primaries but once primaries are over, we need all our brains to win the election.

    You also heard what the president said a few days ago that primaries are over and he will only recognize and deal with the candidates elected on APC platform and he said nobody should say I am the villa candidate because the villa does not have any candidate other than the APC candidates.

    Those clarifications are important so that those who say that they are moving to another party and they have the support from any quarter from Abuja that he can go to another party and later come back, President Buhari from that statement has said no, only APC. The president also said that in whatever we do, only one person will win.

    The president as the overall leader of the party has also directed and I think we all should obey that all those who have cases in court should also withdraw them so that all hands will be on deck to campaign for APC to retain power in 2023. I am an example, I was national chairman, you know how I left the office, did I go to court? If I went to court, you think I wouldn’t have had a chance? But my attitude was simply this, people hardly remember when things are tough, they remember when it is good.

    If the party gave me the opportunity to chair the party for two years, even for two days and at some point some people felt I should leave and I was asked to leave, why should I forget the fact that I had the honour of leading the party? If the Supreme Court says I am the chairman, but respected party leaders thought otherwise, which party will I chair? Some people said it is your right and I said yes but in law, you can decide to sleep on your right so I chose to sleep on my right and I am enjoying it. If I had gone to court and APC could not do their convention, I could have been blamed. So I am asking those members to withdraw their cases from the courts to do what I have not done.

    Muslim/Muslim Ticket
    There have been so much deliberate mis-information on this Muslim/Muslim ticket which is a non issue and people spend so much time talking about this. Yes Asiwaju is a Muslim, he is a Yoruba man from Lagos but he found love in Delta state our own Bendel and this Tinubu lady is a Christian, she wasn’t a pastor then.

    She maintained her faith and grew to become a pastor in Redeemed Church, one of the largest Pentecostal churches in Nigeria so a man who did not Islamise his wife, he did not ask the wife to convert, some of his children are Christians, some are Muslims, is there a better example of religious co-existence than this? He accepted that people have the right to worship according to their conscience.

    So if he has not Islamised his wife, he has not Islamised his children, is there any sensible reason that he will do something negative when he becomes the president of Nigeria? Religion is not the problem; today, you have unemployed Christian youths who are hungry, you have unemployed Muslim youths who are hungry, does it matter who govern? When you go to Dubai, do you need to ask whether of Dubai is a Muslim, yet he is a Muslim, those who go to UK for holidays, do they need to ask whether the Prime Minister is a Christian, yet he is Christian. Does it matter to you the religion of those who developed those countries? Whoever will develop Nigeria should be the issue. All these sentiments are meant to remove issues from the debate.

    Most of the presidential aspirants have been in government before. Asiwaju was governor of Lagos. There was a time when horsewhips were used to control traffic in Lagos, today are we not seeing six lanes, ten lanes in Lagos? Are we still using even numbers and odd numbers to be able to drive in Lagos? He raised the IGR and today Lagos is about 45 percent of Nigeria’s GDP that is the product of a brain because if you cannot fix your house, you cannot fix your community, if you cannot fix your community, you cannot fix your town and you cannot fix your state, you cannot fix Nigeria. Those who say Edo is not Lagos, are they able to manage security the way Lagos is doing? Before you tell me what you will do, you must tell me what you have done before.

    Go to Anambra, look at the roads there, look at the schools there and then compare them to Lagos. I then ask the question, what you didn’t do in Anambra, can you do it in Abuja? Go to Adamawa and look at the poverty level compared to other parts. Our people need to understand that nobody can give what he doesn’t have. There are people who say they want Nigeria to be a producing nation but they live on importation, their business is to import. A man whose specialization is to import goods to Nigeria, they even import wine from South Africa. How can they promise you that they will make Nigerians productive. We have to disobey any logic that is not based on facts.

    When Asiwaju finished his tenure as governor of Lagos state, he told his wife to go to the senate and stayed back, if a woman has such a husband, won’t she marry him over and over again and have you seen Tinubu’s wife fighting, agitating for what is right in the senate? There is another presidential candidate who married from the South East and once the woman became his wife, he Islamised the woman, he went to Yoruba land and married Christian, he Islamised the woman. Go and check these records, facts are facts, opinions are free.

    Edo governorship
    2023 is the bridge to 2024, if you don’t close that bridge, you can still go to 2024 but you will be limping but if you march there on your two feet then we are ahead. They say Oshimhole is supporting this person for governor. He is now supporting this one from another region for governor that I say publicly here that I will not do anything to impose or anoint anybody because I can’t be doing the same thing and expect different results. All those who are saying Oshiomhole is supporting this person or that person, are liars. The ones I supported before, where did it bring me.

    In my nomination in Edo north I campaigned and I didn’t direct anybody to step down or vote for any aspirant. The only person I told to step down is my younger brother for the House of Assembly. When they tell you those stories, there are no truths in them. We have enough brains, we have enough materials, I have learnt my lessons; the people can do no wrong.

  • Video shows murder of Arikuyeri, Lagos NURTW Mile 12 chairman

    Video shows murder of Arikuyeri, Lagos NURTW Mile 12 chairman

    Arikuyeri, an official of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Lagos, has been murdered.

    Real name Sulaimon Onaolapo, the deceased was the NURTW chairman in Mile 12.

    In a trending video, Arikuyeri is seen on the ground as some young men repeatedly hit his body and smash his head.

    He had been chased to the spot after hours of fighting that resulted in the use of guns, machetes and other dangerous weapons.

    It was gathered that a lingering disagreement over the leadership of the motor park degenerated on Sunday.

    Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed the incident and assured that normalcy has been restored by operatives.

    But tension has enveloped the area amid fears of reprisal attacks by warring factions and Onaolapo’s supporters.

    Ironically, the meaning of Arikuyeri, a Yoruba word, is “one who sees death and avoids it”.

  • Breaking: ASUU extends strike again

    Breaking: ASUU extends strike again

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has extended the ongoing strike.

    It was reliably informed that ASUU extended the strike during its National Executive Council, NEC, meeting in Abuja.

    A lecturer with the University of Calabar, UNICAL, who disclosed this to our correspondent, said: “ASUU has extended the strike again. This government has refused to pay us, so we can’t go back to classes.

    “I currently have over one thousand scripts in my house, both marked and unmarked, I can’t attend to them because this government is owing me six months.”

    ASUU has been on strike since February 2022 over a disagreement in past agreements reached with the government.

  • Certificate: Again, police fail to appear in court in suit against Ngbede

    Certificate: Again, police fail to appear in court in suit against Ngbede

    The Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Command, Friday failed to appear at the Magistrate Court in Bwari, in the suit instituted by the Commissioner against the University of Jos and the deputy governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Benue State, Sir John Ngbede.

    The Magistrate Court in Bwari on July 26,2022, while ruling on motion ex parte filed by the Commissioner of Police through the Police prosecutor Abdurasheed Sidi, ordered the University of Jos to make available entry educational qualifications used by John Ngbede to gain admission into the institution.

    It also ordered the University to make available academic records and transcripts of John Ngbede with a view to assist Police investigation.

    In his response to the suit, Ngbede through his counsel, Joseph Oche filed a motion on notice seeking an order vacating the Order of July 26, 2022 on the grounds that the Bwari Magistrate Court lacks the requisite jurisdiction to make the Order of July 26,2022 as the University of Jos is a Federal Government Institution, so only a Federal High Court has the power to adjudicate over any matter involving it.

    He also pointed out that the Order of July 26, 2022 was obtained by fraud, malice, suppression of facts, without jurisdiction and misdirection of the Court.

    He added that at there are no legal or factual basis to grant the Order of July 26,2022.

    At the last sitting of the Court on August 19th, 2022, the Commissioner of Police was not represented in court and the matter was adjourned to Friday, August 26,2022

    When the case came up on Friday, August 26,2022, again, the Police prosecutor was absent in court.

    Ngbede’s counsel, Joseph Oche moved an application to withdraw his motion which was filed before the Court on August 9,2022.

    The Presiding Magistrate, Taribo Jim granted his application.

    In a related development, John Ngbede has dragged the Presiding Magistrate of the Bwari Magistrate Court, Taribo Jim, the Commissioner of Police, the Police Prosecutor in case /motion No:MT/170/2022, Abdulrasheed Sidi, before an FCT High Court in Maitama.

    Also joined in the suit is the University of Jos.

    The PDP deputy governorship candidate is seeking an Order of court granting leave to initiate an application for judicial review/Order or Certiori to quash the entire proceedings in case/motion No: MT/170/2022.

    He is also seeking an Order of the Court for stay of proceedings in motion No: MT/170/2022 at the Magistrate Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, holding at Bwari, pending the determination of the substantive Originating Application of the motion for judicial review before the court, amongst other Orders.

    Also joined in the suit is the University of Jos.

    August 31,2022 has been fixed for the suit.

  • TASUED suspends religious studies’ HoD over sex-for-marks

    TASUED suspends religious studies’ HoD over sex-for-marks

    The Management of the Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, has suspended a lecturer, Dr Olaniran Balogun, who was declared wanted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

    The ICPC had, a few days ago, declared Balogun, who was the Head of the Department of Religious Studies at TASUED, wanted for allegedly abusing his office and demanding gratification.

    TASUED management said it had relieved Balogun of his position and had placed him on interdiction until he cleared himself of all allegations of misdemeanours brought against him by the federal anti-graft agency.
    The Deputy Registrar, Media and Corporate Relations, Gbenga Omilola, disclosed this on Sunday.

    Omilola said the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oluwole Banjo, has approved the appointment of Dr Kayode Olusanya, as the new Head, of the Department of Religious Studies, to replace Balogun.

    The statement read, “Dr Balogun is currently under investigation for the alleged misdemeanour and has since been relieved of his position as the Head of Department, Religious Studies.

    “He has also been placed on interdiction until he clears himself of the various allegations levelled against him by the ICPC.

    According to Platformfrica, the university management would continue to do all within its powers to protect the good name and image the university has built for itself over the years.
    “The university would, therefore, not condone any act of indiscipline and corrupt practice by any of its staff members. Dr Balogun is further advised to immediately honour the invitation of the ICPC to clear himself of the allegations against him.

    Earlier, the ICPC had issued a warrant of arrest on the wanted lecturer.

    According to a statement posted on its portal, the ICPC said Balogun has been declared wanted in connection with a suspected case of demand for gratification and abuse of office.

    The statement read partly, “He has refused to honour several invitations extended to him through the authorities of Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.

    “Accordingly, a warrant of arrest has been issued for his immediate arrest. He is advised to report himself to any of the ICPC state offices in either Lagos, Ibadan or the nearest police station.”

  • Breaking: Court rejects FG’s request to extradite Abba Kyari to US

    Breaking: Court rejects FG’s request to extradite Abba Kyari to US

    By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

    The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Monday, dismissed an application the Federal Government filed for permission to extradite the detained Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP, Abba Kyari, to the United States of America, USA, to face trial over his alleged involvement with a notorious internet fraudster, Ramon Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi.

    The court, in a judgement that was delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo, held that the extradition application FG filed through the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, was “incompetent and bereft of merit”.

    Justice Ekwo held that the AGF, Malami, SAN, being the Chief Law Officer of the country, ought to be aware that the Extradition Act, forbade the surrendering of a defendant that is already facing trial before a competent court in the country.

    The court wondered why the AGF approached the court with the extradition application when he was equally the one that issued FIAT to the National Drug Law Enforcement, NDLEA, to prosecute DCP Kyari on drug related charges.

    “The AGF could not say that he was not aware of the pending proceeding against the defendant which was entered against him by the NDLEA”, Justice Ekwo added.

    He said the law was clear that Kyari, having been docked before a court of competent jurisdiction in the country, “shall not be surrendered until such case has been discharged either by his conviction or acquittal”.

    Consequently, the court held that the extradition request was incompetent and deserved to be dismissed.

    It will be recalled that the court had on June 3, reserved the matter for judgement, after it heard from FG’s lawyer, Mr. Pius Akutah, and that of the embattled DCP, Mr. Nureni Jimoh, SAN.

    While FG maintained that it had met all condition precedents for the suspended DCP to be sent to the US to answer to a criminal charge that is pending against him, on the other hand, Kyari, challenged the legal competence of the extradition request against him.
    Kyari, who is currently in prison custody for drug related charges, told the court that contrary to the allegation against him, he had some months before Hushpuppi was arrested, sent a letter to both the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Inspector General of Police, IGP, notifying them that he had opened a channel of communication with the suspected internet fraudster, in furtherance of an ongoing investigation.

    Kyari is wanted in the U.S. to stand trial for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering and identity theft.

    A grand jury had in April 29, 2021, filed an indictment against him with the approval of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, after which a warrant was issued for his arrest.

    Hushpuppi had earlier pleaded guilty to the alleged $1.1million fraud charge against him, even as the US Attorney’s Office for Central District of California, Los Angeles, revealed that he will be sentenced on September 21.

  • FG unveils agric policy, gets $55m US support

    FG unveils agric policy, gets $55m US support

    The Federal Government, on Friday, unveiled the new National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy 2022-2027 to guide and enhance agribusiness activities across the country.

    At the unveiling of the policy document in Abuja, the United States Agency for International Development announced that the US Government would provide $55m to support Nigeria in mitigating the effects of global food crisis.

    Speaking at the event, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mahmood Abubakar, said the initiative would enhance the adoption of new technologies by small-scale farmers to boost food production for local consumption and export.

    He said, “The focus of the new NATIP 2022-2027 is premised on the 10 thematic areas of stakeholders synergy and alignment, knowledge creation and transfer, rapid mechanisation, agricultural development fund establishment, extension service delivery revitalisation and livestock development.
    “Others are priority crop value chain strengthening, fisheries and aquaculture, marine and inland fisheries development, market development, and agricultural lands and investments partnership.”

    Speaking on the support of the US Government, the Deputy Mission Director, USAID, Sarah Werth, said the NATIP came at a critical time as Nigeria and the world were facing the worst food security crisis ever seen in years, stressing that food, fuel and fertiliser prices had risen sharply over the last years.

    She said, “The Russian invasion of Ukraine has exacerbated the issue and we are now seeing indications of a global food crisis. To that end, President Joe Biden has committed $2.76bn in US Government funding to address the global food crisis.

  • missing 17-year-old Lagos girl was found in Bauchi

    missing 17-year-old Lagos girl was found in Bauchi

    Police in Bauchi State have found a 17-year-old girl, Mildred Ebuka, who got missing on Thursday while running an errand in Lagos.

    Ebuka reportedly left her residence in Victoria Island on Thursday to deliver a wig cap to her Aunty’s friend in the Ikorodu area of Lagos.

    The Bauchi Police Command on Friday alerted the public to locate the girl in its custody.

    In a statement via its Twitter platform, the police command said, “The bearer Mildred Joshua Ebuka female aged 17yrs-old of Block 19 Ubandale street Victoria Island Lagos State, whose photograph appeared below left home on Thursday 25/08/2022 to deliver a message of a wig cap to her aunty’s friend in Ikorodu, on the way she stopped a taxi bus not far from her home, from thereon she found herself in Bauchi.

    “She hails from Lagos and speaks English Language fluently. Wore light blue blouse shirt and trouser, fair in complexion and she has no tribal mark.”
    The State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ahmed Wakil, Stated on Friday that Mildred was found in a park in Bauchi.

    Wakil said, “The essence of sharing the information is to find her parent. She could not remember anything when she arrived Bauchi. A lady woke her up in the park, and she did not know where she was.

    “So, they contacted the police, and our public relations office called my attention to it. That was why I made it public.”

    Our correspondent who ran a check on the address, discovered that the street does not exist.

    When contacted, The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, also confirmed that the street did not exist.

    He said, “We hope her relatives would reach out when they see her picture.”

  • How wearing police uniform landed me in jail — Frankie Seeka

    How wearing police uniform landed me in jail — Frankie Seeka

    A singer, comedian and actor, Franklin Isika, aka Frankie Seeka, has 134,000 followers on Instagram. He tells BABATUNDE TUGBOBO about his career

    When did you venture into comedy?

    I had always been around comedians and content creators. I also used to write scripts as well. However, I formally started my comedy career in 2020.

    What is the inspiration behind your character, Frankie Seeka; the boy, Kiriku; and the dog, Storm?

    It came naturally being that Storm has always been the smart one when the story is about me. Kiriku is also a smart character, so I thought about having a ‘face-off’ between both of them.

    One of the recurring themes in your skits is when Storm tries to expose your character or retaliate whatever wrong you did to it. What brought that about?

    I have always studied dogs, vis-a-vis the way they act. I have always genuinely felt that deep down, they (dogs) think they are smarter than us (humans). For example, a dog will make certain cute faces when they want something from you. As far as I’m concerned, that is emotional blackmail. In the light of that, I thought about a world where dogs would feel more inclined to prove that they are smarter than us, and how that would play out. That was the idea behind Storm always proving to be a step ahead of my character.

    Did you have any similar experiences of your skits with dogs while growing up?

    Not from a dog. But, that is basically what happens when one has a younger sibling, so I relate it to having a younger one.

    How do you get ideas for your skits?

    I draw inspiration from different things. It could be something I saw, or what someone said. There are really a lot of funny situations around us every day. Also, I watched a lot of cartoons while growing up, and I still do.

    How does it feel being a social media comedian?

    I really don’t feel any different or special. Perhaps, that is because there is still so much for me to achieve. I have not even scratched the surface of all that I want to do. I still wake up every day thinking of what content to create, and how to get better and fulfill my potentials.

    In the process of building your brand, have you ever been frustrated?

    Yes. I feel that many people really don’t understand the hard work I put in to make my videos; from the point of writing the script to shooting the video and editing it. I have to work at least thrice as everyone else because all the things my dog does in my videos are real; no special effects. It is hard enough shooting videos with human beings; talk more of with a dog.

    What are the challenges you have faced over the years?

    The biggest one is the lack of resources. One needs to pay for props and even locations. Contrary to popular belief, one cannot just start creating content, and immediately begin to buy cars. That is not how it works.

    It is also hard to even shoot videos in Lagos because there are always hoodlums threatening to seize one’s camera if one does not give them money. They usually claim that they are the ones who watch our skits. They want us to pay them for entertaining them, while it should be the other way round. They assume we (social media content creators) are buying cars because they watch our videos; yet, they do so for free.

    Have you ever been a victim of online bullying?

    Yes, I have. People have said hurtful things about me because they feel that is the way to get one’s attention. When one reacts, they would then say, “I am your number one fan. I just wanted you to reply”.

    You have over 100,000 followers. How were you able to build your fan base?

    It has been a gradual process. I have constantly been working to make sure I create content at least twice a week. I have also enjoyed support from people who have more followers than I do on social media. The popular music producer and record label executive, Don Jazzy, has always supported me by reposting my videos. That has also helped me to grow my audience. Social media personality, Tunde Ednut, has also been very supportive over the years.

    Which of your videos brought you fame?

    I really don’t think I am famous yet. I am working towards it. I actually have so many things I could be doing.

    What are the efforts you put into making your skits?

    I have to work thrice harder than other content creators because I’m pretty hands-on with my craft. We all want to become successful and get to a place where we have professionals shooting, editing and even writing scripts, but because of the uniqueness of my content, I might never have that luxury. I have to direct the cameraman, the cast, and my dog. I also have to be hands-on with whoever is editing on the few occasions where I am not editing the content myself.

    Has any of your skits got you in trouble?

    Yes. Earlier this year, I got in big trouble because I shot a skit while wearing a police uniform. I spent weeks in the State Criminal Investigation Department, and it was a horrible experience.

    How were you able to secure your bail?

    I reached out to Don Jazzy, who made some calls and eventually sent money to me for bail.

    Did the police warn you against using their uniforms in your skits?

    Yes, they warned me.

    Were you told the process by which you can get approval to use police uniforms if you need them for your skits?

    They said I would have to come to their office and meet the Commissioner of Police who would give me approval to use the uniforms, and I would return them after shooting my skits.

    Beyond being a comedian, what other activities are you involved in?

    I sell furniture and I am also into interior decoration. I believe I am a really good cook, and will like to establish eateries when I have the funds. I help people to get dogs as well.

    Have you started making money from your social media contents?

    I am still in the building stage of my career. There is a bit of money coming in here and there, but I am still laying the foundation for my career.

    Do you have any plans to later get a white-collar job?

    No. I believe in making money doing what I enjoy. I am a very creative person, so even if I am not making skits, I would always want do something that involves me creatively expressing myself.

    What kind of doors has your presence on social media opened for you?

    I have been able to meet some really important people that I may not have met without social media.

    Do you get funny requests from women?

    Not really. I think they are all scared of dogs (laughs).

    What are some of the testimonies you’ve got from your fans?

    The most significant is when someone said my videos make him so happy and less depressed. That meant the world to me because being someone that deals with depression myself, it felt amazing to be able to help someone facing such challenge. His message got me through that month, knowing I’m doing something to help people out there.

    How do you handle negative comments on social media?

    Most times, I ignore them. Sometimes, I block them, and sometimes, I respond to them and give them a piece of my mind. We are all humans. The fact that some of us are entertainers does not mean we have a thicker skin.

    Have you ever wished you were as popular in real life as you are on social media?

    No, I cannot afford that (laughs). It is quite expensive to be popular, so maybe when I become a millionaire, I will be easily recognisable.

    On your social media page, you described yourself as ‘seeing things differently’. What exactly do you mean?

    I am a bit of an ‘over-analyser’. I always find a twist to things. For example, there are many people shooting skits, so I decided to be using a dog, so as to stand out. Even when colleagues bring their scripts to me to work on, I always have an alternative end or beginning for them.

    There have been cases of dogs used for sexual romps with humans. What is your take on that?

    That is honestly the most disgusting thing I have ever seen. Bestiality should not have a place in our society. It paints us, real dog lovers, in a bad light. There are usually comments on my posts, with people asking if it isn’t one of those ‘Lekki dogs’. It hurts me to read things like that.

    What advice do you have for young talents who want to become skit makers?

    Do this because you really love it. Don’t do it because you see people doing it and think it is a shortcut to easy money. This is one of the most taxing things one can choose as a career. And, you always have to put your best foot forward.

    What distinguishes you from other online comedians?

    My contents are different and groundbreaking. I don’t use special effects for skits involving my dogs. Even many Hollywood movies use social effects for animal scenes. All what people see in my skits are products of creative thinking; nothing more.

    How will you describe your childhood?

    I did a lot of playing and learning. I was quite a stubborn kid. Indeed, I had a really fun-filled childhood.

    Were your parents supportive when you chose to become a comedian, and how do they react when they watch your skits?

    I have been an orphan since I was 14 years old. I do wish my parents were alive. I know they would absolutely love what I am doing.

    In the course of shooting skits with your dog, has it ever bitten anyone you were working with?

    No, it hasn’t. My dog is one of the sweetest dogs one can find. She is not aggressive. She has a unique way of sensing fear. When she notices that a person is scared of dogs, she would not go close to the person.

    Has anybody ever declined working with you because of your dog?

    No. Initially, there were some people that were really scared of dogs. But, when they meet mine, it actually helps them to deal with their phobia. A couple people have actually gone ahead to buy dogs after meeting mine.

    What sort of training did you give your dog to enable you to shoot skits with it?

    It is really hard work and persistence. I have to clearly tell it what I want it to do. I also need to always have a treat close by, so as to make shooting fun for it.

  • 30 suspects arrested over Edo cult killings

    30 suspects arrested over Edo cult killings

    The Edo State Police Command has arrested 30 suspects connected to cult killings.

    In a statement on Friday by the Deputy Spokesperson, Jennifer Iwegbu, the command swung into action after reported killings in different parts of the state.

    Iwegbu stated that, irked by killings by rival cult groups in some parts of the state in the last 72 hours, the state command responded through massive raids and arrests of suspected cultists associated with the killings.
    The statement noted, “Following credible information that cult activities were ongoing along Oho Street, Uselu, Benin City, on August 25, 2022, operatives of the command immediately mobilised to the scene. On arrival at the scene, the operatives of the command met the body of a young man later identified as Taiwo Edigie ‘M’ 40 years with his head severed and dropped at a different location from where the body was found.

    “Also, a similar report was received on the same day that along Imuetiyan Street off Ojo Road, Ugbowo, a yet-to-be identified young man was killed also in connection with the ongoing cult fight. Intense raiding was carried out around the axis the incident occurred where the 30 suspects were arrested

    “Profiling is still ongoing and anyone found culpable or related to any of the killings would be arraigned in court as soon as profiling is concluded.’’

  • 2023: Kwankwaso now controls Buhari’s votes – Jibrin on APC-NNPP merger

    2023: Kwankwaso now controls Buhari’s votes – Jibrin on APC-NNPP merger

    A former House of Representatives member, Abdulmumin Jibrin, has claimed that the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, now controls the northern votes of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Jibrin stated this during an interview with Channels Television on Friday.

    Recently, there have been speculations that Kwankwaso might ask his supporters to vote for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the 2023 election.

    Reacting to the speculation, Jibrin, who is the spokesperson of the Kwankwaso presidential campaign, said the former governor is not considering merging with the APC.

    “We have debunked these lies over and over again. It is an attempt to give a wrong impression to the public for one or two parties to be able to raise their standing in public.

    “Kwankwaso is a practical politician, we are serious-minded people. We are not in this race for anyone and I have said it over and over again.

    “People should disregard all these rumours that ‘Kwankwaso is working for Asiwaju, We are going to merge with APC’.

    “How will he do that? Somebody who is controlling the heart of the north. Somebody who is the beneficiary of the 12 million Buhari’s votes.

    “Kwankwaso is the most popular person, most loved. He is the person who is going to control those votes. Now look at the dynamics of the election today, there is no sitting governor in the northern part of the country that is contesting for the presidency so every governor has its peculiar challenges in his State.

    “What the governors are interested in is to deliver their States. They know it is dangerous for you within your States to say you are going against Kwankwaso because Kwankwaso has his own direct connection with the masses.

    “In the entire northern part of the country, nobody is going to get the quantum of votes Kwankwaso is going to pull out,” Jibrin said.

  • London meetings with Obasanjo, Atiku, Obi crucial – Wike

    London meetings with Obasanjo, Atiku, Obi crucial – Wike

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Friday said the meetings his team held with former President Olusegun Obasanjo and some presidential candidates were in national interest and nothing personal as widely believed.

    The governor, who spoke with journalists at the Port Harcourt International Airport when he returned from the United Kingdom on Friday, was accompanied by the governors of Benue and Abia states, Samuel Ortom and Okezie Ikpeazu.
    It was reported on Friday that Wike on Thursday met with the presidential candidate of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar; and that of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.

    The governor has been aggrieved since he lost the presidential primary of the PDP and after Atiku chose Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as his running mate.

    Wike said, “I can confirm that this is the first time as a team that we are meeting with presidential candidates. We met with the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (Asiwaju Bola Tinubu) and we met with our leader, former president of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo.

    “We met the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (Peter Obi). We also met with our presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. For whatever it’s worth, consultation is ongoing.

    “Whatever we are talking about is for the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians. It is not parochial and tied to one person or group of persons. We believe that with what is going on it will be for the interest of Nigerians at the end of the day. Consultation is still ongoing.”

    He said leadership should be about the collective interest and not people’s selfish interest. He described as unfortunate situations whereby a governor who served for eight years would want to be succeeded by his son.

    “It’s only in this part of the world that you can see that, when we are talking about poverty everywhere. These are people who do not mean well for Nigeria,” he added.

    He said competence should be elevated above ethnic and religious sentiments.

    He added, “The only identity they have in this country is religion and ethnicity, nothing more. It’s either I’m a Christian or I’m a Muslim. I’m a Fulani or I’m an Igbo. Nigeria cannot move forward except they think it will be them. That is where we are.

    “We are in a country where someone with a primary school certificate can be appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs. That tells you how bad this country has become. But with our consultation, all these will be things of the past. No amount of intimidation or blackmail will deter us. We are determined to make things right.”

    Ortom, who was the leader of the team, noted that they had met with renowned persons in the last few days because of their belief that Nigeria was in distress and required concerted effort to rescue it.

    “For us, we are looking at the larger picture. Nigeria today is in distress. It is about what we can do. We are looking at how we can harness ideas and put ourselves together to ensure that we get out of the present challenge we are in today.
    “From top to bottom, consider what has happened from 2015 and where we are today. This is beyond partisan politics. We are looking at how we can come together and find a way of ensuring that Nigeria survives. Nigeria is on drip, Nigeria is on oxygen and it is about how we can get out of this.”

    He said nothing concrete had been decided but that consultations were ongoing.

    He added, “The consultation is going on and will continue to go on. We are still going to meet here. We are still going to meet some people some other time and see how we can work to ensure that the project Nigeria works.”

    Ikpeazu also stressed that they were on a mission and were determined to find a way of rescuing Nigeria.

    He added, “This is a country with great potential and we have to protect it. We think we need to engage across the board. We are also looking at speaking with civil society organisations and those who have ideas and with Nigerians in the diaspora.

    River’s gov team returns, to meet ex-VP again
    Meanwhile, an ally of Wike and former senator, Olaka Wogu, told one of our correspondents in an interview on Thursday night that the meeting between Wike and Atiku’s camps in London was a continuation of the ones held in Port Harcourt.

    He added, “Atiku responded to some of the issues discussed at the last meeting. It was agreed that both parties would take a little time to look at what was discussed before meeting again. It was agreed that time was of the essence for Atiku to constitute the presidential campaign.

    “Wike did not make demands, but there were things on the table. Wike is not eager to make demands but he wants the party to be on a good footing.”

    Speaking on reports that Wike demanded that Atiku would do one term, Wogu said, “Nobody discussed term or tenure for Atiku. There are some speculations out there that have not come up for discussion yet. But the fundamental ones are already before Atiku to deal with. They are things Atiku and Wike will work out. Wike and Atiku are now taking control of the reconciliation process.”

    He added that their current dialogue was based on the recommendations of the Ahmadu Fintiri-led committee.

    When asked how long it would take for everyone to come together and work as a team, he said, “The most important thing is that there is a direction all parties are going to work towards. I think the most difficult part of it has been dealt with. The meetings are fixed based on the schedules of the individuals concerned.”

    Feud resolvable – Azi
    A PDP chieftain and former Minister of State for Transportation, Musa Azi, has said although the disagreement had lingered for too long, it was not without solution.

    In an interview with one of our correspondents on Friday, he stated, “All we need for the crisis to be resolved is for the two camps to show understanding. They should know that politics is a game of give-and-take.”

    Asked his view on the demand by Wike’s allies that Iyorchia Ayu should quit as the national chairman, Azi said, “All I can tell you is that we in PDP appreciate Wike for everything he has done for the party. But there can only be one candidate for the party. In any case, we will try and accommodate him and we will resolve all the issues. The issues will be resolved and that will not in any way affect the chances of the party in the 2023 general elections.”

  • WAEC boss dissociates council from state performance report

    WAEC boss dissociates council from state performance report

    The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has dismissed claims that it ranked states based on their performance in its recently released examination for school candidates as false.
    Mr Patrick Areghan, WAEC’s Head of National Office, dismissed the claims, calling them misleading, false, and the work of a liar.
    Areghan told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos that the report did not come from the council.

    “We learned on social media that WAEC has graded states’ performance in our recent West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), presumably the 2022 examination for school candidates.”

    “It ranked Kebbi as being 20th out of the 37 ranked states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in the public school-based performance data, supposedly made available by council.
    “The malicious report rated Enugu as being first, followed by Edo and Benue, with 93.9, 93.5 and 91.7 per cent respectively among others.
    “I want to say here that the ranking is completely false as it did not emanate from council, because there are many other things to be considered to arrive at such percentage and this is not part of our job.
    “We, as WAEC, do not do state ranking. We only indicate number of credits in subjects and other categories.
    “We do not dabble into areas that are not part of our duty as council,” the WAEC boss said.
    He urged the public to disregard the ranking, noting that it was false.

  • 2023: We won’t lower electoral bar, says INEC

    2023: We won’t lower electoral bar, says INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission on Friday said it would punish political parties found to be violating electoral timelines as well as provisions of the new Electoral Act 2022 (as amended), especially during the 2023 elections.

    The commission also maintained its ground not to jettison electronic transmission of results and revert to manual process and would not lower the bar in next year’s election.

    INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, made the clarification during a post-election roundtable and public presentation of the final report on the observation of 2022 Ekiti and Osun Governorship Election, organised by a human rights organisation, Yiaga Africa.

    He said, “I want to seize this opportunity to assure Nigerians that this present commission will be bold and courageous in prosecuting the 2023 general elections.

    “We are going to harvest and we will continue to harvest lessons from the Edo governorship election, Ondo governorship election, Anambra governorship election, and Ekiti and Osun governorship elections in shaping the way we approach the 2023 general election.

    “We are going to harvest all the good practices, we are also going to look at some of those issues we did not do so well and we will improve on them.

    “But our assurance is that this commission will not lower the bar and we are going to improve and we continue to improve with every election.

    “All the good practices we deployed in prosecuting the elections under review will also be deployed for the prosecution of the 2023 general election.

    “This commission will continue to upload polling unit results to our INEC results viewing portal; this commission will not depart from it.

    “The Nigerian people will be involved at every inch of the process in terms of knowing what is going on at the various polling units through our processes and procedures.
    “We will continue to also manage the collation process transparently so that all Nigerians will also follow whatever we are doing and we will not depart from all the good practices we have established.”

    While seeking the cooperation of Nigerians, Okoye advised civil society organisations and other critical stakeholders to study the Electoral Act 2022 in order to gain needed knowledge of its provisions.

    “There are creative and innovative provisions that have been imputed into the Electoral Act 2022 that has changed the framework and dynamics of election management and result management in Nigeria.

    “Unless we have a good knowledge of these documents, it will be very difficult for us to follow the trajectory of the electoral process and some of the innovations and some of the changes the commission we make and we continue to make towards improving the character and content and context of elections.

    “We plead for the understanding of Nigerians, we plead for the cooperation of Nigerians because we recognise the fact that the 2023 election will be challenging, but we have the capacity, and we also have the courage to face those challenges in a very broad and courageous manner.”

    Restating its commitment on electoral monitoring, Yiaga Africa’s Board Chair, Hussaini Abdu, urged INEC to take a cue from the Ekiti and Osun gubernatorial elections seeing that elections were held in those states just after the 2022 electoral act was passed.

    Abdu, stating that poor logistics has been a major bane in the history of Nigeria, tasked INEC on improvement.

    He said, “Many times, particularly in the last three rounds or cycles of elections these ones that we categorise as up season elections shape the character of what to expect in the forthcoming general elections.

    “We saw that in 2015 and we saw that in 2019, but what makes this more remarkable and require much deeper reflections and conversations is the fact that we have elections taking place after the new electoral Act and that is very important.”

  • NBA swears in Maikyau as Akpata bows out

    NBA swears in Maikyau as Akpata bows out

    The new Nigerian Bar Association President, Mr Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, was on Friday, sworn in to take over the mantle of leadership from his predecessor, Mr Olumide Akpata.

    Maikyau, who was sworn in as the 31st President of the NBA, won the election held earlier in July with 38,000 votes, following an election conducted by legal practitioners online.

    He was sworn in at the close of activities for the 62nd Annual General Conference of the association.

    At the swearing-in ceremony, which marks the end of activities for the 62nd Annual General Conference of the association, which was held at Eko Hotel & Suites, Maikyau was full of gratitude to God who brought him thus far.

    The new President commended the outgone Akpata administration for the giant strides it recorded at the NBA in the last two years.

    He made a commitment to not only sustain the laudable achievements and projects of the Akpata administration but also to build on it.

    Maikyau also thanked his colleagues at YC Maikyau & Co., his campaign team, as well as friends and associates who supported his candidacy.

    In his inaugural speech, Maikyau pledged to make service to the cause of justice as the pillar of his administration.

    He also urged the Federal Government to show commitment to the protection of lives and properties in the country.

    The new NBA President expressed displeasure against the spate of banditry, kidnapping, killings and cattle rustling bedeviling the country.

    According to him, “The Nigerian state is passing through a perilous time. There is the insecurity challenge and the situation appears so overwhelming.

    “Many Nigerians live below poverty line.

    “There has been no time that Nigerians have looked towards the bar than now.
    “Nigerians have been so terrorised, pauperised and traumatised, what is left of this country is the voice of the legal profession.

    “This voice of the legal profession must speak against the terror in the land and this is the charge that my administration will spearhead,” he said.

    He added that Nigerians were eagerly awaiting the manifestation of members of the bar to salvage the nation.

    Maikyau, therefore, urged members of the legal profession to provide leadership to the country.

    “The prosperity of lawyers can not be undermined in the society, the bar must earn the confidence and trust of the people,” he charged.

    In his address during the handover ceremony, Akpata gave assurance that the NBA would continue to protect the cause of the society and make Nigeria a better place through its section – the Nigerian Bar Association Special Public Interest and Development Law, under the leadership of Dr. Monday Ubani.

    The former President noted that many things were holding the country back as nation, stressing that the NBA was the only association that was reflective of the country.

    “The NBA need to show this country how things should be done and rise above selfish interest. We must show our leaders how things should be run in the country.

    “In the NBA, we exist for our members but we must also speak for the lesser members of the society.”

    Akpata urged the association to rise in defence of the Judiciary, stating that where judges were not able to speak for themselves because of the position they occupy, the NBA should be prepared to stand up for the judiciary.

    The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, who was represented by Justice S. Saidu, said she looked forward to a healthy working relationship between the court and the bar.

    She advised the new President of the NBA, Maikyau, to use his office to restore the good image of the judiciary and the country.

  • GDP: Finance and Insurance sector grows by 29.90% in Q2 2022

    GDP: Finance and Insurance sector grows by 29.90% in Q2 2022

    In the second quarter of 2022, the Finance and Insurance sector grew by 29.90% in nominal terms.

    According to the National Bureau of Statistics’ most recent GDP report.

    Financial Institutions grew at a rate of 31.63%, while Insurance grew at a rate of 17.28%.

    The Finance and Insurance Sector consists of the two subsectors, Financial Institutions and Insurance, which accounted for 89.10% and 10.90% of the sector respectively in real terms in Q2 2022.
    The overall rate was higher than that of Q2 2021 by 31.76% points and lower by 2.39% points than the preceding quarter.
    Quarter-on-Quarter growth was -5.19%. The sector’s contribution to the overall nominal GDP was 3.63% in Q2 2022, higher than the 3.21% it represented a year previous, and lower than the contribution of 3.80% it made in the preceding quarter.
    Growth in this sector in real terms totalled 18.48%, higher by 20.96% points from the rate recorded in the 2021 second quarter and down by 4.76% points from the rate recorded in the preceding quarter.
    Quarter-on-Quarter growth in real terms stood at -5.96%.
    The contribution of Finance and Insurance to real GDP totalled 4.25%, higher than the contribution of 3.72% recorded in the second quarter of 2021 by 0.54% points, and lower than 4.51% recorded in Q1 2022 by 0.25% points.
    Nairametrics reported that Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 3.54% year-on-year in real terms in the second quarter of 2022, an improvement compared to the 3.11% growth recorded in the previous quarter.
    On a year-on-year basis, the second quarter of 2022 growth rate decreased by 1.47% points from 5.01% growth rate recorded in the corresponding quarter in 2021. The oil sector GDP decline continued with a 11.77% dip year-on-year in Q2 2022, compared to a contraction of 26.04% recorded in Q1 2022.

  • Atiku, Obi, Shettima violated electoral law at NBA conference – Wali

    Atiku, Obi, Shettima violated electoral law at NBA conference – Wali

    Kingsley Wali, a good governance activist, stated at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference that Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Kashim Shettima violated electoral law.

    According to Wali, the vice presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and All Progressives Congress (APC) turned the event into a campaign ground.

    Borno Central Senator Shettima represented APC flagbearer Bola Tinubu at the NBA gathering earlier this week in Lagos.

    He told reporters that it was shocking to see politicians running for office in Nigeria while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had yet to lift the ban on electioneering.
    The Convener of Unity House Foundation (UHF) stated that a man who is lawless is unlikely to offer quality service to the people.

    “If you don’t have regard for the laws, I don’t know how to expect that you are not going to circumvent the law if you become President, Governor or whatever.”

    Wali said the ban on campaign will be lifted on September 28 but those who want to get into power “have started very badly by disobeying the laws.”

    Wali lamented that it was not done at an inconsequential gathering, but on a platform the international community watched.