The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has said that former Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, is safe in custody as there was no threat to his life.

The Service Public Relations Officer (SPRO), Francis Enobore, said this in a statement released in Abuja today July 6. 

Enobore said that it was necessary to address the issue following a publication by an online media organization alleging Kyari was attacked by his fellow inmates.

”The story is false, reckless and mischievous. It is the handiwork of some jobless cheap recognition-seeking charlatans masquerading as newsmen, lacking in intellectual capacity to interrogate what they conjure or hear before feeding the public.

That the author is completely oblivious of where and how detention of a suspect originates speaks volume of his ineptitude and the much his story can be relied upon.

For the record, Abba Kyari is one of the over 800 inmates in the location where he is being kept. However, notable individuals including Ex-Governors, Ministers, Senators and other celebrities of higher social status have passed through the same facility without any threat to their lives, ” he said

Enobore added 

“Those playing pranks with his detention are warned to desist from such unpatriotic acts as they may be asked, through formal litigation, to justify their statement.

The Controller-General, NCoS, Haliru Nababa, is determined to continue to upscale inmates’ welfare, safe and humane custody with fervour.

Therefore, he will not be distracted by inane publications”

Ahead of the 2023 elections, once again the social media gladiators have begun drumming support for their most preferred candidates.

In total, there are 16 political parties in the race led by APC; main opposition PDP; Labour Party, LP; and the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP.

Atiku Abubakar leads the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; Bola Ahmed Tinubu, All Progressives Congress, APC; Peter Obi, Labour Party, LP; and Musa Kwankwaso, New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP.

According to data from google trends, it seems Peter Obi is one of the most searched and talked about candidates. No thanks to the ‘I am OBIdient movement’ that has rented the social media space in support of the Labour Party presidential candidate.

However, analysis of the data shows the searches are coming from the southern states of the country which provides a vivid picture.

Based on the National Bureau of Statistics latest figure, the number of internet subscribers in the South stands at 77 million while the Northern states has 68.5 million.

However, if the presidential election is to be counted based on social media followers, Peter Obi will not be in the top three.

When it comes to social media presence, especially on Twitter, considered the fastest and reliable news source that every political figure or brand tries to exploit and increase its reach, Atiku Abubakar dominates.

StatiSense reports that as at the end of June, Atiku had 4.29 million followers on social media ahead of President Buhari’s 4.14 million followers.

Vice President Osinbajo comes third with 3.84 million, Dino Melaye(3.45m) and Bukola Saraki(2.88m).

Others in the list include Shehu Sani(2.62m) Goodluck Jonathan 1.95m, Ben Murray Bruce 1.85m, Jide Sanwolu(1.70m), Garba Shehu (1.42m) while Peter Obi completes the top 10 most followed politicians in Nigeria with 1.40m.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu has 1.2M, and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso trails with 202.3K followers.

It is important to note that Peter Obi’s media presence is growing rapidly and it added 357k new followers in June.

If Peter Obi is to stand a chance come 2023, he will need the support of at least 15 million real voters at the elections, how this will be achieved remains to be seen.

From the earlier reported google trend search, Peter’s Obi major interest is coming from the South with highest internet subscribers but not voters.

According to the latest update released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the CVR exercise, 10.48 million new registrations have been recorded while 8.63 registrations have been completed as of June 27, 2022.

This means that about 9 million new eligible voters have been added to the country’s voters list which stood at 84 million in 2019.

From the latest data, the youths accounted for 70% of the completed registration in the ongoing CVR, as 6 million out of the 8.6 million new registrations were done by youths.

The top states for registered voters using last election numbers and newly registered are Lagos (6,942,051), Kano (5,838,329), Kaduna (4,239,441), Rivers (3,587,679), Katsina (3,444,064).

Others are Delta (3,242,174), Oyo (3,216,061), Benue (2,717,673), Bauchi (2,711,985), and Anambra (2,651,152).

[NationalDaily]

Major General Bashir Magashi, the Minister of Defence has disclosed that about 600 inmates broke out of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje, with about 300 inmates successfully retrieved from the bushes.

Addressing newsmen, Magashi said they suspect the attack to be from the Boko-Haram terrorist sect.

He said, “They came in with high explosives they attempted the initial entry with a very high explosive, but they were unsuccessful.

“Then they attacked another section of the wall with even higher grade explosive which brought the wall down. The forces on ground did everything they could to repel them but the numbers they came with was overwhelming which they were not able to fight against. But they kept on fighting gallantly, unfortunately the breach happened.

“The incident took about 30 minutes, then reinforcements arrived. The inmates here are about 994. And when they broke out, because this people came specifically, we understand they are Boko Haram, they came specifically for their co-conspirators, in order to get them, some of them are now in the general population. So they broke out and other people in that general population also escaped.

“But many of them have returned, they have reported themselves to the police, some we have successfully retrieved from the bushes were they were hiding. And right now we have retrieved about 300, out of about 600 that escaped their cells.”

The federal government has announcedthe restructuring of five electricity distribution companies, also known as DISCOs. 

 Executive Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Sanusi Garba, and Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Alex Okoh, confirmed this in a joint statement. 

The affected companies are Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO), Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), Kaduna Electric, and Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED).

Garba and Okoh explained that the announcement followed Fidelity Bank’s activation of the call on the collaterised shares of KEDCO, BDEC, and Kaduna Electric over their inability to repay loans obtained to pay for assets acquired in the 2013 privatisation exercise.

The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) would be a placeholder board for IBEDC in a temporary capacity while the PHED undergoes restructuring to prevent its imminent insolvency.

The new boards for the affected discos have been approved and the bureau was collaborating with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Ministry of Power to ensure no service disruptions during the transition.

The statement read; 

RESTRUCTURING OF KANO, BENIN, KADUNA, IBADAN, AND PORT HARCOURT DISCOs

Today we were informed by Fidelity Bank that they have activated the call on the collateralized shares of Kano, Benin, and Kaduna (Fidelity and AFREXIM) DISCOs and that they have initiated action to take over the Boards of these DISCOs and exercise the rights on the shares.

Fidelity Bank’s action is a contractual and commercial intervention and is between the Core Investors in the DISCOs and the lender. BPE is involved because of the 40% shareholding of Government in the DISCOs. Fidelity Bank has informed us that the new Board members of the affected DISCOs will be as follows:

–              Kano DISCO: Hasan Tukur (Chairman), Nelson Ahaneku (Member), Engr. Rabiu Suleiman (Member)

–              Benin DISCO: KC Akuma (Chairman), Adeola Ijose (Member), Charles Onwera (Member)

–              Kaduna DISCO: Abbas Jega (Chairman), Ameenu Abubakar (Member), Marlene Ngoyi (Member)

BPE has nominated Bashir Gwandu (Kano), Yomi Adeyemi (Benin), and Umar Abdullahi (Kaduna) as independent Directors to represent Government’s 40% interest in the three DISCOs respectively, during this transition.

We are engaging with the Central Bank of Nigeria (as the banking sector regulator) to ensure an orderly transition and to ensure that Fidelity Bank does not hold the DISCOs’ shares in perpetuity.

It is envisaged that the majority interest in the entities would be sold to capable private sector investors willing and able to re-capitalize and manage the entities efficiently.

We have also received assurances that Fidelity Bank will participate fully in all the ongoing market initiatives aimed at improving the sector (e.g. National Mass Metering Program).

In the interim, NERC and BPE met on an Emergency Basis and activated the Business Continuity Process and have appointed interim Managing Directors in the affected DISCOs.

1. Kano Disco – Ahmad Dangana
2. Benin Disco – Henry Ajagbawa

iii.            Kaduna Disco– Yusuf Usman Yahaya

Also, with the takeover of Ibadan DISCO by AMCON, the BPE has obtained approval from NERC to appoint Kingsley Achife as the interim Managing Director.

In a temporary capacity the leadership of AMCON will be a placeholder Board for the Ibadan franchise (Ahmed Kuru – Chair, Eberechukwu Uneze – Member, Aminu Ismail – Member). Oluwaseyi Akinwale will represent the interest of Government on the Board alongside the DG of BPE.

Lastly, we are re-structuring the Management and Board of Port Harcourt DISCO to forestall the imminent insolvency of the entity.

As a condition for support to the entity to meet its market obligations, Iboroma Akpana will take over as the Chairman of the Board. Emmanuel Okotete, Eyo Ekpo, Ismaila Shuaibu and the DG of BPE will form the interim Board. Mr. Benson Uwheru will take over as the Managing Director of PHEDC as part of the changes.

Government will support the activation of Emergency funds through the Nigerian Electricity Market Stabilization Facility to support the entity while it goes through restructuring and repositioning to serve the citizens of the franchise area better.

We are working with the Honourable Minister of Power to ensure no service disruptions during these transitions. We remain committed to supporting the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry to serve Nigerians better.

Sanusi Garba      Alex A. Okoh

EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN NERC      DIRECTOR GENERAL, BPE

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it is working with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to curtail vote-buying during elections in the country.

Oyo state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Barr Mutiu Agboke who admitted that vote-buying is major headache for INEC during a valedictory programme/media briefing yesterday in Ibadan, warned politicians to desist from the act in future elections, saying anyone arrested for buying votes during elections would be prosecuted. 

Agboke promised that INEC will ensure transparent, credible, free and fair general elections in 2023. He also appealed to security agencies and the political class to continue to join hands with it to tackle the menace of vote-buying in the country.

Urging residents of the state to collect their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) which he said are key to the participation of any voter in the upcoming election, he noted that “the current voting system is such that without a PVC, no electorate shall be allowed to vote under any condition.”

Agboke also revealed that “INEC has phased out the use of Smart Card Readers and Incident forms.”

A woman has been arrested for allegedly selling her daughter and niece, both aged 14, to two men, aged 59 and 69, in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. 

She allegedly sold the teens, who are from Lusikisiki Village in the Eastern Cape, to the men in Matsheketshe Village, Umkhomazi, outside Durban.

Authorities were made aware of the incident after residents saw the girls with the men.

“The act drew consternation from members of the community after noticing the two young girls staying with elder men,” Social Development MEC Nonhlanhla Khoza said on Tuesday.

Police were investigating a case of abduction and rape, spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Nqobile Gwala said.

“The girls were found to have been performing duties for these men, including washing, cooking and cleaning the houses,” he said. 

“It is alleged that the girls were also sharing bedrooms with these men. Police arrested the mother [who sold the children to the men] and another 69-year-old man, while another man, aged 59, managed to escape,” Khoza said.

She added one of the children confirmed she was raped.

Both the mother and 69-year-old appeared in the Scottburgh Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

The case was postponed to Friday for the accused to make a formal bail application.

Khoza condemned the mother’s alleged conduct.

“This reflects how morals have undergone a radical decline to an extent that people could sell their children. We are baffled by this. We strongly believe that the rule of law, one of the basic tenets of our hard-fought democracy, must prevail.” 

She said police should leave no stone unturned in dealing with the case.

“We want to see justice in this case of children abuse and justice must be delivered without fear, favour or prejudice. We commend the police and social workers for their swift reaction in apprehending two suspects in this case. However, we want to urge our law enforcement agencies to track down the suspect who escaped right under their noses,” she added.

Both teens were being sheltered in a youth and child care centre and are receiving psycho-social support. 

 Zimbabwe’s central bank said it would start selling gold coins this month as a store of value to stop runaway inflation, which has weakened the local currency against the dollar .

The country’s central bank governor John Mangudya said in a statement on Monday that the coins will be available for sale from July 25 in local currency, U.S. dollars and other foreign currencies at a price based on the prevailing international price of gold and the cost of production.

The “Mosi-oa-tunya” coin, named after Victoria falls, can be converted into cash and be traded locally and internationally, the central bank said.

The gold coin will contain one troy ounce of gold and will be sold by Fidelity Gold Refinery, Aurex and local banks, it added.

Last week, Zimbabwe more than doubled its policy rate to 200% from 80% and outlined plans to make the U.S. dollar legal tender for the next five years to boost confidence.

Annual inflation, which hit almost 192% in June, cast a shadow over President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s bid to revitalise the economy.

Zimbabwe abandoned its inflation-ravaged dollar in 2009, opting instead to use foreign currencies, mostly the U.S. dollar. The government reintroduced the local currency in 2019 to aid the economy, but it has rapidly lost value again.

President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof Emmanuel Osodeke has said they are ready to call off its nationwide industrial action immediately if the Federal Government signs the negotiated agreement.

In an interview with Channels Television on Tuesday July 5, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke said the union is waiting for a positive response from President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

He also accused the federal government of not taking the aggrieved lecturers serious, hence why they are taking so long to resolve the issues that led to the strike. 

Osodeke said; 

“As far as ASUU is concerned, the strike can end tomorrow, we have finished the negotiations, let the government call us this night that we should come tomorrow and sign the agreement, we will be there.

“Let government tell us they have finished testing the UTAS, we have accepted it. By tomorrow, we will call off the strike. We are finished (with negotiations).

“We are just waiting, and challenging the government. When will they sign the agreement, and when will they accept UTAS? Those are the two questions we need to ask the Nigerian government.”

The ASUU President also said the federal government has failed to pay the striking lecturers their salaries for the past five months, noting that the tool used as a blackmail to punish the university workers will not work.

Judge Otis Wright of a United States Central District Court in California has postponed the sentencing of Nigerian fraudster Ramon Abass known as Hushpuppi to September 21.

“At the request of counsel, the Sentencing is CONTINUED to 9/21/2022 at 1:30 PM before Judge Otis D. Wright II, as to Defendant Ramon Olorunwa Abbas,” the court said

According to court documents by the United States Department of Justice (DoJ), Hushpuppi  in April 2021, pleaded guilty to the multi-million-dollar fraud charges filed against him by the United States government.

A version of Hushpuppi’s plea agreement filed in June outlined his role in a school finance scheme, as well as several other cyber and business email compromise schemes that cumulatively caused more than $24 million in losses. He pleaded guilty to Count Two which is “Conspiracy to Engage in Money Laundering,” an offence that attracts a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment among other punishments including full restitution, his plea agreement with the U.S. government states in part.

Acting United States Attorney Tracy L. Wilkison said Hushpuppi allegedly faked the financing of a Qatari school by playing the roles of bank officials and creating a bogus website in a scheme that also bribed a foreign official to keep the elaborate pretense going after the victim was tipped off.

Wilkison stated that Hushpuppi played “a significant role in the scheme, funded his luxurious lifestyle by laundering illicit proceeds generated by con artists who use increasingly sophisticated means.”

Hushpuppi was arrested in Dubai, the United Arab Emirate (UAE) in June 2020, and subsequently flown to the U.S.. He pleaded guilty to the charges in July 2021 and was ordered to remain in custody pending sentencing.

The sentencing hearing was initially moved by Judge Wright from February 14 to July 11 and has now been moved to September 21 at the counsel’s request.

He has been in custody since his arrest in Dubai and rendition to the U. S. in June 2020.

Hushpuppi entered into a plea bargain agreement with the U.S. government in July 2021, in the hope of getting a lighter punishment. Despite pleading guilty, Hushpuppi will not be exempted from paying restitution.

The prosecutor said the maximum penalty for the offence that Hushpuppi hopes will be reduced at his sentencing include “20 years’ imprisonment; a 3-year period of supervised release; a fine of $500,000 or twice the gross gain or gross loss resulting from the offense, whichever is greatest; and a mandatory special assessment of $100.”

Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture has said that removal of petrol subsidy in the country may lead to instability. 

Mohammed who said this in an interview with Reuters on Monday July 4, also said that many countries have introduced measures to help citizens cope with high oil energy prices due to the Russia-Ukraine war.

He said; 

“When you consider the chaos, the social disharmony and … instability such an action (of abolishing subsidies) would facilitate, is it worth it? I don’t think so.”

Also speaking on oil theft in the country, Mohammed said there are concerns about the culpability of the nation’s security agencies. He also said that barges of oil cannot be stolen and moved on the coastal waters without the collaboration of some powerful stakeholders.

Mohammed also alleged that the new petroleum industry law that allocates money to oil-producing communities would stop attacks. He further blamed the European Union’s climate change policies for stifling investment in the sector.

He said; 

“This puts the figure at about N1.36trillion when converted to naira with the official rate of N416.25 to the dollar exchange rate. In the first quarter of 2022, oil theft was worth N434billion. This menace has prevented Nigeria from meeting its crude oil output capacity.

 “Out of about 141million barrels produced in the first quarter, about nine million barrels were lost to crude oil theft. This menace has become a national disaster and a critical threat to the nation’s revenue base. Various reports confirm that the Bonny Terminal Network, Forcados Terminal Network, and Brass Terminal Network are major routes for this organized crime.

“We believe that climate change is real and important for emission control, but there is a bit of double standard in the EU policy regarding climate change.”

A couple has died of burns in Abule Oturi, Akute, Ogun state, following a domestic dispute.

Reports of the couple began circulating on social media after a journalist narrated the incident.

His tweet read: “At Ajuwon Police Station: Wife separates from abusive husband. Months later (this morning) husband goes to wife’s new apartment doused her with petrol and set her alight. Burning wife grabs husband while she burns. Both with serious burn injuries, need urgent medical care.”

The police have now confirmed the incident and revealed that the couple has died.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, said in a statement on Sunday, July 3: “The suspect was arrested on Saturday after concerned neighbours reported the incident to the police at the Otun-Akute division.

“The estranged husband, Ponle, was reported to have told many people in the area that his wife had no right to live alone and vowed that no other man would be with her after she left him due to physical abuse.

“The couple was married for three years and resided in Otun-Akute, until the woman, Lateefat, decided to leave him when she could no longer cope with the abuse.

“Mr Ponle was said to have gone to the residence of his ex-wife and threatened to kill her if she did not return to his house.

“Their neighbours explained that the man was fond of beating the woman, at times almost to the point of death. Their fights were said to have become a community matter as the woman was hospitalised on many occasions until she decided to pack out of his house a month ago when she rented an apartment on the same street.”

The police spokesperson said the suspect went to Lateefat’s house last Thursday, June 30, and threatened to burn her alive but she fled.

Oyeyemi continued: “Mr Ponle went back to the victim’s house on Saturday night (July 2) and met her praying. He poured petrol on her in the room and set her ablaze, but the woman managed to grab him to ensure they burned together until people intervened. They were rushed to a nearby hospital where the woman was confirmed dead.”

The suspect, who was handed over to the police, later died. 

Three men including a 70-year-old have been sentenced to death by stoning by an Islamic Sharia Court in Ningi, Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State, which found them guilty of homosexuality.

Trail of the convicts identified as Abdullahi Beti (30), Kamilu Ya’u (20) and Mal. Haruna (70), began on June 14, 2022 after being arrested by members of the Hisbah Vanguard operating in Ningi LGA through Adamu Dan Kafi. 

They reportedly pleaded guilty to the charges brought against them. After hearing the statements by witnesses as well as admittance of guilt by the accused persons, the trial judge, Munka’ilu Sabo-Ningi, sentenced them to death by stoning.

He based the judgement on provisions of Section 134 of the Bauchi State Penal law of 2001 as well as the provisions of Fiquhussunah Jizu’i number 2 at page 362.

The Nigerian Army has confirmed the attack in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State by bandits who killed scores of security operatives, including soldiers and police.

According to reports, at least 43 people, including 30 soldiers and seven mobile police personnel and civilians were killed when the armed men stormed the Gold mining site. The bandits also abducted four Chinese nationals.

Confirming the attack, the Nigerian Army, in a statement issued by its Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, said some bandits were also gunned down during the attack.

“Sadly, a number of personnel paid the supreme price in the fierce firefight that ensued.

Subsequently, the location has been reinforced and troops are on the trail of the criminals with some already neutralized.

The GOC 1 Division has moved to the location to take charge of the follow up operations” the statement read in part

The appeal filed in 2018 by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, seeking the reversal of IPOB proscription as a terrorist group by the Federal Government could be revisited.

This was made known, yesterday, to The Guardian by the Special Counsel for the Appellants, Mr. Aloy Ejimakor, who said that the services of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume, has been engaged to step up the appeal.

Ejimakor said: “When the proscription was made ex parte in October 2017, IPOB approached the Court of Appeal, insisting that the trial court was in error and prayed that the order be set aside.”

He said that IPOB had framed five grounds, which include that the activities of the group were not within the definition of terrorism acts as enshrined in Section 2 (1)(a)(b) & (c) of the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act 2013, to warrant such proscription.

Machukwu-Ume had recently determined that there was need for amendments of the existing grounds of arguments to help set in motion a just and favourable determination of the pending appeal, adding that he is leading a team of lawyers, comprising IPOB’s senior and principal lawyers, Aloy Ejimakor and Ifeanyi Ejiofor.

Ejimakor, who said that based on available court documents, “the proposed amended notice and grounds of appeal, which are now 18 in total, accuses the Attorney General of the Federation of “looking the other way while the Fulani herdsmen were killing, maiming and kidnapping all over Nigeria, while, on the other hand, applying to the court for the Appellants, who do not cause any violence, to be proscribed.”

ALSO, member representing Aba South Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, Obinna Ichita, yesterday, urged the Federal Government to view Kanu’s case from the prism of being a factor worthy of consideration in the search for lasting peace in the South East, the entire country and not the cause of insecurity.”

He said that political solution remains the best option to resolving the impasse, urging the Federal Government to heed appeals by eminent Nigerians to dialogue with Kanu and other agitators of self-determination to find lasting solution to the rising tension in the country.

The lawmaker spoke yesterday in Abuja while commenting Federal High Court’s refusal of bail application by Kanu, predicting that the release of the IPOB leader would tremendously help to douse the tension in the South East.

[Guardian]

Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC), yesterday, said it had suspended plans to sell its onshore oil assets in Nigeria, in compliance with a Supreme Court ruling, which said it had to wait for the outcome of an appeal over a 2019 oil spill. Managing Director of SPDC and Chairman of Shell Companies in Nigeria, Osagie Okunbor, in a statement, said: “The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) complies with the law, including any court orders, and respects the judiciary and its role in upholding the rule of law.

“Recent media reports regarding the June 16 Supreme Court proceedings does not accurately reflect SPDC’s response to the order. SPDC will continue to comply with the Supreme Court’s order to maintain the status quo. We have a strong belief in the merits of our case, which we are vigorously defending.”

In a separate statement, the London-based company said: “Shell welcomes the Nigerian Supreme Court’s decision to hear the appeal of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd in this case. Until the outcome of SPDC’s appeal, Shell will not progress the divestment of its interest in SPDC.”

MEANWHILE, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) have returned to the trenches over an alleged payment of N74 billion in transport claims.

While the management of NMDPRA declared it had remitted the huge sum into the coffers of independent marketers, IPMAN is threatening legal action unless the downstream authority substantiates its claim.

The management of NMDPRA had, on Wednesday, July 29, 2022, declared it paid N74 billion to IPMAN in the past seven months.

In a counter reaction, Chairman of IPMAN (Northern chapter), Alhaji Bashir Danmalam, debunked NMDPRA’s claims, insisting IPMAN has not received such amount of money as branded.

Danmalam, who disclosed IPMAN’s stand while addressing journalists in Kano, said the marketers would be left with no option but to seek redress.

He challenged the management of NMDPRA to come up with the names of all the marketers paid, adding: “I’m surprised to hear the story on payment of the N74 billion claims by the chief executive of the agency, Faruk Ahmed Maishanu. Either he was misinformed or he does not know what is happening in the place.

“Who and who were paid the money? I know some of the marketers who are being owed N10 billion each. So, for him to say that the agency paid N74 billion to marketers is not true. We can only agree with the said payment if the money was paid to ghost marketers or if it was part of the rejected waybill.”

THIS came as the House of Representatives asked the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) to establish more depots across the country and regulate the operations of private depot owners.

It noted that if more fuel depots were established, fuel scarcity would be curbed, while more employment opportunities would be created, thus improving the country’s economy.

A member, Kingsley Uju, in a motion, titled: ‘Need to establish more petrol depots in Nigeria’, stated during plenary, yesterday, that there are insufficient depots in the country.

According to the lawmaker, an estimated 100 million litres of bad petrol imported into the country has caused fuel scarcity with the consequent effect of adulteration of the product by black market vendors.

In another development, civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) faulted the alleged diversion of $7 billion petrol subsidy under the current administration.

In a statement, National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, urged civil society organisations and rights activists to drag the government to court.

He said: “The claim of the House of Representatives on diversion of petrol subsidy to the tune of $7 billion, if substantiated, is another proof that the government of President Buhari is infested with corrupt people who pretend to be saints.”

[Guardian]

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) says it will commence the marking of answer scripts of over 1.6million candidates, who sat for the just concluded May/June 2022 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

A statement signed by WAEC acting Head, Public Affairs, Mrs. Moyosola Adeyegbe, said coordination and marking of the school candidates answer scripts will start from Wednesday, July 13, 2022.

The statement reads: “The West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Nigeria wishes to inform its stakeholders and the general public that the coordination and marking exercise of the just concluded WASSCE for school candidates, 2022 will be carried out at 85 marking venues spread across the country.

“To keep up with the practice of releasing candidates’ results 45 days after the conduct of the last paper, the coordination and marking exercise will commence on Wednesday, July 13, 2022, after the Eid-el-Kabir holidays.”

Adeyegbe said the coordination meetings for chief examiners and team leaders will hold in the morning of Wednesday, July 13, 2022 while the assistant examiners coordination meetings will commence in the afternoon of the same day.

“The coordination meetings would span three days, from Wednesday, July 13 to Friday, July 15, 2022. This is to enable our Muslim brothers and sisters (staff and examiners) partake fully in the festivities before embarking on the assignment, ” she stated.

WAEC Head of Nigeria National Office, Mr. Patrick Areghan, while announcing the conduct of the school exam, said results will be released within 45 days after the last paper was written.

Areghan said 1,607,985 candidates were examined in 76 subjects, made up of 197 papers.

Majority of the SS3 students wrote the 2022 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Board (UTME) as awaiting result candidates.