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    If you must relocate/travel to abroad, please read this article


    Something I wrote sometime ago for young would-be Nigerian greener pasture seekers abroad

    If your ambition is to leave Nigeria at any time, you need to know the following;

    Money does not grow on trees in obodo oyinbo. Work must be exchanged for financial returns. Remember, “Work” in this instance can be ‘anything” you do to earn an income legally and illegally. Remember, LEGALITY or lack thereof is underpinned by prescribed consequences which can be positive or negative.

    Category A: This is for those who want to “HAMMER’ and those who want to “Bute Ike” as fast as possible and within a short period of time. Those who want to follow this part must embrace some kind of illegality by way of dealing on drugs, embarking on fraudulent activities and many similar fraudulent vices. These can be very lucrative and can launch you from zero to hero overnight. Within a short period of time, you could achieve so many things money can buy that you would normally only “DREAM’ about hitherto. The MONEY LOVING SOCIETY will open doors for you. Forget about the hypocritical and cliched MONEY IS NOT EVERYTHING quip, doors open with money regardless of how you have made it.

    The natural caveat to the above is that you will always stand a few yards away from doing time in jail, getting killed in the line of “duty”, or living life with a very bad reputation. Your default mode would be to watch your back at all times. Yes, you will always have money in your pocket, lots of it but less peace of mind. Remember, it is also likely that you would work hard in the fast-lane industry and still not make it. Nothing is automatic or guaranteed here.

    Category A can be risky as most that follow this path tend to blow their earnings while the going was good. Well, some of them actually wash their dirty money, make it clean and scratch a solid life out of it but these are in the minority. The majority blow all the money and sink into poverty eventually.

    Category B: This one is boring, frustrating, labor and time intensive. It takes several years for it to begin to bear fruits. You gotta follow the educational part. You have to add-on to what you have studied before leaving Nija or start afresh and work your way up the ladder through personal educational upgrades. You may eventually end-up in academia or the corporate world and your remuneration would continue to increase, rather slowly as you acquire more skills on the way. In the end, you will probably not become a Billionaire but you will be able to live way above the acquisition of MASLOW’s basics. You will have rest of mind; you will become fully integrated in your new abode and probably become well respected too. The police cannot scare you with anything.

    Fact is, you must be willing to invest 10-15 years of your life in achieving Category B. One of the few exceptions would be those who were already in the medical and health science field before they left Nigeria. Their skills are always on high demand in the WEST. For them, they just need a few years, by way of upgrading educationally to become fully integrated economically.

    If you are good and you are in the medical field, you could go straight from Nigeria to the work place in the WEST after a series of exams. This happens especially with our Medical Doctors. If you are not medically inclined, then be prepared to invest time in a much focused way. Stick to your plan and do not allow the flashy lifestyle of some of our LOUD and “rich” brothers you would meet to fool you.

    Forget the effizzy and initial garagara, 10-15 years from now, most of our LOUD and “rich” brothers you meet in Obodo Oyinbo would be broke and begging you for financial assistance. Category B consumes time but it is much more sustainable at the long-run. You will live a fulfilled and guaranteed lifestyle with category B. So, know what you are getting into and chose wisely.

    Here are the 5 judges to decide Atiku and Obi’s petitions today

    In November 2022, months before the 2023 polls, Nigeria’s Chief Justice, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, swore in 307 justices to handle the election petitions.

    On May 25, 2023, 39 more justices were inaugurated, totalling 346 justices expected to deliver judgments before September 16. Section 285 (6) of the 1999 constitution provides that “an election tribunal shall deliver judgment in writing within 180 days from the date of filing of the petition.”

    In the same month, the Presidential Election Petition Court commenced hearing the election petitions filed by the five candidates in February’s presidential poll.

    The candidates have called on the five-person panel to dispense justice accordingly today.

    For LP’s Peter Obi, the demands are five-fold. On eligibility, petitioners argue that APC’s Tinubu is ineligible to run for the top office. Obi’s lead counsel, Livy Uzoukwu, also argued that the president-elect “was not duly elected by a majority of the lawful votes cast at the time of the election.”

    Second, because Tinubu was declared winner of the election without securing 25 percent in the FCT, Obi, and the LP want the tribunal to determine “that the 2nd Respondent (Tinubu) having failed to score one-quarter of the votes cast at the Presidential Election in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, was not entitled to be declared and returned as the winner of the presidential election held on February5y 2023.”

    Obi also prayed the court to cancel the February 2the Februarytial election and compel INEC to conduct a fresh election. He then prayed the tribunal to issue an order preventing Tinubu and his running mate, Shettima, from participating in the fresh election.

    For the PDP’s Abubakar, the demands are similar. At the court sitting in late July, the former Vice President said the fact that a presidential election had never been nullified before by a court in Nigerians is no grounds for the court to avoid “doing the right thing”

    Lead counsel to Atiku and PDP, Chris Uche, SAN, said in his final address that day, “A subtle threat of apocalyptic catastrophe of national chaos and anarchy if a judgment is not given in a particular manner, cannot deter a court of law from doing justice.

    “The court must do justice, rather ‘let the heavens fall’ but as courageously stated by the Supreme Court per Oguntade JSC, in the epic case of AMAECHI vs. INEC & ORS (2008) LPELR-446(SC) (Pp. 67-68 paras. D): ‘I must do justice even if the heavens fall.’ The truth, of course, is that when justice has been done, the heavens stay in place.”

    However, in their final defence statement to the court, Mr Tinubu’s legal team, led by Wole Olanipekun, said any other interpretation different from what they had presented to the tribunal would lead to absurdity, chaos, anarchy and “alteration of the very intention of the legislature.”

    Having heard all sides, here are the persons deciding Tinubu’s fate today.

    Haruna Tsammani, 64, was appointed a Justice of the appeal court in 2010. Called to the Bar in 1983, he was appointed a high court judge in Bauchi State on September 17, 1998.

    Tsammani is not a rookie when it comes to electoral tribunal sittings. In December 2015, he was part of the five-person panel of the Appeal Court that dismissed an appeal instituted by a former governor of Oyo State, Rashidi Ladoja, against the election of the then-governor Abiola Ajimobi (now late).

    Justice Stephen Adah, 66, hails from Kogi State. He graduated from the Nigerian Law School in 1982 and now heads the Asaba Division of the Court of Appeal.

    Adah was appointed as a judge of the Federal High Court on November 122, 1998, and was one of the justices promoted to the Appeal Court in November 2012.

    He is best known for his landmark judgment delivered in an appeal filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in 2020 against a trial court’s decision, which partially upheld the no-case submission filed by former President Goodluck Jonathan’s cousin, Robert Azibaola.

    Justice Misitura Bolaji-Yusuf was born on August 77, 1959. She hails from Oyo State and attended the Obafemi Awolowo University between 1979 and 1983 and later, the Nigerian Law School from 1983 to 1984.

    Bolaji-Yusuf was appointed as a justice in the Oyo State High Court on January 300, 1997, where she delivered major judgments. She was later appointed to the Court of Appeal on March 244, 2014.


    One of her lead judgments was delivered at the hearing of an N5.6bn pension scam in Oyo State. The case involved the EFCC and 12 other persons in the Oyo State civil service.

    She was on the panel that affirmed the authenticity of the candidates of the Godwin Obaseki-led faction to participate in the Edo State 2023 elections. She ranks 31st on the senior hierarchy list of the Court of Appeal.

    The Bayelsa-born justice hails from Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of the state. Born in 1965, Ugo began his education at the State school, Igbedi in Bayelsa State from 1972 to 1978.

    Justice Ugo was appointed as a Justice of the High Court of Bayelsa State in March 2006. He became an appellate court justice in March 2014 and ranks 44th on the seniority list of the Court of Appeal.

    Justice Bello, 62, hails from Kano State. He attended the Nigerian Law School in 1985. In 2010, he was appointed to the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.

    Bello presided over the Nasarawa State Governorship Election Tribunal in 2019 where the PDP governorship candidate in the 2019 polls, David Ombugadu, had filed a suit against INEC and Governor Abdullahi Sule of the All Progressive Congress.

    However, Bello rejected the petition on the grounds that it lacked merit, noting that the petitioner’s claims of excessive voting and electoral violence could not be substantiated. He is ranked 71st on the seniority list of the Court of Appeal.

    Wife got pregnant but she didn’t know the husband had Vasectomy (a form of birth control plan for men)

    A woman, identity withheld, has happily told her husband she is pregnant only to hear the shocking story of her life: her husband had vasectomy, a form of birth control plan for males, but he did not tell her.

    The man, identity also withheld, secretly got the procedure done to know if his wife was faithful to him, and it turned out she was not, the video trending on Twitter showed when the man confronted his wife and revealed that he got a vasectomy and now, the woman is pregnant with a baby.

    The man immediately rejected the pregnancy, saying it is not his own, insisting that the wife got pregnant outside her marriage without knowing that he would find out.

    Due to the vasectomy, the man became unable to get any woman pregnant but kept his decision secret because he did not trust his wife and wanted to know if she was faithful.

    In a trending video, the man revealed to his wife that he could not get her pregnant and wanted to know the father of the baby she was carrying.

    The woman was enraged after finding out that her husband got the procedure done secretly.

    She emphasised that they had been trying to have a baby for four years, and all her husband considered was getting a vasectomy.

    When she asked if her husband would accept and love the baby she was carrying, the man refused and said the pregnancy was not his and, therefore, the baby could not be his.

    The video was posted on Twitter by @peladexn. Watch the video clip below:

    Some observers, however, blamed the man for getting a vasectomy without his wife’s consent.

    FBI said Bola Tinubu was not a student of Chicago State University

    Tori Media has stumbled on a document wherein the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) categorically stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was never a student of Chicago State University (CSU).

    This was contained in a letter written by Jennifer S. Dent, the Acting Legal Attache’, Office of Legal Attache’ of the United States Consulate General located in Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.

    The letter dated July 28, 2011, was addressed to the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Farida Waziri; Attention: Mr. Bala Sanga, Principal Staff Officer.

    The letter reads:

    “I wanted to respond to your request for information made to the Federal Bureau of Investigation on January 4, 2011, regarding former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubo and his enrollment at/graduation from Chicago State University.

    “Per our verification with the Chicago State University’s Registrar Office and its official response to our inquiry, Bola Tinubo “was not enrolled as a student this or any term” at the referenced educational institution.

    See a copy of the letter below:

    FBI on Tinubu and Chicago State University
    FBI on Tinubu and Chicago State University

    Presently, there is a great controversy over the enrolment of Tinubu at the university following a suit filed at the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, against the University.

    Alhaji Abubakar had, in the suit, demanded details of Tinubu’s purported enrolment as a student in the school as proof.

    In the meantime, following a barrage of attacks by angry Nigerians over the manner it has been handling Tinubu’s certificate saga, the University has, Tuesday morning, locked its official “X” handle from the general public.

    Also, Nigerians have lamented over what the Chicago State University could possibly be hiding in Tinubu’s matter after several efforts to get a positive response respecting the University’s 1979 yearbook which has evidently been removed from their website.

    Nigerians were shocked to notice that the institution has removed its 1979 yearbook, the particular year that Tinubu purportedly graduated from the school.

    On his part, Tinubu told the US court to hide his Chicago State University records because his reputation as president is at risk of further being damaged by Nigerian bloggers.

    Tinubu kicked against an application for order to direct discovery of his CSU credentials, claiming that releasing them will amount to arming Nigerian bloggers with information to discredit and weaken his reputation.

    According to him, previous records the school released in 2022 to Nigerian lawyer Mike Enahoro-Ebah have been turned into weapons by “bloggers to attack” his character.

    BREAKING! French Embassy in Niger reportedly set ablaze by angry youths

    Angry Nigerien youths reportedly set ablaze the Embassy of France in Niamey, the country’s capital.

    Watch a video clip of the incident below:

    Ogbanje Church of All Nations opens in Nnewi, Anambra State

    A new religious establishment, known as the Ogbanje Church of All Nations, has recently been inaugurated in Nnewi, located in the Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State. The church’s opening was marked with its first worship service, during which congregants sang and danced to songs that eulogized the names of popular river goddesses in the region.

    A video of the worship service has been circulating on social media, capturing the joyful and lively atmosphere as church members celebrated and danced to tunes composed in praise of the goddesses associated with the well-known rivers in Nnewi.

    Presiding over the service, a clergyman, whose name was not mentioned, addressed the congregation in the local Igbo language. He encouraged the members to worship deities and entities they are familiar with rather than those they are not acquainted with. The cleric drew attention to the fact that people often use names of biblical locations, such as Bethsaida, Jericho, and Samaria, in songs without fully understanding the significance of these places.

    Amidst echoes of joy and commendations from the congregation, the unnamed clergyman led the worshipers in singing a praise song dedicated to the revered Ogbanje, and the attendees joyfully danced in celebration.

    The establishment of the Ogbanje Church of All Nations has sparked interest and curiosity among the residents of Nnewi, as the church’s focus on venerating local river goddesses sets it apart from more conventional religious institutions in the area.

    Atiku Abubakar Files Fresh Case Against Bola Tinubu In U.S

    Phrank Shaibu, an aide to Atiku Abubakar, says the former vice-president withdrew a suit against President Bola Tinubu because he did not want to abuse court processes.

    Tinubu claimed that he holds a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Chicago State University.

    In January, Beverly Poindexter, the staff in charge of transcript requests, enrolment and degree verification, confirmed that the president attended the university between 1977 and 1979.

    But Abubakar, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February presidential election, alleged that Tinubu’s academic records were forged, and then file a suit against him.

    However, the former vice-president withdrew the suit from a US court, which led to the case being struck out.

    In a statement on Sunday, Shaibu said Abubakar is pursuing the matter at a higher court.

    “Waziri Atiku Abubakar only withdrew the case before a Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois County, United States of America because he is pursuing the same matter in a higher court and he wanted to avoid an abuse of court processes,” he said.

    “So, this is just the beginning. In the last one week, Nigerians have been watching the ongoing ministerial screening at the senate where nominees have been made to reveal their primary, secondary and university history.

    “Some of the ministerial nominees were even classmates with the senators screening them.

    “However, the man who nominated them has no educational history. He has no primary school, secondary school or university classmates. This is because he has no classmates. He actually fell from the sky.

    “In recent years past presidents have invited their former classmates to Aso Rock Villa. Even President Muhammadu Buhari hosted his classmates from Katsina Middle School.

    “But who did Bola Tinubu invite to the presidential villa? Governors from 1999 set. This is a man whose entire life, background and credentials remain unknown and Atiku will ensure that the man is exposed.

    “It is expected that the person to hold the office of the president must be above board, especially on his life history.

    “Unfortunately, here we have a president whose history is shrouded in secrecy and for whom it is as though life started in 1993

    Fake Couple’ caught smuggling 184 cocaine wraps as woman hides wraps in privates

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a fake couple, Mr. Ilonzeh Kingsley Onyebuchi and Mrs. Ilonzeh Roseline Nonyelum purportedly going for medical treatment in India for ingesting 184 wraps of cocaine weighing 3.322 kilograms with 100grams of the drug also concealed in the woman’s private part.

    The two suspects were intercepted at the Screening Point 1, Terminal 1 of the international wing of the Lagos airport on 1st August 2023 while attempting to board an Ethiopian airline flight to India. Though their travel documents show consistency in their names and depict them as a couple, an NDLEA officer however decided to subject them to body scan, which
    confirmed they both ingested drugs as a result of which they were later placed on excretion observation at the Agency’s facility.

    While their travel documents identify the man as Ilonzeh Kingsley Onyebuchi and the lady to be Ilonzeh Roseline Nonyelum, the Director, Media and Advocacy of the NDLEA, Mr. Femi Babafemi said in a statement on Sunday that, preliminary investigation revealed that the intending passengers were not a couple but obtained the travel documents in the same surname to beat security checks at the airport.

    The lady later gave her real name as Ngogbike Nkechi. During her interview, she confessed that she was recruited in her church in Aba, Abia state where she lives. The suspect, Ilonzeh Roseline Nonyelum (aka Ngogbike Nkechi) stated further that she is a divorcee, and that Kingsley with whom she was travelling is not her husband but connected only for the purpose of the illicit drug business trip.

    She revealed that her arranged husband, Kingsley brought the pellets of cocaine to her in her room to ingest in the hotel where they were both lodged in separate rooms the previous day, 31st July.

    After their arrest, a thorough search conducted on her led to the discovery of a big size wrap of cocaine that weighed 100 grams she inserted into her private part. She confessed that she was promised $5,000 upon successful delivery of the drug in India.

    In his own statement, Kingsley who was into clothing business in Onitsha, Anambra state, claimed he was promised $2,000 after a successful delivery of the drug in India. A further search of the Agency’s crime data base revealed that Kingsley also obtained his travel documents with fake identity for the trip.

    It was established that he was arrested by NDLEA operatives at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja on 19th March 2022 for ingesting 100 wraps of cocaine weighing 2.243kgs upon his arrival from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on board an Ethiopian airline flight. His travel documents then contained his real name: Uwaezuoke Ikenna Christian.


    After his arrest at the Abuja airport on 19th March 2022 along with another suspect, Iro Elvis Uche who also ingested 65 wraps of cocaine with a gross weight of 1.376kgs, Uwaezuoke was subsequently arraigned before Justice Zainab Abubakar of the Federal High Court Abuja with charge number: FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2022. He was eventually granted bail by the court pending the conclusion of his trial.

    He is still on the court bail when he was arrested at the Lagos airport for a similar offence on 1st August.
    While Ilonzeh Kingsley Onyebuchi (aka Uwaezuoke Ikenna Christian) excreted a total of 82 wraps of cocaine with a gross weight of 1.822kgs in five excretions, Ilonzeh Roseline Nonyelum (aka Ngogbike Nkechi) egested 101 wraps in four excretions with a big size wrap of the substance recovered from her private part, all weighing 1.50kgs.

    Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) attached to courier companies in Lagos have intercepted various quantities of Dextromethorphan mixed with heroin; Methamphetamine; Dimethyl Sulfone and Cannabis concealed in different objects going to Europe.


    While 272 grams of dextromethorphan mixed with heroin going to Greece were recovered from white neck beads; 665 grams of cannabis being shipped to Hong Kong were hidden in bars of Dudu Osun black bathing soap; with 261 grams of Dimethyl Sulfone going to New Zealand hidden in reels of weaving threads and 1.5kgs of Methamphetamine also going to New Zealand neatly packed in an MP3 player after all the parts were removed and the substance stuffed as replacement.

    Mazi Nnamdi Kanu abolishes sit-at-home, introduces EED

    The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra IPoB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has abolished all forms of sit-at-home in the South-East declaring that every Monday in the region be observed as Economic Empowerment Day, EED.


    This was disclosed in a statement by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, on Saturday, August 5.


    It reads; ”

    Economic Empowerment Day, EED, connotes a day set aside for mass mobilisation of Biafrans to devote their resources and means towards reversing the sharp and unprecedented decline in the economic, educational, and social needs of our people occasioned by the prolonged sit-at-home.

    “During the EED exercise, the people of Biafran were encouraged to embark on massive deployment of their resources for the empowerment of the educationally disadvantaged and poverty- ridden population of our people.

    “Sit-at-home exercise was initially adopted by IPoB as part of its agitation for a sovereign state of Biafra, but variously it became abused by other variants of Biafra agitation, including the most condemned version of Simon Ekpa.

    ”Following the total cancellation of all forms of sit-at-home in the entire South-East, as clearly and unequivocally encapsulated in Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s handwritten letter which was recently published by special counsel Barrister Alloy Ejimakor, widely trended and deservedly celebrated, Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has as a follow up to the recorded acceptability and massive compliance with the directive, further directed Umu Chineke , to henceforth, set aside every Monday as an “Economic Empowerment Day, EED, in the entire South-East.

    “During this exercise, Biafrans are encouraged to embark on massive deployment of their resources for the empowerment of the educationally disadvantaged and poverty ridden population of our people.

    “Through education, employment, health services, sense of identity and community, our people and indeed, the Eastern region can begin to thrive and grow.

    “There is an urgent need to reclaim our lost glory by embarking on empowering Biafrans with the resources they need to live beyond mere subsistence as our people are known globally for hard work, resilience, and great achievements.


    “Also, the implication of this Economic Empowerment Day, EED, is that Biafrans are expected to devote significant time to adhere to their routine calendar schedule template strictly and uninterruptedly with a view to making up for the humongous time lost to the activities of misguided enforcers of unsanctioned Monday sit-at-home order.”

    Advice: Take care of your eyes !

    Modern life is hard to imagine without gadgets, mobile, and computer screens. They accompany us everywhere and make life much easier.  We stare at the screen all day when working and often watch movies, series, use social media and bet at https://22bet.com.sn/mobile in our free time. Unfortunately, working in front of a computer can take a toll on our eye health.

    To concentrate on the picture on the screen, the eyes need to strain. As a rule, we do not notice it, but for the eyes, this state is not natural. That’s why several hours spent at the gadget make themselves known by redness, fatigue, and sometimes painful sensations. In addition, there is a strain of the same muscles. Another negative moment in this process is squinting. It leads to a reduction in the frequency of blinks, and therefore to a decrease in moisturization and the appearance of rubber and dryness. But to give up a smartphone or laptop nowadays is almost an unacceptable luxury. So we have to look for ways to solve the problem, which would help to save our eyesight. Here’s how to take care of your eyes and keep them healthy.

    Adjust the lighting

    The darker the room where you spend time with your gadget, the more your eyes will be strained. Watch out for proper lighting and the difference in brightness between the general light and the screen light. This difference should be minimal. It is also worth paying attention to the color adjustment of the screen. It should be moved from the blue spectrum to a warmer spectrum. Your monitor or laptop screen should never be brighter than the ambient light. That is, either add light to the room or turn down the brightness of the display. 

    Keep a distance

    By the way, pretty much the same rule works here as in the case of reading a book. Your electronic device, computer, phone, or tablet should be placed at a distance of at least 40 cm. In this way, the ciliary muscle will not be subjected to excessive strain. If you find it difficult to read from this distance, simply enlarge the font.

    Take regular breaks when working in front of a computer or phone screen

    This is a must if you don’t want to get myopia. A minute of rest after 20 minutes of work at the monitor – just what you need. No fancy actions do not need to do, just enough to alternately shift your gaze to objects located far and near for a few tens of seconds. During breaks, it is not superfluous to make a light massage. To do this, close your eyes, put your index fingers on your eyelids, press a few times, and massage in a circular motion.

    Drink enough water

    It is very important because the lack of water in the body automatically affects the condition of hair and skin, and also the eyes. Lack of fluid leads to dryness, which means that tension increases, while also causing discomfort. The optimal amount of water consumption is 1-2 liters per day.

    Do simple eye exercises

    Daily exercises for just 5-7 minutes each day are a great workout and prevention of vision problems. During the process, your head should remain motionless, your task is to “work” exclusively with your eyes. It is especially effective to do this by closing them. In this way, the eyelids are massaged and blood flow is improved. The simplest exercises – to drive your eyes to the right-left and up-down, trying to take your eyes as far as possible, and repeating them 10 times. More complex – draw different shapes with your eyes. Between exercises, you can take a break by blinking rapidly for a few seconds.

    Use artificial tears

    When working at the computer for a long time, your eyes dry out, so you should use special moisturizing drops. Usually you should use one drop before starting work and, if necessary (about four or five times) during the day.

    Pay attention to and react immediately to eye discomfort

    At the slightest discomfort (usually starts with dryness), consult your eye doctor. If there are no pathological abnormalities, then you need to change something at your workplace: move closer to the window, add bulbs in the room, manually adjust or, perhaps, even completely replace the monitor. Be productive and keep your eyesight young!

    Blink more often

    One of the causes of dry eyes is infrequent blinking. When working at the computer, a person often moves his gaze from the screen to the keyboard. The brain perceives this eye movement as a blink. But since the eyes are not completely closed at this point, they do not receive sufficient cleansing and moisturizing. Therefore, when working at the computer you should try to blink more often, to ensure the protection of the eyes. Blink your eyes frequently and regularly to moisturize your eyes. You can do this several times in a row every 20 minutes of work at the computer.

    Do the regular eye exams

    Don’t forget to visit your eye doctor regularly. It is recommended to be examined by an ophthalmologist annually. And people who regularly and for a long time work at the computer should have their eyesight checked by a doctor once every six months, so that, in case of pathologies, they can be detected early and treatment can be started in time.

    Even if you haven’t had any problems with your eyesight yet, it is very important to protect your eyes from mobile and computer screens: screens make our eyesight worse in the long run. The tips in this article are simple preventative measures to take care of your eyes and prevent different eye problems. 

    Anambra traditional rulers visit Kanu in DSS Custody

    As part of its effort to find lasting solution to the perennial sit-at-home in the Southeast, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah and two other traditional rulers in Anambra State, His Majesty, Eze Chukwuemeka Eri and Eze Akajiovo Igbo Nile today visited the embattled leader of the proscribed Indigenous People Of Biafra—IPOB.

    The visit was confirmed in a statement made by Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor, legal counsel to the separatist leader.

    Ejiofor disclosed that during the visit, Kanu reiterated his firm and unequivocal condemnation, and total cancellation of all senseless sit-at-home in the Southeast region.

    He said, “Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was today visited by the duo of His Majesty, Eze Chukwuemeka Eri, Eze Akajiovo Igbo Nile, Ezeora XXXIV of Aguleri, and Distinguished Senator Ifeanyi Uba, at the facility of the State Security Service (SSS) Headquarters Abuja where Onyendu is still currently being held in solitary confinement.

    “The visit was unprecedented, as fruitful and productive discussions were exclusively held with Onyendu. During this visit, Onyendu reiterated his firm and unequivocal condemnation, and total cancellation of the senseless sit-at-home in the South-East, hitherto enforced in the entire South-East states by the enemies of our people.

    “Other crucial messages conveyed to them by Onyendu will be made public as given by Onyendu in due course.

    “Be assured UmuChineke that we are speedily approaching the end of the tunnel. ChukwuOkike Abiama is always on the throne, and this trying period will soon become history.”

    Billionaire, Prophet Jeremiah Fufeyin, Finally Reveals His Source of Wealth

    Billionaire founder and Senior Prophet of Warri based Christ Mercy Land Church, Jeremiah Fufeyin has finally revealed his source of income.

    According to the man of God, he owns the biggest fish farmin Africa.


    Vanguard reported that Fufeyin said that apart from being a prophet of God, he makes billions of naira just from this businesses especially fish farming.

    According to him, despite massive fish farm business is not his only successful venture. He has also launched different profitable businesses which provide employment for thousands of Nigerians.

    His revelation of wealth sources challenges the stereotype that religious leaders only depend on tithes and offerings from their congregation for income.

    Many Nigerians are celebrating Fufeyin as a role model for young entrepreneurs in the country.


    His success story as a prophet and entrepreneur sets the bar high for the country’s business community.

    During the interview, Prophet Fufeyin shared his journey to success and encouraged Nigerian youths to pursue their dreams. He emphasized the importance of hard work, focus, and consistency in achieving one’s goals.

    The development has got the social media talking as Nigerians have expressed their admiration for Fufeyin, stating he is a living example of a true success story.

    They equally called on other religious leaders to emulate his entrepreneurial spirit.

    ‘I Was Shocked That Chioma Chukwuka Left Her Husband’ – Pete Edochie

    Veteran Nollywood actor, Pete Edochie, has confirmed the marriage crash of his junior colleague, Chioma Chukwuka Akpota.

    Naija News recalls that in 2022, rumours made rounds online that the thespian, who has been married for over fifteen years and very private with her union, is no longer with her husband.

    Chioma also gave hints about the crash of her marriage at the time as all her social media posts always come with an emphasis on her maiden name, ‘Chioma Chukwuka’.


    Despite the speculations online, the movie star failed to debunk or confirm the reports about her marriage.

    Speaking during an interview with media personality, Chude Jideonwo, Pete frowned at the increase in divorce in the Nollywood industry.

    The veteran actor said he was shocked by the news of Chioma’s broken marriage, stressing that people must understand that the marriage union is for better or worst.

    In his word, “If you come to our Industry today, most of our ladies who got married 2- 3 years ago have all left their husbands, I was shocked that Chioma Chukwa had left her husband, Ireti Doyle, Tonto Dikeh. You take a vow when you are going to get married for better or worst, not for better or out. You will always think it’s greener on the other side, that is the mistake we all make”

    Speaking about some of the ladies that have played his daughters in movies, Pete said he loves Genevieve Nnaji the most because she is exceptionally brilliant.

    He said, “Of all the girls who had played my daughter in films, somehow it is Genevieve Nnaji I love most, I look at her as my daughter and she also sees me as a father, she is an exceptionally brilliant lady. I have not heard of her lately ever since I heard she is a little disturbed mentally, I don’t know whether it is true or false, I hope that one day she calls me and say I am ok.”

    GoodNews! New ‘groundbreaking’ drug show progress in killing cancer cells in the lab

    Scientists have developed a groundbreaking cancer drug that kills all solid cancer tumors while leaving other cells unharmed.

    The new molecule, codenamed AOH1996 – targets a protein present in most cancers that helps tumors grow and multiply in the body. It is significant because this protein,  the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA),  was previously thought to be ‘undruggable’.

    According to Mail Online, the drug was tested on 70 different cancer cells in the lab – including those derived from breast, prostate, brain, ovarian, cervical, skin, and lung cancer – and was effective against them all.

    The drug is the culmination of 20 years of research and development by the City of Hope Hospital in Los Angeles, one of America’s largest cancer centers.

    The good news comes months after scientists who invented the Pfizer Covid vaccine said that cancer will be curable within the coming decade.

    The latest study, published in the journal Cell Chemical Biology, revealed that the new drug had been tested on more than 70 cancer cell lines and several normal human cells that did not have cancer but were used as a control.

    The molecule selectively killed cancer cells by disrupting their normal reproductive cycle, preventing cells with damaged DNA from dividing, and stopping the replication of faulty DNA.

    This combination of factors caused the cancer cells to die without harming healthy cells in the process.

    The results will now need to be replicated in people. The drug is currently being tested on humans in a Phase 1 clinical trial at City of Hope.

    Dr. Linda Malkas, professor in City of Hope’s Department of Molecular Diagnostics and Experimental Therapeutics and the M.T. & B.A. Ahmadinia Professor in Molecular Oncology leads the team.

    She explained how the molecule selectively disrupts DNA replication and repair in cancer cells, leaving healthy cells unaffected.

    She said: ‘Most targeted therapies focus on a single pathway, which enables wily cancer to mutate and eventually become resistant.
    ‘PCNA is like a major airline terminal hub containing multiple plane gates.

    ‘Data suggests PCNA is uniquely altered in cancer cells, and this fact allowed us to design a drug that targeted only the form of PCNA in cancer cells.

    ‘Our cancer-killing pill is like a snowstorm that closes a key airline hub, shutting down all flights in and out only in planes carrying cancer cells.’
    Dr Malkas said results so far have been ‘promising’ as the molecule can suppress tumor growth on its own or in combination with other cancer treatments ‘without resulting in toxicity.’

    The new therapy comes from 20 years of research and development and targets a cancerous variant of PCNA, a protein that in its mutated form is critical in DNA replication and repair of all expanding tumors, which helps cancers to repair and grow.

    Study co-author associate research professor Dr Long Gu, said: ‘No one has ever targeted PCNA as a therapeutic because it was viewed as “undruggable,” but clearly City of Hope was able to develop an investigational medicine for a challenging protein target.

    ‘We discovered that PCNA is one of the potential causes of increased nucleic acid replication errors in cancer cells.

    ‘Now that we know the problem area and can inhibit it, we will dig deeper to understand the process to develop more personalized, targeted cancer medicines.’

    Experiments showed that the investigational pill made cancer cells more susceptible to chemical agents that cause DNA or chromosome damage, hinting that AOH1996 could be helpful in combination therapies and new chemotherapeutics.

    As a next step, the researchers will look to understand the mechanism of action better to further improve the ongoing clinical trial in humans.

    A press release that accompanied today’s paper read: ‘City of Hope’s groundbreaking translational research history includes developing the technology underlying synthetic human insulin and monoclonal antibodies, which are integral to widely used, lifesaving cancer drugs, such as trastuzumab, rituximab and cetuximab.’

    Ugandian Magistrate arrested for disguising as woman to write Law exams for his girlfriend

    A newly appointed Magistrate, Ammaari Musa Semwogerere has been arrested and sacked for disguising as a woman to sit for exams for his girlfriend at the Law Development Centre (LDC) Lira, Uganda.

    According to local media, Semwogerere was promoted by the Judicial Service Commission to the position of Magistrate Grade One on probation two weeks ago.

    On Wednesday, July 26, 2023, Semwogerere, alias Mukisa Anthony, was caught red-handed while writing an examination for a his girlfriend, a Bar Course student identified as Irene Mutonyi, at the Law Development Centre (LDC) Lira Campus. 

    Authorities at the campus reported the matter to the police and the suspect was arrested and charged with two counts of forgery, and a count of impersonation. 

    On Friday, July 28, he appeared before the Lira Chief Magistrate who remanded him to prison till August 3, 2023.

    LDC director, Frank Nigel Othembi in a statement, said Semwogerere’s offense was in contravention of Section 351 of the Penal Code Act and Impersonation contrary to Section 381 of the Penal Code Act.

    Following the incident, the Judiciary issued a statement terminating Semwogerere’s new appointment. 

    “The Judiciary would like to inform the general public that Mr.  Semwogerere Ammaari Musa, one of the newly recruited Magistrates I will not be employed into the Judiciary Service,” the letter reads in part. 

    Ammaari Musa Semwogerere
    Ammaari Musa Semwogerere
    Ammaari Musa Semwogerere

    “Avoid Court marriage at all cost” – Onye Igbo tells fellow Igbo men

    An Igbo man identified as  Mazi Uchenna Odu has caused a stir on social media after he advised his fellow Igbo men to avoid court weddings at all cost.

     Odu gave the advise while reacting to reports that May, the first wife of actor Yul Edochie, has filed a N100 million lawsuit against him over his marriage to actress Judy Austin.

    Reacting to the news, Odu mocked May for filing the lawsuit. He said anyone who advised May to seek legal redress will only succeed in making her a ‘single mother.’

    ‘’May Files for divorce from Yul Edochie. Seeks order to restrain him from accessing their matrimonial home. Demands 100 Million Naira in damages from Him and his second wife Judy over Adultery” laughing out loud laughing out loud! I can’t stop laughing out loud oooh eeeeh but una talk say women dey love Abi anyone who is advising her to file a divorce has succeeded in making her a single mother that young boys will take over and treat her like a little girl not as a woman.

    Polygamy is powerful.

    End.”

    Reacting to reports that it is illegal for a man to marry a second wife if he had a court wedding with his first wife, Odu wrote;

    ‘’Dear Igbo men,

    Avoid Court marriage at all cost.

    Stop involving government into your marriage.”

    He went on to state that Igbo women will remain single forever if they reject a man that is against court marriage.

    Uchenna Odu
    Uchenna Odu
    Uchenna Odu

    Read the Full text of President Tinubu’s Speech to Nigerians

    After darkness comes the glorious dawn 

    My fellow citizens, 

    I want to talk to you about our economy. It is important that you understand the reasons for the policy measures I have taken to combat the serious economic challenges this nation has long faced. 

    I am not going to talk in difficult terms by dwelling on economic jargon and concepts. I will speak in plain, clear language so that you know where I stand. More importantly, so that you see and hopefully will share my vision regarding the journey to a better, more productive economy for our beloved country. 

    For several years, I have consistently maintained the position that the fuel subsidy had to go. This once beneficial measure had outlived its usefulness. The subsidy cost us trillions of Naira yearly. Such a vast sum of money would have been better spent on public transportation, healthcare, schools, housing and even national security. Instead, it was being funnelled into the deep pockets and lavish bank accounts of a select group of individuals. 

    This group had amassed so much wealth and power that they became a serious threat to the fairness of our economy and the integrity of our democratic governance. To be blunt, Nigeria could never become the society it was intended to be as long as such small, powerful yet unelected groups hold enormous influence over our political economy and the institutions that govern it. 

    The whims of the few should never hold dominant sway over the hopes and aspirations of the many. If we are to be a democracy, the people and not the power of money must be sovereign. 

    The preceding administration saw this looming danger as well. Indeed, it made no provision in the 2023 Appropriations for subsidy after June this year. Removal of this once helpful device that had transformed into a millstone around the country’s neck had become inevitable. 

    Also, the multiple exchange rate system that had been established became nothing but a highway of currency speculation. It diverted money that should have been used to create jobs, build factories and businesses for millions of people. Our national wealth was doled on favourable terms to a handful of people who have been made filthy rich simply by moving money from one hand to another. This too was extremely unfair. 

    It also compounded the threat that the illicit and mass accumulation of money posed to the future of our democratic system and its economy. 

    I had promised to reform the economy for the long-term good by fighting the major imbalances that had plagued our economy. Ending the subsidy and the preferential exchange rate system were key to this fight. This fight is to define the fate and future of our nation. Much is in the balance. 

    Thus, the defects in our economy immensely profited a tiny elite, the elite of the elite you might call them. As we moved to fight the flaws in the economy, the people who grow rich from them, predictably, will fight back through every means necessary. 

    Our economy is going through a tough patch and you are being hurt by it. The cost of fuel has gone up. Food and other prices have followed it. Households and businesses struggle. Things seem anxious and uncertain. I understand the hardship you face. I wish there were other ways. But there is not. If there were, I would have taken that route as I came here to help not hurt the people and nation that I love. 

    What I can offer in the immediate is to reduce the burden our current economic situation has imposed on all of us, most especially on businesses, the working class and the most vulnerable among us. 

    Already, the Federal Government is working closely with states and local governments to implement interventions that will cushion the pains of our people across socio-economic brackets. 

    Earlier this month, I signed four (4) Executive Orders in keeping with my electoral promise to address unfriendly fiscal policies and multiple taxes that are stifling the business environment. These Executive Orders on suspension and deferred commencement of some taxes will provide the necessary buffers and headroom to businesses in manufacturing sector to continue to thrive and expand. 

    To strengthen the manufacturing sector, increase its capacity to expand and create good paying jobs, we are going to spend N75 billion between July 2023 and March 2024. Our objective is to fund 75 enterprises with great potential to kick-start a sustainable economic growth, accelerate structural transformation and improve productivity. Each of the 75 manufacturing enterprises will be able to access N1billion credit at 9% per annum with maximum of 60 months repayment for long term loans and 12 months for working capital. 

    Our administration recognises the importance of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and the informal sector as drivers of growth. We are going to energise this very important sector with N125 billion. 

    Out of the sum, we will spend N50 billion on Conditional Grant to 1 million nano businesses between now and March 2024. Our target is to give N50,000 each to 1,300 nano business owners in each of the 774 local governments across the country. 

    Ultimately, this programme will further drive financial inclusion by onboarding beneficiaries into the formal banking system. In like manner, we will fund 100,000 MSMEs and start-ups with N75 billion. Under this scheme, each enterprise promoter will be able to get between N500,000 to N1million at 9% interest per annum and a repayment period of 36 months. 

    To further ensure that prices of food items remain affordable, we have had a multi-stakeholder engagement with various farmers’ associations and operators within the agricultural value chain. 

    In the short and immediate terms, we will ensure staple foods are available and affordable. To this end, I have ordered release of 200,000 Metric Tonnes of grains from strategic reserves to households across the 36 states and FCT to moderate prices. We are also providing 225,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer, seedlings and other inputs to farmers who are committed to our food security agenda. 

    Our plan to support cultivation of 500,000 hectares of farmland and all-year-round farming practice remains on course. To be specific, N200 billion out of the N500 billion approved by the National Assembly will be disbursed as follows: 

    -Our administration will invest N50 billion each to cultivate 150,000 hectares of rice and maize. 

    -N50 billion each will also be earmarked to cultivate 100,000 hectares of wheat and cassava. 

    This expansive agricultural programme will be implemented targeting small-holder farmers and leveraging large-scale private sector players in the agric business with strong performance record. 

    In this regard, the expertise of Development Finance Institutions, commercial banks and microfinance banks will be tapped into to develop a viable and an appropriate transaction structure for all stakeholders. 

    Fellow Nigerians, I made a solemn pledge to work for you. How to improve your welfare and living condition is of paramount importance to me and it’s the only thing that keeps me up day and night. 

    It is in the light of this that I approved Infrastructure Support Fund for the States. This new Infrastructure Fund will enable States to intervene and invest in critical areas and bring relief to many of the pain points as well as revamp our decaying healthcare and educational Infrastructure. 

    The fund will also bring improvements to rural access roads to ease evacuation of farm produce to markets. With the fund, our states will become more competitive and on a stronger financial footing to deliver economic prosperity to Nigerians. 

    Part of our programme is to roll out buses across the states and local governments for mass transit at a much more affordable rate. We have made provision to invest N100 billion between now and March 2024 to acquire 3000 units of 20-seater CNG-fuelled buses. 

    These buses will be shared to major transportation companies in the states, using the intensity of travel per capital. Participating transport companies will be able to access credit under this facility at 9% per annum with 60 months repayment period. 

    In the same vein, we are also working in collaboration with the Labour unions to introduce a new national minimum wage for workers. I want to tell our workers this: your salary review is coming. 

    Once we agree on the new minimum wage and general upward review, we will make budget provision for it for immediate implementation. 

    I want to use this opportunity to salute many private employers in the Organised Private Sector who have already implemented general salary review for employees. 

    Fellow Nigerians, this period may be hard on us and there is no doubt about it that it is tough on us. But I urge you all to look beyond the present temporary pains and aim at the larger picture. All of our good and helpful plans are in the works. More importantly, I know that they will work. 

    Sadly, there was an unavoidable lag between subsidy removal and these plans coming fully on line. However, we are swiftly closing the time gap. I plead with you to please have faith in our ability to deliver and in our concern for your well-being. 

    We will get out of this turbulence. And, due to the measures we have taken, Nigeria will be better equipped and able to take advantage of the future that awaits her. 

    In a little over two months, we have saved over a trillion Naira that would have been squandered on the unproductive fuel subsidy which only benefitted smugglers and fraudsters. That money will now be used more directly and more beneficially for you and your families. 

    For example, we shall fulfill our promise to make education more affordable to all and provide loans to higher education students who may need them. No Nigerian student will have to abandon his or her education because of lack of money. 

    Our commitment is to promote the greatest good for the greatest number of our people. On this principle, we shall never falter. 

    We are also monitoring the effects of the exchange rate and inflation on gasoline prices. If and when necessary, we will intervene. 

    I assure you my fellow country men and women that we are exiting the darkness to enter a new and glorious dawn. 

    Now, I must get back to work in order to make this vision come true. 

    Thank you all for listening and may God bless Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    Man divorces wife for allowing male doctor deliver his baby

    The Executive Director of Nana Women and Girls Initiative, Dr Fatima Adamu, has lamented that an unidentified man in Katsina State divorced his 14-year-old wife because she allow a male doctor to attend to her while giving birth to his baby.

    Dr. Adamu, who made the disclosure on Thursday, said that the young girl, name withheld, was divorced by her husband despite a complicated childbirth.

    According to her, the young mother was rushed to hospital where the only male medical practitioner available attended to her during labour.

    Although the birth was successful, the husband went berserk when, upon arriving at the hospital, he discovered that the medical practitioner that attended to his wife during labour was a male.

    Unable to stomach the disappointment, he divorced his young wife.

    Narrating the ordeal, Dr. Adamu said: “A 14-year-old Fulani girl in Katsina State delivered and had difficulty with delivery, so we had to take her to the hospital.

    “Aafter the delivery, the husband divorced her because she was attended by a man. This young girl was divorced all because she was attended by a man during delivery,” she stressed.

    She further noted that Nigeria was producing medical doctors far below what is required by the World Health Organisation.

    She stated: “There is shortage of health workers despite the production. We are producing health workers far below our needs.

    “Our average population growth is 3.2, but our annual production of nurses and midwives is 2.6, so definitely, there is gap.

    “That is the latest data available that could be accessed.”

    Adamu spoke at an event, the Human Resources for Health Production Dialogue, where she was the keynote speaker.

    She appealed to governments at all levels to ensure there was equity in the recruitment and deployment of medical personnel to rural communities.

    The event was organised with a view to revolutionising the country’s healthcare system.

    The organisers called for accountability and prudence in healthcare training institutions and to minimize the brain drain that is bedeviling the health sector

    Japa Wahala: How 4 Nigerians survived on under the ship while escaping to Brazil

    Four Nigerians have survived 14 days in a ship’s rudder to Brazil, which has been described by welfare volunteers as a dangerous way to travel.

    Reuters report that on their tenth day at sea, the four Nigerian stowaways crossing the Atlantic in a tiny space above the rudder of a cargo ship ran out of food and drink.

    They survived another four days, according to their account, by drinking the sea water crashing just meters below them, before being rescued by Brazilian federal police in the southeastern port of Vitoria.

    Their remarkable, death-defying journey across some 5,600 kilometers (3,500 miles) of ocean underlines the risks some migrants are prepared to take for a shot at a better life.

    “It was a terrible experience for me,” said 38-year-old Thankgod Opemipo Matthew Yeye, one of the four Nigerians, in an interview at a Sao Paulo church shelter. “On board it is not easy. I was shaking, so scared. But I’m here.”

    The four men said they had hoped to reach Europe and were shocked to learn they had in fact landed on the other side of the Atlantic, in Brazil. Two of the men have since been returned to Nigeria upon their request, while Yeye and Roman Ebimene Friday, a 35-year-old from Bayelsa state, have applied for asylum in Brazil.

    “I pray the government of Brazil will have pity on me,” said Friday, who had already attempted to flee Nigeria by ship once before but was arrested by authorities there.

    Yeye, a pentecostal minister from Lagos state, said his peanut and palm oil farm was destroyed by floods this year, leaving him and his family homeless. He hopes they can now join him in Brazil.

    Friday said his journey to Brazil began on June 27, when a fisherman friend rowed him up to the stern of the Liberian-flagged Ken Wave, docked in Lagos, and left him by the rudder. To his surprise, he found three men already there, waiting for the ship to depart. Friday said he was terrified. He had never met his new shipmates and feared they could toss him into the sea at any moment.

    Once the ship was moving, Friday said the four men made every effort not to be discovered by the ship’s crew, who they also worried might offer them a watery grave.

    “Maybe if they catch you they will throw you in the water,” he said. “So we taught ourselves never to make a noise.”

    To prevent themselves from falling into the water, Friday said the men rigged up a net around the rudder and tied themselves to it with a rope. When he looked down, he said he could see “big fish like whales and sharks.” Due to the cramped conditions and the noise of the engine, sleep was rare and risky. “I was very happy when we got rescued,” he said.

    Father Paolo Parise, a priest at the Sao Paulo shelter, said he had come across other cases of stowaways, but never one so dangerous. Their journey paid testament to lengths people will go in search of a new start, he said. “People do unimaginable and deeply dangerous things.”

    “If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for nothing!” – Aisha Yesufu

    Popular Nigerian activist, Aisha Yesufu has mocked those who were laughing at supporters of the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi while they were campaigning for him.

    Yesufu said those who were laughing at Obidients for doing the one million march are now also doing the same because of the fuel scarcity, a resultant effect of the hike in the price of the commodity.

    Naija News recalls that earlier on Tuesday, the pump price of fuel increased from N539 to N617 per litre.

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) attributed the hike in price to ‘market forces’.

    The NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, disclosed this while speaking to journalists after a closed-door meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima at the State House in Abuja.

    Kyari said with the deregulation of the oil sector, market realities will force the price of petrol up sometimes and at other times force it down.


    “We have the marketing wing of our company. They adjust prices depending on the market realities.

    “This is really what is happening; this is the meaning of making sure that the market regulates itself so that prices will go up and sometimes they will come down also. This is what we have seen, and in reality, this is what (how) the market works,” he said.

    Due to the price increment, Nigerians who are unable to afford transportation now trek to save costs.

    Weighing in on the situation via her verified Twitter handle, Yesufu wrote, “Those who were laughing at those doing one million march for Peter Obi, are now doing their own one million march because of fuel scarcity.

    “If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for nothing!”

    Nigerian Immigration Service to automate passport application process

    The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has disclosed its readiness to commence the automation of the passport application process to eliminate the difficulties Nigerians experience while applying for passports.

    This was made known by the Acting Comptroller General of NIS, Caroline Adepoju, who appeared as a guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme today.

    According to her, the Service is eager to get rid of physical interactions during the passport application process.

    She said, “One thing Nigerians know about the Nigeria Immigration Service is the issuance of the Nigerian passport, and we know the number of Nigerians that have applied for passports in the past two years has been very high and unprecedented.

    “But be that as it may, the service is working hard to ensure that we meet the expectations of Nigerians. Number one, we are automating our passport application process; we are trying to ensure that we cut out the human interface.

    “Our applications are available online, and we are trying to sensitize our applicants that they should go online for these applications to avoid patronizing lots.”

    The Acting Comptroller General emphasized that due to the passport’s nature as a security document, issuance of passports will require some time as a result of various procedures, including security checks, address verification, and other necessary steps that need to be completed.

    Speaking on the duration of time it takes to get a passport ready, she said, “It takes six weeks to get the passport ready, while it takes three weeks for renewal.”


    She also enjoined the citizens of the country not to wait until their passports expire before commencing the renewal process, adding that those applying for the first time don’t necessarily have to wait until they need the passport before starting the application process.

    “So, I try as much as possible to let people know that if you are renewing your passport, don’t wait until it is completely expired. You can start your application process when you have six months validity on it. Then for fresh applicants, they don’t have to wait until the very last moment when they need the passport.”

    She, however, disclosed that all hands are on deck to ensure that those seeking passport renewal don’t need to visit the NIS offices since their data has already been captured.

    “We can’t release Tinubu’s criminal records till 2026” — US Govt

    Tinubu tells #endsars protesters to allow govt to act on their demands

    Authorities in the United States have said that they won’t release president Bola Tinubu’s criminal and immigration records in their possession until 2026.

    The Peoples Gazette citing court documents reports that the U.S. State Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation said that ‘unusual circumstances’ made them not to release the records to the public.

    Though, following a freedom of information request, the U.S. authorities said even if they were to release the records, it would be at least until January 2026 before they could do so.

    Meanwhile, a civil lawsuit has now been filed over the matter before Judge Beryl Howell of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in Washington, D.C.

    Aaron Greenspan, an American public disclosure activist, had filed a request to the FBI, State Department, Department of Treasury, and Drug Enforcement Administration, among federal and local agencies, seeking an urgent release of Mr Tinubu’s immigration and criminal records.

    The filings came as Mr Tinubu maintained in court that he did not commit any crimes during his decades-long residency in the U.S. Mr Tinubu also asserted ownership of his identity, despite strong indications, he might have changed names and education records in the past.

    Mr Tinubu’s real identity and education records contain omissions and contradictions that he has not explained to the public.

    Why Nigerian Govt. bonds are better than the Nigerian Real Estate Market

    The pursuit of profit is the driving force behind all investments, as every investor wants to turn their money into something profitable and get a high investment return, but safety and liquidity are also very critical in today’s investment climate

    FGN bonds are widely considered one of the safest forms of investment in the country. Unlike individuals’ assets that are highly unlikely to default.

    FGN bonds are relatively safe and liquid, but the safer the bond investment, the lower the yield.

    The DMO has proposed a 2-year FGN Savings Bond due 14 June 2025 at an annual interest rate of 10.301%. The second issuance will be a three-year savings bond due June 14, 2026, with an annual interest rate of 11.301%, according to the DMO.

    Such returns are rarely achieved in the real estate market.

    FGN Bonds Features and Benefits

    FGN Bonds offer the benefit of regular income with semi-annual interest payments. For investors looking for a regular income stream while retaining capital, this is a viable investment option.

    Additionally, bonds can be easily sold to other investors before their maturity date, providing an easy way for investors to resell their bonds.

    FGN bonds are tax-exempt, including infrastructure bonds, which generally have maturities of more than 5 years.

    Challenges of real estate investment in Nigeria

    The Nigerian real estate market is still new and not as transparent as the Fixed income market space, where buyers and sellers can easily get in via their investment banks or brokers.

    Additionally, the Nigerian real estate market is largely unregulated, so fraud can occur.

    For example, many unlicensed brokers in the country can mislead investors about property valuation.

    Additionally, significant communication barriers can make it difficult to find the right property or work with the right agent.

    Building collapses across the country show that the building materials used by some contractors are substandard.

    This means that some of these contractors in Nigeria lack the necessary educational qualifications and work experience.

    Government real estate laws are generally poorly enforced in Nigeria, often resulting in investors being stripped of the legally acquired land.

    This is common in developed parts of the country like Lagos and is mostly carried out by a group of land thieves called the Omo Onile.

    These notorious real estate scammers tend to harass investors using the label “transaction fees.” They are also frequently seen at construction sites where construction projects are taking place and use force or deception to intimidate them.

    FGN Bonds Advantages and Economic Impact

    All FGN bonds generally have a term (effectively the term of a loan). At the end of the term, the federal government returns the original amount (principal) to the lender.

    FGN bonds offer a risk-free investment opportunity with tax-exempt income and can be used as collateral for loans.

    It also encourages long-term investment in the economy and alternative sources of government funding, promotes self-reliance, and reduces over-reliance on external funding.

    Real Estate Investment Challenges – Illiquidity and Depreciation

    Real estate is extremely illiquid compared to other assets. The reason for this is that it takes time to sell real estate, so it cannot be converted into cash immediately.

    Even if interest in a property grows quickly, it can take some time before the sale closes. Also, real estate can depreciate over time.

    Therefore, if you have owned the property for many years, you may need to sell it for much less than you paid.

    [Nairametrics]

    ‘Why Tribunal must disqualify Tinubu’ – Peter’s Obi Letter to Tribunal (Part. 1)

    The candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the presidential election held on the 25th day of February, 2023, Mr. Peter Gregory Obi, has filed his Final Written Address at the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) holden at the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, insisting that the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu and his running mate, Senator Shettima Kashim, must be disqualified from participating in the election.

    The Written Address has Peter Obi and Labour Party as the Petitioners and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Ahmed Bola Tinubu, Shettima and APC as the Respondents .

    Giving his reasons for the demand, Peter Obi/Labour Party stated as follows:

    Fidelity Leaderboard

    “A sentence in the 2nd-3rd Respondents’ address alarmed the Petitioners and millions of Nigerians. The 2nd-3rd Respondents went too low and abandoned discretion when they claimed as follows: “Our submission is that the Petitioners are inviting anarchy by their ventilation of this issue of non-transmission of results electronically, by MEC.”

    This is a cheap, misguided, and destructive blackmail clearly intended to target the country’s judicialism and constitutionalism. It also aims at cannibalizing our democracy. It will also raise the issue of insecurity if the Petitioners emulate the bad example of the 2nd-3rd Respondents. However, that will never happen. When has it become offensive for Petitioners to canvass a ground prescribed for the challenge of an election in section 134(1)(6) of the Electoral Act 2022? Desperation taken too far can be extremely dangerous. Let the 2nd-3rd Respondents know that where the rule of law is trampled upon or truncated, anarchy reigns supreme! 

    RELEVANT FACTS

    i. Prior to the conduct of the 25th February 2023 Presidential election, the 3rd Respondent had previously been nominated as a Senatorial Candidate of the 4th Respondent for Borno Central Senatorial District, and remained so till 15th July 2022, when he withdrew his said nomination as a Senatorial Candidate of the 4th Respondent for Borno Central Senatorial District on the platform of the 4th Respondent. Whilst the 3rd Respondent was standing nominated as the Senatorial Candidate as aforestated, he was unlawfully nominated as the Vice Presidential candidate of the 4° Respondent on 14th July 2022, thereby, knowingly allowed himself to be nominated as a Candidate in more than one constituency within the meaning and intendment of Section 35 of the Electoral Act. 

    ii. The Petitioners will argue that the invalid nomination of the 3rd Respondent as the Vice Presidential Candidate, nullified the nomination/election of the 2nd Respondent as the Presidential Candidate of the 4th Respondent, within the meaning of the provision of Section 142 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

    iii. It is common knowledge that the 2nd Respondent was a subject of an Order of Forfeiture made by the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, in Case No: 93C 4483. The Order of Forfeiture against the Respondent was in terms forfeiting die sum of USD $460,000 against him Bola Tinubu, which represents “proceeds of narcotics trafficking” and “money laundry. The Order for Forfeiture against the 2nd Respondent was a fine within the meaning of Section 137 (I) (d) of the 1999 Constitution for which a person shall not be qualified for election to the office of the President if he is under a sentence of fine for any offence involving dishonest or fraud by whatever name called imposed on him by a Court or Tribunal.

    iv. The virus of the statutory and constitutional disqualification of the 2nd and 3rd Respondents as Candidates in Presidential election renders their purported return/declaration as the winners of the election invalid, null and void and liable to be set aside.

    ‘Ukraine’s Counter-offensive failed’ – Putin

    Ukraine’s counteroffensive to recapture occupied territories is failing even with Western military support, President Vladimir Putin said Friday, July 21.


    Ukraine’s forces have recaptured 300 square kilometers of occupied land as part of their summer counteroffensive, Britain’s defense minister said last month.


    The commander of Ukraine’s ground forces this week admitted that the battlefield situation in eastern Ukraine was “complicated.”


    “Today it’s clear that the Kyiv regime’s Western curators are disappointed with the results of the so-called counteroffensive,” Putin said at a meeting of Russia’s Security Council.


    “There are no results, at least not yet,” he told senior government and security officials.


    Putin said the diminishing number of Western tanks, artillery, armored vehicles, and missiles supplied to Ukraine, as well as “thousands of foreign mercenaries and advisers,” have not helped Kyiv achieve military objectives.


    Without providing evidence, the Russian president claimed that “tens of thousands” of Ukrainian soldiers have been killed and wounded in the offensive.


    Moscow continues to withhold its own military casualties, with its most recent disclosure of nearly 6,000 soldiers killed made in September 2022.


    Putin’s remarks diminishing the Ukrainian forces while praising his army’s “professionalism” comes amid the fallout from the Russian Wagner mercenary outfit’s mutiny attempt.

    During his Security Council address, Putin claimed certain Soviet weapons are far superior to those supplied to Ukraine by Western allies.


    “The entire West sees that their praised equipment burns perfectly well and is even inferior to Soviet machines in some respects,” he said.


    Putin further claimed, without providing evidence, that public opinion in Ukraine and Europe was “gradually and slowly” changing in favor of Russia’s preferred outcome of holding peace talks and letting Moscow retain control of occupied territories.

    Italy removes lesbian mothers’ names from children’s birth certificates

    Italy has started removing lesbian mothers’ names from the birth certificate of children.


    The Italian government started removing the names of “non-biological gay mothers” from their children’s birth certificates under new legislation passed by the “traditional family-first” government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

    Surrogacy is illegal in Italy, and gay marriage has not been legalized. Because same-sex relationships aren’t recognized in law, the non-biological parent has to make a special case for legally adopting their child.

    The measure also stops men in a same-sex relationship from registering the birth of their child with both fathers’ names. Instead, they have to choose one to be the legal father.


    The changed birth certificates belong to 33 children of Italian women who underwent artificial insemination abroad and then registered their children under the city’s center-left government, led by Sergio Giordani, in 2017.


    The prosecutor’s office in Padua confirmed on Thursday, July 20, 27 mothers had been removed from 27 birth certificates.


    Giordani came to power promising to remove the traditional “mother” and “father” designations on birth certificates, but this was overturned when Meloni’s government ordered local authorities to stop registering the children of same-sex parents with both of their names.


    The new ruling means that only the biological parent of a child can be named on a birth certificate.

    “There is no discrimination against children,” Family Minister Eugenia Roccella told parliament when she introduced the bill in June,

    The effect of the move is to limit certain rights for the non-registered parent, and requires them to have permission to carry out everyday family tasks, such as picking the child up from school, or using public services on their behalf.

    In March, Meloni’s government also introduced legislation to extend the national ban on surrogacy to couples who use such services abroad. If it passes, anyone breaking the law could face a two-year jail term and a fine of more than $1 million.

    APC in Panic As CJN Allegedly Tells Tinubu To Prepare For Rerun

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described as mischievous and intentionally misleading a social media post which claimed that the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Olukayode Ariwoola, allegedly informed President Bola Tinubu to prepare for a rerun election.

    The report shared by Strategic Communication expert Jackson Ude also alleged that the CJN’s private phone conversations with Tinubu, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi, and two other Justices of the Supreme Court had been leaked to United States authorities.


    The post added that the leakage of the conversations has resulted in two additional apex court justices being banned from entering the United States.


    Reacting in a statement on Tuesday night, APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, said Ude fabricated a falsehood on a matter of serious national importance that is actively under review by the Presidential Election Petitions Court

    Morka said President Tinubu and the APC won the February 25, 2023, Presidential election without a doubt, and do not have any need to engage in side conversations with the CJN regarding pending petitions before the PEPC.


    He, therefore, expressed confidence that Nigerians are smarter and more discerning than to be affected by this opposition brand of tasteless and crass mercenary expedition.

    Lady traps armed robber with sex in Lagos

    A 20-year old armed robbery suspect is currently cooling his heels in Kirikiri Corectional facility, Lagos after he was left behind by his gang as he was having a nice time with a female victim.

    The suspect, Gafar Odusoya, made a grave mistake of mixing business with pleasure when his gang stormed Berebere Street, Isale-Oja area of Agege, Lagos an operation on June 17, 2023.

    According to P.M. Express, the armed men broke into the lady’s apartment and robbed her of her valuables including jewels, phones and ATM cards, which they used to withdraw her money by force.

    While his gang members were retreating, Odusoya stayed back to rape the victim.

    The lady, who was helpless, allowed him to have his way and pretended to be enjoying the act, moaning and wrapping her arms tightly around him.

    It appeared the suspect got carried away and continued with the liaison till the lady’s neighbours entered her apartment after the other gang members had left and grabbed him.

    He was beaten and handed over to the police in the area, where he was detained for interrogation over his alleged criminal conduct.

    He confessed to the police he was at the victim’s apartment with his gang, but was left behind when he sneaked back in to rape the lady.

    He was found culpable and subsequently charged before the Ogba Magistrate Court for conspiracy, armed robbery and rape.

    His plea was not taken by the court following a motion moved by the prosecutor, DSP Clara Olagbayi, asking the Court to refer the matter to the DPP for legal advice.

    The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. H.B. Mogaji, ordered his remand in custody pending the outcome of the DPP’s advice and directed the prosecutor to duplicate the file and send it to the DPP.

    The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the Correctional Centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending the outcome of the DPP’s advice.

    “Only 31% of results collated when INEC declared Tinubu president” – Witness tells Tribunal

    An Assistant Director in the Information Technology (IT) Department of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Dr. Lawrence Bayode, who was also its Witness, has said categorically that only 31% of results collated when INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, declared Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu the winner of the 2023 presidential election, was mathematically correct.

    The INEC Director cum Witness made the declaration answering questions during cross-examination at the Presidential Election Petition Court (PREPEC) on Monday.

    The director made the admission under oath in Court Monday afternoon during the hearing of the case filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

    He said emphatically that only 31% of results collated as at the time Mahmood Yakubu declared Tinubu president had been collated before INEC Chairman declared Tinubu the winner.

    News Band correspondent, who witnessed the proceeding at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, Nigeria, noted that this would mean that the 2023 presidential election was not free and fair, and that the results of the election should be nullified.

    At the PREPEC, opening its defense in the petition by Atiku Abubakar and the PDP, INEC had introduced its first witness, the Assistant Director in the ICT Department.

    The witness, who adopted his witness statement on oath, was led in evidence by the lead Counsel of INEC and was cross-examined by Counsel to the Respondents and the Petitioner.

    Meanwhile, counsel to Atiku/PDP, Chris Uche (SAN), said that they successfully tendered before the court as evidence the Final Report of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) in Nigeria.

    Watch the analysis in the video clip below:

    The erudite senior lawyer leading Atiku’s legal team used the sole INEC witness that eventually showed up at the PEPC to tender the bombshell document which faulted the emergence of Bola Tinubu as winner of the 2023 presidential election.

    The INEC’s Director of Information Technology was brought in to testify for INEC and collapsed under overwhelming evidence, admitting that only 31% of the election results had been uploaded before Yakubu announced Tinubu winner.

    Uche (SAN), while cross-examining the INEC witness, had demanded that APC and Tinubu should go first as they were co-respondents in the matter.

    APC and Tinubu lawyers objected, and the five-member panel had to go into their Chambers before coming out to rule that APC and Tinubu should cross-examine the INEC witness before Atiku.

    Uche then asked for 20 minutes to cross-examine the witness, and again APC and Tinubu opposed, forcing the Court to rule in Atiku’s favour.

    He again asked that the INEC witness should be made to read some critical portions of the European Union’s final report on the presidential election.

    Tinubu, APC and INEC again opposed it, but the judges again ruled in favour of Atiku and the relevant portions were read.

    The INEC witness told the court that there was a technical glitch that affected the uploading of the presidential election results.

    Under Chris Uche’s cross-examination, however, he admitted that the imaginary glitch was not reported to Amazon Web Services (AWS) by INEC.

    EU EOM, on their part, faulted both the conduct and outcome of the 2023 presidential election held on February 25, 2023.

    The group stated that lack of transparency in the implementation of election technology used during the 2023 general election and failure to promptly upload the presidential elections results on IREV was part of the bane of the presidential election.

    While INEC concluded its defense, the hearing was adjourned to 4th July, 2023, by the Chairman of the panel, Hon. Justice Haruna Tsammani for continuation.

    Reactions trail the confession by INEC Director:

    IPC Justice wrote:

    “An INEC director made this claim under oath that only 31% of the results had been collated before INEC Chairman Yakubu declared Bola Tinubu the winner. This would mean that the 2023 presidential election was not free and fair, and that the results of the election should be nullified.

    “The fact that they rested their case with only this witness is also shocking and reinforces our call that Mr. Yakubu and his associates at INEC committed a treasonable offense by organizing a coup by server manipulation.

    “They lied to the Nigerian people and benefited from this act. They all should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. According to the Nigerian constitution, treason in Nigeria is punishable by death.”

    ‘Demola Olarewaju:

    “The erudite senior lawyer, Chris Uche (SAN), leading Atiku’s legal team, is yet another reason why ethnicity must never blind us to competence.

    “With their only witness’ testimony destroyed in minutes and four documents tendered, INEC closed its defense in the petition filed by Atiku Abubakar and the PDP against the declaration of Tinubu as the winner of the February 25 presidential election.

    “Tinubu meanwhile has been ordered to open the defense of his rigged victory in the presidential election tomorrow (Tuesday, July 4, 2023) by the PEPC.

    “If the PEPC does what is right with the evidence as of today, Bola Tinubu will be the first President to be removed in Nigeria.

    “Mahmud Yakubu will be the first INEC Chairman to go to jail for rigging and the worst outcome from all of it is a rerun of that spurious and fraudulent election INEC conducted.

    “Well done, Chief Chris Uche (SAN) Atiku supporters salute you.”

    Dr El Mo:

    “Only 31% of the results on IReV are mathematically correct – INEC witness tells tribunal. The remaining 69% of the results on IReV represent rubbish.

    “Results on IReV are a representation and / or snapshot of the manual result. If 69% are mathematically incorrect, where did INEC get the computed results to declare Tinubu as the winner?

    “The onus is on the tribunal justices to stand on the side of the truth and end this nonsense.” 

    Cameroonian woman announces 200-hour sex marathon to break GWR

    A Cameroonian lady simply identified as Danny Zara has announced her intention to set a Guinness World Record (GWR) for the longest sex marathon.

    In a recent Facebook post, Zara said she intends to have continuous sexual intercourse for 200 hours.

    To accomplish the feat, the lady also said she is seeking the participation of capable individuals who are willing to join her in this endeavor.

    She said the Guinness World Record is “aware of my proposed attempt”, adding that it will begin on July 17 and end on July 25.

    She wrote,” Ladies and Gentlemen after due confirmation from the Guinness Books of Records I have decided to break a record of the Longest Sex Hour (Sex_Thon), we have been dox great planification for a while now n today we decided to send out the official flyer.

    “Planet Cameroon it is time for you to support your own so we can bring this book to our country make Nigeria no help us tearam Thanks to my defense team Bella Powers of Bella Powers Voice.”

    Seychelles has banned Nigerians from entering the country

    The government of Seychelles has banned Nigerian passport holders from entering the country for holiday purposes.

    This decision was confirmed by the country’s border security, as reported by TheCable.

    A Twitter user and travel content creator, @munafromtravelletters, shared a screenshot of a visa application rejection email which stated, “We regret to inform you that your application has been denied, as per immigration regulation, for now, we are not accepting any Nigerian passport holders for holiday purposes.”

    When contacted by TheCable’s customer support service, the Seychelles government acknowledged the screenshot without providing any specific reasons for the ban. “Yes, but no further information is available at this time,” said the border security.

    Nigeria and Seychelles had previously signed a pact in December 2022 to enable direct flights between the two countries. The agreement aimed to promote the African Union agenda 2063, enhance business relations, and boost tourism.

    Before the implementation of this ban, Nigerian citizens had enjoyed a long-standing visa-free agreement with Seychelles, allowing them to enter the country without a visa for up to 30 days.

    The ban has sparked mixed reactions on social media, with many expressing their dismay over the increasing number of foreign bans imposed on Nigerian passport holders.

    “People have foiled a constitutional coup in Senegal” – Chidi Anselm Odinkalu

    On July 3, 2023, Senegal’s president, Macky Sall, in power since 2012, publicly renounced his aspiration for a constitutionally prohibited third term, sparking a synchronised outbreak of ostentatious back-slapping. Nigeria’s former president, Goodluck Jonathan, convener of the impressively-named West African Elders Forum (WAEF), fired off a letter describing Macky Sall as a paragon of “sacrificial leadership”. Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union, Moussa Faki Mahamat, was full of “admiration for statesmanship which privileged Senegal’s interests”.

    Describing President Sall’s announcement as an act of “courage, humility, and deep faith in Senegalese democracy”, executive director of UNAIDS, Winnie Byanyima, claimed that he had told her in confidence two years ago that “he was not going to run for a third term but that he would announce this towards the end of his term”.

    Byanyima did not say whether President Sall had also told her that he would wait for enough Senegalese to die on the altar of his presidential vanities before renouncing them. Her testimony had a tiresome Pentecostal whiff to it.

    In announcing the renunciation of his ambitions, Macky Sall claimed that Senegal’s constitution, whose text is explicit to the contrary, would have permitted his violation of it. He sounded deflated and he was. President Sall’s hitherto undisguised ambitions had already killed “dozens” in popular resistance and protests. The latest, at the beginning of June 2023, led to the killing of between 16 to 30 protesters.

    In the end, the people forced him to blink. In his campaign to succeed himself, Macky Sall’s party had procured paid demonstrations in support of his ill-fated ambition. But, ahead of his announcement, opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko, whom Sall seeks to preclude from next year’s ballot, had called out the country to mass action.

    Senegal’s citizens were determined to make the price of Sall’s self-succession ambition impermissibly prohibitive. The Council on Foreign Relations rightly described Sall’s disavowal of his ambition as rather “belated”.

    Macky Sall’s self-succession put Senegal’s proud record of democratic exceptionalism in West Africa to the test and is a rare instance of failure in Africa’s new brand of constitutional coups. In retrospect, events in Dakar this past week show that while the optics of the region’s democratic landscape may appear different, the narcissism of political power remains durable.

    On May 28, 1975, the rulers of 15 countries in West Africa concluded a summit in Lagos, then the capital of Nigeria, with the adoption of the Treaty of the Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS). It established a regional economic community among the 15 countries, with an undertaking to shrink the zone of sovereign prerogative that they could claim at a time when relations among Africa’s rulers were defined by mutual suspicion and mutual trade in accusations of interference or subversion.

    For proof of this then-existing trend, you only had to look at the composition of the rulers who established ECOWAS. Their host was Yakubu Gowon, Nigeria’s then head of state, a dashing four-star general since the age of 34, who was barely 40. Basking in the after-glow of the accomplishment that the establishment of ECOWAS clearly was, General Gowon travelled to Kampala, Uganda, two months later in July 1975 for the 12th summit of the Organization of African Unity (OAU). It was his last. Gowon’s host in Kampala was Idi Amin Dada, another soldier and Uganda’s then ruler, who had chosen to go one better than Gowon by gratifying his vanities with the epaulettes of a Field Marshall.

    While he was in Kampala, soldiers back home in Nigeria, led by Murtala Mohammed, then a Brigadier-General in the Nigerian Army, decided to relieve Gowon of his command and overthrow him. Nanven Joseph Garba, the army colonel who announced the coup, was Gowon’s kinsman who also commanded the Brigade of Guards responsible for the protection of the head of state.

    Yakubu Gowon was not the only soldier at the creation of ECOWAS in 1975 nor was he the only one overthrown by them. Six others among the 15 original signatories to the treaty were soldiers including Lt-Col Mathieu Kérékou (Benin); Gen. Ignatius Acheampong (Ghana, represented by Lt-Col RJA Falli, Minister for Economic Planning); Col. Moussa Traoré (Mali, represented by Major Baba Diarra, Vice-Chairman of the Military Committee of National Liberation); Lt-Col. Seyni Kountché (Niger); Gen. Gnassingbe Eyadema (Togo), and Gen. Aboubakar Sangoulé Lamizana (Upper Volta, now Burkina Faso)
    Of the remaining eight, Presidents Dawda Jawara (Gambia); Sekou Toure (Guinea); Luiz Cabral (Guinea Bissau); William Tolbert (Liberia); Moktar Ould Daddah (Mauritania); and Siaka Stevens (Sierra Leone) were all succeeded by soldiers. President Felix Houphöuet-Boigny of Côte d’Ivoire was the only president as such among the original signatories who was neither a soldier nor directly succeeded by one. Abdou Diouf who represented Senegal at the adoption of the treaty was then prime minister to President Leopold Senghor, whom he later succeeded as president on April 1, 1981.

    Looking back at that era from the vantage of nearly five decades later, the appearance of progress in the optics of government in West Africa looks assured. Mauritania is no longer part of ECOWAS but Cape Verde, which joined in 1976, ensures that the regional bloc remains comprised of 15 members. In the half-century to 2004, West African countries witnessed “169 military interventions of some sort”. The only countries spared this scourge were Cape Verde and Senegal.

    Today, in 12 countries out of 15 among the member states of ECOWAS the head of state, by whatever name called, enjoys democratic legitimacy. The only countries that are presently exempt from this trend are Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Mali, where the military installed itself in power using coups organised within the past three years.

    Impressive as this picture may look, it flatters the region in many ways. First, soldiers in military fatigues may no longer be fashionable in seats of power, but soldiers in many countries in the region are not far from power. Umaro Sissoco Embaló, the current president of Guinea Bissau and Julius Maada Bio, his peer in Sierra Leone, are both former army generals. Muhammadu Buhari, another general who led the military to overthrow Nigeria’s elected government on December 31, 1983, only recently completed another tour of duty on May 29, 2023, as head of state of his country. They may have shed their fatigues, but soldiers continue in many African countries to enjoy historical advantages in the contest for political and economic power.

    Second, coups are no longer the monopoly of soldiers. Civilians or incumbents with the appearance of electoral legitimacy now also implement what has been called constitutional coups by manipulating constitutions, courts, and election management bodies to destroy constitutional guardrails and keep themselves in power for as long as they please. In West Africa, the rulers of Côte d’Ivoire and Togo, for instance, have changed their constitutions in this way. In Guinea, soldiers found their excuse to launch a bid for power in fatigues after Alpha Conde, a civilian president, overthrew the constitution in a bloody exercise in 2021 to extend his tenure as president.

    Third, these efforts to subvert constitutional rule in the region, whether by the military or civilians, are often accompanied by foreign support. Around Africa, Russia is a rising new force for autocracy and coups. In West Africa, Russia’s footprint has been active in the overthrow of constitutional governments in Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Mali. Beyond the region, its friendly presence has also been reported in Burundi, Central African Republic, Comoros, Sudan, and Zimbabwe, among others.

    In Senegal, Macky Sall’s ambitions stalled in the face of many factors. He could not rely on the army, he had no overwhelming foreign backers and Senegal’s fragility was becoming evident in the face of stout popular resistance. In the end, the people forced him to back down. The plaudits here clearly belong to the people of Senegal. For Macky Sall, he will spend the remainder of his presidency seeking post-presidential immunity. He will need it.

    A lawyer and a teacher, Odinkalu can be reached at [email protected]

    SAD: Bride faints, rushed to hospital after boyfriend shows up, claims pregnancy [Video]

    The attached video shows how a newly wedded bride fainted and was rushed to the hospital after her old boyfriend showed up during wedding procession and laid claim to the pregnancy she was bearing.

    The ugly incident reportedly took place in Samonda area of Ibadan, Oyo State, on Saturday, July 8, 2023.

    The bride’s boyfriend had blocked the couple on their way to the reception with his car and claimed that the bride is already pregnant for him from Lagos while she came to Ibadan to marry his friend.

    The furious groom was seen raising curses on his wife, and then removed his ring and flung it to the wife.

    That was the moment the bride fainted and was picked up and rushed to the hospital

    Watch the video clip below:

    Is Tinubu’s trying to erase his criminal past ? ~ by Jaieola Ajasa

    Nigeria’s secret police, the Department of State Security (DSS) has been removing all incriminating files relating to President Bola Tinubu and his close aides from the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), SaharaReporters reported.

    On Tuesday, June 27, 2023, it also exclusively reported that the Department of State Security had told the anti-corruption body Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to steer clear of political cases for now.

    Sources told the medium at the time that the recent raids on EFCC offices – first in Ikoyi, Lagos and later in Abuja – were more political than they were made to look.

    It also reported that during the raids, DSS operatives carted away files and flash drives containing sensitive information about former governors, ministers and senators under investigation.

    It was learnt on Friday that the cleaning-up exercise had been extended to other anti-corruption bodies – CCB and ICPC.

    “DSS closure of EFCC Lagos office was instigated by Tinubu,” a security source said.

    “The DSS is currently removing all incriminating files from the Code of Conduct Bureau and ICPC relating to Tinubu and his close aides and associates.”

    Tinubu was arraigned before the Code of Conduct Tribunal in September 2011 for allegedly operating foreign bank accounts, contrary to the constitution.

    Tinubu was accused of operating 10 foreign accounts during his tenure as governor between 1999 and 2007 in the charges filed against him by CCB at the tribunal.

    The former governor was specifically accused of violating Section 7 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap C15 LFN, 2004 as amended, by operating the said accounts, an offence punishable under Section 23(2) thereof as incorporated under paragraph 18, part 1, fifth Schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    However, the three-man panel of the tribunal later dismissed the case, saying there was no significant basis to proceed against Tinubu as the charges were “defective and shoddy.”

    The tribunal held that the charges did not disclose a prima facie case and that there was no proof of evidence attached to the charge.

    It also noted that the charges failed to show that the accounts were held by the accused person.

    But in March 2016, Rotimi Jacobs, a senior advocate of Nigeria and the Federal Government prosecuting counsel said the CCT was misled to discharge Tinubu when he was arraigned before it in 2011.

    According to Jacobs, Tinubu was freed in error.

    On Sunday, June 18, 2023, SaharaReporters exclusively reported that the DSS raided the headquarters of its sister agency, EFCC on Friday night, June 16.

    It was reported that the raid lasted till early Saturday morning.

    The action was undertaken under the cover of the night to prevent the public from knowing about it, it was learnt.

    EFCC personnel were also instructed not to mention anything concerning the raid to members of the public.

    An insider had told SaharaReporters at the time that the DSS was working in the interest of someone “very important” to President Bola Tinubu.

    However, another source said it might be linked to the recent closure of the EFCC office in Ikoyi, Lagos by the DSS.

    “I heard the raid and partisanship of the DSS was the reason why they raised an alarm yesterday (Saturday) that some of their disgruntled officers are planning to shame the agency and embarrass the leadership,” the source said.

    Some of the investigators handling the case of former Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle were to be summoned by the DSS for interrogation, it was further learnt.

    “That is actually intimidation, symptomatic of what former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami did during Ibrahim Magu’s time as EFCC chairman to get several suspects off the hook,” one of the sources had said.

    It was revealed that Matawalle was being investigated by the EFCC in two separate cases.

    One of them is a case involving his private company which got money from the National Security Adviser’s office without executing the contract, which was investigated under the chairmanship of Magu. The other case involves the alleged fraud committed by Matawalle while in office.

    Someone close to President Bola Tinubu also informed that the president was aware of the moves being made by the former governor to stop the anti-corruption body from probing him, which included obtaining court orders to restrain the commission and other agencies from carrying out their investigations.

    It must be noted that President Tinubu recently suspended the EFCC chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa from office indefinitely.

    In the June 18 report, SaharaReporters noted that it was not clear what the agenda of Tinubu and the DSS were regarding the detention of Bawa and the carting away of sensitive documents relating to the commission’s investigations.

    But revelations made by sources later showed the raids were political with the carting away of files and flash drives related to the probe of former governors, senators and ministers.

    In May, operatives of the DSS stormed the Lagos office of the EFCC, preventing officials of the anti-graft agency from gaining access to their office in Ikoyi.

    SaharaReporters learnt from top sources in both agencies that hundreds of EFCC personnel were locked out of office due to what was widely believed to be centred on office ownership disagreements.

    “The EFCC officers are shocked; they have been using the building for more than 20 years. Several suspects are there and there are fears that some might have been illegally released,” a top source had said.

    President Tinubu later ordered the DSS to vacate the EFCC office immediately, saying if there were issues between the “two important agencies of government”, they should be resolved amicably.

    Reacting to the incident, the EFCC in a statement on its official Facebook page described the siege as shocking, saying it had wider implications for Nigeria’s fight against economic and financial crimes.

    “This development is strange to the Commission given that we have cohabited with the DSS in that facility for 20 years without incident.

    “By denying operatives access to their offices, the Commission’s operations at its largest hub with over 500 personnel, hundreds of exhibits, and many suspects in detention have been disrupted.

    “Cases scheduled for court hearing today have been aborted, while many suspects who had been invited for questioning are left unattended.

    “Even more alarming is that suspects in detention are left without care with grave implications for their rights as inmates.

    “All of these have wider implications for the nation’s fight against economic and financial crimes,” the statement read.

    But the DSS in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Peter Afunanya, said, “It is not correct that the DSS barricaded EFCC from entering its office. No. It is not true. The Service is only occupying its own facility where it is carrying out its official and statutory responsibility.

    “By the way, there is no controversy over No 15A Awolowo Road as being insinuated by the Media. Did the EFCC tell you it is contesting the ownership of the building? I will be surprised if it is contesting the ownership.

    “Awolowo Road was NSO headquarters. SSS/DSS started from there. It is a common knowledge. It is a historical fact. Check it out.”

    French Police make over 719 arrests as France burns

    Authorities in France have made 719 arrests nationwide by early Sunday following a fifth night of unrest sparked by the police killing of 17-year-old  Nahel Merzouk, who was allegedly ‘executed’ by police during a traffic stop.

    The 17-year-old whose death on Tuesday, June, 27,  spawned the anger was laid to rest Saturday in a Muslim ceremony in Nanterre, a Paris suburb. Authorities have since arrested the police officer who shot Merzouk, on suspicion of “voluntary homicide by a person in authority”

    Nahel Merzouk

    As night fell Saturday over the French capital, a small crowd gathered on the Champs-Elysees to protest his death and police violence but met hundreds of officers with batons and shields guarding the avenue and its boutiques.

    The mass police deployment has been welcomed by some frightened residents of targeted neighborhoods and shop owners whose stores have been ransacked.

    Nahel Merzouk

    The unrest has taken a toll on Macron’s leadership. On Saturday, he postponed what would have been the first state visit to Germany by a French president in 23 years. Macron had been scheduled to fly to Germany on Sunday.

    Hundreds of French police and firefighters have been injured in the violence, although authorities haven’t said how many protesters have been hurt. In French Guiana, an overseas territory, a 54-year-old died after being hit by a stray bullet.

    Nahel Merzouk

    On Saturday, France’s justice minister, Eric Dupond-Moretti, warned that young people who share calls for violence on Snapchat or other apps could face prosecution. Macron has blamed social media for fueling violence.

    The violence comes just over a year before Paris and other French cities are due to host the summer Olympics, whose organizers were closely monitoring the situation as preparations for the Games continue.

    Nahel Merzouk

    Hundreds of mourners stood along the road Saturday leading to a hilltop cemetery in Nanterre to pay tribute to Nahel as his white casket was carried from a mosque to the burial site. His mother, dressed in white, walked inside the cemetery amid applause. Many of the men were young and Arab or Black, coming to mourn a boy who could have been them.

    This week, Nahel’s mother told France 5 television that she was angry at the officer who shot her son at a traffic stop, but not at the police in general.

    Nahel Merzouk

    “He saw a little Arab-looking kid. He wanted to take his life,” she said. Nahel’s family has roots in Algeria.

    Video of the killing showed two officers at the window of the car, one with his gun pointed at the driver. As the teenager pulled forward, the officer fired once through the windshield. The officer accused of killing Nahel was given a preliminary charge of voluntary homicide.

    “The whole world wants to k!ll Putin” – Zelensky Opines

    Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed that the whole world wants to kill Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

    He said this at a press conference in Kiev over the weekend.

    Zelensky was asked at the press conference – whether he is in danger with his life or whether his life is threatened?


    In response, the president of Ukraine said, “To be honest, it’s more scary for Putin than for me.” Because only Russia wants to kill me. On the other hand, the whole world wants to kill him (Putin).

    During the press conference, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also said that at least 21,000 Wagner mercenaries were killed while fighting with his country.

    He said the Wagner Group had lost a large number of troops, especially in eastern Ukraine, where the most powerful army of his country is fighting.

    The Ukrainian president said the Wagner group’s insurgency had a major impact on Russian President Putin’s authority. It also has an impact on the battlefield. His country’s army will benefit from it.


    “We have to take advantage of this situation. We have to use this advantage to expel the enemies from the soil of our country.” Zelensky said

    “Japa Wahala” Forces Nigeria to halt travel to Abroad as economy class tickets rise to N2.2M

    Latest economic reality has forced many Nigerians to suspend their travel plans to the United States and Europe following the increase in fares which has tripled as a result of the high exchange rate for ticket pricing.

    According to BusinessDay investigations, an economy class ticket from Lagos to London and Lagos to France and most European countries which cost around N1.5 million a month ago, now cost an average of N1.9million to N2.2million depending airline.

    For instance a Lagos to France economy class ticket on British Airways cost about $2,500, using the N770 exchange rate to a dollar, this cost about N1.92million.

    Lagos to London economy class ticket on British Airways cost about $2,800 which amounts to about N2.15million.

    Lagos to London economy class ticket on Qatar Airways cost around $2,900, which amounts to about N2.23million

    Also an economy class ticket from Lagos to the United States which cost about N1.7million a month ago is currently pricing between N2.2million and N2. 6million.

    An economy class ticket from Lagos to the United States on Delta Airlines cost about N2.4m. The same ticket on Lufthansa and Qatar Airways cost around N2.6million.

    A Business class ticket from Lagos to London, Lagos to France and most European countries which cost around N2 million, now cost an average about N2.9m to N3.4million.

    A Business class ticket from Lagos to London on Lufthansa Airline cost about N2.9mIllion and N3.4million on Qatar Airways.

    Also a Business class ticket from Lagos to the United States which cost an average of N2.4million a month ago now cost about N4.9 million on Qatar Airways and N6.9 million on Ethiopian airlines. Air Maroc appears to have the cheapest ticket on this route costing about N2.4million.

    The cost of airfares from Nigeria to various destinations has seen a sharp rise since the exchange rate for ticket pricing hit over N760/$,

    The development came a few days after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) floated the naira and directed commercial banks to sell foreign exchange at market-determined rates.

    The CBN said all forex windows should be collapsed into the Investors &Exporters Window.

    Days after the decision, the exchange rate has since fluctuated on the International Air Transport Association (IATA) platform from 663.04/$ to now N770/$.

    Nigerian travellers have quickly had to respond to the increase by suspending their travel plans to Europe and the United States.

    “Never have tickets been sold so expensive in Nigeria before. How can I buy a Lagos to London ticket for over N2 million? This is more than just a rise. It is exorbitant and I’m sure the average traveller can’t afford this at this time when we have an economic downturn,” Philip Onuh told BusinessDay.

    Onuh said he had plans to visit his family next month in New York but he has had to suspend his travel plans as a result of the rise in tickets.

    “I could not afford to pay tickets for my family to come over to Nigeria for summer because airlines had blocked all their low ticket prices on their websites, making the cost of fares high. So I planned to go and see them instead to reduce the expenditure on travel. However, to my greatest surprise, when I was ready to book my ticket, I found out tickets had again risen to N2.4 million in the United States. So I just have to suspend plans to travel for now,” he explained.

    John Effiong, another traveller told BusinessDay that he had plans to travel to France with his family during his annual leave in two months’ time but had to cancel the plans because he could not afford the new cost for airfares.

    Effiong however said he would now be travelling to Egypt as an alternative because the cost of travelling to Egypt is about three times lower than what he would have spent on the cost of travel to France.

    “My travel agent had advised that Egypt can be another option instead of suspending our travel plans because there are still low fares to the North African country and its visa policy is quite flexible.

    “With Schengen, UK, US or Canada visa, people can travel to Egypt and get their visa on arrival. My family members all have Schengen visas and this just makes things easy for us. We get to spend less on travel and ease of visa makes it more attractive,” he said.

    Since last year, foreign airlines operating in Nigeria blocked low ticket inventories (cheap tickets), leaving high inventories (costly tickets) to be sold in naira only, while the low ticket inventories on most airlines’ websites could only be bought with dollar cards only.

    This was in a bid to cushion the effect of their trapped funds in Nigeria which kept rising.

    While airlines gradually opened up low ticket inventories which they had blocked, as the Central Bank of Nigeria released their trapped funds in trickles, BusinessDay’s investigations show that high ticket inventories were still more on the websites, making ticket prices high.

    Susan Akporiaye, the President of the National Association of Travel Agents of Nigeria, (NANTA) told BusinessDay that the reduction in summer travels has been there since the restriction of inventories on the airlines’ website.

    Akporiaye however noted that the new dollar rate policy has worsened the situation because ticket prices are very high that even corporate travels are now affected.

    “This is not how summer usually is. We had this same experience last year summer because of the inventory restrictions. Already, the inventories have still not been released yet. So, even with the new dollar rate unification, there is no difference and it is even worse because the highest economy class ticket for Lagos to the United States when the exchange rate was about N460 to a dollar was N1.9million but now at over N760 to a dollar, ticket prices are between N2.5million to N3.2million.

    “This is why we are talking to the airlines. The rate of exchange is very high now. What airlines can do so they don’t punish passengers is to release the lower fares. If the lower fares are released, at least people will be able to get tickets of N700,000,” the NANTA president said.

    She said the new exchange rate policy has further reduced ticket sales.

    “Before now, it was only on the naira platform that we had the highest fares but on the dollar platform, the lower fares were still there. So people could just go to the black market and buy dollars. But now, everyone is feeling it.

    “So, there is not much difference between buying tickets in dollars and buying tickets in naira anymore. The policy has unified the whole system. So, whether you buy the tickets in dollars or in naira, there is no difference. The only thing that the airlines have done to help the travel agency community is that they have given us a dollar platform too. So people don’t have to go online anymore. We can also service them,” Akporiaye said.

    She said the travel agents depended on corporates before now because they could afford the high ticket costs but now, the corporates are also cancelling their travel plans.

    Speaking on travels to other African countries, the NANTA president said
    Nigerians are now beginning to open their minds to exploring destinations in Africa.

    “People are still travelling to South Africa despite the visa issues and the visa online platform that has been opened up is helping too so that people can just do their online applications and travel.

    “Other African countries opening up are Namibia, Kenya and Botswana. Egypt had been open since Dubai suspended flights into Nigeria. The Egyptians were very smart. They introduced some new innovations in their visa policy which really helped because Egypt was an alternative for Nigerians but the visa was the problem because people had to wait for almost three months for their visas. But this is no longer the case anymore.

    “Egypt now has visa on arrival for people that have either a Schengen, UK, US or Canada visa. If you have any of these visas, no need to go to the embassy. Just jump on the plane and you get your visa-on-arrival which is 50 dollars. This has helped a lot. Some travellers travelling to the US, now stop over at Cairo for a few days just to have fun, then proceed to the US because of the ease of visa on arrival,” she explained.

    She also mentioned that Rwanda is also very easy for Nigerians because it doesn’t require a visa, adding that more Nigeria has seized this opportunity to do business and go on holidays in Rwanda.

    She said most African airlines still sell lower ticket fares.

    President Tinubu rejects EU report on 2023 general elections

    President Bola Tinubu, Sunday said he has rejected the report by the European Unions Electoral Observer Mission on the 2023 general elections, describing the final report as a product of a poorly done desk job that relied heavily on few persons.

    The president said that he has many reasons to believe the “jaundiced report”, based on the views of fewer than 50 observers, “was to merely sustain the same premature denunciatory stance contained in EU’s preliminary report released in March.”

    This was contained in a statement issued by Mr. Dele Alake, Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, with the title, “We reject European Union’s conclusions on 2023 general elections.”

    The President in the statement noted that some notable bodies like the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, and even the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, have commended the conduct and outcome of the election.

    According to the statement, “Sometimes in May, we alerted the nation, through a press statement, to the plan by a continental multi-lateral institution to discredit the 2023 general elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

    “The main target was the presidential election, clearly and fairly won by the then candidate of All Progressives Congress, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    “While we did not mention the name of the organisation in the said statement, we made it abundantly clear to Nigerians how this foreign institution had been unrelenting in its assault on the credibility of the electoral process, the sovereignty of our country and on our ability as a people to organise ourselves.

    “We find it preposterous and unconscionable that in this day and age, any foreign organisation of whatever hue can continue to insist on its own yardstick and assessment as the only way to determine the credibility and transparency of our elections.

    “Now that the organisation has submitted what it claimed to be its final report on the elections, we can now categorically let Nigerians and the entire world know that we were not unaware of the machinations of the European Union to sustain its, largely, unfounded bias and claims on the election outcomes.

    “For emphasis, we want to reiterate that the 2023 general elections, most especially the presidential election, won by President Bola Tinubu/All Progressives Congress, were credible, peaceful, free, fair and the best organised general elections in Nigeria since 1999.”

    The statement said that there was no substantial evidence by the EU or any foreign body that is viable enough to discredit the outcome of the polls.

    It said, “There is no substantial evidence provided by the European Union or any foreign and local organisation that is viable enough to impeach the integrity of the 2023 election outcomes.

    “It is worth restating that the limitation of EU final assessment and conclusions on our elections was made very bare in the text of the press conference addressed by the Head of its Electoral Observation Mission, Barry Andrews.

    Is IPOB losing influence in S’east as members abandon movement to join political parties?

    It is now clear that the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), do not longer enjoy the influence they once commanded in the South East as it members have abandoned the movement to join political parties in the region, Tori Media exclusively report.

    The separatist movement which has been campaigning for the restoration of the defunct Biafra Republic, appears to be facing a serious crack following the arrest of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu and other irreconcilable leadership crisis hammering the group into extinction.

    Some of the members of the movement who spoke with Tori Media said that, with what is unfolding in the group, there was no need to continue with the false hope that Biafra will come.

    According to Emeka Nwankwo, since the last ten years Nnamdi Kanu and other leaders of the movement promised them Biafra, there is nothing yet on ground to show for it and that is the reason why majority of them had to join political parties.

    Emeka while speaking with this medium said, “I have no regret leaving IPOB for PDP. Since 2015 we started chanting for Biafra, we have been completed schemed out of the national politics. It will be foolish for us to lose the both side.

    Also, a former zonal coordinator of the group who is now a ward secretary of the All Progressives Congress, disclosed that he left the group after several failed promises.

    It said, “To be frank with you, I left IPOB after several failed promises. We were promised referendum, HITECH farming and others. Years have gone by, the story is still the same. We can’t continue to live in self dillusion.

    Meanwhile, scores of members of IPOB from investigation have also joined the Labour Party of Nigeria.

    The latest development however, has drastically helped in dismantling most of the secret cell of the group.

    When Tori Team contacted a ranking officer of the group over the recent mass movement of their members to political parties, he said decisive measures will be taken against them.

    How to get rid of cancer cells in the body

    Ever felt that afternoon slump after a sugary lunch? That’s your blood sugar levels crashing. Over time, these swings may stress your body and could even lead to insulin resistance, a risk factor for depression.

    Watch this video and live!

    “Why I Placed A Curse On Happie Boys” – OPM Pastor Opines

    General Overseer of Omega Power Ministries, Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere has finally revealed the reason why he cursed viral security guards, Happie Boys.

    Recall that some weeks back, Matthew Precious Kelechi and Amakor Johnson aka Happie boys had accused the man of God of using their destiny.


    They also alleged that the man of God abandoned them in Cyprus.

    The furious pastor in his response, placed a curse on the young men in a voice note which was shared by the boys on Instagram.

    Addressing journalists at a Port Harcourt press conference, the man of God revealed why he cursed the young men.

    He also reiterated that he did not abandon the boys.

    According to him, he forgave Happie Boys despite what they did to him. He further made it clear that the curse he placed on them was done even before the boys went public with their grievances.

    OPM Pastor said he felt sad and regretted sending the boys abroad after they called him out on Instagram, reason he placed a curse on them.

    His words:

    “Number one, I have forgiven them. Placing a curse is done out of anger. I have forgiven them because they are my children.”

    The pastor added that it was wrong to say he abandoned the boys. He said his inability to continue sponsoring the boys abroad was due to the global rise in the dollar rate.

    Canadian Govt. Unveils New Job Opportunities For Nigerians

    The Canadian government has unveiled its first-ever immigration tech talent strategy that will create new job opportunities for other countries including Nigeria.

    This comes a few days after Germany passed an immigrant law designed to encourage more people from outside the European Union to come to the country for work.


    The talent strategy which was launched at the 2023 Collision Conference in Toronto includes new measures and improvements on existing measures to help businesses in Canada thrive in a competitive landscape.

    “Over this year, Canada is going to be developing a specific stream for some of the world’s most highly talented people that will be able to come to Canada to work for tech companies whether they have a job offer or not,” Sean Fraser, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, said on Tuesday.

    “We are going to be launching a digital Nomads strategy which is going to allow people, who have a foreign employer to come and work in Canada for up to six months,” he said.

    He said they will live in communities in the county and spend money and should they receive job offers while they are here, they are going to allow them to continue to stay and work in the country.

    “Finally, we have been watching very closely what has been going on in the tech sector in the United States where we have seen a public narrative about layoffs. We have been having private conversations about opportunities” he added.

    According to the minister, going forward, as of July 16, they will have a stream that will allow 10,000 H-1B visa holders in the United States to come and work in Canada.

    “The reality is that you have the ideas but you need the talents. You have told us that and we have been listening. We are going to do everything we can to push Canada as the destination where your ideas can become a reality,’ he said.

    Canada’s aging population and lower birth rate have been shrinking its labour force, forcing the country to intensify its efforts to attract large, young and vibrant immigrants by offering immigration-friendly policies.

    The country landed 437,120 Permanent Residents (PRs) in 2022, a nearly eight percent increase from the total number of PRs in 2021, according to data the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

    For Nigeria, it grew by 41.9 percent to 22,130 last year from 15,595 in the previous year.

    Last year, the Canadian federal government announced an aggressive plan to take in 500,000 immigrants a year by 2025, with almost 1.5 million new immigrants coming to the country over the next three years.

    “We’re enthusiastic about the ambitious goals we have set in immigration because they aren’t just about numbers—they are strategic. With this strategy, we’re targeting newcomers that can help enshrine Canada as a world leader in a variety of emerging technologies,” Fraser said.

    Last month, Canada announced new measures to make it easier for families of recent immigrants to relocate to the country just a few days after the UK said it was restricting foreign students from bringing their families into the country starting next year.


    That same month, the country announced that its express entry was now implementing a category-based selection to help tackle labour shortages and boost the economy.

    LP and PDP fail to Prove Mandate at Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal

    Both the Presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and Presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) Peter Obi have both closed their respective cases without proving how they won the election.

    So, the idea of the court declaring any of them the winner of the election is out of the equation.

    I don’t understand the strategy of not leading evidence that shows the number of votes that LP actually won in this election. Does LP and PDP want the judges to do calculations on its behalf?

    At the very best, you can:

    1. Remove all the blurred IREV or non-existent IREV documents and ask for cancelation for all parties.

    2. Ask for cancelation, or choose one – with reasons – where substantial alterations are found between paper copy and IREV document.

    Unless of course they have done this, and still see LP falling short…..

    The second part of their plea is to get President Bola Tinubu disqualified on three grounds. Vice President, Kashim Shettima’s so called double nomination that has now been thrashed by the Supreme Court and 25% of FCT that the two parties seems to have abandoned as they didn’t push this argument seriously. Even if they’ve pushed it, section 299 already made it clear FCT should be treated like a state so it won’t even matter.

    The third argument is to get him disqualified by a combination of certificate forgery, dual citizenship and drug conviction.

    The certificate forgery is of two nature. Chicago state university and NYSC. As regards Chicago state university, the University already issued a public statement that Bola Tinubu graduated from the University. That alone is enough to settle the matter. All the gymnastic about the color or font of certificate is nonsense.

    On NYSC, I would have expected Atiku’s legal team to subpoena NYSC to prove the authenticity of the certificate submitted by Tinubu but they failed to do that. So, how did they arrive at the conclusion that the certificate was forged? NYSC is the only authority that can confirm the authenticity or otherwise of an NYSC certificate.

    On the drug conviction issue, it is as empty as the lawyer PDP brought to as witness to prove the case. The witness simply helped PDP to ruin a case that was faulty right from the start. There was no criminal conviction or indictment in the forfeiture. The communication from the US government to the IGP already cleared him of all allegation.

    Overall, Atiku and Peter Obi simply wasted everyone’s time. They had no case of rigging so they had to throw in a lot of allegations hoping one will stick. Now it appears they proved none. The two cases will be dismissed with heavy cost to the petitioners.

    In one week time, President Tinubu will open his defence before the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT) concerning the consolidated Petitions filed by Atiku and Peter Obi, against his declaration as the winner of the 25 February 2023 presidential election.

    Atiku’ and Peter Obi closed their case after calling 35 witnesses even though initially they had given an indication they will call 150 witnesses.

    In civil cases, the plaintiff has the burden of proving their case by a preponderance of the evidence, which means the plaintiff merely needs to show that the fact in dispute is more likely than not.
    In other words, the burden of proof in a civil matter lies upon the Plaintiff.

    In the case before PEPT, the burden of proof lies therefore upon Atiku Abubakar, PDP, Peter Obi, and the Labour Party (Petitioners).

    In law, as a defendant (Respondent in the case under reference), you are not required to make out a case for yourself before the court. All that a defendant is required to do is rebut answer the allegations made by a Plaintiff in his pleadings against him.

    The Defence for a Respondent in an election petition is provided by section 134 (2) of the Electoral Act which provides that an election cannot be invalidated on the ground of noncompliance with the provisions of the Act where it appears to the Tribunal that its conduct was in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act.

    In other words all the Respondent to an election petition needs to establish is that the election was conducted substantially with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

    Finally, it is a fundamental principle of law laid down in a plethora of decided cases that the result of an election declared by the Electoral body entrusted with the conduct of an election is presumed correct until the contrary is proven.

    It is the Petitioner that has a burden to prove that an election was conducted contrary to law.

    One of the most telling exchange in one of the cross-examinations went like this:

    O: You want the court to determine that the 1st petitioner scored the most votes cast. Can you tell my lords the number of valid votes scores by Peter Obi. Assist us

    W: Our expert on oath has answered that

    O: Where you here when the expert gave his witness

    SAN Livy stands up, your time is up and you’ve asked over 4 more questions and the judges are letting it

    O: Why are you jittery, let him answer

    Justice Tsammani: Witness answer, how ma y votes did Peter Obi win do you know

    W: If INEC did well, then I will.

    O: That’s all thank you and good evening.

    Look at Justice Tsammami question. That is what I am saying. You should show that you won.

    Too late now!

    New Germany’s immigration law creates new job opportunities for Nigerians

    The German parliament passed an immigration law on Friday designed to encourage more people from outside the European Union, including Nigeria, to come to Germany for work.

    According to Interior Minister of Social Democrats (SPD), Nancy Faeser, the draft law secures prosperity in Germany.


    “It would only work if the bureaucratic hurdles were dismantled during its implementation,” she said.

    Like many countries in Europe, Germany is facing a shortage of skilled workers.

    In 2022, the country’s labour shortage rose to an all-time high: the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) found 1.74 million vacant positions throughout Germany.

    Together with Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, she emphasised removing bureaucracy and improving the digitisation and efficiency of the system, according to Euro News.

    “We know that we can only guarantee our future, the efficiency of our economy and the efficiency of our social security systems if we have enough skilled workers at our disposal,” said Scholz.

    “From within the European Union, that’s not so difficult, because there is freedom of movement. With regard to the rest of the world, it is a greater challenge,” he added.

    Here are key things to know about how the law opens job opportunities for Nigerians and other nationals.

    1. According to Euro News, the reforms are to modernise the country’s immigration legislation expected to make it easier for third-country nationals to work in Germany. It could increase the number of non-EU workers in Germany by 60,000 per year.

    2. The reforms to the Skilled Immigration Act particularly focus on workers with vocational, non-academic training. Existing rules for qualified professionals with university degrees will also be relaxed.

    3. Germany is hoping to combat its shortage of skilled workers with a new ‘opportunity card’ called chancenkarte. The ‘chancenkarte’ will use a points system to enable workers with required skills to come to Germany more easily.

    4. The points-based system will take into account qualifications, professional experience, age, German language skills and ties to Germany.

    5. Every year, quotas will be set depending on which industries need workers. Three out of four of the following criteria must also be met to apply for the scheme: a degree or vocational training, three years’ professional experience, language skills or a previous stay in Germany and 35 years old or younger.

    6. Currently, most non-EU citizens need to have a job offer before they can relocate to Germany. A visa for job seekers already exists, but the ‘chancenkarte’ is expected to make it easier and faster for people looking to find work in Germany.

    7. Citizens of certain countries with visa agreements can already enter Germany for 90 days visa-free but are only permitted to take up short-term employment.

    8. The opportunity card will allow people to come and look for a job or apprenticeship while in the country rather than applying from abroad. Applicants must be able to prove they can afford to pay their living expenses in the meantime.

    9. The exact details of the scheme are yet to be formalised. The chancenkarte is not expected to be available until at least the end of 2023.

    10. The new system will make it easier for people with professional experience – rather than a university degree – to come and work in Germany.

    11. Germany will become more open to job experience and professional qualifications that are recognised in workers’ native countries. Currently, the country is strict about which qualifications it recognises.

    12. It will also be easier for those without a job offer to seek work in Germany via the opportunity card.

    13. Qualified job seekers with degrees or vocational certificates will be allowed to stay in the country for one year as they search for employment. While looking for full-time employment, they will be permitted to work up to 20 hours per week.

    14. Rules will also be eased for those with a job offer and a recognised diploma. Salary thresholds will be lowered, it will be easier for workers to bring their families to Germany, and it will be easier to gain permanent residency.

    15. Job opportunities are open in Germany for immigrants that are craftspeople, electrical engineers, IT specialists, careers, nurses, catering and hospitality professionals.

    Did INEC restricted FCT results, deducted Peter Obi’s scores to make up Tinubu’s 25% ?

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may have been caught in the act red-handed deducting the scores of the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Candidate, Mr. Peter Gregory Obi, while trying to make up for the 25 per cent deficient result of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

    It could be recalled that, according to INEC’s final presidential election result in FCT, Abuja, Peter Obi secured 281,717 votes to beat APC’s Tinubu who polled 90,902 votes, while Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored 74,199 votes.

    When tallied together, Peter mopped up 58.823 per cent of all votes cast, while Tinubu scored 18.981 per cent and Atiku 15.493 per cent.

    However, recent development shows that APC has moved from 19 per cent to 23, while LP has reduced from 63 to 58.

    The development was captured by @General_Oluchi who had raised alarm that “this criminal organization INEC was up to something illegal”.

    Raising further alarm on Tuesday on her Twitter handle, Oluchi noted that “Another crime has been committed!”

    According to her, INEC restricted views on FCT, Abuja results, while seemingly “deducting LP scores to fill up APC scores in FCT, to match up to the missing 25%”.

    She then asked:

    “If 25% in FCT was not mandatory In presidential Elections, why is the embattled INEC Chairman Yakubu Mahmood and his team trying to criminally give APC 25%?”

    Tweeting further, she claimed that “the embattled INEC Chairman Yakubu Mahmoud and his team [are] trying to criminally give APC 25%”, warning that tampering with evidence is regarded as a crime.

    Still buttressing the matter, Oluchi posted:

    “My attention was drawn to the IREV this evening, and it appears that INEC has disabled viewing of many PU results in the FCT, Abuja.”

    She added:

    “In the early hours of Monday, I wondered, “What is INEC up to?” Other Nigerians, both in the FCT and elsewhere in the country, corroborated the same.”

    It’s not yet clear how many states are affected but all interested persons are urged to check their polling units for the current status of results.

    Analysing Oluchi’s findings, a news media reported:

    “Just as Nigerians awoke to the news that Bola Ahmed Tinubu had been declared winner under dubious circumstances, undermining important constitutional provisions, one of which is the 25% in the two-thirds states AND the FCT, It felt like deja vu waking up on Monday, June 26th, to find Polling Unit Results that were previously visible to everyone who went to the IREV portal missing.”

    For the avoidance of doubt, News band checked on the Kwali LGA, Pai Ward, Leleyi Bassa polling unit but it was no longer available on IREV.

    See the attached screenshot below:

    INEC, tinubu and Obi

    A Tr@nsgender man says he feels discr!minated by LGBTQ+ community for giving birth

    A transgender man who gave birth to a boy last year says he feels isolated among the LGBTQ+ community, and he regularly has to ask himself “where do I fit?” 


    Ware, from Atlanta, gave birth to his child in May 2022. But he said he has struggled to fit in the LGBTQ+ community as a new father who is also transgender.


    “It’s like, where do I fit? Because a lot of trans men don’t want to be open about their queerness,” he said while fighting back tears, he told nonprofit news site The 19th.

    He was among a group of eight transgender black men who spoke during a Human Rights Campaign Foundation workshop about their experiences in the transgender and LGBTQ+ communities.


    The group singled out gay cisgender men for being problematic, saying their experience was that they often didn’t stand up for them despite also being part of the LGBTQ+ community.


    One member of the group, Alex Santiago, said he felt more scrutinized within queer spaces, with men no longer calling him “bro” after finding out he is trans.


    Ash Patrick Schade became pregnant while transitioning, facing transphobia as a new father and experiencing severe gender dysphoria — but his daughter, he said, was worth it.


    I’m a trans man who got pregnant after a Grindr hookup: ‘All worth it’
    “That’s a weird space to be in, but it happens more often than not,” he told The 19th.

    Ware (pictured below) can be seen in Instagram photos smiling brightly alongside his partner, Alphonso Mills, at their baby shower, and holding their child.

    Ware
    Ware

    Ware transitioned from female to male at 22 and said he grappled with his identity during his pregnancy, especially living in Georgia.


    “It made me question my identity. How does the world now see me? How will they see me? Will they understand who I am?” he told the outlet. “Pregnant women are celebrated. Trans people are not.”


    “And to be a pregnant trans man just made me feel vulnerable in the world.” he added

    Ware

    Ware says he centers himself through his faith in God and credits his sucesses in life to following his motto: “Live Life Whole. Be your complete self, and live life fully.”

    Maada Bio’s Sierra Leone re-elected as President, Opposition rejects results

    President Julius Maada Bio has won re-election in Sierra Leone’s tense presidential vote, the election commission confirmed, but his main challenger was quick to reject the results.

    Chief Electoral Commissioner Mohamed Kenewui Konneh said on Tuesday that Bio, 59, was re-elected with 56.17 percent of Saturday’s vote. His top rival Samura Kamara, of the All People’s Congress (APC), came second with 41.16 percent.

    “By the powers invested in me … I hereby certify that Bio Julius Maada … [is] duly elected president,” Konneh said.

    Winning candidates are required to secure 55 percent of votes, and Bio narrowly avoided a second round.

    Kamara, 72, said that he “categorically” rejected the results. “It is a sad day for our beloved country. It is a frontal attack on our fledgling democracy,” he posted on Twitter.

    “These results are NOT credible and I categorically reject the outcome so announced by the electoral commission,” he wrote.

    The election commission’s announcement came after supporters of both parties had claimed to have won in recent days, with Kamara saying that he was on an “irreversible path to an overwhelming victory”. He also alleged that security forces had opened fire on Sunday on a celebration at his party’s headquarters, though police denied having fired live bullets.

    Bio had defeated Kamara, a former foreign minister, in the 2018 election.

    Vote tallying had already been disputed by the APC, which condemned in a statement on Monday an alleged lack of inclusiveness, transparency and responsibility by the election commission.

    Nigerians mocks President Tinubu over 120-car convoy

    Nigerians react to President Bola Tinubu’s 120-car convoy:

    Inibehe Effiong, @InibeheEffiong:

    “Mr. Bola Tinubu’s convoy in Lagos is another reminder that the political class is not ready to make the sacrifices which they expect from citizens. A nation that has a devastating debt burden shouldn’t be run this way. Those defending the monstrous convoy don’t wish Nigeria well.

    “The fact that other officials were in the convoy does not justify such monstrosity. The fact that two governors and the NSA were reportedly part of the convoy does not justify the number of vehicles in the video. It is absurd. Tinubu could have insisted on reducing the vehicles.

    “You remove fuel subsidy to save cost, but you’re wasting limited resources on frivolity. No governor should have more than 5 vehicles in a convoy. We can keep making silly excuses for their wastefulness. We will continue to suffer. Countries are not built by wishful thinking.”

    Inibehe Effiong added:

    “The fact that other officials were in the convoy does not justify such monstrosity. The fact that two governors and the NSA were reportedly part of the convoy does not justify the number of vehicles in the video. It is absurd. Tinubu could have insisted on reducing the vehicles.”

    “YireNyong, @NyongYire:

    “Will he also pay the FG 1k vehicle registration on each of those vehicles? I doubt it! Tinubu and others like him have fed fat on our common wealth and contributed little or nothing to this country.”

    Comrade Deji Adeyanju, @adeyanjudeji:

    “Why does the president of the POVERTY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD need to ride in a 120 car convoy and same people removed subsidy asking the poor to make sacrifices.”

    NEFERTITI, @firstladyship:

    “This is Tinubu’s convoy. This is the lavish convoy of the tax man who imposed N520/liter of petrol, 40% electricity tariff, 7.5 VAT on diesel & N1000 Levy for Proof of Vehicle ownership on you. U pay N768/$1 for PTA & BTA so that BAT can enjoy his old age.

    It’s a shame to see some charlatans celebrating a long convoy driven by a mandate thief who doesn’t care about the suffering of the masses. Tinubu has not reduced the cost of governance, even within Aso Rock.

    He has not announced a reduction in the number of presidential fleet or the number of people he will be traveling with.

    He has not even said, henceforth, in order to identify with the pains of Nigerians occasioned by the current economic situation, he and all his appointees will be taking only half salaries or in the very least, will forgo their allowances all through their duration; But you are hailing.

    Well, you can keep celebrating charlatanry while it lasts. Obi is COMING!

    Nelo Olufunmilayo (New Nigeria), @NelOsuji:

    “Hungry Nigerians really celebrating Tinubu’s convoy in this subsidy economy where they are advising you to stop driving your car and join the bus for the good of the country! Surely must be Juju!”

    “Tinubu convoy is too much and at the same time, is NOT for his security and safety, considering the polarised and hostile environment he found himself. Enemies and aliens are living within.”

    Harun Elbinawi, @HarunaNAbdullah:

    “President Tinubu’s 120 car convoy …. When @officialABAT returned from Europe yesterday, more than 120 car convoy escorted him to his Lagos residence. This is gross irresponsibility and wastage of Tax Payers money. This is antithesis of good governance.

    “In a period when majority of Nigerians can not afford to fill the tanks of their cars due to the high price of fuel due to subsidy removal by the Tinubu regime, such display of primitive arrogance using Taxpayers money stand condemned.

    “Tinubu should stop behaving like an arrogant village rich man using Nigerian Tax Payers money as the fuel. When Tinubu called for sacrifice after the removal of the fuel subsidy, was he insulting and mocking Nigerians?

    “Inference: Governance is serious issue of serving the people, and not wasting Tax Payers money. Nigeria is presently the extreme poverty capital of the world. Majority of families are finding it difficult to feed one meal per day.”

    Efe Martins, @EfeMartins72:

    “kindly make sense out of this please. No insults please, how do you justify this long convoy of luxury cars just to escort one person na? Asking Nigerians to make sacrifices should start with Govt. cutting down a bit of these excesses and lavish Lifestyle.”

    Tinubu Hater, @Aminaruk:

    “Tinubu convoy is bigger than UK, US, Canada, and all European Leaders joined together. Citizens must learn to sacrifice for the greater good. While leaders must continue to waste the scares resources.”

    UG, @UgwunnaEjikem:

    “Tinubu fanboys are celebrating ‘convoy’ lmao truly, Nigeria is a simulation.”

    Chijiоke, Ph.D., Nuclear Engineering(Affidavit), @Ekwulu:

    “The people that are being pauperised daily and buying fuel at N550 per liter are busy defending Tinubu’s long convoy in a country that is currently using 95% of their revenues to service debts.
    Most Nigerians will support wasteful leadership as far as the leader is from their [region].”

    Wachor Zakks-Manuel, @WachorZ:

    “Brace up, people! This Tinubu regime promises to be a reckless and irresponsible one. Look at the convoy of the man who says we should make sacrifices. If this is not irresponsibility, I don’t know what is.”

    Ayemojubar, @ayemojubar:

    “They’ve started to compare Tinubu’s convoy with other world leaders, just to justify that eyesore.”

    President Eniola Daniel, @UnlimitedEniola:

    “BRT Buses were chartered for praise singers and touts yesterday to welcome Bola Tinubu at the Airport. Interesting, Hungry Nigerians were on the road celebrating his over 100 convoy while the country is in bad shape- Just give them food and they will sing.”

    Olóyè T.D Esq, @BolanleCole:

    “Bola Tinubu in 120 Vehicles convoy. Yet they removed Subsidy from the reach of we the masses. Our leaders no rate us at all.”

    Uzodinma oloye, @oloye01:

    “Meanwhile some foolish agbadorians r celebrating tinubu’s convoy, he is reducing ur purchasing power & increasing his salary & allowance… mugus!”

    Peter Obi Stan supporter, @omoelerinjare:

    “Mr Peter Obi’s Narration on long ‘CONVOY’ of luxury CARS.

    Peter Obi: “When I was the governor of Anambra State I found out that we have ‘FUEL DUMP’ which is costing us millions of Naira every month. I asked them what do we need this fuel dump for, they said it is for our ‘CONVOY’ I asked them to line up the convoy of cars, to tell me who and who is in each car. At the end of the day, I closed the ‘FUEL DUMP’, reduced my ‘CONVOY’ of cars to 5 in which no one must buy fuel unless I am in the car. Why are you going with that ‘HUGE’ amount of security, if you are governing the people well, why would they want to kill you, I move alone in Onitsha, they are my people, they are the ones protecting me because they know I govern the state based on their interest.”

    Ukraine pushes out Russia as it intensifies night-time attacks

    Ukrainian forces have reportedly intensified night-time attacks against Russia, gaining more grounds as the war to save motherland rages on, as Ukraine’s 2023 counteroffensive grinds toward its third week.

    According to sources, Ukrainian troops frequently attack at night, especially with leopard tanks and western optics supplied by the United States, Germany and other allied countries.

    Forbes reported that Ukrainian troops are taking control of the darkness along the southern front in Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk Oblasts, noting that more and more Ukrainian assaults are launching at night.

    The Ukrainians’ shift to after-dark operations wasn’t possible until recently, thanks to hundreds of modern tanks and fighting vehicles that Kyiv has gotten from its foreign allies since January.

    Their greatest advantage over contemporary Russian vehicles might be their optics, including thermal night-vision gear that can spot enemy forces from thousands of yards away, even in total darkness.

    “Imported equipment has excellent night optics,” one Russian milblogger noted. “They can go and conduct surveillance, and aim and control the accuracy of the fire. Therefore, the enemy chooses the night.”

    The Ukrainian counteroffensive kicked off on the night of June 4. Within a few days, Russian observers noted a pattern. “The [Ukrainians] carry out active operations of an offensive nature at night,” another milblogger wrote.

    The same blogger proposed that Ukrainian forces were shifting to nighttime operations in order to hide from Russian helicopters, warplanes and drones—but also to leverage their superior optics.

    One blogger described an after-dark Ukrainian assault in Zaporizhzhia on June 10. “After a powerful fire preparation using artillery and Grad [rockets], the [Ukrainians] launched signal flares and powerful illuminators into the sky in order to reveal our positions.”

    “After that, the enemy threw armored groups with manpower into the attack from several directions.” Russian mines and artillery blunted the assault, the blogger claimed.

    It’s not an unbelievable claim. Photos and videos from the southern front underscore the extreme danger mines and artillery pose to attacking Ukrainian forces. An attempt by the Ukrainian army’s 33rd Mechanized and 47th Assault Brigades to cross a Russian minefield just south of Mala Tokmachka, 40 miles west of Neskuchne, ended in disaster on June 8.

    But the Mala Tokmachka debacle merely slowed the Ukrainian counteroffensive—or at best redirected it. Ukrainian forces are attacking along several axes in Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk, and making progress along many of them. Especially along the Mokri Yaly River, 40 miles east of Mala Tokmachka.

    The Ukrainians’ nighttime advantage helps to explain their progress. Even at night, “everything is clear as day,” one Russian blogger wrote.

    The best optics might belong to Leopard 2 tanks operated by the 33rd Mechanized Brigade and 4th Tank Brigade. The brigades have lost four or five Leopards out of the nearly 100 of the German-made tanks Ukraine’s allies have pledged to the war effort.

    But those losses belie the Leopard’s effectiveness—especially in a long-range shooting match. And especially in the dark. “There are many foreign tanks,” according to one of the bloggers. “They shoot very accurately, especially at night. On the Leopards, the [thermal imagers] are fucking worth it.”

    Wow: Meet a blind mechanic who defied physical handicap

    The attached video below shows Murtala Shaibu, a blind mechanic doing excellent work regardless of his physical challenges.

    Shaibu had been a good mechanic before the dark side of nature paid him an unpleasant visit.

    He, however, refused to cave in and surged on undauntedly.

    BREAKING: Binance CEO declares Binance Nigeria Limited as fraud

    The Chief Executive Officer of Binance, Changpeng Zhao, has declared Nigeris’s subsidiary of the global cryptocurrency exchange platform as fraud

    The declaration is coming after the Nigerian government barred Binance operations in the country.

    Recall that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of Nigeria had stated that Binance Nigeria Limited was operating illegally in the country as it is not registered or regulated by the SEC.

    While reacting to the announcement on Sunday, Zhao said, “Binance have issued cease & desist notice to the scammer entity “Binance Nigeria Limited”. Don’t believe everything you read in the news.”

    US bans Uganda government officials for passing anti-LGBTQ law

    The United States has imposed visa restrictions on Ugandan government officials after the country’s parliament passed an anti-LGBTQ law that has been condemned by many countries and the United Nations.

    The law was enacted in May and carries the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality,” an offence that includes transmitting HIV through gay sex.


    The law also imposes a life sentence for same-sex intercourse and a 20-year sentence for promotion of homosexuality.

    Firms including media and non-governmental organizations that knowingly promote LGBTQ activity will also incur harsh fines, the law says.


    The law drew immediate rebukes from the Western and put some of the billions of dollars in foreign aid the country receives each year in jeopardy.

    After the law was passed, U.S. President Joe Biden threatened aid cuts and other sanctions, while Secretary of State Antony Blinken said last month the government would consider visa restrictions against Ugandan officials.

    On Friday, June 16, the State Department released a statement saying it had given visa restrictions but did not mention any names or even the number of officials that would be hit with the visa restriction .


    The statement said the U.S. would hold accountable those who are responsible for abusing human rights in Uganda, “including those of LGBTQI+ persons.”

    The State Department also updated its Uganda travel guidance for U.S. citizens to highlight the risk that LGBTQI+ persons could be prosecuted and subjected to life imprisonment or the death penalty based on provisions in the law, it said.


    “The United States strongly supports the Ugandan people and remains committed to advancing respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in Uganda and globally,” the State Department said.


    Homosexuality was already illegal in the East African country, and homosexuals faced ostracism and regular harassment by security forces, the Us department added.

    Obi vs Tinubu: Peter Obi in court as essential documents got successfully tendered

    Today was arguably the Petitioners’ best day in court as Respondents were obviously taken unawares. Having adjourned yesterday to reconvene with presentation of witnesses in schedule, the Respondents’ counsels must have arrived court today, armed to the teeth with cross-examination iron bars, and hot iron bars for that matter.

    But instead, the Petitioners successfully tendered essential documents from six contentious states in evidence.

    Lining up at the Petitioners’ corner were HE Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of Labour Party, who stood in for himself and his party; the Kaduna State-born Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, the vice presidential candidate of the party; Comrade Julius Abure, the National Chairman of the party and Prof Akin Oshuntokun, the Director General of the LP Campaign Council.

    The Petitioners’ Counsels was led by Prof Awa Kalu, SAN.

    First Respondent (INEC) counsel was led by Sam Ihero, SAN.

    Second & Third Respondents’ Counsels (Tinubu & Shettima) were led by Wole Olanipekun, SAN.

    Fourth Respondents’ Counsels (APC) was led by Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.

    Kalu took over and introduced a member of his team, Emeka Okpoko, SAN to take over the course of rendering documents for the Petitioners.

    Immediately Okpoko took over, Ihero, objected, saying that the Petitioners just served them papers to indicate rendering of documents this morning.

    After the usual banter, the Haruna Tsammani-led panel allowed Okpoko to proceed.

    However, there arose an issue regarding scheduling of documents filed and order of tendering, leading to the court to stand down in order for the Petitioners to put things in order.

    Based on these normal issues in all courts, particularly tribunals, the propagandists went to town, saying things ranging from that the Petitioners were not ready, that they are confused to outrightly labelling Obi and LP counsels incompetent.

    They attempted vainly to smear an otherwise very successful day for the Petitioners.

    But after the ten-minute stepdown, the court resumed and tendering of forms EC8A and EC8B proceeded accordingly.

    Rivers State (15 LGAs), Benue State (23 LGAs), Cross River State (18 LGAs), Niger State (21 LGAs), Osun State (20 LGAs) and Ekiti State (16 LGAs) were all tendered and admitted by the Tribunal in evidence.

    Nonetheless, INEC and all other Respondents objected to the documents so tendered, informing the Tribunal that they would state reasons for objection in writing during presentation of final addresses. Strangely, INEC objected to documents they certified prior to tendering.

    By 1.00 pm, Okpoko finished, and the Petitioners were done for the business of the day.

    They asked for adjournment to continue tomorrow and without any objection from the Respondents, the Tribunal adjourned Obi vs Tinubu to June 2.

    By all indices of election petitions, today was a very successful one for the Petitioners. Twelve more states to be rendered tomorrow.

    Cuihua, Chinese influencer, dies while starving herself trying to lose 100kg

    A social media influencer who was trying to lose more than half her body weight as an inspiration to her followers, has reportedly died while attending an intensive weight-loss boot camp in China.

    The death of the 21-year-old influencer, who posted on social media under the name Cuihua, has prompted Chinese state media to warn citizens over the safety risks involved in weight-loss camps and renewed concerns over the pressures women are under to conform to beauty standards set by social media.

    She died on June 10, Chinese media said. Her death comes just weeks after a young man in the country died after live-streaming himself drinking several bottles of strong alcohol.


    Cuihua had been documenting her weight-loss journey to her tens of thousands of followers on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok, in a bid to encourage them in their own fights against obesity.

    She had recently posted several videos of herself undergoing intensive training exercises and shared that she weighed 156 kilograms (344 pounds) and was trying to lose 100 kilograms.

    Videos posted on the account showed her running and weight-lifting and they were shared heavily on Chinese social media . Her videos also appeared in various state media outlets following her death.


    China National Radio reported that Cuihua – identified by her family name of Zhou had joined several weight-loss camps in various cities in a bid to reach her goal and had lost more than 27 kilograms (60 pounds) in the two months leading up to her death.


    CNR said Cuihua had attended her final camp in Shaanxi province just two days before her death.


    While that camp promoted “nutritious meals, rest and healthy exercise,” they said she had chosen to limit her diet while also undergoing intense exercise.


    Videos of Cuihua training have since been removed from the account and pictures deleted.


    State media outlets said that the influencer’s family had received “compensation” from the weight loss camp in Shaanxi, but did not say how much.


    Local authorities have said they are investigating the death and whether the weight loss camp was conducting excessive or improper training.

    Experts in eating disorders and sports nutrition warn that even seemingly healthy behaviors such as increasing levels of exercise and dieting can be harmful when motivated by a negative body image and taken to extremes.

    In extreme cases, problems can go beyond mental health and lead to severe medical complications affecting the heart, brain, liver, kidneys and other organs.

    Recent national survey in Chinese data suggests more than half of Chinese adults are now either overweight or obese, according to the Lancet, and obesity rates are expected to increase.

    “I was poisoned at my party secretariat during campaigns” Ex. Governor Nyesom Wike says

    The immediate past governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike, has shared the story of how he was poisoned by some persons at his party’s secretariat in 2018 and how God helped him to survive the ordeal.

    While speaking at his family thanksgiving service which held at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Rumuepirikom Deanery, of the Diocese of Niger Delta North on Sunday, June 18,  Wike recalled that in 2018, he suffered liver and kidney failure as diagnosed in a hospital in Beirut, Lebanon after the poison intake. He said in December 2018, he was supposed to attend the thanksgiving of his former Chief of Staff, Chief Emeka Woke, however he couldn’t because he incapacitated after being poisoned.

    “From that Sunday, I never came down from my room. It was bad, but those who attended the January 1st, State Banquet of 2019, will know that I never spoke that day. I just sat down there and I told my deputy governor to speak on my behalf. People didn’t know what was going on. After that banquet, by 12 midnight, I was taken out of the country because I thought it was over.

    When we got to Beirut, the doctors looked at me and I was looking at them. They were not telling me anything. They said we have to do many tests.They came back the next morning and said it was bad. My kidney had gone, My liver had gone.

    I never knew that I had been poisoned in our campaign secretariat. My intestinal were all black. The doctors did all they could do. But, through divine providence, what would have been a disastrous situation was miraculously turned around by God, who immediately began to restore his failed organs, ” Wike said

    I was poisoned at my party secretariat during campaigns. My wife was diagnosed with cancer - Former Governor, Nyesom Wike reveals at his family thanksgiving

    Wike also recalled that days leading to the 2022 Peoples Democratic Party presidential campaign, his wife, Hon. Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike, called him from London that she had been diagnosed with cancer. 

    The former governor said he was devastated by the news and even contemplated leaving the presidential race, but his wife urged him not to.

    He said to the glory of God, she was eventually healed of cancer and her life preserved.

    Putin Vladimir threatens again – ‘We have more nuclear weapons’

    Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned there is a “serious danger” of NATO being drawn further into the Ukraine war if members of the alliance continue to supply military weaponry to Kyiv.

    The comment appeared to be a reference to the F-16 fighter jets some members of the NATO alliance are making plans to supply Ukraine with.

    The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, was formed in the aftermath of World War II to defend Western nations from the Soviet Union and the alliance contains a mutual defense clause where an attack on any one member is considered an attack on all. 

    Although, Ukraine is not a member of NATO, some NATO members have been supplying Kyiv with tanks, armored vehicles and other weaponry – prompting threats of retaliation from Russia.


    In late April, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that NATO allies and partners had delivered more than 1,500 vehicles and 230 tanks to the country.


    “NATO, of course, is being drawn into the war in Ukraine, what are we talking here,” Putin said at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on Friday, June 16.


    “The supplies of heavy military weaponry to Ukraine are ongoing, they are now looking into giving Ukraine the jets.”

    During his speech in St. Petersburg, Putin said Russia had destroyed tanks “including Leopards” at the front lines.


    “And if they are based abroad, but used in fighting we’ll see how to hit them, and where we can hit those means that are used against us in fighting,” Putin said.


    “This is a serious danger of further drawing NATO into this military conflict,” he added.


    During his speech to the forum, Putin also suggested Russia’s large number of nuclear weapons would “guarantee” its security as Russia had more such weapons than NATO countries.

    Russia has a total stockpile of around 6,250 nuclear warheads as of January 2021, according to the Arms Control Association. The US has more than 5,500 while two other NATO member states, Britain and France, have about 220 and 290 nuclear warheads, respectively.

    “Nuclear weapons are created to guarantee our security in the broader sense and the existence of the Russian state,” Putin said.


    “But first of all, there is no need and secondly the very fact of talking about it reduces the possibility of the threshold for using these weapons being reduced.”


    “Also, we have more weapons like this than the NATO countries. They know it and they keep driving towards negotiation on reduction.”

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