Yesterday was indeed a sad day even as Muslims around the world marked the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.
A Muslim woman was not so lucky afterall, as she got killed in an avoidable unfortunate circumstance. According to a report by one Musa Ahmed, the woman was killed after being hit by a speeding vehicle on her way to the mosque for Eid prayers.
She died on the spot as shocked passersby gathered and evacuated her corpses.
May her soul rest in peace.
A sad and terrifying moment for a taxi driver who rammed his vehicle through a busy crowd of football fans just yards from Moscow's Red Square.
At least eight people were said to have been injured in the collision but it appears as that many more were hit by the vehicle.
Two Mexicans, two Russians and one Ukrainian were hospitalised in the crash.
At least one person hit was wearing a Mexico kit, with the North American nation due to kick-off their World Cup campaign against Germany in Moscow's Luzhniki stadium tomorrow.
Moscow police said the driver had a Kyrgyzstan driving licence and lost control of the vehicle.
Moscow traffic authority has released this image of the alleged driver's licence.
Video footage shows the driver mounting the pavement and hitting around a dozen people.
The driver then tried to escape on foot and he is followed by an angry mob who were intent on trying to apprehend him
The damaged taxi, which ran into a crowd of people, is evacuated in central Moscow.
Photo Credit: Politics Nigeria
The zonal coordinator for the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra group, IPOB has been found dead in his bedroom in Abia state.
According to eyewitness reports, the deceased simply identified as ‘Mr. Kinsgley’ who was the IPOB Coordinator PowerLine Zone Aba, Abia State, was found lifeless in his room on Friday.
His body was discovered after several failed attempts by his friends to reach him on phone.
Gov Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta State
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, on Thursday sacked 568 reabsorbed workers of the Delta Transport Services Limited (Delta Line), a company he sold to GIG Transport Development Company Limited (God Is Good Motors) for N161 million as against a N2 billion bid from the Delta State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
According to reports by SaharaReporters, the sacking of the 568 Deltans without entitlements was ordered by the Governor to enable GIG Motors, the new owner of the state-owned transport company, employ its own choice of staff and kick off operations formally and properly.
It would be recalled that in July 2017, Okowa had sold out the state-owned Delta Line company to GIG Motors in controversial circumstances, resulting in the sack, without payment of compensation, of the 730 workers of the company. They were reabsorbed after a series of mass protests, before the latest sack of 568 on Thursday following the Governor’s directives.
The sale of the company, which was attributed to GIG Motors’ donation of Mercedes-Benz buses to the 2015 governorship campaign of Okowa, learned was carried out without due process, leaving the state government with 30% stake in the company and GIG Motors with 70%. This was later followed with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which content was not disclosed till date.
It was reliably gathered that the Chairman of God is Good Motors Limited, Mr. Chidi Ajaere, who is said to be an indigene of Imo State, has commenced fresh recruitment of staff from Imo, Anambra, Lagos and other eastern states, while Deltans are been denied the fresh recruitment.
“This is sad, this is suicidal, this is a bad omen for Delta state,” one of the affected workers lamented.
“Just in one day, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa sacked 568 of us working in Delta Line without our entitlements. This is pure wickedness. Okowa is heartless. I call on all Deltans to use their PVCs to vote him out come 2019.
“This was a Governor who promised prosperity for all Deltans during his campaigns, and now he has turned around throwing into the labour market 568 Deltans in one day. We ask, is this the prosperity for all Deltans he promised?”
Meanwhile, in the same vein, Okowa demoted some civil servants of Grade Level 16 to 14, Grade Level 13 to 12 and Grade Level 10 among others elevated by former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s administration in 2010.
A circular letter copied relevant government authorities in the state with ref number: HOS.24/36, titled ‘Elongation Of The Officer’s Cadre In The State Public Service To Salary Grade Level 17′, dated September 3, 2010, signed by Mr. O. Ofili, then Head Of Service, obtained by our correspondent, reads thus:
“His Excellency, the Governor, Dr. E.E. Uduaghan has graciously approved the elongation of the officers’ cadre in the state public service to salary Grade Level 17.
“By this kind gesture of His Excellency, the Governor, aimed at motivating the workforce to greater productivity, a new officers’ cadre progression shall now apply in the state public service as shown in the schedule here-under alongside the old career progression.”
According to the circular, “General Managers/Heads of Government owned companies, board and parastatals, howsoever they may be designated, currently on grade level 16, whose appointments, in the first instance, were approved by His Excellency, the Governor in accordance with the relevant laws establishing the outfits shall now be on grade level 17 provided they have spent a minimum of 4 years on grade level 16 and are so recommended for the approval of the appropriate authority”.
Government sources who confided in our correspondent disclosed that the 2010 elevation done by Uduaghan was mostly enjoyed by the state-owned three media houses who before now did not enjoy such elevation.
Not too happy with such elevation by his predecessor, a Government House source disclosed that Okowa may have instructed the Head of Service to originate a letter quashing the elevation which, was immediately issued as a circular. He added that till this time, the circular is still being hoarded to avoid mixed reactions.
“The whole illegal arrangement is being carried out by the Information commissioner, Mr. Patrick Ukah and the General Manager of the Pointer Newspapers, Mr. Bosah Iwobi, whose tenure has elapsed for over two years now. The corrupt practices and long stay of Iwovi has killed the Pointer Newspapers,” the source said.
“Iwobi has continued to sabotage the interest of qualified persons for promotion. He flouts orders from the Directorate of Establishment and Pension, which approved stipulated periods that staffers were due for promotion. The GM a major problem, he is nepotistic, fetish and selfish. He gives kickbacks to Ukah regularly to allow his stay in office.”
In the circular letter with ref number: ED 6/68 vol.11/631, from the Directorate of Establishments and Pensions, signed by one G.I. Obiaigwe on behalf of the Head of Service, dated 15, May, 2018 and obtained by our correspondent, demoted civil servants to lower grade levels.
The circular, which was copied the commissioner for Economic Planning, The Accountant General, The Auditor General, Commissioner for Information and others, showed that the demotion were carried out without any reasons, mainly affecting the three state-owned media houses: Delta Broadcasting Service, Asaba and Warri and the Pointer Newspapers, Asaba.
Contacted for clarifications on the circular, the Head of Service, Mr. Reginard Bayoko, who acted as if he knew nothing about it, simply said: “I need to see the letter to react appropriately. Give me some time to clarify.”
Bayoko said he reached out to Mr. G.I. Obiaigwe, who purportedly signed the circular on his behalf, but he denied it, saying: “There is no such circular. They should forward a copy of the purported circular to him (Obiaigwe) to take a look at.”
In his reaction, the state Information commissioner, Mr. Patrick Ukah, denied ever seeing such letter. When asked about his alleged involvement, he flared up and started shouting on top of his voice.
The Nigeria Police have released several phone numbers and social media contact that aggrieved members of the public who have any complaint in the past or present of violation of their rights by any Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) personnel anywhere in the country should report through any of the following channels for investigation and further actions:
1.) IGP X-SQUAD:
CALLS :– 0902 690 0729, 08078662130, 08174041000
SMS:– 0903 227 8905
WhatsApp:– 0903 562 1377
Email: integrityxsquad@gmail.com
2.) IGP MONITORING UNIT:
igpmonitoringabj@yahoo.com
08036242591
3.) FORCE PUBLIC COMPLAINT BUREAU:
Calls/SMS/whatsapp:-- 07056792065
Calls/SMS/whatsapp:-- 08088450152
Email: bailisfree@gmail.com, pressforabuja@gmail.com
Twitter: @PoliceNG
https://t.co/fSbQhSiIsn
4.) PUBLIC COMPLAINT RAPID RESPONSE UNIT (PCRRU):
Calls Only:–. 08057000001
Calls Only:– 08057000002
SMS & whatsapp only:– 08057000003
Twitter: @PoliceNG_PCRRU
https://t.co/LdiDule9vM
5.) PRIVATE SECTOR
Nigeria Policing Programme (NGO)
oluogunsakin@hotmail.com
EIE NIGERIA
https://t.co/Hxrm6BT8VW
#PoliceIsYourFriend
#AskThePolice
Falmata Abubakar, the mother of Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, has opened up on her son for the first time since the beginning of insurgency.
Mrs Abubakar, who spoke to VOA Hausa service from her home in the remote village of Shekau in Yobe State. The Boko Haram leader’s late father was a local Imam. Mrs Abubakar reveals that she does not know the whereabouts of her son and has not set eyes on him in the last 15 years.
“I can’t say whether he is dead or alive. Only God knows. The last time I set eyes on him was 15 years ago,” she said.
According to her, Mr Shekau left the village to Maiduguri in search of Islamic education.
She said it was in the course of pursuit for Islamic education that he met late Boko Haram leader, Mohammed Yusuf.
“I have not seen him since he met Mohammed Yusuf. He is my son. And despite that filial bond existing between mother and son, I am not in support of his cause. He terrorised a lot of people. I wish I can see him to reprimand him. I pray to Allah to change him into the righteous path. I have not inculcated in him such behaviour. Only God knows where he acquires such habit.”
The world cup have just started with the opening game between host nation Russia and Saudi Arabia.
The Russians had their early goals and won the 1st half 2-0.
As if that not enough, the second half came with more goals as the match ended 5-0 in favor of the host nation, Russia.
By this end result, Russia now gave three point and leaders of their group.
AN Oyo State magistrate court sitting in Iwo Road has sentenced a 47-year- old civil servant working with the State Ministry of Lands, housing and Survey, Mrs Funmi Salako, to two years Imprisonment or sixty thousand Naria option of fine (N60,000.00) after being found guilty for duping a deaf and dumb of the sum of one million naira (1,000,000)
Salako was arraigned on June 5, 2017, before Magistrate Taiwo Oladiran on a three-count charge of conspiracy, obtaining and stealing in a case delineated MI/76c/2017 but she had pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecutor, Mr Sunday Ogunremi, had told the court that the convict and others now at large had between the month of July to October 2014 at about 2 pm at Agodi Ibadan, did conspire together to defraud a deaf and dumb by collecting the sum of one million naira from him
He said on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned place did fraudulently obtain the sum of one million Naira (N1,000,000.00) from one deaf and dumb identified as Mr Musibau Ilori under the pretence of helping him buy two acres of lands along Oyo expressway
Ogunremi said the convict also stole the sum of one million Naira (N1,000, 000.00) and converted it to her personal use without his consent
The prosecutor alleged that she committed an offence contrary to the punishable under Section 518 (6), 419 and section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Cap 38 Vol. II laws of Oyo state of Nigeria, 2000
On June 5, 2017, the convict had pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of 100, 000.00 with two sureties who are gainfully employed.
After the hearing, the case was adjourned till June 14, 2018, for facts and sentencing.
After listening to the facts of the matter, the Magistrate told the convict that she is heartless and didn’t consider the condition of the complainant who is physically challenged
In her defence, counsel to the convict, Mrs Florence Badmus prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, adding that she is the breadwinner of her family
The council claimed that the convict had already refunded five hundred thousand Naira out of the aforementioned sum ( N500,000.00)
In his ruling, Magistrate, Oladiran sentenced her to two years imprisonment with an option of sixty thousand naira
He, however, insisted that the convict should reimburse the defendant the sum of N500, 000 within sixty days if she would take the option of fine, otherwise she should be jailed.
A driver was allegedly shot by a Customs official while traveling from Kano to Bauchi state. According to information gathered online, the driver was shot in the leg following a heated argument with Customs officials at a checkpoint in Bauchi.
The argument was reported to be about a fee which the driver was told to pay but refused as he disagreed with them.
In the course of the argument, the man was shot in the leg.
The injured driver was later rushed to the hospital where he was treated and is said to be recuperating well.
Source; https://www.nationalhelm.co/2018/06/customs-officials-shoot-driver-at-a-checkpoint-in-bauchi.html
A former spokesperson to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, has argued that the Buhari administration is wrong to claim credit for the jailing of two former governors.
Mr Omokri argued that his former boss, Mr Jonathan, and the latter’s predecessor, Umar Yar’Adua, deserve the credit.
Both men were jailed 14 years each for misappropriating funds belonging to their states. Both men were elected in 1999 under the platform of Mr Jonathan’s Peoples Democratic Party, and then re-elected in 2003.
Their corruption trials started in 2007 before their conviction 11 years later in 2018.
While many see their convictions as a success story of the Muhammadu Buhari administration’s fight against corruption, Mr Omokri says the president and his administration should not be commended for it.
SEE RENO OMOKIRI'S FULL STATEMENT:
My attention has been drawn to a statement by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission claiming that the recent convictions of former Governors Jolly Nyame and Joshua Dariye, has vindicated them from the oft repeated accusation that the EFCC, under Buhari, is lukewarm in prosecuting chieftains of the ruling All Progressive Congress, for corruption.
Nothing could be further from the truth and the statement only serves to show the dishonesty and lack of integrity of the current leadership of the EFCC.
The fact is that Joshua Dariye and Jolly Nyame, the two former Peoples Democratic Party members recently imprisoned for fraud, were charged and prosecuted by the PDP administrations of Umaru Musa Yar’adua and Goodluck Jonathan’ and not by the All Progressive Congress led government of Muhammadu Buhari.
Joshua Dariye for instance was charged to court on July 13, 2007 by the EFCC under the leadership of Malam Nuhu Ribadu who was then serving under a PDP led administration headed by President Umaru Musa Yar’adua.
He was arraigned on 23 counts, his plea was taken but his defense lawyer challenged the court’s jurisdiction. The Court of Appeal threw out that application and the case went to trial on Oct.27, 2010.
By May 29, 2015 when former President Goodluck Jonathan handed over power to President Muhammadu Buhari, the case had already reached the point where a verdict was to be given but the current EFCC headed by Ibrahim Magu began dragging its foot, most likely because by then Dariye had decamped to the APC.
In the case of Reverend Jolly Nyame, he was arraigned in 2007 on 41 counts. His plea was taken and his trial begun after all applications filed by the accused to stall the trial were dismissed by the Supreme Court. Trial fully commenced and was on-going at FCT High Court by 2008.
From the above, it is now clear that the convictions of Dariye and Nyame were anti-corruption feats of the PDP administrations of Yar’adua and Jonathan and the Buhari government is trying to reap where it did not sow.
Former President Jonathan in particular, was noted for firing erring PDP ministers and handing them over for investigation by the EFCC. Nigerians should ask themselves if it is possible for Buhari to do to APC members what Jonathan and Yar’adua did to PDP members.
Babachir Lawal was caught red handed stealing. When is the Buhari led administration going to arrest and try him for fraud? Abdulrasheed Maina was dismissed for fraud and theft of pension funds by the PDP administration of Goodluck Jonathan only to be recalled, reinstated, double promoted and given armed guards by the Buhari regime. The Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme who was indicted for misappropriating ₦10 billion was restored by Buhari.
Jolly Nyame
Jolly Nyame was sentenced to 14 years in prison for fraud
These and other instances of hypocrisy is why Transparency International said that Nigeria is more corrupt under Buhari than it was at ANYTIME during the Jonathan administration. Whereas, Nigeria made her highest improvement on Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index in 2014 under Jonathan where we moved eight steps forward from 144 to 136, we have moved 12 steps backwards from 136 to 148 in the CPI under Buhari.
The Buhari administration is so desperate for achievements and because it has none, it continues attempting to steal the achievements of others like the convictions of Dariye and Nyame, which was initiated by the PDP which charged them to court in 2007 and the Abuja-Kaduna rail which was designed, built and completed by PDP administrations.
