Lifestyle

JAMB suspends two centres over extortion

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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has suspended two registration centres for collecting N6,500 from candidates for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination e-form PIN instead of the authorised N5,700.

Speaking on Tuesday at the JKK Computer-Based-Test Centre, Ilupeju, Lagos, while monitoring the registration process across Lagos, Registrar, JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, called for the immediate blockage of access and activities of the Parkway Project and Digital Partners on the JAMB portal for extorting candidates.

He added that another JAMB agent, E-Transact, was also on suspension for not complying with the rules and regulations of the board.

“Every agent was paid 5% of the whole money. The money was collected by JAMB, and every Friday, we pay them for the week. We’ve already paid over N300 million in commissions, so there’s no need to extort candidates. They are our agents. E-Transact is on suspension too,” he said.

Oloyede also emphasised that the registration time would not be extended beyond February 12, 2023, saying that the board expected registration of 100,000 per day, but just recently, it had been within 62,000 per day.

Recall that JAMB announced the closure of some substandard CBT centres, which reduced the number of CBT centres across the country.

Lifestyle, World News

Chicago prosecutor to drop s*xual abuse charges against R. Kelly

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Chicago prosecutor Kim Foxx on Monday announced decision to drop s*xual abuse charges against R&B singer R. Kelly.

Mrs Foxx, who made this announcement in a press conference, noted that “justice has been served” with R. Kelly already convicted for two federal charges that would see him serve time for decades.

“We believe that justice has been served,” Mrs Foxx said.

“Mr. Kelly is potentially looking at never walking out of prison again for the crimes he’s committed.”

R. Kelly was first convicted on racketeering and s*x trafficking charges in 2021, and was jailed for 30 years.

In 2022, R. Kelly was also convicted on another s*x related crimes, coercing minors into sexual activity and producing s*x tapes involving a minor.

The singer is scheduled to be sentenced on this by February.

Lifestyle

Court remands seven over alleged kidnap of Benue commissioner, terrorism

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A Makurdi Chief Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday remanded seven men at the Makurdi Correctional Centre for allegedly kidnapping the Benue Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Ekpe Ogbu, on Ado/Otukpo Road.

The suspects, Nuhu Musa, Mohammed Danjuma, Yunusa Usman, Abubakar Usman, Usman Saleh, Hamza Sani and Monday Samuel are all of various addresses in Oju/Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue.

They were charged with criminal conspiracy, illegal possession of firearms, kidnapping and act of terrorism.

The presiding Chief Magistrate, Roseline Iyorshe, did not take their plea for want of jurisdiction.

Earlier, the prosecuting counsel, Jonah Uletu, told the court that the police received a report of the incident on December 31, 2022, from Operation Zenda Joint Task Force through a signal.

He said the signal stated that operatives of Operation Zenda trailed and arrested the suspects following the kidnap of the commissioner on December 4, 2022.

He added that it was discovered that the suspects were members of the kidnap gang terrorising Benue South district and that one Beretta pistol was found on them at the time of arrest.

Mr Uletu said the suspects confessed to the crime voluntarily during police investigation and that other members of the gang remained at large.

The offences, he said, contravened provisions of the Benue Robbery and Firearms Act 2004, and the Abduction, Hostage-taking, kidnapping, Secret Cult and similar activities Prohibition Laws of Benue, 2017.

Mrs Iyorshe referred the case file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution and adjourned till February 22 for mention.

Lifestyle

Landgrabbers invade Lagos school, chase away students, destroy property

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At least 40 hoodlums invaded a private school, Shalom Group of Schools in Baruwa, Ipaja area of Lagos State and displaced students and teachers.

The students and management of the school could not gain access to the premises as the main gate was blocked by land grabbers, popularly referred to as ”Omo-Onile”.

The proprietress of the school, Adedayo Odeka, told journalists on Monday that the hoodlums were allegedly led by an “Omo Onile” popularly known as Kaka.

“He claimed that they had won a court judgement to take possession of our land.

“I told him to show me the judgement, as I was not aware of any court case let alone judgment but he refused,” she explained.

According to Ms Odeka, the land was allocated to the school by the federal government in 1992.

The proprietress said the hoodlums came on Saturday and damaged the fence and railings to gain access into the compound, forcing boarding students to vacate.

She claimed that the case was reported at the Ipaja police station but that the police were incapacitated.

“When the case was reported, the police reluctantly followed us to the site after much pressure but could not act as the hoodlums continued with the erection of the structure,” she said.

The security guard, Micheal Yakubu, alleged that over 40 hoodlums, who were led by the Kaka group invaded the school around 6:00 a.m. on Saturday.

“They broke the wall, removed the two main gates to gain access, claiming that the land belonged to them.

“They brought in sand, blocks and started digging and erecting structures on the school field.

“After erecting the structure beyond nine coaches, they blocked the two entrances with blocks, put a small gate and locked it.” he said.

A parent, Osagie Igebo, said it was disheartening for a group of people to traumatise young children and send them out of boarding school.

A teacher, Ifeoma Abah, said the land grabbers chased the students out of the hostel.

“They chased the students out without considering whether their parents were close or far, some of them were half clad but the men didn’t care.

“We came this morning only to be denied access to the school,” she said.

A boarder in the school, Success Afolayan, a senior secondary two student, said she felt tortured and traumatised on Saturday when the hoodlums invaded their school.

Oluwatoyin Okafor, the principal, said the miscreants destroyed some of the school properties and sent them out.

“They destroyed the wall and iron rails and burgled the generator house.

“We were not given an audience, the security agents were standing by their side with guns threatening to shoot us if we talked.”

The registrar of the school, Akinola Adebayo, said he got an invitation letter from Zone 2, Onikan, that someone wrote a petition against him.

“When I got there on Thursday, they said that they had a petition against me, that I am using charms and cultists to chase Omo-onile away from their land.

“I told them that I don’t know the petitioner, after I answered the petition, the police asked the two parties (the Omo-onile) and (Shalom school) to come back today, Monday, January 30, but I was surprised that the Omo-onile invaded the school on Saturday.

“When we called the police, they said that there was nothing they could do,” he said.

Some students were carrying cardboards with the inscriptions such as “Education is our right”, “say no to Omo-onile oppressors”, “the future is weeping”, “Kaka, why take our right from us”, “Omo-onile, why send us out of our school”, “Government come to our rescue, save us from land grabbers” and many more.

The police spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, who confirmed the story, said the case was not a criminal case.

“The case is not a police case, it is a civil case.

“I will urge the parties not to take laws into their own hands so that a civil case will not turn to a criminal case,” he said.

Lifestyle

Uduak Inyang-Udoh appointed acting rector for YABATECH

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The Chairman of the Governing Council, Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has approved the appointment of Uduak Inyang-Udoh as the Acting Rector of YABATECH effective from Monday, January 30, 2023.

A statement issued by Joe Ejiofor, Deputy Registrar/Head of Public Relations, YABATECH, noted that the appointment was pending until the appointment of a substantive Rector.

He said that Mr Inyang-Udoh, a Chief Lecturer in the Department of Quantity Surveying, was until this appointment, the Deputy Rector (Administration).

He added that other previous positions held by Mr Inyang-Udoh were the Director, Yabatech Consult; Director, Academic Planning; Dean, School of Environmental Studies, and Head, of the Department of Quantity Surveying.

The tenure of the incumbent Rector, Obafemi Omokungbe, ended at midnight on January 29.

Meanwhile, Mr Ejiofor noted that the governing council had made a recommendation for the appointment of a new Rector to the appropriate authority at its meeting held on Nov. 25, 2022.

He said that the governing council, had yet to receive a response in this regard.

Lifestyle

Residents lament Lagos governments neglect of Jakande Estate Isolo

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Residents of Jakande Estate, Oke-Afa, Isolo in Lagos, on Monday bemoaned the state government’s neglect of infrastructure within the community.

Adeyemi Yusuf, President, Estate Youth Parliament (EYP), said that residents of the estate had for over three years been demanding for two things from the government.

“The government has failed to yield to our demands and we are very sad that all these requests could linger for so long despite seeing and hearing of their actions over same issues in other areas of Lagos.

“We have written a combined letter of nothing less than 250 to the Governor’s Office, Ministry of Education, Lagos SUBEB and Lagos State Electricity Board (LSEB).

“On the renovation of the only public primary school in our Estate and the lighting of the community of which the LSEB has been around since October 2019 for survey, unfortunately, up till today, nothing has been done to address these demands.

“And after several follow ups to the LSEB office, we have been told many times that it is the governor’s assent that is delaying the lighting project.

“As it was always a part of their yearly budget and it had been promised to be included in this year’s 2023 budget for the governor’s approval,” he said.

The EYP President said that lighting was very necessary in the community to curb crime because there are lots of issues with insecurity.

“People get robbed on daily basis due to the situation of the environment.

“The Low Cost Housing Estate Primary School too has been visited for the requested renovation.

“But unfortunately again, the workers stopped work after just two weeks without any notice of why they stopped.

“As at now, the school remains in a sorry state as the roofings, toilets, classes among infrastructural defects are being experienced in the school, making the place non conducive for pupils and teachers.”

Mr Yusuf added that;

“The roads have never been touched. The ones there are still the ones the former governor, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, did in the 80s.

“The Council Chairman did a bit on 1st Junction to NEPA junction but there are more to be done by the government as over five roads are in very bad state.

“This incumbent government is not doing anything for us here at all despite making demands and the governor will want us to vote for him.

“We, however, appeal to him, if he will listen, to please approve the lighting of our Estate by the agency in charge as they said they have all the requirements to do so.

“But his consent is all they need to begin the project. Likewise, he should please see to the school and road matter,” he pleaded.

Lifestyle

Abuja-Kaduna train to resume operations on January 31

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The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) says that the Abuja-Kaduna Standard Gauge train service would resume operations on January 31.

The Corporation’s Director of Operations, Niyi Alli, made the disclosure on behalf of the NRC board and management on Monday in Lagos.

“The Board and Management of NRC are pleased to announce the recommencement of the Abuja/ Kaduna Train Service which was suspended on Friday 27th Jan. 2023 due to the derailment at Kubwa Station.

“Subsequently, the service will resume on Tuesday, Jan. 31, with the following daily schedule; KA2 departs Rigasa at 7:00 a.m., AK1 departs Idu at 10.00 a.m., KA4 departs Rigasa at 13.00 p.m., and AK3 departs Idu at 16.00 p.m.

“However on Wednesdays only KA2 will depart Rigasa (Kaduna) at 7:00a.m., and AK 3 will depart Idu (Abuja) at 16.00p.m.

“The corporation once again regrets any inconvenience our esteemed passengers may have experienced as a result of the temporary suspension of service,” Mr Alli said.

Recall that the derailment occurred about 3:15 p.m. at Kubwa station on the fateful day as the train arrived its destination in Abuja.

He confirmed that nobody died and there were no casualties, stressing that all the passengers were able to safely disembark.

Business, Lifestyle

Petrol scarcity bites harder as pump price hits N340 in Dutse

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The price of petrol has risen to N340 per litre in Dutse, the Jigawa capital. The situation has subjected the residents, especially motorists, to chaos and hardships.

There were long queues of vehicles at filling stations on Sunday as they sold petrol at N340 per litre.

The Dutse NNPC mega station has been shut down since January 8 following a fire incident.Also, most of the filling stations within the city were not opened.

At Awajil Global Resources, IMG Petroleum, Maruta Petroleum and Investment, on Ibrahim Aliyu bypass, motorists and commercial motorcyclists were in long queues waiting to refuel their tanks.

Audu Manager filling station and AA Kankani Nig. Ltd, on Olusegun Obasanjo Road had long queues of vehicles, selling petrol at N340 per litre.

Filling stations like A.S.A Oil Nig. Ltd., B.A Bello Nig. Ltd and Matrix, on Ibrahim Aliyu bypass, were not selling petrol at the time of filing this report.

Motorists expressed dissatisfaction over the fuel scarcity. A motorist, Aminu Muhammad, described the situation as frustrating, urging President Muhammadu Buhari and other stakeholders to bring lasting solutions to the scarcity.

A Dutse resident Muhammad Askira, said the Buhari regime should direct security agencies to monitor filling stations to ensure they sell fuel at the approved pump price.

Ahmad Rufa’i, a farmer, said the situation was making him produce at a loss.

“I plant wheat maize and every week I need at least 20 litres to water my farms. And I need to water these two farms at least 20 times. So how much money do you expect me to spend on fuel alone, not talk of transport and other logistics,” stated Mr Rufa’i.

“So most of us are doing this farming without any certainty of whether we gain or we lose.”

Lifestyle

Sanwo-Olu grieves over nine killed in Ojuelegba accident

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Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has sympathised with the families of people killed on Sunday in the Ojuelegba accident.

Frederic Oladeinde, the commissioner for transportation, said this in a statement on Monday.Mr Oladeinde said nine persons died in the accident while the injured persons were taken to a hospital.

He said the accident would be thoroughly investigated to prevent a recurrence.

“We are working with the federal ministry of works and housing to install vehicle/truck barriers on the inward and outward sections of the bridge,” the commissioner said.

“We share the grief of those who lost their loved ones in the accident and pray that the Almighty will strengthen them at this difficult time.”

He, however, explained that the government would continue to implement its transport master plan, which had safety strategies that would ensure safer roads.

Lifestyle

Nigeria may end up without doctors – NARD

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The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has shared a solution for the manpower shortage recorded in the medical sector in the country as a result of brain drain.

In a communique signed by NARD’s president, Dr Emeka Innocent Orji, and released after its national executive council (NEC) meeting in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, on Sunday, January 29, the Federal Ministry of Health was enjoined to expedite action on the ‘one-for-one policy’ to address the brain drain in the country.

Lamenting over the poor response of most state governments in domesticating the Medical Residency Training Act, 2017, six years after it was signed into law, NARD called on the federal government to urgently start the process of payment of the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) for 2023 to enable its members use the funds for the February update courses and the March/April/May examination.

The group also asked the federal government to urgently pay the skipping arrears for 2014, 2015 and 2016 as well as the shortfall from the consequential adjustment of the minimum wage to deserving members.

The statement added;

“The activities of the committee set up for the review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) be hastened and that NARD should be carried along in the processes for her inputs to be made to avoid unnecessary outcomes.”

The federal government also urged the federal government, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and other stakeholders to prevail on Governor Victor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia and his Ekiti, Imo and Ondo counterparts to pay 25, three, 10 and five months owed to their colleagues.

Entertainment, Lifestyle

Actress Annie Wersching dies at 45 after cancer battle

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Annie Wersching, best known for playing FBI agent Renee Walker in the TV series 24, has died at the age of 45.

Wersching died on Sunday morning, Jan. 29, in Los Angeles following a battle with cancer, her publicist told the Associated Press.

Neil Druckmann, who created the video game The Last of Us on which Wersching provided the voice for Tess, wrote on Twitter:

“We just lost a beautiful artist and human being. My heart is shattered. Thoughts are with her loved ones.”

Wersching appeared on dozens of television shows over the course of her two-decade career. Her first credit was in Star Trek: Enterprise, and she would go on to have recurring roles in the seventh and eighth seasons of 24, as well as in Bosch, The Vampire Diaries, Marvel’s Runaways, The Rookie and, most recently, the second season of Star Trek: Picard as the Borg Queen.

Wershing was diagnosed with cancer in 2020, according to Deadline, and continued working.

She is survived by her husband, actor Stephen Full, and three sons.

The actor Abigail Spencer, who appeared with Wersching on the sci-fi series Timeless, tweeted: “We love you Annie Wersching. You will be deeply missed.”

Lifestyle

Serial child rapist arrested in Osun

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Operatives of the Western Security Network Agency, Amotekun Osun Corps, have arrested a serial child rapist, Yisa Aderibigbe.

Brigadier General Bashir Adewinmbi, the Osun Amotekun Corps Commander, in a statement at the weekend said the suspect was arrested on Thursday January 26, following a tip-off by residents after allegedly raping two minors in Osogbo, the state capital.

It was gathered that Yisa lured the two minors who were aged 5 and 7 years old to an uncompleted building in the Ayepe area of Osogbo and raped them.

Adewinmbi also stated that investigation revealed that the suspect is a notorious and serial rapist.

“Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to committing the crime. I want to thank the residents of the area, who informed us about the incident. I want to appreciate them for their support,” he said in the statement.

He said the suspect had been transferred to the police for subsequent interrogation and prosecution.

While reiterating the commitment of the corps to fighting criminal activities in the state, Adewinmbi said Amotekun will always work with other security agencies to rid the state of criminals.

The corps commander, who warned that it is wrong to politicize criminality, added that efforts must be geared towards ensuring that the people are well-protected, in conjunction with other security agencies.

Lifestyle

March Anthony, 54, marries Miss Universe finalist Nadia Ferreira, 23, in star-studded ceremony

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Marc Anthony has married for the fourth time. The singer, who shares two kids with Jennifer Lopez, wed Miss Universe 2021 finalist Nadia Ferreira in front of family and friends, including many celebrities.

Their wedding held on Jan. 28 at the Pérez Art Museum Miami.

The bride, a former Miss Universe Paraguay, wore a white Galia Lahav bridal gown with lace and floral accents. The groom dressed in Christian Dior.

Mark, 54, and Nadia, 23, were joined at the wedding by his friends Carlos Slim and David Beckham, who both served as best man, Hola! reported.

Other guests included the retired soccer star’s wife Victoria Beckham, Salma Hayek, Lin Manuel Miranda and singers Luis Fonsi, Maluma, Marco Antonio Solís and Romeo Santos, Hola! reported.

Marc and Nadia got engaged in May 2022, months after they first sparked romance rumors.

Marc’s first ex-wife Dayanara Torres, is an actress and Miss Universe 1993. He shares sons Cristian, 21, and Ryan, 19, with her.

His second ex-wife is Jennifer Lopez and they share twins Max and Emme, both 14.

His third ex-wife is actress Shannon De Lima, aged 34.

Marc is also father to daughter Arianna, 29, and son Chase, 27 — who he shares with former partner Debbie Rosado.

Business, Lifestyle

House of Reps Committee rejects Naira swap extension, threatens Emefiele’s arrest

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The House of Representatives Adhoc Committee on the redesign of three naira notes has rejected the 10 days extension granted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the swap of old N200, N500, N1,000 bank notes.

In a statement released on Sunday, January 29, the Chairman of the Committee and the Majority Leader of the House, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, said the lawmakers will proceed and sign an arrest warrant to compel the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele to appear before the committee.

According to him, the new naira redesign policy is capable of frustrating the forthcoming 2023 general elections.

Recall that many Nigerians have complained about inability to access the newly redesigned notes.

The CBN had initially placed the deadline for the exchange of the old Naira notes for the new ones on January 31st .

However, following the series of complains from Nigerians, the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, in a statement released on Sunday, January 29, announced that the deadline had been extended to February 10.

In its immediate reaction, the House of Representatives committee chaired by Doguwa rejected the extension, insisting that the CBN must comply with sections 20 sub 3, 4, and 5 of the CBN Act.

“The 10-day extension for the exchange of the old naira notes is not the solution: We as a legislative committee with a constitutional mandate of the house, would only accept clear compliance with section 20 sub 3, 4, and 5 of the CBN act and nothing more.

Nigeria as a developing economy and a nascent democracy must respect the principle of the rule of law.

And the House would go ahead to sign arrest warrant to compel the CBN Governor to appear before the adhoc committee.”

Doguwa said under his chairmanship, the committee would continue its work until it gets the demands of Nigerians addressed in accordance with the laws of the land.

He described the extension as a mere political gimmick to further deceive Nigerians and worsen their economic and social livelihood, insisting that the CBN governor must appear before or stand the risk of being arrested on the strength of legislative writs signed earlier by Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila.

He also said the policy is capable of frustrating the forthcoming general elections.

“Security agencies and their operations especially at the states level are generally funded through cash advances and direct table payments of allowances to operatives during elections,” he said.

Lifestyle

Police foil kidnap attempt by five Cameroonians in Adamawa

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The police in Adamawa says it has arrested five Cameroonians suspected to be involved in the attempt to kidnap one Emmanuel Ebel, resident of Jambutu, Yola-North LGA.

Suleiman Nguroje, the Command’s spokesman, disclose this in a statement on Saturday in Yola.

He stated that the kidnapping was foiled following reliable information received from a good Samaritan that led to the arrest of all illegal immigrants.

“The Command Operatives attached to State Intelligence Bureau in sustained effort foiled an organized Crime to kidnap one Emmanuel Ebel a resident of Jambutu, Yola North local government area.

“The command upon receiving the information designed a security ring around the target and luckily engaged the suspected kidnappers,” he stated.

Mr Nguroje listed the suspects to include; Chubrandom Safinga, 30, Ibrahim Tala, 32, Ngosso Ndjombe, 28, Mmai Rostand, 32, and Nossu Ngambewo Ricky 27.

“All illegal immigrants from the neighboring Cameroon Republic were arrested 20 minutes before implementing their organized crime.

“The Commissioner of police, CP Sikiru Akande, while commending OC SIB and his men for gallantry performance and professional conduct displayed leading to their arrest, also directs them to sustain the tempo as a strategy for Crime prevention,” he said.

Mr Nguroje said the commissioner urged residents to always inform the police of the whereabouts of criminals and their accomplices.

He assured the government and Adamawa residents of sustained effort of the police in protecting lives and property of the citizens.

Business, Lifestyle

Calabar residents keep vigil at ATMs for new naira notes

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Residents of Calabar in Cross River have resorted to keeping vigil at Automated Teller Machine (ATM) centers in the State capital in search of new naira notes.

ATM points across the city have been taken over by long queues of people scrambling to get the new notes.

The long queues at the ATM points in Calabar started on Wednesday and have been like that as at the time of filing this report.

The residents, however, blamed the long queues on deliberate act by the banks not to load all their machines with the new notes.

Others, however, attributed the queues to the refusal of most businesses in Calabar to accept the old notes even when the deadline is still ahead.

A resident, Pascal Bajie, who frowned at the attitude of some business owners on their refusal to accept the old notes, called on the banks to be compassionate in their dealings with the public.

Mr Bajie said that he refused to understand why most of the banks with about four points of the ATMs would deliberately load only one or two of the four.

“This is part of what is causing the long queues that you have been seen for the past three days or thereabout. The banks should make effort to load all their machines,” he appealed.

Evelyn Odey, another resident, said she has had to move from one point of ATM to another and had yet to succeed in her quest to withdraw cash.

According to her, “I have been on this since Friday, I have moved from Marian down to MM Way and the challenge is all the same, long queues everywhere.

“The worst of it is that many people are refusing to accept the old notes. I am at Cross road on what to do because I have not succeeded to withdraw the new notes.”

Another resident, Ngaji Ndoma, said using the PoS was out of it as most he had visited complained of not having the new notes.

“That leaves you with the choice of only the ATM and using it is hellish because of the long queues at all that are dispensing.

“I can tell you that I have been on this since 6am and I even learnt that some persons were here earlier than me just to beat the queue,” he said.

Business, Lifestyle

New Naira Notes: Bishop cautions CBN against adding to Nigerians’ sufferings

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Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Oyo, Emmanuel Badejo, has called on the federal government not to allow naira notes redesign to cause more hardship for the masses.

In a statement on Saturday in Ibadan, Mr Badejo said governance and policies must have a human face.

The cleric said that scarcity of the new Naira notes would inflict suffering on Nigerians.

He lamented that many citizens deposited their old naira notes without any guarantee of getting the new notes.

He added that the Central Bank of Nigeria’s insistence on the January 31 deadline was only justifiable if necessary things were in place.

“Why should the general public suffer?” he queried. “The story is even direr in large swathes of the country where there is no banking service whatsoever within kilometres. Are those living there not Nigerians too?”

He lamented that the situation was more “complicated” given the fuel scarcity and increased price of commodities.

“All these are coming on top of skyrocketing prices of goods and services, sending the anger and frustration of struggling masses through the roof, with the 2023 General Elections only weeks away,” he said.

The Nigerian government and its officials must react quickly to the current hard times.

“If the monetary policy is hurting the same people it intends to serve, why can’t some modification be made to its timing and execution?” he asked.

He said the government policies and actions should be targeted at making life better for the masses.

“Therefore, in executing even the best and most urgent policies, the people’s interest must be at the centre,” Mr Badejo said.

Lifestyle, Politics

Reps asks tertiary institutions to suspend academic activities for students to vote

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The house of representatives has appealed to management of tertiary institutions in the country to suspend academic activities ahead of the elections.

In the appeal made to National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NABTE), National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), and the ministry of education, the lower chamber of the national assembly said suspension of academic activities will enable students to travel to the areas where their polling units are situated and also ensure they are disenfranchised.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was also asked to make special arrangements for students to collect their PVCs.

The resolution was reached on Thursday, January 26, following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Kabir Ibrahim, a lawmaker representing Zuru/Fakai/Danko-Wasagu/Sakaba federal constituency of Kebbi.

Ibrahim who pointed out that there are over 2.1 million students in universities, and over 2.4 million students in polytechnics, monotechnics, and colleges of education, noted that the academic calendars of various tertiary institutions “are structured in a way that most students are disenfranchised as school calendars do not take into consideration the timelines and date for elections”.

He also revealed that a report released by INEC shows that 3.8 million of the newly registered voters are students, accounting for 40.8 percent of the total number of newly registered voters.

Ibrahim said;

“These students who constitute 40.8 percent of the newly registered voters, have their polling units sited in states outside their campuses, thereby necessitating travelling outside their respective institutions to vote in the 2023 elections.

“Tertiary institutions are not considering academic breaks for students during the general elections, despite knowing that most students registered outside their campuses during the continuous voter registration exercise, which took place during the prolonged Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), strike.

“INEC has devolved PVCs distributions at the registration areas and wards across the 774 local government offices throughout the federation.

“Distribution of PVCs at the wards has ended, and the exercise moved back to the local government/area council offices, thereby further limiting the chances of the students to collect their PVCs which is a precondition for voting at the polls.

“While the students are busy with academic activities, INEC is engaged in distributing PVCs at the wards across the 774 LGAs of the federation which deprives students of the opportunity to collect their PVCs.

“Tertiary institutions do not consider periods of elections in designing academic calendars, as most of them conduct semester examinations when the preparations for the general elections are almost completed or when the polls are going on, thereby disenfranchising the students from exercising their civic duties.”

Following the unanimous adoption of the motion, the house mandated committees on tertiary education and electoral matters to “liaise with the agencies to facilitate the process” and report back within one week.

Business, Lifestyle

Lawyer sues CBN, seeks extension of deadline for old banknotes

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Joshua Alobo has approached the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, praying the court to stop the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from implementing the January 31 deadline to phase out the old naira notes (N200, N500 and N1,000).

Mr Alobo, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/114/2023, also prayed the court to make an order extending the duration when the old banknotes would cease to be legal tender for three weeks.

Listed as first to third defendants in the suit are the CBN, the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, and the attorney general of the federation, Mr Abubakar Malami.

He said this was to give time for when commercial banks would have enough new notes to dispense.In an affidavit deposed by a citizen, Musa Damudi, the plaintiff told the court that the CBN governor had, on October 26, announced that the apex bank would introduce a new series of redesigned N200, N500 and N1,000 banknotes into the financial system.

The lawyer said the decision, though a welcome idea, is causing anxiety among Nigerians, especially the less privileged, as they have yet to access the new naira notes.

He said that although the new notes, unveiled on November 23 by President Muhammadu Buhari to curb inflation and entrench a cashless society to curb money laundering and corruption, their unavailability was causing apprehension among Nigerians.

Mr Alobo accused banks of failing to make the new notes available to their customers, adding that as of December 25, he was still given the old notes on the counter and through the automatic teller machine (ATM).

The law professor argued that the January 31 deadline discriminates against rural dwellers, poor and less privileged persons.

“This is as politically exposed persons are paid with the redesigned notes. The cashless policy of the CBN is innovative and a welcome development but the rural dwellers that constitute the bulk of the population do not have access to internet and banking facilities,” Mr Alobo explained.

“The current daily limit of transaction to N20,000 is against the central bank’s daily limit of N100,000.”

A date has been fixed to hear the case.

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