Zambian FA president charged with money laundering

The president of the Football Association of Zambia (Faz) has been arrested and charged with money laundering offences.

The country’s Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) alleges that Andrew Kamanga obtained government funds under false pretences and was part of a conspiracy to defraud.

The DEC says the 57-year-old used the money to fund trips for two associates to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast earlier this year.

Madalitso Kamanga and Jairous Siame – the two individuals who travelled to the tournament as part of Faz’s support staff – have also been charged, along with Faz general secretary Reuben Kamanga.

An investigation revealed that neither Madalitso Kamanga nor Siame held official or executive positions within Faz.

The quartet are alleged to have acted together to obtain 341,902 Zambian kwacha ($13,150 £10,580) from the government for expenses and a further 99,980 kwacha ($3,850 £3,095) for return flights to Ivory Coast.

The DEC says the fraudulent activity occurred between 1 January and 15 February, coinciding with the Nations Cup finals where Zambia exited at the group stage.

An Faz spokesperson said Andrew Kamanga’s arrest was “part of a long-term plan to bring [into] question” his reputation ahead of the governing body’s elections next year.

Faz is set to hold its annual general meeting in Lusaka this weekend and the spokesperson added that the position of the organisation’s president was not under threat.

“There is no immediate risk of Mr Kamanga being out of Faz because this is just an arrest and the matter has to go to court – if at all there is any merit,” they said.

A DEC statement added that the suspects are “finalising bond processes” and “will appear in court soon”.

Australian police launch manhunt for Home and Away star

Australian police are searching for Home and Away star Orpheus Pledger, after a warrant was issued for his arrest on Wednesday.

The actor is facing four charges for allegedly assaulting a woman, authorities say.

He had been granted bail on Monday for a court-ordered hospital assessment.

Mr Pledger was ordered to return to a Melbourne court on Tuesday, but never showed up, prompting both a media frenzy and a manhunt.

Victoria Police have launched a public appeal for help, describing him as “approximately 170cm tall with brown hair and tanned complexion” in a public notice.

They added that he is known to frequent the inner-city Melbourne suburb of Northcote “and [its] surrounding areas” and included a current image of Mr Pledger “in the hope someone may be able to provide information on his whereabouts”.

Mr Pledger’s manager, Craig McMahon, told the Sydney Morning Herald he had not been in contact with his client this week but that he had been shocked by the assault allegations.

He also claimed that Mr Pledger had been struggling with mental health issues.

The 30-year-old joined the cast of Home and Away in 2016, where he played the fictional character Mason Morgan for three years.

Prior to that, he appeared on the popular soap opera Neighbours, as well as TV shows Silversun and CrashBurn.

His is due to appear in court again on 10 May.

Enyeama give reasons he didn’t apply for Super Eagles job

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, has said he did not apply to be the team’s next head coach because of two reasons.

Since Jose Peseiro’s contract elapsed, several former Nigerian players have been linked with the job.

Enyeama has admitted he would have also applied if he had secured his coaching certificate and wasn’t focused on his hotel business.

He told Afrik-Foot: “For you to be able to coach the Super Eagles, you must be certified. That’s the minimum standard.

“That’s the number one reason, and then for the fact that I have been very busy developing and managing my hotel has taken a lot of my attention, and that business is the most important thing for me now.”

Victim of police shooting is not our student – LAUTECH

The management of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Ogbomoso has declared that a resident who was allegedly killed by a policeman is not a student of the university.

Public Relations Officer of the university, Mr. Akin Fadeyi made this declaration while speaking with DAILY POST Tuesday night.

A student was killed by a policeman, while two others were injured.

But, Fadeyi in his reaction said that the incident did not happen within the institution.

“According to what we had, the incident occurred around 2 am, it did not occur in the institution, it happened in a club and in LAUTECH we don’t have a club or hotel.

“They were fighting and the student who got killed is not our student. So, what happened had nothing to do with LAUTECH. It has nothing to do with our convocation.

“Information from town was that some people got engaged at a nightclub, far from the university premises, during which one of them got killed,” he said.

Ogun judiciary workers suspend strike

Members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, in Ogun State have suspended their indefinite strike which began on April 8.

The union announced this on Monday via a statement issued in Abeokuta by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Adewale Adenekan.

The union earlier this month embarked on an indefinite strike over the non-payment of 40 per cent peculiar allowance by the state government.

The statement said its National Officers and the Ogun JUSUN Executive Committee members had on Monday held a meeting with the Secretary to the State Government, SSG.

It said the meeting also had in attendance the state chairmen of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Joint Negotiation Council, JNC.

“After the meeting with the representatives of the State Government, the authenticity of the union’s demand was established.

“However, the bone of contention is now the timing of the implementation of the union’s demand, putting into consideration the imminent announcement by the Federal Government of the new minimum wage which is expected on May 1.

“This will be billed for implementation between May and June 2024 for both Federal and State workers,” Adenekan stated.

Navy helicopters crash after colliding mid-air in Malaysia

No fewer than ten people have been confirmed dead after two navy helicopters collided in mid-air during a military training and rehearsal for a Royal Malaysian Navy parade.

According to BBC, one of the choppers clipped the rotor of the other before the two crashed down, leading to the death of at least ten persons.

Footage of the unfortunate incident which occurred on Monday night has been circulating on local media.

The choppers crashed in the Malaysian town of Lumut, which is home to a navy base.

“All victims were confirmed dead on site and the remains were sent to the [Lumut] Military Hospital for identification,” said the Royal Malaysian Navy.

One of the helicopters, a HOM M503-3 with seven people on board, was said to have crashed onto a running track.

While the other, a Fennec M502-6 conveying the other three victims, crashed into a nearby swimming pool

No Nigerian denied access to Chinese supermarket- Chinese Chamber

The China General Chamber of Commerce in Nigeria has said no Nigerian was subjected to discrimination or denied access to the Chinese supermarket in Abuja.

The supermarket is located on the premises of the Royal Choice Estate, Airport Road, Abuja.

The Secretary of China Chamber of Commerce, Cui Guangzheng, said this in a statement in Abuja.

Mr Guangzheng reiterated the commitment of the chamber toward ensuring equality and inclusiveness.

A video posted by an unidentified FCT resident alleged that a Nigerian was denied access to the facility, alleging that Nigerians were not allowed into the supermarket.

Mr Guangzheng said, “The China Chamber of Commerce is one of several enterprises using the facility, and the supermarket in question is located in the residential area of the estate. No individual was subjected to discrimination or denied access to the estate or supermarket to purchase groceries as widely believed.

“We regret any altercation at the estate’s entrance gate between the security agents and a customer. It does not reflect the official position of the estate management or the chamber of commerce. Our principles are to enhance friendship between the people of both countries and promote economic development.’’

The supermarket was under lock and key when officials of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission visited the supermarket.

Police arrest six suspects in Enugu

Operatives of the Enugu State Police Command have arrested six suspects for various offences.

The state’s Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed this on Monday, in a statement shared on the command’s official X handle, and attached with pictures of the suspects and exhibits.

Mr Ndukwe said the six suspects were arrested for offences of “one chance” robbery, unlawful possession and peddling of suspected cocaine, “Ghana Loud,” stealing of a motor vehicle battery, a tricycle (Keke), and a church organ keyboard.

“Two tricycles, one motor vehicle battery, one organ keyboard, wraps of substances suspected to be cocaine, and quantities of weeds suspected to be “Ghana Loud” were recovered from the suspects,” the statement indicated.

It added, “Accordingly, police operatives serving in the Independence Layout Police Division of the command, working with law-abiding citizens, on April 18, 2024, around 10 a.m., arrested one Edeh Chibuike “m,” aged 44, and recovered a yellow-coloured Bajaj tricycle with registration number NSK 218 QA.

“The suspect and his cohorts, who escaped, operating in the recovered tricycle, are alleged to have robbed their female victim and passenger of her iPhone and bank’s ATM card at Nwakanwa Street, Independence Layout, Enugu.

“After the suspect and gang members were given a hot chase by law-abiding citizens, which caused their keke to skid off the road into a fence, leading to his arrest and the escape of his cohorts, the suspect confessed to the crime, stating that his criminal gang has been in the business of “one chance” robbery and fraud on unsuspecting victims within Enugu metropolis.”

The statement also stated that police operatives, “On April 17, 2024, around 4 p.m., arrested one Supuruchukwu Udeozor “m” aged 20, of Powerline near New Artisan, Enugu, and recovered a suspected stolen blue-coloured tricycle (keke) with reg no UWN 132 VK and fleet no. EBS/TRO 1555.”

The suspect was said to have during interrogation, claimed that his male cohort, now at large, brought the keke to his car wash stand at New Artisan, Enugu, where he took and hid it, before it was recovered in a compound at New Haven, Enugu.

The state police spokesperson also revealed that police operatives of the command serving in Independence Layout Division, on April 15, 2023, around 9 a.m., arrested one Chukwuemeka Emmanuel ‘m’ aged 30, of Sunrise Estate Emene, and recovered a Johannus keyboard valued at five million naira (N5,000,000.00).

“Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to having stolen the keyboard from a parked vehicle in a church (name withheld) at 2nd Avenue, Independence Layout, Enugu, and was on his way to sell it before he was arrested,” he added.

Mr Ndukwe also disclosed that police officers serving in New Haven Police Division of the command, during a routine visibility patrol duty on April 17, 2024, arrested Umaru Abdul “m” aged 20, and Izuchukwu Njoku “m” aged 36, with wraps of substances suspected to be cocaine, and wraps of weeds suspected to be “Ghana Loud” from them respectively, and both confessed to peddling the illicit substances within Enugu metropolis.

In another revelation, the spokesperson said officers serving in Central Police Station Enugu, on April 17, 2024, arrested one Ani Arinze “m” aged 33, of Zone 7, Obed Camp, Coal Camp, Enugu, and recovered a master key and a stolen motor vehicle battery from him.

He said the suspect, who is allegedly a notorious motor battery thief, confessed to the crime, stating how he successfully used a master key to open a vehicle at his mentioned address and stole the battery therein, while also confessing to having repeatedly committed the act in the area and beyond.

Saying that the suspects would be arraigned and prosecuted upon conclusion of investigation, the police spokesperson said that the Commissioner of Police, Kanayo Uzuegbu, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to remain focused as he solicited the continued support of the residents.

UN experts fault airlines’ role in UK-Rwanda asylum transfers

The Independent UN experts have expressed concern over the role airlines and aviation authorities play in the unlawful removal of asylum seekers from the United Kingdom to Rwanda, and the proposed “Safety of Rwanda” bill.

The UN Special Rapporteurs warned that removing asylum seekers to Rwanda, or anywhere else, could put airlines and aviation authorities at risk of refoulement.This means the forced return of refugees or asylum seekers to a country where they may face persecution, torture or other serious harm – which would violate the right to be free from torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.

The experts said that “even if the UK-Rwanda agreement and the Safety of Rwanda bill are approved, airlines and aviation regulators could be complicit in violating internationally protected human rights and court orders by facilitating removals to Rwanda.”

They added that airlines should be held responsible if they assisted in the removal of asylum seekers from the UK.

The UN experts have been in contact with the UK government and national, European and international aviation regulators to remind them of their responsibilities, including under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

The UN Human Rights Council appoints Special Rapporteurs to monitor and report on global situations and issues.

They serve in their individual capacity, are not UN staff, are independent of any government or organisation and not compensated for their work.

Two years ago, London announced the Migration and Economic Development Partnership, now referred to as the UK-Rwanda Asylum Partnership, which stated that asylum seekers in the UK would be sent to Rwanda before their cases could be heard.

The national Rwandan asylum system would then consider their need for international protection.

In November 2023, the UK Supreme Court said the policy was unlawful due to safety concerns in Rwanda.

In response, the UK and Rwanda created the new bill, declaring Rwanda a safe country, among other stipulations.

UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, is working on having the bill passed and recently said that the first flight transporting asylum seekers was set to leave in 10 to 12 weeks, around July, according to international media reports.

EFCC declares Ugandan wanted for money laundering

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared a Ugandan, Dennis Aliga, wanted for allegedly obtaining money by false pretences, money laundering, and diversion of public funds.

The anti-graft agency made this known in a post shared on its official X handle on Monday by its spokesperson, Dele Oyewale.

EFCC’s statement read, “The public is hereby notified that Dennis Asega Aliga, whose photograph appears above, is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an alleged case of obtaining money by false pretences, money laundering, and criminal diversion of public funds.

“Aliga, a 41-year old Ugandan citizen, last lived in Sapeto Towers, No. 1, Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island, Lagos State.”

The EFCC, therefore, urged that “anybody with useful information as to his whereabouts should please contact the commission in its Benin, Kaduna, Ibadan, Sokoto, Gombe, Maiduguri, Makurdi, Ilorin, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Abuja offices.”

Russia criticises U.S. approval of military aid to Ukraine

The military aid package for Ukraine authorised by the U.S. House of Representatives will not bring about a fundamental change on the battlefield, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

“Of course, the money provided and the weapons supplied from this money will not lead to a change in this dynamic,” Mr Peskov said on Monday.

Instead, it would lead to more Ukrainian victims and greater destruction, he added.

Mr Peskov accused the United States of enriching itself with arms aid for Ukraine, repeating a Sunday complaint expressed by Russia’s deputy ambassador to the United Nations in New York, Dmitry Polyanskiy.

The U. S. bill, which passed the House by an overwhelming majority, totals nearly $61 billion.It is expected to be sent to the Senate shortly, where it is expected to pass and then be signed by President Joe Biden.

The Kremlin also sharply criticised another legislative proposal in Washington: the planned confiscation of Russian property in the U.S.

“These are unlawful acts,” Mr Peskov said. “Accordingly, they will become the object of certain countermeasures and legal disputes.”

“In addition, such expropriation would harm the economic interests of the U.S., as many investors would think twice about investing there in the future,” Mr Peskov predicted.

Police arrest 1,802 suspects during raid in black spots

The police command in Lagos State says no fewer than 1,802 suspects have been arrested in raids at different black spots within the last two weeks.

SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the command’s spokesperson, disclosed this to journalists in Lagos on Monday.

Mr Hundeyin said that between April 8 and 14, the command arrested 1,019 suspects in various raids within the Oshodi, Mushin, Agege, Lagos Island, Ojota, and Orile-Iganmu areas.

He said that between April 15 and 20, another 783 suspects were arrested when the command raided some of the places earlier mentioned and other areas.

Mr Hundyin said the exercises were carried out by area commands, divisions, and tactical teams, including the rapid response squad.

He also said the state’s Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade, who gave the order for the raids, commended the officers for reducing crime and criminality through the exercise.

Mr Hundeyin added that through the exercise, many attacks on the public in some areas, particularly at night and early in the morning, had been checked.

He said the exercise would be sustained as it yielded the expected result of checking crimes.

The image maker, who noted that the exercise was not meant to extort members of the public, stressed that proper screening always takes place after raids to ensure that innocent people are not added to suspected criminals.

He advised the public to always go about with their means of identification and avoid hanging around suspected criminals and black spots.

Mr Hundeyin further called on the public to keep informing the police about the activities of suspected persons or groups in their areas.

Federal Government sets 18 years as minimum entry age into tertiary institutions

The federal government has directed that admission to tertiary institutions should not be given to candidates less than 18 years old.

The Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, gave the directive on Monday during a monitoring exercise of the ongoing 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in Bwari, Federal Capital Territory.

He decried the activities of some parents pressuring their underage students to get admission into tertiary institutions.

The minister said the 18-year benchmark is in line with the 6-3-3-4 education system.

“The minimum age of entry into the university is 18, but we have seen students who are 15 or 16 years old going in for the entrance examination.

“Parents should be encouraged not to push their wards too much. Mostly, it is the pressure of parents that is causing this.

“We are going to look at this development because the candidates are too young to understand what the whole university education is all about,” he said.

On skills acquisition for those who cannot gain admission into tertiary institutions, Mr Mamman said the ministry is taking skills to pupils from primary school.

“Overall, it is 20 per cent that can be admitted into the university, polytechnic, and colleges of education systems.

“So, where will the 80 per cent go? That is why the issue of skill acquisition is very important.

“Any student who is unable to proceed to tertiary institutions should be able to have a meaningful life after primary and secondary school education, and the only solution to this is skill acquisition,” he said.

Corroborating the minister’s position on the benchmark of 18 years for admission to a tertiary institution, the JAMB spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, said 18 years is in line with 6-3-3-4 education.

The Minister of State for Education, Yusuf Sununu, who was on the monitoring team, applauded the conduct of the 2024 UTME, particularly the introduction of online examinations to check malpractices.

He said the computer-based test (CBT) had reduced examination malpractices to the barest minimum.

Mr Sununu commended the board for setting a simple but high standard for the examination.

Two bomb experts surrender in Borno

Two suspected bombers of the Boko Haram group surrendered themselves to troops of Sector 3 Multi-National Joint Task Force in Monguno, Borno State On Sunday.

The suspected bombers 19-year-old Abubakar Mohammed also known as Garba and 13-year-old Babagana Modu decided to surrender themselves instead of carrying out the order for the terrorist group.

The Chief Military Public Information of MNJTF, Ndjamena, Lieutenant Colonel Abubakar Abdullahi, made this known in a press statement on Monday.

Abdullahi the bombers confessed to having been ordered to plant IEDs along roads of Doron Baga and Fish Dam in Baga, Kukawa Local Government of Area of the state.

The statement reads, “Sector 3 of the Multinational Joint Task Force Monguno, Nigeria, has reported continued surrender of terrorists in its Area of Operations.

“Among the latest to lay down their arms were two individuals identified as improvised explosive device experts, 19-year-old Abubakar Mohammed (alias Garba) and 13-year-old Bana Modu. The surrender took place on 21 April 2024, marking a notable success in the ongoing campaign to dismantle Boko Haram’s operations in the region.

“During a preliminary investigation, Mohammed and Modu revealed they had been ordered to plant IEDs along roads of Doron Baga and Fish Dam in Baga, Kukawa Local Government of Borno State Nigeria.

“Instead of carrying out their mission, they decided to abandon their task, escape with the IEDs, and surrender to the MNJTF. Their decision was influenced by the MNJTF recently concluded Operation NASHRUL SALAM, a non-kinetic operation and sector’s personal engagement strategy with relevant sources, showcasing the effectiveness of psychological operations in the fight against terrorism.”

Abdullahi added that “Items recovered from them include two IEDs, two mobile phones, and a sum of fifty-three thousand Naira (N53,000.00) only from Mohammed and Modu. This development underscores the MNJTF’s commitment to encouraging other terrorists hiding in the Lake Chad Islands to come out, surrender, and lay down their arms, in a bid to achieve sustainable peace in the region.”

He reinstated the commitment to ensuring peace, saying, “The MNJTF remains dedicated to its mission of restoring peace and facilitating the return of normalcy to the Lake Chad Basin.”

Outrage over discrimination against Nigerians at Abuja Chinese supermarket

The management of an Abuja-based Chinese supermarket has come under fire for denying Nigerians entry into the facility.

Our correspondent reports that entry into the supermarket, without any name inscription, is restricted exclusively to individuals of Chinese descent.

The supermarket situated at the China General Chamber of Commerce, along Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Road in the Federal Capital Territory, is acclaimed as a destination for Chinese cuisine and beverages.

A video posted by X Daily showed an unidentified FCT resident expressing discontent about the discriminatory policy.

The resident said, “Wonders shall never end. There is a supermarket I saw online that is a Chinese supermarket. They have Chinese food, ramen and other things. I wanted to go there and check it out but I was denied entry. The security officers at the gate said the supermarket was strictly for Chinese people and no Nigerian is allowed to go inside or buy anything. Is that possible in China?

“This supermarket is here in Abuja and a Nigerian cannot enter. This is a joke. So that means a Chinese guy has more rights than you here in Nigeria. Chinese guys are allowed to visit anywhere in the country. The thing shocked me oo. Now I am going back to our local supermarket because they said I cannot enter.”

Uncle Deji @DejiAdesogan also wrote on X, “So there’s a Chinese supermarket in Abuja that Nigerians cannot enter, let alone buy anything, that only Chinese are allowed? So weird to believe.”

Another X user, Otunba AbdulFattah @OyedeleFatai, corroborating the claim, said he was denied entry twice this year.

“Yes! China Chambers of Commerce along airport road. I was denied access twice this year. The security told me that they have stopped Nigerians from entering the premises since January 2024. Nonsense! @NafdacAgency @fccpcnigeria,” he wrote.

He added, “Interesting. We hope Oga @YusufTuggar will attend to your issue raised.”

A review by Whitney Ukanga on the chamber’s Google page read, “The Chinese have gradually seeped their nasty tentacles onto Nigeria. Nigerians have been forbidden to get into the supermarket in the China Chamber of Commerce but every other nationality may enter. In our own country. This is absolutely horrible and absurd.”

On his part, the Senior Public Relations Officer, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, Nicholas Utsalo, refrained from offering comment, citing protocol that only allows the Executive Vice Chairman to address the press.

Instead, he requested access to the video footage and assured the public that an investigation into the allegations would be conducted.

Reacting, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Afam Osigwe, strongly criticised the action, asserting that it bears resemblance to racism, and emphasised the need for heightened awareness and measures to address such discriminatory behaviours.

He urged the government to take immediate action and thoroughly investigate the issue to ensure that such occurrences do not happen anywhere within the country.

He said, “It is definitely worrisome that a foreign-owned business in Nigeria would discriminate against nationals of a country by denying them entrance. Everything is wrong with any business opening and then applying a system likened to racism in the United States where blacks and other coloured persons were not allowed into public transport vehicles and even into business spaces. This act is very condemnable. No foreign-owned businesses in Nigeria should deny access to their premises. It is totally wrong and the Nigerian government should look into it to ensure that such a thing doesn’t happen anywhere in the country.”

Father, son, neighbour die trying to retrieve phone from pit latrine

A 60-year-old man, Danjuma, aka Black, his son, Ibrahim, 35, and Aminu Gaye, also 35, died in a pit latrine while trying to recover a phone.

A fourth person, Abba Alasan, 28, was rescued alive.

The incident occurred on Sunday morning at Yar’Gwanda in Tsanyawa LGA, Kano.

This was disclosed in a statement by the Kano State Fire Service spokesman, Saminu Abdullahi, on Sunday.

“We received an emergency call from Tsanyawa Fire Station at about 11:00 a.m. from one Aminu Yar’gwanda that four men had been trapped inside a pit toilet.

“We immediately sent our rescue team to the scene at about 11:15 a.m. Danjuma was trying to retrieve a phone that fell into the pit toilet, when he got trapped. Thereafter, his son entered the pit toilet to save his father and also got trapped.

“Gaye and Alasan also entered to rescue both men, but they also got trapped,” Mr Abdullahi said.

Mr Abdullahi also mentioned the first three victims were rescued unconscious, while the fourth victim was rescued alive. He said the victims were handed over to Superintendent of Police Iro Lado at the Tsanyawa police division.

The police conveyed the victims to Bichi Special Hospital for medical attention, where doctors on duty confirmed the three dead and one alive.

Rain wreaks havoc in Ogun

A downpour that lasted 1 hour and 20 minutes on Sunday destroyed Several vehicles, electrical poles, and wires at the Sango-Ota underbridge and Oju-Ore area in Ogun.

Busolami Tunwase, the spokesperson for the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), confirmed the incident in Ota.

The heavy rain, which started around 11:30 a.m., destroyed several poles and wires around Sango-Ota to the Oju-Ore area and its environs.

According to IBEDC, no lives were lost, but properties, estimated at over N100 million, especially vehicles, were destroyed by the heavy rain.

The spokesperson said IBEDC was aware of the development and had deployed its technical team to the area.

“We are appealing to the public to stay clear of every electrical pole, wire and other installation until we are able to clear everything off the road,” the IBEDC official said.

EFCC arrests six suspected internet fraudsters in Kaduna

The Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested six suspected internet fraudsters in the State.

The Commission in a statement on Sunday said the alleged fraudsters were arrested at Bafra Hotel, Alkali Road, Kaduna State.

Their arrest followed actionable intelligence about their suspected involvement in internet-related offences.

Six mobile phones and incriminating documents were recovered from them.

The anti-graft agency added that the suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

Student charged with assault after allegedly slapping teacher in viral video

An unidentified North Carolina (United States of America) high schooler has been charged with assault after reportedly being caught on camera slapping a teacher.

Fox News reports that the incident occurred at Parkland High School in Winston-Salem on April 15, according to the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) statement on Facebook.

The video posted online shows the student standing over a teacher who is seated before striking her in the face.

“Do you think that affected me in any way?” The teacher can be heard asking.

“Want me to hit you again?” the student says, while stepping up and repeating the question.

“I don’t want it,” the teacher says, before she is struck again.The hit is so hard that her glasses fly off her face while the teenager continues his profanity-filled rant.

“Ain’t nobody even coming. You got slapped,” the student says. “B—-, go back to teaching.”

Noel Keener, who’s the school’s principal, informed parents in a message that the student would face disciplinary action in addition to criminal charges for “inappropriate and unsettling” behavior, according to local TV station WGHP.

The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools spokesperson, as well as the superintendent did not respond to a Fox News Digital inquiry about what happened.

However, Superintendent Tricia McManus told WGHP that the student’s “behavior will not be tolerated” and her focus was on making sure the “teacher is taken care of and has the support needed to navigate through the lasting effects of this incident.”

The superintendent also plans to recommend expulsion from the school district in a hearing separate from the legal ones.

The student faces one charge of communicating threats and two charges of misdemeanor assault. The sheriff’s office says no additional information will be released since he is a juvenile.

Federal Government launches first AI tool

The Federal Government has launched the country’s first multilingual large language model in a move to advance its course in artificial intelligence.

The Communications Minister, Bosun Tijani, disclosed this disclosure on X (formerly Twitter).

The Multilingual Large Language Model is a sophisticated artificial intelligence system capable of comprehending, processing, and generating text in multiple languages.

The launch of the LLM was part of the activities of a 4-day AI workshop held in Abuja, which brought together over 120 AI experts to co-create and accelerate AI development in Nigeria.

According to the minister, the LLM will be trained in five low-resource languages and accented English, ensuring stronger language representation in existing datasets.

“The LLM will be trained in five low-resource languages and accented English to ensure stronger language representation in existing datasets for the development of artificial intelligence solutions.

“The project will also be supported by over 7,000 fellows from the @3MTTNigeria programme,” the minister expounded.

He stated that the AI tool, developed in partnership with local and global tech companies, was poised to revolutionise AI solutions in Nigeria and beyond.

The minister also announced the relaunch of the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics in collaboration with Cisco, a renowned cybersecurity firm.

According to Tijani, this is the first of its kind in Africa, a special-purpose vehicle created to promote research and development on emerging technologies such as AI, robotics and the Internet of Things and their practical application in areas of Nigerian national interest.

The improved capacity at NCAIR would help it better fulfil its mandate as a digital innovation and research facility, he added.

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