Entertainment, Lifestyle

ARCON bans use of foreign models and voice over artists for adverts

No Comments

The Federal government has banned the use of foreign models and voice-over artists for advertisements targeted at Nigerians.

Olalekan Fadolapo, Director-General of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), disclosed this in a statement released on Monday, August 22.

According to Fadolapo, the new policy will take effect from October 1, 2022. He said the move was aimed at promoting local content and talents and increasing economic growth.

“In line with the federal government’s policy of developing local talent, inclusive economic growth and the need to take necessary steps and actions aimed at growing the Nigerian advertising industry, the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), being the apex advertising, advertisement and marketing communications’ regulatory agency of the federal government, has in accordance with its statutory mandates, responsibilities and powers as conveyed by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria Act No. 23 of 2022, bans the use of foreign models and voice-over artists on any advertisement targeted or exposed on the Nigerian advertising space with effect from 1st October 2022.

All advertisements, advertising and marketing communications materials are to make use of only Nigerian models and voice-over artists.

Ongoing campaigns are permitted to run out their terms, however, subsequent applications for re-validation for continued exposure of such materials will not be granted by the advertising standards panel (ASP).

Advertisers, advertisement agencies, media houses, advertising community and the general public are hereby enjoined to take note.”

Politics

Buhari has done his best, everybody’s best is different – Isa Yuguda

No Comments

Former Governor of Bauchi State, Isa Yuguda, has said that President Buhari has done well in leading the country.

Yuguda shared this opinion when he appeared on Channels TV this morning. “Mr President has done his best. Everybody’s best is different.

So I can say the President has done his best. And he has appointed actors to assist him to manage the country – they are also doing their best. It all depends on somebody’s assessments.

As far as I’m concerned, the President has done his best.” he said Yuguda argued that despite the fact that the Nigerian economy and security were “a little bit depressing”, the President has done well.

“Any rational Nigerian will know that it could not have been any better no matter who was there on the driving seat.

Most of these things that are happening to us are historical. If you are coming from an environment where the foundation has been distorted then what you reap is what you sow.

Security, for instance, is a historical thing. it didn’t start with Buhari’s government. It started in 2008, 2009.” Yuguda argued that security challenges cannot be associated with the President.

“Yes, he is the overall head, but if you see something going wrong in terms of security, you hold the Governor responsible.

You (Governor) are sworn in to protect life and property because you own the land.

The President does not have land, so you don’t expect the President to secure your land.”he said

Lifestyle

Abuja police nab drug peddler, recover stolen vehicle

No Comments

Officers of the Nigeria Police Force, Federal Capital Territory Command, Thursday, arrested a drug peddler with a large quantity of packaged dried Cannabis Sativa, and recovered a vehicle suspected to have been stolen.

It was gathered that the police tactical unit attached to the Karshi Divisional Police Headquarters had, on Wednesday, at about 2am, foiled the chain of supply while carrying out a routine stop and search at Gida Mangoro, when they spotted an abandoned Toyota Camry with Reg. No. GBK 76 HG, few meters from their duty post.

With the receipt of the information, the police commenced surveillance of the area in a concerted effort with local vigilantes.

The suspect, Fabian Ukeugbona, ignorant of the deployed measure, later got into the car and zoomed off, prompting the already alerted officers to give a hot chase which led to his arrest, recovery of the car, and seizure of cannabis Sativa.

The pursuit of the fleeing suspect later yielded result as 22-year-old Ukeugbona, male, was arrested Thursday evening.Confirming the incident, the FCT Police spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, noted that the suspect would be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

Adeh said, “The suspect, in a voluntary statement, admitted to committing the crime, stating that he had been into the criminal enterprise for over three years.

“The suspect and the prohibited substance will be handed over to the NDLEA, for further action, while investigation continues.”

This came barely a week after the arrest of two suspects and confiscation of 100 bags of cannabis Sativa were recorded by officers of the FCT Police Command.

The PUNCH had reported the pronouncement of improved security architecture of the FCT by the Command.

According to the FCT Police Commissioner, Babaji Sunday, the improved security architecture is characterised by intelligence gathering, round-the-clock stop and search, and sundry measures for efficiency and optimal security delivery.

He noted that the success was a plus to the Command’s fight against the peddling of drugs and prohibited substances identified as a major catalyst to various crimes and criminality in the country’s capital city.

Lifestyle, Politics

Abductors of Nasarawa Commissioner contact family, demand N100m ransom

No Comments

The abductors of the Nasarawa state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Yakubu Lawal, have contacted his family and demanded N100 million as ransom before he will be released from captivity.

The kidnappers invaded Lawal’s home in Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area of the state on Monday night, August 15 at about 8:45pm and abducted him.

The abductors contacted his family at about 4.30pm on Tuesday, August 16, and said the only way they would release the commissioner is if the sum of N100 million is paid as ransom.

The state police has since confirmed Lawal’s abduction and stated that efforts are being made to rescue him unhurt.

Politics, World News

India offers to help Nigeria fight insecurity

No Comments

The Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Shri Balasubramanian, on Monday, pledged his country’s readiness to provide the needed support to end insecurity in Nigeria.

This is as he promised to further deepen the India-Nigeria relations and economic ties with social investments in solar energy, artificial intelligence, fintech and scientific intelligence.

He stated this while speaking with journalists at the flag-hoisting to mark the 75th independence of India which was held at the High Commission of India in Abuja.He said,

“As you know, much of the defence training has been given in India; various security outfits have been trained in military installations and training institutes.

“So, we will be happy to continue the partnership in cooperation with the Nigerian government, and we are ready to assist in that direction.”

He also commended the relationship between the two countries, describing it as one of the best.“India-Nigeria relationship is one of the best. We started our relationship even before Nigeria’s independence in 1958 when we had established our office in Lagos.

Since then, our relationship has developed; we have partnered in human capacity development, we are very happy that with the cooperation of the Nigerian government, we can now say that our relationship is strong and very cordial,” he said.

The recently appointed commissioner noted that although India had invested $14.9m in the country, he is looking forward to strengthening relationship with Nigeria in all areas.

“Whether it is training or trade, economic relations, political relations, I am looking forward to improving bilateral ties in all these areas,” he added.

Politics

Termites allegedly eat up N17.128B expenditure evidence at NSITF

No Comments

The Senate Public Accounts Committee (SPAC) has put the current and past management of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) under scrutiny.

The committee said it discovered that the fund’s management failed to produce relevant documents to justify alleged spending of N17.158 billion in 2013. Some of the documents to back the expenses were said to have been eaten up by termites, according to the Nation.

The Office of the Auditor General of the Federation (OAuGF), in its 2018 audit report – now being considered by the Senate panel chaired by Senator Matthew Urhoghide (Edo South) – had queried the agency over the disbursed sums without appropriate supporting documents.

In his report, the OAuGF said the N17.158 billion represented the total sum of money, transferred by the agency from its Skye and First Bank accounts, into various untraceable accounts belonging to individuals and companies between January and December 2013.

The OAuGF had, in its 2018 audit report, raised 50 different queries bordering on alleged misappropriation of funds against the agency. The AuGF’s query reads:

“Management of NSITF, as shown in statements of account number 1750011691 with Skye Bank Plc, for the period 1st January, 2013 to 20th December, 2013, and statements of account number 2001754610 with First Bank Plc for the period January 7, 2013 to February 28, 2013, transferred amounts totalling N17,158,883,034.69 to some persons and companies from these accounts.

“However, payment vouchers relating to the transfers together with their supporting documents were not provided for audit. Consequently, the purpose(s) for the transfers could not be authenticated.

“These are in violation of Financial Regulation 601 which states that ‘all payment entries in the cashbook/accounts shall be vouched for on one of the prescribed treasury forms.

Vouchers shall be made out in favour of the person or persons to whom the money is actually due’.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee, Urhoghide, had summoned and interviewed NSITF’s past and present managements on where the said N17.158 billion was transferred to between January and December 2013.

It was learnt that no official of the former management could offer satisfactory explanation on the alleged multiple transfers with necessary documents.

Members of management in charge of the agency in 2013 had told the committee that relevant cash vouchers pertaining to the transactions were left behind by them.

But the current NSITF Managing Director, Dr. Michael Akabogu, was said to have claimed that no such documents were in the organisation’s custody.

The container the said documents were kept by past management has not only been beaten by rains over the years but even possibly been eaten up by termites.

“As directed by this committee, I told the past management officers on the need for them to help us out in answering this query with necessary documents which have not been made available for us,” Akabogu allegedly said.

The Managing Director of NSITF from 2010 to 2016, Mallam Umar Munir Abubakar, allegedly claimed that he was aware of the query and had no explanations to render since the audit exercise was not carried out during his tenure.

But his successor, Mr. Adebayo Somefun, who was head of the agency from May 2017 to July 2020, allegedly insisted that those in the agency’s account section should be able to trace the documents.

But the current General Manager Finance of the agency allegedly said that the container in question had been under lock and key and abandoned in an isolated area within the premises of the organisation in Abuja.

In his ruling, Urhoghide expressed worry over the development and ordered both members of past and present management of the NSITF to re-appear before the panel with all necessary evidence concerning the transactions unfailingly on Thursday, September 22, 2022.

Lifestyle

Houseboy who impregnated his boss’ 13-year-old daughter in Bauchi, strangles her to death, burns and buries her body in shallow grave after procuring abortion

No Comments

The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a 27-year-old houseboy for the gruesome murder of his boss’ 13-year-old girl daughter after he impregnated her.

The suspect, Munkaila Ado, allegedly impregnated the minor and connived with her mother to take her to Gombe State for an abortion.

Spokesperson of the command, SP Ahmed Wakil on Saturday, August 13, 2022, said that two other suspects including a woman who administed the abortion substance, were also arrested for conspiracy.

According to Wakil, after successfully aborting the four-month-old pregnancy, the suspect and his friend strangled the victim, burnt her body beyond recognition and buried her in a shallow grave at a nearby bush.

The spokesperson said that the teenager’s father, who discovered that his daughter was missing and suspected his houseboy and his accomplice, reported the matter at the Alkaleri Divisional Police Headquarters.

“On 10/08/2022 at about 09:00a.m., One Alhaji Danladi Mohammed ‘m’ of Mai’ari Arewa village Pali lodged a formal complaint at the Divisional Police Headquarters Alkaleri that, on 04/08/2022 his biological daughter one Safiya Alhaji Danladi ‘f’ aged 13yrs of the same address left home suspected missing and that he strongly suspected his house boy one Munkaila Ado ‘m’ aged 27yrs and one Muazu Umaru aged 35yrs all of the same address to be the principal suspects on the whereabouts of his missing daughter,” the statement read.

“On the strength of that preliminary investigation commence, the scene was visited led by DPO Alkaleri and evacuated the victim to General Hospital Alkaleri, where she was certified dead by a medical Doctor.

“On interrogation, the suspect confessed that the missing girl was his girlfriend who was four-month pregnant to the knowledge of her mother but unknown to the father Alhaji Danladi Mohammed.

“He further revealed that he conspired with the mother of the missing girl and his accomplice Muazu Umar, took the victim to Gombe to procure an abortion, thereafter on reaching Gombe the victim was led to one Hajiya Amina Abubakar ‘f’ 50yr-old house in Jekada Fari behind specialist hospital Gombe where the victim was administered with some substances to cause miscarriage.

“Eventually on their way to mai’ari village along Akko LGA Gombe State, the two aforementioned suspects strangulate the victim, consequently, the victim fell unconscious and gave up the ghost, in the same vein burnt the body of the victim beyond recognition and buried her in a shallow grave at a nearby bush in Akko LGA Gombe state.

“Meanwhile, the two aforesaid suspects were arrested despite violating the human rights and dignity of the girl child.

“The Command assured the general public will continue to be updated as the investigation unfolds.

“The Commissioner of Police Bauchi State Command CP Umar Mamman Sanda fdc directed that the case be transferred to SCID for discreet investigation.”

Lifestyle, Politics

We won’t use force to rescue abducted train victims – Buhari

No Comments

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the federal government will not use force in securing the release of the remaining abductees of the ill-fated Abuja-Kaduna train.

Buhari who revealed this during a meeting with the representatives of the families of the victims at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday August 11, said they’ve weighed all options and concluded that the best way to bring all the victims back home safely was not to use force.

He also stated that the federal government is doing everything within its powers to ensure the safe return of the remaining captives.

The President said;

“I have been informed that at last count, there remain about 31 people in the hands of the kidnappers, and our determination is to work towards returning these 31 people to their families.

“It is understandable that emotions typically run high, we have received several suggestions about the deployment of lethal military force in extracting those still being held in captivity.

“This option has indeed been considered and evaluated. However, the condition to guarantee a successful outcome and minimize potential collateral damage could not be assured and therefore that course of action had to be reluctantly discarded.

“My primary concern is to get everyone released safe and unhurt.“Each one of them will be hunted and pursued and spoken to in the language that they understand.

“Judging by the available reports to me and news that have begun emerging in the last few days, I will say they (security operatives) have heard this instruction and are responding appropriately.

“In the past couple of days, you must have heard about the number of terrorists neutralized by the military, and number of hostages freed. These efforts will not stop, or reduce.”

Buhari also said that several actions had been taken by government to bring succour to the affected families and to prevent a recurrence in the country.

World News

Nigerian man poses as woman on Facebook, dupes Indian man of N31m

No Comments

A Nigerian national has been arrested by the Special Task Force of the Uttarakhand Police, India for duping a man of Rs 60 lakh (N31m) after befriending him on Facebook.

Police on Wednesday, August 10, said the accused identified as Oliver, was arrested from Humayunpur under the Safdarjang Police station in Delhi.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Uttarakhand STF, Ajai Singh told PTI that the accused has been brought to Uttarakhand. According to him, the Nigerian national and his accomplices may have duped people from other states as well.

Singh said some more arrests are likely to be made in connection with the case. “Another member of the gang is likely to leave the country and abscond, so the Embassy is being contacted.” he added.

Two laptops, eight mobile phones, seven SIM cards, four wi-fi dongles/netshutters, 16 pen drives, one card reader, three memory cards, one bluetooth device and two passports have been recovered from the possession of the accused, the SSP said.

Oliver created a fake Facebook ID in the name of an foreign woman and sent friend requests to people, he said. After they accepted his friend request, he offered to send them gifts and parcels as a token of friendship.

Then he made them pay online in the name of customs, GST, RTGS, NEFT charges and verification fees, police said. After duping them of huge sum, he used to delete his fake FB account.

The victim from Uttarakhand named Suresh Arya, who was a resident of Ranikhet had lodged a case at the cyber crime police station, Kumaon region in Rudrapur.

Politics

RMAFC Commisioner, Tanko Abari is dead

No Comments

Commissioner for Revenue Mobilization Allocation And Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji Musa Tanko Abari is dead.

Daily Trust reported that a family member of the deceased, Isyaku Musa confirmed that Abari died at about 2:34 pm on Tuesday August 9, after a brief illness at private hospital in Abuja.

He said the deceased fell sick last week and did not recover. On Tuesday when his health condition deteriorated and he was rushed to the hospital.

Musa said arrangements are ongoing to convey the remains of the deceased from the hospital to his Jiwa village in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) for burial.

Politics

Pyrates Confraternity reacts to viral video of its members mocking Bola Tinubu’s health

No Comments

The National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity) has said the viral video mocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu is being taken out of context for political gains.

The organization condemned in very strong terms those making political gains out of the video, insisting that it is apolitical and does not have any preferred candidate for the upcoming 2023 presidential elections.

Recall that on Monday, August 8, a video of members of the Confraternity holding a procession in which they could be seen gyrating to an anti-Tinubu song and poked fun at Tinubu for a speech he made in June in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where he asked that power should be handed over to him.

Tinubu had in his speech in Abeokuta said; ”Emi lo kan’, which means ”It’s my turn’.

During his speech he also mentioned how he consoled President Muhammadu Buhari after he had lost the presidential election thrice and pledged to make him President come 2015.

The lyrics of the song the pyrates sang read;

”Hand dey shake, leg dey shake, Baba wey no well, e de shout emi lo kan (Hands are shaking, legs are shaking.

A sick old man is shouting ‘it’s my turn’). Emi lo kan (2ce), Baba wey no well, him dey shout emi lokan (It’s my turn (2ce), a sick old man is shouting ‘it’s my turn’”

They sang Some Nigerians including Professor Wole Soyinka who is one of the founders of the group found the lyrics distasteful.

Soyinka in a statement condemned the song and said it was ”frankly appalling”.

In a statement titled ‘Setting the Records Straight’, the NAS Capoon, Abiola Owoaje, said the organization had a procession to round up its 46th Annual General Meeting as its customary in all events in like manner for the past 46 years, adding that no aspect of its procession was political.

“Part of the annual general meeting was the review of our entire advocacy, humanitarian and operational activities for the year.

This, then, as usual, culminated in a celebratory procession, an aspect of this yearly process that we have undertaken for the last 46 years.

In our view, it proceeded without event, until this extremely limited video made this appearance. Quite contrary to the manner in which certain aspects of the video are being portrayed, no aspect of this procession or the event itself was political.

Rather it was the typical climax of our annual general meeting. At no time in the history of this organization has this event, or indeed any of our events had any slanted political leanings” he said

Owoaje clarified that the organization does not mock or discriminate against the physical condition of any person as it also has members who are physically challenged.

“We must stress that we are apolitical. As an organisation, we have never had a preferred candidate in any political elections including the upcoming 2023 general elections.

We have members who belong to different political parties and are absolutely free to support any candidate of their choice. It is most unfortunate that political capital is being made of this with interpretations that are totally at variance with the philosophy of the Pyrates Confraternity.

Unequivocally, we condemn this in very strong terms. We understand that political merchants desperately seeking media mileage are all over the place misinforming and twisting events to suit their political agenda.

However, we wish to re -emphasise that the National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity) are not supporting or backing any candidate for the office of the President or any other office in the 2023 general elections and beyond.

As an organisation in tune with disadvantaged and voiceless people, we are committed to the enthronement of a just society in which no one is discriminated against based on tribe, religion, gender or disability.

We are against conventions that are moribund. We have always stood for Humanistic ideals, comradeship and chivalry. Nothing that has happened can and will change that posture.

We are determined to continue to use our social programmes, intellectual platforms and our compelling songs to advocate for good governance and accountability!”

Lifestyle, World News

Abike Dabiri visits family of 22-year-old Nigerian man killed in Canada

No Comments

The Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, (NIDCOM) Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has paid a condolence visit to the bereaved family of Chibueze Momah at their Lagos residence to convey her deepest sympathy and support.

It would be recalled that Momah, 22, and Tosin Amos-Arowoshegbe, 25, were shot dead at a club in Vaughan, Ontario, on July 23, 2022.

Both victims worked at the ATL lounge in Vaughn, Ontario as security guards. The killers were said to have fled the scene of the incident before the police arrived.

Abike Dabiri visits family of 22-year-old Nigerian man killed in Canada, the police, in the statement issued, said they are currently seeking information on a suspect linked to the shooting.

During the visit, Dabiri-Erewa prayed for the Almighty God to give the family the strength to bear the irreparable loss of their son who only just graduated in Computer programming a few months before his untimely death.

Speaking on behalf of the family, the father, Ikechukwu Momah, thanked the NIDCOM Boss and her team for the prompt visit and pleaded for a thorough investigation into the matter.

“I thank you Madam and your team for the prompt visit and intervention and I also plead that a thorough investigation into the matter be carried out.” he said.

Late Eze had just turned 22 in May 2022. He was described as a calm, peaceful, and loving young man. He is the only son in a family of 5.

He had just finished his diploma at Durham College and had been looking forward to his first entry-level work using his new degree in Honours Computer Programming.

In addition to school, Eze was working as a security guard and a cook in the family restaurant to help support himself and was looking forward to bringing his sisters to Canada.

Lifestyle, Politics

Bandits kill FIRS zonal coordinator for Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara States

No Comments

Suspected badits have killed Alhaji Mohammed Kudu Mawa, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) zonal coordinator for Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara States. It was gathered that the accountant was shot dead by bandits along Lapai-Lambata road, Niger State in the late hours of Sunday, August 7, 2022.

The victim was said to be on the way back to his Kaduna residence from Lafiaji, Kwara State, when he was ambushed by the gunmen.

Politics

I left APC because my rival at the primary insulted my father – Buhari’s Nephew

No Comments

Honorable Fatuhu Muhammed, a nephew to President Muhammadu Buhari has explained why he dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for Peoples Democratic Party.

The lawmaker representing Daura/Mai’Adua/Sandamu Federal Constituency of Katsina State in the National Assembly, failed to secure his re-election ticket after polling 30 votes, while Aminu Jamo, his rival secured 117 votes.

Explaining why he left the party, he told Daily Trust that he dumped the ruling party because his rival allegedly ‘abused’ his father. He said;

“I received an audio recording where their candidate (Jamo) called my father, Alhaji Mamman Dan Baffalo, by name and abused him. Alhaji Mamman Dan Baffallo and President Buhari are of the same father and mother.

“Out of the 26 children born by their father, they are the only males that are from the same father and mother. So, abusing my father is abusing the president.

“So, I said since the issue has gone beyond politics to denigrating the dignity of my parents, I cannot take it any longer, and it is not binding on me to stay in the party, so I decided to leave.”

Lifestyle

Gunmen attack man, kidnap his 4-year-old son Ekiti

No Comments

Gunmen have kidnapped a 4-year-old boy, Oluwadarasimi while his father, Boluwaji Omojola, managed to escape with injuries in Oye Local Government area of Ekiti

The traditional ruler of the community, Owajumu of Omu-Ekiti, Oba Gabriel Ogundeyi, confirmed the incident on Saturday, August 6.

Ogundeyi said the incident happened on Itaji/Ijelu-Ekiti Road at about 6.00 p.m on Friday, August 5, 2022.

The boy was returning from Ayede-Ekiti with his father, Boluwaji Omojola, who managed to escape after sustaining a severe cutlass injury from the abductors; he is currently receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital,” the monarch said.

Ogundeyi said that security operatives and local hunters had since been mobilised to go after the kidnappers to rescue the boy. State Commandant, Ekiti Amotekun Corps, Brig.-Gen., Joe Komolafe (rtd), who confirmed the incident, said;

“The incident happened yesterday Friday evening. My men and other security agents are in the bush looking for the kidnappers and to rescue the boy.” he added.

Lifestyle

Man beats pregnant wife to death in Delta

No Comments

A pregnant woman identified simply as Beatrice has been beaten to death by her husband popularly known as M.O.B. in Sapele community, Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State. Punch reported that the incident occurred on Friday evening August 5th in the vicinity of a new generation church, Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries, on New Road, Awolowo Road Extension, in Sapele.

It was gathered that the man began assaulting his wife after asking why she left home for church without doing the necessary house chores and making an arrangement for his dinner.

The impatient man who did not wait for his heavily pregnant wife to give an explanation, slapped her and dealt blows on her several times, causing her to collapse on the spot. Passers-by and church members were said to have rushed to the scene to rescue the woman. She was confirmed dead after being rushed to a nearby medical facility in Obule Hospital.

1 … 3 4 5 6 7 … 21
Close Menu
Exit mobile version

Privacy Policy