President Muhammadu Buhari has urged the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to suspend its on-going industrial action in the interest of the country.
Buhari gave the charge on Tuesday during the 3rd Convocation Ceremony of the Alex Ekwueme-Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo (AE-FUNAI) Ebonyi.
The ongoing strike declared by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) continues as the leaders of the union and the Federal government failed to reach an agreement again.
According to NAN, Buhari, who was represented by Mr Victor Onuoha, Deputy Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) said government was aware of the challenges confronting the sector. “We are not unmindful of the funding challenge faced by the education sector, occasioned by dwindling resources and other competing national needs.
“We will, however, continue doing the needful to improve the nation’s educational sector within available, limited resources,” he said.
The President said that his administration realised the importance of education in nation building and pledged its continued support and provision to the sector.
“We will continue providing specific infrastructure through annual appropriation and other interventions such as the Tertiary Education Trust (TET) Fund, NEEDS assessment, among others.
“Universities have critical roles to play in nation building as they must justify their establishment through excellent, production-based research activities, innovative ideas, empowerment of youths among others,” he said.
Ahead of the Yuletide, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has launched total war on online fraudsters otherwise known as ‘Yahoo Boys’, The PUNCH has learnt.
The operation codenamed ‘Cyber Storm’, will involve EFCC operatives monitoring suspicious transactions especially by youths who cannot explain their source of wealth.
The commission will also deploy its agents in nightclubs and concerts where youths usually go to “pop” expensive champagne. The anti-graft agency will also be monitoring social media accounts of suspected fraudsters who usually show off their expensive cars and houses.
Confirming the development, the Spokesman for the EFCC, Mr. Tony Orilade, said, “The chairman, Ibrahim Magu, has constituted a Special Task Force on Internet Fraud.
“The task force, is made up of personnel from ICT, Public Affairs, Operations and Special Control Unit against Money Laundering.”
As part of the operation, the EFCC has already arrested over 50 suspected online fraudsters in the last 10 days in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Ibadan.
An EFCC operative said, “We have declared a total war on Yahoo boys who have done nothing but given Nigeria a bad name home and abroad. We know their methods of operation. Be assured that in the coming days we will make more arrests.
“Those who live honest lives will not be touched.”
Former Nigeria’s defence chief Alex Badeh was assassinated yesterday. He was shot dead by unknown assailants along Abuja-Keffi Road.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) confirmed the death of former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Sabundu Badeh.
In a statement signed late Tuesday in Abuja by Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola said Badeh died from gunshot wounds he sustained when his vehicle was attacked.
The statement reads:
”It is with a heavy heart that I regretfully announce the unfortunate demise of former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Sabundu Badeh, who died today, 18 Dec 18, from gunshot wounds sustained when his vehicle was attacked while returning from his farm along Abuja-Keffi Road.
“On behalf officers, airmen and airwomen of the Nigerian Air Force, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, commiserates with the family of the late former Chief of Defence Staff over this irreparable loss. We pray that the Almighty God grants his soul eternal rest.”
It totalled up to a whopping 865 days living at the five-star accommodation while his family remained at their £25million home in London.
But this afternoon he was driven away for the final time and will head back to the capital with his £24million pay off safe in his back pocket.
Speaking to a photographer outside, he appeared happy enough to pose for pictures and when asked how he was feeling, Mourinho replied: “Okay, my friend”.
The Nigerian police yesterday re-arraigned the Osun State governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Ademola Adeleke, on allegations of examination malpractice.
Adeleke, who was first arraigned on a four-count charge brought against him in September, for alleged conspiracy and impersonation among other offences, was re-arraigned on Tuesday, with the charges increased from four to seven-counts, still bordering on similar offences.
Adeleke has been accused of conspiring to procure illegal examination results with workers at the Ojo-Aro community grammar school and arraigned him along with a principal and three others accused of conspiring to commit the alleged crime. The police force also accused Mr Adeleke of making false documents, regarding his age and violating the exam malpractice act, CAP E15, 2004.
Adeleke, who contested closely with his counterpart from the All Progressives Congress, (APC) Adegboyega Oyetola, is challenging the outcome of the election which saw Oyetola emerge winner, after a declaration by Nigeria’s electoral umpire that the election was inconclusive on September, 22. Adeleke is accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission and the APC of colluding to ensure the candidate of the APC emerges winner in the September elections in the state.
At plenary yesterday, Senator Dino Melaye spoke on the floor of the house in defense of political activist, Deji Adeyanju, who is currently in detention.
According to the Kogi lawmaker ;
‘this activist was arrested again by the Police, for a matter that took place 18 years ago. The judgement has been given. Deji Adeyanju and two others have been discharged and acquitted by the court. This is not acceptable to me; it should not be accepted by the Senate. It is time for the Senate to stand up and speak up in defense of Deji Adeyanju. We need to defend Deji Adeyanju, as we need to defend every Nigerian’.
Deji Adeyanju was rearraigned before a Wuse magistrate court on Tuesday December 4th, before he was granted bail. Adeyanju, who was arrested on November 28th while leading a protest in Abuja, was released on Monday December 3rd from the federal prison in Keffi after meeting his bail condition but was re-arrested by a police team waiting around the prison.
Just days after their overwhelming public display of affection at her concert, singing sensation, Simi has invited Adekunle Gold to come to hers’ for the holidays.
The songstress thrilled her fans days ago after she shared a quite intimate photo of herself and AG in each other’s warm embrace at her Simi ‘Live in Lagos’ concert. ICYMI
Since then, tongues have been wagging over their matter and the “I dun care” crooner has given even more reason for people to talk after she publicly invited AG to come holiday in her premises, on Twitter.
After AG stated via a tweet that he’s in need of a holiday, his supposed babe, Simi, invited him over to her place. See their tweets below,
A German woman married to a Nigerian man has narrated her experience in Nigeria and how she’s raising her 3 kids to have a sense of belonging and understand their Nigerian roots.
Nicole Chilaka-Ukpo recently returned with her husband from Germany to Imo State, Nigeria for the Christmas holiday.
Nicole took to Facebook to narrate what it’s been like for her and her kids in Imo state, Nigeria.
She also revealed how she’s ensuring that her kids get the full Nigerian experience while they are here. She added that she feels at home here in Nigeria and always looks forward to visiting.
The 28-year-old wrote:
let me tell you what really matters.
reality!
when coming home, we make sure we expose our kids to 100% reality in nigeria. not only bringing them here, hotel nye nye, city nye nye, 24/7 gen nye nye.
no
we make sure we spend as much time as possible in the east, village self! we take them to the local market, we eat local food, we make use of public transportation and drink pure water once in a while. we make sure they see and know how an animal is killed,because knowing where your food comes from helps understanding the value of natural resources. we stay without light if there is none, we use firewood to cook at times, we leave them to run around the compound, get dirty and sandy, and just enjoy their environment. they are free here. bonding is so so important, most especially when the kids grow. every time they come back here they bond with their people again, it may take a year, but once we all reunite its like we have never been gone. when we are all together we share responsibilities, and the care for the kids, it doesn’t matter if they are my kids or my nephews and nieces, if we are together we are all one. so we all share the chores.
On Tuesday, 18th of December, 2019 Davido and his babymama, Sophia Momodu attended the school end of year party of their daughter, Imade Adeleke in Lagos.
The singer looked like a dotting dad as he rocked a casual outfit to be there for his daughter at such a lovely time. The photos which were shared on Imade’s page, had the caption,
My school Christmas concert was so much fun with my besties ❣️???
Nigerian Actress, Kemi Lala Akindoju has reacted to the viral video where two men said that the way a 5-year-old girl is dressed could lead to rape. (read more on that here)
Reacting to the video on Twitter, the actress wrote:
They should start showing themselves! These men think a child in shorts is revealing her body sexually. This is just a sneak peek into the minds of the average Nigerian man. Yet we want Yaba male traders to stop harassing women. We have so much work to do! Sad!!!
I know some of us struggle with the term feminism but this is why we all need to be feminists. We are not fighting for equal rights yet. The girl child/woman is not on the same level as her male counterparts. Nobody’s fusses on boys ‘dressing properly’ or ‘sitting properly.
She went on to reveal that boys get abused too but no one blames it on what they are wearing.
She wrote:
Boys are also being abused by MEN & WOMEN (even though statistics say the men are still more). But does anyone accuse the boys of dressing indecently and being the cause for the rape/abuse? Can we see that the odds are already against the girl child?
Respected Nigerian singer Duncan Mighty has made a warning call to presidential candidate of African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore about his choice of running mate.
The Port Harcourt breed singer said he could make a good running mate for Sowore or at large become a part of his team as the election near. Duncan Mighty faulted the choice of Rabiu Ahmed Rufai a medical practioner. He was the opinion that Dr Rufai wasn’t representing the AAC well.
In his words;
“Nigeria needs solution experts who are able to go into the street”.
“A man like Sowore needs a man like Duncan Mighty to tell him whatever you say can be done,” he said in a video posted on Instagram.
“Someone was telling me that Sowore already has a vice-presidential candidate and I went to his page and realized that this guy is a doctor and he has only 15 posts of pictures.
“He is supposed to let us know, as a doctor, that Nigeria should be the leading health nation. Nigeria should be that nation where everybody from outside should come have the best healthcare. For this reason, I will demand a debate.”
“It is high time we realize that it is not only when Mr President travels that the vice-president should work.
“Go to Sowore’s page, you will realize that he has over 543 posts concerning how Nigeria is going to get better.”
Danish aid worker, Anja Ringgren Loven has taken to her Facebook page to celebrate a boy she and her husband rescued in Akwa Ibom after being branded a witch and driven away by his family.
When the young boy, Ernest, was rescued almost 5 years ago, he didn’t speak English. Neither could he read nor write.
On Monday, he took the second position out of 50 students in his class.
Sharing a harrowing story of the young boy, Anja revealed how Ernest slept inside the bushes for two years to escape being killed by witch-hunters. During this painful period, he met a 9-year-old boy also accused of being a witch.
His story below :
Back in 2015, a year after Ernest was rescued, I sat down with him one evening to learn more about how he managed to survive.
Ernest was accused of being a witch and such accusation will not let a child stay alive for very long. For 2 years Ernest slept inside bushes to hide himself. His body was covered in mosquito bites every night but he had to accept it or else he would risk being killed.
While struggling to survive Ernest met another young boy, also accused of being a witch. The two boys became friends and during the day they would look for small jobs to earn a little money. Ernest told me that it gave him a little sense of protection to have a friend. Together they helped each other to stay alive.
But one night while the boys were sleeping inside the bushes they were caught by a group of men. The men dragged the boys by their legs out of the bushes. Ernest and his friend were screaming and fought to get away. Ernest managed to get free and ran to hide in a bush. His friend was not that lucky.
While hiding in the bush Ernest could see how his friend was screaming and crying while the men tied a robe around his neck. The other end of the rope was tied to a car. His friend did not die immediately. He fought for his life trying to breathe while the car dragged him around. But within a few minutes he had to give up. He died slowly in fear. He was only 9 years old.
Ernest witness everything.
Ernest was now alone again. He felt guilty of not being able to protect his friend. One night he woke up in pain. The men were back. They had set fire to Ernest leg. The men tried to burn him alive while he was sleeping. Once again Ernest escaped.
I cannot even begin to imagine how such horrors must feel like for a young boy. Not only the fear and the struggle to survive, but the loneliness of being unwanted must be the worse feeling for us as humans. A feeling worse than death.
This year David and our Education Officers Don Udowan, Edidiong and Mr. Bassey together with our Director of Child Development Nsidibe Orok decided to change Ernest to a high standard school with highly intelligent students for him to get more competition.
To even get admitted to such high standard school one must have to be subjected to a very difficult exam where only a very few number of students will be admitted by the end of the day. Ernest took the exam and got a very high score and was admitted. We were all very excited.
Due to some administrative procedures Ernest started the new school 3 weeks later than the rest of the students. So Ernest missed out of 3 weeks and had to use many nights to study to keep up with his class mates. It was a tough start for him at a very competitive school with very intelligent students.
Last week was the end of the first term and Ernest got his result. We were all very surprised. We never expected Ernest to take a top position because the school is so highly competitive, but Ernest came home with second position out of 50 students in his class !!!
This is the best Christmas gift ever. One that money cannot buy.
Barcelona superstar, Lionel Messi, has been awarded his fifth Golden Shoe award for leading all of Europe’s soccer leagues in scoring last season.
The Argentine forward who scored 34 goals last season and led his club to the title was presented with the Golden Shoe award on Tuesday.
Egyptian and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah was the second leading scorer of Europe’s domestic leagues with 32 goals in the Premier League.
In a statement, Messi, who is Barcelona’s all-time leading scorer with 572 goals in 655 games, said:
‘I love football, but when I started I didn’t expect all this. My dream was to be a professional player,’
‘This is thanks to the hard work and effort I have put in, and above all to my teammates. I have the best players in the world at their positions playing beside me.’
The Kaduna Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on December 18, 2018 arraigned one Shinum Adinga before Justice Muhammed Muazu of the Kaduna State High Court on a two-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and obtaining by false pretence.
Adinga had deceived his victim into parting with N4,050,000 in instalments in the belief that it was being invested in a ginger farming business, which turned out to be false.
One of the counts reads:
“That you, Shonum Adinga, sometimes in 2016 in Kaduna within the Kaduna Judicial Division of the High Court with intent to defraud, did obtain the sum of N3,830,000 (Three Million Eight Hundred and Thirty Thousand Naira) by way of instalment payment from one Peter Onyeka Sunday also called Peter Eze through your wife’s account Margret Shunom, domiciled with Diamond Bank under the false pretence that the said money will be invested for ginger business, which will generate profits on the said amount, a pretence you knew was false and you there by committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act”.
He pleaded “not guilty” when the charges were read to him. Prosecuting counsel, Onyeka Eze, asked the court for a date for trial to commence. Defence counsel, Y. Makarfi, however, urged the court to grant his client bail.
While adjourning to January 29, 2019, Justice Muazu, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1million with one surety in like sum who must be a public servant not below grade level 16 with a landed property within the jurisdiction of the court covered by a Certificate of Occupancy.
Manchester United midfielder, Paul Pogba, who has had problems with his now former coach, Jose Mourinho over the last few months, seemed to mock him with a controversial Instagram post after the coach was sacked earlier today.
As soon as Mourinho’s dismissal was announced, the French midfielder posted a smiling picture of himself and wrote ‘caption this‘ which he then deleted 10 minutes later after over 64,000 people had liked it.
However, Pogba’s post prompted criticism from former Manchester United defender Gary Neville and his fellow Sky Sports pundit, Jamie Carragher.
Neville wrote on Twitter: ‘Caption this’ ‘You do one as well!’
Jamie Carragher also weighed in, replying to Neville:
‘Spot on! Plenty of clubs in Europe doing fine without him!!’
An American lady has taken to Twitter to give the testimony of how God has delivered from homosexuality which she dubs a “SIN”.
In her Tweets, the lady with the handle, @sheisdestinylee, said that for so many years, the devil lied to her that having a woman love her is better than a man would do.
She has now being delivered and she has the good Lord to thank for that.
The Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, has arrested three suspected internet fraudsters, at No 24, 1st Avenue, Fort Royal Estate, Airport road, Abuja.
The suspects are; Marvin Nwankwo, Prince Ojenike and Jude Olatekobowale. They created a Facebook account with the following names: Rodney David; David Rodgers and Carlos David, respectively.
A statement released by the antigraft agency says their arrest was based on intelligence report that the suspects turned the said residence as their office, using laptops, phone and other gadgets to defraud innocent people, including foreigners, of their hard earned money and other valuables.
The intelligence further revealed that the suspects aged between 22 to 30 years, used the proceeds of their crimes to acquire different properties such as cars which include a GLK Mercedes Benz SUV, a Toyota Corolla, amongst others.
On receipt of the intelligence report, operatives of the EFCC swung into action and mounted surveillance on the said address, to monitor the activities of the suspects.
After thorough investigations, the suspects were arrested and items, which included several laptops of different makes, very expensive mobile phones, modems, many Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards, amongst others were recovered.
Three teenagers were yesterday remanded in Kirikiri Prison by an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court following their arraignment for allegedly gang-raping a teenage girl.
They are Wasiu Lawal, 18, Tosin Taoreed, 18, and Peter Joseph, 19, who reside in Ikate, Ajah, Lagos, The Nation reports.
Prosecutor Benson Emuerhi said the offence was committed on November 18 at 11pm, at Eyiwuawi Street, Ikate, Lagos.
He alleged that the 18-year-old girl, who was sent on an errand by her uncle, was returning home when she was ambushed by the trio.
“When the girl was going home after delivering the message, she met the accused, who forcefully dragged her inside a workshop.
“The accused covered her mouth so that her cries would not be heard and gang-raped her,” Emuerhi alleged.
He said after the assault, the girl went home crying and told her uncle what happened.
“The case was reported at the police station and the accused were arrested,” the prosecutor added.
Chief Magistrate Olufunke Sule-Amzat rejected their bail application and ordered that they be kept in custody.
DM Records fresh kid, King Perryy has just gotten a brand new car from his boss, Timaya a s a Christmas present.
The fast-rising singer was gifted a brand new Dodge Challenger by his boss.
Perryy was signed to Timaya’s DM Records earlier in the year. King Perryy has a single ‘Man On Duty’ which he featured his boss.
The young lad took to his IG page to flaunt the new ride with caption ‘Hey King Perryy, God will never let you down…Big Xmas gift from PAPICHULO @timayatimaya God bless you boss ??❤️ ?‘.
The quite surprising shocking video of two men on a TV programme stating that a female child is a sexual being has emerged online. The topic of discussion on the show was rape and the men argued that the way females dress, aid the rape culture.
One of the male guest argued that female children no matter how young, should be dressed properly in order not to attract pedophiles. He further stressed that female kids even as young as 5 years are sexual beings and shouldn’t be dressed in bum shorts especially to malls.
“Sometimes you go to the mall and you see a child of 5 or 7 wearing bum short walking around and you see their parents walking behind them. Sometimes what the 5 year old or the 7 year old is wearing is revealing” one of the male participant said
When the female host, Lolo Cynthia, cut him short to educate him that a child can wear anything because a child is not a sexual being, the other male guest replied
A video trending online shows the moment a school girl bullied and attacked a Muslim girl in the school’s rest room.
In the video, the white girl is seen confronting the Muslim girl – she then starts to hit her, pushed her into a toilet stall, and throw her to the ground then continues hitting her.
“Leave me alone,” the Muslim girl kept screaming while trying to push her assailant off her. But her attacker continued hitting her while someone filmed.
The incident happened at Chartiers Valley High School in Pittsburgh. Charges have been filed against the bully.
Watch the video below,
A girl attacks a hijab wearing Muslim girl in the bathroom at Chartiers Valley High School in Pittsburgh •Charges have been filed against the girl •Hate crime charges are pending •42% of American Muslim students report bullying for their faith.?pic.twitter.com/uXYPXwOYyP
A mother who drowned her four-year-old daughter in the bath and placed her on a coffee table before setting her alight to make her a “human sacrifice” has been found not guilty of murder.
Carly Ann Harris, 38, was accused of killing Amelia Brooke Harris at the family home in Trealaw, Tonypandy on June 8 but a jury cleared her of murder by reason of insanity.
She was convicted of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and was sectioned to a psychiatric hospital indefinitely at Newport Crown Court today.
The jury returned a “special verdict” after hearing that psychiatrists – appearing for both the prosecution and defence – agreed Harris was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia.
Kate Brunner, defending, said:
“In taking her daughter’s life she destroyed her own life and brought unimaginable horror to her friends and family.
“She is profoundly remorseful and I invite the court to reflect that.”
Prosecuting, Michael Jones said:
“Amelia was four years old when she was killed.
“On that day, Carly Ann Harris placed Amelia in a bath full of water and deliberately drowned her.
“She placed her body on a coffee table situated in the garden and then set fire to Amelia’s body.”
The court heard the mum told cops who found the four-year-old’s charred body under a sheet on a coffee table in the garden the angels had told her to do it.
The jury was told Harris believed she had to kill her child in order to protect her and save the world.
Dr Arden Tomison, a forensic consultant psychologist who examined the mum last month, told jurors she still believed there had been a “terrible mistake” and people “misunderstood her“.
The doctor added:
“She was still delusional and still suffering from a psychotic illness. She knew that’s what people thought but she couldn’t quite get that.
“She was very sure she had been instructed by God. I am clear in my mind that she was driven to this by her own belief system.”
Dr Tomison also told the court he believed Harris developed her mental illness around two months before she killed Amelia after she told him she was possessed by the spirit of an angel during Passover.
Jurors previously heard how Harris told cops who found the four-year-old’s charred body under a sheet on a coffee table in the garden “I’m a monster”.
When she was taken to the police station, she allegedly said: “I deserve to die. What the f***? My little girl. The angels said it must be done.”
The jury was told neighbour Megan Griffiths heard a raised voice saying “mummy, mummy, mummy” before they heard screaming and found Harris standing in the front garden.
She told them: “God will be with her. The angels have taken her.”
They went into the back garden and found the little girl’s charred body.
In new reports, rapper, Cardi B will be spending Christmas with Offset despite their messy breakup drama.
In a new report by E! News, right before their split, Cardi and Offset’s relationship was “up and down.” The source added, “Cardi will always love Offset, but ultimately lost trust in their relationship.”
What’s important for her, however, is co-parenting their daughter Kulture Kiari Cephus. Cardi has praised Offset’s parenting and the insider referred to him as “an amazing dad.”
An insider told E! News on Monday that, although they are not together right now, they will be spending the holidays together as a family.
“Cardi B wants Offset to be a part of Kulture’s life and wants him to spend Christmas with his daughter,” the source said. “It’s Kulture’s first Christmas and it means a lot to Cardi to have the family together.”
The “I Like It” rapper will be spending some time in the Dominican Republic with her family and “plans to spend time and celebrate the holiday” there.
President Muhammadu Buhari turned 76 yesterday, December 17th, and his aides and a few state governors treated him to a surprise birthday get-together at the state house in Abuja.
