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Why our govt banned dependents visa for Nigerian students – British High Commissioner June 21, 2023 The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, on Wednesday, explained why the UK government banned international students from bringing family members with them starting in 2024. Specifically, by January 2024, Nigerians and other foreign nationals on study visa to the United Kingdom will no longer be able to bring in their family members, a new policy rolled out by the British Government to curb migration. According to Montgomery, the decision is to avoid pressure on the country’s housing infrastructure and to control the inflow of migrants. Many more students are trying to bring their dependents with them…but it’s not always possible to find the housing and services to meet all the needs of our existing student population…we’ll have to manage our migration in and out of the UK,” Montgomery revealed shortly after he emerged from a closed-door meeting with Vice President K...

We’ll determine petitions according to the law — Presidential Tribunal 21st June 2023 The Presidential Election Petitions Court has rejected the application for live transmission of proceedings as made by the petitioners in the court. In a unanimous ruling on the interlocutory applications, the five-member panel of justices held that the request hinges on policy decision which can only be made by the judiciary. Both the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, had separately argued that the live transmission of the proceedings had become necessary due to the public interest and concern generated by the outcome of the February 25 presidential election. In the lead ruling by the chairman of the panel, Justice Haruna Tsammani, held that the applications lacked merit and ought to be dismissed. The chairman observed that the applications, which were hinged on sections 36(3) and 39 of the Nigerian Constitution and Para...

IPOB dismisses claims of Kanu’s family, insists Ozekhome, Ejiofor not sacked 21st Jun 2023  The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has debunked what it described as fallacious and fabricated statement being peddled in the media that its lead counsel, Prof Mike Ozekhome, SAN, and Bar Ifeanyi Ejiofor have been dismissed as part of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s legal representatives. It warned those spreading such rumour to desist from that, saying that both IPOB and Kanu that engaged the legal luminaries, are very confident in their legal prowess. Stating this in a statement by IPOB Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, the group said: “It’s laughable for someone to go on social media and announce the sacking of some people he did not hire. What stupidity! “Biafrans and lovers of Biafra freedom across the world should ignore the purported statement from the so-called brothers of our leader because Mazi Nnamdi KANU regards IPOB members as his brothers and sisters. “The legal representati...

Suspended EFCC Chairman, Bawa Refuses To Write Statements, Says SSS Has No Right To Detain Him June 21, 2023 The suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, who is still in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) has refused to write statements at the secret police’s facility, according to SaharaReporters report. The newspaper said that Bawa told investigators that the DSS had no right to detain him without charges, hence his refusal to write any statements in custody. Bawa has been in detention along with Godwin Emefiele, the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, since they were suspended from their respective offices by the President Bola Tinubu’s administration over corruption allegations and abuse of office. Bawa had refused to cooperate with DSS investigators, protesting against his detention without charges. “The detained EFCC chairman has refused to write statements; he told DSS they have no right to detain hi...

GOV SANWO-OLU ATTENDS LAGOS COMMODITIES AND FUTURES EXCHANGE LAUNCH: 5 BILLION SERIES 1 OF THE 30 BILLION EKO RICE CONTRACTS PROGRAMMES, AT THE UAC BUILDING, MARINA, ON WEDNESDAY, 21ST JUNE 2023   Dear Lagosians!  I'm happy to announce the launch of the Five Billion Series 1 of the 30 Billion Eko Rice Contracts Programme on the Lagos Commodities and Futures Exchange.  This revolutionary public-private partnership is a game-changer for agriculture and food security in Lagos State.  Agriculture is a critical sector of our economy, and this programme positions Lagos as an innovative hub. By guaranteeing the availability of affordable rice, we're ensuring food security for over 80% of Lagos families and also empowering our local farmers and driving economic growth together.  Our commitment to the development of the Rice Value Chain has yielded remarkable results. We've scaled up local paddy production by 63.5%, creating over 2,620 jobs and improving livelihoods in r...

Missing placenta: Suspects arrested in Ondo are not our members - National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives The Ondo state chapter of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has absolved its members from the alleged missing placenta of a newborn baby at the Health Centre in Owo Local Government Area of the state. LIB earlier reported that a nurse, health assistant and a security guard at Emure-Ile Comprehensive Health Centre in Owo, were arrested over their alleged involvement in the mysterious disappearance of the baby’s placenta. The suspects were arrested after parents of the baby, Tunde Ijanusi, 23 and 19 -year-old Joy John, (PICTURED) made a complaint of the incident at the Emure-Ile Police Division H.  The Chairman of the Association, Comrade Kehinde Olomiye, in a statement on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, asked the police and the hospital authorities to carry out a thorough investigation of the incident to prevent a re-occurrence. “The two health ...

Case against former lawmaker arrested with $499m on election eve withdrawn The Rivers State Government has withdrawn the money laundering and criminal charges against a former lawmaker, Chinyere Igwe. Igwe was on 24th February, eve of the presidential election, arrested and arraigned before a court, for having in his possession, the sum of $499,000,000 dollars. He was, however, granted bail after some weeks. DAILY POST reports that when the matter resumed in court for proper trial on Wednesday morning, Rivers State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Professor Zacchaeus Adangor, announced the withdrawal of the suit. Adangor did not give any reason for the state government’s decision to withdraw the case against Igwe. The trial Judge, Justice Stephen Daylop-Pam, in his ruling, after the position of the state government was not opposed by the defence counsel, discharged the defendant. The judge also ordered the Police to return his international passport and other exhibits sei...

There is no approval yet- RMAFC denies salary increase for Tinubu, Govs, others The Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has denied media reports claiming that it has approved the increment of salaries of political office-holders, judicial and public office holders by 114 per cent. In an interview with Leadership, RMAFC Public Relations Officer, Christian Nwachukwu, said President Bola Tinubu has not given approval for the increment of salaries of public servants. Rakiya Tanko-Ayuba, a Federal Commissioner in the Commission, had made the salary increment remark when she represented RMAFC chairman, Mohammad Shehu, at the presentation of the reports of the reviewed remuneration package to Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, in Birnin Kebbi, on Tuesday June 20. Tanko-Ayuba reportedly said that implementation of the reviewed remuneration packages was effective from January 1, 2023, a claim that has been denied by the Commission’s spokesman. “Not my chairman. Not my...

Abiodun hails appointment of Egbetokun as Acting IGP Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has congratulated the newly appointed Inspector General of Police (IGP) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun. Egbetokun’s appointment in acting capacity, pending approval by the Senate, was announced on Monday, alongside those of other Service Chiefs, the National Security Adviser and the Comptroller of Customs (CG). Egbetokun, an indigene of Ogun State, was a Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), prior to his elevation to replace IGP Usman Alkali Baba. Prince Abiodun, in a statement from the Governor’s Office, said the elevations of Egbetokun and others were well deserved as they possessed the competence to excel in their new positions. The governor said that the appointment of Egbetokun is an honour to Ogun State, adding that the new IGP, having worked in various commands, formations and departments of the police across the country, would bring his wealth of experience t...

Judges and elected politicians to get 114% salary raise - RMAFC The Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has said that the salaries of politicians, judicial and public office holders will be increased by 114 percent. This was disclosed by RMAFC chairman, Muhammad Shehu, who was represented by Rakiya Tanko-Ayuba, a federal commissioner, during the presentation of reviewed remuneration package report to  Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi state.  Shehu who said the move is in accordance with the provision of paragraph 32(d) of part 1 of the Third Schedule of the 1999 constitution of the federal government (as amended), urged the house of assembly to move quickly on the amendment of relevant laws to pave way for upward review of income packages for political, judicial and public officers. He noted that the last remuneration review was conducted in 2007.  Shehu also said the salaries were reviewed in line with rules of equity and fairness, risk and respon...

Australian Woman Living With Disorder To Kill Herself Legally  An Australian young woman, Lily Thai, 23, prepares to take her own life because of a disorder that keeps her in a constant state of pain. According to South Australia's voluntary assisted dying laws, which the state enacted in January, Thai will die on Wednesday, Daily Mail reported on Monday. Thai, who has been diagnosed with auto-immune autonomic ganglionopathy, is unable to move and battles with unbearable pain from a rare condition where a person's body attacks their own nervous system and leaves her bedridden. She signed the paperwork last week confirming her decision at Flinders Medical Centre's Laurel Hospice in Adelaide's south, where she was receiving palliative care. Thai said, "I decided that pain was so severe it wasn't worth it, and I just wanted to take it into my own hands." She has been battling health issues since 17-year-old after she was first diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syn...

UPDATE |  AIRCRAFT DETECTS BANGING SOUNDS COMING FROM THE TITANIC SHIPWRECK SITE AS RESCUERS TRY TO LOCATE TEAM OF 5 TRAPPED IN A SUBMERSIBLE SOME 12,000 FEET UNDERWATER  A Canadian Aircraft picked up the sounds near the disappearance site, a leaked memo suggests. The Explorers Club also posted that there have been 'likely signs of life detected.’ Rescue crews are trying to locate the sub that went missing Sunday on its way to the Titanic wreck site  Hope of finding the Titan five - the crew on board a missing sub on an expedition to the Titanic shipwreck - have grown after rescue groups reported 'likely signs of life' and 'banging sounds.' A Canadian Aircraft, part of the enormous search mission looking for the missing Titanic tourists, heard 'banging' at 30-minute intervals in the area the submarine disappeared. The banging was noted in emails exchanged with the US Department of Homeland Security and seen by Rolling Stone. Richard Garriot de Cayeux, Presid...

Interior Decorator, 2 Others Jailed for Cybercrime in Ilorin The Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction of one Asaolu Femi Richard, an interior decorator from Iloffa in Oke-ero Local Government Area of Kwara State and two others for offences bordering on cybercrime.   The two others are Adeoye Abdulgafar Olashile from Atiba Local Government Area of Oyo State and Madiu Bayo Tajudeen from Kishi area of Oyo State. The three convicts were prosecuted on separate charges before Justice Adebayo Yusuf of the Kwara State High Court, Ilorin. Asaolu Femi Richard (Alias: Marissa Hant) sometime in April 2023, in Ilorin, did cheat by personation when he pretended to be one Marissa Hant, a white Transgender from Texas, United States of America with email account phemiolamde@gmail.com and in that guise induced one Nick Fansier, to send you $30 (Thirty Dollars) which he received via a gift card thereby committed an offence contrar...

ACTDA Intensifies Raid Against Illegal Trading, Removes Shanties In Parts Of Awka Officials ofAwka Capital Territory Development Authority have embarked on the demolition of street shanties and illegal stores defacing the Capital City.  The areas visited by the agency's officials were Ngozika Estate road, Club road, formerly Abakillki street, as well as Oby Okoli avenue. Speaking during the raid, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Awka Capital Territory Development Authority, Mr. Ossy Onuko, disclosed that the operation will be a sustained effort in line with Governor Chukwuma Soludo's agenda of making Anambra a liveable and prosperous homeland. Mr. Onuko regretted that despite the numerous warnings by the agency and other agencies of governmemts, traders have continued to construct shanties and trade along road sides, and warned that ACTDA will continue to wage war against all manners of impunity in the capital territory. According to the ACTDA boss, they wil...

 BENUE ASSEMBLY SUSPENDS ALL 23 LG CHAIRMEN 21st June, 2023  The Benue State House of Assembly has taken a decisive step by demanding the immediate suspension of all 23 local government chairmen in the state. This action follows the establishment of an ad hoc committee tasked with investigating the chairmen for allegations of financial recklessness. Honorable Peter Ipusu, the chairman of the committee, presented the findings and recommendations during a session in the House on Wednesday. The ad hoc committee was set up by the Benue State House of Assembly to thoroughly investigate the local government chairmen and their financial activities. The probe was initiated due to concerns of mismanagement and improper use of public funds. Honorable Peter Ipusu, as the committee chairman, spearheaded the investigation, gathering evidence and conducting interviews to determine the veracity of the allegations. During a session in the House, Honorable Peter Ipusu presented the comprehensi...

COMMISSION DISCOVERS FINANCIAL INFRACTIONS IN SUBEBs 21st June, 2023  The management of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has discovered various financial infractions committed by State’s Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) as a result of the routine observations and findings in the reports of financial monitoring exercises carried out in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). This was disclosed by UBEC Executive Secretary, Dr Hamid Bobboyi while declaring open a five-day financial management training for SUBEB staff held in Kano. Represented by Mr Lurwanu Garba, the executive secretary said the commission therefore felt the need to ensure sound and effective financial management of the federal government UBEC intervention fund as a measure to minimise infractions, bridge the knowledge gaps and capacity deficit among the staff.

BILL GATES URGES NIGERIAN GOVT TO IMPROVE INVESTMENT IN EQUITABLE SOLUTIONS The Co-chair of, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates, has urged the Federal Government to improve investment in equitable solutions and in the people who are working on them. He said this during the Pan-African Youth Innovation Forum on Wednesday in Lagos, as part of activities for his visit to Nigeria. The Forum had the theme: Advancing Africa: Unleashing the Power of Youth in Science and Innovation. Mrs. Gates said that Nigeria was full of talented people with a lot of potential, but noted that it could be hard to fulfil that potential if they don’t have access to the most basic building blocks of life. Mr. Gates said that he would speak with the government about increasing commitments to agriculture and digital financial systems. According to him, Nigerian youths have shown how passionate they are about progress, but they need to encourage their leaders to follow through on these commitments. Mr. G...

FUBARA TASKS NLNG ON SOLVING TRAFFIC NIGHTMARE ON EAST-WEST ROAD  ...Assures of Secured Environment for Business   Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has charged the management of Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) on the timely delivery of its planned extension of the Bodo-Bonny road project to the section of the East-West Road in Ogoni axis as the state government is desirous of supporting the company on the project. Governor Fubara who gave the charge when he received in audience the management of NLNG Limited on a courtesy visit at Government House in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, tasked the company not to delay any further in ending the associated sufferings of Rivers people on the East-West road He maintained that his administration is working hard to sustain the prevailing security enjoyed to make the state safer and also create a more business-friendly environment that will boost the confidence of investors. Sir Fubara also recalled how effective ...

Court Remands Alleged Ritualist Father To Prison Custody In Awka.  By Chidinma Ikeanyionwu The Chief Magistrate of the Children, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Magistrate court in Awka, Genevieve Osakwe has remanded one Mr. Sunday Ezeh for attempted murder and inflicting injuries on his 17 year old daughter. Mr. Ezeh a native of Ara village Nise in Awka South local government area of the state was arraigned before the Magistrate court on Wednesday, 21st June, 2023. The Chief Magistrate Osakwe mandated that the case be transmitted to the Children, Sexual and Gender Based Violence High court in Awka for hearing. Recall that Mr. Ezeh is the father of the rescued 17 year old who is currently recuperating after an emergency head surgery at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital Awka. The 17 year old who was rescued by the Women and Social Welfare Commissioner, Hon Ify Obinabo though still at the state teaching hospital,is responding to treatments More photos below. 

 EFCC Warns Skit, Movie Producers over Unauthorized Use of EFCC Jackets, Symbols The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to the activities of content creators, movies and skit producers who use EFCC-branded Jackets, symbols, insignia and other accoutrements without authorization.  The Commission wishes to notify the public that the use of the EFCC brand in movies without authorization is illegal. While the Commission appreciate the desire by some operators in the creative sector to produce movies/skits with plots around economic and financial crimes, it is incumbent on such operators to seek the Commission’s authorization, including vetting of scenes which purport to depict the operations of the Commission, to ensure that false or misleading messages are not passed to the public. The Public Affairs Department of the Commission is adequately equipped to work with motion picture practitioners desirous of partnering with the Commission ...

 GOV SANWO-OLU RECEIVES GOVERNOR ALEX OTTI OF ABIA STATE AT LAGOS HOUSE, MARINA, ON WEDNESDAY, 21ST JUNE 2023  Honored to receive Governor Alex Otti of Abia State at Lagos House, Marina today.  Productive discussions on strengthening collaboration between Lagos and Abia for shared prosperity and development.  Together, we'll create a brighter future for our states and the entire nation. R-L: Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu exchanges greetings with his Abia State counterpart, Governor Alex Otti while the Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Barr Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, watches during a meeting at the Lagos House, Marina, on Wednesday, 21 June 2023   L-R: Abia State Governor, Mr Alex Otti with his Lagos State counterpart, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu during a meeting at the Lagos House, Marina, on Wednesday, 21 June 2023   L-R: Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Barr Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, Abia State Governor, Mr Alex Otti and Lagos State ...

Court remands pastor for alleged rape of minor in Aba An Aba South Senior Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday remanded 60-year-old Chukwuemeka Orji at the Correctional Centre over the alleged rape of a minor. Orji, a Pastor of the Assemblies of God Church, Ukonu Street, off Ngwa Road, Aba is facing a one-count charge of serially raping a 13-year-old girl that lived with him. The rape survivor (name withheld) told the court that the defendant had carnal knowledge of her on many occasions. She said that after Orji’s third time rape, she told his wife, Mercy, who reportedly confronted him over the allegation. The survivor claimed that the pastor denied the allegation before his wife. She said that Orji, however, continued to rape her and threatened to send her back to her parents in the village in Ugwunagbo, should she expose him. She said that the threat deterred her from telling her parents, who worship in another branch of the church, about what she was passing through. She further said that...