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French schools refuse dozens of girls wearing Muslim robe French schools refuse dozens of girls wearing Muslim robe French schools sent dozens of girls home for refusing to remove their abayas — an over-garment from the shoulders to the feet worn by Muslim women — on the first day of the school year, a government minister said Tuesday. Defying a ban on the Muslim robe, nearly 300 girls showed up Monday morning wearing an abaya, Gabriel Attal told the BFM broadcaster. Most agreed to change out of the robe, but 67 refused and were sent home, he said. The government announced last month it was banning the abaya in schools, saying it broke the rules on secularism in education that have already seen Muslim headscarves banned on the grounds they constitute a display of religious affiliation. The move gladdened the political right but the hard-left argued it represented an affront to civil liberties. Attal said the girls refused entry were given a letter addressed to their families saying tha...

Peter Obi Will Win at Tribunal – Labour Party Counters Tinubu’s Claims The Labour Party (LP) has countered the Presidency’s assertion that President Bola Tinubu is not worried about the outcome of the verdict of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, which is set to be delivered on Wednesday. The party declared that its Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, in the election will win. The Presidency’s claim was made by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, who said that Tinubu is not losing sleep over the verdict because he won the February 25 presidential poll. However, LP spokesman Obiora Ifoh said the party is sure that its candidate, Obi, will emerge victorious. “We are positive that the judgement will favour the Labour Party and our presidential candidate, Peter Obi,” Ifoh said in a statement. “We are also positive that the will of the people will prevail. “Most Nigerians have waited this long and their wishes will be granted. “The mandate freely express...

PEPT Verdict: We Were Told Not To Come To Work On Wednesday For Our Own Good - Court Staff Reveals As the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) prepares to announce its verdict regarding the petitions challenging President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s victory in the February 25th presidential election this Wednesday, the Court of Appeal in Abuja has implemented precautionary measures. These measures involve instructing its staff to refrain from coming to work on that day to ensure the safety of the court’s employees. An unnamed court staff member shared this information with THE PUNCH, revealing that only a limited number of accredited staff would be allowed to enter the courtroom on Wednesday. This decision was made with the well-being of the staff in mind, and it was mentioned that tags would be distributed to those who need to be present for work. The staff member stated, “We were told today that we should not come to work on Wednesday and that only those with tags would be ...

"We Expect Nothing Than Victory,' Atiku Speaks Ahead of Tomorrow's Tribunal Judgement Presidential candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has spoken about his expectations ahead of the presidential tribunal’s judgement on Wednesday, September 6. The former vice president, through his lawyer, Chris Uche (SAN), argued that President Tinubu was not qualified to contest the 2023 presidential election, having submitted “forged certificates,” including Chicago State University and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate with the name ‘Adekunle,’ Daily Trust reported. Another aide to the former Vice President, Paul Ibe, said Atiku and his party expect nothing else than victory. Going further, he said the tribunal’s judgment should align with the 1999 Constitution as amended and the Electoral Act 2022. “We expect that the PEPT will render justice in line with the 1999 constitution as amended and all the other bodies of law that guided the ele...

Presidential Tribunal Verdict Expected to Favor Tinubu, Victory Unlikely for Peter Obi, Says Primate Ayodele Primate Elijah Ayodele, the leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, expressed his belief on Tuesday that Peter Obi, the presidential candidate for the Labour Party (LP), is unlikely to secure victory at the presidential election tribunal. According to Primate Ayodele, the judgment is expected to favor President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. In a statement released by his Media Aide, Oluwatosin Osho, Primate Ayodele emphasized that Obi’s supporters may be left disappointed as the tribunal’s decision is unlikely to be in their favor. He also reminded everyone that it might be challenging for the tribunal to remove President Bola Tinubu from office. Primate Ayodele urged all parties involved in the case to uphold law and order and avoid causing unnecessary unrest and chaos in the country, regardless of the final judgment. He stated, “The judgment is not likely to align with Peter Obi...

100 days in office: FG highlights Tinubu’s achievements The federal government has highlighted some of the achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the last 100 days. It is exactly 100 days ago, Tinubu assumed office as the 16th President of Nigeria. FG noted that Tinubu began the journey to rebuild the country’s battered economy in a difficult situation. A statement signed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mallam Mohammed Idris, noted that the country’s public debts – both local and foreign – coupled with an unsustainable fuel subsidy regime created a gaping hole in public finance and rendered the three tiers of governments insolvent and incapable of meeting the needs of the citizens. In solving the problems, the minister noted that Tinubu took a bold and courageous decision “to remove the fuel subsidy to avert a national economic catastrophe of epic proportions. He described the fuel subsidy regime as a Sword of Damocles that hung over Nigeria for decades...

World Cup Was RIGGED for Lionel Messi to Win — Louis Van Gaal Louis van Gaal has claimed that last year's World Cup in Qatar was rigged to help Lionel Messi finally lift the trophy for Argentina. Lionel Messi led Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar last December, scoring a brace against France in a memorable final. Messi was instrumental as Argentina defeated the Netherlands on penalties in the quarterfinal. Van Gaal, who was in charge of the Netherlands at the tournament in Qatar has come out with strong accusations against FIFA, claiming the tournament was rigged to favour Lionel Messi. Speaking about the World Cup, Van Gaal told Dutch outlet NOS:  "I don't really want to say much about it. When you see how Argentina gets the goals and how we get the goals, and how some Argentina players overstepped the mark and were not punished, then I think it all premeditated game." After journalists probed even further, the 72-year-old said: "I mean everything I say. Tha...

Bauchi State First Lady, Hajiya Aisha Bala Muhammad in her way for commissioning a healthcare center of Jamdan. More photos below. 

Fuel subsidy interests fighting us – Shettima The Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima has raised an alarm that those who lost out as a result of the removal of subsidy are determined to frustrate government policies and programmes. He made the accusations in Abuja at the 16th Annual Banking and Finance Conference organised by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN). Sen. Shettima said the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration remains committed to its decisions, policies and programmes and vowed that the removal of subsidy is irrevocable. Addressing the audience, Vice President Shettima stated that “we know the consequences of unveiling a masquerade. We know the fuel scam industry is a very hugely loaded industry, they will make every efforts to undermine us but as I said earlier the removal of fuel subsidy is irrevocable; truly we are in dire straits”. Speaking on the consequences of recent government policies and programmes especially the removal of subsidy, Sen. Shettima sai...

A lady from Borno, Fati Abubakar who recently made the list of 25 most powerful African women journalists teaches Art & Humanity at Chinese University. Fati a native of Kanuri in Maiduguri who obtained her first degree in B.Sc Nursing and later turned to Photography.  She recently bagged her second degree in experimental & documentary arts at Duke Kunshan University, China. She recently made the list of 25 most powerful African women journalists.  She teaches at Duke Kunshan University, China. More photos below. 

 Subsidy: Zulum gives NLC N2 billion for workers’ loan, raises gratuity pay to N2.4 billion annually  … Allocates 30 buses to ease workers transport … Directs payment of promotional benefits  To cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum on Tuesday presented a cheque of two billion naira (N2b) to the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, in Borno State for disbursement of interest-free loans to eligible workers with repayment period of 24 months.  The presentation took place after a meeting between the governor and officials of the NLC led by the labour chairman in Borno State, Comrade Yusuf Inuwa. The meeting took place at the council chambers of the Government House in Maiduguri.  Zulum asked the NLC to complete talks with state’s ministry of finance to determine category of workers to be entitled to the loans as well as the loan recovery through monthly deductions of not more than one third of salaries.   The governor also a...

September 5, 2023 Press Statement PDP Postpones Imo Governorship Election Campaign Flag-off …To Announce a New Date After a thorough consultation with stakeholders, the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) officially announces the postponement of the formal Campaign Flag-off for the November 11, 2023 Imo State governorship election, earlier scheduled for Thursday, September 7, 2023. The postponement is in view of a national development that requires the full involvement of the Party including critical stakeholders from Imo State. While regretting the inconveniences the postponement may cause, the PDP urges all leaders, critical stakeholders and members of our Party, especially in Imo State to remain steadfast in the collective efforts of Imo State people to rescue and make their State Safe Again with our Candidate, Senator Samuel Anyanwu on the saddle. A new date for the formal Campaign Flag-off will be communicated by the Party leadership in due course The PDP salutes the ...

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE PRESIDENT TINUBU ARRIVES INDIA AND HEADS STRAIGHT INTO TOP-LEVEL INVESTMENT MEETING WITH HINDUJA CHAIRMAN AFTER 15 HOUR JOURNEY Undeterred by jetlag from a long intercontinental journey, President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, arrived in New Delhi to the immediate embrace of Mr. Gopichand Hinduja, the Chairman and CEO of the Hinduja Group of Companies, a conglomerate with a total asset portfolio exceeding $100 billion U.S. Dollars. The Indian Industrialist was received by the President within 90 minutes of the President's arrival in India for a meeting, which began around 8:00pm local time. Accompanied to the meeting by Nigeria's Ministers of Finance, Trade & Industry, and Foreign Affairs, the smiling Nigerian leader made it clear to his first visitor that he is in India with one focus: attracting investments to Nigeria with lucrative opportunities for investors, but most essentially, jobs for Nigerians and new revenue opportunities for Nigeria's fe...

FG, TUC agree on two weeks to resolve labour issues The Federal Government and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) have agreed to give the government two weeks to address some of the grievances of the Congress. This was disclosed by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Solomon Lalong, in Abuja at the end of a meeting with the leadership of Trade Union Congress, led by its President, Comrade Festus Osifo. A statement issued by the Director, Press and Public Relations, the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Olajide Oshundun, on Tuesday, said, “The meeting was convened by the Minister to resolve TUC’s and Nigeria Labour Congress’ differences with government and to avert the pending warning strike by organised labour. “According to Lalong, the issues for which a two-week timeline was set for their resolution include wage award for federal civil servants to cushion the effect of rising poverty among them, and tax exemption for a certain level of workers, both in the publi...

Ajaero assesses first day of warning strike as huge success The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero, has appraised the first day of the warning strike called by the union as highly effective. Although unions affiliated with the Trade Union Congress clearly boycotted the strike, which grounded activities at the nation’s capital on Tuesday, Ajaero said the support and compliance from the workforce, including civil society organisations was highly massive and encouraging. He expressed his opinion through a statement thus, “This is to applaud all Nigerian workers through the actions of all our affiliates and State Councils for the massive support and efforts at ensuring that the first day of the nationwide warning strike took off with a resounding success across the nation. “You have all demonstrated that your words and decisions will always be backed by action. This has resonated in every part of the country today and we are sure that the message has been sent to ...

PEPC: LP expresses worry over Justice Odili’s pre-judgment remarks The Labour Party has raised concerns about retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Mary Odili’s, statement regarding the forthcoming judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Court, describing it as a pre-emptive pronouncement. The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, in a statement in Abuja, expressed the party’s concerns, stressing the need to draw attention to the development before the PEPC ruling slated for Wednesday. Ifoh said, “The unguarded statement from the former Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Justice Mary Odili, in Abuja, last week at a colloquium to mark the 25th anniversary of the elevation of a renowned jurist, JK Gadzama to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN. “And the boasting of some persons, serving ministers and notable legislators about the outcome has left our party in shock. “When those who should know the importance of the sanctity of the judiciary descend ...

Suspects planning to defraud Nigerians with Naval Chief’s images arrested The Nigerian Navy has arrested three persons planning to use the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla’s pictures to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians. The suspects identified as Oladele Opeyemi Daniel, 23, Eriwole Ogunlana, 24, and Mubarak Mayegun, 24, were accused of planning to use the images to create an impression that their security outfit, Gallantry Intelligence Corps of Nigeria was in partnership with the Nigerian Navy. The Commander of Nigerian Navy Ship Beecroft, Commodore Kolawole Oguntuga, in a statement on Tuesday, said the suspects were arrested during a patrol in Isolo, Lagos, on September 1, following reports of their fraudulent activities. He added that the suspects were on Tuesday, handed over to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti for further investigation. Oguntuga said, “In a significant development to prevent swindling the general public, the Nigerian Navy Ship Beecr...

Fuel Subsidy: We Played Politics With 2012 Occupy Nigeria – Fayemi A former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, on Tuesday, said the protest that trailed the fuel subsidy removal during the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2012 was due to political interests. Fayemi said this in his keynote address delivered at a national dialogue organised to celebrate the 60th birthday celebration of the founding National Secretary of Alliance for Democracy and Fellow, Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, Professor Udenta Udenta in Abuja. The programme was attended by Jonathan, former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili; former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, among others. You will recall that on January 1, 2012, President Goodluck announced the removal of fuel subsidy and adjusted the pump price of petrol from N65 per litre to N141. The decision sparked mass protests, tagged ‘Occupy Nigeria’ across major cities of the country. The price was later re-adjust...

MNJTF SUCCESSFULLY CLEAR REMNANTS OF BOKO HARAM TERRORISTS AT DUGUSHEWA VILLAGE The troops of Sector 3 Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) deployed at Magumeri, Nigeria, conducted a proactive fighting patrol aimed at clearing the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists in the region. This successful operation resulted in the neutralization of one Boko Haram terrorist, significant recovery of arms and ammunition, and a remarkable step towards ensuring peace and stability in the area. During the operation, the troops uncovered and engaged a group of Boko Haram terrorists at Dugushewa Village, relentlessly pursuing them as they attempted to flee. The courageous efforts of our troops led to the elimination of one Boko Haram insurgent.  The recovered items included one AK 47 rifle, 4 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, and one magazine, among other personal items. This substantial seizure significantly weakens the insurgents' capability and disrupts their ability to carry out further ac...