FRESH FM TOP NEWS THIS WEEK

The hottest and most trending news articles for this week in all categories are captured in one shot. Find articles ranging from News to Sports, to Politics, to Entertainment, to Economy, to Metro plus, and many other categories. See below the top news for the week:

NEWS

• Northern groups threaten retaliation over kinsmen killing in South-East

The Coalition of Northern Groups on Tuesday promised to retaliate against the alleged killing of its kinsmen in the South-East geo-political zone, the development it claimed, had been greeted with the conspiracy of silence. The organization also threatened to boycott patronage of the media over what it termed bias by media managers on the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra and Eastern Security Network.

The Spokesperson of CNG, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, issued the threats in a statement which, according to him, was “in response to the incessant killing of Northerners in South-East”. He added that they would “be forced to react to every provocation and unwarranted violation.” He said the CNG had taken stock of events unfolding in South-East Nigeria, especially, the attacks and killings of Northerners passing through or residing among Igbo communities as minorities.

“The North will no longer remain passive under such deliberate and sustained attacks on its people and interests, and will henceforth be forced to react to every provocation and unwarranted violation.
The North’s reticence in speaking out or taking action is not born of fear or ignorance of how to respond in kind and those who tempt us should know that the North is no longer going to turn the other cheek.

“We, therefore, invite the attention of southern leaders, their Northern collaborators and the bankrupt section of the Northern political elite and other authors of mindless violence and separatism who see it as their duty to actualise what their fathers started in 1966, to remember that people from other regions are residing and doing businesses all over the North and to warn them that we shall no longer be expected to turn the other cheek if Northerners would not be protected wherever they live as minorities in particularly Nigeria.

• Soludo draws battle line against criminals

Following the heightening state of insecurity in Anambra State, the state governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo has said that his administration has drawn a battle line against criminals, insisting that no place in the state would be safe for them to operate.

Addressing aspirants of the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, for the various elective positions for 2023 at the Governor’s Lodge, Awka, Soludo said government is putting stringent measures in place with security agencies to tackle the situation headlong and restore peace and order to the state.

Lamenting the loss of the member representing Aguata Constituency II at the State House of Assembly, Okechukwu Okoye, who was gruesomely murdered alongside his aide, Cyril Chiegboka by gunmen, the governor assured that the perpetrators of the dastardly act would be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.

He said that the security challenges confronting the state were being “perpetrated by criminals who have now engaged in kidnapping, killing and other manner of criminalities as a lucrative enterprise, a far departure from any form of political agitations”.

• INEC voter registration stalls at 29% one month to deadline

The plan of the Independent National Electoral Commission to register at least 20 million Nigerian voters before the end of June seems unlikely to come to fruition as only 5.8 million people representing 29 percent of INEC’s target have actually registered.
According to INEC, as of May 16, 9,238,991 fresh registrants had registered online but of this figure, only 5,845,751 had completed the physical registration process.

The INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, had said last year that the commission was expected to register 20 million Nigerians before July this year. The intended target was mostly youths who had crossed the age of 18 since the 2019 elections. However, with barely a month left to INEC’s deadline, over 70 percent of those INEC had thought would register have failed to do so.

When contacted on the telephone, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, said the commission would not extend the deadline which is June 30. Speaking in an interview with newsmen, the Convener, Adopt A Goal initiative, Ariyo Dare-Atoye, noted that INEC and other stakeholders had done enough to get citizens registered. He however encouraged the need to sensitise voters to prevent voter apathy.

• Lawyer sues FG, 12 northern states for sharing in VAT realised from sale of alcohol

Human rights lawyer, Chief Malcom Omirhobo, has sued the Federal Government (FG), Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lagos State government and its attorney general, and 12 other northern states and their attorneys general at the Federal High Court, Lagos, over-allocation of Value Added Tax (VAT) realised from the sale of alcoholic beverages. Other defendants in the suit are Kano, Zamfara, Kaduna, Bauchi, Sokoto, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger and Yobe States. They were all joined alongside their attorney’s general.

The applicant is asking the court to determine whether, by interpretation and/or construction of the provisions of Section 4 (7) and items 58 and 59 of Part I of the Second Schedule of the 1999 Constitution, he is obligated to pay VAT to the 3rd defendant (Lagos State) and not to the 1st defendant (FG). He also wants the court to say whether, by virtue of Section 40 of the VAT Act, Cap VI Laws of the Federations 2004, it is equitable, proper, legal, lawful and constitutional for all domestic VAT collected from the 3rd defendant and other states to be paid into the federation account for allocation to all states and their local councils on a sharing formula.

The sharing formula, he pointed out, is 15 per cent to 1st defendant, 50 per cent to the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and 35 per cent to the 774 local councils in Nigeria on the basis of equality and population. Omirhobo is asking the court to declare it illegal and unconstitutional for the 1st defendant to allocate VAT revenue realised from the consumption of alcohol in other states to the 12 defendants who prohibit consumption and destroy them in their respective states for religious reasons and/or in the enforcement of the Sharia criminal law.

• EFCC operatives storm Okorocha’s Abuja residence, arrest him

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday, arrested the former Imo State governor and presidential aspirant, Rochas Okorocha, at his Maitama, Abuja residence. Though the security operatives met stiff resistance from the supporters of the former governor, tear gas was fired to disperse them to effect the arrest.

The anti-graft agency said it laid siege to the home of the former governor to arrest him, accusing him of jumping bail granted him by the commission. EFCC’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, in a statement, said the move followed the refusal of Okorocha to honour invitations after jumping the administrative bail earlier granted him by the commission. According to Uwujaren, the EFCC had, on January 24, 2022, filed a 17-count criminal charge, bordering on diversion of public funds and properties to the tune of N2.9 billion, against Okorocha.

“The case was assigned to Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja; but attempts to arraign Okorocha was twice stalled, owing to the absence of the ex-governor who evaded service of processes. At the last adjourned date, March 28, 2022, Justice Ekwo, before adjourning until May 30, 2022, had warned, saying: “This is the last adjournment I shall grant in this matter. In the circumstances, the commission is left with no option than to effect the arrest of Okorocha and bring him to trial,” he stated.

Meanwhile, admirers, political associates and relatives of the former governor have condemned the arrest. As of press time, Okorocha’s Media Aide, Sam Onwuemedo, could not be reached; but an aide, who pleaded anonymity, noted that the operatives, who stormed the Senator’s residence, insisting on arresting him, were without any warrant.

• Court denies Okorocha bail over N2.9bn money laundering case

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday refused to admit a former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, to bail pending the determination of a suit he filed against the Federal Government. Justice Inyang Ekwo declined to compel the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to release him on bail.

Okorocha representing Imo West in the Senate had filed an ex parte application in which he predicated his bail request on the grounds that he is a presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress and that his political ambition would be jeopardised unless granted bail.

Justice Ekwo in a brief ruling on the ball application said he was not inclined to admit him to bail.

Instead, the judge ordered Okorocha to put the Federal Government on notice to come and defend his detention. Okorocha has been slated for arraignment on N2.9 billion money laundering charges before the same judge twice but refused to honour the same court.

• Killing: Don’t start fight that won’t end, IPOB replies northern groups

The Indigenous People of Biafra has warned the Coalition of Northern Groups against embarking on killing any Igbo, saying they should not embark on a fight that would not end. The organisation was reacting to threats by the CNG to retaliate against the alleged killing of their kinsmen in the South-East.

“The North will no longer remain passive under such deliberate and sustained attacks on its people and interests, and will henceforth be forced to react to every provocation and unwarranted violation.
The North’s reticence in speaking out or taking action is not born of fear or ignorance of how to respond in kind and those who tempt us should know that the North is no longer going to turn the other cheek”, the Spokesperson of CNG, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, had said.

But the Media and Publicity Secretary of IPOB, Emma Powerful, in an interview on Tuesday night said they had no hand in the alleged killing of a Hausa woman who was with her children. Powerful said, “We have many things in our hands to respond to this group called CNG because they are nonissue; we are expecting them to start killing in Nigeria and see our position. “We remain peaceful in our pursuit for Biafra freedom and if they could not call the criminals they brought in our land and thinking we can run for them, they are jokers, let them start this fight and see what the end will look like.

POLITICS

• Oyo APC Primaries: Senator Folarin defeats Adelabu, others to win APC gov ticket

Senator representing Oyo Central Senatorial district, Teslim Folarin, has been declared the winner of the All Progressives Congress governorship primary in Oyo State. Folarin defeated the 2019 candidate of the party, Adebayo Adelabu; Akeem Agbaje, Azeez Adeduntan, and Hakeem Alao to pick the party’s ticket. He scored 954 votes to defeat five other aspirants who contested the election held, on Friday, at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Adelabu, who was his closest challenger, got 327 votes despite being absent at the venue of the election. Azeez Adeduntan had two votes, Akeem Alao had six votes, Hakeem Agbaje had 16 votes while 11 votes were voided. Senior lawyer Akintola had pulled out of the primary alleging that the delegates’ list was tampered with.

• INEC extends primaries’ deadline by six days

The Independent National Electoral Commission on Friday bowed to pressure from political parties seeking the extension of the June 3 deadline for the conduct of primary elections by approving an additional six days extension. The electoral umpire, however, clarified that the extension is granted in respect of outstanding primaries only and not those already concluded. The INEC Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, made this known in a statement issued on Friday night after the meeting of the commission and the leadership of the 18 registered political parties under the aegis of the Inter-Party Advisory Council in Abuja.

Earlier, the political parties had requested for 37 – 60 days extension of the timeline for primaries and the nomination of candidates. The commission was emphatic that this request could not be granted because it would disrupt other scheduled activities on the timetable. This position of the commission has not changed.
However, based on the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2023 general election, the parties have now pleaded with the commission to use the six-day period between June 4-9 2022 to conclude outstanding primaries and prepare to upload the list of candidates and their affidavits on the INEC candidates nomination portal.

The commission did not schedule any specific activity during this period. The idea is to simply give parties time to compile the list and personal particulars of their nominated candidates before uploading same to the INEC candidates nomination portal from June 10-17 2022. The commission has decided to allow the request of the political parties since the six-day period does not conflict with the next scheduled activity which is the submission of the list of nominated candidates or any of the subsequent timelines which remain sacrosanct. However, this request is granted in respect of outstanding primaries only without prejudice to those already concluded by political parties. The commission will not monitor already concluded primaries.”

• Court clears Jonathan to contest presidency

The Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, has ruled that the former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, is eligible to contest the 2023 presidential election. The presiding judge, Justice Isa Hamma Dashen, gave the judgement on Friday in a suit marked FHC/YNG/CS/86/2022. But the APC and the INEC did not have any legal representations in the matter.

He also held that Jonathan’s right to vie for the office of president again cannot be stopped by any retroactive law. The suit was filed by Andy Solomon and Idibiye Abraham as first and second plaintiffs and listed Jonathan, the All Progressives Congress, and the Independent National Electoral Commission as first, second, and third defendants respectively. But the APC and the INEC did not have any legal representations in the matter.

• Why I joined Labour Party – Peter Obi

A former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, has joined the Labour Party few days after dumping the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, saying the party is the right platform that aligns with his aspiration. According to him, he had chosen a route that he considered to be in line with “our aspirations and my mantra of taking the country from consumption to production.”

Obi, who is seeking to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari after the expiration of his regime in 2023, disclosed this in a series of tweets on his Twitter handle on Friday. He wrote, “I thank all Nigerians, especially our youths who have joined me in the mission of taking back and reuniting Nigeria. This project is yours and for the future of your children. I am just a facilitator.

The presidential hopeful had Wednesday dumped the PDP in his bid to actualise his presidential ambition. Obi in a letter addressed to the National Chairman of the PDP, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, announced his resignation from the party despite purchasing the N40m PDP presidential forms.

Justifying his decision, the new LP chieftain said recent developments within the PDP had made it impossible for him to continue in the presidential race under the platform. He, however, said he was happy to have contributed to the growth of the country through the PDP.

• 2023: Too Late Now To Sign Electoral Act Amendment, Poll Observers Tell Buhari

A Coalition of Election Monitors and Observers (CEMO) has counselled President Muhammadu Buhari against assenting to the Electoral Act 2022 amendment bill as it will come too late in the day with preparations for the 2023 general elections in full gear. The coalition made up of 24 election monitoring groups, posited after a meeting in Abuja, on Monday, that signing the bill now will cause disruption in the processes of elections already commenced by political parties under the provisions of the extant law.

The group noted that as desirable as the amendment is, signing the bill after most political parties have already started implementing critical aspects of the electoral process under the current law is “dangerous, counter-productive, capable of triggering widespread political crisis and litigations that can derail the 2023 general elections.” According to the National Convener of CEMO, Dr Idris Yabu, who presented the report of the election monitors to the media, the President must save the nation from needless political crisis by returning the Amendment Bill to the National Assembly for reprocessing for future elections.

The coalition observed that President Buhari ought to have signed the bill earlier to give political parties a uniform direction for the nomination of candidates for the 2023 general elections. It noted that any amendment to the existing law this time will amount to changing the rules in the middle of the game and disrupting the entire electoral process.

• Probe: Amaechi reacts as Supreme Court dismisses appeal

The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed the appeal filed by a former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, against the decision by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State to set up a commission of inquiry to probe some transactions during his tenure as the state’s governor. The apex court in its judgment by a five-member panel led by Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, while dismissing the appeal marked: SC/911/2017, held that the assignment of the commission of inquiry was not to investigate Amaechi in person, and as such it was not about his person.

In the lead judgment prepared by Justice Emmanuel Agim, but read by Justice Adamu Jauro, the court said:,”The gist of this decision is to the effect that the commission of inquiry was to investigate some transactions, hence no one was on trial, hence the issue of denial of fair hearing therefore, does not arise.”

The judgment awarded N1million as cost against the appellant. Amaechi, while reacting to the judgment, said the pronouncement further vindicated his stance that the investigation by the commission ought not to be portrayed as personal to him because he was not on trial.

• Court clears Jonathan to contest presidency

The Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, has ruled that the former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, is eligible to contest the 2023 presidential election. The presiding judge, Justice Isa Hamma Dashen, gave the judgement on Friday in a suit marked FHC/YNG/CS/86/2022. But the APC and the INEC did not have any legal representations in the matter.

He also held that Jonathan’s right to vie for the office of president again cannot be stopped by any retroactive law. The suit was filed by Andy Solomon and Idibiye Abraham as first and second plaintiffs and listed Jonathan, the All Progressives Congress, and the Independent National Electoral Commission as first, second, and third defendants respectively. But the APC and the INEC did not have any legal representations in the matter.

• 2023: PDP aspirant, Hayatu-Deen, withdraws from presidential race, gives reasons

A presidential aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen on Friday withdrew from the presidential race a few hours before the party’s primaries. In a letter addressed to the national chairman of the PDP, Iyorchia Ayu. In his letter titled the economist noted that his decision to pull out of the race was due to the obscene monetisation of the contest. “I wish to reiterate that I did not join party politics and to contest for the presidency because of personal gains and inordinate ambition, but in order to serve our country.

So far, aspirants who have not stepped down include PDP presidential aspirants include former Vice President, Abubakar Atiku; two former Senate Presidents, Bukola Saraki and Anyim Pius Anyim; Governors Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto); Nyesom Wike (Rivers); Bala Mohammed (Bauchi); Emmanuel Udom (Akwa Ibom); former governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose; Sam Ohunabunwa, and Dele Momodu.

The party had thrown its presidential ticket open of late attracting rebuke from socio-cultural organisations like the Ohanaeze Ndigbo which maintained that political parties like the PDP and the All Progressives Congress should zone its ticket to the South-East geopolitical zone.

• Ondo senator retrieves vehicles donated to leaders after losing primary

The senator representing Ondo Central Senatorial District, Ayo Akinyelure, has allegedly collected back the vehicles he gifted the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party after he lost the just concluded senatorial primary of the party. Akinyelure lost to Mr Dayo Adedipe (SAN), having scored 74 votes behind Adedipe, who polled 78 votes in the primary.

After the loss, Akinyelure was said to have blamed the immediate past governor of the state, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, and some other leaders of the party for allegedly causing his downfall in the election. Dissatisfied with the outcome of the election, the senator was alleged to have approached the leaders, some of whom are national delegates, demanding the return of his vehicles.

However, the Special Adviser to the senator on ICT, Mr Jonathan Ayilaran, denied the allegation on his Facebook page, saying the senator didn’t demand any vehicle back. Ayilaran maintained that onIine report on the allegation was untrue, describing it as an attempt by detractors to blackmail his principal.

ECONOMY

• Nigeria’s GDP grew by 3.11% in Q1 2022, says NBS

Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product grew by 3.11 per cent in the first quarter of 2022, the National Bureau of Statistics said. In a tweet posted to its official Twitter page, @NBS_Nigeria, on Monday, the NBS wrote, “Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 3.11% (year-on-year) in real terms in the first quarter of 2022, showing a sustained positive growth for six consecutive quarters since the recession witnessed in 2020.”

The Nigeria’s statistical office also stated, in a statement on its website, that, “The first quarter 2022 growth rate further represents an improvement in economic performance.” The statement noted that there had been a trend signalling a gradual economic stability since Q4 2020.

• 19.4million Nigerians Will Face Food Crisis By August ― ECOWAS

About 19.4 million Nigerians will face food crisis, and nutrition insecurity by August, Executive Secretary, ECOWAS Rice Observatory, Dr Boladale Adebowale has said. The crisis, according to Adebowale, is being fuelled by the fact that crop production is not meeting population growth, while the nation’s agricultural sector is threatened by insecurity, adverse weather conditions, and climate change.

She added that the bane of food insecurity also includes being characterised by low mechanisation, poor seed quality and varieties, low access to agric credit, low agro-processing capacity, low investment in agricultural research, high prevalence of systemic inefficiencies and low productivity. To reverse the trend, she noted that nation must implement strategies to ensure that crop production increases by 30 per cent in the next two years.

Adebowale stated these while delivering the fourth Grace Foundation Day Lecture titled: “Can Nigeria Achieve Food Security in 2023?” at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan. On increasing production, she advocated for sector-focused actions, adoption of a value chain approach, and climate-smart methods for the nation’s agric and food systems such that Nigeria prioritises key crops. Furthermore, she noted the need for the nation to improve on its irrigation strategy, and have a development agenda at the core of its agric programmes.

• FG inaugurates committee to end agro exports rejection

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, on Thursday, inaugurated a committee to examine and end rejection of Nigeria agro produce in the international market. The committee is headed by the Director, Commodities and Export Department, Mr Suleiman Audu, who is charged with the responsibility of identifying the major causes of the rejection of the agro produce and proffering appropriate recommendations.

Inaugurating the committee, the minister, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Ifedayo Sayo, said the Federal Government placed a lot of emphasis on the promotion of non-oil commodity exports, which had led to farmers and product aggregators partnering to explore the export market for their products.

He noted that in recent times, Nigeria agro-products had been suffering from export rejections by most countries of Asia, Europe and America. This, he explained, had led to huge financial losses with its attendant negative impact on the supply value chain and job creation. He stressed that the international market was competitive and welcomed products of high quality with relevant certifications and quality packaging that was environmentally friendly.

Adebayo said the problem of quality, standards, certification and appropriate packaging for made-in-Nigeria products for export had been a recurring issue, hence the need to set up the technical committee to address the issue and proffer appropriate recommendations.

• Experts warn Nigeria as World Bank predicts global recession

Economic and financial experts have warned that Nigeria could face serious economic consequences if the global economy contracts into a recession, as predicted by the World Bank. The President of the World Bank Group, David Malpass, told a United States business event on Wednesday that it was difficult to “see how we avoid a recession.” His comments are the latest warning over the rising risk that the world economy may be set to contract with the protraction of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

Last month, the World Bank cut its global economic growth forecast for this year by almost a full percentage point, to 3.2 per cent.
Malpass also said that many European countries were still too dependent on Russia for oil and gas. That’s even as Western nations push ahead with plans to reduce their dependence on Russian energy.
He also told a virtual event organised by the US Chamber of Commerce that moves by Russia to cut gas supplies could cause a “substantial slowdown” in the region.

He said higher energy prices were already weighing on Germany, which is the biggest economy in Europe and the fourth largest in the world. Developing countries are also being affected by shortages of fertiliser, food and energy, Mr Malpass said.

Speaking in an interview withnewsmen, the Chief Executive Officer, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, Dr Muda Yusuf, said a global recession would have a catastrophic effect on Nigeria’s economy. Yusuf said Nigeria was already dealing with challenging economic problems which would be further compounded by a contraction of the global economy. According to him, the war between Russia and Ukraine will continue to have far reaching consequences due to interests from foreign countries that have caused a ripple effect across the global economic space.

• Buhari Wants Closer Bank Cooperation To Tackle West African Challenges

President Muhammadu Buhari has called on executives of banking institutions in West Africa to forge a closer collaboration to tackle the economic challenges confronting the sub-region. He made the call on Tuesday while receiving a delegation from the West African Bankers Association (WABA), led by its President, Thierno Seydou Nourou Sy, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

President Buhari noted that the sub-region must find a common understanding and ground to address low access to financial services and recovery from the post-COVID-19 pandemic. In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, he said the President told the association, founded in 1981, and which brings together over 250 commercial banks and 15 institutions from across West Africa, that, for many centuries, African countries have traded with one another without a formalized and structured system.

He, however, noted that over time, global trade has become more complex and organized. President Buhari expressed confidence that the rollout of the African Continental Free Trade Area would be a turning point in how African countries trade with each other.

BUSINESS

• Telcos protest N90bn new phone tax, to bill subscribers

The Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria has described the recent move by the Federal Government to add a one kobo per second tax on phone calls as a bad move. According to it, this is insensitive considering the operating environment of telecom companies.

The umbrella body said, “For us as at ALTON, it is bad fate on the part of the government, and it is badly intended. This is because when we came out that the government should look at our cost of operations and give us room to review tariffs, everybody treated us like an outcast. The same government is now coming in a matter of days to say they are introducing new taxes. So, when they were saying to us that we cannot increase tariff because it is insensitive to the plight of the people and now, they brought another tax through the back door. If we cannot review based on the impact it will have on subscribers, why are they bringing in another tax, still on subscribers. Government cannot act in one way and say another thing.”

The Federal Government is proposing a one kobo per seconds tax on phone calls in the nation to fund free healthcare for the Vulnerable Group in Nigeria. This was disclosed in the National Health Insurance Authority Bill 2021 signed by President Muhammadu Buhari recently. This translates to a nine per cent tax on GSM calls if implemented. ALTON added that the new tax would reduce the value subscribers get from telecom services, as they would need to pay more to enjoy what they used to.

The association stated, “It will affect the subscribers because they get less value for what they pay for. It means now that when you buy an N100 recharge card, the percentage will be deducted from it and paid to the government. So, it is actually short-changing the people. What will happen is that operators will be mandated to collect this tax on their behalf and remit it to the government.” It said the government should consider taxing another industry rather than telecoms. According to it, subscribers will have to pay extra for this new cost.

• MAN, LCCI, others kick as CBN raises lending rate to 13%

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce, have criticised the hiking of the monetary policy rate by the Central Bank of Nigeria, saying that the policy will hurt the Nigerian economy.

The CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, after the third Monetary Policy Committee, MPC, meeting of 2022 on Tuesday, noted that the committee backed the raising of the benchmark interest rate from 11.5 per cent to 13.5 per cent. This is the first time the apex bank is raising the interest rate in two years, having pursued an expansionary monetary policy in the last 24 months.

While addressing reporters after the MPC meeting in Abuja, Emefiele justified the raise, saying that the MPC was suspicious there might be an aggressive accretion of inflation. To prevent the looming inflation, he said, the MPC had to increase the monetary policy rate by 150 basis points.

Reacting to the development, President of the MAN, Mansur Ahmed, said that the move would compound the plight of manufacturers, especially the small-scale segment of the productive sector. On his part, Deputy President of the LCCI, Gabriel Idahosa, described the development as an inevitability, considering the recent upward inflationary trend.

• Nike Halts Sales To Retailers In Russia

Nike will not renew licensing agreements in Russia, the company said Wednesday, joining a growing list of Western companies pulling back from the country following the Ukraine invasion of Ukraine. The move affects licensed retailers as Nike shuttered company-owned stores two months ago soon after Moscow sent troops into the neighboring country.

“Due to operational challenges in Russia, Nike has made the decision not to renew or enter into any new business commitments, including with our franchisee Up&Run,” the company said. Our business remains on pause and we are providing pay continuity to our employees.”

Nike’s statement was in response to an AFP inquiry into the status after Russian newspaper Vedomisti reported that Up & Run’s parent, Inventive Retail Group (IRG), would shutter its retail locations in Russia because of lack of access to merchandise. IRG’s website shows 37 Nike locations, nine of which are listed as “temporarily closed.”

HEALTH

• FG makes health insurance compulsory for employers

The Federal Government has mandated all employers and employees in public, private, and informal sectors to have access to health insurance. This development came when the Federal Government noted that only states with established health insurance schemes and contributory schemes would benefit from the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari signed the National Health Insurance Authority Bill 2021 last week. The newly signed law by the President repeals the National Health Insurance Scheme Act 2004.
Under the previous Act, states were required to pay a 50 percent counterpart fund to access the total fund for the BHCPF. Buhari’s signing of the new Act is part of the moves by the FG to ensure that Nigeria achieves Universal Health Coverage, a Sustainable Development Goal by 2030.

Section 13, subsection 8 of the newly signed Act, provided that “Every state that has established a State Health Insurance or Contributory Scheme and complies with this Act’s requirements shall be eligible to participate in the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund as established under the National Health Act and its guidelines.”
Similarly, section 14, subsections 1 and 2, stated that “Subject to the provisions of this Act, every person resident in Nigeria shall be required to obtain health insurance. Residents under this act include all employers and employees in public and private sectors with five staff and above, informal sector employees, and all other residents of Nigeria.

The sponsor of the bill, Dr. Yahaya Oloriegbe, representing Kwara State Senatorial District in his lead debate, noted that “the bill would provide for a robust, affordable and sustainable financial mechanism for health. The bill will enhance the ability of Nigeria to achieve Universal Health Coverage by 2030”.

• FG Reiterates Commitment To Tackling Sickle Cell Burden

The Federal government has restated its commitment to reducing the burden of sickle cell in the country. The minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, stated this at the opening ceremony and workshop of the Sickle Cell Pan African research Consortium, Nigeria Network.
Ehanire revealed that the national guideline for the management of sickle cell in the country will be reviewed and updated in order to accommodate new research findings in tackling sickle cell in the country.

Stakeholders in the Sickle Cell Pan African research Consortium, Nigeria Network, gathered to expand the sickle cell registry which currently has over 13,000 patients, to establish and implement simple, effective and scalable tools to address the high burden of Sickle cell wholistically. Ehanire, reiterated the government’s willingness to work with other stakeholders to further reduce the sickle cell burden in the country.

Similarly, the Director, University of Abuja Centre of Excellence for Sickle Cell Research and Training, Professor Obiageli Nnodu spoke on the centre’s contribution to tackling the burden of sickle cell which includes the use of low-cost rapid point of care tests in testing newborns. Other stakeholders also highlighted the importance of research in the management and treatment of sickle cell disease.

• NCDC, expert warn as Lassa fever kills 152

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has disclosed that death toll from the 2022 outbreak of Lassa fever is now 152. The centre made this known in its latest Lassa fever situation report obtained by newsmen on Tuesday. Lassa fever, an animal-borne, or zoonotic, acute viral illness spread by the common African rat also known as the mastomys rat species is endemic to Nigeria and some other West African countries.
Since the last outbreak of the disease in 2016, the NCDC noted that there had been an increase in the number of recurring cases.

In 2019, the centre noted that 796 cases were reported, while in 2020, 1,165 cases were confirmed during the height of the pandemic.
The NCDC also confirmed a total of 4,632 suspected cases in 2021.
The centre stated, “So far in 2022, 152 people have lost their lives; the highest deaths reported in four years. The NCDC noted that while 51 health workers have been affected, 723 persons have been hospitalized. It added, “The Federal Ministry of Environment is also implementing a Lassa fever environmental response campaign in high burden states.

An infectious diseases physician at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State, and a member of the Nigerian Infectious Diseases Society, Dr Ayanfe Omololu, warned on the need to practise proper hand hygiene and maintain a clean environment. “Also, it is important to maintain a clean environment at all times, properly dispose waste, rat-proof our homes, keep our foodstuffs in covered containers and find a way to eliminate rats from your homes; possibly keep cats. One should avoid bush meat for now and, if possible, reduce or avoid bush burning. These should reduce your likelihood of being infected with the disease.”

EDUCATION

• School feeding: FG to spend N999m daily on 10 million pupils

The Federal Government, on Tuesday, said it would spend N999 million daily to feed approximately 10 million pupils in the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme across the country. The Team Lead of NHGSFP, Aishatu Digil, disclosed this at a stakeholders’ meeting on disbursement modalities for the review of cost of feeding in the programme in Abuja. She said the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq, got the approval of spending N100 per person daily on the feeding in the programme.

She said 9,990,862 pupils from primary one to three in the programme would now be fed with N100 daily for 20 days in a month, which would amount to N999,086,200 million daily. “Prior to this, we were feeding school children with N70 per child, per meal. This was since 2016, but the President has approved N100 upward review. We have all stakeholders like the World Food Programme, National Bureau of Statistics, National Orientation Agency, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, Ministries of Agriculture, Education and others to deliberate on the modalities of disbursements.

Meanwhile, the National Resource Person of the National Social Investment Programme, Umar Bindir, said the programme was not the responsibility of the Federal Government alone. Bindir said to implement the procedure of deploying the N30 that made it N100 in effective feeding of school children, it was absolutely necessary to consult with stakeholders.

Also, the Programme Manager of NHGSFP in Sokoto State, Malam Musa Abubakar, said pupils and their parents were happy with the initial N70 per meal per child. “However, with the upward review to N100, all of them will smile as this will also boost the rate of school enrolment.” The Chief Programme Officer at NOA, Chika Ebogha, said the N100 per meal per child was a good improvement.

• Nigerians spend $221m on foreign education in three months –CBN report

An analysis of data obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria showed that Nigerians spent at least $220.86 million on foreign education between December 2021 and February 2022. This is according to the CBN data on the amount spent on educational service under the sectoral utilisation for transactions valid for foreign exchange for December 2021 to February 2022.

In December 2021, the apex bank stated that it spent $90.67m on foreign education. The CBN also noted that in January 2022, a total of $60,202,730.84 was spent on foreign education, while noting that $69.9m was spent in February 2022. Though, the bank has not updated the amount spent in March, April and May, it noted that the amount it indicated in December 2021 and January 2022 might be subject to change in future

Education in Nigeria most especially in the tertiary education sector has mostly been marred by industrial actions by tertiary institution-based unions such as the Academic Staff Union of Universities, and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics. Currently, academic activities in Nigerian universities and polytechnics are grounded on issues bordering on lecturers’ welfare.
While ASUU has been on strike for close to three months, polytechnic lecturers just commenced a two-week warning strike.

The data from the apex bank revealed that Nigerians remitted more than $220m to foreign academic institutions in three months without significant reciprocity in form of inflows from foreign sources to the local education sector. The huge net dollar outflows have dual adverse effects of underinvestment in domestic education and creating pressure on the naira exchange rate. The high demand for dollars to pay foreign educational institutions affects Nigeria’s foreign reserves and increases pressure on the exchange rate.

• ASUU: Edwin Clark urges education minister to take over negotiations

Elder Statesman Edwin Clark said there was need for the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, to take over negotiations regarding the Academic Staff Union of Universities’ strike. The elder statesman, who said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja, said Adamu was in a better position to arrive at a reasonable agreement with ASUU.

He said education matters ought to be handled by someone who appreciates the effect of the strike, adding that it was affecting every fabric of the economy. According to him, besides the long-term effect, the strike has distorted school calendar, increased crime rate, impoverished communities that make a living from schools, among other things.

“The Federal Ministry of Education should take over negotiation from labour because the labour ministry is treating ASUU case like any other industrial matter. ASUU is not fighting for their personal interest alone. I learnt it is only now they are including the review of their own salary, otherwise the 2009 agreement they are talking about is for infrastructure development. In every country, education is number one on the list. Once the people are educated, other sectors of the economy will have fewer challenges.

“The Accountant-General, who was supposed to have generated this payment, is alleged to have embezzled N80 billion. That is about half of what ASUU is demanding for to largely develop our education system. ASUU is demanding for about N200 billion, that is not too much to fix a critical sector like education,’’ he said.

WORLD

• Gunman Kills 19 Children, Two Teachers At Texas Elementary School

A teenage gunman killed at least 19 young children and two teachers at an elementary school in Texas on Tuesday, prompting a furious President Joe Biden to denounce the US gun lobby and vow to end the nation’s cycle of mass shootings. The attack in Uvalde — a small community about an hour from the Mexican border — was the deadliest US school shooting in years and the latest in a spree of bloody gun violence across America.

“It’s time to turn this pain into action for every parent, for every citizen of this country,” Biden said, his voice heavy with emotion.
It’s time for those who obstruct or delay or block common-sense gun laws — we need to let you know that we will not forget,” he said. As a nation, we have to ask when in God’s name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby? When in God’s name will we do what we all know in our gut needs to be done?”

Texas Governor Greg Abbott, addressing an earlier news conference, named the suspect as Salvador Ramos, an 18-year-old local resident, and a US citizen. “He shot and killed, horrifically and incomprehensibly,” Abbott said. Texas Department of Public Safety officials told CNN the gunman is believed to have shot his grandmother before heading to Robb Elementary School around noon where he abandoned his vehicle and entered with a handgun and a rifle, wearing body armor.

The gunman was killed by responding officers, the officials said, adding later two teachers also died in the attack. More than a dozen children were also wounded in the attack at the school, which teaches more than 500, mostly Hispanic and economically disadvantaged students. The White House ordered flags to be flown at half-mast in mourning for the victims — whose deaths sent a wave of shock through a country still scarred by the horror of Sandy Hook.

• ‘Do Something Now:’ Mourners Demand Action After US School Shooting

A distraught Texas grandmother of a girl killed in the massacre in Uvalde pleaded Thursday for urgent action by US authorities to prevent future school shootings, as the country plunges again into the roiling debate over guns. Ten-year-old Amerie Garza — a fourth-grader who loved her classes, drawing, and playing with clay — was one of 19 children murdered by a teen gunman at Robb Elementary School in an act of evil that has forever changed this small Texas town.

“My granddaughter was in there. She was an innocent little girl, loving school and looking forward to summer,” Dora Mendoza told reporters after paying respects at a makeshift memorial outside the school. But the 63-year-old, who lived with Amerie and saw her at an end-of-year ceremony Tuesday just hours before she was killed, quickly made clear she wanted US officials such as President Joe Biden and Texas Governor Greg Abbott not to shy away from working together on reforms.

Biden, who is due to visit Uvalde on Sunday, and Abbott are polar opposites regarding restrictions on gun sales. Like many in the Democrat versus Republican divide, the two also differ on the path to take to curb the nation’s surging gun violence.

• WHO Assembly Slams Russian Attacks On Ukraine Health Facilities

WHO member states strongly condemned Russia’s war in Ukraine and attacks on healthcare facilities in a resolution overwhelmingly adopted on Thursday. The resolution, carried by 88 votes to 12 at the World Health Organization’s annual assembly, did not impose any sanctions on Russia but underlined Moscow’s isolation on the international stage in yet another global forum.

The resolution “condemns in the strongest terms” Russia’s “military aggression against Ukraine, including attacks on healthcare facilities”. It urged Russia to “immediately cease any attacks on hospitals” and other healthcare sites.

Ukrainian ambassador Yevheniia Filipenko said the February 24 full-scale Russian invasion had triggered a huge health and humanitarian crisis in and outside the country. The assembly “must be crystal-clear about where responsibility for this health crisis lies: it lies with the Russian Federation”,” she said.

The resolution said the war was seriously impeding access to healthcare in Ukraine and having wider health implications across the region. It also urged Russia to respect and protect all medical and humanitarian personnel as well as the sick and wounded, in line with international law. The resolution also called for safe, rapid and unhindered access to people in need of help, and the free flow of essential medicines and equipment.

• Spain approves draft bill for menstrual pain leave

The Spanish government has approved a draft bill which grants paid ‘menstrual leave’ for women who suffer from severe period pain. It is the first of such policy to be granted by a European country.
Workers experiencing period pain will have the right to stay home as long as they need. A doctor consultation will be required to estimate the leave period. The state social security system will pay for the medical leave.

The legislation is part of a broader reproductive health reform that is set to also include changes to Spain’s abortion laws. However, as with paid leave for other health reasons, a medical doctor must approve the medical incapacity before the leave is granted. The proposed legislation is awaiting approval by parliament, and if passed, Spain will become the first Western country to give women ‘menstrual leave’. Menstrual leave is offered in a few countries including South Korea, Japan, Zambia and Indonesia.

Under the reform package passed by Spain’s cabinet, schools will be required to provide sanitary products to girls and there will also be changes to the country’s abortion laws. It will end the requirement for girls aged 16 and 17 to obtain parental consent before terminating a pregnancy and include measure to boost access to abortion at private hospitals. It also includes paid leave for pregnant women from week 39 and guarantees the distribution of free menstrual products in public institutions such as schools and health centres.

• Two Years After George Floyd’s Murder, Biden To Sign Executive Order On Police Reform

Two years after African American George Floyd was murdered by a white police officer in a Minneapolis street, President Joe Biden will on Wednesday sign an executive order further regulating federal law enforcement. The White House called the move “historic” in a press release, but the new executive order does not go as far as the major police reform Biden promised during his election campaign.

The text provides for the creation of a national register to list all reports, disciplinary procedures, and complaints concerning members of federal law enforcement agencies, the administration said. US states and local authorities, which are endowed with extensive powers in matters of law enforcement, will be “encouraged” to also join the register and will be able to consult it.

The order also prohibits the use, again at the federal level, of carotid artery strangulation or compression techniques, except in exceptional situations. It also limits law enforcement’s ability to enter a property without due warning, a controversial policy known as “no-knock.”

• Taliban Dismiss UN Concerns On Women’s Rights In Afghanistan

The Taliban on Friday rejected the UN Security Council’s call to reverse heavy restrictions imposed on Afghan women, dismissing their concerns as “unfounded”. The Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution on Tuesday that criticised the Taliban for limiting girls’ and women’s access to education, government jobs and freedom of movement since seizing power last year. Afghanistan’s supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has also ordered women to cover up — including their faces — when in public, triggering international outrage.

The Security Council’s 15 member states called on the Taliban “to swiftly reverse the policies and practices which are currently restricting the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Afghan women and girls”. It also demanded the hardliners reopen all schools to female students.

Afghanistan’s foreign ministry said the government considers the Security Council’s concerns as “unfounded and reaffirms its commitment” to rights of Afghan women. “Since the people of Afghanistan are predominantly Muslim, the Afghan government considers the observance of Islamic hijab to be in line with the religious and cultural practices of society,” the ministry said in a statement. The Taliban adhere to an austere interpretation of Islam.

ENTERTAINMENT

• Wizkid announces completion of next album

Globally-recognised Nigerian singer, Ayo Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid has announced the completion of his upcoming album, More Love, Less Ego. The Essence crooner made the announcement on his Instagram story late Sunday, as he also appreciated the contributors in the album.

Wizkid told his fans that he made the album with lots of love for them. “(I) finished my album days ago! See you soon!! Love you all for real #MLLE,” he wrote. The Grammy-winning singer added, “Special thanks to everyone that helped me put this together. Y’all got a special place in my heart. #MLLE.

Wizkid had in October 2021 revealed the title of his next album and its release date. Fondly referred to as Big Wiz, the multiple award-winning singer assured his fans that he would not let them wait for so long before releasing the new album. The grammy award winner while celebrating the first anniversary of his previous album, Made In Lagos, took to his verified Instagram page stating that the next album, More Love, Less Ego, would be released on the last day of his tour.

• Bobrisky accuses Tonto Dikeh of diverting foundation donations

Ex-besties Tonto Dikeh and Bobrisky have renewed hostilities, washing their dirty linens on social media. Bobrisky alleged actress Diekh has no foundation but uses donations by fans to purchase packets of cigarettes.

In an audio message, the cross dresser rained abuses on the actress, vowing he was ready to deal with her. In the audio Bobrisky said: “Listen to me, I’m the worst nightmare you can ever have issues with on this instagram.

SPORTS

• Moffi leads Super Eagles attack vs Mexico

Lorient striker, Terem Moffi, is set to step into Victor Osimhen’s boots and lead Nigeria’s attack in an international friendly against Mexico. New coach Jose Peseiro – who will be without 12 invited players for the game – is expected to give Lorient striker the first-choice nod ahead of hopefuls like Victor Mbaoma and Ishaq Rafiu.

Moffi, who scored eight Ligue 1 goals last season, became the favourite to fill in the void after Almeria’s striker Sadiq Umar pulled out of the game due to club engagements. Other players who pulled out of the games are Emmanuel Dennis, Ahmed Musa, Samuel Chukwueze, Samson Tijani, Sadiq Umar, Maduka Okoye, Zaidu Sanusi and Abdullahi Shehu, Oghenekaro Etebo, Azubuike Okechukwu and Alhassan Yusuf.

The 22-year-old who scored eight times in the Ligue 1 season will be making his third appearance for the three-time African champions. He is expected to be flanked by Nantes forward Moses Simon and Alex Iwobi. Meanwhile, Peseiro has expressed optimism about starting on a bright note with the Eagles despite the several withdrawals from the squad for the games.

• Thiago, Fabinho fit for Champions League final -Liverpool

Liverpool’s preparations for the Champions League final were boosted by the news that midfielders Thiago Alcantara and Fabinho will be fit to face Real Madrid after injury scares. Thiago was brought off at half-time of Liverpool’s 3-1 win over Wolves last weekend nursing an Achilles problem.

Fabinho has not featured since sustaining a muscular injury in a 2-1 win at Aston Villa on May 10. However, the Brazilian took a full part in an open training session in front of the media on Wednesday.

• Troost-Ekong backs Super Eagles to soar again

Nigeria defender William Troost-Ekong believes the Super Eagles will rise again after their recent setbacks, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Eagles have endured a disappointing campaign in the last few months first, they suffered disappointment at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon where they failed to get past the Round of 16 after they lost 1-0 against Tunisia. They had eariler recorded victories in their Group D games.

In March, Eagles then turned their focus to the World Cup qualification playoffs where they came up against Ghana. After claiming a 0-0 draw in the first leg meeting in Kumasi, they earned a 1-1 draw in the return fixture in Abuja, a result that saw the Black Stars qualify for the finals in Qatar on the away goals rule.
Despite the ouster, the 28-year-old Troost-Ekong, believes the team will come back stronger from the disappointments.

• Liverpool vs Real Madrid: It’s revenge time, says Salah

We have a score to settle,” Mohamed Salah posted on social media moments after Real Madrid set up a re-match with Liverpool in Saturday’s Champions League final.Salah’s first appearance in European club football’s showpiece game came to an agonisingly premature end in Kyiv four years ago.

The Egypt forward made a tearful first-half exit after suffering a shoulder injury in a challenge with Real defender Sergio Ramos, who was accused of cynically slamming his opponent into the turf.

Madrid went on to win 3-1 and Salah has never been able to shake the bitter memories of that night.

METRO PLUS

• Train Attack: We’ll start killing abducted passengers in 7 days — Terrorists

Terrorists who kidnapped passengers on the Abuja-Kaduna bound train that was attacked on 28th March 2022 have urged the government to release their children allegedly kept in a Yola detention facility.
They threatened to start killing the passengers in captivity within 7 days unless their demands are met

Leaders of the terrorists spoke on phone to the spokesman of Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, Malam Tukur Mamu, ‘And Dan Iyan Fika. In the audio of the conversations between Malam Tukur Mamu and the leaders of the terrorists that executed the Abuja-Kaduna train attack, the terrorists claimed that the Federal Government suspended the resumption of the train service because of their threats, saying if our conditions are not met, the resumption of the train service is to the detriment of the government and the passengers”.

“We don’t need money. We have a good reason for doing what we did, until our demands are met none of the victims will come out alive even if it means we all die with them. They are well taken care of as you can see from the pictures we sent to you via WhatsApp but we assure you that this will not continue”. We choose you (Tukur Mamu) to convey this important message to the government, the families of the victims and Nigerians in general because we believe you won’t alter our message and we have seen you severally with Sheikh Gumi in the forest, therefore, we recognized the fearlessness in you”.

• Beheaded Anambra lawmaker: Soludo in shock, offers N10m bounty on killers

Gunmen have beheaded Okechukwu Okoye, the lawmaker representing Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly. The lawmaker and his aide, Cyril Chiegboka were kidnapped last Sunday, along Aguluzigbo road, Anaocha Local Government Area of the state. He represented Aguata 2 Constituency in Anambra State. Eyewitnesses said that Okoye’s head was dumped at Chisco park in Amichi, Nnewi South Local Government Area on Saturday, six days after he was abducted. Police Public Relations Officer, Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident on Saturday night.

Reacting to the murder, Governor Charles Soludo condemned the gruesome killing of the lawmaker and commiserated with his family on the loss. Soludo in a statement by his media aide, Christian Aburime, described the lawmaker’s killing as heartless and barbaric, saying he received the news with rude shock and deep sadness.

The governor also reassured the people of Anambra State of his administration’s resolve and renewed determination with the security agencies to go all out against the criminals and ensure they are brought to justice. This is even as he placed a N10m reward for anyone or group that will avail valuable information that will lead to the immediate arrest of the perpetrators of the dastardly act.

• Soludo draws battle line against criminals

Following the heightening state of insecurity in Anambra State, the state governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo has said that his administration has drawn a battle line against criminals, insisting that no place in the state would be safe for them to operate.

Addressing aspirants of the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, for the various elective positions for 2023 at the Governor’s Lodge, Awka, Soludo said government is putting stringent measures in place with security agencies to tackle the situation headlong and restore peace and order to the state.

Lamenting the loss of the member representing Aguata Constituency II at the State House of Assembly, Okechukwu Okoye, who was gruesomely murdered alongside his aide, Cyril Chiegboka by gunmen, the governor assured that the perpetrators of the dastardly act would be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.

He said that the security challenges confronting the state were being “perpetrated by criminals who have now engaged in kidnapping, killing and other manner of criminalities as a lucrative enterprise, a far departure from any form of political agitations”.

• Stop bloodshed in South-East, release ‘Mama Biafra’, Nnamdi Kanu begs

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has urged that the killings in the South-East should stop. Kanu also demanded the immediate release of Mrs Ukamaka Ejezie, a newspaper vendor popularly known as ‘Mama Biafra’ in Abia State. The IPOB leader was quoted as speaking during a visitation to him in the Department of State Services custody by his younger brother, Emmanuel Kanu.

The IPOB leader was said to be saddened by the reports of Killings across the South-East. Emmanuel stated that his brother “does not believe in bloodshed”, adding that Nnamdi Kanu was not happy that bloodsuckers are on the loose in the South-East almost unchallenged.
Kanu was also quoted as saying that all those behind the current killings in the South-East must be held accountable for their atrocities.

According to his junior brother, Mama Biafra, a septuagenarian was arrested during Kanu’s last court appearance in Abuja on May 18.
The old woman, Kanu said, committed no crime for coming to Abuja to solidarise with him at the court when she was arrested, regretting that, “I saw her at the DSS detention cell after her clothes were washed and spread on the wall. I demand that she be released because she committed no crime. Kanu pleaded with all to ensure there is peace in South East.

• Dismissed policeman bags life imprisonment for defiling nine-year-old pupil

An Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court on Monday sentenced a dismissed policeman, Mohammed Alidu, to life imprisonment for defiling a nine-year-old school girl in a police barracks. Justice Abiola Soladoye, in her judgment, held that Alidu was a disgrace to the police because he failed to uphold law and order and went about frolicking with an underage girl.

The News Agency of Nigeria reported that Soladoye held that the prosecution had convincingly proved the charge of defilement against the convict beyond any reasonable doubt. She said the survivors’ evidence was fully corroborated by the medical evidence. The police said the offence contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

• CAN, Arewa Groups Condemn Killing Of Pregnant Woman, Four Children In Anambra

THE killing of a pregnant woman, her four children, as well as six others by suspected members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) in Anambra State has been described as a bad omen for the country as which is currently in search of peace. The Kaduna State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) and Arewa Youths Consultative Forum (AYCF), condemned the killings, just as they noted that the country should rise against those who do not wish it well. 

CAN noted that the killings of Harira and her children are not only unfortunate, but show that things are getting out of hand. While condemning the murder, CAN described the killers as cowards and sub-humans who oppress the innocent and kill children. To this end, the state chairman of CAN, Reverend Joseph Hayab, called on the Federal Government to treat them (IPOB) like Boko Haram terrorists. 

However, the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), while condemning the killings, said, “enough is enough.”  The group noted that the conspiracy of silence by South-East leaders, and even the media, whenever northerners are attacked in the southern part, is dangerous for the unity of the country.  In a statement by its spokesman, Abdul-azeez Suleiman, the group asserted that it would henceforth retaliate any form of provocation unleashed on northerners in any part of the country. 

Meanwhile, the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum has sounded a word of warning to governors of the South-East to take urgent steps to “end the killing of innocent northerners or face the legal consequences of their inaction.”  Rising from its emergency meeting in Kaduna, the AYCF, in a statement signed by its national president, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, said the murder of northerners working or trading in the South-East at the slightest opportunity was totally unacceptable. 

• Gunmen invade Kukah’s church, kidnap priests, others

Gunmen early Wednesday broke into one of the parishes presided over by the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan-Kukah. Newsen gathered that the armed hoodlums kidnapped two priests and two others in the rectory of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Gidan Maikambo, in the Kafur Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Kukah’s Sokoto Diocese covers Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi States.

The Director, Social Communications of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Rev. Fr Christopher Omotosho, confirmed the development with newsmen on Wednesday morning. Omotosho said, “As at midnight of today, 25th May, 2022, gunmen broke into the rectory of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Gidan Maikambo, Kafur LGA of Katsina State. “The parish priest and his assistant Rev. Frs. Stephen Ojapa, MSP, and Oliver Okpara and two boys in the house were kidnapped.

On May 14, rampaging hoodlums torched and vandalised some parishes presided over by Kukah in Sokoto following his condemnation of the gruesome murder of Deborah Yakubu by her Muslim colleagues. The 200-level Home Economics student of Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto was accused of blasphemy against Prophet Muhammed.

The rioters also burnt some parts of Kukah’s church buildings and set a bus ablaze in one of the premises. The Sokoto religious-tainted riot has extended to some parts of Bauchi and Abuja in the last few days while security agents and some northern governors have warned against religious violence.