Milton Daniels Bishop: May 2019

Wednesday 15 May 2019

As residents stage protest, Katsina LG boss cries out: Security in my area deteriorating

theeagleonline

The Transition Committee Chairman of Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State, Alhaji Mannir Muazu, has decried the deteriorating security situation in the area, saying inhabitants were unsafe.

Muazu told newsmen on Tuesday in Batsari that the level of insecurity in the area was compounding by the day in spite of presence of the security personnel.

As residents stage protest, Katsina LG boss cries out: Security in my area deteriorating

“We are facing insecurity challenges in the area; we are in difficult times,” Muazu said. He urged the people to initiate ways of defending themselves from bandits attack.

He said the call was necessary because the situation could affect farming as the bandits were threatening to attack farmers in the farmlands during the cropping season. The chairman also called on the people to intensify prayers during the Ramadan fasting to seek Almighty Allah’s intervention.

In a related development, residents of the local government area staged a peaceful protest to draw government’s attention to the disturbing insecurity in the area. The protesters carried placards with inscriptions which included: “No security in Batsari” and: “We want security in our area.”

One of them, Yado Musa, said bandits attack people and kidnap women regularly.

Musa said: “Women are more vulnerable.

“They go with women, rape them, after they regain freedom, their husbands divorce them.

“And, if a woman is in labour, particularly at night, there will be no health worker to attend to her.

“So, we are in difficult situation.

“We need urgent intervention.”

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Batsari is one of the nine local governments in Katsina State, sharing borders with Zamfara State, that are facing insecurity problems.

Gbajabiamila lobbies Bago to step down from speakership race

theeagleonline

An aspirant for the position of the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the ninth National Assembly, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has lobbied Hon. Mohammed Bago to drop his ambition. Bago, who hails from Niger State, is contesting against Gbajabiamila for the speakership.

They both belong to the All Progressives Congress. However, the leadership of the party, backed by both President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, have announced the zoning of the speaker’s seat to the South West.

Negotiating on behalf of Gbajabiamila with Bago, Hon. Abdumumin Jibrin, who is the Director General of Gbajabiamila Campaign Organisation, said he has met with Bago to lobby him.

According to Jibrin: “Today in my capacity as DG of our campaign council, I visited my bosom friend Hon Mohd Bago in continuation of our lobby and consultation. We will continue to engage.

“Ealier, we addressed a press conference on the state of our campaign attended by some returning and new members elect.”

Nigeria Army begins e-records keeping, says old method obsolete, embarrassing

theeagleonline

The Nigeria Army said on Tuesday it was embracing e-records keeping to boost service delivery because the old records keeping methods had become “obsolete and embarrassing”.

Major General Kuta-Adamu Isiyaku, Chief of Administration, Army Headquarters, said this at a conference on army records in Lokoja, Kogi State. Isiyaku said the army was embracing technology to digitise its personnel records to ease administrative actions.

The conference, held at the Chari Maigumeri Barracks, had the theme: “Data and Information Management in the 21st Century: A Panacea for Administration in the Nigeria Army.”

According to Isiyaku, the Nigeria Army has continued to be confronted with the challenges of traditional methods of record keeping and management that were obsolete and embarrassing. He said: “In this 21st Century, these methods are without doubt obsolete and needless to say cumbersome, ineffective and indeed embarrassing.

“The time has come to have a paradigm shift where the Nigeria Army will embrace technology and digitise its records and other administrative processes.

“It is for this reason that I commend the initiative to drive the transformation to Electronic Document Management System and Physical Storage Solution (e-Records) in Command Army Records (CAR).”

Isiyaku stressed that the theme for the conference was very apt, adding that the Department of Administration would continue to support the CAR’s efforts and the commitment of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, to ventures that would make the Army better. He added that the e-Records project had been approved and was awaiting the requisite funds to take off.

Isiyaku expressed confidence that experienced and knowledgeable senior officers in data management present at the conference would come up with credible and workable ideas that the Nigeria Army could use. The Commander, Command Army Records, Major General Elvis Njoku, said the conference was an annual event that presented a platform to review activities of records offices in the past year. Njoku added that the event was also an avenue to deliberate and take decisions that would chart the course of the command’s activities in the current and coming year.

“Only through focused and constant realistic review of all processes of our data and record management system can we become more proficient and well equipped to perform our jobs,” he said.

NAN reports that the four-day conference had participants from the Department of Army Administration headquarters with CAR, and field record officers.

Outgoing Africa Youth Parliament Speaker kicks as new one emerges

theeagleonline

Tom Agbor, the outgoing Speaker of Democracy Africa Youth Parliament Assembly, on Tuesday in Abuja kicked against violation of the House rule in electing John Agri, a Ghanaian, as its speaker.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that there was tension during the proceeding when members of the second assembly accused the Director-General of DYPA, Dr. Ifedi Okwenna, of violating the House rules.

Outgoing Africa Youth Parliament Speaker kicks as new one emerges

Agbor said there were attempts to alter the rules of the parliament to elect new leadership that could be easily manipulated.

He said it was agreed that members of the second assembly who were active during proceedings could be re-nominated, adding that having forwarded 25 names to the D-G, none of them was considered.

NAN reports that about 80 youths from Africa gathered to elect the new speaker.

Okwenna, however, debunked the allegations, saying there were no anomalies in the election of the new speaker. He said all the rules of the assembly were strictly adhered in the process of the election.

He however noted that Africa as a continent had great potential and the opportunities were limitless. He said the infrastructural deficiency and rate of poverty in Africa were limiting the relationship Africans had between themselves, thereby limiting its growth and development.

According to Okwenna, technologies penetration is very slow and in spite increase in the number of formal education, quite a number of African countries still depend on aids and grants.

He said: “The challenge is very real and the youths must take this up, if we must build an Africa of the people, our greatest asset and resources.”

Prof. Greg Ibe, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Save Democracy Africa, said he had no doubt that the youth parliament would bring a change to Africa’s growth. Ibe urged the youths to take responsibility of their own development and that of their countries and continent, adding that power was never given but always fought.

He said the “Not Too Young to Run Act”, which was signed into law recently in Nigeria, was already moving around the continent. He said: “We expect more active participation of young people in political space in their respective countries, not as thugs, but as real actors in the process.

“The youth cannot expect government to empower them, while they do the opposite by abusing themselves in various ways, including drug abuse.”

Wike sacks Commissioner, recalls suspended LG bosses

theeagleonline

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has sacked the state Commissioner of Power, Shedrach Chukwu. The governor disclosed this in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu. Wike’s sacking of the Commissioner is coming barely 48 hours after he recalled 12 council chairmen that were suspended for failing to honour invitations to public events.

He directed the sacked Commissioner to submit all government documents and property in his possession to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Power.

No reason was, however, given for the sack of the Commissioner towards the end of the governor’s first tenure. The statement reads: “The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has sacked the state commissioner of power, Hon. Shedrach Chukwu.

“The governor directed the sacked commissioner to submit all government documents and property in his possession to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Power.”

Earlier, the state governor charged the recalled council chairmen to diligently serve their people and shun all forms of lackadaisical behaviour in governance. Wike urged them to tackle security challenges in their respective local government areas and warned that any LGA chairman, who continued to act in breach of extant laws, would be shown the way out.

The recalled council chairmen are from Okrika, Emohua, Abua/Odual, Degema, Khana, Gokana, Ahoada East, Ikwerre, Eleme, Andoni, Omuma and Ogu/Bolo Local Government Areas.

Tuesday 14 May 2019

Actress Felicity Huffman Pleads Guilty In College Admissions Scandal

Channels Tv

American actress Felicity Huffman pleaded guilty on Monday for paying bribes to help her daughter gain admission to a prestigious university, avoiding what was sure to be a well-publicized trial and probably also dodging jail time.

The former “Desperate Housewives” star was the latest celebrity brought down by the wide-ranging college bribery scandal that’s snared a slew of wealthy American parents. In a tearful appearance before federal judge Indira Talwani in Boston, Huffman pled guilty to paying $15,000 to boost her daughter’s SAT college entrance exam score.

Actress Felicity Huffman is escorted by Police into court where she is expected to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud before Judge Talwani at John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse in Boston, Massachusetts, May 13, 2019. Joseph Prezioso / AFP

The crime is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of as much as $250,000, but by admitting guilt Huffman will likely avoid those penalties.

Federal prosecutors have recommended a sentence of a year’s probation and a $20,000 fine, though the judge can modify the penalty if she pleases.

Huffman announced her intention to plead guilty last month, saying she was “ashamed” of what she had done. Sentencing is scheduled for September 13, US attorney for Massachusetts Andrew Lelling said.

Among the 50 people charged in the admissions scandal — a group that includes CEOs and partners at major law firms — 10 have already pled guilty, including five parents.

Another 10 parents have said they will also plead guilty in the scandal that saw some of the accused pay as much as $400,000 to get their children into their chosen college.

The ringleader behind the scam, William “Rick” Singer, who authorities say was paid about $25 million dollars to bribe coaches and university administrators, has pleaded guilty and is cooperating with authorities.

AFP

Troops Rescue 29 Women, 25 Children From Boko Haram Captivity

Channels Tv

Troops of 22 Brigade, Operation LAFIYA DOLE in collaboration with local vigilantes have continued moving into the hinterland on clearance operation to destroy Boko Haram terrorists.

In a statement by its spokesman, Colonel Sagir Musa, troops on the 11th of May 2019, cleared Ma’allasuwa and Yaga – Munye villages in Borno State.

He said no encounter with Boko Haram terrorists was made as they ran away before troops’ arrival leaving behind 54 suspected kidnapped victims.

“Out of the number, 29 are grown up women and 25 are children of various ages and sex. They have all been rescued,” Colonel Musa stated.

Similarly, at Zari – Kasake and Jumachere villages in Damasak general area of Mobbar Local Government Area of Borno State, troops of 145 Battalion Operation LAFIYA DOLE on clearance operation discovered and destroyed two Boko Haram terrorists’ logistics vehicles.

The army spokesman said deserted Boko Haram Terrorists’ make-shift accommodation was also destroyed.

He added that Mopol Sergeant Markus John – Personal Number – PNo 383106 was arrested at Njimtilo check point along Maiduguri – Damaturu road in possession of 2 magazines, 146 rounds of 7.62 mm Special ammunition and one round of Anti Aircraft Gun concealed in his bag while on transit to Lagos State.

Recall that on the 10th of May 2019, troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE in conjunction with the Nigerian Police, arrested 14NA7113208 Private Paul Ojochegbe and 12NA672586 Lance Corporal Oko Eke in possession of one disassembled AK 47 Rifle at the same N’jimtilo check point.

Colonel Musa said the Nigerian Army will remain resolute in ending terrorism and other forms of insecurities across the country.

He reiterated the army’s appeal to the public to continue to provide useful information about suspicious movement of terrorists/criminals wherever they are seen hibernating in Nigeria.

Hackers Exploit WhatsApp Flaw To Install Spyware

Channels Tv

A security flaw in WhatsApp, one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, allowed sophisticated attackers to install spyware on phones, the company said on Tuesday, in the latest trouble for its parent Facebook.

The vulnerability — first reported by the Financial Times, and fixed in the latest WhatsApp update — allowed hackers to insert malicious software on phones by calling the target using the app, which is used by 1.5 billion people around the world.

The FT cited a spyware dealer as saying the tool was developed by a shadowy Israel-based firm called the NSO Group, which has been accused of helping governments from the Middle East to Mexico snoop on activists and journalists. Security researchers said the malicious code bore similarities to other tech developed by the firm, according to The New York Times.

The latest exploit — which impacts Android devices and Apple’s iPhones, among others — was discovered earlier this month and WhatsApp scrambled to fix it, rolling out an update in less than 10 days.

“WhatsApp encourages people to upgrade to the latest version of our app, as well as keep their mobile operating system up to date, to protect against potential targeted exploits designed to compromise information stored on mobile devices,” a spokesperson said in a statement to AFP.

The firm did not comment on the number of users affected or who targeted them, and said it had reported the matter to US authorities.

The breach is the latest in a series of issues troubling WhatsApp’s parent Facebook, which has faced intense criticism for allowing its users’ data to be harvested by research companies and over its slow response to Russia using the platform as a means to spread disinformation during the 2016 US election campaign.

Highly invasive software

The WhatsApp spyware is sophisticated and “would be available to only advanced and highly motivated actors”, the company said, adding that a “select number of users were targeted”.

“This attack has all the hallmarks of a private company that works with a number of governments around the world” according to initial investigations, it added, but did not name the firm.

WhatsApp has briefed human rights organizations on the matter, but did not identify them.

The Citizen Lab, a research group at the University of Toronto, said in a tweet it believed an attacker tried to target a human rights lawyer as recently as Sunday using this flaw, but was blocked by WhatsApp.

The NSO Group came to prominence in 2016 when researchers accused it of helping spy on an activist in the United Arab Emirates. Its best-known product is Pegasus, a highly invasive tool that can reportedly switch on a target’s phone camera and microphone, and access data on it.

The firm said Tuesday that it only licenses its software to governments for “fighting crime and terror”.

The NSO Group “does not operate the system, and after a rigorous licensing and vetting process, intelligence and law enforcement determine how to use the technology to support their public safety missions”, it said in a statement to AFP.

“We investigate any credible allegations of misuse and if necessary, we take action, including shutting down the system.”

AFP

Two Nigerians Charged Over Internet Scam In Singapore

Channels Tv

Two Nigerian men believed to be members of an internet love scam syndicate were charged in Singapore on Tuesday with recruiting local women to collect money for them, police said.

Such scams, where victims part with cash after a fraudster feigns romantic interest in them, are a growing concern in the city-state with police reporting 660 cases last year.

The Nigerians — identified in local news reports as Oladayo Opeyemi Awolola, 34, and Gbolahan Ayobami Awolola, 37 — were arrested by Malaysian authorities in Kuala Lumpur last month and sent to Singapore on Monday.

The men allegedly recruited two Singaporean women “as money mules to receive criminal proceeds linked to internet love scams in Singapore” between 2017 and 2018, according to a police statement.

The women received Sg$85,700 ($63,000) during that period and turned the money over to syndicate members in Malaysia, police said.

The Nigerians could be jailed for up to five years each and fined if convicted.

It is the first time that suspects based overseas and involved in internet love scams have been arrested and sent to Singapore for prosecution, police said.

Most of the internet love scams reported last year in the city-state involved fraudsters claiming to have sent parcels containing luxury items or money.

Their local accomplices would call the “recipients” and claim the parcels were being held by the authorities for inspection, and would only be released if they transferred money to a bank account.

Oduduru Breaks Sub 10s Record In Big-12 Championships, Qualifies For Olympics

Channels Tv

Divine Oduduru has set another record at the Big-12 Championships, running 9.99 seconds in the men’s 100 meters final race on Sunday.

The athlete broke a record of 10.03 seconds earlier held by Prezel Hardy jr in 2012, becoming the first man to break 10s at the Big-12 tourney.

The Ughelli-born athlete’s 9.99 seconds qualifies him for next year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Oduduru ran a sub 10 seconds at the Michael Johnson Invitational in Waco, Texas last month.

We Want The World To See June 12 As Nigeria’s Most Important Day – Garba Shehu

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The Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, has made clarifications on the comments made by the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, about the President’s inauguration on May 29, being a low-key ceremony.

During an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Mr Shehu explained that while May 29th remains significant as the inauguration day, all ceremonies associated with the inauguration have been deferred to June 12.

“We want the world to see June 12 as this country’s most important (day) as far as democracy is concerned,” he said.

He further explained that the May 29 inauguration will still be marked because according to the Constitution, the four-year term officially ends on the 29th.

“Let me say emphatically, it is important that the President and the governors are being inaugurated on the 29th.

“Constitutionally, that must take place because their four-year term (2015-2019), expires on the 29th.

“However, the President will be swearing an oath, taking the oath of office as would the governors be doing, but the big ceremonies associated with the inauguration have been deferred to June 12, in order that we empower, we activate this day in a big way”.

On the venue of the event, he noted that it would take place at the Eagles Square, Abuja and the missions in the country, embassies, and other key figures will be duly represented.

“Delegations will come but we are welcoming them on June 12,” Shehu added.

Also speaking on the matter, a senior Advocate of Nigeria Adetokunbo Kayode, explained that it is economical to avoid multiple ceremonies and public holidays.

He said, “I think that prudence actually determines that it is done in a low-key fashion because of the ceremony that will come on June 12, so I think it’s okay.

“Holidays cost money, secondly, ceremonies cost money so it may be that the President wants to be very circumspect about how much he spends on these ceremonies”.

The Information Minister had during a press conference earlier today, explained that the country cannot afford two major celebrations within a two-week interval.

He noted that details of the events slated for the two ceremonies will be unveiled at a world press conference on May 20, 2019, in Abuja.

Ganduje Presents Staff Of Office To Four New Emirs

Channels Tv

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state, has presented the staff of office to the four new Emirs.

The exercise follows the recent split of the Kano Emirate into five. The Governor proceeded to present the staff against the orders of a court, restraining him from implementing the breakup of the Emirate. In a statement by his chief secretary, Abba Anwar, said the governor presented the instrument to Aminu Ado-Bayero, the eldest son of the late emir of Kano, as the emir of Bichi.

He also presented to Ibrahim Abubakar II, emir of Karaye; Tafida Abubakar-Ila, emir of Rano, and Ibrahim Abdulkadir, emir of Gaya.

“This Staff of Office represents dedication and commitment to serve your subjects in the areas of security, health care delivery system, education and environment among others,” said the governor while congratulating the new first class traditional rulers.

“We, as a government, are always ready to work with you hand in hand for the growth and development of our state in particular and the nation in general.

“You should place greater priority on education, health and the security of your domains. As a government, we will always respond positively to your people-oriented yearnings and aspirations.

“As leaders who are closer to your subjects, you should join hand with government and other security agencies to make sure that security is not only improved but maintained.

“Efforts towards strengthening community policing, as practised globally, should form part of your commitment. Ours is to, together, ensure that global best practices are observed.”

The Kano State House of Assembly had on May 8, passed the bill for the creation of the four additional first class Emirates.

This was after approval of the amendment of the local government and chieftaincy affairs law by the lawmakers.

In a motion presented to the House by the Majority Leader Baffa Babba, the House unanimously agreed that creation of more Emirates will assist in job creation, dispute, and community conflict resolutions among others.

Upon the passage of the bill by the Kano Assembly, Governor Ganduje assented and went on to present letters of appointment to four new first-class Emirs in the state.

The governor presented the letters on Saturday during a ceremony held at the state capital.

Those presented with the letters of appointment include Aminu Ado Bayero, the son of Late Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero, as the Emir of Bichi; Ibrahim Abulkadir as the Emir of Gaya; Tafida Abubakar as the Emir Of Rano and Abubakar Ibrahim II as the Emir of Karaye.

Ganduje during the presentation said the creation of an additional four Emirateswill make the Kano traditional system more efficient.

He however, denied the claims that the creation of additional Emirates in the state was done to settle personal scores with anyone.

Contrary to the allegations, Ganduje explained that the additional Emirates were created to make the traditional institution in the state more effective.

He went further to declare his respect for the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II who prior to now was the sovereign Emir of Kano.

He, however, noted that the traditional ruler was answerable to his Local Government Chairman, as enshrined in the Constitution.

Groups Mark Leah Sharibu’s Second Birthday In Captivity, Demand Her Release

Channels Tv

A group of concerned Nigerians on Tuesday staged a march at the Unity Fountain in Abuja, marking the second birthday of Leah Sharibu in Boko Haram captivity.

The group started the commemoration of Sharibu’s birthday with a church service at the National Christian Center in Abuja.

Groups gather at Unity Fountain in commemoration of Leah Sharibu’s birthday. PHOTO: Sodiq Adelakun/Channels TV

Then, they proceeded on a solemn march to the Unity Fountain.

During the march, member of the group called on the Federal Government to work hard to ensure her release. They also demand adequate security to keep schoolgirls safe.

Leah Sharibu was one of the over 100 schoolgirls abducted from the Government Girls Secondary School in Dapchi, Adamawa State, on February 19, 2018.

Although the other girls have been freed, she has been held back reportedly for refusing to denounce her religion – Christianity.

There have been calls from across the world for her release.

See more photos below…

UTME: Parents Pay As Much As N200,000 To Ghost Writers – Jamb Registrar

Channels Tv

The Registrar of the Joint Admission Matriculations Board (JAMB), Professor Ishaq Oloyede, has described the rate of ghostwriters to enable candidates to cheat during examinations as unbelievable.

While appearing as a guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, he blamed parents for their involvement in the trend. His comments come after some parents were seen at exam centres paying ghostwrites to help their children seat for the just concluded Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

“Parents pay as much as N200,000 to ghostwriters, how will you as a mother or a father connive to commit a crime? Will the child have any respect from you?

“Will you still call yourself a father or a mother when you have introduced your son or daughter into the world of crime?” he asked.

According to the JAMB Registrar, a ghostwriter can write for three or more persons but the candidates have to be present so as not to be marked absent.

“For every examination, these ghostwriters write for three or four persons within the hours of the exam,

“They will finish one submit, take another one to submit, they were not aware that we have put somethings in place that every system can tell us who has written.

“What these candidates do is to use their feet to disconnect the wire on their system and people will be struggling with the system while the person writing for them has already left the hall.

“The time these candidates spend in these frauds, they can become first-class candidates”, he added.

On exam malpractice, the professor referred to it a fraudulent act lamenting that “these our candidates have gone haywire to the extent that it will take a strong person to understand the nature of their plan”.

He noted that some of the candidates have collaborated with owners and operators of some Computer Based Test Centres (CBT) to carry out the crime by engaging in multiple registrations, where the fingerprints of the main candidates were captured side by side with that of the impostors.

Oloyede’s comments come four days after JAMB released the 2019 UTME results.

Of the 1,792,719 candidates that sat for the exam, 34,120 candidates had their results withheld for examination malpractice.

Police Appoint New Head Of Complaint Unit

Channels Tv

The Nigerian Police Force has appointed a new head for its Complaint Response Unit, in the person of Markus Basiran.

Mr Basiran, an assistant commissioner of police, is to replace Abayomi Shogunle who was re-deployed last week as Area Commander Nkalangi, Ebonyi State. The new head of the CRU resumed duty fully on Monday, this is according to a statement made by the Force via its official twitter account.

Below is the statement as twitted:

Nigeria Police Force

✔@PoliceNG

· 20h

ACP MARKUS ISHAKU BASIRAN RESUMES AS NEW HEAD OF COMPLAINTS RESPONSE UNIT (CRU), FORCE HEADQUARTERS, ABUJA@seunokin @tvcnewsng @vanguardngrnews @PremiumTimesng @MobilePunch @SaharaReporters @MrFixNigeria @AIT_Online @daily_trust @NTANewsNow

Nigeria Police Force

✔@PoliceNG

The IGP has appointed ACP Markus Ishaku Basiran to head the CRU of the Force. ACP Markus Ishaku Basiran takes over from ACP Abayomi Shogunle who has been redeployed as Area Commander Nkalangi, Ebonyi State. The new head of the CRU resumed duty fully, today, 13th May, 2019.

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6:47 PM - May 13, 2019

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