News & Announcements

Lasun Yusuf, a former House of Representatives deputy speaker and Labour Party, LP candidate for governor of Osun State in July 2022, has left the party to join the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

At the party’s presidential rally, which was held at the Osogbo township stadium on Wednesday, Governor Ademola Adeleke revealed Lasun’s defection to the PDP.

Around 2:40 p.m., the former Labour Party governorship candidate arrived at the event and was welcomed by PDP National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu, PDP Presidential Campaign Council Chairman Udom Emmanuel, and Atiku Abubakar, the party’s presidential candidate.

Numerous PDP supporters cheered Lasun for joining the party and chanted his name.

The National Chairman of the PDP described the defection of Lasun as a homecoming.

He said, “I want to thank the Osun people, let’s forget about the past and reunite every great member of our party, this is the party of hope.”

“Lasun Yusuf is now Atikulate,” he added.

In his statement, Lasun vowed to back the PDP in the elections of 2023.

Recall that Lasun served as the All Progressives Congress’ deputy speaker of the House of Representatives from 2015 to 2019.

He left the APC in March 2022 after losing the party’s governorship primary. He then joined the Labour Party, where he was given the nomination to run in the Osun governorship election.

With 2,729 votes, Lasun placed fifth in the Osun election.

The “Company of the Year” (COY) Competition, the largest high school entrepreneurship competition in Africa, will take place this week with the subject “Fueling Change Makers” thanks to a partnership between First Bank and JA Africa.

The JA Africa Company of the Year (COY) competition is JA Africa’s annual celebration of winning teams from the JA Company Program, a program that gives senior secondary school level students the entrepreneurial skill set and mindset to solve problems in their communities by starting a business venture and unleashing their entrepreneurial potential. This year marks the competition’s 12th year and marks the first in-person meeting following COVID after two successful virtual competitions.

Simi Nwogugu, JA Africa’s CEO said “ Given the increasingly complex set of global challenges facing young people around the world from unemployment to climate change and food shortage, we focus on equipping our students to be solution providers who bring about positive change within their communities while developing businesses that generate wealth.” 

Folake Ani-Mumuney, Group Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications, FirstBank, also commented on the upcoming Africa Company of the Year Competition.

“The 2022 Junior Achievement Company of The Year competition remains another viable opportunity to promote the entrepreneurship skills, spirit and talent innate in school children, across Africa” She said.

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund TETFund, has emphasized the need for a new, sustainable funding model for tertiary education in Nigeria as a way to stop the ongoing industrial actions by different staff unions in the country’s government tertiary institutions that have been common in recent years.

Sonny Echono, the Executive Secretary of the TETFund, made the request in his speech on “Sustainable Funding of Tertiary Education in Nigeria” at the National Universities Commission’s, or NUC’s, 60th anniversary celebrations. In his own words: “Nigeria needs a new model of sustainable funding for tertiary education. There are three crucial areas that require attention.

“The first is the government funding, which is currently below the global average and needs to be increased and deployed in a more transparent manner and better managed.  An increase in Education Tax to three percent will address this imperative.

“The second is the University curricula. It needs a revamp to produce graduates who are better suited to the realities of the national economy, which is an economy that cannot offer more formal employment at present, but rather needs job creators. Faithful implementation of the Triple-Helix-Model of government, academic and industry collaboration will upscale private sector contribution and demands, and ultimately deliver benefits to all.

“The third is for the nation’s universities to generate their income to complement government funding. Our universities should be encouraged and supported to seek additional revenue sources by developing a range of pathways and mechanisms, including ventures related to their core business of education delivery, research and services such as clinical medical facilities, agribusiness and consultancy services that would be self-financing to generate surplus to the institution and similar initiatives.”

Recalling many recommendations, the TETFund boss said: “Government should allow full implementation of the 2004 Universities Miscellaneous (Autonomy) Act, which empowers University Councils to take full charge of their operations and development; limit its role to overall policy framework, regulation and the creation/strengthening of institutions such as NUC, TETFund, Education Bank, Federal Scholarship Board and a Students Loans Board to address the multifaceted challenges of education; Continue to provide scholarship and bursary for exceptionally gifted scholars and verifiable indigent students based on income levels of parents and other discernable criteria,” He stated.

On all counts of tax fraud and other crimes, two business entities owned by former US President Donald Trump were found guilty.

After beginning their deliberations on Monday, a jury in New York decided on 17 criminal counts, as was stated in court on Tuesday afternoon.

CBS stated that following the conclusion of the six-week trial’s final arguments and testimony, the Trump Corporation and Trump Payroll Corporation were found guilty.

In addition to the company’s seasoned chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, both businesses were charged in July 2021.

They were charged with employing a number of strategies, including untaxed bonuses and million-dollar luxury amenities, to reduce payroll liabilities from executive wages.

In an agreement with the government, Weisselberg admitted guilt in August and consented to testify against the business, according to a CBS report.

The Trump Organisation’s lawyers said Trump and his company were “betrayed” by Weisselberg.

Weisselberg, according to the prosecution, was one of several executives who received sizable annual bonus cheques signed by Trump and recorded as payments to independent contractors, as well as luxury bonuses like opulent apartments, tuition for private schools, and expensive cars that were not reported as salary.

Joshua Steinglass, an assistant district attorney in Manhattan, claimed in his closing remarks that Trump was aware of it.

“The fact is this was sanctioned, and that the practice was known to Mr Trump,” Steinglass said.

Up to $1.6 million in fines could be imposed on the Trump Organization. The expected date for sentencing is January 13, 2023.

Vice President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner was found guilty of corruption by a federal court in Argentina, receiving a six-year prison sentence, and being barred from holding public office.

The former president was found guilty of the crime of “fraudulent administration to the harm of the state,” notwithstanding her denial of the accusations leveled against her and her dismissal of the trial as a political witch hunt.

The accusation that she oversaw a criminal enterprise—which would have resulted in a harsher punishment—was rejected by the three-panel judge.

Due to her position as the nation’s deputy leader and head of the Senate, she enjoys congressional immunity and is therefore unlikely to serve any time in jail.

Fernandez de Kirchner, who has dismissed the accusations against her as a “fabricated fantasy” and is unlikely to soon serve any prison time due to governmental immunity, is anticipated to appeal the ruling.

The three-judge panel dismissed a charge of leading a criminal organization but found her guilty of “fraudulent administration” regarding erroneous public works contracts that were issued while she served as president between 2007 and 2015.

In her reaction to the verdict, Fernández de Kirchner claimed that “none of the lies were substantiated” and that a “legal mafia” was to blame for her conviction.

“I won’t be a candidate for anything, not a senator, or a deputy or president of the nation” in the 2023 general elections, she said in an hour-long broadcast immediately after the court had ruled.

During her two years as president, she was charged with granting public works contracts fraudulently in her home province of Santa Cruz (2007-2015).

The prosecution had requested a 12-year prison term and a lifetime political ban, and they have already said they will ask for a harsher sentence on appeal.

Diego Luciani, the lead prosecutor, criticized what he called “a system of institutional corruption” and “probably the largest corruption operation” in the nation’s history during the trial, citing “systematic irregularities in 51 calls for tenders” that occurred over a period of more than ten years.

13 people in total were accused of the two offenses of fraudulent administration and illicit association. Former Federal Planning minister Julio De Vido, former secretary of Public Works José López, and businessman Lázaro Báez, who is reportedly at the center of the corrupt organization, were among the 12 more accused.

Eight of the co-accused were found guilty and given prison terms ranging from three to six and a half years. Three were freed, while one had their case dismissed because the statute of limitations had expired.

The court sentenced Báez and López to six years in prison for their crimes. De Vido, the former undersecretaries of public works Abel Fatala and Carlos Santiago Kirchner, and the head of the provincial roads agency in Santa Cruz were all found not guilty.

Bola Tinubu, standard bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says he was born on March 29, 1952 — “according to family records”.

Controversy had trailed the age and identity of the former governor of Lagos state.

In 2021, Wikipedia locked their page of Tinubu over what it described as “persistent vandalism” because a number of accounts edited his age multiple times.

At the time, 1942 was said to be Tinubu’s birth year, but that now reflects as 1952.

Fielding questions at Chatham House in the United Kingdom on Monday, Tinubu said his transcript from Chicago State University has 1952 on it.

However, this is contrary to what Reno Omokri, an ex-aide of former President Goodluck Jonathan, claimed he received from the institution upon request.

Speaking on his background, the former governor said “I am Tinubu and Tinubu proper”.

“At the time of birth, I was dated March 29, 1952, in the family record. I didn’t think that day I had determined or decided to be president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or even go into politics. I have had good exposure in life,” he said.

“My record is consistent in the school — in the university question, they (opposition) confessed that they wasted their money and time. The record is there. The transcript is there showing March 1952.

“I’m not claiming another father. I am Tinubu and Tinubu proper. If they want DNA, they could as well require one. One of them has been accused of not being a Nigerian citizen; I didn’t touch that area.

“Equally, it remains the same – Deloitte, Chicago State University where I graduated have attested to that. Now, I can announce that I have received my original placement degree certificate from them.

“Deloitte trained me as an accounting firm. Mobil Oil has attested to my record. I got to the pinnacle of my career. In the private sector, who among them can brag about that?

“Yes, you want to wrestle with the pig, you have got to live with the dirt. That is what I am doing. I got into politics knowing fully well that it is muddy water.”

Two persons were gunned down Monday night when unknown gunmen attacked a police checkpoint near Presco Junction, Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.

The Ebony Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Chris Anyanwu, who confirmed the attack, said one mobile policeman and one of the gunmen were killed.

A shootout between the invading gunmen who operated on a motorcycle was reported during the attack which happened at about 7:pm on Monday.

Recall that the Monday stay-at-home is still observed in some states in the South East, mostly Anambra, Enugu, and Abia, States.

Owerri, the Imo State capital, and Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State, have not been observing the stay-at-home which is being spearheaded by unidentified miscreants, long after the IPOB had stopped it.

However, while the two-state capitals no longer observe the stay-at-home, the other parts of the states still show skeletal compliance.

Apart from Abakaliki and Owerri banks, schools and markets have maintained strict compliance to the order.

Director of Strategic Communication of the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign council, Mr Dele Alake, has spoken on why Asiwaju Bola Tinubu delegated questions while giving an address at the Chatham House.

On Monday, the APC presidential candidate spoke at the Chatham House in the United Kingdom.

At the Chatham House, Tinubu spoke about his action plan for Nigeria and addressed questions on the controversy concerning his age and refusal to attend the debate.

During the engagement, the APC presidential candidate asked some persons on his team, including Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house of representatives, and Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna, to answer questions on his behalf.

Tinubu’s action has, however, elicited reactions on social media as some Nigerians have questioned his decision to not answer all the questions himself.

Speaking in an interview with Channels Television, Alake said delegating questions to team members is “one of the innovations” of Tinubu.

“This is one of the innovations of asiwaju Tinubu. Don’t forget that one of his main solid strengths has been identifying talents.

“Anybody who has his head properly screwed on his head would know that Asiwaju is the primus inter pares in team building; that is what he sought to display.

“Everybody acknowledges his talents in showcasing professional and technocratic experts in various fields. Those who are saying what you have just said are ignorant of the nuances and dynamics of leadership. Leadership is not a one-man show.

“Successful leadership is one based on a team that is professional and highly skilled. Asiwaju has been noted to be an advocate of that and that is what he displayed.

“Apart from delegating, he also answered questions personally and directly. He wanted to show the calibre of his team and that is what he equally did at the Eko Hotel town hall meeting.
“That style is being copied by some of his opponents but they can’t get the traction because they don’t have the solid team like he has,” he said.

33 spouses of terrorists affiliated with the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) were murdered in Sambisa by Boko Haram militants, who are reportedly enraged over the deaths of their commander, Malam Aboubakar (Munzir), and 15 other people after a fatal in-fighting.

Remember that hundreds of fighters have been waging battle against the ISWAP in Sambisa Forest under the command of Ali Ngulde, a key Boko Haram commander in charge of Mandara Mountain, since December 3.

According to sources, the terrorist organization Jama’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihd (Boko Haram) invited the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) to a failed discussion by saying it was willing to surrender itself (mubayi’a) to IS/ISWAP leadership.

At least 12 of them were killed in an ambush that Ngulde and his squad prepared against them in Yuwe, while some managed to flee with gunshot wounds, according to Zagazola Makama, a Counter Insurgency Expert and Security Analyst in the Lake Chad who corroborated the massacre.

The source said, “In the aftermath of the encounters, Boko Haram members seized four Hilux trucks mounted with weapons belonging to their rivals and burnt another.

“Shortly after the victory, the Boko Haram fighters mobilised more fighters from Abu Ikilima’s camp at Gaizuwa, Gabchari, Mantari and Mallum Masari to attack more ISWAP positions in Ukuba, Arra and Sabil Huda and Farisu, killing about 23 more fighters.

“Few hours later, a top ISWAP leader, Ba’ana Chingori, called for a declaration of war and led a column of fighters to carry out reprisal attacks on the Boko Haram in Farisu.

“The attack paid off as the ISWAP neutrialized 15 Boko Haram terrorists including a unit Commander, Malam Aboubakar (Munzir) and seized seven motorcycles from them.

“The ISWAP group later retreated and took position at the camp of Izzah. 

“Thereafter, they moved to Garin Abbah, located about 2 kilometers away, where they pinned down to wait for the Boko Haram.

“But instead of going to meet the ISWAP rivals to continue the fight, the Boko Haram elements made a detour, headed to where ISWAP wives are and killed 33 of them,” the source added.

Three police officers and three other traders were killed yesterday afternoon when gunmen believed to be bandits raided the Yarbulutu village market in the Sabon Birni local government area of Sokoto state.

President Muhammadu Buhari and Defense Minister Salihi Magashi were in Sokoto for the 2022 COAS annual meeting when the attack took place at 2:30 p.m.

Eyewitnesses claim that bike-riding gunmen opened fire on unarmed vendors at the weekly market, forcing everyone to flee and run for their lives.

Three police officers were killed and two operating vehicles were set on fire as police officers at a nearby checkpoint hurried to the scene and confronted the attackers.

The Sokoto State Police Command’s DSP Sanusi Abubakar confirmed the incident by saying that the command had received the report and was looking for the attackers to bring them to justice.

A villager who saw the incident and was alarmed by the way that gunmen terrorize the neighborhood every day with little opposition stated his worries.

According to him, kidnappers and bandits operating in Zamfara and parts of Sokoto state have long held the eastern Sokoto local governments of Sabon Birni and Isa hostage for ransom.

“I am certain these gunmen were from Zamfara state and now relocated to our area as the area shares boarder with the state in the east” said the eyewitness. 

Recall that six people were killed by gunmen last week in an attack in a different village in the state’s Goronyo local government area.

Early last year, a similar incident occurred where it is believed that gunmen killed over 40 people.