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JUST IN: Goodluck Jonathan in auto crash, two dead

by Leading Reporters April 6, 2022

written by Leading Reporters

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has been involved in a fatal auto crash which killed two persons.

Mr Jonathan was returning from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Wednesday when the accident happened.

Although the former president escaped death and is said to be now safe in his Abuja home, two of his aides died in the accident.

It is unclear if Mr Jonathan sustained any injuries from the auto crash as Leading Reporters could not reach the former president’s spokesperson as of the time of filing this report.

April 6, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

BREAKING NEWS: Senate passes Federal Polytechnic Orozo bill into Law

by Leading Reporters April 5, 2022

written by Leading Reporters

Senate passes bill to re-enact National Commission for Colleges of Education

Also passed was the bill to establish the Federal Polytechnic, Orozo.

The bills were passed following the consideration of two separate reports by the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETfund.

Sen. Nora Ladi Daduut (APC-Plateau), presented the report on behalf of the Committee Chairman, Ahmad Babba Kaita.

Daduut said the National Commission for Colleges of Education bill, among others, seeks to empower the commission to attract highly qualified personnel from the Federal Colleges of Education.

She said the bill also seeks to make 65 years the official retirement age from service.

Daduut said it also provides the commission with the powers to appoint, second or transfer an employee of other colleges or appoint a new officer to deputize the Executive Secretary of the Commission.

She explained further that when passed and assented into law, the Commission would be empowered to determine the tenure and remunerations of the Deputy Executive Secretary of the commission.

This, she said, will be in consultation with the Minister of Education and/or any other Minister responsible.

On the bill to establish the Federal Polytechnic, Orozo, Daduut said the institution, when established, would develop and offer full-time academic and professional programmes in Technology, Applied Sciences, Management and Administration.

Daduut added that the programmes would lead to the award of Higher National Diploma, Ordinary National Diploma and other levels of study.

April 5, 2022 0 comments

Africa & World

‘Swastika-shaped burns’: Ukrainian MP claims Russian soldiers raped and branded girls, shows gory image

by Leading Reporters April 4, 2022

written by Leading Reporters

Lesia Vasylenk, who is a Ukrainian Member of Parliament, alleged that Russian soldiers have raped girls and also branded them. According to Vasylenk, swastika-shaped burns were found on their bodies.

Taking to her official Twitter handle on Monday (April 4), the Ukrainian MP stated that Russian soldiers raped girls as young as 10 years old. She also mentioned that crimes such as loot and killings were also committed.

Labelling Russia as a “nation of immoral criminals”, Vasylenk alleged that the young girls were left with “vaginal and rectal tears”. She also claimed that women’s bodies with burns in the shape of a ‘swastika’, which is a hooked cross — similar to a sacred Hindu symbol.

“Russian soldiers loot, rape and kill. 10 yrs old girls with vaginal and rectal tears. Women with swastika shaped burns. Russia. Russian Men did this. And Russian mothers raised them. A nation of immoral criminals,” she tweeted.

Russian soldiers loot, rape and kill. 10 y.o. girls with vaginal and rectal tears. Women with swastika shaped burns. Russia. Russian Men did this. And Russian mothers raised them. A nation of immoral criminals
— Lesia Vasylenko (@lesiavasylenko) April 3, 2022

18300 Russian soldiers killed in #Ukraine. And I’m not sorry for any one of them. #WarDay #40
— Lesia Vasylenko (@lesiavasylenko) April 4, 2022

https://twitter.com/lesiavasylenko/status/1510736577592537092?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1510736577592537092%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wionews.com%2Fworld%2Fswastika-shaped-burns-ukrainian-mp-claims-russian-soldiers-raped-and-branded-girls-shows-gory-image-468336

Russia has been levelled with fresh allegations of war crimes after mass graves were allegedly found in Bucha, a town outside Kyiv after Russian troops recently withdrew from that area.

Reports have stated that Russian troops tortured, killed civilians and raped women. In response, the Kremlin on Monday (April 4) “categorically” rejected accusations.

🇷🇺 came in 🇺🇦 with military bands and columns of the Rosguard. But they were followed by mobile crematories. Why do you need them if you don’t believe in resistance? Now we know – to hide war crimes. This is not a performer's mistake. This is a planned genocide. #BuchaMassacre pic.twitter.com/koRdQbtbX8
— Михайло Подоляк (@Podolyak_M) April 3, 2022

In the latest European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said the EU was ready to send a team of investigators to gather evidence of possible war crimes.

“The EU is ready to reinforce this effort by sending investigation teams on the ground to support the Ukrainian Prosecution Services. Eurojust and Europol are ready to assist,” she said.

April 4, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

Apps: FG Moves To Probe Google For Aiding Loan Woofs

by Leading Reporters April 4, 2022

written by Leading Reporters

Barely 48 hour after descending on the operations and assets of illegal financial loan management outfits, the Federal Government, through the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), has gone a step further to probe the activities of renowned search engine, Google, for aiding the loan sharks by enabling apps for loan requests.

FCCPC had during the week closed 30 bank accounts belonging to some of the outfits, who are in the habit of going through their ‘customers’ personal details and exposing same to the public in the event of payment default.

The Commission said Google International would beheld accountable for allowing the operators to exploit Nigerians illegally via the creation of non-traceable illegal online loan platforms, which is an infringement on Nigerian consumers’ rights.

Also, the FCCPC explained that it was currently investigating the activities of major oil marketers over the hike in aviation fuel or JET A1 and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), otherwise known as diesel.

Disclosing these at a media briefing in Lagos yesterday, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Mr Babatunde Irukera, said Google acted irresponsibly by allowing illegal loan sharks in Nigeria to create apps that violated the rights of Nigerians to their privacy protection, which constitutes national risks to the country as a whole.

Irukera said that Google may not be welcome to do business in Nigeria again for creating an app that poses high risk to the country’s national interest and existence.

He pointed out that the app allowed the operators to freely venture into many Nigerians private lives. According to him, the 30 illegal loan companies operating in Nigeria freely have access to driver’s license, National Identification Number, voter’s cards and other sensitive information on the contact lists of those who borrowed monies from them.

The FCCPC boss explained that the Commission had been struggling to communicate with Google operators to no avail. Irukera said: “We are pulling down apps from Google play store. Even we as a regulator, we are running into trouble with Google.

I got a letter on Wednesday from someone who is a senior legal officer with Google in Africa and Middle East. “And in that letter, there is absolute no way to contact Google. I find that extremely reprehensive and shameful of a company in the size and magnitude as Google.

“As a regulator, we are struggling to find Google and for Google to be able to enforce order of a regulator is problematic in your country, where Google is available and doing business, is the height of irresponsibility by a company with a huge brand like Google.

“So I intend to hold Google responsible for that letter they have written and their own successive barriers to be engaged for enforcement.

I am going to hold Google responsible for that. “But it’s easier to hold Google responsible because we know where to go if I need to work with the law enforcement in California, United States, because we’ve got counterparts there.

“And we will use our counterparts there and say Google, you are not welcome in this country if we can’t find you and the regulator cannot engage you when your platform is being used to exploit people. No, you are not welcome? “I don’t care if Google has an offices in Abuja and Lagos or not, but you must tell me where to find you when I have a problem.

You provide a service, you allow people to put apps on the platform, and discover that app is the problem, and we are having problem finding you. News Credit: globalgistng.com

April 4, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

Fintech: FG freezes bank accounts of 30 illegal loan companies, 12 illegal online banks

by Leading Reporters April 4, 2022

written by Leading Reporters

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, said it has frozen the bank accounts of over 30 illegal loan companies operating in Nigeria.

The Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission Mr. Babatunde Irukera, said this at a media briefing in Abuja.

The Commission in a joint operation had on March 12 shut down the offices of some illegal online banks.

The Enforcement Team was made up of the FCCPC, Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
The Commission had said the order became imperative as it had established inappropriate conduct or use of the application in violation of the rights of consumers.

The Order of the Commission also prohibits acceptance and presentation of new applications for the same purpose without regulatory assessment and approval.

Giving an update on the issue, Irukera said the Commission has ordered Google LLC (Play Store) and Apple Inc. (App Store) to enforce the withdrawal of certain applications belonging to illegal online banks operating in Nigeria.

He added that the FCCPC is currently engaging three major loan companies whose businesses had been affected by its raid.

He said, “The day we conducted the raid, we have some limited information about the bank accounts that some of the loan companies operated.

“All the bank accounts that were provided were immediately blocked but these companies operate multiple bank accounts with multiple names.

“Between the time we raided and now, we have discovered additional 30 accounts and all have been frozen and we will continue to freeze as we discover them.

“I am certain that with the actions that we have taken and the nature of the engagement we are having with the loan companies, at least three of the major ones that their businesses have been severely affected by either our search or the account closure they are modifying.

“It will take some time but I can assure you that the space is changing now.”

April 4, 2022 0 comments

Life Style Headlines

Photo: Yar’adua and Patient Jonathan attended Maryam Abacha’s 75th birthday Bash

by Leading Reporters April 4, 2022

written by Leading Reporters

Photo: **Yar’adua and Patient Jonathan attended Maryam Abacha’s 75th birthday Bash**

How the former women of president Hajia Turai Umaru Musa Yar’adua and Patience Jonathan attended the celebration of the wife of the former president,

General Sani Abacha, Hajia Maryam Abacha, 75 years.

April 4, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

2023: The narrative of “Nigerian Government being broke is false” presidential aspirant

by Leading Reporters April 4, 2022

written by Leading Reporters

A presidential aspirant under the aegis of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo has reiterated that the saying, ‘Nigerian Government being broke is untrue’.

Adewole believes that Public Office holders use those lines to shy away from their core responsibilities of delivering the dividends of democracy to her citizens.

‘Have you ever seen any Public Officer who gets into office and resigns because there is no money in the treasury? – Adewole asked.

He stressed further that there is a need to vote for responsible people who have the interest of the masses at heart.

The Legal Practitioner and Media Entrepreneur believe that they is an urgent need to scrap the trend where people use the treasury as their purse and a demand for a replacement by progressive thinkers who will in turn change the fortunes of the political space.

He further added that there are two types of corrupt politicians in Nigeria; the ones who steal current money – these are the ones who plunder money that keeps getting into the treasury and the ones who steal future money- towards the expiration of their tenure decide to get fast loans from banks and foreign sources only to plunder them leaving the country in debt and absolute poverty.

This is the main reason why upright and principled people have to be voted into office and he believes he ticks all those boxes.

April 4, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

Two operatives of Federal Road Safety Corps killed by unknown gunmen in Anambra State

by Leading Reporters April 4, 2022

written by Leading Reporters

A team of Patrol Operatives of the Federal Road Safety Corps comprising of an Officer, a driver and two other staff on patrol operations have been attacked by unknown gunmen leading to the death of two personnel with one sustaining severe injuries.

The Patrol team were conducting routine patrol operations today Sunday , 03 April, 2022 at about 2:45 pm along Igbo-Uku- Uga route in Anambra State when the armed men opened fire at them killing two of the Corps personnel with one escaping into the bush and the team leader rushed to the hospital after sustaining severe injuries from the attack.

The Corps Marshal, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi who was visibly touched says he decried the attack while condoling the families of the deceased staff, the Unit Commander and Staff of Igbo-Uku Command, and the entire Management and Staff of the Corps over the loss and prayed their souls to rest in peace.

Oyeyemi also assured that the Corps is already working with the Nigerian Police Force and other relevant Security agencies to ensure that the perpetrators of this wicked act are arrested and allowed to face the full weight of the law.

Signed

Bisi Kazeem fsi
Assistant Corps Marshal
Corps Public Education Officer
Federal Road Safety Corps Headquarters
Abuja.

April 4, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

President Buhari state among northern states declared highly unsafe by Britain

by Leading Reporters April 4, 2022

written by Leading Reporters

Katsina State, the home state of Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari is among the northern states in Nigeria the United Kingdom has warned its citizens to extensively avoid, describing it as highly unsafe

Other states include Yobe, Borno, Adamawa, Zamfara, Gombe and Kaduna state where suspected terrorists bombed an Abuja- Kaduna moving passenger train on Monday.

The terror attack left in its wake over 20 persons dead, several wounded and many kidnapped by the criminals who planted explosives on the rail track and later shot at stranded passengers.
Few days before the train bombing, suspected bandits had also attacked an international airport in Kaduna.

President Muhammadu Buhari has since ordered security agencies to hunt down the terrorists.

In spite of this, the UK government said in a travel advisory on Thursday that the designated states are not safe because of the rising level of insecurity.

The directory issued by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office FCDO, warned that the states any high risk areas where criminal group are still kidnapping people and killing others.

Part of the directory reads in parts: “The FCDO advise against all travel to Borno State, Yobe State, Adamawa State, Gombe State, Kaduna State, Katsina State, and Zamfara State. Violent attacks are frequent and there is a high threat of kidnap,” the post read.

“On 26 March 2022, gunmen launched an attack against Kaduna airport, killing at least one airport official in the latest in a series of attacks by gunmen in the north of Nigeria. On the evening of 29 March 2022, an apparent Improvised Explosive Device attack took place against a train travelling from Abuja to Kaduna. Reports suggest that a number of people were killed and that others were abducted by gunmen. Train services are now suspended between Abuja and Kaduna.”

“The threat level in North-East Nigeria, including around Maiduguri is increasing, particularly around transport hubs, religious areas, and large gatherings. Kidnaps have taken place on the roads in and out of Maiduguri. As the dry season starts in October, this risk is expected to increase even further,” the advisory further said.

“If the security situation in Maiduguri were to deteriorate any further, there is a significant likelihood that it could be extremely difficult for you to leave the city. We do not advise travelling by road.”

“If you’re in the North East against FCDO advice, keep in touch with the authorities and the wider community on the security situation and make sure your procedures and contingency plans are up to date. If you are working in the North East of Nigeria you should be fully confident in your employer’s ability to extract you from the North East in the event of any emergency,” FCDO said

April 4, 2022 0 comments

Headlines Investigation

Meet The “Bullionaire” Senator Patrick Ayo Akinyerule who own Eighteen Bureau De Change, Other Companies with which he cuts deals

by Leading Reporters April 4, 2022

written by Leading Reporters

The Senate Committee Chairman on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Senator Patrick Ayo Akinyerule and his family members own and sit in the board of at least eighteen companies as a serving Senator, including bureau de change, oil companies, construction companies, insurance and banking related companies, among other general services companies.

Investigations carried out by LeadingReporters into the financial activities of the company revealed what highly suggests that the Senator lacks the virtue of morality in leadership.

The Senator who represents Ondo Central is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. By virtue of his profession, the moral dimension of leadership should not be strange to him. But that seems far from what obtains. Instead, it has become a situation where public petitions are converted to cash and business opportunities.

LeadingReporters investigation followed series of petitions received by this online news platform that Senator Akinyelure uses his position for self-aggrandizement and deal-cutting.

Among companies with which the Senator allegedly uses to cut ‘deals’ include:

Allover Bureau De Change Ltd, KKT Bureau De Change Ltd, Folly-Tizzy Bureau De Change Ltd, APL Bureau De Change Ltd, TopKem Bureau Dey Change Ltd

Other companies linked to the Senate Committee Chairman on Ethics include, but not limited to: KKT Oil Services Ltd, Allover Engineering Services Ltd, Senpat Engineering Ltd, PAL Construction Ltd, Folly Tizzy Services Ltd, Alphamate Commodities Co. Ltd, APL Insurance Brokers Ltd, Kunly and Associates Ltd

Further investigation revealed that Senator Ayo uses other companies where he fronts his wife and other relatives to perpetrate his alleged corruption. These companies are used as recipients of slush funds from those who have been petitioned and are willing to pay their way out of any indictment. They include:

Folly-Tizzy Bureau De Change Ltd and Bestomi Bureau De Change Ltd

Other allegation, as contained in the petition sent to this platform for publication against Senator Akinyelure is that 85% of petitions to his office become a leverage to negotiate mouthwatering deals with companies, government agencies and individuals. Oil companies are majorly his targets, according to a source that spoke to LeadingReporters on condition of anonymity. Others include government MDAs.

These monies are received in dollars via his Bureau De Change companies or that of his associates which would be revealed in our next publication. Besides, construction companies and oil companies linked to him receive patronage from defaulting companies and agencies that desire their names to be cleaned from every corruption allegations.

A petitioner who does not want his name mentioned shared his experience how Senator Akinyerule leveraged his petition to negotiate mouth-watering deal with a multinational company that shortchanged Nigeria Government of billions of Naira. He said that his presence in the office of the Senate Committee Chairman on Ethics and Privileges became a sore sight that he was literally told not to show up again.

He said it was much later that he received a call from someone who claim to be speaking from the office of the Senator directing him to go soft on the issue as that may become a risky adventure for him. The petitioner said that the caller literally told him that the company in question has link in virtually every government ministry and agency and there was little or nothing anyone could do about his petition because of the company’s strong links.

The office of the Senate Committee Chairman on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions is an office where morality should hold sway. But what obtains there is a far cry from what is expected from an office that should be a hub of morality, empathy and patriotism for Nigeria Government and Nigerians.

All efforts to get Senator Patrick Ayo Akinyelure to address the allegations against him as texts and calls text to his known lines were not responded to as at the time of filing this report.

April 4, 2022 0 comments

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