Folarin Kehinde

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Mr Peter Obi has demanded that President Bola Tinubu comes clean on his true identity.

Obi made the demand on Wednesday during a press conference in Abuja.

The former Anambra State governor urged Tinubu to reintroduce himself to the nation he governs, and to the world for avoidance of further doubt

According to Obi, it’s only Tinubu himself through a direct personal statement that could clear every speculations about his true identity.

Obi said, “He should introduce himself to the nation he governs, and to the world for avoidance of further doubt.

“He should let the world know his name, his nationality, his place of birth, his current age, the primary and secondary schools he attended with dates, as well as the actual universities he attended and certificates he obtained.

He should indicate clearly when and where he did his national youth service. In addition, if he had a change of name, he should state so clearly the time and circumstances.

“This is a simple task that will only take a few minutes. It requires no affidavit, prolonged talk process, spokespersons, agents or surrogates.

“The task is only Chief Bola Tinubu himself through a direct personal statement can perform. He must perform this task urgently. He has to lay to rest many lingering doubts and speculations about his true identity.”

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has advised Nigerians to pay more attention to their mental well-being amid the harsh economic conditions in the country.

Tinubu disclosed this in a statement posted on the official X handle of the President of Nigeria on Tuesday.

The statement read, “As we commemorate the 2023 World Mental Health Day with the theme ‘Mental health is a universal human right’, I wish to urge each and every one of us to pay more attention to our mental wellbeing as well as others.

“The challenges of our times have tested our resilience especially social media and societal pressure which has left many faced with emotional and psychological burdens that have taken its toll on their mental wellbeing.

“It is crucial that we recognise the significance of mental health and take collective action to support those who are affected in one way or the other.”

She added, “As we strive for a more promising nation, let us prioritise engaging our youth in candid conversations that will enhance their mental health, help them manage their emotions and expectations better while promoting healthy relationships and ultimately improve their productivity

“At this juncture, I call on our traditional rulers, religious leaders, NGO and all well-meaning Nigerians to join the Government in showing concern and support for those seeking help. Together, we can build a healthier, more compassionate nation for all.”

The petrol scarcity in Abuja took a new turn on Tuesday, October 10, with retailers selling the product for as high as N1,000 per litre.

This is even as long queues have returned to the streets of Nigeria’s capital city — a reflection of the crisis rocking the downstream sector of the petroleum industry.

Leading reporters gathered that this is coming barely 24 hours after the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) denied the return of subsidy on the product.

However, most filling stations in Abuja were locked on Tuesday, as long queues were seen at the few that were dispensing fuel to motorists.

Prices have also gone up at the pump, as most independent retailers were selling at N625 per litre, while NNPCL was dispensing at N613.

Black marketers who were seen with the product in yellow kegs had also increased their price from N750 to N1,000 per litre.

This came weeks after President Bola Tinubu said there would no longer be increase in pump price of petrol, despite the deregulation of the downstream market, adding that the present petrol price would remain.

A report by Premium Times indicates that President Bola Tinubu is considering recalling a 71-year-old former Justice of the Supreme Court from retirement to serve as the chairperson of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Abdu Aboki, who hails from Kano state, exited the Supreme Court bench after clocking the mandatory retirement age 70 on 5 August 2022.

Presidency sources quoted in the report said Tinubu has penned down Aboki’s name to replace the incumbent ICPC chair, Bolaji Owasanoye, whose five-year tenure remains about six months.

Aboki’s appointment will deviate from the new trend of showing a preference for the relatively younger generation to head the anti-corruption agency.

Some observers have shared their concerns about his age, saying appointing a relatively older person from retirement to head a key anti-corruption agency like the ICPC is out of sync in an era of fast-changing dynamics of corruption trends that require innovative strategies to tackle.

Some also argue that Aboki’s age and experience across the hierarchy of the Nigerian judiciary would be an asset for an ICPC chairperson, who has to contend with legal issues and difficulties of prosecution of corruption suspects, especially the high-profile ones, in court.

Aboki, whose wife, Dije, is the chief judge of Kano state, began his journey on the bench 38 years ago when he was appointed a High Court judge in the state judiciary in 1987.

Before his judicial roles, Aboki, a graduate of Law from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, partook in the compulsory NYSC programme in old Gongola State between 1977 and 1978.

He attended the Nigerian Law School in Victoria Island, Lagos, and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1977.

In November 2020, Aboki, after serving on the Court of Appeal bench for 14 years, was appointed to the Supreme Court bench alongside five others.

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has released the results of the 2023 internal Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE), with a record of 61.60 per cent of candidates scoring five credits and above, including English and Mathematics.

The examination council also accused 93 schools of whole-school (mass) cheating, while 52 supervisors were recommended for blocklisting due to poor supervision, aiding, and abetting during the examinations.

The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Professor Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, disclosed this while announcing the release of the examination results.

Wushishi said that the erring schools would be invited to the council for discussion, after which appropriate sanctions would be applied.

He said that 1,196,985 candidates, representing 616,398 males and 580,587 females, sat for the examinations, and an additional 1,543 candidates with special needs.

“The number of candidates with Special Needs is 1,542, which includes 913 candidates with hearing impairment, 162 candidates with visual impairment, 103 candidates with Albanism, 61 candidates with Autism, 149 candidates with low vision, and 154 candidates with Adermatoglyphia which are candidates with no fingerprints.

“737,308 representing 61.60 per cent of candidates passed with five Credits and above, 1,013,611 representing 84.68 per cent of candidates had five Credits irrespective of English and Mathematics,” he stated.

A Nigerian Army Special Court-martial sitting in Abuja has sentenced a former Group Managing Director of Nigerian Army Properties Limited, Maj.-Gen. Umar Mohammed to five years in jail for stealing funds belonging to the organisation.

LEADING REPORTERS gathered that Mohammed was found guilty of 14 out of 18 charges bordering on forgery, misappropriation of funds, and conspiracy.

The eight-man panel led by Maj.-Gen. James Myam explained that the prosecution counsels called 24 witnesses, while the defendant called two witnesses.

Myam stated that count one was brought under section 383(1) of the Criminal Code Act Cap c38 law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and punishable under section 390 (7), adding the charge was also brought pursuant to section 114 of the armed forces Act Cap A20 2004.

The court ordered that Mohammed refund some of the stolen funds into the account of NAPL. The sentences are subject to the confirmation of the “confirming authority.”

Mohammed had been in the detention facility of the Nigerian Army at Mogadishu cantonment, Abuja, for over two years prior to his sentencing.