Headlines

Yakubu Mahmood, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stated that INEC is willing and able to conduct local government elections if the responsibility is assigned to it.

Speaking on Thursday, when he appeared before the joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission and Electoral Matters on preparations for the upcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States, the Chairman of INEC, Professor Mahmood, said that INEC can handle the local government elections, but that would only be possible pending the amendment of the Constitution.

Yakubu, who noted that the Commission had been conducting area council elections in the Federal Capital Territory, which has been devoid of the problems associated with the conduct of local government elections, said that there has never been a time when one political party has won all the seats at the elections, as is common in the states.

Renowned journalist and Ovation Magazine publisher, Dele Momodu, has expressed his concerns regarding the proposed nationwide youth-led protest, slated to take place from August 1 to August 15.

In a post on X on Wednesday, Momodu said there are risks associated with protests led by faceless individuals.

Drawing from his extensive experience with protests, which spans 46 years since his time at the University of Ife in 1978, Momodu stated: “I have 46 years experience in protests, since 1978 at the University of Ife.

“There’s nothing riskier for a nation than faceless people or a mob leading protests. It is the right of everyone to protest but not the right of anyone to cause mayhem… And government has the right to protect lives and properties.”

He reiterated that while protesting is a fundamental right, it must be conducted in a manner that does not lead to violence or destruction.

The protest is being organized in response to the escalating economic challenges facing Nigerians, particularly the rising cost of living.

The Defence Headquarters has warned those mobilising for a nationwide protest that while it is their right to protest, it will not condone anarchy.

Daily Trust reports that some persons are mobilising for nationwide protest slated for August 1 to August 10, 2024.

Tagged #EndBadGovernace, organisers of the protest have lamented about widespread hunger and inflation in the land,

Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, said the military won’t allow anarchy to befall Nigeria.

He added that the military has uncovered plots by unscrupulous elements to hijack the protest and turn it into a violent one by attacking innocent Nigerians and their businesses.

“While citizens have the right to peaceful protest, they do not have the right to mobilise for anarchy and unleash terror.”

“I will say that the contemporary context of this planned protest is to shadow what is happening in Kenya and I will add that what is happening in Kenya in terms of protest, one, it is violence, two, it remains unresolved as we speak.

“The level of violence being envisaged can only be described as a stage for anarchy. The Armed Forces on its part will not stand by and allow anarchy to befall our nation. This is because we have seen wars and have witnessed anarchy in countries with which we have operated, particularly in times of ECOMOG (Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group) and during our peacekeeping operations in various countries.”

Traditional worshippers have announced plans to hold the Oro Festival from August 1 to August 15, coinciding with the scheduled #EndBadGovt protest.

The announcement has sparked suspicions that the cultural event might be a strategic move to counter the protests.

The notice, which went viral on social media, warned residents and visitors of the impending rituals.

It stated: “Please be informed that the Oro Festival will be observed in various communities across Lagos from the 1st of August to August 15. This traditional Yoruba cultural event involves significant rituals.”

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration has denied any involvement in orchestrating the festival to undermine the protest.

Gboyega Akosile, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Governor said the protesters and the traditional worshippers have the right to their activities.

Speaking to Peoples Gazette, Akosile said, “I saw it just like every other person did. Did you see any signatory to this statement? The answer is no! If it’s not endorsed, then it’s a nullity.

However, traditional religious worshippers have the right to carry out their worship at any time. Whether it coincides with the dates of the protests or not. I’m not sure it removes anything from the fact that they have their right to carry out their traditional worship.”

Akosile further advised both parties to respect each other’s rights to prevent any conflicts.

“You want to protest, I want to do my worship, it’s my right. It is now right versus right. As long as your own right does not disturb my own right, there won’t be crisis, let everybody be doing their thing,” he said.

Despite the government’s assurances, there are concerns about possible clashes between the protesters and the Oro adherents.

Akosile, however, noted that security agencies would be on standby to ensure that any protests that turn violent do not escalate into a bloody confrontation.

The Oro Festival’s timing has raised eyebrows, particularly because of its historical use during politically sensitive periods.

Ahead of the 2023 general elections, a similar declaration of the Oro Festival saw ritual pots placed at several junctions and in front of houses across the state.

Just three days before the March 18, 2023, governorship election, the traditional ruler of the Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom, Saheed Ademola, declared a three-day “Oro rites,” claiming it was an annual event.

Critics, however, believed it was a tactic to deter voters opposed to the ruling party.

In a show of solidarity, indigenes of Southern Borno converged on the Unity Fountain in Abuja, demonstrating their outrage and disappointment over the ousting of Senator Ali Ndume from his position as Chief Whip of the Nigerian Senate.

The protesters said that Ndume was ousted from office for merely drawing the attention of President Bola Tinubu to the sufferings of Nigerians.

Ndume’s supporters, under the aegis of the Southern Borno Development Association, defied the rains to hold the protest.

The leader of the association, Mohammed Ibrahim Biu, in an address during the peaceful demonstration, said, “We are here to register our displeasure over the action of the Senate concerning our Senator, Ali Ndume.

“He was removed from office as Senate Whip based on a complaint by the National Chairman of the APC for saying what others have been saying.

“Nothing he said was new. We believe President Tinubu, being a listening leader, has started implementing some of the advice given by Senator Ndume which is why the new minimum wage bill was recently passed and approved by him.

We wish to appeal to the Senate President and the Senate to reconsider this decision.

“He was occupying that position as the only position occupied by the Southern Borno Senatorial District in the National Assembly.”

According to Biu, the ousted Senate Chief Whip is a consistent and forthright leader who had always spoken out in favour of his constituents in particular and downtrodden Nigerians in general, adding that he should be supported and not vilified for speaking and standing by the truth always.

Meta Inc, the owners of Facebook, Whatsapp and Instagram, announced on Wednesday that it has taken significant action against online scammers in Nigeria by removing 63,000 Facebook accounts.

These accounts were linked to individuals using Meta’s social media services to blackmail targets after soliciting intimate photos.

They also deleted thousands of additional accounts, pages, and groups that were distributing scripts on how to blackmail and sexually extort users. The Facebook accounts were involved in financial and sexual extortion scams, primarily targeting adult men in the United States.

Nigerian online fraudsters, often referred to as “Yahoo boys,” are notorious for various scams, including posing as individuals in financial distress or as Nigerian princes offering lucrative investment returns. In this instance, the scammers used fake accounts to mask their identities and engage in “sextortion,” threatening victims with the release of compromising photos unless they paid to prevent it.

Meta revealed that the removed accounts included a smaller, coordinated network of about 2,500 accounts linked to a group of roughly 20 individuals. These scammers mainly targeted adult men in the U.S., but there were also attempts against minors, which Meta reported to the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children in the U.S.

The investigation showed that most of the scammers’ attempts were unsuccessful. Meta utilised new technical signals to identify and combat sextortion activities. Additionally, some accounts were found to be providing tips and guides on conducting scams, as well as links to collections of photos for creating fake accounts.

Online scams have grown in Nigeria as economic hardships worsen in the country of more than 200 million people. Scammers operate from various locations, including university dormitories, shanty suburbs, and affluent neighborhoods.

Meta’s crackdown aims to protect users and maintain the integrity of its platforms, which include Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, from fraudulent activities and exploitation.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has taken into custody Alhaji Sulaiman Jimoh, also known as Temo, a high-profile drug lord who allegedly headed the notorious Mushin, Lagos drug cartel.

After a prolonged period of running and hiding, the 57-year-old suspect was finally arrested at his secret hideout, where he was found to be accompanied by armed associates who initially attempted to thwart the capture.

The arrest was announced in a statement by NDLEA’s Director of Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, on Wednesday.

According to the statement, Temo had managed to avoid capture for years, despite being linked to several large drug consignments worth billions of naira.

Babafemi observed that confrontations with the suspect’s gang frequently escalated into intense shootouts, making the successful capture of the suspect a notably difficult achievement.

“In the last two years, the NDLEA had intercepted large consignments of illicit drugs worth billions of naira owned by Temo but he has remained largely evasive while a few encounters with him and his armed gangs in his Mushin enclave had resulted in gunfight,” the statement read.

Some of Temo’s recent drug shipments intercepted by the NDLEA include 14,524.8 kilograms of Ghana Loud, a potent strain of cannabis sativa, smuggled into Lagos from Ghana.

These were seized in two trucks and a J5 bus at Ojuelegba, Lagos, in January 2024.

During these operations, Temo’s men often engaged NDLEA operatives in violent confrontations.

Despite his notoriety and constant movement to evade arrest, Temo was finally captured on Monday, July 22, 2024, at Igbarere Street, Mushin.

The statement added that the NDLEA’s surveillance teams had been tracking Temo, and a reinforcement of about 50 operatives was mobilised to the area when he attempted to escape in a Mercedes Benz SUV GLE 350.

His effort to mobilise hoodlums to distract the operatives failed, and he was eventually overpowered and arrested.

Netflix, a video streaming platform based in the United States has again increased its subscription prices in Nigeria with its Premium Plan going up by 40% to 7,000 from N5,000 per month.

The latest price increment makes it the second price adjustment by the platform within the space of 3 months, having implemented a price increment earlier in April this year.

According to the price update on the company’s website, the Standard plan subscription, which is popular among Nigerian subscribers for its HD quality and multi-screen viewing options, has been increased from N4,000 to N5,500. This represents a 37.5% increment.

Netflix’s Basic plan, which was N2,900 has been jerked up by 21% to N3,500, while the lowest subscription plan, Mobile, has gone up by 83% from N1,200 to N2,200.

The Netflix price increment comes amid high inflation in Nigeria that has pushed up prices of every product and service being offered in the country. While Nigerians grapple with skyrocketing food prices, home entertainment is becoming out of reach for many households as a result of price increases.

Meanwhile, Netflix has been adjusting prices in key markets globally, including the United States, United Kingdom, and France, with the Basic and Premium plans experiencing increases in since last year.

A high court in Ekiti State has sentenced one Sunday Asere to 14 years imprisonment for sexually assaulting a six-year-old minor.

Sunday Asere, 24 was arraigned before Justice Adekunle Adeleye on 22nd March, 2022, on one count charge of rape.

The charge read that the defendant sometime in January, 2020, at Moferere in Ado Ekiti within the jurisdiction of the honourable court did rape a six-year-old girl.

According to the charge, the offence is contrary to section 31(2) of the Child’s Rights Law, Cap. C7, Laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria, 2012.

In her statement to the police, the victim said, “I am a primary one pupil, l am living with my mother but my parents have separated.

“Uncle Sunday was our neighbour, anytime my mother was not at home, he would ask me to lie on the floor, he would remove my pants and insert his something in my virgina, l was feeling the pain anytime he did it.

“13th January, 2020, on the second day, my Daddy came to visit me in the school and I told him everything uncle Sunday has been doing to me. My father later went to report the case at the police station.”

To prove his case, the prosecutor, Kunle Shina Adeyemo called six witnesses and tendered statements of the defendant and medical report as exhibits.

The defendant presented his own defence through his counsel, Adedayo Adewumi. He called no witness.

Delivering his judgement, Justice Adekunle Adeleye held that the medical doctor after examination revealed likely sexual abuse but no evidence of penetration of the vagina.

The Federal Government has scheduled an emergency meeting for Wednesday (today) morning in response to a planned nationwide protest slated for August 1.

This comes after President Bola Tinubu pleaded with the organisers to shelve the protests and give his administration more time to execute people-oriented programmes.

A circular shared with the punch on Tuesday by sources with knowledge of the meeting indicated that all the ministers, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume and the Special Advisers to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala-Usman; Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga and former Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare, were among those invited for the meeting.

The circular, signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Cabinet Affairs Office, Richard Pheelangwah, dated July 23, 2024, was titled, ‘Planned Nationwide Protest.’

It read, “I am directed to invite you to attend a meeting with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on the above subject slated as follows: July 24, 2024, Time: 10 am prompt, Venue: Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Conference Room.

“Attendance is mandatory. Please, accept the warm regards of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.”

The planned session is coming amid the clamour for nationwide protests from August 1 over the rising cost of living and the economic hardship in the country, which has blamed on the removal of fuel subsidy, the floating of the naira and other economic reforms implemented by the Tinubu administration.

The planned demonstration, inspired by the recent Kenya protests, has gained traction on social media, where it is trending under the hashtags ‘EndBadGovernance,’ ‘TinubuMustGo’ and ‘#Revolution2024.’

However, the Presidency and the police authorities called on youths to abandon the plan, describing it as ill-advised.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on Tuesday conveyed the President’s plea to Nigerians in an interview with State House correspondents, after a meeting with Tinubu.

He said, “On the issue of the planned protest, Mr President does not see any need for that. He asked them to shelve that plan and he has asked them to await the government’s response to all their pleas.

“So, there is no need for a strike. The young people out there should listen to the President and allow the President more time to see to the realisation of all the goodies he has for them.”

Idris said the President took the protesters’ grievances seriously and was committed to ensuring a better future for Nigeria.

He mentioned the speedy passage of the National Minimum Wage Bill by the National Assembly and the recent approval and delivery of grains to state governments as evidence of the President’s commitment to the welfare of Nigerians.