Category: Uncategorized

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari told Nigerian graduates that earning a university degree was no longer an assurance for employment, but something that would help them to face the challenges of life.

The president, who is the visitor to Nnamdi Azikiwe University spoke through the Minister of State for Education, Professor Anthony Anwuka at the 13th convocation ceremony of the institution for the conferment of higher degrees, postgraduate diplomas and honorary degrees.

The president, who vowed that his administration would continue address youth unemployment and underemployment in the country, called on the youths to embrace the opportunities the Federal Government had put in place to mitigate the situation.

He said: “You are cautioned that university degrees do not usher you into an El Dorado. It rather equips you with the competence to grapple with the ever- changing challenges of life of which youth unemployment is a vexatious part. “The Federal Government will remain undaunted in tackling the challenges of youth unemployment and underemployment through a matrix of initiatives.

Such initiatives, he added, include, N-Power, the Bank of Industry Youth Entrepreneurship Support Programme and the Central Bank of Nigeria and Bank of Agriculture support schemes”. In his address, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Joseph Ahaneku said 6500 undergraduates, 763 Masters degree and 269 PhDs received their certificates for the 2017/2018 academic year.

SOURCE: Vanguard

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said its candidate in the Osun state governorship election, Senator Ademola Adeleke, will retrieve his “stolen governorship mandate” at the Supreme court.The party insisted that there was no way the will of the people, which they openly expressed in voting for Adeleke, would be allowed to be lost.The party in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said the fact that the Court of Appeal had a split judgment indicates that justice was not fully served at the appellate court.He stated: “The party says it is not in any way shaken by the judgment of the Court of Appeal, but stands with Nigerians in the confidence that justice and respect for the will of the people of Osun state will definitely prevail at the Supreme Court.“It is instructive to state that the Court of Appeal did not contest or invalidate the fact that Senator Adeleke won the election but only cited technicalities and speculations to arrive at its decision.”The party also noted that the Court of Appeal failed to act on the full and substantial import of the failure of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to produce the ballot papers and record of accreditation to disprove our position that INEC altered results and subverted the will of the people of Osun State.“Our party and candidate are therefore confident that the Supreme Court will look at the merit of the matter and ensure that justice is served by recognising Senator Ademola Adeleke as Osun State Governor,” he added.SOURCE: Thisday

President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja has instructed the security chiefs to be alive to their responsibilities and allow Nigerians sleep with their two eyes closed.

Buhari gave the directive during a meeting with service chiefs, including the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali and the National Security Adviser, Major-Gen. Babagana Monguno, in the State House.

The president’s meeting with the service chiefs was the second in the last 48 hours.

Answering questions from State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, said Buhari directed them to ensure that Nigerians go to bed without any fear and wake up being confident that their security is guaranteed.

According to him, they met with the president to brief him on security situation at home while he was away on private vacation in London particularly on issues bordering on proliferation of arms.

He said: “It was just basically to apprise Mr. President of the security situation generally after his short vacation abroad.

“The security agencies briefed him on what has been happening with particular emphasis on the proliferation of small arms and what the various agencies are doing to curtail the consequences of this proliferation.

“He has also given directives that the agencies should do much more to ensure that Nigerians go to bed and wake up feeling healthy and confident that their security is guaranteed.”

Ibas claimed that security situation in the country had improved especially on issues of kidnapping.

The naval boss also claimed that the reduction in the rate of kidnapping was the fallout of the directive earlier given by the president to the IGP, and the consequent launch of Operation Puff Adder.

“You will recall during the last meeting, the IG was directed to ensure action and consequently various operations were set up.

“Puff Adder was one of the strategies. With the set up of that operations, there have been a remarkable drop in the number of kidnappings.

“What normally would attract attention is when a key person in government perhaps is kidnapped.

“On the whole, the number of kidnappings has dropped and generally, I think the security situation is improving,” he stated.

On the kidnap of the District Head of Daura, Alhaji Musa Umar, the naval chief disclosed that key suspects in the kidnap had been arrested and would be charged to court soon.

“Serious efforts are being made, key suspects have been arrested and it is hoped that in a short while, those behind the heinous crime will be brought to book,” he added.

The victim who was kidnapped in front of his house on May 1, is however yet to be freed.

President Muhammadu Buhari has nominated Godwin Emefiele for a second term in office as governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), reports have revealed.

It will be recall that Godwin Emefiele was first appointed in 2014 by former president Goodluck Jonathan and was retained by Buhari when he came to power in 2015.

Reports have it that the letter for the tenure renewal has been signed by President Muhammed Buhari and which has now been sent to the Senate President in line with the CBN Act.

It was gathered that the President has sent a letter nominating the CBN governor for another term to the Senate President in line with the CBN Act.

Emefiele, 57, was the group managing director of Zenith Bank Plc. Before he was appointed in 2014 by Former president Jonathan.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja, has upheld the election of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State, even as it nullified the tribunal judgment that declared Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as valid winner of governorship election that held in the state in September, 2018.The appellate court, in a four-to-one decision, held that the entire proceedings of the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, including its judgment, amounted to a nullity.Justice Jummai Sankey who read the lead judgment of the appellate court, said it was wrong for a member of the tribunal panel, Justice Peter Obiora, who did not attend the entire proceedings of the tribunal, to deliver the majority judgment that sacked Oyetola from office.The court noted that the 180 days allowed by the constitution for hearing of governorship election petition cases had elapsed.Consequently, though Justice Sankey declined to give full details of her judgment, in her final analysis, she held that the petition Adeleke’s lodged before the tribunal was incompetent, including reliefs he sought therein.She held that both PDP and its candidate failed to prove their allegation that the September 27 re-run election that led to Oyetola’s emergence, was characterized by irregularities and over-voting.The court further held that the 1st and 2nd Respondents, Adeleke and PDP, also failed to prove that the re-run election was conducted with substantial noncompliance to the Electoral Act.It held that the failure of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to produce the ballot papers and record of accreditation to disprove allegations in the petition, did not substantially affect result of the election.However, the court disagreed with Oyetola’s contention that Adeleke’s petition against his election was statues barred.Out of 12 issues Justice Sankey highlighted, she only resolved two in Adeleke’s favour.“The appeal succeeds, accordingly, I allow the appeal and set-aside the decision of the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.” I make no order as to cost “, Justice Sankey held.SOURCE: Vanguard

The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu has ordered the immediate transfer of ov

er 6,000 senior policemen and rank and file out of Lagos State.

According to sources who spoke to eagle online, this is part of Adamu’s plan to reinvigorate the Force in Lagos State amid escalating crime rate.

It is also believed that most of these policemen have made the state their comfort zone and running their personnel businesses instead of policing.

In the first phase, which has begun, 1,001 senior police officers have been transferred out of the state.

The ranks of those affected are Assistant Superintendent of Police, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Superintendent of Police and Chief Superintendent of Police.

After this phase of transfer, the IGP is also expected to transfer over 5,000 ranks and file out of Lagos.

In a signal dated May 2, 2019, Adamu instructed that the 1,001 officers should be warned and released to head to their new commands immediately.

Zamfara State, which had been caught in mindless bloodletting, will be receiving over 50 policemen from Lagos.
Incidentally, that happened to be the largest number in the transfer list.

At least 22 officers, among 1001, will report to Abia State.

Others are Adamawa State 43; Akwa Ibom, 11; Anambra State, nine; Bauchi State 31; Benue State, 32; Borno State, 24; Balyesa State, 14; Cross River State, 20; Delta State 10; Ebonyi State, 43; Ekiti State, 42; Enugu State, 29; and the Federal Capital Territory, five.

Also included are Gombe State, 24; Imo State, 30; Jigawa State, 34; Kebbi State, 47; Kaduna State, 35; Kogi State, 23; Kano State, 32; Katsina State, 41; Kwara State, 20; Nasarawa State, 22; Niger State, 14; Ondo State, 14; Osun State, 26; Oyo State, 41; Plateau State, 32; Rivers State, 37; Sokoto State, 29; Taraba State, 40; Yobe State, 35; and Zamfara State, 53.

Officers from other state commands are already in Lagos and taking over the offices vacated by the outgoing officers.

SOURCE: Vanguard

Chelsea have had their appeal against a two-window transfer ban rejected by FIFA.

Football’s world governing body have upheld the ban they handed Chelsea in February after an investigation into the club’s signing of foreign U18 players.

The rules state no player under 18 is allowed to move to a club in a different country unless their parents are moving there for non-footballing reasons, or unless they are aged 16-18 and moving within the EU.

As it stands, Chelsea can still buy players but would not be able to register them until the summer of 2020.

Chelsea’s last purchase, Christian Pulisic, will not be affected as he was registered by the club in January and loaned back to Borussia Dortmund, but permanent moves for loan signings Mateo Kovacic and Gonzalo Higuain are not possible at this stage.

The club do have the option to go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to see if the ruling can be overturned or frozen, but the transfer window re-opens at midnight Thursday May 16. Chelsea have always maintained their innocence.

The Appeal Committee determined the ban will only apply to the senior team and players under the age of 16 and from the UK can still be acquired by Chelsea.

The ban will also not apply to Chelsea Women.

SOURCE: Skysports

The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal have commence hearing in the petitions filed by candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 presidential election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, his party, the PDP and three other political parties and their presidential candidates against the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari and his party the All Progressives Congress (APC) with an appeal to litigants to shun actions that may put the panel in a negative light.Atiku and three other presidential candidates are challenging the outcome of the February 23 presidential election in which President Muhammadu Buhari was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).Chairman of the five member panel, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, who made the appeal, at the special sitting of the panel, specifically warned counsel and parties in the various petitions to avoid discussing daily proceedings of the tribunal in the media and other public space.Bulkachuwa however warned that the tribunal would not hesitate to weild the big stick over any one found culpable in that regards, adding that the task of the tribunal is a serious national assignment and must be seen as such by all.The chairman who stressed that no matter how an election was conducted, there are bound to be complaints, hence the establishment of the tribunal to give speedy hearing on such complaints.Bulkachuwa, disclosed that there are currently 786 petitions against the outcome of the 2019 general election, with Imo State having the highest number of 76.The presiding judge assured that the panel would be fair to all and would give equal time to all litigants, in its efforts at ensuring that justice is done and done expeditiously in all the cases before it.Responding, counel in the matters promised to play by the rules and give maximum cooperation to the panel.While Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Levi Ozoukwu is leading the legal team of Atiku and the PDP, Wole Olanipekun SAN and Lateef Fagbemi SAN are leading that of Buhari and APC respectively.Other members of the presidential panel include, Justices Abdul Aboki, Samuel Osiji, Joseph Ikyegh and Peter Olabisi-Igeh.The tribunal in stating that proceedings would be on a daily basis called the first case, the petition of the Hope Democratic Party (HDP) and his Presidential candidate, Chief Albert Owuru.SOURCE: Thisday