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JUST IN: Lekki now hotbed of cyber crime in Nigeria –EFCC

Posted in National Issue, SecurityLeave a comment

The anti-graft agency said this in a post titled, ‘Lekki now hotbed of cybercrime – EFCC’, on its Facebook page.

Data released by the agency showed that 402 suspects were arrested in three months.

EFCC specifically identified Ajah, Badore, Victoria Garden City, Sangotedo and Oniru areas of Lekki as having many internet fraudsters in the state.

The data also showed that many of the arrested fraudsters were aged between 25-34 years.

“Lekki, the fast-developing upper-middle-class area of Lagos Metropolis, is emerging as the new hub of internet-related fraud.

“Data from the investigation activities of the Lagos Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for the second quarter of 2021, indicates that Lekki District is the preferred location for all manner of cyber fraud syndicates.

“Between April and June 2021, the Advance Fee Fraud and Cyber Crime Sections of the Command recorded a total of 402 internet-related fraud arrests. While the Advance Fee Fraud Section was responsible for 243 arrests, the Cyber Crime Section executed 18 sting operations which resulted in 159 arrests, from which 13 convictions have so far been recorded.

“Of the 159 suspects arrested by the Cyber Crime Section, 70 are from Lekki, comprising communities such as Ajah, Badore, Victoria Garden City, Sangotedo and Oniru.

“Ajah accounted for 24 suspects, while Oniru and Sangotedo had 14 and 13 suspects respectively. Badore had 8 suspects. Neighbouring Ikoyi and Eko Atlantic had 2 and one suspect each. Ikorodu and Alagbado on the Lagos Mainland make up the remainder.

“The suspects are mostly millennials, with 82 of them aged between 25-34 years, which speaks to the fact that most of the individuals arrested are either still in school, recent graduates or university drop outs,” it added

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JUST IN: Ondo doctors call off three-month strike

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The state Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Stella Adegbehingbe, announced suspension of the strike at an interactive session with doctors and members of the House of Assembly Committee on Health.

The doctors, under the auspices of the National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP), began the strike over alleged poor welfare and payment of percentage salaries by the government.

Other reasons for the strike were non-payment of salary arrears, gross under-staffing of government hospitals following mass exodus of doctors and other health workers from the state, non-regular payment of salaries, non- harmonisation of doctors’ grade level, non-payment of third tranche of COVID-19 allowance and non-implementation of Group Life Insurance for health workers.

However, The Ondo NMA chairman urged the stakeholders to appeal to the government to pay their salary.

She assured the lawmakers that the doctors would return to work soon in the interest of the people.

Reacting to an inquiry about their salaries, she said: “They are yet to pay doctors. Even doctors that are not on strike have not been paid. The last salary we were paid is that of February 2021. Monarchs and religious leaders have appealed to us to suspend the strike and we have listened to them.”

TheNation

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JUST IN: NLC threatens industrial action over proposed electricity tarrif hike

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The NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, handed down the notice in reaction to speculations that the 11 power distribution companies have received approval to slightly increase electricity tariffs with effect from September 1.

The hint came from an August 25 notification to customers from the Eko Electricity Distribution Company titled, ‘Re: Tariff increase notification,’ purportedly signed by the General Manager, Loss Reduction, Olumide Anthony-Jerome.

It read, “This is to officially notify you that there will be an increase in electricity tariff with effect from September 1, 2021. This increase is as a result of the nationwide mandate to implement the Service Based Tariff approved by our regulators.

But reacting to the reports in a statement on Wednesday titled, ‘Notice on speculations on increase in electricity tarrifs,’ Wabba cautioned that the organised labour would not brook any tarrifs hike.

He stated, “We wish to draw your attention to the wave of speculation, especially as widely reported in the media that there are fresh plans to grant approval to Electricity Distribution Companies to hike electricity tariff.

“We write to remind the Honourable Minister that Organised Labour on September 28, 2020, through the Federal Government – Organised Labour Committee on Electricity Tariff agreed to freeze further increases in electricity tariff until the committee concludes its work and its report adopted by all the Principals in the Committee.

“It is in light of this that we dismiss the ongoing speculation on increase in electricity tariff as mere speculations.

“We, however, find it prudent to put you on notice that should government make true the swirling speculation by approving an increase in electricity tariff, Organised Labour would be left with no option than to deploy the industrial mechanisms granted in our laws for the defense of workers’ rights.”

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[JUST IN] Anti-Buhari interviews: FG threatens to issue ‘red card’ to TV, radio stations

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The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made this known while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria in Sal Island, Cape Verde.

“In the last few weeks, the country has been awash, especially from the broadcast media, with very incendiary rhetoric which has created a sort of panic in Nigeria.

“The incendiary rhetoric that comes from political, religious leaders and some opinion moulders have the capacity to set the country on fire.

“This is because the rhetoric is pitting one ethnic group and religion against the other and overheating the polity.

“Our serious counsel to stakeholders is that they should understand and remember that leadership comes with a lot of responsibilities, tone down the hateful rhetoric because they are harmful for the country

“They should remember that every war is preceded by these kind of mindless rhetoric, especially when it comes from otherwise responsible people who the people have the tendency to take seriously.

“We agree that there are challenges but the government is doing its best in addressing insecurity, banditry, insurrections and fixing the economy.

“What one expected from these leaders at this trying period is support and encouragement.

“It is, however, quite disturbing that they have thrown caution to the winds and it is no longer about leadership and maturity but about who can say something that can break this country.

“Certain words that we were afraid of using before such as genocide and ethnic cleansing, are now taking over the media waves.

“That is why it is important to call everybody to order to appeal to their sense of patriotism that they should understand that because there is a country called Nigeria, that is why they are leaders.

“If what they are praying for happens, they will no longer be leaders but servants in other countries.”

NAN

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UPDATE: Striking doctors’ salaries withheld, says NARD

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The National President of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi, confirmed this development to newsmen.

The resident doctors had on August 2, 2021 embarked on strike.

In an interview with news correspondent , Okhuaihesuyi said none of NARD members in federal institutions had received their August salaries.

He said, “They did not pay, they implemented it (no-work no-pay rule).

“None of our members in federal institutions have received their salaries.

“It is so sad that instead of meeting our demands, the government keeps ignoring the main reason for the strike.”

Punch

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UPDATE: Hold govt responsible for our next action, says ASUU

Posted in Education, National IssueLeave a comment

Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have asked Nigerians to hold the Federal Government responsible for their next action on government’s failure to honour an agreement it signed with them.

ASUU spoke of a plan to hold an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) this week with its leaders and principal officials to decide its members’ next line of action.

The union said it will follow-up its NEC meeting with consultations with all its chapters should the government fail to implement its promises to his aggrieved lecturers.

ASUU’s latest threat followed the expiration of the August 31 deadline issued to the Federal Government to meet its demands.

ASUU President Emmanuel Osodeke said: “ASUU never proposed a strike, we said if government does not meet all our demands by the end of August, the union will meet and consider the action to take.

“But the country should hold the government responsible for any action we take and that was what we said we didn’t mention embarking on strike.

“The ASUU president cannot just wake up one morning and pronounce we are going on strike not even the principal officers, we have to go through our branches.

“The ultimatum will end today so we will hold a meeting with our members to determine the way forward.”

TheNation

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JUST IN: Nigeria paid $500m for new Tucano jets, says US

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The Federal Government procured the twelve new A-29 Super Tucano jets at a whopping $500 million, making it the highest single arms purchase in sub-Saharan Africa, the US Department of Defence has disclosed.

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Six of the jets have been delivered and ‘secretly’ inducted into the Nigerian Air Force.

The remaining batch of six will be delivered by the end of the year.

Journalists were barred from covering the induction ceremony hosted by the Minister of Defence Major General Salihi Magashi (rtd) in Abuja.

The Commander, U.S Air Forces Europe-Africa Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian said the Super Tucanos were the impetus for the significant deepening of training and professional relationships.

He noted that “the Nigerian Air Force is one of our key partners that play a critical role in furthering regional security and stability.

“This ceremony symbolises the strength of our unique partnership and underscores the value of training and working together.”

According to him: “Nigeria purchased the A-29s through the Foreign Military Sales program, which follows the Department of Defense’s “Total Package Approach” model and includes spare parts for several years of operation, contract logistics support, munitions, and a multi-year construction project to improve Kainji Air Base infrastructure.

“The total sale is valued at almost $500 million, making it the largest FMS program in sub-Saharan Africa.”

TheNation

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[JUST IN] Schools to decide benchmarks as JAMB cancels general cut-off marks

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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, has cancelled general cut-off marks for admission into tertiary institutions and gave schools the freedom to set their individual minimum benchmarks for admission.

The Board took the decision at the 2021 policy meeting, which was held virtually, and chaired by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu.

Speaking during the meeting, Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, said, “Some universities such as the University of Maiduguri, proposed 150; Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, proposed 140; Pan Atlantic University proposed 210; University of Lagos 200; Lagos State University, 190; Covenant University 190; and Bayero University, Kano, 180.

“Institutions have now been given the liberty to decide cut-off marks; there will be no cut-off marks [stipulation] from JAMB.”

The meeting approved that, for Direct Entry, the maximum score a candidate could present is six and the minimum is two or an E, as required by law.

The policy meeting, chaired by the Minister of Education, usually has all heads of tertiary institutions, heads of regulatory agencies in the sector, and other critical stakeholders such as the chairmen of the committees on education at the lower and upper chambers of the National Assembly in attendance.

Earlier in August, JAMB had released a bulletin on the policy meeting, stating, “This meeting kick-starts the admission process into the nation’s tertiary institutions.

“It will discuss critical issues emanating from the presentation of the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, on the just-concluded Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, and Direct Entry applications, in addition to setting the tone for the 2021/2022 admission exercise.

“The meeting is expected to chart policy directions for the nation’s tertiary institutions, set admission guidelines and present application statistics, candidates’ performance as well as evaluate the 2020 admission exercise.

“The meeting, in addition to other deliberations, would take a stand on acceptable minimum admissions standards to be applied in all admissions to be undertaken by all tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

“Given the critical nature of the decisions to be taken at the meeting, it would be streamed live on the Board’s website, http://www.jamb.gov.ng, on its Facebook handle ‘@JAMBULLETIN’ and other social media platforms.”

Warning tertiary institutions against commencing admission process before the policy meeting, the bulletin added, “The Board makes it clear that it is an abuse of process for any institution to commence any admission exercise before this meeting, as it is this forum that gives this authorisation.”

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[JUST IN] Forex ban: CBN directs banks to publish names of defaulters

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In a circular issued out, the bank outlined the fraudulent practices to include the use of fake visas and cancellation of air tickets after purchase of Personal Travel Allowance and Business Travel Allowance

The bank said the new directive was given to curb the unwholesome conduct of some unscrupulous customers who are trying to circumvent its new forex policy.

The circular which was addressed to all banks was titled, “Publication of names of Defaulters of a CBN policy on sale of Forex for PTA/BTA” and signed by the bank’s Director, Banking Supervision Department, Haruna Mustafa.

The circular read in full, “ The CBN has received and noted with concern reports of sharp practices by some unscrupulous customers to circumvent the new CBN policy on the sale of forex for overseas personal and business travel.

“Some of these unwholesome practices include the use of fake visas and cancellation of air tickets after purchase of PTA/BTA. This trend, if not curbed, portends risk to the integrity and stability of the forex market.

“Consequently, further to the various measures already put in place, all banks are hereby directed to publish on their websites the names and BVN of defaulting customers who present fake travel documents or cancel their tickets and fail to return the purchased PTA/BTA within two (weeks) as stipulated in the customer declaration form signed by them.”

Punch