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JUST IN: Minister collapses during official engagement in Bauchi

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The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Ambassador Maryam Yalwaji Katagum has reportedly collapsed during an official engagement in Bauchi State.

Newsmen gathered that Katagum was in in the state to launch an empowerment program in Bauchi metropolis,  before she suddenly slumped while delivering her speech.

It was further gathered that she was immediately conveyed by officials to the Trauma center of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) for medical attention.

An eyewitness who spoke in confidence to newsmen said that the Minister slumped as she stood up to deliver her address and launch the program saying that, she just held her head and went down but for quick intervention of aides and other officials at the venue who acted promptly and rushed her to the hospital.

When news correspondent visited the Trauma Center of the ATBUTH, he was barred from gaining entrance.

When contacted the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of ATBUTH, Yusuf Aminu declined comment saying his job is at stake.

TheNation

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JUST IN: Reps pass Petroleum Industry Bill

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The House of Representatives has considered and adopted the report by the committee, leading to the passage of the PIB.

The Committee of the Whole had considered the clauses of the bill as recommended by the Committee on PIB.

The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, hailed the lawmakers for the record passage of the controversial bill, describing it as significant in the history of the parliament.

Punch

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UPDATE: No fresh UTME for candidates – JAMB

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The board’s Head of Media and Protocol, Dr Fabian Benjamin, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that the report “is not correct’’.

Benjamin noted that almost all results of candidates, who sat for the 2021 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, have since been released.

The board’s Head of Media and Protocol, Dr Fabian Benjamin, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Lagos that the report “is not correct’’.

Benjamin noted that almost all results of candidates, who sat for the 2021 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, have since been released.

“No examination has been fixed for any category of candidates.

“The attention of the board was drawn to a Twitter message credited to it that it had fixed another examination for candidates who scored lower than 170 in its examination and should come for a re-sit on July 3,’’ he said.

NAN

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UPDATE: Wrong syllabus’ not responsible for mass failure in 2021 UTME – JAMB

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The board, in a statement issued by its Head, Public Affairs and Protocol, Dr Fabian Benjamin, noted that the rumour of mass failure in the examination was “a fluke and a campaign by those whose source of illicit income has been further blocked.”

“The rumour of mass failure is a fluke and a campaign by those whose source of illicit income has been further blocked. It is our belief that based on facts on the ground, every right-thinking Nigerian would question the 6,944,368 figure on which the 14% “pass” is based,” the board said in the statement.

“To ensure that its syllabus is accessible to all candidates sitting its examination, the Board has made the material available on three platforms. The syllabus was issued to candidates through:

i. The Board’s Integrated Brochure and Syllabus System (IBASS)
ii. The CD which is given to candidates after completion of registration
iii. The link https://www.ibass.jamb.gov.ng. as provided with the candidates’ profile code.
It is not automatic that the NECO/WAEC syllabus should transform into JAMB’s otherwise there would not have been a need for a separate syllabus for the UTME.

“The UTME is not school-based and not an achievement test but a selection or ranking test which ordinarily does not require a syllabus and does not have room for fail or pass as in achievement tests,” JAMB said.

TheNation

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JUST IN: Nnamdi Kanu arrested, says Malami

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The Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, said the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has been arrested.

He said Kanu will soon be brought before the Federal High Court where he jumped bail.

Malami stated this at a press briefing at the Ministry of Justice in Abuja.

He stated that Nnamdi Kanu was arrested on Sunday.

Punch

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JUST IN: Senate to debate PIB report Thursday, says Lawan

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Senate President Ahmad Lawan disclosed this after the chairman of the panel, Senator Mohammed Sabo (Jigawa South West) submitted the committees’ report.

Lawan said, “We will be considering the report on Thursday. We have today, tomorrow and Thursday to look at the report so that when we consider the report, we will be doing so on the basis of what we have been able to read from this very important report.”

Punch

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JUST IN: South Africa’s Zuma sentenced to 15 months in jail

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South Africa’s top court has handed former president Jacob Zuma a 15-month jail term for contempt of court following his refusal to appear before graft investigators.

“The Constitutional Court can do nothing but conclude that Mr Zuma is guilty of the crime of contempt of court,” judge Sisi Khampepe said.

Zuma, 79, is accused of enabling the plunder of state coffers during his nearly nine-year stay in office.

This kind of recalcitrance and defiance is unlawful and will be punished,” Khampepe said.

“I am left with no option but to commit Mr Zuma to imprisonment, with the hope that doing so sends an unequivocal message… the rule of law and the administration of justice prevails.”

“The majority judgement orders an unsuspended sentence of imprisonment for a period (of 15 months),” she declared, ordering Zuma to hand himself over within five days.

Punch

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JUST IN: FG approves July 26 deadline for NIN/SIM linkage

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The government made the announcement in a statement signed jointly by the Director of Public Affairs of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Dr Ikechukwu Adinde and Head of Corporate Communications of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Mr Kayode Adegoke.

The statement reads: “The Federal Government has approved the extension as part of its effort to make it easier for its citizens and residents to obtain the NIN and it is important to take advantage of the extension.

” There are now a total of 57.3 million unique NIN enrolments, with average of 3 to 4 SIMs per NIN. With the great number of enrolment centres across the country, every citizen and legal resident should be able to obtain their NINs.

Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, on behalf of the Federal Government, appreciates Nigerians for their patience and compliance with the Federal Government’s directive on the NIN-SIM registration exercise.

” The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Prof Umar Garba Dambatta, and the Director-General/CEO of that National Identity Management Commission, Engr Aliyu Azeez, urge citizens and legal residents to make sure they use the opportunity to complete the process of enrolment and verification.”

TheNation

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JUST IN: Derek Chauvin sentenced to 22.5 years in jail for George Floyd’s murder

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Former policeman Derek Chauvin was sentenced to 22 and a half years in jail for murdering African American George Floyd, a killing that sparked America’s biggest demonstrations for racial justice in decades.

“The sentence is not based on emotion or sympathy,” said Judge Peter Cahill, handing down the term at a Minneapolis court after prosecutors sought a 30-year sentence.

He added in a short address that it was also not based on “on public opinion,” but on the law and the facts specific to the case.

AFP