Top Nigerian newspaper headlines and breaking news in Nigeria today, Friday, April 7, 2023.
Religious Sisters of Charity Raises Awareness Against Human Trafficking
The Religious Sisters Charity (RSC), on Thursday held an anti-human trafficking seminar titled; “Advocacy Conversation on Human Trafficking” to curb the now global illicit business.
The collaborative awareness event with the Justice Development and Peace Commission, Catholic Diocese of Warri, National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic In Persons (NAPTIP), took place at the Jubilee Retreat & Conference, Effurun, Delta State.
Sr. Justina Suekime Nelson RSC, Cordinator of Anti-Human in the Congregation of the Religious Sisters of Charity, Nigeria gave the opening remarks.
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She welcomed the participants and gave the reason for having the program here in Warri. Delta State is also an endemic area of Human trafficking. She said that “human trafficking is a global crime and traffickers targets vulnerable people.
“Many have fallen victims and our aim is to prevent more people from falling prey to traffickers. She told the participants they organised the program here inorder to sensitize the participants on the tactics and deceptive nature of traffickers and the consequences or trauma’s experienced by the survivors of human trafficking for the purpose of prevention. We desire that you share the knowledge gained with your friends and family members.”
The campaign targeted young people and was attended by Pupils and students from Catholic Uvwie Creche Nursery and Primary School, Effurun; Okotogbo Primary School, Effurun; Ogbe Primary School Effurun, and Our Lady’s High School, Effurun.
At the event Sr. Gloria educated participants on the need to Safeguard themselves from the perpetrators of human trafficking through proactive education on: human trafficking, gender based violence and Irregular migration.
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Trafficking in Person is a conversation everyone should be interested and get involved to end the menace in our society. As it robs humanity its essence of existence.
Guest speakers at the event were Barr. Mrs. Nwanze Ijeoma, Ag. Secretary Delta State Taxforce on Human Trafficking and Head of the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit Ministry of Justice and Joan Ojiewa; Head Public Enlightenment Unit Benin Zonal Command.
Speaking on the topic “Gender-Based Violence and Irregular Migration”, Ijeoma defined GBV as an act of ” violence not against a person because of his or her sex or gender but a violence against someone’s will through cohesion, threat, cultural exploitations, deception or economic means.”
She further explained it”as an act of violence that affects a person or persons of a particular gender. That is violence against human rights. It includes all arms of gender-based violence that result to or likely result in physical harm, sexual harm, physical harm, psychological harm, economic harm, and suffering to that individual.
“Women and girls are usually more affected by it. Although we also have males; both children and adult males. We have cases of men who come to report their wives. So we are encouraging not just the women but the men also to speak.”
Referencing the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law (VAPP), passed in 2020, the guest speaker said “The State Government is interested in this law. GBV could be domestic (mothers, fathers, children, brothers aunties).
“However, there is a law that prohibits this act of violence against persons that also protects victims.
“Types of gender-based violence physical, which includes beating, strangling, pushing, use of weapons or any form of substance or attack on the person, breaking, female circumcision, forced marriage (particular age or particular spouse)
“Forceful eviction. When a woman’s husband dies. Both offender and accomplice will suffer two years imprisonment and N300,000 fine according to section 13.
“Section 7 of VAPP Law says five years imprisonment and one million fine for both doer and accomplice.
“For female circumcision (section 10) both the offender and accomplice for years imprisonment and N500,000 fine.
“Spousal beating violates section 22 of VAPP law. Both offender and Accomplice suffer three years imprisonment and N500,000 fine.
“Restraining law. These children or adults are always locked up inside a house. It offends section 13. Offenders suffer three years imprisonment and a N500,000 fine.
“Human ill-treatment of widows. This is any form of harmful traditional practices. It violates section 23. Offenders suffer three years imprisonment five hundred thousand naira fine.
“Attack of substance, e.g acid, chemical, drugs, etc. It violates section 4 of the law. Offenders suffer 2 years imprisonment with no fine.
“Types of Sexual Based Violence
Unconcented– Any sexual act to attain a sexual act of trafficking without a person’s consent. A child under the law is any below 18 years; they can’t give consent). This act of violence can be verbal and nonverbal sexual assault, abuse, or exploitation.
“Nudity and indecency is an offense under the law. Others include touching, inciting, and robbing.
“Rape is also an offense under the law. It is a penetration into any opening of the human body (ears, mouth, sexual organs) without consent. Offenders of this law suffer life imprisonment and 12 years imprisonment for child offenders according to section 4.
“Psychological or Mental Violence– These are not physical but usually constant, continuous, and consistent. This can cause mental default.”
The speaker cited cohesion, blackmail, jealousy, humiliation, intimidation, threatening, scapegoating, shaming, isolation, manipulation, stocking, Neglecting, and Gasfigthing as examples of this act of violence.
She added that the “Economic Abuse” act of violence was mostly domestic. This includes controlling bank accounts, acts of spending, destruction of documents, etc. The offender (s) of this act was liable to 3-year imprisonment with a three hundred thousand fine following the section 15 Act.
On her part, Ojiewa spoke on the role of NAPTIP in human trafficking, defining it as “a movement of persons by an act of deception adoption for the purpose of exploitation.”
Trafficking, she said, could be internal and external and also entails the smuggling of migrants.
Ojiewa explained traffickers have three core elements for their victims which were the Act ( what is done), Means ( How it is done), and Purpose ( Exploitation).
The HUC stated trafficking could be caused by poverty, peer group influence, ignorance, poor economy, etc.
Notwithstanding, the speaker said, NAPTIP’s role in curbing this illicit business was to investigate, track cohobate and rehabilitate human traffickers.
Other stakeholders at the event were the Head of the Department Community Development, Uvwie Local Government Council; Executive Secretary Primary Health Centre, Uvwie Local Government Council; Head of Department, Education Uview Local Government Council and Divisional Police Headquarters, Enerhen, Delta State.
Police Officer Arrested for Murder of Delta Businessman
The Delta State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of inspector, Obi Abri, for the murder of one Onyeka Ibe at a checkpoint along Ugabolu-Illah Road, in the Asaba.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Edafe Bright, made this known on Wednesday in a series of tweets on his Twitter Page.
In the tweet titled, ‘Alleged murder of one Onyeka Ibe’, Bright wrote,
“The Police inspector has been identified, arrested, paraded and detained.
“The Command assures members of the public and the deceased family of justice.
“An investigation has commenced, and he will be arraigned in court for prosecution.”
Daily Report Nigeria reported earlier that a police officer on Wednesday shot and killed a businessman over N100 bribe.
It was gathered that Onyeka and his wife were on their way out when some policemen stopped their vehicle at the checkpoint and demanded N100 from Onyeka which he paid.
After he paid the money, Abri approached him again and demanded another money but the 26-year-old refused.
This led to an argument that degenerated and in the process, Abri shot Onyeka in the head.
Following the incident, Angry Youths in their number stormed the state police command headquarters with the corpse of man.
However, Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa has ordered an investigation into the killing of 26-year-old newly-married Onyeka by a policeman.
Okowa, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Olisa Ifeajika, decried the shooting of the deceased when Abri and his colleagues were conducting a stop-and-search operation along the Illah Road.
The governor also appealed to residents not to take laws into their hands but rather allow the police to conduct an in-depth probe into the circumstances that led to the sad incident.
African Confederation Cup Draw Out
The draw for the knockout stages of the 2022/2023 African Confederation Cup was conducted on Wednesday in Cairo, Egypt.
Nigerian club Rivers United is still in the race to win the trophy.
Below are the fixtures and dates:
Quarter-finals:
US Monastir (Tunisia) vs ASEC Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire)
USM Alger (Algeria) vs Royal Armed Forces (Morocco)
Pyramids (Egypt) vs Marumo Gallants (South Africa)
Rivers United (Nigeria) vs Young Africans (Tanzania)
- Team mentioned first plays at home in the first leg.
The quarter-final fixtures will be played over two legs on April 23 and April 30.
Semi-finals:
Rivers United or Young Africans vs Pyramids or Marumo Gallants
US Monastir or ASEC Abidjan vs USM Alger or Royal Armed Forces
The semi-final fixtures will be played over two legs on May 14 and May 21.
Final:
Rivers United or Young Africans or Pyramids or Marumo Gallants Vs
US Monastir or ASEC Abidjan or USM Alger or Royal Armed Forces
The final is to be played over two legs on June 4 and 11.
Nigeria Now Divided More Than Civil War Era – Sanusi
Former Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi has said that Nigeria is currently more divided than it was during the civil war between July 1967 and January 1970.
The former CBN governor spoke on Tuesday, April 4, at the third Nigerian Leadership Colloquium in honour of the senior pastor of Trinity House, Lagos, Ituah Ighodalo, who turned 62.
Sanusi spoke at the event alongside the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II; wife of Lagos State governor, Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, and other dignitaries.
The speakers stressed the need to make Nigeria’s institutions independent enough to protect democracy and the economy.
Sanusi noted that the country is now “dangerously divided along ethnic and religious lines”, adding that it had put the integrity of public institutions in question.
“The people now have suspicions about policies, policing, judiciary and the election umpire,” he said
“I don’t think Nigeria has been in a place as difficult as this since the civil war. We have a challenge of nation building.
“We have a country that has been divided dangerously along ethnic and religious lines.
“We have an economy that is in the doldrums, and unfortunately, we seem to be having a dearth of leadership.”
He noted that Nigeria needs to look critically at the process through which the leaders emerge.
The former CBN governor said, “In October 2022, speaking at the Kaduna Investment Forum, I told Nigerians that if anyone told them that dealing with Nigeria post-2023 would be easy, they should not vote for that person and I meant it.
“No process is perfect. We have seen so in the United Kingdom and the United States. At the very least, the people should know who they are voting for, He said.
“I think we need to begin to look at the Electoral Act, 2022 much more earlier than elections. We need to have a system where one cannot just go to participate in party primaries without being exposed to public scrutiny.
“This is what happens everywhere. People need to know what they are voting for. In other climes, they are compelled by law to participate in public debates to discuss issues of policy.
“This is the only country I know where we elect a President first before knowing if he knows what he is doing or whether he understands what the job is.”
He added that the process through which Nigerians choose their leaders must be more transparent.
NAFDAC Seals Abuja Shop for Selling Unapproved S3x Enhancement Drug
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Wednesday in Abuja sealed two shops for allegedly selling unapproved s3x enhancement products to Nigerians.
The shops are located in the Zuba Central motor park and Utako main market.
Reports has it that some of the unregistered products said to be aphrodisiacs are: “Hajiya Ayesha Snuff, AK47, Bulletproof, and Hajiya Aysha Maisanda.
Mr Tamanuwa Baba, Deputy Director, investigation and Enforcement directorate, NAFDAC, said the operation followed intelligence reports received about the shops.
“The products are meant to boost sexual performance and some were said to have been manufactured in Ghana.
“NAFDAC laboratory analysis indicates that these products contain a chemical substance called Pyridine which is a potentially harmful to the human body.
“We found a lot of unregistered products in the two shops. We will begin immediate investigations ,” he said.
Baba said that the agency had apprehended the sales representative in the Zuba shop pending when the owner of the shop will return from his journey.
“We will get in touch with the owner of the shop on where he is sourcing these products from, but from the label on the products, some of them were allegedly manufactured in Ghana.
“What the sellers are saying is that these products usually make them high and some said that the product is used as an aphrodisiac.
“After the investigation, these products are going to be destroyed because they have not been registered by us,” he said.
He said similar sets of products were also discovered in a shop at Utako.
Three Arrested For Circulating Fake Dollars, Naira In Zamfara
The Zamfara State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested three persons in connection with fake currency worth N2 million.
The command’s spokesperson, Ikor Oche, identified the suspects as Kamalu Sani, Uzaifa Muazu and Suleiman Yusuf.
Parading the suspects, the Command’s Public Relations Offer, Mr. Ikor Uche, said the Corps arrested the suspects for being involved in printing, minting and circulating fake Naira and U.S Dollar notes to the public.
He said, “On April 3, 2023, one Kamalu Sani aged 28, boarded a tricycle from Kasuwa at about 1pm.
“On reaching his destination, he gave the tricycle rider N1, 000 note which was discovered to be fake.
“The rider, Umar Nasir, raised the alarm which led to the arrest of the suspect, Kamalu Sani.”
Oche explained that the operatives of the NSCDC were able to trace the supplier of the fake naira and dollar notes to Kotorkoshi town.
“One Muazu Abdulkarim who is said to be the prime suspect directed his son, Uzaifa Muazu, who has been in the illicit business with his father for the past three years to go and open a box that contained the fake currency notes for onward supplies to suspects,” he added.
According to Oche, N60,000 and $2,600 fake notes were recovered from the suspects.
One of the suspects, Sani, confessed to newsmen that he has been using fake N1,000 notes for transactions within Tsafe and Gusau for the past year.
He confessed to having been introduced to the illicit act by one Ado Gurgu of the Tsafe Local Government Area who took him to one Muazu Abdulkarim of Kwartarkwarshi village.
He also admitted that Muazu Abdulkarim was the person who supplied the fake currency note and that each N1000 fake note was exchanged for N400 only.
The Lagos State Magistrates’ Court in Yaba, on Wednesday, ordered that the Eze Igbo of Ajao Estate, Fredrick Nwajagu, be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.
The order followed his arraignment and arrest over a viral video were he threatened to invite members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to Lagos.
Nwajagu was arrested last Saturday following a viral video.
The 67-year-old was further arraigned on Wednesday before the magistrate court, presided over by P. E. Nwaka.
He was charged with two counts, bordering on misconduct and intention to cause a breach of peace in Lagos State.
The four-man police prosecution team, led by the OC Legal, Yetunde Cardoso, told the court that Nwajagu committed the offence on March 26, 2023, at No 2 Akeem Shittu Street, Ajao Estate, Lagos.
“The defendant conducted himself in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace by making inciting statements, saying that he would bring IPOB terrorist group to shut down Lagos for one month, three weeks, or three days,” the prosecution said.
According to the team, the offences contravened Sections 168 (d), 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
They prayed the court to remand the defendant in the correctional centre for 30 days pending legal advice from the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
However, counsel for the defendant, while moving their client’s bail application, urged the court to admit the defendant to bail in the most liberal terms.
Obasanjo Writes To UK Court Over Ekweremadu, Wife
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has written a letter of appeal to the Central Criminal Court of England, AKA Old Bailey, for the convicted Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, and his wife, Beatrice.
Obasanjo begged Old Bailey to temper justice with mercy in the May 5 sentencing of the couple which came after a six-week trial in March.
On March 23, Ekweremadu, 60; his wife, Beatrice, 56; and Dr Obinna Obeta, 51, were found guilty of facilitating the travel of a young man to Britain with a view to his exploitation.
However, the lawmaker’s daughter, Sonia, was cleared by the court.
The judge ruled that Ekweremadu, his wife, and their doctor criminally conspired to bring the 21-year-old Lagos street trader to London to exploit him for his kidney.
The couple and their doctor were hence convicted of organ trafficking in a ruling said to be a first of its kind under the Modern Slavery Act.
Meanwhile, in a letter dated April 3, 2023, and addressed to the Chief Clerk of the court, Obasanjo advocated for leniency for the lawmaker and his wife.
According to a source (name withheld) Obasanjo having acknowledged the implications of the couple’s action, expressed his “fervent desire” for the court official to intervene.
He appealed to the court and as well as the government of the United Kingdom to be “magnanimous enough to temper justice with mercy.”
The letter partly read:
“It is with great pleasure that I write in respect of Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who I have known for over two decades. Within this period, I have followed and watched, with keen interest, Ike Ekweremadu’s inspiring career which traversed private legal practice and public administration.
“I do hope Mr. and Mrs. Ekweremadu have learnt from this distressing experience of theirs to guide their future actions or inactions so they will continue to be outstanding members of their community and will continue to contribute fully to the good of the society in particular and the nation in general.
“I do realise the implications of their action and I dare say, it is unpleasant and condemnable and can’t be tolerated in any sane or civilized society.
“It is my fervent desire for very warm relations between the United Kingdom and Federal Republic of Nigeria; for his position as one of the distinguished Senators in the Nigerian Parliament, and also for the sake of their daughter in question whose current health condition is in danger and requires urgent medical attention, you will use your good offices to intervene and appeal to the court and the government of the United Kingdom to be magnanimous enough to temper justice with mercy.”
FG Approves Over N320bn For Tertiary Institutions
The Federal Government has approved N320,345,040, 835, as the 2023 Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) intervention fund for public tertiary education institutions in the country, notably, Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education.
The Executive Secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Sonny Echono, disclosed this in Abuja on Wednesday, during the annual strategic planning workshop with all heads of beneficiary institutions.
Echono said the meeting was an avenue to receive feedback and evaluate the performance of its intervention lines to enhance a more robust delivery of the agency’s mandate.
According to the TETFund boss, the 2023 intervention cycle will see each university receiving not less than N1,154,732,133.00.
Each public Polytechnic is also expected to receive N699,344,867.00 while the sum of N800,862,602 will be received by each colleges of education in the country.
He said,
“I am pleased to inform you that Mr. President has approved the 2023 disbursement guidelines in the total sum of N320,345,040, 835. On the basis of this, each university shall get, for the Year 2023 intervention cycle, the total sum of N1,154,732,133.00.
“This comprises N954,732,123.00 as annual direct disbursement and N200million as zonal intervention. Similarly, each Polytechnic shall get N699,344,867.00 comprising of N569,344,807.00 as annual direct disbursement and N130million as zonal intervention, while each College of education shall get N800,862,602 comprising of N670,862,602.00 as annual direct disbursement and N130million as zonal intervention.
“It is pertinent to note that this represents the highest disbursement to each beneficiary institution, since inception of the Fund.”
Echono further stated that the fortunes of the Nigerian tertiary education sector has improved significantly under the Buhari’s administration, adding that between 2015 to date, the total sum of N1.702 trillion has been disbursed as education tax collection to public universities, polytechnics and colleges of education compared to a total sum of N1.249trillion disbursed from the inception of the Fund in 1993 up to 2014.
“This remarkable success is due to sustained efforts at expanding and increasing efficiency of collection of the Education Tax and added impetus is the gracious approval of Mr. President for an increase in education tax from 2.0% to 2.5% in the year 2021,” he added.
Echono further urged Buhari, as a parting gift to the education sector, to give his assent to Finance Bill 2023, which provides for a further increase in education tax from 2.5% to 3%.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, David Adejo, urged the beneficiary institutions to use the funds judiciously while adding that, “the country is no longer looking for paper presentations but what one can do with his brain and hands.”
Obi Disowns Viral Audio with Oyedepo
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi has disowned the viral alleged call audio between him and the President of Living Faith Church, Bishop David Oyedepo.
It was said that an online medium had leaked the audio conversation clip a few days ago.
Reacting to this, Obi took to Twitter on Wednesday and distanced himself from the audio.
He argued that he consistently maintained his focus on an issue-based campaign while pursuing a new Nigeria characterised by inclusion, justice, equity, fairness, and prosperity
He said:
“I repeatedly stated that no one should vote for me based on Tribe or Religion, but rather on the assessment of Character, Competence, Capacity, Credibility, and Compassion that can be trusted to create a New Nigeria!”
He claimed that the “doctored” audio clip was an attempt by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the APC-led government through some government officials and agencies to divert attention from “our blatantly stolen mandate.”
The former Anambra Governor said:
“Let me reiterate that the audio call being circulated is fake, and at no time throughout the campaign and now did I ever say, think, or even imply that the 2023 election is, or was a religious war.”
This came after Oyedepo on Sunday declared he never campaigned for any politician or spoken to any group on their behalf.
I’m Under Pressure to Leave Nigeria – Peter Obi
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has said he is under pressured to leave the country with attacks against his person emanating from different quarters.
Obi, made the revelation in a statement on Wednesday night on his Twitter handle.
He also noted that the leaked audio conversation between himself and the Founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, is doctored and fake.
The former governor of Anambra State, while referring to the recent comments of the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, alleged that the All Progressives Congress and the APC-led government are doing everything possible to “divert our attention from our blatantly stolen mandate,” which he said is “unfortunate and sad.”
He wrote,
“The present attempts by the APC as a party, and the APC led-government through some government officials and agencies to divert our attention from our blatantly stolen mandate is unfortunate and sad.
“These have come and continued to manifest in different ways, such as the malicious accusation of the Minister of Information, Mr Lai Mohammed, the circulation of a fake doctored audio call, and a pressure on me to leave the country.
“Let me reiterate that the audio call being circulated is fake, and at no time throughout the campaign and now did I ever say, think, or even imply that the 2023 election is, or was a religious war.”
He, however, vowed to take legal actions against the online news platform that shared the leaked audio.
He maintained that before, during, and after the campaign, he focused solely on issue-based campaigns about a new Nigeria with a shift of emphasis from consumption to production, characterised by inclusion, justice, equity, fairness, and prosperity, adding that he “repeatedly stated that no one should vote for me based on tribe or religion.”
“The attempts to manipulate Nigerians is very sad and wicked. Our legal team have been instructed to take appropriate legal actions against Peoples Gazette and others.
“While we call on all concerned Nigerians and the International Community to implore the APC and the APC Led-government to stop their nasty attacks, my focus and commitment to lawfully and peacefully retrieve our mandate to secure and unite our Nation.
“Elections are over, and we are in court to retrieve our stolen mandate. Let me reiterate that we are doing so through all lawful and peaceful options in line with our legal system and constitution, and I continue to implore all Nigerians to remain peaceful and law abiding,” Obi added.
I Don’t Fear Death — Falz Reacts to New Song
Rapper Folarin Falana, AKA Falz has said he is not afraid of the consequences his new controversial song titled “Yakubu” would bring.
Falz had released a Vector-assisted song titled, ‘Yakubu’ which he claimed was inspired by the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof Mahmood Yakubu.
In the “confrontational” song, the rappers called out INEC, its chairman, as well as parties allegedly involved in the electoral malpractices in the just-concluded presidential election in Nigeria.
Falz spoke in an interview with Arise TV via Skype from the United Kingdom that he was neither afraid of the aftermath of his action, nor death.
The lawyer claimed he would rather die fighting against injustices than remain silent.
On claims that he ran away to hide after the release of the song, Falz said he had recorded such kinds of songs in the past and had stayed in the country till the songs ceased to trend.
He said:
“I knew that was going to come up when you announced that I was doing this from London. Like I said earlier on, this is not the first time, this is not the second time, this is not the third time.
“I have released tons of records that are very confrontational. And I was on ground. I’m always on ground when I released these records.
“It is not to say that I’m running anywhere. Absolutely not. Everyone know where to find me. If anyone wants to find me. But I have no reason to fear anything. And I always say this when people ask me ‘how do you do these things without any fear of consequences?’
“And this is the same answer that I always give: the kind of life we are living already is one which we are more or less fading away already. It’s not a meaningful life what we have in Nigeria as a country.
“What’s the worst that could happen? It’s death. I don’t fear death. I would rather go down fighting for a just cause. I would rather be remembered as someone that lived a life that was meaningful rather than someone that for example was walking down the road and got run over by a danfo [bus] because he was driving recklessly.
“Or, someone that got a heart disease and could not save himself because there are no hospitals capable of saving him in Nigeria.”
