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Nigeria: I was Almost Killed for Rejecting Underage Voters, Says ex-INEC Commissioner
News, Nigeria

Nigeria: I was Almost Killed for Rejecting Underage Voters, Says ex-INEC Commissioner

A former National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Lai Olurode, says he almost lost his life for refusing to allow underage voters to vote some years ago. He, therefore, called on the Federal Government to ensure that registration officers, who are mostly members of the National Youth Service Corps, were protected at all times. Olurode was the INEC National Commissioner for the South-West from 2010 to 2015. Olurode said this during an interview with one of our correspondents on Sunday while reacting to allegations of underage voting in the recently concluded local government election in Kano State. The former INEC commissioner said, “If the people can be enlightened, underage voting will reduce. There are certain areas of this country where e...
Nigeria: Underage Voters are Registered Because Registration Officers’ Lives are Threatened – INEC
Justice, News, Nigeria, Security

Nigeria: Underage Voters are Registered Because Registration Officers’ Lives are Threatened – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission says some underage voters are being registered in some parts of the country because the lives of registration officers are being threatened by some members of the community. The Director of Publicity and Voter Education, Mr. Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, said this on Wednesday during a programme on the African Independent Television titled, ‘Kakaaki.’ Osazze-Uzzi, while answering questions over pictures and videos on the social media showing children registering and voting in northern Nigeria, said when officials refused to register underage persons, their lives were threatened by members of the community and they eventually caved in. The INEC director said, “I agree that it is the responsibility of the registration officer to do that (refuse to...
South African: President Zuma Resigns
News, South Africa

South African: President Zuma Resigns

South Africa’s embattled President Jacob Zuma has resigned his office with immediate effect.. The BBC reports that Zuma made the announcement in a televised address to the nation on Wednesday evening. Earlier, Zuma’s governing ANC party had told him to resign or face a vote of no confidence in parliament on Thursday. The 75-year-old had been under increasing pressure to give way to Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, the ANC’s new leader. Zuma, who has been in power since 2009, had been accused of corruption. His resignation came at the end of a long speech in which he said he disagreed with the way the ANC had acted towards him. He said he did not fear a motion of no confidence, adding, “I have served the people of South Africa to the best of my ability.” Meanwhile, the...
Nigeria: No Cattle Colony in Ebonyi, Governor Umahi Insists
Fulani Herdsmen, News, Nigeria, Security, Terrorism

Nigeria: No Cattle Colony in Ebonyi, Governor Umahi Insists

David Umahi of Ebonyi State, weekend insisted that no part of the state would be given for establishment of cattle colony. This came as Biafra Independent Movement, BIM, warned South East Governors against providing any land for the proposed Cattle Colony in any state of South East, saying it would amount to putting Ndigbo under herdsmen siege. In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Emmanuel Uzor, the Governor initiated measures to maintain peace between farmers and herdsmen across the state by engaging traditional rulers and leaders of Miyetti Allah in the area for the purposes of sustaining peace among the two groups. Uzor said the governor while addressing traditional rulers, presidents of town union and other stakeholders at the Akanu Ibiam International Conference Centr...
Nigeria: Senator Shehu Sani’s Constituents Vow to Recall Him
News, Nigeria

Nigeria: Senator Shehu Sani’s Constituents Vow to Recall Him

Constituents of Senator Shehu Sani have vowed to start a recall process against him for criticizing President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressive Congress Party as well as deviating from the mandate that was given to him. Addressing a press conference in Kaduna Monday, the group under the aegis of Concerned Indigenes of Kaduna Central Senatorial District said since his election into the National Assembly, Senator Sani has not achieved any tangible result except engaging on social media war. Leader of the group, Aliyu Saidu, who also claimed to be Senator Sani’s Deputy Campaign Director in the 2015 election, lambasted the senator for deviating from what the party and his constituency sent him to do at the national assembly. Said said rather than investing his legislative resou...
Nigeria: JAMB Suspends Worker Over N36m Swallowed by Snake
Corruption, Crime, Education, Justice, News, Nigeria

Nigeria: JAMB Suspends Worker Over N36m Swallowed by Snake

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board said on Sunday that it had suspended its employee, Philomina Chieshe, on account of N36m which was reported to have been swallowed by a snake in the board’s office in Makurdi, Benue State. The JAMB Head of Information, Fabian Benjamin, told our correspondent on Sunday that the board was taking her through other disciplinary measures while security agencies were investigating the matter. Benjamin said, “She has been suspended and she is going through all other disciplinary procedures while investigation is ongoing on the matter. Her claim was that a snake came into the office and swallowed the N36m proceeds.” It was learnt that Chieshe explained in her statement that a “mystery snake” sneaked into JAMB accounts office and made away with ...
Nigeria: Lagos Seals RCCG Building, Others
Environment, News, Nigeria, Religion

Nigeria: Lagos Seals RCCG Building, Others

The Lagos State Building Control Agency has sealed a zonal headquarters of the Redeemed Christian Church of God under construction in Ajegunle, a hotel in Ikeja and six other buildings for illegal development and breaking government seal. The RCCG parish, located on Old Ojo Road in Ajegunle, was accused of breaking government’s seal after a stop-work notice was served. Four other buildings on Old Ojo Road were sealed for the same offence. A shopping centre in Ajeromi was also sealed for erecting a third floor without approval. A plaza being erected in the Boundary area of the state and two buildings by the same developer on Chidi Street, Ajegunle, were sealed. De-Golden Guest Hotel in the Opebi area of Ikeja was closed as the government accused the developer of converting a ...
Ghana: Ghana Issues Lassa Fever Alert
Ghana, News

Ghana: Ghana Issues Lassa Fever Alert

The government of Ghana has issued an alert, warning members of the public on the possible outbreak of Lassa fever. Ghana Health Services (GHS) also cautioned all Divisional Directors, Regional Deputy Directors of the Service and public health care facilities of the likelihood of outbreaks of Lassa fever. The GHS in a release explained the disease has already affected several countries in West Africa with over 300 cases and 31 deaths in Nigeria and this has necessitated urgent spontaneous national response actions among all neighbouring countries. 1. Surveillance on Lassa fever and Acute Haemorrhagic Fevers in general (using case definitions) should be enhanced. 2. Suspected cases of Lassa fever should be managed in specific isolation conditions 3. Health workers should adhe...
World: ICC concludes preliminary investigation into Shiites massacre, continues probe of IPOB killings
Biafra, Justice, News, Nigeria, Religion

World: ICC concludes preliminary investigation into Shiites massacre, continues probe of IPOB killings

THE International Criminal Court is moving gradually towards prosecution of Nigerian officials involved in the December 2015 massacre of members of Islamic Movements of Nigeria. The office of the prosecutor at the war crimes tribunal, which reached its preliminary conclusion into the killings in December 2017, submitted its findings to the Federal Government and demanded explanations about the incident. The ICC said the attack on IMN members, which was carried out by the Nigerian Army and condemned by human rights voices across the world, violated international statutes on human rights. Also advancing at the ICC is its investigation into the gruesome rights abuses and killings of members of separatist Independent People of Biafra, IPOB. The group has come under repeated assault...
Nigeria: Strange Snake Swallows N36 million Cash in JAMB Office
Africa, Corruption, Education, News, Nigeria

Nigeria: Strange Snake Swallows N36 million Cash in JAMB Office

A mystery snake is said to have sneaked into the accounts office of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, in Makurdi, the Benue State capital and made away with N36 million cash. Before now, JAMB candidates purchased scratch cards from JAMB state offices and other designated centers, to gain access to the Board’s website for either registration or to check their admission status but the reforms introduced by JAMB registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, recommended an end to the use of scratch cards. A team of auditors was dispatched to different state offices of JAMB to take inventory of the sold and unsold scratch cards and recover whatever money that might have either been generated or mismanaged during the period of the sale of scratch cards. On their visit to Makurdi off...