Barrister Olusegun Bamgbose, Esq, the National Coordinator, Concerned Advocates for Good Governance, CAGG, has hinted on having Yusuf Buhari, son of the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari, as his running mate in the 2023 presidential election.

The race to the Presidential Villa has actually begun, with many political actors directly or indirectly showing their interests in the position currently being occupied by President Buhari.

In 2023, Nigeria will have a new President, and all things being equal, Bamgbose has noted that though zoning is actually not constitutional, it’s advisable it’s respected considering the diversity of the country.

The senior lawyer, who said his political party would be announced in due course, also warned the North to stay away and relinquish power to the South, recalling that in 1999, the North magnanimously agreed to support a Southerner to be the President with Olusegun Obasanjo coming on board.

“The South West will forever remember the North for this political gesture,” he noted.

“Even though some political pundits may argue that the North only compensated the South West for the loss of MKO Abiola, who was acknowledged to have won the elections. Whichever way, the North should be appreciated for such a gesture.

“Olusegun Obasanjo handed over power to Yar’adua in 2007, when he died, Jonathan took over. In 2015, the South joined the North to install Buhari.

“It’s therefore politically justifiable for the North to equally support a Southerner to take over power come 2023
“Obasanjo never disappointed the North and Nigerians, Olusegun Bamgbose will not disappoint Nigerians.

‘As a matter of fact, I’m considering Yusuf Buhari as my running mate come 2023. It’s high time the youths took over power in Nigeria.

“This consideration of mine might look awkward to many Nigerians but it’s because they can’t see what I’m seeing.

“Yusuf Buhari is a material for leadership. I’m blessed with the gift of seeing beyond the physical.

“I remembered vividly that I once told Jonathan’s Aide that suicide bombing was coming, he doubted me but we all know what’s happening now.

“In 2015 I told Nigerians that Buhari will defeat Jonathan, many thought I was talking nonsense but it came to pass.

“Earlier this year I told Nigerians that a new Chief of Staff will emerge, that has equally happened. Yusuf Buhari is an asset.

“I see him soaring higher politically, other things being equal, he will be my running mate come 2023.

“He has some hidden potentials which will soon begin to manifest soon to the delight of many Nigerians.

“Whichever you look at it Buhari’s name will be difficult to erase in the political history of Nigeria.
“Even after the exit of Buhari as President of Nigeria, Aisha Buhari will still be prominent and very useful. There is something I’m seeing in her that many Nigerians are ignorant of.

“She is an asset. Nigerians are yet to know the wealth stored in her… I hope to meet Yusuf Buhari soon for some serious political discussions.

“In all, the North should concede power to the South come 2023. They won’t regret it.”

Six Edo State governorship aspirants in the All Progressives Congress (APC) have submitted their expression of interest and nomination forms ahead of the June 22 primary.

They are Governor Godwin Obaseki, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Osaro Obaz, Dr Pius Odubu, Matthew Iduoriyekemwe and Chris Ogiemwonyi.

National Organising Secretary, Emma Ibidiro, received the forms on behalf of the APC National Working Committee (NWC) between Monday and Wednesday.

The party realised N135 million from the sale of the forms at N22.5 million each, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

The money includes N2.5 million for Expression of Interest Form and N20 million for the Nomination Form.

The sale of forms began on May 20 and ended on Wednesday.

Obaseki, after submitting his form on Wednesday, asked APC National Chairman Comrade Adams Oshiomole not to interfere in the primary.

He said: “I call on Comrade Oshiomhole to recuse himself from the Edo nomination process because he is an interested party.

“It is against natural justice for a man to be a judge in his own case. So, I think the honourable thing to do is to recuse himself and let’s have a free process and let’s reconcile and build our party.

“On a final note, I am actively pursuing peace, actively pursuing harmony in our party, particularly at home, and I believe that there will be peace.”

The governor denied betraying Oshiomohle who helped him to power in 2016, saying the National Chairman was “a bigger betrayer”.

“In life, everybody gets helped, everybody gets assisted. The person you talked about (Oshiomhole) had no money when he left Labour to contest.

“We knew what we did to make him governor. I sacrificed eight years of my life to serve Edo State Pro-bono. I collected no Kobo to serve him in Edo”.

The governor also debunked reports that he has obtained Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nomination form.

“It is very absurd. I am someone that is very exposed. How can I collect a form from two parties when we have rulings in the past disqualifying people on that?

“I am a party man to the core. APC is my party because I come from a progressive political family. I believe in the ideals of APC.

“I believe in our President, I believe in what he stands for so I am a party man to the core. I am not an old-style politician. I represent a new direction of politics that is based on facts and truth, not lies,” Obaseki said.

Iduoriyekemwe said he was in the race because the party denied the incumbent the right of first refusal.

The former Edo State House of Assembly Minority Leader expressed his preference for indirect primary.

Ogiemwonyi, a former minister, said the state needed “a governor who has empathy, love and could care for the people”.

International human rights organisation, Amnesty International, has called on the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to declare rape as a national crisis in the country.

Amnesty International said on Wednesday that it joined its voice to other civil societies demanding justice over the incident of rape and murder of a 22-year-old student of the University of Benin, Uwavera Omozuwa, as well as 18-year-old Barakat Bello in Ibadan, Oyo State.

AI Nigeria in a series of tweets noted that a “toxic culture that encourages men to see women as passive sex objects” must be discouraged.

The organisation said, “The government’s response to rape continues to be, woefully inadequate. Frequent reports of rape across Nigeria is a gruesome reminder of the violence women and girls face. Violence against women and girls is often not properly registered or investigated.

“The rape and murder of an 18-year-old student, Barakat Bello, in Ibadan is shocking. Amnesty International is calling on the Nigerian authorities to declare a national crisis on rape. Women and girls’ safety must be paramount across Nigeria.

“Dear President Buhari, declare rape a national crisis. Rape is a crime. If there is no consent, it is rape, even if the victim stays quiet and does not resist. The “boys will be boys” mentality warps sex into something for men, done by men to women, without regard for the woman’s wellbeing. This toxic culture that encourages men to view women as passive sex objects needs to be addressed.

“We are joining people in Nigeria to demand justice for Omozuwa who was murdered and raped in a Nigerian church. Violence against women must stop. Authorities have to ensure justice for her and other women.”

BREAKING: Ex-Ondo Governor, Bamidele Olumilua, Is Dead

The former old Ondo State governor, Evangelist Bamidele Ishola Olumilua, is dead after a brief illness.

He was 80 years.

Olumilua is an indigene of Ikere Ekiti, the headquarter of the Ikere Local Government Area of the Ekiti State.

Olumilua, who was the elected Governor of Ondo State from January 1992 to November 1993 during the Nigerian Third Republic.

He was elected on the platform of the Social Democratic Party.

He was forced to leave office when the military regime of General Sani Abacha took power. His deputy governor was Olusegun Agagu, who later became Governor of Ondo State from 29 May 2003 until February 2009.

He was the Chancellor, Ekiti State University during the first Kayode Fayemi regime.

Olumilua joined the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 1998.

He was appointed as the Chairman of the Christian Pilgrims Board.

In August 2005, the PDP stated that he was no longer a member of the party. He later became one of the founding members of the Action Congress (AC) party, formed in 2006.

AGF takes over prosecution of alleged Taraba kidnap kingpin, Wadume

The Attorney-General of the Federation, (AGF) and Minister of Justice Mr Abubakar Malami has taken over the prosecution of alleged Taraba kidnap kingpin, Bala Hamisu (aka Wadume), Capt. Tijjani Balarabe and 18 others.

At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, Mr Shuaibu Labaran, a lawyer from the Ministry of Justice told the court that the AGF has taken over the prosecution of the matter.

Labaran said that the AGF needed time to look at the case file before re-arraigning the defendants and prayed the court for a short adjournment.

The counsel said the adjournment was to enable the prosecutors to put their house in order.

“The AGF has taken over the prosecution of this case. We have received the file and noticed that there are about 20 defendants from the charge.

” So there is need for us to review the charge and also liaise with the arresting agency to ensure that all the defendants are brought to court.

“We will do all that is necessary to ensure that justice is done in the matter,” he said.

The trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako adjourned the matter until June 8 for re-araignment.

Recall that the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, had filed a 16- count charge bordering on terrorism, murder, kidnapping and illegal arms running against Wadume and the others.

They were arraigned on March 16. Count one of the charge read, “That you, Alhaji Hamisu Bala, 33, aka Wadume; Capt. Ahmed Tijjani Balarabe; ASP Aondona Iorbee; Insp. Aliyu Dadje; Auwalu Bala; Uba Bala; Ahmad Suleiman; Bashir Waziri; Zubairu Abdullahi; Rayyanu Abdul and others now at large, between February and April 2019 at Takum and Ibi, Taraba, within the jurisdiction of this court, while acting in concert, conspired together to commit felony, to wit: acts of terrorism, by attacking and kidnapping one Usman Garba, aka Mayo, at his filling station in Takum, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 17 of the Terrorism (Prevention) Amendment Act 2013.”

They were also accused of possessing six AK-47 rifles and dealing in prohibited firearms contrary to Section 27 (1)(a)(I) and (1)(b)(iii) of the Firearms Act 2004.

Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has described the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, as a pathological betrayer who even betrayed God in his promises to Edo people.

Speaking to journalists after submitting his expression of interest and nomination forms at the party’s secretariat, Abuja, Obaseki claimed he sacrificed a lot to ensure Oshiomhole won the Edo governorship ticket and emerge national chairman of the APC.

Although he did not explicitly explain the sacrifices he made to aid Oshiomhole’s emergence as party chairman, the governor claimed Oshiomhole was broke before contesting for governorship and needed help.

He said Oshiomhole should restrain himself from participating in the forthcoming nomination process for the APC gubernatorial ticket in Edo because, as an interested party, he could not be trusted to guarantee the credibility of the process.

“In life, everybody gets help; everybody gets assisted. The person talked about (Oshiomhole) had no money when he left labour to contest (as governor). We knew what we did to make him governor. I sacrificed eight years of my life pro bono, I collected no kobo to serve him in Edo. Today, we know what we have built because of where we started from.

“So, when you talk of betrayal, the biggest betrayal can be when people betray a cause, when they betray an idea. That is the greatest betrayal of all. It is like betraying God. When you said to God, this is what I stand for, and then God gives you power and you turn around and do the exact opposite, there is no greater betrayal than that. So, when you talk about betrayal, let us be very clear. I want to put it on record that I am grateful, he assisted me just as I assisted him. I know the sacrifices we made to make him national chairman. So, what are we talking about?

“The reason I went to see our national leader is that I don’t want the party torn apart. I am a man of peace. For me and my colleague governors, we cannot see a party we built destroyed, we cannot see a ruling party being so weakened and whatever it will take to secure peace, to secure harmony, I am prepared to make.

“That is why I joined my colleagues to go and see Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to assure him that we are all working for the same cause, we are all working to build our party. From 26 states, we are now 20. We don’t want to lose any more state, there is really no reason to. We should all drop our egos and work for our party and the unity of our country.

“However, I am using this opportunity to call on Oshiomhole to recuse himself from the Edo nomination process because he is an interested party. It is against natural justice for a man to be a judge in his own case. So, I think the honourable thing to do is to excuse himself and let’s have a free process and let’s reconcile and build our party,” Obaseki said.

Obaseki listed the following as reasons for seeking re-election: “Three years is not enough, four years is not enough, to crystallise all these reforms. So, another four years will give me that opportunity to consolidate on what we have done. That is a promise of APC; we are a reformist party, we are a progressive party. That’s why I am here today to indicate my interest and my desire to run for another term as governor of Edo, so that I can continue in the service of my people.”

The governor said, though he was sure of victory, whether the party adopted direct or indirect primaries, there was the need to follow constitutional requirements.

“The bases of any democracy are the rules, that is why the most important document in our party is our constitution. Our constitution is very detailed and it spells out clearly how we should undertake our affairs as a party. The constitution stipulates what mode of primaries is allowed in our party and how decisions to the type of primaries you want to run should be arrived that. It’s clearly stated in our constitution and so, for me, I believe that, as a lawful party, we will do things according to the constitution. So, direct or indirect, I am certain I will win the primaries,” said.

The Edo State governor dismissed rumours that he plans to join the PDP as absurd: “How can I collect form from two parties when we have rulings in the past disqualifying people on that? I am a party man to the core. APC is my party because I come from a progressive political family. I believe in the ideals of APC, I believe in our President, I believe in what he stands for. So, I am a party man to the core. I am not an old-style politician. I represent a new direction of politics that is based on facts and truth, not lies.”

THE Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority, (NIWA) Dr George Moghalu, the Managing Director has disclosed that the abandoned Lokoja Inland river port in Kogi State will cost federal government N4.112 billion when completed.

Work on the port has been dragging for the past eight years while that of Baro in Niger state has been completed and commissioner by President Muhammadu Buhari sometimes last year.

In an interactive session with journalists on Wednesday in Lokoja, Dr Moghalu said Federal Executive Council (FEC) had earlier in the year approved the Ministry of Transportation memo for N2 billion revised cost for the completion of the project.

The approval puts the total cost of the project at N6.4 from the reviewed N4.112 billion.

Moghalu noted that the federal government is committed to ensuring that the river port which is “critical to Nigeria’s Waterways operation”, is completed and operational.

He said despite the cessation of works on the main project due to some bottlenecks, the Authority has been on site extending the fetching and other works.

The project was first awarded to Messers Foby Engineering Ltd at the cost of N2.3 billion in 2007 and a mobilisation fee of N800 million was paid.

But due to alleged inability of the contractor to perform, the contract was revoked, revised and subsequently re-awarded in the second quarter of 2012 to another company, Inter-Bau Construction Ltd, at the cost of N4.112 billion.

The administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, who re-awarded the contract on March 23, 2012, gave 57 weeks as the expected period for the completion of the project but work stalled in 2016 due to irreconcilable differences between the federal government and the construction firm.

Moghalu said with the approval of the revised cost, works on the project will be accelerated and completed in record time.

He mentioned that the Authority’s management has been interfacing with the contractor handling the project on the matter following the approval of the revised contract sum by the Federal Executive Council.

A computation of Banks’ earnings from account maintenance charges, for 10 out of the 14 listed banks on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) amounts to N22 billion compared to N19.1 billion in Q1: 2019 The current year has seen a surge of N2.9 billion amounting to an increase of 13.2 percent year on year despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Account maintenance fee may be low when compared to other revenue streams, still make up a significant portion of their non-interest income.

According to the latest directive by the Central Bank of Nigeria on bank charges, Nigerian banks are allowed to charge their customers a “negotiable” N1 per mile.

What this means is that banks can charge N1 per N1000 debit transactions on current accounts. Banks’ account maintenance charges come in the form of COT (i.e., Commission on Turnover), which is a charge levied on customer withdrawals by their banks and are mainly applicable to current accounts.

A further breakdown of the earning revealed that Nigeria’s tier-1 banks, which comprises of First Bank, UBA, GTBank, Access Bank, and Zenith Bank generated a total of N18.4 billion from bank maintenance charges in Q1 2020.

The sum is 17.12percent more than N15.6 billion that was generated by the five banks during the comparable period in 2019.

The other five banks namely FCMB, Stanbic IBTC, Wema, Sterling and Union bank merely earned N3.6bn from account maintenance fee.

A further breakdown of the fees revealed that Zenith Bank generated the most income from account maintenance fees, which amounts to N5.7bn, followed by Access Bank N3.9bn and then, GTBank N3.3bn.

Other are: First Bank Plc: N3.1 billion, United Bank for Africa Plc: N2.3 billion, Stanbic IBTC N1bn, FCMB N911 million, Fidelity bank N735 million, Union Bank N406 million, Sterling bank N394 million and Wema bank N270 million.

The earning for Ecobank and Unity could not be ascertained as Unity Bank has not released it Q1; 2020 report, while that of Ecobank was not clear to our report from the financial statement According to Joseph Enenche, a banker who shed more light on the charge: “Account maintenance fee is calculated on the total amount of debit transaction or withdrawals on your account at a given interval.

“What this implies is that your account should not be charged AMC if there are no withdrawal either electronically via instant transfer, online or physical withdrawal with your cheque in the banking hall.

“If you continue to build your account balance without making withdrawals, your account will not be charged AMC.”

dancing to Majek in Aiyetoro Gbede my village on 1st january 2017.

Members of the Cross River State House of Assembly on Tuesday again rejected the letter from the National Judicial Council requesting the confirmation of Justice Akon Ikpeme as the substantive Chief Judge of the state.

The House, through a voice vote, said it could not reverse itself on the issue of who became the chief judge of the state after it had “exhaustively” deliberated on it three months ago and settled for Justice Maurice Eneji.

The rejection followed a second letter from the NJC transmitted to the House by Governor Ben Ayade, requesting a second confirmation of Justice Akon Ikpeme as the Chief Judge.

The governor had, in a letter dated May 29, 2020 and signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Tina Agbor, urged the House to treat the attached letter from the NJC with “urgency and ensure that there is no vacuum created in the judiciary.”

Immediately the Clerk of the House, Bassey Ekpeyong, read the correspondence from the governor, the House Leader, Peter Odey, representing Ogoja State Constituency, moved a motion.

He said, “Having read the letter from the NJC via the governor, I move that we accept it as a working document of the House, but maintain that we cannot reverse ourselves in this matter.”

The House did not debate the matter further, and through a voice vote, rejected NJC’s request again, settling for Justice Maurice Eneji, whose tenure as Acting Chief Judge ended on Tuesday, June 2, 2020. He became acting chief judge on March 2, 2020.

The House, in a resolution No. 45 sent to the government of Cross River State and signed by the Clerk of the house, Ekpeyong, had rejected Justice Ikpeme as the substantive chief judge after acting for three months.

In rejecting her confirmation, the House alleged that throughout the period Ikpeme acted as chief judge, she was more concerned about the politics surrounding her confirmation and other issues to the detriment of other official matters.

In his reaction, the Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, Public Petition, Public Service Matters and Conflict Resolution, Efa Esua, said, “The letter from the governor was not referred to my committee. So, my position and a few others remain that Ikpeme be sworn in and I have not changed.

“I had expected my colleagues to be on the side of the law. But you saw what happened. So let us see how it plays out because Justice Maurice Eneji’s tenure as acting chief judge ends today.”

Expensive burials over in Anambra, as Obiano assents to new law

THE era of expensive burial appears to be over in Anambra State as Governor Willie Obiano has assented to the new burial law, which came into effect in the state on May 14 this year.

Highlights of new law, which provide that all the communities in the state must have burial grounds, showed that all burial/funeral ceremonies of indigenous deceased persons must be registered with the town union at a fee of N1,500, while erection of any billboard, banner or posters of any kind of deceased persons would attract N100,000 fine or six months jail term or both.

The only exception to the provision was directional posts leading to the venue, which must not be erected before seven days to the burial date and must be removed not later than seven days after the burial date, otherwise the offender would be liable to pay the fine.

The Commissioner for Lands was required by the law to create the state burial ground in every community where rejected corpses and unidentified corpses would be buried.

There would also be monitoring and implementation committees and members of the committees would be paid remuneration to be determined by the town union.

According to the law, the monitoring committee would be responsible for registering all deaths in the town, giving clearance for every burial/funeral ceremony and submitting records of the implementation of the law to the Department of Town Union and Chieftaincy Matters in the state.

Other provisions were that: ”The corpse must not be deposited in the mortuary or any other place beyond two months from the date of death;

”No blocking of road/street because of burial except with the approval of the appropriate local government authority; and

”No wake keep of any kind for any deceased person, while religious activity for the deceased person prior to the burial must end by 9:00pm; and there must be no food, drink, life band or cultural entertainers during and after religious activity for the deceased person.

Similarly, all burial ceremonies must be for one day and the burial services must start not later than 9:00 am and must not last more than two hours, just as no preserved corpse must be exposed for more than 30 minutes from the time of exposition.

It further provides that all condolence visits after any burial ceremony, must not exceed one day and no person must give the deceased person’s family a condolence gift exceeding money for one jar of palm wine, one carton of beer and one crate of soft drink.

In the case of women, there must be no demand of more than N10000 by her maiden family, while wearing of special uniform is restricted to the immediate family of the deceased person and church groups.

The law stipulates that Magistrate courts in the state have the jurisdiction to try offenders.

Osun State House of Assembly has lamented the growing rape incidents across the country.

The Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Timothy Owoeye said during plenary in Wednesday that anyone found guilty of rape in the state will be liable to life imprisonment while an attempt to commit rape attracts an imprisonment of fourteen years, AMILOADED confirmed.

Owoeye stated that the growing trend of rape cases in Nigeria has gotten to an alarming state that must be addressed by all.

He noted that hard time awaits rapist in the state as Osun will not tolerate rape, saying that the Director of Legal for the House of Assembly henceforth shall be present at all rape related cases in Osun courts.

According to him, “Osun is blessed to have enacted law that imposes stiffer sentence on perpetrators of rape. Section 358 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. 11, Laws of Osun state, 2002 prescribes a life sentence on anyone found guilty of committing rape while an attempt to commit rape attracts an imprisonment of fourteen years.

“I have taken my time to study the anti-rape laws across the country, I have also met with several groups who are at the forefront of the campaign against rape, while praying to God to repose the soul of victims of rape, I stand with those who are alive and hope that the victims get justice.

“The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5 is to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. The 7th Assembly relying on the thrust of its Legislative Agenda will strive in ensuring that our State through quality legislation achieves the core of the SDG goal 5.

“I am well aware of the two recent cases in our state, the one involving a traditional ruler who allegedly raped a 14 year old girl and a 27 year old man who was arraigned for allegedly raping a 17 year old girl.

“I want to charge our law enforcement agencies to diligently prosecute cases of rape. With too many instances, we must begin to hold people accountable no matter how highly placed”.

The House of Assembly also passed into law Osun Youth Development Commission establishment bill 2020.

Owoeye held that the passed bill when signed by the governor will enhance and encourage active participation of youths in policy making, youth related programmes as well as other important government activities.

He also added that the law will harness and develop the full potential of the youth in the state of Osun as partners in development and progress.

Police Command in Ebonyi has confirmed the abduction of two Chinese expatriates working in a mining site in Ihietutu, Ishiagu in Ivo local government area of Ebonyi by unknown gunmen.

The abducted Chinese nationals are employees at Greenfield Metals Nigeria Limited which specialises in lead and zinc mining.

Mrs Loveth Odah, the Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO) confirmed the abduction in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) on Thursday in Abakaliki.

She said that the victims were allegedly abducted on Wednesday, June 3 at the mining site.
She, however, explained that the police were yet to establish the motive behind the abduction, adding that preliminary investigation had commenced.

She said: “We got the information yesterday, a detachment of our tactical team was despatched to the area with a view to unravelling the true situation and also to rescue the victims.

“The team is yet to return to furnish us with relevant information about the incident.

“But, I can confirm to you that we received a distress call from the area yesterday informing the police of an alleged abduction of two Chinese working in a mining site at Ihietutu in Ishiagu community.

“We are waiting for information from our men before we can make informed comments on the motive behind the alleged abduction.

“For now, we cannot say if the abduction was for ransom purposes or not because the abductors are yet to establish contacts with the company.”

She, however, urged non-Nigerian nationals working in any part of the state to ensure that they move about with armed security guards to prevent attacks and molestations from criminals and possible kidnapping or abduction.

Mr Henry Ahanaotu, the Chairman and Managing Director, Greenfield Metals, told NAN that the hoodlums abducted their victims at mining pit at ‘Ajirija’ mining site 300 meters from the company’s Life-Camp after shooting severally into the air to deter any resistance.

He said that a formal report on the incident had been lodged at the police command in the state, adding that the abductors were yet to establish contact with the company.

“The unidentified persons bearing sophisticated arms stormed our mining pit at Ajirija and shot severally before whisking their victims away.

“We are yet to establish the identity of the abductors or where they came from.

NAN recalls that kidnappers in March invaded the company’s Life-Camp at ‘Ugwuajirija’ and kidnapped two Chinese nationals, who later regained their freedom after an undisclosed amount of money was paid as ransom.

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has been dragged before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja over an alleged forged certificate and perjury.

In the originating summons sighted by Daily Independent, the plaintiffs are Edobor Williams, Ugbesia Abudu Godwin and Amedu Dauda Anakhu while the defendants are the All Progressives Congress (APC), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Inspector- General of Police (IGP) and Governor Godwin Obaseki.

Not all Nigerian universities approved for post-graduate programmes, NUC warns, listing those approved

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has updated the list of approved post-graduate awarding institutions in Nigeria.

The commission said it observed that some Nigerian universities are running unapproved post-graduate programmes, leading to the award of Masters and PhD degrees.

“The commission has also observed some parastatals and institutes awarding these same post-graduate degrees, either on their own or through unapproved affiliation with Nigerian and foreign universities,” it said.

According to the commission, such practices are not only unethical, “but also antithetical to time -tested quality assurance best practices”.

“The commission hereby notifies the general public that only the following universities have the approval to offer post-graduate programmes at the Masters’ and PhD levels in Nigeria.”

A bulletin from the office of the Executive Secretary dated March 23 contains the list of federal, state and private universities currently allowed to issue such certificates to students in Nigeria.

The bulletin was released a few days after the government ordered the closure of all schools in Nigeria due to the coronavirus outbreak.

As of 2018, Nigeria had 162 universities: 41 are federal, 47 are state-owned while 74 are privately owned institutions.

Out of the 41 federal universities across the country, 26 are approved by the commission for post-graduate programmes, 25 state universities were approved for post-graduate programmes out of the 47 state-owned universities in the country while 18 universities out of 74 private universities were approved for post-graduate studies.

But in the March 2020 bulletin which was obtained by PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday, more universities have been granted approval by the commission for post-graduate programmes.
Currently, Nigeria has 170 universities, 43 are federal, 48 are state-owned while 79 are privately owned.

Out of the 43 federal universities, 32 are approved by the commission for postgraduate programmes. They are

1. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi
2. Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
3. Bayero University, Kano
4. Federal University of Technology, Akure
5. Federal University of Technology, Minna
6. Federal University of Technology, Owerri
7. Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike
8. Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola
9. National Open University of Nigeria, Lagos
10. Nigeria Defence Academy, Kaduna
11. Nnamdi Azikwe University, Akwa
12. Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife
13. University of Abuja, Gwagwalada
14. University of Agriculture, Abeokuta
15. University of Agriculture, Makurdi
16. University of Benin, Benin City
17. University of Calabar, Calabar
18. University of Ibadan, Ibadan
19. University of Ilorin, Ilorin
20. University of Jos, Jos
21. University of Lagos, Akoko
22. University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri
23. University of Nigeria, Nsukka
24. University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt
25. University of Uyo, Uyo
26. Usmanu Dan Fodio University, Sokoto
27. Federal University, Lafia
28. Federal University, Ndufu-alike
29. Federal University, Dutse
30. Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurum
31. Federal University, Oye- Ekiti
32. Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna

Similarly, 31 state universities were approved by the commission for post-graduate programmes out of the 48 state-owned universities in the country. The approved universities are :

1. Abia State University, Uturu
2. Adamawa State University, Mubi
3. Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko
4. Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma
5. Anambra University, Uli
6. Benue State University, Makurdi
7. Cross River University of Technology, Calabar
8. Delta State University, Abraka
9. Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki
10. Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti
11. Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu
12. Imo State University, Owerri
13. Kogi State University, Anyigba
14. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso
15. Lagos State University, Ojo
16. Nasarawa State University, Keffi
17. Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island
18. Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye
19. Rivers State University of Science and Technology
20. Umar Musa Yar’Adua University, Katsina
21. Gombe State University, Gombe
22. Ibrahim Babangida University, Lapai
23. Kano State University of Science and Technology
24. Kebbi State University of Science and Technology
25. Kwara State University, Malete
26. Kaduna State University, Kaduna
27. Bauchi State University, Gadau
28. Yobe State University, Damaturu
29. Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni
30.Tai Solarin University of Education
31.Osun State University, Osogbo

Meanwhile, only 31 universities out of 79 private universities were approved for post-graduate studies. The 18 institutions are:

1. African University of Science and Technology, Abuja
2. American University of Nigeria, Yola
3. Babcock University, Ilishan Remo
4. Benson Idahosa University, Benin City
5. Bowen University, Iwo
6. Covenant University, Ota
7. Igbiniedo University, Okada
8. Pan-African University, Lekki
9. Redeemer’s University, Mowe, Ogun State
10. Caleb University, Lagos
11. Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji-Arakeji
12. Nigerian Turkish Nile University, Abuja
13. Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State
14. Lead City University, Ibadan (MSc. Only)
15. University of Mkar, Mkar (MSc. Only)
16. Madona University, Okija
17. Al-hikmah University, Ilorin (MSc. Only)
18. Godfrey Okoye University, Ugwuomu-Nike , Enugu state.
19. Adeleke University,Ede
20. Veritas University, Abuja
21. Achievers University,Owo
22. Al-Qalam University, Katsina
23.Baze University, Abuja
24. Bells Universityof Technology, Ota
25. Crawford University, Igbesa
26. Crescent University, Abeokuta
27. Fountain University, Osogbo
28. Landmark University, Omu-Aran
29. Novena University, Ogume
30. Salem University, Lokoja.
31. Bingham University, Karu

“Employers of labour, educational institutions and other stakeholders are to note that only certificates issued by these universities for their approved programmes are valid for employment, further studies and other purposes,” the commission said.

Speaking with PREMIUM TIMES, the NUC Director of Information and Public Relations, Ibrahim Yakasai, said all the ‘legal’ universities in Nigeria can actually do post-graduate courses “only after meeting certain criteria and conditions of the commission”.

According to him, the commission must verify that the institutions have adequate resources which include “physical and human resources.”

“All universities can ‘graduate’ to post-graduate but the universities with approval are those that are matured, (who) applied and have met the requirements and they’ve been allowed to do post-graduate. So, we published the names of the universities who have met the conditions,” he said.

BMAS still compulsory
Before a particular programme or school can be approved or accredited according to the NUC, the university must have fulfilled all the requirement in the Benchmark Minimum Academic Standard (BMAS).

BMAS is a document that contains all the minimum requirements before a particular programme or school can be approved or accredited by NUC.

The primary objectives of the commission are to ensure the orderly development of university education in Nigeria, to maintain high standards and ensure adequate funding for them.

In light of recent allegations, accusing me of rape in 2012, I want to say that I, Tobechukwu Victor Okoh, strongly refute such claim. I have never and will never rape or sexually assault anybody.

The claim is false and has also been refuted by a witness who was present at the time of the allegation. Rape is a heinous and cowardly act, which I do not condone.

I’m ashamed and deeply apologetic for a series of tweets posted on social media 8 years ago.

Those tweets were irresponsible and ill-informed. I was younger and didn’t fully grasp the implications of making such statements. They are neither a reflection of who I am then, or now.

I sympathise & stand with all victims and survivors of rape. I do not take your trauma lightly. My heart goes out to the families of Uwazila, Ada, Farishina, and all other survivors who have courageously spoken about their abuse in recent times, may the Almighty heal your hearts.

It is my earnest prayer that the perpetrators be brought to book.

Once again, I sincerely apologise for those tweets, containing really stupid and insensitive statements; I take full responsibility, as I should have known better.

I can’t forgive myself for those dumb tweets. I am sorry. That’s not me! Rose

The House of Representatives has voted against a prayer seeking to recommend castration for rapists.

The House, at the plenary on Thursday, considered and adopted a motion on the rising cases of sexual violence in Nigeria.

A member, Mr James Faleke, had recommended that persons found guilty of rape should be castrated.

Just before the prayer was subjected to a voice vote, the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, however, asked what would happen to an older female who rapes a younger male.

The comment generated noise in the chamber, The PUNCH reports.

Putting the prayer to vote, the nays had it.

Details later…