The Senate Committee on Interior, on Wednesday, increased the daily feeding allowance of the Nigerian Correctional Service from its current N450 per person to a minimum of N1,000 per day.
Officials of the NCS were in the Senate on Wednesday to defend the 2022 budget of the agency.
They proposed an increment of the daily feeding allowance to N750 but the panel which described the amount as grossly inadequate jerked it up to N1,000 in line with the current economic reality.
The committee pledged to undertake an upward review of inmates’ feeding cost from N450 to N1000 per day.
A member of the committee, Senator Betty Apiafi, moved the motion for the increment and she was collectively supported by all members of the panel.
She argued that the amount was grossly inadequate to feed the inmates.
Apiafi said, “You are dealing with adults. How can they survive with that amount? When you send convicts to prisons, instead of reforming them, they become more hardened because of they way they are treated, particularly food.”
The Chairman assured that the committee would make adequate provisions for the feeding of the inmates.
Meanwhile, the panel said it would meet with the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, the Nigerian Bar Association and other stakeholders over the decongestion of custodial centres and the situation of awaiting trial inmates.
The chairman of the committee, Senator Kashim Shettima, said there are 66,000 inmates in custodial centres across the country, out of which 47,000 are awaiting trials.
He said the situation has resulted in congestion of the centres nationwide.
The lawmaker added that decongesting the custodial centres has become imperative to make them habitable and truly reform the inmates.
He said, “We have 66,000 inmates in the custodial cetres across the country, and that 47,559 of them had not been convicted (awaiting trials).”
He said, “We can really solve this issue with required synergy with all the stakeholders, the judiciary, the legislature and the executive.
“We can easily decongest the prison and make it habitable and a place that will truly reform Nigerians, not to transform them into hardened criminals.”
On the fortification of correctional centres against jailbreak, Shettima said: “This is something we emphasised. There are certain security issues that cannot be discussed in the open. But is it an issue we are squarely addressing.”
No fewer than ten communities in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State have been attacked by armed bandits within a week.
The names of the villages affected were given as Yanbuki, Bindin, Kadamutsa, Gidan Zago, Marmaro, Dada, Maduba, Kacha, Huhu, Dangasamu, Hushin Dusti.
According to some members of the affected communities, many villagers have been forced to desert their homes due to fear of constant attacks.
A villager told our correspondent that many people have already fled from the areas to places where they feel they would be more secure like Kaura Namoda town, Zurmi town and Gusau the state capital.
“More than fifty people have been abducted by the bandits since last Sunday and the bandits have threatened to either kill or kidnap anyone found in these villages”
“In spite of the security measures implemented by the state government, the bandits continue to move around freely within these villages threatening people and forcing them to run helter-skelter”
When contacted, Zamfara Police Command’s spokesman, SP Mohammed Shehu confirmed the incident, saying that armed policemen have been deployed by the Police Commissioner to continue with the patrol and surveillance of the affected areas.
Cross, Big Brother Naija, BBNaija season 6 housemate, has come under attack after he accidents posted a video of his private part on social media.
Cross had shared the video on Snapchat.
This came as a surprise to some of his fans who expressed disappointment in him while others encouraged him.
Some Nigerians were of the opinion that the video was shared intentionally as a publicity stunt.
This is coming days after Maria was dragged online for allegedly sleeping with a married man and threatening his wife.
Here are some comments gathered by DAILY POST from Twitter;
@kusssman “ Bro the housemates of the recently concluded BBNaija are doing more than enough to stay relevant. What was that video Cross posted.”
@Jaystifla “ Why is everything getting leaked and exposed on Snapchat?
@AsiwajuLerry “ These new set of BBNaija celebrities are ready to do anything for Fame and relevance even if it compromises their morals. Cross really fall my hand chai.”
@Moleculeboy “ It is you thinking he posted it for clout stop judging people based on what you think you would do or your moral compass. You never supported Cross before so pick your hand that fell.”
@Mmamandy “Cross those who truly love you will always stand by you come rain come shine.
Just know that you’re not a god that’s above mistakes because you’re human with all kinds of flaws. I will always love and cherish you no matter what.”
@PresidentHoodlum “ This week alone, Maria challenged another man’s wife, Cross now has posted his pen*s on the internet What kind of Big Brother Naija set is this?
@Tife_fabunmi “Cross probably wanted to send the video to someone and mistakenly posted it, it can’t be intentional.”
@IamNvestor “When I said Cross has nothing to offer other than his weird Sexual vibes and Drunken Master Moves, they said I was hating. Well here we are now your Pervert keeps on Giving.”
@Precious “ Cross is not perfect, he is flawed, that Snapchat video was a mistake. I won’t drag or hate him because of a mistake. I will continue loving him no matter. Don’t expect me to unstan him. Cross I hope you are not sulking or thinking about it.”
@Alwayysmummy “Get angry, feel disappointed that’s fine. But for me I rather feel bad for him.. Cross already told us he’s a human being who is flawed. We all make mistakes. Who in their right mind would do this intentionally? Like seriously who?
@Melanin_goddess “If it was a lady that went naked like Cross did we won’t hear the end of it from fellow women. They’ll give 1001 reasons why she’s the cause of men sexualizing women and possibly global warming. But see them laughing and fantasizing over Cross. Woke generation!
A leading Candidate for the November 6th Governorship elections in Anambra State Senator Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah has described as laughable the suggestion from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) camp that he has concluded plans to collapse his campaign in the Chukwuma Soludo Campaign.
Ubah suggested that the claim which he described as false was borne out of Soludo’s desperation to be Governor.
Describing the suggestion as laughable and childish the Young Progressives Party Candidate stated that he is already matching to victory.
In a statement signed by the Director Media and Publicity of the Senator Dr Patrick Ifenayi Ubah Campaign Organization Hon Kamen Chuks Ogbonna stated that Ubah remains the only candidate that has toured the 21 Local Government Areas of Anambra State.
According to him “Our attention has been drawn to mischievous and misleading speculations, by some APGA agents since yesterday suggesting that Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, the candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) has collapsed his structure to the dying ruling party in the State, APGA .
“Such speculation is laughable, childish and another resort to worn out political gimmick and shenanigan by APGA, as Senator Ifeanyi Ubah is already marching to victory under the banner of YPP, which enjoys overwhelming support in all the nooks and crannies of Anambra state” he added.
Ogbonna noted that “Indeed, nothing can be further from the truth as every sensible son and daughter of Anambra State already knows that such speculation by APGA agents is just a pipe dream given the level of commitment that the Distinguished Senator has displayed since the race for the governorship election in the state commenced.
“It is on record that Senator Ubah, till date has been the only contender in the race that has toured the entire 21 Local Governments Areas in the State and also took his campaign to our people residing in over five states in the United States Of America, Lagos, Abuja among others” he said.
Ogbonna pointed out that “It is also pertinent to note that the Senator Ubah entered into a pact with Ndi Anambra at all the places visited and staked his numerous investments in the state as social contract collateral to back his promises.
“It is indeed to our utmost dismay, that the embattled candidate of APGA, Professor Soludo who was accompanied by Chief Victor Umeh and Chief Ben Obi (Mbuze Agulu) on their fund solicitation visit to Chief Arthur Eze, allowed his media team to peddle lies against Senator Ubah despite his strict warning to them not to indulge in such in addition to his initial refusal to take pictures with them on the suspicion that they will do exactly what they did yesterday given their antecedents.
Ogbonna further said “We therefore call on Ndi Anambra who are already thoroughly traumatised by quantum of lies and propaganda that the APGA media team has churned out in the last 7 years of its administration, to as usual ignore this present antics and stay focused on their choice candidate, Senator Ubah ahead of the November 6th Election.
“It is indeed a thing of great shame that a ruling party had in the past trended series of lies ranging from Ugu export that never was, to thousands of unimplemented M.O.Us, non-existent mobile CCTV cameras that only catch imaginary thieves while insecurity reigns supreme in the state, to ariel pictures of beautiful cities taken from (only God knows where ), and passed off as Awka city even while the entire State wallows in infrastructural decay and system collapse.
“We will like to use this opportunity to call on the APGA to stop peddling lies , propaganda and useless banters, but rather concentrate on selling their candidate to the electorate.We find it appalling that in less than two weeks alone , the social Media has carried news of the Senator joining the APC and the APGA .
“We know that Senator Ifeanyi Ubah is a huge asset, a beautiful bride and one coveted by the so called big parties, but the fact remains that he is presently focused on his drive to change the old political order that has brought so much suffering to our people and trigger massive grassroot development in the State.
“We hereby sound a firm note of warning to the APGA media team to desist from seeking credibility and validation by attaching the Senator’s name to their fading and already deflated APGA.
We also urge all members of the YPP and our teeming supporters across Anambra state not to be distracted by the APGA gimmick to remain focused as we march to victory on November 6.”” He added.
The shocker suit filed by Anambra born politician and activist Ifeanyi Okonkwo has thrown the camps of the affected guber candidates in fear.
This is even as the Awka Federal High Court adjourned the case to November 16.
The case which came up Tuesday was adjourned to give time for all parties to be served.
The suit which is challenging the nomination of the for leading candidates may go a long way in deciding the next governor of Anambra.
Okonkwo is seeking to disqualify four politcial parties and their candidates from participating in the November 6 guber elections.
Those dragged to court include APGA and its candidate Chukwuma Soludo, APC and Andy Uba, YPP and Senator Ifeanyi Uba as well as PDP and Chief Valentine Ozigbo.
Also joined in the suit are the Anambra Resident Electoral Commissioner as wellp as0 the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC.
In the matter with Suit No: Fhc/Awk/Cs//71/2021 Okonkwo, a former Governoship candidate is seeking an order disqualifying the four candidates from contesting the November 6, 2021 Anambra Governoship election.
He is also seeking an order of mandatory injunction mandating INEC to delist the defendants and bar them from presentmemt and participation in the November 6 electiion.
“An order of declaration that the information contained in the affidavit presented by the four candidates to INEC Form CF 001 and other details on the nomination is false and misrepresentation of facts about their personal particulars or information of candidates.
The plaintiff is further seeking an order pursuant to Section 31(6) of the Electoral Act, 2010(as ammended) disqualifying the 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th Defendants as candidates from contesting the Anambra election.
Okonkwo, a registered voter says he is aggrieved by “the flagrant violations of the Electoral Act (2010) (as ammended) and the Nigerian constitution by the defendants.
In his statement of Claim, Okonkwo faulted the extension to the tenure of the Buni led APC Caretaker Committee after the first six months as it was not done by the NWC.
“It is on record that the appointing body, the APC National Worling Committee never met again to extend the tenure of the caretaker. And acts carried out by the body has not been determined by any court.
“That the APC acting National Chairman, Mai Buni, is aware that as Executive Governor of Yobe State, he shall not during his current period in office hold any other executive office or paid employment in any capacity. “But he sat at the helm of affairs of the APC Anambra guber primary that purportedly took place on 26/6/2021.
“That the Governor/National Chairman of APC submitted and signed the nomination of Senator Andy Uba as APC candidate for the November 6 Anambra election.
“That INEC in its report stated that APC did not hold Governoship primary election on 26/6/2021 at the date, venues and time it notified the Commission.
‘That INEC failed to comply with the Electoral Act when it Published Senator Andy Uba and the APC among the list of candidates notwithstanding the INEC report against the APC.
“That both APC and Andy Uba are unfit legally and constitutionally to participate further in the process of the November 6 Anambra Governoship election.”
For APGA, Okonkwo noted that the party did not hold special Congress in each of the Local Government Areas as stipulated by the Electoral Act.
“The party rather gathered all the four aspirants at the Late Dora Akunyili Women Development Center, Awka, in their illegal and unconstitutional party Governoship primary.”
He also argued that as a member of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council, Prof Chukwuma Soludo ought to have resigned his appointment.
He described the Council as a statutory tenured position recorgnized under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Section 151 (1).
“As a member of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council Prof Soludo is a public officer up till the 23/6/2021 when he contested as the winner of APGA, Anambra State Governoship candidate.”
For Ifeanyi Ubah and YPP, Okonkwo argued that a Lawmaker at the state or National Assembly seeking nomination for governor ought to resign or take leave of absence.
“That a member of the National Assembly aspiring to contest in party primary election for Governoship candidate, a statutory office tenured as the membership of State National and State Assemblies, which is constructively and constitutionally different from standing for re election in National or State Assemblies is mandatorily required to either resign, withdraw or retire from such parliamentary positions; or take leave of absence without pay at least 30 days before standing for the party Governoship primary.”
Ifeanyi Okonkwo is also challenging PDP’s nomination process which threw up Chief Valentine Ozigbo insisting that the process contravenes sections of the Electoral Law.
A Nigerian pilot, Jibril Adamu, 58, and his counterpart from the United States of America, Jean-Claude Okongo Landji, 58, are awaiting sentencing after a US jury returned guilty verdicts against them on Monday for conspiring to traffic cocaine to West Africa.
The pilots were charged for using a private jet to traffic five kilograms and more of cocaine on board an aircraft from South America to West Africa.
They were found guilty of one count of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine with a United States citizen on board any aircraft or registered in the United States, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
In October 2018, Landji and Adamu were arrested while conducting a test shipment and flew the G2 private jet from Mali to Croatia with one kilogram of cocaine on board after members of the Croatian National Police investigating the duo in coordination with the DEA searched the G2 following their arrival in Croatia.
Gulfstream G2 private jet owned by Landji, was a United States-registered aircraft whose pilots planned to distribute multi-ton quantities of cocaine in South America, Africa, Europe, and elsewhere, a court document revealed.
According to the document – as reflected in the Indictment and the evidence presented at trial – the duo in 2017 planned to use the G2 and other aircraft “black flight” – unregistered and untraceable – figuratively flying under the radar with multi-thousand kilogram loads of cocaine from South America to West Africa to be unloaded at clandestine airstrips, including landing sites in the Sahara desert.
After the cocaine was off-loaded in Africa, the indictment stated that Adamu and his co-pilot planned to use Landji’s aviation business, incorporated in the state of Georgia, as cover for cocaine smuggling flights to Europe and elsewhere.
“Landji agreed to use his company to arrange seemingly legitimate passenger “VIP” flights to Europe for which Adamu would serve as a pilot while concealing multi-ton quantities of cocaine hidden onboard for further distribution in European countries,” Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York disclosed.
Adam and his co-conspirator further sought to evade the scrutiny of the DEA and U.S. law enforcement to avoid the U.S. justice system.
In their recorded meeting, Landji agreed to traffic cocaine by aircraft with a co-conspirator, Adamu who warned, “if you put one kilo on a plane that has the American registration, it’s the same thing as putting it . . . in the middle of . . . Madison Square Garden in New York. The same offence in the US justice system.”
No fewer than seven villagers have been killed in an attack on Yanbuki community in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State by suspected armed bandits.
According to an eyewitness from the village, the bandits started shooting immediately they stormed the area, neutralizing scores of people in the village.
“The bandits were moving from house to house throughout the night, burgling shops as they went away with people’s goods and foodstuffs”, he said.
He further noted that the deceased have since been buried.
According to the source, throughout the dastardly operation, no security personnel was around to salvage the ugly situation.
Lamenting the rustling of over 500 cows and 1500 sheep as well as other valuables, the source further said, “Since when the telecommunication network services were blocked this was the second attack by the bandits in Yanbuki community.”
When contacted, Zamfara Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Mohammed Shehu, confirmed the incident, saying the command was aware of the security threats in Zurmi Local Government Area of the state.
He added that the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ayuba Elkanah, has already deployed seven operational vehicles loaded with armed policemen to the area to restore peace.
An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday sentenced a 32-year-old herder, Muhammadu Abubakar, to life imprisonment for attempted murder.
Abubakar was tried and found guilty on two counts of attempted murder and unlawful possession of firearms.
The charge read in part, “On April 9, 2019, at Aba Cotonou, Omu Ekiti, in the Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State, the defendant did attempt to murder one Chief Samuel Amaa and others. Found in his possession were a gun and cartridges on the same day.”
The police prosecutor, Taiwo Ajibulu, said the offences were contrary to and punishable under Section 320 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap. C16 Laws of Ekiti State, 2012, and Section 3 (1) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act, Cap.R11, Vol.14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The prosecutor called four witnesses.
A witness, in his testimony before the court, said, “The defendant was challenged while grazing on the cassava farm; he was angry for being questioned. He pulled out his gun and fired at the people who challenged him, but they were fortunate it (the bullet) missed them.
“He was later overpowered by residents while trying to escape, following which he was handed over to the police.”
Exhibits tendered included a gun, live cartridges and statements among others.
The judge, Justice Adekunle Adeleye, in his verdict, stated, “The defendant is found guilty as charged. On count one, he is sentenced to life imprisonment, and 10 years imprisonment on count two.”
Ahead of the November 6 governorship poll in Anambra, the Inspector-General of Police, Baba Usman, has ordered a major overhaul of the security architecture in the state.
He has consequently dispatched the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Force Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Department, Joseph Egbunike as the coordinator of the election security in the state.
Egbunike will be assisted by ‘seasoned strategic commanders’ from the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police and above for effective supervision of security personnel and operations in the elections.
The commanders include five Assistant Inspectors -General of Police, 14 Commissioners of Police, 31 Deputy Commissioners of Police and 48 ACPs.
This was contained in a statement in Abuja, on Tuesday, by the Force spokesman, Frank Mba, titled, ‘Anambra election: IGP overhauls security landscape ahead of poll.’
It stated, “DIG Egbunike is saddled with the responsibility of overseeing the implementation of the Operation Order evolved from the Election Security Threat Assessment, to ensure a peaceful environment devoid of violence and conducive enough to guarantee that law-abiding citizens freely perform their civic responsibilities without molestation or intimidation.
“Egbunike will be assisted by the DIG in-charge of Operations, Acting DIG Zaki Ahmed. Other strategic commanders deployed in Anambra State include five Assistant Inspectors -General of Police, 14 Commissioners of Police, 31 Deputy Commissioners of Police and 48 Assistant Commissioners of Police.
“The senior officers are to coordinate human and other operational deployments in the three Senatorial Districts, 21 Local Government Areas and the 5,720 polling units in Anambra State.”
The reported overhaul is coming against the backdrop of threat by the Indigenous People of Biafra to disrupt the poll if its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who is currently facing criminal prosecution for demanding Biafra Republic, was not released by November 4.
IPOB, which is enforcing a weekly stay-at-home in the South-East every Monday, also said it would announce a daily stay-at-home from November 4, if its demand was not met.
But Baba was quoted as calling on the electorates in the state to come out en masse and exercise their franchise “as adequate security has been emplaced to protect them before, during and after the elections.”
The statement said, “The IGP reassures the nation that the force is adequately prepared for the gubernatorial election in Anambra State come November 6, 2021.
“He reiterates that the force will do everything within its powers to work with the Independent National Electoral Commission and all stakeholders to protect democratic values, provide level playing field for all political actors, ensure adequate protection of voters, INEC personnel and equipment, accredited observers and other key players in Anambra State.”
Former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Lamido Sanusi, said on Tuesday that petrol imports figures were inflated by NNPC and marketers.
This he said was when global oil prices went up during the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan and the regime of the current President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.)
Sanusi, who spoke on Tuesday at a panel session during the 27th National Economic Summit in Abuja, said the subsidy on petrol was responsible for the inflated figures.
Until May 2016, when the Federal Government announced a new petrol price band of N135 to N145 per litre of petrol, private marketers imported petrol into the country and were paid subsidy claims by the government in order to keep the pump price lower than the expected open market price of the product.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, which has been the sole importer of petrol into the country in recent years, has been bearing the subsidy cost. It does the importation through the Direct Purchase Direct Sale arrangement.
Under the DSDP scheme, selected overseas refiners, trading companies and indigenous companies are allocated crude supplies in exchange for the delivery of an equal value of petrol and other refined products to the NNPC.
Sanusi said, “I have said this over and over again, and when I say this, I want it to be clear that I said this when I was governor of the central bank under the previous government. What I say is not about a particular government.
“In 2015 or 2016, Minister Kachikwu came out and said Nigeria was importing 30 million litres of fuel a day after eliminating corruption and having transparency. In 2019, the NNPC came out and said we were importing 59 million litres per day after oil prices have gone up. And I have been asking the question: what happened between 2015 and 2019 that our consumption doubled?
“This was the same thing that happened under the previous government; in Nigeria, when the oil price goes up – unlike all other products when it gets more expensive, you have a reduction in demand – the NNPC says we are importing more. Why because as the price of oil goes up, the arbitrage between the subsidised price and the market price is so high; there is an incentive to inflate those numbers.”
The NNPC, in the latest monthly report on its website, said a total of 1.67 billion litres of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol), translating to 55.79 million litres per day were supplied in April.
Sanusi said, “I have produced evidence before the National Assembly historically of cases where the NNPC would say we have imported fuel, use the name of a vessel – people say they imported fuel; you go and check and the vessel was nowhere near Nigeria on the day they said it was in Lagos, and people have collected subsidy on those things.
“For me, all the drawbacks of this regime, what it is costing Nigeria is not just the cost of subsidy; it is the cost of the corruption. What we need to do is to scrap it.”
The ex-CBN boss added, “This money coming from petroleum belongs to the federation account; the Federal Government does not have the constitutional right to pay subsidy on behalf of the federation.
“So, that is a fundamental constitutional issue because this is money that should go to the federal, state and local governments. Yet money that belongs to the federation is carried out as a central government expenditure. So, you can see so many complex issues – there are legal and economic issues. What we need to do is stop this thing.”
