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  • Jamb Announces Opening of Portal For Admission

    Jamb Announces Opening of Portal For Admission

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the opening of its portal for the institutions to upload names of shortlisted applicants for the 2020/2021 admission.

    This was announced by the board’s registrar, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, in Abuja on Tuesday, January 5, The Nation reports.

    According to the JAMB registrar, all the admission processes will go through the Central Admission Processing System (CAPS) for approval. JAMB registrar Ish-aq Oloyede announced the opening of portal for the 2020/2021 admissions.

    “Take note also that admission is not just for universities. There are polytechnics and colleges of education and except for the closure because of COVID-19, they are not affected by the strike.”

    Sale of forms not yet official

    Meanwhile, JAMB said it has not commenced the sale of forms for 2021 Unified Tertiary and Matriculation Examination (UTME).

    The examination body made this known on Monday, January 4, through a weekly bulletin of the office of the registrar.

    JAMB also warned the prospective candidates to be wary of the rumour mongers and fraudsters, adding that the clarification became necessary because of fake news.

    The examination board also attributed the delay in the sale of the form to the prevailing COVID-19 crisis in the country.

    JAMB, however, disclosed it would conclude arrangements soon on the sale of the form.

    Meanwhile, in a related development, JAMB has rewarded the five best performing tertiary institutions in the country with a total sum of N375 million for their outstanding performance.

  • UI Confirms Obaseki’s Certificate, Says Copy Submitted To INEC Incomplete

    UI Confirms Obaseki’s Certificate, Says Copy Submitted To INEC Incomplete

    Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki on Tuesday began the defence in the alleged certificate forgery suit against him by tendering originals copies of his academic certificates which were admitted in evidence by the Abuja division of the Federal High Court.

    This came as the University of Ibadan has confirmed to the Court that it issued a Bachelor of Arts certificate to him in 1979.

    The institution however said the photocopy the Governor submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is incomplete.

    The certificates admitted by Justice Ahmed Mohammed were First School Leaving Certificate obtained in 1971, Ordinary Level Certificate obtained in 1973, and his Higher School Certificate obtained in 1976.
    The rest were a Bachelor of Arts Degree Certificate issued by the University of Ibadan in 1979 and a Master’s Degree Certificate issued to him by the Pace University in New York, the United States in 1994.

    The documents were presented in court through his first witness, Charity Aguobawekhina who testified to their originality.

    Although lead counsel to the plaintiffs, Akin Olujimi (SAN), objected to the admissibility of the primary school certificate and original copy of the University of Ibadan degree certificate on the ground that they were not frontloaded, he however reserved his objections to his final written address.

    “My Lord, we are objecting to the original copy of the University of Ibadan degree certificate. It was not frontloaded. We reserve our full argument on the objection until our final address.

    “To be fair to the first defendant, we will not be objecting to the admissibility of the Pace University certificate”, Olujimi submitted.

    Speaking earlier under cross-examination, Mr. Aguobawekhina told the court that he was the one that photocopied Obaseki’s certificate that was attached to the nomination form that was submitted to INEC.

    He told the court that the photocopy was made from Obaseki’s original certificate.

    But when asked why the signature of the Registrar of the University of Ibadan and the date the certificate was issued did not reflect in the photocopy, the witness said: “It is true my lord that part of Exhibit D4 was not captured by the photocopier, ostensibly because the size of the original certificate is bigger than the A4 paper that was used.

    It was not only the date and signature of the Registrar that were cut off, but even the signature of the Vice-Chancellor also was not fully reproduced in the photocopy that was attached to the Form EC9 as it was not fully captured by the photocopying machine.

    “What was, however, captured by the photocopier was a direct reflection of the original copy of the certificate. It is not true that the photocopy of the University of Ibadan certificate of the first defendant attached to the Form EC9 was forged.

    “I did not forge the photocopy of the 1st Defendant’s degree certificate.

    “Apart from being a political associate of the first defendant, I double as his informal adviser on matters of this nature. So when he was going to Abuja to fill his Form EC9, I accompanied him.

    “So, while he was filling the Nomination Form, he asked me to make photocopies of all the documents attached to the said form, including Exhibit D4.

    “I made five copies each and attached one set of each to the form already filled by him. We then went to the FCT High Court Abuja where the first defendant deposed to an oath before the Commissioner of oath.

    “We then came back to the PDP Secretariat where the documents were submitted to the National Secretary of the party, who uploaded them to INEC server by scanning. I was there.
    “I did not know that the photocopy did not reflect all the parts of the certificate until it became an issue”, the witness stated, adding that Obaseki’s nomination form was uploaded into INEC’s portal on June 29, 2020.

    Meanwhile, the University, which was summoned through a subpoena issued on it by the court, said it was not true that Obaseki forged the certificate he attached to Form EC9 (Nomination Form) he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for the purpose of the gubernatorial election that held in the state on September 19, 2020.

    The University was represented in court by its Deputy Registrar Legal, Mr. Abayomi Ajayi on the strength of the subpoena that was served on the Registrar of the University.

    Asked under cross-examination to confirm that the copy Obaseki attached to the nomination form he submitted to INEC was forged, the witness said: “I will not regard it as forged, but I will regard it as an incomplete photocopy.”

    “This is because the certificate issued by the University is larger than the paper size on which the photocopy was done. In the process, the date of issue and signature of the Registrar, S. J. Okudu was cut off, likewise the signature of the then Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tekena Tamuno.”

    The witness further told the court that the Minister of State for Education had earlier forwarded Obaseki’s certificate to the school for verification.

    Ajayi equally said demonstrations the school carried out revealed that some part of the certificate was cut off, owing to the size of paper that was used.

    He thereafter tendered three different versions of a Bachelor of Arts degree belonging to another student, which the school photocopied in A3, A4 and A5 papers, to buttress the point.

    Daily Sun

  • Lagos Kicks off Community Policing With 1,250 Specially Trained Constabularies

    Lagos State government on Tuesday kicked off the much-anticipated community policing with the graduation of 1,250 specially trained Constabularies from the Police College, Ikeja.

    The graduates, pooled from parts of the state were made to go through a series of training which would equip them to be able to assist the police in combating crime.

    The state governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Chief of Staff, Chief Tayo Ayinde, said the ” issue of security and safety of lives and property has been a major source of concern, which requires deliberate and urgent attention by the government and the cooperation of all citizens.”

    ” In an attempt to address this challenge, there was a national consensus on the need to embrace community policing which has been identified as a potent strategy that will complement the efforts of the Nigeria Police to effectively combat crime and criminal activities,’ he said.

    “Today, major progress has been made towards making this initiative a reality. The passing out parade of 1,250 Special Constabulary officers who have undergone a series of training speciality designed to equip them with the skills required for the job is an indication of the commitment of
    the government to this initiative.

    I commend the state Commissioner of Police, the Commandant and everyone that has contributed to the successful execution of this initiative to this very crucial stage. ”

    The governor urged the recruits to be effective in discharging their duties one of which is intelligence gathering.

    “You must understand that you have been recruited to perform a very important job which is about improving the existing security architecture and making it more
    effective.

    Your major responsibility is to support the operations of the State Police Command through the provision of credible and timely intelligence on activities within the community which might result in perpetration of crime and threat to the safety of lives and property. ”

    Sanwo-Olu warned the graduates to “operate within the operational guidelines that have been given to you,” and urged Lagosians to “support this initiative by cooperating with these officers.”

    The Assistant Inspector-General of Police(AIG), Olasupo Babatunde Ajani, reminded the recruits “to work harmoniously and symbolically to protect lives and property thereby reducing crime and criminal activities to the barest minimum in Lagos State.”

    “You are expected to be a link and to build a good relationship between police and the general public. You are warned not to wear any other police uniform except for the black uniform issued to you. Do not wear blue or the camouflage uniform.”

  • Man Arrested for Defiling 13-year-old Daughter in Ogun

    A 45-year-old Man, Akanji Oluwaseyi, has been arrested by officers of Nigeria Police Force for forcefully having carnal knowledge of his 13-year-old daughter.

    The command let this out in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Abimbola Oyeyemi, who said the arrest was effected followed a complaint by the victim who reported at Obantoko divisional headquarters on the 30th of December, 2020 that her father came to the shop where she is a tailoring apprentice and begged her mistress to permit her to come and fetch water for him at home.

    She stated further that she left the shop and fetched water as requested by her father. But surprisingly, her father suddenly grabbed her and forcefully had carnal knowledge of her.

    On the strength of the report, the DPO Obantoko division, CSP Sunday Opebiyi detailed his detectives to the man’s house where he was promptly arrested.

    He initially denied the allegation but when he was confronted by the victim, he became dumbfounded.

    The victim was quickly taken to Olukoye hospital for medical attention.

    Meanwhile, the State Commissioner of Police, Edward Ajogun has ordered the immediate transfer of the case to anti-human trafficking and child labour unit of the State criminal investigation and intelligence department for further investigation.

  • Man Who Used Proceeds From Sales Of Human Parts To Drink Beer Arrested in Iwo

    A murder suspect, Tajudeen Monsuru, 30, involved in Iwo ritual killings has confessed that proceeds from sales of human parts are used to drink beer during his leisure hours.

    Fielding questions from journalists while he was paraded along with other suspected criminals at the State Police Command Headquarters in Osogbo, Osun State on Tuesday, he said he has two persons, including his girlfriend, Alani Mutiyat.

    He admitted to strangling his victims to death after gaining their trust.

    “We strangle our victims to death after gaining their trust. Most times, we sleep together at night and deep into the night strangle them before daybreak and cut their body into pieces for sales.

    “After selling their parts to clerics who need it, I use the proceed to enjoy myself and drink beer sometimes. I had killed my girlfriend before and one other young man brought to my place by Akeem. I don’t feel anything while killing them,” he said.

    Meanwhile one of his accomplice, Hamzat Akeem, 25, who confessed to luring his friend, Gafari, to Monsuru’s place, where he was strangled to death said he was given N5000 for the role, while Awayewasere Yusuf, 37, claimed he bought a human head for money-making at the rate of N20,000.

    Also, Lukman Garuba, 31 said he bought human flesh from Monsuru for a money-making ritual at the cost of N2,000.

    Earlier, the State Police Commissioner, Olawale Olokode disclosed that the command rescued seven persons kidnapped by unknown gunmen in two separate kidnapping operations in the state.

    He disclosed that the two separate kidnapping operations took place on December 29 and 30, 2020.

    According to him, in the December 30 incident, 12 passengers traveling to Offa, Kwara State en route Osun in a Volkswagen bus were kidnapped at Asi, along Oyan road in Odo-Otin Local Government Area of the state around 5 pm.

    He said the kidnappers later released 6 victims while the remaining six were held captives while their families were contacted for ransom.

    However, a combined team of Anti-kidnapping, Joints Task Force and other vigilante group combed the forest areas in the town forcing the kidnappers to release the six victims while two kidnap suspects, Idris Quadri, 25 and Okanlawon Quadri, 28 were arrested by the team on Friday, January 1, 2021.

    Similarly, on Tuesday, December 29, 2020, a family of five traveling from Abuja to Lagos State were kidnapped by seven suspected herdsmen bearing AK47 rifles and cutlasses at Igbelajewa area of Ijebu-Jesa around 9:30 pm.

    “Four of the victims were released to inform the family members of the incident, while a suspect was whisked away into the bush. The suspects later through a phone call demanded ransom but the intensive effort of the police and other vigilante group forced the kidnappers to release the victim, but there is no arrest yet.

    “However, the combined effort of Anti-kidnapping units of the police, Joints Task Force and another vigilante group at forest areas in Oyan led to the arrest of two suspects while effort has been intensified to arrest other suspects”, said Olokode.

    Also, one Mariam Musa was paraded for poisoning her co-wife’s 3-year-old son, Rokeeb on Saturday, December 26, 2020.

    Mariam, who was pregnant and the first wife said her husband, Musa showered more love on the second wife and her son than he did to her because she had no male child.

    According to her, we use to eat from the same plate but now he has been treating me with disdain because I didn’t have a male child that is why I poisoned the child because I became very jealous but I didn’t mean to kill him.

    However, the police said the child was taken to Muslim Hospital, Ede where he later died on Thursday, December 31, 2020.

    Vanguard

  • 731 Batch ‘B’ NYSC Members Test Positive for COVID-19

    731 Batch ‘B’ NYSC Members Test Positive for COVID-19

    The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 has revealed that 731 members of Batch B National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) have tested positive for COVID-19.

    The chairman, PTF on COVID-19, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, stated this at the national briefing on COVID-19 on Tuesday in Abuja.

    According to him, in continuation of the NYSC engagement, the PTF has conducted the testing of batch B corps members using RDTs. Out of the 35,419 in Batch B, 731 tested positive compared to the 108 recorded in Batch A.

    “It is on record that cases were recorded from corps members from every state of the federation,” he said.

    The PTF chairman said “there is also a rising rate of infections among healthcare workers and this calls for the escalation of surveillance.

    “In Africa, Nigeria has joined South Africa in reporting the highest daily infection cases.

    “​As at date, the statistics for Nigeria shows the following: Cumulative cases: 91,351; Cumulative Tests: 958,911; Deaths: 1,318 and Week 53 recorded 57 deaths which is the highest for any single week since we started,” he said.

    Mustapha further stated that “We are pleased to inform you that the private sector – CACOVID has commenced supporting our response with 100 oxygen cylinders per day, till the end of March 2021, for distribution to critical care centres in Abuja.

    ” Furthermore, approval has been given to rehabilitate five oxygen plants across various tertiary health institutions in Abuja. The President has also approved that at least one oxygen plant should be established in each state of the federation immediately,” he said.

    On vaccines, he stated that ” the PTF is progressing on the issue of accessing vaccines for Nigerians and that additional information would be provided to Nigerians on accelerated vaccines introduction and deployment plan.

    “What is currently confronting us is a critical phase of infections globally. We are constantly reviewing our strategy to emerging situations especially in risk communication, vaccine hesitancy, fake news/disinformation,” he further said.

    On sanctioning of defaulting passengers, the PTF said it “has commenced the sanctions on passengers who defaulted on day-7 post-arrival tests.

    “Their passport numbers have been published and travel restriction imposed for a period of six months effective from Jan. 1, 2021.

    ” The PTF has generated over 20,000 inbound passengers that have also defaulted. The publication will continue weekly till it is exhausted.

    “​Nigerians should be aware that every defaulter is a threat to public health which is unacceptable to us and represents a drawback to the National Response. We have a duty to advise our relations, friends, associates to comply with laid down rules,” he added.

  • Woman Bags ‘Man Of The Year’ Award in Imo

    A former Oxfam Country Director in Nigeria, Lesley Agams, has been given “Man of The Year” award in Umuaka, a community in Imo state.

    Umuaka Times declared Lesley Agams the Man of the Year for Umuaka community in recognition of her “intervention programs in building the capacity of Umuaka women.”

    A woman has never held the title until now.

    Agams moved to her town in Imo state to aid development in the state and is now getting recognised for it.

  • NERC Approves Review of Electricity Tariff

    The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has approved a minor review of electricity tariff for Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), increasing electricity cost for consumers under the franchise area.

    IBEDC franchise area includes Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Kwara and parts of Niger, Ekiti and Kogi states.

    NERC in an order (NERC/225/2020) signed by its Chairman, Sanusi Garba and Commissioner Legal, Licensing and Compliance, Dafe Akpeneye on December 31, 2020, said the new tariff order took effect January 1, 2021 and will exist until a new order is made.

    A copy of the order seen by Vanguard showed that the tariff increases will commence from July 1, 2021.

    According to the order, tariff for customers in Band A (minimum supply of 20hrs daily) will increase by N6.85 to N69.18/kwh, a 10.98 percent rise.

    Also from July 1, tariff for customers in Band B (minimum supply of 16hrs daily) will increase by 13.1 percent (N7.65) to N66.04/kwh from the present N58.9/kwh. For customers in Band C (minimum supply of 12hrs daily), the increase is 29.13 percent (N14.19) to N62.92/kwh).

    The highest tariff increase will be for consumers in Band D (minimum supply of 8hrs daily) with 121.5 percent (N32.79) hike to N55.76/kwh from N26.97/kwh.

    NERC explained that the review was necessary following changes in inflation rate, foreign exchange rate, available generation, gas price, collection losses from ministries, departments and agencies of government, and Capex adjustments.

    On service improvement by the utility, NERC ordered that “IBEDC shall be liable for service improvements in accordance with commitments under its universal service obligations for providing electricity supply to customers.

    “Subsequent retroactive review of IBEDC’s tariffs during Minor Tariff Reviews shall be based on the IBEDC’s MYTO load allocation of the grid total energy delivered to all DisCos in line with the vesting contract executed by IBEDC and NBET”.

    The commission added that “where there is a failure to deliver on committed service level by IBEDC as measured over a period of 60 days, rates payable by all customers in the affected load cluster shall be retroactively adjusted in line with the quality of service delivered over the same period, upon verification by the Commission”

  • Polytechnic Staff Begins 14-Day Warning Strike

    The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics, SSANIP, has embarked on a 14-day warning strike starting from Jan. 4 to press home their demands.

    The directives to embark on the strike is contained in a release signed by the Acting National Secretary of the association, Comrade Emmanuel Enyiegor on Monday in Calabar.

    The association said that the reason for the warning strike was occasioned by the constant neglect of the demands of the association by federal and state governments, in spite of several efforts made.

    “This is to bring to the attention of all the members that the General Executive Council had on Dec. 17 2020, approved the commencement of 14-day warning strike with effect from Jan. 4.

    “Members are by this notice directed to refrain from going to office from Monday, Jan. 4, 2021.

    “We demand the immediate re-evaluation and implementation of NEEDS assessment report and release of funds for the Polytechnic sector without further delay.

    “We demand the complete payment of salaries and arrears of minimum wage for staff in the Polytechnic sector starting from the period of implementation in April 2019.

    “We demand the release of a scheme of service for Polytechnics immediately. This has been put on hold by the National Board for Technical Education for three years without any concrete explanation,” the release stated.

    The Association, however, expressed displeasure with the state governments of Benue, Cross River, Abia, Ondo, Ogun, Osun and Kano for their refusal to non-payment of correct outstanding salaries to staff of the Polytechnics and Colleges of Health.

    “The union decries the nonchalant attitude of the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System to issues of SSANIP as regards salaries of members.

    “We demand the constitution of Governing Councils in all federal and state Polytechnics,” the release stated.

    Vanguard

  • How Man Gruesomely Murdered 17-year-old Boy For Ritual in Bauchi

    The Bauchi State Police Command have arrested a 22-year-old suspect Musa Hamza for the gruesome ritual murder of a 17-year-old boy, Adamu Ibrahim.

    Spokesperson of the command, DSP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, who confirmed the incident in a statement on Monday, January 4, 2021, said that detectives of Alkaleri Divisional Police Headquarters, arrested Musa Hamza, of Unguwar wake village, Alkaleri L.G.A on December 21, 2020.

    “Musa Hamza lured Adamu Ibrahim, of the same address, into the outskirt of the village forest and killed him with a stick. He beheaded the head from the body, forcefully gouged out the two eyes, burnt the body/head and buried them separately in a shallow grave located in the nearby bush,” Wakil stated.

    “During investigation, all the buried human parts were exhumed and taken to General Hospital Alkaleri for medical examination where the medical doctor certified the corpse death,” he added.

    Upon interrogation, the two eyes were recovered from the principal suspect, who voluntarily confessed to have committed the crime and was asked by a ritualist to bring the eyes for ritual to enable him to be rich.

    Exhibits recovered from the suspect include one Knife, one mp3 player, one pair of rubber shoe, one lighter.

    Investigation is on-going after which suspects will be charged to court for prosecution and possible conviction.