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Former Governor of Enugu State, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, has made a public appeal to the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, to withdraw his petition against the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He urged Obi to join him in the task of making a new nation and align with the ebullience and conviviality of welcoming Tinubu's victory to the Office of the President of the greatest black nation on earth.

Obi had filed a petition to challenge the victory of Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress in the 25 February election. Obi, who came third in the election, alleged that the election was characterized by various irregularities, including the non-qualification of Tinubu and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima, to contest the election. Obi also stated that Tinubu failed to win the majority of the lawful votes cast in the election and just as he could not secure one-quarter of the legal votes cast in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

In response to Obi's petition, Nnamani said that Obi knows he has neither the spread nor national appeal to win the Presidential election, and what he is doing with the petition is "bad belle, petulance and demarketing." Nnamani believes that Obi's petition is ego-driven and a joke carried too far. His attempt to highlight non-electoral issues is trying to embarrass the President-elect.

Nnamani advised Obi to come down from his high horse to allow sedate minds to negotiate on behalf of the Igbo and South East for a safe landing to include their stake in the national Palavar and share of the accruals of the commonwealth. He believes that it's time for the Igbo to confront reality and align themselves with the mainstream to participate in making a new Nigeria. They cannot afford to be consigned to the backwoods of history.

Above all, Nnamani's public appeal to Obi to withdraw his petition against the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is a call for unity and national development. He believes that the Igbo and South East can only bargain for their share of the accruals of the commonwealth by aligning themselves with the mainstream and participating in making a new Nigeria. It's time for the Igbo to confront reality and join the task of making a new nation.

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has accused certain politicians of using politics to create discord among Nigerians. During a visit to Onitsha to celebrate the Sallah holiday with the Muslim community, Obi donated food and beverages to them while praying to Allah to accept their fasting and sacrifices and grant them a good life. He reiterated that Nigerians are one and that divisive politicians who want to reap where they did not sow try to divide citizens along tribal and religious lines.

Obi emphasized that the only thing that divides Nigerians is politics, as some politicians engage in divisive campaigns to secure votes during elections. He noted that he has never discriminated against anyone on the basis of religion and will never do so, citing his business that is run by a northerner from Kano who is doing well. He called for unity and brotherhood among all Nigerians, irrespective of tribe or religion, and urged politicians to avoid using politics to divide the people.

Obi, who served as the governor of Anambra State, recounted how he rebuilt a mosque that was demolished at some point during his tenure and assured members of the Muslim community that they are part of the state and that no one can stop them from living there and carrying out their businesses. He added that he lives in Onitsha and is available to help in the areas of healthcare and education, which he is passionate about.

The Chief Imam of Onitsha Central Mosque, Alhaji Abdulraman Imam, commended Obi for being the only governor in the state who visited members of the Muslim community at every celebration to felicitate with them. He highlighted Obi's commitment to rebuilding the mosque and sponsoring many members of the community to Mecca, even though he is a Christian. The secretary and spokesperson of the Hausa community in Onitsha, Barr Mahmud Imam, also conveyed the community's support for Obi, stating that they voted for him in the past and would continue to pray for his success because his capacity to lead is not in doubt.

Peter Obi's visit to the Muslim community in Onitsha to celebrate the Sallah holiday underscores the need for unity and brotherhood among Nigerians. His call for politicians to avoid using politics to sow seeds of discord and his commitment to promoting education and healthcare are vital for the growth and development of the country. Obi's past actions, such as rebuilding the mosque and sponsoring members of the Muslim community to Mecca, show that he is a leader who is committed to the well-being of all Nigerians, irrespective of tribe or religion.

In recent years, Nigeria has increased its agricultural produce exports to Europe, America, Asia and other African countries. Exporting agricultural products now accounts for almost 80% of Nigeria's total exports, with a total of N598.2bn worth of agricultural products exported in 2022 alone. This figure accounts for an 18.5% increase compared to 2021. 

Europe has become a particularly important market for Nigerian exporters. In Q4 2022, Spain, The Netherlands, India, France and Indonesia were the major export markets. The federal government's efforts to encourage both production and exports have contributed to the surge in shipments to the developed world. 

One factor that has played a significant role in increasing Nigeria's export earnings is the establishment of the Nigeria Customs Export Processing Command in Ijora, Lagos, which has become a one-stop-shop for agro-export. Within three months of operation, the command processed non-oil exports with a total tonnage of 118,184.96. It processed export goods worth N86.426bn, including cocoa beans, cashew nuts, sesame seeds, hibiscus flower, soya beans and ginger. 

Nigeria's quest to increase its export earnings received a significant boost in the fourth quarter of 2022 with the role of the new export terminal. The Lilypond Export Command, despite being a new command, recorded some major achievements, including a drastic reduction in delay in export processing, which has made the business of export effective and efficient. It has also reduced congestion along the access roads to the port and inside the port terminals, giving space for import containers, which has led to a reduced cost of export business. It has also reduced the issue of contract cancellation and the issue of pilfering of cargo has been eliminated.

Cocoa beans top the list on the export chart, followed by cashew nuts, sesame seeds, hibiscus flowers, soya beans and ginger. There has been a growing demand for Nigeria-made cosmetics and furniture by countries in the West Africa sub-region. The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) provided the data on export to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which shows that Nigeria exported N5.76tn worth of items in 2021, which increased by 23.13% in the first quarter of 2022, while imports declined by 0.67%.

This surge in Nigeria's agro-produce exports is a welcome development for the country, as it could be a significant boost to the country's economic growth. The government's efforts to encourage both production and exports should continue to support the sector, and initiatives like the new export terminal should be encouraged to drive the continued growth of Nigeria's agro-produce exports. 

The Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, has announced the temporary closure of the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, following the collapse of a floodlight mast. Dare disclosed this in a statement after inspecting the affected floodlight mast. He had earlier visited the stadium on Friday and promised to give his verdict after a thorough assessment. However, after touring the stadium and assessing the situation, the Minister ordered the temporary closure of the stadium to forestall any unforeseen circumstances.

Dare expressed his gratitude that there were no casualties from the collapse of the floodlight mast. He also inspected the other three floodlight masts and discovered that age and weather elements had weakened them, making them potential hazards after 51 years of use. He stated that, based on his assessment and expert advice, the stadium and surrounding facilities would be temporarily closed to ensure public safety, and proper assessment and necessary action would be taken soon.

Furthermore, the Federal Government will expedite the concession process towards fully privatising the Surulere stadium that began last year. This will lead to a comprehensive rehabilitation and upgrade of the 51-year-old edifice. The Minister noted that the decision to impose extensive restrictions around the stadium was made to be on the side of caution, and he appealed to Nigerians to bear with the inconvenience that the decision may cause.

In conclusion, the temporary closure of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, due to the collapse of a floodlight mast, is a necessary step to ensure public safety. The Federal Government's commitment to fully privatising the stadium and rehabilitating it will not only enhance its aesthetics but also promote the development of sports in Nigeria.

In a recent interview with ABC News, Nigerian singer Ahmed Oloade, popularly known as Asake, revealed that poverty led him to consider a career in music. Although he originally started as a dancer, he found that dancing couldn't provide him with enough money to support himself. As a result, he turned to singing, which ultimately led him to his successful music career.

Asake, who is 24 years old, explained that his parents played classical music when he was growing up, which helped him develop an interest in singing. His father was particularly passionate about music, often starting his day with a cigarette and loud music. Asake said that his exposure to music, combined with his dancing skills, led him to explore a career in music.

Initially, Asake only wanted to be a dancer. He loved the feeling of dancing and everything that came with it. However, as he began to think about his financial future, he realized that dancing alone might not provide him with the money he needed to support himself. This realization led him to add singing to his repertoire, which ultimately led to his success as a musician.

Asake's story is a testament to the power of following your passions, even when it may not seem like the most practical choice. By combining his love of dancing with singing and music, he was able to create a career that not only fulfilled him creatively but also provided him with the financial stability he needed.

Davido revealed that he was initially reluctant to complete his degree as he wanted to focus solely on his music career. However, his father convinced him to complete his degree program by making a deal with him. The deal was that his father would build him a world-class studio and provide him with funds to shoot music videos on weekends if he attended lectures from Mondays to Fridays.

The singer further disclosed that his father had a land not far from their home where he built the studio. He also provided him with the necessary funds to shoot some videos. According to Davido, his father's deal was too good to turn down, and it motivated him to complete his degree program.

Davido's story shows the importance of education and how it can be balanced with a passion for music. His father's approach also highlights the significance of providing support and incentives to children to complete their education. It is clear that his father's bribe was successful in motivating Davido to complete his degree program while still pursuing his music career.

Overall, Davido's story is an inspiring one that shows how hard work, dedication, and support can lead to success. His father's support and encouragement played a crucial role in his academic and music career, and it is evident that the bond between father and son is a strong one.

The Labour Party in Nigeria is facing a crisis as the National Executive Council (NEC) suspended the Acting National Chairman, Lamidi Apapa, and five other members on Tuesday. The reason for the suspension is alleged anti-party activities that were not specified. The other affected members are Alhaji Saleh Lawal, Rawland Daramola, Prince Reuben Favour, Samuel Akingbade, and Mohammed Akali.

The NEC also upheld the decision of the Akure convention, which expelled the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Comrade Arabambi Abayomi. Apapa and the five others took over the affairs of the party on April 6, 2023, following a Federal High Court ruling that restrained Julius Abure from parading himself as the chairman of the party. Seven members of the party's NEC announced Apapa as the acting chairman of the party, replacing the suspended chairman, Abure.

Apapa has recently been criticized and accused of being planted in the party by the ruling All Progressives Congress as a mole. In response, Apapa denied the accusations on Channels Television's Sunday Politics program and claimed that he was a founding member of the Labour Party and enjoyed the support of its supporters as the new leader. He maintained that he was not being sponsored by opponents to destroy the party and that he would not do such a thing as a foundational member of the LP.

According to Apapa, since a court has ordered four national officers of the party, including Abure, to stop parading themselves as such, his move is in the right direction. He refuted the allegations that he was being sponsored by opponents to destroy the party. He maintained that he would not run down the party, and nobody was sponsoring him.

The crisis in the Labour Party appears to have deepened with the suspension of Apapa and the five other members. It remains to be seen how the party will resolve the crisis and move forward. The NEC's decision to uphold the expulsion of Comrade Arabambi Abayomi indicates that the party is taking a strong stance against those who engage in anti-party activities. It is uncertain what the future holds for the Labour Party, but it is clear that the current situation is not conducive to its success.

Luciano Spalletti, the head coach of Napoli, is delighted with the return of Victor Osimhen, the team's prolific striker, to competitive action. Osimhen had missed Napoli's last three matches but partially trained with the rest of the group on Thursday. Previous reports suggested that he would be rested for the Italian Serie A match against Hellas Verona.

Despite this, Napoli included Osimhen in the squad for their Serie A fixture against Verona at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium on Saturday, and he played as a substitute for 17 minutes. The Nigerian international replaced Giacomo Raspadori in the 73rd minute, making his return after a muscle injury suffered while on international duty with the Super Eagles against Guinea Bissau in March.

Osimhen, who is the Serie A's leading scorer with 21 goals, had the best chance of the game for Napoli but hit the crossbar minutes after his introduction, as Napoli and Verona drew 0-0. Spalletti spoke to Radio Kiss Kiss ahead of the Champions League encounter against Milan, giving his assessment of the team's chances and the return of Osimhen, who he counts on to make a difference.

Spalletti stated that Osimhen gave the burst of enthusiasm that the fans attribute to him and showed that he was in the game. He needed the 25 minutes of running to be ready to play on Tuesday. Spalletti added that Osimhen has physicality and speed, and can protect the ball, use his head or change pace. He has so many different alternatives and is a hero of the fans now.

Spalletti also stated that these players are made of different stuff and have so many solutions to help the team, filling the box of delights with all their various characteristics. Osimhen will start against Milan on Tuesday, according to Spalletti. The influential Nigerian missed the 1-0 first-leg loss to Milan last Wednesday.

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has stated that he would not accept any offer to be part of Bola Tinubu’s Government of National Unity. Tinubu, the president-elect and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), have been dragged to court by Obi over the outcome of the February 25 election. The camp of the APC candidate had hinted that the former Lagos Governor would form an all-inclusive government to carry all his opponents along in his government.

Obi was asked what he would do if he was called upon to be a member of Tinubu’s Government of National Unity while featuring on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday. Obi responded by saying that he was still challenging the process of the election and the declaration. He added that the process of the election should be put right first before anyone could talk of the Government of National Unity.

According to him, the process of the election was more fundamental than what follows after the election. He stated that he was challenging the process and the declaration and that until things were done rightly, he could not encourage what should not be encouraged. Obi said that he would be shocked if the court upholds Tinubu’s election when asked whether he would accept the outcome if it was not in his favour.

Obi believes that the judiciary will do the right thing. The former Anambra State governor stated that issues about the election would be sorted out in court. He added that the country could not continue with the situation and that it would stand that it is a corporate criminalized country if the court upholds Tinubu’s election. He stated that people were talking about structure when they talked about fraud and criminality. He emphasized that the country needed to unbundle criminality for the sake of its children.

Obi concluded by stating that the first thing he wanted to see was that the process was right. He added that until they got it right, then they could talk about a government of national unity. Otherwise, they would be encouraging what they should not encourage. He stated that he was challenging the process and declaration, and that until they got it right, he could not talk about Tinubu’s Government of National Unity.

The Global Voice Group (GVG) has announced its plans to address the issue of global revenue loss to fraud in the telecom industry, which currently amounts to $39.89 billion. As a major provider of IT solutions to governments and regulatory authorities, GVG will discuss and offer actionable solutions to telecom companies at the 2023 RegTech Africa Conference. The conference has the theme, ‘Elevating National Policy on Financial Inclusion, Consumer Protection and Cybersecurity’ and is scheduled to hold between 24th – 26th May 2023 in Lagos-Nigeria.

According to a survey by the CFCA Global Telecommunications Fraud Loss in 2021, the total revenue loss due to fraud in the telecom industry was $39.89 billion, with an additional $28 billion lost globally in uncollected revenue. With razor-thin margins, fierce competition, and constant attempts by fraudsters to swindle companies, telecom operators cannot afford to lose more money on their billing. Billing discrepancies lead to disputes and possible customer churn.

Cyril Okoroigwe, the CEO of RegTech Media, explained that telecom billing is a complex process that involves interrelated technologies and processes working together to provide a seamless service. To ensure that telecom companies bill their clients as per the commercial agreement, GVG will share insights on revenue assurance in telecom at the conference. Regulatory technology (RegTech) is becoming a key consideration in many African countries, with benefits including fraud detection and transaction monitoring, as well as increasing telecom tax collections.

Operators that rely solely on lower rates to beat the competition may not survive in the long term. Those that invest in revenue assurance technology solutions will not only provide great service but also raise their revenue by plugging in the leaks. Given the rate of 5G adoption, telecom companies need to start modernizing their revenue assurance processes now, Okoroigwe said. Smart businesses must prepare their systems to automate every touchpoint, including billing, charging policies, and fraud detection.

Traditional revenue assurance systems are of little value because they alert when the damage is already done. With the sheer volume and velocity of data in 5G, there is a need to act in real-time. A unified fast data platform should address revenue assurance needs during the entire life cycle in one seamless motion. Telecom companies need to match their revenue assurance processes with the technologies of the future, such as 5G. Current 5G deployments are not widespread, and telecom operators can absorb any losses. However, as 5G adoption increases, telecom companies need to start preparing their systems to adapt to the new technology.

However, according to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Sanwo-Olu allegedly evaded service of the petition on him by the court's bailiff. Rhodes-Vivour and his party's lawyer, Olagbade Benson, informed the election petition tribunal that the governor refused to collect the document from the bailiff when the court official arrived at his office to serve him.

As a result, Rhodes-Vivour and the LP asked the court to grant them permission to serve the petition and other processes to the governor and his deputy through alternate means, such as DHL courier services or any other recognized courier service company. They suggested posting the documents to Sanwo-Olu's official residence at Lagos House, Marina, Lagos.

The Lagos State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has now approved Rhodes-Vivour's ex parte application to serve Sanwo-Olu with the petition documents through a substitute. This means that the LP candidate can serve the governor via an alternate means, as requested.

The use of alternative means to serve legal documents is not uncommon. It is a process that allows parties in a legal dispute to serve documents on the other party if they cannot be physically located or if they evade service. This alternative method ensures that parties in a legal dispute can proceed with their case without being held back by a refusal to accept service.

In conclusion, the Lagos State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has granted Gbadegbo Rhodes-Vivour and the Labour Party's request to serve Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu with petition documents through an alternate means. The plaintiffs had claimed that the governor evaded service of the documents by the court's bailiff. The use of alternate means to serve legal documents is not uncommon, and it ensures that parties can proceed with their case without being held back by a refusal to accept service.

Senator Ishaku Abbo, who represents Adamawa North Senatorial District, has commented that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is not authorized to declare the collated results of the Adamawa State governorship election null and void. During an appearance on the ‘Sunrise Daily’ breakfast show on Channels Television, the senator referred to the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and stated that the electoral body’s announcement was insignificant.

According to Senator Abbo, the result of the election has already been announced by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), and it is out of INEC’s hands to nullify it. He also referred to Section 149 of the Electoral Act of 2022, which states that any defect or error arising from any actions taken by an official of the Commission remains valid unless it is challenged and declared invalid by a competent court of law or tribunal.

The lawmaker emphasized that challenging an already announced election result would be futile, while accusing the ruling party in the state of electoral infractions. Senator Abbo’s statements suggest that he believes INEC has limited powers in nullifying the election results in Adamawa State, and that any defects or errors arising from actions taken by an official of the Commission would remain valid unless otherwise challenged and declared invalid by a court or tribunal.

Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has said he deserved accolades for defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the governing All Progressive Congress, APC, rather than attacks on his person by leaders of the former ruling party.

Governor Umahi insisted that his recent defection to the APC is a strong message that the South East Zone can no longer be taken for a ride, positing that the zone is now ready and willing more than ever to take its destiny by its hands.

Umahi who spoke in a statement made available to us on Friday by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Francis Nwaze, lamented that the neglect of the SouthEast region has taken an alarming proportion.

The Governor further recalled enormous sacrifices made by late former Vice President, Alex Ekwueme, and other notable South east leaders for the formation of the Peoples Democratic Party, insisting that remaining in PDP would continue to deny the region its rightful place in the nation’s scheme of things.

Parts of the statement read,

“Politicians who feel disillusioned, cheated or denied free and fair opportunities, defect to other parties to participate in the elections or benefit from certain prospects. One of the issues that have contributed to party defections in Nigeria is lack of internal democracy within political parties.

In Nigeria, recognition of candidates for nomination and selection for primary elections depends on the strength of the candidate in the area of economic and political power, without any due consideration of the integrity and capability/capacity of the candidate involved and regional spread.

These acts have led to political crises leading to individuals defecting to other parties and/or forming new parties as a result of dissatisfaction with party operation. For instance, the unhealthy power contest and intra-party crisis prompted incessant defections of prominent members of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) between 2013-2015 to the now ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).

“As a result of the above scenario, it is important to note that party defections in Nigeria are not restricted to one party, but has become a political norm in Nigeria’s democracy; sometimes in protest of bad governance and marginalization.

The above circumstance is certainly not unconnected to what led to the recent defection of the Chairman of Southeast Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State Engineer David Nweze Umahi from the People’ Democratic Party, PDP to the ruling All Progressives Congress.

“The reason for the bold step was due to the age-long neglect of the South East Zone by the PDP although one of its foremost founding members His Excellency, the former Vice-President of Nigeria Dr. Alex Ekwueme was from the Zone.

Because of the integrity of Dr. Ekwueme, the Igbos of the South East Zone embraced wholly the PDP and rallied around it since the return to Democracy in 1999 but despite supporting other regions to take their shots to the number one plum job in the Federation, the Zone has always been relegated to the background when it comes to consideration for the presidential slot.

“The proceeds of this noble action, therefore, will not just be gargantuan but also bountiful considering that no major decision of national interest will be taken under any pretext without due consultation and representation of South-East Leaders in the country.

This will be more so if other States of the Zone could see beyond the immediate and take action to ensure comprehensive rebrand and reintegration of the South East Zone to its pride of place in the governance of Nigeria”.

He said his crossover to the progressive party, has launched both Ebonyi State and the South East Zone into the bastion of national politics and discourse which is its rightful place in the comity of states and regions in the country.

A 43-year-old post-graduate student has emerged president of NANS after the just-concluded convention marred with violence.

Asefon Sunday, a 43-year-old PGD student of Ekiti State University, EKSU, is the new President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Nigerians do not seem very happy about this and they’ve questioned why young people can’t be trusted to lead the student body.

One Twitter user reacted to Asefon’s win, writing:

“Asefon, 43, President NANS was NANS Coordinator Zone D in 2013 while a student of Ekiti State University, EKSU. 2020, he is still a student of EKSU. 7 years after!”

Another wrote:

“I know Asefon as NANS coordinator when I was in 300L in EKSU.I graduated 6 years ago and the guy is still parading himself as a student.”

Another said:

“95% of NANS excos nordey gree graduate bcz of embezzlement. Dey study frm full time to part time, frm part time to weekend program, frm weekend program to sandwich, frm sandwich to distance learning, frm distance learning to online program…”

“The moment you realize that a youth can’t even win NANS Presidency. So much for posturing,” another wrote. Hon Ben Igbakpa, the Honorable member representing Ethiope in Delta state wrote in defence of Asefon:

“As a PGD student of EKSU, Asefon Sunday is qualified to be NANS President.

Critiquing his emergence because he is 43 years old is an improper assumption he is too old to be a student. I do not know another country where age is the only eligibility criterion. Let’s be objective.”

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Friday reacted to reports of its arrested members affirming attack on a church in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The Rivers State Police Command had paraded some IPOB members who admitted attempting a bomb attack on the church attended by the father of the state Governor, Nyesom Wike, Elder Wike.

However, IPOB described the claims as a lame script by security agencies.

A statement by the group’s spokesman, Emma Powerful said the government was using the suspects to cover its evil deeds.

The statement reads partly:

“The attention of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), has been drawn to the frivolous and fabricated claims by the purported suspects of the alleged attack on Gov. Nyesom Wike’s father’s church who purportedly claimed responsibility for the said attack.

”We have equally heard with utter amazement that the alleged suspects further claimed they were contacted by IPOB to carry out the attack so as to gain recognition.

“This again is too petty and a lame script by the security agencies and their sponsors. The question is: Which recognition is IPOB a global movement that already maintains a presence in over 100 countries still looking for?

“It’s not in doubt what the government and security agencies can do either to cover evidence or establish cause to justify a premeditated evil.

The speed with which the government and police pointed accusing fingers at IPOB even before the commencement of their so-called investigation, raises more suspicion.

It’s only a confirmation that the ridiculous alleged confession of the said suspects was only premeditated just to possibly indict IPOB.

“Wike and his co-travellers should stop ridiculing themselves. IPOB is not a violent but peaceful movement. Bombing a place of worship how much more a church is never part of our signature tune. Most IPOB members have a Christian background and couldn’t have targeted any church for bombing.

“We have no quarrel with Wike’s father let alone innocent worshippers. Assuming but not admitting that we are behind the purported attack, we wouldn’t have done a poor job. If we want Wike we know how and where to get him but we don’t spill blood.”

Contrary to the belief that victims of Boko Haram attack last Saturday in Borno were rice farmers; fresh facts have emerged on Friday that they were informants and logistics suppliers to the insurgents.

About 48 persons were reportedly slain on Saturday morning in Zarbamari, a town in Borno State, North-East Nigeria, by the Boko Haram insurgents, who later claimed responsibility.

The recent attack which was believed by many to be on rice farmers elicited commentaries and condemnations from all spheres of life.

Prof. Babagana Umar Zulum, Governor of Borno State, had also on Thursday, disbursed the sum of N600,000 to family members of each of the slain farmers, while North East Governors donated N20m and North East Development Commission (NEDC) gave N5m to the families.

But Mallam Kabiru Zanna, a local of Zarbamari, who spoke with this correspondent on Friday morning, said those affected were mainly collaborators of Boko Haram who hailed from Zamfara and Sokoto States and not farmers.

“The people that were killed were logistics suppliers and collaborators with Boko Haram. They supply them food and fuel. They also help the insurgents in selling rustled cows”, he said.

Zanna who spoke in Hausa language also gave details of what transpired on the fateful Saturday and how the transaction between the insurgents and their erstwhile collaborators went awry.

“Last week, these same people were on their way to meeting the insurgents for business when they were accosted by soldiers and after the soldiers couldn’t find anything on them they let them go.

“Meanwhile, the insurgents who were waiting saw them with the troops who later killed 5 of them after an ambush, so the insurgents accused those guys of providing Intel to the soldiers. This is the main reason why the terrorists began killing them.

“The insurgents called them to meet on Thursday but they said they wouldn’t be able to make it until Saturday. They agreed to meet early morning 5:00am on that day. They even had their morning prayers there.

“From there, the insurgents began to tell them about those guys who used to supply them food, who also betrayed them by providing Intel to the troops.

“Normally if there are betrayers in a town the entire community would pay the price for such acts. At that moment, the insurgents ordered that everyone be tied. They instructed that no gun should be fired in other not to attract troops.

“That was exactly what happened. Those people mostly are collaborators of the terrorists”, he added.[/i]

Zanna, who has been keeping tabs with activities of Boko Haram in the state, said, though some that were killed were innocent, “but very few of them. I swear most of them are traders with the insurgents. None of them is a rice farmer, they are all in trade with the insurgents”.

When contacted on phone, a Media Aide to Governor Babagana Umar Zulum, Mr. Ahidjo Abdu Likita, confirmed the revelation.

“Yes, it has been confirmed that the victims slaughtered were agents of Boko Haram”, he told our correspondent on phone, adding that, further investigation was being carried to reveal more.

When asked why the Governor went ahead to disburse money to perceived family members of the victims, since they were collaborators, Likita said, “the Governor didn’t know the reality of the scenario till today”.

He said:-

“everybody was thinking it was the real people of Zabarmari village” until the information got to the Governor this morning.

No less than six Nigerian soldiers have been killed by terrorists, SaharaReporters reports.

Six soldiers were killed and 20 others wounded when Boko Haram terrorists ambushed troops between Jagiran and Monguno in Borno State on November 21.

The troops were ambushed and attacked at about 2:00pm by Boko Haram elements, who also carted away a Toyota bullet proof Land Cruiser belonging to the Acting Commandant of Sector 3.

Several soldiers are still reported missing from that incident.

The Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari, has expressed that the corporation deliberately shut down the nation’s refineries because they became unsustainable.

The GMD disclosed this when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Upstream in Abuja.

He pointed out that the NNPC was unable to supply crude oil to the refineries, adding that the Excravos pipeline is the only one the NNPC managed to sustain through the contracting process.

He went on to express that it is practically impossible to run pipelines at their optimum capacity.

“For instance, to run Kaduna and Warri refinery, you need to deliver 170,000 barrel of oil per day so that both will operate at 70 percent capacity,” he said.

Kyari said that at the moment, it only had over 5,000 kilometers of pipelines with 13 fuel depots, which according to him must be protected to forestall the activities of vandals.

“And I can tell you today that except the Atlas cove to Ibadan line and also the Portharcourt to Aba line, none of these pipelines is serviced.

“We cannot flow product into these lines, the cheap one is to say they are aged but the real reason is that the level of activities of vandals on these lines is gross, monumental, and profound.

“At every point within a month we fix 80 vandal points, the option is to shut them down and the result of having one depot is what we have seen in Lagos,” he said.

The Defence Headquarters has said that troops of Operations Whirl Stroke and Accord have eliminated three bandits and arrested eight others in different operations in Benue, Nasarawa, and Zamfara States.

Major -Gen. John Enenche, the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Friday.

Enenche explained that the troops of Operation Whirl Stroke killed three bandits in an encounter around Asogo village in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State.

According to him, the operation was conducted on Thursday following credible intelligence.

The Coordinator also disclosed that troops of Sector 111 arrested two suspects who were believed to be behind recent clashes between herders and farmers in Atiyagiso community in Doma LGA of Nasarawa State.

Enenche said the suspects – Mr Mohammed Sani and Abdulkareem and Abdulkareem, confessed to their involvement in the crime, adding that they had been handed over to the police for further action.

He also disclosed that the troops of Operation Accord arrested six youths at Zurmi LGA of Zamfara State following credible intelligence on the movement of suspected bandits in the area.

“The suspects confessed to be bandits as alleged and are currently in custody for further action,”

He said.

Justice Adie A. Onyebueke of the Cross River State High Court, Akamkpa, on Friday, sentenced Augustine Effiong Bassey to five years in prison.

Bassey was found culpable of stealing N27 million belonging to a microfinance bank where he was a branch manager.

He was prosecuted by the Enugu Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a one-count charge of stealing.

According to EFCC, sometime between 2010 and 2012 at Uyanga, Cross River State, Bassey stole the N27,300,000 being property of Ekondo Microfinance Bank Limited.

He did this by personally carting away the sum from the bank’s vault and gave to his fronts for execution of non-existent contracts for the bank.

The disgraced banker was arrested in July 2016 by the EFCC upon intelligence.

His offence was contrary to Section 390 of the Criminal Code law, CAP C16 (VOL 3) of the Laws of Cross River State of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under Section 390(9) of the same law.

The defendant pleaded “not guilty” when the charge was read to him.

But Fortune Amina Asemebo, prosecution counsel, proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.

Justice Onyebueke convicted and sentenced Bassey, with an option of restituting N15 million to Ekondo Microfinance Bank.