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  • Police Declares Same-Sex Marriage Illegal, Vows To Arrest Perpetrators

    Police Declares Same-Sex Marriage Illegal, Vows To Arrest Perpetrators

    The Nigeria Police Force has warned Nigerians to steer clear of same-sex marriage as it is illegal in the country, saying anyone caught in the act of same-sex marriage in the country would be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

    The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who issued the warning on Thursday in a statement, said that in accordance with the Nigerian Criminal Code Act applicable in Southern states of Nigeria, unnatural offences are prohibited under Sections 214 to 217.

    According to Adejobi, the prohibition is re-echoed by Section 284 of the Nigerian Penal Code applicable in the Northern part of the country.

    He said that “Following recent trend on social media where some individuals who identify as queer were visibly encouraging and associating themselves with activities perceived to be unnatural in light of Nigerian Laws, the Nigeria Police Force hereby wishes to enlighten the public on the legal aspects concerning unnatural offences and same-sex marriage within the country.

    “In accordance with the Nigerian Criminal Code Act applicable in Southern States, unnatural offences are prohibited under Sections 214 to 217.

    “These sections specifically criminalize acts considered unnatural, such as having carnal knowledge of a person, or permitting a person to have carnal knowledge of one against the order of nature, or having carnal knowledge of an animal, and those found guilty may face legal consequences as outlined by the law.

    “This is re-echoed by Section 284 of the Nigerian Penal Code applicable in the Northern part of the country.

    “Similarly, it is imperative to note that same-sex marriage is strictly prohibited in Nigeria. The Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act of 2014 criminalizes the solemnization, operation, and public display of same-sex marriages.

    “We therefore emphasize the importance of understanding and adhering to these laws as any violation will be met with due legal processes.

    “We remain dedicated to maintaining law and order and call on all citizens to report all suspicious activities related to unnatural offences or same-sex marriage, providing crucial information that will aid our efforts to enforce the law.

    “We need to collectively kick against such while we urge parents and guardians to take note and support the Police in the fight against such inhuman activities which are alien to our culture and also punishable under the law.”

  • AFCON: ‘Tinubu not impressed with your performance’, minister tells Super Eagles players

    AFCON: ‘Tinubu not impressed with your performance’, minister tells Super Eagles players

    President Bola Tinubu has urged the Super Eagles to improve their performance and do better in the final stages of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.

    Tinubu’s message was through the Minister of Sports, John Enoh, who spoke to the players from Abuja via Zoom on Wednesday night in Abidjan.

    According to Enoh, the President was not too impressed with the showing of the team during the group stage.

    He said, “I had a meeting with the President yesterday. I went to the villa for something else and the President cornered me and said we (Eagles) managed to qualify and I said that’s how we are going to keep going until we win the tournament.

    “He said that I should tell the players that he wasn’t too impressed with the last match but he knows that now that they are off the group stages, they are going to impress him more.

    “That’s what the President told me and it means that the President is actually watching your matches. Would you believe this? And the President is urging you and also showing an understanding of the game because he knows that there is a lot of caution at the group stage and from the round of 16, you are going to be more impressive.

    “I remember that in 2022 in Cameroon, Egypt as a country struggled to qualify but they went ahead to play the finals.”

    Responding, team captain, Ahmed Musa, thanked the sports minister but also called on the President to come to see them play live saying it would serve as a motivation to the players.

    The Super Eagles will play the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in the last 16 of the tournament on Saturday at the Felix Houphouet -Boigny Stadium in Abidjan.

  • Ondo Assembly Confirms Adelami As Deputy Governor

    Ondo Assembly Confirms Adelami As Deputy Governor

    Ondo State house of Assembly has screened and confirmed Dr. Olayide Owolabi Adelami as the Deputy Governor of Ondo State.

    Adelami was confirmed as the Deputy Governor at a plenary presided over by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji.

    His confirmation was sequel to the submission and consideration of a report by the house selection committee Chaired by the Speaker.

    It would be recalled that the House of Assembly yesterday received a letter of his nomination from the Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa.

    The house had earlier conducted screening exercise for the nominee at the assembly complex.

    The Clerk of the House, Barr. Jaiyeola Benjamin read the letter sent to the House by Governor Aiyedatiwa for the consideration of the nominees for the vacant position of a Deputy Governor.

    While submitting the report, the Deputy Speaker of the House, Prince Abayomi Akinruntan recommended the confirmation of the appointment of the nominees whom he affirmed have been properly screened.

    Akinruntan said the nominee responded to all questions raised by the Committee in a very eloquent and explicit order, noting that he has a clear understanding of the position, adding that he possess the required academic qualifications, physically, mentally and emotionally stable and fit to accomplish the task.

    The report also stated that he possess the required experience, Charisma and the much needed exposure to function effectively.

    The Majority leader of the House, Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi moved the motion for the report to be considered and the nominees be confirmed and was seconded by Felix Afe representing Akoko North West 2.

    The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oladiji who ruled for the confirmation congratulated the Deputy Governor designate , urging him to put in his best and pledged the house support to the executive for the people to enjoy more democracy dividend.

    In his acceptance speech, Adelami who hails from Owo appreciated Governor Aiyedatiwa for finding him worthy of the position pledging not to betray his emotion and confidence reposed in him.

    He also appreciated the lawmakers for the efforts they have put in place during the screening and confirmation noting that promoting understanding between arms of government will be his priority.

    Dr Olayide Owolabi Adelami mni, a retired Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly promised to do everything at his disposal to function effectively, pledging not to disappoint the people of Ondo State .

  • Guber Appeals: Supreme Court Affirms Fubara, Kefas, Aliyu elections

    Guber Appeals: Supreme Court Affirms Fubara, Kefas, Aliyu elections

    The Supreme Court of Nigeria, Thursday, affirmed the elections of Governors Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers state, Kefas Agbu of Taraba and Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto state.

    The five-man panel of justices of the Apex court, had in separate judgments, unanimously dismissed the different appeals for lacking in merit.

    RIVERS

    Recall that the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos, had on November 28, 2023, affirmed the election of Fubara as the governor of Rivers State.

    The court had dismissed the petition filed by Fubara of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State, Patrick Tonye-Cole, against Fubara of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    TARABA

    In the case of Taraba state, the appeal was filed by
    Prof. Yahaya Sani of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) for grossly lacking in merit.

    Prof. Sani had prayed the apex court to set aside the victory of Governor Kefas Agbu, in the March 18, 2023 governorship election.

    He had alleged non compliance with the Electoral Act, irregularities and other malpractices, but the appellate court dismissed the appeal for lacking in merit.

    SOKOTO

    Similarly, the Supreme Court affirmed the election of Ahmad Aliyu as governor of Sokoto state.

    Aliyu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was declared winner of the governorship election with 453,661 votes to defeat Sai’du Umar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who secured 404,632 votes.

    But Umar alleged that the governor and his deputy Idris Gobir, forged the certificates they presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The petitioners also alleged electoral fraud during the poll.

    The tribunal in its judgment said the petitioners were unable to prove the six grounds contained in their petition.

  • Burning of Rivers House: Fubara’s loyalists arraigned, sent to prison

    Burning of Rivers House: Fubara’s loyalists arraigned, sent to prison

    The five Port Harcourt-based men accused of burning down the State House of Assembly were, Thursday, arraigned by the Federal Government on terrorism charges, have been remanded at Kuje Prison in Abuja.

    The five defendants are Chime Eguma Ezebalike, Prince Lukman Oladele, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald and Ochueja Thankgod.

    They were also accused of killing a Superintendent of Police, (SP) Bako Agbashim and five police informants at Ahoada community of the state.

    Justice Bolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Thursday, ordered they remain in prison custody till February 2 when their respective bail applications would be determined.

    In the 7-count charges, the defendants were accused of committing alleged terrorism offences by invading, vandalizing and burning down Rivers State House of Assembly during the wake of political crisis that rocked Port Harcourt in October last year.

    The police informants alleged to have been killed are Charles Osu, Ogbonna Eja, Idaowuka Felix, Paul Victor Chibuogu and Saturday Edi.

    Government also accused them of using various cult groups, namely- Supreme Viking Confraternity, Degbam, Iceland and Greenland to unleash mayhem on the people of the state and their commercial activities.

    However, when the charges against them marked FHC/ABJ/CR/25/2024 was read, they all pleaded not guilty to the offences..

    Although the immediate past factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Edison Ehie was not listed in the 7-count terrorism charges, he was however represented in court by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, Oluwole Aladedoyin on the ground that his name featured prominently in the alleged offences.

    He challenged the allegations that he was at large alongside other suspects.

    Justice Olajuwon did not however allow further arguments on the ground that he was not yet a defendant in the charges.

    Shortly after the arraignment, the leader of the prosecuting team, Audu Garba applied for a date for full blown trial of the defendants.

    However, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, Lukman Fagbemi who stood for Chime Eguma Ezebalike and Prince Lukman Oladele who are 1st and 2nd defendants, sought to move applications for their bail on the ground that they have been in the police custody since last year.

    The government lawyer, Audu Garba vehemently opposed on the reason that he had just been served with the bail applications and needed time to study them and file counter affidavit.

    Justice Olajuwon agreed with the prosecution lawyer that the bail applications were not ripe for hearing and fixed February 2 for hearing of all bail applications.

    Pending hearing and determination of the bail applications, the Judge ordered that the five defendants be taken to Kuje Prison on remand and be returned to court on the adjourned date.

    Specifically, the defendants were alleged to have on October 29, 2023 at Moscow Road in Port Harcourt conspired to commit acts of terrorism by wilful destruction of public properties by invading, attacking, destroying and burning of the Rivers State House of Assembly, an offence punishable under section 26 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022.

    Part of the charges read, “That you, Chime Eguma Ezebalike, 37 years, business man of Street 5, Radio Estate Ozuoba, Port Harcourt, Prince Lukman Oladele, 47 years of Okocha Street, Port Harcourt, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Hon Edison Ehie and others now at large on 29th of October 2023 at Moscow Road in Port Harcourt, while acting in concert conspired together to commit felony to wit: acts of terrorism by wilful destruction of public properties by invading, attacking, destroying and burning of the Rivers State House of Assembly and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 26 (1) of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022.

    “That you Chime Eguma Ezebalike, 37 years, business man of Street 5, Radio Estate Ozuoba, Port Harcourt, Prince Lukman Oladele, 47 years of Okocha Street, Port Harcourt, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Hon Edison Ehie and others now at large on 29th of October 2023 at Moscow Road in Port Harcourt, while acting in concert and armed with dynamite, iron rods, lighters and other offensive weapons willfully and maliciously invaded, attacked and set fire on the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 1 of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

  • Supreme Court affirms Fubara as Rivers Gov

    Supreme Court affirms Fubara as Rivers Gov

    The Supreme Court, Thursday, upheld the election of Governor Siminalayi Fubara as the authentic governor of Rivers State.

    The candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr. Tonye Cole, filed to challenge the outcome of the governorship election that held in the state on March 18, 2023.

    The Apex court five-member panel led by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, dismissed the appeal for lacking in merit.

    The court said it found no reason to disagree with the concurrent decisions of the Court of Appeal and the Rivers State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, which upheld Fubara’s victory at the poll.

    It further established that the appellant failed convince the court that the election was not conducted in compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.

    The APC pulled out from the case against governor Fubara of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, while it was being heard by the Rivers State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal.

    Despite the position of the party not to challenge the declaration of Fubara as winner of the gubernatorial contest by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Mr. Cole, vowed to prosecute his petition to its logical conclusion.

    INEC had declared that Fubara of the PDP polled a total of 302,614 votes to defeat his closets rival, Cole of the APC who got a total of 95,274 votes.

    Dissatisfied with the outcome of the poll, Cole approached the tribunal to challenge it.

    The appellant, among other things, alleged that the Rivers State governorship poll was marred by corrupt practices, insisting that it was not conducted in substantial compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.

  • Tinubu Departs Nigeria For France On Private Visit

    Tinubu Departs Nigeria For France On Private Visit

    President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, departed Abuja for Paris, France, for a private visit.

    His Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, had revealed this in a statement on Wednesday but did not disclose the reasons for the visit.

    According to the statement, Tinubu is expected to return to the country in the first week of February 2024.

    This visit is Tinubu’s third to the country since he assumed office eight months ago.

    On June 20, 2023, three weeks after assuming office, Tinubu opened his foreign schedule in the city he last visited as President-elect, Paris, the French capital.

    In September 2023, the President spent nine days with world leaders in New York, USA, at the 78th United Nations General Assembly, which began on September 19, his first UNGA as President.

    Afterward, he proceeded to Paris, France, where he remained for five days, arriving in Abuja on September 29 ahead of Nigeria’s 63rd Independence Day anniversary on October 1.

  • Presidency Clarifies Tinubu’s Purported Plan To Move Federal Capital To Lagos

    Presidency Clarifies Tinubu’s Purported Plan To Move Federal Capital To Lagos

    The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has debunked reports that plans are underway to move the Federal Capital Territory to Lagos State.

    Onanuga, in a statement via X on Wednesday, described those peddling the reports as dishonest, ethnic and regional champions, attempting to draw attention to themselves.

    He noted that the rumour had made rounds during the presidential campaign in 2023 to stop Tinubu’s presidency, but it was trashed.

    According to Onanuga, Abuja, as the FCT is backed by law and has come to stay, adding the movement of FAAN, a department of the Aviation Ministry, to Lagos does not amount to moving the FCT to Lagos.

    The statement reads, “President Tinubu has no plan whatsoever to move the Federal Capital to Lagos. The rumour first surfaced during the campaign last year by opponents looking for all manners of weapons to stop him. We trashed it.

    “Those peddling it anew are dishonest, ethnic and regional champions, trying to draw attention to themselves. Abuja has come to stay. It is backed by law.

    “The movement of FAAN, a department of Aviation Ministry to Lagos, where it was based before former minister Hadi Sirika moved it to Abuja during the last administration, does not amount to moving the FCT to Lagos. The administrative move should have attracted scant attention, as Lagos is the commercial capital and the hub of aviation business in Nigeria. FAAN should be no where else but near the industry it regulates. FAAN will still maintain some presence in Abuja, as it is not a wholesale movement.

    “Similarly, the movement of some departments of the CBN to Lagos should not trigger any hoopla. The departments concerned, including the bank supervision department, are those dealing with commercial banks, all with headquarters in Lagos. A regulator ought to be close to the businesses it regulates.

    “All those pushing this campaign of falsehood know they are playing politics, albeit a dangerous politics to pit the North against the South.

    “There are many parastatals that are not based in Abuja depending on their mandate. NIMASA is in Lagos. So is NPA. National Inland Waterways Authority( NIWA) is in Lokoja, not Abuja. Will the people opposing the movement of FAAN and some CBN departments want those agencies to be in Abuja, where there is no single port and no maritime activity?

    “Administrative decisions should not be politicized. Let it not look like whenever we are temporarily not at the helm of affairs, we create all manners of dangerous rumours to distract from the bigger picture and emasculate an administration led by a southerner. Let’s stop the dirty politics. We can’t be playing politics with everything.”

  • Opay To Block Accounts Without Complete KYC

    Opay To Block Accounts Without Complete KYC

    Nigerian financial technology company, OPay has announced a major security update in its operations.

    Starting from March 1, 2024, the company will remove fraudulent accounts from its system and block customers whose accounts are not compliant with Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements.

    This announcement was made during a news conference held on Wednesday.

    KYC, a standard banking process, involves verifying the identity and address of customers to prevent the misuse of banking services.

    This move by OPay is aimed at reinforcing the security of the platform and safeguarding customer deposits against fraudulent activities.

    The decision comes in the wake of a report that highlighted vulnerabilities in OPay’s registration and verification process for new accounts.

    In response to these concerns, Olayemi Precilia, the director of cards business at OPay, assured that security measures on the platform have been significantly upgraded.

    She revealed that new customers will now be required to provide their National Identity Number (NIN) as part of the account opening process.

    As the deadline approaches, OPay customers are advised to update their account details to meet the KYC requirements to avoid any inconvenience.

    She said, “When you log into your app and you have a tier one account and you don’t have your NIN, it will ask for your NIN. You cannot move forward without inputting that NIN. So, that is one of the things we’ve already done.

    “The second thing is, for new customers, you’re going to start off with the NIN. That’s what we’re implementing. So, we’re pulling information from your NIN into your wallet. That is going live next month.

    “And we have a timeline — March 1st — wherein anyone who is not compliant will be locked out.”

    Opay’s director of partnerships, Ikponmwosa Kolawole Odiase, said fraudulent accounts will be yanked off” the firm’s system.

    Going forward, according to Odiase, customers will be required to link their accounts with NIN and bank verification numbers (BVNs).

    Speaking on the issue of poor facial verification on the application, he said the firm intends to deploy a system where there will be a backend verification of customers’ facials with BVNs and NINs.

    He said, “It’s a collaboration between all relevant stakeholders — the regulators, the KYC agencies. All this is a way to curb fraud.

    “The fraudsters are not sleeping and we also are waking up to the challenge. It’s an industry challenge, unfortunately.

    “So many fictitious accounts will definitely go.”

  • Feb 3 Bye-Elections: INEC Expresses Concern Over Threats Of Violence

    Feb 3 Bye-Elections: INEC Expresses Concern Over Threats Of Violence

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has raised worry about threats of violence ahead of the February 3 bye-elections and rerun.

    Speaking Tuesday in Abuja at a meeting of the Interagency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu stated that, based on his experience, conducting isolated elections, such as bye-elections and reruns, can be extremely difficult.

    He said, “We must pay attention to the potentials for disruptive behaviour by some candidates and their supporters. A re-run election conducted in one Polling Unit or a handful of Polling Units can be severely disrupted by acts of thuggery knowing full well that these few locations will determine the outcome of the election.

    “Arising from the reports we received from the States, concerns have been raised about the impact of the prevailing insecurity in some States on the conduct of the elections, made worse by incendiary statements by some political actors. We will present such concerns and reports at this meeting for appropriate security response.”

    Yakubu noted that there are many parties involved in elections and that security agencies must ensure that INEC can deploy staff and materials, protect observers, the media, and the polling and collation agents who represent the candidates and political parties.

    “Without a secure and peaceful environment, the conduct of credible elections is imperiled,” he stated.

    Speaking on the by-election, Yakubu said, “There are two categories of elections. First are the bye-elections arising from the death or resignation of members of the National and State legislative houses affecting two Senatorial Districts, four Federal and three State Assembly Constituencies.

    “The second category is the re-run elections by order of Election Petition Appeal Tribunals. In my remarks at the Commission’s extraordinary meeting with leaders of political parties last month, I reported that the elections affect 35 National and State Constituencies. Since then, four additional orders of the Court of appeal have been served on the Commission in respect of Yabo/Shagari Federal Constituency of Sokoto State, Madara/Chinade State Constituency of Bauchi State as well as Kudan and Kauru/Chawai State Constituencies of Kaduna State.

    “This brings the total number of affected constituencies to 39 which translates to 2.6% of the 1,491 Constituencies for which elections were conducted nationwide in the 2023 General Election.

    “The nine bye-elections are fresh elections covering the entire constituencies. However, with the exception of three Constituencies (Plateau North Senatorial District and Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency in Plateau State and Kachia/Kagarko Federal Constituency in Kaduna State), the re-run elections are to be held in a few Polling Units. In some cases, only one Polling Unit is affected in an entire Federal or State Constituency.”