News

Northern Group demands sack of National Security Adviser, Mungono

Published

1 year ago

August 15, 2022

Advocate News Nigeria

The Arewa Youth Assembly (AYA) will embark on a peaceful protest on Wednesday in Abuja to demand the resignation of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Mungono, over the lingering insecurity in the country.

In a statement in Kaduna Sunday, the group maintained that for the past seven years that Mungono was appointed to the sensitive position of NSA, the security situation in the country has been abysmal, as terrorists and other criminal elements unleashed mayhem on Nigerians.

The statement signed by the spokesman of AYA, Ali Mohammed, said there are enough reasons for Mungono to have resigned his appointment, “but he has refused to step down despite the mass killings across the country”.

The group lamented that Nigerians are no longer safe anywhere — on the roads, farms, working place, markets and even their homes — as terrorists move about freely kidnapping, killing and collecting millions of naira as ransom.

“As Nigerians are being killed mercilessly on daily basis, the NSA is comfortably occupying his office, enjoying uncompromised security, knowing these criminals cannot get to him,” the statement said.

According to the group, Nigerians, who are being killed by the terrorists, were the people who supported President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure his election and re-election in the hope that there would be an improvement in security and life will be better.

The group recalled that Buhari’s promise to address security challenges and tackle corruption were among the reasons Nigerians voted for him.

It lamented that, “to the greatest surprise and dismay of the people, the security situation in the country is even worse under the Buhari administration”.

The group attributed the worsening insecurity to the failure of the NSA to live up to the responsibilities of his office.

The AYA also said it was disappointed at how terrorists outsmarted the government in efforts to secure the abducted Abuja-Kaduna train passengers, some of who are still in captivity.

“Mallam Garba Shehu confirmed that terrorists demands were met, but the federal government’s demand was not met by these terrorists, which is freeing the kidnapped passengers of the Abuja-Kaduna train. This is an embarrassment.

“Mr. President, you cannot continue to retain the NSA at the detriment of the lives of the people. You cannot allow the security architecture to keep deteriorating, the NSA must go, he has nothing to offer, his ideas are obsolete and not contributing anything positive to the bad security situation in the country.

“We from the north are tired of these senseless killings, picking us one after another, we are suffering more than any region of the country, the insecurity is contributing to poverty and shortage of food.

“We therefore want the NSA gone for good, we want a positive change, we want an individual who is capable, active, brave, intelligent and equal to the task, we want an individual who can help address the security challenges.

“It is on this note, that we hereby call out for a mass peaceful protest to hold on Wednesday 17th of August, 2022 at exactly 8am.

“The protest is to hold at the gates of the Presidential Villa, FCT-Abuja as clearly stated in our notification sent to the relevant security authorities.

“This is to show our sadness and rejection of the situation of national security and demand for the resignation of the National Security Adviser, Gen. Babagana Mungono (rtd),” the group said.

Mohammed added that similar peaceful protests would be held in the 19 northern states at a later date.

News

EFCC decries rise in fake dollars circulation, cyber crime in Benue

Published

2 hours ago

September 28, 2023

Advocate News Nigeria

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has decried the sudden rise of fake dollars and cyber crimes in Benue axis.

Its Acting Chairman, Mr Abdulkarim Chukkol, who disclosed this on Thursday in Makurdi, said that the commission had taken measures to address the situation.

The EFCC chairman spoke during a workshop on “Effective Reporting of Economic and Financial Crimes,” organised for 30 journalists of major media organisations in the country.

Chukkol was represented by the Head of Makurdi Zonal Office of EFCC, Mr Friday Ebelo.

He said the primary aim of the commission was to reduce corruption in the country to barest level, and would continue to discharge its duties effectively and professionally.

“Through the commission’s enforcement activities, recoveries running into several billions of naira have been recorded and the country’s anti-money laundering framework strengthened.

“There is now a more robust regulation of the activities of these entities which are vulnerable to money laundering,” he added.

The EFCC chairman warned people against disclosing their bank details to anybody to avoid its being used for illegal financial deals.

“I will like the media to educate family members, friends, politicians and others that they run the risk of going to jail if they allow their companies or banks accounts to be used to launder proceeds of illegal activities.

“Under the Money Laundering Act, 2022 family members and close allies of politicians and public office holders, including top civil servants, are now classified as Politically Exposed Persons.

“The EFCC is determined to ensure that anyone who steals from public treasury and all those who assist them under whatever guise, are brought to justice, and ignorance of the law will not be an excuse,” he said.

Chukkol said that the commission had recorded 3,785 convictions in 2022, the highest since its establishment.

He said that the Makurdi Zonal Office, which was established in 2019, has so far recorded 107 convictions. (NAN)

News

Akwa Ibom tribunal affirms Governor Eno’s victory, dismisses ADC, NNPP’s petitions

Published

2 hours ago

September 28, 2023

Advocate News Nigeria

• Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno

The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Uyo has discarded the petition brought before it by the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ezekiel Nyaetok, challenging the election of Pastor Umo Eno of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The tribunal had earlier thrown out suit number EPW/AKS/GOV/03/23, brought by the governorship candidate of the NNPP, Senator John James Akpan Udoedehe, challenging the election of the governor.

Among other grounds, Nyaetok of ADC sought the disqualification of Pastor Umo Eno, alleging that he was convicted by a Magistrate Court in Abuja and that having been convicted, all votes accrued to him during the March 18 elections ought to be nullified.

He also challenged other candidates who scored more votes than him, alleging that they were handicapped by litigations and legal bars which hampered their eligibility to participate in the elections.

But delivering judgement on the matter, Justice Adekunle Adeleye chaired the panel and unanimously ruled that the same magistrate court presided by Emeka Iyama, delivered a judgment, nullifying its earlier conviction of Pastor Umo Eno and that once a judgement is nullified, it ceases to exist.

The tribunal also held that Nyaetok’s petition lacked merit as the petitioner was not able to establish one polling unit in which there was noncompliance with the electoral law in the March 18 Governorship elections.

After about one hour and thirty minutes of detailed and considered judgement, the governorship election panel, in a unanimous decision concluded that the petition by Senator John James Akpanudoedehe and his party against Gov Umo Bassey Eno, the PDP, and INEC deserves no less a verdict than a dismissal for lacking in merit.

The governorship election petition by the former senator followed the defective trajectory of two previous cases dismissed by the tribunal two weeks ago, by virtue of the attempt to resurrect the subject matter of certificate forgery leveled against Governor Eno, which was previously buried by the Supreme Court.

Counsel to the PDP had told the tribunal that the petition was “most unambitious”, as the Petitioners neglected and or refused to declare what they really wanted.

Akpanudoedehe of the NNPP had in his arguments claimed that Gov. Umo Eno was a convict by the Wuse Magistrate Court, Abuja, thereby robbing him of the qualification to have contested the March 18, 2023 governorship election.

He prayed the Tribunal to order that the election be cancelled, and a fresh one conducted within 90 days.

He also alleged that the Governor was born in Enugu, even though he declined to show proof of this claim as he neither front-loaded nor relied upon any document to back it.

Surprisingly, of the over 5000 voting units in the state, the NNPP candidate called only 2 witnesses with himself as one of the two.

Under cross-examination, the NNPP gubernatorial candidate admitted, when shown the enrolled order of the Wuse Magistrate Court repudiating its judgement orders, that he lacked knowledge of the existence of the order before his petition.

Counsel to the PDP and Pastor Umo Eno had noted in their submission that the NNPP petition is most unambitious, as the petitioner has not only failed to prove the criminal allegation of forgery but also failed to state what he wants.

The tribunal, presided over by Justice Adekunle Adeleye, ruled that lacking in merit, the petition had to be confined to the trashcan.

Reacting to the judgement, Counsel to the PDP, Barr Emmanuel Enoidem said the judgement was in strong agreement with the point of law.

Enoidem said the petitioners failed to prove that Pastor Umo Eno did not meet the constitutional entry requirements for office of the Governor, adding that most of their claims were pre-election matters which they could not also substantiate.

Education

NDDC Invites Applications for 2023/2024 Foreign Post Graduate Scholarship

Published

3 hours ago

September 28, 2023

Advocate News Nigeria

NDDC

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has announced the commencement of the application process for its 2023/2024 Foreign Post Graduate (Masters) Scholarship Programme.

This marks a significant stride in the Commission’s unwavering commitment to fostering human resource development and empowerment of the youths in the Niger Delta region.

Aiming to cultivate empowerment and specialization, this initiative is designed to equip the vibrant minds of the region with indispensable skills and training. The goal is to facilitate their meaningful participation in the Federal Government’s local content programme and to enable them to excel in various professional disciplines, enhancing their global competitiveness.

Diverse Opportunities for Study:
The programme offers a broad spectrum of fields, including diverse engineering disciplines like Biomedical, Software, and Marine, and cutting-edge domains such as Artificial Intelligence and Math/Sciences. Opportunities also extend to Health and Social Sciences, with options in Medical Sciences and Law, as well as Environmental and Physical Sciences, including Architecture and Environmental Science.

Eligibility and Application:
Eligibility is reserved for individuals originating from the Niger Delta Region, possessing relevant Bachelor’s Degrees with commendable classifications from recognized institutions. Prospective candidates are invited to submit their applications online through our official website [www.nddc.gov.ng](http://www.nddc.gov.ng), with the application window closing five weeks from the date of this announcement.

Rigorous Selection Process:
Candidates will undergo a comprehensive selection process, including preliminary shortlisting, a computer-based test in Rivers State, and final verification through respective Local Government Areas and Community Development Committees. The scholarship amount will be determined based on the prevailing exchange rate of the Naira.

For detailed information on application procedures, required documentation, and other relevant aspects, applicants are encouraged to visit [www.nddc.gov.ng](http://www.nddc.gov.ng). Further enquiries can be directed to:

Contact:
Director, Education, Health and Social Services, NDDC
Mobile: +234(0)9137806550, +234(0)9049409391
E-mail: foreign.scholarship@nddc.gov.ng

The NDDC remains steadfast in its mission to facilitate the sustainable development of the Niger Delta into a region that is economically prosperous, socially stable, ecologically regenerative, and politically harmonious. We extend our sincere best wishes to all applicants and eagerly anticipate welcoming the scholars who will contribute to shaping a brighter future for the region.

Pius Ughakpoteni
Director, Corporate Affairs
September 28, 2023.