Trouble for Oyetola as Ex-INEC director makes clarification on BVAs Report

 

January 30, 2023 

Following the judgment of the Osun State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, which sacked Governor Ademola Adeleke and reinstated Gboyega Oyetola, a former Director of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said not all data was transmitted when the All Progressives Congress (APC) obtained the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) server report.

TDN reports that a former Director, Voter Education and Publicity, INEC, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, stated that there should not have been a discrepancy in the 2022 Osun State governorship election.

He explained that the APC obtained a certified copy of the initial server report before some of the data had been transmitted by the BVAS hardware.

Osaze-Uzzi, however, pointed out that the judgment was not a unanimous judgement.

"The machines were tendered, so were the reports from the server, and there ought not to have been a discrepancy, but somewhere along the line, not all the data had been transmitted at the time the APC obtained the certified copy of the initial server report," he said while speaking on Channels TV's Sunrise Daily.

Osaze-Uzzi, however, described the judgement as a validation of the role BVAS has played in enhancing the electoral process.

Rather than view the discrepancy from a negative perspective, he encouraged stakeholders to take a more optimistic outlook, arguing that BVAS exposed the over-voting in the election

Super Eagles forward Paul Onuachu breaks Premier League record

Paul Onuachu 

 

The Super Eagles forward made a switch from KRC Genk to join Southampton.

The Nigerian International, Paul Onuachu, broke the record for height in the English Premier League in 2022–23 following his signing with Southampton

The Nigerian striker joined the English club from KRC Genk in the January transfer window for a fee in the region of €18.00 million.

However, after moving to England, he has surpassed Dan Burn of Newcastle United to become the tallest player in the Premier League.

Soccernet.ng reports that Burn, who is 201 cm tall and is the same height as Southampton's Fraser Forster, shorter than the Nigerian forward, who stands at 202 cm.

The league's tallest players this year are Sasa Kalajdzic (200 cm), Asmir Begovi (199 cm), Jannik Vestergaard (199 cm), and Wout Weghorst (197 cm), among others.

Onuachu, who scored a handful of goals for the Smurfs in the Belgian Pro League, was thought to have an edge due to his physique.

The Nigerian forward led the Belgian league in goals scored with 16 in 19 league games for the team before leaving Cegeka Arena.

The club's head of football might have cleverly stated that one of the reasons they invested heavily in Tolu Arokodare, a fellow countryman, in the late hours of the January transfer deadline day was due to the striker's nimble body.

The Nigerian striker hopes to participate in his debut game for the Saints when the team visits Brentford FC at Gteck Community Stadium on Saturday, February 4, 2023

 

CBN issues conditions to be met before old notes are accepted after Feb 10th deadline

Certain Conditions Must Be Met, CBN Clarifies Old Naira Acceptance After Feb 10

A spokesman for the apex bank said after the deadline, Nigerians will be able to redeem the face value of the Naira only at the CBN subject to meeting certain conditions.

 Kayode Oyero  February 4th, 2023

   

Emefiele had previously failed to honour the House of Reps invitation.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has clarified the position of the apex bank chief, Godwin Emefiele, that old N200, N500 and N1,000 will be accepted after the February 10, 2023 fresh deadline.

Speaking with newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday, the Director of the Corporate Communications Department at the CBN, Osita Nwanisobi, explained that the old notes would cease to be legal tender after the February 10, 2023, and can no longer be used for any form of transaction afterward.

'Only CBN Will Accept Old Notes After Deadline'

Nwanisobi said after the deadline, Nigerians will be able to redeem the face value of the Naira only at the CBN and not at commercial banks. He also added that the acceptance will be subject to meeting certain conditions.

The apex bank's spokesman emphasised that in line with the provision of Section 20 (3) of the CBN Act, Nigerians would have the opportunity to "redeem the face value of the Naira only at the Central Bank after the currency had lost its legal tender status, subject to meeting certain conditions".

The duration for the acceptance of the old notes after the expiration of the deadline was, however, not stated.

Citing instances in other climes, Nwanisobi explained that banknotes that cease to be legal tender are only redeemable by the monetary authorities of such jurisdiction upon demand subject to conditions and processes as may be prescribed by that Central Bank.

Earlier on Tuesday, Emefiele appeared before the House of Representatives Adhoc Committee on naira swap months after the invitation by lower chamber and days after the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila threatened to issue an arrest warrant on the apex bank chief.

The CBN chief told the committee that the old notes would be accepted after the February 10 deadline.

The CBN had on October 26, 2022, announced its plan to redesign the three banknotes. President Muhammadu Buhari subsequently unveiled the redesigned N200, N500 and N1,000 notes on November 23, 2022, while the apex bank fixed January 31 deadline for the validity of the old notes.

The CBN also pegged its weekly cash withdrawal limits to N500,000 for individuals and N5m for corporate firms.

Many Nigerians have lamented the scarcity of new notes as the January 31 deadline approached while the National Assembly demanded a six-month extension.

However, emerging from a meeting with the President on Sunday, the apex bank chief said Buhari gave permission for the deadline to be extended to February 10.

Calabar Seaport, my top priority as a senator – Rt. Hon. Daniel Asuquo

The senatorial candidate of the Labour Party for Cross River South, Rt. Hon. (Ntufam) Daniel Asuquo recently stated that making the Calabar Seaport operational is his topmost priority. Asuquo stated this while addressing a cross-section of the press in Calabar. He reiterated this position while also addressing the people of Ikot Ishie, Akai Efa, and Ikot Ansa that the Calabar Seaport takes the top spot on his to-do list as a senator for Cross River South, the Nigerian State as well.

According to the experienced and seasoned legislator, the functionality of the seaport will not only benefit the state but the country and the world at large. The state of the seaport is akin to one who has a treasure and instead of exposing the treasure the exposure to get marketable value, you rather hide it and deny yourself and others the prosperity such a treasure could bring.

Explaining further, Asuquo said that he was part of the committee that investigated the contracts of the Nigerian Ports, and the sharp practices there are enormous. The dredging of the Calabar Seaport became an avenue for settling political scores and others. We have frantic efforts to right the wrongs, but there is a limit I can go as a representative member.

I give you my word, the seaport is my number one priority, and I will be working hand and hand with the governor and all other stakeholders to ensure the seaport is up and running. As our first step.

I have done my homework and as part of steps towards the functionality of our seaport, the Minister of Transportation shall come clean with a policy document on the operations of the seaport, let no one deceive you that it is not possible as we are ready to play the politics this time. 

If you study the world map carefully, you can then Imagine the wastefulness and the pains we go through in this country, that ships coming from Europe, China, and Australia have to pass through Calabar Port, Port Harcourt to Lagos to go and queue up, and after discharging the cargo, trailers will have to load and embark on a long tedious journey to the East and the North and other parts of the country. We completely push our country's economic hub to one region and become subservient to their dictates and this is what they have weaponized against us.

Think of Cross River State in your mind's eye if the seaport is working, think of the economic activities here and all of that. As a member representing a constituency, there are limits to the things I can do in the National Assembly but as a senator, it is a different ball game and I want to put my experience to bear to ensure that Calabar regains the glory days through the seaport and every other thing that will come with it.

The challenges faced in this state in unemployment, technical education, technological advancement, etc will be dwarfed by half if our seaport is working. We will push for this to finality, so let's get to work, he added.

The story of the Calabar Seaport has been very pathetic with a contract upon a contract of the dredging of the seaport becoming a tale by the moonlight. The bureaucracy and bottlenecks that have characterized the dredging of the seaport especially as it involves certain high-profile personalities in the country leave very little to be desired from the wilderness experience of the seaport. Except for the section of the seaport which takes care of vessels bringing in refined petroleum products, the seaport would have been completely redundant.

It is for these reasons that it becomes imperative to give life to the vision of ensuring that the policy documents for the full functionality of the Calabar Seaport become a prerogative that involves the contribution of industries and other stakeholders.

Victor Osimhen’s goal against Roma is named Serie A goal of the month

 

The Nigerian striker successfully handles Kvaratskhelia's cross in the 16th minute and scores a stunning goal in front of the AS Roma supporters.

Serie A has announced Victor Osimhen's goal against Roma as the goal of the month for January.

The Super Eagles talisman contributed to the Parthenopeans maintaining their dominance at the top of the league when they host José Mourinho's men at the Diego Maradona Stadium.

The Nigerian international fired in his 14th goal of the season with a cross from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the 16th minute from the kick-off time.

Mario Rui slid a deft pass to the Georgian forward on the left side before crossing it to Osimhen, who brought it down on his chest and sent it wide past Rui Patricio.

As a reward for the Nigerian's outstanding technical gesture on Sunday at the Maradona, the league announced the goal on social media.

"The goal of the month of January is from…

…but whose? If not by @victorosimhen9"  the League declared on their official Twitter account.

Osimhen now has 14 goals, and four assists in 15 Serie A games this season, which has piqued the interest of several European clubs.

He is, however, hoping to win Napoli's third Serie A title after 33 years.

 

Donald Duke's Wife to face legal battle over 8-Year old Nephew's Property she sized

 

 

Developing Story | 3rd February 2023 

If drastic steps are not taken to quell the brewing family crisis, Mrs Onari Duke, wife of former governor of Cross River State, Mr Donald Duke might be facing a legal battle over a piece of property located at Elakahia Housing Estate in Port Harcourt, Rivers state she allegedly sized from an 8-year-old said to be her late brother's son.

According to a letter sighted by our correspondent as written by Barr B. Dike of C.W. Omeke and Co, located at No. 4 Celila Plaza, Rukpokwu, Port Harcourt, the said property belongs to Mrs Pele Bobmanuel Kent, whose solicitors they are. The document also noted that she has engaged their services as er legal team with the hope of recovering the property from Mrs Duke who is said to have leased out the property and solely enjoying the proceeds. 

The legal team of Mrs Pele Bobmanuel have therefore, requested occupants of the said property not to renew their rent to Mrs Duke but vacate the property at the expiration of their current tenancy which expires in March this year.

Our reporter gathered that the property originally belongs to Late Mr Anthony Karibi Bobmanuel, younger brother to Mrs Onari Duke. Duke illegally sized the property from her brother's widow not minding that her brother left behind a son. 

She is said to have leased the property out for three years without letting her nephew have access to the proceeds of his supposed inheritance. 

Mrs Duke is said to have used a Calabar-based estate agent Gersh Henshaw and co to rent out the Port Harcourt property 3 years ago when her nephew’s father died. 

The eviction notice served the occupants of the property by C.W. Omeke and Co with backings from the Magistrate Court in Rivers State came in when the original owner of the property got the hint that Mrs Duke is planning to rent the property for another 3 years. The court has therefore stopped her moves as she has no legal right to manage the property.

When TDN contacted Tessy Bobmanuel, Wife of the Late Mr Anthony Karibi Bobmanuel the younger brother to Mrs Onari Duke, she reveal attempts several attempts to plead with Mrs Dukto e to enable them have access to the Said property even after the court injunction have met brick walls.

Attempting to get Mrs Onari Duke's side of the story is proving to be an Herculean task, we shall continue to update this story as events unfold. 

Donald Duke's Wife to face legal battle over 8-Year old Nephew's Property she sized

 

*Donald Duke's Wife to face legal battle over 8-Year old Nephew's Property she sized*

Developing Story | 3rd February 2023 

If drastic steps are not taken to quell the brewing family crisis to remedy the situation, Mrs Onari Duke, wife of former governor of Cross River State, Mr Donald Duke might be facing a legal battle over a piece of property she allegedly sized from an 8-year-old said to be her late brother's son.

According to a letter sighted by our correspondent as written by Barr B. Dike of C.W. Omeke and Co, the said property belongs to Mrs Pele Bobmanuel Kent, whose solicitors they are. The document also noted that she has engaged their services as her legal team with the hope of recovering the property from Mrs Duke who is said to have leased out the property and solely enjoying the proceeds. 

The legal team of Mrs Pele Bobmanuel have therefore, requested occupants of the said property not to renew their rent to Mrs Duke but vacate the property at the expiration of their current tenancy which expires in March this year.

Our reporter gathered that the property originally belongs to Late Mr Anthony Karibi Bobmanuel, younger brother to Mrs Onari Duke. Duke illegally sized the property from her brother's widow not minding that her brother left behind a son. 

She is said to have leased the property out for three years without letting her nephew have access to the proceeds of his supposed inheritance. 

Mrs Duke is said to have used a Calabar-based estate agent Gersh Henshaw and co to rent out the Port Harcourt property 3 years ago when her nephew's father died. 

The eviction notice served the occupants of the property by C.W. Omeke and Co with backings from the Magistrate Court in Rivers State came in when the original owner of the property got the hint that Mrs Duke is planning to rent the property for another 3 years. The court has therefore stopped her moves as she has no legal right to manage the property.

When TDN contacted Tessy Bobmanuel, Wife of the Late Mr Anthony Karibi Bobmanuel the younger brother to Mrs Onari Duke, she reveal attempts several attempts to plead with Mrs Dukto e to enable them have access to the Said property even after the court injunction have met brick walls.

Attempting to get Mrs Onari Duke's side of the story is proving to be an Herculean task, we shall continue to update this story as events unfold. 

NGO Organized Training For Human Right Institutions On VAWG In CRS

Asuquo Cletus Felix | 29th January 2023

A Non-governmental Organization, and legal Service Provider,  Women's Aid Collective (WACOL), has organized a one day training and capacity building on Violence Against Women And Girls(VAWG)  in Cross River State.

The training is aimed at training National Human Rights institutions, media, and other critical stakeholders on reporting and following up on obligations in relations to human rights monitoring and reporting on (VAWG) in Nigeria.

Speaking during the event which held at Marian Hotel Calabar, the Cross River State Capital, the Founding Director of (WACOL)  Prof Ezeilo SAN OON, represented by Anulika Ezennia said  "the training is aimed at monitoring, evaluating and reporting cases of violence against women and girls".

According to her, reporters and the media establishment should be careful, creative on how they report issues of Gender based violence.

She said " Cross River State is one of the six (6) states we had the training. Recently we had training in Ebonyi, we want to desensitize the people on how to be creative most especially the media and other related human rights agencies in their reportage .

" Journalists and the media should fact check their reports so that they can earn sustained trust, so as not to open themselves to litigation.

" Reporters or anybody reporting genderbase Violence must be careful. It is therefore necessary for stakeholders to be sensitive and try not to objectify women in their report. 

" We should be careful to environments and objectives to certain approaches and also be selective in pictures ".

Part of the events was a development of a workable action plan WACOL that will assist the media and new technologies to promote awareness on human rights, gender equality and violence against women and girls (VAWG).

Established in 1997 as an independent, non-political, non-governmental and non-profit organization WACOL was  registered in 2000 as a company limited by guarantee as a charitable organization with the Corporate Affairs of Commission (CAC), Nigeria.

 WACOL's vision is a democratic society free from violence and abuse, where human rights of all in particular women and young people are recognized in law and practice.  Its mission is to assist in the education, social, economic and political development of women and young people through a wide range of services: training, research, advocacy, shelter, free legal and financial aid, intra-familial/community conflict resolution, and information and library services. The organization works throughout Nigeria and in the West African sub-region and beyond.

WACOL holds TOT to produce State Action Plan on VAWG/HP/SGBV

Women's aid Collective - WACOL, an organizations whose aim is to have society free from violence and abuse, held a 2-day workshop to train trainers (ToT) and key persons on implementation of the national action plan (NAP) on Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG), Health Promotion (HP) and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) has held in Cross River state.

The ToT workshop which held at Marian Hotel, Calabar, Thursday and Friday drew participants from key organisations and government Ministry, Department and Agencies (MDAs) with the aim of strengthening government policies and institutions around issues of VAWG, HP AND SGBV.

While addressing participants at the events, the founding executive director of Women's Aid Collective WACOL, Prof. Joy Ezeilo SAN, OON informed that the project was part of the UN EU sponsored spotlight initiative to end all forms of violence, she noted that as implementing partners, WACOL is implementing the project in the 6 states of Cross River, Ebonyi, Adamawa, Sokoto, Lagos, and FCT. 

 

Cross River as part of six states across the country (Nigeria) including T was selected for the workshop as part of two criteria, namely, rate of gender based violence (GBV) in those states as well as the commitment of government in view of enabling environment.

Prof. Ezeilo who explained that WACOL was selected to implement the ToT in Cross River and Ebonyi with focal interest at implementing pillar one bothering on laws and policies and pillar two which touches on strengthening government institutions noted that the 'Spotlight Initiative is the world's largest targeted effort to end violence against women', highlighted that there is a need to replicate the National Action Plan, NAP on VAWG, HP and SGBV at the states level.

'Within these two days we are going to develop a state action plan, during the presentation of the resource persons you will understand further the contents of the national action plan which you are going to adapt to draw our state action plan', Ezeilo observed.

In her remarks the Permanent Secretary,  Ministry of Women Affairs Dr. Egbe advocated for a proper development and implementation of a state action plan, SAP. She added that 'without implementation there is nothing.' According to her, implementation is the hallmark.

Speaking exclusively with journalists 
Prof. Ezeilo, said the National Action Plan, on VAWG, HP and SGBV 'is geared towards mapping out pragmatic approaches to end violence against women and girls, sexual and gender-based violence', and facilitate sexual and reproductive health rights for women.

Ezeilo who was represented by the Program Officer of WACOL, Anuli Ezennia added that at the end of the day when the state action is developed it is anticipated that a state steering committee is formed to facilitate implementation of the national action plan, MAP in the state.

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LIFE-ND Project Organizes Computer Training workshop For Staff and LG Desk Officers

The Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises for The Niger Delta, (LIFE-ND) Project, has organized a two day computer  training workshop for LG Desks Officers across the 10 Local Government Areas in Cross River State.

The training which was declared opened by the State Project Coordinator (SPC) Mr Innocent Ogbin, had the Project Local Government Desk Officers and the State Project Coordinating Officers in attendance. 

In his address Mr Ogbin charged participants to make good use of the opportunity to develop and broaden their knowledge in the use of the various apps and applications as a way of enhancing efficiency in their job performances. He stated that, the training is aimed at building capacity and strengthening their competence towards efficient service delivery.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Daily News (TDN), the State Project Coordinator, stated that, the training is organized  to assist Desk Officers achieve greater results in the performance of their  duties in line with international best practice especially in capturing, documentation and reporting Project inputs, outputs, outcomes and impact using  technology. 

He therefore, charged participants to interact effectively and, be  attentive so that they can apply and utilize  the knowledge in a competing World of ICT. 

He explained that, the Local Government Desk Officers were carefully selected, through a highly competitive process, thus must be seen to be efficient, reliable and dependable in the discharge of its responsibilities. 

"In this Project we target the primary and secondary beneficiaries. The primary targets are persons between the ages of 18-35yrs, the unemployed/grossly underemployed women and youth, persons with disabilities and women headed households with children under fifteen years of age etc. While the secondary target are the processors. 

"The training of Desk Officers is aimed at equipping them with relevant knowledge and skills that shall enable them gather accurate and reliable data. The ability in maintaining data integrity shall guide and reappraise  our planning strategy for the growth and development of target beneficiaries". 

" Considering the fact that 4250 persons are expected to benefit directly, the data so generated shall be a guide to  determine how much of the planned target had been achieved. With a view of re-addressing  lapses where they occur. 

The training is indeed very necessary as it shall position the Desk Officers for greater job performances"

" We wants them to pay attention so that after this high capacity training workshop, they can help us to work effectively. Not just us but also the private sector". he said.

The State Administrative and Logistic Officer, Mrs. Tem Felix Alobo, said the training was necessitated by the desire of the project to gather  data without under-reporting results. Noting that the increase in Incubatees calls for higher efficiency in the use of computer and computing.    "Since the Desk Officers work directly with computer system to input data and information, it is therefore, necessary for their skills to be enhanced for maximum effectiveness". 

 

"The  Desk Officers make use of computer to report directly to the National project Coordinating Office. We expect that at the end of the training the Desk Officers should be able to compute their reports directly to the National project Coordinating Office without hitches

 "Similarly, the equipping of Desk Officers on the knowledge of the use of cloud as a storage application  is apt. It enhances their capacity in the use of cloud for storage of information." She said. 

On other trainings conducted, the State Administration and logistics officer informed The Daily News crew that  Leadership and communication Training, Basic Security and safety Training, effective driving and etiquette, etc have been held for the project staff in the State.

Mr. Henry Aneji Ekpor, a LIFE-ND Project Desk Officer for Obubra LGA who spoke on behalf of other trainees, expressed satisfaction with the training, stating that the training had strengthened and enhanced their capacity to deliver on their job description. Noting, that having been exposed and introduced to computing with Microsoft word 2013-19 and cloud computing as well as practical demonstration and hands-on-computing  approach, the handling of  job schedule shall be greatly enhanced. 

LIFE -ND, project is an initiative of the Federal Government of Nigeria, designed in collaboration with International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

 The project is in response to the limited readily available options for the disadvantaged youths and women in the rural and suburban communities to improve their means of livelihood and help them to live decent lives.

 The project is implemented in 100 communities in 10 LGA in Cross River State.

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