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INEC Launches Online Portal For Voters To Register
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has launched an online portal for eligible voters to register.
Addressing journalists shortly after launching the portal, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Commission, said the portal was created for intending registrants to commence the process online.
He asked willing voters to register by providing relevant details before booking an appointment to visit the commission’s office.
Yakubu said as a result of security challenges in some parts of the country, the commission decided to start the registration online before it commences fully at all the 2,673 registration centres nationwide.
“In addition, those who are already registered as voters can carry out all the other activities such as transfers, correction of personal details and replacement of damaged or defaced PVCs online,” he said.
“We hope that through this portal, we shall reduce overcrowding at our registration centres, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, make the registration processes generally easier, thereby giving Nigerians a pleasant electoral experience.
“However, I must quickly reiterate that the online registration is a public service and therefore free of charge. There is no INEC-approved cybercafe, no online registration centre and no scratch card to be purchased for the exercise. All you need is a device, including your mobile phones, that can connect to the internet.”
INEC halted voter registration six months to the 2019 general elections.
June 24, 2021
JUST IN: Court Grants Baba Ijesha Bail
A Special Offences and Domestic Violence Court sitting in the Ikeja area of Lagos has granted bail to Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju Omiyinka, aka Baba Ijesha in the sum of N2million with two sureties.
The court during Omiyinka’s trial on Thursday held that one of the sureties must be a blood relation, resident in Lagos, and must have a tax clearance certificate of three years preceding today. Such relation must also make a monetary bond of N1million to the Chief Registrar of the court.
The other surety must be a legal practitioner whose call to bar certificate must be verified by the court.
He has seven days to perfect the bail but today he was released to the head of the legal team, Babatunde Ogala SAN.
The court then adjourned to the 26th, 27th, and 28th of July for the prosecution to open its case against the defendant.
June 24, 2021
Gov Ortom Lauds NSCDC Over Fight Against Insecurity In Benue State
By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi

Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has lauded the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corp, NSCDC, over its fight against insecurity in the state.

The Governor gave this commendation when the new Commandant of the Corp in Benue State, Mr Philip Okoh paid a courtesy visit to him at the Government House Makurdi.

He stressed that the Agro Rangers of the organization have distinguished themselves in the fight against banditry and criminality in the state.

Ortom promised to sustain the support of his administration to the Corp as well as other security operatives to enable them carry out their duties more efficiently.

The Governor stated that the implementation of the shoot at sight order by President Muhammadu Buhari against people who illegally carry AK47 rifles would help in no small measure in tackling security challenge in Nigeria.

Earlier in his remarks, the Commandant of the Corp, Mr Okoh said his mission in the state was to ensure peace and order. He appealed to the Governor to support the Command to enable it address some of the challenges confronting it.
June 24, 2021
Baba Ijesha pleads not guilty to alleged child molestation
Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju Omiyinka, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, on Thursday pleaded not guilty to charges of child molestation before an Ikeja Special Offences Court in Lagos.
The actor pleaded not guilty to a six-count charge bordering on indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault, attempted sexual assault by penetration and sexual assault by penetration.
The offences contravene Sections 135, 259, 262, 263 and 262 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Following the plea, the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mrs Olayinka Adeyemi, requested that the defendant should be remanded by the court.
In a bail application supported by a 29-paragraph affidavit, Lead defence counsel, Mr Dada Awosika (SAN), prayed the court to grant the defendant bail in liberal terms.
The bail application was brought pursuant to Section 105(2) and (3) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State, 2015, and Sections 35 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
“I will wish to note that the issue of bail, especially on an offence of this nature, is a constitutional right.
“This is a right the defendant has been deprived of for the past 48 days when he was unlawfully held by the police.
“We are also not unconscious of the JUSUN strike which made it difficult to bring him to court,” he said.
The counsel prayed the court to grant the defendant bail, saying that it was guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution.
“Imagine if this man is kept in detention for many years and is found innocent, will there be any restitution? No.
“Justice and fairness should be done,” he said.
In response, Adeyemi urged that the defendant should be denied bail.
According to her, the defendant is a flight risk and can influence witnesses, if granted bail.
“I want to bring to my lord’s attention the nature of one of the offences – sexual assault by penetration – which carries life imprisonment.
“Bail is a discretionary right, it is not a constitutional right.
“On the nature of the offence and the strength of the evidence, there is a prima facie case before your lordship.
“The court should take judicial notice of the crime which is rampant in society,” she said.
Adeyemi said that prosecution had six witnesses in the case.
Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo stood-down proceedings to give ruling on the bail application.
June 24, 2021
Pregnant woman, 2 others confirmed dead in Lagos-Ibadan road accident
A pregnant woman and two other men have been confirmed dead in a multiple accident that happened around Danco axis on the Lagos-Ibadan highway.
Mr Babatunde Akinbiyi, the Spokesperson for Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), confirmed the development to our correspondent in Abeokuta.
Akinbiyi explained that the accident occurred around 4:30a.m. on Thursday.
He noted that the accident involved a Mazda bus marked LND 676 XX loaded with tomatoes and another Mazda bus marked BDG 755 YA loaded with cassava flakes (garri).
He added that it also involved a DAF truck (flat body) with registration number XY 895 GGE and a granite-laden Iveco truck marked JBD 16 XY.
Akinbiyi said that the the driver of the Mazda bus carrying ‘garri’ lost control due to speeding and rammed into an unknown run away truck from the rear which led to multiple hits by other vehicles.
“Among the three casualties who died in the unfortunate crash are two men who are occupants of the Mazda bus loaded with ‘garri’, while the pregnant woman was in the Mazda bus carrying tomatoes,’’ he said .
The TRACE spokesman stated that the deceased were evacuated by the officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to Idera Hospital’s private morgue, Sagamu.
He added that all the vehicles involved in the accident had been towed to the Police Divisional Command in Sagamu.
He commiserated with the families of the deceased.
Akinbiyi warned motorists to desist from speeding and always consider other road users.
June 24, 2021
Buhari Has Nothing To Do With Media Bills – Presidency
The Presidency says President Muhammadu Buhari has nothing to do with the ongoing attempt by the House of Representatives to amend the Nigerian Press Council (NPC) Act and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Act.
The Newspapers Proprietor Association of Nigeria (NPAN), the Nigeria Guild of Editor and other media stakeholders had spoken against the proposed amendments seen as an attempt to muzzle the press.
Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, while fielding questions from State House reporters after the Federal Executive Council meeting, said only the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, could speak on the matter.
When asked to comment on the issue, Adesina said: “That’s not strictly a Presidency thing because the president has nothing to do with that. It’s a government thing and it’s the Minister that can talk about it. So, thank you.”
On the recent development over the action taken on the popular social media platform and the verdict of the sub-regional court, Adesina said the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, was studying the ruling issued by the ECOWAS Court to the effect that Twitter users cannot be arrested or prosecuted following the suspension of the activities of the microblogging site in the country.
Adesina, who said the AGF would advise the federal government on the next step to take, added that the committee made up of ministers to engage with Twitter has commenced action.
June 24, 2021
Insecurity: Army, police officers aiding bandits with weapons, drugs – Gumi insists
Controversial Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, on Thursday, insisted that some police and Army officers are aiding banditry in Nigeria.
Gumi alleged that some security operatives are selling weapons to bandits and also into drugs distribution.
Speaking exclusively, the Islamic scholar urged the Army and the police hierarchy to identify and flush out the bad eggs.
He also claimed that some security agents aided the bandits by collecting bribe from them.
According to Gumi: “I know we have bad elements in the security and I think it’s high time that those found to be taking bribe, aiding banditry by selling weapons should be flushed out of the security system.
“Actually in Zamfara, there are some bad elements in the security but not all of them. A few percentage in our security are using the privilege advantage they have to aide bandits in gun running, drug distributions.
“So, I’m calling on the military and the police to reign in on their men and flush out the bad ones.”
Recall that Gumi had accused the military of colluding with bandits in their operations.
But, the Nigerian Army had dismissed such claim by Gumi.
Lately, the activities of banditry has been on the rise across the country.
Bandits have been attacking, abducting and killing students in the Northern part of the country.
Recall we had reported that some bandits abducted students and teachers of the Federal Government College in Birnin-Yauri, Kebbi State.
The bandits killed a police officer before whisking the four staff and an unspecified number of students to an unknown location.
One of the students abducted from the school was shot dead during a gun duel between soldiers and the abductors.
But, the Nigerian Army had disclosed that five of the abducted students and two teachers of the college have been rescued.
June 24, 2021
2023: Northern Youths endorse Gov Bala Mohammed for president
The Northern Youths Leaders’ Forum (NYLF) on Wednesday endorsed the Bauchi State governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, as its choiced presidential candidate, threatening to work against the governor’s future political interests should he decline the endorsement.
NYLF National President, Comrade Elliot Afiyo, revealed the Forum’s endorsement when he led other members on a courtesy visit to the governor at the Government House, Bauchi.
According to him, the Forum, which consists 42 northern groups, had taken upon itself the responsibility of shortlisting, investigating, screening and endorsing credible candidates for every presidential election by her patrons since 1999.
He informed that one of the objectives of the Forum was the political interest of the North, especially in a democratic dispensation, adding that it had remained steadfast despite threats, intimidations and inducements.
The group national president informed that Governor Mohammed emerged the Forum’s preferred presidential candidate for the 2023 presidential election at its 27th delegate conference in Yola, Adamawa State, where members voted to that effect.
According to Afiyo, 27 prominent Nigerians were shortlisted for screening by the Forum’s political committee headed by Doctor Sani Musa, its zonal coordinator South-East during its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Gombe State.
“Your Excellency, this Forum took interest in you when you defeated a sitting governor in the senatorial election in 2007. Since then, our intelligence committee led by my humble self decided to give His Excellency a close watch, this you may not know.
“His Excellency’s boldness and overwhelming passion for truth and justice which came to public notice when you displayed against all odds in the Senate by introducing the doctrine of necessity which brought peace, order and tranquillity in the nation, gives us assurance that one day, a desired and respected president will emerge to take us across the red sea,” Afiyo said.
He declared that Governor Mohammed’s performances as the FCT Minister and his two years of leadership in Bauchi State were magic wands which convinced them, and indeed many Nigerians, that he (Mohammed) would lead Nigeria to the promised land as its president.
Responding, Governor Mohammed said that the endorsement by the Forum for him to run as a presidential candidate in 2023 general election is not only a great honour to him, people of Bauchi State but also all upcoming politicians in Northern Nigeria.
He commended the NYLF for its leadership recruitment process, which the governor declared was worthy of emulation.
“I have never induced this group with one kobo and I was hearing it as a tale and I knew some of the politicians that are of high calibre that I have been trying to reach them. I keep asking why they think an absurd politician like me could take such a responsibility because I believe God helped me in everything, rising me from a humble background to becoming a director in the federal civil Service, after an experience in the media and to become a senator representing Bauchi and later Minister of FCT and today, with all the persecution and prosecution, I became a governor in Bauchi State.
“I am a highly fulfilled person. My children are my family, my wife is here, they have suffered enough for me. My well wishers have suffered enough of abuses, lies and destruction of my character and my person because of the perception that I may go somewhere and you are trying to pull me to that level that I will be shot with political mischief and treachery.
‘I am not yet ready for that, I am fulfilled and that is why when I came to Bauchi, I came with the fire and the zeal to make sure I perform,” the governor said.
June 24, 2021
NDDC Board: Anything other than June deadline won’t be acceptable, IYC to Akpabio, FG
Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa
The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide has called on the Federal Government and the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to honour the June deadline agreement reached with stakeholders on the constitution of the substantive board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The IYC in a statement signed by its President, Peter Timothy Igbifa and made available to DAYBREAK NEWS in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Wednesday said, youths would not accept anything other than constituting the board before the end of June as agreed with the stakeholders.
Igbifa told President Muhammadu Buhari that anybody suggesting the extension of the current arrangement in NDDC till July ending was an enemy of his administration.
He insisted that any politician or a member of his cabinet trying to give reasons for any extension simply desired to plunge the Niger Delta, the mainstay of the country’s economy, into avoidable crisis.
Igbifa insisted that the stakeholders, who met and agreed on the current deadline should not be taken for granted because of the greed of one individual.
The IYC boss said it was no longer tenable to continue to use the ongoing forensic audit of the commission to perpetrate the ongoing injustice in NDDC.
He said: “We are calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to honour tye agreement between the Niger Delta stakeholders and the federal government on the constitution of the NDDC substantive board before the end of this month.
“Any attempt to demand extension of the ongoing anomaly in NDDC will be resisted vehemently by our youths. It is expected that by now the Federal Government will have released the list of the board nominees. But up till now nothing has happened and the time left is highly reduced.
“What is coming if this agreement is not honoured is unimaginable. Our youths are ready to totally shut down the region this time around. No politician will be allowed to continue playing with the sensibilities of the people of the region”.
June 23, 2021
Dikio tasked committee on public perception of PAP
Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa
Interim Administrator Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd), has charged members of PAP’s Strategic Communications Committee to change negative public perception about the scheme.
Dikio urged the committee consisting of ex- agitators to ensure effective dissemination of information about the scheme to attract expected development to the region.
Speaking on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, at the second quarterly meeting with members of the committee, Dikio, explained that the absence of a proper channel of commumication in the past led to misinformation.
But he said PAP under him was determined to correct the anomaly through the committee for the benefits of the beneficiaries and all critical stakeholders.
He asked members of the committee to be adequately prepared for the task ahead and to understand the sensitive nature of their assignment.
Dikio further urged them to know the importance of operating within the limits of their mandate and recognizing the hierarchy and chain of command in the dissemination of information emanating from the PAP office.
He noted that any information coming out of his office must be authorized by him and disseminated through the media office duly signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Neotaobase Egbe.
He said: “It’s important for members of this committee to clearly understand that in PAP we take the dissemination of information very seriously. We are very deliberate about information that we put out in the public space and this is why we have a structured system in place on how information coming out of PAP get to the public.
“You must know that all information going out to the public from PAP are authorized by me through my SA on Media. However, your roles are clearly spelt out in the documents given to you”.
Dikio stressed that members of the committee must cross-check with PAP’s media office before going public with any information.
He said a specialized training on public communication, media relations for members of the committee would be organized to build their capacity and further equip them for the job.
The meeting also examined other issues of critical concern in the region, especially on the need to create a conducive atmosphere for businesses to thrive.
He said for business to thrive and for development to be attracted to the region, the committee must take its task seriously, particularly in the way and manner its members shape the narrative and enhance public perception about the region.
In his remarks, the chairman of the Strategic Communication Committee, Mr. Nature Dumale, and the Spokesman, Mr. Ellington Tam, expressed their excitement over the appointment describing it as a call to duty.
They said one of the major tasks was to make sure that peace was maintained in the Niger Delta region and the communities were effectively carried along in their activities.
Highpoint of the meeting was the presentation of official letters to members of the committee, signaling their appointments and documents clearly spelling out roles and their terms of reference.
June 23, 2021