EFCC Confirms Invasion Of FUTA Students Hostels, Arrest Of Suspected Internet Fraudsters

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February 14, 2024

By Ayodele Oni

“We were petitioned by concerned parents and neighbours”- EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) has explained that the night sting operation in Akure Ondo state was on invitation by residents that complained about the nefarious activities of the students.

The Federal University of Technology, Akure, (FUTA) had complained about invasion of some off campus hostels where some students reside.

EFCC, in its X account confirmed the operation during which 14 undergraduates of FUTA, were whisked away.

EFCC added that the arrest was made by its operatives in the Benin Zonal Command.

The agency also explained that the 14 undergraduates were arrested alongside 19 others, in the early hours of Wednesday, February 14, for suspected internet crimes.

Some students had taken to social media to share videos of the midnight raid.

The videos showed broken window frames from what is believed to be an attempt at forced entry, alleging that a female student was molested and some students sustained bodily injuries.

EFCC claimed the raid was a response to calls to the agency by parents and neighbours around the location.

“The suspects were arrested at different residential locations within the Akure metropolis following intelligence on their alleged nefarious activities.

“Specifically, the sting operation that yielded their arrest was a response to strident calls to the EFCC by neighbours and parents around the locations, to save their children from being lured into internet-related activities by the suspects.

“Items recovered at the point of arrest include 10 exotic cars, phones, laptops and one motorbike.

“The suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.”

“Do Not Hinder ‘Japa’ Nurses”‘ – Obi Urges NMCN

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The Source

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February 14, 2024

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The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 General Election, Peter Obi, has advised Nursing authorities in Nigeria against hindering their members desiring to ‘Japa’ to other countries.

Obi urged the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) to consider reversing their recently updated guidelines for nurses’ verification.

He appealed to them not to impede nurses from seeking global opportunities with stringent measures.

He told the NMCN that earlier released revised guidelines for verifying nurses migrating abroad are widely seen as an attempt to discourage nurse migration from Nigeria.

The former Anambra state Governor who has been an ardent supporter of Nursing and other Health practitioner’s Education in the country bared his mind during his visit to the College of Nursing Sciences at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Ihiala, where he donated N20 million for healthcare professional training.

Obi emphasized the importance of enabling Nigerian nurses to access better global opportunities.

“We should facilitate our nurses in maximizing their skills globally by implementing measures that grant them increased access to global opportunities. Nigerian nurses are highly sought after worldwide. By migrating and gaining international skills and experiences, they reinvest the same into our health sector for more growth,” said Obi.

Presenting an N20 million cheque to the Proprietor of the College of Nursing Sciences, Most Rev Jonas Benson Okoye, Obi reiterated his commitment to investing in critical areas of development which healthcare is number one and the healthcare worker is the front liner of this critical value chain component.

“Recent studies project a shortage of several million nurses globally by 2030, of which Nigeria is a part. With this foreknowledge we should invest more aggressively in training more nurses and establishment of nursing schools nationwide to meet the global market and demand, addressing the shortage,” Obi stated.

He emphasized that besides acquiring international exposure and experiences, these healthcare professionals would contribute substantial foreign remittances which already exceed that of the oil revenue

Obi urged the NMCN to reconsider and reverse their stringent measures, ensuring Nigerian nurses receive their verifications promptly, as previously done.

FG Recants, Says No Law Permits UK Licenced Lawyers To Practice In Nigeria

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Ayodele Oni

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February 14, 2024

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By Ayodele Oni

Following criticism from the Nigeria Bar Association, (NBA) the Federal Government has recanted on its earlier statement that United Kingdom, (UK), lawyers are allowed to practice in Nigeria.

Minister for Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite, in a statement, highlighted that the UK-trained lawyers can practice in Nigeria following an Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership signed by Nigeria and the UK on Tuesday.

While clarifying the federal government stand, in a series of posts on her X account, Uzoka-Anite said: “Earlier today, Nigeria signed a far-reaching MoU with the United Kingdom for Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership.

“Regrettably, our earlier report erroneously suggests that Nigeria has signed a Memorandum of Understanding that allows lawyers licensed in the United Kingdom to practice in Nigeria. We wish to state emphatically that there is no such provision or agreement in the MoU.”

The minister explained that Nigeria does not have a Mutual Recognition Agreement with the UK and made no commitment under the MoU or elsewhere to allow UK-licensed lawyers to practice in Nigeria.

“As it currently stands, foreign licensed lawyers, including those licensed in the UK, cannot practice in Nigeria, as categorically stated in the MoU.

“We recognize that cross-jurisdictional practice between Nigeria and the United Kingdom is still an ongoing conversation amongst relevant stakeholders within the legal practitioners community in Nigeria, and this was reflected in the MoU.”

The NBA President, Yakubu Maikyau, had condemned the purported agreement in a statement on Tuesday, stating that the statement credited to the Minister was “ridiculous, unpatriotic, and uninformed.”

Maikyau also said if the MoU is implemented, it would amount to re colonization of Nigeria by the British.

Senate Names 43-Member Committee On Constitution Amendment

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Ayodele Oni

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February 14, 2024

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By Ayodele Oni

Bowing to public agitation for constitutional amendment, Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has named a 43-member ad hoc committee to further review the 1999 Constitution.

Those agitating for amendment of the constitution are demanding for state police, resource control and creation of more local governments.

The committee, which is chaired by the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, has a member from each of the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

In addition, each of the six geopolitical zones has a member on the committee. Akpabio said the committee would be inaugurated on Tuesday.

He directed that all the proposals for amendments to the constitution should be forwarded to the committee.

Malpractices: WAEC Withholds Results Of 7,192 Private Candidates

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Ayodele Oni

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February 14, 2024

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By Ayodele Oni

West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has withheld results of 7,192 candidates, representing 8.89 per cent of those that sat for the December, 2023, examinations for private candidates.

In a statement on Wednesday on the X page of the examination body, it stated that this was due to noticeable malpractices while results of others are now available.

The statement added that “The total number of candidates who registered for the exam was 85,600 out of which 80,904 actually wrote the exam between October 27 and December 20, 2023.

“A total of 39,790, amounting to 49.18 per cent were males, while 41,114, representing 50.82 per cent were females.

“The analysis of the performance of the candidates shows that out of the eight thousand, nine hundred and four (80,904) candidates that sat the examination: forty-six thousand, two hundred and sixty-seven (46,267) candidates representing 57.19% obtained credit and above in a minimum of FIVE (5) subjects (with or without English Language and/or Mathematics); thirty-five thousand, eight hundred and thirty (35,830) candidates representing 44.29% obtained credit and above in a minimum of FIVE (5) subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.”

It said a total of 78,419 candidates, representing 96.93 per cent “have their results fully processed and released while 2,485 candidates, representing 3.07 per cent have a few of their subjects still being processed due to some errors traceable to them.

“Efforts are being made to speedily complete the processing to enable all the affected candidates to get their results fully processed and released, soon.”

Owing to alleged infractions committed during the examination period, WAEC said a total of 7,192 candidates, representing 8.89 per cent of the total number of candidates that sat the examination, have their results being withheld.

“The cases are being investigated and reports of the investigations will be presented to the appropriate Committee of the Council for consideration.

“Thereafter, the committee’s decisions will be communicated directly to the affected candidates.”

While advising candidates to check their results by visiting its website, WAEC urged them to confirm their status before visiting the digital certificate platform to access the digital copies of their certificates, “which have been released along with their results.”

NBA Fumes Over Move To Throw Open Nigerian Courts For UK Lawyers, Terms It Re-colonization

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Ayodele Oni

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February 14, 2024

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By Ayodele Oni

The Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA), has disowned the planned agreement to allow United Kingdom, (UK) Attorneys to practice in the country, and described such move as a plan to re-colonize Nigeria.

The NBA President, Yakubu Maikyau (SAN), in an email to Lawyers of the Nigerian Bar Association titled “The Purported ETIP Agreement on Legal Services between the Government of Nigeria and the United Kingdom,” asserted that the association was not consulted before such step was taken.

The email reads “My attention was drawn to the news-making round on several media platforms on the alleged signing of the Enhanced Trade Investment Partnership Agreement, between the governments of Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

“It was reported that this agreement seeks to enable cooperation between the two countries in areas such as financial and legal services.

“More bewildering is the stated provision that will allow lawyers from the United Kingdom to practice in Nigeria. Understandably, this news has generated tremendous disquiet within and outside the legal profession in Nigeria.

“The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment was reported to have expressed delight over what she described as a ‘ground-breaking agreement’ that will translate to ‘more money’ for Nigeria.

“The NBA finds this statement credited to the Honourable Minister ridiculous, unpatriotic, and uninformed.

“It is indeed unfortunate that this tragic reminder of our colonial past is being gleefully celebrated at the highest level of the Government of Nigeria.

“What is more disheartening is the fact that a decision of this magnitude that adversely affects the wellbeing and livelihood of millions of Nigerians could be taken without any consultation, especially with the Nigerian Bar Association.

“At all the meetings I had with officials of the Law Society of England & Wales and the Bar Council of England & Wales, I never failed to note our opposition to a bilateral agreement between the Government of Nigeria and that of the United Kingdom on legal services.

“I attended a workshop with Mr George Etomi on 5, October, 2023, convened by the UK-Nigeria Working Group on Trade Policy, with officials of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment in attendance, at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), King Charles Street, London.

“I made the point in unmistakable terms, that the NBA does not support any bilateral agreement with the UK on legal services.

“I emphasized that we are not yet at a place for such an agreement and that even if are to enjoy reciprocity with the UK (which is not an acceptable position), the knowledge and skills gap is so wide that we cannot favorably compete with the lawyers from the UK.

“I made it clear that while there can be an agreement or discussion on other trade matters, legal services were not on the table.

“We know for certain that the British Government will not undermine its own body of legal professionals in such spectacular fashion as this administration has done to the NBA in the matter of this agreement.

“It is truly tragic that while the government of the UK is seeking opportunities for its lawyers beyond its constrained environment, the government of Nigeria is attempting to deprive Nigerian lawyers and their millions of dependants of a means of livelihood.

“To embark on such a venture without recourse to the NBA is the height of insensitivity to the plight of the legal profession in Nigeria, and this is unacceptable.

“We want to make it very clear that the ETIP agreement, in so far as it relates to legal services is unacceptable in its entirety.

“The NBA will take all necessary measures provided by our laws in support of our position on this matter. As a starting point, I have today convened a meeting of senior lawyers to devise an appropriate litigation strategy.

“We intend to fully challenge the legality of this agreement to the Supreme Court if necessary. This is without prejudice to other intervention measures that may be necessary to express our rejection of this agreement.

“I want to use this opportunity to call on all members of the NBA to brace up for the struggle ahead. The NBA under my leadership will not allow any incursion into our legal space.”

EFCC Invades University Hostels, Arrests Students, FUTA Mgt. Protests

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Ayodele Oni

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February 14, 2024

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By Ayodele Oni

The Management of the Federal University of Technology, (FUTA) has kicked against the invasion of off campus hostels, maltreatment and arrest of students by officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC).

The Management flayed the timing and mode of operation of the operatives which was said to have taken place at about 2.00 am Wednesday.

A statement signed by Adegbenro Adebanjo, Director, Corporate Communication of FUTA, maintained that such patently dangerous tactics should not have been employed by the Operatives.

The statement reads: “The attention of the Federal University of Technology Akure, FUTA has been drawn to an incident involving some operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC who raided some private hostels in the Orita Obele area of Akure metropolis where some students of the University reside.

“Contrary to some false reports making the round, the operatives of EFCC did not invade FUTA and there was no operation whatsoever within the hostels or precincts of the University. The Incident in question happened in private hostels off campus.

“However the University expresses strong reservation about the timing and mode of the operation said to have taken place around 2.00am on Wednesday February 14, 2024.

“Reports indicate that the Operatives barged in and violently woke sleeping students and treated them most unfairly in the course of the operation.

“Such patently dangerous tactics should not have been employed by the operatives. The process should always follow the due process without causing harm or injuries to anybody physically or psychologically.

“Indeed but for providence something untoward could have happened in the course of the operation carried out in the off campus hostels.

“The University is in touch with the EFCC to ascertain the identity of those arrested and validate their studentship and also to ensure that innocent FUTA students are not punished for offences they have not committed.

“FUTA abhors all forms of anti-social practices including acts of criminality in all its forms and supports all initiatives to bring perpetrators to face the consequences of their actions within the ambits of the law.

“The University rules and regulations as contained in the Students Code of Conduct as stipulated in the University Handbook and oath of Matriculation which all students are made to sign specifically prescribes varying degree of punishment for students who run afoul of the laws governing their studentship or engage in illegal acts or odious behavior. The Handbook will guide the University in the current situation.”

CBN: Few Days To MPC Meeting Tinubu Names Cardoso Chair

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Tosin Olatokunbo

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February 14, 2024

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Olayemi Cardoso, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN Governor has been named the Chairman of the newly constituted Monetary Policy Committee, MPC.

MPC is a committee of the CBN established under CBN Decree 1999 (Amendment) and CBN Act of 2007 (Amended) to facilitate the attainment of price stability and to support the economic policy of the Federal Government, according to the apex bank.

Its membership apart from the Governor include four deputy governors of the bank; two members of the board of directors of the bank; three members appointed by the President; and two members appointed by the CBN governor.

Cardoso’s appointment was contained in a letter sent to the Senate by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu asking for the confirmation of the members of the committee.

Since he was appointed CBN Governor last year, Cardoso has not held any MPC meeting, he later agreed to hold one by the end of February, even though he also stated that under his watch as CBN boss, MPC would not be held monthly.

Therefore, Tinubu’s letter is coming few days to the maiden MPC of the Cardoso-led CBN, to be held between February 26 and 27.

The letter for the confirmation of the new MPC members was read on the flour of the Senate by Godswill Akpabio, the senate president few minutes ago on the floor of the chamber.

It reads in part: “In accordance with the provisions of Section 12 of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act 2007, I am pleased to present for confirmation by the Senate the appointments of the under-listed 12 persons as chairman and members of Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“Olayemi Cardoso, CBN governor, chairman; Muhammad Sani Abdullahi, CBN deputy governor, member, Bala M. Bello, CBN deputy Governor (member), Emem Usoro, CBN deputy governor (member), Philip Ikeazor, CBN deputy governor (member), Lamido Yuguda, DG Securities and Exchange Commission (member), Lydia Shehu Jafiya, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance (member), Muritala Sabo Sagagi, CBN director (member), Alloycius Uche Odu (member), Aku Pullen Odukemelu (member), Mustapha Akinwunmi (Member) and Bamidele A.G. Amuh (member).”

According to checks from the apex bank website, the 2024 MPC meetings have been scheduled for February, March, May, July, September and November 2024.

Japa: FG Moves To Stop Nurses, After 42,000 Left

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Tosin Olatokunbo

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February 14, 2024

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The problem facing the Nigerian health sector could get worse as a result of the exodus of health professionals from the country.

No fewer than 42, 000 nurses have left the country in the last few months to look for better opportunity abroad, according to the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, NMCN.

Faruk Abubakar, the registrar of the Council made this known on Tuesday in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

The revelation comes against the backdrop of apprehension among Nigerians that the sector could face a dearth of qualified professionals if not checked immediately.

In spite of this, the federal and state government appear not to be doing enough to stop the drift of professionals from the sector.

Recall that Chris Ngige, the immediate past Minister of Labour and Employment, had in his response to complaints that health workers were leaving the country in droves to Europe, US and Asia, said new doctors and other health workers would be trained to replace those that had left the country.

Not a few Nigerians consider his remark very insensitive considering that the sector had been struggling with the scarcity of professionals.

Ngige is a medical doctor.

Speaking yesterday, Farouk spoke on the heels of the protest by the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, NANNM, against the new certification verification guidelines issued by the Council.

NMCN had issued a circular saying applicants seeking verification of certificates to foreign nursing boards and councils must have two years of qualification experience and also pay a non-refundable application fee.

But Farouk, in his response to the protest said the decision was in line with international best practices, adding that the Council also wants to ensure that new nursing graduates stay in the country.

He said: “Now if we allow every Nigerian to leave as they graduate, who is going to handle our healthcare services? Who is going to provide these services? We are Nigerians and it is our responsibility to these services.

“So, we are not against anybody travelling but Nigerians must be served and must be provided with this quality healthcare since we are producing the quality and best nurses that are working anywhere in the world.”

“Just last year, a number of nurses were found with fake documents in America and when we did a background search, about eight of them were not in our database, they hadn’t collected their verification letter or letter of good standing and they faked the documents.

“We don’t want to recall the individual because it will dent the image of the country. So we decided to strengthen the verification process before they leave and that’s what we did.”