Here is the news.A good number of Graduates from Nigerian Universities, may have been short changed.
Here is why.
The Nigeria Universities Commission, NUC, says the Universities parade, at least, 100 fake Professors.
It has, therefore, directed all Vice Chancellors under its leadership, to check the excesses of their affiliated institutions, noting that universities must spearhead the fight against academic corruption.
This move became sacrosanct following the NUCs discoveries of 100 fake professors across Nigerian universities.
The Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, broke this shocking news in the November edition of the Commission’s bulletin made available to the media.
Rasheed noted that the commission published the details of the fake professors on its website, and also sent the names to the various universities for verification purpose.
He made this disclosure at the 2019 retreat for Vice-Chancellors by the NUC Strategy Advisory Committee.
He said, “The updated version of those documents will be published by December 2019. Professors in their respective universities uploaded their CVs on the website which was used in the compilation of the directory. About 100 fake Professors, also, uploaded their details but we detected them.
“This measure helped in identifying fake Professors in the system. The fight against fake Professors is a collective responsibility.”
The Executive Secretary informed the Vice-Chancellors of a recent meeting held with the Director-General, National Youth Service Corps, Brig. Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, where the latter complained that some Corps members’ degree certificates purportedly obtained from some prestigious universities were questionable.
The NUC boss directed that VCs should check the excesses of their affiliated institutions, noting that Universities must spearhead the fight against academic corruption which must be tackled by all stakeholders.
The Commission’s Secretary also stated that the committee published a directory of full Professors in the Nigerian university system, statistical digest of the NUS 2017-2018; refinement and modernisation of instruments for accreditation of undergraduate, postgraduate, part-time, affiliate, open and distance learning programmes as well as the state of university education in Nigeria 2017- 2018.
In a bid to ascertain the true situation of Contracts awarded in Imo State – executed and not executed, paid for or not paid for, legal or illegal, the Judicial Commission Of Inquiry set up to confirm, held its inaugural session on Tuesday, December 3, 2019.
The session was declared open by the Commission’s Chairman, Hon. Justice B.C. Iheka with members present.
The Governor of Imo State, His Excellency, Emeka Ihedioha, CON, had on August 9, inaugurated the eight-man Judicial Commission of Inquiry to look into contracts awarded in the State between June, 2011 to 29th May, 2019.
Declaring the session open, Justice Iheka assured fairness to all, insisting that: ” Although the status of the Commission is Judicial, it is not a Court of Law, and so, does not conduct the trial of any person, persons or institutions, but only inquiries into the conduct and the manner Contracts were awarded, executed or otherwise, and paid for in the State within the period under review.
” In other words, it is only a fact finding/investigative body which upon conclusion of its findings/ investigation, submits its Report with recommendations to the Government that set it up.”
He, then, emphasized: “Nobody is on trial”.
By the item six of the Inauguration Instrument, the Commission’s Term’s of Reference, he disclosed, are:
* To examine the records of contracts awarded in the State from 1st June, 2011 to 29th May, 2019.
* To ascertain the nature and cost component of each contract.
*To ascertain the degree and extent of performance of each contract.
* To ascertain the payments, so far made, for each contract, and outstanding balance, if any.
*To determine and unravel who the real contractors are, and, investigate who the directors of the companies awarded such contracts are.
* To exercise all powers conferred on the Commission by S.8 of the Law and, to do all things incidental to the terms of reference.
*To recommend relevant necessary actions to be taken toward ensuring that the Imo State Government and people of Imo State obtain appropriate value for money spent in such contracts.
* To make general and specific recommendations to the Government, based on their findings.
The Chairman, also, said the sittings will be public.
The inaugural session was attended by a number of stakeholders, petitioners and observers.
The real sitting begins on Wednesday at Court 9, by 10am.
The Chinese quest for economic colonialism is expanding in recent times with China quietly annexing assets of debt defaulting nations. This has resulted in management change of such companies to Chinese and unrestricted remittances of the revenues back home to China.
In recent times, China has been encroaching in the economies of third world countries with mouthwatering offer of loans. In West Africa, Nigeria and Ghana are already in their clutches, with Nigeria running to them in a bid to help revive their rail system.
Already, Zambia and Siri Lanka have handed over their Ports to China.
The latest of the victims of China’s brutal economic diplomacy is Kenya.
China has granted loans to Kenya for the development of Standard Gauge Railway, SGR, and Inland Container Depot in Nairobi. The trains were meant to haul cargoes to the Nairobi Dry Port. Currently, Nairobi has defaulted, and has been granted five years grace period which expires mid next year.
If China takes over, thousands of Dock Workers at the Mombasa port will be compelled to work under Chinese supervision, if they do not out rightly lose their jobs. Management changes will ensure that all revenues will be sent back home to China.
China’s terms and conditions are always such that the companies under question do not make enough to repay the loan, making it inevitable for an eventual takeover of such assets.
In the first year of operations, SGR lost 10 billion Kenya Shillings. Eventual takeover appears inevitable since all arbitration on the loan will be handled by China, according to the terms of agreement. Last month, an audit was completed of the deal, and it became obvious that the Kenya Ports Authority, which includes the Mombassa port, will not be able to pay for the loan.
“The China Exim Bank would become a principle in (over) KPA if Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) defaults in its obligations and China Exim Bank exercise power over the escrow account security,” according to the Audit report quoted by African Stand, an Afrocentric Newspaper.
Two years ago, China took over the Hambantota port of Siri Lanka after they defaulted in their Loans. China now controls the port which lies close to India, china’ perennial trade rivals.
“The case is one of the examples of China’s ambitious use of loans and aid to gain influence around the world and of its willingness to play hardball to collect,” the New York Times of December 12, 2017 had reported.
Besides, the port appears to be a strategically positioned militarily. Last year, China took over Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, Zambia.
As it was annexing Siri Lanka port, it was extending loan facility to Botswana, while it warns about using their loans for “Vanity Projects”.
Nigeria has been at the forefront of loans agreement with China. But all loan negotiations were handled by President Muhammadu Buhari and politicians, without impute from economic experts. No reasonable economist ever traveled in the delegation.
Till date, the terms of the loan agreements have been shrouded in secrecy.
Argentine and Barcelona Football Club of Spain Forward, Lionel Messi, has been crowned the 2019 Best Player in the World, winning his Sixth Ballon D’Or Trophy.
Messi defeated Virgil Van Dijk, Cristiano Ronaldo and Senegalese, Sadio Mane, to win his sixth title. He won in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2019.
The Argentine captain becomes the first footballer in world history to win the trophy for the sixth time, as against his closest rival, Ronaldo, who has won it five times.
The award ceremony which took place in Paris, France, saw Matthijs De Ligt of Juventus Football Club and Holland National team winning the Poka Awards for the youngest footballer of the year award.
Megan Rapinoe of the United States of America won the Female Footballer of the year, with Liverpool Football Club of England and Brazil goalkeeper, Allison Becker winning the goalkeeper of the year award.
Embattled Air Peace Airline Chief Executive Officer, Allen Onyema, has seen his movement restricted, as anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has seized his international passport.
EFCC seized the airline magnate’s passport pending investigation into his indictment for alleged $44.9 million wire deals and money laundering in the United States of America.
His movement has also been restricted pending the outcome of the probe.
Onyema and his Finance Officer, Ejiroghene Eghagha, are facing the probe which followed the EFCC’s receipt of their indictment by the US Department of Justice, last week. The indictment came as a surprise to Nigerians, both at home and in the diaspora
Six US agencies, Canadian agencies, including the immigration offices are handling the case of alleged fraud by Onyema and his accomplice in America.
According to the US government, the suspects are to face trial for alleged bank fraud, credit application fraud, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft.
EFCC’s Special panel is also investigating the Nigerian component of the alleged deals. Onyema was grilled last Wednesday.
Onyema and Eghagha’s fate hangs on the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty, MLAT, between Nigeria and the US, in which the treaty borders on the extradition of suspects to face trial in either country.
EFCC sources who gave an update on the Onyema case said: “Following his interaction with our detectives, it became imperative to restrict his movement to the country because we will need him from time to time.
“We have seized his passports for unfettered comprehensive investigation. And so far, he has cooperated with our team.
“During our interaction, he maintained his innocence. We have, however, made progress in our preliminary investigation”.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the Police Service Commission, PSC, suit, challenging the Inspector General Police, Muhammad Adamu, power to recruit 10, 000 police officers.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, delivered the judgement, said the PSC’s suit lacked merit and strikes it out of court.
The PSC had taken the Nigeria Police Force to court over the recruitment of 10,000 constables, which it says was against the duty of the IG, but the functions of the PSC.
In the motion on notice filed on September 24, the commission prayed the court for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants from ”appointing, recruiting or attempting to appoint or recruit by any means whatsoever any person into any office by the NPF pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.”
While the PSC is the plaintiff, the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police, Muhammad Adamu, the NPF and the AGF are defendants in this case.
Unless there is a concerted effort by Nigerian leaders to create jobs and revive economic growth, Nigeria will account for 25% of the World Poor Population by 2029, says the World Bank.Based on current indices, the Nigerian economy is expected to expand marginally by 2.1% in 2020 and 2021, but this will be swallowed by the 2.6% population growth rate.
This was part of the report published Monday by the international finance institution.
According to the Bank, Nigeria should shore up domestic revenue, remove trade restrictions and improve predictability of economic policy. Part of the recommendations were that President Buhari should deregulate the Downstream Petroleum sector by removing Fuel subsidy. The Central bank lending rate should be reviewed in favor of non-banking sectors.The IMF Wednesday had warned of the strangulating debt overhang being encouraged by the Nigerian government. Ironically, Nigeria is about to borrow $30 billion to fund infrastructural development. Currently it expected to spend more tha two trillion Naira for debt servicing, according to the 2020 budget.
Nigeria is a top Oil producer in Africa, and ironically a top importer of finished petroleum products. Government has over the years claimed that they are subsidizing the importation of the finished products, though the whole scheme has been seen as fraudulent by critics.
Nigeria has appeared to be cover action with propaganda in the reportage of the actual situation of the economy. The Bank had warned that the cost of inaction “is significant”.
“Under Business as Usual scenario, where Nigeria maintains the current pace of growth and employment levels, by 2030 the number of Nigerians living in extreme poverty could increase by more than 30 million”.
Currently, about 100 million Nigerians are living below poverty line. Only last year, Nigeria overtook India as the poverty capital of the world.
Nigeria slid into recession in 2016, and if the price of oil falls below$50 a barrel, Nigeria may slide again into recession, the Bank said.
The Source has learnt that Governor Emeka Ihedioha’s opponents in the March 9, 2019, Imo gubernatorial election are mulling a gang up to wrestle the governorship from him in the event that the Supreme court annulls his election and orders a re-run.
But observer say manna no longer falls from heaven. They say the governor’s guber opponents do not have a water-tight case that could sway the Supreme Court justices to order a re-run of the Imo guber contest.
“They are frantically hoping on the Supreme court for a miracle in the mould of ordering a re-run. Should this happen, they will team up and stand behind a single candidate.But I can assure you that their case is watery.The apex court will affirm the Tribunal and Appeal Court rulings”, a source privy to the gang up plan confided in The Source.
Recall that Ihedioha defeated three front runners in the governorship race-Uche Nwosu of Action Alliance, AA, Senator Hope Uzodinma (APC) and Senator Ifeanyi Araraume (APGA)-to emerge governor.
The defeated governorship hopefuls subsequently lodged petitions at Imo state governorship Election Petition Tribunal but lost.
Uche Nwosu: Moribund guber ambition
The Appeal Court also recently dismissed their appeals and upheld Ihedioha’s victory.
Immediate past governor of the state, and now a serving Senator, Rochas Okorocha, and father inlaw to Nwosu is allegedly the promoter of the gang up. Ironically, the former governor battled the duo of Uzodinma and Araraume for the soul of Imo APC leading to factionalization of the party in the state.
This magazine cannot, however, confirm the veracity or otherwise of Okorocha’s alleged involvement in the alliance plot.
A source close to him dismissed his alleged link to the gang-up moves as hogwash.
“Senator Okorocha is too busy with his lawmaking business in Abuja to dabble into an infantile talk such as a gang-up or alliance for a phantom rerun”, the source told this magazine
The trio – Okorocha, Uzodinma and Araraume- wanted the 2019 governorship Imo ticket of the party. While Okorocha wanted the ticket for his son in-law, Senators Uzodinma and Ararume wanted it for themselves.
Araraume was to leave the party and effortlessly grabbed the APGA ticket leaving the fight for the APC ticket to Nwosu/Okorocha and Uzodinma. Uzodinma triumphed after disputed primaries, forcing Nwosu to defect to the AA.
He came second in the guber election, Araraume third and Uzodinma a distant fourth.
Ifeanyi Araraume: Prepares for a rerun?
The realignment of forces may, however, see Araraume supported by the other candidates to run in the event that the Supreme court does the unthinkable.
Okorocha is said to have zeroed in on Araraume rather than his son in-law or Uzodinma for a number of reasons. Firstly, there is the legal encumbrance on Nwosu’s eligibility to contest the March 9, 2019 gubernatorial election.
Apart from losing the governorship appeal, a High court and the appellate court had previously ruled that the AA candidate was ineligible to contest the election having allegedly accepted the nominations of two parties and contested on their platforms contrary to the electoral act.
Secondly, a broad spectrum of Imolites insist Nwosu’s governorship will be an extension of Okorocha, the same sentiment that worked against him in the March election. The same factor, it is feared, will still work against him in any rematch with Ihedioha.
Thirdly, the former governor’s loyalist, the magazine gathered, views Uzodinma as a paper weight politician who after all the hype came a distant fourth in the last election. It is, therefore, reasoned that Ihedioha will easily trash him again if the governorship legal tussle ends in a rerun. They believe that in the present circumstance, Araraume is the only one, with statewide clout that can wrestle power from Ihedioha.
Okorocha: Behind rerun gang up?
The arrangement, an impeccable source reveal, was to support the APGA candidate to win after which, in his words “a coalition government embracing all the interests in the alliance will be formed”
Meanwhile, a loyalist of Senator Uzodinma has told The Source that his principal is not aware of, nor part of any gang up or alliance for the purpose of a rerun.
“Onwa(Senator Uzodinma’s traditional title) is pursuing his case up to the Supreme court. He is not asking for a rerun but to be declared the duly elected governor of Imo state because he indeed won the election.
Remember a minority Court of Appeal judgement declared him winner of the election, so he is heading to the Supreme Court to get the minority judgement confirmed.
He is neither aware of any alliance, or gang up, nor part of such arrangement”
The face off between the the governor of Kano State, Umar Ganduje, and the Emir of Kanu, Mohammed Sanusi, appears not to abate as the governor has approached the state Assembly to resubmit the bill for the creation of four additional Emirates in the state.
He had earlier submitted the bill through a non member of the house of Assembly, asking for the creation of the same four emirates. The House had speedily passed the bill, and he assented to the bill the same day. However, the case landed in court and the court threw out the newly signed law, ordering a return to status quo ante. The Court predicated its dismissal of the case on the fact that the creation of the emirate did not follow due process. According to the court, the bill was not submitted by a member of the House, hence the house did not follow due process. the result was therefor null and void.
But the state executive council rose from a meeting holding that the new submission has corrected the anomaly, and therefore it is hopeful it will again scale through. Whether the new bill will satisfy the judges if it is taken to court remains to be seen.
Analysts have pointed out that the reason for the creation of the Emirate was to weaken the control base of the Emir of Kano, Mohammed Sanusi, who has been seen to be at loggerheads with the governor on policy matters. Sanusi has been critical of the Emirs actions, which made critics believe that the governor was acting out of pique. A press statement issued by the Commissioner for Information, Mallam Muhammad Garba, insisted that some of the Emirates predated the Kano Emirate, and that the governor is only possessed of the courage that other past governors did not have.
The Lagos state government’s radical approach to traffic control in the state has recorded another casualty.
Last week, an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency, LASTMA Ola Oyesina was killed around the Apapa axis of the state.
He was stoned by some angry drivers who appear not happy with the way the agency has been controlling traffic the magazine was told by those who witnessed the incident.
The official did not die immediately after the incident, he was taken to the hospital where he later gave up the ghost at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi Araba, where he was receiving treatment from the serious injury sustained during the attack.
The police have arrested the two persons involved and investigation is ongoing to get to them bottom of the incident, the state police command also said.
Since he came to office in May this year, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has been trying to rejig the state’s traffic management system for better performance.
More policemen and other security agencies have been drafted as part of effort to boost the operation of LASTMA but the traffic situation has failed to subside.
Penultimate week, the state new Commissioner of Police, Mr Odumosu on resumption directed another batch of 1000 policemen to be drafted to control traffic.
Odumosu, an experienced officer in traffic management disclosed this after a meeting with Governor Sanwo-Olu and other top officials of the state government on the solution to the worsening traffic situation.
But LASTMA statutorily is responsible for controlling traffic and its officials have been accused of high handedness and extortion by commuters and other road users.
The attack on one of its official therefore is an indication of growing anger over the way some LATSMA officials daily harass and extort motorists, some say.
Some commercial drivers who spoke with the magazine disclosed that they have been going through hell in the hands of the officials since Governor Sanwo-Olu came to power.
Public analysts say LASTMA have become very oppressive following Governor Sanwo-Olu’s Executive Order directing traffic agencies in the state to restore order.
The administration has adopted a totally different style from that of Governor Akinwumi Ambode who according to watchers of the state’s politics applied human face to traffic management mechanism.
What this means is that LASTMA have been given more powers to do as they like.
To motorists, this translates to indiscriminate arrest and extortion by some greedy officials over unserious traffic offences.
“Recently, along the Lagos/ Abeokuta expressway, I was stopped by some LASTMA guys who accused me of not putting on the seat belt.
To me, this is the work of Road Safety. To cut the long story short, I was taken to their PWD office, ticketed and made to pay N10,000. This is aside other small money collected before my vehicle was eventually released,” said Femi Abayomi, a private car owner.
Commercial drivers also have bad tales to tell in their daily encounter with LASTMA officials.
“This government has opened the door for LASTMA to do anything. The way they deal with us is too much even when you have not committed any offence.
Sometimes, they will just enter your vehicle and when you ask them to tell you your offence, they won’t be able to say anything. It’s either they say you offended one of them or that you have not been giving them something. The extortion is too much,” Rafiu Suleman, a commercial driver in CMS told the magazine.
But this is not the first time officials of the traffic agency will be attacked and killed, even though some analysts warn that there could be more attacks as the state government further tightens the noose on traffic offenders.
