The late founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Prophet TB Joshua, will be buried in the church premises on July 9, 2021.

Dr Gary Tonge, who is the head of the burial committee, disclosed this information on Tuesday at a briefing.

He said burial activities for the renowned cleric will hold from July 5 to July 11, 2021.

He said a series of activities tagged ‘CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF PROPHET TB JOSHUA (1963-2021) -NOT MINE BUT GOD’S OWN’ will hold on the days.

On July 5, he said there will be a candlelight procession from 6pm.

This, according to Tonge, will be a private service.

July 6 and 7 will be for tribute service from 10am to 7pm.

It will be open to the public but with limited seating.

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There will also be a Service of Songs/All Night Praise from 12midnight, which is open to the public but with limited seating.

On July 8, there will be a Lying-in-State from 11am to 5pm.

This will be open to the public to pay their last respects.

Interment holds on July 9 on the premises of SCOAN.

Thanksgiving will follow at the church on July 11.

BREAKING: TB Joshua's burial slated for the July 9 in Lagos

Governor Nasir El-Rufai has disclosed that he has provided a comprehensive briefing to President Muhammadu Buhari on the rightsizing policy of the Kaduna State Government and the steps taken so far to implement it.

The Governor said that Kaduna state will seek accountability for the NLC’s actions in the state by setting up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the events of May 2021, explaining that it is hiring over 10,000 staff because rightsizing obliges the government to continuously recruit teachers, doctors, nurses and other qualified staff to provide vital services.

A statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye on Monday, stated the governor assured President Buhari that “KDSG is determined not to allow a repeat of the pains, economic losses and the restraints of freedom that the NLC inflicted on the people of Kaduna State.”

Alluding to the NLC’s renewed threat of strike action, the statement said that the NLC has demonstrated that it does not even believe in equality among its own members, by describing the transfer of one KDSG employee to a place where other civil servants are serving, as victimisation.

Recalling that its representatives made it clear at the 20th My 2021 conciliation meeting that whatever they signed required the approval of the Kaduna State Executive Council, the statement stated that government has since informed the federal Minister of Labour that the State Executive Council is unable to approve the MoU.

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“It is trite that an MoU is not a legally-binding document. The content of the MoU shows that there is no congruence between the progressive aspirations of the Kaduna State Government and the misguided sense of entitlement of the NLC which does not even believe in equality amongst its own members.

“KDSG employees are serving with dedication in Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area, amidst all the challenges. Yet, the NLC describes the transfer of one KDSG employee to Birnin-Gwari LGA as victimisation, as if other staff who have been loyally serving in the same area are lesser humans or permanent victims. KDSG rejects this unfair denigration of the very people that the transferred employee claims to lead.”

KDSG stated that “it is improper to describe the routine application of public service rules and labour regulations by a government as victimisation” and asked the federal Ministry of Labour to reconsider permitting such slurs in documents prepared under its auspices.

“Union membership or accession to a leadership position in a union does not grant immunity to an employee for his/her actions and conduct or exempt them from compliance with the laws that govern everyone else.

“There are procedures that need to be followed to make a strike action legal, and the kind of conduct permissible during legitimate strike action is also bound by law. Lawful strike action still subjects strikers to the no-work, no-pay rule. How then can unlawful strike action be expected to be without consequences, as spelt out in the relevant laws and regulations?”

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The statement said that the dominant theme in the KDSG statement at the conciliation meeting was the state government’s rejection of the criminal actions that defined the NLC’s actions. “It was notable that the NLC delegation was eager for the discourse not to dwell on their violations of laws prohibiting the disruption of essential services and their recourse to coercion and restraints to the freedom of citizens. But these are matters that cannot be ignored or swept under the carpet, since unlawful actions that have come to be accepted as part and parcel of strike action remain unlawful.’’

The Special Adviser reiterated that “Kaduna State Government has not yet disengaged any state civil servant but has dispensed with the services of 99 political appointees so far.” Only the 23 local government councils and the agencies associated with the local government system such as SUBEB and the Primary Health Care Board have released staff.

Noting that “rightsizing is about getting the optimal number of persons with the requisite skills to staff the public service,” the statement added that as it is releasing lesser skilled staff, the KDSG is engaged in continuous recruitment of teachers, doctors, nurses and other health workers to provide vital services for citizens. “More than 10,000 such workers, including 7,600 secondary school teachers are being injected into the public service.”

The statement explained that its commitment to fair assessment of the credentials of all officers shows in the painstaking approach to the rightsizing exercise for state civil servants. It said that it is only after the completion of the verification process that KDSG will “release any civil servant that is confirmed not to possess the minimum qualifications prescribed in 2017 as one of the outcomes of the state’s Public Service Revitalization and Renewal Programme.’’

The statement appealed “for the continued patience and understanding of all citizens as steps are being taken for the fair conclusion of this exercise.”

El-Rufai briefs Buhari, set to probe NLC strike

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday reimposed restrictions for two weeks to combat a surge in the highly contagious coronavirus Delta variant.

The worst-hit country on the continent “is facing a massive resurgence of infection,” the president said in a televised address to the nation.

“Our health facilities are stretched to the limit… ICU beds are in short supply,” he said as he placed the country on alert level four, just one level below a full lockdown.

Ramaphosa banned all gatherings, except for funerals where numbers will be capped at 50, and also ordered a ban on the sale of alcohol.

Eateries and restaurants will not be allowed to serve sit-down meals, and will only be allowed to sell food for take-away or delivery.

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A nighttime curfew has been lengthened by an hour – starting at 9pm till 4am, while all schools should  be shut by Friday.

Authorities say the peak of the third wave — fuelled by the Delta variant first identified in India — will surpass that of earlier waves as the country struggles to quickly roll out vaccinations.

“We are in the grip of a devastating wave that by all indications seems like it will be worse than those that preceded it,” Ramaphosa said.

South Africa now counts 1,928,897 coronavirus cases after recording 15,036 new cases on Sunday, a drop from the previous day when 18,762 new infections were diagnosed.

The Covid-19 death toll stands at 59,900.

Leisure travel in and out of the densely populated province of Gauteng — encompassing Johannesburg and Pretoria, the nation’s economic and industrial heartland — has been outlawed.

The province which accounts for around 60 percent of national infections, has become the epicentre of the outbreak.

The country’s vaccination drive has been slow. Around 2.7 million people have been immunised since February, but Ramaphosa said the innoculation exercise has gained momentum.

Meantime most business will forge ahead operating at full capacity, a move he said was to enable as much economic activity to continue as possible.

The economy of Africa’s most industrialised country slumped by seven percent in 2020 compared to the previous year.

Health officials across the world have been alarmed by the rapid spread of the Delta variant.

The World Health Organization said on Friday that the Delta variant had reached at least 85 countries.

South Africa Hardens COVID-19 Lockdown Over Delta Variant

The medical follow-up visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to the United Kingdom earlier scheduled for today, Friday, June 25, 2021, has been postponed.

This is according to a short statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.

According to Mr. Adesina, a new date will be announced in due course.

On Thursday, Adesina had announced that the President’s trip to London was for a scheduled medical follow-up, adding that he would be back in the country during the second week of July.

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President Buhari’s scheduled trip to London comes almost three months since he last visited the United Kingdom for the same purpose.

The president had travelled to the UK on March 30 for a routine medical check-up, as indicated in a statement by his media adviser.

He later returned to the country via the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on April 15, at the end of the trip which lasted more than two weeks.

Amid speculations that the Nigerian leader may be sick at the time and had to embark on an emergency trip, the presidency stated that there was nothing of such.

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“It is a routine medical check-up; the President has undertaken this with a set of doctors that he has retained over many years,” said Garba Shehu, another media aide to the President.

Muhammadu Buhari leaving Nigeria for a medical trip

Just In: President Muhammadu Buhari Postpones London Trip

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday received briefing from the leadership of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) at the Presidential Villa.

The APC Caretaker Chairman Mai Mala Buni presented the report.

In attendance were Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Deputy Senate President, Senator Omo Agege, governors and members of the caretaker committee.

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Also, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, who recently decamped from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State to the APC, was presented to the President at the State House.

Buhari receives briefing from APC leaders

BREAKING: Buhari receives briefing from APC leaders

Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju Omiyinka (alias Baba Ijesha), on Thursday pleaded not guilty to charge of child molestation before an Ikeja Special Offences Court.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 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.

Baba Ijesha pleads not guilty to child molestation 

Alleged child molestation: Baba Ijesha pleads not guilty

Niger’s army has foiled an attack by Boko Haram jihadists in the volatile Lake Chad region, killing three attackers and seizing weapons, a multinational military force said on Wednesday.

The remaining attackers fled in four vehicles following Tuesday’s evening foiled raid in the southeastern town of Bosso, said a statement from the Mixed Multinational Force (FMM).

“Three attackers were neutralised (killed) and one vehicle seized,” the force said, adding that a machinegun and three Kalashnikov assault rifles had also been recovered. The FMM is made up of soldiers from Nigeria, Chad, Niger, and Cameroon.

A local lawmaker from Bosso confirmed both the attack and the toll.

Rated the poorest country in the world under the UN’s Human Development Index, Niger is battling jihadist insurgencies on its southwestern flank with Mali and on its southeastern border with Nigeria.

The foiled raid came just two days after nearly 6,000 people who fled jihadist violence in 2015 returned home to the troubled Diffa region where Bosso is located.

Diffa is home to 300,000 refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs) who have fled attacks by the Nigeria-based Boko Haram and its breakaway faction Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), according to the UN.

On June 3, 2016, a massive Boko Haram attack on Bosso led to the deaths of 26 soldiers and 55 jihadists, according to the Niger government.

Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum, elected in February, campaigned on a promise to return all refugees and displaced people to their homes by the end of 2021.

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men of the Niger army preventing Boko Haram's attack

Niger Army Foils Boko Haram Attack, Kills Three Jihadists

Senate President Ahmad Lawan on Wednesday said that the National Assembly Complex is overdue for rehabilitation, adding that the leakage and flooding of the complex vindicated the position of his leadership

Lawan spoke following a point of order moved by the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi.

Abdullahi had complained that some media reports about the leakage and flooding of the chambers due to a heavy downpour on Tuesday were full of inaccuracies and therefore impugned the integrity of lawmakers.

While citing orders 14 and 15 of the Senate Standing Orders, Abdullahi said: “The issue of the rainfall as it happened Tuesday which was heavy was reported in various media. However when I listened to the reportage on the Channels Television, there were many issues that were raised in their report that I felt has impinged upon my privilege and of course, the privilege of my colleagues.

“In that report, three things were reported which were very inaccurate. That there was heavy downpour or leakage even in the chamber. That was not correct. There was leakage of course around the premises outside the chamber. Also it was reported that because of that leakage it delayed our sitting. That also was not correct.

“The leadership had house-keeping matters and of course, until the leadership comes into the chamber sitting will not begin. Thirdly and the most critical was that they reported the sum of N37billion has approved for rehabilitation of this building. This is nothing further from the truth.”

He added: “When the Ninth Senate came on board, the leadership noticed dilapidation and the need for the rehabilitation of the National Assembly complex.

“The Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives approached Mr. President to report this matter and we were all briefed that Mr. President was willing to ensure that something is done about it.

“As we all know when the sum of N37billion was made as provision in the initial 2020 budget, the media went to town castigating and calling the National Assembly members all sort of names.

“Now at the end of the day it was reduced to N9billion in view of the pandemic. So that they can take the rehabilitation in phases. As we speak nothing has been done until Tuesday as we all saw leakages across the complex.

This is a vindication of what the leadership and indeed the Senate and members of the House of Representatives saw with respect to this edifice.”

In his remarks, the Senate President said the leakage and flooding of the foyer of the National Assembly witnessed on Tuesday was a vindication of efforts being made by the leadership to get the complex rehabilitated.

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Lawan said: “Let me also say that Channels TV reporter may not be responsible for that report, our members of the press corps are in tune with what we do here and what happens around us.

“Let me advise the media, this is irresponsible. I must say, seek the truth, investigate properly before you compile and send your report.

“The fact there was a leakage to me is a clear testimony, confirmation and vindication of the position the National Assembly took initially.

“Everyone knows that this place is overdue for rehabilitation. We went to see Mr President and he was gracious and he asked us to meet with FCTA, the owners of the building.

“Myself, the Speaker, late Chief of Staff and Minister of Finance met to look for money for the rehabilitation of the National Assembly.

“The fact there was a leakage to me is a clear testimony, confirmation and vindication of the position the National Assembly took initially."

“Everyone knows that this place is overdue for rehabilitation. We went to see Mr President and he was gracious and he asked us to meet with FCTA, the owners of the building."

president of the house of senate of Nigeria

National Assembly overdue for rehabilitation, says Lawan

Yoruba actor, James Olanrewaju (also known as Baba Ijesha), will be arraigned on Thursday before a Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja on allegations of sexual assault of a minor.

He will be arraigned before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo on a six-count charge.

Particulars of the charge read: Indecent Treatment of a Child, Sexual Assault and Attempted Sexual Assault by Penetration contrary to Sections 135, 263 and 262 of the Criminal Law Ch C17, Vol. 3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015 and Sexual Assault by Penetration contrary to *Sections 259* Criminal Law Ch C17, Vol. 3, Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

Lawyers to Baba Ijesha have also filed an application for his bail before the court dated the 21st of June 2021.

Baba Ijesha has been in custody since his arrest on April 22.

He was granted bail on May 17 following an intervention by members of the Lagos State Judiciary in collaboration with the State’s Ministry of Justice in a move aimed at decongesting Police Stations in the State.

He was, however, unable to meet the bail conditions and remained in custody.

On the 16th of June, Baba Ijesha was arraigned by the police on a five count charge at a Chief Magistrate Court in Yaba. He pleaded not guilty.

His counsel, Kayode Olabiran, made a fresh application for bail.

He said, “Mr. Olanrewaju has remained in police custody because one of the bail conditions is yet to be met”.

“On May 17, the Ministry of Justice, the Judiciary, the NBA and the police took an initiative to decongest jam-packed cells across the State. My client was one of the beneficiaries and the conditions given were two sureties, one must be a blood relation and another surety not less than level 16 in the Lagos state government civil service.

“The elder brother to the defendant has appeared as a surety and we have paid the N500,000 bail bond to the account of the Lagos state government but we have not been able to get a level 16 officer to stand as surety,” Mr Olabiran said.

Explaining further, the lawyer said they got three different level 16 officers but one turned them down and two others declined upon hearing that they need to get a clearance letter from the head of service.

“The level 16 officers are afraid of being issued a query.

“We are applying for bail on a compassionate ground and in the interest of justice,” Mr Olabiran said, urging the magistrate to consider the visibly ill health of his client.

A counsel from the office of the DPP, Mobolaji Owoebute-Okedeji, opposed the bail application.

He said, “the matter has been already filed at the High Court, and he urged the court to refuse bail.

After considering all the submissions, Magistrate Peter Nwaka declined to grant the defendant bail on the grounds that he no longer had jurisdiction over the matter

The magistrate said, “I have carefully considered the application of the counsel to the defendant seeking bail for the defendant and the opposition by the counsel from the DPP.

“Since there are indications that the matter is before the high court and the defendant will appear before the court, no bail can be given.

“The defendant must be accorded full medical attention by the authorities pending his arraignment at the high court,” the magistrate said.

Baba Ijesha To Be Arraigned In Court On Thursday

The Ondo State Police Command has arrested one Emmanuel Joseph aged 35 who allegedly raped an 80-year old woman in Ondo state.

Emmanuel was alleged to have gained entry into her room through a window at Lotogbe street, Ondo West Local Government Area, threatened her with a dagger and raped her.

Sources said he collected her phone and money.

Another source said the suspect entered the victim’s room with the pretence of collecting some herbs at the back of the house.

The source who gave her name as Julianah Owolabi said it was the cry of the victim that attracted the attention of people who broke the door opened and caught the suspect naked.

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Owolabi said the suspect has been using dangerous weapons to rob people in the area.

It was learnt that the children of the victim have relocated their mother from the area because of embarrassment.

The suspect who asked his victims to forgive him said he was just released from prison.

He said, “Please, forgive me. I don’t know what l am doing at that time. Something will tell me to steal or rape and I will do it. After that, I will be blaming myself for doing it.

“I don’t know what has come over me. I was just released from prison before the strike because of this bad behavior. I have been doing it for a long. Please, forgive me,” he pleaded.

Police sources said the suspect confessed to the crime while different phones, charms and dagger were recovered from his house.

Ondo Police spokesman, ASP Tee-Leo Ikoro, could not be reached for comments.

35-year-old man rapes grandmother in Ondo

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has acquitted and discharged the lawmaker representing Delta North, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, of the allegation of laundering N322 million.

Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) failed to prove the elements of the offence against the lawmaker.

He also cleared Nwaoboshi’s two firms – Golden Touch Construction Project Ltd and Suiming Electrical Ltd.

The judge held, among other things, that the EFCC’s case collapsed because “bank officials were not called to testify” and prove the money laundering charge.

Nwaoboshi, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was arraigned alongside his companies in 2018 before Justice Mohammed Idris who was later elevated to the Court of Appeal.

This necessitated a re-arraignment before Justice Aneke in October 2018.

The prosecution had alleged that Nwaoboshi and Golden Touch Construction Projects purchased a 12-storey building property, known as Guinea House, on Marine Road in the Apapa area of Lagos for N805 million between May and June 2014.

According to the anti-graft agency, N322 million out of the N805 million was part of proceeds of “an unlawful act of fraud”.

The EFCC alleged that the N322 million was transferred to the property’s vendor on the order of Suiming Electricals which was accused of aiding the accused to commit money laundering on or about May 14, 2014.

The alleged offences contravened the provisions of Sections 15 (2) (d) and 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011, it claimed.

But Senator Nwaoboshi had pleaded not guilty to the charge.

court acquits senator of money laundering 

Court Acquits Senator In Money Laundering Case

President Muhammadu Buhari will determine when the much-anticipated National Convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will hold, Governors elected on the platform of the party have stated.

Chairman Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State disclosed this on Wednesday night after a crucial meeting of the Forum in Abuja.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, which lasted for more than two hours, Bagudu said the chairman of the party’s Caretaker Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, told the meeting the timetable for Congresses and National Convention are before President Buhari.

Secretary of the Caretaker Committee, Senator John James Akpanduoehehe, had earlier said Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, APC Governors and critical stakeholders will determine the date for the Convention.

Bagudu said: “There is a proposal before Mr. President and once he approves it, the National Caretaker Committee will announce the date.”

He said the forum considered the timetable proposal by the Committee and made some inputs into it so that the exercise will comply with Electoral Law and the Constitution of the party.

According to Bagudu: “We considered the timetable and we have made some inputs particularly to comply with the Electoral Law and the party’s constitution. Remember we governors are just one organ of the party (though a very important organ).”

But when asked if the meeting agreed on a specific date for the Convention, Bagudu simply said: “There is a proposal before Mr. President and once he approves it, the National Caretaker Committee will announce the date.”

He however added the Forum advised the Caretaker Committee “to ensure that they consult with all, so that at the end of the day, the final output will be such that all party members will be happy.”

Bagudu further said the Forum passed vote of confidence on the Gov. Buni- led National Caretaker Committee for the progress recorded by the party under its leadership.

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Akpanduoehehe last week told newsmen the Committee had approved the timetable and schedule of activities for the party’s Congresses from ward to zonal level but was silent on the National Convention.

However a week after directing the party’s Director of Organization, Prof. Al-Mustspha Ussiju Medaner to release the timetable, the party is keeping the timetable for the Congresses to its chest.

At the December 8, 2020 emergency meeting of APC National Executive Committee (NEC), the party directed the Committee to ensure completion of its assignment and emergence of a new National Working Committee (NWC).

APC governors speak on Buhari's capability

Buhari will fix date for National Convention – APC Govs

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