"With the cooperation of all, the anti-graft war is winnable, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, "Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, has said.

He, however admitted that corruption is fighting back, alleging that he has been getting death threats.

According to him, he got to know last week that someone was threatening to kill him.

He however said the war against corruption is winnable because the social malaise can be tamed, stating that between 90 and 100 per cent of looted funds end up being laundered through real estate.

Bawa made the disclosures while appearing on the Sunrise Daily programne on Channels Television.

The EFCC boss said: “Last week, I was in New York, as all Nigerians are aware of. A very senior citizen received a phone call from somebody that is not even under investigation.

“What he (the caller) said to him on phone is that; he is going to kill the EFCC chairman, the young man. He said, ‘I am going to kill him. I am going to kill him’. This is to tell you how bad it is. It is actually real. Corruption can fight back.”

When further asked if he meant he has been receiving death threats, the EFCC chairman said, “Yes”.

Bawa claimed that proceeds of corruption were being laundered through real estate.

He added: “One of the problems we have in this country now is the real estate. 90 to 100 per cent of the resources are being laundered through real estate.

“Although they are being regulated, that is not enough in terms of how they make their returns to the special control unit against money laundering.

“A lot of issues that we can talk all day about but I think this particular area if we get it right, you will see that it will not be fashionable for us to have these grand scale corruption.”

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The EFCC chair said he was confident that the anti-corruption war could be won with all hands on deck.

“I am very optimistic we will succeed in taming the monster of corruption in this country.  I am very optimistic and with the efforts of the government. One of the cardinal principles of the President’s administration is to fight corruption and we in the EFCC and other law enforcement agencies saddled with this responsibility, we are doing our best and trying to curtail it.”

He said the EFCC is working with the National Assembly to stop what he called “the gatekeepers” to reduce looting and money laundering.

He also unfolded plans to engage religious bodies in the campaign against corruption.

“Nigeria is a very religious country and that is why one of the issues that we do in public enlightenment is to engage with leaders of religious bodies.

“We are soon going to launch our interface with the Christian and Islamic communities to engage them on the ills of corruption. We have already designed the manual for that.”

I get death threats, says EFCC chair, Bawa

Judicial activities resumed in courts across Lagos State Tuesday following the suspension of an eight-week nationwide strike by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).

JUSUN embarked on the strike on April 6, to press home its demand for judicial autonomy and financial independence, but called it off on June 9.

The Court of Appeal on Lagos Island led the way in Lagos hearing nine matters, including suits by former NBA President Olisa Agbakoba, SAN against the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Lagos State Governor against Senior Advocate of Nigeria Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, and two suits by the Attorney-General of the Federation against the late Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain Buruji Kashamu.

Activities were low key at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi with only one judge sitting. Other courtrooms were adjusting to the recent transfer of federal judges across the country.

At the Lagos High Court, Tafa Balewa Square (TBS), courtrooms were open and cleaners were seen cleaning the courts, while court registrars were seen preparing lists of expected cases.

Lawyers were observed filing new cases at the court’s litigation department.

One of them, Mr Ikechukwu Anima of the D Crest Chambers Lagos Island, who filed a suit for infringement of his client’s rights, expressed delight that courts had resumed, adding that the client almost lost hope of getting justice while the strike lasted.

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One of the judges that sat was Justice O.O. Ogunjobi. He heard two cases involving customers of Eko Electricity Distribution Company and adjourned till July 7, for continuation of trial.

One of the lawyers in the case, Mr A. A Lawal said “Lawyers are trying to get dates for their cases.”

Another lawyer, Mr Ben Eneremadu, said he was also informed on Monday that his case would come up Tuesday.

Eneremadu said: “We sued Eko Electricity for estimated billing and we asked them to install prepaid metres for their customers. I was called yesterday (Monday) by the court to inform us of Tuesday’s proceedings.”

Another lawyer, Mr Kene Usemezue, said his case was already fixed for Tuesday before the court went on strike.

Court activities fully resumed at the Ikeja High Court too as lawyers and litigants started driving in as early 8am.

Although all the courtrooms were open most judges could not sit due to the effect of the strike on justice administration.

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Lawyers were seen moving in and out of various courtrooms getting new dates for trial of their part-heard cases.

In the courts where judges sat, they presided over cases listed for mention and fixed dates for hearing.

Among judges that sat Tuesday were Justice Sherifat Solebo of the Special Offences Court and Justices Hakeem Oshodi and Mojisola Dada both of the court’s Criminal Division.

The Nation reports that no fewer than six judges retired from the Lagos bench during the JUSUN strike having attained the mandatory retirement age of 65 years.

The registrars in the affected courts were seen moving case files to the office of the Chief Registrar of the High Court for re-assignment to new judges.

However, the registry department of the Ikeja High Court was a beehive of activities as lawyers made efforts to file fresh cases.

Commissioners for Oaths were also busy attending to deponents.

The situation was similar at the Magistrates Courts at Ogba and Tafawa Balewa Square.

JUSUN last Wednesday suspended the strike following a meeting between officials of the union and the National Judicial Council (NJC) led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad.

Lagos Courts Resume after two-month JUSUN strike

Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party are currently in a closed-door meeting in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State.

Although the agenda of the meeting is not yet disclosed, it might not be unconnected with the 2023 general elections.

The Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal had earlier made a pledge to provide the needed platform for the party to return to power at the federal level in 2023.

Tambuwal disclosed this at a state banquet, organised by the Akwa-lbom State government, ahead of the forum meeting in Uyo on Sunday.

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Mr Tambuwal said the PDP governors would not disappoint Nigerians who are looking up to them to actualise their yearnings for the party to return to power in 2023.

Those in attendance include the host Governor, Udom Emmanuel; Nyesom Ezenwo Wike of Rivers, Douye Diri of Bayelsa, and Samuel Ortom of Benue.

Others are, Governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu; Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta; Ahmadu Umaru Fintirin of Adamawa; Godwin Obaseki of Edo; Governors Bala Mohammed of Bauchi; Seyi Makinda of Oyo and Zamfara State Governor who is being represented his Deputy, Mahdi Aliyu Gusau.

PDP Governors in a strategic meeting in Uyo

PDP Governors Hold Strategic Meeting In Uyo

Delta Commissioner of Police Ari Ali has warned residents of the state against embarking on any protest on Saturday, June 12.

In a statement by acting spokesman DSP Bright Edafe on Friday, the CP said some of the residents planned to hide under the guise of peaceful protest to wreak havoc in the state.

He said officers of the command have been drafted across the state to arrest anyone found violating the warning.

According to him: “The Delta State Police Command is aware of the planned protest by some agitated members of the public on 12th of June 2021, and is also aware that this protest is being staged by criminally minded individuals, hiding under the guise of peaceful protest thereby causing havoc in the state."

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“The command under the watch of CP Ari Muhammed Ali, will not allow any miscreant to distort the already existing peace in the state."

“Members of the public particularly residents of Delta state are to be aware that on no account should any group be seen gathering or carrying placards in the name of protest, as such will not be allowed in the state."

“Officers and men of the command have been placed on red alert and have been ordered to arrest and deal decisively with any criminally minded elements who wish to go against this order. The command is more than ever willing to go after any miscreant who might be found wanting."

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“The Commissioner of police is urging members of the public to partner with the police to see that those who try to bring disunity in the state and our dear nation be arrested and brought to book.

“Also, it is pertinent to state that undercover police detectives have been deployed across the state for the purpose of arresting any person or persons staging any form of protest."

“The command is committed to maintain and sustain the peace the state is currently enjoying.”

delta state police warns residents against June 12 protest

We won’t allow June 12 protests in Delta – Police

Senate President Ahmad Lawan has broken his silence on suspension of micro blogging and social network platform Twitter by the Federal Government.

He said Nigeria and Twitter need each other.

He called for amicable resolution of the feud with Twitter.

Lawan bared his mind at a briefing in Abuja to mark the second anniversary of the 9th Senate.

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He said: “Our belief is that Nigeria needs Twitter just as Twitter needs Nigeria.

“Our expectation is that we will be able to resolve this issue.

” But beyond that, I am optimistic and I believe that all of us would have learnt our lessons. ”

He gave assurance that the nation would overcome its security challenges.

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He added:” I believe this is the worst level we could get to. We cannot go beyond this level, it could only be better.

“i believe we are going to gave a reversal of this situation very soon. We shouldn’t despair, we shouldn’t be despondent. We should have hope and optimism that our situation will be better.”

BREAKING: Nigeria needs twitter, says Senate President

Twelve people were killed when a Myanmar military plane carrying a senior monk and several donors to a religious event crashed in a central region of the country, a junta spokesman said Thursday.

The plane, which was carrying six crew and eight passengers, crashed shortly before it was due to land in the city of Pyin Oo Lwin, spokesman Zaw Min Tun said in a statement, blaming “bad weather”.

Footage broadcast by local media showed wreckage strewn around the twisted body of a plane lying on open ground near overhead pylons, and a small plume of smoke billowing upwards. AFP was unable to verify the footage.

Emergency responders had been able to rescue a boy and a sergeant from the plane’s crew, the statement said, adding they had been sent to a nearby military hospital for treatment.

Kavisara, a prominent monk from the Zay Kone monastery near the capital Naypyidaw, and seven donors had been on board, travelling to Pyin Oo Lwin to open a religious event, it said.

Pyin Oo Lwin is home to the Defence Services Academy, where the military’s top brass are trained. Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing is a graduate.

He visited the monastery and paid homage to its chief monk on February 3, state media reported, two days after ousting civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi from power in a coup.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since, with mass protests convulsing daily life and sending its economy spiralling.

The country’s Buddhist monkhood led an earlier struggle against military rule but is split on the coup that ended the country’s nascent democracy, with some prominent religious leaders defending the new junta.

The military has sought to quell mass anti-coup protests with bloody crackdowns that have killed more than 800 civilians, according to a local monitoring group.

This has prompted civilians in some townships to form “defence forces”, while some of Myanmar’s ethnic rebel armies have stepped up offensives against the military.

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Last month, the Kachin Independence Army — an ethnic rebel group that has waged a decades-long insurgency against the military — downed an army helicopter during fierce clashes.

Plane crashes are common in Myanmar, which has an underdeveloped aviation sector, and the country’s monsoon season has caused problems for commercial and military flights in the past.

A military plane crashed into the Andaman Sea in 2017, killing all 122 people on board in one of the deadliest aviation accidents in the country’s history. Authorities blamed bad weather.

And in 2015, an Air Bagan passenger plane veered off the runway amid bad weather and heavy rain. A passenger and a person on the ground were killed.

Twelve Killed In Myanmar Military Plane Crash

On Wednesday, gunmen kidnapped a lecturer of the University of Jos, Plateau state, Dr Dan Ella.

Reports gathered confirmed that the lecturer with the Department of Theatre Arts was abducted in the early hours of Wednesday.

It was also gathered that the gunmen attacked his residence located at Haske quarters in Lamingo community, Jos North Local Government Area of the state.

A member of the community, who gave his name as Philip Gyang, confirmed the latest abduction to newsmen in Jos on Wednesday.

Gyang said that the gunmen who arrived the community around 3am on Wednesday headed straight to the apartment of the lecturer and whisked him away after breaking their door while shooting to prevent his rescue from residents who were already terrified.

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Gyang said “What happened last night in Haske quarters was terrible. It was the sounds of gunshots that woke us up around 3am. But we could not come out when it became clear that Haske quarters was under attack by gunmen.”

Chairman of the University of Jos branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr Lazarus Maigoro also confirmed the abduction of the lecturer.

Maigoro who condemned the development said; “It’s true because I just received an official report on the kidnap of one of our members in Lamingo area last night. I’m preparing a press release on the incident.

“Something has to be done about this kidnapping of innocent people because it’s really sad and should not be allowed to continue.”

Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer in Plateau state, Ubah Ogaba was abortive as at the time of sending this report.

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gunmen kidnaps a lecturer of the UNIJOS at his residence 

A government spokesman stated that Emmanuel Macron will continue to greet crowds during his travels despite a security scare that saw him slapped by a man in the south of France.

Macron shrugged off his assault on Tuesday in the village of Tain l’Hermitage, calling it an “isolated event” and “stupidity”, and he went to chat with and fistbump onlookers later in the day in the nearby town of Valence.

“Obviously his trips are going to continue: the president will remain in contact with the French public,” government spokesman Gabriel Attal said on Wednesday.

“It would be completely incomprensible for people to be deprived of contact with the president because of an isolated individual who wanted to challenge” him, Attal added.

Macron’s assailant, a 28-year-old man identified as Damien T., remained in police custody on Wednesday and is expected to be charged with assaulting a public figure, which carries a maximum three-year prison term.

He has been described as a fan of medieval martial arts and board games, while the French media raked over his social media activity looking for clues to his political sympathies.

He is a subscriber to several far-right YouTube channels.

Popular evening talkshow Le Quotidien aired footage of one of its journalists meeting Damien T. and friends earlier in the day on Tuesday.

One of the friends, who says he identifies with the anarchist movement, explains that they have come to speak to Macron about the “decline of France”.

Police sources said that Damien T. had no criminal record and friends and acquaintances who spoke to AFP expressed surprise at his actions, describing him as a shy and placid character.

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The slap has led to debate about whether it is safe for Macron to continue spontaneous meetings with members of the public.

The centrist began a nationwide tour of France last week, promising to “take the pulse” of the country a fortnight before regional elections and 10 months before a presidential vote.

He is widely expected to seek a second term in April and May next year, with polls giving him a narrow lead over far-right leader Marine Le Pen.

The 43-year-old former investment banker decided to get out of his car to greet onlookers on Tuesday who were calling his name after a visit to a school in Tain l’Hermitage.

In footage of the incident, he can be seen striding over to a barrier, with his security detail behind him, before greeting Damien T., who grabs him with his left hand and strikes with his right.

Experts highlighted on Wednesday how French security services advise French presidents on their safety, but do not have authority or powers to prevent them putting themselves in danger.

“In the United States it’s the opposite: the Secret Service decides if a trip is seen as too dangerous and no one opposes them, not the people in charge of protocol or even the president,” Jean-Pierre Diot, a former member of France’s specialist VIP police protection force, told Le Parisien.

“The Americans have a history of attacks,” he added.

Macron has been regularly booed and heckled in the street since coming to power in 2017, above all by anti-government “yellow vest” protesters, but he had never been physically assaulted before Tuesday.

The country has faced a string of Islamist attacks in recent years and Macron has been personally targeted during demonstrations in Muslim countries over his defense of French secularism and the right to blaspheme.

French President during his visits in the south of France

Macron Vows To Defy Security Fears After Slap

At least three persons were killed during an attack by bandits along the Kaduna-Zaria highway in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The bandits were said to have invaded Dunki village near the highway on Monday morning and started shooting sporadically, and in the process, killed two residents of the area.

Confirming the incident, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs,  Samuel Aruwan said that the bandits were sighted by troops of the 4Demo Battalion of the Nigerian Army,  moving towards the highway from Sharu village in the Kerawa area.

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He said the troops, acting on credible intelligence on the bandits’ movement, laid an ambush and intercepted them at Lambar Zango and Hawan Kwaranza villages, where bandits were engaged in a fierce firefight,  resulted in them suffering several casualties.

The bandits, having been decisively halted by the troops on these fronts,  however,  retreated hastily via another route and in the process attacked Dunki village, where they killed two residents.

The bandits also killed an unidentified male traveler and later raided Mashashiya and Farguza villages, from where they stole some livestock and other valuables.

Bandits Kill Three Along Kaduna-Zaria Highway

PDP members stage walk out over twitter ban

Some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the House of Representatives on Tuesday walked out of the House sitting when Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila ruled out of order, the leader of the party in the House on the issue of the ban on twitter by the Government.

The Speaker had earlier while welcoming members back to plenary mandated the joint committees on Communication, Information, Justice and National Security to investigate the legality of the ban and report back to the House.

However, PDP leader in the House, Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers) said waiting for ten days for the committee to report back to the House would amount to the ban remaining for another ten days.

He said “Mr. Speaker, I stand on section 39 of the Nigerian constitution, section 19 of the Universal declaration on Human and Peoples right and article 9 of the African charter of Human and Peoples right."

“As a representative of the people, I have a source of communication with my constituents; I have a source of interaction with my leaders. But in moving this, I must, with all sense of responsibility commend the steps you took this morning concerning this issue of ban of twitter. It was very proactive, very timely."

“But my concern is that as a Nigerian and several other Nigerians out there, the implication is that for the ten days you have given that committee to work, this breach will continue. We don’t even know for how long our interaction with the Executive arm will last.

“While I agree with the submission of the leadership of this House completely, I will only want to add that for the breach of our fundamental human right, particularly the right to fair hearing, right to freedom of speech and expression, we should urge the Executive arm in the interim to reverse the ban pending our interaction with the Executive.”

But the Speaker ruled him out of order saying since the matter has been referred to a committee already, it was wrong for the matter to be revived again.

Speaker said; “Let me quickly refer you to order 9, rule 1 sub rule 6 of our rules which state that it shall be out of order to reconsider any specific question upon which the House has come to a conclusion during the current session except upon a substantive motion for rescission."

“This matter has already been sent to the committees to look at the issues you are talking about and will report to us within ten days. Even if you had brought a motion here, it would have been referred to a committee. We are not even sure if your motion would not have been killed. This day, we have saved the day. So you are ruled out of order.”

At this stage, all efforts by Chinda to be heard proved abortive with the House Leader, Alhassan Ado Doguwa and Chief Whip, Mohammed Tahir Mongunu asking him to be guided.

Chinda and some other members of the caucus however walked out of the plenary to address the press on their grievances, insisting that members of the PDP caucus in the House will continue to tweet in disregard to the ban, while some others kept shouting continue to tweet, continue to tweet.

BREAKING: Crack in House of Reps over twitter ban

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has expelled two of its former governorship aspirants, Mrs. Jumoke Anifowose and Dr. Nath Adojutelegan.

Jumoke is a daughter of first Executive Governor of the state, Pa Adekunle Ajasin.

Both Anifowose and Adojutelegan lost in last year’s APC primaries to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

Dissatisfied with the outcome of the primaries, they dragged the party to court asking for an order to cancel the primaries.

The Supreme Court last week threw out their suits for lacking in merit.

Speaking at a press briefing in Akure, spokesman of the party, Alex Kalejaiye, said the former governorship aspirants were suspended for engaging in anti party activities.

Kalejaiye said the party followed all laod down processes as spelt out in Article 21 of the APC constitution.

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He said the National leadership would be communicated on the expulsion of the two former APC chieftains.

JUST IN: APC expels two guber aspirants in Ondo

The number of babies born in Japan hit a new record low last year, official data showed, highlighting concern over the pandemic’s impact on one of the world’s lowest fertility rates.

In 2020, the greying country saw 840,832 births, according to data released Thursday by the health and labour ministry.

Politicians have expressed concern that the population of the world’s third-largest economy is shrinking faster than ever, with couples hesitant to reproduce as the pandemic fuels financial instability and fears over hospital trips.

A declining number of births is a common trend among rich nations, and Japan has long been searching for ways to encourage a baby boom.

Its giant neighbour China this week announced it will allow couples to have three children after a census showed its population is also rapidly ageing.

Japan’s net decline in population, 531,816, was a record high while the birth rate — the average number of children a woman has — declined to 1.34, the data showed.

The number of marriages, 525,490, also hit a low not seen since the end of World War II, while the number of divorces also declined.

Japan's lowest birth rate amidst pandemic 

Japan Births Hit New Record Low In Pandemic

Nigerian newspapers,on one page.