It's a Global day of prayer with pastor Chris Oyakhilome 1st of December

 

It's a Global day of prayer with pastor Chris Oyakhilome, join us as we get ready to shout on the first of December, 2020.

https://prayer.rhapsodyofrealities.org

It's a Global day of prayer with pastor Chris Oyakhilome

It's a Global day of prayer with pastor Chris Oyakhilome, join us as we get ready to shout on the first of December, 2020.

https://prayer.rhapsodyofrealities.org

Lai Mohammed recants, denies announcing N5m hate speech fine

 

DESPITE video evidence to the contrary, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has denied announcing an increment in the fine for hate speech from N500,000 to N5m.

Mohammed, who on August 5, 2020, announced the decision of the National Broadcasting Commission to increase the fine for hate speech, stated on oath that he did not do so.

The minister said this in a counter-affidavit in response to an originating motion filed before a Federal High Court in Lagos by human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong.

Effiong is challenging the imposition of N5m fine on Nigeria Info 99.3FM, Lagos, and the threat by the National Broadcasting Commission to punish other broadcast stations in the country over alleged hate speech.

In an affidavit deposed to by a Litigation Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Sunday Ojobo, the minister stated that he never announced the fine.

The affidavit further read, “Paragraph 19 is denied. The 2nd defendant (Mohammed) did not announce an increment in any fine for hate speech from N500,000 to N5,000,000 or any other because there is a governmental body or institution mandated to regulate and enforce the Nigerian Broadcasting Code.”

The minister stated that the constitution allowed human rights to be suspended for the sake of national interest.

Mohammed further stated that the NBC Act gave the commission the power to sanction stations that contravene its code.

The minister also argued that Effiong was not directly affected by the NBC sanctions and therefore lacked the legal right to challenge the NBC’s Code.

In its response to the suit, the NBC insisted that it had the right to sanction errant stations.

 

In an affidavit deposed to by a litigation clerk, Kabir Fabode, from Adeola Adewara and Co, the commission stated that the applicant was not a broadcaster and therefore lacked the right to challenge its actions.  Punch

66% of Nigerian rural children can’t read, write – FG

 

THE Federal Government, on Thursday, revealed that 66 per cent of Nigerian children in rural areas could neither read nor write.

The government also said that while Nigeria had a higher burden of adolescent pregnancy and child bearing, 19 per cent of teenagers (15-19) were already mothers or pregnant with their first child.

Quoting the National Demographic Health Survey, the government said that pregnant adolescent girls had poor health seeking behaviour, while about 32 per cent of teenage women less than 20 years did not receive ante-natal care.

According to Punch news, The Minister of Heath, Dr Osagie Ehanire, represented by the Director and Head, Department of Family Health in the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr Salma Anas-Kolo, stated these during the closing ceremony of a two-day stakeholders’ consultation towards ministerial commitment for educated, healthy and thriving adolescents and young people in West and Central Africa.

He also said that Nigeria has the highest number of persons with HIV in the world with an estimated 1.9 million people living with HIV/AIDS.

The event was organised by United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation and UNFPA in collaboration with other UN agencies, Ministries of Health, Education, Network of Young People and Civil Society Organisations.

Ehanire said, “In Nigeria, the possibility of a child born and achieving its full professional and economic potentials is low; the Human Capital Index put this at 36 per cent. This is lower than the average in sub-Saharan region and low and middle income countries.

“The Economic Recovery and Growth Plan notes that Nigeria ranks 137 out of 140 in infant mortality rate, 10 million children are out of school, 66 per cent children in rural areas cannot read or write, and 17.6 million youth are unemployed.”

Southampton vs Man Utd: Rashford clears air on penalty takers after Bruno Fernandes decision

 

Manchester United striker, Marcus Rashford, has said penalty takers would continue to change after he took a spot-kick ahead of Bruno Fernandes this week.

Fernandes passed up the chance to score a first-half hat-trick in the 4-1 win over Istanbul Basaksehir in the Champions League on Tuesday evening.

In a previous Champions League fixture against RB Leipzig last month, Rashford allowed Anthony Martial to take a penalty ahead of him.

Rashford has now explained he is keen for players in the squad to keep scoring in order to keep confidence high.

“There was a similar situation during the Leipzig game when I could have got my first career hat-trick,” Rashford told Stretty News.

“As a striker your confidence comes from scoring goals consistently and for that reason it was important Tony [Martial] had the opportunity to get on the scoresheet.

“Thankfully I got the hat-trick and we got a fantastic result against a very tough team but what was important at the time was that the team felt good, confident and motivated to push on with the upcoming run of fixtures.

“It’s a really busy time and we all play a role in the team’s success.” Dailypost

INEC screening: Opposition parties canvass support for Yakubu

 

A coalition of opposition political parties led by the National Chairman of Action Alliance, Kenneth Udeze, on Thursday stormed the National Assembly canvassing support for the reappointment of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu as Chairman of the Independent National Elected Commission.

Armed with banners urging the Senate to expedite action on Yakubu’s confirmation, Udeze said the performance of the Professor in his first five-year tenure, informed their action.

Yakubu was already in the Senate wing of the National Assembly ahead of his screening billed to start by 2 pm while the rally was ongoing at the gate of the sprawling complex. Punch reports

Udeze said Yakubu had been cleared in the past, his performances in the last five years should be a good reason to confirm him.

He listed some of the achievements of Yakubu to include the electronic transfer of results from polling units to the central server and the prompt announcement of results.

He called on Yakubu to stop using ad hoc staff as returning officers but should use staff.

Udeze also urged him to replicate what he did in Edo and Ondo states in the forthcoming 2023 general election.

The coalition urged the lawmakers to shun the alleged clandestine move by some politicians to scuttle the confirmation of Prof. Yakubu for the second term.

Udeze recalled that the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), had recently reappointed Yakubu for another tenure of five years.

The inscriptions on the banners read, “All political parties in Nigeria accept Professor Yakubu’s reappointment as INEC chairman, commend Senate President and senators for speedy screening action.”

Another one also read, “All political parties in Nigeria say President Buhari’s reappointment of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu as INEC Chairman will help consolidate the ongoing reforms in INEC especially electronic voting.”

‘I left darkness for light’ — Abbo, ‘sex toy shop senator’, speaks on defection to APC

  

Elisha Abbo, senator representing Adamawa north, says he left darkness for light by decamping from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Abbo spoke after he was presented with the flag of the ruling party by Mai Mala Buni, chairman of the caretaker/extra-ordinary convention planning committee, at the APC national secretariat, Abuja.

The senator’s defection to the ruling party was announced in a letter read by Senate President Ahmad Lawan on the floor of the upper legislative chamber on Wednesday. TheCable reports

He said he left the PDP because he has seen development, justice and leadership in the APC.

“In the first place, reason why everybody should join politics is to serve the people. The essence of government is to shield the poor masses and ensure justice, ” Abbo said.

“My main mission of joining the APC is because I have seen justice, I have seen development and I have seen desire for the leadership at the highest peak to sacrifice their personal comfort just to make the poor people to feel good. So, I am in the APC to deliver; I am into the APC to help the people.

“I want to also commend some PDP members that moved with me from darkness to light. Adamawa has always been APC state. We are the ones that made it to tilt to the other side, please forgive us. We are now born again. We knew what we did and we will undo what we did come 2023. We shall not disappoint you, sir.”

The senator gave the assurance that he and other members who defected from the opposition party are ready to work for the progress of the APC in Adamawa.

Responding, the senate president commended Abbo for “taking the right step at the right time”.

“We want to commend out brother, Senator Abbo for taking the right decision at the right time. Nigerians need every hand on deck. This ship is going to reach the final destination by the grace of God,” Lawan said.

“We will continue to be committed to making Nigeria better irrespective of the resources available to us. We had our good days in revenue, but those days were bad days in performance.

“Now, it is reverse. Our revenue is so low; in fact, it has not been this bad and yet infrastructural development in Nigeria is unprecedented. With so little, the whole country is now infrastructure sites from the east to the west, from the north to the south.”

He also commended Buni for reconciling aggrieved members of the party.

“I want to commend you Mr. Chairman for sincerely steering the ship of our party since you were given that responsibility by the NEC of our party,” he said.

“I want to commend you and the committee for doing excellently well for reconciling most of our chapters and for bringing some of our people who had left the party for one grievance or another.” 

In Ethiopia: PM orders final offensive against Tigray leaders

 

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Thursday ordered Ethiopia’s army to launch a final offensive against Tigray’s leaders in their regional capital Mekele, saying the window for their surrender had expired.

“The Ethiopian National Defence Forces have now been directed to conclude the third and final phase of our rule of law operations,” Abiy said in a statement on Twitter.

“In this final phase, great care will be given to protect innocent civilians from harm. All efforts will be made to ensure that the city of Mekele, which was built through the hard work of our people, will not be severely damaged.”

Abiy, the winner of last year’s Nobel Prize, late Sunday gave the Tigray People’s Liberation Front 72 hours to surrender — an ultimatum rejected by the leader of the dissident northern region, whose forces have been fighting Ethiopian troops for three weeks.

Ethiopia’s army said it was encircling the city with tanks ahead of an assault on the TPLF. Rights groups have warned that attacking the city could violate international law.

Abiy called on Mekele’s half a million inhabitants to “stay at home and stay away from military targets, and take all necessary precautions”, and urged them to hand over TPLF forces in their midst.

“We would like to assure you that our National Defence Forces have carefully devised a strategy to bring the TPLF criminal clique to justice, without harming innocent civilians, heritage sites, places of worship, development institutions and property,” he said.

(AFP)

INEC: Mahmood Yakubu Pushes For Amendment Of Nigeria's Electoral Law

  

Former Chairman and chairmanship nominee of Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, has urged the Nigerian Senate to pass the amended Electoral Act for assent by the President.

Yakubu made the call when he appeared before the Senate for the confirmation of his nomination for the second and final term as INEC Chairman.

Yakubu also lamented the low turnout of voters during election as he called for a massive voter education. 

According to Saharareporters, He faulted the current electoral law in the country, saying it will continue to deny Nigerians the right to vote.

“We engaged about one million ad hoc staff during the last general elections. This means that the staff and others deployed for election duties did not vote.

“I want to appeal to the Senate to please expedite work on the Electoral Act so that we can conduct elections in an atmosphere of certainty.

“I hope you will give us electoral Act by the end of first quarter of 2021,” he said.

He also noted that the passage of the amended law will hugely contribute to the success of 2020 election.

Mikel Arteta reveals player who refused to leave Arsenal after 3-0 win at Molde

  

Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, has praised Reiss Nelson’s mentality following the player’s display in their 3-0 win over Molde in the Europa League on Thursday evening.

Second-half goals from Nicolas Pepe, Nelson and Folarin Balogun ensured maximum points for the Gunners, who are now guaranteed a place in the knockout stage.

Nelson, who was making only his third start of the season, delivered an impressive display against the Norwegian side.

And Arteta has hailed the 20-year-old’s mentality after he rejected the chance to leave the Emirates on loan for a second time.

“He’s made some big steps in the last month or so. He’s shown what he can do.

“Again, he’s another player that wants to take you on all the time, he’s very vertical, he’s a great player when he runs in behind and he’s very unpredictable. I really like these types of players to play in the wide positions.

“Defensively, there are things that he needs to do better and he will improve in that but he’s a much more mature player.

“He showed a great attitude, in my opinion, to say that he didn’t want to leave on loan because he believes that he’s got a chance to play for this football club,” Arteta told BT Sport.

Why APC’ll continue to receive defectors from opposition – Senator Lawan

  

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, on Thursday, said the All Progressives Congress would continue to get defectors from opposition parties because the government of President Muhammadu Buhari had done “so much with so little resources.”

A statement said Lawan spoke in Abuja when he led Senator Ishaku Abbo and his fellow defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party in Adamawa State to the national secretariat of the All Progressives Congress. Punch reports

They were received by the Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, who is the chairman of the Caretaker/Extra Ordinary Convention Planning Committee.

The Senate President said, “The more people in the opposition appreciated the giant strides of the Buhari government, the more the harvest of defectors into the APC.

“Only last week, the Governor of Ebonyi State left PDP for the APC. Yesterday (Wednesday), the youngest Senator in the current dispensation decided to leave PDP for APC.

“When you see a government trying hard with so little to ensure development, the best thing to do is to be part of that effort. That is patriotism.”

The Senate President said although the present administration inherited empty treasury, while the price of crude went down so badly, the little resources available were used to provide more infrastructure and services to the people.

Lawan said the party would ensure that it captured Adamawa State and other states in the zone being controlled by the opposition by 2023.

The caretaker chairman assured the defectors that they would not regret their decision to join APC.

Interpol Smashes Cybercrime Gang Linked to Scams in 150 Countries

 

In a joint operation, the International Police (Interpol) and the Nigerian Police smashed a Nigerian cyber crime gang that scammed governments and companies in 150 countries since 2007.

A statement issued on the Interpol website said the year-long investigation code-named ‘Operation Falcon’ resulted in the arrest of three Nigerian suspects in Lagos.

The three suspects were arrested in Lagos following a joint INTERPOL, Group-IB and Nigeria Police Force cybercrime investigation. Thisdaylive reports

It said the Nigerian nationals are believed to be members of a wider organised crime group responsible for distributing malware, carrying out phishing campaigns and extensive business email compromise scams.

The suspects are alleged to have developed phishing links, domains, and mass mailing campaigns in which they impersonated representatives of organisations and then used the campaigns to disseminate 26 malware programmes, spyware and remote access tools, including AgentTesla, Loki, Azorult, Spartan and the nanocore and Remcos Remote Access Trojans.

“These programmes were used to infiltrate and monitor the systems of victim organisations and individuals, before launching scams and syphoning funds”, it said.

According to Group-IB, “the prolific gang is believed to have compromised government and private sector companies in more than 150 countries since 2017”.

Group-IB was also able to establish that the gang is divided into subgroups with a number of individuals still at large.

While investigations are still ongoing, some 50,000 targeted victims have been identified so far.

The year-long investigation, dubbed ‘Operation Falcon, saw INTERPOL’s Cybercrime and Financial Crime units work closely with Group-IB to identify and locate threats, and ultimately, assist the Nigerian Police Force, via the INTERPOL National Central Bureau in Abuja, in taking swift action.

Group-IB’s participation in the operation came under Project Gateway, a framework which enables INTERPOL to cooperate with private partners and receive threat data directly.

Craig Jones, INTERPOL’s Cybercrime Director highlighted the outstanding cooperation between all those involved in the investigation and underlined the importance of public-private relationships in disrupting virtual crimes.

“This group was running a well-established criminal business model. From infiltration to cashing in, they used a multitude of tools and techniques to generate maximum profits.

“We look forward to seeing additional results from this operation,” he said.

The statement further noted that at a time of increased threat, members of the public, businesses and organizations are reminded to protect themselves from online scams by following the advice featured in INTERPOL’s #WashYourCyberHands, #OnlineCrimeIsRealCrime and #BECareful campaigns.