ICPC Shuts 62 Illegal Degree-Awarding Institutions, Fake NYSC Camp

THE Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) has said it shut down 62 illegal degree-awarding institutions in the country.

  The commission also said it closed down a fake NYSC Orientation Camp, all in its bid to tackle corruption in the education sector.

  Its Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, who disclosed this at a youth dialogue on corruption in tertiary institutions, held in Abuja on Tuesday, October 18, adding that the dialogue was organised for members of Anti-corruption Vanguards from five tertiary institutions in the Federal Capital territory (FCT).

  Owasanoye, who was represented by the Board member in charge of youth, Mrs. Hannatu Mohammed, stated that the Commission had since prosecuted the perpetrators, noting that corruption has debilitating effect on the quality of education of any nation, as no nation would develop beyond the level and quality of its education.

  He said the Commission set up the anti-corruption vanguards in schools to push the fight against corruption in the education sector, particularly tertiary institutions, explaining that the vanguards provided students the needed opportunity to participate actively in the fight against corruption in their various institutions.

  He stated: “The vanguards equip the student members with the capacity to develop zero tolerance for corruption and to inculcate attitudinal change among their fellow students.

  “The vanguards also enable the students to assist the management of their various institutions to effectively reduce corruption in the education system.”

  Owasanoye said apart from setting up of the vanguards, ICPC had conducted System Study and Review in the university system to identify operations that provided leeway for corruption to thrive, disclosing that the study discovered various infractions in the university system, such as bribery, gratification, sexual harassment and sexual inducement, examination malpractices, over invoicing and over-inflation of contract values, award of contracts to oneself and cronies, sale of substandard handouts to students, absenteeism, admission racketeering and certificate forgery.

  He, however, stated that the Commission had since articulated its findings and recommended effective and workable solutions and forwarded it to the minister of Education for implementation.

  In a keynote address, Vice Chancellor of Bingham University, Prof. Williams Barnabas, said Nigeria’s education system must be repositioned to contribute significantly to national development.

  He called for proper scrutiny of students entering tertiary institutions to ensure that they have the right maturity and moral background and willing to develop life skills, instead of cutting corners.

  Barnabas said corruption in tertiary institutions impact significantly on the availability and quality of educational goods and services and has consequences on access, quality and equity in education, adding that some of the corrupt practices by academic staff include shrinking hours spent in classroom teaching, using teaching time for private business and grades inflation, among others.

  The university administrator lamented that parents also push students into corruption by buying grades or bribing lecturers for good grades for their children and wards.

  “The use of teaching time for private business, failure of teachers to plan their lessons, poor methods of evaluation, aiding and abating examination malpractices and using wrong teaching methods are seen as corruption.

  “Corruption erodes the core values of the educational process, thereby undermining and distorting human capital formation.

  “It also weakens social cohesion by engendering distrust in interpersonal and intergroup relation.”

  He said for Nigeria to get it right, “our tertiary institutions must stick to their mandate of teaching, research and community service.

  “We should also promote the culture of transparency at all levels, education against corruption for all and set up anti-corruption committees that utilise strategies in the fight against corruption.”

  On his part, ICPC’s Director of Public Enlightenment and Education, Mohammed Ashiru, said the overall objective of the dialogue was to ginger the youth to play the role expected of them in the fight against corruption.

  This, he noted, would be done through brainstorming and enumerating the major problems corruption generate in the education sector, adding that to address the problem of corruption in the education sector, the ICPC had interfaced with key stakeholders in the sector and identified various restructures in the system.

  “The partnership led to the involvement of students to hear their perspective on the problem of corruption in the tertiary institutions; hence the result to organise this dialogue.

  “The sole purpose of the dialogue is giving youth the avenue to air their mind freely on the problem of corruption in tertiary institutions in Nigeria without fear or favour.

  “Panel discussion from the five participating institutions will be on subjects, such as the achievements of Anti-Corruption Vanguards in the fight against corruption in tertiary institutions in Nigeria; challenges of sensitising fellow students against anti-social behaviour; how to manage sexual harassment in tertiary institutions; what they understand by vote-buying and how they will contribute towards eliminating vote buying in Nigeria’s electorate process and between preventive and punitive measures, which one fights corruption better, among others.”

Flood: Build Dams, Desilt Major Rivers, Okowa Urges FG

THE Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, had charged the Federal Government to build new dams and desilt major rivers in the country to check flooding, especially when neighbouring countries open their dams.

  He also urged the federal government to desilt River Niger and River Benue to enable both major rivers accommodate high volume of flood water.

  Speaking when he visited flood victims at some Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps at Ogbe-Afor Primary School and Oneh Primary School in Asaba, as well as Ewulu Mixed Grammar School, Ewulu in Aniocha South Local Council, Okowa said the best way to end the loss of lives and valuables to flood was for the federal government to take proactive steps towards stalling perennial flooding each time neighbouring countries opened their dams.

  He also urged the federal government to make efforts to desilt River Niger and River Benue to deepen the depths of the rivers to accommodate high volume of flood water.

  Okowa made the call when he visited flood victims at some Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps at Ogbe-Afor Primary School and Oneh Primary School in Asaba and Ewulu Mixed Grammar School, Ewulu in Aniocha South Local Government Area.

  To make the camps comfortable, he said that daily feeding of the IDPs was a priority, and that medical facilities and personnel were in various camps to take care of medical needs of the inmates to avoid possible outbreak of diseases, adding: “I was informed by the SSG when the team briefed me yesterday that as a result of the flood, five deaths were recorded, although not inside the camps but across the state, and that is very unfortunate.

  “We have 11 camps that are currently in place and some of them are in schools and some others are in high places in some locations where the schools have been overrun by the flood water.

  “Climate change, obviously, is becoming very impactful globally and it is beginning to affect a lot of issues. The sea levels are rising and so is the water level.

  “Another issue is the dam in Cameroon. It always causes a major overflow in our river. From the preliminary information I have, what could be done is to build our own holding dams here in Nigeria and a regular desilting of our rivers.

  “That is not going to be the state government’s function. It is that of the Federal Government because of the type of dam that will be built across the river. So, it is going to be a major dam. So, I believe that it is important that the Federal Government will look into it very quickly and begin to start the process,” he stated.

   Okowa, who is also the vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), assured that the PDP government that would, by the grace of God, be headed by Atiku Abubakar from next year, would spare no effort in ensuring that the construction of dams and desilting of River Niger and River Benue got the desired attention because of the sufferings of Nigerians occasioned by flood.

  He stated: “When we look at the pains that come to our people cumulatively as a result of the flood and the destruction it brings, it is so huge and runs into several billions.

  “So, it is something that the Federal Government would consider building a dam across River Niger to prevent this from happening and I believe that the PDP government under the watch of Atiku will truly take that as a priority.

  “We are immediately taking care of the people in the camp, which is the first thing to do by providing food, security and healthcare for them here. They have been organised into groups and they are cooking for themselves and we ensure that there is regular supply of food items to cook. So, we are sure that they are not suffering from any form of hunger.

  “We can see doctors and nurses here, living under the same conditions as the IDPs just to provide health care. In two of the camps, some pregnant women have already been delivered by the medical personnel. You can see that they are well taken care of. In previous years, after their return to their homes, we have always provided some form of assistance and we will also do so this year. We are always compassionate.”

  He called on donor agencies and well-spirited individuals to partner government in alleviating the plights of those affected by the flood, adding that his administration would give assistance to those in IDPs’ camps as soon as the flood was over.

  While commiserating with families that lost persons and property to the flood, the governor disclosed that five persons died in various communities in the state, adding that 11 holding camps had been established to take care of those displaced.

  Ogbe-Afor Primary School camp has 1,548 IDPs, Oneh Primary School is accommodating 1,684 IDPs, while 1,475 are in the camp at Ewulu.

FG Overrides Bello, Orders Immediate Reopening Of Obajana Cement Plant 

THE Federal Government, on Friday, October 14, ordered the reopening of the Obajana Cement plant shut down by the Kogi State House of Assembly last week.

  This was part of decisions arrived at during the National Security Council meeting in Abuja.

  The council also advised that all that issues in contention be resolved legally, adding that the government’s commitment to providing employment was not negotiable.

  The Kogi State House of Assembly last week ordered the closure of the plant owned by the Dangote Group until the issue surrounding its ownership was resolved.

  The state government had insisted that available documents showed the plant belonged to it, a claim dismissed by the Dangote Group, which claimed that the government had no stake whatsoever in the plant and was not entitled to any dividend in the company.

  This was disclosed by the Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammed Dingyadi, joined by his Interior counterpart, Rauf Aregbesola, and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor, who briefed journalists after the meeting held at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja and presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

  Aregbesola explained that an agreement had been reached between Kogi State Government and Dangote Group on the need to reopen the cement factory, urging both parties to respect the agreement.

  He added that the council ordered immediate reopening of the factory and advised that all issues in contention be resolved legally as government was committed to providing employment.

  He stated that no state had been authorised to acquire automatic rifles and urged that due process be followed.

Court Nullifies Adamawa APC Guber Primary

THE Federal High Court in Yola, on Friday, October 14, nullified the Adamawa State governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which produced Senator Aishatu Binani, as the party’s candidate for next year’s election.

  Ruling on the case filed by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Justice Abdulaaziz Anka declared Binani’s candidature null and void, ruling the APC has no candidate for the governorship election in the state.

  The Judge ordered Binani, who was earlier declared winner of the primary, to stop parading herself as the party’s candidate for the governorship election, saying the governorship primary election held on May 26 was marred with irregularities and not being compliant with the Electoral Act, 2022 and the party’s constitution.

  After the ruling, the Defence Counsel, Sam Tomi (SAN), said: “Our responsibility now is to study the judgment and take a necessary step, but one thing I can assure you is that we will appeal the judgment.”

  Counsel to the APC, Sule Abdul, said the party would also study the judgment holistically to decide on the next line of action.

  Ribadu, a former chairman of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), challenged the APC governorship primary over alleged irregularities.

  At the primary, Binani scored 430 votes to defeat Ribadu, who polled 288 votes.

Lagos Probes Hospital Nurses For Filming Dying BBNaija Star, Rico Swavey

THE Lagos State Government has initiated an inquiry into the unethical conduct by the staff of the Doren Specialist Hospital, Ajah, during the last moments of BBNaija star, Rico Swavey.

  Patrick Fakoya, better known as Rico Swavey, was involved in a ghastly accident on Wednesday, October 12 and died the following day. The former Big Brother Naija housemate was filmed by one of the nurses on duty as he battled for life.

  After an unconscious Rico was placed on oxygen, while on a chair, the nurses could be heard chatting, with one of them urging others to carry Rico onto the bed, saying: “You people should stop making the video. Somebody is dying, you people are making video.”

  The footage sparked anger on social media, with the public demanding a probe, while some share similar experiences of negligence in Nigerian hospitals.

  In reaction, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, announced that the government had commenced an investigation.

  “That hospital is not a government hospital; we have started an investigation into the unprofessional conducts of those who appeared in that video,” Omotoso said.

ASUU: Why We Suspended Eight-Month Strike

THE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which in the early hours of Friday, October 14, suspended its eight-month strike, has explained that it took the decision following the ruling of the Appeal Court, as well as offers made by the Federal Government on the intervention of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.

  The union added that it suspended the strike in line with the order of the courts and in deference to appeals by President Muhammadu Buhari and in recognition of the efforts of Gbajabiamila and other well meaning Nigerians.

  It directed its members to resume all services hitherto withdrawn with effect from Friday, October 14, 2022.In a

  A statement at the end of the meeting signed by ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, the union, however, regretted the failure of the government to satisfactorily address all issues in dispute.

  Osodeke said that for the avoidance of doubt, the issues include funding for revitalisation of public universities, earned academic allowances, proliferation of public universities and visitation panels/release of white papers, the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) as a broad spectrum software to stop illegality and provide for an alternative payment platform in the university system and renegotiation of the 2009 Agreement.

  He stated that the union’s NEC noted with regret that the issues in dispute are yet to be satisfactorily addressed, adding: “However, as a law-abiding union and in deference to appeals by Mr. President and in recognition of the efforts of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, and other well-meaning Nigerians, ASUU NEC resolved to suspend the strike action embarked upon on February 14.

  “Consequently, all members of ASUU are hereby directed to resume all services hitherto withdrawn with effect from 12:01 on Friday, October 14.”

  ASUU embarked on the rollover strike on February14 over the failure of the Federal Government to meet its demands. The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, after what he described as “failed negotiations,” dragged the striking lecturers to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, which on September 21, ordered ASUU to call off the strike.

  Ruling on the interlocutory injunction, Justice Polycarp Hamman, granted the motion on notice filed by the Federal Government directing the lecturers to return to classrooms and restrained ASUU from continuing with the industrial action.

  However, ASUU, through its lead Counsel, Mr. Femi Falana, challenged the ruling at the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, which on October 7, ordered the union to go back to the classroom within seven days before it could hear its appeal.

Don’t Twist Appeal Court Ruling On Kanu, Falana Warns FG

HUMAN rights activist and lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has cautioned the President Muhammadu Buhari led- Federal Government not to twist the judgment of Court of Appeal on leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

  Falana warned that the Federal Government’s argument that there are pending charges against Kanu at the Federal High Court was a “contemptuous mockery” of the Court of Appeal’s judgment, which he stressed, was binding on all authorities.

  A three-man panel of the appellate court Justices had on Thursday, October 13, upheld Kanu’s appeal seeking an order of the court to discharge and acquit him of the remaining seven-counts charge bordering on terrorism preferred against him by the government.

  The IPOB leader had in his appeal, dated April 29 and marked CA/ABJ/CR/625/2022, applied to be discharged and acquitted. He was first arraigned on December 23, 2015 and later granted bail on April 25, 2017.

  The Court of Appeal, while upholding his appeal, discharged him of all the charges and further declared as illegal and unlawful, his abduction from Kenya to Nigeria and quashed the entire terrorism charges brought against him by the Federal Government.

  Shortly after the judgment, the Federal Government through the Attorney General of Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), said Kanu was only discharged, but acquitted.

  But reacting to Malami’s position, Falana said the Court of Appeal’s judgment was binding on all authorities and persons in Nigeria by virtue of Section 287 of the 1999 Constitution.

  In a press release, Falana stated: “In the case of Nnamdi Kanu vs Federal Government of Nigeria, the Federal High Court had upheld the preliminary objection of the defence team, led by Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) and dismissed eight out of the 15-count charge against the defendant.

  “In its judgment delivered yesterday, the Court of Appeal dismissed the remaining seven-count charge and discharged Kanu on the main ground that his rendition in Kenya had rendered the entire proceedings in the Federal High Court illegal under the Nigerian constitution and under international law.

  “Consequently, the Court of Appeal ordered Kanu’s immediate and unconditional release from the custody of the State Security Service (SSS).

  “Therefore, the claim of the Federal Government that there are some pending charges against Kanu in the Federal High Court is a contemptuous mockery of the Court of Appeal, whose judgment is binding on all authorities and persons in Nigeria by virtue of Section 287 of the 1999 Constitution.”

  Kanu had been re-arraigned before a Federal High Court on amended 15 counts bordering on treasonable felony by the Federal Government, but Justice Binta Nyako, on April 8, struck out eight of the 15 counts.

  While ruling on the preliminary objection seeking to quash the charges, the Judge said counts 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 14 had not disclosed any offence against the defendant (Kanu).

  The charges struck out below are “Count 6: Made broadcasts to attack officers of the Nigeria Police Force; Count 7: Made broadcasts in which he incited members of the public to hunt and attack officers of the Nigerian Police Force; Court 8: Made broadcasts in which he directed members of the IPOB to manufacture bombs; Court 9: Made broadcasts on diverse dates in furtherance of terrorism against the Nigeria state and with intent to destabilise the fundamental political and economic structures of Nigeria, incited members of the public to stop the Anambra governorship election.”

  Others are, “Count 10: Incited members of the public to destroy public facilities; Count 11: Threatened members of the public not to come out on 31st May, 2021; Count 12: Made broadcasts with the intention to incite members of the public to stage a violent revolution in furtherance of acts of terrorism; and Count 14: Directed members of the public to destroy the public transport system in Lagos, resulting in major economic loss to the governor.”

  Justice Nyako ruled that Counts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 15 showed some allegations, which the defendant had to answer.

  However, Kanu, through his team of lawyers, led Ozekhome, filed an appeal, marked CA/ABJ/CR/625/2022, praying the appellate court to quash the remaining seven counts for being devoid of merit.