Nigerian student jailed 40 months in UK for terrorism threat.

Nigerian student jailed 40 months in UK for terrorism threat.

A 26-year-old Nigerian Master’s student at Dundee University, Scotland, Somtochukwu Okwuoha, has been sentenced to 40 months in prison for making terrorism threats against staff and students of the school, BBC reports Friday.

Okwuoha, an international energy studies student, will also be deported after a Peth Sheriff Court found him guilty of the charge.

Witnesses revealed how the student had claimed to have a military background and was capable of making bombs and unleashing a deadly virus on the city.

Okwuoha, who arrived in the United Kingdom in 2021, also stated that he had enlisted the terror group, ISIS, to help bomb the university and told staff of his plan to target the city in a chemical attack.

Sheriff William Wood said, “Your presence in the United Kingdom is not conducive to the public good, and I make a recommendation for your deportation in due course.”

“You were abusive towards her and tried to have her removed from her university course,” after he had threatened a fellow female student who refused his advances.

“The university decided to suspend you from your course and you turned your attention towards staff.

“You threatened mass murder, terrorism, said you would plant bombs and use biological weapons,” the charge read.

Okwuoha, a prisoner at Perth, was found guilty of threatening to murder staff at the university and committing terrorist crimes between December 2021 and June 2022.

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He was found guilty of threatening to commit mass murder, using biological weapons, revealing staff details to international authorities and claiming to have planted bombs.

He was also found guilty of threatening to behead police officers and detonate bombs he had planted at Dundee University.

‘Blood spill’ threat

A witness, Keith Mackle, 58, now a retired director of student services, told Perth Sheriff Court he became aware of “serious concerns” in the autumn of 2021.

He said staff members received emails making terrorist threats.

“Expect a massive bomb explosion at the University of Dundee. I have contacted ISIS terrorists to plant bombs on campus.

“I can assure you staff and students will die in great numbers. 9/11 will be a joke compared to what will happen.

“Blood will spill and flesh will be scattered,” another witness stated.

Accommodation officer, Shane Taylor, told the court Okwuoha accused him of being racist and said he planned to wipe out Scottish people as revenge.

Tinubu’s wife disburses N25m to 250 Delta senior citizens.

Tinubu’s wife disburses N25m to 250 Delta senior citizens.

The First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has disbursed N25 million to 250 elderly men and women from the 25 Local Government Areas of Delta State.

The cash presentation through the Renewed Hope Initiative under the Elderly Support Scheme was held on Friday at the Government House, Asaba, the Delta State capital

The Wife of Delta State governor, Mrs Tobore Oborevwori, who represented Tinubu at the event, also provided clothing materials and free medical checkups to the elderly citizens as support for the gesture.

In her address, Tinubu expressed joy at the inaugural edition of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme themed “Better Days Ahead.”

She emphasised that the economic empowerment program symbolises a dedication to the well-being of elderly citizens, representing a significant step forward in the collective pursuit of a more inclusive and compassionate society.

She said, “The scheme aims to support 250 vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association.

“The selected beneficiaries are to receive a sum of N100,000 each to alleviate economic burdens during the festive period.

“The total sum to be disbursed is Nine Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (N950,000,000), as approved by the Governing Board of the Renewed Hope Initiative.

“Each state of the federation will receive N25m without discrimination.”

Tinubu further emphasised the importance of prioritising elderly citizens during the festive season, honouring their contributions, and recognising the unique challenges they face.

She appreciated all who supported the event with free medical screening and the distribution of other sundry items to the beneficiaries.

Welcoming the senior citizens, Oborevwori who spoke through the Director General, You Matter Charity Foundation, Lawrentta Ogbedo, expressed great pleasure at the presentation of the cash sums, adding that the gesture of the Renewed Hope Initiative is timely and commendable.

While acknowledging the challenging economic situation in the country, she highlighted the scheme’s impact on families, particularly the elderly, who now face financial difficulties.

The governor’s wife commended Tinubu’s efforts to alleviate the economic strains on the senior citizens during the festive period adding that the gesture is well appreciated by the people of the state.

Reps meet minister on palliatives, loans for SMEs.

 Reps meet minister on palliatives, loans for SMEs.

The House of Representatives Committee on Small and Medium Enterprises on Friday met with the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of Economy, Wale Edun, on key aspects of implementation of the presidential palliatives grants and loans.

The committee’s Chairman, Mansur Soro, who led the team to ascertain the extent of funding and releases so far made to implementing Ministries, Departments and Agencies, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists on Saturday through his Personal Assistant, Aleeyu Darazo.

The House Committee on SMEs had previously met with other top government officials including the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs Doris Anite; the Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Medein; as well as the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, Charles Odii, in this regard.

The statement read in part, “The 10th House of Representatives under the leadership of Tajudden Abbas places a high premium on SMEs development, hence its decision to create a standing committee on SMEs to ensure effective oversight of the SMEs activities and programs of line MDAs.

“The presidential palliative grants and loans which come in three tranches of N50,000 grants to N1 million nano businesses, N100,000 – N1 million and N75 billion to manufacturers, are due for disbursement anytime soon.”

President Bola Tinubu had in July ordered the implementation of palliatives to cushion the effects of the removal of petrol subsidy across the agriculture, transportation, social safety and SME sectors of the economy.

Abiodun approves Christmas bonus for Ogun workers.

Abiodun approves Christmas bonus for Ogun workers.

Ogun State civil servants across all levels will be receiving bumper Christmas bonus packages this year, ranging from 68% to 159% of their basic salaries.

Governor Dapo Abiodun approved the bonuses “to bring some succour amidst the economic challenges facing the country,” according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Lekan Adeniran, on Saturday.

The bonuses start at 159% of basic salary for Level 01 officers, with other levels receiving between 68% and 165%. Specifically, Level 02 officers will get 165%, Level 03 gets 135%, Level 04 gets 122%, and so on down to Level 17 officers receiving 84%.

In monetary terms, Levels 01-08 will receive N20,000, Levels 09 and 10 will get N25,000, Level 12 will receive N35,000, Levels 13 and 14 will get N40,000 each, Level 15 will receive N55,000, and Levels 16 and 17 will each get N100,000.

The Christmas bonuses build on other efforts by the Abiodun administration to support civil servants, including the N10,000 transport allowance being paid to all public sector workers amidst the fuel subsidy removal.

“The initiative builds upon the Abiodun-led administration’s ongoing efforts to support public servants,” the statement noted.

The government has also been working to clear backlogs of pension and gratuity payments.

Abiodun said the special packages are meant to “bring some succour amidst the economic challenges facing the country.”

Procurement fraud: Emefiele meets bail conditions, regains freedom.

Procurement fraud: Emefiele meets bail conditions, regains freedom.

A former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele has been released from the Kuje Correctional Centre after meeting up with his bail condition..

Our correspondent learnt that Emefiele was released on Friday, December 22 2023.

The spokesperson for the Kuje Correctional Centre, FCT, Adamu Duza, confirmed the development to our correspondent on Saturday.

“I can confirm to you that he (Emefiele) has met his bail conditions, hence he has no reason to remain in our facility.

“He met his bail condition and was released past 2pm yesterday (Friday),” he said.

The Federal Capital Territory High Court Abuja, had granted N300m bail to Emefiele, who is being prosecuted for alleged procurement fraud.

Justice Hamza Muazu granted the bail with two sureties in like sum.

The judge said the sureties must have certificates of occupancy and titles of properties within the Maitama District of Abuja.

He also ordered Emefiele to deposit all his travel documents with the registrar of the court, adding that he must remain within the Abuja Municipal Area Council.

The judge, however, ordered that Emefiele should remain in Kuje Correctional Centre till he meets the bail conditions.

While rejecting the objection by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to Emefiele’s bail application, Justice Muazu disagreed with the anti-graft agency that the ex-CBN governor was a flight risk and could jump bail, jeopardise investigation or threaten the security of the country if granted bail.

After granting the bail application, Justice Muazu adjourned till November 28 for the commencement of trial.

Emefiele stood trial on six counts bordering on procurement fraud to the tune of N1.2bn.

Meanwhile, after more than four months of investigation, the Special Investigator probing the CBN, Jim Obazee, said Emefiele and others embezzled billions of naira and committed other gross financial offences.

Obazee’s report which was submitted to President Bola Tinubu on December 9 2023, indicated that Emefiele who was in office from June 2014 to June 2023, engaged “in fraudulent cash withdrawal of $6.23 million”, and perpetrated fraud in the redesign of the naira, while he allegedly kept 543.4 million pounds in the United Kingdom.

INEC to conduct rerun, bye-electionsinto NASS, state assemblies Feb 3.

INEC to conduct rerun, bye-electionsinto NASS, state assemblies Feb 3.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced Saturday, February 3, 2024, as the date for the conduct of bye-elections and rerun elections into existing vacancies in both the state and National Assembly.

While the bye-elections will be conducted in two senatorial districts, four federal constituencies, and three state constituencies, the rerun election is expected to take place in 35 constituencies across the country.

 National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information Voter Education Committee of the Commission, Sam Olumekun, said in a statement that details of the timetable have been uploaded and are currently available on the commission’s website.

The statement reads: “The Commission has approved the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for conducting bye-elections resulting from the resignation or demise of Members of the National and State Houses of Assembly.

 “These vacancies were declared by the Presiding Officers i.e. the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Speakers of State Houses of Assembly.

 “The vacancies occurred across two Senatorial Districts, four Federal Constituencies, and three State Constituencies spanning nine States of the Federation.

“Furthermore, the Commission is conducting re-run elections stemming from the 2023 General Election, as directed by various Election Petition Appeal Tribunals.

 “Currently, 35 Constituencies are affected by these Court-ordered elections. While three cover entire constituencies, others involve only a few Polling Units.

 “Both categories of elections are scheduled to take place simultaneously in all affected constituencies on Saturday 3rd February 2024. 

“The Timetable for the elections, along with detailed delimitation data (i.e. registration areas, polling unit names, the number of registered voters and PVCs collected), has been uploaded to our website and social media platforms as a guide to political parties and candidates, and for public information.

“We urge parties and candidates to strictly adhere to the specified timelines for the seamless conduct of these elections.”

According to the timetable seen by The Nation, political parties are expected to conduct party primaries and produce candidates for the bye-elections between January 5 and 9.

The parties are expected to submit the list of their candidates to the commission between January 10 and 13, while the final list of candidates will be published on January 117, with campaigns starting January 18.

Obaseki signs N342bn 2024 Edo Appropriation Bill into law.

Obaseki signs N342bn 2024 Edo Appropriation Bill into law.

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, Friday, signed the state’s 2024 Appropriation Bill, pegged at N342bn into law after the bill was passed by the Edo State House of Assembly.

Signing the bill at the Government House, Obaseki commended the State Assembly for their collaboration, noting that the greater part of the budget will be used for capital projects to drive further development in the State.

He said, “A fourth night ago, I came to the House to present the last budget in the life of this administration which we termed, ‘Finishing well budget’ and proposed an appropriation of N342 billion.

“I want to thank the House who worked tirelessly to ensure we achieved this today. I am aware of the diligent work in ensuring that the bill is signed and passed into law today in good record time before the end of the financial year.

“The greater percentage of this budget is going to be used for capital projects affecting our people in the State, and less than 50 percent will go for running of government and recurrent expenditure. We appreciate you for the progressive stand taken in this budget.”

Obaseki continued: “I want to assure you that this government is going to be prudent and disciplined in terms of financial behavior. As a government, we ensure we fulfill and meet all our financial obligations. We meet our commitments as and when due. That is why we are able to pay salaries and benefits of staff on time.

“From what we have seen from this appropriation law, we are going to complete all priority projects we embarked on. No government can complete the entire work in the life of any State or Country; it’s a continuous process. But for those things we set out to do, we will surely complete them and not leave any abandoned projects.”

The governor added, “We are aware of the challenges and difficulties our citizens are facing and are working hard to complete our capital projects. We need to support the weakest in society by providing a soft landing for those who need help to sustain themselves, feed and for small businesses that need capital or support to help keep their livelihood.”

On his part, the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon Blessing Agbebaku, said, “Your Excellency, you presented your budget some time ago which you tagged ‘budget of finishing well’. We are here today to present the finished work of the budget to you. We have all party members here both the PDP, Labour and APC. It’s a total agreement on the budget.

“This budget captured all spheres of administration of this State; it captured both the young, old, poor, rich, vulnerable and everybody in the State and also captured all the projects that intend to be executed in various constituencies.”