The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), has fined DAAR Communications (owner of AIT/Raypower) N500,000 for persistent violation of the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.
NBC’s Head of Public Affair, Mrs Maimuna Jimada, via a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja, said comments made on Raypower’s programme `Political Platform’ was against the broadcasting code.
Jimada said that the organisation was sanctioned due to provocative, inflammatory and divisive comments by anchors of the Political Platform.
She said that the Commission on May 2, 2017, Aug. 15, 2017 and February 2018, held meetings with staff of DAAR Communications to caution them on unprofessional manner of anchors of the programme.
She stated that the Commission had charged the team handling the programme to be fair, and balance their reportage.
According to her, during the Feb. 7 meeting, the Commission stressed the need to comply with the broadcasting code to avoid sanctions.
“The Political Platform episode on July 24, was marked by sensational and heated expression of opinion by its anchors, who went on to make unproven and inciting allegations.
“For avoidance of doubt, the Director-General drew the attention of DAAR Communications to the following provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code: (1) Section 1.9.3:
“A presenter/anchor shall not express his or her personal opinion in a programme.”
“Also Section 5.2.7:“A broadcaster shall, in using political material for news, avoid taking inflammatory and divisive matter in its provocative form and Section 5.2.5 stated that political broadcasts shall be in decent language,’’ she said.
Jimada reiterated that broadcasting stations should ensure that anchors of their programmes were properly informed and trained on the ethics of the profession as well as the provisions of the broadcasting code.(NAN)
The first batch of 540 Kano State intending pilgrims have been transported to Saudi Arabia for the 2018 hajj.
The pilgrims departed the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport on board a Max Air Boeing 747 aircraft at exactly 12:23a.m. on Saturday.
Hajiya Hadiza Abbas, the Public Relations Officer of the State Pilgrims Welfare Board, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday that the pilgrims arrived the holy land safety.
She said the pilgrims comprising 292 males and 248 females, were from Ungoggo, Dala, Gwale and Fagge local government areas of the state.
She said that preparations for the transportation of the second batch of the intending pilgrims had also commenced, pointing out that the pilgrims had been directed to await the announcement.
“The second batch of our pilgrims are expected to leave the country anytime the aircraft returns, so we have asked them to await further directive so that they can converge on the hajj camp for screening.
“We have also directed them to ensure that they report to the camp immediately they hear the announcement over the state radio, “Abbas said.
Meanwhile, the state governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje has charged the intending pilgrims to be good ambassadors of the state and the country while at the holy land.
He gave the charge while addressing the pilgrims shortly before their departure to the holy land from the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport.
He cautioned them against acts capable of tarnishing the image of the country, and to exhibit highest sense of responsibility wherever they might found themselves.
Ganduje also called on the intending pilgrims not to take any prohibited items into the holy land as the Saudi authorities have stiffer penalties for erring pilgrims.
He charged the pilgrims to pray for continuous peace and unity of the country as well as peaceful conduct of the forthcoming 2019 general elections.
NAN reports that no fewer than 5,500 intending pilgrims from the state are expected to perform the 2018 hajj, even though only 2, 800 pilgrims completed payment of their hajj fares as at last week. (NAN)
By Isaac Aregbesola
The Special Assistant to the President Muhammadu Buhari on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa has urged Nigerians in Diaspora to support the president in his fight against corruption.
Dabiri Erewa made the call in Abuja on Saturday at a meeting with the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) led by its chairman, Mr Obed Monago.
The presidential aide said the present administration needs the support of everybody in the fight championed by Buhari to restore the glory of the nation.
“All I have to tell you is that we have an administration that is determined to change the situation in Nigeria for the better and the president is doing that.
“Though everything is not perfect, as there are still challenges but the good thing is that Nigeria is on track.
“You all come from various countries where corruption is being tackled because there are structures, there is order and there is discipline,” she said.
According to her, corruption is thriving in Nigeria not because of poverty or because people are greedy but because there are no sanctions and the country is a place where you get away with anything.
“President Buhari is trying to stop that, it is a strong battle, but it is a battle we need to encourage and support him to continue and to win.
“He ensures that the nation’s funds are truly spent on the people of Nigeria, now in Nigeria we have the Treasury Single Account (TSA) where every revenue goes into federation account,” she said
According to her, in the past agencies were just using the money the way they like and of course it will reflect in the subsequent budget.
“Of course, we know we have many issues in the area of corruption.
“It is strong a battle, but it is a battle that we must win, I urged you to encourage Nigerians to support the president in the battle against corruption,” she said.
She said Buhari had also made the issue of doing business in the country easier through the ease of doing business scheme which she said was to encourage Foreign Direct Investment.
“You all talk about coming home to do businesses; we have been working on that in Nigeria as you know we rise higher in the ease of doing business now.
“Though it is not yet perfect, but there is progress, it is slow and steady we may not get there is a year or two but we will get there,” she said.
Responding, Monago said the organisation was willing to work with the Federal Government to improve the country’s economic situation.
He stressed that NIDO had been repositioned to assist government and make things work better in the country.
“The knowledge we have in the Diaspora we will bring it back home, the resources we have will be brought back home.
“We are committed to that, once they give us the cooperation we will make things happen,” he said.
He commended Dabiri-Erewa for her initiative and her willingness to work with the organisation.(NAN)
Edited by Ali Inuwa
By Mustapha Sumaila
The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), has fined DAAR Communications (owner of AIT/Raypower) N500,000 for persistent violation of the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.
NBC’s Head of Public Affair, Mrs Maimuna Jimada, via a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja, said comments made on Raypower’s programme `Political Platform’ was against the broadcasting code.
Jimada said that the organisation was sanctioned due to provocative, inflammatory and divisive comments by anchors of the Political Platform.
She said that the Commission on May 2, 2017, Aug. 15, 2017 and February 2018, held meetings with staff of DAAR Communications to caution them on unprofessional manner of anchors of the programme.
She stated that the Commission had charged the team handling the programme to be fair, and balance their reportage.
According to her, during the Feb. 7 meeting, the Commission stressed the need to comply with the broadcasting code to avoid sanctions.
“The Political Platform episode on July 24, was marked by sensational and heated expression of opinion by its anchors, who went on to make unproven and inciting allegations.
“For avoidance of doubt, the Director-General drew the attention of DAAR Communications to the following provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code: (1) Section 1.9.3:
“A presenter/anchor shall not express his or her personal opinion in a programme.”
“Also Section 5.2.7:“A broadcaster shall, in using political material for news, avoid taking inflammatory and divisive matter in its provocative form and Section 5.2.5 stated that political broadcasts shall be in decent language,’’ she said.
Jimada reiterated that broadcasting stations should ensure that anchors of their programmes were properly informed and trained on the ethics of the profession as well as the provisions of the broadcasting code.(NAN)
MS/FFP/OU
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Edited by Francisca Oluyole/Obike Ukoh
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The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Mashal Sadiq Abubakar, has blamed unpatriotic Nigerians over the funding of some terrorist groups in the country.
Abubakar made the allegation at the inauguration of Small Arms Shooting Range and some projects at Nigerian Air Force Base, Bauchi.
He said it was unfortunate that when the Air Force and other security agencies were busy trying to curb the menace, some unpatriotic Nigerians were busy supporting the groups.
“Some of these groups are being funded, supported and encouraged by certain unpatriotic Nigerians for self-centered political interests.
” The crisis in Libya and emergence of ISIS in Syria and Iraq have unleashed armed conflicts perpetrated by non-state actors such as Boko Haram, ethnic militias, separatist movements and armed bandits of all colours and shapes.
“These threats have undoubtedly exerted a lot of pressure on our resources and infrastructure and require us to think out of the box if we are to successfully address them,” Abubakar said.
He, however, said that NAF had deployed about 1,000 Special Forces in addition to air assets in support of other security agencies to deal with the threats.
Abubakar said that the air operations in Zamfara were being reorganised and very soon, more personnel and assets would be deployed to support the exercise, code named “Operation Sharan Daji.”
He said that 2,000 Special Forces had so far been trained and were currently in Benue and Gembu in Taraba while some would be deployed to Agatu in Benue and Nassarawa State.
Abubakar said 14 additional air assets were acquired by the force and had since been deployed to various operations in the country.
He said that another 12 Super aircraft were being expected from USA and 13 serviceable aircraft on the fleet of the force had been activated while three others were being eactivated.
Abubakar said that the shooting range being inaugurated would sharpen the skills of officers and men likely to be deployed to various battle fields in the country.
He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his support to the force by ensuring that it had well trained personnel and equipment to enable it to discharge its constitutional duties.
The CAS promised that the force would remain loyal to Buhari and unwavering in its commitment to the security and wellbeing of Nigerians.
Gov. Muhammed Abubakar of Bauchi State said the government was planning to hand over Lame Bura Forest to the force.
Abubakar explained that the land could be used to establish an air range for Nigerian Air Force fighter aircraft.
He said that the air range, when established, would go a long way in sharpening the fighting skills of the pilots.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the commander’s quarters, senior non-commissioned officers’ quarters and one block of 10 bedrooms for non-commissioned officers were also inaugurated. (NAN
The All Progressives Party (APC) has expressed excitement over the exit of Benue Governor Sammuel Ortom to joint what it called “club whose philosophy is to share the money and not develop communities”.
Mr Adams Oshiomhole, National Chairman of APC, has said that the party was relieved of Ortom defection to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“I am relieved as national chairman, and I believe that the leadership of the party in Benue is also relieved that Ortom has left the party and returned to the club he belongs”, Oshiomhole said in an interview with newsmen on Friday.
Oshiomhole lampooned the PDP as a “club whose philosophy is to share the money and not develop communities”.
“We now have a clean platform to search for a clean and credible candidate from Benue, a candidate that can provide leadership that the great people of Benue state deserves. And not someone who seeks to make political capital out of human graves and celebrating the death of his own people,” he said.
Oshiomhole added that as a party, the APC condemns killings by any criminal whether in Benue state or any other part of the country.
He said that the APC accepts that government’s responsibility must be to protect lives and properties.
However, the party will condemn in strong terms anyone in government that seeks to get political capital from the shedding of blood.
He stressed that government at all levels have shared responsibility of protecting Nigerians irrespective of religious, social and political status.
Oshiomhole accused the Benue governor of ineptitude in the discharge of his duties as chief security officer of his state and insisted that Ortom got the party’s ticket,” on a platter of gold”.
This, he said, was especially so, because the governor never participated during the process of the party’s formation.
He added that the party would henceforth, be more thorough on its choice of candidate.
“He became a candidate by accident and the lesson for our party is that never again should anyone become a candidate on our platform by accident.
“It has to be by conscious choice, my aim is that we will have a political party that is defined by clear cut ideology and people will join or abstain from joining on the premise of conviction,”he said.
He added that it was unfortunate that while President Muhammadu Buhari had been to other states in the federation to commission projects, there has been none to commission in Benue.
This, Oshiomhole said, was so because Gov. Ortom had not developed any project since he assumed office, adding that this was one of the complaints the Benue APC leaders brought against him.
The APC national chairman also accused Gov. Ortom of making political gain on the security situation in his state, after allegedly spending heavily on security.
He said that the Benue governor when asked to defend himself following the accusations against him, could not give reasonable explanation.
“Whereas the President and Vice President had visited other states to commission projects, they had only visited Benue on condolence visits.
“It is okay to lament that there is no federal presence. Where is the explanation for the absence of projects in Benue state?
“Ortom’s argument is that he had diverted a lot of funds to security issues ,” Oshiomhole said.
He added that the governor’s, claim of spending so much on security in the state raises more questions.
He noted that while the governor claimed that he had spent N22 billion received from the Federal Government on security, the people of the state were more and more insecure.
Oshiomhole said he felt scandalised watching Gov. Ortom on television saying he had to leave the APC because the party could not protect the state.(NAN)
The Federal Ministry of Health has recalled 2.4 million bottles of codeine containing cough syrup after a recent audit trail of the substance carried out by National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
According to a statement by Mrs Boade Akinola, Director Media and Public Relations of the ministry on Sunday in Abuja, the recall demonstrated the Federal Government’s resolve to stem the abuse of codeine containing cough syrup and other substances in Nigeria.
Akinola said the minister had recently received the final report of the 22-man Stakeholders Committee set up by the Ministry to address the worrisome menace of codeine abuse in Nigeria.
She quoted the Minister of Health Prof Isaac Adewole as saying that the audit trail and subsequent recall of the substance was part of recommendations of Stakeholders Committee set by the ministry to address codeine abuse in Nigeria.
The minister said the committee was drafted from a broad spectrum of the health sector in collaboration with relevant Agencies as part of Pharmacovigilance and renewed effort to monitor drug distribution channels and sanitise the system.
The Minister recalled that the committee was an offshoot of the Press release issued by the Ministry on the temporary ban of Codeine production and distribution.
He said the committee has Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Christianah Adeyeye as the chairman; other members include Muhammad Abdullahi, Chairman of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Others are Elijah Mohamed, the Registrar of Pharmacists Council of Nigeria; Mr Moshood Lawal, Director, Food and Drugs Services, Federal Ministry of Health; Ahmed Yakasai, President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) among others.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on May 1, Federal Government banned the production and importation of codeine as active pharmaceutical ingredient for cough syrup preparations to check substance abuse among Nigerians.
The minister directed NAFDAC to ban the issuance of permits for the importation of codeine as active pharmaceutical ingredient for cough preparations.
He also directed the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria, (PCN) and NAFDAC to supervise the recall for labelling and audit trailing of all codeine containing cough syrups nationwide.
The federal government had also banned the sale of codeine containing cough syrup without prescription.
The minister said the directive became necessary due to the gross abuse of codeine in the country.
In this regard, the minister said PCN had been directed to continue enforcement activities on pharmacies, patent and proprietary medicine vendors’ shops and outlets throughout the country.
He also directed NAFDAC to carry out its functions in compliance with the new directives.
The minister said cough syrups containing codeine should be replaced with dextromethorphan which is less addictive.
Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant used to treat coughing, it is also a drug of the morphinan class with sedative, dissociative, and stimulant properties. (NAN)
Senator Ademola Nurudeen Adeleke, Osun state PDP gubernatorial candidate, is alleged not to have the West African School Certificate and he did not graduate from Jacksonville State University (JSU) in the United States, as he claimed.
According to a report by icirnigeria.org, the authorities of Jacksonville University in Alabama, United States have confirmed that although Adeleke enrolled for a programme in the school, he did not graduate.
According to his profile on the National Assembly website, Adeleke has a Diploma in Criminology from JSU and graduated in 1986. He also graduated from Ede Muslim Grammar School, Osun State, where he obtained an Ordinary Level Certificate.
His academic claims have, however, been debunked. According to recently circulated claims, Adeleke registered for GCE O’ Level in 1981 but had F9 in English Language and was recorded absent for other subjects. It also said he has no degree from JSU where he registered as Jackson Ademola Adeleke, while providing what it titled as official records of his enrolment.
Adeleke on the campaign
Dele Adeleke, Ademola Adeleke’s junior brother, has denied the allegations and encouraged those who disagree to verify the senator’s result at his alma mater. “Do you think the APC would not have raised the issues if he did not have the authentic certificates?” he had asked.
The ICIR can, however, confirm that Adeleke did not graduate from Jacksonville State University, though he has claimed otherwise.
Buffy Lockette, the Director of Public Relations at the university, in response to a mailed enquiry, told The ICIR that though the senator enrolled at the tertiary institution, he was not awarded any degree.
“Your request was forwarded to me,” started Lockette. “According to our records, he attended JSU but did not graduate. I cannot provide any additional information. Perhaps you can learn more at http://www.studentclearinghouse.org.”
When The ICIR checked the West African Examination Council’s website to view Adeleke’s O’ level result using examination number 19645/149 as circulated, the site replied, “result not available for this candidate in the specified year and exams diet”.The Council’s online result verification portal, which claims to contain data from 1980 to 2018, was also consulted with the same details. The result was brief: “candidate does not exist”.
When The ICIR checked the West African Examination Council’s website to view Adeleke’s O’ level result using examination number 19645/149 as circulated, the site replied, “result not available for this candidate in the specified year and exams diet”.
The Council’s online result verification portal, which claims to contain data from 1980 to 2018, was also consulted with the same details. The result was brief: “candidate does not exist”.
Demianus Ojijeogu, WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, told The ICIR all candidates’ results are in the custody of the Council and should be accessible on the website, regardless of performance in the examination.
The dancing Senator Adeleke and his wife
“Even if the candidate has F9 throughout or is absent throughout, it is accessible,” he said. He, however, added that the Council is still working on results of candidates who wrote in 1981 and the surrounding years.
“You know there is this change of nomenclature in our examination. We used to have SSCE then WASC, and now WASSCE. So, we are trying to update the website; maybe they took some down.” He promised to confirm and provide feedback on why the results are not presently online.
Meanwhile, two members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Rasheed Olabayo and Oluwaseun Idowu, have as a result of the controversy applied to the Osun State High Court for an order setting aside Adeleke’s election as the party’s flag bearer in the September gubernatorial election.
Olabayo, in his affidavit, said the senator truly attended Ede Muslim Grammar School “but did not leave with a School Leaving Certificate having absented himself from the school leaving examinations but for English where he scored a failing mark of F9”.
One of the exhibits provided to the court and obtained by The ICIR is Adeleke’s senior secondary school examination statement of result recently collected from Ede Muslim High School. It shows that the candidate had an F9 in English Language, while grades for Literature in English, Mathematics, Biology, Economics, Islamic Religious Studies, Christian Religious Studies and Geography, were said to be pending.
Ruling on the plaintiffs’ ex-parte application on Thursday, the court gave Adeleke six days, that is till August 1, 2018, to provide his certificate.
“It will be inequitable not to allow the respondent to come and show his certificate if he has any but if given the opportunity to present side of the case, the balance which is necessary for interlocutory injunction would be adequately considered,” noted Justice David Oladimeji.
Though a newcomer to Nigeria’s elective politics, the 58-year-old senator appears to be flying from triumph to triumph. He was largely unknown politically prior to the demise of Isiaka Adeleke, his older brother, who passed away on April 23, 2017.
Following a bye-election held to fill the vacuum left by Isiaka in the Nigerian senate, he was declared to have had a landslide victory, winning in nine out of 10 local governments. He admitted this was due to his brother’s “historical goodwill” and influence.
According to him: “I was having fun during the campaign and enjoying my dance because my brother had done 70 percent of the job with his historical goodwill right from when he became an executive governor in 1991. I was always with him. I want to follow his footsteps and may God help me.”
Last Saturday, Adeleke found himself a step closer to his political ambition as he was declared PDP’s gubernatorial flag bearer in Osun State, after he narrowly defeated Akin Ogunbiyi with a seven-vote difference.
Though what he notes as his target achievement is “to sponsor Bills that would be impactful on my people, especially youths and women”, the senator has in fact not notably sponsored any bills since his election into the red chambers.
On the contrary, he has become notorious for his vigorous, entertaining dance moves and his fondness for flaunting these in public ? a trend that has earned him the name, “the dancing senator”.
The Omu-Aran Business District of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) in Kwara has pledged to address the grievances that led to the recent public protest against the company in the area recently.
Mr Biodun Ogun, the District Business Hub Manager, made the pledge during a meeting with members of Omu-Aran Traditional Council of Chiefs at the Olomu’s Palace on Saturday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that scores of youths and women in Omu-Aran took to the streets last Thursday to protest outrageous bills and alleged extortion by IBEDC personnel.
The protesters, who carried placards with inscriptions like: “No more extortion”, “Stop crazy electricity bills” and “Repair damaged cables, polls”, stormed the office of IBEDC located inside Omu-Aran City Complex to register their grievances.
Dr Doyin Lawal, the President of Omu-Aran Youth Forum (OYF), who led the protesters, said the youths had no option than to register their grievances through the protest.
Ogun, who acknowledged that there might be genuine cases of crazy bills, however, faulted the manner the protesters adopted.
According to him, the youths should have used the official channels provided by the company.
“We just did a comprehensive data capturing of our consumers to ensure cordial relationship and effective service delivery.
“We are ready to entertain genuine complaints from consumers over crazy bills and other related issues if channeled through appropriate quarters.
“We believe this is far better than storming our offices and attack our workers to the extent of inflicting injuries on them.
“The district will not deliberately impose high bills on its consumers except in cases of errors which can be traced and promptly addressed,” he said.
Chief Jide Adebayo, the Eesa of Omu-Aran, who responded on behalf of the Olomu-In-Council, said the council was never consulted over the planned protest.
He, however, said the council would not relent until the issues raised by the protesters received amicable settlement between the parties.
Adebayo advised officials of the company to promptly address the noticeable grey areas as promised to forestall unwarranted clashes.
He appealed to the officials to return to their duty posts, while assuring them of the council’s support at all times. (NAN)?ISHO/ESAN/TA
Edited by Abiodun Esan/Tajudeen Atitebi
