The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Jigawa Command, has arrested a 25-year-old man over alleged forgery and sale of fake employment letters to unsuspecting job seekers in the state.
The corps’ spokesperson in the state, Mr Adamu Shehu, confirmed the arrest to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse on Thursday.
Shehu said the suspect, a resident of Kanti Quarters in Kazaure Local Government Area, was arrested on Aug. 16, at about 6:30 p.m. by men of the command.
He explained that the suspect was arrested after one Malam Inusa Musa, whose child was requested by the suspect to pay the sum of N120,000 to be issued with NSCDC employment letter, reported the matter at the command’s headquarters.
“Already, the suspect had collected N1,700 from the victim as payment for employment form, but the father, who later became suspicious approached our personnel in the area with the issue.
“Thereafter, the suspect was invited to come along with the employment letter and was arrested on arrival.
“Initially the suspect claimed to be fronting for one big man in Abuja, however, when thoroughly quizzed, he confessed to be the sole mastermind of the crime,” Shehu said.
The spokesman said that when the suspect was arrested, three forged employment letters of NSCDC were found in his possession addressed to Yahaya Saleh, Yunusa Sabo and Musa Inuwa, respectively.
According to him, on hearing about the suspect’s arrest, two young men Idris Isa and Ismail Isah came to it’s office with two forged copies of employment letters of the Nigeria Immigration Service given to them at the cost of N120,000 each.
“But they paid the suspect the sum of N20,000 deposit and agreed to pay the rest of the amount later,” he said.
Shehu added that investigation into the case was ongoing after which the suspect would be charged to court.
He, therefore, warned the public to be wary of fraudsters who paraded themselves as employment agents to deceive innocent and vulnerable youths for the purpose of obtaining money from them.
“The general public, especially youths who are desperate to get employment are implored to be cautious not to fall victim of forgery and scam.
“The command also wishes to draw the attention of the public that the corps is not recruiting any category of personnel,” he said. (NAN)
The East African movie 18 Hours, which tells an authentic African story has been crowned the Overall Best Movie at the 6th annual Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards, which held Saturday night at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The director of the movie, Phoebe Muguru was around to receive the award.
The movie also won the best movie in East Africa. To emerge Africa’s best, the movie beat five other contenders, such as Potato Potahto, Alter Ego, Devil’s Chest, Descent and The Road to Sunrise.
Omotola: wins best actress in a drama
There were other winners at the ceremony which kicked off at 4pm Nigerian Time with the red carpet.
Screen goddess Omotola Ekeinde won best actress in a drama series, in the flick Alter Ego, while Adekola Odunlade won best actor in the comedy ‘A Million Baby’. Nyce Wanueri won the best actress in a comedy/TV series for Auntie Boss.
Lydia Forson: also wins best supporting actress in Isoken
Singer Falz was also one of the winners. He beat other contenders, including veteran Saidi Balogun to clinch best supporting actor in New Money.Lydia Forson won the best supporting actress in Isoken.
Falz: shines at AMVCA 2018BisolaJade OsiberuAli Nuhu wins in Hausa movieNyce WanjeriShemu JoyahLill Yafe: also a winnerSarika Hemi LakhaniTunji Afolayan
Here is the complete list of winners at the sixth edition of the annual Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards.
Best Sound Editor
Idahaso Trails – Stanlee Ohikhuare
Alter Ego – Zezom Gnawni
Tatu – Kolade Morakinyo and Pius Fatoke WINNER
Ojukokoro – Dayo Thompson
Hakkunde – James Coon Falcon
Best Picture Editor
Idemuza – Aloaye Omoake
18 Hours – Mark Maina WINNER
Alter Ego – Moses Inwang/Tunde Bakare
Hakkune – Asurf Oluseyi
Hidden – Jibril Mailafia
Best Lighting Designer Movie/TV Series
Kada River – Godwin Gata
Hidden – Agbo Kelly
Tatu – Akpe Ododoru, Tunde Akinniyi WINNER
Lotanna – McBaror
Children of Mud – Sunday Olalekan
Michael Akinrogunde: also a winnerNgozi Obasi: also a winnerYinka Edward
Best Cinematography Movies/TV series
Tatu – Akpe Ododoru
Idemuza – Dickson Godwin
T-Junction – Lester Millado
The Torture – Rwamusigazi Kyakunzire
Okafor’s Law – Yinka Edward WINNER
Alter Ego – Bishop Blunt/Adeoye Adeniyi
Best Costume/Designer Movie or TV Series
Tatu – Yolanda Okereke
Isoken – Jade Osiberu
The Bridge – Ngozi Obasi and James Bessinone WINNER
Potato Potahto – Christie Brown
Hakkunde – Joan Gbefwi
Best Short Film/Online Video
The Housewife – Jay Franklin Jituboh
Tolu – Nadine Ibrahim
Penance – Micheal Ama Psalmist’ Akinrogunde WINNER
Lodgers – Ken Ogunlola
Tanwa, The Child We Wanted – Adenike Adebayo
Best Documentary
The Flesh Business – Dennis Wanjohi WINNER
Nightfall in Lagos – James Amuta
God’s Wives – Bolanle Olukanni
Omidan, Styles Defunct by Ayaworanho3d – Aderemi Davies
Calabar Carnival: What the People Think – Oghenefego Ofili
Best Make Up Artist Movie/TV Series
Tatu – Thelma Ozy Smith, Hakeem Effect Onilogbo WINNER
Ojukokoro – Sandra Oyiana
What Lies Within – Cynthia Ububa
Disguise – Hakeem Effect
Lotanna – Nnenna Emekalam
Best Art Director
Isoken – Jade Osiberu
Tatu – Don Omope, Yolanda Okereke, Segun Arinze, Tolu Awobiyi
Children of Mud – Imoh Umoren
Lotanna – Tunji Afolayan WINNER
Idahaso Trails – Stanlee Ohikhuare
Hidden – Jibril Mailafia
Best Soundtrack Movies/TV Series
M0 – Tom Koroluk
Banana Island Ghost – Enyi Omeruah and Funbi Ogunbanwo
Bella – Andrew Ahuura
Tatu – Evelle WINNER
Idahosa Trails – Oriri Osayamore
18 Hours – Jacktone Okore
Best Indigenous Language Movie or TV Series – Swahili
Super Modo – Sarika Hemi Lhakani WINNER
Best Indigenous Language Movie or TV Series – Hausa
Umar Sanda – Kamal S Alkali
Dadin Kowa Sabon Salo – Arewa24
Mansoor – Ali Nuhu WINNER
Uwar Bari – Hamisu Lamido Iyantama
Rashinsani – Tiana Johnson
Best Indigenous Language Movies or TV Series – Yoruba
Alakiti – Abiodun Jimoh, Jumoke Odetola
Adaba – Adebayo Salami
Etiko Onigedu – Femi Adebayo WINNER
Egun Iran Kinni – Oyindamola Awotidebe
Ogun Sengese – Ibironke Ojo
Best Indigenous Language Movies or TV Series – Igbo
Bound – Lilian Afegbai WINNER
Ofuobi – Victor Oyke
Uwa Na Eme Nyughari – Tiana Johnson
Oge Nkem – Tiana Oboyi Johnson
Ego Malaysia – Iyooh James Chidozie
Best TV/Drama/Comedy series
Gina and Friends – Paul Igwe
Professor Johnbull – Tchidi Chikere
Papa Ajasco Reloaded – Wale Adenuga
This Is It – Dolapo Adeleke WINNER
Relatives – Tunde Adegbola
Best Movie East Africa
18 Hours – Phoebe Ruguru WINNER
Devil’s Chest – Hassan Mageye
The Forbidden – Kizito Samuel Saviour
Rain – Mathew & Eleanor Nabwiso
Bella – Math Bish
Best Movie West Africa
Potato Potahto – Shirley Frimpong-Manso
Alter Ego – Moses Inwang – Esther Eyibo
Isoken – Jade Osiberu WINNER
Tatu – Don Omope, Yolanda Okereke, Segun Arinze, Tolu Awobiyi
Children of Mud – Imoh Umoren
Lotanna – Ifan Micheal
Best Movie Southern Africa
Descent – Awal Abdulfatai
The Road to Sunrise – Shemu Joyah WINNER
Salute! – Phillipe Talavera
Jomako Black Democracy – Abraham Kabwe
Nyasaland – Joyce Mhango Chavula
Trail Blazer Award
Bisola Aiyeola WINNER
Industry Merit Award
Tunde Kelani WINNER
Best Writer Movie/TV Series
Idemuza – Alaoye Omoake
Soul Tie – Kehinde Joseph
Idahosa Trails – Stanlee Ohikhuare
18 Hours – Njue Kevin
The Torture – Mulindwa Richard
Alter Ego – Patrick Nnamani/Koye O/Moses Inwang WINNER
Hakkunde – Tomi Adesina
Best Supporting Actress
Toyin Abraham – Tatu
Dorcas Shola Fapson – Banana Island Ghost
Funlola Afofiyebi-Riami – Tatu
Ebele Okaro – Blackrose
Lydia Forson – Isoken WINNER
Emem Inwang – Alter Ego
Best Supporting Actor
Saidi Balogun – Banana Island Ghost
Tomiwa Edun – Banana Island Ghost
Falz – New Money WINNER
Kunle Idowu – Idahosa Trails
Gabriel Afolayan – Okafor’s Law
Wale Ojo – Betrayal
Best Actress in a comedy and TV series
Rita Dominic – Big Fat Lie
Adesua Etomi – 10 days in Sun city
Queen Nwokoye – Excess Luggage
Bimbo Ademoye – Backup Wife
Dakore Akande – Isoken
Nyce Wanueri – Auntie Boss WINNER
Best Actor in a comedy
Kalu Ikeagwu- Dr Meekam
IK Ogbonna – Excess Luggage
Blossom Chukwujekwu – The Big Fat Lie
Odunlade Adekola – A Million Baby WINNER
OC Ukeje – Potato Potahto
Jimmy Olukoya – Guy Man
Best Actress in a Drama/TV Series
Agaba Joan – The Torture
Keira Hewatch – The Witness Box
Miriam Kayode – Children of Mud
Cinderella Sanyu – Bella
Omotola Jalade Ekeinde – Alter Ego WINNER
Lilian Echelon – Black Rose
Best Actor in a Drama Series
Wale Ojo – Alter Ego
Kalu Ikeagwu – Benevolence
Rushabiro Raymond – The Torture
Adjetey Anang – Keteke WINNER
Adjetey Anang – Sidechic Gang
Chris Attoh – Esohe
Best Director
Moses Inwang – Alter Ego
Aloaye Omoake – Idemuza
Asurf Oluseyi – Hakkunde
Don Omope – Tatu
Jade Osiberu – Isoken WINNER
Mulindwa Richard – The Torture
Shirley Frimpong-Manso – Potato Potahto
Best Overall Movie
Potato Potahto – Shirley Frimpong-Manso
The UK is giving 16 million dollars in education support to 100,000 children affected by the Boko Haram crisis in Northeast Nigeria.
Amb. Jonathan Allen, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, said in his remarks to journalists at the UN headquarters in New York
Allen said the fund was part of the package from the visit of Prime Minister Theresa May, who was on bilateral visit to Nigeria on Wednesday.
Talking about security in Africa, he said it was a good moment to remind that May had been visiting South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya over the last few days.
The UK envoy added that the security agreement signed by the prime minister included the offer of joint training with Nigeria for four army units going to the northeast.
Allen said: “Perhaps of most relevance in the Security Council is the agreements she came to in Nigeria on security and defence partnership, which will see greater equipment and training for the Nigerian military.
“This includes the offer of joint training with Nigeria for four army units going to the northeast; of education support for children in areas where schools have to close because of the conflict, to the tune of $16 million for affecting 100,000 children; and in countering Boko Haram propaganda.
“She also announced the opening of new embassies in Chad and Niger, which will strengthen the case, response and ability to work in partnership with countries in the Sahel, particularly if that gets to the Lake Chad Basin, which is an issue of great concern for this Council”.
During May’s visit to Nigeria, UK signed a security pact with Nigeria aimed at helping the country combat the militant group Boko Haram through better military training and anti-terrorist propaganda techniques developed in the UK.
The British prime minister’s agreement with Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari was announced at a summit between the two leaders in Abuja.
“We are determined to work side by side with Nigeria to help them fight terrorism, reduce conflict and lay the foundations for the future stability and prosperity that will benefit us all,” she said.
Under the pact, the UK would provide training to the Nigerian military to help it contend with improvised explosive devices used by Boko Haram.
The security and defence agreement also hoped to cut the flow of new recruits by working with local communities “to push out counter-narratives” to Boko Haram. (NAN)
By Olanrewaju Akojede
Dr Michael Ojo, the Country Director, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), says that preliminary research shows that Nigeria is losing up to N10 billion on post-harvest damages.
Ojo made the revelation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on the sidelines of the just-concluded “NutriPitch’’, the Nourish Nigeria Challenge.
NAN reports that the Nourish Nigeria Challenge is a programme by SBN in partnership with Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and supported by FATE Foundation.
The programme received 140 applications for participation in the challenge from 26 states across Nigeria that were admitted into NutriPitch.
The entrepreneurs at the event were made to go through an accelerator programme which was addressed by Nutrition and Food Safety, Value Chain Analysis, Financial Management and investor readiness.
The top five competitors are, however, billed to represent Nigeria in October 2018 at the regional conference in Nairobi Kenya.
On the impact of post-harvest loss to the economy, Ojo said that it was worrisome to see the volume of essential food items wasted either during transportation or unsold while some were dying of hunger.
“Basically, from the research conducted, and the information we have, it reveals that half of our agricultural produce is lost, especially nutritious foods between the harvest and the consumers.
“Some of these food items also perish as a result of not being sold. I think no word can quantify this because over N100 billion a year is lost to post-harvest loss because of the perishability of these foods.
“This is a lost opportunity to those that cannot have access to those foods and to the agricultural sector at large, we really need to look inward to fight these losses.
“In spite of the fact that there are some that cannot afford these foods, yet that we are losing them in the tune of billions is a cause for concern,’’ he said.
Ojo said that technological researches would help if invested in by the government and private sectors.
“In these losses, there is an open opportunity for us to invest in researches to tackle these problems because it is also an investment opportunity.
“We need new approaches such as a movement away from transporting our perishable foods on raffia baskets to plastic trays which can increase the shelf life.
“Food items such as tomatoes, vegetables, fruits should have special means of transporting them from the farm to the market.
“Also, we need to develop ways through which we can conserve our foods to last longer than a season, it’s not just about research, but also making sure that we put research findings into action,’’ he said.
Ojo said that his organisation was looking at a way of reducing malnutrition in Africa and in Nigeria in particular.
“We have been working on the area of reducing malnutrition to the barest minimum in Nigeria. We want to tackle the menace which is working with the government and private organisations.
“We are trying to look at a more affordable way of making sure that people have more nutrients, so they need a project that we started about 16 years ago.
“Our project now is to help our entrepreneurs in getting access to funds so as to see that our mothers don’t die during child bearing or post natal due to lack of basic nutrients,’’ he said. (NAN)
No fewer than three soldiers were among the seven people on Sunday killed in a suicide car bomb in Mogadishu, Somali.
The Mogadishu Regional Administration spokesman, Mr Salah Omar Hassan, said the dead also two children and two adult civilian pedestrians.
“We shall let the media know about the final casualty levels, but this is what we have so far identified,” Mr Hassan said, adding that 14 other people were wounded in the incident.
The car packed with explosives exploded at the Howlwadag, one of the 17 districts of Mogadishu.
It exploded after it hit the perimeter wall of the compound, located in a residential area.
Most impact was absorbed by a Quran school and a nearby mosque next to the district administrative centre.
“Courageous army officers guarding the district headquarter confronted the attacking car-bomb, preventing it from entering the compound,” added the regional spokesman.
The casualty figures were expected to rise, considering that many houses close to the target compound were severely damaged in the densely populated area.
Soon after the blast, gunshot sounds were heard, an indication that gunmen had attacked the municipal centre in the city centre.
There were no immediate claim of responsibility by any group, but the Somali government usually blames the Al-Qaeda linked Al-Shabaab for such attacks.
The Horn of Africa state, without a stable central authority since 1991, is regularly targeted by the Al-Shabaab militants, intent on overthrowing the government.
Public Complaints Commission (PCC) Boss, Barr Chille Igbawua has began moves for effective resolution of a barrage of complaints to the commission by aggrieved Nigerians.
Igbawua who spoke at a PTAD programme in Lagos said that “despite the various reforms in the pension sector in recent past, the Commission is still besieged by a deluge of complaints of delay, stoppage and non-payment of pensions”.
The Chief Commissioner emphasised that PCC “is vested with wide powers to inquire into complaints by members of the public concerning the administrative actions of any public authority and companies or their officials, and other matters ancillary thereto”.
Igbawua noted the various types of complaints the Commission handled included delay and non-payment of pensions and gratuities in both the public and private sectors.
He said that the Commission had for a long time been in collaboration with PTAD and had been involved in most its activities.
Igbawua disclosed that “between 2016 and 2017 the Commission has received and investigated a total of two thousand, three hundred and forty nine (2349) complaints.”
The Chief Commissioner said that “from the experience of the Commission, the old pension system was characterized with the following problems; inadequate funding, political control of the public sector pension, pension payment default by state governments, flaws in pension record and disbursement and tardiness in pension disbursement. Unfortunately, some of these problems still persist.
“This goes to show that there is still much to be done to reform the pension sector.
“For this reason, the Commission is proposing to embark on a Systemic Investigation /Review of the Pension Sector with particular reference to the Direct Benefit Scheme (DBS).
“This would involve the Commission doing an in depth research and holding an open forum with all stakeholders in the Pension Sector.
Flowerbud News recalls that Igbawua was appointed early this year as the Honourable Chief Commissioner of Nigeria’s Ombudsman with a challenge to boost the operations of the Commission and delivery of its crucial mandate to Nigerians (FB News)
“The America of John McCain has no need to be made great again because America was always great,” she said to extended applause.
Meghan spoke at the funeral for her late father, which was attended by Barack Obama and George Bush, two former presidents from opposing parties. The two former leaders united in the momentous funeral that championed his aspirations of political comity but also rebuked the tribalism and division trafficked by Donald Trump.
Trump was conspicuously absent at the event as he chose to go and play golf in Virginia.
Cindy McCain, left and other members of the family at the funeral
Millions of Americans tuned in to the nationally televised memorial attended by the breadth of Washington powerbrokers.
And while Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Barack Obama offered subtle swipes at the current commander in chief, McCain’s daughter Meghan used the words of Trump’s campaign slogan to deliver a searing, unmistakable rebuke.
As Bush and Obama praised McCain for repeatedly placing country over party or self, the stunning contrast between the unifying ceremony under the neo-Gothic arches of Washington National Cathedral and an outcast Trump only highlighted the astonishing state of US politics.
US Servicemen carrying the casket of Senator McCain
Hailing his friend as “an extraordinary man” who embodied what is best in America, Obama said McCain, who battled fiercely but respectfully in the political arena, “made us better presidents — just as he made the Senate better, just as he made the country better.”
He was echoing similar sentiments expressed minutes earlier by Bush, who defeated McCain in a “hard fought” Republican primary battle in 2000, only to see that bitter rivalry melt away into a lasting friendship.
While Bush and Obama hail from different parties, their message Saturday was clear: US politics can and should rise to a higher level with the example set by McCain.
“We never doubted the other man’s sincerity or the other man’s patriotism — or that when all was said and done, we were on the same team,” Obama said of his rough but respectful campaign battles with McCain.
So much of today’s politics, “our public discourse, can seem small and mean and petty, trafficking in bombast and insult,” he added.
“It’s a politics that pretends to be brave and tough but in fact is born of fear. John called on us to be bigger than that.”
McCain’s final public ceremony before his private burial Sunday at the US Naval Academy in nearby Annapolis, Maryland highlighted the warrior politician’s call for healing.
“Perhaps above all John detested the abuse of power, could not abide bigots and swaggering despots,” said Bush, as Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner sat in attendance.
Trump’s Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and White House Chief of Staff John Kelly were also present.
But it was the gathering of heavyweights from both parties past and present that drew more attention, including Bill and Hillary Clinton; former vice presidents Al Gore, Dick Cheney and Joe Biden; and former secretaries of state Henry Kissinger, Madeleine Albright and John Kerry.
International dignitaries were also in attendance. On the guest list provided by funeral organisers was President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine, where McCain helped support opposition to Russian aggression, and Russian opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza.
McCain, who died last Saturday at age 81, has been lionised over the past week of emotional commemorations, including his congressional colleagues bestowing him the rare honor of lying in state in the US Capitol on Friday.
At the funeral, which McCain spent months organizing as he battled cancer, Meghan McCain delivered a tear-filled tribute to her father.
Hailing his friend as “an extraordinary man,” warrior and patriot who embodied what is best in America, former president Barack Obama said John McCain “made us better presidents — just as he made the Senate better, just as he made the country better”
And while Trump’s name was not mentioned during the ceremony, McCain’s daughter drew a clear and damning distinction between her father and Trump’s combative politics.
“We gather here to mourn the passing of American greatness — the real thing, not cheap rhetoric from men who will never come near the sacrifice he gave so willingly,” she said, criticizing “those who lived lives of comfort and privilege while he suffered and served.”
Earlier Saturday, the flag-draped casket of McCain, a prisoner of war in Vietnam for more than five years, was taken by honor guard from the US Capitol and placed in a black hearse.
It stopped at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to allow his widow Cindy McCain to lay a wreath honouring all who died in the conflict.
She had been stoic throughout days of commemorations for her husband, but on Saturday during opera singer Renee Fleming’s performance of the ballad “Danny Boy,” she lay her head on son Jack’s shoulder and wept.
Aside from Trump, another notable figure not invited to the funeral was McCain’s 2008 running mate Sarah Palin, who became associated with the far-right movement that in some ways nurtured white identity politics.
(Reuters/NAN)China is still determined to reform and wants to work with all parties to
build an open world economy, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Sunday, reiterating Beijing’s message
amid a bitter trade war with Washington.
Meeting UN Secretary-General António Guterres in Beijing ahead of a major China-Africa summit, Xi made no
direct mention of the trade tensions with the United States, referring instead to “unilateralism and
protectionism rearing its head”.
“China’s determination to fully deepen reforms will not change,” China’s Foreign Ministry paraphrased Xi
as telling Guterres.
“We are willing to use practical actions to drive all parties to jointly adhere to trade liberalization
and facilitation and build an open world economy,” Xi added.
The ministry’s statement did not elaborate.
The two countries have been rolling out a series of tariffs on each other’s exports as U.S. President Donald
Trump’s administration seeks to tackle a range of issues from the large trade imbalance with China to forced
technology transfers.
China has criticised the U.S. for resorting to protectionist and unilateral measures and says it will keep
opening up its economy, providing a fair and transparent environment for foreign businesses.
U.S. and Chinese officials ended two days of talks last month without a major breakthrough as their trade war
escalated with the activation of a further round of tariffs on 16 billion dollars worth of each other’s goods.
The two countries have now targeted 50 billion dollars of each other’s goods and threatened duties on most of
the rest of their bilateral trade, raising concerns that the conflict could dent global economic growth.
Trump administration officials have been divided over how hard to press Beijing, but the White House appears
to believe it is winning the trade war as China’s economy slows and its stock markets falter.
Economists estimate that every $100 billion of imports hit by tariffs would reduce global trade by around
0.5 per cent. (Reuters/NAN)
The AMVCA 2018 held Saturday night at Eko Hotel and Suites. But on the sidelines of the main event, the female celebrities had their own grand slam of the most fashionably dressed for the night.
From social media threads, CeeC (Cynthia Nwadiora) of the BBNaija 2018 fame appeared to have run away with the trophy in her regal red outfit. In contrast BamBam drew a lot of hisses for her ‘chicken’ like dress.
We now ask you to be the judge.
Bam Bam: outfit got the worst of reviewsBBNaija’s NinaFathia WilliamsToyin AbrahamBisolaDlamini JonesBBNaija’s NinaDlamini Jones: tries her luck againLota ChukwuLota tries againHere is Bisola again in a blue royaleOmo SexyRita Dominic
