Yoruba Monarch In US Stabbed To Death By Sister

Oba Adejuyigbe Adefunmi II of Oyotunji African village in Beaufort County, Southern Carolina, United State of America, was allegedly stabbed to death by his sister during a heated argument.

Authorities say the deceased was stabbed on Monday, July 29, 2024, WJCL reported.

According to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, the BCSO communications center received a report of a stabbing around 2:45 p.m. at the village, which is located on Bryant Lane.

The victim identified as a 47-year-old man, was taken to a nearby hospital where he d!ed from his wounds.

The suspect was identified as Akiba Kasale Meredith, 53, who had left the area on foot. Meredith was found a short time later. She was charged with murder and taken to the Beaufort County Detention Center. The investigation is ongoing.

 Music Icon, Onyeka Onwenu Slumps, Dies

In Lagos

The Nigerian music and entertainment industry is in mourning following the passing of veteran singer, songwriter, and actress, Onyeka Onwenu.

 The legendary artist reportedly died on Tuesday evening at Reddington Hospital, Lagos

The tragic incident occurred shortly after Onwenu performed at the birthday celebration of Mrs. Stella Okoli. According to eyewitness accounts, the renowned performer collapsed immediately after her performance and was rushed to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

An eyewitness at the event shared the heartbreaking news, stating, “It is incredibly sad. Onyeka Onwenu performed brilliantly at Mrs. Stella Okoli's birthday party, but shortly after her performance, she collapsed. Despite being taken to Reddington Hospital, she couldn't be revived.”

Born on January 31, 1952, Onyeka Onwenu was celebrated as "The Elegant Stallion" by the Nigerian media. 

Her illustrious career spanned music, acting, and politics. She once served as the chairperson of the Imo State Council for Arts and Culture and was appointed Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Women Development in 2013.

Onwenu's legacy includes a plethora of hit songs, with "Wait for Me," a duet with Juju maestro King Sunny Ade, standing out among her many memorable tracks.

As of the time of this report, there has been no official statement from her family regarding her passing. The nation remembers Onyeka Onwenu for her significant contributions to Nigerian music and culture, and her loss is deeply felt across the country.

 

 Sharks Test Positive To Cocaine In Brazil’s Drug-polluted Waters

Brazilian sharpnose sharks found with cocaine in their livers and muscles highlight the impact of the illegal drug trade on marine life, scientists say.

Scientists have found traces of cocaine in wild sharks off the coast of Brazil, in a discovery that highlights the risks to marine life of the illegal cocaine trade.

The Brazilian sharpnose sharks were captured by fishing fleets off the coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro in southeastern Brazil between September 2021 and August 2023. The 13 sharks — three male and 10 female — all tested positive for cocaine, researchers said in a study published in the journal Science of the Total Environment.

The drug, along with benzoylecgonine, the major metabolite of cocaine, was found in their muscle tissue and livers.

Researchers don’t know exactly how the sharks were exposed to the drug. But they suspect that traces of cocaine were probably discharged into the coastal region through raw sewage in rivers and urban canals.

Another potential source of exposure, according to scientists, is cocaine packs drifting in water and not discovered by drug smugglers or authorities, which pose a risk if sharks bite into them.

That was the case with another apex predator, Cocaine Bear, a 500-pound black bear in Georgia that overdosed on cocaine thought to have been tossed from a drug smuggler’s plane. The bear’s skeletal remains were discovered in 1985 by narcotics investigators. 

The story was loosely translated into a 2023 horror movie in which the bear went berserk. (In reality, authorities believed the bear probably overdosed swiftly.)

Researchers said this is the first time cocaine has been detected in wild sharks worldwide, and their findings “point to the potential impacts of the presence of illicit drugs in environments.”

Researchers also worry about cocaine reentering the food chain; the sharks are fished for their meat.

Previous studies have found illegal drugs, and legal medications, are accumulating in waters around the world, including in São Paulo state, where scientists say cocaine contamination is posing an ecological threat to marine life including mussels and oysters.

Researchers previously found that the level of cocaine in waters around São Paulo, home to Brazil’s most populous city, was similar to the amount of caffeine in coffee and tea, which they described as a “huge concentration.” It has also been detected in the state’s drinking water.

In 2019, British researchers found freshwater shrimp were being exposed to cocaine and other pharmaceuticals in the country’s rivers.

Global cocaine consumption has soared in recent decades, according to the United Nations. Brazilians are among the biggest consumers of the drug in South America, according to the study’s authors.

The Brazilian researchers chose to study the sharpnose shark because of its small size and the fact that it inhabits an area that is subject to significant contamination from sewage, making it an “environmental sentinel.”

They found that cocaine levels were three times as high in the muscle as they were in the liver, and that the female sharks had higher cocaine concentrations in muscle tissue compared with males.

 The amount of cocaine and benzoylecgonine found in the sharks “exceeded levels reported in the literature for fish and other aquatic organisms by up to two orders of magnitude.”

 Man Impregnates 16 Yr-old In-law

41 year old Nwalobi Fredrick from Ebonyi State, but resident in Ekwulobia has admitted to Impregnating his 16 year old in law.

This was after the family of the 16 year old reported the incident at the office of the Women and Social Welfare Commissioner in Awka.

Mr Nwalobi, an artisan in Ekwulobia, blamed the devil for the crime.

Contrary to what the suspect had earlier told the Honourable Commissioner, the 16 year old girl stated that the incident started after she was kept in her in laws care late January to enable her finish her secondary education since the demise of her mother.

She explained that it was just a day after settling in his house that Mr Nwalobi first had carnal knowledge of her and ever since has been having his way with her body.

Upon further interrogation, she revealed that she's already four months gone, and ever since she became pregnant, her inl-aw has refused to take responsibility for putting her in a family way.

Meanwhile, the 41 year old suspect, who remarried in April after the death of his first wife, says he doesn't have money to take care of the girl since he now has his own family.

On her part, the women and social welfare Commissioner, Hon Ify Obinabo, despite the suspects plea, handed him over to the Ekwulobia Divisional police for further investigation.

 Stay Off Southwest!

- Igboho Warns Anti-Govt Protesters

Yoruba Nation agitator, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has warned protesters to stay clear of Southwest states during the nationwide protests planned for August 1 over the hardship in the country.

Igboho in a statement issued late last night, said: “I, Chief Sunday Igboho, am issuing this press release in response to the planned protests by some unknown and faceless individuals, who are working to disintegrate the country.

‘’Since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s assumed office on May 29, 2023, he has implemented revolutionary policies, which his predecessors lacked the political will to pursue.

"These bold steps have, unsurprisingly, unsettled those who believe it is their birth right to rule Nigeria. And in response, there have been attempts to undermine his administration, particularly on social media, with the aim of creating discord between the government and the people.

‘’Recently, we have become aware of notices from unknown individuals threatening ’10 days of rage’, beginning August 1, 2024, under the slogan ‘Tinubu Must Go!’

‘’While the right to peaceful protest is enshrined in our constitution, it does not extend to calls for an unconstitutional regime change. It is worth noting that during President Buhari’s eight-year tenure, there were no such protests for regime change from the Southwest, even when our people faced oppression and atrocities by Fulani terrorists.

‘’Our protests were focused on protecting our communities, not on destabilizing the country.

"The Yoruba Nation Movement and I firmly declare that we will not participate in any protest aimed at using the Southwest as a battleground for political upheaval.

‘’We stand resolute in our belief that the Yoruba nation will not be a launchpad for disintegrating Nigeria. We recognize that economic hardship is a global phenomenon, not unique to Nigeria.

‘’Since my release from the unjust detention orchestrated by former President Buhari and his then attorney general of federation, Abubakar Malami, I have travelled extensively across Europe, the Middle East, West Africa, and North America.

‘’Everywhere, people are facing challenges, and governments are implementing palliatives to alleviate these hardships. In Nigeria, PBAT’s government has introduced measures to reduce food prices and increased the minimum wage from ¦ 30,000 to ¦ 70,000, demonstrating a commitment to improving the lives of the working populace.

‘’Let us be clear: the protest is politically motivated. We call on all Yoruba people and well-meaning Nigerians to reject this movement. The Yoruba Nation unequivocally opposes any such protests.

‘’Like President Buhari, President Tinubu must be allowed to complete his term in office. The path to change lies in democratic processes—through the ballot box or a referendum. Those who seek change must wait until the next elections in 2027.

‘’We urge our members and the broader community to resist any temptation to participate in these protests, as they do not serve the interests of the Yoruba people or the nation as a whole.

‘’We also issue a strong and unequivocal warning that we will firmly resist any individuals or groups attempting to instigate violence under the guise of these protests. They are strictly warned to stay off the streets across Yorubaland on the designated protest days and in the future. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.’’ He warned.

 Why We Sold Off Our Flour Mill In Nigeria – Aliko Dangote 

Africa’s richest man and CEO of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has explained why his company decided to sell off its flour mill in Nigeria in 2019. 

Dangote made this disclosure to newsmen on Saturday in Lagos. 

According to the businessman, the flour mill encouraged heavy importation of wheat into the country, an approach that does not align with the core values of the Dangote Group. 

Dangote stated that his company operates to add value to every part of Nigeria’s economy, adding that the importation of wheat only creates jobs for the countries where the wheat is produced. 

He said that while his flour mill was the second leading mill in Nigeria, he had to sell it off to stop heavy importation into the country. 

“Whatever we do at Dangote, we have value. We are not packaging plants. If you look at all our operations at Dangote, we actually add value.  

“We take local raw materials and turn them into products and we sell, which means it’s a circular economy. Everything is here in Nigeria.  

“It’s the same reason why we are number two in flour mill, but we sold it because the wheat is being imported from abroad so the more wheat we used, the more jobs we create out there. That’s why we cancelled that. 

“We remain only in sugar. Salt is not really a very big business. That’s what we’ve done,” Dangote said. 

Backstory 

In January 2019, the shareholders of Dangote Flour Mills Plc unanimously approved the acquisition of the company by Crown Flour Mills Limited, the Nigerian subsidiary of Olam International Limited. 

The shareholders gave their approval after Olam made a payment of N120 billion.  

The acquisition was carried out through a Scheme of Arrangement.  

Dangote Flour Mills started operation in 1999 as a division of Dangote Industries Ltd. It had mills across Nigeria, including in Apapa, Ikorodu, Ilorin, Kano and Calabar. 

It mills, processes and markets branded flour and offers downstream value-added products through subsidiary companies, including Dangote Pasta Ltd. 

What you should know 

There has been a recent exchange between Dangote and the Nigerian government.  

The government has accused Dangote of attempting to monopolize the energy sector. In response, Dangote has stated that he has no such intentions. 

Dangote emphasized that his company only engages in businesses that promote the value chain of Nigeria’s economy and does not rely on heavy importation. 

Due to a lack of industrialization, Nigeria continues to rely on imported goods as finished products while exporting its natural resources, such as oil and gas, to other countries.  

This creates an imbalance in the value chain. 

Dangote described this situation as “importing prosperity while exporting poverty.” 

 

 My Name Means A Lot To Me 

— Bukayo Saka On Meaning Of His Yoruba Name

Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka has shared insights about his Nigerian heritage
In an interview with the BBC, the 22-year-old football star emphasized the significan

ce of his Nigerian roots and explained the meaning of his Yoruba name.

Although born in England, Saka’s parents are Nigerian, and he has always embraced his dual nationality.
As a product of Arsenal’s Hale End academy, Saka has consistently acknowledged his Nigerian culture and heritage.

During an appearance on BBC Five’s Football Daily Show, Saka was asked about his connection to Nigeria.
He spoke about his heritage, stating, “It means a lot to me. Obviously growing up with Nigerian parents but I grew up in this country, so both sides mean a lot to me.”
When asked about the meaning of his Yoruba name, Saka proudly translated it, saying, “It means added joy.”
He added, “I like my name. If I remember correctly, I think my grandma gave it to me. I have to double-check with my parents, but I think I’m right

 Yeye Akinremi-Lawson Counts Blessings At 62

As the Bible teaches us to count our days, so that we might know wisdom, so it was for Yeye Funmi Akinremi-Lawson as she marked her 62nd birthday anniversary with pomp and pageantry.

Not many are blessed with the grace of clocking three scores in age but the Yeye Bobajiro of Ogunmakin has remarkably surpassed this threshold and still counting in good health. 

Born in Ibadan on July 19th 1962 to Mr & Mrs Akinremi of the Otun-Egba clan in Abeokuta, little Funmi grew up within Ibadan metropolis alongside her siblings. She attended Yejide Girls Grammar School, Ibadan and Franklin University, Canada, where she studied Digital Media Design Technology.

Her sojourn abroad has taken her to Canada, United Kingdom and United State of America (USA) where she has been residing for more than 20 years now.

In appreciation of God's utmost preservation and protection, she led family members, friends, associates and well-wishers to Freeman Methodist Church Cathedral along NTA Road, Ogbe, Totoro, Abeokuta to offer Thanksgiving to the Almighty in appreciation of her 62nd year sojourn on earth.

The Thanksgiving which held on Sunday 21st July 2024, however, coincided with the 2024 Children/Youth Harvest Thanksgiving Service of the church could not have come at a better time as it bodes well with the theme of the harvest ceremony 'Harvest of Rebuilding' as the preacher, Rev. Wunmi Oladunjoye copiously reminded everyone of God's covenant of procreation and brevity of life.

This is encapsulated in Psalm 90:12 “Teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom."

For this divine covenant, Yeye Akinremi-Lawson is exceedingly grateful for the gift of life as she thereafter rolled out the drums to celebrate with all and sundry at a lavish birthday party held at the Akinremi Family House at Olomore Estate, Abeokuta.

Important dignitaries at the party include Archbishop of RIYE & Bishop of Egba, His Grace Most Revd (Dr) Adegbemi Atanda Adewale; the Lagos State Chairman of Labour Party (LP) Hon. Olumide Adesoye; Hon. Sola Fakorede and Mrs. Funmi Abati-Aramide.

In an exclusive chat with The Snoop, the proprietress and Chief Executive of Tennytan High School, Abeokua could not hide her excitement about the occasion.

"I feel good and highly privileged because there are some of my mates who are in the grave. I feel good I'm 62. I'm alive to see my children and family doing wonderfully well," she said.

Retrospecting on her life journey, the Amercan-based businesswoman noted it's been a difficult journey so far but still acknowledged God's mighty hands for steering the ship out of the difficult waters.

"You really don't want to hear the story behind the journey. It's been difficult and crooked. But to the glory of God, I'm still standing tall. I have been out of Nigeria for the past 37 years. So it's been crooked missing my children but I'm happy I'm getting good result, I'm on the verge of almost enjoying the fruits of my labour."

She continued: "I was in Canada for 10 years, U.K for seven years and now in the U.S. for the past 21 years and I really worked hard. Some people may say I'm enjoying the fruits of my labour now but I think I'm not there yet. "

Asked if there are still hurdles ahead to be crossed, Yeye retorted: "I really don't see any hurdles to be crossed. All I know is I just have to jealously keep what I have and ensure what I have keeps on growing."

Indeed, Yeye Akinremi-Lawson's success story is a compelling read on hardwork, resilience, industry and values. But is she fulfilled? "No, I'm not fulfilled, I'm still trying to be fulfilled but I'm almost there. I have my children, they don't bother me, they don't give me hard times. I have my businesses, I have about three schools. If you think that's being fulfilled, may be you 're right but I'm still not there yet, I have to continue growing my schools. So, I'm not there but I'm almost there." She concluded.

 Planned Protest: Justice Forum Appeal To Youths To Embrace Dialogue  

A political group under the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Justice Forum, has called on the youth in the country to embrace dialogue and shun any action or utterances that can lead to breakdown of law and order

The group made the call  at its meeting held in Ikeja on Saturday, 20 July, 2024.

The call was contained in a press statement issued at the end of the meeting by the Group's Director of Media and Publicity, Hon. Razaq Olusola Ajala.

The statement stated that the state Coordinator of the Justice Forum and House of Representatives member, Hon. James Abiodun Faleke advised the youth not to allow some disgruntled elements to use them to achieve a self-centerism political agenda.

Faleke cited the ENDSARS protest which took place a few years ago in Lagos which was hijacked by disgruntled elements where innocent lives and several properties worth billions of Naira were lost as a result of the senseless action by agents of darkness.

"We all witnessed how innocent lives and properties worth billions of Naira were lost during the so-called ENDSARS protest a few years ago in Lagos when a genuine agitation turned into violence.aa

"There is need for us to thread softly with the development in Kenya and other similar incidents across the world where genuine agitations have been hijacked by agents of devil and have resulted into loss of innocent lives and several properties destroyed," Faleke said.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Finance noted that the  positive effects of some of the policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is beginning to manifest on the nation.

"President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration has just approved a new minimum wage for the civil servant which is more than 100%.

"He has equally removed the duties payable on essential food items, payment of student loans among other efforts by the government to put the Economy back on track," he said.

"We appeal to Nigerians to continue to support Mr. President in his resolved to institute a sustainable economy model that will benefit all," he said.

He also implored all leaders that include National Assembly members, serving and former state Assembly Members, serving and former Cabinet members, Council Chairmen and party stalwarts to use their vantage position to educate and sensitize the populace on the needs to understand President Tinubu's policies and be patient to let those policies manifest to make lives better for the people of the country.

 FALCONS PANIC!

As Players Get Stuck In Elevator

Members of the Super Falcons squad were stuck in an elevator barely 24 hours after arriving in France for the Paris Olympics.

 Asisat Oshoala, Deborah Abiodun, Uchenna Kanu looked worried after they found it difficult to exit the conveyor. The players resorted to prayers before an official of the facility made efforts to open up the platform lift 

 Footage shows the moment some players went into prayer mode as they looked confused inside the lift. 

This came barely 24 hours after they arrived in Bordeaux ahead of the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics. 

Nigeria and Zambia are the only two African women's football teams to represent the continent at the Summer Games.

The nine-time African champions are returning to the Olympics for the fourth time since they last played in this tournament in Beijing in 2008.

 Before that, they qualified twice for the Games in Sydney in 2000 and the Athens Games in 2004, where they secured better results—a quarterfinal finish. 

Now, they are drawn into Group C alongside Brazil, Spain, and Japan. 

 Looking confused, the players murmured, while one screamed, 'God Abeg o'. Another voice could be heard saying 'If I survive this one ehn'. 

Asisat Oshoala looked confused, while Deborah Abiodun and others managed to force smiles after an official of the facility opened up the lift.

They eventually used the stairs to their respective rooms. 

Nigeria Women will take on Brazil in their opening fixture on Thursday, July 25, at the Stade Matmut—Atlantique, 

Randy Waldrum’s side’s second game will be against world champions Spain three days later at the Stade de la Beujoire, Nantes. 

The nine-time African champions will round up their group stage campaign against Japan on Wednesday, July 31.

 

 US, UK, Europe-bound Cocaine, Opioids Concealed In Shoe Soles, Clothes Seized In Lagos

 

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted various quantities of cocaine and opioids such as tramadol, pentazocine injection, morphine sulphate, ketamine injection, among others concealed in soles of shoes, clothes and other items being shipped to the United States, United Kingdom and Cyprus.

While no less than 250 grams of cocaine going to Cyprus was hidden in soles of custom-made shoes, over five kilograms of opioids heading to the US and UK were discovered by NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigations, (DOGI), in clothes and other household items meant to be shipped through some courier firms in Lagos.

In the same vein, a consignment of 440 grams of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis coming from Canada to Lagos was equally intercepted by operatives in one of the logistic companies.

Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives in Edo state on Wednesday 10th July 2024 intercepted a vehicle marked Abuja GWA 273 DD at Ewu Junction, Esan Central LGA following credible intelligence. The luggage of one of the occupants, Aminu Abdullahi, (32), was searched and found to contain custard containers, where 3,000 pills of tramadol 225mg were buried in the custard powder. 

In his statement, the suspect claimed the drugs were bought in Onitsha, Anambra state and he was taking them to Mararaba area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja to sell.

 In another operation, operatives on Thursday 11th July raided the Ohen Forest, Abudu area of Edo and destroyed 5,429.751kg of cannabis on 2.918 hectares of farmlands where four suspects: Godday Ariye, (37); Friday Okafor (59); Obinna Nwosu (48); and Yusuf Adamu, (27) were arrested. 

Similarly, 300 kilograms of  the same substance were recovered from Uzzeba Obi camp in Owan West LGA when NDLEA officers raided the location on Saturday 13th July.

In Ogun state, operatives on Tuesday 9th July, recovered a total of 2,865 kilograms of cannabis at Afami Ibese while the suspected owner, Umar Ibese is currently at large. 

At least, 2,455 kilograms of materials for the production of Akuskura, a new psychoactive substance (NPS), were recovered from a warehouse in Konduga town, Konduga LGA, Borno state on Tuesday 9th July when NDLEA operatives in a joint operation with men of the Nigerian Army raided the area. 

The following day, Wednesday 10th July, operatives in Katsina state arrested a 54-year-old Sabo Sule with 47kg cannabis in Katsina town.

In Lagos, operatives on Monday 8th July raided a warehouse in VGC, Lekki where they recovered 148 cartons of non-medical nitrous oxide popularly called laughing gas; 108 cartons of fast gas cylinder; 134 pieces of balloon and 109 cartons of infusion charger, among others. A female suspect, Suliyat Abdulsalam was arrested in connection with the seizure.

With the same zeal, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, (WADA), sensitization activities in schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.

 

These include: WADA enlightenment lecture for students of St. Louis Grammar  School Senior, Mokola, Ibadan, Oyo state; students and staff of Infant Jesus Model Secondary School, Oron, Akwa Ibom state; students and teachers of Ede High School, Ede, Osun state; students of Government Day Secondary School, Kalga Gari, Daura, Katsina state; and students of Rehoboth Secondary School, Okpuno Awka, Anambra state, among others.

While commending the officers and men of Edo, Borno, Ogun, Katsina, Lagos, and FCT Commands as well as those of DOGI for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) noted their drug supply reduction efforts balanced with WADA sensitization activities while he charged them and their compatriots across the country to maintain the current tempo.

 

 

 JAMB List Top 13 Scorers Of 2024 UTME

. Pegs Cut-Off Mark At 140 For Varsities, 100 For Polytechnics, Others

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), on Thursday, unveiled the list of the top scorers in the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The announcement was made by JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, during the ongoing policy meeting of the Board in Abuja.

The scores range between 363 to 367, which is the highest in this year’s examination.

Here under are the top scorers of 2024 UTME:

1. Olowu David – 367 (Ondo State)

2. Alayande David – 367 (Oyo State)

3. Orukpe Joel – 367 (Edo State)

4. Emmanuel Jeremiah – 366 (Akwa Ibom State)

5. Essiet Etini – 365 (Akwa Ibom State)

6. Ezenwoko Zara – 365 (Abia State)

7. Umoh Joshua – 365 (Akwa Ibom State)

8. Mamudu Abdulraham – 364 (Edo State)

9. Adeleke Abdulbasit – 363 (Kwara State)

10. Echem Victor – 363 (Rivers State)

11. Etute Emmanuel – 363 (Edo State)

12. Jedidiah Chidiebube – 363 (Imo State)

13. Adesanya Oluwatimilehin – 363 (Ogun State)

Prof. Oloyede praised the students for their exceptional performance and highlighted the competitive nature of this year’s examination. He noted, “The dedication and hard work of these students are commendable, and their scores reflect the high standards we aim to uphold in our examinations.”

The top scorers hail from various states across Nigeria, showcasing the diverse talent pool in the country. Olowu David, Alayande David, and Orukpe Joel all achieved the highest score of 367, representing Ondo, Oyo, and Edo States respectively. Close behind is Emmanuel Jeremiah from Akwa Ibom State with a score of 366.

Prof. Oloyede encouraged all UTME candidates to continue striving for excellence, emphasising that the Board remained committed to maintaining the integrity and credibility of its examinations.

In another development, JAMB has approved 140 as the cut-off mark for 2024 admission into the nation’s universities and 100 for polytechnics and colleges of education, respectively.

The National Minimum Tolerable UTME Score (NTMUS), popularly known as the cut-off mark, for 2024 admission into tertiary institutions was arrived at on Thursday during the 2024 annual policy meeting on admissions, which was held at the Body Benchers, Headquarters, Abuja.

The meeting was held following the successful conduct of the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). A total of 1,989,668 registered candidates sat for this year’s UTME.

Out of the 1,989,668 registered candidates, 80,810 were absent, while a total of 1,904,189 sat for the UTME within six days of the examination.

The policy meeting was chaired by the Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, and decided following recommendations by the heads of institutions.

Registrar of JAMB Registrar, Is-haq Oloyede, who announced the cut-off marks, explained that individual institutions were at liberty to raise their minimum benchmark approved at the policy meeting but could not go below what was approved for various institutions.

 Ridiculous’ Wafcon Delay Leaves African Women’s Football In A Mess

Women’s Afcon qualifying concluded last year but fed up teams now have to wait until July 2025 for the tournament

When the final round of qualifiers for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) concluded in December, the 12 qualified teams presumed the tournament would take place in Morocco at some point this year. But they will now have to wait an unprecedented 19 months – until 5-26 July 2025 – before it is staged in order to avoid a clash with this summer’s Olympics.

“It is a ridiculous situation,” said an official of the Nigeria Football Federation, one of the participating teams, when speaking to the Guardian. “Where has it happened, in any confederation, anywhere in the world, for there to be a one-and-a-half-year gap between the end of a qualifying series and the main tournament? How does a coach maintain team momentum and keep the same players for the tournament?

“It is unacceptable that the Confederation of African Football (Caf) cannot schedule its tournaments properly and promptly, which is creating a huge mess for women’s national team football in the continent.”

The president of another participating team added: “When we had our usual Caf meeting, on the fringes of the last Fifa congress in Bangkok, we were told that they were waiting for guidance from Fifa before a tournament date could be confirmed. I was very surprised to hear that. It is Caf’s responsibility to ensure that its tournaments are properly scheduled, in alignment with the international match calendar”. Caf is supposed to fix the time for its competitions and consult Fifa in good time to ensure they are confirmed in the international match calendar.

“Caf awarded this tournament to Morocco in August 2022. There has been more than enough time for them to schedule the event properly,” added the president. “There is no excuse for the mess we are in. This year’s Olympic football tournament is no credible reason for why it has been postponed. They knew about the Olympics and they should have come up with a solution, to avoid the schedule clash”.

Except for Nigeria and Zambia, the continent’s two representatives at the forthcoming Olympics, the 10 other teams that qualified for Wafcon – Morocco, South Africa, Ghana, Tunisia, Mali, Algeria, Senegal, DR Congo, Botswana and Tanzania – will now have no competitive fixtures until next year. “It’s disappointing,” said Desiree Ellis, coach of South Africa, the reigning Wafcon champions, in an interview with South African broadcaster, SABC Sport. “The new cycle started last year to the World Cup. If the [Wafcon] draw can happen sooner than later you will know who you’re preparing for well in advance. If the draw can come early, I think that will help all other countries.”

This is the second time in four years that the tournament has suffered a scheduling setback – the 2020 Wafcon was cancelled as a result of the pandemic, leaving many within the continent’s football community deeply upset. The new tournament dates, which ensure Wafcon will be played at the same time as next year’s Women’s European Championship in Switzerland, does not lay Caf’s scheduling problems to rest – another Wafcon is scheduled to take place in 2026, with that tournament doubling as a qualifying tournament for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. Perhaps unsurprisingly, a host and schedule for that tournament has yet to be organised by Caf.

“We are supposed to play [Wafcon] this year but we have teams engaged in the Olympics, so we have to find another date,” Véron Mosengo-Omba, Caf’s general secretary, told the BBC last month. “Scheduling is a nightmare for everybody.”

That may be true but Caf must take responsibility for its own problems in this regard and how that is harming the stability and long-term health of Africa’s premier women’s football tournament.

 

INTERPOL Seize Millions In Illegal Assets, Including Cryptocurrencies, Luxury Items

 

A global law enforcement operation targeting West African organized crime groups, including Black Axe, has led to hundreds of arrests, the seizure of assets worth USD 3 million, and the dismantling of multiple criminal networks around the world.

Operation Jackal III, which ran from 10 April to 3 July across 21 countries on five continents, targeted online financial fraud and the West African syndicates behind it.

The annual operation resulted in some 300 arrests, the identification of over 400 additional suspects, and the blocking of more than 720 bank accounts.

Isaac Oginni, Director of INTERPOL’s Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre (IFCACC) said:"The volume of financial fraud stemming from West Africa is alarming and increasing. This operation’s results underscore the critical need for international law enforcement collaboration to combat these extensive criminal networks.

“By identifying suspects, recovering illicit funds and putting some of West Africa’s most dangerous organized crime leaders behind bars, we are able to weaken their influence and reduce their capacity to harm communities around the world."

‘Supernotes’

Black Axe is one of the most prominent West African transnational organized crime syndicates, with operations in cyber fraud, human trafficking, drug smuggling, and violent crimes both within Africa and globally.

In Argentina, Operation Jackal III saw the dismantling of a Nigerian-led transnational criminal network following a five-year investigation. The Federal Police seized USD 1.2 million in ‘supernotes’ – high quality counterfeit banknotes – arrested 72 suspects and froze approximately 100 bank accounts.

The network used money mules to open bank accounts worldwide and is now under investigation in over 40 countries for related money laundering activities. The suspects include citizens from Argentina, Colombia, Nigeria and Venezuela.

More than 160 fraud victims suffered significant financial losses, with some forced to sell their homes or take out large loans as a result.

Illegal money trails

Diego Verdun, Head of Argentina’s National Central Bureau, said:

“Operation Jackal is a crucial step forward in combating West African online financial fraud and clearly demonstrates that cybercriminals cannot escape the watchful eye of INTERPOL’s 196 member countries – especially in Argentina.

“By following illegal money trails worldwide, INTERPOL and the global police community ensure that no matter where these criminals try to hide, they will be relentlessly pursued and brought to justice.”

In a separate case in Switzerland, police cracked down on West African organized crime syndicates operating nationwide, seizing cocaine, approximately EUR 45,000 in cash, and arresting multiple suspects.

INTERPOL supported the operation by providing real-time access to its databases, facilitating the identification of criminals and their activities.

Cryptocurrency transactions

Portuguese criminal police dismantled a Nigerian network involved in money mule recruitment, laundering funds from online financial fraud victims across Europe. More than 25 syndicate members were identified in the process.

Data from seized computers and phones revealed large transfers to Nigerian bank accounts, cryptocurrency transactions, and sophisticated money laundering operations.

INTERPOL headquarters assisted countries by facilitating intelligence exchange and the identification and apprehension of suspects.

Operation Jackal III mobilized police forces, financial intelligence units, asset recovery offices, and private sector partners in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Cote D’Ivoire, France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the United States.

  

Olusegun Osoba: At 85, I Have No Regret In Life

 Former Ogun State Governor, Aremo Olusegun Osoba marked his 85^th year birthday anniversary with a book launch which attracted important dignitaries from all walks of life. As a governor, he remained one of the most charismatic chief executive to ever ruled over the Gateway State. As a journalist, the erstwhile Managing Director of the defunct Daily Times Group imprinted his footprints in the sand of times as one of the most influential journalists in the political history of the country. He shares his life and professional experiences in this exclusive chat with OLAWALE OLALEYE

 

What does it feel like to be 85 years old?

Well, it’s all in the mind. Truly speaking, I keep wondering. I always ask myself, too. Am I really 85?  Because, when I was younger, people above sixty, we called them Baba, Pa, and to be seventy then was seen as an achievement. I thank God that I advanced to 85 years and I feel quite alright with myself. I tell you, I don’t play with my doctors instructions and advice.

 You are not just alive to be 85, you seem very healthy. It may be hard to find a contemporary, as agile, hale and healthy as you. How have you been able to maintain a healthy life and safe living?

I must confess to you. First of all, as a true Nigerian, I attribute everything to the grace of God. But I can tell you, one of the major attributes that one needs is to learn to do everything with moderation. Whatever may be the case, even the food you eat; you must do it with moderation. It is very important. And give yourself a total rest of mind.
You must have contentment. I don’t envy anybody. And I don’t use anybody as a parameter or barometer for my own life. I believe in myself. I live my life the way I want it. And I don’t envy anybody. Secondly, I hate to carry an issue overnight. Because, if I envy somebody and I carry it overnight, I don’t sleep well. So I deal with all issues during the day.
There was a time when I was governor, I had to tell some of my close friends, who were strong and close enough to tell me the truth. People like Oba Otudeko, Peter Àjàyí – they were friends who would tell me bluntly what they felt.
We usually talked almost every night. At a point, I had to plead with them that if they found something wrong that I was not doing well, they should not be telling me in the night, they must tell me in the morning, so that I would have dealt with it during the day to avoid carrying it overnight. So, you must give yourself total peace of mind. As I repeat, contentment; don’t be envious and you live the rest to God

So, what do you do with your time since you no longer work?

With this order of internet platforms and connectivity, there is so much to read. In fact, I get bombarded that I struggle everyday to catch up. For example, as a politician, I have 7000 thousand contacts on my phone. So, coping with “happy Monday”, “happy Sunday”, “happy new month”, “happy these and that”.
Then I belong to so many platforms. Old classmates, clubs. They don’t like me to pull out. Professional websites and platforms, there is so much to read and with modern day technology, events happen so fast.
News happens so fast. I am a curious reporter; I have always wanted to be up to date. But one thing I do is that I rest as much as I can. I listen to my body. It is very important that one should listen to your body talking to you. If my body tells me not to get up, I don’t get up. As a result, I always mute my telephone all night and I don’t open my telephone before 12 noon.
I don’t answer calls before noon. By then, I would have had my early morning sleep, which is the best and when I get up to start the day, it’s like that till midnight or sometimes past midnight. So, again, one must be in charge of one’s activity and importantly, listen to your body and obey your doctor’s instructions.

Given the many curves that life has taken you, did you ever think that you could actually live up to 85?

Well, when I look back, for example, my News Editor at Daily Times, Animashaun, left office and was heading home. I don’t think he was up to 40. Driving home, he died in his car. He must have had a heart attack. And when I look at some of my friends, who died young, I used to wonder whether I too would live beyond the ages of those young ones who died. Well, thank God, now I am 85. I never thought that I would live up to 85. So, one must be doing Thanksgiving everyday.

So, was there any time that you ever gave up on life?

Never! I am an optimist. I give myself rest of mind. I don’t think I have cause to regret my life at any stage. I can tell you I’ve lived it well at every stage of my life. In my younger days, myself, Gen Babangida, Gen Ike Nwachukwu, Air Marshal Abas, Air Marshal Bello, we used to paint Lagos red in our younger days.
I have no regrets. I thank God at every stage. I live it up and enjoy myself. In fact, Kabiyesi, the Awujale of Ijebu-land is always telling me that if I slaughter a ram everyday in thanksgiving to God for what He has done in my life, it is not too much. Kabiyesi is 90. He used to tell me that, watching me, at every stage of my life, I had the best of everything. That I should always be thanking God every day, which is true.

85 years on earth could actually make you an encyclopaedia on life’s many issues. But what is that one lesson that life has taught you such that you’d love to share for people to learn from?

If you read my book, my autobiography, you will find that I said, ‘Battle Lines: Adventures in Journalism and Politics’. One thing that I will say is that one should never give up, no matter the circumstances. Be battle ready. And if you’ve read ‘Battle Line’, you find too many challenges that I went through. And I thank God I had the courage never to give up. Never! Never to accept defeat.

Life is made up of good and evil. There can’t be one without the other. With the benefit of hindsight, is there anything in life you would have loved to do differently or in the best case scenario, undo, looking back?

Each time I look back, I can’t find anything I would say I regret. No, If I have to go through it again, I don’t think I would do anything differently. No regrets at all. In everything I did, I have no regrets. None.

Olusegun Osoba is a household name.  Interestingly you made this name as a journalist and not as a politician that many reckon today. How does that make you feel?

I always feel good within myself, because when you look at many who have been governors in the country, whether military or civilian,

many who are still alive have been forgotten. I tell my children that one thing I would do over and over again is to be a reporter. Being a reporter is a university by itself. You get to know so many people. You get to learn a lot. You get to develop contacts. For example, my daughter gave me a grandson in March. She is to come back home this week to be around for my 85th birthday and she had to go and get an emergency travel certificate for the little boy. And she came back so elated and happy, that, getting to the High Commission in London, the name Osoba was so respected that she was given virtually a VIP treatment and she came back and said, “Daddy, I wonder how you do it.”
I said well, that is part of the grace of God that I gained as a journalist and not as a governor. I have forgotten that I was a governor. In fact, when PDP rigged the election in 2003, I just decided to return home. I didn’t go to court. In spite of the fact that Gen Buhari proved in court that the election in Ogun State was grossly rigged.
And the election was cancelled by Justice Tobi, who was the chairman of the presidential election tribunal. I didn’t want to force myself on Ogun State. I wanted to serve, and if they said “no more”, why not? I returned home and gave myself peace of mind. The goodwill that I enjoy at all levels, is more than enough for me. It gives me great joy.

Again, you didn’t just make a name as a journalist, you also made very expensive contacts at the highest level of leadership in the country. How were you able to balance it, without conflicting your professional obligations?

Well, you will see, like I tell you, there has been no head of government that I was and still not close to. Right from Tafawa Balewa to Gen Yakubu Gowon. Ironsi was the only one I wasn’t close to, but his was short. His time was short. Murtala Mohammed to our Obasanjo, Obasanjo to Shagari, Shagari to Gẹn Buhari, Buhari to Babangida.
Abacha I knew even as GOC in Ibadan before he became Head of State. Although he was after me to kill me because he felt that being close to him I should have gone all out for him. Then from Abacha to General Abdulsalami Abubakar, Abubakar back to Obasanjo. Obasanjo went back to Yar’adua, whose brother was very close to me as Chief of staff to Obasanjo then. We developed a very close relationship.
Then to Jonathan, who I knew when he was deputy to Alayemesigha, and from Jonathan back to Buhari and now to our first progressive president, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. There has been no president in this country that I don’t know. So, balancing the situation, I can tell you, the training that we had from Baba Jose was very influential to my attitude. I never compromised my professional standard with all the connections that I had. If I had wanted to make money, anything I asked or be an agent to some businesses, I would have made millions.  But never! I will give you an example. General Mobolaji Johnson was my House Captain at Methodist Boys High School and he became governor. And he was the one that allocated most of Victoria Island. As close as I was to him, one of my classmates was his commissioner, Rasheed Gbadamosi, and my boss, Odunewu, was also commissioner in his cabinet. I never asked for land in Victoria Island.

You will not believe that it was when Mudashiru became governor. Mudashiru grew up in Isalẹ Eko, and married one of the sisters of my classmate, Babayemi. It was he who was shocked to learn that I didn’t have a single sand in Lagos as Managing Director of Daily Times. He was the one who, by force, allocated a plot to me in Lekki.

It was the first government land that I have had all throughout my career until I became the MD of Daily Times. I never had a plot of land in Lagos. It was shocking to Mudashiru. And he paid off for me. Because, all these people I mentioned have respect for me and those of them who are still alive still have tremendous respect for me.
I still enjoy that goodwill. I did not compromise my professional ethics and standards. It paid off for me. Anything I wanted, up till today, I got it done. Up till today, I have never had any government business or contract that would create any scandal for me. So, I am lucky. The benefit of it came in different forms, for me.
I can tell you that even as Governor, I was never a candidate of EFCC or ICPC. Overall, that goodwill will come through other sources for you to get on in life.

 Is it not surprising that at 85, you still enjoy referring to yourself as a reporter. What really is it with you and journalism?  

I used to tell people that we, the reporters, are the infantry belt. We are the foot-soldiers of journalism. Anybody can be a columnist. Anybody! You don’t have to get any special training to be a columnist. In fact, in my younger days, Tai Solarin was one of the best columnists in Daily Times. Yet he was not a journalist. He was an educationist.
Anybody can be a writer. You can express your opinion as a columnist, that doesn’t make you a journalist. In my days, there were desk people, sub-editors, who would plan the pages and edit our stories. Yes, I agree. But they were in the background. We were the ones who went out and took risks. We were the real soldiers on the battle front. And that’s why I take pride in being a reporter.
Professor Akin Faleye propounded a theory that, even in heaven, there would be reporters because God himself will communicate to us who are in heaven. If there is going to be communication, there must be reporters to disseminate the information. So, why would I not be proud? In my life, I am a reporter, and when I get to heaven, I will still be a reporter. So, there is life after here for me in heaven.

Everyone’s prayer for you is to live many more years in good health, but at 85, are there things you still look forward to before the universe calls time on you?

Nothing! I just do thanksgiving to God.  I always say, I don’t pray to have an aircraft. I don’t want to buy aircraft. I don’t want to buy Rolce Royce. The vehicles that I have for now will still last me for the next five years. The only thing I do everyday is, the Bible teaches us to count our days. If I am going to live until 90, I have about 2500 days from now to ninety.
And I always asked myself, what will I be doing for the near 3000 days. Because if I live until ninety, nobody can say that I didn’t live well enough. So, I always want to get the best of everything in the daytime. Rest well. I don’t eat much, but the little I want to eat I want to eat quality food. If there is anything I enjoy most, it’s music. So I give myself the best and relax.
I have worked all my life and want to spend the rest of my life living a relaxed and enjoyable life. Sam Amuka used to tell me that when he is 90 years, he would like to go and he would be 90 next year on June 13. And I have told him that we won’t let him go at 90. The mother died at 108. So I told him that when it’s 106 or 107, we would force God to take him away then.
Like him, I thank God. I live to count my days, count my weeks. So, if I live to be 90, I still have about 300 weeks left. Why shouldn’t I give glory to God everyday and enjoy every day of my life to the best of my ability.

Lastly, what is family to you? And where has family always been in all that life has thrown at you, even at 85?

Well, I thank God that I have a good family. I have only one pity, that all through my life as a journalist, I devoted all day, all night to the profession. It is in old age now that I try to give as much as I can to my grandchildren what my children didn’t have. As a successful journalist, you have to be hard-working all day. You don’t go to bed until the paper goes to bed. And that is not before midnight. So, my grandchildren are the ones I am giving it all to. I look forward to my grandchildren and enjoy their company. 

 

 Anambra Young Billionaire Arrested Over Alleged Fraud, Terrorism Sponsorship

Popular young Anambra billionaire, Linus Williams Ifejika, popularly known as BLord has been arrested by the operatives of the Nigeria Police.

BLord, an Awka-based cryptocurrency vendor and Managing Director of BLord Group, Blord Real Estate Ltd., Blord Jetpaye Ltd.and Billpoint Technology, was arrested in Abuja on Tuesday, July 16.

Confirming this in a statement issued to newsmen on Tuesday, Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the arrest was as a result of allegations of cryptocurrency fraud, terrorism funding, and aiding internet fraud among others levelled against BLord’s companies.

According to him , complaints were lodged against the BLord Group of Companies, thereby necessitating his arrest.

The statement reads: “The FCID (NPF-NCCC) is currently investigating complaints lodged against BLORD GROUP, BLORD REAL ESTATE LTD, BLORD JETPAYE LIMITED, and BILLPOINT TECHNOLOGY.

“These offences include allegations bothering on cryptocurrency fraud, aiding internet fraud, computer-related fraud, terrorism funding, and non-compliance with regulatory frameworks.

“We will do due diligence in our investigations.

“Our cyber space in Nigeria must be safe and secured by all means. We are committed to achieving that.”

It would be recalled that BLord had previously been arrested on August 31, 2020, by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), who grilled him in Awka, alongside some other youths accused of internet fraud.

He was, however, acquitted by the Enugu State Federal High Court in a landmark judgment delivered on May 7, 2022, after barely two years of legal tussle — a victory he dedicated to the Nigerian Youths, and then continued his crypto business, before his latest arrest and detention on Tuesday July 16, in Abuja