Senate, Reps advised to legislate against budget padding
“The National Assembly could establish a numerical debt limit policy based on debt service to revenue or debt to revenue,” WAIFEM boss said.
Baba Musa, director-general of the West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM), has called for legislation to ensure the annual publication of tax waivers in Nigeria to prevent budget padding, debt, and poverty.
Mr Musa also called for strict adherence to existing laws to tame rising food inflation, Naira volatility, poverty and other factors affecting the growth of the nation’s GDP.
He made the call at a book launch and public lecture organised by the Centre for Economic Policy and Research (CEPAR) at the University of Lagos to mark the retirement of Ndubisi Nwokoma, the centre’s director.
Chad’s military leader Mahamat Deby wins election to continue family’s 34-year rule
“To all Chadians who voted for change, who voted for me, I say: mobilise. Do it calmly, with a spirit of peace,” Mr Masra said in a broadcast.
Mahamat Deby (Credit: France24)
Mahamat Déby, Chad’s military ruler, has been declared winner of the presidential poll, legitimising the continuation of his family’s 34-year grip on power.
According to Chad’s National Election Management Agency on Thursday, General Déby won 61.3 per cent of the vote to defeat his closest rival, Prime Minister Succès Masra, who won 18.53 per cent.
Mr Déby, 40, took over the country’s leadership after his father, former President Idriss Déby Itno, was killed in a gun battle against a rebel group in April 2021.
Whether you are seeking a greater purpose in life, are a new believer, or have walked with Jesus for a long time, these simple tips will remind you that getting closer to God is just one small act away. Spend some time with God today, and you will be blessed and refreshed. 1. Get quiet. Turn off the radio and TV, step away from your computer, put away your phone, and find a quiet spot to simply rest in God’s presence.
2. Read your bible. Underline, highlight, or write out passages, verses, phrases or words that speak to you. These are the gifts that keep on giving when you need encouragement down the road.
3. Write out your prayers in a dedicated notebook; these can be for others or yourself. Then spend time in prayer.
4. Go for a walk and talk with God. Share your heart: what is troubling you, what you are thankful for, and your hopes and dreams. He listens.
5. Meditate on Scripture. Choose a verse or short passage, read it several times, and invite the Holy Spirit to speak to you about what you have learned in the context of what’s happening in your life right now.
6. Put on some worship music and immerse yourself in the melody and lyrics. Sing along, dance…or just listen. Let the Holy Spirit minister to you.
7. Marvel at the world God has created. Walk in the forest, sit by a bubbling stream, watch a mother bird feed her young, or drive out in the country for a picnic. Let the experience soak in.
8. Journal what God has been speaking to you about today.
9. Share what God has done for you with a friend or family member. Witnessing is a powerful tool for our own spiritual growth, and pleases the Lord.
10. Do something for someone else without expecting anything in return.
11. Use the gifts God has given you. If He has called you to create, then create. If He has called you to administer, then administer. If He has called you to shepherd, then shepherd.
12. Fast. Fasting brings clarity of mind and combined with any of the above, gives you the potential for a remarkable encounter with God.
BONUS: Be grateful. Count, and thank God for, your blessings every day.
Spice up your cooking routine with the traditional Nigerian fried rice
If you enjoy the flavor of traditional Nigerian cuisine, give Nigerian fried rice a try! Parboil the rice for a few minutes before you cook it in chicken stock. Then, fry the mixed vegetables in seasonings, stir the cooked rice into the vegetables, and fry the mixture for about 5 minutes. Serve the fried rice immediately for the best flavor and texture.
Ingredients
2 cups (356 g) of parboiled basmati, jasmine, or white rice
1/2 cup (118 ml) of chicken or turkey stock
Vegetable oil
1 onion (diced)
1 cup (128 g) of diced mixed vegetables
1 cup (128 g) of cubed beef liver (optional)
1/2 teaspoon (2.5 g) of thyme
1 teaspoon (5 g) of Nigerian or Jamaican curry powder
1 stock cube
Salt (to taste)
Chopped scallions to garnish
Makes 5 servings
Part1
Making the Rice
Rinse the rice with cold water and pour it into a large pot. Place 1 cup (178 g) of dry rice into a fine mesh strainer. Run cold water over the rice and use your hands to gently rinse the rice. You can use basmati, white, or jasmine rice for this recipe.
Traditionally, Nigerian fried rice is made with parboiled long grain rice.
The recipe calls for 2 cups (356 g) of parboiled rice. 1 cup (178 g) of dry rice makes about 2 cups (356 g) of cooked rice.
Add 2 cups (473 ml) of water to the large pot. When parboiling, use twice as much water as you do rice. In this case, use 2 cups (473 ml) of water since you’re parboiling 1 cup (178 g) of dry rice.
Boil the mixture over high heat for 5 minutes. Bring the water to a full rolling boil. Then, start your timer and let the rice boil for 5 minutes. Keep the lid off of the pot while the liquid heats up so it doesn’t boil over.
Transfer the rice to a fine mesh strainer. Turn off the heat and hold a fine mesh strainer over your sink. Pour the mixture into the strainer to drain the water from the rice.
Place the strainer in a bowl of cold water for about 5 minutes. Fill a large bowl with cold water. Put the fine mesh strainer into the bowl of water so the rice can soak for several minutes.
Rinse off the rice with cold water. Take the strainer out of the bowl of water and rinse of the rice again with cold water from the faucet. At this point, your rice is parboiled and ready to use in this recipe!
Put 1/2 cup (118 ml) of stock in a large pot and bring it to a boil. Nigerian fried rice is traditionally made with chicken or turkey stock. Add 1/2 cup (118) of the stock to a large pot or saucepan. Let the liquid come to a full rolling boil.
In traditional Nigerian recipes, rice is always cooked in meat stock (unlike the rice in Chinese fried rice, which is cooked in plain water).If you prefer, use beef or vegetable stock instead.
Add the parboiled rice and boil the mixture for 25 minutes. Carefully put the parboiled rice into the boiling stock. Boil the rice until it absorbs all of the stock, which usually takes around 25 minutes.
Take the rice of the heat and fluff it with a fork after 5 minutes.
Part2
Frying the Veggies and Rice
Sauté the onions for 1-2 minutes. Pour 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of vegetable oil into a large skillet or wok and turn the heat to medium. Once the oil is hot and shimmers, add the diced onion and saute for a couple of minutes.
Stir in the mixed vegetables, stock cube, and seasonings. Add 1 cup (128 g) of diced mixed vegetables to the skillet. Then, stir in 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 g) of thyme, 1 teaspoon (5 g) of curry powder, and 1 stock cube.
For an authentic Nigerian flavor, saute 1 cup (128 g) of cubed beef liver with the veggies.
You can use frozen mixed vegetables straight from the bag while they’re still frozen. If you prefer, chop and dice your own mixed vegetables. Try a mix of carrots, corn, green beans, and peas.
Fry the vegetables for 1-2 minutes. Stir and cook the vegetable mixture over medium heat until the vegetables are heated through. Avoid overcooking the vegetables or they’ll lose their shape and vibrant color.
If the vegetables stick to the skillet, add 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of cooking oil.
Add the rice and fry everything together for 3-5 minutes. Transfer the rice to the skillet with the seasoned vegetables and stir the mixture until it’s combined. Stir-fry the mixture for 3-5 minutes, stirring continuously.
Turn off the heat and serve the fried rice immediately for the best flavor.
Put any leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate it for 5-7 days.
Cyber security levy: Stop creating more taxes, provide solution to end hunger – Primate Ayodele tells Tinubu
The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele on Friday asked President Bola Tinubu to stop creating more taxes for Nigerians and provide solutions to end hunger in the country.
Primate Ayodele said that increasing Value Added Tax, stamp duty and implementing the cybersecurity levy is not proper at a time Nigeria is still struggling with economic hardship that has made ordinary citizens wretched.
In a statement signed by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, he asked the government to review their policies and make them people-friendly because there is so much hardship in the country and what the government should focus on is ensuring that Nigerians see better days.
He said: ‘’Increasing VAT, stamp duty, implementing cybersecurity levy at this time is not proper.Nigeria may not understand all of these and the government in power may not even understand too but the fact remains that the government must review their policies very well.
‘’These policies will only lead to more hardship for the people, the prices of food commodities will skyrocket and even the salary increase will still lead to more hardship if these policies continue.’’
Primate Ayodele called on the CBN governor to scrutinize the policies that can create problems for the government in future and affect Nigerian banks.
He stated that the current policies are too harsh and will affect everyone in the country.
‘’The CBN governor must look at all these policies that will create problems for the future of the government, they must review them clinically and all of these will affect banks. If all these policies still continue, Nigerians will not find it easy.
‘’What Nigerians need now is how they will survive and eat their three square meal. What is going on now will affect every small scale industry and big men. A lot of people surrounding the president are deceiving him,” he added.
Senator Sunday Katung (PDP-Kaduna South) has called for open trials of bandits unleashing mayhem on innocent citizens in the country.
Katung made the call when he visited Ambe community in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State to condole them over last Sunday’s attack on the community, during which six people were killed and seven injured by bandits during a wedding party.
Katung believed that the open prosecution of bandits would expose their identities to the public and serve as a deterrent to others.
The lawmaker commended youths of the community for their bravery in apprehending one of the suspected attackers, and called on security operatives to fish out the masterminds of the unprovoked attack and bring them to justice.
He cautioned community members against conniving with bandits to attack their community, saying nemesis will catch up with those who engage in such betrayal.
Also, the member representing Jema’a/Sanga Federal Constituency, Mr Daniel Amos, prayed for the repose of the souls of those killed and offered to pay the medical bills of those injured.
He pledged to work with Katung to ensure that the request for the re-establishment of a military camp within the community is granted.
According to him, the re-establishment of a military camp will give the people of Ambe and four other communities the courage to go back to their farms.
Earlier, the youth leader of Ambe, Mr Micah Audi, lauded the lawmakers for identifying with the community in their moment of grief.
UNVEILING THE HIDDEN MINISTRIES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT – Bishop David Oyedepo at Midweek Communion Service || LFC Canaanland
IF WE REFUSED TO OBEY THE INSTRUCTION TO MOVE TO LAGOS FROM KADUNA, WE WILL BE HELD HOSTAGE THERE FOR LIFE.
THERE WON’T BE ANY AFRICAN GOSPEL INVASION PROJECT (AGIP), MISSION TO THE WORLD, COVENANT UNIVERSITY (CU) OR LANDMARK UNIVERSITY (LMU) TODAY
IT IS ONE OBEDIENCE THAT LEADS TO THE NEXT BLESSING.
THE HELPER OF HELPERS IS IN YOU, HIS NAME IS THE HOLY SPIRIT.
YOU ARE NOT ON EARTH TO STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL
MANY OF US DON’T KNOW WHAT WE CARRY.
SPIRITUAL EMPOWERMENT IS THE GREATEST NEED OF EVERY BELIEVER
WE LIVE IN A WORLD OF CONFLICTS AND CONTENTIONS WITH PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS.
devils WILL ONLY SUBMIT TO THE GREATNESS of GOD’S POWER
EMPOWERMENT IS NOT FOR SHOW; IF YOU DON’T FALL, THEY PUSH YOU – ALL IN A BID TO DISPLAY POWER.
ARCHBISHOP BENSON IDAHOSA’S OLUBADAN CRUSADE STIRRED MY PASSION FOR EMPOWERMENT.
GENUINE THIRST FOR EMPOWERMENT IN SERVING GOD IS MISSING IN THE CHURCH TODAY.
– Bishop David Oyedepo on UNVEILING THE HIDDEN MINISTRIES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT at Midweek Communion Service || LFC Canaanland || 8th May 2024||
The prophetic focus for the month is MY HELPER HAS COME. John 14:16-18. So He came on the day of Pentecost not just to be with us but to be in us. They were filled with the Holy Spirit. Nothing in the environment fills you, it is what goes inside. Ephesians 5:18. So you don’t forget Him at home, He is in you. Your helper follows you around. Your Helper is on your inside. Wherever you appear, your Helper appears. That is what happened on the day of Pentecost, we have seen Him around. Jesus had the Spirit of God without measure, it shows in His life but He is come now in us. You are travelling, He is in you. In the air, He is in you, on the water, he is in you. Church Gist. On the road, He is in you. You are going for an interview, He is in you. You are bidding for a contract, He is in you. You are on the farm, He is in you. Your Helper is ever present, they call Him the ever-present helper. So at a corner, “Holy Spirit, manifest yourself.” “Holy Spirit, show forth your help.” Moses was holding a rod in his hand and he didn’t know the worth of the rod. God asked, ‘What is that in your hand?’ a rod and what about? God said ‘You don’t know anything, put it down now.’ It turned into a serpent. Moses was going to flee. He said No! If you flee, you die. Take it by the tail so it can’t bite you straight. He held it by the tail and it was turned back to a rod. Many of us don’t know what we carry. The Helper of helpers is in you. His name is the Holy Spirit. You are not here to struggle for survival. He is in you to bear you up upon His wings. He is in you.
For our Midweek Services, we are looking at UNVEILING THE HIDDEN MINISTRIES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. The Pentecostals just settled down on the nine gift of the Holy Spirit. We kept emphasizing that forever. Sometimes we add the ministry gifts – apostles, prophets etc. There are diverse hidden gifts of the Holy Spirit. From where we draw help to make the most of our adventure in the Kingdom. 1 Corinthians 2:7. The Holy Ghost is for our profitable living. Church Gist. He said therefore covet earnestly the best gifts (1 Corinthians 12:31). Look at the areas where you need help, see how the Holy Ghost supplies help in such areas and covet His empowerment in such areas.
By way of introduction to Part 1 of it, believers are mostly in need because we do not know what we actually need. Jesus told that woman, “You don’t know what you are asking for.” Many are struggling but they don’t know what to ask because they don’t know what they need. I believe spiritual empowerment is the greatest need of every believer because we live in a world of conflicts and contentions with principalities and powers. Ephesians 6:12. We wrestle. We are in that conflict perpetually. Church Gist. It takes power to win this war. Experience can’t win this war. Skill can’t win this war. Long time in Church can’t win this war. It takes empowerment to win this war. Luke 4:34. Jesus carried the anointing that destroys devils. 1 John 3:8. The things that threaten you, you carry what it takes on your inside to destroy them. Devils will only submit to the greatness of God’s power. Psalm 66:3. The wicked will only surrender to power. When armed robbers invade a place and they see the crack-down force come. You find them jumping over the wall. They surrender. All this ‘get out of my place’ they won’t here. When they see the crack-down people who are empowered to kill, they drop their guns and run. Satan won’t bow to pleading or begging. The only authority that the wicked understand is power. That is why every believer needs to be empowered.
In Luke 9:2, Jesus called his twelve and gave them power over all devils and to cure diseases. Do what you please with them. Church Gist. That is the meaning. Do what you please with them wherever you find them. Matthew 8:29.
You get anointed to a point where (the) devil sees you and takes cover. You are not saying go out, they went out on their own. You step in and they go out. ‘Lord, change my level of empowerment this time.’ devils don’t bow to grammar, they don’t bow to titles; devils only bow to power. Church Gist. And we are power candidates, all we need is, take responsibility. We are power candidates. All children of God are power candidates. John 1:12. You receive Him, you are a candidate for empowerment to any level.
Now, these folks stayed with Jesus for 3 and a half years. They lived with Him. Mark 3:14. But after He was done, He told them “don’t go anywhere, I can’t guarantee your thoroughfare.” Luke 24:49. Church Gist. Without empowerment, you can’t have your way through. You will be struggling with your positions. We need empowerment to subdue the oppositions. Thank you Jesus!
After 3 and a half years, He couldn’t guarantee them. So, there is no way teachings can be a substitute for power. No! Church Gist. The only language the wicked will bow to under Heaven is the language of power. On the day of Pentecost, they were empowered; cloven tongues of fire appeared on each one of them. Don’t hide in the crowd. Get individually empowered. Matthew 25:9.
Everybody needs fuel in his vehicle to remain on the highway of life. Your vehicle will be parked without fuel. Many are parked – they are parked by the wayside. No! Church Gist. Everybody needs fuel in his car to keep his vehicle on the highway of life. You have been around the byways enough, it’s time to hit back the highway by fueling up. The engine is intact, your spirit man is born again. Yes! But you can’t hit the road. You and I need fuel to get on the highway of life. That’s why I said, many don’t know what they need. They are just praying for anything that comes to their mind. ‘Lord, empower me to next levels this time. I’m long overdue for forward movement – empower me to next levels.’ Acts 10:38. Empower me Jesus!
Every believer needs spiritual empowerment to prevail in a world where everyone is travailing – everybody is struggling. We need empowerment to make a difference. But we are not empowered for show, we are empowered to serve. Church Gist. Simon thought empowerment was for show, he gave them money that they may give him some of those powers so that when he lay hands on people, he can also have a show. Empowerment is for service, empowerment is not for show. Sir, if you seek empowerment this time to serve God better, you will be empowered to live a triumphant life.
Jesus was empowered to – “the Spirit of God is upon me. He has anointed me to…” We are empowered to serve, not empowered for show. Church Gist. Empowered to serve! Wherever you see empowerment in increasing dimension, the individual is committed to serving God’s interest. So He empowers him to do that and then to live a triumphant life. 2 Timothy 2:6. So he’s anointed to serve and a beneficiary of that anointing.
I told you one day, I was watching Archbishop Benson Idahosa’s Olubadan video and I saw afflictions. I saw men (grown up people) being carried on the back. The people carrying them were almost sick – to drop them in the morning for a 6 pm Meeting in the evening. Compassion welled up in me. I was crying and I said, “Jesus, I want to be part of helping these afflicted become free. Jesus, make me a part of their solution.” So I turned off the light just for concentration. ‘Jesus, I want to be a part of the solution.’ Then He walked in. Church Gist. Sir, if you are out to serve Him, He will walk into you. He walked in, touched me on my back. Something like warm water came down my spine; Sunday morning – eruption. You can’t be out to serve Him and seek His empowerment to do so and not be empowered. “Empower me to serve you better, serve you more faithfully, serve you more fruitfully.” He says, “you mean it? Okay, be empowered.” You move forward.
The reason why we cry forever for empowerment that is not coming is that it is being demanded for show. Just give me a testimony – that’s what I want. ‘Okay, be wanting it.’ Acts 1:8…I’m empowering you to serve my interest primarily. It’s missing today. Church Gist. That one is missing today. You watch everywhere, it’s missing. Just power for show. (Blows air) – fall down. If you don’t fall, we will push you. What’s all those ones? And then you fall down, you rise up; there is no difference.
Empowerment that advances your walk with God and keeps you flying in a grounded world. That’s what we need. If you are not out to serve Him, you are not a candidate for His empowerment. Simon thought, “give me this power, it will be another show for me.” He was coming from the other end of Jordan before. He was a magician in town. Church Gist. Now, he is born again, business seems to have closed but with this Holy Ghost thing, I will make money. He said, ‘you have no part nor lot in this matter because your heart is not right.’ So we need a right heart to be empowered. Acts 8. We need a right heart, a heart that is panting after God to be empowered.
You know a man after my own heart, that’s the name of David…Psalm 89:20. My God! So with a heart for God, you get anointed without struggle. You get empowered without struggle. Church Gist. With a heart for God and the interest of His Kingdom, you get empowered without struggle.
– Somebody’s story is changing!
We are empowered to go about our heavenly Father’s business and not to be benchwarmers because Christ wants all men to be saved. So, you have a part to play, you have a part on the prayer altar to play, a part on inviting people to Christ in Church, a part to seeing them being brought to Church, a part of going out on the streets and witnessing, a part of sharing Christ through our various social media platforms with all your friends without being ashamed. Church Gist. He wants all men to be saved and He doesn’t want anyone to perish. So partner with Him. Receive grace and empowerment to be an active partner of Jesus in fulfilling His agenda for mankind. That’s it.
Some of the Hidden Ministries of the Holy Spirit include; (that we look at tonight before we close).
1. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of power or call Him the Anointing that subdues all principalities and powers. Church Gist. That is, He empowers the believer for dominion over principalities, powers, rulers of this wicked World and wicked spirits in high places. Luke 10:19.
2. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of meekness that engenders unending growth and expansion. Meekness – it’s a very rare commodity (meekness of spirit – not looking meek). Meekness of spirit! You are disposed to corrections, reproofs, instructions at any time. Church Gist. You are not out to contend with God on any truth. He says it, you take it and you take it with goodwill not under pressure. Matthew 5:5, 1 Peter 3:4. It opens you up to the best of Heaven.
Psalm 25:9. So the more meek we are, the more exposed we are to the truth of life that guarantees triumphant living and secures growth and expansion. Numbers 12:3. Straight equation. Very meek = very great. Exodus 11:3. No one’s growth and expansion will ever be above his level of meekness. Meekness is what defines anyone’s level of expansion on the earth. Jesus said I am meek and lowly of heart. He has not stopped expanding till now. Paul said I am the least of all saints. I am not even worthy to be called an apostle. He is still an apostle today. Church Gist. Unlimited expansion. Disposition to instructions. Not taking God’s Word with levity. Anything contrary to that is pride and you know the cost. Proverbs 16:18. Spirit of God, help me to stay meek. Endue me with a quiet and meek spirit which in your sight is of a great price. Keep me humble and under your mighty hand so in due time you may exalt me. Keep me away from exercising myself on matters too high for me. Help me to enjoy my level per time without being apprehensive.
Because of the devastating effect of pride, God has given us a solution through a quiet and meek spirit. It comes on a man and he can’t see what people are saying about him, he sees God behind it. Church Gist. When they clap for him, he just forwards it straight to the source. ‘That’s not me, they are making a mistake.’
3. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Obedience That Opens The Life Gate To A World Of Supernatural Blessings
In the Kingdom every blessing trails the believer’s obedience. Blessings don’t jump on people as rainfall. It is believer’s obedience that secures their access to blessing. Deuteronomy 28:1-2. I call it lifegate to a world of supernatural blessings. He just outlined them all the way to verse 13 of Deuteronomy 28. Supernatural blessings coming from all sides through our obedience of faith. If we refused to move to Lagos from Kaduna, we will be held hostage there for life. There won’t be any Africa Gospel Invasion Project (AGIP), there won’t be any Mission to The World, there won’t be any Covenant University (CU) or Landmark University (LMU) No! Church Gist. It is one obedience that leads to the next blessing, the next obedience leads to the next level of blessings. The day you are tired of obeying God, you are tired of His blessings in your life. Would you take this season seriously please? It is ordained for your next level blessings if you care for it. 1 Samuel 15:22. There is no future for the disobedient in the Kingdom.
Heartwarming moment as Moses Bliss dedicates newborn baby, Dare Bliss, to God
Heartwarming moment as Moses Bliss dedicates newborn baby, Dare Bliss, to God
Nigerian gospel singer, worship leader, and songwriter Moses Uyoh Enang, popularly known as Moses Bliss, sparked excitement as he prayed for a new baby named Dare Bliss during a worship program.
This is captured in a recent video uploaded on a popular social media platform.
Gospel singer, Moses Bliss.
In the video, the popular gospel singer can be seen standing on the podium, carefully holding onto the baby.
He can be heard asking the congregation to raise their hands toward the child and say a prayer for him.
Seconds later, he concluded the prayers with everyone and returned the blessed child to his parents.
Court summons two social media users for sharing nude photo of socialite
The Chief Magistrate Court, Wuse Zone 6, has summoned two social media users for “criminal defamation” of a socialite, Dorcas Adeyinka.
In the court summons dated May 9, 2024, sighted by our correspondent, Chief Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna ordered the two defendants — Tolulope Adeoye aka Abike Jagaban and Tolulope Odegbami aka Olowosibi — to appear in person before the court on June 4, 2024, to answer the charges levelled against them by the complainant.
In a criminal complaint filed by the complainants’ lawyers led by Pelumi Olajengbesi of Abuja-based law firm, Law Corridor, the complainant accused the defendants of sharing her nude photo on social media and ridiculed her.
“On the 5th of March 2022, Abike Jagaban shared the complainant’s nude pictures on Youtube, directing her followers to different online platfoms where the complainant’s pictures were/are shared and ridiculed the complainant in the process.
“The video is captioned: ‘Abike Jagaban on Dorcas Adeyinka, aka TMS Blog’.
These actions have exposed the complainant to contempt, hatred, and detestation as some people can be seen making disparaging remarks against the person of the complainant in the comment section of the above referenced post.
Abike Jagaban has also bullied the complainant in another video titled, ‘How Abike Jagaban Bully Dorcas Adeyinka’ “The defendants have also circulated publications on social media, alleging that the complainant is responsible for the death of an individual named Folusho Asimiyu, also known as ‘Iya Ibeji’, whom the complainant had previously supported financially through her non-governmental organisation.
These allegations have been made without any evidence or connection linking the complainant to the demise of Folunsho Asimiyu,” the complaint partly read.
The complainant said the alleged actions of the defendants constitute criminal defamation and contravened Sections 391 of the Penal Code.
In the Suit No CR/93/2024 with Motion No: MN/140/2024, Magistrate Iyanna ordered the complainant to serve the defendants with the criminal summons and all other subsequent processes of the court via their social media handle or pages @Tolulope Omolara Ghaba (Favebook) and @Princess Tolulope Ajike Olowosibi (Facebook).
He adjourned the matter to June 4, 2024 and ordered that the two defendants be present in court on the said date.
ASR Africa begins construction of the Abdul Samad Rabiu Classroom Blocks for University of Uyo under its Tertiary Education Grants Scheme
L-R: Mrs. Blossom Okorie (Registrar, University of Uyo), Prof. Nyaudoh U. Ndaeyo (Vice Chancellor, University of Uyo); Dr. Ubon Udoh (MD/CEO, ASR Africa), and Prof. Aniekan Offiong (Deputy Vice Chancellor, Admin) at the groundbreaking ceremony of the 4no classroom block for the university.
The Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) has commenced the construction of four classroom blocks for the University of Uyo in Akwa Ibom State with a groundbreaking held on the university campus today. This donation forms part of a grant given to the University of Uyo through the ASR Africa Tertiary Education Grants Scheme, which was drawn from ASR Africa’s US$100 million Fund for Social Development and Renewal.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Nyaudoh U. Ndaeyo, expressed his gratitude to ASR Africa for considering the University of Uyo as a worthy beneficiary of the Tertiary Education Grant Scheme. He emphasised that constructing these classroom blocks was a top priority for the university and requested that the project be completed quickly so that the institution could start using it. He also appreciated the Chairman of ASR Africa, Abdul Samad Rabiu, for his various interventions in tertiary institutions in the country.
Dr. Ubon Udoh, MD CEO of ASR Africa, whilst giving his remarks, applauded the management of the University of Uyo for their support project so far. He also reiterated the commitment of the founder and Chairman of ASR Africa, Abdul Samad Rabiu, to supporting quality education within the tertiary education system in Nigeria and Africa. He further urged the students to make good use of the new facility when it is completed.
So far, over 27 public and private Nigerian universities and institutions of higher learning have benefitted from the ASR Africa Tertiary Education Grants, including the University of Maiduguri, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, the University of Ilorin, the University of Benin, and the University of Ibadan; Adamawa State University, University of Jos, Federal University of Technology, Minna amongst others.
About ASR Africa
ASR Africa is the brainchild of the African Industrialist, Philanthropist, and Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu. The Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) was established in 2021 to provide sustainable, impact-based, homegrown solutions to developmental issues affecting Health, Education and Social Development within Africa.
A cross-section of the University of Uyo’s management at the groundbreaking ceremony with Dr. Ubon Udoh (MD/CEO, ASR Africa) and Prof. Nyaudoh U. Ndaeyo (Vice Chancellor, University of Uyo).
A cross-section of the University of Uyo’s management at the groundbreaking ceremony held within the institution’s premises.
Nigerians choking as rice, garri, yam prices surge by over 100 per cent yearly
Nigerians are choking as the price of rice, garri, yam, beans, and other food items surged by over 100 per cent annually.
The National Bureau of Statistics disclosed this in its latest Selected Food Price Watch for March 2024.
This is as 1kg of rice locally sold loose stood at N1,340.74, indicating a rise of 152.93 per cent in price on a year-on-year basis from N530.08 recorded in March 2023 and a 9.63 per cent rise in price on a month-on-month basis from N1,222.97 in February 2024.
Similarly, the average price of 1kg of Garri white, sold loose, rose by 112.34 per cent on a year-on-year basis from N353.16 in March 2023 to N749.89 in March 2024, while there was an increase of 3.66 per cent on a month-on-month basis.
In addition, the average price of 1kg of Yam tuber rose by 141.25 per cent on a year-on-year basis from N443.02 in March 2023 to N1,068.78 in March 2024. On a month-on-month basis, it increased by 5.87 per cent from N1,009.56 in February 2024 to N1,068. in March 2024.
The state profile analysis in March 2024 reveals that the highest average price of 1kg of rice locally sold loose was recorded in Niger State at N1,699.98, while the lowest was recorded in Benue state at N985.83.
Regarding the average price of 1kg of Beans brown (sold loose), Ondo State recorded the highest price at N1,596.68, while Sokoto recorded the lowest price at N745.5. Ogun State recorded the highest average price of 1kg of Garri white at N1021.13, while the lowest was reported in Benue at N490.55. The highest average price of 1kg of Yam tuber was recorded in Edo at N 1,695.13, while the lowest average price was recorded in Katsina at N723.39.
The development comes amid the soaring price of headlines and food inflation, which stood at 33.20 per cent and 40.01 per cent in March 2024.
BREAKING: Court declines to vacate arrest order on ex-gov Yahaya Bello
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the request by former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello for vacation of the arrest warrant issued against him by the court.
The Judge said the former governor, having been in contempt of court by his refusal to make himself available for arraignment in a criminal charge, was not entitled to be granted any discretion or favour.
Delivering ruling on Friday in Bello’s application
for the discharge of the warrant of arrest, the court held that Bello was taking the court for granted by his continued refusal to make himself available for arraignment in the court.
While dismissing the request for lack of merit, the court said that Bello cannot be in the comfort of his room and be dictating to a court of law where he is to be arraigned.
The Judge also dismissed the former Governor’s claim that the Federal High Court has no jurisdiction to hear the criminal charges against him.
Justice Nwite held that Bello must make himself available for arraignment first and his plea taken before he can proceed to make any application or request.
Bello on April 23 argued that the arrest warrant against him had become unnecessary since his lead counsel, Abdulwahab Mohammed, accepted the service of the criminal charges on his behalf in respect of the alleged N80 billion money laundering charge brought against him by the Federal Government.
Nigeria’s defence chief calls for army generals’ participation in politics
“They are still strong, capable and ready. We need them to contribute so much to the nation,” the defence chief added.
CDS MUSA AND ARMY GENERALS
The Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, says he is working toward having more retired armed forces officers in governance.
Mr Musa said this while speaking with journalists on Thursday in Kaduna after the pulling-out dinner organised by the Infantry Corps in honour of retired infantry generals.
He said the retired generals, who were used for more training at operational and strategic levels, would be needed in governance where they could bring their experiences to benefit the nation.
Employment not my priority except I sack some civil servants: Otti
“There is an embargo that I made and that embargo is still in place,” said the Abia governor.
OTTI AND ABIA DEPUTY GOVERNOR
Governor Alex Otti says his administration is not considering employing more people in Abia’s civil service.
Mr Otti disclosed this during the monthly interactive session with the media on Thursday in Umuahia.
He said employment would arise when the government finished dealing with what it met in the civil service.
“There is an embargo that I made and that embargo is still in place,” said the Abia governor.
He complained about the high number of persons in the civil service.
Mr Otti decried the huge wage bill of about four billion naira for both local government and state every month. The governor, however, assured that the government was working assiduously on improving and enhancing the pay for the civil servants.
He said the government was aware that many people in the service might not be contributing at optimal levels and would need to take action.
Mr Otti said, “So, it may not be a priority at this time to open up the doors to bring in new people, except if we have a way of exiting a few people. But you know with the civil service rules, it is not going to be very easy to exit people.
“What we are trying to do with the establishment of the Civil Service Commission and resumption of the new head of service and new permanent secretaries is to ensure that our people are adequately trained. This is to enable them to operate their skills and perform better.”
Ayra Starr dodges shady question about Cardi B, American rapper responds.
Cardi B said that the reporter was trying to be messy.
Nigerian singer Ayra Starr has received support from Cardi B after avoiding a shady question from a reporter about the American rapper.
In a new viral video on X, Ayra Starr was stopped by a TMZ reporter who asked her about Cardi B forgetting the name of the designer of her 2024 Met Gala outfit on the red carpet.
So Cardi B just went after the former Vogue director Gilbert. The dress that she wore to the Met Gala took months to make and she didn’t remember the name of the designers who made the dress,” the reporter said.
Starr immediately interjected, highlighting how nerves could be the reason. “It happens sometimes because of the nerves,” she said.
However, the reporter probed further saying, “She said she was supposed to stand and pose on the podium and that there was a lot going on. But you’ve been on a lot of red carpets, is it disrespectful not to know the designer’s name?”
The singer then laughed, raised her hands in defeat and said, “I don’t know to be honest but I feel like nerves would definitely make you forget. Love to Cardi B though, always. So I don’t know.”
Cardi B responded to the clip on X, supporting Ayra Star and stressing that the media outlet was trying to be shady.
Her reply read, “Ahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa try to be messy and mission failed…also why put a superstar like Ayra in such a weird and uncomfortable position?”
This comes after the rapper was criticised for forgetting the name of the designer who made her dress, Sensen Lii, and calling him “Asian.” During the heat of the backlash, a former director at Vogue called her out for calling her designer Asian, highlighting that Sensen Lii was Chinese.
Cardi B then made a video to explain what happened, stressing that she was not trying to be racist. “I kind of forgot how to pronounce the designer’s name because his name is a little bit complicated…My mind was just racing,” she said.
UK’s National Crime Agency in Nigeria to help EFCC fight corruption, recover loot
“It is important for us to support you in the fight against corruption and asset recovery. I am here to deepen our cooperation,” said the NCA chief.
NCA DIRECTOR-GENERAL WITH EFCC CHAIRMAN
Graeme Biggar, the director-general of the National Crime Agency (NCA), says the UK crime agency will continue to support the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in tackling corruption and recovering looted assets, lauding EFCC for being professional.
Mr Biggar said this on Thursday when he led a delegation of the UK’s anti-crime agency on a working visit to the EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede, in Abuja.
“We have a long-standing relationship with EFCC in Nigeria. It is important for us to support you in the fight against corruption and asset recovery. I am here to deepen our cooperation. We really appreciate the relationship we have with your organisation and the professionalism of your officers,” he said.
CEO of world’s biggest ad firm targeted by deepfake scam
Fraudsters impersonated WPP’s CEO using a fake Whatsapp account, a voice clone and YouTube footage used in a virtual meet
The head of the world’s biggest advertising group was the target of an elaborate deepfake scam that involved an artificial intelligence voice clone. The CEO of WPP, Mark Read, detailed the attempted fraud in a recent email to leadership, warning others at the company to look out for calls claiming to be from top executives.
Fraudsters created a WhatsApp account with a publicly available image of Read and used it to set up a Microsoft Teams meeting that appeared to be with him and another senior WPP executive, according to the email obtained by the Guardian. During the meeting, the imposters deployed a voice clone of the executive as well as YouTube footage of them. The scammers impersonated Read off-camera using the meeting’s chat window. The scam, which was unsuccessful, targeted an “agency leader”, asking them to set up a new business in an attempt to solicit money and personal details.
“Fortunately the attackers were not successful,” Read wrote in the email. “We all need to be vigilant to the techniques that go beyond emails to take advantage of virtual meetings, AI and deepfakes.”
A WPP spokesperson confirmed the phishing attempt bore no fruit in a statement: “Thanks to the vigilance of our people, including the executive concerned, the incident was prevented.” WPP did not respond to questions on when the attack took place or which executives besides Read were involved.
Once primarily a concern related to online harassment, pornography and political disinformation, the number of deepfake attacks in the corporate world has surged over the past year. AI voice clones have fooled banks, duped financial firms out of millions and put cybersecurity departments on alert. In one high-profile example, an executive of the defunct digital media startup Ozy pled guilty to fraud and identity theft after it was reported he used voice-faking software to impersonate a YouTube executive in a bid to fool Goldman Sachs into investing $40m in 2021.
The attempted fraud on WPP likewise appeared to use generative AI for voice cloning, but also included simpler techniques like taking a publicly available image and using it as a contact display picture. The attack is representative of the many tools that scammers now have at their disposal to mimic legitimate corporate communications and imitate executives.
“We have seen increasing sophistication in the cyber-attacks on our colleagues, and those targeted at senior leaders in particular,” Read said in the email.
Read’s email listed a number of bullet points to look out for as red flags, including requests for passports, money transfers and any mention of a “secret acquisition, transaction or payment that no one else knows about”.
“Just because the account has my photo doesn’t mean it’s me,” Read said in the email.
WPP, a publicly traded company with a market cap of around $11.3bn, also stated on its website that it has been dealing with fake sites using its brand name and is working with relevant authorities to stop the fraud.
“Please be aware that WPP’s name and those of its agencies have been fraudulently used by third parties – often communicating via messaging services – on unofficial websites and apps,” a pop-up message on the company’s contact page states.
Many companies are grappling with the boom of generative AI, pivoting resources toward the technology while simultaneously facing its potential harms. WPP announced last year that it was partnering with chip-maker Nvidia to create advertisements with generative AI, touting it as a sea change in the industry.
“Generative AI is changing the world of marketing at incredible speed. This new technology will transform the way that brands create content for commercial use,” Read said in a statement last May.
In recent years, low-cost audio deepfake technology has become widely available and far more convincing. Some AI models can generate realistic imitations of a person’s voice using only a few minutes of audio, which is easily obtained from public figures, allowing scammers to create manipulated recordings of almost anyone.
The rise of deepfake audio has targeted political candidates around the world, but also crept into other less prominent targets. A school principal in Baltimore was put on leave this year over audio recordings that sounded like he was making racist and antisemitic comments, only for it to turn out to be a deepfake perpetrated by one of his colleagues. Bots have impersonated Joe Biden and former presidential candidate Dean Phillips.
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From threats to election integrity, to the spiraling climate crisis, to complex foreign conflicts, our journalists contextualize, investigate and illuminate the critical stories of our time. As a global news organization with a robust US reporting staff, we’re able to provide a fresh, outsider perspective – one so often missing in the American media bubble.
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Trump hush-money trial resumes after graphic testimony by Stormy Daniels
Relationship between ex-president and adult actor central to case as lawyer Michael Cohen paid $130,000 to quash story about affair
The hush-money trial against Donald Trump resumes on Friday at the end of a dramatic week which saw almost two days of testimony from adult film actor Stormy Daniels.
Trump’s hush-money trial: here’s what’s happened in the case so far
Read more
The relationship between Trump and Daniels is central to origins of the case because Trump’s then lawyer and personal fixer, Michael Cohen, paid her $130,000 to keep quiet about their alleged sexual encounter during the 2016 election campaign.
Daniels’ testimony described their relationship in graphic detail and over lengthy periods of court time, despite the alleged criminal behavior at the heart of the charges being due to the way the payments were accounted for as prosecutors have claimed they were an election expense.
After weeks of the trial, Trump’s position in the 2024 election race does not appear to have been impacted much by his almost daily attendance at a courtroom in Manhattan or the salacious details that have emerged.
Trump remains the all-but-certain pick for the Republican party’s presidential nominee to face Joe Biden in the race for the White House. He has continued to perform well in the polls, often having a narrow lead over Biden in head-to-head surveys and performing well in crucial swing states.
The hush-money case is the first of four criminal cases to reach a jury against Trump. The other three have hit serious delays, which could perhaps prevent them from starting before November’s presidential election.
They involve Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election result in Georgia, his keeping of sensitive documents at his Florida resort and his conduct during the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol.
In two of those cases – in Georgia and in Florida – other legal developments this week pushed back any likely start dates even further in what many experts see as wins for Trump’s legal team and its strategy of delaying trials until the fight for the Oval Office is finished.
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you move on, I wanted to ask if you would consider supporting the Guardian’s journalism as we enter one of the most consequential news cycles of our lifetimes in 2024.
With the potential of another Trump presidency looming, there are countless angles to cover around this year’s election – and we’ll be there to shed light on each new development, with explainers, key takeaways and analysis of what it means for America, democracy and the world.
From Elon Musk to the Murdochs, a small number of billionaire owners have a powerful hold on so much of the information that reaches the public about what’s happening in the world. The Guardian is different. We have no billionaire owner or shareholders to consider. Our journalism is produced to serve the public interest – not profit motives.
And we avoid the trap that befalls much US media: the tendency, born of a desire to please all sides, to engage in false equivalence in the name of neutrality. We always strive to be fair. But sometimes that means calling out the lies of powerful people and institutions – and making clear how misinformation and demagoguery can damage democracy.
From threats to election integrity, to the spiraling climate crisis, to complex foreign conflicts, our journalists contextualize, investigate and illuminate the critical stories of our time. As a global news organization with a robust US reporting staff, we’re able to provide a fresh, outsider perspective – one so often missing in the American media bubble.
Around the world, readers can access the Guardian’s paywall-free journalism because of our unique reader-supported model. That’s because of people like you. Our readers keep us independent, beholden to no outside influence and accessible to everyone – whether they can afford to pay for news, or not.
Giving your first salary to your pastor is a waste of time – Kanayo O Kanayo.
This comes after a pastor went viral in January for saying that people’s first salaries belong to him.
In a new video posted to his Instagram page, the actor bestowed his blessing on his son who just received his first salary. In the presence of his guests in his home, Kanayo stated that only a father can bless his child not a pastor.
“I want to observe a culture from our ancestors which led to their success, a father’s blessing,” he began, pointing to his son who sat next to him.
“This is my son who just concluded a film production with us and he has earned his first salary which is ₦50,000. From your pocket give me ₦500 and kneel down for me to bless you.”
He explained the importance of the practice and the essence of a father’s blessing over a pastor’s. Kanayo emphasised that those going to their religious leaders to receive a blessing on their first salary are “wasting their time.”
“It is Igbo culture that the first salary of a man be taken to their father. It is so that the father would teach him financial management, and tell him how to manage the money and make it in life and then pronounce his blessing. This is the father’s blessing so all of you who are going to pastors with your salary you’re wasting your time because it is all about culture. Only a father can bless his son or daughter,” the actor emphasised.
