November 24, 2021

[GIST] Nigeria's Exams Body, JAMB Uncovers 706,189 Illegal Admissions By Federal, State Universities

[GIST] Nigeria's Exams Body, JAMB Uncovers 706,189 Illegal Admissions By Federal, State Universities

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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has detected 706,189 illegal admissions by universities, Colleges of Education, polytechnics and other tertiary education institutions.
Prof Is-haq Oloyede, the registrar of the examinations agency disclosed this at the Consultative Sensitisation Meeting with Select Stakeholders in Abuja, adding that the illegal admissions had damaged the image of the country.


According to Nation, Oloyede said the illegality was perpetrated in all the six geopolitical zones by public and private higher institutions.
While about 114 universities accounted for 67.795 of the illegal admissions, 137 polytechnics were responsible for 489,918, 80 Colleges of Education for 142, 818 and 37 other institutions involved in 5,678 cases.
The undisclosed admissions were perpetrated from 2017 to 2020 by the affected institutions.
He said such admissions were unknown to JAMB as prescribed by law.
But the Minister of Education assented to JAMB’s plea for a last chance for the violators.
He said the institutions disregarded JAMB’s Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS which allows institutions to “only admit candidates that met the requirements.”
He said the affected institutions’ Vice Chancellors, Rectors and Provosts have admitted their mistakes by “sending a formal letter of confession and disclosure to the JAMB Registrar.”
In the list of the 114 universities given to stakeholders, some of the top indicted for illegal admissions include University of Jos (7,600); Benue State University (6,171);  Olabisi Onabanjo University (5,669); Kwara State University (4, 281);  Novena University (3,432); University of Nigeria, Nsukka (2,732); and Imo State University (2,330).
Others listed were; University of Calabar(2,074); NTA Television College(1,934); Baze University(1,717); Oduduwa University(1,450); Kaduna State College of Education(1,417); Tai Solarin University of Education(1,101); Al-qalam University(1,062); Gombe State University(1,017).
Oloyede said, “As a measure of mopping up the backlog of improperly admitted candidates, the Honourable Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, assented to the Board’s plea for a last chance for the violators.
“He also approved the caveat that the culprits should, first and foremost, declare the number of candidates admitted outside CAPS between 2017 and 2020 by sending a formal letter of confession and disclosure to the JAMB Registrar.
“Those minimally qualified would then be condoned to put an end to the period and finally put the matter to rest.
“The Board was then directed to launch massive campaigns to educate the public against accepting such illegal admissions henceforth.
“It is astonishing that so far, 706,189 candidates have been disclosed as illegally admitted between 2017 and 2020.”
Oloyede said there will no longer be opportunities for illegal admissions by universities and other higher institutions.
 

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[GIST] Search Hilton Hotel For Possibly More Dead Bodies – Nigerian Students Association Tells Police, Vows To Get Justice For Slain OAU Student, Adegoke

[GIST] Search Hilton Hotel For Possibly More Dead Bodies – Nigerian Students Association Tells Police, Vows To Get Justice For Slain OAU Student, Adegoke

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The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has accused the Osun State Police Command of allegedly giving a preferential treatment to the owner of Hilton Hotels and Resorts, Dr Rahman Adedoyin.

The nation's apex students’ body said the police should rather search the environs of the hotel for possible more dead bodies, and ensure the prompt arrest of fleeing suspect and son of Adedoyin. 

SaharaReporters had earlier reported that in an audio recording, Adedoyin denied complicity in the death of the Masters’ student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Timothy Adegoke, who was found dead in a controversial manner in his hotel.

He then was buried in a shallow grave without the knowledge of his family or the police.

An autopsy into the cause of the death of Adegoke was being expected as of press time.

In a statement on Tuesday, NANS sounded “a note of warning to everyone involved in the investigation that NANS will stop at nothing to expose and fight anyone irrespective of how highly placed contemplating to pervert the cause of investigation or justice.”

The statement signed by NANS President, Sunday Asefon, was titled, ‘Timothy Adegoke murder: NANS calls for transparency and justice, irrespective of how highly placed are the perpetrators’.

The statement read in part, “We equally frown upon the audio making the round where a principal suspect in the murder, the Chief Executive Officer of Hilton Hotel Dr. Rahman Adedoyin appears to be making a statement denying his involvement in the murder.

“We berate the luxury accorded Dr. Rahman Adedoyin to have access to his phone, make a video recording and share it while in the custody of the Nigerian Police Force. We believe this luxury is exclusive and couldn’t have been accorded to a murder suspect of a lower social class.

“Given the enormity of material evidence against the suspect, staff, and management of Hilton Hotel, we advise that law enforcement agents must fight any temptation to accord the suspect a preferential treatment or third-party influence which may pervert the cause of justice.

“Also, we demand an immediate multi-agency manhunt for Rahim Adegoke, the MD of the Hotel who is equally the son of the proprietor of the hotel fingered in the gruesome murder of Timothy Adegoke. We believe the government must invest the same energy invested in arresting secessionist agitators in arresting this fleeing murder suspect.

“In the same vein, we call on security agencies to conduct forensic analysis and search around the hotel vicinity to ascertain whether or not more people have fallen victim to this heinous crime whose body might as well be dumped in a shallow grave near the hotel.”

Asefon also said he has constituted a three-man NANS Committee to follow up with the investigation into the death of Adegoke and brief the secretariat on development in real-time.

“Our prayers, condolences, and solidarity go to the family as they navigate this hard time. We pray God will grant them justice which will serve as the foundation for their healing,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, the Osun State Police Command has said it is probing the release of an audio recording made by the prime suspect.

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[GIST] Nigerian Government Launches New Electronic Passport In UK, Vows To Address Delays

[GIST] Nigerian Government Launches New Electronic Passport In UK, Vows To Address Delays

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The Nigerian government has launched a new enhanced electronic passport to improve passport application process for Nigerians at home and in diaspora.

Speaking during the rollout of passport at the Nigerian High Commission in London, United Kingdom, the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, stated that Nigerian passport was the highest affirmation of Nigerian citizenship.

File photo used to illustrate story.

He added that it was the responsibility of the Nigerian government to provide the passport without any stress and within a reasonable period.

“What we have come to do here is symbolic of the core mandate of the Ministry of Interior and indeed, the Federal Government of Nigeria – affirmation of citizenship integrity,” the minister said.

“The Nigerian passport is the highest affirmation of Nigerian citizenship. It is therefore our responsibility to provide the passport without any stress, within a reasonable period. As we are all aware, there have been huge challenges from passport administration, shortage of booklet to touting and an economy of corruption built around it.

“These challenges have persisted for too long and a lot of people have become cynical while other have taken them as normal and then rolled with it. But I come from a tradition of problem solving in public administration. I do not believe that any problem is insurmountable, so we are going to solve all the problems associated with passport administration and we are already succeeding.”

Revealing the features of the new enhanced Passport, Aregbesola said it was a huge improvement from the standard Passport that was introduced back in 2007, with more sophisticated security features, making it one of the most secured passports in the world.

“The Enhanced e-Passport is a great improvement on the Biometric Passport technology which Nigeria adopted in 2007 as a strategic step towards curbing forgery, impersonation and other forms of frauds associated with obtaining travel document under the old Machine Readable Passport regime.

”We are aware that technology rules the world and we are keeping abreast of the latest development in the field. Over the years, the Nigeria Immigration Service had worked assiduously and in close synergy with Messrs Iris Smart Technologies Limited to develop and implement Passport reforms that are in tandem with international best practices, including extant International Civil Aviation Organisation’s Standards and Regulations,” he said.

 

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[GIST] Buhari Petitioned To Sack Justice Peter-Odili For ‘Serving As Complainant, Prosecutor And Judge In Her Own Case’

[GIST] Buhari Petitioned To Sack Justice Peter-Odili For ‘Serving As Complainant, Prosecutor And Judge In Her Own Case’

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A lawyer and human rights' activist, Timipa Jenkins Okponipere, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to sack Supreme Court Judge, Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili over allegations of judicial misconduct and abuse of privilege.

SaharaReporters gathered that Okponipere's troubles with the Odilis began sometime in December 2006 when he led his law firm, First Law Solicitors, to conduct a referendum on corruption and politically-motivated killings in Rivers State under the former governor Peter Odili and Justice Mary Peter-Odili as First Lady of the state.

Following the widely acclaimed referendum, Odili lost the presidential primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held on December 12, 2006, at the Eagle Square, Abuja.

The former governor also lost out in the shadow race for the PDP Vice presidential ticket, as Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was declared the running mate to Alhaji Umaru Yar'Adua, the eventual winner of the presidential ticket.

Odili and his spouse, Justice Mary Peter-Odili reportedly saw Okponipere as the architect behind their loss of the PDP presidential and vice-presidential tickets, and promptly got him arrested and charged before Justice Biobele Georgewill of the Rivers State High Court on January 17, 2007.

The matter subsequently progressed from the Rivers State High Court to the Court of Appeal (Port Harcourt Division) and eventually, to the Supreme Court in 2010.

By that time, however, Justice Mary Peter-Odili was already a Justice of the apex court, and she eventually sat on the Supreme Court panel which heard and determined the suit on February 8, 2013: a criminal appeal in which her spouse was the Chief Complainant and Prosecutor against Okponipere.

The lawyer in a statement made available to SaharaReporters said several petitions he wrote to the National Judicial Council (NJC) against the judge were not acted on.

He urged the Nigerian Bar Association to pressure Justice Peter-Odili to submit herself to the disciplinary jurisdiction of the NJC while the commission should redeem its image by standing up to its responsibility.

Okponipere called on President Buhari to rescue the situation as the judge “deserves nothing but dismissal from the Supreme Court of Nigeria.”

He said, “Justice Mary Peter-Odili abused her position as a Judge of the apex court in the country when she simultaneously became the Complainant, the Prosecutor and the Judge in Criminal Appeal No: SC 250/2010 (TIMIPA OKPONIPERE Vs. STATE) which came before the Supreme Court in 2013.

“This unprecedented judicial misconduct is capable of seeing her being dismissed from the Supreme Court bench. In the over 60 years history of the modern Supreme Court of Nigeria, not a single Justice of the revered apex court in the country, apart from Justice Mary Peter-Odili, has been so dragged before the NJC for such an unbefitting judicial conduct.

“The legal principle/maxim of NEMO JEDEX IN CAUSA SUA (one cannot be a Judge in his own cause) is an elementary principle of Law. For a Supreme Court Judge of Mary Peter-Odili’s calibre, she rose through the ranks from the Magistracy to fall foul to such an elementary principle, explains her shallow knowledge of Law but deep involvement in judicial corruption.

“On January 12, 2007 the Rivers State Government filed an 8 counts Information/Charge known as CHARGE NO: PHC/30CR/2007 (STATE Vs. TIMIPA OKPONIPERE) at a Rivers State High Court sitting at Port Harcourt against TIMIPA JENKINS OKPONIPERE, Port Harcourt lawyer and human rights activist, upon a criminal complaint by the then Governor of the State, His Excellency, Sir (Dr) Peter Odili. Certified true copy of the 8 counts Information/Charge is attached herewith.

“All of the 8 counts of the Information/Charge were directly linked or connected with the person of Dr. Peter Odili and his failed 2007 presidential bid. So, under his watch as Governor of Rivers State, vigorous prosecution of the matter commenced before Justice Biobele Georgewill (now of the Court of Appeal). Dr. Peter Odili thus became the Complainant and the Prosecutor in the matter while Mr. Okponipere, being a Legal Practitioner, defended himself in person.

“By means of an Interlocutory Appeal, the matter progressed from the Rivers State High Court to the Court of Appeal (Port Harcourt division) and eventually, to the Supreme Court in Abuja as Criminal Appeal No: SC 250/2010 (TIMIPA OKPONIPERE Vs. STATE). At about the same period, Justice Mary Peter-Odili, wife to Dr. Peter Odili (the Complainant and Prosecutor), had also been newly elevated to the Supreme Court bench.

“By virtue of her status as wife to Dr. Peter Odili (the Complainant and Prosecutor), Justice Mary Peter-Odili ought to have recused herself from hearing and delivering Judgment in Criminal Appeal No: SC 250/2010 (TIMIPA OKPONIPERE Vs. STATE) when the matter progressed to the Supreme Court.

“However, against all known canons of natural justice, equity and good conscience, Justice Mary Peter-Odili shamelessly and brazenly sat on the 5-man panel of Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria which heard and delivered Judgment in a Criminal Appeal where her husband, Dr. Peter Odili, was the Complainant and the Prosecutor. Automatically therefore, she simultaneously became the Complainant, the Prosecutor and the Judge, in her own cause. This was a clear and manifest abuse of judicial privilege.

“Judgment was delivered in the matter on February 8, 2013 with Justice Olukayode Ariwoola delivering the Lead Judgment. Other members of the 5-man panel of Justices included Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad (the current Chief Justice of Nigeria & Chairman, National Judicial Council); John Afolabi Fabiyi; Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili (delivered Concurring Judgment) and; Kumah Bayang Akaahs. Certified true copy of the Lead Judgment and Justice Mary Odili’s Concurring Judgment are attached herewith.

“In a petition on oath filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on July 17, 2020 (over a year ago!) and submitted same day to the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria & Chairman of the NJC, Mr. Okponipere urged the NJC to take disciplinary action against Justice Mary Peter-Odili for gross violation of Rules 8 and 12 of the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers in Nigeria. Copy of Mr. Okponipere’s petition to the NJC is attached herewith.

“Rule 8.1 of the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers in Nigeria states thus: A Judge shall not allow the Judge’s family, social or political relationships improperly to influence the Judge’s judicial conduct and judgment as a Judge.

“Rule 8.3 of the Code imposes a duty on Judicial Officers to avoid pursuing self-interest. It states: A Judge who takes advantage of the judicial office for personal gain by his or her relative or relation abuses power. A Judge must avoid all activity that suggests that his or her decisions are affected by self-interest or favoritism, since such abuse of power profoundly violates the public’s trust in the judiciary.

“Rule 12 of the Code makes provision for “Disqualification”. Justice Mary Peter-Odili is particularly liable under this Rule. Among others, Rule 12.1 states: A Judge should disqualify himself in a proceeding in which his impartiality may genuinely and reasonably be questioned, including but not limited to the instances where: (a) he has a personal bias or prejudice concerning a party or personal knowledge of facts in dispute; (c) he knows that he individually or as a Judicial Officer or his spouse or child; has a financial or any other interest that could be substantially affected by the outcome of the proceeding.

“In a letter with Reference No. NJC/F.1/SC.11/I/241 dated 24th August, 2020 the Honourable Dr. Justice I. T. Muhammad, CFR Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman, National Judicial Council acknowledged receipt of Mr. Okponipere’s petition and assured him that action was being taken. Copy of the letter is attached herewith.

“However, more than a year after, no action has been taken against Justice Mary Peter-Odili. There seems to be a grand design by the NJC to sweep Mr. Okponipere’s legitimate petition under the carpet. Once Justice Mary Peter-Odili retires from the Supreme Court bench in May, 2022 the petition shall naturally become worthless.

“No responsible government would sit idly and watch its Supreme Court being denigrated and ridiculed by the controversial actions of one of the Justices of the same Honourable Court. Accordingly, I call on President Muhammadu Buhari, Africa’s Champion of Anti-Corruption, to rescue the situation. Justice Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili deserves nothing but DISMISSAL from the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

“The NBA should be made to call on Justice Mary Peter-Odili to submit herself to the disciplinary jurisdiction of the NJC. 30. The NJC should redeem its image by standing up to its responsibility. Firm and decisive disciplinary action should be taken against Justice Mary Odili, without delay. Finally, the media should jettison all forms of gullibility and display courage and bravery in the overall interest of preserving the integrity and dignity of the Judiciary in the country.”

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[GIST] Ijaw National Congress Slams Aiteo Company Over Oil Spillage In Bayelsa Communities

[GIST] Ijaw National Congress Slams Aiteo Company Over Oil Spillage In Bayelsa Communities

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The Ijaw National Congress (INC) has rebuked Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company for its poor response to the November 5 spill from its oilfields in Nembe, Bayelsa.

The group stated that it was wrong for Aiteo to link the wellhead leak within its oil bloc in the Nembe creeks when a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) had not been conducted on the incident.

The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the Director-General of the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Idris Musa, revealed that a joint investigation into the cause could not be held until the leak was stopped.

Sources close to the affected fishing settlements along the Nembe creeks told NAN that efforts to plug the leak had yet to bring results as the well continues to spew oil and gas into the environment.

INC President Benjamin Okaba said these while briefing journalists at the national secretariat of the organisation in Yenagoa on the incident, following a visit to the impacted site by its team of environmentalists.

At the press conference, Okaba was flanked by the secretary of the body, Ebipamowei Wodu, financial secretary, Kennedy Odiowei, publicity secretary, Ezonebi Oyakemeagbeha and second vice president, Nengi James, who headed the team that visited the site.

Aiteo, in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Matthew Ndiana reiterated that sabotage was suspected to be the cause of the leak.

But Okaba faulted Aiteo’s position on sabotage, saying it could jeopardise the outcome of the JIV yet to be carried out as crude is still leaking from the facility.

“First and foremost, we want to express our dismay over the position of Aiteo that the oil spill was caused by sabotage. The INC considers this position as prejudicial and pre-emptive, and it is unacceptable,” he added.

“Since the leak occurred, Aiteo has been complaining that it does not have the capacity to mobilise personnel to clamp the leaking point on the facility. So the question is: without the JIV, how did they come up to ascertain that it is caused by sabotage?”

The INC leader called on NOSDRA to live up to its obligations and not bend rules on the incident.

“The place is still leaking; it is of a peculiar nature because it is not from the pipeline. It is coming from the flow under, to the extent that it is difficult for any living being to even access the spot of damage. It requires high technology,” he said.

On the donation of four truckloads of food items, medical supplies and N5million cash to the impacted communities, Okaba observed that the package was meagre considering the number of impacted residents in the 41 communities.

“They sent only 200 bags of rice. This is inhumanity taken too far. Two hundred bags of rice are what a company that has destroyed people’s livelihoods is talking about. They are not even ashamed of themselves," Okaba revealed.

“They should be ashamed of themselves to even attribute the incident to sabotage. We are too smart for that kind of dirty politics.”

The operator of the OML 29 asset acquired following the 2015 divestment by Shell said it had enlisted foreign experts to help cap the leaking well and hoped to stop the leak in a couple of days.

OML 29 includes the 97-kilometre Nembe Creek Trunk Line, which conveys crude produced from onshore swamp wells to the Bonny Export Terminal operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company.

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