Just in: NBC suspends Channels TV, fined N5m

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26/04/2021

By Ismail Auwal

The National Broadcasting Commission, NBC has announced the suspension of Channels Television with a fine of N5 million for breaching the broadcast code.

The was disclosed in a letter by the Acting Director-General of the Commission, NBC, Prof. Armstrong Idachaba.

The sanction was contained in a letter to the signed by.
According to the letter sent to the Managing Director of Channels Television, the Commission referred to Channels 7 pm live broadcast programme of Sunday, 25th April 2021, in which it accused the TV station of allowing a leader of the Indigenous people of Biafra, IPOB to make secessionist and inciting declarations on air without caution or reprimand by the station contrary to the broadcast code.

NBC also accused the station of allowing the guest speaker to make derogatory, false and misleading statements about the Nigerian army, despite being proscribed by a court of law.

Gunmen kill DPO, 8 officers in Kebbi

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26/04/2021

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By Abba Gwale

Kebbi State Police Command has confirmed that gunmen have killed a DPO and eight police officers in the State.

In his interview with Hausa service of BBC, the Police Public Relations Officer of Kebbi State Police Command, ASP Nafi’u has confirmed that the incident happened on Sunday night.

“At around 2:30 am, the DPO of Kasaba division received a call that gunmen stormed Makaku village and neighboring communities and immediately summoned eight of his officers to the scene but unfortunately they all lost their lives after they engaged in gun duel with the bandits,” the PPRO said.

Report says the Senator representing the constituency, Bala ibn Na-Allah had sought the help of the Nigerian Air Force and they dispersed them upon their arrival but yet no report of casualities from the bandits.

It will be recalled that gunmen had on Tuesday last week, attacked Kunduru, Bajida, and Rafin Gora villages and carted away with an unspecified number of cows.

According to the report, some residents of those villages are fleeing out from their houses.

Airforce investigating accidental airstrike in Maiduguri

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26/04/2021

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By Ismail Auwal

Nigerian Air Force jet accidentally hit a truck conveying soldiers on reinforcement in Mainok, Borno State, killing scores of soldiers.

The incident occurred after the NAF jet reportedly hit the wrong coordinate while targeting Boko Haram fighters.
But the Nigerian Air Force has said it is investigating the report to know what happened.

The Director Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said the incident cannot be confirmed yet until preliminary investigation is conducted.

In a tweet on Monday, “The attention of the @NigAirForce has been drawn to reports alleging “How NAF Killed over 20 Nigerian Army Personnel by Accident in Air Strike” at Mainok which is about 55km to Maiduguri. The NAF wishes to state that visuals and reports being circulated are currently being investigated and the general public will be duly updated on the alleged incident. All inquiries should please be directed to the Office of the Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters Nigerian Air Force or forwarded to info@airforce.mil.ng.”

Officer arrested for sneaking in contrabands into prison in Kano

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26/04/2021

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By Abba Gwale

The spokesperson of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCS), DSC Musbahu Lawal Kofar Nassarawa, has confirmed that they have arrested one of their staff (name withheld) for conniving with other dealers outside to sneak unwanted items into the prison.

In his interview with SAHELIAN TIMES, Kofar Nassarawa said the suspected staff was arrested trying to sneak in over 4.8kg of cannabis sativa and eight Android phones into the correctional facility in Kano.

There was an uproar at the correctional centre last week Thursday, after the prison wardens detected and seized the cannabis allegedly brought to some mostly condemned inmates at Kurmawa prison.

The seizure led to uproar from the inmates, while authorities promised to investigate how the illicit drugs got into the facility despite the fact that its prohibited to enter the center with such items.

“We have arrested one of our staff who connived with these people to bring in 4.8kgs of cannabis and eight android phones to some inmates on death row, and that was why we had an uproar on Thursday after our operatives have seized it,” Kofar Nassarawa said.

He added that, “This staff who works in the facility was recruited just two years ago in 2019. We have already handed him over to National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further action. He will be arraigned before court, and if he is found guilty, he can be suspended.

He assured that they will investigate for how long this has been happening and whether there are other people involved in similar scandal.

Gunmen abduct unspecified number of students in University of Agriculture، Benue

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26/04/2021

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By Abba Gwale

Reports from Benue State revealed that gunmen have abducted unspecified number of students of the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi (FUAM), Benue State.

Mrs Rosemary Waku, the Director of Information, Protocol and Public Relations Units (IPPR), made the disclosure on Monday, where she saida unspecified number of students were taken away at gunpoint on Sunday night.

“An unconfirmed number of students of FUAM were abducted at gunpoint by unknown persons from the Campus on Sunday 25th April, 2021,” she said.

Waku added that, “The University has reported the incident to the police and all relevant security agencies. The University has not heard anything from the students or their abductors since the unfortunate incidence took place.”

This happened a few days after gunmen stormed Greenfield University, in Kaduna and abducted many students on campus. Less than 72 hours after the abduction of Kaduna State students, three of them were found dead.

Also, yesterday, bandits attacked a Church in Kaduna State and killed one worshipper while in the night, some bandits stormed Low Cost quarters of Zaria City and abducted two married women but the residents caught two of the bandits and handed them over to police.

Academy Awards held in Hollywood amidst COVID-19

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26/04/2021

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By Abba Gwale

The Hollywood industry celebrated the best films of the past year at the 93rd Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars after the event was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event took place at Union Station in Los Angeles and the Dolby Theatre, with stars posed without masks but obeyed all COVID-19 protocols.

Below is a full list of nominees and winners:

Best original screenplay

Judas and the Black Messiah
Minari
Promising Young Woman – WINNER
Sound of Metal
The Trial of the Chicago 7

Best adapted screenplay

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
The Father – WINNER
Nomadland
One Night in Miami
The White Tiger

Best international feature film

Another Round – WINNER
Better Days
Collective
The Man Who Sold His Skin
Quo Vadis, Aida?

Best actor in a supporting role

Sacha Baron Cohen, The Trial of the Chicago 7
Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah – WINNER

Leslie Odom, Jr, One Night in Miami
Paul Raci, Sound of Metal
Lakeith Stanfield, Judas and the Black Messiah

Best makeup and hairstyling

Emma
Hillbilly Elegy
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom – WINNER
Mank
Pinocchio

Best costume design

Emma
Mank
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom – WINNER
Mulan
Pinocchio

Jean Hersholt humanitarian award
MPTF (Motion Picture & Television Fund)

Best director

Thomas Vinterberg, Another Round
Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman
David Fincher, Mank
Lee Isaac Chung, Minari
Chloé Zhao, Nomadland – WINNER

Best sound

Greyhound
Mank
News of the World
Sound of Metal – WINNER
Soul

Best live-action short film

Feeling Through
The Letter Room
The Present
Two Distant Strangers – WINNER
White Eye

Best animated short film

Burrow
Genius Loci
If Anything Happens I Love You – WINNER
Opera
Yes-People

Best animated feature film

Onward
Over the Moon
A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon
Soul – WINNER
Wolfwalkers

Best documentary short

Colette – WINNER
A Concerto Is a Conversation
Do Not Split
Hunger Ward
A Love Song for Latasha

Best documentary

Collective
Crip Camp
The Mole Agent
My Octopus Teacher – WINNER
Time

Best visual effects

Love and Monsters
The Midnight Sky
Mulan
The One and Only Ivan
Tenet – WINNER

Best actress in a supporting role

Maria Bakalova, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
Glenn Close, Hillbilly Elegy
Olivia Colman, The Father
Amanda Seyfried, Mank
Youn Yuh-Jung, Minari – WINNER

Best production design

The Father
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Mank – WINNER
News of the World
Tenet

Best cinematography

Judas and the Black Messiah
Mank – WINNER
News of the World
Nomadland
The Trial of the Chicago 7

Best film editing

The Father
Nomadland
Promising Young Woman
Sound of Metal – WINNER
The Trial of the Chicago 7

Jean Hersholt humanitarian award

Tyler Perry

Best original score
Da 5 Bloods
Mank
Minari
News of the World
Soul – WINNER

Best original song

Husavik, Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga
Fight For You, Judas and the Black Messiah – WINNER
Io Sì (Seen), The Life Ahead
Speak Now, One Night in Miami
Hear My Voice, The Trial of the Chicago 7

Best picture

The Father
Judas and the Black Messiah
Mank
Minari
Nomadland – WINNER
Promising Young Woman
Sound of Metal
The Trial of the Chicago 7

Best actress in a leading role

Viola Davis, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Andra Day, The United States vs Billie Holiday
Vanessa Kirby, Pieces of a Woman
Frances McDormand, Nomadland – WINNER
Carey Mulligan, Promising Young Woman

Best actor in a leading role

Riz Ahmed, Sound of Metal
Chadwick Boseman, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Anthony Hopkins, The Father – WINNER
Gary Oldman, Mank
Steven Yeun, Minari

Vice-Chairman of Ungoggo Local Government dies

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26/04/2021

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By Abba Gwale

Alhaji Abdullahi Dantalata Karo, Vice-Chairman, Ungoggo Local Government Council in Kano State, is dead.

The Chairman of the local government, Engr Abdullahi Garba Ramat, announced the sad news on his personal Facebook page on Monday morning.

“Indeed to Allah we belong and to Him we shall return! Rest in peace Abdullahi Dantalata Karo (Vice Chairman of Ungogo LGA). May God forgive him for his mistakes, grant his family patience and perseverance, may we all not fall short of sincerity and faith. Sufficient for us is Allah,” the Facebook post read.

Although, the Chairman did not reveal the cause of his death, he was already buried in Kano.

The deceased, Alhaji Abdullahi Dantalata Karo was the Vice-chairman of the Ungogo Local Government and he was also former All Progressive Congress (APC) Chairman of the local government.

The late Karo contested for the chairmanship of the council in Junuary Local Government election in Kano before settling for the vice chairmanship position after negotiations with the party stalwarts.

300,000 candidates register for UTME so far – JAMB

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26/04/2021

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By Ismail Auwal

The Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB), said that it has so far registered more than 300,000 candidates for the 2021 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

According to the board’s weekly bulletin obtained from the board’s website on Monday, JAMB has also registered more than 8,000 Direct Entry (DE) candidates.

“Total profile code generated so far is 497,528. “Total UTME pin vended is 344, 115, while total pin vended for DE is 10, 848.
Total registered candidates for UTME, 316, 132, and total registered candidates for DE is 8, 490.
“Total candidates who have indicated an interest in sitting for the mock UTME are 126, 402,’’ it said.

According to the bulletin, candidates can send their National Identity Number (NIN) from any SIM of their choice provided the SIM has not been used by another candidate to register for UTME/DE in the past.

JAMB said that this was contrary to its earlier statement that only the SIM that was linked to a candidate’s NIN could be used to send their NIN to 55019.

The board had, on Sunday, said that candidates could only generate their profiles by sending their details to 55019 on the SIM linked to their NIN.

It, however, advised them to follow the right process to be successfully registered.

“The right process is to send the word `NIN’, allow one space in between, and then insert the eleven digits NIN number and send it to 55019. Any other process is wrong and would not generate the profile code for the candidate,’’ the statement read.

The mock UTME earlier scheduled to hold on April 30, is now to take place on May 20, while the examination will take place from June 5 to June 19. Registration for UTME/DE which began on April 8, will end on May 15.

NAN

Expose BDC operators funding Boko Haram – Ndume urges FG

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26/04/2021

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By Abba Gwale

Senator Ali Ndume, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, has called on the Buhari led-Administration to expose over 400 Bureau De Change operators recently arrested for allegedly funding the activities of Boko Haram insurgency in the country.

During his interview with newsmen, Ndume, who is representing Borno South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, also demanded an open trial of all the suspects.

Recall that last month, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said the Nigerian Government had arrested some Bureau De Change operators who were facilitating the transfer of money to Boko Haram terrorists.

Garba Shehu also lamented that some Nigerians transferring money to the sect from the United Arab Emirates were working with the BDC operators.

But Ndume, demanded that Nigerians deserve to know what the government was doing concerning the suspects.

“The Presidency said recently that Nigerians would be shocked if it revealed the identities of those who are sponsoring the Boko Haram insurgents.

“Can you imagine that 400 Bureau De Change operators are the people funding the Boko Haram?

“When the BDC operators are arrested now, what will the government do with them? The presidency is already saying their case is confidential. What is confidential about it?,” Ndume lamented.

He however said “The presidency should expose the identities of all the BDC operators so far arrested and carry out their trial in public.

“If any of them is innocent, he should be allowed to go while those found guilty must be made to face the music,”

“When I was wrongly accused, I was tried publicly and I was vindicated. The trial lasted six years in an open court. If there is any criminal act linked to anybody. No matter how highly placed, let the evidence be placed before the public, there should be no secret trial,” he added.

He said nowadays, criminals are arrested and paraded without further action saying that nobody knows what happens to the people who killed 11 soldiers in Benue State recently.

Ndume’s Senatorial district is currently under the siege of the Boko Haram terrorists, in Yobe State.

Igboho alleges invasion of residence by soldiers in Ibadan

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26/04/2021

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By Ismail Auwal

Sunday Adeyemi, populary known as Sunday Igboho, the Yoruba ethnic warlord, on Monday, claimed soldiers invaded his Ibadan residence in a move to arrest him and his supporters.

Igboho, disclosed this through his spokesperson, Olayomi Koiki, in a live Facebook broadcast at the car park of the activist’s residence.

Mr Koiki, claimed soldiers invaded Mr Igboho’s residence at around 2 am Monday morning but that they were being resisted.

Gunshots could be heard intermittently in the background as Mr Koiki spoke. He claimed soldiers were doing the shooting but that could not be independently confirmed.

“We are more than capable of securing ourselves, we have chased them far from here,” Mr Koiki said in the video. “I am sure you can hear gunshots. That is them shooting from afar, we cannot be intimidated because we are fully prepared and ready for them.

“By tomorrow morning, I am sure the government would come with false press statements, that it was a set of unknown soldiers, that was the same tactic they used to attack Fela’s mother. They equally used it during #EndSARS.

“They brought us a letter sometimes ago but we rejected them because the letter was what they used to kill Dele Giwa. We have chosen to be peaceful only for them to keep looking for our trouble which we won’t hesitate to give to them”, he said.