Society

Saudi Arabia confirms July 9 as Eid el Kabir after moon sighting

The first day of Eid el Kabir will begin on July 9 following the sighting of the crescent moon in Saudi Arabia at the Tamir observatory, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported citing the Kingdom’s Supreme Court.

The five-day Muslim holiday of sacrifice falls during the lunar month of Dhu Al-Hijjah, which begins on June 30, marking the month when the Hajj pilgrimage takes place.

Hajj will start on July 6 through July 10, with Arafat Day falling on July 8, according to the Supreme Court’s statement.

Muslims mark Eid el Kabir, by buying sheep and goats to slaughter then distribute to the needy. This annual ritual stems from the story of the prophet Abraham, commanded by God to slaughter his son Ismaeel as a test of his faith.

Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court earlier this week called on all Muslims in the Kingdom to sight the Dhu al-Hijjah crescent moon on Wednesday evening.

The Muslim religion follows a lunar calendar which comprises of 12 months in a year of 354 or 355 days. Sighting a crescent moon heralds the start of the fasting month of Ramadan, which falls on the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and Eid al-Fitr which marks the end of Ramadan.

One of the five pillars of Islam, Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, which every Muslim must make at least once in their lifetime if they are able to.

A total of 172,562 pilgrims arrived in the Kingdom by June 21 ahead of this year’s Hajj season.

The Kingdom is allowing one million pilgrims from inside and outside the country to participate in this year’s Hajj.

Hajj is usually one of the world’s largest religious gatherings, with about 2.5 million people performing the ritual in 2019.

However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Kingdom had sharply decreased the number of pilgrims allowed to perform the ritual.

Ayobami Adedeji Society 2022-06-30

Saudi Arabia confirms July 9 as Eid el Kabir after moon sighting

Our grudge with ASUU on Lingering Stike....FG

THE Federal Government yesterday gave insight into why no union in the nation’s university system education was invited to last Thursday’s meeting held to assess the progress made so far on addressing the few outstanding demands of the striking university workers, such as the contentious payment platform and the renegotiation of their conditions of service.

In a statement by Head, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Olajide Oshundun, the government lamented the combative and several unfounded allegations by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, against it, particularly the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige.

“All insinuations that the Ministry of Labour does not sympathise with the students, unions and parents, of which the Minister is one, should be disabused.

“ASUU should know that we are arbitrators and conciliators. We cannot manufacture agreements. Regardless, we are not constrained from listening to the government side and pushing them to do their own bit as quickly as possible,” the Labour Ministry said in a statement issued last night.

The faulted ASUU President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke’s comments during an interview on Channels Television that his union did not receive any invitation from the Federal Government to attend the meeting held last Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The statement read: “We will start by making some clarifications on the government side meeting held last Thursday, June 23, 2022, geared towards accelerating the resolution of the multiple strikes of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, and other university-based unions, including the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities, NASU, and National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT.

The meeting was meant for the inter-ministerial departments and agencies committees of the Federal Government, including the Federal Ministry of Education, Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Budget Office of the Federation, National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, NSIWC, the Federal Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy and National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA.

”The committees are reporting to the office of the Chief of Staff to the President and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment

”The meeting in question was called to assess the progress made so far on addressing the few outstanding demands of the striking university workers, such as the contentious payment platform and the renegotiation of their conditions of service.

”These two committees were empanelled by the Minister and the Chief of Staff to the President at the last tripartite plus meetings of the unions and the government side.”

on several occasions received commendation from ASUU leadership for his role in the resolution of the impasse in the education sector.

”Acting with the Chief of Staff to the President, he empanelled the two committees to work assiduously and according to the law, towards the resolution of the teething issues of payment platform and renegotiation of the conditions of service. The claims made here are verifiable, being out there in public domain.

”Nonetheless, the ministry will not allow itself to be bullied by any union into forcing any payment platform on government, which took a decision to adopt the IPPIS in 2017.”

Ayobami Adedeji Society 2022-06-27

Our grudge with ASUU on Lingering Stike....FG

Former NSCDC Commandant-General Abdullahi Gana Mohammadu Loses Father

Cruel death,have dealt a big blow on Abdullahi Gana Mohammadu,the immediate past Commandant General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and his siblings.They lost their beloved father,Alhaji Jimada Gana,to the cold hands of death.UrbanLife magazine gather that,the partriarch died peacefully,on Sunday,at his Kongila,Minna,abode,and has since been buried inline with Islamic doing.As you read this his other siblings,like Babakeremi,Dogo,Chata,Abdullahi,Ismaila and the entire family have been thrown into an impenetrable darkness of bereavement,but are thankful,their father left a legacy of good name.Many royalties,top government functionaries and prominent Nigerians,have been trooping to the family house to condole,with the illustrous family from Muye,Lapal Local Government of Niger state.If you recall Abdulahi Gana Mohammadu, retired from the service, following the expiration of his tenure on January 17, 2021.During his tenure,he took the agency to a great height by defending the defenceless,with integrity.

Ayobami Adedeji Society 2022-06-14

Former NSCDC Commandant-General Abdullahi Gana Mohammadu Loses Father

Court dismisses Nnamdi Kanu’s fresh application for bail

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday, dismissed a fresh application the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, filed to be released on bail, pending the determination of the treasonable felony charge the Federal Government preferred against him.

Kanu, who is currently facing a seven-count charge, had in the application he filed through his team of lawyers led by Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, equally challenged the revocation of the bail the court earlier granted to him.

He specifically urged the court to set aside the order it made on March 28, 2019, which not only issued a bench warrant for his arrest, but also gave FG the nod to try him in absentia.

The IPOB leader told the court that contrary to FG’s allegation that he jumped bail, he said that he fled for his life after his home town at Afaraukwu Ibeku in Umuahia, Abia State, was invaded by soldiers, which he said led to the death of 28 persons.

Contending that he was denied fair hearing before his bail was revoked, Kanu, attached eight exhibits that included photographs, as well as an affidavit he deposed to from Isreal after he fled from the country.

Meanwhile, dismissing the bail request on Tuesday, trial Justice Binta Nyako, said she was not satisfied with the reason the IPOB leader gave for his failure to appear in court for continuation of his trial.

The trial judge noted that frok records of the court, Kanu, was represented by his lawyer on the day his bail was revoked, likewise his sureties.

“In fact, he sureties told the court that they did not know the whereabout of the Defendant and even applied to be discharged from the matter.

“Therefore, the Defendant was not denied fair hearing”.

Besides, Justices Nyako held that though a court could vacate a previous order when confronted with a cogent and verifiable reason, “in the instant case, I have not been given any, neither have I been given any reason to set-aside the order.

“The present application amounts to an abuse of court process for attempting to relitigate an issue already decided by the court.

“If the Defendant is dissatisfaction, he has the Appeal Court to go to.

“This application is accordingly dismissed”, Justice Nyako held.

It will be recalled that the court had also on March 18, declined to release the embattled IPOB leader on bail.

The court maintained that Kanu must explain the reason why he breached the previous bail that was given to him, before he could enjoy another favourable discretion from it.

“Until the issue of the absence of the defendant for his trial, with all the bail conditions breached, is determined, the instant application of the defendant for bail will at best be premature and it is refused.

“However, the defendant is at liberty to re-file the application”, Justice Nyako added.

Ayobami Adedeji Society 2022-06-28

Court dismisses Nnamdi Kanu’s fresh application for bail

Ondo Amotekun arrests suspected perpetrators of Owo church massacre

The Ondo State Security Network Agency, codenamed “Amotekun Corps” has confirmed that some suspects have been arrested in connection with the terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo.

The suspected terrorist invaded the church on June 5, killing no fewer than 40 people and injuring many other worshippers.

The state Commander of Amotekun, Adetunji Adeleye, on Thursday said some suspects had been arrested in connection with the killing.

He stated this while parading some 71 men who were arrested for various criminal activities across the state.

He, however, did not give the actual figure of the suspected terrorists arrested but expressed assurance that all the attackers of the worship center would be apprehended.

The Amotekun boss said, “As regards the Owo incident, we have recovered the last vehicle they used for that operation and we made some arrests and we have also recovered some vital things which we are working on.

“A number of people have been arrested concerning the Owo issue as well as well number of equipment. On that day, we pursued them to the point that we recovered the vehicle and we are still pursuing them We have told you that until we get to the root, I can assure you that the perpetrators and their sponsors will be brought to book.”

On the 71 suspected criminals paraded at the headquarters of the command in Akure, the state capital, Adeleye explained that the suspects were arrested within the last one month for various offenses ranging from armed robbery, cattle rustling, kidnapping, raping, fraud and human trafficking.

“The 71 suspects were picked while committing offenses and others were tracked to their hideouts in the forests. We have been able to get a cartel that specialises in stealing and dismantling motorbikes which we all know as okada. Also, we were able to recover over 50 bikes during the operation from these criminals.

“We also got reports from some herdsmen that their cattle were stolen. We went after them and brought the cows back to the Fulani herdsmen that owned the cow. We have a group of small boys who are under 18-year old that turned themselves into a cartel of criminals in a particular local government in Ondo State and armed themselves. They actually belong to a cult group called ‘Agbado’. We were able to arrest 12 out of the 17 members.

“We have about three to four suspected kidnappers and we intend to take most of these suspects, especially the ones we have concluded their investigations to the DPP and for their onward prosecution in court.”

He assured the people of the state that the corps would not rest on its oars until it rids the state of criminal elements, saying, “there is no hiding place for them. They turned the heat on us and we have also turned the heat on them.”

Ayobami Adedeji Society 2022-06-23

Ondo Amotekun arrests suspected perpetrators of Owo church massacre

Ondo attack: Police, Owo monarch deny arrest of attackers

The Ondo State Police Command has denied the arrest of the attackers of St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, where no fewer than 40 people were killed and many injured last Sunday.

A social media report said the suspected terrorists were arrested by a joint team of men of the Nigerian Army, Amotekun Corps and other security agencies as well as the local hunters, on Thursday.

The report said the suspects were taken to the palace of Olowo. It was gathered that when people heard about the news, they started besieging the palace to catch the glimpse of the suspects.

But the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Ogunoye, denied the report saying no suspect was arrested and taken to the palace. He had told the people that besieged the palace, in Owo dialect, that the attackers would soon be arrested.

Speaking with our correspondent on the telephone, the first class monarch said, “They said some people were arrested in the bush by the security but said they were not sure that the suspects were the ones that carried out the attack.

“The report was not true; people have been trooping to the palace to see them but Olowo has addressed them that no suspect was brought to the palace,” he explained.A source said some criminals were arrested by the police in the bush but the people who saw the suspects in the police van thought they were the attackers and they had been taken to the palace, hence the besieging of the palace by the people.

Ayobami Adedeji Society 2022-06-10

Ondo attack: Police, Owo monarch deny arrest of attackers

Ogun Workers embark on Strike over unpaid benefits

Workers in Ogun state have declared an indefinite strike over the alleged refusal of the state government to pay their 21-month salary deductions.

The workers are also protesting what they termed the “government’s insensitivity to workers’ welfare.”

The leadership of the organised labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress and Joint Negotiating Committee, declared the strike on Monday while addressing workers at the arcade ground at Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

The workers took the decision following the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum issued to Governor Dapo Abiodun over his government’s non payment of eight-year statutory leave allowances and breach of the State Pension Reform Law, 2006 (amended 2013) in the implementation of the Contributory Pension Scheme, amongst other demands.

Shortly before declaring the strike , many workers had assembled at the arcade ground and sang solidarity songs against the government.

The workers berated Abiodun for failing to honour the agreement contained in the Memorandum of Understanding( MoU) in 2020.

Declaring the strike action, the Chairman of the NLC in the state, Emmanuel Bankole, said the strike became imperative following several failed attempts to meet the governor over their plights.

He lamented that the government had failed to respond to over seven letters written to the government on the issue.

Bankole directed all the workers in the employ of the state government to stay away from work.

According to him, the strike, which would take effect from Tuesday, would be a total and indefinite strike, declaring that there was no going back until their demands were met by the governor.

Bankole said, “We are here today to take our destiny in our own hands. The leadership is ready. We must start a new beginning, we must tell them (government) that we are workers and we are not slaves. The time is now, a stop must be put to this.

“Our future and the future of the workers of Ogun State is in great jeopardy. Governance is a serious business and whoever that is not ready for it, I think it is time we tell such person go home.

“Having given them enough time, they are so busy to attend to us. Maybe if we go home for some time, they will have time to attend to our matter.

“There is no going back. We have given them so long rope to draw.

“It is my opinion and my conviction that Ogun State workers are saying that we should embark on a full-blown strike.

“We are embarking on an indefinite strike from 12 midnight, let all the workers stay back at home. The implication is that nobody is expected at work tomorrow.

“Anyone who reports for duty on Tuesday is a traitor and it has never been well with a traitor,” Bankole said.

Others who supported Bankoke during the rally where the strike was declared were the Chairman of TUC, Akeem Lasisi, and the Chairman of JNC, Isa Olude.

Ayobami Adedeji Society 2022-06-28

Ogun Workers embark on Strike over unpaid benefits

ASUU’ll call off strike soon, says Ngige....As NASU, SSANU extend strike by two month

The Federal Government on Wednesday said the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities would soon be called off.

This was as it said there are no plans to establish an alternative payment table for all the labour unions in tertiary institutions.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, disclosed this while briefing State House Correspondents at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by the President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Council Chambers of the presidential villa, Abuja.

Despite four months into the strike already, Ngige assured Nigerians that efforts were underway to resolve the ongoing dispute largely fueled by payment platforms.

ASUU, which grounded academic activities in Nigerian universities since February 14, 2022, had insisted on the use of its own generated payment platform, University Transparency and Accountability Solution.

It premised its demand on claims that the government-backed Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System was shortchanging its members.

However, the Federal Government, last March claimed that UTAS was unfit for wide-scale use as it failed three integrity tests.

Aside from UTAS, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and Non-Academic Staff Union of Allied and Educational Institutions also proposed their payment platform: Universities Peculiar Personnel Payroll System.

Ngige argued that the Federal Government was indeed engaging with ASUU, despite notions that it has been snubbing the union.

Meanwhile.the Joint Action Committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and allied institutions has extended its ongoing strike by two months.

This was made known on Wednesday, in a statement signed by the National President, SSANU, Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim, and General Secretary, Mr. Peter Adeyemi.

The statement partly read, ‘‘In view of the fact that government is still a long way from effectively resolving the issues in contention, it is only expedient that we allow the process to be fully concluded before directing the end of the strike. Consequently, you are hereby informed that the strike has been extended by two months, within which we are hoping that all the contentious issues would have been effectively laid to rest. The two-month extension is with effect from Friday, June 24, 2022.’’

Ayobami Adedeji Society 2022-06-22

ASUU’ll call off strike soon, says Ngige....As NASU, SSANU extend strike by two month

Democracy Day: FG declares Monday public holiday

The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Interior, has declared Monday, June 13, as a public holiday in commemoration of Nigeria’s Democracy Day which comes up on June 12.

The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, made this known in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr M. L. Shuaib Belgore, on Thursday.

He congratulated Nigerians and urged all citizens to support the present administration in its efforts at ensuring a secured, united and prosperous nation.

Aregbesola admonished Nigerians to use the occasion to reflect on the long journey the country has made towards the enthronement of civil democratic order, before Independence in 1960 till date and the sacrifices of our patriots.

“As we mark another Democracy Day in the history of our dear country, let us reflect on the efforts of our founding fathers and ensure that Nigeria remains one united, secured, peaceful and an indivisible entity, noting that no development can take place in an acrimonious environment.

“With the challenges we face in Nigeria today, I see an opportunity for us not to break up or break down, but to break open; open up to ourselves in truth so that we may appreciate each other, understand each other, honour each other and live together in peace and prosperity,” Aregbesola was quoted as saying.The former governor of Osun State also enjoined Nigerians to keep faith with democracy, stating that although it might not have brought the best of expectations, keeping to it is better than alternatives which have proved ruinous and disastrous to the nation. “There will surely be light at the end of the tunnel,” he added.

Ayobami Adedeji Society 2022-06-09

Democracy Day: FG declares Monday public holiday

President Buhari swears in Olukayode Ariwoola as acting Chief Justice of Nigeria

President Muhammadu Buhari has sworn in Justice Olukayode Ariwoola as the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) following the sudden resignation of Justice Ibrahim Tanko on health grounds.

Justice Ariwoola thus becomes the third individual to occupy the top Judiciary job of the country in the life of this administration.

Recall that Justice Walter Onnoghen also became the CJN under President Buhari’s administration before he resigned from office.

President Buhari administered the oath of office on Ariwoola at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The acting CJN was accompanied to the ceremony by some Justices of the Supreme Court.

Ayobami Adedeji Society 2022-06-27

President Buhari swears in Olukayode Ariwoola as acting Chief Justice of Nigeria

Alfa caught having sex with mad woman in Ibadan

An Ibadan-based Alfa has been captured in a viral video having sex with a mad woman.

In the video, the man is seen approaching the woman in a dirty backyard where she lies on a concrete floor with her head resting on a mat.

He then looks around, pulls his trousers, looks around again, and appears to penetrate the woman.

Observers filming from a nearby house are heard whispering in surprise.

“Alfa o,” a woman is heard saying, shock evident in her voice.

“Ye, he’s sleeping with her, he’s sleeping with her,” a man is heard saying repeatedly.

“Stop speaking loudly,” the woman cautions him as they watch and film the Alfa in the act.

The woman expressed shock that the same Alfa who preaches to people can engage in such an act.

The man filming is heard calling the name of Jesus repeatedly while exclaiming in shock.

“This one is happening live in Ibadan o. Jesus Christ. Ahhhh.

A man of God for that matter,” the man adds as he continues filming.

At this point, the man is seen standing up from the woman’s body while pulling his briefs and trousers back up to his waist.

The woman then points out that it is ”Alfas” like the man they are watching that are spoiling the reputation of the genuine Alfas and men of God.

While the pair is still reeling from the shock, the alleged Alfa opens a calabash, brings out a handkerchief, and uses it to wipe the mad woman’s private part while looking around to be certain no one is watching.

“Jesus, he wants to use it for juju,” the pair scream.

The video ends with the man walking out, leaving the mad woman lying on the same spot.

Ayobami Adedeji Society 2022-06-18

Alfa caught having sex with mad woman in Ibadan

ISWAP behind Owo Killing, says National Security Council

The National Security Council, on Thursday, revealed that the Islamic State, West African Province masterminded the deadly attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State that left over 25 people dead on Sunday, June 5, 2022.

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, disclosed this to State House correspondents, shortly after the over three-hour council meeting presided over by the President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja.

Aregbesola, who spoke in the company of the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, said security agencies are closing in on the perpetrators through their traces.

According to him, the council is gravely concerned about spate of blasphemy-linked killings and has directed security agents to hunt those behind the killing of Deborah Samuel Sokoto State and a more recent case in Abuja.

He, however, noted that the police have arrested no one for the attack since Sunday.

The minister also debunked notions that the attack carried an ethnic-religious tint.

Aregbesola said the council has made adequate security preparations for the June 18 governorship election in Ekiti State.

Those who attended the security meeting were Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; the Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari and the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (retd.).

The Chief of Defense Staff, General Lucky Irabor; Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Farouk Yahaya; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo; and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao were also in attendance.

Also in attendance were the Inspector-General of Police, Alkali Usman; the Director-General of the Department of State Service, Yusuf Bichi; and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Abubakar.

Ayobami Adedeji Society 2022-06-09

ISWAP behind Owo Killing, says National Security Council

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