By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has assured the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji, of continued support and intervention in infrastructural development of the college.

Lagbaja gave the assurance when he received in audience, the Commandant of AFCSC, AVM Hassan Alhaji at the Army Headquarters, in Abuja.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Mwachukwu, made this known in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

He congratulated the commandant on his appointment, and appreciated the existing partnership between the college and the Nigeriam army.

He said that the army under his command will remain disposed to supporting the college, especially in the areas of electricity supply and accommodation, among others, to  realise its objectives.

The army Chief said the college had over the years lived up to expectations in producing well trained officers for the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the Nigerian army in particular.

He added that the activities of the college had positively impacted on operational engagements of the army, both at home and abroad.

Lagbaja said the Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare Command will offer free services to enhance integrated Information Communication Technology status of the AFCSC college in training exercises and administration of students.

Earlier, the Commandant of AFCSC, AVM Alhaji, in his remarks lauded the army for being of tremendous support to the college in past years.

Alhaji said that the college had witnessed huge improvement in its curriculum, which has been tailored to meet specific needs of the services.

He added that the college was keen at leveraging on ICT to enhance students’ administration, registration, training directives and accommodations in its effort to enhance productivity. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

Funmilayo Okunade

Gov. Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti on Sunday directed the Police, DSS and Amotekun Corps to free the abducted State Chairman of the APC in Ekiti, Mr Paul Omotoso and two others from captivity.

Oyebanji, represented by his Deputy, Mrs Monisade Afuye, gave the directive on Sunday, when he visited Omotoso’s family at Imesi-Ekiti, Ayekire Local Government Area of the state to sympathise with them on the devastating incident.

He stated that Omotoso shouldn’t only be rescued unscathed, that the perpetrators of the dastardly act be nabbed and made to face the full weight of the laws.

The former Commissioner, Omotoso, and two others, were abducted by gunmen along Agbado-Imesi road on Saturday and whisked to an unknown destination.

According to information from family members, Omotoso is said to have attended a wedding at Ikare Akoko, in Ondo State, and was returning to Ado-Ekiti when the evil men struck.

Similarly, the governor, who was received by the victim’s family, also visited the Onimesi of Imesi-Ekiti, Oba Olatunji Olatunde, to register his displeasure over the disturbing incident.

Oyebanji in his instruction, directed the Police and DSS operatives to comb the sprawling forests along Agbado-Imesi-Irun Akoko in Ondo State and other suspected areas to rescue the victims safely from where they are being held hostage.

The governor branded the incident as very troubling and disturbing, saying his government would continue to step up efforts to tighten noose on those who are ocassionally terrorising Ekiti through senseless kidnapping, and made to face serious resistance.

As part of the ways to stamp out abduction in that axis of Ekiti, he assured that the state forest reserves extending from Agbado-Imesi-Ise would be rescourcitated and put to use, to dislodge those using the area as hideout.

“Let me say that we are saddened by this news because we know the trauma this must have caused to his family members, his town, admirers, members of our great party in Ekiti and Nigeria in general.

“You could all attest to the fact that insecurity like this had been on a downward trend since Oyebanji took over about nine months ago. We won’t allow any evil doer to jeopardise our strategy to make Ekiti safe for investments and habitation.

“I hereby charge the security operatives – the police, DSS, army and other sister agencies to rescue him alive from these evil doers and reunite him with his family safe and sound.

“Please, help us appeal to our youths not to take laws into their hands. They should remain peaceful and calm and I can assure you that he will be released soon to join us,” he said.

During the brief visit to Onimesi, Oba Olatunde said his people were deeply saddened by the incident, saying the town had started organising prayers to ensure the victim’s return safely and reunite with the community.

Oba Olatunde said he had taken steps to calm down frayed nerves to avert any unrest from irate youths and subjects, who became livid by Omotoso’s abduction.

“We are organising prayers and we are hopeful that he will soon be released. Everything points to the fact that he will soon be released because the government and security agencies are deploying every arsenal to ensure that he regains freedom soon.”(NAN)

By Isaac Aregbesola

The ICPC has dismissed a report that the Department of State Services carted away files implicating  President Bola Tinubu and close aides from its office

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) dismissed the report in a statement by its Spokesperson Azuka Ogugua.

She said that the report was fake and baseless, adding that ICPC never had such files in any of its offices across the country.

“The Commission hereby state unequivocally that there were no files implicating President Bola Tinubu or his close aides at its headquarters or offices across the states.

“And, therefore, the alleged carting away of such imaginary files is unfounded and should be disregarded by the public,” Ogugua stated.

She said, while the commission did not dispute the role of the media to inform the public, it was however necessary to adhere to the tenets of the journalism profession in the discharge of such role.

According to her, for the umpteenth time, the Commission wishes to urge media organisations not to allow the use of their medium to propagate lies and unfounded reports by subversive agents.

“The Commission’s channels of communications remain open for clarification and confirmation, ” she said. (NAN)

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

By Idowu Ariwodola

Gunmen kidnapped the Ekiti State’s chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Paul Omotisho, on Saturday.

APC’s Publicity Secretary in Ekiti, Mr Segun Dipe, stated at Ado-Ekiti that the assailants abducted Omotisho as he was driving on the Agbado-Ekiti/Imesi-Ekiti Road.

“The chairman was driving in a Toyota Venza car when the assailants seized him.

“The gunmen shot at one of his tyres to immobilise the vehicle after which they seized and drove him off in a Toyota Hilux van.

“He was alone in the car when the incident happened.

“Security agencies – the police and Amotekun Corps (the Southwest security outfit) – have been alerted and they are working on the incident,’’ Dipe stated.

Reacting to the abduction, police spokesman in Ekiti, DSP Sunday Abutu, said the police would make a statement on the abduction after getting clear information. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Alli Hakeem

By Deborah Coker

The Dean and Executive Secretary of the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA), Mr Thomas Stelzer, has called for more capacity building to enhance anti-corruption campaign in Nigeria.

Stelzer made the call on Wednesday when he visited the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN) in Keffi, Nasarawa State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the academy is run by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC).

Stelzer who is on official visit to Nigeria, said that  scaling up training in corruption fight in the country would create a resilient anti-corruption system needed to effectively fight the menace.

He said in spite of how heady international corruption can be, the fight against corruption could still be won.

He said that IACA would explore ways to work with the academy to strengthen capacity of anti-corruption warriors in Nigeria to achieve desired outcomes.

Stelzer noted that Nigeria had introduced lots of national expertise and innovations in the fight against corruption that could be shared by the 189 countries that signed the international convention on corruption.

According to him, although many countries have domesticated the convention, but yet to develop strong normal systems.

“There’s a big gap between the moment and the competition, and this will be all coming with capacity making assistance,” he said.

Earlier, the Provost of ACAN, Mr Olatunde Barawale said that there were many areas it would want to partner with IACAN, especially in manpower training and development to enhance the capacity of citizens in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.

“I believe that this particular visit will provide us with the opportunity of tapping from the rich resources of the academy,” he added.

The provost disclosed that the academy had since inception in 2015, trained no fewer than 20, 279 people in more than 200 different programmes related to the fight against corruption.

He said that out of the number, 532 were trained in the last six months.

In his remarks, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, the Chairman of ICPC said that Stelzer’s visit was in furtherance of an MoU signed in Egypt in 2021.

According to Owasanoye, the MoU involved collaboration on manpower development and other areas.

“Stelzer’s visit is in furtherance of operationalising that MoU and exploring areas of mutual benefits for IACA and the ICPC.

“We hope to be able to collaborate with IACAN on some of its training programmes and in developing training programmes for West African sub region, Sub Sahara Africa and indeed Africa on Anti-Corruption.”

NAN reports that the IACA executive secretary was on arrival taken on a tour of facilities in the academy. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

“Issuance of advisories to government on dumping the use of confidentiality clauses in extractive industry and eradication of the use of tax waivers for multinational companies.

Other activities according to him included designing guidelines for the private sector to recognise vulnerabilities to IFFs in their operations.

“Being central in propagating the Common African Position on Assets Recovery (CAPAR) by collaborating with the High-Level Panel chaired by former South African President, Thabo Mbeki; training of the media on using perception tools among other activities.”

The Chairman also revealed that ICPC through its training arm, ACAN, has begun conducting surveys of experiences with corruption, in order to know how to adjust and deal with issues instead of relying solely on the annual report by TI.

“We would love to be able to partner with IACA to become a regional hub for some of our activities and those of IACA to exchange staff once we agree on the parameters.

“And to test the waters by having some activities at the regional level jointly with funding from partners to build capacity within anti-corruption agencies and in the broader context among stakeholders and public sector players towards diminishing corruption,” Owasanoye said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Headquarters 31 Artillery Brigade Minna, on Thursday, conducted medical outreach for residents of Pogo Community in Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State.

The outreach is part of activities marking the 2023 Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL).

The Brigade Commander, Brig.-Gen. Hamidu Bobbo, said the gesture was part of the military tradition of offering humanitarian services to civilians to foster cordial relationship and cooperation.

Bobo said the Nigerian army was not only engaged in military operations but also other activities such as the medical outreach to support the civil populace.

“We intend to say thank you to the community for the support they have been given us during our operations and we came with our professionals, our experts to conduct certain minor basic tests.

“We have mix of some basic drugs to tell the committee thank you, keep on supporting us, we are your army. The Nigerian army is for the public and we intend to put in our best in whatever capacity we found ourselves.

“It is part of what we call civil-military relationship and there is no society where the military lives on its own or the civilians on their own.

“So our intention here is to tell the populace that we are for them,” he said.

The commander added that the team comprised is of a medical consultant and doctor who would examine patients and administer free drugs.

He said that referral would be made to the Medical Center at the barracks as well as to general hospital for cases requiring further examination.

One of the beneficiaries, Mr Tukura Zakari, appreciated the Nigerian army for the gesture, saying that he had his blood pressure checked and provided with free drugs.

According to him, the intervention of the army has helped him to save a lot of money, which would have been spent if he had gone to hospital.

“We appreciate them for what they have done to us and we pray that God continues to enrich them and continues to move them forward,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

By Sumaila Ogbaje

National Security Assessment Group (NSAG), a civil society group, have commended the Armed Forces of Nigeria for its continuous commitment to the welfare of military retirees and Next of Kins (NOKs) of deceased personnel.

The group made the commendation in a statement by its President, Mr Abiodun Idowu, on Friday in Abuja.

Idowu said that welfare was one of the motivating factors that would ginger troops to go all out against the enemies of the country.

Hs said their position was sequel to recent payment of the third tranche of the Security Debarment Allowance (SDA) to eligible military retirees/NOKs of deceased personnel by the Military Pensions Board (MPB).

According to him, at this critical time when troops are engaged in various military operations across the country, the constant payment of SDA is a reminder that their sacrifices for the country will not be in vain.

The group expressed confidence that welfare of military personnel would receive boost under the current leadership given the excellent human relationship the Chief of Defence Staff, Maj.-Gen. Christopher Musa, had always had with troops in his line of duty.

“We are grateful that the welfare of eligible military retirees/Next of Kins (NOKs) is now being given utmost importance.

“It is a big relief for the affected especially during this period of economic meltdown.

“Importantly, this is a morale booster for our troops engaged in various military operations across the country.

“As they fight to provide peace and stability in the country, they are assured that the country is behind them and their sacrifices will not be in vain.

“We therefore urge Nigerians to continue to support the armed forces under Maj-Gen. Musa who has a history of success and good relationship with troops in his sojourn in the military,” the group stated. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola