What to know this morning!

1. Insecurity Exercise Some Patience, Buhari Pleads With Nigerians

According to SAHARAREPORTERS, President Muhammadu Buhari has pleaded with Nigerians to have patience with him as the country battles to stem the tide of insecurity.

The President said this while meeting with the heads of security and intelligence agencies, and members of the Security Committee of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

He pleaded with Nigerians to have patience with him as the country battles to stem the tide of insecurity.

He called on Nigerians to be patient with his administration as they await the delivery of military equipment ordered from Jordan, China and the United States.

He said, “I have directed the service chiefs to meet among themselves, in-between the National Security Council meetings. Our intelligence-gathering, interpretation and sharing must all be improved.

“We are expecting the shipment of military weapons and aircraft we ordered from Jordan, China and the United States.

“As I have explained, we need patience on the part of the Nigerian public, for the new equipment to arrive, and for our personnel to receive appropriate training.”

2. Former Ekiti Governor, Fayose, Vows To Jail Ex-President Obasanjo If He Becomes Nigeria’s President

According to SAHARAREPORTERS, Ayodele Fayose, former governor of Ekiti State, has said that he would send ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo back to prison if he had the opportunity to become President of Nigeria.

Fayose said this during an interview with PlusTV.

He said the former President has been making hate speech and the present administration should make him face the law.

He said, “Let me tell you, Obasanjo has made hate speech and should be brought to book by this government.

“I pray one day I will become President of this country by God’s grace. Obasanjo will go back to prison.

“I am telling you the truth because there are so many things Obasanjo must be questioned about.

“Obasanjo is not a saint. When he came out of prison, his farm at Ota was in shambles. But, today, it is back to life.

“Where did the money for resuscitating the once ailing farm come from? It was from the government.

“For the library, all governors at that time contributed N10m each to support Obasanjo by force.

“The third term is still fresh in our memory. So, baba should stop telling us he is a saint.”

The former Ekiti governor also chided Obasanjo for his comments on late Buruji Kashamu, saying he had paid his own dues and spent his time on earth.

“No court convicted him and he left and departed the world. Everybody will have an end. Let’s wait and see how Obasanjo will end,” he added.

3. Stamp Duty: House Of Reps Moves To Reconcile FIRS, NIPOST

The House of Representatives, has moved to reconcile the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Nigerian Postal Services (NIPOST), over stamp duty collection role.

The House of Representatives Committee on Finance, yesterday, held a meeting, chaired by the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. James Faleke, with the Post- Master General of the Federation, Dr. Ismail Adewusi, NIPOST Board Chairman, Bar. Maimuna Abubakar, and the Executive Chairman of the FIRS, Muhammad Nami in Abuja.

A statement from FIRS said the meeting with the legislators was to resolve the face-off between FIRS and the Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST) over stamp duty collection, as well as issues around the N58bn revenue generated from February 2016 to April, 2020.

At the meeting, FIRS said it generates N3 billion revenue from the weekly collection of stamp duty since May 2020. Its Chairman, Nami, said: “The FIRS was able to generate this much revenue from a single stream of stamp duty collection from DMBs (Deposit Money Banks) because the Service had deployed a new technology to track and capture such revenue straight into the federation account.”

FIRS has the Application Programming Interface (API), an–online real-time tool that eases stamp duties collection.

The account was opened in 2016 to warehouse revenue from stamp duty collection. It grew to N58bn by April 2020 with FIRS deploying API.

Daily Trust reports that FIRS and NIPOST have been at daggers drawn over the control of stamp duty collection. “The FIRS regrets that as an agency of the government, FIRS and NIPOST allowed a simple situation to degenerate to media exposure,” Nami said.

4. Buhari has done well for Ndigbo than any past govt says Southeast group

A socio-political group, South East Supports Groups (SESG), has stated that the gains so far recorded by President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government particularly in South East zone, has superseded that of the past administrations since Nigeria’s assumption of democratic government.

The group posted that the president has demonstrated his love for the region by appointing Ndigbo sons and daughters into prominent federal positions.

It, therefore, called on Igbo sons and daughters to support the President and the Nigerian Army for numerous roles they had played for the security, peace and development of South East geopolitical zone.

The South East Supports Groups, SESG, made its position known in a statement signed by its National President, Emmanuel Ojukwu, and made available to DAILY POST.

The group’s position came on the heels of the notions in many quarters in South East geopolitical zone part of Nigeria over alleged marginalization of the region in provision of infrastructural amenities by President Buhari-led current federal government.

The Igbo organization asserted that the Southeast region are most focal beneficiaries of the novel initiatives of the Nigerian Army on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects in water, roads, and free health services.

5. EFCC Arrests 3 Corps Members, 19 Undergraduates, Others for Alleged Internet Fraud.

The Ibadan Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has arrested 32 “Yahoo boys” for alleged involvement in internet fraud.

THISDAY learnt that the suspects were apprehended during a raid on their hideout in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, when the officers of the agency swept on the location, after diligent analysis of series of intelligence gathered on their alleged criminal activities.

Three of the suspects claimed to be serving members of the National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC), 19 were undergraduates of various universities across the country, while the remaining 10 laid claim to sundry vocations.

The suspects are Oyebamiji Francis; Aremo Jeremiah; Ogbonnaya Prosper John; Anuoluwapo Matthew; Oladele Victor; Mumuni Waliyullah; Olawoyin Abiodun; Okuwatoyin Henry; Arisekola Shina; Babarinde Solomon; Samson Gideon; Joshua Ola Adebayo; Ajayi Joseph Ajibola; Garba Mojeed, Olatunbosun Tobiloba and Azeez Ridwan.

Others are Ajala Timilehin; Adebolapo Bakare; Alaba Gideon; Ogunkeye Olumide; Ogunleke Tolu; Olapade Emmanuel; Adegoke Aanu Abiodun; Job Ayantoye; Oyebode Pelumi; Babayanju Toluwani; Oladele Ayobami; Omonaiye Abubakar; Sattong Baking; Abisoye Kehinde, Iwajomo Nathan and Aniyikaye Tope.

It was gathered that at the point of their arrest, 12 exotic cars, several phones, laptops and some incriminating documents were recovered from them.

The suspects were subjected to thorough screening by medical officials of the EFCC, in line with the Covid-19 prevention protocols.

It was furthered learnt that the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

6. Showdown Looms in Edo, 17 Lawmakers Insist on Sitting

According to THISDAY, Tension has gripped residents of Benin City, the Edo State capital, following the insistence by a factional group of 17 members of the state House of Assembly opposed to the Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, to sit in the legislative premises despite the ongoing renovation of the complex.

However, the state police command has pledged to be neutral in the political crisis rocking the state, which arose from the disagreement between Obaseki and his predecessor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, a former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The 17 lawmakers comprise five that were hitherto in the governor’s camp, who were joined by 12 others that were surreptitiously sworn in last week, more than a year after those loyal to the governor were inaugurated.

The 17 are presumed to be loyal to Oshiomhole.

The speaker of the faction loyal to the governor, Hon. Frank Okiye, had earlier declared the seats of the 12 lawmakers-elect vacant.

But the governor played down the lawmakers’ action, saying the decisions arising from any of their sittings would not be binding on him and the state government.

Also , Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court ordered the National Rescue Mission (NRM) to paste the court processes of the suit seeking to disqualify the APC governorship candidate, Mr. Osagie Ize-Iyamu and his running mate, Mr. Audu Ganiyu, on the party’s national headquarters in Abuja.

At their sitting last week, the 17 pro-Oshiomhole lawmakers had claimed to have elected Hon. Victor Edoror, representing Esan Central State Constituency, as speaker and Hon. Emmanuel Agbaje, representing Akoko-Edo I, as deputy speaker.

However, the governor, Okiye, with the seven other members, and the Deputy Governor, Hon. Philip Shaibu, had prevented the takeover of the Assembly by the 17 lawmakers, saying the place is under renovation.

The roof of the building was removed while heaps of sand and gravels for the renovation were dumped at the entrance gate of the Assembly.

The governor and his camp also described the actions of the pro-Oshiomhole lawmakers as illegal, adding that the matter is before a court of competent jurisdiction.

But Edoror said they would sit today and also continue to sit even if the entire building was taken away.

He told THISDAY on the phone that the House of Assembly belongs to the people, adding that being the custodian of that arm of government, he is duty-bound to provide the leadership and choose where to sit.

6. NCDC confirms 423 new COVID-19 cases, total now 47,290

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed 423 new cases of COVID-19 in the country, bringing the total number of COVID-19 infections to 47,290.

The NCDC made this known on its official twitter handle on Tuesday.

“On the 11th of August 2020, 423 new confirmed cases and 6 deaths were recorded in Nigeria.

“Till date, 47290 cases have been confirmed, 33609 cases have been discharged and 956 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

“The 423 new cases are reported from 22 states- Lagos (117), FCT (40), Ondo (35), Rivers (28), Osun (24), Benue (21), Abia (19), Ogun (19), Ebonyi (18), Delta (17), Kwara (17), Kaduna (15), Anambra (14), Ekiti (11), Kano (9), Imo (6), Gombe (4), Oyo (3), Taraba (3), Bauchi (1), Edo (1) and Nasarawa (1),” the NCDC said.

7. Four Lagos LGs prone to flooding – NEMA

According to the Punch, the acting Coordinator, Lagos Territorial Office, National Emergency Management Agency, Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, says four local government areas in Lagos are prone to flooding.

Farinloye said this on Tuesday during a sensitisation in the Mushin area of the state on the prevention, management and mitigation of flood in high-risk flood-prone areas.

He said, “We have the menace of Oyan dam release, which is going to affect parts of Lagos State. We carried out vulnerability assessment with certain agencies at the state level and we discovered that eight million people might probably be affected by flood in Lagos State this year.

“The highly probable LGAs are Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos Mainland, Ikorodu and Mushin. We decided to kick-off this campaign from Mushin because waste from Oshodi and Surulere come through the Mushin canal; the canal leads to Badia and other parts of Apapa. Some parts of the canal have been blocked and there are a lot of the materials blocking the free flow of water from the canal.

“People should know we have this danger at hand and they should know what to do when these things happen. Before heavy rains, there is the need to clear our drainage channels and that is why we are here to see the situation first hand.”

8. 15 persons declared wanted over Ekiti festival crisis, killings

According to the Punch, the Police Public Relations Officer for Ekiti State Police Command, Sunday Abutu, said on Tuesday that the Command had declared 15 persons wanted in connection with the violence and killings at Ire Ekiti, in the Oye Local Government Area of the state over the stoppage of Ogun Onire festival.

Abutu, who said one of the arrowheads of the violence had been arrested, added that policemen would remain in the town until normalcy returned.

Violence erupted in the community on Sunday following the decision of the monarch, the Onire of Ire Ekiti, Oba Victor Bobade, to cancel the yearly festival in line with the state government’s directive to avert the spread of COVID-19, and escalated on Monday, leading to the death of two persons, in addition to setting ablaze the monarch’s vehicles.

The police spokesperson said, “One person has been arrested and more than 15 persons have been declared wanted. They have run away, but our men are on their trail.”

Abutu said the two persons killed during the crisis were not shot as being insinuated,adding, “In fact, they were clubbed to death.”

9. Stop withdrawing rape cases, Lagos warns victims’ families

According to the Punch, the Lagos State Government has warned relatives of rape victims to stop withdrawing such cases from courts.

The state Director of Public Prosecutions, Yinka Adeyemi, gave the warning on Tuesday at a webinar organised by the Directorate for Citizens’ Rights themed: ‘The crime of defilement: The role of parents, teachers and caregivers in ending the scourge’.

Adeyemi, who spoke on the topic: ‘The crime of defilement from the prosecutor’s angle: Perseverance of evidence to secure a conviction’, urged parents of rape victims to always keep all evidence related to rape as they were crucial in the prosecution of suspects.

According to her, courts in the state delivered 122 judgments on sexual offences from January to July 2020, adding that as part of strategies to combat the scourge of defilement and sexual offences in the state, a specialised prosecutor unit had been established to handle such matters.

She warned parents and guardians of victims of rape and defilement to stop withdrawing complaints from courts or law enforcement agencies as that would amount to the perversion of justice, which was an offence in the state.

She said, “When issues of rape occur, timing is critical; sexual evidence should be collected within the first 72 hours; photographs of injury sustained or the scene of a crime should be taken; sexual victims should not take a bath or use the bathroom before undergoing medical examination; clothes worn should be preserved and put in a box bag and also the victim’s statement must be recorded.”

10. Assembly considers punishment for cultists’ parents

According to the Punch, the parents of youths found guilty of cultism in Lagos State may become liable for punishment if a bill for the prohibition of unlawful societies and cultism in Lagos is passed into law.

This was part of the submission of some lawmakers at the state House of Assembly during plenary on Tuesday.

According to the Punch, the members were discussing the bill sent by the Attorney General of the state, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo.

The Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, said there was the need to differentiate among the various types of cultism in the country so as not to create another problem while solving one.

“We need to look at the way and manner weapons are used. The existing law should be seriously looked into,” he added.

Obasa therefore committed the bill to the House Committee on Judiciary, which was directed to report back to the House in three weeks.

In his contribution, the Majority Leader of the House, Sanai Agunbiade, representing Ikorodu 1, said sponsors of cultism were not captured under the bill.

He said, “The suspected student should be investigated before suspension. Parents of students who engage in any cult group should also be liable,” he said.

11. Police Arrest Two Persons In Bauchi Over Kidnap Of Three-year-old Boy

According to SaharaReporters, the police in Bauchi State on Tuesday arrested two persons over the kidnap of a three-year-old-boy.

The suspected kidnappers were said to have taken the boy into the bush where they demanded ransom payment from his parents but were arrested in the process by the police.

In a video posted by one Bello Tukur on his Facebook page, the suspects were seen in handcuffs while the victim was rescued.

Spokesperson for the Bauchi State Police Command, Ahmed Wakali, could not be reached for comments when contacted by SaharaReporters over the incident.

Recall that the police in the state had on June 20 arrested over 20 criminals in connection with crimes ranging from theft, kidnapping, sodomy and rape.

Also, the command arrested a 19-year-old leader of a kidnap gang, Mohammed Jibrin alias Al-amin, with three others for kidnapping a 15-year-old boy.