Month: January 2023

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Jos Pastor opens up on self kidnap

Please forgive me, I regret my actions, Jos Pastor, Bitrus Albarka, who staged his own kidnap, cries out

A Jos-based pastor, Bitrus Albarka, who was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly staging his own kidnap, has begged for forgiveness, saying he regrets his actions.

The pastor who reportedly ‘kidnapped’ himself and collected a ransom of N600,000 from his church members, told the police that he committed the crime because he needed money to settle his financial challenges.

The Plateau State Police Command said its investigation revealed that Mr Albarka, a pastor of ECWA Church, conspired with his gang and collected ransoms meant for his release.

During a parade at the police headquarters on Thursday, the pastor said he regretted his action.

“I put myself into these activities because of the financial challenges I am facing. When I did the first one, I felt guilty. When I went out, the money with me has finished.

“I was thinking of coming back. I was just confused. That is why I did the second one. I am regretting my action,” he said.

The suspect who also burnt a vehicle belonging to a senior pastor of the church, said he didn’t know what came over him.

“I burnt the vehicle because I was guilty of what I did. I was just confused. I don’t even know what came over me. Being a pastor, that is why the spirit of God didn’t allow me to go without confessing my action. I am sorry for what I have done. I am really sorry.”

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INEC publishes final list as North-West, South-West lead voters’ register

The North-West and South-West account for the majority of the 93.4 million eligible voters, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) distribution of the final voter list on Wednesday.

Mahmood Yakubu, the commission’s chairman, presented the voter list during a meeting with political party leaders at the INEC headquarters in Abuja and stated that there were 37,060,399 young people who had registered to vote.

To allow eligible voters to validate their information and for Nigerians to denounce ineligible people who were listed in the preliminary voter registration for the 774 local government areas; the commission published it on its website in November 2022.

Yakubu said the commission received more than 53,000 objections to the register; after which the ineligible voters were removed.

He stated, “After the cleaning-up of the data from the last continuous voter registration exercise, 9,518,188 new voters were added to the previous register, resulting in the preliminary register of 93,522,272; which was presented to Nigerians for claims and objections as required by law.

“At the end of the period for claims and objections by citizens; the INEC received 53,264 objections from Nigerians to the prevalence of ineligible persons on the register by age, citizenship, or death. These names have been verified and removed from the register.”

According to the figures released by the commission; the North-West geopolitical zone has the highest number of registered voters with 22,255,562.

As of the 2019 elections, the North-West had 20.15m voters. However, the latest report released by INEC showed that over 2m new voters registered during the recently concluded continuous voter registration.

The South-West, which in 2019 had 16,292,212 registered voters, now has 17,958,966; having added 1,666,754 new registered voters.

The North-Central, which had 13,366,070 registered voters in 2019, now has 15,363,731.

The electoral body figures also show that the South-South has 14,440,714 registered voters. The region boasted 12,841,279 registered voters in 2019.

On the other hand, the North-East currently has 12,542,429 up from 11,289, 293 voters it had in 2019; while the South-East has 10,907,606 up from 10,057,130 registered voters it had in 2019.

By gender, men surprisingly dominate the voter register at 49,054,162 (52.5 per cent); while the figure of female voters stands at 44,414,846 (47.5 per cent).

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Pastor Fakes Own Kidnap Twice, Collects Ransom From Members In Jos

Pastor Fakes Own Kidnap Twice, Collects N600,000 Ransom From Members In Jos

A Jos-based pastor has been arrested by operatives of the Plateau State Police Command for staging his kidnap and demanding ransom from members of his congregation

Albarka Bitrus Sukunya was arrested alongside his collaborators following intelligence reports after church members paid N600,000 ransom to secure the cleric’s release.

The Plateau State Police Command’s spokesman, Alabo Alfred, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, Jan. 11.

The statement read, “The Plateau State Police Command has again uncovered the nefarious act of one pastor Albarka Bitrus Sukuya ‘m’ of Jenta Apata, Jos who on several occasions staged his kidnap with his cohorts and receive ransom from sympathizing members of his congregation.

“Sequel to his spurious kidnaps of 14/11/2022 and 30/11/2022 where the sum of Four Hundred Thousand Naira (N400,000) and Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N200,000) were respectively paid by his sympathizers as ransom for his release, the incidents triggered suspicion.

“Through credible intelligence, the clergyman was invited by the DPO Nassarawa Gwong Police Station, CSP Musa Hassan, and investigation commenced immediately. In the course of investigation, it was established that the suspect has been conspiring with his gang to stage his kidnap and fraudulently collect ransom.

“On interrogation, the suspect confessed to have committed the crime and mentioned the following persons as his accomplices : (1) Baruk Mailale, (2) Nathaniel Bitrus both males of Yelwan Zangam village of Jos-north and (3) Aye (surname yet to be known) ‘male of Jalingo, Taraba State.

“The suspect further disclosed that on 04/01/2023, he set ablaze two motor vehicles ( a Mercedes Benz and a Toyota) and a bicycle parked at ECWA Bishara 3 Jenta Apata premises belonging to his colleagues who he alleged one of them hates him, referring to his senior pastor.

“However, police operatives of Nassarawa Gwong Division, Jos-north LGA arrested two (2) of the suspects namely, Baruk Mailale and Nathaniel Bitrus while effort is been intensified to arrest Aye, the third suspect.”

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CBN Orders Banks To Stop Putting Old Notes In Their ATMs

Amidst complaints in some quarters following the scarcity of the redesigned Naira notes, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has promised to monitor commercial banks to ensure they comply with the directive of loading the new Naira notes in their Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).

This was made known by the CBN Director of Currency Operations, Ahmed Umar at the training session for State Directors of National Orientation Agency (NOA) on the redesign of currency notes policy in Abuja.

Umar said the CBN’s directive was to implement the January 31 deadline withdrawal of old naira notes in circulation.

He said, “We want to use this training session to pass the message that the CBN has enough currency notes to go round the general public.

“We, the CBN management, have mandated banks to stop putting old notes in their ATM machines. They should only put the new notes.

“And there is serialisation of the policy that they can put either N500, N1000 or N200 notes, which ever denomination they have or combination of any of those notes; they should just put a new note in their machines

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Ortom slams fake reports over reconciliation of G5, Atiku ahead of polls

The Benue State Government has debunked a report circulating online, claiming that the Governor, Samuel Ortom and his counterparts in the G-5 have resolved to work for the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to win the 2023 election.

Additionally, Ortom stated that the web report is a hoax and should be ignored.

This was said in a statement released on Tuesday, January 10; and signed by Terver Akase, the governor’s special adviser for media and publicity.

The report is false and malicious, claims the statement; and it is intended to disgrace the five governors who have chosen the path of justice, fairness, and equity.

It further disclosed that Governor Ortom, at a meeting with the state caucus of the PDP yesterday; maintained that the national leadership of the party had failed to utilize its internal conflict resolution mechanism; which has led to the crisis rocking the party.

The statement partly read: “We read a fictitious online report which claimed that the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, and his colleagues in the G-5 have resolved to work for the presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to win the 2023 election.

“The report is not only false but also mischievous as it is targeted at embarrassing the five Governors who have chosen the path of justice, fairness, and equity.

“Manufacturers of the said report were apparently on a desperate mission to score a cheap political point. The report could not mention the place and date of the said meeting of G-5 Governors. The writers only sought to take advantage of the crisis within the PDP for their selfish purposes. Governor Ortom and other members of the G-5 have not endorsed the said presidential candidate.

“When the Governor met with the expanded state caucus of PDP yesterday, January 9, 2023, at the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi, his message to them was crystal clear that the national leadership of PDP has failed to utilize its internal conflict resolution mechanism, which has led to the crisis rocking the party.

“The Governor said during the meeting that if the crisis is not resolved before the elections, he would be left with no other option than to take a stand on the matter. He added, however, that he wouldn’t impose his decision on members of the party in the state.

“Governor Ortom did not address the press after the meeting. The online report is, therefore, fake and should be disregarded.”

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Lai Mohammed allays fears over cancellation of election due to insecurity

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Tuesday, January 10, assured Nigerians that the 2023 general elections will hold as planned.

Lai Mohammed gave the assurance in Abuja at the 17th edition of the “President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) Administration Scorecard Series (2015-2023).”

He was reacting to a widely-circulated report, credited to an INEC official, that the 2023 general elections face a serious threat of cancellation due to insecurity.

The minister said there is no cause for alarm over the fake report as all hands are on deck to ensure peaceful and credible conduct of the polls.

“The position of the Federal Government remains that the 2023 elections will be held as planned. Nothing has happened to change that position.

“We are aware that INEC is working with the security agencies to ensure that the elections are successfully held across the country.

“The security agencies have also continued to assure Nigerians that they are working tirelessly to ensure that the elections are held in a peaceful atmosphere,” Lai Mohammed assured.

The scorecard series was launched by the Ministry of Information and Culture in October, last year to showcase the achievements of the Buhari Administration.

Since the series started, 16 Ministers had featured and presented the achievements of their ministries and the parastatal agencies under them.

The 17th edition featured the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire who also presented the strides that have been made in the country’s critical health sector.

Meanwhile, in his Monday speech in Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State, January 10, President Muhammadu Buhari said that God had stopped “deliberate plots to destroy Nigeria.”

In addition, Buhari stated that the nation had “bounced back” from its trying times and thanked the police and armed forces for their sacrifices in defending the nation.

Buhari said at the palace of the Emir of Damaturu, Hashimi II El-Kanemi, “There was a deliberate attempt to destroy Nigeria but God did not permit it.”

This is according to a statement signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, titled, ‘With victory over terrorists, we must develop strong confidence in our country, President Buhari says’.

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Kizz Daniel – RTID (Rich Till I Die)

Kizz Daniel – RTID (Rich Till I Die) Mp3 Download Audio

The Remarkable Popular and highly talented recording artiste, Kizz Daniel hit the airwaves with yet another mind blowing single titled “RTID (Rich Till I Die)” .

This well presented and amazing song will serve as Kizz Daniel latest entry for the year 2023 following his previously released song.

Finally, The new song, “RTID (Rich Till I Die)” by Kizz Daniel was produced by hit-maker, Reward Beatz and Blaise Beats. and is available here on 4wardwego! for downloads.

Listen & Download RTID (Rich Till I Die) Mp3 Download by Kizz Daniel Below:-

DOWNLOAD MP3: Kizz Daniel – RTID

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MDA Debunks Endorsing Nentawe, Nobody speak on behalf of the Mwaghavul Nation

The attention of the President of the Mwaghavul Development Association has been drawn to misleading information circulating on different media platforms of a purported endorsement of Dr Nentawe Yilwada for Governor by the Mwaghavul Nation.

According to the information, “the Mwaghavul Development Association was represented by one Ephraim Kwarpo and Tabitha Barde who said that the candidature of Dr Nentawe Yilwada has been endorsed by the Mwagahvul Nation”.

This story was widely publicized by some Social Media Platforms, electronic media and also a press statement by Mr Shittu Bamaiyi.

The leadership of the Mwaghavul Development Association led by its National President, Chief Joseph K Gwankat (ksm) wishes to state in clear terms that:

1) At no any point in time has the President or members of NEC mandated any person to speak on its behalf on such a sensitive matter.

2) The said Ephraim Kwarpo is not a member of the National EXCO while, Tabitha Barde though a member of MDA National EXCO Women Wing did not have the authority of her President to have even spoken as the leader of Mwaghavul Women.

3) Even the person who aided in circulating this malicious report did not bother to know if the speakers were in any capacity qualified to speak on behalf of the Mwaghavul Nation, which further confirms this as a planned evil against the persons of MDA National Executive Council and its people.

4) Neither the MDA NEC nor the President was in receipt of any invitation to attend the said function that took place in Mangu where this story was cooked and served.

5) The leadership of the Mwaghavul Development Association MDA is not taking this lightly and will get to root of it and whosoever that is involved must be made to give explanation for their roles.

6) The leadership of the Mwaghavul Development Association is made up of men and women of timbre and caliber who have and will always defend the interest of its people no matter the cost.

Having stated the above, it’s very clear that the information in circulation lacks credibility, bias, unauthorized, mischievous, false and selfish in content and purpose.

Consequently, the leadership of the MDA wishes to call on our people at home and in the diaspora, all branches of the MDA and its Wings to stay calm and alert, while efforts are being made to uncover the people behind this, their intention and objectives.

We assure you that the MDA at all levels will not betray the trust and confidence you have reposed in us to give you leadership that is purposeful, and devoid of our personal interest.

We are aware of the immense responsibility we are carrying on behalf of all of you, and we don’t take this for granted.

We are together! Mun ashak!
Thank you.

Da Lawrence Iliya Kyarshik, Director of Public Affairs, MDA

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INEC receives last batch of BVAS

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC on Tuesday received the last batch of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation machines.

This was contained in a statement signed by INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, on Wednesday.

According to the statement, the commission created four airport hubs in Abuja, Kano, Lagos, and Port Harcourt to facilitate the smooth delivery of the machines.

INEC

The statement read: “In furtherance of the preparations for the 2023 General Election, the Commission, yesterday, 3rd January 2023, received the last consignment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation machines with 52 days to the election.

“The Commission’s Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, National Commissioners, and senior officials of the Commission were at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to receive the BVAS. Officials of the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company, and airport security officials were at the airport to receive the INEC team.

“To facilitate the smooth delivery of the machines, the Commission created four airport hubs in Abuja, Kano, Lagos, and Port Harcourt. Over the last four months, several flights delivered the BVAS to the designated airports for movement to States of the federation ahead of the elections. With the arrival of the last flight in Abuja yesterday, the Commission has now taken delivery of the required number of the BVAS for all the polling units in the country and extra machines in line with our contingency provisions for all critical election materials.

“The Commission appreciates the support of all Nigerians in its determination to conduct a free, fair, credible, transparent, and inclusive 2023 General Election facilitated by the deployment of technology.”