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2023: Clamp Down On TV, Radio Stations Airing ‘Inciting Broadcasts’ – FG Instructs NBC

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The Federal Government has directed the National Broadcasting Commission to wield its big stick on television and radio stations airing “inciting broadcasts” as politicking for the 2023 general election gets intense.

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, gave the directive on Thursday at the inauguration of the Governing Board of the Commission in Abuja.

Mohammed, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and one of the members of the Federal Executive Council, also tasked the Board to fast-track the implementation of the government’s Digital Switch Over.

Addressing the reconstituted Board, the minister said, “The most important task facing NBC today is to successfully transition the broadcast industry from analog to digital broadcasting, through the Digital Switch Over (DSO) project. While NBC is the implementing agency for this all-important project, a Ministerial Task Force on DSO, under my chairmanship, is driving the project.

“As quick background information, we launched the pilot phase of the project in Jos, Plateau State, on 30 April 2016, and, since then, we have launched the DSO here in the Federal Capital Territory, as well as in Kwara, Kaduna, Enugu, Osun, Lagos, and Kano states.

“We have an ambitious plan to fast-track the DSO this year by launching it in at least two states every month. Unfortunately, we have not been able to meet this target. But we are working hard to resume the DSO launch as soon as possible. I urge you all to buy into this project to ensure that NBC is able to deliver on what we perceive as a legacy project – because it will change the face of broadcasting in Nigeria.

“Also, please note that as we move closer to the 2023 general elections, NBC will come under increasing pressure to step up its regulatory role to prevent a repeat of what transpired before, during, and after the 2019 general elections, when some broadcast stations threw caution to the wind and engaged in inciting, incendiary and unprofessional broadcasts. It is important for the Commission to ensure that its licensees adhere strictly to the tenets of the Broadcasting Code.”

The NBC had at various times sanctioned television and radio stations including Arise TV, Channels TV, AIT, and Nigeria Info over what the Commission termed “unprofessional broadcasts” and “hate speech”.

It was reported that the government suspended the operations of microblogging site Twitter in Nigeria last June before lifting the ban this January after overwhelming international and national outrage.

The government is also pushing for an anti-social media bill in the National Assembly and seeking to amend the Nigerian Press Council Act and the National Broadcasting Commission Act that is currently before the legislative arm to have more control over the press but the bills have expressed pushbacks from many civil society organizations and media veterans who accused the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) of suppressing freedom of expression and clandestinely using Mohammed to bring back the infamous Decree 4 of 1984, enacted during his days as Nigeria’s military ruler.

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Buhari Never Honoured Anyone The Way Tinubu Did To Him — Shehu Sani

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Former senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, stated that while he was alive, late President Muhammadu Buhari never paid tribute to anyone in the same way President Bola Tinubu did for him.

He mentioned that Tinubu declared a public holiday on the day of Buhari’s funeral, personally attended the burial, and also renamed a federal institution in Buhari’s honour, among other gestures.

Sani referred to these actions as extraordinary and worthy of recognition.

He took to X to outline the several ways Tinubu showed respect to his predecessor.

These actions included declaring a public holiday, being physically present at Buhari’s burial, visiting his family, holding a Federal Executive Council meeting in his memory, and renaming a university to commemorate him.

The President physically attended the burial of Buhari, met with his family, declared a public holiday, held a FEC meeting in his honor and renamed a university to immortalise him.

Something even the late President never did to others. And yet they said he is ‘exploiting the death of Buhari’.

What would they have said if he had done none of the above? Politics is something else, the senator tweeted.

The post continued to draw reactions, with over 1,000 likes recorded at the time this report was made.

Sani’s statement came amid increasing political discourse regarding Tinubu’s actions following Buhari’s death, especially from opposition groups.

His remarks appeared to be a direct response to criticisms from parties such as the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which accused Tinubu’s administration of leveraging Buhari’s death for image-boosting.

Presidential media aide, Sunday Dare, dismissed ADC’s claims, describing them as nothing but an opportunistic exercise in manufactured outrage.

He pointed out the irony of the same party accusing Tinubu of politicising Buhari’s passing while also trying to gain attention by speaking ill of the late president.

Their latest press release alleging that President Tinubu’s government is ‘exploiting’ the passing of former President Muhammadu Buhari for political gain is not only dishonest.

It is an insult to millions of Nigerians who genuinely mourned the loss of a statesman, and who watched the State Burial accorded Buhari with solemn respect and dignity, he said.

He added that the funeral was held with full honours appropriate for a former leader, and witnessed by dignitaries worldwide, with millions following on various media platforms.

According to him, Tinubu is not chasing superficial popularity but rather letting his growing accomplishments speak louder than the distractions posed by groups like the ADC.

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Court Jails Gospel Singer Moses Otitoju, Eight Others For Cybercrime

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The Federal High Court in Ilorin, Kwara State, has sentenced Moses Otitoju, a self-proclaimed gospel singer, and eight others to prison for crimes linked to cybercrime, conspiracy, and misuse of funds.

Otitoju was sentenced along with Ayodele Joseph, Adeoye Joseph, and Abubakar Abdulmalik, all charged with similar offences by the anti-corruption agency.

The charges were filed by the Ilorin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

According to a statement issued Friday by Dele Oyewale, Head of Media and Publicity at the EFCC, the 31-year-old gospel singer from Iyamoye in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State was sentenced to six months in prison by Justice Abimbola Awogboro without the option to pay a fine.

Otitoju was convicted for keeping over N8.4 million in his bank account, which was traced to illegal activities.

One of the charges read, “That you, Otitoju Moses Sesan, sometime between October 2024 and December 2025, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did retain control of the gross sum of N8,404,339 in your account, being proceeds of criminal conduct, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 17(a) and (b) of the EFCC Act, 2004.”

Ayodele, who had N243,750 in his account, received an eight-month jail sentence without an option of fine.

His Tecno 19 phone was confiscated by order of the court and handed over to the Federal Government.

Adeoye, a native of Okene LGA in Kogi State, was also sentenced to eight months without the option of a fine.

He forfeited $220, an iPhone 13, and a Tecno Pop 9 phone to the Federal Government.

Abubakar was handed a six-month prison term. His iPhone 16 and Samsung S10 were also ordered forfeited to the Federal Government.

EFCC prosecutors Aliyu Adebayo, Sesan Ola, Rashidat Alao, and Mustapha Kaigama led the cases, presenting statements, exhibits, and recovered funds as evidence, all of which were admitted in court.

In another case, Justices Haleema Saleeman and Sulaiman Akanbi of the Kwara State High Court found Emeka Achi, Isaac Oluwafemi, Afolabi Olatoye, Zubeiru Zubeiru Junior, and Abdulkadir Taofeek guilty of cybercrime and diversion of funds.

Justice Akanbi sentenced Abdulkadir to three years in prison with an option to pay a N500,000 fine, and ordered that N800,000, an iPhone 14 Pro Max, and a Samsung phone be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

Justice Saleeman sentenced Emeka, Isaac, and Afolabi to six months in jail each, with the option to pay N100,000 as a fine.

In addition, Emeka was ordered to repay N3.35 million within three months and report to the EFCC every two weeks alongside his parents until full payment is made.

Tunde Oyekola

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BIG STORY

Kogi University Lecturer Dies During Sex Romp In Hotel Room With 200-Level Student

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A senior lecturer at Kogi State University, Anyigba, named Dr. Olabode Abimbola Ibikunle, reportedly died in a hotel room following a sexual encounter with a 22-year-old student in her second year.

It was reported that the event happened on Tuesday, July 15, and the police at Anyigba were alerted shortly after. The student involved was taken into custody for questioning.

The lecturer, known across the university for his strict approach, was allegedly infamous for taking advantage of female students in return for academic favours.

Sources claim Dr. Ibikunle, who was married with children, had booked a room in a hotel alongside the student, who is studying Social Studies Education.

According to those familiar with the situation, the lecturer consumed several energy drinks prior to the incident, presumably in anticipation of vigorous activity.

Unfortunately, the lecturer collapsed and passed away during the act.

The Kogi State Police Command verified the incident to SaharaReporters on Friday, labeling it as unfortunate.

In a statement to SaharaReporters, the Command’s spokesperson, SP William Ovye Aya, stated that the student had been moved to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for deeper inquiry and potential charges.

Aya explained: “The report was received on July 16, but the unfortunate incident happened on July 15, 2025. It was the manager of the hotel (name not disclosed), who came to the police station at Anyigba and reported about his guest, the lecturer who had lodged in their facility with a 22-year-old 200-level student, 22 years old, named Gloria Samuel.

“According to the manager, the girl on that fateful day rushed to the reception and complained that the lecturer took her to the hotel, and after they had sex, the man slumped.

“So the manager rushed and informed the DPO, and the DPO rushed to the scene, and they moved the man to the hospital. On arrival, a doctor on duty confirmed the lecturer’s death.

“So the girl in question has been transferred from Anyigba Police Division to the State CID for further investigation and prosecution. An autopsy has been conducted, but right now I don’t know whether the result of the autopsy is out because I haven’t spoken with the SCID.”

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