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Onyeama Blasts South Africa’s Foreign Minister Over Satanic Comments On Nigerians

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5 years ago

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Nigerian Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeama has criticized his South African counterpart, Naledi Pandor’s comments that many Nigerians in South Africa indulge in criminal acts.

“It is precisely this kind of outrageous stigmatization of a people from senior government officials that fuels xenophobia and embolden criminals,” Onyeama tweeted on Friday.

Pandor had in an interview with South African television station eNCA, on Thursday, said many Nigerians resident in South Africa are “drug dealers”, adding that many others are also involved in “human trafficking and many other cases of abuse of our practices.”

Nigerian House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila has also rejected the claims, stating that South Africa was trying to “change the true narrative” of the xenophobic attacks in South Africa as a conflict between “gangs fighting for turf.”

“Unless it is the position of the South African Government that all Nigerians living in South Africa are gangsters and criminals, we demand that they reject these claims without equivocation,” Gbajabiamila said in a press conference on Friday.

Many Nigerians work in South Africa, but they are sometimes stereotyped as criminals in the country with some of the highest rates of domestic violence and five times the average global femicide rate.

Pandor’s remark came during the worsening diplomatic relations between the two African countries. Nigerians in South Africa have suffered xenophobic attacks in recent months. But Nigeria said it was not looking to cut ties with South Africa.

However, the bigger anti-foreigner violence broke out on Monday and over 10 persons have been killed and 400 arrests made. Police in the country have yet to pinpoint what triggered the violence.

Pandor had earlier described the anti-migrants violence sentiments as Afrophobia – fear or dislike of Africans, but the South Africa’s police minister Bheki Cele said that attacks were acts of “criminality” and not xenophobic.

South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa shared a different sentiment. He acknowledged that there were anti-foreigner sentiments in the country.

Attacks on foreign-owned shops have become regular occurrences that many have attributed to frustration with the country’s high unemployment rate, which sits at about 28 percent.

Nigerians launched what appeared to be reprisals against South African affiliated businesses in several cities across the country. Police said dozens were arrested for looting and some were arraigned on Thursday.

The Nigerian government has repeatedly condemned the reprisals, which it insisted could only hurt Nigerians working in the affected firms.

The Nigerian foreign ministry said Air Peace, a commercial airline, had offered to send an aircraft to evacuate nationals who were willing to return, “free of charge”. (The Guardian)

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BIG STORY

Alleged N110bn Fraud: Court Adjourns Yahaya Bello, Other’s Bail Ruling To December 10

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3 hours ago

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November 27, 2024

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The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned to December 10 for a ruling on the bail application by the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, and two others.

Bello had pleaded not guilty to the 16-count charges brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The former governor, along with Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, are being prosecuted as the 1st to 3rd defendants, respectively, in a fresh N110bn 16-count charge instituted against them by the EFCC.

Bello, the 1st defendant, vehemently denied the allegations before Justice Maryanne Anenih as they were read out to them.

After taking their plea, the Defendant’s Counsel, Joseph Daudu, moved an application for bail.

However, the EFCC Counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, opposed the application, arguing that it had expired in October.

Clarifying the issue, the Defendant’s Counsel stated that the only relevant application before the Court was the motion for bail in respect of the first defendant, which was filed on November 22.

Relying on all the paragraphs of the affidavit, he added that the bail application was also supported with a written address.

Justice Anenih ordered that the defendants be remanded in the custody of the EFCC.

The EFCC had filed an N110bn alleged fraud suit against the former governor.

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BIG STORY

JUST IN: Court Remands Yahaya Bello In EFCC Custody Amid Alleged N110bn Fraud Case

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5 hours ago

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November 27, 2024

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The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has remanded Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi, in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Bello was arraigned on a 16-count charge related to alleged money laundering on Wednesday.

He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

 

More to come…

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First Phase Of 10,800-Bed Hostel In LASU Ready — Tokunbo Wahab

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5 hours ago

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November 27, 2024

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The first phase of a 10,800-bed hostel project at the Lagos State University (LASU) is now ready for inauguration, according to Tokunbo Wahab, former special adviser to the governor on education.

Wahab, who is now commissioner for environment and water resources in Lagos, describes the project as ambitious and transformative.

“ It remains one of the most ambitious and transformative projects undertaken during my time as the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education,” he wrote on X.

“It was executed through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model under a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) arrangement which involves seven reputable investors.”

Wahab commended Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos governor, for his leadership and continuous support.

“Proud of the work done here and to have been a part of this special one,” he added.

“Through the grace of God and the unwavering support and the dedication of the Lagos State Office of Public-Private Partnerships, the relentless efforts of the management staff of LASU, led by Vice Chancellor Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, and the cooperation of other key stakeholders, the first phase of this landmark project has now been completed.”

Wahab emphasized that the project showcases the state government’s commitment to leveraging public-private partnerships to address critical infrastructure needs in the education sector.

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