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Lagos Information Commissioner, Arise TV, Mr Macaroni, Iyabo Ojo, Others Honored At Bodex’s Social Media Hangout Season II [PHOTOS]

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At a time when the Nigerian government’s ban of Twitter and decision to prosecute those who continue using the platform has continued to cause uproar in the country, the 2nd edition of the annual Bodex social media hangout this year focused on the theme ‘Digital media: freedom of internet use and the rights of the citizens.

CEO of Bodex media and convener of the event, Florence Bodex Hungbo, said the theme of this year’s Social Media Hangout came long before the Twitter ban and she felt God was using her to pass across a message through the theme.

No doubt the use of the internet has opened job opportunities for several Nigerian youths and given voice to the voiceless at a time when technology is turning the world into a global village so, suspending any of the media platforms is as good as shutting us out of the world as that’s one of the major platforms to connect with the world

Bodex said she observed that journalists, content creators et media personalities, in general, are not being treated well in Nigeria hence the need for this gathering to create more awareness. It’s was high time media personalities et content creators started having their own voices and avenues where they can come together and strategize

Bodex assured that the social media hangout was a platform to promote true journalism and reorientate online publishers on how best to use the internet in nation-building and offline publishers on how best to source, investigate and report genuine news. She assured that there will be more innovations to the event each year with amazing sponsors who believe media is the best way to be out there be it product or person

“This event has come to stay as it celebrates the works that media personalities, content creators et all do across Nigeria. I am a PR consultant and also a media person so, I called on my colleagues to put this event together to promote one another especially those who want to be in the news for the right reasons. I love to create a very good relationship with people I come across and the result is what you are seeing with the class of people present here today

She hinted that there is still hope for traditional media platforms only if they are able to look for innovative ways to merge social and traditional media to achieve results. “There is still hope for traditional media. What we need to do is to have a road map that can enable us to co-exist. We need to find out what others do traditionally, and what others do digitally for us to be able to coexist and be trendy. They can be merged together and we will be able to still sell our news without problems.”

The Lagos State Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, CityPeople group CEO, Seye Kehinde, Charles Kalu of, Silverbird and Rhythm’s national head of news and current affairs, Dr Reuben Abati of AriseTv, Mr Jaiye Opayemi, Madam Ify Oyengbule, Madam Kikelomo Atanda-Owo, Mr Macaroni, Miss Ariyike, Mr Ezekiel Solesi, Tosin Ajibade, Moji Delano, Lanre Basamta, Olatunji Samuel and lots more were speakers and moderators for the 2021 edition of the Social Media hangout.

Bodex media also honored His Excellency Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu (best tech-friendly man of the year award), the Commissioner for information and strategy Mr Gbenga Omotoso (best government information manager of the year award), Mr Macaroni (best use of social media in entertainment), Mr Dotun of eagle online (best political blog award) Mr Charles Kalu (best brand manager of the year award) Kiekie (best social media use for advert), Fatuntele Lukmon Tunde (King of Twitter Trend), Yomi Screams (Best Facebook manager) Silverbird Television (Best entertainment Tv), AriseTv (Best use of social media in crisis), Iyabo Ojo (Most creative TikTok Queen)

Speaking on the essence of the event, which continues to draw several entertainers and society bigwigs to its fold, the convener said, “The aim is to bring under one umbrella the producers, who are publishers of news and the consumers, who are the fans either as followers and readers and other stakeholders to co-exist. “This initiative will enable all stakeholders to connect, network, share and have fun. More of this kind of interaction can bring sanity to our youths by creating more awareness with a constant reminder of the benefit of using social strengths in nation-building.”

There were awesome performances by Omobaba the comedian, Segun brown, Princephellar, Lavotal entertainment, Ewi, lotto-banks, Badagry dancers, and others. The wow factors were exceptional and we home to see you next year.

BIG STORY

JUST IN: EFCC To Arraign Former CBN Governor Emefiele On Fresh Charge, Says He Printed N684.5m Notes With N18.9bn

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a new indictment at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory against the embattled former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.

Emefiele was charged by the EFCC with authorising the printing of N684,590,000, or N18.96 billion.

The EFCC claimed in the charge sheets released on Tuesday that Emefiele violated the law while carrying out the former President Muhammadu Buhari’s naira swap programme with the intention of hurting the general public.

The anti-graft agency also accused Emefiele of unlawfully approving the withdrawal of N124.8 billion from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.

The document dated April 2, 2024, and marked Suit No: CR/264/2024, was filed by EFCC’s top prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN revealed that Emefiele will be arraigned on a new four-count charge before Justice Hamza Muazu bordering on disobeying the law to punish Nigerians, iilegal printing of money, abuse of office, among others.

Counts one to four of the charge, read, “STATEMENT OF OFFENCE: Public Servant disobeying direction of law with intent to cause injury to the public contrary to and punishable under Section 123 of the Penal Code Law, Cap. 89 Laws of the Federation, 1990.

“PARTICULARS OF THE OFFENCE: That you GODWIN IFEANYI EMEFIELE between the 19th day of October 2022 and 5th March 2023 in Abuja, knowingly disobeyed the direction of Section 19 of the CBN Act, 2007, by approving the printing of N375,520,000.00 pieces of colour swapped N1, 000, at the total cost of N11,052, 068,062 without the recommendation of the Board of Central Bank and the strict approval of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria which conduct of yours caused injury to the public and you thereby committed an offence.”

“COUNT 2: “That you, GODWIN IFEANYI EMEFIELE, between the 19th of October 2022 and 5th March 2023 in Abuja, knowingly disobeyed the direction of Section 19 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007, by approving the printing of 172,000,000 pieces of colour swapped N500 (Five Hundred Naira) Notes, at the total cost of N4, 471,066,040 without the recommendation of the Board of Central Bank and the strict approval of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria which conduct of yours caused injury to the public and you thereby committed an offence.

“COUNT 3: “That you GODWIN IFEANYI EMEFIELE between the 19th day of October 2022 and 5th March 2023 in Abuja, knowingly disobeyed the direction of Section 19 of the CBN Act, 2007, by approving the printing of 137,070,000 pieces of colour swapped N200 (Two Hundred Naira) Note, at the total cost of N3, 441, 005, 280 without the recommendation of the Board of Central Bank and the strict approval of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria which conduct of yours caused injury to the public and you thereby committed an offence.”

“COUNT 4: “That you, GODWIN IFEANYI EMEFIELE, on or about the 7th day of October 2020, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, knowingly disobeyed the direction of Section 80 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended), by approving the withdrawal of the total sum of N124, 860, 227, 865.16 from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation in a manner not prescribed by the National Assembly, which conduct of yours caused injury to the public and you thereby committed an offence.”

Recall that Emefiele was on November 18, 2023, arraigned before the court on six counts of procurement fraud, in what is the most high-profile corruption case under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He was also accused of abusing his office by approving a contract for the acquisition of 43 vehicles totalling N1.2 billion from 2018 to 2020.

On Monday, April 8, 2024, the EFCC arraigned the former banker alongside one Henry Omoile before Justice R.A. Oshodi of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos for an alleged $4.5bn and N2.8bn fraud.

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BIG STORY

UNN Suspends, Probes Lecturer For ‘Attempting To Sexually Assault’ Student

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A lecturer known as Mfonobong Udoudom has been suspended by the University of Nigeria (UNN) for what it called an “inappropriate affair” with a student.

Viral videos surfaced on Tuesday showing the senior lecturer of general studies pacing around his office in his pants, looking visibly alarmed.

Sources at the university said that the lecturer was “caught pants down attempting to have sex with a married female student of the school.”

According to the sources, Udoudom had a long-standing custom of “passing female students only after sleeping with them.”

He was accused of forcing a female student to understand that she would fail his course unless she agreed to have sex with him.

One of the sources, under anonymity, said the female student planned with her husband to entrap the lecturer while working with UNN security and other students.

The student source further said the security agents forcefully broke into his office and caught the lecturer “in action.”.

“It was planned out with her husband and security agents at the school. The female was made to approach the lecturer to offer him money in order to scale through his course. He refused and insisted he needed to have sexual intercourse with her in his office,” the source said.

“When the lady succumbed to his demands and asked him to undress, he was caught wearing only boxers.”

In the now-viral footage, a witness is heard saying, “We have been following this case from day one. We have all the chats, voice notes, video calls, and every conversation he had with the female student.”.

When contacted, UNN management told TheCable that Udoudom has now been suspended.

Okwun Omeaku, UNN’s acting media spokesperson, said the senior lecturer will be made to face the staff disciplinary panel.

“The indefinite suspension is with immediate effect pending the outcome of a disciplinary panel constituted by the university to investigate the incident,” he said.

“UNN has a zero tolerance for sexual misconduct involving our staff and students.

“We are committed to protecting our students from any form of abuse and exploitation. The university management will not hesitate to punish Mr. Mfonobong David Udoudom according to our rules if he is found guilty.”

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Yahaya Bello Took $720k From State Treasury To Pay His Child’s School Fees — EFCC Chairman Olukoyede

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chairman, Ola Olukoyede, claims that Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi, took out $720,000 to cover his child’s upfront school fees.

Olukoyede made this known in Abuja on Tuesday during an interactive session with media executives.

The head of EFCC claimed that the former governor of Kogi transferred funds to a bureau de change operator and utilised them to pay his child’s school fees ahead of time.

Olukoyede added that Bello made the payment in anticipation that his tenure was gradually coming to an end.

“A sitting governor, because he knew he was leaving office, moved money directly from the government to bureau de change and used it to pay his child’s school fee in advance,” the EFCC boss said.

“Over $720,000 in anticipation that he was going to leave the government house. In a poor state like Kogi, you want me to close my eyes under the guise of ‘I’m being used’. Used by who? At this stage of my life.”

Olukoyede said he inherited the case file of the former Kogi governor, noting that he did not initiate the investigation against Bello.

On April 17, EFCC operatives laid siege on Bello’s residence in Abuja to arrest him over alleged N80 billion fraud.

While the EFCC operatives were at Bello’s residence, Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi, came to visit his predecessor.

Shortly after Ododo departed from the residence, the EFCC operatives also left the house.

Bello was reportedly rescued by Ododo when he departed his residence located in the Wuse Zone 4 district of Abuja.

Subsequently, the anti-graft agency declared the former governor wanted.

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has also placed Bello on a watchlist.

The anti-graft agency alleged that Bello, alongside Alli Bello, chief of staff to Ododo; and one Daudu Suleiman, diverted about N80.2 billion belonging to the Kogi government.

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