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To help parents minimize the financial burden of school fees as schools reopen for a new term, Stanbic IBTC Bank, a member of Stanbic IBTC Holdings, has encouraged parents to take advantage of its bouquet of payment solutions.

Stanbic IBTC Bank listed its educational payment solutions to include, Short Term Loans, Salary Advance (SALAD) for salaried workers as well as its Credit Cards that parents can take advantage of to pay the school fees of their children/wards without negatively impacting the family income. The bank said its prepaid cards are available to load pocket money for children/wards while the credit cards, which currently offer a 55-day interest moratorium, can be used to seamlessly pay school fees. The school fees payment solutions underline the importance the financial institution attaches to education, it added.

Executive Director, Personal and Business Banking, Stanbic IBTC, Mr. Babatunde Macaulay, said the educational development of children is the key to unlocking a prosperous future for the family and the bank is desirous to offer the necessary assistance to parents/guardians to ensure they bequeath their children this important legacy. “Stanbic IBTC understands the pivotal role education can play in transforming a society, which is why we have developed these products tailored to the needs of our customers as they strive to provide quality education for their children/wards,” Macaulay said.

“Stanbic IBTC, will continue to develop products and services to support the attainment of quality education. The school fees loan is a fast, simple and convenient way by which customers can meet their short term financial obligations to educate their children. And the repayment terms are very convenient” he added.

Other benefits of the school fees loans, according to Macaulay, include low interest rates, access to a revolving line of credit, flexible repayment terms, and the opportunity to access credit up to 100% of the customer’s income. With schools resuming for a new term, the school fees loans will help to alleviate the financial burden parents and guardians may face in paying school fees.

On how to access the products, Macaulay said the beneficiary must be a salary account holder with Stanbic IBTC Bank after which the customer can walk into any branch of the bank and apply for any of the loans in a few easy steps. The application is then processed within one week and the customer is contacted with feedback.

“Stanbic IBTC Bank will continue to leverage the expertise of the Stanbic IBTC Group to provide services and develop products that address the specific needs of our customers,” Macaulay said.

Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, a member of Standard Bank Group, is a full service financial services group with a clear focus on three main business pillars – Corporate and Investment Banking, Personal and Business Banking and Wealth Management. Standard Bank Group is the largest African bank by assets. It is rooted in Africa with strategic representation in 20 countries on the African continent, including South Africa. Standard Bank has been in operation for 153 years and is focused on building first-class, on-the-ground financial services organisations in chosen countries in Africa and connecting other selected emerging markets to Africa and to each other, applying sector expertise, particularly in natural resources, globally.

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JUST IN: 114 Released #EndBadGovernance Protesters Arrive Presidential Villa

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One hundred and fourteen #EndBadGovernance protesters, including minors and adults acquitted by the Federal High Court in Abuja, have arrived at the Presidential Villa.

The protesters, initially arraigned by the Police Force, were released following a court ruling by Justice Obiora Egwatu.

The case was dismissed at the request of the Attorney General of the Federation (“AGF”), Lateef Fagbemi.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is set to officially receive the released protesters.

They will then be handed over to their respective Governors, specifically Uba Sani of Kaduna and Abba Yusuf of Kano.

Ministers present at the State House Auditorium in Abuja for the reception include: Tunji Alausa (“Minister of Education”); Nentawe Yilwatda (“Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction”); Balarabe Lawal (“Minister of Environment”) and Tanko Sununu (“Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction”).

Also, Senior Special Assistant on Community Engagement for the Northwest, Abdullahi Yakasai, is in attendance.

Other dignitaries present are Deputy Senate President Jubrin Barau and Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Abubakar Bichi.

 

More to come…

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BREAKING: Nigeria’s National Grid Collapses Again, 10th Time In 2024

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Nigeria’s national grid has collapsed again for the 10th time in 2024.

This was revealed by the National grid’s X handle.

This revelation was made after several Nigerians complained of a sudden disappearance of power supply in their houses.

 

More to come…

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Lagos Muslim Cleric Bags Life Jail For Raping 14-Yr-Old Girl Inside Mosque

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Alani Rafiu, a Muslim cleric, has been sentenced to life imprisonment by an Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court for raping a 14-year-old girl inside a mosque.

Justice Rahman Oshodi delivered the verdict on Monday, after finding Rafiu guilty of child defilement. The cleric was arraigned on October 28, 2021, for having sexual intercourse with the teenager, but pleaded not guilty, leading to a trial.

During the trial, the prosecution, led by B. Boye, presented three witnesses, including the victim, who testified against Rafiu. The prosecution provided compelling evidence, including the victim’s testimony and medical reports, which revealed a calculated pattern of predatory behavior by the cleric.

Justice Oshodi emphasized that Rafiu’s actions were particularly egregious due to his position of trust as a religious instructor and family friend.

The judge stated that the gravity of the offence could not be overstated, as Rafiu exploited the victim’s vulnerability and betrayed the trust placed in him.

“The gravity of your offence cannot be overstated. You betrayed the trust placed in you as a religious instructor and family friend.

“Instead of nurturing and protecting a vulnerable 14-year-old child entrusted to your spiritual care, you repeatedly sexually abused her in a place of worship.

“This conduct is criminal and represents a profound violation of secular and religious principles,” he said.

Oshodi further held that the evidence revealed a calculated pattern of predatory behaviour, as the convict deliberately isolated the child, exploited her vulnerability, and bought her silence with money.

“The evidence revealed a calculated pattern of predatory behaviour. You deliberately isolated the child, exploited her vulnerability, and bought her silence with money.

“The physical and psychological trauma inflicted on this young girl is immeasurable. At an age when she should have been focused on her education and development, she was subjected to experiences that no child should endure,” the judge held.

Oshodi also stated that having carefully considered all the evidence before the court, there was compelling and consistent proof establishing that the prosecutrix was indeed a child below the age of 18 years at the time of the alleged offence in May 2021.

He said the evidence manifested through multiple sources.

Oshodi said, “When the prosecutrix testified before this court, she stated that she was 15 years old and 14 when the alleged incident occurred.

“Notably, she was still attending primary school then, explicitly saying she was in Primary 3.

“The prosecutrix’s educational level, being in Primary 3, at the time of her testimony, while not determinative of age, provides supporting circumstantial evidence consistent with her being a young teenager rather than an adult.

“The consistency of these multiple sources of evidence – the police and guardian testimony, the prosecutrix’s evidence, and circumstantial evidence – all converge to establish beyond reasonable doubt that the prosecutrix was 14 years old at the time of the alleged offence in May 2021.

“The defence led no evidence to contradict these age-related facts, nor was the prosecutrix’s age challenged during cross-examination of any of the prosecution witnesses”.

The judge said the prosecutrix provided a detailed, firsthand account of sexual intercourse with the convict.

“Her testimony was specific. She offered a detailed sequential account of the sexual assault. She testified that at the mosque (where the convict, whom she referred to as Alfa), isolated her. He would then lock the door, remove her underwear, and instruct her to lie on the floor.

“She explicitly stated that Rafiu would then insert his penis into her vagina. When asked about frequency, she confirmed this occurred three times.

“She further testified that these acts would result in bleeding, which the convict would have her clean with a handkerchief. Afterwards, he would instruct her to put her underwear back on before taking her outside,” he said.

According to Oshodi, this testimony provides a direct account of penile-vaginal penetration, with specific details about the sequence of events, location, frequency, and aftermath of the sexual acts.

“The prosecutrix maintained during cross-examination that this occurred three times, explicitly stating, “He had sex with me three times.”

The judge noted that the prosecutrix testimony remained consistent even when challenged about the timeframe, clarifying that these incidents occurred.

He said the medical evidence further strengthened the evidence of sexual intercourse. It reports that the transection found in the prosecutrix’s vagina was “consistent with forceful penetrative injury to the [prosecutrix’s] anus and vagina”.

Before passing down the verdict, Oshodi said, “What makes your conduct particularly egregious is your abuse of religious authority and the sacred space of a mosque to perpetrate these violations.

“Places of worship should be sanctuaries of safety and spiritual growth, not venues for the exploitation of children.

“The medical evidence and the prosecutrix’s testimony paint a disturbing picture of the physical harm you caused.

The bleeding she experienced and your callous provision of a handkerchief to clean up the evidence of your abuse demonstrate a shocking disregard for her well-being.

“This court must protect children from sexual predators and send a clear message that such conduct will be met with the full force of the law.

“The sentence must reflect society’s abhorrence of child sexual abuse and serve as a deterrent to others who might contemplate similar crimes.

“Therefore, I now sentence you to life imprisonment by section 137 of the Criminal Law. Furthermore, under sections 33 and 38 of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency Law, 2021, I order that you be registered as a sex offender in the Sex Offenders Register maintained by the Lagos State Government,” he held.

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