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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and other anti-graft agencies have been called upon to prosecute some labor leaders who have cases to answer.

This call was made by an Ex-Officio of the Oyo state Council of the Trade Union Congress(TUC), who is also a former chairman of the union in the state, Comrade Andrew Emelieze.

''The EFCC, ICPC and other anti-corruption agencies should prosecute some labor leaders, such as those of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria for corruption, since the cases have been reported to them. There is massive corruption in these unions; they deduct outrageous amounts as check off dues from workers' salaries and there is nothing to show for it. All those who were invited, detained and released should be charged in court.''

''So many workers have promotion arrears of between 6 months and three years, they have not been paid and these unions are doing nothing about this. The EFCC AND others should make their findings public and charge the cases to court. These cases should not be swept under the carpet,'' Comrade Emelieze warned.

The decision of the Federal Government to implement the Stephen Oronsaye report would not reduce the costs of governance.

This assertion was made recently by the chairman of the Oyo state council of the Trade Union Congress(TUC), Comrade Emmanuel Ogundiran.

''The bifurcation and the so-called proliferation of appointments gave rise to the Stephen Oronsaye report. Have those conditions changed? Are those issues no longer there? If they think that the implementation of the report would reduce the costs of governance, they are looking at the worn place.''

''We have always asked, why are civil servants the first to be sacrificed in almost every situation? We are not against the implementation of the Oronsaye report or any reform, but the question is, will it have a meaningful impact on reducing the cost of governance? We also want to ask politicians what has happened to the retinue of aides of political office holders and the proliferation of political appointees. What have they done to them? And if they implement the report, all we are saying is that there should be no job loss and whoever that would be displaced by retirement, sacking or whatever, should be paid immediately if they leave service. ''

''But if that should be the case, what happens when we have a full Minister and a Minister of state for one Ministry, what are they ministering? All these should be considered holistically. ''What we are telling our political leaders is that they should first remove the log in their eyes before removing the speck from the eyes of others. They are killing the civil service by the day. Good luck to them with the implementation,''Comrade Ogundiran concluded.

1 Timothy 4 : 12-16

Regardles of your age or how insignificant you are, you can be a positive influence for the Lord.
12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

The Non-Academic Staff Union OF Allied and Education Institutions(NASU) University College Hospital(UCH)branch, Ibadan, Nigeria has declared that its members are yet to be paid hazard allowance as resident doctors.

This Declaration was made by the chairman of the union in the University College Hospital(UCH)branch Ibadan, Nigeria, Comrade Kehinde Abiona.
''Our union and the resident doctors have common demands, we are yet to be paid hazard allowance and  there is a need to improve health services. However, I would urge our members to remain calm and we should continue to work with management to ensure that our members do not suffer. I can only advise my members to remain calm, calculative and composed, '' Comrade Abiona stated.
The Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors(NARD) had given  the Federal Government a two-week ultimatum to meet its demands or it would proceed on an indefinite strike.

Panama came into being in 9103 as a breakaway province of Colombia.
General Manuel Noriega became the country's leader after Brigadier Omar Torrijos was taken out in controversial circumstances that were trailed by conspiracy theories.
Leadership at that point in Panama's history revolved around subversion of the opposition, blackmail and intimidation of the electorate and rigging of elections.
However, most countries of the world have since realized, understood and keyed into technical skills and competences as credible and reliable methods to build and sustain leadership and other positions at different levels of government.
Sadly, leadership examples in Nigeria suggest that Gen. Noriega is a role model.
Knowledge and experience have proven to be among the crucial indices to economic and political development of any nation.
In Gen. Noreiga's time, Panama was a  vast criminal empire where lawlessness, crime, all forms of criminality and evil reigned supreme.
Several countries having the desire to prosper economically and politically have since embraced methods hinged on strategic leadership and leadership excellence to handle problematic situations that have threatened their stability and peaceful existence.
Note-The localized network of evil and diabolism has brought along the internalization of the acts of inhabitants of the Biblical Sodom and Gomorah, in addition to the dismal performances of pupils and students in examinations.
Of course, parents, guardians, teachers and the government are to blame for this worrisome development.

 

 GRAND RAPIDS – A federal jury today convicted two men charged in connection with a conspiracy to kidnap the Governor of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer.

          Adam Fox, of Wyoming, Michigan, and Barry Croft Jr., of Bear, Delaware, were found guilty of conspiracy to kidnap the governor and conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction against persons or property. Croft was additionally convicted of knowingly possessing an unregistered destructive device, specifically an improvised explosive wrapped in pennies for shrapnel.

          According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Fox and Croft intended to kidnap Governor Whitmer from her vacation cottage near Elk Rapids, Michigan and use the destructive devices to facilitate their plot by harming and hindering the governor’s security detail and any responding law enforcement officers.

          “Today’s verdict confirms this plot was very real and very dangerous,” said former U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge for the Western District of Michigan, appointed to oversee the trial. “These men posed a threat not only to the Governor personally but also to bystanders. No elected leader should have to contend with what Governor Whitmer faced here. She deserves to live in safety, not in fear, just like everyone else in our State. All of our elected leaders deserve that, and the Justice Department will not tolerate violent extremist plots of this nature seeking to undermine our democracy”

          “These defendants believed their anti-government views justified violence,” said Special Agent in Charge James A. Tarasca of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office. “Today’s verdict sends a clear message that they were wrong in their assessment. Violence is never the answer. The FBI will continue to investigate anyone who seeks to engage in violence in furtherance of any ideological cause and hold them accountable.”

          Co-conspirator Ty Garbin was sentenced to six years in prison in August 2021 after pleading guilty to the original indictment charging him with conspiracy to kidnap Governor Whitmer. Co-defendant Kaleb James Franks also pleaded guilty to the conspiracy to kidnap charge in February 2022 and is awaiting sentencing. Co-defendants Daniel Joseph Harris and Brandon Michael-Ray Caserta were acquitted of charges at trial earlier this year.

          The kidnapping conspiracy and the conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction are punishable by up to life in prison. Possession of an unregistered destructive device and the possession of an unregistered short barrel rifle are each punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The presiding judge, Judge Robert Jonker, will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

          The FBI’s Detroit Field Office investigated the case with valuable assistance provided by the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office and the Joint Terrorism Task Force, including Michigan State Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

          Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nils Kessler and Chris O’Connor conducted this retrial with valuable assistance provided by Trial Attorneys Justin Sher and Taryn Meeks of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.

Source-Federal Bureau of Investigation

Religious leaders must avoid scriptural misinformation and misinterpretation, most especially in the areas that discriminate, marginalize and hurt womanhood.
Avoid painting the girl child as half a male counterpart as well as avoid Female Genital Mutilation(FGM).
Develop the mental capacity of the girl child on par with their female counterparts.
Female children should be allowed to choose a career of their choice based on their God-given talents.
forms. Avoid minor weddings and other forms of abuse against the girl child. Every male orientation must change from perceiving women as objects of sex.
The focus must be on gender equity to avoid partriachal domination through such a policy that will allow women effective participation in all spheres of life.
Women must take the chance to lead and not live at the mercy of men(malevolence)but  believe in themselves to achieve any feat. The Holy Quran states that they must not tread a path of being suspicious of promiscuity and they must be able to assert meritorious authority when charged with responsibilities or positions of power, such as in the case of the Queen of Sheba, Bilqees.
''O wives of the Prophet, you are not like anyone among women. If you fear Allah , then do not be soft in speech [to men], lest he in whose heart is disease should covet, but speak with appropriate speech.''
Q27 VS. 30-36, ''Indeed, it is from Solomon, and indeed, it reads: 'In the name of Allah , the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful,Be not haughty with me but come to me in submission [as Muslims].She said, "O eminent ones, advise me in my affair. I would not decide a matter until you witness [for] me. They said, "We are men of strength and of great military might, but the command is yours, so see what you will command. She said, "Indeed kings - when they enter a city, they ruin it and render the honored of its people humbled. And thus do they do.  But indeed, I will send to them a gift and see with what [reply] the messengers will return. So when they came to Solomon, he said, "Do you provide me with wealth? But what Allah has given me is better than what He has given you. Rather, it is you who rejoice in your gift.''
The Challenges impeding Women from Occupying Leadership Positions
Women across nations face  several challenges but African countries particularly experience the following:
*Cultural bias favoring male children.
*Domestic violence-mentally, sexually, physically and emotionally by their husbands or partners(molestation, assault and battery to rape).
*Female child labor, abortion, prostitution, and female genital mutilation.
*Child marriage-According to official statistics, 43% of Nigerian girls become married before their 18th birthday and 17% before turning 15 albeit in the northern part of the country.
*Exorbitant Candidate Nomination Fees for Election.
Prof. Olagoke delivered this paper at a Public Function in Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria on Tuesday 23rd August, 2022

Everybody should do the right thing. First of all, every Nigerian of voting age should register and collect the Permanent Voters Card(PVC) and be ready to vote in the next elections.

I have said it before, and I am still saying it again, if I have my way, it should be made compulsory for every Nigerian, 18 and above, to register and collect their PVCs and afterwards vote and show evidence they voted in elections before they can carry transactions in banks and gain admissions into schools. But when you don't have PVCS, you may not be allowed access to privileges you ought to have access to as an eligible citizen.

This would encourage citizens to participate in our Democratic process actively, and it would make Nigerians take elections seriously. Our democracy would now have a positive outlook which would result in the emergence of competent and capable leaders.

The lack of interest in elections and voter apathy would now be a thing of the past. In addition, the Government to ensure free, fair and credible elections, devoid of violence. Consequently, everyone would now vote according to the dictates of his or her conscience.

When elections becomes violence free, this would encourage people to come out and vote in elections without fear. More importantly, let us all, whether Christians, Muslims or traditionalists, remember that truth is God and God is truth. Indeed, the only issue that can start healing the wounds of our country is Justice and Equity.

And as Christians and Muslims, with conscience, we must reasonably agree that it is justifiable to allow the South East to produce the next President in 2023. For several months and years I have been agitating for the Presidency to be zoned to the South-East. I am so happy that people of integrity like former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Afenifere leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, both of them, whom I believe, truly love Nigeria.

People with conscience have also subscribe to this position. God will begin to release his miracles for Nigeria when justice is done, and Presidency moves to the south east. God is God of justice. An

d let it be known that we are all going to churches and mosques wasting our time when we are denying justice its cause.

Eze(Dr.) Anozie is the Ezeigbo, Ezechukwujiegosioluebube nala,Ibadan and Oyo state and Chairman Non-indigenous Traditional Heads, Oyo state

The administration of criminal justice is the motivation for democracy to thrive in several countries of the world.

However, in most states of Nigeria, the administration of justice seems to have been discarded as a result of the sharp practices by lawyers, Magistrates, Judges, those in the customary court and the entire support staff in the Judiciary.

Frivolous suits by litigants with the full consent of their counsels in addition to forum shopping is now the trend. Indeed, it is worrisome to note that judgments are now for sale while Those-in-Power have taken advantage of this defect to manipulate the justice system, taking over landed properities of an unspecified number of helpless Nigerians.

Without doubt the Judiciary and the legal profession urgently reuqire self-assessment and self-cleansing.

Those in the Judiciary ought to stop engaging in unwholesome practices, just as efforts must be geared towards ridding the legal profession of bad eggs, in order to restore public confidence in the administration of justice.

The expectation is that the legal profession shall in the nearest future blaze the trail in all human affairs.

Note- It is very obvious that all arms of government at all levels need overhauling for quality service delivery. A six month period for repositioning and reorientation is the way to go. Perhaps.

MINNEAPOLIS – A Rochester man has pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization., announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.

According to court documents, Muhammad Masood, 30, a licensed medical doctor in Pakistan, was formerly employed as a Research Coordinator at a medical clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, under an H-1B Visa. Between January 2020 and March 2020, Masood made several statements to others, including pledging his allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (“ISIS”) and its leader, and expressing his desire to travel to Syria to fight for ISIS. Masood also expressed his desire to conduct “lone wolf” terrorist attacks in the United States. On Feb. 21, 2020, Masood purchased a plane ticket from Chicago, Illinois to Amman, Jordan, and from there planned to travel to Syria. On March 16, 2020, Masood’s travel plans changed because Jordan closed its borders to incoming travel due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Masood then planned to fly from Minneapolis to Los Angeles to meet up with an individual who he believed would assist him with travel via cargo ship to deliver him to ISIS territory.

On March 19, 2020, Masood traveled from Rochester to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) to board a flight bound for Los Angeles, California. Upon arrival at MSP, Masood checked in for his flight and was subsequently arrested by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew R. Winter, and Dmitriy Slavin and Stephanie Sweeten of the National Security Division.

Source : FBI