The police in Lagos state have placed their personnel on red alert over threats of a planned terrorist attack in the state.
The commissioner of police in the state CP Abiodun Alabi urged officials of his command be remain proactive following threats of a possible attack on the city of excellence.
Nigerians in Lagos state have been asked to remain vigilant as police area commanders, DPOs are placed on red alert . Photo: Nigeria Police Force Source: Facebook
In a statement released on Sunday, by the spokesperson for the Lagos police command, Benjamin Hundeyin, the CP said the command is not unmindful of intelligence reports suggesting that Lagos State could be on the radar of some persons planning attacks across the country.
According to Hundeyin, CP Alabi has placed the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) of the command on high alert.
The statement read:
“Also placed on alert are all Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and Tactical Commanders, in a bid to ensure that any planned attack is promptly and decisively nibbed in the bud.
“The Command is also working closely with other sister security agencies to ensure that no person or group of persons succeeds in destabilising the peace and serenity enjoyed by the good people of Lagos State."
Hundeyin also urged all Lagosians not to be afraid but to remain vigilant as all human, material and operational resources had been fully and optimally deployed across the state.
He also assured that surveillance has been mounted across all towns bordering Lagos as persons either coming in or leaving the state are being monitored.
This he said is to ensure that there is no breach of the peace and security currently experienced across the state.
He added:
“Consequent upon the carefully laid down security plans and strategies, all residents of Lagos State are urged to go about their lawful duties without panic or fear.
“Lagos residents are equally enjoined to remain very vigilant and report suspicious movements and persons to security agencies."
Meanwhile.Nigeria had been described as a safe environment for all forms of investment despite the growing killings, kidnappings and activities of Boko Haram terrorists.
The description of the security situation in the country was given by the minister of information, culture and tourism, Lai Mohammed.
According to Lai Mohammed, oppositions across Nigeria are only giving wrong narratives to demarket the nation.
Former president Fidel Ramos. Photo: NOEL CELIS / AFP Source: AFP
Former Philippine president Fidel Ramos, who oversaw a rare period of steady growth and peace that won him the reputation as one of the country's most effective leaders ever, has died aged 94, officials said Sunday.
Known as "Steady Eddie" for his unflappable demeanour during the country's regular moments of upheaval, he was frequently pictured chewing unlit cigars as he guided the Philippines with a sure hand from 1992-1998.
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A career military man who never previously held elected office, his professorial conduct was unlike the bombastic image of many Filipino politicians.
He was also the first Protestant to win the top office in the overwhelmingly Catholic nation, despite opposition from some in the Church. He later made an aggressive push for family planning to rein in rapid population growth.
But like other top officials of his generation, Ramos played a role in the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos, which saw thousands killed and thousands more arbitrarily imprisoned.
"It is with great sorrow that we learn of the passing of former President Fidel V. Ramos," said Trixie Cruz-Angeles, press secretary for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, the son and namesake of the late dictator, who took office last month.
"He leaves behind a colorful legacy and a secure place in history for his participation in the great changes of our country, both as military officer and chief executive."
Ramos's family is expected to release a statement later Sunday. The cause of death has not been released.
The European Union delegation in the Philippines expressed its condolences, describing Ramos as a "dedicated statesman" and "pillar of democracy". A graduate of the prestigious West Point military academy in the United States, Ramos had a lengthy career in the armed forces, including combat against communist guerrillas, and was deployed in the Korean War as part of the Philippine contingent.
He was later commander of the paramilitary Philippine Constabulary -- the key institution that enforced the brutal repression of dissent after Marcos declared martial law in 1972.
Ramos's moment of truth came in February 1986, when popular outrage was hitting its peak over the murder of opposition leader Benigno Aquino and massive regime cheating in a snap election.
Sensing Marcos's weakness, a group of young military officers and their leader, defence secretary Juan Ponce Enrile, plotted to seize power but were found out.
Facing arrest, Enrile and his allies holed up in the military headquarters in Manila and appealed to the public to protect them from an imminent government attack.
Ramos joined their rebellion, withdrawing his support from Marcos and inspiring many others to rise up as well.
Soon, millions were massing in the streets for the peaceful "People Power" revolt that sent the dictator into exile and ushered in Corazon Aquino as president.
Aquino promptly appointed Ramos as military chief and then defence secretary in gratitude.
He would prove to be a crucial ally to Aquino as the military rebels who sought to topple Marcos soon turned their sights on her.
He led the loyalist forces that helped quash the coup attempts against her from 1986 to 1989.
When elections came in 1992, Aquino gave her endorsement to Ramos, which was crucial to him winning the presidency despite the opposition of influential Catholic Church figures.
As president, Ramos solved a crippling power crisis caused by years of under-investment in energy, and broke up cartels in telecommunications, aviation, and shipping -- boosting a moribund economy that reaped a period of renewed growth.
He also made peace overtures to communist guerrillas, Muslim separatists and military coup-plotters.
In the end, only the communists refused to sign agreements with his government.
Ramos was also a key, early supporter of Rodrigo Duterte as he waded into national politics with his run at the presidency in 2016.
After Duterte's landslide victory, Ramos even served as the president's special envoy to Beijing to ease tensions over the disputed South China Sea.
But the relationship swiftly soured and he publicly criticised Duterte's expletive-laden speeches, his moves away from the US alliance and his anti-drug campaign that claimed thousands of lives.
Ramos was also aghast at Duterte's decision to allow Marcos to be buried in the national Heroes' Cemetery despite the damage his dictatorship caused to the Philippines' economy and social order.
When a Marcos daughter tried to link Ramos to the abuses of her father's rule, Ramos said he had already apologised and made amends for his role.
"My atonement was leading the military and the police" in the revolt that toppled Marcos, he said.
Prince Charles agreed to the donation at a 2013 meeting. Photo: HANNAH MCKAY / POOL/AFP Source: AFP
Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne, accepted a £1 million ($1.19 million, 1.21 million euro) donation to his charitable trust from the family of 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden, The Sunday Times reported.
Although there is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by the Saudi family members, the revelation increases scrutiny on the 73-year-old prince's charity organisations, which have been rocked by allegations of criminal wrong doing.
Several of his advisers urged Charles not to take the donation from family patriarch Bakr bin Laden and his brother Shafiq -- half-brothers of terror leader Osama -- according to sources cited by the paper.
Charles, 73, agreed to the donation to the Prince of Wales Charitable Fund (PWCF) when he met with Bakr, 76, at Clarence House in London in 2013, despite objections of advisers from the trust and his office, the paper reported.
Ian Cheshire, chairman of PWCF, said the donation was agreed by the five trustees at the time.
British police in February launched an investigation into another of Charles's charitable foundations over claims of a cash-for-honours scandal involving a Saudi businessman.
The head of The Prince's Foundation resigned last year after an internal investigation into the allegations.
Michael Fawcett, chief executive of the foundation, had initially agreed to suspend his duties following newspaper revelations about his links to a Saudi national.
The man, tycoon Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz, had donated large sums to restoration projects of particular interest to Charles. Fawcett, a former valet to the Prince of Wales who has been close to Queen Elizabeth II's heir for decades, is alleged to have coordinated efforts to grant a royal honour and even UK citizenship to Mahfouz.
Mahfouz reportedly denies any wrongdoing.
The Charities Commission, which registers and oversees charities in England and Wales, said in November it had opened a formal probe into donations received by Mahfouz's charitable trust which were intended for the prince's foundation.
The Prince's Foundation, set up in 1986, is not regulated by the Charities Commission but is registered with the Scottish Charity Regulator.
The Scottish body in September launched its own probe into reports that the foundation accepted cash from a Russian banker previously convicted of money laundering.
Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, has denied the reports that he is sitting on letters from some Senators who have informed him of their defections from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Lawan denied the reports via a statement issued by Ola Awoniyi his special adviser on media, on Saturday, July 30.
Senate President, Ahmad Lawan,. Photo credit: The Senate President - Nigeria Source: Facebook
Meanwhile, the reports claimed that Lawan is sitting on the purported letters to protect his position as the President of the Senate.
However, a statement from the office of the Senate President said the reports were lies, the statements read:
"We have seen a story on social media and some online newspapers purporting that the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, is sitting on letters from some Senators allegedly intimating him of their defections from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
"The story insinuated that Lawan is sitting on the purported letters to protect his position as the President of the Senate.
"We hereby state categorically that the story is an utter falsehood as there is no such letter before the Senate President."
An Enugu hair vendor with the name Ms Onuorah Caritas Onyinye, also known as Smart Beyonce, got people talking when she met her waterloo recently.
The 29-year-old socialite who is popular in her state for going braless got into trouble upon her arrival at Enugu airport onboard an Ethiopian airline flight from Addis Ababa.
NDLEA nabbed the Enugu socialite at the airport. Credit: @hallesblogafrica Source: Instagram
The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) searched her luggage at the airport and discovered 219 kilograms of cocaine concealed in two women's handbags with false linings.
Smart Beyonce is reported to be unconsolable in detention as she is yet to name her sponsors.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Thursday, July 28, announced that it found a total of N540 million in the account of a public primary school teacher with a salary of N76,000.
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has also ordered the final forfeiture of N120 million traced to the teacher, Roseline Egbuha who teaches at Ozala Primary School, Abagana, Anambra State.
Mrs Roseline Egbuha . Photo: ICPC Source: UGC
A statement by the commission's spokesperson, Azuka Ogugua said that the court headed by Justice D.U Okorowo also ordered the forfeiture of cars traced to Egbuha and some of her accomplices in money laundering activities.
According to the ICPC, the court's order is a sequel to an ex-parte motion filed by the commission in 2021.
The motion also followed an allegation surrounding N540 million linked to Egbuha and her accomplices who tried to hide the funds in her Guaranty Trust Bank account.
Investigations by the commission also prompted the ICPC to place a Post-No-Debit on her account which led to her obtaining a court order from the Federal High Court, Abuja to lift the PND placed on the account.
It was gathered that the accused immediately withdrew the funds and distributed them to multiple accounts owned by Bureau de Change owners and some other private individuals including James Erebouye, Emon Okune and Chisom Iwueke.
Others are Alonge Ojo, Maureen Chidimma, Owoyemi Mayowa and Ejeaka Ifeoma in addition to two private companies charged to court over fraudulent activities and warehousing proceeds of the alleged crimes.
Other items forfeited by the respondents are cars which include Toyota Lexus and Venza sport utility vehicles.
On Tuesday, July 26, the Senate received a formal request from PresidentMuhammadu Buhari to confirm Justice Olukayode Ariwoola as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
Ariwoola’s nomination was disclosed in a letter dated July 25 and read during the plenary by the senate president, Ahmed Lawan, on Tuesday.
President .Buhari Photo Credit: Femi Adesina Source: Facebook
This was contained in a statement signed by the special assistant on media to the senate president, Ezrel Tabiowo. The letter read:
“Pursuant to Section 231(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), I forward for confirmation by the Senate, the appointment of Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola as the Chief Justice of Nigeria.”
President Buhari also asked the red chamber to confirm the nomination of Suleiman Agha Afikpo as representing commissioner for the southeast zone in the national hajj commission of Nigeria.
Buhari noted that his request is in line with section 3(2) of the hajj commission act 2004. The president urged the Senate to consider his submission with the highest consideration.
Ariwoola, a 62-year-old justice, resumed acting CJN following the resignation of Justice Muhammad Tanko, who had resigned on health grounds.
Tanko’s resignation came following a protest by 14 aggrieved justices on issues bordering on welfare.
But the former CJN stated in his resignation letter that his health was the reason for his decision.
Meanwhile, Justice Ariwoola will be functioning on an acting basis pending when he will be confirmed by the national judicial council (NJC).
The International Monetary Fund. Photo: Olivier DOULIERY / AFP/File Source: AFP
Surging inflation and severe slowdowns in the United States and China prompted the IMF Tuesday to downgrade its outlook for the global economy this year and next, while warning that the situation could get much worse.
"The outlook has darkened significantly since April," said IMF chief economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas. "The world may soon be teetering on the edge of a global recession, only two years after the last one."
"The world's three largest economies, the United States, China and the euro area are stalling with important consequences for the global outlook," he said at a briefing.
In its latest World Economic Outlook, the International Monetary Fund cut the 2022 global GDP estimate to 3.2 percent, four-tenths of a point lower than the April forecast, and about half the rate seen last year.
Last year's "tentative recovery" from the pandemic downturn "has been followed by increasingly gloomy developments in 2022 as risks began to materialize," the report said.
"Several shocks have hit a world economy already weakened by the pandemic," including the war in Ukraine which has driven up global prices for food and energy, prompting central banks to raise interest rates sharply, the IMF said.
Ongoing Covid-19 lockdowns and a worsening real estate crisis have hindered economic activity in China, while the Federal Reserve's aggressive interest rate hikes are slowing US growth sharply.
But the IMF offered a stark caveat to the forecasts, cautioning that "risks to the outlook are overwhelmingly tilted to the downside," and if they materialize could push the global economy into one of the worst slumps in the past half-century.
Key among the concerns is the fallout from the war in Ukraine including the potential for Russia to cut off natural gas supplies to Europe, as well as a further spike in prices and a food shortage due to the chokehold the war has on grain supplies that could trigger famine.
In an ominous warning, the WEO said "such shocks could, if sufficiently severe, cause a combination of recession accompanied by high and rising inflation ('stagflation')."
That would slam the brakes on growth, slowing it to 2.0 percent in 2023. The global growth rate has only been slower five times since 1970, the report said.
Gourinchas said that would be "getting really close to a global recession."
The top priority for policymakers is to rein in soaring prices, even at the cost of inflicting pain on their citizens, the fund said, since the damage caused by allowing inflation to rage out of control would be much worse.
Gourinchas, in a blog post about the report, noted that the "synchronized" moves by major central banks to deal with the inflation threat "is historically unprecedented, and its effects are expected to bite."
"Tighter monetary policy will inevitably have real economic costs, but delaying it will only exacerbate the hardship," he said.
The IMF now sees consumer prices jumping 8.3 percent this year, nearly a full point higher than previously forecast, while emerging market economies face a 9.5 percent increase in consumer prices.
But, "further supply-related shocks to food and energy prices from the war in Ukraine could sharply increase headline inflation."
That would increase the pain for poor nations least able to withstand the shock, where food makes up a larger share of family budgets. While the global economy did a bit better than expected in the first three months of the year, it appears to have "shrunk in the second quarter -- the first contraction since 2020," the IMF said.
The IMF downgraded growth forecasts for most countries, including big revisions for the United States and China, cutting more than a point off the prior forecasts.
The fund now sees US growth this year of just 2.3 percent, amid slowing consumer spending and rising interest rates, and the report said a recession -- defined by two quarters of negative growth -- may already have begun.
China's economy is expected to slow dramatically in 2022, expanding just 3.3 percent -- the lowest in more than four decades other than the 2020 pandemic crisis -- due to Covid concerns and the "worsening crisis" in the property sector, the report said.
"The slowdown in China has global consequences: lockdowns added to global supply chain disruptions and the decline in domestic spending are reducing demand for goods and services from China's trade partners," the report said.
There were some exceptions to the gloomy outlook, including upgrades for Italy, Brazil and Mexico, as well as for Russia which is still expected to contract but is benefitting from rising oil prices due to Western sanctions, the WEO said.
