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JAMB Uncovers 21 Admission Seekers With Fake Results

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has disclosed that 21 candidates who paraded fake IJMB results were recommended for 2023 admissions by various institutions.

JAMB, in a policy document obtained by Punch in Abuja, noted that 12 out of the 21 candidates were recommended by the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

“JAMB discovered that 21 candidates who paraded fake IJMB results were recommended during the 2023 admission.  They were not approved.

“Twelve of the recommendations were by ABU, Zaria – what an audacious attitude. Recommendations were possible because certificate screening was done after

Registration, Five institutions were involved in the recommendations; JAMB insists that all certificates must have the signature of the Head of the institution (VC/Provost/Rector).”

Recall that in 2021, JAMB unveiled the Nigerian Post-Secondary Education Data System verification platform for the verification of IJMB and JUPEB results.

The unveiling followed professional operation undertaken by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Education on irregularities and faking of results as contained in a recent statement by the ICPC about the irregularities in JUPEB Board IJMB examination results, said such must be nipped in the bud.

JAMB, in a bulletin, said it had become necessary for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board as a moderator of the two examinations, to take appropriate action and put a stop to the unacceptable happenings.

“These proactive measures as well as others that are in the pipeline, are to ensure that the gains recorded in the education sector, especially the examination sub-sector over the years, are not eroded by unscrupulous individuals who do not mean well for Nigeria,” JAMB stated.

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Governor Ododo Appoints New 12 Permanent Secretaries in Kogi

Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Ododo has announced the appointment of 12 new Permanent Secretaries in Kogi State Public Service.
This was made public in a statement issued by the Head of Service, Mr Elijah Evinemi.

Evinemi said the governor emphasized the fact that, the permanent secretaries have been carefully selected based on merit, fairness and justice.

While congratulating the successful candidates in his office, the Head of Service, Mr Elijah Evinemi, charged the new permanent secretaries to live up to expectation in the discharge of their schedules with utmost loyalty, dedication and uprightness.
The new permanent secretaries include, Momoh Aziz Steven Ajaokuta LGA, Negedu Muhammed Bala Ankpa 1 Constituency, Haruna Jibo Muhammed BASSA LGA, Ejigbo Akoji Dekina-Biraidu Constituency, Enimola Enimola A. Kabba-Bunu LGA, Fashoba Ayo- Sunday Mopa- Amuro L GA, Adurodija Ebenezer O. Ogori- Magongo LGA, Enehe Dorcas Omeneke Okehi LGA, Sanni Haruna Muhammed Okene 1 Constituency, Ochu Philips Omeiza Okene 11 Constituency,Shaibu Danjuma Fabian Olamaboro LGA, Baiyegunsi Taiwo S. Yagba – East LGA.
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Court To Hear Money Laundering Case Against Binance Next Week

Allleged money laundering case against crypto exchange Binance and two of its executives will be heard next week.
The case will be heard at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
This is according to a report by Reuters.
The case comes more than a month earlier than planned, after defence lawyers asked for the date change, the prosecutor said on Monday.
The next court hearing, originally scheduled for Oct. 11 has now been fixed for Sept. 2.

Binance and the executives – U.S. citizen and head of financial crime compliance Tigan Gambaryan, and the exchange’s British-Kenyan regional manager for Africa, Nadeem Anjarwalla – have been charged with laundering more than $35m.
Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, is also facing accusations of tax evasion.
Both Binance and Gambaryan have denied the charges. Anjarwalla escaped from detention and left Nigeria before the trial started.
Gambaryan has been detained in Nigeria since February and his health has deteriorated in prison, his wife Yuki Gambaryan said this month.
She appealed to the Nigerian government to drop the charges against her husband and release him on health grounds and also asked the U.S. government to help secure his release.
Nigeria has blamed Binance for its currency weakness after cryptocurrency websites became the platforms of choice for trading the Nigerian naira as the country grappled with chronic dollar shortages and its currency fell to a record low.
Binance said in March it would stop all transactions and trading in naira after a country-wide crackdown on crypto exchanges that have been blamed by authorities for feeding a black market for foreign exchange.
It would be recalled that In July, Gambaryan was whisked into the courtroom in a wheelchair.
However, when the matter was called, Gambaryan who was dressed in a black T-shirt with blue jeans trousers, stood up from the wheelchair and walked slowly into the dock.
The EFCC lawyer, Ogechi Ujam, told the court that though the matter was scheduled for the continuation of trial, the commission’s lead counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, was not in court.
Ujam had prayed the court to stand down the matter to enable Iheanacho to conduct the trial.
Lawyer to Binance, Babatunde Fagbohunlu, (SAN), and Mark Mordi, who represented Gambaryan, did not oppose the application.
Justice Emeka Nwite stepped down on the matter.
Justice Emeka Nwite had, on July 5, ordered the management of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to release the medical certificate of Gambaryan on or before July 16.
The judge gave the order following an application by Gambaryan’s lawyer.


Mordi had prayed the court to summon the medical doctor at the health facility of Kuje Correctional Centre, to explain why he had allegedly refused to make available his client’s medical report despite an earlier court order.

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Our Policies Will Soon Bring Relief To Nigerians – Tinubu Assures

President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerians to be patient as his administration’s tough policy decisions are set to bring relief and improve the economic situation in the nation.

Speaking at the Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Lagos, President Tinubu who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, reiterated his administration’s commitment to promoting the rule of law, adhering to the principles of separation of powers, and tolerating dissenting views within the legal framework of the country. He emphasized that the challenging decisions made were necessary for transformative changes and promised that these would soon yield positive outcomes for the populace.

The President praised the NBA’s long-standing role in championing democratic ideals and the rule of law, aligning these principles with his administration’s objectives. Tinubu’s address highlighted the difficult but necessary path his government has embarked on to amend longstanding issues and inefficiencies.

He said;

“Let me reassure you all that this administration will continue to promote the rule of law, adherence to the principles of separation of powers and tolerance of dissent within the bounds of the law.

“While I acknowledge the temporal existence of some daunting challenges besetting us as a nation, I would like to urge you all not to adopt a defeatist approach; rather, we should remain resolute in working for a country of our dreams.

“It is obvious that Nigeria as a nation cannot continue to sojourn on the trajectory of the past if we must be assured of sustainable development; hence, the need to sanitize the Augean stable and chart a proper course of rebuilding the nation.

“I acknowledge that altering the status quo requires difficult decisions and changes, which also inevitably come with hard outcomes. However, I am confident that this is a passing phase and our policies and actions, as an administration, are bound to usher in relief in no distant time.”

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US Election: Trump Set To Hold First Outdoor Rally Since Assassination Attempt

Donald Trump, a former US President and Republican candidate, will hold a rally outdoors Wednesday in North Carolina, the first open-air campaign event since he narrowly escaped an assassination attempt at an open-air appearance a month ago.

According to US media reports, citing security and campaign personnel, security precautions are said to have been intensified for the afternoon rally scheduled at an aviation museum in Asheboro, North Carolina, including the use of bulletproof glass surrounding the Republican nominee’s podium.

The Secret Service had recommended that Trump stop holding outdoor events after the agency assigned to protect presidents and candidates failed to stop a gunman who fired at him from a rooftop at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, injuring Trump in the ear and leaving one person in the crowd dead.

The former US President, who has held roughly a dozen indoor rallies since the shooting, has publicly stated he wants a return to open-air events.

On July 31, he told supporters at an indoor arena in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania that “we’re not giving up the outdoor rallies.”

Days earlier, Trump, 78, posted on social media that he would continue to hold open-air events, “and the Secret Service has agreed to substantially step up their operation. They are very capable of doing so.”

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Trump And Harris To Debate Sept. 10

Former US president, Donald Trump has finally agreed to debate his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris after recently backing out, in a lengthy news conference on Thursday.

As the Republican presidential nominee addressed reporters at his Palm Beach, Florida, estate, ABC announced that Trump and Harris, the Democratic nominee, have agreed to a September 10 debate, setting up a widely anticipated faceoff in an already unparalleled election.

Trump said he had proposed three debates with three television networks in September.

Trump again wrongly insisted there had been a “peaceful transfer” of power in 2021 and renewed attacks on Republican rivals like Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, whom Trump has harshly criticized since Kemp refused to go along with his false theories of election fraud.

In taking questions from reporters for more than an hour, Trump tried to draw a contrast with Harris, who has not held a news conference since President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race.

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How Two Fraudsters Hacked Into MTN Nigeria Network And Stole N1.9bn

Two fraudsters have been arraigned in court for allegedly hacking into MTN Nigeria Communication Plc system and stealing airtime and data valued at N1.9 billion.
The police in Lagos arraigned the hackers identified as Timothy Oluwabukola and Anthony Odemerho, before a Federal High Court in Lagos.
The Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police docked the two men before Justice Akintayo Aluko on a four-count conspiracy charge, unauthorised access into the company’s web-based Application Programming Interface (API) and unlawful conversion.
Oluwabukola, a student of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) Abeokuta, Ogun State, and Odemerho, the proprietor of Resign Regal Academy in Benin City, Edo State, allegedly committed the offences between January and April this year in Lagos and Edo States.
The prosecutor, Justine Enang, told the court that the defendants and others at large conspired among themselves and accessed the telecom’s Application Programming Interface (API) of MTN and obtained data from the said application, which they used to defraud the company to the tune of N1.9 billion.
Enang also claimed that the offences contravened sections 27(1)(b), 6(2), and 28(1)(b) of the Cybercrime (prohibition, prevention, etc) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024, but were punishable under Section 8(2) of the same Act.
He also informed the court that the offences violated section 18(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, but punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Based on their plea, the prosecutor urged the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendants in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) until the charge was determined.
But, the defence lawyer informed the court that he had filed bail applications for his clients, and that same had been served on the prosecutor.
In response, the prosecutor confirmed being served with the applications but told the court that he was served while the proceedings were on.
Enang then asked the court for a short date to enable him to study the applications and respond accordingly.
After listening to the lawyers, Justice Aluko adjourned the matter to August 5 for a hearing of the defendants’ bail applications.
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MTN Gives Major Update After Shutting DownOffices Nationwide

MTN Nigeria has announced it has resumed nationwide operations.
MTN, Nigeria’s leading telecommunications provider had on Tuesday shutdown all its offices in response to widespread customer outrage and vandalism, sparked by the disconnection of subscribers who failed to link their SIM cards to their National Identification Numbers.

On Wednesday, MTN announced its return to operations via X (formerly Twitter), confirming that its physical shops would be open to customers from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm.

“Y’ello customer, please note that our shops nationwide will be open today, 31 July. Operating hours: 8.00 am-3:00 pm. We are also available 24/7 to support you via digital channels,” the operator said.
Over the weekend, many subscribers found themselves unable to access their phone lines after failing to verify their NINs with SIMs, leading to their numbers being blocked in compliance with NIN-SIM linkage regulations.
This blockage prompted thousands of subscribers to storm telecom offices on Monday, leading the Nigerian Communications Commission to direct telecommunications operators to immediately restore all affected lines.
The NCC, in a statement signed on Monday by the Director of Media and Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, explained that the directive was in response to the widespread disruption and subscriber outrage caused by the blockages.
The mandatory linkage of NINs with SIMs, initiated in December 2020, was geared towards enhancing the country’s security and ensuring an accurate SIM ownership database. Despite several deadline extensions, including the latest to July 31, 2024, many lines remain unverified.
Since December 2023, the Commission has reviewed the deadline multiple times. Initially, April 15, 2024, was set as the deadline for the full network, barring subscribers with four or fewer SIMs that had unverified NIN details.
This deadline was then extended to July 31, 2024, to give consumers more time to ensure their submitted NIN details are properly verified. Despite these extensions, many phone lines are yet to be linked with verified NINs.
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How to Unblock Your MTN, Airtel, Others Using Shortcode

After many subscribers were blocked by Nigerian telecommunication companies, a guide on how to unblock the SIM cards has been made available.
Recall that the disconnections were due to the ongoing National Identification Number (NIN)-SIM harmonisation exercise.

To assist affected customers, telecom companies outlined in a statement on Monday step-by-step to restore connectivity.

1. Airtel: Dial *121# and enter your eleven-digit NIN. A confirmation message will indicate that your Airtel SIM card has been successfully unbarred.
2. 9mobile (EMTS): Dial *200*8#.
3. Glo: Dial 109 followed by your NIN number (e.g., *109*12345678901#) and follow the prompts to submit your NIN.
4. MTN: Visit [nin.mtn.ng] (http://nin.mtn.ng) to check NIN status. If not linked, proceed to link it. An OTP and NIN will be required. Once linked, your line will be automatically unbarred.
5. Smile: Send your NIN to customercare@smile.com.ng or call 07020444444. After providing consent and verifying your NIN, your line will be unbarred.
6. Spectranet: Call 8002345678 or email care@spectranet.com.ng to submit your NIN. KYC verification at a Spectranet store is required. You can also submit your NIN online but must complete KYC at a Spectranet store.
7. Ntel: Visit any Ntel store with your NIN. Your fingerprint will be used to verify your existing KYC profile. Upon verification and consent, your line will be updated and unbarred.
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MTN Bows To Pressure, Promises To Unblock Every Sim In 24 hours

Mobile Telecommunications Network, MTN, has promised to unblock every sim of subscribers they blocked in the next 24 hours.

MTN Nigeria, over the past 24 hours, acted upon directives by the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) to disconnect telephone lines connected to Subscriber Identity Modules (SIMs) that were not associated with National Identification Numbers (NINs), which were supposed to go into effect on July 31, 2024.

Some of the subscribers vented their resentment and aggravation about the problem as they arrived at the MTN offices early on Monday, July 29, 2024, with long queues forming at the entrances.

Many vowed to kick off their protest to end bad governance in the country from the MTN offices in their various states.

In a recent development, a viral video captured the moment an MTN head staff announced that all barred sims would be unblocked in the next 24 hours.

While the announcement brought relief to many Nigerians, others speculated that it was a calculated attempt by the government to stop the nationwide protest scheduled for today, July 29th.

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