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Ramadan: Marwa seeks prayer for Tinubu, Governors, other leaders

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has urged Nigerians especially muslim faithful to use the period of the holy month of Ramadan to pray for God’s guidance for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, state governors, ministers and other political leaders in the country.

Marwa gave the charge in his remarks at the pre-Ramadan lecture organized by the Alhaji Mohammed Lawal Memorial Jummat Mosque, Asokoro Abuja on Sunday 3rd March, 2024.

He said the month of Ramadan is unique in the Islamic calender when the holy quran was revealed.

“It is indeed a period that offers us the opportunity for forgiveness, abundant blessings and reward for good deeds. As such, we should pray that Allah will see us through and make us witness more Ramadan”, he stated.

While noting that the lecture has always been hosted by the mosque, Marwa who was father of the day at the pre-Ramadan lecture, specifically called on muslim faithful to take advantage of the holy month to pray for President Tinubu, state governors, ministers and other leaders saddled with the responsibility of leading the country at this critical time.

According to him, “What I’m saying is an injunction from the holy book that we should pray for our leaders. This holy month of Ramadan therefore provides us with an ample opportunity to prayer for all our leaders starting from President Tinubu, the governors, ministers and other leaders for God’s guidance in the onerous task of leading our nation at this critical time.”

The NDLEA boss also urged parents to pay more attention to the upbringing of their children as well as providing them quality care that will prevent them from going into drug abuse.

He called for early intervention for those already experimenting or struggling with substance abuse to avoid their situation getting worse.

“As part of our efforts aimed at prevention, we launched a social advocacy campaign called war against drug abuse, WADA, to mobilise every citizen to take ownership of the fight as well as raise awareness about the dangers of illicit drugs and that has gained huge momentum across the country in barely three years after its launch.

“Besides treatment and counselling centres in 30 of our Commands nationwide, we have also established call centre with toll free helpline to provide psycho-social support for those who need help”, he added.

He commended the Chief Imam of the mosque, Alhaji Lukman Amobiojo and the organizing committee for putting together the annual lecture.

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Presidential Spokesman Ajuri Ngelale Proceeds On Indefinite Leave Of Absence

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, has proceeded on an indefinite leave of absence.

Ngelale said the decision was taken after significant consultations with his family over the past days as a vexatious medical situation had worsened.

He made this known in a statement issued on Saturday to the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.

“On Friday, I submitted a memo to the Chief of Staff to the President informing my office that I am proceeding on an indefinite leave of absence to frontally deal with medical matters presently affecting my immediate, nuclear family,” he said.

“While I fully appreciate that the ship of state waits for no man, this agonizing decision — entailing a pause of my functions as the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity and Official Spokesperson of the President; Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, and Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen — was taken after significant consultations with my family over the past several days as a vexatious medical situation has worsened at home.

“I look forward to returning to full-time national service when time, healing, and fate permit. I respectfully ask for some privacy for my family and I during this time.”

The leave of absence implies that he would temporarily suspend his duties as spokesperson to President Bola Tinubu

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No tenure extension for IGP Egbetokun – Police

The Nigeria Police Force High Command has clarified the rumoured tenure extension for Inspector General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, stating that there was no extension granted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Instead, the law governing the tenure of the IGP’s office was properly applied.

This clarification was made in a statement released on Friday in Abuja by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Assistant Commissioner of Police, Olumuyiwa Adejobi.

The statement reads, “the attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to various misleading reports and misinterpretations concerning the tenure of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, and wishes to categorically state that what His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, approved for the IGP is not an extension of tenure, but rather the proper application of the law governing the tenure of the office of the IGP.

“Contrary to the misinformation being circulated on social media and in the news, an appointment letter in circulation was issued to the IGP shortly after his appointment was confirmed by the Police Council.

This letter, dated 3rd November 2023, clearly stated that the President had approved a four-year tenure for the IGP in accordance with the provisions of Section 215(a) and Section 28(c) of the Third Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

” It is important to emphasize that the IGP does not need to lobby for any tenure extension as his appointment letter explicitly grants him a four-year tenure from the date of his appointment

“The ongoing circulation of false information is clearly the handiwork of pessimists and mischief makers who are determined to spread baseless narratives against the office and the personality of the IGP for obvious reasons and pecuniary gains.

” Furthermore, the IGP has since been issued with another letter in accordance with the provisions of the Police Act, 2020 (as amended), which supersedes the earlier correspondence.

This clarification is necessary to put an end to the speculations and falsehoods being spread.

” We urge the public to disregard the unfounded reports and to trust that the tenure of the IGP is in full compliance with the laws governing the Nigeria Police Force.

In clear terms, IGP’s tenure of office is not subject to unnecessary debate and should not be a source of perennial distraction to policing system in Nigeria. The law is sacrosanct.”

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EFCC grabs 44 for internet fraud in Kwara

Forty-four (44) suspected internet fraudsters were arrested at different locations in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State on Friday by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Spokesperson for EFCC, Dele Oyewale said in a statement on Friday that the suspects were arrested by the operatives of the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC.

“They were arrested on Friday September 6, 2024 at Sango, Kulende, Taxaco and Harmony Estate, all in Ilorin, following credible intelligence over their alleged involvement internet- related offences,” the EFCC spokesperson said.

He listed items recovered from the suspects to include six different brands of exotic cars, laptops, smart phones and charms.

The suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.

The Ilorin Directorate of the anti-graft agency had also arrested 56 suspected internet fraudsters two days ago.