News

Edo LG Funds: Governor Godwin Obaseki Lied, Says APC

Published

3 years ago

January 8, 2023

The Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State, Col. David Imuse (RTD), has said that Governor Godwin Obaseki is lying by awarding himself a clean bill of financial health as one prudent state executive that distances self from local government funds.

Col Imuse who described the governor’s statement as a tissue of lies also labelled his appointments of sole administrators for the local governments as illegal and as such appealed to the Federal government to immediately withhold all local government funds until elected councils are put in place in Edo state.

In a statement by Victor Ofure Osehobo, the Assistant State Publicity Secretary of the party, a copy of which was made available to INFO DAILY, the Edo APC chairman said Governor Obaseki’s failure to conduct local government council polls for the third year running amounts to a constitutional breach that should attract appropriate sanctions.

“We strongly condemn the perpetual refusal of the government to conduct local government council elections. It is very evident that the factional PDP government in Edo State is terribly afraid of conducting local government council elections because the embarrassing defeat that will befall it shall be monumental,” he said.

The APC chairman observed that the unconstitutionality and illegality of the appointment and inauguration of Sole Administrators who the governor called liason officers as against democratically elected councils had been settled in section 1(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

On the local government funds, he said, “Looking into their activities, it is apparent that the governor lied and made fallacious claims that they incurred a humongous debt of #60billion. This is because throughout their tenure he was their chief accountant to the extent he awarded their contracts and paid their salaries including withholding the 10 per cent of the state’s internally generated revenue due them “.

“The local government is supposed to be independent and self-sufficient but in Edo state, Mr Obaseki has taken over their responsibility by collecting their revenue; this must stop forthwith as it has become intolerable”.

Col Imuse then faulted the many audit reports on the activities of the local governments sponsored br Mr Obaseki and argued that they are all attempts by the governor to “cover his glaring dirty tracks in mismanagement of Local government funds in the State.”

News

NECO To Streamline English Exam, Slashes Questions

Published

2 hours ago

September 3, 2025

Editor

The National Examinations Council has announced a reduction in the number of objective questions for the English Language Paper III in the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination Internal. Effective from the 2026 SSCE Internal exams, the total number of questions will be reduced from 100 to 80.

In an official notification made available to The PUNCH on Wednesday, signed by the State Coordinator for Osun State, Sunday K. Bolaji, dated September 1, 2025, stated that the new paper structure includes six sections.

Antonyms (10 questions), Appropriateness of Registers (10 questions), Appropriate Interpretation of Idioms, Phrasal Verbs, and Foreign Words (10 questions), Synonyms (10 questions), Grammatical Structures (30 questions), and Cloze Text (10 questions).

The time allocated for Paper III will also be adjusted to 50 minutes. This change aims to streamline the examination process and enhance the testing experience for students.

Previously reported by The PUNCH, on August 29, NECO confirmed it will fully transition from the traditional paper-and-pencil examination method to a computer-based testing system, starting with the November/December 2025 SSCE external.

This shift aligns with the Federal Government’s July 2025 directive to deploy private and public CBT centres nationwide for school-based SSCEs by 2026.

NECO has invited interested CBT centre operators across Nigeria to apply for accreditation, subject to strict technical, infrastructural, and security requirements to ensure examination integrity and smooth implementation.

This move aims to modernise Nigeria’s examination system, reduce malpractice, and improve operational efficiency while expanding digital education access nationwide.

News

JUST IN: Ex-Ondo SDP Governorship Candidate Dies

Published

5 hours ago

September 3, 2025

Editor

The candidate of the Social Democratic Party in the November 16, 2024, Ondo State governorship election, Bamidele Akingboye, is dead.

His death was confirmed on Wednesday in a statement by his aide, Oyeniyi Iwakun.

According to the statement, Akingboye died earlier on Wednesday at his residence in Victoria Garden City, Lagos.

The statement read, “Known for his unwavering integrity, humility, and generosity, Akingboye left an indelible mark as a successful businessman and a mentor to many across Nigeria and beyond.

“He is survived by his wives, children, grandchildren, and siblings. The family has requested privacy during this period of grief, adding that burial arrangements and further details will be communicated in due course.”

Akingboye contested the November 2024 governorship election but lost to the incumbent governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

After the poll, Akingboye and the SDP rejected the result, alleging widespread irregularities.

The party claimed its agents were harassed and chased away from polling units, while voters were intimidated.

Akingboye himself insisted that the exercise was marred by malpractices and urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to cancel the election.

News

VIDEO: Police Arrest Syndicate Hypnotising Victims Under Guise Of Seeking Directions In Delta

Published

5 hours ago

September 3, 2025

Editor

The Delta State Police Command has arrested seven suspects specialised in defrauding victims under the guise of seeking directions.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Edafe Bright, disclosed this in a post on X.com on Tuesday, explaining how the syndicate approaches their victims, hypnotises them and cart away with their money and valuables.

He wrote, “Have you ever come across people who pretend like they are looking for direction? Have you ever met a victim who they lured and ended up taking all their money, phones and jewellery? Watch till the end to find out their strategy, and please share for others to learn.”

In the accompanying video, Edafe added, “We’ve been hearing of this syndicate that usually acts in the guise of looking for direction and eventually manages to hypnotise their victims, lure them, collect their money, phones and even their jewellery. It is no longer a fairy tale because today we have about seven suspects who are very good at that, but the hands of the law have finally caught up with them.”

One of the suspects in the video described the act as a “419 business” that requires three persons called Cashama, Jejeti and Citama, respectively.

The suspect went ahead to explain the strategy they use in defrauding their suspects and the role of the three members in the scheme.

Another suspect added that the gang has netted about N2.7 million through this tactic from five victims.

One of the victims, identified as Fullness, recounted his experience, stating that he was approached by a man who seemed lost and was ignored by other people. He took pity on the man and agreed to help.

He noted that upon entering their vehicle, he lost all sense of awareness and was later defrauded of ₦2.5 million in cash, a phone worth ₦1.6 million, and another phone valued at ₦400,000.

Another victim, identified as Daniel, also explained how the gang collected jewellery and gadgets worth over N7 million from him.

Watch the video below:

https://x.com/MobilePunch/status/1963169979609551162?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1963169979609551162%7Ctwgr%5Ea8a95bacc0b76a0da87621d733811182f7c60d86%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpunchng.com%2Fvideo-police-arrest-syndicate-hypnotising-victims-under-guise-of-seeking-directions-in-delta%2F