Headline

Job Racketeering: Reps Grill FCC Officers As Victims Recount Ordeal

Published

2 years ago

August 8, 2023

Editor

… Say they paid millions into ex-FCC officer’s Account

Mr Andulamalik Ahmed and Ali Yaro both victims of alleged job racketeering at the Federal Character Commission (FCC) say they paid N1 million and N2 million respectively for job placement in the commission.

Ahmed and Yaro made this known when they appeared as witnesses at the ongoing investigation by the House of Representatives ad hoc committee probing job racketeering and mismanagement of IPPIS in Abuja on Tuesday.

Speaking on the issue, Ahmed, an indigene of Adamawa said he met the driver of the Commissioner, representing Taraba, Mr Yisha’u Gambo who promised to get him a job in the FCC on the condition that he paid the sum of N1 million.

He however said he refused to pay the money to Yisha’u because he was an ordinary driver.

“It was Yisha’u who introduced Mr Harunu Kolo, a former staff of the FCC and the desk officer of IPPIS in the commission.

“I paid N1 million into Kolo’s account when I confirmed that he was a staff of the commission, I refused to pay to the driver for security reasons.

“I transfered N1 million to Kolo’s account. We initially agreed on N1.5million with Gambo, a driver to the Commissioner, representing Taraba.”

He said 27 of them were issued appointment letters having paid the requested money, adding that in spite of the fact that appointment letters were issued, they were not posted to any designated MDAs.

“The Head of Human Resources in FCC confirmed to us that our appointments were genuine before they cleverly took it from us. I was engaged for two years before I was disengaged without posting.”

He said contrary to information by the FCC that there was no recruitment since 2017, there was recruitment in 2021 and all the commissioners had a hand in the recruitments exercise.

“Kolo convinced me to pay so that our employment can come after that of Directors and the Commissioners.”

Ahmed who betrayed emotion begged the committee to help get his job back, adding that he was not satisfied with receiving salary without doing the required job.

On the other hand, Yaro , another witness from Borno said he was made to pay N2 million to secure a job in the FCC.

“I paid N2 million into Badamasi Jalo’s account, another victim but acting as agent for collection of monies for Kolo.

“Kolo and Badamasi both assured me that I will get appointment letter in January,” he said, adding that he was captured on IPPIS on Aug. 5, 2021 but never got placement.

“I graduated 11 years ago and I had a chance to become Boko Haram but I refused because I wanted to be a good citizen,” he said.

Meanwhile, Rep Yusuf Gagdi, the Chairman of the committee said the testimonies from the two victims should encourage all Nigerians who have been shortchanged to appear.

“I am very happy that you said you had the offer to become a Boko Haram but refused.

” We cannot cry like you but our hearts blead for this country, we are going to do justice for you, we are not here to wich hunt anybody.

“You have told us who you gave money to. We will invite you again for a closed-door meeting with the other 27 victims , ” he said.

Gagdi re-invited Kolo to again appear before the committee on Wednesday by 10 a. m.

He also summoned the driver to the Taraba Commissioner and the Secretary to appear before the committee .

Headline

Again, Russia Claims Another Village In Ukraine’s Region

Published

1 day ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

The Russian army Monday claimed to have captured another village in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region, moving deeper into Ukrainian territory as peace efforts stall.

Russian forces are slowly but steadily gaining ground in costly battles for largely devastated areas in eastern and central Ukraine, normally with few inhabitants or intact buildings left.

Russia’s defence ministry said its forces had seized the settlement of Zaporizke in the region, which Russian troops recently advanced into for the first time in the three-and-a-half-year offensive.

Kyiv denies that Russian troops have gained a foothold in the Dnipropetrovsk region, an important industrial hub.

After another push by US President Donald Trump to broker a Ukraine-Russia summit, hopes for peace dimmed when Russia last week ruled out any immediate meeting between presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky.

The central region of Dnipropetrovsk has previously been largely spared from fighting that has ravaged swathes of eastern and southern Ukraine, until Russia said its forces broke through in July.

Dnipropetrovsk is not one of the five Ukrainian regions — Donetsk, Kherson, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia and Crimea — that Moscow has publicly claimed as Russian territory.

Ukraine said Russia had launched over 100 drones Monday, killing a 37-year old civilian driver and wounding two people in the northeastern Sumy region.

Moscow said Kyiv had launched about two dozen drones targeting western Russia

Headline

US Comedian Reggie Carroll Shot Dead In Mississippi

Published

1 day ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

A United States comedian, Reginald “Reggie” Carroll, has been shot dead in Southaven, Mississippi.

The 52-year-old Carroll, widely known as the Knockout King of Comedy, was reportedly killed on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds.

The Southaven Police Department confirmed the incident in a Facebook statement on Saturday.

“Southaven officers located one male victim suffering from gunshot wounds.

“The officers and medical personnel provided life saving techniques but the individual succumbed to his injuries,” the statement partly read.

The victim was later identified as Carroll, a Baltimore native.

Police said one suspect was arrested and charged with his murder.

“One male is in custody and has been charged with the murder of Reginald Carroll.

“Our thoughts are with the family of Mr. Carroll.

“Thank you to the community for their patience and understanding,” the department added.

The police further assured that there was no ongoing threat to residents, describing the case as “an isolated shooting.”

Carroll, who built his career in stand-up comedy, gained national recognition touring with Katt Williams and headlining his own showcase, Knockout Kings of Comedy.

He also featured in the 2000 edition of Showtime at the Apollo, appeared on the UPN sitcom The Parkers alongside Mo’Nique and Countess Vaughn, and starred in the 2022 television film Rent & Go.

In 2023, he produced the stand-up special Knockout Kings of Comedy.

The Southaven Police Department disclosed that an investigation into his death is ongoing.

Headline

US Defends New Social Media Vetting For Nigerian Visa Applicants

Published

1 day ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

The U.S. Mission in Nigeria on Monday reaffirmed that the safety and security of the United States remain the cornerstone of its visa application and decision-making process.

The US said this following its directive last week that mandates Nigerians to disclose all social media usernames and handles used over the past five years as part of the visa application process.

US Mission said Nigerian visa applicants must provide a comprehensive list of their social media profiles on the DS-160 visa application form, and warned that omitting the information could lead to visa denials.

Reacting to the development, the Federal Government said US citizens intending to visit Nigeria will be subjected to the same measures.

“The best we can do is to carry out reciprocal action. Some people from the US might want to apply for a visa, and we will adopt the same measures,” spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said last Monday.

However, in a statement released Monday on X, the US Mission said prospective visa applicants undergo careful vetting to maintain a safe and welcoming environment in the US.

It said, “The safety and security of the United States is at the heart of every #USVisa application and decision process.

“That’s why prospective applicants undergo careful screening to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for all.”

The Mission added, “These measures help protect American citizens and communities while supporting secure and responsible travel.”