News
Job racketeering: We were paid salaries without working, beneficiaries tell reps panel

Fourteen persons on Monday told a house of representatives ad hoc committee how they were receiving salaries from the federal government without working with any agency.
The ad-hoc committee chaired by Yusuf Gagdi is investigating job racketeering by ministries, departments and agencies and also mismanagement of the integrated payroll and personnel information system (IPPIS).
The beneficiaries also told the committee that they paid money to Haruna Kolo, a former IPPIS desk officer and chief of protocol to Muheeba Dankaka, chairperson of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), for job offers.
Kolo had alleged that job seekers paid millions of naira into his personal accounts for him to take to Dankaka.
The FCC chairperson has denied any wrongdoing, alleging that it is corruption that is fighting back.
Gbadamosi Jalo, one of the beneficiaries, said Kolo took him to the IPPIS office and registered him on its portal, adding that he had been receiving salaries since then.
Jalo told the committee he had not been assigned to any government ministry, department or agency — but was given an appointment letter supposedly issued by the National Institute of Oceanography.
He further told the panel that one Gambo Yisha’u, driver to the commissioner representing Taraba at the FCC also confirmed to him that such money ended up with the chairperson.
Twelve other witnesses made similar submissions alleging that they paid money to Kolo, but had not been posted to any ministry, department or agency of government.
While speaking, Gagdi said the witnesses were invited by the committee to know about their statements of account and payment to Kolo.
Gagdi reiterated that the panel would get to the root of the matter and recommend appropriate sanctions.
Meanwhile, Ishaq Oloyede, the registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), also explained to the committee why the examination body employed 300 people without advertising.
Oloyede said the recruitment of the 300 people was done to fill vacancies in the board created by the retirement of some members of staff.
Members of the committee alleged that the examination body had been undertaking employment without due process of advertisement and shortlisting qualified job seekers before letters are issued.
The lawmakers noted that the agency had been getting waivers for the recruitment of staff yet it failed to adhere to the provisions of the law on non-engagement of more than 100 staff annually.
They said available documents showed that the board in 2021 employed more than 300 staff in a single recruitment exercise without adhering to the extant provision of law on the issue.
News
Gunmen abducts CAC members travelling for burial in Ondo

Some members of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in Oke Igan, Akure, Ondo state capital have been abducted.
The Ondo police command confirmed the abduction on Saturday.
The church members were reportedly travelling for a burial ceremony when they were attacked and abducted by gunmen at Ifon in Ose LGA of the state.
Olufunmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, police spokesperson in the state, said the victims were kidnapped on Friday afternoon.
“Yesterday afternoon, the police was informed that a church bus with the inscription CAC was abandoned around Elegbeka area and there are suspicions that the passengers in the vehicle were kidnapped,” Odunlami-Omisanya said.
“The police anti-kidnapping squad and other tactical teams have been deployed to the area to rescue the victims and arrest all involved in the crime.”
A family member of one of the abductees, who did not want to be named, said the victims are members of the church’s choir.
News
Lagos state government announces closure of Ojuelegba Flyover Bridge for repair of truck barrier

The Lagos State Government has announced traffic diversion at Ojuelegba flyover bridge on the night of Monday, October 2, 2023, from 10pm to 6am.
This is in line with plans by the state government to repair the truck barrier at the bridge which was recently damaged again.
This is contained in a statement issued by the state government on Friday, September 29, 2023, and can be seen on its official X (formerly Twitter) account.
The state government in the statement said that the following alternative routes will be available to Motorists during the diversion:
Motorists from Eko Bridge/Constain/Iponri inbound Ojuelegba/Alhaji Masha Road will be diverted to the service lane from Alaka via the National Stadium gate to link Barracks or Alhaji Masha Road to continue their journeys.
Motorists from Eko Bridge via Costain and those from Apapa Road going through Iponri will make use of Iponri Estate Road to link Bode Thomas via Adeniran Ogunsanya to Shitta Roundabout for their desired destinations.
Motorists were implored to be patient as the brief closure of the bridge is planned for night time as part of a traffic management strategy to avert further accidents and loss of lives.
News
Mohbad: Witnesses to appear October 13 as coroner begins sitting

The coroner’s inquest into the death of the singer Mohbad began sitting in Lagos on Friday.
Mohbad, 27, died on September 12 and was buried the next day.
The circumstances surrounding his death have sparked controversies on social media.
Thousands of Nigerians have demanded justice for Mohbad in nationwide protests.
On September 18, the Lagos police inaugurated a 13-man special investigation team to probe Mohbad’s death.
On Tuesday, the Lagos state judiciary said it will begin a coroner’s inquest into Mohbad’s death following a request submitted by Falana & Falana Chambers.
The first sitting was held on Friday at the Candide Johnson court in Ikorodu, Lagos.
Representatives of the parties in the case had a close-door session to determine different matters.
Funmi Falana, a lawyer representing Mohbad’s family, told BBC that the sitting was to determine the persons of interest to be invited to the court.
She said people should be hopeful as the lawyers will pursue the cause of justice.
“What we did today was to determine the how and what procedures to follow to help us get justice. We have fixed the next date and we will bring in our witnesses,” she said.
“We are representing the interest of justice, we should allow peace to reign but justice must be served. We will get to the root cause of the death”.
Festus Ogun, a Lagos-based lawyer, said any witness who fails to appear in court will be charged with contempt of court.
The court thereafter fixed October 13 for witnesses to present their pieces of evidence in court.
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