In today’s edition of Nigeria in Brief: INEC reveals a secret with the BVAS; Morocco leads Africa to the finals; how IPOB killed Pawpaw’s brother; and other trending news
BVAS works perfectly offline mode – INEC
The Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, has said the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System BVAS, could work offline and does not require a network for voter verification and authentication. The INEC Chairman, Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, spoke on Saturday in Abuja at a media/civil society organization’s engagement with INEC on curbing electoral misinformation. He maintained that the use of the BVAS machine is mandated by the constitution of Nigeria. He said, “Section 47(2) of the Electoral Act makes the use of the BVAS for voter authentication and verification mandatory and the commission is not vested with the discretionary authority to use or not to use the device.” He cautioned those claiming the BVAS needs a network to work to desist from misinforming Nigerians, adding that the machine works properly in rural areas.
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Now, landowners can breathe
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The Lagos State government has disbanded the infamous Landed properties Special Operations Team under the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LABSEC) which is under the Ministry of Physical Planning. In a statement signed by the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, the commission noted that the action followed a series of complaints received from well-meaning Lagosians of the indecent and uncouth activities of the government body. According to the commissioner, “after a careful examination of these complaints from well-meaning Lagosians, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has directed that the team led by Engineer Peter Omotosho be disbanded immediately.” He added that the exercise is aimed at serving Lagosians better.
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Pawpaw loses brother to gunmen
Popular Nollywood actor, Osita Iheme, also known as, PawPaw, has lost his brother to the cold hands of gunmen. Pawpaw’s elder brother, Chidi Iheme, was murdered at Ubomiri in the Mbaitolu LGA of the state while on transit to a campaign rally being organized by the All Progressives Congress candidate for Mbaitoli/Ikeduru Federal Constituency, Akarachi Amadi. The gunmen were hoodlums from the defiant faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), led by Simon Ekpa.
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Six dead in Enugu, Imo
In similar news, the Simon Ekpa-led group of IPOB have killed six persons in Enugu and Imo states while enforcing a sit-at-home order in the two states. Punch reports that the hoodlums, numbering over 10, had stormed New Market in Enugu as early as 6: am Saturday and started shooting wildly in the air of which two people were left dead and a police van set ablaze. Simon Ekpa, a factional leader of the IPOB had declared a five-day sit-at-home order in the Southeast states. Four people were reportedly killed in Imo states on Friday.
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Morocco blazes trail in African football
Morocco has become the first African country to reach the World Cup semi-final in the ongoing World Cup in Qatar. Morocco defeated Ronaldo’s Portugal to become the first African country to reach the heights on Saturday in a 1-0 battle. The Atlas Lions sent the Portuguese home through a head by the Servila striker, Youssef En-Nesyri, in the second half. Morocco is set to play either France or England in the finals.
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D’Banj makes a first post-arrest performance
Barely a day after his release from detention, the embattled Nigerian crooner, D’Banj was spotted this weekend at a live performance thrilling guests at the 2022 dinner party organized by the Immaculate Conception College (Benin City) Old Boys Association Lagos branch held at Federal Palace Hote. Earlier in the week, we reported that the singer was arrested and detained by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC), over the alleged diversion of N-Power funds. D’Banj was accused of colluding with some government officials to embezzle and siphon funds meant for the N-Power projects. He was detained for more than 48 hours while fans and civil society groups called for his immediate release. He has, however, denied any involvement in the accusation. He said, “May God no let people kaba you for what you do not know.”