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2023 Budget: Lai Muhammed seeks More fund to fight fake news, others

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APC Accuses PDP of Desperation, Seeking Political Gains from National Tragedy

The Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, has urged the Federal Government and the National Assembly to appropriate more funds to his ministry to enable him tackle the scourge of “fake News, hate speech and propagate the achievements of government in the past seven years.

APC Accuses PDP of Desperation, Seeking Political Gains from National Tragedy

Lai made the appeal when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Information to defend the budget for 2023 on Tuesday.

Lamenting the paucity of funds and its impact on the activities of the Ministry, the Minister described the situation as “very sad”. He said out of the total of N2.5 billion appropriated to the Ministry and all of its agencies for capital projects in 2022, only a paltry N1.7 billion was released representing 41% to undertake 22 different projects.

Read also>>Senate sets aside Defence Ministry’s budget over minister’s refusal to honour invitation

The Minister further lamented that the Capital budget for the Ministry and its entire agencies in 2023 was slashed to N869 million.

This was as the Minister also complained that only the sum of N525 million representing 58% of the Ministry’s allocation was released for overheads in 2022.

But the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information, Senator, Danladi Sankara told the Minister that the slash in budget is not limited to his Ministry; pointing out that capital votes in the 2022 budget has dropped from N2.5trillion to N1trillion in the budget for 2023.

In response, the Minister said while he was aware paucity of funds was not peculiar to his Ministry; he appealed to the Senate Committee and the Federal Government to increase the purse of the Ministry by granting it special considerations at a time when government is faced with serious challenges.

“If there is any ministry that should adequately funded and not suffer from yearly budget cut is the Information Ministry”.

“We’re going to have a very difficult year and I don’t know how we are going to do it”.

“Yes, while it is true that paucity of funds has affected all government ministries and agencies it is important for government to at a time it is going through challenges rely on its media to put the people’s mind at rest

and ask them not to panic and at a time the government is now swimming th of fake news misinformation”.

Lai pleaded with the Senate Committee that his Ministry would need the money to tackle a gale of fake news, misinformation, disinformation and hate speech.

He said the latest of such misinformation that needs urgent repair is the US Security Alert on Abuja which according to the Minister has affected the image and economy of the country.

“Even if the govt stops working, it should continue to publicise what it has done”.

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VIDEO: Nigerian Man Spends 23 Hours Buried Alive In Coffin

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Young C, a Nigerian man, has been buried alive in a coffin for twenty-three hours.

On Thursday, he posted an update on his Instagram account saying, “Guys, I am still alive, I am still fine, I am okay. A lot of you might think something has happened, but nothing has happened, I am fine.

Breathing heavily he said, “My problem is just that I have run out of water, I might be forced to drink this (my urine). Guys, I am fine.”

Young C had embarked on this daring challenge on Wednesday, announcing his intention to be buried alive for 24 hours.

He shared a video on his Instagram account, emphasizing that the stunt was genuine and not a hoax. He also announced his plan to broadcast live footage from the coffin at night.

In an earlier update, Young C revealed that he had been buried for over 8 hours and was experiencing physical discomfort, including excessive sweating.

He shared a video from the coffin, showing his camera and light still functioning, and expressed his determination to complete the challenge.

This accomplishment brings to mind another challenge that American YouTuber MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) undertook two years ago to raise awareness about deforestation. In that challenge, he buried himself alive for fifty hours.

He overcame both physical and mental obstacles to finish the task and was ultimately exhumed, warning onlookers not to attempt such exploits since they could be dangerous.

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Court Grants N100m Bail To Sirika, Daughter In N2.7bn Fraud Case

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Former Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Hadi Abubakar Sirika, along with his daughter, Fatimah Hadi Sirika, and son-in-law, Jalal Hamma, secured bail from the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.

This follows their indictment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for their alleged involvement in a N2.7bn fraud tied to the Nigerian Air project.

The defendants, including Sirika and his family members, vehemently denied the charges during their appearance before Justice Sylvanus Orji, who granted them bail pending further legal proceedings.

Recall that Sirika faces a 6-count amended criminal charge before Justice Oriji, where the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs SAN, presented an amended charge by the EFCC dated May 7 and filed on May 8.

This amendment was unopposed by the defendants’ counsel. Lead counsel Kanu Agabi (SAN), representing Sirika, submitted his client’s bail application dated May 6 during the proceedings.

The remaining defendants also filed their bail applications, urging the court for leniency in setting the bail terms.

Prosecutor Jacobs highlighted that all defendants were on administrative bail and requested bail conditions ensuring their presence for trial.

Following arguments from both sides, Justice Orji granted bail to each defendant in the amount of ₦100 million, requiring two sureties for each.

Furthermore, the judge stipulated that one surety must possess a landed property with valid land titles within the Federal Capital Territory.

Additionally, the sureties must provide an affidavit of means..

The defendants were restricted from leaving the country without the court’s permission, with the consequence of non-compliance being detention in a correctional facility.

He said, “I admit the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendant to bail in the sum of 100 million each with 2 sureties of like sum.

“One of the sureties must have a landed property within the Federal Capital Territory. The defendants must not travel outside the country.

“Any of them who is unable to fulfil the bail conditions will be remanded in the correctional centre.” he added

The trial dates were set for June 10th, 11th, and 20th, marking the next steps in the legal proceedings.

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Fubara Bans All LGA Heads From Rivers Assembly

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In a decisive move, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has enacted a prohibition preventing all heads and officials from the 23 local government areas in the state from participating in Rivers Assembly sessions, specifically targeting lawmakers aligned with the Pro-Wike faction.

The governor cautioned that any individual who attends sessions convened by lawmakers supportive of Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, under the leadership of Speaker Martin Amaewhule, will face dismissal.

Recall that Governor Fubara reiterated that the state currently lacks recognized lawmakers in the eyes of the law, citing the defection of 27 legislators from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to the governor’s statement, this move has invalidated their mandate as outlined in the constitution.

It was however gathered that the governor’s directive was communicated via an online circular signed by Ebirieneuket Nteile C, Director of Information and Communications for Chairman Local Government Service Commission, dated Tuesday, May 7, 2024.

The circular reads “I am directed to inform you/ all officers of the 23 Local Government Councils in Rivers State, not to honour/appear before the Members of Assembly or any purported invitation by anybody or group of persons in any guise without the permission of the Acting Chairman- Local Government Service Commission.

“Any staff who disobeys or violates this instruction will be dismissed accordingly from service. Treat as very important, please.”

 

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