“Was He Divorced?” – reactions as Junior Pope’s Burial Arrangements Poster Leaves Many Confused

“WAS HE DIVORCED?” – reactions as Junior Pope’s Burial Arrangements Poster Leaves Many Confused

According to the funeral announcement on the poster, signed by Divine Odonwodo on behalf of the family, another requiem mass will be held on May 13 at Christ the King Catholic Parish, G.R.A, Enugu. On May 14, an evening of tributes and candlelight will be held in Enugu’s Amadeo Event Centre beginning at 5 p.m. On May 16, a wake will be held at his country house in Uwala Abaka, Ukehe, a village in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu state 

The Nollywood actor will finally be laid to rest on Friday 17 May at his country home after a burial mass at Saint Peter’s Catholic Church, Ukehe. Interment will follow immediately after the burial of the actor. 

However, some eagle-eyed netizens were quick to notice the ‘husband’ was not included in the tributes to the actor. 

See the post below: Some netizens were quick to note that ‘husband’ was not included in the tribute to the actor on the flyer as many took to the comment section to ask questions. oliveugochukwublog captured some of the comments, read them below: 

passion4_braid: “Oh..what about “husband “, was he divorced before his painful demise?” topstar_photography: “All I can say is,, it is well.. may this be the end of tragedy amongst the nollywood.”

 chiamy_nwatailor: “Why is husband omitted? May his soul continue resting in peace.” real_mean_: “Why did they no Include husband….”

 “eautyujay: “Why them no add husband oo.” jaypearl1: “Kai! May 7th is almost here and you’re no more Rest well king.” officialprincess_zita: “So he’s no longer a husband?the rumour was true.”

#Bill to make JAMB result valid for four years passes second reading

#A bill seeking to make Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) results valid for two years has passed the second reading in the House of Representatives.

The Amendment of the JAMB Act was sponsored by Rep. Tolulope Sadipe (APC-Oyo), at the plenary on Thursday.

Leading the debate, Sadipe said many students sit for the JAMB examination and come up with good grades, but for one reason or the other, they ended up not being offered admission, for no fault of theirs.

She said these students and their parents, were made to bear the financial burden to sit for the examination the next year.

According to her, the excuse that JAMB allegedly keeps bringing up, in that regard, was that it was revenue generation for them.“When you look at the number of students that apply for university admissions every year and the number that eventually get in, it is definitely not their fault, so, why should they be penalised?

“Everywhere in the world, there is no such exam that is valid for one year; Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is valid forever.

“Most universities across the world value such exams for at least five years, but here in Nigeria, JAMB is valid for just one entry, and if you do not get it, you repeat it.

“I think this is totally unfair, there are a lot of children in this country, whose parents are struggling to put them through school.However, while contributing to the debate, Rep. Nkem Abonta (PDP-Abia), argued that extending the validity of JAMB results would defeat the aim of the entry exams.

He said that JAMB Act, sought to regulate the mode of entry into Nigerian universities, saying that making the result valid for two to three years would cause more problems.

Abonta said the relevant committee should look at the proposed amendment critically, so as not to compound the problem, in an attempt to solve it.

Rep. Chinyere Igwe (PDP-Rivers), argued that there was a difference between an entrance examination and a terminal examination.He said, “JAMB is an entrance examination, with the purpose of securing admission into a university, polytechnic or colleges of education, with a view to earning a terminal qualification,”.

The lawmaker said the foreign exams mentioned by the sponsor of the bill, are terminal examinations, and not entry examinations, like JAMB.

He said that when one sat for the entrance examination and did not make the cut-off score, the exam was reseated.

The rep said that making the result valid for two years would reduce the standard of education in the country.Rep. Toby Okechukwu (PDP-Enugu) urged the house not to “throw the baby and bathwater away”.

According to him, students and their parents and sponsors had not only been suffering “double jeopardy but several jeopardies”.

He said some students had continued to pass JAMB exams, and had not been able to go to school for over five years, which sometimes often results in dropping out of school.

In his remarks, the Deputy Speaker, Rep. Ahmed Wase, referred the bill to the relevant committees of the house, for further legislative actions.

#JAMB fixes date for mop-up examination

#Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) had fixed Saturday 6th August 2022, for its mop-up Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for candidates who could not participate in the examinations during the period of the exercise for some verified reasons.

Information contained in JAMB weekly bulletin indicated that the decision was a result of JAMB’s determination to give equal opportunity to all candidates who are desirous of tertiary education.

It explained: “JAMB, after every UTME exercise reviews various reports from officials in the field and video footage of the examination. The reviews are done by a team of experts, with a view to detecting activities subversive of the examination process.

“It’s after all the reports have been collated and considered that the management would take critical decisions as to the necessity or otherwise of a mop-up examination for affected candidates.

“So, after a thorough analysis of the conduct of the 2022 UTME in 10 centres spread across five states of the federation where examination malpractice was established to have taken place, it became necessary to cancel the results of all the candidates who sat the examination in the affected 10 centres.

“The Board took cognisance of the fact that some innocent candidates, unfortunately, sat their examination at these centres. Consequently, all candidates who sat the UTME in the affected centres have been rescheduled for the mop-up UTME.

“It should be noted that candidates who, for whatever reasons, were absent at those centres are not eligible for the mop-up examination. Other categories of candidates rescheduled for the mop-up UTME are; 142 candidates who could not take the UTME due to fingerprint peculiarities; 28 candidates who could not take the UTME due to technical problems in some centres; and 1,799 candidates with BVM failure who were recaptured at the centres.”

The Board, however, affirmed its zero tolerance for examination malpractices and would do all within its powers to combat it. It also reiterated its avowed commitment to the conduct of credible matriculation examinations in all tertiary institutions in the country, while ensuring the sanctity of its examination process towards sustaining the integrity that the society has come to associate with the Board.

#Gunmen attack policemen in Ogun state

#Some gunmen suspected to be members of the Aiye cult group terrorizing different parts of Abeokuta have attacked policemen in the Ogun State capital.

The attack, which led to a gun duel between the suspected cultists and the police, ensued when the cops tried to arrest one of them, who the police identified as Ben, around the Lafenwa area of Abeokuta.

The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, disclosed on Tuesday that the said Ben had been on the wanted list of the command for allegedly killing five persons.

Oyeyemi said SWAT operatives and men of the Lafenwa and Ilupeju divisions had on Monday trailed Ben to where he was holding a nocturnal meeting with his group to launch another attack.

“Ben, who had been involved in several cult clashes leading to the killing of not less than five persons, was holding a nocturnal meeting with his group at Ogun Radio, Mile 2 area of Lafenwa, Abeokuta, for the purpose of launching another attack in some parts of the metropolis,” said Oyeyemi.

But on sighting the policemen, Oyeyemi hinted that “Ben and his deadly group engaged them in a gun battle which lasted for about 30 minutes,” saying that Ben later escaped with bullet wounds while three of his men – Jonathan Oshinalu, Kola Bolugbe, and Jimoh Aliu (a.k.a Alaayan) were arrested.

During the attack, the ‘hoodlums’ reportedly destroyed a patrol vehicle belonging to Lafenwa division “before they were subdued by the superior firepower of the police,” DAILY POST learnt.

It was also gathered that an unregistered Lexus 330 car, which Oyeyemi said they used for their operations, was recovered by the SWAT team.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in Ogun, Lanre Bankole, has ordered a massive manhunt for Ben and other members of his group, while directing that the arrested ones be arraigned after discreet investigations.

#Gunmen strike again in Oyo, kidnap hotelier staff

#Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted two people in Oyo State.

DAILY POST gathered from sources that the two people, a hotelier and one of his staff were kidnapped at Aba area of Ogbomoso town.

The duo were abducted by gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, Thursday evening.

The hotelier who also owns a farm according to information is hypertensive and so on drug.

Our correspondent learnt that the hotelier just returned to Ogbomoso from a trip Thursday evening, before they were abducted from his hotel.

The gunmen, numbering about ten, fired gunshots, after which they took their victims into the bush.

This is the third kidnapping case reported in Ogbomoso geo-political zone this month.

Christopher Bakare, a farm supervisor at the farm of a former governor of the state, late Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akalawas abducted on Saturday, 16 July this year at Jabata in Surulere local government area of the State.

A private hospital owner identified as Baba Rasheed was also abducted on Friday 22 July this year in the same local government area.

Public Relations Officer of the State police command, Adewale Osifeso, when contacted, confirmed the recent abduction.

Osifeso in a reply to DAILY POST enquiry, said that the police have commenced investigation into the matter.

Osifeso said, “Investigation has commenced. You would be provided updates accordingly, please”.

#Terrorists attacks:Nigerian Army effects major shake-up deploys Goc's appoints new Pso's other

#The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, has approved the posting and appointment of some top officers to command, instructional and staff positions across formations and units amid the recent attacks by terrorists across the country.

The appointments were announced in a statement issued by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, on Thursday in Abuja.

Nwachukwu said the new postings and appointments were made in an effort to reposition the army for operational efficiency.

According to him, those affected in the redeployment include some Principal Staff Officers of the Army Headquarters, General Officers Commanding, Corps Commanders, Commandants of training institutions, Brigade Commanders, and Commanding Officers, amongst others.

He said the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Maj.-Gen.Umaru Musa had been redeployed to 82 as the new GOC, while Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja moves from 82 Division to 1 Division as the new GOC.

The army spokesman said that Maj.-Gen. OC Ajunwa had been moved from Nigeria Defence Section in Brasilia to HQ 81 Division as GOC, while the Commandant, Depot Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Aminu Chinade had been moved to 2 Division as GOC.

He also said that Maj.-Gen. OW Ali had been redeployed from Headquarters Command, Army Records, to AHQ as Chief of Administration (Army), while Maj.-Gen. S Muhammed had been moved from Defence Headquarters to AHQ as Chief of Army Standards and Evaluation (Army).

According to him, Maj.-Gen. James Ataguba moves from AHQ Department of Army Standards and Evaluation to Defence Headquarters and appointed, Director, Peace-Keeping Operations, while Maj.-Gen. Adekunle Adesope from Army Finance Corps to DHQ and appointed as Chief of Defence, Accounts and Budget.

“Maj.-Gen. Usman Mohammed moves from Army Headquarters, Department of Administration, to Nigerian Army Resource Centre and is appointed Senior Research Fellow.

“Other senior officers affected in the redeployment are Maj.-Gen. Preye Fakrogha, from DHQ Garrison to Defence Space Administration and appointed Director Policy, Plans and Research, while Maj.-Gen. MO Enendu moves from Nigerian Army College of Logistics to DHQ and appointed Director Psychological Warfare.

“Maj.-Gen. Adikwu Attu moves from DHQ Department of Training and Operations to DHQ Garrison and appointed Commander, while Maj.-Gen. Bernard Onyeuko moves from the Directorate of Defence Media Operations to DHQ Department of Logistics and appointed Director Procurement,” he said.

Nwachukwu said that Maj.-Gen. AM Alabi had been appointed Corps Commander, Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps; Maj.-Gen. A Mohammed, Corps Commander, Nigerian Army Electrical Mechanical Engineers and Maj.-Gen. E Akerejola had been appointed Commander, Corps of Supply and Transport.

He said that Maj.-Gen. AA Fayemiwo had been redeployed from Nigerian Army Welfare Holdings Limited and appointed Chief of Accounts and Budget (Army).

“Senior officers newly appointed as Commandants of Nigerian Army training institutions are Maj.-Gen. P.I. Eze, Commandant, Nigerian Army Ordinance School; Maj.-Gen. AA Adeyinka, as Commandant, Nigerian Army College of Logistics and Maj.-Gen. P.P. Malla appointed Commandant, Depot, Nigerian Army, while Brig.-Gen. UT Otaru has been appointed Acting Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Supply and Transport,” he said.

Other appointments, according to Nwachukwu, are those of Brigade Commanders.

He said the Chief of Army Staff had directed all the newly appointed senior officers to redouble their effort and commitment to duty in tackling the security challenges bedeviling the nation, as they assume their new appointments.

#How Canada factors into the post-Roe Landscape

#While Canadian clinics are able to serve American women seeking abortions, experts say the country isn’t a ‘silver bullet’ solution.

By Zoya Wazir

July 28, 2022

Torontonians rally for abortion rights outside the U.S. Consulate at 360 University Avenue, in reaction to the American Supreme Court decision to strike down Roe V. Wade, June 25, 2022, in Toronto.(STEVE RUSSELL/TORONTO STAR/GETTY IMAGES)

Following the overturning of Roe v. Wade in the United States, people in states with restrictive abortion laws are looking for resources beyond their local clinics – including even across the country’s northern border.But while some Americans might be turning to Canada for a solution to some of the rollbacks on abortion rights in the U.S., seeking abortions in the country may not be the most accessible answer. Canada has had abortion decriminalized since 1988, but traveling across the border to seek care in Canadian abortion clinics remains out of reach for many abortion-seekers in the U.S., experts say.

Indeed, Liza Fuentes, a senior research scientist specializing in abortion and contraceptive access at the Guttmacher Institute, a research and policy organization that supports abortion rights, says that looking to Canada isn’t exactly a “silver bullet” or long-term solution to the rollback of rights in the U.S.

“People are going to obtain abortion care in the manner that is best for them given the circumstances,” Fuentes says. “Pre-Roe, did people leave the country to obtain abortion care? Of course they did. But who are we talking about? We're talking about the people who have the most amount of resources to be able to arrange travel in a way that is safe and effective.”According to a Guttmacher study, about 1 in 10 abortion-seekers in 2020 traveled outside of their home state to receive treatment. And while 13 U.S. states border Canada, financial issues might prevent many Americans from crossing the border to seek abortions – especially given that about half of abortion recipients in 2014 lived below the poverty line.

Traveling across the Canadian border could be cost-prohibitive for the average abortion-seeker needing to pay for plane tickets, gas, lodging or other expenses. Child care costs could also be a consideration, given that approximately 6 in 10 women who have abortions are already mothers, according to 2019 data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Fuentes also notes that traveling internationally to seek abortions is unrealistic for people without passports.

“People who are undocumented are going to be left behind,” she says.

For those who do travel, even though Canadian abortion clinics close to the U.S. border are open to taking American patients, Dr. Angel Foster, a professor and former chair of women’s health research at the University of Ottawa, predicts that people in the U.S. seeking abortions in states with restrictions will still be more likely to travel within the U.S. for their care instead.“The reality of who has abortions in the United States and who was most affected by these bans, these are not people who are going to be traveling to Canada,” she says.

Instead, Foster sees people with existing connections in Canada – like family they could stay with while receiving care, for example – as a group more likely to make the cross-border journey for abortion access.

“For most of those people who are going to travel, they're going to travel to a state that's much more proximate,” she says.

But while some in the U.S. are looking to Canada as a safe haven for abortion access, the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade may have implications on Canadians seeking services, too.

Although abortion does not exist in Canada’s criminal code, abortion is still regulated at the provincial and territorial levels, and barriers to access still exist, especially for people in Canada’s northern territories. Even in Canadian provinces where abortion is morewidely available, some people needing abortion care at later gestational ages, such as after 20 weeks of pregnancy, have not been able to get such care, Foster says. In fact, some Canadians have relied on traveling to the U.S. to provide that care, she adds, and that may be in danger in a post-Roe landscape.

“I think the access barriers in Canada are not really relevant to the conversation about whether or not Americans are going to be able to access services,” Foster says. For example, “there's almost no later-gestational-age provision and post-viability (abortions performed after a fetus is viable) provision in Canada, so it's actually Canadians going to the United States for post-viability care.”Currently, there are no U.S. states that have passed legislation banning people from traveling between states or internationally to seek abortions, although there is a proposed bill in Missouri and legislatures in Texas and Oklahoma have urged private citizens to file civil lawsuits against those accused of aiding abortions.

Nevertheless, traveling to get an abortion – either across national or state borders – may well prove to be out of reach for many abortion-seekers.

Now, many abortion researchers and activists have started to prioritize preventing people from having to carry unwanted pregnancies to term – whether that be through accessing abortion funds to travel to the nearest clinic, expanding awareness for self-managed abortions via online abortion pill services or other means.