News

Journalists work may lead to mental shutdown, death – doctor

By Uzair Adam Imam

A psychiatrist, Dr. Adeoyo Oyewole, said the physical and mental stress journalists are exposed to daily has psychological effect on them that could lead to mental shutdown.

The doctor said the pressure used to create a mental disequilibrium which manifests psychologically and phphysically.

Dr. Oyewole, who is a consultant at the Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, also added that lack of proper stress management killed journalists discreetly.

He made this shocking revelation on Monday at a seminar organised by Fountain University for practising journalists and final year Mass Communication students of the institution.

The seminar was themed: Effect of Poor Stress Management among Nigerian Journalists on Mental Health Productivity, at its campus, Osogbo.

The doctor further stated that Nigerian journalists carry Nigeria on their shoulders at a mental cost, and struggle daily to gather information in spite of humiliating cultural and bureaucratic bottlenecks.

He added, “There is a need for journalists to be proactive in managing time, value relationships and posses the will to break through barriers to achieve daily goals.

“Financial freedom is also essential. No journalists should be underpaid in discharging their responsibility as a professional in order to meet their daily demands both personally and as a family.

“A journalist must be able to meet his daily diet and supplement demand to be physically and mentally ready for the rigours of the job”, he said.

EFCC declares British national wanted

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

The Economic Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has declared a British and Indian citizen, Deepark Khilnani, wanted on the ground of fraudulent activities.

The Commission in a post on their verified social media accounts disclosed on Wednesday that Mr Khilnani is wanted for conspiracy, stealing and money laundry.

The Commission gave his brief details and requested that persons with information that could lead to his arrest should not hesitate to contact the EFCC.

“Deepark Khilnani, 63, Indian/British citizen is wanted by the EFCC for Conspiracy and Money Laundering. If you have any information that could lead to his arrest, please do not hesitate to contact the EFCC immediately”, they posted.

Senator Ndube to drag Buhari to court over $800 million loan plan

By Uzair Adam Imam

There are still debates on the Presidency`s plan to collect $800 million loan from the World Bank. The money is said to be used to succour to the poorest of the poor upon removal of the petrol subsidy in the country.

President Muhammadu Buhari had sought the Senates approval to collect the debt few days to leave office as the President of Nigeria.

Ali Ndube, the senator representing Borno South, has threatened to drag President Muhammadu Buhari to the court over this plan.

The senator stated this in an iverterview on Trust TV`s Daily Politics, describing the attempt as unfair, illegal and unconstitutional.

Ndume stated that, “I will go to court on that because it is unfair, illegal and unconstitutional. Let me give you example, we are two now in the studio and you say you are going to borrow one million and share among the two of us, how are you going to select the two?

“Beside that if you are giving to the two and they are the ones to pay that is okay but it is all Nigerians that will pay.

“If you give Nigerians today ₦4,000 randomly, how fair is that? In fact, it is unconstitutional because the constitution of Nigeria does not allow you to discriminate.

“These guys they will just use grammar to confuse this old man (Buhari) and he will just approve. He (Buhari) doesn’t understand this, they just want to steal the money, we cannot continue to allow this kind of things.

“What they are targeting is what they can get out of it not, what Nigerians can get, you can quote me on that, any of them come to challenge me on TV, I will come back to explain myself, they are misleading the President,” he stated.

Al-Istiqama varsity vows to conduct drug test for students

By Uzair Adam Imam

A Nigerian private university, Al-Istiqama University Sumaila (AUSU), Kano, has taken a bold measure to address the lingering issue of drug abuse among youth, particularly its students.

Professor Salisu Shehu, the university’s Vice-Chancellor, disclosed this on Tuesday on his verified Facebook account.

The Vice-Chancellor said the university would not tolerate any form of drug abuse, adding that the move was to ensure “drug-free campuses.”

Reports on the danger of drug abuse by our media outlets recently filled the air following the murder of a Kano mother by her drug-addict son a few days ago.

The Vice-Chancellor further disclosed that the university has made it mandatory for all its students to go through a ‘drug screening exercise’.

In the disclosure he titled ‘Zero Tolerance to Drugs in Al-Istiqama’, Professor Shehu added, “As part of our efforts to ensure drug-free campuses, we have made it mandatory for each and every student, fresh or returning, to go through DRUG SCREENING EXERCISE at the beginning of each session.

“As we have just returned for the 2022/2023 Session, the exercise is currently ongoing, as can be seen in the photos below. ALHAMDULILLAH ALA TAUFIQIHI WAMTINANIHI,” he stated.

The Daily Reality, going through people’s reactions to the post, learned the measure taken by the university is fully supported by the public.

The decision was appreciated, and other universities were also called on to emulate Al-Istiqama to ensure a drug-free environment.

Bauchi court grants bail to Dr. Dutsen Tanshi

By Muhammad Sabiu

The Magistrate Court in Bauchi has granted bail to the prominent Islamic scholar, Sheikh Idris Abdul’aziz Dutsen Tanshi.
 
The court ruled on Tuesday on the request for bail requested by the lawyers of the cleric after he was arraigned.
 
On Monday, the police brought Sheikh Idris Dutsen Tanshi before the High Magistrate Court, where they charged him with incitement.
 
Dutsen Tanshi, whose lawyers told the court that the crime the cleric is accused of committing will not prevent him from being granted bail, denied all the allegations against him.
 
The judge then set today Tuesday as the day he would rule on their request and he did.
 
Recall that a religious organisation called Fityanul Islam filed a complaint against him, accusing him of uttering bad words against the Prophet Muhammad.

Time to compensate El-Rufa’i with juicy post – Muric tells Tinubu

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to reward Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State with a juicy post for his enormous contribution towards the attainment of Tinubu’s success in the 2023 presidential elections.

MURIC made this passionate plea on behalf of El-Rufa’i in a statement by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Monday.

Akintola stated that MURIC deemed it germane to remind Tinubu of the need to pay debts owed and appreciate those who made his current status a fait accompli. 

According to him, this is important in order to start sowing the seed of success for the incoming administration as well as to secure a strong foothold for 2027.

He further stated that El-Rufa’i should reap the rewards for standing between those in the corridor of power and their inglorious choices. 

The statement read, “As the days inch closer to the inauguration of the new administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Nigerian political spectrum has been inundated with power struggle intrigues and post allocation schemes. 

“This is not new to us since we know that failure is an orphan, but winners are always surrounded by all and sundry.

“However, we deem it germane to remind the President-Elect of the need to pay debts owed and appreciate those who made his current status a fait accompli. This is important in order to start sowing the seed of success for the incoming administration as well as to secure a strong foothold for 2027.

“Gratitude is a major characteristic of a good Muslim. Allah says in the Glorious Qur’an, “If you are grateful, I will increase my favours on you…” (Qur’an 14:7). If the President-Elect shows appreciation to the ‘Noble Dozen’ from the North, he will enjoy more of their solidarity.

“It is noteworthy that the ‘Noble Dozen’ (i.e. the twelve governors who insisted that power must shift to the South) was led by Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State. There is no Nigerian who is unaware of the unique support and unequalled solidarity given by this Northern group to the President-Elect. El-Rufai, in particular, left his palatial office in Kaduna to spend days in Abuja.

“His contribution to our victory, the victory of the Muslim-Muslim ticket, is unquantifiable. He became the mouthpiece of the Muslim-Muslim ticket camp, moving from one media house to another. We must not allow all these to go in vain.

“In particular, we must remember the risk El-Rufai took as he stood between those in the corridor of power and their inglorious choices. We must not forget his bold confrontation of the central bank governor over the latter’s misguided, ill-fated and accursed naira discolouring.  

“It will beat all imaginations and expectations, particularly among Muslims if El-Rufai is not considered for a juicy post in the cabinet of Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We have played national politics the way it should be played. But now is the time to be focused. Choice positions should not be allowed to go to political charlatans, fairweather friends, hypocrites and parasites. El-Rufai is a different cup of tea. He is tested and trusted. He is the icon of Northern dignity.

“To the President-Elect, we have this to say: guard very jealously the good relationship and the alliance between the North and the South West. It is a union steeped in historicity. Compensate the North for its dignity and integrity without being unfair to the rest of the country. 

“We bequeath you the burden of Nigeria. Your road will be rough, no doubt about that, but with prayers and your well-known administrative acumen and political sagacity, Almighty Allah will clear the bumps and roadblocks for you,” the statement added.

Kogi man allegedly murdered stepmother

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

A man identified as Idris Aminu, has allegedly murdered his 75- years- old stepmother in the Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The incident happened in the afternoon of Monday while the deceased was having her siesta.

According to reports, Aminu clubbed the stepmother, Salamatu Aminu to death with a pestle after failed attempts to poison her.

The accused had accused the deceased of witchcraft and blamed her for his failures in life.

Confirming the incident, the Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, William Ayah said the suspect has been arrested by the command and will be charged to court as soon as possible.

He further disclosed that the old woman was sleeping when her stepson killed her with a pestle.

Tinubu ready to address underdevelopment issues – Osun ex-governor

By Uzair Adam Imam

The President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has proposed a 20 to 50 years development plan to help address the menacing underdevelopment issue in Nigeria.

Bisi Akande, Pioneer National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), disclosed this on Sunday in a public lecture in Ondo.

Akande, who is also a former governor of Osun State, lamented that the failure of successive governments to have a development plan for critical sectors of the economy is responsible for the country’s underdevelopment.

He stated, “We fail to plan and, yet, we are surprised that we fail in almost all sectors as we are all lapsing into generations of plan-less hypocrites.

“I can assure you that was not what we inherited. In this same country, we used to have five years capital development plans and seven years capital development plans. Now we only plan for the immediate next election.

“We thank God that this time around; Nigerians have elected a leader who has planned for a long time to be our President.

“Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is a well-known person to Baba Fasoranti, and he is also an inheritor of the Awoist legacy of planning and integrity.

“Therefore, it is right and necessary to expect a 20 or 50 years master plan for Nigeria from President Tinubu which would transform this blessed country into a great one,” Akande added.

AI Hackathon: Arewa Data Science Academy wins $800 prize

By Uzair Adam Imam

There was jubilation at the Arewa Data Science Academy on Sunday as their team emerged 2nd place in the just concluded Cohere AI Hackathon, winning a prize of Eight Hundred Dollars + Cohere AI Credit.

One of the team leaders, Dr Shamsuddeen H. Muhammad, relayed the exciting news on his Facebook account on Sunday.

Dr Muhammad added that the Arewa Data Science Team had competed against different teams and demonstrated skills and creativity in machine learning.

He stated, “I am happy to share that the Arewa Data Science team has won the competition at the Cohere AI hackathon and received a prize of 800 dollars and Cohere AI credits!

“Our fellows competed against different teams worldwide and demonstrated their skills and creativity in Machine Learning. Congratulations to the team on this achievement!”

Muhammed further stated that Arewa Data Science Academy is a free training program for Arewa youth who want to learn data science and machine learning.

He added that the academy “provides monthly stipends (N10,000) and free internet data (20GB) to our fellows to help them in their learning activities. 

“If you are interested in joining us, visit our website at: https://arewadatascience.org,” he stated.

Dispute between two neighbours in Kano ends in bloodbath

By Uzair Adam Imam

A bitter dispute between two neighbours in Kano resulted in a bloodbath when one of the men, Amir Sa’idu, allegedly descended on the other with several stabs.

Sa’idu was said to have stabbed his neighbour, Muktar Abubakar, with a pair of scissors on his forehead.

The Daily Reality gathered that the incident, which happened in Unguwa Uku, Kano, led to Abubakar developing a partial stroke.

Our reporters also learned that a Kano State Sharia Court sitting in Unguwa Uku had remanded Amir for his actions.

The prosecutor, Aliyul Abideen, told the court that the victim developed several illnesses after the incident.

He added that the illness later led to a partial stroke and that he was now receiving treatment in a hospital.

However, the suspect pleaded guilty to the charge.

But the judge, Nura Yusuf Ahmad, ordered the suspect remanded in prison until June 12.

He added that the case would remain pending until the victim’s situation has been reviewed.