News
Sahara Reporters in trouble over ‘malicious’ report against HCSoF
The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) on Friday night gave Sahara Reporters 24 hours to retract a ”false, damaging and libellous report” against “ the person of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan” or face legal action.
This was contained in a letter signed by M. A. Ahmed, Director, Communications,
Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and addressed to the Editor-in-Chief of Sahara Reporters.
The letter titled Re: How Nigeria’s Head of the Civil Service of the Federation Extorted N23million From 92 Applicants vying for post of Permanent Secretaries, Planned to Manipulate Posting to Ministries reads:
“The attention of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) has been drawn to a frivolous allegation labeled against the person of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, CFR, by your medium via an online news story published on 20th October, 2023 with the above misleading heading.
“The unfounded report alleged that the HoCSF compelled ninety-two (92) applicants participating in the ongoing selection process for the appointment of Federal Permanent Secretaries to pay the sum of N250,000 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) each for a one-week training programme commencing from 23rd to 28th October, 2023 at the Public Service Institute of Nigeria (PSIN).
“It is imperative to state here that the course fee was not determined by the OHCSF nor is it paid into the Office‘s account. Training and retraining of Civil Servants is the core mandate of PSIN and the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) and as such, monies for such are paid directly into the aforementioned training institutions’ NUBAN account, linked to the Federal Government’s Treasury Single Account (TSA).
“It may also interest Sahara Reporters to know that the said training is the fifth in the series since its inception and, most importantly, it is optional. As such, it is the prerogative of the prospective candidate to pay and participate or not. It is aimed at refreshening, as well as sharpening their skills and competencies. There is no penalty for non-participation.
“For the avoidance of doubt and the records, the process for the selection of Federal Permanent Secretaries is segmented, rigorous and transparent. The medium is advised to come for tutelage on the process and posting of Permanent Secretaries rather than relying on allegations and misinformation. This is highly unethical, to say the least.
“It is rather unfortunate that due diligence was not done by Sahara Reporters before this publication. It was written with the sole aim of misinforming the general public for reasons best known to them.
“In view of the above stated facts, you are requested to retract the said false, damaging and libellous report, put the records in proper perspective, as well as apologise within 24 hours to avoid legal action, please.”
News
Nollywood veteran Hilda Dokubo emerges LP woman leader as party lifts suspension of 26 members
Hilda Dokubo, a veteran Nollywood actress, has been elected as National Woman Leader of the Labour Party (LP) after her months of suspension from the party was lifted by the National Working Committee, NWC.
Apart from Dokubo, the suspension of 25 other members was also lifted. They include Emmanuel Agida, Abayomi Arabambi, Ogar Osim, Muhammed Aliyu, Casmir Uchenna, Airen Igbinedion, Auwal Ahmed, and others.
The suspension was lifted on Tuesday during the national convention of the party held at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, Abia State.
The decision to lift the suspension was taken through a voice vote by delegates from all states in attendance at the convention.
The chairman of the elective national convention, Ginger Onwusibe, announced the recall of the 26 members after a unanimous voice vote by the delegates.
Explaining the development, the newly elected National Chairman of the LP, Esther Nenadi-Usman, said the party followed the path of reconciliation and forgiveness.
News
“Why did soldiers bury my son’s brain after killing him,” mother of slain Abuja NYSC member questions
Madam Habitat Abubakar, the mother of a 24-year-old civil engineer, Abdulsamad Jamiu, who was allegedly shot dead by soldiers in the Kubwa area of Abuja, has demanded justice for her son.
Abdulsamad, popularly known as Kesh, was reportedly killed inside his bedroom in the early hours of Saturday, April 26, 2026.
His mother was in Okene, Kogi State, with her husband for a burial and firdau prayers when the incident occurred.
She was said to have been shielded from the full details of her son’s death until she arrived at the family compound in Abuja, where she fainted after learning the truth.
She questioned the circumstances surrounding her son’s death and the alleged actions of the soldiers after the incident.
She said, “Why did they jump my fence? Why did they enter my son’s room? Why did they kill him? Why did they call the vigilance team to come and mop his blood? Why did they instruct them to go and bury my son’s brains?”
She described Abdulsamad as a responsible young man with a bright future.
“He was a responsible boy. He did not joke with his five daily prayers. He was straightforward. He had a bright future. He had plans for himself, for his siblings, for his mother. And just like that, his dream was cut off right in his room,” she said.
Abubakar appealed to President Bola Tinubu, the First Lady, Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Ododo, his wife, Sefiya, activists and Amnesty International to intervene and ensure justice for her son.
“This fight is too big for me. This pain is too big for me to bear,” she said.
News
Fubara sets January deadline for completion of creek road market project
River State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, on Tuesday, inspected the ongoing construction work at the Creek Road Market, Port Harcourt, declaring that the project will be completed by January 2027.
The new market, which is divided into three sections is designed to provide a decent and more conducive environment for traders who had for many years extended their buying and selling activities to the road due to congestion in the old market.
The governor was conducted round the project site by Architect Opiribo West, the site engineer for E.S.T Masters Construction, the firm handling the project, alongside Hon. Tonye Belgam, the State Commissioner for Special Projects.
Addressing newsmen at the end of the inspection tour, Governor Fubara explained that the reconstruction of the market was borne out of the need to provide adequate space for the traders and clear the surrounding roads of the spillover from the market.
He noted that the ongoing rehabilitation of the network of roads in the old Port Harcourt Township had been significantly hampered by the lack of a modern market, stressing that the new market will be a promise kept and part of the high-quality infrastructure and urban renewal programme of his administration.
“You are aware that we did promise our people that all the roads in town will be fixed. But we had a very serious issue because of the Creek Road section of the township roads . Because of not having adequate space to accommodate the traders in the market, they extended their activities into the road and that became a serious issue for our construction work.
“So we decided that for us to deliver a better project that would impress our people, we must, as a matter of fact, embark on building a better and more comfortable market for our people,” he said.
In a statement signed by Onwuka Nzechi, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Fubara explained that while construction work has begun in Section A of the market, Section B is being prepared for immediate commencement of construction while Section C will require a more rigorous engineering approach because of it’s location on a borrow pit.
“As you are aware, we’ve been here once to check the activities of the contractor. Today, I’m here to see for myself the extent of work that is ongoing. And I feel very happy that they are doing a very good job.
“They just informed me that the market is divided into three sections. The section A and the section B and the section C. The A is the one we just saw here that they’ve already started from the ground. This B section is the other side which they will start soon, while the C section is the one that they discovered that it was a borrow pit.
“And you know, you can’t build on top of a borrow pit. So we had to do evacuation and filling. So I believe that once those things are done, the other part of the section of the market will also commence. They even assured me that the timeline I gave to them for January that they are going to deliver the project fully for our people to use,” he said.
Governor Fubara emphasised that the investment in a modern market is an integral part of his administration’s agenda on good governance through the delivery of legacy projects.
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