Putin Signs Electronic Conscription Bill, to block those who intend to flee

Russian President Putin on Friday signed a bill allowing authorities to issue electronic notices to draftees and reservists amid the fighting in Ukraine, sparking fears of a new wave of mobilization.

The bill signed into law by Putin was published on the official register of government documents.

Russia’s military service rules previously required the in-person delivery of notices to conscripts and reservists who are called up for duty. Under the new law, the notices issued by local military conscription offices will continue to be sent by mail but they would be considered valid from the moment they are put on a state portal for electronic services.

In the past, many Russians avoided the draft by staying away from their address of record. The new law closes that loophole in an apparent effort to create a tool for quickly beefing up the military ahead of a widely anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive in the coming weeks.

Recipients who fail to show up for service would be prohibited from leaving Russia, would have their drivers’ licenses suspended and would be barred from selling their apartments and other assets.

Kremlin critics and rights activists denounced the new legislation as a step toward a “digital prison camp” that gives unprecedented powers to the military conscription offices.

Lyudmila Narusova, the widow of former St. Petersburg mayor Anatoly Sobchak, was the only house member who spoke against the measure when the Federation Council, the upper house of parliament, considered the bill Wednesday.

Narusova, whose late husband was Putin’s mentor, charged that the bill contradicts the country’s constitution and various laws, and strongly objected to its hasty approval.

The swift enactment of the law fueled fears of the government initiating another wave of mobilization following the one that Putin ordered in the fall.

Authorities have said that another mobilization isn’t planned. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said this week that the measure was needed to streamline the outdated call-up system in view of the flaws that were revealed by last fall’s partial mobilization.

“There was a lot of mess in military conscription offices,” he said. “The purpose of the bill is to clean up this mess and make the system modern, effective and convenient for citizens.”

Putin announced a call-up of 300,000 reservists in September after a Ukrainian counteroffensive that pushed Russian forces out of broad areas in the east. 

The mobilization order prompted an exodus of Russian men that was estimated to number in the hundreds of thousands.

@AP

Federal Gov’t Denies Bailing Peter Obi Out Of Detention In UK

The Federal Government of Nigeria has denied news making the rounds that it intervened in the detention ordeal of the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in London, United Kingdom last week.

LEADERSHIP reports that Obi was briefly detained at Hearthrow Airport in London in a case of mistaken identity during his trip to celebrate Easter in the UK.

A fake photo has gone viral on the social media on Thursday purportedly showing the executive chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, seated in an office with Obi and a UK law enforcement officer in order to secure the LP presidential candidate’s release from detention.

Also, an aide of President Muhammadu Buhari, Bashir Ahmad, also tweeted on Thursday, implying that the Federal Government intervened in Peter Obi’s ordeal to secure his release.

Ahmad wrote: “I heard Aunty @Abike Dabiri has done it for the Compatriot that needed her intervention in the UK. God bless you and the services you have been rendering for our countrymen and women, especially this recent one, ma’am!”

But, the spokesperson and head of Media, Public Relations and Protocol Unit of NiDCOM, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, has disowned the viral photo, describing it as a stunt.

He said the NiDCOM boss, Dabiri-Erewa, was not in the UK and not in a position to secure the release of any Nigerian suspected to be under UK interrogation

“Our attention has been called to the above social.media stunt which has gone viral. Aunty Abike Dabiri-Erewa is NOT in UK and NOT in a position to secure the release of any Nigerian suspected to be under UK interrogation. So, members of the public should disregard the information in its entirety,” the NiDCOM spokesman stated.

https://leadership.ng/federal-govt-denies-bailing-peter-obi-out-of-detention-in-uk/

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Ronaldo’s Manager At Al Nassr, Rudi Garcia Sacked

Al Nassr has announced that head coach, Rudi Garcia has left the club by mutual agreement.

Garcia has been fired due to his poor relationship with the dressing room, which includes Cristiano Ronaldo.

He recently confronted the players, a move which proved costly, as the Saudi Pro League club has taken the decision to dismiss him.

Garcia has also failed to live up to the expectations set out in his club’s ambitious project.

With seven fixtures left to play, Al Nassr is currently in second place, three points behind Al Ittihad.

DAILY POST

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Yahaya Bello Reveals Ahmed Usman Ododo As Preferred Successor

Edward David Onoja, the Deputy Governor of Kogi State has withdrawn from the Kogi All Progressives Congress (APC) Primary slated for tomorrow.

The ruling Party had announced the Direct Primary will be the mode of Primary to produce the Candidate who will fly the Party's flag in the November 11 Governorship Election.

Following a Stakeholders meeting, the outgoing Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello revealed his preferred successor to be a former Local Government Auditor General, Ahmed Usman Ododo.

Ododo hails from the same Kogi Central Senatorial Zone as the outgoing Governor.

Alongside Onoja, others who have withdrawn from the race are: Mohammed Abdulkareem Asuku (the Governor's Chief of Staff), David Adebanji Jimoh; a former Commissioner for Finance, Asiwaju Ashiru Idris; Okala Yakubu, and Momoh Jubril.

SOURCE

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G-5 Governors Mini-convention Plan Deepens PDP Crisis

There is division in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the push for a mini-convention by G-5 governors, it was learnt yesterday.

The move, it was gathered, is aimed at seeing to the final exit of Dr Iyorchia Ayu as PDP National Chairman. But some Ayu loyalists have countered that no such convention can hold while the suspended chairman’s case is still pending before the court.

It was further learnt that the envisaged mini-convention would be an avenue to rejig the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) as it is presently constituted.

A party source hinted that the NWC members likely to be dropped are the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, who is vying for the PDP governorship candidate ticket for the November 11 Imo State election.

Other NWC members who were sponsored to office by the G-5 governors, but who are perceived to have switched loyalties to opposing camps may also not be retained.

The controversy over a mini-convention was among the factors that led to the party’s defeat in the last presidential election.

The G-5 is made up of Governors Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu).

It was further learnt that the G-5 governors are working hard to ensure that the mini convention is held before May 29 when four of them will be completing their second and final tenure in office. 

Of the five governors, only Governor Makinde of Oyo State will remain in office till 2027, having won a re-election in the last poll.

A source close to the G-5, however, said the North may still retain the national chairman, contrary to the governors’ call for its zoning to go to the South before the last general election.

According to the source, PDP may pick its 2027 presidential candidate from the South.

Another source, who craved anonymity, said the Northcentral where Dr Ayu hailed from, may still retain the national chairman.

However, the G-5, which is being led by Governor Wike, is said to be finding it difficult to secure the buy-in of stakeholders in the party’s critical organs, especially the National Executive Committee (NEC), which is the highest decision making organ of the party.

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State is said to be well-disposed to the plan and he is working on some of his close associates in the NEC, with a view to winning them over.

A source confirmed a series of meetings of members of the group with some stakeholders in the last few days.

One of such meetings, he said, took place last week, in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, where the governors were reported to have stressed the need for the mini-convention to hold before the May 29 handover date.

However, some key stakeholders have faulted the alleged plan, saying it’s ill-timed and ill-advised for anyone to start discussing mini-convention at this point.

According to them, every right thinking party member ought to be concerned about the fate of the PDP in the last governorship and parliamentary elections in Adamawa, Kebbi and Sokoto states. 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared the March 18 governorship elections in Adamawa and Kebbi States as inconclusive. 

The February 25 parliamentary election in Sokoto State also suffered the same fate. Among those affected was Governor Aminu Tambuwal, who is the PDP candidate for the Sokoto South Senatorial District.

INEC has fixed Saturday April 15 for supplementary elections in the affected states. 

A member of NEC, who spoke with our correspondent in confidence, urged those pushing for mini convention to exercise restraint and allow the party some space to breathe.

The party chief said: “A mini convention at this time is a distraction that we can do away with. What should worry right thinking PDP members is the so-called inconclusive governorship elections in Adamawa and Kebbi.

“We are more concerned about Adamawa because we have a sitting governor that the powers that be are planning to rig out and steal our mandate. 

“So, if it’s true that some people want a mini convention at this time, then, they are being insensitive and inconsiderate. They may as well be asking for chaos as if we have not had enough distractions already.

“More so, any proposal for mini-convention must get the approval of NEC. But many NEC members are currently brooding over the party’s misfortune in the last general election, especially our loss at the presidential election.

“Most NEC members and other stakeholders have shifted focus to the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal and other pending cases at the governorship and National Assembly tribunals.

“Those you said are planning to hold mini convention are free to go ahead with their fanciful idea. Don’t forget that the substantive PDP national chairman is only on suspension. 

“We are still awaiting court ruling in the matter pending before a High Court in Benue State. All that’s required to stop any mini convention or a semblance of it from holding, is for a member to approach the court for a restraining order. 

“These people must know that nobody has the monopoly of obtaining restraining orders from our courts. This is the most inauspicious time to for anyone to call for mini convention.”

https://thenationonlineng.net/g-5-governors-mini-convention-plan-deepens-pdp-crisis/

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British Govt Declines Comment On Obi’s Detention By UK Immigration

The United Kingdom government yesterday refuted comments over the detention and interrogation of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the just concluded 2023 elections, Peter Obi, by British immigration officials following issues of identity at the Heathrow airport in London.

When contacted for clarification on the matter, the head of the Media Unit of the British High Commission in Abuja, Dean Hurlock, told our correspondent that the mission does not make comments on issues of that nature because they are personal.

“The British High Commission is aware of media reports around the LP presidential candidate in the past few days. But in line with the Commission’s policy, we don’t comment on individual cases,” Hurlock said.

The Media was yesterday awash with reports that the UK government had apologised to Obi over the embarrassing way he was allegedly treated in London, describing it as ” unacceptable’

But in a swift reaction, the Media Office of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council (LPPC) denied receiving any apology from the British government over the embarrassing detention of its Presidential candidate.

Obi was last Friday detained at the Heathrow Airport by Immigration officials over a case of duplicated identity.

Head, Obi-Datti Media team, Diran Onifade, in a statement called on the UK government to resolve the matter around the treatment of the former Anambra State governor, even as he reiterated that the Labour Party has gone past the incident.

The statement reads in part: “We have been receiving enquiries with regards to a so-called apology, purportedly issued by the British Government or any of its agencies, to our Principal Mr Peter Obi, in respect of a routine Immigration engagement with him, as he arrived London, for a brief visit, last Friday, the 7th of April.

“We would like to state emphatically that we are not aware of any such apology, and have not issued any statement whatsoever, in that regard.

“While we continue to examine any dubious or political motive, on the part of the perpetrators of the identity theft, we have every confidence in the ability of the British authorities to resolve the matter to a conclusion.

“Mr Peter Obi and the LP/PCC have since moved on from the incident and continue to be totally focused, on the legal processes before the Election Petition Tribunal towards the recovery of our mandate, which we are firmly convinced was overwhelmingly expressed by voters, in the Presidential election of February 25th.”

Meanwhile, the federal government of Nigeria has denied news making the rounds that it intervened in the detention ordeal of the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in London, United Kingdom last week.

A fake photo had gone viral on the social media on Thursday purportedly showing the executive chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, seated in an office with Obi and a UK law enforcement officer in order to secure the LP presidential candidate’s release from detention.

Also, an aide of President Muhammadu Buhari, Bashir Ahmad, also tweeted on Thursday, implying that the federal government intervened in Peter Obi’s ordeal to secure his release.

Ahmad wrote, “I heard Aunty @Abike Dabiri has done it for the Compatriot that needed her intervention in the UK. God bless you and the services you have been rendering for our countrymen and women, especially this recent one, ma’am!”

But, the spokesperson and head of media, public relations and protocol unit of NiDCOM, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, disowned the viral photo, describing it as a stunt.

He said the NiDCOM boss, Dabiri-Erewa, was not in the UK and not in a position to secure the release of any Nigerian suspected to be under UK interrogation

“Our attention has been called to the above social media stunt which has gone viral. Aunty Abike Dabiri-Erewa is NOT in the UK and NOT in a position to secure the release of any Nigerian suspected to be under UK interrogation. So, members of the public should disregard the information in its entirety,” the NiDCOM spokesman stated.


I’m Not Aware Of Any Apology From UK – Obi

In his reaction yesterday, Obi said he was not aware of any apology from the UK government in respect of the Heathrow Airport incident.

A statement issued by Diran Onifade, Head, Obi-Datti Media, said they have not received any apology from the UK government as widely reported by some media platforms.

“We have been receiving enquiries with regards to a so called apology, purportedly issued by the British Government or any of its agencies, to our principal Mr Peter Obi, in respect of a routine Immigration engagement with him, as he arrived London, for a brief visit, last Friday, the 7th of April.

“We would like to state emphatically that we are not aware of any such apology, and have not issued any statement whatsoever, in that regard.

“While we continue to examine any dubious or political motive, on the part of the perpetrators of the identity theft,

“We have every confidence in the ability of the British authorities to resolve the matter to its conclusion.

“Mr Peter Obi and the LP/PCC have since moved on from the incident and continue to be totally focused, on the legal processes before the Election Petition Tribunal towards the recovery of our mandate, which we are firmly convinced was overwhelmingly expressed by voters, in the Presidential election of February 25th,” the statement added.

https://leadership.ng/british-govt-declines-comment-on-obis-detention-by-uk-immigration/

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DNA Reveals Popular Nigerian Celeb’s Son Isn’t His”: Daddy Freeze Spills

Nigerian media personality, Ifedayo Olarinde aka Daddy Freeze, has shared how a Nigerian Celebrity found out that his wife was cheating on him with someone else with the aid of a DNA test.

The on-air personality, who disclosed this during Facebook live session on Wednesday night, said after conducting a DNA test, the public figure was saddened to find out that he is not the biological father of his son.

Although Dad Freeze didn’t reveal the name of the celebrity, but he hinted that the person is a well-known figure with a large following on social media.

He slammed the lady in question for pinning her child on someone else who isn’t the child’s biological father.

His assertion has sent shockwaves throughout Nigeria’s entertainment industry, as fans and followers alike are speculating about the celebrity’s identity.

Source: https://newspremises.com.ng/dna-reveals-popular-nigerian-celebs-son-isnt-his-daddy-freeze-spills-video/

DNA Reveals Popular Nigerian Celebs Son Isn’t His.

https://www.instagram.com/tv/Cq9P_4tpE8T/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=