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Silec Initiative Founder, Sunny Irakpo, Bags COVID-19 Awareness Award

Published

3 years ago

November 13, 2020

Eric

The Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative, a United States Government, Department of State sponsored Exchange Programme has presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Amb. Sunny Irakpo, an anti-drug abuse activist and Founder/President Silec Initiatives, a not for profit making organization foremost in the campaign against drug abuse and addiction, and for youth development and empowerment with over a decade of his public advocacy which has attracted a lot of institutions and gone beyond the shores of continents of the world.

Irakpo, who is an alumni of the U.S Government Exchange Programme, Department of State International Visitor’s Leadership Programme, received the prestigious award for being part of the world record Initiative, for World Guinness Book of Record, The Shout Project which began from the U.S Department of State and was recognised by the United Nations Development Programme and UNICEF as an innovative project during the pandemic. He was also named as one the heroes of the pandemic by the U.S Embassy, Nigeria as published in the newsletter of the U.S Government Exchange Alumni Association issue 3, June 2020.

The project which also received support from 50 organisations across Asian countries has helped in spreading awareness and positive messages on COVID-19 reaching out to people by watching in amazement as leaders put smiles on their faces.

Sunny Irakpo, who made his entry video messages in Isoko Language, a rich socio-cultural ethic nationality of Delta State south -south region of Nigeria, and also done in English language version to send positive messages to people in communities affected by COVID-19, showcases such passion to the global communities voicing very confidently that we shall overcome COVID-19.

The Shout project which has the participation of over 8,000 leaders with video messages collated with a total of 70 hours of video footage from over 190 countries with irakpo selected to represent Nigeria, their messages has reached over one million views and people globally.

While speaking on the success of the project ,the project director, Bhoshaga Mitrran Ravi Chandran from west Lafayette, Indiana, USA, said like every other project, it has been quite challenging but “we certainly were blown away by the massive support this project has attained. it was due to the valuable leaders like you ‘Irakpo’ joining the initiative.”

On his official congratulatory message to Amb. Sunny Irakpo states; on behalf of the entire 25 members of the Shout Team across eight (8) countries namely Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Egypt, South Africa, Myanmar and the United States of America, we appreciate your active participation that gave this project its boost creating positive messages across the world on COVID-19. We look for future collaborations, he concluded.

Responding to the virtual video project which had over One million views across several nations of the world, Irakpo said this new honour is quite encouraging, reflecting my passion for public health and societal progress and development. In humility, I dedicate this Award to God Almighty who is the source of my inspiration, My lovely daughter and Darling wife for all the sacrifices and encouragement, my family for their unwavering support and to every hard working youth, my Partners and mentors, Team Silec and the true leaders working very harder to solve our human problems, in our collective efforts to make the world better and greater.

“I am not taking this onerous support over these years for granted, as I thank the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative, United Nations Development Program and the U.S Department of State for this prestigious project and award, Irakpo concluded.

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Cubana Chief Priest Arraigned, Granted N10m Bail

Published

13 hours ago

April 17, 2024

Eric

Instagram celebrity, Pascal Okechukwu aka Cubana Chief Priest, on Wednesday, pleaded not guilty for alleged Naira abuse.

He pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The socialite was arraigned at the Federal High Court, Lagos before Justice Kehinde Ogundare on Wednesday.

The anti-graft commission filed a three-count charge against Cubana Chief Priest accused of abusing the naira at a social event, an act said to be contrary to the provisions of the Central Bank Act of 2007.

After pleading not guilty, the court granted him bail in the sum of N10million with two responsible sureties in like sum, who must be gainfully employed with the federal or state government and not less than grade level 16.

The sureties, the court emphasized, should have landed property and the document must be verified by the court.

Cubana Chief Priest is also to submit his travel passport to the custody of the court.

The bail conditions must be perfected within seven days but in the meantime he was released to his lawyer who must give an undertaken to produce him later. Failure to do so, he will be remanded in correctional facility.

The charge filed on April 4 by EFFC’s prosecutor Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) alongside seven other lawyers representing the chairman of the Commission, are as follows:

Count 1: “That you, Okechukwu Pascal on 13th February, 2024, at Eko Hotel, within the jurisdiction of the court, while dancing during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 (Five Hundred Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same for two hours, and you thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007”.

Count 2: “That you Okechukwu Pascal sometime in 2020, in Lagos during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 (Five Hundred Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same for two hours, and you thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007”.

Count 3: “That you Okechukwu Pascal sometime in January 2024, in Lagos during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 (Five Hundred Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same and you thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007”.

Meanwhile, the defendant also informed the court of his pending application to challenge the jurisdiction of the court to hear the charge.

Justice Ogundare has adjourned till May 2nd to hear the application

This is coming days after the EFCC arraigned controversial cross-dresser Idris Okuneye better known as Bobrisky on similar charges for which he was sentenced to a six-month jail term.

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EFCC Charges Cubana Chief Priest to Court over Naira Abuse

Published

2 days ago

April 16, 2024

Eric

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a three-count charge against Instagram celebrity, Pascal Okechukwu aka Cubana Chief Priest, for allegedly spraying and tampering with the Naira at a social event, in violation of the provisions of Central Bank Act of 2007.

Cubana Chief Priest will be arraigned on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, before Justice Kehinde Ogundare of the Federal High Court, Lagos.

Reports say the charge against Okechukwu was filed on April 4, 2024 by EFFC’s prosecutor Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) alongside seven other lawyers representing the chairman of the Commission.

In Count 1, it was alleged, “that you, Okechukwu Pascal on 13th Feb. 2024, at Eko Hotel, within the jurisdiction of the court, while dancing during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 (Five Hundred Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same for two hours, and you thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007”.

In count 2, it was alleged, “that you Okechukwu Pascal sometime in 2020, in Lagos during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 (Five Hundred Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same for two hours, and you thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007”.

In Count 3, it was alleged, “that you Okechukwu Pascal sometime in January 2024, in Lagos during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 (Five Hundred Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same and you thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007”.

This is coming days after the EFCC secured the conviction controversial cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye aka Bobrisky, on similar charges. He was subsequently sentenced to six months imprisonment without an option of fine.

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El-Rufai Accuses Tinubu’s Govt of Paying Trillions of Naira in Fuel Subsidy

Published

2 days ago

April 16, 2024

Eric

The immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has ignited debate on fuel subsidies, alleging that President Bola Tinubu’s government has spent trillions of Naira subsidizing petrol (PMS) since taking office in May 2023.

This revelation comes amidst ongoing discussions about fuel subsidies in Nigeria. The government previously announced a removal of fuel subsidies, leading to a rise in pump prices. However, El-Rufai suggests the effort was unsuccessful, forcing a return to subsidies at a reportedly higher cost.

The former governor spoke on Monday in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital while delivering a Lead Paper at the occasion of Capacity Building Workshop on Enhancing Skills of Government Officials in Policy Implementation.

“The present administration,” El-Rufai said, “has so far spent trillions of naira for subsidy,” even exceeding pre-removal levels, ha stated.

He claimed the current price of petrol, between N600 and N750 per litre, is artificially low due to the subsidy. Without it, prices could be closer to those of diesel, which currently exceed N1,000 per litre in some areas.

“But as I also said earlier during my presentation, the removal of fuel subsidy by the present administration is another good policy by President Tinubu. I have always supported withdrawal of fuel subsidy.

“But as you can see, in the course of implementation, the government has now realized that the subsidy has to be back, because right now, we are paying a lot of money amounting to trillions of naira for subsidy even more than before, because the impact has been seen and the packages of support that will reduce the impact have not been effective in reducing the impact, and so, the federal government has to backpedal by subsidizing petrol.

“Many people don’t know this. If they want to know whether there is fuel subsidy or not, they should compare the prices of petrol and diesel per litre. This is because, under normal circumstances, petrol suppose to be more expensive than diesel. As it is, diesel is above N1000, while petrol stood at about N600 per litre. So we are still subsidizing for fuel in Nigeria,” he stated.

El-Rufai’s comments raise questions about the effectiveness and sustainability of fuel subsidies in Nigeria. The high cost highlighted by El-Rufai suggests the program may be straining government resources. It remains to be seen how the Tinubu administration will address this issue and whether they plan to revisit subsidy removal attempts.