Cloned Nigerian Anchor

Author: Caroline Ameh

  • Court dismisses Emefiele’s medical leave application

    Court dismisses Emefiele’s medical leave application

    By Vivian Michael

    A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, sitting in Maitama, Tuesday, refused the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele’s request to travel to the United Kingdom for medical treatment.

    Ruling on the application, Justice Hamza Muazu held that although Emefiele stated he would be away from July 28 to September 10, no medical appointment or invitation was presented to the court.

    Muazu hinted that the court had the discretion to grant leave but highlighted that Emefiele is standing trial in three courts, two in the FCT and one in Lagos.

    Muazu stated, “The letter of invitation for medical follow-up is not attached. As it stands now, I cannot use my discretion to grant the application, and he is standing trial in three courts.

    “The application is hereby dismissed, and the adjourned date for continuation of trial still stands.”

    The embattled former CBN boss is charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with criminal breach of trust, forgery, conspiracy to obtain by false pretence, and obtaining money by false pretence during his tenure as the apex bank’s governor.

    The anti corruption agency also alleged that Emefiele forged a document titled “Re: Presidential Directive on Foreign Election Observer Missions” dated January 26, 2023, and purported it to have come from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

    According to the prosecution, he was using his office to confer unfair and corrupt advantages on two companies: April 1616 Nigeria Ltd and Architekon Nigeria Ltd.
    Emefiele is alleged to have obtained $6,230,000.00 by false pretence on February 8, 2023, claiming it was requested by the SGF for a contingent logistic advance in line with the President’s directive.

  • Minimum Wage: NLC threatens one-month shutdown as lawmakers target fresh decision

    Minimum Wage: NLC threatens one-month shutdown as lawmakers target fresh decision

    By Doris Isreal Ijeoma

    Ahead of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s planned Thursday meeting with leaders of organized labour, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened a one-month shutdown if the minimum wage is expunged from the Exclusive to Concurrent list in the Constitution by Nigerian lawmakers.

    NLC President, Joe Ajaero, gave the warning on Monday while addressing participants at the opening ceremony of the 2024 annual Rain School of the NLC in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

    Ajaero issued this warning against National Assembly members’ proposed decision to remove wages from the Exclusive to Concurrent list in the Constitution.

    He added that if National Assembly members proceed with the move to remove the minimum wage from the Exclusive list—a law that would allow each state governor to determine the minimum wage—he would mobilize labor and shut down Nigeria’s economy for a month.

    Although the National Assembly’s decision is yet to be made public, Ajaero said, “As we are here, a Joint Committee of the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Judiciary are meeting. They have decided to remove section 34 from the Exclusive legislative list to the concurrent list so that the state governors can determine what to pay you and so that there will be no minimum wage again.

    “When they finish that meeting, they will collect minimum wage, I promise all of you that. The very moment the House of Representatives and the Senate come up with such a law that will not benefit Nigerian workers, they will be their drivers and gatemen, and there will be no movement for one month.

    “Comrades, I am putting you on standby. If that committee comes up with such a policy, for one month nobody should come out. They are the major threat to democracy in this country. Democracy is not all about starving and punishing people. That’s not the democracy we fought for.

    “They were not there when we fought for this democracy, and now they are trying to make laws to remove the minimum wage from the exclusive list. So, comrades, as I have talked to you here, I have talked to everybody. We are waiting for them to come up with such hypocritical laws. And from today, let them abolish the security vote,” he said.

    The development comes as the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, announced that President Tinubu will meet with organized labor leaders on Thursday to finalize a decision on the country’s minimum wage.

    This follows last Thursday’s decision on a harmonized minimum wage, which ended in a deadlock.

    Recall that the government had proposed a 62,000 naira minimum wage, while organized labor insisted on 250,000 naira.

    The National Minimum Wage Tripartite had earlier submitted the minimum wage proposal to the President.

    While the minimum wage impasse persists, Nigerians have continued to groan over hardship occasioned by the rising headline and food inflation, which stood at 34.19 percent and 40.87 percent, respectively, in June 2024.

  • Ganduje faces Fresh Charges

    Ganduje faces Fresh Charges

    By Doris Isreal Ijeoma

    The Kano State Government on Tuesday filed fresh charge against former governor of the state, Abdullahi Ganduje.

    In the charge sheet with case No. K/143c/24, the state government accused Ganduje and erstwhile Commissioner for Justice, Musa Lawan, of Criminal Conspiracy, and misappropriation contrary to Section 308 and punishable under Section 309 of the Penal Code (as amended) CAP 105, Vol. 2, the Laws of Kano State of Nigeria.

    The offence, the state government said, is contrary punishable under Section 97 and Section 315.

    The state government accused Ganduje and Lawan of abuse of office.

    In the charge sheet, the state government said it intends to present four witnesses.

    No date has been fixed for the arraignment.

  • Senate suspends legislative activities over Rep member Adams’ death

    Senate suspends legislative activities over Rep member Adams’ death

    The Senate on Tuesday, July 16, suspended all legislative activities for the day to honour the late Hon. Ekene Abubakar Adams, a member of the House of Representatives.

    Hon Adams who represented Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency in Kaduna state, reportedly died on Tuesday morning after a brief illness.

    He was the chairman of the House Committee on Sports.

    Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the death of Adams during the commencement of plenary.

    The Senate observed a minute silence in honour of the late lawmaker and thereafter adjourned legislative activities for the day.

  • Crypto Billionaire BLord Arrested For Terrorism Financing 

    Crypto Billionaire BLord Arrested For Terrorism Financing 

    The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the arrest of a crypto billionaire, Linus Williams, popularly known as BLord.

    According to a statement on Tuesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, BLord was arrested for offences related to alleged internet fraud, terrorism funding, and violation of the CBN act based on complaints lodged against him and his company.

    Adejobi promised that the Police would do due diligence in the investigations into the allegations against the crypto billionaire and ensure Nigeria’s cyberspace is safe and secure.

    “The FCID (NPF-NCCC) is currently investigating complaints lodged against BLORD GROUP, BLORD REAL ESTATE LTD, BLORD JETPAYE LIMITED, and BILLPOINT TECHNOLOGY.

    “These offences include allegations bothering on cryptocurrency fraud, aiding internet fraud, computer-related fraud, terrorism funding, and non-compliance with regulatory frameworks.

    “We will do due diligence in our investigations. Our cyber space in Nigeria must be safe and secured by all means. We are committed to achieving that,” the statement reads.

  • LG Autonomy: ‘FG Cannot Tell Us What To Do In Oyo State ‘ – Seyi Makinde 

    LG Autonomy: ‘FG Cannot Tell Us What To Do In Oyo State ‘ – Seyi Makinde 

    By Doris Isreal Ijeoma

    Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has declared that the Federal Government is not superior to states in exercising each other’s constitutional roles.

    Makinde made this known in Ibadan at an emergency consultative meeting with stakeholders on Monday to appraise last week’s Supreme Court judgement, which granted financial autonomy to the local government areas across the nation.

    He maintained that the judgment had created a constitutional lacuna that would throw up different challenges at the local government level.

    The Governor stressed that though he was not opposing transparency in the councils, the Supreme Court judgment “is not a silver bullet that will wash away Nigeria’s problems.”

    He said, “I called this meeting because I felt that even though we have not seen the Certified True Copy of the judgment of the Supreme Court, we have to be proactive and discuss the decision of the Supreme Court as it concerns the financial autonomy of the local government councils because I believe a lacuna has been created between the decision and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that we all swore to uphold.

    “The law is the law and when there is a conflict, yes, we should go to the court. But it behoves on us to look for our own homegrown solutions that can ensure that we have transparency and that our people do not suffer. This is because when two elephants are fighting it is the grass that will suffer.”

    Speaking further, Makinde said his administration has been doing what was right, including clearing the backlog of debts owed to workers and pensioners at the council level and fixing the infrastructure deficit in the PHCs and the inner roads.

    He added, “I am saying this because Oyo State will get out of this even stronger. We are people that know what is good for our people. We can run our own affairs, the Federal Government is not superior constitutionally to the state government. Well, they have more resources than the state, but their jurisdiction is coordinated, so we can do what is right in Oyo state, and we have been doing what is right.

    “Before we came in, leave bonuses were last paid in 2017 and we have paid for 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. The Primary Health Care facilities, inner roads were all in bad shape. But we have been working collaboratively with the LGs to deliver dividends of democracy to our people.

    “We were able to clear those salary arrears. We paid N18 billion in pension and gratuities over this period. We upgraded about 209 PHCs, equipped about 264, and completed 60 model schools. We constructed and renovated hundreds of primary school classrooms and fixed some of our roads.

    “But there are still challenges that we have to address. We still have a backlog of gratuities and pensions. The local governments owe about N55 billion in pension and gratuities. We are developing infrastructure that would push the economy and raise the living standard of their people and push their economy towards sustainable goals.”

  • UAE Reopens Visa Access for Nigerian Travelers

    UAE Reopens Visa Access for Nigerian Travelers

    Nigerian passport holders can now obtain visas for travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) following the lifting of a travel ban, announced by the Federal Government.

    Minister of Information Mohammed Idris confirmed the agreement on Monday during a briefing with State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, chaired by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. 

    “Effective from today, July 15, 2024, Nigerian passport holders can now travel to the UAE,” Idris stated. 

    He shared that the decision follows successful negotiations between the governments of Nigeria and the UAE, resulting in mutually beneficial terms.

    In a statement on social media, the Minister mentioned, “An agreement has been reached, allowing the resumption of travel to the UAE for Nigerian passport holders. The new agreement includes updated controls and conditions for obtaining a UAE visa.”

    For additional information about the updated visa conditions, Nigerians are advised to visit documentverificationhub.ae.

  • NNPCL, CBN, and Others Assure Nigerians of Imminent Economic Recovery …Nigeria to Become Net Exporter of Petroleum by December

    NNPCL, CBN, and Others Assure Nigerians of Imminent Economic Recovery …Nigeria to Become Net Exporter of Petroleum by December

    Critical stakeholders in Nigeria’s economy, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), have assured citizens that the nation’s ailing economy is on the path to recovery.

    This assurance was given during an interactive session held on Monday with joint committees of the National Assembly on Finance.

    The session, attended by key figures such as the Ministers of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun, Budget and National Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, Minister of State Petroleum, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, NNPCL’s Group Executive Officer, Mela Kyari, and CBN Governor, Mr. Yemi Cardoso, focused on strategies to revitalize the economy.

    In his presentation, Mela Kyari, Group Executive Officer of NNPCL, informed the committee that Nigeria is set to become a net exporter of petroleum by December.

    He cited the upcoming commencement of production at the Port Harcourt refinery in early August, followed by the Warri refinery, and the Kaduna refinery by December.

    Kyari also revealed that Nigeria’s oil production is expected to reach 2 million barrels per day soon, as all necessary measures have been implemented.

    “Mr. Chairman and members of the Joint Committee, the NNPCL and the oil and gas industry are pivotal in transforming our economic situation. We have seen growth in our oil and gas production due to actions taken by the President and our commitment to enhancing production activities,” Kyari stated.

    Kyari also highlighted the potential contributions of the Dangote refinery and other smaller producers, expressing confidence that Nigeria will be a net exporter of petroleum products by the end of the year.

    The CBN Governor Yemi Cardoso, represented by Deputy Governor for Economic Policy Muhammad Sani Abdullahi, addressed the challenges of rising inflation, foreign exchange rate fluctuations, and food inflation. He indicated that these issues are expected to improve soon, based on emerging economic indicators.

    Also, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu, mentioned that the 2024 budget is already in implementation. He also noted ongoing negotiations with labor leaders on the minimum wage to prevent further economic disruptions.

    In his response, Senator Sani Musa, Chairman of the Committee, appealed to Nigerians to remain patient as the government works tirelessly to stabilize the economy.

    “Our interactive session with you, the managers of the economy, is about fostering economic growth and ensuring that our policies benefit Nigerians.

    The National Assembly is committed to addressing the economic challenges and supporting the President’s efforts to bring stability,” Senator Musa remarked.

    The Lawmaker also acknowledged the difficulties faced by the economy in recent years and emphasized the need for gradual improvements, urging Nigerians to persevere and support the current administration.

    “The indicators show that the economy is on the mend. Although inflation remains a challenge, progress is being made, and with time, the situation will improve,” he concluded.

  • IGP Suspends Enforcement Of Electronic CMR

    IGP Suspends Enforcement Of Electronic CMR

    By Doris Isreal Ijeoma

    The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun has ordered the suspension of the Proposed Enforcement Process on the Electronic Central Motor Registry Registration Process (e-CMR). 

    The process was initially scheduled to commence on the 29th of July, 2024.

    In a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, the relaxation of enforcement is to allow for massive enlightenment to highlight the benefits and effectiveness of the e-CMR initiative, which is designed to ensure the safety and security of all types of vehicles, including motorcycles by collating data imputed into the system by vehicle owners, and acting on such to flag the vehicles if reported stolen amongst other values.

    The statement further explained that the e-CMR is not a revenue-generating platform, but an initiative to digitalise policing for effectiveness and general safety of lives and property of Nigerian residents.

    While urging members of the public to obtain the digitalised CMR certificate online at https://cmris.npf.gov.ng, the IGP warned all police officers, to desist from requesting e-CMR certificates, as individuals found extorting or exploiting members of the public under the guise of not having e-CMR certificates, will be sanctioned accordingly.

  • Why Some religious organisations are more corrupt than public offices — EFCC boss

    Why Some religious organisations are more corrupt than public offices — EFCC boss

    By Doris Isreal Ijeoma

    Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr Ola Olukoyede has alleged that some religious organisations are “more corrupt” than public offices in Nigeria.

    Olukoyede spoke at a leadership conference organised by the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, in Lagos on Friday.

    The EFCC boss disclosed that his organisation recently recovered “how many millions from a religious organisation.”

    Olukoyede accused religious leaders of looking at the “speck in someone else eyes, but meanwhile; there is a log in yours.”

    He, however, urged clerics to use their platform “not only to preach but also to demonstrate” good characters to their congregation.

    He said: “Just this last week, I have had cause to recover how many millions from a religious organisation,” the EFCC boss said.

    “They appointed you a pastor, and that is when you become a big man. We don’t even know what you are doing to earn a legitimate living. You live on the ministry and the church or mosque money. You can’t even explain the source of your wealth.

    “Some religious organisations are more corrupt than public offices. I have evidence towards that. You look at the speck in someone else eyes, but meanwhile, there is a log in yours.”

    In January, Olukoyede said the EFCC uncovered a religious sect laundering money terrorists in Nigeria.