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Category: News

  • BREAKING: Tinubu Suspends National Social Investment Programme Amid Corruption Probe

    BREAKING: Tinubu Suspends National Social Investment Programme Amid Corruption Probe

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has suspended all administered programmes by the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA).

    This is further to the ongoing investigation of alleged malfeasance in the management of the agency and its programmes.

    In a statement on Friday, Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said all four (4) Programmes administered by NSIPA, namely; N- Power Programme, Conditional Cash Transfer Programme, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme and Home Grown School Feeding Programme have been suspended for a period of six (6) weeks in the first instance.

    “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has also raised significant concerns regarding operational lapses and improprieties surrounding payments to the Programs’ beneficiaries.”

    “He has therefore constituted a ministerial panel to conduct a thorough review of the Agency’s operations with a view to recommending necessary reforms of the NSIPA.

    “During the period of this suspension, all NSIPA-related activities, including but not limited to all distributions, events, payments, collaborations, and registrations, are now frozen.

    “The President wishes to assure the stakeholders and all Nigerians that his administration remains committed to a swift and unbiased process that will ensure that, going forward, social intervention programmes will work exactly as intended, to the benefit of the most vulnerable Nigerians.”

  • Plateau Guber: S’Court Reveres Sack, Affirms Gov Mutfwang’s Election

    Plateau Guber: S’Court Reveres Sack, Affirms Gov Mutfwang’s Election

    The Supreme Court, Friday, reversed the judgment of the Court of Appeal that sacked Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State from office on ground of unlawful nomination.

    The judgement read by Justice Emmanuel Agim held that the court below made an error in allowing the All Progressives Congress APC to delve into the conduct of the primary election by the People’s Democratic Party PDP and nullified the election unjustly.

    The court held that the issue of primary election was an internal affairs of political parties and that no other party can dabble into it except members of the same party.

    Besides, Justice Agim said that the issue of alleged improper conduct of the ward and local governments election used to sack the Governor was not justiceable.

    According to him, the conduct of the ward and local governments election was an affairs of the State Executive Committee of a political party while the conduct of the primary election for the nomination of a governorship candidate is entirely that of the National Executive Committee of a political party.

    Also, the court established that there was no issue of irregularities in the ways and manners the Governorship primary election that produced the governor was conducted in Plateau and wondered why that of the ward election was used to nullify the gubernatorial poll.

    He said that evidence was even well adduced that an order of Plateau State High Court allegedly disobeyed was indeed obeyed by parties involved.

    Therefore, the court unanimously voided and set aside the order of the Court of Appeal that
    Nentawe Goshwehe, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) be inaugurated as Plateau State Governor.

    The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the Plateau State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal which had earlier dismissed the petition of the APC and its governorship candidate.

    Governor Mutfwang of the PDP scored 525,299 votes to beat the All Progressives Congress candidate, Nentawe Yilwatda, who garnered 481,370 votes during the 18 March governorship poll in Plateau State.

    The governor’s election was upheld by the Plateau State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in Jos, the state capital.

    However, the Court of Appeal in Abuja, in its judgement delivered on 19 November 2023, overturned Mr Mutfwang’s victory, prompting him to file an appeal at the Supreme Court to challenge the lower court’s decision.

  • Ebonyi Guber: S’Court Okeys Nwifuru’s Election

    Ebonyi Guber: S’Court Okeys Nwifuru’s Election

    The Supreme Court has affirmed the election of Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi state.

    In a lead judgment of a 5-man panel of Justices, Justice Tijani Abubakar held that the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chukwuma Odi failed to prove any allegation of non compliance in the election.

    Consequently, the apex court in a unanimous decision dismissed the appeal by Odi for lacking in merit and a gross abuse of court process.

    The panel held that the PDP candidate cannot question the nomination of Nwifuru by his party, the APC.

    The Lagos state division of the Court of Appeal, had on November 24, 2023, affirmed the election of Fran­cis Nwifuru as the duly elected governor of Ebonyi State in the March 18, governorship election.

    The three-member panel presided over by Justice Jummai Sankey, in its unanimous decision, dismissed the appeal filed by Chukwuma Odii of the Peoples Democratic Party.

  • No date for inauguration of New Justices of the Supreme Court – NJC

    No date for inauguration of New Justices of the Supreme Court – NJC

    National Judicial Council, NJC, has clarified that no date has been fixed for the swearing-in of the newly appointed eleven Justices of the Supreme Court.

    The Council said that the purported news by an Abuja based media organization suggesting Monday, January 16, for the inauguration did not emanate from it.

    A statement by the NJC’s Director of Information, Barrister Soji Oye clarified that neither the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, who is the NJC Chairman, nor the Council itself authored or endorsed the purported date.

    While asking members of the public to disregard the news, the NJC said that the date for the swearing-in of the Justices would be made public at the appropriate time.

    NJC’s statement read in part, “The attention of the National Judicial Council has been drawn to a trending story purportedly informing the public that the newly appointed 11 Supreme Court Justices would be sworn in on Monday 16 January 2023.

    “The Council by this medium expressly denies the news as it did not emanate from the Council or the Office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the National Judicial Council, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.

    “The date for the swearing-in of the Justices will be made public at the appropriate time. Members of the public should please disregard the trending news.”

  • Lagos Guber: Gov Sanwo-Olu wins at the Supreme Court

    Lagos Guber: Gov Sanwo-Olu wins at the Supreme Court

    The Supreme Court of Nigeria, Friday, affirmed the election of Sanwo-Olu as the authentic governor of Lagos in the March 18 general electron.

    The five-man panel of the Apex Court thereby rubbished the appeal brought before it by the Labour Party(LP) and its governorship candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour.

    The court held that the petition seeking the disqualification of Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Sanwo-Olu and his Deputy Obafemi Hamza from the poll totally lacked merit.

    In a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Garba Lawal, the court held that the allegations of renouncing Nigerian citizenship by the Lagos State Deputy Governor for the United States of America cannot be used to disqualify the respondents.

    The Apex Court said that since Obafemi Hamza is a Nigerian by birth, his acquisition of American citizen has not taken his right as a Nigerian from him.

    It also maintained that the Petitioners failed prove with credible evidence that the Deputy Governor indeed renounced his Nigerian citizenship.

    Consequence to the above, the court upheld that the decision of the Court of Appeal which had on November 15 dismissed the earlier appeal filed by Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour and Labour Party against the election of Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

    Recall that the Court of Appeal three-member panel led by Yargata Nimpar, had in a unanimous decision affirmed the judgement of the Lagos State Election Petitions Tribunal that upheld the victory of Sanwo-Olu as the elected governor of Lagos in the March 18 election.

  • Guber Judgment: Kano, Bauchi, Zamfara, Plateau, Ebonyi Govs in Court as S/Court decides their fate

    Guber Judgment: Kano, Bauchi, Zamfara, Plateau, Ebonyi Govs in Court as S/Court decides their fate

    In wait for their fates on their respective legal battles, at least five sitting state governors have stormed the Supreme Court to witness judgments their appeals.

    They are Abba Kabir Yusuf for Kano, Bala Mohammed for Bauchi, Caleb Mutfwang for Plateau, and Dauda Lawal for Zamfara and Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi.

    Former Plateau state governor and currently a senator, Simon Lalong is also inside the courtroom for the make or mar verdict.

    As expected, the governors arrived in the courtroom with a retinue of followers who were, however, turned back immediately after escorting their principals into the courtroom.

    At the time of this report, the courtroom has been jam-packed by lawyers, journalists, and accredited political party leaders.

    Meanwhile, the justices are being awaited into the courtroom for judgment delivery.

    The states where their governors are expected to know their fates on whether to remain in office or be shoveled out are Kano, Plateau, Bauchi, Cross River, Abia, Zamfara, Cross River and Ebonyi.

  • Death Rumuor: Nollywood Actress, Ngozi Ezeonu Reacts

    Death Rumuor: Nollywood Actress, Ngozi Ezeonu Reacts

    Veteran Nollywood actress Ngozi Ezeonu has debunked reports making the rounds online about her demise.

    The movie star left many of her followers confused and scared after sharing a cryptic social media post.

    Ngozi shared a dark image with candlelight at the centre, stating that someone had died but failed to disclose the identity of the person.

    However, rumours made rounds online that the thespian had died and it was her son who made the social media post.

    Reacting, Ngozi Ezeonu, in a video shared on her Instagram page, said she is “alive and healthy” and people should stop peddling fake news about her death.

    According to her, the previous post in which she posted a candle was a tribute to a friend she recently lost.

    She said, “I lost a very close friend of mine, I posted a candle, a half-burnt candle and they now put my picture on that candle and everybody is saying that I died.

    “It is wrong. I am alive and healthy, please.

    “In journalism, what you do when in doubt is you leave out. If you cannot get across to the person to at least confirm the story, you don’t post.

    “Don’t do that, please. Don’t try it again. This is a new year, why would anybody want to hurt each other just because they want people to follow them?

    “The calls I have been receiving have been very worrisome. I don’t know why anybody should take my post.”

  • Synagogue Denies Responding To BBC Allegations Against TB Joshua

    Synagogue Denies Responding To BBC Allegations Against TB Joshua

    The Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) has officially refuted issuing or authorizing any statement concerning the recent BBC Africa service documentary.

    This documentary, released on Monday, January 8, and made available on BBC’s YouTube channel, delved into allegations of mistreatment of some former disciples by the church’s founder, Prophet TB Joshua.

    This clarification from the Ikotun-based international church came in response to an inquiry following the circulation of a statement titled “BBC and its ludicrous hatchet job on Prophet TB Joshua.”

    This statement, supposedly issued by SCOAN, had criticized the BBC for alleged bias and lack of objectivity in its reporting, accusing it of propagating fictional narratives for personal gains against a perceived enemy.

    The article emphasized the importance of fairness, balance, and objectivity in journalism, highlighting the role of media as a societal watchdog.

    It accused the BBC of compromising journalistic principles and engaging in destructive motives.

    However, in its response to the Nation’s inquiries, SCOAN categorically denied any involvement with the statement, affirming that it neither issued nor authorized such a response to the BBC documentary.

    SCOAN stated, “The Church has its standard means of making any official communication with the public which the Press is familiar with, and any official communication with the public on this or any other issue will be via those means.”

  • Former President Jonathan Is Bereaved 

    Former President Jonathan Is Bereaved 

    Madam Obebhatein Jonathan, the sister of former President, Goodluck Jonathan, has died at the age of seventy.

    Her demise occurred on Thursday at the Federal Medical Centre in Yenagoa, following a brief illness.

    The news of her passing was confirmed in a statement issued by Jonathan’s media office, which described the deceased as a retired teacher and businesswoman.

    Known affectionately as Amissi, she was celebrated for her life of dedication to God and service to humanity.

    Madam Jonathan was a devout Christian, praised for her virtuous character and her role as a model of integrity within and beyond her community.

    Her commitment to her faith and her exemplary life had a significant impact on those around her.

    The statement from the former president’s office also provided details about the funeral arrangements.

    The burial for Madam Jonathan has been scheduled for Tuesday, February 16, 2024, with the family expected to announce the full details of the funeral rites in due course.

    Madam Obebhatein Jonathan is survived by three children, siblings, including His Excellency Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, and her mother, Mama Eunice Afeni-Jonathan.

  • New Supreme Court Justices To Be Sworn In

    New Supreme Court Justices To Be Sworn In

    Eleven new justices of the Supreme Court will be sworn in next week. 

    The Senate had in December 2023 confirmed the 11 justices as requested by President Bola Tinubu.

    The Justices billed for swearing-in are:

    Hon. Justice Jummai Hannatu Sankey, OFR – North Central

    Hon. Justice Stephen Jonah Adah – North Central

    Hon. Justice Mohammed Baba Idris

    Hon. Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani – North East

    Hon. Justice Jamilu Yammama Tukur – North West

    Hon. Justice Abubakar Sadiq Umar – North West

    Hon. Justice Chidiebere Nwaoma Uwa – South East

    Hon. Justice Chioma Egondu Nwosu-Iheme – South East

    Hon. Justice Obande Festus Ogbuinya – South East

    Hon. Justice Moore Aseimo A. Adumein – South south

    Hon. Justice Habeeb Adewale O. Abiru – South West

    When sworn in, the apex court will have the full complement of 21 justices, as envisaged by the Constitution.