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Category: News

  • 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.

  • Why LG autonomy can’t work — Fayose

    Why LG autonomy can’t work — Fayose

    By Doris Isreal Ijeoma

    Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has expressed concern over Thursday’s Supreme Court judgment affirming local governments’ right to receive monthly allocations directly from the federation account.

    The chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party emphasised that despite the court judgment, state Houses of Assembly and the governors will always be a clog in the wheel of local government autonomy.

    Fayose said this when he featured as a guest on Sunday’s edition of Channels Television’s Politics Today.

    While stressing that nobody from the grassroots can emerge as a local government chairman without the support of a governor, the Ekiti politician said both the court and FG ‘cannot take the baby from the mother.’

    He said, “I am not a lawyer. I am a politician and by God’s grace today, I am an elder statesman. While I love and do not believe that any government should take local government funds, may I say to you very clearly this evening that you cannot take the baby from the mother? There is nobody that can become council chairman without a governor. Anybody telling you otherwise is wasting his time.

    “Let me quickly remind you that the House of Assembly of every state controls the activities and checkmates the activities of the local government. While I was governor, I had the privilege of receiving money from Abuja. When you receive money from the account, some people manage the account. They are not politicians or the council chairman.

    “There is only one representative of the governor, which is the local government commissioner. All others are local government officials, workers, and pensioners of the council. And they appropriate the funds. But when you now come and say we are giving power to the local government, what power are you giving to them? No power.”

    Continuing, the PDP chieftain said aside from the state lawmakers frustrating the process, most council officials don’t take their work seriously.

    According to him, many workers don’t bother to come to work on certain days of the week.

    “Any council chairman who says ‘Money is coming to me, I will disrespect my governor’ the House of Assembly will tell you to go and disobey him inside your house. This is because you can never even be a council chairman without the governor standing up for you. The House of Assembly regulates your activities.

    “Go to the council meeting on Wednesday or Friday, you will not find 10 per cent of the staff of the local government in the office. They don’t come. My name is Ayo Fayose and I want them to dispute this. They don’t come to work. When you make moves to bring them to book, both NULGE and all leaders of the local government will go and beg the governor.

    “They will be telling you, we will not vote for you. This is the way we operate at the local government. The state is more effective in administrative performance than the local government. At the local government, everybody comes to collect money. Even people have left some states. They live somewhere else and money just hit their accounts,” he added.

  • Tension In Rivers As Seven-Day Budget Ultimatum Reaches Deadline

    Tension In Rivers As Seven-Day Budget Ultimatum Reaches Deadline

    Political uncertainty has returned to Rivers State as the deadline approaches for Governor Siminalayi Fubara to resubmit the 2024 budget, following a seven-day ultimatum issued by the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly.

    This ultimatum, set to expire this week, stems from a motion by Dumle Maol, Deputy Speaker of the Pro-Nyesom Wike Assembly, calling for compliance with a court ruling that affirmed the assembly’s current membership and leadership.

    The demand for budget resubmission aligns with a presidential peace pact from December aimed at quelling the state’s ongoing political crisis.

    Despite this, Governor Fubara, who had previously submitted the ₦800 billion budget to an Edison Ehie-led Assembly, announced plans for the 2025 budget, signalling a potential dismissal of the assembly’s demands.

    The ongoing crisis in Rivers began with a series of dramatic events, including a fire at the State House of Assembly and an attempted impeachment of Governor Fubara.

    The faction of the Assembly is now led by Victor Oko-Jumbo.

    The budget, which was passed and signed into law, is still being implemented, suggesting that the peace agreement has faltered.

    Meanwhile, a pro-Fubara politician from the same community as Amaewhule, Chijioke Ihunwo, has dismissed the 7-day ultimatum on the governor as laughable.

    Ihunwo, who was appointed by the governor as the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, urged Amaewhule to accept his fate as a former assembly member, after defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.

    He encouraged the people of Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality, comprising Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre, and Emohua Local Government Areas, to continue supporting the Governor under the leadership of former Senator John Azuta-Mbata.

    The politician, who was criticised for appointing 100 aides last week, said the decision, which other CTC Chairmen are also implementing, is aimed at bringing local government administration closer to the grassroots.

    He announced that more appointments would be made in the coming days, to demonstrate that the Fubara-led government is inclusive.

  • Stop Attack On Tinubu Or Lose Election In 2027 – North-East Elders Warn Ndume

    Stop Attack On Tinubu Or Lose Election In 2027 – North-East Elders Warn Ndume

    The Chief Whip of the 10th Senate, Ali Ndume, has been warned by the Coalition of Northeast Elders Forum (CNEF) to stop attacking President Bola Tinubu.

    The coalition, which alleged that Ndume’s 20 years in the National Assembly have not helped Borno State, threatened to mobilize voters against him in 2027 if he keeps attacking the President.

    According to the elders, Ndume should rather support his brother from Borno, Vice President Kashim Shettima, instead of speaking against Tinubu.

    The Northeast elders who asked Ndume to render an account of his stewardship were angry at the Senator’s recent outburst about President Tinubu’s administration, which they described as unnecessary.

    The Coalition of North-East Elders Forum questioned the rationale behind such, when he is expected to support the President to tackle insecurity and other challenges caused by insurgents and bandits in Borno and the Northern region.

    The elders alleged, “Senator Ndume did attack the administration of President Bola Tinubu, saying it’s run by kakistocrats—those deemed the least qualified and most unscrupulous citizens—and kleptocrats, who are merely in power to steal.”

    In reaction to the outburst, the group, in a statement signed by the Coordinator, Ali Ibrahim Sheriff, said what was “expected from Senator Ali Ndume now is to work closely with the President; Vice President, who is from same Borno with him and security agencies to address the unprovoked attacks by insurgents and bandits in the North.

    “As concerned elders from the Northeast geo-political zone, we wonder why during the days of President Buhari he chose to be silent amid heightened problems of insecurity; pervasive hunger, looting of public funds and bad governance.”

    While telling the Chief Whip of the Senate to be sensitive to the yearnings of his people in Borno and the entire North, they asked him to give an account of his stewardship over the last 20 years as a lawmaker.

    They said, “If leadership is as easy as that, we make bold to ask, all these years, how many Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) has he trained, educated and empowered with funds allocated to him?”

    “Ndume should come out boldly to render an account of his stewardship or we mobilise voters against him come 2027.”

    The elders, however, called on Northerners to shun what they termed, “Ndume’s divisive vituperations” and support the Tinubu and Shettima’s administration to tackle the security challenges in the North and in other parts of the country.