The Presidency on Monday faulted former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s comments on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, describing them as a “misrepresentation of facts.”

“The Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway and Lagos-Calabar Coastal rail are two distinct projects. It is unfortunate that the former Vice President is confused about the two projects…we urge him to return to the library for real facts,” the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, said in a statement he signed Monday.

Onanuga was responding to Atiku’s allegation that President Bola Tinubu puts personal business interests before Nigeria’s Infrastructure growth.

The former Vice President said the Tinubu administration is engaged in questionable dealings amidst developing the 700km Lagos-Calabar coastal highway.

Following approval by the Federal Executive Council, the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, announced the commencement of construction on the 700km road.

Umahi said the contractor commenced work following the formal handover of the initial phase of the project, comprising 47.47km of dual carriageway, to Hitech Construction Company Ltd.

Responding to Umahi’s statement, the former vice president, in a statement by his Media Coordinator, Paul Ibe, on Sunday, alleged that the project’s allocation to Gilbert Chagoury’s Hitech Construction Company Limited (Hitech), devoid of any documented competitive bidding process or decision by the FEC.

According to Atiku, the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project reentered public discussion during the waning days of the Goodluck Jonathan administration in November 2014.

However, due to his electoral defeat, the project failed to take off under Jonathan’s tenure.

Subsequently, former President Muhammadu Buhari expressed his commitment to kickstart the endeavour.

“Umahi refused to reveal how much the project would cost. He only explained that it would run through nine states and have a railroad running through the middle.

“Most importantly, the works minister said the project would come at zero cost to Nigeria, which is currently facing an all-time high level of debt,” Atiku argued.

But the Presidency spotted inconsistencies in Atiku’s comments, saying that the former Vice President had allowed himself to be led into a blind alley again by his poorly informed aides.

The statement is titled ‘Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway: Atiku Abubakar makes his hollow point again.’

“Contrary to the claims in Atiku’s endorsed press statement, at no time did the administrations of former Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Goodluck Jonathan award contracts for the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway to any company at any varied and revised amount. So, the question of cost comparison does not arise.

“The contract that was awarded was for Lagos-Calabar Coastal rail. The rail was designed as part of the standard gauge national rail network. The contract was awarded on August 4, 2021, by the Federal Executive Council presided over by former Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, at $11.17bn. The contract was to be completed in six years. The project didn’t take off.

“The Lagos-Calabar Coastal rail project has always been on the card. It was another testament to the failure of the previous PDP-led government that it could not get it off the ground in 16 years it held sway,” Onanuga argued.

He added that the Presidency does not expect a former vice president of Nigeria to continue to “fan ill-will and engage in divisive politics in his twilight.”

He further argued that “Atiku queried the decision to start the coastal road from Lagos and not Calabar, oblivious of the huge impact such will make on export-import flow around the industrial zones.

“We are at a loss as to what the former VP hopes to achieve with his assertion. Is it not a received wisdom that a thousand-mile journey begins with a step?

“Whether the project begins from Lagos or Calabar, Warri or Sapele, what should gladden the heart of any patriotic Nigerian is that this important project that has been in the pipeline for several decades has finally taken off.”


The presidential aide asserted that Tinubu will continue to drive and propel national progress through infrastructural development across the country.

Therefore, he urged the former Vice President to “act his status as a presumed statesman and desist from engaging in fruitless exercise that does not add any value to nation-building.

“As to the other poorly researched issue raised by Atiku and his team on the Lekki Concession Company, we urge them to return to the ibrary for real facts rather than rushing to cast aspersions on President Tinubu and his government,” the statement concluded.

Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday, received travel content creator, Pelumi Nubi, at the Government House, following her arrival in Lagos from London by road on Sunday afternoon.

The governor has consequently appointed Pelumi Nubi as Lagos Brand Ambassador with a new car, house, and customised plate number.

Taking to her X handle (formerly Twitter) to announce the development after meeting with the Governor Sanwo-Olu, Pelumi wrote: “Just another great start and a new beginning
Congratulations to me guys as I become a Lagos state ambassador 
Alongside a new car gift from His excellence @jidesanwoolu A new home in Lagos and also a customized plate number


LEADERSHIP reports that Pelumi Nubi had received heroic welcome as she finally arrived Lagos on Sunday after 68 days of driving solo from London, United Kingdom.

It would be recalled that the content creator had earlier announced that she would be driving from London to Lagos some months ago.

During her journey, she had suffered an accident, which momentarily put a stop to her trip, before she continued.

Lagos State Commissioner of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Idris Aregbe, met Pelumi at the Nigerian-Benin Republic border on behalf of the Lagos State Government on Sunday.

Pelumi made her second stop at Badagry before continuing on to the University of Lagos (UNILAG) to celebrate her arrival.

Muhammadu Sanusi II, the 14th Emir of Kano, has described greed, selfishness and envy as “much greater sins” than unlawful sex, homosexuality and gambling.

Sanusi stated this on Sunday when he appeared as a guest lecturer during a virtual Ramadan lecture titled “Some dimensions of the concept of ibadah”.

The former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, also said that part of the reason there is a social disorder in the country is that some Muslims forget that they will give an account of their actions before God.

He said people observe prayers and fast but keep committing evil “because our hearts are not Islamic”.

Sanusi alleged that a governor of a Sharia-implementing state in Nigeria stole funds and bought a hotel in Lagos.

Although he did not mention the name of the governor, Sanusi said his state remained a “most serious example of backwardness”.

According to him, if leaders were conscious that they would account for the trust bequeathed to them, they would not steal public funds.

“On Social order and Ibadah, you know when our hearts are not good, our deeds will not be good,” Sanusi said.

He continued: “How do you explain that you have this external religiosity and then you have so much injustice? And that’s why I say the obligations of the heart are far more important than those of the body.

“Greed, selfishness, wickedness, envy. These are much greater sins than zina (illegal sexual intercourse), homosexuality, and gambling. The sins of the heart are greater than the sins of the body. We are focused so much on the external things.

“We even have had state governors who said they were practising sharia, they were leading the implementation of sharia and they were stealing money and buying hotels.

“There was a governor implementing sharia in a sharia state who stole public funds and bought a hotel in Lagos. And he says Allahu Akbar.

“Meanwhile, his state was left with no education, with no healthcare, with one of the most serious cases of security, most serious examples of backwardness.”

The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has toed the path of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government on a new electricity tariff hike.

Obi, on Sunday, said increasing electricity tariff for the rich is best.

Recall that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission approved a tariff increase on Tuesday last week for Band A customers.

Reacting to the development, Obi said that was the solution to Nigeria’s electricity challenges.

He stressed that a tariff increase for urban areas that can afford it is understandable.

“The solution is very simple (referring to electricity tariff hike), you can increase the tariff for those in areas where they can afford it.

“We must do a lot in power generation because it has taken so long. But we have to take into consideration that the majority of Nigerians are suffering.

“So we need to support people in those areas to be able to live and be able to produce something.

“When they start to produce something, we are pushing them out of poverty, and that’s where my theory of moving from consumption to production comes in”, he said.

A large crowd of people trooped out to welcome Hamisu Bala, better known as ‘Wadume’, to his hometown in Ibbi, Taraba State, on Sunday, after serving his jail term for offences of kidnapping and others.

Wadume, who was arrested by men of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of Inspector-General of Police, in 2019, was released from Kuje Prison in Abuja, on Saturday.

He was said to be received by thousands of people, including youths and women in Ibbi town.

A resident of Ibbi town said the town stood at standstill for Wadume, who was described as a philanthropist and local politician before his arrest.

He was driven round the town and thereafter proceeded to visit the Chief of Ibbi chiefdom, Alhaji Salihu Danbawuro, at his palace.

Wadume told the traditional ruler that he was at the palace to thank the chief and the entire people of his chiefdom.

He said throughout his trial, the chief and his subjects stood firmly with him and prayed for his safety and good health while in prison.

The chief, Danbawuro, told Wadume that he and his subjects were happy that he was out of prison.

LEADERSHIP recalls that during the attempt to arrest him in 2019 by the IRT over alleged kidnapping, he had enlisted the help of a Captain of the Nigerian Army, who aided his escape from Police custody when the vehicle of the IRT was stopped at a military checkpoint by gunfire and labelled as kidnappers instead, who had attempted at kidnapping Wadume.


Residents of Ibbi town consequently pounced on the Policemen for daring to kidnap their benefactor, killing about three of the elite Policemen and injuring others, a development that attracted national attention to the ugly incident.

Wadume went into hiding thereafter for days before another IRT team led by the now suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, smoked him out from his hideout in Kano metropolis of Kano State.

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi, has said he is more interested in Nigeria’s success today than in the future.

This follows speculations on social media that he was looking to make former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, his running mate in the 2027 polls.

But Obi, while speaking with journalists in Gombe State shortly after donating a borehole to the ram market in Tike Pantami on Sunday, insisted he was not looking far ahead.

When asked about a possible collaboration with El-Rufai, he said: “Well, I’m more interested now in Nigeria’s success today than tomorrow.

“We are always concentrating on the election rather than what Nigerians are going through.

“My commitment is about Nigerians living in a better society, given a better life, and that’s my concern.”

The Nigerian government, through the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, has said that the Tinubu administration is sustaining electricity subsidy for 85 per cent of Nigerian consumers.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said that this re-justifies the administration’s credential as a pro-people democratic government.

He maintained that the recently announced hike in electricity tariffs is only affecting 15 per cent of the electricity consumer population.

The minister spoke at the 4th Ministerial Briefing Session held in Abuja on Friday.

The briefing featured Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu and Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, Oseni Musiliu.

The discussion was based on the recently approved tariff review by NERC.

“Misconceptions and concerns around the tariff review are understandable. However, let me reassure every Nigerian that this review is a strategic step towards a more sustainable, efficient, and equitable electricity sector,” he said.

He further disclosed: “It lays the groundwork for significant improvements in service delivery, infrastructure development, and economic prosperity. Our focus must, therefore, remain steadfast on ensuring that the electricity sector’s transformation benefits all Nigerians, supports our industries, and propels our nation towards its bright future.

“You would also recall that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the Electricity Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024, into law to further strengthen the governance structure in the power sector and mandate the GENCOs to set aside 5 per cent of their actual annual operating expenditure from the preceding year for the development of the host communities.

President Bola Tinubu has called on Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to collaborate with potential Nigerian vaccine manufacturers to ensure equitable access to life-saving vaccines for children and adults.

Speaking at a meeting with a delegation of Gavi, led by its Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Sania Nishtar, at the State House, on Thursday, President Tinubu said partnership on local vaccine production has become necessary owing to the challenges faced by developing countries, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and other infectious disease outbreaks.

“We have capable and talented people who can make the necessary contributions to the production of vaccines in Nigeria and the rest of Africa,” the President told the visiting CEO, who assumed office on March 18, 2024, and has embarked on visits to some African countries.

The President assured the Gavi CEO of Nigeria’s commitment to fulfilling its outstanding counterpart contributions for routine vaccines for the year 2023.

He directed the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, to work with the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance to ensure the release of necessary funds for vaccine procurement.

”We intend to contribute to the development of our healthcare programme, and we are committed to partnering with Gavi,” the President said.

President Tinubu stated that his administration is focused on ensuring that no child is left behind when it comes to vaccination against preventable childhood diseases.

”Gavi’s commitment to humanity is recognised throughout the world. Thank you for your impactful commitment to humanity, and we welcome your collaboration to save our children from preventable diseases.

”We as a nation are committed to your values, and we believe that no child should be left unprotected,” he said.

President Tinubu acknowledged the invaluable perspective shared by the Gavi CEO, who hails from a developing country, Pakistan, and emphasized the importance of leveraging her experience for the benefit of children’s health.

Commending Dr. Nishtar for her visit to Nigeria and support for the administration’s health-sector initiatives, the President pledged to prioritise investments in health-sector renewal, noting the importance of coordination and collaboration among federal, state, and local governments.

President Bola Tinubu has called on ECOWAS member states to come together, strengthen ties, and reject forces bent on causing division within the community.

The President stated this at the inauguration of the Sixth Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament on Thursday in Abuja.

Tinubu, who is the Chairman of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government stated this in a statement by his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, saying regional solidarity is imperative to strengthen the bloc’s resilience and effectiveness at this critical juncture.

He emphasised that member states cannot afford to remain passive spectators while the community faces the threat of disintegration.

“We stand united against such forces and are committed to ensuring that our unity remains unshaken. We must ensure that cooperation amongst us is strengthened, with a view to building a sense of common destiny and purpose. No one can do this for us. We must come together.

“To this extent, reinforcing the legitimacy of the decisions taken by the Authority of Heads of State is key in sending a message that ECOWAS is one indivisible body. It is also very important that the executives, on the other hand, show similar confidence in the Parliament, which would indeed deepen democracy in our region.

“Meanwhile, in the midst of ongoing challenges, our partnership can be a driving force for stability, growth, and prosperity in our region,” the President said.

Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to the aspirations of the community and, by extension, the fundamental objectives upon which the ECOWAS Parliament was established.

Affirming the important role of the ECOWAS Parliament in the bloc’s journey towards a future of peace and prosperity for all, President Tinubu said success cannot be achieved without the loyal contribution and hard work of the community’s legislative agency.

“Furthermore, to realise the ECOWAS ‘Vision 2050’, we require greater involvement of the people in the decision-making processes of the community.

“That can only be achieved through their duly-elected representatives who, being members of their national parliaments, are seconded to the community parliament. We are here, collectively, to serve all the good and great people of West Africa.

“I am aware that the ECOWAS Parliament is seeking enhanced powers, primarily through the election of its members by direct universal suffrage.

“This will increase the role parliamentarians must play and the responsibilities that they will assume in advancing our regional development objectives, particularly in harmonizing laws and regulations across the member states.


“Indeed, the practice of directly electing public officials aligns with the democratic principles that Nigeria upholds, as it enhances the legitimacy of our democratic institutions.

“This principle is also in line with the spirit of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance. As a one-time legislator myself, I look forward to reviewing a proposal regarding this matter, and we stand ready to support direct elections into the ECOWAS Parliament.

“We believe this would ensure that citizens have a direct say in their representation – in addition to the legitimacy and credibility such a process will confer,” the President said.

Tinubu also stated that Nigeria, as the host of the community’s institution, will continue to support the parliament to achieve its objectives.

“I am aware of the plan to have all ECOWAS institutions in one complex and of the good progress that has been made.

Nigeria is also working to meet its responsibilities in constructing the ECOWAS Parliament’s Headquarters in Abuja within the same complex.


“I would like to emphasize that, as you conduct the business of the 6th Legislature, it is my hope that your discussions will provide you the opportunity to address the prime concerns of the region and come up with resolutions that will lead to the attainment of peace and the advancement of all.

“You can stand assured that Nigeria is always ready to support the ECOWAS Parliament, in whatever endeavours you are engaged, to move the ECOWAS mission forward,” the President stated.

Even as the military continues to surround Delta community, Okuama, where some soldiers were killed a few weeks ago, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Christopher Musa has revealed that the suspected killers of the military personnel were ritualists.


According to the CDS, the killers being ritualists severed the organs of the army personnel after the premeditated attack for ritual purposes.

Musa while speaking on the Arise Television programme, ‘Morning Show’ on Wednesday, monitored by THE WHISTLER, said the culprits aimed to prove dominance over the military.

The CDS’ assertion is sequel to the ongoing invasion and occupation of Okuama community in Ughelli Local Government Area of Delta State where about 16 army officers and personnel were killed.

The military has since started avenging the killings with more than half of the village burnt and villagers deserting the community into the forest.


However, Musa said the residents seeking to resettle into the Okuama community following military action, should identify the culprits, or keep off the area pending the conclusion of the ongoing investigation to recover weapons carted away from the slain personnel.

Reacting to the allegation of traditional rulers in Delta, alluding to the military’s highhandedness in their response to the killing of its personnel, Musa said, “I have very serious respect for elders but I will also like the elders to speak from the position of strength.

“They cannot say they do not know what is going on there. I am sure you are aware that since they decapitated the bodies of those guys, there are a lot of human sacrifices that are going on within those general areas, and it was part of a way of showing that they have strength.

“That is why they were able to cut their heads, and arms, disembowel them, remove their hearts. I do not know what was the intent, but whatever the intent is we remain focused and committed.

“If you notice again, our operation was highly regulated. Ideally before now, it would have been a situation where we would have gone and flattened all the communities within that area.


“We felt not everyone was involved. But, we knew that a lot of people know what was going on and kept quiet which makes them complicit. Like I said, it was a major operation; it was a major response.

“We are conducting a cordon and search operation to thoroughly search for our weapons to arrest those that carried out the dastardly act.

“Gradually when we finish the cordon and search operations — This means we are searching every nook and cranny within the community because we know that they have a lot of illegal funds from crude oil thefts and they have bought a lot of weapons.

“During the disarmament exercise that was conducted, a lot of them didn’t hand over all they had, and because it was a riverine area, close to other countries, they also have a way of bringing in weapons.

“It was because they had weapons, they were able to perpetrate this, so it is for us to thoroughly clean the community to ensure no weapon, explosive, nothing is left behind and that none of them is hiding, and I can tell you that the communities will always go back and rebuild.

Also, Musa debunked reports that the slain military personnel were on an illegal operation in the community, hence their gruesome death.


He said, “…Because they make a lot of money from crude oil theft…They did this deliberately just because the commanding officer and his team were ensuring that any act of pipeline vandalisation, crude oil theft, or illegal refineries were completely eradicated from that region.

“I have had comments about ‘what were they doing there’. Once we are deployed on operation, we have the right and mandate to arrest all acts of criminalities within that area. So, they were deployed legally.

“They were doing a legal operation and it was because the commanding officer felt the threat was not that high, that was why he went there and he felt he could discuss…

“That officer, if he had gone armed, he would have erased everybody in that place, but he felt these were people he could talk to and when he stepped out to talk to them with his team, they were rounded up and all shot, and not only shot, their body parts were cut, and there hearts and private parts were removed, and I think that is one thing that all Nigerians must stand against.”

The military head further reacted to the backlash faulting the handing over the traditional ruler of Ewu Kingdom in Delta, Clement Ikoko to the military, despite Ikoko surrendering himself to the Delta State Police Command.

The military had declared Ikoko along with seven others wanted in connection with the incident, but the traditional ruler publicly declared his innocence.

However, the police with the legitimate right to prosecute, handed him over to the military, and was flown to Abuja, where no word has been heard from him since then.

Speaking on the matter, Musa said, “Even the traditional ruler that submitted himself which is the best thing, I wish other ones that were in the picture will also do the same… There is really nothing to fear about because he brought himself up.

“The chief is secure, he is safe, and nothing is going to happen to him. It is just a few questioning and then we will be able to clarify, but I do not want to comment so much, but nobody will tell you, they do not know what is happening.

“Maybe he did not take part directly, but he cannot say he does not have a knowledge or the understanding of what was going on, but investigations would unravel most of these things and actions would be taken.

“We are not animals; We are not barbaric that we will just go around killing people. If they had not touched our armed forces, nobody would have been there.

“The commissioner of police, handing him over to the joint task force has a police component and they are the ones with the mandate to operate and that is why he handed him over to them.

“We have set up a board of enquiries also from outside to follow up, but we will not do anything to any innocent Nigerian. We are only after the bad guys. Anyone who makes himself one, we will definitely come after him.”

The Chief of Defence, thereafter assured members of the Okuama community that they would return and rebuild their community after their operation therein, and would not want innocent residents to fall victim during their investigation.

He, however, asked the resident whom he revealed “benefit from these criminals and their acts of criminalities”, not to harbour the criminals and provide any form of logistics to them, as they, if found would be treated accordingly.

Operatives of the Nigerian Navy’s Forward Operating Base (FOB) at Ibaka in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have intercepted a vessel laden with 30,000 litres of crude oil and arrested the eight suspects, who were handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and prosecution.

The Commanding Officer (CO) in – charge of the FOB, Ibaka, Capt. Uche Aneke, disclosed this while handing over the vessel, the suspects and other exhibits to the anti – graft agency’s officials at the Base on Wednesday.

He recalled that the vessel, suspects and the products suspected to be crude oil were seized since February 23, 2024, at about 3:55pm.

“The current global market price of 30,000 litres of crude oil is about N3 billion equivalent,” Aneke noted.

According to him, the vessel was arrested by NNS Ekulu, through the collaborative efforts of ExxonMobil that supported with necessary intelligence and the Cameroonian Navy, that also supported the interception when the vessel tried to escape by crossing International waters through Nigeria’s border with Cameroon.

“As at the time of arrest, the vessel had a total of 8 crew members (all Nigerians). The vessel was discovered to have four Geepee tanks loaded with products suspected to be crude oil and in various compartments,” Aneke stressed.

He, therefore, warned individuals or groups interested in planning to carry out any form of criminality within the Nigerian waters or smuggling illegal consignments into or out of Nigeria, to desist forthwith.

He said: “We are committed towards detecting every criminal move around our operational area using advanced surveillance equipment and intelligence.

“Under the current leadership of Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, we will ensure that, it is impossible for maritime crime to continue in the maritime and coastal areas of Akwa Ibom.

“Such Criminals will be apprehended and duly prosecuted. Nigeria’s water and coastal areas are not for illegal activities.”

Receiving the vessel, suspects and exhibits, EFCC’s Assistant Superintendent, Mr Terseer Polycarp, promised that the anti-graft agency will carry out further interrogation into the matter.

Frontline gospel minister, Nathaniel Bassey, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over allegations that he fathered Mercy Chinwo’s son.

Bassey urged the IGP to investigate and prosecute four persons whom he accused of criminal defamation and cyberstalking.

The singer submitted the petition on April 1, 2024, through his lawyers, Peter Abraham, Uche Matthew, Gbenga Agunloye and Anthony Abia.

Last week, four social media users alleged that Bassey fathered the son of the popular gospel singer, an
allegation that went viral on X.

The lawyers, therefore, urged the police authorities to urgently treat the petition against the four social media users, identified in the petition as Okoronkwo Ejike, Kingsley Ibeh, Terrence Ekot and Dj Spoiltkid.

The petition reads: “Our client is a gospel music minister whose songs and ministrations have impacted the lives of so many from different walks of life across the globe.

“On Friday, the 29th day of March 2024, Mercy Chinwo Blessed another popular gospel music minister, and her husband posted pictures of their son and themselves on different social media platforms.

“However, our client was disheartened, saddened, and grossly disturbed to find that the above-mentioned suspects, as mischief makers with a criminal intent to destroy the image and character of our client, had made different social media posts of defamatory matter, calling our client ‘the father of minister Mercy Chinwo Blessed’s son,’ a woman who is married to another man.

“The post by Mr. Okoronkwo Ejike has since gone viral on the platform. In reaction to the post, Mr. Kingsley Ibeh commented on Mr. Okoronkwo’s post with a picture of our client with the caption “The real father of the baby.

“In a post on the platform “X” formerly known as Twitter, “Dj SpoiltKid” a verified X user, quoted the statement by Okoronkwo Ejike along with a screenshot of the post and added, “When are we doing DNA test?”

“In another post, Mr. Terrence Ekot, on the platform “X” made a post thus: “Take a look at the stunning resemblance of mercy chinwo’s son and Nathaniel Bassey. Though duo has been working together on several projects in the past..what do you have to say?”

The lawyers said the social media posts by the four individuals amounted to complete assassination of Bassey’s character.

“These nefarious acts of these suspects, if not immediately dealt with, will continue to destroy our client’s image, injure his reputation, assassinate his character and cast aspersion on the good name built by our client over the years.

The lawyers said the alleged actions of the four individuals contravened sections 373 and 375 of the Criminal Code Act as well as Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.).

“The consequences of making such statements on social media have been known to tarnish the reputations of individuals, render marriages unstable, and many never recover from them. International reputation is an asset — both for the individual and for the nation — and it takes time to acquire.

“Consequently, we urge you to use your good offices to, in the interest of justice, investigate this matter, arrest, and bring the suspect to justice, which will serve as a deterrent to others.”

Mynd44

The Katsina State Police Command has confirmed the release of 28 girls abducted by bandits yesterday in Katsina. The girls were reportedly kidnapped while collecting firewood near Kasia village in Batsari LGA of the state.


ASP Sadiq Aliyu, the command’s spokesperson, confirmed the rescue in a statement on Tuesday. He stated that all the victims “have now regained freedom and are safe and sound.”


ASP Sadiq disclosed that on receiving the report, CP Aliyu Abubakar Musa, Katsina Police Commissioner, swiftly deployed a task force team alongside other security stakeholders. This action led to the release of all the abducted victims at about 10:40 pm on the same day of the incident.


The statement partly reads: “On the 1st of April, 2024, at about 10:30 hrs, about twenty-eight (28) girls who went to the outskirts of Kasai village, Batsari LGA, Katsina State, with intent to fetch firewood, were abducted by kidnappers.


“Upon receipt of the report, the Commissioner of Police, Katsina State Police Command, CP Aliyu Abubakar Musa, swiftly deployed operatives to the scene, tasked with the unhurt rescue of the victims.”

Racoon:
What shamelessness Going as an election rigger to the inauguration of a young man who won a clean, free and fair election.

President Bola Tinubu will depart Abuja on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, for Dakar, Senegal, to attend the inauguration of Senegal’s President-elect, Bassirou Faye.

The Presidency disclosed this in a statement by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, titled ‘President Tinubu to attend inauguration of Senegal’s President-elect Bassirou Faye.’

Tinubu, who is the Chairman of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, is visiting the country for the first time since assuming office, at the invitation of the Senegal government.

“He will join other regional leaders to witness the inauguration at Diamniadio Exhibition Centre on Tuesday,” said Ngelale.

The President will be accompanied on the trip by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and other senior government officials.

He is expected to return to Nigeria at the ene of the inauguration.

Senegal is the fifth African state President Tinubu will be visiting since assuming office 10 months ago, and his 17th foreign destination.

So far, he has visited Paris, France (thrice); London, the United Kingdom; Bissau, Guinea-Bissau (twice); Nairobi, Kenya; Porto Norvo, Benin Republic; New Delhi, India; Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates; New York, the United States of America; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Berlin, Germany; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Doha, Qatar.

The Minister of States for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, has said Nigeria is doing better than major countries in the word in terms of the percentage of rise in inflation rate.

According to Keyamo, the nation fared better than the United States of America, Canada, Russia, Spain and others in the way the inflation is increasing.

Keyamo spoke Friday while featuring on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria said Nigeria’s rise in inflation in just five per cent increase from 2020 when the world locked down due to COVID-19 pandemic.

According to him, other countries across the world had their inflation rate increased in a percentage that is way higher than that of Nigeria.

“With what we have gone through in the last seven years, Nigeria has done well in a context of macro global economy of major countries across the world.

“The inflation rate was hovering around 13 per cent in 2020 around the pandemic. Now we are doing 18 per cent. Which is about five per cent.

“We are better than major countries around the world like the United States of America, like Canada, like Russia, like Spain, like Germany. Go and fact-check me. I am not saying their inflation is 18 per cent. I am talking about the percentage of increase. In other words, we have tried to keep inflation down more than major countries.

“In fact, Ghana is worse. Ghana did 19 percent in term of increase. Ghana inflation now is about 29 or 30 per cent. We are doing 18 per cent. USA, Canada, Germany and others are hovering between 10 per cent and seven per cent, higher than Nigeria that is doing five per cent. It could have been worse, that’s the point I’m making,” Keyamo said.

Munamoqel:
ASU need a 1000billion so even the 1 bn for Niger will not make them call off !

obaaderemi:
No. If you hoard dollars then only a little supply of dollars will be available, with a lot of naira chasing after the scarce dollars. In that case dollars become expensive while naira falls.

It's demand and supply.

The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has called on Nigerian parents and guardians whose parents are affected by the ongoing shutdown of academic activities in government-owned universities to appeal to the Academic Staff Union of Universities to call off the lingering strike.

ASUU had declared a nationwide strike on Monday, February 14, 2022.

The strike, according to the union, was as a result of the failure of the government to meet some demands such as the release of the revitalisation funds for universities, release of earned allowances for university lecturers, deployment of the University Transparency Accountability System for the payment of salaries and allowances of university lecturers, renegotiation of the ASUU-Federal Government 2009 agreement among others.

Since the strike began, stakeholders had called on the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to find a lasting solution to the strike and increase funding of tertiary institutions.

The President, in a meeting with the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, alongside his other colleague, gave a directive to the members of his cabinet involved to ensure a speedy solution to the strike.

However, our correspondent reports that close to three weeks after the directive by the President, the union was yet to suspend its strike.

Featuring on a programme on Channels Television, Keyamo noted that the government had done its best and appealed to parents to “beg” ASUU.

“The moment they went on strike, we intervened, what is the manner again beyond that ? Even before the strike began, we called them to a meeting, what manner is more than that? It’s not like we left them to go on strike first and we were sleeping, as the talk started, they still went on strike.

“You can not allow one sector of the economy to hold you down and then blackmail you to go and borrow N1.2 trillion and our total income is around N6.1 trillion and we have roads to build, health centres and other sectors to take care of.

“I will tell the parents, everybody to go and beg ASUU like the President said the other time, those who know them should appeal to their sense of patriotism. The nation can not ground to a halt because we want to take care of the demands of ASUU”.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday announced that individuals and bodies were causing Naira fall.

The commission met with Bureau de Change (BDC) operators in the Federal Capital Territory.

The chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa said he called the meeting to fashion out ways to collaborate.

Bawa condemned the “brazen foreign exchange speculation especially at the parallel market”.

The anti-graft chief said the actions were hurting the country’s monetary policy by instigating a run on the value of the naira.

Bawa disclosed that the commission has intelligence linking persons and organizations to the hoarding of foreign currencies, especially U.S. dollars.

He identified Kano, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Enugu and Calabar as states under watch, disclosing that a major offensive against the speculators is under way.

Responding, the operators expressed optimism that the naira may eventually return to its pre-speculation value with EFCC intervention.

Similar meetings will be held with other BDC dealers, regulators, financial sector players and other stakeholders.

decatalyst:
This man is just stvp!d!

The Federal Government, on Wednesday, described the attack on the convoy of the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 12 headquartered in Bauchi, Audu Madaki, as an attempt by terrorists to score “a psychological point”.

Responding to a question on what the attack means for the FG, Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed told State House Correspondents that “the government is taking the job of security very seriously.”

The PUNCH reports that suspected terrorists attacked the convoy of the Assistant Inspector General of Police, injuring him and killing his orderly.

Madaki was said to be on his way to Abuja from Bauchi when the terrorists ambushed and attacked him between Barde and Jagindi area in Kaduna State at about 02:30 pm, Tuesday.

Although the AIG Madaki survived with gunshot injuries, his orderly was shot dead.

Speaking on the attack, Mohammed said “On the issue of the attack on the AIG in Bauchi, I need further information from the IG as to the circumstances of the attack. But what I know is that bandits would always want to make this kind of spectacular attack just to score a psychological point.

“But I know that the government is taking the job of security very seriously. As you can see, even today, the Honorable Minister of the FCT has told you exactly what he is doing to ensure that security is improved.

“Over the last couple of days, I’ve seen that the FCT police command has also given out telephone numbers to call in case of any security breach or information.”

Mohammed claimed that the success of the military has not received as wide reportage as the terrorist attacks.

“I know that there have been quite a few successes by the military in overrunning the bandits around Abuja in the last couple of days.

“Regrettably, it’s like when the military is having the upper hand, they are not given the same kind of media coverage as when the bandits attack,” he said.

On concerns raised by some civil society organisations that the worsening insecurity may hinder next year’s elections, the information minister assured Nigerians that there would be elections.

He said, “There will be an election. I can assure you. The President has said that he has given the security all the needed support. The Service Chiefs are doing their best and will continue to do their best.”

Meanwhile, the Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo, has justified the halting of rail services nationwide.

He said the imminent security threats necessitated the move as it would be inappropriate to endanger lives.

The PUNCH reports that the Nigeria Railway Corporation has suspended the Lagos-Kano and Ajaokuta train services over terror fears.

It also suspended services at the Ajaokuta station along Warri-Itakpe route because of the attack on some passengers by gunmen on Monday.

Justifying the move, Sambo told State House Correspondents that it is better to suspend the services than subject Nigerians to terror threats.

“I would like to state clearly that it is better to suspend a service where there is an imminent threat, and clear the threat first. Or where an incident had occurred and to investigate that incident, rather than jeopardise the life of a single Nigerian.

“So if there’s any suspension of rail services as of this morning, which is yet to be officially reported to me, because I had to come to Council very early this morning. As soon as I go back to the office, I will find out why. But Nigerians will rest assured that it is better to suspend the service than subject Nigerians to any threat to their lives,” he stated.

The Chinese government has condemned the trip of U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan in strong terms.

A statement on Tuesday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs described Taiwan as “China’s region”.

The government stressed that Pelosi’s trip was in disregard of China’s strong opposition and serious representations.

China called it a serious violation of the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-U.S. joint communiqués.

“It has a severe impact on the political foundation of China-U.S. relations, and seriously infringes upon China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

China said the visit undermines peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and sends a wrong signal to the separatist forces for “Taiwan independence”.

The statement referred to the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 of 1971, reminding the U.S. that in 1979, the U.S.made a clear commitment in the China-U.S. Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations.

China recalled it was all along opposed to the visit to Taiwan by U.S. congressional members, and that the U.S. executive branch “has the responsibility to stop such visit”.

“Since Speaker Pelosi is the incumbent leader of the U.S. Congress, her visit to and activities in Taiwan, in whatever form and for whatever reason, is a major political provocation to upgrade U.S. official exchanges with Taiwan.

“No country, no forces and no individual should ever misestimate the firm resolve, strong will and great capability of the Chinese Government and people to defend state sovereignty and territorial integrity and to achieve national reunification and rejuvenation.”

China vowed to take all necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity “in response to the U.S. Speaker’s visit”.

The Chinese government said the consequences of the trip must be borne by the U.S. side and the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces.”

The statement warned America to stop meddling in Taiwan and interfering in China’s internal affairs and stop conniving with “Taiwan independence” separatist forces.