The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has revealed how villagers his guns after troops killed terrorists.
According to him, this happened when he was the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) in the Northeast.
The CDS said: “When I was a theater commander in the North East – Harden-Kai – for 19 months – sometimes terrorists would come to a village with weapons to launch an attack and we would kill them, but before we would get there, all the weapons would have been hidden.
“And they would dig them out and attack us from the rear.”
To tackle insecurity, he urged religious leaders and traditional rulers to revisit the country’s value system
“These are things that were alien to us. Unfortunately, we are losing family values. You would find out that even within a family, a brother will kidnap his younger sister and tell their parents to pay.
“It is that bad because the society has been monetised. Everybody thinks that when he gets money his issues are solved. Those are the things we need to address.
“Family values have gone down; that’s why I appeal to religious leaders and traditional rulers to revisit our value system. We must put emphasis on bringing God, faith and sincerity in our lives. Somebody mentioned that Nigerians are religious but not godly,” Musa said.
Abductors have freed pupils and teachers of Apostolic Faith Group School, Emure after seven days in captivity.
Those freed include five students and three teachers while the kidnappers killed the driver identified as Taye Rasaki.
The gunmen on Monday ambushed a bus conveying the pupils and teachers back to their homes at Eporo and whisked nine away, leaving the bus on the road.
The kidnappers were said to have demanded N100m ransom for each of the nine persons in their den.
The abductors, however, on Thursday reduced the ransom to N15m for all the victims, threatening to kill them if the money was not paid on time.
In the early hours of Sunday, reprieve came their way as the bandits set them free.
The Chairman of Emure Council Area of Ekiti State, Hon. Adebayo Oluwatosin, who confirmed the development, said the victims are in the palace of Elemure of Emure Ekiti.
He added that the driver was killed while eight others regained freedom.
Confirming the development, Ekiti Police Command Public Relation Officer, Sunday Abutu said: “All victims were rescued today around 1:30am but we lost the driver who was unexpectedly killed by the abductors.
A member of the British Royal Air Force Opeyemi Falegan has offered to train the operatives of Western Security Network otherwise called ‘Amotekun’ on security management at no cost.
Falegan, in a statement in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, stressed the need to equip the operatives of the Amotekun Corps with 21st century modern security techniques and sharpen their intelligence gathering skills.
This, the Ekiti-born security experts, said would enhance their abilities to tackle all forms of criminalities before happening.
Falegan, who condemned the killings of two traditional rulers and abduction of some school children in Ekiti, said the solution to frequent attacks by bandits and kidnappers requires strengthening the local intelligence.
He called on the security agencies in the state to intensify more effort in rescuing the schoolchildren and their teachers as well bringing the perpetrators to book.
He said: ” Let me train the Amotekun corps because I still believe in the local intelligence, recognition of the local and domestic intelligence which are the local vigilantes , working with them can give tips and other information about suspicious behaviour to uncover who might be involved and for what purposes.
” This issue of kidnapping should not be seen from the political angle rather as a matter that needs urgent attention.
”Ekiti state government should involve experts in this area, in giving the government adequate advice in bringing this problem to an end by offering myself and skills without cost as a security expert.
“Using modern day technology can play a huge role in reducing insecurity in the state, Equipment like drones, ground control stations, and compact biometric search-scan systems.”
…Accused of holding regular meetings with terror suspects in Abuja
…knows the whereabouts of kidnapped Zamfara female varsity students, corps members
An influential Northern Senator is being closely watched by security agencies in the country for reportedly spearheading terrorism, banditry and Kidnapping.
The powerful lawmaker, who is also heading a sensitive committee in the Senate, has been identified as one of the sponsors and financiers of banditry and other terror-related activities in the North, competent sources told Saturday Vanguard last night.
The top sources, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, admitted that the unpatriotic actions of the senator were already known to relevant government agencies and he would soon be made to account for his heinous deeds.
One of the sources said: “We are aware of the Senator’s unholy relationship with the enemies of state, including the number of times he had held nocturnal meetings with kidnappers, bandits and terrorists in Abuja, the seat of power”.
It was also learnt that the parliamentarian, who is allegedly linked to an outspoken Islamic scholar, brings his overwhelming influence to bear on investigative activities of relevant security agencies.
Among other crimes allegedly committed by the lawmaker is the fact that he knows those behind the kidnap of some female students of the Federal University, Gusau, Zamfara State and the corps members from Akwa Ibom State who were seized on their way to Sokoto and have since been kept away by their abductors.
One of the top sources said further on the antics of the Senator: “Relevant security agencies have since unravelled the identity of a Senator from the North, who is the chief sponsor and financier of banditry and other terror-related activities in parts of the North.
“As a matter of fact, he is in marriage with the bandits, who have been terrorising the North Central and the North West areas.
“His tendencies are so disruptive and over-arching that he interferes with the investigative activities of security and other law enforcement agencies, who have continued to make inroads into terrorism, sponsorship and financing.
“Let me shock you: investigations have so far revealed that the lawmaker knows where kidnapped Zamfara female varsity students, and members of the National Youth Service Corps are being held”.
Another informed source, who spoke in similar vein, said: “Security agencies are aware of the Senator’s disruptive activities and have placed him under surveillance, being a person of interest.
“While an influential Islamic scholar can be said to be in bed with suspected terrorists, this high-profile Nigerian is in marriage with the bandits, and you know what that mean.
“We are wondering why he was given such a sensitive chairmanship position to occupy, considering his antecedents, which were appropriately communicated to the highest authorities.
“The truth of the matter is that security agencies are doing their best in terms of intelligence, investigations and operations, but what they need to identify, isolate and bring terrorists and their sponsors/financiers to deserved justice, is the political will on the part of government”.
Apex bank deploys monitors in DMBs to enforce compliance with extant rules
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) hit the nail on the head yesterday. It accused commercial banks of hoarding over $5 billion in foreign currencies against the threshold approved by the apex bank.
CBN blamed the prevailing forex scarcity and naira’s free-fall against the dollar on the actions of the Deposit Money Banks (DMBs).
The accusation came a day after the apex bank expressed concern about banks’ excessive forex exposure.
At the close of the market yesterday, the naira exchanged N1,450/$ at the parallel market.
It was a substantial gain (N70) against the dollar, having closed on Wednesday at N1, 520/$.
“Consequently, the CBN has mandated these banks to release any excess foreign currency they hold to individuals and businesses in need of foreign exchange by today’s deadline.
“Failure to comply with this directive will result in sanctions in accordance with existing rules and regulations.”
To show how serious the CBN is about this directive, the official said that “teams of examiners have been deployed to all commercial banks heavily engaged in FX transactions to monitor compliance with the directive.”
The CBN has moved to address the biting scarcity of foreign currency.
By releasing the surplus foreign currency, it is expected that the market will experience increased liquidity, and subsequently alleviate the strain on naira’s value, it was learnt.
Initial market response to the CBN directive, the official said, can be described as mixed.
Some banks have swiftly adhered to the directive, ensuring they meet the deadline for releasing the excess dollars.
The approach is seen as a positive step towards easing the pressure on the naira and promoting a more favourable exchange rate.
On the other hand, some financial institutions, the source said, “are cautious about revealing their exact dollar reserves and are treading carefully before fully complying”.
Their hesitation might stem from concerns about potential disruption to their operations and the potential impact on their customers.
“Just as some Nigerians prefer to keep their money in dollars because the naira is not a good store of value, banks also hold excess dollar liquidity to make gains. They do their own at the institutional level.
“What the CBN is saying with this new circular is that you cannot hold excess dollar liquidity again.
“Any foreign exchange you are holding must be committed to something, a transaction or obligation you can prove.
“Banks have made a lot of revaluation gains. Some banks, I believe, got approval under the last administration to hold more dollars than the requirement.
“The idea is that if banks sell all these excess dollars, there will be liquidity and the exchange rate will stabilise. Foreign investors will come in,” the top banker explained.
The source added: “The CBN remains resolute in its stance and all banks must cooperate to stabilise the naira and address the foreign currency shortage.
Read Also: Tinubu to University unions: prioritise dialogue to avoid frequent strikes “The apex bank aims to ensure adequate foreign exchange supply for critical sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, and essential imports.”
What the expert says: Dr. Wahab Balogun of Ambosit Capital Managers sees potential benefits and drawbacks in the CBN directive.
He said: “While increased FX liquidity and a stabilised Naira are desirable, managing potential disruptions to banks, inflation, and other sectors is crucial.
“Careful monitoring, adjustments, and communication from the CBN and banks will be vital for navigating the complexities of this intervention and achieving its intended positive outcomes.”
Balogun highlighted the positive implications of the development to include: increased FX liquidity as releasing excess foreign currency into the market can alleviate the current shortage, leading to smoother transactions and potentially stabilizing the naira’s exchange rate.
He argued that “businesses reliant on foreign exchange, especially critical sectors like manufacturing and agriculture, could benefit from easier access to funds for imports and operations”.
The directive to the banks by the CBN, he noted, will encourage “banks to adhere to regulations and avoid excessive foreign currency holdings, potentially promoting a more efficient and transparent FX market in the long run.”
“Addressing the FX shortage and stabilizing the Naira can contribute to overall financial stability, boosting investor confidence and economic activity.”
On the negative side, Balogun stated that releasing large amounts of foreign currency might cause temporary operational challenges for banks, which in turn would impact their liquidity and financial ratios.
He said: “Banks earn income through foreign exchange transactions, and a sudden decrease in their holdings could affect their profitability. Most importantly, increased liquidity could fuel inflation if not managed carefully, especially if demand for goods and services rises faster than supply.
Balogun noted that “the sector’s heavy reliant on a weaker naira (e.g., exports) could face challenges if the exchange rate strengthens significantly and the reaction of foreign investors and speculators to the increased FX liquidity could influence the exchange rate and market stability”.
The recent deployment of Federal permanent secretaries has created anger and resentment in the civil service.
It was learnt that the Head of Service of the Federation (HoSF), Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, allegedly “tampered” with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approved template for the redeployment of 24 Federal permanent secretaries.
But this could be immediately verified.
A director in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, who spoke in confidence, claimed that the normal protocol is for the HoSF to submit a deployment proposal to the President for approval before deployments are carried out.
“In this case, even though she submitted a proposal for the deployment to the President, there were some inputs and serious surgical works on the list before it came back to her. But she just did what pleased her apparently to punish some people.
“It was pure impunity and a clear attempt to favour certain cronies and punish some permanent secretaries she doesn’t like and others who seem to constitute a threat to her position,” the director alleged.
The source also claimed that after the President had approved the list for the deployment and redeployment of the permanent secretaries that was widely reported in the media, Yemi-Esan allegedly redeployed some permanent secretaries to ministries they were not initially assigned to and approved.
From the approved list, Dr. Evelyn Nkadi Ngige, who was redeployed from the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, was yet to report at her duty post and no one seems to know her current ministry.
It was also learnt that the HoSF had not redeployed Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan from the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to the Political and Economic Affair Office in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
A source privy to the alleged changes in the redeployment list claimed that “Mahmud Mamman, who is the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Works, was not listed for redeployment in the original list but was issued a letter by the HoSF to take over from Yakubu Adam Kofarmata in the Federal Ministry of Power even when Kofarmata was redeployed from Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) to Power in line with the approved list”.
Also, James Sule, who was in the President’s approved list from the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, was redeployed to Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation.
But contrary to the President’s approval, he was redeployed to the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy.
Reacting to the allegations last night, the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) has said it is the core duty of the service to post permanent secretaries across the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
The Director of Communications in the OHCSF, M. A. Ahmed, stated this in response to the claim by the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC) of Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) that the Head of Service of the Federation (HoSF), Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, does not have the power to appoint a permanent secretary for the FCT.
He said: “All permanent secretaries so far have accepted their postings. It is the duty of the HoS to assign them to various MDAs. Any permanent secretary who refuses posting for any reason will be dealt with according to the civil service rule.”
The HoSF did not respond last night to the statement by FCTA’s JUAC on whether or not the service has the power to assign permanent secretaries for the FCT.
Tension is building up in Katsina State capital following a social media post deemed offensive by some residents.
The Facebook post, allegedly written by a Christian indigene from the state, one Mani Abubakar, sparked anger and led to the destruction of his house and car at Babaruga after he escaped late Tuesday night.
Abubakar’s current whereabouts remain unknown.
The post, written in Hausa, reportedly contained derogatory comments about Islam, prompting the mob’s reaction.
The Christian Association of Nigeria is working with authorities and plans to meet with the Emir of Katsina to ensure his safety when he reappears.
Christian leaders in the state have urged for calm and understanding.
The Vice Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Katsina, Venerable Muyiwa Segun, condemned any act of violence or disrespect towards other religions.
“Everyone should respect the other’s religion,” Segun stated, adding, “Christians don’t have any business abusing other people’s religion. That is not how to do evangelism.”
Segun also confirmed that CAN is working with security officials and religious leaders to ensure peace and safety in the community.
The exact content of the Facebook post remains unclear, but reports suggest it questioned the origin of the Quran and criticised some aspects of Islam.
The Abuja chapter of Association of Bureau De Change (BDC) Operators has announced the closure of their business premises indefinitely from Thursday, February 1, 2024.
The chairman of the Association, Abdulahi Dauran, said the scarcity of US Dollars was responsible for their decision while adding that online banking transactions and cryptocurrency were behind of the scarcity of dollars.
Former President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Wole Olanipekun, SAN, on Wednesday, said ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo almost punched him when he advised him to…
Former President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Wole Olanipekun, SAN, on Wednesday, said ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo almost punched him when he advised him to amend the country’s constitution during his administration.
Olanipekun described the 1999 constitution as “fake” and lacking the required elements to address the various challenges confronting the country.
He called for the total overhauling of the constitution.
Olanipekun spoke delivering the 32nd and 33rd convocation lecture of the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State.
He delivered a lecture titled: “Mass Exodus of Human Capital in Nigeria: An Anatomical Analysis of the Causes and Effects”.
He legal luminary blamed insecurity, faulty constitution, bad economy and “awkward” federalism for the mass exodus of young Nigerians abroad.
Olanipekun said as the President of NBA in 2002, he led a delegation of members of the association to meet Obasanjo where he advised him to commence the process of amending the constitution, but the former President not only rejected the advice, but almost “boxed” him.
He said “We need a constitution with a humane face. I’m a lawyer, but we are deceiving ourselves, our constitution is fake and I have said this over and over, but then you will ask we lawyers that, ‘if we say the constitution is fake, why are we practicing it’? Lawyers and judges apply the law as it is, not the law as it ought to be, so we apply the law as we have it now and we have been pleading that we should amend the constitution, let us overhaul it.
“I, as president of the NBA, I led a delegation of the association to president Obasanjo in 2002, he almost boxed me, I’m here in Ogun State and I’m saying this, he is still alive, he said ‘no you can’t change it’, I said Mr. President, let us seize this opportunity to do it.
“We also appeal to the powers that be now, to our president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu that the time for us to restructure this country is now if we do not do it, these children that we have abroad might not return home, they won’t come here”, Olanipekun said.
He described previous alterations to the constitution as “charades and widow dressing” and called for the restructuring of the country.
The Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions, has summoned the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, on state of economy and free fall of Naira at the forex market.
The chairman of the committee, Senator Adetokunbo Abiru (APC, Lagos) disclosed this while speaking with newsmen after his panel met behind closed doors on Wednesday.
He said the committee, during the meeting, took the decision to summon the apex bank governor to brief the lawmakers Tuesday next week on what is being done to address the economic and Naira value crisis.
Naira continued its free fall on Tuesday, sinking to a record low of N1,482.57 per dollar following demand on the official market.
Senator Abiru said the state of the economy, especially the inflation index was of great concern to the lawmakers.
He said “We have held a meeting this afternoon essentially to focus on the direction of the Nigerian economy .
“We are all living witnesses to what is going on. Underlining the major issue of the economy is the way the inflation index has been and of course it is a major concern to us.
“We have deliberated among ourselves. Critical issues were addressed and we believe that the next line of action is to summon the governor of the Central Bank on Tuesday to brief us properly on the state of the economy.
“That we have resolved and will communicate to the governor of the Central Bank after which we will have further communication with members of the press.”
Claims that Bola Tinubu promised to reduce the purchasing power of Nigerians and widen taxes have been making the rounds on social media. Some of the accounts that made this claim also attached an old video of Tinubu discussing taxes and the economy during the Buhari administration.
Some users, like @emarged, @omogbajabiamila and @u10akaji, with considerable followings on social media, have recirculated the claims as of the time of this report. From these three accounts alone, the claims have garnered about 358,000 views.
FIJ also found that the claims have been around on the internet for a while. In 2022 for instance, Zero Access, a Nairaland user, posted a YouTube clip of the Tinubu interview with the caption ‘Tinubu will reduce your purchasing power’.
Another user, DesyChyko, also posted the same video on July 4, 2023, with a similar caption on Nairaland. His caption read:
“I stumbled across this excerpt where Tinubu promised to reduce the purchasing power of citizens. His exact words were: If we reduce the purchasing power of the people, we can further slow down the economy. Let’s widen the tax net…What I can’t understand though is why those people were clapping. Are they still clapping now?”
CLAIM: Tinubu said he would reduce the purchasing power of the people and widen the tax bracket.
VERIFICATION: FIJ traced the statement and the full version of the circulating video back to the 11th Bola Tinubu Colloquium in 2019.
The colloquium, an annual event held to commemorate Tinubu’s birthday, had Yemi Osinbajo in attendance in 2019. The 11th colloquium was held at the time the Buhari administration announced the increase in value-added tax (VAT).
In the full clip, FIJ found that Tinubu was advising the government against the increase in VAT. His argument at the time was that it would reduce the purchasing power of the people and slow down the economy. He said:
“The global economy faces a stiff headwind…factors, not our making. It casts doubt now and its projection is slow growth. Consumer spending is slipping…And this is where I will stop and appeal to Professor Yemi Osinbajo, the Vice President, and his team.
“Put a huge question mark on any increase on VAT, please. If we reduce the purchasing power of the people, we can further slow down the economy. Let’s widen the tax net.
“Those who are not paying now, if it is inclusive of Oyebola Tinubu, let the net get bigger and we take in more taxes, and that is what we must do in the country, instead of additional layer of taxes. For now, I’ll stop there.”
Bola Tinubu did not advise or promise to reduce the purchasing power of the people. He also did not promise to raise taxes.
Additional research revealed that media houses reported Tinubu’s actual statement here and here.
The claim and the videos circulating on the internet about his intent to reduce citizens’ purchasing power have been taken out of context.
CONCLUSION: Claims that Tinubu said he would reduce the purchasing power of the people, slow down the economy and widen taxes are false.
Make Rich Nigerians Explain Source Of Wealth Or Forfeit It To Government, Senator Ndume Advises Tinubu
The Chief Whip of the Nigerian Senate, Mohammed Ndume, has asked President Bola Tinubu to sign an Executive Order on Unexplained Wealth.
The order will empower anti-graft agencies to go after Nigerians with questionable wealth.
Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial district in the Upper legislative chamber of the National Assembly, explained that if President Tinubu is serious about tackling the menace of corruption, he must sign the Executive Order as soon as possible.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja, the nation's capital, Ndume said that the president should make rich Nigerians explain their source of wealth or make them forfeit it to the Nigerian government if they cannot give a satisfactory explanation.
Commending President Tinubu for ordering that all revenues from the sale of crude oil be paid into an account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the senator said signing the executive order would tackle the menace of corruption.
“The next thing now, if President Tinubu wants to fight corruption, would be to sign an Executive Order on Unexplained Wealth in this country," he said.
Ndume who said that he should also be questioned on how he made his wealth, warned that the issue should not be trivialised.
“Let all these people explain where they got their money, including myself. People should stop talking about trivialities or personal issues; they should talk about national issues,” he said.
According to Daily Sun, Ndume also urged President Tinubu to expand the dragnet to all government agencies that generate revenues. He said that agencies must not be allowed to keep government funds in commercial banks without proper monitoring.
He said, "The President has now ordered that all crude oil sales money should be paid into the CBN. That is a very welcome and positive thing that he has done and he should not stop there.
“All agencies of government that are revenue generating should pay their money into the consolidated revenue account and as they present their budget, whatever expenditure they are going to incur, let them bring it before the National Assembly. That’s what the Constitution says.
“So, what they now want is to make a political issue again out of it.
“This decision that Mr. President took is the right decision, it is constitutional and it should be supported by everybody. That way, it should also apply to other agencies of government that are driving revenue. They cannot keep it.
“NIMASA should pay directly like NNPCL into the CRF. The Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) should do the same. The Nigeria Customs Service and all other revenue agencies should pay revenues into the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation and their accounts should remain with CBN because they can do banking.
“So, if they want to withdraw money, they should withdraw through the CBN. They were doing this before. Don’t go and keep people’s money in commercial banks and do transactions with it. That is it.
“I reiterate my call commending him for asking NNPCL to pay all oil revenue into the Consolidated Revenue account.”
It has been three months since Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, minister of women affairs, threatened to sue the United Nations (UN) for allegedly mismanaging funds meant for Nigeria.
Addressing a press conference on October 16, 2023, Kennedy-Ohanenye accused the UN of obtaining funds on behalf of the country without remitting them.
Although the minister did not state the specific amount the UN allegedly accessed on Nigeria’s behalf, or what the funds were meant for, she threatened to take legal action if the organisation failed to provide an account of the funds or issue a public apology to Nigerians.
“If you don’t give us this account, at least let Nigerians see what is going on, then you [UN] apologise to them,” the minister said.
“From 16th of October to November 15, if we don’t get those reports for Nigerians to see, we are heading to court. [They have] from 16th October to November 8.
“They will get our pre-action letter that is to prepare that by 15th we are heading to court and I am promising Nigerians that by 15th you will hear the lawsuit number.”
TheCable had explained that the UN is immune from domestic or international legal actions.
Under Article II, section 2 of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, the UN and “its property and assets” enjoy immunity from “every form of legal process except insofar as in any particular case it has expressly waived its immunity”.
The minister had promised to make the lawsuit number public. She is yet to do so.
Efforts to reach the minister or her office to confirm whether or not she has commenced legal action against the UN, have not been successful.
Kennedy-Ohanenye has neither responded to calls nor messages.
A woman identified as Mary Olohunwa is currently in hospital after she was brutalised by her ex-husband, Keji Ademola in Bako Estate in Lagos, southwest Nigeria.
The estate is in the Owode Onirin area of the state.
A relation of Mary who spoke to SaharaReporters on Monday said she was accosted on her way to her shop last Thursday by her ex-husband who beat her and hit her with a heavy stone.
According to the source, Ademola claimed he saw strange marks on their children’s heads. But the woman explained to him that she put the marks to fend spiritual attacks off and protect the children.
The source said after Mary was hit by her ex-husband, she started bleeding and was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Pictures obtained by SaharaReporters show Mary lying down with a bloodied face. A video also obtained by the newspaper shows how Ademola was apprehended by residents of the area after he had reportedly attempted to flee.
“My sister is still in hospital. The stone wounded her a lot and we have been asked to pay a medical bill of around N160,000 for her treatment,” Mary’s sister told SaharaReporters.
SaharaReporters learnt that Ademola had been handed over to the police and had been in custody since then.
Mary’s sister added that “the police told us he would be arraigned in court today (Monday) by 11 am and we are for that”.
She continued: “This would be the third time this man wanted to kill my sister. It was because of his violent nature that they separated three years ago.
“We took him to Ketu Police Station before this recent incident, but he was released eventually without any punishment. This time, I hope the police do not compromise on their job.”
Efforts to reach the spokesperson for the state police command, Benjamin Hundeyin, for further details failed.
From 1999 when Nigeria returned to a democratic dispensation to 2023, the 36 states of the federation have produced not less than 149 different personalities…
From 1999 when Nigeria returned to a democratic dispensation to 2023, the 36 states of the federation have produced not less than 149 different personalities holding the position of deputy governors for their states. Within this period, Ekiti State has had the highest number (seven), while Ondo, Lagos and Kaduna had six each. Nine states have had five each, while 13 have had only three each.
Of this figure, only 10 have succeeded in taking over the mantle of leadership from their erstwhile principals, while 10 succeeded in navigating the political waters to become federal legislators.
With this paltry number of those that have taken progressive steps in politics since serving as deputies, a proportionate ratio of these former deputies have, however, gone into political oblivion and are only occasionally referenced when their former position become some form of leeway to political patronage. Others have, however, totally returned to private lives and have been making a living off the profession they knew before their voyage into partisan politics.
Daily Trust on Sunday looks at the outcry for the roles of deputy governors to be properly spelt out in the constitution, as well as the reasons the theoretical number two citizen in each state have often been described as a mere spare tyre.
A former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, in his review of a book titled, “Deputising and Governance in Nigeria” by a former Kano State governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, succinctly captured the legal and political dilemma of a deputy governor in Nigeria when he stated, “There are no specifically constitutionally defined responsibilities for the office of the deputy governor or even the vice president. Although elected on the same ticket, they literally serve at the pleasure of the person they deputise.
“It is not for nothing that the concept of a “spare tyre” came to be applied to the deputy governor/vice president in Nigerian discourses; somebody that only becomes functional briefly when the car runs aground.”
This lack of directive, analysts believe, has greatly impeded the political trajectory of former deputy governors, who often found themselves politically ‘jobless’ after their tenure.
Many, therefore, opine that it was the pressure to remain relevant, as well as have a body to lobby with, that gave birth to the formation of the Forum of Former Deputy Governors of Nigeria (FFDGN), which has been engaging political leaders to, among other things, lobby for the clear inclusion of the role of deputy governors in the constitution.
This lack of constitutional role has been fingered as the main reason deputy governors have not only been described but also deployed mainly as spare tyres for their principals.
Sharing this thought, a renowned political analyst, Professor Kamilu Sani Fage, told Daily Trust on Sunday that “the constitution literally makes them like a spare tyre because their work is at the discretion of their principals.”
He said another reason most deputy governors go into political oblivion after their term is the political process of getting the position.
“In most cases, the deputy governors are not the choice of the governor per se. Most times, it is some political big-shots that literally impose such candidate on the governor. So, you usually have some kind of marriage of convenience without shared values between the governor and the deputy; and that is why they don’t work smoothly during their term,” he said.
This marriage of convenience, many political watchers have also noted, has just one goal in mind – to win the election for the governor.
They believe that while the constitution recognises the ticket that produces the governor as a joint ticket, it became silent on how both should work together; thus, after the goal is achieved, the journey becomes tedious for the deputy, who has to constantly watch his acts not being seen as antagonising the principal.
Fage, a former vice president of the Nigerian Political Science Association (NPSA), also noted that because some governors are afraid of having their deputies succeed them, they do all they can to relegate them while in power, to the extent that most residents of the state may not even know the name of their deputy governor.
“Because of the crossed relationship they have, the governors are mostly afraid that when their deputies take over from them, they would be vindictive. In a situation like this, the deputy is not allowed to do any significant thing that could endear him to the citizens.
“The fear that the governors may not be able to dictate to their deputies when they succeed them may also be a reason you see that most deputies go into oblivion after leaving office,” he added.
Daily Trust on Sunday gathered that most politicians now consider being appointed as commissioners as the position is more glorious than being on a joint ticket with the governor, especially if a commissioner is appointed into a ministry considered to juicy. This, in most cases, have been said to be the reason most deputies always lobby to be given the supervision of at least a ministry because of the inactivity in the Office of the Deputy Governor.
Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State has made some appointments on his first day in office.
Ododo, who was sworn in at the Muhammadu Buhari Mini Stadium, Lokoja, the Kogi State capital on Saturday, made his first appointments during his inaugural speech.
The governor nominated some commissioners and other top aides. Some of those appointed served in the immediate past government of Yahaya Bello. They include Folashade Ayoade Arike, Kingsley Fanwo, and Deedat Salami Ozigi, among others.
He named Arike as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and asked the Kogi State House of Assembly to screen the appointees speedily.
Below is the list of appointees and their portfolios:
Many were reportedly killed when soldiers and gunmen clashed in two villages of Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, on Saturday morning.
The clash occurred after Governor Caleb Mutfwang relaxed the 24-hour curfew imposed on the area.
Mutfwang had said following improvement of security, the curfew should be from 8am to 4pm.
Sources told our correspondent that about 30 gunmen were killed while some soldiers sustained injuries during the clash at Satguru and Tyop villages.
A security operative, who requested anonymity, told Daily Trust, “The incident occurred between 7 to 7:30 am when the gunmen came in their numbers and started attacking some communities along Gindri road. In no time, the soldiers were alerted and immediately responded.
“About 30 of the gunmen were killed while more than 50 of them were arrested with guns and ammunition. Four soldiers were equally injured.”
Another source in the area who also pleaded for anonymity confirmed the incident to Daily Trust, adding that people were still in fear.
Spokesperson of Operation Safe Haven, a multi-security taskforce maintaining peace in the area, is yet to respond to the inquiries by our correspondent.
A lecturer at the Department of English, University of Port Harcourt, Mazi Eze, has shared his frustration after being denied a N5 million loan due to his monthly salary of N191,000.
Narrating his experience in a post on his Facebook page on Thursday, Eze recalled his visit to First Bank, Choba, where he sought a loan to enhance his Public Speaking Academy Limited and acquire social media gadgets but was told by his account officer that his salary was not enough for the loan he demanded.
Eze expressed disappointment over the challenges faced by academic staff members at the institution, highlighting the significant salary gap compared to counterparts in other universities who reportedly receive monthly incomes ranging from N230,000 to N250,000..
He wrote, “Yesterday, I got insulted big time! By my UNIPORT salary!
“I went to my bank, First Bank, Choba to borrow N5 million. My account officer, a jolly good lady, said, ‘We cannot give you up to that amount as a loan.’ ‘Why?’ I asked.
“‘Your salary cannot carry it. Wait, let me see.’ She clicked away at her desktop computer and said, ‘Your salary is N191,000. We can only give you 1.something million repayable within three years.’
“I shook my head and replied, ‘I don’t need 1.something million. What I need is N5 million. I need to fully equip my Public Speaking Academy Limited. I need to buy some gadgets for my social media engagements.’
“The lady said, ‘Sorry Sir, your salary cannot carry it.’ That day, I went home without getting the loan. I went home sad. Angry. Depressed. I’m 10+ years as a lecturer in UNIPORT. I have a PhD And my take-home pay is N191,000.
“Some of my colleagues who are at my salary scale level in Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Bori Polytechnic, and Rivers State University receive between N230,000 and N250, 000 monthly. That’s what they told me. N230,000 to N250, 000 monthly is peanuts in this Tinubu’s economy.
“At UNIPORT, a federal university, it’s N191,000 monthly! What’s wrong with UNIPORT? Or is it the same salary scale in other federal universities in Nigeria?
“In the next six to eight years, by God’s grace and through determination and diligence, I’ll become a professor, and my salary will be a miserable N440,000 monthly. Me, I’m tired sef!”
Lagos has been ranked as the 19th best city to visit in the world, according to Time Out, a British media and hospitality company that publishes guides and magazines.
Time Out said the conclusion was drawn from a survey of more than 20,000 city dwellers around the world, along with its own network of editors.
Criteria used to rate the cities include food (quality and affordability), culture, nightlife, how the city makes people feel, strong community vibes, access to green space, historic sites, and much more.
In the report published on Tuesday, Time Out said it worked with Potentia Insight, a research company, to strengthen the survey’s quality.
South Africa’s Cape Town, Nigeria’s Lagos, and Ghana’s Accra were the only African cities that featured on the list.
While Cape Town ranked second, Lagos was 19th, and Accra had the 44th position.
“Whether you’re a staunch mainlander or from Lekki, there’s something for everyone in Lagos, Africa’s most populous city,” the report reads.
Time Out encouraged global citizens to visit Lagos because: “Both the city and its suburbs are expanding – just check out live-work-play concept Eko Atlantic City. Just out of town, Epe, on the north side of Lekki Lagoon, is experiencing a boom”.
“When it comes to standard of living, Lagos has a lot going for it – 96 percent of locals are happy, 98 percent would call Lagos beautiful and the city got a 92 percent friendliness rating, too,” the report added.
The ranking also praised Victoria Island’s trifecta of swanky resorts, food haunts, and nightlife, recommended Lekki for brunchers, commended Ikeja’s Kuti’s Bistro, owned by the legendary afrobeat family, for serving up “reliably delicious food”, and cited Oniru Beach as a relaxation spot.
Last year, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), a sister publication of The Economist of London, said Lagos was the fourth worst city to live in the world.
Lagos was ranked above Algiers, the capital of Algeria; Tripoli, Libya’s capital; and Damascus, the capital of war-torn Syria.
The report surveyed 173 cities and used 30 qualitative and quantitative factors across five broad categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure.
Lagos was the second worst liveable city in 2022 after holding the position for two consecutive years and was only behind Damascus which has been held down on the list by social unrest, terrorism and conflict.
EIU said Lagos moved up the ranks after seeing improvements in healthcare and education, but added that corruption is still a problem.
CAPE TOWN AND ACCRA’S DISTINGUISHING FEATURES
Cape Town scored highly across the board after a whopping 100 percent of locals said the city is beautiful and that it made them happy, Time Out said.
The city’s culture scene also ranked highest in the world for its quality.
Accra on the other hand was praised for having exciting new ventures across music, nightlife and the arts.
Like Cape Town, the Ghanaian capital scored a 100 percent happiness score, with the same percentage of locals saying the seaside city was beautiful to look at.
NEW YORK RANKS FIRST, VANCOUVER TAKES 50TH
New York, known as “the city that never sleeps”, took first place on the list.
Time Out said the adage extends to the city’s spirit, too.
“This vibrant metropolis is always adapting, always innovating and always pushing the boundaries,” the report said.
Canada’s Vancouver took the last spot, laying claim to being the country’s prettiest city, with 94 percent of locals saying they found the city beautiful (beating Montreal by 2 percent), according to Time Out.
Here is a full list of the countries.
1. New York City, United States 2. Cape Town, South Africa 3. Berlin, Germany 4. London, United Kingdom 5. Madrid, Spain 6. Mexico City, Mexico 7. Liverpool, UK. 8. Tokyo, Japan 9. Rome, Italy 10. Porto, Portugal
11. Paris, France 12. Mumbai, India 13. Lisbon, Portugal 14. Chicago, US 15. Manchester, UK 16. São Paulo, Brazil 17. Los Angeles, US 18. Amsterdam, The Netherlands 19. Lagos, Nigeria 20. Melbourne, Australia
21. Naples, Italy 22. Singapore 23. Miami, US 24. Bangkok, Thailand 25. Lima, Peru 26. Budapest, Hungary 27. Beijing, China 28. Dubai, United Arab Emirates 29. Montreal, Canada 30. Glasgow, UK
31. Sydney, Australia 32. Bueno Aires, Argentina 33. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 34. Manila, Philippines 35. Seoul, South Korea 36. Hanoi, Vietnam 37. San Francisco, US 38. Barcelona, Spain 39. Abu Dhabi, UAE 40. New Orleans, US
41Philadelphia, US 42. Austin, US 43. Boston, US 44. Accra, Ghana 45. Marseille, France 46. Taipei, Taiwan 47. Istanbul, Turkey 48. Osaka, Japan 49. Hong Kong, China 50. Vancouver, Canada
The federal government has slammed terrorism charges against four Port Harcourt-based men who allegedly invaded, vandalized and burnt down Rivers State House of Assembly last year.
The accused persons, suspected to be loyalists of Siminalaye Fubara of Rivers State, are accused of committing the alleged terrorism offences during the wake of political upheaval that rocked Port Harcourt in October last year.
They are Chima Eguma Ezebalike, Prince Lukman Oladele, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Osiga Donald and Ochueja Thankgod.
Although the immediate past factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Edison Ehie was named in the 7-count terrorism charges, he was however said to be at large alongside other suspects.
The four alleged terrorism suspects who have been in the custody of the anti-terrorism department of the police at the Force Headquarters in Abuja are to be arraigned at the Federal High Court in Abuja today.
In the charges against them marked FHC/ABJ/CR/25/2024, obtained by our correspondent, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun is named as the complainant.
Apart from allegedly burning down the State House of Assembly, some of them were said to have killed a Superintendent of Police, (SP) Bako Agbashim and five police informants at Ahoada community of the state.
The police informants said to have been killed are Charles Osu, Ogbonna Eja, Idaowuka Felix, Paul Victor Chibuogu and Saturday Edi.
They were also accused of using various cult groups, namely- Supreme Viking Confraternity, Degbam, Iceland and Greenland to unleash mayhem on the people of the state and their commercial activities.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Simon Lough has been detailed to lead the prosecution team before Justice Bolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court in Abuja today.
Specifically, they are alleged to have on October 29, 2023 at Moscow Road in Port Harcourt conspired to commit acts of terrorism by wilful destruction of public properties by invading, attacking, destroying and burning of the Rivers State House of Assembly, an offence punishable under section 26 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022.
Part of the charges read, “That you, Chime Eguma Ezebalike, 37 years, business man of Street 5, Radio Estate Ozuoba, Port Harcourt, Prince Lukman Oladele, 47 years of Okocha Street, Port Harcourt, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Hon Edison Ehie and others now at large on 29th of October 2023 at Moscow Road in Port Harcourt, while acting in concert conspired together to commit felony to wit: acts of terrorism by wilful destruction of public properties by invading, attacking, destroying and burning of the Rivers State House of Assembly and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 26 (1) of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022.
“That you Chime Eguma Ezebalike, 37 years, business man of Street 5, Radio Estate Ozuoba, Port Harcourt, Prince Lukman Oladele, 47 years of Okocha Street, Port Harcourt, Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, Hon Edison Ehie and others now at large on 29th of October 2023 at Moscow Road in Port Harcourt, while acting in concert and armed with dynamite, iron rods, lighters and other offensive weapons willfully and maliciously invaded, attacked and set fire on the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 1 of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
Their arraignment is expected to be conducted before Justice Bolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The pump prices of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) petrol will moderate this year as government and private-owned refineries begin operation, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Olayemi Cardoso has said. He spoke on Wednesday, January 24, at the launch of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) 2024 Macroeconomic Outlook Report in Lagos.
Cardoso said the expected stabilisation or reduction in fuel costs is poised to have far-reaching implications across various sectors, contributing significantly to overall economic efficiency and resilience.
While Dangote Refinery has already commenced production, the Port Harcourt Refinery is expected to begin production anytime from now.
Cardoso said the apex bank, the Ministry of Finance and the NNPCL have collaborated to ensure that all FX inflows are returned to the Central Bank to boost reserves accretion.
He described the naira, which exchanges around N1,370 to the dollar at the parallel market as undervalued.
“We believe that the naira is currently undervalued and, coupled with coordinated measures on the fiscal side, we will expedite genuine price discovery in the near term,” he said.
In summary of the NESG 2024 Macroeconomic Outlook Report in Lagos, the Chief Economist at NESG, Dr. Olusegun Omisakin, listed some economic outcomes of achieving a stable and appropriate pricing of the exchange rate in Nigeria.
The NESG report advised that stabilising the exchange rate through a functional and transparent foreign exchange market entails enhancing market liquidity through regular auctions, reducing administrative restrictions, and ensuring efficient allocation of FX reserves.
“Adopting a managed float system, regulating speculative activities, and encouraging foreign investments would bolster market confidence. Besides, access to FX needs to be realigned to facilitate international trade and transactions – as such, local access needs to be to the limit of the Naira equivalent. Reinforcing monetary policies for inflation control and export diversification would promote currency stability,” the report advised.
Cardoso acknowledged the challenges facing the economy and the resistance to proposed solutions by various stakeholders, assuring that the economy is now at a turning point, and the bold reforms being undertaken across different segments of the economy, while initially challenging, are ultimately directed towards addressing these challenges in a sustainable manner.
“I am confident that we are already witnessing positive outcomes, and these will undoubtedly become more apparent in the near future. The dedicated and relentless efforts being made are certain to bring about significant and positive changes for our economy.”
“Indeed, recent reports from international rating agencies such as Fitch, Moody’s, and commendations from multilateral banks like 3 Classified as Confidential the World Bank reflect this, with upgrades to Nigeria’s ratings from stable to positive. These reports acknowledge the possible reversal of the deterioration in the country’s fiscal and external position due to the authorities’ reform efforts,” Cardoso said.
“While noting the painful adjustments, they all identify a direction of travel that will unlock the much needed growth and development for our economy in the medium to long term.”
He said the rising costs of food prices and volatility in the forex market will soon be addressed.
On economic growth, he said the global economy is currently grappling with persistent challenges, including inflation and subdued growth prospects.
Despite Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth outperforming expectations in 2023, it is projected to further moderate in 2024 due to tightened financial conditions, sluggish trade expansion, and reduced business and consumer confidence. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) anticipates a mild slowdown in global economic growth to 2.9 percent in 2024, down from the 3.0 percent growth observed in 2023, with Asia driving the majority of the projected global growth in 2024, similar to the previous year.
He said the projections for the nation’s economy paint an optimistic trajectory as the Federal Government of Nigeria anticipates real GDP growth of 3.76 percent in 2024, slightly surpassing the estimated 3.75 percent for 2023.
The optimism, he said, was underpinned by the implementation of key government reforms set to shape the economic landscape. Foremost among the factors contributing to this positive outlook is the expectation of improved crude oil prices and production, highlighting the crucial role the oil industry is expected to play in driving economic growth.
Cardoso said the positive outlook for Industry, Services, Agriculture, and Mining, Electricity, Gas & Water Supply sub-sectors reflects the potential effect of market-based reforms through private investment and SMEs-led growth that would contribute to business improvement and confidence.
“Government reforms in the mining and energy sub-sectors are expected to serve as a catalyst for growth and development. 3. While the potential for growth exists in 2024, each sector may encounter unique challenges and opportunities,” he said.
He said that inflationary pressures are expected to decline in 2024 due to the CBN’s inflation-targeting policy, which aims to rein in inflation to 21.4 percent.
This will be aided by improved agricultural productivity and the easing of global supply chain pressures, benefiting businesses by boosting consumer confidence and purchasing power.
He explained that the CBN’s adoption of the inflation-targeting framework involves clear communication, use of monetary policy instruments, and collaboration with fiscal authorities to achieve price stability, fostering market confidence and positively influencing consumer behaviour.
“The outlook for decreasing inflation in 2024 will have a profound impact on businesses, providing a more predictable cost environment and potentially leading to lowered policy rates, stimulating investment, fueling growth, and creating job opportunities,” he said.
Cardoso said the expected stability in the foreign exchange market for 2024 can be attributed to the reduction in petroleum product imports and the recent implementation of a market-determined exchange rate policy by the CBN.
“This reform is designed to streamline and unify multiple exchange rates, fostering transparency and reducing opportunities for arbitrage. The resulting consistent and stable exchange rate will not only boost investor confidence but also attract foreign investment, elevating Nigeria’s appeal to global investors,” he said.
Cardoso said the NESG’s Macroeconomic Outlook Report for 2024 emphasises the necessity of economic transformation under the central theme, “Economic Transformation Roadmap: Medium-Term Policy Priorities.”
“This theme underscores the requirement for a clearly outlined roadmap comprising distinct yet interconnected phases and essential policy recommendations. This resonates with me as we have just last week, launched a new 5-year Strategy for the Central Bank of Nigeria for the period 2024-2028 that provides a clear roadmap for achieving our mandates,” he said.
The NESG report explained that when exchange rates are stable, everyone is better off. Price stability supports economic growth and employment. It allows people to make more reliable plans for borrowing, saving, and expanding businesses.
“Decreased volatility of the exchange rate helps to support stability in inflation, which mainly affects low-income households because they have fewer resources to protect themselves. In the situation of price stability, it helps to maintain social cohesion and stability. History has shown that episodes of high inflation tend to be associated with social unrest,” the report.
According to the report, increased capital inflows will fortify the nation’s external reserves, establishing a robust defence against external shocks.
“This can only happen with the stability of the exchange rate. Capital inflows, comprising foreign investment, loans and remittances, elevate the reserve levels, bolstering Nigeria’s financial stability and economic resilience,” it said.
The NESG report advised that in addition to nominal enhancements in revenue, the country’s revenue-to-GDP ratio must reach a minimum threshold of 15 percent to substantiate the processes of economic growth and stabilisation.
“The country must significantly decrease its current public debt service-to revenue ratio, aiming for a reduction to less than 22 percent from the current high of 80.2 percent as of 2022. This reduction is crucial to create fiscal space, enabling the government to reallocate funds toward economic development and stability initiatives.
“A moderate fiscal deficit can be a useful tool for financing essential investments and stimulating economic activity. Hence, the optimal level of fiscal deficit that supports economic growth and stability in Nigeria requires a careful balance. A fiscal deficit of less than three per cent as stipulated in the FRA 2007 is considered appropriate for the economy,” it said.
Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, said the President has no plans to move the Federal Capital to Lagos.
Onanuga said those peddling rumour are dishonest, ethnic and regional champions, trying to draw attention to themselves.
He claimed that those pushing the campaign of falsehood know they are playing politics, albeit dangerous politics to pitch the North against the South.
According to him, Abuja has come to stay as it is backed by law.
His statement followed the recent relocation of FAAN, a department of the Aviation Ministry, to Lagos.
Onanuga said there are many parastatals that are not based in Abuja depending on their mandate, insisting that Administrative decisions should not be politicized.
“President Tinubu has no plan whatsoever to move the Federal Capital to Lagos. The rumour first surfaced during the campaign last year by opponents looking for all manners of weapons to stop him. We trashed it.
“Those peddling it anew are dishonest, ethnic and regional champions, trying to draw attention to themselves. Abuja has come to stay. It is backed by law.
“The movement of FAAN, a department of the Aviation Ministry to Lagos, where it was based before former minister Hadi Sirika moved it to Abuja during the last administration, does not amount to moving the FCT to Lagos. The administrative move should have attracted scant attention, as Lagos is the commercial capital and the hub of aviation business in Nigeria. FAAN should be nowhere else but near the industry it regulates. FAAN will still maintain some presence in Abuja, as it is not a wholesale movement.
“Similarly, the movement of some departments of the CBN to Lagos should not trigger any hoopla. The departments concerned, including the bank supervision department, are those dealing with commercial banks, all with headquarters in Lagos. A regulator ought to be close to the businesses it regulates.
“All those pushing this campaign of falsehood know they are playing politics, albeit a dangerous politics to pit the North against the South.
“There are many parastatals that are not based in Abuja depending on their mandate. NIMASA is in Lagos. So is NPA. The National Inland Waterways Authority( NIWA) is in Lokoja, not Abuja. Will the people opposing the movement of FAAN and some CBN departments want those agencies to be in Abuja, where there is no single port and no maritime activity?
“Administrative decisions should not be politicized. Let it not look like whenever we are temporarily not at the helm of affairs, we create all manners of dangerous rumours to distract from the bigger picture and emasculate an administration led by a Southerner.
“Let’s stop the dirty politics. We can’t be playing politics with everything.”
The Federal Government through the Bureau of Public Enterprises is currently carrying out transactions for the sale of five power plants under the National Integrated Power Projects at a cost of about $1.15bn, it was gathered on Tuesday.
Although sources familiar with the development explained that the cost of the plants should exceed $5bn based on international benchmark, they revealed that the BPE was planning to sell the facilities at a price that is a little above $1.1bn
The acting Director-General, BPE, Ignatius Ayewoh, confirmed to our correspondent in a brief telephone conversation that “the transaction is ongoing,” adding that “it is not concluded.”
The BPE boss did not disclose the cost for the five plants, as he quickly stated that he was in a meeting and would not be able to give additional details.
However, impeccable sources at the bureau named [b]the five power plants to include the 434 megawatts gas-fired Geregu II power plant, located in Kogi; 451MW Omotosho II plant in Ondo; and 750MW Olorunshogo II plant in Ogun State.
Others include the 563MW Odukpami power plant in Calabar, Cross River State; and the 451MW Benin-Ihovbor plant in Edo State.
It was gathered that the Omotosho plant, which has four power generating turbines, would be sold at about $85m; while the Olorunsogo NIPP with also four turbines would cost $170m.
The Benin-Ihovbor plant with five power generating turbines would go for $420m; Calabar Odukpami plant with five turbines would be sold at about $260m; while the Geregu plant with four turbines would go $215m.
“These are Siemens turbines and each of the turbine can generate about 115MW of electricity,” one of the sources, who pleaded not to be named due to lack of authorisation, stated.
The official went ahead to explain that it would cost about $1m to construct a plant that could generate 1MW of electricity, stressing that if the five NIPP plants were valued on this basis, they would cost more than $5bn.
It was, however, gathered that the cost of constructing 1MW power plant vary depending on several factors, including type of power plant, location, technological advancements, etc.
“But a general range for the cost of constructing a 1MW power plant based on different technologies is that for a solar power plant, it is between $1m to $2m per MW.
“For wind power plant, it is between $1.5m to $2.5m per MW. For natural gas-fired power plant, such as the NIPPs, it is between $1m to $2m per MW, while for coal power plants, it is between $2m and $3m per MW,” another source in the sector explained.
In December 2022, The PUNCH reported that the Federal Government and the 36 state governors finally agreed to sell five power plants under the National Integrated Power Projects and use the proceeds to fund the 2023 budget.
Parties in the deal reached the agreement in December after over two years of disputes and legal tussle as regards the sale of the NIPP plants being managed by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company.
The NDPHC, owned by the federal, state, and local government councils, is a power generation and distribution company that oversees the implementation of the NIPPs.
The former Director-General, Bureau of Public Enterprises, Alex Okoh, had disclosed the agreement between the Federal Government and the states as regards the NIPP plants to journalists in Abuja during an interview. The disclosure was, however, opposed by various groups.
There have been discussions and plans for the sale of the NIPPs by the Bureau of Public Enterprises for several years, with the specific details and target sale amount evolving over time.
In April 2021, the National Council on Privatisation approved the sale of five NIPPs through a fast-track strategy. The estimated value of these five plants was not publicly disclosed at the time.
In March 2022, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation expressed interest in acquiring some NIPPs, indicating continued progress with the sale.
In December 2022, the former BPE boss, Okoh, confirmed an agreement between the Federal Government and states for the sale of five NIPPs.
He projected the sale to generate over N260bn (around $600m). However, some many sources and CSOs expressed concerns that this amount wouldn’t significantly impact the rising budget deficits at the time.
As of today, and going by what the acting DG of the BPE states, the sale of the NIPPs has not been finalised. The Niger Delta Power Holding Company, which manages the NIPPs, has also not confirmed its sale.
Meanwhile, it should be stated that while there is no official confirmation on the cost of the NIPPs, some sources speculate that the initial estimates for individual NIPPs could have ranged from $300m to $500m.
President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote has retained his position as the richest person in Africa with a net worth of $13.9 billion, in the 2024 Forbes list of 20 of Africa’s Richest billionaires released yesterday.
According to Forbes, the fortunes of Africa’s wealthiest people rebounded slightly in the past 12 months, reversing the decline in their fortunes from a year ago, though they were still off their all-time highs.
The New Jersey-based media outfit pointed out that the 20 billionaires on the 2024 Forbes list of Africa’s Richest were worth a combined $82.4 billion, which was up $900 million from last year’s $81.5 billion
The Executive Chairman of Geregu Power Plc and a Non-Executive Director FBN Holdings, Mr. Femi Otedola, was named among the 20 richest persons in Africa. Otedola was listed as the 19th richest person in Africa with a net worth of $1.1 billion.
Here is a list of the top 20 richest billionaires in Africa
•Nullifies presentation of 2024 appropriation to four-member Assembly
•Declares invalid reposting of clerk, deputy
A Federal High Court sitting Abuja, yesterday, told the Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, that by withdrawing all the processes he filed in the suit before it, he had admitted to all the allegations against him and was, consequently, deemed liable.
The court voided the presentation of the 2024 Appropriation Bill by Fubara before a four-member legislature led by Edison Ehie. It also declared invalid the reposting and redeployment of the clerk and deputy clerk of the state House of Assembly.
Justice James Omotosho, who ruled in the matter, subsequently, declared that the governor was not entitled to invite the National Assembly (NASS) to take over the Rivers State House of Assembly and that NASS also lacked the powers to do so in the instant case.
Omotosho made an order restraining the National Assembly from accepting, entertaining or dealing with the request from Fubara to take over the legislative function of the state Assembly.
He further issued an order of mandatory injunction compelling the Inspector General of Police to protect and provide adequate security and protection to the Speaker and other members of the state assembly.
The court also restrained Fubara and the state government from invading, interfering or stopping the lawmakers from holding meetings, or accessing the Rivers State House of Assembly complex.
In arriving at the decisions, the court observed that Fubara had by withdrawing all the processes he filed in the suit admitted all the allegations against him and was, thus, deemed liable.
Omotosho, who voided the presentation of the budget, said the governor acted in violation of the court’s order, dated November 30, 2023, which had ordered parties to maintain status quo as at November 29, 2023.
The judge made “an order restraining the governor from making any further presentation, except to the leadership of the second plaintiff (Martin Amaewhule).”
He stated that an order of court not set aside remained valid and binding, and the sitting of the four members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, believed to be loyal to Fubara, in violation of a court order, was a nullity.
The court held that the passage of the 2024 Appropriation Bill by the four lawmakers and every other action taken by them amounted to a void act.
In five months of taking over leadership in Rivers State, Fubara had run into trouble with his sponsor and benefactor, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and immediate past governor of the state, Mr Nyesom Wike.
The disagreement led to a division in the state assembly, with a faction of 26 lawmakers said to be loyal to Wike threatening to impeach the governor, who was accused of inviting the National Assembly to intervene and take over the state’s legislative function.
The 26 lawmakers, led by Martin Amaewhule, had defected from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the platform with which they came into office as legislators, to All Progressives Congress (APC).
Following their defection, a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt recognised the faction led by Ehie, a basis for the presentation of the appropriation bill before the four-member legislature.
Delivering judgement in the suit filed by the Rivers State House of Assembly and Amaewhule, Omotosho held that the four-member faction before whom the budget was presented was not the authentic leadership of the Rivers Assembly by law.
The judge said, “The presentation of the bill is void and deemed not to have been presented, passed into law” since it was presented to an unconstitutional six out of the 31 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, in flagrant disobedience of an order of court.”
The state assembly and Amaewhule had, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1613/2023, challenged an alleged plan by the National Assembly to take over their legislative duties in the state.
They had specifically accused Fubara of inviting the National Assembly to take over the state’s legislative functions in a bid to stop his impeachment by the lawmakers.
In its judgement, the court observed that the National Assembly had the power to take over the legislative functions of a state assembly, if there was evidence that the assembly could no longer sit or carry out its duties due to some prevailing circumstances.
Omotosho, however, held that the taking over must be based on an order of court.
Observing that there was no evidence before the court to show that the Rivers Assembly could no longer sit or carry out its legislative duties, the judge described as an academic exercise the issue of action notice raised by the appellants.
On the removal of the Clerk and Deputy Clerk of the Assembly, the court stated that Section 93 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, subjected the appointment of the Clerk and Deputy Clerk to laws enacted by the House of Assembly. It added that Section 10 of the constitution provided that the Clerk and Deputy Clerk shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Assembly. The court held that to that extent, the reposting and redeployment of the Clerk and Deputy Clerk of the Rivers State House of Assembly by the Head of Service of Rivers State was void, because it had no base to stand upon.
“The purported reposting and redeployment is hereby declared invalid and strip of any potency in law,” Omotosho ruled.
On the issue of salaries and allowances of the legislators, the court held that the governor did not have the powers to tamper with the funds credited to the lawmakers.
“Any attempt by a governor to withhold the funds credited to the legislators is tantamount to tyranny and dictatorial tendencies,” Omotosho said. He added that the executive was bound by the law and should not take action against the law.
The judge, therefore, ordered the governor to release forthwith the salaries, allowances and all fringe benefits accruing to the 26 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, loyal to Wike.
The court also dismissed the case of Ehie, who had applied to be joined as an interested party, on the grounds that since he resigned as Speaker and member of the Rivers State House of Assembly, he had lost the capacity to be heard.
President Bola Tinubu had while intervening in the Rivers State crisis, directed all parties to withdraw all court proceedings and said the governor should recognise the Amaewhule leadership of the Assembly and represent the 2024 budget before them.
Tinubu added that the aggrieved lawmakers should also abandon their planned impeachment of the governor.
Based on the agreement, Ehie, who led the faction recognised by the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, became Speaker. But he later resigned from the state assembly.
Meanwhile, the state chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) lauded the Federal High Court in Abuja for its decision on the N800 billion budget passed by the Ehie-led Assembly and signed into law by Fubara.
Addressing journalists in Port Harcourt on the development, the state chairman of APC, Tony Okocha, commended the judiciary for its decision.
Okocha emphasised that the budget was never presented because the Ehie-led group did not meet the one-third statutory requirement for forming a quorum in the Assembly.
The APC state chairman said, “The budget was presented in error. There is no way four Assembly members will be sitting as an assembly when the law stipulated one-third, which is about 10 members. So it means that the Assembly never met, and for the governor to take such a risk amounts to putting something on nothing.
“So the decision of the Federal High Court, which also stopped the governor from interfering with the affairs of the Rivers State House of Assembly, is in order and is welcomed by us.”
A new report has projected that the Central Bank of Nigeria may ask commercial banks with international banking licence to raise their capital base to over N900bn.
This came a few months after the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, said the apex bank would be asking lenders to raise more capital in order to support the Federal Government’s vision to grow the economy to $1tn.
According to the Banking Sector FY 2024 Outlook produced by CardinalStone Securities, a non-bank securities trading firm, Nigeria banks may be required to boost their capital, with projections indicating an increase ranging from N181.85bn for regional banking licences to N909.27bn for international banking licenses.
The report, titled, “Nigerian banks: On the cusp of a new dawn”, based the projection on the prospects of the CBN returning to the dollar ratios of capital bases-to-GDP set in 2005.
These ratios ranged from 0.04 per cent for regional banks to 0.22 per cent for commercial banks, according to the report.
However, the report stated that the goal of reaching a $1tn economy in seven years may even necessitate higher capital base requirements.
It noted that there has been a substantial decline from 2005’s recapitalisation exercise, as the requirements which ranged from 0.04 per cent to 0.22 per cent of the GDP in dollar terms as of 2005, have dropped to a range of 0.00 per cent to 0.01 per cent of the GDP in dollar terms as of 2024.
The report read in part, “Banks may be expected to boost capital base to between N181.85bn (for regional banks) and N909.27bn (for international banks), given 2024 real GDP of $472.6bn and exchange rate of N841.61/$ as at December 20, 2023.
“In this case, the majority of banks are likely to scale this hurdle, with some tier-1 banks even boasting capital bases above 2.1x of the threshold implied by this scenario analysis and with Zenith Bank at the peak.”
It added, “However, the ambitious target of reaching an economic size of $1tn in seven years may require an even higher range for capital base requirements. Tier-1 international banks like Zenith Bank and UBA are likely to surpass the implied thresholds.
“We will continue to monitor developments in this space to see what the apex bank eventually settles for as well as the structure of the directives and timelines.”
Femi Adesina, former media aide to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, has shared intriguing details about President Buhari’s response upon learning about Bola Tinubu’s ‘Emi Lokan’ speech.
The revelation comes from Adesina’s account in his new book, “Working with Buhari: Reflections of A Special Adviser, Media and Publicity (2015-2023).”
In June 2022, Bola Tinubu, then the presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), made headlines with the ‘Emi Lokan’ remark during a meeting with APC delegates in Ogun State. Translated as “it is my turn” in Yoruba, Tinubu asserted that without him, Buhari wouldn’t have won the 2015 presidential election.
Adesina disclosed that when Tinubu made these statements, President Buhari was not in the country; they were in Spain for an event. Concerned about varied interpretations reaching the President, Adesina and other aides decided to brief Buhari during their return flight to Nigeria.
Sharing the moment of revelation, Adesina stated, “The visit concluded, and we were to return home on Friday, June 3, when the social media exploded with reports from Nigeria, of comments made at a public event in Abeokuta, Ogun State, by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC National Leader and an aspirant for President in the forthcoming party primary.
“Asiwaju Tinubu said many things, but what touched on President Buhari directly was that without him (Asiwaju), Buhari would never have been President, and that it was now his own turn to rule. Emilokan, my turn, in Yoruba language.
“We the principal aides of the President were in a dilemma on how to brief the President on what had happened, as it would not be right for him to get to Nigeria and be reading different versions and interpretations of what happened, which may be right or wrong.
“Myself, Ambassador Kazaure, (SCOP), Chief Security Officer to the President, Idris Ahmed Kasim, Mohammed Sarki Abba, Dr. Suhayb Rafindadi, Col. Yusuf Dodo, the Aide-De-Camp, and Tunde Sabiu, Special Assistant, put heads together, and decided that I should brief the President when we were airborne to Abuja. The motive was so that he would not get varied and possibly distorted versions.
“Few minutes into the flight, I approached the President and said I needed to bring him up to speed on something major that had happened back home.”
President Buhari’s response was one of quiet contemplation. Adesina continued, “Ever a willing listener, the President told me to go ahead. I did a summary of the Emilokan speech, and when I ended, the President ruminated for some moments and responded: ‘Asiwaju said all that? Thank you for coming to brief me."
The ‘Emi Lokan’ speech had sparked various interpretations and discussions on social media. To address the unfolding narrative, Tinubu’s campaign team felt a clarification was necessary, asserting that the aspirant wasn’t deriding the President in any way.
Upon their return to Nigeria on June 3, 2022, President Buhari held a meeting with all APC presidential aspirants at the State House on June 4.
Adesina noted that the ‘Emi Lokan’ reference was palpable, but President Buhari avoided mentioning it explicitly. Instead, he encouraged aspirants to consult and build a consensus to produce a formidable candidate.
“Next day, June 4, President Buhari held a scheduled meeting with all APC presidential aspirants at the Villa. Emilokan hung thick in the air, but trust the President, not a word of it was mentioned.
“He only appealed to the aspirants to consult among themselves, build a consensus, and produce a formidable candidate who could win an election for the party,” Adesina added.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited says it adopted a lower price benchmark for $3.3 billion crude-for-cash loan to reduce the risk of default and ensure financial stability.
The NNPC spoke on the details of the facility in a document signed by Olufemi Soneye, NNPC’s chief corporate communications officer, on Sunday.
The document is titled, ‘Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Project Gazelle’.
BACKGROUND
On August 16, 2023, the NNPC secured a $3 billion emergency crude repayment loan to support the naira and stabilise the foreign exchange (FX) market.
In January 2024, TheCable reported that Nigeria would pay an interest of 11.85 percent per annum on the $3.3 billion “pre-export finance facility” (PxF) facilitated by the NNPC Ltd and arranged by Afreximbank.
The news has garnered significant interest as the NNPC had pledged over $12 billion worth of oil– about three times more than the facility taken.
To make the repayment, the NNPC will forward-sell 90,000 barrels per day of Nigeria’s share of offshore crude oil under the production sharing contract (PSCs) with the oil companies.
JUSTIFICATION FOR THE $65 OIL PRICE BENCHMARK
Giving details on the benchmark oil price, the NNPC said the facility, tagged, ‘Project Gazelle’ uses a conservative crude price of $65 per barrel to calculate the allocated crude to be produced and sold in the future. Brent Crude price is currently at $78.
“This provides a safety margin for price fluctuations in the future,” NNPC said.
“NNPC Limited has reserved up to 90,000 barrels of crude for Project Gazelle, ensuring sufficient cash flow for repayment and other financial obligations.
“If oil prices rise, more money will come in from selling the 90,000 barrels, allowing for faster repayment. However, if oil prices fall, the repayment may be slower.
“The quantity of crude earmarked (90,000 barrels) is sized to ensure enough cash is available for the repayment of the facility when it is due.
“This also ensures that NNPC Limited can meet other cash flow obligations, considering the expected future price of crude oil globally.”
‘LOWER CRUDE PRICE ACCOUNTS FOR VOLATILITY’
In the document, Sonoye said the lower crude price in the arrangement is due to the conservative pricing strategy that accounts for the volatility of oil prices.
This strategy, he said, helps in reducing the risk of default and ensures financial stability.
“Oil prices are highly unpredictable, meaning prices can fluctuate up and down within any given period,” he said.
“Lenders prefer a low price for safety to ensure a limited risk of default. On the other hand, Borrowers prefer a high price to minimise pledged volumes.
“The negotiated price sits in the middle and is usually a compromise between these two interests.”
The NNPC spokesperson said a lower price estimate also accounts for these incidental costs, adding that the facility’s “small size will not significantly impact future oil earnings relative to Nigeria’s oil production”.
“This project showcases NNPC Limited’s operational autonomy and financial acumen while ensuring immediate liquidity, minimising the impact on future earnings, and potentially enhancing Nigeria’s credit rating,” the national oil firm said.
NNPCL also said repayments are strategically planned and tied to future oil sales, with conservative pricing in oil sales contracts mitigating the risks associated with oil price volatility.
Five of the six sisters of the Al-Kadriyar family who were kidnapped by bandits in the Bwari area of Abuja and regained their freedom on Saturday, January 20, have narrated their ordeals while in captivity.
The Nation reports gunmen killed the eldest of the six sisters – Nabeeha Al-Kadriyar and dumped her body somewhere for her parents to bury.
Nabeeha and her sisters were abducted alongside their father, Alhaji Mansoor Al-Kadriyar on Wednesday, January 3. Nabeeha has been laid to rest according to Islamic rites.
She was a 400-level student of biological science, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.
Other siblings include: Najeebah Al-Kadriyar (500 level, Quantity Surveying); Nadheerah Al-Kadriyar (300 level, Zoology) both students of ABU; Aneesah and Adeebah
Najeebah who posted on ‘X’, on Sunday after regaining freedom said: “You know on Friday, we walked from 10am till the next 4am or even later. They wouldn’t let us rest, they wouldn’t let us drink water. We only got to drink water around 10am yesterday morning. At a point, I almost gave up, I almost asked them to just kill me.
“But then I was like I can’t leave my sisters here. I kept thinking, we’ve paid the ransom, why won’t they let us go? Then yesterday, I was like my Rabb, if we actually leave this place today, I will never doubt how great and amazing you are. I don’t think anyone understands how I feel right now.
“Allah really said “I’m always listening, my answers might not be the way you like it, but I’m always listening so be patient” I’m soooo in awe, I’m still in awe wallah. Subhannallah, Allah truly is the greatest. Allah’s blessings was there in every way.
“I’m soo happy there wasn’t any molestation cos that was everyone’s greatest fear during the ordeal. Like, they were so against it. I don’t understand why but I counted it as a blessing from my Lord. Ya Dhul Jalal Wal Ikram, Shukran. Your blessings were immense.
“Alhamdulilah. I’m immensely grateful for your prayers and support throughout this ordeal.
This was the greatest test of my life but wallah Allah’s mercy was bountiful as well as it was endless. Thank you all so much
“I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that my uncle actually died that night. I just found out last night. I called and they said he was fine. Inalilahi waina ilaehi raji’un. Ya Allah grant him jannah and forgive his shortcomings. Inalilahi waina ilaehi raji’un.”
Another sister, Nadheerah in a terse post on her personal ‘X’ page said: “Alhamdulillah”.
The Lagos State Police Command has narrated a shocking account of how a Nigerian seeking asylum abroad asked the police to declare him wanted.
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) had in December 2023 said no fewer than 260,000 Nigerians approached the IOM for assistance to leave the country in 2023.
Analysts said that the current rise in migration is not unrelated with the living cost crisis Nigeria is going through.
But in a social media post, the Spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said he was stupefied when a Nigeria asked that the police declare him wanted so that he could apply for asylum.
Meet ex-inmates who turned a new leaf “‘Please, declare me wanted!’ I was stupefied. I blinked and looked at him again. ‘What did you say,’ I asked.
“Please, I want you to declare me wanted,’ he repeated.
“Why do you want to be declared wanted,’ I inquired, amused.
“Actually, I am applying for asylum at xyz Embassy. During the interview, I told them that I am being persecuted to the point of being declared wanted by the Police.
“They now asked for evidence of the ‘wanted’ declaration. I can easily do the artwork but I know they will come and verify. That is why I want it from the source,” Hundeyin wrote.
She stabbed him multiple times with the dagger in a walking cane he had brought out to use on her for denying him another round of intimacy.
The above and many more were details provided to operatives of the Rivers State Police Command by a 26-year-old murder suspect, Serah Nwankpo, alleged to have killed her married lover, Anthony Igbodike on December 23.
The suspect, a mother of two and secondary school leaver, who’s currently detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Rivers, told detectives that she acted in self-defense as Igbodike had locked his door to prevent her leaving and brought out the walking cane to use it on her.
Trouble started for the woman on December 22 after she received a phone call from Igbodike, who she claimed had been wooing and sending her cash gifts, and agreed for them to meet.
According to the suspect, she relocated to Port Harcourt City from Enugu last August where she began a new relationship after jettisoning the one which made her a single mother of two kids.
She was in a relationship with one Ibanga who she allegedly cheated on with Igbodike and had called him for help when things went awry during her visit to her married lover’s house but he refused to get involved.
According to the suspect, she first met Igbodike in 2017 in Enugu and while in Port Harcourt, he kept calling her, extending invitations to her to his residence. She said he told her he was separated from his wife and wants to start all over with her.
She told detectives she kept making excuses to turn down the invitation because she wanted to be faithful to Ibanga but Igbodike was persistent and kept sending her money at different times and so she eventually gave in to his demands and they agreed to meet around 10am, at Kilimanjaro by Choba junction.
Anthony paid the tricycle rider N500 and their day together began.
Amankpo accompanied him as he arranged to pay his staff salaries for the month of December. One of his staff, Hope, spent some time with the duo as Anthony made transactions in the bank.
He took Sarah shopping for groceries and home supplies after he had finished the transactions and sent Hope on her way.
Afterwards, they went to his apartment at Mercy-land extension, Obiri-Ikwerre, an apartment in a compound he shares with his landlord. As they settled in, he asked her to prepare a meal for him.
He accompanied her to his kitchen, showed her how to operate the appliances there, and sat back to let her finish off the cooking. It was just past noon at this time. After a few minutes, he left the house to buy more home supplies- garri, fufu and a soup pack.
When she was done, Igbodike helped himself to the meal of eba and soup she had prepared as she claimed she was not hungry. After the meal, he went in to have a bath and thereafter, they had intimate moments and even made video recordings of their escapades for keeps.
Nwankpo said she became hungry after the romps and decided to fix a meal for herself, narrating that Igbodike was with her even while she ate as they had friendly discussions.
“He enquired about her love life, and she detailed her ongoing relationship with Joe Ibanga. He laughed at the idea of her dealing with the challenges of raising children and struggling with a relationship that was not financially rewarding.
“He offered to wrench her free from pecuniary hardship if she would let go of her relationship and marry him. He also sought to know if she was involved with other men besides her boyfriend. She said she was not.
“He continued his pitch even as she went to have a bath. He explained his business to her and even presented her with job opportunities in his establishment, saying he was willing to make her a manager at his firm.
“She agreed to visit him again after about a week so that they could begin plans for her life with him. Based on the discussions, he had arranged for her to start working with him in January 2024,” the police said.
But the excitement was short-lived as Nwankpo, who had earlier agreed to spend the night changed her mind after he sent her to buy a call card for him.
“She mentioned the sudden change in feeling to him, but he was not perturbed. To lighten her up, he suggested that they go into town to a club and buy shawarma, but she turned that down, saying she was not in the mood and needed to return home.
“After more attempts at convincing her to stay, she agreed to spend the night. She put on one of his shorts and a shirt at his behest as she prepared dinner for them. It was about 10pm at this time. “When he had finished eating and their discussions had whittled away, he beckoned on her to come to him. As she did, he asked that she should caress him; she obliged but later opted out when he demanded intercourse, as she said she was no longer comfortable.
“Her rejection greatly provoked him, and he asked her to dress up and leave his house. She refused to leave and stood up to challenge him. A verbal war ensued, and he slapped her. She attacked him, and they began tussling and tugging at each other. As the scuffle subsided, he locked the door, picked up a walking cane and threatened to beat her with it. “In that window, she dialled her boyfriend’s number, and when he picked up, she tried to explain the events to him and asked him for help. He hung up and did not call back.
“She then tried to open the door, but Igbodike held her back, and they began another scrimmage. She said she screamed for help, but no one heard her, let alone rescued her.
“In the fighting, he dropped the walking cane, and she reached for it and noticed that it had a detachable holding head. She quickly detached the head and saw that a dagger was attached to it. As he made his way to her, she swung at him with the dagger, stabbing him severally, including a blow to the neck that eventually proved fatal. As he bled out, he weakened.
“She opened the door and tried to escape, but he grabbed her hair and maintained his grip even as she struggled to free herself. At this point, they had gotten out of his apartment, and the ruckus had alerted his landlord and his family.
“The landlord alerted other neighbours, and they lifted Anthony into his own vehicle and took him to the hospital. As they were making plans to leave, they noticed Sarah frantically making a call, she was calling her boyfriend again to tell him the mess she had gotten herself into. It was about midnight at this time.
The neighbours seized her phone and locked her up in Anthony’s apartment as they left for the hospital. Some of them returned after a short while and asked her if she was not paid for her services for her to resort to stabbing her host. As she tried to explain, she was beaten up and locked up again. She spent her time in the room cleaning up the pools of blood in the apartment,” she told the police, who arrived at the scene around 1am that day.
She said it was while she was in custody that she was informed that Igbodike had died.
She also got a visit from four of his family members, who wanted to know exactly what had happened. His wife also visited the police to listen to the cause of her husband’s untimely death.
Reacting to the tragic incident, the Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, advised individuals to exercise caution in their relationships and to seek peaceful conflict resolutions.
“It serves as a reminder that violence is never the answer and can lead to devastating consequences for all parties involved. The investigation into this case is ongoing,” he said.
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