₦airaland Forum

Many people believed they were enemies within the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, because they not only disagreed with the party leadership on who should be their presidential candidate ahead of the February 25 elections but it was alleged in many quarters that they also worked against the party.

They operated under the aegis of Integrity Group but the governors among them were famously known as the G5.
The crux of the matter was their insistence on the removal of the PDP Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, who hails from the North just like the party’s presidential candidate.

Led by Governor Nyesom Wike (Rivers State) who had contested for the party’s presidential ticket with Atiku but came second, they canvassed the ceding of the party’s chair to the South as a form of geopolitical balancing.

But their demand was never met, thus setting the stage for a stalemate ahead of the polls.

Opposition parties won the February 25 presidential election in the states controlled by the G5 governors namely Wike (Rivers), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Samuel Ortom (Benue) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu).

Thus it wasn’t unexpected that the PDP leadership would fight back now that the elections are over and Atiku not only lost but the party also lost some states it hitherto controlled.

‘No blanket decision’

The PDP National Working Committee, NWC, had, on Thursday, suspended former Senate President, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, former Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, his former Katsina State counterpart, Alhaji Ibrahim Shema and two chieftains of the party, Prof. Dennis Ityavyar (Benue State), Dr Aslam Aliyu (Zamfara State) over alleged anti-party activities.

Of the lot, at least Fayose had been linked to the G5 governors. The NWC also referred Ortom to the party’s National Disciplinary Committee.

However, the decision to spare Makinde, Ugwuanyi, Ikpeazu and Wike alleged to have also engaged in anti-party activities has set tongues wagging.

Sunday Vanguard gathered, in Abuja, that the NWC treated each case on an individual basis.

A member of the party’s NWC, who was privy to what transpired during the meeting when the decision was taken to suspend Fayose and co was taken, explained that it “was not a blanket decision.”

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the issue, said, “We treated each case on its merit.”

He went on: “It was as simple as looking at the level of infraction committed by each of those whose cases were brought before us.
“His Excellency Governor, Seyi Makinde, and his Enugu State counterpart, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, for example, were not overtly hostile to the party in spite of the differences we had.

“These two party members contributed men and materials to support our presidential campaigns, especially in their respective states.
“They also didn’t openly canvass for support for presidential candidates other than Atiku Abubakar unlike Ortom who openly declared his support for Peter Obi and to add salt to injury also asked his supporters to vote for Obi.

“Even when there were speculations that Makinde and Ugwuanyi were supporting the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, they were diplomatic and subtle in their approach.

“We are a party governed by rules and regulations. For every action there are consequences.

“As for Governor Wike, his case is still being investigated; although he disparaged our presidential candidate, he was careful not to openly canvass for the candidate of another party.”

Men of Ogun State Police Command have arrested a 43-year-old man, Abiodun Oladapo, who impregnated his 19-year-old biological daughter and threatened to kill her should she ever expose his sexual escapade to anyone.

The incident, which happened in Mowe, Obafemi-Owode local government area of the State, also involved one Ms Oluwatoyin Idowu, a divorcee and mother of two, who hinted the Police about the incident when her only son, Michael, was about to be implicated in the matter.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the randy father, Abiodun, had been sleeping with the 19-year-old daughter since February 2022 when the girl started living with him after her mother separated with the suspect.

The Police said upon his discovery that the victim was five-month-old pregnant for him, Abiodun allegedly ordered his daughter to implicate Ms Idowu’s only son, Michael Idowu, who only had intercourse with the victim three months ago, as being responsible for the pregnancy.

The development, however, infuriated Ms Idowu, who in turn, reported the matter to the Police at the Mowe Divisional Police Headquarters after she had allegedly interrogated her son “and discovered that the victim was not saying the truth.”

The Police Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Abimbola Oyeyemi, who confirmed Abiodun’s arrest, said that the victim (name withheld) has confided in the Police that though Michael Idowu slept with her in December 2022, but her father, Abiodun was responsible for her pregnancy.

She stated further that her father had been sleeping with her since February 2022 with threat to kill her if she ever informed anyone about it.

“Upon her confession, the Divisional Police Officer (D.P.O) in charge of Mowe Division, SP Folake Afeniforo, detailed detectives to go after the randy father and he was subsequently arrested. On interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime but blamed it on the devil.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect, who had long separated with the victim’s mother, took custody of the girl when her mother remarried and they have been living together since then,” the PPRO stated.

SP Oyeyemi, however, disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Frank Mba, has directed that the suspect be transferred to State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) for further investigation and possible prosecution.

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of alleged attempt to truncate the ongoing judicial process on the contentious February 25, 2023 presidential election.

The main opposition party claimed that the national leadership of INEC in Abuja issued stringent directive to the 36 state Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) and that of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on the issuance of Certified True Copies (CTC) to litigants for the prosecution of their cases in court. The PDP is contesting the declaration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressive Congress (APC) as president-elect by INEC. Addressing a press conference on Friday in Asaba, spokesman of the PDP presidential campaign council, Charles Aniagwu, said the party was in possession of a document from INEC, directing it’s RECs to cross-check with the IReV before issuing CTC of the form EC8A.

According to Aniagwu who doubles as the Commissioner for Information in Delta State, INEC “is asking RECs to first of all confer with Abuja to confirm if what they have in their form EC8A, which is the result sheet of the presidential election in the state, conforms with what is in the IReV.

“For INEC to be asking RECs to make comparison with what is on IReV is dangerous because the presidential election result was not uploaded in real time.

“The delay in uploading the result is something that we are still interrogating. Many people have questioned what happened in Rivers and Lagos states.

By Daniel Atori Minna Emmanuel Ifeanyi Aba Musa Pam Jos Dominic Adewole Asaba Ibrahim Sidi


Newly elected governors have begun to speak on the shape their respective administrations will take ahead of their inauguration on May 29, with many of them promising to cut wastages. Those who spoke to Saturday Telegraph in different interview sessions include Caleb Muftwang (Plateau), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Umar Bago (Niger), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta)and Alex Otti of Abia. In the separate chats, they stated that efforts would be geared towards pooling resources needed to make the right impacts on their people, saying their election to lead their respective states is call to service. They added that they have been able to see the shortcomings of the outgo ing governments to be able to make the right amends in their quest to serve their people.


We’ll engage experts to help cut cost of governance – Bago

Unfolding his agenda, Bago stated that he will engage technocrats to study how to curb the huge cost of governance, adding that he will make a deliberate effort for an urban renewal scheme to attract both local and foreign investors. According to him, “I will raise the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the State,” he said, adding that “I have started talking to investors at the top level and their responses are satisfactory.” He also disclosed that wastage will be cut drastically by introducing Monitoring and Evaluation (M & E) mechanism to address the issue. He said, “Wastage will be cut drastically during my term in office; and I will also give the M and E appointees a target in which if they fail to achieve results within six months, they will have to give way”. He stated that the reasons the state had experioenced stunted growth and development was because the relevant machinery had not been deployed by previous administrations to take advantage of its proximity to building infrastructure that would benefit the state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. He said “Part of the policies and programmes of my government is to establish an industrial park and related facilities especially along the two Local Government Areas (LGAs): Suleja and Tafa that share a common boundary with Abuja to boost our IGR”.


I’ll run inclusive government, cut cost, says Plateau’s Mutfwang

Plateau State Governor elect, Caleb Mutfwang, promised to run an all-inclusive government where all stakeholders in the state will play an active part. He also pledged to cut costs that would be beneficial to the citizens of the state, adding that his government will not embark on white elephant projects and won’t abandon any projects embarked upon by the outgoing government. Mutfwang stated this in Jos while Speaking to Saturday Telegraph, saying doing so will help to accelerate development which had hitherto eluded the state for the past seven years of the outgoing All Progressive Congress (APC),led government of Governor Bako Lalong. The governor-elect said, “My seven- point agenda has security, economy, education, health, agriculture, Local Government Administration among other sectors as topmost priorities. “The restorative plan is embedded in a 7-point Agenda: Peace and Security. This is at the top of all priorities because it is the enabler of every development. The plan outlines a multi-faceted approach to defending and securing the state. “These include: Operation Rainbow framework; Community empowerment and vigilance. The Economy plans propose a creative, resourceful and sustainable approach to agriculture, tourism, solid minerals development, commerce, and sports development.”


I’ll run lean govt, Abia money’ll be properly utilised – Otti

Abia State Governor- Elect, Dr. Alex Otti, stated that he would ensure that resources meant for improving the state are adequately utilised as unnecessary channeling of money on frivolities will not be allowed under him. This is coming just as he promised to run a lean government when he assumes office in May. He promised to borrow a leaf from the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, to ensure that financially the state is stabilised without any leakages. “I’ll not allow corruption and I’ll not allow our money to be shared. I have time and again spoken out that the cost of governance is the major problem from Federal to Local Governments. “I believe that my Presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, did very well while he was Governor in Anambra State and it’s that same model that we’ll apply in Abia State. He added that “There are so many jobs you can create in the public sector,” adding that “When you appoint 12 thousand personal and special assistants who do not have an office but collect money at the end of the month you’re creating a problem for yourself. “We’ll run a very lean government. We’ll cut our coats according to our size. We believe it is the private sector that should be supported to create jobs and we’ll do everything necessary to support the private sector. “We’re not going to run a bogus government or get ourselves involved in a very high cost of travel. There’s a state I read that spent N2billion on hiring private jets in a year. That does not make sense,” Otti said, in a monitored programme on Channels TV.


We’ll stop financial leakages for richer, better Delta Oborevwori

Delta State Governor- elect, Sheriff Oborevwori, on his part stated that he has structured his M.O.R.E Agenda to ensure smooth and progressive continuity in governance. He stated that the agenda is anchored on Meaningful Development, Opportunity for all Deltans, Realistic Reforms and Enhanced Peace and Security of the state. He said he will work to consolidate on infrastructural renewal, and peace-building, growth, for investment and economic reform of the state embarked upon by the outgoing government. He said, “I have learned many things in the last six and a half years as the Speaker of the state’s House of Assembly. “One of them is that I have learned the importance of setting the priorities of the government, communicating the goals and outcomes of policies and programmes, and pursuing them with relentless zeal. “I certainly believe that my rich experiences in the Executive and Legislative arms of government put me in good stead to provide good governance to our people. While we will block all areas of financial leakages, if any; my goal remains to make life richer, better, and more fulfilling for all. My slogan is ‘Let’s do M.O.R.E’, that is exactly what we will do.”


Zamfara treasury won’t suffer frivolous spending – Lawal

Lawal Dare, said he will not fold his arms while Zamfara State treasury suffers unnecessary spending witnessed during the reign of the outgoing government. Speaking through the state Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mallam Farouk Ahmad Rijiya, the governor- elect stated that he has drafted a blueprint which will guide the management of funds meant for the development of the state. He lamented that the outgoing government has spent so much which did not be reflect in the state’s economy, though the next administration will only consider what has gone into record.

After a shocking 1-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau, Nigerians have reacted, advising the Super Eagles to ‘go to court’ if they are not satisfied with the result.

Nigeria lost 1-0 to the Djurtus of Guinea-Bissau who protected a 29th minute goal to claim all three points to go top of Group A.

Nigerians have since taken to social media to react to the loss, with some section of tweeps telling the Super Eagles to seek redress in court.

@ChukwujiUchenna: Our super eagle should go to court if they are not satisfied with the result

@Nsukka_demon: Hahahaha if Super Eagles no believe let them go to court 😂😂😂… we need you in the Ucl Abeg

@onwunigbo: Super Eagles should go to court

@dennislerizzy: Super eagles won 5:1 if you don’t like it go to court.

But how do we come to this jose pesero guy?

@OFFICIAL_ltanee: If the Super Eagles are not satisfied with the result, they should go to court.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has confirmed the evacuation of banknotes from its vaults to commercial banks across the country as part of a coordinated effort to ease the circulation of banknotes of various denominations.

The CBN has also directed all commercial banks to open for operations on Saturdays and Sundays.

Acting director, corporate communications department of the CBN, Dr. Isa AbdulMumin, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Friday.

Dr AbdulMumin stated that a substantial amount of money, in various denominations, had been received by the commercial banks for onward circulation to their respective customers.

According to him, the CBN had directed all banks to load their Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) as well as conduct physical operations in the banking halls through the weekends.

“Branches of commercial banks will operate on Saturdays and Sundays to attend to customers’ cash needs,” he noted, adding that the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, would personally lead teams to monitor the level of compliance by the banks in various locations across the country.

He, therefore, urged Nigerians to be patient as the current situation would ease soon with the injection of more banknotes into circulation.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has concluded plans to go after some outgoing governors and other public officials after May 29.

EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, who disclosed this yesterday at the headquarters of the commission during an exclusive interview with Daily Trust, specifically said more arrests would be made immediately after May 29.

Bawa, who hosted the management staff of Media Group, publishers of Daily Trust newspapers titles, Trust TV and Trust Radio, did not give names or the number of public officials that would be brought under the law.

Daily Trust reports that governors are among public officials that enjoy immunity and therefore could not be arrested or tried while in office.

Besides targeting those to be picked at the end of this administration, Bawa also disclosed that at least two ministries are currently under the radar of the commission for fraudulent activities that border on procurement processes.

According to him, one of the ministries committed fraud on about 20 contracts to the tune of N4 billion.

Bawa said, “Currently, we’re investigating two ministries where double payments were made. In one of the ministries, the double payments, cumulatively, were about 20 contracts of over N4bn.

“These were contracts that were done way back 2018, and then some group of people, so bold, came up with the same narration.

“They moved the documents from the file, forged them, and then of course in conspiracy of some civil servants, raised vouchers and pay. How can that happen if we have digitalised procurement processes.”


We’ll not be intimidated

Also reacting to a question on the agitations of some civil society organisations calling for his sack, Bawa said the commission would not be intimidated by their actions.

The EFCC boss said, “It is on record that I am the first sitting EFCC chairman to go to court and testify, not once, not twice or three times. We now have some group of people that were paid, we know the people that are paying them, coming up with all sorts of gang-ups.

“We are following due process and the rule of law. The court had made a pronouncement, we have appealed that, and there is a stay of execution, what do you expect? We move on!

“How many of our cases were lost? We lost 41 and we got 3,785. What is there? What are we talking about? Who is losing? Who is not losing? Nobody is losing and nobody is winning. But it is like that!

“It happened in 2007, it happened in 2011, it happened in 2015, it happened in 2019 and it is happening in 2023. We’re students of history.

“People are just trying to tell the incoming government that they need to change the chairman, maybe because the chairman is doing the right things. It is just a question of corruption fighting back. Nothing more!

“But what they do not know is the fact that in the last couple of months, we have more than ever before tried to institutionalise the operational activities of the EFCC.

“Whether it is Bawa or not, the EFCC will continue to do those good works that they don’t want and those prosecutions we’re planning to do.

“And God willing, come May and June, we are going to make some huge arrests and commence huge prosecutions of people.

“And for those people that are not leaving in May, whenever they are leaving, we will be waiting for them to ensure that justice is done.”


Automation policy in procurement underway

The EFCC chairman said digitisation of the procurement process was being spearheaded by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and the World Bank. He specifically said automation of the process would curb a series of fraudulent activities of civil servants in connivance with other public office holders in the country.

“It is the World Bank that is working with the Bureau of Public Procurement, it is called EGP. It is primarily towards digitalising the procurement processes of the federal government entities.

“As a pilot scheme, they proposed to start with nine MDAs. These nine MDAs constitute close to about 70 per cent of the total capital budget expenditure of the government.

“When we heard about it, we studied it, we realised that this is something the EFCC needs to support, encourage and ensure its own implementation to the fullest.

“This is because no single kobo of government can be expended particularly when it comes to capital expenditure without passing through the procurement processes.

“That if we’re able to digitise the processes, we will be able to weed out procurement fraud before award, during award and after award on the fact that all the documents are being digitised.

“This is some of the silent behind-the-scenes achievements that this government is going to leave for Nigerians before May 29. We’re very happy we did, and God willing, it is going to help us tremendously to checkmate public sector corruption in Nigeria.”


9,060 convictions recorded in 8 years

Bawa said the EFCC recorded unprecedented convictions of economic criminals after he took over the leadership of the commission.

He said the anti-graft agency only lost 41 cases since he took over while 3,785 convictions had been secured.

He stated: “To start with, when you talk about the tangible things we have done, which Nigerians want to see, let’s go back to that.

“In 2015, the EFCC recorded only 103 convictions. In 2016, we recorded 195, and in 2017, we went down to 189. In 2018, the EFCC recorded 312. In 2019, the EFCC had 1,280 convictions.

“In 2020, because of COVID-19, we recorded 976 convictions. In 2021, you know I took over on the 5th of March, 2021. But in 2021, we recorded unprecedentedly 2,220 convictions.

“Last year, we recorded 3,785 convictions. Only 41 cases were discharged and acquitted. If you do the mathematics, that means we have a 98% success rate in courts.

“Any student that writes an examination, cases that have been concluded, we got 98% in them. That is A+. You cannot go to court with these high numbers of cases and then not follow court orders and processes.

“And some people are not doing this. Every action during the trial periods of those cases, was in compliance with the court orders.”


How FG spending recovered loots

He also said some of the proceeds of crime recovered were being expended on critical infrastructure in the country as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He listed Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the Second-Niger Bridge and Abuja-Kano Expressway as some of the infrastructures where the recoveries are being expended.

“With the coming of POCA (Proceeds of Crime Act) into law, there is a provision in the law that all stakeholder organisations must open a confiscated and forfeited property’s accounts.

“You will recall that the president signed the bill into law on the 12th of May, 2022, to be precise, and we are the first agency to open those accounts.

“Before the passage of POCA, all monies belonging to the federal government would be put into the Consolidated Revenue Funds but now, we put it into POCA.

“We transferred N110 billion into that account, $29 million into the dollar account, more than 6 million Euros into the Euros account, and about 1.7 million pounds into the pounds account.

“The president instructed that those monies be utilised to complete the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, the Second-Niger Bridge and Abuja-Kano expressway,” he said.

The family of an ex-permanent secretary in Ogun State, Adefemi Egbeoluwa, and his wife, Oluwafunmilayo, have been grieving after their lifeless bodies were found at their residence around Allen Avenue, in the Ikeja area of Lagos State.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the couple were at home with their domestic worker on the day of the governorship and state House of Assembly elections when some yet-to-be-identified persons invaded the premises and killed the couple.

After perpetrating the crime, the suspects reportedly attacked the domestic worker, beat her till she lost consciousness, and fled.

Following the attack, it was learnt that neighbours who got wind of the information, while lamenting over the events that claimed the lives of the aged couple during the invasion of their residence, rushed to the premises to ascertain the condition of the victims.

Some other neighbours were said to have visited the nearest police station to report the case for investigation.

A source who confirmed the development to our correspondent said the police, upon getting to the premises, saw the couple’s corpses and the injured domestic worker lying unconscious on the ground, adding that the couple’s yet-to-be-identified son also reported the incident to the police.

In a bid to rescue the housemaid, the source said she was rushed to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital where she had been placed on admission.

The source said, “A day after the governorship and state House of Assembly elections, someone raised the alarm that his aged parents, Adeyemi Egbeoluwa, 72, and his mother, Oluwafunmilayo, were discovered murdered at their residence off Bamishile Street, Allen, Ikeja.

“He reported the case to the police and when they got there, they found his father and mother lifeless with marks of violence on their bodies. What we gathered was that the aged couple were found in a pool of blood and the housemaid taking care of them was found unconscious with bruises on her face and body.

“The housemaid was taken to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, where she is currently receiving treatment. We learnt that the police found a machete, plank of wood, one nose mask, a touch light, and one ID card at the victims’ residence.”

Lamenting over the tragic development, one Adegbenro Adebanjo, in a post on Facebook, said the Lagos State Police Command was suspecting a case of murder as the domestic worker was found with critical injuries.

Adebanjo wrote, “On Saturday, March 18, 2023, Adefemi Egbeoluwa, a former permanent secretary in the government of Ogun State, and his wife were found dead in their Ikeja, Lagos apartment.

“Their domestic help was found critically wounded, leading the police to conclude that the couple was murdered by yet-to-be-known persons.

“May your killers never find peace; may they be hounded by their heinous crime and eventually made to pay the ultimate price. May the Lord grant your families and friends the fortitude to bear this loss.”

As of the time of filing this report, PUNCH Metro gathered that the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, had been detailed to investigate the case to track down the killers of the couple for prosecution.

It was also learnt that the corpses had been evacuated and deposited at a morgue for autopsy.

Contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the development in a chat with our correspondent.

“The domestic worker is still alive. The investigation is actively ongoing,” he said,

SaharaReporters gathered that Tinubu fell ill after the “hectic” electioneering that led to his emergence as the 'President-elect' and the tension that built up ahead of the March 18 Lagos State governorship and House of Assembly elections where he also voted.

Former Lagos State governor, who is Nigeria’s 'president-elect', according to the Independent National Electoral Commission, Bola Tinubu, is travelling to Europe to seek medical care after falling ill, SaharaReporters has learnt.

SaharaReporters gathered that Tinubu fell ill after the “hectic” electioneering that led to his emergence as the 'President-elect' and the tension that built up ahead of the March 18 Lagos State governorship and House of Assembly elections where he also voted.

Authoritative sources revealed on Wednesday that Tinubu left for Europe on Tuesday night.

“Tinubu has left for Europe for medical care. He fell ill after voting on Saturday during the Lagos guber election. He was attended to by local doctors but he has left for Europe for proper medical care,” one of the sources close to him revealed.

“He initially said his doctors should be brought down to Nigeria for him, and that when things die down, he would leave. But I've confirmed that he left last night (Tuesday night) because he is definitely ill,” another source confirmed.


"His plane Falcon 9X with registration number VP-CBT can’t be tracked by air flight tracking websites."

Indeed, efforts made by SaharaReporters to track the flight came back with: "VP-CBT - Unknown Owner (Cayman Islands (UK))

This aircraft (VP-CBT) is not available for public tracking per request from the owner/operator."

SaharaReporters had reported that Tinubu cast his vote at his polling unit in Lagos on Saturday.

He had shared photos of himself voting on his Instagram page.

“I just joined other Nigerians in exercising my civic duty in the ongoing governorship and state assembly elections. I encourage you all to go out and vote peacefully," he had written.

SaharaReporters in February reported that a video went viral on social media showing Tinubu with suspected pee stains on his attire during a visit to the Awujale of Ijebuland.

Tinubu, who was seated on a black leather couch alongside some other party stalwarts had risen to give a speech but his attire had soaked from behind, particularly at the butt area.

The politician's security aide was seen constantly holding his nose while looking at the wet area and another woman immediately wore her face mask as the Asiwaju rose to speak.

This heightened concerns over Tinubu's health challenges ahead of the presidential election.

SaharaReporters had reported that Tinubu spent over four months patronising hospitals in France, the United States and the United Kingdom where he underwent several surgeries between 2020 and 2022.

He was flown out of the country some days before Christmas in 2020 to Paris, France.

The APC leader returned to Nigeria on January 24, 2021, after a month's absence from Nigeria.

He also went for a medical check-up on Thursday, June 10, 2021, to France and was conspicuously absent from a one-day working visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to Lagos State.

Tinubu, amidst death rumours, was forced to return to the country on Tuesday, June 15, 2021.

SaharaReporters also reported that Tinubu was hospitalised in Maryland, the United States in July 2021.

On August 9, the APC leader had another knee surgery at the John Hopkins University Hospital in Maryland, the United States.

The APC chieftain, it was learnt, left the US for the United Kingdom on crutches, a few days after the surgery.

Sources close to Tinubu had told SaharaReporters that he wanted the surgery in Paris, France but changed his plan over rumours of his death.

In August, President Buhari paid a visit to Tinubu in London and the latter was seen with a walking stick during Buhari’s visit, confirming SaharaReporters’ story that he underwent a second surgery in the United States.

His London home also became a mecca of sorts as he was visited by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; Governors Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), and Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti).

Upon his return in October, Tinubu confirmed that he underwent surgery on his right knee as well as post-surgery physiotherapy on the said knee during his medical trip abroad.

Some days ago, Tinubu returned to the country after going out of the country for medical attention in the United Kingdom for 10 days.

The name of the Labour Party candidate for Surelere 1 Constituency, Olumide Oworu, is missing on the final list of governorship and House of Assembly candidates.

Reports on social media especially Twitter had insinuated that Oworu’s name was missing.

A Twitter user @StFrankingKezy in a tweet said “This guy is not even a candidate of LP in the forthcoming Gov & HoA elections oooooo because his name is not even on INEC list. Wonders shall never end. Who started the narrative?”

Daily Trust obtained the final list of gubernatorial and state House of Assembly candidates and found that Oworu’s name is indeed missing from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) list.

In his place, INEC listed 47-year-old Adebayo Bode.

Last Thursday, Olumide Oworu and his supporters were attacked by suspected political thugs around Bode Thomas Street Junction in Surulere when they were about to kick off a campaign rally.

Oworu is contesting against the All Progressives Congress’s (APC) Desmond Elliot, a fellow Nollywood actor.

President Muhammadu Bubari has signed 16 constitution alteration bills into law.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and chairman, House Committee on Constitution Review, Idris Wase in a statement yesterday commended the president for giving assent to the bills, which according to him, will devolve more power to states.

The new amendment to the constitution requires the president and governors to submit the names of persons nominated as ministers or commissioners within 60 days of taking the oath of office for confirmation by the senate or state House of Assembly.

This specifically means that president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all the governors that would be elected in today’s election and expected to take their oaths of office on May 29 must submit lists of nominees for ministers and commissioner before the end of July.

The bill on financial independence of state Houses of Assembly and state judiciary is one of the bills signed by the president. Other bills signed by the president are on the removal of the railway, prison and electricity from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent list.

The new law also requires the government to direct its policy towards ensuring the right to food and food security in Nigeria; and for related matters.

The National Assembly had in January transmitted 35 constitution amendment bills to the president for assent.

The 35 bills have been considered by 27 state Houses of Assembly (SHA) and approved by at least 24 state assemblies as required by Section 9 of the Constitution.

The state assemblies, however, failed to vote on the two bills that seek financial and legislative autonomy for local governments.

But the deputy speaker, Wase in a statement said four of the bills would address the call for true fiscal federalism.

The deputy speaker also congratulated members of the 9th National Assembly for working tirelessly to ensure the passage of these legacy legislations.

The 16 bills president Buhari assented to include;

“Fifth Alteration (No.9), the Bill seeks to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to delete the reference to the provisions of the Criminal Code, Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Act, Criminal Procedure Code or Evidence Act; and for related matters.

“Fifth Alteration (No., the Bill seeks to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to regulate the first session and inauguration of members-elect of the National and State Houses of Assembly; and for related matters.

“Fifth Alteration (No.10), the Bill seeks to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to exclude the period of intervening events in the computation of time for determining pre-election petitions, election petitions and appeals; and for related matters.”

“Fifth Alteration (No.12), the Bill seeks to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to provide for the post-call qualification of the Secretary of the National Judicial Council; and for related matters.

“Fifth Alteration (No.15), the Bill seeks to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to delete the item “prisons” in the Exclusive Legislative List and redesignate it as “Correctional Services” in the Concurrent Legislative List; and for related matters.

“Fifth Alteration (No.16), the Bill seeks to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to move the item “railways” from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List; and for related matters.

“Fifth Alteration (No.17), the Bill seeks to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to allow States to generate, transmit and distribute electricity in areas covered by the national grid; and for related matters.

“In Fifth Alteration (No.32), the Bill seeks to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to correct the error in the definition of the boundary of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; and for related matters.

A reprisal attack in retaliation for yesterday’s killing of three members of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) in Oyo State, some hooded gunmen on Thursday evening attacked the ancestral home of All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Senator Teslim Folarin, shot sporadically and injured many while searching for the politician.

The black-colored dressed gunmen invaded the Oja’gbo, Ibadan South East Local Government Area compound in 10 Hilux Toyota vehicles around 8 pm few hours after a PDP Councillor and two other PDP members had been shot dead in the Ile Tuntun area of Ibadan, while a House of Representatives candidate, Abass Adigun (a.k.a. Agboworin), was on a campaign trail with his supporters.

According to eyewitnesses who said that the 10 Toyota Hilux vehicles driven into the compound had their number plates covered, “We escaped death by whiskers but several of us sustained varying degrees of injuries as we scampered for safety.

The gunmen were wearing black dresses with face masks. They were shouting ‘where is Folarin, iku lokan E (It is your turn to die) while shooting sporadically. They burgled Oja’gbo Palace, in search of Oloye.

“They dispersed hundreds of us who were waiting for Senator Folarin with gunshots. God saved our lives,” an eyewitness said.

Confirming the attack, Folarin’s media aide, Comrade YSO Olaniyi in a statement this morning said, “At about 8:10 pm on Thursday, March 16, a group of gunmen numbering about 30 driving in a motorcade of 10 vehicles, stormed the ancestral home of Senator Teslim Folarin with a mission to terminate his life.

“They thought Oloye Folarin would be there at that particular time to carry out the assassination. Senator Folarin was billed to have a meeting with his kinsmen at his Oja’gbo Palace last night but could not make it due to an extended interactive session with Oyo State stakeholders at YES FM Media House.

“You know Oloye Folarin is Mogaji of his family compound, Ile Baale in the Oja’gbo area of Ibadan and Asaaju Olubadan of Ibadanland. He had a scheduled meeting with his family members at his Palace but could not make it.

“The unknown gunmen thought Oloye would be at the meeting to carry out the assassination plan but thanked God for his life.

“We have informed the security agencies to investigate the incident, promptly apprehend the sponsors and their agents and bring them to justice,” Olaniyi said.

Olaniyi, who expressed concern about the safety of his principal, urged the police and the DSS to beef up security around the APC governorship candidate.

By Adekunle Sulaimon


A policeman, Judas Chiloane, has been shot dead during sexual intercourse with his lover in a bush in Mpumalanga, South Africa.

A local news platform, TimesLive, reported that the 60-year-old policeman who doubles as a traffic chief in Bushbuckridge was allegedly shot in the back seat of his Ford Ranger bakkie twice while his lover was unharmed.

Two suspects, Charles Mbungeni Mabuza and Howard Mashego were arrested on Monday, March 13, in connection with the murder, and arraigned in court on Wednesday, March 15.

Commenting on the incident on Thursday, March 16, the Hawks spokesperson, Captain Dineo Sekgotodi, said, “The two men told us that they would normally go to the spot near Graskop Road [where Chiloane was shot dead] to rob couples who use the area to engage in jola-joling [s3x] in their cars.”

They reportedly snatched away his gun before firing shots at his thigh and upper body. The lady sought help, and when the police came, they declared their colleague dead at the scene.

A source told TimesLIVE that Chiloane was found with no clothes, and his uniform was on the ground.

He said, “They shot him in the leg. He tried [to] escape to the driver’s side, and he was shot again … The officer tried to speed off for about 124m but succumbed due to injuries sustained. It seemed like the suspect took his firearm and other items and [fled].”

Judas Chiloane’s brother, Richard, told reporters that they don’t know this side chick he was with when he was murdered.

He said, “We do not know that lady, I haven’t even seen her. What we know is that my brother was a good man who loved his family and was also a member of the Zion Christian Church (ZCC). He did not drink or was involved in anything wrong.”

Richard admitted that the father of three might have had lovers on the side, but the family only knew his live-in girlfriend.

A six-year-old girl has sustained burns while practicing cooking together with her playmates in Abuja.

City & Crime gathered that the girl brought a gallon containing petrol which she thought was kerosene and emptied the content on the firewood she and her mates had gathered for practicing their cooking skills.

The father of the girl, Christopher Israel, told City & Crime at the Kubwa General Hospital where the girl is being admitted that the incident happened about two months ago but that the girl was yet to recover from the injuries.

He said the girl, Strong Tochukwu Israel, was initially rushed to a clinic within the community where she was first treated, but with little improvement two month into the incident.

“So, I was advised to take her to the Kubwa General Hospital for another round of treatment two weeks ago,’’ he said.

By Saawua Terzungwe


There is a crack in the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as two of its members are at daggers drawn over campaign funds.

The APC’s National Vice Chairman (North West), Salihu Mohammed Lukman, during a programme on AIT, accused the party’s National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, of mismanaging campaign funds allocated to his home state of Osun.

Lukman was quoted as saying, “I’m aware the party had given some campaign funds to Osun which was handled by the national secretary, and to some extent, he has either mismanaged it, but more importantly, he is not accounting to anybody, and you have to activate the process of accountability.”

But in a swift reaction, Omisore demanded N500m from Lukman as damages for the allegation.

Omisore, a former Deputy Governor of Osun State, also demanded a retraction and an apology to be published in two major newspapers and several online news platforms within 48 hours by Lukman.

In a letter addressed to Lukman, Omisore’s lawyer, Oyewole (SAN), described the allegation as false and misleading.

Part of the letter reads: “Our instruction is that during an interview on Africa Independent Television (AlT) on the 14th of March, 2023, which was published in several online news blogs, social media platforms, television stations and news media outlets, including on the 15th of March, 2023, by Amiladenews.com, an online news blogs, you made a libelous and defamatory statement of and concerning our client.

“Our client has informed us that your statement is not only false, misleading and without any factual basis, but malicious in all material respects.

“It is clear beyond doubt that your statement and publication was a political ploy with the intent to impugn the reputation and integrity of our client and unjustifiably and unwarrantedly assassinate his character in the eyes of right-thinking members of the public.

“Our client has consequently directed us to request for a retraction of your libelous statement and publication and an apology to be published in two major newspapers and several online news outlets not later than 48 hours of the delivery of this letter and also the payment of the sum of N500m as damages for malicious statement against our client.”

But responding to the demands, Lukman said, “My immediate reaction is that this is an attempt to bully me, but I will respond to him properly.”

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is yet to release the old N1000 and N500 notes it mopped out of circulation despite asking commercial banks to commence their recirculation, findings by Daily Trust have revealed.

This is amid the struggle by commercial banks to meet the increasing demands of customers who besiege their branches across the states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Traders, artisans, PoS operators, and students, among others, who visited bank branches, said they were disappointed as they could not withdraw the amounts they wanted.

Those who spoke to our correspondents said they were only given between N5,000 and N10,000 while a few others managed to get N20,000.

The CBN said Monday in a statement by its spokesman, Isa AbdulMumin, that deposit money banks operating in the country have been directed to comply with the Supreme Court ruling of March 3 which said the old N1,000, N500 and N200 remain legal tender until December 31.

The CBN’s statement came a few hours after a statement from Aso Villa quoting President Muhammadu Buhari as saying he did not direct the CBN and the Attorney-General of the Federation not to comply with the Supreme Court judgement.


Same old problem

Checks by our reporters yesterday indicated that the CBN was not releasing the old notes it has already mopped out of circulation.

A senior management staff of Guarantee Trust Bank said: “We are not receiving any old cash from the CBN. I have a substantial stock of the old notes and that is what we are recirculating as of today.”

The source explained that most commercial banks had retained the old notes in the days leading up to the February 10 deadline, before the Supreme Court order truncated the initial timeline by the CBN.

“We had that cash with us, and when the CBN became overwhelmed with those rushing to beat the deadline, they also directed them to the commercial banks, so we have that stock too. That is the reserve that we have built up.”

Also, a management staff of Polaris Bank who spoke to our reporter on condition of anonymity said, “We have not received the old notes largely because we have not finished dispensing our old naira stock.

“The instruction we have is to dispense every note at our disposal. We will get a clear understanding of things when we exhaust what we have.”


Banks comply with directive to disburse old N1000, N500

In Kaduna, Abuja, and Kano, our correspondents report that some banks, including Sterling, GTB, First Bank, United Bank of Africa (UBA) and Access Bank were yesterday dispensing the old N500 notes to their customers following the directive by the CBN.

A customer at Sterling Bank who simply identified herself as Mrs Gabriel, said, “I collected N20,000 old N500 notes from my bank today. I am so happy because I have not seen this kind of money for weeks.”

The automated teller machines of most banks in Lagos were seen dispensing cash.

Although most of the banks were still rationing the available cash in order to meet the needs of their customers, there was a clear improvement from the chaos of previous weeks.

At Polaris Bank, Iju, customers were given N10, 000 each instead of the stipulated N20,000.

Our correspondents, who visited two branches of Unity Bank in Bwari and the Central Business District in Abuja, confirmed that they withdrew N5,000 and N10,000, respectively.

The Head of Corporate Communication at Unity Bank, Matthew Obiazikwor, confirmed that the bank had fully complied with the directive of the CBN.

“We are giving out cash to our customers. We have fully complied with the directive. Our ATMs are also loaded. However, there is still the limitation of daily withdrawal,” he said.


Nigerians decry rejection of old notes by traders, transporters

Some transporters and traders yesterday rejected the old N500 and N1,000 bank notes despite the directive from the CBN that the old notes remain legal tender till December 31 in accordance with the judgment of the Supreme Court.

In Kaduna, many traders were still sceptical of collecting the old notes. Most of them said they were studying the situation to see if the policy will be reversed.

“I cannot collect it until Buhari (President) tells us to start collecting it,” a yam seller, Muhammad Isah, said.

However, Daily Trust learned that market leaders in Lagos have started sensitizing their members to collect the old notes in line with the directives of the CBN. Leaders from major markets were at Alausa yesterday.

“I have informed my people, and I will repeat the same tomorrow. We have told them to accept the old notes from customers,” the Iyaloja of Asejere Market, Makoko, Alhaja Kasarat Adebayo, said.


State gov’t urges residents to accept old notes

The Delta State government yesterday called on residents of the state to comply with the CBN’s directive that the old N1,000, N500, and N200 notes remain legal tender until December 31.

The Commissioner for Information, Charles Aniagwu, made the call in a statement in Asaba, urging people in the state to accept the notes as legal tender in view of the Supreme Court ruling of March 3 and the central bank’s direction to continue recognition of the old bills as legal tender.

Similar calls have been made by Ogun, Kogi, Lagos, Kano and Jigawa, among others.


Inject old notes to ease cash scarcity, Experts tell CBN

Experts have urged the CBN to make available the old notes, particularly the N500 and N1000, to ease the current cash crunch.

Daily Trust reports that before the enforcement of the cashless policy, the CBN said N3.2 trillion was in circulation, but during the last briefing by Emefiele, he said N2.3 trillion had been mopped up.

Speaking to Daily Trust, a financial analyst, Prof. Uche Uwaleke, said the directive by the Supreme Court will be futile if the old notes are not injected into the system.

“My concern is that except a substantial quantity of already withdrawn notes is re-injected and the cash withdrawal limit eased, the cash scarcity is most likely to persist,” he said.

He added that, “It is one thing for the CBN to obey the Supreme Court order by recognizing the old notes as legal order and another for it to make the cash available for transactions.”

Also speaking, a development expert, Joseph Momoh, said: “Although some banks have complied with the directive by the CBN following the Supreme Court judgment, the amount they are dispensing is quite small.

“The CBN should make available the old notes that it earlier mopped up so that the hardship that micro, small and medium enterprises are currently undergoing can gradually ease off.”

On his part, a chartered accountant, Umar Mohammed, who consults for some banks said it will require political will to solve the problem of the cash crunch.

“Nobody is saying the whole N2.3 trillion mopped up must be brought back. What is clear is that Nigeria is not fully ready for the cashless policy.

“We have learnt many lessons that the banks do not have the requisite infrastructure. There are millions of Nigerians that are unbanked. And the citizens also need more sensitization.

“Therefore, I want to appeal that the president and the CBN swallow their pride and appreciate these facts. Of course, some people have already keyed into the cashless policy which is to their credit.

In furtherance of his campaign for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Rivers State, the immediate-past Minister of Transportation and former

governor of the State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has described the incumbent State governor, Nyesom Wike, as a drunk, who allegedly spends N50million on alcohol every week and should not be allowed a third term through his stooge.

Amaechi stated this on Tuesday during his campaign for the APC candidate, Tonye Cole, in Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni local government area of the State, where he conferred with the Oba of Ogba land, Eze Chukwumela Nnam Obi II, and visited the people of Egi in Erema community, the people of Omoku, Ndoni, Egbema and Obrikom, where he also visited Eze Osoh, the Usomini of Obrikom.

Amaechi complained that the amount of State funds Wike spends on alcohol in two weeks, is almost equivalent to the amount he (Amaechi) spent to build one primary school when he served as governor, thereby shortchanging Rivers people and wasting State funds.

He said, “The person Wike buys alcohol from, said Wike spends 50million naira every week on alcohol. The primary schools we built is 112 million naira, it means that in two weeks Wike has drank one primary school. When Wike talks, it is alcohol that is talking. And he’s so shameless about it. Wike told the whole world on live TV that he was drinking a very expensive 40-year-old whiskey, in the morning.

“We are asking INEC to be neutral. The people have rejected Wike and his government. Every street I went to, people were jumping on top of me shouting. They were remembering that I built five flyovers, I did not dance. We employed 400 new doctors, bought cars for 600 doctors, bought ambulances for all the health centres. We went round primary schools to see what’s going on, and discovered there were no teachers, so we hired 13,200 teachers. By the time I left as Governor, there was a contractor in every school to maintain the school. Where are the schools that he (Wike) built?,” Amaechi asked.

In separate visits to the communities, Amaechi gave the people reasons why Tonye Cole was the best among the governorship candidates and should be voted as governor of the State in the March 18 poll.

“Compare Tonye and the other man, then compare our government with that of Wike. Did Wike do schools, did he do electricity? Your health care, we did. When you see Tonye Cole who is a business man, from business into politics, why won’t you invest in him. This is your time, come out and vote. When we win, things will change. The free education will be brought back,” he said.

Earlier, Amaechi visited Iloabuchi in Port Harcourt, where the business people assured him of their votes for Tonye Cole and the APC, stating: “We know you, you are tested okay. And we know that the person you are bringing (Tonye Cole) will not disappoint us.”

By Francis Ugwu


Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP, has revealed that Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State came against him during the February 25 presidential election.

Obi also criticized those who claim the votes he got in Lagos were mainly from the Igbos.

The former Anambra State Governor gave the statement on Monday when he featured on the Arise Television’s Morning Show program.

He said people of different ethnic extractions across the country voted for him during the February 25 presidential election.

“Some people said he got votes in Lagos because of Igbos. How many Igbos live in Lagos? I got more votes from indigenous people in Lagos than those you can call visitors. Is it Igbos who voted for me in Nasarawa, Plateau and Abuja? In Rivers where you know that the governor came out against me in everything if the real votes in Rivers were counted, I won more than 50% in the State,” Obi said.

The Managing Director of Messrs Caniz Ltd, Dr Austin Izagbo, has been honoured by the Daily Independent Newspapers for returning N75 million overpaid to his company.

Dr Izagbo, a Delta-born politician, commended the newspaper for recognising his integrity.

He said, “I appreciate the award given to me for returning N75 million overpaid by Federal Government Agency, NIMASA for a contract executed by my Company Messrs Caniz Ltd.

“The award is a call for me to do more and also encourage other Nigerians that there is a reward for doing what is right”

He said the award has elicited great commendation from many Nigerians, especially at a time like this in Nigeria where it is common knowledge that Politicians and Corporate chieftains are perceived by the larger society as corrupt and common criminals.

The emergence of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the February 25, 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections presents another opportunity to address the challenges of uniting the country.

Given the divisive campaigns sponsored by opposition parties, especially around the Muslim-Muslim ticket of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Sen. Kashim Shettima, now President-elect and Vice President-elect respectively, APC needs to demonstrate that the politics of uniting the country require unconventional approaches.

Beyond the challenge of electoral viability, the Muslim-Muslim Presidency also risks mobilizing strong opposition largely because it may have to alter the political equation in favor of a particular religion to the disadvantage of other religions.

The challenge, which the APC has to respond to with the emergence of Asiwaju Tinubu as the Presidential candidate and Sen. Shettima as Asiwaju Tinubu’s running mate of the party for the 2023 Presidential election, brings to fore, the role of religion as a major factor in political decisions.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) throughout the campaign used the choice of the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the APC as a big campaign issue. They used it to mobilize Nigerians against the APC and all its candidates, especially Asiwaju Tinubu being the Presidential candidate.

And they succeeded in making little political gains out of it with some shocking victories for the Labour Party in some states largely attributed to Christian voters who voted massively on religious grounds.

Now that the election is won by APC and Asiwaju Tinubu, it is important to demonstrate that the Muslim-Muslim ticket of Asiwaju Tinubu and Sen. Shettima is simply an electoral strategy and indeed represents a progressive template for inclusion in Nigerian politics. For this to be achieved, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu must not allow parochial politics or selfish ambition of potential office holders to drive the process of constituting the next cabinet. Individual aspirations by potential office holders may only result in unmanageable contests for positions in the next cabinet. APC must avoid past pitfalls and develop a proactive strategy of producing a religiously balanced government post May 29, 2023 under the leadership of Asiwaju Tinubu.

It is important that before the May 29, 2023 swearing in of Asiwaju as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, necessary steps should be taken to proactively make major appointments of Christians into top positions in other to give them a sense of belonging, importance, respect and recognition in a Tinubu government in other to give christians assurances and comfort.

Asiwaju Tinubu must not make the mistake of proceeding with the task of constituting a new government based on business-as-usual strategy, which will be inconsiderate. The opportunity of constituting a new all inclusive government must be used strategically to reconcile the APC with Nigerians. Sacrifices must be made by every leader of the party to create the condition for an Asiwaju Tinubu led Federal Government to emerge with strong legitimacy and wider support base by Nigerians.

There is a need to reflect religious considerations in the distribution of political offices. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu must consciously avoid any mistake that could be used by political adversaries to suggest religious insensitivity to Nigerians. He must take steps to manage the aspirations of individual leaders to positions in the next Federal Government. Some positions, for instance, must be deliberately balanced with religious considerations.

Some specific recommendations may be necessary at this point. The offices of Chief of Staff to the President and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) would have to be allocated and reserved for Christians. Given that the president and vice president are both Muslims, no Muslim should aspire for any of these offices. Opportunists may argue that in the past, little consideration was given to religion.This kind of lop-sided reality must be corrected as a strategic approach to dousing religious tension in the country.

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu needs to recognise that the Muslim-Muslim ticket he introduced that won the 2023 Presidential election, if not managed to produce the desired outcome of religious inclusivity could further widen the division among Nigerians, which should be avoided. A successfully well-managed Muslim-Muslim ticket would make a Christian-Christian ticket viable and possible in the nearest future.

That is the only way to show Nigerians that the alleged Islamisation agenda that has become a singsong for the opposition is only the hallucinatory proclamation of some individuals and groups.

With the issuance of the certificate of returns to the members-elect of the House of Representatives by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the race for the principal offices, particularly the speaker, has begun, ahead of the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly on June 13, THISDAY’s investigation has revealed.

THISDAY also gathered that the meeting between the President-elect, Bola Tinubu; his vice, Kashim Shettima; the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and its National Assembly members-elect scheduled for Monday in Abuja, has a two-point agenda – zoning of the principal offices of the National Assembly and the March 18 elections.

Ranking members of the House believed to be interested in the position of the speaker include its current Spokesman, Benjamin Kalu (APC, Abia); Idris Wase (APC, Plateau); Muktar Aliyu Betara (APC, Borno); Aminu Jaji (APC, Zamfara); and Alhassan Ado Doguwa (APC, Kano). THISDAY, however, learnt that the ruling APC, which secured majority seats in both the Senate and House of Representatives at the February 25 polls, has not decided on the zoning of the presiding officers of the 10th National Assembly.

It was gathered that in line with the parliamentary tradition, rules, and convention, the political party with the most legislators is expected to form the majority caucus and produce the presiding officers. The party with the dominant members would also constitute the majority leadership. In contrast, the party with the second highest number of lawmakers in the chamber would produce the minority principal officers.

The principal officers, who are the leaders of the majority and minority caucuses, are constituted based on the membership configuration in the lower chamber. While the majority caucus is expected to produce the majority leader, the deputy majority leader, the chief whip, and the deputy whip, the minority caucus will produce the minority leader, the deputy minority leader, the minority whip, and the deputy minority whip.

Ranking members, who are returning for the second or more time, are automatically qualified to contest the principal office positions either from the majority or the minority caucus.

Out of the 360 seats in the House of Representatives, the All Progressives Congress (APC) won 162 seats; while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won 102.The Labour Party (LP) and the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) won 34 and 18 seats, respectively, while the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) got four seats.On their part, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and African Democratic Congress (ADC) won two seats each, while the Young Progressive Party (YPP) clinched one seat.

Following the issuance of certificates of return to the members–elect last Wednesday, the race for the two major presiding offices – Speaker and Deputy Speaker has begun among ranking lawmakers who are members of the APC. With the current Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, and the President-elect, Senator Bola Tinubu coming from Lagos State, the current speaker will likely not retain his position in the 10th National Assembly.

THISDAY learnt from a close associate of Gbajabiamila that he would prefer to play any other prominent role in Tinubu’s administration to return to the House as an ordinary member.

Gbajabiamila was conspicuously absent at the International Conference Centre (ICC) Abuja venue of the presentation of Certificates of Return, fuelling speculations that he might take a more prominent position in the incoming administration.

Though the APC has not zoned the officers, further investigations by THISDAY revealed that the South-east and North-west geopolitical zones are strongly being considered for the speaker position.However, only six of the 43 members-elect from the South-east geopolitical zone are serving in the current Assembly, including the current House spokesman, Hon. Benjamin Kalu (APC, Bende Federal Constituency in Abia), and the Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation, Hon. Nnolim Nnaji (PDP, Nkanu-East/West).

However, those who make a case for the North-west on the speaker’s position argued that the Senate President should go to the South-east. They maintained that the speaker’s position is enough to compensate the North-west for producing the highest number of votes for the APC in the presidential and National Assembly elections, given that the outgoing President, Muhammadu Buhari, hails from the zone.

However, other members-elect from other zones, such as the North-central and North-east, are said to be interested in the position.Among the South-east lawmakers, Kalu (APC, Abia) is believed to be seriously mobilising his colleagues to emerge as the speaker, while Hon. Idris Wase (APC, Plateau) is also eyeing the top job from the North-central geopolitical zone.

Similarly, Hon. Muktar Aliyu Betara (APC, Borno) is contesting the position from the North-east geopolitical zone.From the North-west geopolitical zone, the duo of Hon. Aminu Jaji (APC, Zamfara) and Alhassan Ado Doguwa (APC, Kano) are both eyeing the seat.

Tinubu, Shettima, APC Leaders to Meet N’Assembly Members-elect Tomorrow over Zoning of Principal Offices Meanwhile, the meeting between Tinubu, Shettima, the leadership of the ruling APC, and the National Assembly members-elect scheduled for Monday at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja, will discuss the issue of zoning and the March 18 elections.

A ranking APC Senator who was also re-elected during February 25, 2023, National Assembly poll told THISDAY that the meeting was called to preview the March 18 elections and discuss the zoning of the leadership of the 10th National Assembly billed for inauguration in June.The South-south Senator, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the APC leadership believed it was high time the federal parliamentary election was reviewed to plan ahead of the next Saturday’s elections

According to him: “Monday’s meeting will not only review last month’s poll that produced majority APC Senators-elect for 10th National Assembly but will also ensure that all hands are on deck to ensure that coming Saturday’s elections are crisis-free with the ruling party consolidating and improving on its stronghold across the country”.

He added that the second item on the agenda of the meeting scheduled to start by 2 pm with APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu presiding, is the issue of the leadership of the 10th National Assembly, which is supposed to be handled by the party leadership as it presently has 57 Senate seats out of the 98 Senate seats declared so far.APC leaders, he further said, would use the forum to brief the elected parliamentarians on their line of thought over where the presiding officers of the two chambers of the 10th National Assembly will come from.

Sources at the weekend also told THISDAY that both the South-east and South-south are favoured to produce the Senate President of the 10th Assembly as the race hots up.On Friday, APC National Vice Chairman, North-west, Dr. Salihu Lukman, had called on the party’s leadership to zone the positions of the Senate President and the Speaker House of the Representatives to North-west, South-east or South-south.

THISDAY’s investigation revealed that the odds favoured the South-east and South-south to occupy the number three seat in the land.A source who preferred to remain anonymous told THISDAY that while the former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Kalu, is eyeing the covered seat, former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Senator Osita Isunaso and the Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi are also interested the position.The source said: “The South-east is favoured under the circumstances, and I know Orji Kalu is positioning for it, and he’s lobbying Asiwaju very well.

“Umahi wants it too, but I think what will count against him is that he’s a first-timer. But some people say that it doesn’t really matter, that it is not in their rule that a first timer cannot do it. After all, Godswill Akpabio was a first-timer when he became a principal officer.“I also know Akpabio too is pushing for it, but I don’t know how that will pan out. Akpabio argues that the position is not sacrosanct to the South-east, it is whoever can get the support.”

Other ranking APC Senators being tipped for the 10th Senate Presidency include former Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume; former Governor of Gombe State, Senator Danjuma Goje; Chairman of Senate Services Committee, Senator Sani Mohammed Musa and Chairman of Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Jubrin Barau.

Sources claimed all the interested Senators are already reaching out to their colleagues, especially the new Senators-elect.One of the contenders for the coveted seat of the Senate President, Senator Barau, has already met formally with 70 senators-elect in Abuja.The aim of the hosting at Transcorp Hilton during the week was for the Senators-elect to form the needed bond ahead of the inauguration of the federal parliament in June.THISDAY learnt that Senator Barau organised the event to enable him to interact with his colleagues.However, a member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC told THISDAY that the party may settle for a Christian Senator-elect as President of the Senate “to douse the tension generated by the same faith presidential ticket of our great party, the APC.” No fewer than 98 out of 109 senators were given certificates of return last Tuesday by the INEC at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.A total of seven political parties won senatorial seats, with APC topping the list with 50 seats.The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won 29 seats; Labour Party won six; New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP) two; Social Democratic Party (SDP) also two; the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Young Peoples Party (YPP) won one seat each.

One of the leading contenders for the senate presidency, Senator Jibrin Barau of the All Progressives Congress has hosted over 70 senators-elect to solicit their support ahead of the inauguration of the 10th parliament that will usher the leadership of the upper chamber.

Barau, who is a third-timer at the red chamber currently representing Kano North Senatorial District.

Although he is yet to publicly declare his interest to run for the coveted seat, he has deployed his foot soldiers to meet key stakeholders, including ranking federal lawmakers.

He currently chairs the Senate Committee on Appropriations.

It was gathered that over 70 senators-elect attended the luncheon held at the NICON Hotel, Abuja on Tuesday.

The meeting was held after the presentation of certificates of return to the lawmakers.

The Independent National Electoral Commission had on Tuesday presented certificates of return to at least 98 senators-elect at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, on Tuesday.

Seven political parties won senatorial seats, with APC securing a majority with 57 seats.

The Peoples Democratic Party won 29 seats; Labour Party six; New Nigerian Peoples Party, two; Social Democratic Party, two; the All Progressives Grand Alliance and Young Peoples Party, one each.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded that security agencies such as the Department of State Services and the Police investigate and prosecute the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu over his alleged complicity in the criminal manipulation and alteration of election results.

This, the PDP said should be a natural follow-up to the INEC chairman’s resignation from office.

National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, said this at a press conference, at the party’s National Secretariat, Abuja, on Friday.

The PDP Spokesman said, “Prof. Mahmood Yakubu’s exit as Chairman of INEC will be the first step towards sanitizing the Electoral Commission and restoring the confidence of Nigerians especially as the nation prepares for the rescheduled March 18, 2023, Governorship and State Assembly elections.

“Furthermore, the PDP demands that the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the Directorate of State Services (DSS) immediately commence investigations into the electoral violations and manipulations by INEC with the view to prosecuting Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and other officials of the Commission for electoral offences.”

He explained that these demands came after the party reviewed the widely-condemned infractions, brazen violation of the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 and alteration of election results by the Prof. Mahmood Yakubu-led INEC and came to the conclusion that it was aimed at subverting the will of Nigerians in the February 25, 2023 Presidential and National Assembly Elections.

Ologunagba equally said, “The PDP has also reviewed the latest scheme by INEC to reconfigure the BVAS devices, erase and destroy evidence of its manipulation of the Presidential election, deny Nigerians and political parties, especially our Party and Candidate access to relevant information required to prosecute our case at the Presidential Election Tribunal.

“From all indications, the INEC under Prof. Mahmood Yakubu was compromised to rig the election by brazenly violating the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 as well as INEC’s Regulations, Guidelines and Manual issued for the election.

“It is also obvious that the Commission under Prof. Mahmood Yakubu deliberately sabotaged the uploading and transmission of results directly from the Polling Units to give room for the criminal mutilation, alteration and switching of election results across the nation in favour of the APC as now abundantly exposed in the pictorial and video evidence of compromised results sheets in many parts of the Country.”

He said further. “Several evidence abound in States across the six Geo-Political Zones of the Country where winning figures lawfully scored by the PDP were switched in favour of the APC; where results sheet from polling centers won by the PDP were destroyed and replaced with fake results sheets in which APC was allocated unearned winning figures.

“This further explains why the INEC Chairman rushed to announce and declare manipulated results that were not transmitted directly from the Polling Units to INEC’s Server/Website and ignored the objections and complaints raised during the collation of results in deliberate violation of the provisions of Section 64 (4) (a) and (b), 64 (6) (a)-(d), and 65 (1) (c) of the Electoral Act. 2022.

“For emphasis while Section 64 (4) (a) and (b) expressly require the INEC Chairman as the Chief Returning Officer to announce only results that were transmitted directly from the Polling Units, Sections 64 (6) (a)-(d) and 65 (1) (c) compel INEC, in the case of disputes, complaints or objections regarding a collated result or the result of an election from any Polling Unit, to take steps including the review of collation where they are made contrary to the provisions of the Law, Regulations, Guidelines and Manual issued for the election.

“By flagrantly violating these provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 as well as INEC’s Regulations, Guidelines and Manual for the election, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu is not only culpable of serious electoral offence but also betrayed, thrashed and threw overboard the trust, confidence and hope Nigerians reposed in him and the Electoral Commission to deliver a free, fair and credible election in the country.

“The continuing stay of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu in office as Chairman of INEC is therefore vexatious, injurious to the integrity of the Electoral Commission and an unpardonable assault to the credibility of our electoral process, the sensibility of Nigerians and the International Community.

“Moreover, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu’s stay in office is capable of paving the way for the suppression, tampering and destruction of critical evidence required to further expose the infractions and violations by the Commission at the Presidential Election Tribunal.

“This fear is evidenced by the desperation by INEC to reconfigure the BVAS devices to erase vital data contained therein.

“Consequently, the PDP demands that the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu immediately step down from office, having abused the confidence and dashed the hope of millions of Nigerians as well as political parties and the International Community for a free, fair and credible election.

“Nigerians no longer have faith in Prof. Mahmood Yakubu’s capacity and integrity to manage a democracy institution as sensitive as INEC.”

“In the same vein the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should open investigation into allegations that certain top officials of INEC were heavily compromised financially to manipulate the electoral process.


“The PDP notes the reports of various International Bodies in disapproval of actions by the leadership of INEC in undermining democracy in the conduct of the February 25, 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

“In that regard, the PDP calls on the International Community to immediately impose sanctions including travel restrictions on the INEC Chairman and other top officials of the Commission over their roles in compromising democracy in Nigeria.

“The PDP calls on Nigerians to remain calm but very alert as our Party continues to take steps to retrieve our mandate at the Presidential Election Tribunal.

Some state governments are planning to initiate contempt proceedings against the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, and Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, over their refusal to implement the Supreme Court judgment on the naira redesign policy of the Federal Government.

It was gathered on Friday that the Federal Government was served with the enrolled order and Certified True Copy of last week’s Supreme Court judgment, which also ordered that the old N1,000, N500 and N200 should be in circulation alongside the new notes till December 31, 2023.

Saturday PUNCH gathered that the non-service of the enrolled order and the CTC of the judgment was responsible for the failure of the Federal Government to direct Emefiele to roll out the old notes already withdrawn from circulation.

The silence of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on the judgment of the apex court had fuelled the rejection of the remaining old N1,000 and N500 as legal tender. On Monday, some banks commenced paying customers the old notes in partial compliance with the Supreme Court judgment, but by Wednesday the banks stopped disbursing the old notes as the CBN insisted that it had not given any directive to that effect.

Saturday PUNCH learnt that the enrolled order and the CTC of the judgment were served on the AGF on Friday afternoon.

Counsel for Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara states, which dragged the Federal Government before the Supreme Court on the matter, Abdulhakeem Mustapha (SAN), told one of our correspondents in a telephone interview that Malami was served with the enrolled order and the CTC of the judgment on Friday afternoon, adding that he expected immediate compliance with the judgment as the non-service of the documents had given the government and the CBN an escape route.

Mustapha said, “The Attorney-General of the Federation has been served now and we will take it up from there; if there is no compliance now, we will commence committal proceedings against the attorney-general and the CBN governor. When the Supreme Court talks, the constitution makes it compulsory for all government representatives and everybody to comply with its order. It’s not discretional, you have to obey, it is the last and the final and that is why we have separation of power.
“The presence of separation of power is for checks and balances; when the Supreme Court talks, it must be complied with by all persons.”

The lawyer had earlier told one of our correspondents, “We are waiting for the enrolled order of the court. We are yet to procure it. As soon as we have it, we will take the next step. When the Supreme Court talks, all organs of government comply and if they don’t comply, the rules are clear. We are going to activate the necessary legal steps within the ambit of the law. But we need to get the enrolled order and serve the defendants. That’s where we are.

“Anytime from now, we will be able to get the enrolled order and the Certified True Copy of the judgement, then we will take it up from there. But I can assure you, our clients are monitoring the situation and we will take appropriate steps at the right time.”

Asked what the next step would be if there was still no compliance after serving the AGF the enrolled order and the CTC, Mustapha said, “Courts deal with live issues and not speculations. When we get to the bridge, we will cross it.”

When contacted, the AGF’s media aide, Dr Umar Gwandu, could not be reached as his phone indicated that it was switched off.

State governors, senior lawyers and other stakeholders had since the judgment was delivered been calling on Buhari to direct the CBN governor to direct commercial banks to start giving out the old notes alongside the new ones in order to ease the scarcity of the naira that has crippled the economy.

Governors Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State and Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, among others, had condemned the silence of the President and Emefiele on the judgment.

In the judgment delivered by Justice Agim, the seven-member panel of the apex court held that Buhari breached the constitution in the manner he issued directives for the redesigning of the naira.

On the disobedience of the Supreme Court’s earlier order on the new notes, Justice Agim said Buhari’s broadcast of February 16, 2023 that only the N200 note should remain legal tender made the country’s democracy look like a mere pretension.

Justice Agim stated, “Let me consider the issue of the President’s disobedience of the 8-2-2023 interim order that the new and old versions of naira notes continue to circulate as legal tender until the determination of the pending application for interlocutory injunction. It is not in dispute that the 1st defendant refused to obey the said order.

“The President’s 16-2-2023 national broadcast reproduced here in pages 27-31 demonstrates this disobedience. In disobedience of the order, he directed that only the old N200 naira notes be re-circulated. Interestingly, there is nothing to show the implementation of even that directive. I agree with the 9th plaintiff that the 1st defendant is not entitled to be heard by this court when it has effused to respect the authority of this court and the authority of law from which the authority of the President and the government of Nigeria derives.

“The rule of law upon which our democratic governance is founded becomes illusory if the President of the country or any authority or person refuses to obey the orders of courts. The disobedience of orders of courts by the President in a constitutional democracy as ours is a sign of the failure of the constitution and that democratic governance has become a mere pretension and is now replaced by autocracy or dictatorship.”

The court also dismissed the preliminary objections by the AGF as well as those of Bayelsa and Edo states, and stated that it had jurisdiction to entertain the suit.


Naira scarcity worsens

Meanwhile, it was gathered on Friday that cash had dried up in most banks in Lagos and Ogun states due to what senior bankers described as the inability of the CBN to supply them with new naira notes.

A branch manager of a Tier-1 bank told Saturday PUNCH that his branch last received cash last week Tuesday, adding that bankers were also frustrated about the currency crisis affecting the nation.

The Lagos-based branch manager said, “There have been no supplies of new naira notes to my branch and other neighbouring branches this week. The last supply we got was N5m last week Monday and another N5m the following day. Members of our bullion van team have been on standby throughout this week awaiting signals to come to the CBN to pick cash, but there has been no signal. The N10m we got last week didn’t last up to Wednesday.

“Following the Supreme Court judgment, we were initially paying out the old N1,000 and N500 notes deposited with us and which had not been deposited with the CBN to desperate customers, but we had to stop when the customers came back to complain that people were not accepting the old notes from them.”

Another senior banker corroborated this, adding that his first generation bank had not been supplied new naira notes to disburse to customers.

He said, “Even me as a banker, I can only boast of N100 as I am speaking to you. We have not been supplied with cash this week. The Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Instant Payment platform is not working; the digital payment systems are overwhelmed. When you see crowds at our branches now, we are not giving them cash, what we are doing is to deal with complaints arising from digital payments.

“I think it is deliberate not to supply naira notes to the banks because the government and the CBN don’t want politicians to mop them up. Politicians are desperately looking for cash to pay their agents now. I know of a candidate for the Lagos State House of Assembly, who has launched a passionate appeal to his friends to raise money to pay his party agents, who were not paid after the presidential and National Assembly elections and threatened not to take part in the governorship and state House of Asse

An operations manager in one of the commercial banks said his branch had been unable to dispense cash to customers because it did not have any. She explained that her branch had not received any cash from the headquarters in the last one month, and that the most recent any of the nearby branches received cash was two weeks ago.

“The cash scarcity is getting worse. Even as a bank worker, I don’t have cash to spend. We have not been receiving money from the headquarters and so we have nothing to give to customers,” she added.

Asked if they had a directive to dispense the old notes in compliance with the Supreme Court ruling, she said, “No, there is no communication from our headquarters in that regard. We have some old notes that customers deposited, which we can pay for now, but we don’t have an instruction to disburse them.

“Ordinarily, people expected the banks to start paying the old notes immediately after the Supreme Court ruled on the matter on March 3, but we needed a directive from the CBN through our headquarters to do that. So, the challenge is three-pronged; the CBN did not release the old notes for us to circulate; we don’t have the authorisation to dispense the old notes we have in our vault; and the CBN has refused to supply us new notes. That is what is responsible for the scarcity everywhere.

“The last time my branch received old notes was early February, about a month ago. Our zonal branch received N3m from the headquarters, and under that zone, we have eight branches. By the time that was shared between the eight branches, what got to the branches was insignificant and it didn’t even last a day. Don’t forget that the bankers are also cash-strapped.”


Bayelsa, Anambra protests

Meanwhile, some residents of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, on Friday, staged a peaceful protest against the rejection of the old N1,000 and N500 notes by transporters, traders, banks and filling stations.

They complained that the refusal to accept the old notes was a disobedience to the Supreme Court judgment, which ordered that the old naira notes should circulate alongside the new ones till December 31, 2023.

The protest took place in the Akenfa suburb of the state capital.

The placard-carrying protesters blocked the Akenfa section of the Mbiama-Yenagoa Road.

The residents’ action caused gridlock and forced commuters to trek long distances, while motorists diverted to other routes.

They called on the Federal Government and Governor Douye Diri to intervene to save residents from suffering.

One of the protesters, Mrs Rebecca Izibeya, said, “Traders and transporters are frustrating people in this town by not collecting the old N500 and N1,000. They have no reason to reject the old naira notes because the Supreme Court said they remain legal tender.”

Another protester, Oyintari Cosmos, said he was fed up with the rejection of the old naira notes since the apex court delivered its verdict.

He said, “From what I know, nobody is supposed to go against the judgment of the Supreme Court. Everybody is supposed to obey the Supreme Court and accept the old N1,000 and N500 notes.

“But surprisingly in Yenagoa, some traders and Keke riders, even some banks, filling stations, eateries and supermarkets are rejecting the old naira notes. It is wrong and unacceptable. I don’t know what is wrong with us Nigerians.”

Motorists and road users plying the Onitsha-Owerri Road were left stranded for many hours on Thursday night as security operatives believed to be naval ratings at the Enamel bus stop rejected old naira notes from tricycle operators.

Tricycle and shuttle bus operators, passengers as well as other motorists have been complaining about being subjected to hardship as a result of gridlock caused by the naval ratings, who mount roadblocks on both ends of the expressway on a daily basis.

They complained that these security operatives, operating under the guise of enforcing a 6am to 6pm curfew imposed by the Anambra State Government, always barricaded more than half of the road with sacks of sand to create a checkpoint, where they extort commercial motorists every night.

The state governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, had in July 2022 imposed the curfew on about eight local government areas of the state, including the Ogbaru, as a result of insecurity.

The section where the security men mounted a roadblock on the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway falls under the Ogbaru LGA.

It was gathered that following the development, naval ratings at the checkpoint always collect N200 from each tricycle operator, N500 from shuttle bus drivers and N1,000 from lorry drivers.

When contacted, the state police spokesman, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, denied knowledge of the activities of the military men.

“You have just drawn my attention to the situation and efforts will be made to ensure that it is stopped. For those who have fallen victims, we urge them to make use of our complaint lines,” Ikenga added.

The Press Secretary to the Governor, Christian Aburime, referred Saturday PUNCH to the Special Adviser on Security to the Governor, AVM Ben Chiobi, who did not respond to calls and messages sent to his mobile telephone.


Kogi gives warning

The Kogi State Government has warned residents and business outfits against rejecting the old naira notes.

The state Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, said in a statement on Friday that the Supreme Court ruling meant that both the old and new naira notes should be accepted for the purpose of transacting business till the end of the year.

“We congratulate Nigerians on the historic ruling of the Supreme Court, the highest court in Nigeria, to the effect that both the old and new naira notes remain legal tender until December 31, 2023 when the old notes will cease to be legal tender,” the commissioner stated.

According to him, it is unacceptable that some persons and businesses will continue to reject the use of the old naira notes even after the court judgment validating their use, adding that rejecting the old naira notes was a clear disobedience of the Supreme Court ruling.

He explained that the reason the state government joined other states to pursue the case was to ease the hardship occasioned by the unavailability of the new naira notes, which the court fully granted.

“Anyone who rejects the old naira notes should be reported to security and government authorities for immediate action,” Fanwo added.

He also warned that banks that refuse to accept the old naira deposits would be sealed as the state government would not accommodate financial institutions that wilfully disobey court orders, more so the orders of the highest court in the country.

“Kogites should note that since the banks are issuing the old naira notes, they are bound to also receive them. We cannot continue to kill our economy after the Supreme Court has granted us freedom,” the commissioner stated.

He said that the state government had set up a high-powered committee headed by the commissioner for finance, budget and economic planning to ensure full adherence and compliance with the ruling of the Supreme Court.


‘Impeach Buhari now’

The Southern Nigeria Peoples Mandate has called upon the National Assembly to begin impeachment proceedings against the President for his refusal to obey the Supreme Court judgment on the naira redesign.

The group also said the management and heads of all the banks in the country should be prosecuted for conniving to deliberately unleash hardship on Nigerians.

In a statement by its President, Augustine Chukwudum, on Friday, the group noted that Buhari’s refusal to obey the apex court judgement was dictatorial and an impeachable offence.

The group said, “How can Buhari fold his hands and watch innocent Nigerians die of hunger by denying them access to their money in the banks in the name of a cashless policy, naira swap, vote-buying and all sorts of terminologies?

“The banks are also exploiting the situation to fraudulently enrich the PoS operators, who are also working on their behalf, and this act must stop with immediate effect.

“Since the apex court’s ruling, these banks have been paying old notes of N500 and N1,000 to their customers, but are also rejecting them when the customers bring them back. This is executive stealing.

“We hereby call on Nigerians to signal their representatives in the National Assembly to append their signatures to impeachment proceedings against Buhari because of this evil policy.”

Tech giant, Meta, has kickstarted plans to give Twitter a run for its money.

The parent company of several social media platforms announced that an app that will have similar features to the microblogging site is in the works.

In a statement shared with Reuters, a Meta spokesperson said, “We’re exploring a standalone decentralised social network for sharing text updates.

“We believe there’s an opportunity for a separate space where creators and public figures can share timely updates about their interests.”

The said application would mirror the framework that powers Mastodon, a Twitter-like service which was launched in 2016.

The move comes amid Meta’s efforts to retain users in its social networks, especially with an ageing user base and the rise of stiff competition like TikTok.

Forbes reported in February 2022, that Facebook, one of Meta’s platforms, lost approximately 500,000 daily users in the last three months of 2021.

If successful, the app by Meta will pose competition for Twitter which was recently acquired by Elon Musk.

Musk, who bought the plaform for about $43 billion dollars last year, resorted to cutting the cost of running the company by massive layoffs. His stance against censorship among other things has upset many and consequently led to advertisers pulling out their funds from the company.

The postponement of the governorship and National Assembly elections earlier scheduled to hold tomorrow has provided an opportunity for state governors seeking reelection or who have preferred successors to engage in last minute campaigns.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had postponed the governorship and state house of assembly elections scheduled for tomorrow to Saturday March 18.

It said following the ruling by the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (EPT) on the reconfiguration of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) used for the February 25 Presidential election, it met to assess its impact on its preparations for the governorship exercise.

LEADERSHIP Friday checks across the states revealed that the state governors have availed themselves of the seven days provided by the postponement to further woo the electorate with promotions, jobs and intervention programmes, all in a bid to entice the voters.

It was learnt that the governors and their political parties are still enveloped in palpable fear in the aftermath of upsets recorded by opposition parties, especially the Labour Party (LP), in the February 25, 2023 presidential and National Assembly polls.

In states like Lagos, Delta, Kano, Kaduna, Gombe, Nasarawa and Katsina where the ruling parties performed abysmally, the state governors have intensified efforts to change the tide in the next elections.

In Cross River, Enugu, Plateau Abia, Benue, Taraba and Kebbi States, the governors who are rounding up their second term in office and hitherto planned to retire to the Senate got the shock of their lives, as they were roundly defeated in the senatorial elections in their respective senatorial district.

As a result of the upsets recorded in the last presidential and National Assembly elections, the governors had in the past few days showered the citizens with incentives ranging from promotions and sudden jobs.

In Rivers State, Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, yesterday announced his administration’s implementation of outstanding promotion in the state civil service and fulfill the promise of employing 10,000 youths into the service.

To make true his promise, the governor said he has forwarded the list of members of the Civil Service Commission immediately to the State House of Assembly for screening, because they will oversee the process to fruition.

Wike spoke yesterday when he received on courtesy visit a delegation led by the chairman of the Rivers State branch of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Alex Agwanwor, and the chairman of the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC), Emechete Chuku, at Government House, Port Harcourt.

He accused the former NLC Chairman in the state, Beatrice Itubo of peddling lies against his administration that pensioners are owed 15 months of entitlements.

The governor said: “We have been paying pension and gratuities every month. Not less than three point something billion Naira is set aside for that purpose, including payment of benefits.

“In fact, the former Accountant General of the State told me yesterday that those of 2016 and 2017 have cleared, but you hear her (Beatrice Itubo) go to say that we have not paid for 15 months. That is unfair.

“It has never happened in this state which built a secretariat for NLC and TUC to at the same time be anti-labour.”

Wike noted that Itubo was also involved in other antagonistic activities that totally destroyed the cordial relationship that once existed between workers and the State government.

The governor warned Rivers workers against supporting Tonye Cole, the Rivers All Progressives Congress (APC) who in connivance with the former minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, sold Rivers assets and are currently facing prosecution over $50 million proceeds from that sale.

In Gombe State where the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) defeated the governing APC, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has directed the commissioners for Higher Education and Finance to release the sum of N315 million for the payment of outstanding students’ scholarship in the state.

Governor Inuwa called on the students to come out enmasse and vote for the APC in the governorship and state House of Assembly elections in the state.

He thanked the students for their understanding, cooperation and support to the present administration in the state, saying his government will continuously support them to actualize their aspirations.

He explained that the decision by his administration to appoint Special Assistants on Students’ Affairs was to serve as a link between the students and the government for effective service delivery.

The governor recalled that his administration was able to provide an operational vehicle to GOSSA in order to coordinate their activities thereby linking them with the wider world.

In return, the Gombe State Students’ Association (GOSSA) endorsed Governor Inuwa for second term ahead of the governorship poll in the state.

The 72,000-member students’ body also expressed satisfaction with the governor’s friendly disposition to the overall welfare and well-being of students of Gombe State origin.

Speaking during a well-attended solidarity visit on the governor, GOSSA president, Comrade Mohammed Hinna, thanked Governor Inuwa for always prioritising needs of the students with a clear foresight that the youths are the leaders of tomorrow.

He explained that aside from payment of students’ bursary allowances, the governor has equally appointed 3 Special Assistants on Students’ Affairs from the three Senatorial Districts.

In Nasarawa State where Peter Obi of Labour Party won the presidential poll, with smaller parties like the Social Democratic Party (SDP) trouncing candidates of the governing party, national chairman of the APC, Sen Abdullahi Adamu, who hails from the state, personally took the campaign to his domain yesterday.

He declared support for the re-election of Governor Abdullahi Sule, wooing voters to do so as well.

Speaking at a grand rally in support of the Nasarawa State governor, Adamu urged the electorate to turn out en-masse and vote the sitting governor given his giant strides in the last four years.

He said electing the governor for a second term in office would afford him the opportunity to complete the works he started in his first tenure.

Adamu said electing Sule who hails from Nasarawa North senatorial district would ensure fairness and equity before the baton of power is passed to another senatorial district.

He urged supporters to continue to conduct themselves in an orderly manner and avoid breaking the law.

In Lagos, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is also said to have embarked on a rigorous house-to-house campaign, even as he has deployed civil servants to woo voters to vote for the party.

In Yobe, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Yobe State chapter, have declared their support for the re-election of Governor Mai Mala Buni to continue the good work of making the state better.

The declaration was made during a one day interactive session organised under the leadership of Comrade Ado Idris to thank the governor for the promotion and implementation of the teachers’ salary across the state.

The NUT chairman (NUT) called on all the branch chairmen to mobilize their teachers in all the 17 local government areas of the State to come out en masse to vote for Mai Mala Buni for second term on the 18th March rescheduled elections.

The NUT boss also Directed all members of the Union to go out and mobilize the community on how to cast their vote in their respective polling unit.

He thanked the members of the union for supporting Governor Buni and the APC in Yobe State.

In Borno, a former Ambassador and deputy head of Missions Embassy of Nigeria in Washington DC, Hassan Mohammed Hassan, has joined the call for the re-election of Governor Babagana Umara Zulum and his deputy, Alhaji Umar Usman Kadafur, for a second term of office.

Ambassador Hassan, a member of the APC presidential campaign council, while commiserating with Governor Zulum and people of Borno state over the inferno that gutted the popular Maiduguri Monday Market, charged the people of the state, particularly Southern Borno and Biu Emirate to vote for Zulum en masse at the Saturday governorship elections.

He described Zulum as a workaholic governor who will sustain the current revolution in the state.

According to him, the incumbent governor towers high and above other contestants, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) contender in the state given his antecedents.

In a statement he issued, Amb Hassan hinged his call on the various achievements recorded by the governor, including the decimation of the dreaded Boko Haram, building of mass housing, relocation and provision of life support items to the victims of insurgency, road construction and rehabilitation across the 27 LGAs of the state, construction and rehabilitation of public schools to international standard among others.


We Respect INEC’s Decision To Shift Polls – APC

Meanwhile, the governing APC said yesterday that it respects the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone the governorship and State House of Assembly elections from March11, 2023 to Saturday March 18, 2023.

In a statement by its national publicity secretary, Barr Felix Morka, the APC reassured that data from the presidential and National Assembly elections will be properly backed up on its cloud facilities.

The party urged INEC to do everything within its power to preserve and protect the integrity of the extracted data from BVAS as it has committed to do before the court.

Morka stated: “Further, we enjoin INEC to use the opportunity presented by the election postponement to address any gaps or hitches identified in the presidential election in order to avoid a recurrence in the March 18, election.

“Even as Presidential Candidates and their political parties explore and exercise their constitutional liberty to challenge or defend the outcome of the Presidential and National Assembly elections, we must remind ourselves of the overriding duty that we bear to eschew conduct and action capable of undermining the peace of our country or imperil the capacity of INEC to conduct the upcoming Gubernatorial and State Assembly elections.

“Our Candidate, now President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, emerged as the overwhelming choice of Nigerians in the presidential election which was free, fair and in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act and INEC Guidelines for the 2023 General Elections.

“We are thankful for our renewed presidential mandate, and urge our supporters and indeed all Nigerians to double down on their support for our great Party, and its candidates in the upcoming Gubernatorial and State Assembly election.”

Similarly, the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has thrown its weight behind INEC’s decision to reschedule the governorship and the state Houses of Assembly elections from March 11 to March 18, 2023.

The umbrella body of the registered political parties in the country, after its emergency general assembly meeting, held at the council’s national secretariat Abuja, Thursday, called for understanding and maximum support to INEC to discharge the crucial national duty that will redefine the destiny of the nation.

In a statement by its national chairman, Engr. Yabagi Yusuf Sani, IPAC said this was a trying period for Nigeria, even as it called for prayers, understanding and patriotism “as we collectively consolidate our emerging democracy, reaffirm our faith in the fatherland and choose competent, resourceful and visionary Governors and State Legislators in the upcoming elections.”

It said the tasks ahead are enormous but surmountable if Nigerians join hands in unity and tenacity of purpose to build a better and greater Nigeria.

According to IPAC, it is time for Nigerians to demonstrate that democracy has come to stay in Nigeria and show the world that they are lovers of constitutional rule, good governance, due process and rule of law.

The statement further noted: “It is obvious that the integrity, credibility, acceptability and transparency of the electoral process and the elections are essential for enduring democracy. Adequate time is needed to ensure things are properly done as the destiny of over 200 million Nigerians are at stake.

“As a major stakeholder in the political process, IPAC has always urged the electoral umpire to ensure it starts early preparation for elections and seek more time, if necessary to ensure it conducts hitch-free, credible, inclusive and generally acceptable polls as Nigerians will not tolerate any excuse for poor performance as witnessed in the failure to upload results from Polling Units to the INEC Results Viewing Portal(IReV) in real time which led to the ongoing litigations in court by aggrieved political parties and their candidates and the postponement of the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.

“It is indeed a difficult time for all lovers of democratic governance in Nigeria and calls for understanding and maximum support to INEC to discharge the crucial national duty that will redefine the destiny of the nation. IPAC urges all stakeholders in the electoral process, to please bear with the commission as it puts its act together for the March 18,2023 Governorship and State House of Assembly elections”.

IPAC said with the assurance that BVAS will function properly and results uploaded to the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV) in real time, Nigerians and the international community expect free, fair, credible, transparent, inclusive and peaceful gubernatorial and legislative elections.

It urged INEC to justify the confidence Nigerians reposed in it and improve on its performance in the disputed Presidential and National Assembly polls.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila is a leading candidate for the post of chief of staff to president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in the next administration.

Gbajabiamila was conspicuously missing at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja, on Wednesday when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) presented certificates of return to elected members of the 10th House of Representatives.

Gbajabiamila was re-elected to represent Surulere 1 federal constituency, Lagos, for the 6th Consecutive tenure during the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections. He polled 19,717 votes to defeat his closest opponent, Bosun Jeje, of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 5,121 votes.

LEADERSHIP Friday, however, gathered that the speaker may eventually not represent his constituency in the 10th Assembly as he is likely to be considered for the position of chief of staff to the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in the new government.

A source familiar with Gbajabiamila confirmed that the speaker, being one of Tinubu’s core loyalists and having worked with politicians from every federal constituency in Nigeria in the last 20 years, is more likely to be considered for the plum job.

When asked if Gbajabiamila will abandon his fresh mandate to pursue the chief-of-staff job in Tinubu’s government, the source said, “That is what we are hearing. If you notice, he didn’t come for his certificate of return on Wednesday. The truth is he doesn’t need that certificate; he has everything to function optimally as chief-of-staff to the president in the new government. He has worked with politicians in every federal constituency and across political divides in the last 20 years.”

When contacted, the special adviser to the speaker on media and publicity, Mr Lanre Lasisi, said his principal was not able to attend the presentation of the certificate ceremony. He, however, declined further comments on the matter.

“He was just not able to be in Abuja for the ceremony,” Lasisi said.

Gbajabiamila was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2003. Since then, he has won elections in the subsequent five election cycles. During his 20-year journey in the House of Representatives so far, Gbajabiamila served as minority whip, minority leader, and majority leader before he was elected as Speaker in 2019.

The corpse of a four-year-old boy, Eleazar Ishiya, has been found inside a manhole adjacent to Mr Biggs at the Jabi area in Abuja three days after he was declared missing.

Family sources said the boy was declared missing on Friday, March 3, at Filin Ball, Jabi Daki Biyu, and his corpse was discovered three days after.

A witness, Joel Joseph said, “When we saw his body inside the manhole, his grandmother attempted to jump inside but I took hold of her and pushed her away. I jumped inside the pit where I found the body already rotten. His tongue, anus and genitals were chopped off while his eyes were also plucked out.

“It’s apparent that his killers are rituals and they might have dumped him inside the pit in the night.’’

The victim, who was described by his mother, Precious Ishaya, as “smart” was a nursery one pupil and was the only child of the family.

The mother said, “On that fateful Friday, Eleazar was about to be bathed. He took a N10 note to buy sweets from a neighbourhood shop and went missing.

She said, “I am not disturbed by his death, rather how horribly he was tortured to death. I rest my case to God. I don’t know the perpetrators because I am not a spiritual-eyed being. The boy’s blood can infiltrate his heartless killer(s) because he is innocent. They should consider themselves as dead already.

“I could not muster courage to see his defaced body; it was later that I managed to see his body in pictures.’’

No immediate response from the FCT Police Command on the incident.

The Nigerian Army has ordered 36 Cayuse Warrior Plus Helicopters from the United States of America to boost its air support operations against terrorists and other criminal elements.

A report by ainonline.com said the Army ordered another 12 sets of the attack helicopter after it had initially ordered 24 of such from the US based company to be deployed against insurgency.

Director, Army public relations Brig-gen Onyema Nwachukwu did not respond to inquiries on the procurement status.

The company, MD Helicopters (MDH) said it was boosting production capacity and hiring more staff to accommodate new orders for its Cayuse Warrior Plus light scout, reconnaissance, and attack helicopter.

According to MDH (Booth C2729), it has received an order for an additional 12 Cayuse Warrior Plus helicopters from the Nigerian Army, which had previously ordered an initial batch of 24.

The MDH president and CEO Brad Pedersen said “We are grateful for the trust of the Nigerian government and are pleased to showcase our purpose-built, light attack aircraft solution to Nigeria and the world,” .

“MD Helicopters has streamlined our production processes to directly address the current and planned increase of aircraft orders.”

To fulfill those new Cayuse Warrior Plus orders and other recent large contracts, the Mesa, Arizona-based company plans to hire more than 120 new employees after restructuring its production facility.

The company also announced that it will make changes to its agreements with authorized service centers and parts retailers to help attract and retain more local operators.

The report explained that the company is working to ensure that its service centers geographically align with the fielded fleets.

To help funnel more business through the authorized network of MD service centers and parts retailers, the company plans to stop selling directly to any customers other than those providers within its authorized network and some select fleet customers.

It is also working to convert the upgrade of the MD 500E helicopter to the MD 530F into a technical bulletin, meaning more MD-authorized service centers will be able to perform the upgrade around the world.

For now, the company’s facility in Arizona performs all the E-to-F upgrades.

The Nigerian Army plans to use the fleet of helicopters to assist with counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations in the African nation.

Veteran Nollywood actor, Ojo Arowosafe, popularly known as Fadeyi Oloro, is dead.

He died Tuesday after a protracted illness.

The details of Fadeyi’s death are still sketchy as of press time.

Born September 15, 1957, the veteran actor died at 66.

Confirming his death Tuesday night, actor and comedian, Bayegun Oluwatoyin aka Woli Arole, shared the news via his Instagram account saying, “So happy I reached out to you sir, so happy we played our part, so happy we laughed together, so happy we were able to show our support. Rest in Peace the Legend ‘Fadeyi Oloro’.

“Let’s check up on people when dey (they) are alive, Let’s show love when people can feel. Let’s help when it can be seen.”

Until his death, the veteran actor battled an undisclosed ailment for years.

The Ekiti-born actor rose to prominence during the 80s and late 90s for his trademarked herbalist character.