₦airaland Forum

A lady, Olufunmilayo Brioluwa, has been arraigned by the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly assaulting a police officer in the Ogombo area of the state.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, who confirmed the development in a post on Twitter, said following the arraignment, Brioluwa was remanded to the Kirikiri Correctional Facility.

The post read, “Somewhere in Ogombo yesterday, she (Brioluwa) assaulted a police officer. She was arraigned today and has been remanded to the Kirikiri correctional facility till June 6 when the case comes up again in court.”

Attached to the post include a picture showing Brioluwa firmly holding the uniform of the policeman.

An original copy of the court document was also attached to the post

The Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited says it is set to supply 300,000 barrels of crude oil to Dangote Refinery.

Mele Kyari, NNPC’s group chief executive officer (GCEO), NNPC, spoke on Thursday at the Nigeria oil and gas opportunity fair.

The event was held at the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) conference centre in Bayelsa state.

The Dangote Refinery, a 650,000 barrels per day integrated refinery project, is scheduled to be inaugurated on May 22, 2023.

“The NNPC saw the strategic interest of doing business, and we will be supplying 300,000 barrels of Nigerian crude to Dangote Refinery from NNPC. That is a marketing opportunity,” Kyari said.

Meanwhile, the NNPC GCEO said Nigeria must focus on gas production, adding that the country must begin to expand its gas footprint.

With that, he noted, the country will begin to achieve the industrialisation it seeks.

“The only way this industry can become the catalyst and fuel for that is for us to build gas, and we are focused on domestic gas, as we are also looking for gas that can go to other countries. We are focused on domestic gas,” he said.

“Everyone is talking about domestic refining. We see what we are doing. We don’t talk about it. We will keep lamenting till we all will see.”

Kyari also the security situation in the Niger Delta is the industry’s main obstacle.

But he assured that the NNPC had risen to the challenge through its collaboration with government security agencies, which is paying off.

“Production last year was at 1.1 million barrel per day. In March, we hit 1.67 million bpd. We have suffered some operational issues in the last 23 weeks, but we know that we will achieve our objectives of recovering production,” he said.

“Then, if we can come back and put their money into new ventures because no one is putting in money now. This is very simple because no one is going to produce oil for someone who did not contribute unless it is guaranteed.

“This is the reality. That is why [I] took the front line and decided that we will contend with the security situation.

“We are glad with the progress we have made now. There is a clear connection between energy and poverty. We are talking about climate change and energy transition. So, we need to provide a cleaner source of energy.

“There is no country that is developed without energy. Industralisation is guaranteed with energy. No industry works without energy.”

Kyari added that industrialisation and prosperity can come to Nigeria when issues bordering energy are addressed.

Bola Tinubu, president-elect, says the death of Subomi Balogun, founder of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), would create a vacuum that would be difficult to fill in the banking industry.

Balogun passed away on Friday morning in London after an illness. He was 89 years old.

The president-elect, in a statement on Saturday, described Balogun as a giant among men for his trailblasing and pioneering role in investment banking in Nigeria.

Tinubu said the founder lived a life full of many accomplishments and achieved what many considered impossible when he pioneered investment banking in Nigeria.

He added that Balogun was a “giant among men who changed the course of history and lived life on his own terms as a reputable investment banker”

“The news of the death of Otunba Subomi Michael Balogun in London yesterday was indeed a sad one. Even though he lived to an advanced age of 89, we didn’t expect that he would leave us at this time,” Tinubu said.

“From a lawyer who joined the western region ministry of justice and later as parliamentary counsel at the Federal Ministry of Justice, he moved to Nigerian Industrial Development Bank to start a banking career that blossomed into pioneering merchant banking in our country. What started as First City Merchant Bank in 1979 transformed into First City Monument Bank, one of the most admired banks in Nigeria today.

“While we mourn the exit of this great man of purpose, we cherish and celebrate his great achievements, his philanthropy and the many lives he positively impacted. We appreciate and commend his huge contributions to the growth and development of our country.

“I commiserate with the immediate family of this illustrious son of Nigeria, Governor Dapo Abiodun, His Royal Majesty Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the Awujale of Ijebuland, the government and people of Ogun State and the entire christian community in Ijebuland. May God grant Otunba Subomi Balogun eternal rest.”

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), some outgoing ministers and governors have embarked on last-minute appointments, investigations by Saturday PUNCH have revealed.

Our correspondents also observed that Buhari and his ministers awarded contracts worth over N3.7tn in the dying embers of his regime.

The appointments and contracts were awarded between March 20, 2023 and May 14, 2023 after the conduct of the presidential and governorship elections, which produced Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress as President-elect and a total of 28 governors out of which 16 newly elected governors will take over from their predecessors, who will complete their constitutionally approved second term in office.

However, some of the outgoing governors made last-minute appointments in the period under review.

On May 17, 2023 Buhari appointed Paul Harris Ogbole (SAN), former member of the Board of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and ex-Chairman, Otukpo Local Government Council of Benue State, as a member of the Council for Legal Education for a period of four years.

On May 11, the President approved the appointment of a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, Garba Baba-Umar, as a Senior Security Adviser on International Police Cooperation and Counter-terrorism in the Office of the Minister of Police Affairs. According to a statement issued by the Presidency, the appointment was made to enable “Umar complete his nationally beneficial tenure as an executive member of the INTERPOL.”

Two days after, the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, announced the appointment of a Benue monarch as the Pro-chancellor of the Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa state.

Earlier on May 5, 2Buhari re-appointed the members of the Board of Trustees of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund.

On May 3, the President, in a letter addressed to the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, asked the Senate to confirm the appointment of 12 nominees of the governing board of the North East Development Commission.

The day before, Buhari re-appointed Abike Dabiri-Erewa as the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission. The President also asked the Senate for the confirmation of six federal commissioners for the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission on the same date.

The Minister of Environment, Muhammed Abdullahi, also announced the appointment of a new coordinator for the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project on May 2.

A month earlier, Buhari through the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, appointed a new director for the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu.

He also re-appointed the Chief Executive Officer of the National Lottery Trust Fund, Bello Maigari, and the Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, Dr Gambo Aliyu, on March 24, while a new DG for the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency was appointed on March 21.

In Kaduna State, the outgoing governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who will be succeeded by his party man, Uba Sani, appointed 15 new judges on April 25. The judges included seven state high court judges, five Sharia Court of Appeal judges and three Customary Court of Appeal judges.

In Benue State, the outgoing governor, Samuel Ortom of the Peoples Democratic Party, who will be succeeded by Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia of the APC, swore in a new Chief Judge for the state on April 11. The governor also appointed five new permanent secretaries.

In Sokoto State, the outgoing governor, Aminu Tambuwal, who lost to the APC, swore in 23 permanent secretaries and 15 director-generals for state-owned agencies on May 2.

Earlier on April 14, the governor had appointed 23 caretaker chairmen for the local government councils in the state.

In Cross River State, the outgoing governor, Ben Ayade who will be succeeded by his party man, Bassey Otu, appointed five new permanent secretaries into the state public service on May 4.

In Abia State, the outgoing governor, Okezie Ikpeazu of the PDP, whose party man lost to the candidate of the Labour Party, Alex Otti, appointed a new rector for the Abia State College of Health on April 14.

The outgoing governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, approved the appointment of a provost for the state College of Health Technology on April 5, 2023.

In Kano State, the outgoing governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, appointed a former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Attahiru Jega, as the pro-chancellor and the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Moshood Balogun, as the chancellor of the state-owned Sa’adatu Rimi University of Education. The Olubadan had earlier decorated Ganduje and his wife, Hafsat, with chieftaincy titles.

The appointments by Ganduje were announced on April 3, 2023.

In Katsina State, the outgoing governor, Aminu Masari of the APC, on May 8, appointed a new manager for the state-owned football club, Katsina United.

The governor also appointed a new vice-chancellor for the state-owned university on May 10, 2023.

The outgoing governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, appointed a total of 149 new village heads on April 30. According to him, the new village heads were appointed to work alongside the incoming administration for stability in the state.

In Taraba State, the outgoing governor, Darius Ishaku, appointed a new caretaker chairman for one of the local government areas in the state. The appointment took effect on April 11.

N3.7tn contracts awarded

Analyses by our correspondents revealed that over N3.7tn worth of contracts were awarded between March 20 and May 14, 2023.

During the Federal Executive Council meeting held on March 23, the sum of N453.90bn was approved for the acquisition of rolling stock, operation and maintenance equipment for the Kano-Maradi standard gauge rail line under construction.

The FEC also approved N5,157,265,770 for the construction of 192 flats for officers and men of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency and $984.7m for the procurement of maintenance equipment for the Nigerian Railway Corporation on the same date.

During the FEC meeting held on March 29, 2023, various contracts worth N210bn were approved for provisions of various infrastructure, including free Internet services at 20 of the nation’s airports, 43 higher institutions and 20 markets across the country. A breakdown of the contracts showed that N95.98bn was for various road projects, while N59. 78bn was approved for the continuation of the ongoing Ogoni clean-up.


The FEC also approved N41.4bn for the construction of a centre of excellence for environmental restoration in the Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The minister added that the council also approved N18.3bn for the construction of a specialist hospital for the people of Ogoni in Rivers State.

On April 5, two contracts worth N15.3bn for the supply and installation of information and communication technology components and digital assistance devices for the 2023 population census were approved. There was also the approval of N3.3bn to build a new training facility for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

An e-Customs modernisation project worth at least N142.24bn was awarded by the FEC on April 20 amid reports of an existing court order restraining it from proceeding with the project.

On the same date, it was revealed that a total of N11.93bn was okayed for Customs aircraft and zonal offices, while the Ministry of Education obtained the sum of N2.8bn for the construction of senate buildings and purchase of ambulances. The FEC also approved the sum of N1.86tn for the linkage of roads in 11 states of the federation.

Similarly on April 20, 2023, the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning presented a couple of memos for which approvals were obtained. The first one was for the award of a contract for the procurement of a Cessna Caravan aircraft EX208B by the Nigeria Customs Service in the sum of N3.45bn inclusive of 7.5 per cent Value Added Tax with a delivery period of 12 months.

The ministry further disclosed that the sum of N45.9bn was approved as augmentation for the cost of contracts for the construction of the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation’s head office buildings in Abuja and Lagos, including its training institute in Lagos.

On May 10, 2023, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu announced that the sum of N449.9m had been approved for the engagement of consultants for the development of master plans for 17 airports, while N3.4bn was approved for the construction of the Abuja airport’s runway.

The FEC also approved a fresh sum of N129.8bn for various projects in the Ministry of Niger Delta, particularly the mandate of the United Nations Environment Programme on the Ogoni clean-up on May 11.

On May 13, the sum of N647.7bn was announced by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission for two power plants in the country.

Similarly, the Minister of State for Transportation, Adewole Adegoroye, on May 18, 2023, noted that FEC approved three port development projects for Ondo, Lagos and Delta states.

Adegoroye, who spoke excitedly about the three memoranda approved for his ministry by council, said the approvals were for the expansion and development of the Snake Island Seaport in Lagos, Ondo Multipurpose Port in Ilaje, and the Burutu Seaport project in Burutu, Delta State.

According to him, the projects would be executed through concession to private investors for 45, 50 and 40 years, respectively, at no cost to the Federal Government.

He explained that while the investors would be investing $974,185,203.66 in the Snake Island Port project, those for Ondo Multipurpose Port project would be spending $1,480,465,253 and $1,285,005,818.40 on the Burutu Port.

CSOs, analysts speak

Speaking with our correspondents in Abuja, political analysts and civil society organisations flayed the move by outgoing executives to award last-minute contracts and make new appointments.

A political analyst, Dr Busari Dauda, noted that the approved amount would only add to the challenges to be faced by the incoming government, adding that it was wicked to allocate such amounts at this last minute.

He said, “I think the current government is deliberately building up obstacles for the government that is coming in. Remember that the Federal Government had promised to remove oil subsidy in June and implement an increment in the salaries for lecturers and medical doctors after it would have handed over to the incoming administration.

“Why are they putting all the challenges on the new government that is coming in? It is somewhat wicked to begin to approve projects for a government that is coming in with a lot of baggage.

“It is likely that those projects will be stalled because if you don’t have an idea of what you are doing and you call me to carry it on, I would have to rethink before doing anything, so it’s likely that the projects are stalled.”

The Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Auwal Rafsanjani, queried why the government waited till the last minute before approving the projects, noting that the analysis had proved the laziness and lack of seriousness in the current administration.

He stated, “This analysis has exposed the laziness and lack of seriousness of the Buhari administration.

“They had more than seven years in power to do innovative programmes and projects that can bring about growth and development, and alleviate poverty and secure the country, but that was not done and suddenly there is a rush to start projects and considering the way and manner Nigerians operate, the new administration will likely abandon some of the projects, which will lead to wastage.

“The Buhari administration is encouraging public waste. A sustainable project should not be done at the last minute and without a proper plan. I think the approval is just to fund the pockets of some people.”

However, another political analyst, Jide Ojo, did not see any wrong in the approvals, stating that projects would be completed if genuine since governance is a continuum.

Ojo said, “Foremost, governance is a continuum and if it is for approval of the budget, there are still about 35 days to the end of this administration and a lot can still be done.

“I believe that nothing is wrong with the projects and amount approved, but whether FEC is mandated to award contracts every Wednesday legally is what I think is debatable.

“If the contracts are not inflated or used to siphon public funds out of the government treasury and are going to be applied, nothing is wrong with that.”

Another analyst, Olaseni Shalom, described the appointments as “political compensation.”

He said, “Those appointments are nothing short of political compensation for loyalists and apparently had nothing to do with competence. This also shows that we run a big government where we have more than necessary offices just to put more pressure on the government and the cost of running the government despite the economic hardship in the country.

“I would have advised the incoming administration to reduce the cost of government, but it is most unlikely as political appointments and offices are mainly for rewards and compensation for political loyalists rather than for the effective management of the government.”

President Muhammadu Buhari has inaugurated the N21 billion presidential wing of the State House Medical Centre.

The facility spans a total floor area of 2,485 square meters and will serve as a specialised intensive care centre for president, vice-president, their immediate families and VIPs.

The hospital incorporates state-of-the-art medical technology and houses several specialised departments to be staffed by a team of medical professionals.

It features five consultation rooms dedicated to various specialties, including respiratory, cardiology, ophthalmology, and general consultation.
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Speaking with journalists at the inauguration on Friday, Aisha Buhari, the first lady, said the facility will eliminate the need for the president and his family to travel overseas for medical care.
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The first lady said she came up with the idea of the VIP wing six years ago after her husband’s protracted stay abroad for medical treatment.

She said with the facility in place, presidents and their family members may only fly in medical experts to assist their colleagues in the country.
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Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house of representatives, says he regrets supporting the process that produced Aminu Tambuwal as speaker in 2011.

Gbajabiamila spoke on Wednesday at a meeting with reps-elect organised in Abuja.

The speaker said he supported the “house project” that “installed” Tambuwal at the time — but he now regrets his decision.
He told the members-elect not to go against the decision of the party on the zoning formula for the leadership of the house of representatives.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) had nominated Tajudeen Abbas and Benjamin Kalu as the preferred candidates for the position of speaker and deputy.

Gbajabiamila said the party is supreme and the lawmakers’ loyalty to the APC should not be in doubt.

“I stand before you here as a testament to what party loyalty and consistency can do in your life. I have a story to tell and I am sure everybody has one story or the other to tell. My story may not be unique. I came here on the platform of a party,” he said.

“We don’t have independent candidacy in Nigeria. It’s not in our constitution or laws. Perhaps, one day, we will get to that point. But my core belief is that if you come here on the platform of a party, there is a saying all over the world that your party is always supreme.

“You will disagree with your party just like people will disagree amongst family members, but at the end of the day, the party is an organised structure. Let no one kid you. I am here to offer advice. I have been the pioneer leader of what they call the house project at one time when we installed Tambuwal as the speaker. I regret it.”

In 2015, Yakubu Dogara was elected speaker of the house — a move that was against the preference of the APC.

Gbajabiamila was the preferred candidate of the ruling party at the time.

The party successfully got its way in 2019 when Gbajabiamila was elected to the number four position in the country.

The speaker said nominating a candidate to lead the house should not be seen as an imposition.

“Nobody is compromising the independence of the legislature. The last person that will do it is me. But the fact that your party says this is where we are going, it doesn’t mean you are compromising the independence of the legislature,” he said.

“Many of us are new here. People will talk to you. They will cajole you, and say all sorts of things in flowery and romantic language but at the end of the day, we have to be mindful of one thing. The party we represent has its leaders. The governors from the states, whether we like it or not, are very powerful. You can do your bidding today. I share these things just to advise from my own experience.

“In 2015, I ran for the speakership of the house of representatives. The party nominated me. The whole world was sure that I was going to win that race. We lost by about six votes. A few of our party members worked against me and combined with the PDP at the time. Four years later, I ran again and won that election with 284 votes, the highest in the history of the Nigerian parliament.”

The United States Government has said that no American citizen was affected in a Tuesday attack on its Consulate staff convoy along Atani, Osamale Road in Anambra State, Nigeria.

The US National Security Council Spokesperson, John Kirby said, “I just got informed about a whole lot before coming out here to talk to you all. Just looks like a US convoy vehicle was attacked.”

”What I can tell you is that no US citizens were involved and therefore there was no US citizens hurt. But we are aware of some casualties perhaps even some killed,” he said on his YouTube channel.

The spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, Tobechukwu Ikenga also said no US citizen was in the convoy though four persons were killed in the attack.

“The Joint Security Forces have embarked on a rescue/recovery operation in Ogbaru LGA, following an attack on a convoy of staff of U S Consulate today 16/5/2023 by 3:30 pm along Atani, Osamale Road,” he said in a statement.

“The hoodlums murdered two of the PMF operatives, and two staff of the Consulate, and set their bodies and vehicles ablaze. Also, the arsonist/murderers on sighting the responding joint security forces abducted two Police operatives, the driver of the second vehicle and took to their heels. No U S citizen was in the convoy.”

The incident is the latest in a series of attacks in Anambra. In recent times, there have been targeted assaults on security and government facilities and high-profile people or organisations in the state.

A group known as Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group (NDMG) says it will hold “massive” peaceful protests across Europe against the “imposition” of leaders on the 10th national assembly.

The group says the protest will begin in London, the United Kingdom and spread to other major cities in Europe.

The APC had nominated Tajudeen Abbas, a lawmaker from Kaduna and Benjamin Kalu, a member from Abia, as its preferred candidates for the positions of speaker and deputy respectively for the 10th house of representatives.

The ruling party also picked Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom) as well as Barau Jubrin (Kaduna) for the positions of senate president and deputy respectively.

However, the party’s resolution has been met with pushback from other hopefuls, while some stakeholders have called for a review of the decision.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Collins-Maxwell Abe, the group’s convener, said the APC’s decision is undemocratic.

Abe said Nigerians in diaspora have been left in shock by the party’s action which has sent a wrong signal about the incoming administration.

He said while the group believes in the leadership qualities of President-elect Bola Tinubu, the party’s zoning decision is an imposition and should be reviewed.

Abe said there is no democracy in the world where legislative leaders are handpicked by certain individuals or groups, adding that such rights are exclusive to parliamentarians.

“We have been left in shock with the latest happenings in the polity back home. Nigerians delivered a mandate to Bola Tinubu because they believed in his capacity, strength of character, and purposeful leadership,” the statement reads.

“For us in the diaspora, we saw the incoming leader as an upright man who will break away from the norm. However, the early signs have been the reverse.

“That is why we are joining other Nigerians to strongly reject the purported zoning of the national assembly leadership. It is not done. Even if a consensus is to be proposed, it is done after proper consultations.

“We are, therefore, using this medium to urge the president-elect to retrace his steps. It is too early for him to start committing blunders, especially with some Nigerians still having mixed feelings about his emergence.

“To show our displeasure at this brazen act, we have finalized plans to hold massive protests across Europe, starting from London, United Kingdom. We will do so to draw the attention of the international community.

“It is, however, not too late for Tinubu to make amends. Let the legislators pick their leaders. That is our plea.”

President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with the families of the four people killed by gunmen at Ogbaru LGA of Anambra.

TheCable reported on Tuesday that gunmen attacked a convoy conveying staff of the US consulate.

Ikenga Tochukwu, police spokesperson in Anambra, said the “hoodlums murdered two of the PMF operatives, and two staff of the consulate”.

In a statement on Wednesday, Garba Shehu, the president’s spokesperson, said Buhari is saddened by the killings of the police officers and the staff of the US embassy in Nigeria.

“I was very sad hearing about the killing of the embassy staff and our policemen accompanying them. In this difficult time for the families of those killed, the American embassy and the Nigeria Police force, NPF, I extend the nation’s condolences over the very sad incident,” he said.

He said the president is equally “pained about the gruesome deaths” of villagers in communities in Plateau and Benue states, adding that the security agencies are committed to bringing the perpetrators to justice.

“He is deeply pained to learn about these gruesome deaths and expresses sincere condolences to the families of the victims,” he said.

“He is equally been briefed about the tragic killing of several persons in the Bwoi District of Mangu Local government area of Plateau state, as well that of several villagers in Adaka village in Makurdi local government and in Ijaha community of Apa local government area of Benue state.

“We share the grief of the American embassy, the Nigeria Police force and our communities in Plateau and Benue and remain committed to fishing out the perpetrators of the attacks and bringing them to justice. May God give their families the strength to bear the unfortunate losses.”

Alfred Alabo, police spokesperson in the Plateau, confirmed the killing of more than 30 persons in an attack by gunmen on Tuesday.

Last month, gunmen invaded two communities in Benue, killing 14 residents and two soldiers.

The Presidential Election Petition Court, today (Wednesday), adjourned till Friday, May 19, the pre-hearing of the petition by the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, against the President-elect, Bola Tinubu.

Meanwhile, factions of Obi’s party clashed in court, just as a factional Chairman, Mr. Lamidi Apapa, was taken into protective custody by security operatives attached to the Court of Appeal in Abuja, venue of the Presidential Election Petition Court.

Apapa was mobbed by youths that were at the court to witness proceedings in the petition that Mr. Obi filed to challenge the outcome of the presidential election held on February 25.

Shortly after the Justice Haruna Tsammani-led five-member panel adjourned the petition till Friday for continuation of the pre-hearing session, Apapa, while stepping out of the courtroom, made attempt to address the media.

He positioned himself before the waiting cameras, after Peter Obi’s lead counsel, Dr. Livy Uzoukwu (SAN), finished speaking to newsmen on what transpired during the court session.

Just as Apapa was getting set for questions, a group of youths that identified themselves as “Obidients”, pushed him away from the cameras, insisting that he lacked the right to speak for the party.

In the commotion that ensued, with Apapa being pushed back and forth by the aggrieved youths, his ‘Agbada’ was torn even as someone snatched his cap from his head.

It took the intervention of armed security operatives to pull the factional LP, who appeared helpless, away from the mob.

He was subsequently taken into protective custody by policemen attached to the court.

As at 12:29pm when this report was filed in, Apapa was still with the security operatives.

Court drama

Earlier, a mild drama played out at the court after Apapa attempted to announce himself as a representative of the party.

He had, immediately the main door to the court room was opened, made his way to the line of chairs reserved for dignitaries and the petitioners.

Obi was already seated by the time Apapa attempted to take possession of one of the seats but was blocked by members of the party led by a man that was identified as the LP’s National Youth Leader.

When the factional LP Chairman noted that despite his spirited effort he would not be allowed to sit close to Obi, he relocated to the line of chairs reserved for members of the public.

It will be recalled that Apapa is currently entangled in a legal dispute with executives of the party that conducted the primary election which produced Obi as flag-bearer.

He had earlier directed all the lawyers representing Obi to report to him for briefing.

The President-elect Bola Tinubu has opposed the application by his closest rival, Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for a live broadcast of the proceedings of the election petition.

In response to the application, Tinubu and his vice, Kashim Shettima, through the team of their lawyers led by Chief Wole Olanipekun said the application is an “abuse of the processes of this honourable court.”

They implored the Presidential Election Petition Court to dismiss the application, arguing that the relief demanded by the applicants is not such that the court could grant it.

The respondents said, “With much respect to the petitioners, the motion is an abuse of the processes of this honourable court.”

They further said the request of Atiku and his party should not be thrown out because the court “is not a rostrum or a soapbox. It is not also a stadium or theatre. It is not an arena for ‘public’ entertainment.”

They stated, in the counter affidavit, that the application was linked to policy formulation of the court, which is outside the PEPC’s jurisdiction as constituted.

“The application also touches on the powers and jurisdiction invested in the President of the Court of Appeal by the Constitution, over which this honourable court as presently constituted cannot entertain.

“The application touches on the administrative functions, which are exclusively reserved for the President of the Court of Appeal.

“The application is aimed at dissipating the precious judicial time of this honourable court.

“The said application does not have any bearing with the petition filed by the petitioners before this honourable court.

“It is in the interest of justice for this honourable court to dismiss the said application filed by the petitioners,” they said.

In an attached written address, the respondents criticised the applicants’ reference to the fact that virtual proceedings were allowed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

They argued that Atiku and the PDP failed to highlight the fact that practice directions were made by the respective courts for the exercise.

“Another angle to this very curious application is the invitation it extends to the court to make an order that it cannot supervise.

“The position of the law remains, and we do submit that the court, like nature, does not make an order in vain, or an order which is incapable of enforcement,” the respondents stated.

They further said that “At the very best, this application is academic, very otiose, very unnecessary, very time-wasting, most unusual and most unexpected, particularly, from a set of petitioners, who should be praying for the expeditious trial of their petition.

“Petitioners have brought their application under Section 36(3) of the Constitution which provides that the proceedings of a court/tribunal shall be held in public.

“The word ‘public’ as applied under Section 36(3) of the Constitution has been defined in a plethora of judicial authorities to mean a place where members of the public have unhindered access, and the court itself, sitting behind open doors, not in the camera.

“Even in situations where a class action is presented, the particular people constituting the class being represented by the plaintiffs or petitioners are always defined in the originating process.

“Here, in this application, the public at whose behest this application has been presented is not defined, not known, not discernable.

“Beyond all these, it is our submission that the court of law must and should always remain what it is, what it should be and what it is expected to be: a serene, disciplined, hallowed, tranquil, honourable and decorous institution and place.

“It is not a rostrum or a soapbox. It is not also a stadium or theatre. It is not an arena for ‘public’ entertainment.

“With much respect to the petitioners, the motion is an abuse of the processes of this honourable court.”

Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof Attahiru Jega has called for the redesign of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme as a voluntary programme for Nigerian graduates.

He spoke at a commemoration of the NYSC’s 50th anniversary on Monday which had past and present director generals of the scheme in attendance.

The golden jubilee, which had the theme ‘Five Decades of Fostering Unity and Development’, was also attended by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, represented by the Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu; Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare; Chairman, NYSC Governing Board, Fatima Abubakar; service chiefs; and corp members, among others.

Jega, who was a guest speaker at the event, argued that the Federal Government needed to make the scheme more favourable to the Nigerian youth, adding that it should adjust to global best practices, if it must be mandatory.

Delivering a lecture, he highlighted the successes of the scheme but called for appropriate repositioning to make it more relevant to the times.

However, not everyone agreed with Jega as some others were of the view that the NYSC in last five decades had lived up to the essence of its establishment, particularly regarding community development.

For Chairman, NYSC Governing Board, Fatima Abubakar, the assent of President Muhammadu Buhari to the NYSC Trust Fund Bill would make a significant difference.

While acknowledging the remarkable contributions of the scheme to national development, there were also recommendations for the repositioning of the scheme to help it adjust to global best practices.

The celebration also afforded participants the opportunity to reflect on the essence of the scheme, namely national unity and integration.

Godswill Akpabio, former governor of Akwa Ibom, says President-elect [b]Bola Tinubu is “God’s own choice” for the leadership of the country.

Akpabio spoke on Sunday when he was hosted by Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos state governor.

The former Niger Delta affairs minister was nominated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the position of senate president while Barau Jibrin was recommended as deputy senate president.

Akpabio said senators-elect for the 10th assembly believe in the vision Tinubu has for the country and are willing to offer their support.

He said if elected as senate president, he will deploy a “national approach” to lawmaking in the red chamber.

Akpabio said the nation’s economy is in need of serious development, adding that the administration of Tinubu will replicate the development in Lagos at the federal level.

He said the senate will collaborate with the new administration to bring the dream to fruition.

“The stability group of the 10th senate is made up of men and women of integrity. We came today to show ourselves to the governor and also solicit his support,” he said.

“He (Sanwo-Olu) has not only thrown his support behind us, he has shown so much hospitality. Today, he stood before the cameras to endorse my humble self to become the president of the 10th senate and Senator Jibrin as deputy senate president-designate.

“We are not taking this support for granted. This team has senators elect from different political backgrounds and parties. We are determined to ensure collaboration and support for the incoming administration of Tinubu whose presidency is a nationalistic project that will bring positive development to Nigeria.

“We want him to replicate what has happened in Lagos in the last 24 years of democracy to cover the rest of the country.”

On his part, Sanwo-Olu described Akpabio as a Nigerian with an “outstanding profile and experience”, adding that he will set new standards and break legislative records in the 10th assembly.

The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) says about 80 officers have gone on trial over the collection of illegal fees for the issuance and renewal of passports.

Speaking with NAN on Sunday, Tony Akuneme, NIS spokesperson, said eight officers have been dismissed in connection to the offence in the last year.

He said the disciplinary measures are part of the three-point reform agenda of Isah Jere, NIS comptroller general (CG).

Akuneme said the CG’s three-point agenda includes passport issuance reform, tightening border security and improving the welfare of NIS officers.

The NIS spokesman said the CG has vowed to discipline officers who try to sabotage the reform process.

“We have continued to punish NIS officers and men who try to assist people for a fee. You can assist people genuinely but not extorting from them,” he said.

“We are committed to curbing corruption and other illicit acts in the service. You will appreciate the fact that if nothing else, the level of awareness has increased in the last few months.

“Don’t patronise agents, fill your forms yourself. We have officers watching and these agents know they are being watched. When they take money from you, tell us. If we don’t take action, tell the world.”

He said employing the services of third-party agents in securing passports hinders the reform process.

“We have tried as much as possible to eliminate third parties so that if you really want, you can process the application of your passport from the comfort of your room on your laptop, android phones and you can pay online,” Akuneme said.

“You don’t really need anybody whether immigration officers or agents which we usually call louts. They have upgraded and become agents. They are still third parties.

“The problem we have is the use of third parties because no matter how much reform you put in, you will always see a learned and civilised person using a third party to process his or her application.

“And one thing they don’t understand is that third parties don’t have an idea of the information entered into your application. This can result in somebody having issues with his/her National Identification Number (NIN).”

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it arrested 218 suspects with 5,610 kilogrammes of illicit drugs in Kaduna.

Ibrahim Braji, NDLEA commandant in Kaduna, in an interview with NAN on Sunday, said the suspects were arrested between January and March.

Braji said the suspects comprised 206 males and 12 females, adding that the number represented both the drug sellers and consumers.

He added that seized drugs included cannabis sativa, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, tramadol and other psychotropic substances.

According to the NDLEA commandant, 25 offenders have been prosecuted and convicted.

“It is unfortunate that in spite of our various sensitisation and awareness programmes toward curbing trafficking and usage of illicit drugs, the situation persists,” he said.

“We counselled about 96 drug users as well as rehabilitated a number of persons within the period under review.

“Notwithstanding, the command will continue to fight against drug trafficking and illegal drug consumption in the state to a standstill for positive results.”

Media Personality and AAC Presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Omoyele Sowore has alleged that there are people who want Afrobeats singer Seun Kuti “executed” for slapping a police officer on Third Mainland Bridge.



Sowore who made the claim shortly after the Inspector-General of Police, Baba Usman Alkali ordered the arrest of Kuti, added that these people want the execution of the singer because he did not support Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi in the election.



He tweeted;



“There is nothing wrong if you admit that you want @realseunkuti summarily executed because he did not support @peterobi for President, during the 2023 presidential election. even the @PoliceNG agreed to investigate what led to the altercation between @policeng & @realseunkuti on 3rd Mainland bridge earlier today.

“@realseunkuti also accepted to cooperate with investigators, but because he was against @peterobi you want him executed summarily. Suddenly the @policeng that helped @officialABAT rig election in #Nigeriadecides2023, the police that unjustly executed young Nigerians during #endsars are now your heroes because @realseun kuti is not supporting@peterobi Gotcha moment! Republic of HYPOCRITES.#RevolutionNow”

President Muhammadu Buhari shares in the joy of the occasion as Gov. Ademola Nurudeen Adeleke of Osun State celebrates his 63rd birthday, May 13, 2023.

The President’s felicitation was contained in a statement his Special Adviser on Media and Publoicity, Femi Adesina.

President Buhari affirmed that the Senator, who represented Osun-West in the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly, solidified his base and gradually built a formidable network of friends and political allies that have helped his many victories, including leading one of the 36 states in the country.

READ ALSO: Buhari Appoints AIG Garba Baba Umar As Adviser On Security

According to the statement, the president said he believes that Adeleke’s easy going outlook on life has turned into an asset, with a huge following that cuts across all ages.

He urged the Osun State Governor, whose victory was recently validated by the Supreme Court, to place interest of the State and welfare of the people above all else, and seek God’s guidance to deliver on his mandate.

The President prayed that the Almighty God will grant Adeleke the strength, wisdom and courage to serve his people and the nation.

The Bank of England on Thursday lifted its key interest rate to the highest level since the 2008 financial crisis, noting inflation remained stubbornly high but that the economy would now avoid recession this year.

The BoE hiked the rate by a quarter-point to 4.5 percent — its 12th increase in a row with UK annual inflation stuck above 10 percent, fuelling a cost-of-living crisis across Britain.

Global policymakers are battling elevated inflation caused largely by runaway energy bills following last year’s invasion of Ukraine by major oil and gas producer Russia.

Following a regular policy meeting, the BoE warned of “considerable uncertainties” on when UK inflation would return to its two-percent target, as soaring food prices offset sharp drops to energy costs.

At the same time, the central bank made a record upgrade to its British GDP forecast, adding there would be only a small impact from recent turmoil in the commercial banking sector.

“Six months ago, we were expecting a shallow but long recession,” BoE governor Andrew Bailey told a press conference.

“Since then, energy prices have fallen substantially and economic activity is holding up much better than expected.”

– ‘Modest but positive’ growth –

Bailey said the UK would this year experience “modest but positive economic growth and a much smaller increase in unemployment.

“We think inflation will fall quite sharply over the coming months,” he added.

Official data Friday is expected to show the UK economy grew during the first quarter of this year after narrowly avoiding recession in the last three months of 2022.

The rate decision comes one week after UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservative government suffered a drubbing in local elections, as voters gave their verdict over rampant living costs despite government efforts to partly subsidise energy bills.

The nation has been plagued by strikes as high inflation erodes the value of wages. Train staff will walk out again on Friday following months of industrial action across the private and public sectors.

The latest BoE hike is set to deepen the crunch in living standards as retail banks pass on the increase, resulting in higher repayments on loans, including mortgages.

At the same time, those who can afford to save will benefit for increased fixed returns on investments.

“Although it is good news that the Bank of England is no longer forecasting recession, today’s interest rate rise will obviously be very disappointing for families with mortgages,” said British finance minister Jeremy Hunt.

– Highest inflation in G7 –

Thursday’s news took British borrowing costs to a level last seen in October 2008, before rates were slashed during the global financial crisis.

The BoE has ramped up borrowing costs from a record-low of 0.1 percent in December 2021.

Its latest hike came one week after the European Central Bank and the Federal Reserve implemented quarter-point rate increases as inflationary pressures ease only slightly in the eurozone and the United States.

UK annual inflation stood at 10.1 percent in March, the highest level in the Group of Seven richest nations.

Sunak and the BoE blame the high level in part on rises to pay and have urged employers to show restraint.

BoE chief economist Huw Pill recently stated that Britons need “to accept that they’re worse off and stop trying to maintain their real spending power by bidding up prices via higher wages”.

The Federal Government on Thursday revealed that Nigeria will spend N22.4 billion feeding inmates in correctional centres nationwide.

This is according to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr Shuaib Belgore, who disclosed this at a two-day High Conference on Decongestion and Corrections Management in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

Belgore stated that the fund is budgeted for in the 2023 Appropriation Act.

He said that there has been a steady rise in the population of the custodial centres with at least 80% of the inmates awaiting trial.

According to him, there are 244 custodial centres nationwide, with a 75,507-inmate population, thereby leading to 82 of them being overcrowded.

The total number of male inmates is 73,821 and female 1,686 female inmates, he noted.
Out of the 75,507 inmates, 52,436 are awaiting trial while 23,071 are convicted persons, with 3,322 as condemned inmates on death row.

The Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has initiated extradition proceedings at the Federal High Court, Abuja judicial division, against three suspects, Samson Ogoshi, his brother, Samuel, and Ezekiel Ejemeh, over exploitation of a minor and production of child pornography.

The Ogoshis and Ejemeh were indicted in a United States Federal Court on December 1, 2022, on charges of exploitation of minors and production of child pornography resulting in death, conspiracy to distribute child pornography and conspiracy to commit stalking through the internet.

According to investigations, the suspects conspired to conduct sex-based extortion of minors and adults in the United States of America.

The spokesperson for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, revealed in a Monday night statement obtained by our correspondent.
Uwujaren said, “The trio, investigations also revealed, hacked some social media accounts, posing to be young attractive women to entice unsuspecting victims to send their sexually explicit photographs.

“These pictures were then used in blackmailing the victims, thereby forcing them into making huge financial payments.
“Consequently, Samuel Ogoshi is charged with sexual exploitation and attempted sexual exploitation of minors that resulted in the death of one Jordan DeMay, an offence that carries a maximum penalty of life in prison and a statutory mandatory minimum of 30 years in prison.”

The trio is charged with conspiracy to sexually exploit minors by causing them to produce child pornographic images that they used to blackmail them.
Uwujaren added, “They are further charged with conspiracy to distribute child pornography, which borders on sending images to minors, their families and friends, as well as conspiracy to commit stalking through the Internet. Both offences carry a minimum of five years and maximum 20 years imprisonment.

“While the Ogoshis were arrested sometime in February 2023 around the Ojo axis of Lagos, Ezekiel was picked up in Nasarawa by operatives of the EFCC.”

Mrs Jane Nnamani, the wife of Nigeria’s former Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani has passed on.

According to sources, she died in her early 60s after a minor surgery in Enugu.

News of her demise spread in the State on Monday, a development that has thrown her entire Amaechi country home into mourning.

Mrs Nnamani passed on at a time her husband, the former Senate President is reportedly out of the country. He is said to have travelled to the United States.

Senator Nnamani is yet to make an official announcement on the development.

The presidential election petition tribunal has adjourned for further pre-hearing, the case filed by the Labour Party and its candidate, Peter Obi.

Obi and the LP filed a petition challenging the victory of Bola Tinubu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the election.

In the petition marked CA/PEPC/03/2023, Livy Ozoukwu, lead counsel to LP and Obi, said Tinubu “was not duly elected by the majority of the lawful votes cast at the time of the election”.

Amongst other allegations, they claimed that Kashim Shettima, vice-president-elect, had a double nomination in contravention of the electoral act.

The petitioners are asking the tribunal to declare Obi winner of the presidential poll or alternatively, order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election.

At the pre-hearing session on Monday, Livy Uzoukwu, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), announced an appearance for the petitioners.

Lawyers to the APC, Tinubu, and INEC informed the tribunal that they had filed separate responses to the questions raised by the petitioners in their processes.

Afterwards, the five-member panel led by Haruna Tsammani, adjourned till Wednesday for further pre-hearing.

The court directed parties in the petition to identify all the witness statements and documents they would rely on or object to during the hearing of the petitions.

While Lateef Fagbemi is the lawyer for the APC, Wole Olanipekun is representing Tinubu. Abubakar Mahmoud is the counsel to INEC.

The tribunal also adjourned the petition of the Action Peoples Party (APP) to Wednesday for further pre-hearing.

However, pre-hearing session for Atiku Abubakar’s petition and Allied People’s Movement (APM) is expected to hold on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, earlier at the court session, Action Alliance (AA) withdrew its petition against the victory of Tinubu.

Since there was no opposition from respondents in the petition, the panel dismissed the petition.

The supreme court in Abuja has fixed Tuesday to deliver judgment on the disputed July 16 governorship poll in Osun state.

A five-member panel of justices led by John Okoro fixed the date on Monday after all the parties involved adopted their written briefs in the matter.

The Osun governorship election tribunal, in January, held that Gboyega Oyetola was able to prove that there was over-voting in some of the polling units.

Consequently, the majority judgment of the tribunal ordered INEC to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Ademola Adeleke and issue a fresh one to Oyetola as the duly elected governor of Osun.

Dissatisfied with the ruling, Ademola Adeleke appealed the judgment.

On March 24, TheCable reported how a court of appeal sitting in Abuja reinstated Adeleke as the duly elected governor of the state.

Delivering judgment in the appeal filed by Adeleke, a three-member panel of justices held that the election tribunal erred when it ruled that the 1st and 2nd respondents (Gboyega Oyetola and the All Progressives Congress) proved their allegation of over-voting.

In his appeal, Adeleke argued that there was no majority judgment as the second judge on the panel, Rabi Bashir, failed to write her opinion as required by section 294(2) of the constitution.

He also challenged the jurisdiction of the tribunal to preside over the petition on the grounds that it failed to consider the preliminary objection he filed against the petitioners.

The Federal Government says the agitation for more wages by workers is not peculiar to Nigeria, noting that it is a global issue.

Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige said this on Saturday after receiving the Business Day “Excellence in Public Service Award” in Abuja.

“The other day that I passed through Bailey, they said airport workers were on strike, only for four days. When I passed through London, the railway workers were on strike, only for three days. They are all demanding for more pay,” the ministry’s spokesman Olajide Oshundun quoted him as saying in a statement on Saturday.

“Workers’ demand for more pay is not peculiar to Nigeria but the problem everywhere in the world today as a result of global economic crunch, occasioned by COVID-19, the war in Ukraine and other things that make it look like everybody will die today.

“We will not die today. We only have to adjust both as individuals and as a country in order to survive the crunch,” he said.


But to tackle the tide of strikes in Nigeria, the minister recommended social dialogue, as recognised by the International Labour Organization (ILO).

This for him, will handle several labour issues whether it is the demand for more wages or better conditions of service.

But he described that in Nigeria, certain people disobey the law instead of doing the right thing.

“In Nigeria, the man who implements the law is a very wicked and stingy man. He is seen as a man who does not understand what the law says. It is even worse in government,” Ngige added.

He warned that if Nigeria must make progress, people should not be made to look odd because they obey the laws of the land.

A Max Air aircraft reportedly crash-landed on Sunday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The aircraft was said to be arriving from Yola, Adamawa state when the incident occurred.

Faithful Hope-Ivbaz, spokesperson of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), confirmed the incident to TheCable but declined to give further details.

According to Daily Trust, the incident occurred after the plane’s tyre burst into flames.

The Aerodrome Rescue and Fire-fighting Service (ARFFS) at the airport reportedly put out the fire while the passengers were safely disembarked from the plane.

The runway has been temporarily shut until the evacuation of the aircraft.

Mike Ogirima, former president of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), who witnessed the incident, said the tyre burst occurred after takeoff at Yola Airport.

“We thank God. We are still on the runway and pilot has reassured us. He has called for the stairs and we are now disembarking from the runway to be evacuated to the airport building at the arrival hall,” Ogirima was quoted as saying.

“We bless God because we have witnessed the pull out of the tyre right from the airport in Yola and we went into prayer session. I never announced it as a surgeon so as not to cause any panic but we bless God.”

The airline is yet to issue an official statement on the incident.

In August 2022, an Owerri-bound plane belonging to Air Peace made an emergency landing in Lagos due to a bird strike.

The plane, which was en route to Owerri, could not land due to the impact of the bird strike, and as such, returned to Lagos for an emergency landing.

‘WE’LL CARRY OUT FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS ON PLANE’

The airline in a statement confirming the incident, said there were 143 passengers and one infant on board the plane which was to land in Abuja from Yola at 3 pm.

Max Air said the aircraft, experienced two tire bursts on landing in Abuja and the emergency team immediately responded to it.

“We are pleased to report that all passengers and crew on board the aircraft are safe and sound. The airline has taken all necessary steps to ensure that the passengers are comfortable and are being taken care of during this time,” the statement reads.

“They have been conveyed to the arrival terminal with their luggage and belongings.

“The aircraft tires are being replaced and the aircraft will taxi to the ramp for further investigations before being released for future flights.”

Kenyan President Williams Ruto has congratulated Bola Tinubu, president-elect, on his electoral victory.

Ruto congratulatory message was contained in a letter brought to Nigeria by Felix Koskei, head of Kenyan civil service and special envoy, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, an aide to Tinubu, said in a statement on Sunday.

Tinubu is expected to be inaugurated as Nigeria’s president on May 29.

Ruto said he looked forward to working with Tinubu to champion the cause of the African continent.

“On behalf of the government and people of the republic of Kenya, and on my own behalf, I convey greetings and congratulations to you on your victory, and to the people of the federal republic of Nigeria for their fortitude and maturity in ensuring the successful conduct of the 2023 general elections,” Ruto’s letter reads.

“I wish to applaud the close friendship which exists between our two countries.

“Kenya and Nigeria share values and aspirations in various sectors including political, socio-economic, cultural, diplomatic exchange and indeed hold commonality of views on many continental and international issues.

“I look forward to working with you to champion the cause of our continent, and to strengthen further the historical bonds and friendship that happily exist between our two countries and the people.”

Upon receipt of the letter, Tinubu said he intended on maintaining the relationship between Nigeria and Kenya.

“I intend to maintain that long, cordial relationship between our two countries and continue to pursue the aspiration of our forefathers towards building a stronger and more economically stable Africa,” the president-elect was quoted as saying

“If we exchange ideas and inter-relate, it will help our continent. Economic opportunities would be explored for Africa’s growth and security.”

Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, on Saturday, opened up on why he wouldn’t want to be Chief of Staff to Bola Tinubu, Nigeria’s President-elect, saying, he would rather stay committed to contributing to the country’s development through useful counsel.

el-Rufai indicated further that he would also prefer to play big in the private sector in the next 22 days after handing over as governor.

He made this disclosure in an address during the commissioning of the Gombe Geographic Information Systems service centre, after performing the groundbreaking ceremony of 550 Shongo Homes and Gardens under the Family Homes Fund in Gombe State.

el-Rufai said, “I will be leaving in 22 days, but I will be available anytime you need a troublemaker. I will be in the private sector, I’m not going to be any chief of staff. I will take a break and advice people like governor Inuwa Yahaya, if they need it.”

Fielding answers from journalists on why he would not accept the “compensation” to serve despite his support to Tinubu, el-Rufai added, “I have not had the discussion with the president-elect and I don’t want to speculate. I read on the pages of newspapers and I see all kinds of portfolios assigned to me.

“I’m a committed Nigerian and I want to see my country make progress and whatever I can do to contribute to the development I will, but I don’t have to do it working in the government. People working in the private sector or civil society are contributing their own one way or the other, to the growth and development of our country. I will never stop working for Nigeria’s progress.”

The Kaduna State Governor who commended Gombe electorates for massively supporting and voting for Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya back into office, disclosed that the Tinubu team was initially troubled when the President-elect, polled second highest votes in Gombe.

“When the presidential result was announced and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu came second, we were quite worried about the re-election of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, but I was very pleased that the people of Gombe have shown once again that they know how to separate the wheat from the chaff.

“They know those that work for them they know those that promise and break their promises by being strategic and selective in their voting that they returned governor Inuwa Yahaya with overwhelming votes of over 130,000 votes for the election and even increased the number of APC members by two,” el-Rufai remarked.

He assured that Yahaya would do more than he did in his first tenure, stressing that the first term was hectic with its economic challenges; “I want to thank the people of Gombe State for re-electing my brother, my friend and in-law. I assure you that what you have seen in the last four years is just the beginning because the last four years have been very challenging for anyone in governance.

“In 2020, we had COVID-19, in 2022, the Ukraine war disrupted the global economy which affected our revenues and most states Federal Allocation dropped by about 30 per cent. It was with these challenges that Governor Inuwa Yahaya was able to build the infrastructural and social capital development that you have seen in the last four years. I want to assure you that the next four years will be better because there will be more resources and he has overwhelming support in Gombe State Assembly to do more,” he said.

The governor also commended the traditional institution for the overwhelming collaboration with the security agencies, pointing out that it had impacted the state’s record as one of the safest in the country.

“Far from when Gombe used to be a base for Boko Haram terrorists. Your royal highnesses, we continue to pray for you for God’s guidance, so that you continue to assist the State Government to keep Gombe safe,” he said.

el-Rufai who specifically noted that Inuwa Yahaya standardised the Gombe Geographic Information Systems, lauded, “It’s important to know how much land you have to allow development and increase revenue.”

The Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong has said the Northern Governors of the APC did not necessarily want the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, to be President of Nigeria when they supported the power shift to the southern part of the country.

According to Lalong, who was also the Director General of Tinubu’s Presidential Campaign organisation, their push for a southern presidency was rather in order to promote the unity, peace and stability of Nigeria within the spirit of fairness, equity and justice which the late Premier of the Northern Region, Sir Ahmadu Bello, stood for.

Lalong was speaking at the 9th Annual Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Lecture on Leadership and Good Governance held in Lafia, Nasarawa State, a statement issued by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Macham Makut, said on Saturday

The Governor said, “When I led my colleagues – the Northern Governors – to push for power shift to the South, it was not because we wanted Asiwaju to be President. Rather, we wanted to ensure that justice and fairness prevail in our nation for unity, peace and harmony. That is what we believe our revered father of blessed memory, Sir Ahmadu Bello, would do in such circumstances. Fortunately, the party delegates chose Asiwaju who was eventually accepted by Nigerians as he was unanimously elected”.

Lalong urged all Nigerians, both in the North and across the country, to support Tinubu as he takes on the mantle of leadership.

The governor noted that, because the late Sardauna lived a life of accommodation, tolerance, justice and fairness, his legacies have endured long after his demise and continue to inspire leadership in the region and country at large. According to him, the North is an important stakeholder in the Nigerian project and its contributions towards his election cannot be over emphasized.

“The Northern region needs serious attention in various sectors ranging from security, education, infrastructure, agriculture, economic revival and restoration of law and order in various areas that have been ravaged by insecurity.

“It is heartening to note that the Northern Governors Forum, under my leadership, has done a great deal of work on bringing our people together as one people with a common destiny,” Lalong added.

Nasarawa State Governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, said it was a privilege for his state to host the very important event, which reminds the region and the nation about the values that Sardauna lived and died for.

He said, although there have been challenges in the country after the demise of Sir Ahmadu Bello, some progress has been made which can be built upon to make the Northern region and Nigeria a better place.

Speaking on the topic “2023 Elections as Panacea for Search for Quality Leadership in Nigeria,” Kenyan Law Professor and pan Africanist, Patrick Lumumba, said the late Sardauna left behind several lessons for politicians which include his selflessness and sacrifice for the general good.

He said the question of unity and cohesion in Nigeria particularly after the 2023 general elections cannot be over emphasized because Nigeria plays a very key role in the stability of Africa being a giant in all ramifications.

Lumumba stressed that the sacrifices of founding fathers like Sardauna, who paid the supreme price, should not be left to go in vain but built upon for a greater Nigeria and Africa.

President Muhammadu Buhari in a message delivered by his Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, said it is important that Nigerians devote more attention to recruiting quality leaders who are capable of steering the nation in the right direction.

He also said the process of elections should also be looked at, and continuously improved upon to ensure that those who serve the people have their mandate and also enjoy their support.

Emir of Lafia, HRH Sidi Bage, said the lecture series is an opportunity to reflect on the dreams of Sardauna but also a way of putting critical national and regional issues on the front burner.

He thanked Governor Lalong, who as Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, worked hard to ensure that the traditional Institution is given a place in the governance of Nigeria much as it was during the time of the Sardauna.

Ahead of the swearing-in of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu on May 29, the State House Management has begun renovating and refurbishing sections of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Saturday PUNCH observed on Friday that the concrete perimeter fence encompassing the President’s office, official residence, the Council Chamber, press gallery, as well as other administrative offices were being overlaid with new white and green paints.

One of our correspondents observed on Thursday the delivery of new furniture to the green room adjoining the Council Chamber.

Months earlier, the management had carried out a routine upgrade of card readers and installed barricades in areas, which were once freeways.

A senior State House official, who spoke to Saturday PUNCH on condition of anonymity, said the maintenance was part of the tasks carried out by the Presidential Transition Council chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.

On February 14, 2023, the Federal Government inaugurated the 22-member Presidential Transition Council ahead of the handover to the incoming government.

The committee comprises Cabinet Affairs, General Service Affairs, Economic and Political Affairs, Office of the SGF and State House permanent secretaries, as well as the National Security Adviser, among others.

In April, the President-elect nominated 14 more persons to join the transition council.

The official said, “The changes and upgrades we are doing are part of broader maintenance works. Some are routine, while others, like the painting, are done when the Villa is to host a new occupant.

“These follow the directives of the transition committee, which the SGF is in charge of. The card readers have since been changed. Those are just routine maintenance done when the old ones have passed their active life.

“Repainting is required because, over the years, the State House wildlife accommodates monkeys that roam free and stain these white walls. The bats we have here also deposit their droppings on the walls.”

Asked for the total amount earmarked for the works, the official said, “We don’t go outside the budget allocated to the State House, but the transition committee is shouldering any special cost.”

Since 2016, N3.05bn has been earmarked for “maintenance services” at the State House. These include maintenance of office furniture, office buildings and residential quarters, among others.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, who took to his Twitter page on Friday, posted a photo where a man was seen painting the external wall of the Villa with white and green paints.

He noted that the painting was being done in order to welcome the incoming President.

Shehu wrote under the picture, “Painter at work. Villa wearing a new look for the incoming President.”

In June 2015, Buhari finally moved into the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, almost three weeks after his inauguration.

He could not move into his official residence immediately after inauguration because renovation works were still going on at the Villa.

Before moving into Aso Rock, Buhari had shuttled between the Defence House in Maitama and his personal residence in the Asokoro district.

In August 2017, Buhari, who resumed duties after a 103-day medical vacation abroad, operated from his official residence until the completion of the renovation of his office.

Shehu, had said the President’s office needed renovation because of its devastation by rodents during Buhari’s long period of absence, adding that rodents had caused a lot of damage to the furniture and air conditioning units.

His predecessor, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, had in May 2015 relocated to the Glass House in the sprawling Aso Presidential Villa to allow for its renovation prior to Buhari’s swearing in.

Shortly after the announcement of that year’s presidential election result, Jonathan and his wife, Patience, had moved their personal belongings out of the official residence to their Otuoke, Bayelsa State residence.

Just like his predecessors, Tinubu is expected to have input in the furniture that will be installed in his official residence and office as well as the paint colours, which will be done to his taste, but the minor repairs will be done on some parts of the house, while cleaning and repainting of the entire residence with white paint will be done.

In the 2023 Appropriation Act, a total of [b]N148,168,464,339 was allocated for the Presidency. Out of this, N14,808,479,660 was allocated to the State House headquarters, a sum of N3,441,177,028 was budgeted for State House operation of the President, while N1,555, 447, 054 was allocated on the State House operations for the Vice-President.

A total of N10,108,606,550 was budgeted for projects in the State House headquarters from which a sum of N19, 382, 375 was allocated for the purchase of sporting equipment for the State House Sports Club, while N14, 773, 412 was budgeted for procurement of equipment for the central gymnasium renovation.

For the renovation works on eight blocks of 16 two-bedroom flats at the State House security quarters, N 132,303,624 was set aside, while N87,255,745 was budgeted for the provision of the Electronic Document Management System.

A sum of N150,000,000 was also set aside for the replacement of telecommunications infrastructure at the villa; N25,023,505 for the upgrade of the State House library, and N7,562,000 for digital medical references for the library.[/b]

Rehabilitation of animal enclosure/procurement of vet lab equipment took N35,251,776, while the sum of N130,076,825 was allocated for the conversion/upgrade of the villa ranch and construction of wildlife conservation capture.

A total of N16,077,800 was approved for the purchase of plant nursery equipment for the production of local flowers for routine floral arrangement, irrigation and upgrade of helipad grass field, and N35,725,000 for systemic collection and assessment of data about projects and programmes to aid the management to make decisions. But a sum of N1,904,388,461 was also budgeted for the phased replacement of vehicles and spares during the year.

On annual routine maintenance of mechanical/ electrical installations of the villa, a sum of N7,200,045,297 was budgeted to be spent, and N99,656,180 on the purchase of various office equipment for the admin, finance and accounts, works, ICT, procurement, PRS and audit departments.

A sum of N251,084,550 was also budgeted for the purchase of tyres for bulletproof vehicles, plain cars, CCU vehicles, platforms trucks, SUVs, ambulances and other utility and operational vehicles.

The Presidency had proposed N5.23bn for the general rehabilitation and repair of fixed assets in the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in the 2022 Appropriation Bill.

A total of N5,176,045,297 was budgeted for the rehabilitation/repair of office buildings, while N55,056,446 was earmarked for residential buildings.

In the 2021 proposal, N4,854,381,299 was set aside for the annual routine maintenance of mechanical/electrical installations in the Villa.

The construction of the presidential wing in the State House Medical Centre was expected to gulp N21,974,763,310.

Following the creation of the Federal Capital Territory in 1976, the Akinola Aguda House (formally christened on October 1, 1983) was originally conceived as a presidential lodge and guesthouse complex – comprising a temporary official residence for the President as well as guesthouses for visiting Heads of State – during the presidency of Alhaji Shehu Shagari, according to information on the State House website.

In October 1982 the Aguda House hosted the first ever formal cabinet meeting held outside Lagos, only days after Abuja hosted Nigeria’s Independence anniversary celebration for the first time.

In 1985, the construction of a new presidential residence commenced and in 1991, the Aso Rock Presidential Villa was completed and former military dictator, General Ibrahim Babangida, became the first Head of State to occupy it, moving in on December 12, 1991.

Upon completion of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa the Aguda House became the Vice-Presidential Complex, and has remained so till date — apart from the period between 1999 and 2007 when the Vice-President lived in a residence that was later transferred to the judiciary as official quarters for the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

In 2010, construction of a new vice-presidential residence commenced. The residence has yet to be completed; the Buhari administration has said it is not a priority, and that Vice-President Osinbajo will continue to live in Aguda House.

Today, the Presidential Complex, located in the Three Arms Zone of the Federal Capital Territory, consists of the main presidential villa (office and residence of the President, and offices of the Vice-President and wife of the President), the State House Conference Centre, State House annexe, and the Akinola Aguda House.

Tinubu’s camp reacts
A source in the camp of the President-elect told one of our correspondents that it was the prerogative of Tinubu to decide how he wants the renovation.

He, however, could not confirm if Tinubu was already making input into the renovation.

The source stated, “That should be the duty of the permanent secretary in the State House. I have no knowledge if the renovation has started or if the President-elect is being carried along to ensure it meets his taste.

“But by and large, the new President will determine what he wants in place. They won’t change anything for him without his knowledge. That also depends on what he wants.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed a fire incident at its office in Enugu State.

One of the buildings within the Zonal Command was consumed by the inferno.

EFCC Head of Media, Wilson Uwujaren issued a statement Friday afternoon.

“The incident which occurred at about 12.30 am Friday, was triggered by a surge in public power supply.

“The ensuing inferno was later put out through the combined efforts of the Enugu State and Federal Fire Service,” he said.

The spokesperson added that no life was lost in the incident.

The Federal Government on Friday said it successfully evacuated all Nigerians that were stranded in the crisis-ridden Sudanese capital, Khartoum.

The Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Sani Gwarzo, said this when he[b] received the second batch of 130 evacuees at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.[/b]

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the evacuees arrived at the Pilgrims Terminal of the airport at exactly 3:10 pm local time on board TARCO aircraft B373-300 from Port Sudan.

“I’m happy to announce that we have successfully removed everybody that needs to be removed out of Khartoum none of your colleagues today is in Khartoum, all of them have moved.

“You were the first batch to move out of Khartoum and sent to the Egyptian border, we still have a few of them, while some have already arrived in Nigeria.

“Though, majority of them will be arriving in the next eight hours or more, So by that time, no Nigerian would have been left in the Egyptian border,” Gwarzo said.

He said the second batch of the evacuees was airlifted from Port Sudan.

“But we have made adequate arrangements for everybody to be airlifted within the next few days.

“We have almost 1, 700 people over there and we have made adequate arrangements for flights to bring them back home.

“The good news is that no life has been lost” he said.

Gwarzo said, among the 130 evacuees 2 are men while the rest are women and children.

He assured the public that team will continue to prioritise women, children, and the ailing ones among them.

“We are going to continue to prioritise the return of women and children until every one of them is out” Gwarzo said.

He, however, explained that the N100,000 stipend given to the evacuees was a life-saving support to the people coming from a distress situation.

“Some of you may have encountered difficulties or all of you, but it will soon be over you will be reunited with your families and the trauma will be over.

“So, we welcome you back home and we look forward to peace returning not only in Sudan but in the whole of Africa and the world at large,” he said.

Also speaking, Mr Mustapha Ahmed, Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency said all Nigerians that needed evacuation had been evacuated to Port Sudan and Egypt waiting to be transported to Nigeria.

“We have about 800 evacuees at the Egyptian side, heading towards Aswan, as we already have aircraft on the ground.

“We have the Max Air with a capacity of 560 passengers and Azman Air with a capacity of 400 passengers, we have also activated Air Peace and we are waiting for their feedback today.

“Air Peace would be taking two flights out of Port Sudan, while Taco Airline will continue with four flights as they promised us today.

“The only problem we had was diplomatic issues which had been settled, as of now, all of them are safe in Port Sudan and Egyptian side,” he said.

Speaking further, Mrs Catherine Udoifa, Director, Migration Affairs, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, said the commission would also be providing psycho-social support to the returnees.

“We have started profiling the students among them, we will do some referrals and liaise with the Ministry of Education to find placements for them in schools where necessary.

“We have a team that will provide psychosocial support to all the students and follow up on them to ensure that they are properly settled in and able to leave a normal life,” he said.

One of the returnees, Ms Sumaiya Yusuf, a student of Sudan International University, appreciated the federal government and all the agencies involved in their successful return.

“The whole journey took us a week, going to the pick-up venues, waiting for the buses, staying in the sun, we were really tired.

“However, we were not happy with the communication method of the Nigerian Embassy in Sudan at some point because, we were stuck on the road to Port Sudan for like 24 hours, but I am happy to be back home,” she said. (NAN)