successmatters:
Until we see those served without collection of multiple bribes, till then.

Making promises is one thing, fulfilling it is another.

I think the yeye minister is just playing to the gallery without any hopes of fulfilling any promises.

happney65:
Aha!

I remember this very well. It was in 2004. I remember watching it at a roadside viewing centre at Olorunsogo.. Okocha just won the BBC African footballer of the year when he singlehandedly brought Bolton Wonderers from Relegation

It was just the stroke of half time. Okocha scored that wonderful goal and we went into half time

Before then, Cameroun has always been our nemesis beating us back to back even with ojoro from their top guy,Issa Hayatou who was the CAF chairman then

We went on to win that game 2-1 and that was what broke the camerounian jinz ever since then..

P.S.Camoroun also had the best of the best in their team then not their current crop of players who I believe we can defeat tonight

Distinguished Colleagues,

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has become aware of the unlawful removal of the Chief Judge of Osun State, Hon. Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo by the Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke. Governor Adeleke purportedly acted upon a resolution of the Osun State House of Assembly “asking the Osun State Chief Judge, Adepele Ojo to step aside pending investigation of allegations of misconduct, abuse of power, corruption and disregard for rule of law against her by the House of Assembly.”

The NBA unequivocally condemns this unlawful action by the Osun State Government. The action of the State Government is an abuse of the rule of law and a desecration of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 ( as amended).

In very vivid terms, the actions of Governor Adeleke and the Osun State House of Assembly are unwarranted assault on the Judiciary and aimed at intimidation.

The NBA wishes to categorically state that the provisions of the 1999 Constitution are not ambiguous as to the way and manner a Chief Judge of a State could be removed from office. Certainly, a State House of Assembly resolution for a Chief Judge to “step aside” is unknown to the law of our land.

Furthermore, the law has since been settled in Nganjiwa v FRN (2017) LPELR-43391 (CA) that any misconduct attached to the office and functions of a judicial officer must first be reported to and determined by the National Judicial Council (NJC). Specifically, the Supreme Court in Elelu-Habeeb & Anor v AG Federation & Ors (2012) 12 NWLR (Pt 1318) 423 has clearly stated that the Chief Judge of a State cannot be removed under any guise including the infamous “step aside style” by the Osun State Government without recourse to the NJC.

The NBA is further worried and troubled that in going about its unlawful endeavour, the Osun State Government chose to ignore the lawful order of interim injunction granted by the National Industrial Court sitting in Ibadan, which restrained the Governor of Osun State from interfering with the office of the Chief Judge of Osun State.

This is untoward, coming from a democratically elected state government. All decisions of court must be obeyed and complied with until they are set aside by a superior court of competent jurisdiction.

The NBA’s position is anchored on the constitutional doctrine of separation of power and the independence of the judiciary. The tenure of a judicial officer can not and should not be subject to the mood of politicians.

To this extent, the NBA and its members shall not recognise Hon. Justice Olayinka Afolabi as the acting Chief Judge of Osun State, because the provisions of the law must be complied with strictly, in the removal of, and/or appointment of the Chief Judge of Osun State.

The NBA shall take all necessary steps to ensure this impunity and brazen abuse of office does not stand!

Akorede Habeeb Lawal
National Publicity Secretary, NBA

A quorum of councilors in the Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State has suspended the Chairman of the LGA, Wale Adedayo, for three months on allegations of maladministration and financial mismanagement.

Reacting to the development, Adedayo told our correspondent that it might be true, adding that policemen bombarded the LGA secretariat alongside some thugs on Thursday morning.

“It might be true. Policemen bombarded the office along with thugs this morning,” Adedayo said in a tacit WhatsApp message following an inquiry by our correspondent.


FTN reports that this followed the invasion of the LGA’s secretariat by over a hundred mobile policemen on Thursday morning, following an alleged move by the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, to impeach Adedayo. who recently accused the governor of withholding federal government allocations meant for LGAs within the state.

nairavsdollars:

https://thenationonlineng.net/tinubus-govt-to-inaugurate-lagos-ibadan-road-says-fashola/

The United State President, Joe Biden, has named his delegation to attend the inauguration of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu.

The PUNCH reports that no fewer than 65 world leaders, including Heads of State, have been invited to grace the Tinubu’s inauguration.

The former Lagos State governor will be sworn in as the 16th President of Nigeria on May 29 at Eagle Square, Abuja.

Also expected at the nation’s seventh transition ceremony are past presidents, diplomats, heads of international organisations and prominent Nigerians and representatives of foreign governments and agencies.

The inauguration programmes will begin on Thursday with the investiture of Tinubu with the Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic and the Vice-President-elect, Kashim Shettima, as the Grand Commander of Order of the Niger.

Representatives of Nigeria’s traditional allies such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, China, Germany, Finland, Jamaica, Japan, Israel, Turkey and several others are expected at the high-profile event.

Ahead of the inauguration, Biden, in a statement released on the White House website on Monday night, announced a nine-member delegation for the event.

The former Lagos State governor will be sworn in as the 16th President of Nigeria on May 29 at Eagle Square, Abuja.

Also expected at the nation’s seventh transition ceremony are past presidents, diplomats, heads of international organisations and prominent Nigerians and representatives of foreign governments and agencies.

The inauguration programmes will begin on Thursday with the investiture of Tinubu with the Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic and the Vice-President-elect, Kashim Shettima, as the Grand Commander of Order of the Niger.

Representatives of Nigeria’s traditional allies such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, China, Germany, Finland, Jamaica, Japan, Israel, Turkey and several others are expected at the high-profile event.

Ahead of the inauguration, Biden, in a statement released on the White House website on Monday night, announced a nine-member delegation for the event.

The delegation will be led by Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Marcia L. Fudge.

Below are members of the Presidential Delegation:

Mr. David Greene, Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., U.S. Embassy Abuja
The Honorable Sydney Kamlager-Dove, United States Representative (D), California
The Honorable Marisa Lago, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, U.S. Department of Commerce
General Michael E. Langley, Commander of U.S. Africa Command
The Honorable Enoh T. Ebong, Director, U.S. Trade and Development Agency
The Honorable Mary Catherine Phee, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of African Affairs, U.S. Department of State
The Honorable Judd Devermont, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs, National Security Council
The Honorable Monde Muyangwa, Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for Africa, U.S. Agency for International Development.

Events lined up for the inauguration include a lecture titled, ‘Deepening Democracy for Integration and Development’ that would be delivered by former president of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, on May 27.

Other activities include the Regimental Dinner in honour of the Commander-in-Chief at the Armed Forces Officers Mess slated for Tuesday, May 23; the Valedictory Federal Executive Council Meeting at the Council Chambers inside the Presidential Villa on May 24; Public Lecture and Juma’at prayer at the National Mosque on May 26; Children’s Day Parade and Party on May 27 and an Inter-denominational Church Service at the National Christian Centre on May 28.

Also, the Inauguration Dinner/Gala Night at the State House Conference Centre is billed for May 28 while the inauguration/swearing-in of the president-elect and the vice president-elect will take place on May 29 accompanied by an inauguration parade at the Eagle Square.

There will also be a post-inauguration luncheon strictly for the President with his colleague Presidents, Heads of Government and guests at the State House Banquet Hall after the inauguration ceremony.

JUST IN: Kenyan President @WilliamsRuto furious, demands respect for African leaders after US-Africa Summit group meetings with @JoeBiden and @SecBlinken, says African leaders mistreated and treated like school kids

"We have made the decision that it is not intelligent for 54 of us to go and sit before one gentleman from another place. And sometimes we are mistreated. We are loaded into buses like school kids. It's not right. It's not right. So the decision that we have made as AU is that going forward, if there is going to be a discussion between Africa and any other country, we are going to be represented by the chair (of the African Union Commission)."

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the postponement of the forthcoming census.

The exercise was billed to take place across the country between May 3 and 5.

Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, announced the postponement in a statement issued on Saturday.

He said the new date for the census will be determined by the incoming administration.

On Friday, a federal high court in Abuja rejected an application seeking to halt the census.

Omotuyi Ademola had approached the court with an ex parte application seeking a postponement for six months.

He prayed the court to declare that the National Population Commission (NPC) is currently underfunded and therefore unprepared to conduct a credible, effective and constitutional census.

However, Inyang Ekwo, the presiding judge, refused to grant the motion ex parte and asked the applicant to put the defendant, the NPC, on notice.

Ekwo said the NPC should appear in court to show cause why the applicant’s motion should not be granted.

The matter was adjourned until May 5.

The postponement of the census comes a few weeks after the commission assured Nigerians of its readiness to conduct the exercise.

The party’s National Working Committee (NWC) on Tuesday appointed Umar Damagum, in an acting capacity to pilot the affairs of the party till further notice.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has replaced its suspended National Chairman, Mr. Iyorchia Ayu, with an acting National Chairman.

The party’s National Working Committee (NWC) on Tuesday appointed Umar Damagum, in an acting capacity to pilot the affairs of the party till further notice.

Damagum’s appointment was disclosed by the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, at a press conference on Tuesday, at the party’s secretariat.

Recall that the Ward Executive of the PDP in Igyorov Ward of Gboko Local Government Area of Benue state during the weekend suspended Ayu for alleged anti party activities.

On Monday, a Benue State High Court issued an interim order restraining Ayu from acting or parading himself as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Earlier also, the embattled National Chairman, Ayu, was reported to have been in his office at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja on Tuesday.

Ayu was restrained from parading himself as the national chairman of PDP on Monday by a court following a purported suspension by his Benue State ward.

LP Candidate, Rhodes-Vivour Accuses APC Of Voter Suppression In Lagos, Says He’ll Go To Court If Governor Sanwo-Olu Wins

Rhodes-Vivour said this on Saturday after voting at his polling unit.

The governorship candidate for Labour Party in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour has alleged that there is voter suppression in the state.

Rhodes-Vivour said this on Saturday after voting at his polling unit.

He said, “There is voter suppression. Indigenous Lagosians are welcoming and exposing but the APC (All Progressives Congress) takes its strength from division and violence. By God’s grace, the will of the people will prevail and this government that gets its validation from intimidation will be a thing of the past.”

Incumbent Governor Sanwo-Olu is the candidate of the APC in the election.

He lamented that officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission were not cooperating in areas that are Labour Party strongholds.

“I am not congratulating someone that got his mandate from intimidation and suppression, if it happens, I will go to court.


“INEC must transmit votes electronically and we are getting reports where the BVAS has already been preloaded. Whatever intimidation they do, the will of the people will prevail. This is a battle for the people of Lagos,” he said.

The Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has alleged that the Naira redesign policy was the plan of the Peoples Democratic Party to win the 2023 general elections.

He added that the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, deceived the president into assenting to the policy.

He made this known in a live broadcast aired on AriseTv following the Supreme court judgement to use the old naira till Dec 31.

El-Rufai said, “First let me say that this a policy of the PDP. Emefiele was appointed Central bank governor by the PDP originally.

"So let’s not forget where he came from and he is the one that put this policy together to help the PDP win the 2023 general elections and deceived the president into thinking it is possible to withdraw two trillion naira from circulation and reprint everything in three months.

"No country in the world history has done it. He deceived the president gave the president wrong information and the attorney general."

Breaking: The Supreme Court has adjourned to 3 March 2023 for judgment.

More to come later.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday adjourned judgement in the new naira policy suit to March 3, 2023.

With the apex court’s decision, Nigerians, especially consumer and business groups as well as professional and trade unions looking up to the apex court for a favorable judgment (today) that they expect will ameliorate their suffering, will have to wait.

The Supreme Court had on February 8 restrained the Federal Government from implementing the February 10 deadline for swapping the old naira notes with new ones, but the Central Bank of Nigeria refused to shift the deadline.

The injunction was sequel to a suit filed by Zamfara, Kogi and Kaduna state governments against the Attorney-General of the Federation on February 3.

Other states including Lagos, Ondo, Ekiti, Kano, Sokoto, Ogun and Cross River have also joined the suit as co-plaintiffs.

While taking arguments on Wednesday, counsel for the Federal Government, Kanu Agabi, said the Supreme Court held that all reliefs are rooted in section 20 of the CBN Act.

He argued that the apex court has no jurisdiction to hear the suit as the action cannot commence with an Originating Summons.

He also contended that the plaintiffs did not deem it fit to the CBN to court as a respondent despite making reference to the apex bank 32 times in their originating summons and despite the fact that seven of the reliefs sought relate to the CBN.

He asserted that Nigerians were already turning down the old notes way the President’s directive.

Agabi also asserted that by asking Nigerians to deposit their old naira at the CBN designated centres, the president was abiding by the court order and that Buhari is empowered under the constitution to veto any legislation.

nameo:
I hope El rufai understands what insurrection means?

Only the FG has the powers to determine what is legal tender in any part of Nigeria.

Also, it is clear that the reason for all this fight and sudden new found "love" for the people was due to ill-gotten wealth intended to be used for vote buying, since tbe old #200 naira notes have been approved for recirculation which would ease the pains of the people. These selfish politicians who have not cared for once about the sufferings of the people in the last 20 or so years are fighting themselves for self-serving reasons.

Anyways, let the APC continue to fight and destroy itself. It is our Reward for bearing the brunt of the pains inflicted by these politicians in the last 8 years

The prime suspect in the gruesome murder of the late couple, Kehinde and Bukola Fatinoye has confessed to being the mastermind of the dastardly act.

The suspect, Lekan Adekanbi equally noted that he organised a robbery to forcefully get money from the late after they refused to increase his salary and grant him a loan request.

Adekanbi, who had been the couple’s driver since 2010 explained that he invited two others, Ahmed Odetola a.k.a Akamo, and Waheed Adeniyi a.k.a Koffi to join him to rob the couple.

He spoke after he was paraded at the state police command ,Eleweran, Abeokuta.

He said “I took the step because the couple refused to increase my salary, and when I approached them for a loan to buy a motorcycle, they didn’t oblige.”

Explaining how the deadly act was carried out, Adekanbi noted that he and his two accomplices waited for the couple to come back from crossover service since he had access to the house and they pounced on them immediately after they entered the house.

He added that they had access to the house despite an Astian dog mount at the gate because the dog is familiar with him being the person who always fed it.

Speaking further, he said, having got hold of the couple, they forced the husband, Kehinde Fatinoye to transfer money from his account to the “Kuda” bank account of Ahmed Odetola, but the transfer failed.

“Since that failed I gave the deceased my access bank account to which the sum of #1,102,000 (One million one hundred and two thousand) was transferred at gunpoint.

“When I realized that my identity had been known through my bank account, I decided with others to terminate the lives of the couple. That was when Waheed Adeniyi a.k.a Koffi took a knife from their kitchen and slaughtered the husband Kehinde Fatinoye, while I used sledge hammer to hit the wife Bukola Fatinoye on the head and she died on the spot.”

Adekanbi noted that while the operation was going on, the only son of the deceased, Oreoluwa Fatinoye, and their adopted son, Felix Olorunyomi walked in and they were pounced on and tied their hands with rope and drove them to Ogun River Bridge at Adigbe where they threw the two of them into the river."

While parading the suspect, the Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi said, the suspects, were all arrested following painstaking intelligence based investigation embarked upon by men of the Command, as a result of the gruesome murder of the couple and their only son Oreoluwa Fatinoye.

Oyeyemi said, “in the course of investigation, one Lekan Adekanbi, a driver to the deceased family,
was arrested based on circumstantial evidence, while investigation continues.

“The arrested suspect Lekan Adekanbi suddenly collapsed in the cell on the 2nd of January 2023, and he was rushed to the hospital for medical care.

“But while in the hospital receiving treatment, he suddenly jumped from the bed and escaped through the fence of the hospital.

“His escape further confirmed the police suspicion of his involvement in the intelligence-driven the Commissioner of Police ordered the State anti-kidnapping unit to join forces with the homicide unit in order to get the escaped driver and his accomplices arrested.

“The two teams, in compliance with the CP’s directive, embarked on a technical and intelligence-driven investigation and traced the movement of the suspect to his elder brother in Iseyin, Oyo State, but he had left the place before the arrival of the police.

“The teams further intensified their efforts which yielded positive results, when Lekan Adekanbi was apprehended in his hideout somewhere in Abeokuta on the 21st of January 2023.

“Waheed Adeniyi a.k.a Koffi and Ahmed Odetola a.k.a Akamo were both apprehended at Ogere on Thursday 9th of February 2023.

“The three suspects who are members of Aiye confraternity have all confessed to their various roles in the gruesome and callous murder of the family.”

…warns Umahi over attacks in Ebonyi

The Indigenous People of Biafra, on Sunday, alleged there was a grand plot to assassinate the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar.

According to the group, desperate politicians and unscrupulous elements were plotting to attack the former Vice President and blame it on its security arm, the Eastern Security Network.

The pro-Biafra group said this in a statement signed by its Director of Media and Publicity, Emma Powerful, a copy of which was made available to The PUNCH, on Sunday.

The group observed that the whole idea behind the ploy was to cause a crisis in Southern Nigeria, in a bid to incite attacks and genocide against the Igbos nationwide, warning the South-Easterners to thread with caution, currently.

IPOB further blamed the Governor of Ebonyi State over the alleged attacks and intimidation of opposition elements in the region, saying Thursday’s assassination attempt on the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Prof Benard Odoh, was one too many.

The group equally warned the operatives of the Ebubeagu Security outfit, in Ebonyi State, to retrace their steps or face its wrath.

The statement read, “In view of the state-sponsored insecurity ravaging Nigeria, we, the global movement and family of the Indigenous People of Biafra under the command and leadership of the great liberator, Mazi Nnamdi Okwuchukwu Kanu, wish to alert the public on the Intelligence report at our disposal of plans to attack Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the South-East and blame it on IPOB, ESN or the presidential candidate, Peter Obi’s supporters.

“IPOB intelligence unit, the M.Branch uncovered a plan by some unscrupulous politicians to cause a crisis in the country against IPOB and Ndigbo all over the country.

“This group is planning to assassinate Atiku Abubakar in the southeastern part of Nigeria and claims it is done by unknown gunmen, ESN/IPOB, or the ‘Obidient’ group.

“This assassination attack will lead to the revolt against Ndigbo nationwide.

“It will also lead to riots against Igbos in the Northern and Western Regions of Nigeria. Ndigbo will be massacred mercilessly, and their properties will be destroyed. Even the supporters of Peter Obi will not be spared in these areas.

“We are drawing the attention of Biafrans around Nigeria to be very careful and cautious of this evil plot primarily targeted at Peter Obi and IPOB.

“Their plans are to turn other ethnic groups in Nigeria against Ndigbo and possibly thwart the proposed selection process called 2023 election 2023.

“The Agendists are jittery about losing the election or Nigeria breakup against their political and economic gains.

“Ndigbo in Lagos and many major cities in Nigeria should be on the alert. Plans to attack them have been perfected, and it may consume a lot of people, and many properties may be destroyed.

“The hatchet plan will be done in such a way that the International community will blame Ndigbo for the crisis.

“We advise every Igbo person to stay alert and take all precautionary measures to defend and protect himself and herself.

“The plan of these people is to create confusion and pandemonium in every part of the country to scuttle the upcoming election.

“We will soon mention the names of those involved in this dastardly genocidal plan in the next publication if they don’t retract their plans.

“Our intelligence through the M-Branch is fighting tooth and nail to uncover their next move. Many top politicians are involved in this agenda to cause a crisis in Nigeria.

“Who can say a word, and it comes to pass if Chukwu Okike Abiama has not said so? Chukwu Okike Abiama will frustrate all the agenda to instigate another genocide against Igbos in Nigeria.

“Biafra was a country before Nigeria was created by their maker, Flora Shaw, and her boyfriend.

“The Sun shall rise again and not set until Biafra is restored irrespective of plans to abort God’s divine mandate.”

Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says accreditation figures and results will now be transmitted simultaneously on election day.

Speaking to journalists after monitoring mock accreditations in some polling units in Abuja, on Saturday, Yakubu said such simultaneous transmission would ensure the figures correlate.

He said although the commission would not comment on the court judgement of the Osun governorship election because it amounts to subjudice, it has learnt some lessons.

“However, in every situation, the commission learns, carries the experience from what has happened to improve the processes for the next election,” the INEC chairman said.

“We have learned some lessons from what happened and one of the lessons is to be able to transmit the accreditation data.”

He said INEC created a new uniform resource locator (URL) on its results viewing portal where both the accreditation figure and results could be viewed.

“We are going to transmit both the accreditation figures and the results on election day,” he said.

“We are giving assurance to Nigerians that on election day, both the accredited data and the actual votes cast will be transmitted simultaneously and accurately.”

“We have also made contingency arrangements like we will do on election day, that there is a spare machine in case and in the unlikely event of a malfunction, we will be able to respond and fix the machines.”

Meanwhile, speaking with TheCable, Rotimi Oyekanmi, spokesperson to the INEC chairman, said this is the first time the commission will begin to transmit accreditation data.

“We’ll upload the result sheet like before and then the accreditation data of each polling unit will also be uploaded so that people can match the number of those accredited to the number of votes cast,” he said.

It is no longer news that with the recent regulations of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria is frontally diving into a cashless economy with its attendant benefits and disadvantages. In this write-up, my aim is to quickly draw our attention to the benefits of this development for the Nigerian government and partners.

The scarcity of the new Naira notes has forced many Nigerians, more than ever, to resort to using digital means of payment for goods and services. I have seen online where social media users have said POS operators, fuel attendants are smiling to the bank. We have however failed to see that the Nigerian government, banks and debit card companies are also smiling to the bank. This rather forced usage of the digital platforms to make payment will increase the revenue they make from this mode of payment via the NIP charge, Value Added Tax and electronic money transfer levy, card maintenance levy, stamp duty etc. For instance, to make a transfer from GTBank to another bank in Nigeria, GTBank NIP commission is ₦50 with 5% VAT (₦2.50). Just last week, Zenith Bank charged me ₦100 for electronic money transfer levy aside the usual card maintenance levy.

When you factor the above, it is easy to guess the billions of Naira that the Nigerian government and colleagues will make from the numerous charges.

N24Billion Fraud: Appeal Court Okays Trial Of Ex-Accountant General, Otunla, After Refunding N6.4 Billion To Nigerian Government

The court upheld the arguments of the lawyer for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, and resolved the four issues, identified for determination, in favour of the Commission.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has set aside the judgment of a lower court barring the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, from initiating either civil or criminal proceedings against former Accountant-General of the Federation, AG-F, Jonah Oguniyi Otunla.

In a judgment, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal marked: CA/A/657/2021, on Monday, January 30, 2023, held that Otunla failed to prove that there was actually a non-prosecution agreement between him and the EFCC.

Justice Ekwo, in the 2021 judgment on the suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/2321/2021 filed by Otunla, held among others, that, in view of the assurance given to him by Magu, which informed his refund of the money, he could no longer be prosecuted for his actions while in office between 2011 and 2015.

Otunla had, in an affidavit, claimed that Magu promised him that he would not be prosecuted should he return funds traced to him and companies linked to him and his associates.

He stated that sometime in 2015, he was invited by a team of EFCC investigators to probe the alleged diversion of funds from the office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, and the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, pension funds. Otunla said he later met with Magu, in the course of the investigation, when the then acting EFCC chair told him in person to “refund the monies linked to your companies and nobody will prosecute you.”

He said, based on Magu’s promise, he had a reconciliatory meeting with the team of investigators, where he immediately undertook to make available some funds as refunds.

In line with the agreement, Otunla said one of the companies linked to him – Stellar Vera Development Ltd – refunded N750 million, another company – Damaris Mode Coolture Ltd – refunded N550 million, while the two firms later made an additional joint refund of N2,150,000,000.00 (Two billion, One Hundred and Fifty Million Naira only).

He added at a point, he raised several managers’ cheques for N10 million in favour of the EFCC, which he handed to the Economic Governance Section.

Otunla said, in all, he made a refund of N6,392,000,000.00 (Six Billion, Three Hundred and Ninety-Two Million Naira only) to the Federation Account through the EFCC.

Akinowon123:
Panseke, Abeokuta this morning .

There are indications that Nigeria might be re-included in the United State Government’s list of countries that violate religious freedom.

The US government had in 2021 removed Nigeria from its list of countries that violate religious freedom against the recommendation of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.

But according to a report by Fox News on Wednesday, a US representative for New Jersey’s fourth congressional district, Chris Smith, introduced a bipartisan resolution to add Nigeria to the state department’s annual list of countries that violate religious freedom on Tuesday.

Also, the report quoted the president and CEO of Global Christian Relief, David Curry, who spoke at the International Religious Freedom Summit on Tuesday in Washington, D.C., as advocating for the listing of Nigeria as a country of particular concern.

Curry argued that the alleged abortion programme by the Nigerian military was carried out on victims without their consent and religious consideration.



“Since 2013 the Nigerian military has run a secret mass abortion program in the war against Boko Haram. A recent Reuters investigation revealed at least 10,000 pregnancies among women and girls ended after many had been kidnapped and raped.

“The army forced abortions on at least 10,000 women without their consent or consideration of their religious views after they had been kidnapped and raped by Boko Haram terrorists. Yet, rather than be intimidated into silence, 33 of these women spoke openly to journalists about these unspeakable, grotesque violations of their bodily autonomy and created international awareness of the situation,” he said.

The report added that a former Congressman, Frank Wolf, lamented that there was no action taken to help Christians in Nigeria.
He stated that the “Bring Back Our Girls” movement was an effort to find the mostly Christian female students aged from 16 to 18 who were kidnapped by Boko Haram in 2014.
“Does anyone remember hashtag BringBackOurGirls? Well, whatever happened, we’re all those guys who went on television and (posted) the hashtag… 50% of the girls did not return. I met with some of the Chibok parents. They wonder what in the name is the world doing,” he stated.

Fox News also quoted a State Department spokesperson as saying, “The secretary determined that the status of religious freedom in Nigeria did not meet the legal threshold to justify Nigeria’s designation as a country of particular concern or their inclusion on the Special Watch List. We continue to have concerns about religious freedom in Nigeria, which are well documented in the annual IRF report, and we will continue to press the government to address these.

“The State Department has redesignated Boko Haram and ISIS-WA as Entities of Particular Concern for religious freedom. It has also designated these entities Foreign Terrorist Organisations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists.”

Calls to the phone number of the Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Francisca Omayuli, were not answered. She has yet to respond to a message sent to her on the matter as of the time of filling this report.

In view of the recent happenings with the new notes, all major banks in Abeokuta, Ogun State are filled with crowds of people trying to withdraw the new bank notes from the ATMs.

See pictures below.

Yugoslavia247:
POS are charging 300 for 5k old notes

Now who do we blame?

Govt
Banks
POS operators
Ourselves

I don tire

The All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, has revealed how he deals with people who betray him.

This is as he disclosed that disappointment is an energiser for him and he works harder whenever people disappoint him.

Tinubu stated this on Sunday at a town hall meeting in Benin City, the Edo State capital with All Progressives Congresses leaders, trade unions and civil society organisations.

“Disappointment is an energiser for me. You disappoint me, I work harder. You betray me, I don’t get angry, I ignore you.

“The reason is that you are not my God and you are not my creator. My mother taught me that if you are sad, I will share your sorrow with you. If you are happy, I will rejoice with you. If you are poor, I will share the little I have with you,” Tinubu told his audience.

The former Lagos State governor assured the people of Edo that the country stands to reap sufficient revenue from the gas deposits in the state for meaningful development.

He urged the people to recover Edo from the Peoples Democratic Party and return it to the APC.

“Nigeria will make money because Edo has the largest deposit of gas. We will make money for Nigeria. There will be long-term money for long-term projects. We will develop our gas and ship it to Europe and compete with Russia. I am one of the smartest assets in Nigeria.

“Edo, take your state back. First of all, let us forge unity. Let’s find the way where they say there is no way.

“We must rescue Edo state. I am ready to work with you. Take a lantern, go from house to house. Don’t get angry. Anger does not solve problems,” he said.

He urged the voters to reject the PDP, saying the party has nothing to offer.

“You see PDP, they are scattered, they don’t know the road. Atiku does not know how to lie again except to falsify lie upon lie. Atiku cannot hold a serious job in Nigeria. When they were privatising the Aluminium Smelter Company at Ikot Abasi and privatising NITEL, I was negotiating the Free Trade Zone in China. I negotiated Lekki Deep Seaport in Singapore and it is the Deepest Sea Port now in West Africa. Edo people are extremely smart. You can do the job.

“Count on me at the federal level. I will be your listening president. Vote for me. Prosperity is here. When you put down ballot paper in the box say it is for creating a job. I will create jobs for you because you are not lazy.”

On the criticisms of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd)-led APC administration by PDP, Tinubu said the main opposition party should be ignored.

“People who can’t give power to Nigeria say they want to come back. In only 8 years, APC put rail back. We are putting refineries back and we will produce for you. They can abuse Buhari from morning till night, he does not hear their abuse. Abuse him, rail he provided, second Niger Bridge he provided, Lagos-Ibadan expressway he provided. Benin-Ore Port will be done so that you don’t need to come to Lagos to clear your goods,” the former governor said.

God1000:
Good, they should not use that tragic event to make money.

None of them said anything about bringing the perpetrators to book since all these years.

brain54:
I remember the limca advert…


The song is playing in my head right now. It then ends with…


Limca first for thirst!

illicit:


In some places, u can find it

About 5 years ago, I bought it at Festac

Nawttiboi007:
Throwback... I use to like both

For me, it was Limca. I could run any errand or do anything for a bottle of Limca.

Birthday tables back then were incomplete without either of them on it.

Good old times.

National Peace Committee Describes Fani-Kayode, Reno Omokri As Purveyors Of Fake News, Hate Speech, Accuses Labour Party Supporters Of Cyber Bullying, Malicious Utterances

The National Peace Committee (NPC) on Friday again met with some presidential candidates and other stakeholders on breaches to the Peace Accord signed in 2022.

Presidential candidates of all political parties had in September 2022 signed a peace accord committing themselves to a peaceful campaign for the 2023 election.

All the candidates and the national chairman chairmen of their parties signed the accord organised by the NPC.

Meanwhile, 18 recognised political parties are fielding candidates in the 25 February election.

In attendance at the Friday’s meeting are the presidential candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, and African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore; as well as the vice presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ifeanyi Okowa; and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Bishop Isaac Idahosa.

Also present are the Chairman of the NPC, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd); Secretary, Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah; and Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III.

Others in attendance are leaders of political parties, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Nigeria Police, and civil society organisations.

Speaking during the meeting, Idayat Hassan, director of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) and member of NPC named Director of Special Projects and New media of the Tinubu/Shettima presidential campaign Council, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode and former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri as the two most notorious purveyors of hate speech.

Three Twitter handles operated by Labour Party supporters namely FS Yusuf (@FS_Yusuf_), NEFERTITI (@firstladyship) and one “Talk-boy” were accused of malicious post and cyber bullying.

The peace committee further said PDP and APC political parties were worst in terms of attacking personalities, adding that that some media houses were also guilty of hate speech.