The Federal Government has begun the process for the valuation and sale of property belonging to the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke which were forfeited to the government.

Diezani, who was the minister under former President Goodluck Jonathan, has been in the United Kingdom since 2015 and has refused to return to Nigeria ever since. She was at some point reported to have acquired the citizenship of the Dominican Republic and bagged a diplomatic passport.

NewsLead recalls that the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, had told the House of Representatives in May that jewellery worth N14bn was seized from Diezani.

Read more: https://www.newslead.ng/2021/10/27/fg-puts-up-diezanis-houses-jewellery-bras-for-sale/

Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt has reserved its decision on a suit by the former Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, seeking the suspension of the party’s convention slated for Saturday.

The court fixed Thursday, 28th of October, to hear and rule on the motion for Interim order of injunction brought by Secondus against the PDP and others.

Secondus through his Counsel, Payo Oyetubo, is asking the court to suspend the October, 30th and 31st National Convention of the party and grant him the right to preside over the convention.

When the matter was mentioned in court, six other members of PDP drew the attention of the court on their application for joinder which was not opposed by counsel to Secondus and was subsequently granted by the three man panel of the appeal court.

Read more: https://www.newslead.ng/2021/10/26/pdp-convention-appeal-court-adjourns-ruling-on-secondus-suit/

Zinedine Zidane has no interest in becoming Manchester United manager should Ole Gunnar Solskjaer be sacked, according to reports in Spain.

Cutting down United’s potential options in an already thin field, Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo on Monday reported that Zidane is not ready to return to management.

Zidane is without a job, as things stand, after leaving Real Madrid for a second time at the end of last season.

Pressure on Solskjaer has intensified over the last 24 hours after United were swept aside 5-0 by bitter rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford, Mohamed Salah taking centre stage with a hat-trick after earlier goals from Naby Keita and Diogo Jota.

Read more: https://www.newslead.ng/2021/10/26/zidane-to-discard-manchester-united-job-offer-if-solskjaer-is-sacked/

Nigeria’s central bank digital currency (CBDC), the eNaira, has gone live after an official launching by President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday.

The launch took place at the State House in Abuja. An earlier plan to unveil the digital currency on October 1 was shelved.

Nigeria is one of only a few countries in the world to develop an official digital currency.

The eNaira was developed by fintech company Bitt, which is also behind the creation of CBDC in some East Caribbean countries.

Read more: https://www.newslead.ng/2021/10/25/president-buhari-officially-launches-enaira/

The Presidency yesterday formally reacted to last week’s report by London-based The Economist magazine which said the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration wasn’t doing enough to address several challenges confronting the country, especially the rising state of insecurity.

According to a statement from the presidency, the Buhari-led government had been busy addressing the four identified threats to the nation’s stability including terrorist attacks, kidnapping, herders-farmers clashes and activities of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the South East zone.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in a statement also emphasised that the resilience and fortitude of patriotic Nigerians would see the country through the current trying times.

Read more: https://www.newslead.ng/2021/10/25/presidency-reacts-to-the-economists-report-on-nigeria/

Two persons have been arrested during a car procession ongoing at the Lekki tollgate in Lagos State.

The police arrested the two men on Wednesday morning amid the parade organised to mark the one-year anniversary of the #EndSARS protests.

“I did not do anything,” said one of the young men before his arrest. “They beat me, they collected my phone, they took my money; the police have not learnt their lessons.”

Shortly after they were arrested, both men were taken into a waiting truck of the Lagos State Task Force, after which the vehicle zoomed off.

Both men were arrested by the police in the Lekki area of Lagos State on October 20, 2021.

Read more: https://www.newslead.ng/2021/10/20/endsarsmemorial-police-arrest-two-persons-at-lekki-tollgate/

The Lagos State Judicial Panel on restitution for victims of SARS-related abuses and other matters has held its valedictory sitting after 131 proceedings.

Chairman of the panel, Justice Doris Okuwobi, who read out the decisions of the panel on Monday, announced the award of N148.2 million to 23 deserving petitioners.

They include Michael Owoicho – N10 million, Fatai Ogunseye (late) – N10 million, Adeola Mukaila – N700,000, Stella Edegwa – N500,000, Akapo Adekunle – N10 million, Mustapha Ramot – N10 million, Kufre Jackson – N5 million, Ikechukwu Iloamuzor (late) – N10 million, Segun Adekoya (unlawful arrest by the police) – N1 million, Yusuf Omole – N10 million, and Segun Ishola (injuries sustained from gunshot) – N5 million.

Others are Mr and Mrs Julius Adeogun – N10 million, Okoronkwo Sylvester (late) – N10 million, Titi Agnes – N10 million, Prince Akaba – N500,000, Chukwudera Uba – N4 million, Seun Bamgbose – N10 million, Abayomi Likinyo – N4 million, James Arebha – N4 million, Juliana Adeoti – N1 million, Adaeze Samson – N2.5 million, Yemi Abdulkareem – N10 million, and Gabriel Ayedungbe – 10 million.

Read more: https://www.newslead.ng/2021/10/19/endsars-lagos-judicial-panel-disburses-n410m-to-70-victims/

Suspected bandits have attacked the Goronyo market in Goronyo Local Government Area in the Eastern Senatorial District of Sokoto State.

Sources in the village said the assailants attacked the market in large numbers on Sunday night, shooting sporadically and killing several persons.

Reacting to the attack on Monday, Governor Aminu Tambuwal said about 30 people were feared dead in Goronyo township, the headquarters of Goronyo local government area.

He disclosed this when the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Farouk Yahaya paid him a courtesy visit.

Read more: https://www.newslead.ng/2021/10/18/30-killed-in-bandit-attack-on-sokoto-market/

The leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenah, have each slammed a N2 billion suit against the Department of State Services and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.

The suit which is at a Federal High Court in Abuja challenges the seizure of their international passports by the Federal Government despite serious health challenges.

The Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009 and Sections 44, 37,36 and 46 (1) and (2) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) was filed by Marshal Abubakar of Femi Falana chambers and a copy of the Court processes sent to The PUNCH.

The Director-General of the Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi and Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) were listed as first and second defendants in the case with Ref. No: FHC/ABJ/CS/ 229/2021 and FHC/ABJ/CS/230/2021.

The plaintiffs in their separate originating motion-on-notice were seeking from the FHC a declaration that the seizure of their passport No A50578740 and A50578739 since May 2019 was illegal and unconstitutional as it violates their fundamental right to freedom of movement guaranteed by Section 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Article 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights Act (CAP A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Other demands were an order of the Court mandating the respondents to pay over to the applicants “the sum of N2 billion as general and exemplary damage” for the violation of their “rights to freedom of movement, fair hearing and property” and an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents from further violating their “fundamental rights in any manner whatsoever and howsoever without lawful justification.”

The couple also wants a declaration from the Court that the Red Flag Travelling Restrictions placed on their passports and land borders “by the respondents without a court order is illegal and unconstitutional” as it violates his right to fair hearing guaranteed by Section 36 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended) and Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights Act (CAP A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The plaintiffs also want the Court to declare that the refusal of the respondents to allow them to travel abroad for medical treatment constitutes a threat to their lives guaranteed by Section 33 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.

According to them, the Court should mandate the respondents to release their international passports in order to enable them to access prompt and adequate medical attention as recommended by their doctors.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/seized-passports-el-zakzaky-wife-sue-dss-agf-demand-n4bn-in-damages/%3famp

The All Progressives Grand Alliance party has accused the Anambra State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the November 6 poll of buying up its members to form structure.

The National Coordinator of APGA Media Warriors, Chinedu Obigwe, stated this on Thursday in a telephone interview with our correspondent in Awka, the Anambra State capital.

Describing Uba as not being politically saleable to the people of the state, Obigwe said that was why the APC candidate was buying APGA members to help him form a structure

Obigwe’s reaction followed the defection of the deputy governor of the state, Dr Nkem Okeke, from APGA to the APC on Wednesday.

Read more: https://www.newslead.ng/2021/10/15/anambra-2021-apga-accuses-apc-candidate-of-buying-over-members/

A former Senate President, Iyorchia Ayu, has emerged the northern consensus candidate for the position of National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party.

He emerged after a series of meetings by stakeholders over a 72 hour period.

https://www.newslead.ng/2021/10/14/breaking-ayu-emerges-pdps-consensus-national-chairmanship-candidate/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9k341ylG_I

former presidential candidate in the 2019 general election, Kingsley Moghalu has claimed that at least six political parties have indicated their interest to merge and form a mega party ahead of the 2023 general elections

Moghalu stated this when he hosted Nze Akachukwu Nwankpo, the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the November 6 governorship poll in Anambra State.

The ex-Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, who recently defected to the ADC, also called on Nigerians to register in order to be eligible to vote in 2023.

“We hope to be a key part of a much larger third force that is building up for the presidential elections which will include a merger of about six or seven or more parties.

“So, I believe that in the 2023 elections the citizens of Nigeria should not allow it to be a contest between two sides of the same coin because there is no difference. It should be a battle between the old and the new – between the old Nigerian and the possibilities for a new Nigeria. That is what 2023 should be,” Moghalu said.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/dailypost.ng/2021/10/14/2023-six-parties-ready-to-merge-contest-against-apc-pdp-moghalu/%3famp=1

Governor Kayode Fayemi has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to turn NYSC camps into security training grounds to recruit “willing and able” graduates to join the military and the police.

Mr Fayemi pointed out that one of the cheapest and fastest ways to handle this was to amend the law setting up the National Youth Service Corps. If NYSC ‘corpers’ are converted into soldiers, they could be deployed to fight against Boko Haram terrorists, bandits, separatists

Read more: https://www.newslead.ng/2021/10/13/fayemi-to-buhari-use-nysc-members-to-fight-boko-haram-let-those-who-cant-fight-work-without-pay/

Abubakar Kawu Baraje, former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says even if the north-central produces the next party chairman, the zone will still vie for the presidency in 2023.

The opposition party has already agreed to zone the national chairmanship to the north.

In a statement on Tuesday, Baraje said people of the north-central in the party will follow the national executive committee’s (NEC) directive that zoning of party offices will not affect who flies the party flags for various elective offices.

Read more: https://www.newslead.ng/2021/10/13/baraje-to-pdp-north-central-wants-to-produce-president-not-party-chairman/

The Senate has given the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the sole power to determine the mode of transmission of results during elections.

This followed the reversal, on Tuesday, of the Senate’s earlier decision that INEC may consider the electronic transmission of results “provided national [network] coverage is adjudged to be adequate and secure” by the Nigerian Communications Commission and approved by the National Assembly.

Under a new amendment of Clause 52 (2) of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, the Senate resolved that “voting at an election and transmission of results under this Bill shall be in accordance with the procedure determined by the Commission, which may include electronic voting”.

Read more: https://www.newslead.ng/2021/10/12/senate-bows-to-pressure-gives-inec-sole-power-on-e-transmission-of-results/

Popular Nigerian dancer, Janemena, has now decided to press the issue between her and Tonto Dikeh further by taking legal action.

In a new development, the married dancer has reportedly petitioned the inspector general of police over defamation of her character and cyberstalking allegedly carried out by Tonto Dikeh.

According to reports from Stella Dimoko Korkus, in a petition written by Jane Mena’s legal team, R. A. Igelige, Esq of Felix, Igelige & Associates, it was alleged that Tonto had claimed her ex-boyfriend, Joseph Egbri aka Prince Kpokpogri, had intimate tapes of the married dancer to use in blackmailing her.

Janemena’s solicitors noted that Tonto’s claim was taken to mean that the dancer was cheating on her husband, had amorous relationships with Kpokpogri while being married, she had and distributed the intimate tapes, and that Kpokpogri had these tapes which could be used to blackmail Mena anytime soon.

Read more; https://www.newslead.ng/2021/10/12/janemena-to-take-legal-action-against-tonto-dikeh-demands-n500m-compensation/

Former BBNaija housemate, Steve Ikechukwu Onyema, popularly known as Ike, has finally revealed the reason his relationship with Mercy EKe crashed.

Mercy, who won BBNaija Season 4 has ruled out the possibility of resuming the affair with Ike despite fans of the reality show expecting them to go all the way in their romantic journey.

In an interview with Vanguardlive TV, Ike blamed social media for playing a major role in their breakup.

“I’ve been in a couple of relationships, but this one (with Mercy) wasn’t it; having a relationship where people have a million opinions just isn’t it,” he lamented.

Read more: https://www.newslead.ng/2021/10/11/ike-speakes-on-failed-romantic-relationship-with-mercy-eke/

'I am the greatest heavyweight champion of my era'

Fury has passed every challenge thrown his way but to become the first undisputed heavyweight world champion since Lennox Lewis in 2000 he will need to take the titles held by Oleksandr Usyk.

The Ukrainian looks set to face Anthony Joshua in a rematch first to see if the Briton can win back his WBF, IBF and WBO crowns, but in Fury's mind there is no doubt as to who is the greatest heavyweight of this enticing era.

"I have proved time and again that I can never be written off," he added. "I didn't have my best performance but I pulled it out of the bag when it needed to be done.

"He did keep getting up but it was that final right hand to the side of the head that finished him.

"I wasn't hurt. You get hit, you wake up on the floor. I got up and was very conscious the whole time. I was one punch away from knocking him out in the whole fight.

"I am the greatest heavyweight champion of my era, without a doubt. Number one. If you play with fire long enough you will get burned."

Read more: https://www.newslead.ng/2021/10/10/fury-defeats-wilder-to-retain-wbc-heavyweight-title/

The Independent National Electoral Commission has disclosed that it has cancelled 62,698 voters card requests in Anambra State for double or multiple registrations.

Chairman of the Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, made this known in his remarks during an emergency meeting of political parties in Abuja on Friday.

The discovery of double or multiple registrants was made during the process of cleaning up the registration data for the Anambra elections.
Read more: https://www.newslead.ng/2021/10/09/inec-cancels-62698-voters-card-in-anambra-over-double-registration/

Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has returned to Nigeria after undergoing knee surgery in London, United Kingdom.

He returned to the country on Friday evening, a statement from his media office revealed.

According to the statement, Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State, had surgery on his right knee during his trip abroad.

Read more: https://www.newslead.ng/2021/10/09/tinubu-returns-to-nigeria-after-uk-medical-trip/

President Muhammadu Buhari has received the Certificate of Incorporation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

He was presented with the certificate at the State House on Friday by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, Registrar Corporate Affairs Commission, Alhaji Garba Abubakar and NNPC Group Managing Director, Mele Kyari.

Others include the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Budget & National Planning Aliyu Ahmed; Chief of Staff to President Buhari, Ibrahim Gambari; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources Dr. Nasir Sani Gwarzo, and NNPC CFO, Umar Isa Ajiya.

Read more: https://www.newslead.ng/2021/10/08/buhari-receives-nnpc-certificate-of-incorporation/

The Federal Government has expressed support for the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, on the possibility of declaring state of emergency in Anambra if the incessant killings and other criminal acts in the state persist.

Malami, also the Attorney General of the Federation, had given the indication on Wednesday that the Federal Government would not rule out the option of declaring a state of emergency in Anambra given the violence in the state ahead of the Nov. 6 governorship poll in the state.

Read more: https://www.newslead.ng/2021/10/08/anambra-fg-backs-possibility-of-declaring-state-of-emergency-malami/

Newcastle United has become the richest team in world football following the completion of a Saudi Arabian-backed takeover of the English club.

The Premier League has approved the takeover after receiving “legally binding assurances” that the Saudi state would not control the club.

Instead the Public Investment Fund (PIF), which will provide 80% of funds for the £300m deal, is seen as separate to the state.

The sale went through after the deal passed the Premier League owners’ and directors’ test

Read more: https://www.newslead.ng/2021/10/07/newcastle-becomes-worlds-richest-club-as-saudi-consortium-complete-300m-takeover-bid/

Soldiers in Onitsha, Anambra State, on Wednesday manhandled Nollywood actor, Chiwetalu Agu, for wearing an outfit with Biafra inscriptions.

In the viral video, 65-year-old Agu is seen around Upper Iweka Bridge donning the Biafra outfit and walking near a green bus when two armed soldiers wrestle him to the ground and drag him.

It was gathered that the actor was in Onitsha on a charity mission where he regularly gifts the less privileged with food items when he was arrested by soldiers

Read more: https://www.newslead.ng/2021/10/07/soldiers-arrest-veteran-nollywood-actor-chiwetalu-agu-for-using-biafra-emblem/

Former Big Brother Naija finalist, Angel, said that she would never speak to Michael again because she doesn’t want to be part of any negative thing concerning their relationship.

Angel made this known in an interview with the show host Ebuka, where she discussed her stay in the house.

While Angel was on the show, she became close to Michael, who was also Jackie B’s love interest. This act of hers earned her criticisms from fellow housemates and viewers alike.

Sometime in the show, Maria told Big Brother that she doesn’t like Angel because the latter tried to go after Michael after Jackie B already declared interest in him.

Read more: https://www.newslead.ng/2021/10/06/angel-why-i-will-never-speak-to-michael-again/

President Muhammadu Buhari has raised the 2022 appropriation bill by N2.47 trillion, bringing the total for the fiscal year to N16.45 trillion.

In July, the federal executive council (FEC) had approved N13.98 trillion for the proposed 2022 budget sum.

The president said this in a revised Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) sent to the national assembly on Tuesday.

In the letter read by Ovie Omo-Agege, deputy senate president, Buhari explained that the needed adjustments were important to reflect “the new fiscal terms in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA)”.

Read more: https://www.newslead.ng/2021/10/05/fg-increases-2022-budget-proposal-to-n16-4trn/

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reportedly arrested Hafsat, wife of Abdullahi Ganduje, Kano governor, over allegations of bribery and fraud.

The EFCC had acted based on a petition by her son, Abdulazeez, a report by Premium Times said.

Hafsat was arrested after failing to show up at the EFCC Abuja headquarters on September 13 upon invitation

Read more: https://www.newslead.ng/2021/10/05/efcc-arrests-gandujes-wife-over-fraud-allegations/

The net worth of Mark Zuckerberg, founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Facebook, fell by nearly $7 billion in a few hours after the company’s flagship products collapsed.

According to Bloomberg, a selloff plummeted Facebook’s stock around 5 percent on Monday.

The stock slide dropped Zuckerberg’s worth to $128 billion on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

On Sunday, a whistleblower accused Facebook of repeatedly prioritizing profit over clamping down on hate speech and misinformation. The firm owns Instagram and WhatsApp.

Read more: https://www.newslead.ng/2021/10/04/facebook-stocks-dip-zuckerberg-loses-7bn-as-instagram-whatsapp-remain-down/

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that one of the sponsors of Nnamdi Kanu and Sunday Adeyemo (Igboho) — both agitating for Biafra and Yoruba Nation to be caved out of Nigeria — is a member of the National Assembly.

The president, who said this in his speech to mark Nigeria’s Independence anniversary Friday, said: “The recent arrests of Nnamdi Kanu and Sunday Adeyemo, and the ongoing investigations being conducted have revealed certain high-profile financiers behind these individuals. We are vigorously pursuing these financiers including one identified as a serving member of the National Assembly.

Read more: https://www.newslead.ng/2021/10/01/buhari-one-of-kanu-igbohos-sponsors-is-national-assembly-member/

Protesters in the early hours of Friday stormed the Dantata Bridge on the popular Airport Road in Abuja, demanding the resignation of the President Muhammadu Buhari.

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Protesters in the early hours of Friday stormed the Dantata Bridge on the popular Airport Road in Abuja, demanding the resignation of the President Muhammadu Buhari.

The protest coincided with the nation’s 61st Independence Anniversary.

The protesters, wielding large banners, made bonfires on the highway.

As of the time of filing this report, however, heavily armed policemen have disperse the protesters.

Read more: https://www.newslead.ng/2021/10/01/police-fire-teargas-as-buhari-must-go-protest-hit-abuja-streets-on-independence-day/

The next national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will emerge from the northern region of the country, the party’s National Zoning Committee has announced.

This decision was contained in a communique issued on Thursday following the meetings of the committee held in Enugu and Abuja.

“The decision of the PDP Zoning Committee is in line with the Constitution of the party on zoning and rotation of party and national offices in the interest of justice, equity, and fairness,” the statement read.

Read more: https://www.newslead.ng/2021/09/30/pdp-zones-national-chairmanship-slot-to-north/

As bandits continue their unrestrained reign of terror in Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna and other Northwestern states, the Senate, yesterday, asked President Muhammadu Buhari to declare them as terrorists in the country.

The red chamber also asked the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to wage a total war against the criminals, including bombing all their locations, to annihilate and eliminate them, while also declaring all known leadership of the bandits wanted and track them wherever they are for arrest and prosecution.

These were part of the Senate’s resolutions after considering a motion sponsored by Senator Ibrahim Gobir Abdullahi (Sokoto East), and co-sponsored by eight other senators.
Read more: https://www.newslead.ng/2021/09/30/senate-to-buhari-declare-bandits-as-terrorists-wage-total-war-against-them/