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Category: Governance

  • Gunmen Attack 2 Banks In Kogi

    Gunmen Attack 2 Banks In Kogi

    Gunmen suspected to be robbers have attacked two commercial banks in Anyigba, Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State.

    The robbers raided the banks and carted away millions of naira and other valuables.

    Eyewitnesses said that the robbers were shooting indiscriminately shootings during the attack.

    The robbery operation was said to have started around 5 pm.

    It was gathered that operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps engaged them in exchange of gunfire.

    The state police command is yet to react to the incident.

  • Finance Minister Blames Buhari Administration’s Reckless Money Printing for Inflation Surge

    Finance Minister Blames Buhari Administration’s Reckless Money Printing for Inflation Surge

    In a startling revelation, the Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun has pointed fingers at the Buhari administration for Nigeria’s current inflation crisis, attributing it to the irresponsible printing of money.

    During a session with the Senate Committee on Finance, Edun disclosed that between 2015 and 2023, the Central Bank of Nigeria printed a staggering N22.7 trillion for the Federal Government through Ways and Means overdrafts.

    Edun emphasized that this massive money printing spree was not accompanied by corresponding increases in productivity, leading to the inflationary pressures the country is grappling with today.

    He cited a lack of restraint in spending the N30 trillion amassed through Ways and Means under the previous administration as a significant factor contributing to Nigeria’s food and security challenges.

    Acknowledging the Senate’s resolve to investigate the utilization of these funds, Edun assured the committee of the government’s commitment to addressing the underlying causes of inflation and fiscal imbalance. He outlined measures aimed at bolstering revenue generation without resorting to unsustainable practices, such as excessive money printing or undue borrowing.

    Edun commended the Senate for its support in tackling fiscal challenges and pledged to address loopholes in import duty waivers to enhance the country’s fiscal resilience. Despite the current economic hurdles, he expressed optimism about the government’s ability to implement effective policies that would stabilize inflation rates and foster sustainable economic growth.

  • Alleged N4b fraud: Obiano prays court to quash charges against him

    Alleged N4b fraud: Obiano prays court to quash charges against him

    Willie Obiano, the former Anambra State Governor, has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to quash the N4billion corruption charges brought against him by the federal government.

    He premised his motion on notice pursuant to provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Administration of the Criminal Justice Act 2015.

    The ex-gov argued that there is a subsisting appeal by the Anambra state government challenging the authority of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC’s authority to investigate the funds.

    He argued through his counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu SAN, that there was no connection between the proof of evidence and the alleged accusation against him.

    Obiani maintained that there was no testimony from any witness indicating that he issued directives for the disbursement of security votes and other funds belonging to the Anambra state government.

    He emphasised that the he cannot be held accountable for any alleged unlawful actions by officials of the Anambra state government as there is no concept of vicarious liability in criminal justice system.

    The former governor is being prosecuted by EFCC on 9- count charges bordering on money laundering to the tune of N40 billion.

    The anti-graft agency alleged that Obiano bypassed financial institutions in numerous unlawful cash transactions using funds allegedly stolen from the state’s account.

    The EFCC claimed that the cash amounts involved in the transactions exceeded legally permitted limits.

    The motion on notice was brought pursuant to section 6 (6) (a) and (b) and section 36(6) (6) b of the 1999 constitution as amended and
    section 1(1) & (2), 266, 271(b), 383(4) &492 (3) of the Administration of the Criminal Justice Act 2015.

    Among others, Obiano is seeking “An order of the court quashing the instant charge for it amounts to flagrant abuse of judicial process and a mockery of the criminal Justice

    “An order quashing the charge for non disclosure of a prime facie case being vague and devoid of precision in respect of all the 9 count charges.

    “No prima facie case has been disclosed against the defendant in this charge.There is no link between the proof of evidence and the purported allegation made against the defendant in the charge

    “No evidence exist from any witness showing that the defendant passed down directive for the disbursement of security votes and other funds belonging to Anambra state government.

    “The defendant cannot be made answerable for any purported unlawful actions of officials of Anambra State government as there is no vicarious liability in our criminal jurisprudence.

    “The thinking and conclusion of the prosecution on the counts arose from speculation and suspicions

    “The subject matter of the charge borders on accountability for security vote funds.
    The honorable court lacks the requisite jurisdiction to entertain issues on accountability for security vote funds

    “There is an appeal filed by the Anambra state government challenging the powers of EFCC to investigate the security vote of Anambra state government.

    “The preferment of the entire charge is in bad faith. This honourable court has inherent judicial power to grant all the reliefs sought above.

    At Thursday’s resumption of trial, Sylvanus Tahir (SAN), counsel for the EFCC, informed the court that he had received the defendant’s motion and had responded accordingly with counter affidavit.

    However, he said while attempting to serve the defendant’s counsel with his response, he found their gate locked but that he managed to deliver the response in the court room.

    Responding, Patrick Ekweto (SAN), counsel to Obiano requested time to respond to EFCC’S counter affidavit.

    In a short ruling, Justice Inyang Ekwo granted the defendant two days to file and serve their process on the EFCC.

    The matter continues March 13 for the motion to be heard.

  • Nigerian Civil Defence Officer Murdered By Gunmen

    Nigerian Civil Defence Officer Murdered By Gunmen

    An officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Obangede, Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State has been killed by unknown gunmen.

    The NSCDC officer who lost his life was part of the security detail assigned to protect the abducted Chinese road engineer.

    At the time of reporting, the identities of both the abducted individual and the deceased officer could not be confirmed. 

    When contacted for confirmation and updates on the incident, the state police spokesperson, William Ovye Aya, stated that he would provide further information later.

    This incident comes amidst a similar occurrence on February 3, where approximately 14 passengers of God Is Good (GIG) Motors and ABC Transport were abducted in Kogi while en route to Abuja. The incident took place in Inyele Eteke, Olamaboro LGA.

    The abducted passengers, who were reportedly traveling from the southeast region, were later released after a few days in captivity.

    Reports indicate that the gunmen intercepted the vehicles and forcibly took the passengers captive, demanding a ransom of N15 million from each individual for their release.

  • Minimum Wage: Labour May demand N500,000 instead of #1m Earlier Proposed 

    Minimum Wage: Labour May demand N500,000 instead of #1m Earlier Proposed 

    With the public hearing on the new minimum wage, which will be held simultaneously in all six geopolitical zones of the country, it is expected to receive inputs from organised Labour, state governors, ministers, civil society groups, and the organised private sector on a new minimum wage reflective of the current economic realities and the workers’ aspirations.

    However, a top official of the NLC, who confided in newsmen on Thursday said based on proposals submitted by state chapters to the congress’ headquarters, the organised Labour might push for N500,000 at today’s meeting.

    The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, had recently stated that if the ongoing inflation continued, organised labour might push for a new minimum wage of up to N1m for Nigerian workers.

    President Bola Tinubu through his deputy, Kashim Shettima, on January 30, 2024, inaugurated a 37-member panel on the new minimum wage at the Council Chamber of the State House in Abuja, with its membership cutting across the federal and state governments, the private sector, and labour.

    The panel, as learnt, is to recommend a new national minimum wage for the country on or before April 1 following the expiration of the current N30,000 minimum wage as provided by the law.

    However, the President of the NLC, Ajaero, stated recently during an interview on Arise TV that if the ongoing inflation continued unabated, organised labour might push for a new minimum wage of up to N1m for Nigerian workers.

    According to Ajaero, the demand from organised labour would be influenced by the cost of living which has been increasing since President Bola Tinubu assumed office, notably due to the removal of the fuel subsidy and other policies.

    He said, “This N1m may be relevant if the value of the naira continues to depreciate; if the inflation continues unchecked because the demand of labour is equally dependent on what is happening in the society.

    “You will remember that by the time we were contemplating N200,000 (as minimum wage), the exchange rate was about N800/N900 (to a dollar). As we talk today, the exchange rate is about N1,400 or even more.

    “Those are the issues that determine the demand and it is equally affecting the cost of living. And we have always said that our demand will be based on the cost of living index. You will agree with me today that even a bag of rice is going for about N60,000/N70,000 or more.

    “A bag of locally produced corn is about N56,000 or more. Foodstuff is getting out of reach, now are we going to get a minimum wage that will not be enough for transportation even for one week?”

    Speaking in an interview with newsmen on Wednesday, a top official of the NLC said organised labour would insist on any amount slightly above N500,000 as minimum wage based on the analysis of proposals got from state chapters.

    The official, who spoke in confidence because he was not authorised to speak to the media on the negotiation, explained that the cost-of-living analysis carried out in states was N900,000.

    “In reality, what they gave us from the states when we deflate inconsistencies is over N500,000, as the cost of living of an average family of six to meet their basic needs, for an average family to survive.

    “But we know that when NLC deflates it taking into consideration some of the things we think are padded, it will come to around slightly over N500,000,” he said.

  • Another attack, Boko Haram, sets IDP Camp, Many Houses On Fire

    Another attack, Boko Haram, sets IDP Camp, Many Houses On Fire

    Suspected Boko Haram insurgents have razed down at least 25 newly constructed buildings meant for returnees in Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno State.

    Amid the heat of insurgency, Dikwa residents fled their homes and took cover as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

    However, days after abducting IDPs who went into the forest to fetch firewood, insurgents stormed a remote village in Gajibo, shooting sporadically and burning more than 25 newly built houses.

    According to Daily Trust, Modu Kundiri who was on his to Maiduguri from Gomboru, they were asked by the troops to wait for about 3 hours at Logomani village.

    “The soldiers informed us that we had to wait for about 3 hours from 11:am -2 pm before we were allowed to leave Logomani.

    “I saw and counted more than 25 newly constructed houses at Gajibo village in Dkiwa LGA was on fire,” Modu said.

    A resident of Dikwa town, Sheriff Lawan, confirmed the news to our correspondent via phone.

    He added that they equally planted many improvise explosive devices (IEDs) in the ongoing construction site to truncate the rebuilding and resettlement processes of the state government.

    “The soldiers told us that the insurgents planted many IEDs at the construction site and they discovered some bombs already.”Sherrif said.

    Gajibo town is a some of 110 kilometers away from Maiduguri, the state capital.

  • Appeal Court Affirms Abure As Labour Party Chairman, Fines Apapa

    Appeal Court Affirms Abure As Labour Party Chairman, Fines Apapa

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja has set aside the judgment of the Federal Capital Territory High Court which restrained Julius Abure and two others from parading themselves as national officers of the party.

    Ruling on an ex parte application on April 5, 2023, Hamza Muazu, the Presiding Judge, had restrained Abure, Farouk Ibrahim, Clement Ojukwu, and Oluchi Opara from acting as national officers of the LP.

    The court also dismissed the objection raised by Abure challenging his removal as chairman of the LP.

    The suit which was filed by Martins Esikpali John, Lucky Shaibu, Isah Zekeri, Omogbai Frank, Abokhaiu Aliu, Ayohkaire Lateef, John Elomah, and Ayobami Arabambi accused Abure and others of forging several documents of the FCT high court to carry out unlawful substitutions in the last elections.

    The defendants, however, approached the appeal court for redress.

    Delivering the lead judgement on Wednesday, Justice Hamman Barka held that the high court was wrong to have assumed jurisdiction on the matter.

    He also awarded N1m in favour of the appellants.

  • Alleged N7.6B fraud: Appeal court strikes out move to retry Gov, Orji Kalu

    Alleged N7.6B fraud: Appeal court strikes out move to retry Gov, Orji Kalu

    The Federal Government move to retry the former Abia State Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, in the N7.6billion fraud and money laundering, had been strike out.

    Justice Joseph Kayode Oyewole of the Appeal court, court sitting in Abuja dismissed the suit for incompetent and unreliable for any court to use to grant the request of government.

    Among others, Justice Oyewole said that the record of appeal was not compiled, signed and certified by any person known to law.

    Specifically, Justice Oyewole said that the name of the person who compiled, signed and certified the record were not reflected as required by law.

    Recall that a Federal High Court had on December 5, 2019, jailed the former governor now s a senator representing Abia North for 12 years for stealing N7.6billion from the Treasury of Abia State as a governor.

    However, the supreme court voided the judgement of the lower court on the ground that Justice Mohammed Idris who delivered it was already a Justice of the Court of Appeal having been elevated.

    The Apex court, in a judgement delivered by Justice Ejembi Ekwo held that Justice Mohammed Idris cannot operate as a Federal High Judge and Justice of the Court of Appeal at the same.

    Consequently, the Apex court ordered the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to give the trial to another Judge for a fresh trial.

    Kalu however went back to the Federal High Court and and Justice Inyang Ekwo granted him an order prohibiting the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from instituting a fresh prosecution.

    The Judge held that Orji Uzor Kalu was not expressly stated in the judgment of the Supreme Court.

    Not satisfied with the decision of Justice Ekwo, the prosecution appeal against the decision of the high court.

    The matter was Wednesday, dismissed for the failure to produce proper records of proceedings of the high court.

  • Protesters storm Maitama over ‘Illegal’ enforcement by Asabe Waziri, Police, FCT court officials

    Protesters storm Maitama over ‘Illegal’ enforcement by Asabe Waziri, Police, FCT court officials

    Protesters in their large numbers stormed Maitama district of the Federal Capital Territory, to protest what they described as illegal siege on a property, located at No. 1 Mekong Close.

    Two flats in the property of 15 flats have been in dispute between Abeh Signatures Limited and Asabe Waziri, a millionaire civil servant and staff of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited(NNPCL) for over two years.

    The Resident Facility Manager, Monday Fada, who led other protesters, said in the last one week, the peace of the area and the property has been disrupted.

    He alleged that the police are being used to perpetuate illegalities by aiding Mrs Waziri to gain possession of the property.

    Therefore, they called on the Inspector -General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun to call his men to order to avoid breakdown of law and order.

    “We had an invasion here on Friday by one Madam Asabe Waziri, using the police to come and disrupt the peace in our property without any valid court, no notice, nothing.

    “They had the backing of the police and they came and vandalized people’s property here.

    “We are calling on President Bola Tinubu, the FCT minister, and the Inspector -General of Police to intervene and restore peace to this property because that is what we need in here.

    “If there is any issue on the property, the court is there to hear the grievances of all parties. We want the rule of law to prevail, things should be done with due process.

    “These are investors who have invested heavily, so the president should not allow this to happen as it will discourage other investors,” he said.

    Last week, a lawyer, Mr Victor Giwa, wrote the IGP to halt the illegalities being perpetuated by the Nigerian Police and Ms Asabe Waziri.

    In the letter dated March 1, 2024, signed by Barrister Giwa, the lawyer accused policemen under the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations of giving backing to break into a property located at No. 1Mekong Close, Maitama, Abuja.

    The lawyer called for the intervention of the IGP to halt what could lead to breakdown of law and order in the area.

    Giwa said in the, letter, “Staff of our client approached them to find out why they were criminally intimidating and trespassing into the property without any authorization or any valid Order of Court which no body answered. The hoodiums accompanied by the Police went straight to Flat 3B and 3C, broke down the entire doors and windows without consent or authorization of the resident who were not even at home and began to vandalize, destroy and bring out all the belongings inside the 2 Flats.

    “The Manager of the apartment upon approaching the hoodlums to find out what is actually going on, was threatened that if he tried anything funny, he will be shot and brutalized. The manager later found out from one of the policemen that they were instructed to come there upon the malicious instigation of one Asabe Waziri and the FCT High Court Director of Enforcement Mr Tony Chukwuemeka Ubani who are both parties to various Court cases revolving around this particular property.

    “Asabe Waziri and Mr Tony Ubani hoodwinked the DIG Police Force Operations to enforce an Order of Court which is not enforceable. The Case is already pending before the Court of Appeal Abuja Judicial Division and even the Court was of the opinion that the Order/Judgment cannot be enforced as it was just an Order to maintain Status quo.

    “The property that was criminally trespassed is also currently Lis Pendens and a subject of Litigation pending before a Court of law. This development is totally strange and unlawful as there is an already subsisting Court Order from FCT High Court Bwari restraining Asabe Waziri from interfering, trespassing, disturbing the quiet possession of the residents and she was further estopped from doing anything adverse to the property described as a two (2) bedroom unit of flat 3B and 3C, Abeh Signature Apartments, 1 Mekong Close Maitama Abuja pending the determination of the substantive suit with reference number: CV/3261/22. Please find attached a copy of the Court Order and pictures taken from the incidence annexed to this petition. The unlawful actions of parties involved caused a lot of damages to the properties of the residents worth Millions of Naira. We respectfully call on your good office to investigate into these illegal and unlawful acts and subsequently prosecute them accordingly. Please accept the assurances of our professional regards always.”

  • FG Gives Update On New Minimum Wage

    FG Gives Update On New Minimum Wage

    The Nigerian government is planning to organize a nationwide public hearing as a step in the process of introducing a new minimum wage for workers in Nigeria.

    A statement from the Federal Ministry of Finance disclosed that the public hearing would be done in the six geo-political regions of the country to gather diverse perspectives and recommendations on the new minimum wage.

    The statement added that the six public hearings will hold in North-East, Yola; North-West, Kano; North-Central, Abuja; South-South, Uyo; South-East, Enugu, and South-West, Lagos on March 7, 2024.

    The South-West zonal public hearing will hold in Lagos at the LTV Blue Roof Arena to be chaired by the Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun.

    A diverse panel will lead the discussions including: Government representatives: Edun and Osun Governor Adeleke Ademola (representing State Governments); Employers’ representatives: Omo-Lamai Grace (Manufacturers Association) and Muhammed Nura (Nigeria Association of SMEs); Labour representatives Adeyanju Adewale (NLC) and Shuaibu Afusatu (TUC) as well as Labour and Employment Minister of State Onyejeocha Nkeiruka.

    The Ministry stated that the public hearings offer a crucial opportunity for stakeholders to actively participate in shaping the national minimum wage policy by contributing their perspectives.