NIGERIAN NOTCH

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, said yesterday that the apex bank is not defending the Naira with the nation’s foreign reserves. He was speaking against the backdrop of the recent decline in Nigeria’s foreign reserves corresponding with massive appreciation of the Naira in the foreign exchange market (forex), fueling speculations that the apex bank pumped forex into the market to dwarf demand pressure and shore up the value of the local currency. Speaking at the on-going Spring Meetings of the IMF the World Bank, Cardoso said that his team at the apex bank is determined to nurse a foreign exchange market ruled by the principle of willing buyers-willing seller. He also said that Ways and Means (federal government borrowings from CBN) is no longer an issue, particularly after the fiscal authorities securitised the outstanding. His words, “Defending the Naira, from every indication is an elephant in some rooms. I will make this as clear

Fresh facts have emerged that the embattled cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye popularly known as Bobrisky who was sentenced to a six-month jail term for abusing the Naira has been transferred from the Ikoyi Correctional Center to the Kirikiri Prison by the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS). This is contrary to reports that Bobrisky is still being held at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre. A very reliable source who is an official of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS) who craved anonymity said that the popular cross-dresser is presently held at the Kirikiri Prison and was discreetly transferred since last weekend to Kirikiri. He stated, “It is procedural that he is moved to Kirikiri since it is an expansive prison compared to what we have here.” He added that due to security reasons, Okuneye was quietly moved to the facility where he will serve his term. It would be recalled that Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court in Lagos sentenced the cross-dresser to six mo

The FG, through its team of lawyers led by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, asked the court to reject the conditions on the ground that they are frivolous, vexatious, irritating and baseless. FG argued that the trial court had earlier rejected a fresh bail application that was filed by the defendant. It argued that since the bail request was dismissed, the trial court longer had the requisite jurisdiction to revisit the matter as it would amount to sitting on appeal to overrule its own decision. Awomolo, SAN, insisted that the only option open to Kanu was for him to take the issue before the Court of Appeal. More so, FG argued that it was not in the position of the defendant to dictate how his trial should be conducted or to list conditions the court must met before he would be tried. It, therefore, asked the court to dismiss the applications as frivolous and time wasting. The detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, on Wednesday, list

….Says, ‘failed’ NNPP government, jittery over Tinubu’s rising profile ….Order obtained by fraud, unenforceable, won’t be obeyed – APC The National Working Committee NWC of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC has reacted to the order of a Kano State High Court which affirmed the suspension of its National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, describing it as a nullity, unenforceable and therefore cannot be obeyed. The development came on Wednesday as Ganduje received the APC Ward Executives from his Ganduje Ward in Kano State, who were at the national secretariat of the party to affirm their confidence in him. Addressing the ward executives, Ganduje said those who purportedly suspended him were impostors. Also speaking, National Legal Adviser of the Party, Prof. Abdulkarim Kana said the Kano High Court order is not enforceable as it was obtained by fraud. He said the ward executives would petition the National Judicial Council NJC to call the high court judge to order. Gand

A High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, has restrained the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from infringing on the fundamental human rights of Alhaji Yahaya Bello, former Kogi State Governor. In a two hour judgment delivered on Wednesday, at the High Court 4 and presided over by Hon. Justice I.A Jamil, in suit no HCL/68/M/2020, the court restrained the EFCC from arresting, detaining and prosecuting the applicant except as authorised by the Court. This is a definite order following the earlier interim injunction given. The judgment followed the suit brought before the court by Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the applicant, seeking to enforce his fundamental rights against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The Court equally restrained the respondents from continuing to persecuting the Applicant. Earlier in the judgement, the Court dismissed the issue of jurisdiction as challenged by the EFCC. The Applicant’s Counsel SA Abbas and MS Yusuf, described the judgment a

 ....... Battle for the soul of the party  Pending any last minute intervention, the warring camps within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are poised for a showdown at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting which is less than 24 hours away. Checks reveal that the camps led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, Nyesom Wike, are locked in for a showdown of sorts. It was learnt that both sides, battling for the soul of the party, have refused to yield ground, in the tussle that hopes to define the party’s stature ahead of the 2027 election. The tussle between both camps crystallised in the demand for acting national chairman, Ambassador Illiya Damagum’s resignation and the emergence of an acting national chairman from the North Central geo-political zone as originally planned by the party. However, there are hopes by some party members, who spoke to LEADERSHIP on condition of anonymity, that the party’s caucus and Board

The President of the Senate, Godswill Obot Akpabio has pledged the full cooperation and support of the National Assembly for better policing of Nigeria. Akpabio made the pledge at the maiden edition of the Nigeria Police Awards and Commendations Ceremony which held on Monday evening in Abuja. Akpabio told the audience which included Vice President Kashim Shettima that "as the leader of the National Assembly, I pledge our full cooperation and support for the better policing of Nigeria. "We recognise the importance of a well-equipped and motivated police force in ensuring the security and well-being of our citizens. "We will continue to work tirelessly to provide the necessary legislative framework and resources to enable the police to carry out their duties effectively." The Senate President commended the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun and the entire leadership of the Nigeria Police Force for organising the event and urged them to use the o

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo has said private jet operators unlicensed to operate commercial services are causing the Federal Government a huge loss of revenue. Keyamo, who described the practice as economic sabotage, also warned private aircraft operators unlicensed to fly commercially to desist from the act, saying he is coming for them. The minister gave the warning on Newsnight, a Channels TV programme, further arguing that in terms of passengers’ safety, their regulation is low. His words: “Almost all these private jets are operating commercially resulting in a huge loss of revenue for federal government because the licence to fly a private aircraft privately and the one to fly it commercially is so much. “When it is commercial, the money paid to federal government is so much. So, people now take licenses from us to say I have just bought a private jet and I want to be using it for my business or to fly my friends and family, and we giv

A Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has adjourned the trial of Chairman of Ibeto Energy Development Company, Chief Cletus Ibeto, who was charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over alleged N4.8 billion fraud, till May 27, 2024. The judge, Justice Oyindamola Ogala fixed the new date for hearing in the case, due to the defendant’s counsel, Adebayo Oshodi, prayer to move an application challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the charge. However, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacob opposed the application on the ground that the defendant had filed an appeal on same issue before the Court of Appeal and the appellate was yet to decide on it. Jacob insisted that court could not entertain the application because the defendant has not submitted himself for trial. The prosecutor also informed the court that the defendant in his move for out of court settlement, had repaid the commission a total sum of N2 billion in instalments. After listenin

This year's mothering sunday celebration in the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka will be remembered in diverse forms especially for the family of Mrs Alice Odo of Nkporogwu Ukehe Igbo Etiti LGA of Enugu state, as she bagged the Ezinne title to the glory of God, at Saint Christopher’s Parrish, Ukehe. Mrs Alice Odo, is the mother of Rt Hon. Chidera Odo, Ezeomeogo 1, MD Colliery Guest House Enugu. In the homily to celebrate the high mass for the day, Rev Fr Solomon Onuh who presided over the church service, said that a mother’s love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible.” Continuing , he said that a mother’s love is patient and forgiving when all others are forsaking. It never fails or falters. He called on mother's all over the world to always look inwards and care for their children as they are the bedrock of civilization.  Ezinne Alice Odo, the celebrant while speaking to newsmen, thanked God for life and the joy of being honored with the Ez