NIGERIAN NOTCH

........ ASSURES NIGERIANS THAT THE RENEWED HOPE DRIVE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO GET THE REFINERIES FUNCTIONING IS ON COURSE  Senator Ifeanyi Ubah CON, representing the Anambra South Senatorial District, is leading a pivotal drive in Nigeria's quest for energy self-sufficiency by spearheading the ongoing Senate Ad-hoc Committee's inspection of the nation's refineries. Following a comprehensive assessment of the Warri Refinery the day prior, Senator Ubah led the committee on an oversight visit to the Port Harcourt Refinery on April 19, 2024. Accompanied by high-ranking officials from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), including the Executive Vice-President (Downstream), Mr. Dapo Segun, and received by a delegation from the Port Harcourt Refinery, led by Managing Director Ibrahim M. Onoja,the Senate Adhoc Committee members , embarked on a meticulous examination of the refinery's Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) projects. During this i

The Inter-Parliamentary Union(IPU) has named President of the Nigerian Senate, Godswill Akpabio as a member of the Preparatory Committee for the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament 2025. A statement by the Special Assistant on Media to the Senate President, Jackson Udom, said that Akpabio’s nomination was contained in a letter signed by the General Secretary of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Martin Chungong and addressed to the Senate President. The nomination letter reads: "I wish to congratulate you upon your nomination as a member of the Preparatory Committee for the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament (2025) and to invite you to a first meeting of the Preparatory Committee at IPU Headquarters in Geneva on 16-17 May 2024. "As you are aware, every five years since 2000, the Inter-Parliamentary Union has convened a World  Conference of Speakers of Parliament. The Conferences are organized in close cooperation with the United Nation

The CEO of cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, Richard Teng, yesterday said that the company is working very closely with Nigerian authorities following the detention of the company’s Head of Financial Crime Compliance. A Nigerian court has adjourned until May 2 a case against the executive, Tigran Gambaryan, and another Binance official, who are accused of laundering more than $35 million, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said on April 8. “What I can say is we are working very closely with the Nigerian authorities to try to resolve the matter,” CEO Richard Teng said, while speaking about Gambaryan’s case at a crypto conference in Dubai. The other executive Nadeem Anjarwalla, a British-Kenyan who is a regional manager for Africa, fled Nigeria last month. Anjarwalla and Gambaryan flew to Nigeria following the country’s decision to ban several cryptocurrency trading websites and were detained on arrival on February 26 by EFCC. In addition to the case brough

The Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, has secured a loan of $700million from Citibank backed by the United Kingdom Export Finance, UKEF,   an export credit agency, to rehabilitate the Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports, Lagos. The NPA has also opened a discussion with another funding agency to secure financing for upgrading of the Eastern Ports including Calabar, Warri,   Onne and Rivers Ports as well as the reconstruction of Escravos breakwater facility. Speaking in Lagos on Wednesday during the signing of mandate letter with Citibank Nigeria, Managing Director of the NPA, Mohammed Bello-Koko, said the letter will be sent to Debt Management Office, DMO, for final review and approval. He said the funds are ready and the reconstruction of the Lagos Ports will start soonest even as the NPA perfects plans to sign another mandate letter for the upgrading of the Eastern Ports in about a month. He stated: “In the last two years, NPA has realised the need for us to rehabilitate and recon

….As Oyo govt justifies demolition of Abiola-Onitiri’s residence Defence Headquarters, DHQ, yesterday, described as laughable recent agitation for Yoruba Nation by some elements in the South West. The DHQ also raised alarm that terrorists and their sympathisers were planning to blackmail the military, following its onslaught on insurgents. Recall that some Yoruba Nation agitators, last Saturday, dressed in military camouflage invaded the Oyo State secretariat and attempted to take over the State House of Assembly. The agitators engaged the security operatives but were subdued, leading to the arrest of 29 suspects. Speaking at a briefing, in Abuja yesterday, the Director, of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba said the agitation has further pointed out how the insecurity ravaging many parts of the country is self-inflicted. His words: “The agitation of IPOB in the South East has proven to be for self-aggrandizement. Then, the call for a Yoruba Nation is laughable

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, said yesterday that the Federal Government would pin down Ways and Means to deal with the problem of too much liquidity in the system Fielding questions from journalists after a meeting with investors at the ongoing Spring Meetings of the IMF and World Bank in Washington DC, yesterday, he said that the fiscal and monetary authorities were complementing each other to bring down inflation. According to him, “We will pin down Ways and Means to alleviate the pressure of the excess money in the system. “By so doing the two authorities are working hand in hand to bring down inflation and pressure on price stability and stabilising the exchange rate, with the target of bringing down interest rate so that investors can borrow at a more affordable rate and getting the economy going in the right direction again. “We need to borrow less and focus more on domestic resource mobilisation. We want long-term re

BY RAYMOND OZOJI, Awka  The Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service (NHFSS), Anambra State Command has recovered a stolen Toyota Corolla.  The car which is valued at about N5 Million was snatched from where it was parked at Achalla Awka-North Local Government Area of the state and was traced to Nise in Awka-South council area where it was recovered by officers of the Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service.   A statement from the State Hunter Public Relations Officer, SH Aloysius Chibuikem Nneke, confirmed that the car was stolen Wednesday, 17/4/2024 Oye market day in the morning at Achalla market in Awka North LGA.  And by afternoon of same day the car was recovered by the NHFSS, Awka North Division led by SH Nwadigwe the DHO of the division at Nise in Awka South LGA and the thief was at large then.  The statement further revealed that around 22.00 hours (10 PM) same yesterday, he was cut in Ukwulu, Dunukofia LGA, by a gallant officer, DSH Cosmos, who alerted

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has called for Parliamentary Collaboration between the Nigerian Parliament and its Serbian counterpart. Akpabio made the call during a meeting with the President of the Serbia Parliament, Ms Ana Brnabic in London, on Wednesday.  A statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom said, Akpabio and the President of the Serbia Parliament, Ana Brnabic extensively discussed issues of mutual interest to both nations and how to improve parliamentary collaborations between Serbia and Nigeria. "The Meeting, which was at the request of Ms Brnabić, also discussed matters relating to the International Parliamentary Union(IPU). The two parliamentarians have also agreed to meet again soon. The Serbian lawmaker, used the meeting to formally invite Nigeria's Senate President to Serbia, on a yet to be announced date," the statement said. Senator Akpabio, was recently elected into the Executive Committee of the IPU, a role he

As the spate of violence rages in the capital city of Anambra, Awka, a terrible twist to it just happened now. With a staff of the state road regulation agency gunned down minutes ago. This is coming less than one day when someone was also gunned down at popular Aroma Junction, to be precise Wednesday evening.  An eye witness who saw the incident said it happened at the motor park, where commuters commute passengers from Awka to Nnewi. The source said the victim is an official of the Anambra Road Traffic Management Agency (ARTMA). “ The man who was killed is an ARTMA official. He stopped some people who were driving a Toyota Sienna vehicle with tinted glasses, and the people shot him and drove off. There have been cult related killings in Awka since Easter, but it was not clear if Wednesday and Thursday morning incident was related to cultism. The Anambra State Police Command Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga was yet to react to the killing as at the time of fill

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

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, has been suspended by members of his ward, the Ganduje Ward in the Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State.  The Executive Council of Ganduje Ward led by Haruna Gwanjo disclosed this during a press briefing in Kano on Monday. Gwanjo said that the former governor has to clear his name of corruption allegations regarding his long-standing dollar case. A viral video had captured Ganduje allegedly receiving bundles of dollar notes as a bribe from a man said to be a contractor and stuffing them in the pockets of his flowing gown. The video, which garnered widespread attention in 2017, has been the subject of intense scrutiny. Ganduje had denied the content of the video when it first surfaced and maintained his innocence but years after, the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP)’s administration of Governor Abba Yusuf revisited the case, vowing the prosecute the ex-governor. The Kano High Court

BY RAYMOND OZOJI, Awka  The Federal Cooperative College Oji River Enugu State has formally admitted her new students into the institution.  The 26th matriculation ceremony which was held at the college matriculation arena at the weekend, was an opportunity for the new students to listen to scholarly advise from the Provost of the college Dr. Obodagu Tonica Owan, the chairperson of the occasion, Dr. Nkechi Ojiagu, fellow of Institute of Cooperative Professionals of Nigeria and Head of Department of Cooperative Economics and Management Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, the Guest Lecturer Prof. Andrew Chikodi Iheanacho of the University of Agriculture Makurdi, the Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria Prof. Garba Hamidu Sharubutu and a host of other academic giants who took turns to remind the new students of the dire need to take advantage of the vast opportunities at the Federal Cooperative College Oji River to build themselves into wealth creat

  The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC) today informed it's customers of a total system collapse. In a press release made available by Emeka Ezeh, Head, Corporate Communications, EEDC said that the organization "wishes to inform her esteemed customers of a total system collapse which occurred at 2:41am today, 15th April, 2024." "This resulted in the loss of supply to all our interface TCN stations. Consequently, we were unable to provide service to our customers in Abia, Anambra,  Ebonyi,  Enugu, and Imo States." He said that the situation is gradually being resolved as they received supply at Awada TCN station, Onitsha, at 7:30am. "We are in constant communication with the relevant authorities awaiting full restoration of supply by the National Control Centre, NCC, Oshogbo." 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has faulted suspended Humanitarian Minister, Betta Edu, her predecessor, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, and the Coordinator of the National Social Insurance Programmes Agency, Halima Shehu, while revealing that a combined total of N32.7bn and $445,000 has been recovered so far from ministry. The commission made the development known on Sunday via its official X handle in response to rumours concerning the progress of its mobile investigations into the alleged financial misappropriation in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development. The statement signed by the spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, read, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has noticed the rising tide of commentaries, opinions, assumptions and insinuations concerning its progressive investigations into the alleged financial misappropriation in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social De

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it is investigating several celebrities suspected of involvement in Naira abuse. This is according to a statement released by EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale on Sunday. Oyewale disclosed that the commission has summoned several celebrities for questioning, and they have provided valuable information during the interrogation process. The EFCC emphasized its awareness of viral videos circulating online, depicting individuals engaging in acts of naira abuse. The anti-graft agency commended the public for their vigilance in protecting the sanctity of the national currency, signaling a collective effort in combating financial misconduct. “On the issue of the works of the commission against Naira abuse, dollarization of the economy, and the enforcement of all extant laws relating to them, the EFCC appreciates the avalanche of public awakening, support, and involvement demonstrated so far,” the statement reads in part. “Incre

Organised Labour has demanded N615,000 as the new minimum wage for workers to cope with the many economic realities and high cost of living in Nigeria. The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) confirmed the development to Channels Television on Sunday. The new wage of N615,000 monthly was reached after consultations between the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC). [ The labour unions said the current minimum wage of N30,000 can no longer cater for the wellbeing of an average Nigerian worker, lamenting that not all governors are paying the current wage award which will expire by April, five years after the Minimum Wage Act of 2019 was signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari. The Act is to be reviewed every five years to meet up with contemporary economic demands of workers. The NLC and the TUC have at various times called on the administration of President Bola Tinubu to hasten the upward review of wage awards. Earlier in January, the Federal Government inau

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said that the over N1 trillion that would be saved from the withdrawal of electricity subsidy will be reinvested in improving power supply and the provision of social services for the country. Idris stated this in Kaduna on Saturday as a guest of the popular Hausa audience participatory programme of Radio Nigeria Kaduna called “Hannu Da Yawa.” He said the disproportionate amount of electricity subsidy, approximately 40%, is benefiting only about 15% of the electricity consumer population, comprising affluent individuals and industrial clusters, who enjoy about 20 hours of electricity. “It is essential to emphasize that the funds to be saved from the withdrawal of electricity subsidy will be reinvested in enhancing power supply across the country and improving other vital social services such as health and education,” he said. Idris emphasized that 85% of the population who falls under the different catego