The 2023 Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on Friday, said the voice of Bauchi Central Senator, Abdul Ningi can’t be suspended from the people’s hearts.

Atiku said those who bear true conscience are welcome to his house.

Posting on X, Atiku wrote: “The voice of truth which Senator Ningi represents cannot be suspended from the hearts of the people. Every bearer of true conscience is welcome in my house. -AA”

In March, DAILY POST reported that the Senate suspended Ningi for three months over his allegation of budget padding.

His suspension followed an interview with BBC Hausa where he claimed that the Federal Government was operating two versions of the 2024 budget.

Ningi claimed that the N28.7 trillion budget passed by the National Assembly and signed into law by President Bola Tinubu was skewed against the North.

Following his suspension, he was recalled on May 28 after the Deputy Minority Leader Senator Abba Moro initiated a process, expressing regret on his behalf.

The Bauchi Central senator resumed at the National Assembly on Tuesday after he was recalled.

The Police Service Commission (PSC) on Friday approved the appointment of Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Yahaya Sahabo Abubakar as Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG). Abubakar was until his appointment the AIG in charge of Zone 14 Katsina.

The police said he will represent the North East in the Police Management Team, replacing DIG Habu Sani who recently retired as DIG Force Intelligence Bureau and representing the Zone.

The Commission also approved the promotion of 122 other senior Police Officers; 10 Commissioners of Police to the next rank of AIGs; 15 Deputy Commissioners of Police to substantive Commissioners and 36 Assistant Commissioners of Police to Deputy Commissioners. Sixty-one Chief Superintendents of Police were also elevated to the next rank of Assistant Commissioners of Police.

The decisions, according to a statement by the Head, Press and Public Relations, PSC, Ikechukwu Ani were taken at the extraordinary Management Meeting of the Commission held on Thursday, June 6th, 2024 and presided over by the Chairman of the Commission, Solomon Arase.

The 15 Deputy Commissioners of Police; 10 Commissioners and AIG Abubakar appeared before the Commission in session for the compulsory interactive promotion interview which is one of the requirements for their promotion to the next rank.

The Commission Chairman at the interactive sessions told the Officers that in the emerging dynamic and ubiquity of crime and criminality within the revolution in Information and Communication technology, ” charting out pathways for effective policing and internal security management would have to necessarily orient from informed crafting and employment of applicable mix of strategies, standard operating procedures and tactics by the Police, other law enforcement and regulatory agencies of the state, mainstreaming a knowledge driven Police Force staffed by mentally mobile work force refined for optimum service delivery “.

Arase charged them to be genuinely committed to their sacred responsibility of securing the Nigerian nation by effectively protecting lives and property, preventing and containing crimes and criminality across the nation.

He pledged the Commission’s readiness to ensure that promotions of Officers and Men are regular and predictable.

The Commissioners of Police promoted to the new rank of AIGs are: Ahmed Ammani, former CP Enugu and currently in ICT Department, Force Headquarters; Mohammed Dankwara Adamu Deputy Commandant Police Academy, Wudil Kano; Gumel Mohammed Usaini, CP Kano State Command; Hamzat Adebola Ayinde, CP Oyo State Command; Okuoma Idegwu Basil, CP Elections, Force Headquarters Abuja; Achinyan Zachary’s Fera; CP FCID Enugu; Baba Zango Ibrahim, CP DFA, FCID, Abuja; Mohammed Isyaku, CP Admin, FCID Annex Lagos and CP Margaret Agebe Ochalla, CP Police Special Fraud Unit Annex Lagos.

DCP Bassey Samuel Ewah, DC Admin, Department of Operations, Force Headquarters; Osagie John Agans-Irabor, SCID, Benue State Command; DCP Edem Ita Selong, Admin and Finance, Zone 9 Umuahia and DCP Monday Agbonika, Interpol Annex Lagos were promoted to the substantive rank of Commissioners of Police.

Other Deputy Commissioners promoted to CPs were Michael Okoh, Department of Operations, Zone 9 Umuahia; Ayodele Oluyemi Sonubi, State CID, Oyo State Command; Iyama Daniel Edobor, Operations Department, Bayelsa State Command; Isa Danladi Nda, SWAT, FCID Abuja; Akaniyene Ifebem Ezima Zonal CID, Zone 17 Akure and Livingston Ikioye Orutugu, Commandant PMF Training School Ende Hills Jos.

Others are DCP Bello Rashid Afegbua, Admin, Department of Training, Force Headquarters, Abuja; Hycenth Azuka Edozie Force Operations FCID, FHQ Abuja; Haruna Alaba Yahaya, Interpol, FCID Abuja; Peter Ozigi Umoru, Zonal CID, Zone 8, Lokoja; Ayotunde Godwin Omodeinde, Operations Department, Cross Rivers State Command.

The 36 Assistant Commissioners of Police promoted to the next rank of Deputy Commissioners include; Obo Ukam Obo; Musibau Adeola Adedoyin; Lawal Bamidele Adeshina and Anthony Okon Placid. Others are Onyeamu Akaeme Onyeamu, AC, Ops, Enugu State Command; Suleiman K. Bayonle, Commander PMF 20, Lagos; Asuquo Effiong, Special Investigation Unit FHQ, Abuja; Mustapha A. Rufai, Area Commander Auchi; Victor Akongtendor Bepeh, DFA, BPF, Force Headquarters Abuja; Chinedu Ugwu, Area Commander, Oji River Enugu Command; Kingsley Ifeanyi Woke SCID Ebonyi State Command; Issah Onize Lawal, Zonal CID Zone 2 Lagos and Ifeanyi Aham Ohuruzo, Commander PMF 21 Abuja.

The statement said the list of the promoted officers has been conveyed to the IGP for implementation and further necessary action.

Don Jazzy, the Nigerian Music mogul, has revealed that he once made an attempt to sell his record label, Mo'hit Records, for a  a paltry sum of one million naira.

In an exclusive interview with Bounce Radio, Don Jazzy revealed that the struggling period followed the release of D’banj’s single “Tongolo”, which failed to yield the expected financial success.

The music mogul confirmed that he approached Nigerian music executive Obi Asika with the proposal, but the deal ultimately fell through.

Don Jazzy’s candid admission offers a rare glimpse into the challenges he faced in the early days of his career and serves as a testament to his resilience and determination in the face of adversity.

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) is condemning the actions of a West African Examinations Council (WAEC) supervisor who allegedly forced female Muslim students to remove their hijabs before entering an exam hall.

MURIC’s founder and director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, released a statement on Friday demanding sanctions against the supervisor.

“The Geography Supervisor of the WAEC examination taken on Friday, 31 May, 2024 at the International School, Ibadan, infringed on Allah-given fundamental rights of female Muslim students by forcing all of them to remove their hijabs before entering the examination hall.

“This is intimidation, coercion and harassment. The supervisor’s action is illegal, illegitimate, unlawful and unconstitutional. It is also in disregard of the rule of law and in contempt of the rulings of the courts of the land, including the Supreme Court,” he said.

According to MURIC, WAEC has previously issued guidelines permitting hijab use and forbidding student harassment. The organization is urging WAEC to take disciplinary action against the supervisor.

Professor Akintola expressed concern that such incidents could lead to public disorder.

“The supervisor’s action is equally provocative and capable of causing public disorder. We note with much concern that instead of confronting those who violate their rights, Muslims in the South-West have been taking legal action.

“What is most disturbing is that even though the courts have been ruling in favour of the Muslims, their oppressors have always been recalcitrant and stubbornly refusing to comply with court rulings.

“This is a sad narrative in the history of interreligious relationships in the South-West,” he added.

The statement further warned of potential consequences: “The natural concomitant followup is that very soon, Muslim leaders in the region will leave the Muslim youths and ask them to take their destiny in their hands since the law appears helpless. The Muslim youths will have no choice than to defend themselves.

“Those who refuse to respect the rule of law will have to face the rule of chaos. They will face the anger of oppressed Muslims who have been pushed to the wall.

“It is simply impossible for Muslims in the South-West to be law-abiding if the Christians are lawless. There is no other way to put it.”

MURIC threatened to blacklist exam centers and workplaces where Muslim rights are violated, suggesting picketing as a future tactic. The statement noted that this the “next stage in the struggle to liberate Muslims from oppression, downpression and repression.”

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will take on South Africa in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier clash at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Friday night.

As at the time of filing this report, the team has concluded preparations for the encounter with only tactical finishing touches remaining before the team takes to the magnificent edifice in the center of Uyo.

The man who has been saddled with the responsibility of getting the team’s World Cup dreams on track, Finidi George is confident that his players will give their all to grab the maximum points against South Africa.

Finidi said, “We have trained well, the players understand the task. I trust my players and their quality. It’s a must win game.

“We’re prepared for the game. The players are focused, they have really worked hard to expect victory on Friday.

“The AFCON win against South Africa is gone, this is a new game. We have our plans.

“We’ve put behind the AFCON clash in Ivory Coast. The AFCON and World Cup qualifiers are two different things. But overall, we will win”.

The former Enyimba coach said he is not scared ahead of the match, and reiterated once again that the team is all out to win tonight.

“I don’t have anything to prove. I am relaxed, it is football. I want to win, I understand the tasks. I am not scared, I played at the highest and we are going for a win.”

Three Super Eagles players were affected by the Nationwide strike on Monday, and some players arrived at the team’s camp on Tuesday and Thursday respectively, which means Finidi only had one training session with the full 23-man squad.

The 53-year-old insisted that the strike did not disrupt the team’s preparation for the match.

“The strike affected just three players, I had enough sessions with the squad,”

Meanwhile, The Super Eagles are now fourth in Group C after Benin Republic defeated Rwanda 1-0 on Thursday night.

The win propelled the Gernot Rohr-led team to second on the table on four points alongside table-toppers Rwanda.

South Africa are in the third position, while the Super Eagles occupy the fourth position. A win for Nigeria will take them to the top of the table with five points.

The match is slated for 8pm Nigerian time at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.

Chelsea have announced the signing of Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo ahead of the 2024-25 season.

Tosin joins Chelsea as a free agent after his contract at Fulham ran out this month, and he has become the first signing of the Enzo Maresca’s era at Stamford Bridge.

The 26-year-old has signed a four-year deal to become Chelsea’s first signing of the summer.

The Blues saw off a late challenge from Manchester United for his signature after hijacking his signing from Newcastle United.

Tosin is delighted to join Chelsea and expressed his desire to help return the club to its desired heights.

He said, “Chelsea is a huge club and this is a full-circle moment for me. I was born three miles away from Stamford Bridge and made my professional debut there.

“I’m very excited and looking forward to helping push the club in the direction we want to go.”

Tosin was born in London but raised in Manchester. He began his career with Man City at the age of five. He moved through the club’s youth ranks and regularly captained the Under-18s when he was 16 years old.

He is eligible to play for Nigeria despite representing England at youth level.

It is understood that Tosin is a replacement for Thiago Silva, who left the club at the end of the season to join Fluminese in Brazil.

Tosin will team up with Nigeria-eligible stars like Carney Chukwuemeka, Noni Madueke and Lesley Ugochukwu at Stamford Bridge.

The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) has ruled in favour of Nigerians in a dispute with pay-TV operator Multichoice Nigeria.

The Tribunal imposed a N150 million fine on Multichoice and ordered the company to provide a one-month free subscription to all DStv and GOtv customers.

The ruling was delivered by a three-man panel led by Justice Thomas Okosu on Friday. This decision follows a suit CCPT/OP/2/2024, filed by Barrister Festus Onifade.

In April 2024, Multichoice announced upcoming price adjustments for their DStv and GOtv packages, citing rising operational costs.

The email to subscribers read: “On Wednesday, 1 May 2024 we will adjust our prices across all our packages on DStv and GOtv. We understand the impact this change may have on you – our valued customer, but the rise in the cost of business operations, has led us to make this difficult decision. It remains our mission to provide the best entertainment and viewing experience to you and are committed to continue to deliver high-quality content and unparalleled service.”

This move resulted in a 25-26 percent increase across various subscription tiers.

Onifade challenged this action, focusing on the lack of proper notice rather than the price hike itself. He argued that the eight-day notice given by Multichoice before a price hike in May 2024 was insufficient.

The Tribunal, led by Justice Saratu Shafii, previously issued a restraining order preventing Multichoice from implementing the price increase scheduled for May 1, 2024, until the case was settled.

However, Multichoice disregarded the order and proceeded with the price adjustments.

Multichoice’s counsel, Moyosore J. Onibanjo (SAN), contested the CCPT’s authority to hear the case, citing a previous price dispute ruling in their favour.

Onibanjo tendered the previous judgement of the tribunal in suit no CCPT/OP/1/2022 (Exhibit A), alongside his application, stating that a court had ruled on the matter between the same parties, on the same subject, and that the same matter cannot be reinitiated by any tribunal or court.

He stated that the power to regulate prices is vested in the president of Nigeria, adding that the Tribunal is not the forum where the claimant can come to seek to regulate the prices and services offered by Multichoice.

Responding, Onifade said: “It is our submission that the 8-day notice issued by Multichoice Nigeria  is insufficient in law. A monthly subscriber should be given at least a month.

“Dismiss this application (by Multichoice) for being a waste of time on the court.”

Onifade also prayed the court to direct Multi-choice Nigeria Limited to pay a fine of N1,000,000,000.00 (One Billion Naira only) or any amount the court may deem fit for “deliberately disobeying, contravening, and failure to comply with the Interim Order of this Honourable Tribunal granted on the 29th April 2024.”

The Tribunal’s ruling on Friday condemned Multichoice’s actions. They emphasized the company’s failure to comply with the interim order and the inadequate notice period provided to customers.

“The jurisdiction of this tribunal extends to all business activities within Nigeria.

“I have come to the conclusion that this tribunal has the jurisdiction to preside over consumer rights as in the instant case and I resolve this issue against Multichoice.

“The first defendant is hereby mandated to pay N150 million penalty.

“Multichoice is hereby ordered to give Nigerians a one month free subscription.” the judge ruled.

Okosu noted that he looked at relevant provisions cited by parties and did not find where an aggrieved consumer who seeks to enforce his rights is required to file a complaint to the President of Nigeria or the Price Control Board.

As Labour, FG Continues Negotiation

Report has indicated that state governors are not considering a new national minimum wage that is higher than ₦70,000.

According to The Nation, the state helmsmen, after a meeting in Abuja reviewed the situation and concluded that any amount above ₦70,000 is not feasible.

They ruled out the ₦100,000 option being dangled by some people.

Sources at the meeting said the governors, who met under the auspices of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), considered options between ₦60,000 offered to Labour by the Federal Government before the strike, and ₦70,000, which is what the Edo State Government has started paying.

The source said, “After deliberation on the minimum wage, we decided to consider options between N60,000 and N70,000 a month. We could not reach a concrete decision on the wage rate for states.

“Eventually, a committee, to be led by Governor Uzodimma, was mandated to look at all presentations and make recommendations.

“The NGF will soon reconvene to consider the Uzodimma Committee report.

“No state can afford to pay a N100,000 minimum wage and we have ruled out this benchmark.

“Records available to us indicated that some states are still paying N18,000 because they are unable to afford N30,000 (which came into effect in 2019). Only a state has adopted a N70, 000 wage.”

Naija News reports that this development is in line with a previous statement by Chairman of NGF and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq that states will only agree to a minimum wage that is “affordable and sustainable”.

The naira appreciated against the dollar in the foreign exchange market.

According to FMDQ data, the naira was exchanged at N1,481.49 for a dollar on Thursday, compared to N1,488.60 on Wednesday.

This represents a slight N7.11 appreciation.

Similarly, in the parallel market section, the currency appreciated to N1,485 against the dollar on Thursday from N1,500 on Wednesday.

The development comes after the naira depreciated for the second consecutive time.

Nigeria’s forex market has continued to experience fluctuations since mid-April 2024, despite the Central Bank of Nigeria’s intervention.

FMDQ securities exchange data showed that the apex bank sold $575 million to banks as an intervention in May 2024.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, has lamented his inability to pay his four drivers a monthly salary of N100,000 each.

This revelation came during his address to a Christian group on Thursday, as he sought their support amid ongoing negotiations by the Tripartite Committee on the national minimum wage with the Organised Labour.

In his address, Akume stated, “I can’t afford to pay my drivers N100,000 each because they are four of them, along with other dependants. Labour initially demanded N600,000, which equates to approximately N9.9 trillion for the federal government. Where do we get that money from? Then labour reduced it to N400,000, which still amounts to over N5 trillion. We are asking for understanding because we simply cannot meet these demands.

He further explained, “We are exploring alternative solutions, such as housing schemes. The Federal Housing authorities are actively collecting lands across states to create housing facilities for a significant portion of the Nigerian populace.”

LEADERSHIP recalls that the organised labour and the Federal Government have been in prolonged negotiations. On Monday, labour declared an indefinite strike after their demands were not met. The strike, which disrupted various sectors of the economy, including airports and electricity, was called off on Tuesday as both parties resumed negotiations.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, was being awaited to submit the minimum wage template to President Bola Tinubu on Thursday.