The Police Service Commission has approved the promotion of 5,718 senior police officers, comprising those on general duties and specialist cadres.

The spokesperson for the PSC, Ikechukwu Ani, in a statement on Thursday, said the commission approved the promotion of 12 Commissioners of Police to the next rank of Assistant Inspectors General of Police; 19 Deputy Commissioners of Police to the substantive rank of Commissioners of Police and 21 Assistant Commissioners of Police to the next rank of Deputy Commissioners.

Also, 33 Chief Superintendents of Police were also elevated to Assistant Commissioners. The commission also approved the promotion of 265 Superintendents of Police to Chief Superintendents; 59 Deputy Superintendents to Superintendents and 4,750 Assistant Superintendents and another 146 Assistant Superintendents omitted during the May 2022 promotion exercise, were elevated to Deputy Superintendent of Police.

For the specialist’s cadre, the PSC approved the promotion of two Assistant Commissioners of Police; one from Airwing and the other from Forensic to the next rank of Deputy Commissioners; 47 CSPs, comprising 23 medical doctors and 24 veterinary doctors, were promoted to the rank of Assistant Commissioners of Police. Also, 190 Superintendents of Police from the Computer Infotech Unit; another eight from Works; one workshop; 12 transport; two forensic; two handwriting; one ballistics; one religion and one veterinary doctor were also promoted. Furthermore, 47 specialists of Assistant Superintendent of Police rank and of different units were promoted to Deputy Superintendents.

The 12 Commissioners of Police promoted to Assistant Inspectors General of Police are, Ogundele Ayodeji, CP Niger State; CP Patrick Edung, CP Courses Police Academy Wudil Kano; CP Badru Lawal; Deputy Commandant, Police Academy Kano; CP Bartholomew Nnamdi Onyeka; CP Benue State; CP Suleiman Yusuf; CP Taraba State; CP Idowu Owohunwa; CP Lagos State and CP Rhoda Olofu, CP PAP Western Ports Lagos.

Others are CP Godwin Aghaulor; CMDT Police College Kaduna; CP Effiom Ekot CP Jigawa State; CP Stanley Kanayo-Chukwu Ude; CP Intelligence and Investigation, Interpol Abuja; CP Longe Patrick; CP Osun State and CP Ndu Anene, CP Admin Research and Planning Force Headquarters.

The PSC Chairman, Solomon Arase charged the newly promoted officers to embrace a new policing culture hinged on a people-friendly approach and respect for human rights.

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria and the Forum of State Executive Secretaries of Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, Agencies, and Commissions have agreed to peg the minimum deposit for the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage exercise at N4.5m.

NAHCON’s Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Fatima Usara, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

The commission said the decision became necessary to be “in tandem with the dollar rate that will determine the final cost of the coming Hajj.”

Usara said the commission and its stakeholders reached the decision on September 5, following a post-Hajj meeting, where they agreed on the sum as minimum deposit for intending pilgrims to be registered for the 2024 exercise.

NAHCON said the reasons for the decision were so that the states could estimate how many pilgrims would be eligible by November 4 and that with the amount, top-up residual would be minimal by the time the final fare is calculated.

NAHCON said the new rate would enable it to have “a more realistic figure to bargain for cost of accommodation, airline fares, feeding, and others.”

“The said meeting ended with members agreeing unanimously with this plan. Indeed, the Hajj industry in Nigeria is recognised under only one leadership, which is the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, and this institution reiterates that the minimum deposit for the 2024 Hajj remains N4.5m. The balance will be determined by the cost of the dollar at the time of final Hajj fare computation.”

The statement consequently warned the public, especially intending pilgrims, that the Commission would not be held responsible if a pilgrim who paid a lower deposit amount was counted ineligible for the 2024 Hajj.

Usara also reminded interested participants to make deposits in time, to enable the various State Pilgrims Boards to complete registration and remittance of Hajj fares.

The Lamidi Apapa-led faction of the Labour Party has alleged some discrepancies in the academic certificates of its presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

The claim was made by the spokesman for the LP faction, Abayomi Arabambi, when he was featured in an interview on AIT News on Thursday.

The development is coming in the wake of the controversy that trails President Bola Tinubu’s Chicago State University certificate.

Obi had on Wednesday dragged Tinubu at a press conference where he challenged the former Lagos governor to reveal his true identity to Nigerians.

But Arabambi insisted on the live television programme that it would be unfair of the LP candidate to attack Tinubu when he also has discrepancies in academic qualifications.

While disclosing that he was among the panel who screened Obi before the party’s presidential primary, the factional spokesman alleged that the name on the academic certificate Obi bagged from the University of Nigeria in Nsukka contradicts the name on that of his National Youth Service Corps.

He said: “I was part of the people who did the screening for him. In the form EC9 we gave him, he wrote that he attended the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and that he finished his youth service. But unfortunately, in the final submission of the form, he only submitted his school certificate.

“So, something is fishy, and I want to say the name the school sent for mobilisation was not what was written on his NYSC certificate, and he knows that. For us, we don’t know the true identity of Peter Obi even in the Labour Party because everything was shrouded in secrecy at that time in Asaba.

“You know we were rushing because we had just a day to do our presidential primary, and that was why he was able to get away with it. But we have it on record that Obi’s name on his NYSC certificate and the one on his university of Nigeria, Nsukka, certificate are different.”

But the National Publicity Secretary of the, Obiora Ifoh, denied the allegation.

While describing Arabambi as one of the renegades of the party, Ifoh told our correspondent that his predecessor was out to cause chaos in the party by doing the bidding of his alleged paymasters.

“Arabambi should try something else. Our candidate, Peter Gregory Obi, is a known figure whose parentage, birth, schools attended and record of public service, has never been in dispute.

“As he said publicly yesterday (Wednesday), some of his mates at the University of Nigeria Nsukka are alive. In fact, they are holding high office in the management team of the university today. This can be verified. His certificates are in the public domain and can be scrutinised by any interested Nigerian.

“Arabambi, is obviously doing the bidding of his paymasters who are desperate to destroy our party. We challenge Arabambi’s principal to do the same and save our nation further embarrassment,” Ifoh said.

The Senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, has stated that the South-East region will appeal to the Federal Government for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra.

In a Thursday interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Ubah expressed confidence that through consultations and concerted efforts, there will be a plea for Kanu’s release.

While acknowledging the legal complexities of the matter, Senator Ubah emphasised the need for unity in addressing issues affecting the region.

“I am of the firm belief that if we can consult – with the consultation we have had, the government will start looking in that direction.

“Even though it is something that the government cannot say – based on the issues in court, the government cannot say that they can take a unilateral position. But I believe by the time we join the forces coming into the centre spread, we will make an appeal,” he said.

He emphasised the importance of stability and tranquillity in the region.

“Everybody that wants peace in the South-East should help join or help pray for me and see that my move will bring value to the South-East and bring tranquillity and peace so that people will start going back to the southeast.

“People are no more going: Mondays are being observed as sit-at-home, so many things are involved,” Ubah added.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission says it has completed all arrangements to commence its sixth phase of tracking some fraudulent constituency projects across the country.

The commission specifically disclosed that it would deploy its officers across all six geo-political zones of the country, starting from Monday, October 16 to track 1,932 projects valued at ₦500 billion.

The spokesperson for the commission, Azuka Ogugua, who revealed this in Abuja on Thursday, explained that the objective of the exercise was to ensure improved service delivery to the people across nooks and crannies of the country.

She listed focal states for the exercise as Nasarawa, Benue, Kogi, Niger, Kwara, Plateau, Adamawa, Borno, Bauchi.

Other focal states, according to Ogugua include Taraba, Gombe, Yobe, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Anambra, Ebonyi, Imo, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Edo, Ekiti, Lagos, Ondo States and the Federal Capital Territory.

The anti-graft agency also announced that it would put special intervention agencies or captive funds projects handling and execution of the North-East Development Commission and Presidential Amnesty Programme under its radar.

She added that Niger Delta Development Commission, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, Ecological Fund Office, National Health Insurance Authority, and Hydro-Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission among others would be focused on.

“The objectives of the exercise include improved service delivery to the people by investigating fraudulent procurement practices in the award of public contracts; full execution of all publicly funded projects; execution to the specification of all projects funded by the government; ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements and ensuring that government gets value for monies spent on projects.

“The commission will also be focusing on special intervention agencies/captive funds projects handling and execution of North-East Development Commission, Presidential Amnesty Program, Niger Delta Development Commission, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, Ecological Fund Office, National Health Insurance Authority, and Hydro-Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission amongst others.

“As usual, the exercise will be carried out by ICPC in collaboration with relevant stakeholders such as Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, the media and civil society organizations,” the ICPC spokesperson revealed on Thursday.

The White House on Thursday said it was working to organise charter flights to help United States citizens leave Israel as the country reels from the massive attack by Hamas.

Fears of a regional conflagration have surged amid expectations of a looming Israeli ground incursion into Gaza, the crowded enclave from where Hamas launched its land, air and sea attack on Saturday.

The US State Department had noted that the known death toll of US citizens in the violence had risen to “at least 22.”

“Beginning tomorrow, (the) United States government will arrange charter flights to provide transportation from Israel to sites in Europe,” said White House national security spokesman John Kirby.

According to France 24, Kirby added that officials were “still working through some of the details”.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will step back from direct development finance interventions and refocus on its core mandate of monetary policy and advisory roles, according to CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso.

In a statement on Thursday, Cardoso said the apex bank under previous leadership had blurred lines by engaging in fiscal interventions outside its purview. He noted that the CBN will now play an advisory role by promoting specialized institutions and financial products that catalyze emerging economic sectors.

The CBN chief outlined new regulatory frameworks to unlock dormant capital in real estate, expand consumer credit access and financial inclusion. He identified housing, textiles, food supply chains, healthcare and education as sectors with high local input potential for rapid industrialization.

Cardoso stressed that the CBN will leverage its convening power to foster public-private partnerships between stakeholders on development initiatives. However, he cautioned that the apex bank does not have a magic wand to immediately solve the large, complex economic problems it inherited.

The governor said focused leadership and sustained reforms will over time attract investments, create jobs and improve prosperity. He highlighted reforms around corporate governance, institutional autonomy, unorthodox policies, forex management and financing of fiscal deficits.

According to Cardoso, the CBN is weighing options to clear forex backlogs, ensure price stability and enforce statutory limits in deficit financing. He expressed confidence that the bank will fulfill its mandate through the ongoing reforms.

The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee will confer the title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria on 58 legal practitioners out of the 69 shortlisted applicants.

Our correspondent learnt that most of the disqualified applicants were those in academia.

12 professors were shortlisted in the category but only Prof. Babatunde Oni would be conferred with the SAN title.

The Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court and Secretary of the LPPC, Hajo Sarki-Bello, said in a statement on Thursday that the LPPC took the decision on the applicants at its 159th session held on October 12 presided over by the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.

“The rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria is awarded to members of the legal profession who have distinguished themselves as advocates and academics.

“The swearing-in ceremony of the 58 successful applicants is to take place on Monday, November 27, 2023,” Sarki-Bello said.

The successful applicants, according to the statement were a human rights activist, Olukayode Ajulo, Felix Offia, Lawrence Falade, Kingsley Obamogie, Folasade Alli, Abiola Isiaq Oyebanji, Bomo Agbebi, Daniel Uruakpa, and Oseloka Osuigwe.

Others include the wife of foremost human rights lawyer, Funmi Falana, Babatunde Adeoye, Babaseyi Joseph, Emmanuel Enoidem, Kehinde Aina, Nghozi Oleh, Aaron Okoroma, Ibrahim Angulu, and Olayiwola Afolabi.

Athletics Integrity Unit on Thursday slammed one of the country’s fastest sprinters ever, Divine Oduduru with a six-year ban for doping-related offences.

As contained in a press statement issued Thursday by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), Oduduru has been handed a six-year ban by a three-member Disciplinary Tribunal for committing two Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs).

The violations include the Possession of Prohibited Substances and the Attempted Use of a Prohibited Substance or Method. Additionally, Oduduru has been ordered to pay World Athletics a fine of US$3000 )over N3m) to cover expenses related to the case.

The ban is retroactive, starting from 9 February 2023, the date of Oduduru’s provisional suspension – and extends until February 8, 2029.

Furthermore, all of Oduduru’s results from 12 July 2021, to the date of his provisional suspension have been disqualified.

According to the AIU statement on Thursday, the case unfolded as part of a criminal investigation into Eric Lira, the first person to plead guilty under the US Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act for providing performance-enhancing drugs to Olympic athletes ahead of the Tokyo Olympic Games.

The US Department of Justice’s initial complaint, issued in January 2022, referred to two athletes, “Athlete-1” and “Athlete-2.” The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) identified “Athlete-1” as Blessing Okagbare, who faced an 11-year ban last year, and, following an interview with Oduduru, concluded that he was “Athlete-2.”

Brett Clothier, Head of the AIU, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating, “We are very pleased with the outcome of this matter, given its particularly grievous nature, exposing the sinister collusion between athletes and other persons in deliberate plans to corrupt athletics at the highest level.”

Clothier emphasised the AIU’s commitment to uncovering cheats and acknowledged the cooperation with investigative organizations such as the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and the United States Department of Justice, whose legal reach provided crucial evidence in both Oduduru’s and Okagbare’s cases.

The panel found Oduduru guilty of Possession of a Prohibited Substance and Attempted Use of a Prohibited Substance, treating them as a single first violation.

The mandatory four-year ban for the combined violation was extended by an additional two years for Aggravating Circumstances.

The panel justified the longer ban by citing Oduduru’s involvement in a scheme with a teammate to procure multiple non-specified Prohibited Substances to influence athletic competitions.

Oduduru, who turned 27 on 7 October, maintained his innocence despite overwhelming evidence against him.

The AIU’s case relied on WhatsApp messages between Okagbare and Lira, revealing Oduduru’s solicitation of Prohibited Substances and photographic evidence of these substances in his Florida apartment.

The substances found included human growth hormone (Somatropin), synthetic Insulin Growth Factor (IGF LR3), and recombinant erythropoietin (EPO).

The panel considered it an extraordinary coincidence that these substances precisely matched those requested by Okagbare from Lira for both herself and Oduduru.

The panel concluded that Oduduru was in constructive possession of the Prohibited Substances based on the circumstances surrounding their discovery in his exclusive control.

Despite the ban and the damning evidence, Oduduru maintained his innocence, and the fallout from this scandal is set to have lasting repercussions on his athletic career and the broader integrity of track and field competitions.

The House of Representatives has called upon the Tinubu administration to contemplate reinstating a price control board in the nation, aiming to enforce government-approved prices for goods and stabilize overall commodity prices.

This request stems from the adoption of a motion concerning urgent public matters presented by Hussaini Jallo (PDP-Kaduna) during Thursday’s plenary in Abuja.

The motion, titled: ‘’Need to enforce the price control act to regulate and monitor price of essential goods and services in the country,’’ was aimed at preventing the hoarding of goods and protecting customers from exorbitant prices.

He stated that the overall increase in prices across Nigeria has had a ripple effect on both goods and services. He emphasized the necessity of implementing a Price Control Act to stabilize the nation’s economy, mitigate excessive inflation, and ensure affordability of essential commodities for all.

According to him, implementing such an act would help maintain economic balance in the nation. He highlighted the lack of proper regulation on commodity prices, resulting in unpredictable hikes in petroleum product costs, particularly Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS), automotive gas oil (AGO), and kerosene.

The fluctuating prices adversely affected the transportation sector, subsequently impacting the cost of living for the ordinary citizens. He warned that if the ongoing economic challenges were left unaddressed, it could lead to economic disparity and contribute to social unrest, fostering discontent among the citizenry who may perceive the government as insensitive to their needs.

Consequently, the House urged the federal government to impose zero duty on agricultural products for a five-year period to incentivize agricultural production and ease the burden on farmers. They proposed the establishment of a price control board responsible for setting, regulating, and monitoring the prices of essential commodities, extending beyond cement, sugar, and food items.

To ensure compliance, the House mandated its Committee on Commerce to oversee and report back within four days for further legislative action.