The Senate will today (Tuesday) screen the acting Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr Olayemi Cardoso, for confirmation into a substantive capacity alongside four nominees for the positions of CBN Deputy Governors, to steer affairs of the apex bank in the next five years.

The Red Chamber, which is returning from its two-month annual vacation, has also scheduled the screening of two additional ministerial nominees by President Bola Tinubu for Tuesday, October 3, 2023.

The Media Office of the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed this in a statement on Monday evening.

While the National Assembly was on break, the President appointed the duo of Dr. Jamila Ibrahim and Ayodele Olawande as Minister of Youths and Minister of State for Youths respectively.

Tinubu also approved the nomination of Cardoso as the new Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria pending his confirmation by the Senate.

Last week, Cardoso resumed as the CBN governor in an acting capacity pending his screening and expected confirmation by the Senate.

The statement by the Senate Leader office said, “Dr. Cardoso will be screened alongside four deputy governors: namely Mrs. Emem Nnana Usoro, Mr. Muhammad Sani Abdullahi Dattijo, Mr. Philip Ikeazor, and Dr. Bala M. Bello.

“Besides, the Senate has scheduled to screen the ministerial nominees – Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim and Mr. Ayodele Olawande, respectively designated as Minister of Youth and Minister of State for Youth on October 3.”

Meanwhile, the Senate also pledged not to disappoint Nigerians as regards the appropriation of the 2024 budget.

Speaking on the agenda of the Red Chamber ahead of its resumption, the Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, emphasised that the revitalisation of the economy was top of its priorities.

Adaramodu said, “Soon after the resumption, the appropriation process will commence.

“The 10th Senate will not disappoint Nigerians; we’d ensure that we do what is expected of us because we are in a peculiar time when all hands must be on deck and Nigerians are eagerly waiting to see us do the needful to save Nigeria from the economic troubles we are currently experiencing and that permanent solutions are proffered.

“We’d ensure that appropriations are targeted at deliverables that can enhance a good life and good living of Nigerians and we are going to ensure that those that are approved are delivered to the latter and that quality services are given to Nigerians so that we can realise the goals of the Nigerian project so that we can ensure that life is more abundant to everyone to Nigerians.”

Adaramodu said the Senate expected the President to send the budget soon.

The Kwara Upper Area Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Monday, admitted Abdulazeez Adegbola better known as Tani Olorun to administrative bail.

The presiding judge of the court, Mr Sunday Adeniyi, while ruling on the bail application filed by a team of counsel defending Tani Olorun, who was standing trial in a case of criminal defamation and other offences before the court granted him bail and two sureties in the sum N5 million each.

Adeniyi said that the two sureties must be reliable and be resident within the jurisdiction of the court.

“The two sureties must provide evidence of having N5 million in their respective bank account. One of the two sureties must be a community leader in Ilorin while one must own a landed property with a Certificate of Occupancy properly signed by the government. The two sureties must have evidence of tax payment to the government at least in the last seven years,” he declared.

Tani Olorun with Chief Ademola Olawoore, Oluwo Nla of Tede were standing trial on five count charges of alleged criminal conspiracy, inciting public disturbance, disturbance of public peace, criminal defamation of character and intentional insult before the Upper Area Court.

The offence according to the prosecution was contrary to sections 97, 210, 392, and 114 of the penal code law of Nigeria.

While Oluwo Nla was admitted to bail last Wednesday, the ruling on Tani Olorun’s case was deferred till today (Monday) because the prosecution opposed his bail application.

The case was adjourned till October 23, 2023, for further hearing.

Spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, says he has never collected bribe since he joined the police.

Adejobi said this on Monday while responding to an X user who asked him to swear by his “village deity” that he had never accepted a bribe since joining the force.

The verified user posed the question after Adejobi wrote: “Police administrative bail is free. If anyone demands bail money, you too demand an invoice or receipt to prove payment. If he can’t issue it, dont pay. That is a fraud. I have said this severally. Thanks”.

Adejobi responded saying that since joining the police force in 2005, he has never accepted bribe.

He further disclosed that as a crowned prince of Owu, it would be “ridiculous” for him to accept bribes.

“I have answered this. PR is in me. I joined NIPR in 2004 before I joined the police in 2005. I have been a PR man before I even applied to join the police. I even reject gifts. Many people on Twitter have been willing to recharge my phone, but i appeal to them not to do.

“Those who know me know I reject gifts, let alone bribe. I am a crowned prince of Owu, so it’s ridiculous to take a bribe. If you do well, Nigerians are very nice and ready to appreciate you, and bless you in all areas, if you are a nice officer,” the police PRO wrote.

Recall that there have been several documented cases of Nigerian police officers involved in extortion.

Last years, a report from a survey conducted by the NOI Polls revealed that 73 per cent of Nigerians do not trust the personnel of the Nigerian Police Police.

The survey conducted by NOIPolls, a research organisation and Afrobarometer’s national partner for Nigeria and presented in Abuja, was collated through face-to-face interviews within the past year and fieldwork in March 2022.

Also, 73 per cent of Nigerians said “most” or “all” police are corrupt, which is the worse among public institutions like the parliament.

In 2016, the World Internal Security and Police Index (WISPI) rated Nigeria Police Force (NPF) as the worst in the world.

The WISPI was produced by two bodies – the International Police Science Association and the Institute for Economics and Peace.

The report measured the ability of the police to address internal security issues. The police in 127 countries were assessed across four key areas and that of Nigeria scored the least in those areas.

The impeached chairman of Ijebu-East Local Government (LG), Wale Adedayo, has reportedly been arrested at his residence in Ijebu-Ife, Ogun State.

Naija News understands that Adebayo was arrested on Monday by operatives of the Ogun State Police Command.

Recall that the impeached LG Chairman had accused the Gov. Dapo Abiodun-led administration of diverting Local Government funds.

According to Adebayo, the state government had since 2021 been tampering with funds for the state’s local governments (LGs) sent through it by the federal government.

His claims had led to his impeachment by the LG’s councilors over allegations of financial misappropriation.

Confirming his arrest, Kafayat Adedayo, wife of the impeached LG Chairman, said her husband was arrested by officers numbering about ten from the Police Command headquarters at Eleweran in Abeokuta.

She said the police officers informed her that his arrest was based on a petition written against him by the state government.

Kafayat said: “They came on Monday afternoon in a Mitsubishi car to effect his arrest. About four of them were in uniform, while others were in mufti.

“The police operatives said they were acting on instructions based on a petition filed against him by the state government.

“He was taken to Abeokuta by the police.”

When contacted, the commissioner of police in the state, CP Abiodun Alamutu, confirmed Adedayo’s arrest.

The Executive Secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Arc. Sonny Echono, says it has spent N146 billion to sponsor over 10,227 scholars under Academic Staff Training and Development Intervention Programme.

He said 1,017 of the beneficiaries were sponsored for bench work at the sum of N5 billion.

“However, upon return of the scholars to their various institutions, many were unable to share the knowledge acquired and replicate their experiences due largely to the research infrastructure deficit in their institutions,” he said.

He added that the Fund in 2020 through the Special Research Grant to address COVID-19 funded eight research projects at a total cost of N260,280,393.00 to support the Federal Government’s response.

Arc Echono stated these on Monday in Abuja during the inauguration of an ad hoc committee on the establishment of central multipurpose laboratories in select universities in the country.

He said the move was part of efforts to provide relevant infrastructure to aid research in the country.

According to the TETFund boss, it is universally accepted that innovative research and its commercialization is the driver of economic growth and prosperity in the contemporary world.

“Thus, it is imperative to make conscious efforts to not only develop our human capital but to also provide research infrastructure to support innovative R&D on a sustainable basis. It is indeed a key pre-requisite for accelerated national development and global competitiveness,” Echono said.

He said the agency was deploying billions of naira to fund research programmes and projects with a view to deepening the institutionalization of Research and Development to tackle national challenges.

“You will recall that the Fund has so far awarded a total of 727 Research Grants to researchers from public tertiary institutions at the cost of over N18 billion under the National Research Fund (NRF) to undertake applied research in various academic disciplines,” he said.

He said some of the scholars who have benefited from the NRF grants often requested that to complete the execution of the research project might require them to cross international borders to access certain facilities/equipment due to lack of requisite research facilities in their institutions.

“In some cases, these tend to affect the financial burden associated with the research projects, coupled with time expended for travelling,” Echono said.

Echono said the committee, which has former Vice Chancellor of University of Ibadan, Emeritus Professor Olufemi Bamiro, as chairperson, has one month to submit its report.

In his acceptance speech, Bamiro expressed the readiness of the team to deliver on the assigned task.

“This will surely go a long way in rejuvenating research and training in research in our nation state.

“The committee, like the assignment, is multidisciplinary in nature, with experts, and I mean really experienced experts, in the areas of food science and technology, energy, engineering, parasitology, medicine, biochemistry, nuclear physics, and architecture. I do not see any critical area of research endeavour that can escape the eagle eyes of the members,” he said.

Meanwhile other members of the committee are Professor Ekanem Braide, Professor Joseph Ahaneku, Professor Suleiman Mustapha, Professor Yusuf Saidu, Professor Nasir Isa Fagge, Professor Abubakar S. Sambo, Professor Ibrahim Katampe and Mallam Buhari Mikailu.

The presidential election planned for February in the military-ruled West African state of Mali has to be postponed “for technical reasons”, the transitional government announced on Monday.

The junta cited the updating of the electoral roll and problems with a census database following a dispute with the operating company as reasons.

A new election date is to be announced at a later date, it said.

The military seized power in Mali more than two years ago and the timetable for the transition has been delayed before.

A constitutional referendum planned for February 2023 was not held until June, and local elections planned for June have still not taken place.

The security situation is very bad in the north and centre of Mali.

Islamists close to the terrorist militias Islamic State and al-Qaeda control large areas of the country on the edge of the Sahara.

At the request of the military junta of Colonel Assimi Goïta, the UN stabilisation mission with around 12,000 peacekeepers would withdraw by the end of the year.

The Malian army has turned away from former European partners such as the ex-colonial power France and is fighting the terrorists with the help of Russian mercenaries.

Neighbours Burkina Faso and Niger, also terrorized by Islamists in the common border region, are also ruled by the military after coups.

The latest coup in Niger in July triggered international anger and a regional crisis.

France announced on Sunday that it would withdraw its soldiers from Niger by the end of the year. (dpa/NAN)

The Lagos State governorship election petition tribunal, has affirmed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s election.

Justice Mikhail Abdullah affirmed Sanwo-Olu’s victory while dismissing the petitions of governorship candidates of the Labour Party, LP, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, GRV, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Olajide Adediran.

GRV and Adediran filed separate petitions to contest the outcome of the last governorship election in the state.

However, the tribunal headed by Justice Abdullah dismissed the petitions

The Ondo State deputy governor, Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has reportedly been served an allegation letter of alleged gross misconduct by the state Assembly, Naija News has learned.

It was gathered that the letter, which is expected to be replied to by the deputy governor within seven days, arrived at his office on Monday at around 3:16 pm after several days of evading service.

Recall that the Ondo assembly directed the Clerk to write the deputy governor over the allegation of gross misconduct levelled against him while he was acting governor of the state when Rotimi Akeredolu was away for medical treatment in Germany.

According to Vanguard, members of staff of his Aiyedatiwa’s office refused to collect the allegation letter from the Clerk of the House, Jaiyeola Benjamin saying they were acting on instructions.

The staff claimed that they’d been warned against collecting any letter from the House of Assembly.

One of the staff, according to the platform, alleged that they were threatened with a sack, should they accept the letter.

However, Aiyedatiwa, in an earlier statement on Monday, said he had yet to receive any letter to formally inform him of anything concerning the matter.

He stated, ”It is pertinent to put on record that as of today, Monday, September 25, 2023, I have not received any official communication or any “letter of allegations of gross misconduct” from the Ondo State House of Assembly.

” I find it especially worrying that the spokesman of the House of Assembly would go on national television to speak on such a matter without any evidence to show that such letter has been delivered to me. More disturbing is the fact that even when he was asked if the letter had been delivered, he gave no coherent answer.

” A sensitive constitutional matter of this nature, the impeachment process should not be conducted on the pages of newspapers and television screens.

“In effect, I reiterate that if such “letter of allegations of gross misconduct” against me exists, I have not seen it, and I have not been served. I therefore urge Mr. Speaker, The Honourable Chief Judge of Ondo State and members of the public to take note.”

Meanwhile, Naija News also reported that Aiyedatiwa had requested a court order to stop the State House of Assembly from proceeding with the impeachment proceedings against him.

Aiyedatiwa, in suit No. AK/348/2023, filed at the High Court in Akure on Monday, is requesting the court to, among other things, stop the House of Assembly from impeaching him because it is not competent.

In a letter dated September 25, 2023, from the Chambers of Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN) and Co. and delivered to the office of the Chief Judge of Ondo State, copies of the court processes were duly attached for the information of the Chief Judge.

Aiyedatiwa also sought orders of injunction to stop the House of Assembly from initiating, continuing, or proceeding with the process of his removal from office as the Deputy Governor of Ondo State.

He is also praying the court stop the Chief Judge of Ondo State from accepting or acting upon any request from the House of Assembly of Ondo State to set up any panel to investigate any acts of gross misconduct against the Deputy Governor.

According to him, the impeachment move is in breach of his constitutional and fundamental rights to fair hearing and that the sacking of his media aides and subjecting him to the Ministry of Information headed by a Commissioner amounts to a breach of his rights and privileges as a Deputy Governor.

The Ondo deputy governor is also seeking a declaration that his office, tenure, status, rights and privileges are protected, guaranteed and secured by the Constitution, and the declaration that in the determination of his civil rights and obligations as a Deputy Governor of Ondo State by the House of Assembly, he is entitled to a fair hearing and that given the utterances and conduct of the House of Assembly so far, there is likelihood of bias against him in the impeachment process.

Aiyedatiwa was alleged to have ordered the N300 million to be sourced from the Palliative fund, which was from the Federal government to the state, in order to cushion the effect of the removal of fuel subsidy.

But Aiyedatiwa has since denied the allegation, describing it as a fabricated lie.

All Progressives Congress (APC) Chieftain, Bayo Onanuga, has slammed supporters of the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the February 25th election, Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the controversy on the certificate of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Onanuga, while responding to an X user who posted two documents concerning the academic records of Tinubu, said supporters of the opposition parties are chasing shadows and wasting time arguing about Tinubu’s attendance at Chicago State University.

The supposed LP supporter claimed that Tinubu had an opportunity to clear himself of the certificate saga but ignored the international media.

He called on the Supreme Court to disqualify Tinubu for certificate forgery and impersonation of someone’s identity.

Responding to the post, Onanuga reiterated that President Tinubu attended and graduated from the Chicago State University, stressing he knew the truth as far back as 1999.

The APC chieftain said he visited the school and collected Tinubu’s first attestation letter from the school’s registrar.

He further urged LP and PDP supporters to allow Tinubu to breathe to enable him to face the business of governance.

He wrote: “Supporters of Atiku and Peter Obi continue to chase shadows and waste time controverting President Tinubu’s attendance of Chicago State University.

“The unassailable truth is that he attended the university and graduated in 1979. As far back as 1999, I knew this to be the truth. I visited the university as the editor-in-chief of my paper and collected from the school’s registrar the first attestation letter about Tinubu’s graduation.

“The document you gleefully posted on the right shows your confusion and malice. It speaks about University of Chicago and not CSU. Can you and your band please allow President Tinubu to breathe to enable him to face the serious business of governance?”

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised alarm over the fire incident at the Supreme Court, describing it as suspicious.

The party, which demanded a full-scale investigation into the fire incident, said that the intention was to cripple and frustrate the Supreme Court from effectively discharging its constitutional duties, especially with regard to high-profile electoral cases.

PDP, in a statement by its spokesman, Hon Debo Ologunagba, said, “PDP is worried over the fire outbreak especially given heightened public apprehension of possible arsonist attack with the intent to cripple and frustrate the Supreme Court from effectively discharging its constitutional duties, especially with regard to high profile electoral cases including the Presidential Election Appeals pending before it.

“Our Party demands an immediate full-scale investigation into the fire outbreak with the view to unraveling the circumstances or possible sabotage in the incident.”

The PDP insisted that the outcome of the investigation should be made public unlike those of previous fire incidents in various government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, which were characteristically swept under the carpet by the All Progressives Congress (APC) administrations.

While calling on the Federal Government to beef up security around the Supreme Court, the PDP also demanded that Nigerians must be assured of the safety of sensitive documents and equipment at the Court, especially at this critical time.