By the end of 2021, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC) had not remitted $1.9 billion to the government’s account.

This is according to the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) audit report.

NEITI publishes a yearly audit of the oil, gas, and solid minerals sector.

Ogbonnaya Orji, the head of NEITI, said at the report’s unveiling in Abuja on Monday that the organization “discovered this information and felt it was important that the public knows about it.”

Crude oil losses due to theft and sabotage decreased by 3.86 percent in 202, according to the report.

Orji stated that crude oil production fell from 39.08 million barrels in 2020 to 37.57 million barrels in 2021, and that “this decline is attributed to reduced crude oil production during that period, affecting 29 companies.”

Former Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, had called for the privatisation of NNPCL due to non-remittance of funds.

El-Rufai said on Channels TV’s “Politics Today” last year that NNPCL caused more problems for Nigeria and failed in the country’s oil and gas sector.

He emphasized that the company has been unable to remit any funds to the federation’s account, citing the fact that their revenues have been reduced by subsidies.

This year, NNPC has not brought N20,000 to the federation account. We are living on taxes. It is PPTs, royalties, income tax and VAT that is keeping this country going because NNPC claims that subsidy has taken all the oil revenues. I don’t believe it.”

Nothing has changed, it’s just a change in name with limited at the end. They are still taking our money, declaring profit that we have not seen the dividends, he had said.

This headline presupposes that the Central Bank has been lost, destroyed or finally finished off by the former management. Even if that is not totally correct, many Nigerians believe that the sweeping off of Godwin Emefiele and his four deputies, the first such major overhaul in at least three decades, is a mere a cosmetic action that may just amount to treating the symptoms, while the ailment festers underneath. There’s no doubt that the bank’s reputation has been severely damaged in the nine years that Emefiele ran it. The last time the CBN was this harmed was during the regime of Sani Abacha when Paul Ogwuma was the governor. Last year, I wrote two articles criticizing Emefiele for dabbling into partisan politics, and pointed out the danger he’s plunged the institution into. I am sure that he’s learned his lessons the hard way.

But others believe that the scope of the challenges are well beyond the former governor. ‘’Our problem is systemic and so every solution should go to the very root of the matter. How can we have a functional Central Bank when the country is buffeted by all sorts of systemic problems?’’, asks a former director of the bank who retired last year after 33 years of service, in a long conversation with this writer.

He goes on: ‘’The Central Bank does not operate in a vacuum. It is part of Nigeria, and is managed by Nigerians; and so, the bank would have all the tendencies that we are known for; which exist in other Nigerian institutions. For a long time, NNPC refused to remit crude oil exports proceeds into the federation account. How then could the CBN have built up the reserves? Why are we blaming Emefiele for the high exchange rate whereas the country’s crude oil sales were going elsewhere? Does anybody in his right sense believe that Emefiele had embarked on the Naira redesign on his own; without approval of his bosses? Why has the government not arrested and prosecuted Emefiele’s bosses who asked him to do the Naira redesign? How can the government borrow a staggering N23 trillion through Ways and Means, and you don’t expect to have a run-away inflation? The fundamentals of this economy are very faulty. We have a very weak economy; high levels of corruption; low productive capacity; low export base and massive importations; yet you expect Emefiele to perform magic and bring about low exchange rate? Why is Emefiele the fall guy? Where are the people who gave him the approvals for his actions’’?

The Tinubu administration believes that the former CBN governor and some of his lieutenants have more serious questions to answer; and that a new institution will emerge from the ruins of the last nine years. Emefiele was appointed in June 2014 by President Goodluck Jonathan for a 10-year tenure of two terms. He would have completed the two terms next June. Soon after he assumed office, there were rumours that politicians and officials of the government of the day have looted the Bank massively to fund the election campaigns of 2014 and 2015. There were talks of dollars being withdrawn from the bank and distributed to party officials in Lagos and other South West states in what was termed ‘’Operation Capture the South West’’. Tinubu was then a chieftain of the opposition party. He saw it all. While some people argue that the Governor should have blocked the illicit withdrawals, others contend that the CBN Governor has no powers to disobey a directive from the President. ‘’If a President sends a memo to the CBN Governor that he needs $500,000 in cash this evening, the Governor will comply without hesitation or asking a question’’, says a banker who does not want his name in print.

If it is so easy to take money from the vault of the Bank, then this country stands no chance of survival. There is no assurance that the practice will not continue, no matter who the Governor is. I am one of those who believe that Emefiele should have stood up to the politicians who asked him to do wrong; otherwise, he should have resigned. The former governor is also accused of facilitating round tripping of the dollar – buying cheaply at the official rate and selling at a huge margin at the market rate – for many influential members of the cabal of the last administration, in addition to many cases of abuse of office and dishonesty. But where was President Buhari? Was he not aware?

I have been greatly troubled by the revelations coming from the CBN since Emefiele was arrested in Lagos in June. It is quite an irony that it is President Tinubu, a man who is not renowned for any anti-corruption posturing, that is championing the investigations into the corrupt practices that occurred under President Buhari, a man who was honoured by fellow African leaders for his anti-corruption credentials. Wonders shall never end in this land! If Godwin Emefiele is eventually prosecuted and convicted, or if a plea bargain deal is struck between him and the authorities, President Buhari will have to explain if he was under a spell when all these were happening.

Now, can Yemi Cardoso rescue the Bank and redeem its reputation? The verdict is mixed. For ordinary Nigerians, nothing will change apart from the faces on the executive floor of the bank. They believe that the game will continue and will play out in different ways under this dispensation. Others are more hopeful. But Prof. Akpan Ekpo, an economist and former VC of University of Uyo, who had been a board member and MPC member of the bank, says Mr. Cardoso and his team should focus on restoring the reputation of the institution; stick to monetary policy and exchange rate management and should stress managed float for the Nigerian currency. ‘’There is no convincing argument for floating the Naira argument for floating the Naira which is not a convertible currency’’, he told me. He notes that the Bank should extend the period of allowing both the old and new notes to be used simultaneously to next May and coordinate well with the fiscal side of the economy to ensure stability. Drawing from his experience, Ekpo says the CBN Board and MPC should be made up of technocrats (economists) rather than politicians because ‘’the CBN deals with money and financial matters, and to a large extent, should not be politicized. The MPC is the engine room of the bank and the outcomes of their meetings are derived from evidence-based research. It is a very technical committee’’. Serious countries the world over take measures and go to great extent to hire the best to manage their Central Banks and insulate them from politics and political influences. The last Governor of the Bank of England was not even from the UK. He was a Canadian.

The banking industry has been quite befuddled and, in some cases, embarrassed, by the Emefiele saga, especially since he was one of them until his appointment in 2014, coming on the heels of other eminent bankers like Paul Ogwuma; Joseph Sanusi and Sanusi Lamido Sanusi who also became governor. But the bankers are typically reticent and deferential when it comes to matters concerning their regulators. No banker will publicly excoriate a regulator, whether CBN or SEC or NDIC. But I managed to speak to the CEO of one of the Big Five banks on condition of anonymity on what the Cardoso team should do to save the CBN. ‘’I am not sure that there is much to add to the suggestions that have been widely made, and that is that the new team should fix the FX liquidity crisis and the attendant FX rate issues’’, he spoke under his breath. ‘’They should execute consistent, disciplined and fairly applied monetary policy; better coordination between fiscal and monetary policy; and finally rebuild the integrity of the Bank to be achieved through proper governance in decision making and respect for contracts. On governance, the directors and deputy governors should be empowered to take decisions that are within their portfolios without delegating (or being asked to) delegate upwards’’. If the CEO’s thoughts and Prof. Ekpo’s suggestions sound alike, it is because the solutions are, as in many cases, are within reach.

Apart from unethical issues, Mr. Cardoso will also have to deal with the bank's over bloated 10,000- strong workforce, many of whom are spouses and children of highly placed politicians who were employed through the "slot" system. Their poor work attitude and sense of entitlement have become disincentive to others in the system. If the new management turns the CBN around, it will be Tinubu's main achievement. But does the administration have the political will? I shall be here in another five years to report it.

Emphasizes Need for Stable Naira and Fiscal Policies to Boost Nigerian Economy

Wally Adeyemo, U.S. deputy treasury secretary, said that a stable naira, sound fiscal policies, ending corruption and ensuring transparency are needed to attract investment and spur growth in Africa’s largest economy.

Adeyemo made the remarks on Monday during a visit to Nigeria where he met with officials and business leaders to discuss ways to strengthen economic ties between the two countries.

“The United States is looking forward to collaborating with Nigeria as it develops an economy that benefits all Nigerians, and foreign direct investment (FDI) will flow into the country when its macroeconomic policies are fully implemented,” Adeyemo said while addressing the audience at the Lagos Business School.

Adeyemo noted that progress in expanding economic opportunities in Africa’s most populous nation has been slower than expected.

In fostering partnership with the US, he noted four things, Nigeria needs a stable naira, sound fiscal policies, root out corruption in the business environment and protect the integrity of Nigeria’s financial system.

“The United States stands ready to assist Nigeria,” he said. “However, Nigeria needs to reform its economy, put in place a credible economic framework and root out corruption and people should know how the government is using the resources of the state.”

“Nigeria’s progress is not only beneficial to Nigerians but also to the United States. The decisive actions of your government and the shared determination of the Nigerian people can create the change needed to unleash the untapped potential of Africa’s most populous nation,” Adeyemo said.

Nigeria has faced several economic challenges in recent years, including a weak currency, rising prices, and widespread corruption. These challenges have made it difficult for businesses to operate and invest in the country.

President Bola Tinubu has implemented two major economic reforms: the removal of the petrol subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange markets. These reforms are aimed at improving Nigeria’s struggling economic growth.

Adeyemo said: “The government needs to articulate and implement sound fiscal policies that will provide the resources needed to make critical investments. I reckon that the removal of fuel subsidy was a difficult decision for the Nigerian government, but it was an important early step in creating the resources needed to invest in fiscal, digital infrastructure, and the small business environment.

“Unifying Nigeria’s foreign exchange rates will create the kind of macroeconomic stability that is essential to attracting foreign investment. We commend the difficult steps your government has already taken to accomplish this goal. The path to unification is not easy, but going backwards would be even worse.”

According to him, Nigeria needs a stable exchange rate as it seeks to reform the economy and bring succour to its people as well as the over one million small businesses.

“This new government also has the ability to fight skepticism by making reforms that will allow the Nigerian people to better understand how federal, state, and local resources are being used,” Adeyemo added.

Adeyemo said that President Joe Biden believes that closer ties between the US and Nigeria would be beneficial for both countries.

He said the current administration’s reforms were not happening as quickly as they could be and that investment opportunities had not always been abundant.

Nigeria is America’s second largest trading partner in Africa, according to Adeyemo.

“Overall, President Biden and the Biden administration believe deeply in the importance of deepening the relationship with Nigeria because it is in America’s interest as much as in the interest of Nigeria,” he said.

Fresh reports have indicated that the controversy trailing Senate President, Godswill Akpabio is the suspicion of his incapacity to checkmate what some northern senators are calling the ‘Yorubanisation’ of the country’s financial system and economy.

Naija News understands that there have been various conspiracy theories claiming that some senators are plotting Akpabio’s downfall.

However, the Senate refuted the report, maintaining that the lawmakers are united behind Akpabio’s leadership.

Despite the denial, fresh details emerging from Daily Sun have claimed that some senators are angry with the senate leader because of his inability to checkmate the domination of the Yoruba in the financial ecosystem and also deal with some powerful interest groups, particularly some petrol importers and the electricity distribution companies on some proposed financial deals bordering on 40 percent electricity tariff hike and payment of outstanding money to fuel importers.

Among the senators who are alleged to have regrouped with a mission of standing up to Senator Akpabio are some former governors drawn from the North and at least one from the South-South.

The group has now formally come out by presenting Senator Elisha Abbo, APC, Adamawa North, as the face of the group.

Over the weekend, Abbo, in newspaper interviews, accused Akpabio of marginalising his rivals in the leadership contest and their supporters in the distribution of the committee positions.

Sources within the group told the aforementioned publication that “The main issue is our fear that Akpabio cannot check this Yorubanisation of the financial system that is going on now.”

The source, who spoke on the basis of confidentiality, alluded to the appointments at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Federal Inland Revenue Service, Customs, among others that have recently been infused with Yoruba leadership.

“Yes, the reason why you can see that Northerners are mostly involved is that most of those being removed and replaced with Yoruba are northerners,” the source further revealed.

It was further gathered that the aim of the senators is to enthrone a senate president the group believes can checkmate President Bola Tinubu.

Thank you all for joining me. I want to start by thanking the Lagos Business School for graciously hosting us. I’m glad to be here today representing President Biden and the United

State Government.

My visit this week comes on the back of those by many other officials in the Biden Administration, including Secretary of State Blinken. President Biden is committed to a strong U.S.-Nigeria relationship built on shared values and mutual benefit. Our Administration recognizes that your economic success is not only important to the approximately 200 million people who call Nigeria home; it is important to the region, the continent, and the global economy.

Nigeria is, as you know, the largest economy in Africa and will be the fourth most populous country in the world by 2050. Nigeria’s economic and social impact can be felt well beyond your borders with a diaspora that has spread across the world, bringing with them the unbounded creativity and innovation that you find in every city and village.

As a child of the diaspora, I am humbled to be standing here in front of you as the U.S. Deputy  Secretary of the Treasury. More than four decades ago, my parents left a very different Nigeria to get an education in search of opportunity for their young family. They raised us with a deep and abiding love for Nigerian culture and the struggles of a people that fought to be free of colonialism and the yolk of dictatorship. A people filled with so much potential but with too few opportunities.

In so many ways Nigeria is a different country than the one we left more than forty years ago, but progress on expanding economic opportunity has come more slowly than any of us hoped.

I am here to talk about how the United States can be your partner in accelerating progress on the economic reforms.

I am here because we know that a strong and prosperous Nigeria is not only good for you, it is also good for the United States of America.

I am here because unlocking Nigeria’s economic success can transform an entire continent.

Economic Opportunity

This is a critical moment in Nigeria, where decisive actions by your government and the determination and shared effort of the Nigerian people can create the changes needed to unlock the unrealized opportunity of Africa’s most populous country.

Nigeria’s greatest resource is not oil, it is the Nigerian people. Nigerians have built leading companies around the world like the Dangote Group, Globacom, and Zenith Bank. Nigerians have made significant contributions to culture from Wole Soyinka to Chinua Achebe. Nigerian music and films are heard and watched around the world, and I’m excited to tour Ogidi Studios this evening to see one of many places where this art is made.

Today one of Nigeria’s greatest opportunities is the fact that around three in five Nigerians are below the age of 25, creating the possibility for Nigeria to reap a tremendous “demographic dividend,” as the proportion of working people in the country grows.

That possibility lies with you, the students here at the Lagos Business School. Creating jobs and access to opportunity for the tens of thousands of students and executives that come through

here, and your peers all over this country, is essential to Nigeria’s success.

In addition to being on the right side of demographics, Nigeria is also blessed with an array of natural resources and innovative companies. It is clear from my conversations with investors and foreign companies that they are eager to invest in Nigeria to help grow a diversified economy that can meet your needs. We know that with the right macroeconomic framework, Nigeria can be a destination of choice for foreign direct investment.

While demographics and capital can fuel a Nigerian economic boom, small and medium sized enterprises will sustain your growth. There are more than 40 million micro, small, and medium sized business in the country, which employ more than 80 percent of Nigerians. These businesses represent the beating heart of the Nigerian economy. In order for these businesses to thrive, they need government policy to go from being the problem to providing solutions.

Nigerians are at the heart of the innovation that is blossoming all over Africa. From arts to technology, the economy is more diverse today than even a few years ago. Tomorrow, I’m looking forward to touring Vibranium Valley and meeting with leaders in venture capital, fintech, healthcare, and more. These firms have the ability to be drivers of growth here in Nigeria, but they require an ecosystem of public-private partnership that fosters investment.

The Tinubu Administration and the people I’ve met with – from students to entrepreneurs to major business leaders – all share a common understanding of the challenges and opportunities Nigeria faces. The question now is how to forge a path forward that creates prosperity for the Nigerian people. I am here to say that the United States stands ready and eager to partner with the Nigerian people and government in your quest to build a better future.

Our Partnership

Before I talk about specific areas in which we are keen to partner, let me first take a minute to discuss why I have faith in our partnership. Our countries have enjoyed a decades-long

relationship that has only grown since democracy returned to Nigeria in 1999. The heart of this relationship is people.

America is home to over half a million Nigerian-born American citizens and permanent residents. This vast diaspora community brings rich culture, a penchant for entrepreneurship, and wide-ranging economic and social contributions. Thousands of Nigerians study each year in the United States, including through educational exchanges like the Fulbright and Humphrey fellowship programs and the Mandela Washington Fellowship that seeks to foster the next generation of young African leaders.

Thousands of United States citizens call Nigeria home. We also have a number of American companies from different sectors that have made significant investments in Nigeria, from Google to General Electric.

Today, the United States is one of the largest foreign investors in Nigeria and Nigeria stands as America’s second largest African trading partner.

In addition to our countries’ trade, the U.S. government provided Nigeria with over $1 billion in assistance last year, helping to support Nigerians with access to health care and reducing food insecurity.

Four Economic Reform Priorities

There are many reasons why the United States is committed to this partnership – from our people-to-people relationships to our shared values to our common economic and security interests. I want to spend the remainder of my remarks highlighting some of the steps needed for the type of growth that creates economic opportunity for the Nigerian people.

First, Nigeria needs a stable Naira. You stop into any small business or market, and you will hear shop owners and customers bemoaning the lack of a stable currency. Unifying Nigeria’s foreign exchange rates will create the kind of macroeconomic stability that is essential to attracting foreign investment. We commend the difficult steps your government has already taken to accomplish this goal. The path to unification is not easy, but going backwards would be even worse.

Second, the government needs to articulate and implement a fiscal strategy that will provide the resources to make critical investments. I recognize the decision to end fuel subsidies is hard for many Nigerian households, but it was an important early step to create resources the government can use to invest in physical and digital infrastructure, education, and a strong small business environment.

There is nowhere this need is greater than the agriculture industry, which despite the digital revolution taking place remains Nigeria’s top employer. Its full potential is held back by issues like access to fertilizer, limited use of new technology, access to water and land, the availability of credit, and high market entry costs.

The need for economic reform does not demand indifference to the pain caused by this transition.

This is why partners like the World Bank and African Development Bank are committed to working with your government to provide resources and advice to help smooth this transition for the Nigerian people.

The third factor for growth is a rooting out of corruption and the perception of corruption in the business environment. I know the Nigerian people are willing to make sacrifices in the service of progress but have a legitimate fear that corruption and mismanagement will dash their hopes that the benefits of these reforms will enrich the people rather than the powerful. I know that Nigerians agree with Wole Soyinka that “it is not fair to those who fight corruption that they have to fight the aggressiveness, the impunity of the corrupt.” Creating economic opportunity will require a government-driven effort that addresses these fears by shining a light on corruption, holding people accountable, and taking meaningful steps to improve the business climate.

For example, Nigeria is a hotbed for digital entrepreneurship. Taking simple steps like moving government functions online, so Nigerians can apply for business licenses and visas using their smart phones and computers will help improve services and reduce opportunities for fees to go into pockets rather than government coffers. This new government also has the ability to fight skepticism by making reforms that will allow the Nigerian people to better understand how federal, state, and local resources are being used.

Fourth, and finally, is protecting the integrity of Nigeria’s financial system. The cowardly kidnapper, corrupt official, and fraudster all are seeking to launder their money. Taking steps to make your banking system more secure will help reduce the ability of criminals, terrorists, and others to illicitly use the Nigerian financial system.

I applaud the leadership of the Tinubu Administration in committing to work with the Financial Action Task Force to tackle money laundering and terrorist financing. Our government stands ready to help work through these steps and challenges in financial institution supervision, implementing controls in high-risk sectors, and pursuing investigations and prosecutions.

Deepening Our Relationship

President Biden and our whole administration are committed to taking steps in these key areas that are at the heart of long-term economic growth. As I said at the start, over the past few decades, progress in Nigeria has not been as fast as many hoped or anticipated.

But, at the same time, the opportunity has never been greater. Your government is pursuing difficult and bold reforms. Your businesses and founders are bursting with ambition and new ideas. And the students I talk to are optimistic and demanding; you all are ready to lead Nigeria to a new chapter. And the United States looks forward to being a partner as you build an

economy that works for all Nigerians.

With that, I am eager to hear from you all and have a conversation. Thank you all.

Tongues are wagging over Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s relocation of Ondo State’s seat of power to Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, after his medical trip abroad.

Akeredolu had left Nigeria for medical attention in Germany where he spent three months, and on his return last week, there were jubilations by his political allies, supporters, aides, traditional rulers, civil servants and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

But the governor has been at his private residence in Ibadan since his return a week ago, from where he is running the affairs of Ondo State and reaching key decisions related to governance.

The temporary vacuum created by Akeredolu during the trip caused tension and political bickering among his cabinet members following the handing over of power to his Deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, in an acting capacity.

Mr Akeredolu announced his return officially in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Richard Olatunde. Upon his return, the governor convened a meeting with key stakeholders from Ondo State in Ibadan, where he landed.

According the statement, the governor, during the meeting, formally handed over his resumption letter to the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon Oladiji Olamide, and a copy to the Deputy Governor, Mr Aiyedatiwa, who was in attendance.

At the meeting in Ibadan, stakeholders present were members of the House of Assembly, led by Speaker Olamide; members of the State Executive Council led by the deputy governor; National Assembly members led by Senator Jide Ipinsagba; and members of the APC State Working Committee led by the Chairman, Engr Ade Adetimehin.

Others are youth groups led by the Ondo APC Youth Leader, Comrade Olawande Ayo Wisdom; former local government chairmen led by Hon Augustine Oloruntogbe; and members of the Foundation of Wives of Ondo State Officials (FOWOSO) who were joined by the wife of the governor, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu.

Akeredolu also held meetings with members of the National Assembly, including the Senator representing Ondo North, Senator Jide Ipinsagba; members of the House of Representatives representing Owo/Ose, Hon Timehin Adelegbe; Ilaje/Ese-Odo, Hon Donald Ojogo, Idanre/Ifedore, Hon Festus Akingbaso; Okitipupa/Irele, Hon Jimi Odimayo and Akoko South West/South East, Hon Gboyega Adefarati.

The governor was quoted in the statement as saying, “So, because we had to land here in Ibadan first, I said I have to meet with House of Assembly members here. We are here, and we are back. I am back, and by the grace of God I will be alive to complete my full tenure in office. I want to tell you that I am back, and I will resume work immediately. This is my letter of resumption.”

But since his return and official announcement of his desire to complete his tenure, tongues have continued to wag over his continuous stay in Ibadan instead of Akure, the Ondo State capital.

So far, the governor has reached two key official decisions binding on Ondo from Ibadan. He has assented to the bill establishing the Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs). He equally sacked the media aides of his deputy.

The development has left residents, political watchers, critics and the opposition parties in the state with no other option than to wonder why the governor has decided to administer the affairs of Ondo State from another state.

Speaking on the matter, a political activist from the state, Jimmy Adekanye, said Akeredolu was elected as the Executive Governor of Ondo State and not Ibadan where he was currently staying and should return to the state capital, Akure.

He further said, “Instead of him to return to the state (Ondo) to address the people that he is back hale and hearty to govern the state, he chose to go to his private home in faraway Ibadan in Oyo State. Akeredolu was elected as Ondo governor and not Ibadan governor.

“The governor has a home in Owo, his home town, which is even less than an hour to the state capital and seat of power, Akure. Rather than governing the state from Ibadan, issuing memos from there to bind on the people of the state, why can’t he come back to the state?”

In his reaction, a political commentator, Mr Ayodeji Abisagbo, said the absence of the governor did not stop him from performing his official duties and functions.

He said, “The governor has never committed any offence for staying in Ibadan, Oyo State capital. What he needs to do he is doing, and there was no vacuum in governance of the state even when he travelled abroad.

“Akeredolu has returned, and we thank God. He is performing his role and has resumed official and executive duty as the governor of the state. So, there is no issue here. We wanted him back and he is back here with us.”

But the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has questioned why the governor has not been physically present in the state since he returned from his medical trip abroad.

The state Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr Kennedy Peretei, in a statement, said the continued stay of the governor outside Ondo showed that he was not yet fit to stand the stress of office and was allegedly packaged back to the country.

The statement reads in part: “Last week, we challenged the rationale for Akeredolu calling for a meeting in his Ibadan residence instead of Ondo State where he was elected to govern. Up till this moment, the governor has not been seen anywhere near Ondo State.

“Akeredolu is beginning to fuel media speculations that, against the advice of his doctors, he was hurriedly brought into Nigeria to foil an impeachment process. He also ordered an upgrade of his Ibadan residence to include a replica of the executive council chambers, from where he intends to hold exco meetings.

“Does Akeredolu want to make Ibadan the capital of Ondo State? What is the hurry to resume all about if he cannot come to Ondo State? Would it not have made more sense if he was still attending to his health abroad? Why did he say he had resumed when indeed he has not? Our party wishes to advise Akeredolu to come to Ondo State to complete his tenure.”

However, the ruling APC in the state said the jab on Akeredolu by the opposition party had shown that the PDP never wanted the governor back from his medical vacation.

Alex Kalejaiye, the spokesman for the APC in the state, said the governor had been attending to state matters since his arrival, especially the way he ought to.

He said, “It is unbelievable that the PDP is having a grouse with the location of our governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu. This is a clear indication that the opposition party never wanted Arakunrin back alive.

“The crux of the matter is that Mr Governor has been attending to state matters since his arrival the way he ought to irrespective of location. This is an indisputable reality. I sympathise with the PDP; it is a crisis-ridden political party that is bereft of ideas and no longer coherent and constructive.”

The police in Lagos state say they will exhume the body of late singer Nigerian singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly called Mohbad.

Recalled that the former Naira Marley’s record label signée died on September 12, in Lagos in a mysterious circonstances.

Mohbad’s death has sparked outrage as Nigerian celebrities and aggrieved fans of Mohbad planned protests to spring up across many southern States to demand justice for the late singer.

However, Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr. Idowu Owohunwa, yesterday, inaugurated a 13-man Special Investigation Team to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of Mohbad.

The team headed by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Saheed Kassim, is expected to, among other terms of reference, exhume Mohbad’s body and carry out autopsy as well as conduct toxicology and histology tests on it, according to Owohunwa.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Special Investigation Team, Owohunwa said its members would be domiciled at the Homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, adding that the team was divided into four sub teams to take care of specific areas such as forensic, technical, medical and practical investigations.

Noting that the command was undertaking these steps in the overriding public interest and justice, the command boss said: “The team will engage in the exhumation, autopsy, visit to the crime scenes, hospitals and past records that might be vital towards establishing the facts in relation to the case on that investigation.

“In this regard, we do appreciate that a homicide investigation of this case would be complex and technical. But we draw confidence in the fact that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has assured that he would give whatever support we might need from the state to aid our drive for justice and for a very conclusive and professionally delivered investigation process.”

CP Owohunwa further highlighted the team’s terms of reference to include: “First, to aggregate all allegations, suspicions, insinuations from all sources, in the cause of interaction with the family, friends and the medical components, with a view to establishing facts, identify pieces of vital evidence that may support criminal investigation.

“Two, to deploy all forensic, technical and other vital assets that are relevant to the investigation of homicide cases of this nature towards supporting the investigation process.

“Three, to identify all actors. All elements that might be remotely or directly connected to the allegations that we are investigating. And this of course, I must emphasize includes witnesses

PDP, LP Biggest Losers ,Losers Go On Appeal

The National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunals across the country have upturned the election victories of 25 House of Representatives members and five senators.

While the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been the biggest beneficiary of the verdicts delivered by the various tribunals for the House of Representatives seats, the party has lost more senatorial seats than any other party so far.

But all those who lost their seats have hinted that they would appeal the judgments.

The ruling party has had its victories in Kogi East and Kogi Central senatorial districts upturned by the tribunal.

It has also had its election victories in Delta Central and Delta South senatorial districts upturned.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had its election victory in Plateau South nullified.

The tribunal also ordered supplementary elections in some polling units in Kogi East, Delta South and Delta Central senatorial districts.

At the time of this report, not less than 26 members of the House of Representatives have had their elections upturned by the tribunals, but one of them has been reversed by the Court of Appeal in Abuja.

The PDP has lost 12 members in the House and it is closely followed by the Labour Party (LP) with 10 members, while the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and the APC have lost three and one members.

Lawmakers that have been sacked so far include Umar Yusuf Datti (NNPP, Kano), Amobi Ogah (LP, Abia), Fred Agbedi (PDP, Bayelsa), Ngozi Okolie (LP, Delta, but the verdict has been upturned by the Appeal Court), Umar Yerima (NNPP, Kano) and Ikenga Ugochinyere (PDP, Imo).

Others are: Chijoke Okereke (LP, Enugu), Paul Nnamchi (LP, Enugu), Seyi Sowunmi (LP, Lagos), Aminu Chindo (PDP, Katsina), Ismail Dalha (PDP, Katsina), Peter Gyendeng (PDP, Plateau), Munachim Alozie (LP, Abia) and Ibe Osunwa (LP, Abia).

The rest are: Francis Waive (APC, Delta), Joshua Gana (PDP, Niger), Emeka Nnamani (LP, Abia), Jonathan Ukodhiko (PDP, Delta), Idris Dankawa (NNPP, Kano), Adamu Yakubu (PDP, Jigawa), Thaddeus Atta (LP, Lagos), Dachung Musa Bagos (PDP, Plateau), Beni Lar (PDP, Plateau), Sunday Umeha (LP, Enugu), Mohammed Jamilu (PDP, Katsina) and Iliyasu Abubakar (PDP, Katsina).

In nullifying the elections, the tribunals ordered rerun/supplementary elections in nine federal constituencies.

The APC is the biggest gainer in the nullification of the election victories with nine federal constituencies going to the ruling party.

The PDP, which initially got five constituencies, had the number reduced when the Appeal Court upturned the nullification of the LP candidate for Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency in Delta State, while the LP and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) got two and one seats.

The Nation findings revealed that not less than 16 of the members sacked by the Tribunal are either Chairmen or Vice Chairmen of the House standing committees constituted by the Speaker before the House went on break.

The tribunals have sacked the chairman and vice chairman of two committees (Science Research Institutions and Science and Technology).

They are: Beni Lar (PDP, Plateau) and Chijoke Okereke (LP, Enugu) for Science Research Institutions, as well as Dachung Musa Bagos (PDP, Plateau) and Jonathan Ukhodiko (PDP, Delta) for Science and Technology.

Other chairmen affected by the tribunals’ judgments are: Amobi Ogah (LP, Abia) for HIV, AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; Fred Agbedi (PDP, Bayelsa) for FCT Area Councils and Ancillary Matters; Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere (PDP, Imo) for Petroleum Downstream; Aminu Chindo (PDP, Katsina) for Interior and Francis Waive (APC, Delta) for Rules and Business.

The vice chairmen affected by the tribunal verdicts are: Sunday Umeha (LP, Enugu) for Justice; Idris Dankawu (NNPP, Kano) for Drugs and Narcotics; Ibe Osunwa (LP, Abia) for FCT Judiciary; Seyi Sowunmi (LP, Lagos) for Local Content; Joshua Gana (PDP, Niger) for Power; Adamu Yakubu (PDP, Jigawa) and Mohammed Jamilu (PDP, Katsina).

Also, the Supreme Court has invalidated the election of Nazifi Bello Yusuf (PDP, Katsina) in a pre-election matter.

It returned Salisu Yusuf Majigiri as the duly elected candidate of the party for the Mashi/Dutsi Federal Constituency of Katsina State.

The Supreme Court ruled that Yusuf’s petition against the nomination of Majigiri as the candidate of the PDP was filed out of time.

Nazifi Bello Yusuf was appointed by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas as the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Values.

Following the recent clash between rival cult groups in Sagamu Local Government Area, the Ogun State government has announced total restriction of movement from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.

The government asked residents of the town to abide by the restriction order pending the time the security of the area improves, as police and other security agencies were on top of the situation to restore normalcy.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Lekan Adeniran, on Monday.

“This is to notify residents of Sagamu and its environs of total restriction of human and vehicular movement as a way of taking firm control of the security architecture of the area and protect the lives of the people and their property.

“We, therefore, implore the residents of the area to abide strictly by this restriction order and cooperate with security agencies to restore normalcy and bring perpetrators of these dastardly acts to book immediately,” the statement read.

Earlier, Governor Dapo Abiodun directed security agencies in the state to rid Sagamu and its environs of the menace of cultists and cult-related activities in the state.

According to him, the police and sister security agencies have been given a matching order to deal ruthlessly and decisively with those disturbing the peace of the town.

“As a responsible and responsive government, we are very sad with the resurgence of activities of criminal elements under different outlawed groups, raising unnecessary tension in the sleepy town of Sagamu and it’s environs.

“Let me categorically state that we are more than determined to put an end quickly to these nefarious activities of these hoodlums and enemies of our people; who are hellbent to truncate the peace of our land.

“Let these urchins be rest assured that the State will be too hot for them to operate as we are reevaluating the security architecture for greater surveillance and tactical operation,” Abiodun was quoted as saying in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary.

The clash has led to the death of four persons, while seven have been arrested by police.

According to reports, the cult clash which started on Friday, was between the Eiye and Aiye confraternities.

There is confusion stemming from two contradictory judgements by the National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal in Umuahia, Abia State regarding a petition filed by the Action Alliance (AA) party against the election of Benjamin Kalu as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The AA under chairman Adekunle Omo-Aje had petitioned the tribunal after the party’s submitted candidate for Bende Federal Constituency, Ifeanyi Chukwuka, was excluded from the ballot.

However, two conflicting judgements were later delivered – the first stating the petition was withdrawn by the AA while the second claimed it was dismissed based on an application by Kenneth Udeze of a rival AA faction.

Udeze’s application came after proceedings had closed and judgement was reserved. He allegedly impersonated the party chairman to withdraw a case the legitimate leadership never authorized.

The tribunal dismissed the petition citing Udeze’s withdrawal despite an earlier Federal High Court judgement recognizing Omo-Aje as AA’s chairman and expelling Udeze. The Court of Appeal also affirmed Omo-Aje’s chairmanship in two 2022 judgements.

The AA insists Udeze is an imposter with no standing to withdraw its petition. It claims the tribunal failed to properly investigate the contradictory applications and should have called for oral evidence given the irregularities.

By dismissing the petition on a questionable withdrawal rather than its merits after proceedings ended, the AA argues the tribunal denied it fair hearing and justice was miscarried.

The party has now approached the Court of Appeal to set aside the tribunal’s judgement which it deems perplexing, given the Federal High Court and Appeal Court’s prior validation of its leadership.

The case highlights how factional party disputes can derail electoral petitions. The AA seeks redress over the tribunal’s reliance on a disputed withdrawal motion from an ousted chairman to dismiss its petition against the Deputy Speaker’s election.