The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed the appeal filed by the All Progressives Congress and its candidate in the last Enugu State governorship election, Uche Nnaji, challenging the victory of Governor Peter Mbah.

Mbah was the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party during the election.

The APC candidate, who polled a total of 14,575 against Mbah’s 160,895 votes, to place a distant fourth in the election, asked the court to disqualify Mbah; the Labour Party Chijioke Edeoga, and that of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Frank Nweke Jr.

He claimed the candidates were not qualified to contest the election, having allegedly run foul of the asset declaration law among other reliefs.

Nnaji petition was dismissed by the Justice K.M Akano-led Enugu State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal on June 20, 2023.

Dissatisfied, Nnaji approached the court of appeal, praying it to send the dismissed petition back to the Tribunal for hearing and determination of the suit.

The Enugu Division of the Court of Appeal upheld the decision of the Tribunal and dismissed the suit, awarded the sum of N250,000 each against Nnaji and the APC.

Delivering judgement on the appeal, a five-member panel of the apex court on Friday held that the legal team of the APC and Nnaji filed an invalid brief of argument and failed to convince the court with cogent reason why the appellants’ incompetent brief should be allowed.

In the lead judgment, Justice Tijani Abubakar held that since the appellant’s brief was found to be invalid, the invalidity also affected the appeal in respect of which the appeal was filed.

He proceeded to dismiss the brief and appeal filed by the appellants.

[Punch]

THE six-point-eight earthquake that hit the High Atlas mountain range of the Moroccan Kingdom last Friday claimed 2,901 lives and injured 5,530. The number of casualties is likely to rise, and we may never know how many more will die. Also, quite tragically, we may never know how many might have survived had the Moroccan government not played the parochial politics of rejecting help from friends and foes alike except Spain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom. Even the quartet had to wait for two days before receiving the green light to deploy.

When an earthquake occurs, it is an emergency, and every second counts as it is a race against time. In fact, after the first 24 hours, the chances of finding survivors begin to dim as victims may be trapped with life-threatening injuries and may die unless they are not only quickly rescued but also given emergency treatment. There is what is called the 72-hour “golden period” for saving lives, after which hope of finding survivors is lost.

So, quick and immediate rescue is crucial, as some victims may be trapped in places with little oxygen, others may be weighed down by debris, or they may even be faced with amputation. This is more so in the Moroccan case, in which collapsing buildings have been mainly responsible for many of the casualties. Also, all some may need to survive is water. There is also the matter of aftershocks. So, any assistance available must be grabbed, as life has no duplicate. In many cases, an earthquake victim is like a drowning person, who, as a British proverb says, will clutch at a straw.

Therefore, the decision of Moroccan King Mohammed VI to reject almost all aid after the quake struck, based on claims of the need to maintain the country’s sovereignty and ensure “co-ordination”, is playing parochial politics and constitutes a crime against the quake victims. What can the dying Moroccan trapped under rubble care about his country’s sovereignty? All he needs is to be rescued, irrespective of the colour, religion, or political persuasion of his rescuer. It would not even matter to him if his rescuer was a dog.

Algeria is Morocco’s neighbour, and both countries are virtually the same: Ninety nine per cent of Algerians are Arabs and Berbers, while 98 per cent of Moroccans are Arabs and Berbers. In fact, Ahmed Ben Bella, the revolutionary who was Algeria’s founding president, was the child of Moroccan migrants. However, both countries differ on the status of the Saharawi of Western Sahara, another country with mainly Berber stock. While Morocco occupies most of Western Sahara, claiming it as part of its kingdom, Algeria insists that the Saharawi, who are the brothers and sisters of both countries, should be allowed the freedom to run their country.

Despite such differences, immediately after the earthquake occurred, Algeria offered to come across the border to aid the victims and save lives. The Moroccan government, through its Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahabi, like any reasonable government would, accepted the offer, but with the caveat that the aid be delivered in coordination with the Moroccan Foreign Ministry. Based on this, Algeria opened its airspace for humanitarian flights and mobilised 80 emergency personnel and three military aircraft carrying humanitarian aid. After waiting for two days, a counter-order came, rejecting the Algerian offer. The rejection was in line with King Mohammed VI’s view stated in a speech in 2022: “The Sahara issue is the lens through which Morocco looks at the world.”

France, which had colonised Morocco but had subsequently become a close ally, offered immediate assistance. But France had recently angered the Moroccan monarchy when, unlike the United States and Israel, it declined to recognise Western Sahara as part of Morocco. The latter’s reaction to France’s aid offer was a total rejection. French President Emmanuel Macron, disappointed by the Moroccan rejection, lamented: “ … We are here and we are able to provide direct humanitarian aid… We will be there in the long term on a humanitarian and medical level for reconstruction, cultural and heritage aid, and in all areas where the Moroccan people and the government consider that we will be  useful.” It released five million euros in aid to Moroccan NGOs for relief work.

Rescuers Without Borders, a non-state French organisation, was also unable to enter Morocco. Its founder, Arnaud Fraisse, told the media: “Unfortunately, we still don’t have the go-ahead from the Moroccan government… All of our team members who train regularly year-round for this type of thing are miserable that they couldn’t leave and put their skills to use.” Morocco also snubbed Germany, which had assembled a 50-person team from its Technical Relief Agency that had gathered at Cologne airport for a flight to Morocco. 

Germany has, like France, fallen foul of Morocco’s insistence that its colonisation of Western Sahara must be accepted. To this snub, the Chair of the German Parliament Group on the Maghreb responded: “It is incomprehensible that Rabat has so far forgone German help… The current situation should not be about misunderstood national pride.” Vladimir Vlcek, the Director General of a Czech rescue service that assembled a 70-person team, said the reason they were denied permission “could be political, religious, or any other reason”.

A puzzle is why Morocco snubbed the United States, which has not only supported its skewed foreign policy but whose immediate past President Donald Trump had also’donated’ Western Sahara to it. There may be brewing problems between them that are not apparent, but what is clear is the Moroccan monarch’s macabre foreign policy dance. For instance, after its deviant attitude led to the collapse of the Arab Maghreb Union, AMU, rather than mend fences and try to revive it, Morocco, which is in North Africa, applied to join the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS. When the Organisation of African States rejected its attempts to recolonise Western Sahara after the Spanish colonisers left, Morocco stormed out of the continental body, returning on January 31, 2017, after 33 years in the cold.

So, rather than accept badly needed international aid, Morocco prefers its citizens to use pick axes and their bare hands to dig concrete rubble. The aid intended for Morocco could well go to Libya, where on September 10, 2023, Storm Daniel hit, resulting in 5,300 deaths, about 10,000 missing and neighborhoods washed away by floodwaters. However, the tragedy is that there are warring rival governments in that country, and for them, aid for the flood victims is part of the eclectic wars being waged by war lords controlled by various countries.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees believes the par party will get justice in the Supreme Court over the February 25 presidential election won by Bola Tinubu, the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a 12-hour marathon judgement on September 6, the Presidential Election Petitions Court dismissed the petitions filed by PDP, the Allied Peoples Movement (APM); the Labour Party (LP) as well as their presidential candidates challenging Tinubu’s victory. The five-man panel led by Justice Haruna Tsammani not only dismissed the consolidated petitions of the PDP, the APM, and the LP, but it also clearly affirmed the victory of Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State, in the presidential poll.

But a week after the ruling, the PDP BoT rejected the verdict, saying it would resist alleged attempts by the APC to foist one-party rule on Nigerians.

In a communique issued after the 75th meeting of the board in Abuja on Thursday, the acting Chairman of the BoT, Senator Adolphus Wabara, expressed confidence that the apex court has the capacity and courage to right the “wrongs” and correct the “errors” contained in the tribunal judgement in the interest of the unity, stability and corporate existence of the country.

“The BoT is confident in the capacity and courage of the Supreme Court to ultimately and decisively right the wrongs and correct the manifest errors contained in the Judgment of the PEPC in the interest of the unity, stability, and corporate existence of our country,” he stated.

“The BoT restates its rejection of the judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) in upholding the declaration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the February 25, 2023, Presidential election, in spite of the evidence clearly pointing to the contrary.

“The BoT is also monitoring and studying the outcome of cases in various election courts with regards to their level of adherence and respect to the Rule of Law and evidence before such court.”

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai has arrested 12 suspected Boko Haram terrorists in Yobe State in its counterinsurgency operations in the North-East.

Also recovered from the terrorists were 50 jerrycans of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly known as petrol and the Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) known as diesel as well as ₦3.1 million.

The Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, who on Thursday, gave a report on the ongoing military operations by the armed forces across the nation.

“Arrest of Suspected Terrorist Logistics Suppliers/Collaborator Between 4 to 8 September 2023, following intelligence reports, troops conducted operations in Jere, MMC, and Biu LGA in Borno State, as well as Gujba LGA Yobe State,” he said.

“During the operations, troops arrested 12 BH/ISWAP terrorists logistics suppliers, and collaborators. Troops recovered four AK-47 rifles, 32 rounds of 7.62mm special, three locally made guns, 10 magazines, three vehicles conveying food items, one mobile phone, 50 jerrycans of PMS and AGO, and the sum of Three Million One Hundred and Eighty-Six Thousand Naira (₦3,186,000.00).”

See the full report given by the defence headquarters below:

REPORT ON ONGOING MILITARY OPERATIONS BY THE ARMED FORCES OF NIGERIA AS AT 14 SEPTEMBER  2023

JOINT TASK FORCE OPERATION HADIN KAI (NORTH EAST)

1. Troops of Operation HADIN KAI arrested suspected terrorists’ collaborators in Jere, MMC and Biu in Borno State, as well as Gujba LGAs in Yobe State. Troops also ambushed and raided suspected terrorists’ hideouts in Konduga and Gwoza LGAs of Borno States. Troops offensive resulted in elimination of terrorists and recovery of arms and ammunitions.
2. Details as follows:
3. Arrest of Suspected Terrorist Logistics Suppliers/Collaborator Between 4 to 8 September 2023, following intelligence reports, troops conducted operations in Jere, MMC, and Biu LGA in Borno State, as well as Gujba LGA Yobe State. During the operations, troops arrested 12 BH/ISWAP terrorists logistics suppliers and collaborators. Troops recovered 4 AK47 rifles, 32 rounds of 7.62mm special, 3 locally made guns, 10 magazines, 3 vehicles conveying food items, one mobile phone, 50 jerrycans of PMS and AGO and the sum of Three Million One Hundred and Eighty-Six Thousand Naira (₦3,186,000.00)
4. Ambush on Suspected BH/ISWAP Terrorist. On 5 September 2023, troops ambushed BH/ISWAP terrorist at a check point in Konduga LGA of Borno State. Troops made contact with the terrorists. Following a fire fight, troops neutralized 12 terrorists while others fled. Troops recovered 5 AK47 rifles, 2 locally fabricated rifles, 2 dane guns, 30 rounds of 7.62mm special, 5 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 4 motorcycles and 3 cutlasses.
5. Attack on troops by Suspected BHT/ISWAP. On 6 September 2023, suspected BH/ISWAP terrorists attacked troops in Askira Uba LGA of Borno State. Following a firefight, troops neutralized 7 terrorists while others fled. Troops recovered 27 rounds of 7.62 mm Special ammo, 20 rounds of 7.62 mm x 54 ammo and 42 empty cases of 7.62 mm x 54 ammo.
6. Troops Attack on BH/ISWAP Terrorist Enclaves. on 7 September 2023, troops conducted offensive operation to terrorists’ enclaves in Gwoza LGA of Borno State. Troops made contact with terrorists and neutralized 25 BH/ISWAP terrorists. Troops recovered 8 AK 47 rifle, 27 rounds of 7.62 mm Special ammo, one Beretta pistol, 13 rounds of 9 mm ammo, 2 magazines, one dane gun, 4 mobile phones and 2 motorcycles.

SUMMARY

3. Overall, troops of Operation HADIN KAI recovered; 17 AK47 rifles, 3 locally fabricated rifles, 3 locally made guns, one berreta pistol, 3 dane guns, 116 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 5 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 13 rounds of 9mm ammo, 20 rounds of 7.62 mm x 54 ammo and 42 empty cases of 7.62 mm x 54 ammo, 12 magazines, 50 jerrycans of PMS, 3 vehicles, 5 mobile phone, 6 motorcycles, 3 cutlasses and the sum of N3,186,000.00. Troops also neutralized 44 terrorists, arrested 21 and rescued 4 kidnapped hostages.

JOINT TASK FORCE OPERATION SAFE HAVEN (NORTH CENTRAL)

4. Troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN raided criminal hideouts in Barkin Ladi and Jos East LGAs of Plateau State. Troops offensive operation led to neutralized and arrest of terrorists, some suspected criminals were arrested in Jos South and Jos East of Plateau State. Troops operations also led to recovery of arms and ammunitions.
5. Details are as follows:
6. Raid Operation. Between 5 and 6 September 2023, troops in separated operations, raided terrorists hideouts in Barkin Ladi and Jos East LGAs of Plateau State. Troops neutralized 5 terrorists, arrested 7 suspected cattle rustlers and arms dealing syndicate. Troops also recovered 7 AK47 rifles, 6 Dane guns and 2 motorcycles.
7. Troops Arrested suspected criminals. On 5 September 2023, following intelligence reports, troops arrested 4 suspected criminals in Jos South LGA of Plateau State. Troops also recovered a motorcycle.
8. Troops neutralized terrorist. On 7 September 2023, troops conducted offensive operation and made contact with terrorist combatants in Jos East LGA of Plateau State. Following a firefight, troops neutralized 11 combatants while other fled. Troops recovered 5 AK47 rifles, 2 pistols, 5 locally fabricated rifles, 32 rounds of 7.62mm special, 15 magazines and 2 motorcycles.

SUMMARY 

6. Overall, troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN neutralized 16 terrorists, arrested 16 and rescued one kidnapped hostage. Troop also recovered 12 AK47 rifles, 2 pistols, 5 locally fabricated rifles, 6 dane guns, 32 rounds of 7.62mm special, 15 magazines and 3 motorcycles.

OPERATION WHIRL STROKE (NORTH CENTRAL)

7. Troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE conducted fighting patrol and arrested suspected terrorists in Guma LGA of Benue State.
8. Details are as follows:
9. Troops Arrested Suspected Terrorists. On 6 September 2023, troops conducted fighting patrol and arrested suspected terrorists in Guma LGA of Benue State. Troops recovered 7 AK47 rifles, 4 pistols, 10 rounds of 7.62mm special and 3 empty magazines. Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects belong to a syndicate that have been terrorizing the environment.

SUMMARY

9. Overall, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE neutralized 15 terrorists, arrested 6 terrorists and rescued one kidnapped hostage. Troops also recovered 7 AK47 rifles, 4 pistols, 10 rounds of 7.62mm special and 3 empty magazines.

JOINT TASK FORCE OPERATION HADARIN DAJI (NORTH WEST)

10. The troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI rescued kidnapped hostages in Bukuyyum and Faskari LGAs of Zamfara and Katsina States respectively. Troops also arrested terrorists’ collaborators in Matazu and Jibia LGAs of Katsina State.
11. Details are as follows;
12. Rescue of Kidnapped Victims.

(1) On 5 September 2023, troops responded to information of terrorist’s abduction of locals in Bukuyyum LGA of Zamfara State. Troops mobilized to the general area and made contact with the terrorists.  Following a firefight, troops neutralized 6 terrorists while others fled abandoning their victims. Troops rescued 4 kidnapped victims and reunited them with their families.

(2) On 8 September 2023, troops while on offensive patrol intercepted and rescued 3 civilian abductees in Faskari LGA of Katsina State. Troops also neutralized 7 terrorists. Preliminary investigation revealed that the victims escaped from terrorists captivity in Ungwa Doka of the same state.

1. Arrest of Suspected Terrorists Informant/Gunrunner. Between 6 and 8 September 2023, following intelligence reports, troops arrested 2 suspected gunrunner and terrorists’ informant in Matazu and Jibia LGA of Katsina State.
2. Air Interdiction. The air component of Operation HADARIN DAJI conducted interdiction and degrade terrorists’ groups, logistics bases and denied them freedom of action.

SUMMARY

13. Overall, troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI neutralized 18 terrorists, arrested 5 terrorists and rescued 10 kidnapped hostages.

OP WHIRL PUNCH (NORTH WEST)

14. Troops of Operation WHIRL PUNCH neutralized and rescue kidnapped hostages at Igabi and Chikun LGAs of Kaduna State. Troops offensive actions resulted in the arrest of suspected terrorists collaborators in Mokwa LGA of Niger State.
15. Details as follows:
16. Troops neutralized Terrorist. On 6 September 2023, troops on confidence building patrol made contact with terrorists in Igabi LGA of Kaduna State. Following a fire fight, troops neutralized 7 terrorist while others fled. Troops recovered 3 AK47 rifles and 10 rounds of 7.62mm special.
17. Troops Rescued Hostages. On 7 September 2023, troops while on routine patrol intercepted terrorists in Chikun LGA of Kaduna State. Following a fire fight, troops neutralized 5 terrorists while other fled abandoning their victims. Troops rescued 7 kidnapped hostages. Troops also recovered one vehicle and 2 motorcycles.
18. Arrest of Suspected Terrorists Collaborator. On 7 September 2023, troops at check point intercepted a driver conveying 399 IED detonator primers in Mokwa LGA of Niger State. The driver was transiting from Ibadan Oyo State to deliver items at Lagos Garage Mando Park in Kaduna State. Following the discovery, the sender was also arrested.
19. Air Interdiction. The air component of Operation WHIRL PUNCH conducted air recce and air interdiction over Gidan Hassan and Amfu Hills denying the terrorists freedom of action.

SUMMARY

17. Overall, troops of Operation WHIRL PUNCH eliminated 17 terrorists, arrested 3 suspected terrorists and rescued 7 kidnapped hostages. Troops also recovered 34 assorted weapons, 399 IED detonator primers, one vehicle and 2 motorcycles.

JOINT TASK FORCE OPERATION DELTA SAFE (SOUTH SOUTH)

18. Troops of Operation DELTA SAFE maintained momentum against the activities of crude oil theft. Troops destroyed several illegal refining sites and recovered stolen products. Troops also raided criminal hideout in Tai LGA of Rivers State.
19. Details as follows:
20. Troops Destroy Illegal Refining Sites. Troops discovered and destroyed 21 dugout pits, 56 boats, 138 storage tanks, 14 vehicles, 235 cooking ovens, 6 pumping machine, 2 mobile phones, 89 illegal refining sites and the sum of N13,950. Troops also recovered about 1,205,950 litres of stolen crude oil, 452,910 litres of illegally refined AGO, 22,650 litres of PMS and 3000 litres of DPK. Troops apprehended 45 oil theft.
21. Cordon and Search Op. On 7 September 2023, troops conducted cordon and search operation on suspected criminal hideout in Tai LGA of Rivers State. Troops arrested 14 suspects and recovered 14 assorted weapons.
22. Air Interdiction. On 4 September 2023, air component of Operation DELTA SAFE conducted air interdiction over Bille and Ijawkiri, respectively. Active illegal Illegal Refining Sites were sighted and subsequently acquired. The location was attacked with rockets and cannons destroying equipment and reservoirs.

SUMMARY

21. Overall, troops of Operation DELTA SAFE destroyed 21 dugout pits, 56 boats, 138 storage tanks, 14 vehicles, 235 cooking ovens, 6 pumping machine, 2 mobile phones, 89 illegal refining sites and the sum of N13,950. Troops also recovered about 1,205,950 litres of stolen crude oil, 452,910 litres of illegally refined AGO, 22,650 litres of PMS and 3000 litres of DPK, one tricycle and 15 assorted weapons. Troops also arrested 59 suspected oil thefts and other criminal elements.

JOINT TASK FORCE OPERATION UDO KA (SOUTH EAST)

22. Troops of operation UDO KA offensive operations led to arrest of suspected criminals in Aba North and Owerri North of Abia and Imo States respectively.
23. Arrest of Suspected Criminals. Between 4 and 6 September 2023, in a separate operation, following intelligence reports, troops arrested 6 suspected criminals in Aba North and Owerri North of Abia and Imo States respectively. Preliminary investigation revealed that 2 of the suspects were impersonating as NCS and NIS personnel.

SUMMARY

23. In the conduct of operations, troops of Operation UDO KA neutralized 17 terrorists, arrested 11 suspected criminals and rescued 2 kidnapped hostages. Troops also recovered 10 AK47 rifles, 5 dane guns, 7 pump action guns, 4 magazines and 34 cartridges. All recovered items, arrested suspects and rescued hostages were handed over to the relevant authority for further action.

EDWARD BUBA

Major General

Director Defence Media Operations

The Nigerian Government has said the diplomatic imbroglio that engendered the aviation and visa impasse between it and the United Arabs Emirates (UAE) is yet to be addressed.

Recall that president Bola Ahmed Tinubu met with Sheik Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Monday in Abu Dhabi, to resolve the non-issuance of visa to Nigerians and other sundry issues.

After the meeting, Ajuri Ngelale, Presidential spokesman, had said both leaders reached a historic agreement, which resulted in the immediate lifting of the visa ban placed on Nigerian travelers.

He added that both Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines were to immediately resume flight schedules into and out of Nigeria, “without any further delay”.

But the UAE authorities did not say a word on the visa ban lift and resumption of flights by its airlines, raising concerns among Nigerians.

In its statement, the Middle East country said Nigeria and the UAE would work together to reinforce their ties and explore opportunities for further bilateral collaborations.

But speaking speaking during the Aviation Africa Summit in Abuja on Thursday, Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, disclosed that there was no timeframe for resumption of Emirates and Etihad flights that were put on hold amid the diplomatic row between

He state that the terms of agreements were being finalised.

He said: “So, we are beginning to work out all the tiny details. I have met with Emirate before I left UAE, and we are working out the details. We cannot say the time frame. Kicking off an airline operation again on a route, does not mean you will go and grab one empty plane sitting in a place.

“There is no idle plane sitting anywhere, they have to reschedule their flights and restart their routes again. All kinds of permission will be taken from local authorities and of course, I made the point in speaking with them and I made it clear that they will have to give our airlines reciprocal rights under our Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASAs).

“That is the point I insisted on, and they did say that any spot we need, they will give us as much as we give them those spots within Nigeria.”

Wfe of human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, Funmi, Chief Afe Babalola’s daughter Mrs Folashade Alli, and constitutional lawyer, Dr. Kayode Ajulo have made the latest list for the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) rank.

Along with them, Naija News gathered that 66 others made the list recommended for consideration by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC).

The 69-man list, which was released in Abuja on Thursday by the LPPC, had other names like Abiola Oyebanji; Bomo Agbebi; Daniel Uruakpa; Felix Offia; Lawrence Falade, and Kingsley Obamogie, among others.

The committee said the names that were shortlisted were those that made it through the first and second stages of the selection process.

The committee said: “The LPPC, by this notice, announced the shortlisting of Applicants who qualified after the advocates 1st and 2nd Filtration Stages, Academic pre-qualification and Academic 2nd filtration exercise.

“Also, after the independent appeals hearing and chambers inspection, preparatory to the interview stage in the process for the conferment of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria on the successful Applicants for the year 2023.

“All qualified shortlisted applicants are graded under two-category systems by the LPPC, namely advocates and academic applicants respectively.”

The immediate past executive chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Muhammad Nami, has reacted to his dismissal.

Naija News reported that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu sacked Nami on Thursday, September 14, and his special adviser on revenue, Zacchaeus Adedeji, was subsequently appointed as the acting chairman of the tax commission.

However, Nami, in a statement issued on Thursday night, expressed appreciation to ex-President Muhamnmadu Buhari and President Tinubu for allowing him to serve the country for almost four years.

Nami extended his appreciation to the staff of FIRS, taxpayers and Nigerians for the corporation throughout his tenure.

He further listed their achievements in the commission and urged Nigerians to support Zacchaeus Adedeji.

The statement read, “My Appreciation To Nigerians.

“With utmost gratitude to the Almighty God, I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the erstwhile President, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, and the incumbent president, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, or the opportunity given to me to serve the country and humanity as the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) for almost four years.

“I want to extend my deep appreciation to the entire staff of the Service, our esteemed taxpayers, and Nigerians for believing in me and for the support and cooperation extended to me throughout my tenure.

“I want to record that the support and cooperation I received enabled my team to meet our target and set new records for tax collection in Nigeria.

“Even as I take my bow, we have so far collected more than N8 Trillion in eight months and would have set a new record of a minimum of N13 trillion at the end of this tax year.

“During the inauguration of the erstwhile Board Members of the Service, I promised to raise the country’s Tax-To-GDP ratio from 6% to 10% in 4-years. We already have achieved a Tax-to-GDP ratio of 10.86% within two years (i.e. as at December 31 2021.)

“I can, therefore, say that I am leaving as a fulfilled man knowing that I have served diligently. I am equally leaving a Service that is built on world-class best practices. Indeed, it couldn’t have been more fulfilling.

“I implore the staff, taxpayers, and Nigerians to extend the same measure of cooperation to the incoming Executive Chairman, Mr. Zacch Adedeji, to enable him to succeed. Tax collection is a sensitive matter that requires all hands on deck to achieve.”

The childhood friend of late Nigerian singer, Mohbad, identified as Prime Boy, has broken silence following the accusation of attacking the singer with ‘voodoo’ on Sunday after a show in Ikorodu, Lagos State.

Naija News reports that amidst the controversies surrounding Mohbad’s death, some people had alleged that his childhood friend had a hand in his demise as he reportedly used a ring to attack the singer, which led to his death.

However, in a post on his Instagram page, the young man denied the accusations, saying he had no reason to hurt the ‘KPK’ crooner.

The man confirmed they both met on Sunday in Ikorodu after Mohbad called to inform him about his return from Nairobi.

He said Mohbad made him meet many people in the music industry, including Bella Schmurda, who gave him a gold necklace worth N700,000.

He said, “I keep seeing a lot of rumours out there saying something happened on Sunday and maybe that led to the death of Mohbad. Nothing happened on Sunday. There is nothing that happened between me and my friend. Mohbad sent me a text on Saturday saying I should come to the Island.

“I was at Ikorodu when he called me. He said come, that he was back from Nairobi. I have a screenshot of the video. He always calls me. I gained a lot from Mohbad. So tell me, who will I gain from now. They are now saying I killed my friend. Why would I do that?

“I did not even fight with Mohbad. Do you know who Mohbad is to me? Mohbad is my childhood friend, my close friend.

“Mohbad gave me free access to be around people in the music industry, including Bella Schmurda. So tell me, who will be like my friend? And you are now saying I killed him. Anyone who said I killed my friend, God will judge that person except I have a hand in it”

On what transpired between him and Mohbad on Sunday, September 10, he said the deceased was drunk and angry after the Ikorodu show, and the wife can attest to everything that happened.

He said, “Me and Mohbad were on stage together. Mohbad was F*cking high that, day and I knew my friend was drunk…..so he sat down in the car after we came down from the stage. Mohbad sat down and his wife was in our middle. I don’t know anything that happened. He was just angry and saying he wanted to get down from the car.

“Please, I know nothing about it I did not even touch MOH he hit me I did not even do anything God knows his wife was there also and the Prado man and security please do not say what you don’t know make your investigation I did not have any issues with moh he called me all the time I don’t stay with them please and please I know nothing.”

The special investigator appointed by President Bola Tinubu and his support team are set to probe officials involved in alleged sharp practices at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and related entities

President Tinubu after suspending the Governor of the apex bank, Godwin Emefiele appointed Jim Obazee as a Special Investigator to probe the activities of the CBN and other related entities.

The President in a letter dated July 28, said the appointment of Obazee, relying on the fundamental objective outlined in Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution, was in furtherance of his administration’s anti-corruption fight.

The acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun on September 6 deployed a four-man team of senior officers to support the special investigator to probe the activities of the apex bank and related entities.

The deployment was in response to a letter by Obazee dated August 18 requesting the IGP to deploy senior officers to his office to facilitate the smooth take-off and execution of his assignment.

In response, the IGP in a letter titled, ‘Deployment of Police Personnel’ with reference number TH:5361/FS/FHQ/ABJ/T.5/428, listed the deployed officers as DCP Eloho Edwin Okpoziakpo; CSP Celestine Odo; CSP Segun Aderoju and DSP Tijani A. Bako.

It was gathered that preliminary findings based on developed intelligence by the investigating team led by DCP Eloho are already causing sleepless nights to the top management at the CBN and NIRSAL.

A source who spoke with Daily Trust revealed that the investigators would be digging into the alleged allocation of about N600,000 monthly for the upkeep of the former MD’s dogs.

It was gathered that some close aides of the embattled ex-CBN governor and officials of other affected entities are jittery as the crack team is set to start quizzing them over some contracts at NIRSAL, as well as the CBN’s Anchor Borrowers Programme soon.

Among the contracts is that for the design, development, and hosting of the Jigawa State unemployed graduate database for NIRSAL which was first awarded to a company, Syspec Network Limited of No.20 Jalingo Shopping Complex, Jalingo, Taraba State.

The contract award letter dated May 23, 2016, with Reference Number: MD/PROC/013 was signed by the ousted Managing Director of NIRSAL, Aliyu Abdulhameed. It was said to have been re-awarded several times as a conduit.

The source stated, “The investigators are also set to unravel how the Anchor Borrowers funds were being kept as fixed deposits by parties close to the embattled CBN governor. This scheme was to allow parties involved to scoop the interest generated by the deposits.

“This development led to a significant delay in the delivery of fertilizers and other inputs to farmers, and by the time the inputs were eventually supplied, the planting season would have been over even as they (farmers) were expected to pay for the unsupplied inputs.”

The Anchor Borrowers’ Programme guidelines stipulate that upon harvest, benefiting farmers are to repay their loans with produce (which must cover the loan principal and interest) to an anchor, who pays the cash equivalent to the farmer’s account.

Another source revealed that among those involved in the fixed deposits racket is an aide of the ex-CBN governor (names withheld) who is said to have operated a total of 61 bank accounts that included 44 fixed deposit accounts and 2 treasury bills accounts.

Destruction Of Files, And Records At NIRSAL

According to Daily Trust, there are attempts by some of the officials targeted for investigation at CBN and NIRSAL to scuttle the process.

This is said to have led to the alleged destruction of office files, contract documents and related records.

Sources familiar with the investigation said among the destroyed office documents is a contract for the development of NIRSAL’s ICT Policy.

An insider who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “Although financial trails show payments made multiple times for the same contract, the record of this contract has disappeared from NIRSAL’s procurement department.”

Another source said that unless the investigation team deploys ways and means of obtaining the necessary contract records and documents, it may have hitches getting to the root of the matter.

The Head of Procurement at NIRSAL, Sheriff Salaudeen, speaking on the allegation, however, said the organisation does not destroy its files or other records.