The Rivers State Government has withdrawn the money laundering and criminal charges brought against a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Chinyere Igwe.

Igwe was arrested on the eve of the February 25, 2023 presidential election and arraigned before a court, for having in his possession the sum of $499,000,000 in cash.

Igwe was, however, granted bail after some weeks.

It was alleged that the money was meant to bribe INEC officials and security personnel.

When the hearing of the matter resumed in court for proper trial on Wednesday morning, Rivers State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Professor Zacchaeus Adangor, announced the withdrawal of the suit.

Adangor, however, did not give any reason for the state government’s decision to withdraw the case against Igwe.

The trial Judge, Hon. Justice Stephen Daylop-Pam, in his ruling, after the position of the state government was not opposed by the defence counsel, discharged the defendant.

Daylop-Pam also ordered the Police to return his international passport and other exhibits seized from him.

The housing allowances for members of the National Assembly may cost the country about N5.87bn yearly, according to findings.

With the annual allocation of N5.87bn, in four years the Federal Government will spend N23.48bn on the lawmakers’ accommodation.

The allowances are based on data collated from a document obtained from the website of the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission.

It covers allowances for accommodation (200 per cent of basic salary), domestic staff (75 per cent of basic salary), utilities (30 per cent of basic salary), house maintenance (five per cent of basic salary), wardrobe (25 per cent of basic salary) and furniture (300 per cent of basic salary).

Also, although furniture allowance is usually paid once in four years for public office holders, the frequency of payment is not disclosed for members of the National Assembly.

From the total amount, the housing allowances of the Senators will cost about N1.38bn yearly.

The amount for the Senate President and Deputy Senate President was not disclosed by the RMAFC. Therefore, the amount covers only the allowances for the 107 senators.

A breakdown shows that N4.05m was allocated for accommodation, N1.52m for domestic staff, N607,920 for utilities, N101,320 for house maintenance, N506,600 for wardrobe allowance, and N6.08m for furniture allowance.

The housing allowances of the House of Representatives members will cost N4.49bn yearly.

The amount for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker was not disclosed by the RMAFC. In addition, Isma’ila Maihanchi, member-elect of the House of Representatives for Jalingo/Yorro/Zing federal constituency in Taraba, is reportedly dead. Also, Femi Gbajabiamila, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, resigned from the 10th House to take up his new position as the chief of staff to President Bola Tinubu. Therefore, the amount covers only the allowances for the 356 House of Representatives members.

Allocation breakdown

A breakdown shows that N3.97m was allocated for accommodation, N1.48m for domestic staff, N595,563.75 for utilities, N99,260.62 for house maintenance, N496,303.12 for wardrobe allowance, and N5.96m for furniture allowance.

Since the allocations for the Senate President and his deputy and the Speaker and his Deputy were not disclosed, it means that the N5.87bn is likely below the total amount the members of the National Assembly would get as housing allowances yearly.

Prices of residential apartments in the highbrow areas of the Federal Capital Territory have surged by at least 60 per cent due to the high demand for houses by the newly inaugurated members of the national assembly.

The areas include Maitama, Asokoro, Wuse, and other locations close to the city centre.

A member of staff of a real estate firm, who spoke with our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, confirmed the new surge in prices, adding that it was natural for prices of homes to increase with over 900 persons looking for residential apartments at the same time.

The staff member said, “Yes it has, we have over 400 NASS members with over 500 support staff looking for housing accommodation at the same time so automatically the force of demand and supply has come into play so the cost of housing has jacked up.”

Giving further explanation, a real estate agent, Bimbo, blamed the current economic realities caused by the removal of fuel subsidy and high inflation as part of the reasons for the outrageous surge in prices.

The agent further revealed that some of the senators have in the meantime decided to reside at short-let apartments pending the time they can buy their preferred residence outrightly.

The agent said, “Prices of houses in posh areas have increased drastically. Houses available for rent now go for N6m from N3m before the inauguration, other smaller places for their aides that were around N800,000 now sell for almost N1.4m. Most of the senators prefer to buy than rent and this is even more expensive, a house in those posh will cost not less than N150m.

“Also, it is not solely because of the arrival of new senators but due to current economic realities caused by the removal of fuel subsidy. Even with this number, there are still empty houses that are not occupied and the owners will instead leave them to waste than sell them for a lesser amount.

“I have also noticed that some senators prefer to stay in short lets apartments for the meantime before getting their apartments. For instance, I know someone that paid to stay in an apartment for N1m per month.”

On his part, the Executive Director of the Housing Development Advocacy Group, Festus Adebayo, welcomed the new development as it would drive positive change in the sector.

He, however, warned that this may affect prices of rent beyond the affordability of a good number of workers who are salary earners.

“Abuja is receiving over a thousand new entrants daily. The real estate sector will witness positive development but that means rent will go beyond the affordability of a good number of workers. Most landlords increase rent once the old payment expires.

“Government must provide palliative not only for govt workers but for Nigerian workers in housing.”

The former Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, has said that he is leaving the Nigeria Police Force better than he met it, adding that he believes he added value to policing in Nigeria.

He said this on Wednesday when he officially handed over the mantle of leadership of the NPF to the acting IG, Kayode Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters, Louis Edet House, Abuja.

Baba said, “As I exit the leadership of the Force today, I believe that I am leaving it better than I met it. I believe that I have added value to policing in Nigeria. I hold the firm conviction that steady progress has been made in all the components of my promise to change policing narratives and in our journey to restore the dwindling police primacy within the internal security architecture of the country.

“We might not be there yet, but certainly the pathways have been clearly defined, firm foundations built, and giant strides were taken for the new Force leadership to leverage on in his quest for a better Police Force.”

While appreciating former President Muhammadu Buhari, the ex-IG further noted that his administration set out to positively change the policing narrative of the country by laying out a well-articulated vision and mission objectives, which I promised would define my leadership.

“In this regard, I pledged to address the welfare concerns of serving and retired officers and enhance the operational capacity of the Force through the procurement of critical operational assets. I also set out to reposition the special detachments of the Force, particularly, the Marine, Air Wing, Special Forces, Police Mobile Force, Counterterrorism Unit, and Special Protection Unit, while also striving to enhance the intelligence capacity of the Force through the push for the upgrade of the Technical Intelligence assets of the Nigeria Police.

“In addition, my vision was to modernise the environment in which police operate across the country in order to make them befitting and fit for purpose. This informed the concept of modern police stations and barracks, as well as the model State Police Headquarters and Model Police hospital, which were constructed across the country, and the remodelling of the Force Headquarters.

“My vision was to also evolve a Police Force in which abuses associated with the promotion regime will be addressed and the process made credible enough to truly motivate personnel, while the age-long challenge of rank stagnation will also be tackled.

“I also envisioned a Force that will adapt to modern dynamics of crime. Hence, the establishment of the Nigeria Police National Cybercrime Centre with the support of the Central Bank of Nigeria. Aside from this, my leadership projection was to enhance the manpower profile of the Force and deepen the professional knowledge of officers in coping with the challenges of policing a diverse nation as ours and optimally managing the complex dynamics of modern crimes and internal security threats. This informed the push for the sustenance of the recruitment drive, and the huge investment in training and capacity building across all ranks,” Baba added.

[Punch]

Nehemiah was always asking God to provide a vision for him. He understood that a true vision must come from God. It must be a God-inspired and God-revealed vision. Only such a vision is worthy of leadership. The prophet Nehemiah provides modern-day leaders with a wonderful model of leadership. Upon learning of the distress of his people, Nehemiah receives permission from the king he was serving to go help them. Despite obstacles and opposition, he discerns a challenging vision and leads the people in the accomplishment of the task.

While Nehemiah was the leader who first articulated the vision, the people confirmed the vision and committed themselves to the task. The gifts of all were required to achieve the vision. Accomplishing the vision was not easy. Divisions and hard feelings, combined with outside opposition, made faithfulness very difficult. Yet, Nehemiah and the people persevered faithfully, though not perfectly. These are some lessons we might learn from Nehemiah’s leadership example. Hence the title, “Baba Fast Fast: Jagaban Modern Era Nehemiah” fits the narratives as we begin to examine the less than a hundred days of President Bola Tinubu’s ‘Unity Trinity’ era.

Admittedly, a nation progresses or regresses on the quality and values of its leadership. When the then vice presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Kashim Shettima, assured Nigerians that if elected, the Bola Tinubu administration would be inclusive, just, and fair to all Nigerians, irrespective of tribal, religious, or political affiliation. Shettima, posited: “We’ll Be Equitable, Just, Inclusive If Elected. We need to build a new nation because the hope of the black man is in Nigeria. The onus is on us to secure the future of our children yet unborn.”

“I want to assure Nigerians that we are going to be just and fair to all Nigerians. We are going to be all-inclusive because no society can strive for injustice. Ours will be an all-encompassing, all-embracing government. We will build a country of our dreams, where people are judged by their character, irrespective of their political affiliations, religious persuasions, sectional or tribal ground.” It is thus, imperative that when we conduct ourselves, being just and equitable citizens, a worthy leader would naturally emerge from our midst.

Kashim Shettima: the accidental governor who is now Nigeria’s vice president in the above message was very clear and leaves no one in doubt about the making of our own story of Nehemiah. Surprisingly or so to say, Nigerians in their millions are beginning to rethink the difference between the personalities and attributes of the new leadership under President Bola Tinubu and the previous. In less than a month, the new sheriff has effectively stamped his authority firmly on the polity to the extent of global acknowledgments with the sobriquet “Baba fast fast”

Although, Herbert Spencer, an English polymath, phycologist, noted philosopher, sociologist, biologist, and political theorist of the Victorian era, countered that the Great Man Theory was childish, primitive, and unscientific. He believed leaders were products of their environment. He advocated that before a “great man” can remake his society, society has to make him. Over the course of history, we have seen examples of great leaders who shape how people view the world and remould their sense of self-worth – Mind Restructuring.

Regrettably, however, most good leaders don’t buy into their followers’ idealized images of them. But even leaders who are reasonably self-aware can become victims of illusion. Leaders who emerge from within a group have the ability to influence other teammates positively. Team members accept and welcome them because of their influence within the organization and the skills they offer as a leader. They have respect from their peers because they seek the input of others, which helps them maintain credibility as a leader.

Thankfully, the President has hit the ground running; unlike his predecessors particularly @Mbuhari in the recent past eight years ago who spent a whole six months not knowing what to do and couldn’t form a government, and when he eventually, it was a complete failure. Apart from the controversial fuel subsidy issue, the student loan act, and the sacking of the Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele a public office holder with a mindset of terrorist. Liberalization of electric power generation, harmonization of the retirement age of senior Judges.

Furthermore, the EFCC boss, Abdulrasheed Bawa saga, the collapse of the parallel markets, and the dissolution of all the boards and some agencies will either be merged or scrapped completely. Meanwhile, the new administration under President Bola Tinubu in his appointments so far have been more inclusive than his predecessors particularly the immediate past administration under President Buhari; in the circumstances, he must have heard the cries of marginalization of some section of the country and the crass nepotism of his predecessor who is an unrepentant hardliner in religion and ethnic jingoism. So far, so good! It is a good start.

This is a major step for Nigeria, when will this be cascaded down to the state level? It is time for the government to begin to roll out policies that will quickly jumpstart and revive the economy. 4th Industrial Revolution on my mind: factories, industries, and many of our institutions of technological innovations must be revived to provide jobs for our youths. The examples of the Zaria ‘Aviation College’ and many others are issues of concern. It could attract direct foreign investment which is capable of mitigating the “JAPA SYNDROME” of our citizens.

To conclude, I quote MAHATMA GANDHI: “We are too near the scene of the tragedy to realize that this canker or untouchability has traveled far beyond its prescribed limits and has sapped the very foundation of the whole nation.” Our leaders have been too reckless and plundering resources and squandering riches including the very recent corrupt tendencies typically characterized by the impunity of our public officeholders and their private sector conspirators. Mr President Sir! With all humility I join our citizens in praying to God to grant you the courage to pull through and also wish Your Excellency the speed of light in the task ahead. There must be punishment for unwholesome behaviors.

The immediate past governor of Benue state, Samuel Ortom, has been released from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

An aide to the former governor, who craved anonymity, said Ortom was released around 7:30pm on Tuesday after several hours of “intense” interrogation at the anti-graft agency’s zonal office in Makurdi.

Politics Nigeria reported that Ortom was grilled by officials of the anti-graft agency over alleged misappropriation of public funds during his tenure as governor of Benue.

Reacting to Ortom’s ordeal with the EFCC, his party, the PDP in Benue said while Ortom was not the first former governor to be grilled by the agency, his case “is remarkably distinct for the lack of rancour and acrimony which usually attends such appearances”.

The party expressed satisfaction with Ortom’s conduct and declared that he has “no skeletons” in his cupboard.

Ndigbo in All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos has affirmed Joe Igbokwe, former special adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on drainage and water resources, as its leader.

State Co-ordinator, Chief Chris Ekwilo, spoke at a news conference in Lagos yesterday.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the affirmation followed a call by another Igbo group in the party, asking Igbokwe to step down.

NAN recalls an Ndigbo chieftain, Uche Dimgba, at a news conference, alleged Igbokwe was incompetent, saying the body needed a replacement to spearhead its activities.

Dimgba said Igbokwe’s inability to mobilise people in the grassroots hampered them from securing victory in elections.

Ekwilo, a founding member of APC in the state, maintained Igbokwe remained the leader and the face of Ndigbo in the state.

He affirmed Igbokwe had done well in representing Ndigbo in Sanwo-Olu’s exco, saying the people were behind him.

“We draw attention of the public and our party leadership that Dimgba has been removed as state coordinator of Ndigbo in APC, Lagos State.

“However, he went ahead to form what he calls ‘Authentic Ndigbo in APC Lagos State’. We alert the public of his mischievous intention to malign Igbokwe.

“We want to appeal to the public to disregard what he does since he no longer represents Ndigbo.

“Dimgba was removed as state co-ordinator on January 14, and replaced by his deputy, Chris Ekwilo ,” he said.

Ekwilo reiterated he was state co-ordinator of Ndigbo in APC, Lagos State, and write up from Dimgba should be disregarded.

He noted Dimgba was removed from office when they discovered his loyalty to APC was in question.

A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George has said that President Bola Tinubu has started well as Nigeria’s President.

The PDP chieftain stated this in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday.

He noted that Tinubu’s early days as the president is better than his time as the Lagos State governor between May 1999 and May 2007.

George who insisted that he remains a loyal party member of the PDP stated that he is not an enemy of the president.

He described Tinubu as a power broker.

The chieftain, however, insisted that the President must manage the people and the country’s resources well.

He stated, “The major difference between Bola and I is his methodology, his managerial style, is unlike me.

“I have a background in the military and I am a logistician in the military. You don’t carry your men to war without adequately doing your serious planning, intelligence gathering.”

Giving an assessment of Tinubu’s administration in the last three weeks, George said, “It is not a 100-meter race. He (Tinubu) is to manage his people and manage the resources of this country for the betterment of this country. He is just starting.”

The PDP stalwart said, “It’s not perfect but reasonable. At least, it is better than what we had known before when he was in Lagos. Maybe he was much younger at that time and no experience but now, Lagos is not Abuja.”

President Bola Tinubu has reversed his decision regarding the dissolution of the boards of two government agencies.

A clarification was provided on Tuesday by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) regarding the exemption of specific boards from the dissolution process.

The SGF announced that the boards of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration & Control (NAFDAC) are exempted from the process.

The agencies play crucial roles in the country’s fight against drug abuse and the regulation of food and drug safety.

The initial decision to dissolve the boards of all government agencies was announced by the SGF’s office.

However, Willie Bassey, the Director of Information at the SGF’s office, said NAFDAC and the NDLEA have been excluded from the announcement.

“Further to the directive on the dissolution of Boards of Federal Government Parastatals, Agencies, Institutions and Government-owned Companies, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation has clarified that the Boards of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration & Control (NAFDAC) are exempted from such dissolution,” said Bassey.

Fresh reconciliation moves by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, suffered a setback as key stakeholders including Atiku Abubakar, his running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa, former governor, Nyesom Wike and his G-5 team among other stakeholders were visibly absent.

The PDP went into the last general elections with a divided house, after it failed to resolve issues that arose from the nomination of its presidential and vice presidential candidates as well as a call by aggrieved members led by the G-5 governors for the ouster of former national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.

Its National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, while setting the tone for the meeting, held at the PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja, said before it went into a close session that the parley was convened to douse tension and kickstart reconciliation within the party in the aftermath of the election.

He said its members contributed to the outcome of the 2023 general elections and should be wary of pointing fingers on others.

He said the party would not apportion blames, suspend, expel or accuse anybody of playing pro or anti party activities during the last general elections.

“This party believe that Atiku Abubakar won the election, but we are in court, and without prejudice to what the court will decide, we will keep it aside. Let me acknowledge that this is not a NEC meeting, but an interactive meeting with the aim to jump starting a reconciliation process.

“We are here today and everyone knows what happened in 2023. We contributed both individually and collectively. If you rise to speak, I beg you to spell out your own role in 2023 elections, either positive or negative before you jump to accuse someone else either negative or positive.”

Acting National Chairman of the party, Umar Damagun, said the meeting was in continuation of the National Working Committee ( NWC) consultation with critical stakeholders, in a bid to chart theway forward for the party after the last election.

“This meeting will give us the opportunity to review the outcome of the last general elections and to share ideas about how to strengthen the party to face the challenges ahead.

“We have had series of meetings with the members of the National Ex officio, state Chairmen, select BoT and members of the National Assembly. This is a continuation of that meeting and it was borne out of what has happened during those meetings and we said there was need for us to call this one.”