Ex-governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has revealed that he was poisoned and flown out of Nigeria when he was governor of the state.

Wike made the revelation during a thanksgiving service in a church on Sunday, while also revealing that his wife was diagnosed with cancer even as her room was gutted by mysterious fire.

He said he was thanking God for surviving these ordeals especially when the medical doctor who diagnosed him gave a negative prognostication.

“There is a lot to thank God for; from 2015 to 2023, God was in charge; everybody who knew how we came to power knew it was turbulent, but God saw us through.

“I will give three instances why we need to thank God. While in your office, so many people think as governor everything is going on well with you,” Wike said.

He pointed out that, “As governor, nobody wants to ask if you are well, all is, you wake up in the morning, see text messages, accounts you are to send money to… December 2018, that day was the day my former Chief of Staff was to have a Thanksgiving ceremony, and I was to attend that event on a Sunday.

“On that Sunday, I never came down from my room, it was bad. For those who attended the January 1st State Banquet of 2019, will know that I never spoke that day, I just sat down there and told my deputy to speak on my behalf, people didn’t know what was going on.

“After that banquet, 12:00 am midnight, I was taken out of the country because I thought it was over.

“When we got to Beirut the doctors told me they had to do so many tests…they came back the next morning and said it was bad; my kidney, liver were gone.

“Doctors told me I’d been poisoned and that my liver and kidney were no longer functioning. I believe I was poisoned at the secretariat. To God be the glory, I survived it.”

He continued, “I never knew that I had been poisoned in our campaign secretariat; my intestines were all black.

“The doctors did everything they could do, and the next day the doctors came and said everything was turning around; to the glory of God after about one week, they said I could then go.

“I came back to Nigeria and told those who are close to me that we wouldn’t stop at anybody’s house because I could not identify how I was poisoned; everyone was a suspect to me.

“When I was going through my presidential primaries, my wife called me from London that she had been diagnosed with cancer, I called my G5 members who were supporting me, I said ‘there is a problem and I don’t think I can continue with this race.’ I called my wife back and she said ‘no, continue so we started’ (the race).”

According to the former governor, “On the night of the primaries, I went with my wife to Abuja, and from nowhere, we were called that fire gutted my wife’s room. We called the fire service, everything was burnt; up till today, we haven’t repaired that room… and nobody knew, I just kept quiet.

“That is why I said some people don’t ask what I’m passing through–you just want me to give you! give you! you don’t even know if I’m dying.

“But I thank God today that my wife is hale and hearty. When people text me, my wife is sick, my mother is at the hospital, I always say should I text back, my wife is also in the hospital? If anything should have happened you can imagine the effect on my children.

“The last one, as we finished the primary, my wife went to Lagos to bring my daughter, they landed at the air force base, and I said when they land I will just enter and go to Lagos (somebody was waiting for me that I must see).

“After 15 minutes of take-off, we heard a sound, I saw the air hostess running.

“I rushed to the cockpit, but the door was locked; nobody to communicate with; she ran back and told us one engine is gone.

“The pilot said it’s safer for us to turn back (we were three)…by the grace of God before we landed, we saw several ambulances, fire service trucks line up.

“I didn’t know the pilot had communicated with them that there was a serious problem.

“To the glory of God we landed safely; people just see me as a strong man; part of leadership is not to frighten one’s supporters,” Wike said.

THE Amalgamated Union of App-based Transport Workers of Nigeria says it has lodged a petition with the Federal Ministry of Labour, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Nigeria Labour Congress ahead of its planned indefinite strike in protest of the refusal of e-hailing firms to raise their pay.

The union’s Publicity Chairman, Jossy Olawale, in an interview with The PUNCH on Sunday, said the union was disappointed that despite a seven-day ultimatum issued to the app-based firms, no action had been taken to address the drivers’ concerns.

He said the union had opted to suspend its week-long strike to pave the way for dialogue between the drivers and the app companies.

However, by Tuesday, June 20, the seven working days ultimatum will elapse and the union feels that the chances of coming to an agreement are becoming slim or nonexistent.

Olawale expressed worry that ride-hailing companies refused to reduce their commission by 50 per cent as a measure to reduce the burden of the outrageous cost of PMS on the drivers.

He said, “The union has written a letter to the Federal Ministry of Labour, Nigerian Bar Association, Nigeria Labour Congress and other relevant stakeholders to midwife a process of dialogue towards an amicable resolution of the numerous challenge faced by app-based transport workers.”

Olawale also called on the app-based companies to restore the accounts of some of its members who were unjustifiably blocked due to their role in the nationwide strike and protest held by the union last week.

He added, “We are calling on President Tinubu, to, as a matter of urgency prioritise members of app-based transport workers of Nigeria, most of which are unemployed graduates who undertook driving e-hailing cab as a means of finding a legitimate means of living.”

When The PUNCH reached out to Uber, a global app-based company with a strong base of operations in Nigeria, the firm’s Country Manager, Tope Akinwumi, said the increase in fare prices had to be done in a manner that would not discourage riders from making use of the service.

He said, “Uber takes into consideration the economic climate in rolling out any price reviews. We believe this fare increase will have a positive impact on driver earnings while maintaining an affordable service for riders. Where price options are made too high there could be a risk of fewer or no requests from riders.”

Nollywood actress Tonto Dikeh has penned down an emotional father’s day message as she celebretes herself on Sunday.

The mother of one was formerly married to Mr Olakunle Churchill. However, the marriage did not last long as Tonto accused her spouse of physical abuse. The couple both shared a son together, King Andre.

They divorced in 2017 after two years of marriage. She has since declared herself the father and mother to her son, King Andre.

In the post she shared on her Instagram page, the actress wrote, “To myself and My LIttle daddy “Lord King Andre Dikeh”

“Today is a global day where fathers are not only recognised but celebrated. God has continued to shine his light upon us and our collaboration between myself and King has been a partnership between two dads and you’ve always been there with me through good and bad times.

“You have continued to show that you’re a good leaner with your results in school and I won’t stop demonstrating the values of hard work, dedication and perseverance.

“As much as I am Daddy to you, you have also given me a fatherly shoulder too hence I call you “PAPA”.. Thank you Baby for this great collaboration between Us and GIF almighty.. I’ll chose you a million times again if I have to do it all over.

“You’ve always told me that I’m the best dad in the world and I also want to thank you for making my job as the best dad easy.

“Call me Mama de’ Papa

“Happy Fathers Day to me, to all the amazing Dads out there and every Amazing strong woman doubling on this job or parenthood..God bless us all #FATHERSDAY #GIRLDAD #GIRLPOWER #LOVE #IAMDADDY. “

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said cash deposits into domiciliary accounts will no longer be restricted.

The apex bank said this in guidance to Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) after a meeting with the bankers’ committee on Sunday.

The guidance includes allowing all visible and invisible transactions to be eligible for the Investors’ and Exporters’ window, granting unrestricted access to funds in ordinary domiciliary accounts, and permitting cash deposits not exceeding $10,000 per day or its equivalent via telegraphic transfer.

According to the CBN, the policy changes aim to promote transparency, liquidity, and price discovery in the FX market in order to improve FX supply, discourage speculation, enhance customer confidence and ensure overall stability in the FX market.

“All visible and invisible transactions (medicals, school fees, BTA/PTA, airline, and other remittances) are eligible for the investors’ and exporters’ (I&E) window.”

“DMBs shall ensure expeditious processing of all eligible invisible transactions on behalf of their customers using the applicable rate at the I&E window. Ordinary domiciliary account holders shall have unfettered and unrestricted access to funds in their accounts. Domiciliary account holders are permitted to utilise cash deposits not exceeding $10,000 per day or its equivalent via telegraphic transfer.

“DMBs shall provide returns to the CBN including the purpose for such transactions. Cash deposits into domiciliary accounts will not be restricted, subject to DMBs conducting proper KYC (know your customer), due diligence, and adhering to the spirit and letter of extant anti-money laundering/ combating the financing of terrorism laws and other relevant rules and regulations.

“The CBN will prioritise orderly settlement of any committed FX forward transactions as they fall due in order to further boost market confidence.”

The CBN said it remains committed to ensuring a stable and efficient FX market that meets the needs of all legitimate users.

No fewer than 18 Ghana-must-go bags containing money and documents have been carted away by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) from the residence of the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, Nigerian Tribune has been reliably informed.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that the money and the documents were taken from the Lagos residence of Emefiele on Friday afternoon after about a day-long search of the property.

Emefiele, who was arrested June 10 by the DSS, has spent eight days in the custody of the agency.

It was scooped that Emefiele may spend longer than earlier reported in DSS custody as investigation into his activities while in charge of the apex bank is far from being concluded.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that the DSS, on Thursday, secured a court order to detain the ex-CBN chief for three weeks, with another source hinting that he might be held for a longer time.

Emefiele was said to have been moved from the DSS custody in Abuja on Thursday and flown to Lagos where his house was searched by DSS operatives.

Upon conclusion of the search, about 18 Ghana-must-go bags containing currency and documents were said to have been taken away the following day [Friday].

Emefiele was flown back to Abuja on Friday afternoon with the bags and investigators have since resumed quizzing, especially about the findings.

The secret Police, it was gathered, have also launched a manhunt for Emefiele’s personal assistant (names withheld) in connection with the revelations from the ongoing investigation.

“DSS took Emefiele to his house in Lagos on Thursday and returned him to Abuja on Friday afternoon. His house was searched. They took away about 18 big Ghana-must-go bags containing money and documents from the house.

“His personal assistant is on the run. DSS is on a manhunt for him. He is the key to unlock Emefiele’s assets and wealth stashed away within and outside the country,” a source told Nigerian Tribune.

President Bola Tinubu, on June 9, suspended Emefiele as CBN governor and ordered his probe, following which he was arrested by the DSS for investigation.

The appointment of Mr. Olawale Edun, a seasoned investment banker and former commissioner of finance in Lagos State, as the Special Adviser to the President on Monetary Policy, has set off torrents of speculations on what exactly would be his job description given that monetary policy is statutorily an exclusive responsibility of central banks all over the world. In a rare unanimity, many economists I have spoken to agree that the appointment is an aberration that could erode the hard-worn independence of the CBN, and create some conflict between the Presidency and the monetary authority. Monetary policy is a set of tools used by a nation’s central bank to control the overall money supply, interest rates and bank reserve requirements in order to tame inflation and promote economic growth. In other words, monetary policy seeks to achieve price stability in the economy. It is a function specifically assigned to one of the four deputy governors of CBN. It’s the core job of all central banks.

To effectively perform this function, the CBN has since 2005 constituted a Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), which is the highest policy making committee of the Bank with a mandate to meet regularly and review economic and financial conditions in the economy and determine appropriate action plans in the short to medium term. It also regularly reviews the CBN Monetary Policy framework and adopt changes when necessary. MPC is chaired by the Governor, and is made up of the four deputy governors and a few other distinguished economists and eminent persons with strong financial backgrounds. In Nigeria, the MPC meets every two months and its decisions are communicated to the public. over time, the membership of MPC has been expanded to include the Head of the African Development Bank (ADB) Office in Abuja; Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance. The Presidency is also represented in MPC. Under Buhari, it was Mohammed Salisu, SSA to the President on Development Policy who represented the Presidency on MPC. Edun will now take his place in this very important Committee.

But a membership of MPC that meets six times in a year could not be the only duty of a cabinet-level official. What else would be Edun’s specific duties in the area of monetary policy? Some economists are puzzled by the designation and they think that implies a possible encroachment on the independence of the CBN. ‘’I do not understand the significance of the appointment, and I’m worried that the new administration might be straying into unfamiliar territory’’, says Horgan Akpan Ekpo, a professor of economics, who had once served as a member of the Board of Directors of the CBN and a member of its MPC (Monetary Policy Committee) during the tenure of Prof. Charles Soludo as CBN Governor. Speaking to this writer exclusively, Ekpo notes that although Mr. Godwin Emefiele might have made some mistakes in the manner he ran the Bank, it is not enough reason for the government to seek to interfere in its core functions. ‘’The CBN Act confers enormous independence on the Bank for good reasons. It is a big progress from the days when the Bank was a parastatal of the Ministry of Finance; so, it would be a serious retrogression for us to do anything that would take us backwards’’, Ekpo, a former vice chancellor of University of Uyo, said. Ekpo had also been the chief executive of West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM), a training institution co-owned by the Central banks of the Anglophone West African countries.

While the CBN handles the monetary policy, the Ministry of Finance is responsible for fiscal policy which basically entails taxation and spending. Both sides are independent of one another but they work in harmony for the good of economy. Which explains why people are trying to figure out what Edun’s job entails. ‘’I suspect that his responsibility would be essentially to watch over the CBN Governor on behalf of the President, and to ensure that the Bank takes orders from the Villa,’’ says a financial consultant who has had a long career spanning banking and insurance, is close to the new power brokers but does not want his name mentioned in this article. He believes that the President will like to have a total control of what happens in the economy, and so he wants a trusted ally to watch over the new CBN governor that will replace Emefiele. He says: ‘’Emefiele was very close to President Buhari. He could walk into the Villa at any time and see President Buhari at a short notice. But in this era, Tinubu may not need a direct interaction with the governor, and so, it is Edun that would be an intermediary between the Villa and the CBN’’. But since there is National Economic Council (NEC) and the President may appoint an Economic Adviser and/or Economic Management Team, this anonymous consultant believes that Edun’s role as Monetary Policy Adviser appears suspect, or at best otiose.

Another economist and banker, Marcel Okeke says the appointment is an aberration as Edun may be working in conflict with the law establishing the CBN. ‘’Mr. Edun is an accomplished banker and a thoroughbred professional, but he cannot take over the duty of the CBN. By the CBN Act 2007, monetary policy matters are the sole responsibility of the CBN’’, Okeke, who was also one of the influential finance journalists in the 1980s, said. He notes that even the judgement of the Supreme Court on the issuance of the new Naira notes by the CBN last year was an anomaly since ‘’monetary matters should not be decided by the Supreme Court but by the CBN’’. This is the same line of thought that Johnson Chukwu, Group Chief Executive Cowry Asset Management Group expressed in an interview on Arise News the other night. He said Edun’s job title is a misnomer since ‘’monetary policy is an exclusivity of the CBN’’.

Former Deputy Governor of the CBN, Prof Kingsley Moghalu, refused to make a comment when I contacted him. I was surprised at his reticence because Moghalu is naturally vocal matters of public policy and public interest. However, in a statement he issued last September on the need to maintain the independence of the CBN, Moghalu had argued against a proposed bill presented at the National Assembly that sought to abridge the Bank’s independence. ‘’Such amendment to the CBN Act of 2007 would finally destroy the institution by disrobing it completely of its institutional independence as enshrined in the Act. It would make the Bank, a statutory corporation under the law, to become a ministry or a mere agency or department of government; and it would render the bank an open playground for politicians who are the custodians of our dysfunctional governance’’, he wrote.

 I had initially thought that Edun would be the new finance minister. He fits the bill by all standards. I was therefore equally surprised at his designation as Adviser on Monetary policy. First of all, it is not the job of the President to fix interest rates or manage money supply (M1 and M2). That is the duty of the CBN; and the CBN Governor is also the chief adviser to the government on such matters. However, the President has the right to seek a second opinion in addition to that of the CBN. The position could also be a subtle hint that Edun is being prepped to take over as the new CBN Governor. Afterall, Prof Soludo was first made chief economic adviser to the President before he was appointed Governor some 20 years ago.

…says Dokubo-Asari enemy of govt

Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has expressed outrage over the attack on Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, by ex-militant leader, Mujahid Dokubo-Asari.

The Igbo group called on President Bola Tinubu to ignore the likes of Dokubo and invite Kanu for a round table discussion.

Dokubo had while speaking to journalists after a meeting with President Tinubu branded the IPOB leader a criminal, calling on Tinubu not to release him.

His statement has continued to draw the anger of Ndigbo, with many accusing him of reaching beyond his bounds.

The President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, in a statement in Abuja on Sunday accused Dokubo-Asari of being sponsored by those who want to destabilise President Tinubu’s government.

According to him, it was unthinkable that at a time many patriotic citizens of the country were thinking of ways to unite the country, the ex-militant who postures as a ‘son of the President’ was busy throwing up ideas that would further polarise the country.

“We have always known Dokubo-Asari as a rabble-rouser who is not interested in the progress and prosperity of this nation.

“This is a man who had been in the creeks for years sabotaging the country’s economy. We all know what it is to sabotage the economy of a country- what other crime could be more than this?

“But curiously, the same man who claims to have repented, even when his boys are still in the creeks, has the temerity to brand Nnamdi Kanu a criminal.

“When did Asari Dokubo become a court of competent jurisdiction to decide who is a criminal? He has only taken his hatred for Ndigbo too far,” Okwu said.

The Igbo group urged President Tinubu to ignore Dokubo and his ilks “who are not in any way interested in the positive future of the country but their selfish gains.

“Mr President made it clear that he is ready to unite the fragmented country he inherited from the past administration and he has been so much applauded for this.

“We urge Mr President to go ahead and not allow his administration to be derailed by hypocrites like Asari Dokubo who want to feed fat from any form of crisis in the country. Mr President should be wary of him and his sponsors who are enemies of the government.

“The Federal Government should do well to invite and engage Nnamdi Kanu and other agitators. They are fighting for justice and marginalisation. If the government could engage members of Boko Haram who have killed and maimed millions of people, it should not find it hard to engage the agitators.

“Mr President is one of those who vehemently fought in favour of democracy and justice in the past; he should give a listening ear to Nnamdi Kanu,” Okwu said.

Ohanaeze, however, warned Dokubo “to desist from any further attempt to use Nnamdi Kanu’s ordeal to promote his interests.

“Enough is enough, we warn him to henceforth stop using Ndigbo as an avenue to promote his ego. Everyone knows he has personal issues with Nnamdi Kanu.”

Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has denied declaring the immediate past governor of Zamfara state, Bello Mattawale wanted.

In a statement released on Sunday and signed by the commission’s Head, Media & Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, the commission said it never asked the Department of State Service to arrest the former governor reiterating it will only follow the standard procedure in the case with the former governor.

“The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to a report, entitled, Alleged N70b Fraud: EFCC Declares Ex-Zamfara Gov, Matawalle Wanted, which appeared in the Sunday Tribune of June 18, 2023, and purports that the Commission had declared a former Zamafara State governor, Bello Matawalle wanted and requested the Department of State Service, DSS, to arrest him, anywhere he is seen”.

“Without prejudice to the case involving the former governor, the report is incorrect as the Commission has yet to declare Matawalle wanted or solicit the assistance of any Agency, including the DSS, to effect his arrest.”

The Commission noted that it has a standard procedure for declaring persons wanted and communicating the same to the public, not through faceless “security sources.”

This development is a twist in the ongoing rift between the anti-graft agency and the former governor.

The PUNCH had earlier reported that the EFCC said it was investigating Matawalle over allegations of corruption, award of phantom contracts, and diversion of over N70 billion.

This came after Matawalle had accused the now-suspended EFCC chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, of demanding a $2m bribe from him, an allegation that the anti-graft agency denied

Matawalle had said, “It is not just to always blame governors. It is not only governors who have treasury, the federal government also has. What does the EFCC boss do to them? As he is claiming he has evidence on governors, let him show the world evidence of those at the federal level.

“If he exits office, people will surely know he is not an honest person. I have evidence against him. Let him vacate the office, I am telling you within 10 seconds probably more than 200 people will bring evidence of bribes he collected from them. He knows what he requested from me but I declined.”

The former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, says he will forever be grateful to former President Muhammadu Buhari and President Bola Tinubu for the successes he achieved in his political career.

Aregbesola stated this during a civic reception organised in his honour by Concerned Muslim Scholars and Clerics in South Western Nigeria on Sunday in Oyo town.

He said the Buhari and Tinubu made the achievements that facilitated the grand reception in which people were praising him for today possible.

Aregbesola said that Tinubu mentored him in Lagos State and facilitated his emergence as Governor of Osun State.

He said that the establishment of Nigeria Immigration Service Passport office, Fire fighting office and Agro Ranger Office in Oyo town, which people praised him for, was done by Buhari and executed through him as the Minister of Interior.

“If any appreciation and gratitude could be given to me, I want to believe greater appreciation should be given to the two people I mentioned.

“Without their support, it would be pretty difficult for me to single-handedly achieve the height I am now and be able to render the service to good people of Oyo,” Aregbesola said.

He said that he was extremely grateful and honoured by the reception organised for him by the people of Oyo town and appreciated them for the reception.

Earlier, the host of the programme, Imam Daud Tijani, said the willingness to celebrate Aregbesola’s indelible achievements as public office holder was due to his exemplified personality in all ramifications.

Tijani said that Aregbesola has remained loyal to the cause of humanity, infrastructure development and maximally using societal resources for the development of the people. 

” He is vastly in Knowledge and has a way of relating with people inoffensively and this has earned him the loyalty and admiration of the masses and entire Yorubaland and the nation at large.

” He never compromised his integrity and faith in what he believes to be right.

“Aregbesola is so dear to the Muslims not only because he is a practising Muslim but because he consistently present himself as a good ambassador of Islam through good deeds in and outside governance.

“The people of Oyoland will continue to show gratitude to Aregbesola for moving Oyoland to status of a town to a city with the establishment of significant federal establishments,” he said.

In his lecture, An Associate Prof., Abass Alade, described Aregbesola as a privileged and fortunate person based on various political positions he had occupied.

Alade urged Aregbesola to continue to be humble, be grateful to Allah, his parents and humanity.

He advised him to continue to be closer to Allah, identify with the masses and not relent in assisting the people.

In his contribution, the Chaiŕman of the occassion, Sen. Mudasiru Husain, said Aregbesola wa as a diligent, compassionate and an exemplary leader whose style must be emulated by all and sundry.

The Chairman of Oyo State Muslim Community, Alhaji Kunle Sanni, said Aregbesola was a brave person who never got afraid of speaking the truth while in position of authority.

Sanni said that Aregbesola contributed his quota to the progress of Islam and humanity when he was Osun State Governor and Minister of Interior.

He called on Muslims, willing to go into politics to emulate the good character of Aregbesola.

The Bashorun of Oyoland, Chief Yusuf Akinade, applauded Aregbesola for his contribution to Yorubaland and the people of Oyo town, saying he left a blueprint which would forever be remembered.

Other speakers at the occasion, including Prof. Sarafadeen Kareem, lecturer, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, and Dr Mahmud Musa, Lecturer, Department of Arabic, University of Ilorin, commended Aregbesola for his contributions to the society.

The Oyomesesi in Council (King makers), representatives of clerics from Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Kwara, Ondo and Lagos states attended the event

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has revealed that popular Nigerian rapper Olamide is his favourite artiste.

The 2022/23 Serie A winner made this known in an interview with Pooja Media.

According to Osimhen, listening to past hits from the YBNL boss before matches always inspires him.

“First of all like during my spare time after lunch we are relaxing for like two, three hours before the final meeting to get to the stadium, I listen to Olamide’s rap he’s done in recent years that is inspirational to me. Olamide is my best musician actually in Nigeria, I use to listen to him I have his playlist.

“Then after before I go for the team meeting I say my prayers and when we are in the bus I use to listen to Nas and Damian Marley’s ‘Only The Strong Survive’.

“When I listen to these songs I always put it in my head that I’m going for war everytime, when I’m playing I’m going for war. It’s not like I’m going there to die or someone is going to die but I feel like only the strong means I want to win I don’t want to lose.

“These are the songs that I actually listen to that really psych me up.“

Osimhen guided Napoli to their first Serie A title since 1990.

The 24-year-old won the golden boot award after scoring 26 goals in the Italian topflight.