Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has begun a 21-day medical leave abroad and transmitted power to Lucky Aiyedatiwa, his deputy.

In a letter to the House of Assembly, Akeredolu said Aiyedatiwa would function in acting capacity pending the time his leave is over.

Olamide Oladiji, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, who received the copy of the letter, revealed that Akeredolu shall resume work on July 6, 2023.

Mr Oladiji said, “The leave which commenced on the 7th of June, extends to the 6th of July, 2023 due to the Public Holidays on June 12 (Democracy Day) and Eid el Kabir (28th and 29th, June, 2023).

“The Governor, who had directed his Deputy, Hon.Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa to act as the Governor while away, has assured of his resumption on the 6th of July, 2023.”

While describing the governor as a lover of peace and an apostle of rule of law, Mr Oladiji wished him a speedy recovery and a joyful vacation.

The continued absence of Akeredolu, particularly, at public functions, had attracted mixed reactions.

Some residents, especially critics, had attributed the governor’s long absence to an undisclosed ailment, but his aides had insisted that he was doing well.

They later admitted he was indisposed but sad the situation was under control.

The governor’s fragile health and absence from duty had also led to political intrigues and a split in the cabinet.

Recall that the opposition political parties in the state had demanded the whereabouts Akeredolu, asking him to transmit power to his deputy in line with the provisions of the Constitution due to his health challenge.

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Tuesday, commended the courage of some Igbo leaders in making a case for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

Kanu founded IPOB in his quest to liberate the people of the old Eastern Region from Nigeria’s structure. He is charged with running a proscribed group, jumping bail and treason. He is presently in the custody of the Department of the State Services after being brought to Nigeria from Kenya in a manner Nigeria’s Appeal Court described as ‘extraordinary rendition’.

Among personalities IPOB commended are Rev Father Ejike Mbaka, Governor Peter Mba of Enugu State, Anambra Governor Chukwuma Soludo, and Kanayo .O. Kanayo of the Nollywood fame.

The commendation was contained in a release by IPOB’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful. Powerful claimed that Kanu is the only political prisoner incarcerated for being an Igbo man.

Quoting him, “The global family of Indigenous People Of Biafra, IPOB, commend the efforts of Igbo sons and daughters, and other pro-Biafra groups, human rights defenders, and lovers of freedom who have called for the unconditional release of our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who is illegally detained by the Nigeria government in the DSS solitary confinement for almost two years now.

“We wish to commend the persistent calls for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from persons like Enugu Governor Peter Mbah, Anambra Governor Professor Chukwuma Soludo, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, Barr. Kanayo .O. Kanayo, and others.

“Moreso, the recent call from Mbah and his personal visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is welcomed by the IPOB family worldwide.”

He said Kanu is the only political prisoner held unconstitutionally in custody without charge because he is an Igbo man, adding that, “The main reason for his persecution and illegal incarceration is because he is an Igbo Biafran fighting for the freedom and wellbeing of his people.”

He accused the federal government of ‘demonstrating hatred for Igbos’, noting that, “The Nigeria government has demonstrated hatred and disdain against Ndigbo by illegally holding onto this Igbo illustrious son without charge.

“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and other IPOB members in various detentions, even after the Nigeria courts have ordered their release, are still being held without explanation from the Nigerian government.

“Therefore, it has become necessary for all Igbo sons and daughters to come out in unison to demand the unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and others from the DSS custody.”

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Tajudeen Abbas has said that the House, which he would be presiding over, would stand to challenge the executive if it finds things are going against the interests of the public.

Abbas replied to critics who think his emergence as Speaker of the 10th National Assembly would serve the interest of the executive arm of government.

Abbas, who met with President Ahmed Tinubu shortly after his election at the National Assembly, on Tuesday told journalists that his victory which garnered votes across party lines, almost the entire PDP, SDP, ADC and all other minority parties speak of his acceptance from his colleagues.

While reacting to his emergence as Speaker, he said, “When we started this campaign, it was always good. But the impact of social media propaganda of some of the contestants distorted the entire picture of what was on the ground.

“But to God be the glory, today, people have seen our level of popularity and acceptance by our members. And it has put to shame those who always thought that we were imposed by the party and that we don’t have the numbers. Today, people have seen a record that has never been established in the past. 353 out of 359 members elected us. it is unprecedented, it has never ever happened in the history of Parliament”.

While commenting on the possibility of being a rubber stamp house, she said, “If you talk about rubber stamp? Look at the acceptance rate of those who have elected those across party lines, almost the entire PDP, SDP, ADC and all other minority parties voted for us. So if they feel that we are going to be rubber stamps, do you think they will elect us? no.

“They believe that we will safeguard the sanctity of the National Assembly, the legislators; we will always separate our independence and we will relate and be able to harmonize with the executive where necessary. But where there is a conflict of interest, we feel that the executive is or wants to do something that is not in the interest of the public. They know that we’ll stand up against that”.

Nigeria’s transportation industry will soon begin to see relief after the federal government’s petrol subsidy removal spiked exponential rise in the price of the product across the country.

The national president of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Elder Chinedu Okoronkwo, said the Association is 90 per cent ready to roll out Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as alternative automotive fuel, which it is going to sell between N100 to N110 per litre before the end of June.

Okoronkwo, who confirmed said this on Channels Television’s Business Morning programme on Monday, stressed that CNG has come to serve as an alternative to petrol.

Okoronkwo, explained that CNG would help bring down the cost of energy in the country, adding, “Very soon, we will roll out. We are 90 per cent close to that, and that will also unveil many possibilities.”

He noted that fuel subsidy removal had reduced the speed with which Nigeria could have gotten another energy mix

“IPMAN has brought relief to a lot of families. We have got the usage of our natural energy, CNG, to power vehicles, generators, and even cooking,” the IPMAN president said.

The CNG is expected to reduce, to a large extent, the country’s exposure to fuel importation as natural gas would not be imported.

Okoronkwo noted that CNG-powered cars had started gaining momentum in the country because of increased awareness about its efficiency and affordability, compared to traditional fuels like diesel and petrol.

“If the government buys into what we are saying, it will act as an assistance, bring relief, and create job opportunities.

“What we need the government to do is create the market. The demand is there,” the IPMAN president said.

He added that IPMAN had gotten a lot of buy-in from companies overseas.

On what the CNG brings to the value-chain, he said, “I don’t know if you have seen what is trending this week where people with their I-pass-my- neighbour generators are beginning to use liquified petroleum gas. LPG is close to N700 per kilogramme, but this natural gas we are talking about is under N100 to N110.

“When you check what the impact will be, it will reduce the cost of food because people coming from the hinterlands bring food to the cities. From Kano, it takes them about N1.2 million to fuel trucks with diesel, but with this CNG, it will cost them about N150,000 to N200,000. About a million naira is saved that will translate to cheaper food and open up a lot of other businesses.

“It will provide cheaper energy to drive the processing zones like the agro-based industries, where the gas will also create a lot of impact.

“CNG does not replace PMS, but it is a choice. We are talking of something that will help your purse and not deepen it.”

The director of Gas Analytics and Solutions Limited, Shuaibu Bello, who also spoke at the Channels Television programme, said the CNG would be a game-changer for Nigerians.

“This is the best palliative you can give the nation. If you talk of palliative, it is not just sharing money with people, it is creating a system that will reach the rich and the poor.

“If you compare CNG price at N110 per litre with petrol now at N540 or its former price of N185, still you will have a reduction,” he said.

IPMAN had in April 2023 wrote to the Finance ministry to request that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) be mandated to release N250 billion intervention fund for the implementation of the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP).

IPMAN explained it asked for the fund to provide access to the Gas Expansion Fund for vehicle, commercial tricycle and truck owners to access loans to finance the acquisition of natural gas conversion kits.

At the time, IPMAN said that it had partnered with Gas Analytics & Solutions Limited to co-locate natural gas dispensers on their network of over 30,000 filling stations in Nigeria.

According to IPMAN, it controls over 80 per cent of the downstream oil sector, and as such, the collocation model would help to reduce the exposure in building new filling stations.

Similarly, the manager corporate Communications of NipCo, Biodun Lawal, speaking on the company’s desire to depeen investment in the gas sector, said the savings that will accrue from subsidy removal offers more vista of opportunities to fund the enormous gas infrastructure deficit in the nation .

“We are still investing more infrastructure with a proviso that clientele will improve sporadically

Some of the challenges in harnessing the abundant gas resources in the country includes – paucity of pipelines to transport gas across the country ,cost of conversion to use gas as auto fuel , access to gas through stations .

“With all modesty NIPCO gas Limited is the only company with over 12 CNG get to get gas for motorist” he said.

Continuing, Lawal, said motorist can now see the innate benefits in running their vehicles on gas rather than fossil fuels which government has in the past graciously subsidised even at the expense of the overall economic growth and other socio -economic development of the nation .

According to him, CNG as a preferred alternative to petrol is good for gas companies as the nation at large as or offered veritable opportunity of creating more employment opportunities ,better value creation in the Industry ,better utilisation of the endowed gas resources of the country .

He said, the benefits are enormous for motorist in terms of savings and life span of such automobiles and that the conversion cost should not be a drawback with support from government especially with fiscal policies to encourage investors to go into kits manufacturing and ancillary items like cylinders etc .

“In the interim policies can be put in place for exemption from levies of imported accessories pending when the environment will be made more conducive for it’s manufacturing in Nigeria CNG business has a good horizon in the country with the challenges tacked headlong

Lawal, said as pioneers NipCo gas, is looking forward to more inroads in the sector.

An Abuja-based sex therapist, Cecilia Agu, 40, was on Tuesday arraigned by the police before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos State over an alleged N275m internet scam.

The defendant is facing a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery, fraud, and obtaining by false pretence.

The police prosecutor, Samuel Eredia, told the court that the defendant and others at large, committed the offence on February 20, 2023, in the Lekki Phase 1 area of Lagos State.

Eredia said Agu defrauded one Babatunde Oyebode of N275m by sending an electronic message and misrepresenting herself that she would help him to verify, validate and authenticate his Instagram page with celebrities and other of his clients, which she did not do.

However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge against her.

Following her plea of not guilty, the prosecutor urged the court to remand the defendant to a correctional centre.

But the defendant’s counsel, Elvis Asia, told the court that he would be praying to the court for bail.

Consequently, Justice Daniel Osiagor granted the defendant bail in the sum of N10m with two sureties in like sum, among other conditions.

The judge consequently remanded the defendant in the correctional centre pending when she is able to perfect her bail conditions.

The case was adjourned till October 18 for trial.

• Expresses doubt over govt’s resolve on fuel subsidy

Minimum wage negotiations between organised labour, Nigerian Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), and the Federal Government will resume in the last quarter of this year.

General Secretary of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Emmanuel Ugboaja, who disclosed this, yesterday, at the ongoing International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, Switzerland, said raising the national wage floor, which is due next year in February, will not be part of forthcoming discussions. He said: “When labour meets the Federal Government’s negotiation team on Monday, June 19, 2023, the minimum wage will not be on the table. The current minimum wage will expire in February, next year. Normally, by this time, labour should table its proposal on what the new national wage will be, by the last quarter of this year, so that we can reach an understanding.”

The NLC scribe blamed governors for debasing the national minimum wage by declining to implement the law. He said: “Our governors have made a mockery of what a national minimum wage ought to be, by reducing it to their own definition of what they are willing to pay workers. Governors have reduced salary payment to a privilege. No. That cannot be.

“They pay workers for services rendered; they are not dashing out money. Salary payment ensures societies grow. Therefore, ignorance is the bane of the Nigerian minimum wage implementation.”

Meanwhile, Oyo State NLC chapter, yesterday, said it was sceptical of Federal Government’s determination to remove fuel subsidy. This came up during a seminar organised by the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), with the theme, ‘Fuel Subsidy Removal: The Why, How and Way Forward’, in Ibadan.

State NLC chairman, Kayode Martins, said there shouldn’t have been any fallout with the labour movement, if government had, earlier, announced measures to cushion effects of the removal.

Martins said: “We are not saying subsidy should not be removed. It is a good thing. We embrace it, but we are afraid of the implementation. There are lots of promises, here and there, from past administrations, which they failed to fulfil. So, that’s our fear. We hope it would not be business as usual. That’s the phobia we have now.”

In her opening remarks, NISER Director General, Prof. Antonia Simbine, said: “As is typical of subsidy programmes across the world and especially, in developing countries, the fuel subsidy regime increasingly led to unconscionable racketeering and a cesspool of corruption.

“The huge fiscal burden and mounting debts that deficits fostered, the broad consensus that fuel subsidies disproportionately favour the rich and dislocated funding in critical development domains, such as education, health, security, coupled with a crippled economy, meant that these subsidies had become unsustainable.”

[Guardian]

The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, will on Thursday testify before the Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja.

Mr Yakubu will testify in Atiku Abubakar’s petition challenging President Bola Tinubu’s victory at the 25 February presidential election.

Atiku, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accused INEC and Mr Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of manipulating the polls.

His lead counsel, Chris Uche, on Tuesday, informed the five-member panel of the court chaired by Haruna Tsammani that Mr Yakubu would appear before it on Thursday.

At the behest of Atiku’s legal team, Mr Yakubu had been subpoenaed to testify on the conduct of the disputed election.

Also, he is expected to tender some sensitive electoral documents in aid of the petitioner’s suit.

Mr Uche, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), put INEC, Mr Tinubu and APC’s legal teams on notice concerning Mr Yakubu’s scheduled appearance on Thursday to forestall any impediment that may obstruct the hearing.

Atiku calls first star witness

After calling 18 witnesses to testify for the petitioner, Mr Uche, on Tuesday, called his client’s first star witness.

The witness, Alex Ter, a lawyer and former Attorney General of Benue State, in his testimony, alleged that the February presidential poll was fraught with widespread irregularities as it was conducted in disregard of the Electoral Act, 2022.

In his witness statement on oath, Mr Ter said he was the national coordinator Situation Room for the PDP during the February 25 presidential election in Abuja.

He presented three video clips featuring INEC chair Mr Yakubu and INEC’s Commissioner for Voter Education, Festus Okoye, who both pledged that the electoral umpire would electronically transmit the election results.

The third video concerned the European Union Election Observer Mission, which was admitted as an exhibit by the court.

Also, the court admitted the guidelines for election officers 2022 and the manual for election guidelines 2023 as exhibits.

Mr Ter also tendered screenshots of the INEC IReV portal.

Despite Mr Tinubu and APC’s objections to the admissibility of the documents, the court admitted the videos played in court.

Last Saturday, similar video clips were tendered by Peter Obi’s Labour Party, also contesting Mr Tinubu’s victory.

Atiku and Mr Obi came second and third, respectively, in the race, but the pair are urging the court to declare each of them president.

They are also calling for a fresh poll.

While being cross-examination by INEC’s lawyer, Abubakar Mahmoud, a SAN, Mr Ter said he was not at the National Collation Centre in Abuja, but was at the PDP situation room in Abuja.

The witness told the court that he was not an ICT expert. He clarified that his report on the election’s outcome was obtained from agents of the PDP at the collation centres.

Mr Ter, Atiku’s 19th witness, told the court under cross-examination by Mr Tinubu’s lawyer, Akin Olujinmi, a SAN, that the presidential election was nullity owing to alleged electoral malpractices by INEC.

At the end of Mr Ter’s testimony, the court adjourned the suit until Wednesday for further hearing.

[Premium Times]

Justice Ambrose Lewis Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Court 3, Ikoyi Lagos has fixed July 21st for the commencement of trial of Mr Michael Ukiye Diongoli, and his two companies, UK Dion Group and UK Dion Investment Limited on a 61 count charge of defrauding unsuspecting investors to the tune of over N3.7billion.

Diongoli and his companies are alleged to have between 2021 and 2022 with intent to defraud, conspired among themselves to obtain money from several individuals and organisations including Dr. Basil Onugu, Prof. Oyekachi Green Nwankwo, FSL Securities Ltd, Catholic Charismatic Renewal, MTN Employer Cooperative, Col Chukwu Tengu rtd. and Nigerian Army Welfare Insurance Scheme among others.

The defendants are accused of pretending to be registered financial institution into wealth management, invited customers to pay money into their accounts and fix it for a period ranging from 6 months to one year with interest, a statement the defendant knew to be false and committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related to Offenses Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.

According to the Charge “That you Micheal Ukiye Diongoli, Dion Investment Limited and others at large between MRCH 2021 and May 2022 in Lagos Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria with intent to defraud fraudulently obtained several sums of money to UK Dion under the pretence that you are a registered financial institution, and you are into wealth Management wherein customers were invited to pay money into your account, fix it for a period ranging from 6 months to one year and the customer will get the money invested with interest, a statement the victims believed, which you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related to Offenses Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act”.

When the charges were read to the defendant, Micheal Ukiye Diongoli pleaded not guilty to all 61 counts, Justice Allagoa thereafter set July 21, 2023as the date for the commencement of the trial.

Mr Diongoli, and his two companies, UK Dion Group and UK Dion Investment Limited are also facing a criminal summons by Justice Zainab Abubakar of the Federal High Court in Abuja on charges of operating without the Liscence of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

In the two count charge brought against Michael Ukiye Diongoli, UK Dion Group And UK –Dion Investment Limited all of No. 21 Buhari Street, Peace Court Estate, Lokogoma, Abuja, they are alleged to have on or between the year 2021 and 2022 within the jurisdiction of the honourable court did commit a felony to wit: conspired among themselves together with their staff to do an illegal act – diversion of investment funds to the tune of over N3.6billion belonging to the investing public which includes Basil Onugu, Elizabeth Umenwa Nwankwo, Adetoun Sokoni, Ezeogu Victoria Ndozi and others you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of Criminal Code Act, laws of the Federation, 2004.

“That you Michael Ukiye Diongoli, UK Dion Group And UK –Dion Investment Limited all of No. 21 Buhari Street Peace Court Estate, Lokogoma, Abuja, they are alleged to have on or between the year 2021 and 2022 within the jurisdiction of the Federal High and together with your other staff, did commit a felony to wit: diverted investment funds to the tune of over N3.6billion belonging to the investing public which includes Basil Onugu, Elizabeth Umenwa Nwankwo, Adetoun Sokoni, Ezeogu Victoria Ndozi and others you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 383(2) F of Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under Section 390(7) of the same Act”.

Global watchdog, Amnesty International on Tuesday claimed that the killing spree that characterized the last administration, is continuing under President Bola Tinubu.

In a statement, its Acting Nigeria Director, Isa Sanusi, said about 123 deaths have been recorded since Tinubu took power on 29 May 2023, which was just 15 days back.

Sanusi was quoted as saying “It is horrific that attacks by gunmen have claimed at least 123 lives mere weeks after President Bola Tinubu assumed office on 29 May. Rural communities, always bracing themselves for the next bout of violence, are facing deadly attacks by rampaging killers. Protecting lives should be the utmost priority of the new government. The Nigerian authorities must urgently take steps to stop the bloodletting.

“The brazen failure of the authorities to protect the people of Nigeria is gradually becoming the ‘norm’ in the country. The government said it will enact security measures in response to these attacks, but these promises have not translated into meaningful action that protects the lives of vulnerable communities. The Nigerian authorities have also consistently failed to carry out independent, effective, impartial and thorough investigations into these killings — and this is fueling impunity.

“The Nigerian authorities are obliged under international human rights law, regional human rights treaties and Nigeria’s own constitution to protect the human rights of all people without discrimination — and that includes the right to life. Those suspected of criminal responsibility for these callous crimes must urgently be brought to justice in fair trials.”

Recounting the devastating gun violence incidents, the statement said “On 11 June in Plateau State, a gunman shot dead at least 21 people. On 9 June, gunmen killed 25 people in Katako Village, before killing another 13 individuals in Kusherki town on 10 June.

“Throughout May 2023, at least 100 people were killed in various communities of Benue State. Between 15-17 May, over 100 people were killed in the Mangu region of Plateau state.

“In southern Kaduna, over 100 people were killed by gunmen between December 2022 and April 2023.”

The Recording Academy (GRAMMY) is set to further accommodate the vibrant rhythms and unique melodies of African music with the introduction of a new award category titled “Best African Music Performance” for the 66th GRAMMY Awards in 2024.

According to a statement by the organizers on Tuesday, the landmark decision was unanimously approved during the Academy’s semi-annual Board of Trustees meeting in May 2023. The introduction of this category marks a significant step towards acknowledging the rich diversity and impact of African music on the global soundscape.

Harvey Mason Jr., the CEO of the Recording Academy, shared his enthusiasm and the Academy’s rationale behind the introduction of the new category.

“The Recording Academy is proud to announce these latest Category changes to our Awards process. These changes reflect our commitment to actively listen and respond to the feedback from our music community, accurately represent a diverse range of relevant musical genres, and stay aligned with the ever-evolving musical landscape,” he said.

The ‘Best African Music Performance’ category will spotlight recordings that echo local expressions from across the African continent. The category encompasses a wide range of music genres, including Afrobeat, Afro-fusion, Afro Pop, Afrobeats, Alte, Amapiano, Bongo Flava, Genge, Kizomba, Chimurenga, High Life, Fuji, Kwassa, Ndombolo, Mapouka, Ghanaian Drill, Afro-House, South African Hip-Hop, and Ethio Jazz, among others.

According to Mason, the introduction of this new category signifies the Academy’s commitment to recognize and appreciate a broader array of artists. “By introducing these new categories, we are able to acknowledge and appreciate a broader array of artists,” he said.

This move ensures the representation and celebration of African music, its creators, and the unique cultural narratives they bring to the world stage.

Mason concluded, “We are excited to honor and celebrate the creators and recordings in these categories, while also exposing a wider range of music to fans worldwide.”

The new categories include Best African Music Performance, Best Alternative Jazz Album, and Best Pop Dance Recording.