Nigerian Afrobeats sensation, Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, globally known as Wizkid, has found himself dominating headlines once again, and this time, it’s for the storm that followed his fiery Twitter exchanges.

The drama erupted when a video capturing Wizkid’s father, Chief Balogun, surfaced online, causing a frenzy across social media platforms.

The footage showed the elderly man walking slowly under the rain, using a stick for support, a seemingly peaceful moment that quickly turned into a viral sensation for all the wrong reasons.

In a shocking twist, an X user with malicious intent reposted the video, this time using it to mock Wizkid’s family financial status. 

The timing of this insult was particularly pointed, as it followed a thinly veiled jab Wizkid had taken at Davido’s family in a previous tweet, leading to an eruption of fan wars online.

But if the trolls were expecting Wizkid to shy away from the controversy, they were sorely mistaken. Known for his no-nonsense attitude, Wizkid didn’t just clap back—he delivered a masterclass in shutting down his critics.

Without hesitation, he took to his X handle, firing off a response, revealed that his father wasn’t just wandering the streets as the trolls tried to suggest; rather, he was casually strolling towards his Toyota SUV, fresh from a visit to their old neighborhood.

He wrote;

“U see his SUV in front right?!! he actually likes going back to our old hood to take walks ! see the old people and bless them with something small. That’s the kind of man that raised me!”

SEE HIS TWEET BELOW 

Oil marketers have said that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited portal used to purchase petrol has been shut against dealers, making it impossible for them to apply for the commodity purchase.

They said marketers are still awaiting over 90 million litres of petrol from the state-owned company. This is valued at about N79bn.

The PUNCH recalls that amid marketers’ complaints over their inability to order petrol, the NNPC confirmed the shutdown of its purchasing portal to our correspondent last month, giving its reasons.

According to NNPC spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, the company shut the portal due to a significant backlog.

Soneye explained that the shutdown became necessary to stop NNPC from holding marketers’ capital for too long.

“We have a significant backlog to address. The closure is intended to prevent us from holding marketers’ funds for an extended period,” Soneye had explained.

He, however, assured marketers that the portal would be reopened after the backlog had been reduced.

“It will be reopened once the backlog has been sufficiently reduced. We are working to address it as soon as possible,” he told our correspondent.

Marketers who spoke with our correspondent confirmed that NNPC was expediting actions to clear the backlogs as of the weekend.

Though NNPC did not disclose the value of the ‘huge backlogs’, independent marketers said they have over 2,000 tickets yet to be cleared with NNPC.

In an interview, the National Publicity Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chinedu Ukadike, said the association is still waiting for the portal’s opening.

“They are on it, our marketers are still loading petrol from the NNPC. I can’t confirm the price now because the portal is still shut down.

“We have more than 2,000 tickets for 45,000 litres (of petrol). That is 45,000 multiplied by 2,000, you can now know the number of million litres it will be. This is just an estimate, you know I don’t work with NNPC and I don’t know what is on their system,” Ukadike stated.

He disclosed that a 45,000-litre truckload of PMS is around N39.5m, making N79bn when multiplied by 2,000.

The Petroleum Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria also confirmed that its members could not access the NNPC purchasing portal.

PETROAN President, Billy Gillis-Harry, confirmed this in a phone conversation with our correspondent.

“The portal shutdown affects us too, we are all buying from NNPC,” he said briefly.

Meanwhile, the marketers noted that they have since been patronising private depot owners, who sell petrol to them at a premium.

This, they said, informed why the product is more expensive in their filling stations than in outlets owned by the NNPC and the major marketers.

Our correspondent gathered that the marketers usually bid for PMS through the NNPC portal.

According to them, payments will be made through the same channel while the marketer waits for months to get the product.

Independent marketers told The PUNCH that they paid for petrol but were not supplied after three months.

During an interview with The PUNCH in January, the National Vice President of IPMAN, Hammed Fashola, made a similar allegation which was denied by Soneye.

Fashola had asked the Federal Government to review the current distribution pattern to give priority to IPMAN members.

Fashola said, “We buy products from NNPC cash and carry. We don’t enjoy any credit facility with the NNPC. There are times when we pay for products, and you don’t get the products for two or three months. You have your money in the coffers of NNPC, which means they are trading with our money.

“If I am not exaggerating, we should be talking of over N300bn, when you consider the number of marketers all over Nigeria. Our money is always there, trapped, while we keep struggling to get fuel. The three days will turn into months if they don’t have products or they are out of stock, you have to wait, and your money will be there.”

At the moment, the marketers said they want to buy petrol directly from Dangote to ensure price parity.

Some yet-to-be identified persons have grisly murdered a couple in Abia State.

The slain couple, Jacob Udo and his wife, Comfort, were murdered in Isiala Autonomous Community of Bende local government area of the State

The duo, who originally hailed from Itumbuzor in the same Bende local government area, were reportedly beheaded and their bodies dismembered on Tuesday night.

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has decried the killing of the couple, calling it horrific and senseless.

Kalu strongly condemned the killing in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, on Wednesday.

The Deputy Speaker, who represents Bende federal constituency, said that the heinous act of violence was unacceptable and violated the fundamental human right to life.

The Deputy Speaker said no cause or grievance justifies such brutal and inhumane and dastardly act.

He expressed his sympathies with the victims’ families and called on the state government and the law enforcement agencies to conduct thorough investigation with the aim of apprehending the perpetrators and bringing them to justice.

The Deputy Speaker also called for calm and restraints amongst the communities in the constituency, cautioning against reprisal attacks.

Kalu assured that the authorities would do the needful to ensure that the killers are found and punished for their crime.

He said: “I unequivocally condemn the brutal killing of the couple. This shocking act of violence contradicts humanity’s basic principles. My thoughts are with the victims’ families and their loved ones.”

“I urge the authorities to investigate and bring perpetrators to justice. We stand together against violence and extremism, advocating for a culture of tolerance, respect, and peaceful resolution of conflicts.

“We urge all members of our community to remain calm and exercise caution to prevent escalation.

“The safety and well-being of our citizens are of utmost importance. We understand the emotions and concerns but violence or reprisal attacks will only lead to further suffering and division,” the statement said.

Kalu also appealed to the community leaders, residents, and authorities to work together to maintain public safety.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has proposed amendments to the 1999 Constitution to establish a rotational presidency among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

In addition, Atiku suggests implementing a single six-year term for the president to strengthen Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.

Atiku, the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in last year’s election, addressed his proposals to the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Constitution Review.

This comes as the National Assembly continues amending the constitution, with issues such as power rotation, local government autonomy, and regionalism under consideration.

In his proposal, dated August 30, 2024, Atiku also called for changes to the educational qualifications required for political candidates and reforms to promote internal democracy within political parties.

He emphasized the need to prevent the violent takeover of parties and ensure they operate within democratic frameworks.

Atiku argued that political parties are often allowed to violate electoral laws, leading to chaos. He stated that his suggested amendments would bring greater discipline to the political system.

He wants the constitution to clearly state, “The office of the president shall rotate among the six geopolitical zones of the federation on a single term of six years, alternating between the North and South.”

He also proposed revising Section 135(2) of the constitution to set a clear six-year term limit for the presidency and amending Section 137(1)(b) to ensure a president cannot serve more than one term. According to Atiku, these changes will promote stability and fairness in Nigeria’s political system.

Ahead of the Rivers State local government elections scheduled for Saturday, October 5, the issue of the use of voter register for the conduct of the election has continued to generate controversies.

The PUNCH reports that Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, in his judgment on September 30, 2024, barred the Independent National Electoral Commission from releasing the voter register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission for the October 5 election.

On September 26, a few days before the judgment, the RSIEC Chairman, Justice Adolphus Enebeli (retd.), during the flag-off of the voter register at Ward 2, Unit 10 in Rumuodara town hall, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of the state, revealed that the commission had received the voter register from INEC before the commencement of the legal proceedings.

“The commission under my charge is very proactive. A wise man can never be caught unawares. We are proactive, we follow due process.

“Even before the cases went to court, we had liaised with INEC, the correspondence is there.

“That is it. It is the gift of patience and planning. I’m not a last-minute man. I plan ahead. And so all these things were concluded since last year, the correspondences are there,” he said at the event.

 INEC, however, denied officially releasing the updated register to the RSIEC, contradicting claims made by the state electoral commission’s chairman.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Rivers State, Dr Johnson Sinikiem, speaking to newsmen in Port Harcourt, on Wednesday, said though RSIEC had requested the register, INEC had yet to hand over the document to it.

He said the process was ongoing before they received communication about a court order from INEC headquarters.

Sinikiem clarified that INEC’s Information Communication Technology Department housed the voter register in soft copy and would typically provide certified photocopies to RSIEC, but insisted that no such document had been handed over to the state election umpire.

“The tradition of the commission is that before an election for state at the local government, the only responsibility that we have is to give them a voter register because we are empowered to maintain and keep a voter register for the country.

“However, to make it very clear, the RSIEC has written to us about two times for the release of the register, but we have not released before we received from our headquarters an order from a Federal High Court restraining INEC from releasing the register.

“Till now, we have not officially handed over the Rivers State voter register to RSIEC. We have not.

“The ICT department housed the voter register and the voter register is in a soft copy and it is in two ways. Either we give it to them in soft copy, we photocopy it, both black and white and colour, then we stamp the certified true copy.

“But we have not given them. No register in our office will show that we have handed over such documents to them. But they have written to us,” he said.

Speaking on court orders, Sinikiem said he only received one court order from the INEC headquarters in Abuja, in compliance with the Federal High Court order, adding that he was unaware of a separate state high court order.

When asked the reason for the delay in releasing the voter register to RSIEC earlier, Sinikiem cited administrative procedures.

“I have one from the Federal High Court from Abuja, which was sent to me by the headquarters, directing me to comply with the court order. I have not seen another court order from the state high court.

“Well, it is administrative, it is not that we withheld it, but when the RSIEC requested, they had to come for the processes and that had not happened before we got the court order. We have not released the register,” he said.

When contacted, the RSIEC Commissioner for Public Affairs and Civic Education, Tamunotonye Tobins, said INEC could not deny providing it with the updated voter register for the upcoming council poll.

Tobins said RSIEC followed due process before obtaining the register for the elections, pointing out that the correspondences between the two electoral bodies were available.

“Well, that is not true and INEC cannot in good conscience say that, because the correspondences between the two bodies are here. We have the documents here.

“They (INEC) have given us all that we needed for the election and we are proceeding with the election.

“The 2023 updated register of voters for Rivers State is right now in our possession and we got it from INEC. This thing happened last year between July and October,” he said.

Tobins said the commission was ready to challenge INEC’s denial, even as he said the election materials had arrived at the RSIEC office, a reason there was a security beef-up at its office on Aba Road in Port Harcourt.

The RSIEC chairman maintained that the poll would go on, adding that an arrangement had been made for adequate security.

“I can tell you this for a fact, security is guaranteed, everybody is secure as far as the election is concerned. The sensitive materials are secure. They are not printed around as people are insinuating.

“If there are results that people are insinuating, we don’t know of that and there is nothing like that. I want to assure Rivers people that even the sensitive materials are embossed. They have security features that you cannot beat.

“It has not gone out. When it gets to the time for it to go out, that is on the election day proper, it will go out,” he said.

The commission, however, ruled out the transmission of results for the election electronically but assured the people that the exercise would be free and fair.

Tobins reiterated the commission’s commitment to ensuring a credible election process.

 Fubara declares two-day holiday

 Meanwhile, Governor Siminalayi Fubara has declared Thursday (today) and Friday (tomorrow) as public holidays, to enable residents of the state to travel to their various communities to participate in elections.

The governor also announced strict restrictions on vehicular movement from midnight on Friday, October 4, to 5 pm on election day.

He announced in a statewide broadcast to the people of the state, at the Government House, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday.

A statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, read: “My dear people of Rivers State, following the expiration of the three-year tenure of the chairmen and councillors of the 23 local government areas on the 17th of June 2023, I lawfully instituted caretaker committees to temporarily administer the 23 LGAs pending when the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission would conduct the Local Government elections in the state.

“To entrench sustainable democracy and good governance in the country’s local government system, the Supreme Court of Nigeria, by its judgement in SC/CV/343/2024: A-G Federation v A-G Abia State and 35 Ors delivered on 11th July 2024, effectively outlawed the administration of our local government councils with unelected officers and made several orders, including the immediate stoppage of statutory allocations to Local Government Councils without democratically elected local government councils.

“Following Mr President’s intervention, the period for compliance with the Supreme Court’s judgment was graciously extended by three months, which will expire on the 31st of October 2024.

“On the strength of these positive developments, I directed the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission to take definite steps to conduct local government elections for the 23 local Government Councils of Rivers State.

“Acting per this directive the RSIEC has since fixed and concluded all arrangements to conduct the Local Government Council election on Saturday 5th October 2024.”

 Fubara said RSIEC had expressed and demonstrated “concrete and verifiable capacity and readiness to conduct the 2024 Rivers State Local Government Elections on the 5th of October 2024.”

“As of today, 17 out of 18 registered political parties, including the All Progressives Congress, have expressly and actively demonstrated their willingness to participate by filling candidates with RSIEC for the election.”

 Fubara said any failure on his part to conduct the election would be a clear disobedience of the Supreme Court’s mandatory order.

“Consequently, on the strengths of the provisions of the Constitution of Nigeria, as amended, the Supreme Court judgment in SC/CV/343/2024, and the judgment of the High Court of Rivers State in Suit No: PHC/2696/CS/2024, I hereby reiterate that the Rivers State government is irrevocably committed to conducting the local government elections on the 5th day of October 2024,” he said.

 He said RSIEC had been provided with all the necessary support to conduct the poll.

 “Therefore, I wish to advise and request all registered voters to go to their polling units to exercise their franchise by voting for the candidates of their choice, as security personnel would be there to maintain order and ensure peaceful polls as a matter of constitutional duty.

“We are leaving no stone unturned to enable all registered voters to travel to their communities to participate and peacefully exercise their civic responsibility at their polling units.

“To this end, I hereby declare Thursday and Friday, the 3rd and 4th of October 2024, as public holidays for citizens to travel to their communities and participate in the election.

“Furthermore, I hereby place a total restriction on vehicular and human movements into, within, and out of the state, and the LGs, from midnight of Friday, 4th October 2024 to 5.00 pm on Saturday 5th October 2024, except for persons and vehicles valid identifications who are on election and other essential duties,” Fubara said.

Pro-Fubara Assembly backs poll 

  The faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to Fubara, on Wednesday, ordered RSIEC to go on with the LG poll as scheduled.

 The House issued the order during its plenary on Wednesday.

The Speaker of the House loyal, Victor Oko-Jumbo, said conduct of the LG poll would enable Rivers State to comply with the Supreme Court judgment on LG autonomy.

 He said, “On the 11th day of July, 2024, the Supreme Court in suit No. SC/ CV/ 343/2024 delivered a landmark judgment affirming the financial autonomy of Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Councils.

“In that judgment, the apex court mandated that at all times, there must be a democratically elected local government councils in place, mandating all 36 states to comply.”

 The House, therefore, issued an order: “mandating the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission to utilise in their custody the national register of voters for the year 2023 general election as compiled by the Independent National Electoral Commission.”

“The Rivers State House of Assembly further orders that the Rivers State Government and the Executive Governor must conduct elections into the local Government Councils on the 5th day of October 2024 in compliance with the rule of law and judgment of the courts,” the Speaker said.

APC factions clash

 In another development, the crisis rocking the APC in Rivers State continues to fester as the camps of former Governor Rotimi Amaechi and former caretaker committee chairman, Chief Tony Okocha, maintained their positions ahead of the LG poll.

While Okocha, who is an ally of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, insisted on challenging the conduct of the council poll, the reinstated state chairman of the party, Chief Emeke Beke, loyal to Amaechi, said nothing would stop the election from being held.

Beke said the party had fielded candidates in 22 of the 23 LGs of the state.

While Okocha gave his stance at a news briefing held on Wednesday at the APC Secretariat located on Aba Road in Port Harcourt, Beke, at the party’s secretariat on Woji Road in GRA, Port Harcourt, presented flags to candidates to contest the election on the platform of the APC.

Okocha slammed Fubara for his insistence on going ahead with the October 5 poll, in disobedience to court orders.

Okocha argued that the governor sanctioned the conduct of the election despite the law that all parties be given a 90-day window to prepare for the election.

He argued further that Fubara violated the law by scheduling elections within 30 days instead of the 90 days stipulated by the law.

Okocha stated: “The governor and whatever action taken are illegal; we will stand with the law; we will not take the laws into our hands; but we will not allow him to perpetuate illegality.”

Beke, however, faulted Okocha, insisting that the APC, under his leadership, was fully ready to participate in Saturday’s election.

Beke said: “Today is a great day for the APC in Rivers State. I hear some people somewhere saying we will not participate in this election. We, the APC under my leadership, will participate in this Saturday’s election.”

He called on the police and other security agencies to arrest anyone trying to foment trouble in the forthcoming election.

Beke added: “Rivers State was a theatre of war during the former administration. Now we have a governor who has the fear of God and wants to conduct free, fair and credible elections in Rivers State.

”Nobody should cause problems in this state. If you cause problems the security agencies will chase you to your hole. I wish all our candidates for this election the best of luck. The people will speak, go and campaign for people in your local government areas.”

He added, “The election will take place on Saturday. There is no court judgment stopping it because there was a state High Court judgment before that of the Federal High Court and they are of coordinate jurisdiction.

“There is no tension anywhere. We know that some people will want to play the script of their masters but Rivers’ people are bigger than them.”

When asked if the former Minister of Transport is still the leader of the APC in the state, he answered in the affirmative, saying, “There is no way you will talk about the politics of Rivers State with the APC without Amaechi.

”With the election, we are proving to Rivers people and Nigeria that Amaechi is still strong and a member of the APC.”

 Leadership crisis hit APP

 Barely three days before the Local Government elections in Rivers State, a fresh leadership crisis hit the Action People’s Party in the state.

The party’s legitimacy has been called into question, with a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, on Wednesday, granting an order for substituted service in a case filed by Destiny Omereji and five others against APP and 27 others.

The plaintiffs claimed to be the authentic leaders and stakeholders of the APP, having emerged through the 2022 congress recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission in Rivers State.

They also challenged the legitimacy of the 23 chairmanship candidates of the party, questioning when they became members of the APP in the state.

The PUNCH reports that ahead of the October 5 LG elections in the state, some caretaker committee chairmen loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara defected to the Action People’s Party from the Peoples Democratic Party.

The development fuelled speculations that the governor may dump the ruling party for the APP, following the alleged hijack of the state PDP structure by his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Fubara and Wike have been enmeshed in lingering misunderstanding which led to the political crisis in the state.

The governor, while playing host to the Board of Trustees of the PDP, led by Senator Adolphus Wabara, denied any defection plan and reaffirmed his membership in the PDP.

His loyal council chairmen and their supporters who were hitherto members of the PDP, however, pitched their tent with the APP.

Almost all the candidates vying for chairmanship and councillorship in the forthcoming LG poll were contesting under the APP platform.

A big billboard of the current CTC Chairman of Port Harcourt City Council, Ezebunwo Ichemati, with the APP logo campaigning for a substantive chairmanship position, was sighted while his posters adorned many parts of the metropolis.

Similarly, the CTC Chairman of Khana LGA, Marvin Yobana, and his supporters announced their defection to the APP.

At the court proceedings on Wednesday, counsel for the plaintiffs, Excel Omeghara, argued that the Hart Bardom-led executive remained the genuine leadership of the party, both at the state and local government levels.

The plaintiffs sought the reinstatement of Badom as the legitimate state chairman of the APP.

They also challenged the legitimacy of the 23 chairmanship candidates, questioning when they became APP members in the state.

Omeghara said the plaintiffs were not part of the primaries or electoral activities that brought in the candidates and asked the court to declare their emergence illegal.

Citing Section 78 of the APP constitution, Omeghara argued that when a position became vacant, the deputy would automatically assume, adding that if both the chairman and deputy resigned, a member of the party from the executive committee would fill the position.

Justice Emmanuel Obelle presided over the case and granted the expedited motion to serve the defendants through substituted means.

The crisis has raised concerns about the party’s candidates, many of whom were former PDP members who joined the APP recently, following internal wrangling.

There were concerns that some of the candidates had yet to formally resign their membership of the PDP.

Wisdom Alfred, popularly known as Dr H20, has disclosed how a spiritual attack caused him to lose a N15 million investment by bottled water company, Aquafina.

Alfred first gained nationwide attention when a video of him passionately promoting Aquafina water at a bustling bus garage in Onitsha, Anambra State, went viral.

His energy and unique style of advertising drew admiration from people online, leading to the bottled water brand fully sponsoring his business with an investment worth millions of naira. He was provided with equipment, including machines, a generator, and a freezer, worth N8 million, as well as additional capital, bringing the total investment to N15 million.

However, in a shocking twist of fate, Alfred revealed that despite the enormous backing, he could not account for any of the money. 

Speaking in a now-viral interview, he explained that the business had collapsed mysteriously, and he believes the downfall was caused by spiritual forces.

“I lost everything. Unfortunately, I was attacked. The business was worth about N8 million — they bought machines, a generator, and a freezer. I even informed one of the supervisors assigned to me by the company that I could not account for the money,” he lamented.

Wisdom said he was initially baffled by the turn of events, as the business began to crumble without any apparent reason stating it was only after seeking spiritual guidance that he concluded that his misfortune was not natural.

“I believe I was attacked spiritually. It is the truth. In fact, I’m alive today by God’s grace. I can’t explain what happened. I bought land for just over N1 million, and that was the only personal investment I made. From May 2024, I stopped stocking goods. It was so bad that even when I made sales, I couldn’t account for the money,” he added.

He explained that despite making sales, he found himself unable to manage or track the income, leading to the business’s financial collapse. He admitted that the situation left him devastated and confused until he turned to spiritual solutions for answers.

“Until I went the spiritual way, I didn’t realize it was not natural,” he said.

Alfred shared that he had informed Aquafina’s management about the unfortunate circumstances but is yet to receive any response. Now, he is appealing to the company for a second chance to prove himself, expressing deep regret over the missed opportunity.

“I already told the management of Aquafina, but they are yet to get back to me. What I need now is a second chance. I am not proud of myself,” he confessed

The Nigeria Police on Wednesday arraigned a 64-year-old estate agent, Sunday Asibe, before the Ebute-Metta Chief Magistrate Court, in Lagos State, for allegedly defrauding a man of N13m under pretence.

Asibe, who also goes by the alias John Asibe, is facing three counts of fraud, obtaining by pretence, and stealing, brought against him by the police.

The police prosecutor, Inspector Cyriacus Osuji, told the court that the defendant committed the offences between February and May 2024.

He said the incident took place in the Igando area of Lagos State.

Osuji alleged that the defendant fraudulently obtained the money from one Alhaji Suleiman Bawale, under the guise of selling him a plot of land.

The prosecutor also told the court that Asibe collected the money in two tranches of N8m, and N5m, respectively.

Osuji disclosed that sometime in February, the defendant allegedly stole the sum of N8m from the complainant and promised to sell land to him, which he didn’t.

“In February, Asibe stole N8m, from the complainant with a promise to sell him a plot of land, which he failed to deliver.

“Then, in May, he obtained an additional N5m, from Bawale, again, promising land that he did not provide,” said Osuji.

According to the prosecutor, the offences committed contravened Sections 313,280 (1) (a) (b) and punishable under Sections 314, (1) (a) (b) (3) and 287, of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

However, the defendant, who was arraigned before Magistrate Feyikemi George, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Consequently, Magistrate George granted him bail in the sum of N1m, with two sureties in like sum.

She ordered that the sureties must provide three months’ bank statements showing a balance of N1m, and have their addresses verified.

The case was adjourned until October 30, 2024, for a mention.

LGs plan to get October allocation from Federation Account as NULGE, others urge enforcement

Ahead of the submission of the report of the 10-member inter-ministerial committee on the implementation of the Supreme Court ruling on Local Government Areas autonomy next week, state governors have begun fresh lobbying against the enforcement of the verdict.

The panel, headed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, has concluded its assignment and is expected to submit its report on or before October 13, according to PUNCH findings.

Under former President Muhammadu Buhari, the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit issued a regulation, effective from June 1, 2019, banning transactions on State and Local Governments Joint Accounts. Funds were sent directly to the accounts of the local governments. It also limited cash withdrawals from local governments accounts to a maximum amount of N500,000 per day with penalties for banks that failed to comply. 

However, state governors, under the aegis of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, kicked against this regulation and the NFIU eventually capitulated.

In May, the Federal Government, represented by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, filed a lawsuit to challenge the governors’ authority to receive and withhold federal allocations meant for Local Government Areas.

The suit sought to prevent state governors from unilaterally dissolving democratically elected local government councils and establishing caretaker committees. The AGF argued that the constitution mandated a democratically elected local government system and did not allow alternative governance structures.

The Supreme Court, on July 11, 2024, gave a landmark judgment affirming the financial autonomy of the 774 LGs in the country and ruled that governors could no longer control funds meant for the councils.

The seven-member Supreme Court panel, led by Justice Garba Lawal, ruled that it was illegal and unconstitutional for governors to manage and withhold LG funds.

The apex court also directed the Accountant-General of the Federation to pay LG allocations directly to their accounts, as it declared the non-remittance of funds by the 36 states unconstitutional.

Also, on August 20, the Federal Government instituted a 10-member inter-ministerial committee to implement the Supreme Court’s ruling on local government autonomy.

The committee members include the Minister of Finance & Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Attorney General of the Federation & Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi SAN;  Minister of Budget & Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu; Accountant-General of the Federation; Oluwatoyin Madein and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso.

Others are the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mrs Lydia Jafiya, the Chairman, Revenue Mobilization Allocation & Fiscal Commission, Mohammed Shehu, and representatives of state governors and the local governments.

The committee’s primary goal is to ensure that local governments are granted full autonomy, allowing them to function effectively without interference from state governments.

In his broadcast marking Nigeria’s 64th Independence anniversary on Tuesday, President Tinubu pledged that his administration would uphold the financial autonomy of local governments, as affirmed by the Supreme Court.

The President said, “As part of our efforts to re-engineer our political economy, we are resolute in our determination to implement the Supreme Court judgment on the financial autonomy of local governments.”

About three officials, including a source in the Presidency, who spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to speak on the issue, told The PUNCH that governors were pressuring top officials to soft-pedal on the implementation of the apex court judgment.

The Presidency official, however, stressed that the President was committed to implementing the Supreme Court ruling.

He stated, “The process is on and governors are already lobbying to stall the implementation of the apex court ruling as the panel prepares to submit its report next week.

“The implementation will start any moment now. The ministries of finance and justice are working to finalise details of implementation.”

Speaking to The PUNCH on Wednesday, the National President, National Union of Local Government Employees, Hakeem Ambali, confirmed that the inter-ministerial committee would submit its report by October 11.

“A technical committee was set up under the chairmanship of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and it is expected that implementation kicks off on or before October 11 as mandated by the Supreme Court.

“The President’s speech has also given us more reassurance that this is already a done deal. NULGE has also submitted its report to the committee,’’ he stated.

Reacting to the governors’ plot to hinder the enforcement of the Supreme Court verdict, civil society groups, including the Centre for Accountability and Open Leadership and the United Global Resolve for Peace, called on the Federal Government to accelerate the implementation of the autonomy.

Chairman, CACOL, Debo Adeniran, faulted the governors’ “self-serving nature” and their “stranglehold on the local governments.”

He stated, “We know that they didn’t like what the President did by asking the Supreme Court to adjudicate on the matter. They are actually mounting pressure, not just lobbying, mounting pressure on all forces to ensure that the implementation of that order doesn’t come.

“That lobby is unnecessary, it’s unwarranted and the President should not allow it to work. If the President insists, then they will not succeed because the rule of law must prevail; the Supreme Court has ruled, it is just for them to implement, so nothing must stop it, otherwise, we would have put the rule of law in jeopardy and that’s not good for us.”

The Executive Director, UGRP, Olaseni Shalom, called on the President to sponsor a bill in the National Assembly to enforce the autonomy.

Shalom urged the governors to support local governments in pursuing fiscal autonomy.

“The position of the law is clear regarding the implementation of the LG autonomy. But we should also note that this law is not new. It is an existing law already and it was taken to the Supreme Court for interpretation,” Shalom stated.

“Immediately the Supreme Court interpreted it, what I expected was for the Presidency to sponsor a bill that will rid it of all ambiguity and make it as clear as possible. Instead, they set up a 10-man committee.

“The LG autonomy should also be a period for restructuring advocacy that has been on for a while now so that state governments can also control their resources, you know, have fiscal autonomy. And this is why there is a tussle between the state governments and the Presidency as regards the enforcement of this law. It is very important for both parties to sit down and negotiate.”

During a recent gathering, the National Secretary, Coalition of United Political Parties, Peter Ahmeh, called on the Federal Government to take immediate action on the matter.

Ahmeh emphasised that the Supreme Court’s ruling should have been put into effect without any delay.

He stated, “The judgment that the courts have passed affects the financial autonomy of local government. It does not affect the administrative autonomy of local government.

“The financial autonomy of local government is captured in section 162 of the Constitution, while the administrative autonomy of local government pertains to the administration of elections, such as those conducted by the State Independent Electoral Commissions for local governments in Nigeria.

“In each of the states, there is one electoral commission, meaning we have 36 independent electoral commissions at the state level, plus one at the national level. Thus, we have 37 independent electoral commissions in total—one national and 36 state.

“For us, I think it is perplexing that the Federal Government feels the need to enter into an agreement with state governments before starting the implementation of a valid court judgment from a competent authority, such as the Supreme Court.”

The CUPP scribe called on the Federal Government to actively oppose efforts by the governors to delay the enforcement of the judgment on the autonomy.

He added, “The Federal Government does not need to establish a committee and announce that they will begin the process soon. There is simply no need for that.

“It is very important and urgent for the financial autonomy to be enacted so that local people can hold their local government accountable for the finances that accrue to each local government’s account. The criminality and embezzlement that occur at the local government level are a direct result of a lack of independence. These are the issues we are facing in local government.

“The implementation should occur immediately and without hesitation. Any attempts by the governors to stall this process should be resisted.”

Meanwhile, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has dismissed insinuations that he is against local government autonomy.

Reacting to reports that he was not in support of the LG autonomy, Makinde said he had no issues with elected officials performing their constitutional duties but would continue to speak against a lacuna created where none existed.

He spoke during the official unveiling of the newly-built Local Government House and Staff Training School inside the Oyo State Government Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, on Wednesday.

He said, “This building is a start of the renovation of the buildings within the secretariat and turning our secretariat into where productivity will reign supreme.

“What I will refer to as an irony is the fact that it is the same local government that people are going around town saying Seyi Makinde is trying to destroy. Is it not ironic that this building we are commissioning is the first modern building for the LG family to stay in?

”Is this how to destroy something? Well, if that is the way to destroy something, we will continue to do this kind of things so that they will not have anything to say again around town.

“Let me say this, in a country where there is a trust deficit between the leaders and the led, it is no wonder that some people will always take advantage of situations to fan the flames of disunity or choose to push unintended narratives and perceptions.

“As I said in my last state broadcast, we must always remember who our real enemies are so that we do not turn against our friends.”

Promising to ensure that the councils performed their constitutional roles, the governor added, “Here in Oyo State under my watch, we will continue to make decisions that will bring the full benefit of democracy to the good people of Oyo State and we are aware of the role that the local government authorities have to play in ensuring that democracy and its dividends reach people at the grassroots.

“In design, this is supposed to be the function of the Local Government Areas but in practice, there have been several factors that have militated against Local Government Areas achieving this goal.”

Meanwhile, Chairman of Kwami Local Government Area of Gombe State, Dr Ahmed Wali, says plans are in motion for LGs to receive FG allocation directly.

He said, “We are hoping to receive the allocation in October as plans are in the pipeline to open accounts for local governments with CBN. They (FG) will pay the money, they are in the process. We were made to understand that it will be the next arrangement.”

Also, the new Chairman of Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State, Mallam Adam Rufai, said the council had not been notified about payment of the allocation.

“We don’t know yet because we were just elected into the council. We have no information on whether the allocation is going to be paid directly to the council by the Federal Government. No one has given us such information,” he said.

A senior local government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said after the Supreme Court landmark judgment, all the LGs in the state were made to open new accounts with a commercial bank, where their allocation would be paid.

“But I am not sure we are receiving allocation through it yet. We are receiving our salaries for September already but I doubt it if we are getting direct allocation from the Federal Government yet,” the official said.

The Federal Government has announced the provision of new tax reliefs for deep offshore oil and gas production to boost investments in the sector.

It also announced that the importation of key energy products and infrastructure, including diesel, feed gas, Liquefied Petroleum Gas, Compressed Natural Gas, electric vehicles, Liquefied Natural Gas infrastructure, and clean cooking equipment would no longer require value-added tax payment.

The Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, announced this in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement signed by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Mohammed Manga, said the initiative would position Nigeria’s deep offshore basin as a premier destination for global oil and gas investments, bolster energy security, and accelerate Nigeria’s transition to cleaner energy sources.

This policy directive arrives alongside new divestment plans from ExxonMobil and Seplat, which President Bola Tinubu said would receive ministerial approval in the coming days.

The statement read, “In its avowed determination towards ensuring a boost in the nation’s upstream and downstream sector, the Federal Government has introduced groundbreaking concessions aimed at revitalizing the industry.

“This is just as the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, today unveiled two major fiscal incentives aimed at revitalising Nigeria’s oil and gas sector: Value Added Tax Modification Order 2024 and Notice of Tax Incentives for Deep Offshore Oil & Gas Production, in accordance with the Oil & Gas Companies (Tax Incentives, Exemption, Remission, etc.) Order 2024.”

Explaining further, Manga said, “The VAT Modification Order 2024 introduces exemptions on a range of key energy products and infrastructure, including diesel, feed gas, Liquefied Petroleum Gas, Compressed Natural Gas, electric vehicles, Liquefied Natural Gas infrastructure, and clean cooking equipment.

“These measures are designed to lower the cost of living, bolster energy security, and accelerate Nigeria’s transition to cleaner energy sources.”

It explained that the notice of tax incentives for deep offshore oil & gas production provides new tax reliefs for deep offshore projects, stressing that, “This initiative is aimed at positioning Nigeria’s deep offshore basin as a premier destination for global oil and gas investments.”

The ministry said these fiscal incentives reflect the administration’s steadfast commitment to promoting sustainable growth, enhancing energy security, and driving economic prosperity for all Nigerians.

The statement added, “These reforms are part of a broader series of investment-driven policy initiatives championed by President Bola Tinubu, in line with Policy Directives 40-42.

“They reflect the administration’s strong commitment to fostering sustainable growth in the energy sector and enhancing Nigeria’s global competitiveness in oil and gas production.

“With these bold initiatives, Nigeria is firmly on track to reclaim its position as a leader in the global oil and gas market.

“These fiscal incentives demonstrate the administration’s unwavering commitment to fostering sustainable growth, enhancing energy security, and driving economic prosperity for all Nigerians,” the statement concluded.

The minister of justice and attorney general of the federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s commitment to fighting corruption.

Speaking at the unveiling of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Strategic Action Plan 2024-2028 in Abuja on Wednesday, Mr Fagbemi described corruption as a cancer that eroded societal fabric and necessitated collective action.

Mr Fagbemi noted that the strategic plan launched marked a significant milestone in combating corruption and promoting transparency.

The plan, he said, would serve as a clear roadmap for the ICPC to enhance operations, deepen stakeholder collaboration, and address emerging challenges. 

He assured the ministry of justice’s unwavering support in providing the necessary legal framework and resources.

Mt Fagbemi commended the ICPC leadership’s diligence and stakeholders’ contributions to the plan’s development.

President of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, emphasised that fighting corruption was everyone’s responsibility.

She urged Nigerians to maintain a positive attitude, recognising that corruption extended beyond financial misconduct to include dereliction of duty.

ICPC Strategic Action Plan 2024-2028 focuses on combating corruption through innovative methods and sustained action.

The commission also launched its Ethicspod programme, a bi-weekly podcast aimed at amplifying anti-corruption efforts through digital media.

(NAN)