Phillip Shaibu, the immediate past Deputy Governor of Edo State, has said he has been vindicated by the Federal High Court judgment which invalidated the governorship primary election of Edo State.

In a reaction on Thursday to the judgment delivered by Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo, Shuaib claimed that what PDP tagged as a primary election on February 22, 2024, was nothing but a tea party with no force of law.

He said he had consistently and persistently cried out loud and clear that the PDP killed internal democracy with the fraudulent ways its purported primary election was conducted at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in Benin.

The former Deputy Governor maintained that those who voted for him at his parallel primary election were the authentic delegates lawfully chosen by the people to nominate the governorship candidate for PDP.

On the move by the All Progressives Congress, APC, for him to defect to the party, Shaibu claimed that there was nothing wrong as long as democracy remains a game for the vast majority of people.

“When you see a political party wooing people to its group, that party wants to win but when you see a party chasing people away as in the case of the PDP, that party is planning nothing but rigging of election.

Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo had in his judgment invalidated the February 22 PDP primary election on the ground that 378 delegates who were supposed to vote in the election were unlawfully excluded.

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The NDLEA in Kano has suggested making drug testing mandatory for prospective couples as a step towards curbing drug abuse in the state.

The NDLEA Commander in Kano, Mr Abubakar Idris-Ahmad, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday.

“The agency has introduced the Drug Intergrity Test Initiative, which is anticipated to metamorphose into an anti-drug culture for every Nigerian,” he said.

Idris-Ahmad said the drug test will serve as a tool for the prevention of drug abuse and early detection of individuals and couples status of drug use for appropriate treatment and rehabilitation.

He said the proposed law for the test became necessary to address the high rate of marriage breakdowns and reduce drug abuse among married couples in the state.

“Investigations have shown that one spouse often introduces the other to drugs after marriage and their children, hindering efforts to combat drug abuse.”

He called on the Kano State House of Assembly to enact a law requiring drug tests before marriage.

The commander appealed to women, youths, and the general public to shun drug abuse and work together to move the state and nation forward.

“The test initiative approach seeks to tackle drug abuse at its roots, promoting a healthier and more sustainable society,” Idris-Ahmad said.

A former Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh, has said that the ex-goalkeeper Joseph Dosu ‘housed’ John Obi Mikel before he became famous.

Dosu was the only home based player to be included in Nigeria’s 1996 Olympic team, which won gold at the tournament.

However, his career was short-lived as a result of an automobile accident.

In a recent interview with Elegbete TV Sports, Oliseh said Dosu was one of the people who helped Mikel to attain glorious status.

He said: “Before Obi Mikel made it in football, Dosu Joseph housed Obi Mikel and fed him. I bet you all didn’t know this. He helped Obi Mikel become what he is today.

“In spite of all the help he gave Obi Mikel, please let’s ask ourselves: has Obi Mikel ever once gone to say hello to Dosu? And with all the millions you’ve made, help the guy (Dosu).”

Responding to the ex-Chelsea midfielder’s recent criticism of his coaching ability, Oliseh said “I think the kid needs help”.

Mikel had criticized Oliseh’s coaching ability on his podcast, calling him “the worst manager I played under.”

“He was bitter, jealous, and disrespectful to everyone, including the physio”, he added.

Speaking during the interview, Oliseh, who spent eight months as Super Eagles coach, after being appointed in 2015, said: “I think the kid needs help. You cannot achieve what you were not able to achieve on the pitch outside the pitch by talking on a podcast”.

While defending his coaching abilities, he mentioned his award for best coach in the Jupiler Pro League, voted by players and coaches.

He said: “I think the kid(Mikel) needs help, to be honest. There’s something I’ve not really shown much, I won the best coach for the first period of the Jupiler league, which is in the Dutch league.

“That was not voted by the press, that was voted by the players and the coaches of the league.

“I’m the only, and the first coloured man from Sub-Saharan Africa to ever win this title with a club like Fortuna Sittard, who had very average players who were able to qualify from the second division from last position to the first division, where they still are now.”

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has threatened to penalise deposit money banks (DMBs) that reject mutilated naira notes.

In a statement on Thursday signed by Solaja Olayemi, CBN’s acting director of currency operations department, the apex bank said several reports have been made against the banks.

“The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has received several reports of rejection of dirty/mutilated Naira banknotes by some Deposit Money Banks (DMBs),” the bank said.

“Consequently, it has become imperative to remind DMBs that the CBN circular dated July 2, 2019, reference number COD/DIR/GEN/CIR/01/006, which prescribes penalties for the rejection of Naira banknotes, is still enforceable and binding on erring DMBs.”

The apex bank said it will not hesitate to impose strict sanctions on banks reported to have rejected naira deposits from the public, under any guise.

Also, on July 2, CBN warned banks and authorised foreign exchange dealers against rejecting old series and lower denominations of dollars.

The apex bank said all relevant parties must adhere to and comply with the instruction, emphasising its disapproval of selective acceptance of deposits.

CBN said it discovered old series and lower denominations of dollars are still being rejected during a consumer market survey.

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, says the current monetary policy is slowing economic growth.

In a post on X on Thursday, Obi said the recent outcry of Aliko Dangote, chairman of Dangote Industries Limited, supports his earlier criticisms of the negative effects of the monetary policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

On July 2, Dangote said the increase of interest rate to almost 30 percent by the CBN will stifle growth. 

He added that the country is battling “a very high” interest rate.

The monetary policy committee (MPC) of CBN, on May 21, raised the monetary policy rate (MPR) — on which banks benchmark their interest rate — from 24.75 percent to 26.25 percent.

Obi said the negative impacts of the policy on micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which are the engine of economic growth, are significant.

“Africa’s foremost entrepreneur and respected Nigerian businessman, Aliko Dangote’s recent outcry against the current interest rate of 30%, underscores my earlier cry in February on the negative effects of the monetary policy of the present federal government,” Obi said.

“According to Dangote, no jobs will be created with such a high interest rate because there will be no growth in the economy.

“This has been my consistent position over time. In February this year, I argued against the decision of the Monetary Policy Committee on MPR to 22.5% and CRR to 45% increases which, in my opinion, would further worsen the economic situation, as the increases would push interest rates on loans to above 30%, which would be very difficult for manufacturers and MSMES to borrow and repay.

“If Dangote, the richest person in Africa, and foremost industrialist, can complain, then imagine the negative impacts of these policies on MSMEs who are the engine of economic growth.

“To further understand the harsh economic environment that this monetary policy had exacerbated, the recent report from the Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN) stated “In 2023, 767 companies were shut down and 335 became distressed.

“The capacity utilisation in the sector has declined to 56%; the interest rate is effectively above 30%; foreign exchange to import raw materials and production machine inventory of unsold finished products has increased to N350 billion and the real growth has dropped to 2.4%.”

The former Anambra governor said these harsh economic policies, both monetary and fiscal, have persistently slowed down economic growth, driven multinationals out of the country, stifled small businesses and discouraged the inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI).

He urged the government to reverse the “ugly trend” causing job losses, discouraging production, and hindering movement from consumption to production.

Obi said the government must reverse course and implement policies that foster growth and the creation of a new Nigeria.

A federal high court in Abuja has invalidated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary election that produced Asue Ighodalo as the candidate for the forthcoming gubernatorial poll in Edo.

In the ruling delivered on Thursday, Inyang Ekwo, presiding judge, held that the PDP primary held on February 22 failed to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and the party’s constitution.

Ekwo held that from the exhibit tendered in court, the returning officers who prepared the result sheets only sat in one place to falsify the outcome of the poll.

He said the exclusion of the 381 delegates, including the plaintiffs, was against the provisions of the law.

The judge further held that even though the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) filed a memorandum of appearance in the suit, it was unfortunate that the commission did not file any process in the case.

Rather, the electoral umpire had said they would abide by whatever the ruling of the court is.

“I found that the case of the plaintiffs succeeds on merit,” he said.

Three aggrieved ad hoc delegates had filed the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/165/2024 on behalf of the 378 other delegates.

The plaintiffs are Kelvin Mohammed, Gabriel Okoduwa and Ederaho Osagie, on behalf of the 378 others in 12 LGAs and 127 wards.

INEC, the PDP, its national secretary and the vice chairman of the south-south, were joined as 1st to 4th defendants in the suit.

The 381 delegates are those loyal to Philip Shaibu, the impeached deputy governor of the state.

BACKGROUND

On February 4, the PDP conducted a congress to select delegates who would participate in the party’s February 22 governorship primary.

Before the congress, Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo, who was appointed as the chairman of the election committee, rejected the appointment.

Makinde said the list of electoral officers for the election contained names from Delta state and those of officials of the Edo state government.

Nine of the 11 PDP governorship aspirants, including Shaibu, former deputy governor of the state, boycotted the exercise.

The aspirants rejected the composition of the committee for the delegates’ election.

Tony Aziegbemi, chairman of the PDP in Edo, asked aggrieved governorship hopefuls to approach the appeal panel.

Ighodalo, a businessman, won the governorship primary conducted on February 22.

Ighodalo was the preferred candidate of Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo.

Shaibu has since been expelled by the Edo state chapter of the PDP.

The Edo governorship election has been slated for September 21, 2024.

The senate has constituted an ad hoc committee to investigate the “importation of hazardous petroleum products and dumping of substandard diesel into the country”.

During plenary on Wednesday, the upper chamber also appointed Opeyemi Bamidele, majority leader of the senate, to lead other 14 lawmakers to unravel the masterminds behind the illicit practice and transaction.

Members of the ad hoc committee comprise lawmakers Adams Oshiomhole, Abdul Ningi, Osita Izunazo, Ifeanyi Uba, Diket Plang, Mohammed Monguno, Abdullah Yahaha, Olamilekan Solomon, Khabeeb Mustapha, Shahabi Ya’u, and Tokunbo Abiru.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio set up the ad hoc committee at the plenary after Asuquo Ekpenyong, a lawmaker, moved a motion on the urgent need to probe the issue.

Ekpeyong cited a report on June 16 as stating that 12 diesel cargoes conveying a total of 660 kilotons of diesel, were exported by refineries to offshore Lome, Togo for “further distribution to West African markets, mainly Nigeria”.

He said the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), despite revising diesel importation standards in line with the Petroleum Industry Act, has been “unable to enforce compliance”.

The politician said a ban on the importation of diesel would be beneficial to the Nigerian petroleum industry and indeed the entire nation and as such, “NMDPRA should cease import licenses in order to address all concerns”.

Consequently, Akpabio highlighted the need for the senate to immediately investigate and unravel those behind the hazardous practice.

On June 23, Devakumar Edwin, vice-president, oil and gas at Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), lamented the activities of the NMDPRA in granting licences indiscriminately to marketers to “import dirty refined products into the country”.

Kenneth Okonkwo, a chieftain of the Labour Party (LP), says Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is in prolonged detention because of ethnic bias.

Okonkwo spoke on Wednesday when he was featured on NewsDay, a programme of Arise TV.

The IPOB leader has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since he was extradited from Kenya in June 2021.

He is currently facing terrorism charges filed against him at the federal high court.

In recent months, there have been calls for Kanu’s release, particularly by stakeholders from the south-east region.

In June, 50 members of the house of representatives asked President Bola Tinubu to order Kanu’s release.

On Tuesday, governors under the umbrella of the South-east Governors’ Forum also resolved to meet with Tinubu to seek the release of the separatist leader.

The south-east region has witnessed an uptick in the activities of gunmen who violently enforce a sit-at-home order on Mondays to demand Kanu’s release.

‘KANU KEPT IN JAIL OVER ETHNIC BIAS’

Okonkwo claimed that Kanu is being held in detention due to “ethnic bias,”  adding that he has not committed worse crimes like other separatists whose cases in court have been dropped.

“Nnamdi Kanu has not done anything that other people from other zones have done,” he said.

“We know about Sunday Igboho of the Yoruba nation agitator. We know of the Boko Haram people who say that they want a different country where Western education is an abomination.

“These people have been released, not just that they have been released; in the case of Boko Haram, they have been reassimilated into society and given plum jobs.

“Why is Nnamdi Kanu’s case different? There is an ethnic and some unnecessary bias that is keeping that man in jail.

“The government should be wise enough to release this man. You can release him conditionally or unconditionally.

“As a lawyer, I have watched the legal issues very clearly, and I saw that even in the courts, from the high court to the supreme court, there are discordant tunes amongst them.

“Even in the issue of bail, some of the tiers of the court have granted him bail. Even in the issue of the charges, some tiers of the court have quashed all the charges.

“So, you can see that the government has a lot of places it can stand to release the young man and bring peace to the south-east.

“He is now more like a political prisoner. The longer Nnamdi Kanu is in prison, the taller he becomes and the shorter the government becomes.”

Okonkwo asked the federal government to “take the intelligent way out” by releasing Kanu as it did to other separatists.