The Federal High Court in Abuja will today (Monday) resume sitting in the lawsuit filed by the Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, challenging the move by the state House of Assembly to impeach him.

Justice I. E. Ekwo had on March 28 adjourned till April 8 (today) for the defendants in the suit to appear before him to show cause why Shaibu’s prayer to halt the impeachment proceedings should not be granted.

However, the seven-man impeachment panel headed Justice Omonuwa (retd.) ended its sitting on Friday after Shaibu failed to appear before the panel that probed allegations of perjury and leaking of the government’s secrets against him.

The panel, which had its inaugural sitting last Wednesday in Benin, ended its sitting on Friday with Shaibu or his counsel failing to show up.

The panel had adjourned till Thursday for Shaibu to open his defence and when he didn’t show up, he was given Friday as the final day to come and defend the allegation against him, which he failed to do.

The Edo State House of Assembly, which is the petitioner in the case, had on Wednesday opened and closed its case, paving the way for Shaibu to defend the allegations levelled against him.

Counsel for Shaibu, Prof Oladoyin Awoyale (SAN), attended the Wednesday (the opening day) sitting but excused himself in the middle of the hearing after the panel refused his prayer to suspend the proceedings pending the outcome of a lawsuit in Abuja.

The panel chairman, Justice Omonuwa, upheld the opposition to the suspension prayer by the Assembly, represented by its Deputy Clerk, Joe Ohiafi.

After Awoyale excused himself, Ohiafi went on to state the Assembly case against Shaibu.

In his submission, the Deputy Clerk told the panel that Shaibu leaked the Edo State government’s secrets in the affidavit he filed in support of his suit in Abuja. He said Shaibu tendered documents relating to the State Executive Council’s meeting.

According to Ohiafi, Shaibu violated the Oath of Secrecy he took and acted contrary to the provisions of Schedule 7 of the 1999 Constitution.

At Friday’s sitting, the Assembly was represented by its Legal Officer, N.U. Ibrahim, who appeared with two others.

Ruling on the development, the Chairman of the panel noted that “the panel adjourned sitting for the last time for today (Friday) to allow the respondent to defend himself.

“The panel shall retire to go and write its report as required by the constitution.”

A member of the administrative staff of the panel, who pleaded anonymity, told journalists present in the courtroom that the panel would forward its report to the Edo State Chief Justice, who set up the investigative panel.

However, our currespondent gathered from a source close to the House of Assembly that the lawmakers were also waiting for the report of the impeachment panel to get to the Assembly as soon as possible.

The source said the House was not in a position to determine when the report would get to it as it was the Chief Judge, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, who set up the panel independently.

“I can only say that the House of Assembly is also waiting for the report after the panel ended its sitting on Friday. It is the Chief Judge who set up the panel and the House cannot determine when the report gets to it,” the source said.

The Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria has appealed to the Central Bank of Nigeria to adjust and lower its applicable exchange rate below the N1,251/$ it pegged for its members.

ABCON National President, Aminu Gwadabe, stated this in a letter to the CBN Director, Trade & Exchange Department.

The appeal comes when the parallel market rate of 1,235/$ is lower than the BDCs’ applicable buying exchange rate of 1,251/$ (plus a 1.5 per cent margin) set by the CBN in its latest tranche of interventions.

Gwadabe lamented that the naira’s speedy recovery made CBN’s selling rate to BDCs very expensive and difficult to offload to retail end buyers, who were going to the undocumented forex operators for cheaper rates.

He further expressed concerns that many BDCs, who funded their accounts for dollar allocations, were yet to receive their allocation of dollars to meet the legitimate critical demand of their clients due to scrutinisation of the BDCs’ documents for collections at the various designated centres.

He noted that this had made the BDCs vulnerable to exchange rate risk and significant losses.

“We discovered a worrisome development where many of our members who paid for dollar allocations at N1,251/$ with a margin of 1.5 per cent are yet to receive their disbursement. This is happening in the face of the prevailing open market rate of N1,235/$, which is lower than the authorised applicable exchange rate by the CBN to the BDCs,” the letter said.

Despite this development, ABCON lauded the CBN leadership for the recall of BDCs into the official FX window and steps taken by the apex bank to strengthen the naira against the dollar and other global currencies.

ABCON president stated that the positive fallout of the CBN’s efforts to restore the naira’s glory came faster than expected, reiterating its commitment to working with the apex bank to realise the objectives of the government towards exchange rate stability and economic growth.

He added that ABCON’s forecasts in the ongoing market development indicated a willingness of the market to correct itself with realistic price discovery as the naira is forecast to continue to appreciate further across the market with the increasing sources of foreign exchange inflows aided by the CBN policies

“It is in view of the above market developments that we write to appeal to your good selves for readjustments and review downwards of our funding rate of the last tranche (2nd bidding) from N1,251/$ further down to reflect current market rate discovery.

“This became imperative as it is only the consideration of the readjustment downward that will enable our members to upload their holding positions,” he noted.

The association also requested that the process of payments at the various disbursement centres be reviewed in the immediate time to a medium time automation to achieve enhanced timely payments while also observing the spot nature of transactions.

According to the group, the apex bank should introduce a cut-off time for payments and collection of bids, adding that the current open-ended system for payments and collection of bids does not make for effective administration and control of the process.

“Consequently, many of our members are jittery to bid/collect their bid for fear of losing money as the current market reality has the potential to force us to sell below cost price and antithetical to recent market price discovery,” it elucidated.

ABCON insisted that the disturbing exchange rate disparity could be addressed by a quick and decisive response of the apex bank, which would go a long way in bolstering BDC operators’ confidence in the ongoing intervention by the Central Bank of Nigeria as well as enhance their participation in the bidding process.

Olaniyi Afonja, the well-known Yoruba actor also known as Sanyeri, has addressed the widespread speculation surrounding his matrimonial state with wife Omolara Jimoh, who publicly declared a crisis in their marriage.

Recall that several months ago, the wife of the movie star stunned many fans on social media by revealing that she and the film star are no longer a couple.

She took to her official Instagram page and shared a detailed post explaining that she and the actor have actually been separated for nine years.

In an exclusive and revealing interview on the Oyinmomo podcast with media personality Bolanle Onistory, Sanyeri passionately addressed and rebutted the swirling rumors surrounding his marriage.

Defying his wife’s earlier proclamation of a marital crisis, Sanyeri emphatically stated that his wife is still a vital part of his life, residing harmoniously under their shared roof.

According to Sanyeri, the heart of the issue stemmed from a misunderstanding regarding the demands of his acting career, which often takes him away from his wife and children.

He revealed that this separation caused confusion and tension within their matrimony, as his wife struggled to reconcile the demands of his profession with their family life.

Nigerian renowned comedian cum filmmaker, Ayo Makun, popularly known as AY, has confirmed that his marriage to Mabel Makun has crashed after 15 years.

Naija News reports that there have been rumours that the movie star and his wife have parted ways over alleged infidelity.

In a statement via his Instagram page on Sunday, AY confirmed that his marriage has hit the rock but will not be entertaining the public with personal issues about his family.

The comedian admitted that he has found himself doing some things that he isn’t proud of, and it is sad to watch his marriage slip away.

He wrote:

“Many people believe that staying silent simply means that one is incapable of dealing with issues. Projecting a negative narrative against someone who is not struggling to defend himself doesn’t mean he is weak. Some of us are just logical enough to understand the difference between opinions, values, beliefs, and facts.

“The personality and ability that I possess simply confirm that i have reached that stage in my life where I can not be entertaining the public with deep personal family issues. They just might be too much to handle concerning the individuals involved. Not even when I have a grown-up daughter who has access to social media. Her mental health needs to be protected from seeing things she can not be proud of online.

“Yes! Without compromising my family, I have found myself doing some things that I am not proud of today. It is one thing to watch my friendship/marriage of 20 years slip off my hands, but it’s another thing for the parties involved to understand how to appropriate the blame in a space that is designed for most women to always play the victims and win. I can tell you for free that no one is completely INNOCENT enough to cast stones.

“Presently, I am loving the way that lies about me in all these blogs are traveling faster than the truth. But my painful truth will eventually beat away all the lies.”

Presidential candidate for the opposition and leadership crisis-ridden Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 General elections, Peter Gregory Obi, has declared unequivocally that he is not desperate to be Nigeria’s President at any point in his life.

Peter Obi also dismissed insinuations that he is preparing to dump the Labour Party anytime soon, saying that it is mere rumors peddled by politicians who are jittery about his political popularity in the country.

He was fielding questions from Journalists in Bauchi on Sunday shortly after he commissioned a hand pump for water supply in Sabon Layi Community, a suburb of the Bauchi metropolis.

According to him, “I am not thinking of 2027, my concern for now is how to improve the living standards and conditions of Nigerians. Nobody should be talking about politics now, the focus should be on good governance that will make Nigeria better.”

The former Presidential candidate of LP stressed that, “The leadership crisis in the LP presently is not an abnormal thing, it is an in house problem and it will be solved amicably as a family.”

He further stressed that, “I have never thought of leaving the LP, I only advocated for peace because I am a man who believe in peace, I am a man who believe in unity, I am a man believes that we are the same. I don’t see any difference between you and me, by the grace of God I always want to do the right thing that is the reason I came here personally, I would have asked someone to represent me, no, I didn’t.”

According to him, “For me, it is not about elections, we spend more time talking about elections, let us spend time talking about how we can put poor people out of poverty, let’s spend time to know how out-of-school children will be back to school, let’s spend time in other areas, it is not about elections,”

He added that,” I have said it before that I am not desperate to be President, I am desperate to see Nigeria work for the people. It is important for me because we cannot continue this way, poor people in this country are suffering alot. I am urging all leaders in and out of office, this is time for us to listen to to the people, it is time to work with them, time to feel a bit of their pains.”

Peter Obi stressed that,”The crisis in the LP will be resolved just like I have been saying and at the end things will get better. Labour Party is not the problem of Nigeria, the problem of Nigeria is beyond Labour Party, so, my focus is not on the Labour Party but on Nigeria, my promise is a new Nigeria and that new Nigeria is what I am focussed and it important that we all remain focussed on it.”

“If we fixed the leadership problems in Nigeria, I would not have been here to provide this water. So, let us talk about issues of this water, let’s talk about how the people will live and eat. I assure that Labour Party will resolve its issue as a family, no family is perfect,” he concluded.

Muhammadu Sanusi II, the 14th Emir of Kano, delivered a thought-provoking message during a virtual Ramadan lecture on Sunday, emphasising the importance of spiritual introspection and condemning societal ills such as greed, selfishness, and corruption.

In his address titled “Some Dimensions of the Concept of Ibadah,” Emir Sanusi expressed a profound perspective on morality, suggesting that actions driven by greed, selfishness, and envy are more egregious sins than those traditionally considered taboo, such as unlawful sex, homosexuality, and gambling.

The former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) highlighted a prevalent issue in Nigerian society, attributing social disorder to a lack of Islamic values in people’s hearts despite religious observances such as prayers and fasting.

Emir Sanusi went further to denounce corrupt practices within political leadership, alleging the misappropriation of public funds by a governor of a state implementing Sharia law. Though he refrained from naming the governor directly, he cited the example of a governor who purportedly embezzled funds to purchase a hotel in Lagos, condemning such actions as a betrayal of public trust.

Sanusi lamented the state of affairs in the mentioned state, branding it as a “most serious example of backwardness,” implying that corruption and mismanagement hinder progress and development.

The revered economist stressed the importance of accountability among leaders, asserting that a consciousness of answering to a higher power for entrusted responsibilities would deter corruption and promote ethical governance.

His words, “On Social order and Ibadah, you know when our hearts are not good, our deeds will not be good,” he said.

“We say we are Muslims, we go to the mosque and pray and Allah says prayer stops evil deeds and wrong deeds. Why is it that we go to pray all the time, we fast all the time and then we are committing this evil?

“How do you get a Muslim to become a minister or governor and all he is thinking of is how he is going to steal public funds to build a big house for himself or have billions for his children and deny people?

“When you know what the prophet has said about leadership. It is a trust and on the day of judgment, it would be a source of bitterness sadness, and regret, for those who do not keep that trust properly.

“When you sit down and know that you are going to account to Allah for this wealth, you are going to answer for it, how do you get to that office and steal public funds? This is why you have a social disorder.

“We even have had state governors who said they were practising sharia, they were leading the implementation of sharia and they were stealing money and buying hotels.

“There was a governor implementing sharia in a sharia state who stole public funds and bought a hotel in Lagos. And he says Allahu Akbar.

AS the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, NNPC Limited, moves to end petrol scarcity in Lagos and its environs, Dangote Refinery and oil marketers have intensified efforts at taking final decisions on pricing and delivery of petrol to filling stations nationwide.

Dangote Refinery, which can refine 650,000 barrels per day, bpd of crude oil, intends to commence production and distribution of the product, the bulk of which is currently imported from the global market, in May 2024.

A Checks by our currspondent, weekend, indicated that the parties have been meeting and exchanging notes on the pricing, distribution and margins to stakeholders in the value chain, including transporters and insurers.

Recall that depot owners buy the product from NNPC Limited at N556 per litre and sell to independents at N640 per litre.

It was, however learnt that independent markers have proposed N550 per litre to management of Dangote Refinery who is currently in a discussion with them.

The President of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Alhaji Abubakar Migandi Garima, who confirmed the development yesterday, said: “We have been discussing with Dangote Refinery. The discussion, centering on pricing, margins and other issues, is still ongoing.

“We have proposed that the lifting price should be N550 per litre in Lagos. The price of the product will differ from one part of Nigeria to another because of distance and cost of delivering petrol to different locations.

“We are currently waiting on Dangote Refinery to conclude and communicate the price per litre, so we can plan to lift the product when it comes on stream.

‘’We expect that the price of the locally refined petrol would be cheaper than imported petrol, due mainly to local availability of the bulk of its crude oil and removal of transportation cost.”

The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested a nine-man gang of suspected ritualists under the name of ‘Neo Black Movement, NBM, with one full jerry can of human blood.

The suspected ritualists were arrested at a Cemetery in Dutsen Abba Ward along the Zaria -Kaduna expressway.

ASP Mansur Hussaini, Public Relations Officer of the Command, confirmed the arrest on Sunday.

Hussaini said their arrest followed a tip-off after a source drew the attention of the service formation that some group of people were sighted at the said cemetery, which in turn Saye Lowcost Division was alerted.

He added that those arrested for alleged involvement in ritual activities are, Samson Ezekiel (32), Samuel Francis (27), Usman Nura (34), Gabriel Sheba (23), Haruna Sa’id (37), Bala Lukman (27) and Jabir Rilwan (37).

The PPRO explained, “A search was conducted on their vehicle, a Lexus sedan, with registration number RSH 712 CW, where two locally made pistols, one Beretta pistol, two jacket knives, two calabashes and a jerrycan, full of human blood were recovered.”

He said the suspected ritualists, comprising the new and old members, were apprehended while initiating the new members, saying the gang confessed to getting the human blood after slaughtering an aged man and disposing of his body along the Jaji military cantonment, in neighbouring Igabi Local Government Area.

The suspects also confessed that the man’s vital body parts were dismembered but were taken away by another gang which came from Kaduna.

Following the arrest of the seven suspected ritualists along the Zaria -Kaduna expressway, he said that two other suspects were apprehended by the locals, at ABU Congo Conference Hotels, along old Jos road, stressing that they are Austin Ifinju from Ondo State, aged 28 and Yoruba by tribe and Aliyu Ali Yahaya, resident of Hadu Nasko road Abuja, aged 24. Agatu by tribe and a student of ABU Samaru.

ASP Mansur Hussaini, Public Relations Officer of the Command confirmed the arrest, explaining that investigations are ongoing.

Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has replied his predecessor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, over his claims of failure in his eight-month term in office.

He said Ganduje’s eight-year tenure was characterised by maladministration with massive records of corruption, diversion of public funds and sale of government properties.

Governor Yusuf, in a statement issued yesterday evening by his spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, regretted that Ganduje spoke about non-existent failure in the present administration, instead of facing the nemesis of corruption and political violence hanging around his neck.

The governor however emphasised that it would leave no stone unturned in pursuing the dollar video scandal to logical conclusion, urging the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFFC) to release the forensic investigation it conducted on the “Gandollar Saga” in 2018, for public consumption.

He advised Ganduje to buckle up in defence of his already battered image at the court, instead of further exposing his impunity on the media space.

The governor also reminded Ganduje on how his gross penchant for corruption had brought shame and disgrace to the good people of Kano, insisting that no amount of media campaign would hinder the process of bringing him (Ganduje) to book on the glaring cases of corruption filed against him.

Part of the statement reads, “Our eight months in office has remarkably outweighed Ganduje’s eight wasted years of political caricature and maladministration by all standards.

“We wish to reaffirm the present administration’s resolve and readiness to make anyone found guilty of corruption to face the full wrath of the law for their intentional wrong doings.”

Governor Yusuf maintained that his administration is multifacetedly inclined, prioritising attention on socioeconomic and physical infrastructure development for the well-being of Kano and the good people of the state.

A convicted kidnap, Hamisu Bala, better known as Wadume, on Sunday, received a heroic welcome at his hometown of Ibbi in Taraba State after serving his jail term for kidnapping.

Naija News gathered that a large crowd of women and children trooped out to welcome the convicted kidnapper back to his hometown after he was released from Kuje Prison in Abuja, on Friday.

After arriving in the town, Wadumi visited the Chief of Ibbi chiefdom, Alhaji Salihu Danbawuro, at his palace.

Wadume told the chief that he was at the palace to thank him and the entire people of his chiefdom.

He said through out his trial, the chief and his subjects stood firmly with him and prayed for his safety and good health while in prison.

The chief, Saliha Danbawuro, told Wadume that he and his subjects were happy that he is out of prison.

“I and the entire people of Ibbi chiefdom are happy that Hamisu Wadume is now back in Ibbi his home town.” the chief said.

Recall Wadume was arrested by men of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Inspector-General of Police, in 2019, led by the now-suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari,

During the attempt to arrest him in 2019 by the IRT over alleged kidnapping, he had enlisted the help of a Captain of the Nigerian Army, who aided his escape from Police custody when the van of the IRT was stopped at a military checkpoint by gunfire and labelled as kidnappers instead, who had attempted at kidnapping Wadume.

Residents of Ibbi town consequently pounced on the Policemen for daring to kidnap their ‘saviour’, killing about three of the elite Policemen, a development that attracted national attention to the ugly incident.

Wadume then went into hiding there for days before the IRT team smoked him out from his hideout in the Kano metropolis of Kano State.