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Governor Siminalayi Fubara says he enjoys ‘’freedom’’ in governing Rivers State because God allowed the political crisis in the state to happen.
Recalling the efforts of Primate of the Anglican Communion Church of Nigeria Henry Ndukauba to end the crisis, Fubara said: ‘’God has a way of doing his things. Maybe if we had got peace, I wouldn’t be enjoying the freedom that I am enjoying today.’’
He spoke on Tuesday night when Ndukauba led bishops of the Anglican Communion to pay him a visit in Government House, Port Harcourt.
But hours after the governor’s comment, the Martins Amaewhule-led 27-member House of Assembly reconvened and restated that all Fubara’s appointments were contemptuous of courts’ judgments and extant laws of the state.
It went a step further to direct the Clerk of the House, Emeka Amadi, to disclaim the appointees through a publication.
While addressing the Primate, Fubara said: “I start first in a very unusual way to say thank you. This appreciation would have come much earlier. Many of you here may not understand why I am thanking him.
“When the crisis started, as a man of God who believes that the two main parties(Fubara and his immediate predecessor, Nyesom Wike) are people from his communion, he made several phone calls and booked several appointments but none of them was granted to him.
‘’I want to thank him for what he did even though it didn’t yield the required result, but you see God has a way of doing his things.
“Maybe if we had got peace then, I wouldn’t be enjoying the freedom that I am enjoying today.
‘’So at times, God will be saying let the trouble be there so that there will be peace. But that is not to say that we encourage trouble.
‘’ Peace remains the best thing, both internally and externally because it attracts development.”
The governor expressed happiness that the Diocese was holding its Standing Committee Meeting in Rivers State at a time when his government needed prayers to keep functioning.
He said Bond of Peace which is the theme of the meeting, was apt as daily events and occurrences indicated that peace was urgently needed in the country.
Fubara said God was directing the activities of his government and that he would not take the glory and power.
His words “ I thank the church for standing with us. Your prayers are greater than the noise-making or the protest that we are engaging in.
“ You all are seeing the kind of governance we are providing. It is the governance of peace and freedom for people to operate. Ours is a government that listens and admits at any point we are at fault and makes amends.
‘’We are not seeking for attention.’’
Primate Ndukauba explained to the governor that they appreciated his achievements in the state.
He said: “Despite the challenges that you are facing, we thank God that you have kept focus and you are executing the things that you needed to do as the executive governor of this state.
“ God has the power to raise and to remove, but it has pleased Him that you are there today.
“Though the situation may be challenging, we have seen the enormous work that you are doing and we thank God for you. We will continue to pray for you.”
[TheNation]
The senate committee on finance says it will begin a two-day public hearing on the tax reform bills on February 24.
Sani Musa, the committee’s chairman, spoke about the scheduled hearing on Wednesday.
“We intend to take on two of the bills on each day of the session for the press to be fully abreast with what we intend to do,” the senator said.
“It is our duty as legislators to do the needful for the good of this country. We are all representatives of different tribes, religions, geography and we are Nigerians.
“What we will work towards giving Nigerians are laws that will put us on track economically. And by the grace of God, we will succeed.”
Musa said sufficient funding would propel Nigeria’s economy, including infrastructure, education, and agriculture, to what obtains in developed nations.
He also expressed optimism about the public hearing, citing President Bola Tinubu’s assurances of non-interference in the tax bills processes.
The lawmaker added that the committee has invited Wale Edun, minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy; Jumoke Oduwole, the minister of industry, trade and investment; and Lateef Fagbemi, attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister for justice, to the hearings.
“We have also invited the minister of petroleum resources, the chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service and the statistician-general of the federation so that he will be able to come and give us his own submission,” he said.
Last week, the four bills — the Nigeria Tax Bill, the Tax Administration Bill, the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill, and the Nigeria Revenue Service Bill — scaled second reading at the house of representatives after an extensive debate by lawmakers.
On October 3, Tinubu asked the national assembly to pass the bills, which the senate approved for a second reading in November.
The bills initially faced opposition from the national economic council (NEC) and northern governors, who argued that the proposed laws could harm the region’s interests.
They urged the national assembly to reject the bills, demanding fair and equitable implementation across all regions.
However, in January, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) endorsed the bills after agreeing on an “equitable” VAT-sharing formula.
[TheCable]
A romantic video of Nigerian music legend Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba, and his lover, politician Natasha Osawaru, has sparked reactions online.
The couple was seen dancing intimately in the clip, displaying affection and enjoying each other’s company.
In the viral footage shared on social media, Natasha playfully danced on 2Baba, winding her waist as he responded joyfully.
At one point, the singer rested his face on her stomach while attempting to lift her up. The person recording the moment could be heard hyping the duo as they embraced warmly.
Fans quickly took to the comment section to analyze their body language, with some suggesting that they appeared intoxicated. Others, however, simply appreciated their bond and wished them well.
This development comes after 2Baba openly declared his love for Natasha following the end of his marriage.
Interestingly, a spiritual adviser, Bright Ndibunwa, had previously warned that the relationship might not be destined to last.
Despite this, the couple continues to publicly celebrate their romance, seemingly unbothered by others opinions.
The video has since gained traction, sparking debates and mixed reactions from social media users.
Media
Nigerian music star Burna Boy has officially announced the release of his first single of 2025, titled Update.
The Afrobeats sensation dropped the track ahead of his forthcoming album, No Sign of Weakness, setting the stage for what fans anticipate will be another chart-topping era.
Speculation surrounding Burna Boy’s new release had been building after the singer made a dramatic social media move.
He deleted all his posts on his Instagram account and replaced his profile picture with a cryptic ‘loading’ icon against a black background, fueling discussions across social media platforms.
Fans were quick to predict that new music was on the horizon, and their guesses proved right.
The track Update reportedly features a sample from Soul II Soul’s iconic song However Do You Want Me.
The artist first teased the single on Instagram on February 18, sharing a snippet that showcased a visually striking, tug-of-war-inspired concept.
In the teaser, Burna Boy single-handedly holds his ground against three men pulling on the other end of a rope.
“Burna Boy’s first single of 2025, Update, out now,” the post read.
Professor Okoye, a lecturer at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), has broken his silence after a female student, Precious Mbakwe, was expelled for physically assaulting him.
The incident, which was captured in a viral video, showed Mbakwe assaulting Professor Okoye for interrupting her dance video.
The university management subsequently set up a disciplinary committee, resulting in Mbakwe’s expulsion.
In a recent podcast, Professor Okoye shared his thoughts on the controversy.
He described the attention surrounding him as just another social media buzz. However, he also acknowledged that he is still trying to process the events leading up to the assault.
“As much as I really want to get into this gist, I’m quite careful to get into it because I’m yet to fully process everything that happened “, He stated.
Mohbad’s last day: Nurse’s role, father-in-law’s visit, Liam in nylon bag, Primeboy clash – Wunmi spills more [VIDEO]
AFOLABI![Mohbad’s last day: Nurse’s role, father-in-law’s visit, Liam in nylon bag, Primeboy clash – Wunmi spills more [VIDEO]](/media/k2/items/cache/51de60b57f3722fb14663723088bcf72_M.jpg?t=20250220_063640)
Omowunmi Aloba, wife of the late Nigerian rapper Ilerioluwa Aloba, aka Mohbad, has finally exposed chilling details about the day her husband tragically lost his life.
In a chat with media personality Chude Jideonwo, Wunmi laid bare the unsettling chain of events that unfolded. She revealed that after Mohbad sustained an injury, a nurse was called in to treat him, but the injection she administered triggered a fatal reaction.
She disclosed that on the night Mohbad died, his father, Joseph Aloba, arrived at their home, and the nurse recounted everything that had transpired.
As the situation spiraled out of control and Mohbad’s condition worsened, she recalled his manager pushing for the nurse’s immediate arrest. Shockingly, Wunmi claimed, her father-in-law intervened,insisted the nurse be allowed to go free.
The next day, in a horrifying twist, Wunmi said she was blindsided when she discovered online that Mohbad was already being buried, without her knowledge. Rushing to the burial site in shock, the mother of one said was met with yet another nightmare.
She alleged that an attempt was made to snatch her son, Liam, from her, an action that forced her to wrap her little boy in a plastic bag just to escape with him.
Consumed with grief and anger, Wunmi expressed outrage over the inconclusive autopsy results, which she blamed on her father-in-law’s hasty burial of Mohbad.
She claimed that by the time an autopsy was performed, the body had decomposed to a point where crucial evidence, especially from injuries Wunmi believed he sustained in a fight with his friend Primeboy, was lost, made it impossible to determine the true cause of death.
Rejecting the inconclusive findings, Wunmi declared she would continue to seek justice because her son, Liam, would one day demand the truth about what really happened to his father.
Sunmary of her words in quote;
“I know that there was a nurse involved in my husband’s demise and that he reacted to an injection. On the night that he died, my father-in-law came to our house and the nurse narrated what happened to him. My husband’s manager wanted to get the nurse arrested that night but my father-in-law said they should let her go.
“The following day, it was online that I knew they wanted to bury Moh. I was not informed. When I got there, they wanted to kidnap Liam from me, we had to wrap him in a plastic bag.
“It is so sad to hear that his autopsy was inconclusive just because my father-in-law rushed to bury him because I know he had an injury from the fight he had with Prime boy. I can’t accept the inconclusive result because Liam will grow up to ask me questions”
WATCH HER LAMENT IN CLIP BELOW
Media
Popular Nollywood actress Mosun Filani, also known as Ayaba Oduoye and her husband, Simeon Oduoye, have taken to social media to celebrate their 13th wedding anniversary in grand style.
Sharing the joyous moment on Instagram, Mosun posted stunning photos of herself and her husband dressed in elegant traditional attire.
She expressed gratitude for their journey together while wishing for more love, grace, endurance, and happiness in their marriage.
“Happy 13th wedding anniversary to us. More wine, more grace, more endurance, more happiness, and more love. Happy 13th wedding anniversary to US,” she wrote.
Her colleagues in the entertainment industry, alongside fans, flooded the comment section with congratulatory messages, celebrating the couple’s enduring love and commitment.
Nigerian singer and songwriter Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has once again brought global recognition to Nigeria with her stunning appearance at the O2 Arena in London.
The Grammy-winning artist performed at Aston Martin’s unveiling event for its 2025 Formula 1 car, which was part of the F1 75 Live celebration.
Tems captivated the audience with a live rendition of Higher, a hit track from her 2020 debut EP, For Broken Ears.
Her powerful vocals and commanding stage presence left the crowd in awe, adding an unforgettable musical moment to the prestigious event.
Several prominent figures attended the unveiling, making it a star-studded affair. Her manager, Muyiwa Awoniyi, shared a clip from the night and expressed his excitement.
He wrote;
“This one is special @temsbaby unveiling the new @AstonMartinF1 2025 car at the @F1 75 live show at the O2 Arena in London.”
The Central Bank of Nigeria has commenced profiling the chairmen and signatories to the bank accounts of the 774 local government areas in the country, as part of processes to commence local government autonomy.
The Director of Legal Services at the CBN, Kofo Salam-Alada, explained that this was necessary to ensure financial accountability.
However, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria said it had received no communication from the apex bank concerning the opening of bank accounts.
Salam-Alada spoke at a state-of-the-nation discourse on strengthening local government autonomy in Nigeria, organised by the Nigerian Bar Association, in Abuja, on Wednesday.
On July 11, 2024, the Supreme Court delivered a landmark judgment affirming the financial autonomy of the 774 local government areas in the country and prohibiting governors from further control of funds meant for the councils.
The apex court also directed the Accountant-General of the Federation to pay local government allocations directly to their accounts, declaring the non-remittance of funds by the 36 states unconstitutional.
But eight months after the judgment, the financial autonomy has yet to take effect.
Providing an insight into the delayed fund disbursement, the CBN legal director disclosed that the apex bank had no direct banking relationship with the LGAs.
Salam-Alada stated, “This is all about standard procedure in the form of KYC (Know Your Customer). Anyone who will be a signatory to the account must be profiled. The process is ongoing, and we are collaborating with the AGF’s office. We have also written to the LGAs.”
He urged the Association of Local Government of Nigeria to encourage its members to engage with the CBN at the local level, assuring that once proper documentation is completed, the accounts will be operational within 48 hours.
“We are using this opportunity to call on the 774 local government chairmen to come forward for their documentation. No account can be operationalised without the prerequisite Customer Due Diligence,” he added.
But ALGON’s representative at the event, Sam Akala, disputed the CBN’s claim, stating that he was unaware of any official communication from the apex bank regarding the account-opening process.
“I cannot confirm that such communication has been received officially,” he said, affirming ALGON’s readiness to embrace its new role in grassroots development.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), represented by the Director of Civil Litigation at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Tijjani Gazali, said the LG autonomy would be implemented once the CBN process was concluded.
He explained that the LG autonomy implementation committee, which includes representatives from the Federal Government, ALGON and the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, had been working on a framework for the full implementation of the ruling, particularly regarding the direct payment of allocations from the Federation Account to LGAs.
“The committee is expected to complete its mandate any time from now and present its recommendations to Nigerians,” the AGF stated, adding that President Bola Tinubu’s administration remained committed to granting LGAs full autonomy.
He said, “Local government structures had almost become extinct in Nigeria, necessitating the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. As a staunch advocate of democracy and the rule of law, the president took decisive action by filing a suit at the Supreme Court in May 2024. On behalf of the Federation, I brought the Attorneys-General of the 36 states before the Supreme Court to secure declarations ensuring the full emancipation of local governments in Nigeria.”
He condemned the continued illegal removal of democratically elected local government councils by some state governors, despite the Supreme Court’s ruling against such actions.
He described this as “worrisome,” criticising the “unconstitutional connivance by state governors and their State Houses of Assembly to dismantle democratically elected local government structures without recourse to the rule of law and replace them with their stooges.’’
“Let me state unequivocally that this act is tantamount to treason and must be treated as such. While it is true that section 308 of the Constitution grants governors immunity from prosecution, I wish to be clear that this flagrant disobedience to the Supreme Court judgment will have unpleasant consequences for the state as a whole, should it persist,” he warned.
Fagbemi highlighted the historical significance of local governments in Nigeria, stating, “Since pre-colonial times, the government has always been close to the people through well-documented traditional institutions that governed various ethnic groups. Today, local governments hold immense potential to drive sustainable development, foster inclusivity, and improve grassroots governance.”
In his welcome remarks, NBA President Mazi Afam Osigwe, emphasised the need for full local government autonomy, warning that failing to strengthen governance at the grassroots level could lead to greater national challenges.
Osigwe warned, “There must be democracy at the local government level. All other tiers of government must allow the LGs to breathe. If we fail to get it right at the LG level, we may be setting the stage for a greater calamity.”
Reacting to the CBN’s statement, the President of the National Union of Local Government Employees, Hakeem Ambali, said, “The failure to enforce this judgment is a huge disregard for the rule of law. It is highly disappointing that saboteurs have continued to fight against the implementation of a landmark Supreme Court judgement which allows for financial autonomy for local governments. On whether the CBN has now reached out to LGs for the opening of accounts, I can’t confirm that as of now but it is highly disappointing.”
EFCC urges accountability
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr Ola Olukoyede, has admonished local government chairmen to be prudent and accountable, saying that they do not have immunity from investigation and prosecution for fraud.
Olukoyede stated that his commission would not wait till the end of the tenure of any local government chairmen before probing them.
A statement on Wednesday by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale said Olukoyede disclosed this while speaking at the Gombe State Local Government Summit.
The statement said Olukoyede told the local council chairs to be prudent in the management of the huge resources at their disposal stressing that “Local government chairmen do not have immunity and we are not going to wait until you finish your tenure to come after you.”
It said the EFCC’s boss decried the stagnation, poverty and deprivation rampant in rural areas in the country despite the enormous resources that had been deployed to those places over the years.
“The impact of these resources is not felt by the people living in these areas. Councils, instead of becoming catalysts of growth, have become caricatures existing only in name”, he was quoted as saying.
To ensure prudent management of resources and accountable stewardship, he recommended to the chairmen the need to establish a compliance unit to assist them in monitoring the use of resources and the delivery of projects.
He informed them that the commission has established a Fraud Risk Assessment and Control Department, adding that officers of the department will be visiting local government councils in Gombe State to monitor the use of the expected enhanced receipts from the federation account.
Olukoyede further disclosed that the commission would be visiting local governments periodically to monitor their funds.
“EFCC will be paying you visits occasionally to monitor how you are using the funds. We will come in the evening. Sometimes you may even be seeing us in your dreams, “ he said.
The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices & Other Related Offences Commission, Musa Aliyu expressed dismay that only seven out of the 774 LGAS have websites, which makes it difficult to monitor their expenditures.
In his opening remarks, Governor Yahaya Inuwa said the summit was designed to improve the capacity of the council administration in the state to meet the expectations of the people.
“For the autonomy to be beneficial and useful, the councils must have capacity and discipline to utilize their resources for the good of the people,’’ he stated, noting that the state was not caught unaware by the Supreme Court ruling as it had already granted financial autonomy to its 11 councils.
Despite having a combined refining capacity of 985,000 barrels per day, the Federal Government, through the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, has disclosed that the country’s three operational refineries contribute less than 50 per cent of the nation’s daily petrol consumption.
It said the significant shortfall was being filled through the importation of refined petroleum products. This was as it disclosed that Nigerians currently consume 50 million litres of petrol daily.
The NMDPRA Chief Executive, Farouk Ahmed, said this at a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja.
He noted that the authority, operating under the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, has been granting import licences, emphasising that without these imports, there would have been a fuel shortage.
The PUNCH recalls that in 2024, two state-owned refineries, the 210,000 barrels per day capacity Port Harcourt refinery, and the 125,000bpd Warri refinery, began operations after decades of being moribund.
Earlier in the year, the 650,000bpd Dangote refinery also commenced operations to the delight of Nigerians.
Although officials of these refineries have claimed that the facilities were working at advanced levels of production supplying products to Nigerians, Ahmed, represented by the Executive Director, Distribution System, Storage, and Retailing Infrastructure, Ogbugo Ukoha, indicated the country was still heavily dependent on petrol imports with over 50 per cent coming in from foreign countries.
He said this is despite the national consumption of the product reducing from an average of 66 million litres per day to 50m/d following the removal of the petrol subsidy.
The executive director, however, specifically noted that none of the owners of these refineries have imported petroleum products this year.
Ukoha said, “Let me speak a little bit about supply.”
All of us experienced a Yuletide free of petrol scarcity. And let me just reconfirm that from year to year, we saw an increase in the demand for PMS from 2021, 2022, up to 2023, just before the current administration came in. The daily PMS supply sufficiency was always in excess of 60 million per day.
“Averaging about 66 million a day for PMS. And following Mr President’s withdrawal of subsidy, the announcement of May 29, 2023, we immediately saw a steep decline in consumption. And between then and as we speak, we have continued to do plus or minus 50 million litres a day. Of these 50 million litres averaging for each day, less than 50 per cent of that is contributed by domestic refineries. And so the shortfall by the PIA is sourced by way of imports.”
Ukoha specifically noted that none of the domestic refineries have imported petroleum products this year.
The confirmation came from the news reports that the state-owned oil firm imported PMS burns faster than that of Dangote Refinery.
“Let me also say that none of the oil marketing companies, the companies that own refineries in the country for this year have imported any PMS. The other OMCs are the ones that are importing the shortfall. And if we do nothing to bridge that shortfall, we will have scarcity in our hands.
“And that’s something that the regulator is mindful of, to ensure that there is sufficient supply of petroleum products across the country. So just for clarity, what I am saying is that the contribution of local refineries towards sufficiency is less than 50 per cent. That is between January and February 2025, is less than 50 per cent of what we require daily. And that shortfall is sourced by way of imports.
“Even though none of the OMCs that own the local refineries have imported PMS this year, we are also minded that if we find ourselves in the situation that the PIA described where you have to resort to the supplier of last resort, we will go to them and require them to bridge the gap. Never mind the fact that every OMC has a right to apply to the authority.”
The NMDPRA said all the petroleum products imported to the country this year are of standard quality.
He said the NMDPRA always insists that all petroleum products meet the specifications of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria and the Petroleum Industry Act 2021.
According to him, the authority does not permit the distribution of products that fall short of quality standards.
Ukoha said some people have been releasing bogus claims concerning product quality on social media.
“People who dabble within the social media space must be reminded that it is disrespectful if you imagine that Nigerians are gullible,” he stated.
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The Ogun State Police Command has said an investigation is ongoing as the controversial singer, Habeeb Okikiola, aka Portable, on Wednesday, turned himself in to the authorities.
The Lagos State Police Command through its spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed in a statement that the singer surrendered himself at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, in the Yaba area of the state earlier in the morning.
Hundeyin added that the Ogun State Command was contacted for onward transfer of the singer to the state.
Meanwhile, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, in a statement minutes later confirmed Portable’s arrival at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Abeokuta.
Odutola stated that the singer arrived at 1:23 pm in connection with an ongoing investigation.
“His presence at the SCID is in connection with an ongoing investigation. The command assures the public that due process will be followed in handling this matter, and updates will be provided as necessary. We urge members of the public to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information. The Ogun State Police Command remains committed to upholding justice and maintaining public order,” the statement added.
While responding to an inquiry by PUNCH Metro on the command’s next action after his appearance, Odutola said an investigation would continue.
She added that the singer’s case would be treated like every other Nigerian that he is.
“Police will investigate. Portable is a Nigerian and should not be made like he is too important,” she said.
Odutola upon further inquiries said she could not tell when the singer would be arraigned in court.
Portable in a video on Tuesday declared that he was “a madman and undergoing treatment at the Federal Neuropsychiatric, Aro, Abeokuta.”
He said this while appealing to Nigerians and the Ogun State Government after being declared wanted by the state police command.
The singer was reportedly involved in a violent altercation with three officials from the Ogun State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Ota Zonal Office—TPL Onabanjo Abidemi, TPL Raymond Lateef, and TPL Ridwan Oyero Akinlesi—during an enforcement at Oke-Osa, Tigbo Ilu Ota, Ogun State.
According to the officials, they initially encountered Portable’s father at the Odogwu Bar, where he informed them that his son was unavailable. Moments later, Portable allegedly arrived armed with a firearm and, along with nine thugs, launched an attack on the unarmed officials.
The police reported that the enforcement officers sustained injuries but managed to escape and report the incident to the Ota Area Command, which escalated the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department. While nine of Portable’s alleged accomplices were arrested, the singer reportedly fled the scene and went into hiding.
Odutola had while declaring him wanted stated that multiple formal invitations were sent to Portable, requesting his presence at the command headquarters but he deliberately ignored them without offering any legal representation.
“Following his repeated evasion, the Ogun State Police Command has obtained a valid court order declaring him wanted,” she added.
Reacting to the allegations, Portable took to Instagram on Tuesday in a series of rants, claiming that he was being set up because he wore a vest featuring the image of the lawmaker representing Ogun West, Senator Adeola Solomon, popularly known as Yayi. He also reiterated that he is mentally unstable and has a medical history at the psychiatric hospital.
“I fear government. I am a federal government liability. I am a madman; I have medications that I usually take. You can confirm from Aro Hospital. I have a card that certifies me as one of their patients,” he said.
“I am from Abeokuta, and they are taking care of me there. I am not a thief; I help people around me without even looking at their background,” he added.
The police had arraigned nine of Portable’s associates before a Magistrate Court in Isabo, Abeokuta, for allegedly assaulting officers of the Ota Zonal Planning Office of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.
The defendants – Nurudeen Warris (21), Adetola Alashe (25), Samuel Adeleke (28), Oluwaseun Ayenuwa (19), Oluwapelumi Adeosun (20), Gospel Kanu (20), Precious Ohiegebo (19), Ifeoluwa Babatunde (27), and Fatimo Muhammed (26) – were charged with felony, assault, unlawful restriction, possession of weapons, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, has said there is no evidence that the United States Agency for International Development is funding Boko Haram or any terrorist group.
Mills stated after meeting with the Nigeria Governors Forum in Abuja late Wednesday night that no nation condemns Boko Haram’s violence more strongly than the US.
He assured all that if any evidence is found, the US government will work with the Nigerian government to investigate it.
Recall that on February 13, Congressman Scott Perry accused USAID of funding terrorist groups, including Boko Haram.
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Boko Haram is a terrorist group founded in 2002 by Mohammed Yusuf. The group’s objectives included promoting Sunni Islam and eliminating Shia Islam in Nigeria.
Over the years, thousands of Nigerians have lost their lives, billions of Naira worth of property has been destroyed, and many families have been displaced.
Perry, a Republican from Pennsylvania, made this statement during the first hearing of the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency.
The session, titled “The War on Waste: Stamping Out the Scourge of Improper Payments and Fraud,” focused on alleged misappropriations of taxpayer funds.
“Who gets some of that money? Does that name ring a bell to anybody in the room? Because your money, your money, $697 million annually, plus the shipments of cash funds in Madrasas, ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, ISIS Khorasan, terrorist training camps. That’s what it’s funding,” he said.
As a result, the Senate has called on the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, along with the heads of the National Intelligence Agency and the Defence Intelligence Agency, to address allegations of terrorist funding involving USAID.
In response to a question, the US Ambassador stated that the US has strict policies to prevent USAID or any other US assistance from being diverted to terrorist groups like Boko Haram.
He stated, “Let me be clear—there is no friend of Nigeria stronger in condemning Boko Haram’s violence and disregard for human life than the United States. We have designated Boko Haram as a foreign terrorist organisation since 2013, blocking the group from transferring assets to the US and allowing us to arrest and seize its members.
“We cooperate in investigations with the Nigerian government. I can assure you that we have strict policies and procedures to ensure that USAID funding or any other US assistance, whether from USAID, the Department of Defence, or the State Department, is not diverted to terrorist groups like Boko Haram.
“There is absolutely no evidence of such diversion, and if we ever had evidence that any programme funding was being misused by Boko Haram, we would immediately investigate it with our Nigerian partners.
“So, when it comes to Boko Haram, the United States stands with Nigeria in wanting to rid this country of the scourge that this organisation represents.”
He clarified that President Donald Trump’s administration did not cut assistance but implemented a 90-day pause to develop ways to make it more effective.
Mills explained, “No assistance has been cut yet, and no decisions have been made about the future of our assistance. In fact, US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has said that this is not about ending foreign assistance to our partners like Nigeria. It’s about making our assistance more effective and aligning it with US government policies and interests.
“That’s what this 90-day pause is for. However, there are waivers for life-saving assistance, such as support for HIV patients, maternal and child nutrition, and internally displaced people. So that continues. In 90 days, we will know where we stand.”
Regarding other issues discussed with the 36 state governors, the US Ambassador mentioned that he outlined the embassy’s vision for the future of the US-Nigerian relationship.
He stated, “I explained to them that we are going to focus on four key priorities in the coming years. The first is improving the business environment to increase trade and investment between the United States and Nigeria.
“Second, a renewed focus on improving transparency and accountability in Nigeria, fighting corruption, and empowering Nigerian voices advocating for more transparency.
“Third, we want to be more engaged at the subnational level, at the state level, and with local governing authorities. I believe the embassy needs to engage more in this area as we develop our programs and assistance.
“Lastly, we discussed our health care programmes, which are a large part of US assistance to Nigeria. As these programmes succeed—such as reducing HIV cases and eradicating polio—we want to ensure their sustainability and transition them to the Nigerian government at the federal and state levels.”
Mills stated that the aim is to ensure the sustainability of these health programmes and transfer them to the Nigerian government for effective management, helping to create a stronger healthcare future.
The Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 142 parcels of illicit drugs popularly known as Canadian Loud, imported into the country from Canada
The contraband with an estimated street value of N290million, was handed over to the seized drugs to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Speaking to Journalists, the Customs Area Controller, Compt. Effiong Harrison said the arrest was made on Tuesday, and the suspect’s travel documents revealed that he had arrived from Canada via Ethiopia.
The Customs boss emphasised the severe threat these hard drugs posed to Nigeria’s youth, economy and national security.
Compt. Harrison said, “We want to hand over 142 parcels of Canadian Loud, which is one of the illicit drugs that we do not want to enter our country.”
“We do not want these kinds of things to enter our society because they will affect our younger ones. They will impact negatively on our economy and also become a security risk,” he warned.
He further stressed the agency’s unwavering commitment to combating drug trafficking and issued a stern warning to those involved in such activities.
“We are very resolute. We are very determined that these things shall not pass here. Anything that is not in line with our laws is not acceptable here,” he declared.
Compt. Harrison, who further cautioned individuals against collaborating with drug traffickers, said the seized drugs, suspect, and travel documents were handed over to the NDLEA for further investigations and necessary legal action.
“We are watching thoroughly. We are watching to see. We are waiting to know where you are operating from. And we will not relent to ensure that we will come after you.”
Also speaking, the Commander of Narcotics and Head of Operations, NDLEA, MMIA, Muhammad-Muktar Ahmad, expressed gratitude to the Customs Comptroller and his team for the “marvellous seizure.”
“This is a typical display of synergy existing between agencies here at Murtala Muhammad International Airport.”
Tukur assured the Customs Service that the NDLEA would investigate and unravel each and every individual that is responsible for the import.
He acknowledged the ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking at the airport, stating, “We know it has been happening, and we have been unravelling syndicates responsible for drug trafficking at this airport. By the special grace of God, whatever the outcome is, you will be informed.”
Expressing his satisfaction with the seizure, Muhammad-Muktar said, “We are extremely happy. His whole aim has been defeated now. He aimed to bring it in and cause havoc in this country. Unfortunately, it has been intercepted right here.”
He issued a strong warning to travellers attempting to smuggle drugs through the airport. “It’s a clear message that this place is a no-go area. Whatever you plan to do negatively here will be intercepted. We have intercepted them before, and we will continue to do so. So, this place is a no-go area,” he stated
The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, has warned that Nigeria will not tolerate any disrespect from any country against its citizens.
The CDS also dismissed insinuations from some quarters that members of the armed forces were not invited to Vancouver, Canada, to participate in the Invictus Games initiated by the Duke of Sussex.
General Musa stressed that Nigeria deserves respect from the international community.
He maintained that some countries treat Nigerians unfairly.
He stated this at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja yesterday, shortly after he received wounded military personnel who had participated in the games.
Recall that the national security adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, tackled the Canada High Commission in Abuja last week for denying the military chief and other top officers visas to attend the programme.
Providing an insight into what transpired during the preparation for the programme, Musa said they followed all the due process and that all concerned government officials, including ministers and the NSA, were aware.
“The issue of visa denial must be tackled abroad. Nigeria is good enough for all of us. We had an agreement, we were invited, the programme was sent to us, we followed our requirements, and we followed the process.
“Everybody knows members of the Armed Forces; we will never take shortcuts. The minister of foreign affairs, the minister of state for foreign affairs, the NSA—everybody is aware of this journey, and we followed the process.
“But most team members were denied visas for reasons best known to them. You remember the team captain did not go. The medical doctor was not there. The physiotherapist did not go. All those that were important to the team were not given visas. The question is, why?
“Well, I’m happy the federal government is also looking at those aspects. I think it’s important for people to understand that we deserve respect as Nigerians all over the world. We must never accept disrespect from anybody because we are a good country.
“For our Indigenous guests participating, you have made Nigeria proud. Your courage and determination have left an indelible mark on the hearts of all who have witnessed your journey. You are a true embodiment of the indigenous spirit, unconquered, unbroken, and unstoppable.”
Speaking further, Musa explained that some of the military officers who have their legs and hands amputated or have other deformations won’t be abandoned as some people want them to be.
“As we celebrate the achievements of our team, let us also remember the sacrifices made by all of our ex-service members in line with their duties.
“Let us continue to honour the sacrifices provided to support the country by committing resources to ensure their well-being for their successful re-integration into civilian life.
“For me, as the chief of the defence staff, this is a clarion call that whatever it takes to raise the morale of our troops, we will do it, whatever the cost is, because we know, once the troops see what we are doing with those that are injured, they will want to do their best because they know if anything happens to them, they will want to do their best.
“I’ve had comments from individuals across, mostly from the views of ignorance in the aspect that, why are we taking troops out? And I wonder, if you see those ones that have sacrificed so much if you see those ones that have died if you see those ones that have amputated legs, hands, and somebody thinks it is not important or it is not good for us, to look after them.
“Those other countries that sent their own were not doing it just because they wanted to do it but because they knew the importance. So, sometimes when we go to school, we should read deeply and allow schools to pass through us.”