FEATURES
The Federal University Gusau (FUGUS) in Zamfara state says Bernard Odoh, former vice-chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Anambra, fraudulently obtained his professorship.
BACKGROUND
On Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu dissolved UNIZIK’s governing council and sacked the institution’s vice-chancellor and registrar.
Odoh was described as “unqualified” for the role of vice-chancellor of the university, in a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy.
“The sacking of the governing council and officials followed reports that the council illegally appointed an unqualified vice-chancellor without following due process,” the statement reads.
“After the controversial appointment, the Federal Government stepped in to address tensions between the university’s Senate and the governing council of the 33-year-old institution.
“The government expressed concern over the council’s apparent disregard for the university’s governing laws in its selection process.”
ODOH FIGHTS BACK
However, in an interview with Arise Television on Thursday, Odoh said the president erred by firing him.
He added that since his appointment as vice-chancellor was not made through a press release, he cannot be removed through one.
The embattled don said he was qualified for the position of vice-chancellor of UNIZIK ab initio. He added that his appointment followed due process.
Odoh said the case against his appointment is before a federal high court and industrial courts.
He added that Tinubu and Tunji Alausa, education minister, should have waited for the verdict of the courts before booting him out.
Odoh said by leaving the university without a vice-chancellor, governing council and registrar, Tinubu has fomented crisis in UNIZIK.
The embattled university don added that two of the assessors, and a registrar from FUGUS who deposed to an affidavit on his professorship, are still alive and can back his claims.
‘PRODUCTS OF ADMINISTRATIVE FRAUD’
In a statement on Thursday, Yakubu Anivbassa, FUGUS registrar, said the documents referenced by Odoh were “products of administrative fraud”.
The FUGUS management said Odoh “was never a staff member of the university” and his claims are “tissues of lies and misinformation”.
“The Federal University Gusau hereby states in clear and unambiguous terms that the so called letters of offer of tenure of appointment as Professor and confirmation of promotion to the post of Professor, dated 30th April 2015 and 12th November 2015, being paraded by Dr Bernard Odoh are null and void,” the statement reads.
“The documents being paraded by Dr. Odoh Bernard Ifeanyi and purported to be certified true copies hurriedly endorsed by Ibrahim Bawa Kaura, former Registrar of the Federal University, dated November 8, 2024, six solid years after the latter left the services of the Federal University Gusau, are products of administrative fraud orchestrated by Dr. Odoh.
“Dr Odoh working in cahoots with the former Vice Chancellor of the University and the Registrar, as there is no official record of Dr. Odoh’s employment in the custody of the University.
“Further proof of the desperation to perpetuate such illegality is the impersonation and usurpation of the duties of the current Registrar of the University by the former Registrar, Ibrahim Bawa Kaura, who procured a fake stamp to certify Dr. Odoh’s equally fake employment documents as true copies on November 8, 2024, six years after his disengagement from the university.
“Dr. Odoh Bernard Ifeanyi is not and has never been a tenure staff of the university, let alone being confirmed as a professor by the institution.
“Whatever claim to the contrary by Dr. Odoh is nothing but the antics of a drowning man who is hell-bent on using the good name of the Federal University Gusau, to give vent to his desperate ambition to become the Vice Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, through subterfuge.”
The registrar said certification of public documents is guided by the Evidence Act 2011, adding that requirements include payment of fees and a certified true copy.
Anivbassa added that the document must be sealed, dated and signed by the officer responsible for issuing the document with his name and title of his office.
“A careful perusal of the above requirements and their juxtaposition against the certification of Dr. Odoh’s documents by Ibrahim Bawa Kaura, clearly shows that the so called certified true copies fell short of the provisions of Section 104 of the Evidence Act, 2011 and are therefore, not legally tenable,” he said.
Anivbassa said Bawa, having left FUGUS as a registrar in 2018, has “no locus” to certify university documents.
“Therefore, the so-called certified true copies of Dr. Odoh’s documents relating to his alleged employment as endorsed by Ibrahim Bawa Kaura on November 8, 2024, are illegal, criminal, null and void and of no effect whatsoever,” the statement added.
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced that Nigerians will need to pay for the newly introduced multipurpose national identity cards due to limited government revenue.
Peter Iwegbu, head of card management services at NIMC, disclosed this during a two-day press conference in Lagos on Thursday.
He explained that the payment model aims to ensure that only those who genuinely need the cards will apply for them, avoiding the inefficiencies of past initiatives where physical cards were issued for free but largely uncollected.
Iwegbu emphasized that introducing a paid model would streamline production and distribution, ensuring better management of resources.
The new multipurpose ID cards are expected to serve various functions, including identification, financial transactions, and accessing government services.
Iwegbu said, “Before we stopped due to funding, we produced more than two million cards but a lot of them are still in our office, people were not able to pick them up because they didn’t need it.”
Aside from low collection, Iwegbu said the government could not fund the production of ID cards due to limited revenue.
“The government’s limited revenue is also a major factor in the decision to make Nigerians pay for the new ID card,” he added.
He said NIMC is also working with banks across the country, which will make it possible for people to walk into any bank closest to them and request the card.
Also speaking, Lanre Yusuf, director of information technology at NIMC, said the idea of a free national ID card did not turn out well in the past.
Yusuf described the new ID card as a post-paid identity card, which means that individuals must need the card before initiating a request for it.
The director said, “To get the new national ID card, Nigerians will need to make a payment, select a pickup location, and then collect their card from the chosen location.
“The government has implemented programmes to make the card accessible to the less privileged Nigerians who cannot afford it but require it to access government support.
“This initiative demonstrates the government’s commitment to inclusivity and equality.”
Yusuf also said the multipurpose ID cards are expected to launch soon, with sample test cards already received.
“The new national ID card is a multipurpose card that can serve the purpose of identity verification, payments, and even government services,” he said.
Notorious armed bandit leader Jiya Turji has reportedly received a ransom payment of ₦6 million from residents of Sardauna village in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
This was disclosed on Friday by counterterrorism and insurgency expert Zagazola Makama in a post on his X handle.
Makama revealed, citing intelligence sources, that the villagers paid the ransom to secure the release of five community members abducted by Turji’s gang during an earlier attack.
“The ransom negotiations were intense, with the bandits initially demanding a much higher sum before agreeing to settle for ₦6 million,” Makama said, quoting locals.
The five abductees were reportedly freed after the payment was made, though the incident has heightened fears among residents of Sabon Birni over recurring attacks by Turji’s gang.
“The victims, who have been in captivity for several weeks, were reportedly freed after the payment was made,” he added.
Local leaders have repeatedly called on security agencies to intensify efforts to curb banditry in the region, which has seen an alarming rise in kidnappings, extortion, and violent attacks.
As of press time, neither the Sokoto State Government nor security agencies have commented on the ransom payment. The incident underscores the ongoing challenges in combating insecurity in Northern Nigeria.
All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Jesutega Onokpasa, has called on President Bola Tinubu, to cancel the appointment of Daniel Bwala, a former campaign director to the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.
Recall that Daniel Bwala was recently appointed Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, was on Monday night redesignated as Special Adviser on Policy Communication.
In an interview on Arise TV, Onokpasa said some of Tinubu’s supporters have claimed that Bwala’s appointment was a strategy, but he thinks it is ‘stupidity’.
According to him, Bwala’s appointment hurts, noting that Tinubu’s failure to revoke the appointment will lead to his defeat in the 2027 presidential election.
He said, “The manner in which President Bola Tinubu stabbed his supporters in the back is absolutely ridiculous, meaningless and inexplicable appointment. I am a Tinubu supporter and not a sycophant; his apologists are calling his appointment of Bwala strategy, but I think it is stupidity.
“We won this election with the lowest margin since 1999. Every other president has won with more than 50 percent of the votes but we won with less than 40 percent. How do you call a president a drug dealer, Bwala is a lawyer. He had no evidence, he called Tinubu a drug baron. How do the president now appoint such a person? No everyone is interested in getting appointment.
“I am only bothered about the insults from Bwala. Tinubu seemed to take us for granted, he does not feed us, I have never gone to Tinubu’s house to seek for anything, there are do who do that not everyone. I just like the President like he is a family member, that is why, it really hurt me, he thinks he can behave anyhow, just stab us in the back, I don’t trust him anymore.
Bwala helped Atiku Abubakar to fail in 2023 and he would help Tinubu to fail in 2027. The President has the right to hire who he wants, and we have the right to rire a President. Tinubu has to rescind his appointment of Daniel Bwala. He has to respect us in the APC. “
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has directed electricity distribution companies to immediately downgrade customers in the Band A category if they fail to provide the promised 20 hours of electricity supply.
The Commissioner of Licensing and Legal for NERC, Dafe Apkeneye, stated this on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Friday.
He said, “If the Discos cannot meet the promised 20 hours to Band A customers, the customers are to immediately be downgraded to the level for which the discos can meet supplies.
“With regards to the migration order, it is not elective to the instance of the customer. The disco needs to make an application and ensure that they can supply power to customers in Band A.
“If Discos can’t supply such customers, the discos have to downgrade such customers to meet what they can provide.
“The distribution can distribute what is only available on the grid. So when there is no supply to the grid, the Discos can’t meet those supply commitments.
“But the grid has been resolved, and we hope supply can improve, and when they can’t, the Discos have to downgrade such customers.”
With regards to NERC transferring regulatory oversight to states, Apkeneye said states have been empowered by the constitution to generate, transmit, and distribute power.
“States can now establish electricity markets and regulate them by the Nigerian constitution. States now have powers for electricity generation, transmission, and distribution within the states without restrictions.
“We should bear in mind that Nigeria is a country of laws. The Nigerian law states that the states have the power to establish and regulate electricity markets. The states also now have exclusive powers over distribution as seen in the concurrent list.
“With the states having such powers, it is of the states to exercise. Every Nigerian comes from a state. The states have the capacity, and as we speak, the team from Oyo State has issued us a notice, and they are currently spending a week in the commission, understudying what we do. Before coming to the commission, they have been to Ghana. They have also had an intensive 11-week training session with an international regulatory body. So the states are going to build capacity, learn and grow,” he said.
On customers seeking redress on complaints, NERC said the commission has a customer protection regulation which we consolidated and codified last year, to protect customers.
“Before a customer can have their complaints addressed by NERC, they first have to lodge a complaint at the Discos. If the Disco doesn’t respond at a specific time, you can now approach a small mediatory group called the consumer forum of NERC for redress.
“The complaint process has gone on well. We have seen situations where complaints don’t get resolved by the discos and get escalated to NERC and they get resolved. We always ensure that customers get a fair resolution.
“Where a customer has been overbilled, they get fair redress. But when customers bypass meters, we also make sure the case gets addressed appropriately,” he said.
Former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Kingsley Moghalu, has stated that he is hopeful about Nigeria despite sustained contemporary difficulties.
He however, insisted that hope is not a strategy to combat economic hardship in the country
Moghalu insisted that the country must improve state capacity for effective governance.
According to him, Nigerians have to learn to be honest with themselves and address the root causes of their problems.
He warned that if not addressed, when the situation worsens those who thought they were benefitting would eventually realise that they are also losers.
Speaking via a post on his X handle on Friday, he said, “Despite sustained contemporary difficulties, I am hopeful about Nigeria.
“But hope is not a strategy. We need to improve state capacity for effective governance . We either fix our problems, or our problems will eventually ‘fix’ us. No alternative to a renegotiated union.
“We must learn to be honest with ourselves and address the root causes of our problems. Why ignore them, when the problem is actually quite solvable?
“The problem with continuing with this approach is that when the danger crystallizes, those who thought they were benefiting from the status quo will find that we ALL – they included- will be losers.”
Will Fubara Behave Like Slave Because You Helped Him Become Governor? – Bode George Queries Wike
AFOLABI
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, has appealed to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, to end his loggerheads with the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
Naija News reports that Bode George, while addressing journalists at a news conference in Lagos on Thursday to mark his 79th birthday, slammed members and leaders of the party for refusing to call Wike to order.
According to him, Wike cannot be in Abuja and control Rivers State, stressing that Fubara will not become a ‘slave’ because the Minister contributed to his emergence as state governor.
George also questioned the leadership of the party on why Wike had not been sanctioned for instigating crisis in PDP, adding that nobody is bigger than the political party or should be allowed to hold the party to ransom.
He said, “May I ask those at the helm of affairs of our party today, what exactly is the offense of Governor Fubara of Rivers State?
“What exactly is going on that party members don’t feel bothered about the happenings in the state. Governor Wike helped Fubara to become the number one citizen of the oil-bearing state.
“The governor himself acknowledged this on many occasions. Will the governor now behave like a slave? Why are some party members encouraging his predecessor to bring down the state?
“He lives in Abuja and wants to control what goes on in Rivers State…. did the governors before him behave this way? This cannot continue like this. Why can’t we learn from our past mistakes?
“Why can’t we tell all this trouble makers to go and sit down if we want this party to move forward. The other day, Wike boasted openly, threatening Governors saying ‘I’ll put fire in your states’ but the APC Government he’s working for refused to sanction him.
“Why can’t PDP sanction him? … instead of instigating crisis in our party, why are they not courageous enough to defect to the APC? If they fear God at all. Nobody is big enough to hold the party to ransom. My advice to Wike is very simple: you are my son, a political son.
“I am appealing to him to cool off immediately. I know he was injured by friends during the last PDP Presidential contest. Take it easy. Nobody is bigger than any party. Forget what happened in the past. Let us work together for the interest of our political party.”
VIDEO: ‘It Is Not Cool Back Home’ – Davido Warns Black Americans Against Relocating To Africa
AFOLABI
Nigerian Afrobeats superstar, David Adeleke, better known as Davido, has warned black Americans about the growing interest in relocating to Africa.
Naija News reports that Davido, during an interview on ‘The Big Homies House’ podcast, expressed scepticism about the trend, citing the current challenges facing the continent, particularly in his home country, Nigeria.
Responding to the show host’s question about black Americans seeking to return to the motherland, Davido responded, “Leave America and go where?”
He stressed the economic difficulties and systemic issues affecting African countries.
Speaking further from experience as someone raised in Nigeria after being born in Atlanta, Georgia, the singer added, “It’s not cool back home…The economy now is in shambles.”
Watch the video below:
Media
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has reignited conversations around the urgent need for electoral reform in Nigeria, calling for a complete restructuring of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Speaking via a recorded address at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum held at Yale University, Obasanjo urged the dismissal of INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu and other officials, emphasizing the necessity of vetting and appointing credible individuals to rebuild trust in Nigeria’s electoral process.
Obasanjo criticized INEC’s performance in the 2023 general elections, accusing the commission of failing to implement key technologies such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Election Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
He argued that this failure was not due to technical glitches but deliberate inaction, which led to widespread irregularities.
“These technologies were touted by the INEC chairman himself. In the end, these technologies did not fail.
“INEC wilfully failed to use or implement them which resulted in widespread voting irregularities. It was a case of inviting the fox into the hen house,” Obasanjo stated.
The former President stressed the need for short tenures for INEC officials to prevent corruption and undue political influence, adding that credible leadership at all levels—federal, state, and local—was critical to restoring electoral integrity.
“As a matter of urgency, we must make sure the INEC chairperson and his or her staff are thoroughly vetted. The vetting exercise should yield dispassionate, non-partisan, actors with impeccable reputations.
“Nigeria must ensure the appointment of new credible INEC leadership at the federal, state, local government and municipal – city, town, and village levels – with short tenures – to prevent undesirable political influence and corruption, and re-establish trust in the electoral systems by its citizens.
“The INEC chairperson must not only be absolutely above board, he must also be transparently independent and incorruptible,” Obasanjo stated.
The Presidency, however, dismissed Obasanjo’s remarks as hypocritical.
Earlier on Monday, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Public Communication and Orientation, Sunday Dare, described Obasanjo as a man with “a tremendous capacity for mischief.”
Similarly, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Tinubu, accused Obasanjo of presiding over some of Nigeria’s most fraudulent elections during his tenure.
Onanuga described the ex-president’s call for INEC leadership overhaul as ironic, given his administration’s controversial electoral history.
“After wasting billions of naira on a failed third-term project in 2007, Chief Obasanjo hurriedly organised a sham electoral process that would go down in history as the most fraudulent election held in Nigeria since 1960.
“The beneficiary of the sham election, Umaru Yar’adua, admitted that the election was seriously flawed and, as Justice Muhammed Uwais’s panel recommended, worked towards electoral reforms.
“It is hypocrisy writ large when a man who presided over the worst election in Nigeria demands the sack of the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission,” Onanuga wrote.
This renewed debate comes amid lingering dissatisfaction with the 2023 elections and off-cycle gubernatorial polls in states like Kogi, Imo, and Edo.
The alleged non-compliance with the 2022 Electoral Act by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) formed a key argument in the legal challenges filed by Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) against the declaration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the winner of the February 25 presidential election.
Despite losing at both the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) and the Supreme Court, Atiku and Obi insisted that INEC failed to adhere to the provisions of the electoral law and its own regulations during the election.
They argued that the commission violated its guidelines by failing to deploy required technological tools for voter accreditation and result verification.
The Supreme Court acknowledged these concerns, noting that the malfunction of INEC’s Result Viewing (IReV) portal undermines public confidence in the electoral process.
Justice John Okoro, delivering the lead judgment in Atiku’s appeal, remarked, “Truth must be told, the non-functioning of the IReV may also reduce the confidence of the voting public in the electoral process.”
Adding to the discourse, Sam Amadi, Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts, highlighted the need for sweeping electoral reforms.
He criticised the “gross flaws” and “manipulations” observed during the Edo State governorship election, which he said were enough to warrant a complete overhaul of the electoral system.
Amadi also suggested on X.com that anyone aspiring for the presidency in 2027 must prioritise disbanding INEC.
“Anyone thinking of being the President of Nigeria in 2027 and not thinking of disbanding this @inecnigeria is not serious,” he posted on X.
At a recent press briefing in Abuja, Amadi expressed doubts about INEC’s ability to deliver credible elections in the future, citing inconsistencies between results declared by the commission and those uploaded on the IReV platform during the Edo polls.
He called for greater transparency and accountability in result collation and certification processes, stressing that INEC’s performance in Edo had failed to inspire trust ahead of subsequent elections.
“There were allegations that election results were manipulated.
“The INEC leadership has assured that they will avoid the mistakes of Edo.
“There is no reason to trust that they would act honestly to uphold electoral integrity in Ondo.
“The second issue is the procedure of result collation in Edo. We have read reports of forensic reviews of observer groups. We see clearly that the result declared by INEC differs materially from the results uploaded in the IREV.
“This inconsistency is damaging to the integrity of the elections. Furthermore, INEC is issuing certified copies of results that are different from what it has uploaded on the IREV.
“This is alarming. It does not assure us of the integrity of future elections,” he said.
Similarly, Nduka Odo, a Public Affairs Analyst from Peaceland University, Enugu, criticised INEC’s lack of accountability and failure to ensure free and fair elections.
Speaking to DAILY POST, Odo described the commission’s excuses regarding infrastructure challenges as “unconvincing” and called for immediate reforms to restore integrity in the electoral process.
He echoed former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s concerns about INEC’s integrity, particularly in its handling of electronic result transmission.
Odo said, “INEC’s integrity is once again under fire, and I’m fed up with their constant failures.
“Like former President Obasanjo’s criticism, I agree that INEC’s lack of integrity, especially in electronic transmission of results, is alarming.
“The recent governorship election in Edo State was a critical test for INEC, and from what I’ve seen, they’ve failed miserably.
“Their inability to ensure transparency and fairness in the electoral process is appalling. The manipulation of results and lack of accountability among INEC officials are serious concerns that need to be addressed.
“The fact that some parties didn’t even submit polling and collation agents, yet they’re participating in the election, is a joke.
“The electronic transmission of results is not rocket science, but INEC has made it seem like an insurmountable task.
“Their excuses about national infrastructure and readiness are tired and unconvincing. It’s time for INEC to take responsibility for their failures and ensure that future elections are credible and transparent.
“INEC must get its act together: No more excuses, no more failures. INEC needs to demonstrate its commitment to free and fair elections.
“Accountability is key: INEC officials involved in electoral malpractices must be held accountable. Transparency is essential: Electronic transmission of results must be implemented effectively to prevent manipulation.
“It’s time for INEC to redeem its integrity and ensure that the people’s votes count. Anything less is unacceptable.”
On his part, Onyebuchi Igboke, Project Manager of Advocacy Partnership for Good Governance, advocated for a reform of Nigeria’s electoral system, starting with the removal of the president’s power to appoint the INEC chairman.
According to Igboke, INEC should be led by individuals with unquestionable integrity, a standard he claimed was not met by the current chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who failed to deliver on promises of real-time electronic result transmission during the 2023 elections.
Igboke further argued that elections are crucial for selecting leaders who manage resources and solve societal problems, stressing the need for a transparent and accountable process. He called for significant reforms to ensure future elections truly reflect the will of the people.
He said: “INEC as an institution should be manned only by persons who have integrity. From what was observed from the last election, the INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu dashed the hope of Nigerians, especially young Nigerians.
“He made a promise severally before the 2023 presidential election to transmit results electronically, not just the transmission of results but in real time.
“However, everyone was disappointed how the results for the presidential election weren’t transmitted as he promised.
“I totally agree with what the former President Olusegun Obasanjo said about the institution lacking in integrity. In a sane clime, the INEC chairman should have resigned after the event of the 2022 general election.
“In the recent off-cycle elections in Kogi, Imo, Ondo, and Edo states, we saw what happened. Is that what we wish to have as an election?
“Election is a serious business because it gives people the opportunity to recruit individuals who will manage their resources, lead them into prosperity, and solve their problems.
“Electioneering in Nigeria should be reformed. This should begin by removing the power of the President to even appoint the INEC chairman.”
President-elect Donald Trump has tapped former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as his choice for U.S. attorney general following Matt Gaetz’s withdrawal of his nomination.
Trump announced late Thursday that he would nominate Bondi to become the nation’s top law-enforcement officer, citing her work as a prosecutor.
“Pam was a prosecutor for nearly 20 years, where she was very tough on Violent Criminals, and made the streets safe for Florida Families,” he said in a statement. “Then, as Florida’s first female Attorney General, she worked to stop the trafficking of deadly drugs, and reduce the tragedy of Fentanyl Overdose Deaths, which have destroyed many families across our Country.”
Bondi is likely to have an easier time winning Senate confirmation than Gaetz, who faced opposition from some Senate Republicans.
Bondi, 59, is a Trump ally who served as one of his defense attorneys during his first impeachment trial, when he was accused of abusing his power by withholding military aid from Ukraine to pressure Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky to announce an investigation into a political rival, then-former Vice President Joe Biden. The Senate acquitted Trump of the charges.
Bondi also served on Trump's Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission during his first term and acted as a campaign surrogate during this year's presidential contest. She was among a group of Republicans who attended Trump's hush-money trial in New York earlier this year to show their support for him.
Bondi was Florida's attorney general for eight years, from 2011 to 2019. She was the first woman elected to the position.
The Justice Department has more than 100,000 workers covering a broad range of interests. The department prosecutes federal criminal laws through U.S attorneys offices and through its main headquarters, and brings civil lawsuits to enforce civil rights and antitrust laws. The department oversees agencies such as the FBI; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Marshals Service and the Bureau of Prisons.
"For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans - Not anymore," Trump said in his statement. "Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again. I have known Pam for many years — She is smart and tough, and is an AMERICA FIRST Fighter, who will do a terrific job as Attorney General!"
Bondi is Trump's second choice for attorney general and the second Floridian has has tapped for the job.
Earlier Thursday, Gaetz, a former Florida congressman, withdrew his nomination amid continuing allegations of sexual misconduct.
The DOJ – which Gaetz would have led if he became attorney general – investigated allegations that he committed statutory rape by paying for sex with a 17-year-old girl and for her to travel with him across state lines. That probe was dropped without charges.
But the House Ethics Committee, a bipartisan panel equally divided between Democrats and Republicans, was also investigating those and other allegations and had planned to vote on whether to release a report on their findings just two days after Gaetz abruptly resigned his House seat last week.
Did Matt Gaetz resign from Congress?What to know after he backs out of Trump's AG role
A lawyer for two witnesses said his clients testified before the Ethics Committee about the allegations. One said she saw Gaetz allegedly under the influence of drugs and sexually abusing the 17-year-old, though she said she did not think Gaetz knew the girl's age.
Gaetz has denied the allegations. But he said he decided to withdraw his nomination because it had become a distraction for Trump's transition team.
[usatoday]
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Bitcoin has been setting new records regularly as investors hope that Trump will bring about a golden age of cryptocurrency, complete with more pro-business regulations and a possible national strategic bitcoin reserve or stockpile.
A surge in funding rates and open interest on the futures market precipitated this most recent action, putting the pioneer crypto asset within the $100K level on Friday.
The Bullish Debate
Social media speculation has exploded as Santiment data revealed that Bitcoin is poised to reach a six-figure market value for the first time in history, currently standing at a new all-time high of $99K.
Together, X, Reddit, Telegram, 4Chan, and BitcoinTalk are bringing up the $100K BTC price level at the fastest rate ever (naturally).
- However, this might be fueled by traders’ lack of confidence in this rally, as evidenced by unusually high mentions of lower price levels. Thank your fellow bears and non-believers for continuing this historic run, as the cryptocurrency markets move against the expectations of the majority.
- Data from CryptoQuant indicates that premiums in spot markets decreased around the same period. A surge of short liquidations, totaling over $120 million in a single day at one point, was also sparked by Bitcoin’s recent increases, which caused the price to rise overnight, according to CoinGlass.
- A few years ago, the $100K symbolic threshold might have seemed unattainable, but markets are now certain that it will happen soon because of its architecture’s features (a maximum of 21 million units and lack of a central authority to regulate it) and the appeal it has strengthened among traditional financial institutions like BlackRock and Goldman Sachs.
- U.S. President-elect Trump made a remarkable comeback during the campaign, despite being categorized as “anti-crypto,” primarily because he was aware of the growing number of users and their voting rights. Additionally, the U.S. cryptocurrency market contributed the most to his campaign funding.
The campaign cost cryptocurrency companies like Coinbase more than $130 million. Trump’s term also suggests higher budget deficits, possibly higher inflation, and adjustments to the dollar’s global role—all of which would boost the price of Bitcoin.
The Bearish Argument
Bitcoin reaching $100,000 in the next few minutes appears more like a short-term end-of-rally goal than a turning point that would instantly push the asset to a much higher level. Although it is impossible to predict with certainty whether the digital asset will remain above the $100,000 mark for an extended period, we can assume that a correction towards the $75,000/$80,000 range would then be reasonable, especially in a market environment where the dollar has strengthened (+7 percent for the Dollar Index since the beginning of October), and headline interest rates have experienced a powerful rise (more than 90 basis points in two months).
- Rates and the dollar are recovering at a time when investors are unsure of how quickly the Fed will cut rates following Donald Trump’s election, and when the most recent price indices released in the U.S. demonstrate resilience, including the PPI (producer price index) and the CPI (consumer price index), not to mention the surprising increase in import prices last month. Jerome Powell’s most recent remarks affirmed that the Fed is not in a rush to cut interest rates.
- Several campaign pledges are anticipated to be fulfilled following his election, including establishing a national bitcoin reserve, providing a regulatory environment that is advantageous to businesses operating in the space, and appointing a pro-crypto individual to lead the SEC (the U.S. financial regulator). According to press rumors, the White House is considering hiring a crypto specialist. All of this helps the industry as a whole flourish.
- The cryptocurrency market has demonstrated its sensitivity to U.S. monetary policy, especially in 2022. Therefore, it is reasonable to ask whether Bitcoin will correct at this time. Technically speaking, this might occur if the old oblique makes contact again during the April and October 2021 peaks.
A price correction in that direction is likely in play. A stronger “pullback” might also push prices back toward the previous high of roughly $74,000 in March 2024. However, historical data has shown that Bitcoin is popularly known for disappointing skeptics and maintaining its bullish momentum.
[Nairametrics]
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Thursday has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by Kapuepue, the younger brother of Tony Adun ( aka Tony Kabaka), of allegedly invading the (PDP), secretariat destroying and carting away properties worth millions of naira.
The party alleged that the thugs also destroyed doors, windows, and office equipment at the party’s Secretariat.
Reacting to the incident, the Publicity Secretary of the Edo PDP Caretaker Committee, Chris Osa Nehikhare, condemned the attack in the strongest terms, describing it as a desperate and reckless attempt by the APC to intimidate the PDP and frustrate the party’s efforts at reclaiming its mandate stolen at the September 21 governorship election.
He said, “It is pretty disappointing and unfortunate that the APC mobilised thugs to attack our party Secretariat on Thursday in their desperation to frustrate and halt efforts by our great party to reclaim the mandate duly given to it by the Edo people at the September 21 governorship election.
“The thugs led by Kapuepue, the younger brother of Tony Adun (aka Tony Kabaka), invaded the Secretariat, destroying and carting away properties worth millions of naira.
“If the APC are confident that they won the election free and square and have nothing to hide, why are they jittery and mobilising thugs to attack the PDP Secretariat.”
Nehikhare further noted, “This is barbaric and condemnable, and we urge relevant security agencies to investigate the attack thoroughly and ensure that the perpetrators of this dastardly act are brought to book.
“The PDP remains resolute and will not be intimidated or deterred in its pursuit for justice and the restoration of our mandate.”
He charged, “We are calling on our party members and supporters to remain calm and resolute in the face of the provocations as we explore every legal channel to reclaim our mandate.
But responding, the APC’s Publicity Secretary, Peter Uwadiae-Igbinigie, described the allegation as baseless and urged the PDP to settle its internal crisis, warning them not to drag the APC into their messy affair.
He said it was absurd to label those who allegedly attacked the PDP office as APC thugs, wondering if the thugs wore APC uniforms or had APC paraphernalia on them.
He noted that the APC government in the state had already embarked on projects the PDP government had failed to carry out, adding that his party was still basking in the euphoria of its victory and putting the state in the right direction.
He said, “How can the PDP say that the thugs that attacked their party secretariat are that of APC? Did the people have anything on them to show that they are APC members? The allegation is baseless, and there is no proof.
“The allegation is weighty and criminal, so the PDP should be sure they have proof before making it. We will urge the PDP to sort out its internal problem and not drag the APC into it.
[Leadership]
The Jigawa State Hisbah Board says importation, sale and consumption of alcohol remain prohibited in the state.
Commandant of the board, Ibrahim Dahiru disclosed this on Thursday while responding to questions from newsmen.
He said the move was part of the state government’s commitment to reform the board and reduce social vices in the state.
Ibrahim explained that in continuation of its operations, the command seized 78 cartons of assorted alcoholic drinks in Kazaure Local Government Area.
He said the alcohol was seized at three beer parlours during an early morning raid in the area.
The commander said no arrest was made during the operation, as suspected owners fled before the arrival of the Hisbah personnel.
He noted that the command would continue to enforce the order and arrest violators.
Ibrahim said the confiscated items would soon be taken to court.
[DailyPost]
A former Nigeria’s Permanent Representatives to the United Nations (UN), Prof. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, yesterday said he never wanted to be a diplomat but a teacher.
Even after becoming one of Nigeria’s most celebrated diplomats, Gambari said he prefers to be called a teacher by training and diplomat by accident.
This, he said, reflected his childhood and educational background.
The former Chief of Staff to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari said this in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, at the launch of a book titled: Readings in Diplomacy, Democracy, Peace, and Development.
The event, which was organised in his honour by the Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows Alumni Association Nigeria (COSFAN), coincided with his 80th birthday anniversary.
Gambari said: “’They plan, I plan, but God is the best planner,’ says the Holy Qur’an. Up till now, I still tell people to refer to me as teacher by training and diplomat by accident because I did not want to be a diplomat. But look at what the Almighty Allah has done to compel me from a person who went to a primary school in Bode Saadu and Malete in the now Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State to become one-time President of United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
“I served my country as the longest-serving ambassador at the United Nations (UN). That was not also a happy period because I was constant in Nigeria’s standing in the world when we had so many issues at home. I had five Presidents during my period as ambassador: Ibrahim Babangida, Chief Ernest Shonekan, Sani Abacha, Abdulsalami Abubakar and, briefly, under President Olusegun Obasanjo.
“Now, if somebody who started in a village primary school in Bode Saadu and another senior village primary school in Malete, then to Ilorin Provincial Secondary School, now Government Secondary School (GSS), Ilorin; then really, the sky is the limit for everyone, with God’s guidance and protection.
“How could I have imagined that the primary school I attended in Malete could then become a location of the first Kwara State-owned university, and I was made the first pioneer Chancellor of the university?
“I thank God. We’re all in the hands of the Almighty God. His will shall be done. We only need to do our best and leave the rest in the hands of the Almighty.
“Charity begins at home. That’s why I have not been far from home and never been far from my own people. I look forward to spend the rest of my life in the service of, first, my people, the state, the nation, Africa and the rest of the world.
“That’s the essence of the concentric cycle of the foreign policy which I have always advocated. The centre must be the state; the next, our neighbour, our region (ECOWAS), Africa and the rest of the world. Now, foreign policy shifts from administration to administration, but in essence, it must be pursued in those frameworks and context.
“Foreign policy is the definition of the interests of your country and the projection of those interests so that in the process, you will say what you want as a nation in the world and how you conduct yourself in such a way to attain them in the interest of your country.”
Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, who was represented by Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi, said the state was proud that the mention of Prof. Gambari always commanded respect and honour across all spectrums “owing to his contributions to scholarship, international diplomacy and world peace, as well as national unity and development at various times”.
The governor enjoined fellow Nigerians, especially, to read the book, saying: “Our world evolves and grapples with emerging challenges of the new media and unfettered freedom, the rise of non-state actors with differing perspectives on the concept of diplomacy, democracy, peace and development, and the shifting nature of the international system and power dynamics.
“While many of these issues may defy textbook prescriptions, I believe firmly that scholarly research and insights on such topics are always useful in our search for practical and sustainable solutions.”
The book reviewer and a former Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (2018-2019), Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, noted that insecurity in Nigeria and especially in the North, was caused by poverty, ignorance, mining activities and weak traditional laws.
He urged the government to improve efforts at addressing the causes of insecurity to restore peace and development in the country.
The Chairperson of the Local Organising Committee, Dr. Abiola Adimula, described the occasion as a celebration of excellence, service and leadership.
She lauded Prof. Gambari as a “distinguished academic, resourceful professional, astute technocrat, and world diplomat” whose contributions to international diplomacy, democratic development and global peace remain indelible.
[TheNation]