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The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has denied claims that over 600 Nigerian pilgrims remained in Saudi Arabia after performing lesser Hajj in the country.
Former Kaduna Central senator, Shehu Sani, in a tweet on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, on Saturday, made the claim, raising concerns about the Saudi authorities tightening visa rules.
“Over 600 Nigerians who travelled to Saudia for lesser Hajj refused to return and this will compel the Saudi authorities to tighten their visa rules. Many of those who want to travel will likely be tossed,” Sani wrote.
However, NAHCON’s Deputy Director of Public Affairs, Fatima Usara, denied the claims, noting that neither the Saudi or Nigerian authorities had a record of such persons.
“We do not have such correspondence or information from Saudi Arabia, neither did we receive such information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Immigration Services of both countries,” she told our correspondent.
Senator Sani’s claim comes days after President Bola Tinubu sacked the former Chairman of the Hajj commission, Jalal Arabi, over alleged mismanagement and diversion of N90bn Hajj subsidy funds provided by the government.
The PUNCH reports that 51,477 pilgrims from Nigeria attended the recently concluded Hajj exercise in Jeddah and Mina, after paying a total of N6.9m to perform the religious exercise.
While the inaugural flight for the 2024 Hajj exercise departed the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport in Kebbi with 422 pilgrims on May 15, 2024, the final return flight landed in Ilorin Kwara State, with 286 pilgrims on July 16, 2024.
Senator Sani’s claim would imply that all 600 pilgrims have remained in Saudi Arabia for about six weeks since the end of the pilgrimage exercise.
Meanwhile, a former Grand Kadi in the the Kwara State Sharia Court of Appeal, Justice Abdullahi Haroon (retd.), has urged the Federal Government to ensure a thorough probe of the N90bn Hajj subsidy mismanagement.
The retired jurist said as a guest of the King of Saudi Arabia during the just concluded Hajj rites, some pilgrims confided in him that they were paid $200 instead of $500 as a travelling allowance.
He said, “This matter is yet to be decided, but I want it to be thoroughly investigated and whoever is found to be part of this act of dishonesty that caused suffering to our pilgrims should not be spared.
“I was in Makkah during the last pilgrimage as a guest of King Salman of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and some pilgrims confessed to me that many of them were only given $200 instead of $500 and when they got to Saudi, they were only given the equivalent of $200 in Riyal. That was how they took money from pilgrims.
“In fact, it is embarrassing that people who travelled to serve God will be the ones to violate God’s law. You must be just and transparent,” he said.
The Enugu State Government, on Sunday, announced the commencement of the payment of local government retirees’ pensions.
A statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said over 7,000 eligible pensioners had received their payments following a thorough biometric verification process.
Onyia said the verification exercise, conducted by the Local Government Pensioners Biometric Verification Committee, had identified and eliminated 2,640 ghost and deceased pensioners who were still receiving payments.
The move was part of the administration’s efforts to clear outstanding pensions and gratuities inherited from previous governments, ensuring that legitimate retirees receive their deserved benefits, the statement indicated.
“Recall that Governor Peter Mbah had earlier promised that his administration was poised to eradicate poverty in the state by clearing inherited backlog of pensions and other liabilities, and also keep up with its current fiscal responsibility to the citizens, among other measures. This will improve our people’s standard of living, raise purchasing power and promote strong and sustainable economic growth in the state,” the SSG said.
He added that a total of 7109 local government pensioners received monthly payments of close to half a billion naira in July, including 989 newly captured entrants who retired between April 2022 and April 2024 but were not accommodated in the pension scheme.
The SSG, who frowned on the level of fraud in the pensions system, said the record provided by the Local Government Pensions Board indicated that the state had been paying over 8,760 local government retirees as of April 2024 against the 7109 verified pensioners.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to clearing all pension arrears, Onyia stressed that the payment mode adopted by the state would guarantee that backlogs were phased out within the timeline set out by the government.
“This administration will continue to support our citizens, particularly our senior citizens who dedicated their time and energy to serving the state. We will soon phase out all arrears inherited by the administration.
“We are reforming the pensions system through strong institutional policies that would make it difficult for corrupt elements to find their way into the scheme. We have been able to digitalise the institution with measures that would make every transaction and payment transparent, accountable and traceable,” he added.
The Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has stressed the urgent need for Nigeria to move beyond political infighting and inconsistent policies that have hindered the country’s development since independence.
She asserted that collective efforts, rather than a blame game, were needed to move the nation forward.
Okonjo-Iweala spoke on Sunday at the Nigerian Bar Association Annual Conference held at Eko Hotel, in Lagos, where she delivered a keynote address titled “A new social contract for Nigeria’s future” .
“Nigeria today is not where it should be, and our country has not progressed as it should have.
That is why, more than 60 years after independence, we are still discussing nation-building. But we must shift our focus from blame games to concrete actions that tackle present and emerging challenges.”
While saying that Nigerians were not alone in economic hardship, she said, “It’s not in recrimination or even in futile regret, but rather as part of moving our country and advancing its interests. We are living in very difficult times, locally here in Nigeria, but also globally.
“I’m not here to castigate or blame anyone, I’m here to speak to all governments of my country, all political parties, all Nigerians, about a positive way forward for the country,” she said.
Drawing comparisons between Nigeria and other countries, Okonjo-Iweala highlighted how nations like South Korea, Peru, and India had outpaced Nigeria in economic growth and development despite having similar starting points decades ago.
She pointed to South Korea’s rapid industrialisation and Peru’s economic resilience as examples of what Nigeria could achieve with consistent and sound policies.
“Back in the 1960s, Nigeria’s per capita income was comparable to that of South Korea but today, South Korea’s per capita GDP is 20 times higher than ours.”
This stark contrast shows that while other nations have taken bold steps to diversify and grow their economies, we have been left behind,” she said.
Okonjo-Iweala further stated that Nigeria’s inability to sustain growth was largely due to a lack of policy consistency and political will.
“If we look back to the early years of independence, it’s clear Nigeria had what it takes to succeed, and yet we’ve fallen behind countries that were on par with us back then.
“I want to remind people that in the first half of the 1960s, our per capita income in 1960 dollars was roughly equal to that of South Korea, in the neighborhood of 100 to 120 dollars per capita, according to World Bank data. But then South Korea’s growth took off, as it went from exporting primary products like tungsten oil and dried seaweed to manufactured goods.
“Back then it was textiles and footwear, compared to today’s integrated circuits, electronics, ships and autos, not to mention services exports, such as gaming, entertainment, etc., where South Korea is also strong.
“Meanwhile, Nigeria’s export basket went in the opposite direction and became less diversified. In the early 1960s, mining exports made up half of our exports, and food and animal or vegetable oils together about a third, with manufacturers accounting for five to seven percent.
“But since 1974, oil has dominated, often accounting for 97 to 100 per cent of Nigerian exports, with its share rarely dipping below 90 per cent.
“The good news is that our economy itself is quite diversified, and with the capacity to do much more in terms of agricultural exports, critical minerals, services such as entertainment, etc., and I want to commend ongoing efforts by this government to diversify the exports of our country.
“Last year, Nigeria’s per capita GDP was 1,620 US dollars, while South Korea’s was 33,000,” she said.
Okonjo-Iweala, further stated that Korea’s growth miracle was exceptional and world-beating, but even more modest performers had outpaced Nigeria.
“Thailand’s per capita GDP was comparable to Nigeria’s in the early 1970s and is now $7,200. Peru, a country I will come back to, was about even with Nigeria in the early 1980s, but now has a per capita GDP of nearly $7,800.
“Even India, which into the 1990s and 2000s had a per capita GDP well below Nigeria’s, recently surpassed us on that mark and is now $2,484.
“India is now the third largest economy in the world, one of the fastest-growing and modernising economies.
“I cite all these numbers not because GDP is a perfect measure, but because, as Daniel Susskind, a scholar on economic growth at King’s College London, recently put it, and I quote, GDP is correlated with almost every measure of human flourishing.”
She criticized the “not-made-in-my-administration syndrome,” where successive governments fail to build on the successes of their predecessors, leading to economic stagnation.
“To minimise the volatility of economic and social policy and to set our country on a steady growth and development path, Nigeria needs a social contract.
“By this, I mean a fundamental agreement across political parties and society that certain policies and principles are sacrosanct and must not be altered with each change in administration,” she explained.
In his remarks, President Bola Tinubu, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, reiterated that his administration was working to address the numerous social and economic challenges facing the country.
Tinubu said he was “providing clarity and eliminating the opaqueness that fostered corruption.”
He added, “While I acknowledge the temporal existence of some daunting challenges besetting us as a nation, I want to assure you that this government is poised to address all the developmental challenges facing this country and rest assured that in the fullness of time, this nation shall overcome.
“I want to assure you that this government will continue to uphold top priority to the welfare of the judiciary, to ease avoidable burden on their lordships, and speed up the adjudicatory process which is a sine qua non for social order and economic development.”
Big Brother Naija ‘No Loose Guard’ pair, Zion and Chinwe, has been evicted from the reality show.
Team Zinwe are the latest pair to be evicted from the BBNaija season 9 house, on Sunday.
Recall last week marked a game-changer as housemates got to nominate each other for eviction for the first time this season.
After nomination, five pairs: Zinwe, Chekas, Double Kay, Beta and WanniXHandi were up for possible eviction.
The ultimate eviction then rested on the viewers whose votes for the nominated pairs were going to determine who stayed and who went home.
Zinwe, however, didn’t make the cut on Sunday during the eviction show as they were shown the exit door after week four.
The grand prize for this season is a spectacular ₦100 million, which includes a cash prize and an SUV, with additional sponsored prizes to be announced.
The show which is now going into its fourth week will run for 10 weeks, concluding with the finale on Sunday, October 6, 2024
Court Freezes 32 Bank Accounts Linked To #EndBadGovernance Protest - See Affected Account Numbers, Companies
AFOLABI
The bank accounts of thirty-two individuals and companies linked to the 10-day #EndBadGovernance Protest organised across the country, has been frozen by a Federal Court sitting in Abuja, pending investigation and prosecution of the case.
Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling on the ex-parte motion moved by counsel for the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police, Ibrahim Mohammed, also ordered the banks to apprehend the account holders or any person transacting business on the said accounts.
Justice Nwite, who granted the motion dated and filed on Aug. 20, directed the banks to contact the Nigeria Police Force as soon as any arrest is made.
“That the banks are hereby directed by this honourable court to issue details of the account package(s) and to place a Post-No-Debit (PND) on the accounts, disable the ATM while allowing inflow into the said accounts as from the date of this court order,” the judge declared.
Though the ruling was made on Thursday, the certified true copy of the order was sighted on Sunday in Abuja.
The account numbers affected include 4010073491 (Fidelity Bank), 1255130019 (Access Bank), 0006084167 (Abbey Mortgage Multipurpose Bank Plc), 0821931299 (FCMB), 1012007655 (FCMB), 0000575573 (A AG Mortgage Bank Plc), 1007871587 (UBA), 2037117333 (UBA), 5421031104 (ECOBANK ) and 0024541201 (Union Bank).
Others are 1022899050 (UBA), 8755008491 (Branch International Services Ltd), 5630208636 (Fidelity), 4936992542 (Fairmoney Microfinance Bank), 8755008499 (Branch International Financial Services Ltd), 2088228208 (UBA), 2115678044 (Zenith Bank), 3041823452 (First Bank), 1011828445 (New Edge Finance), 3024402748 (Fusrt Bank), 0161502459 (GTBank) and 0040580047 (Access Bank),
They also include 0250291788 (Wema Bank), 6112464260 (Branch International Financial Services Ltd), 1000774097 (Sparkle Microfinance Bank Ltd), 3434649965 (Fairmoney Microfinance Bank), 2013556714 (KUDA Microfinance Bank), 3104962864 (Polaris Bank), 6112464267 (Branch International Finance Services Lit), 8137051249 (OPAY) and 8137051249 (PALMPAY).
The IGP, in the application marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1219/2024, had listed PA.LIN.HO Global Service Ltd, Chinyere Nkiru, Obidient Movement Multipurpose Cooperative Society, Innocent Angel Lovet, Great Communicators Champion Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd as 1st to 5th respondents respectively.
Others include Great Communicators Champion Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd, Opaluwa Eleojo Bob-Simon, NUEE State Chapter, Adeyemi Abiodun Abayomi, Adaramoye Michael Tobiloba, and Popoola Festus as 6th to 11th respondents respectively.
Mohammed, in his four-ground argument, said the accounts as contained in the schedule in respect of which reliefs sought are subject of investigation and are reasonably suspected to be warehousing proceeds of unlawful activities or fraud.
“If there is any dealing with the account by way of withdrawal or transfer to another account by the persons under investigation/investigator and the persons that have absolute power to deal with the account will render nugatory any consequential order(s) which the court may make at the conclusion of this application,” he said.
According to him, the accounts are used to promote the offence of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, cyberbullying and cyberstalking which was illegally transferred to the account of the accused persons now at large.
“That the accused persons were involved in hosting another country’s flag in order to undermine the sovereignty of the Nigerian state,” he added.
In the affidavit in support of the motion ex-parte, Gregory Woji, a detective attached to the Force Criminal Investigation Department, deposed that preliminary investigation revealed that some suspects arrested were being recruited by some financiers to cause mayhem and destroy life and property.
Woji said preliminary investigation further revealed that the financiers were sending money to recruit the indigents and other vulnerable individuals to carry banners and overthrow a democratically elected government.
According to him, the preliminary investigation further reveals that some foreign nationals were the arrowheads in the unscrupulous act of treasonable felony and promoting terrorism financing in Nigeria.
He said the act of the accused persons is akin to the offence of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, cyberstalking and cyberbullying.
He said it is the function of the police to stop this act by apprehending the offenders as an offence to one is an offence to all.
According to Woji, intelligence reports gathered so far reveal that the suspects are making an effort to transfer or withdraw money from the accounts and unless this court grants this order, otherwise, the investigation would be jeopardised.
“That it will be in the interest of justice to grant this request by freezing the account of the said suspects and order their immediate arrest on sighting them pending the outcome of the investigation and possible prosecution,” he said.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has urged President Bola Tinubu to put an end to the constant fuel scarcity in the country.
Oyintiloye lamented that Nigerians believed that fuel scarcity would end after the removal of fuel subsidy but reverse has been the case.
He emphasized the urgent need for the President’s intervention due to the suffering Nigerians face almost monthly as a result of fuel scarcity.
“Nigerians had hoped that the fuel scarcity would end after the Federal Government removed the fuel subsidy.
“However, instead of the situation improving, it has worsened, causing untold hardship for Nigerians who now have to purchase fuel at very high prices,” Oyintiloye stated.
He urged President Tinubu to investigate the activities of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to uncover the root causes of the persistent fuel shortages.
While acknowledging the ongoing economic challenges, Oyintiloye stressed that inadequate fuel supply should not be added to the already tense situation.
“In recent months, Nigerians have faced severe difficulties obtaining petroleum products at filling stations across the country,” he noted. “I appeal to the President to rescue Nigerians who are enduring immense hardship due to the fuel scarcity,” he added.
A Nollywood actress and film producer, Sharon Okpamen has died days after birthing her second child.
The actress had earlier announced the birth of her second child on Instagram.
However, fellow movie producer, Stanely Ontop revealed that the actress had passed on.
Speaking via social media, he wrote, “Nollywood Actress and Producer Sharon Okpamen has unfortunately passed on.
“It’s a sad day for Nollywood & the Edo entertainment industry. Sharon, who was a filmmaker, actress, entrepreneur& humanitarian, has left a significant void in the industry.
“May her soul rest in perfect peace, Amen @sharonokpamen
“It can only get better”
An Instagram user, however, claimed Sharon passed away due to childbirth complications.
Billionaire founder and CEO of Telegram, Pavel Durov, is to appear in court Sunday after being arrested at a Paris airport for offences related to his popular messaging app, sources told AFP.
Russia has accused France of “refusing to cooperate” following the arrest of the 39-year-old Franco-Russian billionaire at Le Bourget airport on Saturday night.
Durov had arrived from Baku, Azerbaijan, one source close to the case said.
France’s OFMIN, an office tasked with preventing violence against minors, had issued an arrest warrant for Durov in a preliminary investigation into alleged offences including fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, organised crime and promotion of terrorism, one source said.
Durov is accused of failing to take action to curb the criminal use of his platform.
“Enough of Telegram’s impunity,” said one investigator who expressed surprise that Durov flew to Paris knowing he was a wanted man.
– ‘Refusing to cooperate’ –
Russian authorities said they had demanded access to Durov but had no response from France.
“We immediately asked French authorities to explain the reasons for this detention and demanded that his rights be protected and that consular access be granted. Up to now, the French side is refusing to cooperate on this question,” Russia’s embassy in Paris said in a statement reported by the Ria Novosti news agency.
Businessman Elon Musk, who owns the X social media platform, posted the hashtag #FreePavel and commented in French, “Liberte Liberte! Liberte?” (Freedom Freedom! Freedom?).
Former United States presidential candidate, Robert F. Kennedy Jr, said, also on X, that “the need to protect free speech has never been more urgent.”
The encrypted messaging app, based in Dubai, has positioned itself as an alternative to US-owned platforms, which have been criticised for their commercial exploitation of users’ data.
Telegram has committed to never disclosing information about its users.
In a rare interview given to right-wing talk show host Tucker Carlson in April, Durov said he got the idea to launch an encrypted messaging app after coming under pressure from the Russian government when working at VK, a social network he created before selling it and leaving Russia in 2014.
He said he then tried to settle in Berlin, London, Singapore and San Francisco before choosing Dubai, which he praised for its business environment and “neutrality.”
People “love the independence. They also love the privacy, the freedom, (there are) a lot of reasons why somebody would switch to Telegram,” Durov told Carlson.
He said at the time that the platform had more than 900 million active users.
By basing itself in the United Arab Emirates, Telegram has shielded itself from moderation laws at a time when Western countries are pressuring large platforms to remove illegal content.
Telegram allows groups of up to 200,000 members, which has led to accusations that it makes it easier for false information to spread virally, as well as for users to disseminate neo-Nazi, paedophilic, conspiratorial and terrorist content.
Competitor messaging service, WhatsApp, introduced worldwide limits on message forwarding in 2019 after it was accused of enabling the spread of false information in India that led to lynching.
AFP
His Royal Highness, Alhaji Yunusa Muhammad Danyaya (OON), the Emir of Ningi in Bauchi State, has passed away.
The revered monarch was reported to have died in the early hours of Sunday in Kano, where he had been taken for medical attention due to age-related health issues.
The late Royal Father will be buried later on Sunday evening at 4pm following a funeral prayer to be held at the Emir’s Palace in Ningi.
The announcement of his death was conveyed by the Secretary of the Emirate, Alhaji Usman Sule, Magayakin Ningi, in a brief statement written in Hausa.
The statement reads, “Innalillahi Wa’innan Ilaihir Raji’un. Allah yayiwa mai Martaba Sarkin Ningi, Dr. Yunusa Muhammadu Dan Yaya (OON), rasuwa da asubahin yau, Lahadi a Kano
“IZa ayi jana’iza da karfe Hudu na yamma a kofar Fada. Sanarwa daga Sakataren Fada, Alhaji Usman Sule, Magayakin Ningi.”
His Royal Highness, Alhaji Yunusa Muhammad Danyaya, was a distinguished and highly respected first-class traditional ruler in the North East Geographical Zone.
As the Emir of Ningi in Bauchi State, he was adored by his subjects for his sense of justice, fairness, and equity. His tenure witnessed the rapid transformation of Ningi from a rural community into a fast-developing and modern town.
Born in Ningi in 1936, Alhaji Yunusa began his education at Ningi Elementary School between 1941 and 1946, and continued to Bauchi Middle School, completing his studies in 1951.
He later enrolled at the School of Hygiene, Kano, in 1951, and pursued further studies at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, where he completed a one-year course in Public Administration between 1956 and 1957. He also attended a course at the British Council, Kano, between 1959 and 1960, and earned a diploma in public administration from ABU Zaria between 1960 and 1962.
Alhaji Yunusa had a distinguished career in the Native Authority (NA) Administration, starting as a dispenser at Nasaru Dispensary, Ningi, from 1953 to 1958.
He served in various capacities, including as a member of the Ningi Emirate Council (1956-1960), Councilor of the Medical and Health Department (1958-1959), and District Head and Chiroman Ningi in 1959.
He later joined the Nigerian Tobacco Company, Zaria, in 1963 as a welfare officer and went on to work at the Northern Nigeria Marketing Board, where he held several managerial positions.
He was appointed Sub-Area Manager in charge of Gombe, Biu, and Kumo in 1970, and later became the Acting Area Manager in charge of the North Eastern States Marketing Board in 1976.
Alhaji Yunusa was crowned Emir of Ningi in 1978 and was elevated to first-class status in 1998. He played significant roles in various organizations, including Jama’atul Nasril Islam (JIN) and the National Council of States, representing Bauchi State Council of Chiefs from 1979 to 1983.
He also served as Acting Chairman, Board of Directors of Inland Bank Nigeria Plc, and Director of the Hadejia-Jama’are River Basin Development Authority.
His contributions to national development earned him numerous awards and honors, including the National Honours Award as “Officer of the Order of Niger (OON)” and various merit awards from different organizations.
Alhaji Yunusa traveled extensively to countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Namibia, and other West African nations.
His hobbies included horse riding, farming, and traveling. He was happily married and blessed with twenty-four children.
[Nigerian Tribune]
Disclose details of Chinese loans, liabilities, repayments, others, SERAP tells Nigeria’s 36 governors, Wike
Admin
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Nigeria’s 36 state governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Mr Nyesom Wike to “disclose details of any Chinese loans, liabilities, and other external borrowing obtained, and guaranteed by the Federal Government as well the terms and conditions for any such borrowing including the provisions on collateral.”
SERAP urged them to “provide details of the repayment obligations regarding any Chinese loans, liabilities and other external borrowing obtained and guaranteed by the Federal Government, the interest rates on the loans, and any defaults, debt restructurings, and debt exposure to China and other creditors.”
SERAP also urged them to “clarify any investment agreements with Chinese companies and repayment histories of any loans, liabilities and facilities obtained from China and other external creditors and guaranteed by the Federal Government.”
In the letters dated 24 August 2024 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “We are concerned that your state and the FCT may have failed to efficiently manage your debt obligations, especially your external debt and investment obligations, as guaranteed by the Federal Government.”
According to SERAP, “The failure to uphold your obligations is contrary to Section 6 of the Debt Management Office Establishment (Etc), Act, and creates financial risks and other exposure to Nigeria with respect to these Chinese loans, liabilities and other external borrowing.”
SERAP said, “These Chinese loans, liabilities and other external borrowing by your state and the FCT may not have been used for the purposes for which they have been obtained and terms and conditions guaranteed by the Federal Government.”
The letters, read in part: “SERAP is concerned that there is a significant risk of defaults of the Chinese loans, liabilities, and other external borrowing by your state and the FCT, which are guaranteed by the Federal Government.”
“There are also significant risks of confiscation of Nigerian assets in foreign jurisdictions by multilateral and bilateral agencies and other creditors in cases of failure by your state and the FCT to satisfactorily observe and fulfil the terms and conditions of the Chinese loans, liabilities and other external borrowing which are guaranteed by the Federal Government.”
“The apparent inadequacy of safeguards and accountability mechanisms for these Chinese loans, liabilities and other external borrowing may also expose Nigeria’s assets in foreign jurisdictions to confiscation.”
“Your state and the FCT have a shared obligation to ensure that the spending and repayment plans of Chinese loans, liabilities, facilities and other external borrowing are consistent with the provisions of national and international standards, and to prevent or mitigate risks of confiscation of Nigerian assets abroad.”
“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel your government and the FCT to comply with our request in the public interest.”
“Despite several external loans, liabilities, investment obligations and external borrowing obtained by your state and the FCT, which are guaranteed by the Federal Government over many years, millions of Nigerians in your state and the FCT continue to lack access to regular electricity supply and have been denied the benefit of renewable energy solutions.”
“A recent report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealed that over 133 million Nigerians are living in different categories of poverty, the majority of them women and children.”
“SERAP is seriously concerned that many of the country’s 36 states and FCT are allegedly mismanaging public funds which may include Chinese loans, liabilities and other external borrowing obtained from bilateral and multilateral institutions and agencies and guaranteed by the Federal Government.”
“We urge you to disclose the spending details of these Chinese loans, investment obligations and external borrowing, including details of and locations of projects as well as the implementation status and completion reports, if any, on the projects.”
“According to Nigeria’s Debt Management Office, the total external debt for Ogun State is N168,833,006.66 as at December 31, 2023. The total public debt portfolio for the country’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory is N9.17 trillion.”
“Nigeria’s total public debt stock, including external and domestic debts, increased by ₦24.33 trillion in three months alone, from ₦97.34 trillion ($108.23 billion) in December 2023 to ₦121.67 trillion ($91.46 billion) as of March 31, 2024. The debt represents external and domestic loans obtained by the Federal Government, the 36 state governments and the FCT.”
“SERAP notes that the World Bank has approved several loans and other funding facilities to the country’s 36 states including the recent $750 million credit line meant to the states to carry out reforms to attract investment and create jobs.”
“The World Bank on 15 December 2020 approved a $1.5 billion loan for Nigeria’s 36 states and the FCT for social protection and strengthened state-level COVID-19 response. The loan aims to help the states build a resilient recovery post-COVID19 and to reduce poverty.”
“SERAP is concerned that the Chinese loans and other external borrowing obtained by your state and guaranteed by the Federal Government are vulnerable to corruption and mismanagement.”
“Publishing details of the Chinese loans, liabilities, investment obligations and other external borrowing obtained by your state and the FCT which are guaranteed by the Federal Government would allow Nigerians to scrutinise them.”
“Section 39(1) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], section 44 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act and article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to which Nigeria is a state party impose legal obligations on your state and the FCT to disclose the details sought.”
“Section 41 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act provides: ‘1) The framework for debt management during the financial year shall be based on the following rules: a. Government at all tiers shall only borrow for capital expenditure and human development, provided that, such borrowing shall be on concessional terms with low interest rate and with a reasonable long amortization period subject.’”
“Section 44 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act provides: ‘1) Any Government in the Federation or its agencies and corporations desirous of borrowing shall, specify the purpose for which the borrowing is intended and present a cost-benefit analysis, detailing the economic and social benefits of the purpose to which the intended borrowing is to be applied.’”
“According to section 21(1)(2) of the Debt Management Office Establishment (Etc), Act, ‘No external loan shall be approved or obtained by the Minister unless its terms and conditions shall have been laid before the National Assembly and approved by, its resolution. (2) The Federal and State Government or any of their agencies shall not obtain any external loan except with a guarantee issued by the Minister.’”
[Vanguard]
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Onofiok Luke, a former member of the house of representatives, has congratulated Kudirat Kekere-Ekun on her swearing-in as the acting chief justice of Nigeria (CJN).
Kekere-Ekun was inaugurated by President Bola Tinubu as the second female CJN in the country’s history, after Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, who served from July 2012 to November 2014.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the former chairman of the house of representatives committee on judiciary, said he is confident that Kekere-Ekun will embark on judicial reforms.
Luke, who represented Etinan/Nsit Ibom/Nsit Ubium federal constituency in Akwa Ibom, said Kekere-Ekun’s appointment is a “well-deserved recognition” of her “outstanding contributions and unwavering commitment” to the legal profession in Nigeria.
“I am confident that, with Your Lordship’s experience, the Nigerian judiciary will reach new levels of efficiency,” the statement reads.
“I have no doubt that you will usher in reforms that will empower the judicial workforce and improve working conditions.
“The recent assent by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to the bill for an upward review of the salaries and emoluments of judicial officers is a milestone that I believe will have an even greater impact under your leadership.
“This commitment by the Executive underscores the persistent advocacy efforts over the years, including those during my tenure as Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Judiciary.
“As you embark on this new chapter, I pray that God grants you the wisdom, courage, and strength to lead the judiciary to even greater heights.”
[TheCable]
Controversial cross-dresser Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, has said that he does not mind returning to Kirikiri Correctional Centre.
He explained that he considers his time in jail as a vacation.
The entertainer explained that he has being working hard and rested while he was in prison.
Recall that Bobrisky was released on Monday, August 5, 2024, after serving six months imprisonment for abusing the naira, by spraying it at parties.
He was sentenced to six months imprisonment on April 12, 2024, without the option of a fine by Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court, Lagos.
Appearing on the ‘Curiosity Made Me Ask’ show, hosted by content creator Bae U Barbie, Bobrisky said he would love to go back to jail.
According to him, “I see my jail term as a vacation. You know, on vacation, you go and rest. I’ve been working so hard, and I think their decision was okay for me.
“The decision was to break me, but sadly, nothing happened to Mummy of Lagos. I’m still fine, I’m still good, and I will continue to be fine and good.”
The host, Bae U, asked, “Prison fit you o! Would you like to go again?”
Bobrisky replied, “I would love to go, maybe for a short term like that again. Short term, not long-term.
“The reason why I would love to go again is that these people really want to break me. I have never seen anywhere you are going to sentence someone to prison for spraying money.
“It’s funny to me. Everything happened like a movie. Spraying of money? It’s my money. I’m not owing anybody money. I did not steal money. I did not kidnap, I did not rape. I did not kill anybody. I spent my own hard-earned money, and I was sentenced to where we have a lot of criminals.
“But like I always say, I’m a very strong person. If I have chosen this lifestyle to be who I wanna be, then I should be ready for the worst. And the worst that has happened is sending me to prison because, obviously, I did not do anything, I did not kill anybody.”
However, he insisted that he is not an ex-convict, arguing that he can’t be convicted for spraying money.
“I’m not an ex-convict because I can’t be convicted for spraying money. So I won’t accept it,” he said.
Former Nigerian ambassadors have said the new upward review of the fees for Nigerian passports would not reduce the japa syndrome but rather worsen the hardship afflicting the people.
The Nigeria Immigration Service recently announced that a 100 per cent price increment for the passport would begin on September 1, 2024 to ensure the quality and integrity of the Nigerian Standard Passport system.
The NIS said a 32-page passport booklet with five-year validity previously charged at N35,000 has increased to N50,000, while a 64-page passport booklet with 10-year validity which was N70,000 will be N100,000.
But speaking with Sunday PUNCH, a former ambassador to the Philippines, Yemi Farounbi, explained that although the increment might be necessary given the upsurge in inflation rate, the move would only worsen the hardship in the country.
The former ambassador said, “There is nothing whose price has not gone up in the last one year. Unfortunately, the poor people are the carriers of this burden so rather than ease the burden on the common man or the average Nigerian, we have only added to it. Increasing the cost of passports by almost 100 per cent or thereabouts will not discourage those who want to leave because they are being pulled by stronger forces than the cost of passports.”
Also speaking, a former Nigeria Consul to Cameroon, Rasheed Akinkuolie, noted that there were important issues the government should concentrate on rather than increasing the passport fees as more people were currently suffering from insecurity and the high inflation rate affecting prices of items.
In a shocking incident in Cross River State, a young woman known as Pretty Goddess has been accused of luring her friend, identified as Debit Queen, to a hotel where she brutally assaulted her, stripped her naked, and posted videos of the ordeal online.
Our correspondent learnt that the disturbing act, which has sparked outrage on social media, was reported to have occurred on Thursday evening.
According to several online video sources, the victim, Pretty Goddess, whose real name has not been disclosed, discovered that Debit Queen, whose real name is also not publicly known, was allegedly involved with her boyfriend, identified as Ralph.
In a fit of rage and under the pretext of a friendly visit, Pretty Goddess arranged a meeting with Debit Queen at a local hotel in Calabar, the state’s capital.
Debit Queen, unaware of the true motive behind the invitation, arrived at the hotel where she was quickly rounded up by the four girls, and flogged.
The situation escalated rapidly when Pretty Goddess accused Debit Queen of having an affair with Ralph.
The confrontation turned violent as Pretty Goddess and her friends subjected Debit Queen to severe physical assault.
The attack included flogging her with a cane, stripping her naked, and recording the entire incident on video.
Pretty Goddess later posted online videos, including images of Debit Queen in a compromising state.
Our correspondent can confirm that traces of the nude videos of Debit Queen have been trending on X for over 48 hours.
Also, in swift retaliation, another popular X blogger (name withheld) posted Pretty Goddess’ nude videos online, tagging several other blogs, our correspondent can confirm.
This act of humiliation and violence has provoked widespread condemnation and distress among the public.
Debit Queen, recounting the harrowing experience in a video she made after the incident and posted by a popular blog on X on Saturday morning, revealed that she was unaware of the conflict with Pretty Goddess’s boyfriend and expressed her shock at the brutal treatment she received.
“There were four girls in the room,” she said. “There was nothing I could do. She was with her friends and I was alone.”
Debit Queen claimed that Pretty Goddess had invited her under false pretences, initially presenting the meeting as a casual visit for a house party.
“She said there was a party, and I agreed to go. When I arrived, she began beating me,” she recounted.
The victim also denied the allegations of infidelity.
“I know him (Ralph) but he is not my friend. I have not seen him before. I didn’t sleep with him. It is untrue that I was caught sleeping with her boyfriend,” she asserted.
In a controversial attempt to justify her actions, Pretty Goddess admitted to luring Debit Queen to the hotel and subjecting her to physical assault.
She explained that she was driven by anger upon discovering that Debit Queen had been in contact with her boyfriend.
“I checked my boyfriend’s phone and saw that he had her number, which he didn’t have before. I also noticed they had been chatting recently,” she said.
She added that her anger was further fueled when she found out that Debit Queen had allegedly slept with her boyfriend.
Pretty Goddess claimed that the assault was not premeditated and that the intensity of the attack was an expression of her rage.
“I didn’t plan to beat her up. It was anger. All I wanted to know was if she had my boyfriend’s number,” she explained.
She also mentioned that while she initially intended to keep the video private, it was inadvertently shared by her friends.
In an apology addressed to Debit Queen, the lady said, “I am very sorry. I didn’t mean to take it this far. I will take care of anything you want and do anything you want. Please, find a place in your heart to forgive me.”
Police to probe incident
The Cross River State Police, led by Commissioner Augustine Grimah, has responded swiftly to the incident.
Following the viral spread of the assault video, the police have ordered an immediate investigation, calling for the perpetrator’s arrest.
Grimah condemned the act, stating that it involved severe physical assault and trauma.
“The arrest will assist the police in ascertaining the circumstances surrounding the disturbing incident and bringing the perpetrators to justice,” he said.
In a statement sent to Sunday PUNCH by the police command’s spokesperson, Iren Ugbo, Grimah emphasised the need for vigilance within the hospitality industry.
“We urge hotels to conduct thorough background checks on guests to prevent such incidents,” the statement read.
The police also confirmed that Debit Queen was receiving medical attention in a hospital in Calabar due to the injuries sustained during the assault.
The authorities have promised to keep the public informed about the progress of the investigation.
Netizens’ outrage
The incident between the two ladies has ignited a fierce reaction on social media platforms.
Many users have expressed outrage over the brutal nature of the assault and the public humiliation suffered by Debit Queen.
Reactions ranged from calls for legal action to condemnation of Pretty Goddess’s actions.
On X (formerly Twitter), user @FGirlrita wrote, “I’ve never seen someone carry a cane and beat someone like that. Even if there were five of them, I’d still stand up to them. This is unacceptable.”
Another user, @AgbakaEye, demanded immediate action: “They need to arrest that girl. What is this?”
Samuel, another concerned individual, said, “That girl needs to be taught a lesson. I’m personally working on it!!”
Chima Echefule expressed support for legal action, stating, “She needs to be arrested for such an act.”
The sharing of explicit videos online has only amplified the public’s response, with many condemning the act as an egregious violation of privacy and dignity.
In Nigeria, assault is governed by several legal frameworks, including the Penal Code, the Criminal Code, and specific state laws.
These laws define assault as any form of force or threat used against another person without their consent. Under the Penal Code, applicable in Northern Nigeria, assault includes physical violence and the threat of harm.
The Criminal Code, relevant in Southern Nigeria, distinguishes between different types of assault, such as common assault and more serious forms that result in actual bodily harm.
A human rights lawyer, Mrs Selena Onuoha, speaking to our correspondent, said, Pretty Goddess’s actions could be classified as assault under Nigerian law.
“If the flogging caused physical injury, it would be considered assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Even in the absence of visible injury, the use of force without consent constitutes assault.
“The legal consequences for such actions can include criminal charges, with potential penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment, depending on the severity of the assault and local laws. Additionally, Debit Queen may seek civil remedies, such as compensation for the harm suffered.
“Victims of assault are encouraged to file reports with the police, who will investigate the matter and take appropriate legal actions based on the evidence. Legal counsel is also recommended to understand one’s rights and available options,” she said.