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Gunmen have kidnapped over 20 medical and dental students and a House Officer in Benue State.
The students were en route to the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students (FECAMDS) annual convention in Enugu.
The students, said to be from the University of Maiduguri and University of Jos, were traveling together when they were ambushed by gunmen around 5:30 p.m. in the Otukpo area of the state.
The spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, SP Catherine Anene, who confirmed the incident, said an investigation had been launched into the abduction.
“Yes, the report of kidnapping is true. The report was received around 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and an investigation is ongoing.”
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says three drug kingpins and 16 other offenders have been convicted and sentenced to a total of 302 years in prison.
NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Friday, said they were sentenced for trafficking and dealing in illicit drugs.
They were convicted for trafficking cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, cannabis, and opioids among others.
To Babafemi, the 19 convicts lead the list of 414 drug traffickers and dealers convicted by the Federal High Court across Benue, Bauchi, Edo, Lagos, Ogun, Gombe, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, between July 1st and 31st, 2024, following charges brought against them by the NDLEA.
“Three drug kingpins and 16 other offenders have been convicted and sentenced to a total of Three Hundred and Two years in prison for trafficking and dealing in illicit drugs such as cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, cannabis, and opioids following their arrest and diligent prosecution by the NDLEA,” he said.
“The 19 convicts top the list of 414 drug traffickers and dealers convicted by the Federal High Court in Benue, Bauchi, Edo, Lagos, Ogun, Gombe, and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Abuja between July 1st – 31st, 2024, based on charges filed against them by the anti-narcotics agency.”
One of the three kingpins, a 50-year-old Bolanle Dauda, was arrested during an intelligence-led raid by operatives of a special operation unit in NDLEA at Ibiye, along Lagos-Badagry Expressway while attempting to cross the land border to deliver the consignment in Ghana on May 25, 2024.
He was subsequently arraigned before Hon. Justice Ambrose Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Lagos in charge number FHC/L/537C/2024.
“At the point of his arrest, 42 blocks of cocaine weighing 47.5 kilograms were found on him. A swift follow-up operation in his residence at Plot 24/25 OPIC extension, Petedo road, Agbara, Ogun state, led to the recovery of an additional eight blocks of the same drug weighing 10kg, bringing the total weight of the cocaine seized from him to 57.5 kilograms,” Babafemi said.
Popular Nigerian businessman and socialite, Obinna Oyiegbu, aka Obi Cubana, has disclosed that nobody in his family attains the age of 80.
Obi Cubana said his late mother tried to break the generational jinx but could not because she died at the age of 79.
Speaking with media personality, Chude Jideonwu, Obi Cubana said his family decided to throw a lavish funeral ceremony for their mother because she could not break the generational jinx.
He said: “In my family, nobody has lived up to 80 years, and I’m saying this for the first time. My father died at 66, my grandmother died at 75, my grandfather died at 78, and it ran through to my mom.
“All my siblings are married and successful, and we were praying for my mother to break the generational jinx and the kind of party we would throw for her, nobody would have ever done it; we even started saving up for that. And she died on December 31, at the age of 79, after celebrating 78.
“So I said, she tried at 79 and half, so we brought everything together to celebrate her, at least; she tried and almost broke the jinx, that was why we went all out for the burial.”
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed says he is contemplating a presidential bid but will drop his ambition if former President Goodluck Jonathan decides to contest.
Mohammed made this statement on Thursday after a Non-Governmental organisation, NGO, asked him to consider running for the presidency.
According to the governor, Jonathan has experience and would do a good job if he gets the mandate to manage the country.
“With regard to your call for me to present myself, I am still contemplating my chances as the leader of the opposition.
“I know there are good leaders within the PDP, especially my boss Goodluck Jonathan.
“I have always said that as long as Jonathan is around, I will not present myself for leadership of this country, unless he decides not to run.
“If we can persuade him to come forward, I will support him with my blood. Out of modesty, he is still not ready. I hope you will meet him and encourage him to run.
“He will do a better job because he has the experience. We know the prices of things; we know the level of inflation.
“During Jonathan’s regime, he was inclusive, addressing issues like the Almajiri system and creating initiatives for unemployed youths.
“His leadership recruitment was exemplary. We need leaders like him—young people with energy, foresight, and drive,” he said.
Mohammed further stated that his criticisms of the administration of President Bola Tinubu are part of his responsibility to help put the country on the right path
A fresh move to oust the national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Dr Abdullahi Ganduje is afoot by power brokers in the presidential villa.
It was learnt that the move would entail easing off the embattled former governor of Kano State through an ambassadorial appointment in order not to disgrace him out of office.
A source, in the know, confirmed to LEADERSHIP that the villa had actually presented the ambassadorial offer to Ganduje, with the hope that he would accept it and move on.
The source hinted that Ganduje’s delay in accepting the offer is one of major reasons why the formalised ambassadorial list has not been released.
It was further learnt that it was on the back of the aforementioned arrangement that the president gave his nod for the convening of a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting for next month.
The plot is reminiscent of how former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national chairman, Bamanga Tukur, was appeased to vacate office in 2014 by then President Goodluck Jonathan following pressure by aggrieved governors at the time.
Jonathan, in a bid not to disgrace Tukur, appointed him Ambassador-at-Large, having earlier appointed him chairman, Board of Directors of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, after he (Tukur) resigned from the political office.
LEADERSHIP had on Tuesday reported exclusively on an approval by the presidency for the APC NEC meeting to be held next month.
The nod for the meeting is against the backdrop of President Bola Tinubu’s availability for the top meeting between September 6 and 19.
The NEC meeting will set the stage for the conduct of a non-elective national convention which will be held before the end of this year.
Besides being the first NEC meeting this year, it will also be the first under the national chairmanship of Ganduje.
Ganduje’s assumption of office in 2022 has been dogged by opposition from North Central party leaders who argue that he is occupying the zone’s slot against the zoning arrangement.
His situation was subsequently compounded by an alleged financial corruption probe into his administration as Kano State governor by his successor, Abba Kabir Yusuf.
An APC chairmanship aspirant in 2022, Muhammad Etsu, had filed a legal injunction to stop Ganduje from parading himself as national chairman.
He had argued for the national chairmanship seat to return to the North Central zone, as it was zoned ahead of the 2022 elective national convention.
In the build-up to the 2022 national convention, the APC had zoned the position to the North Central which saw Senator Abdullahi Adamu emerge as national chairman.
He, however, resigned in 2023 paving the way for Ganduje, who hails from North West, to become chairman.
LEADERSHIP Friday learned that some top APC federal lawmakers have also leaned on Ganduje to take the ambassadorial slot.
But another party source revealed that Ganduje had also tried to rally some close friends of the president to save his job.
He is said to have met a former South West governor and close Tinubu ally and contemporary as governor, to intervene in his case.
Meanwhile, APC stakeholders from the North Central yesterday renewed their push for Ganduje to vacate the office.
It was gathered that the plot is to replace Ganduje with former Nasarawa State Governor Umaru Tanko Al-makura, who had contested the top party seat in 2022 but lost to his predecessor in Nasarawa, Senator Abdullahi Adamu.
Calls and text messages to Al-makura over his interest in the APC national chairmanship were not responded to as of press time.
However, in a letter addressed to President Tinubu, Concerned North Central APC Stakeholders urged the president to “resolve some of the issues agitating” their zone, “especially the issue concerning the zoning of party chairmanship back to the zone where the seat originally belongs.”
The letter was signed by a former chairman aspirant, Mohammed Estu.
It further said the “emergence of Dr Ganduje was at a severe cost to our zone which has been left high and dry. We have not been adequately compensated. The North Central zone as a collective is the party’s strongest zone politically today. Five out of the six states in the zone are controlled by the party. This is a high percentage,” the letter read.
Earlier, Estu, in a press conference, commended the president for finally initiating the “long overdue” NEC meeting and urged the President to consolidate the acceptance of APC in the zone by rewarding the hard work of party members in the zone.
He said: “But, more importantly, by ensuring that the chairmanship of the party zoned back to the North Central, the president will be ensuring that the yearlong injustice to the zone is righted.
“Since the last reorganisation of the party, all the zones were adequately represented except for the North Central which has still been left in the cold. We want to also take our seat in the comity of our peers,’’ Estu said at the meeting.
Ganduje, APC Mum Over Plans For Ambassadorial Appointment, Substitution Of Legal Adviser
Meanwhile, Ganduje has kept mum over insinuations that he has been tipped for ambassadorial appointment to leave his current position for someone from the North-Central geopolitical zone.
When contacted, the chief press secretary to APC national chairman, Edwin Olofu, did not reply to our correspondent as of the time of this report.
Similarly, the APC national publicity secretary, Felix Morka did not respond to inquiries about the development, including on plans to substitute the party’s national legal adviser position presently in North-central with a North-west occupant.
It was gathered from credible sources in the party that the President planned to return the position of APC national chairman to North-Central, hence the national legal adviser would return to North-West zone which had held the position.
Originally, Ahmed El-Marzuq, the erstwhile APC national legal adviser, had resigned from his position shortly after the party’s former national chairman, Adullahi Adamu bowed out.
Consequently, Prof. Abdulkarim Kana from Nasarawa State was appointed to fill the vacancy, the position he is holding till date.
“Part of the plan is that by the time Ganduje leaves, the position of national legal adviser will go back to North-West as another national chairman will emerge from North-Central. This will likely take place during the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting expected in September,” the sources who do not want their names mentioned said.
[Leadership]
There are indications that the persistent fuel shortage across the country is caused by the decision of some marketers not to lift fuel over impending price increase.
Sources who spoke to our correspondent on Friday stated that some filling stations were not selling in anticipation of a price increase ahead of the roll out of petroleum product from Dangote refinery.
A newspaper (not Daily Trust) had reported that independent marketers were anticipating the premium motor spirit (pms) to be sold at N600 per litre when it’s finally rolled out.
But the management of Dangote refinery clarified that the speculation that marketers expect the refinery to sell petrol at N600 per liter is not reflective of the refinery’s position while also denying fixing price at that price.
“We would like to clarify that Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) is not our business partner yet,” said Anthony Chiejina, spokesman of the Dangote Group.
Our correspondent learnt that despite the denial by Dangote, some marketers were hoarding fuel in anticipation of the price hike.
Daily Trust learnt that the Nigerian Midstream and Donwstream Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has threatened to shut down filling stations that refuse to dispense fuel.
However when contacted, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Olufemi Shoneye, said there is enough supply as far as NNPC is concerned.
“In terms of supply, I can confirm that we have supply,” he simply said when contacted on Friday.
Reports from across the country on Thursday indicated that the scarcity persisted with long queues in a few major filling stations that are dispensing fuel while a litre is almost hitting N1000 at independent filling stations.
[DailyTrust]
Famous rapper Nicki Minaj has expressed her admiration for Nigerian singer, Ayodeji Balogun, aka Wizkid.
Speaking during a recent stream on StationHead, the ‘Queen of rap’ said she has “much love and respect” for Wizkid.
Minaj described the ‘Ojuelegba’ crooner as “very chill and smart.”
She said, “He [Wizkid] is a very very cool chill guy. He’s really that guy, very smart. I have much love and respect for him.”
She also revealed they met while she was recording her 2018 album ‘Queen’ in a studio in Queens, New York.
Despite rumours of a Wizkid and Nicki Minaj collaboration over the years, the duo has not yet released any songs together or confirmed that they have an unreleased song together.
[DailyPost]
Gospel singer Chidinma Ekile has stated that she is not feeling pressured to get married.
In an interview on Channels Television’s Rubbin’ Minds, the 33-year-old singer revealed that she is not in a relationship and not feeling any pressure to settle down.
“No pressure at all, no pressure whatsoever, Whenever the time is right, it would happen,” she said.
When asked about rumors of her dating Kizz Daniel and Flavour, Chidinma denied them.
She also declined to comment on whether she had ever dated them in the past, saying “Oh well, I wouldn’t even wanna talk about that.”
[TheNation]
The 2024 MTV Video Music Awards is one of the most anticipated events in the music industry, bringing together top artists and fans to celebrate outstanding achievements in music video production.
Scheduled to take place on September 11, 2024, at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, the ceremony will spotlight the most creative and impactful music videos, artists, and songs released over the past year.
The 2024 MTV Video Music Awards promise to be a star-studded affair, featuring a nominee list that ranges from industry powerhouses such as Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, and Megan Thee Stallion to rising stars like Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, and Gracie Abrams.
The VMAs will be on Wednesday, September 11, starting at 8:00 p.m. ET, with the red carpet events earlier. The date was moved from September 10 to avoid clashing with the first presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.
There are about 21 categories and voting is ongoing, PUNCH Online reports.
Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s VMAs.
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Ariana Grande – “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)”
Billie Eilish – “LUNCH”
Doja Cat – “Paint The Town Red”
Eminem – “Houdini”
SZA – “Snooze”
Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight”
ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
Ariana Grande
Bad Bunny
Eminem
Sabrina Carpenter
SZA
Taylor Swift
SONG OF THE YEAR
Beyoncé – “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM”
Jack Harlow – “Lovin On Me”
Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us”
Sabrina Carpenter – “Espresso”
Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight”
Teddy Swims – “Lose Control”
BEST NEW ARTISTE
Benson Boone
Chappell Roan
Gracie Abrams
Shaboozey
Teddy Swims
Tyla
MTV PUSH PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
August 2023: Kaliii – “Area Codes”
September 2023: GloRilla – “Lick or Sum”
October 2023: Benson Boone – “In The Stars”
November 2023: Coco Jones — “ICU”
December 2023: Victoria Monét – “On My Mama”
January 2024: Jessie Murph – “Wild Ones”
February 2024: Teddy Swims – “Lose Control”
March 2024: Chappell Roan – “Red Wine Supernova”
April 2024: Flyana Boss – “yeaaa”
May 2024: Laufey – “Goddess”
June 2024: LE SSERAFIM – “EASY”
July 2024: The Warning – “Automatic Sun”
BEST COLLABORATION
Drake ft. Sexyy Red & SZA – “Rich Baby Daddy”
GloRilla, Megan Thee Stallion – “Wanna Be”
Jessie Murph ft. Jelly Roll – “Wild Ones”
Jung Kook ft. Latto – “Seven”
Post Malone ft. Morgan Wallen – “I Had Some Help”
Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight”
BEST POP
Camila Cabello
Dua Lipa
Olivia Rodrigo
Sabrina Carpenter
Tate McRae
Taylor Swift
BEST HIP-HOP
Drake ft. Sexyy Red & SZA – “Rich Baby Daddy”
Eminem – “Houdini”
GloRilla – “Yeah Glo!”
Gunna – “fukumean”
Megan Thee Stallion – “BOA”
Travis Scott ft. Playboi Carti – “FE!N”
BEST R&B
Alicia Keys – “Lifeline”
Muni Long – “Made For Me”
SZA – “Snooze”
Tyla – “Water”
USHER, Summer Walker, 21 Savage – “Good Good”
Victoria Monét – “On My Mama”
BEST ALTERNATIVE
Benson Boone – “Beautiful Things”
Bleachers – “Tiny Moves”
Hozier – “Too Sweet”
Imagine Dragons – “Eyes Closed”
Linkin Park – “Friendly Fire”
Teddy Swims – “Lose Control (Live)”
BEST ROCK
Bon Jovi – “Legendary”
Coldplay – “feelslikeimfallinginlove”
Green Day – “Dilemma”
Kings of Leon – “Mustang”
Lenny Kravitz – “Human”
U2 – “Atomic City”
BEST AFROBEATS
Ayra Starr ft. Giveon – “Last Heartbreak Song”
Burna Boy – “City Boys”
Chris Brown ft. Davido & Lojay – “Sensational”
Tems – “Love Me JeJe”
Tyla – “Water”
USHER, Pheelz – “Ruin”
BEST LATIN
Anitta – “Mil Veces”
Bad Bunny – “MONACO”
KAROL G – “MI EX TENÍA RAZÓN”
Myke Towers – “LALA”
Peso Pluma & Anitta – “BELLAKEO”
Rauw Alejandro – “Touching The Sky”
Shakira & Cardi B – “Puntería”
BEST K-POP
Jung Kook ft. Latto – “Seven”
LISA – “Rockstar”
NCT Dream – “Smoothie”
NewJeans – “Super Shy”
Stray Kids – “LALALALA”
TOMORROW X TOGETHER – “Deja vu”
VIDEO FOR GOOD
Alexander Stewart – “if you only knew”
Billie Eilish – “What Was I Made For (From The Motion Picture “Barbie”)”
Coldplay – “feelslikeimfallinginlove”
Joyner Lucas & Jelly Roll – “Best For Me”
RAYE – “Genesis.”
Tyler Childers – “In Your Love”
BEST DIRECTION
Ariana Grande – “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” – Directed by Christian Breslauer
Bleachers -“Tiny Moves” – Directed by Alex Lockett and Margaret Qualley
Eminem – “Houdini”- Directed by Rich Lee
Megan Thee Stallion – “BOA” – Directed by Daniel Iglesias Jr.
Sabrina Carpenter – “Please Please Please” – Directed by Bardia Zeinali
Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Directed by Taylor Swift
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Ariana Grande – “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” – Cinematography by Anatol Trofimov
Charli xcx – “Von dutch” – Cinematography by Jeff Bierman
Dua Lipa – “Illusion” – Cinematography by Nikita Kuzmenko
Olivia Rodrigo – “obsessed” – Cinematography by Marz Miller
Rauw Alejandro – “Touching The Sky” – Cinematography by Camilo Monsalve
Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Cinematography by Rodrigo Prieto
BEST EDITING
Anitta – “Mil Veces” – Editing by Nick Yumul
Ariana Grande – “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” – Editing by Luis Caraza Peimbert
Eminem – “Houdini” – Editing by David Checel
LISA – “Rockstar” – Editing by Nik Kohler
Sabrina Carpenter – “Espresso” – Editing by Jai Shukla
Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Editing by Chancler Haynes
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Bleachers – “Tiny Moves” – Choreography by Margaret Qualley
Dua Lipa – “Houdini” – Choreography by Charm La’Donna
LISA – “Rockstar” – Choreography by Sean Bankhead
Rauw Alejandro – “Touching The Sky” – Choreography by Felix ‘Fefe’ Burgos
Tate McRae – “Greedy” – Choreography by Sean Bankhead
Troye Sivan – “Rush” – Choreography by Sergio Reis, Mauro Van De Kerkhof
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Ariana Grande – “the boy is mine” – Visual effects by Digital Axis
Eminem – “Houdini” – Visual effects by Synapse Virtual Production, Louise Lee, Rich Lee, Metaphysic, Flawless Post
Justin Timberlake – “Selfish” – Visual effects by Candice Dragonas
Megan Thee Stallion – “BOA” – Visual effects by Mathematic
Olivia Rodrigo – “get him back!” — Visual effects by Cooper Vacheron, Preston Mohr, Karen Arakelian, Justin Johnson
Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Visual effects by Parliament
BEST ART DIRECTION
Charli xcx – “360” – Art direction by Grace Surnow
LISA – “Rockstar” – Art direction by Pongsan Thawatwichian
Megan Thee Stallion – “BOA” – Art direction by Brittany Porter
Olivia Rodrigo – “bad idea right?” – Art direction by Nicholas des Jardins
Sabrina Carpenter – “Please Please Please” – Art direction by Nicholas des Jardins
Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Art direction by Ethan Tobman
[Punch]
The Presidency yesterday moved against Chinese firm, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Company, over the seizure of three presidential jets on the order of the Judicial Court of Paris, France.
It also dismissed court orders against Ogun State Government, which led to the seizure of the three presidential jets, as an attempt to strip Nigeria of her assets.
Consequently, both the federal and Ogun State governments are making frantic efforts to vacate the orders obtained by the Chinese company on March 7, 2024, and August 12, 2024, respectively, with a view to securing the release of the planes.
This is reminiscent of the order obtained by Process and Industrial Development Limited, P&ID, in London to secure $11 billion judgment debt from Nigeria, which the Federal Government eventually got vacated.
Background to the Zhongshan Fucheng Case
A contract between Ogun State and Zhongshan to manage a free-trade zone was executed in 2007 but the parties entered into a dispute in 2015, and arbitration began in 2016.
By 2019, it was learned that the arbitration hearing had been concluded, as the Arbitral Panel awarded over $60 million against the Federal Government of Nigeria, a co-defendant, when all Zhongshan had done was build a perimeter fence around the free-trade zone.
Based on legal advice, Ogun State Government was said to have resolved to resist enforcement of the award. It was also gathered that the resistance was successful in eight different jurisdictions, as there are pending appeals against recognition orders issued in both the US and UK.
Ogun State, it was learned, also engaged Zhongshan in settlement discussions on reasonable terms. The last meeting, which held in September 2023 in London, lasted for three days and was attended by several officials of Ogun State, including Governor Dapo Abiodun and the Attorney-General/Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi.
Zhongshan’s initial reasonable readiness to consider Ogun State’s offer was surprisingly reversed by the second day when it insisted on government paying the full arbitration debt.
It was learned that this led to a breakdown of the mediation, with parties agreeing to meet again in the first quarter of this year.
Since then, Zhongshan, Vanguard learned, had been evasive and instead, embarked on a series of enforcement proceedings, which the legal team appointed by the FGN and Ogun State successfully opposed.
In cases similar to the present one, where Zhongshan obtained an ex-parte order, Ogun State successfully set aside the orders, it was learned.
Ogun State has not given up on a reasonable settlement option, with the most recent being a letter sent to Zhongshan last week.
Zhongshan, it was gathered, only responded after obtaining this latest illegal order.
Claiming that the Federal Government was never served any notice of the two cases in the Judicial Court of Paris which gave orders on March 7, 2024, and August 12, 2024, respectively, the Presidency said it is working with Ogun State Government to discharge what it descried as a frivolous order.
FG not under contractual obligation—Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who disclosed this in a statement yesterday, said: ‘’The Presidency is aware of the various failed attempts by a Chinese company, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, to take over offshore assets of the Federal Government of Nigeria through subterfuge.
‘’Ogun State Government, on Thursday (yesterday), faulted the judicial process that led to the provisional attachment of three Nigerian government-owned aircraft in France by the Judicial Court of Paris on March 7 and August 2, 2024.
‘’The Federal Government is not under any contractual obligation with the company. The case in which Zhongshan is trying to use every unorthodox means to strip our offshore assets is between the company and Ogun State Government.
“The Federal Government is aware of efforts being made by the Ogun State Government to reach an amicable resolution to the matter.
‘’It must be said without any equivocation that Zhongshan has no solid ground to demand restitution from Ogun State Government, based on facts regarding the 2007 contract between the company and the state government to manage a free-trade zone.
‘’When the contract with Ogun State was revoked in 2015, the company had only erected a perimeter fence on the land earmarked for a free trade zone.
“While the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice are working with the Ogun State Government on an amicable resolution, Zhongshan obtained two orders from the Judicial Court of Paris, dated March 7, 2024, and August 12, 2024, without any notice being duly served on the Federal Government of Nigeria and Ogun State Government.
‘’This arm-twisting tactic by the Chinese company is the latest in a long list of failed moves to attach Nigerian government-owned assets to foreign jurisdictions.
“Material facts in the transaction between Ogun State Government and Zhongshan point to another P&ID case in which unscrupulous and questionable individuals falsely present themselves as investors with the sole objective of cheating and scamming governments in Africa.
‘’Undoubtedly, Zhongshan withheld vital information and misled the Judicial Court in Paris into attaching the Nigerian government’s presidential jets, which are on routine maintenance in France.
‘’The use and nature of the presidential jets as assets of a sovereign entity whose assets are protected by diplomatic immunity forbid any foreign court from issuing an order against them.
‘’We are convinced the Chinese company misled the Judicial Court of Paris regarding the use and nature of the assets it seeks to attach and did not fully disclose to the court as required by law.
“This same Chinese company had tried to enforce its questionable judgment in the UK and USA but failed. Like the P&ID case, foreign companies are trying to defraud Nigeria with the collaboration of some bureaucrats.
“Zhongshan appeared to have sold the judgment they got to a venture capitalist seeking to make money by embarrassing the Federal Government and President Bola Tinubu.
“We want to assure Nigerians that the Federal Government is working with Ogun State Government to discharge this frivolous order in Paris immediately.
“Nigerian government will always work to protect our national assets from predators and shylocks who masquerade as investors.
Ogun moves to vacate seizure order, faults fraudulent legal process by Zhongashan
Reacting to the court order yesterday, Ogun State Government faulted the judicial process that led to the provisional attachment of three Nigerian government-owned aircraft in France by the Judicial Court of Paris.
In a statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, Ogun State Government described the latest development as the new antics by the Chinese company to appropriate Nigerian assets in foreign jurisdictions, as past efforts had continually failed.
The statement described the legal process as nothing but a total charade with fraudulent notion, adding that the company deliberately concealed the litigation from both the Nigerian government and Ogun State, as well as their legal counsel before hurriedly securing orders of seizure.
It added that the company must have misled the Judicial Court of Paris as to the use and nature of the assets it sought to attach and not made full disclosure to the court as required by law.
According to the statement, Ogun State, alongside the Federal Government, has already taken immediate action to ensure that those provisional attachments are lifted quickly, even as it accused the company of reneging on earlier discussion for an amicable resolution of the case.
The state government also likened the case to that of P&ID, describing it as very unfortunate case of unscrupulous individuals masquerading as foreign investors with the sole aim of defrauding Ogun State and Nigeria at large.
The statement read: “On August 14, 2024, the attention of the Ogun State Government was drawn to the provisional attachment of three Nigerian government-owned aircraft in France by the Chinese company, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd. (Zhongshan).
‘’Ogun State also learned of two orders of the Judicial Court of Paris dated March 7, 2024, and August 12, 2024, respectively, both obtained by Zhongshan without notice being duly given to the Federal Government or Nigeria, Ogun State or their legal counsel.
“This is the latest in a series of ill-advised attempts by Zhongshan to attach Nigerian-owned assets in foreign jurisdictions, none of which have to date led to the recovery of any sums from Nigeria.
“Each of the three aircraft is used solely for sovereign purposes and as such are immune from attachment under international and French laws.
“In obtaining the provisional attachments, Zhongshan deliberately withheld information from the Federal Government of Nigeria, Ogun State and their legal counsel.
“Just like the P&ID case, this is another unfortunate case of unscrupulous individuals masquerading as foreign investors with the sole aim of defrauding Ogun State and Nigeria.
“It should be recalled that the underlying contract between Ogun State and Zhongshan was executed in 2007, 12 years before the present administration, for the management of a free-trade zone. The parties entered into a dispute in 2015 with arbitration commencing in 2016.
“By 2019, when the current State Administration took office, the hearing at the arbitration had been all but concluded. The Arbitral Panel awarded over 60 million USD against the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) which was a co-Defendant, when all Zhongshan had done was to build a perimeter fence around the free-trade zone. Needless to say, this was a bad/unfair decision.
“The present state administration could not in all good conscience allow such an unconscionable and baseless decision, which would dissipate the commonwealth of the good people of Ogun State.
“Accordingly, and based on erudite legal advice, this administration resolved to resist enforcement of the award. The resistance was successful in eight different jurisdictions. Currently, there are pending appeals against recognition orders issued in both the US and UK.’’
It’s an international embarrassment —Peter Obi
Reacting to the development yesterday, the presidential candidate of Labour Party, LP, in 2023 elections, Mr Peter Obi, described the seizure of aircraft in Nigeria’s Presidential Air Fleet as an international embarrassment.
Obi said the development has exposed Nigeria’s failed leadership and poor attitude to the rule of law in a democracy.
He said: “The trending international news on the seizure of three jets belonging to Nigeria’s Presidential fleet is yet another of many embarrassing things exposing our failed leadership and our attitude to the rule of law, even in a democracy.
‘’It has also exposed multiple dimensions to our leadership failure and our insensitivity to the plight of the growing poor class in our midst.
“The fact that the Federal Government went ahead with the jet deal, despite the cacophonous cry against the purchase of a presidential jet at this time when the people are going through a horrifying economic hardship, shows the insensitivity of this administration.
“Added to it is the embarrassing aspect of our country’s presidential jets being held for contractual breaches arising from yet another dimension of inadequate leadership tidiness.
“I have been loud in my demand over time that government at all levels should be accountable to the people, meaning that they must be very transparent in all their dealings.
‘’Until a court in France prohibits Nigeria from moving or selling these three jets, Nigerians have no iota of information about both the buying and selling of these aircraft.
“It has been done in secrecy. Federal government property, which belongs to the people, is being managed as a personal family asset. Paying as much as $100million for a Presidential jet for a country that is the poverty capital of the world and has more out-of-school children with over 40% food inflation is the height of concern for the people’s feelings.
“This incident has also opened up an aspect of indiscipline that is copiously embedded in our country, which is the abuse and disrespect for the rule of law.
“Here are questions begging for answers: To what extent did Ogun Government follow its agreement with the Chinese firm?
“After the UK court ruling that prohibited some Nigerian buildings in Liverpool, what did both Ogun State and Federal Governments do before the French court action?
“I would like to, therefore, challenge the Federal Government to come clean and transparent on this matter and tell Nigerians how we got to this latest international mess.”
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Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, says the seizure of three presidential jets by a French court is an “international embarrassment” to the country.
A Paris court recently ordered the seizure of three jets belonging to the Nigerian government over a dispute involving an arbitration award in favour of ZhongshanFucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd., a Chinese firm.
The court ruled that the Chinese firm should use the three jets at the Paris-Le Bourget and Basel-Mulhouse international airports “as security for its claim of EUR 74,459,221”.
However, the presidency on Thursday accused the Chinese firm of using “unorthodox and subterfuge” means to take away Nigeria’s offshore assets.
Obi, in a statement by Yunusa Tanko, his campaign spokesperson, said the seizure of presidential jets has exposed the federal government’s disregard for the rule of law and failure of leadership.
The former governor of Anambra said the federal government’s decision to proceed with the purchase of the jet amidst widespread criticism and severe economic struggles showed the insensitivity of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to the plight of citizens.
Obi also demanded that the federal government explain the circumstances surrounding the jet seizure.
“The trending international news on the seizure of three jets belonging to Nigeria’s presidential fleet is yet another of many embarrassing things exposing our failed leadership and our attitude to the rule of law even in a democracy,” the statement reads.
“It has also exposed multiple dimensions to our leadership failure and our insensitivity to the plight of the growing poor class in our midst.
“The fact that the federal government went ahead with the jet deal despite the cacophonous cry against the purchase of a presidential jet at this time when the people are going through a horrifying economic hardship shows the insensitivity of this administration.
“Added to it is the embarrassing aspect of our country’s presidential jets being held for contractual breaches arising from yet another dimension of inadequate leadership tidiness.
“I have been loud in my demand over time that the government at all levels should be accountable to the people, meaning that they must be very transparent in all their dealings.
“Until a court in France prohibits Nigeria from moving or selling these three jets, Nigerians have no iota of information about both the buying and selling of these aircraft.
“It has been done in secrecy. Federal government property, which belongs to the people, is being managed as a personal family asset.
“Paying as much as $100 million for a presidential jet for a country that is the poverty capital of the world and has more out-of-school children with over 40% food inflation is the height of concern for the people’s feelings.
“This incident has also opened up an aspect of indiscipline that is copiously embedded in our country, which is the abuse and disrespect for the rule of law.
“Here are questions begging for answers: To what extent did the Ogun government follow its agreement with the Chinese firm?
“After the UK court ruling that prohibited some Nigerian buildings in Liverpool, what did both Ogun state and the federal government do before the French court action?
“I would like to, therefore, challenge the federal government to come clean and transparent on this matter and tell Nigerians how we got to this latest international mess.”
[TheCable]
Nigeria eyes $500 million World Bank loan to reduce staffing gaps in education, health sectors
Admin
Nigeria is on the verge of securing a $500 million loan from the World Bank, a significant financial boost aimed at addressing critical challenges in the country’s education and healthcare sectors.
This is according to the “Program Information Document (PID)” for the appraisal stage of the Nigeria Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity (HOPE) Governance Program.
The proposed loan, part of the Nigeria Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity (HOPE) Governance Program, is intended to tackle long-standing staffing gaps and enhance the performance management of basic education teachers and primary healthcare workers.
World Bank likely to approve loan next month
The World Bank is expected to give its final approval for the loan on September 26, 2024.
According to the PID seen by Nairametrics, the loan will focus on three major result areas, with the improvement of recruitment, deployment, and performance management of sector workers being a key component.
This effort is particularly important given Nigeria’s alarming human capital index, which indicates that a child born in the country today will only achieve 36% of their productive potential if current levels of health and education services persist.
One of the primary objectives of the loan is to incentivize improvements in workforce planning within the education and healthcare sectors.
The loan will provide the necessary financial resources to enhance the recruitment processes, ensuring that qualified professionals are adequately deployed to where they are most needed.
The initiative will also address the significant disparities in staffing across Nigeria’s regions, a challenge that has long plagued both sectors.
Nigeria to leverage BVN, NIN to tackle payroll fraud
In addition to workforce planning, the loan will support the adoption of new systems to improve payroll management and reduce fraud. This includes the implementation of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Bank Verification Numbering (BVN) system and National Identity Numbers (NIN) platforms.
These systems will play a crucial role in ensuring that funds are used efficiently and that only verified employees are on the payroll, thereby eliminating ghost workers.
The planned introduction of biometric check-ins and community monitoring, where available, will further strengthen the accountability and performance of education and health workers.
A part of the PID noted that one of the expected results of the loan program is improved recruitment, deployment, and performance management of basic education teachers and primary health workers, adding that: “This results area will incentivize: (i) the enhancement of the sector and workforce planning function, (ii) reduction of significant staffing gaps and improved deployment and management practices for basic education and primary health care workers, and (iii) adoption of new or existing systems such as the Central Bank of Nigeria Bank Verification Numbering (BVN) system and National Identity Numbers platforms to check payroll fraud, biometric check-ins where available, community monitoring, performance bonuses, automatic payroll deductions.”
Loan program to run for four years
- The HOPE Governance Program, under which this loan falls, is scheduled to run from 2024 to 2028, providing support for systemic reforms at both the state and federal levels, focusing on cross-sectoral issues such as financial resource allocation, public financial management, fiscal transparency, and accountability.
- As part of the World Bank’s support, the loan will also incentivize the reduction of staffing gaps by 40%, with a target that at least 30% of new recruits will be women.
- This gender-sensitive approach is intended to address not only the quantity but also the quality and diversity of the workforce in these critical sectors.
- The loan is part of a larger $2 billion government program that seeks to accelerate the provision of quality basic education and healthcare services across Nigeria.
[Nairametrics]
The Ekiti State Police Command said it had arraigned a 20-year-old cattle rearer, Mohamadu Bello, before an Ado Ekiti Chief Magistrate’s Court for allegedly destroying farm produce valued at N3.8m belonging to four individuals.
The police prosecutor, Inspector Elijah Adejare, told the court on Thursday that the defendant committed the offence on August 10 at Ido Ile Ekiti.
Adejare alleged that “the defendant, who is a cattle rearer, maliciously damaged the farm produce valued at N300,000 belonging to one Awiye Olusola. The defendant also maliciously damaged the farm produce valued at N2.8m belonging to one Oni Samson.
“The defendant maliciously damaged farm produce valued at N300,000 belonging to one Igbalajobi Adeyomi. The defendant also maliciously damaged farm produce valued at N400,000 belonging to one Akinola Sunday.
“The offences committed contravened Sections 363 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.”
Adejare prayed the court for an adjournment to enable him to study the case file and present his witnesses.
The counsel for the defendant, Mr. Adeyemi Egbebi, urged the court to grant the defendant bail, with a promise that he would not jump bail.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Bankole Oluwasanmi, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N80,000 with one surety in like sum and adjourned the case till September 6 for hearing.
Police prosecutor, Sergeant Alice Ojo, told the court that the defendants, 22-year-old Abdurasheed and 42-year-old Aluko, allegedly committed the offence on August 6 in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.
Ojo alleged that “the defendant, Abdurasheed, stole one Bajaj motorcycle valued at N1.2m belonging to one Ogundipe Babasanmi. The defendant, Aluko, has in his possession one Bajaj motorcycle valued at N1.2m.”
“The offences committed contravened Sections 302 and 343 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021,” she said.
The prosecutor asked the court for a short adjournment to enable her to study the case file and present her witnesses.
Counsel for the defendants, Mr Adeyemi Egbebi, urged the court to grant the defendants bail, with a promise that they would not jump bail.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Abayomi Adeosun, granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N250,000 with one surety each in like sum and adjourned the case till September 27 for hearing.
Treaty violation: Like France, US court affirms Chinese firm’s $70m arbitration award against Nigeria
AFOLABI
An appeal court in the United States (US) has authorised Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd. to enforce the $70 million arbitration award against Nigeria.
In a 2-1 verdict delivered on August 9, the majority ruling affirmed the judgment of the US district court for the district of Columbia that held that the arbitration award is enforceable.
In January 2023, Beryl Howell, the presiding judge of the lower court, dismissed Nigeria’s argument that the court did not have jurisdiction over the case since the country is a sovereign entity.
Howell held that the court has jurisdiction since the United Kingdom (UK), where the $70 million arbitration award was issued against Nigeria, is a signatory to the New York Convention.
ZHONGSHAN FUCHENG VS NIGERIA
In 2010, Zhongshan, through Zhuhai Zhongfu Industrial Group Co. Ltd. (Zhuhai), its Chinese parent company, acquired rights to develop a free trade zone in Ogun state.
A year later, Zhongshan set up Zhongfu International Investment (NIG) FZE (Zhongfu), a Nigerian entity, to manage the project under the permission of the Ogun state government.
However, things took a different turn in July 2016 when the investor accused the state government of abruptly moving to terminate its appointment while attempting to install a new manager for the free trade zone.
Subsequently, Zhongfu initiated an investment treaty arbitration against Nigeria under the bilateral investment treaty between the People’s Republic of China and Nigeria (the China-Nigeria BIT).
The arbitrators had ruled that Nigeria was in breach of its obligations under the China-Nigeria BIT and awarded Zhongshan compensation of around $70 million.
In January 2022, the Chinese company initiated a case to seek enforcement of the arbitration award.
Nigeria pleaded state immunity but was turned away by Sara Cockerill, a high court judge in the UK, who said the country abused the time frame for appealing arbitral awards.
THE US APPEAL COURT JUDGMENT
In the majority judgment, the US appellant court held that the final arbitration award is enforceable under the New York convention since the dispute is between “persons” that share a legal commercial relationship.
The court ruled that the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA) arbitration exception stripped Nigeria of the sovereign immunity in the arbitration award case.
“For the foregoing reasons, we hold that the final award is enforceable under the New York convention because it arose out of differences between ‘persons’ that share a legal, commercial relationship,” the majority judgment reads.
“The district court therefore has jurisdiction over this case under the FSIA’s arbitration exception. The judgment of the district court is affirmed.”
The majority judgment was issued by Patricia Millett and Julianna Childs.
In the dissenting judgment, Gregory Katsas, the third judge, argued that when the New York convention was drafted, the word “persons” did not include a sovereign nation.
Katsas held that the action of Ogun state cannot be attributed to Nigeria, adding that the arbitration award “arises solely out of Nigeria’s sovereign acts governed by public international law”.
“Text, legal context, and drafting history all indicate that the word ‘persons,’ as used in the New York Convention, does not include signatory nations acting as sovereigns. I respectfully dissent,” Katsas said.
NIGERIA LOSING CASE AGAINST CHINESE FIRMS IN MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS
Barely three days after the judgment of the US appeal court, a Paris court in France ordered the seizure of three jets belonging to the Nigerian government over the dispute involving the arbitration award to the Chinese firms.
In 2023, a court of appeal in the UK ruled that Nigeria is liable for a $70 million arbitration award in favour of the Chinese firm.
The development means that Nigeria has lost arbitration award cases against the Chinese firm in France, the US, and the UK.
The Nigerian government has accused the Chinese firm of attempting to use deceptive means to acquire the country’s offshore assets.