FEATURES
The House of Representatives yesterday called on the federal government to urgently take steps to tackle the rising cost of living with devastating effects on Nigerians.
The lawmakers made the call during the appearance of the Ministers of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu; the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso and the Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji, before the House.
The session was part of the second edition of the Sectoral Debate/Dialogue, which was introduced by the House to interact with heads of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) on government policies.
The lawmakers demanded an explanation of the measures being taken by the CBN, FIRS and the ministries as regards the current economic situation in the country.
Earlier, they adopted a motion on matters of urgent public importance moved by Rep. Ayokunle Isiaka (APC, Ogun), asking the federal government to act fast and address the rising cost of living.
Speaking, Rep. Ahmed Jaha Babawo (APC, Borno) said nobody needed a soothsayer to conclude that Nigerians were hungry and angry.
He said the government must take action, especially in terms of security, to make things work better for Nigerians.
According to him, from 2020 to date, the prices of staple food and other items have risen by over 500%, placing Nigerians in a precarious situation.
Rep. Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers) said people were living in poverty, penury and pervasive insecurity.
He said, “The least we can do is to tell the truth to power.”
Other lawmakers questioned the ministers, CBN governor and FIRS chairman over their policies and their effects on Nigerians.
The officials later responded to the questions and shed more light on the policies being pursued, as well as the measures being put in place to address the challenges facing the nation.
Speaking, the CBN governor said the country was at a turning point. He said though the reforms across different segments of the economy were initially challenging, they were aimed at addressing the challenges sustainably.
He said, “I am confident that positive outcomes are already emerging and will become more apparent shortly. The dedicated and relentless efforts being made are certain to bring about significant and positive changes for our economy.
“Notably, recent reports from international rating agencies such as Fitch, Moody’s, S&P and commendations from multilateral banks like the World Bank reflect this positive trajectory, with upgrades to Nigeria’s ratings from stable to positive.
“These reports acknowledge the potential reversal of the deterioration in the country’s fiscal and external position due to the authorities’ reform efforts. While recognising the painful adjustments, they all point to a direction that will unlock much-needed growth and development for our economy in the medium to long term”, he added.
Cardoso, however, informed the lawmakers that despite the commendations, the concerns regarding the cost of living and currency exchange rates remained.
He said: “Indeed, this is the major topic of concern in our villages, our towns and our cities. The urgency of the matter is not lost on us at the Central Bank and I assure you, we are working tirelessly with colleagues from across government, including with the leadership of this House to bring lasting solutions.
“Broader escalation of conflicts could disrupt energy markets, trade routes, and financial markets, leading to a slowdown in growth and increased inflationary pressures. Additionally, rising trade barriers, protectionist policies, and global value chain restructuring could exacerbate uncertainties in global trade.
“In this challenging landscape, key policy priorities involve ensuring durable inflation reduction, addressing fiscal pressures, and fostering sustainable and inclusive growth.
“Inflationary pressures are expected to decline in 2024 due to the CBN’s inflation-targeting policy, aiming to rein in inflation to 21.4 per cent, aided by improved agricultural productivity and easing global supply chain pressures.
“The CBN’s inflation-targeting framework involves clear communication and collaboration with fiscal authorities to achieve price stability, potentially leading to lowered policy rates, stimulating investment, and creating job opportunities”, he added.
The CBN governor said the Nigerian foreign exchange market was facing increased demand pressures, causing a continuous decline in the value of the naira.
“Factors contributing to this situation include speculative forex demand, inadequate forex supply due to non-remittance of crude oil earnings to the CBN, increased capital outflows, and excess liquidity from fiscal activities.
“To address exchange rate volatility, a comprehensive strategy has been initiated to enhance liquidity in the FX markets. This includes unifying FX market segments, clearing outstanding FX obligations, introducing new operational mechanisms for BDCs, enforcing the Net Open Position limit, and adjusting the remunerable Standing Deposit Facility cap.
“Permit me to say that put simply, the exchange rate is determined by the dynamics of supply and demand for a product or service. In essence, similar to the pricing of cows or cars, the value of the US dollar in Nigeria is determined by the balance of US dollars entering the country and the demand for US dollars among Nigerians,” he added.
‘Nigeria better than before Tinubu took over’
In his address, the minister of finance said despite the challenges being faced, Nigeria is currently better than in 2023 when the present administration took over.
According to him, although inflation had increased while the cost of living had also risen astronomically, President Tinubu was ready to protect the poorest and vulnerable Nigerians through various positive policies.
“As things improve, there will be further intervention on behalf of the vulnerable to assist in the cost of living.
“Let us be confident, calm, and assured that Nigeria will change in terms of economic management and that there will be intervention in every sector”, Edun said.
The minister said inflation must be tackled head-on as it presently accounts for 33 per cent of the consumer price index.
According to him, there was a robust plan to put the country on the path to becoming a production economy as the president moves to address the challenges in the energy sector, especially the vested interests in the oil sector.
Similarly, Bagudu said the president was committed to national development.
On his part, Adedeji, said the FIRS was doing more to increase the nation’s revenue base through various positive reforms.
He said the revenue collection target for 2024 was N19.2 trillion, adding that while the agency is not collecting new taxes; it had strategised to bring more people into the tax net.
In his address earlier, the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the plenary, said the issue of the rising cost of living must be treated with the urgency and importance it deserves.
The House had earlier adopted a motion on matters of urgent public importance and appealed to the federal government and all critical stakeholders to open up the national food reserve and complement same by the importation of grains, poultry products, meats, beverages, healthcare and pharmaceutical products from top exporting countries in the world as a short-term measure.
It also urged the federal government to help increase food production and improve distribution, including by ensuring adequate access to fertilisers and crop diversification as part of measures to address the rising cost of living in the country.
Take quick action – Northern elders
The Northern Elders Forum (NEF), while expressing concern yesterday about the unchecked rise in inflation in Nigeria, which it said is posing a significant threat to the wellbeing of citizens, demanded urgent measures from the government to address this crisis before it plunges the nation into greater conflict and chaos.
NEF said in a statement signed by its Director of Publicity and Advocacy, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, that: “The welfare of its citizens must be prioritised, and policies must be implemented to alleviate the burden of inflation.
“This includes increasing agricultural productivity, investing in infrastructure to reduce transportation costs, and implementing social safety nets to support the most vulnerable members of society.”
The NEF added that the government needed to take decisive steps to curb corruption and wasteful spending, adding that the mismanagement of public funds only exacerbates the inflationary pressure and erodes the trust of the people.
We’ll address food shortages — FG
Meanwhile, the federal government said it has taken measures to tackle food shortages in the country.
A special presidential committee met at the presidential villa yesterday to articulate actions necessary to stem the tide, including the release of available food in stock.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who spoke to journalists after the meeting, said the government was concerned about the cost of living protests, particularly the one that occurred in Minna, Niger State, and wanted to ensure that there was relief for citizens.
He said that the meeting was the first in a series of planned sessions as he revealed that the government will make available the food in its storage facilities across the country.
He said the government is also in talks with private millers and major commodity dealers to see what they can provide.
The session was also attended by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and Ministers of Education, Dr Tahir Mamman; Agriculture, Abubakar Kyari; and the Minister of State for Agriculture, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi.
[DailyTrust]
Prof Ndifon Insisted On Virginity For Admission, Witness Alleges; Says She Sent Him A ‘Tightness’ Vulgar Video Under Duress
AdminA witness on Tuesday told the court that the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Calabar, Cyril Ndifon, promised to help her secure admission into the LLB programme in exchange for her virginity.
The witness, a law diploma graduate identified as TKJ (name withheld based on the order of court to protect the witness), was called by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
TKJ said he assured her that if she gave him her virginity, she would secure admission into the main programme.
The professor and his lawyer, Sunny Anyanwu, are standing trial on amended four counts of alleged sexual harassment and an attempt to perverse the cause of justice.
Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, TKJ who is the second witness on the matter, said the professor boasted of offering admission to about 50 students.
She said, “After my classes that day, I went to his office. When I got there he had many visitors waiting for him. He asked that I wait for him. After some hours, he dismissed his visitors and asked me to lock the door. I did as he instructed. He stood up from his seat and asked me to hug him. I moved back and he asked if I was scared. I nodded my head. He said I should not be scared and that I should see him as a father. He requested for the hug again. I gave him a side hug.
“He asked me if this was how I hug my boyfriend, I told him I don’t have a boyfriend. He asked if It was a man friend I had, and I told him I had none. He held my waist and told me I don’t have to bother about admission and that he brought a Diploma of Law into the faculty. He said he made about 50 students transition to the LLB programme.
“When he held my waist, I went back. He told me to stop doing that and asked why was I doing it like a baby. He asked if I was a baby, and I said yes. He said am I sure? He said that it was very good. He asked ‘Can I give him my virginity’? I shouted Jesus! He said I should give it to him and he told me he would give me admission. I told him I would think about it.
“He touched my chest which is my breast area. He said he never knew I was this big. While all these were going on, people would come and knock and go. I asked him why does he not want to open the door, and he asked me to forget it. When I asked him why he was the one that gave up to 50 persons admission, he told me he was the owner of the diploma and that I should not bother myself that I will get admission.”
TKJ also told the court that the first defendant asked her to visit him on a public holiday, and she had to lie that she was on her menstrual cycle to escape his advances.
She said at a point, the suspended dean began pressuring her for a nude video.
She said, “He asked that I make a nude video and send it to him. Before I could say anything, he ended the call. Later he called again and demanded the video. I told him that I was still a virgin and he ended the call.
“I sent him a message on WhatsApp that I’m still very tight. He told me he would give me admission that I should not worry I should send the video. After so many calls, I had to send the video to him. ”
TKJ also told the court that after the sexual harassment protests on campus, the suspended dean requested more nude pictures.
TKJ told the court that while the university panel probe was on, he came to the front of her hostel in the car with a tainted glass.
She said she joined him in the car and was having a discussion when the suspended dean tried to put his hand inside her trousers.
TKJ recalled that her path crossed with the suspended dean during her first year in the diploma programme.
After her testimony, the prosecution counsel requested to submit the bank receipt for the N3 000 sent to the witness for treatment as exhibit.
Initially, the counsel for the first defendant, Joe Agi (SAN), objected to the application on the ground that the receipt was not being frontloaded with the proof of evidence.
However, he withdrew his objections when the prosecution counsel mentioned that the same receipt was included in exhibit H.
The trial judge, James Omotoso, admitted the receipt in evidence and adjourned the matter till February 7.
VIDEO: Dangote Varsity Queries, Suspends Lecturer For Administering Corporal Punishment On Students.
AdminThe management of Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Kano State, has announced the suspension of a staff member who allegedly subjected students to corporal punishment for minor infractions during their ‘Nigerian People and Culture’ lesson.
The incident gained widespread attention through a viral video on social media, prompting a Kano-based lawyer, Barr. Abba Hikima, to pen an open letter condemning the actions of the lecturer as barbaric and inhuman.
Recall that Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil is owned by the Kano State Government. It was initially known as Kano State University of Science and Technology before it was later renamed after Africa’s richest man and businessman, Aliko Dangote, who hails from the State.
In response to the lawyer’s open letter, the university swiftly addressed the issue through a press release signed by the Deputy Registrar of Information and Public Relations, Sa’idu Abdullahi Nayaya.
According to Nayaya, the University management became aware of the viral video depicting corporal punishment inflicted on the students by the erring lecturer during a teaching session. He said the management promptly issued a query and thereafter suspended the staff member and forwarded the case to the Disciplinary Committee for further investigation.
Nayaya emphasised the university’s commitment to ensuring the welfare and safety of its students, stating that, “These measures were taken swiftly to arrest the situation and bring justice.
The management is hereby assuring parents and the general public that any breach of student welfare and safety will not be tolerated and will be met with appropriate consequences.”
Media
Labour Party (LP) has described as laughable the claim by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that opposition parties were sponsoring citizens protesting the harsh economic situation in the country.
The party in a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, reminded the APC that Niger State where the protest took place on Monday is an APC-controlled state.
“Those who took to the streets in Minna, Niger State, a state controlled by the APC went to the streets not as members of opposition parties but as citizens bearing the brunt of this administration’s ineptitude and lack of preparation for governance,” the statement added.
LP stated that Nigerians, irrespective of party affiliations, religious and ethnic creed, go to the same market where the prices of goods and services have skyrocketed.
“Our children have had to stay home because their parents can no longer afford their school fees. Because of lack of planning, the Federal Government is yet to pay January salaries,” the party observed.
It advised the APC to look for solutions to Nigeria’s problems, especially the economic ones it created, “instead of this propaganda parade.
“But unfortunately, you cannot give what you don’t have. Governance is not about grabbing and running away with power, it is all about making judicious use of it to better the lots of the masses.”
Judge Julia Sebutinde of Uganda has been elected Vice President of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for a three-year term, the United Nations’ highest court announced Tuesday.
Sebutinde has served on the 15-member panel of judges at the ICJ since 2012. Prior to her election, she was a judge at the U.N.-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone from 2005-2011.
Established in 1945, the ICJ settles legal disputes between states and gives advisory opinions on legal questions proposed by U.N. organizations. Commonly known as the World Court, it is seated at the Peace Palace in The Hague.
As Vice President, Sebutinde will help oversee the judicial work of the court along with its current President, Judge Joan E. Donoghue of the United States.
Sebutinde is the third woman to hold the post of ICJ Vice President. She succeeds former vice president Xue Hanqin of China. More biographical details can be found on the ICJ website.
Canada remains one of the top choices for international students seeking higher education opportunities.
However, prospective students should take note of some new regulations for the 2024 student visa.
The Canadian government has introduced updates to the study permit, and if you are considering studying in Canada, it’s essential to stay informed about these changes.
The updated regulations also impact the criteria for obtaining the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
Below are some of the new 2024 rules for international students intending to study in Canada:
1. Updated cost-of-living requirements for students: From January 1, 2024, international students must demonstrate they have at least $20,635 (previously $10,000) to cover living expenses (requirements differ for students relocating to Quebec).
2. Changes to Spousal Open Work Permit eligibility: Only spouses of international students enrolled in master’s, doctoral, and professional programs will qualify for open work permits.
3. Longer PGWPs for master’s graduates: Soon, students completing master’s programs in Canada will be eligible for three-year PGWPs.
4. Changes to Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility criteria: Beginning September 1, 2024, foreign students commencing study programs in private colleges delivering licensed curriculum will not qualify for PGWPs.
5. Temporary federal cap on international student intake: Anticipated to decrease by 35% from 2023, the number of study permits approved in 2024 is expected to be 360,000. The cap for 2025 will be determined by the end of 2024.
Naija News reports that the Canadian government announced a two-year intake cap on study permit applications on January 22, 2024.
In 2024, around 360,000 new study permits are anticipated to be granted to international students, marking a 35 percent decline from 2023. The cap for 2025 will be established by year-end.
Each province and territory will also impose a cap on the enrollment of new international students in undergraduate programs.
Provinces experiencing the most unsustainable growth in international student numbers will face more significant reductions in their study permit allocations. For instance, Ontario is expected to undergo a 50 percent reduction in study permit approvals.
Reasons for Canada Enforcing International Student Cap
In the past decade, there has been a significant increase in the number of study permits issued by the Canadian government.
Unfortunately, the infrastructure necessary to accommodate this surge of international students has not kept pace, leading to strain on housing and healthcare systems.
Furthermore, certain private institutions have been admitting more international students primarily to boost revenue, often neglecting to enhance admission and curriculum standards.
The introduction of the new study permit cap aims to provide the Canadian government with time to establish a Trusted Institutions Framework.
This framework will encourage Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) to maintain high educational standards and weed out subpar practices in the education sector.
Implementing such measures will ensure that international students arriving in Canada receive the necessary support to excel academically and in other facets of life.
How does the international student cap impact study permit applicants?
If you are an international student, you might worry about how this new cap could impact your ability to qualify for a Canadian study permit.
The international student cap is anticipated to impact study permit applicants in several ways:
1. Increased competition: With fewer study permits being approved, admission into Canadian Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) is expected to become more competitive. Applicants may face heightened competition for available slots.
2. Impact on undergraduate programs: Applicants enrolling in undergraduate programs, such as bachelor’s degrees, diplomas, or certificates, may find it more challenging to qualify for a study permit due to the reduced number of permits issued.
3. Unaffected master’s and doctoral programs: Applicants applying to master’s or doctoral programs in Canada may see minimal impact on their chances of obtaining a study permit. These programs may remain relatively unaffected by the cap.
4. Greater competition in specific provinces: Provinces like Ontario, British Columbia, and Nova Scotia are expected to experience more significant reductions in study permit allocations. As a result, students interested in studying in these provinces may face intensified competition for study permits.
Overall, the international student cap is likely to make the process of obtaining study permits more competitive, particularly for undergraduate program applicants and those interested in studying in provinces experiencing sharper cuts in permit allocations.
History has been made as Nigerian singer, Rema becomes the first African artist to win a prestigious music award in China.
The singer accomplished the feat as his song ‘Calm Down’ remix with American diva Selena Gomez won Best Collaboration of the Year at the 2024 Hito Music Award in the Republic of China.
The award was given by Hit FM in Taiwan and hosted by DJ Andy.
Rema is one of the few foreign musicians to have received the Taiwanese prize, along with American and British performers.
With more than six Grammys, American pop sensation Taylor Swift is among the most renowned international performers at the ceremony.
This remarkable achievement has not only solidified Rema’s position as a rising star but also showcased the global appeal of African music.
In 2023, Rema’s ‘Calm Down’ ranked world’s most shazammed song of 2023.
The young Nigerian singer has undoubtedly captivated audiences globally with his unique style and melodies.
Released earlier in the year 2022, ‘Calm Down’ quickly gained popularity and became a viral sensation. The song’s fusion of afrobeats and contemporary pop elements seems to have struck a chord with listeners across the globe.
The song became the first African song to top the Global Shazam Year-End chart.
Shazam, the popular music identification app, recorded an extraordinary number of user’s search for ‘Calm Down’. This high demand ultimately led to its ranking as the most Shazammed song of the year.
To accomplish this, “Calm Down” defeated “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus and “Bloody Mary” by Lady Gaga, which came in second and third, respectively.
On Apple Music in 2023, the remix of “Calm Down,” which features Selena Gomez, is the song that has been streamed the most globally.
Grammys CEO reveals criteria used to select winners in resurfaced video, amid backlash from Nigerians
AdminIn the wake of Nigerians feeling slighted, an old clip capturing American record producer and head of the Recording Academy, Harvey Mason Jr., discussing the criteria used by the Academy to choose its award winners, has resurfaced online.
Davido’s loss at the 66th Grammy Awards, despite bagging three nominations, has remained a heated topic among his fans.
A trending video showed some of Davido’s 30BG fans reporting the Recording Academy’s social media account to prove their displeasure.
Amid the online uproar, the CEO of the Grammy Awards, revealed in a resurfaced video, that sales and chart-topping achievements aren’t part of the criteria for securing the coveted music recognition award.
Harvey pointed out that even having a vast global fanbase and selling millions of records doesn’t ensure winning the prestigious accolade.
According to him, residing in the United States of America and being a member of the GRAMMY Academy are essential to winning an award.
He highlighted that it’s fellow artists who are members of the Recording Academy that vote for their colleagues after nominations are submitted.
His words;
“First you have to understand, that the only way to win a Grammy is to have the Membership of the Academy vote for you,”
“In order to be a member of the Academy you have to be a music professional working in the United States, for now. For now, it’s only in the United States of America, hopefully, we grow then. Right now, if you are a working professional in the USA you can become a member of the Recording Academy
“Once you are a member of the Academy, all the music is submitted the members listen to it and they evaluate it based on the quality of the art not the sales, not the streams not on the followers or how many fans… it is purely on the art.
“It’s purely on the opinion and as you all know it is very hard because it is subjective. There is no best song, best record it is just the opinion of the Membership in that particular year. That is how you win a Grammy and that is it.
“The voters vote, there is no committee, there is no journalist, no labels just music professionals voting for their peers, period,”
WATCH HIM SPEAK BELOW
Media
Funke Akindele’s latest movie, ‘A Tribe Called Judah,’ leaves its mark on UK cinemas by grossing an impressive £80,000.
FilmOne Entertainment, Nigeria’s official distributor, reported the earnings from five cinema locations in the United Kingdom over the course of four weeks.
As of February 1, 2024, the Cinemas Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN) reported that A Tribe Called Judah grossed ₦1,384,315,042 in Nigeria. The movie, which spent almost seven weeks at the top of the Nigerian cinema box office chart, lost its number-one spot to The Beekeeper last week.
In the story ‘A Tribe Called Judah’, five brothers—Jide Kene Achufusi as Emeka Judah, Timini Egbuson as Pere Judah, Uzee Usman as Adamu Judah, Tobi Makinde as Shina Judah, and Olumide Oworu as Ejiro Judah—must band together to plunder a business in order to save their mother, Jedidah Judah, portrayed by Akindele.
The cast includes Ebelle Okaro, Uzor Arukwe, Nse Ikpe Etim, Genoveva Umeh, Faithia Williams, Nosa Rex, Greg Ojefua, Ibrahim Yekini, Boma Akpore, Paschaline Ijeoma Alex, Etinosa Idemudia, Juliana Olayode, and Yvonne Jegede.
Since its premiere on December 15, 2023, the film has been viewed in Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and nine French-speaking countries.
Media
Nigerian film actress, Lizzy Anjorin has responded to a video that went viral showing her purportedly taking gold from a Lagos market.
Controversial blogger Gistlover claimed that Lizzy Anjorin was apprehended at the market after purportedly attempting to purchase the gold with a fictitious bank transfer.
The screen diva has responded to the accusations by denying them in an Instagram live video.
She claims that Iyabo Ojo, a colleague, is circulating false information about her and that she merely went to the market to buy clothes and accessories.
In Lizzy Anjorin’s words:
“Do they sell gold at Tom Jones, because that place is Tom Jones where they sell wedding materials like stones for a wedding gown because I do wedding gowns?
Shepeteri (Iyabo Ojo) how come you are the first person who posted the story if you are not the one behind it.”
In other news, Renowned cultural icon, Jimi Solanke is dead.
Reports claim the 82 year old dramatist, folk singer, plawright and poet passed on in the early hours of Monday, February 5 after a brief illness.
He died en route the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital.
Born on July 4, 1942, in Ipara Remo, Jimi Solanke’s artistic journey began as a pioneer member of the Orisun Theatre Group, founded by the renowned Wole Soyinka, in 1961.
His contributions to the global entertainment industry spanned seven decades, leaving an indelible mark on various platforms, from the Western Nigeria Television in the 1960s to international festivals in Senegal and Algeria during the 1970s.
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In the Diobu area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, a group of women staged a peaceful protest at the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) office on Tuesday.
Their demonstration was fueled by frustration over the lack of electricity, citing challenges in maintaining intimate relationships with their spouses due to excessive heat.
Armed with placards bearing messages like ‘No Light, No Payment’ and ‘The Heat is too much,’ the women highlighted the hardships they face, including the inability to store cooked food and disruptions to their businesses caused by inconsistent power supply.
The leader of the protesting women , Maria Ike, said, “We have decided to let the world know what we are passing through in the hands of PHED. The poor supply in our area is at zero level despite the fact that we pay monthly bills to PHED. We no longer have romance and conjugal relationship with our husbands because of so much heat due to power failure. Our businesses have collapsed because of power outage. This is really affecting our families,” she said.
The leader of the protesting women , Maria Ike, said, “We have decided to let the world know what we are passing through in the hands of PHED. The poor supply in our area is at zero level despite the fact that we pay monthly bills to PHED. We no longer have romance and conjugal relationship with our husbands because of so much heat due to power failure. Our businesses have collapsed because of power outage. This is really affecting our families,” she said.
When contacted PHED Public Relation Officer, Livingstone Koko, said that the issue of poor power supply is a general problem in the country.
He said that PHED was doing its best to improve on power supply in the state.
Adetunji Adeleye, Ondo state commander of the south-west security network, code-named Amotekun, says no fewer than 149 suspected criminals have been arrested at different black spots within three LGAs areas of Ondo State.
Adeleye spoke while parading the suspects on Tuesday in Ondo.
According to him, the majority of the suspects claimed that they were hunters when they came into the state.
Adeleye said that the suspects were arrested with guns, bags of Indian hemp and cutlasses.
The Amotekun commander stated that the suspects were apprehended in areas where robbery and kidnapping were common in the local government.
“They surprisingly and carefully concealed and kept their weapons, bags of Indian hemp and cutlasses under their vehicles, and they claimed that they were coming from the various parts of the country”, he said
“The pertinent questions we are asking is: “Why are they hiding their guns?” If they are genuine hunters, why not come out openly?
“One begins to wonder why they would come from the extreme parts of the country to hunt in a village, in a forest they had never been to.
“We have very strong reasons to believe that they are the people that turn, at night, to kidnappers and armed robbers and commit various crimes, especially on the bad portions of the roads and in the forest reserves of the state,” he said.
According to him, every Nigerian has the right to go anywhere in the country, but does not have the right to go with weapons.
The commander said that after conclusion of investigations, the suspects would be taken to relevant government agencies for detailed profiling.
“The government is very clear that if you are a hunter and want to go into the forest, you have to register so that the government, the kings and the hunters will know that you are there.”
Police Officers Arrested For Allegedly Abducting Abuja Resident, Empting Over N20 Million In His Accounts
AdminIn a startling revelation that underscores the ongoing issues of insecurity and misconduct within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), several police officers have been taken into custody for their involvement in the extortion of a staggering sum of N29.9 million from an Abuja resident.
The incident, which has sent shockwaves through the community, came to light through the efforts of an activist, Harrison Gwamnishu, who brought the case to public attention via a video on his X account.
The victim, a businessman operating within the FCT, fell prey to the unscrupulous actions of the implicated officers in January.
According to Gwamnishu’s account, the police kidnapped the businessman and coerced him into transferring the entirety of his bank account funds to them.
The ordeal didn’t end there; the victim was purportedly forced to contact relatives and friends to send more money to secure his release.
Further aggravating the situation, Gwamnishu pointed out that the man was apprehended at his workplace without any formal complaint lodged against him.
Moreover, the officers involved did not follow standard legal procedures, as they reportedly did not ask the victim to provide a formal statement.
The seriousness of these allegations was highlighted by the sharing of transaction receipts alongside the video, lending credence to the claims of extortion.
Responding to the allegations, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Force Spokesperson, confirmed on Tuesday that arrests had been made in connection with the case.
The spokesperson emphasized the force’s dedication to rooting out corruption and abuse of power within its ranks, marking a significant step towards restoring public trust in the law enforcement agencies.
He wrote, “We are making a headway on this matter, and justice will be served, as some suspects have been arrested. Hakuna matata.”
The development comes after the Anambra State Police Command declared one of the officers in its command, Inspector Audu Omadefu, wanted over alleged murder.
The command’s public relations officer, Ikenga Tochukwu, disclosed this in a press release on Tuesday.
The police spokesperson said the fleeing operative Omadefu can be recognised by his service number AP No. 362178.
According to Tochukwu, the inspector disappeared into thin air following the accusation of murder against him.
The police called upon the public to assist in locating Omadefu, assuring that any information provided will be treated with the highest degree of confidentiality.
Nigeria’s Supreme Court spent over N12 billion in breach of financial regulations for five years, the latest audit report of the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation (OAuGF) has revealed.
The funds should be recovered and remitted to the treasury by the Chief Registrar of the court, the audit report, released in December 2023, recommended.
The report essentially covers the expenditures and finances of ministries, departments and agencies of the federal government for the 2020 fiscal year, but for the Supreme Court, it stretches forward and backwards to touch on some major payments and transactions executed from 2017 to 2021.
The current Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Hajo Sarki-Bello, assumed office in 2021, a year after the alleged infractions took place under Hadizatu Uwani-Mustapha.
Mrs Uwani-Mustapha, who was the Supreme Court’s chief registrar for most of the period when the flagged transactions took place, retired from the court as Chief Registrar in June 2021.
Walter Onnoghen, who was the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) between 2016 and 2019, and his successor Tanko Muhammad, who was CJN between 2019 and 2022, oversaw the Supreme Court during the period of the controversial payments and transactions spotlighted by Nigeria’s auditor-general.
Mr Muhammad abruptly resigned from office, citing health issues in June 2022, amid a raging, unprecedented protest from his colleague justices of the Supreme Court about his handling of the finances and other affairs of the court at the time.
Highlights of the issues raised concerning the transactions totalling N12.335 billion in the 2020 audit report include – payments for contracts without budgetary provisions, diversion of government assets for private use, inflation of contract price, irregular award of contracts and overpayment to contractors, among others.
In one of the key violations of extant regulations, the report revealed that the Supreme Court appropriated and received the sum of N645 million for the procurement of broadcast equipment in 2017.
However, the court failed to produce “relevant documents such as vouchers, vote book, store receipt vouchers, store ledger and invoices” for audit.
Following the silence of the court to provide any explanation for its failure to tender the documents, the audit report attributed the “anomalies” to “weaknesses in the internal control system at the Supreme Court.”
Also, the report said, contrary to constitutional provisions and financial regulations, the court funnelled over N10.223 billion through 124 vouchers to “various beneficiaries” in 2020. But the paid vouchers and other supporting documents were not presented for audit, the report said.
Citing a case of irregular award of contract and overpayment to a contractor, the report requested the Chief Registrar to justify the sum of N826.75 million to the National Assembly.
In addition, it asked the Supreme Court’s chief registrar, who is the accounting officer of the court to recover the N826.75 million and remit it to the national coffers, as failure to do so would attract statutory sanctions in the Financial Regulations (2009).
Narrating the circumstances around the issue of overpayment to a contractor, the report revealed that a contract was awarded for the construction of an access road to justices’ quarters (Yellow Houses) in Abuja in April 2021, the twilight of Ms Uwani-Mustapha’s exit from the Supreme Court.
The contract was awarded at the cost of N990 million (N990,494,207.80 in total). The level of work done was valued at 50 per cent, which should have amounted to N495 million (N495,247,103.90).
But “the contractor was paid N827 million (N827,075,713.04 in total) being 83.5 per cent of the contract sum resulting in an overpayment of N331,815,559.61,” the report said, adding that the court offered no explanation for the violation.
In another instance, the court awarded contracts totalling N371.5 million (N371,541,636 in total) for supplies, works and services in 2017 without budgetary provisions.
However, payments amounting to N112 million (N112,117,106.37) were made in 2018, 2019 and 2020 “with no evidence of appropriation.”
The report also uncovered the sale of four landed properties belonging to the court in Lagos.
The plots of land located at 72 Alexander Avenue, 2 Club Road, 20 Cameron Road and 15 Ikoyi Crescent, all in Abuja, were “disposed of without following due process.”
It added that “evidence of the disposal such as authorisation, report from board of survey, engagement of auctioneers, advertisement, proceeds from disposal, among others were not produced for audit.”
In a case of illegal possession of government property, the report said the Supreme Court paid over N3 billion for 45 vehicles between the 2017 and 2021 fiscal years.
Giving details of the vehicle purchase, the report disclosed that 18 of the 45 vehicles costing over N515 million were attached to seven justices of the Supreme Court for official use.
But after the justices retired from the court, the official cars attached to them were not returned for inspection, a scenario the report described as “diversion of government assets for private use.”
In the myriad of violations detailed by the audit report, the court management responded to the issue of justices’ retirement with official vehicles attached to them.
“The vehicles are part of Supreme Court justices’ entitlements,” the court responded in the report.
But it kept mum on other egregious violations in the report.
Lawyers and anti-corruption activists have questioned the illegality of the National Judicial Council (NJC) in concealing the judiciary’s budget details from public scrutiny, even sometimes doing so in resistance to Freedom of Information requests.
The extent of NJC’s desperation to keep details of its finances away from the public became clearer in 2022, when the then Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, challenged it to open its budget for the sake of transparency.
Amid the secrecy of the budgets and finances of the judiciary which the NJC helps to sustain, allegations of corruption and mismanagement of funds, sometimes coming from highly placed insiders, hover over the judiciary.
In May 2022, a retiring Justice of the Supreme Court, Ejembi Eko, in his valedictory speech, lamented the corruption in the handling of the finances of the judiciary.
He, therefore, called on anti-graft agencies to probe the financial records of the judiciary.
“Nothing stops the office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, the ICPC and other investigatory agencies from opening the books of the judiciary to expose the corruption in the management of their budgetary resources,” Mr Eko had said.
“That does not compromise the independence of the judiciary. Rather, it promotes accountability.”
It would take just a month after Mr Eko’s invitation to the anti-corruption agencies to probe the finances of the judiciary for internal rumblings about corruption and suspicions of financial mismanagement within the Supreme Court to implode.
In June 2022, in an unprecedented protest letter to then CJN, Tanko Muhammad, 14 Justices of the Supreme Court demanded “to know what has become of our training funds,” and asked rhetorically, “Have they been diverted, or is it a plain denial?”
Later that year in September, one of the justices who authored the protest letter, Abdu Aboki, took advantage of his valedictory speech while retiring from the Supreme Court bench, to press for financial transparency and accountability in the judiciary.
Under the part of his valedictory speech which he sub-titled, ‘My valedictory messages to the nation and judiciary in particular,’ Mr Aboki called on “those in charge of administering the funds allocated to the judiciary” in Nigeria “to be prudent, transparent and accountable.”
In a more direct and critical tone, another Justice of the Supreme Court, Dattijo Muhammad, while retiring as the second most senior justice of the court in October 2023, alleged widespread corruption in the Nigerian Supreme Court and down the hierarchy of the judiciary.
Mr Muhammad was one of the 14 Supreme Court justices who authored the protest letter sent to then CJN, Tanko Muhammad, in June 2022. But as of the time of Dattijo Muhammad’s retirement in October last year, Olukayode Ariwoola, who led the pack of the 14 protesting justices more than a year earlier, had taken over from Tanko Muhammad as the CJN.
Turning on the handlers of the funds allocated to the judiciary in his valedictory speech last October, Dattijo Muhammad said despite the “phenomenal” increase in the judiciary’s budgets over the years, there had been no commensurate improvement in the welfare of judges.
He similarly called for a probe of the judiciary’s handling of its funds.
He said, “unrelenting searchlight need to be beamed to unravel how the sums are expended.”
With the Supreme Court’s silence over the infractions highlighted in the latest audit report, Nigeria’s auditor-general’s office requested the chief registrar to account, recover and remit the funds into the federation account.
It specifically asked the chief registrar to show proof of compliance with the recommendations to the Public Accounts Committee of the National Assembly.
But this is not the first time the office of the Auditor-General of the Federation has indicted ministries, departments and agencies of government over serious violations of financial regulations.
But the recommendations of the audit reports are never implemented by the National Assembly, or taken up by Nigeria’s law enforcement agencies, a development that has emboldened public institutions to perpetrate grand corruption in the form of diversion of public funds.