Two Ghanaian nationals identified as Emmanuel Doedcher, 40, and Godswill Olamide John, 25, have been arrested with weeds suspected to be Indian hemp worth about N250 million.
The suspects were arrested on December 9, 2023, at the Lagos anchorage by naval officers from NNS BEECROFT.
The Commander of NNS BEECROFT, Commodore Kolawole Oguntuga, who confirmed their arrest to newsmen, said the suspects were members of a syndicate that specialized in the shipment of Ghanaian brand of cannabis also known as Skunk, from Accra in Ghana to Nigeria. Four other members of the gang jumped into the Lagos lagoon and swam away under the cover of darkness.
Officers of the Nigerian Navy Ship NNS BEECROFT are currently combing the waters in search of the suspects.
“Recall that some weeks ago, we intercepted two consignments of cannabis weighing over 8000kg. The latest seizure weighs about 5000kg. We will continue to go after them. This is in line with the zero tolerance of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, on smuggling. We will also continue to collaborate with sister agencies to ensure a crime-free yuletide season” Oguntuga said
When interrogated, Doedcher said his contact in Ghana told him that the consignment belonged to one Buchi at Eleko Beach in the Ajah area of Lekki. On his part, Godswill said he was promised N150,000 after the consignment was successfully delivered to its owners at Eleko Beach.
Minister of Health, Muhammad Ali Pate has disclosed that Nigerian front-line health personnel are motivated by a desire to help people rather than monetary compensation.
Pate, who spoke on issues surrounding the pay of health workers in the country and the reason behind the emigration of doctors and nurses to other nations while appearing on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday, detailed that money is not the key driver for healthcare workers.
Naija News reports that the health minister argued that remuneration was not the primary reason for the country’s mass exodus of healthcare workers.
Pate said, “Whoever goes into the healthcare profession has an interesting motivation to help others, he is not driven by just monetary incentives and all. That many folks go into the healthcare industry to serve others and that should not be taken for granted even though compensation is as important also as opposed to other professions where the money itself is the key driver.
“Whether you are a nurse, whether you’re a midwife or a medical doctor or a pharmacist or in any healthcare profession, there seem to be an unappreciation of the interesting motivation that selects folks to go there. If you want to make a lot of money, you can go into some other industries, you’ll make tons of money but those who are willing to serve others, to save lives to reduce pain are a special breed and yes i think the remuneration is a key component, making it regular, but that is not the primary reason that people would just pack their things and go.”
His comment comes as front-line health workers continue to leave Nigeria in search of greener pastures in Western nations.
At least fourteen (14) teams have already secured their spots in the 2023/2024 UEFA Champions League Round of 16.
The list emerged following Tuesday night games, which saw German club Bayern Munich edge Premier League side Manchester United at their home ground, Old Trafford.
Naija News reports that the visitors scored 1 goal to send Erik ten Hag’s team out of the competition.
Also, FC Copenhagen recorded a 1-0 win over Galatasaray to finish in second place behind Bayern Munich in Group A.
On the other hand, Napoli beat Braga 2-0 to book their spot in the knockout stages.
The stage is now set for exciting matchups, with some of Europe’s biggest clubs battling it out for the coveted trophy.
Below is the list of UCL Teams That Have Qualified For Round Of 16:
Bayern Munich (GER)
Inter Milan (ITA)
RB Leipzig (GER)
Manchester City (ENG)
Real Madrid (ESP)
Real Sociedad (ESP)
Atletico Madrid (ESP)
Lazio (ITA)
Borussia Dortmund (GER)
Barcelona (ESP)
Arsenal (ENG)
PSV Eindhoven (NED)
Naija News reports that there are still two spots up for grabs, and the remaining matches on Wednesday will determine who gets to join these giants in the next stage.
The two remaining will be taken up by the winner of the following matches today – AC Milan/Newcastle/PSG or FC Porto/Shakhtar Donetsk.
While many celebrity marriages in Nigeria have continued to thrive, others have sadly crashed, shocking their fans.
In this article highlights eight celebrities whose marriages unfortunately crashed in 2023.
1. Bolanle Ninalowo: Many fans were left speechless when Ninalowo, in a post via Instagram in September, announced that his 17-year-old marriage to his wife, Bunmi, had ended and the split was for the best of everyone involved.
2. Yomi Gold: Yoruba Nollywood actor cum producer producer, Yomi Alore, popularly known as Yomi Gold, announced the end of his second marriage to his wife, Meenah, in January 2023.
The movie star took responsibility for the marriage crash, describing his wife as a good person while announcing the split.
3. BRed: The marriage of Nigerian singer, Adebayo Adeleke, also known as BRed, to his wife, Faith Johnson, crashed in June amidst allegations of domestic violence and infidelity.
4. Wunmi Toriola: In January, the movie star, in a post via Instagram, announced that her marriage had crashed and debunked allegations of being violent while the union lasted.
In a recent interview with New Telegraph, Wunmi said her marriage ended because her ex-husband always rubbed her fame to her face during arguments.
5. Isreal DMW: Davido’s Logistics Manager, Israel Afeare, popularly known as Isreal DMW, in a post via Instagram last month (November), announced the end of his marriage to his wife, Sheila Courage.
Israel DMW revealed that Sheila left their home on August 8, 2023, despite his substantial support and acts of generosity since their marriage.
He also claimed that his wife accused him of being a ‘slave’ to his boss, Davido.
6. Stella Damasus: Veteran Nollywood actress, Stella Damasus, confirmed the crash of her third marriage to movie producer, Daniel Ademinokan in October. Stella said she found out about the end of the union on YouTube, adding that Ademinokan has moved on with another lady.
The news of their crashed marriage caught many fans by surprise, considering when the going was good, the couple often engaged in public displays of affection.
7. Faridah Sobowale: Popular Lagos socialite, Farida, made headlines when news of her attempted suicide surfaced online in August. The Lagos socialite tried to commit suicide at the third mainland bridge following the crash of her two-month-old marriage to Demola Odulaja over infidelity.
However, Odulaja, in an interview with Yoruba social commentator ArewaTopeFamous, claimed Sobowale’s promiscuous way was the reason the marriage ended.
8. Damola Olatunji: Popular Yoruba Nollywood actress, Bukola Awoyemi, popularly called Arugba, separated from her ‘husband’ and colleague, Damola Olatunji, over alleged infidelity, but the latter denied the allegation.
Announcing their separation via her Instagram page, Bukola claimed she was never married to Damola, but they only had kids together.
The General Overseer of the Calvary Bible Church, Pastor Olumide Emmanuel has revealed what led to his divorce from his first wife.
Pastor Emmanuel in an interview aired on Kingsley Okonkwo‘s YouTube Channel, disclosed that his first wife repeatedly abused him during their nine years of marriage.
The cleric who refused to unveil the identity of his first wife, said she was an abuser and had been married twice before he met her.
He said, “There are some things I won’t say to protect them. I became a pastor at the age of 21. I got married in 1997. This information is coming to the public domain for the first time. A lot of people didn’t know, so I just kept quiet. I lost friends. And people didn’t know, God said I should keep quiet because he would fight for me and vindicate me. I was a victim.
“I met this beautiful daughter of Zion, and when I met with her, we started as business partners and friends. As a business partner, I didn’t know much about her personal life. When we came into contact with each other, it was time to get married, I proposed to her. And then we started a courtship; she explained to me that she was not divorced but that she had been married twice. During this period she told me her story.
“In the first marriage, she said she got married, but there was no sex, so the marriage was not consummated. She said she discovered that the man could not perform sexually. When the man could not perform, he (the husband) accused her saying that something was wrong with her because he had done it a week before. The man was in a relationship with one of her chief bridesmaids and she still got married to him. So when this came out, it led to a lot of other things. This is all according to her story. So when she got out of this, they went into what is called a dissolution marriage. I did my investigation.”
He noted that he got married to his first wife despite learning of her unsuccessful second marriage, which was allegedly caused by the man’s broken promises and infidelity.
Pastor Emmanuel said, “In her second marriage, they had done the traditional rites. I knew this because she told me she wanted to go abroad for a wedding.
“And then she came back and I asked why didn’t the marriage take place. They were to get married, and the man she was to marry was a pastor in a major holy denomination here in Nigeria.
“She had a business before she left Nigeria. And the man promised her that she could still be doing her business when she came. But when she got there, he shifted the goalpost and told her that she had to shut down her business in Nigeria.
“And when I showed up, and by my experience and journey with God, we went ahead and got into the relationship. But the very minute the relationship started, I started noticing things. I realised that she was in the prison of her past.
“I realised that insecurity was a major issue. And then I realised her experience had damaged her and that she was not yet healed from it. Because this was my area, I knew what to do. I knew I could help her.
“And we got married at the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries. The General Overseer of the MFM was involved in the marriage. She took succour in prayer. I told her that prayer could not solve the issue, even though I believe in prayer. I told her she needed help. At one point, there were some things she did that surprised me. She did something that was like a high level of abuse.”
He revealed that he was about to give up and move on due to his wife’s behaviour, which he had gotten tired of even before they were married, but he changed his mind when people pleaded on her behalf.
He added, “All these things were before marriage, and then she started begging and crying, saying that she was sorry. So we went on with the wedding. On the wedding day, she walked out of the wedding. People do not know all these stories. I’m doing this to help people. And I am doing this openly and globally. She walked out of the wedding; I have people that were there. Why did she walk out of the wedding? — … see how religion destroys people’s lives?”
In addition, Pastor Emmanuel said that his first wife left the wedding reception—which his mother had insisted on planning on their behalf—during the ceremony because of cultural issues.
He explained, “I don’t believe in wedding gowns and receptions. So my parents were saying, ‘You are the firstborn’, and my mother begged me saying that wedding ceremonies were done once.
“So when they insisted, I told them they could go ahead and that we would come and visit them. And as we were coming in, my mother came out and started jubilating that “our wife has come.
“And then my wife just flipped and told my mother, ‘No, mummy, I’m not your wife. I am my husband’s wife. And that is the way they will begin to call someone a compound wife and begin to pour evil water for someone to match on.
“I felt embarrassed. My mom started explaining to her that the house was Jesus’ house and that there was no evil water. She started questioning why we came, and then suddenly turned around and left. On our wedding day, she walked out. That was the beginning of the marriage for the next 10 years.
“It was a combination of all kinds of things. As a young man, there were many things that I began to see. Your ministry is born out of your misery. I was doing amazingly well from campus to campus, and … will still end up in a failed marriage. And this is why I decided to come and teach the next generation practical things that churches are not talking about.
“There were all kinds of things, including physical abuse, which we cannot discuss. I cannot go into details, but the abuse was heavy. But let me say this: if I didn’t get a slap, at a minimal count, in nine years of marriage, maybe six times. A full-grown man like me receiving slaps.”
He clarified that despite the woman’s constant abuse of him; he attempted to resolve their differences but only returned home and discovered that she had left the house after nearly 10 years of marriage.
He said, “We were coming from Dr Daniel Olukoya’s office when she introduced me to him. And some things happened that I won’t disclose. Dr Olukoya is one of the humblest men of God I have ever seen; with the way he welcomed us. But when we got back into the car, this woman did not say a word. And when we got to where she would drop, she told me I was so arrogant. And I asked her what I did wrong.
“She said she told me somebody was her father and that I went there and started opening my mouth and felt relaxed. And that I was quoting the scripture and started asking what church I had. And, how many members do I have? She thoroughly dealt with me.
“She said she told me not to mention any date, and I wanted to respond to her but she told me that she would slap me if I said any word.
“I parked the car, and I looked at her because even my parents had never slapped me before.
“I asked her to repeat what she said. And she repeated that she would slap me. This is why I used to preach to people not to ignore early signs. And history can repeat itself when people refuse to learn from it. And to learn from history, it is not to experience, but that you document it all. All those things that led to abuse, I never did, but she did. She abandoned the house. I got home one day, and she was gone.
“I called my lawyer and looked at the laws of Nigeria. I called family members and waited until everything was done and I was the one who filed for divorce. Before I filed for divorce, we had sessions with Dr Olukoya, Pastor Oyedepo and a lot of other people.”
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, Leroy Edozien has said that people come together in Nigerian politics because of privileges and money.
Edozien stated this during an interview with Punch.
He argued that politicians in different parties would naturally come together and join forces if there is money or appointments to be shared.
The APC chieftain insisted that the concept of unity based on values and visions is foreign to Nigerian politics
According to him, “Now, if you look at our party, the APC, not just APC, it applies to practically every party in Nigeria, you do not find the concept of shared vision and lofty values. People come together in Nigerian politics for two things: privileges and money.
“When there is money, that can bond people together, even if they are in separate parties, they come together because all of them want to share that money.
“Apart from money, the second is the privilege. When there are appointments or other privileges, cabals that are interested in those positions come together to ensure those privileges are given to them, their cronies, and family members. These – money and privileges – are two things that bring people together in Nigerian politics. The concept of unity based on shared lofty visions and values is alien to politics in Nigeria.”
A self-acclaimed pastor, David Eludi, has been docked in Lagos for allegedly conspiring with others to collect the sum of N352,000 from one Florence Samuel, with a promise to use the funds to liberate her from family curses.
Eludi was arraigned before an Ojo Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on a three-count charge of conspiracy, obtaining by false pretences and stealing on Tuesday.
The Prosecutor, Dr Simon Uche, told the court that 44-year-old Pastor Eludi committed the offences in November at Jakande area of Ajangbadi in Ojo.
He said that the defendant conspired with others, now at large, to collect the sum of N352,000 from one Florence Samuel, with a promise to use the funds to liberate her from family curses.
Uche said that the representation was found to be false, as the defendant failed to embark on any family liberation.
The prosecutor said that Pastor Eludi converted the funds to his personal use, without the consent of the complainant.
The offences, according to him, contravene the provisions of Sections 287, 314 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The Pastor, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Magistrate, Mr L.K.J. Layeni, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N200,000, with two sureties in like sum.
He adjourned the case till Jan. 12, 2024 for mention. (NAN)
The outspoken president of La Liga, Javier Tebas, has been re-elected to his position as head of Spanish football’s two top divisions, the league said on Tuesday.
Tebas, 61, had resigned in November in order to seek a fourth term and was the only candidate.
He assumed the presidency of La Liga for the first time in April 2013 and was re-elected in 2016 and 2019.
“The Electoral Commission of the National Professional Football League (La Liga)… has agreed to the definitive proclamation of Mr. Javier Tebas Medrano as President of the National Professional Football League, for a period of four years,” La Liga said in a statement.
Tebas, the former club president of Huesca, is credited with reforming Spanish football’s TV rights bargaining by centralising a system which previously relied on clubs negotiating individually.
He has butted heads with the presidents of Real Madrid and Barcelona over their support for a proposed European Super League.
And he has raised hackles abroad with his criticism of clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City, arguing that their Gulf-based ownership amounts to “financial doping”.
Kingsley Coman scored the only goal for the Bundesliga champions, who had long since secured their place in the last 16, to leave United without even the consolation of dropping into the Europa League.
An embarrassing early exit from Europe's elite competition increases the pressure on manager Erik ten Hag with United also languishing in sixth in the Premier League.
The damage to United's Champions League hopes was done long before the arrival of Bayern when they failed to win three of their four games against Copenhagen and Galatasaray.
Copenhagen beat Galatasaray 1-0 on Tuesday to join Bayern in the last 16, with the Turkish giants finishing third.
"We didn't lose it today, that's clear," said Ten Hag.
"We had I think opportunities in games (against Copenhagen and Galatasaray). We were in winning positions; we scored many goals and we gave it away."
It is just the fourth time that an English side has finished bottom of their Champions League group.
A troubled season for Ten Hag reached a new low on Saturday when Bournemouth won for the first time at Old Trafford and with ease in a 3-0 victory.
The former Ajax boss responded by recalling Raphael Varane to the starting line-up for the first time in nearly two months.
The Frenchman has been surprisingly frozen out by Ten Hag but is likely to have a big part to play in the coming weeks as Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw had to be replaced during Tuesday's action, adding to an already lengthy injury list.
"We are losing players and losing players who are very decisive," added Ten Hag, who was also without Marcus Rashford, Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro.
"In many games it was the case in this campaign that we didn't have players available."
Bayern were already assured of progressing as Group A winners but Thomas Tuchel's men had a point to prove themselves after suffering a 5-1 hammering at Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.
"It's never comfortable at Old Trafford, but I think we deserved to win. "We needed a reaction, and we got a reaction," said Tuchel.
Harry Kane started on his return to England and played a decisive role in the winning goal as he teed up Coman to blast past Andre Onana.
Bayern remain unbeaten in the Champions League group stages since 2017 and extended a competition record of nine consecutive away wins at this stage of the competition.
Yet the German giants rarely had to get out of second gear as they look forward to the knockout stages in 2024.
"After the result at the weekend we had a really high motivation here," said Kane.
"I think there could have been a bit more in the final third. We had a good start to the season, but I feel like there are a few more gears to go up."
There was no such excuse for United's lack of urgency as they bowed out with a whimper.
Shaw's long-range effort that Manuel Neuer comfortably batted behind was United's only shot on target.
But the loss of Shaw at half-time and Maguire during the first half, to an apparent groin injury, only added to Ten Hag's woes ahead of a daunting trip to Liverpool on Sunday.
United did have one big chance to go in front early in the second half, but Bruno Fernandes' wild effort that flew well over the bar summed up his side's lack of quality and composure in the final third.
Bayern were also far from their free-flowing best.
However, they needed just one slick move to win the game as Kane flicked Thomas Mueller's pass into the path of Coman to fire home his fifth goal of the season 19 minutes from time.
Napoli reached the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday after seeing off Braga 2-0 and ending a home hoodoo which had stretched back two months.
The Italian champions qualified second in Group C behind Real Madrid thanks to Serder Saatci’s clumsy own goal and Victor Osimhen’s first goal since early October, both which came in the first half.
Walter Mazzarri’s side would have got through even with a single-goal defeat but in the end comfortably qualified for the next round, snapping a six-match winless streak at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
A first win in Naples since beating Udinese in late September made sure that Napoli finished the group stage on 10 points, six ahead of Braga who drop down to the Europa League.
Braga knew that they had to win by at least two goals in order to leapfrog Napoli and Bruma wasted a great chance to put the away side into the lead with just two minutes on the clock, lashing wide from close range after confusion in the Napoli area.
However their task was made that much taller in the ninth minute, when the unfortunate Saatci tripped over Matteo Politano’s low cross and sent the ball spinning towards his own goal.
Braga goalkeeper Matheus did his best to keep the scores level but could only claw the ball out after it had already crossed the line.
Napoli pushed for a second but had a superb Alex Meret save to thank for Braga not pulling level with a Ricardo Horta rocket from distance.
However in the 33rd minute newly-crowned African player of the year Osimhen effectively sealed Napoli’s passage into the next round.
Moments before the Nigeria striker was left open-mouthed at Piotr Zielinski not squaring to him when he was completely unmarked just yards from goal, opting instead to smash a shot straight at Matheus.
But this time Natan played the right pass afer bursting down the left flank and allowed Osimhen to bundle in his seventh goal of what has been a difficult campaign to date in southern Italy.
Osimhen’s first goal in this season’s Champions League left Braga needing to score four goals without reply to get through and the wave of relief was tangible both in the stands and on the pitch.
Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa should have scored when Osimhen perfectly teed him up in the 65th minute, but the Cameroon midfielder could only shot straight at Matheus.
The only negative note of proceedings was Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s continued struggle for form, the out-of-sorts Georgian yet to open his account in Europe’s top club competition this term.
However he will have another chance in the new year thanks to a win which broke a painful run of three straight losses and could bring some confidence back to troubled Napoli.
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The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, and Poverty Alleviation, Beta Edu, has said that the amount allocated to her ministry in the 2024 budget was not capable of fighting poverty in the country.
The Minister stated this on Tuesday when she led officials of her ministry and parastalas under it, to defend her 2024 budget before the Joint National Assembly Committee of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, chaired by Senator Idiat Adebule.
She said her ministry was given an overhead ceiling of N532.5bn which represents a 28 per cent increase over the 2023 budget to cushion the effects of inflation.
It is pertinent to note that the 28 per cent increase in the overhead ceiling is not commensurate to the 27.33 per cent inflationary rate in the economy today, she noted.
Edu said, “Conversely, the capital budget ceiling was reduced from N3.7bn in 2022 to N1.328316bn in 2023 and it represents a 71 per cent reduction.
“So, in 2022 and 2023, there was a 71 per cent reduction.
“However the pittance capital ceiling of N1.535b which is an increase from the current year’s budget does not in any way match with the mandate of the ministry’s headquarters to shrink poverty in Nigeria.”
The minister added, “Simply put, there was an over 71 per cent reduction between 2022 and 2023 so the minimal increase between 2023 and 2024 does not in any way match with the mandate which we have been given and what is expected of us.
“At this point, I will plead humbly and sincerely with the chairman, co-chair, and members of this great Committee that as we look into Nigeria as a nation. The burden lies on us to tackle the issue of poverty with sincerity. One thing you can take from me and my team working under the guardians of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is that he truly wants Nigerians to be out of poverty.
“Except the budget is appropriate for it, we would be completely unable to meet that mandate.“
She further explained, “It will be words that would not be marched with actions. I am happy that you represent constituencies and senatorial zones a lot is being expected of you from the government in your constituencies to meet their real sincere demands.
“That is the reason why this committee must go beyond board to ensure that the present budget which was given to the Ministry and agencies is carefully looked into, reconsidered, and something more reasonable and in keeping with the realities on the ground is done.
“The ministry has several special Projects which I will not like to mention and we intend to use these special Projects as agencies under us to meet the target.”
The minister further lamented that something very serious was omitted from the budget.
She told the Senate, “If you followed the news closely, the President who is the chairman of the Federal Executive Council recently approved the creation of the Humanitarian and Poverty Eradication Trust Fund.
“This Trust Fund is expected to have a contribution from the Federal Government of 30% counterpart funding which is supposed to come from donor agencies as well as development partners.
“We also have 30% coming from the private sector and then, 10% from other very innovative funds of resource mobilization which we have already started engagement
“Similarly, 10% is expected from other very innovative funds of resource mobilization for which we have already started engagements in the over 111 days in office. “
She added, “We have been engaging massively for these funds to come into Nigeria to support the implementation of programs which we will be implementing with you at the front burner by reaching out to your constituents
“However, Nigeria needs to put its part of the bargain on the table. This would be not just an attraction to those who are supposed to be bringing in the other percent but it will serve as a lighter to reach the poor and indeed eradicate poverty from our country.
“We plead with this great Committee that as you make your submission to the appropriation committee and of course furthermore to the final level where the gavel will go down on the 2024 Appropriation, we seek that you help us ensure the inclusion of these budget line as well as appropriation for this budget line.
“I would want to plead that we would have to as an executive.”
The Chairman of the Committee, Idiat Adebule asked whether the Minister presented the budget for the Trust Fund at the budget planning stage.
Beta Edu said it was presented to the Ministry of Budget but that it was not reflected in what her ministry got back.
Edu said, “This was clearly stated as an omission and that is why we are asked to bring in as a memo to the committee to see how they can consider it.
The committee members asked whether she had the Memo, and Beta responded in the affirmative.
The Minister was also asked whether she had discussed it with the minister for the budget she answered in the affirmative.
Edu said she was with the Budget Minister and that she engaged him and also the budget office.
She said, “Of course, we didn’t get to see the copy that was sent to the committee so from the findings we got to know that the copy that got to you did not have that reflected
“Because we are interested in the money that is coming from the donor agency, it is based on this that we are taking that letter and we will make a presentation to the appropriation Committee to see how it goes. “
“We would want to say that you can hold us accountable for full implementation of whatever is appropriated to our ministry,” Edu stated.
The federal government on Tuesday said it would target foreign exchange outside the banking sector to address the liquidity crisis in the FX market.
The Minister of Finance, Olawale Edun, made this known when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Finance.
He opined that the forex in the hands of Nigerians represents the new “foreign reserve” of the country, adding that the liquidity in the hands of Nigerians runs into billions of dollars.
“Foreign exchange held by Nigerians in cash outside the banking system is in the billions,” he said.
The minister disclosed that President Bola Tinubu would use executive order to redirect this money into the “banking sector.”
“Mr President has authorised an executive order to facilitate the payment of that cash into the banking system,” he said.
Edun also agreed with lawmakers that the tax waiver is costing the country trillions of naira annually without any value.
The deputy chairman of the committee, Saidu Abdulahi, said the country should experiment with abrogating the policy for a year and see what would happen.
The minister agreed with the assertion by the lawmakers that the waiver policy is wasteful, noting that the government should consider tax rebates.
The President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Tuesday, appealed to President Bola Tinubu to use his good office to release Nnamdi Kanu.
Kanu is the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, which is seeking the liberation of the South-East region from Nigeria’s super-structure over alleged marginalisation.
In a letter he personally signed, Chief Iwuanyanwu stated that, “I want, on behalf of all Igbo worldwide, to appeal to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to use his good offices to direct for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s case is well known to all Igbos and Nigerians. It is the belief of many that the release of Nnamdi Kanu does not constitute any threat to our democracy or social cohesion and peace.
“Besides, a Nigerian court has passed a judgement directing that Kanu be released. Many Nigerians from the 36 states and Abuja have also made appeals for his release.”
Chief Iwuanyanwu said he had brought the matter about Kanu’s release to a joint meeting of South-South, South-West, South-East and Middle-Belt of Nigeria and “they unanimously endorsed that Nnamdi Kanu be released.”
He added, “I hereby make a passionate appeal to our president to assist to procure the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. This will be a highly prized Christmas gift to the Igbos of Nigeria and all other Nigerians who are committed to a peaceful and secure country.
“The incarceration of Kanu has created unnecessary excuse for terrorism in a region which has hitherto lived in peace and pursued their occupation wherever they are with patriotic zeal.
“We recollect with sadness that this region was a theatre of war. The war claimed the lives of many Nigerians. In addition, businesses and property were completely destroyed. In 1970 when the war ended, the Igbos returned completely impoverished.
“I warn that all parties should avoid anything that could once again make Igboland a theatre of war. I further advocate that in addition to the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the Federal Government should adopt a non-kinetic approach to the security problem in the South East.”
The Ohanaeze PG, in collaboration with the governors and other leaders in the South East of Nigeria, called for amnesty to ‘those who at the moment are expressing all forms of agitation in the South East”, adding that they ‘would be given opportunity to earn a dignified livelihood’.
Kanu’s release litigation would be determined at the Supreme Court on December 15, 2023.
He is being held at the custody of the Department of State Services over alleged running a proscribed group, jumping bail and treason.
Nigeria’s Court of Appeal had ruled that the manner Kanu was forcefully arrested in Kenya, and brought to Nigeria amounted to extra-ordinary rendition, and therefore discharged and acquitted him.
The ruling was not obeyed by the federal government.
Apple has said it now requires a judge’s order to hand over information about its customers push notifications to law enforcement agencies, putting the iPhone maker’s policy in line with rival Google and raising the hurdle officials must clear to get app data about users.
It follows the revelation from Oregon Senator, Ron Wyden that officials were requesting such data from Apple as well as from Google, the unit of Alphabet ( google’ listed name on the US Stoke market) that makes the operating system for Android phones.
The new policy was not formally announced but appeared a few days ago on Apple’s publicly available law enforcement guidelines.
Apps of all kinds rely on push notifications to alert smartphone users to incoming messages, breaking news, and other updates.
These are the audible “dings” or visual indicators users get when they receive an email or their sports team wins a game. What users often do not realize is that almost all such notifications travel over Google and Apple’s servers.
In a letter first disclosed last week, Wyden said the practice gave the two companies unique insight into traffic flowing from those apps to users, putting them “in a unique position to facilitate government surveillance of how users are using particular apps.”
Apple and Google both acknowledged receiving such requests. Apple added a passage to its guidelines saying such data was available “with a subpoena or greater legal process.” The passage has now been updated to refer to more stringent warrant requirements.
Wyden said in a statement that Apple was “doing the right thing by matching Google and requiring a court order to hand over push notification-related data.”