Governor Chukwuma Soludo has stepped down Principals of four public schools for non compliance to the Solution Free Education policy of Anambra State Government.

The Principals of Washington Memorial Grammar School Onitsha, Nkem Nkechi; Kenneth Dike Secondary School Awka, Onwurah Catherine; New Era Secondary School Onitsha, Dr. Cordelia Okonkwo; and, Amaka Ubaka of Prince Memorial High School Onitsha were alleged to have acted in contravention of the Solution policy on Free Education in the State.

The stepping down of the Principals was announced by the Commissioner for Education Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh.

Chuma-Udeh stated that a committee has been constituted to investigate the activities of the affected principals.

She further stated that if found culpable, the principals would be made to refund the amount collected.

It would be recalled that Soludo had during his visits to Premier Primary School Odume Obosi and Ado Girls Secondary School Onitsha, announced that in line with the Solution Free Education policy, no child from early childhood education and development up to Junior Secondary School (JSS 3), is required to pay any fee.

He also added that no student in the Senior Secondary should pay more than N5,000.

Taraba state Board of Internal Revenue has sealed off the first Bank branches in the state for tax evasion amounting to 350 million naira.

The bank was accused of contravening section 104 of the state Personal Income Tax Act which empowers the Service to carry out distrain on any Tax defaulter.

Both the customers and staff of First Bank PLC Jalingo branches were stranded as the bank premises were sealed off by the authority of Taraba state Board of Internal Revenue Service.

The bank had a legal battle with the state board for three years when it took the revenue board to a tax appeal Tribunal in Bauchi.

The court ordered the bank to pay the accrued revenue of over 300 million to government coffer at the end of the case.

The failure of the bank to comply with the court Judgement is the reason for this latest power show.

The board is now determined to recover the money after many years of waiting.

Some of the frustrated bank customers expressed their fear in an interview with TVC News.

The Secretary/Legal Adviser of the Taraba Internal Revenue Service Nierus Johnson shed more light on the development.

He insists that the action is not targeted to frustrate the state residents but was taking in good faith by the government to meet its social responsibilities.

When asked the bank manager for response he said that it is only the bank headquarters that can respond.

The Federal Government has unveiled the programme of events for the 63rd Independence Day anniversary celebration.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, who led the unveiling of the programme yesterday in Abuja, said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had approved a low-key celebration as a result of the current economic realities.

The SGF assured Nigerians that the current government was working with relevant stakeholders, including the organised labour, to bring succour to all citizens.

Speaking on the programme for the 63rd Independence Day anniversary, Akume said the events started with a world press conference, a national broadcast by President Tinubu on Sunday, October 1, and others.

“As you are aware, the President has given his approval for this 63rd anniversary to be low-key, in line with the present economic realities. The theme of the anniversary is: Nigeria at 63, Renewed Hope for Unity and Prosperity.

“In view of the above, the following programmes have been lined up to mark the celebration: a world press conference on Monday, September 25, at the National Press Centre, Radio House, Abuja, at 11 a.m;

“An anniversary symposium/public lecture on Thursday, September 28, 2023, at State House Conference Centre, at 10 a.m;

“A lecture on Friday, September 29, 2023, at the National Mosque Conference Centre (Abuja) at 10 a.m, and Juma’at prayer at the National Mosque at 1 p.m;

“A presidential broadcast will hold on Sunday, October 1, 2023 at 7 a.m;

“An inter-denominational church service on Sunday, October 1, 2023, at the National Christian Centre (in Abuja) at 10 a.m; and

“A military parade on Monday, October 2, 2023, at the Presidential Villa, at 9 a.m,” he said.

On the economic situation in the country, Akume said the Tinubu administration was aware of its effects of the citizens, assuring that the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda was tailored to straighten out the situation.

“The government is fully aware of the economic challenges that Nigerians are confronted with since the removal of the fuel subsidy as well as the impact of the global economic downturn.

“The government is working assiduously to provide the necessary palliatives to mitigate such challenges and the provision of buses to ease hardship on transportation, among others.

“At the same time, the government is engaging with labour in order to address areas of concern for the well-being of all Nigerian workers and Nigerians generally.

“It is for this reason that this government, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, is anchoring on the Renewed Hope Agenda, which will improve food security, guarantee end to poverty, improve security, economic growth and job creation, access to capital, improve the playing field on which people, and particularly companies, operate, respect for the rule of law, and fight against corruption,” he said.

The Senate will today (Tuesday) screen the acting Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr Olayemi Cardoso, for confirmation into a substantive capacity alongside four nominees for the positions of CBN Deputy Governors, to steer affairs of the apex bank in the next five years.

The Red Chamber, which is returning from its two-month annual vacation, has also scheduled the screening of two additional ministerial nominees by President Bola Tinubu for Tuesday, October 3, 2023.

The Media Office of the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed this in a statement on Monday evening.

While the National Assembly was on break, the President appointed the duo of Dr. Jamila Ibrahim and Ayodele Olawande as Minister of Youths and Minister of State for Youths respectively.

Tinubu also approved the nomination of Cardoso as the new Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria pending his confirmation by the Senate.

Last week, Cardoso resumed as the CBN governor in an acting capacity pending his screening and expected confirmation by the Senate.

The statement by the Senate Leader office said, “Dr. Cardoso will be screened alongside four deputy governors: namely Mrs. Emem Nnana Usoro, Mr. Muhammad Sani Abdullahi Dattijo, Mr. Philip Ikeazor, and Dr. Bala M. Bello.

“Besides, the Senate has scheduled to screen the ministerial nominees – Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim and Mr. Ayodele Olawande, respectively designated as Minister of Youth and Minister of State for Youth on October 3.”

Meanwhile, the Senate also pledged not to disappoint Nigerians as regards the appropriation of the 2024 budget.

Speaking on the agenda of the Red Chamber ahead of its resumption, the Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, emphasised that the revitalisation of the economy was top of its priorities.

Adaramodu said, “Soon after the resumption, the appropriation process will commence.

“The 10th Senate will not disappoint Nigerians; we’d ensure that we do what is expected of us because we are in a peculiar time when all hands must be on deck and Nigerians are eagerly waiting to see us do the needful to save Nigeria from the economic troubles we are currently experiencing and that permanent solutions are proffered.

“We’d ensure that appropriations are targeted at deliverables that can enhance a good life and good living of Nigerians and we are going to ensure that those that are approved are delivered to the latter and that quality services are given to Nigerians so that we can realise the goals of the Nigerian project so that we can ensure that life is more abundant to everyone to Nigerians.”

Adaramodu said the Senate expected the President to send the budget soon.

The Kwara Upper Area Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Monday, admitted Abdulazeez Adegbola better known as Tani Olorun to administrative bail.

The presiding judge of the court, Mr Sunday Adeniyi, while ruling on the bail application filed by a team of counsel defending Tani Olorun, who was standing trial in a case of criminal defamation and other offences before the court granted him bail and two sureties in the sum N5 million each.

Adeniyi said that the two sureties must be reliable and be resident within the jurisdiction of the court.

“The two sureties must provide evidence of having N5 million in their respective bank account. One of the two sureties must be a community leader in Ilorin while one must own a landed property with a Certificate of Occupancy properly signed by the government. The two sureties must have evidence of tax payment to the government at least in the last seven years,” he declared.

Tani Olorun with Chief Ademola Olawoore, Oluwo Nla of Tede were standing trial on five count charges of alleged criminal conspiracy, inciting public disturbance, disturbance of public peace, criminal defamation of character and intentional insult before the Upper Area Court.

The offence according to the prosecution was contrary to sections 97, 210, 392, and 114 of the penal code law of Nigeria.

While Oluwo Nla was admitted to bail last Wednesday, the ruling on Tani Olorun’s case was deferred till today (Monday) because the prosecution opposed his bail application.

The case was adjourned till October 23, 2023, for further hearing.

Spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, says he has never collected bribe since he joined the police.

Adejobi said this on Monday while responding to an X user who asked him to swear by his “village deity” that he had never accepted a bribe since joining the force.

The verified user posed the question after Adejobi wrote: “Police administrative bail is free. If anyone demands bail money, you too demand an invoice or receipt to prove payment. If he can’t issue it, dont pay. That is a fraud. I have said this severally. Thanks”.

Adejobi responded saying that since joining the police force in 2005, he has never accepted bribe.

He further disclosed that as a crowned prince of Owu, it would be “ridiculous” for him to accept bribes.

“I have answered this. PR is in me. I joined NIPR in 2004 before I joined the police in 2005. I have been a PR man before I even applied to join the police. I even reject gifts. Many people on Twitter have been willing to recharge my phone, but i appeal to them not to do.

“Those who know me know I reject gifts, let alone bribe. I am a crowned prince of Owu, so it’s ridiculous to take a bribe. If you do well, Nigerians are very nice and ready to appreciate you, and bless you in all areas, if you are a nice officer,” the police PRO wrote.

Recall that there have been several documented cases of Nigerian police officers involved in extortion.

Last years, a report from a survey conducted by the NOI Polls revealed that 73 per cent of Nigerians do not trust the personnel of the Nigerian Police Police.

The survey conducted by NOIPolls, a research organisation and Afrobarometer’s national partner for Nigeria and presented in Abuja, was collated through face-to-face interviews within the past year and fieldwork in March 2022.

Also, 73 per cent of Nigerians said “most” or “all” police are corrupt, which is the worse among public institutions like the parliament.

In 2016, the World Internal Security and Police Index (WISPI) rated Nigeria Police Force (NPF) as the worst in the world.

The WISPI was produced by two bodies – the International Police Science Association and the Institute for Economics and Peace.

The report measured the ability of the police to address internal security issues. The police in 127 countries were assessed across four key areas and that of Nigeria scored the least in those areas.

A former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has stated that the All Progressives Congress-led government has set Nigeria 40 years backwards economically.

He lamented that the APC has wiped out all the gains the country made in 35 years.

The former Emir of Kano made the claim in a trailer for an interview with Rufai Oseni of Arise TV.

He argued that based on Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita on a Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) basis between 1980 and 2023, the economic gains the country made were wiped out between 2014 and 2019.

“Let me give you an idea, when we look at the numbers we see how bad things are. If you look at the World Bank development indicators, in 1980, on a PPP basis, our per capita GDP was, I believe, $2,180. In 2014, it had risen to $3,099, a 50 percent rise. In 2019, our GDP per capita, on a PPP basis was down to $2,229. At this rate, by 2023, on a per capita basis, we would be back to where we were in 1980. We have been set back 40 years. Look at the fall between 2014 and 2019, all the gains made in 35 years between 1980 and 2014 were wiped out,” he said.

This is not the first time the former Emir is criticising the APC-led Federal Government for being responsible for Nigeria’s economic woes.

During a recent virtual religious event, Sanusi said the administration of the immediate past president, Muhammadu Buhari, ignored his advice on how to move Nigeria forward.

He said he had to deviate from the religious theme of the event to remind Nigerians about his stand on the badly managed economic policies of the immediate past administration of Buhari and that everything in Nigeria in the last eight years was done on the basis of debt and that no country will survive in that kind of economic policy.

The impeached chairman of Ijebu-East Local Government (LG), Wale Adedayo, has reportedly been arrested at his residence in Ijebu-Ife, Ogun State.

Naija News understands that Adebayo was arrested on Monday by operatives of the Ogun State Police Command.

Recall that the impeached LG Chairman had accused the Gov. Dapo Abiodun-led administration of diverting Local Government funds.

According to Adebayo, the state government had since 2021 been tampering with funds for the state’s local governments (LGs) sent through it by the federal government.

His claims had led to his impeachment by the LG’s councilors over allegations of financial misappropriation.

Confirming his arrest, Kafayat Adedayo, wife of the impeached LG Chairman, said her husband was arrested by officers numbering about ten from the Police Command headquarters at Eleweran in Abeokuta.

She said the police officers informed her that his arrest was based on a petition written against him by the state government.

Kafayat said: “They came on Monday afternoon in a Mitsubishi car to effect his arrest. About four of them were in uniform, while others were in mufti.

“The police operatives said they were acting on instructions based on a petition filed against him by the state government.

“He was taken to Abeokuta by the police.”

When contacted, the commissioner of police in the state, CP Abiodun Alamutu, confirmed Adedayo’s arrest.

The Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led federal government has declared Wednesday, September 27th, as a public holiday.

Naija News reports that the federal government declared the holiday in commemoration of Eil-ul- Maulid celebration, the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him.).

The holiday was made known by the Minister of Interior Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo in a statement on Monday night on behalf of the government.

The Minister, in a statement by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Oluwatoyin Akinlade, congratulated Muslim faithful at home and in the diaspora for witnessing this year’s occasion.

He admonished Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of love, patience, tolerance and perseverance which are deep spiritual virtues that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him ) exemplified.

Tunji-Ojo urged youths to embrace hard work and peaceful dispositions to fellow citizens irrespective of faith, ideology, social class and ethnicity.

He called on them to join hands with President Bola Tinubu to build a progressive country.

Famous Nigerian music artist, Seun Kuti, has slammed Nigerians criticising the father of the late Nigerian singer, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, better known as Mohbad, over the hasty burial of his son.

Naija News recalls that Mohbad died on September 12 at age 27 and was buried a day after the tragic incident in Ikorodu, Lagos State.

The immediate burial created a buzz on social media as fans and netizens bashed Mohbad’s father for burying him without proper investigations into the circumstances surrounding the death.

Responding to critics, Seun Kuti, in an interview with media personality, Nedu on ‘The Honest Bunch’ podcast, said Mohbad‘s father is faced with condemnation due to poverty playing a significant role in the situation.

He questioned why any sane father would want to keep his dead son’s corpse for days.

According to him, if someone like Nigerian billionaire, Femi Otedola, had taken the same decision, it wouldn’t have stirred such backlash from Nigerians, as people would pay him a condolence visit.

He added that Nigerians are criticising Mohbad’s father due to his financial status instead of consoling him during this difficult time.

He said in Pidgin, “In this whole Mohbad issue, poverty is playing a big role. People are saying na Mohbad papa kill am because he buried him early. Who wan dey look his son dead body for 2, 3 days.

“If na Otedola pikin die and he bury am overnight, wetin anybody go talk here? no be sey una go dey give am condolences visit for house?

“Instead of us to be consoling the man, we are making him evil that can kill his son. Somebody that just lost his child. You like the boy pass am na hin dem dey bully the boy all these days and you no talk anything.”