Following a mild amendment to the Student Loan Scheme, the Federal Government has effectively commenced the programme.

As of the time of filing this brief report, the President, Bola Tinubu is currently inaugurating a presidential committee to drive the Scheme at the State House, Abuja.

To kick start the programme, the President had recently approved ₦35 billion to be disbursed through specific criteria by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFund, targeting 70,000 initial applicants.

Jim Ovia who was appointed by Tinubu to Chair the Governing Board of NELFund had approved the disbursement of loans to successful applicants during its inaugural meeting in Abuja last month.

At the inauguration currently taking place in the Villa, Tinubu is expected to give the implementation team terms of reference to ensure the scheme does not derail from its mandate.

Details later…

The governor of Taraba State Agbu Kefas has appointed 1,270 executive aides.

A total of 1,075 were appointed within 24 hours between Monday 15th and Tuesday 16th July 2024.

In a press statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government Gebon Kataps, the appointees are to serve as either special advisers, senior special assistants, special assistants, constituency special assistants, or members of boards, commissions, and agencies of the Taraba government.

As of Monday, the state government released a total of 573 names and subsequently released 502 Tuesday night.

The number adds to the previous 195 earlier approved by the state government. The appointees are yet to be given portfolios.

The appointment is however in addition to the five others appointed with portfolios in his cabinet on assumption of office.

The last batch of appointees is awaited as the state government says the appointment is in four phases.

Assembly Appeals Judgement

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has reinstated Philip Shaibu as the Deputy Governor of Edo State, months after he was impeached by the state assembly. 

In the Wednesday judgment, Justice Omotoso declared the impeachment by the Edo State House of Assembly as illegal, unconstitutional, null, and void.

The court held that the said impeachment was in gross violation of the provisions of both sections 188 and 35 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

The judge held that the impeachment was in gross violation of the Constitution.

Aside from restoring Shaibu, the court also ordered that his salaries and allowances should be paid to him from April when he was impeached as the deputy governor of the state.

The court issued an order of perpetual injunction restraining Governor Godwin Obaseki and the Edo State House of Assembly from stopping Shaibu from performing the functions of his office.

Justice Omotosho also ordered the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun to restore his security details. 

Meanwhile,  the Edo State House of Assembly has appealed the judgement of the High Court and has filed a motion for a stay of execution pending appeal.

Wednesday’s verdict came about three months after the lawmakers impeached the embattled 54-year-old as the state’s deputy governor.

In a move that was seen as the culmination of the long-drawn battle between him and Governor Godwin Obaseki, the lawmakers after investigations said they found Shaibu guilty of disclosure of government secrets.

The seven-man panel set up by the Edo State Assembly therefore recommended his impeachment on that ground.

The assembly then upheld and approved the recommendation of the seven-man panel and subsequently impeached him as the state’s deputy governor.

Eighteen out of 19 members present at plenary voted for Shaibu’s impeachment. Only one abstained from the headcount and voting process, ending the process.

The President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, has forwarded a letter to the Senate, seeking their approval to add ₦6.2trillion to the ₦27.5trillion 2024 budget.

The President’s request was contained in a letter read during plenary on Wednesday by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Details of the letter show President Tinubu seeks Senate approval for the withdrawal of ₦3.2 trillion from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, for capital expenditure.

The President, in the second leg of the request as contained in the letter, seeks approval for the withdrawal of another ₦3 trillion from the consolidated revenue fund for additional recurrent expenditure for the year ending on the 31st day of December , 2024.

He also requested in the letter, an Act to amend the Finance Act, 2023, to impose and charge windfall tax on banks and to provide for the administration of the tax and matters related thereto.

Naija News understands the President’s requests have already been listed on the Order Paper as Executive bills for consideration by the Senate.

The president said, “Pursuant to section 58 (2) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, I forward herewith the above-named bills for consideration and passage by the senate.

“The appropriation act amendment bill seeks to amend the principal act to provide the sum of N3,200,000,000,000 for Renewed Hope Infrastructure Projects and other critical infrastructure projects to be undertaken across the country and the sum of N3,000,000,000,000 to meet further recurrent expenditure requirements necessary for the proper operation of the federal government.

“They shall be funded by accruing to the federal government of Nigeria.

“Furthermore, the proposed amendments to the Finance Acts 2023 are required to a one-time windfall tax on the foreign exchange gains realised by banks in their 2023 financial statements to fund capital infrastructure development, education, and healthcare as well as welfare initiatives all which are components of the Renewed Hope Agenda.”

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has denied knowledge of conditions struck with the Federal Government regarding visa applications for Nigerians.

Naija News recalls that many Nigerians were thrilled on Monday after the minister of information and national orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the three-year travel ban from the UAE had been lifted.

However, the resolution had conditions that were mutually beneficial, which included obtaining a document verification number (DVN).

According to the DV hub, the process is a specialised service designed to authenticate and verify documentation essential for visa applications to the UAE.

The DVN costs a non-refundable N640,000, excluding VAT, for each application, which does not include the visa fee.

In addition to obtaining a UAE visa, Nigerians must provide proof of a six-month bank statement with a minimum balance of $10,000.

In an interview with Cable News, the UAE’s Department of Economy and Tourism said the DV hub website is not affiliated with the UAE government.

Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs (GDRFAD), while explaining the process for a visa application, said, “You will need a personal photo and a copy of your passport, which must not have less than six months validity.

“A tourist visa costs about 200-300 dirhams (N60,000 – 90,000) depending on the stay.

“You will also need a travel ticket and valid medical insurance within the UAE.”

Speaking on the bank balance of $10,000, the directorate said: “We are not aware of such requirements. Make your visa applications through the GDRFAD.”

French Ligue 1 giants, Paris Saint Germain, are in the pole position to sign Super Eagles of Nigeria striker, Victor Osimhen, in this summer transfer window.
The future of Victor Osimhen has been uncertain since last December following his contract extension with Napoli which comes with an agreement that the Nigeria international is free to leave if a suitor pays his release clause.

Osimhen’s release clause in the contract which will expire on June 30, 2026, is said to be worth around €130 million. The said amount has scared most of his suitors away including Chelsea who initially looked like the favourites to sign him.

Even Arsenal and Manchester United who were reportedly ready for a player and cash swap deal with Napoli are yet to submit any concrete deal for the 25-year-old forward.

A post by transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano on his X page earlier today, July 17, confirmed that PSG and Napoli are in advanced talks over the future of Victor Osimhen.

If the ongoing talks are a success, Osimhen will become a direct replacement for French forward, Kylian Mbappe, who left the Parc des Princes for Real Madrid on free this summer.

The transfer expert wrote: “Paris Saint-Germain are advancing in talks with Victor Osimhen’s camp as their interest is now getting concrete.

“Osimhen is keen on joining PSG and open to the move if they can agree on a deal/fee with Napoli.

“He’d be very high on PSG’s list if one centre striker left.”

Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, a former NBA player and father of Basketball Hall of Fame guard Kobe Bryant, has died at the age of 69, La Salle University announced on Tuesday.

Bryant played at the Philadelphia school from 1973-1975 and coached the Explorers from 1993-96 after a career that saw him play from 1975-1983 for the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers, then-San Diego Clippers and Houston Rockets as well as in Europe.

“We are saddened to announce the passing of La Salle basketball great Joe Bryant,” the school said in a statement. “He was a beloved member of the Explorer family and will be dearly missed.”

Bryant, a forward, played in Italy from 1983 to 1991 before closing his playing days with French side Mulhouse in 1991.

For his NBA career, Bryant averaged 8.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists a game.

As a head coach, Joe Bryant went 40-24 over parts of three seasons with the Women’s NBA Los Angeles Sparks. He also coached in Asia on clubs in Tokyo, Hokkaido, Bangkok and Fukuoka.

Kobe Bryant, born while his father was playing for the 76ers, was a five-time NBA champion, two-time Olympic gold medal winner and the 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player who spent his entire NBA career from 1996-2016 with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Lakers legend Bryant, an 18-time NBA All-Star guard, was killed in a 2020 helicopter crash at age 41.

The Legislative arm of Egor Local Government Area in Edo State has impeached the council’s chairman, Hon. Eghe Ogbemudia, over alleged padding of the council’s supplementary budget and other allegations of corruption.

The impeachment was consequent upon a vote of no confidence against the chairman during a session of the legislative arm of the council on Tuesday.

The impeachment sitting was presided over by the Leader of the House and Councillor representing Ward 3, Godwin Uwadiae Edigin.

Shortly after the legislative house roll call, the Councillor representing Ward 2, Rt. Hon. Stella Ogida, moved a motion for a no-confidence vote against the chairman over allegations of gross misconduct.

“This is the 10th month since our inauguration and we, the Councillors of Egor Legislative Arm do not have our offices. We have also uncovered the padding of the council’s supplementary budget to the tune of ₦1.7 billion. The Chairman did not involve the councillors in the preparation and approval the council’s supplementary budget. After reviewing these actions and many other acts of gross misconduct, I want to pass a vote of no confidence on the chairman,” Ogida said.

Seconding the motion, Hon. Ambassador Elliot Inneh, Councillor representing Ward 9, said: “We have tried to reach out to the Honourable Chairman to no avail. Before us today, we have budget proposal amounting to N6.054bn that was passed through this hallowed chambers. To our greatest surprise, we found out that the Chairman in connivance with erstwhile Leader of the House, went behind our back and padded the budget to the tune of N7.896bn.”

The leader called for a voice vote, with the majority of \councillors conceding to the motion.

Five suspected cultists have been arrested at the Kogi State Polytechnic, the school’s management said on Wednesday.

The suspects were nabbed on Tuesday during the ongoing second semester examination for the 2023/2024 academic session.

Disclosing this in a statement, the polytechnic’s spokesman, Uredo Omale, said three students of the institution were also apprehended by the school’s security team, for allegedly peddling hard drugs among other offences.

He identified the suspects as HND II students in the Department of Business Administration, giving their details as Ajayi Oluwaseun Oladipo (Matric No.2022/HND/BUS/275), Isenre Elijah Ayomide (Matric No.2022/HND/BUS/146) and Omonijo Sunday (Matric. No2022/HND/BUS/181).

“The arrested five (5) non-students who are all from Ekiti State but based in Abuja are Otitoju Christopher, Babatope Ayomide, Isaiah Babatunde, Shina Ayodeji, and Makinde Olalekan,” the statement read.

“The arrest of the suspects was a result of proactive measures put in place by the Management of the institution to checkmate infiltration of cultists and other outlawed groups and individuals who were reported to be planning to enter the campus with guns and other dangerous weapons in connivance with some cyber-crime suspects popularly known as yahoo.

“Their intent, it was gathered, was to cause harm to their targets and commotion on the campus during the ongoing second-semester examination.”

See the full statement below:

KOGI POLY SECURITY TEAM APPREHENDS SUSPECTED CULTISTS, DRUG PEDDLERS DURING  ONGOING  SECOND SEMESTER EXAMINATION

— HANDS OVER SUSPECTS TO THE POLICE

The joint security team of Kogi State Polytechnic Lokoja, on Tuesday, 16th July, 2024, arrested three (3) students of the institution and five  (5) others suspected to be members of secret society and hard drug peddlers during the ongoing second-semester examination for 2023/2024 academic session.

The apprehended students who are all of HND II in the Department of Business Administration include:

 

Ajayi Oluwaseun Oladipo (Matric No.2022/HND/BUS/275), Isenre Elijah Ayomide (Matric No.2022/HND/BUS/146) and Omonijo Sunday (Matric. No2022/HND/BUS/181).

The arrested five (5) non-students who are all from Ekiti State but based in Abuja are: Otitoju Christopher, Babatope Ayomide, Isaiah Babatunde, Shina Ayodeji and Makinde Olalekan.

The arrest of the suspects was as a result of proactive measures put in place by the Management of the institution to checkmate infiltration of cultists and other outlawed groups and individuals who were reported to be planning to enter the campus with guns and other dangerous weapons in connivance with some cyber-crime suspects popularly known as yahoo.

Their intent, it was gathered, was to cause harms to their targets and commotion on the campus during the ongoing second-semester examination.

This was in the guise of their end-of-examination graduation “celebration” rituals which the Management had earlier banned due to security concerns.

In the build-up to the ongoing second-semester examination, the Polytechnic Management got intelligence reports that some bad elements suspected to be into cybercrime, cultism and illicit drugs had perfected a plan to import their members from other states and institutions to cause mayhem on the campus.

To prevent the occurrence, Management decided to intensify further security strategies by banning all forms of the end-of-the second-semester examination on the campus in whatever guise.

This decision was duly communicated to the students through a circular issued by the Chief Security Officer, containing the outlawed activities during and after the examination.

The circular was issued after a series of meetings with the Students Union Government (SUG), the National Association of Kogi State Students (NAKOSS) and the Departmental Presidents to sensitise and caution the students to desist from any form of inimical behaviour during the examination for their own good.

The Polytechnic Management also took further steps with meetings and setting up of the Examination Security Management Committee with all Deans, Chief Security Officer (CSO), Students Representatives, the Chief Imam and the Polytechnic Chaplain as members, and mandated to devise security strategies against the planned infiltration by bad elements and ensure orderly conduct of examination.

In addition, the services of the security agencies such as the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC), and the Vigilante Group were sought and their personnel were deployed.

One important additional proactive security strategy adopted by the Committee was to prevent students from using their cars and motorcycles beyond the designated car park on the campus during the examination.

Furthermore, all vehicles were thoroughly searched and more plain clothes security operatives were deployed to monitor movement of those that have no business on the campus during the examination.

These security strategies and efforts paid off with the arrest of the three (3) students and their five (5) imported non – students mercenaries .

The Polytechnic Management started observing a dangerous sign on Monday 15th July, 2024 when the Department of Public Administration HND II students wrote their last paper.

The Management got an intelligence report of the infiltration of some notorious  old students of 2018/2019 sets who are suspected to be cultists alongside some imported mercenaries from Edo and Delta states that came that day to cause mayhem using the style of motorcade, spraying of naira notes while seating on their vehicles on the highway.

In the process, there were gunshots from the direction of “Always Petrol station” adjacent the Polytechnic main gate where the imported mercenaries were allegedly camped since the campus was not comfortable for them because of the security measures put in place.

To prevent a repeat of the Monday incident, more security strategies were  deployed ahead of Tuesday 16th July, 2024, when the HND II students from the Department of Accountancy, Library and Information Sciences as well as the Business Administration were scheduled to write their final papers.

It was the security arrangement and tip-off that led to the arrest of the three (3)  students and their hired mercenaries who claimed to hail from Ekiti State, but based in Abuja.

The suspects were intercepted at the main entrance of the Polytechnic gate while on their motorcade. The driver of the second car, however, jumped out of the vehicle and escaped.

Some suspected hard drugs wrapped in a polythene bag, papers cut to sizes supposedly for wrapping of drugs and one beret cap with a symbol suspected to be that of a cult group were seen in the car and in possession of the occupants of the two (2) intercepted cars.

In all, the items recovered from the apprehended suspects include  two cars (2); a light green coloured Mercedes Benz Saloon with Reg. Number:  EKITI STATE “MUE – 598 – AE” and a black coloured Toyota Lexus Saloon with Reg. Number from: EBONYI STATE “SKA – 78 – AE”,different types of drugs, remnant of some naira notes amounting to N14000 naira, beret cap with a symbol suspected to be that of a cult and an MP3 player  were handed over to the Nigeria Police at the ‘B’ Division in Lokoja.

Prior to the coming on board of the current leadership of the institution under Professor Salisu Ogbo Usman, the Polytechnic was notorious for cult parades at the end of every session, and with cult groups demonstrating their might through gun shots and killing of marked targets to the extent that the past Management, Lecturers and other staff used to abandon the campus for fear of their lives as cultists operated unchallenged during such period.

Within such past  period, a Lecturer was stabbed and killed on the campus of the Polytechnic.

All those social vices and unacceptable conduct have stopped in Kogi State Polytechnic in the last four (4) years that the current Rector came on board.

The Rector and his Management team constantly adopted a proactive approach in tackling security challenges effectively.

Evidently, the notorious elements that were hitherto operating like demigods on the campus have been chased away.

The Rector commended the efforts of the Examination Security Management Committee, the Joint Security team and the Intelligence Team for a job well-done through teamwork  for nipping the dangerous intent in the bud.

The Rector also used the opportunity to admonish the ND II students to be vigilant of any bad elements that may infilterate into their group and report same to the Management through the Security Unit.

The Rector further advised parents and guardians to caution their children and wards by paying close attention to their behaviours and material acquisition without known sources of income, the type of companies they keep as well as their movement against involvement in criminal activities as those who are caught within the spheres of the Polytechnic with untoward characters would not be spared.

He also warned non-students who are interested in coming to the campus for cult and other related social vices to keep off or face the full wrath of the law.

Uredo Omale

Director, Public Relations and Protocol.

Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja.

The planned arraignment of Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi State on alleged N82 billion fraud charges took a dangerous dimension on Wednesday when two senior advocates engaged in a war of words during the proceedings.

The two lawyers are Abdulwahab Mohammed, standing for Bello, SAN, and Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, standing for the federal government.

Trouble started when Mohammed announced his appearance for the former governor and left out his colleague, Adeola Adedipe, SAN.

However, the federal government counsel opposed the exclusion on the grounds that Adedipe should be included in the proceedings until discharged by the court.

Adedipe interrupted the argument of the federal government lawyer, insisting that he was not prepared to be part of the proceedings.

At this stage, Mohammed interjected and announced that Adedipe had filed a notice of withdrawal from the proceedings.

As Justice Emeka Nwite was about to deliver a ruling on the contentious appearance matter, Bello’s lawyer stood up and requested to be allowed to stay outside the proceedings if the court proceeded with the ruling.

Fuming with anger, Mohammed openly called Pinheiro, SAN, a rough lawyer who takes delight in misleading the court.

His attempt to make further abusive remarks about the federal government lawyer was aborted, but Mohammed refused to apologise, insisting that he would leave the court should the judge go ahead with the ruling.

When tempers rose beyond control, Justice Emeka Nwite, out of anger, abruptly brought the proceedings to an end by walking straight into his chamber.

At the time of this report, tension was still high in the courtroom.