A Point of Sale (PoS) operator, Sunday Musa, also known as Dan Gwari, has been paraded by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) police command.

The suspect, who allegedly specialises in supplying s*x workers to bandits in their camp, as well as distributing money to their families, was paraded in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Benneth Igweh, the commissioner of police in the FCT, who disclosed this while parading the suspect at the command in Abuja on Tuesday, said he was arrested during a coordinated clearance operation by operatives of the anti-kidnap unit of the command at Kagarko.

He said the suspect was also the chief informant and logistics supplier to banditry groups under the general command of one Ardo, who he said was on the run.

He said the suspect confessed to also being the facilitator of the movement of nurses, hard drugs and s*x workers on request by the banditry groups.

“The suspect has also confessed to being a financial courier through which money is distributed or shared to the bandits’ families. He confessed to have so far distributed over N20 million on behalf of the bandits,” CP Igweh said.

He added that the suspect further confirmed that the bandits, led by Ardo (general commander), have over 15 members, all with AK-47 rifles.Igweh further disclosed that the police had also arrested a 41-year-old housewife, Ruqquaya Ibrahim, who allegedly supplies foodstuff and other logistics to the bandits.

He said the suspect, who is a resident of Sabon-Wuse, Niger State, had confessed to supplying food items to one of the groups under the commander of Shumau, who is currently on the run.

The commissioner of police revealed that the suspect was arrested at Gidan-Dogo forest on her way to supply food to the bandits, adding that she led the police to Shumau’s residence, where 14 rustled cows were recovered.

Suspected armed bandits operating in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State have reportedly commenced the collection of taxes and levies from residents of Torough and nearby communities.

It was gathered, yesterday, from a resident of the community, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of being attacked, that the gangs introduced a levy of N20 million as monthly tax to be paid by each household.

He said they had already started gathering the levy after allocating each household their share of the tax since they had no option but to comply.

He pointed out that no one, including the village heads, dared challenge the authority of the armed gangs or report the matter to security agencies stressing: “We are more or less in bondage here. There is no complete freedom of movement, association or expression. These militia boys are very deadly and powerful here in our Sankera axis.

“The whole of the three LGAs in Sankera made up of Logo, Ukum and Katsina-Ala are affected by this madness. These boys have a very strong communication network for their business. They monitor everything.

“So, when the news about the N20 million came to us, nobody dared report to security agencies. You and your family will be eliminated in broad daylight. We are paying the N50,000 levied each household. Some traditional compounds that have many households are levied N1 million.”

Militia leader known as ‘Full Fire’ behind it — LG Chairman

Confirming the development, Caretaker Chairman of Ukum LGA, Mr. Victor Iorzaa said: “it is true that armed bandits are taxing the people and are demanding N20 million. I have reported the matter to the Police and also the State Security Council.

“The person behind is a bandit known as ‘Full Fire’. He was the person that connived with armed herdsmen recently to attack Tiv people, he has been working with armed herdsmen.

“The people are living in fear. That community is the most troubled place in the LGA. He started this shortly after he lost the attack on the community. And the place he stays is a community bordering Taraba State. If you remember two weeks ago, the military launched an attack on his house.

Bandits abduct 26 villagers, rustle several cows in fresh invasion of Niger communities
“The man has been terrorising the area for the past five years but the government of Governor Hyacinth Alia is working hard to put an end to their activities. And security operatives are also working hard in that regard.”

We’ve decimated them — Security Adviser

Reacting, Special Adviser to the Governor on Internal Security, Joseph Har said bandits were already on the run from the state and could not have the luxury of collecting taxes from villagers.

According to him, “The issue of illegal levies has become a common practice with bandits everywhere worldwide because they use it to survive. However no government will fold its hands and allow that callous thing to happen.

“The criminals have been having very tough time of recent and they are really having the heat and cannot have the guts to wait and collect any tax.

“Most of them have fled their camps, you can find out, and we intend to sustain the momentum until we run them down or they surrender.”

Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene said the Command had not received report of the development.

The All Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday, reacted to the recent visits of ex-Vice President, Atiku Abubakar; former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and prominent northern politicians to the immediate-past President, Muhammadu Buhari.

The visit which has been termed as Sallah homage, has been received with mixed reactions.

There are claims that visits to Buhari’s residence in Daura, Katsina State is a plan to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

The Deputy National Organising Secretary of the APC, Nze Chidi Duru, in an interview with Punch, however, said the ruling party is not intimidated by the visit.

According to Duru, every Nigerian, including politicians, has a right to freedom of association as guaranteed by Nigeria’s Constitution.

He said, “Even though some people say there is always a political undertone in such engagement, we cannot continue to leave politics in the hands of other people. Even if it is, I believe that it is within the purview of every Nigerian to continue to exercise his prerogative. Nothing stops any Nigerian from visiting anybody.

“He can interface with the person in any manner so long as it includes the possibility of national development, and so long as it does not undermine national security. Nigerians are welcome to engage with anybody and share their views and sentiments, as much as they would like to. That is my view on the matter. It is very guaranteed in the Nigerian Constitution.”

Olayemi Cardoso, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), says the apex bank is “relatively pleased” with the progress it has made in stabilising the naira.

Cardoso, who spoke in an interview with Bloomberg TV on Tuesday, said he believes the excessive volatility may be a thing of the past.

He also said the financial regulator will continue to work hard, adding that it is a work in progress.

“I do believe that we have more or less seen the worst in terms of volatility,” Cardoso said.

“We are also very alive to observing the way and manner in which that market operates and ensuring that it gives the best value that can be accomplished using certain tools.”

Cardoso further said reviving confidence in the naira is crucial for Nigeria to lure investors.

“We’re relatively pleased with where we are,” Cardoso added.

He also said the central bank needs to do more, adding that “it’s continuous work in progress”.

“And we will do everything possible to ensure that we continue to manage the macroeconomic fundamentals that affect that,” he said.

Since the beginning of June, the naira has been trading in a narrow range between N1,473 and N1,490 per dollar at the official market.

However, the naira fell to N1,500/$ on Tuesday – from N1,488 traded on June 24.

‘DATA TO DETERMINE CBN’S MPC STANCE ON INFLATION’

The publication said as the annual inflation rate starts to rise at a slower pace, Cardoso refused to be drawn on whether this could signal the end of the tightening cycle that began in May 2022 — as CBN’s monetary policy committee (MPC) prepares to meet in July.

CBN has been increasing interest rates since May 2022, with the monetary policy rate (MPR) — which is the benchmark for banks’ lending rate — reaching 26.25 percent in May this year.

In May, the inflation rate rose to 33.95 percent compared to 33.69 percent in April.

Cardoso said data will determine the stance of the MPC on inflation movement.

“Data will direct whether they see further hikes or not,” he said.

“The MPC has been very clear in stating that they see inflation as a major impediment for the future of Nigeria, and they will do everything possible to ensure that they keep inflation in check and fact bring it down as reasonably as they can and I don’t see that changing.”

He also said the apex bank’s steps and fiscal reforms undertaken by President Bola Tinubu’s administration have assisted the nation in securing much-needed liquidity.

The World Bank earlier this month approved $2.25 billion in funding to support Nigeria’s economic reforms helping boost its foreign exchange reserves.

The governor said CBN would support further measures to build the country’s reserves including a eurobond issue.

“We should have a diversity of sources,” he said.

Cardoso said it should not just be the eurobond market or just be foreign portfolio investors, but it should be a variety of different things.

...as FEC steps down memo

The federal executive council (FEC) has stepped down the memo on the new minimum wage for President Bola Tinubu to engage in consultations with state governors and the private sector.

Mohammed Idris, minister of information, announced the decision on Tuesday while speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the FEC meeting.

Idris said the final decision on the new national minimum wage will not only affect the federal government but also states, LGAs, and the private sector.

The information minister said Tinubu will make an informed decision after a wider consultation, adding that the new minimum wage requires input from all stakeholders.

“I want to inform Nigerians here that the federal executive council deliberated on the report of the tripartite committee on the new national minimum wage,” the minister said.

“The decision is that because the new national minimum wage is not just that of the federal government, it is an issue that involves the federal government, the state governments, local governments, and the organised private sector and of course, including the organised labour.

“That memo was stepped down to enable Mr. President to consult further, especially with the state governors and the organised private sector, before an executive bill is presented to the national assembly.

“So I want to state that on the new national minimum wage, Mr. President is going to consult further so that he can have an informed position because the new national minimum wage, like I said, is not just an issue of the federal government.

“It affects the state governments, local governments, the organised private sector. That is why it is called the national minimum wage. It’s not just an affair of the federal government.

“So, Mr. President has studied the report and he is going to consult wider before a final submission is made to the national assembly.”

BACKGROUND

Over the past few months, the federal and state governments, organised labour, and the private sector have been negotiating on a new minimum wage.

At the last meeting of the tripartite committee on minimum wage, organised labour rejected the N62,000 proposal by the government and insisted on N250,000 as the living wage.

The federal government had asked the labour unions to demand a more realistic and sustainable minimum wage.

On June 7, governors under the aegis of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) said the N60,000 minimum wage for workers is not sustainable.

On June 10, the tripartite committee submitted its report to George Akume, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF).

Wale Edun, minister of finance, says the federal government is not relying on Ways and Means to fund external debt service or other liabilities.

Edun spoke on Tuesday while briefing state house correspondents on his presentation at the federal executive council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu.

“I can say quite categorically that under President Bola Tinubu, the federal government does not rely on ways and means in order to fund itself,” Edun said.

“At no time have we gone to Mr. President and requested permission to seek funding from Central Bank to pay anybody, be it external debt service, be it share capital cash calls, or any other of the liabilities that the government has.

“As we have all agencies, we are focused on ensuring that the revenue that is due to the federal government is collected robustly, using technology to avoid the blockages, which manual processing can cause and it has led to a very robust revenue effort and likewise, we are implementing expenditure controls, also very ably empowered by technology.

“So within that context, what we have is that we had legacy, Mr. President inherited a legacy of N22.7 trillion in outstanding ways and means, which have been securitised on the eve of the entry of President Tinubu’s administration.”

The minister acknowledged the inherited legacy of N22.7 trillion in outstanding Ways and Means which were securitised just before Tinubu’s administration began.

‘TOTAL DEBT STOCK IN DOLLAR TERMS FELL BY 15 PERCENT’

Edun said Nigeria’s total debt stock in dollar terms decreased by 15 percent, describing this as a very positive development that would be favourably received by rating agencies, creditors, and investors.

He, however, said that due to exchange rate movements, the total debt stock in naira terms increased by 25 percent, despite an N8 trillion increase in actual debt issuance.

“When we interrogate the figures over the first quarter of this year, starting end of December and end of March, if we want to be positive, all we will say is that the glass is half full, we are halfway there. If not, we can be negative and try and say the glass is half empty,” the minister said.

“Why do I say this? The debt stock, the total debt stock of Nigeria in US dollar terms fell by 15 percent. That is very positive, any rating agency, any creditor, any investor looking at that will see it as a positive move.

“We are a country that has petro-dollars. We have ability to earn in dollars. So it’s highly relevant, that we look at what is our exposure in dollar terms.

“On the other hand, given the exchange rate movements, even though there was like an 8 trillion increase in actual debt issuance, the total debt stock, when you count the total external debt and domestic debt in naira terms, it has increased by 25 percent.

“That is mainly due to the foreign exchange movement, which can change tomorrow, as we know.”

The minister said a forensic audit is being conducted to scrutinise this figure as it represents a liability on which interest must be paid.

Edun said the government collects operating surpluses from revenue-generating agencies in accordance with legal guidelines, and the amount owed to the government surpasses the N3.4 trillion in Ways and Means.

“Naturally, we are auditing, we are doing a forensic audit and interrogating that figure, because it’s a liability which we have to pay interest on, so any deficits that you might see, to the ways and means, to the consolidated revenue account, maybe automatic debits on a figure that is still being interrogated, but as a matter of fact, the current Ways and Means deficit is N3.4 trillion,” he said.

“As I said, we collect the operating surpluses of revenue-generating agencies by law under the Fiscal Responsibility Act and other legal guidelines and when we look at how much is outstanding, and how much is owed, we are actually we are actually positive.”

Edun said the salaries, external debt servicing, and other obligations are not paid through Ways and Means, adding that Nigeria’s finances have been revamped.

The federal executive council (FEC) has approved N1.99 billion for the purchase of 33 vehicles powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) to boost the operations of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The council gave the approval on Tuesday at its meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu in Abuja.

Speaking with State House correspondents after the meeting, Lateef Fagbemi, the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice, said the council also approved the procurement of firearms and ammunition worth $1.442 billion to strengthen the NDLEA’s fight against drug trafficking.

Fagbemi said the FEC approved N985 million to purchase body scanners at all the country’s international airports.

“We submitted three items to the council on NDLEA,” he said.

“FEC approved the procurement of 33 Mikano motor vehicles CNG to boost the operation of NDLEA.

“Approval for NDLEA for procurement of firearms, ammunition, and counter-narcotics for the sum of $1.442 billion

“The procurement of two units of body scanners for use both at Abuja and International Airports at N985 million.”

Angel Unigwe has refuted the claim by the veteran actor Kanayo O Kanayo that she breached their contract together.

On June 21, Kanayo alleged that the teen actress did not fulfil a contract she signed with him for a production she got hired for.

He also claimed Unigwe’s mum is known for breaching acting contracts by prematurely taking her daughter away from sets.

An irate Kanayo, in a monologue, threatened to disrupt any movie production involving the Unigwe as a result.

He cited a set where the teen actress was taken away at 9 pm when the set was contractually meant to close at midnight.

Kanayo said his decision to disrupt film productions involving Unigwe is to “save and protect” Nigeria’s film industry.

But in a statement, Juliet Kings, Unigwe’s manager, said Kanayo’s allegations of contract breach are “false and slanderous”.

The manager clarified that the actress left the set after performing her duty as her agreement with the filmmaker was for a 9 pm wrap-up.

“First, we wish to state categorically and for the public record that, as professionals, we hold sacred the terms of any contract we enter into and we are fully committed to performing all lawful obligations required of us under such contracts and as such,” the manager said.

“We vehemently deny the false accusations and slanderous statements contained in Mr. Kanayo’s video. We want to assure the public that we have done no such thing and are deeply hurt by these unfounded allegations.

“Between the 17th of June 2024 and the 19th of June 2024, Miss Unigwe participated in a film project under clear and agreed terms, most important of all being a daily wrap time of 9 pm.

“Despite our concerns about the feasibility of filming 57 scenes in 3 days, we proceeded based on the assurances we received from [him] and his director Ndifreke Matthew that the three-day period would be sufficient for shooting.

“[We agreed] that the talent’s shooting time of 12 hours starting from 9 am to 9 pm is acceptable to them. Moreso, there will be no extension considering her prior engagement.

“On the final day, despite the agreed terms regarding the wrap-up time of 9 pm, we accommodated an additional 45-50 minutes of filming beyond the agreed time out of the spirit of goodwill and understanding that had existed between us, Mr. Kanayo, and the film director.

“Upon completion of the shoot, we left the location without protest from the director or the production manager Cosmos Nwaihe, having performed our obligations.”

Kings said Kanayo’s claims amount to “cyberbullying” and “gender-based oppression” that have caused the actress “emotional distress”.

Stating that legal action has been taken, the manager called on security agencies to intervene in the matter and guarantee Unigwe’s safety.

The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 elections, Omoyele Sowore, has said that he would turn down President Bola Tinubu if he were called to join his administration.

He opined that the presidency does not have the capability to accommodate his ideas.

The political activist stated this while responding to whether he could join the administration to exercise his patriotism

Speaking in a Mic On interview, a podcast by Seun Okinbaloye, Sowore argued that Tinubu’s administration lacks the capability to see the greatness in Nigeria.

He said: “We have nothing in common. I know in advance that they don’t have the bandwidth to accommodate our ideas. They are very limited in their ability to see what we have seen and how we see the greatness of Nigeria.

“In joining them, you’re only fulfilling the time-tested lie that if you can’t beat them, you join them. We don’t belong in that category at all.”

When asked what would be his response if the government ask for his assistance in finding a solution to the country’s problems, he replied, “I am not going to help those who are not here to help Nigerians. If they were here to help Nigerians, they would not have plunged them into the multi-dimensional poverty they did the first day they came into power by removing subsidies.

“They wouldn’t have done it by floating the naira. You can’t do it by awarding a contract that is very hidden and not transparent for N15 trillion to a friend of the president.”

Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), on Tuesday, convened an emergency meeting following the decision of the Federal Executive Council to step down the memo on the minimum wage.

A top official at the NLC headquarters who spoke with Daily Trust revealed that the meeting will be held at Labour House at 10:00am on Wednesday.

The official said it is meant for discussion on the decision of FEC to step down the memo on minimum wage.

Naija News had earlier reported that the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said all 39 items on the agenda of the meeting were all taken except the memo on the minimum wage.

Idris had disclosed that there was a report by the Tripartite committee which comprises of local government, States , NLC/TUC and the federal government, adding that the committee submitted its report, and there was a memo to that effect.

The minister, however, said Council could not take a decision on it because it involves Local Government, states, FG, Organized Private Sector and Labour unions.

He, therefore, said the memo on the new minimum wage was stepped down so that the President, Bola Tinubu could consult widely before a final submission is made to the National Assembly.

Meanwhile, NLC official, said the leadership of the organised labour would meet and take a unanimous position before the President takes consultation to them.

He said, “Even though we had a position already, we will meet tomorrow morning, (Wednesday) to fine-tune our position before we’re consulted. It is important for us.”