The Central Bank of Nigeria has said that it recorded an inflow of over $1.5 bn into the economy over the past few days, indicating that its monetary policy efforts are working positively.

The bank’s acting Director, Corporate Communications Department, Mrs. Sidi Ali, made the assertions in a statement on Friday.

She noted that data available to the bank indicated that the inflow resulted from the bank’s effort to stabilise the foreign exchange market.

Ali said the naira has also continued to record gains in the Autonomous Foreign Exchange market as it traded at N1,309/$1 as against N1,611/$1 in the second week of March 2024.

The exchange rate between the naira and dollar closed at N1,534/$1 on the official NAFEM market on Monday, February 12, 2024. The current value of the naira shows a considerable appreciation.

Recently, the CBN held its 294th Monetary Policy Committee meeting where it decided to increase the interest rate by 200 points to 24.75 per cent from the previous 22.75 per cent.

During his post-meeting briefing, the CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, also reiterated that the apex bank had cleared all verified foreign exchange backlogs, underscoring the fact that liquidity would improve in the forex market.

The bank conducted the Nigerian Treasury Bills auction of N1.64 trillion on Wednesday, at stop rates of 16.24 per cent, 17 per cent, and 21.124 per cent for the 91-day, 182-day, and 364-day tenors, respectively.

The decision to increase the interest rate raised lots of concern among citizens and economic experts but Cardoso said the bank’s decision was intended to stabilise the economy by bringing the interest rate at par with the current inflation in the country, stating that the increase would not be long.

“While the increase in interest rate may have tendencies toward strangulating the economy, with the foreign exchange rate coming down, that also helps to moderate it overall.

“And as I said earlier, you would expect that this would not be too long drawn; at least I would hope so. We are getting towards a situation where the exchange rate is moderating, and we are expecting it to moderate, and then it finds a level that, quite frankly, is sustainable. This would involve huge collaboration with the fiscal side because a lot of that cannot just rely on the monetary side alone,” the governor said.

While noting that Thursday’s rate signified that the Naira was headed in the right direction, Ali assured that the Cardoso-led CBN would remain committed to ensuring the stability of the market and the appropriate pricing of the Naira against other major currencies worldwide.

An 84-year-old crocodile which lived at Delesolu’s Palace, Oje in Ibadan, Oyo State is dead.

The palace in which the ancient crocodile died is known for its unique practice of rearing crocodiles as pets.

Because of this, the palace has been a popular choice for many tourists due to its historical sights.

Chief Raufu Yusuffu Delesolu (Ayingun Olubadan), head of the family and a respected Chief in Ibadan, said that the crocodile had been brought to Igbejo Delesolu in 1940 after the first one was acquired by white men. Since then, it had resided in the Delesolu compound until its recent demise.

Chief Raufu explained that people from various backgrounds, including Africans and white visitors, enjoyed seeing and feeding the crocodile with different foods. He mentioned that the crocodile had been around for about 84 years, predating his own birth.

Contrary to speculation, Chief Raufu clarified that the crocodile was not worshipped as a deity by their ancestors but was instead treated as a cherished pet. He reminisced about times when the crocodile would venture out during heavy rains, prompting a search by men in the compound to bring it back safely.

While the family mourns the loss of the crocodile, they are making arrangements for its burial within the family compound.

Controversial Nigerian crossdresser, idris Okuneye aka Bobrisky has opened up on where and when he had his first kiss.

He disclosed that he he had his first kiss during his first year (100L) at the University of Lagos, UNILAG with his male roommate.

This revelation came during an exclusive interview with Comedian BaeU. When asked about his first kiss, Bobrisky didn’t hesitate to share that it occurred in his hostel room at UNILAG with his roommate.

He stated, “My first kiss happened in school, at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), in my hostel, with my roommate.”

When questioned if the roommate was male, Bobrisky confirmed, saying, “Yes,” and elaborated that it was his first-ever kiss.

See Video Below;

The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) has made a new announcement.

The CDCFIB announced that it will conclude the ongoing recruitment process into the Federal Fire Service (FFS) on June 15, 2024.

The Minister of Interior and chairman of the Board, Olubumi Tunji-Ojo, said the new date was in line with the Board’s reviewed timeline for the conduct of employment in the paramilitary Services under its purview.

Tunji-Ojo who spoke through the secretary of the CDCFIB, Ja’afaru Ahmed, at the end of its quarterly review meeting with heads of the four paramilitary agencies under its supervision, said shortlisted candidates would be requested to visit the Board’s portal via messages to their emails and mobile phone numbers.

The minister urged the public to ignore messages on social media inviting them to pay some amount for placement, adding that they were from fraudsters.

He also said the Board considered 118 cases of erring officers of the four Services under its purview and took appropriate disciplinary measures.

The summary of cases and resolution of the Board made available to Daily Trust after the meeting indicated that 48 officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service, 21 officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service, 12 officers of the Federal Fire Service and 37 officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were involved.

The breakdown shows that 30 officers were dismissed from the service while five others were to be dismissed and prosecuted.

Also, 9 were recommended for retirement and 17 were to be de-ranked and punished while 14 others were recommended to be discharged, acquitted and issued commendation letters.

The Tinubu-led Federal Government have allegedly released the sum of N90 billion to subsidise the 2024 pilgrimage to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

A source at the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) told Daily Trust that without this intervention, each of the intending pilgrims would have been requested to add at least N3.5 million to the initial fare which was pegged at N4.9 million.

The source told the publication;

“The forex crisis has caused a lot of problems. That is why the Hajj Commission has asked intending pilgrims to pay the extra amount of N1.9 million each. The commission actually needed N230 billion to sort out the fare differential caused by the forex crisis.

“The N90 billion support which was provided by the government was announced in the presence of reporters during the inauguration of the board and management of the Hajj Commission which was held at the Office of the Vice Presidency on February 28, 2024. But they (reporters) were asked not to report it. That was why no newspaper carried the report. Or did you see it in any reports? If the intending pilgrims pay ₦1.9 million, it is then it can be balanced."

He added that NAHCON had also contacted state governors “to subsidise the hajj fare for the intending pilgrims in their respective states. Kano has responded by subsiding it by N500,000 for each pilgrim.

“By the previous calculation, the N90 billion given by the federal government can only subsidise 19,000 intending pilgrims by ₦3.5 million. But by spreading it on 50,000 pilgrims, it reduces it to N1.9 million; meaning that the federal government has subsidised each pilgrim by ₦1.6 million before each intending pilgrim was asked to add the remaining N1.9 million.”

A top official at the Presidency also confirmed that the federal government “actually provided some financial support for the hajj exercise”. The official said;

“Of course, the federal government has offered support for the pilgrims because the pilgrims have been lamenting.

“Normally, any support that the government is giving to any faith, whether the Christian faith or the Muslim faith, the government does not like to announce it openly so that it will not appear as if the government is favouring on faith.”

The Ogun State Police Command has reported that a group of gunmen believed to be kidnappers raided a Celestial Church in the state and kidnapped two worshippers.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Omolola Odutola, who made this known in a short statement issued on Friday, said the suspected kidnappers invaded the church located around Oriyarin village, Mowe, in the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of the state on Thursday.

He said they abducted two worshippers identified as Oladapo Seyifunmi and Oluboboye Abiola, and escaped through a thick forest behind the church.

The police spokesperson said that the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Alamutu Abiodun, had ordered the immediate mobilisation of security personnel to go after the gunmen.

The statement reads, “Suspected kidnapping report at my disposal 28/3/2024 reveals that unidentified gunmen, invaded a Celestial Church around Oriyarin village Mowe and abducted one Oladapo Seyifunmi, Oluboboye Abiola, and escaped through the thick forest behind the church.

“The Commissioner of Police CP Alamutu Abiodun has been briefed and he has ordered immediate mobilization of security personnel to go after the hoodlums.”

Abosede, the mother of the late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, also known as Mohbad, has asserted that those responsible for her son's death will eventually meet a fate similar to that of Judas Iscariot, who committed suicide after betraying Jesus Christ.

Abosede said this during an exclusive interview with Saturday PUNCH, adding that Mohbad always visited her in her dreams and assured her that his death would be avenged soon.

She said, “It was God’s will. My child's death was like that of Jesus. Judas killed Jesus and later committed suicide. Mohbad’s murderers will also commit suicide soon.”

She continued: “I see my son every day in my dreams. He always comes to see me. I believe I will surely get justice one day, but not the way his father is going about it.

“I am not disappointed that my son is no more; it is the will of God. It had been written that all those behind the death of my son would die the same way too. Mohbad stood by me every time his father was fighting me. He told me that his father was always cursing me, and he could not withstand the curses. But I told him to leave his father to God.

“Three days ago, I saw him (in my dream), and he promised that he would fight. People think he has given me everything. People say a lot of things against me, but I believe those doing that, including Joseph (Mohbad’s father), are not well trained for them to be saying such things about him.

“If they had someone like Mohbad in their families, they wouldn’t have been saying such things. If they had not buried him hastily, this whole thing wouldn’t have turned out this way.”

The bereaved mother also berated some Nigerians who promised to use their platforms to seek justice on the matter but eventually profited from the situation and abandoned it midway.

“A lot of people have enriched themselves from this, but the justice they are supposed to be fighting for has been left for me and Omowunmi (Mohbad’s wife) to seek,” she added.

The Senator representing Bayelsa Central, Benson Konbowei, has been remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre by a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja.

The order was given by Justice Christopher Oba in a case bordering on alleged forgery of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) exemption certificate by the lawmaker.

Senator Konbowei was arraigned before the court on March 26, and he pleaded not guilty to the charge brought against him.

The court, however, granted the Senator N50m bail but ruled that he should be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the perfection of the bail conditions.

In the charge marked: CR/028/2023, the Inspector General of Police accused Konbowei of fraudulently forging a document titled ‘Certificate of Exemption’ with number 000256454 and dated July 4, 2008.

The police said the Senator acted contrary to the provisions of Sections 366,156, and 158 of the Penal Code Act CAP 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 and was liable to punishment under Section 364 of the same Act.

Upon his arraignment earlier on Tuesday, the Senator pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Senator was allowed him to go home and the hearing of his bail application was fixed for Thursday, March 28, 2024.

After listening to counsels in the matter, the Senator was granted bail by the court with two sureties in like sum.

The Judge in his ruling, said, “The law is settled that bail is the discretion of the court. Taking a look at the matter, it is not a capital offence.”

The judge said the sureties must own landed properties with Certificates of Occupancy in the Federal Capital Territory.

Justice Oba, however, ordered that the Senator be remanded in the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions.

The matter has been adjourned till June 24, 25 and 27 for hearing.

Gov Abba Yusuf of Kano State has given reasons on why he appointed Mustapha Kwankwaso, the son of the 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as a member of his cabinet.

Yusuf appointed Kwankwaso’s son, alongside three others for commissioner position in the state.

The Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Jibril Falgore, confirmed the receipt of the executive list during a plenary session on Tuesday.

He announced that the screening of the commissioner nominees will commence early next week, marking the next step in formalizing their appointments.

Reacting to the outburst that greeted the development, Yusuf, in a statement titled “In Defence of Mustapha Kwankwaso’s appointment.” issued through the Director-General, Media and Publicity, Kano Government House, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, said Kwankwaso has promoted many young people including men and women.

The Governor clarified that Mustapha’s appointment was not payback, but he is among the capable youth who worked tirelessly for the success of the present administration in Kano.

The Statement reads: “Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has promoted hundreds of thousands of young men and women, many of them sons and daughters of common men and women.

“He promoted children of nobody to become somebody in the eyes of world today and he also created platforms and political spaces for many of us from humble backgrounds to occupy various elective and appointment positions at Local, State and Federal Government levels.

“One of Sen. Kwankwaso’s beneficiaries, The Executive Governor of Kano decided to promote the son of his benefactor, not really as a pay but because Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso is among the capable youth who worked tirelessly to the success of the present administration in Kano.

“The Governor empowers youths and allow them to explore their potentials. Certainly, Mustapha cannot be an exception due to his paternal history, that shouldn’t be a barrier to his political career as he has decided to be a politician, like his father.”