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The Nigeria Police on Wednesday arraigned a 64-year-old estate agent, Sunday Asibe, before the Ebute-Metta Chief Magistrate Court, in Lagos State, for allegedly defrauding a man of N13m under pretence.
Asibe, who also goes by the alias John Asibe, is facing three counts of fraud, obtaining by pretence, and stealing, brought against him by the police.
The police prosecutor, Inspector Cyriacus Osuji, told the court that the defendant committed the offences between February and May 2024.
He said the incident took place in the Igando area of Lagos State.
Osuji alleged that the defendant fraudulently obtained the money from one Alhaji Suleiman Bawale, under the guise of selling him a plot of land.
The prosecutor also told the court that Asibe collected the money in two tranches of N8m, and N5m, respectively.
Osuji disclosed that sometime in February, the defendant allegedly stole the sum of N8m from the complainant and promised to sell land to him, which he didn’t.
“In February, Asibe stole N8m, from the complainant with a promise to sell him a plot of land, which he failed to deliver.
“Then, in May, he obtained an additional N5m, from Bawale, again, promising land that he did not provide,” said Osuji.
According to the prosecutor, the offences committed contravened Sections 313,280 (1) (a) (b) and punishable under Sections 314, (1) (a) (b) (3) and 287, of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
However, the defendant, who was arraigned before Magistrate Feyikemi George, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Consequently, Magistrate George granted him bail in the sum of N1m, with two sureties in like sum.
She ordered that the sureties must provide three months’ bank statements showing a balance of N1m, and have their addresses verified.
The case was adjourned until October 30, 2024, for a mention.
The Federal Government has announced the provision of new tax reliefs for deep offshore oil and gas production to boost investments in the sector.
It also announced that the importation of key energy products and infrastructure, including diesel, feed gas, Liquefied Petroleum Gas, Compressed Natural Gas, electric vehicles, Liquefied Natural Gas infrastructure, and clean cooking equipment would no longer require value-added tax payment.
The Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, announced this in a statement on Wednesday.
The statement signed by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Mohammed Manga, said the initiative would position Nigeria’s deep offshore basin as a premier destination for global oil and gas investments, bolster energy security, and accelerate Nigeria’s transition to cleaner energy sources.
This policy directive arrives alongside new divestment plans from ExxonMobil and Seplat, which President Bola Tinubu said would receive ministerial approval in the coming days.
The statement read, “In its avowed determination towards ensuring a boost in the nation’s upstream and downstream sector, the Federal Government has introduced groundbreaking concessions aimed at revitalizing the industry.
“This is just as the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, today unveiled two major fiscal incentives aimed at revitalising Nigeria’s oil and gas sector: Value Added Tax Modification Order 2024 and Notice of Tax Incentives for Deep Offshore Oil & Gas Production, in accordance with the Oil & Gas Companies (Tax Incentives, Exemption, Remission, etc.) Order 2024.”
Explaining further, Manga said, “The VAT Modification Order 2024 introduces exemptions on a range of key energy products and infrastructure, including diesel, feed gas, Liquefied Petroleum Gas, Compressed Natural Gas, electric vehicles, Liquefied Natural Gas infrastructure, and clean cooking equipment.
“These measures are designed to lower the cost of living, bolster energy security, and accelerate Nigeria’s transition to cleaner energy sources.”
It explained that the notice of tax incentives for deep offshore oil & gas production provides new tax reliefs for deep offshore projects, stressing that, “This initiative is aimed at positioning Nigeria’s deep offshore basin as a premier destination for global oil and gas investments.”
The ministry said these fiscal incentives reflect the administration’s steadfast commitment to promoting sustainable growth, enhancing energy security, and driving economic prosperity for all Nigerians.
The statement added, “These reforms are part of a broader series of investment-driven policy initiatives championed by President Bola Tinubu, in line with Policy Directives 40-42.
“They reflect the administration’s strong commitment to fostering sustainable growth in the energy sector and enhancing Nigeria’s global competitiveness in oil and gas production.
“With these bold initiatives, Nigeria is firmly on track to reclaim its position as a leader in the global oil and gas market.
“These fiscal incentives demonstrate the administration’s unwavering commitment to fostering sustainable growth, enhancing energy security, and driving economic prosperity for all Nigerians,” the statement concluded.
The minister of justice and attorney general of the federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s commitment to fighting corruption.
Speaking at the unveiling of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Strategic Action Plan 2024-2028 in Abuja on Wednesday, Mr Fagbemi described corruption as a cancer that eroded societal fabric and necessitated collective action.
Mr Fagbemi noted that the strategic plan launched marked a significant milestone in combating corruption and promoting transparency.
The plan, he said, would serve as a clear roadmap for the ICPC to enhance operations, deepen stakeholder collaboration, and address emerging challenges.
He assured the ministry of justice’s unwavering support in providing the necessary legal framework and resources.
Mt Fagbemi commended the ICPC leadership’s diligence and stakeholders’ contributions to the plan’s development.
President of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, emphasised that fighting corruption was everyone’s responsibility.
She urged Nigerians to maintain a positive attitude, recognising that corruption extended beyond financial misconduct to include dereliction of duty.
ICPC Strategic Action Plan 2024-2028 focuses on combating corruption through innovative methods and sustained action.
The commission also launched its Ethicspod programme, a bi-weekly podcast aimed at amplifying anti-corruption efforts through digital media.
(NAN)
The Naira depreciated significantly against the Dollar at the foreign exchange market upon resumption of trading after Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day holiday.
FMDQ data showed that it weakened to N1669.19 per dollar on Wednesday from N1541.94 exchanged on Monday.
This represents an N127.25 loss against the dollar compared to the N1541.94 traded on Monday.
Meanwhile, at the parallel market, the Naira gained N10 to close at N1690 per dollar on Wednesday compared to the N1700 exchange rate on Monday.
DAILY POST reports that on Monday the depreciated marginally against the Dollar.
For months now, the Naira has continued to fluctuate against the dollar and other foreign currencies.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his Independence Day Speech pleaded with Nigerians to be patient with his economic policies.
On June 14 last year, the Central Bank of Nigeria floated the Naira at the FX market which saw the value of the Country’s currency drop.
Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has announced the recovery of N13 billion diverted public funds in September.
ICPC chairman Musa Aliyu, in his welcome address at ICPC Strategic Action Plan 2024-2028 launch on Wednesday in Abuja, described the feat as a remarkable achievement.
According to him, the impressive haul is a testament to the commission’s relentless efforts at combating corruption and ensuring accountability in Nigeria.
”Over the past years, the ICPC has made significant progress in discharging its mandate; for example, we recovered over N13 billion diverted public funds in September 2024 alone. This is just one of the many ways we have worked tirelessly to fulfil our mandate.
”We are also embarking on ICT reforms that will digitalise our operations and enable more efficient investigations, case management, and internal processes. This transformation will position the commission as a leader in leveraging technology to combat corruption, keeping us one step ahead of criminal activities in the digital age,” he said.
Mr Aliyu said that the commission was also developing a specialised curriculum to enhance our personnel’s enforcement capacity.
”This initiative equips our officers with the skills and expertise needed to address the complexities of corruption cases with the highest standards of professionalism and efficiency.
”We are decentralising the anti-corruption efforts by empowering state governments through the mobilisation of state attorneys-general. This approach ensures that state governments are equipped with the tools, knowledge, and resources necessary to effectively combat corruption at the local level,” he said.
The ICPC chairman recalled that the commission successfully held a conference with state attorneys-general in September, adding that more than 30 state chief law officers attended.
He said that in response to the findings from the Third National Corruption Survey, the commission had intensified efforts to broaden the reach of the anti-corruption campaign by actively engaging citizens, civil society and the media.
”A key part of this initiative is our upcoming EthicsPod digital community, designed to foster a culture of transparency and accountability across both public offices and everyday life nationwide.
”These efforts are part of a comprehensive strategy, forming the backbone of our Strategic Action Plan 2024-2028, which builds on our past achievements and charts a clear path for the future,” he said.
The ICPC boss stressed the need to intensify efforts to prevent corruption and corrupt practices.
(NAN)
Segun Ajayi-Kadir, director-general (DG) of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), says government officials must face consequences for making policies that ruin businesses.
Ajayi-Kadir spoke on Tuesday during a forum themed ‘Nigeria’s Challenging Economy: Strategies For Recovery,’ organised by Channels Television to commemorate Nigeria’s 64th Independence anniversary.
He emphasised the need for consequences when policies lead to economic setbacks for industries.
“There must be consequence for government officials who make policies that ruin businesses,” Ajayi-Kadir said.
“I mean, you make a policy today, it becomes a disaster for industry and government simply changes it, and you walk away. We don’t have this luxury in the private sector.
“If you make a mistake, your business is gone, and you could distrain your property. So I think we need to see that movement also on the part of government.”
He said the challenges caused by the ongoing rise in interest rates should be alleviated.
The DG said borrowing at rates of 30-35 percent makes it nearly impossible for businesses to survive, particularly in an economy where consumer purchasing power has drastically declined.
“We should be able to assuage the challenges we are having with continuously raising interest rates,” he said.
“You’ve done it for more than 18 months plus, and you’ve not done any impact assessment on the productive sector.
“I think you need to be able to insulate that sector so that you can inflate the economy.”
‘THERE’S NEED FOR INDUSTRIAL POLICY’
Ajayi-Kadir said there is a need for an industrial policy to guide the government’s approach to industrialisation.
According to the DG, the policy would promote better coordination between key government ministries such as the ministry of industry, trade, and investment, the ministry of finance, and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
“I must say that policy coordination is extremely important for us because you can’t operate in such a way that you don’t know what to expect tomorrow,” he said.
“It will basically define where we want to be, and it will guide our operations.”
He also questioned the effectiveness of Nigeria’s embassies abroad, calling for key performance indicators (KPIs) aimed at facilitating foreign market penetration for Nigerian products and attracting foreign investments.
While commending the efforts of Wale Edun, the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, Ajayi-Kadir called for a more deliberate government policy, urging the government to avoid playing politics with economic policies.
Also, Ajayi-Kadir advocated for a coordinated approach with clear expectations, deliverables, and accountability measures to ensure that the government and industry move in the same direction.
‘FG SHOULD LOOK BEYOND OIL SALE TO GET FX’
Ajayi-Kadir said Nigeria does not need to rely solely on oil sale for foreign exchange (FX), urging the government to diversify its revenue streams, particularly by tapping into the potential of diaspora remittances.
“We don’t really also have to depend on the sale of oil for us to be able to get forex. First, we must realise all the income that we can get from oil and we shouldn’t have any impediments, whether human, structural, or system-imposed. I mean, we should be clear about it. It’s our natural resource,” he said.
“We should fully recover all the forex that we can get from there. We need to address the issue of diaspora remittance that has a very great potential of bringing in far more forex than Nigeria is receiving. Those ones can help to address the foreign exchange challenges that we have.
“There’s one presently that I still cannot understand why we’ve not been able to overcome it and it’s the N2.4 billion unredeemed forwards with the CBN.”
The DG also said the FX exposure has caused massive losses for manufacturers.
“I believe that it will require the intervention of Mr. President, because I have a member, for instance, who has lost N7.2 billion because of this forex exposure for no fault of his and eight of our members, because of the forex exposure, have actually lost 918 billion in the last one year,” he said.
Ajayi-Kadir said addressing the pressing issues does not require new laws or executive orders but a coordinated effort to resolve FX challenges.
The military high command has announced the dismissal of a naval rating, Seaman Haruna Abbas, who was reportedly detained for about six years.
Haruna’s dismissal came on the heels of his wife, Hussaina Iliya, claim on a popular radio station in Abuja that her husband was detained unjustly by the military since 2018 over attempt to disarm him.
The military high command has announced the dismissal of a naval rating, Seaman Haruna Abbas, who was reportedly detained for about six years.
Haruna’s dismissal came on the heels of his wife, Hussaina Iliya, claim on a popular radio station in Abuja that her husband was detained unjustly by the military since 2018 over attempt to disarm him.
After Iliya’s claim went viral, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, and Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, ordered an investigation into the matter.
Giving an update about the matter during a press briefing at Defence Headquarters, Abuja, on Wednesday, the Director, Defence Information, Tukur Gusau, disclosed that Haruna had been dismissed from the military.
Gusau, a Brigadier-General, said Abbas was dismissed after the Chief of Naval Staff, Emmanuel Ogalla, ratified the judgement of the court martial instituted by the DHQ on September 19, 2024.
The senior military officer said that Abbas was arraigned before a court-martial on three charges bordering on disobedience to orders, resisting arrest and destruction of service property.
He noted that the offences were contrary to Sections 56 (1), 86 (1) and 66 (c) of the Armed Forces Act Act CAP A20 Laws of the Federation 2004, adding that upon his arraignment, he pleaded guilty to the allegations against him.
“Ex Seaman Abbas Haruna M5759 was arraigned before the GCM on 3 counts charge of Disobedience to Particular Orders, Resistance to Arrest and Offences in Relation to Public and Service Property contrary to Sections 56 (1), 86 (1) and 66 (c) of the Armed Forces Act (AFA) Act CAP A20 Laws of the Federation (LFN) 2004, respectively.
“At the trial, the GCM deliberated on the testimonies of the prosecution and Defence witnesses as well as the exhibits tendered by the prosecution surrounding the circumstances of the case.
“It is important to note that the ex-rating pleaded guilty to all the charges during the trial. The GCM therefore, considered the nature of the offence committed by the ex rating, his plea of guilty and plea in mitigation of punishment as well as the legal advice of the Judge Advocate in arriving at its verdict,” he said.
Gusau said after the trial, the court found Abbas guilty and dismissed him with effect from February 7, 2023, adding that Abbas was subsequently placed on open arrest pending the ratification of the judgment.
He said, “Accordingly, after proceedings, the GCM found Ex Seaman Abbas Haruna M5759 guilty on all counts. Based on this, he was sentenced to a Reduction in Rate from Seaman to Ordinary Seaman on Count One and Dismissal with Ignominy on Counts 2 and 3 with effect from 7 February 2023.
“Thereafter, the ex-rating was placed on open arrest at the arrival hall in Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja, pending confirmation of the sentences by the Chief of the Naval Staff.
“The Record of Proceedings of the trial was forwarded to DHQ on 27 June 2023 and subsequently transmitted to Naval Headquarters on 8 August 2023. The sentences of the GCM were thereafter confirmed by the CNS with effect from September 19, 2024.”
Gusau dismissed claims that Abbas was tried despite having mental health issues.
He said, “On the issue of mental well-being, we have a clip here that shows medical personnel coming to testify that he has conducted checks and he is fit to stand trial. And again, we have medical certificates from Federal Medical Center, where they certify that he is fit to stand trial.
“He has been going in and out of hospital, but all the hospitals he attended show that he is mentally fit to stand trial. In fact, because of his, you know, in and out of hospital, that’s why the first court-martial was dissolved, to give him enough time so that he can go and seek medical attention.
“But all reports came back saying he is physically and mentally ready to stand trial”, adding that Abba’s Commander did nothing wrong to disarm him.
He stated, “You can disarm that person. Once you give a weapon to somebody and you don’t trust him any longer, you don’t allow him until he’s perpetrated an offence or even killed people before you now, you know, collect the weapon.
“The weapon belongs to the states. It belongs to the Armed Forces of Nigeria. You go to the armoury, you sign it, and at every point, until your commander feels he doesn’t trust you with that weapon, he can retrieve it from you. And if you refuse, he can disarm you.”
Narrating how Abbas’ ordeal started, Gusau said the dismissed rating continually interrupted his commander while addressing them on the parade ground.
He added that Abbas disobeyed all orders given to him by his commander, which included him to report to the guard room.
Gusau said, “Let me at this point intimate to you that the case involving Ex-Seaman Abbas M5759 started when he was found misbehaving during a parade.
“Specifically, the ex-rating was part of the parade during a coordinating conference of the Commanding Officer when he was addressing troops of Exercise AYAM AKPATUMA preparing for the operation.
“While the CO was addressing the troops, the ex-rating continually interrupted the address, which warranted the CO to direct him to report to the guard room. However, the rating refused to obey the order.
“Thus, the CO directed his arrest, but the ex-rating resisted and expended 16 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition belonging to the NN with the aim of preventing other soldiers from taking him into custody.
“Consequently, the investigation was conducted, and the ex-rating was recommended to be tried by court-martial. The ex-rating was eventually tried by a GCM from December 20, 2022 – February 7, 2023.
“Notably, the trial of Ex Seaman Abbas Haruna M5759 by GCM was based on the authority that as serving personnel, he was subject to both military and civil laws.”
[DailyTrust]
The Police Service Commission (PSC) on Wednesday, October 2, approved the postings of four Commissioners of Police to head State Commands in the country.
CP Abaniwonda Olufemi recently moved to Rivers State Command and has been returned as Commissioner of Police Delta State Command.
CP Peter Ukachi Opara has finally been deployed to Cross Rivers State Command.
According to a statement issued by the head of press and public relations, Ikechukwu Ani, he was earlier appointed the Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory, FCT Command, moved to Delta State but has now been posted to head the Cross Rivers State Command.
Ani said: “CP Mustapha Mohammed Bala from Katsina State has been posted to Rivers State, while Gyogon Augustine Grimah from Nasarawa State has been posted to Kaduna State Command”.
The approval for the postings, he said, has been conveyed to the Inspector-General of Police for implementation in a letter signed by Commission Chairman, DIG Hashimu Argungu.
[TheNation]
A Kano State High Court on Wednesday set October 10, 2024, for its ruling on an application seeking to prevent the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado-Bayero, from renovating the Nassarawa mini palace, located on State Road, Kano.
The applicants in the case—the Kano State Government, the Attorney General of Kano, and the Kano Emirate Council—filed the motion through their counsel, Rilwanu Umar, SAN, on September 12, 2024.
The suit aims to restrain Ado-Bayero, who is the sole respondent, from making any modifications to the mini palace.
During the hearing, counsel for the applicants, Habib Akilu, informed the court that the defendant was not represented, stating that the substantive suit was ready for hearing.
He then proceeded to move the interlocutory application, asking the court to prevent the former Emir from altering or reconstructing the palace.
Presiding over the case, Justice Abdu-Aboki, ordered that all legal processes be pasted on the court’s notice board.
It should be recalled that on September 13, 2024, the court issued an interim injunction restraining Ado-Bayero, his agents, or anyone acting on his behalf from demolishing, renovating, repairing, or reconstructing the Nassarawa mini palace, pending the hearing of the main suit.
The court also directed all parties involved to maintain the current state of the palace’s structural and architectural design until the case was fully resolved.
![[STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE] President Tinubu Goes On Annual Leave](/media/k2/items/cache/a63b0dfaaaa8ca99ba38e202a150fece_S.jpg)
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja today for the United Kingdom to begin a two-week vacation, part of his yearly leave.
He will use the two weeks as a working vacation and a retreat to reflect on his administration's economic reforms.
He will return to the country after the leave expires.
Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information & Strategy)
More...
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) have informed the Federal High Court Abuja about their respective positions on Pay-Per-View subscription requests against Multichoice Nigeria products, GOtv and DStv.
Multichoice Nigeria Limited had asked the court in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/563/2024 to refuse a plaintiff application seeking to compel it to meter its GOtv and DStv decoders to read customers’ subscriptions only per view or during viewing.
FCCPC and NBC were drawn into the fresh legal dispute by Maduabuchi O. Idam Esq, who sought an order compelling the FCCPC, NBC, and the Attorney General of the Federation to direct every TV network provider in Nigeria to regulate or meter their subscriptions to read per view or during viewing and to roll over unused subscriptions after the expiration of the subscription duration.
Customer/Multichoice Contention
In the suit, the claimant also seeks an order compelling Multichoice to roll over unused subscriptions upon expiration for Idam and other Nigerian customers, allowing them to maximize their investment in its products.
In this latest suit, Idam alleges that GOtv subscriptions, for instance, are not metered and do not account for viewing time; instead, customers are disconnected from service upon the expiration of their subscription, regardless of usage.
Idam states that apart from the alleged arbitrary price hikes that took effect in May 2024, Multichoice does not allow customers to roll over unused subscriptions, preventing them from fully utilizing their purchased services, citing this development as oppressive.
Multichoice denies the allegations of customer oppression, drawing the court’s attention to prior clarifications from Multichoice and other pay-TV operators during meetings with the NBC regarding the feasibility of the Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) model, stating that it is not commercially or technically viable in satellite broadcasting due to current technological limitations.
“PAYG has been investigated several times by the National Assembly. In the 8th Assembly, the House Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics, and Values, led by Hon. Olusegun Odebunmi, found that allegations of exorbitant Pay-TV subscription charges against Multichoice and the GOtv license holder were unsubstantiated and that the PAYG model is not technically or commercially feasible in the broadcast industry,” Multichoice stated.
What FCCPC Is Saying
In FCCPC’s counter affidavit dated August 16, 2024, and exclusively seen by Nairametrics, Mr. Adedeji Bankole, an officer in the Department of Legal Services of the Commission, countered the claimant’s submission, maintaining that most of the allegations regarding its Pay-Per-View request are incorrect.
Bankole stressed that the FCCPC’s mandate focuses on promoting competition and protecting consumers, but it does not directly regulate how businesses should be run.
He stated that while the FCCPC sets guidelines and enforces laws related to competition and consumer protection, it does not dictate how businesses should be operated or managed.
“The FCCPC is not in any position to direct or compel Multichoice to regulate or meter their subscriptions to read per view or during viewing and to roll over unused subscriptions after the expiration of the subscription duration,” he stated.
He added that the FCCPC has investigated Multichoice several times before and that other subscribers/consumers have taken Multichoice to court in the past over increases in tariffs, and several of those cases are now on appeal.
NBC’s Position
Still on the matter, Odoeme N.V., representing the NBC, submitted to the court that it received a complaint from the plaintiff dated September 20, 2023, addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of Multichoice TV.
In response to the complaint, it set up a committee to investigate the matter concerning requests for Pay-Per-View, among others.
He stated that Multichoice, through their letters dated October 30, 2023, and April 23, 2024, informed the NBC of their intention to increase the subscription fee.
He continued that the NBC, in its letters dated November 7, 2023, and April 30, 2024, urged and directed Multichoice to suspend the increase while inviting the pay-TV provider for a meeting for further discussion.
“But Multichoice did not honor the invitation. The NBC, on September 28, 2023, wrote to Multichoice to respond to the plaintiff’s complaint, but Multichoice did not respond or make any representation,” he added.
He explained that before the committee established to investigate the plaintiff’s complaint against Multichoice concluded its assignment, the Federal High Court Abuja delivered a judgment declaring that the NBC, not being either the Nigerian Police or the court, does not have the power to investigate or sanction.
The NBC said it is bound by the judgment of the court and cannot presently attend to any complaint against Multichoice for now.
“This judgment forestalled the implementation of the (NBC)committee’s findings. Owing to the said judgment, the NBC could not take any action in sanctioning or giving directives to Multichoice regarding the plaintiff’s complaint,” the NBC stated in its submission, seen by Nairametrics.
Nairametrics has gathered that the court has scheduled December 5, 2024, for a hearing on this legal dispute.
What You Should Know
Nairametrics reports that Multichoice has faced accusations of exploiting Nigerian customers.
Over the years, the Pay-TV provider has been scrutinized by lawmakers and consumer protection tribunals over its pricing practices.
The hearing follows the Nigerian Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal’s decision on July 12, 2024, granting a request from lawyer Festus Onifade to withdraw his case against Multichoice Nigeria concerning a price hike of GOtv and DStv subscriptions.
Initially, the tribunal fined Multichoice 150 million naira and mandated a one-month free subscription for violating interim orders, but Multichoice appealed and filed for a stay of proceedings.
The tribunal rescheduled the case to November, but Onifade chose to withdraw the suit, which the tribunal approved without awarding costs.
Multichoice announced new price adjustments for DStv and GOtv packages on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. An email to subscribers stated, “On Wednesday, May 1, 2024, we will adjust our prices across all our packages on DStv and GOtv. We understand the impact this change may have on you—our valued customer—but the rise in the cost of business operations has led us to make this difficult decision. It remains our mission to provide the best entertainment and viewing experience to you, and we are committed to continuing to deliver high-quality content and unparalleled service.”
[Nairametrics]
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday said the 64th Independent Day Speech of President Bola Tinubu further confirmed the “insensitivity of his administration towards the plight and demands by Nigerians”.
In a statement, PDP spokesman Debo Ologunagba said the President’s speech showed no hope in sight under the “clueless, insensitive and unresponsive APC-led government”.
“Nigerians are appalled that the President’s speech was a complete waste of time as it did not address issues or proffer any solution to the myriads of economic and security problems created by the APC government, for which Nigerians are hurting,” he said.
The opposition party said the presidential speech failed to respond to the cries of millions of Nigerians, adding that Tinubu did not review the “life-suffocating policies of his government”.
“It is indeed shocking that Mr. President’s speech practically trivialized the very grave issues of pervasive economic hardship, unemployment, acute poverty, widespread hunger and starvation in our country- for which Nigerians took to the streets in August this year- by claiming that about 10% of Nigerians have been plunged into hunger when confirmed reports show that over 100 million Nigerians can no longer afford their daily meals and other basic necessities of life under the APC watch.
“Equally appalling is Mr. President’s irreconcilable assurances of micro-economic improvement, lower cost of living and food sufficiency, when in reality his administration has failed to lower the price of fuel; the key driver of our nation’s economy, failed to inject resources into the productive sector to boost employment, stem the slide of the Naira and made no tangible investment in food production in any part of the country.
“The failure by Mr. President to listen to Nigeria to reduce the price of fuel, create employment and lift the value of the Naira by ending the profligacy in his government and direct resources to jumpstart our ailing productive sector shows that the APC administration is completely disconnected with Nigerians especially the youths.
“Moreover, from the speech, it is clear that the APC-led administration is determined to stifle our nation’s democracy; the very fundamental of any independent nation as it is loudly silent on the erosion of credible election and constant attacks on constitutionally guaranteed rights of citizens in our country under its watch,” the statement read.
The National Examinations Council, NECO, has said candidates would pay a N50,000 fee to reprint their certificates.
Disclosing this in Minna, Niger State, the Registrar of NECO, Dantani Wushishi, said the fee is subject to periodic review.
In a statement he signed, Wushishi said: “The N50,000 fee for certificate reprints is subject to periodic review.”
NECO said requests for reprints “will only be accepted within one year of the original certificate issuance”.
“After this period, the council will no longer entertain such requests,” he added.
The Council also set a one-month deadline for candidates to submit requests for the correction of results.
[DailyPost]
The ministry of arts, culture and creative economy has secured a $200 million investment from the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) to strengthen Nigeria’s creative industry.
In a statement on Tuesday, the ministry said the investment was announced at an event organised by Nigeria titled “Destination 2030: Nigeria Everywhere,” during the just-concluded United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, United States.
“It would be noted that central to the “Destination 2030” initiative is Nigeria’s ambition to assert itself as a global soft power leader by 2030,” the ministry said.
“As of 2024, the creative economy ministry reported a 36 percent increase in Nigeria’s cultural influence and an 18 percent increase in the brand percent index, reflecting the positive reception of Nigeria’s cultural diplomacy efforts on the global stage.”
Hannatu Musawa, minister of arts, culture, and creative economy, told investors at the event that Nigeria’s rich artistic heritage continues to attract global attention, offering promising returns on investments.
Musawa said the country’s cultural excellence, as demonstrated by its global impact in the arts, positions Nigeria as a significant player in the global creative economy.
Speaking on the “Destination 2030” initiative, she said Nigeria aims to solidify its position as a global cultural hub, while significantly contributing to global cultural diplomacy and spurring economic growth.
“The Destination 2030 event was a vibrant celebration of Nigeria’s rich cultural tapestry,” the minister said.
Benedict Oramah, president and chairman of Afreximbank, took the stage to reaffirm the bank’s commitment to Nigeria’s creative industry.
Announcing the $200 million financing facility, Oramah said investing in the creative industry would build a foundation for sustainable economic growth and position Africa as a global cultural leader.
On September 11, the federal government unveiled its plans to generate $100 billion from Nigeria’s creative economy.
The plan, according to the government, will also create over two million jobs in the economy yearly.