[STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE] President Tinubu To Attend The Inauguration Of President Mahamat Déby Of Chad
Admin![[STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE] President Tinubu To Attend The Inauguration Of President Mahamat Déby Of Chad](/media/k2/items/cache/aa89ca392fc901dba19cb3723e1a0427_L.jpg)
President Bola Tinubu will on Thursday, May 23, depart Abuja for N'Djamena, the Republic of Chad, to attend the inauguration of President Mahamat Déby.
The inauguration of President Déby follows his declaration as the winner of the country's presidential election earlier this month and subsequent affirmation by the Constitutional Court of Chad.
President Tinubu will be accompanied on the trip by senior government officials and will return after the ceremony.
Chief Ajuri Ngelale
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
Former Commander of the Force Intelligence Response Team, DCP Abba Kyari, has been granted two weeks’ bail by an Abuja Federal High Court.
Naija News understands that Kyari was granted bail to enable him to return home and complete the burial rites of his late mother.
The court subsequently set Friday, May 31 for determination of his bail application in trial over drug-related charges filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA following his arrest over two years ago on February 14, 2022
Kyari is currently facing drug-related charges filed against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The Kano State House of Assembly has insisted that there is no going back on plans to amend the law Abdullahi Ganduje used to dethrone Sanusi Lamido as Emir when he was the Governor of Kano State.
This was made public on Wednesday by a high-ranking official of the Assembly, who expressed confidence that nothing can prevent the lawmakers from amending the law.
Recalls the Kano State House of Assembly has decided to revise the state emir’s deposition and appointment law.
The motion was put forward by Hussien Dala, the majority leader and representative of the Dala constituency, during the plenary session on Tuesday.
In 2020, former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje removed Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi, the 14th Emir of Kano.
Giving an update on plans by the current crop of lawmakers in the state to revise the law, the high ranking official of the Assembly informed BBC Hausa that they have been ready a long time ago.
He added that the assembly would consider and pass the amendment on Thursday.
He said, “We were ready for this longtime ago and Only God can stop this amendment. We wanted all these emirs to go 20 days after this administration was inaugurated but here we are. So tomorrow(Thursday) there would be special session of the assembly to consider and pass the amendment.”
A few members of the assembly, including Abdul Labaran Madari, informed BBC Hausa that 12 All Progressives Congress (APC) members are currently against the proposed amendment.
Their opposition is based on the condition that none of the 5 Emirates will be disbanded, and that the Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, should remain in office without being replaced by Muhammad Sanusi.
Although the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) lawmakers in the assembly have sufficient numbers to make the amendment, the opposition members will voice their dissent.
Madari mentioned that the governing party has successfully finalized its strategy for dismantling the Bichi emirate and reinstating the ousted Emir Sanusi.
He mentioned that the remaining Emirates would have jurisdiction over three local government areas each.
An Ikeja Special Offences Court on Wednesday reserved judgment until Sept. 10 in the case of an American, Marco Antonio-Ramirez, charged with $1.2 million fraud.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Justice Mojisola Dada will also, on Sept. 10, deliver judgment in another charge bordering on $368,698 fraud against the same Antonio-Ramirez.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Antonio-Ramirez on an amended 16-count charge bordering on $1.2 million fraud.
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EFCC, in one of the counts, alleged that the defendant dishonourably converted to his personal use, an aggregate sum of $545,000 belonging to one Mr Godson Echegile.
The anti-graft agency also alleged that the defendant, between July 12, 2012, and Nov. 7, 2012, in Lagos, dishonourably converted to his personal use, an aggregate sum of $314,800 belonging to one Alhaji Abubakar Umar.
The commission also submitted that the defendant, between Feb. 19, 2013, and April 18, 2013, in Lagos, dishonourably converted to his personal use, an aggregate sum of $230,000, also property of Umar.
In the separate charge, EFCC alleged that the defendant obtained $368,698 fraudulently.
The defendant is charged on nine counts in the amended separate charge.
In one of the counts, EFCC stated that the defendant, with intent to defraud, obtained $250,000 from one Mr Gabriel Edeoghon under false representation that the sum was his investment in his company.
EFCC also allegsd that the defendant, with intent to defraud, obtained $50,281 from one Mr Oludare Talabi under the false representation that the sum was to procure U.S. L1 Visa, a representation he knew to be untrue.
Antonio-Ramirez, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges, on arraignment.
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The trial suffered several adjournments occasioned by absence of defence counsel, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN).
However, adoption of final written addresses by counsel to both parties has taken place.
Following the adoption, the judge adjourned the two cases until Sept. 10 for judgment.
Chadian Prime Minister Succes Masra said he had handed in his resignation, just over two weeks after his defeat to junta chief Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno in presidential elections.
“I’ve just submitted my resignation and that of the transition government, which became irrelevant with the end of the presidential election,” Masra said on his Facebook page in a message authenticated by his team to AFP on Wednesday.
The move, he added, was also in accordance with the constitution.
Deby, 40, was proclaimed transitional president in April 2021 by a junta of 15 generals after his father, iron-fisted president Idriss Deby Itno, had been shot dead by rebels after 30 years in power.
He won the May 6 presidential vote with 61 percent of the ballot, according to final results.
Masra, also aged 40 and once a fierce Deby opponent before becoming prime minister four months ago, won 18.5 percent of the vote but contested the results.
He claimed victory in the ballot, which his party called a “masquerade” and which international rights groups had said would be neither credible nor fair.
The immediate-past National Vice Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC, Salihu Moh. Lukman has written President Bola Tinubu, threatening a lawsuit against the leadership of the party for serial violations of its constitution.
In the letter dated May 21, 2024 and titled ‘APC and Subversion of Nigerian Democracy’, Lukman said he was compelled to write the letter since the party is operating almost blindly without recourse to provisions of the APC Constitution.
According to him, it was deeply concerning to note that the APC since inception in 2013 has operated without a Board of Trustees BoT.
He said, “Meetings of organs as specified by relevant provisions of the APC Constitution are not taking place. Decisions, which established organs of the party are expected to take, are being taken by individual leaders outside those organs.
“One of the critical organs, the Board of Trustees, which is renamed National Advisory Council has not been inaugurated since the formation of the APC in July 2013. With such reality the National Working Committee NWC of the party has appropriated the powers of all organs and in its name the National Chairman is taking discretionary decisions.
“With such reality, many of the decisions taken not only violate sections of the APC Constitution but also undermine Sections 221 — 229 of Part Il of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution as amended as well as the Electoral Act 2022.
“As things are, we have been regressing democratically as a nation. Due to inability to comply with statutory provisions regulating the conduct of political parties, we are embarrassingly running governments that don’t value principles of consultations and respecting valid agreements contracted through diligent political negotiations.
“Consequently, all the serial decisions taken without references to organs of the APC and complying with subsisting internal agreements have resulted in outright violation of relevant provisions of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution as amended, which imposes the requirement to ensure the establishment of an inclusive governments at all levels.
“As a committed member of APC and as someone who has worked hard and made so many sacrifices for the growth and development of the party, I find our current reality highly unacceptable. I have made several requests to meet with you for more than a year now since your election as President of the Federal Republic, which, perhaps understandably, you have been unable to grant.
Seventeen members of the Cross River State House of Assembly on Wednesday removed the Speaker of the House, Hon Alvert Ayambem over allegations of mismanagement, Misconduct, financial misappropriation and indifference to welfare of members.
Hon Ayambem’s removal was made public in an impeachment notice signed by 17 out of the 25 members of the State House of Assembly which they later later affirmed in a Press Briefing held at the metropolitan Hotel in Calabar.
Vanguard also learned that consultations, delivration are ongoing as the house was yet to elect another Speaker to succeed the embattled Ayambem at the time of his report.
The 17 members described Ayambem as a tyrant who according to them undermines their interest and has been allegedly involved in various forms of financial misappropriation.
The speaker was impeached via a motion under maters of urgent public importance inline with order 24 of the Cross River State Assembly rules.
His removal according to them was based on the grounds of gross financial misconduct, incompetence and wrong conduct of plenary proceedings, non compliance and total failure to convene leadership meetings.
The impeachment notice reads: “Having met the Constitutional requirements of two-third majority( 17 members)we the under-listed members of the Cross River State House of Assembly hereby pass a vote- of-no- confidence on Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, Speaker of the House of Assembly and he is hereby removed.”
Hon. Ayambem is also accused of “misappropriation of the sum of N48,000,000.00 (Forty-Eight MillionNaira) meant to pay electricity bills for the House of Assembly complex and the House of Assembly Quarters, Misappropriation of 2% of all revenue collected by the Internal Revenue Service (|RS) monthly for oversight functions of the House of Assembly in line
with Section 18(a)(i) of the Cross River State Revenue Administration Law 2011 as amended to the tune of N404,683,855.1 0 (Four Hundred and Four Million, Six Hundred and Eighty-ThreeThousand, Eight Hundred and Fifty-Five Naira, Ten Kobo).”
Other allegations include; “Misappropriation of the sum of N19,437, 844.00 (Nineteen Million, Four Hundred and Thirty-Seven Thousand, Eight Hundred and forty-five Naira) from Local Government deduction and 11 months deductions which he allegedly failed to disclose to members.”
The motion for his impeachment was moved by Honorable Effiong EKarika, representing Calabar-South-1 and was Seconded by Honorable Charles Omang Omang representing Bekwarra state constituency in the Assembly.
Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of Labour Party in the 2023 election has revealed why he visited the party's secretariat on Tuesday.
Speaking through the Chief Spokesperson of Obi-Datti Campaign Organisation, Yunusa Tanko, Obi said he visited Labour Party headquarters on Tuesday as part of his move to reconcile different interests within the party and not to endorse anybody.
Obi’s visit to the party was followed by a statement by the party saying that its former presidential candidate in the 2023 election endorsed Julius Abure-led national working committee.
But in a statement on Wednesday, Tanko said that Obi’s visit was occasioned by his quest to resolve the misunderstanding between the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the party leadership.
“Obi’s visit to Labour Party yesterday was not to endorse anybody, but occassioned by his reconcilliatory move. Julius Abure in his speech stated clearly how Obi came to the office, and Obi in his speech clarified same, while preaching peace, and his mantra *Pursuit of better Nigeria for the poor*
“Leadership of NLC/TUC Political Arm Commorades Titus Amba and Chris Uyot who were informed of Obi travelling out today, hence will honour thier invitation, also met with him, and extensively discussed same peace move with them.
“Obi had repeatedly maintained that his interest was to carry everybody along into one strong family, and not to support one against the other.
“In all his meetings with all stakeholders, he has always maintained peace, and urge not to lose purpose which is to free Nigeria suffering and pain.
“The LP standards bearer plans to continue meeting with critical stakeholders, and groups to achieve all-inclusive political family with a common dream of rescuing Nigeria,” the statement read.
The Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly has been impeached.
Rt. Hon. Elvert Ekom Ayambem was impeached on Wednesday by 17 members of the house over allegations of misappropriation of funds.
The impeachment motion was moved by Hon. Effiom Ekarika representing Calabar South 1 Constituency and seconded by Hon. Omang Charles Omang representing Bekwarra State Constituency.
Rt Hon Elvert Ayambem was elected Speaker of the 10th Cross River State House of Assembly in June 2023.
Ayambem represents Ikom 2 State Constituency in the Houses of Assembly.
The Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso has said the current inflation and hike in food items cannot be resolved immediately.
According to him, it will take time and patience to tackle it.
Cardoso disclosed this while briefing journalists at the end of the Monetary Policy Committee, MPC, meeting in Abuja.
The CBN governor mentioned that there was no magic needed to solve inflation in Nigeria but rather patience.
Also, Cardoso noted that despite pressure from food inflation, the general inflation rate was “moderating”, pointing out that “the tools the Central Bank is using are working”.
He stated, “I have several times and I will say again, there is no magic wand. These are things that need to take their time.
“I am pleased and confident that we are beginning to get some relief and in another couple of months we will see the more positive outcomes from the Central Bank have been doing."
He added, “The committee thus reiterated several challenges confronting the effective moderation of food inflation to include rising costs of transportation of farm produce, infrastructure- related constraints along the line of distribution network, security challenges in some food producing areas, and exchange rate pass-through to domestic prices for imported food items.
“The MPC urged that more be done to address the security of farming communities to guarantee improved food production in these areas.
“Members further observed the recent volatility in the foreign exchange market, attributing this to seasonal demand, a reflection of the interplay between demand and supply in a freely functioning market system.”
The Central Bank of Nigeria has also blamed the recent volatility of the country’s foreign exchange market on seasonal demand for dollars.
“Members further observed the recent volatility in the foreign exchange market, attributing this to seasonal demand, a reflection of the interplay between demand and supply in a freely functioning market system,” a communique issued by the committee on Tuesday stated.
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Attack on soldiers means attack on State — Ex-Defence Chief Irabor backs closure of Abuja plaza
AFOLABI
The former Chief of Defense Staff, General Lucky Irabor has backed the closure of the Banex plaza in Abuja, saying an attack on soldiers constitutes an attack on the State.
Irabor stated this in an interview with Arise Television on Wednesday.
ll that the incident that took place in the plaza in the Wuse 2 area of Abuja after a clash happened on Saturday where traders engaged two soldiers in a fight.
According to eyewitnesses, the soldiers visited the plaza to complain about a phone, which resulted in a heated argument and fight with the traders.
After the incident, many shop owners and traders quickly closed for the day to avoid being caught up in a reprisal attack and on Monday, military personnel arrived in about five Hilux vehicles and reportedly shut down the plaza.
Reacting to the development, Irabor described the Banex Plaza incident as a very sad one, adding that on no account will it be right to raise a finger on a uniformed man.
He said, “This applies to any uniformed person for as long as he is an agent of the state. An attack on him is an attack on the state, so any Nigerian of goodwill must condemn such an act.
“For me, I join to support the closure of Banex Plaza for as long as it takes to have anyone responsible for that dastardly act brought to justice. This is because if we fail to do so, we will be calling for anarchy.
“The only men who are sacrificing their lives to ensure our collective good are members of the armed forces, the police, and other security agencies,” he said.
Irabor noted that if not for the policemen and some other private individuals who rescued the soldiers, the situation would have been worse and would have reflected poorly on the nation.
He appreciated the media’s role in the whole incident but emphasised the need to “put context when setting the agenda for discussion”.
“The media has created an awareness that in our civics, there are people you must respect. You have to put the context in setting the agenda for this discussion.
“The populace needs to be re-educated to understand the place of national security and the responsibility of each and every one of us in preserving the sanctity of our various establishments that seek to make us live in a very good environment.”
Speaking on claims that the army has refused to comment on the situation, he said it is the responsibility of the state to speak on their behalf.
“Whatever job members of the armed forces do, it is not on their behalf but on behalf of the state, so they are only an agent of the state. They ought not to speak for themselves; the state should speak for them.”
“It was a mild view, and it would have been harder, not necessarily from the army but from the appropriate agency of government, to be able to speak against such a dastardly act.”
Irabor called for cooperation from Banex Plaza’s leadership in the ongoing investigation so as to bring out the perpetrators of the crime to book.
He said, “I believe Banex Plaza has leadership because they need to cooperate appropriately so that whatever investigation is ongoing can be concluded, and they must also cooperate by bringing out those who committed that act.”
The bill seeking to raise the retirement age of members of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) on Tuesday, passed second reading in the House of Representatives.
Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house, and Abubakar Yalleman from Jigawa, sponsored the bill which proposes to raise the retirement age of members of the NPF from 60 to 65, and from 35 to 40 years in service.
The bill proposes to amend section 18 of the Nigeria Police Act 2020.
It also seeks to review the service years of police personnel in order to “improve the experience and expertise of the police workforce to retain experienced personnel, and reduce the cost of training and recruiting new officers, improve the morale performance and job satisfaction, and to address the shortage of experienced police personnel”.
In his lead debate during plenary on Tuesday, May 21, Yalleman, who chairs the house committee on police, said the amendment is needed to retain the experience of officers “who have been trained and have served for considerable years”.
“This experience is needed especially in this time of insecurity when experienced police officers are needed to help tackle insecurity in the country,” he said.
Biafra Anniversary: We won’t take it lightly with anybody that flouts sit-at-home order – MASSOB
AFOLABI
The Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, Wednesday said that is not going to take it lightly with anybody or group that will flout the sit-at-home declared on May 30th 2024, for the celebration of its Biafra Anniversary Day, saying nothing even Nigerian security agents will stop them.
The pro-Biafra group through a statement by its leader Comrade Uchenna Madu, entitled “Biafra Anniversary Day Celebration Is Sacrosanct”, said that the day and all that will be done for the celebration is sacrosanct, adding that it will use the occasion to commemorate 57 years’ anniversary of Biafra declaration by General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, now deceased.
MASSOB Statement read, “The leadership of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, have insisted and vowed that May 30th Biafra Day Anniversary celebration must hold irrespective of the threats by Nigeria security agents.
“In commemoration of 57 years anniversary of Biafra declaration by General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, there will be a sit at home exercise in Biafra land. All schools, banks, markets, public offices, motor/ Keke parks, air/seaports and other corporate bodies shall stay at home as a mark of respect and patriotism to Biafra land.
“We know that the overzealousness, partiality and brutality of Nigeria security agents will be displayed in couple of days in Biafra land towards May 30th. No amount of their intimidating patrols and show of force will ever deter MASSOB and other pro-Biafra groups from honouring our past heroes and friends of Biafra on May 2024.
“MASSOB also wishes to assure the people of Biafra that there will be no public processions, rally or forceful enforcement on the citizens to adhere or obey our directives involuntarily.
“MASSOB is appealing to Ndigbo to continue in their indomitable spirit of the movement for the restoration of Biafra as the political independent of Biafra is the only hope for an Igbo man in Nigeria.
“As we march into 30th May 2024, we advise all Biafrans and Ndigbo to join in the celebration, in remembering the day which His Excellence Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, made a historic declaration of Biafra. Every household shall light up a candle in their homes in the spirit of Biafranism.
“Stay in your house and pray while you light your candle. We will not take it lightly with anybody that will flout the sit-at-home order on 30th May. As we preach nonviolence, we shall maintain the principal of nonviolence in all our approach towards Biafra actualization and restoration.
“As May 30th anniversary celebration is sacrosanct, MASSOB acknowledged the conscious awareness and synergies among the pro-Biafra groups and other organizations in Biafra land towards the preparations and enthusiastic spirit in readiness for the celebration of Biafra declaration anniversary”.
The president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has given a breakdown of their new minimum wage demand.
Recall that the federal government had upped its offer from its earlier proposed ₦48,000 to ₦54,000.
However organised labour rejected the new ₦54,000 minimum wage and insisted on ₦615,000 living wage demand.
Speaking on the Congress demands during an interview with Daily Trust, Ajaero explained that they had to critically watch the impact of the removal of subsidy before deciding on a befitting wage Nigerian workers could survive on.
He explained that cost of feeding, housing, gas, education, medicals were added together before an amount was presented to the government.
The president, however, stated that expenses such as communication, tithes and offering were exempted.
According to him, “When the subsidy was removed, the government told us to go and negotiate a wage. Negotiating a wage is not something that is done immediately.
“We’ve now watched the impact of the removal of subsidy, and it has dawned on every one of us. And it wasn’t only the removal of the subsidy, they also went into price fixing, the price of fuel went up to over N700 per litre.
“With that, we can tell you clearly how much it costs a worker to go to work. We know how much a bag of rice is being sold? So, the cost of all this has dawned on us and we have prepared what it takes for a worker to go to work and survive with a family of four.
“We also came up with this analysis and based it on some of the global experiences. The UN position is that nobody can survive on less than $2 per day.
“And if you take it from that angle for a family of six, giving them two dollars per meal, in a day, you’ll have $12 and about $360 in a month. I’ll leave the calculation for us to do. Let us come to the issue of the cost-of-living index which we normally use.
“We gave the government a breakdown; for feeding, we gave everybody in that family N500 per meal. If you give everybody in a family of six N500 naira per meal, one person will get N1,500 per meal in a day. And for the six people, they are going to have about N270,000 for feeding in a month.
“We looked at about N40,000 for accommodation, for education for 4 children, we put N50,000 assuming that your children should not go to private schools because you can’t do that with that amount of money.
“For Medicare, assuming there’s no surgery or serious medical issue, we put N50,000. For electricity, we put N20,000. That was even before this electricity tariff increase.
“And you discover that if today, you buy a token of N20,000, it no longer lasts as much as before. For Gas/kerosene, considering that people refill every two weeks, at the cost of about N15,000 – N17,000 for 12.5kg cylinder, we estimated about N30,000 a month.
“All these are how we arrived at the sum of N615,000. Note that we didn’t add expenses like communication, tithes/offerings in church or any other social obligation.
“Now we brought it out for negotiation. However, in doing this, we said that if the government can check all these other issues like the inflationary rate and the value of our currency, then we can adjust our demands.
“The labour movement wouldn’t have asked for more than N200,000 before the removal of subsidy. Apart from transportation and house rent, you know the cost of living. A bag of rice now costs over N70,000, bread and other food items are very expensive too.”
[NaijaNews]