Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Sen. Abdullahi Gumel, says documentation for all the ministerial nominees has commenced.
Gumel told newsmen on Friday in Abuja that the nominees were expected to visit the office of the SSA, located at AB 25, Basement, National Assembly complex, between July 28 and July 30.
“This is for necessary documentation, ahead of screening, which commences on Monday, July 31.
“Documentation for ministerial nominees has commenced and the nominees are expected to complete all necessary processes before the screening.
“The office will be open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday for this purpose; this is to enable all nominees complete the process before the screening,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the senate had, on Thursday, received President Bola Tinubu’s list of 28 ministerial nominees for screening and confirmation.
The legal battle between Seplat Energy PLC and its Nigerian minority shareholders may have forced the company to spend at least $19.4m on professional fees to defend its Chief Executive Officer, Roger Brown.
Adding to Seplat’s injury is the naira depreciation resulting from the floating of the naira by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The policy has also slashed the company’s profits by 51 per cent and net financial assets have shed $33.8m.
The situation was contained in its half-year financial statement seen by THE WHISTLER.
The energy company posted impressive revenue of N278.3bn ($547m), up from the N219.2bn ($527m) recorded in the first half of 2022.
Gross profit increased marginally by 0.7 per cent to reach $276.3 million (N140.58bn), compared to $274.3 million (N114.1bn) in 2022.
Profit for the period rose to N42bn, from N35.4bn posted in the same period last year.
“During the period under review, our operating profit was $118.4 million (N60.2bn), showing a significant decrease of 51.7 per cent compared to the $245.3 million (N102bn) achieved in 6M 2022. This decline in operating profit was attributed to a combination of lower oil prices and foreign exchange (FX) losses due to changes in exchange rates.
“Because of these new CBN guidelines, there was a significant adjustment in the exchange rate between the Nigerian Naira (NGN) and the US Dollar (USD). The closing rate for June 2023 was adjusted to NGN753.01/US$, representing a notable difference from the May 2023 rate of NGN461.28/US$.
“The revaluation of financial assets arising from this exchange rate resulted in a net (non-cash) loss of $33.8 million,” the books revealed.
The company said it incurred general expenses of $65.8m, which is 42 per cent higher than the $46.4m incurred in 2022 half-year.
Seplat decried that the expenses grew due to the legal battle between the company and minority shareholders.
“General and administrative expenses (G&A) amounted to $65.8 million, 42.0% higher than the G&A costs of $46.4 million incurred in 6M 2022. This increase in G&A costs was mainly due to professional fees associated with the litigation costs in response to the unprecedented and intense period of minority shareholder actions through the Courts and some costs associated with the MPNU transaction. Excluding these exceptional items, G&A costs would have closed relatively flat compared to the previous year,” Seplat revealed.
THE WHISTLER had reported that Seplat shareholders had accused its CEO of discrimination against Nigerian workers.
They had petitioned him to the Ministry of Interior but Brown failed to appear before the Nigerian authority after several summons, the ministry had said.
The aggrieved shareholders control only 0.005 per cent of Seplat issued shares.
Consequently, his Working Permit, Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (“CERPAC”) and other Visas for entry or stay in Nigeria were withdrawn by the Nigerian Immigration Service.
Further to this problem, Moses Igbrude and others in Suit No. FHC/L/CP/402/2023 petitioned the CEO in the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos. The petitioned commenced on 8th March.
“The Court ordered the Petitioners to pay N1 million in costs. This followed the filing of a Notice of Discontinuance by the Petitioners,” Seplat said.
Another case came up at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Seplat said, the “Federal High Court in Abuja had struck out the criminal charge brought by the Nigeria Immigration Service against the Company and some of its Officers. The Court fully discharged all named defendants.
“The charge had earlier been withdrawn by the Nigerian Immigration Service on the 20th April 2023 and was in relation to the immigration status of Mr. Roger Brown and the withdrawal of his immigration visa by the Ministry of Interior.
An ex parte Interim Order was obtained from the Federal High Court in Abuja by – Juliet Gbaka & two others in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/626/2023.
The case will be heard on 3rd October 2023 at the Federal High Court and 31st October 2023 at the Court of Appeal
The nomination of former governor of Rivers State Nyesom Wike for a ministerial position is a ‘reward for rascality’, according to the view of our respondent in an interview on Friday.
President Ahmed Bola Tinubu had Wednesday submitted his ministerial list to the Senate with Wike making the list. Wike is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, but openly worked for the All Progressives Congress during the 2023 presidential election.
Some stakeholders that spoke with THE WHISTLER said Tinubu had rewarded Wike for his anti-PDP posture during the election.
Barr Nnadume Offorkansi, a human rights activist, said, “Tinubu has just rewarded Wike’s rascality. Wike openly worked against his party which was a plus to Tinubu. He was clever anyway for finding a way to be close to power after leaving office as governor under the platform of PDP.”
Osmond Eze, a commentator on national issues, said Wike sacrificed his co-G-Governors to find favour in the Tinubu government.
He said, “I wouldn’t know the political limbo other members of the G-5 have found themselves. But Wike dribbled them in a manner they never expected. One wonders whether Wike is now in the APC even though Tinubu has a right to appoint his ministers from other political parties, and even non-politicians.”
Meanwhile, President Tinubu has been advised to appoint former governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, as his minister of works.
Mike Eze, an Abakaliki-based civil engineer, said, “Umahi’s scorecard as Ebonyi governor is excellent because he used local contents in executing all the constructions his administration executed. He was able to rejuvenate local engineers to become world-class. The quality of works executed during his era as Ebonyi governor also attests to what Nigerians night expect if Umahi heads the Federal Ministry of Works.”
Steven Nwambe, from Ebonyi State, however, wondered how Umahi who is in the Senate should be considered for a ministerial position.
According to him, “We have other experienced and quality sons and daughters of Ebonyi State to be appointed minister instead of appointing our senator. Probably, Umahi is not sure if his electoral victory being contested at the tribunal will favour him. He might also be in jeopardy if Tinubu’s election is upturned by the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.”
A preliminary objection filed by the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) against Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State’s N20 billion suit over alleged certificate forgery has been dismissed.
Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed the objection.
In his ruling, on Friday 28 2023, Ekwo held that the preliminary objection lacked merit and ought to be dismissed.
Ekwo insisted that the provision of Section 20 of the NYSC Act, 2004 which the Corps based its objection on wasn’t applicable to the governor since he wasn’t a serving corps member.
He said, “Again, I am minded to agree with the plaintiff [Mbah] on whom the provision of Section 20 of the NYSC Act, 2004 applies.
“This means that the provision has a category of persons to whom it is applicable.”
Ekwo, who dismissed the NYSC’s preliminary objection for lacking in merit, however, adjourned the matter until September 21 and September 22 for hearing, NAN reports.
Meanwhile, the Department of State Services, DSS, had countered the NYSC to the effect that Mbah forged his NYSC discharge certificate.
...says Governors, Tinubu arbitrariness will fuel distrust
The erstwhile national Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Lukman, has explained why he resigned as a member of the party national working Committee on Wednesday.
Lukman in a statement entitled, “Resignation from APC NWC: Explanatory Note,” insisted that the forum of governors on the platform of the party, the Progressives Governors Forum, is becoming too high-handed and overbearing for the progress of the ruling party.
Lukman also expressed strong reservations about the dominant thinking in the party where whatever is attributed to President Bola Tinubu on party matters is taken as the law without recourse to the provisions of the APC Constitution.
He stressed that move by the Progressive Governors Forum fueled by buy-in of President Tinubu to impose former Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, as national chairman, leaving the North Central politically stranded could create distrust and ultimately party break up.
His statement reads in part: “Sadly, the turn of events in the last 10 days since the resignation of Sen. Adamu and Sen. Omisore suggests to the contrary. Members of the NWC were left in suspense. A meeting of NWC with PGF scheduled for Wednesday, July 19, 2023 was cancelled without any explanation. Suddenly, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, in his capacity as Chairman of Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) converted himself into a receiver manager for the party and begin to act almost as the party’s NWC. Speculation about nomination of Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje as nominee of Governors and President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu then started and became stronger each day. Efforts to highlight legal and moral issues which should require a rethink was simply ignored. The dominant view among leaders is that once President Asiwaju Tinubu has decided on an issue, we should just simply work for its success even with all the legal and moral questions.
“Maybe at this point, we should publicly state both the legal and moral questions. The legal question is straightforward. Article 31.5(i) of the APC constitution dealing with what to do when there is vacancy clearly stipulate that ‘in the case of a National/Zonal Officer, the State Executive Committee shall propose a replacement to the State Congress and Zonal Executive Committee for endorsement. Thereafter, the name shall be sent to the National Working Committee, which shall be forward same to the National Executive Committee for approval.’ No section of the APC constitution gives anyone, including President Asiwaju Tinubu the power to act in any contrary way. Therefore, if this provision of the APC constitution is to be respected, the Nasarawa State Executive Committee of the APC, which is where Sen. Adamu comes from, should have the right to propose replacement, which should be endorsed by the State Congress and the Zonal Executive Committee. Following which the name shall be forwarded to the NWC for onward transmission to NEC and approval.
“Related to this is the fact that negotiations for leadership of the National Assembly ceded the position of National Chairman of the party to North Central. For whatever reasons, to proceed to act arbitrarily and move the position of National Chairman to North West will be unfair and unjust. It simply amounts to taking the people of North Central for granted. Just imagine if the South West where President Asiwaju Tinubu comes from is to be treated by any leader of Nigeria that way. The related moral question is the choice of Dr. Ganduje. Sincerely, it simply means that we don’t attach any importance to the party if with all the corruption allegations against Dr. Ganduje, we find him about the only one in the North West to be recommended. Perhaps, it needs to be stated without fear of any contradiction, if leaders of the North West are asked to nominate five people for consideration to serve in the capacity of National Chairman of APC, I am confident, Dr. Ganduje will not be one of the five nominees.
“If Osun State is debating possible replacement of Sen. Omisore for the position of National Secretary of APC in line with provisions of our party’s constitution, why is Nasarawa State not treated in the same way? Why the double standards? I wish I can pretend to be dumb and blind on these issues. Unfortunately, I cannot. Painful as it is, I want to appeal to President Asiwaju Tinubu and all our leaders to resist the temptations that would project our party and our leaders as champions of illegality and repression. I hold the strong conviction that President Asiwaju Tinubu will not only succeed but lead Nigeria to a new era of unconstrained democratic development. As members of APC, we must provide the critical support to President Asiwaju Tinubu such that rule of law in all its ramifications will define his tenure for the next four years. Achieving that would require unwavering commitment to build the APC to develop every needed capacity to function as the regulatory authority holding every leader of the party, including President Asiwaju Tinubu accountable.
“Perhaps, it is important to clarify that this is not in anyway questioning the authority of President Asiwaju Tinubu as the moral leader of the party. Being the moral leader of the party doesn’t give him the power of exercising statutory functions of organs of the party or unilaterally changing provisions of the party’s constitution. It will amount to setting President Asiwaju Tinubu for failure in the worse possible way to proceed to encourage him to act in a manner that is illegal and immoral. If the scheming to have Dr. Ganduje emerge as the next National Chairman of APC succeeds with all the legal and moral questions, as a party, we would have set the stage for the destruction of our party and God forbids, we would have laid the foundation that will make President Asiwaju Tinubu and all our elected representatives unpopular. God in his infinite mercy will guide President Asiwaju Tinubu and all our leaders to return our great party APC to constitutional order and its founding vision.”
Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists wreaking Nigeria’s north east state of Borno have killed 21 herders.
The herders were beheaded in the Kukawa axis of the beleaguered state, Guardian reports.
The herdsmen were killed on Tuesday for allegedly encroaching on the terrorists’ hideouts with their cattle.
A counter-insurgency expert in the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, disclosed, yesterday, in Maiduguri that ISWAP fighters recently placed a ban on fishing, farming and grazing in their hideouts.
According to him, the terrorists also accused the herders of spying on them for the Nigerian military and other security agencies in the region.
On how the herders were killed, he said: “The terrorists did not fire any gunshot; they quietly used machetes to behead the 21 herdsmen.”
The terrorists also rustled an unspecified number of cattle into their settlements at the Kukawa-Doro-Kalla axis.
Also, the terrorists in seven-gun trucks intercepted another set of Fulani herdsmen in the Kukawa axis and killed six for the same reason.
A military source in Maiduguri said the herdsmen were killed after they were warned not to graze their cattle on the banned axis of Kukawa, adding that survivors were able to recover four bodies.
The military source told The Guardian that the terrorists also abducted seven Fulani herdsmen in Monguno on Monday and demanded N40 million ransom.
In another development, police in Katsina have confirmed the abduction of 14 persons at Modogora community, Batsari Local Council.
The abductees were working on a farm on Tuesday about 9.30a.m. when the armed terrorists stormed the farm on motorcycles.
According to sources, the bandits ferried the abductees, including women and children, into a forest near the community.
It’s gathered that the incident was one of four such attacks in separate communities within the council, same day.
The five attacks led to the abduction of about 40 persons, mostly farmers, locals say.
A source familiar with the incident said the other four attacks were carried out on farmlands at Dan Tsuntsu, Nahuta, Salihan Dadare and Zamfarawa communities on Tuesday morning
A passenger identified as Ogheneochuko David aboard Lagos – Abuja flight was on Wednesday July 26, 2023 arrested by aviation security personnel for allegedly taking another passenger’s laptop from his bag in the overhead cabin.
Spokesperson of Ibom Air and General Manager, Marketing and Communication, Aniekan Essienette disclosed in a statement.
According to Essienette, the owner of the laptop, who suspected the movement of Mr. David, within the aircraft, decided to check where his laptop was kept and immediately realized the item was no longer there.
He raised the alarm by notifying the crew members accordingly.
A search was immediately instituted, which led to about half an hour delay, and the laptop was found with Mr. David.
He was immediately offloaded and handed over to the Federal Airport Authority (FAAN) Aviation Security (AVSEC) for further investigation, who then handed him over to the Police for further investigation.
Enugu State governor, Peter Mbah, has submitted the list of his commissioner-nominees for scrutiny by the state House of Assembly.
The list, seen by our correspondent on Friday, was signed by the secretary to the state government, Prof Chidiebere Onyia.
They include Barr Lloyd I. Ekweremadu, son of former deputy Senate president Ike Ekweremadu. Versatile broadcaster Ala Eze Aka is among the nominees.
Others are Prince Lawrence Eze, Sir Okey Ogbodo, Barr Kingsley Ude, Professor Ndubueze Mbah, Mrs Ngozi Eni, Professor Sam Ugwu, Pharmacist Chika Ugwoke, Professor Emmanuel I. Obi, Ben Ugochi Madueke, Engr Gerrald Otiji, Nathaniel Urama, Dr Malachy Agbo
and Adaoro Chukwu.
Onyia, while noting that the list was not yet completed, appealed for a speedy consideration.
“While this may not be the exhaustive list, I’m optimistic that this request will receive your usual expeditious consideration,” he said.
Nigeria, the acclaimed giant of Africa, was conspicuously absent yesterday, as African leaders gathered in St Petersburg, Russia, to discuss ways Nuclear power can help solve the continent’s perennial energy crisis.
However, representatives of other countries present, unanimously agreed that the continent has a better option in nuclear energy against the prevalent hydro power source, to light up Africa again.
They also agreed that the continent needs regional co-operation to pursue aggressive reformation of their different power sectors with nuclear energy.
The positions were taken at a session: “Nuclear technologies for the development of African continent” at the ongoing Russia-Africa Economic Forum in St Petersburg Russia.
Panelists to the session who reached the conclusion, included Alexey Likhachev, Director General, State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM; Ibrahim Uwizeye, Minister of Hydraulics, Energy and Mining of the Republic of Burundi; Doto Mashaka Biteko, Minister of Minerals of Tanzania; Zhemu Soda, Minister of Energy and Power Development of Zimbabwe; Amged El-Wakeel, Chairman of the Board, Nuclear Power Plants Authority of Egypt; Fidele Ndahayo, Chief Executive Officer, Rwanda Atomic Energy Board; and Princess Mthombeni, Founder, Africa4Nuclear; Nuclear Communication and Technology Specialist of South Africa.
Asked why Nigeeia was not invited to such important discussion, considering the country’s precarious energy situation, organisers of the event said the relevant agencies did not just respond to the call.
The leaders took turns to present their levels of power efficiency and x-rayed how nuclear energy can engender wealth creation, energy efficiency, technology sovereignty and advanced medicine.
According to El Wakeel, Nuclear energy has helped Egypt in many ways including clean water, health, Agriculture and electricity even as the country still needs to further advance its economy, using the technology.
Cross River State House of Assembly, on Thursday, passed a vote of confidence on the Speaker, Elvert Ayambem, after he was expelled on Monday the University of Calabar, UNICAL, following poor performance.
Ayambem, who was elected Speaker of the Assembly in June, was studying Economics in the Faculty of Social Sciences.
However, he was withdrawn alongside 637 others for below average Cumulative Grades Aggregates, CGPA.
His withdrawal has resonated across the state with some persons insinuating that his removal from the school might not be unconnected with his victory over Hilary Bisong, son of the Vice Chancellor who contested against him for the position.
Vice-Chancellor reacts
Speaking on Wednesday, Professor Flourence Obi, the Vice Chancellor, said she is not aware of the status of the Speaker as a student of the school and that she was simply obeying National Universities Commission, NUC, guidelines on the average performance of every student.
Smarting from the sack of their Speaker from the university and public perception of his abilities, the state legislature passed a vote of confidence on him during a plenary.
The motion was moved by the Deputy Speaker, Sylvester Agabi, on behalf of the legislators.
Agabi pointed out that within its 33 days in office, the 10th Assembly had passed over 10 motions, taken about five matters of public interest, carried out oversight functions on several sectors, adding that some bills have passed second reading.
He attributed these successes to the able leadership of the Speaker whom he described as the “people’s Speaker”.
The motion was seconded by the Deputy Leader of the House and member representing Abi constituency, Davies Etta, who also extolled the qualities of the Speaker.
Reacting, the Speaker said his emergence as Speaker was an act of God and promised to lead the Assembly with love and commitment.
More...
Super Falcons forward Asisat Oshoala has revealed her dad is not happy with her celebration in Nigeria’s 3-2 win against Australia.
Oshoala came on as a second-half substitute to score Nigeria’s third goal of the game.
In the heat of the moment, she pulled off her jersey to create an ‘iconic’ image, which has now gone viral across the world.
The image has also generated some reactions from football fans.
The Barcelona Femeni forward, who is a Muslim, took to her Instagram page to reveal her dad was not happy with her choice of celebration.
“My dad is definitely not happy with my choice of celebration but then again, Life is a collection of MOMENTS. #Alhamdulillah #Grateful #Moments”
View this post on Instagram
Bandits on Wednesday abducted at least 23 women in a forest near Damaga community in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Daily Trust gathered.
The women including young ladies went into the forest to fetch firewood when they were intercepted by a gang of armed men on motorbikes. The criminals then herded them to their enclaves inside the forest.
The abduction came two days after seven soldiers and 22 farmers were killed in a gunfight between the troops and armed men near Kangon Garucci community in Maru Local Government Area of the state.
“We have just finished a headcount of those who managed to escape and return to the community and we have found out that 23 of our women are with the bandits. They have yet to contact families to demand for ransom,” said a resident, Ayuba Damaga.
In a similar development, at least 10 construction workers were kidnapped by armed men from their residential houses in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of the state.
“The armed men invaded low cost houses at the outskirts of the town around 12am on Wednesday and abducted the staff of a construction company. They were later driven out of the town after hours of a gunfight with security operatives,” Aliyu Mafara told Daily Trust.
When contacted the spokesman of the state police command, ASP Yazid Abubakar, said he would get the details later.
“We had a meeting with DPOs and tactical commanders, so please give me some times I will get back to you later,” he said. However, he had yet to get back as of the time of filing the report.
President Bola Tinubu has said he is not oblivious of the fact that Nigerians are experiencing pain and suffering at the moment following the removal of the fuel subsidy.
President Tinubu said he understands that the rise in the prices of commodities and the cost of living have made things more difficult for Nigerians.
The Nigerian leader stated this on Thursday while receiving All Progressives Congress (APC) national youth leaders from across the country at the State House in Abuja.
Tinubu said he feels the pains of citizens and assured them that the hardships of the moment will give way to a more “prosperous, equitable and inclusive economy.”
He said: “I make my pledge to the country that no decision will be difficult for this administration to take for the prosperity and unity of this country. Economic reforms could be slow. Be patient a little more.
“I can assure you that I understand the pains you are going through. It is not easy to get out of the monster of over 40 years called fuel subsidy.”
The president told the youths that his administration would include them in governance, and decision-making processes.
Tinubu added that the federal government would do everything necessary to widen the net in order to accommodate more women and youths.
He said this would be done by “liaising with our lending institutions to give micro-loans at a very low-interest rate for economic activities among the citizens”.
Also speaking at the meeting, the APC National Youth leader, Dayo Israel, told the president that the youths had come to congratulate him on the party’s victory at the polls.
Israel said they also came to seek inclusion in the appointments into the dissolved boards and agencies of government.
A Nigerian doctor based in the United Kingdom has lost custody of his 16-year-old son to the government after flogging him with a belt.
This was revealed by a child rights advocate known as pepstalk1 on her Instagram page on Wednesday.
She narrated that the Nigerian doctor flogged his son after he caught him and his friends invited over to study together watching an inappropriate video.
His friends reportedly informed the police and told them that while the father was beating his son with a belt, the doctor repeatedly said, “Is this how you want to become a doctor?”
She said, “Two friends of a Nigerian doctor’s son two months ago came over to the doctor’s residence to sleep over and study in preparation for their General Certificate of Secondary Education examination.
“At 3 am in the night, the doctor tip-toed into the boy’s room and caught them watching an improper video, the father got angry with his son and beat him with a belt in front of his friends.
“The two friends ran out of the scene to call the police and they came over and took the boy away. The case was later held in court and during the session, the friends said that they heard the father saying that “Is this how you want to become a doctor” while beating his son?
“The boy also said that his father was always beating him to study the subject that he doesn’t want and his father want him to study medicine at the university.
“The court later ruled that the doctor’s 16-year-old son be taken into custody care and can no longer go back to his father’s house.”