The acting Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Folashodun Shonubi has blamed the continuous of fall of Naira against Dollars on unofficial diaspora remittances.
Folashodun Shonubi disclosed this on Thursday, August 10, while presenting a Distinguished Personality lecture titled: “Diaspora Remittances and Nigeria Economic Development” at the National Institute for Security Studies, Abuja, for members of Executive Intelligence Management Course (EIMC) 16.
The acting Governor of the apex bank claimed that many diaspora remittances which come in Dollars are not recorded officially before moving to black or parallel markets.
Shonubi said;
“With those remittances, the dollars have come in, we know the dollars have come in but we don’t see them in the official system. So, they must be going somewhere and somewhere.
“And the challenge with the black market, unofficial market or parallel market or whatever name you want to call it, it is as a result that it is not regulated, and it becomes an easy place to have criminal activities.
“We investigate bankers, not just bankers, anybody who has committed an offence, the first thing they want to do is to run to the black markets, change it to the dollars because it is less money to carry around.
“Some of the funding in the black markets are actually from diaspora remittances. That’s why it important we need to know a lot of what’s going on there. We can’t play the sentiment game. If we don’t understand the dynamics, we usually go with the literature which does not necessarily work for us.”
Shonubi who also stated that many countries have remittances as the major source of dollars or income, added that it would be helpful if measures can be put in place to control illegal remittances and identify these channels so as to ensure remittance flows into the proper channels, and harness maximum benefits to grow the economy.
He said;
“We have countries that earn about 1.5 million dollars in remittances. Everywhere, any place you go even in developed countries such as India, China among others.
“We intend to use more of the banking system to, sending money to Sub-Saharan Africa cost highest because we don’t have masses. It would be helpful if we can work together to identify these channels because we just want the flows into the proper channels, there we can get maximum benefits to grow the economy.
“We talk about black markets, that also creates its own problems. Management of foreign exchange market and the efficacy of our policies to manage the exchange rate becomes difficult due to the insignificance of our diaspora remittances which are going to other markets.
“Today, someone called me privately that and said this thing (Naira) has gone up to some levels in the black markets, my question was, what do you want me to do? Do I operate in the black markets? I don’t know the basis of pricing in the black markets.
“The other thing people don’t realise is that, because you don’t have full information, and I will give you an example since we started I&E window. We found out that some people would deliberately wait to the last minute and do one transaction of $5,000 and that becomes the closing rate.
“We can’t do without diaspora remittances. For many countries, that’s their main source of income.”
This is coming after the Naira plunged to a record low of N910/$1 on the parallel market on Wednesday as demand for foreign currency outstripped supply.
A middle-aged man, Theophilus Ayodeji Obayan, has dragged his estranged wife before a Grade ‘A’ Customary Court sitting in Oke-Eda Akure, Ondo State, for changing their children’s surname to that of her new lover.
Obayan approached the court on Thursday, August 10, 2023, seeking dissolution of his 23-year-old marriage with his wife, Chibuzor Lillian Obayan and custody of their four children.
“My lord, my marriage from onset was characterized with crises, abuse, disobedience, misunderstanding, lies, manipulation, hate and rage,” he narrated.
"I married Lilian in the year 2000 and we have four children. I am a Yoruba, while my wife is of Igbo tribe. I have suffered a lot in the hands of her family because they don’t love me, but I’ve been enduring
“Lilian packed her belongings out of my house to another man’s house in 2019 and went to change her name, including my children’s surname to the name of the Igbo man she’s engaged to,”
The petitioner told the court that his estranged wife did not allow him gain access to his children since she packed out of his house.
He, therefore, prayed the court to dissolve the marriage and grant him custody of the four children, asking the court to order her to change their names back to his.
In her defence, Lilian who countered the petitioner’s claims, said her husband was grossly irresponsible.
“My lord, life was not easy for me over the years we have been together. In fact, Obayan derived pleasure in always molesting and beating me to the extent that I sustained body fractures," the respondent told the court.
"Obayan is not a good husband to me and good father to his children, as he doesn’t pay their school fees nor care about how they are living.
"He didn’t pay my dowry. So, I finally found a man to marry. And my new love wants my children to bear his name instead of that of their irresponsible father
"Our children are old enough to choose for themselves as they are no longer kids. My first two girls, Mayomi and Damilola are 22 and 20 years old, while the boys, Ariyo and Aduragbemi are 18 and 16 years old respectively.”
Lilian added that she was in court with witnesses to establish whether or not there was a traditional marriage between her and the petitioner.
She, therefore, urged the court to dissolve the union, saying she was done with Obayan since he did not pay her dowry.
In his ruling, President of the court, Magistrate Olusegun Rotiba, urged the parties to allow peace to reign between them.
He adjourned the matter till September 28, 2023, for continuation and adoption of oral addresses or probably judgment.
Former President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, has been released again from prison.
Naija News understands that Zuma appeared at the Estcourt correctional facility on Friday morning and was released under a remission process.
This is coming after the constitutional court last month rejected an attempt to overturn a decision by a lower court that found Zuma’s earlier release on medical parole unlawful.
The Supreme Court of Appeal in South Africa had months ago ordered the former president back to prison.
The apex court directed Zuma to finish his sentence for contempt of court.
Recall that Zuma’s initial arrest two years ago led to violent protests across South Africa that saw over 300 people killed.
Zuma, 81, was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment for defying a court order to participate in a corruption inquiry into high-level corruption during his nine-year tenure as president.
He, however, handed himself over to authorities in July 2021 but was released on medical parole due to ill health two months later.
The former president has since denied all corruption allegations against him
The Communique Issued At The End Of The Monthly Meeting Of The Afenifere Held At The Residence Of Our Leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo At Isanya Ogbo Ogun State On Tuesday 8Th Day Of August 2023
Admin000 PREAMBLE.
The Afenifere held its regular monthly Meeting today, 8thday of August 2023, at the Isanya Ogbo Ogun State, country home of our Leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo who presided over the Meeting which was attended by delegates from the member states of the Organisation.
After intensive deliberations on the state of the Nigerian Federation, the Meeting observed and Resolved as follows:
2.00 AFENIFERE AND THE NIGERIAN FEDERATION.
2.01 MEETING affirmed and reiterated the historic position of Afenifere as a political group and the rallying platform for social welfarist progressive ideals inexorably committed to the greatest good of the greatest number of Nigerians and invariably the conscience of the Nigerian state.
2.02 Recalled that when Nigeria at infancy was in the wilderness and even colonialist Britain in search of the requisite political structure that best suited its vast, diverse and polyglot territory, Afenifere founding fathers provided federalism as the veritable compass and path to freedom, peace and progress of the emerging giant of Africa.
2.03 Through thick and thin even in the days of military dictatorship, the voice of Afenifere not only resonated in the wilderness but courageously led from the front that the way of the federation be kept straight and back to democracy and true federalism.
2.04 Our founding fathers did not see being in the opposition as a hindrance but a veritable tool to doing good in the interests of the people.
2.05 Thus as Nigerians eagerly await the courts for the fearless and just determination of the true holder of their sacred mandate, Afenifere is further resolved that no person or group of persons shall hold the reins of power, even for one day, except in the proven interest of Nigeria in their peaceful, prosperous and harmonious diversity.
2.06 That the current comedy of errors in the governance of Nigeria is unprecedented and calls for so much concerns of all compatriots that silence may be inadvertently interpreted as complicity, which is not in the character of Afenifere.
3.00 ECOWAS INTERVENTION IN THE AFFAIRS OF NIGER REPUBLIC AND NIGERIA’S INTEREST.
3.01 Meeting reiterated the abhorrence of the Afenifere to any undemocratic access to power either through the barrels of the gun or electoral brigandage. We hold it as evidently true that military coup and any form of subversion of the constitution and the electoral process as a means of access to power are equal and mutually antithetical to democracy.
3.02 Afenifere condemned unreservedly, the currently military takeover of the Government of the Republic of Niger and declared that there is no justifiable reason for such an undemocratic act.
3.03 That in the same manner in which the removal of oil subsidy was announced and currently plunged the nation into a myriad of socioeconomic problems, the cavalier and hasty decision by the ECOWAS to intervene in the internal affairs of Niger not excluding the possibility of the military option, has further submerged Nigeria in needless crises affecting the socio-economic fabric of the nation.
3.04 That while Afenifere believes that Nigeria cannot afford stand aloof on matters affecting the stability and peace of the West African sub-region, nay Africa, it owes overriding duty to the national interests of Nigeria and her citizens.
3.05 That Nigeria and Niger are not only culturally interrelated but also socioeconomically interdependent. Thus any armed conflict in Niger will have harmful effects on Nigeria.
3.06 That Nigeria can ill-afford the price of war in Niger with costs in money, materials and men and collateral damage to the ancient and sustained relationships between our countries.
3.07 That without much ado, Afenifere calls on the ECOWAS to adopt the option of diplomacy in dealing with the issue in the Republic of Niger.
3.08 Afenifere strongly urged the Nigerien military to see the illegality and futility of usurping the sovereignty of the people of Niger to democratically decide who rules them and immediately return to the path of constitutionality which restricts their duty to the defence of the territorial integrity of the Nigerien state.
4.00 APPOINTMENT OF 48 MINISTERS AND AUSTERITY MEASURES.
4.01 Afenifere condemns as most unconscionable that a government pleading for understanding and sacrifices from the people, aftermath of a sudden and harsh removal of petrol subsidy and other cowboy economic policies, would present such unprecedented humongous list of 48 ministers and other such appointments for political appeasement in search of legitimacy.
4.02 Afenifere noted that it is most bizarre that the overwhelming majority of Nigerians whose daily preoccupation is how to eke a living and sometimes lay their heads wherever their tired limbs are bended are subjected to the spectacle of opulence and irresponsibility by their political leaders.
4.03 That it is painful that Nigerians are saddled with a parliament that is powerless in the face of this executive rascality the likes that makes the hapless people see no difference and jump on the streets singing praises of unconstitutional power adventurers.
4.04 That this interim period in the political life of the country has further abysmally exposed the pretences and hypocrisy of those who have often paid lip service to progressive inclinations as rapacious power mongers without a thought for the people.
Dated and issued at Isanya Ogbo, this 8th day of August 2023.
Chief Ayo Adebanjo
Leader
Chief Sola Ebiseni
Secretary General.
El-Rufai reportedly withdrawn interest from Tinubu’s ministerial appointment - recommends replacement
AdminThe former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has reportedly withdrawn his interest in President Bola Tinubu’s ministerial appointment.
Naija News learnt that El-Rufai lost interest in serving in President Tinubu’s cabinet after a meeting at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday.
Recall that El-Rufai visited the President a day after the Senate confirmed 45 ministerial nominees after a week-long screening and confirmation.
The upper legislative chamber, however, withheld his confirmation and those of two others, citing security reports from the State Security Service for the action.
The two others were a former senator from Taraba, Sani Danladi, and a nominee from Delta State, Stella Okotete.
A presidency source who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES revealed that El-Rufai was no longer interested in becoming a minister due to his current doctorate programme but would continue to contribute his quota to the development of Nigeria as a private citizen.
The sources said, “He also told the president that he needed time to focus on his doctorate programme at a university in The Netherlands.”
The former governor is studying for a doctorate in public policy at the United Nations University, Maastricht.
Another insider also told the publication that El-Rufai suggested a new ministerial nominee, Jafaru Ibrahim Sani, for Kaduna State, saying the President would find him helpful and resourceful.
Also, during the meeting, President Tinubu also told the former governor he received petitions critical to his ministerial nomination.
The President, however, demanded 24 hours of grace to review the petitions and the SSS report to the Senate to enable him to reach a decision.
At that point, El-Rufai responded that he was no longer interested in being a minister since it appeared some forces around the President were scheming intensely to block his emergence as federal minister.
Recall that El-Rufai disclosed during his confirmation hearing on 1 August that Tinubu asked him to work with him on the country’s power problem.
According to him, the President had given a target of seven years for Nigeria to stop experiencing power outages in the country.
Speaking on the development at the Tuesday meeting, El-Rufai reportedly told the President that since he would no longer be in the federal executive council, he would return with his team to present the preliminary work done so far on the energy sector.
The Nigerian Army has denied reports that 25 soldiers resigned because of poor welfare and corruption.
An online publication had reported that 25 soldiers manning war vehicles in the Nigerian Army Armoured Corps resigned to protest corruption and poor welfare conditions.
But the Army in a statement on Thursday by its spokesperson, Onyema Nwachukwu, said the soldiers resigned voluntarily, stressing that retirement in the service is routine.
It read, “The Nigerian Army is compelled to respond to insinuations in a publication attributing the resignation of 25 soldiers to allegations of corruption against the Nigerian Army.
“While it is true that approval was given for the voluntary discharge of the soldiers, the insinuation that the soldiers are proceeding on voluntary discharge due to alleged corruption is an implausible effort to frantically dampen the morale and fighting will of the loyal, dedicated, and patriotic troops of the NA, engender disaffection in the ranks and ultimately put the nascent Nigerian Government and nation in a panic mode.
It is not an aberration for the COAS to approve the voluntary discharge of soldiers, who willingly applied and met the terms for discharge from the NA, contrary to the mischievous manipulation of the occurrence by the media in question.
Refuting the poor welfare allegation, Onyema said the Army recently raised the Ration Cash allowance and provided a conducive environment for its personnel to effectively carry out their constitutional duties.
“It is on record that the NA has continuously strived to provide a supportive and conducive work environment and conditions for its personnel. This is evident in the NA’s continuous efforts to improve its operational capabilities, including the injection of equipment into the theaters of operations, prompt payment of operational allowances, including the Ration Cash Allowance recently increased by the new Chief of Army Staff, massive construction of new accommodation and extensive renovation of old and dilapidated buildings.
“These are in addition to the huge financial commitment to the medical needs of wounded-in-action soldiers, including medical evacuation overseas, award of scholarships to children and wards of fallen heroes, and other unique interventions in the theatres of operations to sustain troops’ morale, ” the statement added.
He also said the Army had implemented a policy aimed at rotating troops on the frontline.
The statement added, “Equally important, is the deliberate implementation of the Army Headquarters plan for troops’ rotation from the frontline. Hence, issues of overstay and battle fatigue are gradually being surmounted and becoming a thing of the past.
Suffice it to state, that the NA under the leadership of Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja remains committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity, probity, and professionalism by providing exemplary and pragmatic leadership, Sound Administration, that will continue to boldly guarantee the welfare and motivation of NA personnel, as well as provide requisite enablers for operational effectiveness, while maintaining public trust. “
“We Will Name And Shame Commercial Banks Engaged In Illegal Sales Of Dollars“ - Says Acting CBN Governor
AdminSays Naira Currently Undervalued
Folashodun Shonubi, the Acting Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), unveiled significant insights on the Nigerian Naira’s value during a lecture titled ‘Diaspora Remittances and Nigeria Economic Development,’ hosted at the National Institute of Security Studies (NISS) in Abuja.
Shonubi underscored the Naira’s substantial undervaluation based on economic modeling using the purchasing power parity concept. “An economic modeling of Nigeria using purchasing power parity would reveal the current significant undervaluation of the Naira,” Shonubi revealed during his address.
He emphasized the importance of enforcing strict measures to curb illicit remittances, channeling them into legitimate avenues to optimize economic growth. Shonubi also announced plans to form a panel that would conduct unannounced visits to banks suspected of illegally trading in dollars.
“We intend to expose and criticize commercial banks engaged in such illicit practices,” Shonubi stated firmly.
Addressing challenges within the existing remittance framework, Shonubi highlighted that the cost of sending money to sub-Saharan Africa from diaspora sources remains approximately 8-9% per $100, the highest globally. In an intriguing observation, Shonubi noted that while Nigeria received around $16.7 billion in remittances, a substantial portion of these funds continues to circulate outside the formal financial system.
“We are striving to encourage individuals to channel funds through formal channels rather than relying on informal routes, a challenge for effective management,” Shonubi emphasized.
Although efforts to incentivize formal market participation by offering a N5 rebate were implemented, this approach proved insufficient in the open market context, leading to the discontinuation of the N5 rebate. Acknowledging the importance of incentives, Shonubi expressed the need to attract individuals to the formal financial sector.
Furthermore, Shonubi disclosed a terminology shift, stating, “We will rebrand the foreign exchange market, known as the I & E market, to the Nigerian Foreign Exchange market, as it is the sole market we recognize.”
Ayodele Adeleke, the Commandant of the National Institute of Security Studies, highlighted the lecture series’ significance in enhancing the nation’s grasp of security issues. Adeleke emphasized the series’ strategic role within the 10-month course framework, designed to amplify understanding and stimulate focused discussions on pivotal topics.
Adeleke added, “Given the growing interconnections of economies, diaspora communities play crucial roles in fostering their nations’ economic progress, contributing significantly to overall economic growth.”
Shonubi’s revelations and CBN’s planned measures underscore the bank’s commitment to enhancing economic stability and promoting transparent financial practices in Nigeria.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, FCDO, of the UK government has asked President Bola Tinubu to use money saved from fuel subsidy removal to fund education in the country.
FCDO’s representatives, Ian Attfield, who made the call at the end of the Inclusive Education project In Nigeria, (Supporting Mainstreaming Inclusion so all can Learn Equally, SMILE), in Abuja Wednesday, said: “For the next five years or so, I’m certain we won’t be having discussions about how we can mainstream some of the inclusive education elements.
“There are many major economic changes taking place, such as the changes in fuel subsidy. It should start being deployed to support the human development of Nigeria to build education and services, among other things, that young people need.”
Also speaking at the event, Country Director of Sightsavers Nigeria, a nonprofit making organisation, Dr. Sunday Isiyaku, maintained that inclusivity in education remained the bedrock to national development.
According to him, government at all levels and communities need to ensure children with disabilities are included in the scheme of things as far as their education and future are concerned.
He explained how imperative inclusive education was to develop human capital, adding that the positive impact it had on the lives of children with disabilities and their families could not be overemphasized.
He said inclusive education was not only a basic human right, but also a powerful tool for achieving sustainable development.
In his remarks, the Technical Director, Inclusive Education, Sightsavers Global Team, Liesbeth Roolvink, said: “We have trained many people, we have so many champions now that could take this process forward in different places in Nigeria and that is our dream and our hope.”
One of the panelists at the closeout discussion, the Chief Executive Officer and Founder, TAF Africa and Convener, Disability Inclusion Nigeria, Amb Jake Epelle, pointed out that there was lack of trained teachers on inclusive education.
Epelle also spoke on the need for awareness creation, funding and holistic education policy that disabused the mindset on having special schools for persons with disability but one school premises that would impact them positively and make it easy for them to integrate into the society.
He said: “When it comes to inclusive education, there is the need to increase the awareness because it is not many people that know about it. Many parents, especially parents of persons with disability, are hiding their children at home.
”How do we go to them to ensure that they are aware that these children they are hiding in their homes need education?”
However, he pointed out that special schools do not real make the desired impact on the education of children with disabilities because they find it difficult to be integrated into the society.
It’s not true, I’ll sink, swim with Obaseki — Shaibu
FOLLOWING his differences with Governor Godwin Obaseki, the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu, will join the All Progressives Congress, APC, next week, barring unforeseen circumstances.
The party’s National Working Committee, NWC, will receive him early next week, a high-ranking member of the ruling party at the centre, disclosed on condition of anonymity.
However, Shaibu’s flight into the APC appears to be facing turbulence on account of the stance of Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who declared, yesterday, that the party is not a rehabilitation centre for distressed politicians.
Oshiomhole, former national chairman of the APC, and a two-term governor of Edo State, handed over to Governor Obaseki. As APC chairman, he denied Obaseki and Shaibu the party’s re-election ticket, which forced the duo to join the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which gave them tickets and they won re-election in 2018.
Meanwhile, Shaibu has distanced himself from the move to the APC, which he described as another lie from the pit of hell, insisting that he would sink and swim with Obaseki.
This came as the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, yesterday, restated its August 4 order halting the alleged plot to impeach Shaibu as deputy governor and deferred the matter till August 22 for hearing.
Shaibu’s decision to return to the APC, which was predicted by political analysts, followed his move to the Federal High Court to seek an injunction against an alleged impeachment plot against him.
Governor Obaseki had, however, said the move by Shaibu to seek a court order to stop his purported impeachment was preemptive, ahead of his defection to the APC.
Shaibu’s defection confirmed
The source said: “It has been confirmed. We have it on good authority that Shaibu has concluded plans to join the APC. He is to be received along with a few of his supporters into the party early next week by the National Working Committee of the party.
“Shaibu has been in talks with the state and national leadership of the party, even before the feud between him and the governor went public and he has been negotiating his way back into the party.
“The deputy governor has now perfected his defection to the party and we are glad and ready to receive him into our fold.”
Obaseki had, while addressing leaders from Edo North senatorial district, where the deputy governor hails from, said he was “not aware of any plot or scheme to impeach Shaibu. I have also checked and there was no such plan.
“So, the court action taken, for me, is a thing of shock and disappointment. I believe that this action by him is a preemptive move to get a court order, keep his ticket and move to another party. I think it’s unfair for our party. We don’t need this sort of crisis.
“I am trying to reflect on the move made by somebody that I have given a broad latitude to do his work as deputy governor. So, for him to take this kind of action is shocking.”
Oshiomhole forecloses Shaibu’s defection to APC
In a veiled reference to Shaibu’s reported defection to the APC, Oshiomhole told journalists, shortly after paying a condolence visit to the family of the late Esogban of Benin Kingdom, Chief David Edebiri, that irrespective of any political party in power, he wants peace for the state, adding that loyalty is expected in politics.
He said: “Regardless of party divide, it is my wish for Edo to be governed in peace and harmony because the supra-party to which we all belong to is the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The rate of camping, decamping and re-camping shows that the only thing that is constant is Nigeria and not the political parties.
“What I read about somebody going to court to complain about being suspected of being impeached, I don’t know how courts adjudicate over suspicion.
“But let me say this, to say that somebody wants to run to the APC, I want to say APC is not a rehabilitation centre. I can tell you that for free.
“We in APC are satisfied the way we are; we are happy in opposition and we are not about to receive people who are coming because they have lost out. I want to say that there is no IDPs camp in APC.
“So, my advice is that those who are having challenges should learn how to respect their bosses. I have always advised people that whoever you work with, be loyal.
“I was here and I was unable to support my deputy to succeed me but my deputy never took me to court. And if there are people who always profit from crises, they cannot have my support.
“Regardless of what anybody will say, I come from only one of the clans in my local government, it would be nice if only my clan produced the governors but I know that Nigeria doesn’t work that way. There are those sentiments that people think that at this level of our development, things should go round.”
Defection to APC another lie from pit of hell – Shaibu
Reacting to reports of his defection to the APC, Shaibu in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Ebomhiana Musa, said “hack writers are at it again.”
His words: “Mischief makers bent on destabilizing our dear Edo State are still at work. They will stop at nothing to widen the gulf between Governor Godwin Obaseki and his Deputy, Mr. Philip Shaibu.
They have generated more lies from the pit of hell, saying that Shaibu has perfected plans to rejoin the All-Progressives Congress, next week. There is no iota of truth in this.
“To further put a lie to this, the spin doctors claimed that the APC National Working Committee is set to receive him in Abuja. The question here for the discerning minds is that, is it the NWC of a party that receives a decampee into the party? Shaibu has never minced words, vowing to sink and swim with his principal, Governor Obaseki.
“This, he has said severally at public fora. In view of this, I plead with these characters bent on driving a wedge between Shaibu and his boss, Governor Obaseki, to put the Edo project and the people far above their own selfish interest.”
Court renews order halting plot to impeach Shaibu
Meanwhile, the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has deferred till August 22, hearing of the suit Shuaibu filed to halt alleged plot to impeach him from office as deputy governor.
Also, the court, in a ruling by Justice Ahmed Mohammed restated the order it made on August 4, which mandated all the parties in the suit to maintain status quo ante bellum, pending the hearing and determination of the case.
Cited as 1st to 5th defendants in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/ CS/1027/2023, are; the Inspector General of Police, State Security Service, Governor of Edo state, Godwin Obaseki, Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly and the Chief Judge of Edo State.
At the resumed proceedings in the matter, yesterday, the 1st defendant, IGP, was not represented by a lawyer. The 2nd defendant, DSS, through its lawyer, Mr. I. Harold, told the court that it had yet to file any process to show cause why reliefs the deputy governor is seeking in the suit should not be granted.
He contended that the Edo State deputy governor was wrong to join the security agency as a party in the suit.
Besides, Herold, told the court that the agency has filed a counter affidavit to challenge the competence of the main suit.
Meanwhile, counsel to the plaintiff, Mr. George Ibrahim, told the court that the IGP, who was not represented, was duly served with a hearing notice on August 4.
While Governor Obaseki was represented by Ms. R. Okotiebo, the Attorney General of Edo State, Oluwole Uzzi, announced his appearance for the Chief Judge of Edo State who is the 5th Defendant in the matter.
Following failure by some of the defendants to file their processes, Justice Mohammed adjourned the matter, even as he ordered the service of hearing notices on all the parties.
Justice Mohammed directed all the parties to continue to maintain the status quo ante bellum, pending the determination of the case.
The governors of the southeast, the House of Representatives ad hoc committee, and security agencies including the Chief of Army Staff, yesterday, met at Enugu and Abuja respectively over the biting insecurity in the southeast.
The Reps ad-hoc Committee in their meeting with the Chief of Army Staff complained that violent crimes by gunmen and other criminal elements linked to IPOB and ESN are threatening the existence of the South-East region.
Obi Agocha, the committee chair, stated this in Abuja while interfacing with security agencies to reduce banditry, assassination, kidnapping, and other crimes in Abia.
He said the interface aimed to address insecurity that had cast a shadow in Abia, adding that several occurrences of insecurity had threatened the region’s foundation.
According to Agocha, the ad-hoc committee understood that no single solution could quickly address the menace.
The legislator, however, said that such challenges required a collective approach, adding that security agencies and all stakeholders must be prepared to tackle this menace.
“We must collaborate to nip this crisis in the bud. We must work in synergy to create a stronger force against insecurity in the region.
He said Umunneochi, a community in Abia, the epicentre of the battle, shares boundaries with other states in the South-East.
The lawmaker alleged that most of the non-state actors, like IPOB and Eastern Security Network, often came to commit crimes in the area and disappear to neighbouring states.
The chair expressed displeasure over the absence of security agencies who failed to attend the hearing, adding that the lawmakers would not condone such an attitude.
The security agencies at the meeting were the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The Chief of Army Staff, Major General Taoreed Lagbaja promised that insecurity ranging from kidnapping, banditry, and other criminal activities currently ravaging the South East region especially Isiukwuato and Umunnochi local government areas of Abia State will soon end.
This is as he assured that all security agencies are working round the clock to address the insecurity in the region.
We’ll end kidnapping in S-East region soon —Army Chief
Lagbaja who was represented by the Deputy Director Operations, Army Headquarters, Brigadier General Gabriel Olufemi Esho, made the commitment during a meeting with the House of Representative Ad-Hoc committee investigating the killing and kidnapping in Umunochi Community in Abia State.
According to Lagbaja, the threat of kidnapping remains a potent security threat, especially in the two local government areas stating that, particularly in July this year, the region recorded cases of kidnapping and attacks by criminals suspected to be elements of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.
He said that the security in these two local governments areas are also collaborating with the Army but due to certain challenges, the bulk usually lies with the Nigerian army.
He said ”The House of representative through its letter dated 3rd August 2023 requested that the Nigeria Army submit a memorandum to the ad-hoc committee to interface with relevant security agencies and stockholders in respect of incessant attacks of kidnappers, assassination and banditry and other criminal elements in and around these two local government areas, it is pertinent to state the incidence of kidnapping in southeast region particularly in the second quarter of this year.
“Recently efforts of the Nigerian army through its Division in conjunction with other security agencies have diminished the threat of kidnapping.”
He however assured the committee that all efforts will be made to bring the perpetrators to book and restore peace to the region.
Also speaking at the meeting, the assistant Commandant General of NSCDC, Philip Ayuba, who represented the Commandant General of NSCDC, Abubakar Audi said that part of the challenge the security agencies face in tackling the insecurity in the region is the lack of cooperation from members of the community where the acts are been carried out.
“I want to state that we are out in synergy with other security agencies and have been able to look around and found out that there is a very good number of the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.
“We found that in that environment almost everybody has a weapon and there is the willful disposition of many communities to purchase locally made arms and there is a lack of this cooperation by the community where we are trying to get information from when they go there for manhunting to volunteer information of who and who are involved in that criminal act.To approach them even within themselves, they are afraid of themselves.”
We’ll intensify fight against insecurity collectively, individually—S-East govs
Similarly, Governors of the South East have resolved to intensify war against the prevailing insecurity in the region collectively as well as separately.
They made the resolution in a meeting in Enugu Government House yesterday.
The five Governors of the region were all present in the meeting and were also joined by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Igalla; the General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Maj Gen Aminu Chinade; and commissioners of Police.
The Governors in attendance included the Chairman of South East Governors Forum and Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma; Prof. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State; Dr. Alex Otti of Abia State; Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State and the host Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah.
In a communique read by Governor Uzodimma, the south east Governors said that “The Forum firmly resolved to fight insecurity decisively in the region individually and collectively, in partnership with the federal government and other stakeholders.
“We commend the security agencies for their cooperation thus far and encourage them not to relent.
“We wish to state categorically that the perpetrators of the insecurity in our region and their sponsors are criminals and should not be seen as legitimate agitators. Therefore, upon arrest, they should be dealt with in accordance with the laws of the land.”
The Forum also resolved to hold the security and economic summit on a date to be announced soon.
Arsonists continue in Imo as Police move to arrest suspects
Meantime, the burning down of houses of politicians, traditional rulers, and residents has continued in Imo State, just as the Imo State Police command has vowed to arrest the suspects.
The promise to arrest the suspects was given by the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Henry Okoye, on Thursday while reacting to a series of reports of hoodlums burning houses of residents in Imo.
Okoye said: “Frantic investigating efforts are on top gear to arrest the arsonists and bring them to justice.”
The latest of such reports was that of a monarch, HRH, Eze Kanu in Ndianiche Arondizuogu in Ideato North council area of Imo State.
This came a day after the house belonging to a former member of the House of Representatives who represented the Orlu/ Orsu/ Oru East federal constituency of Imo State, Jerry Alagboso, was set ablaze by hoodlums at his hometown in Orsu council area of the state.
Also, the house of the traditional ruler of Okwuru, Orsu Ihitteukwa in Orsu council area of Imo State, Eze-Elect, Eze Ezekiel I. Nwokedi, was burnt down.
Many have been killed by hoodlums and abducted from their houses and taken to unknown destinations. Some villages have been reportedly taken over by hoodlums especially that of the Orsu council area, Okigwe axis of the state.
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The Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, has ordered its standby force to restore constitutional order in NIger Republic.
The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Alieu Touray made the declaration while reading the resolution of ECOWAS on the Niger coup at the ECOWAS Extraordinary meeting in Abuja on Thursday, August 10.
ECOWAS also called on the African Union, AU, partner countries, and institutions to support the resolution taken by the sub-regional body.
ECOWAS said all efforts made to dialogue with Niger Republic military junta have been defiantly rejected by the coup leaders as they condemn the continuous detention of President Mohamed Bazoum and his family members.
The resolution partly reads, “Direct the committee of the Chief of Defence Staff to activate the ECOWAS standby force with all its elements immediately.
“Order the deployment of the ECOWAS stand-by force to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.
“Underscore its continued commitment to the restoration of constitutional order through peaceful means.”
The fall of the naira against the United States dollar, coupled with the recent rise in global crude oil prices, is making Nigerians apprehensive of a possible hike in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol.
Although the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and other oil marketers have not announced any increase in petrol price, they confirmed that the scarcity of foreign exchange and crude oil price rise were key factors that determined PMS price.
Petrol price moved up from N198/litre in May to over N500/litre in June after President Bola Tinubu removed subsidy on PMS.
The cost jumped again to over N600/litre in July, and there were concerns that it might rise further in August, going by the crash of the naira against the dollar.
The naira dropped below N900 against the dollar on Thursday at the parallel market. It also fell against the US dollar at the official Importers and Exporters forex window.
Also on Thursday, Brent, the global benchmark for crude oil, was traded at about $87/barrel. It traded for less than $80/barrel few weeks ago.
A resident of Abuja, Collins Nnabude, stated, “The crash of the naira against the dollar and the recent rise in crude oil price is making one apprehensive when you consider the effect on petrol price in Nigeria. Fuel price is likely going to rise again this month.”
Oil marketers also confirmed the possibility of another hike in petrol price this month.
The President, Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria, Billy Gillis-Harry, said, “So long as the naira is losing against the dollar, the price of petrol in our retail outlets will continue to increase.”
He called on Tinubu to make sure that Nigeria’s refineries were put back to use.
According to him, “We have requested that the President should declare a state of emergency on our refineries in order to speed up their repairs.
“That is the one sure way to go, in order to be able to predict the price of petroleum products, because for now, every PMS you buy in any retail outlet is dollarised.”
Also speaking on the development, the National President, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chinedu Okonkwo, said the downstream oil sector had been fully deregulated and, the cost of PMS would continue to fluctuate.
“When there is deregulation and no subsidy, the price of petrol would either go up or come down. But if you want to profiteer, those who bring in and sell at cheaper rates would put you out of business.”
Also, oil marketers said, the Federal Government may likely intervene as crude oil price and ex-depot price of petrol had kept rising.
The National Controller Operations, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Mike Osatuyi, told The PUNCH on Thursday that President Tinubu had promised to intervene, if necessary.
He said, “First of all, we must thank President Tinubu for removing fuel subsidies because the country would have been in big burden by now.
“In view of the rising prices of crude oil, we can now see that the quantity of petrol they said we used to consume had dropped. At the same time, we can see that price of crude oil is increasing, meaning; Nigeria would have more money in addition to the money the country has saved from subsidy removal. Then, since we have more money in the country, we have pay as petrol price keeps rising.”
He added, “Ex-depot price is now between N585 and N590 per litre depending on the depot, and it will either go up or come down, depending on crude price and exchange rate.
“But the president has said that there would be interventions if need be. So, we believe they are watching as the situation arises.”
ECOWAS Chairman and Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, says it is crucial to prioritise diplomatic negotiations to resolve the crisis in Niger Republic.
According to Tinubu, the regional bloc must engage the coup leaders in the neighbouring country to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum.
Tinubu spoke on Thursday, August 10 in Abuja when he declared open ECOWAS' second extraordinary session on the situation in Niger Republic.
He said, “More so, in reaffirming our relentless commitment to democracy, human rights, and the well-being of the people of Niger, it is crucial that we prioritise diplomatic negotiations and dialogue as the bedrock of our approach.
“We must engage all parties involved, including the coup leaders, in earnest discussions to convince them to relinquish power and reinstate President Bazoum. It is our duty to exhaust all avenues of engagement to ensure a swift return to constitutional governance in Niger.”
Tinubu said the coup in neighbouring Niger has far-reaching effects on democratically constituted governments in the sub-region.
“More specifically, as leaders of our respective nations, we must recognize that the political crisis in Niger not only poses a threat to the stability of the nation but also has far-reaching implications for the entire West African region.
“By remaining steadfast in our adherence to the principles of democracy, good governance, and the rule of law, we can restore peace, stability, and prosperity in the Republic of Niger, thereby fostering an environment conducive to growth and development for all,” he said.
Ecowas gave the Nigerien troops who seized power on July 26 until last Sunday to reinstate 63-year-old Bazoum or face the potential use of force but the coup leaders remained defiant and the deadline passed without action.
Nigeria has also cut off electricity supply to Nigeria amid a flurry of economic sanctions including border closure.
The member representing Tarauni Federal Constituency of Kano State at the Federal House of Representative, Umar Mukhtar Yerima, under the New Nigeria Peoples Party has been sacked.
The National and State House of Assembly Election petition tribunal announced the decision on Thursday citing a case of certificate forgery.
In the far-reaching decision, the tribunal, presided over by a three-man panel led by Justice I. P. Chima declared the All Progressive Congress, APC candidate, Hafizu Kawu as the duly elected winner of the February 25th election.
This followed a petition filed by Kawu challenging the emergence of Yerima before the tribunal.
Delivering its judgement, the panel ruled that the primary school certificate tendered by the respondent, Umar Mukhtar Yerima was forged.
According to the tribunal, Hausawa Primary School has disowned the certificate as the name of the respondent is not on its record therefore, what Yerima presented was fake.
The Panel then declared that all the votes scored by the NNPP candidate at the February poll are a waste.
Consequently, it directed that the APC candidate whom INEC announced as the first runner-up, who is the petitioner, Kawu be issued a certificate of return and the winner of the election.
No order was granted concerning salaries or allowances Yerima must have collected since his inauguration in June.