A chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Buba Galadima, has explained how President Bola Tinubu could have removed the fuel subsidy to reduce pains for Nigerians.
Galadima, who noted that President Tinubu took a hard decision to remove the fuel subsidy, said the President could have put palliative measures in place to mitigate the hardship it could cause for the ordinary people.
The NNPP chieftain stated this while speaking in an interview on Arise Television on Monday.
He said, “If I were him (Tinubu), I could have done it differently. I could have inquired on why and how this fuel subsidy keeps accumulating and got us to this level where we are. That is the difference.
“And part of it would have been that if I were an adviser to the President, I could have advised him to take some measures such that the removal will not be painful with far-reaching effect on the social life of the country especially the ordinary man.
“Subsidy as we know, nobody is subsidizing the poor, because the poor doesn’t have a car. The poor doesn’t have a motorbike. We are subsidizing the elites.
“But, I still believe that there are lot of things we can do to really inquire into this subsidy and a lot of money could be recovered.”
Recall that Galadima had earlier said decisions taken so far by Tinubu were poised to make the country better.
Galadima stated this at the inauguration of the Nuite De-Paris Restaurant owned by Maria Namvar, an Iranian investor, in Abuja.
He said Tinubu is starting well as president, adding that he hopes the tempo will be maintained.
“For those of us who have been in trenches in politics for the last 45 years, you will know that this time around the difference is clear,” he said.
“We do appreciate Mr President and so far he hasn’t disappointed us for having been on the right track so far.
“We do pray and hope that the action man will continue the work he is doing to make Nigeria a better place for us.”
[Vanguard]
Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani has described the immediate past president, Muhammadu Buhari as the worst ruler in the history of Nigeria.
He described President Buhari’s 8-year tenure as a “waste.”
Sani made the claims on Sunday, in Abuja, during the launch of the book, ‘The Nigerian Dream’ written by activist, Moses Paul.
The rights activist said, “[Muhammadu] Buhari wasted Nigeria’s time for eight years. And he appointed people who failed and he kept on extending their period in office. That is very wrong.
“He has accused all [previous] governments of corruption. All the ills of Nigeria, he accused all the previous governments [ of being responsible for them]. Yet, his government has proven the worst in the history of Nigeria.”
The former lawmaker said Nigeria can be a united and prosperous nation if the leaders “lead with the fear of God and a determination and commitment to fulfil your pledges.”
In Sani’s words at the book launch, he said, “It has been 63 years since our political independence and when you go through the manifestos of Nigeria’s first-generation politicians, it’s about light, water, education, bridges, unity. And here we are, over six decades, we are still talking of the same thing. So, I believe that the Nigeria of our dream should be the different one that we inherited; an improved version of it.”
[DailyPost]
The planned commencement of defence by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) was stalled this morning owing to the absence of its first witness.
INEC, the first respondent in the petition by Peter Obi and the Labour Party (LP), was scheduled to open its defence today.
At the mention of the case around 9:30 am, lawyer to INEC, Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN) , told the court that although his client plans to call three witnesses within three days, the one slated for today is unavailable because of some family issues.
Mahmoud then applied for an adjournment till Tuesday to enable the witness attend court.
Lawyers to other parties in the case – Livy Uzoukwu (SAN) for Obi/LP, Wole Olanipekun (SAN) for President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettma, and Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) for the All Progressives Congress (APC) – did not object to the request by Mahmoud.
Ruling, the Presiding Justice, Justice Haruna Tsammani adjourned till Tuesday by 9am for hearing.
The court has risen but with a promise to return at 2pm for the petition by Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The eight MRS Oil Nigeria Plc employees who were abducted in Lagos last week have been released.
On Sunday night in the Sangotedo region of Lagos State, the victims were freed.
However, it wasn’t apparent if a ransom was paid to secure their release.
On Monday at around 6 p.m., the oil employees were kidnapped while travelling from Lagos Island to Lekki on a private boat.
Their abductors were said to have whisked them into their boat, leaving behind the oil workers’ boat with their personal belongings.
Spokesman for the Lagos Police Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed the release of the oil workers to The Nation on Monday morning.
Asked if any arrest was made, Hundeyin answered in the negative, declining further comments on the issue.
Details Shortly…
More than 50 names of military officers across the three services of the Nigerian Armed Forces – army, navy and the air force have been penciled down for promotion following the deadline given to top generals to exit the service, Daily Trust reports.
The officers, who are on the rank of brigadier generals and colonels respectively in the Nigerian Army and its equivalent in the navy and the air force, are expected to fill the vacant positions at various formations of the armed forces in the country.
Although the Military Council Board saddled with the responsibility of promotion approval is yet to sit, it was learnt that those to be considered for the promotion are of Regular Course 43 of the Nigerian Defence Academy.
Apart from the CDS who is a member of Regular Course 38, the three service chiefs – Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, the Chief of Naval Staff and Air Vice Marshal Hassan Abubakar, the Chief of Air Staff are members of 39 RC of the NDA.
Daily Trust reports that the new development on promotion came following the July 3 (today) deadline given to the senior military officers by the Military High Command to voluntarily tender their resignations and exit the service.
The order, which was contained in a memo dated June 26 and signed by Maj.-Gen. Y. Yahaya on behalf of the Chief of Defence Staff, was directed to generals, brigadier generals, air vice marshals, and rear admirals in the three services, who are seniors to the new service chiefs.
A memo by the Defence Headquarters with reference number DHQ/I5/PLANS/801/13 explained that it was meant to preserve and uphold the tenets of the military profession which values hierarchy and service discipline.
The memo, copied to the army, navy and air force headquarters, directed all officers with seniority on commission above that of Regular Course 39 of the NDA to submit their applications for voluntary retirement from service with immediate effect.
Findings by Daily Trust revealed on Sunday that all members of 38 Regular Course of the NDA had submitted their voluntary retirement applications before the close of work on Friday as directed by the Defence Headquarters.
A senior military officer, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, said some members of 39 Regular Course of the NDA submitted their applications except those redeployed newly by the new service chiefs.
The source also explained that recommendations are already being made on those to be considered for the promotion in the three services, adding that the approval will come after the Military Council Board will have interviewed and ratified the names of those recommended.
In the same vein, a member of RC 43 who spoke anonymously also told Daily Trust that some members of RC 40, 41 and 42 have reached the rank of major generals, rear admirals and AVM, and they are currently filling the vacant positions in the latest shake-up.
He said, “Those positions that were left vacant have already been occupied or are in the process of being occupied, and the officers that are occupying those positions are already in the rank cadre. I mean they are already wearing the rank they require to occupy them.”
Tinubu to decorate new service chiefs
Speaking further, he said, “When the service chiefs are promoted, except they want to change the old order, their course mates cannot be promoted because we cannot have two captains in a boat. When the service chiefs are promoted to lieutenant generals, their course mates will remain major generals while they are still in service.”
Several calls to the telephone lines of army spokesman, Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu; the acting Director, Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau and the NAF spokesman, Air Commodore Ayodele Famuyiwa, went unanswered.
The trio were yet to reply to separate text messages sent to them.
But the spokesman of the Nigerian Navy, Commodore Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, said, “I don’t know, I’m not aware. The promotion that normally comes at this time, except you’re talking about another one, is the service chiefs that have just resumed.
“Normally, when they resume office like this, and the National Assembly confirms them, then, the Chief of Defence Staff will be promoted to the four-star general (full general) while the Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Lagbaja will be promoted to Lt.-Gen.
“Rear Admiral Ogalla will be promoted to vice admiral, while Air Vice Marshal Abubakar will be promoted to air marshal. That’s the only one we anticipate. I don’t know of any other one because promotion in the services comes at about this time when middle cadre officers are considered by the promotion board.
“Around the last quarter of the year, the senior officers or cadre are considered for 1-star and 2-star generals. That’s the only one I know and the timetable has not changed over the years. It cannot just change now.”
Army chief retains course mates
Meanwhile, the new Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja has retained some of his course mates to work closely with at the headquarters in order to achieve the mandate of containing insecurity challenges.
Checks by Daily Trust showed that Maj.-Gen. Jimmy Akpor, the course mate of COAS, has now been appointed as the Chief of Administration at Army Headquarters, Abuja.
In a statement on Saturday by the army spokesman, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, the deployment of Akpor and other officers will take effect today.
The death toll of Nigerian pilgrims during the 2023 hajj exercise has risen to 13 just as 41,632 others fell sick in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The head of the Nigerian medical team for the pilgrimage, Dr Usman Galadima, stated this Sunday night in Makkah during post-Arafat review session.
He said his team made consultations for 25,772 pilgrims during the Muna-Arafat period in addition to the 15,680 treated in Madinah and Makkah during the pre-Arafat period.
Galadima recalled that seven pilgrims had died during the pre-Arafat period.
He gave the breakdown of the casualties as: Plateau (1), Kaduna (2), Osun (2), Borno (1), Yobe (1), FCT (1), Benue (1) and Lagos (1); while private tour operators recorded three deaths.
Galadima said during the Muna-Arafat period, four pilgrims died at Arafat and two at Mina.
He recommended thorough pre-hajj medical screening with the issuance of a certificate of medical fitness.
He said elderly pilgrims and those very sick should be discouraged from going to Jamarat (the place where pilgrims performed the symbolic stoning of the devil).
He also said the grouping of pilgrims as recommended by Saudi authorities should be enforced.
He urged states with functional ambulances to place their vehicles in the national medical team’s pool for a more coordinated response to emergency cases.
The commissioner of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) in charge of aviation, Goni Sanda, announced that return flights of Nigerian pilgrims would begin on July 4 and end on August 3.
The Labour Party, in a swift reaction to the federal government’s position on the conclusion of the European Union over the 2023 election, described the Presidency’s comment discrediting the report as medicine after death.
The party in a statement signed by National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Pastor Obiora Ifoh said the report from the EU was one out of many international observers who had submitted that the election was rigged in favour of the ruling party.
The Statement reads: “The leadership of the Labour Party has noted with dismay the statement by the Federal Government discrediting the European Union’s conclusion on the 2023 General Election wherein it faulted the modalities by which the conclusion was reached.
“We see this face-saving measure by the Federal Government which is coming days after the submission of the report as feeble and medicine after death.
“It will interest the government to note that the European Union’s report is only one out of numerous submissions by other international Observers who have described the outcome of the election as a sham and an exercise that did not reflect the will of the majority of Nigerians.
“Labour Party stands by the position of the EU observation mission. We have always said that this election was massively rigged in favour of the APC and their candidate.
“What the FG is saying is just an afterthought and a shameless effort to mask the obvious. Even the blind can see, the deaf can hear and they know this election was manipulated.
“Huge pieces of evidence are abound for even the deaf and the blind to hear and feel. We are only hoping that the judiciary will dispense justice without fear or favour in the interest of the nation and posterity.
“Nigerians already know the true winner of the 2023 presidential election and no amount of slandering, denial, or rebuttal can change the fact that the party in power has no mandate of the electorate.
“We must also note that whatever position the INEC has taken is with active connivance with the Federal Government to deny the electorate and it clearly shows that INEC is not in any way independent.
“The Commission’s action is at the whims and caprices of the government and we know it. But Nigerians looking to the Judiciary for justice. That’s where we stand,” Obiora stated in the statement.
The Senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District, Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah, has vowed to stop the Monday sit-at-home in his constituency with immediate effect.
Ubah said the adverse effects the exercise has so far inflicted on the commercial, economic, and well-being of the South-East residents have become so devastating that the exercise has to be tackled with every strength it deserves.
He urged the people of his constituency to start opening for business on Mondays, starting today, saying that adequate security measures and equipment have been put in place to ensure water-tight security of lives and properties.
The senator stated these at the Ifeanyi Ubah International Stadium, Nnewi, Anambra State, on Sunday, when he addressed the state vigilante and community security watch operatives from the four quarters of Nnewi, comprising Otolo, Uruagu, Umudim, and Nnewi-Ichi.
He used the avenue to unveil a number of security gadgets and equipment he procured for security operations in the Nnewi constituency and environs while tasking the vigilante operatives to ensure water-tight security for the people.
He said, “The abrogation of the self-inflicted injury called Monday sit-at-home would start from this Monday, July 3. We are going to march on a road show across various markets and roads tomorrow (Monday) to demonstrate to the people that they are safe and should start coming out for business on Mondays.
“The vigilante operatives have been charged to beef up security around all the major markets in Nnewi and ensure that traders and their goods are given adequate protection from the so-called unknown gunmen this Monday and subsequent Mondays to stamp out the cankerworm called sit-at-home.
“Monday is a serious day for business and economic activities, but the sit-at-home has spoiled businesses, commerce, and economy in the region. It has thrown our youth out of jobs and this cannot continue. The Nnewi community used to be known as an industrial area, but the sit-at-home has dealt with the once-industrial hub of Africa. This cannot continue.
“I have procured a number of security gadgets and equipment such as CCTV cameras, patrol vans, motorcycles, walkie-talkies, wooden ‘osisi agaga’ from Nnewi evil forests and I am handing these equipment over to the vigilante operatives to help them in tackling any resultant security breach that may arise as we resolve to end this cankerworm called ‘sit-at-home’.”
The Indigenous People of Biafra initiated the Monday sit-at-home in 2021 to protest the rendition and detention of the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu. Although the exercise had been suspended, the people have continued to observe it for fear of attack by hoodlums.
Speaking on Kanu’s continuous detention, Ubah said, “I am sure he will come out from detention sooner or later. We in the 10th national assembly are going to give Kanu’s case a new legislative option to facilitate his freedom and I have even personally initiated a move towards that direction.
“It is one Simon Ekpa in Finland who is promoting the sit-at-home and using it to inflict injuries and fear on our people. We cannot allow him to continue to destroy our economic base while he stays in Finland without feeling the pain.
“Ekpa has continued to mention my name during his broadcast in Finland and he has mentioned my name 17 times. He is from Ebonyi State, he should come home and feel the pain we are feeling. He has nationalised in Finland, where he is currently contesting for a councillorship seat, and he has the effrontery to dictate to us how to sit at home on Mondays here in Igbo land.
“We will forgive Ekpa for the injuries he has inflicted on us so far, but if he continues, we will deal with him furiously. He should leave Anambra State alone. We are warning him to steer clear of Nnewi with his sit-at-home order forthwith.”
The senator lamented that for the past two years, Ekpa had been enforcing his sit-at-home order in the South-East, despite the huge misfortune and hardship that came with it.
“Enough is enough and we have resolved in agreement with our constituents that there will be no more observation of sit-at-home orders in Nnewi from Monday, July 3, 2023.
“We have cooperated to obey the sit-at-home order all this while, but we have also found out that we are losing our economic base, jobs, and business opportunities.
“As a representative of the good people of Anambra South senatorial district, Nnewi North is the political capital of Anambra South, I deem it fit to say we will not continue to have sit-at-home on Mondays.
“From this Monday, every business area in Nnewi shall be open for business. We have our men; we have our system. I know saboteurs will try to sabotage our efforts, but we’re resolved to fight any aggressor that will come into this town,” Ubah added.
The senator noted that he had made available between 6,000 and 10,000 street lights at several strategic places in Anambra South, adding that about 300 invisible security cameras, solar systems embedded with CCTV and tracking devices, in addition to wireless security cameras, have been provided for security surveillance across Nnewi to ward off insecurity.
Also speaking, the President-General, Nnewi Town Union, Dr. Maduako Atuenyi, warned that anybody who does not open for business starting Monday will have his or her business premises sealed for six months.
“By Monday, July 3, we will embark on a show of force, it is our economy that is suffering. Anybody that does not open his shop on Monday, the community will lock his or her shop for six months,” he added.
A Federal High Court, in Lagos has discharged 22 banks from a garnishee proceeding filed by Glonik Industries limited and Glonik Hotels limited, against the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), and its sister company, Pipeline and Products Marketing Ltd (PPMC) on a N4, 705,139,686.78 judgement debt.
The court presided over by Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa had in a judgement delivered on May 16, 2023, in suit number FHC/L/CS/794/2020 filed by Glonik Industries limited and Glonik Hotels limited, ordered NNPC and PPMC to pay N4, 705,139,686.78 for the demolition of hotel building situated at number 33, Wamom Taofeek Street, New Okoba, Lagos belonging to the Plaintiffs.
Following the judgement, Justice Lewis-Allagoa also in a garnishee proceeding attached the judgement sum in 23 banks and directed them to show cause why the sums standing to the judgement debtors’ credit in it various accounts should not be attached to satisfy the judgement debt.
The court directed that all debts due or sums accruing from the Garishness to the judgement debtors be attached to answer a judgment secured against the debtors for payment of N4,705,139,686.78.
The court also granted an order attaching the funds in the garnishees’ possession standing to the credit of the judgment debtors to pay the debt or monetary sums due from the garnishees to the judgment creditors in satisfaction of the judgment sum.
Justice Allagoa also directed the named garnishees to appear in court to show to show cause as to why they should not pay to the judgment creditors the judgment sum from the monetary sums due from the garnishees to the judgment debtors, in satisfaction of the judgment debt.
But, when the matter came up, counsel to the judgement debtor, Mr. Wale Akoni, in an application urged the court to vary the garnishee order, and limit was to the 6th garnishee (Fist Bank of Nigeria Limited), submitting that the funds in the bank was enough to satisfy the judgement sum.
Consequently, he urged the court to discharge other 22 garnishees to enable the defendants carry out their businesses.
Justice Allagoa in a Bench ruling granted the request and discharged other garnishees with the exception of the 6th garnishee.
The plaintiffs, (Glonik Industries limited and Glonik Hotels limited) had in their statement of claim stated that sometime in 2017, the defendants invaded the 1st plaintiff’s property which the 2nd plaintiff used for its hotel/hospitality business on the pretext that NNPC (1st Defendant) pipeline was being vandalized from the property, arrested some members of the staff of the 2d plaintiff alongside the chairman, sealed the property and stationed their task force at the property denying the plaintiff access to the property.
The plaintiffs added that the entire building was then demolished by the defendant, adding that the demolition was done without an order of court.
Specifically, the 1st Plaintiff stated that it obtained building approval from the Lagos State government before the building was erected on the land.
Consequently, the plaintiffs sought for “a declaration that the sealing, demolishing of their building situate at 33, Wamom Taofeek Street, by Social Club Road, New Okoba, Lagos and carting away of all items was illegal.
“The sum of N840,879,686.75 being the fair and estimated value to replace the hotel building situate at 33, Wamon Taofeek Street by Social Club, New Okoba, Lagos belonging to the 15 plaintiff destroyed by the Defendant.
“The sum of N3,863, 160,000 being the loss suffered as a result of the breach of contract between the 2nd Plaintiff and Ignite Energy Limited induced by the defendants as a result of the sealing and destruction of the plaintiffs’ hotel.
“The sum of N1, 000,000,000 as general damages, and additional N1, 000,000,000 as exemplary damages for defendants wrongly conduct.”
However, the defendants in their statement of defence/counter claim dated 13th of October, 2022 prayed the court for a declaration that the activities of the Plaintiffs of the Defendants’ Pipeline Right of Way at Atlas Cover-Mosimi are illegal and unlawful.
Therefore, the defendant prayed the court for, “an order for the sum of N500, 000,000,000 only to be paid to the defendants jointly and severally by the plaintiffs as general damages due to the Plaintiffs act of economic sabotage to the defendants’ facilities.”
However, Justice Allagoa in his judgement held, “in all the Plaintiffs have proved their case on the preponderance of evidence but the defendants have failed to prove their counter claim. Reliefs A, B, C is hereby granted as prayed. Relief E is granted in the sum of N1, 000,000 (one million naira)”
President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would today open their defence against the petitions filed by the presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP), Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, respectively.
Atiku and Obi had last week Friday closed their cases at the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) where they have challenged the conduct and outcome of the February 25 presidential election won by Tinubu and the PDP.
National Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu had on March 1, announced Tinubu of the APC as winner ahead of 17 other candidates that contested the election.
INEC declared that Tinubu scored 8,794,726 votes to defeat the two major contenders, Atiku of the PDP, who polled 6,984,520 votes and Obi of LP with 6,101,533 votes.
However, dissatisfied with the outcome of the election, Atiku, Obi, and Allied Peoples Movement (APM) lodged petitions before the court. They maintained that Tinubu was not duly elected by the majority of lawful votes cast at the election.
In their joint please marked CA/PEPC/05/2023, the PDP and Atiku disputed the outcome of the election on the major grounds that INEC did not conduct the election in line with the Electoral Act (2022).
The petitioners went further and argued that INEC breached its earlier commitment to transmit the result of the presidential election electronically using the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) and INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV).
On their part, the LP and Obi in their petition marked CA/PEPC/ 03/2023, contended that the elections were marred by electoral malpractices and substantial non-compliance with relevant laws.
The petitioners are therefore among others reliefs, asking the five-man panel of the court to invalidate the declaration of Tinubu as winner.
Another petitioner before the Justice Haruna Tsammani-led five-member panel is the APM which is seeking nullification of the votes scored by President Tinubu and the APC on account of alleged double nomination of Senator Kashim Shetimma, who is now the vice president.
While Atiku and the PDP called 27 witnesses and tendered several documents before closing their case, Obi and LP called 13 witnesses and tendered tons of documents to close their case.
The APM, which opened and closed its case on June 21 called only one witness.
One of the star witnesses to Atiku and PDP and private lawyer, Mike Enahoro-Ebah, tendered Tinubu’s academic records from the Chicago State University and the president’s biodata obtained from INEC.
Led in evidence by the lead counsel to the petitioners, Chief Uche, the witness further tendered electoral documents in evidence to substantiate Atiku’s claims of electoral fraud allegedly perpetrated by INEC and Tinubu.
The documents tendered included Tinubu’s Form EC9 (affidavit in support of personal particulars); what they described as a certificate from the Chicago State University; NYSC discharge certificate (which the witness said contained the name: Adekunle); a party membership card and a certificate of service from Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc.
Also tendered were what the witness described as academic records of Tinubu from the Chicago State University; what he referred to as the actual certificate issued by the university; application for admission allegedly made by Tinubu in 1977; a transcript for admission from the South West College, in which the witness claimed Tinubu was referred to in the female gender.
Also tendered were a notorised judgment of a United States District Court and a print out of a Guinean passport, which the witness claimed belonged to Tinubu.
The respondents, INEC, Tinubu and the APC, objected to the admissibility of the documents in evidence and promised to adduce their reasons at the point of filing their final written addresses.
On their parts, Obi and LP tendered through their witnesses, polling unit results from 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, as well as bundle of documents containing the total number of Permanent Voters Card (PVCs) that were collected in 32 states prior to the 2023 general elections.
Aside from tendering four video exhibits, one of which was a press conference, where Prof. Yakubu assured that results of the election would be electronically transmitted to the IReV portal in real-time using BVAS, Obi and his party equally tendered bundle of documents that contained the total number of registered voters in each of the states.
Other electoral documents the court admitted in evidence were certified true copies of INEC Forms EC40Gs; EC40G1; EC40GPU, which were reports of various polling units where elections did not hold.
A data analyst subpoenaed to testify as Mr Obi’s fourth witness, Eric Uwadiagwu, said about 18,000 result sheets obtained from INEC’s IReV were blurred.
The professor of mathematics at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, appeared in court on subpoena to testify as a petitioner’s witness.
He confirmed carrying out data analysis on the results of the presidential election obtained from the IReV portal
All the respondents had challenged the admissibility of all the documents in evidence, saying they would adduce reasons behind their objections in their final written address.
It is now the turn of the respondents to open their defence and deflate the claims of the petitioners before the court.
While the electoral body said it plans to call two witnesses, President Tinubu is to call 39 in addition to those to be subpoenaed just as APC plans to call 25 witnesses in addition to those to be subpoenaed.
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The immediate past Minister of Finance, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed has landed a World Bank job as an Alternate Executive Director.
Baring hitches, she will resume at the bank’s headquarters in Washington on July 10.
However, there appears to be pushback from some interests who alleged that the former minister did not follow due process.
An online medium, today, quoted Washington sources as saying that Mrs. Ahmed circumvented appointment procedures by nominating herself .
The report also had it that the World Bank had requested for the nominations of three economists for an AED position, several months before the end of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, but that the minister kept the letter to herself.
It was also alleged that the minister neither obtained President Buhari’s approval of her self-nomination nor the approval of the new President, Sen. Bola Tinubu.
However, a highly placed federal government source who is familiar with the World Bank system told Vanguard that Mrs. Ahmed did nothing wrong in the appointment.
According to the source, “It’s impossible (for her to nominate herself). And she didn’t. She was validly nominated by the Ministry (of Finance) and President Buhari approved her nomination before he left.
“This type of nomination is routine as a former DG Budget was nominated at the twilight of the Jonathan administration and nobody made any noise about it. It’s truly unfair.
“The former DG Budget was nominated as Executive Director, African Development Bank.”
The source explained that the AED position is usually occupied by former Ministers of Finance (Governors of World Bank) or Permanent Secretaries in the Federal Ministries of Finance (Alternative Governor of World Bank).
He said, “Also, please note that the ED from South Africa was a former South African Minister. The position is meant for either former Minister of Finance ( Governor World Bank) or Permanent Secretary Finance( Alternate Governor World Bank) ,i.e. those familiar with the development policy issues and transfer of real resources to developing countries.
“And those who understand World Bank Executive Board issues and have helped in shaping World Bank decision making from the viewpoint of Authorities/member countries in recent times.
“It’s not a position for theoretical Economists who have not had any dealings with the Ministry of Finance in Sovereign member countries.”
Mrs. Ahmed is expected to work under Ayanda Dlondlo, a former South African Minister who is the Executive Director.
[Vanguard]
Ejikeme doesn’t have the brain to forge result – Innoson hits back at JAMB on alleged result forgery
AdminThe Head of Corporate Communications, Innoson Group, Cornel Osigwe, has called for an investigation into the allegations of certificate forgery against Mmesoma Ejikeme who paraded herself as the top scorer of the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
Osigwe in a post via his official Twitter handle, @cornelosigwe said, “The girl I met doesn’t have the brain and capacity to manipulate her result. There is more to this story. A proper investigation needs to be done. Abeg let the poor breath.
“That girl was one of the most brilliant in her school, according to the Principal, her parents couldn’t even afford to pay for her WAEC and NECO Exams. Of what advantage will it offer her to manipulate her JAMB score? Let the poor breathe pls.”
WITHIN NIGERIA had earlier reported that Ejikeme was chided by JAMB for parading herself as the top scorer.
The board, in a statement released on Sunday evening, noted that Ejikeme manually inflated her UTME result from 249 to 362 and used her inflated score to attract a N3m scholarship from Innoson Motors, and was set to be awarded by the Anambra State Government before she was exposed.
“The most pathetic of them all is the case of Miss Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma, who claimed to have scored 362 in the 2023 UTME and was awarded a N3m scholarship by Chief (Dr.) Innocent Chukwuma. She was even set to be honoured by the Anambra State Government when one of its top officials put a call through to JAMB to confirm her claim only for the Board to reveal that Miss Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma had actually scored 249 and not 362 she claimed. She had manipulated her UTME result to deceive the public to fraudulently obtain a scholarship and other recognitions,” a statement by JAMB said.
Ejikeme will be prosecuted and have her original result withdrawn by the board, JAMB said.
Tension has enveloped Eke community of Enugu State over alleged killings by soldiers.
The troops reportedly killed a volunteer member of the neighbourhood vigilante group and a housewife.
There were also claims that the soldiers shot several of the villagers, who are recuperating in a hospital visited by journalists.
But the authorities of the Nigerian Army refuted the allegations and said the female victim was hit by a bullet from armed robbers who engaged their soldiers in a gun duel.
Journalists who visited the community and hospital (name withheld) where the victims are currently receiving medical attention, were told that the ugly development has instilled fear into the residents and has made then to stop going to their farms.
The soldiers, were said to have equally shot three other members of the local security outfit at close range, leaving them with various degrees of bullet injuries, including one whose penis was completely shattered.
The director-general of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr Osita Okechukwu, immediate past minister of foreign affairs, Mr Geoffery Onyeama, and a chieftain of the ruling All progressives Congress (APC) Barrister Godwin Onwusi, who ran for the Udi North state constituency in the just concluded 2023 general election hail from the community.
Mr Ebuka Oke, the deceased shot dead during the alleged attack by the soldiers, was said to have lost his father exactly one month on the same day he was killed.
The assistant chief security officer of Eke Security Neighbourhood Vigilante Watch, Mr Emeka Anigbo, who had several gunshots all over his body and was in terrible pains told journalists who visited him in his hospital bed that they were at 9th mile Conner on Thursday night where they had gone to felicitate with their colleagues who were being inaugurated as neighbourhood watch members, when they got a distress call that armed robbers blocked the major road leading to the popular Catholic Church Prayer Centre (Ugwudinso) and Eke, from Ama breweries.
He said on receiving the call, they abandoned the food and drinks they were about consuming, and swiftly drove out with a view to confronting the criminal elements, but due to heavy traffic gridlock occasioned by the blockage of the road, they could not get to the scene with their vehicle.
He said they decided to park their vehicle along the road, and started moving towards the place, and that while approaching the scene, they saw three armed soldiers who ordered them to stop.
He stated that they obeyed the soldiers and identified themselves, saying that they were neighbourhood vigilante watch guard, adding that they were then asked by the soldiers to keep coming.
He continued that when they got closer, the soldiers started firing at them, killing one of them.
He claimed the soldiers shot dead the wife of one of those who were inaugurated at 9th Mile, who was on a motorcycle with her husband going back to Eke.
Efforts to speak with Chinedu Okolo, whose manhood was shattered by the soldiers’ bullets failed, as he could not utter a word to journalists due to severe pains, just as the third victim, Obinna Offor was also seen passing through excruciating pains, while under oxygen support at the intensive care unit (ICU).
Some natives of Eke Community, who spoke on condition of anonymity condemned the unprofessional conducts of the soldiers in strong terms, describing it as barbaric and callous and called for independent investigation.
When contacted, the deputy director, Army Public Relations, 82 Division Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Jonah Unuakhalu, described as untrue the narrative of the victims, saying from the available information in the Division’s disposal, the deceased woman was killed by a stray bullet from armed hoodlums who engaged the soldiers in a shootout.
He stated that the troops received a distress call that some criminal elements were operating along the Eke road, and they immediately rushed to the scene, adding that on sighting the soldiers the hoodlums opened fire on them, but the security operatives overpowered them, leading to the arrest of one of them, and recovering of two pump action guns and some live bullets, after some ran into a nearby bush.
The 82 Division spokesman, who said he has no information regarding the second deceased, added that it was in the course of the exchange of fire between the troop and the hoodlums that a stray bullet got the deceased housewife who was rushed to the hospital, but unfortunately, later died.
“So, there is no iota of truth in the information being peddled around that it was soldiers that killed the deceased. Our men only rushed to the scene to salvage the situation, after receiving a distress call,” he insisted.
“It’s unfortunate that the woman died, if not, she would have been in the best position to narrate exactly what happened,” he added.
He assured that the Division is going to carry out proper investigation on the incident, so as to unravel what actually transpired.
But, a native of the community, who do not want his name in print has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to constitute a panel of inquiry to carry out thorough investigation on the unfortunate incident.
Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, a former governor of Sokoto State and a trustee for the Peoples Democratic Party, expressed worry on Sunday about the banditry in the North-West and North-East, claiming it has posed a severe danger to food security in Nigeria.
According to him, President Bola Tinubu’s administration should prioritise food security rather than discussing cabinet ministerial selections, subsidies, and the economy.
The wise man also forewarned that the North will experience serious educational backwardness over the next 50 years if tough steps were not implemented to reduce insecurity.
Bafarawa, who stated these in an interview with The PUNCH, said that many primary and secondary schools in Northern Nigeria have been shut down because of the activities of bandits, saying, “This is a serious disaster.”
Our correspondent reported that while the announcement by the government of the removal of subsidy on petrol culminated in a hike in the price of food and consumables, discussions about the ministerial appointment by the President have dominated discussion in recent times.
But Bafarawa advised that the government should set its priorities correctly.
He said, “Instead of talking about cabinet, subsidy, and the economy, the government should consider food security because with the rate we are going, in the next three months, we are definitely going to have problems in Nigeria, especially in the North-West.
“The bandits have refused to allow farmers to cultivate their crops. This is a very dangerous situation, not only because the bandits are killing people but also because the food scarcity is going to be too serious in the next few months, especially in the North West and North East. So, we want the government to wake up and do something about it.
“Also, with the way education is going, in the next 50 years, we are going to be very backward in education because most of the primary schools in the North have been closed because of banditry. There are no primary schools, no secondary schools and this is a serious disaster. So, we cannot sit down and watch; something must be done right before it gets worse.
“The government should fight security, especially food insecurity, in the country because it’s a serious matter. Whatever the government is going to do, let the issue of food security be top priority.”