The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, on Tuesday, suspended its planned nationwide daily protest after a closed-door meeting with principal officers of the senate.

The President of NARD, Emeka Orji, made this known in a chat with our correspondent.

Orji, however, said there will be a review in the next 72 hours.

“We met with the Senate president, majority and minority leaders and Whip. So, the planned protest slated for Wednesday has been suspended and we will review it again in 72 hours.”

The striking doctors had earlier planned to commence a daily peaceful protest, starting from Wednesday, if the government fails to meet its demands.

The decision followed the directive by the Federal Government to the Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of federal tertiary hospitals to commence the enforcement of the “no work, no pay” policy against the striking doctors.

The doctors embarked on an indefinite industrial action on July 26, following the failure of the government to meet their demands.

The doctors are demanding the implementation of the one-for-one replacement policy for healthcare workers; the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria to discontinue the downgrading of the membership certificate issued by the West African Postgraduate Medical and Surgical Colleges; the immediate payment of all salary arrears; the implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure; a new hazard allowance; and the domestication of the Medical Residency Training Act; among others.

The House of Representatives’ ad-hoc committee investigating alleged job racketeering and abuse of the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System by Ministries, Department, and Agencies on Tuesday uncovered more shady deals at the Federal Character Commission.

Recall that on Monday, an ex-desk officer at the FCC, Haruna Kolo confessed to having received millions of naira from job seekers on behalf of the FCC chairman, Muheebat Dankaka

At the continuation of the investigations on Tuesday, the duo of Abdulmalik Ahmed and Ali Yero confirmed payment of N3 million for jobs at FCC.

According to Ahmed, they agreed to pay the huge sum of money after getting the assurances that they would be among the first persons to be employed in 2021.

He said, “We learnt that there was recruitment in 2021 and each of the commissioners and directors had candidates. We who were nobodys, ordinary citizens of the country, we came through this process.”

“After having the appointments, Mr. Kolo promised to post us like in two months’ time. That was the reason we were convinced about him. I got to know Kolo through the driver of the Taraba Commissioner at FCC. I transferred a million naira to Kolo’s account on the arrangement, because I was told that, the monthly pay was about N140,000 or N130,000. So, we agreed on N1.5million with the driver first. We bargained with the driver on behalf of Kolo. His name is Yusha’u Gambo.”

On his part, Yero said his two brothers paid N2million in installments to secure the job for him.

He noted that one of them paid N1.5m while the other paid N500,000 as balance.

“My brothers, Nurudeen Yero and Abdulrazak Yero paid the sum of N2m to Badamasi Yaro’s account on August 2, 2022. Badamasi Yaro is working with Haruna Kolo and the money paid into his account was for a job at the FCC.

“Haruna Kolo told me the slot was from the chairperson of the commission. That was why I would be captured under the IPPIS platform. Badamasi brought the employment letter with some documents for me on August 5, 2022, Badamasi took me to Treasury House where Kolo Haruna took me to the IPPIS office and I was captured on the IPPIS platform”.

They added however that their appointment letters were later collected from them by the Human Resources Unit with a promise to regularise them after an investigation.

Although his appointment letter was collected from him, Yero said he was still receiving salaries.

After their submissions, Chairman of the Committee, Yusuf Gagdi, told the witnesses to reach out to the other applicants involved to enable the committee to arrange a meeting with them.

He thereafter directed the Clerk to invite Kolo, the Secretary and driver to the Commissioner representing Taraba in the FCC to appear before Committee on Wednesday to explain their roles as proxies in the alleged job racketeering.

The organised labour on Tuesday rejected the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, as the head of the Federal Government’s team that will negotiate with the labour unions on subsidy removal palliatives.

The National President of Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, made this known when the leadership of the labour unions visited the Senate.

According to him, the Chief of Staff has been too busy to call for a meeting adding that President Bola Tinubu’s wage award committee has yet to sit almost two months after the fuel subsidy removal.

The labour leaders were in the Senate to meeting with the leadership.

The Senate in a resolution two weeks ago agreed to meet with the labour unions on the subsidy removal palliative.

Ajaero said, “Part of our challenge is the issue of the committee put in place, the committee seems not to be capable, as labour union, we have done negotiation and engagement with the government, from the time of the Secretary to the General of the Federation under ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo, Ufot Ekaette, during BabaGana Kingibe, Pius Ayim and Boss Mustapha.

“At no time had the Chief of Staff to the President who is very busy called to negotiate or lead negotiations.

“And that has delayed the issues, even since after our protest; another meeting has not reconvened, although the president promised that he will restructure the mechanism of engagement with government to help things to be treated fast.”

Ajaero added, “We had agreed on wage award, and up till this moment the committee on wage award is yet to sit, “

The NLC President while speaking during the meeting with Senate leadership lamented the plight of Nigerians as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy.

He said the government had yet to put structures on the ground to ameliorate the effect in the country.

He told the lawmakers that while labour leaders were still deliberating on N537 per litre of fuel and Court had ruled for the status quo to remain, the government suddenly decided to increase the fuel to N620 per litre.

NLC president stated, “Nothing is yet to happen on the issue of $800m projected to be borrowed, we have not perfected the list of the people who will benefit from it.

Similarly, his colleague, the Trade Union Congress President, Festus Usifo, lamented the snail-speed with which the Federal Government was treating the issue of the palliative.

The TUC president lamented, “The government said they will create alternatives and palliatives, it’s over two months, and there is no sense of urgency.

“3,000 buses are too small, If the government has saved one trillion in two months why can’t the government channel this money to tackle these alternatives.

Similarly, after the closed-door session, the TUC president, Usifo noted that the Senate leadership had assured them of meeting with the president and getting problems solved in a few days time.

Usifo said, “At the meeting, we put our agenda forward and those things we said to them the last time we came here.

“The Senate has promised to take up the issue with the president. What we want is action and we believe that in a few days, that would be answered. There was no ultimatum given to the Senate. “

In his response, President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, appreciated the organised labour for their patience and understanding to assist the government.

He said, “The president told you that he had saved N1tn in two months but did not that tell you the fact that he inherited over N30tn which is running into more when you put together both the local and foreign debts.

“Even when you save money and there is a lot of debt on ground, you’d realise that the money would not be able to take care of so much.”

Akpabio assured the aggrieved Labour Union of partnership and approach the Executive to ameliorate the suffering of Nigerians.

Four 'Breaking News' in the last 24 hours inspired this conversation.

One, America's meeting with the Junta in Niger was fruitless. Two Italy told ECOWAS leaders to issue a second ultimatum. What if the second ultimatum is equally ignored, then what happens next?
Three, ECOWAS presidents have fixed their next meeting for Thursday this week in Abuja with a view to taking decisions that will affect the destinies of 441 millions inhabitants of the sub-region.
Four, The world of Statistics in its latest release ranked Nigeria with the highest level of unemployment rate in the world at 33.5% while Niger Republic is listed among the world's best three with unemployment level at 0.5%.

The question that came to mind is : what is the West up to in Nigeria and West Africa?
Africa accounts for about 20% of the world's uranium production with Nambia, Niger and South Africa as the topmost three countries, even uranium has been discovered in 10 states of Nigeria, then there should be more to the impending battle beyond uranium.

Sudan, Africa's largest country is in ruins, Libya, Africa's once richest country is in ruins, Nigeria, Africa;s most populous country cannot afford to go to war with any country based on the sorry state of the economy as illustrated in the World statistics release of yesterday. If the West wants Nigeria and ECOWAS to dance the palongo dance, we must be bold enough to tell them that our dancing shoes are missing
Dante Inferno is everywhere... and still spreading!
This was how Ukraine's President Zelenski was induced to face the Putin's Goliath when his David didn't have a stone to put into his sling.
South Africa, Africa's most technologically advanced country is marked for inferno for her ''unpardonable'' sin of joining BRICS, It is the case of the friend of my enemy is my enemy, and Kenya , Africa's number one tourist destination may not escape the West's hammer for Ruto's ''revolutionary moves and outspokenness''.
The Yoruba idiom that says: when we cry, we can see, is perfectly relevant for this season.of global shift.

The ace columnist, Mr Dare Babarinsa captured it succinctly: There is No Good Road to Niger None. Honest!

There are five distinct roads available for Nigeria and ECOWAS on July 26th 2023, when the coup was announced.

Road A1: DOVE DIPLOMACY: The ECOWAS president could have released his presidential jet for three African Presidents to visit Niamey within 24 hours of the coup broadcast (before ECOWAS issued its strong public condemnation) with a view to negotiating with the Head of the junta and obtain his firm commitment to visit Abuja to meet with the president within one week of the coup to jointly seek for a peaceful resolution of the Niger question and agree on the timeline when Democracy will be back.

Road A2: CHAMELEON/ AMBIGUITY DIPLOMACY: Pull the rug off the feet of the junta by cutting a ‘’sweet corn soup’’, irresistible deal with the WAGNER GROUP. For bad, WAGNER is a factor and a reality in Africa’s stability today and even, tomorrow. A non-state actor controlling several African countries indirectly. What money cannot do, more money will do. Stealthily work for a regime change in partnership with France and America that would return Niger to democracy within 90 days. Multiplying a negative by a negative is always a positive, not only mathematically but even, diplomatically.

Road A3: CASH DOWN DIPLOMACY (CDP): Working out a robust severance package of between $10- $20 million and bullet proof Lexus 570 machines could also have done the magic for the ‘’BIG BOYS in NIAMEY’. We can go to bed with the junta on a ‘’short time’’ basis or into a ‘’marriage’’. Israel, UAE, America and the West are the masters of Cash-at-hand-back-for-bed –diplomacy!

Road A4: HIRE PURCHASE DIPLOMACY(HPD): Our ‘’Boys in Niamey’’ can be assisted to transmute to civilian regime and be on Nigeria’s permanent payroll, the way America, Britain, France and Israel secretly have ‘’PLACEHOLDER PRESIDENTS’’ globally. This is ‘’marriage of convenience’’. There is a book: Our Man in Damascus by Eli Ben-Hanan. It talked about how Israel planted their man inside the Syria government for years There were several precedents in international relations.

Road A5: GUNBOAT DIPLOMACY (GBD): This is the last option, the most expensive and the least desirable. Saudi Arabia went to Yemen, it was a colossal failure, ditto America in Libya, Syria etc. According to Brown university’s Costs of War Project, the US had spent over $2.2 trillion to finance the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as at 2019, besides leading to the death of 7000 American troops and 177,000 military men from the two invaded countries, not to mention the number of American ally’s troops that died and thousands that got wounded for life.
China smartly leapfrogged America in manufacturing and global supply chain during the period America was busy fighting for ''democracy'' all over the world. It was a back-to-back loss for America as democracy remains elusive in those countries including Libya, she lost money and 35,000 liters of blood together with her hegemony. Today, in the Middle East, the opposite of America is China. China is the peace maker, bringing Saudi Arabia and Iran together. America, no doubt, is gnashing her teeth in rage.In a word, war is blind, deaf and dumb. The utility value of the second ultimatum is zero.

Drawing a RED LINE on the sand within 5 minutes of the coup’s announcement is garrulous while a new ultimatum as suggested by Italy, after the first ultimatum fell flat, is preposterous. To remain on the ‘’list of veritable solution providers’’, ECOWAS needs to think different on Thursday
She needs to do her homework or hire competent professionals to help her separate the noises from the sounds in order to get the right signals on which to base her final decision after intense , critical thinking and logical reasoning. Cutting off the supply of electricity to the Niger Republic can be counterproductive and further compound the situation. What if the Niger republic damn the consequences, and dam river Niger with the support of Russia, what then becomes of our Kainji Dam?

River Nile is Africa’s next biggest inferno on the horizon. Ethiopia and Egypt are secretly preparing for a final showdown over the building of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam by the former on River Nile which the latter sees as posing existential threats. No Nile, no Egypt, no River Niger, no Nigeria!

NEXT STEP
By the way how much is the Niger Republic worth? Just a yearly GDP of $15B .*Pere! Our brother, Dangote is richer than this Niger Republic that is sucking all the oxygen in the room right now. Yes, Aliko! So what are we talking about?
Okay someone told me Niger poses existential threat to Nigeria because of Domino Theory effect. The theory is that if it happens in Niger, It can happen in Nigeria, and that an unstable Niger may give birth to a cascading crises in Nigeria. I agree. But the simple solution is a combination of good governance and Technology solutions
In 1975, Deng was having constant nightmares over Japan. Deng didn't start a war, but rather, he embraced Technology. He downsized the military by 20% and at the same time recruited fresh brains from universities. He challenged them to come up with superior technology solutions to what obtained in Japan. It worked.
When Iran government couldn't sleep because of Israel, their leaders recruited fresh brains into the military focusing on 3 core technology areas: Cyber security, Drones Technology and Artificial intelligence. Today, Iran is so good in Drones Technology that it supplies Russia. And Iran is the second strongest county in Cyber security and Cyber attack in the Middle East, after Israel.
With less than $5m , Nigeria can set up: Military ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE UNIVERSITY, (MAIU) under the supervision of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) as the Chancellor.

Within the next three years, Nigeria can provide effective, efficient and inexpensive security cover not only for itself but also to the entire West Africa countries. The CDS should recruit just 1000 fresh and brightest university graduates. This is win -win-win: blood is not wasted, Jobs are created, the cost of future coup becomes stupid and worthless: everyone is a winner.
Qatar is the first country in the world to have a 100% Ai university, DHQ under the capable General Christopher Musa can establish the second Ai university in the world focusing exclusively on developing advanced Drone's and robotics technology and Cyber security.

Investing $5m in building Advanced Ai military university (locally produced Drones, robots and solutions) making use of our brightest young boys and girls ( Ages 18-25), Ages 26 and above are too old for this particular assignment. This will keep ECOWAS presidents secured better than the one million existing conventional military and paramilitary personnel in West Africa.
'How do we keep ECOWAS countries and presidents safe pending when we develop internal capacity from MAIU", I can hear someone soliloquizing. We live in the age of SECURITY AS A SERVICE( SAAS). We can outsource it. Everything is okay save ultimatum that can beget war.

Who shall tell the ECOWAS presidents as they gather in Abuja on Thursday that there are better options than war? But they need to have balls to be able to reject the West's war option. West Africa needs time to solve the Niger question in our traditional African way.

Anything kinetic action can do, peace and serenity can do better

The Director General of the World Trade Organization, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, says her meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Abuja on Tuesday was aimed at reducing the economic hardship bedevilling Nigerians.

Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Okonjo-Iweala stressed that her “quiet visit”, which was not an official WTO mission, focused on how to support Nigerians at such a time of need.

“We all know that things are very difficult for Nigerians outside; everyone is struggling. I’m here myself on a quiet visit.

“So, this was not really an official WTO mission but we were able to engage with Mr President to talk about ‘what are the kinds of programmes that could be put in place to make sure that the suffering of Nigerians are being alleviated?’”

The WTO boss disclosed that she had “a really good conversation” with Tinubu, which considered community and grassroots programmes that could be put in place to create jobs for young people and supported women and children, whom she underscored were the most vulnerable.

She noted that they discussed the importance of long-term investment opportunities that Nigeria could seize, including in the pharmaceutical industry.

“We also talked about what type of support the WTO – the World Trade Organization – can bring,” Okonjo-Iweala said.

“We’re already working in Nigeria with women, in particular, who own small and medium enterprises, to try to help them upgrade the quality of their products., whether it’s in the agricultural area, in textiles, and in other areas so that they can sell more internationally.”

The economic expert also hinted at interventions in the area of digital trade, which she described as the wave of the future.

“So, how do we train, empower, and give Nigerian women and owners of small and medium enterprises support, so that they can trade more and create more jobs? That’s what’s needed now, helping Nigerians to alleviate the difficult conditions that they are in,” she added.

Manufacturers Association of Nigeria has said due to a harsh economic environment, the value of manufacturing production decreased from N7.39tn in 2021 to N6.67tn in 2022, indicating a decline of N720bn.

Chairman, MAN, Apapa branch, Frank Onyebu, made the revelation on Tuesday during the annual general meeting of the branch.

Onyebu said 2022 was mostly characterised by a harsh operating environment, themed by record-high inflationary pressure, high interest rates, multiple taxation, high energy costs, forex illiquidity, shortage of raw materials, among others.

He added that supply shortages, surging material prices and difficulty in hiring qualified staff stalled the growth of the manufacturing sector.

He said, “The value of the manufacturing sector’s factory output declined to N2.68tn in the second half of 2022 from N3.73tn recorded in the corresponding half of 2021.

“This represented N1.05tn or 28 per cent decline over the period under review. There was also a decline of N1.31tn or 32 per cent when compared with N3.99tn recorded in the preceding half.

“The value of manufacturing production totalled N6.67tn in 2022 as against N7.39tn recorded in 2021. Manufacturing production was severely affected in the second half of 2022 by the absence of implementation of new capital projects by the government as they focused on the election.”

Speaking further, Onyebu noted that many manufacturers exited Nigeria to neighbouring countries in 2022 due to the harsh operating environment.

He added that more were planning to leave, while others were hanging on by a thread, hoping for the new administration to turn things around.

He added, “Manufacturing sector local raw materials sourcing averaged 52.8 per cent in 2022 as against 51.5 per cent recorded in 2021.

“The increase in the local raw materials utilisation in the sector during the period is due to increased difficulty in sourcing forex, which compelled manufacturers to look more inward for raw materials notwithstanding the associated huge cost.”

Nigerians have taken to social media to pay their respects to the founding pastor of the Fountain of Life Church Family, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, who passed away in the United States at the age of 67 on Tuesday.

THE WHISTLER had reported when news of Odukoya’s death came to light after the church formally made the announcement. The church did not reveal the cause of his death.

Since the announcement, Nigerians have been expressing their shock and sadness on social media, with the phrase ‘Rest In Peace’ now trending on X (formerly known as Twitter).

One X user, @asemota, spoke about how one of Odukoya’s sermons impacted his Christian journey in the Catholic church, calling his death a sad loss.

“Sad loss! The first communion service I ever attended outside the Catholic church was at his service at Anthony. He preached about covenants and he made me understand the blessed sacrament on a new level and I went back to becoming a full Catholic. May he rest in peace,” he tweeted.

Another user @ulxma lamented the tragedies that have plagued the pastor’s family, seemingly referring to the death of Odukoya’s two wives, Bimbo, his first wife who died in a plane crash, and Nomthi, his second wife who died from cancer.

“The Odukoya family has really been through it. How much more ill luck can they bear? May his soul rest in peace,” she tweeted.

Another user, @Jaypearse, recalled how Odukoya and his late wife helped her secure a job.

“At 26, I was given an Executive Director’s job because a great man and his wife believed in the vision I had for their NGO. A job I left on great terms. His wife died a few months after I left and he encouraged us! Today, I’m sad to say Rest in peace to him too. God bless you Pastor Taiwo Odukoya,” she tweeted.

A different user, @tee_show_ recalled the scandal-free life Odukoya led tweeting, “I particularly loved how Pastor Taiwo Odukoya ran a quiet life and was scandal-free despite all the challenges he faced while with us. Good man! May his soul rest in peace.”

Another user, @man_of_royalty paid his respects to the late pastor tweeting, “You taught us to love God, it was a privilege to have worked with you, sir. Rest in Peace Pastor Taiwo Odukoya.”

President Bola Tinubu has ordered fresh sanctions through the Central Bank of Nigeria on entities, and individuals related to and involved with the military junta in Niger Republic.

The Special Adviser to the President, Media, and Public Affairs, Ajuri Ngelale who disclosed this during a press conference on Tuesday, said these sanctions are based on the position of financial sanctions meted out on the military junta in the Niger Republic by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) heads of states.

According to him, while no option has been taken off the table, it is expected that the far-reaching decisions will be taken by the bloc at the upcoming extraordinary meeting on Thursday in Abuja.

“No options have been taken off of the table,” Tinubu’s spokesman Ajuri said — but Tinubu and other West African leaders favour diplomacy.

…As Court Fixes Judgement For August 30

The former governor of Zamfara state, Bello Matawalle, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria Police Force and Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) of continuing with a plan to arrest him and portray him unworthy of political leadership in the country through their purported investigation into his tenure.

Bello, who is among the ministerial nominees approved by President Bola Tinubu, made this known in a suit he instituted before Justice A.R. Mohammed seeking among other things, declaratory reliefs barring the EFCC, NPF, ICPC, EFCC, NIS and Attorney-General of the federation (1st to sixth defendant) from arresting or prospecting him after a previous court judgement had restrained them from contemplating such action.

Part of the reliefs he sought are as follows, ” A DECLARATION THAT having regard to the Judgment of this Honourable
Court, Gusau Judicial Divis ion, Coram: Hon. Justice Aminu B. Aliyu delivered
on 31 day of May, 2023 in Suit No: FHC/GS/CS/30/2021 between THE
GOVERNMENT OF ZAMFARA STATE & anor v. THE ECONOMIC
AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION and anor., and the provisions
of Sections 4, 6 and 7 of the Zamfara State Anti-Corruption Law No. l2, 2021,
the Defendants, any other authority, person, body or organization other than the
Zamfara State Anti-Corruption Commission have no authority or power to arrest, arraign and/or prosecute the Plaintiff on the basis of any investigation, report or
allegation bordering on any alleged corrupt practices/financial crimes against the
Plaintiff or his administration as Governor of Zamfara State.

“A DECLARATION THAT having regard to the Judgment of this Honourable
Court, Gusau Judicial Division, Coram: Hon. Justice Aminu B. Aliyu delivered
on 31 day of May, 2023 in Suit No: FHCIGS/CS/30/2021 between THE
GOVERNMENT OF ZAMFARA STATE & anor v. THE ECONOMIC
AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION and anor., and the provisions
of Section 36(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999
amended), the Defendants, any other authority, person, body or organization
have no power or authority to threaten to arrest, arrest or detain the Plaintiff with
respect to his administration as Governor of Zamfara State, on the basis of any
purported report of any committee/panel or a purported report of any
investigation, when the Plaintiff was neither heard nor afforded an opportunity
to be heard during such investigation or deliberation of such commitee/panel.”

In his affidavit seen by THE WHISTLER filed by his lawyer, Kehinde Akinlolu SAN, the former governor contended that despite a Zamfara Court judgment restraining the EFCC from inviting or arresting his client, the plans were still ongoing.

“The totality of the purported findings and conclusions of the defendants, particularly the 4th defendant (EFCC) by which they alleged corrupt practices and diversion of public funds of Zamfara state against him are utterly false and contrived to render him unworthy of leadership and public trust,” he stated.

He argued that all contracts awarded by Matawalle’s administration as Zamfara governor were awarded following due process.

At the resume hearing on Tuesday, Kehinde adopted all his processes before the court and urged Justice Mohammed to enter judgement for the plaintiff as prayed in the amended originating summons.

O.A. Aderonmu, who stood in for the Department of States, countered the submissions of Matawalle’s counsel, and urged the court to strike out the name of the secret service in the suit.

Counsel for the EFCC, M.K Hussein opposed the suit of the plaintiff and urged the court to dismiss it for lacking in merit, for being unconstitutional and amounting to an abuse of judicial process.

N.B. Kannap, who held the brief of Yakubu Yoriyo, the NIS lawyer at the proceedings, said though the Immigration Service have not filed any process in the matter but the reliefs being sought against the NIS is for the service not to arrest, detain or seize or deal in any manner with Matawalle’s travel documents and his right to travel out of Nigeria.

He urged the court to be guided by Section 31 of the Immigration Act, 2015 which gives the service power to refuse the departure of any person from Nigeria if the NIS is aware of any court order, warrant of arrest or an order from the Minister of Interior in respect of that particular person.

He urged the court to strike out the case.

“This suit is reserved for judgment on the August 30,” Justice Mohammed said after hearing from the lawyers representing the parties present in court.

Recall that the EFCC led by its suspended Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa had said the anti-graft agency was tracking Matawalle over allegations of diverting public funds to the tune of N70 billion.

But the ex-governor had replied the EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, accusing Bawa of asking him to pay a 2 million dollars bribe for his investigation to be stepped down.

THE WHISTLER reports that that a Federal High Court sitting in Gusau, Zamfara State, subsequently restrained the EFCC from further inviting, arresting or detaining present or past officials of the Zamfara State government including the outgone governor Bello Matawalle with respect to how funds meant for security votes, estacodes, traveling allowances or any similar facts were expended by the administration.

Justice A. B. Aliyu had agreed with Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, in the matter between Government of Zamfara State against the EFCC and the Attorney-General of the Federation, that the power to interrogate the disbursement and utilization of state funds appropriated is constitutionally vested in the State House of Assembly and the Auditor-General of the State, not the EFCC.

Anthony Joshua will fight Robert Helenius in London on Saturday after the Finnish boxer was parachuted in as a late replacement for Dillian Whyte.

The scheduled all-British heavyweight bout was cancelled last weekend when “adverse analytical findings” were detected in a doping test conducted by Whyte, who has vowed to clear his name.

Helenius, 39, fought in his homeland on Saturday but has answered the call to take on the former two-time world heavyweight champion.

“This wasn’t in the script,” said Joshua. “I respect Helenius and, may I say, I respect any male or female who steps into the ring.

“I am laser-focused on the win. I can make steps forward to bigger and better things but the road map has a check point — Saturday night. May the best man win.”

Helenius, who has 32 wins and four defeats from his 36 professional bouts, was knocked out in the first round by Deontay Wilder in October.

“I am a true Viking that is willing to face any challenge at a moment’s notice,” said Helenius.

“This is not an opportunity I was going to let slip away. I plan to make the most of it!”

[AFP/CHANNELSTV]