Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suspended his independent presidential campaign activities for the forthcoming United States of America elections.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Kennedy said he was not terminating his presidential campaign as his name would be on the ballot in many states.

Kennedy asked his supporters to vote for him in the “red and blues” states in case of a “contingent” election.

The independent candidate added that if any of the two major parties did not meet the threshold in the election, he could become the president in the “contingent” election.

He asked his supporters not to vote for him in the “10 battleground states,” where his presence will be a “spoiler”.

“I want everyone to know that I am not terminating my campaign. I am simply suspending it and not ending it,” Kennedy said.

“My name will remain on the ballot in most states. I encourage you to vote for me, and if enough of you do vote for me and neither of the major party candidates win 270 votes, which is quite possible in fact today, our polling shows them tying at 269 to 269.

“I could conceivably still end up in the White House in a contingent election.

“With a sense of victory and not defeat that I’m suspending my campaign activities.

“Three great causes drove me to enter this race in the first place primarily, and these are the principal causes that pressured me to leave the Democratic Party and run as an independent and now to throw my support to President Trump.

“The causes were free speech, a war in Ukraine, and war on our children.”

He said the promise of former US President Donald Trump to end the war in Ukraine when he becomes president justifies his support for him.

Kennedy added that he left the Democratic Party because it has become a “party of war, censorship, corruption, big pharma, big tech, and big money”.

Kennedy Jr. is a member of the Kennedy family. His father, Robert F. Kennedy, was the 64th US attorney-general. He is a nephew of John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the US.

Some members of Kennedy’s family have distanced themselves from the decision of RFK Jr., saying their support is for Kamala Harris.

A court has ordered another Nigerian asset to be seized over the country’s ongoing legal tussle with Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd., a Chinese firm.

In January 2023, the superior court of Quebec in Canada ordered the seizure of Bombardier 6000 Jet (type BD-700-1A10) belonging to Nigeria.

The Canadian court ordered “Mise-en-cause (Tibit Limited) and/or the Custodians (Aviation Etcetera SEC and/or Starlink Aviation Inc.) or any of their parent, subsidiary or affiliated entities” to hand over the jet.

The order was made by David Collier, the judge.

The Chinese firm approached the Canadian court for the seizure in a bid to enforce a $70 million arbitral award against Nigeria.

NIGERIA’S DELAYED RESPONSE

After the seizure order in January 2023, Nigeria was summoned to the Quebec court.

Advertisement

According to court documents, Nigeria had been notified of the legal action by the Chinese on April 19, 2023, through diplomatic channels.

Nigeria did not file its response within the timeframe as stipulated in the Code of Civil Procedures.

Although the deadline is not mandatory, the Canadian court reserves the right to determine whether a party filed within the timeframe.

After receiving the diplomatic notification of the request to enforce the arbitral award in Canada, Nigeria filed a response on January 11, 2024.

On February 15, 2024, Nigeria filed a request to be absolved of its failure to respond within the stipulated time.

Nigeria had told the court that it could not respond expeditiously because there was a delay while comparing notes with the Ogun state government — the subnational entity responsible for the arbitral award.

Nigeria said Ogun held a governorship election in March 2023 and that an attorney-general for the state was not appointed until October 2023.

Nigeria added that it was unable to brief its Quebec lawyers before January 11, 2024.

In his ruling in March 2024, Chantal Corriveau, a judge at the superior court of Quebec, dismissed Nigeria’s argument as “unreasonable”.

HOW NIGERIA GOT THE SEIZED JET

In May 2020, a court in the province of Quebec granted the seizure order of the jet in favour of the federal government.

The government told the court that the jet was originally acquired by Dan Etete, a former minister of petroleum.

Nigeria said the jet was procured from the controversial oil prospecting licence (OPL) 245 deal.

It was also alleged that the jet was acquired in the name of Tibit Limited, a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands.

The sum of $57 million was said to have been used to purchase the jet in 2011.

The OPL 245 deal involves the $1.3 billion purchase of an oil block by Royal Dutch Shell and Eni from Malabu Oil and Gas, a company in which Etete had major shares.

THE CHINESE FIRM’S CASE

In 2010, Zhongshan, through Zhuhai Zhongfu Industrial Group Co. Ltd. (Zhuhai), its Chinese parent company, acquired rights to develop a free trade zone in Ogun state.

A year later, Zhongshan set up Zhongfu International Investment (NIG) FZE (Zhongfu) to manage the project, with the permission of the Ogun state government.

However, things took a different turn in July 2016 when the investor accused the state government of abruptly moving to terminate its contract, while attempting to install a new manager for the free trade zone.

Subsequently, Zhongfu initiated an investment treaty arbitration against Nigeria under the bilateral investment treaty between the People’s Republic of China and Nigeria (the China-Nigeria BIT).

The arbitrators had ruled that Nigeria was in breach of its obligations under the China-Nigeria BIT and awarded Zhongshan a compensation of about $70 million.

Recently, a French court ordered the seizure of three presidential jets belonging to the Nigerian government over the contract dispute.

A court of appeal in the United States also ruled that Nigeria’s claim of sovereign immunity cannot stand in a commercial venture.

A commercial court in London had also granted the Chinese firm permission to seize two residential properties owned by Nigeria in the UK — over the arbitral award.

Wale Edun, minister of finance and the coordinating minister of the economy, says the federal government plans to relaunch the suspended school feeding programme.

Edun said the government would ensure adequate resources are available to support and sustain educational programmes across the country.

The minister spoke on Thursday when the house of representatives committee on alternative education visited him, according to a statement by Mohammed Manga, director of information and public relations at the ministry of finance.

The ministry said the meeting was held to address the pressing issue of out-of-school children in Nigeria, providing a platform for the minister to outline the government’s financial strategies and programmes aimed at tackling the challenge.

Speaking at the meeting, Edun reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to strengthening education.

He said through a lineup of initiatives, every child will be provided with access to quality education.

The minister said these initiatives would “positively impact the national budget by providing sufficient resources to support and sustain the educational programs”.

Edun also announced the upcoming relaunch of the ‘Home-Grown School Feeding Program’ — an initiative designed to increase school attendance by providing meals to students.

He said, “feeding children at school would not only improve their health and well-being but also incentivise them to remain in school, thereby reducing the number of out-of-school children”.

The minister said the government is dedicated to tackling critical issues through innovative initiatives like the “secretariat for financing safe schools” and the “home-grown school feeding program”.

“As the government continues to prioritise education, Nigeria’s future generations can expect improved access to quality learning, setting the stage for a brighter, and more prosperous tomorrow,” Edun added.

On January 12, President Bola Tinubu suspended all programmes, including school feeding, administered by the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), as part of a probe into alleged irregularities in the management of the agency and its activities.

On January 2, Tinubu suspended Halima Shehu as the chief executive officer (CEO) of NSIPA over alleged financial malfeasance.

The president also suspended Betta Edu as minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation on January 8.

Edu’s ministry supervises the operations of the NSIPA.

The programmes affected include N-Power, the conditional cash transfer (CCT), the government enterprise and empowerment programme, and the home-grown school feeding initiative.

On March 13, the house of representatives asked the federal government to resume the implementation of the suspended social investment initiatives.

However, the green chamber later decided to probe the suspended school feeding programme, arguing that a complete cancellation of the initiative “may cause more harm”.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says the average retail price per litre of household kerosene paid by consumers in July was N1,769.86.

According to its kerosene price watch released on Tuesday, this shows an increase of 13.81 percent compared to N1,555.11 recorded in June.

“On a year on-year basis, the average retail price per litre of the product rose by 40.37% from N1,260.81 in July 2023,” NBS said.

Based on state profile analysis, the bureau said that the highest price per litre was recorded in Akwa-Ibom at N2,383.33, followed by Oyo at N2,375.00 and Delta at N2,309.52.

NBS said the lowest price was recorded in Adamawa with N1,171.11, followed by Taraba with N1,191.30 and Borno with N1,381.58.

On analysis by zone, NBS said the south-south recorded the highest average retail price per litre of kerosene with N2,086.61, followed by the south-west with N2,051.27, while the north-east recorded the lowest with N1,411.97.

The bureau also reported that the average retail price per gallon of kerosene paid by consumers in July was N5,762.10, indicating an increase of 1.11 percent from N5,698.68 in June.

“On a year-on-year basis, this increased by 33.81% from N4,306.07 in July 2023,” the report added.

On state profile analysis, NBS said Jigawa recorded the highest price per gallon of kerosene with N7,250.00, followed by Taraba with N7,218.27 and Kebbi with N7,158.33.

The bureau said the lowest price was recorded in Rivers at N4,234.62, followed by Delta and Bayelsa with N4,500.00 and N4,800.00 respectively.

NBS said analysis by zone showed that the north-west recorded the highest price per gallon of kerosene with N6,742.41, followed by the north-east with N6,174.76, while the north-central recorded the lowest price with N4,988.61.

Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) say the federal government interventions in states are not enough.

The governors’ position is contained in a communiqué issued on Friday after a meeting in Jalingo, the capital of Taraba state.

The federal government has been distributing palliatives to states to address the economic hardship in the country.

The governors asked President Bola Tinubu to caution his appointees against “mentioning” the interventions provided by the federal government to states to make them “look bad”.

“The Forum laments that rather than undertake a review of macro-economic and social policies with a view to giving them a human face, the federal government has resorted to blackmail,” the communiqué reads.

“We call on Mr. President to show statesmanship by restraining his officials from blame games that make the sub-nationals look bad by mentioning piecemeal interventions that cannot solve the problem.

“We remain unshaken in our firm resolve to stand with the suffering Nigerian masses and to take all legitimate steps to ameliorate their plight.”

On the forthcoming governorship election in Edo, the forum alleged that there are attempts to “compromise” the poll in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC), adding that security operatives are intimidating PDP supporters in the state.

The governors also urged the federal government to ensure a fair and speedy trial of those who were arrested over the #EndBadGovernance protest.

“The governors noted with a sigh of relief the end of the #EndBadGovernance protest, which was edging to a major national crisis,” the governors said.

“We salute the dexterity of the governors, especially of the PDP extraction, in handling the situation in their respective states with maturity, thereby restraining hoodlums and other unscrupulous elements from hijacking the protests.

“The Forum reiterates that peaceful protests are the inalienable rights of the citizens through which they vent their genuine grievances.

“The Forum commiserates with the families of those innocent souls that were lost and calls on the Federal Government to ensure a fair and speedy trial of those who were arrested.”

Former Super Eagles’ captain, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha has confessed that he is still haunted by memories of how he and his colleagues failed to win the Africa Cup of Nations on home soil in the year 2000.


Though the Eagles fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Cameroon in the final, they eventually lost the match via penalties under controversial circumstances.

The loss was due to 1995 African Footballer of The Year, Victor Nosa Ikpeba (The Prince of Monaco) putting his hands on his head in lamentation, though his kick had crossed the line, and the match referee adjudged the player as having failed to score.

That meant Nigeria failed to win AFCON for the third time in history and missed what could have been their second conquest on home soil, during a competition they co-hosted with Ghana.

Okocha has now taken his mind back to that agonising day, in which then skipper of the side, Sunday Oliseh wept bitterly, and ‘The Emperor,’ who slso rued his lack of enough silverware as a footballer, confessed that it is a recurring nightmare for him.

“Winning silver at the Nations Cup is a bad memory for me, because it happened at home and due to the way it happened,” said the former Fernebahce of Turkey and PSG of France midfield dazzler.

“I thought we should have won it at home, but it’s not something that is given out … you have to earn it.

“We felt a bit robbed, and I now wish we had VAR back then. Silver was a consolation, just as were three bronze medals that I won in the competition. But, anyway you look at it, the gold medal is the ultimate.”

Okocha, who also played for Eintracht Frankfurt of Germany as well as Bolton Wanderers and Hull City of England, further acknowledged that he did not win many trophies during his playing days.

He also could not win the coveted award for African Footballer of The Year, in spite of placing second twice and being crowned most valuable player at the 2004 Cup of Nations, but Jay Jay submitted that he is always philosophical about having missed out on both personal and team honours.

“I truly may not have won more trophies, but I admit that everybody’s destiny is different. Maybe mine was not meant to win trophies but, at least, I still gained recognition.

“The older I get, the more I accept my fate and understand that some things are not meant to be,” said Okocha, who was named BBC African Player of The Year 2004.
He then concluded with personal experiences that he is using to encourage and motivate players of the current generation in Nigeria’s national team.

“The most important thing for me is that I won hearts when I was playing. For me, that’s priceless.

“I tell myself that I did a job well done, because I’ve always believed that whatever your profession is, you must be committed and give it your best shot.

“If you get appreciated after that, it means you’ve done something good. That’s why I cherish it every time people appreciate the work that I have put in.

“Though I left the game many years ago, it’s a good thing that people still talk fondly shout me,” Okocha rounded off with a tone of nostalgia.

William Troost-Ekong, Super Eagles captain, has joined Saudi Arabia’s Al-Kholood FC from PAOK Thessaloniki FC in Greece.

The transfer was announced on the Arabian club’s X account on Friday.

According to Al-Kholood, the 30-year-old defender will play for the club “in the 2024-2025 Saudi Pro League competitions”.

Ekong’s move to the Arabian Peninsula was confirmed a few hours after he posted a heartfelt farewell on social media to PAOK Thessaloniki FC.

The Eagles captain thanked the fans, management and his teammate at the Greek club for making his brief stay “amazing”.

He had only joined the team in July 2023 on a three-year contract.

“Dear PAOK, after an amazing year and season in Thessaloniki, I want to thank everyone for the opportunity to share and be part of those moments with you,” the farewell reads.

“I want to thank the president, club staff, medical team, General Lucescu, assistants and especially my teammates who have become my family, for the belief and hard work that resulted in an unforgettable championship and special European nights.

“To the fans, thank you for the support through difficult times. Toumba is something special, and now I understand what MONO PAOK means. I wish everyone another successful season and I will continue to follow PAOK. All the best.”

During his lone season with PAOK, Ekong led Nigeria to a silver medal-winning campaign at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire. He was named the competition’s best player after scoring three goals.

Security sources, on Friday night, confirmed that twenty medical students that were kidnapped in Benue State have just been rescued.

According to the sources that spoke with Channels TV, the operation was coordinated by the office of the National Security Adviser.

Security agencies – the police, DSS and military personnel and equipment were involved in the operation, with the support of the Benue state government.

Though the student have regained their freedom according to security sources, details of the rescue operation are still sketchy at the moment.

Naija News recall that the students, who were en route to the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students (FECAMDS) annual convention in Enugu, were ambushed during their journey.

The students were said to be travelling in a convoy of two buses and were coming from the northern part of the country when they ran into the ambush on Thursday evening at about 5:30 pm.

A day after the abduction of the students, their abductors had established contact with victims’ families, demanding a ransom of ₦50 million to secure the release of their hostages

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says its operatives have arrested Hyginus Nkwocha, a suspected billionaire internet fraudster, in Abuja.

In a statement on Thursday, Dele Oyewale, spokesperson of the anti-graft agency, said 35-year-old Nkwocha was arrested at the Ever-Green Estate in the Lugbe area of Abuja on Wednesday.

Oyewale said the suspect was taken into custody after operatives acted on credible information that confirmed his involvement in internet-related offences.

He said items recovered from the suspect included “a sum of 2,200 dollars, an iPhone 15 Pro Max, a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, a Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, an iPhone 13 Pro Max, and a MacBook”.

“Other items recovered include a gold chain and pendant, a gold bracelet, a gold neck chain, a Mercedes Benz ML 350, a Chevrolet Camaro, and a Mustang car,” he added.

“Also recovered are some properties at Cookies Court 2, located in Ocean Palm Estate, Ajah, Lagos; Unit C8, Lugbe Airport Road, Abuja; and Cookies Court 2, 2nd Avenue, Ocean Palm Estate, Ogombo, Lagos State.”

The EFCC spokesperson added that the suspect will be charged in court as soon as investigations are concluded.

In February, the EFCC arrested 26 suspected fraudsters in Abuja.

Items recovered from them included a Toyota Tacoma, a CLS Mercedes 450, three Lexus cars, 40 phones, and seven laptops.

In the same month, the agency arrested 14 undergraduate students of the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) for suspected internet fraud.

There are indications that the 650,000 barrels per day Dangote Petroleum Refinery has commenced a production test-run of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) before it is released in September.

This is according to a recent report by Reuters.

The publication stated that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery is undergoing test runs for petrol production, with full operation expected to commence by mid-September.

Citing a note by IIR Energy, an oil industry monitor, the publication said the commencement date could be extended further.

According to the report, IIR said in a note to clients that “it is possible that there could be further extensions”.

Recall that the Nigerian government had said Dangote Refinery would commence petrol production in September 2024.

This was contained in a statement by a Nigerian Government Committee headed by Finance Minister, Wale Edun on the implementation of crude oil sale in Naira to Dangote Refinery and other local refineries.

However, Dangote Refinery or its owner, Aliko Dangote has not issued any comments on the commencement, except the mid-August, which he earlier announced in July 2024.

Dangote has announced several dates that the refinery would commence petrol production, which did not materialize.

Recall that Dangote announced on May 18, 2024, that from June, the refinery would begin producing petrol, adding that Nigeria would not have to import the product again.

Similarly, in June, he stated that due to a minor delay, the refinery would commence petrol supply in July.

The July target was then moved to August before the government announced on August 20 that the plant would release PMS in September.

The development comes as the refinery grapples with a crude supply crisis and other challenges.