Rivers Crisis: Pro-Wike Forces Shopping For Court Order To Seize Local Councils Funds – G-60 Federal Lawmakers Warn Judges

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June 27, 2024

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

A group of 60 Federal Lawmakers led by Hon Ikenga Ugochinyere has raised the alarm that some forces working for the Pro-Nyesom Wike former Local Council Chairmen in Rivers State are harbouring plans to halt the operations of Council Areas in the State.

It alleged that the forces are currently shopping for a pliable Judge to assist them with a Court order to freeze the accounts of all the 23 Local Councils of Rivers State.

The Pro-wike former Council Chairmen were on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, forced to vacate their offices after failing to have their expired three years tenure elongated by the Speaker Martins Amaewfule-led pro-Wike Legislators.

The pro-Wike Lawmakers are themselves battling legitimacy problem at the Court, after their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressive Congress, APC.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara had on Tuesday June 19 ,gone ahead to appoint and swear in Caretaker Executives for the Councils.

But Police occupation of the administrative headquarters has since ensured they operate from different locations.

The Police has said the occupation will only end after the verdict of an Appeal court sitting in PortHarcout in an Appeal filed by 27 pro-Wike legislators seeking to reverse the declaration of their seats vacant by a Rivers State High Court on account of their defection to the APC.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, June 26 , the G-60 Federal law makers Spokesperson, Hon. Ugochinyere called on Judicial Officers to be on alert, to avoid being used to issue ex parte order to halt the operations of Local Councils in Rivers State.

“We received credible intelligence that some of the former Local Council Chairmen that their tenure expired in Rivers State and their financiers are looking for a Federal High Court to give them an injunction that will freeze the allocation of the Local Governments because of their failed attempt to hang on to power after their tenure expired.

“I want to use this opportunity to call on the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court and Judges of the State High court (you never can tell,they can go to Zamfara or Ogoja or anywhere.)

“I want to call on them ( Judges) to be very careful and put their divisions on alert, so that they won’t be used to issue ex parte orders to people who are no longed elected Local Government Chairmen.

“There is nothing like tenure extension in a democratic setting. It is like a coup, taking over constitutional government.

“So we want to alert the general public that there are moves to secure ex parte order by these former Local Government Chairmen that their tenure has expired to seize the allocations of the Local Governments that workers and development in rural areas will suffer” the G-60 Lawmakers warned.

DMO: Naira Devaluation Raises Nigeria’s Debt To N24trn In Q1

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Tosin Olatokunbo

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June 27, 2024

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The Debt Management Office, DMO, says the federal government borrowed close to N8 trillion in the first quarter of 2023.

The clarification comes of the heels of reports that the Tinubu administration has borrowed over N24 trillion between January and March this year.

In a statement a statement on Wednesday, titled, “Explaining the Q1 2024 Public Debt Data,” the DMO said the debt include the N2.81 trillion as part of the new domestic borrowing of N6.06 trillion provided in the 2024 Appropriation Act and N4.90 trillion as part of the securitization of the N7.3 trillion Ways and Means, W&M, Advances approved by the National Assembly.

The agency stated that the N24.33 trillion rise in the total debt was a combination of the N7.7 trillion borrowed and naira devaluation.

The DMO explained that the exchange rate shifted from N899.39/$1 in Q4 2023 to N1,330.26/$1 in Q1 2024 which represents a depreciation of 32.39 percent, causing the naira value of external debt to rise sharply despite the actual dollar-denominated debt remaining relatively stable.

The statement said: “Returning to the trend in the Total Debt Data between Q4, 2023, and Q1, 2024, the increase in Naira Terms of N24.33 trillion is being misinterpreted as New Borrowing. The amount actually represents New Borrowing of N2.81 trillion as part of the New Domestic Borrowing of N6.06 trillion provided in the 2024 Appropriation Act, New Domestic Borrowing of N4.90 trillion as part of the securitization of the N7.3 trillion Ways and Means Advances approved by the National Assembly, as well as, the depreciation in the official Naira Exchange Rate from USD/899.39 in Q4, 2023 to USD/N1,330.26 in Q1, 2024.

“Consequently, whereas, the Total External Debt Stock was relatively flat at USD42.50 billion and USD42.12 billion in Q4, 2023, and Q1, 2024 respectively, the Naira values were significantly different at N38.22 trillion and N56.02 trillion respectively, representing a difference of N17.8 trillion.

“This explains the perceived sharp increase of N24.33 trillion in the Total Debt Stock in Q1, 2024. The difference in the Exchange Rate for the two (2) periods also explains why in US Dollar Terms, the Total Debt Stock actually declined in Q1, 2024 (USD91.46 billion) when compared to Q4, 2023 (USD97.34 billion).”

The DMO had on June 20, announced that Nigeria’s total public debt stood at N121.67 trillion at the end of the first quarter of this year.

Imo: IPOB Militants Kill 6; Soldiers Move In

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Tosin Olatokunbo

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June 27, 2024

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No fewer than six persons have been killed after suspected members of proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, carried out a bloody attack in Imo state.

The attack, according to Thecable, took place at Ama Hausa in Garki, Okigwe Local government Area, LGA, in the wee hours of Wednesday.

Th development, according to security experts, has further challenged the efforts of security agencies to restore permanent peace to the restive Nigerian south east state.

According to one of the witnesses, the gunmen attacked the area at about 12am and operated until about 9am when troops of the Nigerian Army repelled them.

“As of the early hours of today, around 12am, we heard persistent gunshots from around the Garki area; it lasted for about an hour,” the resident who asked not to be named for his security told TheCable.

“Some gunshots were heard again at about 9am, everyone started running. There are reports that all these things were happening at Garki.

“They said unknown gunmen came to set the Ama Hausa area ablaze and started shooting at people. I think about seven people who died. Everyone has been taking cover in Okigwe since the incident happened.

“The army attacked their camp in the early hours of Saturday. So, I guess they targeted the Ama Hausa as a form of retaliation or something.”

Meanwhile, the state police command has confirmed the attack, which described the incident as unfortunate.

The spokesman for the Command, Henry Okoye said efforts are currently ongoing to arrest the attackers, and bring them to justice.

Okoye said: “It’s a very unfortunate incident; it’s true, and we are on top of things. Upon receipt of the information, the commissioner of police quickly deployed the command’s operational squad to Okigwe.

“We are currently carrying out an intense operation with the military and the local vigilantes to make sure we fish out the perpetrators of this evil act and make them face the full wrath of the law.

“We had six casualties; their corpses have been evacuated.

“They were suspected of being IPOB or ESN, and we call on the general public if they have any information to assist us in the investigation and report to the nearest police station.

“The commissioner of police is saddened over the incident; he is praying for the souls of the innocent citizens who lost their lives in the hands of disgruntled elements.”

Recall that the detained leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu recently condemned the killings in the south east by suspected members of the secessionist group, saying the killings of people in whatever guise was not part of the agitation.

Economic Hardship: Konga Ex-CEO Kills Self In Lagos

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Tosin Olatokunbo

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June 27, 2024

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Nick Imudia, a former chief executive officer, CEO, of Konga an online marketing giant has committed suicide. The e-commerce guru was said to have taken his own life by jumping from the balcony of his home in Lekki, Lagos.

Imudia had departed Konga two years ago to set up his own company, D.light, a solar energy solutions firm where he was chief executive before the unfortunate incident happened.

His demise, which has left family and friends in deep shock was confirmed on June 25 by his family.

The magazine has yet to confirm what led to the suicide, but sources said it may not be unconnected with the challenging economic situation in the country which has become frustrating for many business owners.

Some companies have already closed shop, while those currently surviving are just ‘hanging on’, according to experts, who said more suicide should be expected as the business environment becomes tighter.

Recall that some multinational have recently quit the country citing challenging business environment for their action. Companies like Guinness, Shoprite recently embarked on serious reo-organisation in response to the current harship in the country.

Imudia stood down from his role as co-CEO of Konga in September 2022, after a successful term of one of the world’s most successful e-commerce firm.

He, alongside Prince Eke who took over from him when he resigned in 2022, according to experts, turned around the firm from an almost dead company into profitability within four years and launched other strategic verticals like Konga Logistics – a digital logistics company, Konga offline retail chain, KongaPay, a CBN-licensed fintech company, Konga Travel, Konga Health and Konga Food, among others.

“Masses Going Through Hell Over Insensitivity Of Leaders” – Ogunedo, Anglican Bishop

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The Source

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June 27, 2024

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By George Best Okoroh

A couple of weeks after the celebration of Father’s Day, worldwide, the injunction given to Fathers by the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Mbaise, the His Lordship, the Rt. Rev. Chamberlain Ogunedo still reverberates.

The Bishop, also, berated Nigeria’s Leaders, and accused them of not only bringing about the sufferings of the people, but remain insensitive to them.

Ogunedo who took a hard look at what some families have been reduced to, and the attitude of some fathers, challenged them to take charge of their responsibilities as the Heads of their families.

The Bishop threw this challenge at them while saying the Homily at Our Saviour’s Church Ndigbo Uvuru, Aboh Mbaise, during the 2024 Father’s Day Celebration.

He reminded them that their lifestyles reflect on their families and the society at large, and asked to brace up for the sacred duties given to them by God. “You must bring your children up properly”, he charged them.

The Bishop also urged them to pursue peace and be the epitome of love and tolerance in their families and the larger society.

He encouraged fathers to live lives devoid of hatred, envy, slander, false witnesses and eschew adultery and drunkenness.

Bishop Ogunedo reminded them of the the theme of the celebration, “Go ye into the world and make disciples of all nations” (Matt.26:29), and counselled fathers to join in propagating this gospel message as commissioned by Jesus Christ.

He traced the history behind the formation of the Fathers’Day to a woman, Sonora Smart Dodd, of Spokane, Washington in 1909. Who, taking after the Mother’s Day celebration, originated the day in appreciation of her father’s role in her upbringing and enjoined fathers to always observe the day with all the seriousness it deserves.

The Bishop opined that religion and ethnicity have been the bane of the polity in Nigeria. He bemoaned a situation where people were more attached to their ethnic and religious tendency than to the oneness of the country.

He lamented the excruciating hardship the masses were going through and attributed it to the insensitivity of the leadership both at the States and Federal levels.

The Father’s Day is celebrated annually on the third Sunday in June.

Friends Celebrate “Madam Justice”, The Honourable Justice Nwosu-Iheme, JSC

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Adesina Soyooye

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June 27, 2024

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Honourable Justice Chioma Egondu Nwosu-Iheme

By Adesina Soyooye

On Saturday June 29, 2024, the Honourable Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme, PhD, a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, will be at the centre of celebration by her close friends.

Scheduled to hold in Owerri, Imo State, her friends will roll out a deserved red carpet to appreciate and celebrate her for making them proud.

To do that, they will hold a reception in her honour following her well deserved elevation to the Supreme Court – the highest Court in the land.

A brilliant, thorough, courageous and no-nonsense Justice, Nwosu-Iheme who holds a PhD from the University of Lagos, was nominated to the Supreme Court on December 6, 2023, and sworn-in on February 26, 2024.

Fondly called “Madam Justice” by a couple of her close friends, a name given to her in reverence for her courage and carriage by blood thirsty young men who kidnapped her on October 30, 2019, in Benin when she was the Presiding Judge of the Appeal Court, Benin Division, she is the second female Judge from Imo State to be elevated to the Supreme Court. The first was the Honourable Justice Mary Peter-Odili, now retired, who is married to a former Governor of Rivers State, Dr Peter Odili.

Incidentally, both revered women are not only close friends, they are in-laws. One of Odili’s daughters, the elegant Njideka, a Judge of the FCT High Court, is married to Nwosu-Iheme’s dashing son, Uzoma, a Lawyer and entrepreneur.

Born on February 2, 1959, the Supreme Court Judge is married to Chief Uzoma Nwosu-Iheme, a very successful businessman and entrepreneur. Both husband and wife are from Nkwerre, Imo State and are blessed with very successful children. Their only daughter, Adaeze, is a Medical Doctor whose area of specialization is Oncology.

Justice Nwosu-Iheme first entered National consciousness when, as a Judge of the Imo State High Court, she walked where a number of her colleagues then refused to walk and handled the infamous and scary “Otokoto case” which shook the State to its very foundation.

The reception in her honour on June 29, 2024, will offer her friends the opportunity to recall her brilliant progress in her chosen field, as well as tell her how proud of her they are.

Tears, Anger, Pain As Six Students Drown, Crossing River Mbang, Kaduna, After Writing Their Exams

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The Source

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June 27, 2024

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By Gideon Njoku

It was hope dashed, future ruined and shattered for six students in Kaduna.

The teenagers had finished writing their examination in school, happy that they had put that behind them, and looking forward to joining their siblings and parents shortly. But that was not to be. They drowned on Tuesday, June 25, in the “fiesty” River Mbang, Ribang Village, Kaura Local Government Area, Kaduna.

The incident was said to have happened at about 5.30pm.

The victims were identified as:● Manasseh Monday, 16, ● Musa John, 16, ●Pius David, 15, ●Monday Ayuba, 16, ●David Dan Lamidi, 19, ● Yahuza Audu, 16. The drowned were students of Government Secondary School, Fadan, Chawai.

The circumstances surrounding their death, by drowning, are not public yet. It is not known whether they were swimming or in a canoe to cross the river, or wading through the river to cross to the other side, but Pastor Simon Ishaku, the National Publicity Relations Officer, Ribang Development Association, was quoted as saying that “the Mbang River has been a danger to our Community for years.”

He, also, lamented the absence of infrastructure in the Community like school, hospital, and said they have to travel about eight kilometers before accessing them. Meaning that if there was a school in the Community, the drowned teenagers would have had no use to cross the river.

He appealed to the Federal Government, Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, their Senator, Sunday Katung, House of Representatives Members to assist the Community with the provision of access roads, bridges, schools and hospitals to give the community some relief.

He disclosed in tears that three bodies of the students have been retrieved and buried, while three were still not retrieved from the raging river.

Dangote Refinery Battles ‘Minor Fire’ Days After Accusing IOCs Of Sabotage

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Tosin Olatokunbo

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June 26, 2024

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The Dangote Refinery has described the fire which engulfed the petrochemical company todays as a “minor fire’ incident that has now been taken out.

The fire outbreak which affected the effluent treatment plant occurred on Wednesday, creating panic in the Lekki Free Zone, Lagos where the $20 billion refinery was cited.

The incident came amidst claim by Dangote, that some international oil companies, IOCs, were trying to sabotage the refinery.

The company owned by Africa’s Richest man had accused the IOCs of not selling crude oil to the refinery forcing the company to source for crude as far as the United States and Europe.

The Vice President of the company Devakumar Edwin had while speaking to energy correspondent recently, called for government’s intervention in the face of this hostility by the IOCS.

Reacting to the fire incident, the spokesman of the company Anthony Chiejina, in a statement said operations at the refinery was not seriously impeded.

He explained that first responders swiftly rose up to the occasion by putting out the fire immediately.

Chiejina said, “There is no cause for alarm as the refinery is operating and there is no recorded injury or body harm to all our staff on duty,” he said

Edwin had lamented that the IOCs were seriously working to frustrate the company by denying it crude oil supply in other to make it ‘fail’.

Edwin stated, “The IOCs are deliberately and wilfully frustrating our efforts to buy the local crude. The NUPRC recently met with crude oil producers as well as refineries owners in Nigeria in a bid to ensure full adherence to DCSO, as enunciated under Section 109(2) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

“It seems that the IOCs’ objective is to ensure that our petroleum refinery fails. It is either they are deliberately asking for ridiculous and humongous premium or they simply state that crude is not available.

“At some point, we paid $6 over and above the market price. This has forced us to reduce our output as well as import crude from countries as far as the US, increasing our cost of production.

“It appears that the objective of the IOCs is to ensure that Nigeria remains a country, which exports crude oil and imports refined petroleum products. They are keen on exporting the raw materials to their home countries, creating employment and wealth for their countries, adding to their Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and dumping the expensive refined products into Nigeria, thus making us to be dependent on imported products.”

NFVCB Reads Riot Act, Says It Is An Offence To Release Skits, Musical Videos Without Classification

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Akinwale Kasali

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June 26, 2024

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By Akinwale Kasali

The leadership of the Nigeria Film and Video Censor Board, NFVCB, has warned all Skit Makers in the country that releasing skits, films, or music videos without classification from the Board is an offence.

The NFVCB stated it will wield the big stick, as the NFVCB’s classification system assigns age ratings and content advisories to audio-visual content, aiding families in making informed viewing choices and protecting children from unsuitable material.

The Shuaibu Husseini-led NFVCB in a statement warned content creators against distributing unclassified materials.

The statement reads in part: “It is, also, an offence to distribute or exhibit any film or video content including skits and musical videos on any platform without recourse to the National Film and Video Censors Board for classification.”

He stated that the Board is working closely with security agencies to identify and prosecute violators.

“We are collaborating with relevant security agencies to track the individuals and production companies involved, and will stop at nothing to make sure they face the full wrath of the law,” it read.

The NFVCB also condemned the promotion and distribution of same-sex content on social media, reminding filmmakers and content creators that it is illegal to publicly exhibit same-sex relationships in Nigeria.

ABSU, ABSUTH, Abia POLY, Others To Receive Backlog Of N16.5 Billion Salaries July, Abia Govt Assures

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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June 26, 2024

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Alex Otti - Abia State Governor — Alex Otti, Abia State Governor

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Abia state Government has said it will begin the payment of the several months of inherited salaries of the State workforce from July 2024.

This is just as it revealed that the salary arrears will cost the Governor Alex Otti- led administration a whopping sum of N16.5 billion.

However, the payments will be carried out in tranches, to void impacting negatively on other essential sectors of the State’s economic life.

The State Government’s move is coming on the heels of disquiet and agitations among the affected categories of workers over the delay in the payment of the salary arrears, which was one of the key campaign issues of the Otti Government in the countdown to the 2023 Governorship elections.

Although the staffers of Abia State University Teaching Hospital, ABSUTH Aba, had on Tuesday, June 25, protested against the delay in the payments of their April and May salaries, insider sources have revealed that their outstanding 22 months arrears is the major problem

John Akpara, the State Commissioner for Finance at a briefing late Tuesday evening in Umuahia ,said Governor Otti, has made all necessary arrangements for the backlog of salaries to be paid.

Most of the salary arrears are owed to Tertiary Institutions and some Extra Ministerial Departments .According to Akpara, the Abia State University, Uturu is being owed 11 months, while Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, is being owed 33 month’s backlog.

The State Government inherited 22 months salary arrears at the College of Education Technical Arochukwu, and several months at Hospital Management Board ,and Abia State Secondary Education Management Board.

The arrears at ASUBEB, HMB and SEMB, the Commissioner noted, will cost the State over N4 billion to clear.

Other tertiary institutions being owed are: College of Health Sciences and Management Aba and Abia State University Teaching Hospital Aba .

The Commissioner who addressed the press in company with his information counterpart Prince Okey Kalu, insisted that it has always been the intention of the Government to accord priority to workers welfare since mounting the saddle a year ago.

He, however, expressed regret that some people have refused to appreciate Government’s open mindedness in that direction.

He informed that workers at the state owned tertiary institutions will begin to get their arrears from July/August this year .

Government’s intention he said is to complete the payments on or before the end of 2024 .

” As a matter of fact ,the past administration owed Abia state Polytechnic 33 months, ,College of Education Arochukwu ,22 months Abia state University 11 months .

Hospital Management Board is owed for several months ,Theirs is humongous.We also have ASUBEB and SEMB with the total amount being owed them over N4 billion.

The total of salaries being owed to all these institutions as we speak is N16.5 billion and the Government is expected to pay the arrears.

” But one thing I will promise is that it would be paid .However, it is not going to be in one sweep .We will do it in instalments ,so that it does not hamper the progress of other sectors of the economy” Akpara noted.