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Breaking: Herbert Wigwe, Access Holdings Boss, Wife, Son, Die In Helicopter Crash

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Herbert Wigwe Helicopter Crash

By Adesina Soyooye

Nigeria has lost one its brightest stars.  Herbert Wigwe, the Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings and his wife, Chioba, have been killed in a helicopter crash in the United States of America.

The couple, son and three others, including Abimbola Ogunbanjo, were on their way from California to Las Vegas on Friday when the chopper crashed near a border between Nevada and California.

Wigwe, the founder of Access Bank Plc,  was its immediate past Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer before he became the overall boss of Access Holdings, was the Proprietor of Rivers State-based Wigwe University which is in its first year, and planned to become an all-round best in  the country.

He was aged 57 years.

More details, later.

NANS Pleads With NLC, TUC To Shelve Proposed Strike In National Interest

By
Akinwale Kasali
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NLC Strike

By Akinwale Kasali

The proposed nationwide strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, has generated heated debate and controversy, prompting the National Association Of Nigerian Students to appeal to both Unions to shelve the plan for the sake of National interest.

Pedro Obi, NANS National President made the appeal at a Press Briefing Saturday in Abeokuta, Ogun State Capital.

It would be recalled that both the NLC and TUC had issued a 14-day nationwide strike notice to the Government over the failure to implement the agreements reached on October 2, 2023, following the removal of the fuel subsidy.

Obi noted that NANS shared in the pains Nigerians are experiencing, especially the youth and the student community, over the current hardship. He explained that the Association was of the strong belief that the planned strike, if embarked on, would further worsen the economic crisis in the country.

The NANS President added that the Labour Unions had the right to make demands and embark on strike to drive home their points, but appealed for reconsideration of the decision.

He urged them to take into consideration the potential impact on insecurity, economy and more importantly, the academic progress of students across the nation.

“While recognising the importance of addressing labour-related concerns and advocating for workers’ rights, we kindly urge the labour unions to explore alternative means of dialogue and negotiation with the relevant authorities.

“A strike, though a powerful tool, can lead to civil unrest and further worsen the security and economic situation of the country.

“We believe that constructive dialogue and engagement can lead to mutually beneficial solutions without causing nationwide unrest.

“Our plea is not to undermine the legitimacy of the concerns raised by the labour unions, but to emphasise the potential adverse effects a strike could have on all sectors of our economy.

“We remain hopeful that a consensus can be reached through meaningful discussions, ensuring that the rights and well-being of both workers and students are considered in the pursuit of fair and just solutions,” he said.

He called on the Federal Government to fast-track the process of implementing the new minimum wage, saying it would go a long way in addressing the plight of the people.

Kidnappers Intercept GUO Motors On Ore-Benin Road, Kidnap Passengers, Kill Driver, Little Girl Left Stranded

By
The Source
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GUO Motors Attack

By Gideon Njoku

A GUO Motors Bus was on Saturday, February 10, 2024, intercepted by blood-thirsty gunmen along Ore-Benin Road, and its Passengers kidnapped.

All the passengers in the bus, except a little girl of about six years, were kidnapped. The little girl was travelling with her parents both of whom were kidnapped. The driver of the Bus was shot dead while still on the steering of the ill-fated bus.

Apparently, in a bid to manoeuvre and escape from the kidnappers, he was shot and killed while still driving and the bus veered into the roadside bush.

It is not known where the bus and its passengers were headed to, but eye witnesses said it took off from Lagos and was probably headed to the South-east.

One man who was in another bus, while bemoaning the attack on the bus, the fate of the kidnapped passengers, and the killed driver,  said all of them, including the passengers in the ill-fated bus, stopped and ate in Akure.

A WhatsApp video of the incident showed a few Policemen, the stranded little girl, the ill-fated bus in the bush by the roadside,  and shocked passengers in other vehicles  who all disembarked at the scene to see how they could help.

The fate of the stranded little girl is not known, but it is strongly suspected that the Policemen at the scene will take her away with them.

The roads are increasingly becoming dangerous.

A few days ago, 14 passengers in two vehicles – a Sienna, of the ABC Transport, and a bus of God is Good Motors, both of which took off from Umuahia, Abia State, to Abuja were kidnapped in Kogi State. The 14 passengers were released after about one week in the custody of their abductors.

AFCON Cup: Nigerians Waiting To Celebrate You, Uzodimma Tells Super Eagles

By
The Source
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Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has sent another  goodwill message to the Super Eagles players ahead of their encounter with the Elephants of Cote D’ Ivoire, Sunday, urging them to work extra hard to bring home the trophy as Nigerians are earnestly waiting to celebrate them for winning the 2023 AFCON cup.

Governor Uzodimma has continuously encouraged the players and their handlers since the tournament entered it’s critical stages to put in their best to carry the day at the end of the continental football fiesta.

The highpoint of Governor Uzodimma’s encouragement was the support of N200million to the Super Eagles by the Progressive Governors’ Forum which he is the Chairman, prior Nigeria’s semi final match with the Bafana Bafana of South Africa.

Nigeria beat South Africa 4-2 via penalty shootouts to qualify for the final match at the ongoing 2023 AFCON Cup chase in Côte D’Ivioire.

A statement by Oguwike Nwachuku, Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the Governor said as the chase for the trophy takes place Sunday, February 11, at the Alassane Quatara  Stadium, Governor Uzodimma reiterates his earlier advice to the Super Eagles players and their handlers to make hard work and commitment their watch word and be rest assured that victory is sure.

The sports loving Governor Uzodimma of Imo State said he entertains no fear that the Super Eagles players and their coaches are trusted and tested, and that they have proved to be so since the critical stages of the tournament commenced.

Governor Uzodimma reminded the Super Eagles players that they have a record of beating the Elephant of Côte D’Ivioire in the past, including doing so at the elimination series of the 2023 AFCON tournament in their country, hence there is nothing to be afraid of on Sunday.

The Governor added that Nigerians have been waiting earnestly for the AFCON Cup to be brought to Nigeria since 2013 when the Super Eagles last achieved that feat.

“You did it before, you can do it again and again because you have what it takes to do so,” Governor Uzodimma said, noting that government and well meaning Nigerians are prepared to give them all the necessary support they need to be the African Champions once again.

Governor Radda Blames Mass Export To Niger Republic, Mali For High Cost Of Commodities

By
The Source
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By Daniel Maduka

The Katsina State Governor Dikko Umar Radda, has blamed the rising cost of essential commodities in the State ,and some parts of the North on mass export of essential items to Niger Republic, Mali, and other neighbouring countries.

This is even as he also noted that  hoarding of essential commodities by some unscrupulous characters has worsened the economic plights of the people.

Governor Radda who spoke at a meeting held on Friday February 9 2024 ,with key stakeholders in the State, over the continuous rise in the prices of essential commodities, said it was a similar situation that led to pockets of protests in Niger and Kano State recently.

The Katsina Governor said Government is aware of, and sensitive to the daily rise in prices of essential commodities, and its  negative consequences on the people.

“Reports have shown that the mass export of commodities from Nigeria to Niger, Mali and other neighbouring countries ,together with some Nigerians hoarding essential food items are responsible for the increments in prices of goods and commodities” Governor Radda noted.

In the same vein ,the Katsina State Governor, expressed willingness to back any community ready to protect itself from the onslaught of bandits and other criminal elements .

He assured that his adminstration will provide logistical and training support to such communities ,that are prepared to assist in the fight to route out all criminal elements from the state .

The State holders meeting had in attendance the Emirs of Katsina and Daura, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir Usman and Alhaji Umar Faruq Umar respectively,.

Others were the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Alhaji Nasiru Yahaya ,the Chief Judge ,the Grand Khadi and other top government functionaries.

Socialite Mach€tes Wife To Death, Commits Suicid€, Ondo Police Command Investigates

By
Ayodele Oni
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Sesan Adelabu

By Ayodele Oni

A Socialite and Petrol Station owner in Akure, Ondo State, Sesan Adelabu, popularly known as Emirate, has reportedly mach€ted his wife to death.

He was said to have committed suicide by drinking sniper, an insect-killing substance, thereafter.

It was gathered that the incident happened in the Alagbaka area, Akure, Ondo state capital. Adelabu was the owner of the Emirate filling stations in Akure.

His body and that of his wife are said to have been deposited in the morgue.

Ondo State Police Command Spokesperson, Funmilayo Odunlami- Omisanya, in a reaction said the Commissioner of Police, (CP) Abayomi Oladipo has ordered the Homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, (CID) to take over the case.

Police account stated that “On the 9th of February, 2024 , a distress call was received by the police of A’ Division Akure, by men of Special Protection Unit.

“The Officer attached to the deceased in his house at Alagbaka area in Akure, received a call from the deceased’s’  child around 6pm asking after his father, because he was not picking his calls.

“The Police man while trying to inform his principal, discovered him face-down and lifeless  in the toilet while his wife’s body was found on the bed with multiple cuts suspected to be machete cuts on her head and face.

An empty container of sniper was also found at the-scene.

“Investigation has commenced to unravel the circumstances leading to the unfortunate incident and scene cordoned off to enable police do the needful please.”

Brigadier-General Arogbofa, Jonathan’s Chief Of Staff Dies

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

Chief of Staff to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Jones Oladeinde Arogbofa, has died at the age of 71.

Arogbofa, a retired Brigadier- General, died  Saturday morning. Details on his death remains sketchy as of the time of filing this report.

Arogbofa was born on November 10, 1952, in Oka-Akoko, Ondo State. He became the Chief of Staff to Jonathan from February 10, 2014, to May 29, 2015.

Arogbofa attended Obafemi Awolowo University, Rochester Institute of Technology, University of Alabama, United States Army Command and General Staff College, University of Lagos, and University of Ibadan.

Until his death, he was the Chairman of the Center for Research, Information Management and Media Development (CRIMMD).

CBN To Tinubu: No Loan After Buhari’s Ways and Means Abuse

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, will no longer give loans to the federal government in term of ways and means.

CBN Governor made this known on Friday after he met alongside other members of the Economic Team with the Senate Committees on Finance, Appropriations, Banking, Insurance, and Other Financial Institutions.

The Senate had summoned the Economic Team led by Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance and Coordinator of the Economy to respond to the current hardship in the country and what is being done to ameliorate the situation.

Recall that the apex bank had blamed the excess cash in circulation for the current inflation ravaging the country.

The cost of basic commodities like food and other household items has hit the rooftop in the last few weeks, as Nigerians slam the authorities for not doing enough to arrest the situation.

Answering questions from the committee yesterday, Cardoso blamed the current inflation on the excess Naira in circulation fueled by the previous administration over-borrowing from the CBN through the W&M window.

The CBN Act provides that five percent of the yearly Budget be borrowed from the apex bank to plug deficit, Buhari, according to checks abused the window by borrowing as much as N24 trillion within eight years of his administration.

Under him, according to figures provided  by the CBN W&M rose to an unprecedented level of 2900 per cent to N23.8 trillion.

When the former president came to power in 2015 CBN  loans to the federal government stood below N800 billion cumulatively.

According to Cardoso, the apex bank has now introduced strict measures to curb such abuse of power by the federal government in line with its enabling Act.

Cardoso said: “On our side at the CBN, we have responded with significant monetary policy tightening to reign in inflationary pressure.

“Empirical analysis has established that money supply is one of the factors fueling the current inflationary pressure. For instance, an analysis of the trend of the money supply spanning over nine months shows that M3 increased from N52.01tn in January 2023 to N68.25tn in November 2023 representing N16.24tn or 31.22 percent increase over the period.

“Increase in Net Foreign Asset following the harmonisation of exchange rates and the N3.22tn ways and means advances were the major factors driving the increase in the money supply.”

“I am pleased to note the Fiscal Authorities efforts in discontinuing Ways and Means advances. This is also in compliance with Section (38) of the CBN Act (2007), the Bank is no longer at liberty to grant further Ways and Means advances to the Federal Government until the outstanding balance as of December 31, 2023, is fully settled.

“The bank must strictly adhere to the law limiting advances under ways and means to five percent of the previous year’s revenue.

“We have also halted quasi-fiscal measures of over N10tn by the Central Bank of Nigeria under the guise of development finance interventions which hitherto contributed to flooding excess Naira and raising prices to the levels of Inflation we are grappling with today,” he said.

Emefiele’s Wife: Why EFCC Declared Her Wanted

By
Adesina Soyooye
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By Adesina Soyooye

For the Emefiele family, it is not just raining, it is pouring.This is because the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has declared Mrs Margaret Emefiele, beloved wife of Godwin Emefiele, wanted.

The anti-graft agency declared her and three others wanted over alleged money laundering and economic sabotage. The three others are:

Mr Eric Odoh, and a couple,  Anita Omoile and her husband, Jonathan Omoile.

Dr Godwin Emefiele, immediate past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, has been having a running battle since June, 2023, following a change in Government and the swearing-in of Bola Tinubu as Nigeria’s President.

Suspended by Tinubu from office, he was picked by the Department of State Services, DSS, within 24 hours of that suspension. Later sacked by the President, Emefiele was transferred to the EFCC after several weeks in the custody  of the DSS. He has since been arraigned in Court by the EFCC charged for sundry issues including corruption, economic sabotage, money laundering.

The EFCC which decalared his wife and the three others wanted Friday night accused them of  allegedly conspiring with the embattled former CBN Governor “to convert huge sums of money belonging to the Federal Government of Nigeria and committed felony to wit: obtaining money by false pretences, and stealing, contrary to and punishable under Sections 411, 287, and 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.”

The EFCC detailed their offences in  mugshot photographs of the four suspects late Friday night.

It read: “Emefiele, Odoh, Mr and Mrs Omoile, wanted by the EFCC. The quartet of Eric Odoh, Margaret Emefiele, Anita Omoile and Jonathan Omoile, are wanted by the EFCC for offences bothering on economic and financial crimes. Any information on their whereabout? Please contact the nearest EFCC Command or the nearest Police Station.”

Foreign Remittance Threatened After CBN Ordered IMTO’s To Pay In Naira

By
James Orji
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International Money Transfer Operators, IMTOs, operating in Nigeria have notified their customers that they would no longer pay foreign remittances in dollar.

The notification is in compliance with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, directive to that effect, the operators informed their customers through various messages seen by the magazine.

According to the details of the CBN guidelines, the Naira pay out will be based on official Importer and Exporter, I&E rates to the dollar.

For instance, Worldremit said in a notice to customers that based on the CBN directive “it’s no longer possible for any money transfer to be paid out in USD in Nigeria. But please don’t worry. You can still enjoy the same quick, safe and affordable WorldRemit service to Nigeria by sending money in Naira instead. If you have any questions or concerns, our dedicated support team is always here to help,” it said.

The magazine learned that other 62 IMTOs licensed by the CBN has sent similar messages to their customers as required by the apex regulatory authority.

Some of the authorized IMTOs operating in Nigeria include major international money transfer companies such as Western Union, MoneyGram, PayPalRia Financial, TransferWise, WorldRemit, PagaTech, Flutterwave, VFD, Interswitch, and others

The Yemi Cardoso-led CBN had during the week issued new guidelines to the operators, which financial analysts described as one of the last-ditch efforts to ensure stability in the foreign exchange market, as well as  saved the Naira from further depreciation.

Meanwhile, keen financial experts informed the magazine that the new directive by the apex bank to IMTOs to pay out dollars on foreign remittance at the official I&E rates may discourage Nigerians abroad from sending foreign currencies to their loved ones back home.

This may further reduce foreign remittances into the country, which experts insist has shrunk over the last few years due to some CBN policies considered by foreign remitters as disincentives.

Last year, Nigeria recorded the least direct remittance of the year over the past nine years  with less then a billion dollar in the first half of 2023.

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