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OPINION: Emefiele: Tyranny Foretold

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By Emeka Mbamali

When the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) grabbed and detained Godwin Emefiele, following his release by the Department of State Security (DSS), someone speculated that whenever the EFCC was done with him, other agents of State and society would grab him too.

He  listed the police, civil defence, boys scout, neighbourhood vigilante etc as those likely to take the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor hostage and do a shakedown. Well, he was on course, though he missed the details a bit.   He had forgotten the courts which have in recent times shown great elasticity towards the government. Or he may have been taken in by the half-dozen court orders that granted bail or some freedom to Emefiele. Well, a reality check has popped up to remind us of the era in which we are.

An Abuja high court at which Emefiele had been charged with malfeasance remanded him in prison custody for a reason that the uninitiated would not understand. The judge was reported to have said he needed some time to look up the authorities  cited by both the prosecution and the defence.

Simple folks like us thought Emefiele’s Incaceration was just a question of whether the offences he was charged with were bailable or not. We also ordinarily thought that the 151 days that the man had spent in detention would draw favourable consideration to him. His lordship ruled us wrong on both counts. Emefiele had to enjoy the harmattan breeze at Kuje Prison while his lordship looked up the quoted authorities. If only we were learned…

True to his word, the Judge looked things up, and granted bail to Emefiele in the sum of N300 million, guaranteed by property in Maitama district of Abuja.

But would the trial simply go on? Would the forces seeking Emefiele’s head wait for some justice to be served? So much apparent vindictiveness has been shown to this man since the new regime came to power. Next to petroleum subsidy which was dispatched by word of mouth on ‘coronation’ grounds, Emefiele’s ouster was top of the agenda for the new regime. First, he was suspended from office, then slammed into detention by the DSS, despite extant Court orders forbidding that. Court orders were serially procured afresh ordering his release. But the DSS was adamant.

Charges against Emefiele came by the dozens; hearings were scheduled, only to be ignored by the State at the flimsiest of excuses. Charges were substituted and hopes of trial were raised, only to be thrashed.

It was obvious that something was being worked on in a manner that was not straight forward. When it was announced that Emefiele had resigned his position as Governor of CBN, even lay observers noticed that the document was procured in captivity. All the same, nobody contested that. The attitude of family and friends seemed to be, If that is what the authorities want so badly, let them take it.

Hopes of the man’s release rose, only to be stymied by the State that seemed out to crush him body, spirit and soul.

In doing Emefiele in like this, the State is belittling itself, besmirching itself and almost dressing itself in garbs of terror. Why can’t there be a simple fair trial for this man, establishing his innocence or guilt? And if someone with the high profile of Governor of the Central Bank is being rolled in the mud this way, what would happen to the ordinary man? What has Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the democratic activist of NADECO metamorphosed into as President? Is he so distracted as not to notice the garb in which he is being dressed?


Mbamali writes from Asaba

Timi Frank Chastises President Tinubu, Says  Quest For Guinness World Record Laughable

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By Akinwale Kasali

Social Commentators and Activist, Timi Frank, has once again gone hard on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, alleging that Nigeria’s Number one citizen is on a wild goose quest to be recognized in the Guinness World Records over reforms initiated by him since assumption of office.

The Bayelsa State born former Deputy National Publicity Secretary to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, said the quest by the former Lagos State Governor is a misplaced venture.

Frank made this assertion in a statement in reaction to the President’s comment in that regard while speaking in Germany recently.

Tinubu had said while addressing an audience at the 10th German-Nigerian Business Forum, in Germany that  “Nigeria voted for me for reforms and from day one of my inauguration, I started the reforms. To me, if you didn’t mention me in the Guinness Book of Records, I’d strive to find a way to insert myself because I did it without expectation.”

But Frank insisted that the only world record the President had set is the infliction of severe economic pains and unbearable hardship on the people.

Accordung to Frank: “You brandish your removal of fuel subsidy on Inauguration Day as an evidence that you ‘hit the ground running’ but you have failed to realise that that singular action has  heated up average citizen with attendant pains, tears and sorrow.

“Your purported reforms have wrecked the nation’s currency with $1 now exchanging for over N1,000, up from N600 prior to your swearing-in as President. Yet you claimed to have broken a record capable of earning you a global recognition in the GWRs.”

He  insisted that even though the President claimed he was in Germany to woo investors, none will be willing to invest in the country because of the negative world records he had already set.

“No investor will want to come to Nigeria when they know the President’s character is questionable because investors will always do background checks before they go to anywhere.

“Such background checks would among others reveal the negative reputation of the man inviting them as a certificate forger with proven links to drugs trafficking.

“Foreign investors will definitely not go to a country with a flawed electoral process or where the judiciary cannot be trusted to guarantee justice to protect their investments.

“So, while investors will not come to Nigeria under your government, your name, if at all, can only be written in Guinness World Records as a certificate forger in line with the ruling of a Chicago Court,” he said.

He also cited some false claims made by the President as additional reasons why his drive for investors would not yield any positive result.

Frank, the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, ULMWP, Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, said: “He claimed that he had removed fuel subsidy, but fuel is still being subsidised by his administration even though the people now languish under the burden of astronomical increases in the pump price of fuel and other essential petroleum products.

“He claimed that he worked for Deloitte but Deloitte has since denied having his employment records.

“This is a President who often claim he is from the private sector but which genuine business has he done that qualifies him to be part of the private sector?

“He went to Saudi Arabia and India and upon return claimed he had convinced investors there to invest in Nigeria. But up till this moment no investor from Saudi or India has indicated interest to invest in Nigeria.

“If they didn’t corrupt the system, we’re not supposed to look for investors. Investors are supposed to look for Nigeria with her abundant human and material resources that can attract investors.

“These obvious flaws are reasons why we are mobilising Nigerians, both locally and in diaspora, for a Tinubu must go mass protest to resist and stop all these illegalities and deception, targeted at the gradual annihilation of the people through high cost of food, medicare, goods and services, among others, in the country.”

Court Of Appeal Affirms Oborevwori’s As Elected Delta State Governor, Dismisses Omo-Agege’s Petition

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By Akinwale Kasali

The Court of Appeal Appeal Sitting in Lagos has dismissed the petition by the All Progressives Congress, APC, Governorship Candidate, Ovie Omo-Agege, against the election of of Sheriff  Oborevwori as Governor. The Court affirmed  Oborevwori victory in the March 18th, 2023 Governorship Election in Delta State.

Oborevwori, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governorship Candidate at the Poll was declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, after he secured 360,234 votes to defeat Omo-Agege who trailed behind him with 240,229 votes.

Before the Court of Appeal’s verdict, the Delta State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Asaba, had on September 29, affirmed  Oborevwori as the duly elected governor of the State.

A three-member tribunal, led by Hon. Justice C.H. Ahuchaogu, in its judgment dismissed the petition for lack of merit. But Omo-Agege, the immediate past Deputy Senate President, appealed the judgement.

The Lagos Division of the Appeal court, on Monday, 13 November reserved judgment in three separate appeals filed by Omo-Agege as well as governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi and the Labour Party, LP,  Candidate, Kennedy Pela, all challenging the election of Oborevwori as the Governor of Delta State.

Delivering judgement on Friday November 24,the Appeal Court upheld the Governorship victory of Oborevwori.

Following this development, the Delta State Chapter of the PDP through Ifeanyi Osuoza,  PDP’s State Publicity Secretary, in a Statement expressed its hearty congratulations to the State Governor and leader of the party in the State on his well-deserved Appeal Court victory.

This congratulatory message also assured that the victory is another step towards ensuring the steady and continuous implementation of the MORE Agenda for Deltans.

The statement reads: “Your Excellency, our leader, it is with unreserved joy, pride and satisfaction, that the entire PDP family in Delta State, offer our hearty congratulations to you, on your well-deserved victory at the Court of Appeal.

“We applaud the judiciary once again for their learned, articulate and well-delivered judgement, which is a further affirmation of what we had already stated categorically and without equivocation, that the PDP overwhelmingly won the 2023 Delta State Governorship election and Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori is undoubtedly, the duly elected Governor of Delta State.

“While we recognize the fact that our petitioners have the freedom of choice to pursue their legal convictions to whatever conclusion they may have envisioned, we still wish, with the best intentions, to offer our olive branch and hand of fellowship by urging them to reconsider any further challenge, after this Appeal Court verdict, to avoid frittering extra resources in these very hard times.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, who has indeed, started so well and exhibited impressive governance and excellent leadership skills since assuming office, is greatly buoyed now to continue the fine work of delivering the dividends of Democracy to our people and as a responsible and people oriented party, it is our utmost desire to carry all Deltans along in the collective effort to ensure the best for our State.

“His Excellency Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori has already and amply demonstrated his large-hearted, all encompassing and accommodating politics without bitterness disposition for all to see and it behoves on all true, patriotic and well meaning Deltans to eschew further political acrimony and join hands with the Governor to consolidate on the delivery of the MORE Agenda in the interest of Deltans.

“Once again, Congratulations, Your Excellency”, the statement reads.

The Governor is the immediate past Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly.

Wike Lashes Governor Fubara, Accuses Of Causing Crisis, Burning Down State Assembly Complex

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By Akinwale Kasali

As the crisis rocking the Rivers State House of Assembly continues to escalate Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has accused  Governor Siminalayi Fubara of being behind it.

Wike blasted his successor for, allegedly, razing down the Assembly in order to abort his impeachment by the State Legislators.

In an interview Friday with  Journalists in Abuja, Wike went down memory lane on his relationship with Fubara, stating that Governor Fubara should have called him when he saw there were moves to impeach him but instead, he decided to send people to burn down the House of Assembly and resorted to ethnicity politics.

He further explained that he took the Goverbor to Julius Berger company in order to negotiate road construction for a seamless second term ambition.

Wike added that he had no bad intention against Fubara, and did not plot an impeachment move against  the Governor.

Earlier before now, Wike had said there was nothing wrong with the impeachment of a Governor as it is in the Constitution. “Impeachment is not a coup d’etat Wike was quoted as having said.

Ebonyi: Nwifuru Wins Again, Appeal Court Affirms Him Gov

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The Court of Appeal in Lagos had upheld the election of Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi state.
.Nwifuru ran under the banner of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the March 18 governorship election, and was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
His victory in the contested election had earlier been affirmed by the state Election Petition Tribunal. in September.
Before the appellate court ruling on Friday, the Ebonyi helmsman had alluded his rise to the highest office in the state to God, saying he was a former mechanic helped by divinity.
He made the comment last week after some critics said he’s likely to lose his position because he was allegedly wrongly nominated by his party, APC, as governorship candidate.
In their ruling on Friday, the three-man panel of the Appeal Court, presided over by Justice Jummai Sankey, dismissed the appeal filed by Chukwuma Odii of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP), against the validity of Nwifuru’s election.
The panel resolved all five issues raised by the PDP in favour of Nwifuru, ruling that the appeal lacked merit and should be dismissed.
Justice Sankey who red the lead judgment said their verdict was premised on the fact that the issue of nominating a candidate is an internal matter for the APC.

Zenith Bank Tech Fair : Winner Takes Home N20m Grand Prize

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The Third Edition of the Zenith Bank Tech Fair, themed “Future Forward 3.0”, which was held on November 23-24, 2023, at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos has concluded.
 From the over 500 contestants that participated in the Zenith Hackathon (Zecathon), Sync, a team collaboration and workflow management platform that provides synergy, enables project management, task planning, messaging,
payments, scheduling and people operations, emerged as the overall winner, taking home the grand prize of N20 million.
This is in addition to a mentorship programme with Seedstars, a company dedicated to implementing high-quality capacity-building programmes for entrepreneurs in emerging markets.
The first runner-up, Skill Up With Kahdsole (SUWK), a social-tech startup that provides an end-to-end platform for learning technical and vocational skills to empower young people, won N15 million and a mentorship programme with Seedstars, while the second runner-up, Tribapay, a payment processing gateway that allows for cross-border payments and transactions in Nigeria and Ghana, won N10 million as well as a mentorship programme with Seedstars. Other finalists who took home N2 million each include Edupoint, Joovlin, Frootify, Izesan Limited, Natal Cares, Plychain.io, and Niteon.
In his welcome address at the Zenith Bank flagship Tech Fair, the Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank Plc, Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, expressed his excitement for this year’s Hackathon, stating that it was indeed the high point of the overall event. According to him, “We have deliberately kept the best for the last. The high point of today’s event is the Hackathon. This is where we have the opportunity to see the immense creativity and talent in our youth as they come up with different innovative ideas.” He added that “the good thing about the Hackathon is that the pitches you see presented are completely different from the ones we have seen before and we intend to make it far more elaborate as we hope that as we go into the future, we should be able to bring back winners where they can tell the audience their journey and how they have progressed so far.”
The two-day Tech Fair which was described as a huge success by participants, featured presentations on the leading technological innovations that cut across different aspects of life, such as Artificial Intelligence, Contactless Payments, Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing, FinTech, Data Analytics, Financial Intelligence, and communication technologies, with the keynote address,” “Artificial Intelligence – Application & Bias “, delivered by Chris Lu, the renowned IT Specialist, business strategist and Managing Director for Huawei Technologies, Nigeria.
The event also featured a welcome address by Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank Plc and Chairman of Body of Banks’ CEOs, Nigeria, and a goodwill messages by the Honourable Minister of Communication, Innovation & Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani and Dr. Doris Anite, Hon. Minister of Industry, Trade & Investment (represented by Dr. Femi Adeluyi, National Coordinator for the National Talent Programme). Other eminent IT practitioners from top global brands who also made presentations include Demola Sanusi, Solutions Architect, Amazon Web Services; Temitope Aladenusi, Partner & Leader Cybersecurity, Deloitte; Andrew Uaboi, Vice President/Cluster Head, Visa West Africa; Dr. Blaise Ijebor, Director of Risk Management, CBN; Keelan Singh, Head, UiPath EMEA Banking and Financial Services; Shweta Juneja, Partner, McKinsey Digital; Wole Odeleye, Financial Services Technology Lead, Microsoft; Ope Ajayi, Founder & CEO, Cinemax; Elo Umeh, and Managing Director of Terragon.
The fair featured two panel sessions. The first panel, which examined “The next frontier: Digital Wallets, Contactless payments and BNPL (Buy Now Pay Later)”, had Chris Lu as the host, with five discussants, including Fey Wong, Country Director, Palmpay; Premier Oiwoh, Managing Director, NIBSS; Vincent Ogbunude, Managing Director, Verve; Ebehijie Momoh, Country Manager, MasterCard, and Managing Director of Network International, Adelola Agbebiyi.
The second panel explored the theme “The intersection of Fintech, eCommerce and SMEs – Collaboration for growth”. It was hosted by John Obidi and had five discussants, including Prince Nnamdi Ekeh, Chief Executive Officer, Konga; Tunde Kehinde, Managing Director, Lydia; Stan Martins, Regional Director, Meta; John Obaro, Chief Executive Officer, Systemspecs, and Seyi Banigbe, Founder of Bland2Glam.

PDP Governors Canvass For More Funds For States, LGs

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By Ayodele Oni

As the hardship occasioned by economic crunch continues, Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum (PDP) has canvassed for a new revenue formular.

The governors want a revenue formular  that will give more money to states and local government areas.

This was contained in a communique issued after its meeting in Abuja and read by its chairman, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State.

He disclosed that the opposition governors also reviewed the recent judgments of the Court of Appeal concerning governors of various states and noted the mixed outcomes.

“As a forum, we once again re-state our overall confidence in the judiciary to do justice.

“We believe the Supreme Court will do justice in the cases where we recorded temporary setbacks like Zamfara and Plateau.”

Mohammed said the meeting also reviewed the off-season election in Kogi, Bayelsa, and Imo states.

He expressed the governors’ support on the Independent National Electoral Commission’s decision to investigate allegation of existence of pre-filled result sheets prior to the election in some polling units to ensure the confidence of the people in the electoral process.

Kano:  Only Supreme Court Has Power To Change CTC Judgment- Gov Yusuf

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Governor Kabir Yusuf of Kano states has stated that the Court of Appeal’s has no power to recall the Certified True Copies, CTC, on the judgment it delivered on the state governorship election.
The governor made the comment on Thursday following the court’s order mandating all parties involved in the case to return the CTC for correction.
The Court of Appeal, in its letter, dated November 22, signed by Amina Ibrahim, it’s Deputy Chief Registrar requested parties in the case to return the CTC of the judgment earlier issued to them in view of the identified typographical errors.
The court said its important to make the corrections following the controversy that trailed its decision on the governorship legal tussle.
The appellate court had in the judgment affirmed the verdict of the state’s Election Petition Tribunal that Nasir Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress, APC, won the February 18 governorship election.
But the governor claimed that the court have him victory based on the CTC content.
Reacting yesterday, Governor Yusuf said it’s only the Supreme Court that has the power to make any change in the CTC, stressing that the timeline for the lower court to do so has lapsed.
In a letter by his lawyer, Wole Olanipekun, a senior Advocate on Thursday, the governor said the Appeal Court no longer has the power to act on the judgment since the 60 days, within which it is allowed to determine election appeals under Section 285(7) of the Constitution, expired on November 18.
The governor said: “Assuming without conceding that the judgment has some errors, whether typographical or otherwise, we humbly and dutifully draw your attention to the fact that the Court of Appeal became functus officio in the matter on Saturday, November 18, 2023 and any application for correction of errors can only be entertained by the Supreme Court.
“Again, Section 285(7) of the Constitution earlier referred to becomes very handy and imperative to the effect that the Court of Appeal cannot take any further step in the appeal or subject after the expiration of sixty (60) days.
 “Even at that, judicial precedents are countless as to the procedure to follow and which court has jurisdiction to take such an application, after the expiration of the 60 days mandatorily benchmarked by the Constitution.
“Today (November 23) is the seventh day, effective from Friday, November 17, 2023, since the delivery of the judgment of the Court of Appeal.
“We repeat that, out of the fourteen days mandatory prescribed for our client to file his notice and grounds of appeal to the Supreme Court, he is left with just seven days; and it is only fair that he should be allowed to exercise his constitutional right of appeal without any inhibition, within the fraction of days left for him.
“We reiterate that this response has been borne out of a compelling duty and responsibility to the administration of justice; and, as counsel, it is our responsibility to draw attention to these salient statutory imperatives.”

Unity Bank, Cashtoken Partner to Reward Customers With Millions of Naira 

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 Unity Bank Plc and Cashtoken, have announced a partnership to deploy a patronage reward product that will see the Bank’s customers winning millions of Naira in cash rewards, guaranteed instant cashback, and offer a life-changing opportunity.
Cashtoken is a Cash Reward-as-a-Service company that operates a loyalty programme designed to power customer engagement and improve customer satisfaction. For Unity Bank, the partnership offers it the opportunity to migrate customers – old and new, to a platform that will continually create exciting rewards and appreciation for loyalty.
To be part of this reward scheme, customers are to onboard onto any or all of the Unity Bank digital banking platforms including the Unifi mobile banking application, the *7799# USSD platform or activate their Unity Bank Verve Card and transact on any e-payment terminals across Nigeria.
Each card transaction, as well as the onboarding on the digital platform, earns customers a cash token, which can be redeemed instantly while qualifying the customer to enter the monthly Cashtoken Rewards draw to stand a chance of winning up to One Million Naira cash.
Speaking at the media launch in Lagos, Unity Bank’s Head of E-Business, Eghomware Iyamu said the collaboration with Cashtoken is meant to boost the ways in which Unity Bank customers are appreciated.
Iyamu said, “We are excited to announce this strategic partnership with Cashtoken which reinforces our commitment to recognizing and rewarding loyalty.
 Through this collaboration, we are taking customer appreciation to new heights, offering millions in cash rewards as a token of gratitude for choosing Unity Bank.”
He added: “This partnership will create an unparalleled experience for Unity Bank’s customers by leveraging the impressive reward platform built by Cashtoken Reward. This collaboration has therefore set the stage for an exciting journey of appreciation, as Unity Bank customers can now look forward to bountiful cash rewards, making every interaction with the bank a rewarding experience.”
The Bank believes that this initiative will not only reward existing customers but also attract new ones with a rewarding banking experience when they pick up and activate a Verve Card and transact on the Bank’s digital banking channels.
On its part, Cashtoken stated that the fulfillment of its mandate under the partnership allows it to create more excitement for customers, and an even greater bond among families and businesses by constantly rewarding patronage and loyalty.
It further stated the Unity Bank/Cashtoken partnership being launched will, from the outset, begin to deliver brand engagement and customer experience that will, in many ways, replicate loyalty rewards in cash prizes.
The partnership announcement comes on the heels of a similar partnership with the payment processor, Verve Card Services Limited which has seen Unity Bank customers, Nmeregini Chukwuebuka and Sharif Yusuf Mohd winning 500,000 and 150,000 naira respectively in the ongoing Verve National Consumer Promo.

Access Holdings Loses Board Chairman, Osunkoya

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The Chairman of Access Holdings board of director, Bababode Osunkoya, is dead.
The conglomerate announced his demise in a disclosure, signed by the Company’s Secretary, Sunday Ekwochi on Thursday night.
According to the statement, Osunkoya died on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, after a brief illness.
The statement said, “Consequent upon the tragic event, the company now has a nine-member board comprising of six non-executive directors (two of whom are independent) and three executive Directors inclusive of the group chief executive officer.”
In his lifetime, Osuntokun was a board member of other top firms such as  Richardson Oil & Gas Limited, Haggai Mortgage Bank Limited, Freedom Foundation (Nigeria) and Guiding Light Assembly.
He was also an Associate Member at Institute of Directors and Senior Partner at Abax-Oosa Professionals.
 Osunkoya held the position of Partner at Bababode Osunkoya & Co., Manager at Abacus Merchant Bank and Assistant Audit Manager at HLB Z. O. Ososanya & Co.
Until his demise, Osunkoya served as a Senior Partner at the chartered accounting firm of Abax-OOSA Professionals.
He had over 20 years  post-qualification experience in banking, audit, accountancy, taxation, business and financial advisory.
He graduated from the University of Lagos and is one of the first Certified Forensic Auditors of the Chartered Institute of Accountants of Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the company said in the statement that Osuntokun’s successor will be announced soon.