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CBN: Embattled Emefiele Gets N300m Bail

By
James Orji
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Embattled former Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, governor Godwin Emefiele has been granted bail by an Abuja High Court.
Emefiele was last week sent to Kuje Prison by the court after he was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC for alleged fraud.
In his ruling on Wednesday, the court presided by Justice Hamza Muazu, the former CBN boss was granted bail on a N300 million bond.
Aside the bond, Justice Muazu also ordered Emefiele to produce two sureties, who must be resident within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and have landed property within the Maitama District.
The court said hearing on the case will commence on November 28.
Emefiele was also ordered to submit his traveling documents to the court’s clerk.

Old Naira Notes: FG Prays Supreme Court’s To Review judgement.

By
James Orji
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The Federal Government has prayed the Supreme Court to review its judgment over the old naira notes, according to the Nation’s newspaper.
The suit is expected to be heard on November 30, the medium said.
The apex court had in March this year ruled that the validity of the N200, N500 and N1,000 as legal tender must not exceed December 31, 2023.
The federal government has now prayed the Supreme Court to review the judgment.
Recall that the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, had recently insisted that the old notes remain legal tender alongside new naira notes.
The CBN spoke following the scarcity of naira notes in some parts of the country, which not a few Nigerians blamed on the Supreme court’s judgment.
Sources in the CBN told the magazine that the government bank is determined to end the naira scarcity before it snowballs into a serious problems, as Nigerians are already apprehensive of what will happen during the festive period if the problem persists.
According to an application filed  by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, a senior Advocate,  the Federal Government has asked the Supreme Court to among other things review the judgment in light of the hoarding of naira notes by some Nigerians.
The government is seeking the following reliefs, “An order of this Honourable Court reviewing or varying its consequential order contained in the judgment in Suit No. SC/CV/162/2023 was delivered on the 3rd day of March 2023 to the effect that the old 200, 500, and 1,000 naira notes should be legal tender until December 31, 2023.
“An order of this Honourable Court varying its consequential order contained the March 3 judgment to the effect that the old 200, 500, and 1,000 Naira notes should be legal tender until December 31, 2023.
“An order of this Honourable Court reviewing and/or varying the said consequential order to read thus: An order that the old versions of 200, 500, and 1,000 notes/currency shall continue to be legal tenders alongside the new or redesigned versions until the government decides to bring the circulation of the old versions to an end… after its consultation with critical stakeholders and after putting all required structures in place.
“And for such order or further orders as this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances.”

“Our Courts Have Become Courts Of Favour, And Of Procurement” – Obi

By
The Source
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The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, in the February 25th general elections, Peter Obi, has challenged Nigerians not to be silent but to voice out and ask questions about why our courts are turning into courts of favour and procurement rather than courts of justice and law.

Obi who fielded questions from a cross-section of the media in his Abuja office on Monday night to mark the Centenary celebration of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, said the situation is worrisome and the  IPAC, Civil society groups, and indeed Nigerians should be consistent in their challenge for good governance.

“We now have a situation where known party card-carrying members of political parties who were even involved in thuggery are being appointed to be a referee in our coming elections”

The LP Presidential Candidates challenged  IPAC, civil society, and the people to resist anything that tends to undermine democracy and good governance of the people but they must be civil and within the law.

According to Obi, “IPAC should question why 90% of our elections end up in courts with huge resources that should be channeled to the people’s welfare being used for litigations

They should voice out where our courts have become courts of favor, courts of procurement rather than courts of justice and the law.”

He listed the three recent contradictory gubernatorial election cases involving three state governors of the opposition parties, “Look at what is happening in Zamfara, Kano and Plateau and others states.

“My party is not in any of them but we are all affected by injustice, my concern is to do what is right.

“Look at the election that happened recently in Kogi and others, nobody is talking about those who were killed. We do not talk about such ugly situations as killings, or maiming because human lives no longer mean anything to us in this country.

“Everybody is watching something we know was wrong.  That is why IPAC and civil society should voice out in defense of democracy and good governance.

” I have said it before it’s not about who will benefit today or tomorrow. I have said it before nobody is buying fuel cheaper, nobody is buying food cheaper because he belongs to the ruling party.”

On his advice to IPAC members vis a viz their role in the contemporary political matters, Obi said: “My advice is that the parties must come together and work for the people in defense of democracy and good governance.

You can see today that there is a gradual erosion of the tenets of democracy”. IPAC must rescue the situation and ensure that the resources are properly channeled for the people’s welfare.

“Our political compass is headed in the wrong direction so there is a need for the parties to come together to be able to rescue the situation.

The LP standard bearer also advised Nigerians to take the issue of governance very seriously, we need to ensure that only those who are competent, who have compacity, who have integrity can serve faithfully, and use the resources of the nation for effective production are allowed to hold positions.

On the need for cooperation among political parties, Obi said

” You are talking about coming together for election purposes but that’s not what am talking about. I am talking about coming together for good governance and making sure that the people are well governed.

He explained that the difference is that when coming together is for election purposes, it’s self-serving and often transactional but if it’s for good governance, we can all come together.

On the recent position of former President Olusegun Obasanjo on democracy, Obi said the former President’s position should not be misconstrued, he is worried like every patriotic person the way our democracy is going and is boldly in his usual way offering solutions.

“For example, if you look at democracy in America where we even copied the Presidential system, there are so many things that we have abandoned. In the US office of the First Lady only exists in name merely for domestic purposes, not for a bogus budget that should be deployed in critical areas for development.

“In America if the President chooses to entertain people you pay for the food. If he chooses to have different dishes you pay for it so you can order fish from Japan at your own expense. You don’t have renovations of different houses for the President with public funds when the people are dying of basic things such as food and health care.

These are the issues, we have to look at what suits us and how we can manage our resources, expenses, and everything, that is what Obasanjo is saying that we adopt what suits us.

On the 2027 Presidential Election, Obi admonished journalists to stop asking questions about another election when the country is in a critical situation.

“My dear let’s not talk about election. We have critical problems happening now. We should all come together even you as a journalist should look beyond the elections. People are dying of hunger and you are talking of election. I have said repeatedly that Peter Obi is not desperate to be Nigerian President but is desperate to see Nigeria work especially for the poor. Your children are suffering and you are talking of an election that is four years away.

“I am begging you, let’s talk about how to save this country, if the country is working I mustn’t be President. Let the country work first”

On how his supporters should react to the past election, Obi said:

“They should not relent, they should continue to voice their opposition out. It shouldn’t be a one-off thing, they have to be consistent. Am not saying they should go and start destroying things, they must remain civil but consistently say NO to bad governance.

On how IPAC can do better and live up to expectations to help create the democracy of our dream,  the LP standard bearer said “IPAC should go beyond being transactional and be effective in opposing bad governance. That’s their role and that was why they were formed. To say No when things are going wrong. And everybody can see today that things are going wrong in our country”

On the issue of restructuring, Obi said:

“We need to talk. Our compass is headed in the wrong direction and we need to show the correct direction. And if we don’t do anything it will consume everybody, and we can bequeath anarchy to our children  Some people will think today that they are benefiting, in a situation where we have a looming crisis and we are playing about it. We have been warned that we are going to face hunger next year, but we are using almost 100% of our revenue to service debts and nobody can say how we piled the debts and what we used it for.

“In a place where we are told we are bankrupt, we have been behaving like people in affluence.

“Bankrupt people should eliminate all expenditures that are not critical for development.

“But we are still going ahead living a life that is beyond our resources. All these are things to look into, whether this Presidential system suits us or whether we should jettison it and return to parliamentary but we need to talk.

LAHA Lawmakers Scrutinize Governor Sanwo-Olu’s Nominees, Demand For Their Identities

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

The Lagos State House of Assembly  has demanded that the identities of six new Commissioner-nominees sent to the House for screening and confirmation by Governor Babajide Sanwo- Olu should be revealed.

The House during Plenary presided over by Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa received the letter sent  by Governor Sanwo-Olu and was read to the House by the Clerk of the House, Olalekan Onafeko, before the lawmakers, quoting the Governor as seeking the confirmation of a Commissioner-nominee and five nominees for the position of Special Advisers.

However, the letter only named the Commissioner-nominee as Abiodun Ogunleye, while the identities of the nominees for the position of Special Advisers were not mentioned. This forced the House to resolve to write the Governor for the remaining identities.

Obasa, while agreeing with the Lawmakers that names should be attached to the letter, said: “it is necessary for us to know who and who would become part of the cabinet.”

The Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Adedamola Richard Kasunmu, observed that the letter did not follow the usual procedure of revealing the identities of the nominees.

“Thus, the process of not mentioning the names seems like coming through the backdoor,” he said.

He was supported by his colleagues, Hon. Ladi Ajomale and Hon. Owolabi Ajani, who noted that the previous lists from the governor had details of the nominees and that this made the screening by the ad-hoc committee easy.

“But in this case, it is only the commissioner-nominee that had a name attached to it and this is surprising. Maybe we should also pass information to the governor that the names should be specified,” Ajomale said.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State House of Assembly has invited the state’s procurement agency over reports of alleged spendings by the Offices of the Governor and the Deputy Governor.

Obasa noted that the executive arm of government had made efforts to declare the story as untrue, it was necessary for the House to look into the issue so as the establish the facts behind the story.

“So we call on the committee in charge of procurement to invite the agency and others mentioned and do a thorough job on this in order to establish facts concerning the publications,” the Speaker said.

Ondo Police Moves To Douse Tension Over Continued Absence Of Gov Akeredolu

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Rotimi Akeredolu Resumes

By Ayodele Oni

As tension continues to build up in Ondo State over the whereabouts of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, the State Police Command has assured of its readiness to curtail any form of violence.

Various groups have planned protest march against the continued absence of Akeredolu from the state for close to five months, while those loyal to government are also threatening to take to the streets.

Groups and opposition parties in the state have insisted that the Governor must show up in the state or address the people, insisting that his present abode, Ibadan, on Oyo state is not an extension of Ondo Government House.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Police stated that “The attention of the Police in Ondo State has been drawn through intelligence reports that some political elements are bent on disrupting the peace of the State through concerted efforts and mobilization of unsuspecting youths of the State.”

The statement, signed by Funmilayo Odunlami- Omisanya, revealed that “Specific reports revealed  that sponsors seek to cause mayhem with a view to embarrass the State for certain selfish ends.

“The State Police Command therefore, warn such elements within the State to retrace their steps or be made to face the wrath of the law, while assuring the law abiding citizens of their safety as they approach the yuletide season.”

Why FG Revoked Licences Of Defaulting Mineral Firms

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

For defaulting to pay renewal fees, the Federal Government has revoked 1,633 minerals titles previously given to non-complying mining companies.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, announced this during a press briefing on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said the licenses of these mineral title holders were revoked due to failure to pay mandatory annual service fees of N1,500 per cadastral unit.

He said, “The Mining Cadastre Office has recommended the revocation of 1,633 mineral titles as follows: Exploration Licence, 536; Quarry Licence, 279; Small Scale Mining Licence, 787 and Mining Lease, 31.

In line with the powers conferred on me by the NMMA 2007, Section 5 (a), I have approved the revocation of the 1,633 titles.”

How Austin Ilom, A Bank Staff, Was Killed By Kidnappers

By
The Source
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0

By Gideon Njoku

“He asked for water to drink, but before it was brought, he died

This is the sad end of Austin Ilom, a vibrant, good looking  young man. A banker.

Ilom, a staff of Suleja branch of a second generation bank (name withheld by us), was about, three weeks ago, kidnapped from his Kubwa, Abuja, residence.

According to a post by a friend and/or a colleague of his who simply identified herself as Oby, Ilom’s kidnappers asked for a whopping sum of N50m in exchange for his release.

In her post on Whatsaap, she disclosed that his work place couldn’t help, allegedly, because, the young man, whom she described as one of the bank’s  best marketers, was not kidnapped from his office while on duty, but from his residence.

She also alleged that Ilom’s brother-in-law, a serving Senator (name withheld by us), was not of much help either. He said he would wait for the bank to first contribute. According to the post, he finally contributed the sum of “N3m, only”

But, devastated and frantic, Ilom’s colleagues and friends, struggled to garner the sum of N11.5m to help in his release.

The amount of money garnered was sent to the kidnappers, who asked them to go and bring the balance. But days later, they called, and asked them to pick Ilom from a spot.

They went.

However, it was an exhausted and almost dead Ilom whose physical state shocked them. They rushed him to the hospital. On arrival, he asked for water to drink. It was no use. Before the water was brought to him, he took his last breath. And, thus ended his life. Another waste. Another young Nigerian wasted in a country which is steadily becoming the graveyard of its subjects – especially, the young. It is an everyday business.

Following is Oby’s post, slightly edited to remove a couple of names – his Senator-brother-in-law and the bank’s

“Sad end of a young man.

“This is a bank staff of Suleja branch that was kidnapped 3 weeks ago from his house in Kubwa.

“They asked for 50m ransom, the bank refused to help because he was kidnapped at home and not on duty. His brother in -law is a serving Senator. He only said that he won’t do anything until bank brings their own contribution for his release. He ended up bringing only 3m. His friends and colleagues in the office raised 11.5m in total.

“Kidnappers collected the 11m and asked them to go and get the balance,  days later kidnappers called that they should come and pick him.

“They went and picked a half dead man. Shortly after he got to Bwari hospital, he asked for water, before they brought him the water, he gave up.

“Best marketing staff in Suleja branch.

Such a sad end of Austin Ilom.”

I have lost count of people I know, who were involved in one RANSOM contribution or the other for kidnappers to release their friend, family or colleagues.

– Oby.”

Ondo’s Fourth University In Pipeline As Rufus Giwa Polytechnic Is Set To Be Upgraded

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, an Ondo State Government- owned institution, Owo, has been proposed as Ondo State University, Owo.

If it eventually comes true, it will become the fourth University to be fully owned by the Ondo State Government.

Already in existence are Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba, (AAUA), Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa, and Ondo State University of Medical Science, Ondo.

Secretary to the state government, Princess Oladunni Odu disclosed this at a meeting on Tuesday in Akure, with stakeholders of the Polytechnic, as well as High Chiefs from Owo and Isuada communities.

The new University is expected to admit students during the 2024/2025 academic session.

Under the new arrangement, the current Polytechnic education system will be co-exist with the new University structure until it is gradually phased out.

Present at the meeting are the polytechnic Governing Council, management team, Deans of Faculties, High Chiefs representing, Owo, Isuada and Ondo State senior government officials headed by Odu.

“Sack Super Eagles’ Coach, Peseiro Now”, Fans, Stakeholders Urge NFF

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0
Jose Peseiro

By Akinwale Kasali

Soccer fans, football enthusiasts and stakeholders have urged the Ibrahim Gusau-led Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, to swing into action and  sack Portuguese Coach of the Super Eagles, Jose Peseiro for the shambolic display of the team in their 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against the Crocodiles of Lesotho and the Warriors of Zimbabwe.

The Super Eagles had played a 1-1 draw with the Southern African duo of Lesotho and Zimbabwe at the Godswill Obot Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State and at Butare Stadium in Rwanda.

The Super Eagles  came from a goal behind on both occasions to secure a draw.

A Group under the aegis of Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria, PFAN, is championing the call for Peseiro’s sack. He has called on the NFF President, Gusau, to sack the gaffer with immediate effect.

PFAN said if the nation wants to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, and not allow a repeat of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup debacle to reoccur, Paseiro must be sacked.

At the moment, Nigeria is languishing on the third position which may still see it go down the radar further depending on the outcome of the matches of other Teams in the Group, behind the Bafana Bafana of South Africa who have recorded a victory in their first match and could be on six points if they win their second match in the qualifiers.

There is a possibility of the Coach Hugo Broos led South Africa team would take a four-point lead against Nigeria if they win, putting the Super Eagles in a difficult situation.

Peseiro had blamed Nigeria’s poor result on fatigue, saying the players were tired after the long journey to Rwanda. “Our first half was very bad, second half was much better but we lacked energy to push for a win,” Peseiro was quoted to have said after the game.

However, the Chairman of PFAN Task Force, Harrison Jalla, disagreed with Peseiro. He said: “The Coach is a misfit and he is only looking for where to put the blame. The NFF has to sack him now.”

Reminded of a similar step taken against former coach Gernot Rohr, a few months to the last AFCON in Cameroon, where the Eagles crashed out in the Round of 16, Jalla said: “It is more honourable for us to fumble with our local coach than spend about $70,000 monthly on a foreign coach and get bad results. If the NFF fails to sack Peseiro now, another disaster awaits the Super Eagles at the AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire.

“We need to take the bull by the horn before it is too late. As it is now, our qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is on the line. Again, this poor result by the Super Eagles speaks volume about the quality of leadership we have at the NFF.

“There is urgent need for well-meaning Nigerians to break the monopoly of the racket going on in the NFF. We can’t continue to pick the NFF president from one constituency, which is the weakest. I have said it several times that it is suicidal to leave the decision of who becomes the NFF president in the hands of the states’ FA Chairmen. Just that constituency alone and the FCT have 37 votes out of 44 votes”.

“We need equal representation in the NFF, and that is the only way the private sector can come in.

“Our Football is going down under the watch of Ibrahim Gusau, and Nigerians need to act fast. Gusau has to go as quickly as possible.”

Just as PFAN is lamenting the poor performance of Nigeria under Peseiro, so are Soccer fans and enthusiasts who are baffled that a foreign coach who is collecting such huge sum will be underperforming at the big stage, joined the bandwagon in calling for his immediate sack.

The Nigerian Football Fans are annoyed that Peseiro has continued to stick with Omonia Nicosia of Cyprus Goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho despite his poor performances so far.

Soccer fans are saying that Uzoho has let Nigerians down on numerous occasions yet he keeps getting invites to feature in crucial games for the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

Uzoho’s howler (failing to punch away a long-range shot from Thomas Partey) against Ghana was one of the reasons the Super Eagles didn’t participate at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Last month, during an international friendly with Saudi Arabia, Francis Uzoho produced another stinker, diverting a shot into his own net.

In the last seven games that Francis Uzoho, a reserve goalkeeper for his Cyprus-based team, manned the post for Nigeria, he conceded on all seven occasions.

Many Nigerians have urged the Super Eagles Coaching Crew to find a better alternative (even from the Nigerian Professional Football League) to replace Uzoho as the Super Eagles’ number one shot-stopper.

As regards the call for the sack of Peseiro, Nigerians took to the Social Media to air their views.

Read the reaction below;

@Sauce_999331 wrote: “Sack the coach.. use AFCON as preparation to qualify for the World Cup.

My 2 cents!

Terrible situation our football administrators got us in’

@preciousekeke: “If pesiero survives a sack letter after this dismal outing then the NFF should tell us what he has against them.”

@gagnatbiz: “We are not doing it again o. We want a better performance with a win at the end. Not all this draw and “let’s do it again”.

Wake up!!!”

@Mvolgap: xUseless NFF do you shameful people need people to tell you to sack this coach and this goal keeper,not every player needs to invited into the national team just like the late Steven keishe said.”

@isibor266:”The entire team and coaching crew should be disbanded. This is a shame and waste of scarce resources.”

@yoboydonchichi: “You can never do anything again. Please, drop this slogan after another disgraceful result against Zimbabwe. With a failure like Jose Peseiro as coach, Nigeria can never achieve anything in football.”

Presidency Slams Obasanjo Over Comments, Blames Him On Nation’s Democracy Current  State

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

Former President Olusegeun Obasanjo has come under the hammer of  the Federal Government over his comment that  Nigeria is not matured for Western Democratic Style.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, who signed the statement which strongly criticised the former President, described Obasanjo as architect of Nation’s current state.

Onanuga noted that the democracy the country currently practises dates back to direct inputs by Obasanjo when he led the country first, as Military Head of State from 1976 – 1979,  and as civilian President from 1999 – 2007.

In his words, “ “Obasanjo ought to know that he brought this thing (American-style democracy) into Nigeria. He was the one who made us adopt it in 1979. He must have seen it as expensive and unsuitable when he governed us for eight years and even wanted an extension for another four years.

“So, the way he is sounding, it is like the man is getting wiser after leaving office,” Onanuga said.

The Presidency further blamed Obasanjo for a poorly copied model during his tenure as Head of State and, later, President.

It criticised him for not advocating a better system despite his current views, saying, “If he believes in what he is saying now, he ought to be an advocate of the need to go back to the Parliamentary System.”

Onanuga added, “We were practicing the Parliamentary Democracy the British left for us. Then, the military struck in 1966. And when we were going to return to democracy, instead of going back to what we were practicing before, Parliamentary Democracy, which was not expensive, it was this same Obasanjo who accepted the recommendation of the Constitutional Assembly at that time that recommended this American-style democracy.”

The Presidency, also, slammed Obasanjo’s implementation of the Presidential system. It said: “Obasanjo also knew that he copied this Presidential system very wrongly. He copied the form and structure. But he didn’t copy the spirit of it.

“Something that should have been under him in 1999 to 2007, he even made attempts to modify the constitution,” Onanuga remarked.

Obasanjo had criticised Western democracy, suggesting it had not delivered good governance and development in Africa.

He called for a re-examination and moderation of democracy to better suit African nations, citing the Western model’s disregard for African history and complexities.

He proposed an “Afro democracy” tailored to the Continent’s unique needs.

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