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TInubu Appoints New EFCC Chairman

June 20, 2023

Hakeem Odumosu - Lagos State Police Commissioner

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, as the substantive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The appointment of Odumosu, a former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, is subject to confirmation by the Senate.

He replaces Abdulrasheed Bawa who was recently suspended by President Tinubu to pave way for investigation into allegations of abuse of power levelled against him.

Odumosu retired from the Nigeria Police Force in January 2022, shortly after his elevation to the rank of Assistant Inspector General, AIG, and after serving for 32 years.

He served as the first chairman of Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Enforcement Unit (Taskforce) and also the Commander of the State-funded Rapid Response Squad, RRS.

Bawa, following his suspension by the president, has been arrested by the Department of State Services, DSS for interrogation.

Nigeria’s Professor Aisha Ali-Gombe Heads USA’s Cybersecurity Clinic

The Source

June 20, 2023

Nigeria’s Aisha Ali-Gombe has been selected as the Director of the new Cybersecurity Clinic at the Louisiana State University.

Ali-Gombe, an Associate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering, is a Lecturer at the University.

The United States National Security Agency (NSA) granted the sum of $1.5m to Louisiana State University to create a pilot Cybersecurity Clinic which targer is to protect small businesses against cyberattacks.” And Aisha Ali-Gombe waa selected as the Director of the new Cybersecurity Clinic.

Ali-Gombe is a US-based Nigerian from Gombe State.

Imo PDP Crisis: State Chairman, Ugwu, Says Dumping PDP For APC By SWC Members Is Of No Effect

The Source

June 20, 2023

By Charles Igbo

The State Chairman, Imo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Engr Charles Ugwu has dismissed the resignation of seven members of the State Executive Committee of the Party as nothing.

The seven members, including the Deputy Chairman, State Secretary, Women Leader, Treasurer, Publicity Secretary, Youth Leader, at a Press Conference on Sunday, not only resigned from their offices, and made damning allegations, especially, against the Governorship Candidate of the Party, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, in the upcoming November 11, 2023, Governorship election, but they, also, dumped the Party.

On Monday, June 19, they paid a surprising courtesy call on the Governor of the State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, and declared the Governor the best Governor since late Chief Sam Mbakwe.

They pledged loyalty to the Governor, and said they joined the APC because of the good works he is doing in the State.

Then, they declared the PDP dead in the State. They told the Governor that by their dumping the PDP, only the carcass remains of the once flourishing Party.

But Ugwu, in his first official reaction since the tsunami hit his PDP, said “not true”. He said the PDP in the State remains strong and is looking forward to forming the next Government in the State.

In the personally signed statement dated 20th June, 2023, Ugwu said the Party was founded on a strong foundation so much so that the departure of the seven SWC members has no negative effect on the Party.

Following is the full text of the Press Statement titled: Imo State PDP Remains Strong And Resolute

“It is no longer news that seven (7) members of the State Working Committee (SWC) of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have resigned their Positions, and consequently joined the All Progressives Congress, (APC).

“While this may seem grievous on the face value, it is important to educate the general public and our teeming supporters that the structure, manifesto and construction of PDP is inherently robust and residential to the extent that no vacancy at any scale, has the capacity to undermine the functionality of the Party at any level.

“This is evident from historical antecedents, where pessimistic commentators had predicted the extinction of PDP, yet the Party remained as strong as ever.

“In this regard, critical consultations amongst stakeholders have been done, and the stakeholders are unequivocal that the Party is resolute in her quest to win the November 11 Governorship election with her flag bearer, Senator Anyanwu.

“We enjoin all our members and teeming supporters to remain faithful and confident in the subsisting process in this current situation.

“The Party remains strong and determined to pursue its overall objectives and clear focus to win the November 11th Governorship Elections.”

However, not a few people think that it will be an uphill task for the PDP, as it in the State to make any impact in the November 11, 2023, Governorship Election. For now, everybody is waiting for the reaction of former Governor of the State, the Rt. Honourable Emeka Ihedioha who PDP loyalists in the State regard as the Leader of the Party, to the exit of the SWC members

Notedly, the members of the SWC who dumped the Party are mainly Ihedioha loyalists.

PDP Candidate, Anyanwu, Promises To Return University, Other Loots, To Okorocha – Imo Govt.

The Source

June 20, 2023

Imo State Government, Tuesday, declared that it has information on a secret agreement between the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the State, Senator Samuel Anyanwu and former Governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha, to return all seized and looted assets to Okorocha, and stop further implementation of the White paper, should PDP win the governorship election.

In return, Okorocha will bankroll the election of Anyanwu, who is said to be desperately in need of cash to fund his election, the government added.

In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon Declan Emelumba, he listed some of the seized looted assets to include the KO Mbadiwe University, Ogboko and the Palm Garden Estate in Owerri.

“Government has intelligence that the two desperate politicians have entered into an unholy alliance to short-change Imo people in the unlikely event that PDP wins the upcoming election,” Emelumba said.

He said part of the agreement is that Senator Anyanwu ( Samdaddy) will reverse and stop the implementation of the White paper which indicted the former governor of siphoning billions of naira through phoney contracts, including returning the KO Mbadiwe University to him.

Emelumba disclosed that in exchange, Okorocha will fund the election of Anyanwu, including handing over his political structure to the PDP candidate.

” It is not as if Senator Samuel Anyanwu can ever win the election but it is necessary to inform Imo people for them to take note of their enemies who wish to ruin the State for them by returning them to Egypt,” Emelumba submitted.

He added: “Of course it is clear that what this means is to encourage further looting of the commonwealth of Imo people in the unlikely event of a Sen. Samuel Anyanwu Government.”

Emelumba decried what he described as the desperation of Senator Samuel Anyanwu “even when the PDP house is collapsing on him with the exodus of thousands of people from the Party.”

The Commissioner wondered the kind of leader that will support the return of seized looted assets from someone who ruined the economy of the State.

He further disclosed that the birthday Party held by Anyanwu recently and attended by Okorocha was used as a testing ground for the implementation of the agreement.

“They have perfected the agreement before that day, and that was why Okorocha promised to call a meeting for him (Samdaddy), at the event. Imo people should watch out,” he cautioned.

He, however, urged Imo people to reject such characters in the upcoming election and support Governor Uzodimma who has vowed to ensure that all looted Imo property are recovered.

Cross River Governor’s Office Unbefitting Of My Status, Stinking – Otu

Ayodele Oni

June 20, 2023

By Ayodele Oni

Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has disclosed his resolve to immediately renovate the Governor’s office complex and turn it into a 21st Century smart office.

Otu expressed his disappointment at the deplorable state of the office during an interactive session with staff.

He has, therefore, announced a temporary relocation of the staff to give room for total overhauling and proper modernization of all departments and units.

In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Emmanuel Ogbeche in Calabar, Tuesday, the Governor said, “As a matter of fact we deserve to build a brand new one (office complex) but because there are too many competing demands, we will try to remodel this one properly for it to serve the demands of the 21st Century.

“The edifice that we have now has served several administrations and just because of time, we will not be able to do the things we supposed to do but will do what we can to make it conducive for me and all of you the staff.

“I am looking for a space where the staff could be accommodated so that at least they can renovate this edifice to a 21st Century smart office in line with current realities.

“If we are able to get a place, I think all of us will be involved so that they can start the renovation of this office very quickly.

“It is one of those projects that we are targeting, though I don’t believe in 100 days in office, but for the 100 days in office that we will be doing.”

On the issue of welfare, the governor, who is also considerate of the untold hardship civil servants are facing due to the subsidy removal and consequent hike in the price of fuel, maintained that plans are on the way to introduce measures that will cushion the effect on their livelihoods.

While soliciting their loyalty and cooperation at all times, Otu urged them to demonstrate greater commitment and dedication for effective and efficient service delivery.

Earlier in his introductory remarks, Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Anthony Owan-Enoh, commended the governor for meeting the staff, a gesture he noted that has not been recorded in the office for over a decade.

Owan-Enoh informed the governor that the staff were eagerly waiting to experience the promised season of sweetness and assured him of their cooperation, loyalty and service at all times.

Service Chiefs: North Central Schemes For Chief Of Defence Staff As Group Decries Neglect

Ayodele Oni

June 20, 2023

By Ayodele Oni

The North Central Consultative Assembly has observed that the zone seems to be floating in the affairs of the country as other zones are not ready to relate with it.

National Chairman of the Consultative Assembly, Amb. Al’Mustapha Obaje noted that this has led to ill- treatment being given to the North Central Zone by the Federal Government in socio-political calculations of the country.

Obaje, who spoke during a visit by the contact team of North Central States led by Alhaji Bello Kassim and Tersoo Gbaor in Abuja on Tuesday, said the region deserves to get fair bargain in the political arrangement of the nation.

He explained that currently, the zone has been abandoned again following the recent appointments of Service Chiefs made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“The North Central Zone had been socio-politically marginalized and unfairly treated in terms of infrastructural development.

“I feel we have not been fairly treated. Politically, we have been abandoned, we are neither here nor there in the core north or core south political calculations. We are hardly noticed even though the zone has always delivered bloc votes for the APC during elections.

According to him, it is for this reason that the party’s leadership in the region decided to indicate interest and support aspirants from the region to vie for principal offices at the National Assembly including the Deputy Senate Presidency and deputy Speakership positions, but were still schemed out unjustly and denied a position at the just concluded National Assembly’s leadership election.

Obaje assured that the North Central Consultative Assembly is ready to project credible sons and daughters from the North Central Geopolitical zone with the requisite credentials and pedigree to work with President Tinubu for the unity and development of our Nation and importantly to retain power beyond 2023.

However, he expressed his Knowledge of Maj.Gen. Adebayo’s commitment to ensuring the smooth transition of power at the center by providing the needed intelligence to subdue the plans of interim Government elements and funders.

Earlier, the leader of the North Central Consultative Assembly Contact Team, Alhaji Bello Kassim explained that they were in the Nation’s Capital to seek support of all well meaning North Central leaders and President Tinubu for North Central to get the Position of Minister of Defence.

“We congratulate our dear son; Major General Samuel Adebayo for serving so very well as Chief of Defence Intelligence. He has the quality, credentials and requisite experience to fill the void of the Minister of Defence.

“We urge President Bola Tinubu to please for the sake of unity and devotion to nation’s building to consider North Central Zone for the position of Minister of Defence.

“Adebayo has served in different capacities within the military formations. Adebayo possesses the pedigree to consolidate the Nation’s Security and Defence gains and achievements if appointed Minister of Defence.”

Ondo Police Arrest Health Personnel Over Missing Placenta Of New Born Baby

Ayodele Oni

June 20, 2023

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State Police Command has arrested three persons, a nurse, health assistant and security official in connection with a missing placenta at a community health centre.

The health personnel are staff at Emure Ile Comprehensive Health Center in Owo Local Government.

Report said a concerned family had raised the alarm as the hospital workers failed to hand over the placenta after delivery, with the situation lingering for days claiming that a dog had devoured the organ.

The Baby’s parents are appealing to relevant government agencies to ensure justice is served on the matter.

After nine months of waiting, the Ijanusi family finally had a bouncing Baby girl at the comprehensive health center at Emure Ile. But the Joy accompanying the birth on Thursday 15th of June was short-lived.

Family members, neighbours and sympathizers who should be in celebration mood are all wearing long, sad faces at the family’s compound since the placenta’s whereabout is still unknown.

The baby’s Father, 23 year old Tunde and Mother Joy, are worried after health workers that took the delivery failed to give them the placenta of the new born in line with obtainable tradition.

The kids’ grandmothers Linda John and Mrs Funmilayo Ijanusi also suspect complicity from the health workers who they alleged of stealing the placenta.

For Mrs Ijanusi, the hospital officials’ claim that a dog entered the facility, carting away the placenta is unacceptable.

She added that the hospital personnel also persuaded the family to let go of the matter offering to discharge them without paying any bills.

The importance of the placenta to the family according to some community elders is enormous, they say it is the child’s glory hence dangerous to be in the custody of wrong persons.

Ondo Police Public Relations Officer, Funmilayo Odunlami – Omisanya confirmed that some suspects are being held in connection with the missing placenta.

Dangote Not Issued License To Import Fuel-FG

James Orji

June 20, 2023

Dangote Group has not been granted a license to import petrol into the country, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, has said.

The rebuttal comes after reports that the Group, alongside other companies has been issued an importation license for the importation of oil.

The Authority also denied another report that the NNPC issues licenses to bring oil into the country, stating that the latter has no powers to issue licenses in that regard.

According to the Chief Executive Officer, NMDPRA, Engr. Farouk Ahmed, Dangote is not part of the six companies that have been granted license to import fuel into the country for the month of July.

He said 23 applications have also been received and are currently being processed for subsequent approvals.

He also explained that there is enough stock of petrol at the moment, adding that there is no need to panic.

The Authority Chief Executive who spoke to journalists after a meeting in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said: “As of this morning, for the month of July, we at least received and cleared six companies that have expressed interest and have vessels offshore that they needed to fix for delivery in July.

“We also have about 23 other companies that have expressed interest to import, and these applications are coming. As we speak now, they keep coming and we keep evaluating all of that.”

“So the good thing is that we actually have a lot of interest in companies wanting to import Premium Motor Spirit, which means that NNPC burden will be reduced because as we get more and more companies coming in NNPC might decide to also slow down in line with the provision of the law which FCCPC states that in order to avoid any monopoly no company should go more than 40 per cent.

“So in line with that, however, prior to that happening, NNPC of course being the sort of last resort, has over 30 days sufficiency of premium motor spirt currently, as of today.

“Almost 14 days out of the 30 are on now, which means we have about 14 to 15 days sufficiency across the country.

“There are several companies that applied for fuel importation permits. So you can apply for importation to get access to the port. And by the way, we are open to all those who are interested in importing.

“We have guidelines which are not very stringent because we’re trying to encourage importation.

“There are six companies who said they want to import fuel in July. Of course, all the others may be imported in December, November, or anytime but for those who expressed interest in bringing in fuel in July, there were six of them as of this morning.

“The beauty of it is that there are interests which means that they have been able to have access to foreign exchange in order to import.

“Now, as we go along, of course, we’ll be briefing you on the progress or the achievements so far, but the important thing is that NNPC has 30 days’ fuel sufficiency, so we do not anticipate any gap in supply or in distribution,” he said.

Petrol Subsidy: FG, Labour Say Palliative Ready Soon

James Orji

June 20, 2023

The Federal Government and organised labour have agreed on the implementation of palliatives for Nigerians as a result of the recent removal of the petrol subsidy.

The agreement was reached on Monday at a meeting between the parties in Aso Rock Presidential Villa.

Recall that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had announced three weeks ago that the federal government will implement some palliatives measures as part of the efforts to cushion the effects of subsidy removal on Nigerians.

Following the announcement, the representatives of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC and Trade Union Congress, TUC, also met to work out the method of implementation of the proposed interventions.

The parties have now agreed on the modalities, according to the feelers from the meeting held yesterday, attended by Femi Gbajabiamila, President Tinubu Chief of Staff, and other top federal government officials, including Joe Ajaero, NLC President and Festus Osifo, TUC President.

Addressing journalists after the meeting, TUC President Festus Osifo and his NLC counterpart, Joe Ajaero, said the parties would meet next Monday to review the framework they agreed upon.

Osifo said: “We have concluded our meeting. If you remember very well, the last time that we were here, that TUC and NLC met with government about two weeks ago, we agreed that we were going to reconvene today. That is June 19. We just reconvened. We had a meeting although brief…

“We agreed that anything we are putting together we are going to conclude everything in eight weeks. Everything must be rolled out within that time, not something that we are going to leave endlessly. They have submitted the framework to us. We have looked at it. We have made input. This night, we will continuously work on it in order for us to come up with the deliverables…”

“If you look at the communiqué that was signed in our last meeting, there are some action items in the communiqué. So, it’s actually how these action items will be delivered. For example, we need to have a Presidential Steering Committee that will have to oversee everything.

“We also need to have technical sub-committees, because if we talk about the issue of CNG, we need experts… You need those people that are willing to invest… You need the national oil company, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to come up with what they need to do and the time with which they are going to deliver.

“There are some technicalities that are required beyond this meeting. So, those technical committees will be subsumed into presidential committees. But all these we must conclude maximum in eight weeks. So, those technical committees; some will submit their reports in one week. When they submit in one week, we implement; when they submit in two weeks, we will implement. But the last should not exceed eight weeks.

“The terms of reference of these committees are going to be agreed on between today and tomorrow. We are looking at five broad technical committees that will be subsumed into Presidential Steering Committee. There must be timelines in these terms of reference but maximum should not exceed eight weeks. By next week Monday, we will be here again, same time,” Osifo said.

Speaking for the federal government, Dele Alake, the Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communication and Strategies, said the implementation of the palliative measures will be based on the short term, medium term, and long term basis.

Liberian President, George Weah, Hails Osimhen, Super Eagles For AFCON Qualification

Akinwale Kasali

June 20, 2023

By Akinwale Kasali

President George Weah of Liberia was seated in the Presidential box as Nigeria tackled Sierra Leone at the Samuel Doe International Stadium in Monrovia, Liberia Capital.

The Super Eagles defeated the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone 3-2 in their Group’s fifth game for the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations.

President Weah could not stop singing the praises of Super Eagles’ forward Victor Osimhen.

Following his excellent season in which he scored 25 league goals to steer SC Napoli to their first Italian Serie A title in 33 years, President Weah, the 1995 World, European and African Footballer of the Year had penned a personal letter to Osimhen asking him to keep working hard and breaking new grounds.

On Sunday, as he sat in the Presidential box with Nigeria’s Ambassadors to Liberia and Sierra Leone, Godfrey Odudigbo and Henry Omakwu respectively, and the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, NFF Board Members Rt. Hon. Nse Essien and Sunday Dele-Ajayi, among others, Weah could not stop singing Osimhen’s praises.

The Napoli forward did not disappoint, with an outstanding performance, scoring in the 20th and 33rd minutes to steer Nigeria into a 2-0 lead.

“That is what I call a striker. Good positioning always. Very athletic and knows where to be each time the ball is coming. He is so strong and a fighter par excellence.”

The Nigeria forward is now the leading scorer in the qualifying series with seven goals, and has now racked up an impressive tally of 17 goals in 25 matches for Nigeria at senior level.

Osimhen’s seven goals in this qualifying campaign include the one goal he scored against Sierra Leone in Abuja in June 2022 to eventually give Nigeria a 2-1 win and three points on the first day of the series, and four of the 10 goals against Sao Tome and Principe in Agadir, Morocco few days later, on a day Nigeria set a new international win-record.

Apart from President Weah, members of the Nigerian community in Liberia as well as other ecstatic fans of Osimhen from Liberia and Sierra Leone trooped to the window area of the Super Eagles’ dressing room trying to force it open while shouting: “We want Victor!”

Osimhen’s two goals took Nigeria in front before Mustapha Bundu and Augustus Kargbo drew level, but in added period, Kelechi Iheanacho made good from a dashing run by Zaidu Sanusi that stunned the Liberian defence.

Victory took Nigeria to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations finals with 12 points, with a match to spare, alongside second-placed Guinea Bissau, on 10. The Leone Stars crashed out with only five points.

Hosts Cote d’Ivoire, Morocco, Algeria, South Africa, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Tunisia, Egypt, Zambia, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau and Mali are the 14 countries that have qualified for Cote d’Ivoire 2023, with the remaining 10 to emerge in September.

Nigeria will host group whipping boys, Sao Tome and Principe in a purely academic exercise in September.

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