Jonathan Leads WAEF Pre-election Mission To Liberia

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July 11, 2023

Former President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan leads the West African Elders Forum (WAEF) pre-election election mission to Liberia ahead of the country’s general elections scheduled for October.

Jonathan, who departed Abuja for Monrovia on Tuesday morning, is joined in the mission by former Burkinabe prime minister and one-time president of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Kadre Ouedraogo and other leaders from the subregion. The mission, which also includes staff from the WAEF secretariat, will assess the preparedness of stakeholders ahead of the election.

A statement from the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, notes that the purpose of the mission is to help deepen the confidence of all stakeholders and help resolve concerns of political actors ahead of the elections.

“The fact-finding mission with key stakeholders and political actors is to help address some impediments and concerns by stakeholders that could serve as threats and triggers to election-related crises and disputes in the forthcoming elections.

“During their stay in Monrovia the team will meet with presidential candidates, leaders of political parties, the electoral management body, security chiefs, members of the diplomatic corps, and civil society to assess the level of preparedness of the electoral management body and resolve some concerns by some of the stakeholders regarding the forthcoming elections.

“This aims to build a consensus among different groups toward peaceful and credible general elections in 2023.

Since its establishment in 2020, WAEF has undertaken missions to different countries, including Sierra Leone, Gambia and Nigeria.”

Wealth Dickson Ominabo, Communications Officer, Goodluck Jonathan Foundation.

Iwuanyanwu Hails Uzodinma For Rescuing Ohanaeze Ndigbo From Debts, Financial Challenges

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Akinwale Kasali

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July 11, 2023

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By Akinwale Kasali

Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, has showered encomium on Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State for providing financial support for the Organization when it was in dire need of one.

Iwuanyanwu disclosed that when he got to the saddle as the President General of the organization, there was paucity of funds and the organization had financial challenges as he met some debts on ground.

He said that Governor Uzodinma buried the shame of the organization by providing succour to calm the distress.

The President General made this remark at a meeting with the leadership of Ohanaeze, State Governors members of the National Assembly and other stakeholders held at Imo State Governors Lodge in Abuja Monday evening.

“I met some debts and financial challenges when I came in as President General of Ohaneze. But thanks to people like Hope Uzodinma who came to our rescue. He brought in his PROs (public relations officers) and provided everything including security to make the journey very easy for us.

“It is important to mention here that this is not the first time he has done that. When he was a senator many years ago, I think he gave us N16 million that time. When our structure was attacked by these unknown gunmen, he rebuilt the house. And whenever we have a problem, he has been a dependable person.

“Even as a Governor, he has done well. I have monitored his progress and can confidently say I am very proud of him. I must also say as your president general, I am very proud to be your leader,” he said.

The crucial meeting was well attended by political heavyweights and creme de la creme from the South East that included; Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige; former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh; former aspirant for the leadership of 10th Senate, Osita Izunaso; former Senate President, Pius Anyim, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe and another ex-Senate President, Adolphus Wabara among others.

South East: Fresh Lock Down Looms As Ekpa Declares Two Weeks Sit-At- Home, Orders Oil Coys. To Shut Down

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Ayodele Oni

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July 11, 2023

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By Ayodele Oni

As the Federal Government maintains silence, and South-east leaders of thought continue their search for peace in the region, Simon Ekpa, self-proclaimed disciple of Nnamdi Kanu, detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Simon Ekpa, is set to clamp another two-week sit-at-home on residents of the region.

His most recent order which just ended triggered violence, tears, blood, torture of people including the public flogging of children, deaths and the loss of billions of Naira across the region.

The unprecedented outcome prompted the Movement for Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, (MASSOB) to decry the continuous and mandatory sit-at-home exercise in Igbo land which it said can never give them Biafra but rather destroy their economy.

“It destroys the future of our young children, it creates more pains on our people and there is no difference between the way Nigerian government has been dealing with Ndigbo and that of the group that claims to be pro Biafra.”

But, Ekpa tweeted in the early hours of Tuesday the beginning of another lockdown.

According to him, “Following the demand by the Biafra people for more sit-at-home civil disobedience, the Biafra Republic Government In-Exile (BRGIE) and Biafra De Facto Government In Homeland wish to notify Biafrans that there will be a sit-at-home civil disobedience starting from 31 July, 2023 to 14 August, 2023.”

He said that the sit-at-home is to demand “the immediate and unconditional release of IPOB leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who remains illegally detained at the DSS dungeon.”

Ekpa stated that it is also in preparation for “Biafra’s self-referendum and to further put the world on notice that Biafrans are taking their future into their own hands.”

According to him, it will be observed “to invalidate the illegitimacy of those who parade themselves as Nigeria’s representatives within Biafran territory.

“The sit at home will therefore take place in the following order: Monday, 31 July, 2023 to Friday, 4 August 2023 and there will be total lockdown in Biafraland.”

He said that on Saturday, 6th August, and Sunday, 7th August, the two-week long sit-at-home will go on break as all Biafran markets will be opened.

“From Monday, 7th August to Friday, 11 August, there will be total lockdown in Biafraland while on Saturday, 12 August and Sunday, 13 August 2023 there will be a break as all Biafran markets will open,” Ekpa said.

“On Monday, 14 August, there will be lockdown in Biafraland. We hereby call on all market leaders to strictly adhere to this order and treat it with utmost seriousness.

“We also call on all oil companies operating in the Biafran territory to shutdown oil exploration on these dates to avoid the anger of the Biafran people, which may come with heavy consequences.”

There has been no reaction from any quarters to the recent order.

Soludo Offers Scholarship To Nkechinyere Umeh, Student With Highest UTME Score

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Akinwale Kasali

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July 11, 2023

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By Akinwale Kasali

Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, has awarded a scholarship to the student of Deeper Life Secondary School, Nkechinyere Umeh, who emerged with the highest score in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME.

Before now, there had been controversy over the student with highest UTME Score.

Mmesoma Ejikeme, a student of Anglican Girls Secondary School, Nnewi, forged her UTME score from 249 to 364 before the Joint Admission Matriculation Board, JAMB, disclosed that she had forged her result.

This led to to series of accusations and counter accusations before Mmesoma confessed to have altered her result.

Applauding Nkechinyere for her remarkable performance, Governor Soludo said the gesture followed the recent JAMB declaration of Umeh from Anambra State as the highest scorer with a cumulative mark of 360 in the examination.

The governor congratulated the remarkable student for doing the State proud with her exceptional performance.

This was contained in a statement issued by Mr Christian Aburime, Soludo’s Press Secretary on Tuesday.

The statement reads:

“Following the recent JAMB declaration of Miss Nkechinyere Umeh from Anambra State as the highest scorer with a cumulative mark of 360 in the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations, the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has congratulated the remarkable student on doing the state proud with her exceptional performance.

“In further celebration of Umeh’s feat, Soludo announced a well-deserved scholarship for her to study any course of her choice at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University in Anambra state.

“The scholarship will not only serve as a token of the State Government’s appreciation for her hard work but also provide her with the opportunity to pursue her dreams and contribute to the development of the state in the future.”

While wishing Umeh continued success in her future academic pursuits, Soludo also encouraged other young ndi Anambra students within the state and across the country.

He urged them to take inspiration from Umeh’s outstanding performance and take advantage of the improved conducive learning environment in the State to strive for excellence.

“I Am In Constant Touch With Gov. Akeredolu” – Ondo Acting Gov Aiyedatiwa

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Ayodele Oni

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July 11, 2023

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By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State Acting Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has again clarified that some desperate political gladiators are behind rumoured crisis among members of the State Executive Council.

Aiyedatiwa, in a statement on Tuesday, maintained that he has been in constant touch with his ailing boss, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who is currently recovering from an undisclosed ailment.

The Acting Governor stated that “You are well aware of the message of Mr Governor to the people of Ondo State in which he thanked the people of Ondo State and other critical stakeholders for their support and loyalty to the State Government.

“Mr Governor appreciates your prayers and good wishes for himself and the State, across board. He is in high spirit, recuperating and being expected back in office to continue with his laudable service to the State, as soon as he is certified medically fit by his Doctors.

“I have been in touch with him, the latest being on Sunday, 9th July, 2023, when he expressed appreciation to me and other State Executive Council Members for holding the fort while he is away.

“I like to also join Mr Governor to express our profound appreciation to you all for your unending show of love, solidarity and prayers for the number one citizen of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, CON, who is always leading from the front and making life more meaningful to our people.”

He explained that there have been orchestrated plans “to fan the embers of discord, tarnish the hard earned reputations of individuals in government circles and distract government attention in order to take political advantage in any manner to please their own selfish political whims and caprices.

“I like to urge the general public, to as usual, ignore these unfortunate lies and subterfuge as the antics of desperate political gladiators across political divides.

“We assure you that we will not allow this to derail the focus and developmental policies of our administration which Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, CON, has consistently pursued in the last six and a half years.

“Although, some of the commentators expressed genuine concerns as stakeholders based on the provisions of the Constitution, such constructive expressions are noted by the government. This is not to say that we have been hitherto oblivious of the dictates of the law.”

Akpabio Constitutes Senate Committees; Again Orji Kalu, Osita Izunaso Missing From Headship

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The Source

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July 11, 2023

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By Gideon Njoku

Names of, at least three prominent ranking Senators from the South-east were conspicuously missing in the list of Senate Special Committee Chairmen and Deputies announced by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday.

Prominent among the appointees are Senator Solomon Adeola who was appointed Chairman Senate Committee on Appropriations and Senator Ali Ndume as his Vice Chairman in expectation of, perhaps, a receipt of a Supplementary Application Bill.

Surprisingly, the name of the immediate past Senate Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu, as well as ranking Senators from the South-east were missing on the list. Aside from Kalu, the names of Senators Osita Izunaso and Ezenwa Onyewuchi were also missing on the Chairmanship and Deputy list.

The Senate Selection Committee was mainly made up of Presiding and Principal Officers of the Senate.

Those on the list include Senators Godswill Akpabio, Barau Jibrin, Opeyemi Bamidele, Ali Ndume, Dave Umahi and Lola Ashiru.

They also include Senators Simon Mwadkwon, Oyewumi Olarere, Darlington Nwokeocha and Rufai Hanga.

The Senate President also named Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen of the other Special Committees of the Senate.

Senator Titus Zam was named as the Chairman Senate Committee on Rules and Business. Senator Opeyemi Bamidele is his Vice Chairman, while Senator Sunday Karimi is the Chairman, Committee on Senate Services with Senator Williams Jonah as Vice Chairman.

Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions has Senator Okechukwu Ezea as Chairman and Khalid Mustapha as Vice chairman.

There are, also, Senator Ahmed Wadada as Chairman Senate Committee in Public Accounts and Senator Onyeka Peter Nwebonyi as Vice chairman.

Senator Shehu Umar is the Chairman Committee on National Security and Intelligence with Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong as Vice Chairman.

The Senate Committee on Legislative Compliance has Senator Garba Musa Maidoki as its chairman and Senator Ede Dafinone as Vice Chairman.

The Committee on Media and Public Affairs is manned by Senator Adaramodu Adeyemi Raphael as Chairman while Senator Salisu Shuaibu Afolabi is Vice Chairman.

Nigeria Imports Palm Oil Worth N50bn In 12 months

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James Orji

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July 11, 2023

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Nigeria imported palm oil worth N50 billion from Malaysia and other countries last year, the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, has said.

The NBS made the revelation in its quarterly Foreign Trade in Statistics report, noting that there is growing demand for palm oil in the country.

Apart from Malaysia, other countries that supplied the commodity to the country include Indonesia, Singapore, China, India, and West Africa Cote d’Ivoire, the bureau said.

Nigeria used to be one of the biggest exporters of palm oil, and Malaysia, now the world’s biggest supplier, according to records was believed to have purchased its first palm oil seedling from Nigeria.

According to the NBS, close to $100 million will be spent this year to meet the country’s growing demand for palm oil, adding that the current import bill stands at N28 billion in six, approximately N50 billion per year.

Palm oil falls under the nation’s foreign exchange restrictions by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, yet the appetite for the commodity has continued to grow.

Global production of palm oil has been growing in the four decades, with Malaysia and Indonesia representing 85 percent of the entire supply chain.

The growing demand for the commodity, according to experts is because of its numerous which include: Edible Oil, Bio-Diesel, Lubricants, Cosmetics, and other applications – household cooking, food and beverages, oleo Chemicals, personal care, animal feed, and bio-fuel.

Not a few Nigerians insist that the Bola Tinubu government should make the production of palm oil a priority as part of its agricultural revolution policy, citing the country’s arable and fertile land.

President Tinubu Makes Fresh Appointments; Place Holder, Masari Included; SE Loses Out

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Ayodele Oni

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July 11, 2023

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By Ayodele Oni

President Bola Tinubu has increased the number of his Aides with the appointment of 20 new ones.

Of the 20 new appointees, none came from the South-east geopolitical zone. His Vice Presidential Place Holder, Ibrahim Masari, was rewarded with the position of Senior Special Assistant, Political Matters.

The new set of appointments is the third major one by Tinubu since his inauguration on 29 May.

Following are the newly appointed Aides of the President

Dr. Adekunle Tinubu – Personal Physician to President Tinubu

Tunde Rahman – Senior Special Assistant (Media)

Damilotun Aderemi – Senior Special Assistant (Private Secretary)

Ibrahim Masari – Senior Special Assistant (Political Matters)

Toyin Subair – Senior Special Assistant (Domestic)

Abdulaziz Abdulaziz – Senior Special Assistant (Print Media)

Demola Oshodi – Senior Special Assistant (Protocol)

Tope Ajayi – Senior Special Assistant (Media & Public Affairs)

Yetunde Sekoni – Senior Special Assistant

Motunrayo Jinadu – Senior Special Assistant

Segun Dada – Special Assistant (Social Media)

Paul Adekanye – Special Assistant (Logistics)

Friday Soton – Special Assistant (Housekeeping)

Mrs. Shitta-Bey Akande – Special Assistant (Catering)

Nosa Asemota – Special Assistant (Visual Communication), Personal Photographer

Kamal Yusuf – Personal Assistant (Special Duties)

Wale Fadairo – Personal Assistant (General Duties)

Sunday Moses – Personal Assistant (Videography)

Taiwo Okanlawon – Personal Assistant (State Photographer)

O’tega Ogra – Senior Special Assistant (Digital/New Media)

Ecobank: Otudeko Playing ‘Smart Alec’ With N13bn Debt

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James Orji

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July 11, 2023

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Ecobank Nigeria Limited, ENL, has accused businessman Oba Otudeko of divert funds that should have been used to pay N13 billion owed the bank to buying shares in First Bank.

The commercial bank in a letter to First Bank Nigeria, FBN Holdings on Monday urged the parent company of First Bank Nigeria Limited, not to ratify the share purchase.

The letter comes on the back of last week’s “disclosure” by Barbican Capital Limited, a firm representing Otudeko that it has purchased over 4.7 billion shares in FBN Holdings. The landmark acquisition has made the business man the single largest shareholder in First Bank.

But amidst the controversy that the former First Bank Chairman is planning a comeback after he had been sacked from the commercial bank in 2021 by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Ecobank said the business mogul is trying to evade payment of debt owed it by playing the smart Alec, after revelation that Barbican Capital Limited, the firm that purchased the shares is a new company registered in March this year and is not among the legal entities covered by the apex bank judgment.

According to Ecobank, in a letter written by its legal counsel, ‘Kunle Ogunba & Associates and dated July 7, 2023, the Pan- African bank accused the chairman of Honeywell Group of playing smart Alec with his debt.

Recall that the Supreme Court had ruled that the debt should be repaid by Otudeko and his companies. Apart from this, Ecobank has also filed a bankruptcy case against the industrialist.

In the letter addressed to Nnamdi Okonkwo, the Group Managing Director, FBN Holdings, Ecobank stated that several lawsuits have been filed against Otudeko’s Honeywell Group and his other business concerns.
The bank cited the Supreme Court judgement of January 27, 2023, directing Otudeko to pay all his outstanding debt to the bank, adding that “instead of taking urgent steps” to repay the N13.5 billion loan, Otudeko is trying to divert funds from his companies, while interest on the loans is growing.

The letter reads in oart; “Please be informed that our client has instituted several lawsuits against Honeywell Group Limited, Siloam Global Services Limited, Anchorage Leisures Limited, Honeywell flour Mills Plc and Dr. Oba Otudeko at the Federal High Court, Lagos, in view of recouping the humongous indebtedness of the highlighted entities to our client.

“It is particularly noteworthy that Dr. Oba Otudeko personally guaranteed the loan leading to the humongous indebtedness of the prior-mentioned companies. Whereas, the prior-mentioned entities had initially disputed their indebtedness to our client and had consequently filed an action in court to that effect, the Supreme Court on the 27th day of January, 2023 in Appeal No. SC/CV/210/2021 delivered judgment affirming the indebtedness of the above persons to our client and further commanded that they must pay all the outstanding debts.

“Instead of taking urgent steps to repay their indebtedness in line with the mandate of the Supreme Court, it has come to our notice that Dr. Oba Otudeko (being the prime mover and alter ego of the debtor companies who personally guaranteed to repay the said debt) has taken active steps to divert his assets/funds and those of the debtor companies. This, he has done, by using a company known as Barbican Capital Limited (special purpose vehicle) which was recently and hurriedly incorporated after the judgment of the Supreme Court (specifically on the 9th day of March, 2023)…

“It is beyond doubt that the actions being taken by Dr. Oba Otudeko are targeted at diverting his assets and that of the Honeywell Group of Companies through the said Barbican Capital Limited, in order to frustrate the enforcement of the judgment of the Supreme Court against him and the Honeywell companies, towards recovering his/their undisputed indebtedness to our client.”

Warning that ratifying the shares is tantamount to aiding the diversion of the funds and assets meant for paying the humungous debt, Ecobank urged FBN Holdings to “respectfully stay/reject the approval/consent/registration/ratification” of the shares bought by Barbican Capital

Buhari’s Govt Most Corrupt- Kukah

By

James Orji

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July 11, 2023

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Matthew Kukah, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, has slammed former President Muhammadu Buhari for allowing corruption to thrive under his watch.

Father Kukah claimed that the country witnessed the highest level of corruption under the Buhari administration.

The catholic bishop made the assertion on Monday, in Ekiti during a lecture he delivered at the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the call to bar of the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Aare Afe Babalola, SAN.

The lecture was titled ‘The Future of Constitutional Democracy in Nigeria: Imperative of a New Constitutional Order’.

Kukah, a human rights activist and one of the most critical of the administration of Buhari, however, stated that the problem of corruption did not start with the former administration, but was more pronounced under him.

According to him, “We have seen the worst phase of corruption in Nigeria. Femi Falana, my friend here, will speak about that because he has published a series of articles talking about what happened under the Buhari administration.

“They were not the ones who caused corruption but I think in the last administration, we saw the ugliest phase of corruption whether in moral terms, financial terms, and other terms.”

The former president prides himself as a corruption fighter and had declared war against graft as a policy thrust from the inception of his administration in 2015.

In his nation wide Address to mark Nigeria’s 62nd independence last year, Buhari said his administration has made appreciable progress in combating corruption, saying it’s one the legacy he was leaving behind.

“One of the areas where we have made significant progress is in the eradication of deeply entrenched corruption that permeates all facets of our national development.

“We strengthened the institutions for tackling corruption and also cultivated international support, which aided the repatriation of huge sums of money illegally kept outside the country.

“The increasing number of prosecutions and convictions, with associated refunds of large sums of money is still ongoing,” the ex-president stated.

But not a few Nigerians will agree with Kukah that the worst cases of corruption happened under his watch.
Buhari’s critics cite the case of a former Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, who allegedly stole over N80 billion which he used in acquiring choice property in Kano and other places.

Though Idris has been charged to the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, his case has been rightly described as one of the biggest heists in the country.