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2027: Forget LP, Apapa Faction Tells Obi

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Lamidi Apapa - Labour Party

Peter Obi should forget the Labour Party, LP, in his plan to contest the 2027 presidential election, a faction in the party has told him.

The party is currently factionalised between the Lamidi Apapa and Julius Abure factions who are now struggling for its soul. They are in court to assert their control.

Obi, who came third in the February 25 presidential election has gone to the Supreme Court, the nation’s apex court after the Presidential Election Petition Court, PEPC, ruled two weeks ago in favour of Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, that he won the contested election.

Not a few have suggested that Obi has the intension to run again on the platform of LP in 2027.
But the LP faction under Apapa has told him to forget his plan to realise his ambition through the party.
The spokesman for the faction, Abayomi Arabambi, made this known on Wednesday to Punch, saying it has already started to prepare for the election, and Obi is not part of their arrangement.

Arabambi said, “My advice is for him (Obi) to go and start preparing for 2027. But it has to be in another party, not in LP. We are not going to allow this kind of rascality to continue in 2027. We will look for a fresh candidate as far as we are concerned.

“Obi is free to go back to APGA to run, not Labour Party. We don’t want to continue accommodating a character who believes no other person, other than himself, has anything upstairs. He is not a good manager of human resources. That was why he lost woefully.

“Let me ask Obi who is accusing President Bola Tinubu of certificate fraud this question. Obi claimed he has a B.Sc. Did he present the B.Sc in his form? Was it not the school certificate he wrote there? Why is he hiding his own B.Sc? That is because he knew they could subpoena the vice chancellor or the registrar to come and confirm its authenticity.”

But the spokesman for Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council, Yunusa Tanko, dismissed Arabambi’s threat, saying “They (the Apapa faction) don’t own Labour Party. That’s why I don’t want to take issues with them. There is no need to give these people attention.”

On August 14, the Edo division of the Court of Appeal declared Apapa as the authentic National Chairman of the Labour Party.

Power Sector Not For Short-term Investors, Minister Said After Grid Collapsed Twice

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Adebayo Adelabu - Minister of Power

Adebayo Adelabu, Nigeria’s Minister of Power says the power sector in the country is not for short term investors. He said the sector requires long term investments, adding that making profit will not be a problem for investors who are prepared to invest.

Adelabu comment comes on the heels of yesterday’s collapse of the National Grid. The grid has collapsed twice within one week, raising apprehension  among electricity users across the country.

The implication is that many part of the country has now been thrown into total darkness.

The minister also spoke on the recently signed Electricity Act, saying  it will ensure serious improvement in electricity for consumers in the country.

The Electricity Act, which according to keen stakeholders in the energy sector has the potential to turn around power generation and distribution in the county, was signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari before leaving office.

According to the Act, unlike in the past state governments can now generate, transmit and distribute power to respective customers within their domains.

The minister spoke at the ongoing Nigeria Energy conference and exhibition in Lagos, saying the Act is a game – changer for the energy sector.

He said, “As a game-changer that reformed the NESI, the Electricity Act will, undoubtedly, engender increased access to electricity and regulatory oversight, clean energy transition, improved service delivery, and infrastructural developments. In particular, the act will stimulate economic growth by creating a conducive environment for investment and competition. It will generate job opportunities, encourage entrepreneurship, and attract foreign direct investments.
“Of course, a lot of investment is required in the power sector. In three weeks, I’ve seen humongous investments that have come into this sector. But what are the steps that are required for those investment opportunities to reap the benefit of those investments, additional investments in the form of equity and capex need to come into this industry.

“The power sector is not an industry for short-term players to invest in less than two to three years and expect to make maximum benefits. The industry requires medium to long-term investments. Investors must understand that the moment we can break even, we will start making profits in the power sector.”

Adelabu also urged operators in the NESI value chain to improve their service delivery, adding that Nigeria’s energy expansion plan of 60,000 Megawatts by 2060 is an achievable target. He therefore called on gas companies, GenCos, TCN, and DIScO to showcase their success stories in generating and transmitting power to the last mile that pays for all the segments of operators in the value chain. He emphasised that it is not enough to generate power, but also to transmit at least 80 per cent of what is generated to the end users of electricity.
Meanwhile, a Professor of Energy/Electricity Law at the University of Lagos, Yemi Oke said yesterday that state governments cannot do much in the area of investment in the sector because of the huge capital required. He said what the country needs at the moment is private sector investment to take the sector out of the doldrums.

MFBs: CBN Ends Manual Registration; Unveils Online Portal

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has notified micro finance banks in the country that their licence registration will no longer be manual. Forthwith, the CBN said in a statement on Wednesday, the registration will now be done through an online portal opened for that purpose.

According to the Cardoso-led apex bank, the “CBN Licensing, Approval and Other Requests Portal”, has now replaced the manual registration process.

Close to 900 micro finance banks have so far been registered through the manual process as at 2021, according to The Source’s magazine checks.

The notice was contained in the statement signed by Isa AbdulMumini, CBN’s Director of Corporate Communications, Isa AbdulMumin, who urged prospective micro finance bank operators to visit its website, www.larp.cbn.gov.ng, to submit their respective MFB licence applications.

The statement said, “The online application system offers numerous benefits, including a simplified process, time savings, enhanced communication, and robust security measures. By digitising the application process, the Bank aims to improve accessibility, reduce paperwork, and expedite licence approvals, benefiting both applicants and the economy.

“Consequently, from September 25, 2023, MFB licence applicants must submit both hardcopy and online applications (via the CBN LARP) as part of a parallel run. The cover letter submitting the hardcopy application must also note a valid application reference from the online submission to be accepted.

“Meanwhile, please note that the bank shall continue to accept manual applications for all other licence types until further notice.”

Deputy Assistant Secretary Bradley advances U.S. – Nigeria Security and Criminal Justice Cooperation

By
The Source
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During his September 3-9 visit, Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) Tobin Bradley met with the National Security Advisor, the Minister of Justice, the Inspector General of the Nigeria Police Force, the Minister of Interior, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, and law enforcement agencies including the Nigerian Correctional Service, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons  (NAPTIP), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to deepen cooperation between Nigeria and the United States on a range of shared goals, including empowering civilian security, advancing criminal justice reform, and strengthening judicial systems.

This visit underscores the United States’ strong commitment to working with international partners to combat insecurity and develop innovative solutions to advance criminal justice reform.  In Keffi, DAS Bradley visited Keffi Correctional Facility where INL funded the implementation of a case management system to help address pre-trial detention challenges in Nigeria.

In Abuja, DAS Bradley also met with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to discuss how the United States could continue to support Nigeria’s efforts to advance human trafficking investigations and prosecutions.  At the Magistrates Court Wuse Zone 2 in Abuja, DAS Bradley learned how INL-funded transcription software is helping courts more efficiently complete administrative tasks to expedite case processing and court judgements.  On Behalf of the United States, DAS Bradley signed over equipment to the NDLEA to help reinforce counter-narcotics interventions in Nigeria.  DAS Bradley discussed ways INL could work with the EFCC to fight cross-border financial crimes and support the rule of law by holding individuals and organizations accountable for financial misconduct.

Finally, DAS Bradley met with local partners, including the Partners West Africa Network (PWAN), Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC), Network of University Legal Aid Institutions (NULAI), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) to commend them on their continued work with INL to advance the United States’ and Nigeria’s shared goals on improving criminal justice and strengthening rule of law.

Colleagues Protest Over LUTH Doctor Who Died After 72-Hour Non Stop Shift

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Dr. Michael Umoh

By Akinwale Kasali

Outrage has trailed the death of Dr. Michael Umoh, who allegedly died after working for 72-hour non stop shift. His protesting Colleagues say he died of “over-work.”

The young Medical Doctor who works at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Idi-Araba, Lagos, was said to have slumped and died during a Church Service at the United Evangelical Church on September 17.

He was a Resident Doctor.

Following his sudden death,  Doctors under the aegis of the Association of Resident Doctors, LUTH Chapter, in a protest letter addressed to the Chief Medical Director, LUTH, Prof. Wasiu Lanre Adeyemo, attested to the fact that the young doctor was overworked.

They claimed he returned home at about 3:00 a.m. Sunday, after a 72-hour shift in the hospital, adding that he had barely slept in their apartment before that day.

The statement partly read, “We the House Officers are in deep grief over the loss of our colleague, a co-House Officer (Dr Umoh Michael) who died on 17th September, 2023, after having a – 72hr call in the Neurosurgery Unit.

“He is said to have been on call 72hrs before arriving home on Sunday morning to get set for church service, reaching his worship center (United Evangelical Church) where he slumped in the Church at about 11 am.”

“His roommate attested to the fact that Umoh Michael had barely slept in their apartment over the past one week as he was always on Call or the day he returned home was around 3 a.m. after surgeries and other activities in the Neurosurgery Unit.”

Reacting to the sad incident, LUTH’s Public Relations Officer, Omolola Fakeye said, “It is not true that anybody worked for 72 hours. I have not been briefed about his death.

“We were at a programme yesterday (Monday), but I will find out; I can’t say anything now. I will check the medical report of what could have happened because anybody can say anything, but the medical report will show us what happened.”

At the Social Space, Netizen has taken to X (formerly Twitter) to lend their voice to this sad occurrence, blaming the government for its inability to get more hands at the Hospital.

A tweep, drfynrekins, tweeted, “I salute my Hippocratic colleague & wish him farewell on his journey to the great beyond. I hope #nmanigeria would come out strongly and protect these young doctors. These deaths are devastating and unacceptable, and it would further deplete the numbers of those practicing in Nigeria and discourage those still in medical school. Unfortunately, the young doctors are the ones bearing the brunt of the decay in the healthcare system in Nigeria but this trend must be stopped.”

Another X user, Doingood, tweeted, “We all need to be resting. Employers should please help us. May his Soul RIP .”

OgechukwuChime tweeted, “He is taking care of others and forgot to take care of himself.”

Kuwait_magic also tweeted, “He lost his own life in the process of saving other people’s lives. God knows I can’t be this good. I no fit die to make you live.”

Femibadest tweeted, “Doctors are facing inhumane treatment meted and this shouldn’t be”.

Camax3000 wrote, “Overworked, Rest in Peace.”

Mazi_Ibem tweeted, “Lagos State Government should get more doctors from the already saturated labour market to assist. The daily pressure these doctors go through affects their health as well.”

JoelUdanyi also wrote, “This is sad. Result of a health institution being understaffed…if not what else?”

“In a sane environment, it is a crime to work more than 11:30. You are entitled to 1-hour break as well,” Kasalimi2029 tweeted.

Ondo Assembly Commences Impeachment Procedure Against Deputy Governor, Aiyedatiwa, Receives Petition

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Lucky Aiyedatiwa and Rotimi Akeredolu

By Ayodele Oni

Embattled Deputy Governor of Ondo State is on his way out, despite assurances, a few days ago by the State  House of Assembly that there was no intention to impeach him.

Aiyedatiwa, second Deputy to  work with Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, in his six years, has been having a running battle with the  Governor since his return from medical leave.

Akeredolu, also, had a running battle with his first Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, and made an unsuccessful attempt to impeach him. Ajayi stayed on, left when he decided to, and contested against the Governor during the  Governor’s contest for a second term in office. He was replaced by Aiyedatiwa who the Governor chose as his Deputy for his second term in office.

Aiyedatiwa is facing same impeachment process now.

He was accused of embarking on some surreptitious moves while the Governor was away for three months to attend to his health challenges.

On his return, Akeredolu had sacked the Deputy Governor’s Media team and confined him to Akure, while other aides  visit Ibadan, Oyo state, where the Governor is currently repecurating to take instructions for the day to day running of the Government.

A report monitored on State Radio, Wednesday, revealed that the State House of Assembly has directed the Clerk of the House, Benjamin Jaiyeola, to write the Deputy Governor,  Aiyedatiwa, over allegations of Gross Misconduct levelled against him.

The Petition, which has been signed by Nine out of 26 Members of the House was read during the plenary presided over by the Speaker, Olamide Oladiji.

It was gathered that members of the Assembly are allegedly bent to carry out the impeachment of Aiyedatiwa.

His predecessor, Ajayi succeeded in having his way at the previous Assembly as efforts to impeach him were thwarted by his loyalists until he resigned voluntarily and decamped to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

If the required signatories are secured for the petition, the days of the Deputy Governor are numbered in Government.

Imo: How Eight Security Officers Were Lured To Their Death By A Fake Informant?

By
The Source
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Blood Flows In Imo As Gunmen Kills Eight Security Officers

By Charles Igbo

Details of the story behind the gory killings of eight Security Operatives in Ehime-Mbano, Imo State, on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, by gunmen have emerged.

The Security Operatives who were on a joint operation were ambushed along the road, shot dead, their bodies burnt, and their two Hilux operational vehicles set on fire.

Giving Details of the blood- cuddling incident when Governor Hope Uzodinma visited the scene of the attack a couple of hours after it occured, the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Barde, said the Operatives which included Soldiers, Police, Civil Defence, were lured to their death by a fake informant.

He told the Governor that the informant, who turned out to be one of the gunmen, had called the unsuspecting Security Team, apparently to report a security breach which necessitated their intervention.

Unknown to them, they were being lured to their death. On their way to the fake venue of the security breach, said  Barde, they were ambushed and killed in a most gruesome manner when they came under a hell of gunfire by scores of gunmen.

An enraged Uzodinma has assured that the perpetrators will be fished out and given their deserved punishment.

The Inspector General of Police, Dr Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the Police to go after them and get them to face the law. He assured that they will be greeted by the full weight of the law.

Judiciary On Precipice, As Nigeria Ranks Among Litigious Countries – CJN

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

The Chief Justices of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola on Wednesday administered the oath of office on nine newly appointed Justices of the Court of Appeal.

At the ceremony held in Abuja, the CJN observed that Nigeria continuously ranks among the most litigious countries in the world.

According to him, the Country’s judiciary was not at pleasant times due to continued rise in cases pending before various courts.

He stated that the rise in court cases, was due to several novel crimes being committed in the country that have now made litigations  go on a steady rise.

As a measure to curtail the trend, the CJN canvassed that Nigerians should begin to imbibe the culture of less litigation and more of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms so that courts can be freed of unnecessary burden and depletion of both human and material resources.

“Political cases, especially, are taking a monumental toll on our dockets. Indeed, the times we are in are not pleasant, to say the least.

“No court in the land is spared of this. We are constantly on our toes and the dockets are ever rising in response to the challenges of the time.

“This underscores the undisputed fact that Nigeria continuously ranks among the most litigious countries in the world.

“I strongly believe it is high time we began to imbibe the culture of less litigation and more of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms so that our courts can be freed of unnecessary burden and depletion of both human and material resources.

“However, the onus squarely rests on your Lordships to fasten your belt and roll up your sleeves to face the challenges head-on.

“You must redouble your pace to catch up with the expectations of the litigants. As judicial officers, you have a divine mandate on earth that you must discharge with unveiled honesty and sincerity.

“You must give good account of yourselves to justify your elevation to the Court of Appeal so that you can subsequently earn an elevation to the Supreme Court to further actualize your dreams.”

He reminded them that the oath administered on them to assume office as Justices of the Court of Appeal is a solemn pledge and commitment to good conduct in the course of their adjudication, especially as senior judicial officers in the appellate court.

“We are not here for long speeches but simply to realign your minds with what is expected of you at this very high and enviable level of adjudication.

“Many high profile cases would definitely come to you on appeal; and they may likely come in some juicy and irresistible gifts that are often intended to dent your reputation and integrity.

“I admonish Your Lordships to flee from such disguised temptations because your reputation and integrity matter much and count enormously in your rise to honour and fame in life.

“So, you should endeavour to always hold your heads high by auditing your conduct on a regular basis in order not to fall on the wrong side of the law.

“I have said it severally that in life, gifts and wealth that are not worked for, which are by extension, undeserving, are always destructive and calamitous in nature.

“I pray that Your Lordships don’t fall into such snare in the course of your ascension to the pinnacle of your career.

“You must, against all odds, conduct your affairs within the ambit of the law and the oath that has just been administered on you.

“The level of public scrutiny of your conduct will, henceforth, assume astronomical dimension because you have willingly taken up appointment that will strategically place you perennially in the eye of the storm.

“The tempo and rate of public assessment of your conduct and disposition have also instantaneously assumed unprecedented spike from this moment.

“You must redouble your effort and dialogue properly with your conscience in order not to fall out of the grace of the Almighty God and the Nigerian people who are curiously looking up to you.

“It takes nothing to join the crowd but it takes a lot to stand alone with good conscience.”

Kwankwaso Loses Kano, Tribunal Sacks NNPP’s Governor Yusuf

By
Adesina Soyooye
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0

By Adesina Soyooye

The proxy war between the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, and the Presidential Candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso, has Ganduje getting the first victory Wednesday, September 20.

The  Kano State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in its ruling sacked NNPP Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf and declared APC Candidate, Nasir Gawuna, the winner of the March 18 Governorship Election.

The three-man Tribunal which, for the first time in the history of Election Petitions in Nigeria, delivered its judgement virtually, for fear of violence in the Court premises, deducted a whopping 165, 663 votes from the total number of votes scored by Yusuf to give Gawuna victory. The Tribunal said the votes deducted were neither stamped nor signed, and so, void.

It ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to immediately, withdraw the Certificate of Return from Governor Yusuf and give same to Gawuna.

Kano is the only State won by NNPP in the March 2023 Governorship election.

Tension had gripped the State in the past one week over the Election Petition. There had been street protests by loyalists of NNPP. A few days ago, the Governor sacked one of his Commissioners who threatened members of the three-man Panel of Judges with death if they deliver a judgment against  Governor Yusuf.

Yusuf is the first Governor to be sacked by an Election Petition since the 2023 General Elections Tribunal started sitting across the country.

Akeem Alamutu, Veteran Nollywood Actor Is Dead

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0
Akeem Alamutu id dead

By Akinwale Kasali

The Nigeria Movie industry has once again been thrown into mourning less than a week after the passing of young actress, Cindy Amadi.

Veteran Yoruba Actor, Akeem Alamutu, passed in the early hours of September 19, 2023.

Breaking the news of his demise,  Actor, Odunlade Adekola, took to his social media handle and announced the death of the Yoruba film legend.

Adekola broke the heartrending news on Instagram, sharing a video where he and his colleagues, including Kolawole Ajeyemi, displayed profound sorrow as they gathered for Akeem Alamutu’s funeral, which has  been held already in adherence to the traditions of Muslim rites.

In the soul-stirring footage, a Muslim cleric gently placed Akeem Alamutu’s body on the ground, draped in white attire, as prayers were offered to beseech the Almighty for his soul’s eternal peace.

Odunlade urged everyone to embrace a humble existence and to keep in mind that all things will eventually become part of the annals of history.

He wrote, “We lost another legendary Actor. Elder Akeem Alamutu ORISA, he lived a simple life And always remember everything will become history!”

Also paying tribute to the late thespian were his other colleagues that include; Funke Akindele, Jaiye Kuti, Muyiwa Ademola, and more, flocked to the comments section to convey their profound grief and offer heartfelt wishes for the departed actor’s eternal peace.

Funke Akindele wrote, “May his soul rest in peace. It is well”

Muyiwa Ademola wrote; “Hmmm.. It is well. May his soul rest in perfect peace.

Jaiye Kuti wrote; “Lord this month ooo rest in peace”

Rachael Okonkwo “Rest In Peace sir”

The late Actor was said to have passed away following a protracted battle with illness. Also, images of him in a state of sickness circulated widely throughout his health struggle.

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