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Breaking: Buhari ‘Overrules’ Supreme Court, Demonetizes N500, N1000 Notes

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Buhari-independence Day

Barely 24 hours after the Supreme Court restated its order on the old naira notes, President Muhammadu Buhari has taken a different path.

The Supreme court had on Wednesday insisted that the old notes of N200, N500, and N1000 remained as legal tenders in the country until it makes a contrary order.

But in a national broadcast on Thursday, President Buhari said his government has extended the deadline for the demonetization of the old notes to April 10.

Within the 60 days extension, however, President Buhari said only the N200 notes will remain as legal tender, while the N500 and N1000 have now been demonetized.

The president stated that all existing old N1000 and N500 notes remain redeemable at the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and designated points.

“To further ease the supply pressures, particularly to our citizens, I have given approval to the CBN that the old N200 bank notes be released back into circulation and that it should also be allowed to circulate as legal tender with the new N200, N500, and N1000 banknotes for 60 days from February 10, 2023, to April 10, 2023, when the old N200 notes cease to be legal tender,” the president said.

Not a few Nigerians who watched the broadcast said Buhari has caused more confusion and dashed the hopes of many with his speech.

They insist that the president has only succeeded in exacerbating the crisis in the country as the cash shortage persists, adding that his early morning speech fell short of the expectations of many Nigerians.

Reacting to the issue, Monday Ubani, former Chairman Lagos state chapter of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, said the president has waylaid the Supreme court by not allowing the apex court to make a final decision on the issue.

The Supreme court yesterday fixed February 22 for the hearing on a matter brought by some state governors challenging the CBN decision to demonetize the old naira notes by February 10.

Justice Okoro, the Chairman of the Supreme Court justices handling the case on Wednesday specifically directed the federal government, through its counsel Kanu Agabi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN to ensure that the old naira note remained legal tender.

“Tell your client to let people have money. If they go to the ATM and the plaintiffs will come and withdraw the case. Make money available to the poor masses.

“You should know that a hungry man is an angry man. I say no more,” Okoro said.

But to Ubani, “the president has ignored the Supreme court by what happened this morning. My own understanding of the president’s speech is that he has overruled the supreme court.”

New Naira: Sanwo-Olu Reads Riot Act, Set To Go After Banks, Malls Rejecting Old Notes

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

Following the rejection of the old Naira notes by Commercial Banks, Malls, Eateries across the State, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, is set to wield the big stick.

Nigerians have been going through hardship since the New Naira Notes surfaced. They are not able to access  it as it. But the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele remains defiant that the CBN is not going to rescind its decision on the stipulated date that the old Naira Note ceased to be a Legal Tender.

Sanwo-Olu  said it will go hard on commercial banks, malls, commercial bus operators, and other businessmen rejecting old N200, N500, and N1,000 notes across the state.

He said that businessmen, banks, malls, and others rejecting old notes from customers in the state amounted to contravening the Supreme Court directives that the currencies remain a legal tender pending conclusion of the case before it.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday, adjourned its ruling on the New Naira Note and the Old Notes till next week February 22nd, 2023.

INEC Says Expelled PDP National Assembly Candidates Remain On The Ballot

By
Ayodele Oni
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Chimaroke Nnamani

By Ayodele Oni

Despite their expulsion from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), National Assembly Candidates for the February 25 election  have continued with their campaigns.

PDP National Working Committee, NWC, had last week announced the expulsion of Senator Chimaroke Nnamani and six others. Five of them are Ekiti State NASS candidates who had earlier been suspended.

They were accused of indiscipline and anti-party activities, but it was gathered that the Ekiti Candidates’ refusal to attend the rally of Atiku Abubakar during his visit to Ekiti state earned them the punishment. In Dr Nnamani’s case, he is brazenly supporting and campaigning  for the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu.

But the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has again confirmed that the expelled candidates remain  authentic, and cannot be replaced.

INEC made this known in a six paragraph Affidavit of Facts deposed to on February 13, 2023, in response to Suit Number HAD/12/2023, filed by five of the PDP National Assembly candidates to challenge their suspension and expulsion from the party.

Certified true copy of list of candidates for the Senatorial and House of Representatives candidates for Ekiti State was attached to the Affidavit of Facts.

The Affidavit of Facts was deposed to by one Edu Sodiq, a senior clerical officer at the INEC headquarters in Abuja.

It reads in part, “I have read the affidavit in support of the Originating Summons deposed to by one Offiong Joseph and I State as follows;

“That in furtherance of the 3rd Defendant’s power to publish the list of candidates that stand nominated as submitted by the sponsoring political party, the 3rd Defendant published the final list of candidates for the Ekiti State Senatorial District, House of Representatives and the amendment made to the final list by reason of Court Order for the Ekiti State Senatorial District in respect of the 2023 General elections holding on 25th February, 2023.

“A copy of the final list for the Ekiti State Senatorial District, the amendment to the final list for the Ekiti State House of Representatives are hereby annexed and marked Exhibit INEC 1, Exhibit INEC 2 and Exhibit INEC 3.

“The 3rd Defendant’s affidavit of fact is for the record purposes and to guide this honourable court in deciding the instant suit.”

The PDP, candidates for national assembly election, hiding next week,  Lateef Ajijola, senatorial for Ekiti central; House of Representatives candidates for Ekiti Central 1, Ekiti Central 2, Ekiti North 2 and Ekiti South 2, Joju Fayose, Lere Olayinka, Yinka Akerele and Emiola Adenike Jennifer respectively had filed a suit to challenge their suspension and later expulsion from the PDP.

Joined as defendants in the suit are the PDP, the party’s National Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu as well as all members of the National Working Committee of the party and INEC.

On February 2, 2023, the court ordered that status quo be maintained by all parties. However, in defiance to the court order, the National Working Committee expelled the five candidates on Friday, February 10, 2023.

Two Die As Riots Erupt In Benin, Delta, Ibadan, Osogbo, Over Scarcity Of New Naira Note, Rejection Of Old Notes

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Protests Over Naira Notes

By Akinwale Kasali

Riot has erupted in some parts of the country following the scarcity of the New Naira Notes and the rejection of the old notes.

This has led to wanton destruction of properties of Banks and National Assets.  There are reported fatalities.

Benin City, the Capital of Edo State was shut down by Irate Youths who went berserk destroying properties over lthe non-availability of new Naira notes and the rejection of old ones while Banking Apps and Bank Codes also known as USSD for mobile banking are not working efficiently.

The irate Youths staged a protest by attacking the Benin branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, but met a resilient combined team of policemen, Nigerian Security and Nigeria Civil Defence and Safety Corps, NSCDC,  who shot at the protesters, and left two dead.

This Youths went beeserk over the death of the two people, and  attacked virtually all the banks along the Akpkakpkava and destroyed  their Automated Teller Machines, ATM, points and buildings.

Some of the banks affected are Sterling Bank, UBA, GTB, Access, Zenith, Stanbic IBTC and others.

Irate youths in Delta State on Wednesday set ablaze two commercial banks in protest against the continued scarcity of the new Naira notes coupled with their rejection of the old notes.

The affected banks located in the Orovwohworun area of Udu, Delta State included the First Bank of Nigeria and an Access Bank branch in the locality.

The protesters comprised mainly tricycle and motorcycle operators who were angered by the commercial banks’ refusal to accept the old 200, 500, and 1000 naira notes.

Eyewitnesses said that trouble started in the early hours of the day when customers of the banks, in their long queues, could not access new notes.

It was gathered that the aggrieved youths who complained bitterly about the biting effects of the currency scarcity, coupled with the attitude of the bank officials, first attacked their ATM outlets before putting fire to the banks.

One of the protesters who would not disclose his identity said, “We are hungry and we are in a cash dilemma. No new Naira notes and they are rejecting the old ones. People cannot eat, do business, we are hungry and people are dying and they are still saying politics”.

Also, a fuel station in the area was torched for rejecting the old notes from residents.

The angry protesters blocked a section of the road before setting fire to the ATMs in the banks

In Ibadan, Oyo State, it was the same scenario as the angry youths took to the highway blocking the roads, destroying Banks.

In Osogbo, Osun State Capital, angry Youths staged a protest over the same situation halting business in most of the Banking Halls around Osogbo axis.

2023: Chimaroke Nnamani Sues PDP, Ayu Over Expulsion, Reiterates Support For Tinubu

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Chimaroke Nnamani

By Akinwale Kasali

Senator Chimaroke Nnamani has sued the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the National Chairman of the Party, Iyorchia Ayu, for taking a disciplinary action against him from the Party over allegations of anti party activities.

The PDP took disciplinary action against the Senator representing Enugu East Senatorial District following his public support for the All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Nnamani filed the suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja on February 7, 2023, few days before his expulsion from the party.

The former governor of Enugu State said his support for the APC candidate was because he could not support a Northerner to become President after the eight-year tenure of the current President Muhammadu Buhari.

On February 10, 2023 the PDP expelled Nnamani alongside some other key party members for anti-party activities.

In the Suit filed by Nnamani, those listed as defendants in his suit are the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the National Chairman of the PDP, Ayu, Samuel Anyanwu on behalf of the National Working Committee members of the PDP.

Nnamani asked the court to determine whether it was proper for the party to take disciplinary actions against him without giving him fair hearing.

In a statement on Tuesday, Nnamani hailed Tinubu for improving the health sector significantly in Lagos State, when he was governor between 1999 and 2007.

He said, “It is to Tinubu’s credit that HIV/AIDS prevalence in Lagos State decreased from 6.7 per cent to 3.5per cent between 1999 and 2007 while more than 2,000 women received prevention of mother to child transmission in 10 PMTCT centres set up to prevent the disease.”

Nnamani said Tinubu’s performance in Lagos made him the best candidate to lead Nigeria at a time like this.

Breaking: Traffic Gridlock On Mile 12 Bridge As Two Containers Fall Off

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Mile12 Gridlock

By Akinwale Kasali

There is apprehension on Ikorodu Road as two Container fell off the back of a Trailer on the ever busy Mile 12 Bridge leading to traffic gridlock.

Commuters have resorted to trekking as frantic efforts are being made by the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency, LASTMA and the Lagos State Emergency Agency, LASEMA, to evacuate the Container off the road.

This has not yielded any positive result as the containers still lie on the road making vehicular movements impossible.

Traffic has extended to as far as Majidun area of the road.

LASTMA reported this development on its Twitter Handle, tweeting that, “Two containers fell off the back of a trailer on the Mile 12 bridge inw Kosofe, paralysing traffic movement on the bridge.

“Vehicles are being detoured under the bridge.

“Traffic backlog at Majidun.”

Details Later…..

Naira Swap, Fuel Crisis Have Negative Effect On APC – Gov Akeredolu

By
Ayodele Oni
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Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State
Rotimi Akeredolu

By Ayodele Oni

Ten days to the commencement of general elections, Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has said that the current rating of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) by Nigerians is not favourable.

Akeredolu, Chairman Southern Governors Forum explained that this was due mainly to the current hardship occassioned by the currency change and fuel scarcity.

He has, therefore, asked President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele to reverse the Naira redesign policy now.

Governor Akeredolu said that both the new and old notes should be allowed to co-exist, noting that despite an existing court injunction, the old notes seem to have ceased to be legal tender in the country.

A statement on Wednesday signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Richard Olatunde stated that Akeredolu spoke  Tuesday evening while receiving members of the Youth Directorate of the APC, Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) led by Seyi Tinubu.

Seyi Tinubu is the son of APC Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Governor Akeredolu faulted the timing of timing of the policy saying

”We have a problem we are facing in this country today.

“Our rating as a party is not that favorable. Let’s not deceive ourselves. Must it be now that we will have this financial policy?

“How? Fuel and everything? Things are not easy. This policy is not right at this time. It should be reversed. Reserve it and tell CBN that we are reversing it. Let old and new notes co-exist.

“Okada, taxis, banks are not taking old notes again. There is an injunction and everyone is behaving like there is no injunction.

“We have said that this man (CBN Governor) should be removed when he contested to be President. The man is not fit for that position. A man who attempted to be President will frustrate us at this time.”

Governor Akeredolu commended Seyi Tinubu and his team for the rigorous campaign embarked upon for the success of the APC.

While appreciating the youths in the party for their relentless efforts, the Governor revealed that youth will determine the outcome of the next week Presidential election.

“Your demographic shows that you occupy a larger percentage. You are the ones that will talk to yourself.”

Akeredolu pointed out that the choice of the Presidential Candidate of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was premised on informed decisions based on his competence and track record.

“We didn’t waver when we said that the Presidency must come to the South. And when it got to the south, we didn’t waver when we said competence and track record are important.

“Our choice of Asiwaju was premised on informed decision not because we are from the same tribe.”

He further commended the State Youth Leader of the party, Ayo Olawande Wisdom for running the youth department of the party effectively.

Earlier, Seyi Tinubu appreciated the Governor for his commitment to youth development and inclusion.

“We have come to seek your approval to add to what you have done in the state already in terms of campaign. We will be in Ondo for the next two days to meet with the youths.

“Thank you for all you have been doing for Ondo and Nigeria. Most especially for young Nigerians and youths in the state. With the work you have done , we know Asiwaju has no worries in Ondo State.”

Zamfara Orders NGOs To Leave, Vows To Prosecute Violators

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

Worried by high rate of influx of Non Governmental Organizations, (NGO) to the State, Zamfara State Government has halted any form of relationship with any of them as it ordered  all NGOs to leave the state immediately.

Government has also directed Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to stop any further relationships with any NGO, as punitive measures will be taken against any of them found still relating with them.

This was contained in a statement issued by Mamman Ibrahim Tsafe, Commissioner for Security and Home Affairs on Tuesday in Gusau.

The statement reads : ‘’This is to notify the general public that government has observed with utmost dismay, the recent high influx of Non-Governmental Organisations into the state.

“They carry out illegal activities that contravened the existing laws of government. It is further noted that majority of these illegal NGOs have not registered with the state in line with the laid down rules and regulations of government.

“Some of them have also been found to be engaging in activities fueling insecurity in the state and its neighbourhood.

‘’Henceforth, the government orders all NGOs in the state to pack their belongings and leave the state immediately.

“Ministries and Departments of government have been ordered to stop any further relationships with any NGO, as punitive measures will be taken against any MDAs found having any relationships with such NGOs.

‘’Security Agencies in the state are by this announcement directed to be vigilante to the NGOs.

“Yes. but Security Agencies are hereby directed to investigate and prosecute any NGO operating in the state without due clearance from designated authorities. Results of such prosecutions to be forwarded to this Ministry for records please.’’

Court Disbands Ebubeagu Security Outfit In South East

By
Uche Mbah
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0
Ebube Agu

By Uche Mbah

A Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, has disbanded Ebubeagu in Ebonyi State, Chapter.

The outfit, created by South- east governors for the region to tackle insecurity has been mired in controversy since inception.

Residents view the outfit as a terror for the indigenous communities it was meant to protect. It is mostly active in Ebonyi and Imo states.

There were reports of human rights abuse, extra-judicial killings and banditry allegedly associated with the group.

The Court cited cases of extortions, illegal arrests and use of firearms against the citizenry.

Details to follow…

You Are Key To The Consumption To Production Policy, Obi Tells Nnewi Residents

By
The Source
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Peter Obi in Nnewi

The Labour Party Presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi continued his whistle-stop campaigns after conducting rallies in all the states with a visit on Tuesday to the Anambra industrial hub, Nnewi.

Obi who was warmly received by the community leaders, including their traditional ruler, Igwe Orizu 111 told the people that he has not come to campaign because Nnewi is already converted, but to tell them to try and convert others in this all-important project of rescuing our country.

The former Anambra state governor said that in all his political journeys, Nnewi has always fallen behind him massively and he’s therefore, certain about their support this time around.

He said that the town fits very well in the consumption-to-production policy of his manifesto because they are already producing and will therefore play a critical role if he is elected into office.

The high point of the Nnewi trip was the visit to the Palace of Nnewi king, Igwe Kenneth Onyeneke Orizu111, the traditional supreme ruler and Spiritual leader of the Nnewi Kingdom who publicly prayed for Obi and assured him of his blessing and support.

All the top red cap chiefs of the town and other leaders were on hand to receive the LP flag bearer and his team that included the former Minister of Finance, Nenadi Usman, a son of the soil, former speaker of Anambra state House of Assembly, and Director Of Mobilization in Obi-Datti Campaigns, Hon. Benchuks Nwosu and other leaders of the party.

As it has been in all the places he visited, an organic crowd of obedient supporters shut down the city chanting various support songs to show their solidarity for the project that he is leading.

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