The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN has appointed Isa Abdulmumin as it’s new spokesman.
Though in acting capacity, Abdulmimin is taking over from Osita Nwanisobi who is exiting the government bank as Deputy Director, Corporate Communications.
Nwanisiobi retired from the bank on Friday barely three years after he was appointed into the position.
Recall that he took over from Isaac Okorafor in 2020.
By Akinwale Kasali
Senator Chimaroke Nnamani representing Enugu East Senatorial District at the Senate has said that he is unperturbed by the postponement of the Senatorial District Election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, following the gruesome murder of Labour Party, LP, senatorial candidate, Oyibo Chukwu and five others.
Nnamani said that he remains optimistic of coasting home to victory as the election earlier slated for tomorrow, February 25th to March 11th.
Oyibo, a former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, was killed and set ablaze at Amechi-Awkunanaw in Enugu South Local Government Area on Wednesday after gunmen opened fire on his convoy during an ambush.
His personal assistant also died in the incident.
Following this development, electoral umpire, INEC, in a Statement today in Abuja, the nations Capital, announced that the Enugu East senatorial election which was scheduled to hold this Saturday will now be held on March 11 alongside the governorship polls.
The former Enugu State Governor in a Statement said he welcomed the decision of the electoral umpire.
He said, “We welcome any opportunity for the Independent National Electoral Commission to postpone the Enugu East senatorial election.
“While we strongly condemn the senseless killing of the LP senatorial candidate and others by yet-to-be-identified gunmen, I deeply sympathise with all the bereaved, and urge the security operatives to fish out the perpetrators.”
Nnamani added that the deceased stand no chance in defeating at the poll, though, his death is so painful and condemns the senseless killing in his entirety.
“Any suggestion that the deceased was favoured to win the election is ridiculous, to say the least.
“It is only a party that thrives on deception and social media stunts that would claim it was about defeating a sitting senator and past two-term governor of the state.”
“Indeed, the postponement will allow for a fair contest and for peace to reign in the area,” he concluded.
By Akinwale Kasali
The Management of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, has debunked reports that 100 Corps Members in Imo State, have withdrawn from participating as Ad-Hoc Staff in the General Elections which begins Saturday, February 25, 2023, with the Presidential and National Assembly Elections.
Eddy Megwa, the Director of Press and Public Relations of NYSC, in a Statement described the news as “misleading information”.
Megwa said the signed Memorandum of Understanding between the scheme and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was still on course.
He said:
“The attention of the Management of NYSC has been drawn to a misleading information trending online that corps members have been withdrawn from participating as adhoc officers in three Local Government Areas of Imo State during Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the existing Memorandum of Understanding between NYSC and INEC on a seamless conduct of elections in Nigeria is still on course.
“NYSC scheme is in total support of the conduct of free, fair and credible elections in the country.
“All the trained Corps members in every state of the Federation are set for the general elections.”
According to the statement, the NYSC is not against fielding Corp members to participate in the elections, but would not post members to areas considered to be flashpoints.
The NYSC, called on members of the public to disregard the information, as it was meant to undermine the image of the scheme.
“The Management of the scheme wants to state categorically that corps members are not withdrawn from participating in the elections in some local government areas in Imo State, rather, we are against posting Corps Members to areas we consider not safe for them owing to insecurity.
“Before now, there are some local government areas in Imo State considered as flash points and therefore, the scheme cannot allow corps members to serve in such areas during the general elections.
“Consequently, corps members cannot be posted to such flash points to serve as INEC ad hoc staff. We have clearly made our position known to the REC in Imo State.
“Members of the public are hereby enjoined to disregard the misleading and baseless online information meant to undermine the integrity and image of the Scheme.”
By Akinwale Kasali
The hope of suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP Abba Kyari, to regain freedom, through a grant of bail, has been dashed by the Court of Appeal.
The Court dismissed his appeal as lacking in merit.
Justice Stephen Adah who read the unanimous rulong of the three-man panel, held that given the nature of the charges pending against Kyari and others before the trial court, such requests for bail needed to be handled with caution.
He held that Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, who earlier rejected bail to Kyari, appropriately exercised his discretion in refusing to grant the bail request.
Kyari, former Head of Intelligence Response Team, IRT, is facing prosecution from anti-drug agency, NDLEA, alongside three others – ACP Sunday J. Ubua, ASP Bawa James, Inspector Simon Agirgba and Inspector John Nuhu. They were charged before a Federal High Court in Abuja with conspiracy to deal in 17.55kg of cocaine.
They were also charged with dealing in cocaine without lawful authority; conspiracy and tampering with the 21.35kg of cocaine seized from two convicted drug dealers.
By Adesina Soyooye
The deployment of the Operatives of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and other Security Agencies to States and the Federal Capital Territory, to prevent vote-buying is yielding results. The Security Operatives are intercepting millions of Naira and hundreds of thousands of US Dollars, apparently, meant for vote-buying.
In Lagos State on Friday, a yet-to-be named Politician was caught carrying the sum of N32.4 million in cash. He was intercepted by EFCC Operatives from the Commission’s Ikoyi Zonal Office. He is currently under interrogation.
In Porthacourt, Rivers State, the culprit had no such luck of remaining nameless until after investigation.
Chinyere Igwe, Peoples Democratic Party’s member of the House of Representatives was intercepted by the Police who searched his vehicle and recovered the sum of about 500,000 US Dollars. The Police also recovered the names of those it was meant for, and how much was allocated to each person. Included, allegedly, are INEC officials and Security Agents. They, also, sat him down in a humiliating position, with the Dollars spread on him.
Igwe has been in the news in the past 48 hours. On Tuesday, both his Radio and Television Stations in Porthacourt, Wish FM and Atlantic Television, were bombed by hoodlums who inflicted heavy destruction to their facilities. Luckily, there was no fatality.
For the records, Igwe is a loyalist of Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and one of those Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, is up against because of loyalty to Atiku.
Abdulrasheed Bawa, EFCC Chairman,implored the Commission’s personnel deployed for election monitoring duties “to show courage and not give room for unscrupulous persons to undermine the integrity of the elections through financial inducement.
Said the report:
“Tactical team of operatives are currently on ground in all the States of the Federation and the FCT. Telephone hotlines have already been circulated through social media for members of the public to share information regarding financial malpractices with agents of the Commission. Details of the number are available on EFCC social media platforms.
“Members of the public are encouraged to report anyone trying to buy or sell votes by making use of the EFCC financial crimes reporting App, Eagle Eye, which is available for download on the Google Play or Apple store. They can also reach the Commission through our social media handle, @officialefcc or by email, [email protected].”
By Adesina Soyooye
Following the gruesome murder of Barrister Oyibo Chukwu, Labour Party’s Senatorial Candidate for Enugu East, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has suspended the District’s Election billed for Saturday, February 25, 2023.
The National Assembly and Presidential Elections are billed to hold nationwide on Saturday, but Chukwu was gunned down on Wednesday, February 22, 2023.
He was on his way back home after the day’s campaign, but on getting to Amechi Awkunanaw, he was gunned down, along with five of his supporters while they were still inside the sienna vehicle they were riding in. Thereafter, they and the car were set ablaze.
Based on the tragic incident, INEC has postponed the Enugu East senatorial election.
Prof Mahmood Yakubu, INEC Chairman, disclosed the postponement at a Media briefing he held at the National Collation Centre in Abuja on Friday.
According to Yakubu the Labour Party has informed INEC of its intention to provide a replacement for the poll at a later date.
The request by LP, is in line with the provision of the law – Section 34, Sub-Section 1 of the Electoral Act 2022.
He said: “The Labour Party has provided satisfactory evidence of the death of its candidate. Consequently, the commission has suspended the election in the Senatorial district as provided by law.
“We have already communicated this decision to our Enugu State office. Therefore, there will be no Senatorial election in Enugu East Senatorial District made up of six Local Government Areas, 77 wards and 1,630 polling units tomorrow, February 25, 2023
“The election will now be combined with the Governorship and State Assemblies ’ elections holding in the next two weeks, on 11th of March 2023.”
He, also, said that the materials for the election in Enugu East will remain in the custody of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) till 11th March, 2023, the new date for the election.
By Adesina Soyooye
24 hours to participating in the Senatorial Election, Orji Kalu, Senate Chief Whip, has been suspended by his Party, the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Kalu, still trying to save his head from his position on Wednesday that the Igbo are not ready yet to occupy the office of Nigeria’s President, was suspended by the Abia State Chapter of the Party for alleged anti-party activities and other sundry issues.
In a letter dated February 21, 2023, the Party said the former two-time Governor of the State was suspended for “acts of disobedience and gross anti-party activities.” The suspension, according to the letter, takes immediate effect.
Signed by the Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee, Paul Nwabuisi, State Secretary, Chidi Avajah, and State Chairman, Kingsley Ononogbu, the letter said Kalu “has remained unrepentant and without remorse despite several warnings.”
The Party explained that Kalu was suspended after “thorough investigations and recommendations of the Disciplinary Committee set up by the Igbere Ward A in Bende Local Government of Abia State.”
The suspension, the APC said, “is in consonance with Article 21B(i-v) of the APC Constitution, which he violated.”
One of the accusations against Kalu is that he is working against the APC Governorship Candidate, Ikechi Emenike.
Kalu is said to be working for the Action Peoples Party (APP). His younger brother, Mascot Kalu, is the Governorship Candidate of the APP. Kalu is not denying this accusation.
In an interview on Tuesday, Kalu confirmed his support for his younger brother, Mascot, and emphasized his fitness to govern the State.
He insisted that the APC Governorship candidate never informed him formally og his Governorship ambition. He also said that Emenike has, for years, been abusing him and bearing grudges against him, therefore, his reluctance to work for the APC Candidate.
But dismissing Kalu’s claims, the Abia APC, described him as “a drowning political desperado, working hard to destroy the party for his selfish interests.”
By Stanley Ekpenyong (South south Bureau Chief)
Cross River has been thrown into mourning following the sudden death of Calabar South Local Government Area Chairperson, Mrs Esther Bassey.
She died in the wee hours of Friday, February 24, 2023.
However, there are conflicting accounts as to how she died. While one account claimed she died in her sleep at about 4am Friday morning hours after returning from series of political engagements about tomorrow’s Presidential and National Assembly elections, another has it that she attended an event Thursday at the Transcorp Hotel, Calabar where she slumped after complaining of stomach ache and was rushed to a hospital where she later gave up the ghost.
Described as dedicated and passionate administrator and politician, the late council boss, fondly called Queen of the South by her admirers, was one of the young persons in the state Governor Ben Ayade propped into political and leadership positions.
Her election in June 2020 as Calabar South council boss excited not a few young people, especially women who hailed Ayade as gender and youth friendly governor.
Meanwhile, the governor has bemoaned Mrs Bassey’s death, saying he was shocked and devastated by the development.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Barrister Christian Ita, the governor bemoaned Mrs Bassey’s death saying her demise was shocking.
“It was with a rude shock and disbelief that I received news of Mrs Bassey’s sudden demise. Her death is a tragic and monumental loss to Cross River State. It is a painful loss.
“As a government, we are hurt by Mrs Bassey’s passing because she was not only a strong partner in building the Cross River State of our dream but an astute administrator who was also a Servant-Leader, who led from the front. Her giant strides as Calabar South local government chairperson bear testament to this,”the statement quoted the governor as saying.
Continuing, Ayade further noted that , “Esther was indeed the ‘Queen of the South’ as her admirers fondly called her. Her genial mien, her openness, her friendliness, her forthrightness and her integrity were the unassailable virtues that endeared her to all.
The governor lamented that “her death has robbed our great party, the All Progressive Congress, APC of a pillar, our government a loyal, dependable ally and Cross River state a hardworking and diligent daughter. Indeed, our dear sister was a rare gem.”
According to Ayade, though the state is saddened by Mrs Bassey’s death, “as a people of faith, we cannot question God. We can only pray for the peaceful repose of her soul.
“On behalf of the people and government of Cross River state, I condole with the Bassey family, her immediate community and the people of Calabar South”
While assuring the family that his prayer and thoughts are with them at this trying moment, the governor prayed God to “grant all us the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”
By Ayodele Oni
Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara, Kogi State, has sacked seven staff members, linked with salary fraud.
They were found guilty of collecting double salaries.
Public Relations Officer, of the institution, David Balogun in a statement, on Friday revealed that the management had to take the action after an audit exposed them.
The audit, which was carried out by the office of the Kogi State Auditor General, showed that the staff members were conveniently receiving salaries from two state government establishments.
The statement explained that “the names of the staff members affected are Mr. Shaibu Musa of the security unit, CUSTECH, who was discovered to have been collecting salary from his former workplace at the Kogi State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources since his assumption of duty at CUSTECH on 7th April, 2021.
“Mr. Abubakar Ali of the works and maintenance department was discovered to have been collecting salary from his former workplace, Lokoja Local Government Authority, since his assumption of duty at CUSTECH on January 11, 2022.
“Others, Mr. Francis Amoto Lawal of the Bursary Department, was discovered to have been collecting salary from his former workplace, Science, Technical Education and Teaching Service Commission since his assumption to duty on July 7, 2021 while Mr. Philip Anakobe Onotu of the works and maintenance department, has been collecting salary from his former workplace at the office of the Deputy Governor, since his assumption of duty on September 15, 2021.
“Mr. Abdulmajeed Damudi of the department of biological sciences, was collecting salary from his former workplace, Science, Technical Education and Teaching Service Commission, since his assumption to duty on February 9, 2021.
“The list also includes Mr. Folorunsho Joseph Ojo of the bursary department, who was still collecting salary from his former workplace Kabba/Bunu Local Government Authority since his assumption to duty on January 11, 2022.
“The case that led to the termination of the appointment of Mr. Haruna Yakubu, a Senior Patrolman of the security unit, was as a result of his absconding from duty since November 24, 2022, an action considered as a serious misconduct and breach of the terms of his employment.
“The affected staff members whose names the Office of the Auditor General sent down to CUSTECH were invited for an interactive session with a Panel constituted by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Salawu Sadiku of which they were found culpable, and therefore found guilty of holding more than one full time paid job in the Public Service of the federation, state and local government according to the CUSTECH staff cord.”
The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has urged Nigerians to ignore a rumoured shutdown of telecommunications network during the presidential election on Saturday, February 25.
Messages have been sent by some bloggers and netizens that all the telecoms network will be shutdown by their operators as a way of discouraging election speculators.
Some reports have also insinuated that banks will shut down their networks during the period, thus making it impossible for customers to make online transactions.
The commercial banks have already debunked such speculations. They will open their online platforms for users the bank said during the week.
In the past, election results had been announced on social media before the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, made a final announcement, thus causing confusion.
Shutting down network services, some said, will discourage such acts. But not a few have sternly spoken against it.
But in a statement on Thursday, the NCC described such reports as misleading, that should be totally ignored by Nigerians.
The statement said, “The attention of the NCC, has been drawn to fraudulent and misleading information circulating in some social media platforms, insinuating there is a planned shutdown of all telecom networks and relevant ICT Units, including online transfer facilities of the banks, with effect from today, February 23, 2023.”
“The Nigerian public, consumers of telecommunications services, and all bank customers are advised to ignore these or similar messages that insinuate deliberate network shutdown or disruption of services in the Nigerian telecom network.
“The Nigerian public, consumers of telecommunications services, and all bank customers are advised to ignore these or similar messages that insinuate deliberate network shutdown or disruption of services in the Nigerian telecom network.
“These malicious and subversive messages originated and are being circulated by fraudsters and unscrupulous elements in the society with the intent to cause chaos and panic among the populace.
“The Commission has received unequivocal assurances from all the service providers to the effect that all the network services are currently in optimal performance, and will not witness any deliberate shutdown or disruptions, especially at this very crucial period of general elections in the country.
“Therefore, all users of telecommunications and banking services utilising network facilities are assured of continued optimal service delivery before, during, and after the general elections in Nigeria,” the NCC said.
