By Ayodele Oni
Three persons have been confirmed dead in an early morning bomb explosion which was reported in Kogi state on Thursday.
The explosion is coming a day when President Mohammadu Buhari is billed to pay a working visit to the state.
The Bomb Explosion reportedly occurred in Okene, Kogi state behind the palace of traditional Ruler,Ohinoyi of ebira land.
By Ayodele Oni
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, (SSANU) has sent a red signal of fresh industrial crisis in the universities to the federal government as Nigerians prepare to enter new year.
SSANU hinted that the continued refusal of the Federal Government to pay all the withhold salaries of members cannot guarantee stable calendar in 2023.
The union cautioned that students should not be forced to witness another year 2022 episode in year 2023.
Tayo Ogungbeni, Chairman, SSANU-AAUA / Chairman, JAC-ODSTI, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo state stated this in a statement on Thursday.
“We as SSANU members love peace and will do everything possible to maintain peace but the only antidote to peace in Nigerian universities is adequate
“Only government can guarantee a stable academic calendar for the public universities in the new year.
“It is a fact that since the various Unions in Nigerian Universities suspended their industrial action, re-negotiation has also stopped! Our political leaders do not want the children of the masses to have a better future.
“At the Federal level, government is doing everything humanly possible to ‘kill’ public universities because government officials can conveniently send their wards to private universities and even abroad!
“Why will a reasonable government that failed in its responsibilities punished the workers with no work, no pay? It is unfortunate that university education is sitting on gunpowder.”
The Association condemned the proposed establishment of another university by the Ondo state government, while existing ones are underfunded with workers owed over ten months salaries.
Ondo State government recently announced that plans had been concluded to upgrade the state-owned Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO), to a university.
According to the state government, already, a seven-member committee has been set up to look into the modalities for the upgrade.
The state government said the move was in line with the Federal Government’s directive that all Polytechnics should either be converted to universities or be affiliated with existing ones.
The Commissioner for Education, Femi Agagu, said the polytechnic would be upgraded to University of Management Sciences and Technology.
Ogungbeni however said, “Let me congratulate all members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) for bidding year 2022 farewell successfully, a year of torment and hunger.
“We shall never forget year 2022 in a hurry. God has confirmed through the happenings in year 2022 that He is our sustenance and provider.
“We are entering the new year with arrears of salaries ranging between 4 and 10 months in Ondo State Tertiary institutions.
“Almost four years after the implementation of the New National Minimum Wage in Nigeria, none of the tertiary institutions in our Ondo State has implemented it for its workforce. Are we not part of Nigeria anymore?
“Underfunding is the hallmark of all the tertiary institutions in Ondo State comprising of three state-owned Universities and a Polytechnic, yet, the establishment of a fourth University is almost a done deal.
“Is our problem establishment of Universities or improving the funding of the existing ones? Our Governor should help the existing universities to compete favourably with other sisters’ universities worldwide.”
The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has demanded N5 billion compensation for the family of slain Lagos lawyer Omobolanle Raheem.
The lawyer was killed on Christmas day by an irate policeman, and according to her family was pregnant with twins at the time she was murdered in cold blood.
The Inspector General of Police, Baba Usman has suspended the policeman who killed her, Drambi Van did an Assistant Superintendent of police, DSP who is currently under probe.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state has also demanded a thorough probe of the matter, even as many Nigerians said incessant killing of Nigerians by policemen must stop.
Ebun – Olu Adegboruwa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, said he the NBA president has directed the Lagos branch of the Association to be part of the prosecution team with the Lagos State government.
The association will demand N5 billion as compensation for the deceased family, the human rights lawyer and activist said.
According to him, “The NBA Lagos in conjunction with the NBA President, Mr. Y.C. Mikyau, SAN, has decided to be part of the prosecution of the policeman as part of its efforts towards securing quick and effective justice for the family of the deceased.
“In this regard, the NBA will be partnering with the Ministry of Justice during the trial.
“Mr. Adegboruwa has in turn obtained relevant briefing from the Hon. Attorney-General of Lagos State and has secured the assurances of an accelerated prosecution once the case file is received from the police.”
“The NBA is also seeking monetary compensation for the family of Mrs. Raheem from the government of Lagos State, the Federal Government, and indeed the Nigeria Police Force and the Police Service Commission, through its Human Rights Committee.
The NBA will seek for payment of damages not less than five billion naira in addition to the prosecution of the killer cop.”
In October 2020, an anti – police brutality protest also known as EndSARS rocked the country after some policemen killed a man in Delta state. Following the nationwide protest the federal government disbanded the notorious Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS, as part of its efforts to restructure the Nigerian Police Force, NPF, but critics of the Force say Nigerians are still being killed daily by policemen.
Efforts by the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan to approve a request from President Muhammadu Buhari to restructure a multi- trillion loan advances from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, failed on Wednesday.
Under the administration, the federal government has borrowed over N21 trillion from the Godwin Emefiele-led CBN in form of Ways and Means, W&M in the last seven years.
According to the CBN Act, the bank has powers to advance loan to the federal government to the tune of five percent of government revenue for a budgetary year. Such advances, usually meant for plugging government budget deficits must be paid back within the budgetary year, the Act said.
The administration has flagrantly abused the Act after borrowing so much from the apex bank without immediate plan to pay back, and the decision by the Senate to reject the president’s request to restructure the advances is not unexpected experts say.
President Buhari in a letter to the Senate last week urged the chamber to approve another N1 trillion for the federal government, raising the total Advances to N23.7 trillion.
Buhari further requested in the letter that the advances repayment should be spread for 40 years at an interest rate of nine per cent.
But his request fell flat in the chamber after many senators rejected it, citing abuse of the W&M by the president, who they also accused of not carrying them along before borrowing so much from the bank.
The chamber was thrown into a turmoil after Senator Betty Apiafy raised a point of order that the W&M is alien to Nigerian law as a means of finaning government fiscal deficits.
The decision by Lawan to stop her from making her point further angered many senators, among them Senator Thompson Sekibo who cited Section 38 of the CBN Act as a basis for the Senate to reject the president request.
Sekibo said, “Section 38 of the CBN Act states that any money collected by the federal government as loan or emergency fund in form of Ways and Means advances must be refunded before collection of another.
“The relevant laws quoted clearly show that the N22.7 trillion Ways and Means advance already spent by the federal government without informing the National Assembly was wrong and will be unfair as representatives of Nigerians to approve this request.”
The Buhari administration has been trenchantly critcised for being the highest borrower from the CBN in many years. The previous administration of President Goodluck Jonathan only borrowed less than N1 trillion from the apex bank, from where the current administration took it to the current N22.7 trillion level.
The Nigerian Senate has called on the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to shift the deadline for the expiration of old naira notes by six months. The date should be extended to June 30, 2023, the Senate said contrary to the January 31, 2023 earlier set by the apex bank.
Following the redesigning of the N200, N500 and N1000 notes, Godwin Emefiele, the CBN Govenor had announced that the these denominations would no longer be legal tender by the end of January next year.
This development generated mixed reactions in the public and financial sector, but the CBN said it is within its powers to do so.
But on Wednesday, the nation’s upper legislative chamber urged the government bank to reconsider its decision to and move the date forward, following a motion by Senator Ali Ndume who cited Orders 41 and 51 to seek the leave of the Senate to move a motion to that effect.
Ndume was supported in the motion by Senators Adamu Aliero and Aliyu Wamako who said the extention is necessary in the interest of Nigerians.
While ruling on the motion, Senate President Ahmad Lawan advised the Emefiele-led CBN to ‘urgently’ extend the deadline to June next year.
The CBN had last month announced its plan to phase out the old naira banknotes, it also announced a cap on cash withdrawal by individuals and corporate bodies which it later reviewed last week to N500 , 000 and N5 million weekly, respectively.
The redesigned banknotes will, among other things, curtail excess cash outside of the banking system whilst combating inflation.
The deadline for phasing out the old N200, N500 and N1000 banknotes is January 31, 2023.
The CBN later reviewed its policy on cash withdrawal limits, increasing weekly withdrawals for individuals and corporate organisations to N500, 000 and N5 million, respectively.
Emefiele hinged the apex Bank’s decision to review the cash withdrawal limit on public interest, saying feedback from Nigerians supports the review.
The CBN Governor said, “Currency management is a key function of the Central Bank of Nigeria, as enshrined in Section 2 (b) of the CBN Act 2007. Indeed, the integrity of a local legal tender, the efficiency of its supply, as well as its efficacy in the conduct of monetary policy are some of the hallmarks of a great Central Bank.
“In recent times, however, currency management has faced several daunting challenges that have continued to grow in scale and sophistication with attendant and unintended consequences for the integrity of both the CBN and the country.
“In recent years, the CBN has recorded significantly higher rates of counterfeiting especially at the higher denominations of N500 and N1,000 banknotes. Although global best practice is for central banks to redesign, produce and circulate new local legal tender every 5–8 years, the Naira has not been redesigned in the last 20 years.”
“It was based on these trends, problems, and facts, and in line with sections 19, subsections a and b of the CBN Act 2007, that the management of the CBN sought and obtained the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari to redesign, produce, and circulate new series of banknotes at N100, N200, N500, and N1,000 levels.
“In line with this approval, we have finalized arrangements for the new currency to begin circulation on December 15, 2022. The new and existing currencies shall remain legal tender and circulate together until January 31, 2023, when the existing currencies shall seize to be legal tender.”
Meanwhile, the magazine has learned from competent forces in the apex bank that it’s not considering any review for now.
By Gideon Njoku
“Only criminals want the Security Forces off the roads. I will strengthen the road blocks”
Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Soludo, has, diplomatically, scolded his Deputy, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim, over Security Road blocks mounted on Anambra Roads by Security Agents.
Dr Ibezim had, on Saturday, 24th December, 2022, enjoyed some fame when he confronted Soldiers at Amansea area of the State, who mounted a road block which resulted In traffic gridlock.
The road in Amansea, a border town between Anambra and Enugu States, was particularly busy on that day as the next day was Christmas.
The insecurity in the South-east has resulted in the blocking of roads with sand bags and drums by Security Agents, especially Soldiers, to checkmate criminals.
However, allegations have been rife that the Soldiers over-step their bounds at such road blocks. They are, allegedly, in the habit of humiliating motorists and passengers, and have turned the road blocks to money collecting tolls and their ATM.
On the 24th, the road was, as is usually the case during Christmas and Year periods, chaotic. The queue stretched, and having in mind that unwholesome businesses, allegedly, are responsible for the chaos and the queue, the Deputy Governor stepped down from his car, abandoned his convoy, and confronted the Soldiers. He ordered them to dismantle the road block by removing the sand bags and drums, and make the road free for motorists.
Dr Ibezim to the Soldiers who he thoroughly scolded: “We must be sane in this Country. I don’t want you to be causing hardship for my people. I have worked in the Directorate of Defence, and this is not what the Army stands for.”
He proceeded to control the traffic for sometime before driving off with his convoy.
Ibezim’s action attracted both commendation and condemnation. While many applauded him for confronting the Soldiers publicly, others said he played to the gallery.
Not a few people are of the opinion that he threw the bath water away with the baby. They insist the Soldiers were on duty, and if he noticed unwholesome business going on, the right thing would have been to call the most senior officer out, and advised him. Or, put a call through to their Commander who should have spoken to them.
The Soldiers, they said, are important along the roads, and had, several times, confronted and arrested criminals at such road blocks. Many people, they said, feel safer traveling when they know there are security road blocks along the road.
“What the Deputy Governor did can only happen in Nigeria. The Soldiers were in their uniform. They were on duty. He is not their boss, and had no business interfering so undiplomatically in their duty. He played to the gallery just to have a few minutes of fame.”, noted a retired Military Officer.
However, addressing Journalists at his Country home, in Isuofia, Governor Soludo showered praises on Security Agents who stay along dangerous roads just to keep citizens safe. He thanked them for their commitment to restoring law and order in the State, and lamented that a number of them had lost their lives in the process of securing others.
The Governor recalled that when he took over office in 2021, Eight Local Government Areas in the State were under the mercy of criminals who had completely taken them over.
Things are different now, Soludo noted, as the LGA’s have been recovered from them.
On road blocks, the Governor said only criminals want Security Agents out of the roads. But not on his watch, he promised. Instead, Soludo “pledged to strengthen the road blocks” as well as take other measures to ensure safety.
By Charles Igbo
Governor Hope Uzodinma, Wednesday evening, announced the passing of Professor George Obiozor.
Obiozor, according to sources, died on December 26, 2022.
By Obiozor’s passing, Imo State, the South-east, and the Nigerian Nation have lost an accomplished academic, an exceptional Diplomat, a respected international scholar, a great manager of men and resources, and a deeply proud Igbo man.
Until his death, Obiozor was the President General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural Association, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
In the past three days, the rumour of Obiozor’s passing had been strong, and had found its way into both the conventional and social media. It was initially denied by Ohanaeze because, given Obiozor’s status, nationally and internationally, the proper channel, protocol-wise, needed to announce it.
That is what Uzodinma did, Wednesday evening, in a statement he personally signed.
The Governor said Professor Obiozor died after a brief illness. However, he neither disclosed when and/or where he died, but told Ndigbo and Nigerians he announces, with sorrow, the Professor’s death on behalf of the Government and people of Imo State.
He hailed Obiozor as “an exceptional diplomat and statesman and a tenacious patriot.”
The Governor said:
“On behalf of the Government and people of Imo state, I, Sen Hope Uzodimma, the Executive Governor of Imo state, sorrowfuly announce the passage of a great Son of Imo state and Nigeria, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Worldwide, Prof George Obiozor.
“A renowned academic, an exceptional diplomat and statesman and a tenacious patriot, Prof George Obiozor passed on recently after a brief illness.
“The death of this foremost Igbo leader and former Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States and the State of Israel, is a big loss to Imo State, the South East and the entire Nigeria.
“I have no doubt that both Nigeria and the international community will miss his profound intellectual contributions and wise counsel on national and global issues.
“His burial arrangements will be announced in due course by the family
“May his great and gentle soul rest in peace.”
Ohanaeze’s Lawyer, Uwazurike, Expresses Shock, Salutes A Great Soul
In his reaction, to Obiozor’s passing, Chief Goddy Uwazuruike, Lawyer to Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, expressed shock. Mourning, he said: “In, almost, two years of service (as Ohanaeze’s President General), he stood like a rock of Gibraltar.”
He saluted Obiozor for his life of service.
Uwazuruike: “It’s with shock but with gratitude to God 🙏 for a life well spent that I learnt of the death of the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide as announced by the Government of Imo State.
“Prof George Obiozo has been a high flier all his life.
“In academia, he was a star .
In political life, he excelled in the appointments he held both during the Military and Civilian Governments.
“In retirement from Government services, he was elected the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide on Jan 20, 2020.
“In almost 2 years of service, he stood like a rock of Gibraltar, even in the face health challenges.
“We salute him for his Life of service.
Rest in peace, Great man!!!”
Professor Obiozor, aged 80 years, a native of Awo Omamma, Oru Local Government Area, Imo State, was born on 15th August 1942. A former Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, NIIA, before he was appointed Nigeria’s Ambassador to Isreal and later, the United States, Obiozor studied at the Institute of African Studies, and Albert Schweitzer College. The Professor graduated in 1969, from the University of Puget Sound. He earned a PhD in International Affairs from Colombia University.
He became Ohanaeze’s President on 10th January, 2021.
Professor Obiozor held the National Honour of the Commander of the Order of the Niger, CON.
By Ayodele Oni
Politics apart, there is this genuine love between Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, and his opponent during the last governorship election in the state, Eyitayo Jegede, SAN as revealed on Wednesday.
Governor Akeredolu visited the two-time Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Jegede, over the death of his mother, Mama Caroline Olutola Jegede.
Governor Akeredolu, who had earlier called and sent a condolence letter, led the Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and other members of the State Executive Council to the Akure family house of Jegede to condole him and other members of his family.
Jegede was one of Governor Akeredolu’s co contestants during the last governorship election in the state.
As a runner up in the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Jegede took Akeredolu to the Election Tribunal, and up to the Supreme Court to challenge the outcome of the poll.
Both Akeredolu and Jegede are lawyers and Senior Advocates of Nigeria, (SAN).
The Governor and his entourage were received by Mr. Jegede, his wife, Eno, and other family members.
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Richard Olatunde in a statement revealed that Akeredolu noted that Mama Caroline Jegede departed at a ripe age of 96 years.
The Governor charged the children of the late nonagenarian to thank God for surviving their mother, adding that it is a thing of joy.
“We are not here to mourn with you. We are here to congratulate you. Mama has gone at the ripe age. We should thank God because when we survive our aged parents, we should be grateful.
“All the seven children are here and alive today. We should thank God. The issue is that when God gives us the opportunity, we should thank God. I am here to commiserate and congratulate you on surviving mama.”
Governor Akeredolu assured the PDP chieftain of the support of the state government for the burial ceremony of mama Caroline Jegede.
According to the Governor, Jegede, having served as the Attorney-General of the state, deserves all the respect and support from the state government.
“I want to say that we will be here to support you for the burial. I must note this, when my mother died, you visited me. You came to the house during the wake keep. You were at the church. You have always shown me a lot of respect.
“We have come a long way. Politics can not separate us. You are somebody that I have a lot of respect for. The state should give you a lot of respect and support too. You have served this state.”
Responding, Jegede, who thanked the Governor, his deputy and other members of the State Executive council, described the visit as a great honour.
He said the relationship between him and Governor Akeredolu is beyond politics, adding that he has respect for the Governor.
“Let me start by thanking you, sir, for this honour. I know it is out of genuine love and respect. You have always shown me love and respect.
“I thank you. When Mama died, you called me. And I later got a letter of condolence from your office. And now you are here personally with the deputy Governor and members of the state executive council.
“It can’t be more than this. This is a great honour. I do not belong to the APC. But you have honoured me.
“What is happening is beyond politics. I have so much respect for you. You have been President of the Bar, my own President. You have been our leader and you have never disappointed us.
“Politics will come, politics will go. Before politics, we were somewhere. You have made your marks before you came into politics. I thank you for the love you have shown to my family.”
Jegede also informed the Governor that the family has fixed January 27 and 28, 2023 for the final funeral ceremony of his late mother.
By Ayodele Oni
One of the Divisional Police Stations in Anambra State, was, early Wednesday morning, bombarded by armed bandits who set it ablaze.
The Gunmen bombed the Ihiala Police Divisional Headquarters in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, south-east Nigeria.
The attack happened on Wednesday at about 3:00 a.m.
According to reports, the gunmen threw improvised explosive devices into the facility, which razed a building inside the station.
An indigene of the area, Uju Okafor, said the bombing and sporadic shootings by the gunmen did not allow them to sleep during the attack.
“I was very scared when I started hearing of the heavy shootings and bomb explosions.”
Mr Okafor explained that it was later in the morning that they realized that the attack was carried out on the police facility.
Another eye witness account, an indigene of the area, alleged that the gunmen set some inmates free during the attack.
“It was very early this morning that the gunmen started shooting and throwing bombs. We heard they released some people in the police cell.”
The police spokesperson in Anambra State, Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the attack in a statement on Wednesday.
Mr Ikenga, a deputy superintendent of police, said some police operatives engaged the gunmen in a shoot-out during the attack and subsequently recovered one Ak-47 rifle.
He said no life was lost in the incident and that the gunmen “escaped the scene due to superior fire” power of the operatives.
“Unfortunately, the explosives the gunmen threw inside the police station building had already ignited a fire and affected the building.”
The police spokesman, however, said the fire had been put off.
He also confirmed that the gunmen set some inmates free during the attack, but did not give the exact number of the inmates that were set free.
By Ayodele Oni
Bowing to public outcry and in line with service order, the Inspector-General of Police, (IGP) Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered the immediate suspension of an officer that killed a female Lawyer in Lagos on Christmas day.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Drambi Vandi, the officer attached to the Ajah Divisional Headquarters of the Lagos State Police Command, was responsible for the shooting and killing of Barrister Omobolanle Raheem.
The IGP order is contained in a statement issued by CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations Officer in Abuja on Wednesday.
“While waiting for the detailed report on the incident. The IGP noted that the recommendation for the suspension of the officer is in line with the internal disciplinary processes of the Force.
“The IGP further noted that the suspension is also expected to create an enabling environment for necessary legal procedures to uphold justice in the case without interference.
“The suspension is without prejudice to the constitutional presumption of innocence in favour of the officer.
“Meanwhile, the IGP has reaffirmed the commitment of the Force to the Rule of Law and assured the public of his administration’s commitment to ensuring that justice is not just done, but seen to have been manifestly done in the matter.
“He therefore appeals to the public to be calm as all hands are on deck to ensure justice prevails while measures have been put in place to prevent future occurrences.”
