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Mamu: Court Permits Continued Detention Of Mamu By DSS For Another 60 Days

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Tukur Mamu - Bandits Negotiator

By Akinwale Kasali

The hope of former Kaduna Train negotiator, Tukur Mamu to get a lenient verdict from Justice Nkeonye Maha, the Presiding Judge at the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja suffered a setback as the Court granted permission to the Department of State Services to further detain Mamu for another 60 days.

Justice  Maha, gave the ruling on Tuesday in response to an ex-parte motion moved by Ahmed Magaji, Counsel for the DSS.

In the motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1617/2022 dated and filed September 12, DSS urged the court to grant its reliefs to enable it to conclude its investigation on Mamu, who had been leading the negotiation with the terrorists for the release of the Abuja-Kaduna train passengers kidnapped since March, 28, 2022.

It would be recalled that  Mamu was arrested at Cairo International Airport on September 6, 2022, on his way to Saudi Arabia for lesser Hajj. He was flown back to Nigeria sans day, and on arrival at the Kano International Airport, he was arrested by operatives of the DSS.

Following Mamu’s arrest, the DSS on Thursday, September 8, 2022, raided his residence and office, and later the residences of his in-law and a couple of relatives.

Confirming the raid in a statement on Thursday, the Spokesman for the DSS, Peter Afunanya, said, “So far, appropriate security agencies have executed valid search warrants on Mamu’s residence and office. During the processes, incriminating materials including military accoutrements were recovered.

“Other items include large amounts in different currencies and denominations as well as financial transaction instruments.” Two days ago, the DSS warned against making comments on the Mamu case, pointedly revealing that what it has unearthed in its investigation, so far, is mind boggling.

South West PDP To Receive Atiku Abubakar Wednesday

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

The South West Chapter of People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) has commended the Presidential Candidate of the Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, on his proposed visit to Ibadan on Wednesday.

During the visit, Atiku is expected to hold a crucial meeting with the Zonal Executive Council of the party, as a strategic move to reposition the Party ahead of the 2023 general elections

The opposition Party stated that the choice of Ibadan as the first point of call by the Candidate was a clear signal that the PDP is one united and indivisible family, which is committed to deliver the zone for the party’s candidate in the February presidential election.

This was contained in a statement by the Zonal Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Sanya Atofarati, on Tuesday  in Ibadan.

“On behalf of members of Zonal executive council of our great party I welcome our candidate, His Excellency Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to Ibadan where he would hold a crucial meeting with all stakeholders of the party

“The visit could not have come at a better time than now in view of the ongoing reconciliation and fence mending moves by top hierachy of the party at different levels to address various interests and agitations within the party which were blown out of proportion by the ruling APC.

“As a truly democratic institution, the PDP welcomes all shades of opinions and interests which sometimes might be misconstrued by the general public as crisis, but the inherent internal mechanism for conflict resolution of our party has set the PDP apart from our main challenger and the outcome of the recent reconciliatory moves has begun to bear fruit.

“I must also commend Governor Seyi Makinde  for his exemplary leadership in the zone as he is billed to receieve the visiting former President on Wednesday and put in place logistics for the success of the event.

“Governor Makinde has once again demonstrated capacity to distinguish between self interest and party supremacy because the PDP umbrella is our defining symbol which must be guided jealously going forward.

“I have always held the opinion that the PDP cannot afford to fail Nigerians because the sufferings in the land is positive campaign to our party in 2023.

“Thanks to APC for mismanaging the country. So the rescue mission of our country begins with the PDP and all hands must be on deck to put our house in order across all geo political zones and reclaim our stolen mandate of 2019.

“I equally enjoined Nigerians who are going through excruciating pains and agony foisted on them by APC led wicked administration to keep their hope alive in the PDP because the storm will soon be over.”

Goldman Sachs To Sack Hundreds Of Workers

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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The cuts at the financial investment firm could begin as early as next week and impact employees across the company, according to sources.

Goldman Sachs declined to comment, but had mentioned reduced profits in an earnings report in July.

“We have made the decision to slow hiring velocity,” the company’s chief financial officer, Denis Coleman, had said at the time.

The investment bank had warned it might have to cut expenses as the economic outlook worsens.

It reported a 48 percent slump in its second quarter profit as its clients face inflation, rising interest rates, the Coronavirus pandemic, and war in Ukraine. Its investment banking division generated revenues of $2.1 billion, down 41 percent compared to a year ago.

The Wall Street titan usually trims about one percent to five percent of its underperforming staff each year, and the 2022 cuts will likely be in the lower end of that range, a source told Reuters.

Mr Coleman also said the firm is considering, “reinstating our annual performance review of our employee base at the end of the year, something that we suspended during the period of the pandemic for the most part and just being much more disciplined and focused on utilization efficiency of our human capital resources”.

“There is no question that the market environment has gotten more complicated and a combination of macroeconomic conditions and geopolitics is having a material impact on asset prices, market activity and confidence,” according Goldman Sachs Chief Executive David Solomon.

BBC

State Police, Way Out Of Security Challenges – Northern Governors

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

Miffed by the unending security challenges confronting them, 19  Governors, under the aegis of the Northern Governors Forum (NGF) have thrown their weight behind the establishment of State Police.

This resolution is coming almost a year after their southern counterpart had canvassed for state controlled police force, in a bid to tackle the activities of insurgents, kidnappers and other criminal activities across the country.

The Northern Governors’ position was contained in a communique issued at the end of the meeting with the Northern Traditional Rulers Council  in Abuja.

The meeting was organized to “review the state of security in the North and other matters relating to its progress and the development of the region.”

NGF Chairman and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong said the meeting reviewed the security situation in the North and other matters relating to its development.

According to him, the meeting also resolved to support further amendments of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) in the bid to accommodate the establishment of State Police.

Governor Lalong affirmed that the Northern Governors and “Traditional rulers support the review and constitutional amendment to accommodate the establishment of State Police, with a view to effectively and efficiently address the security challenges in the Northern States.

“The Forum reiterated its commitment to the development of solar energy in view of the comparative advantage of sunshine in the region.

“Accordingly, it was unanimously resolved that 2000 megawatts of solar power be developed across the 19 States and FCT.”

The joint meeting also noted regrettably that the ongoing strike action declared by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike is more punitive in the Northern region as most of the students across the region are attending public universities.

“Accordingly, the Forum appeals to the ASUU to cooperate with the Federal Government in resolving the strike action.”

The Northern Governors also engaged officials of the World Bank to discuss the level of implementation of the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) and Nigeria for Women Project which is being implemented in five Northern States.

Oyetola, UNILORIN Alumni Charge New Vice Chancellor, Prof Egbewole

By
Ayodele Oni
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Wahab Egbewole - UNIILORIN VC

By Ayodele Oni

Osun state government and Alumni association of the University of Ilorin, (UNILORIN) have expressed the hope that the appointment of Prof Wahab Egbewole as vice Chancellor designate will bring new dawn for the institution.

Osun state Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola in a congratulatory message described the appointment of Prof Egbewole, SAN, as the new Vice-Chancellor as well deserved.

Governor Oyetola in a congratulatory message by his Chief Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan, expressed delight over the appointment of the Osun state born Professor of Law.

He noted that the emergence of Egbewole through a rigorous selection and highly competitive process, was a testament to his long years of academic excellence, hard work, and demonstration of great leadership skills.

The governor said he has no doubt that the new Vice-Chancellor would bring to bear his experience, knowledge and leadership qualities in the discharge of his official responsibilities, add value to the institution and improve its ranking.

“On behalf of the government and good people of Osun, I heartily congratulate a distinguished son of the soil, Prof. Wahab Egbewole, SAN, on his appointment as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin.

“In Osun, we are delighted and honoured with his appointment, and are confident in his capacity to move the University to greater height

As a thorough bred academic, outstanding legal practitioner and versatile administrator, I have no doubt that the new Vice-Chancellor would bring to bear his experience, knowledge and leadership qualities in the discharge of his official responsibilities and add value to the institution and improve its ranking.

“I wish Prof. Egbewole success in this new assignment.”

The National Secretariat of the University of Ilorin Alumni Association, via a Letter of Congratulation signed by the National President, Dr  Stephen Olawale Fasakin, implores him to see his appointment as an ”act of God” so designed to achieve certain purposes in the upliftment of the image and structure of the University.

The association Urges Prof Egbewole to see his office “as a big pot of soup for meat and bones together to produce delicious meals for the University community to eat and be satisfied.”

The Association charges the new Vice-Chancellor not leave out and noting that other contestants should be carried along in moving the university forward.

“That your administration be fair and firm, embracing dynamism, operating within ‘due process’, ‘open door’ and other edifying policies.

“These are our watchwords for you as we pray that God will ‘walk’ and ‘talk’ the five years of your tenure with you.

“Kindly, consider the welfare of staff and students in everything you do. Every sector of the University community must not remain the same as they were before at the time of your leaving.

“We  urged the staff and students of the University to cooperate with the new Vice Chancellor for an all round development of the University.

“We promise the Vice Chancellor desgnate our total support for him in other to surpass the achievement of his  predecessor in office.”

Union Bank: Customer’s Complaint of the Day

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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0

“How long exactly does it take u guys to reverse a failed transactions? Pls refund my money, i’m sorry for using @UNIONBANK_NG, pls reverse my 115k. I’ve made series of complain but no solution, haba.”

@akhams1

Wike, Atiku Rift : PDP South West Leaders Move To Present Common Stand

By
Ayodele Oni
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Atiku Abubakar and Nyesom Wike

By Ayodele Oni

Details of last weekend’s meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, by some leaders of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) from south west are beginning to unfold.

The leaders among whom were Party Chairmen, former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, had met with Governor Seyi Makinde last Sunday.

The meeting, which was said to be behind closed doors, was confirmed by one of Fayose’s Media Aides, Lere Olayinka, on his Facebook page.

There are indications that one of the main issues discussed at the meeting centred on the stand of the zone in the ongoing rift in the leadership of the party at national level.

Fayose and Makinde have been fingered among those behind Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State in the post Presidential Primary election crisis rocking the PDP.

The Rivers state Governor has insisted that with the emergence of Atiku Abubakar from the North as the Presidential flagbearer of the party, Dr Iyorcha Ayu should resign his appointment as National Chairman of PDP.

The Ibadan meeting is also reported to have discussed the likely successor of Ayu in the event of zoning the position to the South-west.

The PDP Presidential candidate is expected in Lagos before the end of this week and may likely stop over in Ibadan in furtherance of his nationwide consultations with stakeholders.

The meeting also counselled Party Chairmen from the zone on the need to speak with one voice on the current situation for as long as it lasts, in order not to portray south west as being divided.

2023: NLC, TUC Promise Obi 12m Votes

By
James Orji
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NLC Protest

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC has promised to mobilise its 12 million strong members to vote for the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.

Obi, whose popularity has been growing among mainly young voters and workers’ unions, according to those watching the country’s politics is in a three horse race with Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar of the All progressives Congress, and Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, respectively.

Ayuba Wabba, NLC president disclosed this on Monday, stressing that the union will ensure the victory of Obi in next year’s presidential election.

The labour leader said at the National Retreat of the party in Abuja that its members will ensure Obi’s victory in 2023.

“The structures of all our affiliates, both TUC and NLC, membership together is 12 million,” he said.

Ayuba said one of the things the union is doing is to unite Nigerians, across all walks of life behind the LP presidential candidate, adding that no country can move forward without unity.

According to him, “One issue that we must take very serious is actually conscientising our members and also Nigerians because Nigeria is so much divided along many primordial interests and many interests that are self-centred that we need to address

“No country in the world can prosper and work in unity if the country is so divided. So one of the responsibilities of Labour Party is to unite Nigerians along a common goal of development and prosperity.

“Let us organise at all levels. Let us send a message at all levels. I assure you that as Britain did it in 1945 when all the structures were actually won by the Labour Party and recently… Australia also did the same.

“It’s not that we don’t have we have structures; human beings are the structures. It is just to activate the structures and put them to use. It’s just like a weapon in military circles. You service them when the need arises.

“So the need has (arisen) for all the structures of the political commission of both TUC and NLC to be activated in all the 774 local governments. Importantly, also the structures of all our affiliates, both TUC and NLC, membership together is 12 million.”

2023: Obi Demands Probe Of Tinubu’s Wealth

By
James Orji
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Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Pary, LP has questioned the source of wealth of APC presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Obi in a now-viral video believed to be referencing Tinubu said the former Lagos state governor has made so much wealth without any company traced to him.

Recall that Dele Alake, one of the spokesmen of the APC presidential hopeful recently claimed that his principal made his fortunes from stocks he owns in blue chip companies across the world.

Alake said, Tinubu ”has been buying stocks and bonds and all of that. I am not a finance person. So, I am not going to be interested in the nitty-gritty of it all. But I know he has been trading in stocks.

“I know that when you trade in stocks and you are a finance person, you know how to juggle the stock market and all of that. Those who are adept at it know what I am talking about. They wouldn’t start questioning how he made his money from stocks.

“He was buying stocks of blue-chip companies and all of that. He was making money and he was spending money. He has been doing all of these years before he got into office,” Alake, a former Commissioner for Information in Lagos state said.

He added, “Why people are querying the source of his wealth is because he had been a successful governor of Lagos and a successful politician even after office.

“He is about the only one of the class of 1999 who is at that enviable political height today. He is bound to attract all of these negative comments. That, to him, was crucial.

“He made his money well before he got into office. I think what is important to Nigerians, really, is to know that this man was not a pauper before he came into office, like some others,” he said.

Alake however failed to mention companies where Tinubu owns shares.

Speaking Obi said Tinubu’s sources of wealth should be questioned, asking how the APC presidential candidate made so much wealth after losing so much during the late Gen. Sanni Abacha dictatorship.

Obi also urged Nigerians to take back their country from moneybags.

Referencing Tinubu, the LP presidential candidate noted, “What company gave this candidate who people claimed fought Abacha and lost everything own that gave him the money to buy two planes? Bad behavior has become a measure of success in Nigeria and we must all rise up and take back our country and rule it the right way.

“We have a crisis, a crisis; and that’s why I am pleading for all of us to take back our country. It’s our own; it’s not like any other country. When the leader is responsible to the people, they can question his rascality; his behavior must that of somebody who is sane and who wants to serve.”

NIMASA: Transport Minister Orders Deployment of Moribund Floating Dockyard

By
James Orji
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The Minister of Transportation, Mu’azuJaji Sambo has charged the Management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, to ensure prompt deployment of the Modular Floating Dockyard the Agency acquired sometimes ago.

The Agency’s Director General, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, who disclosed this while speaking with the media in Lagos, said that the Honorable Minister described the deployment of the Modular Dockyard as one of the low-hanging fruits he hopes would be delivered to the nation within the next few months.

“When we met with the Honorable Minister last month, he made it clear that we need to deploy the Modular Floating Dockyard for the benefit of Nigerians. The truth is that we are working round the clock daily to ensure the Dockyard is put to use.

“We are working closely with the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, using lessons from past mistakes, to ensure a productive and sustainable deployment of the Modular Dockyard.

Jamoh said that both NIMASA and NPA are set to complete the operationalization of the NIMASA Modular Floating Dockyard with the installation of dolphins and repair of facilities at the NPA Continental Shipyard facility, where the floating dock would be operated from.

He noted that NIMASA has completed the ongoing discussions with its co-partner, NPA and other managing partners to provide the Continental Shipyard for the anchoring of the Dockyard. The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, ICRC, is closely providing guidance for the deployment of the national asset on a Public Private Partnership PPP model, adding that the floating dock needs to go through an installation process before it starts functioning or be put to use.

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