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Ondo Police Command Parades Human Parts Merchant, Ten Others

By
Ayodele Oni
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Oyeyemi Oyediran - Ondo State Commisioner of Police

By Ayodele Oni

Ten suspects, including a man that stored human parts in his room have been paraded by the Ondo state police command.

State police command spokesperson, Funmilayo Odunlami, who briefed the press on Tuesday, explained that “On the 31st August, 2022, a complainant reported at Kajola Division that an offensive odour was oozing out from the room of one Olaolu Falowo ‘m’ Aged 26, located Kuseru Village via Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State.

“As at the time of the report, the suspect was in police custody for a case of attempted car theft, when a search was conducted in his house, Human limps (2 legs and 2 arms hands) were recovered while a Human skull in a sack was recovered from his father house.

“The suspect claimed the deceased was a madman who was sick and about dying in the forest, so he killed him to reduce his pains and took part of his body to use it for sacrifice.

“However, a family member of the deceased refuted the suspect’s statement that his Brother was hail and hearty, a farmer who had gone to farm at Kuseru village.

The suspects (father and son) are in police custody.

“In the same vein, on the 30th of November 2021, one Iwatan Bamitale, went to the land of one Mr. Ogunsemore and while measuring the land, the owner challenged him and ask what he was doing on his land, the said Bamitale left and came back the next day with some of his gang members and attacked the owner of the land and in the process shot at his son, Esau Ogunsemore  and carried him away.

“The du of Mayowa Iletuwa ‘m’ Aged 41 and Akinwumi Ebifemi (a.k.a Espayol) ‘m’ Aged 32 who were part of the people that attacked the land owner were arrested.

“During investigation, it was discovered that the aforementioned were involved in several cases bothering on similar offences in which one Iwatan Bamidele and seven others had earlier been arrested and charged to Court for murder and conspiracy which includes killing of a Policeman on the 18th  November, 2021.

“Subsequently, one Ogunsemore Gbenga ‘m’ Aged 38 and Rire Ayomide ‘m’ Aged 33 were later arrested in connection with the case by Policemen attached to FCID, Alagbon, Lagos State.

“Effort is ongoing to arrest others at large while the arrested suspects will be charged to court.

“On the 4th of July, 2022, a case of Arson and Murder was reported at Osi Divisional headquarters, the complainant stated that she was alerted via phone that her filling station was on fire, on getting to the station with Fire fighters, she realized her security guard Dandan  Sunday ‘m’ had been killed with his hands and legs tied.

“Intelligence gathering led to the arrest of koku Sunday ‘m’ and Kofi Friday ‘m’, one single Barrel gun was recovered from the suspects.

“The suspects made confessional statements touching the commission of the crime. They will soon have their day in court.

“On the 28th August, 2022, at about 2240hrs, the duo of Olaoye Oluwatosin ‘m’ Aged 35 and Taiwo Olamide ‘m’ aged 35, attacked and kidnapped one Mrs. Akinloye Folashade ‘F’, from her shop at Ofosu area.

“Policemen attached to Ofosu Division werw informed and immediately gave the suspects a hot chase and were eventually apprehended.

They will soon be charged to court.

“On the 19th August, 2022, a complaint of Defilement was reported at Okitipupa Division that two children (names withheld) of about four  years old were playing in their compound at Ikoya/Ilutitun road, Okitipupa, when one Arije Dare ‘m’ went to their house to get water, met the children in the house and lure them to an uncompleted building and defiled them.

“Three days after, one of the girls complained of pains, when her mother inquired from the daughter what happened, she explained her ordeal and mention the suspect as the culprit.

“During interrogation the suspect confessed to the commission of the crime, he will soon be charged to court.

“On the 31st of August, 2022, a complaint of attempted rape and robbery was reported against one Deji Ehimowo ‘m’ of Oboto community via Igbokoda, the complainant stated that while she was on her way to Igbokoda market on the early hours of the day, the suspect accosted her and robbed her of the sum of One Hundred and Sixteen Thousand Naira (₦160,000.00) and her phone valued, One Hundred and Forty Thousand Naira (₦140,000.00) and also tried dragging her into the bush before the intervention of the army who were on patrol.

“The suspect also engaged the army but he was overpowered and the sum of Sixty Nine Thousand Naira (₦69,000.00) and the victim phone was recovered.

“Investigation revealed that the suspect was released from a correctional facility barely three days before the incident. He will be charged to court at the end of the investigation.

Court Grants Ogun Speaker N300 Million Bail

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Olakunle Oluomo - Ogun Speaker

By Akinwale Kasali

The Speaker of Ogun State House of Assembly Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo, who was arraigned  on Tuesday before a Court has been granted bail. Oluomo was arraigned with two others by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

They were arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.

Two others who had been remanded by anti graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, before the Federal  over alleged N2.475 billion money laundering.  The Speaker has been granted bail to the tune of N300 million.

Justice Daniel Osiagor ordered that the three men should be remanded for one week in the EFCC’s custody, adding that if they failed to meet up with the bail condition, they would be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Service.

Those also  arraigned are Oladayo Samuel, Adeyemo Adedeji Taiwo and Adeyanju Amoke (now at large) on 11 counts of conspiracy, forgery, stealing and money laundering preferred against them by the EFCC.

EFCC prosecuting counsel Rotimi Oyedepo told the court that the defendants committed the alleged offences between 2019 and 2022.

He said the incident took place in Ogun State.

Oyedepo told the court that they allegedly stole the sum of N2.475bn from the treasury of Ogun State House of Assembly.

When the charge was read to the defendants, they pleaded not guilty.

When the matter came up for arraignment on Tuesday, Mr Kehinde Ogunwunmiju, SAN, appeared for the first defendant, Akinyemi Aremu, for the second defendant and Oluwole Aladedoye for the third defendant.

On September 1, the EFFC’s Lagos Head of Legal Monitoring Unit, Rotimi Oyedepo, filed the charge at the Federal High Court, in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The Commission said it intended to called at least 10 witnesses to testify and tender documents and exhibits.

The list of the witnesses includes Adamu Usman Yusuf, Otitoju Moses Kolawale, Yazid Ahmad Bawa, Anyanwu Bright, Adekunbi Mojibola, Munkaila Huzaifa and Idowu Oluseyi Olarenwaju.

Others are representatives of Ashkash Nigeria limited, representatives of Obasanjo Holdings limited(managers of NNPC Mega Station) and representatives of Gateway Bank limited.

The Ogun State High Court had on Monday granted the application of the Commission for the case to be heard at the Federal High Court in Lagos by the vacation judge.

EFCC had earlier released the Speaker on bail. He, however, returned to the Lagos office of the Commission on Monday with other officials of the State House of Assembly, especially the Clerk and accountant for further questioning.

The first defendant’s counsel, Ogunwunmiju SAN, informed the court that he had filed a bail application but was yet to be before the court.

While moving their applications for bail for the defendants, the first defendant’s counsel Igunwumiju (SAN), urged the court to grant the first defendant bail in liberal terms, adding that  Oluomo voluntarily returned to the EFCC office in Lagos on Monday, after he was granted administrative bail last Friday.

Banks Should Pay More To AMCON- Budget Office DG

By
James Orji
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0

Ben Akabueze, Director General of the Nigerian Budget Office, has called for an increase in the statutory contribution of commercial banks to the Asset Management Company of Nigeria, AMCON sinking fund.

Commercial banks in the country are required by law to contribute 0.5 percent of their total assets and 0.5 percent yearly to AMCON.

Akabueze who spoke on Arise Television on Tuesday said the government should increase the levy at this time that banks in the country are making huge profits, apart from their assets that are growing year-on-year.

Aisha Ahmad, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Financial Systems Stability Directorate disclosed at the end of the monthly Monetary Policy Committee, MPC meeting in June that total banks’ assets have increased to N65 trillion as of the end of June this year.

Speaking Akaubueze said it will be difficult to recover the N5 trillion AMCON toxic assets based on what banks are currently contributing.

The Asset management company has only managed to recover N1.6 trillion in five years between 2017 and 2021, according to figures obtained by the magazine.

He said, “Yes, this is a matter of serious concern to us on the fiscal side, because if AMCON does not work down these assets and pay down the amount that was invested in securing the assets that burden will eventually devolve on the treasury and become part of the national debt that all of us have to pay.”

“By the design, the resources to work down the obligations would partly come from contributions from the bank and I think that AMCON should at this point consider raising the level of the contributions that the banks make, even on a risk asset-weighted basis, so that banks that contributed significantly to the pool of assets,” of the company.

“Banks that are making mouth-watering profits nowadays should be made to contribute more significantly to working down these assets. It does not look equitable that the banks will dump their toxic assets on AMCON which will now become a public burden and now they are declaring great profits and declaring dividends for their shareholders.”

Osun Gov Elect, Adeleke Will Not Recognize Illegally Recruited Workers – Transition Committee

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Ademola Adeleke

By Ayodele Oni

The Transition Committee set up by Governor-elect of Osun state, Ademola Adeleke has announced that civil servants in the state will be made to account for some of misdeed of outgoing administration of Mr Gboyega Oyetola.

Spokesman of the committee, Olawale Rasheed while reacting to the last minute approval for recruitment of 1500 teachers by Governor Oyetola described it panic hiring of personnel by out going administration which will not stand the test of time.

The All Progressive Congress, (APC) led administration is expected to terminate in November 28 having lost July governorship election to the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP).

Governor Oyetola in a statement by the commissioner for information, Funke Egbemode, explained that

“Following an initial recruitment of 1000 teachers, the Executive Council today approved the recruitment of additional 1500 teachers, bringing the total number of teachers recruited by Governor Adegboyega Oyetola’s administration to 2500.

“This approval, which is a continuation of the process to address manpower deficit in the education sector of the state, is one of the steps the Governor has taken to turn around the fortunes of education in the last 45 months.

“Recall that the administration had earlier in the year recruited and trained 1000 teachers that were posted across the state through a credible process involving JAMB.

“For this new phase, a special committee has been constituted to work with the Ministry of Education on the implementation of the recruitment.

“Priority will be given to rural areas in the posting of teachers to ensure that those in rural communities are not at a disadvantage”

The PDP Transition Committee, also in a statement by its spokesman, described Oyetola’s recruitment as panicky hiring of personnel as “a deliberate ploy to expand payroll and financially cripple incoming government.”

He expressed shock and dismay at the undisguised push of the outgoing Governor to further complicate the poor State of Osun economy due to his deep seated anger and desire to punish Osun people for voting him out of office.

“The Committee noted that in the last two months, Oyetola has illegally employed thousands of personnel without consideration for the state’s capacity to pay and without any workforce planning, leading to governance driven by vendetta and desire to run the state aground.

“As a freshly elected Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has a well studied plan to fill the manpower gap within the educational sector and other areas of needs within the state without further complicating the already troubled workforce and over-bloated remuneration space.

“A tested scheme is already in place to bridge the workforce gap within the educational sector and a proper financial analysis has been concluded to address the knotty question of workers’ pay and entitlements.

“The plan to illegally recruit thousands of teachers and O-Yes personnel is therefore another evil agenda designed to disrupt the incoming Governor’s agenda to normalize Osun finances and restore dignity of labour through regular payment of salaries, gratuities and pensions. This move is neither altruistic nor a patriotic rendering of service.

“The goal is to deepen financing gridlock, plunge Osun workers into another era of pain and hardship and perpetually place the workforce in poverty and the state in under-development.

“As an incoming Governor with a popular mandate, Senator Ademola Adeleke will not allow the inhuman agenda of Governor Oyetola to prevail on Osun people.

“It is on this note that we call on Osun people to beware of involvement in politically motivated employment process that won’t stand the test of time.

“We urge job seekers and all other stakeholders to distance themselves from this desperate ploy as any illegal recruitment won’t be recognized by the incoming government.

“As we have noted in several statements, any bureaucrat who aids and abets the several illegalities being cooked up and executed by the outgoing government will be held to account.

“Illegal disposal of government assets, fraudulent contract payments, scamming disposal of governments assets, illegal recruitment, unconstitutional conduct of council elections and others will also be sternly revisited after November 28th. His Excellency’s vow to Osun people to deliver on good governance remains sacrosanct.”

ASUU Strike: FG Wants Negotiation To Continue, Briefs VCs, Pro Chancellors

By
Ayodele Oni
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Adamu Adamu

By Ayodele Oni

The minister of education, Adamu Adamu, has flayed decision by Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU) to stop any further negotiation with the present administration.

Addressing a meeting of vice Chancellors and pro Chancellors of Federal government owned universities on Abuja on Tuesday, the Minister said that the best thing is to continue with the negotiation untill all issues are resolved.

One major issue which remains unresolved is the refusal of the Federal government to agree to pay salaries of the striking Lecturers from February till when the strike will last.

“For me, this is a position I would have wanted us to reach after an amicable resolution of all the issues contained in the 2009 Agreements.

“It appears that we are running ahead of the negotiations but not for the right reasons. The President of ASUU has been reported to have said the Union would no longer negotiate with the current Federal Government.

“This position must be resisted. Government and ASUU have no option than to continue talking until our universities have reopened their doors to students, who clearly are the principal victims of the seemingly unending strikes.

“In the circumstances, therefore, all Councils and Senates of our universities are enjoined to rise up to their responsibilities.

“For me, the past two weeks have been a very dark period of personal anguish and internal turmoil. I used to deceive myself that in a climate of frankness, and with mutual goodwill, it will fall to my lot to bring an end to the incessant strikes in the education sector.

“This has not proved possible, or, at least, not as easy, quickly and straightforward, as I used to think.

“Distinguished Chairmen, vice-chancellors, I called you today not to share with you my anguish but to share with you the details of what we have done and what remains to be done.

“And certainly, a lot remains to be done. But for very different reasons, the current positions of Government and ASUU on the future of negotiations seem to have coincided.”

Ogun: EFCC Arraigns Speaker Oluomo For N2bn Fraud

By
James Orji
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Olakunle Oluomo - Ogun Speaker

By James Orji

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has arraigned the Speaker of Ogun State House of Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo, before a Federal High Court in Lagos over alleged N2.5 billion fraud.

Oluomo was arrested last week at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. He has since been in out of EFCC custody before his eventual arraignment on Tuesday.

He was arraigned today alongside the director of finance of the state assembly, Oladayo Samuel, as well as the Clerk of the house, Adeyemo Taiwo, before Justice Daniel Osiagor.

Following his arrest on September 1, the anti-graft agency charged him with 11 counts of conspiracy, forgery and stealing before the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

According to the charge sheet, the Abdulrashees Bawa-led EFCC accused the Ogun Speaker of laundering over N2 billion in contravention of the provision of sections 18 (a), 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act.

The charges are:

COUNT 1

That you Oluomo Olakunle Taiwo, Oladayo Samuel, Adeyemo Adedeji Taiwo and Adeyanju Nimota Amoke (now at large) sometimes in 2019 in Abeokuta within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves to USE the total sum of N2,475,000,000,000.00 (Two Billion, Four Hundred and Seventy Five Million Naira) which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful activity to wit: stealing from the treasury of Ogun State House of Assembly and you thereby committed an offence contrary to sections 18 (a), 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act.

COUNT 2

That you Oluomo Olakunle Taiwo, Oladayo Samuel, Adeyemo Adedeji Taiwo and Adeyanju Nimota Amoke (now at large) between June,2019 and June,2020 in Abeokuta within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court used the total sum of N900,000,000.00 (Nine Hundred Million Naira) which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful activities to wit: stealing from the treasury of Ogun State House of Assembly and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act.

COUNT 3

That you Oluomo Olakunle Taiwo, Oladayo Samuel, Adeyemo Adedeji Taiwo and Adeyanju Nimota Amoke (now at large) between July,2020 and July,2021 in Abeokuta within the jurisdiction of this honorable Court used the total sum of N900,000,000.00 (Nine Hundred Million Naira) which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful activities to wit: stealing from the treasury of Ogun State House of Assembly and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act.

COUNT 4

That you Oluomo Olakunle Taiwo, Oladayo Samuel, Adeyemo Adedeji Taiwo and Adeyanju Nimota Amoke (now at large) between August,2021 and December,2021 in Abeokuta within the jurisdiction of this honorable Court used the total sum of N375,000,000.00 (Three Hundred and Seventy Five Million Naira) which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful activities to wit: stealing from the treasury of Ogun State House of Assembly and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act.

COUNT 5

That you Oluomo Olakunle Taiwo, Oladayo Samuel, Adeyemo Adedeji Taiwo and Adeyanju Nimota Amoke (now at large) between January,2022 and April,2022 in Abeokuta within the jurisdiction of this honorable Court used the total sum of N300,000,000.00 (Three Hundred Million Naira) which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful activities to wit: stealing from the treasury of Ogun State House of Assembly and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act.

COUNT 6

That you Oluomo Olakunle Taiwo or about the 12th day of September,2019 in Abeokuta within the jurisdiction of this honorable Court TRANSFERRED the sum of N2,000,000.00 (Two Million Naira) to BENGRAPHICS, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful activities to wit: stealing from the treasury of Ogun State House of Assembly and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act.

COUNT 7

That you Oluomo Olakunle Taiwo or about the 12th day of September,2019 in Abeokuta within the jurisdiction of this honorable Court TRANSFERRED the sum of N1,100,000.00 (One Million, One Hundred Thousand Naira) to BENGRAPHICS, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful activities to wit: stealing from the treasury of Ogun State House of Assembly and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act.

COUNT 8

That you, Oluomo Olakunle Taiwo, Oladayo Samuel, Adeyemo Adedeji Taiwo and Adeyanju Nimota Amoke (now at large) on or about the 22nd day of August, 2019 in Abeokuta within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court fraudulently forged Ogun State of Nigeria General Claim Form with reference No: OGHA/4/AUG/2019 wherein you claimed that the sum of N10,000,000.00 (Ten Million Naira) was received by one Adewunmi Tunde and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1(2) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.

COUNT 9

That you, Oluomo Olakunle Taiwo, Oladayo Samuel, Adeyemo Adedeji Taiwo and Adeyanju Nimota Amoke (now at large) on or about the 30th day of May, 2020 in Abeokuta within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court fraudulently forged Ogun State of Nigeria General Claim Form with reference No: OGHA/11/MAY/2020 wherein you claimed that the sum of N30,250,000.00 (Thirty Million Two hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) was received by one ADESINA ABIMBOLA and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1(2) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.

COUNT 10

That you, Oluomo Olakunle Taiwo, Oladayo Samuel, Adeyemo Adedeji Taiwo and Adeyanju Nimota Amoke (now at large) on or about the 21st day of January, 2019 in Abeokuta within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court fraudulently forged Ogun State of Nigeria General Claim Form with reference No: OGHA/3/JAN/2019 wherein you claimed that the sum of N12,000,000.00 (Twelve Million Naira) was received by one BABATUNDE ABIOLA and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1(2) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.

COUNT 11

That you, Oluomo Olakunle Taiwo, Oladayo Samuel, Adeyemo Adedeji Taiwo and Adeyanju Nimota Amoke (now at large) on or about the 26th day of January, 2019 in Abeokuta within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court fraudulently forged Ogun State of Nigeria General Claim Form with reference No: OGHA/4/JAN/2019 wherein you claimed that the sum of N16,000,000.00 (Sixteen Million Naira) was received by one ADEBOWALE JAMIU and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1(2) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.

Edo Assembly, Civil Society Organizations Collaborate On War Against Cultism

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Marcus Onobun

By Ayodele Oni

Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Marcus Onobun  has condemned the continued cult related killings of youths in Edo state.

Onobun made the remark while receiving members of Edo State civil society organization, who were on a peaceful protest against the continued cult related killings in the State.

The speaker, thanked the civil society groups for their concern and the awareness created by them about the ills of cultism.

He disclosed that the House would meet with security agencies to discuss mode of combating the trend, so as to know where the House would come in.

Onubun explained that the House had earlier passed a law criminalizing cultism, stressing that upon the meeting with the security agencies, it would be an opportunity to know if the Law needs to be strengthened, warning that anyone caught would feel the full weight of the Law .

He promised that the House would hold closed door session to take decisive steps to end the trend of cult related killings, while in a few weeks results of the session would be revealed.

Speaking earlier, leader of the organization and the Interim TEC Chairman of Edo Civil Society Organisations, Austin Enabulele said the persistent cult related killing of youths in the State has assumed a worrying dimension.

Enabulele pointed out that the awareness protest against cult related killings started last Friday and will continue.

He called on the house to strengthen existing laws against cultism, especially the continued killing of youths who are the leaders of tomorrow and urged the House to also meet with security agencies on ways to tackle the trend.

CBN: Banks’ Assets Increased By N12trn In One Year

By
James Orji
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0
Godwin Emefiele

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN has revealed that Nigeria’s total banks’ assets grew by over N12 trillion between May 2021 and June this year. The apex bank said the sector has remained resilient in spite of the economic upheavals.

Aisha Ahmad, CBN Deputy Governor Financial System Stability Directorate, disclosed this at the end of the Monetary Policy Committee, MPC meeting in July.

According to her, the banking sector’s total assets grew by 22.07 percent from N53.64 trillion in May 2021, to N65.48 trillion as of June this year.

Ahmad stated that the growth was supported by the total customers deposits which grew by over N42 trillion.

Breaking down the figures, she said the industry’s assets “continued their year-on-year upward trajectory with total assets rising to N65.48 trillion in June 2022 from N53.64 trillion in June 2021, while total deposits rose to N42.03 trillion from N33.85 trillion over the same period.”

“Gross credit has maintained an upward trajectory since 2019, rising by N5.02 trillion between June 2021 and June 2022 with significant growth in credit to manufacturing, general commerce and oil and gas sectors. This notable increase was achieved amidst continued decline in non-performing loans ratio from 5.3 per cent in April 2022 to 5.0 per cent in June 2022. “

She said the CBN must act to stem the tide of rising inflation and intervene in critical areas of the economy that can support growth, apart from tightening monetary policy.

Ahmad said “The monetary authority must act to better anchor elevated inflation expectations of economic agents following months of rising inflation and recent multiple shocks. Interventions and continued funding of the real sector give room for tightening the monetary policy stance to better anchor inflation expectations, mitigate demand driven inflation and ultimately preserve output gains.

“More importantly, the evolution of consumer prices in recent months and the uncertain short-term outlook present credible grounds to raise the policy rate.”

Insecurity: Catholic Bishop Laments Killing Of Priests, Says Buhari Helpless

By
James Orji
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0
President Buhari

By James Orji

Rev. Peter Chukwu, the Catholic Bishop of Abakaliki Diocese, says President Muhammadu Buhari has become helpless in the face of insecurity pervading the country.

He said the country is gradually being Islamised under the watch of President Buhari.

The catholic bishop spoke on the back of the abduction of 36 persons in Ondo state by suspected terrorists. The abductees were coming from a burial ceremony when they were kidnapped by the criminals who are still at large, on the border between the state and Edo state.

In Zamfara state, suspected bandits are said to have been forcing their victims to work on their farms.

Not a few Nigerians insist that President Buhari as commander in chief is not hard enough on the criminals who currently have a swathe of the country’s land under their control.

Responding to Nigerians’ worry over worsening insecurity two days ago, the Minister of Communication and National Orientation, Lai Mohammed said the government has tackled the problem headlong, saying the administration is in “the last stage’ of ending the problem.

Speaking on Monday after the inauguration of the Catholic Media Practitioners Association, CAMPAN, Ebonyi State branch, the bishop said the president has become helpless.

The clergyman said the situation has become so worrisome in the sense that the bandits now target men of God.

Many Nigerians, he said have lost confidence in the Buhari-led All Progressives Congress to tackle the problem.

The bishop said: “We have lost so many Priests in the North and also in the southeast and it is so worrisome but I am not surprised because Priests and Prophets are always the victims of persecution throughout church history.

“It shows what the Priests represent and stand for, and what we preach is pricking them in their conscience, and instead of repenting, they decided to fight back by killing, kidnapping, torturing, and destroying our churches.

“But I am consoled by the statement of Christ in Matthew 16 vs 35 that no gates of the underworld shall ever prevail against the church. The church comes out strong when you push it to the wall.

“It will be unfair to say that the church as a body has compromised. Many individuals who work for the church and feel that they are very friendly to the government are no longer holding the government accountable but if you listen to what is preached in the different dioceses, you will see that no Priest is comfortable when any government is not doing what it is supposed to do for the masses and we are also vocal about it and we are always critical about it.

“But we want to be constructive in our criticisms; no Priest who has been well trained can feel comfortable in the face of all the terrible things that have been happening around.

“When Buhari was campaigning for the Presidency, he was coming with his credentials as a former military leader who was an anti-corruption crusader who did not tolerate any corruption or nonsense.

“They promised to nip in the bud, all cases of Boko Haram attacks. Unfortunately, when he took power, he failed to prosecute those people using him to Islamize Nigeria and that is why the government is helpless to combat the problems.

“If you look closely, you will see that all the leaders of our security apparatus are from the core Fulani North. It has never been like that in the history of Nigeria.

“There is an imbalance in the appointments of the Leaders of the security architecture. It is so lopsided that they will always execute their agenda without much opposition.

“Come to think of it again, a lot of people have lost their voices because what you say will come after you but despite that, rational people are very uncomfortable with what is going on. It is unfortunate.  We have lost faith in the current government to restore security.

“What we are praying for is a peaceful, free, and fair election that will usher in God’s chosen leaders who will solve the problems of this country, and if that problem is not solved, the continued existence of Nigeria as a corporate entity is under a very serious question mark.”

Charles Ihua-Maduenyi, SAN,  Dies On Way To Airport

By
The Source
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0
Charles Ihua-Maduenyi

By Gideon Njoku

The Legal profession has lost one of its brilliant minds.

A senior member of the Bar, Charles Ihua-Maduenyi has just passed on.

Ihua-Maduenyi, born on December 9, 1958, died of suspected heart disease on his way to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport to pick his wife.

A source disclosed that he allegedly developed sudden heart palpitations, and died almost immediately.

He was called to the Bar in 1986, and was a Commissioner both in the Governments of Dr Peter Odili and Celestine Omehia.

Until his sudden death, he was based in Porthacourt, Rivers State.

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