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PDP BoT Chairman, Jibrin, Backs Wike’s Camp, Says Party’s Leadership Structure Unfair To The South

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Senator Walid Jibrin - PDP BoT Chairman

By Akinwale Kasali

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Board of Trustee, BoT Chairman, Senator Jibrin has agreed that the leadership hierarchy of the Party is Pro-North.

By agreeing to that, Jibrin has backed the Camp of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, which has been fighting the party over the situation.

In the crisis that has engulfed the Party since Atiku Abubakar won the Presidential Primary, one of the requests by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike and his Camp is that the Party Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, should step down for a Southerner since Atiku is from the North. Ayu’s refusal to do so has caused a stalemate in the ongoing peace talk.

Jibrin, who had earlier made this assertion, faulting the leadership structure of the opposition Party, further reaffirmed his  position while featuring on a Channels Television’s programme, Politics Today.

He insisted that it was unfair for the Presidential Candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar; its national Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu; and himself to come from the North.

Jibril, in a statement, on Tuesday he stood by his earlier position.

He said, “Based on my earlier statement that the PDP cannot produce a Northern President, National Chairman, BoT Chairman all from the North for the 2023 Presidential elections, I still maintain my stand on that statement.

“The PDP is a party that caters for all Nigerians; it is not sectional but loved by all Nigerians.”

He said as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, there was the need for him to speak the truth regardless of any form of rejection.

“As a PDP BoT Chairman, I must say the truth and nothing but the truth no matter anyone’s criticism. I do not fear anyone but God and the true agenda of our party.  I will add that I stand strongly on my toes; I have been a true member of PDP since its inception in 1998.

Today, I am one of the Trustees’ members of the party who remained in the party since 1998 that never changed to any party passing all positions in the PDP,” Jibril said.

There is pressure on Ayu to step down, but he insists he was elected to a four-year tenure. However, Atiku said in an interview on ARISE TV, that Ayu would step if he wins the Presidential election.

Court Seizes Andy Uba’s Cars Over N50 Million Debt

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

The All Progressives Congress, APC, Governorship Candidate in the 2022 Anambra State Election, Andy Uba, has lost his cars to a Court judgement.  Officials of the Execution Unit of a Federal Capital Territory High Court, working with officers of the Nigeria Police Force, on Tuesday, seized vehicles belonging to Uba in his Abuja residence over a N50 million debt resulting from a loan he took from Oranto Petroleum Limited.

The one-time two-week Governor of Anambra State lost in a case instituted against him by Oranto Petroleum.

The seizure of Uba’s property was sequel to the judgment of an Anambra State High Court delivered on March 6, 2017, in a case presided over by Justice Mbonu Nwenyi of the Aguata Judicial Division Ekwulobia

Oranto Petroleum is a Pan-African oil exploration and production company owned by Chief Arthur Eze.

The seized vehicles were impounded at Uba:s residence on No. 49 T.Y Danjuma Street, Asokoro, Abuja.

In his ruling, the Judge held that Uba as the defendant in the case had not denied receiving the friendly interest-free loan from the plaintiff.

The Court further held that, having gone through the statement of defence of the defendant, the defendant had not disclosed any good defence to the suit and in such circumstance the plaintiff was entitled to the judgment.

Justice Mbonu stated, “The Plaintiff has sufficiently shown that he granted interest-free friendly loan to the defendant which has not been denied and since has not been repaid.

In the circumstances I enter judgment for the plaintiff in the sum of N50 million being refund of interest-free loan granted to the defendant by the plaintiff at the request of the defendant.”

Ugochi Obajekwe with the brief of Chief Tugbe Ike appeared for the plaintiff, while G.N Onovo with the brief of Chima Oguejiofor appeared for the defendant.

The execution took place in Abuja as a result of a motion ex parte dated May 5, 2022, and filed same date praying the court for some reliefs and subsequent order of the FCT High Court dated June 30, 2022 as follows:

“Leave is hereby granted the plaintiff/judgment creditor/applicant to register the certificate of judgment of the High Court of Anambra State in the Aguata Judicial Division holden at Ekwulobia and delivered by Hon. (Justice) C.N. Mbonu-Nwenyi on the 6th day of March, 2017 in suit no. AG/94/2016:Oranto Petroleum Ltd Vs Senator Nnamdi Emmanuel Andy Uba as the judgment of this Court.

“An order of this Honourable Court deeming the judgment of the High Court of Anambra State in the Judicial Division holden at Ekwulobia and delivered by Hon. (Justice) C.N. Mbonu-Nwenyi on the 6th day of March, 2017 in suit no. AG/94/2016: Oranto Petroleum Ltd VS Senator Nnamdi Emmanuel Andy Uba as the judgment of this Court is hereby granted.

“An order of the Honourable Court directing the cost of the registration and execution of the judgment to be recoverable from the Defendant/Judgment Debtor/Respondent to an amount assessed by the Court in the circumstances of this case is hereby granted.

“The order was issued in Abuja, under the seal of the court and the hand of the presiding judge this 30th day of June 2022.”

Anambra: Assembly Majority Leader, Okafor, Slumps In Hotel Room, Dies

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Nnamdi Okafor

By Adesina Soyooye

Death has again hit the Anambra State House of Assembly.

Honourable Nnamdi Okafor, its Majority Leader  is dead.

Okafor, reportedly,  died in a hotel room in South Africa, after he suddenly slumped.

He and a number of his colleagues had gone to South Africa for a legislative retreat when death suddenly called on Tuesday, August 23, 2022.

The details of his passing are still sketchy as nobody has confirmed, yet, whether he was ill before the trip, or suddenly took ill there.

There is no official statement, for now, either from the Anambra State House of Assembly or the State Government.

Until his passing, Okafor was the representative of Awka 1 State Constituency in the Assembly.

Zenith Bank Sustains Double-Digit Growth, Earns N405bn H1

By
James Orji
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Ebenezer Onyeagwu - Zenith Bank PLC MD

In a clear demonstration of its industry leadership and consistency in providing superior financial returns, Zenith Bank Plc has announced its audited results for the half-year ended 30 June 2022, recording an astounding double-digit growth of 17 percent in gross earnings from N346 billion reported in H1 2021 to N405 billion in H1 2022.  This is in spite of a very challenging macroeconomic environment.

According to the bank’s audited half-year financial results presented to the Nigerian Exchange, NGX on Tuesday, August 23, 2022, this growth was underpinned by a 19 percent YoY growth in interest income from NGN204 billion to NGN242 billion and an 18% YoY growth in non-interest income from NGN127 billion to NGN149 billion. The growth in interest income was driven by the modest increase in the loan book and improved interest margins. The increase in non-interest income attests to the Group’s success in its income diversification strategy.

Profit before tax, PB) grew 11 percent year-on-year (YoY) from NGN117 billion to NGN130 billion. Earnings per share, and EPS also grew from NGN3.38 to NGN3.55 over the same 6-month period.

The Group also recorded an 11 percent year-to-date, YtD increase in total customer deposits to close the period at NGN7.15 trillion. The retail strategy of the Group continues to deliver outstanding results as retail deposits grew by 17 percent YtD from NGN1.82 trillion to NGN2.13 trillion. Retail activities also supported the growth recorded in fees on electronic products which grew by 45 percent YoY from NGN17 billion to NGN25 billion.

Despite the elevated yield environment, the cost of funds increased only marginally from 1.3% in June 2021 to 1.4 percent in June 2022. The increase in the cost of funds was lower than the increase in yields on interest-generating assets, giving rise to an improved Net Interest Margin (NIM) of 7.1 percent from 6.4 percent in June 2021.

Total assets rose to NGN10.12 trillion at the end of June 2022 from NGN9.45 trillion at the end of December 2021. Despite the headwinds imposed by the operating environment, the Group grew its risk assets as gross loans grew by 5% YtD, from NGN3.5 trillion to NGN3.7 trillion. This was achieved at a moderate NPL ratio of 4.4 percent (FYE 2021: 4.2 percent) and cost of risk of 1.4 percent (June 2021: 1.3 percent). Prudential ratios such as liquidity and capital adequacy also remained stable and well-above regulatory thresholds at 60.5 percent and 21.0 percent respectively.

The Group is focused on advancing its digital banking strategy anchored on a strong technology base, and intends to consolidate on the gains achieved in prior years across all business segments. Combined with the Group’s industry leadership, we expect this to drive improved performance and deliver enhanced returns to stakeholders.

Zenith Bank’s track record of excellent performance has continued to earn the brand numerous awards, including being recognised as Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital, for the 13th consecutive year, in the 2022 Top 1000 World Banks Ranking published by The Banker Magazine; Best Bank in Nigeria, for three consecutive years from 2020 to 2022, in the Global Finance World’s Best Banks Awards; Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria 2021 and 2022 in the World Finance Banking Awards; Best Corporate Governance Bank, Nigeria in the World Finance Corporate Governance Awards 2022; Best in Corporate Governance ‘Financial Services’ Africa, for three consecutive years from 2020 to 2022, by the Ethical Boardroom; Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria and Best Innovation In Retail Banking, Nigeria in the International Banker 2022 Banking Awards.  Also, the Bank emerged as the Most Valuable Banking Brand in Nigeria in the Banker Magazine Top 500 Banking Brands 2020 and 2021, Bank of the Year (Nigeria) in The Banker’s Bank of the Year Awards 2020 and Retail Bank of the year at the BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BOFI) Awards 2020 and 2021.

Similarly, Zenith Bank was honoured as Bank of the Decade (People’s Choice) at the ThisDay Awards 2020 and emerged winner in four categories at the Sustainability, Enterprise, and Responsibility (SERAS) Awards 2021, carting home the awards for “Best Company in Reporting and Transparency”, “Best Company in Infrastructure Development”, “Best Company in Gender Equality and Women Empowerment”, and the coveted “Most Responsible Organisation in Africa.

China Forgives African Countries $3bn Loan

By
James Orji
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The Chinese government has shortlisted 17 African countries for debt forgiveness. A total of $3 billion will be wiped off from the loan book, according to the details provided by the second largest economy in the world.

Nigeria is one of the biggest debtors to the Chinese Peoples’ Republic with a total debt stock of over $3.121 billion going by the figures provided by the Debt Management Office, DMO.

The details provided by the Chinese government did not include the countries that have been shortlisted to benefit from the loan magnanimity, but it was learned from experts that the debt that will be written off are those whose tenor has matured in 2021.

According to experts who spoke to the magazine on the issue, the countries that qualified under this category are Angola, Congo DRC, Djibouti, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, among others.

Speaking at the recently held Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said the gesture is proof that his government will continue to foster strong ties with the continent.

He explained that the PRC has proven through concrete actions that it is a development partner with African countries, adding that his country will continue to support infrastructure development in the continent through the Belt and Road Initiative.

“China will waive the 23 interest-free loans for 17 African countries that had matured by the end of 2021,” Mr Wang said at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, according to a statement.

“We will also continue to increase imports from Africa, support the greater development of Africa’s agricultural and manufacturing sectors, and expand co-operation in emerging industries such as the digital economy, health, green and low-carbon sectors.”

“What Africa wishes for is a favourable and amicable cooperation environment, not the zero-sum Cold War mentality,” Wang said.

Since the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation took place in Senegal in November 2021, Beijing has delivered $3 billion of $10 billion of credit facilities pledged to African financial institutions, Wang also said in the speech.

Ndigbo Lose N25 billion Each Day Of Sit-at-Home Order –  Orji Kalu

By
The Source
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By Charles Igbo

The Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has lamented the effect the sit-at-home order imposed on the people of the South-east is having on the region.

He said it has affected many businesses and ground the economy of the region to a halt. According to Orji, a former Governor of the State, Ndigbo lose a whopping N25b each day of the sit-at-home order.

The order was imposed on the region by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, several months ago, to protest the continued prosecution of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, by the Federal Government.

To pressurise the Federal Government to release Kanu, they declared every Monday of every week as a sit-at-home day, as well as any day Kanu would appear in court.

Kanu is being prosecuted by the Federal Government for among other things, alleged terrorism and treasonable felony. The United Nations, recently, asked the Nigerian Government to release Kanu without any conditions.

IPOB had since bowed to pressure from well meaning citizens in consideration of the sufferings of the people, and especially, the violence which usually accompanied the compliance, cancelled the order.

But a splinter group led by Simon Ekpa, a self-confessed disciple of Kanu, but who has since been denied and disclaimed by IPOB, has continued to enforce the order, even though Kanu, whose disciple he claims he is, has since ordered the cancellation of the sit-at-home order. Ekpa, allegedly, leads a group identified as “Auto Pilot.”

Addressing his Constituents in Umunneochi Local Government Area, a hotbed of kidnappers, Kalu lamented what Igbo land has been reduced to by the incessant abductions of innocent citizens, and the enforcement of the sit-at-home order. He revealed that in connivance with the Military, he would bomb the bushes and forests in Abia State, and warned parents to ask their children who live in the bush to leave or risk being killed, emphasising that: “We want peace.”

Kalu: “We want peace here. We want our businesses to continue. The Igbo are losing N25 billion each day they close their businesses. And they cannot continue. I wish I’m still Governor of Abia State. But I’m not the Governor.”

INEC Chairman, Mahmoud On 2023 Poll, How It Will Succeed

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof Mahmoud Yakubu has highlighted measures that can guarantee a hitch free elections next year.

Yakubu, among others, called for the passage of the National Electoral Offences Commission Bill into law.

The INEC boss was addressing other issues germaine to the conduct of the 2023 elections at a Public Hearing organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters, in Abuja, on Tuesday.

He thanked the leadership of the National Assembly  for organizing the public hearing, which came four months after a similar exercise on the same Bill by the Senate Committee on INEC.

“This is the closest the nation has come to the passage of the long overdue National Electoral Offences Commission Bill into law.

“I hope in the next few months, the National Assembly will pass the Bill so that it will not suffer the fate of previous efforts, which were inchoate at the end of the lifespan of the Assembly.”

The INEC boss further stressed that the Bill for an Act to establish the National Electoral Offences  Commission is a critical legislation.

“It has been part of all national conversations on constitutional and Electoral Reforms for the last 13 years. The Justice Mohammed Uwais Committee on Electoral Reforms commended it in 2009.

“It is clear that the reform of our electoral process cannot be complete without effective sanctions on violators of our laws.

“At present, INEC is saddled with the responsibility of prosecuting electoral offenders under the Electoral Act. This has been very challenging for the Commission.

“For instance, since the 2015 General Election, 125 cases of electoral offences were filled in various Courts out of which 60 convictions have secured so far, including the most recent one in Akwa Ibom State.”

Yakubu also called for the prosecution of offenders, not just ballot box snatches, falsified of election results and vote buyers at polling units but most importantly, their sponsors.

“We look forward to the day when highly placed sponsors of thuggery, including high-profile figures that seek to benefit from these violations, are arrested and prosecuted. We believe the work of the proposed Commission will help in this regard.

“We have studied 46 Clauses of the Bill under consideration and made 16 comments. I would like to touch on two Clauses and make a general observation while submitting our detailed, comments to the Committee.

“It is propels that Electoral Offences Tribunal be established with exclusive jurisdiction to try Electoral offenders.

“The second is Clause 44 which empowers the Attorney-General of the Federation to make rules or regulations for the Commission.

“Thirdly, because work on the Bill started before the passage of the current Electoral Act into law, all references to the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), for example Clause 39 (1), should be replaced with relevant provisions  of Electoral Act 2022.”

Orji Kalu Says He Will Bomb Abia Forests; IPOB Dares Him, Threatens Him

By
The Source
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0

By Charles Igbo

Worried by the unprecedented abductions in Abia State, a former Governor of the State, Orji  Uzor Kalu, has threatened to bomb all forests in the State.

It is not known how will do it, knowing that he is neither  the Governor who would report the situation to the Commander-in-Chief, nor the Commander-in-Chief who should give such orders.

Addressing his Constituents  in Umunneochi LGA where a number of high profile abductions have taken place, including that of the Methodist Church Prelate, His Eminence Samuel Kanu Uche, a number of Clerics and the recent abduction of four Roman Catholic Reverend Sisters, Kanu, who  is the Senate Majority Chief Whip, warned parents to ask all their children in the bushes/ forests in Abia State to leave because the forests and bushes will be bombed by the NIgerian Airforce and the Nigerian Army. He said anybody in those areas will be killed.

But in a swift response, the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, has dared Kanu to carry out his threats. In a statement, its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, said those in the bushes/forests are IPOB and members of its militant wing, Eastern Security Network, ESN, who are protecting the bushes and forests as well as Women and girls from those who they claim are Hausa/ Fulani invaders.

However, Kalu warns that his threat of bombing the forests and bushes should be taken seriously because President Muhammadu Buhari, according to him, will surprise the people by the action he would take within the next four months. He regretted that he was no longer the Governor of Abia State, but pledged he would discuss with the Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu,  on how to cooperate with the Buhari Government to manage the insecurity in the State.

Kanu: “What is happening in Abia is not acceptable to me. We will comb the bush in Umunneochi Local Government Area.We will comb the bush in Ohafia Local Government Area.We will comb the bush in Arochukwu and Bende Local Government Areas.

“I am warning everybody. Do not allow your children to live in the bush. Anything they see in the bush, they destroy.

“We will come with the NIgerian Airforce. We will come with the Army. We will come with everybody.

“We want peace here. We want our businesses to continue. The Igbo are losing N25b each day they close their businesses. And they cannot continue. I wish I am still the Governor of Abia State  but I’m not the Governor.

“President Buhari will surprise you people in the next four months. Warn your children to leave the bush  because we will comb the bushes.

“Anything we see in the bush we will kill because we have  disturbed the President so much that there is insecurity in the South-east.

“The aircraft will come here. It will be a surprise raid. So people living in the  bushes should leave. All parts of  Abia, we will comb it.”

ESN Ready For Kalu -IPOB

But in a statement entitled:  “ESN Ready for Orji Uzor Kalu in collaboration with Nigerian Army to flush those protecting our bushes and forests against terrorists”,  IPOB dared Kalu and the Military.

It said: “The global family and movement of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, under the leadership and command of Mazi Nnamdi Okwuchukwu Kanu, wish to let the public know that IPOB leadership and members have been acquainted with the threat from the former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu, where he has given an order to the compromised Nigerian Security Agencies to wipe out IPOB/ESN  staying in the bushes and forests safeguarding our bushes and forests for our mothers, wives, and sisters who are going to the farms

“IPOB has nothing against anybody issuing such a threat, but it is not enough order, but carrying out the order is what matters.

“Orji Uzor Kalu has given us a time frame, and we are ready for him and his co-travellers who will be coming to us. Orji Uzor Kalu will pay after the attack  because he will understand that IPOB is not a push over.”

Not a few people have noted that inspite of IPOB/ ESN’s  claims to protecting the bushes and forests in the South-east, kidnappers still hold sway in the zone.

Onslaught Against Banditry Continues – President Buhari

By
Ayodele Oni
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President Buhari of Nigeria

By Ayodele Oni

President MuhammadTVu Buhari, on Tuesday, reassured on continuity against banditry saying security forces have ramped up combat against bandits and terrorists who have held Nigerians hostage recently.

President Buhari said “We have directed the military to crush those terrorisizing our citizens, peace and security is gradually being restored to the country.

“In the past couple of days, you must have heard about the number of terrorists neutralized by the military, and number of hostages freed.”

The President spoke at the Citizens Summit for National Integration, Peace and Security in Abuja.

The summit was convened by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, (NIPR) and Partners, with the theme,” Reopen Conversation, Rebuild Trust.”

The president was represented at the event by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed.

He said just as his regime has been able to put the seemingly-intractable farmers-herders crisis under control, it would also successfully tackle the terrorists and bandits.

“As our security agencies put them on the run, they will no longer be able to carry out their deadly attacks as well as kidnappings.

“Peace and security will return to our country, and our unity will be strengthened.

”We must take the fight to the terrorists and demonstrate that there is no hiding place for them within the borders of our country.

“Each one of them will be hunted, and pursued and spoken to in the language that they understand.”

The President, who commended gallant men and women in uniform, appealed to all compatriots to continue to support them in their onerous task of keeping the country safe.

“We must also realize that security is the business of everyone, hence the tagline ‘if you see something, say something.’

“Terrorists or bandits are not spirits. They are human beings and they reside in our communities. They’ll must all be exposed and crushed for peace to reign.”

Abacha Loot: FG To Receive Fresh $23m From US

By
James Orji
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0

The attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN has signed an agreement with the United States of America, USA for the repatriation of $23 million Abacha looted by the late dictator.

Malami on Tuesday signed the agreement with the US Ambassador to Nigeria, May Beth Leonard who signed on behalf of her country during a brief ceremony at the Federal Ministry of Justice Headquarters in Abuja.

The minister said the decision to return the stolen loot which he tagged as Abacha-5, was a product of a series of negotiations and meetings between Nigeria, the US Department of Justice, and the UK National Crime Agency, NCA.

According to him, “It is worthy to note that in line with the terms of this Agreement, Mr. President had already approved the funds to be utilized for the ongoing Presidential Development Infrastructural Funds, PIDF, projects namely; Abuja-Kano Road, Lagos-Ibadan Express Way and the Second Niger Bridge under the supervision of Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, NSIA

“The President’s mandate to my office is to ensure that all international recoveries are transparently invested and monitored by civil society organization to compete these three projects within the agreed timeline.”

A non-governmental organization, NGO tracking how the loots recovered from General Abacha, the African Network for Economic and Environment Justice, ANEEJ, had in June, revealed that the $322.5million stolen funds from former Military Head of State Gen Sani Abacha between 2018-2022 has been shared to 1.9million poor and vulnerable Nigerians.

Speaking on how the stolen fund was shared, Rev. David Ugolor, Executive Director, ANEEJ said the loot was shared without any political consideration to poor Nigerians.

He said, “No politically motivated data was used in selecting the beneficiaries; the National Social Register was used to determine those who will benefit and the register is updated regularly to remove those who have died.

“The Abacha loot that was recovered have been exhausted, we have a responsibility to inform Nigerians and then to make sure to tell them what the money was used for.

“It is a very controversial issue that people sit down at home and begin to point fingers that Abacha’s money has been stolen. What we have done with this monitoring is very ground breaking”.

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