ManU Cancels Middle East Trainings Amid Mounting Tension

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January 15, 2020

By Uche Mbah

The recently launched security outfit by the South west, Amotekun, has been declared illegal by the Federal Government, who said it is not supported by any known law.

Recently, South west governors came together to launch a new regional security outfit that is targeted at curtailing the menace of kidnapping and herdsmen attack. The headquarters is to be at Ibadan.

The national leader of APC, Bola Tinubu, was conspicuously absent at the launch which saw the South west leasers of thought come together for a common cause. Nobel Laurrete Wole Soyinka had thrown his weight behind the project in support.

But Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, had said his office was not consulted before the South west took the decision to form the outfit.

In the statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Dr. Umar Gwandu, Malami said the issue of defense and security fell under the exclusive list and not with the state.

“The setting up of the paramilitary organization called ‘Amotekun’ is illegal and runs contrary to the provisions of the Nigerian law”, Malami said. “The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) has established the Army, Navy and Air force, including the Police and other numerous paramilitary organisations for the purpose of the defense of Nigeria.

“As a consequence of this, no State Government, whether singly or in a group has the legal right and competence to establish any form of organization or agency for the defense of Nigeria or any of its constituent parts. This is sanctioned by the provision of Item 45 of the Second Schedule of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) authorizing the Police and other Federal Government security services established by law to maintain law and order.

“The law will take its natural course in relation to excesses associated with organization, administration and participation in “Amotekun” or continuous association with it as an association.

“Finally, it is important to put on record that the Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice was not consulted on the matter. If it had, proper information and guidance would have been offered to ensure that Nigeria’s defense and corporate entity are preserved at all times.”

Why The Supreme Court Sacked Ihedioha

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January 14, 2020

By Uche Mbah

In a new twist that has in recent times become the hallmark of the Supreme Court, the Apex Court Tuesday sacked Imo state Governor Emeka Ihedioha and enthroned Hope Uzodinma as the winner of the 2019 governorship elections. They, expectedly, reserved reasons for the judgement for a later date.

In a Unanimous Judgement by the seven member Supreme court justices headed by Justice Kudirat Kekere Ekun, they insisted that the result of 388 polling units were wrongly excluded from the election by INEC, and that they ought to have given Hope Uzodinma the victory.

“The votes due to the appellant, Hope Uzodinma and the All Progressives Congress (APC) from 388 polling units were wrongly excluded from scores ascribed to them,” she said.

“It is hereby ordered that Emeka Ihedioha, was not duly elected by majority of lawful votes cast at the said election. His return as the elected governor of Imo state is hereby declared null and void and accordingly set aside.

“It is hereby declared that the first appellant (Uzodinma) holds the majority of lawful votes cast at the governorship election held in Imo State on March 9, 2019, and has satisfied the mandatory constitutional requirement.

“It is hereby declared that first appellant, senator Hope Uzodinma is the winner of the governorship of Imo State held on March 9, 2019.

“The certificate issued to the first respondent (Ihedioha) is hereby withdrawn. It is hereby ordered that the certificate of return shall be be issued to the first appellant, senator Hope Uzodinma, forthwith and he should be sworn in as the governor of Imo state.”

They have used the same method in the Atiku vs Buhari case in the final run of the Presidential election Tribunal.

The Supreme Court has been making a run for time in the various cases before it in recent times, and appears to be overwhelmed by the number of cases. The case was postponed from Monday to Tuesday after two judges fell sick during the sittings. they were later to be replaced.

Fiery father Ejike Mbaka had prophesied the taking over of Imo government house by Hope Uzodinma, but critics have averred that he must have had privileged information given his closeness to the seat of power.

After the judgement, the Imo state e government house was reported to have been under lock and key. The state is said to be in a somber mood.

Lagos: Jubilation As Sanwo-Olu Frees Okada Riders

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January 14, 2020

By Fola James

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos State has rolled back his predecessors’ policy on motorcycle or Okada riders in the state.

Okada business can now continue to experience boom until the new government decides otherwise.

That’s is position of the current administration which said it will now consult widely before making a definitive policy on the operation of commercial motorcyclists.

Two previous administrations of Raji Fashola and Akinwumi Ambode highly restricted Okada business, with total ban on their operations in major roads across the state.

Analysts have even said, the state traffic law particularly tightened the noose on the business.

That’s now in the past, Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration said in Lagos on Tuesday.

Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotosho disclosed at a stakeholders meeting that the government has consulted widely before making this decision.

“We have just concluded our routine security meeting, during which issue of Okada and tricycles was discussed exhaustively.

For now, no major decision will be taken on the matter. There are several factors for this development, but the main reason is to reckon with various opinions expressed by stakeholders,” Omotosho said.

The news could not have come at a better time for the riders, who on the daily basis have suffered in the hands of various security agencies like LASMA and police.

The riders suffered extortion from traffic officials whose duty is to enforce the state’s traffic law.

The situation could change over the direction of the current administration on commercial motorcycle business, analysts say.

But the state could also become more choatic now that the restriction has been relaxed, critics of the government have warned.

In spite of this, Governor Sanwo-Olu, flanked by all the commanders of security agencies in the State, said at the meeting where decision was reached, that the action was well thought out.

Omotoso disclosed that relevant parties and stakeholders had reached out to the government with suggestions and representation that could be adopted to proffer a win-win solution for all stakeholders.

The Security Council, the Commissioner said, is currently considering the suggestions and recommendations submitted to the Government before coming up with definite plans on the Okada menace.

He said “So many people have made representations to the Government concerning commercial motorcycles and tricycles, including human rights groups, unionists and traders.

They came up with many reasonable observations; all their views have been collated and are being considered.”

According to him “We feel it would not be good enough for the Government to make final decision on the matter without considering the opinions of the stakeholders.

That would be against the spirit of democracy for which the Sanwo-Olu administration stands.”

He explained thst the decisio to be taken on the matter, will reflect the views of all stakeholders and wishes of concerned residents.

He stated thatthat secu of lives of Lagos residents and safety of visitors remained paramount to the government, adding that the Sanwo-Olu administration would not compromise in this regard.

Some Okada riders told the magazine they are happy with the development because it will bring succor to them and their families.

“We can now do our business without any fear or harrassment one of them said.

Meanwhile , the state government said the ongoing enforcement of the extant Traffic Laws and Okada restriction will go on, pending the final decisions of the Security Council.

Ganduje vs Sanusi: Osinbajo Wades In As Ganduje Awaits Supreme Court Verdict

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January 14, 2020

By Uche Mbah

Indications are that the Vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, may have waded into the rift between Governor Umar Ganduje and the emir of Kano, Mohammed Sanusi II. Osinbajo may have tried to use the commissioning of some projects built by the governor to wade into their issue.

Ganduje awaits the Supreme Court verdict on his election today.

Recall that the two have been at loggerheads due to the critical stance of the Emir on the governor’s style of governance. He was also critical of the Federal government, and this has fueled speculations that the Presidency deliberately tries to look the other way in arresting the rift between the two. Both are from the same All Progressives congress party, APC.

He-Ganduje- allegedly has not stepped into the Emirs Palace for a long time, and after receiving the Vice President, both of them went into the Emirs palace together. Later, they were to hold a closed door meeting. The outcome of the meeting, however, is not known.

Things had come to a head when Ganduje allegedly sponsored a bill to split a 200 year old Kano Emirate into four to reduce and weaken the power base of the Emir. The bill was passed with dispatch and he signed it into bill the same day. But some members of the state Assembly challenged it in court, citing due process as reason the new Emirates should be annulled. The court granted their request on those technicalities, but Ganduje, not giving up, went back to the house to represent the bill.

This is the first time that Presidency has openly brought the two people together under one roof.

In recent times, the Vice president has been on silent mode, hardly seen in public since reports of his being relegated in Official issues started circulating in the Media. Only recently, he was sighted with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the Society wedding involving the Family of Nuhu Ribadu, Former EFCC Chairman.

Buhari Raises VAT Amid Inflation Scare

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January 14, 2020

By Fola James
President Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday, signed the 2020 Finance Bill into law, the major focus being the increase of value added tax by 50 percent.

Nigerians will now pay 7.5 percent rather than the five percent they have paid as VAT for many years.
In spite of fears in the private sector that prices of goods may double, the federal government said, the increase will free up more resources for infrastructural development.

The cost of essential consumables is likely to rise tremendously, with impact on inflation, some have said.
But the government said there are more benefits in the bills for Nigerians.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, in a statement said the 2020 budget can now run smoothly without any hitch.

According to the presidential aide, this is sequel to the passage of the finance bill by the National Assembly and subsequent assent by President.

Recalled that the retired general, while presenting the 2020 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly, had also presented the Finance Bill.

Adesina said, “This Finance Bill has five strategic objectives, in terms of achieving incremental, but necessary, changes to our fiscal laws.

“These objectives include; promoting fiscal equity by mitigating instances of regressive taxation; Reforming domestic tax laws to align with global best practices;

“Others are; Introducing tax incentives for investments in infrastructure and capital markets; Supporting Micro, Small and Medium-sized businesses in line with our Ease of Doing Business Reforms; and Raising Revenues for Government.”

He explained that “The draft Finance Bill proposes an increase of the VAT rate from five per cent to 7.5 per cent , as such, the 2020 Appropriation Bill is based on this new VAT rate.”

With the assent, Adesina stated, there would be more revenue to finance key government projects especially in the areas of health, education and critical infrastructure.

Royal Rumble: Finally, Queen Reacts Amid Fears Of Diana Treatment On Duchess Of Sussex

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January 13, 2020

Queen Elizabeth II has reluctantly agreed to the plans of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Megan, to shed the ties of royalty and go their own way, stressing what the Buckingham Palace bureaucracy has sang like a song all along-that the whole issue is “complicated”, and that She could have preferred if the couple had remained full time Royals.

The Queen had reacted after a meeting with the loyal staff and decision making body of the Monarchy, which included Megan’s Father in Law, Prince Charles, who had advised his son against breaking ranks, and Prince Williams, his brother, and Harry himself. Both Princess had issued a joint statement debunking insinuations from an unnamed tabloid,that there has arisen a rift between them because of Harry’s decision. The Times of London had suggested that the decision of the couple may have resulted from aristocratic bullying, being that Megan is an American with black blood and no trace of blue blood in her.

Besides the Times report, there has been widespread fears that Harry was only psychologically reacting to the deep rooted trauma he passed through after his mother was killed in a ghastly motor accident under controversial circumstances. Conspiracy Theorists have put the blame squarely on the Buckingham Palace Conservative Bureaucracy, who, they claim, frowned against the liberal and free nature of Princess Diana. Harry had recently suggested that the antagonism of the British Press against his wife has an undercurrent of racism. Their avoidance of Europe as a place of refuge boils down to the issue of safety, although it appears the security details will be intact.

Diana died in France.

But an issue arises on who will be responsible for the payment of the security details, since they are now going solo, severing all financial ties with the palace. This may be part of what will be addressed within the next days as part of the complexity the Queen spoke about. They will also address the willingness of the Canadian authorities to foot part of their bills-though the Canadian electorates have not yet debated it.

Presidential Jet: Aisha Buhari Steers Another Controversy

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January 13, 2020

By Fola jamJa

Wife of Nigerian president, Aisha Buhari has received knocks for backing her daughter, Hanan for flying a presidential jet to a private event in Bauchi.

The first lady, on Monday tweeted a video of Hanan, waving at a crowd from the presidential jet.

Hanan, one of the President Muhamnadu Buhari’s daughters became popular, after she backed a first class in a United Kingdom university last year.

The university graduate was invite by the Emir of Bauchi to do a documentary of a traditional event in the state.

She’s a photographer.

Nigerians have criticised the presidency for releasing the aircraft to Buhari’s daughter.

But when the controversy appears to be dying down, Aisha has further aggravated the matter with her tweet on social media, showing Hanan waving from the presidential jet.

Tweeting her daughter in the jet, some say, is insensitive on the part of the first lady.

She should have allowed the controversy to die down, and allowed the president’s aides to handle.

Jumping into the issue, they insist has further proved her meddlesomeness in official duties, they also say.

But her supporters said, the first lady may have been disatisfied with the manner, presidential aides have handled the issue so far.

Recall she recently accused some aides of President Buhari of working against his presidency.

Garba , Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari had already stated the Hansen’s use of the aircraft followed due process.

It was approved by the office of the National Security Adviser, Shehu said.

Femi Falana SAN, a critic and human rights activist has condemned the act as illegal and indescretion on the part of the presidency.

He said, presidential jets are meant for official purposes.

Breaking: Supreme Court Postpones Gov. Appeal In Imo, Others

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January 13, 2020

By Fola James

The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned judgment on governorship appeals in seven states.

The states are Plateau Sokoto, Bauchi, Adamawa, Imo, Benue, Kano and Plateau.

The Chief Justice of the Federation, Tanko Muhammad who made this pronouncement, said it could not go ahead with the appeal because of the absence of one of the justices in the panel.

There are seven justices in the panel, led by the CJN.

Justice Muhammad has now adjourned the cases to Tuesday, January 14..

Details later.

Soundcity Awards: How The EFCC Crowned Naira Marley King; Floors Tiwa Savage, Burna Boy, To Win First Award

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The Source

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January 12, 2020