Rivers: Accountant General Confirms Seizure Of October FAAC Allocation; Says Decision Based On Court Order

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November 22, 2024

Siminalayi Fubara - Governor of River State — Governor Similanayi Fubara

The federal government has stopped the monthly financial allocation to Rivers state from the federation Account.

This was confirmed by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation on Friday, saying the decision was in line with the federal high court order.

The court made the ruling in October in a matter brought before it by the Martin Amaewhule led Rivers State House of Assembly.

According to those watching what’s going on in the oil rich state, the FAAC decision has further highlighted the brinkmanship and struggle for the soul of the state by Governor Simi Fubara and Nyesom Wike, a former governor of the state and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

Fubara and Wike are divided over the LGA election recently conducted in the state, and the Wike’s faction has challenged the validity of the election, including getting a court order to stop the monthly FAAC allocation to the state.

But on Thursday, a court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, upheld the LGA elections conducted by the state government.

Speaking on the FAAC allocation, spokesperson of the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Bawa Mokwa, said the Office took the decision was in line with the court order.

Since there’s no other contrary ruling from any court in the country, Mokwa stated that the October allocation has been withheld from the state.

Mokwa said, “What I got is that the October 2024 FAAC has not been distributed yet. However, the Federal Government will obey the court order on the matter of Rivers State allocation.

“We are going to follow due diligence as long as there is no contrary order. In case there is a contrary, the status will remain.”

He added, “The process of disbursement of the October 2024 monthly allocation is going.”

Meanwhile, analysts insist that the Supreme Court had in a landmark judgment between the federal and Lagos state government ruled that the federal government has no power to seize the monthly allocations to state.

2027: “At 81, You Should Calm Down, Ditch Presidential Ambition” – Bode George To Atiku

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Akinwale Kasali

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November 22, 2024

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By Akinwale Kasali

Come 2027 Presidential Election, Chief Bode George, the former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has a piece of advice for former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar. “Calm down. Quash your 31-year-long bid to be President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. At 81 years then, you will be too old to run”.

George noted that Atiku’s bid to be President dated back to 1993, and it’s high time he retired from the contest, especially in the 2027 election.

According to George Atiku should retire and assume the position of an elder in the nation and leave his bid to posterity.

Chief George said this at a Press Conference held in Ikoyi, Lagos State.

George: “To Atiku, my advice is this, you will be 81 years old in 2027, and you have been contesting for the presidency since 1993. This is the time for you to calm down and act like an elder.

“We are where we are today because of a self-inflicted crisis; we should bury our individual ambitions now and not allow the PDP to crumble, please. Elders of the party should tell some of these funny characters to cool off and think of our national interest instead of their personal interest.

“Nigerians are angry and hungry. Instead of telling the APC the truth, some divisive, arrogant and haughty members are busy romancing the ruling party and they are quick to refer to themselves as elder statesmen.

“Instead of instigating a crisis in our party, why are they not bold enough to defect to the APC? Do they really fear God at all? No member is big enough to hold the party to ransom,” George added.

Speculations are that Atiku is ready to throw his hat in the ring for the 2027 Presidential Election, as his ambition to become Nigeria’s President continues.

Court Halts Rivers APC Congresses

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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November 22, 2024

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By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The All Progressive Congress APC, Rivers State Chapter’s State Congresses earlier scheduled to hold from November 23 to 30 ,2024 have been paused.

Ruling on an ex-parte motion brought before it by OkwJoebrown-Ndike and two others, on behalf of aggrieved members of the party on Tuesday, Justice G V Obomanu of the Rivers state High Court restrained the APC, as well as its National Chairman, from going ahead with the planned Congresses without including the applicants in the process.

The applicants had approached the court seeking an order to compel the respondents to halt all processes relating to the Congresses until the hearing and determination of a motion on notice challenging their exclusion from the said Congresses.

The applicants contended that they were not availed nomination forms for the Congresses after they had made payments for same.

The Presiding Judge also barred the widely perceived Pro-Wike faction of the Rivers state APC from conducting Congresses on the date of between November 23 and 30, 2024, or any other dates until the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

The Court similarly halted any further processes towards the conduct of the Congresses, as well as declaring null and void the outcome of the November 16, 2024 Ward Congresses held across the state .

Justice Obomanu has fixed December, 3, 2024 for the hearing of the motion on notice .

The restraining order is the second in the series of court rulings in the last few days generally seen as a serious set back for the Tony Okocha led pro-Wike faction of Rivers state APC.

A Special Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt, had on Thursday, dismissed the ruling of a Federal High Court Abuja which declared the Rivers Local Government Area Election illegal and stopped the Police and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from participation.

IPOB: What’s Next After Ekpa’s Finland Arrest?

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Tosin Olatokunbo

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November 22, 2024

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Simon Ekpa, the self-proclaimed Prime Minister of Biafra in Exile had planned to declare the Independence of the Republic of Biafra from Nigeria on December 2.

But few days before what would have been a historic event for the secessionist Indigenous People of Biafa, IPOB faction led by Ekpa, the man who has been accused of causing the wanton killings and abduction in the south east has landed in Finland Prison.

On Thursday, the Finish police arrested Ekpa alongside other four accomplices on the allegations of promoting and financing terrorism in ‘south east Nigeria’. he will be charged to court soon, the Finish police said in a statement.

In the statement published on its website, the Central Criminal Police in Finland said it arrested five persons on suspicion of terrorist crimes.

The police said the main suspect was arrested “on suspicion of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent”, while four others were arrested “for financing a terrorist crime”.

The statement read: “The detention demands are related to the preliminary investigation, in which a Finnish citizen of Nigerian background, born in the 1980s, is suspected of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.

“The police suspect that the man has promoted his efforts from Finland by means that have led to violence against civilians and authorities as well as other crimes in the region of South-Eastern Nigeria.”

Ekpa’s arrest yesterday would be the second time in Finland. In the earlier arrest months ago, over issues, allegedly, unrelated to Terrorism, he was released hours later.

His arrest, according to those watching what’s happening in the south east, could not have come at a better time, considering the jubilation in the region since yesterday.

Others however said, his arrest has been followed by an uneasy calm in the region, particularly among his supporters who are apprehensive of what will happen to him next and the future of IPOB as a whole.

Reacting to his arrest, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Christopher Musa welcome the development by calling on the Finish government to repatriate him to face trail.

Analysts however insist that he can only be sent back home to face trial, if Nigeria and Finland have signed a repatriation treaty.

Scores of people, including soldiers and policemen have been killed in the region by IPOB militants since Ekpa surreptitiously took over the leadership of the secessionist group following the detention of Nnamdi Kanu, the defacto leader of IPOB, by the federal government.

Kanu is currently facing trial on terrorism related charges following his arrest in Kenya in 2021. Diplomatic efforts by well meaning Nigerians to get him released from custody, including a court order to that effect has been widely rebuffed by the government which insist that he must face trial.

IPOB has however denied that Ekpa is a member of the group. “Simon Ekpa has never and is not an IPOB member, let alone being a leader in IPOB,” Emma Powerful, IPOB spokesman said in a statement on Friday.

Amidst the jubilation that has greeted Ekpa’s arrest, not a few believe that calm will return to the region, at least for the moment, considering that the group is expected to lack coordination in the absence of their leader.

For instance, some say it will be impossible to issue the weekly stay-at-home in the region now that Ekpa is in detention, and nobody is clearly taking up his role.

Recall that Kanu had in a July 2023 letter instructed Ekpa to end the sit-at-home, following the anger from leaders in the region that the order was hurting the south east economically aside the attendant loss of lives.

Ekpa had vowed, last week, not to obey Kanu’s directive to him.

“I won’t listen to Nnamdi Kanu’s instructions to end sit-at-home. “I will only listen to him not just when he becomes a freeman, but he has to come to Finland to tell me face to face,” the pro-Biafra leader said.

Ekpa entered into national consciousness in Nigeria after the rendition of the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was arrested. That was when he introduced himself as a disciple of the detained IPOB Leader, and gave the impression that he had become the leader with Kanu in the custody of the Nigerian Government and being prosecuted in Court.

He soon fell out with the IPOB Leadership over his conduct which IPOB said ran contrary to their ideals. He has disagreed with IPOB on a couple of issues, including the cancellation by IPOB, of the weakly sit-at-home order which has brought the economy of the South-east to its knees. While IPOB said stop, Ekpa said continue, and atimes, imposed it for days on end.

IPOB has since expelled him from the organisation, and holds him responsible for the inexplicable and unprecedented blood bath and mindless destructions in the South-east.

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PDP Suspends NEC Meeting For Akwa Ibom First Lady’s Burial

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Tosin Olatokunbo

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November 22, 2024

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The Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, has suspended its National Executive Council, NEC, meeting initially schedule for Thursday next Thursday.

The party in a statement on Thursday by its National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu said the decision was taken so that the party’s officials could attend the funeral of Patience Umo Eno, the wife of Akwa Ibom state governor who died on September 27.

The late Akwa Ibom First Lady died in August, and the funeral rights, according to the state governor will take place between November 27 and 29.

The PDP scribe apologised for the shift in the party’s NEC meeting, saying the party had no other option after its attention was drawn to the Mrs Umo Eno’s funeral.

The statement reads: “At its meeting of Wednesday, the attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) was drawn to the programme of events of the funeral ceremony of Mrs. Eno, which coincide with the scheduled dates of activities for the 99th NEC meeting. After due consideration, the NWC, recognising the need for party leaders to commiserate with Governor Eno, hereby notify NEC members that the 99th NEC meeting will now be held on a date that will be communicated to members in due course.”

“All NEC Members should please note the change of date and be guided accordingly. The NWC sincerely regrets inconveniences this change of date will cause distinguished members of NEC.”

The party had in October 23 postponed the NEC meeting to November amidst the leadership crisis rocking Nigeria’s main opposition party.

Ogun: Where’s N214bn LG Funds? Gov Abiodun and Adebutu Bicker

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Tosin Olatokunbo

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November 22, 2024

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Amidst the battle for the soul of the State, the 2023 Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Oladipupo Adebutu has accused the state governor, Dapo Abiodun of mismanaging billions belonging to Local governments in the Gateway State.

The governor cannot account for a whopping N214 billion that accrued to the local governments, the PDP chieftain said. There are 18 local governments in the state.

Adebutu made the allegation on Thursday in Abeokuta, the state capital during a press conference, accusing Governor Abiodun of trying to silent him because of his penchant for transparency.

Reacting, the state government said the PDP candidate is a drowning man who is trying to unleash his anger on the governor after he was roundly rejected by the people of the state during the last governorship election.

Adebutu, the magazine recalls, lost the 2023 governorship election to the incumbent. He had earlier lost the election to Abiodun in 2019.

According to Adebutu, Governor Abiodun has failed to account for over N200 billion which accrued to the LGAs in the last five years, the PDP candidate called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call the governor to order saying the “reason they have been pursuing me and want to shut me up is because they are stealing the local government money.”

The PDP candidate also accused the state government of being responsible for the violence during the recent local government election in the state wondering why the federal government has kept quite when people are being allegedly ‘killed’ because of power.

Adebutu said: “President Bola Tinubu should call Governor Abiodun to order because the way the governor has conducted himself in the last week, particularly over the LG poll is quite condemnable.

“If under a Yoruba presidency, the President will sit down and watch his people being killed and maimed because they want to exercise their franchise and vote the candidates of their choice, it will be very sad. The truth is that the governor is destroying whatever goodwill is left of the APC in the Southwest.

“The reason they have been pursuing me and want to shut me up is because they are stealing the local government money. They don’t want the stealing of our patrimony to stop.”

In its reaction to the allegations, Governor Abiodun’s spokesman, Kayode Akinmade described Adebutu as a spent politician who is trying to drag the state governor down with him.

There was no way such humungous amount could have been mismanaged by the governor, Akinmade said, asking, how the state government has been able to pay salary of LGAs workers after the alleged disappearance of the N214 billion.

He wondered how Governor Abiodun could have mismanaged the funds when he is not a signatory to the local government accounts.

If the allegation is true Akinmade, said,“That means, conceptually, that the said local governments did not pay any salaries and did not execute any projects in those five years, and it says a lot about a governorship candidate whose own running mate described him as a complete disaster.

“The fact is that at no time did Governor Abiodun touch a dime of LG funds in Ogun State, but Adebutu has to entertain his crowd.”

The issue of local government funds has remained a vexed issue in the country following allegation that the state governors are tampering with what is meant for the LGAs.

The apex court in the country, the Supreme Court in July, as part of the federal government’s efforts to stop the malaise had, in a landmark ruling ordered that funds accruing to the LGAs from the Federation Account be paid to them directly.

BoT Suspends ACF Chairman, Osuman, For Criticizing President Tinubu’s Govt

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Ayodele Oni

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November 22, 2024

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By Ayodele Oni

For criticizing President Bola Tinubu’s administration, the Board of Trustees, (BoT) of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has announced the suspension of Mamman Osuman, its national chairman.

Bashir Dalhatu, chairman of the BoT of ACF, and Murtala Aliyu, the secretary, who announced the suspension on Thursday, also accused the chairman of issuing an unauthorised statement.

Osuman had criticised northern leaders for not finding solutions to the challenges facing the region.

He queried the roles the governors and lawmakers from the region are playing towards improving the economic hardship inflicted on the people by the policies of President Bola Tinubu.

He reportedly announced the support of the forum for a northern candidate in the 2027 general election.

The ACF said Osuman did not consult with other leaders and members of the forum before making the statement.

A statement by the BoT read “The attention of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has been drawn to widely reported statements credited to Mr. Mamman Mike Osuman, (SAN), Chairman, ACF National Executive Committee (NEC), which were made during the meeting of the NEC, held on Wednesday, November 2024, at ACF Headquarters, Kaduna.

“In particular, Mr. Osuman was quoted as saying that the North will back a northern candidate for the presidency come 2027.

“The statements were made by the NEC Chairman without consulting or discussing with other leaders and members of the ACF and thus reflected Mr. Osuman’s personal opinion only. ACF rejects Mr. Mamman Mike Osuman’s statements in their entirety.

“For this reason, the leadership of the ACF’s Board of Trustees (BOT) and that of its NEC has decided to place Mr. Mamman Mike Osuman on suspension with immediate effect. A committee has been constituted for further investigations.”

Nigeria Ranks 7th Globally for International Students In The United States

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The Source

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November 21, 2024

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Nigerian student enrollment at U.S. colleges and universities rose to 20,029 students in 2023/2024, marking a 13.5 percent increase from the previous year, according to the 2024 Open Doors Report on International Education Exchange. This places Nigeria as Africa’s leading source of international students and 7th globally.

The report reveals that U.S. colleges and universities host a record-breaking 1,126,690 international students this year, marking an all-time high for international enrollment. This milestone aligns with the 75th anniversary of the Open Doors Report, the leading benchmark for international educational exchange in the United States. Notably, Nigeria with 20,029 students, reinforces its position as the top sending country from Africa and the 7th largest globally.

Nigerian students bring a wealth of diversity, perspectives, and academic excellence to U.S. universities, enriching the educational experience for all students. Nigerian scholars are known for their strong academic backgrounds and commitment to advanced education, with over 55% pursuing graduate-level studies in the United States.

The growth in Nigerian students choosing to study in the U.S. reflects both the strong U.S. commitment to high-quality education and the growing interest of Nigerian scholars in international academic experiences. It also highlights the importance of people-to-people connections that deepen understanding and strengthen bonds between Nigeria and the United States.

Sub-Saharan Africa’s student mobility grew by 13% in 2023/24, maintaining its position as the fastest-growing region for the second year, following an 18% increase in 2022/23. The influx of Nigerian students is a testament to the robust educational ties between the U.S. and Nigeria.

The Open Doors Report, an annual publication of the Institute of International Education (IIE) in partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, was released at the beginning of International Education Week, an initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education. This week is dedicated to promoting global awareness and inspiring future leaders worldwide to study in the United States.

For the latest information on studying in the United States, follow our social media pages: @USInNigeria @EducationUSANigeria

Jigawa Appoints 120 Special Assistants To Boost School Monitoring

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Ayodele Oni

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November 21, 2024

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By Ayodele Oni

Jigawa State Government has commenced a three-day training programme for 120 Special Assistants on Education to enhance their capacity for school monitoring and improve learning outcomes.

Speaking at the opening session of the programme, the Senior Special Adviser to Governor Umar Namadi on Education, Alhaji Abdullahi Hudu, stated that the workshop was organized to equip the appointees with the skills needed to effectively carry out their responsibilities.

According to him, education is one of the top priority sectors in Governor Namadi’s 12-point agenda, designed to make Jigawa State great.

He added that several policies and programmes have been implemented to revitalize the sector.

“Monitoring is one of the key aspects for improving schools management and learning outcome. This made Governor Namadi in his wisdom to appoint minimum of two special assistants on education in each of the 27 local government area of the state.”

Alhaji Hudu further explained that, in every local government, there are Special Assistants on Basic Education and also for senior secondary education.

He said, the aides are all expected to assist in monitoring the projects and learning activities at the schools of their jurisdiction.

“We gathered them today, to train them on what they are expected to do, how to do it and also to tell them that, the work given to them doesn’t have any political inclination.

“They are on assignment for building the future of Jigawa state, therefore they must be proactive, just, simple and firmed in monitoring the schools and given back report to designated body”

Alhaji Hudu pointed out that, a portal will be created for the SA’s to be sending their reports electronically without necessary for them to travel to the state capital for submitting their reports.

Atiku Accuses National Assembly Of Aiding President Tinubu’s Lust For Loans

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Ayodele Oni

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November 21, 2024

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By Ayodele Oni

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has raised alarm that Nigeria is sinking further in debt, indicting the National Assembly of becoming an accomplice.

He also expressed worries over recent report released by the World Bank, showing Nigeria as the third most indebted country to the International Development Association (IDA).

This comes amid the latest approval by the National Assembly of President Bola Tinubu’s request to borrow an additional N1.7 trillion.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, described the request as a shortfall in the 2024 budget through Euro Bonds.

According to Atiku, this loan proposal is particularly concerning because it is benchmarked at the exchange rate of 1 USD to N800, whereas the current exchange rate from the Central Bank of Nigeria stands at over N1,600 to 1 USD.

The statement, titled “Tinubu’s loans bone-crushing to Nigerians, bringing insufferable pressure on the economy,” it reads “The recent report released by the World Bank, showing Nigeria as the third most indebted country to the International Development Association (IDA), is very concerning.

“This report is coming just when the government has already sent a proposal to the National Assembly signalling an intention to borrow an additional N1.7tn being shortfall in the 2024 budget through Euro Bonds.

“What makes this particular loan proposal even more concerning is that it is benchmarked at the exchange rate of 1 USD to N800, whereas the current exchange rate from the Central Bank of Nigeria stands at over N1,600 to 1 USD.

“Nigeria is sinking further in debt, and the National Assembly has become an accomplice once more. Tinubu had, in July this year, boasted that the FIRS and Customs under his watch have collected all-time high revenues to finance the Budget.

“Why then are they still borrowing? There is something that they are not telling Nigerians, even as they are being crushed by a combination of their failed trial-and-error policies and loan rackets.

“These Tinubu’s loans are bone-crushing to Nigerians and bringing insufferable pressure on the economy, especially when they are not properly negotiated and utilised.

“It is concerning that the voracious appetite for these humongous loans is powered by corruption and not for infrastructure and development needs. A report by Budgit, a budget watchdog, has disclosed that the 2024 Budget is a mess because of the level of pork associated with it.

“I feel a sense of personal agony seeing that just a few years after the administration of President Obasanjo took our country out of foreign indebtedness, we are today back at the top spot in the same conundrum. It is time that we apply more caution and apply arithmetic to the loan frenzy.”