Author: Hamza Rufai

GOVERNOR Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State has accused the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, of demanding $2 million bribe from him. He made the allegation amid the growing rift between the governor and the anti-graft agency. In a statement on Wednesday, Matawalle called for Bawa’s resignation, saying he had questions to answer on corruption. But the EFCC Chairman responded that he had nothing to hide and asked Matawalle to petition appropriate authorities if he had any evidence against him. In an interview with BBC Hausa, Matawalle insisted that Bawa could not be trusted. “It…

GUESTS at the official unveiling of two books on the President Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday, splashed over N500m to obtain copies. The President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, unveiled the books at a ceremony held at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja. The unveiled books are – State of Repair: How Muhammadu Buhari Tried to Change Nigeria for Good written by Antony Goldman and The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari written by Senator Abu Ibrahim. Executive Chairman of BUA Group, Abdulsamad Rabiu led bought copies of the books with the sum of N200m, while the Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote…

THE Commissioner of Police, Sokoto State Command, CP Ali Kaigama, has commended officers of the command for exhibiting high sense of professionalism as they reportedly rejected an N800,000 bribe from some copper wires thieves in the state. The command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Sanusi Abubakar, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday. “On 17/05/2023, policemen on patrol attached to DOPS Sokoto along Birnin Kebbi Road intercepted a Sharon vehicle, dark blue in colour with Reg. No. KSF356 Lagos, loaded with twelve roles of copper wires suspected to be from an electric poles. “The suspects, including Rufa’i Sani Yusha’u Abubakar and…

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it is currently probing Zamfara State governor, Bello Matawalle, for alleged N70bn fraud. The anti-graft agency, also confirmed that a former Minister of Power, Sale Mamman, who was recently arrested by the operatives of the commission over alleged N22bn fraud is still in detention. Chairman of the anti-graft agency, Abdulrasheed Bawa, made the disclosure at a press briefing on Thursday, urging Nigerians not to be swayed by Matawalle’s recent outburst. The governor had levelled allegations against Bawa and dared the commission to go after members of President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet. But Bawa,…

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has shed light on Tuesday’s attack on US Mission employees in Anambra State. Confirming the incident in a statement on Wednesday, Blinken noted that unknown assailants attacked a convoy of two US government vehicles in the Ogbaru Local Government Area (LGA) of the state. The convoy was said to have been carrying nine Nigerian nationals, including five employees of the US Mission to Nigeria and four members of the Nigeria Police Force. The American government official noted that the Nigerians were travelling in advance of a planned visit by US Mission personnel to a…

GOVERNOR of Borno State, Babagana Umara Zulum says he endorsed Tajudeen Abbas for speakership of House of Representatives against Muktar Aliyu Betara, an aspirant from Borno, to align with the APC’s position. The party picked Abbas from Kaduna and Benjamin Kalu from Abia as preferred candidates for speaker and deputy. Betara represents the Biu/Bayo/Shani federal constituency of Borno State in the Green Chamber. He belongs to the camp of G-7, aggrieved speakership aspirants protesting the zoning arrangement of the party. Speaking during a courtesy visit by Abbas and Kalu in Abuja, the Borno governor said, “As people from Borno, we…

NO fewer than 15 persons including a staff member of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, were abducted by gunmen at the 1,000 Housing Estate along Pegi community in the Kuje Area Council of the FCT on Sunday. Our correspondent gathered that the gunmen stormed the estate at about 11:30 pm on Sunday, shot sporadically, and abducted persons returning home from work. The chairman, of the Pegi Residents Association, Taiwo Aderibigbe, disclosed the development to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, adding that among the persons abducted is a staff of the FCT Department of Development Control under the Abuja Metropolitan Management…

PRESIDENT-ELECT Bola Tinubu has met with Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, one of his opponents in the February 25, 2023 elections. Kwankwaso, who ran on the platform of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), placed fourth in the election, winning only Kano State, a stronghold of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). According to sources, the duo met for hours in Paris, capital of France, on Monday. Tinubu reportedly told Kwankwaso to reach out to his political associates on the need to work together. The incoming president and his guest were said to have agreed to hold subsequent meetings. While Kwankwaso’s wife…

THE Federal Government says over N13trn was spent on subsidy payment in 16 years between 2005 and 2021. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, stated this on Monday in Abuja during the launch of the 2022-2026 Strategic Plan of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI). He said, “I have carefully studied the NEITI’s policy advisory on fuel subsidy forwarded to my office. I will like to commend NEITI for the in-depth research and outline of options to assist government in making a decision on the subsidy removal debate. “From that Policy Advisory, over N13trillion…

GOVERNOR Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State has asked President Muhammadu Buhari not to approve any study leave or whatever kind of leave for any officer critical to the take-off of the incoming administration of Bola Tinubu. News Point Nigeria reports that, the governor specifically mentioned the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, who he said has been speculated to have requested leave and urged the President to deny the CBN governor such a request. Matawalle hailed the President and his wife for making efforts to ensure a seamless transition and handover to the president-elect Bola Tinubu but…

THE Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba has insisted that the May 29 inauguration remains important and can’t be interfered with. News Point Nigeria reports that, he warned political actors trying to foment trouble or frustrate the inauguration of newly elected leaders to desist. The IGP, who said this while briefing reporters in Abuja on Monday, vowed to do everything possible alongside other security operatives to defend democracy. He said: “Following the successful conclusion of the 2023 General elections, it has been observed that some major political actors that the outcome did not favour, have been issuing public threats…

AN explosive device suspected to be a bomb has exploded in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital. News Point Nigeria reports that, the bomb blast, which occurred at the Doruwa drinking joint opposite a bank, affected some buildings within the vicinity. Eyewitnesses at the scene of the incident said a lady, a couple and a teenager were badly hit by the explosion and rushed to an undisclosed hospital for medical attention while several others sustained various degrees of injuries. Though no life was lost, the police have condoned off the area to avert another blast just in case another one was…

A CROSS section of northern leaders are demanding that the region must produce the leadership of the 10th National Assembly given that the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, are both from the southern part of the country. The leaders representing the 19 northern states and drawn from the academics and political class argued that their demand for the North to head the legislative arm of the Federal Government was in line with Section 14(1), (2) and (3) of the 1999 constitution. The northern leaders made the demand at a one-day round-table discussion in…

THE Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Idris Wase has declared for the lower lawmaking body’s speakership position. Mr. Wase formally declared his intention for the position at an event in Abuja on Friday. At the ceremony which was attended by his supporters and some members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the lawmaker urged Nigerians to unite and work together for the betterment of the country. He also promised a vibrant legislature, reeling out his experience to lead the House of Representatives if elected. The lawmaker representing Wase Federal Constituency said on several occasions, he had “sacrificed”…

THE rift within the upper echelons of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appears unresolved as five governors under the aegis of the G5 were conspicuously absent at a meeting of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, with current and soon-to-be-inaugurated governors. “This afternoon, I joined other party leaders at the welcome reception for newly elected and returning governors, as well as send-forth for outgoing governors of our great party, the @OfficialPDPNig,” Atiku tweeted on Friday. “While congratulating the outgoing governors for having flown the flag of our party high with pride, I urge the incoming…

ANOTHER batch of Nigerians stranded in Sudan have arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja from the war-ravaged Sudan. The Tarco Aviation aircraft carrying 126 evacuees, all students from Port Sudan, arrived at 12:25 pm, Thursday. There has not been any record of loss of any Nigerian so far. Upon arrival, the returnees were processed by officials with the filling of the returnee registration forms handed to them by government officials. They were received by officials of NEMA; NIDCOM; the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and the Nigeria Immigration Service.…

THE Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited needs to roll out massive investments in terms of oil and gas to meet the demand for these commodities, Africa’s richest man and Chairman, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has said. He said the national oil firm should invest more because there were many off-takers waiting to off-take the products from the company. Dangote spoke at the ongoing 2023 Annual Value Assurance Review Workshop of the Nigeria Upstream Investment Management Services Limited, according to a statement. He explained that a good investment manager would actively seek for investment opportunities, assess them and take shrewd investment…

FIRE has gutted some parts of the Nigerian Air Force Base located along Airport Road in the Federal Capital Territory. The cause of the fire outbreak was yet to be ascertained at the time of filing the report. Operatives of the Federal Fire Service have also made an effort to put out the fire. No official statement yet from the Nigerian Air Force on the incident. More details shortly….

AT least 15 girls have reportedly died in a fresh boat accident at Dandeji village in Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto State. The girls were said to be be on their way to a nearby bush to fetch firewoods when their boat capsized on Tuesday morning. According to eyewitness accounts, over 40 girls were on board when the incident happened. A resident of the area, Muhammad Ibrahim, said 15 corpses had already been recovered and local divers were still searching for the other victims. The chairman of Shagari local government, Aliyu Abubakar, who confirmed the incident said the bodies…

AS the race for the 10th Senate presidency gets ‘tougher’,  72 non-serving senators have endorsed former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, to head the 10th Senate. A former senator representing Kano Central, Basheer Lado, in a press conference in Abuja on Monday,  on behalf of the group expressed support for the zoning of the position of the president of the 10th senate, to the south-south geo-political zone of Nigeria. Address the press, Lado said: We are a group of non-serving Senators of the Second to the Fourth Republics. We have invited you today to announce our position with…