Author: Farouk Abbas

THE House of Representatives Committee on FCT on Wednesday adopted the bill seeking the approval of the N288 billion Supplementary budget for the minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. According to President Bola Tinubu’s letter, from the total sum of N288 billion supplementary budget was necessitated with a view to accommodate additional inflows from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and Miscellaneous Revenues in the sums of N8 billion and N280 billion, respectively. Chairman, House Committee on FCT, Aliyu Betara, who spoke during the budget defence meeting with members, explained the need for accelerated consideration and passage of the Appropriation bill…

A FEDERAL High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, adjourned the arraignment of former Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi until Oct. 30. The adjournment by Justice Emeka Nwite came as ex-Gov. Bello moved to the Supreme Court to file an appeal seeking to set aside the arrest warrant issued by the trial court on April 17 against him. This newspaper reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed a 19-count money laundering charge against Bello. Upon resumed hearing on Wednesday, Bello’s Counsel, A.M. Adoyi, drew the attention of the court to the fact that the issue of arraignment…

THE Federal Government may spend about N236 billion monthly to subsidise the Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, that is imported through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company and the one that is solely off-taken by NNPC from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. On Monday, the President and Chief Executive of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, called on the Federal Government to end fuel subsidies completely. He said the removal would help determine the actual petrol consumption in the country, as his position received backing from the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria and the Centre for Promotion of Public Enterprise on…

THE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says the lifting of petroleum products from Lagos-based Dangote Refinery will moderate the cost of transportation and ease food inflation. CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso stated this at a press briefing on Tuesday at the end of the 297th meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) in Abuja. “The committee expressed optimism that the lifting of refined petroleum products from Dangote Refinery will moderate transportation costs and significantly support the easing of food price pressures in the short to medium term. “This is also expected to moderate foreign exchange demands for importation of refined petroleum…

FOLLOWING the alleged continued persecution, intimidation and harassment of the immediate-past Governor of Kogi  State, AlhajiYahaya Bello, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Arewa Professional Forum has urged the chairman of the Commission commission to stop the embarrassment and allow the rule of law to prevail. The Forum in a statement jointly signed by Abraham Atowodi, Hassan Galadima, Ambassador Onoja on Tuesday, said, it is an established fact that the eight-year tenure of Yahaya Bello in Kogi brough about unprecedented infrastructural development, quality education, free for all healthcare and massive women and youth empowerment across the state. See…

THE Federal Government commends the National Media Complaints Commission (NMCC), the Nigerian media Ombudsman, for its impartial and thorough investigation, which found Daily Trust’s report on the Samoa Agreement to be inaccurate, misleading, and not in line with the Code of Ethics for Nigerian Journalists. This ruling serves as a testament to the importance of journalistic integrity and accountability and also a reminder of the crucial role the media plays in shaping public perception through truthful and accurate reporting. The public expects that news outlets will adhere strictly to professional ethics and conduct by ensuring that their reportage is factual,…

THE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has commenced the process of appointing substantive directors to replace those who were relieved of their appointments, including some who retired about 11 months ago. An internal advertisement published by the apex bank, a copy of which was sighted by this newspaper, gave this hint. In the advertisement, the bank is seeking to fill seven positions namely Director, Corporate Communications Department (CCD); Director, Financial Policy and Regulation Department (FPRD); Director, Other Financial Institutions Supervision Department (OFISD); Director, Procurement & Support Services Department (PSSD); Director, Banking Services Department (BKSD); Director, Medical Services Department (MSD); and…

Invites Experts To Address Economy, Media Space’s Challenges NIGERIAN Guild of Editors (NGE) has said that its annual conference this year will be held from November 7 to 9, 2024 in Yeanagoa, the Bayelsa State. The professional body of the editors/media executives in Nigeria, in statement on Monday by its President, Mr. Eze Anaba and the General Sceretary, Dr Iyobosa Uwugiaren, said that the All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC), which will be chaired by the Chairman/Editor-In-Chief of THISDAY/Arise Media Group, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, will be declared open by the Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Kashim Shettima.…

Alleges Assassination Attempt On Governor Ododo, Ex-Gov Bello Insists Kogi Money Is Not Missing THE Kogi State House of Assembly has called for the immediate removal of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, over his unprofessional handling of the case against the immediate past Governor of the state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello. The legislators, during plenary in Lokoja, the state capital, on Monday, condemned what they described as the EFCC operatives’ unprovoked attack on the Kogi State Government Lodge, saying it was an attack on the Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, and…

JUSTICE Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has dismissed a suit seeking the removal of Abdullahi Ganduje as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The suit instituted against Ganduje by the APC North Central Group was dismissed by the Judge on various grounds. Justice Ekwo held that the APC North Central Group is not a juristic person and not registered in law and therefore has no legal power and capacity to file the suit. The Judge also held that the plaintiff failed to explore the internal mechanism for peaceful resolution of issues before rushing to…

FORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar has openly thrown his weight behind the plot to unseat the acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagum. This newspaper gathered that Atiku reached out to members of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) advocating for Damagum’s ouster. This move to remove Damagum has divided the 13 state governors elected on the PDP platform. While seven governors, led by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, are pushing for Damagum’s removal, four others, led by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, support his retention. The pro-Damagum governors are allies of the Minister of the…

THE national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has congratulated Senator Monday Okpebholo on his well-deserved victory at the Edo State Governorship election. Ganduje in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary Edwin Olofu, said the triumph is a testament to the confidence the good people of Edo State have in the progressive vision and leadership of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led APC administration. The National Chairman Ganduje conveyed the party’s warmest felicitations to Okpebholo. He asserted that his victory reflects the trust and hope placed in his leadership, as well as the…

A HUGE crowd of women from Kogi State took to the streets on Saturday to protest what they described as the alleged persecution of the former governor of the state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. They called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call the EFCC to order, insisting that the former governor had done more than any governor of the state for the people since its creation. The women, led by various community leaders and party faithfuls, converged on the state capital, Lokoja, to condemn what they also described as a “witch-hunt” by the…

THE Coalition of 17 Northern Youths groups in an Emergency meeting in Suleja Niger State on Thursday 19th September has reacted strongly to the ongoing saga between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and former Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello. Following a series of protests and outreach efforts between April and July 2024, the coalition, which toured the 19 Northern states, expressed deep concerns over what it views as the EFCC’s blatant disregard for due process and the rule of law in its treatment of the former governor. The coalition, comprising prominent Northern youth groups such as the…

THE Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, on Friday approved the promotion of 49 senior officers of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, on Friday approved the promotion of 49 senior officers of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC). According to a statement by Corps Commander, Corps Public Education Officer, Olusegun Ogungbemide, the SGF approved the appointment of 21 Corps Commanders (CC), to the rank of Assistant Corps Marshal (ACM), 11 Deputy Corps Commanders to the rank of Corps Commanders as 17 others got elevated from…

THE National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has raised the alarm over the circulation of substandard and falsified medicines in Nigeria, posing a significant threat to public health. “We are maximising efforts to curb the menace of substandard and falsified medicines in the state,” warned Bala Mshelia, Director of NAFDAC’s North West Zone, at a community sensitisation workshop in Kaduna on Friday. Mshelia identified specific targeted medicines, including Fansidar 25/500mg and Combiart 20/120mg (antimalarials), OHEAL Ampicillin, and Cloxacillin Capsules (antibiotics), as well as other medications for hypertension, diabetes, and lifestyle diseases. “The fight against substandard and falsified…

DR Musa Aliyu, Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, says the commission will ensure strict enforcement of the Supreme Court judgment on Local Government Autonomy. Aliyu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said this on Thursday in Abuja, at a One-Day National Anti-Corruption Coalition, NACC, Members Hybrid Interactive Forum. The Supreme Court on July 11, granted financial autonomy to all the local governments councils across the country. The chairman, who warned those plotting against the law to check his records, said that the commission would ensure compliance with the Supreme Court verdict at all…

EFCC Has Ulterior Motive On Yahaya Bello, Not Fighting Corruption THE Campaign for Democracy has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately relieve the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, of his job, saying he has demonstrated lack of capacity to hold such office. CD, a frontline Civil Society Organization in Nigeria, said it was unimaginable that the former governor, who the same EFCC had placed on watchlist, who the Commission enlisted security agencies in Nigeria and Interpol to help fish out, walked into the EFCC premises, waited for about three hours and no arrest…

THE Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammed Pate, has stated that the Federal Government is working towards decriminalising attempted suicide in the country. He disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja at a news conference to commemorate the 2024 World Suicide Prevention Day. Marked globally on September 10 every year, the commemoration has “Changing the Narrative on Suicide” as the theme for 2024. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that suicide is criminalised in the country, but there have been several calls from stakeholders to decriminalise it. Captured under Section 327 of the Criminal Code Act, it states,…

THE Federal Government, through the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), on Thursday, said water from the Lagdo Dam in neighbouring francophone country, Cameroon, has been released into River Niger and River Benue in Nigeria’s North Central. The Agency warned Nigerians resident in floodplains to relocate immediately to safe spaces in anticipation of attendant floods that annually come with the release of water from the Lagdo Dam. NIHSA Director General, Umar Mohammed, issued this warning when he featured on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief breakfast programme on Thursday. Mohammed said his Agency met with the authorities in Cameroon and agreed that…