Author: Abdullahi Maitama Sani

THE trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, continued on Thursday before Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja as a forensic analyst confirmed that the documents used to request the payment of $6.2million for foreign election observers were forged. The witness, Bamaiyi Meriga, called by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), informed the court that following forensic analysis of the disputed documents, he discovered that there was clear evidence of forgery of signature, and the seal of execution were different from the original. Continuing the trial of former CBN…

THE United Nations (UN) yesterday confirmed report of the abduction of female Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Borno State. It puts the figure of those abducted at over 200. Mr Mohamed Malick Fall, the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator of the UN in Nigeria, in a statement lWednesday night said they were disturbed. He said, “The United Nations strongly condemns the reported abduction of internally displaced persons (IDPs), many of them women, boys and girls, in the Ngala Local Government Area of Borno State. “The exact number of people abducted remains unknown but is estimated at over 200 people. “On 29…

THERE was mild drama as Senators, on Tuesday, awaited the Abuja Electricity Distribution PLC to restore electricity supply shortly before the commencement of sitting. The development threw the Red Chamber into partial blackout as the lawmakers awaited the restoration of power supply. President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio would later commenced plenary after power was restored moment later. Akpabio apologised for the outage and the heat in the Chamber, disclosing that about nine offices still experienced outage as work was ongoing to rectify the situation. Recall that the Abuja Electricity Distribution PLC in February threatened to disconnect the electricity supply…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has arrived in Abuja after a two-day official visit to the State of Qatar. The presidential jet, NAF 001, that conveyed the President landed at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport around 7pm, concluding his 12th foreign trip since assuming the Presidency nine months ago, and logging 75 days abroad. Tinubu was received by top government officials including Vice President Kashim Shettima; his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Ganduje; and…

THE Federal Government will begin the distribution of grains nationwide to cushion the impacts of the hardship in Nigeria. Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Senator Abubakar Kyari disclosed this on Monday. “Dear Fellow Nigerians,” he wrote on his official X handle. “In these trying times, I extend my sincere compassion to those affected by the hardships in the country. I understand the gravity of the situation, especially with the unfortunate event of foodstuff warehouse looting. “Amidst these challenges, I want to assure you that our commitment to your well-being remains resolute. We shall commence the distribution of 42,000 metric…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has assured the international business community that Nigeria is ready for serious business as his administration will deal decisively with any and all entrenched interests in the country who undermine investor confidence in the Nigerian economy, pledging to remove all bottlenecks standing in the way of profitable and legitimate enterprise. Speaking at the Nigeria-Qatar Business and Investment Forum in Doha, on Sunday, President Tinubu told Qatari investors that Africa’s largest economy and its systems are being reformed and upgraded, and asked Qatar’s captains of industry to report any government official who demands a bribe or any form…

PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and His Highness, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, on Sunday in Doha, witnessed the signing of historic agreements between both nations, opening a gateway for leveraging the potential of mutual cooperation in pivotal sectors of education, enterprise development, investment promotion, youth empowerment, mining, tourism, and sports. Before the signing ceremony at the Qatar Presidential Palace, President Tinubu assured his host of Nigeria’s preparedness to welcome investors into the country, noting the ongoing reforms that favour innovation, return on investments, and multiculturalism. “Our greatest strength is our people. Our strength…

RESIDENTS broke into a government storage facility in Gwagwa town in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Sunday, and looted stored food items. Some residents, who spoke to this newspaper, said youths in their number broke into the warehouse located around Tasha area of the community around 7am, looting bags of maize and grain. A resident, Jaafar Aminu, said the looting continued unhindered till 9 am when he spoke to our reporter. He said some residents as well as persons from neighboring Jiwa and Karmo town trooped towards the site with the intention of partaking in the loot. He said…

THE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Friday revoked the licenses of 4,173 Bureaux De Change Operators, accusing the affected institutions of failing to observe regulatory provisions. According to the apex bank, the move is part of efforts to restore confidence in the nation’s foreign exchange market. Below is a full list of all 4,173 affected BDCs:

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has approved the reappointment and appointment of new members of the management team of the FGN Power Company Limited. This was disclosed in a statement by the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the President, Ajuri Ngelale, Friday. The appointees are as follows: (1) Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Kenny Osebi Anuwe (reappointed) (2) Company Secretary/Legal Advisor – Prof Mamman Lawal (reappointed) (3) Chief Technical Officer (CTO) – Ebenezer Olawale Fapohunda (4) Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) – Babatunde Daramola Oniru (5) Chief Financial Officer (CFO) – Julius Oyekola Olabiyi See full statement below: STATE HOUSE PRESS…

AGAINST the backdrop of incessant insecurity occasioned by the activities of terrorists and bandits in the northwest of the country, the Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle, has called for intensified operations against terrorists and bandits in the region. A statement released by the Ministry of Defence Director (Information and Public Relations), Henshaw Ogubike on Friday, March 1 2024, said the activities of bandits have increased over time, especially in Kaduna, Katsina, and Zamfara states, which according to him, have led to attacks on personnel, loss of lives and destruction of military hardware. Consequently, the Minister has directed…

THE Office of the National Security Adviser has said the Federal Government is investigating the operations of Binance, a cryptocurrency exchange company. Financial Times had on Wednesday reported that two executives of the company were arrested and detained by the Nigerian government. The international news platform stated that the executives flew into the country last week following a ban on their website. The Nigerian Communications Commission had on February 21, 2024, blocked online platforms like Binance and other crypto firms to avert the continuous manipulation of the forex market and illicit movement of funds. Speaking in an interview with our…

A NOMINEE for membership of the Central Bank of Nigeria Board of Directors, Urum Kalu Eke has declined the offer stating that he was currently engaged in the World Bank. This came to the fore during the Thursday plenary when the Senate began the process for the confirmation of the nominees. President Bola Tinubu had on February 13 forwarded the names of Urum and four others for confirmation as members of the board for the CBN. But during the confirmation, former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Kalu,( APC, Abia North ) told the Senate that the person who is…

THE FCT Administration, through its City Management Team, has demolished shanties at the Bureau De Change (BDC) headquarters in Zone 4 area of Abuja. Fielding questions from journalists after clearing the shanties, which include makeshift shops, trees, leader of the team and Director, Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, said the shanties serve as hideout for suspected criminals in the city centre. He said the area was full of illegal activities that have become threat to security and must not be allowed to remain. Galadima, who described the area as an eyesore, said the exercise which was based on directive,…

IN a move widely regarded as a slap to the Bichi Emirate Council and the Emir, HRH Alhaji Nasiru Ado Bayero, the Kano state government has ordered the stoppage and indefinite suspension of the Bichi Emirate’s biggest traditional event a week to the event. The Bichi Emirate Council had in a letter through the Secretary of the Emirate, dated 2nd February 2024, notified the state government of its historic planned Turbaning Ceremony scheduled for 1st March, 2024. The ceremony, the biggest of its kind in the Emirate, was to upgrade the District Head, Alhaji Salisu Ado Bayero and confers special…

THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Tuesday night, suspended its two-day protest all over the country. The Labour, in a communique at the end of its National Executive Council meeting, said the objectives of the protest were achieved on the first day of the demonstration. “Consequently, NEC-in-session resolved as follows: to suspend street action for the second day of the Protest having achieved overwhelming success thus attained the key objectives of the 2-day protest on the first day,” the communique partly read. Nigeria is battling rising inflation, food inflation, forex crisis, economic hardship and high cost of living occasioned by…

THE Senate on Tuesday confirmed the nomination of Ms. Hafsat Bakari as the Director, the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU). The confirmation comes after the consideration of the report of the Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes by Senator Emmanuel, Udende Memga (Benue North East). President Bola Tinubu approved the appointment of Ms. Bakari to serve as the Director/Chief Executive Officer of the NFIU last week, pending her confirmation by the Senate. According to a statement by Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, Ms. Bakari is a lawyer and financial intelligence expert with years of experience in anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing, and…

THE Nigeria Police Force has deployed anti-riot operatives in strategic locations ahead of today’s nationwide protest declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress over the economic crunch in the country. The force spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, explained on Monday that policemen had been placed on red alert. The Presidency and the police authorities had on Sunday warned the NLC against carrying out the protest which was thumbed down by the Trade Union Congress and 65 civil society groups. But the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, insisted that the demonstration would go on as planned, hinging his decision on the economic situation and hardship…

A LATE meeting between the Federal Government and the Organised Labour on Monday night at the State House in Abuja ended in a stalemate. “The protest goes on and it is part of their constitutional responsibility to ensure that the rally is peaceful,” said the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, after the meeting with government representatives on the eve of the protest. The meeting, hosted by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, was not opened to the media. Those in attendance at the meeting include the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef…

NIGER has not reopened its border with Benin two days after a West African bloc lifted coup-linked sanctions on the landlocked nation, including border closures, local officials said Monday. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Saturday said it was lifting sanctions imposed after last year’s military coup, including a no-fly zone, border closures and asset freezes. “There has still been no change on the Niger side: so far the border hasn’t been opened, so we’re still waiting,” local journalist Fhadel Alou told AFP, speaking in the Niger border town of Gaya. “The border has reopened on the Benin…