Drama As ISWAP Terrorists Distribute Old Naira Notes Worth N100,000 To Passengers On Borno State Highway As Deadline Nears

 

Ahead of the deadline of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) cashless policy, suspected Islamic State of West Africa Province, ISWAP, members have reportedly distributed some huge sums of old naira notes to commuters in the Lake Chad Basin.

 

 The incident occurred after Mairari village, along the Maiduguri/Monguno highway on Saturday in the Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State.

The naira redesign is believed to be targeted at stopping vote buying in the 2023 general election scheduled for February 25 and March 11.

Some ISWAP members who were said to have driven two gun trucks and dressed in military camouflage on Saturday distributed huge amounts of the old notes to scores of commuters.

A resident of the area, Bakura Ibrahim, said the insurgents positioned themselves under a tree and stood by the roadside with bags of old naira notes.

“We left Monguno at about 12 noon. As we approached Mairari, there were no existing checkpoints in the area; we were apprehensive.

“They stopped us and asked if we were going to Maiduguri, then they started giving each person 100,000 old naira notes, but we could not believe it. They gave each occupant of the Golf Volkswagen,” Bakura said.

Another source added, “The group simply told us, “If you think you can go to their banks and change it to new naira, go and do so; may Allah make it beneficial to you.”

 

Banks Must Accept Old Naira Notes After 10 February Deadline, Says Emefiele

Bank must accept old naira notes after 10 February deadline, says Emefiele

The Governor of the  Central Banks, Godwin Emefiele, has said commercial banks must accept the old Naira notes even after the expiration of the 10 February deadline.

Mr Emefiele announced this on Tuesday while appearing before the House of Representatives ad hoc committee looking into the implementation of the policy.

The CBN governor said he agrees with section 20(3) of the CBN Act, which provides that commercial banks must accept old notes after a deadline.

Section 20 (3) of the Act says: “Notwithstanding Sub-sections (1) and (2) of this section, the Bank shall have power, if directed to do so by the President and after giving reasonable notice in that behalf, to call in any of its notes or coins on payment of the face value thereof and any note or coin with respect to which a notice has been given under this Sub-section, shall, on the expiration of the notice, cease to be legal tender, but, subject to section 22 of this Act, shall be redeemed by the Bank upon demand.”

Mr Emefiele said commercial banks must accept the money even after the 10 February deadline.

Although Mr Emefiele had on Sunday announced 17 February as the “grace period” for the Nigerians to deposit the money, the lawmakers are insisting that it must be months, not days.

Nuella's Blog  allows us understands  that Mr Emefiele said “the law which says even after the old currency has lost its legal tender status that we are mandated to collect these money. And I stand with the House of Reps on this. What does that mean? It could have lost its legal tender status which means we have moved on.

“But if you have your money that you have not been able to send to the bank we will certainly give you the opportunity to bring them back into the CBN to redeem it. Either you pay it to your bank account or you want to do an exchange—we will give you. You will not lose your money. This is the assurance I give to Nigerians,” he said.

 

Don’t Allow EFCC To Sell My Property, Assets – Diezani Begs Court

 

Embattled former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, has approached a Federal High Court, Abuja to withdraw an order granted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for final forfeiture of her seized assets.

 

 In an originating motion, Alison-Madueke sought an order extending the time limit for seeking leave to apply to the court for an order to set aside the EFCC’s public notice to conduct a public sale on her property.

Alison-Madueke was Minister of Petroleum Resources under President Goodluck Jonathan.

Since the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari led-Federal Government took over the office in 2015, the former minister relocated to the United Kingdom.

The Nigerian government through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seized all her properties declaring that it was acquired through illegal means.

The EFCC in Suit No. 1122/2021 and Suit No 1123/2021, filed before Justice Olajuwon sought an order of the court for the final forfeiture of the assets belonging to the former Minister to the federal government.

However, in the motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/21/2023, dated and filed Jan. 6 before Justice Inyang Ekwo by her lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, the ex-minister sought five orders from the court.

While Alison-Madueke is the applicant in the case, the EFCC is the sole respondent.

The former minister, who argued that the various orders were made without jurisdiction, said these “ought to be set aside ex debito justitiae.”

She said she was not given fair hearing in all the proceedings leading to the orders.

“The various court orders issued in favour of the respondent and upon which the respondent issued the public notice to conduct public sale of items contained in the public notice most of which court the interest of the applicant were issued in breach of the applicant’s right to fair hearing as guaranteed by Section 36 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, as altered, and other similar constitutional provisions,” she said.

She claimed that she was not served with the charge sheet and proof of evidence in any of the charges, nor with any other summons in relation to the criminal charges pending against her before the court.

She also claimed that the courts were misled into issuing final forfeiture orders against her assets due to the suppression or non-disclosure of material facts.

“The several applications upon which the courts made the final order of forfeiture against the applicant were obtained upon gross misstatements, misrepresentations, non-disclosure, concealment and suppression of material facts and this honourable court has the power to set-aside same ex debito justitiae, as a void order is as good as if it was never made at all.

“The orders were made without recourse to the constitutional right to fair hearing and right to property accorded the applicant by the constitution.

“The applicant was never served with the processes of court in all the proceedings that led to the order of final forfeiture,” she said, among other grounds given.

 

 

But the EFCC, in a counter affidavit deposed to by Rufai Zaki, a detective with the commission, urged the court to dismiss Alison-Madueke’s application.

Zaki, a member of the team that investigated a case of criminal conspiracy, official corruption, and money laundering against the ex-minister and others involved in the case, stated that the investigation clearly demonstrated that she was involved in some criminal acts.

He said Alison-Madueke was therefore charged before the court in charge no: FHC/ABJ/CR/208/2018.

“We hereby rely on the charge FHC/ABJ/CR/208/2018 dated 14th November, 2018 filed before this honourable court and also attached as Exhibit C in the applicant’s affidavit,” he said.

The EFCC operative, who said he had seen the ex-minister’s motion, said most of the depositions were untrue.

He said contrary to her deposition in the affidavit in support, most of the cases which led to the final forfeiture of the contested property “were action in rem, same were heard at various times and determined by this honourable court.”

He said the courts differently ordered the commission to do a newspaper publication inviting parties to show cause why the said property should not be forfeited to the Federal Government, before final orders were made.

Zaki argued that one Nnamdi Awa Kalu represented the ex-minister in reaction to one of the forfeiture applications.

“We humbly rely on the judgment of Hon. Justice I.LN. Oweibo dated 10th September, 2019 shown in Exhibit C of the applicant’s affidavit,” he said.

The officer said that the contrary to her, the final forfeiture of the assets which were subject of the present application was ordered by the court since 2017 and that this was not set aside or upturned on appeal.

Upon mentioning the matter on Monday, Alison-Madueke’s counsel, Oluchi Uche, told Justice Ekwo that they were just been served by the EFFC on Friday and they would need time to respond to the counter affidavit.

Farouk Abdullah, who appeared by the anti-graft agency, did not oppose and the judge adjourned the matter until May 8 for hearing.

 

People Only See My Husband’s Wrong Side, He Is Best To Rescue Nigeria – Titi Abubakar Says

 

Wife of former Vice-President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, Titi Abubakar says her husband is the best man to rescue Nigeria from its current challenges.

 

 She therefore urged Nigerians not to allow themselves to be misled by making the right choice in the 2023 general election.

Mrs Abubakar said this at a stage play and mostra fotografica of her husband titled ‘Odyssey of the Man Atiku’, presented by the Directorate, Support Groups of the PDP Presidential Campaign Management Council (PCMC) in Abuja on Sunday.

She urged Nigerians, especially youths, to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to vote for her husband.

Mrs Abubakar, who said he had been married to the presidential candidate for the past 50 years, described him as a husband, philanthropist and a reliable man who could rescue Nigeria.

“Many people don’t understand Atiku, they see the wrong side of him. He is a philanthropist and a good husband.

“I advise Nigerian youths to follow the person that knows the road. Atiku is the person that knows the road. He was there as Vice-President and we should follow him.

“Don’t be misled by anyone. Atiku headed the economic team that worked with former President Olusegun Obasanjo. He can do it again.

“Atiku wants to give back to society what society has given him,” she said.

She added:“If you are yet to collect your PVC, go collect it and vote for the right candidate who is Atiku. He is sellable.”

She said that a vote for PDP and Mr Abubakar would be a vote for her and the development of Nigeria.

Mrs Abubakar, who said she was never idle when her husband was the vice-president, promised that as wife to the president she would give priority to security, healthcare and education of children and women.

Former governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun described Mr Abubakar as a man of many virtues, including being the most experienced of all the presidential candidates.

Mr Oyinlola also described Mr Abubakar as a humble man with a large heart, of which he identified himself as one of the beneficiaries.

Former governor Boni Haruna of Adamawa, advised Nigerian youth not to bury their future by being a ready tool for mischief or falsehood to destroy anyone.

“Few months ago we were in the same venue to launch a book about Abubakar. Today we are here again on a play about him. We cannot be tired of telling his story.

 

 

“We will continue to tell the real stories about our leader because of his uniqueness,” he said.

The convener of the programme, Dr Barakat Sani, said the move was to celebrate Mr Abubakar who had become a reference to Nigerians, especially the younger generation.

She described Mr Abubakar as a man who was not born with a silver spoon but through hard work and dedication he rose to become a great man.

“He is a man the country is waiting for to come and rescue it,” Ms Sani said.

The stage play was about Mr Abubakar’s life history including his birthday, education, career as Customs officer, marriage among others.

 

 

Rep Reject CBN’s Deadline Extension On Old Naira Note, Move To Arrest Emefiele

 

A House of Representatives committee on the recoloured naira notes says it will go ahead to sign an arrest warrant against Central Bank governor Godwin Emefiele.

The committee on Sunday rejected a two-week extension for the deposit of old naira notes announced earlier in the day by Mr Emefiele.

In a statement, chairman of the ad-hoc committee, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, said “the 10-day extension for the exchange of the old naira notes is not the solution: We as a legislative committee with a constitutional mandate of the house, would only accept clear compliance with Section 20 sub 3, 4, and 5 of the CBN act and nothing more.

He added, “Nigeria as a developing economy and a nascent democracy must respect the principle of the rule of law. And the House would go ahead to sign arrest warrant to compel the CBN Governor to appear before the ad-hoc committee.”

The chairman described the extension as a mere political gimmick to further deceive Nigerians and worsen their economic and social livelihood, insisting that the CBN governor must appear before or stand the risk of being arrested on the strength of a legislative writ signed earlier by Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila.

Gbajabiamila, had threatened to effect the arrest of Mr Gbajabiamila for failing to appear before the committee to explain recent actions of his institution.

Mr Doguwa further alleged that the naira redesign and cash limit policy can frustrate the forthcoming 2023 general election.

“Security agencies and their operations especially at the state level are generally funded through cash advances and direct table payments of allowances to operatives during elections,” he said.

The apex bank announced a decision to redesign higher denominations (N1,000, N500 and N200) of the Nigerian currency in October 2022 and placed a weekly limit on cash withdrawal to N500,000 and N5 million for individual and corporate bodies respectively, effective from January.

The CBN hinged the policy on claims that over 80 per cent of the N3.2 trillion naira in circulation has been hoarded outside the banking system for criminal purposes.

Analysts noted that bulk of the money has been stockpiled by politicians to compromise voters and officials handling the electioneering process.

Since President Muhammadu Buhari unveiled the recoloured notes on November 23, it has remained very scarce, causing apprehension among Nigerians, especially those in rural and unbanked areas.

There has been a heavy rush for new notes around the country as scarcity grips cash-based businesses.

But on Sunday, the CBN governor claimed about 90 per cent of the N2.7 trillion outside banking vaults had been recouped in the time that the policy was announced.

PDP Crisis: You Can Not Win In Oyo State Unless I Campaign For You – Governor Seyi Makinde Tells Atiku Abubakar

 

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has praised the northern governors under the platform of All Progressive Congress for allowing power rotation in the party.

 Makinde, who spoke on Channels Television on Friday, commended his counterparts of northern extraction in the opposition who expressed support for a southern candidate, Bola Tinubu’s emergence as the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate.

He said, “I must give kudos to the governors on the platform of APC – governors like Governor Nasir El-Rufai [of Kaduna], Governor [Mohammed Abubakar] of Jigawa, Mai Bala Buni [of Yobe], Governor [Yahaya Bello] of Kogi.

“They came together within their party and they said, ‘For the unity of this country, let us sacrifice our ambition. Let the presidency rotate to the South.’ So, we must give kudos to them.

“But what happened in our own party? We were fighting ourselves and saying, ‘Our constitution can go to blazes.’ I don’t think that is right,” he said.

The governor also stated that the achievements of his administration were being used by the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to secure the state in the next month’s election.

“If our candidate (Atiku) will need to win in Oyo State, I will have to campaign for him because PDP in Oyo State is riding on the achievements that we’ve been able to make these three plus years,” the governor added.

While responding to Wole Oyelese, a former Minister of Power and Steel, who criticised him (Makinde) for not supporting Atiku, the governor said, “So, if he’s looking for a ministerial position – I don’t think anyone will give him a ministerial position anyway because the last time he had the opportunity, he didn’t do well at all.”

He went on to urge the former minister to be objective, saying, “So, you have all of these so-called expired politicians and then they go out there and say, ‘We’ve done this. We can do this.’

“I respect the opponents; I respect some of the challenges that we have to face for this election. But we are realists. We are driven by data and logic. We demonstrated it before.”

The Oyo governor said beyond personal ambitions, the demands of the five aggrieved PDP governors who were rallying against the “unjust” party leadership were about national interests.

“If I will tell you precisely what is going on, the unity of this country is at stake. When they said, ‘Rotate. Let there be inclusivity. Get zone party positions – rotate it,’ it’s because we know that our federalism has not taken serious root.

“So, to compensate for some of the things that we don’t have constitutionally right now, we said, ‘Rotate the positions, do zoning.’ Now, we’ve disregarded that,” he said.

According to Makinde, party members cannot keep picking and choosing what parts of the constitution they are going to obey and disregard.

“The National Chairman himself was the one that made that comment that peradventure somebody from the northern part of the country emerges as the presidential candidate, he will resign.

“But now you are saying the constitution must be followed. This is the constitution we’ve flagrantly disregarded in the first instance.”

 

CBN Extends Deadline For Naira Swap By 10 Days

 

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has extended the deadline for the exchange of old naira notes for newly designed ones till February 10.

 

 The apex Bank had set the deadline for the old N200, N500 and N1000 for January 31, 2023 but due to the scarcity of the new ones and its attendant effects on the economy, there has been pressure on the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, to extend the deadline.

The National Assembly and several groups and individuals had called for a extension but the CBN said there would be no extension.

However, Emefiele announced the extension in a statement signed on Sunday.

 

Nigerian Singer Chuddy K’s Wife Dies Of Cancer

 

Racheal, the wife of Nigerian artist, Chukwudi Ken Agali, also known as Chuddy K, has died of cancer.

 The singer disclosed this and shared a picture of his wife via his Instagram account on Saturday.

He wrote, “My queen is gone. I can’t believe I’m typing this. Never imagined a day like this would come so early. You fought hard for you life. You did not die of cancer. God called you cus he loves you more than I do. RIP Racheal my love.

 

Ex-maritime Academy Staff Bags 110 years Imprisonment Over N22million Fraud

Charles Emmanuel Afaha, a former staff of Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, before Justice Agatha Okeke of

 

 A Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Friday, January 27, sentenced one Charles Emmanuel Afaha to 110 years imprisonment over N22million contract fraud.

The convict, a former staff of Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, was arraigned on October 13, 2018 on an eleven-count charge bordering on forgery by the Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Afaha pleaded “not guilty” when he was arraigned, setting the stage for the prosecution to prove its case.

The prosecution, through its counsel, T. N. Ndifon called five witnesses and tendered several exhibits which were admitted in evidence.

Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Agatha Okeke said that “the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt the offence of forgery against the defendant in all the counts”.

Afaha was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on each count without an option of fine. The sentencing runs concurrently from the date of arrest.

The Court also ordered that the convict shall restitute the sum of N22, 848, 450 to the Maritime Academy of Nigeria which will serve as condition for his release upon the completion of his time in prison.

 

All Of You Criticising Buhari Have Eyes But Can’t See, Will End Up Falling Into Ditch –Femi Adesina Tells Nigerians

 

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina has described those criticising his principal, Muhammadu Buhari despite his ‘achievements’ as blind.

 

 The presidential aide stated this in a piece titled, ‘They Have Eyes But Cannot See. Pity!’ which he published on his Facebook page.

 Listing what he considered as the achievements of Buhari, Adesina said the positive growth cannot be denied.

He said, “It has been a hectic week. Frenetic. We set forth at dawn on Monday from Abuja to Bauchi, to attend the Presidential and gubernatorial campaign of All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates.

“It was only Muhammadu Buhari, the Mai Gaskiya (honest man), that could have commanded the number of people that turned out. Without inducement. Endless sea of heads. He remains the greatest political crowd puller we have ever seen in the country since the beginning of time.

“From Bauchi, same Monday, we flew into Lagos. To commission the $1.5 billion Lekki Deep Sea Port, then West Africa’s largest rice mill at Imota, and a lubricant plant at Tin Can, Apapa, owned by MRS Petroleum Company. Tuesday saw the President commissioning two more projects, including the Blue Line Rail. And from there, we flew to Dakar, Senegal, to attend a summit on food security in Africa, billed for Wednesday. Our President delivered a Keynote Address, and we left for Nigeria in the evening. We didn’t reach Katsina, and Daura till about 1am Thursday.

“Now as I write this Thursday morning, we are in Katsina, commissioning legacy projects, including; Kofar Kaura Underpass, Kofar Kaura Waterworks, Revenue House, Meteorological Institute, Darma Rice Mills, Kofar Kwaya Underpass, Katsina General Hospital, among others. The spree continues Friday, then same at Kano on Monday, and Jigawa on Tuesday.

“Our President is 80 years old, don’t forget. And he does all these at a sprint. We that are far younger struggle to catch up with him. On Thursday, after going to bed around 3 am, on return from Senegal, I refused to get out of bed till my colleagues came to evacuate me, saying the President was ready and raring to go. I sprang up. President Buhari is a blessed man, despite a debilitating health challenge he had in 2017. God has been truly merciful.

“Now, all these projects being commissioned in States are because the Federal Government created an enabling environment, and enunciated the right policies. There are even counterpart relationships in some of them. I tell you, this President has done great things for our country, including fighting insecurity to a standstill, and on the verge of winning the war.

“Some cynics claim they’ve not seen anything Buhari has done. Yes, the Second Niger Bridge is so small, so they need a magnifying glass to see it. The Lagos/Ibadan Expressway is so minuscule, and they need to wear their medicated glasses. Rail line like catacombs in certain parts of the country?

“Bring my microscope, let me check. Same for Enugu/Port Harcourt Expressway, Bodo/Bonny road and bridges, Loko-Oweto road and bridge, brand new airport terminals in Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Enugu, Port Harcourt, rice mills everywhere. “We can’t see.” Purblind people.”

Adesina added that only ‘honest’ Nigerians can testify to what President Buhari has achieved for the country.

“What of Abuja-Zaria-Kano expressway in the works? AKK pipelines. And many other projects. No, they can’t see, because Buhari has done nothing. Fickle minds. Caviling. Carping. Flippant. Unserious. Those who know and are honest testify to what President Buhari has achieved for the country,” he said.

“True. Projects abound in all zones of the country, done by the Buhari Administration, and you will get to have a compendium soon. But let those who have eyes, and deliberately refuse to see, continue. They will fall into a ditch, and great will be that fall.”

 

Not Less Than 159 Nigerians Renounced Their Citizenship In 2022 — FG

 

The Ministry of interior has disclosed that at least 159 Nigerians renounced their citizenships in 2022 alone.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Shuaib Belgore, disclosed this at an event Abuja, on Thursday, January 26, 2023.

According to Belgore, 150 Nigerians renounced their citizenship between 2006 to 2021.

“We spoke earlier about those who are conferred with Nigeria citizenship by Mr President. In November last year, we had a total number of 286 new Nigerians, out of which 208 were by naturalisation while 78 were by registration, meaning spouses of Nigerian citizens who now have become Nigerians.

However, going further, the advisory committee on Nigerian citizenship will sit on the 7th of February to consider another 350 applications for naturalisation, after which the successful applications will be sent to Mr President in council for approval.

Now down to those Nigerians who renounce their citizenship, so far we have registered a total of 309. Between 2006 and 2021, 150 Nigerians renounced their citizenship. In 2022 alone, around 159 Nigerians renounced their citizenship,” he said.

 

Road To 2023 Election: Reject Candidates With Criminal Records — Catholic Bishop Tells Nigerians

 

The Catholic Bishop of Ondo Diocese, Most Rev. Jude Arogundade, has called on Nigerians to reject candidates who according to him are “known criminals” that have been implicated by national and international agencies at the polls.

He made the call in his sermon at the 25th anniversary of the Canonical Erection of the Catholic Diocese of Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The clergyman said there is need to save Nigeria from the trauma of having to deal with the emotional outcome of electing leaders who continue to ravage the country’s commonwealth for their personal gain.

Arogundade urged Nigerians to vote for decent and credible leaders and save the country from imminent collapse.

He lamented that Nigeria has been kept under the control of “corrupt aristocrats who steal our commonwealth to gain power and to control the masses”.

 

Arogundade said, it was regrettable that, the impact of one hundred years of Christianity on our society had been eroded by bad governance; ethic and tribal war and a new wave of paganism.

Are we not the same Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa and indeed Nigerians that are calling on God for intervention and redemption from corrupt politicians that will also vote for known criminals that have been implicated by national and international watchdog bodies?

“All of us Christians and none Christians alike are searching for decent and credible leaders who will reorganise our country to be the best that God has created it to be.

“Then vote for one and save the Church from trauma of having to deal with the emotional outcome of leaders who continue to ravage our commonwealth for personal gain.

“Our people must begin to lookup to the finest and the most patriotic among us for leadership to run the country and to provide the leadership that will correct the mistakes of the past decades.

“We must not stand by and watch this great nation destroy itself under mediocre leadership that drift from one crisis to the next, eroding our national will and purpose," he stated.

In his remarks, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Abeokuta, Most Rev. Peter Olukayode Odetoyinbo, charged Nigerians to shun any act of violence and reject the temptation of selling their votes.

He expressed the optimism that Nigeria will come out better after the election, saying “We pray that Nigeria will be better, we pray that all of us electing the right person to the right position, Nigeria will be better.

We should go and perform our civic duties and vote rightly according to our consciences for good leaders who will lead Nigeria better and give us what we desire according to the mind and the will of God,” he said.  

 

 

Breaking: Tribunal Sacks Adeleke As Osun Governor, Declares APC’s Oyetola Winner Of Governorship Election

 

The Osun State Elections Petitions Tribunal has nullified the election of Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and declared Gboyega Oyetola, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the July 16, 2022 election as the winner of the election.

 

In August 2022, Oyetola, a former Osun governor, and the APC petitioned the tribunal to challenge the election victory of Adeleke.

Among several issues, Oyetola contended that there was overvoting in 749 polling units across 10 local government areas of the state.

The Justice Tetse Kume-led panel in its judgement on Friday said there was overvoting on the examination of BVAS manipulation.

The tribunal declared that the electoral body, INEC should withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to Adeleke and issue the same to Oyetola.

The majority judgement which was read by the Chairman, Justice Kume said Oyetola got the majority of lawful votes of 314,931 while Adeleke had 219,666.

 

Those Threatening Me Will Never Win — Wike

 

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has stated that those threatening to deal with him when they win the 2023 presidential election will never win.

He described the 3threats as laughable, saying they would not have such an opportunity to carry out their sinister scheme.

He explained that his political crime against such people was his insistence on the practice of equity, fairness, and justice within the party, which they considered too harsh a demand to satisfy.

Then the governor made the prayer at Community Secondary School 1 in Mogho Town, the venue of the campaign flag-off rally by the Rivers State PDP Campaign Council in Gokana Local Government Area.

Wike said, “Most of you have watched on YouTube where they said they will deal with me when they win. You can’t win. You’ve not won; you are threatening to deal with some people. Will God allow you?

He insisted that he is a strong proponent of equity, fairness, and justice because it is the best way to foster inclusivity in PDP.

He pointed to the evil of denying other equal stakeholders due rights that would give them a sense of belonging, wherein the unity of purpose matters within the party.

“All of them planning and saying they will deal with us, and they’ve not been born. I dare them, let them try it”, Wike said, charging Gokana people to be proud of their nativity and being citizens of Rivers State.

According to him, no person could ever intimidate the State because it would never play second fiddle in Nigeria.

The governor also advised Gokana people to get their Permanent Voters Card (PVC), which would be used to punish haters of Rivers State.

He said the 2023 election would be about the use of the PVCs, which is the people’s power, and it would not be like what was experienced in 2019, where officers of the Nigerian Army and police were used to intimidate voters.

Wike explained that a brother and a friend is one who cater for the welfare of the people and improved their living conditions. He was a better brother to Gokana people than their son, Victor Giadom, who, as a Commissioner for Works, refused to construct roads in Gokana.

Wike revealed that several roads had been constructed by his administration in Gokana, together with the bridge connecting K-Dere to Bolo Town ongoing.

In his speech, Rivers State governorship candidate of the PDP, Sir Siminialayi Fubara asserted that the party would win the election in the State. Still, there is a need for the winning to be very convincing.

Fubara assured that when elected, his administration would continue in the performance footstep set by the Wike administration.

Specifically, Fubara said he would do everything possible to sustain the security of life and property and provide more road and educational infrastructure.

 

Side-chic Drangs Sugar Daddy To Court For Refusing To Marry Her

 

A Ghanaian sidechic has sued a bank manager, who she claims was her lover, for allegedly breaching an agreement to take care of her.

 

Deborah Seyram Adablah dragged the Director of Finance of First Atlantic Bank, Ernest Kwasi Nimako, to the Accra High Court, and he is expected to appear before Friday, January 27, 2023.

In a suit dated January 23, 2023, Deborah contends that her ‘sugar daddy’ who was also her boss, agreed to buy her a car, pay for her accommodation for three years, give her a monthly stipend of GH¢3,000, marry her after divorcing his wife and also give her a lump sum to start a business.

In her writ of summons and statement of claims which has since gone viral on social media, Deborah alleges that the ‘sugar daddy’ bought the car but registered it in his name.

Later, he denied her access to use it after about a year of enjoying the Honda Civic worth GH¢120,000, while he also paid for only one year of accommodation.

The plaintiff, whose national service period ended in July 2021, admits to being in a relationship with the married man, claiming that her happiness at the workplace was under threat had she failed to give in to the relationship.

Deborah has also accused the defendant of abuse, s3xual harassment, maltreatment, exploitation and also lowering her reputation.

She further states that she had turned down an opportunity to be a permanent staff after her national service due to the manager’s promise of making life comfortable for her.

Deborah revealed that her boss further promised to divorce his wife and marry her because his marriage had broken down beyond repairs.

But in July 2022, their relationship suffered a blow when the first defendant decided to stop paying her rent and also providing other benefits he promised her.

This compelled her to sue her former boss for breach of contract.

Below is a list of her demands:

Transfer the title of the car into her name.

Cost of repairs of 10,000gh.

Pay lump sum money to enable her to start a business.

Pay remaining 2 years rent.

 

Pay the outstanding arrears of her monthly allowance from July 2022 to the date of judgment and pay all medical expenses as a result of side effects.

 

Nigerian Army Receives Over 100 Boko Haram Terrorists, Families Who Surrendered In Borno

Boko Haram insurgents have continued to surrender in the terror-troubled North-East as the Nigerian military widens its offensive against terror in the region and around Lake Chad.

 

No fewer than 100 of the insurgents, including their family members surrendered to troops of the Operation Hadin Kai Theatre Command, in Banki and Konduga Local Government Areas of Borno State during the weekend.

It was learnt that they surrendered due to the sustained onslaught on their hideouts by the troops as well as the Boko Haram-ISWAP infighting.

In recent months, hundreds of terrorists have surrendered to Nigerian troops.

The Senior Special Adviser to the Borno State Governor on Security Matters, Brig Gen Abdullahi Ishaq (retd.) had recently claimed since the government started the collaborative non-kinetic approach to the Boko Haram insurgence in 2021, over 82,000 of the fighters and their families had surrendered.

He added that more than 3,500 had been reintegrated into their communities.

According to him, more than 85 percent of the repentant Boko Haram fighters who have surrendered were forcefully enlisted by the combatant fighters.

 

Acapella, Helen Paul, Ajebo, Others To Shut Down Atlanta As Gyration & Chill With Elenu and Friends Holds April 7th

 

Come April 7th 2023, the city of Atlanta will experience the best of comedy and music with the 2023 edition of Gyration and Chill with Elenu and Friends; the star studded comedy concert which has spanned for two years is put together by long time Nigerian stand-up comedian, Akinlami Babatunde Julius widely known as Elenu.

Speaking to journalists via the popular Zoom video App, the talented comedian who also double as entertainment consultant while hinting on what the event is about, said the event promises to be an evening of music, comedy and the best of fun, he also went on to revealed some of the lineup of comedy stars to expect at the show and its acceptability so far.

“Gyration and Chill with Elenu and Friends kicked off in 2021, which was the year after Covid-19, prior to that, I organized Elenu live in Atlanta in 2018 and 2019 respectively. On July 2nd, 2021, my company, De Premium Entertainment LLC, an Atlanta based and American registered company started, we are an entertainment and Logistics company. Then on Feb 11, 2022, we produced the 2nd edition, still in Atlanta, and it featured my mentor and boss, Guinness record holder and Box office breaker, Ayo Makun”

“The third edition has been scheduled to hold on Good Friday April 7, 2023 to feature Acapella from Nigeria, Ajebo also from Nigeria, Helen Paul; she is based here in Atlanta, McPc from Houston and Mc Morris from Toronto. It’s going to be a Chill evening of cool music, comedy and merry making; with these line-ups, all set and confirmed, you can be sure to have an even better show than next year”.

Speaking further on the services his company, De Premium Entertainment LLC offers, other things he does and the challenging of organizing events in Atlanta, the talented event host and producer, has this to say; “While it may not be easy, as an event producer, it is my Job to give a Brand, the reason to invest or sponsor you outrightly. Small Nigerian businesses who will support in their own very appreciated ways but there’s a Bulk some that never adds up to the crowd most times but Passion keeps us going hard and learning from mistakes”

“Aside Comedy, I run an entertainment management and logistics company; we also have a small portfolio of Short term rental apartments in luxury city of Buckhead in ATLANTA GA, USA. Some of the services we offer include, Logistics, Flight booking, Hotels in City centre, Luxury chauffeur service with 2022 Cadilac Escalade and Luxurious Mercedes Benz Splinter Buses for Maximum comfort. We also produce live concert, for instance, the 1st of its kind and the biggest comedy show out of Nigeria, Ay Live, both US and Canada, Elenu Live 2018/2019, Best of both worlds Live in ATLANTA ft Basketmouth and 2baba 2019, Gyration and Chill with Elenu And friends 2021/2022 and AY Comedy special Live In ATLANTA February, 2022, up next is Gyration and Chill with Elenu And friends, April 7th, 2023.

Petrol Stations, Traders Reject Old Naira Notes In FCT Councils

 

Even as the January 31, deadline set by the Central Bank Nigeria (CBN) for Nigerians to return their old naira notes to banks is yet to elapse, some filling stations and traders have started rejecting the old naira notes in some area councils of the FCT.

Findings in Abaji, Kwali, Gwagwalada and Kuje area councils on Tuesday revealed that some filling stations and petty traders were rejecting the old naira notes from customers.

A driver, James Ishaku, who said he was at a filling station in Kuje metropolis Tuesday morning, said the pump attendant rejected the old naira notes he gave him.

He explained that when he brought out the money from his pocket and opened his car tank the pump attendant told him that he would not accept the old naira notes.

He further said, “When I was trying to explain to him that the CBN deadline is 31st January, he refused to listen and he didn’t serve me the fuel.”

He added that he was forced to use the old naira notes to buy the fuel at a higher price from black marketers.

In Abaji town, a driver, Usman Ibrahim, complained that a pump attendant at a filling station rejected N4,000 made up of old N200 notes from him.

He said, “Just some few minutes ago I went to buy fuel at a petrol station and the pump attendant said he would not collect old naira notes. I collected the money from a POS this morning.”

A trader in Kwali, Mrs Rebecca Ayuba, said she was forced to stop accepting the old naira notes from customers because of the apprehension the CBN deadline had been generating among the people.

She noted that only one bank operated in Kwali town, saying many traders who went to the bank to deposit the old naira notes were still finding it difficult to do so because of the influx of customers, especially villagers who normally came to sell their farm produce in Kwali market.

She further said, “Oga; no bi my fault ooo! How I wish you were here in Kwali on Monday to see how the bank was filled with customers, including farmers who came from the villages.”

Similarly, customers besieged the only bank in Abaji town with large sums of old naira notes for deposits.

A customer, Mrs Zainab Aliyu, who said she came from Umaisha in Toto LGC of Nasarawa State, explained that she had been finding it difficult to deposit her old naira notes since Monday due to the influx of customers.

She explained that, “I came from Umaisha on Monday and went back around 5pm without having access to deposit the money. I came back this morning still struggling to see how I will deposit the money.”

It was further observed customers as they queued up in front of ATMs in the area waiting to withdraw the new naira notes.

 

Over Fuel Crisis: New Committee Has Been Set Aside To Fight Fuel Scarcity – Federal Government

 

According to report on Tuesday President Muhammadu Buhari gave his nod to the establishment of a new committee to tackle unending fuel crisis.

Petrol is now sold for as much as N400 per liter in some places as the queues get longer in some of the marketers stations.

The committee, which will be chaired by Buhari, has the Minister of State for Petroleum Resource Chief Timipre Sylva as Alternate Chairman.

Adviser to the Minister (Media and Communications), Horatius Egua said the committee would ensure transparent and efficient supply and distribution of petroleum products across the country.

Union Bank Reiterates Support for Small Businesses at BusinessDay Top 100 SME Conference

 

Leading financial institution, Union Bank of Nigeria, has reiterated their support for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in the country to drive increased growth and development. This commitment was made during the recently held ‘Top 100 Fastest Growing SMEs in Nigeria’ conference hosted by Business Day newspaper.

The event themed ‘How SMEs can thrive in an age of volatility’ was well attended by various stakeholders in the SME sector, including entrepreneurs, industry experts, start-ups, and financiers. The event had different panel sessions to discuss the multiple problems facing SMEs in Nigeria. 

Speaking on the Funding for SMEs panel, Ayokunnumi Abraham, Head, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME) Products & Segments Union Bank, said SMEs need to pay attention to capacity building and keeping proper financial records. According to him:

“SMEs must focus on building capacity and developing the necessary skills to increase their expertise if they hope to succeed in this volatile age. SMEs also need to embrace technology and digital tools as an enabler for business growth while ensuring their books and records are organised if they hope to attract funding from the right financial partner.”

Business Day newspaper presented Union Bank with The SME Financier of the Year award in Nigeria at the awards ceremony held that same evening in recognition of the bank’s efforts to support and promote the growth of the SME sector in the country.

Drama As Woman ‘Spots’ Her Dead Husband Who Died 9years Ago Dinning In A Restaurant

A woman claimed to have spotted her husband in an Indian restaurant’s promotional video even though he died in 2014.

 

 Spice Cottage, in the village of Westbourne, West Sussex, UK, shared its promotional video on Facebook.

In the video, diners can be seen tucking into meals as waiters attend to customers in the clip, which ends with a round of applause for the staff.

The venue posted the video on January 16.

A woman then took to the comment section to claim she saw her husband in the video and she asked the restaurant when they filmed the video. Shockingly, the restaurant said the video is just one week old.

Lucy Watson commented: “How old is the footage? My late husband and his son are on the first shot and he died in 2014??”

A reply from the restaurant said: “Hi Lucy, sorry to hear this. This footage was recorded last week.”

The video has now received hundreds of comments as people speculate on the mystery of a man dining ”9 years after his death.”

 

I Took A Break From Acting Because Of Struggle With Facial Paralysis —Actor Chidi Mokeme

 

Nollywood actor, Chidi Mokeme has opened up on why he took a break from the movie Industry for a while.

 

 The Shanty Town’s star actor revealed that he had Bell’s Palsy, a condition that causes sudden weakness in the muscles on one side of the face.

In an interview with Channels TV, Mokeme narrated how he stayed off the premiere of Seventy-Six to focus on his health.

He said, ‘’I have been off the seen for a while, after we did the promotion for ‘76 and we went to the Toronto film festival.

“We were preparing to go for a trip in the UK for the British International film festival and I was suffering from something called Bell’s palsy, it comes like a stroke and it affects one side of the eye and doctor said it was incurable because they did not know how to treat it.

“For an actor if you come back with something that affect your face and you can imagine what it might look like at that time and I wanted to come for the premier for the ‘76 at the time but the attention was more focus on the face at the time than the premier and it as not something I could work with and I decided to take time off to go sort out the problem.

‘’I considered myself who has always being mentally strong and I am a student of life and I take life very serious and I focus on God.

Our Kinsman Buhari Has Neglected Fulani Issues – Miyetti Allah Cries Out

 

Baba Ngelzarma, President of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, has accused the regime of President Muhammadu Buhari of neglecting issues that affect Fulani herders in the country.

 

“We must accept the fact that Buhari is a Fulani man; he is one of us. But then, this will not stop us from saying the truth about what is going on in the livestock sub-sector. There is outright neglect in the sector. Simple.”

In an interview with Punch, Mr Ngelzarma said “none of the ideals of the pastoralists have been addressed by this administration (Buhari regime). Our grazing reserves are there without development. They lack water and grass.

“Even the ranching concept that was introduced under the Livestock Transformation Plan is not one that will solve the problem. We need a model that can suit the peculiarities of the pastoralists that we have.”

Speaking further, Mr Ngelzarma said “we need models like developing grazing reserves, which are areas that have been designated for grazing by pastoralists.

“Some have infrastructures, such as dams, veterinary clinics and others, in them. But because of the neglect, the structures have been allowed to dilapidated.

“Even the palatable grass eaten by the cows is no longer there in the reserves. We need a model that will make these reserves attractive to these herders,” he added.

Under Mr Buhari’s watch, prolonged farmer/herders clash has escalated. However, several mouthpieces of the regime have dismissed the issue.

Presenting a paper at the 10th anniversary of the Federal University Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA), Katsina state, in 2021, spokesperson for Mr Buhari, Garba Shehu, said the regime was the first to “put forward a workable solution to the herder-farmer” clashes.

 

No President In Nigerian History Has Killed Innocent Fulani Herdsmen Like Buhari —Sheikh Gumi

 

Controversial Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has said no other President has killed innocent Fulani herdsmen as Muhammadu Buhari has done.

 

 The controversial Islamic cleric who has been at the forefront of advocating negotiations for bandits disclosed this during an interview with Vanguard.

He also spoke on the metamorphosis of the Ansaru sect that attacked the Abuja-Kaduna train, killing some passengers and kidnapping several others.

According to Gumi, they had to carve out a small area where they could live their lives.

He dismissed reports that claim President Buhari is sectional and doesn’t want to do anything that will harm noble Muslims, especially Fulani.

“These bandits, who is supplying them weapons? There are bad elements in security (services). Even if you are the Commander-in-Chief, if you don’t look at the security system and overhaul it completely, this problem will continue,” he said.

Told the perception in some quarters that Buhari is protective of Fulani criminals, Gumi said, “Oh, it’s the opposite. It is just a wrong perception. If there is any President that has actually killed innocent herdsmen in the forest, it is Buhari. In all these bombardments, innocent people; women and children all die.

“It started during Jonathan (administration). I’m telling you most of the herdsmen are reacting to the overuse of armed forces. Their children were scattered and displaced. This is what happened and what is happening. They are just fighting back. And what I was able to do is to sit down with them and hear their grievances.

“But when we came out, we didn’t have anything — nobody was trying to listen. Even the press is not receptive.

“The press was very hostile. Like what you said when the BBC had its interview, the government was hostile. When we went in, we were accused of trying to give publicity to these people. Just imagine the Ansaru people behind the train attack, we later learnt that eight of their children were incarcerated.

“So no matter how criminally-minded you are, what has that to do with your children? So we’re pushing them into criminal activities.”

 

Drama As ‘Woman’ With Penis Arrested For Raping Two Women In Scotland

A transgender woman, Isla Bryson, faced four charges on her first day of trial before Judge Lord Scott of the High Court in Glasgow, Scotland.

 

Formerly known as Adam Graham, 31-year-old Bryson from Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, pleaded guilty to two of the four charges.

Ms Bryson is accused of raping two women, one in Clydebank in 2016 and another in Drumchapel, Glasgow, in 2019.

She is also accused of telling the alleged victim in 2016 to wash the sheets and threatening the woman’s family to destroy evidence.

The accused denies the charges and has lodged special defences claiming the sex was consensual.

She also denies a further charge of punching the second alleged victim.

One of the victims told a court she was “so scared” when she was allegedly raped by a man who now identifies as a transgender woman.

Defence attorney Edward Targowski KC said his client will lodge a special defence of consent for two.

The court heard in agreed evidence that Bryson now identifies as a transgender woman and was previously known by the “dead name” Adam Graham.

It was revealed a letter from the accused’s doctor, Craig Napier, dated August 5, 2022, confirmed that Bryon was “currently receiving the maximum recommended doses of Spironolactone and Finasteride” – a hormone prescription from Glasgow’s specialist sexual health service Sandyford Clinic.

 

Gabon’s Foreign Affairs Minister Dies Of Cardiac Arrest In Cabinet Meeting

 

Gabon’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Michael Moussa Adamo has reportedly died of a heart attack during a cabinet meeting, Aljazeera has reported.

Michael, the 62-year-old, who was an ally of President Ali Bongo Ondimba died “despite efforts by specialists” to revive him, the government said in a brief statement on Friday.

A source close to the presidential palace said that he “had sat down at the start of the cabinet meeting and began to feel unwell.”

It was learned that he was rushed to a military hospital while unconscious but died just after midday.

Reacting to this, President Bongo described Moussa Adamo on Twitter as “a great diplomat, a true statesman.”

“For me, he was, first of all, a friend, loyal and faithful, whom I could always count on,” the president added. .

On Twitter, Adamo’s Maldives counterpart, Abdulla Shahid, also expressed condolences to the late minister’s family.

Usain Bolt Loses $12 million Life Savings To Fraudsters

Jamaica’s Olympic sprinting icon, Usain Bolt has lost millions of dollars in his account with Stocks and Securities Ltd, an investment company based in Kingston.

 

 The lawyers of the track star said they are prepared to file a lawsuit if that will make it possible to recover the more than $12 million that mysteriously disappeared from Bolt’s account.

According to Linton Gordon, Bolt’s lawyer, the money is missing from his account in the coffers of Stocks and Securities Limited (SSL), a Jamaican investment firm. The lawyer also provided The Associated Press with a copy of a letter sent to SSL demanding that the money must be returned. Gordon was quoted to have said that Bolt’s account, which earlier had $12.8 million, is now reflecting a balance of $12,000.

Bolt is said to have had investments with SSL for over a decade. It was gathered that the account includes a part of the athlete’s retirement and life savings. The Associated Press reported that Mr Bolt’s account with the company was created to act as a pension for both of his parents and the eight-time Olympic gold medal-winning sprinter.

Gordon added that the Jamaican authorities had been informed about the development, while SSL could be taken to court if discrepancies are not resolved.

“It’s distressing news for anyone, and certainly in the case of Mr Bolt, who established this account as part of his private pension. We will be going to court with the matter if the funds are not returned. It is a grave disappointment, and we are hoping that the matter will be resolved in a way that Mr Bolt will recover his money and be able to live in peace.”

 

One Died, Several Injured As Another Building Collapses In Lagos

 

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has confirmed the death of an adult male in a building collapse in Ikeja.

 

The incident happened on Wednesday while workers were renovating a one-storey building located at 12 Aromire Avenue, Ikeja.

In a statement, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the permanent secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, said the deceased’s body was recovered under the rubbles by emergency responders.

The statement added that the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) and security operatives had been contacted for further actions on the building and the recovered body.

“The agency responded to distress calls and, upon arrival, discovered that a storey building formerly occupied by KILMS MART was being worked on by unskilled labourers resulting in a partial collapse,” it said. “An adult male reported to be a welder lost his life instantly at the scene. His remains were recovered and removed from the scene.”

According to the statement, the post-disaster assessment conducted by the agency’s LRT indicates that the building is stable and does not threaten other buildings.

The building had been cordoned off, and LASBCA and police “have been contacted for further action,” said the statement.

 

We Have Spent $2 million On North-East Recovery Projects

 

Mohammed Danjuma, the national coordinator of the Multi-Sectoral Crisis Recovery Project for North-East Nigeria (MCRP), said about $2 million had been spent on projects in the region.

 

 On Wednesday, Mr Danjuma revealed this at a workshop to inaugurate the research and institutional support programme under component three of the MCRP additional financing in Abuja.

He disclosed that the money was spent in response to cases across the affected states in the region, adding that capacity enhancement would be one of the critical instruments needed in the affected states.

“We are also giving scholarships to 60 masters’ degree in thematic areas that are relevant to the capacity speed in the North-East and 30 Doctor of Philosophy scholarships for tertiary institutions that are located in the three states,” the official said.

The MCRP coordinator stated that plans were underway to support the institutions with instruments to aid research.

The Yobe state MCRP coordinator, Musa Jidawa, said the project was moving towards recovery, which involved many collaborations and that “resources of knowledge from the academic institutions to practicability of research will add value to the process of recovery so that we can get back to where we were and even beyond.”

Mr Jidawa added, “With this now, we can fuse between research and practical application of knowledge to solve human problems.”

 

How Emefiele Bribed National Assembly Committee Members With N1Billion To Pass Its N2.4Trillion 2023 Budget – House Of Reps Member, Kazaure Says

 

A federal lawmaker, Gudaji Kazaure said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under Godwin Emefiele offered N1 billion bribe to get its N2.4 trillion 2023 budget passed

 In a viral video, Kazaure who represents Yankwshi/Roni, Gwiwa/Kazaure Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, accused Emefiele of planting his men in strategic positions at the National Assembly, in order to do for them to do his bidding.

The Secretary of the dissolved Presidential Committee on Reconciliation and Recovery of Stamp Duties Revenue further accused the embattled CBN governor, Emefiele of increasing the apex bank’s annual appropriation by 100 per cent every fiscal year without proper defence or value for the money.

He said, “Shortly after the election of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Godwin Emefiele swiftly and smartly so, through pecuniary inducement influenced the selection of members of the House of Representatives Committee on Banking and Currency, particularly the chairman, in the person of Honorable Victor Nwokolo, who represents his (Emefiele) constituency. In fact, he is Emefiele’s younger brother.

“Interestingly and curiously so, such a highly sensitive committee chairmanship position had previously never been ceded to the opposition. Of course, you know that Nwokolo who chairs the committee is a member of the opposition PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) and he is deputised by Hafisu.

“This man has practically bought over not just members of the National Assembly, but every influential Nigerian because the man (Emefiele) is richer than the Federal Government.”

On the CBN’s astronomical annual budget increments, he said, “When we came in 2019, CBN budget was N520 billion, last year (2022), they (CBN) presented N1.3 trillion budget, they could not defend it; yet this year (2023), they brought N2.4 trillion. To facilitate its smooth passage, they (CBN) bribed committee members with N1 billion. The can of worms was blown when the chairman of the committee gave each member N10 million only, that’s how I got to know about the fraud.”

Asked to confirm how much was CBN’s budget in the last three years, he said, “from N520 billion it went up to N1.3 trillion to N2.4 trillion this year. And it will interest you to know that of the 360 members of the National Assembly, less than 40 of us know about these facts.

“What we’re discussing now was blown open when the Chairman of the Appropriation, Mukhtar Betara demanded that CBN must explain why they need N2.4 trillion. Notwithstanding, the leadership of the National Assembly prevailed on him to allow the budget as brought and he did,” he added.

The CBN under Governor Emefiele has come under media scrutiny, particularly regarding several allegations of fraud involving trillions of naira.

On October 14, 2022, SaharaReporters reported how Kazaure revealed how N89 trillion from stamp duties was allegedly misappropriated and diverted by Emefiele.

Kazaure had said his committee was secretly constituted by President Muhammadu Buhari, with Adetola Adekoya and him as the chairman and secretary respectively.

He explained that he, in a letter dated August 8, 2022 sought the approval of Mr Buhari to set up the committee that included the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi, Mohammed Wakili, a retired commissioner of police and one Mr Okafor, a retired staffer of the National Intelligence Agency.

A source in the government told SaharaReporters that President Buhari was not aware of a lot of things going on in his government, including details about the Stamp Duty charges. The source added that knowing this weakness, the people around Buhari had ensured he did not get to know about some fraudulent activities going on in his government.

In a document obtained by SaharaReporters, the lawmaker narrated how the funds were diverted using multiple circulars.

Kazaure added that the committee had flagged the funds ($171.0 billion) in CBN’s private investors account.



It also flagged funds recycled as loans to some banks, N13 trillion; and funds “recycled as FMDQ debt to FGN: N23.3 Trillion”.

He said, “How CBN Circular of 27th March 2013 was used to divert the revenue. School of Banking Honours “SBH” is a banking monotechnic that was registered by JAMB as an Innovation Enterprise Institution “IEI” under a new Federal Education policy to skill, re-skill and up-skill Nigerian Youth on all aspects of banking operations techniques, in making them to be more employable locally, and competitive globally. As SBH does not receive subvention or grants from FGN, it applied loans on research to make a difference on tertiary banking skills.

“SBH engaged NIBSS as Official Sweeping Agent to FGN on the new revenue, but its then CEO, Mr. Folashodun Adebisi Shonubi (now CBN Deputy Governor) complained, via email dated 18th January 2013 that the CBN Approval was not meant to increase cost of banking to customers; and Payment of N50 Stamp Duty on a N1000 transfer is “absurd” hence the threshold must be increased upwards. Quite unbelievably, NIBSS induced CBN to issue a Circular on 27th March 2013 for an aggregate N100 (i.e. banks N70; NIBSS N30) as “additional charges” on transfers from below their own N500,000 threshold, down to N1000 of Stamp Duties, while N50 Stamp Duties of Government in 2012, was blocked. What then started as “breach” of financial inclusion for banks / NIBSS against FGN in 2013, has now snowballed into monumental fraud that is unknown in banking history.”

Garba Shehu, a presidential spokesperson later debunked Kazaure’s N89 trillion missing funds claim, adding that it was “ludicrous that a member of the parliament would claim to be secretary of an executive committee”.

 

Abba Kyari Offered Me N10m, Visa To Implicate Saraki In Offa Bank Robbery – Principal Suspect Says

 

One of the principal suspects in the resumed trial of the Offa Bank Robbery case at the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin, Mr. Ayoade Akinrinbosun, yesterday, regaled the court with exclusive details of how a former Commander of the IRT Squad, ACP Abba Kyari, who is currently standing trial for corruption and alleged involvement in drug dealings, offered him N10m and a visa to travel out of the country to implicate a former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, in the celebrated robbery case.

 

 He said Kyari promised to give him a visa to any country of choice if he supported the move to implicate Saraki, but claimed to have turned down the offer.

Five suspects: Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham and two others were charged to court by the police for criminal conspiracy to rob the banks, murder of nine policemen and other citizens, and illegal possession of firearms.

During the incident, about 10 persons were reportedly killed while other residents of Offa sustained serious injuries.

However, during a cross-examination at the court by the Defence Counsel, Mr Mathias Emeribe (SAN), Akinrinbosun said he was offered N10m to claim that Saraki asked them to carry out the bloody robbery operation.

According to him, he said I should admit and say Saraki was the one who asked us to go and rob. I told him I won’t do that. That I will rather die for what I didn’t do than to lie against an innocent man.

“He asked me to think over his offer very well. At this point he ordered officers Hassan and Mashood to return me to the cell. A separate one different from where others are and they should stop torturing me,” he said.

Akinrinbosun said he was not allowed to write any statement in Ilorin except his bio data, until they were conveyed to Abuja in a tinted bus, where he was later kept in a place called Abattoir.

There, the suspect said, some herdsmen were killed in his presence, adding that he was mercilessly tortured and shot in the leg in order to implicate Saraki, adding that, Saraki had nothing to do with the robbery case.

His words: “We were like 15 to 20 taken to Abuja. I only know few of them. We were put outside and served meal, but I couldn’t eat because my hands were paralysed due to the torture I went through in their hands in Ilorin. They asked Kunle Ogunleye to feed me.

“They separated five of us, put us in the generator house and Officer Hassan Attila ordered they brought some men. They went to bring five Fulani men. They brought them and killed them all in my presence.

“I was told, that was not a film. He asked me to stretch my legs and shot my right leg. He shot the second leg but when I tried shifting the leg, it hit my tomb,” he said, and went ahead to show the gunshot wound on his legs to the Court.

Akinrinbosun further added that one of the robbery suspects, Micheal Adikwu, was shot dead in his presence, a situation that got him terrified, and made him agree to implicate Saraki in a prepared statement before the press.

However, the presiding judge, Justice Alimat Salman, adjourned the case till 13th of February, 2023.