The Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Abuja, has reserved judgment in the petition filed by the Social Democratic Party, SDP, and its governorship candidate, Murtala Ajaka, against the election victory of Governor Usman Ododo of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
At Monday’s proceedings, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the APC and Ododo, prayed the court to throw out the petition filed by Ajaka for being incompetent and lacking in merit.
They also said this through their lawyers, Kanu Agabi, Joseph Daudu and Emmanuel Ukala while adopting their final written addresses.
Counsel for Ajaka, Pius Akubo, however, asked the tribunal to set aside Ododo’s submissions and uphold theirs.
After listening to all the parties, the tribunal led by Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu, reserved judgment to a date that will be communicated to both parties.
TVN recalls that INEC had declared Ododo the winner of the keenly-contested November 11, 2023 Kogi State Governorship Election.
Ododo, won with 446,237 votes, to defeat his closest rival, Ajaka of the SDP, who scored 259,052, while Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, polled 46,362 votes.
Tribunal reserves judgment in Kogi gov election dispute
Tribunal reserves judgment in Kogi gov election dispute
Katsina: Governor Radda seeks sanctions against anti-party activities in Sabuwa-Kankara rerun election
Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has called for sanctions against members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) found guilty of anti-party activities during the rerun election conducted for Faskari-Sabuwa-Kankara federal constituency.
Governor Radda issued the directive when the committee charged with investigating the alleged anti-party activities submitted their findings to him
through the state party chairman, Alhaji Sani Aliyu Daura.
In his address, Governor Radda emphasized the importance of fostering unity within the party, calling for the establishment of a “powerful committee” to lead intensive reconciliation efforts in the local governments experiencing internal factions.
The Investigative Committee Chairman, a former Deputy Governor, Alhaji Tukur Ahmed Jikamshi, presented the five-point recommendation report. He stated that the committee adhered strictly to the party’s constitution, the national constitution, and the designated terms of reference while discharging the assigned responsibility.
According to Jimkashi, the report exposed sabotage within the party during the rerun election, especially within Kankara and Faskari, which partly hurt the APC in the elections. He also blamed “selfish party leaders” for internal divisions in the area.
Highlighting the importance of unity, Jikamshi called for the adoption of the committee’s proposals, which included setting up a dedicated reconciliation committee, to strengthen the APC in Katsina more.
Katsina: Governor Radda seeks sanctions against anti-party activities in Sabuwa-Kankara rerun election
Uzodimma orders arrest, detention of lmo traders chairman over alleged corruption
Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has ordered the immediate arrest and detention of Mr Emmanuel Ezeanochie, Chairman of Imo State Amalgamated Traders Association (ISAMATA).
The state government in a special announcement Monday night, said: “In accordance with his resolve to rid the state of corruption in all sectors, His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodimma, the governor of Imo State, has ordered the arrest and detention of Mr Emmanuel Ezeanochie, the state chairman of Imo State Amalgamated Traders Association (ISAMATA).
“The order followed allegations that Mr Ezeanochie fraudulently used the name of the government to illegally appropriate land and market stalls for his personal use.
“In like manner, His Excellency has approved the immediate dissolution of the state executive committee of ISAMTA.”
According to the special announcement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Public Orientations, and Strategy, Hon Declan Emelumba, “His Excellency further directs the relevant security agencies to expedite investigations into the allegations against the former chairman of ISAMATA, Mr Ezeanochie and prosecute him if indicted.”
Uzodimma orders arrest, detention of lmo traders chairman over alleged corruption
Alleged fraud: EFCC files fresh charges against Sirika, brother
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has filed fresh charges against former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, his brother, Ahmad Sirika; and his company – Enginos Nigeria Limited, with over N19.4bn fraud.
The money is said to be for several aviation ministry contracts from the former minister, to Enginos Nigeria Limited, owned by Sirika’s younger brother, Abubakar.
The Sirika brothers and Enginos Nigeria Limited will on Tuesday be arraigned before Justice Belgore of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja.
In the copy of the fresh charges, the EFCC alleged that Sirika, “while being the Minister of Aviation, on or about August 18, 2022, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did use your position to confer an unfair advantage upon Enginos Nigeria Limited, whose alter ego, Ahmad Abubakar Sirika, is your biological brother, by using your position to influence the award to him, the contract for the construction of a terminal building at Katsina Airport for the sum of N1,345,586,500.00.”
According to the anti-graft agency, Sirika’s alleged action contravened Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and was punishable under the same section.
In another count, the EFCC alleged that “on or about November 3, 2022, in Abuja,” Sirika used his position “to confer unfair advantage upon Enginos Nigeria Limited, whose alter ego, Ahmad Abubakar Sirika, is your biological brother, by using your position to influence the award to him, the contract for the establishment of Fire Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Centre at Katsina Airport for the sum of N3,811,497,685.00.”
In another count, he was accused of corruptly awarding a N615,195,275.00 contract to his brother, to procure and install lift and air conditioners and power generators for the Aviation House in Abuja.
The EFCC alleged that Sirika, between August 2022 and May 2023 in Abuja, “had possession of an aggregate sum of N2,337, 840,674.16, which sum you knew indirectly represented the proceeds of criminal conducts of Hadi Abubakar Sirika, who was the Minister of Aviation at the time.”
Alleged fraud: EFCC files fresh charges against Sirika, brother
DSS storms Ogun court to arrest defendants
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on Monday reportedly stormed a high court sitting in Ilaro, Ogun State and arrested two defendants.
The defendants, Alhaji Isiaka Fatai and Samuel Oyero, were standing over matters pertaining to suit No HCP/IC/2023 to wit: The State vs Awode Oladosu & 13 others, which was presided over by Justice A.A. Shobayo.
The case bordered on an allegation of arson reported by one Akeem Adigun (aka Socopao) in which Alhaji Isiaka Fatai, Oyero and 12 others.
It could be recalled that Agosasa was recently enmeshed in crisis, with property worth billions of naira destroyed with one life lost over an Obaship tussle in the town.
In a statement from the counsel to Alhaji Isiaka, Kehinde Bamiwola Esq, he alleged that the men of the DSS operatives used weapons on the two, stressing that “Alhaji Isiaka Fatai was beaten, slapped, man-handled, rough-handled and molested.
The Principal Registrar of the High Court and Sectional Head of High Court, Ilaro, Comrade Omololu Olusanya, who confirmed the incident, described it as shocking and disrespectful to the rule of law.
He noted that even after the judge had ordered the operatives not to make any arrest within the court premises, they still proceeded to arrest the two persons.
“They still went ahead and did the act to the extent that they assaulted one of our staff members, Mrs. Fadina, while doing that act. It’s a very sad issue that caused a lot of noise within the court premises.
“It was from the source that we heard they were DSS agents. If anybody sees them, one would think they were armed robbers.
“They did not wear anything that identified them as DSS, but they came to my lord this morning and said they had some people to arrest. That was when we knew they were DSS officers.
“ They approached the judge before the court session began. The honorable judge advised them that if they wanted to make an arrest, it must not be done within the court premises.
“They could stay outside and do whatever they wanted, but they refused that advice and carried out the arrest within the premises,” he said.
DSS storms Ogun court to arrest defendants
Solve hunger, economic problems or face protest bigger than EndSARS – Primate Ayodele warns Tinubu
The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele on Tuesday asked President Bola Tinubu to solve hunger and electricity problems in the country in order to avoid an impending massive protest that will affect every sector.
Primate Ayodele revealed that if there is no solution to economic hardship, the protest will come up between August and September 2024.
In a statement signed by his Media Aide, Oluwatosin Osho, Ayodele made it known that it will be bigger than the popular EndSARS protest because every Nigerian will participate in order to express their displeasure with the current administration.
He said, ‘’President Tinubu, don’t allow another massive protest to come up, let there be food on the table of Nigerians. Do something about this inflation so that we can avoid inflation. I see another massive protest that will affect every quarter. If there is no improvement by August-September, it will be terrible.’’
Continuing, the prophet advised the president to declare a state of emergency on economy and electricity because both sectors are not improving. He advised the president to improve on agriculture while urging him to avoid propaganda and face reality.
‘’President Tinubu should address the economic hardship now, he should also improve on electricity because if there is no adequate power supply, it will affect the economy badly. They should declare a state of emergency on electricity because nothing is improving. This aspect will affect the Nigerian economy.
“The government should also improve on agriculture in order to prevent hardship that is uncalled for. There is a lot to do in order to bring the price of food commodities down, if you don’t do it now, there will be a massive protest. All this propaganda will not help, let them face reality,’’ he added.
Solve hunger, economic problems or face protest bigger than EndSARS – Primate Ayodele warns Tinubu
Nigerian govt may need supplementary budget to meet demands of new minimum wage, says IMF
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has disclosed that the Federal Government may need to raise a supplementary budget to accommodate the proposed minimum wage increase for Nigerian workers.
According to the international lender, this has become necessary as the negotiated amount may surpass the budgeted amount in the original 2024 budget.
This was contained in IMF’s 2024 Article IV Consultation report recently released..
The new minimum wage has been an ongoing matter between Organised Labour and the government since the beginning of this year to cushion the impacts of the harsh economy.
Recent reforms in Nigeria including the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange market have pushed the cost of living to newer levels.
While labour leaders demand N615,000 from N30,000 as salaries for lowest ranked workers, there are indications the tripartite committee may recommend N70,000 as the new minimum wage.
Reacting to this, IMF said “The authorities noted that a supplementary budget may be needed to accommodate the outcome of the ongoing wage structure negotiations which may exceed what they had included in the 2024 budget,” the report stated.
READ ALSO:IMF warns Nigerian govt on amendment of CBN Act
In the 2024 budget, the government allocated N6.48tn for personnel costs but the international lender posits that the amount may be insufficient.
It also noted that the government might need to raise the domestic and external borrowing ceilings to prevent fresh borrowings from the Central Bank Of Nigeria’s Ways and Means.
It said, “Based on staff’s projections, the authorities must raise the domestic and external borrowing ceilings to prevent renewed recourse to CBN financing. With higher interest rates, banks and nonbanks should have sufficient appetite—as indicated by market sources—conditional on careful management of system liquidity, including a likely reduction in the currently high cash reserve requirement.
“Staff projects that the government’s 2024 net financing needs can be met from the market and external borrowing. Domestic market financing needs to increase by 1.5 per cent of GDP over 2023. In addition, the government wants to retire outstanding ways and means borrowing from the CBN of 2.5 per cent of GDP through the issuance of further domestic securities.
It added, “While staff agrees that ways and means financing should be brought to zero by end-2024 in line with the law, the authorities may need to consider other options to avoid crowding out private sector credit, including drawing down the government’s deposits at the CBN built up in 2023 or a second securitisation operation to tackle this legacy problem.
“While external financing is costlier than when Nigeria last accessed Eurobond markets, staff supports an opportunistic issuance, also given upcoming maturities in 2025. A Eurobond issuance and some official financing are factored into staff’s projections as an integral part of the 2024 financing mix.”
By: Babajide Okeowo
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Katsina Gov swears in new Head of Service, retains former Reform Adviser
Governor Dikko Umaru Radda of Katsina State has sworn in Alhaji Falalu Bawale as the state’s new Head of Service.
The Katsina Governor also swore in the immediate past Head of Service, Usman Isiyaku, as Special Adviser on Public Service Reforms and member of the State Executive Council.
Addressing the audience at the swearing-in ceremony after administering the oath of office and oath of allegiance to the appointees at the Katsina Government House Chamber, Governor Radda stated that both the new Head of Service and the Special Adviser were appointed on merit.
He called on all the permanent secretaries to join hands with the new head of service to enable them deliver for the progress of the state.
According to the Katsina Governor, the major challenge facing the incumbent administration was the issue of time, as the state government had a lot to cover.
Turning to the Special Adviser, Governor Radda described him as a committed and trustworthy personality, which prompted the state administration to retain him to enjoy more from his vast experience.
Katsina Gov swears in new Head of Service, retains former Reform Adviser
No respite for naira, depreciates further to N1478/$1 at official window
There is no respite yet for the Nigerian currency, the naira as it continued its depreciation against the dollar on Monday May 13, 2024 to trade at N1, 478/$1 data from the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM) has shown.
At the end of trading on Monday, the naira lost N12 against the dollar when compared to the previous exchange rate of N1, 466/$1 on Friday, May 10, 2024.
The intra-day high and low recorded during the day were N1,515/$1 and N1,301/$1 respectively, representing a lean spread of N214$1.
Similarly, the naira against the dollar at the parallel section of the market, crossing the N1500 point to trade at N1,515/$1 representing a loss of N45 when compared to the N1, N1,470/$1 it traded the previous trading day.
READ ALSO:Naira crashes further, trades at N1,421/$1 at official window
In the same vein, the naira lost N20 against the pound. The domestic currency depreciated by N20 against the British Pound to trade at N1,860£1 as against the previous trading price of N1,840/£1 representing a loss of N20 for the local currency,
The Canadian dollar closed flat against the naira to trade at N1,200| CA$1 same as the previous trading day rate of N1,200| CA$1.
The naira also depreciated massively against the Euro to trade at ₦1,600/€1 as against the rate of ₦1,530/€1 the previous trading rate this represents a loss of N70 in the local currency.
By: Babajide Okeowo
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RIVERS CRISIS: Asari-Dokubo lashes Wike, accuses him of ‘playing god’ (Video)
Former Niger Delta militant and founder of the defunct Niger Delta Peoples’ Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, has weighed in on the current political crisis rocking Rivers State as a result of the fallout between immediate past Governor Nyesom Wike and his estranged political godson, Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
In a video he posted on his Facebook page on Monday, Dokubo, an ally of Fubara, accused Wike of “playing god” who wants to be worshipped by everyone in the state including Fubara who was elected by the people of the state.
In the video, Dokubo also warned President Bola Tinubu not to make the mistake of handing over Rivers and Bayelsa to the FCT Minister.
“He (Wike) is now playing god. It is dead on arrival, all those things that he is doing,” Dokubo said in the video.
“I advise my friend, President Bola Tinubu; what you are doing to all Ijaw, Ikwerre people in Rivers State. You took Rivers state and gave it to one man.”
Dokubo who also seized the opportunity to celebrate Fubara as he clocks one year in office, said the incumbent governor was on the right path.
READ ALSO:Again, Asari-Dokubo laments appointments, says Tinubu ‘traveling on a dangerous path’ (Video)
“With Governor Fubara leading the way, there is hope for a future of growth and development, free from division and discord,” he said.
“Rivers State boasts abundant natural resources that, when properly utilized, can elevate the region into an economic powerhouse, creating opportunities and prosperity for its people.
“By following in the footsteps of the visionary founding fathers of Rivers State, like Chief Harold Dappa-Biriye and Chief Godfrey Kio Jaja Amachree, who championed unity and inclusivity, it is possible to build a united and prosperous future for all.
“As we celebrate this important milestone, I call on all residents of Rivers State to embrace peace, forgiveness, and inclusivity.
“By working together with Governor Fubara, regardless of political differences, a brighter and more prosperous future for Rivers State is within reach.”
The former militants leader also commended Tinubu for the award of the contract for the coastal highway, which he said would unleash wealth and development in the areas covered by the highway.
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