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Reps to restrain banks from holding prospects’ reversed funds

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Reps to restrain banks from holding prospects’ reversed funds

The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, mandated the Central Bank of Nigeria to restrain commercial banks from holding reversed funds of customers beyond the timeline stipulated by the apex bank.

The resolution of the House followed the adoption of a motion titled, “Need to restrain commercial banks from holding funds reversal beyond the date prescribed by the Central Bank of Nigeria,” moved by a member representing Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency, Akwa Ibom State, Mr Emmanuel Ukpong-Udo.

The lawmaker recalled that on June 8, 2020, the CBN, in a statement announced timelines for reversals and resolution of refund complaints including Failed “On-Us” automated teller machines transactions (when customers use their cards on their bank’s ATMs) “Shall be instantly reversed from the current timeline of three days.”

He also noted that “Where instant reversal fails due to any technical issue or system glitch, the timeline for manual reversal shall not exceed 24 hours; refunds for failed ‘Not-on-US’ ATM transactions (where customers use their cards on other banks’ ATM) shall not exceed 4 per cent hours from the current 3-5 days.

“Resolution of disputed/failed POS or web transactions shall be concluded within 72 hours from the current five days,” stressing that “All banks are directed to resolve the backlog of all ATM, POS, and web customer refunds within two weeks starting June 8, 2020.”

Leading the debate, the lawmaker said, “The House is worried that Nigeria’s financial sector is facing serious concerns due to persistent complaints of failed customer transactions, with over 69 per cent of complaints in July 2023 encompassing failed transactions

“Cognizant of the rapid increase in numbers of failed banks and the magnitude of the problem which has reached an unprecedented level and alarmed that the high rate of failed bank transactions is causing a decrease in business investments and lending across the country,” the House urged the CBN to direct banks to work on their systems in mitigating failed transactions without the customer’s prompting.

It also urged the apex bank to direct banks “To reverse customers’ funds within the stipulated periods whether or not the customers lodge complaints.”

Consequently, the House mandated the Committees on Banking Regulations, Banking and other Ancillary Institutions, and Digital and Electronic Banking “To liaise with the apex bank and Nigeria Interbank Settlement System to look into the issues, provide solutions and report back to the House within four weeks for future legislative action.”

Military uncovers gun manufacturing facility in Delta, arrests eight

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Military uncovers gun manufacturing facility in Delta, arrests eight

The 63 Brigade of the Nigeria Army has uncovered an illegal gun factory in Onicha Olona community, Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta state.

The Commander, 63 Brigade Brigadier General, Ugochukwu Unachukwu, who stated this at the illegal arms factory site, said that the factory can produce ten guns per week.

He said, “Eight suspects involved in the family business including the mastermind of the operation, his father, mother, and sister were among those arrested at the factory.

“The arms factory located in a forest has a surveillance post, a generating set connected from a remote location, an oven for melting of iron, and a cache of arms and ammunition.

“We have recovered items for the manufacturing of improvised explosive devices IEDs including shrapnels, detonators, and the container”

The army commander said the activities of the suspects were a major contributor to insecurity in the region and the country.

“In this axis, it is only IPOB and Eastern security networks that use improvised explosive devices and even drones.

“A normal AK-47 magazine carries 30 rounds, but this man is modifying an AK-47 magazine to carry 60 rounds.

“Anybody that is involved in an act of insurgency that is against the peace and stability of Nigeria, we will get to you,” he added.

The prime suspect, 22-year-old Emmanuel Eboka, admitted to having rented some of the arms to criminal elements for set fees.

Last September, operatives of the Delta State Police Command rescued four kidnapped victims in the forests of Orerokpe community in Okpe Local Government Area. (

According Metro gathered that their rescue followed a distress call to the Orerokpe Divisional Police on September 11, 2023, at about 0400hrs that the four persons (names withheld) who are residents of the community on transit along Abraka-Eku Expressway had been abducted by Orerokpe Bridge with the kidnappers demanding N10m ransom.

Diri not below strain to type second-term cabinet- Spokesman 

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Diri not below strain to type second-term cabinet- Spokesman 

The Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, is not under pressure from any quarters over when he will form his second-term cabinet and the persons to be appointed.

The governor’s spokesperson, Daniel Alabrah, who stated this in a telephone chat with our correspondent, on Monday, also said that the governor would announce his cabinet whenever he was ready.

Alabrah’s explanation came on the heels of concerns among residents of the state that the governor has yet to constitute the state executive council about one month after he and the deputy governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, were inaugurated for their second tenure on February 14, 2024, following their reelection on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party at the November 11, 2023 governorship poll.

The governor had announced the dissolution of the former state executive council one week after his second-term inauguration following the expiration of his first term at a valedictory session held inside the Executive Chamber of the Government House, Yenagoa.

In his first term in office, the governor formed his cabinet in August 2020 about six months after he was sworn in.

Alabrah said no pressure was being piled on the governor to appoint his second-tenure cabinet and that he would forward the list of nominees to the House of Assembly for screening and confirmation when it was ready.

According to him, the governor knows the kinds of people he wants to be in his cabinet to help him drive his vision and had indicated that members of other political parties might be in the new state executive council.

In addition, he said the governor would consult relevant stakeholders where necessary as the task of building a new unified and prosperous Bayelsa was not his responsibility alone.

The governor’s spokesperson said, “Nobody can tell you definitely when he will announce his (second-term) cabinet. Nobody knows. When he is ready, he will send the list (of nominees) to the House of Assembly. It is just three weeks after the cabinet was dissolved, so what is the big deal about new cabinet? When he is ready with his new cabinet, he will announce it.

“After all, he has done one term and he knows the kinds of people he wants in his second term. He will form his cabinet when he is ready. It could be anytime, and the truth of the matter is that he is the one who knows the kinds of persons he wants, whether in the PDP, APC or any party. He has said that he wants to have an inclusive cabinet.”

While dismissing speculation that the governor was being pressured to form his cabinet with certain people, he said, “No pressure. Who will give him pressure? Although people can say that they are lobbying for one position or another, I’m not privy to any quarters or anybody that will be in the list. But the governor is not under any pressure.

“He knows the people that will help him drive his vision, he wants to pick those kinds of persons- if they are politicians, technocrats, professionals- whatever calibre of persons he wants, he knows. For him to say that he wants to have an inclusive cabinet, he is also looking at the larger picture of how to unify the state.

“Look at what he said on Saturday (March 9, 2024). He said there is no political boundaries in the new Bayelsa. He is trying to say that, that politics that has divided our people before; that let us not continue to look at politics from that prism anymore. It’s a new paradigm shift. And anywhere he has to consult, he will consult. He cannot do these things on his own, he will do it in consultation with other stakeholders. But if it is a question of pressure, no, nobody can pressure him.”

Osun uncovers kidnappers’ plan to assault colleges, farm settlements

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Osun uncovers kidnappers’ plan to assault colleges, farm settlements

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Tuesday, said his administration has uncovered plans by criminals to attack schools and farm settlements in rural communities in the state.

The governor, who raised the alarm in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, said those behind the plot plan to disrupt the implementation of the infrastructure plan of his administration and cause apprehension in the state.

Adeleke, however, said he had convened a meeting of the state security council to prevent security breaches in any part of the state.

The governor referred to intelligence snippets of “deliberate mobilisation of criminal elements to the rural areas of the state”, stressing that such reports were alarming and posed serious concerns to the well-being of the Osun people.

He noted that the administration was worried about reports that “those behind the plot are targeting disruption of farming activities through kidnappings and attacks on rural farm settlements.

“It was further revealed that schools are being targeted with abductions and attacks as a way of distracting from the implementation of the safe school initiative and the multi-billion naira infrastructure plan.”
While a meeting of the state security council has been summoned, Adeleke said preliminary directives have been issued to school authorities to take precautions to enhance the safety of pupils and students.

The statement further read, “The Ministry of Education and all education agencies have been ordered to review safety measures in Osun schools in line with the Safe School Initiative.

“In specific terms, school principals and heads are expected to clear overgrown school environments and ensure close liaison with the Parents and Teachers Association to secure their school environments.

“The governor further directs the Food Security Committee to submit an interim report to allow for immediate actions to safeguard farm security and secure farmers as the rainy season knocks on the door.

“We expect the initial report to contain practical and implementable measures to safeguard our farming communities through closer integration and mobilisation of the local hunters and forest rangers.”

The governor, who also announced plans to embark on major reforms of the Amotekun security force, frowned at the internal rivalry and what he called opposition penetration and external intervention that have negatively affected the operation of the Amotekun Corps in the state.

According to him, the Amotekun would be reorganised to make it a truly efficient force to complement the efforts and operation of the police and other security agencies.

He assured the public that his administration has taken preemptive steps to secure schools and farming communities in the state, describing Osun as a peaceful state which would not succumb to attempts to destabilize the peace and harmony among its residents.

“I have summoned a meeting of the State Security Council to firm up all plans. I assure our people that I am on top of the situation. We are committed to securing our school, our farm, and our society.

“No stone will be left unturned to disrupt plans of enemies of progress to plunge the state into crisis. I urge members of the public to inform security agencies of any unusual movement or activities across the state”, Adeleke said

Nigerian contenders, Rivers draw holders, USM Alger

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Nigerian contenders, Rivers draw holders, USM Alger

Rivers United of Nigeria were paired with title-holders, USM Alger of Algeria, when the CAF Confederation Cup quarter-finals draw was made in Cairo on Tuesday.

The Port Harcourt outfit hope to become the first Nigerian winners of an African competition since Enyimba defeated Hearts of Oak 2-0 after extra time to lift the 2005 CAF Super Cup.

Rivers won all four home matches to make the last eight, but were less impressive on the road with only one victory, a draw and two losses.

Dreams of Ghana, who topped a group in which Rivers finished runners-up, meet Stade Malien of Mali in a west African affair.

Modern Future face Zamalek in an Egyptian derby while Abu Salim of Libya take on Renaissance Berkane of Morocco in a north African showdown.

Berkane twice, USM, Malien and Zamalek have won the Confederation Cup, the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League.

Rivers have reached the quarter-finals for the second straight season while Future were eliminated at the group stage last year.

Dreams and Salim qualified for the quarter-finals at the first attempt in a competition dominated by north African clubs with 15 victories in 20 finals.

That trend could continue with Zamalek, Berkane and USM looking the strongest of the eight survivors.

Berkane, the 2020 and 2022 winners, boast the only unbeaten record among the title hopefuls with five victories and three draws from qualifying and group games.

Draws

Quarter-finals

Modern Future (EGY) v Zamalek (EGY)

Abu Salim (LBA) v Renaissance Berkane (MAR)

Rivers Utd (NGR) v USM Alger (ALG, holders)

Stade Malien (MLI) v Dreams (GHA)

First legs: March 31, second legs: April 7

Semi-finals

Rivers or USM v Salim or Berkane

Future or Zamalek v Malien or Dreams

First legs: April 21, second legs: April 28

 

AFP

Russian military cargo airplane with 15 on board crashes

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Russian military cargo airplane with 15 on board crashes

Russia, on Tuesday, said that a military cargo plane with 15 people on board had crashed while taking off from an airfield northeast of Moscow for a scheduled flight.

This was according to a statement by the Russian defence ministry on Tuesday.

“An Il-76 military transport aviation plane crashed in the Ivanovo region while taking off to perform a scheduled flight.

“On board were eight crew members and seven passengers,” the defence ministry said.

AFP

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Rowdy session as senators confront Ningi over allegation

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Rowdy session as senators confront Ningi over allegation

The Senate is currently in a rowdy session after a senator raised an order that Senator Olamilekan Adeola has presented the budget padding issue and needs no back and forth on it.

Senator Abdul Ningi had earlier alleged that N3.7 trillion was padded into the 2024 budget.

Ningi is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Population and represents  PDP, Bauchi Central.

While the parties called for a probe into the allegation, some northern senators disowned the claims made by Ningi, saying the Bauchi State senator did not speak for them.

The Bauchi senator, however, maintained his position on Monday that o N3.7tn could not be accounted for in the 2024 budget.

In the plenary on Tuesday, Senator Olamilekan Adeola (APC, Ogun West) raised a motion that there is an urgent need to address the false allegation by Ningi.

Adeola, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, read the transcript of Ningi’s Hausa BBC interview on the floor of the house after Senate President, Godswill Akpabio called for a committee of the whole house.

Details later…

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APC gov aspirant seeks free, honest main

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APC gov aspirant seeks free, honest main

As the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State prepares for the forthcoming governorship primary in April, a governorship aspirant of the party, Chief Olusola Oke, has called on the leadership of the party to conduct a free and fair primary.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed April 2024 for the party’s primaries ahead of the forthcoming governorship primary in November, but the national leadership of the APC is yet to fix an exact date for the April primary of the party.

Oke, who spoke during his visit to the state secretariat of the party in Akure, the state capital, on Monday, expressed confidence that he would emerge the candidate of the party after the primary.

He said, “I have come here today to notify you of my intention to throw in my cap again into the contest for the governorship seat of Ondo State on the platform of APC.

“All I have come here to ask for is not to ask you to descend to the arena but to organise a free and fair primary. Once this is done, we will all go to the field and I assure you I know I will emerge. But in any circumstance, I will remain a loyal party member.”

Oke would be contesting for the primary of the party alongside other aspirants who include, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, a former Commissioner for Finance Mr Wale Akinterinwa, a former member of the House of Representatives, Mr Mayowa Akinfolarin; a former Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Oladunni Odu and a former Special Adviser to Governor Akeredolu on Health, Prof Francis Faduyile.

Others include a former governorship aspirant of the APC, Chief Olusola Oke, a former, a former Chairman of the Ondo State Oil-producing Areas Development Commission, Mr Gbenga Edema, Dr Jimoh Ibrahim, Dr Paul Akintelure and  Brig. Gen. Olamide Ohunyeye (retd).

Oke, who had contested the governorship election twice with the Peoples Democratic Party and the defunct Alliance for Democracy in 2012 and 2020 respectively, declared that he was ready to serve the state if voted for.

“Ondo needs a governor that is familiar with the environment. I have spent the whole of my life in Ondo state, I’ve never been away for six months except in 1971 when I was in Lagos for nine months. I have been part of the suffering, I’ve been part of the denial and that’s why I will be part of the solution to the problems of our state.

“I’ve contested for this position three times, I lost like Buhari and the fourth time is my turn. Recall that three of us rose at the same time in this state. Mimiko, Akeredolu and I. The three of us are from three senatorial districts. Mimiko took his turn from the central senatorial district, and Akeredolu took his turn from the north. I am told and I’m glad that the ticket is shifting to the south, so who’s turn is next? It is my turn! I am the only one who can say that, nobody else can say that Oke stated.

Responding, the National Chairman of the state APC, Mr Ade Adetimehin, urged the aspirants not to take the primary as a do-or-die affair, saying all the aspirants would still come back as members of the same party after the primary.

“We want to appeal to you and your supporters to play the game according to the rules in a civilized way. We should not fight. Don’t be involved in the campaign of bitterness. What I want from you is to focus on how to develop the state.

“I want to appeal to you to all aspirants to cooperate and work with whoever emerges as the winner of the primary because we are all members of the same family,” the APC chairman urged.

No protest on Lekki-Epe Expressway

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No protest on Lekki-Epe Expressway

The Lagos Police Command has debunked the report that there is an ongoing protest on the Lekki-Epe Expressway as a result of the demolition of shanties in the Jakande area of Ajah, Eti-Osa Local Government Area of the state.

The According reports that the Lagos State Government is set to remove shanties and all illegal structures erected around the Jakande estate and Mayegun axis.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Electronic Geographic Information Systems and Urban Development, Dr. Olajide Babatunde, disclosed this on Sunday during an inspection of the area.

He said, “The removal notices had been served severally on the occupants of these shanties but they have remained adamant.

“You can see that some of them have started removing the illegal structures themselves but I will implore those yet to comply to do so immediately as removal of these illegal structures begins today.”

Babatunde decried the level of distortion of the area with the erection of shanties and illegal structures prefacing boundaries of Jakande estate and the adjoining roads, setbacks, and drainage alignments especially the planned Lagos to Calabar coastal highway project.

In a viral video obtained by According Online on Tuesday, some hoodlums were seen blocking the roads with tyres and throwing bottles and stones at the commuters to prevent them from using the blocked routes.

However, reacting to the alleged protest, the spokesperson for the state’s police command, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed to According Online that there was no protest in the state and that the people who were said to be protesting were likely hired to disrupt the action of the government.

“Normalcy has been restored in the affected area. It has not stopped our work, we are just there to maintain law and order. There is no protest,” Hundeyin added.

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Tinubu submits FCTA 2024 funds to Reps, seeks speedy

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Tinubu submits FCTA 2024 funds to Reps, seeks speedy

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday submitted the 2024 budget for the Federal Capital Territory Administration to the House of Representatives for consideration and passage.

Mr President’s letter seeking the passage of the budget which was read on the floor of the House during the plenary session on Tuesday, was however silent on the estimates.

The letter reads: “In line with the provisions of sections 121 and 299 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory has prepared the 2024 budget proposal of the FCT which is here before you for the consideration and approval by the National Assembly.

“The proposal has been prepared based on the FCTA revenue and expenditure focus and is in line with the fiscal and development policy of the federal government and the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“In addition, the budget proposal takes into consideration, the 2024/2026 economic recovery and growth plan as well as key assumptions in the 2024 budget

“The FCTA is prioritising improvement in health care services, job creation, youth empowerment, and increased productivity in agriculture to lift many citizens as much as possible out of poverty.

“I hereby forward the 2024 statutory budget proposal of the FCTA and I trust that it will receive the kind consideration and expeditious approval of the House of Representatives. Please accept the assurances of my highest regards.

After reading the letter, the Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen who presided over the plenary directed that the request be forwarded to the Committee on Appropriation for deliberation ahead of its budget passage.

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