Television Nigerian

On Tuesday, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde delivered the Instrument of Office and Staff of Office to Oba Ghandi Olaoye, the new Soun of Ogbomosoland, at Ogbomoso Township Stadium.

Makinde confirmed the selection of Oba Olaoye from Olaoye Ruling House on September 2, and the kingmakers in the ancient town led by the Areago of Ogbomoso, High Chief Sobalaje Otolorin, installed him as the new Soun of Ogbomosoland on September 8.
Makinde, while presenting the staff of office to the new Soun, said, “I will now hand over the Instrument of Office and Staff of Office to Oba Ghandi Olaoye, Orumogege III.”

In his acceptance speech, Oba Olaoye said, “My service is premised on a clear vision. I am very aware of the words that the wisest of Kings recorded for us in the book of Proverbs that without a vision, the people perish.
“My vision for a prosperous and peaceful Ogbomosholand rests on a detailed 25-year plan, to be unveiled in the coming months. I promise to serve this vision with all I have, the relationships I have built over the years here in Nigeria and abroad, the experience I have garnered from running several successful businesses, and the skills garnered from more than 30 years of pastoring churches and other pastors. As I have said on several occasions, I have stopped being a church pastor and now become a shepherd of a people”, Oba Olaoye assured.

The monarch, therefore, urged other contestants to join hands with him to move the town forward.

Among the dignitaries at the presentation included the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja III, Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, immediate past Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo, Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, former Minister of Information, Lai Muhammed, and a host of other eminent Nigerians.

The 2024 budget will be approved on Saturday, December 30, 2023, according to House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.

As the House reconvened in plenary on Tuesday, Abbas made this declaration.

He was doing this when he conveyed a message from the Committee on Appropriations to several House committees, directing them to complete and turn in their reports on the defence of the government’s budget by 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 19, 2023.

According to him, other budget-related activities like compilation, processing and harmonization would take place in between.

Recall that the House had suspended plenary on December 1, to conduct budget proposal defence towards speedy passage of the Appropriation Bill.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had in November, proposed a budget of N27.5 trillion for the 2024 fiscal year.

The budget was presented to a joint session of the National Assembly for scrutiny and deliberations for final approval.

Read also: Breaking: Appeal Court rejects Binani’s appeal against Adamawa Governor Fintiri

In his presentation, Tinubu declared, “The 2024 Appropriation has been themed the Budget of Renewed Hope. The proposed budget seeks to achieve job-rich economic growth, macro-economic stability, a better investment environment, enhanced human capital development, as well as poverty reduction and greater access to social security.”

Nyesom Wike, the Federal Capital Territory Minister, said the Rivers State political issue is not an ethnic war and advised politicians not to pull the ladder they used to rise to power.

He claimed his state political team won’t let anyone bring it down.

The immediate past Rivers State governor said this on Sunday when addressing Ogba traditional rulers who visited him in Port Harcourt.

As they sought peace over the state’s problem, the traditional rulers, led by Nwachukwu Nnam-Obi III, visited Wike to celebrate his 56th birthday.

Wike told the monarchs he would listen to their counsel and accept peace on the political turmoil in the state, adding they did not vote by ethnicity in the last governorship election.

He responded, “No politician will fold his hands and be dragged down.

I and my crew would welcome peace, but we won’t be dragged down. Who will protect our people? Who will discuss our interests?

The former governor said every social group has norms for behaving.

He said, “Rules are everywhere, even in traditional institutions. You cannot escape them. Political groups have rules.

“You cannot say that because an Oba has emerged and will not follow traditional institution rules.

““No! Obas always follow rules. You must also avoid certain actions in politics.

“Do not pull your climbing ladder. Coming down, the ladder may not be there. Leave the ladder for others to climb.”

Wike and his political godson, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, have been fighting.

After the bombing of the state House of Assembly building and an attempt to impeach Fubara, 27 Wike supporters defected to the All Progressives Congress.

Jonathan Majors, an American actor, was convicted of assaulting and harassing his ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari.

ABC News reported that a six-person New York jury decided the case on Monday after four hours of deliberation.

After a fight with his ex-partner in March, Majors was arrested and charged with four assaults. Jabbari claims she saw a message from another lady on his phone during a night out and fought.

Jabbari had a laceration behind her ear and a broken finger when inspected. In his trial, the 34-year-old actor pled not guilty and did not testify.

The Marvel star was convicted of third-degree reckless assault and second-degree harassment on Monday. The jury acquitted him of two other deliberate assault and aggravated harassment charges.

Ross Kramer, the victim’s attorney, said the jury’s verdict was justice.

Ross said, “Ms. Jabbari testified publicly and truthfully, even though reliving these traumatic events on the witness stand was obviously painful. Please thank the jurors, judge, and Manhattan District Attorney’s Office for their time and support.

“Ms. Jabbari’s determination to finish this case shows her strength and resilience. Unfortunately, for every survivor like Ms. Jabbari who holds their abuser accountable, many more fear they cannot. Her actions should motivate more survivors to speak up and seek justice.”

Next year, Majors will be sentenced on February 6.

President Bola Tinubu has inaugurated the Board and Management team for the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, at the State House, Abuja.

It was reported that Pius Akinyelure is the new Non-Executive Board Chairman of the company.

Mallam Mele Kyari retained his position as the Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPCL.

Others include Alhaji Umar Isa Ajiya, the Chief Financial Officer, and Ledum Mitee, Non-Executive Director.

Others are Musa Tumsa, Non-Executive Director, Mr Ghali Muhammad, Non-Executive Director, Prof Mustapha Aliyu, Non-Executive Director, Mr David Ogbodo, Non-Executive Director, Ms Eunice Thomas, Non-Executive Director, Mr Okokon Ekanem Udo, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance and Gabriel Aduda, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resouces.

On Monday, the Court of Appeal in Abuja denied the plea filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Senator Aisha Dahiru Binani, the party’s nominee for governor, aiming to nullify Umar Ahmadu Fintiri’s election as the lawfully elected governor of Adamawa State.
The Appellate Court ruled that the Adamawa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal had legitimately pronounced Governor Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the victor of the contest.

In a ruling, Justice Tunde Oyebanji Awotoye dismissed the Binani and APC lawsuit due to a number of irregularities.

Among the grounds, the Appeal Court held that Binani and APC failed to call Polling Agents who participated in the conduct of the election as witnesses but unfortunately called Campaign Coordinators who were not at the election venue.

Justice Awotoye said the three witnesses called to establish malpractices in 27 Local Government Areas who were Campaign Coordinators are mere hearsay witnesses having not been party agents.

The Court held that it is against the law to attach probate values to the testimony of the Campaign Coordinators since such is worthless in the face of the law.

Besides, Justice Awotoye said that the brief of argument filed by Binani and APC was in contravention of the law, hence, incompetent and deserved to be ignored.

Also, Justice Awotoye held that the records of appeal transmitted to the Court of Appeal by Binani and APC were not complete and insufficient for the Court to make any finding.

The Court declared as an illegal act the declaration of Binani and APC as winners of the election adding that the only authority to make a declaration is the Returning Officer.

The Court also said it was wrong for Binani to be taking Panadol for the headache of the Resident Electoral Commissioner REC who opted to take laws into his hand.

“In the eyes of the law, the Resident Electoral Commissioner is on his own. He should be allowed to take responsibility for his illegal and unlawful act”

The unanimous judgment dismissed the appeal in its entirety and awarded a cost of N1m to be paid to Fintiri and PDP by Binani and APC.

The Adamawa State Governorship Electoral Petitions Tribunal had, in October, dismissed the petition filed by Binani seeking Fintiri’s sack from office.

Details later…