‘Filed out of time’ — EFCC withdraws appeal against order restraining Yahaya Bello’s arrest

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a notice of withdrawal to discontinue an appeal against an order of a Kogi high court restraining the agency from arresting Yahaya Bello, former governor of the state.

 

In the notice filed on April 22, the EFCC said the withdrawal is predicated on the fact that events have overtaken the appeal.

 

The commission also admitted that the appeal was filed out of the time allowed by law.

 

“The appellant herein intends to and do hereby wholly withdraw her appeal against the respondent in the above-mentioned appeal,” the notice reads.

I’m not desperate – Peter Obi declares stance of 2027 presidency

The Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate, Peter Obi on Wednesday declared that he’s not desperate to be president in 2027.

 

Obi said he only want to lift the poor and less privileged Nigerians out of difficult situation.

 

Addressing journalists in Abuja, the former Anambra State governor, lamented that some people shy away from discussing pressing issues confronting Nigeria.

 

“We live in a system where public office holders and politicians are only seen during elections. I can tell you that it is an everyday job. I have said it several times that I am not desperate to become the president of Nigeria. But I am desperate to see the poor and less privileged Nigerians being pulled out of their difficult situation daily.

 

APC is the answer to Nigeria’s problems’ – Ganduje

Umar Ganduje, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has said that the party would provide solutions to the challenges bedevilling the country.

 

Ganduje stated this during the APC grand finale campaign and presentation of party flags to the 11 local councils chairmanship candidates, on Wednesday in Gombe.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Gombe State Independent Electoral Commission (GOSIEC) had fixed April 27, for LG polls in the state.

 

Ganduje, who presented APC flags to the candidates, said the party under President Bola Tinubu was doing a lot to tackle the challenges of the country and get Nigeria transformed for the better.

 

My trial, conviction politically motivated – Former Peter Obi campaign DG, Okupe

Former Director-General of the defunct Peter Obi Presidential Campaign Organization, Dr Doyin Okupe, says his trial and conviction in 2022 were politically motivated.

 

Recall that Okupe was on 19 December 2023 convicted by the Federal High Court in Abuja after being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for money laundering to the tune of N700 million.

 

The court jailed him for two years with an option of fine.

 

Speaking on Arise TV on Tuesday, he clarified that he was never convicted of corruption as being insinuated in some quarters, alleging that some elements in the presidency were after him.

 

UK can finally deport asylum seekers to Rwanda

UK’s Rwanda deportation bill will finally become law.

 

This is after opposition and crossbench peers backed down on Monday night.

 

Their decision opened the way for legal battles over the potential removal of dozens of people seeking asylum in the United Kingdom.

 

The bill was finally passed after a marathon battle over the key legislation between the Commons and the Lords.

I have broken the jink of ‘who is your father’ in Oyo politics – Makinde

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has declared that he has broken the jink of ‘who is your father’ in the political space of the state.

Makinde made this declaration on Wednesday at Students’ Legislative Summit organised by the Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly and chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Honourable Adebo Ogundoyin, in conjunction with the Students’ Representative Council, University of Ibadan.

Some of the dignitaries at the event included the Minister of State for Youth, Ayodele Olawande, a former President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, who was represented and Speakers of Osun and Ekiti State Houses of Assembly.

The governor, while speaking, declared that there was a time when ‘who is your father’ was the order of the day in the political space of the state.

He, however, said that he has been able to break that.

Iran war: Christians, Muslims must unite to fight Israel’s ‘evil, demonic agenda’ – Fani-Kayode

Amid the ongoing war with Iran, former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode has urged Christians and Muslims to unite and resist the country Israel.

Fani-Kayode urged Christians and Muslims to unite and fight against Israel’s evil and demonic agenda against humanity.

In a post on X, the former minister likened Israel to Nazi Germany with “much blood on its hands.”

According to Fani-Kayode: “The sooner all Christians, whether Catholic or Protestant, and all Muslims, whether Shia or Sunni, set aside their differences, come together and unite to oppose and resist the Zionists and the Jewish state and to put a stop to their evil and demonic agenda the better it will be for humanity.

Wike vs Fubara: Rivers Finance Commissioner, Kamalu resigns

Isaac Kamalu has resigned as River State Commissioner of Finance after he was redeployed to the Employment Generation and Economic Empowerment Ministry by Governor Simi Fubara.

Kamalu, who served as commissioner for Budget and Economics under former Nyesom Wike and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, disclosed this on Tuesday in a letter to Governor Fubura and the Secretary to the Government, Tammy Danagogo.

He accused Fubara of lying about the internally generated revenue of Rivers State.

“In view of the above, I find it difficult to accept the redeployment; I do not accept it. I reject it and convey my immediate resignation as Commissioner and Member of the River State Executive Council with effect from the date of this letter”, the letter reads.

Why I didn’t build new schools in Anambra as governor – Peter Obi opens up

 

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi, has responded to the question that he did not build a single new school when he was Governor of Anambra State.

 

A popular social media personality, Reno Omokri, had last week hit out at Obi, challenging the the former Anambra State Governor and his followers to show a single school he started and finished in his eight years as governor.

 

Reno promised to reward handsomely, anyone that could show a school built by Obi.

 

And responding to this during a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Obi said those who said that failed to avail themselves of his manifesto.

 

FG revokes 924 dormant mining licences

The federal government has revoked 924 dormant licences across four sectors in the mining industry.

 

The areas affected include exploration, mining, small-scale mining, and quarrying.

 

Dele Alake, minister of solid minerals development, announced the revocations at a news conference on Wednesday.

 

In line with constitutional provisions, Alake said adequate notice was given to all concerned parties through the official Gazette of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, No. 227, published on December 27, 2023.

 

More to follow…

Labour Party crisis a child’s play compared to APC, PDP – Peter Obi

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi, has reacted to crisis rocking the party.

 

Peter addressed the press in Abuja Saturday where he talked about some pressing national issues.

 

Commenting on the crisis in his party, Obi said it would be resolved amicably.

 

According to Obi, the crises are not fundamental that they cannot be handled.

 

Multichoice hikes DStv, GOtv prices

Broadcasting company Multichoice has jacked up the prices of its offerings in Nigeria four months after its last increment.

 

The company reviewed prices in its packages across the board. The new prices will take effect from May 1, 2024.

 

With the latest price hike, the DStv Premium package increased from N29,500 to N37,000. Similarly, the DStv Compact+ gone up N19,800 to N25,000 while the Compact package increased from N12,500 to N15,700.

 

The Comfam package moved from N7,400 to N9,300. Yanga package moved up from 4,200 to N5,100 while Padi package increased from N2,950 to N3,600. HDPVR was increased from N4,000 to N5,000, the Access Fees package from N4,000 to N5,000, and XtraView moved from N4,000 to N5,000.

 

Dangote Refinery makes clarification on N940 diesel price slash

 Dangote Petroleum Refinery said its N940 per litre diesel price cut is only applicable to customers buying five million litres and above.

 

The Head of Communication, Mr Anthony Chiejina made the clarification in a statement on Tuesday, noting that N970 per litre is for customers buying one million and above.

 

Dangote Refinery made its third diesel price cut to N940 and N970 per litre, respectively.

 

The company had earlier announced two price cuts which saw the price of diesel drop to N1,000 per litre from N1,600.

CBN denies instructing banks to restrict crypto accounts

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has denied instructing banks to restrict cryptocurrency accounts.

 

In a post on X on Wednesday, CBN clarified that the circular did not originate from the bank, urging the public to visit its official website for “authentic updates”.

 

According to the circular, all deposit money banks (DMBs), non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs), and other financial institutions (OFIs) were directed to identify persons and entities transacting in cryptocurrencies and ensure such accounts are put on post-no-debit (PND) instruction for six months.

 

In February 2021, CBN issued a circular to deposit money banks (DMBs), non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs), and OFIs to close accounts of persons or entities involved in cryptocurrency transactions within their systems.

Anambra community rejects newly elected monarch, urges Soludo to cancel election

Crisis is gradually brewing in Ihite Community of Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State, following a disagreement over selection of a traditional ruler.

Already, some members of the community led by the community’s traditional council have disowned a new king, Mr Timothy Ifurunwa, who was last weekend elected by a section of the community, under the prompting of the President General, Mr George Madu.

The community is correctly polarized into factions, with many stakeholders rejecting the process that led to the selection of Ifurunwa as king.

The community’s traditional council has petitioned Anambra State governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, urging him to intervene to avert crisis in the community and to also disregard the process that led to the selection of Ifurunwa.