No Going Back On Bank Deposit,Withdrawal Increased Rates...CBN Governor

The Central Bank of Nigeria on Friday said it would continue to implement the cashless policy in line with its mandate to ensure an efficient payment system.

The CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, said this while briefing journalists shortly after the Monetary Policy Committee meeting.

He said that contrary to claims in some quarters that many Nigerians would suffer the negative impact of the policy, only about five to 10 per of bank customers would be affected.

The apex bank had in a circular to Deposit Money Banks stated that from Wednesday, September 18, it would impose three per cent processing fees on withdrawals and two per cent processing fees on lodgements of amounts above N500, 000 for individual accounts.

For corporate accounts, the apex bank in the circular said that DMBs would charge five per cent processing fees on withdrawals and three processing fee on lodgements of amounts above N3m.

The House of Representatives had on Thursday through a resolution directed the apex bank to suspend the policy.

But responding to the development, Emefiele said if the Nigerian economy was to compete effectively with those of developed countries, a payment system that encourages the use of non-cash channels was desirable.

He said that before the cashless policy was first inaugurated in 2012, a lot of stakeholder engagements were done to sensitise Nigerians on its benefits.

He said the policy was suspended in 2014 to allow more payment channels to be developed by Deposit Money Banks.

The governor said that since the policy was suspended, currency management cost had continued to increase year-on-year at an average annual growth rate of 33 per cent.

However, he said the bank had continued to provide alternative channels, adding that people had embraced it.

He said Point of Sale transactions had moved from N48bn in 2012 to N2.2tn while electronic transfer had moved from N3.8tn in 2012 to N80.46tn in 2018.

Emefiele said, “Since the policy was first launched, currency management costs have continued to increase year-on-year at an average annual growth rate of 33 per cent.

“Notwithstanding, electronic transactions have increased within the economy. We have provided alternative channels and people have embraced it.

“This is a strategic timing of these actions because on Monday, September 23rd, the mutual evaluation by GIABA (Inter-governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa) on the country’s anti-money laundry and CFT (Combating Financing of Terrorism) regime will begin.

“Passing the mutual evaluation positions Nigeria as a safe and credible destination for financial transactions across the world.

“GIABA will be in Nigeria to access the rate at which Nigeria has embraced anti-money laundry and CFT regime. It is important that we display and show to them that Nigeria is indeed in conformity with their practices as enshrined in their anti-money laundry and CFA laws.”

The apex bank boss said if the CBN did not implement the cashless policy, credit cards owned by Nigerians might not be used abroad.

On the Value Added Tax, he said the MPC supported the decision of the Federal Government to increase the rate from five per cent to 7.5 per cent.

He said with Nigeria having one of the lowest VAT rate in the world, and faced with fiscal challenge, the best way to shore up revenue was to increase tax.

He said, “The MPC endorsed the increase in the VAT rate from five per cent to 7.5 per cent. The government has the responsibility to fend for everybody.

“In fending for everybody means that it has to spend money to provide infrastructure – roads, airports, different things that will improve the lives of its people.

“There are two ways through which government can fund these expenditures. It’s either it raises revenue or goes for debt. You all know that the government has been criticised that the debt stock is too high.

“You all know that government debt service ratios are too high. What that means is that your revenue is small because if your revenue is large, then your debt service ratios will be lower.”

He added, “If we say government should not borrow; then, government must raise revenue. If government must raise revenue and we think this is one way government can raise revenue to meet its obligation.”

Emefiele said while the decision to increase VAT might be painful to Nigerians, the benefit of such move far outweighed the cost.

On the Monetary Policy Rate, Emefiele said this was left unchanged at 13.5 per cent.

He explained that nine out of the 11 members that attended the meeting unanimously agreed to hold the monetary policy stance.

The governor said apart from the MPR that was retained at 13.5 per cent, the committee decided to hold the Cash Reserves Ratio at 22.5 per cent.

Also retained are the Liquidity Ratio, which was left at 30 per cent; and the Asymmetric Window which was left at +200 and -500 basis points around the MPR.

Explaining the rationale for the decision, he said the MPC felt compelled to review the options of whether to tighten, hold or loosen.

Read More

Lady Commits Suicide In Lagos 3 Months After Boyfriend Did Same

An apprentice tailor in Lagos, Adenike Fatai, has committed suicide barely three months after her boyfriend, Bayo Atanda, reportedly did the same thing.

 Fatai, who hailed from Kwara State, reportedly took a poisonous substance suspected to be sniper around 8.30pm, last Thursday.

The 25-year-old woman lived with her mother on Igbekele Street, Iyana Cele bus stop, Shibiri area of Lagos State.

It was learnt that Fatai had been battling depression since her boyfriend, whom she was living with in Orile, a neigbouring community, reportedly took a poison and died.

It was gathered that family and friends of Bayo did not believe the photographer committed suicide, accusing Fatai of killing him. The accusation allegedly heightened the trauma Fatai was going through.

Although no suicide note was found in the room, our correspondent who visited Fatai’s Facebook page observed that her status updates revolved round death and depression.

On June 30, she bemoaned the loss of her boyfriend, who had died two weeks earlier.

She wrote, “How would you do this? Why! Adebayo Olaleye Atanda Peter; still can (can’t) believe this is happening to me. I can (can’t) even say goodbye to you. Ifemi, ayomi; may Almighty Allah forgive all your sins. Rest on!”

Less than a month after, on July 25, she took to Facebook to express how much she missed her lover stating that, “The saddest part in life is to say goodbye to someone you want to spend your lifetime with.”

“Feeling angry with myself,” she wrote in the comment section of the post with a friend appealing to her to stop thinking negatively.

The following day, she wrote, “Yaa Allah (Oh God); heal my heart, make it steadfast and make it strong enough to accept what you have destined for me.”

On August 15, she waxed philosophical quoting the late American journalist, Norman Cousins, who died of heart failure.

“Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live,” the post read.

She uploaded some pictures of herself in cheerful mood few days later. But on September 8, four days to the suicide, she posted the image of an archer ready to shoot an arrow, with a caption, “Ofa iku ojiji koni bae tomotomo (The arrow of death won’t strike you and your children).”

Speaking during the week, the deceased’s mother, Tawa, said she met her dead when she returned home from a prayer session that evening.

She stated, “That day, she finished cooking around 7pm and ate. She was outside after eating while I went to the mosque. Around 8pm, she came to the mosque to collect the key to our apartment and I told her to check the shop.

“On getting home some minutes after, I saw her lying on the floor with a bottle of sniper beside her. I called for help but it was late.”

Revealing the events leading to the relationship between the lovers, the mother said plans were ongoing to choose a date for their introduction.

She said, “She was learning tailoring in her sister’s place in Ikorodu. All of a sudden, her boss sent her away. She told me she had got another place to learn the vocation in Orile and that she would be living with a friend. I asked her to come and learn it at my place but she refused.

“Whenever I asked to see the friend, she would say she was not around. It was when I threatened to disown her that she told me she was living with her boyfriend. I tried to convince her that what she did was wrong, but she said the man’s (Bayo’s) house was close to where she was learning tailoring. I met with the man and he said he really wanted to marry her. He looked very gentle. We were planning the introduction when he died.

“On a Sunday around 11pm, my daughter called me and started crying on the phone. She said Bayo drank sniper. They took him to the Lagos Island General Hospital, but he died the following morning. That time, she said she would follow him and I tried to caution her.”

Tawa said Fatai became depressed and relocated to her sister’s house in Ikorodu, adding that she returned to her house after her condition had improved.

“I never thought she was thinking of suicide because she looked happy. Some clerics warned us that death was hovering around her and I prayed over it.

“I learnt she called somebody that evening and told the person that she wanted to go and meet Bayo and that she would drink sniper. I don’t know the kind of love she had for him.

“There was a day a friend of Bayo called her and accused her of killing him. I told her to ignore them. The mistake I made was that I should have changed her SIM card,” she added.

The deceased’s father, Idris, said, he did not know his daughter was battling depression as they hardly saw each other.

He stated, “Since her mother and I separated, I usually talked to her (Fatai) on the phone. Probably she would have told me what was bothering her if we had the opportunity of seeing each other.”

The deceased’s neighbour in Shibiri, where Fatai died, told our correspondent that she liked to be alone.

“I have observed recently that she rarely mingled with people, but I didn’t know she was contemplating suicide. It was so unfortunate,” the resident, who identified himself only as Sola, said, adding that the incident was reported at the Ojo Police Station.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bala Elkana, could not be reached for comment on the incident as calls to his mobile rang out.

Read More

FRSC Sheds More Light On 5 Passengers Burnt To Death Along Lagos Ibadan Expressway

The Federal Road Safety Corps Ogun State Command wishes to inform the motoring public of a fatal crash that occured this morning at about 0849 hrs on Friday 20 September 2019 on the Lagos - Ibadan Expressway around Onigari, the border town of Ogun State with Oyo State .

The lone crash involved a commercial bus that travelled all the way from Sokoto state but stopped briefly in Ibadan to pick other passengers. The bus was heading towards Lagos State before it lost control, at Onigari due to excessive speed , and collided with the road median with the bus upturning and bursting into flames.

The crash involved 18 passengers comprising 17Male Adults and 01Female Adult .

A total of 10Male Adults sustained injuries from the crash but five of the passengers unfortunately died from the crash comprising 4Male Adults and 01Female Adult .

The commuter bus is a white coloured Mazda bus with registration number WWD 302CB

The FRSC Ogun State Sector Commander , Clement Oladele has commisorated with the families of the crash victims and advised members of the public whose relatives travelled, requiring more information about the crash, should contact the FRSC Command at KM27 Ibadan - Lagos Expressway at Ogunmakin or the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH) , Sagamu, where the injured victims were rescued to.

The corpses of those killed in the crash were also deposited at the Mortuary of the same Hospital.

The Sector Commander is also using this medium to remind the motoring public of the need to drive cautiously on the Lagos - Ibadan Expressway as the Expressway is still undergoing rehabilitation. The recommended speed at construction area is 50 kilometers per hour.

He also reminds passengers to caution their drivers noticed driving recklessly and where the driver refused to heed to such caution , the FRSC can be called on the toll free number 122 to report such traffic misdemeanour.

Read More

How I Killed Ladies In Lagos,Port Harcourt ,Owerri...Suspected Serial Killer

A serial killer, Gracious West, who specialised in killing young women in hotel rooms, has narrated how he strangled seven victims in Lagos, Imo and Rivers states.

The 38-year-old suspect said he went on his murderous mission whenever he had the urge to kill a young woman.

The suspect, who was arrested on Thursday by personnel of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, explained that he threatened the women, whom he met at clubs, with a knife before tying them with pieces of cloth.

West is the third member of a syndicate involved in the serial murder of young girls in hotels arrested by the Nigeria Police since the first incident, which happened at D-Line area of Port Harcourt in July 2019.

West, who is the prime suspect in the serial killings, was arrested in Bori in the Khana Local Government Area on his way to Akwa Ibom from Rivers State, after his photograph and a video showing him entering the reception of one of the hotels went viral.

Speaking on Friday when he was paraded by the police, 38-year-old West explained that he carried out his deadly plans when his victims were asleep after having sex with them.

“While a victim is sleeping, I will put the kitchen knife on her neck and ask her not to shout. I would threaten to kill her if she shouts. So out of fear, she would not shout and I would tell her that I would not kill her if she cooperates.

“I would tear the pillowcase and tie their hands and legs and strangle them. While this was going on, some of them would tell me that they had money in their accounts.

“After confirming how much they had in their accounts, I would collect the pin numbers and at daybreak when I must have killed them, I would go to ATM and collect the money in the account,” West recounted.

He explained that he used the money he got from the deceased’s bank account to prepare for further lethal operations in hotels in Lagos, Imo and Owerri, adding that his first victim, who he killed in Lagos, had N52,000 in her account.

“I have killed five girls in Port Harcourt, one in Owerri and one in Lagos. I started the killing in Lagos; that was where I got N52,000. After that, I went to Port Harcourt, then to Owerri. I returned to Port Harcourt and the last woman I met was at a club,” he added.

The suspect stated that he always collected the mobile phones of her suspects and sold them at the Waterlines area in Port Harcourt, so that the police would not be able to get in touch with the victims’ relatives.

Surprisingly, West, from Asari-Toru, attributed his action to an unknown force, adding that whenever the urge to kill came, he would not stop until he murdered a young woman in a hotel.

He said, “After realising my sins, I sought spiritual intervention in a church. I told the pastor that I have been killing girls in hotels and the pastor said that they had a crusade programme and invited me to see the senior pastor but I waited and couldn’t see him.

“So, I left the church and went back and checked into a hotel. Seriously, I don’t know what makes me to kill; whenever it comes on me, that is when I kill, later I regret and feel sober but after a while, I would go and kill again.”

However, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Mustapha Dandaura, said the arrest of West became possible with the assistance of one of the hotels that complied with the directive on the installation of closed circuit television.

The CP said, “The hotel later reported to the police about the development and released to us the telephone number he (West) dropped with the hotel. We began to track him on his phone, and with God on our side, he was arrested along Bori, Ogoni axis, on East-West Road while he was on his way to Akwa Ibom, on Thursday afternoon. Men of the command’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad were on their usual stop-and-search duties when they intercepted a commercial bus heading towards Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

 “When they asked the passengers in a vehicle to disembark for a search, they saw the suspect in the same attire (a T-shirt and blue trousers) he wore in the viral video. The SARS team called my attention to it on the phone and I asked that he should be brought straight to my office.

“The moment he stepped into my office, I called him by his name, David West and he answered. He then said to me, ‘Please sir, I am ready to tell you the truth, I don’t want any problem.’

“It was at that point that I directed that they unlock his handcuffs so that he could relax and be free to talk and give me all the necessary information that I needed. During the interrogation, he confessed that majority of the killings in hotels were done by him. To be sure of what he said, we asked him to name the hotels where he had killed.


“He brought out the list which matched with the hotels where the killings took place in the state. He also said he was a member of De-gbam cult.”

West, according to the police commissioner, did not have a gun, but killed his victims by tying and strangling them.

Dandaura said the suspect also confessed to funding his stay in hotels with the money he illegally got from his victims’ debit cards.

Read More

I Will Surely Get Justice At The End..Atiku Abubakar

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the February 2019 general election, Atiku Abubakar, has expressed belief that he will get justice in his suit against President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling All Progressives Congress.

He urged his supporters not to underestimate the effect of their belief that justice will be done.

Atiku had sued Buhari, INEC and APC in the aftermath of Buhari’s declaration as the winner of the presidential election, seeking to upturn the victory and the declaration that he (Atiku) was the winner.

Taking to his verified Twitter handle @atiku on Friday, the ex-vice president had tweeted:

“I note the immense outpouring of goodwill from ordinary Nigerians in every nook and cranny of Nigeria and from all regions, religions and relationships.

“Once again I thank you all for your support.

“I also thank the governors elected on the platform of my party, the Peoples Democratic Party, as well as the National Executive Committee, for their unanimous and unambiguous support for the judicial phase of this struggle, especially after it was announced that we would go on to appeal.

“I urge all Nigerians to continue their support for this recourse to constitutional order via the courts.

“Even if there is little or nothing you can do to ensure that justice is done in Nigeria, just believe that it will happen.

“Let us never underestimate the effect of our belief.

“Finally, I say to all concerned, that we will all die and give account of our lives to our Creator.


“Thank you and may God bless Nigeria.”

Read More

Ahead Of Buhari's Visit,Sowore Supporters Storm Nigerian Embassy In New York

Ahead of the arrival of President Muhammadu Buhari for the 74th General Assembly of the United Nations (UNGA), a group of activists on Thursday, stormed the Nigerian House in New York to protest the continued detention of former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore.

The online newspaper publisher was arrested in August after convening a protest tagged “Revolution Now” in August, which allegedly called for the removal of the government.

A few protesters brandishing various placards calling for his immediate and unconditional release besieged the Nigeria House located on Kudirat Abiola Corner on 2nd Avenue, New York, denouncing the federal government for allegedly clamping Sowore in jail for daring to speak for the people.

Some of the posters they displayed read: “Free Sowore now, free Nigeria from the shackles of Buhari’s incompetence, Sowore, an advocate of the masses, freedom of speech and to protest is my right,” among others.

Spokesman of the group and Executive Director, Nigeria Democratic Liberty Forum

Bukola Oreofe, who addressed the audience, said the federal government was breaching human rights by detaining Sowore, who he observed did no wrong.

He said the former presidential candidate’s supporters would not beg for his release even as he announced the group’s intention to welcome President Buhari with another protest next week Thursday.

According to him, Sowore spoke out because he could no longer sit back while Nigeria with all its potentials drifted into tyranny, fascism and totalitarianism and becoming the poverty capital of the world.

Oreofe added: “The corruption continues because there is enough to go around for everybody but we don’t have enough to go around for the greedy.

“And Nigerians are demanding through Sowore that good governance is the hallmark of democracy, that Nigerians deserve a better life.

“So, we are also insisting now and we are demanding that Omoyele Sowore should be released and should be released now.

“He has to be released unconditionally. Sowore has to be released unconditionally. We are not going to beg because this time we are at the point of no return.

“Sowore understands the people, Sowore is giving voice to the people. Sowore ran in an election which we all know was a sham. It was a case of distributing numbers.

“Yeah, we are humbled by the number they gave Sowore, but that does not mean that Sowore has abdicated his right to be able to speak out for the despondency in Nigeria.

“So, we are here today to demand that Sowore should be released. The Nigerian government as represented here by the Consul General or whosoever is there, we are demanding that all you are doing to Sowore is a breach of his fundamental human right as guaranteed by the United Nations Charter, African Union Charter, EU Charter and the charter of humanity.”

He said it was an “oxymoron” for President Buhari to recycle old and corrupt politicians in his administration while jailing someone like Sowore, an action, which he said was indefensible.

“It is unconscionable and we are insisting that Sowore has to be released and until he is released, we will continue to fight on his behalf,” Oreofe stated.

“On Tuesday, September 24, we will be at the United Nations. We are aware that the President is coming and we will be there in large numbers to be able to speak out and tell Buhari to go back home and fix Nigeria and of course, release Sowore. Enough is enough,” he declared.

Read More

Nnamdi Kanu Takes Biafra's Agitation To UN Assembly

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, leader, Nnamdi Kanu, yesterday at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, demanded urgent action against the alleged numerous rights abuses, allegedly inflicted on a daily basis on Biafrans, just as it sought the needed support for Biafra’s self-determination as enshrined in law, statue and various United Nations conventions.

Nnamdi Kanu, leader of Indigenous People of Biafra Nnamdi Kanu, leader of Indigenous People of Biafra Kanu also drew the attention of the United Nations, to the alleged incessant killing of Biafrans in their own land by terrorist Fulani herdsmen, alleged extortion and killing of Biafran motorcyclists and commercial drivers by Nigerian Army and Police over refusal to part with N50 bribery, killing of Biafrans in the Northern hemisphere by Islamic extremists.

Citing some of the things that formed the basis for its agitation for the separate state of Biafra, which it said existed before Lord Lugard’s Amalgamation of 1914, Mazi Kanu, also disclosed the alleged disfranchising Biafrans in the Western and Northern part of Nigeria, illegal take-over of Biafrans’ property by Lagos State government, systematic oppression and economic emasculation of the Biafran. Police Inspector killed during a shootout with herdsmen in Delta Jumia to host maiden World Tourism Day event He also included alleged “forceful Islamization of the country under the present administration, illegal detention of unarmed agitators, flagrant contempt of court orders, and incessant abduction and extrajudicial killings of its members and their families members, as also basis for its agitation.”

Other issues he raised to the United Nations were “the continued alleged illegal detention of Omoleye Sowore, the relentless persecution of the members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria led by Sheikh El-Zakzaky, alleged ongoing tragic ethnic cleansing in the Middle Belt and plight of Christian minorities in core North.” Mazi Kanu in his presentation to the United Nations, titled “Our case will no longer be ignored”, made available by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, also, raised the case of Rural Grazing Area, RUGA,by what it described as stealth, to the august body, insisted that Biafrans will never allow alleged Fulani terror settlements in any Biafraland.

Accompanying Mazi Kanu to the United Nations headquarters in Switzerland, where he had series of meeting with various UN agencies and officials, were IPOB deputy leaders, Mazi Uche Mefor, Head of Directorate of State of IPOB, Mazi Chika Edoziem, the Head of Finance, Lady Nnennaya Anya, and other top members of the group. Emerging from the meeting to address IPOB members and supporters from different countries of the world, who converged at Switzerland, Mazi Kanu assured them that “every issue concerning our people Biafrans, is now before the various arms and agencies of the United Nations and our case will no longer be ignored.”

 “We have successfully presented Biafra plight to the United Nations officials, demanding urgent action against the numerous rights abuses inflicted daily upon Biafrans and the need to support the inalienable and undeniable right of Biafrans to self-determination as enshrined in law, statute and various UN conventions. “The case of RUGA settlement by stealth was also raised and the august body was left in doubt that indigenous Biafrans will never allow Fulani terror settlements in Biafraland.“Every issue concerning our people is now before the various arms and agencies of the United Nations. Our case will no longer be ignored.”

Read More

FG Set To Borrow Another $2.2bn From World Bank As Domestic Debt Hits $55.6bn

The Federal Government is currently in talks with the World Bank for a fresh $2.5bn loan.

World Bank Vice President for Africa, Hafez Ghanem, disclosed this in an interview in Abuja on Wednesday, Bloomberg reported.

Nigeria received $2.4bn from the World Bank in the past year, according to Ghanem.

“We are talking about a new set of programmes of about the same amount, it should be around $2.5bn,” he said.

“It is important to resolve the problems of the power sector in Nigeria to bring in more investments because you need to bring down the cost of power to make the economy more competitive for the development of industries,” Ghanem added.

Nigeria’s domestic debt is $55.6bn, while foreign loans stands at $25.6bn.

Minister of Finance,  Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, recently said Nigeria did not have a debt problem, despite misgivings amongst economists over the country’s rising debt profile.

Rather than debt, the minister said the country’s problem was revenue, and accused those criticising the foreign loans taken by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration of ‘insensitivity’.

Ahmed had said, “There is a lot of insensitivity around the level of our debt. I want to restate that our debt is not too high; what we have is a revenue problem.

“Our debt is still very much within a reasonable fiscal limit. In fact, amongst our comparative countries, we are the least in terms of borrowing.”

But she also warned that Nigeria would suffer if the current revenue performance was not improved.

The minister noted that the Federal Government hoped to raise its revenue performance from the 55 per cent that was attained in 2018 to 85 per cent in the next four years.

Read More

Buhari Receives New German Ambassador ,Seeks Support In Area Of Power

 President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday in Abuja said Nigerians eagerly look forward to investments in infrastructure, especially the power sector, that will illuminate their homes and stimulate businesses, assuring German companies that the government will honour terms of agreements on investments in the country.

Receiving Letter of Credence from the Ambassador of Germany, Birgitt Ory, at the State House, President Buhari said the agreements signed with Germany company, Siemens, on power was most welcoming for the country, and Nigeria looks forward to partnerships that will be mutually beneficial.

The President said the country remains grateful to Germany for humanitarian interventions in the North East for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), and the visit of the Chancellor, Angela Merkel, to Nigeria in August 2018, which further strengthened bi-lateral relations.

In her remarks, the Ambassador said it was a great privilege to serve in Nigeria, which had always been her aspiration. She described the country as “the biggest and most important country in Africa’’.

“When I came to Nigeria last year in May, which was also my first time in Africa, as soon as I stepped out of the plane, I said this is where I will like to work,’’ she said.

Amb. Ory congratulated Nigeria for holding two key positions in the United Nations, Deputy Secretary General, Amina Mohammed, and President of the UN General Assembly, Prof. Tijani Mohammad-Bande, saying the country’s rising global profile reflects its pivotal role in Africa and West African region.

The German envoy assured the President that she will work towards improved relations between both countries, commending him for Nigeria's role in ECOWAS, with renewed focus on economy and security.

President Buhari, who also received Letters of Credence from the Ambassador of Ethiopia, Azanaw Tadesse Abreha, encouraged diplomats to stay longer in the country in order to understand the dynamics of the culture, economy and landscape, noting that “Nigeria is big and versatile and requires longer period of stay to be understood’’.

“With your staff at the embassy, you need to stay longer and move around to really appreciate the country,’’ he added.

The President said the bilateral relations with Ethiopia had been steady and rewarding for both countries, urging the ambassador to further strengthen the bond.

The Ethiopian ambassador said he will promote strategic relations between Nigeria and his country, promising to take “the relations to the highest level’’ of mutual respect.

Read More

Union Bank Chairman Is Dead

The Chairman, Board of Directors of Union Bank Plc, Cyril Odu, is dead.

Mr Odu died on Tuesday, a disclosure sent to the Nigerian Stock Exchange by the bank’s secretary, Somuyiwa Sonubi, said.

The late bank chair joined the Board of Directors of Union Bank in 2012 and was appointed Chairman of the Board of the bank in November 2015.

Prior to his appointment as Chairman, Mr Odu was the Chairman of the Bank’s Risk Management Committee and served as a member of the Finance and General Purpose and Credit Committees.

Mr Odu had nearly 45 years of professional, managerial and director level experience.

His 40-year career at ExxonMobil saw him rise from Trainee to Vice Chairman of the Board of Mobil Producing Nigeria and Chief Financial Officer of ExxonMobil Upstream Companies in Nigeria, making him the highest ranking Nigerian in the organisation until his retirement in 2012.

During the span of his career at ExxonMobil, he served in many technical and managerial functions including Associate Geologist, Treasurer, Controller, Project Finance Director (Europe, Middle East and Africa), Country HR Manager and General Manager, Planning and New Business Development.

After his retirement from Exxon Mobil in 2012, Mr Odu joined African Capital Alliance and then Chief Executive of the firm.

Read More

South-West Monarchs Rally Round To Save Osinbajo's Job

Some top traditional rulers in the South-West are making moves to intervene in the crisis of confidence rocking the Presidency and alleged moves to impeach Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who was alleged of breaching due process in approving some contracts for agencies under his supervision.

It was also gathered that heads might roll in some of the affected agencies. A Yoruba traditional ruler in the South-West, who spoke on condition of anonymity , said that they were already being disturbed by information making the rounds about the Vice President and “we are already making moves to investigate the veracity of those allegations and see President Muhammadu Buhari.”

The monarch, who pleaded for anonymity, said: “The most disturbing of this rumour is that impeachable offences against the Vice President are being compiled and we learnt will soon be sent to the National Assembly. “We are worried about this development and the alleged sudden frosty relationship between the President and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

“We cannot fold our hands and do nothing. This is politics and nothing is impossible.”It was also gathered that infringements by agencies under him have been compiled and sent to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC).

Osinbajo chairs the boards of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA), National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) and National Boundary Commission (NBC), among others.

The Vice President had on Monday received a presidential directive asking him to seek presidential approvals for those agencies.

The memo did not state reasons for the new development but a Presidency source, who pleaded for anonymity, described the information about the alleged crisis rocking the Presidency and moves to remove the Vice President as “baseless allegations and outright lies.“This is not true. It is baseless but please don’t mention my name at all.”

Read More

Breaking:Police Arrest Notorious Port Harcourt Serial Killer (Pictures)

 The notorious serial killer, Gracious David West was today September 19, 2019, arrested by the Police in Rivers.

The 26-year old killer from Buguma LGA of Rivers State, who is also a member of the Degbam cult group was arrested along East-West Road enroute to Uyo from Port Harcourt. He has since made useful statements to the Police.

Investigation is on with a view to ascertaining his motives and possible accomplices. The Commissioner of Police Rivers State, CP Mustapha Dandaura will be briefing the media on this significant Police breakthrough tomorrow, September 20, 2019.

Read More

Breaking :Army Denies Alleged Planned Invasion Of Maiduguri

Information circulating on social media revealed that some mischievous elements are insinuating and peddling rumours of 'terrorists' plan to execute deadly attacks on some selected populated areas and key facilities in Maiduguri town and neighboring areas in order to cause panic and inflict casualty on innocent Nigerians.

Headquarters Theatre Command, Operation Lafiya Dole, assures the public that necessary measures have been put in place to checkmate the purported evil plans of the criminals.

Accordingly, troops in the Theatre, have been committed to ensure movements and activities of the marauders are effectively thwarted. Troops are also in staging positions in line with the Super Camp Concept to destroy the bandits whenever they are seen.

Consequently, members of the public are urged to disregard the rumor of  'deadly attacks' on Maiduguri and environs. The fake news is circulated by mischievous elements and other collaborators of the criminals with the aim to instil fear and panic in the minds of the people as well as to sabotage the efforts of the military and other security agencies in the struggle to end the menace.

Members of the public are therefore enjoined to disregard the alleged attacks on Maiduguri city and environs and go about their routine lawful businesses without fear or hindrance.

The public are also advised to be more vigilant and report unusual/suspicious presence or movements of persons especially at important public places like markets, schools, mosques and churches as well as venues for occasions to security agencies.

ADO ISA
Colonel
Deputy Director Army Public Relations 

Read More

2023: Grand Plot By Presidency Powerful Clique For North To Retain Power Uncovered ...(Tribune Investigation)

Details of a grand plot by a powerful clique in the Presidency to ensure that the North retains power in 2023 is beginning to emerge.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that part of the strategies is to completely erode the powers of the current vice president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, in major policies and programmes of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for the rest of his second term in office.

The clique is said to believe that it was necessary to curtail the rising profile of Osinbajo, by making him less powerful and less visible so as to prevent the current number two man from becoming a major obstacle to the 2023 presidency project.


Just on Monday, the presidency stripped the vice president of leading the economic team of the government, as President Buhari constituted a new one that will report directly to him.

Less than 24 hours after that, President Buhari ordered the dissolution of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SPIP), headed by Mr Okoi Obono-Obla, who was also sacked from office.

The agency was initiated by the vice president when he was acting president, to complement the anti-corruption crusade of the Buhari government.

Informed sources told the Nigerian Tribune on Tuesday that the well-knit agenda of the clique to undermine the mutual rotation of power between the North and the South had been set in motion.
Since 1999 when the country returned to civil rule, the arrangement has largely ensured that power interchanged between the two geopolitical divides.

According to sources, the arrowhead of the latest plot ahead of the 2023 presidency is an alter ego of the president.

Under the broad-based graduated agenda, the clique is seeking the consent of President Buhari to redeploy key advisers and aides to Osinbajo from the Presidential Villa, to whittle down his powers and other areas of influence.

Influential members of the clique were reportedly uncomfortable with what they perceived as the rising profile of Osinbajo as “hardworking and mobile,” which they believed must be quickly deactivated before it blossomed and encouraged other ambitious southerners in the race for the 2023 presidency.

Lately, some northern elements, including the vocal Senator Shehu Sani, have joined the fray in the advocacy for a president of the South-West extraction in 2023, in appreciation of the support of the zone for the Buhari presidency.

Some influential persons in the current federal administration are also said to favour the South producing the successor to Buhari.

The sources said all the key advisers and aides of Osinbajo with mandates spanning wide-ranging powers and functions may be redeployed to ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government if the president consents to the plan.

While the proposal of the group was not categorical on the choice for the presidency, some members of the inner caucus tipped Kingibe as the preferred choice.

Already, there is disquiet in the Presidential Villa over a directive reportedly issued the vice president, asking him to seek “presidential approval” for decisions in agencies currently under his control.

Such bodies include the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), National Boundary Commission (NBC) and the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA).

It was gathered that another influential politician from the South-West was also in the radar, as the cabal plans to clip his wings in the unfolding political dispensation.

A major highlight in the agenda of the clique is the recent establishment of the Ministry of Social Development, Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, as it is said to have been designed to take over the function of the Social Investment Programmes.

The vice president is credited with the initiative.

The thinking among the members of the clique is that with the Economic Management Team dissolved and the Social Investment Programmes consigned to history, the coast would be clear for the ultimate agenda of the North retaining power in 2023.

Read More

Airlift Of Nigerians:House Of Reps Honors Air Peace Chairman Allen Onyema

The House of Representatives on Wednesday honoured the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Air Peace Airline, Chief Allen Onyema, for the prompt evacuation of the victims of the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa

Chief Onyema who was admitted into the Special plenary session in his honour was accorded a standing ovation by the members of the Green Chamber.

Speaking during the session, the Speaker, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, stated that the House will a make case to the Federal Government to confer on Chief Onyema, a national honour for his outstanding and patriotic attitude during the unfortunate incident.

Addressing the session, Chief Onyema commended the lawmakers for the honour done him, saying ” you brought tears into my eyes as I have never been honoured in this way in my life “

Onyema, however, pleaded with the Federal Government to look critically into the plights of those Nigerians who lost their lives and property during the incident.

Read More

Another Batch Of 315 Nigerians Return From South Africa

The second batch of 315 Nigerians being evacuated from South Africa returned on Wednesday.

They landed around 7.22pm at the cargo wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

The evacuation, which should have taken place on Tuesday, was stalled due to the delayed issuance of landing permit to the Air Peace aircraft by the South African authority.

About 320 people were expected but a few passengers were said to have been dropped over documentation issues.

The Nigerians had departed the O. R. Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, for the Murtala Muhammed International Airport around 1pm.

The first flight had brought back 187 Nigerians out of the 313 scheduled for evacuation last Wednesday.

The Consul-General, Nigerian High Commission in South Africa, Godwin Adama, had said the number of Nigerians willing to leave had risen to 1,004.

The Chairman of Air Peace, also said the plane left a few minutes after noon local time (1pm Nigerian time).

Onyema said some Nigerians had been stranded in South Africa for over four years.

He said, “I felt our country was being insulted and it was unacceptable to me. Accusing Nigerians is like saying we are all criminals.

“While I’m not supporting crime, I feel the earlier we start addressing the stereotyping of Nigerians as criminals, the better for us.”

Onyema said the airline’s crew for the evacuation refused to take allowances for the trips as their way of showing patriotism.

He said the airline was carrying out the evacuation without expecting any payment from the Federal Government.

The Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said the returnees would be profiled according to their states of origin and their governors would complement the Federal Government’s efforts towards integrating them into the society.

“When they settle down, their governors will get involved,” she added.

Dabiri-Erewa said the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa was working to ensure that the hitches in the evacuation were removed.

She, however, stated that the date for the next evacuation was still unknown.

The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who sent delegates to receive the returnees, gave each of them N20,000.

Unlike the first evacuation, journalists were barred from covering the arrival at the tarmac as security officials were deployed with sniffer dogs to stop them from reaching the area.

One of the returnees, Chukwuekwu Okom, from Delta State, said Nigerians were constantly being harassed by South African police.

Okom said he was lucky to have survived and returned to Nigeria.

He said, “I will never go back. I spent six years in South  Africa and came back with nothing, but I thank God that I survived.

“Things were so tough that I couldn’t pay my rent, I lived on the street for many months. I am back now, I will rather die here than go back.”

Olanrewaju Wasiu from Ikorodu, Lagos State, simply said he was happy to be back home.

Read More

Ekiti University 300 Level Student Stabs Boyfriend To Death Over N2,500 Hair Money

A 300-level student of Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Bukola Odeyemi, has stabbed and killed her lover, John Iju, over a disagreement on money to make her hair.

Available information said the incident occurred at their Treasure Base Hostel, Iworoko-Ekiti at about 10pm on Monday.

The suspect, 20, of the Department of Biology Education, allegedly stabbed Iju to death after he failed to give her N2,500 for the plaiting of her maid.

They were said to have engaged in a fight over the issue, with Odeyemi using a knife nearby to attack Iju.

The stab was said to have been delivered to Iju’s chest.

The spokesman of the Ekiti State Police Command, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu, confirmed the incident.

Ikechukwu said the suspect has been arrested and now being detained at the Criminal and Investigative Department of the police headquarters.

He said investigation has begun into the matter and the suspect will be charged to court once it is concluded.

He said: “It is so unfortunate somebody stabbing her boyfriend just because of N2,500 for hairdo.

“Parents should be careful to always look out for their wards to know what they are doing in higher institution.

“Sometimes parents should pay surprise visits to their wards to know where they stay and monitor their activities.”

Read More

FRSC Denies Banning Dangote Trucks From Night Journeys

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says it has not banned Dangote trucks nor any motorist from  night journeys.

The Corps' Public Education Officer, Mr Bisi Kazeem said this while speaking to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

Reports had it that the commission and Dangote Group had agreed that the company's trucks will not ply roads at night.

According to Kazeem, FRSC never announced that it will stop Dangote vehicles from plying roads in the country from 7 p.m to 7 a.m.

"FRSC did not say it impound Dangote vehicles after 7.p.m.

"The commission never said so. We were quoted out of context that we will impound their vehicles.

"We usually have safety meetings with Dangote group.

"One of such meetings was held on Tuesday where far reaching decisions were made and nothing was said that we were going to impound their vehicles."

Kazeem explained that the FRSC did not have powers to impound vehicles at night saying that there was no law that said that the commission could restrict such vehicles.

He further said that what the commission could do was to only highlight dangers of night journey.

NAN reports that the commission had tasked the group on prompt removal of broken down vehicles and the need to intensify efforts towards achieving professionalism in the recruitment, training and certification of its drivers.

Kazeem quotes the Corps Marshal Mr Boboye Oyeyemi to have directed that all Dangote trucks to be fully installed with Speed Limiting Device before Dec. 31.

"Dangote to provide details of any driver who commits traffic infraction to FRSC for subjection to Emotional Stability Test

"The Company to provide details of any driver who runs away after a crash to FRSC for flagging on the database so as to track such drivers.

"Foreign number plates on the company's trucks to be replaced with Nigeria Number Plates before Dec. 31."

Read More

Revealed:Why Cabals Suddenly Moved Against Yemi Osinbajo

Fresh facts on Wednesday emerged on some decisions taken by  President Muhammadu Buhari on the functions of his deputy, Prof Yemi Osinbajo.

A source in the Presidential Villa  confided  that members of the cabal in the Presidency  were bitter about the roles played by the Vice-President, when he stood in for Buhari, when the latter went on medical leave.

The source cited the emergence of Walter Onnoghen as the substantive Chief Justice of the Federation and the removal of Lawal Daura as the Director-General of the Department of State Services  on August 7, 2018 as two of their grievances against Osinbajo.

Buhari had on November 10, 2016 sworn in Onnoghen in acting capacity despite the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, which stated that he should be appointed   as Chief Justice of Nigeria  being the most senior justice of the Supreme Court.

The President did not forward Onnoghen’s name to the Senate for consideration despite public outcry.

Recall that it was Osinbajo, who acted as President, during Buhari’s absence from the country,  that forwarded Onnoghen’s name to the Senate on February 7, 2017 and swore him in on March 7, 2017

Also, the Federal Government had on January 15, 2019 arraigned the ex-CJN   before the Code of Conduct Tribunal .

But Osinbajo had during a conference of the Online Publishers Association of Nigeria, claimed Buhari was not aware of Oongohen’s trial until Saturday, January 12.

The Vice-President, who at the event, expressed misgiving about the trial of Onnoghen and other judges, had said, “It has consequences such as we have today, such that people say how can such an important person be subjected to trial without the Federal Government.”

He had also said Buhari believed that there should not be interference by the executive in other organs of government.

But the President  did not wait for Onnoghen’s trial at the CCT to be concluded before suspending him on January 25.

Justifying his action, Buhari had said, “Although the allegations in the petition are grievous enough in themselves, the security agencies have since then traced other suspicious transactions running into millions of dollars to the CJN’s personal accounts, all undeclared or improperly declared as required by law.”

Also, Osinbajo, when he was acting President,  removed Daura, as the director-general of the DSS on August 7, 2018 and appointed Matthew Seiyefa, who was kicked out by Buhari in September of the same year.

The source, who confided in one of our correspondents, attributed Osinbajo’s travails to the roles he played in Onnoghen’s issue and Daura’s removal.

The source said, “The VP underestimated the level of vindictiveness some of these people have towards him.

“They accused Osinbajo of sidelining them when he took critical decisions during Buhari’s medical leave. If you remember, there was a lot of drama surrounding the confirmation hearing of (Walter) Onoghen and the removal of Daura.

“They were also not happy about the issue of the presidential panel on recovery of public assets. Obono-Obla developed a life of his own in handling the assignment given to him. They thought the VP was supposed to have checked him.

But a top member of the All Progressives Congress, who  spoke on condition of anonymity, described the situation as “sad” and “beyond mere words.”

The source said, “Those of us within the party are onlookers in this matter.  They are turning this 2023 game dirty because how can you explain what is happening to the Vice- President who brought in class and finesse into government?

“It’s possible some persons around the President made some discoveries about the VP’s handling of certain issues and were able to convince him (Buhari) to whittle down his powers.

“Whatever is happening cannot be hidden for too long. Without doubt certain individuals within and outside the villa are taking advantage of the situation.”

Another party stalwart, however,  said nothing out of the ordinary was happening.

The party stalwart, who also wished to remain anonymous because “the issue is purely within the purview of the President,” said, “It’s just a storm in a tea cup; there is nothing unusual happening.”

In response to a question on the replacement of the Osibajo-led Economic Management Team with the Prof Doyin Salami-led Economic Advisory Council, he said, “There is a new energy to refocus government to revamp the economy.

“Whether it is the Vice-President that is the driver of the economic management team or not, all of them are still reporting to the President.

“The Vice President has a constitutional role to play and he is playing it. I don’t know why some people want to create a rift between the Vice-President and his principal.

“If the President is saying this (economic) route that we’ve taken in the last four years has not yielded the desired results, let us go another route is there anything wrong with that?

“I don’t think what is happening is meant to slight the Vice-President. It is not a sign that the President has lost or is losing confidence in the VP.”

EMT scrapping won’t affect governance – VP’s office

When contacted,  the Office of the Vice-President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, insisted on Wednesday that governance was not affected in any way by Monday’s scrapping of the Economic Management Team by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Osinbajo hitherto chaired the EMT, which superintended over the economic programmes of the present administration.

In place of the EMT, Buhari named an Economic Advisory Council with Prof Doyin Salami as the chairman.

Other members are Dr Mohammed Sagagi (vice-chairman); Prof Ode Ojowu; Dr Shehu Yahaya; Dr Iyabo Masha; Prof Chukwuma Soludo; Mr Bismark Rewane; and  Dr Mohammed Adaya Salisu (secretary).

Buhari further directed that the new EAC would report directly to him.

“The Economic Advisory Council will advise the President on economic policy matters, including fiscal analysis, economic growth and a range of internal and global economic issues working with the relevant cabinet members and heads of monetary and fiscal agencies.

“The EAC will have monthly technical sessions as well as scheduled quarterly meetings with the President.  The Chairman may, however, request for unscheduled meetings if the need arises”, the Presidency had stated.

The scrapping of the EMT had fuelled speculation that it appeared the VP’s powers were being reduced.

But, his office told The PUNCH on Wednesday that the business of governance would continue, in spite of the dissolution of the EMT.

His Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Laolu Akande, while responding to enquiries by The PUNCH, following the speculation, stated, “Governance continues. The business of governance is not affected by the EMT dissolution in any way.”

Akande also maintained that there was only one Presidency, adding that the speculations were entirely unnecessary. “There is only one Presidency,” he told The PUNCH.

Aside from the scrapped EMT, Osinbajo oversees some agencies: the National Emergency Management Agency; the National Boundary Commission; and the Border Communities Development Agency.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: The battle Buhari administration is winning

The VP chairs the boards of NEMA and the Niger Delta Power Holding Company.

Amid speculation on Tuesday that a Monday memo from Buhari allegedly directed Osinbajo to seek his approval before taking decisions on any agencies under his watch, the VP’s office vehemently denied it.

One source informed The PUNCH on Wednesday that in government, it was the normal practice for memos to pass between top officials of government.

“A lot of memos are exchanged every day.

“But, at this level of government, you would not say a memo was written specifically raising due process issues over the VP,” the source added.

In its response on Tuesday, the VP’s office had described the alleged memo as “false.”

“This is obviously misleading and aims only to plant seeds of discord in the Presidency, while attempting to create unnecessary national hysteria”, it stated.

Osinbajo’s office further noted, “The agencies in question are established by law and the Vice-President has always insisted on due compliance with the enabling statutes and other established regulations.

“Depending on the particular scope of activity in question, agencies may require management approval only, at the level of the Director-General or Chief Executive Officer. In this category falls the great majority of their day-to-day activities.

“However, other activities, or procurements, with value exceeding a certain threshold, require board approval. These may get to the agency board chaired by the Vice-President. In a few cases where Presidential approval is required, the Director-General must seek such approval from the President, through the Vice-President.

“These rules have always guided the activities of statutory agencies and the ones under the Vice-President’s supervision have always been so guided.

Source:Punch

Read More

Buhari Approves Extension Of Tenure Of Seven Retiring Perm Secs

New Acting Head Of Service Folashade Yemi Esan

President Muhammadu Buhari has also approved the extension of the tenure of seven (7) retiring Permanent Secretaries for a period of one calendar year with effect from 1st October, 2019 to ensure stability in the Federal Civil Service and effective delivery on the nine priority areas of the administration as well as the mandates given to the new Ministers.

The affected Permanent Secretaries are:

i.    Mrs. Georgina Ehuriah        -    Ministry of Interior
ii.    Mrs. Ifeoma I. Anagbogu        -    Federal Ministry of Women Affairs
iii.    Mrs. Grace Gekpe             -    Federal Ministry of Information & Culture
iv.    Dr. Umar M. Bello            -    Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural
Development
v.    Suleiman Mustapha Lawal        -    Ministry of Foreign Affairs
vi.    Mrs. Comfort C. Ekaro        -    Federal Ministry of Water Resources
vii.    Mr. Olusegun A. Adekunle        -    General Services Office (Office of the
Secretary to the Government of the Federation)

Similarly, Mr. President has directed the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to commence the process for the selection of new Permanent Secretaries to replace all retiring Permanent Secretaries.

The decision of Government to extend the tenure of these Permanent Secretaries is premised on the need to ensure that the new Ministers are properly guided, briefed about their sectors and to ensure that a solid foundation is laid for the delivery on the Presidential Mandate which they jointly signed.

The Permanent Secretaries will also help the Ministers to manage the process for the preparation of the 2020 Budget in line with the commitment of Government to return to the January-December budget circle and help develop various policies and programmes aimed at lifting 100million Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10 years.


The action of Mr. President is in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 171 (2) d of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

Read More