Nov 11 Guber Election: Kogi Gov, Yahaya Bello, Still Smoking With Anger, Queries Traditional Chief…

November 26, 2023

The anger of the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello after the November 11 governorship election, with a query sent to a traditional ruler, the Ohimege-Igu Koton-Karfi, Alhaji. Abdulrasaq Gambo Isa Koto, Kogi Local Government Traditional Council, Kontonkarfe for engaging in partisan role.
The letter of query was signed by the State Commissioner for Local Governmet and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barrister Salami Momodu Ozigi Deedat.
The letter read as follows: “It has come to the notice of the State Government that you deliberately engaged yourself in partisan.
“This is viewed very seriously, especially that your action, role and participation in partisan politics endangered the security of your domain to the extent that crisis erupted under your watch that led to death of an innocent young lady in addition to several others that were wounded.
“This blatant action of yours is a sad contradiction of your expected role as a revered Royal Father of your status. It is more worrisome that you acted unbothered when the much coveted peace and security of the State was being threatened by your action.
“In view of the above, you are hereby requested to forward a written explanation within 48 hours why disciplinary action should not be taken against you. Oral explanations may also be required from you when the State Government sets up a panel to examine your case.
“You are advised to give priority attention to the content of this letter, please, your Royal Majesty.”
Only last week, Governor Yahaya Bello publicly dressed down some of those he called his inner caucus cabinet over “betrayal” in the governorship election which his annointed candidate, from the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Usman Ahmed Ododo won with wide margin.

BREAKING: Military Coup Fails To Click In Sierra Leone, Govt Forces Take Control

Greenbarge Reporters

November 26, 2023

A military coup d’etat has been botched in Sierra Leone, an English-speaking country in West Africa.
The country has been going through a political crisis since the presidential and general elections in June this year.
AFP reports that gunshots and explosions rocked the city’s Wilberforce district today , November 26.
The military armoury in Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown came under attack during the move by unidentified army officers to dethrone the democratic government.
The government, which has imposed an immediate national curfew, said that those attempting to break into the armoury have been repelled.
In a statement, the country’s information ministry assured the public that “the government and our state security forces are in control.
“To enable the security forces to continue the process of apprehending the suspects, a nationwide curfew is declared with immediate effect across the country,” the ministry said.
No further details were given on the alleged perpetrators of the attack, or their motives.

EPA President, Dr. Oyibo Bows Head For Crown

Greenbarge Reporters

November 26, 2023

An educationist and President of Ebira People Association (EPA), worldwide socio-cultural organisation of Egbira speaking people, Dr. Godwin Oyibo, was crowned on Saturday, November 25, with the traditional title of Ohietohweyi of Zuba in the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory (FCT) – “the King of Brightness,” by the Odovidi (Traditional Chief) of Anebira in Zuba, Alhaji Abdulsalam Ibrahim Asuku.

Dr. Oyibo, being congratulated by the FCT branch chairperson of EPA, Ambassador Aisha.

Also crowned as Otase Obanyi (Big Friend indeed) of Zuba is the President General of the Okengwe Development Association (ODA), Alhaji Ahmed Yusuf

NANS Asks Federal Govt To Review Student Loan Act

Greenbarge Reporters

November 25, 2023

National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) has called on the Federal Government to set up a committee to review the Students Loan Act.
The association made the call at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, on the establishment of the National Education Repository and Databank (NERD) System and the national policy for its implementation.
The students’ resolutions were presented at the stakeholders meeting held at the Federal Ministry of Education.
NANS Senate President, Comrade Felix Attah Nnalue, who articulated the position of the association, said that the call for amendment of the law was to expunge limitations placed on the scope of beneficiaries.
“We want the students’ loan to cover every category of students. We want the nation to set aside special or dedicated funds for this purpose. Financial allocations to fund education should be way higher than allocations to fund the opulent lifestyle of people in government.
“We want the government to deploy similar technology like the NERD system to transparently track the administration of the students’ loan and tie the loan to the biometric and NIN details of each beneficiary.
“We want the loan to be long term and repayable only upon evidence of commencement of work and earning at a certain band. We want red tapism and third parties removed from the administration of the loan so that the sole requirement will be evidence of being bona fide student – nothing more.”
Nnalue said that Nigerian students are fully behind every project of the government that sought to improve the quality of education delivery.
“We are aware that India has about 5 similar national education databank systems such as this. We as students are happy to collaborate with the Nigerian government to support this project, the National Education Repository and Databank (NERD). We will sensitize the body of students and mobilize them to ensure the success of the project.”
He said that the association agreed with the programmes listed in the approved National Policy for the project “which seeks to ensure that no lecturer would henceforth be able to hold a student to ransom over project reports or dissertation due to the opportunity for a third-party trigger that can help school management and other higher authorities to know when students are deliberately being frustrated.
“We are aware that this is a major challenge in virtually all higher institutions. We therefore welcome this wholeheartedly.”
He said that the suggestion of NANS is that the structure of the NERD system or a similar platform to serve as the official platform since NERD would be collecting and managing the data of each student in a centralized national databank.
“Let the banks, all banks, be the ones to disburse the loan according to the verified academic footprint of each student. Let JAMB handshake with the NERD system. Let the NYSC handshake with the NERD system. Let the banks handshake with the system so we can have verified data of every bona fide student at every point without having to go to individual institution or depend on them solely for verification.
“Let there be strict rules on time between application and disbursement and let there be serious consequences for anyone or organization that undermined that rule. This is what is being done in places like the UK, the USA, and Canada. We want Nigeria to mirror this just as we are mirroring best practice on digitization today,” he stated in the position paper at the stakeholders’ meeting.
Also, a former President of NANS, Femi Osanubi, said in a goodwill message at the event. He described the NERD system as the needed game changer.
“As a former leader of the entire students’ body in the whole country, I know from experience that this kind of project that will impact the students’ population requires continuous stakeholder’s engagement.
“I called the organizers a few days ago to offer some suggestions. You will face 3 sets of resistance: (1) resistance due to ignorance, (2) resistance to change as many of our people are afraid of new things. Don’t be surprised if this is even coming from the establishment. (3) You will also face resistance from vested interests.
“There are a lot of people benefiting from the present system. They may fear that what you are bringing will democratize access to knowledge and see it as an attempt to block their sources of ‘extra.’
“Some schools may go protective and shout “we no go gree, it is our property.”
Some people may even tell you, “we have done it already, there is no need for it again.”
“Those are the people speaking from the position of ignorance or vested interest. They have not seen the project scope or the policy.
“My advice is that you must remain steadfast and focused. This Ministry is doing the right thing. This Ministry as the coordinating body for the education sector is the right authority to handle this. This Ministry is doing this at the right time. We have a new leadership in Nigeria that is strongly supportive of fundamental changes that will bring benefits to our people.
“I express my strong support for this project. I am also thankful that the Ministry chose me to represent the body of past presidents of NANS on this occasion.”

Chief Of Kuje, FCT, Asks Intending Muslim Pilgrims To Pay N4.5 Million Before Dec 27

Greenbarge Reporters

November 24, 2023

The Chief (Gomo) of Kuje in Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji Haruna Tanko Jibrin, has asked Intending Muslim Pilgrims to make sure that they pay the fees demanded by the authorities before the deadline, which is December 27.
Already, the FCT Pilgrims Welfare Board had directed each intending pilgrim to pay the sum of N4.5 million for the journey to the Holy land next year for the annual hajj rites.
The Gono of Kuje, who addressed members of the management of FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board when they visited him in his palace, directed district and village heads to sensitize their subjects on the need to book for next year’s Hajj before the deadline.
The traditional ruler stressed the need for the intending Pilgrims to avoid rushing.
He explained the importance of Hajj as one of the five pillars of Islam and encourage his subjects to utilize the opportunity to get closer to the creator.

This was even as the Director of the Board, Mallam Abubakar Adamu Evuti, said that the management team was in the palace in continuation of its sensitization tour to all relevant stakeholders on the registration for 2024 Hajj exercise.
The Director, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Finance and Account, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Pada, said that the Board has fixed 27th of December as deadline for the collection of deposit to meet up with the deadline by National Hajj Commission of Nigeria for all states to remit fare of all intending Pilgrims.
District and village heads as well as Imams of various Juma’ah Mosques across the Area Councils attended the meeting.

Bayelsa Court Convicts A Professor Over N285 Million Contract Fraud

Editorial staff

November 24, 2023

The Bayelsa State High Court has convicted Professor Saviour Nathan Agoro, former Provost of the Isaac Jasper College of Education, Sagbama in Bayelsa State, over contract fraud amounting to N285 million.

The Professor was convicted alongside the former accountant of the institution, Perez Friday Lakemfa, and were charged under section 12 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 for having interest in and coffering corrupt advantage on themselves and relations as a result of contracts that were awarded by the College.

A statement today, November 23 by the spokesperson of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Mrs. Azuka Ogugua, said that one of the charges read: “That you, Professor Saviour Nathan Agoro (M), on or about the 28th day of November, 2014, in Sagbama, while being a Public Officer to wit: the Provost and Chief Executive of Isaac Jasper Boro College of Education, Sagbama, knowingly acquired direct private interest in a contract otherwise than as a member of a registered joint stock company consisting of more than twenty (20) persons when he awarded a contract for the Furnishing of One Storey Lecturers’ Offices to Neatmosa Integrated Services Limited, a company in which he is a Director for the sum of N47,115,915.00 under the 2013 and 2014 merged Tetfund Normal Intervention program, and which emanated from Isaac Jasper Boro College of Education, Sagbama, where he is the Provost and Chief Executive Officer.”

The statement said that in the twelve-count charge against the defendants, the judge, Justice D.E Adekeme found Professor Agoro guilty on count 1, 5 to 12 while the second defendant, Perez Lakemfa was found guilty on count 2 to 4 of the charges.

Justice Adekeme thereafter pronounced non-custodian sentences on the two defendants based on the charges. The first defendant, (Professor Agoro) was given an option of fine of One Million Naira while the second defendant, (Lakemfa) was given an option of fine of One Hundred Thousand Naira.

ICPC’s prosecutors, Mrs. Peace Arocha and Dr. Agada Akogu had told the court in the course of the trial that the Commission had in May 2017, received a petition alleging that Professor Agoro personalized Tetfund funds by awarding contracts to his company and companies owned by his relatives between the year 2012 and 2014 with flagrant abuse of due process and public procurement rules.

The statement said that in the course of investigation, ICPC discovered that the contract for the construction of language laboratory and music studio was awarded to Nancydor Ekperi & Sons Co. Ltd., owned by a friend of the former Provost and former Accountant, Mr. Lakemfa.

“Other contracts for constructions and supplies were also found to have been awarded to companies owned by family members of the convicts.”

President Tinubu Is Still Nursing Knee Surgery He Did In 2021 – Presidency

Editorial staff

November 23, 2023

The Presidency has said that President Bola Tinubu “is still nursing” the knee surgery he underwent in the United Kingdom in 2021 before he became President.

“He is still nursing it up till now because it was a major surgery. It is not that he has any other ailment.”

Special Adviser to the President on information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a recent interview with the Nigerian Tribune, said: “when you do knee surgery, you cannot be walking like a 25-year-old man.”

Onanuga recalled that prior to the declaration of his presidential ambition and flag off of campaign in 2022, Tinubu had made a medical trip to London for the knee surgery.

According to Onanuga, Tinubu has no other ailment but is still nursing the knee surgery.

“No, he was not sick. We made this clear to Nigerians. Tinubu was as fit as a fiddle in the run-up to that election.

“Before that campaign began, I think a year before, he went for knee surgery, which was not a secret, as President Muhammadu Buhari even went to see him in London when he was recuperating.

“So, that was what he went to do, knee surgery. “That was why he could not walk properly.”

Angry Kogi Gov. Yahaya Bello, Shuts Down State, Local Government Accounts

Editorial staff

November 23, 2023

Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has directed that all the state and local government accounts be frozen effective from today, November 23, 2023.

The Commissioner for Finance, Asiwaju Asiru Idris, conveyed the Governor’s directive in a memo copied to the Clerk of the State House of Assembly, all Commissioners and heads of MDAs.

The memo reads:

“His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, CON, the executive Governor of Kogi State, has directed that No imprest or any form of payment should be made to anyone from Government Account henceforth.

“All Standing Orders and Instructions are hereby canceled forthwith.

”All Kogi State and Local Government Accounts are hereby FROZEN with effect from today, Thursday 22nd November 2003.”

Governor Yahaya Bello, who complained recently bitterly about betrayal, is due to leave office on completion of his second term by 2024 January ending.

Tinubu Signs Bill For Establishment Of Defence Industry Technology

Editorial staff

November 23, 2023

President Bola Tinubu has assented to the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) Bill, 2023.

The high point of the bill, according to a statement today, November 23, from the Presidency, is the establishment of Defence Industry Technology Research, and Development Institute (DITRDI).

Another high point is the empowerment of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) to operate, maintain and control subsidiaries and ordnance factories to manufacture, store, and dispose of ordnance and ancillary stores and material.

The establishment of the Defence Industry Technology, Research, and Development Institute is aimed at creating an elaborate scientific and research-based technological foundation for Nigeria’s defence industry through the leveraging of combined, multi-disciplinary research from multiple military research institutes for application that will lead to commercialization and the development of new military technology and capacity in Nigeria.

It is also to provide a comprehensive regulatory framework for the regulation of the manufacturing, distribution, storage, and disposal of defence articles in Nigeria.

The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria Act, 2023, which repealed the previous iteration of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria Act, also empowers the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria to incentivize the development of a nuanced financing architecture that will enable private capital to facilitate research, development and production in the defence sector in a transparent and predictable fashion.

The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria was established on August 1, 1964, by an Act of Parliament and was revised as the DICON Act in Chapter 94 of the Laws of the Federation, 2004.

The new Bill was sponsored by the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Defence, Babajimi Benson (APC — Ikorodu Federal Constituency).

Appeal Court Reverses The Sack Of Abdullahi Sule As Nasarawa Gov.

Greenbarge Reporters

November 23, 2023

The Court of Appeal has reversed the sack of the Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule by the State Election Petitions Tribunal in its judgment delivered on October 2.
Delivering the judgment today, November 23, in Abuja, the three-member panel, led by Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam, held that the Tribunal was legally bound to act on witness statements filed along with the petition or front-loaded within 21 days stipulated by law.
The Court held that the Tribunal, led by Ezekiel Ajayi, acted in grave error by using witness statements on oath not front-loaded as required by law to arrive at the unjust conclusion of nullifying the election of the governor.
The Court held that no petition can lawfully be amended outside the 21 days allowed by law as wrongly done by the Tribunal.
According to the Court of Appeal, the Tribunal denied the governor a fair hearing by not considering and making findings on the issues of jurisdiction raised at the hearing of the petition.
The court further held that since the statements used by the Tribunal to sack the Governor were not front-loaded in compliance with the law, such statements were the product of illegality with no probate value for a law Court to act upon.
The Court dismissed the over-voting issues used to annul the election, adding that allegations were not established by law.
Justice Onyemenam held that the petition by the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), David Ombugadu, was null and invalid on the ground that the jurisdictional issues raised by the governor were unlawfully ignored by the Tribunal.
Justice Onyemenam agreed that the denial of a fair hearing against the governor was fatal and tendered all decisions of the Tribunal invalid.
The Court subsequently reversed all orders made against the governor and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and affirmed Abdullahi Sule as the lawfully elected governor of the state.
INEC had declared Abdullahi Sule the winner of the governorship election on the grounds that he polled a total of 347,209 votes to defeat his closest opponent, David Emmanuel Ombugadu who secured 283,016 votes.
And in a split decision on October 2, the tribunal nullified Abdullahi Sule’s election and upheld Ombugadu as the winner.
Source: Channelstv.

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