Chairmanship Of APC Is Not My Father’s Job – Oshiomhole

July 23, 2020

“I hear some people say Oshiomhole has lost his seat as the National Chairman of APC and I asked ‘is it my father’s job?’”

This was the response the immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, to those who have been jubilating over his loss of the party’s championship via judicial pronouncement.

Oshiomhole, who was addressing APC supporters ahead of the Edo gubernatorial election in September, stressed that he had no personal grudge against Governor Godwin Obaseki, who was disqualified by the APC’s primary electoral panel from flying the party’s flag for a second term.

He said that the APC screening committee relied on the documents to disqualify Obaseki from the party’s primary in 2020, adding that the PDP’s suit in 2016 against Obaseki, then of APC, was struck out because it was filed out of time.

Oshiomhole said that APC leaders had learnt from the mistake in Bayelsa State and decided to stick to the rules.

“In 2016, PDP took Obaseki to court that he forged certificates. Now, you remember one governor (PDP’s Nyesom Wike of Rivers State) that said there are tax collectors, when something moved, they collected the taxes and the certificates became okay.

“But let me tell you, members of APC’s screening committee knew that the man who forged documents, even if you vote for him, you know what happened to us in Bayelsa State.

‘’So, I need to assure you that the decision of the screening committee members to disqualify the sitting governor (of Edo State) was based on the evidence provided by PDP leaders in 2016, which they found to be correct and you do not repeat the same mistake twice.

“The only task we have is to go to every unit, every community, every ward, every local government area and remind them of where we stopped and ask them since we left, what new thing has been brought?

“If I failed Godwin Obaseki’s examination, by the grace of God on Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, I will score A1.

‘’It is not unusual to misread people but it will be unusual after misreading them, you continue on that dangerous part.

‘’ We have a duty to correct it. I assure you that there are no personal issues whatsoever.”

Oshiomhole assured that Ize-Iyamu, a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), would ensure good governance from November 12.

Senate Wants NDDC Interim Management To Refund N4.923 Billion Immediately

Editorial staff

July 23, 2020

The Senate has asked the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to refund the N4.923 billion payments made to staff and contractors in breach of the procurement process.

It said that the refund should be made to the NDDC’s Account with immediate effect.

The resolution of the Senate was sequel to the adoption of recommendations of the Senate Ad Hoc Committee, investigating the alleged misappropriation of N40 billion by the current IMC. The recommendation of the committee was presented to the Senate by the Chairman, Sen. Adetumbi (APC Ekiti).

A breakdown of the refund included Overseas Travel to the United Kingdom N85.7million, Scholarship grants N105.5 milliion, Union Members’ trip to Italy N164.2 million.

Other refunds to be made to the NDDC’s Account by the IMC are: payment made for Lassa Fever Kit, N1.96 billion; payment for Public Communication valued at N1.12 billion, and COVID-19 fund, N1.49 billion.

The Senate also approved the recommendation that all expenditures on historical contracts and obligations like hotels, court judgment among others be refunded, as the payments were not provided for in the budget.

The recommendations approved by the Senate also indicated that henceforth, the NDDC should report directly to President Muhammadu Buhari.

It also recommended that the President should dissolve the IMC and set up a board for the commission.

The Senate recommended that oversight of the forensic audit should be transferred to the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, to ensure transparency.

It urged the Federal Government to appoint a renowned auditor to supervise the forensic audit.

It recommended the strengthening of the NDDC’s procurement department through appropriate staff engagement, by appointing staff with procurement chartered status, improved staff training among other policies on the procurement process.

Similarly, the Senate recommended a review of the corporate social responsibility of the NDDC, adding that it was difficult to find a correlation between the Niger Delta community development and the cash invested in the zone.

According to the upper legislative chamber, the continued cash injection in the Niger Delta has not worked under the various IMCs.

The Senate harped on the need for government to intervene, by stepping down the IMC and properly constituted a board with specific mandate, to address the pains of the Niger Delta people.

Best Age For Woman To Have Children Is Between 20 And 30 – Gynecologist

Editorial staff

July 23, 2020

A consultant gynecologist, Dr Ayodele Ademola, has said that the best age for a woman to have children to avoid complications is between 20 and 30 years old.

Dr. Ademola, who is the Medical Director of Strong Tower Hospital and Advanced Fertility Centre, a Lagos-based private medical facility, said that the issue of fertility and pregnancy are connected with age.

The medical practitioner, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos today, July 23, said that women from the ages of 35 and above could be experiencing complications, such as pre-eclampsia, eclampsia and diabetes, among others.

“As women grow older, the fertility also decreases significantly,” he said, adding that genetic problems could sometimes lead to higher rate of cesarean sections.

“The pregnancy is of high risk; so also the life of the baby, especially in women with first pregnancy at that age.

“Some of the children are born with deformities, such as Down syndrome and others.

“Unfortunately, most young women of these days think of settling down to start a family from 35 years and above.”

Dr Ademola said that the more a woman gets older, the greater her chances of having miscarriage, adding that extreme teenage pregnancy could also be of high risk.

He said that the chances of a woman having multiple-pregnancies like twins are very common around 35 years.

Ademola called on pregnant women to visit clinics at all times for quality healthcare for both themselves and their babies.

Woman Allegedly Arranged Kidnap Of Daughter, Demands N2 Million From Husband

Editorial staff

July 23, 2020

A housewife in Katsina, Fatima Bishir, has allegedly arranged the kidnap of her five-year-old daughter.

Fatima, who was arrested today, July 23 by the Katsina State Police Command, had allegedly sent an SMS to her husband and demanded N2 million ransom in Mashi local government area of the state before the daughter would be released.

The command’s spokesman, Gambo Isah, who spoke to news men said: “on July 5, 2020 at 0800 hours, the suspect falsely reported at Mashi Police Division that her little daughter was missing and strongly suspected the ex-wife of her husband.”

According to the spokesman, the suspect also claimed that the said ex-wife once threatened her that she would revenge the death of her daughter who died under her care.

“The suspect took the pants and canvas shoe of the daughter to the house of the ex-wife to implicate her, where the police recovered them.

“After thorough investigation, the suspect confessed that she wrote the text message sent to her husband, Bishir Isyaku, 40, threatening him to either pay N2 million ransom or risk his daughter being killed by the kidnappers.

“The suspect confessed to have taken away the daughter from their residence in Mashi to Kano, where she hid her with help of her housemaid, Faiza.

“However, luck ran out of the suspect when she took the girl away from Kano to Dutse, trying to abandon her near the house of the ex-wife’s mother.”

He said the investigation was ongoing and the suspects would be prosecuted to serve as deterrent to others.

FIRS Public Notice

Editorial staff

July 23, 2020

Senate Passes Bill To Replace 2004 Banks, Other Financial Institutions Act With 2020’s

Editorial staff

July 22, 2020

The Senate has passed a Bill repealing the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) CAP B3 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and replacing it with the one of the 2020 as Amended.

The passage of the Bill today, July 22, was made after a clause by clause consideration by the Senate at its Plenary, and after the public hearing by the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions.

The opinions of stakeholders in the industry, such as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Federal Ministry of Finance, Body of Bank CEOs and the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Company (NDIC) were part of the consideration for the Bill.

Others which made appearances at the hearing were the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Financial Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN), the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance & Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) and the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFE).

In addition to strengthening the Nigerian financial system, the Bill, which was sponsored by Senator Uba Sani (Kaduna Central) and co-sponsored by Senator Betty Jocelyn Apiafi (Rivers West), seeks to regulate banking and businesses of other financial institutions by prohibiting the carrying on of such businesses in Nigeria except under licence and by a company incorporated in Nigeria.

The Bill also made adequate provisions for proper licensing, supervision and revocation of licenses of such institutions by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

However, for the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) CAP B3 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 (Amendment) Bill, 2020, passed by the Senate to become Law, it has to be similarly passed by the House of Representatives; after which the Reports will be harmonised and forwarded to the President for assent.

It will be recalled that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in its presentation at the public hearing pushed for a review of the framework for managing failing institutions, a restriction remedy for successful action against revocation of licenses in line with international standards and the creation of a Credit Tribunal.

The CBN, which was largely backed by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) and other stakeholders, also made a case for enhancement of regulatory measures for single obligor limits, transfer of significant holdings and the strengthening of the sanctions regime to make it more deterrent.

Alleged Corruption: Court Orders Business Man To Forfeit 5 Houses To Federal Govt

Editorial staff

July 22, 2020

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja and presided over by Justice A. I. Chikere has ordered a business man, Hima Abubakar to forfeit five houses he acquired through means considered to be inappropriate to the Federal Government.

The business man along with his company, Hima Aboubakar and Societe D’ Equipment International Nigeria Limited, will also forfeit a total sum of N46, 060, 373.84.

Abubakar and his firm, Societe D’ Equipment International Nigeria Limited, were dragged before the Federal High Court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on account of assets and properties acquired with suspected proceeds of unlawful activities.

In an application for the final forfeiture of the assets filed by EFCC counsels, Abba Muhammed and M. A Lamin, in Suit No: FHC/ ABJ/ CS/ 507/ 2020, prayed that the assets be forfeited to the government.

Justice Chikere, after reviewing the requirements for the forfeiture, said: “the applicant has satisfied the condition for grant of reliefs sought and accordingly the reliefs sought are granted as prayed.”

He subsequently ordered the forfeiture of the properties and money to the government.

The five properties forfeited include: House Number 6, Ethiopia Close, Off Owena close, Maitama Abuja; Plot 3515, Cadastral Zone A06 Maitama District, Abuja; Plot 3516, Cadastral Zone A06 Maitama District, Abuja; Plot 3518, Cadastral Zone A06 Maitama District, Abuja and Plot 3519, Cadastral Zone A06 Maitama District, Abuja. Also, a total sum of N46 million found in the bank accounts of Mr Aboubakar and his firm, were also forfeited to the government.

The breakdown of the money include N1, 143, 314.50, found in the Zenith Bank Account Number 1013860768 of Societe D’ Equipment International Nigeria Limited (SEINL) and the sum of $66, 417.60 found in the Zenith Bank Account Number 5070345440 of SEINL. Others are: N5, 802, 925.03 in Aboubakar’s Zenith Bank Account Number: 1004540143, €15, 288.08 in Zenith Bank Account Number: 5080095319 and $17, 607.75 in his Zenith Bank Account Number: 5070410935. The sum of N 304,864,81 in Aboubakar’s First Bank Account Number: 3083229135 was also forfeited to the government.

Aboubakar’s troubles started when he was declared wanted by the EFCC in a case of criminal conspiracy, contract scam, misappropriation of public funds, money laundering and fraud to the tune of $394 million, €9.9 million and N369 million.

He allegedly received the funds for the purchase of equipment for the Nigerian military but investigations revealed discrepancies in the supply of the equipment.

Buhari, For The First Time In 4 Months, Flies Out Of Nigeria Tomorrow, To Mali

Editorial staff

July 22, 2020

President Muhammadu Buhari, for the first time since coronavirus arrived, will fly out of the country tomorrow, July 23, heading to Bamako, Republic of Mali on a one-day visit.

His trip is backgrounded on the briefing by the ECOWAS Special Envoy to the country, former President Goodluck Jonathan.

A statement today, July 22, by the special adviser to the President on media and publicity, Femi Adesina said that President Buhari and some ECOWAS leaders, led by the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the sub-regional organisation, President Issoufou Mahamadou of Niger Republic, had agreed to meet in Mali to engage in further consultations towards finding a political solution to the crisis in the country.

The statement said that the host President, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and Presidents Machy Sall of Senegal, Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana and Alassane Ouattara of Cote d’Ivoire are expected to participate in the Bamako meeting.

It recalled that former President Jonathan was at the State House in company of President of ECOWAS Commission,Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, on Tuesday to brief President Buhari on the unfolding situation in Mali, necessitating the visit of ECOWAS leaders to consolidate on the agreements reached by various parties.

“We will ask the President of Niger, who is the Chairman of ECOWAS to brief us as a group, and we will then know the way forward,” the statement quoted President Buhari as saying.

He thanked Dr Jonathan for his comprehensive brief on the situation in Mali, “which you had been abreast with since when you were the sitting Nigerian President.”

The former President had filled in President Buhari on his activities as Special Envoy to restore amity to Mali, rocked by protests against President Keita, who has spent two out of the five years second term in office.

A resistance group, M5, is insisting that the Constitutional Court must be dissolved, and the President resign, before peace can return to the country.

Crisis had erupted after the court nullified results of 31 parliamentary seats in the polls held recently, awarding victory to some other contenders, which the resistance group said was at the instigation of President Keita.

Riots on July 10 had led to the killing of some protesters by security agents, causing the crisis to spiral out of control, hence the intervention by ECOWAS.

Nigeria Customs Service Board Promotes 2,634 Officers, Dismisses One

Editorial staff

July 22, 2020

The Nigeria Customs Service Board (NCSB) has confirmed the promotion of 2,634 officers, including the former customs spokesperson and current Vice President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR). Adewale Adeniyi.

Adeniyi was promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General. He is currently Commandant, Nigerian Customs Command and Staff College , Gwagwalada.

A statement by the current customs Spokesperson, Joseph Attah reads:

Nigeria Customs Service Board (NCSB) at its 52nd Regular meeting approved the appointment of Five Assistant Comptrollers General of Customs, promotion of 2,634 Officers, dismissal of One ACG and compulsory retirement of another ACG. Hon. Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning and Chairman, NCS Board, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed who presided over the meeting said decisions taken during the meeting were meant to ginger and move the Service forward in-terms of manpower and operations.

The new Assistant Comptrollers General of Customs are: ACG, Mohammed Boyi – Training and Coordination ACG, Adewale Adeniyi – Commandant C&SC Gwagwalada ACG, Jack Ajoku – Strategic Research and Policy ACG, Olakunle Oyeleke – Doctrine, Development and Administration ACG, Emmanuel Edorhe – Zonal Coordinator, Zone ‘C’. Breakdown of the 2,634 Officers whose promotion have 1st January 2019 as effective date is as follows:

Deputy Comptrollers to Comptrollers of Customs = 37

Assistant Comptrollers of Customs to Deputy Comptrollers = 110

Chief Superintendent of Customs to Assistant Comptrollers = 138

Superintendent of Customs to Chief Superintendent of Customs = 93

Deputy Superintendent of Customs to Superintendent of Customs = 93

Assistant Superintendent of Customs I to Deputy Superintendent of Customs = 1224

Assistant Superintendent of Customs II to Assistant Superintendent of Customs I = 475

Inspector of Customs to Assistant Superintendent of Customs II = 464

205 out of the 2,634 are Support Staff who also enjoyed promotion to various ranks.

In-line with the reform agenda, the Board took some disciplinary actions against two Senior Officers. ACG Aminu Dahiru was dismissed for act of serious misconduct while ACG Bashir Abubakar was compulsorily retired for act of negligence.

The Hon. Minister described the NCS as “Making Progress” and expressed the hope that the coming of the e-Customs will help improve NCS operations

Federal Govt Creates Nigerian Youth Investment Fund, Sets N75 Billion Aside For It

Editorial staff

July 22, 2020

For the first time in the history of Nigeria, The Federal Government, for the first time in the history of Nigeria, has approved the establishment of the Nigerian Youth Investment Fund (NYIF) to the tune of N75 billion.

This fund, according to the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, is meant to create a special window for accessing credit facilities and financing for the youths that will help to fund their ideas, innovations and also support their enterprise.

Speaking to newsmen today, July 22 at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the presidential villa, Abuja, the Minister, said that for the first time, the country will have a youth bank.

He said that it is a fund that will cater specifically for the youth within the stipulated age band, “which is going to be between 18 and 35 years.

“The second approval that was secured was for the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development to play a leading role in working on necessary steps that need to be taken in terms of legislation, organisation and other aspects of financing.

“The Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning will take the lead when it comes to the aspect of financing, working with the CBN, the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and other relevant MDAs.

“A couple of other details will be released later, but I think the most important thing is that the N75 billion Nigerian Youth Investment Fund, to cater specifically for this target group, a population of over 68 million.”

Sunday Dare said that the fund will be accessed by the youths, saying: “once they are able to present their ideas, they can access this fund directly.”

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