The minister-in-charge of All Saints Church, Jericho in Ibadan, Funso Jolayemi, has bemoaned the death of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, describing his demise as painful and a big loss to the church.

Mr Jolayemi is the minister-in-charge of the church where the late Akeredolu worshipped during his lifetime.

Speaking on Tuesday in Ibadan, the cleric said that he received the news of the former governor’s death with mixed feelings, adding that his death was too painful because the church had lost a strong pillar.

“We accepted his death with mixed feelings. We never wanted him to go, yet we never wanted him to remain in that terrible condition of sickness. We reluctantly agreed with God that he had gone to rest,” said Mr Jolayemi.

The cleric described Mr Akeredolu as a good and godly man, adding that he was very committed to things of God.

“He was a member of the choir, the harvest planning committee, memorial parks and garden and also, a newly-elected trustee of our church. He doesn’t play with All Saints Church. It was the church of his pride. He cared for everyone,” the priest stated.

Mr Jolayemi added, “He was a philanthropist par excellence and a singer who was not ashamed to confess God Almighty openly. He loved God, and he identified with God’s people, both church members and ministers.

“He would always make people around him laugh, and he was ready to close his eyes and say ‘amen’ when it was time for prayer. We can boldly say that he had gone to rest. May his good soul rest in perfect peace.”

Mr Akeredolu died in the early hours of December 27, 2023, at a German hospital where he was receiving treatment for a protracted illness

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, on Monday, signed the 2024 appropriation bill into law, with an addition of N21.74 billion on the initial N2.246 trillion ‘Budget of Renewal’ presented.

Speaking during the signing ceremony at the Lagos House Ikeja, Mr Sanwo-Olu said the budget size now stood at N2.267 trillion as against the initial N2.246 trillion.”

For the purpose of clarity, the approved budget size is N2,267,976,120,869; comprising N1,315,545,553,871 for capital expenditure and N952,430,566,998 for recurrent expenditure, a ratio of 58:42.

The approved budget size is N21.74 billion higher than what was presented to the House of Assembly, due to additional provisions to enforce completion of ongoing projects,” he said.

The governor said the impact of the budget would be determined by the effectiveness of its implementation.

He said the government was determined to ensure that the goals and objectives of the budget were maximally realised, for the benefit of all residents and in line with the THEMES+ development agenda.

According to him, the government will work assiduously to ensure the completion of ongoing projects and ensure the effective take off of new ones.

He urged all residents to play their roles in the successful implementation of the budget, committedly discharging their civic obligations as and when due.”

As a government, we will continue to be guided by the highest standards of transparency and accountability in the management of resources put in our care,” the governor said.

He thanked the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, and all members of the assembly for their cooperation and commitment, which ensured the expeditious consideration and passage of the budget.

Speaking earlier on behalf of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, said the budget had been thoroughly looked at by the assembly members and all necessities put in place.

Also speaking, the commissioner for economic planning and budget, Ope George, said to put up an all encompassing budget, the ministry held fora at the five divisions (Ikorodu, Ikeja, Epe, Badagry, and Lagos Island) of the state.

Mr George said that such fora helped to understand the needs from the different divisions, which assisted to guide the budget development.

Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River has assured families of fallen heroes of the support of the government.

Mr Otu gave the assurance in Calabar during a service at the Presbyterian Church, Hope Waddell Parish, held in honour of the fallen heroes as part of the activities to mark the 2024 Armed Forces Remembrance Day.

The governor said, “I believe we should not allow their toil to go in vain. We stand by you and are ready to offer support whenever needed; it is our commitment that no family is left alone in the face of adversity.

“Far beyond this ceremony, we will support the widows and legion.”

He commended the officers and men of the security agencies for their efforts in battling insecurity in the state, urging them to continue to do their best to ensure that peace reigns in the state and the country at large.

The prelate of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Ekpenyong Akpanika, emphasised the importance of sacrifice for the nation.

Mr Akpanika said Nigerians should take the opportunity of the Armed Forces Remembrance celebrations to reflect more on the meaning and importance of sacrifice as it affected the interest of the nation.

He stated, “This service affords us the opportunity to reflect and seek peaceful ways of living with members of the society. No matter what we are passing through, victory is sure, we will not labour in vain.”

The Supreme Court on Friday affirmed the election of Babajide Sanwo-Olu as Governor of Lagos State.

Justice Garba Lawal who read the lead judgment, dismissed the appeal filed by the Labour Party, LP, candidate, Mr Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour.

Earlier, Sanwo-Olu had urged the Supreme Court to dismiss the appeals against his victory at the February 25 governorship election.

Rhodes-Vivour, and the Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate, Abdulazeez Adediran, were challenging Sanwo-Olu’s victory.

The LP urged the apex court to hold that the March 18 election was marred by irregularities and non-compliance with the Electoral Act, adding that Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat was not qualified to contest the election.

Similarly, Adediran filed 34 grounds of appeal, asking the apex court to upturn the verdict of the Lagos State Governorship Election Tribunal and the Court of Appeal.

But counsel to Sanwo-Olu, Nas Ogunsakin, informed the court that the applicants did not present evidence to support their claims and that the witnesses brought were incompetent.

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party during the 2023 general elections, Mr Peter Obi, has donated N75m to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Specialist Hospital, Nkpor, Anambra State.

Obi, while presenting the cheques to the hospital’s management on the hospital’s premises on Thursday, said the money was to help the hospital in critical areas of need and other health interventions.

The former Anambra State governor said the donation comprised $50,000, which he personally raised for the hospital through his friend and a renowned New York-based paediatrician, Dr Philip Ozuah, and his own personal donation of N15m.

He said he had always talked to people of like minds to support society in critical areas such as health and education while appreciating Ozuah for the positive intervention.

Obi said, “Institutions like the one run by the Immaculate Heart Sisters are in difficulty and require support because they don’t receive government subvention.

“They treat people, including the poor, who are unable to pay, so individuals like me should come to their aid and support them to do more. I have been doing this for years and I will continue to offer my support for this.

“I will always support institutions that are well managed like the Immaculate Heart of Mary Specialist Hospital, managed by the Immaculate Heart Sisters. They have proved to be effective managers of funds since my relationship with them over the years.

“I most sincerely thank the Immaculate Heart of Mary Sisters for the wonderful work they are doing in critical areas of developmental health, education and pulling people out of poverty.

“And I will continue to solicit support for them wherever I can. My brother and good friend, Dr Philip Ozuah, whom I consider a very kind and committed fellow in terms of improving humanity, has donated the sum of $50,000. I am also supporting with N15m.”

The Proprietor of the Immaculate Heart Hospital, Rev. Mother Maureen Akabogu, appreciated Obi for his gracious donation and consistent support for the Hospital since its inception.

She said, “It is indeed a great day of joy and I believe strongly what St. Paul said that for those who love God, everything works together for good. I was bothered about how to execute some projects in this hospital until I got the good news that Mr Peter Obi is coming to assist us and here we are.

“This is a great help to us and a great leap to what we are doing here in caring for the sick. The hospital runs many charity activities, including offsetting the bills of some indigent patients who could not pay their medical bills. The donation from Obi and his friend will help us greatly in this direction,” Akabogu added.

The Chief Executive Officer of Immaculate Heart Hospital, Rev. Sister Maria-Nkiruka Okafor, in her remarks, said Obi and Ozuah’s donation would go a long way to help in providing standard healthcare services to both the rich and the poor who access the hospital.

She solicited more assistance for the hospital from people of goodwill, noting that the hospital focuses on saving lives first and deemphasising money.

The Supreme Court will deliver judgment on the Kano State governorship election appeals on Friday.

Confirming this to Daily Trust, legal team’s secretary for the New Nigeria People’s Party, Bashir Tudun Wuzirci, stated that each party had been directed not to come to the court with more than two counsels.

He said, “Yes, it is officially confirmed. They told us to appear on Friday for the judgment. They told us that each party should not have more than two counsels in attendance. This, they said, is because they will be delivering seven judgments on the same Friday,” he added.

Governor Abba Yusuf had appealed the judgment of the Court of Appeal which had affirmed his sacking by the state election petition tribunal.

The tribunal also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to issue a certificate of return to Nasir Yusuf Gawuna, candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the March, 2023 election.

On its part, the appeal court, while affirming the governor’s sack, further held that he was not an NNPP member as of the time of the election and could not have been said to be properly sponsored for the election.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Olumuyiwa Enitan, has taken over the management of the ministry as directed by President Bola Tinubu after the suspension of Betta Edu as minister.

Edu was suspended by the President on Monday following widespread anger over the approval given by the former humanitarian affairs minister for the payment of N585m into a private account.

The President had directed the minister to hand over to the permanent secretary, who got the letter to take over the affairs of the ministry on Monday night.

The letter was handed over to Enitan by an official from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, according to workers at the humanitarian ministry on Wednesday.

“The permanent secretary has taken over the affairs of the ministry based on the directive of Mr President. He officially got the letter to assume duty on Monday night,” a senior official at the humanitarian ministry, who pleaded not to be named due to a lack of authorisation, stated.

The official added, “He (permanent secretary) needed to get the letter of authorisation from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation before assuming duties, despite the announcement in the media.”

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, had stated in a statement on Monday that Tinubu directed the suspended minister to “hand over to the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.”

The suspended minister was also directed by the President to fully cooperate with the investigating authorities as they conduct their investigation.

The panel, headed by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, was also charged with conducting a comprehensive diagnostic of the financial architecture and framework of the social investment programmes.

The Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division, on Tuesday fixed Feb. 8 for hearing of an appeal filed by a former Oyo State Deputy Governor, Mr Rauf Olaniyan, challenging his impeachment by the House of Assembly.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the first and second respondents in the appeal are: Oyo State House of Assembly and Clerk, with the Chief Justice of Oyo State, the Attorney-General and Kayode Christopher as the third to fifth respondents.

The appeal panel chaired by Justice Yargata Nimpa fixed Feb. 8 for hearing after granting the application for extension of time of brief of argument filed by counsel to the first and second respondents, Mr Samuel Oyadoyin.

The panel also granted the motion of the appellant’s counsel, Mr Kazeem Gbadamosi, SAN, to deem the appellant’s reply brief of Nov. 23, 2023 as properly filed before the court.

The panel, before granting the application and motion, had asked the counsel to the third and fifth respondents, Mr O.A. Ogunniran, Director of Litigation in the state Ministry of Justice, whether he was opposed to it, to which he said ‘No’.

“The application for extension of time to file brief of argument of first and second respondents and the motion of the applicant is granted.

“The case is adjourned to Feb. 8 for hearing,” Nimpa said.

NAN recalls that Justice Bayo Taiwo of Oyo State High Court had, in his judgment on Jan. 9, 2023, declared as constitutional, the process of Olaniyan’s impeachment by the assembly and, consequently, upheld the impeachment.

Not satisfied with the judgment, Olaniyan had approached the appellate court, praying it to set it aside and nullify his impeachment for not complying with constitutional provisions and thus lacking fair hearing.

NAN reports that the former deputy governor was impeached by the assembly over allegations of financial recklessness, misconduct and insubordination, among others.

The Supreme Court has affirmed the election of Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue.

The court dismissed the appeal by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Titus Uba, its candidate in the 2023 governorship election.

Justice John Okoro, who led the five members of the panel of justices, delivered the judgment on Monday.

The governorship election petition tribunal and the court of appeal in Abuja had affirmed Mr Alia’s election as the governor of Benue on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Not pleased with the judgments, Uba approached the apex court for redress.Mr Alia, a Catholic priest, was also given a certificate of return by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The INEC returning officer, Faruk Kuta, said the APC candidate polled 473,933 votes to defeat his closest rival, Titus Uba of the Peoples Democratic Party, who scored 223,914.

The Joint Action for Good Governance (JAGG) has urged President Bola Tinubu to investigate palliatives distribution, especially those channelled through members of the National Assembly to constituents.

The advocacy group, in a statement on Saturday in Lagos by its national vice president, Abdulwaheed Odunuga, said that most eligible and vulnerable Nigerians never got any relief.

Mr Odunuga said that the pattern and modalities for the distribution of the president’s palliatives had given a lot of concerns to the group, saying many people could not access the reliefs meant to alleviate their pains.

According to him, information in some quarters is that the palliatives, especially foodstuff, are cornered and sold by some greedy people without getting to the vulnerable.

“The transparency and accountability of government initiatives, especially those aimed at providing relief during challenging times, are of utmost importance to the citizens.

“It has come to my attention that substantial amounts – N100 million worth of palliatives to House of Representatives members and N200 million worth of palliatives to each Senator – have been allocated for distribution.

“While the intention behind providing palliatives is commendable, there is a growing need for greater transparency and accountability in the distribution process.

“The citizens have the right to know how these palliatives are being allocated, who the beneficiaries are, and how the process ensures fair and equitable distribution,” Mr Odunuga said.

He called for a detailed breakdown of the criteria used to identify beneficiaries eligible for the palliatives as well as a comprehensive list of recipients.

“We need information on the method of distribution or delivery of the palliatives to ensure that they reach the intended beneficiaries in a timely and accountable manner.

“We want to know steps taken to ensure that the allocation and distribution process is transparent, fair, and free from any form of favouritism.

“As a concerned citizen, I believe that providing this information will enhance public trust and confidence in government initiatives.

“Transparency in the distribution of palliatives is crucial to demonstrating the commitment of the Federal Government to the welfare of its citizens, especially during times of crisis,” he said.

Mr Odunuga urged the government to treat the matter with the urgency and seriousness it deserved.

According to him, the citizens look to government representatives for leadership and accountability and “your prompt response will contribute significantly to building a more transparent and accountable government”.

President Biden has warned that American democracy could fall if Donald Trump wins a second term in this year’s presidential election.

In a campaign speech to mark the third anniversary of the Capitol riots on Saturday, Mr Biden has accused his leading Republican opponent of embracing “political violence” and warned voters: “Your freedom is on the ballot.”

The speech – Mr Biden’s first campaign event of the year – gave examples of Mr Trump’s links to the “mob” that stormed the Capitol in January 2021 and his plans for a second term in the White House.

“We’ve been blessed for so long with a strong, stable democracy, it’s easy to forget why so many before us risked their lives to strengthen democracy,” Mr Biden said.

“If democracy falls, we’ll lose that freedom, lose the power of we, the people, to shape our destiny.”

Mr Biden appeared to restrain himself as he recalled how Mr Trump had laughed about a Jan 6 rioter looking for Nancy Pelosi in the Capitol.

“He thinks that’s funny, he laughed about it. What a sick…” Mr Biden said, stopping himself.“What’s Trump done? He’s called these insurrectionists ‘patriots’, and he promised to pardon them if he returns to office.”

The speech marked a pivot in Mr Biden’s campaign towards more vocal criticism of Mr Trump and his “MAGA” followers – an initialism of his slogan “Make America Great Again”.

National polls show that the two men are neck-and-neck in a hypothecated race that would occur if Mr Trump wins the Republican nomination later this year.

Currently, the former president is polling about 50 points ahead of both Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley, and aides believe that he will have secured the required Republican delegates to win the nomination by mid-March – only two months into the primary race.

Mr Biden’s speech was held near Valley Forge, the historic site where George Washington regrouped American forces during the war of independence almost 250 years ago.

The speech also repeated a claim of Mr Biden’s that Mr Trump uses the rhetoric of 1930s facism in his campaigns.

“He talks about the blood of Americans being poisoned, echoing the same exact language used in Nazi Germany,” said Mr Biden, who was greeted by chants from supporters of “four more years”.

He added: “Donald Trump’s campaign is obsessed with the past, not the future. He’s willing to sacrifice our democracy, put himself in power.”

Addressing voters in the swing state of Pennsylvania, Mr Biden said that the “defence, protection and preservation of democracy” would remain the “central cause of [his] presidency” if he was to win a second term this year.

Mr Biden’s shift towards personal criticism of Mr Trump comes as polls show that his central campaign message of “Bidenomics” has failed to win over swing voters, leaving him trailing his main rival on the issue of the economy in six battleground states polled for The Telegraph by Redfield & Wilton Strategies.

The president’s election campaign is hoping to win back the support of core Democrat voters, including ethnic and religious minority groups and young liberal voters, who have become less enthusiastic about Mr Biden since the 2020 election.

It is thought that a more emotive campaign based on the excesses of the first Trump presidency could persuade liberals to turn out on polling day in an attempt to keep a Republican out of the White House.

Polls show that voters are less likely to associate Mr Trump with the Capitol riots now than they were soon after they took place.

In the days after the attack, 52 per cent of American adults said that Mr Trump bore a lot of responsibility for the chaos of Jan 6, according to the Pew Research Center, but by early 2022 that figure had fallen to 43 per cent.

Mr Trump’s alleged involvement or encouragement of the riots will be examined in a federal trial in Washington later this year, when the former president will stand trial for a raft of charges including conspiracy to defraud the United States.

Governor Siminialayi Fubara has affirmed his resolve to pursue policies and programmes that will significantly enhance the welfare of the state civil servants.

On Thursday, the Rivers governor stated this when he addressed a group of workers at the Government House to register their grievances over the non-payment of the N100,000 Christmas largesse he approved for state civil servants.

Mr Fubara apologised to the workers over the development.

He attributed the delay in the payment of the largesse to the unfavourable telecommunication networks being experienced by the bank handling the disbursement and other banks.

The governor said workers yet to get theirs “are lucky because some people might have finished theirs immediately it was paid to them.”

Mr Fubara added, “The situation was that you get this money and enjoy it during Christmas but as God will have it, yours had been kept as part of your kids’ school fees this time.

“All I can say is that we apologise for the inconvenience the delay has caused you. The governor’s intention was very noble and good. We have never seen it this way and no other state had done what the governor had done for workers.”

According to him, the government has paid the money to workers, but some banks are encountering some glitches.

“But, I can assure you that they are on top of the issue because the bank had promised to rectify the problem,” the governor said.

He further assured the workers that they would receive the money by Friday.Mr Fubara also urged the workers to continue to be good ambassadors of the state. He charged them to show commitment, diligence and dedication and present a good image of Rivers.

The governor assured the workers that other issues, such as the unpaid arrears, would be adequately addressed.

Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has paid a condolence visit to the family of the late Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

Obi visited the residence of the late governor, in the company of a political economist, Prof Pat Utomi.

The former Anambra State governor made this known via his X handle (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, describing Akeredolu as an individual who was committed to building a better Nigeria.

Obi’s tweet read, “Today, together with my very dear elder brother, Prof Pat Utomi, I arrived Ibadan, Oyo State, to commiserate with the bereaved wife of Late Gov Rotimi Akeredolu, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, and the entire Akeredolu Family, as we all mourn the death of Gov Akeredolu.

“While Gov Akeredolu was the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, and subsequently as a governor, he stayed consistent on how to build a better Nigeria where there would be  respect for the rule of law, security of lives and properties  of Nigerian citizens.

“He believed in a restructured and productive Nigeria. May God who it pleased to call him home at this time grant him eternal rest and grant his dear wife, Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, the entire Akeredolu family, and all of us who mourn him, the fortitude to bear his irreplaceable loss.”

President Bola Tinubu on Monday disclosed that the 2024 budget includes N100 billion allocation for the school feeding programmes.

He made this statement during the signing of the 2024 appropriation bill into law in the State House in Abuja.

Tinubu stated that the provision will serve as a stimulant to encourage attendance in schools and reduce the problem of out-of-school children.

“One of the priority areas of the bill we just passed is the N100 billion provision for the feeding of school children. I believe that is a stimulant that will encourage school enrolment and also address malnutrition among school children.

“I will be meeting with local government at sub-national levels so that we can collaborate and jointly implement an all-inclusive programme,” the President said.

The President also confirmed that the budget, christened “Renewed Hope” is anchored on reducing the recurrent expenditure, but increasing capital expenditure.

Earlier in December, Tinubu ordered the reintroduction of the school feeding programme and mandated its transfer from the Humanitarian Ministry to the Education Ministry.

The programme, previously halted under former President Muhammadu Buhari, will now fall under the Education Ministry’s purview, aiming to not only provide nutritious meals to pupils but also encourage attendance and enhance learning.

Benue State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia on Sunday pardoned 12 prisoners serving various jail terms at the Correction Centres in the state.

Alia also converted the dismissal of a Benue State civil servant, Mr Dennis Yogbo to termination of appointment.

This was contained in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Tersoo Kula on Sunday in Makurdi.

Kula said the Governor took the decision based on the recommendation of the Benue State Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy headed by the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, Barr. Fidelis Mnyim.

According to him, Alia enjoyed the pardoned inmates to be of good behavior and urged them to make use of the skills acquired while in confinement to better their lot.

“Give your society the very best. And as for the gentleman whose dismissal has been converted to termination of appointment, don’t take any elements of life for granted; demonstrate your newness into your society,” the Governor said.

Alia said the act of mercy was granted based on his administration’s desire to offer the best to the people of Benue, even as he was worried that most of the inmates were young persons who ordinarily should not be anywhere near the prison.

“This should not be home for them. I was quite shocked to see the faces of many young people here, where there are a total of 525 inmates, including 25 females, one with a baby, while some came in with pregnancy,” he said.

Earlier in his remarks, the Benue State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, Barr. Fidelis Mnyim, told the governor that the 8-man committee headed by him did a thorough duty before recommending those that were granted pardon, in line with Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution for offences they committed against the state.

He explained further that the inmates granted pardon were drawn from Makurdi, Otukpo and Gboko correctional facilities.

Responding on behalf of the freed inmates, Barnabas Apav thanked Governor Alia for the gesture, pledging that henceforth, they would be of good behaviour.

Also responding, Dennis Yogbo, who was granted state pardon, said he had been in bondage for 28 years, until God sent governor Alia to come to his rescue.