Politics

Kano APC senatorial candidate standing trial for fraud is nowhere to be found – EFCC

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Abdulkareem Abdulsalam Zaura (popularly known as AA Zaura), the senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano central has been declared missing by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission during a recent court outing.

AA Zaura who was accused of defrauding a Kuwaiti national of $1.3million, refused to show up for arraignment on Monday, October 31, after the Court of Appeal quashed the earlier discharge and acquittal judgment and ordered his retrial.

The prosecution counsel and EFCC’s Head of Legal, Aisha Habib, noted that the defendant who was also absent on October 14, is nowhere to be found and his absence in court was a total disregard to the court.

Zaura’s counsel, Ibrahim Waru, however told the court that because they have filed an interlocutory application challenging the jurisdiction of the court, his client does not have to be physically present in court.

He added that his client is not physically fit to stand trial and that a medical report had been obtained.

Before adjourning the case to November 10, Justice Mohammad Nasiru Yinusa directed that a written application on whether or not the defendant should be present in court be filed by Zaura’s counsel.

Lifestyle, Politics

Bandits kill Katsina State Govt House staff after collecting N5m ransom

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Bandits have killed Lawal Dahiru, a steward working in the Katsina State Government House after collecting N5m ransom.

Spokesperson of the State Police Command, SP Gambo Isah, who confirmed the incident, said Dahiru was kidnapped 24 days ago on his farmland, not far away from the 35 Battalion Natsinta, Nigerian Army Barracks, along the Jibiya-Katsina Road.

Late Dahiru is survived by four wives, about 20 children and grandchildren. He has since been buried according to Islamic rites.

Governor Aminu Bello Masari on Saturday, October 29, 2022, paid a condolence visit to the family members of the deceased.

Politics

President Buhari summons emergency security meeting

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President Muhammadu Buhari will today Monday, October 31, meet with security chiefs in the nation’s capital, Abuja, to further review and strengthen the security network in the country.

The President, who was initially scheduled to commission the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) new Technology and Innovation Complex, will receive briefs from the security chiefs, and interject on areas that need more attention.

The meeting will be coming amid terror alerts of impending attacks on the Federal Capital Territory.

The development led to panic with the US and UK advising their citizens to leave Abuja.

Politics

FG, states and LGs share N760bn September allocation

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The federal, state, and local governments have shared N760bn allocation for the month of September.

The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) disclosed this on Thursday, October 27, in a communiqué issued after its meeting for October 2022.

A breakdown of the N760.235 billion for the month of September shows that N502.135 billion was for statutory revenue, N189.928 billion for value-added tax (VAT), and N8.172 billion for electronic money transfer levy (EMTL).

According to the communiqué, the federal government received N294.244 billion, the states received N233.223 billion, and local governments received N172.776 billion.

For the month in review, oil-producing states also received N59.992 billion as derivation, (13 percent of mineral revenue). FAAC further said the gross revenue available from the value-added tax was N189.928 billion.

From the figures received, the federal government received N28.489 billion, the states received N94.964 billion and local governments got N66.475 billion.

On the gross statutory revenue of N502.135 billion distributed, the federal government was given N232.921 billion, while the states and local governments got N118.141 billion and N91.081 billion, respectively.

Meanwhile, FAAC disclosed that oil and gas royalties increased tremendously. It said while petroleum profit tax (PPT) and excise duty marginally increased, value-added tax (VAT), import duty, and companies income tax (CIT), decreased considerably.

The committee added that the balance in the excess crude account (ECA), as at October 26, 2022, stands at $472,513.64.

Politics

Consider your future before voting – Clergyman, William Kumuyi advises Nigerians

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Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor William Kumuyi, has advised Nigerians to consider their future and vote for credible candidates.

The cleric gave the advice when he spoke to newsmen in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State.

“Our future is in our hands, that is why we have democracy and that is why we were given a choice to know our candidates, both at the local government and state levels as well as the federation level.

And since we want the best and we have been dreaming and expecting that we have the very best for our country, it’s to our advantage if we talk to ourselves and be at peace, so that we can have a peaceful and fair election.”he said

Politics

Gov Sanwo-Olu presents N1.69trn 2023 budget, says Lagos is a national asset

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Lagos state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has presented the 2023 budget to the state house of assembly.

He presented a budget of N1.69 trillion to the house of assembly on Thursday, October 27.

According to the breakdown given by the governor, capital expenditure will take N932 billion which represents 55 percent of the total budget while recurrent expenditure will gulp N759 billion.

While addressing the lawmakers, the governor restated his demand for a new revenue-sharing formula. The governor called for a special status for Lagos, describing the state as a “national asset”.

“Lagos continues to experience increased pressure on social services due to unhindered migration from other parts of the country. It is for this reason that I always sought and I will still continue to reiterate the need for Lagos to be accorded a special status as a national asset.

Lagos is too big for this country to allow it to fail. Lagos is too strategic for us not to see it that the wholesome of Lagos is the wholesome of this country, that the benefits of Lagos transcend one region, one part or one scope of this country.

As a microsome of the entire country, Lagos deserves all the support it can get at the national level.”he said

Politics

I wasn’t consulted – Mimiko rejects inclusion in PDP presidential campaign council

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Former Governor of Ondo state, Olusegun Mimiko has rejected his appointment as the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign council committee in the state.

In a statement released on Wednesday October 26, by John Akinduro, his special assistant on media, Mimiko said his consent was not sought before he was appointed.

The former Governor also said that he supports agitations for restructuring of the party’s leadership architechture.

The statement read;

“Dr Olusegun Mimiko has been inundated with calls and messages from the general public, and his political friends and concerned individuals around the nation; and in particular, his teeming supporters across the length and breadth of Ondo State, seeking clarity on fake news making the rounds since yesterday that he had ditched Governors Nyesom Wike, Seyi Makinde and their colleague governors, and abandoned the agitation for regional equity within the PDP; and in particular, making a party member of southern extraction its national chairman before the 2023 electionr.

“The report and the list that triggered it are fake and a deliberate attempt to muddle things up and smear Dr Olusegun Mimiko.

“It must be stated with emphasis that Dr Mimiko was neither consulted by anyone nor consented to his inclusion in any Ondo state PDP Presidential Campaign Council list.

“For the avoidance of doubt and to set the record straight, Dr Mimiko is unwavering in his commitment to the principle of equity, fairness and justice through which he believes a credible push for a PDP victory is possible.

“He fully subscribes to the agitation by his colleagues and other stakeholders in PDP and the generality of Nigerians that the PDP structure must reflect Nigeria’s diversity if it genuinely wants to unify a visibly divided country.”

Lifestyle, Politics

Soludo cancels taxes on wheelbarrow pushers, hawkers and others

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Governor Charles Soludo has cancelled all taxes imposed on wheelbarrow pushers, vulcanizers, hawkers and some other blue-collar job holders in the state.

Soludo made the announcement while addressing residents of the state at the second phase of the open bidding for revenue concessions at the Government House Awka.

He said;

“Wheelbarrow pushers must not pay any fee in the state. Vulcanizers operating along the road should also cease paying any fee to anyone. Hawkers shouldn’t pay any fees. These poor people should stop being harassed.

“This message is for the Market unions. If they are found with any evidence, that union will be dissolved with immediate effect.

We want to build a society where the poor feel empowered and where the rich can get more resources to create wealth and employment.”

Lifestyle, Politics

Preliminary number of registered voters in Nigeria now 93.5m – INEC

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Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that the preliminary number of registered voters in Nigeria is now 93 million.

Yakubu disclosed this at the third quarterly meeting with political parties on Wednesday October 26.

He revealed that 9,518,188 new voters have been added to the existing register of 84,004,084 voters.

He said;

“It is preliminary because section 19(1) and (2) of the electoral act 2022 requires the commission to display the hard copies of the register of voters for each registration area (ward) and local government area (and simultaneously publish the entire register on the commission’s website) for a period of two weeks for scrutiny, claims and objections by citizens not later than 90 days to a general election.

“Accordingly, in the next few days, the commission will print 9,352,228 pages of the register. The hard copy will be displayed for each of the 8,809 registration areas (wards) and 774 local government areas nationwide while the entire register will be published on our website for claims and objections as required by law.

“The display of the physical register will take place at the designated centers from Saturday, 12th to Friday, 25th November 2022.

Further details, including the procedure for filing claims and objections, will be released by the commission next week. I would like to appeal to all Nigerians to seize the opportunity of the display to scrutinize the list and help us to clean it up further so that the final register of voters for the 2023 general election can be compiled and published.”

Yakubu also said that the permanent voter cards (PVCs) will be available soon as they are working hard to finish the printing process.

He added;

“In the coming days, we will also inform Nigerians of the detailed plan to ensure a seamless collection of the PVCs.

We are aware that Nigerians expect an improvement in the procedure for PVC collection.

Since the end of the CVR in July this year, we have been working to ensure that citizens have a pleasant experience when they come to collect their cards.”

Politics

Governor Ortom and Benue elders ‘withdraw support’ for Atiku over comment on killings by suspected herdsmen in the state

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Governor Samuel Ortom and a group of elder statesmen in Benue, Minda Leaders of Thoughts, have supposedly withdrawn their support for Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar over alleged hate speech and profiling of Benue people.

This came after Atiku sent a message of sympathy to Gbeji community in Ukum Local Government Area, LGA, of Benue State, after attacks that left about 39 people, including two policemen, dead and many hospitalized.

He said in the message;

“I’m saddened by the sustained clashes between farmers and herders that led to the loss of lives, including those of police officers in Gbeji community, Ukum LGA of Benue State.

“When our people are well integrated into communities where they live, work, pay taxes and raise their children, they’d be obligated to reciprocate the love and acceptance.

My deepest condolences to the families that may have lost a loved one and to the people and government of Benue State.”

However leaders of Gbeji community, accused the presidential candidate of being insenstive by claiming it was just a farmers and herders’ clash.

They stated that what happened in Gbeji last Wednesday, 19th October, 2022, was an unprovoked attack by armed Fulani militia.

The statement read;

“We members of the Gbeji community are disappointed with the statement by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar that there was farmers and herders’ clash in Gbeji which claimed lives including those of policemen.

“What happened in Gbeji last Wednesday, 19th October, 2022, was an unprovoked attack by armed Fulani militia, on the people around 6am.

“For Alhaji Atiku to talk about integration does not arise in Gbeji as the attackers do not live among us. After the unprovoked attack many people visit us including Senator Gabriel Suswam and other members of the National and State Assemblies who also visited the mortuary and saw some of the bodies of those killed.

“That Alhaji Atiku who is supposed to be the big shelter of the Tiv people, the Zege Mule u Tiv, does not believe people have been killed in spite of media reports and eyewitness accounts is the height of insensitivity.

“Alhaji Atiku should have taken time to visit us, or send assistance to alleviate our humanitarian problems is the least that we expected at this time. As at today the death toll has risen to 39 with many still missing while others are in various hospitals.

“If anyone cannot help us in our time of distress he should not mock us. We therefore, reject Alhaji Atiku’s statement which we regard as mockery.”

Also reacting to the statement, Ortom accused Atiku of dishonoring him as Governor and working against the interest of Benue residents.

Asides from alleging that the presidential candidate sidelined him while selecting his presidential campaign team, the Governor also accused Atiku of working with Miyetti Allah.

Ortom said;

“It was not correct for a presidential candidate who is seeking to rule the people to say that kind of thing.

“It was very wrong. And it would appear that he doesn’t even reference me and consider me to be a Governor of my state.

“I am not in his campaign team. The people they appointed there, no consent from me. So I’ll remain on my own. But I’m waiting; when the election comes, we shall vote the election according to the election.”

Lifestyle, Politics

You will kiss me until you are tired – Gov Wike tells wife

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Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike on Tuesday, October 25, revealed a romantic conversation he recently had with his wife, Eberechi Wike.

Speaking at a dinner/reception organized in his honor to celebrate the ‘Distinguished Award in Infrastructure Delivery’ recently presented to him, the governor said as the elections draw nearer and his tenure winds down, he recently told his wife that he no longer has a job as governor and that he has promised her his full attention.

He said ;

“I am going, and I am also happily going. I don’t have any regrets. In fact, I told my wife that now I have no job, you will kiss me till you get tired.”?

Lifestyle, Politics

Insecurity: The worst is over. Nigeria is safe – Lai Mohammed

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Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has said that Nigeria is ‘safer today than at any time in recent times,’ as the worst is over as far as insecurity is concerned.

The Minister said this when he spoke at a Ministerial Session at the ongoing UNESCO Global Media and Information Literacy Week.

According to him, the military and other security agencies are up to the task of protecting Nigerians and non-citizens.

“I can assure all that our military and other security agencies have continued to do everything possible to secure and protect Nigerians and foreigners living in Nigeria.

Terrorists have been hard hit and put on the run. Bandits have been decimated and scattered. Our country is safer today than at any time in recent times, thanks to the sacrifice of our men and women in uniform.

Nigerians too should continue to be alert but must not panic. Like I said in a recent statement, as far as insecurity is concerned, the worst is over for Nigeria.”

Mohammed also said some media outlets and social media personalities, spread unverified information on their platforms just for ‘clickbait.’

“Talking of clickbait, this may be what informed the spread of the supposed security alert issued recently by some foreign embassies in Nigeria.”

One would imagine that if indeed this kind of security alert was issued, it was for the attention of citizens of the issuing countries in Nigeria.

Suddenly, this alert found its way into the media, both new and traditional, thus creating panic in the polity.

Schools were shut, businesses were closed, travel plans were altered, lives were disrupted. No one cared to find out about the authenticity of these alerts.

They just published, got the benefit of massive clickbait and damned the consequences.”he said

Politics

Rishi Sunak officially becomes UK PM after meeting King Charles

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Rishi Sunak officially becomes UK PM after meeting King CharlesRishi Sunak on Tuesday, October 25, became the UK’s prime minister following a meeting with King Charles III.

The tradition sees the monarch invite the leader of the party with the highest number of MPs to form a government, which since the 2019 general election has been the Conservatives. In a speech outside 10 Downing Street after the meeting, Sunak said:

“Our country is facing a profound economic crisis. The aftermath of Covid still lingers, Putin’s war in Ukraine has destabilized energy markets and supply chains the world over.”

He paid tribute to his predecessor Liz Truss, who he said was “not wrong” to want to improve U.K. growth. He said, “some mistakes were made,” not “borne of ill will or bad intentions” but “mistakes nonetheless” and he had been elected “in part to fix them.”

He added:

“I will place economic stability and confidence at the heart of the government’s agenda. This will mean difficult decisions to come. But you saw me during Covid doing everything I could to protect people and businesses with schemes like furlough.

There are always limits, more so than ever, but I promise you this. I will bring that same compassion to the challenges we face today.”

Sunak is now expected to begin appointing new cabinet figures in yet another reshuffle at the top of British politics.

He was elected party leader by fellow Conservative lawmakers on Monday, October 24, following the resignation of Truss on Thursday, October 20.

Sunak is the third prime minister the UK will have in one year.

Politics

President Buhari gives Water Minister 90 days to produce flood prevention plan

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President Muhammadu Buhari has given the Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, 90 days to develop a comprehensive plan of action for the prevention of flood disaster in Nigeria.

Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu said Buhari gave the directive in a letter signed by his Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Gambari.

Buhari ordered the minister to coordinate with the ministries of environment and transportation as well as state governments to develop the plan.

It was also disclosed that Buhari is “regularly receiving updates on the flooding situation in the country and restates his commitment towards addressing the challenges caused by the disaster in the country”.

Politics

Nigeria will break up if APC wins 2023 presidential election – Obaseki

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Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state has said that Nigeria will break up if the All Progressive Congress (APC) wins the 2023 presidential election.

Obaseki who spoke during the swearing-in of members of the Edo state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign council management committee on Monday, October 25, said that ‘nobody has done the kind of damage the APC administration has done to this country.’

He said;

“I believe that this will be an easy election for us if we campaign right. Our heads should be examined as citizens of Nigeria if we even contemplate voting for a government like APC. God forbid APC comes into power; this country will break up; this country will fail. It has already failed.

“Nobody has done the kind of damage the APC administration has done to this country. I don’t know how we’ll recover. They have destroyed the basis of this country.

“By the grace of God, our candidate will win. We’ll bring back Nigeria; we’ll unify this country. We’ll reduce the differences we have and we’ll begin to build our country to what God says it should be.”

Politics

Wike accuses Atiku of disrespecting him and campaigning with enemies of Rivers state

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Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state has accused the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar of disrespecting and sidelining him.

Speaking during the inauguration of the PDP campaign council and launch of the party’s governorship campaign office in Port Harcourt, the state capital, Wike said Atiku selected “enemies” of Rivers into his campaign council for the 2023 general elections.

He also said that photos of Atiku and those of the PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, have been missing from the state’s PDP campaign materials because they don’t want him to campaign for the party at the national level.

Wike said;

“Some people have asked me why they haven’t seen the presidential candidate’s picture and the party chairman’s. I said what are you talking about? The presidential candidate entered my state and picked members of the presidential council without a whole governor of a state having a contribution.

“The presidential candidate entered Rivers State and picked those he wants to pick without my contribution. So, they said they don’t need me to campaign for them, that they don’t need Rivers people to campaign for them. Will you force yourself?

“I have never seen how people will disrespect a state like Rivers State and go and choose those who are enemies of the state without our contributions.”

Lifestyle, Politics

Appeal Court reserves judgment in FG’s stay-of-execution request in Nnamdi Kanu’s case

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The Court of Appeal in Abuja has reserved judgment in an application by the Federal Government seeking a stay of execution of the court’s judgment that ordered the release of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

The federal government had in the application alleged that Kanu constituted a huge threat to national security and must be kept in detention for peace in the country.

It was also alleged that Kanu was a flight risk and would escape out of the country if the judgment which ordered his release was not stayed.

Justice Haruna Tsanami who presided over the application on Monday October 24, said a date for delivery of judgment would be communicated to the parties when ready.

Politics

Court declares Otu APC governorship candidate in Cross River

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Bassey Otu was on Monday, October 24, declared the authentic governorship candidate for the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Cross River State for the forthcoming 2023 election, by a Federal High Court in Calabar.

Ruling on the lawsuit filed by Owan Enoh challenging Otu’s candidacy, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu held that it remains the right of political parties to determine their governorship candidate.

Enoh also added “that a candidate contesting for the position of governor must be a Nigerian, meet the stipulated age requirement and have basic qualification according to the constitution.”

Politics, World News

Boris Johnson drops out of UK Prime Minister race

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Former prime minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson has ruled himself out of returning to the job.

This week speculations of Johnson’s impending move to replace Liz Truss intensified after she resigned following just 45 days in office.

Truss had replaced Johnson who was forced out of office in July following a series of scandals.

In the wake of Truss’ resignation, Johnson had reportedly undertaken consultations to see if he has support to return, meaning he would need to secure 100 nominations from Conservative lawmakers.

Despite some Conservative lawmakers publicly expressing their support for the former prime minister, Johnson in a statement on Sunday, October 23 withdrew his interest, saying he has enough support but has decided it is not the right thing to do.

“In the last few days I have been overwhelmed by the number of people who suggested that I should once again contest the Conservative Party leadership, both among the public and among friends and colleagues in parliament.

I have been attracted because I led our party into a massive election victory less than three years ago – and I believe I am therefore uniquely placed to avert a general election now,” the statement reads.

“A general election would be a further disastrous distraction just when the government must focus on the economic pressures faced by families across the country.

I believe I am well placed to deliver a Conservative victory in 2024 – and tonight I can confirm that I have cleared the very high hurdle of 102 nominations, including a proposer and a seconder, and I could put my nomination in tomorrow.

“There is a very good chance that I would be successful in the election with Conservative Party members – and that I could indeed be back in Downing Street on Friday.

But in the course of the last days, I have sadly come to the conclusion that this would simply not be the right thing to do. You can’t govern effectively unless you have a united party in parliament.

“And though I have reached out to both Rishi (Sunak) and Penny (Mordaunt) – because I hoped that we could come together in the national interest – we have sadly not been able to work out a way of doing this.

Therefore I am afraid the best thing is that I do not allow my nomination to go forward and commit my support to whoever succeeds. I believe I have much to offer but I am afraid that this is simply not the right time.”

Johnson’s withdrawal leaves the race open to Sunak, former finance minister, and Mordaunt, leader of the House of Commons.

Lifestyle, Politics

APC women leader st@bbed by her ‘neighbor’ in Osun

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The woman leader of the All Progressives Congress in ward 3, Ilesha West local government area of Osun State, Morufat Balogun, has been scarred after she was allegedly stabbed by one Sope Fadiora on Thursday evening, October 21.

According to reports, the duo ran their businesses in their shops that are not too far from each other.

On Thursday night, they got into an argument and in the process, Sope allegedly stabbed Balogun in the face with a broken bottle, leaving her with a deep cut on her face that was gushing out a lot of blood.

Balogun was immediately rushed to the hospital where she was placed on admission. C

onfirming the incident to LIB, the spokesperson of the state police command, SP Yemisi Opalola said

”It was a case of two-fighting. Their shops are close to each other. They were fighting over God knows what.

The other woman attacked her by stabbing her with something while the APC woman leader also bit the other woman in two places with her teeth”

SP Opalola dismissed claims it had any political undertone. She said both women will be charged to court on Monday, October 24.

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