Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, on Thursday, disclosed that issues concerning the Biafran people were before the various arms and agencies of the United Nations, adding that Biafra’s case would no longer be swept under the carpet.
The IPOB leader had led a delegation to a series of meetings with various UN agencies and officials at Geneva where he presented Biafra’s plight on Tuesday.
Emma Powerful, the IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, in a statement on Thursday, said Kanu’s emergence from the meeting was met with chants of the eulogy by a congregation of Biafrans.
Powerful disclosed that Kanu demanded urgent action against the numerous rights abuses inflicted daily upon Biafra agitators by the government of the day and the need to support the undeniable right of Biafrans to self-determination as enshrined in law, statute and various UN conventions.
The statement added, “Every issue concerning our people is now before the various arms and agencies of the United Nations. Our case will no longer be ignored.
“The case of RUGA settlement was also raised and the august body was left in doubt that Biafrans will never allow Fulani terror settlements in Biafraland.
“Incessant killing of Biafrans in their own land by terrorist Fulani herdsmen, extortion and killing of Biafran motorcyclists and commercial drivers by the Nigerian army and police over refusal to give N50 bribery.”
It added that Kanu was accompanied by his deputy, Mazi Uche Mefor, Head of Directorate of State, Mazi Chika Edoziem and other top echelons of the struggle.
The Biafran leader raised the continued illegal detention of Omoleye Sowore, the relentless persecution of the members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria led by Sheikh El-Zakzaky, among other issues.
Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, earlier in the week said it’s keenly monitoring developments at Aso Rock. Although within the purview of the President, it is believed that recent happenings at the Seat of Power in Nigeria is targeted at waning the Vice-President’s influence. The spokesman of the group, Yinka Odumakin, said “clearly, what has happened is that the VP’s office has been rendered impotent, useless and irrelevant”.
President Muhammadu Buhari had, earlier in the week, dissolved the Economic Management Team (EMT) chaired by the Vice-President, replacing the team with an 8-man Economic Advisory Council (EAC) which will report directly to the President. This writer considers that a positive step in the right direction until media suggestions started to filter in that the action was a calculated attempted to reduce the Vice-President’s influence. This writer considers the composition of the new council a positive, considering the pedigree and economic astuteness of the council members.
The council is headed by Prof Doyin Salami, a former member of the monetary policy committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and a senior lecturer at the Lagos Business School. Others are Mohammed Sagagi (Vice-Chairman), Ode Ojowu, Shehu Yahaya, Chukwuma Soludo, Bismark Rewane and Mohammed Adaya Salisu (Council Secretary and Special Adviser to the President, Development Policy). If the President will not be true to his usually arrogant and ignorant self, and will toe the path of nation building, this council should help find a way to salvage our dwindling economy.
The PUNCH reports that a source in the Presidential Villa confided in its reporter that members of the cabal in the Presidency were bitter about the roles played by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, in his capacity as Acting President, when the President went on medical leave.
The newspaper claimed that its source cited the emergence of Justice Walter Onnoghen as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria on March 7, 2017 and the removal of Lawal Daura as the Director-General of the Department of State Services on August 7, 2018 as two of their grievances against Prof Osinbajo. President Buhari had on November 10, 2016 sworn in Onnoghen in acting capacity despite the recommendation of the National Judicial Council stating that he should be appointed as the Chief Justice of Nigeria, being the most senior justice of the Supreme Court at the time. One can only wonder if truly there are reasons the President was indisposed to sending Onnoghen’s name to the National Assembly for confirmation in a substantive capacity. The Vice-President sent his name to the National Assembly on February 7, 2017 and swore him in on March 7, 2017. To this writer, it was the right thing to do at the time and I strongly believe he must have carried the President along.
The sack of Lawal Daura as the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) by the Vice-President is another issue The PUNCH source claimed to have necessitated the Vice-President’s ‘treatment’. It was the right thing to do at the time as Nigeria was going through a phase that demanded outright professionalism and unbiased judgements from men around intelligence gathering and security formations in general. Nigerians saw the move as the right step going forward. It’s also believed the VP was expected to ‘monitor’ Obono-Obla on recovery of public assets, but he let Obono-Obla go unchecked.
While it is within the jurisdiction of the President to decide what to or what not to leave on the Vice-President’s desk, the President should be made aware (if he doesn’t already know) that people are beginning to read body languages from the North showing they are desperate to hold on to power beyond 2023 and would employ every means, morally right or wrong, to accomplish it. Nigeria is tensed, but quiet. Nigerians are angry, but calm. The more questionable decisions are made, the more the Federal Government gives people reasons to distrust it.
The House of Representatives on Wednesday held a session in honour of the Chairman of Air Peace, Mr Allen Onyema, for the free air services offered by his airline to the Federal Government for the evacuation of Nigerians in South Africa.
The Nigerians were evacuated from South Africa over xenophobic attacks in that country.
Also, the House passed a resolution asking President Muhammadu Buhari to give a national award to Onyema in recognition of his patriotism, which the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, asked the Clerk to the House, Patrick Giwa, to transmit to Buhari immediately.
The lawmakers also vowed to give the first priority to Air Peace when flying to any part of the country.
The Speaker, shortly after saying the opening prayers, asked that the Order Paper for Wednesday’s plenary be temporarily suspended to allow the lawmakers to receive Onyema for recognition.
Gbajabiamila asked the Majority Leader, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, to move that Onyema be allowed into the chamber.
As the Chief Whip, Mohammed Monguno, ushered the Air Peace boss into the chamber, several lawmakers embraced and shook hands with him.
The Speaker hailed Onyema for his patriotism, saying the lawmakers had recommended the Air Peace boss for Federal Government’s recognition.
Gbajabiamila said, “I believe that we are all witnesses to what he has done for our brothers and sisters in the last couple of weeks. We watched the scenes of Nigerians on TV being reunited with their families and friends; the emotional scenes was brought about or made possible by only one man among many men; a businessman who is into business like every other businessman to make money, but who sacrificed his wealth and business, and at no cost – and I dare say at a loss – deployed his aircraft to bring back our brothers and sisters who were facing danger in South Africa.
“This is a feat that should be commended. And we hereby commend Mr Allen Onyema and recommend you to the Federal Government for higher honour in Nigeria.”
The lawmakers gave Onyema a standing ovation when called upon to address them.
“You have brought tears to my eyes again. I have never been so honoured in my life,” Onyema said in the opening of his speech.
The Air Peace boss told the House that the evacuation of Nigerians from South Africa has brought respect to Nigeria across the world. He also stated that South Africa was suffering dearly for the attacks by its citizens on non-citizens. He said flights were now going to South Africa empty and while stocks in the country were falling.
“That singular act has brought so much respect for Nigeria worldwide,” he said.
The Air Peace boss said the pressure on South Africa forced the country to apologise to Nigeria and other African countries.
“It wouldn’t have happened if the evacuation hadn’t take place,” he said.
According to him, xenophobia will die a natural death in South Africa.
The Air Peace boss noted that he had been previously involved in national projects, urging other wealthy Nigerians to be philanthropic.
He said, “The kind of support we have got from Nigerians through commendations and everything gladden our hearts to the extent that my pilot and cabin crew stood for 24 hours because they (South African authorities) tried to frustrate us. They didn’t want us to evacuate, they pleaded with the Nigerian High Commission not to do it. But they (the commission) told them that they (South African authorities) could not stop the private citizens. They delayed us for 15 hours before allowing us to do the first evacuation.
READ ALSO: Lagos govt gives South Africa returnees N20,000 each
“In the last one week, this country has bonded. No more Hausa, no more Yoruba, no more Igbo. Let me use this opportunity to plead with all of you here, the representatives of our people; as long as we fight against each other, we shall not have a nation. It is only when we start fighting for each other that can we have a nation.”
Two representatives of the Process and Industrial Development Ltd on Thursday pleaded guilty before the Federal High Court in Abuja to charges of fraud and tax evasion instituted against them in respect of the contract leading to the recent controversial judgment of a British court empowering the firm to seize about $9.6bn worth of Nigerian assets.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday arraigned P&ID Ltd, Virgin Island, its Nigerian affiliate, P&ID Nigeria Ltd on 11 counts of fraud and tax evasion.
While P&ID Ltd, Virgin Island was represented by its Commercial Director, Mohammad Kuchazi, P&ID Nigeria Limited was represented by Adamu Usman, who is also a lawyer.
Read also: Cabal targets Osinbajo over actions taken as Ag President
Both men pleaded guilty to all the 11 counts read to them before Justice Inyang Ekwo on Thursday.
Kuchazi was represented by his lawyer, Dandison Akurunwua, while Usman represented himself.
They were accused of, among others, fraudulently claiming to have acquired land from the Cross River State Government in 2010 for the gas supply project agreement which led to the $9.6bn judgment.
A popular pentecostal church, Promise Land Prophetic Ministries, Akure, the Ondo State capital was invaded by men of the Nigeria Police over claims of alleged involvement of the General Overseer of the church, Pastor Gbenga Akinbiyi in diabolical practice.
It was gathered that the policemen from the Force headquarters in Abuja stormed the church located at Shasha in Akure North Local Government Area of the state capital, and dug the altar of the church.
According to a source in the church, the action of the policemen was not unconnected with an ongoing investigation over fetish allegation against the founder and pastor of the church.
The source on Tuesday said some former members of the church wrote a petition against the founder that he planted some fetish objects on the altar of the church in order to draw more congregants.
While narrating how things went awry between the embattled Pastor and some foundation members of the church, the source stated that the crisis started after he (pastor) broke away from the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) and changed the name of the church, some years ago.
“After he changed the name of the church, some founding and prominent members of the church started observing that he was derailing from the real Christian doctrine and spirituality.
“They also observed that the pastor was being fetish, that he planted some fetish materials on the altar of the church. So many of them left the church.
“After leaving the church, they wrote a petition to the police to investigate the pastor. That must have been what led policemen to dig the altar. ”
Confirming the development, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Femi Joseph, stated that the policemen went to the church as part of the ongoing investigation into some allegations against the pastor.
“There are some allegations against the pastor of the church, but we can’t disclose the allegation now until after our investigation. So what our men did in the church was part of the ongoing investigation. ”
Reacting to the allegations, Pastor Gbenga Akinbiyi refuted the claim that he planted some fetish things on his church altar.
He, however, confirmed that policemen were in his church and dug the altar but found nothing planted on the altar after digging it.
“I did not plant anything on the altar, it was the handiwork of some of my former members whom I have helped.
“I was the one that petitioned the Inspector General of Police, initially, they didn’t want to dig the altar. I was the one that insisted that the altar must be dug. Everyone was there with the policemen on that day and they did not find anything planted on the altar.
After all the rumbles of discord at the apex of Nigerian government, Presidency Finally Breaks Silence On Sidelining Osinbajo From Governing Nigeria.
The Presidency has dismissed claims that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had been sidelined following President Muhammadu Buhari’s inauguration of an Economic Advisory Team (EAC) to replace the Economic Management Team (EMT).
While the EMT was headed by Osinbajo, the newly constituted EAC will report directly to President Buhari.
Speaking as a guest on Channels TV’s Politics Today, on Wednesday, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said all that the president had done particularly this week was just to “tweak governance and get the best for Nigerians”.
He also maintained that the presidency remains one and that there’s been too much suspicion and different kinds of inferences which he believes are only aimed at driving a wedge between both the President and the Vice President.
“The Vice President is the number two man in the country. the new economic advisory body can also relate with the Vice President as necessary.
“It’s just some Nigerians who want to drive a wedge between the President and the VP, that read meanings into everything and insinuate but there’s no need for that,” he said.
Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has sent more security operatives to lay siege on SaharaReporters’ office.
Earlier this morning, security agents including policemen and soldiers tried to bring down the online news platform’s office gate in a bid to clamp down on SaharaReporters’ staffers.
As of now, more security agents, from the Special Anti-Robbery and Anti-Cultism Squad, have joined their colleagues in trying arrest journalists working with the organization.
Various reports have shown President Buhari’s intolerance to the media.
Recently, one of his media aide, FEMI Adesina, threatened a Punch journalists.
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Dr. Mrs. Folashade Yemi-Esan as the Acting Head of the Civil Service of the Federation with immediate effect.
Dr. Mrs. Yemi-Esan, who is the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources takes over from Mrs. Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita, who has been directed to proceed on an indefinite leave to allow conclusion of the investigation being carried out by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The President has also approved the extension of the tenure of seven (7) retiring Permanent Secretaries for a period of one calendar year with effect from 1st October, 2019 to ensure stability in the Federal Civil Service and effective delivery on the nine priority areas of the administration as well as the mandates given to the new Ministers.
The affected Permanent Secretaries are:
i. Mrs. Georgina Ehuriah – Ministry of Interior
ii. Mrs. Ifeoma I. Anagbogu – Federal Ministry of Women Affairs
iii. Mrs. Grace Gekpe – Federal Ministry of Information & Culture
iv. Dr. Umar M. Bello – Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development
v. Suleiman Mustapha Lawal – Ministry of Foreign Affairs
vi. Mrs. Comfort C. Ekaro – Federal Ministry of Water Resources
vii. Mr. Olusegun A. Adekunle – General Services Office (Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation)
Similarly, Mr. President has directed the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to commence the process for the selection of new Permanent Secretaries to replace all retiring Permanent Secretaries.
The decision of Government to extend the tenure of these Permanent Secretaries is premised on the need to ensure that the new Ministers are properly guided, briefed about their sectors and to ensure that a solid foundation is laid for the delivery on the Presidential Mandate which they jointly signed.
The Permanent Secretaries will also help the Ministers to manage the process for the preparation of the 2020 Budget in line with the commitment of Government to return to the January-December budget circle and help develop various policies and programmes aimed at lifting 100million Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10 years.
The action of Mr. President is in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 171 (2) d of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
Willie Bassey
Director Information
Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation
18th September, 2019
The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has said customers making cash deposits or withdrawals will pay charges beginning from today in line with its new policy.
The objective of the “transaction fees” is to give vent to the Central Bank’s policy designed to reduce cash in use.
CBN Payments System Management Department Director Sam Okojere on Tuesday announced the take-off of the charges in a statement.
“The transactions will attract three per cent processing fees for withdrawals and two per cent processing fees for lodgments above N500, 000 for individual accounts.
“Corporate accounts will attract five per cent processing fees for withdrawals and three per cent processing fee for lodgments above N3 million.
“The charges will, however, only apply in Lagos, Ogun, Kano, Abia, Anambra, Rivers and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT),” he said.
Okojere said the implementation of the cash-less policy nationwide would take effect from March 31, 2020.
Also to further promote the cashless economy and to enhance the collection of applicable government revenues, the CBN announced a review of the process for merchant settlement.
The regulator has, effective today, approved for banks to unbundle merchant settlement amounts and charge applicable taxes and duties on individual transactions as stipulated by regulations.
Okojere announced a downward review of the Merchant Service Charge (MSC) from 0.75 per cent capped at N1,200 to 0.50 per cent capped at N1,000.
“The cash-less policy provides safe and efficient mechanisms for making and receiving payments with minimum risks to the CBN, payment service providers and end-users.
“The cashless payment is catching on to the extent that even the lowly members of the society now do transactions online.
“Without this policy, Nigeria cannot be integrated into the world’s financial system,” the statement read.
Pushing for the full use of the online payment system, the apex bank said for Nigeria to actively play at the world stage, “our payment system must be successfully benchmarked against the global best practices, as in most developed nations of the world.”
Nigerian music superstar, 2baba, real name Innocent Ujah Idibia, has revealed his biggest achievement.
247nnu reports that he made the disclosure in a chat with newsmen in Lagos on Tuesday while speaking on his attainment of 20 years in the music industry.
Benue-born 2baba said: “My biggest achievement? Na my kids oo. They inspire and motivate me.”
Asked if he’ll announce a new stage name, Tuface as also called, responded: “I’m not changing. Maybe some other changes but not about my name.”
On possibility of Nigerians seeing Plantashun Boiz come together for the two-decade celebration, 2baba replied: “No reunion concert, it’s just going to be me on stage…being grateful.”
He advised Nigerians and up and coming artistes to continue to work hard.
“The Almighty, my family, my fans keep me going. My advice to everyone is: be responsible, keep your head up.”
2baba added that he has no plan of quitting music, saying: “This thing dey body, I can’t stop it.”
In his remarks, 2baba’s manager and Now Muzik CEO, Efe Omoregbe, explained: “What Tuface is celebrating is 20 years a King not 20 years on stage.
“20 years of marketing machine, good sound, direction, conscious music, dance music, consistency, opening doors, A-list international awards, selling out shows.
“He made many artistes who are now at the top believe that they could make it, including some that used to live outside Nigeria.
“He’s been involved in helping others grow, humanitarian works, success of elections, among others”, Omoregbe added.
However, 2baba used the media briefing to unveil the Next Up talent search winners.
They are Oche Peter, Apatira Taiwo, Okhiria Daabo Ayodele and Joseph Jonathan.
