Daniel Bwala, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has insisted that he is committed to supporting the present administration under President Bola Tinubu.

Bwala, a staunch critic of the governing All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Tinubu administration, categorically stated that he has no apology to anybody for his decision.

He spoke to State House correspondents after closed-door talks with Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja on Wednesday.

 

He said, “I told him today that I am committing to play my part to support your administration, and I have no apologies to anybody.”

When asked if he would defect to the APC, Bwala responded: “APC is a party.

“President Bola Tinubu is my motivation; if supporting him will take me to APC, so be it.”

This is coming less than a few days after Bwala said opposition political parties must form a strong coalition if they are to successfully collect power from the governing APC in the 2027 general elections.

[DailyPost]

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) for the year 2023 is scheduled to commence on Saturday, January 13, 2024.

Ivory Coast, the host country, will face Guinea-Bissau in the opening match.

According to Opta’s artificial intelligence prediction model, Senegal, the current title holders, are the narrow favourites to win the tournament this time.

The prediction model uses betting market odds and Opta’s team rankings to assess the probability of each match outcome, victory, draw, or defeat, to provide a more comprehensive picture of who will win the delayed 2023 AFCON.

The odds and rankings are determined based on past and present team performances.

Using match result probability, group composition, and possible knockout round match-ups, the model then takes opponent strength and the difficulties of their route to the final into account.

Senegal is the most likely winner according to the model, with a 12.8% chance, just ahead of hosts Ivory Coast (12.1%), who are attempting to win the trophy for a third time, after 1992 and 2015,

Morocco (11.1%) is given the third-best chance of winning by the predictor model. Algeria (9.7%) is the fourth-most likely winner, with Egypt fifth (8.5%) to round off the top five.

I have called for an independent, non-partisan commission to probe at length and in-depth, in public sittings, this scandal of expanding dimensions that has crippled the energy needs of a nation of two hundred million citizens over the past two decades. The latest development is sinister and alarming. Let it be understood that if anything happens to this pivotal witness while in custody, the inference will be heard loud, clear, and unambiguous

DR. Olu Agunloye, we learn, was finally charged to court today. The case was adjourned, and the presiding judge, in his or her wisdom, proceeded to remand the accused in Kuje prison, pending resumption of his case.

I wish to alert the nation and the government that there exists a justifiable, high-level concern for his safety.  His predecessor in office, the late Chief Bola Ige, was murdered in his bedroom by professional assassin even while his police protection detail took time off, all at the same time, to a nearby eatery. Till today, those mystery killers have yet to be identified, arrested and tried.

I have made it clear, even as recently as a few weeks ago, that Bola Ige’s murder was not unconnected with the Mambilla scam. Olu Agunloye worked closely with me, both within and outside routine police motions, to unmask Ige’s killers. It would therefore amount to unpardonable complacency to propose that there are no forces sufficiently desperate to accord him the same fate as Bola Ige. That goal is made easier by the abrupt decision to remand him in prison.

I have called for an independent, non-partisan commission to probe at length and in-depth, in public sittings, this scandal of expanding dimensions that has crippled the energy needs of a nation of two hundred million citizens over the past two decades. The latest development is sinister and alarming.

Let it be understood that if anything happens to this pivotal witness while in custody, the inference will be heard loud, clear, and unambiguous.

Wole SOYINKA

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday ordered the remand of former Minister of Power and Steel, Olu Agunloye, in Kuje Correctional Service over an alleged $6 billion fraud.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arraigned Agunloye before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges read against him.

The judge, however, ordered that the embattled former minister be remanded in Kuje Correctional Service pending when bail would be granted.

Confirming the development in a statement on Wednesday, the spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, said Agunloye was arraigned on seven counts bordering on fraudulent awarding of contracts and official corruption.

Oyewale said, “The EFCC on Wednesday, January 10, 2024 arraigned a former Minister of Power and Steel Development, Olu Agunloye before Justice J.O Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo, Abuja. He was arraigned on seven count charges bordering on fraudulent award of contract and official corruption.

One of the counts read, “That you, Olu Agunloye, whilst being the Minister of Power and Steel on or about the 22nd day of May, 2003 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court awarded a contract, titled ‘Construction of 3,960mw Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station on a Build, Operate and Transfer Basis” to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited without any budgetary provision, approval and cash backing and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22(4) of the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act, 2000.”

Another count read, “That you, Olu Agunloye, on or about the 10th of August, 2019 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, corruptly received the sum of Three Million Six Hundred Thousand Naira (N3,600,000.00) through your Guaranty Trust Bank account no.0022530926 from Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited and Leno Adesanya for having conveyed the ‘approval of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the construction of the 3,960 megawatts Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station’ in favour of SPTCL which you did whilst serving as the Minister of Power and Steel without the approval of the Federal Executive Council contrary to and punishable under Section 8(1)(a) and (b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

“He pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to them. Thereafter, prosecution counsel, Abba Muhammed prayed the court for a trial date and to remand the defendant in a Correctional Centre. Defence counsel, Adola Adedipe, SAN, informed the court that he has filed a bail application for the defendant and prayed the court to grant him bail and commit him to the custody of the EFCC.

“Justice Onwuegbuzie ruled that the defendant be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre and set Thursday, January 11, 2024 for hearing on the bail application.”

The EFCC had in December declared the former minister wanted over an alleged case of corruption and forgery.

Agunloye was a minister under former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s government (1999-2003).

He has since been at the centre of the controversy about the Mambilla project.

He was accused by Obasanjo of illegally awarding the project’s contract without the Federal Executive Council’s consent.

Agunloye has since denied the allegation.

The University of Lagos says a total of 340 students will be graduating with first class at its 54th convocation scheduled for Jan. 17.

The Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, disclosed this at a news conference to announce activities lined up for the ceremony on Wednesday, in Lagos.

According to her, the 340 are among the overall 17,464 students that will graduate during the period.

She noted that David Akanmu, from the Faculty of Engineering, had emerged the overall best graduating student, with a perfect score of 5.00 CGPA.

According to her, Ibrahim Quadri of the Faculty of Management Sciences, with a CGPA of 4.94, is the best graduating student in Humanities.

Giving a breakdown of statistics of the overall graduating students, Ogunsola noted that 10,578 of them would receive first degrees, while 6,886 others, would be honoured with the postgraduate degrees.

The don further explained that of the 340 that would be honoured with the first class degree, a total of 97 of them are from Management Sciences, with 57 from the Faculty of Science.

She added that 47 others are from the Faculty of Engineering.

Ogunsola said there were 39 distinctions from the Faculties of Pharmacy, Basic Medical Sciences and Clinical Sciences,

“Of the total number of distinctions posted, 24 of them were from the Faculty of Pharmacy.

“Furthermore, from the total number of graduating students, a total of 3,374, will be conferred with the Second Class upper degrees, while 4,547 others will be admitted in the Second Class lower division.

“We have 1,832 others graduating in the 3rd Class division, 188 with Pass and 250 others with unclassified degrees from the Faculties of Pharmacy, Basic and Clinical Sciences,” she stated.

Speaking further, the vice chancellor noted that of the 6,886 postgraduate degrees, a total of 465 would be awarded postgraduate diplomas, 6,266 are graduating with Masters, out of which 377 posted distinctions.

“Most exciting is that 31 of the Master’s degree graduates are international students, all with MSc degrees, who were supported by World Bank grant through the African Centre of Excellence for Drug Research, Herbal Medicine Development and Regulatory Science (ACEDHERS).

“The centre Director, Dr Bola Ademilua, together with her team, worked extremely hard, to achieve this.

“This is the first time we will have such a harvest of international students at one convocation in the history of this university and this further reiterates and
validates the aggressive internationalisation drive of this administration and previous administrations.

“This year too, 155 graduands will be awarded the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) degree in various disciplines. The overall best Ph.D. Thesis award for this year, which is also the best PhD in the Sciences, goes to Aminat Olawunmi Ige, with a Ph.D. in Mathematics.

According to her, the university of Lagos Business School will be graduating its first set of students as an autonomous school for the first time this year.

Ogunsola noted that in repositioning the business school to be more globally competitive, management had unbundled it from the School of Postgraduate Studies.

“So, it now has its own recognised certificate. A total of 62 students will be graduating from the Business School this year and the overall best graduating student is Abiola Oluyemisi ITAKPE, with a CGPA of 4.84. She obtained the Master of Business Administration.

“Let me seize this opportunity to thank members of Senate, staff and all stakeholders for their commitment and loyalty to UNILAG despite the challenges of last year.

“The University recorded many significant wins despite our challenges, especially successes in the quality and quantum of research and grants, improved collaborations and partnerships with other universities and industry within and outside Nigeria, as well as exchange programmes for staff and students,” she stated.

Ogunsola said that no fewer than four visually challenged students were among the graduands.

The vice chancellor stated that in pursuance of the ‘FUTURE READY AGENDA’ of the institution, management had made firm strides in growing its finances, infrastructure, reputation and manpower, adding that 2023 was one of consolidation, seed sowing and growth.

Speaking further on the activities lined up for the ceremony, Ogunsola stated that there would be a special Jumat service on Friday, Jan. 12 at the institution’s Central Mosque.

She said that there would be the opening of an exhibition on Monday, Jan. 15, to showcase and celebrate inventions and innovative ideas of students and faculty members.

“There will be no commissioning of projects at this convocation, as the commissioning of the new 484 bed hostel donated by Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila was commissioned on Jan. 3, by the Hon. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.

“At 12:00 noon on same day, the Convocation Lecture titled: ‘Decolonizing African Higher Education for Transformational Development’ will be delivered by Prof. Toyin Falola a distinguished professor of History at the University of Texas at Austin U.S..

“Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi, Chairman of Tanus and one of the most successful Managing Directors of Daily Times and former Pro-Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (O.A.U) will chair the occasion.

“The congregation for the award of first degrees, diplomas, certificates, and prizes to graduating students across all faculties and the Distance Learning Institute (DLI), will take place in morning and afternoon sessions, on Tuesday, Jan. 16 and Wednesday, Jan. 17.

“On Thursday, Jan. 18, Postgraduate Diplomas, Masters, and Ph.D. degrees including DBA and EMBA will be conferred on graduates of the School of Postgraduate Studies and the University of Lagos Business School (ULBS),” she stated.

The vice chancellor noted that the highlight of the ceremony would be the conferment of honorary doctorate degrees in recognition of personalities who had distinguished themselves by significantly contributing to scholarship and societal development in various fields.

She said that this year’s ceremony would witness the award of degrees to three of such persons, including Prof. Toyin Falola, Phyllis Kanki, a professor of Immunology at the Harvard Chan School of Public Health in Boston.

Ogunsola said that Kanki was the first person to isolate HIV2 which causes a milder form of AIDS that was more commonly found in West Africa.

“She has contributed significantly to Medical Education, HIV research and building research capacity across Nigeria, and Africa.

“Also to be honoured is Attahiru Muhammadu Jega, a professor of Political Science, a sound intellectual, an astute administrator with a strong sense of ethics, who revolutionized Nigeria’s electoral process and conducted an internationally acclaimed free and fair election,” she said.

The suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, has been released from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

A source in the know told our correspondent on Wednesday morning that Edu was released on bail but ordered to report to the EFCC daily.

Her international passport was also seized to prevent her from leaving the country pending the conclusion of the investigation by the anti-graft agency.

It would be recalled, as earlier reported by Naija News, that Edu arrived at the Headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja on Tuesday around 10am.

She was grilled by EFCC investigators over the alleged payment of N585.189 million grant meant for vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos states into a private account and another N44b fraud in her ministry.

The interrogation follows the earlier suspension of the Minister by President Bola Tinubu on Monday, which was announced by presidential spokesperson Ajuri Ngelale.

According to Ngelale, the suspension is in line with President Tinubu’s avowed commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in the management of the commonwealth of Nigerians.

The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Musa Aliyu, has said he will be appearing in court to defend anti-corruption cases involving the commission.

The anti-graft agency boss who was the Attorney-General of Jigawa State before his appointment as ICPC Chairman, made this known on Wednesday during a media chat with reporters in Abuja.

Aliyu said, “I’ll lead by example. By the grace of God, I intend to be appearing in cases of ICPC (in court). I don’t think there was ever a chairman of ICPC who appeared in court, but I’ll be the first. I am deeply committed to realising a vision for Nigeria where the principles of integrity, accountability, and transparency are not mere ideals but are deeply woven into the very fabric of our society.”

Musa further noted that the fight against corruption requires a collaborative, multi-sectoral approach, transcending the capabilities of any single entity.

He revealed that his administration will engage diverse stakeholders — the media, other anti-corruption agencies, civil society, the private sector, international partners, and citizens— to pool perspectives, expertise, and resources.

He further hinted that the ICPC’s fight against corruption would henceforth be based on the use of technology to fast-track the process.

He said, “In line with this commitment, the ICPC is actively enhancing inter-agency collaboration. A recent example of this is our recent visit to the EFCC. By uniting forces and sharing resources, we aim to intensify our collective fight against corruption, paving the way for a more transparent and accountable Nigeria. We would be collaborating more with the EFCC, the CCB, and the NFIU.

“Innovation is key in our ongoing battle against corruption. We are in an era where technology has revolutionised the way we live and work. As such, the ICPC is committed to integrating innovative approaches and cutting-edge technology into our operational framework.

“From leveraging data analytics for efficient resource management to employing advanced digital tools for effective corruption detection, technology will be at the forefront of our strategies.”

Musa noted that the ICPC’s threefold strategy is prevention, investigation and prosecution which forms the bedrock of the commission’s action plan against corruption.

He added, “Prevention is our first line of defence. We are dedicated to instilling a culture of ethics and integrity within our public service. By enhancing institutional transparency and accountability, we aim to create an environment where corruption finds no fertile ground to thrive.

“Our focus extends to capacity building, ensuring that our institutions and personnel are equipped to uphold the highest standards of conduct. In the area of investigation, our commitment is unwavering. We will fortify our internal control systems and uphold strict ethical standards. The ICPC will utilise advanced technological tools to detect and thoroughly examine corruption cases.

“Lastly, in terms of prosecution, we are determined to ensure that justice is not just done, but seen to be done. Strengthening our legal and regulatory frameworks will be paramount to support robust prosecutions. We will work tirelessly to ensure the efficient legal processing and adjudication of corruption cases, maintaining a solid legal foundation for accountability.”

[Punch]

The Federal Government of Nigeria took an ‘offensive’ action in protecting its dwindling elephant population by disposing of 2.5 tons of confiscated elephant tusks.

These tusks, which were valued at over $11.2 million (9.9 billion Naira), were reportedly seized from wildlife traffickers.

The government said the destruction of these tusks serves as a strong message against illegal wildlife trade and emphasizes the incumbent administration’s commitment to safeguarding its precious elephants.

See more photos below as shared by Channels Television.

THE Confederation of African Football (CAF) has claimed that hundreds of millions of football fans from at least 180 countries across the world will watch the matches of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2023).

The tournament will begin on Saturday and end on February 11, with 24 national teams, including the Super Eagles of Nigeria, competing across five cities in Cote d’Ivoire.

“The Confédération Africaine de Football (“CAF”) today announced the conclusion of extensive global broadcast agreements with TV-Broadcasting Rights Holders from Africa, Europe, Asia, South America, North America and the Caribbean ahead of the kick-off of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (“AFCON”) Côte d’Ivoire 2023,” CAF stated today.

“The global TV-Broadcast partners include Sky (United Kingdom), BBC (United Kingdom), LaLiga+ (Spain), SportItalia (Italy), Sport Digital (Germany & Switzerland), SportTV (Portugal), Viaplay (Nordics) and Band TV (Brazil).

“BeIN Sport, CANAL+, New World TV and approximately 45 Free To Air broadcasters have also concluded partnership agreements with CAF and this will result in the TotalEnergies AFCON Côte d’Ivoire 2023 being broadcast in approximately 180 countries.

“The significant increase in financial investment by TV-Broadcasting Rights Holders from Africa, Europe, Asia, South America, North America and the Caribbean will result in a substantial global increase in viewership of the TotalEnergies AFCON Côte d’Ivoire 2023.”

CAF is projecting a big raise in its revenue due to the unprecedented interest in the continental showpiece, in which African players from across the world’s top leagues will feature.

“CAF’s Broadcasting revenues will also increase significantly and this will assist with the development and growth of football in Africa,” the continental ruling body added.

“The TotalEnergies AFCON Côte d’Ivoire 2023 is expected to be the most competitive as all the prominent and successful African Football Nations will be competing in Côte d’Ivoire for the prestigious AFCON Cup.”

CAF President, Dr Patrice Motsepe said: “African football and the TotalEnergies AFCON competition is recognised as being amongst the most competitive and exciting in world football.

“We are delighted by the extensive global broadcast agreements concluded by CAF with the TV-Broadcasting Rights Holders. Huge investments are being made in youth football, including schools football, professional leagues, training of coaches and referees, as well as the building and upgrading of football infrastructure in Africa. This is contributing enormously to the quality of African football being globally competitive and as good as the best in the world.

“CAF is committed to working together and assisting the Media during the TotalEnergies AFCON Côte d’Ivoire 2023 and at all future CAF competitions and events.”

 [NaijaTimes]