There was a heated gunfire exchange, on Thursday, as the police rescued Segun Akinyemi, an Abuja resident, who was kidnapped just as he was driving out of his house.

The kidnappers were taking Akinyemi from Abuja to Kano State when the police swooped on them, according to Police Public Relations Officer in Kaduna, ASP Mansir Hassan.

He said on January 18, 2024, operatives attached to Kawo Divisional Headquarters, Kaduna, received a distress call of a kidnapping incident from Abuja.

He said they were alerted that the culprits and their victim were transiting through Kaduna.

“The Operatives, at about 0010 hours, blocked a grey Toyota Hilux van with registration number Abuja RBC 90 DC, carrying four passengers, the driver inclusive, suspected to be the vehicle conveying the kidnappers and their victim.”

“On sensing danger and in an effort to escape, one of the kidnappers fired at the Policemen, and they responded accordingly. In the resulting gun duel, the victim, a certain Segun Akinyemi of block 10, flat 2 FCDA quarters Area 3 Garki, Abuja, was rescued, and one of the kidnappers, a 28-year-old Chinaza Philip of Life Camp Abuja, was arrested,” he said.

The police said the three other suspects who escaped are being trailed, adding that the vehicle belonging to the victim, two Retay G17 model pistols, one Beretta pistol, ten 9mm P.A.K ammunitions, and five 9mm special ammunitions were recovered from the kidnappers.

He said preliminary inquiries revealed that the victim was abducted on January 17, 2024, by the kidnappers just when he was leaving his home situated at the aforementioned address.

He said the three escaped suspects were; Chidibere Nwodibo of Life Camp, Abuja, one Auwal surname unknown, and the gang leader whose identity is yet to be ascertained.

The kidnappers were transporting their victim to Kano before they were intercepted by the Police.

The Commissioner of Police Kaduna State Command, CP A.D Ali, while commending the Operatives for the brave feat, still tasked them to continuously go after criminal elements in the State.

He called on the members of the public to avail themselves of security agencies’ hotlines for any distress call requiring a prompt response.

The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee, on Thursday, directed the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investments to refund N75bn allocated to it as COVID-19 intervention funds.

This was as the committee also ordered the Ministry of Health to return the N10bn released to it to produce COVID-19 vaccine.

The resolution was sequel to a motion moved by Bassey Akiba, a member of the Labour Party from Cross River State, following the non-appearance of officials of the ministry at its investigative hearing on Thursday.

The committee, in a recent advertorial, invited 59 ministries, departments and agencies to appear before it for the commencement of an investigative hearing on the alleged mismanagement of COVID-19 funds.

Originally slated for Wednesday, January 17, the House shifted it to Thursday in order to commiserate with the government and people of Oyo State over Tuesday’s explosion which rocked the state capital, Ibadan.

At the commencement of the sitting at the National Assembly, Akiba moved the motion to compel the ministry to refund the funds appropriated to it.

The committee adopted the motion after it was seconded and directed that the ministry refund the said funds to the coffers of the Federal Government.

In his earlier remark, the chairman of the committee, Bamidele Salam (PDP, Osun State), lamented that despite the series of invitations extended to the ministry, its officials failed to show up.

Salam said, “The Federal Ministry of Trade, Industries and Investments got the sum of N75bn as COVID-19 intervention funds. The Public Account Committee has sent invitations to the Ministry of Trade, Industries and Investments three times, and none of the invitations was honoured.

“The federal ministry of trade was to make their appearance yesterday (Wednesday). That was the last opportunity given to them and there was no such appearance. N75bn was appropriated to them.

“The former Permanent Secretary and the current Permanent Secretary are affected by this motion to refund the sum of N75bn to the Federal Government as COVID-19 intervention funds which as far as we are concerned, has not been expended.”

The committee also mandated the Federal Ministry of Health to return N10bn meant for the production of COVID-19 vaccines, but which was not spent, to the Federal Government.

Unlike the trade ministry, the Ministry of Health sent a representative, the Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachallom, who informed the committee that the funds were domiciled with the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation.

The committee, however, directed that the money should be returned, stressing that the ministry might choose to reapply to the National Assembly for the money if it was still needed.

In a related development, the committee also directed the Director General of the Rural Electrification Agency, Salihijo Ahmed, to submit documents detailing the utilisation of the agency’s COVID-19 intervention funds.

The DG appeared before the committee at the investigative hearing and requested more time to submit relevant documents.

The committee told the agency to submit the documents on Friday before the close of work and reappear before it on Monday at 10 am.

At the Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium in Ebimpe, Abidjan, on Thursday, William Troost-Ekong’s penalty was the only goal of the West African giants’ Derby as the Eagles picked off the Elephants right in their background.

Ivory Coast became the first host nation to lose a group stage match in 17 matches, since Equatorial Guinea lost as joint-host in 2012.

The Super Eagles also claimed consecutive victories over the Ivoirians for the first time.

Nigeria and Osimhen continued their profligate finishing when he blazed wide from a threaded Samuel Chukwueze pass.

Nwabali was the next to be called to action and he picked up a tame shot before parrying Seko Fofana’s long-range strike away as the Ivorians ramped up the pressure.

Both sides huffed and puffed, failing to make the final pass as they went into the interval level.

Nigeria continued playing on the counter and were awarded a penalty by VAR for Diomande’s kick on Osimhen inside the box.

Captain Troost-Ekong blasted the spotkick down the middle to put Nigeria ahead on 54 minutes.

The hosts ramped up the pressure but Nwabali was on hand to take the ball off an Ivoirien’s foot before Fofana and Obite Ndicka wasted good openings.

Substitute Bright Osayi-Samuel could have added gloss to the win but went for glory while Sangare also shot wide at the other end as Jose Peseiro’s side closed out victory.

The win is Nigeria’s first in five matches while it also ended Ivory Coast’s seven-match unbeaten streak.

Nigeria moved up to second in Group A with four points, level with Equatorial Guinea but with inferior goals difference. They conclude their group stage against Guinea-Bissau on Monday.

The federal government has ordered that the headquarters of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) be moved from Abuja to Lagos State.

This was disclosed in a memo dated 15th of January 2024, which was seen by newsmen on Thursday.

The memo issued by the Managing Director of FAAN, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, disclosed that the relocation is based on the directive of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.

The memo read: ”The Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development has directed that the Headquarters of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) should be relocated from Abuja to Lagos.

”Consequent upon the above, you are requested to provide the implication of the relocation to the management.”

CBN Decongests Head Office, Moves Departments To Lagos

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is set to decongest its head office in Abuja and transfer some of its departments to Lagos State.

Naija News reports that the apex bank made this known in an Internal memo seen on Saturday.

The apex bank stated that the move is meant to increase the productivity of the affected staff while also cutting costs and ensuring their safety.

It further said the decongestion would also improve the apex bank’s operational and workflow efficiency.

Some departments that were affected by the transfer included the Banking Supervision, Other Financial Institutions Supervision, Consumer Protection Department, Payment System Management Department and Financial Policy Regulations Department.

[NaijaNews]

Bandits have displaced 10 communities in Kidandan area under Giwa Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State.

Giwa is one of the LGAs that has been badly hit in the ongoing wave of insecurity in the North West.

Daily Trust gathered some of the residents forced to relocate to Kidandan main town and other safer communities in the LGA.

The affected villages include Tunburktu Hayin Dabino, Mugaba, Nasarawan Hayin Doka, Dokan Yuna, Doka, and Hayin Teacher.

Councilor Representing Kidandan Ward, Abdullahi Ismail, confirmed the incident, lamenting that in the last three weeks, troops have been conducting operations around the area but still the bandits continue to terrorize some communities.

Another community leader, who preferred to remain anonymous, said villagers displaced left behind their foodstuffs and houses due to constant bandits intimidation and harassment.

He also disclosed that soldiers operating in the area killed about six of the bandits on Tuesday.

He explained that although residents were happy with the killing of the bandits, they were hesitant to celebrate openly.

He urged the government t to deploy more security agencies to protect other villages from being displaced.

ASP Mansir Hassan, Police Public Relations Officer in Kaduna, was not available for comment as of the time of filing this report.

Billionaire investor Femi Otedola is reportedly acquiring shares in Dangote Cement, according to sources with knowledge of the matter. 

Dangote Cement is among the SWOOT (Stocks Worth Over One Trillion) with a current market capitalization of around N7.7 trillion.

Other members of SWOOT include MTN, Airtel, Seplat, BUA Foods, BUA Cement, Zenith Bank, GTB, UBA, First Bank, Geregu Power, and recently Transcorp Hotel. Dangote Cement has the largest market capitalization.

The stock opened at N350 this week and has so far gained 29%, as demand continues to rise. However, the stock gained 3.8% on Thursday with about 1.8 million shares traded. The company has approximately 16.8 billion shares outstanding. 

This year alone, the stock has seen a remarkable gain of 48%, opening at N317 per share and currently trading at N470 per share. 

Otedola acquiring shares

Sources who shared the scoop with Nairametrics reveal the billionaire is one of the major forces behind the trades and has been acquiring the stock.

It is however unclear how many shares he has acquired so far and whether he plans to hold a significant stake in Nigeria’s largest company by market capitalization.

• Femi Otedola, renowned for his mercurial stock-picking prowess, is recognized by Nairametrics as one of the major drivers of the stock market’s bull run in 2023. 
• His early 2023 foray into Transcorp Group shares sparked a rally that catapulted the stock into the top 5 performing stocks of the year.
• The stock has risen from just under N2 per share to N19 per share. It is believed that Otedola exited the stock at multiples of his entry price. He had also acquired a significant stake that required that he communicate to the Exchange.
• He also acquired shares in First Bank Plc when the stock was trading below N5 in 2022, rising to become the officially declared majority shareholder of the bank. The stock also recently hit the trillion market cap milestone and trades at around N30 per share. 

N10 trillion market cap: Sources also suggest that the billionaire could be betting on Dangote Cement to possibly become the first Nigerian stock worth N10 trillion in market capitalization, a feat that could take the company’s share price to around N1,000 per share. 

Africa and Nigeria’s richest man, Aliko Dangote owns an unassailable stake in the company with over 85% ownership of the stock.

• Dangote Cement currently trades at a high price-to-earnings multiple of 17.4x based on its trailing 12 months’ earnings.
• According to Nairametrics’ valuation metrics, the company’s earnings per share have been growing at a compounded annual growth rate of 21%. 
• Yet, in the stock market, market sentiments often drive up share prices ahead of fundamentals, as investors continue to invest billions of naira in equities. 

Dangote Cement reported earnings per share of N16.2 in the first 9 months of 2023, compared to N12.5 in the same period in 2022. 

[Nairametrics]

There was a heated gunfire exchange, on Thursday, as the police rescued Segun Akinyemi, an Abuja resident, who was kidnapped just as he was driving out of his house.

The kidnappers were taking Akinyemi from Abuja to Kano State when the police swooped on them, according to Police Public Relations Officer in Kaduna, ASP Mansir Hassan.

He said on January 18, 2024, operatives attached to Kawo Divisional Headquarters, Kaduna, received a distress call of a kidnapping incident from Abuja.

He said they were alerted that the culprits and their victim were transiting through Kaduna.

“The Operatives, at about 0010 hours, blocked a grey Toyota Hilux van with registration number Abuja RBC 90 DC, carrying four passengers, the driver inclusive, suspected to be the vehicle conveying the kidnappers and their victim.”

“On sensing danger and in an effort to escape, one of the kidnappers fired at the Policemen, and they responded accordingly. In the resulting gun duel, the victim, a certain Segun Akinyemi of block 10, flat 2 FCDA quarters Area 3 Garki, Abuja, was rescued, and one of the kidnappers, a 28-year-old Chinaza Philip of Life Camp Abuja, was arrested,” he said.

The police said the three other suspects who escaped are being trailed, adding that the vehicle belonging to the victim, two Retay G17 model pistols, one Beretta pistol, ten 9mm P.A.K ammunitions, and five 9mm special ammunitions were recovered from the kidnappers.

He said preliminary inquiries revealed that the victim was abducted on January 17, 2024, by the kidnappers just when he was leaving his home situated at the aforementioned address.

He said the three escaped suspects were; Chidibere Nwodibo of Life Camp, Abuja, one Auwal surname unknown, and the gang leader whose identity is yet to be ascertained.

The kidnappers were transporting their victim to Kano before they were intercepted by the Police.

The Commissioner of Police Kaduna State Command, CP A.D Ali, while commending the Operatives for the brave feat, still tasked them to continuously go after criminal elements in the State.

He called on the members of the public to avail themselves of security agencies’ hotlines for any distress call requiring a prompt response.

[DailyTrust]

In compliance with the provisions of the Constitution on time bound nature of political cases, the Supreme Court will on Friday, January 19, 2024, deliver final judgements in 13 gubernatorial election legal battles.

Hearing and final judgments in the cases are by law to be considered and concluded within 60 days after which the matters would become statute barred.

The states whose governorship election legal battles will be decided by the Supreme Court on Friday include Nasarawa, Delta, Ogun, Gombe and Kebbi, among others.

Governors of the states will know their fate – whether they will remain in office or not – at the end of the make or mar verdicts that would be handed down on Friday morning.

Political parties that filed cases along with their governorship candidates are the All Progressives Congress, APC, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, Labour Party, LP, and Social Democratic Party, SDP.

Our correspondent observed that in Delta State, Gbagi Kenneth Omemavwa of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Omo-Agege Ovie Augustine of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Pella Kwahariebie Kennedy of the Labour Party, LP, are challenging the election of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.

The cause list sighted by our correspondent also showed that Emmanuel David Ombugadu of the PDP is challenging the declaration of Sule Audu Abdullahi of the APC as the elected Governor of Nasarawa State.

In Ogun State, Adebutu Oladipupo Olatunde of the PDP is praying the apex court to upturn the victory of Abiodun Adedapo Oluseun of the APC as the lawfully elected governor of the state.

For Gombe State, Jibrin Muhammed Barde of the PDP is the appellant seeking to get the election of Mohammed Inuwa Yahaya invalidated.

Similarly, Bande Aminu of the PDP is asking the apex court to set aside the declaration of Idris Nasir of the APC and his Deputy, Abubakar Umar Argungu, as winners of the March 18, 2023 governorship election.

Deputy Director of Press and Information of the Supreme Court, Malam Alfa Ahmed, confirmed that 13 judgments on disputes over governorship elections would be delivered on Friday.

He said that the apex court has put adequate security arrangements in place to make the judgment delivery hitch-free.

Ahmed confirmed further that counsel who represented different governors during the hearing of the cases are to come to court with only two lawyers from each chamber.

He hinted that only accredited political party leaders would be permitted into the court premises to ensure crowd control and prevent security breaches.

According to him, Department of State Service, DSS, operatives would be responsible for screening those that would access the courtroom.

He further disclosed that journalists accredited by the Supreme Court would be allowed into the courtroom and foyer of the court, depending on the number of seats allocated to them.

[DailyPost]

Emilio Nsue scored the first Africa Cup of Nations hat-trick since 2008 as Equatorial Guinea beat Guinea-Bissau 4-2 on Thursday to close in on a place in the last 16.

Nsue opened the scoring midway through the first half before a sparse crowd at the Ebimpe Olympic Stadium and added two more goals in the second half in a remarkable performance.

The result leaves Equatorial Guinea, who held Nigeria 1-1 in their opening game, with four points in Group A, which also contains hosts Ivory Coast.

With the four best third-placed teams advancing to the last 16, the Nzalang Nacional (National Thunder) are ideally placed to progress as they look to emulate their run to the quarter-finals two years ago.

Captain Nsue, 34, is the first player to score three times in one game at the Cup of Nations since Soufiane Alloudi did so in the first half for Morocco in a 5-1 win over Namibia at the 2008 edition in Ghana.

Born in Mallorca, Nsue began his career at Real Mallorca and played more than 100 times for them in La Liga.

He was part of the Spain team that won the Under-21 Euro in 2011 alongside the likes of David de Gea, Javi Martinez, Thiago Alcantara and Juan Mata.

But he later opted to represent the country of his father and captained the Equatorial Guinea team that reached the AFCON semi-finals as hosts in 2015.

Having later played in the English Championship with Middlesbrough and Birmingham City, Nsue now turns out for Alicante-based Intercity in the Spanish third tier, sometimes playing at right-back.

Leading the Equatorial Guinea attack here, Nsue opened the scoring in the 21st minute but Guinea-Bissau drew level in the 37th minute when Esteban Orozco turned the ball into his own net under pressure from Franculino Dju.

Guinea-Bissau, chasing a first ever AFCON win in their 11th match at the tournament, were awarded a penalty moments later as Dju went down under a Saul Coco challenge.

But with Mama Balde ready to take the kick, the Rwandan referee came across to review the images and eventually overturned his decision.

Josete Miranda restored Equatorial Guinea’s lead two minutes after the restart, the assist coming from a long kick downfield by goalkeeper Jesus Owono.

Nsue then took centre stage, converting a cross from the left flank on 51 minutes and then rounding the goalkeeper to complete his hat-trick just after the hour mark.

The goal was eventually given after initially being ruled out for offside, with Ze Turbo pulling another one back for Guinea-Bissau late on.

AFP

The Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria( CAN), Kaduna State Chapter, Rev Joseph John Hayab, has said that it would only be wrong to pay ransom if the government would secure the people.

The cleric’s response was a statement the Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar, made that it was an offence to pay ransom for the release of kidnapped victims.

Speaking to journalists in Hausa, the Minister alleged that it was the publicity given to the donation gathered to pay ransom for the release of Abuja kidnapped victims that emboldened the terrorists to demand more.

However, Hayab told Vanguard Correspondent in Kaduna that it was sad that on many occasions, “we have reported kidnapped incidences to security agencies, but they will advise us to continue to dialogue with the bandits, and we keep doing this with no help coming from the security men.”

According to him, “Those who speak against payment of bandits are saying so because they do not have first-hand experience. When their family member, wife, children, parents, or close associate is a victim, they will understand the pressure those paying ransom do go through.”

“No one enjoys paying any dime to bandits, but the failure of the government and our security forces to stop this criminality from tormenting and terrorising the people is the reason why victims and their families have no option but to pay for their freedom.”

“The psychological trauma both primary and secondary victims go through is not what you will want your enemy to experience. Victims of banditry go through painful torture, humiliation, abuse, and all forms of inhumane treatment.”

“Our leaders should first provide a good reaction to stop this evil that citizens are going through before coming out to make an unguarded statement that gives the impression that they do not care how people feel.”

Vanguard News