Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, said the President has no plans to move the Federal Capital to Lagos.

Onanuga said those peddling rumour are dishonest, ethnic and regional champions, trying to draw attention to themselves.

He claimed that those pushing the campaign of falsehood know they are playing politics, albeit dangerous politics to pitch the North against the South.

According to him, Abuja has come to stay as it is backed by law.

His statement followed the recent relocation of FAAN, a department of the Aviation Ministry, to Lagos.

Onanuga said there are many parastatals that are not based in Abuja depending on their mandate, insisting that Administrative decisions should not be politicized.

“President Tinubu has no plan whatsoever to move the Federal Capital to Lagos. The rumour first surfaced during the campaign last year by opponents looking for all manners of weapons to stop him. We trashed it.

“Those peddling it anew are dishonest, ethnic and regional champions, trying to draw attention to themselves. Abuja has come to stay. It is backed by law.

“The movement of FAAN, a department of the Aviation Ministry to Lagos, where it was based before former minister Hadi Sirika moved it to Abuja during the last administration, does not amount to moving the FCT to Lagos. The administrative move should have attracted scant attention, as Lagos is the commercial capital and the hub of aviation business in Nigeria. FAAN should be nowhere else but near the industry it regulates. FAAN will still maintain some presence in Abuja, as it is not a wholesale movement.

“Similarly, the movement of some departments of the CBN to Lagos should not trigger any hoopla. The departments concerned, including the bank supervision department, are those dealing with commercial banks, all with headquarters in Lagos. A regulator ought to be close to the businesses it regulates.

“All those pushing this campaign of falsehood know they are playing politics, albeit a dangerous politics to pit the North against the South.

“There are many parastatals that are not based in Abuja depending on their mandate. NIMASA is in Lagos. So is NPA. The National Inland Waterways Authority( NIWA) is in Lokoja, not Abuja. Will the people opposing the movement of FAAN and some CBN departments want those agencies to be in Abuja, where there is no single port and no maritime activity?

“Administrative decisions should not be politicized. Let it not look like whenever we are temporarily not at the helm of affairs, we create all manners of dangerous rumours to distract from the bigger picture and emasculate an administration led by a Southerner.

“Let’s stop the dirty politics. We can’t be playing politics with everything.”

Jean-Louis Gasset has been sacked as coach of 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) hosts Ivory Coast.

The country’s football federation said in a statement on Wednesday that it had “terminated the contracts” of Gasset and his assistant Ghislain Printant “due to insufficient results.”

Gasset’s sacking is coming two days after their AFCON 4-0 defeat against Equatorial Guinea.

The result was the heaviest home defeat in Ivory Coast history.

The Elephants are the first AFCON host to lose two group games since they did so in 1984.

However, Ivory Coast still has faint hopes of progressing to the last 16 as one of the best third-placed teams.

They will be led by Emerse Fae, one of Gasset’s coaches, on an interim basis.

The Chief Judge of Ogun State, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, has sworn-in Customary Court President (Legal), Mr. Idowu Folami Sodimu and 32 members, in order to enhance prompt dispensation of justice in the state.

Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony at the Ceremonial Court Hall, Judiciary Complex, Kobape Road, Abeokuta, Justice Dipeolu implored them to resist the temptation of abusing judicial powers in the course of dispensation of justice.

She said the appointment was based on trust and confidence reposed in them, while administering the oath of office to the newly appointed members, they were urged not to be carried away with enormous powers which various laws have conferred on them and in the discharge of their duties.

She stated that the appointees had special roles to play towards ensuring that justice was delivered at all times, to further improve the standard of the Judiciary, pointing out that government would not tolerate misconduct or indiscipline of any form.

According to the Chief Judge, "As members of Customary Court that have been administered under oath, you have to be good ambassadors of each jurisdiction you represent because you are closer to the grassroots. Do not collect bribes and fair God in all your dealings’’.

In her remarks, the Acting President, Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Adebisi Femi-Segun, said the appointees had been screened and appointed, in line with laid down procedure which was in accordance with the provisions of section 197(1)(c), 202 and 204 of the constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999), the Customary Courts Law of Ogun State 2006 (as amended), as well as Ogun State Judicial Service Commission Guidelines.

Justice Femi-Segun, who charged the appointees to bring their experiences to bear in the discharge of duties, said ethics, decorum and comportment should be observed in their new office, urging them to be faithful to the Oath of Office and impartial in the delivery of justice in their jurisdictions.

"Indeed, you are expected to observe the ethics, decorum and comportment of your new office. It is also expected that you will be faithful to your Oath of Office and dispense justice without fear or favour, as you adjudicate cases assigned to you, please same will not be tolerated in any form or guise.

Responding, one of the appointees, Mrs. Aderonke Jacobs appreciated the state government for allowing them to serve the state, promising to discharge their duties in accordance with the rule of laws and dispense justice without fear or favour.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Willie Obiano, the immediate past governor of Anambra state, over allegations of money laundering.

On Wednesday, the former governor appeared before Inyang Ekwo, judge of a federal high court in Abuja.

Obiano pleaded not guilty to the nine-count charge preferred against him by the anti-graft agency.

Upon arraignment, Sylvanus Tahir, EFCC counsel, prayed the court to remand the defendant in custody pending the commencement of trial.

But Onyinyechi Ikpeazu, Obiano’s counsel, asked the court to grant bail to his client.

Ruling on the applications, Ekwo held that the defendant should enjoy bail on the administrative terms granted earlier by the EFCC.

He added that the defendant’s international passport should be transmitted to the court within 10 days.

The judge also directed the court registrar to inform the immigration service about the passport when it is transferred.

The case was subsequently adjourned to March 4 for the commencement of trial.

In September 2021, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra had asked the anti-graft agency to probe the state’s finances to unearth “monumental deception”.

Basil Ejidike, Anambra APC chairman, had alleged that Obiano was “fraudulently” using the state’s security vote.

The Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has dissolved the State Executive Council, with immediate effect.

All members of the Cabinet are to immediately hand over to the Permanent Secretaries or the most senior administrative officers in their respective offices.

Also, all Senior Special Assistants (SSAs) and Special Assistants (SAs) are relieved of their duties, with immediate effect.

All the affected officials are directed to hand over all government properties in their possession.

The Governor thanks the affected officials for their services and contributions to the development of the State. 

Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan,
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Ondo State.

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON has called on the church to continue to pray and harp more on biblical values to give Nigerian youths a proper mindset.

“Nigeria needs a lot of prayers at this time, especially for the youth. It is very good for us to begin to train the youth and give them a proper mindset,” Senator Tinubu said when he received the leadership of the African Biblical Leadership Initiative led by former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon in her office at the State House Abuja.

Tinubu told members of the delegation who were in her office to sensitise her on the forthcoming 2024 International Conference of ABLI scheduled for Nigeria in October, the Christian community in Africa and Nigeria in particular to go beyond religious sentiments and tolerate one another.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu noted that the church must harp more on biblical values, especially for the youth: “The teachings in our churches should be biblical value-based so that we can get a better nation.”

She added that the leadership of the ABLI should continue with their various programs as a way of enhancing the spirituality of not only Nigerian Leaders but Africa in general.

“African nations have a lot in common and we should come together to address some of the issues affecting us,” she said.

Earlier in his remarks, Former Head of State and Leader of the ABLI delegation, General Yakubu Gowon, GCFR said the organization seeks to bring about qualitative transformation of African nations through leadership with biblical values.

He noted that the ABLI is a non-partisan organization which is particular about raising a new generation of highly principled leaders with value for Justice, Value for Integrity, value for wisdom and value for social harmony.

The International Conference of the African Biblical Leadership Initiative was instituted in 2010 and has its conference every 2 years with the venue rotated among various African countries. The last one was held in Rwanda.

Nigeria is hosting the next edition with the theme, Value Based Leadership For Africa on the 21st to 25th of October 2024.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to arraign former Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, on nine counts of alleged N4 billion fraud.

Obiano was alleged to have perpetrated this act during his tenure as governor of the South-East state from March 2014 to March 2022.

The 68-year-old has been arraigned before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court Abuja.

The immediate-past governor of Anambra State has arrived at the Abuja division of the Federal High Court.

He arrived in the company of some officials of the EFCC.

The trial judge has yet to arrive as of the time of filling this report.

More details later…

The details of the meeting between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and a delegation from Chevron Corporation have emerged.

President Tinubu, on Tuesday, met with the delegation led by President of Chevron International Exploration and Production, Clay Neff, at the State House in Abuja.

In a statement released by his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, after the meeting, President Tinubu said his administration will continue to provide the needed interventions in the oil and gas industry in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act.

President Tinubu said Nigeria would strengthen its long-standing partnership with the multinational company in line with the evolving dynamics in the oil and gas industry.

“’You must see the PIA as a legacy law. We assure you of quick interventions and turnaround on any issue you may have in your operations in our country,” he said.

Tinubu also welcomed Chevron’s commitment to build on its investments in shallow and deep-water operations in Nigeria, noting the company’s ongoing $1.4bn drilling project with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.

The President also commended Chevron for its dedication to reducing its carbon footprint in the country.

He said: “Nigeria is proud of the 60-year partnership with Chevron, and we believe this partnership will be strengthened to add mutually beneficial value for the benefit of your shareholders as well as the living standards and economic opportunities of our population.”

In his remarks, Neff pledged that the company would continue to operate in full adherence to the highest standards, even as it meets its investment commitments in Nigeria.

He highlighted the company’s contributions to domestic gas supply, noting the delivery of 25 per cent gas through a joint venture with NNPC Limited.

Neff also said Chevron was scaling up its investments in the country with its recent efforts in a new phase of development to include the conversion, under the Petroleum Industry Act, of all the NNPCL/Chevron Nigeria Limited Joint Venture Oil Mining Leases and Agbami OML 127 to Petroleum Mining Leases and Petroleum Prospecting Licences and entry into OPL 215 block to boost deep-water development opportunities.

He also said the company have signed the 20-year renewal of three deepwater leases; commencement seismic data acquisition in several deepwater leases; commencement of life extension work on the Agbami project, and, in partnership with NNPCL, secured $1.4bn financing to fund the NNPCL/CNL JV infill drilling programme between 2022 to 2026, which includes the drilling of 37 wells in the shallow offshore and onshore Escravos area and associated facilities.

Neff further informed President Tinubu that Chevron’s average annual tax and royalty remittances over the past three years had reached $3.4bn.

He said, “The bold steps you have taken since you assumed office are quite impressive. We are encouraged by our partnership of over 60 years, and we look forward, God willing, to continue that partnership for many decades to come.

”We are also looking at other opportunities as well while operating with the best environmental practices.

“We will continue to grow our traditional oil and gas business because we know the countries where we operate are in need of those products, and the world needs those products.”