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The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Sunday, said the police have the right and power to initiate any approach to curb crimes and criminality in Nigeria, as is applicable in other climes.
DAILY POST recalls that the NBA Section on Public Interest had earlier issued a seven-day ultimatum to Egbetokun to stop the directive requiring vehicle owners to register and obtain a CMRIS certificate for a fee of not less than N6,000.
NBA-SPIDEL questioned the legal basis for the Nigeria Police Force’s issuance of the CMRIS Certificates, stating that no law had granted the police the authority to issue such licences or certificates to vehicle owners following vehicle registration at the appropriate offices.
It made the call in a letter addressed to the Inspector General of Police, and co-signed by NBA-SPIDEL Chairman, John Aikpokpo-Martins; and Secretary, Funmi Adeogun.
But while reacting in a statement on Sunday, Adejobi faulted the report saying no agency can take the police up on the initiative, adding that the police have been issuing CMR for decades, so it’s not a new strategy or document.
“This is unfounded, fake, and misleading. The NBA as a body will react to this. Stop spreading fake news. Who are those who made the statement or declaration, and in what capacity?
“I challenge you to share the press statement with me, then we can talk.
“Do your investigation on this. The police have the right and powers to initiate any approach to curb crimes and criminality in Nigeria, as it’s applicable in other climes.” It said
According to the statement, no agency can take the police up on this initiative, adding that they will rather key into it, harmonise the system for the good of the country, and its citizenry
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr Olisa Agbakoba, has faulted the the agitation for the creation of additional states in the South-East, insisting it would not solve the problem of the region.
Rather than create more states, Agbakoba, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, said the National Assembly should amend the constitution or put together a completely new one that would return Nigeria to regional governments.
The lawyer expressed the view in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Lagos.
NAN reports that the House of Representatives recently passed for second reading a bill seeking the creation of Etiti State out of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states from the South-East geopolitical zone.
The bill was jointly sponsored by Godwin Ogah, Miriam Onuoha, Kama Nkemkama, Princess Nnabuife and Anayo Onwuegbu.
Leading the debate on the general principles of the bill, Ogah, representing Abia State, said the establishment of Etiti State was not just a matter of administrative convenience, but a step towards ensuring balanced regional development and effective governance.
The lawmaker said the bill was a response to the aspirations of the people of a very important region to the country and aligned with the principles of equity and inclusivity enshrined in the country’s democratic idea.
Similarly, some lawmakers and stakeholders have also called for the creation of Anioma State from states in the South-South and South-East regions.
One of those leading the call, Senator Ned Nwoko( PDP-Delta North), said the creation of Anioma State would correct what he described as the marginalisation of the South-East geo-political zone.
However, speaking with NAN on Sunday, Agbakoba said though an average person from the South-East would support an additional state in the region, anyone who could see the big picture could tell that the creation of additional states would not guarantee development.
He said, “This agitation will arise because it is on the basis of the number of states that federal allocation flows.
“So the fact that the South-East has five states means to them that they are losing revenue and that is a one point of view and also an emotional point of their agitation.
“However, a pragmatic developmental point of view, which I go for, is that even if you create a sixth state in the South-East to give them a sense of belonging, will this new state in addition to the 36 states take us towards the path of development?
“Will it reverse the hunger, insecurity, poverty and unemployment in the land? Absolutely not.
“We need to do away from state creation to regional system of government.”
Agbakoba explained that he was not in support of additional states because most of the 36 states are economically unviable, insolvent and not capable of bringing about infrastructural development and even paying the proposed minimum wage.
“State creation at this present harsh economic will, no doubt, lead to an increase in the number of National Assembly members, ministers, local governments, and others, which would further increase the cost of governance in the country.
“This is coming at a time when most Nigerians are starving due to rise in the food prices. Insurgents, bandits and terrorists are abducting people for ransom in other states of the country.
“Therefore, the National Assembly should, instead return the country to the regionalism by collapsing the 36 states into six to eight regions or geopolitical zones, each of which will have a leader.
“This means that the present Nigeria 1999 Constitution would be amended or a new one written to accommodate this proposal.
“This is because making a new constitution for Nigeria has become an overriding imperative based on the fact that new political realities and conundrums have cropped up in the country,” Agbakoba said.
Agbakoba, a human rights activist, said regional governments were once successfully run with Chief Obafemi Awolowo in charge of the South-West, Chief Michael Okpara in charge of the South-East and Ahmadu Bello in the North.
Agbakoba said since Nigeria left the modernity of regionalism, the states had been unviable, apart from Lagos and Rivers.
President Bola Tinubu has praised the “enterprising spirit” of Nduka Obaigbena, chairman of ThisDay and Arise media group.
The president spoke in a birthday message to Obaigbena, who turns 65 on Sunday.
Tinubu also “prays for greater achievements for the renowned publisher, whose philanthropic efforts, especially in education, have demonstrated his passion for human development”.
Obaigbena started ThisWeek magazine before establishing ThisDay newspaper in 1995.
He forayed into broadcast media in 2013 when he founded Arise News Channel, which has bases in Lagos, London, New York City, and Johannesburg, South Africa.
He is a former president of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN).
Obaigbena is a recipient of the national honour of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) and has also earned the highest journalistic honour of the fellowship of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (FNGE).
He is also a lifetime achievement awardee of the 2023 Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME).
According to the organisers, Obaigbena earned the honour because of his “contribution to the media and his dedication to mentoring leaders in the industry”.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Abdulahi Ganduje, has said the party has initiated moves to de-marginalise Igbos to place them in the limelight of national politics.
Ganduje asserted on Sunday during the APC South East zonal meeting in Abakaliki, noting that Igbos had shown massive support to the party and the President Bola Tinubu-led administration presently.
The APC national chairman said that though a line must be drawn between marginalisation and low performance of the southeast in the APC, the party had decided to break the vicious cycle of marginalisation.
“The present appointments offered the zone by President Bola Tinubu’s administration is heartwarming and with more involvement in the party’s affairs, more would be achieved.
“We must break this cycle of marginalisation with determination, unity and total support to the party and President Bola Tinubu-led administration, he said.
He noted that Ebonyi had followed Imo’s trail in massively promoting the party’s activities and thanked Gov. Francis Nwifuru for sustaining the party’s ideals in the state.
“The challenge before us presently is how to claim Anambra, Enugu and Abia and must get all stakeholders together to achieve this goal.
Gov. Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi thanked the party’s leaders for honouring the meeting in the state noting that the party is presently rooted in the state and southeast.
Nwifuru noted that Ebonyi had a policy of inclusiveness which had made all stakeholders in the state to be presently under the APC roof.
“The massive defection of opposition stakeholders to APC on July 13 attests to the fact that persuasion works more than bickering and fighting,” he said.
Gov. Hope Uzodimma of Imo in his remark, said it is an ugly coincidence that the APC is ruling Nigeria in these hard times occasioned by the world economic meltdown.
The Chairman of the South East Governors Forum said that many citizens of the country experience excruciating hardship with some going into penury.
“People have to know that there is global economic meltdown with some currencies exchanging 15,000 and 20,000 to one dollar.
“I however, have hope that if the tested policies of President Bola Tinubu administration, are well implemented, Nigerians would receive the much needed succour., he said.
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu in his remarks, urged people of the south east zone to identify with the federal government’s efforts to de-marginalise the zone.
“President Bola Tinubu has given Ndigbo more than the vote cast for him during the elections.
“It is presently left for us to repay him for his good works because when ones shows appreciation, he gets more,” he said.
He noted that the president offered Igbos lucrative positions in his government as high- ranking ministers, deputy speaker of the house of representatives among others.
“The process for the south east development commission bill which would solve the numerous challenges confronting Igbos, has been finalised and awaiting the president’s accent , he said.
With just over a year in office, a campaign billboard of President Bola Tinubu for his reelection in 2027 has been spotted in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
On the billboard is a picture of Tinubu holding his wife, Remi, in a lovey-dovey manner with the inscription “Grassroots support for Tinubu 2027”.
The reelection campaign for Tinubu is coming a few months after he celebrated his one year as president of Nigeria.
There are growing concerns about the policies of the present administration, which many believe have worsened the economic situation in the country.
There are fears that the president’s popularity is waning among citizens despite having spent less than two years in office.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is yet to fix a timetable for the 2027 elections.
In May, Abdullahi Ganduje, the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said the ruling party was being strengthened to enable Tinubu to secure a second term in office.
Ganduje said the APC national leadership is working with states to ensure that the party has functional offices in wards across the country.
Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest person, says the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited no longer owns 20 percent stake in Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
Speaking during a press briefing at the refinery on Sunday, Dangote said NNPC now owns 7.2 percent of the refinery over failure to pay the balance of their share, which was due in June.
“NNPC no longer owns 20 percent stake in the Dangote refinery. They were met to pay their balance in June, but have yet to fulfil the obligations. Now, they only own a 7.2% stake in the refinery,” Dangote said.
In September 2021, NNPC acquired a 20 percent interest in Dangote refinery for $2.76 billion.
Revealing details of the transaction, NNPC, in its audited financial statements for 2022, said NNPC Greenfield holds the investment.
NNPC said the balance ($1.76 billion) of the cost of equity investments made in Dangote refinery would be paid upon completion of the refinery project or any other date agreed.
Dangote refinery commenced production on January 12.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu on Sunday welcomed the former Senate President, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim into the All Progressives Congress, APC, saying his decision to join the ruling party would further spur development in the South East region and Nigeria in general.
It will be recalled that Anyim who was also a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, formerly defected to APC in a remarkable public event on Saturday in Ebonyi State.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Levinus Nwabughiogu on Sunday, Hon. Kalu who graced the event said that having served as Senate President in the Legislature and SGF under the Executive Arm of government, Anyim is bringing his great wealth of experience to bear in the progress and development of the nation.
Hon. Kalu said: “It is my pleasure to welcome my big brother, the former Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, to our great party, the All Progressives Congress, APC.
“This decision is indeed a step in the right direction for the future of the Southeast and our nation, Nigeria.
“With your experience and leadership, I believe that this step will inspire other leaders to join hands in unity for the growth and development of our nation.
“Welcome to APC, Distinguished Senator Anyim Pius Anyim”.
Former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, is reportedly in the protective custody of the state Governor, Usman Ododo.
Naija News learnt that Bello has been in the custody of the Kogi state government since he was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to Cable News, Yahaya Bello is currently enjoying protection from the security agents attached to the state since the aborted attempt by the EFCC to arrest him.
Recall that the EFCC had issued a Red Notice on Bello to the international police organisation, also known as Interpol, based on the warrant of arrest issued by a federal high court in Abuja.
EFCC asked INTERPOL in three North African countries, Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria, to place Yahaya Bello on its watchlist.
Other countries where the ex-governor is on the watchlist are Egypt, Libya and Sudan.
Sources in the anti-graft agency disclosed that there are many options on the table in dealing with the Bello situation, which include but is not limited to storming the Kogi State Government House in Lokoja, where the ex-governor is believed to be hiding.
The watch list was activated ahead of the July 17th expected appearance of the former governor before a Federal High Court in Abuja.
Loading and transporting of petrol and other related products have been halted by members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria and Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) in Oyo and Osun states.
The petroleum stakeholders announced the suspension of their operations at an emergency meeting held in Ibadan on Saturday.
According to them, the decision became imperative due to the incessant “harassment and extortion of members by the police”.
The emergency meeting was attended by Mutiu Bukola, Ibadan depot chairman and Hammed Hamzat, chairman, Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of NUPENG.
Also in attendance were Surajudeen Adegoke, chairman, independent marketers branch of NUPENG, and Olalekan Lawal, IPMAN, vice-chairman.
NAN reports that they unanimously condemned the operations of the “inspector general of police (IGP) monitoring team” on the highway which had been “disrupting the lifting of petroleum products” from depot to filling stations in the two states.
Bukola, speaking on behalf of the associations, called for an immediate end to harassment and extortion of members of the associations.
He said they would not resume operations until the issues were addressed.
According to the IPMAN branch chairman, no filling stations would open and there would be no movement of petroleum tankers in the two states until members of the IGP monitoring team are removed from the road.
“A tanker driver bringing in a truck load of diesel was arrested at Gbongon junction in Osun in the early hours of Saturday and detained along with his truck,” the associations said.
“The team has assumed the role of Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) which is the regulator in the sector.
“The NMDPRA officers at the lifting depot had already certified the product, meaning that there was no issue at all, only for the driver and the truck to be detained by the IGP monitoring team at Gbongbon.
“We hereby call for immediate release of the driver and the truck.”
In the last few months, he said the police team had “wrongly arrested” several tanker drivers and trucks, only to discover that they were innocent after investigations.
“There will be no movement of trucks in and out of Osun and Oyo states, meaning that there will be no loading of petroleum products from depot to filling stations within the two states,” he said.
“The purpose of the IGP monitoring team was to stop vandalism of pipelines but the team has left its function and is now chasing other things.”
Bukola also condemned what he described as multiple charges that “had been crippling operations” in the petroleum sector in the two states.
[STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE] President Tinubu Congratulates Thisday Publisher, Nduka Obaigbena, On His Birthday
Admin![[STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE] President Tinubu Congratulates Thisday Publisher, Nduka Obaigbena, On His Birthday](/media/k2/items/cache/f9fde50f3bac8474bd651d4bef3ad10a_S.jpg)
President Bola Tinubu extends his congratulations to Prince Nduka Obaigbena, CON, on the occasion of his 65th birthday.
President Tinubu notes the enterprising spirit of the former President of the Newspaper Proprietors' Association of Nigeria (NPAN), who founded ThisWeek Magazine, and later, THISDAY Newspapers, Arise Magazine, and The Arise News Channel.
The President prays for greater achievements for the renowned publisher, whose philanthropic efforts, especially in education, have demonstrated his passion for human development.
Chief Ajuri Ngelale
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
More...
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has re-arraigned Binance on a four-count charge bordering on alleged tax evasion.
Ayodele Omotilewa, Binance’s representative in Nigeria, was arraigned on Friday before Emeka Nwite, a judge at the federal high court in Abuja.
Omotilewa pleaded not guilty to the four counts.
In the amended charge filed on June 14, Binance Holdings Limited is listed as the sole defendant.
After the plea by the Binance representative, Moses Ideho, counsel to FIRS, sought a date for the commencement of trial. The presiding judge subsequently fixed October 11 as the trial date.
Over the past few months, Tigran Gambaryan, Binance’s head of financial crime compliance, has been facing trial in Nigeria over alleged tax evasion and money laundering.
On June 14, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) dropped the tax charges against Gambaryan.
A federal high court in Abuja discharged Gambaryan after the FIRS confirmed the appointment of Omotilewa as the firm’s representative.
However, the EFCC has yet to drop its charges against Binance and its executives.
The anti-graft body had arraigned Binance Holdings Limited, Gambaryan, Nadeem Anjarwalla, Binance’s regional manager for Africa, over allegations of money laundering.
Gambaryan and Anjarwalla were detained by the Nigerian authorities on February 28.
However, Anjarwalla escaped from the custody of the office of the national security adviser (ONSA), leaving Gambaryan to face the charges alone.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has named Thomas Matthew Crooks as the gunman who fired shots at the rally of former President Donald Trump.
According to the FBI, Crooks is a 20-year-old male from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.
The former US president was injured in the shooting while he was delivering a speech at his campaign rally on Saturday.
The FBI has described the incident as an assassination attempt.
Although Trump survived the shooting, one person was killed while two others were gravely injured.
“The FBI has identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the subject involved in the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump on July 13, in Butler, Pennsylvania,” the bureau said on Sunday.
The FBI also shared a phone number and website for anyone with information, video, or pictures related to the shooting.
Kevin Rojek, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Pittsburgh office, said the website for tips is www.FBI.gov/Butler.
Following the shooting, Trump returned to New Jersey, with his plane touching down early on Sunday morning.
Several world leaders have condemned the attack and expressed sympathy with the Republican Party candidate for the US presidential election.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the shooting an “inexcusable attack”.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was “appalled”, adding that such “violence has no justification and no place anywhere in the world”.
Narendra Modi, India’s prime minister, expressed concern over the incident, saying “our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the deceased, those injured and the American people”.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, has advised the family of the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, to refrain from commenting on the resolution reached by the Federal Government regarding the controversial Oil Mining Licence (OML) 245.
Lokpobiri’s statement follows comments from Mohammed Abacha, the son of the late head of state, who urged the minister to retract his public statement about resolving the disputes over OML 245 and resuming production in the national interest.
In a letter of protest written by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Reuben Okpanachi Atabo, the Abacha family gave Lokpobiri a 14-day ultimatum to withdraw his claim or face contempt of court charges. The letter, delivered to the offices of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Oil Minister on July 5, argued that Lokpobiri’s claims were false and disregarded ongoing court cases regarding Malabu Oil and Gas ownership.
Responding to the Abacha family’s statement, Lokpobiri said, “I don’t want to join issues with the Abacha family, but I can assure you that we are resolving all the issues with OML 245 under overriding national strategic interest. This matter has lingered on for the past 28 years. And if I were a member of the Abacha family, I wouldn’t even raise my head. As Heineken Lokpobiri, I can’t give any Lokpobiri a license. That in itself is criminal. So if they know what they are doing, they should keep quiet.”
Lokpobiri, an English-trained lawyer, emphasized that oil blocks are federation assets, and the federal government will ensure that Nigerians benefit from them.
History of Litigation
OML 245, considered one of Nigeria’s most prolific oil blocks, was acquired by Malabu Oil and Gas, a company belonging to the Abacha family, in 1998 for $2 million. In 2001, under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the federal government revoked Malabu’s license due to “questionable practices.” Malabu challenged the revocation in court and reached an out-of-court settlement with the government under former President Umaru Yar’Adua in 2006.
In 2011, Shell and Eni acquired the block for $1.3 billion from Malabu in a deal approved by the Nigerian government. Since then, there have been ongoing allegations and litigation, with Transparency International and other anti-corruption groups alleging bribery and corruption in the deal.
Regarding the 28-year crisis and litigation, Lokpobiri recently stated, “The core issue revolves around the agreement between the federal government, Shell, and ENI, wherein the Federal Government facilitated the transfer of rights from Malabu to Shell/ENI in exchange for consideration. This process was conducted transparently and by established legal frameworks.”
National Leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has said that the return of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the Emir of Kano and the several demolitions carried out by the state governor, Engr. Kabir Abba Yusuf, were fulfilment of campaign promises by the party.
Kwankwaso, however, alleged that some persons in Abuja pressured the former Emir, Alhaji Ado Bayero into coming to Kano even after he, alongside others, had accepted the dissolution of the five emirates created by the Ganduje government.
Speaking on Prime Time, a political programme on Arise News monitored in Abuja, Kwankwaso, who was presidential candidate of the NNPP in the 2023 general elections, said they have no regrets for fulfilling the promises made during their campaign for which the governor was elected.
He said: “It was a campaign issue. Don’t forget that Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was installed in 2014 by our government. My Deputy who became governor decided in his wisdom to divide Kano into five emirates. What many people don’t remember is that it was tried by the Rimi government during the Second Republic.
“It was our position, our belief that Kano should continue as one solid traditional institution. That was what we believed in. So, during our campaign, the governor went round to tell the people that if they voted for him, Kano would return to being one solid traditional institution, of course with support from the other emirates.
“That is why when he was sworn-in, he started a process of consultation. For your information, the emirates that were created by Rimi were dissolved by Sabo Bakinzuwo who took over from him right there at the Race Course where he was sworn in.
“But for one year, the governor carried out due consultations and decided to follow due process through the State House of Assembly and Sanusi was reinstated. People voted for him for several reasons, including making Kano one strong emirate.
“So, we are not just coming from the streets. We have a history. We did not just wake up one day to do that. That is the position of the people of Kano State and we have done what is right and the other four emirs have accepted it and moved out of their palaces.”