Africa

Akeredolu Tells Buhari Parting Gift To Give Nigerians
Economy, Elections, Finance, News, Nigeria

Akeredolu Tells Buhari Parting Gift To Give Nigerians

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has told President Muhammadu Buhari to allow the old and new naira notes to both be in circulation as legal tender. Cash scarcity has been witnessed across the country as a fallout of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s naira redesign policy. This has resulted in protests and attacks on banks in some states across the country in the past few days. Reacting to the development in a statement issued on Saturday, Akeredolu said the crisis may upset the forthcoming general election. He said the “failed implementation” of the policy is as a result of “miscalculation, error of judgement and disinformation“ from the apex bank.  The governor insisted that as appealing as the policy appears to be, its implementation drives curiosity as regar...
<strong>BUK Expels 27 Students Over Malpractice</strong>
Education, News, Nigeria

BUK Expels 27 Students Over Malpractice

The management of Bayero University, Kano, has expelled 27 students and rusticated eight others for allegedly engaging in examination malpractice. This was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by the Director, Directorate of Examinations, Admissions, and Records, Hajia Amina Abdullahi. See Also: Kwara Polytechnic Halts Exams Over Naira Scarcity The statement reads, “The Senate at its 400th meeting held on Thursday, January 26, 2023, expelled 27 students and rusticated eight others for allegedly being involved in examination misconducts.” Abdullahi stated that the decision of the Senate was in line with the categories 20, 17 (AI, III, IV, V, VI, VII and XII) of the University’s General Regulations. The statement added that 22 other students were however issued warni...
<strong>Court Sentences Obasanjo’s In-law To Seven Years Imprisonment</strong>
Crime, Judiciary, Justice, News, Nigeria

Court Sentences Obasanjo’s In-law To Seven Years Imprisonment

John Abebe, a businessman, has been sentenced to seven years in prison by a Lagos state special offences court in Ikeja for forging a document belonging to an oil company. Ruling on the suit on Saturday, the judge, Mojisola Dada, gave an option of a fine of N50 million to be paid within 30 days in place of imprisonment. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had in 2018 arraigned Abebe, a younger brother of the late Stella Obasanjo, former first lady, on four counts. The anti-graft agency accused Abebe of knowingly forging a November 30, 1995, letter written by BP Exploration Nigeria Limited to Inducon (Nigeria) Ltd. See Also: Court Orders Evans To Pay Kidnap Victim €233,000, N50m According to the EFCC, Abebe who is an in-law to former President Olusegun Obasa...
<strong>CAF Robbed Me Of Best Player Award in 2013 – Mikel</strong>
News, Nigeria, Sports

CAF Robbed Me Of Best Player Award in 2013 – Mikel

Mikel Obi, former Super Eagles captain, has claimed that he was robbed of the 2013 African Player of the Year award by the Confederation of African Football, CAF. Mikel was the star performer for Nigeria during the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa as he helped his country clinch the tournament. No Nigerian has won the African Player of the Year award since 1999, when Kanu Kwankwo won the honour ahead of Ghanaian defender, Samuel Kuffour following his impressive form in front of goal for Arsenal. Since then, no Nigerian footballer has gone home with the accolade but only Austin Okocha (twice, in 2003 and 2004) and Mikel Obi (in 2003) were among the final three nominees before losing to Samuel Eto’o and Yaya Toure. Speaking on the award, Mikel in a YouTube intervie...
<strong>Naira Scarcity: El-Rufai Blows Hot, Counters Buhari’s Directive On Old Naira  </strong>
Economy, Finance, Judiciary, News, Nigeria

Naira Scarcity: El-Rufai Blows Hot, Counters Buhari’s Directive On Old Naira  

Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai, has directed that old and new naira notes remain legal tender in the state pending the outcome of supreme court judgment. Buhari in a televised address on Thursday said he has directed the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to allow N200 notes remain legal tender until April 10. According to the president, all N500 and N1,000 notes will remain redeemable a the CBN and designated points for 60 days. His directive came less than 24 hours after the supreme court insisted that the old notes were still valid, and adjourned the case filed by many states – including Kaduna, seeking an extension to the deadline on the old notes beyond February 2022. Reacting, el-Rufai stated that all old notes would remain legal tender until the supreme court dete...
<strong>Court Orders Evans To Pay Kidnap Victim €233,000, N50m</strong>
Crime, Finance, News, Nigeria, Security

Court Orders Evans To Pay Kidnap Victim €233,000, N50m

Billionaire kidnap mastermind, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans, was on Tuesday ordered by a Lagos State High Court at Tafawa Balewa Square to refund the sum of €233,000, he received as ransom from one of his kidnap victims, Chief Donatus Dunu. Justice Olukayode Ogunjobi, also mandated Evans to pay the sum of N50m as general damages in favour of the claimant.   The victim, a pharmacist, was abducted on February 14, 2018, and held hostage with ransom collected from his family, he escaped from where he was held. Dunu, a Chief Executive Officer of Maydon Pharmaceutical Company, later filed a civil suit, praying the court to order Evans to return to him the €233,000, paid in ransom. The claimant asked for an additional N50m in general damages. But Eva...
<strong>Kwara Polytechnic Halts Exams Over Naira Scarcity</strong>
Education, Finance, News, Nigeria

Kwara Polytechnic Halts Exams Over Naira Scarcity

The management of Kwara State Polytechnic has closed down the institution for about 29 days after a protest on Wednesday at Apata Yakuba and the polytechnic axis over naira scarcity. The institution also shifted its ongoing semester examinations till after the general elections. This was contained in a statement issued by Halimat Garba, the institution’s Public Relations Officer, urging the students not to be on campus between Wednesday, February 15, 2023 and Tuesday, March 14, 2023. Garba said the school is shut down to allow students to perform their civic responsibility by participating in the forthcoming general elections and in line with the directive from the Federal Ministry of Education for the security of staff, students, and property of the institutions. The stat...
<strong>Court Declares Ebube Agu Operations Illegal In Ebonyi</strong>
Human Rights, Judiciary, Justice, Law Enforcement, News, Nigeria, Security

Court Declares Ebube Agu Operations Illegal In Ebonyi

An Ebonyi State federal high court in Abakaliki has declared the activities of the south-east security outfit, Ebube Agu, illegal in the state. Recall that the south-east states governors had in April 2021, announced the establishment of the security network as part of measures to curb insecurity in the region. The court while ruling on Tuesday, ordered the Department of State Services, DSS, and police to retrieve all the weapons in the possession of Ebube Agu operatives in the state. The presiding judge, Riman Fatun, said the grounds for disbandment were connected to human right abuses, extortion, and illegal arrests. The judge held, “I hereby declare the Ebube Agu outfit illegal and therefore, it ceases to exist as the Ebonyi state house of assembly has no powers to appr...
<strong>Police Free 15 Abducted Corpers In Anambra</strong>
News, Nigeria, Security, Youths

Police Free 15 Abducted Corpers In Anambra

The Anambra State Police Command has freed 15 members of the National Youths Service Corps, NYSC, kidnapped along the Isseke, Ihiala road, in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State. This was contained in a statement issued by the state police spokesperson, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga on Tuesday. Ikenga said the abducted corps members were from the NYSC Orientation Camp in Eziama-Obaire, Nkwerre Local Government Area of Imo State. The police spokesperson stated that the corps members were heading to Lagos after their orientation on Tuesday when gunmen yet-to-be-identified in an unmarked white Toyota Hilux, intercepted their vehicle in Ihiala, and diverted them to Isseke, Ihiala-Orlu expressway, where they were held hostage.   He said, “The Anambra State Police operative...
<strong>Why I Didn’t Meet Oba of Lagos – Obi</strong>
Nigeria

Why I Didn’t Meet Oba of Lagos – Obi

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, has given a reason for his inability to meet the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, when he visited the state for his campaign rally. Obi during an interview on Channels Television on Monday refuted claims that he deliberately refused to visit the Oba, noting that the traditional ruler was not readily available. There have been suggestions that the Lagos traditional ruler refused Obi’s request to visit the palace during the LP presidential campaign rally. Obi visited some places in Lagos State on Saturday and held a rally at the Tafawa Balewa Square in Onikan, Lagos.   The LP presidential candidate, on Monday took his campaign to Computer Village and Ladipo spare parts in Lagos State. Speaking on why he didn’...