Ize-Iyamu Withdraws From Edo Governorship Race

All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship aspirant, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has withdrawn from the Edo State gubernatorial race, barely 24 hours to the party’s primary election.  Ize-Iyamu announced his withdrawal on Friday, in a statement made available to journalists in Benin, the State capital. The withdrawal notice was addressed to the national chairman of the party, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and copied to the Acting State Chairman of the party, Emperor Jarrett Tenebe. Ize-Iyamu described the decision as painful but stated it has become imperative after an exhaustive consultation with my family, friends, political associates and supporters. He further pledged that he and his teeming supporters would support any candidate that emerges in the primary election holding tomorrow. Read the full text of the withdrawal letter: “Few montha ago, after extensively interacting with family, friends, political assonates, and supporters, I joined the 2024 Edo state gubernatorial race as a result of my passion and commitment to the cause of rescuing Edo state from the current condition of decrepitude. “I entered the contest as a progressive democrat, with an open mind to keenly contest and accept the result of a process that is fair, credible and transparent. I appreciate the commended the effort made by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC to correct the erroneous impression maliciously created by certain persons that some aspirants, including myself had been disqualified from the gubernatorial contest. The NWC constituted the authentic screening committee and all twelve aspirants who purchased and completed the nomination forms were successfully screened and subsequently issued clearance certificates. This step was praise worthy and helped in restoring our integrity in the eyes of the public. “Having being cleared to contest, I regrettably wish to announce my withdrawal from the race. Although painful, this decision has become imperative after an exhaustive consultation with my family, friends, political associates and supporters. I make this sacrifice in the interest of the peace and unity that the party desperately requires at both state and national levels. “I humbly appeal to the good people of Edo state to accept my decision which I very personal and I promise to be there for them at all times. “Thankfully, I acknowledge the fatherly role of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, as well as the party’s National leadership for the fairness and commitment to the democratic process. Likewise, I remain grateful to the state working committee for their principled stand to allow a level playing field for all aspirants. I am extremely appreciative to my family, friends, supporters, well-wishers, and the extraordinary hardworking men and women of our campaign organization who were prepared to stop at nothing to see me fly the party’s flag. I salute your great works, your steadfastness and courage. “Finally, as a loyal party man, I wish to pledge that I and my teeming supporters shall support any candidate that emerges in the primary election holding tomorrow.”

FCT Police Arrest Notorious Kidnapper, Dahiru Adamu Whom Wike Placed N20 Million Bounty

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command of the Nigeria Police has arrested a notorious kidnapper, Dahiru Adamu, who is part of the criminals terrorising Abuja and its environs. Adamu, whose real name is Saidu Abdulkadir, was arrested on Thursday by the FCT Police Command’s Anti-kidnapping unit when the operatives raided two kidnappers’ camps near the Nasarawa-Abuja border via Kuje area council at about 12am. Confirming the arrest, the FCT Police spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, in a statement on Friday, said on sighting the police, the criminals opened fire but were overpowered by the superior firepower of the Police. Adeh added that one Habu Yakubu and Isufu Abubakar, earlier abducted from Kwaita village via Pegi district of Kuje area council, were rescued unhurt during the process. The arrested suspect is the gang leader and one of the wanted suspects of the kidnapping syndicate paraded by the Police Command on 14th February, 2024. Adeh said: “Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect masterminded the kidnap and killing of one Mr Sunday Yahaya Zakwai, the district head of Ketti village. “While effort is till ongoing to apprehend the other wanted suspects on the run, the Commissioner of Police FCT, CP Benneth C. Igweh psc, mni, wishes to reassure criminals in FCT that there is no hiding place for them. He equally urges residents to report suspicious activities through the following emergency lines ; 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653, and 08028940883; PCB: 09022222352.” The arrest comes a few hours after the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, announced a 20 million naira reward for the capture of the kidnapper.

Supreme Court voids AMCON takeover of Lagos Hotel

The Supreme Court of Nigeria, Friday, nullified the takeover of the landed property of Suru Worldwide Ventures Nigeria Limited by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria. With the judgment, the Apex court affirmed the decision of the Appeal court, which dismissed the order of the lower court. A Federal High Court in Lagos had ordered the takeover of the company’s property by AMCON for not paying the loan obtained from the defunct Oceanic Bank. This followed a suit by AMCON, praying the court to order security agencies to offer it protection to enable it to exercise its possessory rights as a legal mortgagee under the Deeds of Legal Mortgage, over Suru Worldwide Ventures Nigeria Limited’s landed properties. But Suru Worldwide Ventures Nigeria Limited appealed against the judgment on the grounds that it was denied a fair hearing because it was not joined as a defendant. The appellate court, in a lead judgment by Justice Ugochukwu Ogakwu, held that the failure of AMCON to join Suru Worldwide Ventures Nigeria Limited as a defendant in its suit before the Federal High Court rendered the proceedings leading to the takeover order nullity. The court also ordered that the matter be returned to the Federal High Court for a fresh hearing Reading the lead judgment at the apex court, Justice Emmanuel Agim confirmed the court’s decision to halt the company takeover and ordered a new hearing at the High Court. He said, “I find no merit in the appeal. The judgment of the court of appeal is hereby affirmed. “

Grant Thornton Nigeria Welcomes Tayo Adedokun to Fuel Optimism in Economic Growth

Grant Thornton Nigeria, a key player in assurance, tax, and advisory services, is gearing up for robust economic growth, driven by optimism in the mid-market.  The firm is delighted to announce Mr. Tayo Adedokun as the new partner in the Advisory service line, reinforcing its commitment to providing high-quality transactional advisory services. The evolving economic landscape calls for responsible economic policies to attract domestic and foreign investments. Dr. Ngozi Ogwo, Managing Partner and CEO, emphasizes the firm’s dedication to nurturing a resilient business environment in Nigeria and across Africa. Dr. Ogwo highlighted the pivotal role Transactional Advisory Services play in upholding business transaction integrity. These services, encompassing financial evaluations, risk assessments, and compliance reviews, instill trust and confidence in the market. Having joined the firm in 2009, Tayo Adedokun’s transition to the Advisory service line in 2016 marked a turning point. His exceptional performance in valuation, due diligence, and corporate governance review engagements has significantly contributed to the firm’s success. Mr. Orji Okpechi, Head of Advisory Services, underscored the importance of TAS in economic development, citing its involvement in mergers, acquisitions, capital raising, restructuring, and strategic financial planning. These services, he noted, facilitate and support complex business transactions crucial for economic growth. Against the backdrop of regional and global economic policies, the role of TAS has become increasingly vital.  TAS stimulated investment and entrepreneurial initiatives, fostering confidence in investors and businesses. This, in turn, has led to increased investment inflow, business expansion, job creation, and overall economic prosperity. Grant Thornton Nigeria, part of the Grant Thornton International Ltd global network, operates with over 200 staff and 10 partners across three locations and four office. The firm’s commitment to seamlessly integrate into diverse business environments underscored its role in fostering economic resilience and growth.

Abure Denies Plan To Join Edo Governorship Race

Julius Abure, the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), has stated that he has no intention of participating in the Edo State gubernatorial election to succeed Governor Godwin Obaseki. In an interview on Arise Television,  Abure expressed concerns about leadership failures in the country, attributing them to a lack of internal party democracy within political parties. Abure emphasized the need for an open, transparent, and competitive electoral process, pledging to work with the National Working Committee (NWC) to ensure the Edo State gubernatorial race is fair, free, and credible. He stated, “I have the responsibility to ensure the party gets the best candidate for the people of Edo State. Once again, I have no interest in becoming the gubernatorial candidate in the state.” Addressing the suspension of the party’s National Treasurer, Oluchi Okpara, over an alleged N3.5 billion fraud, Abure attributed the internal issues to external interference aimed at destabilizing the party post-2023 general elections. He remarked, “It is obvious that a lot of people are being used to disrupt and cause chaos in the party, jeopardizing its credibility as a formidable opposition force in the country.”

NUPRC To Move Key Departments To Lagos

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission is contemplating relocating some of its units to Lagos. This was disclosed in a memo dated February 14, 2024.  The move aims to bolster service delivery, trim operational costs, and optimize assets in Lagos. Dr. Kelechi Onyekachi Ofoegbu, on behalf of the Commission, signed the memo urging departments to identify units capable of independent operation with minimal supervision.  The statement read; “In line with our objectives of improving organizational efficiency, driving industry growth, and managing office accommodation in Abuja, we are exploring the possibility of relocating certain units to Lagos. “This initiative is driven by the need to enhance our service delivery, reduce operational costs, and make adequate utilization of our assets in Lagos. “Consequently, we are requesting that each department identify and provide a list of units that can operate independently with minimal supervision. “Submissions on the above are expected on or before the close of business on Friday 23rd February 2024. “This is submitted for your further necessary action, please.” This move follows the recent relocation of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) headquarters and CBN departments to Lagos.

Deji Adeyanju Reveals Why Peter Obi, Atiku, Tinubu Should Be Jailed

Human rights activist Deji Adeyanju has called for the imprisonment of President Bola Tinubu, PDP’s Atiku Abubakar, and Labour Party’s Peter Obi. He cited their alleged failure and contribution to the nation’s hardships. Addressing a protest in Abuja, Adeyanju expressed concern over the depreciation of the naira compared to other West African currencies.  He criticized the choices made by Nigerians in the last election, accusing politicians of corruption and emphasizing the need for accountability. Adeyanju warned of a Zimbabwean-like trajectory for Nigeria and asserted that all the presidential candidates should be in jail for the betterment of the nation. He said “We have warned Nigerians severally but it seems they have a covenant with oppression and suffering. I can’t imagine a situation where people had several credible alternatives during the last election but Nigerians said they wanted to swim and die with corruption. “Look at the Labour Party, people were jumping all over the place for that they are the saviour, look at the kind of worms we are witnessing, they can’t even account for their campaign funds. “The Abure looter has just been alleged of stealing N3.5 billion from the campaign funds by the party’s treasurer. We are talking about money generated from just sales of forms, not those in their naira account and those generated during the last election. “Peter Obi has refused to come clean, you can’t fight corruption with corruption. We warned Nigerians of the Emi Lokans of this world that he just came to have fun and loot. When he said it was his turn, Nigerians didn’t ask him, turn to do what? To loot? A man who said he would continue where Buhari stopped, what were you expecting? “Nigeria is heading the Zimbabwean way, is it not shocking that the West African CFAs are stronger than the naira? Things are going to get worse “There is none of them that ran that election whether Atiku, Tinubu or Obi that should not be in jail if we are to run a smooth country.”

FG Drops Treasonable Felony Case Against Sowore

The Federal Government has officially declared its intention to discontinue the long-standing treasonable felony case against the publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, and his co-defendant, Olawale Bakare, also known as Mandate. The announcement was conveyed through a document dated February 15, 2024, by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi.  The document, addressed to the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Abuja Division, cited constitutional powers as the basis for discontinuing Charge No FHC/ABI/CR/235/2019. The trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, had previously threatened to strike out the case due to the prosecution team’s inability to articulate their arguments in court.  This decision follows over four years of legal proceedings in the high-profile case. Meanwhile, Sowore, who was arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) in 2019 ahead of a planned #RevolutionNow protest, has expressed his intention to sue the Federal Government and the DSS for ₦1billion.  In an exclusive telephone interview, Sowore highlighted the trauma inflicted on him and his family during his detention and subsequent confinement in Nigeria. Sowore asserted, “I didn’t commit any crime; they only decided to waste my time and the resources of the country. But we’re not giving up. I will sue the Federal Government of Nigeria and the DSS for ₦1billion as compensation for the cost of time and resources, mental and financial trauma, and also for the assassination of my brother, Olajide Sowore during this five-year period that I was abducted, detained, and now confined to Nigeria while they seized my passport.”

Tinubu, Governors To Consider Establishment Of State Police

President Bola Tinubu, alongside the 36 governors, has endorsed the establishment of state police. The agreement was made during an emergency meeting held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday. The Minister of Information and National Orientation revealed that discussions surrounding state police have gained momentum, with the federal and state governments recognizing the necessity of such a development.  The Minister emphasized that while this marks a significant shift, further meetings will be conducted to refine the modalities for implementing state police across the country. He said, “But now, there is also a discussion around the issue of state police. The federal government and state governments are mulling the possibility of setting up state police. “Of course, this is still going to be further discussed, a lot of work still has to be done in that direction. But what the federal government and state governments are agreeing to the necessity of having state policy. “Now, this is a significant shift. But like I said, more works need to be done in that direction. A lot of meetings will have to happen between different government and sub nationals to see the modalities of achieving this.

Tension at NASS over planned tenure elongation…Clerk, over 200 staff due for retirement in Nov plan 5yrs extension

Tension is brewing in the National Assembly, following plans by the Senate to grant concurrence to a controversial bill on extension of retirement age for civil servants in nation’s Parliament and across the 36 State Houses of Assembly. Staff who are apprehensive said attempts by the Senate to pass a Bill for an act to extend the retirement age of the staff of the National Assembly Service from 60 to 65 years of age and from 35 to 40 years of service is counterproductive. According to documents cited by our correspondent, the current clerk to the National Assembly, Sani Tambawal Magaji, joined the National Assembly Service in April 1990 (34 years) and was born in 1965. If the Bill scales through, he will remain in office until he’s 65 and 40 years in service. The Senate had on Wednesday listed the controversial Bill, which had passed third reading in the House of Representative for concurrence after it passed first reading in the Senate some weeks ago. Several attempts had been made by the two Chambers of the apex legislature to extend the retirement age of the members of staff of the National Assembly since 2017. Successive management of the National Assembly bureaucracy since 2017 made attempts to allegedly buy over the leadership and members of the Senate and the House of Representatives to make a law extending the tenure of service as against the condition prescribed by the Public Service Rules which provides for retirement age of persons in the public service of the federation at the attainment of 60 years of age or 35 years of service, whichever comes first. While the management vigorously pursued its goal, the staff of the National Assembly under the aegis of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) under the chairmanship of Bature Musa rejected the Bill in its entirety. It would rather admonish the management of the National Assembly to ensure the full implementation of the welfare and allowance packages as contained in the service’s Conditions of Service. The rejection of the Bill was attributed to what the workers’ Union termed an “attempt by Clerk to the National Assembly and the management team to perpetuate themselves in office for another 5 years after they are due for retirement from service. The Union in a unanimous decision rejected the Bill, saying that it was against the position of Council of Establishment of the Federation which pegged the retirement age at either 60 years of age or 35 years of service – whichever comes first. The Union also argued that the controversial Bill if passed, will bring stagnation on the career progression of her members, thus would serve only the interest of the management staff, especially those who are due for retirement from service. Again, the Union also averred that the passage of the Bill contravenes the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and runs contrary to the Federal Government policy on youth development and empowerment. The Union advanced its argument by illustrating that perpetuating persons who have served the nation for 35 years or attained 60 years of age will not make room for employment of Nigerian youths some of whom graduated for more that 10 years without gainful employment. Consequently, the Union, in a letter, addressed to the President of the Senate and the Rt. Honorable Speaker of the House of Representatives denounced the Bill and threatened industrial action should the legislators go ahead to pass the Bill. It said the Union’s position led the two Chambers to discontinue action on the Bill, which was respectively sponsored by Sunday Akon in the House and Senator Stella Odua in the Senate during 9th Assembly. However, determined to see it through, the management in allegedly reached a deal with the National Assembly Service Commission and smuggled the tenure extension into the Conditions of Service in use in the National Assembly Service, but the Union protested and forced the Commission to expunge it from the revised edition of the Conditions of Service currently in use. The revision led to the retirement of the then Clerk to National Assembly, Ataba Sani Omolori, and 150 staff of the service. However, further attempts were made in the House of Representatives under the speakership of Femi Gbajabiamila, but was rejected by the House thus, the Bill did not see the light of the day under the then Clerk to the National Assembly, Amos Olatunde Ojo. Presently, the management led by the current clerk to the National Assembly, Magaji Sani Tambawal, is again pushing for it. The Bill has passed in the House of Representatives and presently before the Senate for concurrence. The Senate, after taking the first reading of the Bill some weeks ago, reversed itself and listed it for concurrence on Wednesday 14, February, 2024. However, a group of staff of the apex lawmaking body in the land has rejected the attempt by the Senate to concur to the decision of the House of Representatives, citing same reasons adduced by the Union in 2019. The staff queried the move, asking what has changed in 2024 that is motivating the present Assembly to buy into the Bill to the extent that it is in a hurry to get it passed. The workers said the leadership of the Workers Union in the National Assembly Service may have been compromised. The group of staff alleged that the management of the National Assembly, led by Tambawal, got the Sunday Sabiyyi-led Executive of the Union, hence the deafening silence in the Union They accused the chairman of buying into the attempt to stagnate majority of staff and blocking the viable youth population who would be employed into the service upon the retirement of over 200 staff who are due to retire between 2024 and 2026, because of selfish interest as he stands to benefit from the extension if passed and assented to. They wondered why the leadership that led the struggle against the Bill during Omolori and Ojo respectively will now