Alleged Fraud: Olu Agunloye, Former Minister of Power and Steel Remanded in Kuje Prison

The Federal High Court in Abuja has taken a decisive step regarding Olu Agunloye, a former Minister of Power and Steel under President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.  Justice Donatus Okorowo ordered his remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre following charges brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleging his involvement in fraudulent activities. Agunloye, who also previously served as Minister of State for Defence, pleaded not guilty to the charges.  However, the court ruled for his remand pending the determination of his bail application. This development unfolded after the EFCC had declared Agunloye wanted on December 13, 2023, for suspected involvement in fraudulent acts.  The anti-graft agency had sought information from the public regarding his whereabouts, urging individuals to report to the nearest police station or contact the EFCC.

Unpaid Bills: TCN Issues 14-Day Suspension Notice to Ajaokuta Steel Company Ltd

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has taken decisive action against Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL) due to non-compliance with market rules, issuing a 14-day disconnection notice.  According to TCN’s statement, ASCL has accumulated a substantial debt of N33.71 billion as of November 2023, with N30.85 billion owed for energy and capacity supplied by Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading PLC (NBET) and N2.22 billion to service providers. Despite prior notifications and interventions by the Minister of Power to rectify the defaults, ASCL’s non-compliance remains unresolved.  TCN has demanded the settlement of outstanding invoices and the provision of bank guarantees within the specified 14-day period to avoid disconnection from the National Grid, as per Section 45 of the Market Rules. Failure to rectify these defaults within the stipulated timeframe may lead to disconnection, and if left unresolved after 30 business days, the Market Operator may terminate ASCL’s Market Participation Agreement, escalating the matter to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) for further action. This action by TCN follows a hint in the NERC’s 2022 annual report regarding the potential disconnection of Ajaokuta Steel from the national grid due to its significant indebtedness of N25.06 billion.

Betta Edu: Why Youths Aren’t Fit To Lead Nigeria – Daddy Freeze

Media icon Daddy Freeze has expressed his viewpoint that older corrupt politicians should retain power instead of transferring leadership to younger individuals.  He made these remarks during an Instagram live session following the suspension of Minister Betta Edu over alleged fraud, emphasizing that the lack of experience led to her involvement in corruption within a short period.  Freeze suggested that older politicians have a better understanding of the systems, while he criticized youths for potentially mishandling the system if in power, stating,  “I’d rather have an experienced older individual comprehend the system than a young person who might recklessly exploit it.”  He further emphasized his preference for seasoned politicians like Tinubu, Atiku, or Obi over youths, suggesting some youths lack a moral compass. He said, “I don’t want youths to lead Nigeria. I would rather have an old thief that understands the system than a young thief that would just steal the system senselessly. You never do minister work how many months dem Don catch you already. “At least, other person wey dem dey catch, e dey reach like three years later. Someone who isn’t 40 yet, I’m 10 years older than her [Betta Edu]. She is a proper youth. “Those you saying you don’t want old people, for me, all this old people whether it’s Tinubu, Atiku or Obi, I prefer them to youths. Nigerian youths? Some of them were born deficient of a conscience.”

I Never Held Private Meeting With Obasanjo – Ohanaeze Leader

The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, has clarified that he did not engage in any private discussions with former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo during the latter’s closed-door meeting with Ohanaeze chieftains in Owerri, the Imo State capital. Iwuanyanwu made this statement during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday. The meeting, which took place at the residence of the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, had sparked curiosity due to its private nature and the status of the attendees. According to the Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Okey Emuchay, the meeting involved discussions on “issues of mutual interest” between the former President and the Ohanaeze chieftains. Emuchay described the meeting as symbolic and crucial, noting that it led to fruitful deliberations. However, he refrained from providing specific details about the topics discussed during the visit. The meeting and Iwuanyanwu’s subsequent clarification indicate the ongoing engagement of prominent leaders in addressing issues concerning the Igbo community and Nigeria at large. Emuchay said, “Issues of mutual interest were discussed, and the Ohanaeze PG informed Chief Obasanjo that Nigeria should erect monuments in his name for the sacrifices he has made. “Iwuanyanwu had recalled Obasanjo’s role in ending the civil war with the slogan of no victor no vanquished; repayment of huge external debts and recovery of the economy during his time as President. “He informed the former President that the Igbo nation will bestow honour on him appropriately.” The former President was accompanied by Chief Oyewole Fasawe; while some Igbo leaders and Ohanaeze chieftains who were at the meeting included Emuchay; former Minister for Aviation, Kema Chikwe; Bishop Sunday Onuoha, Fidelis Ozichukwu; and Chief Tony Ukasanya, among others.

Court decides whether elections, exams can hold saturdays, March 20

By Vivian Michael, Abuja Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court Abuja, will March 20, deliver judgment in a suit seeking to stop the conduct of elections and examinations on Saturdays. The court fixed the date, after listening to the arguments in the matter filed by a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Mr Ugochukwu Uchenwa. The plaintiff, Uchenwa, who is an elder of the church, filed the suit on the grounds that fixing elections and examinations on Saturdays violated his rights and that of other members of the church, to freedom of worship. He is praying the court to declare the fixing of elections and examinations on Saturdays as unconstitutional. In the alternative, the plaintiff, prayed the court to order the defendants to allow him and other members of his church to vote or write examinations on any other day of the week including Sundays. Listed as defendants in the suit are the President, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Minister of Internal Affairs. Others, are the Joint Admission and Matriculation Examinations, JAMB, the National Examination Council, NECO, West African Examination Council, WAEC, the National Business and Technical Examination Board, Council of Legal Education and the Ministry of Education. At Wednesday’s hearing, counsel to the plaintiff, Mr Benjamin Amaefule told the court that his client was only seeking an enforcement of his fundamentals right to freedom of education and freedom to participate in elections. Amaefule told the court that his client was seeking among others, a declaration that the schedule of elections in Nigeria on Saturdays, the “Sabbath day”, was a violation of his fundamental rights to freedom of worship. “It is also a violation of conscience, profession and free practice of faith and right to participate freely in the government of the applicant and that of entire members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Nigeria”. He maintained that fixing examinations and elections on the “Sabbath day of the Lord ”, was also a violation of right to freedom of education of the applicant and the members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church Nigeria. The plaintiff asked the court for some reliefs including a declaration that the actions of the 5th to 8th respondents fixing examinations on Saturdays, a “Sabbath day of the Lord” was unconstitutional. “It is a violation of the fundamental rights of freedom of conscience, profession and free practice of faith of the members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church Nigeria”. He prayed the court for an order restraining INEC from further violating the rights of members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church by holding elections on Saturdays. “In the alternative, order INEC to mark out a different day for the members of the church to participate in their own election if the INEC cannot schedule and hold the elections on a day other than on Saturdays”. “An order restraining the 5th to 8th respondents from scheduling and conducting compulsory public examinations on Saturdays, without making option for the members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church to write their exams on days other than Saturdays. “An order mandating the 10th respondent to cease from conducting any academic programme or activities on Saturdays, the Sabbath day of the Lord without giving members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church a different day to participate in such academic activities by itself or through any of its department.” The plaintiff also asked the court to make an order mandating the 1st and 2nd respondents (the President and the AGF) to declare Saturdays as public holiday just the same way Sundays are public holidays. Moreover, he insisted that Sunday was the first day of the week while Saturday was the seventh day of the week, hence the Sabbath day. Responding on behalf of the President and the AGF, Maimuna Shiru told the court that she filed a 17- paragraph affidavit on behalf of her client in opposition to the suit. She prayed the court to dismiss the suit for lacking in merit. For his part, counsel to WAEC, Mr Friday Chorio argued that Nigeria was a circular state as it had not adopted any religion as its own. According to Chorio, the constitution provides that Nigeria shall not adopt any religion as its own. “In this circumstance, the plaintiff is seeking for an interpretation of the law that Saturday should be fixed as a holy day for the Seventh-day Adventist church. “We have so many laws that provide for holidayw. Section 4 of the Public Holiday Act provides and declares Sunday as a public holiday so government activities cannot take place on Sundays. “Anybody can adopt Sunday as his or her own holiday so you cannot come to court and ask the court to declare Saturday as a public holiday.” For the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, (JAMB), Safinat Lamidi told the court that she filed a preliminary objection praying the court to dismiss the suit as it lacked the jurisdiction to entertain it. Meanwhile, the matter for adjourned till March 20 for judgment.

Adamawa Guber: S/Court affirms Gov Fintiri’s election

The Supreme Court has affirmed the election of Governor Ahmed Fintiri as the authentic governor of Adamawa State. This is following the withdrawal of an appeal brought before it by the Social Democratic Party(SDP) and its governorship candidate, Dr Umar Ardo, challenging Fintiri’s victory for want of merit. SDP and its candidate had scored 6,000 votes and challenged the declaration of Fintiri and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who polled over 430,000 votes at the March 18, 2023 election. Specifically, Ardo and his party argued that the election was not conducted in compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022. The appellants in their submissions through Sylvester Imhanobe, upon discovering the hint of the apex court, the appellants withdrew their appeal, having been found unmeritorious. Justice John Inyang Okoro, who led a 5-man panel of Justices of the Court, dismissed the appeal without any cost against the appellants, thereby, affirmed the election of Fintiri as being validly elected and lawfully declared as the Governor of Adamawa State. Ardo and his party had filed a petition at the Adamawa Governorship Election Petition Tribunal after Fintiri, the candidate of PDP, was declared the winner of the poll. The petitioners had sought the nullification of Fintiri’s election on the grounds that there was substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act, corrupt practices, threats, and violence during the voting exercise. However, the tribunal, led by Theodora Uloho, dismissed the petition for being incompetent and not properly filed. They, however, headed to the Supreme Court for further interpretation.

Abia Guber: S/Court reserves judgment in PDP’s appeal against Otti

The Supreme Court of Nigeria, yesterday, reserved judgment in an appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Okey Ahiwe, seeking the nullification of the election of Alex Oti as the Governor of Abia State. The five-man panel of the justices lead by Justice John Inyang Okoro, reserved the judgment till a date to be communicated to parties after taking their final arguments. The PDP in it’s argument, alleged that Ahiwe was short-changed with over 84,000 votes during the collation of the governorship election results. The party, had through it’s counsel, Uche Ihediuwa, SAN, alleged that the agent of the PDP was chased away at the collation center and as such, was not obliged a copy of the results as required by law. He claimed that his client had to approach the All Progressives Congress (APC) before it could access results sheets and discovered the alleged malpractices. The governor, in his defense asked the court to dismiss the appeal for wants of merit. Gov. Otti, represented by Abiodun John Owonikoko, SAN, informed the court that Otti scored over 174,000 votes at the March 18, 2023 governorship election to emerge victorious, adding that even if the purported 84,000 short-changed votes were added to PDP, the appellants would still not win. He noted that a purported result sheet produced by the PDP before the State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal was rejected because it could not be read by the witness of the party. Gov. Alex Otti of the Labour Party(LP) was declared the winner of the governorship election in the Abia State by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on 22 March. He polled 175,466 votes to defeat his closest rival, Ahiwe of the PDP, who scored 88,529 votes. However, not satisfied with the out come of the election, Ahiwe and the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ikechi Emenike, separately challenged Otti’s victory at the tribunal. On 6th October 2023, the Tribunal dismissed the petitions by Ahiwe and Emenike and affirmed Otti’s election, which was later affirmed by the Appallate court.

Economy: President Tinubu Enforces 60% Cut in Official Travels

President Tinubu has taken a significant step towards curbing government expenditure by enforcing a sharp reduction in travel expenses for all government officials. This decision, disclosed by Ajuri Ngelale, the presidential spokesman, aims to reduce both domestic and international travel costs by 60%. Addressing State House Correspondents on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Ngelale highlighted that the directive was a cost-cutting measure specifically targeted at official travels. The reduction in travel expenditure will not spare any government office, affecting the President, Vice President, First Lady, ministers, and their respective entourages. “This directive from Tinubu mandates a substantial reduction in state entourages,” Ngelale emphasized, clarifying that it is not a mere request but a firm directive from the office of the President. The move will impact the President’s office, the Vice President, and all appointees. The breakdown of the enforced travel reductions indicates a substantial decrease in the number of individuals allowed on both foreign and local trips: Foreign Trips: – President: 20 persons – Vice President: 5 persons – First Lady: 5 persons Local Trips: – President: 25 persons – Vice President: 15 persons – First Lady: 10 persons This directive signals a proactive effort by the administration to streamline expenses and ensure more prudent use of public funds in official travels, echoing Tinubu’s commitment to fiscal responsibility and efficient governance.

Bettagate: President Tinubu Summons Minister of Interior

In apparent reaction to public outcry, President Tinubu has summoned the Minister of Interior, Mr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to the Presidential Villa amidst a burgeoning scandal within the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. The controversy centers on a N438 million consultancy contract awarded to New Planet Projects Ltd, a company reportedly linked to the minister. Dr. Beta Edu, the embattled Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, faced swift suspension by President Tinubu over alleged involvement in the contentious payment. Dr. Edu underwent interrogation earlier today at the anti-graft agency’s headquarters in Jabi, Abuja. The escalating situation prompted the President’s intervention, with the summons aiming to address the concerning developments within the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. The unfolding saga has sparked inquiries into government contract protocols and possible irregularities, amplifying calls for transparency and accountability in ministry operations.

Globacom Denies Owing MTN Interconnect Charges

Nigerian telecommunications giant, Globacom, has firmly rebutted claims of owing substantial interconnect charges to MTN, clarifying that the reported N1.6 billion debt had been settled without contention.* The rebuttal comes in response to a public pre-disconnection notice issued by the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) on January 8. The notice, signed by Reuben Muoka, Director of Public Affairs at NCC, cited Glo’s failure to clear its outstanding debts, leading to the authorization of partial disconnection as per the Nigerian Communications Act (2003) and relevant guidelines. However, a source within Globacom expressed dissatisfaction, asserting that due diligence should have been conducted before allegations were made. The company unequivocally stated, “We are not owing MTN any interconnect charges.” Highlighting its important role in introducing the pay-per-second billing system that disrupted the market, the telecommunications giant emphasized its position as a fully indigenous company, redefining communication accessibility across Nigeria. Globacom dismissed the reports as false allegations aimed at tarnishing its reputation within the industry. With the looming possibility of Glo subscribers losing the ability to call MTN after the 10-day grace period from the notice issuance, Globacom maintains its stance, refuting any outstanding financial obligations to MTN while reaffirming its commitment to ethical business practices within the telecommunications sector.