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Good Morning! Here Are Some Major News Headlines In The Newspapers Today: Tinubu will commission Abuja Rail Mass Transit in May, Wike assures

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3 weeks ago

April 6, 2024

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1. Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike has assured that the Abuja Rail Mass Transit Scheme also known as the metro line will be inaugurated in May this year. The FCT Minister gave the assurance in Abuja on Friday during an inspection tour of the ongoing renovation and rehabilitation works on the Abuja metro line.

2. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially closed Jim Obazee’s investigation into operations of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. Tinubu, on Friday, expressed gratitude to Obazee, who is also a former Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, FRC, for serving as the Special Investigator of the CBN and other associated institutions after his appointment on July 28, 2023.

3. There was pandemonium in Kaduna on Friday as police dispersed a procession by members of the proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN, also known as Shiites. ASP Mansir Hassan, the spokesman of the Kaduna State Police Command, explained that the IMN members came out in the morning with dangerous weapons and started attacking innocent residents in the name of procession.

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4. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has filed a fresh 26-count charge bordering on abuse of office & corruption against the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele. The new charges against Emefiele, who will be arraigned before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, on Monday, April 8, on counts bordering on accepting gratification, accepting gifts through agents, corruption, receipt of property fraudulently obtained, and conferring corrupt advantage on his associates contrary to the Corrupt Practices Act of 2000, was filed on April 3rd by the EFCC Prosecutor Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN.

5. The Nigerian government, through the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, has said that the Tinubu administration is sustaining electricity subsidy for 85 per cent of Nigerian consumers. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who spoke at the 4th Ministerial Briefing Session held in Abuja on Friday, said that this re-justifies the administration’s credential as a pro-people democratic government.

READ NLC kicks against planned petrol price increase

6. Aloy Ejimakor, the Lead Counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has urged President Bola Tinubu against inheriting the case of the agitator. Addressing journalists in Abuja on Friday, Ejimakor expressed hope that the IPOB leader might taste freedom under Tinubu’s administration.

7. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, has fined Abuja Electricity Distribution Plc, AEDC, N200 million over tariff violation. This was contained in a statement on Friday via NERC’s X handle.

8. Captain Rasheedat Ajibade scored the decisive goal as Nigeria’s Super Falcons claimed a slim 1-0 win over South Africa in the first leg of their 2024 Olympic Games final qualifying round tie in Abuja on Friday night. The two teams will clash in the second leg in Pretoria next Tuesday.

9. The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the killing of 19 persons in Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State. The Police Public Relations Officer, SP William Aya, while confirming the incident in a chat with DAILY POST on Friday, said the Commissioner of Police has already deployed operatives to the area.

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10. Nigerian Government will raise N20 trillion in economic investment by launching the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this on Friday at the 4th ministerial briefing held in Abuja.

Related Topics:ABUJA METRO LINE Inauguration NYESOM WIKE

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Court grants EFCC order to freeze 1,146 accounts over ‘unauthorised foreign exchange’ transactions

Published

2 hours ago

April 29, 2024

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A federal high court in Abuja has granted an interim order to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to freeze at least 1,146 bank accounts belonging to individuals and companies over “unauthorised foreign exchange” transactions.

The commission is also investigating the individuals for “money laundering and terrorism financing”.

Emeka Nwite, the presiding judge, granted the order while ruling on an ex-parte motion moved by Ekele Iheanacho, counsel to the EFCC.

The court also ordered the commission to conclude the investigation within 90 days.

“That an order of this honourable court is hereby made freezing the bank accounts stated in the schedule below which accounts are owned by various individuals who are currently being investigated in a case involving the offences of unauthorised dealing in foreign exchange, money laundering and terrorism financing to the extent that the investigation will be for a period of 90 (Ninety) days,” the judge ruled.

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NAN reports that though the ruling was delivered on April 24, the certified true copy was seen on Monday.

The motion by the anti-graft agency was brought under section 44 (2) and (K) of the 1999 Constitution; section 34 of the EFCC Establishment Act 2004; section 7(8) of the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.

The commission said, “the bank accounts in respect of which the reliefs are sought are subject matters of investigation by the EFCC in relation to money laundering and terrorism financing”.

“That preliminary investigation conducted thus far reveals that the bank accounts are linked to persons who take advantage of the virtual cryptocurrency exchange platforms to illegally manipulate the value of Naira and launder proceeds of unlawful activities,” the agency added in the motion filed before the court.

“That there is a need to preserve the funds in the identified bank accounts pending the conclusion of the investigation and possible prosecution.”

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Nwite consequently adjourned the matter until July 23 for mention.

Some of the account names mentioned in the attached schedule are Akitoye Adeyemi Ayomide with GTBank account number: 0165110025; Clyp Trading Ltd, Titan Trust Bank account number: 0000331101; Clyp Consulting Ltd, Providous account number: 9401374554; and Toyetech Platforms Ltd, Titan Trust Bank account number: 0000134962.

Others are Winx International Platforms Ltd, Titan Trust Bank account number: 0000135055; Shutterscore Trading Platforms Ltd, Access Bank account number: 1532363954; Tradecillion Trading Ltd, Stanbic IBTC account number: 0045672922; and Nsofor Nmamdi, GTBank account number: 0449088666

Kora Payments Network Ltd-Operations, UBA account number: 1022242089; Renderstack Technologies Ltd, Zenith Bank account number: 1210355120; Korex Payments Ltd, Globus account number: 5000007837; and Awe Microfinance Bank Ltd, Providous account number: 5400760781; and Victor Asuquo, Opay Digital Services Ltd account number: 9020132068.

Others are Akingbade Sabit Juwon, ECONANK account number: 3442053006; Nsofor Nnamdi, Union Bank account number: 0140460572; Asuquo Samuel, First Bank account number: 3153199542; Oty Ugochukwu Stanley, FCMB account number: 4039304011; Oty & Sons Global Concepts, Fidelity Bank account number: 6060410145; and Pelumi Ayandoye, Wema Bank account number: 0234852277; and David Ajala, Fidelity Bank account number: 5090680780, among others.

READ Revenue collectors beat motorcyclist to death over N100 ticket in Ibadan

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Published

2 hours ago

April 29, 2024

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The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) says it does not have access to petroleum products.

Queues resurfaced in fuel stations amid petrol scarcity, which led to an increase in transport costs.

On April 25, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited attributed the situation to logistics issues, assuring Nigerians that “they have been resolved”.

Speaking on Monday during Channels TV’s the Morning Brief breakfast programme, Billy Gillis-Harry, PETROAN president, said there is still a delay in supply to retail outlets.

“Well, from my perspective as a retail outlet owner and representing all the retail outlet owners who are members of PETROAN, I can tell you that our challenge is that we do not have access to the product,” he said.

“So, once the product is available in all the depots, and we are being issued our products, we will certainly complement NNPC’s efforts to make sure that all the stations are wet and we are doing that consistently.

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“Even in this season, at this time, NNPC in the last few weeks have squeezed in loading barges to encourage everyone including the NNPC stations and Petroan members and even IPMAN members and we are taking products bit by bit to our various stations.”

He said NNPC is making frantic efforts to solve supply issues, adding that the association is also mounting pressure on the system to ensure that there are petroleum products.

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Court knocks FG for lack of diligent prosecution in Tukur Mamu’s terrorism financing case

Published

5 hours ago

April 29, 2024

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A federal high court in Abuja has reprimanded the federal government for lack of diligent prosecution in the charge filed against Tukur Mamu, publisher of Desert Herald newspaper.

At the court session on Monday, David Kaswe, prosecution counsel, was not in court despite having entered his name on the cause list, indicating his presence.

Abdul Mohammed, Mamu’s counsel, urged the court to stand down the matter to await Kaswe’s return.

However, the prosecution lawyer was still not in court when the case was called again after the judge had delivered a judgment.

Inyang Ekwo, the presiding judge, expressed surprise over “the miraculous disappearance” of the federal government’s lawyer in court.

“I am also aware that the prosecution was in court this morning, but as to the miracle of the disappearance of the prosecution as at the time this matter comes up for hearing is beyond my understanding,” Ekwo said.

“This antic of the prosecution is only being tolerated in today’s proceeding.

“If the prosecution demonstrates that they are not ready to prosecute this matter either diligently or expeditiously, the court will make the right decision at that point.”

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MAMU ASKS TO BE TRANSFERRED TO KUJE PRISON

Mamu’s lawyer moved an application to transfer his client to the Kuje correctional facility.

He said the prosecution had already responded to the motion.

In the application, the defence counsel said the Department of State Services (DSS) has refused to obey a previous court order which directed that Mamu should be allowed access to his doctors.

He said Mamu would get proper medical attention in Kuje prison.

“This application is brought so that we will take the defendant to the prisons because they always obey court orders there so that if we go there, he will have access to his medical officer,” he said.

“It is completely within the discretion of the court and we do not want to bring an application for contempt as that will take time.

“Therefore, we want the court to vary the order and the defendant will stay in the Kuja correctional facility. That is what we are asking for.”

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The judge adjourned the matter until May 20 for ruling on Mamu’s application.

BACKGROUND

Mamu is standing trial for allegedly aiding the terrorists who attacked the Abuja-Kaduna train in March 2022.

After his arrest in 2022, the federal government said $300,000 was found in his possession.

He was arraigned in March 2023 by the office of the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) on a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism.

However, in March, he pleaded not guilty to all the counts and denied having allegiance to the terrorists.

Mamu is alleged to have received $120,000 as ransom payments on behalf of the Boko Haram terrorist group.

The monies were said to have been received from families of hostages kidnapped during the train attack.

He was also accused of exchanging voice note communications relating to the hostages with one Baba Adamu, a Boko Haram spokesperson.

The federal government also tagged the $300,000 found in Mamu’s possession after his arrest, as terrorist funds.

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Mamu, an aide to Ahmad Gumi, a popular Islamic cleric, was involved in negotiations for the release of the passengers abducted during the attack on a Kaduna-bound train.