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Saturday, 29 February 2020 05:24

Saraki speaks on EFCC’s claims in forfeiture application case

PRESS RELEASE Yesterday, lawyers representing Mr Bukola Saraki, former Senate President, appeared before Mr Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court, Lagos, to oppose the application by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the forfeiture of his Ilorin home funded partly with funds provided by Kwara State Government in fulfillment of the Governor and Deputy Governor (Payment of Pension) Law 2010 of Kwara State. Led by Mr Kehinde Ogunwumiju, Saraki’s lawyers argued that all the exaggerated claims by EFCC on withdrawal of government money and its use to acquire property were the same claims made before Code of Conduct…

Saturday, 29 February 2020 05:23

Kano Almajiri take to dumpsites after ban on street begging

At a dumpsite located along Court Road, Gyadi-Gyadi, our reporter caught up with 12-year-old Auwal Mohammed. Auwal, an almajiri, says “Since the state government does not want to see us on the streets, this is the only option available to us. We glean through this refuse dump for anything that could be of use to us either as food or clothing. At the end of the day, some of us get clothing, foot wears and food from here.” He said since the ban on street begging by Kano State government, majority of them especially those below the age of 10…

Friday, 28 February 2020 05:08

Another recession looms in Nigeria as oil prices drop on global coronavirus scourge

Oil prices fell for a sixth straight session on Friday and were on track for about a 12% weekly fall, the biggest in more than four years, as the spread of the coronavirus outside China raised fears of slowing global demand. The virus, which has killed more than 2,700 people in China, has been found in another 46 countries and caused 57 deaths. Investors worry the epidemic could turn into a pandemic and deliver a damaging blow to the global economy. The most active Brent crude contract for May (LCOc2) was down 90 cents, or 1.7%, at $50.83 a barrel…

Friday, 28 February 2020 05:07

Nigeria records first Coronavirus case in Lagos

Nigeria has recorded its first case of Coronavirus after an Italian national tested positive to the virus, Federal Ministry of Health has said. The case was confirmed on Thursday “The case is an Italian citizen who entered Nigeria on the 25th of February from Milan, Italy for a brief business visit. He fell ill on the 26th February and was transfered to Lagos State Biosecurity Facilities for isolation and testing,” Lagos State Ministry of Health also said in a statement. “#COVID2019 infection was confirmed by Virology Laboratory of Lagos University Teaching Hospital @LUTHofficial, part of the Laboratory Network of the…

Friday, 28 February 2020 05:06

Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia suspends entry for pilgrims visiting holy sites

Saudi Arabia has temporarily halted the entry of pilgrims entering the country to visit holy sites, in an attempt to slow the spread of coronavirus. The Saudi government said it would suspend visas for Muslims seeking to visit Mecca and Medina. Millions of Muslims make the journey each year, especially during the month of Ramadan, which starts in April. Saudi Arabia has also suspended visas for tourists from countries with confirmed cases of the virus. It is not clear when the visa restrictions will be lifted or how Ramadan and the major Hajj pilgrimage - which begins in July -…

Friday, 28 February 2020 05:05

FG begins deduction of N614bn bailout loan from states’ FAAC allocations

Federal government has commenced deduction of the N614 billionbailout it gave to the 35 states of the federation, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, said on Thursday in Abuja. The minister, who spoke to journalists at the second National Economic Council (NEC) meeting in 2020, said the deductions were made from the statutory allocations to the affected states in January and February during the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) meetings. The federal government extended the conditional budget support facility to the 35 states through Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in 2017 to help them pay their…

Thursday, 27 February 2020 06:15

Supreme Court comes hard on Afe Babalola, Olanipekun for asking it to reverse itself on Bayelsa gov judgment

Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed the applications for a review of its February 13, 2020 judgment which overturned All Progressives Congress’ victory in the last governorship election in Bayelsa State. In the unanimous ruling of its seven-man panel led by Mr Sylvester Ngwuta, the apex court said its judgment on the poll was “final in the real sense of the word, final, and no force can get this court to shift from its decision.” It described the applications filed by APC and its governorship candidate at the poll, Mr David Lyon, as “vexatious, frivolous, and constitute a gross abuse of…

Thursday, 27 February 2020 06:14

NSA Monguno shuns CoS Kyari as the two top aides to president meet in Aso Rock

Days after widely reported rift between Chief of Staff (Cos) to the President, Mr Abba Kyari and National Security Adviser (NSA), Mr Babagana Monguno, they met yesterday for the first time. Kyari and Monguno were in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to witness the inauguration of a 12-member National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) by President Muhammadu Buhari. For weeks, the duo has been at daggers drawn, with the NSA accusing the CoS of undue interference in matters bordering on national security, a role which is originally within the purview of his (Monguno) office, among other scathing allegations. In a memo, the…

Thursday, 27 February 2020 06:13

FEC approves N29.2bn for roads from Nigeria to Niger Republic

Federal Executive Council (FEC) wednesday in Abuja approved N29.2 billion for construction of two roads linking two Northern states to the border of Niger Republic. Federal government has also licensed two gold refineries in Nigeria. This is coming as President Muhammadu Buhari last night in Abuja approved the composition of a monitoring committee for Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in line with the provisions of Part V1, Section 21 of the NDDC Establishment Act. Briefing journalists after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in the State House, Minister of Works, Mr Babatunde Fashola, said the approval was the fallout…

Thursday, 27 February 2020 06:11

Kalu, Dariye, other jailed high profile public officers were dumped in same prison. This is why

Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Mr Ja’afaru Ahmed, has explained why most high profile convicts are being committed to the Kuje Custodial Centre. A former National Publicity Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party, Mr Olisa Metuh, after bagging seven-year-jail term on Tuesday, joined a former governor of Taraba State, Mr Jolly Nyame; a former governor of Plateau State, Mr Joshua Dariye and a former governor of Abia State, Mr Orji Kalu, at the same facility. Addressing newsmen in Abuja yesterday after declaring open the 14th anniversary workshop of the Correctional Welfare Insurance Scheme, the NCoS CG said the Kuje…

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Thursday, 27 February 2020 06:10

FG, others not doing enough to end insecurity - France

French Ambassador to Nigeria Jerome Pasquier yesterday described efforts to find sustainable solutions to insecurity in Nigeria, particularly in the northwest, as inadequate. He spoke in Abuja yesterday at a workshop on “Addressing Rural Insecurity and Violence in North-western Nigeria” organised by the Pastoral Reserve, the Search for Common Ground, the Nextier SPD and the French Embassy. Pasquier, represented by the Head of Cooperation, Embassy of France in Nigeria, Ellien Helios, urged Nigerian authorities and stakeholders to step up actions and devise new approaches. “There are many factors affecting the northwest region for years now, there are also many actors,…

Thursday, 27 February 2020 06:05

More Northern govs vow to end Almajiri, street begging

The move against out-of-schoolchildren (Almajiri) in the North gained more support on Wednesday with two governors – Messers Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna) and Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa) joining the crusade. El-Rufai spoke of his plan to present a memo to his northern colleagues on practical steps to address the menace. In Lafia, Nasarawa State capital, Sule issued an Executive Order prescribing 10 years imprisonment for parents whose children engage in street begging. El-Rufai spoke through his Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development, Mrs Hafsat Baba, during a meeting with stakeholders on how to tackle the Almajiri problem in his state. According…

Wednesday, 26 February 2020 05:37

Nigerian High Commission in London owes twice its entire 2020 budget in congestion, parking fees

United Kingdom says the Nigerian High Commission in London owes £7.1m (N3.3bn) in congestion charges and parking tickets. Giving a breakdown on Tuesday, UK Foreign Office said Nigeria was owing £7,063,965 in congestion fees and £47,165 in parking tickets. The figure amounts to more than twice the entire 2020 budget of the high commission, which stands at N1.6bn London charges a daily congestion fee of £11.50 (N5, 405) if one drives a car within the central zone at any time between 7am and 6pm on weekdays. The charge was put in place in 2003 to dissuade people from using their…

Wednesday, 26 February 2020 05:35

Reps divided over immunity Bill for presiding officers of legislative houses

House of Representatives came under knocks on Tuesday over a Bill on immunity for presiding officers in the legislature which scaled second reading in plenary. The Bill is seeking an amendment to Section 308 of the Constitution which grants immunity from prosecution to the President, Vice President, governors and deputy governors while in office. It is sponsored by Mr Olusegun Odebunmi representing Ogo-Oluwa/Surulere Federal Constituency, Oyo State. The Bill prescribes immunity for senate president, deputy senate president, speaker and deputy speaker of House of Representatives, speaker of House of Assembly and deputy speaker. Leading the debate, sponsor of the bill…

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