President Tinubu bow to fuel subsidy as IMF confirmed

The Nigerian government has started paying subsidies again for the premium motor spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

FG to PDP govs: You’re playing to gallery comparing our economic challenges to Venezuela

 

Mohammed Idris Malagi

The Federal Government has slammed the governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for comparing Nigeria’s economic challenges to that of Venezuela, noting that the governors are playing to the gallery.

Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information & National Orientation in a press statement on Tuesday said that the governors owe Nigerians an account of increased allocations.

Buhari’s Signature: Interpol asked by Presidency to arrest 3 suspects for $6.23m scam

 

The Presidency has asked the Interpol National Central Bureau to put a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) staff and two others on its Red Notice.

The request was related to their alleged plot and falsification of documents in the name of ex-president Muhammadu Buhari to take the sum of 6.23 million U.S. dollars in cash from the CBN.

A document obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday showed the names of Odoh Eric Ocheme, who is a staff of the CBN, Adamu Abubakar and Imam Abubakar on the list sent to Interpol.

The request was made by the Office of the Special Investigator appointed by President Bola Tinubu to investigate the CBN, related entities and other key government business entities. NAN reports that the government had obtained an application of warrant filed before a Federal High Court in Abuja for the arrest of the three persons.

The three persons are to be arrested and brought before the court on or before May 7, 2024. The Interpol is expected to capture and return the suspects, who are on the run, from any of the Interpol members states to which they may have escaped. NAN reports that Boss Mustapha, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), on Tuesday testified at an Abuja High Court that former President Muhammadu Buhari’s signature was faked to take the said 6.23 million US dollars from the CBN.

Mustapha, who testified in the trial of former CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, said he had no idea about the withdrawal of the money for the payment of foreign observers for the 2023 general elections. He said that it was the duty of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to handle issues of election observers.

An official of the CBN had on Monday told the court that the amount was given out in cash. He said that it was given to an official from the office of the SGF following approvals by former president Buhari and Emefiele.

Wabara confirmed as PDP BoT chairman

The People’s Democratic Party, PDP has announced the confirmation of a former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, as the permanent chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees. Also, a former Governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed Makarfi, was named as the BoT Secretary, taking over from former Minister of Special Duties Kabir Turaki.

These appointments were made public after the 76th BoT meeting held at Wadata Plaza in Abuja on Tuesday. Wabara became the interim chairman of the PDP BoT in 2022, after the resignation of the former BoT chairman, Walid Jibrin, from his role.

Buhari’s signature falsified to access $6.2m from CBN, ex-SGF testifies

  

The former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, testified on Tuesday as a witness in the trial of Mr Godwin Emefiele, the ex-governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), at a High Court in Maitama, Abuja.
Mustapha, who was the fourth witness for the prosecution (PW-4), disclosed in court that his signature and that of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari were falsified by the people who withdrew $6,230,000 from the CBN vault on February 8, 2023.

Bill requiring university degree for president and governors dropped by Reps

The House of Representatives has decided to withdraw a bill that aimed to amend the 1999 Constitution to change the educational qualifications required for certain political offices.

The bill, proposed by Adewunmi Onanuga, was aimed to establish a minimum qualification for elections into the governorship, presidential and other key elective positions in the country.

During the plenary session on Tuesday, Onanuga, who represents Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency in Ogun State, argued that the 1999 Nigerian Constitution was amended to make it mandatory for elected officials to hold a university degree or its equivalent. Currently, the provision allows individuals with only a First School Leaving Certificate to run for the highest office in the country.

Although the bill received support from House Leader Julius Ihonvbere, Babajimi Benson, Kingsley Chinda, and several other lawmakers, Aliyu Madaki and Ahmadu Jaha (APC, Borno), among others, opposed the proposed amendment.

Super Eagles rewarded with award, land, and flats by Tinubu in FCT

President Tinubu and Super Eagle

President Bola Tinubu recently awarded the Super Eagles of Nigeria with national honours, plots of land, and flats in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The awards were given during a meeting with Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) officials and players at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.