Author

Folarin Kehinde

Health

Delta State House Majority Leader Tim Owhefere dies of suspected Covid -19 complications

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Owhefere, a fourth time member of the state assembly, passed on Wednesday at the federal medical center, Asaba, where he has been undergoing treatment.

The deceased who represented Isoko North constituency until his death was said to have been hospitalized for about two weeks before his passage at about 11pm Wednesday night.

Several sources in the house who confirmed the passage to ait.live
said the late lawmaker have been on oxygen for a week before his death fueling speculations that he died of covid 19.

While a family member has also confirmed the death of the lawmaker, the Delta state house of assembly is yet to issue an official statement.
Recall that the speaker of the Delta state house of assembly, Hon sheriff Oborevwori, had recently recovered from the deadly coronavirus disease.

If speculations are true, Tim Owhefere will become the first major politician in Delta state to have died of the coronavirus.

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Osun
Headlines

Miyeti Allah In Osun pledges to abide by agreement reached with Governors’ Forum

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

It was resolved at the meeting that open grazing, night grazing and underage grazing should be banned forthwith

The chairman of the association in the state, Abdullahi Alilu expressed the readiness of his members to comply with the resolutions in the state

In reference to the communique issued at the end of the Akure meeting, chairman said all resolutions at the meeting will be complied with in the State to give peace a chance.

The Seriki Fulani of Osogbo, Ibrahim Babatunde who revealed that he was born in the city over fifty years ago also speaks on how those perpetrating crime and criminality in the name of fulanis can be identified and arrested.

He says a periodic meeting is to be held in the state between Fulani/Bororo community and the State Government to ensure a peaceful coexistence.

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Sabiu Buhari
Exclusives

President Buhari’s nephew Sabiu Tunde allegedly joins NIA for diplomatic immunity

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

President Buhari’s nephew Tunde, as he is fondly called, has by this, joined other cabal members to look for diplomatic shield and immunity that may protect them from the scimitar of law in the event of any eventuality or should President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure ends and a probe is launched against his tenure by President Buhari’s successor, a discreet source revealed. The new job offer is discreet and would only be leveraged when the need arises.  He would still remain President Buhari’s personal assistant in the villa. 

Unlike other members of the inner caucus popular called the “Villa Cabal” like the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and Minister of State for Aviation Sariki Hadi who, this platform learnt are vying for governorship positions in their respective states which will grant them immunity from prosecution if they win, Sabiu Tunde Yusuf on the other hand would seek for his own ‘shield’ from NIA as he would be immediately deployed overseas where he diplomatic immunity would shield him from any prosecution or probe in Nigeria. 

President Buhari‘s nephew appointment, from our investigation would enable Yusuf exit Nigeria and enjoy diplomatic immunity from any form of prosecution should Buhari’s successor chooses to probe President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure, especially the cabal members.

Recall that critics and some prominent Nigerians have continued to raise their voices against the prevailing insecurity and the President’s refusal to sack the service chiefs amidst untamed corruption and other forms of criminality which has bedeviled Nigeria for some times now.  Another major concern is the accusation that President Muhammadu Buhari left governance in the hands of unpatriotic elements who have put selfish and personal interests above national interests.  

Nigeria’s rising debt profile, and the President’s untamed quest for foreign loan have been described as the Nigeria development greatest threat.  

Recently, President Buhari’s closest ally and the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai has recently spoke up against the increasing debt profile of Nigeria. El-Rufai, who is known to be a strong pillar of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration said that Nigeria has reached its borrowing limit. He said that Nigerians should be concerned about Nigeria’s rising debt profile.

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Nigeria Banks
Exclusives

Three Nigeria Banks may collapse in 2021 Over negative balance sheet and rougher business outlook

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

As it stands now, according to an insider source who would want to remain anonymous, some Nigeria banks have been run into obligations that have far outweighed their incomes and stirred red balance sheets. Another reason identified for this looming danger is the disreputable and unprofessional activities of some bank Chief Executive Officers which the banking regulator, the Godwin Emefiele-led Central Bank of Nigeria CBN has condoned and concealed for them overtime now.  

“These banks are standing on far borrowed legs and have been technically illiquid for a long time.  But the regulator seems to look the other way round”, the source told this media platform. 

“Bad and nonperforming loans, mostly extended to allies and politically exposed people who receive these loans and in most cases, share with top bank echelons, as well as the current economic realities may spell this looming doom on some of these banks in 2021”.

“In virtually all the cases, these loans continue to appear on the banks’ books as assets.  This is the height of deception that has overtime been condoned by Emefiele-led CBN”.

Another source hinted that the Godwin Emefiele-led Central Bank of Nigeria CBN has compromised all known banking tenets and standards and has overtime condoned irregularities, and allowed manipulations of figures by the bank echelons, because of unwholesome affiliations and relationships that exist between the CBN echelons and some bank executives.  

Our investigation further revealed that while some of these banks may suddenly go down irrecoverably, others may seek mergers with other stronger banks. 

Perennially, Godwin Emefiele has allegedly allowed lots of rots in the banking sectors.  The rots were seen in other agencies and companies affiliated to CBN such as NIRSAL, Nigeria Security Printing and Minting, NEXIM Bank, among others where the Central Bank Governor’s “boys” currently hold sway.  

Recall that this media platform has previously exposed the level of fraudulent activities going on in NIRSAL where proxy-companies are used to fleece monies.  

CBN Governor’s critics allege that the Governor has dumped the banking tenets and standards in order to remain in the good books of Nigeria power brokers, especially the “Cabal” members whom Emefiele has been accused of serving more than he serves the nation banking sector. 

“The Governor is in the fore of this decay and unless he is awakened fast, we may see a repeat of what happens previously where depositors lose their hard earned monies as a result of bad banking policies and untamed corruption”

All efforts to hear from the Central Bank of Nigeria over the allegations were unsuccessful as at the time of publishing this report. 

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covid-19
Health

Nigeria records 22 Covid-19 deaths as recoveries cross 100,000

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Meanwhile, 23 states have reported 1,861 new Covid-19 infections in Nigeria as total number of confirmed cases rises to 126,160 in last 24 hours.

Lagos has 773 new Covid-19 cases; FCT-285; Oyo-138; Rivers-111; Plateau-92; Nasarawa-83; Kaduna-59; Enugu and Imo-57 each; Edo-43

Other states are Kano-27; Kwara-20; Ebonyi-19; Abia-17; Ogun and Osun-12 each; Katsina-8; Bayelsa-6; Bauchi and Delta-5 each; Borno and Jigawa-4 each; Zamfara-1

There are 1,089 Covid-19 patients discharged across Nigeria in last 24 hours including 941 community recoveries in Lagos, Rivers and Plateau States; successfully treated cases now 100,365.

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Exclusives

Northern Governors welcome appointment of new service chiefs

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The forum has also commended the outgone Service Chiefs for giving their best in the service of the nation.

The Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong in a statement, commended the President for taking the decision and asked the new Service Chiefs to put in their best, not only to meet the expectations of the Commander-in-Chief, but also that of Nigerians, who have high expectations for enhanced security and safety of lives and properties.

He charged them to build on the successes of their predecessors and also learn from their challenges, in order to address the lingering problems of terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes that the nation has been battling to contain.

Lalong assured the Service Chiefs of the support and collaboration of the Northern Governors Forum, in addressing insecurity in the region and the nation as a whole, in order to enable the citizens pursue their legitimate businesses, without any hindrance.

He appealed to Nigerians to support and pray for the new Service Chiefs as they provide leadership for the patriotic officers and men of the Armed Forces, to put up a final onslaught against the protracted security challenges.

Governor Lalong also thanked the former Service Chiefs for their courage, sacrifices and commitment to protecting Nigeria’s territotial integrity and dealing with internal threats, during their stewardship, and wished them well in their future endeavours.

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ortom
Health

Benue Governor Ortom tests positive For Covid-19

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

According to his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, this followed the test results of most of the Governor’s close aides who also returned positive in the last few weeks.

Though, the Governor has not shown any symptoms of the disease, he has already commenced treatment as prescribed by medical personnel.

He advised those who have come in contact with him in the last couple of days to go for test.

The Governor said it is equally important that those who came in contact with other persons who have tested positive for the virus, should go for test, to ascertain their COVID-19 status.

Ortom urged Benue people to continue to observe the protocol for the prevention of the virus, such as wearing of face masks, use of sanitizers, regular hand washing and physical distancing.

He encouraged the people not to be afraid of going for COVID-19 test, as only doing so would help in containing the spread of the disease.

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Buhari
Exclusives

Photos: Buhari chairs 31st virtual cabinet meeting

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha physically attended the meeting, which started at 10:00 am.

The six ministers who physically attended the meeting are those of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello, Industry, Trade and Investment, Niyi Adebayo and the Minister of state for Power, Goddy Agba.

The Head of Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan and other Ministers are participating in the weekly council meeting from their various offices in Abuja.

Before the commencement of the day’s proceedings, cabinet members observed a minute silence in honor of former Ministers, Alhaji Dauda Birma, Alhaji Mohammadu Gambo Jimeta and Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim.

The late Birma, who served as Minister of Education from 1997 to 1998, died on 5th January, 2021, aged 80.

Jimeta, who died on the 21st of January, at the aged of 83, was the Minister of Agriculture from 1995-1997, he was also the Inspector General of Police and the National Security Adviser at various times.

While Abdullahi Ibrahim was the Minister of Education, Science and Technology, as well as Transportation and Aviation, between 1984 and 1985, when President Buhari was the military Head of State.

Ibrahim, who was the first Northern Lawyer to attain the position of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, died on Sunday 24th January at the age of 84.

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Gbajabiamila
Exclusives

House will pass PIB into law in April – Gbajabiamila

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Gbajabiamila gave the assurance, while taking contributions at the public hearing, organized by the Ad-hoc Commitee of the House on PIB.

The Speaker promised that the speed of the passage would not diminish the thoroughness, expected of the Lawmakers, on the bill.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Silva said, he is optimistic that after 20 years of the introduction of the PIB to the National Assembly, that both the Senate and the House of Representatives would continue the sustained determination to pass the bill into law.

Similarly, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mele Kyari, offered a glimpse of hope, that oil will still be relevant in the next 30 years.

Mele added that the passage of the bill into law, would bring about the needed vigour and transparency that would in turn, engender productivity in the petroleum industry.

In his submission, the Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, Mohammed Nami, explained that the bill would promote economic growth and make the petroleum sector competitive.

He stressed total support of the Service to the development of the oil and gas industry, inline with international best practices.

The bill, termed, “A Bill for an Act to Provide Legal, Governance, Regulatory and Fiscal Framework for the Nigerian Petroleum Industry, the Development of Host Communities and for Related Matters (HB. 1061)”, is an executive bill that debuted to the National Assembly 20 years ago.

But high profile multicoloured interests, according to reports, had stifled its legislative progress and passage.

With this development, President Muhammadu Buhari, on September 20, 2020, retransmitted the Bill to the National Assembly, for which the House is currently having a public hearing with keyplayers in attendance.

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army
Headlines

Army unleashes 100 female special troops on bandits

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The General Officer Commanding One Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Usman Mohammed, who welcomed the Special Force to their Camp Base in Kakkau, Kaduna State, charged them to be focused, on discharging their duties.

The newly established military base is to serve as a camp for 100 Special woman Battalion, drawn from different military formations of the Nigerian Army.

The General Officer Commanding One Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Usman Mohammed tasked them to be professional in discharging their responsibility.

He said the Nigerian Army will continue to ensure the Kaduna-Abuja highway is secured.

Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai said the deployment of the special forces will help to strengthen security on the highway.
The Abuja-Kaduna Expressway is notorious for bandit attacks

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