Headlines

Nigerian entrepreneur, Cubana Chief Priest, has arrived at the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos State for the continuation of his naira abuse trial.

On April 16, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed a three-count charge against him over alleged naira abuse.

He was arraigned the following day at the Federal High court in Lagos.

When the charges were read during court sitting, the social media celebrity pleaded not guilty to them.

Kehinde Ogundare, the judge, thereafter granted him bail in the sum of N10 million with two responsible sureties in like sum.

The judge ruled that the bail conditions must be perfected within seven days.

Cubana was released to his lawyer who must give an undertaken to produce him later. He will be remanded in a correctional facility if his lawyer fails to do so.

The President of the Trade Union Congress, Festus Osifo, on Wednesday, said it was unethical for Nigerians to pay high electricity tariffs.

The TUC also urged the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission to reverse the increase in electricity tariff within one week.

Speaking during the 2024 Workers’ Day in Abuja, Osifo expressed dissatisfaction with the epileptic power situation in the country, which is affecting the country’s economic growth.

He said it’s imperative that any nation incapable of effectively and efficiently managing its energy resources faces certain ruin.

He said, “One of the pivotal factors constraining our nation is our glaring incompetence in managing this sector for the collective welfare of our citizens.

“Power, regardless of its source, remains paramount in kickstarting any economy, while oil and gas are indispensable for robust energy success in every country. “

According to him, the plight of the power sector remains unchanged over a decade after privatisation of the sector.

“The reasons are glaringly evident. As long as those who sold the companies remain the buyers, Nigerians will continue to face formidable challenges in the power sector.

”It is unethical to force Nigerians to pay higher tariffs for non-existent electricity.

“Estimated billing is an extortion and a daylight robbery against Nigerians, ” he said.

Recall that NERC approved an increase in electricity tariff for customers under the Band A classification.

The Vice Chairman, NERC, Musliu Oseni, said the increase will see the customers paying N225 kilowatt per hour from the current N66.

It was gathered that customers under Band A are those enjoying 20 hours of electricity supply daily.

The Police Command in Nasarawa State says it has apprehended three fake Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, personnel.

The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Ramhan Nansel, made the disclosure in a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Lafia.

Mr Nansel said that on April 17, at about 3:45 p.m., the command received a distressed call that four persons in a green-coloured Toyota Corolla, with registration number: Abuja: YAB 509 TT, abducted a student of Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa.

“The suspects robbed and abducted one ND II student at their lodge behind Government College, Nasarawa Local Government Area.

“On receipt of the call, the police immediately gave the suspects a hot chase and a road block was mounted at Laminga junction to stop them from escaping with the victim, but they hit the barrier and fled.

“Police operatives at Anguwan Madugu mounted another road block, which the suspects sighted from a distance, abandoned their operational vehicle and the abducted student and fled,” Mr Nansel stated.

The police spokesperson said that luck, however, ran out of one of the suspects, as he was caught and beaten mercilessly by an angry mob before the arrival of the police, while others fled.

He said that the suspect was rescued from the mob and rushed to the Primary Healthcare Centre, Laminga, where he died while receiving treatment.

Mr Nansel added that the operational vehicle of the suspects was recovered and taken to the station where a search was conducted and two identification cards identifying the fleeing members of the syndicate were recovered.

He said that follow-up investigation into the case led to the arrest of three other members of the gang who were residents of Custom Quarters and Up Market area, Masaka.

The police spokesperson said that one iPhone 12 Promax, Huawei and one Tecno Spark 5 earlier robbed from some of their victims and fake EFCC identification cards were recovered from them as exhibits.

He said that the suspects had confessed to being the syndicate responsible for robbing and terrorising student areas in Keffi and Nasarawa Local Government Areas.

Mr Nansel said that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Umar Nadada, had directed that the case be transferred to the Criminal Investigations Department, CID, Lafia, for further investigation.

The suspects, he said, would be charged to court upon conclusion of investigation.

The Organised Labour has given the Federal Government till May ending to finalise the process of implementing the new national minimum wage for workers.

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Mr Joe Ajaero, made the demand on Wednesday in Abuja at the 2024 edition of the International Workers Day.

This year’s celebration focuses on ‘Ensuring Safety and Health at Work in a Changing Climate’.

The labour leader warned that if the negotiation is not concluded by the ending of May, there may not be industrial peace in Nigeria.

Ajaero said the process of fixing a new national minimum wage was still ongoing and had witnessed robust engagements.

“All parties in the tripartite process are well represented and the engagement has been robust.

“We have placed our demand of N615, 000 only before our social partners while we await their offer.

“If, however, the negotiation of the minimum wage is not concluded by the end of May, the trade union movement in Nigeria will no longer guarantee industrial peace in the country,” he said.

Ajaero also said labour had placed a demand that the new Act would have a two-year life span with an agreement for automatic adjustments in wages any time inflation exceeded 7.5 per cent.

He said the union further demanded that every employer with up to five workers should pay the new minimum wage.

Ajaero called for the strengthening of monitoring and compliance mechanisms in order to penalise non-complying state governments.

He said that Nigerian workers deserve to have a national minimum wage that approximated a living wage.

The coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Control (AMMC), Chief Felix Obuah has warned contractors maintaining and security street lights in Abuja to lighten up the city or risk termination of their contacts.

Obuah while speaking in Abuja on Tuesday at an interactive session with the contractors expressed worry over the spate of darkness that has engulf the city despite not owing the contractors.

Obuah explained that having personally monitored the city, he discovered that it is still in darkness, adding that agreement made with AMMC on maintaining and securing the facilities has not been fulfilled.

“Why must we continue to patronize and pay you when the job is not being done? It is unacceptable and I said instead of sitting down in my office and sub charging you for not doing your job, there is a need for us to have this meeting to know what the challenges are.

“it is your duty to guide and maintain these facilities if the bulbs are dead, it is your duty to replace them and from what we have seen I don’t think any of you have lived up to that agreement that you entered with AMMC and if you continue like this I tell you, i don’t care we will backlist the contractors and if you have even applied we make sure you don’t get it but get a new contractor who can meet up to expectation.”

He further promised to support the contractors and slug out all pending issues militating against the maintanace and security of the street light in the city.

The Nigerian passport has been ranked among the worst on the globe highlighting significant challenges for Nigerian travelers seeking international mobility.

The latest assessment by VisaGuide’s World Passport Index ranked the Nigerian passport at 191 out of 199 countries above countries like North Korea (192), Iraq (193), Libya (194), Sudan (195), Pakistan (196), Afghanistan (197), Syria (198) and Somalia (199).

The ranking will raise concerns about the West African cpuntry’s recent efforts to improve mobility, including e-visa initiatives.

Meanwhile, the Singaporean passport came first on the chart as the strongest in the world, followed by the Italian, Spaniard, French, and German passports.

The report added that the factors that contributed to this decline include visa-free access, diplomatic relations, and security concerns.

Other factors are visa-free travel, electronic travel authorisation, visa on arrival, electronic visa (e-visa), embassy or other government-approved visas, passport-free travel, and banned entry.

Additionally, the Henley Passport Index, which considers the number of countries passport holders can enter without a visa, previously listed the Nigerian passport among the worst 10 performing travel documents worldwide.

This consistently low ranking highlights the pressing need for Nigeria to address the underlying issues affecting its passport’s global standing.

See the list of top 20 passports in the world.

Singapore
Italy
Spain
France
Germany
Hungary
Austria
Ireland
Netherlands
Belgium
Switzerland
Luxembourg
Finland
Japan
Sweden
Denmark
Norway
Czech
Portugal
Poland

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has disclosed that the Federal Government will, on Wednesday (today), pay N2.75 billion compensation to property owners affected by the demolition necessary for the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway spanning from channel 0 to channel 3.

He revealed this information during a stakeholders meeting held in Lagos State on Wednesday.

More compensation is expected to be paid in coming days.

Details later…

President Bola Tinubu heartily congratulates Nigerian workers on the auspicious occasion of Workers’ Day held annually to celebrate the lifeblood of our country.

The President salutes Nigerian workers for their fidelity to the peace, progress, and development of the nation evident in their tireless efforts and patriotic zeal to keep the national engine running.

President Tinubu celebrates Nigerian workers across all spheres – from the clerical officer who ensures the proper documentation and distribution of correspondence; the security officer who remains ever dutiful through all seasons; the teacher who secures the future of our nation by imparting knowledge to the next generation; the doctor who works relentlessly to save precious lives, and to all Nigerian workers who keep the candle aflame.

The President affirms that his administration remains committed to improving the welfare of all workers, noting the various relief programmes, including the wage award and the imminent minimum wage review.

President Tinubu strongly believes that the custodians of the nation’s machinery deserve a fair wage and enhanced welfare and that a labourer is deserving of not just any reward but fair and commensurate wages.

The President assures Nigerian workers of his dedication to not only improving their welfare but also enhancing their working conditions and providing the necessary tools for them to succeed.

The President wishes Nigerian workers Happy May Day celebrations.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

May 1, 2024

Bishop David Oyedepo of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, has warned youths involved in internet fraud popularly known as Yahoo Yahoo.

Bishop Oyedepo warned that those involved in Yahoo Yahoo won’t end well, stressing that they should steer clear of fraudulent activities and live within the bounds of the law.

Addressing his members at the church’s headquarters in Ota, Ogun State on Sunday, Bishop Oyedepo warned his members against deceit and corruption, specifically targeting those involved in internet scams.

“Nobody playing games has a future in the kingdom. Hear this and hear it forever. If that is your trade, stop it,” he declared, explicitly condemning the activities of those who engage in acquiring people’s ATM card details through deceitful means.

The Bishop emphasized the inevitable bitter end for those involved in such nefarious activities.

“You are on a very fast lane that always ends in bitterness and destruction,” he warned.

Bishop Oyedepo reminded his listeners about the spiritual laws of sowing and reaping, and the principles of seedtime and harvest.

He encouraged engagement with these laws cheerfully, willingly, and tirelessly, suggesting that lawful endeavors would eventually lead to prosperity.

“Engage with that law and watch how you begin to lay up gold with time,” he said.