Headlines

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike has shut down the Abuja International Conference Center for the period of seven months.

Wike who disclosed this to newsmen in Abuja on Monday during a tour to the center stated that the current state of the facility is an eyesore which does not befit the country as an international center.

He stated that the facility lack international standard and as such all bookings are cancelled for the next 7 months for proper rehabilitation to be completed.

His words:

“You can call it a conference center, but not international.
There’s no standard compared. So, we decided that we can’t continue to be embarrassed
in this way. So, we are sorry to announce this, every booking meant to be used here is
cancelled.

“We’re not going to allow anybody to use it again for seven, eight months until when the job is completed”.

Meanwhile Wike added that the rehabilitation of the center will be done to Julius Berger construction, in collaboration with the Federal Capital Development Authority and Abuja investment company.

Hours after the impeachment of Philip Shaibu, Governor Godwin Obaseki has appointed Omobayo Marvellous Godwins, a 38-year-old engineer, as his deputy.

Politics Nigeria earlier reported that the Edo State House of Assembly, on Monday, impeached Shaibu.

The impeachment followed the adoption of the report of the seven-man investigative panel set up by the Assembly to probe allegations of misconduct against Shaibu.

The Justice S.A. Omonua-led seven-man panel investigating the impeachment petition against Shaibu rounded off its sitting on Friday.

The panel was constituted by the Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, on March 22, 2024, in line with the resolution of the State House of Assembly to investigate the impeachment petition against the deputy governor which bothered on allegations of gross misconduct and perjury.

Other members of the panel are Professor Theresa Akpoghome, Oghogho Ayodele Oviasu, Surveyor Andrew Oliha, Idris Abdulkareen, President Aigbokhian and Mariam Erakhoba Ilavbare.

…….adjourn hearing till April 11

The Ikeja High Court in Lagos State has ordered the remand of a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He is to be remanded till the next adjourned date, Thursday, April 11 when the court will give its ruling on bail.

Justice Rahman Oshodi also ordered the remand of Emefiele’s co-defendant Henry Omoile at the Kirikiri Prison pending the court’s ruling on his bail on Thursday.

The court ordered the remand of both men after listening to the bail applications filed by their counsel, Lebi Lawal.

In asking for Emefiele’s bail, the counsel has told the court to grant Emefiele bail on self recognizance pending the hearing and determination of the case or on the most liberal bail terms. The counsel also asked the court to grant the second defendant bail on the most liberal terms.

The EFCC counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Rotimi Oyedepo in his response, did not oppose the request for bail. He asked the court to exercise its discretion in the grant of bail.

More to follow…

The Edo State House of Assembly, on Monday, impeached the state’s Deputy governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu.

The impeachment followed the adoption of the report of the seven-man investigative panel set up by the Assembly to probe allegations of misconduct against Shaibu.

Details Later…

A Federal High Court in Abuja has remanded a Binance executive, Tigran Gambaryan, in Kuje Correctional Centre, pending the determination of his bail application.

The trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, gave the order after Gambaryan pleaded not guilty to the money laundering charges preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday.

The judge subsequently adjourned the matter till April 18 for the ruling on his bail application and May 2 for commencement of trial.

Details later…

The embattled former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, has arrived at the Ikeja State High Court in Lagos for
his arraigned over alleged abuse of office and allocation of billions of dollars.

Emefiele, alongside his co-defendant, one Henry Isioma Omole, will be arraigned on fresh 26 counts before Justice Rahman Oshodi this morning.

In the charge marked ID/23787c/2024 and dated April 3, 2024, the EFCC alleged that Emefiele abused his office between 2022 and 2023 in Lagos.

The commission alleged that the former CBN governor “directed to be done in abuse of the authority of your office, as the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, an arbitrary act, to wit: allocating foreign exchange in the aggregate sum of $2,136,391,737.33 without bids, which act is prejudicial to the rights of Nigerians.”

Details later…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reportedly terminated the employment of another batch of 40 staff members, primarily from the development finance department (DFD), according to Daily Trust.

Details regarding the affected individuals are limited due to the late release of the termination letters.

However, it was confirmed that Musa Zgabawa Bulus, an Assistant Director heading the National Collateral Registry (NCR) within the CBN, was among those affected.

The NCR, an initiative aimed at enhancing access to finance for Nano, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by leveraging movable assets, falls under the purview of the development finance department.

Most affected staff were reported to be deputy directors and assistant directors, with 22 from the DFD and 18 from the Medicals and Procurement Services Department.

This recent wave of dismissals follows a previous round in which 27 staff members were let go, including directors, deputy directors, assistant directors, principal managers, and senior managers.

The decision to terminate staff members from the DFD is believed to be part of the CBN’s broader restructuring efforts, which include a shift away from direct development interventions.

CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso has previously emphasized the need for the apex bank to refocus on its core functions of monetary policies and advisory roles to support economic growth.

Cardoso highlighted concerns about the adverse effects of extensive development finance interventions, citing potential inefficiencies and distortions in the economy caused by excessive money supply influx.

The Federal Government has declared Tuesday and Wednesday, April 9 and 10, 2024, as public holidays to mark the Eid-el-Fitr celebration.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday by the ministry’s permanent secretary, Aishetu Ndayako.

The minister congratulated all Muslims for the successful completion of the fasting in the holy month of Ramadan.

Tunji-Ojo called on them to imbibe and practise the virtues that entail kindness, love, tolerance, peace, good neighbourliness, and compassion, as exemplified by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him).

The statement read, “The Federal Government of Nigeria has declared Tuesday, 9th and Wednesday, 10th April, 2024 as public holidays to mark Eid-el-Fitr celebration.

“The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, congratulates all Muslim Ummah for the successful completion of the fasting in the holy month of Ramadan.

“Tunji-Ojo calls on Muslim Ummmah to imbibe and practise the virtues that entails kindness, love, tolerance, peace, good neighbourliness, compassion as exemplified by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him).

“He urged Nigerians to continue in the spirit of unity in order to improve and achieve peace and oneness in the country.

“The minister wishes all Muslim Ummah a happy Eid-el-Fitr celebration and prays that the peace, blessings, and favour of Allah be with everyone and our great nation.”

A Lieutenant Colonel and six soldiers have lost their lives in an ambush along Biu-Buni Yadi road, Borno state.

The soldiers died exactly a week after the military personnel who were murdered while on a peace mission in Delta State were laid to rest at National Military Cemetery in Abuja.

Leading reporters gathered that Boko Haram insurgent ambushed the soldiers at Kamuya, a village close to Buratai, home town of former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai (rtd).

A security source said the soldiers paid a supreme price on their way to Damaturu to buy fuel.

“It’s very sad; they were soldiers of 135 Special Force BN FOB in Buratai. They were ambushed on their way to Damaturu, Yobe state, to buy fuel.”

“Unfortunately, we lost an officer, a driver, gunner and four other escorts, while the wounded are in the hospital responding to treatment,” he said.

A local source, who escaped the incident by whiskers, said while on his way to the neighboring Yadi town, hometown of Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, he ran into the scene.

“I can’t describe the kind of gun battle that ensued, the insurgents who were in large number overwhelmed the soldiers. It’s by God grace that I survived,” he said.