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Uba Sani, Governor of Kaduna State, has decried the amount of local and foreign debt Nasir El-Rufai, his predecessor, accrued for the state.

During a town hall meeting at the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Hall, Kaduna, on Saturday, Sani revealed his administration inherited a total of $587 million, N85 billion and 115 contract liabilities.

He said these commitments meant the government spent N7 billion of its N10 billion federal allocation on debt servicing and would be unable to pay salaries, which stood at about N5.2 billion.

These comments drew criticism from netizens, who perceived them as an attack on El-Rufai. Bashir, the former governor’s son, took to social media to mock Sani and his aides, claiming they were incompetent.

We now learnt that, as part of the ninth Senate, Sani was instrumental in securing a $350 million loan for the El-Rufai administration after three senators from Kaduna opposed the request in the eighth Senate.

‘HOLD ME RESPONSIBLE, SANI TOLD SENATE

Between 2019 and 2023, Sani represented Kaduna Central in the Senate, but before him, there was Shehu Sani.

Shehu Sani expressed disapproval of El-Rufai’s loan request, and his position was shared by Suleiman Hunkuyi (Kaduna North) and Danjuma La’ah (Kaduna South).

Shehu’s argument was that another loan would erode the economic viability of the state, which already had huge debt burdens to fund.

When the All Progressives Congress (APC) replaced Shehu with Uba on the 2019 ballots, it was the positive El-Rufai needed.

In March 2020, Shehu was no longer in the Senate, and Uba was chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions. The loan request topic came up for debate again, and Uba swore it was critical the state got it at the time and even asked that the nation hold him responsible if the then governor failed to utilise the loan of about $350 million properly.

“They were wrong in their assertion,” Uba said of the Kaduna senators who opposed borrowing. “Having checked the laws, the accounts and the performance of the Kaduna State Government, the World Bank was convinced that Kaduna State merited its support.

“Equally important is the integrity of the Governor of Kaduna State. While considering the request for the loan, the relevant committees in both chambers of the National Assembly factored in the unassailable integrity of Governor Nasir El Rufai to approve the loan request.”

Four years after, Uba has now complained of the economic viability of the state, as 70 percent of its allocation has gone into debt servicing while workers are yet unpaid.

The detained Binance executive, Tigran Gambaryan, has sued the National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu, and the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged violation of his fundamental rights.

Gambaryan, in the originating motion dated and filed March 18 by his lawyer, Olujoke Aliyu, from Aluko and Oyebode Law Firm, sought five reliefs before Justice Inyang Ekwo.

Also, Nadeem Anjarwalla, the Binance’s Africa regional manager who escaped from lawful custody March 22, filed a separate right enforcement suit before Justice Ekwo.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gambaryan and Anjarwalla, in the suits marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/356/24 and FHC/ABJ/CS/355/24, had sued the Office of NSA (ONSA) and EFCC as 1st and 2nd respondents.

They sought same reliefs. Gambaryan, a US citizen overseeing financial crime compliance at the crypto exchange platform, in his application, sought a declaration that his detention and seizure of his international travel passport, contravened Section 35 (1) and (4) of 1999 Constitution (As Amended).

He said the act amounted to a violation of his fundamental right to personal liberty as guaranteed by the constitution.

He also sought an order directing the respondents to release him from their custody and! return his international travel passport with immediate effect.

Gambaryan equally sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents and agents from further detaining him in relation to any investigation into or demands from Binance.

The official, who sought an order for the respondents to issue a public apology to him, also prayed for the cost of this action on a full indemnity basis.

In a statement in support of the suit, he said he is an American citizen who visited Nigeria on Feb. 26 February, along with fleeing Nadeem Anjarwalla, as a representative of Binance, to honour the invitation of the ONSA and EFCC to discuss issues relating to Binance in Nigeria.

Giving 11-ground argument why his application should be granted, he said that he and his colleague, Anjarwalla, dutifully attended the meeting.

He said after the meeting the two of them were detained by the respondents and had remained in detention since then.

He said he did not commit any offence during the meeting, and neither was he informed in writing of any offence he personally committed in Nigeria at any other time.

“The only reason for his detention is because the government is requesting information from Binance and making demands on the company,” he said, adding that he was not a member of the Board of Directors of Binance.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) management has closed the KFC facility at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on March 28, 2024.

The decision was made after a social media report by a passenger with Reduced Mobility (PRM) alleging discriminatory treatment he received at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

The passenger in question was Adebola Daniel, the son of Senator Gbenga Daniel, former governor of Ogun state.

Daniel, who took to X to share his experience, said that, because of his disability, he was made to feel “less than human, like a guard dog not allowed into the house”.

“Being disabled often rolls over my spirit, leaving behind a trail of shattered dignity and forgotten humanity. Nowhere more so than in Nigeria,” he wrote on X.

He explained that after all the necessary documentation had been concluded at the airport ahead of his Virgin Atlantic flight to London, he decided to pass the time, alongside his wife and siblings, at the KFC restaurant while waiting for the flight.

However, he was in for a shock, as the female manager at the restaurant humiliated him, saying wheelchairs and users were not permitted on the KFC premises. She also demanded that they leave immediately, according to Daniel.

Meanwhile, a statement from FAAN today read: ”The MD/CE of FAAN, Mrs Olubunmi, Kuku, intervened swiftly by deploying a management team comprising the Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mrs Obiageli Orah, the Regional Manager South West, Mr Sunday Ayodele, Ag. General Manager Public Affairs, Mrs Ijeoma Nwosu-Igbo and the International Terminal Manager, Mr Kerri, to investigate the allegation.

”It is based on the findings of the team that FAAN has shut down the KFC facility at the MMA, where the incident occurred.

”The Authority has instructed that KFC Management should write an unreserved apology to the affected PRM and paste a policy statement of non-discrimination conspicuously at the door post of their facility at MMIA before it resumes operation.

”FAAN uses this medium to express our unreserved apology to the affected Passenger with Reduced Mobility and assures all airport users that we shall continue to work tirelessly to ensure that the rights of every passenger are not infringed upon.”

Editor of FirstNews Online Newspaper, Segun Olatunji, has regained his freedom after spending 12 days in custody.

Gunmen in military uniform had invaded Olatunji’s residence at Iyana Odo, Abule Egba area of Lagos State, on March 15, 2024, and whisked him away.

While the journalist’s family did not receive any communication from his military, the management of the media platform linked the incident to a story published by FirstNews.

Concerns about his location continued until the International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria) said its checks showed the editor was in the custody of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), an agency under the command of Major General Emmanuel Undiandeye, who, in turn, reports to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Chris Musa.

Hours after the IPI made the disclosure, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, told some editors that the military had confirmed that the editor was in their custody.

Meanwhile, in a strongly-worded statement on Wednesday, IPI called on President Bola Tinubu to activate the powers of his office as Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces to direct the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) to produce Olatunji.
“IPI Nigeria has received inquiries about this matter from all over the world. The Institute has also contacted the Nigeria Police, the Nigerian Army, the Defence Intelligence Agency, the Defence Headquarters, and the Ministry of Information and National Orientation seeking information on Mr Olatunji and demanding his release. All efforts in this direction have so far failed.

“That has triggered speculations among journalists and human rights activists around the world that the Nigerian military may be keeping some vital information away from the public concerning the journalist’s safety.

“IPI is therefore calling on President Tinubu to direct the Nigerian military authorities to immediately release Mr Olatunji or charge him to court if he has committed any offence. The international community should also pay attention to the unjust detention of Mr. Olatunji by the Nigerian military,” said the statement signed by IPI President, Musikilu Mojeed, and Tobi Soniyi, its secretary.

Consequently, on Thursday morning, Olatunji was released to the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), according a message by the Secretary of the Guild, Dr. Iyobosa Uwugiaren.

As at the time of his release, the DIA didn’t say what Olatunji’s offence was.

Elon Musk, the CEO behind X , has set the platform abuzz with groundbreaking updates, sending users into a frenzy of excitement.

Also the founder, CEO, and lead designer of SpaceX, Musk declared on Thursday that accounts boasting 2,500 verified subscribers will now unlock premium features at no cost, while those surpassing the 5,000 mark will soar even higher with Premium+.

The billionaire, who acquired X (formerly Twitter) in 2022, revealed this via his X handle, igniting a wave of anticipation and applause. 

Musk made massive announcements to the delight of platform X users.

The tweet read, “Going forward, all X accounts with over 2500 verified subscriber followers will get Premium features for free and accounts with over 5000 will get Premium+ for free.”

X Premium subscription offers account owners a host of perks, including minimized advertisements, eligibility for revenue sharing, and additional features.

Meanwhile, the X Premium+ subscription takes it up a notch with exclusive benefits like an ad-free experience and priority reply privileges.

Musk had earlier confirmed on Wednesday amid the growing rivalry with OpenAI that the Grok AI chatbot, which was only accessible for X Premium+ users before now, will now be accessible to all Premium users soon.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited’s mega filling station located along Bank Road, Galadima Aminu Way in Jimeta, Yola, the Adamawa State capital was gutted by fire on Wednesday.

According to reports, the fire began around 9.15 pm on Wednesday.

As of the time of filing this report, the cause of the fire was not yet ascertained.

Watch video below;

The military high command on Thursday morning declared eight persons wanted in connection with the killing of 17 soldiers and officers in Okuama Community of Delta State.

Among those declared wanted include a professor, Prof. Ekpekpo Arthur; a woman, Mrs Igoli Ebi; Reuben Baru; Akata Malawa David and four other persons.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Edward Buba, a Major-General, who disclosed this at an ongoing press briefing at Defence Headquarters, Abuja, said no bounty was placed on the wanted persons.

Buba called on the stakeholders and traditional rulers across the country particularly in the Niger Delta to help the military in fishing out those who had been declared wanted.

Leading reporters had reported how the troops of 181 Amphibious Batallion, Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State were surrounded by some youths and killed on Thursday, 14 March, 2024 while on peace mission to Okuoma Community.

The incident, which occurred when the troops responded to a distress call after the communal crisis between Okuoma and Okoloba communities both in Delta State had generated outrage nationwide.

The murdered officers were buried at the National Military Cemetery, Abuja on Wednesday. The burial was attended by President Bola Tinubu and other top government functionaries.

Senstor Abdul Ahmed Ningi, through his lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has requested reinstatement to the senate.

Ningi, representing the Bauchi Central Senatorial District, was suspended on March 12, 2024, by the senate for alleging that the 2024 budget was padded with N3 trillion.

Ningi, in a letter through Falana, accused the Senate President Godswill Akpabio of violating his client’s fundamental right to fair hearing.

He advised Akpabio to his Ningi’s suspension or be reported to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, LPDC.

The human rights lawyer disclosed that Akpabio caused him to be put on trial before the Senate on March 14.

In a letter dated March 25, 2024, addressed to Akapbio, the lawmaker said that the Senate President pronounced him guilty and suspended him.

“At the end of the trial, you pronounced our client guilty and declared,” the letter reads in part.

“That the Senate do suspend Senator Abdul Nigin (Bauchi North) for three months and he should forfeit all his entitlements and be disallowed from the precincts of the National Assembly Complex during the period of the suspension.

“He should also apologise to the Senate in writing, thereafter the senate can consider his remorse and recall him”, part of his letter read.

The Federal Government has announced the provision of scholarships to children of soldiers killed during a peacekeeping mission in Delta on March 14, 2024.

President Bola Tinubu made the announcement during the burial ceremony of the soldiers in Abuja on Wednesday.

The president also conferred national honours on 17 members of the Nigerian Army who were killed in Delta.

This was as he announced the provision of housing facilities for the surviving family members and scholarships for all their children to the university level.

He also directed the payment of death benefits to the family members within 90 days.

He announced these during the burial ceremony of the slain servicemen at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja.

Tinubu posthumously conferred the national honour of Member of the Order of the Niger on the Commanding Officer 181 Amphibious Battalion, Lt. Col. A.H Ali; Maj S.D Shafa (N/13976); Maj D.E Obi (N/14395) and Capt U Zakari (N/16348).

He also conferred the honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger on SSgt Yahaya Saidu (#3NA/36/2974); Cpl Yahaya Danbaba (1ONA/65/7274); Cpl Kabiru Bashir (11NA/66/9853); LCpl Bulus Haruna (16NA/TS/5844); LCpl Sola Opeyemi (17NA/760719); LCpl Bello Anas (17NA/76/290); LCpl Hamman Peter (NA/T82653); LCpl Ibrahim Abdullahi (18NA/77/1191); Pte Alhaji Isah (17NA/76/6079); Pte Clement Francis (19NA/78/0911); Pte Abubakar Ali (19NA/78/2162); Pte Ibrahim Adamu (19NA/78/6079) and Pte Adamu Ibrahim (21NA/80/4795).

President Bola Tinubu has urged the Senate to confirm the nomination of Justice Adamu Galumje (retd) for appointment as Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB))Tinubu in his letter read at plenary yesterday by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio said the request was in compliance with section 154(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The president said the nomination was informed by the vacancy created by expiration of tenure and subsequent retirement of the immediate past chairman of the CCB.

Akpabio after reading the letter referred the request to the Committee on Code of Conduct, Ethics and Privileges for further legislative action.Also, Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr. Alabo George as the Director-General of the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA).

George, who holds a PhD in Construction Management; an MSc in Quantity Surveying and Construction Engineering, and a B.Tech in Quantity Surveying is a fellow of the Certified Institute of Practising Professionals, USA; a fellow of the Association of Strategy Professionals, USA, and a member of other distinguished associations.

According to a release issued on Thursday by presidential spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, the president expects the new director general to discharge his duties with integrity, diligence, and dedication for the effective administration of the agency, and management of critical policies and programmes in line with the objectives of the administration.

In the same vein, the president has approved the appointment of Dr. Temitope Ilori as Director General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) for an initial term of four years.According to a release issued on yesterday by presidential spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, the president expects the new appointee to bring her wealth of experience and expertise into this seminal role.

This, he said, is to achieve the mandate of NACA which includes coordination, monitoring, and evaluation of the implementation of the Strategic National Plan for the control of HIV/AIDS/STDs, as well as the mobilisation of resources for an effective and sustainable response to HIV/AIDS/STDs.

Ilori, who is a senior lecturer in the Department of Community Medicine at the University of Ibadan, and a consultant family physician at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, was Commissioner for Health in Osun State from 2011 to 2014 and Chairperson of the Osun State Agency on Control of HIV/AIDS (O-SACA).Tinubu also approved the relocation of NACA to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. It was previously domiciled in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

The relocation of NACA to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is to foster synergy and enhance collaboration in pursuit of the nation’s goal to achieve the 95-95-95 pathway for ending the AIDS epidemic.

“In line with his topmost priority of manifesting the Renewed Hope Agenda of his administration across sectors, the president has expressed determination to consistently harmonise institutions within and between the different sectors in the country, ensuring improved coordination and synergy among agencies for efficient and qualitative service delivery to all Nigerians,” he said.