President Bola Tinubu has departed Abuja for Paris, France, on a ‘private visit’.
This was disclosed in a statement by Tinubu’s spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, on Wednesday.
The statement was silent on the reasons for the trip.
The statement simply said the trip was a private visit.
The statement added that the President will return to the country in the first week of February, 2024.
Recall that Tinubu hosted the United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, on Tuesday.
The rush by Nigerians to leave the country for greener pasture reached its crescendo in the new year as 32,462 persons have so far applied for international passports and uploaded their documents from the Nigeria Immigration Service site between January 8 and 21,2024.
Of these applications, 15,113 have reportedly been approved for biometric capture and production, which is fifty per cent of the total application.
The summary of passport applications for the year 2024 was provided by the Comptroller-General of Immigration Service, Caroline Adepoju, who was on a visit to Ikoyi and Alausa passport offices, yesterday, to see how things were working, regarding the introduction of the automated passport application process.
Briefing journalists at the end of the assessment, the Immigration boss said of the 32,462 applications, 11,505 were awaiting approval, while 3,406 who made payment were yet to book appointments.
According to her, 1,438 applications were queried for various reasons.
Adepoju said: “50 per cent of the total applications have been successfully approved for biometric capture, production and issuance, 35 per cent awaits approval, 11 per cent made payments but yet to book appointments and only four per cent of total applications were queried.
“When queries are successfully answered, the applications return to the queue and are subsequently approved for biometric acquisition, production and issuance “.
Adepoju, who noted that the introduction of the automation of passport applications was not new, clarified that further: “The major difference now is that supporting documents are now uploaded online. It is a research-based decision and we have been recording successes.
“As of this morning (yesterday), we have only recorded four per cent rejection of uploaded documents which may be due to errors on the side of the applicant. But our help desk is operational 24/7.
“The Nigeria Immigration Service, our technical partners, service providers and other stakeholders worked together with the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to come up with this reform on the automation of passport process which has been in place since the inception of the issuance of enhanced e-passport in 2020.”
She explained that the automation of passport application was aimed, among other benefits, at easing the application process and reducing human interface which had been a major complaint from applicants who had been extorted by touts during application.
The Immigration boss called on Nigerians to be patient and allow the NIS to ensure the perfection of the process.
About 30 persons have been killed in Plateau State by gunmen who attacked Kwahaslalek village, Mangu Local Government Area of the state.
The incident happened in the early hours of Wednesday.
The victims, mostly women and children, had run to the house of a community leader in the area on Tuesday night for safety following earlier unrest during the day in Mangu town when the gunmen surrounded them and killed all of them
A community leader in the area, Mark Haruna, confirmed the death.
Haruna said, “What happened at Sabon Gari and Mangu town yesterday afternoon (Tuesday) was just a distraction so that the attention of the people will be shifted away from the villages.
“For the second time, my village Kwahaslalek (behind NYSC camp) came under attack by gunmen yesterday (Tuesday)night. They came at about 12:30 am and killed over 25 people, mostly women and children.”
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Mwaghavul Development Association, Joseph Gwankat, also confirmed the killing, describing it as callous.
“I couldn’t sleep last night as a result of what happened in Mangu town during the day yesterday. Now, I have just been told Kwahaslalek village was attacked last night and about 30 people were killed.
“From what I was told, the unrest in Mangu town yesterday created fears in many communities. Some people in the village went and evacuated their loved ones and assembled them in a place where they thought was safe.
“So in the night, the killers went to Kwahaslalek village where the people mostly women and children were assembled and killed all of them,” he said.
The chairman who condemned the killing added, “I was told that no security was on ground to save the villagers. This act is pure wickedness. How can people who are in their villages be targets of constant attacks and killings without anything being done to stop the perpetrators?”
The Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, had on Tuesday declared a 24-hour curfew on the Mangu LGA over the deteriorating security situation in the area, which included the burning of several houses, churches and mosques.
Ondo Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has dissolved the State Executive Council with immediate effect.
He ordered the cabinet members to hand over all official property with them to the Permanent Secretaries or most senior administrative officers.
This dissolution was announced in a statement on Wednesday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan.
Aiyedatiwa also fired all aides, appreciating them for contributing their quota to the development of Ondo State.
The statement reads: “The Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has dissolved the State Executive Council, with immediate effect,” the statement read.
“All members of the Cabinet are to immediately hand over to the Permanent Secretaries or the most senior administrative officers in their respective offices.
“Also, all Senior Special Assistants (SSAs) and Special Assistants (SAs) are relieved of their duties, with immediate effect.
“All the affected officials are directed to hand over all government properties in their possession.
“The Governor thanks the affected officials for their services and contributions to the development of the State.”
Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to the immediate past governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano.
He ordered that the former governor should be restricted to the court jurisdiction.
He ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to deposit the defendant’s travel documents with the court registrar.
Ekwo then ordered the registrar to notify the Nigerian Immigration Service of the development.
The prosecution counsel, Slyvanus Tahir, SAN, had prayed the court to remand the former governor.
He subsequently adjourned the case till March 4,5,6 and 7 for continuation of trial.
The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken has arrived in Nigeria as he kickstarts his tour of the African continent.
Blinken’s African tour is scheduled to take place between January 21 and 26, 2024.
The visit is a part of the US’s high-level engagement with Africa, with the Secretary of State planning to travel to Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, and Angola after his visit to Nigeria.
Details shortly…
The Nigerian Defence Headquarters has announced that a total of 1,935 repentant Boko Haram terrorists have been released from the Bulumkutu camp in Borno State into the Nigerian society between 2016 and 2022.
The revelation was made by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, during a lecture at the opening session of a national security course on “Psychological Operations and Strategic Communication (PSYOPS)” organized by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).
The CDS, represented by Rear Admiral Daupreye Matthew, Director of Training at the Defence Headquarters, emphasized the military’s commitment to a non-kinetic approach in addressing insecurity challenges.
He said Operation Safe Corridor, a vital component of the approach, aims to encourage voluntary surrender, rehabilitation, and reintegration of former Boko Haram members into society.
Gen. Musa highlighted the success of the non-kinetic efforts, citing the surrender of over 2,000 Boko Haram members between 2016 and 2017.
He noted that 67% of those who surrendered belonged to the Abubakar Shekau faction of the insurgents. Additionally, 1,543 repentant terrorists graduated from the Mallam Sidi Camp in Gombe State.
The CDS reported that from July 2021 to May 4, 2022, a significant number of terrorists and their family members surrendered, with 13,360 identified as fighters. In total, 51,828 individuals surrendered during this period.
He added that the broader initiative has seen a cumulative total of 106,000 terrorists and their family members surrender in the North East.
The disclosure comes amid ongoing efforts by the Nigerian government to employ a multifaceted approach, including rehabilitation and deradicalization programs, to address the Boko Haram insurgency and promote national security.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang has imposed a 24-hour curfew in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State due to escalating security concerns.
The governor’s Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere, confirmed this in a statement on Tuesday.
Bere said the decision aims to avert a breakdown of law and order after consultations with security agencies.
Residents are advised to adhere to the sit-at-home directive, with exceptions only for essential travel within the local government area.
The statement added that despite government efforts to curb terror activities, the Governor expressed frustration that some individuals persist in instigating fear.
“He expressed his sympathy to the families of the victims and the injured, and assured them that the government will not relent in ensuring lasting peace in the state. He promised that the curfew will be reviewed as soon as the security situation improves,” the statement added.
The latest development follows the burning of the Church of Christ In Nations (COCIN) and other church buildings by people suspected to be herders who arrived from the surrounding bushes.
The Ogun State House of Assembly’s speaker, Kunle Oluomo, has been impeached.
During Tuesday’s plenary session, 18 out of the 36 members of the State Assembly voted in favour of Oluomo’s impeachment.
Oluomo was impeached on charges of embezzlement, haughtiness, and other offenses.
The Assembly immediately elected a member, Oludaisi Elemide, as the new Speaker.
Barring last-minute change of plan, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will arraign the immediate-past governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, on Wednesday, January 23, before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, over alleged money laundering to the tune of N4,008,573,350.
LeadingReporters learnt that the ex-governor will be arraigned on nine count charges.
Obino was said to have moved “N4,008, 573, 350 from security votes into different accounts. The money at various times was changed into dollars and returned to Obiano by cash,” the source stated.
EFCC lead counsel, Slyvanus Tahir, SAN, will lead eight other lawyers in the trial of the former governor
Some of the charges include: “That you, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, whilst being the executive governor of Anambra State of Nigeria between March 2014 – March 2022, sometime between 7th February, 2018 to 18th February, 2019 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly transferred through Mr Willie Nwokoye, your then principal private secretary, the sum of N156,800.00 only from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account No: 5030050875 domiciled in Fidelity Bank Pic into the Fidelity Bank Ple Account No: 6060018819 belonging to C.I. Patty Ventures Nigeria Limited (an entity that had no business relationship with the Anambra State Government), which funds were dissipated for purposes unrelated / unconnected with the security affairs of Anambra State, which you reasonably ought to have known that such funds formed part of the proceeds of your unlawful act, to wit: (Stealing and Corruption) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) in 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.
“That you, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, whilst being the executive governor of Anambra State of Nigeria between March 2014 — March 2022, sometime between 9th August, 2017 to 4th March, 2020 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly transferred through Mr Willie Nwokoye, your then principal private secretary, the sum of N261,268,585.00 only from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account No: 5030050875 domiciled in Fidelity Bank Plc into the Fidelity Bank Plc Account No: 5600062873 belonging to Easy Diamond Integrated Link (an entity that had no business relationship with the Anambra State Government), which funds were dissipated for purposes unrelated / unconnected with the security affairs of Anambra State, which you reasonably ought to have known that such funds formed part of the proceeds of your unlawful act, to wit: (Stealing and Corruption) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) in 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.”
Recall that the ex-governor was first arrested at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos, on March 17, 2022, as he was preparing to board a flight to Houston, the United States of America.
The arrest took place at about 8.30pm, hours after he left office as governor and, thus, lost his immunity from arrest and prosecution.
He had been on the EFCC’s watchlist for some time before he was eventually arrested over corruption allegations.
“Obiano was arrested for alleged misappropriation of public funds, including, N5 billion Sure-P and N37 billion security vote which was withdrawn in cash. Part of the funds was also allegedly diverted to finance political activities in the state,” EFCC had said then.
