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The Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has said he is still on medical leave in Germany.

Akeredolu, said this in a statement issued on Sunday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Richard Olatunde, to disown a video circulating on social media suggesting that the governor is back from his medical vacation.

Akeredolu reacted to the footage of the video showing Governor Akeredolu alighting from an helicopter while walking alongside his Special Adviser on Union Matters and Special Duties, Mr Dare Aragbaiye.

But in the statement, Mr Olatunde said the governor was not yet back, saying he would soon return to the state and be back fully on his feet.

He said the viral video was recorded during Mr Akeredolu’s campaign tour of the last Presidential and National Assembly elections.

Olatunde said, “Our attention has been drawn to a recent video circulating on social media suggesting the return of Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, from his medical vacation.

While we acknowledge the eagerness of the people of the state, as well as supporters and well-wishers from both within and outside the country to have the Governor back, we want to clarify that Governor Akeredolu is currently in Germany and focused on his full recovery.

“Governor Akeredolu extends his deep appreciation to the citizens of Ondo State for their unwavering prayers and support. Their genuine concern and compassion have been instrumental in aiding his recovery journey.

The statement further read, “It’s important to note that Governor Akeredolu will return to the state very soon to continue executing his administration’s Redeemed agenda and providing impactful governance. His commitment to delivering positive and lasting development remains steadfast.

“The video in question, which is circulating, was captured during the Governor’s campaign tour in preparation for the last Presidential and National Assembly elections.

“Governor Akeredolu is eagerly looking forward to reuniting with the people of the Sunshine State. He is deeply moved by the outpouring of love and support, and he can’t wait to continue working towards a brighter future for Ondo State.”

Recall that the Ondo governor embarked on a 21-day leave on June, 7, and was expected to return on July 6.

On June 5, he informed the House of Assembly of proceeding on medical leave and asked his deputy, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa to “act as the governor” in his absence.

Late last month, the Ondo governor again wrote to the assembly to extend his medical leave abroad.

The financial statement published this week and the first of its kind since 2015 said CBN filed over N3.2 trillion as “other operating expenses” under Emefiele.

The financial statement published this week and the first of its kind since 2015, said CBN filed over N3.2 trillion as “other operating expenses” under suspended governor Godwin Emefiele.

The so-called other operating expenses may contain opaque policies, including intervention funds, unsanctioned dealings and other clandestine and illegal expenditures. It is also susceptible to bogus and dubious expense filings.

CBN reported it spent N254 billion on “other operating expenses” in Mr Buhari’s first year in office.

The financial statement revealed that CBN filed N173.6 billion in 2016 — they reported N155 billion in 2017, N190 billion in 2018, and N247 billion in 2019.

The figures jumped to N442.5 billion in 2020. They increased tremendously and doubled the following year as CBN reported N884 billion, while N888 billion was spent on the so-called other operating expenses in 2022, amounting to N3.2 billion for eight years.

Mr Emefiele has been accused of manhandling the nation’s highest bank and splashed N100 million on the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary ticket in the February 25 general election race.

A few weeks into his tenure, President Bola Tinubu suspended Mr Emefiele, citing allegations of corruption regarding his office. He was subsequently arrested and charged to court by the State Security Service (SSS).

In an apparent move to silence some of his critics who say he uses demonic power to do miracles, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye has asked that God would take his life if their claim is true.

He made the prayers at the ongoing convention of the church in the early hours of Saturday, August 12 while also urging the congregation to pray in that direction.

Adeboye who said he never wanted to respond to his critics, said he had to reconsider his stance because according to him, “some people may believe their claims.”

He said he got to know that some people were saying on the internet that he uses demonic powers to do miracles and carry out some of his operations on Redemption Camp.

His words, “Usually I don’t like responding to some so-called prophets especially when they talk about me. I just ignore them. But I got to know that some of them are saying that I use some demonic powers to perform miracles.

“I did not want to respond to them. But when I was praying about three days ago, I felt the leading that some people might believe the claims of these people. I now felt that we need to put an end to this. So I will ask you to pray that if I consult any devil anywhere that God will kill me before sunrise.”

The RCCG G.O. also urged the congregation to pray that if his critics are wrong in their claim that he uses demonic powers, God will increase the power in his life sevenfold.

The congregation rose in unison to make the double prayer requests.

The Heads of State of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have vowed to adopt force to dislodge the junta in Niger if it remains adamant.

The West African leaders arrived at the resolution at their meeting in Abuja Thursday after reviewing happenings since Sunday when the one-week ultimatum issued to the junta lapsed.

According to the communique read by ECOWAS President Omar Touray, the leaders noted that all diplomatic efforts made by ECOWAS, in resolving the crisis have been repelled by the military leadership of the Republic of Niger.”

It also stressed that the one-week ultimatum given for the restoration of constitutional order in the Republic of Niger has expired.

Stressing that ECOWAS leaders had directed the Committee of the chief of defence staff to activate the ECOWAS standby force with all its elements immediately.

They also ordered “the deployment of the ECOWAS standby force to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.”

The embattled Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, has asked a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, to put an end to further prosecution from the Federal Government, through the Department of State Services.

The suspended CBN governor was arraigned by the DSS on July 25 for allegedly possessing a firearm illegally.

He was ordered to be remanded in custody and admitted to bail but he was rearrested by the DSS.

Emefiele is seeking an order from the court to clear all charges brought against him by the DSS in a new application before Justice Nicholas Oweibo.

Noting that Emefiele’s arrest and the actions of DSS were in “brazen disobedience” of the court orders granting him bail on July 25, 2023, Emefiele’s attorney, Mr. Joseph Daudu, SAN, said he had requested an order barring the Federal Government from receiving any future judicial indulgences unless and until it complies with the bail finding.

“Relying on Section 6(6)(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), relevant sections of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 and under the inherent powers of the court, Emefiele wants the court to stay further proceedings in the current charge until he exhausts all the remedies available to him in law to compel the government and the DSS to obey the order of the court admitting him to bail or remanding him in prison custody until he perfects his bail terms.

“In the application, he is seeking to invoke the jurisdiction of the court to enforce its orders, so as not to be seen “as a toothless bulldog or paper tiger.”

Emefiele claims that the purpose of his most recent application is to safeguard and uphold the “efficacy, majesty, and integrity of the court as well as the rule of law in our democracy.”

The DSS has also filed complaints against him, and the court will hear the new application today.

The senator representing the federal capital territory (FCT), Ireti Kingibe in the red chamber, has said that she is yet to receive an extra allowance.

During plenary session on Monday, Godswill Akpabio, the senate president, said money has been sent by Magaji Tambuwal, clerk of the national assembly, to the senators to enable them “enjoy” their holidays.

Akpabio was quickly informed by his colleagues that he was speaking before live television and press cameras.

Realising the magnitude of his comment, the senate president beat a hasty retreat.

“I withdraw that statement,” he said.

“In order to allow you to enjoy your holiday, the senate president has sent prayers to your mail boxes to assist you to go on a safe journey and return.”

Akpabio’s initial remark elicited angry reactions on social media platforms, with many Nigerians positing that federal lawmakers are tone deaf and reside in a bubble, amid the economic hardship besetting the average citizen.

Asked about the senate president’s comment, Kingibe said Akpabio was referring to “statutory” allowance paid to senators.

“I did not receive any prayer but I will check my emails for the prayers.

Truthfully, I don’t know what he was talking about,” she added.

“Most people assumed that our allowances are being paid — some statutory things that we are paid.

“I don’t think it was anything extra that we’re supposed to be given. I certainly haven’t seen anything extra.”

Speaking on the high cost of governance as it relates to senators’ allowances, the FCT senator said there is nothing she can do about it.

“Yes, truthfully, that is so. I know that I can’t change anything,” she said.

“So I have a constituency office and a development office where I do development programmes for the people.

“Hopefully, anything extra… I’m new and we’ve been paid very little. But as they come in, a lot of it will go towards funding that office, the development programmes.”

The military leaders in Niger who seized power in a coup last month have formed a new government, according to a decree read out on national television on Thursday.

Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine will lead the 21-member government, with generals from the new military governing council heading the defence and interior ministries.