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TINUBU’S Drug Money Laundering Reports Has Increased Our Website Visitors – U.S Group

by Folarin Kehinde July 21, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

A US legal website, PlainSite.org, has insisted that its website witnessed a surge resulting from files about the drug money forfeiture case on the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the upcoming 2023 general, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

PlainSite.org is a website that posts court documents and thus makes criminal records and case dockets on individuals or entities easier to find.

In a tweet, the site compared visitors to that of American billionaire, Elon Musk’s lawsuit, adding that the visitors drawn to Tinubu’s money laundering file eclipsed that of Mr Musk.

The website had recently uploaded dockets of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate’s drug money forfeiture case files in the United States (US).

The files from 1993 recently became awash on social media.

The site listed that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu committed 5 crimes per the IRS Cl affidavit which included Money laundering (18 U.S.C. § 1956), Using funds from unlawful activity (18 U.S.C. § 1957).

Furthermore, it also listed Bank fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1344), Failure to file tax returns (26 U.S.C. § 7203), Lying to federal agents (18 U.S.C. §) among cases against the APC Presidential candidate.

Available records show that In July 1993, when Asiwaju Bola Tinubu briefly served as a senator, the US government filed a forfeiture lawsuit in Chicago against bank accounts in his name.

It was alleged, there was “probable cause” to believe they held the proceeds of heroin dealing.

The case followed a probe by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and other agencies into a trafficking network involving Nigerian suppliers.

The IRS secured warrants in January 1992 to seize almost $2 million, according to court filings.

Tinubu settled out of court in September 1993, agreeing to give up $460,000 to the US government in exchange for the release of the rest of the money.

Tinubu wasn’t indicted over the matter.

Source: Pointblanknews

July 21, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

Zamfara Governor Stops Traditional Leaders From Giving Out Titles

by Folarin Kehinde July 21, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

The government of Zamfara State has banned traditional leaders in the state from giving out traditional titles without the approval of the government.

Matawalle in a statement by his Special Adviser on Public Enlightenment, Media and Communications, Zailani Bappa, said “All emirs, senior district heads and district heads in the state are hereby directed to officially seek permission from the state government before conferring traditional titles on anyone.

“The directive becomes necessary to check indiscriminate award and possible abuse of the traditional institution. Henceforth, no Emir, Senior District Head or District Head should appoint anybody into any traditional office without securing official permission and clearance from the state government.

“Compliance to this directive is now mandatory and failure will attract serious reprimand from the state government.”

Recall that LEADING REPORTERS had on Monday reported that the Emir of Yandoto Emirate, Alhaji Aliyu Marafa was suspended by the Governor Matawelle Bello after he conferred the title of ‘Sarkin Fulani’ on a notorious bandit leader.

Members of his bandit squad were in full attendance with their guns and motorbikes while the ceremony was ongoing

The event led to wide spread outrage from members of the public which led the governor to suspend the emir for his actions

July 21, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

FG Suspends Dana Air operations Indefinitely

by Folarin Kehinde July 21, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended Dana Airlines’ Air Transport Licence (ATL) and Air Operator Certificate (AOC) indefinitely, with effect from midnight of Wednesday, July 20, 2022.

This is contained in a statement signed by Captain Musa Nuhu, the Director General of NCAA, on Wednesday in Lagos.

The statement said that the suspension was made pursuant to Section 35(2), 3(b) and (4) of the Civil Aviation Act, 2006 and Part 1.3.3.3(a)(1) of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs), 2015.

It said that the suspension order, handed down by Mr Nuhu, has since been communicated to the management of Dana Airlines.

According to the statement, the decision is the outcome of a financial and economic health audit carried out on the airline by the authority, and the findings of an investigation conducted on the airline’s flight operations recently.

It said that these revealed that Dana Air was no longer in a position to meet its financial obligations and to conduct safe flight operations.

“The NCAA acknowledges the negative effect this preemptive decision will have on the Airline’s passengers and the travelling public and seeks their understanding, as the safety of flight operations takes priority over all other considerations,” the statement said.

Dana Air Boeing 737 aircraft with registration number (5N DNA) had on Tuesday made an emergency landing at Abuja Airport.

The airline, after the incident, said that the aircraft had been grounded for immediate attention by engineers.

The airline’s Communication Manager, Kingsley Ezenwa made these known in a statement issued in Lagos.

Mr Ezenwa said that the incident was due to an indication on one of its engines.

He noted that the pilot-in-command briefed the passengers on the incident and landed the aircraft safely at the Abuja International airport at about 2:52 p.m.

“All the 100 passengers disembarked safely and the aircraft has been grounded for immediate attention by our team of engineers.

“The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) have also been briefed on the incident,” he had said.

Mr Ezenwa apologised to passengers on board the flight and reassured customers that the airline would continue to maintain high safety standards.

The suspension of Dana Air operations also came soon after the Airline Operators of Nigeria wrote to the NCAA and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria expressing some concerns and seeking reliefs.

(NAN)

July 21, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

Mr. President Nice Job On NNPC Limited Now NNPC PLC

by Folarin Kehinde July 21, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

By Ndubuisi Ekekwe, PhD, Chairman of FASMICRO Group, is the Lead Faculty in Tekedia Mini-MBA. He writes regularly in the Harvard Business Review. Email: tekedia@fasmicro.com.

Let me commend President Buhari for getting the job done on NNPC. Yes, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is now a commercial venture – a limited liability company, limited by shares – and not just an amorphous gigantic conglomerate. Welcome NNPC Limited.

Yet, there is really nothing to write since changing name, corporate formation, etc, will not change some of the underperforming elements. We still have to improve productivity and deepen innovation in the nation’s top foreign exchange earner.

Those changes must be done for us to unlock the latent opportunities within that company.

I did three internships in NNPC and enjoyed the benefits of learning under some of the finest engineers in our nation. The first time I touched a computer was in NNPC – NGC, Moscow Rd in PHC – and the first time I changed an instrumentation and control knob was in Owasa Gas flow station.

As I wrote in 2017 when I posited that Nigeria should go all the way with NNPC Plc, I want Mr. President to take this to the Nigerian Stock Exchange. Of course, I did note the challenges that would bring, but we have to go all the way: “Nigerian can get a valuation of $300 billion for NNPC Plc”.

Meanwhile, a comment from a individual stated:

“Hope this change in nomenclature will have any positive impact on the common man? We will allow them to work first, before congratulating them.

We changed NEPA to PHCN, it didn’t click, and we unbundled to DISCOs and GENCOs and the one in between, they are largely private but our energy fortunes are yet to improve.

What will turning NNPC into a liability company bring to ordinary Nigerians, or just adding extra zeroes to the pockets of those who can buy and sell shares? There is still great silence on the productivity front, until then.”

July 21, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

Nigerian National Grid Collapses Again

by Folarin Kehinde July 20, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

The Nigerian National power grid has collapsed again on Wednesday 20/07/2022.

The Eko Electricity Distribution Company confirmed that the grid collapse occurred at about 11:27 am.

“Dear customers, we regret to inform you of a system collapse on the national grid at precisely 11:27 am today, Wednesday, July 20. We are in talks with the Transmission Company of Nigeria to ascertain the cause of the collapse and a possible restoration timeline.

The collapse of the national power grid made it the sixth time this year.

The collapse is expected to, as usual, halt electricity supplies to some parts of the country.

Nigeria’s power grid had collapsed twice in March and twice again in April this year, as the power generation on the system had continued to fluctuate due to various concerns such as gas constraints, water management challenges, and gas pipeline vandalism, among others

In April, the quantum of electricity on the grid crashed from over 3,000MW on April 8, 2022, to as low as 10MW around 21.00 hours the same day.

Also, another collapse of the grid occurred on April 9, 2022, as the nation’s power system collapsed to 33MW around 01.00 hours after it had earlier posted a peak generation of 3,281.50MW at 00.00 hours the same day.

The national grid collapsed twice in March and this happened within a space of two days, a development that made the Federal Government summon a meeting of stakeholders to address the issue.

July 20, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

Nigerian Elated After Recovering Lost Laptop At Murtala Airport

by Folarin Kehinde July 20, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

Contrary to popular stereotype that Nigerians are dishonest people, a man has come out to appreciate the Security officials of the Murtala Muhammed international airport Security after he recovered his laptop which he had forgotten at the airport twenty days earlier.

In a video testimony made by the man, he said he had travelled two weeks earlier from the Murtala Muhammed international airport.

Man happy after securing lost laptop at Airport

While at the security checkpoint, he forgot his laptop and travelled outside the country. After 15 days, he came back to Nigeria and went back to the airport 5 days later to lay a complain about his missing laptop.

According to him, the security officials attended to him nicely and courteously. They asked for information about when he forgot the laptop and proof that the laptop belong to him. After giving the answer to those questions, the airport security checked their records and were able to retrieve back his laptop for him.

He was then asked to fill out a form which was signed by the Airports Director General, after which the laptop was given back to him.

He hailed the Airport security officials for their honesty and professional conduct saying, not all is bad in Nigeria, that the nation still has some many good people.

The man also implored individuals who have lost their properties at the airport to check not feel reluctant in coming to check for them.

He Said: “When I checked their storeroom, there were many lost items including iPad’s, bags and jewelry. People should not feel reluctant and think that their items and gone for good. They should come to the airport and claim those stolen items as the airport officials have kept them safe.

July 20, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

Discrimination and Assault, Double Criminality Against Us – Disability Group

by Folarin Kehinde July 20, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

Kenny Folarin, Abuja

The Founder and National Coordinator, Advocacy for Women with Disability Initiative (AWWDI), Mrs Patience Dickson has expressed worry over the lingering discrimination and assault against women and girls living with disability in the country.

Dickson while speaking in Abuja on Wednesday at a media interaction stated that it is double criminality against women and girls living with disabilities but are hell bent on fighting against it.

According to Dickson, Gender Based Violence is rampant this days and for women and girls with disability it is something else with the discrimination staring them in the face and when women and girls with disabilities are raped, it is often seen as if nothing was done that is double criminality against us and that is what they are fighting against.

Dickson reiterated that with collaboration with Federal Ministry of Women Affairs in the Gender Based Violence Dashboard, they want to increase the statistics of women and girls that has been assaulted and raped.

“So if you know you have any, please contact us so that we can go with some of the agencies that we work with that will help us identify if just one because one means a lot to us and if this one can get justice it is more than enough that can change and transform the mentality of many people and community that we work with”.

Meanwhile Resident Representative, United Nations Population Funds (UNFPA), Ms. Ulla Mueller disclosed that 15% of the world population lives with disabilities with cases of disabilities assault under reported.

Mueller also noted In the federal capital territory, 11.3% of human household between 15 above live with one form of disability or the other.

She explained that people living with disability are most at risk of Gender Based Violence because society does not give them a voice when they want to access justice.

Also, she Mueller stated that Gender Based Violence is a gross violation of human right, she averred that issues about ending Gender Based Violence of Women with Disability are being discussed, structures should be out in place , as women are often voiceless and unempowered.

“it is not just enough for women to stand up for women but stand for the women next to her, let’s speak she for she because we have within us what it takes to make the difference”.

She however charged them to get their Permanent Voters Card, participate actively in the upcoming 2023 General Elections.

“Please remember that as we move towards 2023, women with disability should register and empower to vote, so I am using this opportunity to say help women with disability to get registered so they can vote”.

Southeast Regional Coordinator, AWWDI, Nnenna Alaukwu berated the activities of the media in reporting cases of assault against women and girls living with disabilities as work done by Advocacy for Women with Disability Initiative and many other organizations hardly get reported.

Alaukwu noted that many media houses and media practitioners believe that issues of women and girls with disabilities are not newsworthy.

She however charged the media to take a stand for women and girls with disabilities where it matters, use thier platforms to condemn Gender Based Violence against Women and Girls living with disabilities.

July 20, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

OSUN ELECTIONS: Oyetola Set To Appeal Result With 50 Lawyers.

by Folarin Kehinde July 20, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

The governor of Osun State, Gboyega Oyetola and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the just concluded governorship election in the state is preparing to appeal the results of the elections in court in other to turn the results in his favour.

The independent National Electoral Commission had on Sunday declared Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party as the winner of the Osun elections after he polled 403,371 to defeat the incumbent Oyetola of the APC who got 375,027 votes.

Before his electoral loss, Oyetola, had 2018 defeated Adeleke after a run-off, with the support of his predecessor, and now Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola and former Lagos state governor and now, APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu.

After his opponent was declared the winner, the governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ismaila Omipidan, told his supporters to remain calm, noting that he would respond after studying the results.

Speaking on Oyetola’s preparation for legal action against Adeleke’s victory, Kunle Adegoke, a senior advocate who is a member of Oyetola’s legal team revealed that up to 50 lawyers have indicated interest to join the case.

When Adegoke was asked about the legal grounds for the court case, he said that their team was still studying the election results and building evidence to challenge Adeleke’s declaration as the governor elect of the state.

“As it stands now, up to 50 lawyers have indicated interest to join our case” Adegoke said.

July 20, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

NNPC Increase Fuel Price Between 179 and 190 Naira per Litre

by Folarin Kehinde July 19, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

Hours after the unveiling of NNPC Limited, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited has approved an increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from N165 per litre to N179 per litre, effective today (Tuesday).

NNPC in a notice to fuel marketers directed them to change the petrol price on pumps to the new price effective today. This was even as the company equally increased the ex-depot price from N148.17 to N167 per litre.

This was even as the company equally increased the ex- depot price from N148.17 to N167 per litre.

This development came after weeks of petrol scarcity resurfaced across the country as fuel retailers were adopting different price bands to force unofficial deregulation attempts.

The new price increase differs by region. While States like Lagos had their price increased to N169, regions like the North East had theirs increased to as high as N189/Litre

A break down of the PMS pump price adjustment for the various regions is detailed below

July 19, 2022 0 comments

Headlines Business

JUST IN: Central Bank Raises Interest Rate To Fight Inflation

by Folarin Kehinde July 19, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

The Central Bank of Nigeria has raised the monetary policy rate which measures interest rate to 14%.

This was disclosed by the central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele after the monetary policy committee meeting at CBN headquarters in Abuja.

The Governor disclosed to reporters that the increased interest rate would help curtail rising inflation in the country.

The new interest rate comes barely two months after the apex bank raised the interest rate to 13 per cent. At its last meeting in May, the committee also raised MPR from 11.5 percent to 13 per cent over the surge in fuel and food costs.

Emefiele said the committee members voted to hike the rate by 100 basis points and retained the asymmetric corridor at +100 and -700 basis points around the MPR and liquidity ratio at 30 percent.

Details later….

July 19, 2022 0 comments

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