Nigeria
IGP asks court to dismiss deposed emir Sanusi’s suit
The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a suit filed by the deposed Kano emir, Muhammadu Sanusi, over his banishment. Adamu in his preliminary objection, is arguing that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the fundamental rights enforcement suit. Sanusi was deposed following a resolution of the Kano State Executive Council on March 9, on allegations of insubordination. Following his sack, he was taken to Awe in Nasarawa State and detained in an apartment in the town until March 13 when he obtained an interim order of the court for his release from house arrest. The deposed emir in the substantive suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/357/2020 through his lead lawyer, Lateef Fagbemi, contested that his banishment and subsequent house arrest v...
Nigeria announces closure of Air Peace evacuation of nationals from UK
The Nigerian High Commission in the UK has announced the closure of Air Peace Evacuation flight from that country scheduled for Aug. 8, as all seats on the aircraft are fully booked. The High Commission disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Monday in Abuja. The High Commission advised prospective evacuees who are yet to make payment not to do so and necessary arrangements are being made for alternative flights. “Further to the notice of July 25, 2020, the High Commission wishes to inform that the evacuation flight scheduled for Aug. 8, 2020 is now fully booked and seats are no longer available. “In this regards, all prospective evacuees who have not already made payments for the flight are strongly advised not to do so. “The Mission will endeavour to make necessary arr...
Stakeholders commend government’s decision to reopen school for exit classes
Stakeholders in education have commended the Federal Government’s decision made at the stakeholders’ consultative meeting to reopen school on Aug. 4 for exit classes. Newsmen report that they made this known in Ibadan on Monday in separate interviews. Kayode Adeyemi, the President, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Oyo State (NAPPS), said that the decision was a welcome development given the prevailing circumstances. Adeyemi said with the level of learning loss occasioned by the lockdown was a good decision, adding that children would not be too backward because of the holiday. “I still remain cautious about the release though it’s from a stakeholders’ forum. I just hope that the ministry of education will not come up to say that they are not prepared again. “This is ...
NIDCOM: More Nigerians stranded in Europe set to return home
The Federal Government has revealed that more Nigerians stranded in France and other European countries, due to the COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the world, are being evacuated to the country. This was disclosed on Sunday by the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa via Twitter. Dabiri-Erewa explained that the citizens, who have departed Citizen Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, are expected back soon and will arrive at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja, the nation’s capital. The evacuation exercise was coordinated by the Nigerian Mission in France under Ambassador Modupe Irele and monitored by the commission. Upon arrival, the Nigerian returnees are expected to proceed on a 14-day self-isolation as mandated by the Presidential Task Force on C...
Delta to cut political appointees, workers’ salaries effective from July
Following the dwindling global economy occasioned by the ravaging coronavirus pandemic, the Delta State Government, weekend, said there would be a review of the salary of political appointees and workers on salary grade level 7 and above for six months with effect from July 2020. Secretary to the State Government, Mr Chiedu Ebie, who disclosed this, yesterday, while briefing newsmen in Asaba, said the decision was part of measures to overcome the debilitating effect of COVID-19 on the national economy. Saying that the state government had adopted interim fiscal measures to sustain public spending, Ebie noted that the decision to review workers’ salary was reached at a consultative meeting with the organised labour in the state. He said the review was painful, difficult but inevitable, addi...
Delta workers accept salary review as monthly wage bill hits N7 billion
With over N7 billion monthly wage bill to 48,000 workers in Delta, the State Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Martin Bolum, has said that the decision of the state government to review the salary of political appointees and workers on salary grade level seven was one of the ways to keep the state afloat in this period of Coronavirus pandemic. The salary cut takes effect from July 2020 is for six months. According to him, the state was one of the first states to implement the new minimum wage, stressing that the present salary review was for a while. At a press conference by the secretary to the state government Barr. Chiedu Ebie to explain the interim fiscal measures adopted by the government, the Head of Service, Mr Reginald Bayoko also appealed to workers to see the develo...
NYCN decries lack of constituency projects in Nasarawa
The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), an umbrella body of all youth organisations in Nigeria, has decried lack of constituency project in Nasarawa West Senatorial District since 2011. The NYCN Chairman, Keffi Chapter, Alhaji Mohammad Idris, made the assertion in a statement made available to newsmen, on Sunday in Keffi. Idris alleged that in spite of the billions of Naira released for some constituency projects in the senatorial district since 2011, there was nothing on ground to justify it. He emphasised the need for social infrastructures such as potable water supply, electricity, health care facilities, good road networks in almost all the five Local Governments that made up the senatorial district. He lamented that the Federal road that passed through Keffi central roundabouts ...
Akwa Ibom governor confirms seven deaths from coronavirus
Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has said that seven persons have died in the state from COVID-19 since the ravaging virus started in the country. Emmanuel who made this known on Saturday evening during a routine interactive session with the citizens aired by State-owned Radio and television stations urged the citizens and residents to protect themselves and their families from contracting the virus by complying with the preventive and safety measures put in place. His words, “Since COVID-19 started in Nigeria, we have lost seven (7) who had tested positive for COVID-19. Unfortunately, almost all of them came for treatment when they were at a helpless point. “And what we are experiencing nowadays in the state is the high degree of diabetic conditions of people. People don’t check ...
OPM: 1,775 babies delivered in our free hospitals
The management of Omega Power Ministries (OPM), free specialist hospital says about 1,775 babies have been delivered in its facilities located in Port Harcourt, Rivers, and Ohanku community in Abia. A statement issued on Sunday by the OPM Public Relation Officer (PRO), Mr Gogo-Ogute Isaiah, said that 549 of the deliveries were recorded in their hospital in Rivers, while 1,226 were recorded in Abia. Isaiah quoted the Director of the hospital Dr Enighe Ugboma, as saying that the babies delivered in Rivers were delivered by 527 mothers. Ugboma who was speaking on the one year anniversary of the hospital in Rivers, noted that 1,179 women registered for antenatal in the last 12 months. She stated that the OPM hospital in Abia which was established in 2012 had 1,226 deliveries since inception. “...
AGF queries NDDC over non-payment of over N70 billion unremitted tax, revenue
The last is yet to be heard about the entrenched corruption in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as the office of the Auditor General of the Federation (oAuGF) queried the Commission over N70 billion and secrecy shrouded in the multi-million dollar revenues paid by oil firms into the coffers of the Commission since inception. The query was part of numerous audit query issued by the oAuGF including the sum of N31.453 billion ‘some payment of 2012 not verified due to non-presentation of payment vouchers and bank mandates; non-remittance of N29 billion before 2008; N5.69 billion payment vouchers from Access Bank Account Number 0015078045 not presented for audit, and payments by unrecognized oil companies into the Commission’s final accounts to the tune of N3,280,818,832, among oth...
MASSOB urge police to release arrested members
FIle Photo The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra has called on the police to release its members arrested on Friday in Imo State. MASSOB’s National Director of Information, Sunday Okereafor, who condemned the mass arrest of the movement’s members, said they did no wrong and did not deserve to be apprehended by the police. Four persons had been shot when the police operatives clashed with MASSOB members at Orji axis of Owerri, the Imo State capital, while those injured were rushed to the hospital. The State Police Public Relations Officer, Orlando Ikokwu, who confirmed the clash, alleged that MASSOB members attempted to snatch firearms from policemen. Ikokwu said the MASSOB members also inflicted machete cut injuries on two policemen in the New Owerri area of t...
Edo guber: APC has no candidate – Nyesom Wike
Ahead of the September 19 governorship election in Edo state, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state has said that the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), has no candidate. Wike stated this on Saturday while addressing the mammoth crowd at the campaign flag-off for the re-election of Godwin Obaseki. “APC has no candidate. Ize-Iyamu is not a candidate for the election. “Don’t be afraid, nobody can rig this election. No one man can decide for us in Edo. “APC has no candidate to match PDP candidate. I can’t talk about him because he is not worth it. Be watchful and vote rightly,” he siad. Wike who recalled the negative statements made by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole against the APC candidate, said Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, cannot be trusted. “Edo people are not fools, you should not dance to...