Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in last year’s election, has urged the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to provide full disclosure on the newly acquired presidential jet and the status of the old ones being sold off. Obi made this demand on Tuesday night via his X handle. The controversy surrounding the jet purchase heightened after President Tinubu embarked on a working visit to France aboard the newly acquired Airbus A330 business jet on Monday. The aircraft, typically used as a twin-aisle passenger plane, was purchased last month at a reported cost of $100 million and…
Author: Editor Francis
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed the reinstatement of Philip Shaibu as the Deputy Governor of Edo State. This ruling upholds the decision of the Federal High Court, delivered on July 17 by Justice James Omotosho, which declared Shaibu’s impeachment illegal and unconstitutional. Shaibu was impeached by the Edo State House of Assembly on April 8, 2024, following allegations of misconduct investigated by a seven-man committee appointed by the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Daniel Okungbowa. However, Justice Omotosho ruled that the impeachment violated sections 188 and 35 of the 1999 Constitution, leading to Shaibu’s reinstatement. The Edo State…
The Court of Appeal on Tuesday issued a directive for the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to present himself for arraignment. The court also prohibited Bello from taking any further legal actions regarding the charges against him until he is formally arraigned. In addition, the Court of Appeal nullified a previous judgment by the Kogi State High Court in the case. Yahaya Bello’s whereabouts have been unclear since the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) attempted to arrest him during a raid at his residence in Abuja a few months ago. The arrest was reportedly thwarted by…
Traditional worshippers in Ondo State, located in south-west Nigeria, are calling for the recognition of traditional oath-taking for public officeholders, arguing that it is more potent and effective than the current practice of swearing in with the Bible or Quran. The Araba Awo of Oke Agbe, Ayobami Ogedengbe, made this suggestion during the Isese Day celebration in Akure on Tuesday. He stated that traditional oaths, rooted in Yoruba culture, would deter corruption and abuse of power among public officers, as the consequences of breaking such oaths would be immediate and severe. Ogedengbe highlighted that the existing system has loopholes that…
Amid growing controversy, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has clarified that it has not made any fuel subsidy payments in the last nine years. This statement was made by the company’s Chief Financial Officer, Alhaji Umar Ajiya, on Monday in Abuja. Ajiya’s clarification follows reports suggesting that Nigeria continues to pay fuel subsidies despite the announcement by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration in May 2023 that subsidies had been removed. According to Ajiya, the NNPCL has not paid any marketer or entity in the name of subsidy during this period. He explained that the company has been handling…
Niyi Ijalaye, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ogun State under the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has passed away. The tragic incident occurred on Monday evening, shortly after he attended a meeting of RECs at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja. According to sources within the Ogun INEC, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the Ondo-born REC collapsed and died upon returning to his hotel room after the meeting. Ijalaye, who was dressed in a blue-striped kaftan and a red cap, had been actively involved in all discussions during the meeting, which was chaired by INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.…
Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Usman Ododo, has approved the appointment of 1,192 additional aides. This development was announced in a statement released on Monday by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Folashade Ayoade. The new appointments include Yakubu Abdulhakeem, who has been named the Executive Secretary of the Kogi State Office for Disability. Additionally, 165 Senior Special Assistants and 36 Special Assistants have been appointed. The governor also approved the appointment of 574 Ward Special Assistants and 290 Local Government Special Assistants, further expanding the administrative team. In a related development, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdulsadiq has been appointed as the…
The Presidency on Monday unveiled a new Airbus A330 purchased for President Bola Tinubu, marking a significant upgrade to the presidential fleet. The announcement came as President Tinubu departed Abuja for Paris, France, utilizing the new aircraft for the first time. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, revealed details of the acquisition via his verified X (formerly Twitter) account. The new jet replaces a 19-year-old Boeing B737-700(BBJ) that had been in service since the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. According to Onanuga, the Airbus A330 was procured “far below the market price” and is…
The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced that the sale of crude oil to the Dangote Refinery and other local refineries will commence on October 1, 2024. This move is part of a broader strategy to transition crude oil sales to the local currency, naira. The disclosure was made by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, during a meeting with the Implementation Committee on Monday in Abuja. The meeting, held to review progress on key initiatives, included representatives from various stakeholders, such as the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, the Central…
President Bola Tinubu has authorised the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to allocate the 2023 dividends designated for the federation towards funding the petrol subsidy. Additionally, the 2024 interim dividend payments to the federation will be suspended to enhance the oil company’s cash reserves. This move comes despite Tinubu’s announcement of fuel subsidy removal during his inaugural address on May 29, 2023. However, the government appears to continue allocating substantial funds for this purpose, even as it denies any ongoing subsidy payments. Recently, protests erupted across the country, with citizens demanding the reinstatement of fuel subsidies due to worsening…
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has announced significant savings for Nigeria through the effective execution of its statutory roles and functions. This was revealed by the Executive Secretary of the NSC, Pius Akutah, during his maiden visit to Kaduna on Sunday, where he engaged with council staff and the State Shippers Association. Akutah highlighted the success of the council’s dispute resolution mechanism, which he said has been instrumental in enhancing operations. He noted that the NSC has effectively managed complaints related to cargo loss and associated charges, ensuring professional and timely resolutions. He emphasized the importance of revamping rail transportation,…
Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has approached the Federal Government to help resolve the ongoing dispute with Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. over the controversial Ogun Free Trade Zone (FTZ). Governor Abiodun met with top federal officials in Abuja last Thursday to discuss the matter, as confirmed by multiple Ogun State officials who requested anonymity. The dispute centres on a recent French court order that allowed the Chinese firm, Zhongfu International Investment FXE, to seize three Nigerian presidential jets as part of a business disagreement with the Ogun State government. The conflict dates back to 2016, when former Ogun State…