The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya has warned criminals and thugs to stay away from and desist from causing infractions in the 2023 election’. Gen Yahaya assured Nigerians of the loyalty of officers and soldiers of the Nigerian army to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to protect its integrity and ensure a peaceful exercise. His words, “As we move towards the 2023 general elections, I want to assure the nation of the commitment of the Nigerian army along with the other services and our stakeholders, of our preparedness to provide a conducive environment for a free, fair and credible election.   “Criminals, thugs, hooligans and miscreants are advised in their own interest, not to interfere with the elections as the law-abiding citizens and good people of Nigeria go to the polls to freely exercise their constitutional right to vote”. The COAS gave the warning at the inauguration of 73 new participants of the Army War College Nigeria (AWCN) Course 7/2023 and the Inaugural Lecture of the college on Friday in Abuja. He said the college had been able to bridge the training gap in the Nigerian army and pressed confidence that the participant would have been well groomed into the elite league as critical thinkers who would strive to identify challenges and provide plausible strategies and solutions. Advising participants to remain focussed with a view to maximising the benefits of the rich course content of the college, he said, “As new security challenges continue to emerge in our dear nation in the face of concerted efforts to tackle them, I believe that the knowledge gained in the college will equip you with the requisite expertise to plan operations. “The course will also enhance understanding and synergy between the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies in the conduct of operations. “This actually key’s into my vision for Nigeria, which is to have the professional Nigerian army ready to accomplish assigned missions within a joint environment in defence of Nigeria. “To this end, it is my desire to sustain the current drive in confronting the current hydra-headed security challenges while improving personnel training welfare and professionalism in order to achieve the desired end state”. In his remarks, former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Onyeabor Azubuike Ihejirika, who delivered the inaugural lecture titled, “The Role of the Nigerian Army in National Development,” said the army and the military, in general, had been part of the economic and political development of Nigeria. noting that the Nigerian army had evolved over time and continued to contribute to the nation’s development, he said the war college course was designed to develop the ability of the officers to think and come up with solutions to the intractable security challenges seeking for solutions. Gen Ihejirika challenged the participants to develop ideas and strategies that would help provide solutions to the national security questions. Earlier, the Commandant of AWCN, Maj.-Gen. Bamidele Alabi, challenged the participants to assert themselves cognitively to add value to the solutions to the many problems of Nigeria. Alabi said the course was designed to develop individual and collective cognitive capabilities towards a better understanding of the issues arising from a valid or certain complex, ambiguous and distorted environment. He said the curriculum sought to emphasise the application of critical thinking skills with the intent of broadening the way the participants think, saying the content of AWCN was rich, and comparable to that of the best war college in the world. His words, “You will also need to sharpen your intellect, analytical skills and perceptual capabilities to enable you to effectively examine and proffer solutions to security issues. “I am confident that this course will be academically rewarding for you the participants, beginning with the well package inaugural lecture today on the role of Nigerian army in national development”. Among the 73 participants are 62 from Nigerian army, two each from the Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Air Force, others from other security agencies and MDAs as well as seven foreign participants from Benin, Cameroon, Liberia, Morocco, Niger and Gambia.

  The Nigeria Police have set up a panel to investigate alleged extrajudicial killings by three officers attached to the Anambra state command. The accused officers are Patrick Agbazue, Nwode Nkeiruka, and Harrison Akama. Agbazue is the officer-in-charge of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Nkeiruka is the spokesperson of zone 13 headquarters, Ukpo-Dunukofia, while Akama is a police inspector attached to RRS. Over the past few days, several posts had been made on social media in which the officers were accused of allegedly masterminding killings and abductions in Anambra state. In a statement on Friday, Muyiwa Adejobi, force spokesperson, said the accused officers have “reported” to the force headquarters in Abuja on the directive of Usman Baba, inspector-general of police. “The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc(+), NPM, NEAPS, fdc, CFR, has set up a special investigation panel under the IGP Monitoring and Mentoring Unit to commence investigations into some weighty allegations of unprofessionalism, high-handedness, and extra-judicial killings leveled against its officers serving at the Zone 13 Command, Ukpo-Dunukofia, and the Anambra State Command on social media platforms,” the statement reads. “In light of the serious allegations leveled against the officers – CSP Patrick Agbazue, officer-in-charge of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Anambra State Command; SP Nwode Nkeiruka, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Zone 13 Headquarters, Ukpo-Dunukofia, and Inspector Harrison Akama attached to the RRS, they reported at the Force Headquarters, Louis Edet House, Abuja today Friday 17th February 2023, on the directives of the IGP for commencement of investigations to ascertain the veracity of the allegations for further necessary action, while the panel has been given a period of two weeks to come up with a report of investigations.

  Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, on Friday said the old N500 and N1000 remain legal tender in the state, threatening to sanction commercial banks and business outlets rejecting the old notes. He was speaking in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital while addressing a crowd of bank customers during his re-election campaign to Obafemi/ Owode Local Government Area who are having a difficult time accessing their funds.   “Any bank that does not collect old notes in Ogun State, not only will I shut that bank down, I will revoke their Certificate of Occupancy,” the governor said. “It is a subsisting court order that clearly states that the status quo should be maintained in this matter. Until that order is vacated or determined, anybody that does otherwise is acting against the position of the court, the most respected court in this country. “I am pleading and admonishing all banks to ensure that we collect old notes. As a responsible government, by tomorrow I will make further statements.” The Ogun State Government will be revoking the certificate of occupancy, CofO of any corporation or store that rejects old Naira notes from members of the public in the State in exchange for goods and services. — Prince Dr. Dapo Abiodun – MFR (@dabiodunMFR) February 17, 2023 While describing the situation as unfortunate and unacceptable, he appealed to residents not to resort to violence as efforts are being made to address the situation. The governor also pledged his administration’s support to residents of Ogun State to cushion the hardships the naira crisis has subjected them to. Part of the measure, Abiodun stated, is to distribute what he described as palliatives to the people as was done during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is not the first time the governor will threaten to shut down banks in the state over the N500 and N1,000 old notes. On February 15, Abiodun warned banks in Ogun State against refusing to accept old naira notes from citizens. In a brief statement on his official Twitter handle, the governor warned that any commercial bank that refuses to accept the old notes stands the chance of being shut down by the state government.

Saturday 18 February 2023 NAFDAC Destroys Fake Drugs Worth N326m APC Begins Sale Of Forms For Bayelsa, Kogi, Imo Governorship Polls Illegal Detention: Aisha Buhari’s Ex-Aide Demands N100m Naira Crisis: Protests Rock Rivers, Lagos, Ogun, Oyo As Hoodlums Destroy Banks PIA: NNPC Ltd Operates Fully, 18 Months After Naira Crisis: Presidency Tackles El-Rufai, Ganduje, Others Cash Crunch: Governors Push Out Palliatives In States Wike to Buhari: Flouting s’court ruling on old naira notes an invitation to anarchy Naira redesign: Buhari has good intentions — but may have got wrong advice, says Keyamo Lai: You can’t separate Buhari’s achievements from Tinubu’s presidential bid Presidency: Talk of interim government is by those afraid of losing elections Saudi Arabia clamps down on illegal migrants, arrests 800 Nigerians Police to probe ‘extrajudicial killings’ by officers in Anambra Alleged Forced Abortions: US Lawmakers Ask Biden To Rescind Helicopter Sale To Nigeria Naira Swap: El-Rufai Inciting Nigerians Against Buhari’s Orders, Says Bwala Unrest In Port Harcourt Over Naira Swap Policy 31 Bodies Found In Clandestine Graves In Mexico Buhari Cannot Overrule The Supreme Court, Says Ozekhome ‘Emefiele, Others Want Military To Take Over Nigeria’, El-Rufai Insists Obaseki Has No Right To Order My Arrest, Says Oshiomhole Why Ebubeagu Will Not Function In Ebonyi – Umahi Kano State Governor Vows to Destroy Banks Refusing Old Naira Notes Old N500, N1,000 Notes Remain Legal Tender In Ogun, Says Dapo Abiodun EFCC boss, Bawa must go to jail, CSOs tell IGP I’ll be enjoying in my grave if you fail to rescue Nigeria — Adebanjo tells Nigerians Abort any plans of disrupting elections, Army Chief warns thugs Naira scarcity: El-Rufai is hero of the moment – Fani-Kayode Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…

  Ebonyi State Governor and Chairman of South-East Governors’ Forum, on Friday, bowed to pressure, agreeing that the South-East security outfit, code-named Ebubeagu, will no longer function in the state. This was as the governor disclosed that a legal framework, already before the Ebonyi House of Assembly for the establishment of two local security outfits, has been passed into law, to replace the disbanded Ebubeagu in the state. Recall a Federal High Court, sitting in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital had, on Tuesday, disbanded the Ebubeagu security outfit in the state. The disbandment, according to PUNCH Metro investigations, was a consequence of several alleged human rights abuses, extortions, illegal arrests and use of firearms by the security outfit. Umahi announced the establishment of the two local security outfits, during an Enlarged Security Meeting/ Live Broadcast, in Abakaliki, on Friday. According to him, “On the issue of Ebubeagu, I have directed that Ebubeagu will not function in the state until the Stay of Execution is granted and appeal is entered, this is in obedience to the rule of law and respect for our judiciary which I have great respect for, whether the judgement is good for our people or bad, it is the judgement of the Court. “However, it must be noted that just about a month ago, another court of equal jurisdiction had passed a judgement restraining anybody from disbanding Ebubeagu, what it means is that I have two judgements on the same subject and I could choose the one to obey if I were not a lover of the judiciary, however, I have decided to obey the later judgement that says that Ebubeagu should not function. “So, for now, Ebubeagu should not function while we process the Stay of Execution and appeal entered at Enugu and Ebubeagu when granted will begin to function again, however, let me thank the House of Assembly for passing into law another two sets of vigilante outfits for Ebonyi State whose process started in 2021 but they graciously passed it a few days ago and that is Ebonyi State Neighbourhood Watch. “Let me say that we have had this Neighbourhood Watch even before now as far back as 2015 and they did tremendously very well so the law is back and they are empowered to function.” Details later…

  The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has denied reports making the rounds that it has authorized deposit money banks to collect the old N500 and N1,000 banknotes. In a statement by CBN’s Director of Corporate Communications Osita Nwanisobi on Friday, the apex bank said the apex is only reissuing and recirculating the old N200 banknotes which is expected to circulate as legal tender up to April 10, 2023, in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive. The CBN advised the public to disregard any message and/or information not formally released by the bank on this subject. It also advised media practitioners to endeavour to verify any information from the correct sources before publication. Buhari had in a nationwide broadcast on Thursday, directed the CBN to release old N200 notes into circulation to co-exist with new N200, N500, and N1,000 banknotes for 60 days. He, however, said old N500 and N1,000 banknotes are no longer legal tender in Nigeria. The President also apologised to Nigerians over the difficulty experienced in the implementation of the naira redesign policy. Meanwhile, his directive has generated reactions from different quarters with some in disagreement while others were in support. The Speaker of House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, described it as a step in the right direction, but says it falls short of the Supreme Court order that the old currencies remain legal tender pending the adjudication of a pending suit brought by state governments on the legality of the policy and its implementation. Also, the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, frowned at the President’s directive, describing it as a total disregard of the Supreme Court on the matter. But a human rights activist, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, while speaking on Channels Television’s The 2023 Verdict on Thursday, backed Buhari. According to Odinkalu, Nigerians are ready to endure the sufferings that come with the cash scarcity caused by the naira redesign policy of the CBN long as it ensures the upcoming general elections will be credible.

DSS Uncovers Plan By Boko Haram To Attack Abuja-Kaduna Train   The Department of State Service (DSS) has uncovered a plan by Boko Haram terrorists to attack the Abuja-Kaduna train service in the coming days. The Ministry of Transportation, in a letter to the Ministry of Defence, quoted by Daily Trust on Thursday said it had, on February 1, received a letter from the DSS on the threat by Boko Haram terrorists to attack the Abuja-Kaduna train services. The transportation ministry called on the Minister of Defence, as a matter of urgency, to convene a meeting of all relevant stakeholders to review the reported terror alert with a view to forestalling the planned attack.   On March 28, 2022, a Kaduna-bound train was attacked by gunmen with several persons killed, injured and abducted

  The Anambra State Police Command said they’ve rescued 3 children that wee abducted from Abia, Akwa-Ibom and Rivers States. The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu in a statement gave the names of the children as David Frang, 8 years old male, Sarah Frang 3 years old female and Chibuchi Sunday, a 7 years old male. “Anambra State Police Command today 17/2/2023 calls on the public especially residents of Abia, Akwa-Ibom and Rivers State to help us identify these children, for a possible reunion with their parents.   “They are David Frang Male Age 8yrs, Sarah Frang female age 3yrs and Chibuchi Sunday male age 7yrs were recovered from individual suspects who are already in custody. “Given the confessions of the suspects, the children were taken away from their parents in the respective states mentioned above and brought to Anambra State. “Therefore, anyone who knows the parents of these children should inform them to come to Anambra State Police Command with proof, while the Police command shall do the necessary checks before handing them over.   “For ease of protocol, call the command control room number 07039194332 or 08039334002 for a guide, please.”