Monday 13 February 2023 CAN probes alleged Obi’s N2bn largesse, PCC claims blackmail Defilement: Probe begins as father dies fighting suspect Lagos govt shuts Chrisland school over Whitney’s death ‘Remi enough for me’ —Tinubu dispels rumours of new wife Abuja pastor brings AK-47 to altar AIG Jimeta Dies After Brief Illness Cash Crunch: Nigeria Risks CBN-Induced Recession, Govs Warn Kano Govt Shuts Supermarket For Rejecting Old Naira Notes Allow Old, New Notes Co-Exist For 12 Months, Tinubu Tells CBN Money Laundering: Trial Of Kogi Gov’s Nephew, Wife Resumes Today Naira Crunch: Ekiti Sues FG, To Join Supreme Court Suit Bandits Kill DPO, Four Other Policemen In Niger General Overseer, Theology Student Arrested Over Dubai-Bound Meth, Skunk 2023: INEC Has No Candidate, Says Yakubu Probe: Kogi demands Bawa’s arrest, claims EFCC has ‘agenda’ against Yahaya Bello El-Rufai: I no longer believe in quality of decisions taken by those around Buhari Kano LP guber candidate joins APC Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…

  Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna, says he does not believe in the “quality of decisions” taken by those within the circle of President Muhammadu Buhari. In a snippet of an interview published by Premium Times on Sunday, El-Rufai said he, however, still believes in Buhari. “I believe in Buhari. I still do and I will never stop believing in him. But I no longer believe in the circle around him and the quality of decisions and actions coming out of that leadership,” the Kaduna governor said. El-Rufai’s comment comes amid the controversy over the naira redesign policy. On February 1, the Kaduna governor said there are saboteurs in Buhari’s administration working towards the failure of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the presidential election. “Most of the people in the villa are not members of our party. I believe there are elements in the villa that want us to lose the election because they didn’t have their way,” el-Rufai had said. “They had their candidates, and their candidates didn’t win the primaries and I think they are still trying to get us to lose the election and they are hiding behind the president’s desire to do what he thinks is right.” Meanwhile, in a ruling on a suit filed by Kaduna, Kogi, and Zamfara states, the supreme court had temporarily restrained the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from implementing the February 10 deadline on the old naira notes. Hours before the supreme court ruling, the Kaduna governor asked traders in the state to continue to use the old naira notes for their transactions. He added that Bola Tinubu, the APC presidential candidate, will review the naira redesign policy if elected. Over the past days, Nigerians across the country have been battling with the scarcity of new naira notes — a development that has led to queues at banking halls and automated teller machine (ATM) points. The development, coupled with petrol shortage, has also led to protests in parts of the country. Some APC members, including Tinubu, believe that the crisis was designed by fifth columnists in the party in order to scuttle the APC’s chances in the presidential poll.

  The camp of the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, has disowned a viral video clip suggesting that he was planning to marry a new wife. The video went viral on Saturday alleging that the presidential flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, was planning to take a second wife. The 45 seconds viral clip, which was ostensibly a digital invitation to the Nikah of the couple trended on social media including the WhatsApp platform. In Islam, Nikah is a contract where both the groom and bride are to consent to the marriage of their own free will. In the video, the announcer, a female voice over, claimed Tinubu was planning to marry a young bride resident in Katsina, Khadija Abubakar Bawa Wagini. She claimed “The solemnization of the Nikah would take place on February 18, 2023 at Katsina Central Mosque. Bride representative, Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari; groom representative, Kano State Governor, Senator Abdullahi Ganduje; Chief Host, Dahiru Mangal (a billionaire businessman and ally of the APC). “This is an invitation card for those who did not receive it. God has given power to come.” Reacting to the claim, the Chief Spokesman of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Festus Keyamo, labeled it as fabrication from the camp of the opposition. Keyamo believed that it was obviously targeted at causing bad blood in and reducing the Christian votes that Tinubu’s wife, Senator Oluremi, is bringing in. He said, “It is obviously one of those infantile propaganda from the opposition. They are just desperately targeting the Christian votes that his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, is bringing to the ticket and they know she is a pastor. This is why they are bringing up the propaganda of Asiwaju marrying a Muslim wife from Katsina who would now be the First Lady. “I won’t be surprised if this is from the PDP. That party has gone to an all-time low. You can see that it is not a serious party again. The PDP is a shadow of its old self.” The Director of Media and Publicity for the PCC, Bayo Onanuga, also kicked against it. “You should know this is not true. I don’t know the people who crafted and put it together,” he said. His position was also re-echoed by the Deputy spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Hannatu Musawa, who frowned at the report. According to her, she would have been the first to know of such development being an indigene and a resident in Katsina State. “No, it is not true. Haba! That is a big lie,” she stated.

  Suspected bandits have reportedly attacked and set ablaze, a Cherubim and Seraphim church branch, in Akure, the Ondo state capital. The church, Motailatu Church of God, Oke-Idahun Parish, is located along Imafon Road, Akure North council area of the state. The properties of the church were destroyed by the bandits. According to the cleric, David Akinadewo-Adekahunsi, footprints of the attackers were discovered when he got to the church premises over. the.weekend. Akinadewo-Adekahunsi, in a statement, said that “what first caught his attention was the damaged lectern on the altar, and some broken bottles scattered around. The cleric, who is also a journalist, said “that many plastic chairs belonging to the church and offering trays were set ablaze as well. ” Hymn books and other items kept in a room in the building were not spared, describing it as “the malicious damage brought upon the House of Prayer.” ” The prayer room of the church was also touched by the hoodlums, as they damaged the window net. ” They could not gain access to the prayer room because of the burglary proof. However, they succeeded in damaging the tithe box. Akinadewo-Adekahunsi noted that the matter had been reported at the Oda Divisional Police Headquarters, Akure.

  The Lagos State Government has ordered the temporary closure of Chrisland School, located at Opebi-Ikeja, in the sequel to the reported death of a student of the School, Whytney Adeyemi. The order was contained in a statement by the State Commissioner for Education, Mrs Folasade Adefisayo on Sunday. Adefisayo said the closure was ordered pending the outcome of a full investigation into the unfortunate incident. According to her, “On behalf of the State Ministry of Education, we commiserate with Mr and Mrs Adeyemi, parents of Whitney, over the death of their daughter. “We also note the impact of this unfortunate event on family, friends and acquaintances of Whitney and call for calm as we assure that no effort will be spared in investigating the incident ”We pray for the repose of her soul.”

  A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, in Imo state, Franklin Ngoforo, has alleged that over sixty million nairas in presidential campaign funds for Imo state have been embezzled. Ngoforo, stated this to newsmen in Owerri, while speaking on the petitions calling for the dissolution of the state working committee, SWC, of the party among other issues. The PDP chieftain weaved it around the supporters of the National Secretary of his party, Senator Samuel Anyanwu. Ngoforo started by saying: “For instance, how would leaders of the political structure of the National Secretary always go to radio stations to attack their own Party, calling for the destruction of their own Party and insulting the entire membership of the State Working Committee? “How would allies of the National Secretary divert and embezzle over sixty million Naira brought to Imo State for presidential campaign flag-off, yet the National Secretary shielded them? Have you ever seen the National Secretary in any of the campaign tours, rallies and town hall meetings of his party across the State? That is not all. “By the last count, they have instigated over ten petitions calling for the dissolution of the State Working Committee and State Executive Committee of the Party in Imo. “Just three days ago, he brought up another motion in Abuja for Imo PDP to be dissolved. Dissolution of a political party two weeks before elections! Haba! This is a clear sign that he does not want the party to win any election in Imo State.” It was his view that “Samdaddy has carried on with this ill-fated governorship project in ways that are most injurious to the body, soul and image of Imo PDP! This is the reason most members of the Party suspect that he is acting a script written by Hope Uzodinma to destabilize the Party.”

  The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, has said that the federal government seems to be overwhelmed and unconcerned about the rate of insecurity as well as the worsening economy. The Bishops described the development as disturbing, saying the future of the country looks bleak.   CBCN President, Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, spoke on Sunday at the opening session of the 2023 first plenary Assembly of the body in Abuja, the nation’s capital. The theme of the event is ‘Citizens’ Participation in Good Governance in Nigeria’ According to him, despite assurances by the federal government that it is on top of the matter, insecurity continues to haunt the nation and economic conditions in the land keeps biting harder. He said, “Insecurity has continued to haunt our nation. The Boko Haram militia, Fulani herdsmen, bandits and unknown gunmen have continued to unleash terror in different parts of the country. “Nowhere seems safe: highways, homes and even the sacred precincts of worshipping centres. Some of our Church personnel have been victims of abduction and arson. Our people have continued to live in a gloomy atmosphere of fear and groan with anguished hearts. “Our collapsing national economy worsens the ugly situation. While the value of the Naira continues to decline, the cost of basic commodities, including food items, continues to soar, with serious effects on the lives and livelihoods of our people. “On account of long-persisting fuel scarcity, Nigerians spend endless hours in long queues under harsh weather conditions trying to buy fuel at exorbitant prices. The disastrous implementation of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) cash swap policy, which resulted in a cash crunch, has added to the ordeal, anger and frustration of the masses. “On account of the hard-biting economic conditions, many of our brothers and sisters are pauperised and go to bed without food. Many of them are resorting to crime and begging to survive. This situation is further compounded by the growing debt burden that is mortgaging our future and the future of generations coming after us. The future of the country looks bleak. “The government seems overwhelmed by the situation, despite its claim that it is on top of the matter.” Ugorji, however, said all hope is not lost. According to him, “With the forthcoming general elections drawing close, people perceive a glimmer of light after a very long and dark tunnel. “The untold and undeserved suffering to which Nigerians have been subjected over the years is a good preparation for us to vote wisely during the forthcoming general elections. The elections, if well conducted, can be a turning point in our political and economic history. “We, therefore, urge all to play their roles maturely and creditably during the period of the general elections.” The Catholic Bishops urged candidates vying for political offices to prove themselves to be decent, respectable, peaceful and honest Nigerians. “Rather than engage in mud-slinging, acrimony, arson, buying and selling of votes, threats, intimidation and violence, they should focus on marketing their manifestoes as they campaign for votes. Political contests should never be perceived as battlefield encounters or do-or-die affairs. “Any candidate who is prepared to shed blood or to spend huge sums of money to buy votes or to comprise INEC shows that he or she is seeking political office for pure self-aggrandisement. It stands to reason that no one, who wishes to render selfless service to the public for the common good, will spend huge sums of money to induce those he intends to serve unselfishly,” the clerics added. While reminding the faithful of their civic and moral responsibility of voting during elections, they urged the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) ro live above board as an independent and impartial umpire and ensure that their conduct in the electoral process is beyond reproach. The Bishops pointed out that to enthrone good governance in the country, citizens had a key role to play through political participation, even when they are not involved in partisan politics. Speaking also, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, urged Christians to play active roles in partisan politics. According to him, by doing so, they will carry righteousness into governance He said, “CAN at all levels has continued to encourage her members, particularly those that are called into political leadership to, as a matter of necessity, join political parties of their choice and ensure that the suffering of the masses occasioned by misgovernance due to incompetence, selfishness and wickedness are reversed when they are given any opportunity to serve. “However, such opportunities will come if the government of the day opens the space and gives appointments by considering our diversity as a nation. “Though we encourage Christians to join partisan politics, CAN as an organization remains non-partisan.” Earlier, during the opening mass, the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, who delivered the homily, maintained that the Bishops would remain unambiguous in condemning the abuse of power and plundering of the country’s rich human and natural resources. “While the Church remains non-partisan, she cannot and must not remain on the sidelines in the fight for justice,” he said.

  The presiding pastor of the Abuja chapter of the House on the Rock, Pastor Uche Aigbe, on Sunday caused a stir when he mounted the pulpit carrying an AK 47 rifle. The incident took place during the second service, which frequently has a high turnout of the congregation who comes from different parts of the Federal Capital Territory. Brandishing the gun, the pastor picked his way to the altar as many members of his congregation exchanged glances trying to understand what was happening. An unflinching Aigbe walked up to the lectern, aware of the tension his action had created, without looking at his worshippers. But as he made attempt to open his Bible, the preacher looked up and said teasingly, “Some people are looking for my trouble. And I came here prepared. “Today, there are some pastors with gift of divination who go about ripping people. This is why we should carry our ‘guns’ and defend ourselves. I will particularly be coming very soon for some of you sleeping in the church.” His response threw the entire gathering into a fit of laughter as he continued preaching on “Guarding your hearts from false teachers” and “faith without work is dead.” It was, however, not known if the gun he brandished was loaded or not.

  The father of the 12-year-old Chrisland International School student, Whitney Adeniran, who allegedly died during the school inter-house sports events in Lagos has said his daughter died of electrocution. Dr. Michael Adeniran made the claim in an interview with the BBC Pidgin on Sunday. Meanwhile, the school management in a statement on Sunday said the deceased slumped in “public view and not under any hidden circumstances,” adding that she was rushed to the nearest medical facility for first aid. “Our immediate response was to take advantage of proximity to first aid, by identifying the nearest medical facility to take her to, where the doctor on duty, administered oxygen and every aid possible on her,” the school added. This came after a viral video showing Whitney’s mother calling for justice and asking Chrisland to explain what happened to her daughter. The PUNCH had earlier reported that Whitney’s father had taken to social media on Saturday night to demand a probe into the death of his daughter, calling on the Lagos State Government and the police to intervene in the matter. He also demanded that Chrisland should explain what actually happened to his daughter, adding that she had no health condition or sickness as of the time the school bus picked her up for the event. The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, while confirming the incident said, “The matter was reported to the police immediately after the incident occurred. “The case is presently at the State Criminal Investigation Department and an autopsy is going to be carried out to know the circumstances that led to her death. That’s all the update I have for now.” Speaking on Sunday, Whitney’s father claimed her daughter “died from naked wire from one cotton candy vendor machine after she touched it and she was electrocuted immediately she leaned on it.” He claimed water was poured on her which allegedly killed her immediately. “I have documented evidence that my child died from electrocution and it was not Cardiac arrest,” he said. “She was hale and hearty, she was not sick. And let me state it clearly, by the time I saw her corpse, her lips and tongue had already turned black,” Adeniran told BBC Pidgin. Adeniran said his daughter’s school mates told his family that his daughter allegedly died from electrocution, saying he got the information from a chat group his daughter belonged. The PUNCH reports that a voice note suspected to be that of a pupil who witnessed the tragic incident has gone viral, where it was said that Whitney stepped on a naked wire from a candy cotton machine.