Friday 16 June 2023 Naira weakens to 702/$, CBN fresh FX supply likely Probe begins as OAU student dies of suspected suicide Tinubu economic advisers propose Customs, NIMASA, FIRS merger JAMB pays CBT centres N1.5bn Manufacturers lose N10.1tn yearly to power crisis – MAN Naira weakens to 702/$, CBN fresh FX supply likely Tribunal: LP Presents Over 18,000 Blurred PU Result Sheets, INEC Alleges Ambush ‘It’s Beyond A Scandal,’ Odinkalu Faults Senator Bulkachuwa’s Confession Yari Alleges Betrayal After Losing Senate Presidency To Akpabio Subsidy Removal: FG To Seek World Bank Funds, Provide Palliatives For Workers Ex-JAMB Registrar Ojerinde, Children Arraigned Over Alleged Sale Of FG’s Property Two Dead, Many Rescued As Rubble Collapses On Scavengers In Kano Nigeria’s Inflation Hits 22.41% Amid Petrol Subsidy Removal Tinubu Appoints Ribadu, Alake, Six Others As Special Advisers Profile Of Abdulkarim Chukkol, Acting Chairman, EFCC Tinubu Has Hit Ground Running, Invalidated Fears – Ex-Presidential Spokesman Subsidy Removal: FG To Seek World Bank Funds, Provide Palliatives For Workers Court Orders Police, DSS To Produce Matawalle’s Impounded Vehicles Kwara Boat Mishap: DG NSIB Confirms 106 Dead, 144 Rescued I’ll Always Cherish Time We Had Together, Tinubu Remembers Late Mum Troops Kill 59 Bandits, Terrorists In North-West Operations I’m Not On The Run – Malami No Innocent Herder Killed In Nasarawa Airstrike, Says NAF Subsidy: NEC sets up committee to consider N702bn as living allowance for civil servants Tanko Yakasai: Tinubu did great in Lagos — he’ll replicate same for Nigeria Tinubu to NEC: No excuse for failure Assets recovery: Ortom, deputy drag Benue govt to court Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…

  The national economic council (NEC) has set up a committee to review recommendations by the National Salaries and Wages Commission to cushion the impact of the removal of the petrol subsidy. On Thursday, the NEC at its first meeting presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said the committee should review the N702 billion recommended as a cost of living allowance to civil servants to ease the burden of the subsidy removal. The committee which comprises governors from each geo-political zone is chaired by Nasir Idris, governor of Kebbi. Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi, who briefed State House correspondents after the meeting, said the commission also recommended “N23 billion or N25 billion monthly offer to cushion the effect on workers”. The NEC had received recommendations on the various ways and means that the country can use whatever increases that we have in the revenue to mitigate the impact that this is going to make on the lives of our workers,” he said. ⁣“And so they recommended that there should be a consequential adjustment, estimated at N702.92 billion as part of the allowances that should be given as petroleum allowance to all workers and as well as N23 or N25 billion monthly offer to cushion the effect on workers. ⁣“In addition to the palliative, the government looked at all the issues, challenges and problems holistically and set up a small committee of the council to review and come up with a term of reference to organise areas specifically where this palliative can come from and how it will be dispensed to alleviate the problem of workers and other vulnerable groups.⁣⁣   ⁣“We will sit within two weeks to come up with a recommendation to NEC for a holistic decision that will be taken immediately to alleviate the problem that is being encountered by the removal of the subsidy.” Mohammed added that the council received other suggestions to review salaries and wages.⁣ ⁣ On June 7, following the announcement of the petrol subsidy removal, President Bola Tinubu directed the NEC to kickstart the process of working on interventions to ameliorate the impact of the subsidy removal on the people. Speaking also, Umar Radda, governor of Katsina, said NEC focused its discussions on how to provide palliative measures through the NG-Cares programme. “As you are aware, the NG-Cares programme is a programme that started in 2021 running up to 2024. And then is to provide some emergency on palliatives, social needs on so many issues ranging from small farmers holders, MSMEs and other interventions,” he said. “It’s a $750 million from the World Bank-assisted funds and it commenced a long time ago. Additional funding can be sourced from the federal government, World Bank, development partners as well as Nigerian private sector. “In specific, the World Bank can be approached for additional financing on the NG-Cares programme. Discussion can start as soon as possible. So these are the recommendations that were made. And the economic council will pursue these recommendations for the benefit of the Nigerian, vulnerable and the poor.”

  The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has again denied allegations that the airstrike on January 24 in Kwateri community, Nasarawa state, struck civilians. Ayodele Famuyiwa, NAF’s director of public relations and information, on Thursday, said any organisation or individual with evidence to prove that those killed in the airstrike were not terrorists, should come forward. In January 2023, TheCable reported how at least 27 persons were killed following the airstrike. The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) said the airstrike occurred after the herders went to get 1,250 of their cows impounded by the Benue livestock guards.   A day after the accident, Abdullahi Sule, governor of Nasarawa, said the explosion in Kwateri was not carried out by a NAF aircraft. He said enquiries revealed that “no air force plane flew through the area”, adding that the bombing was done by a drone whose operators were yet to be identified. Nearly six months after the incident, a report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) said NAF has taken responsibility for a fatal airstrike on Kwateri. The human rights organisation said the military’s unacceptable delay in owning up to the killing of dozens of civilians, only compounds the tragedy of the attack. However, in response to the HRW findings, the NAF spokesperson said the airforce had locked its surveillance on the bombed location for hours before striking at night. He added that the air force had gathered intel from reliable sources that the terrorists were planning a massive attack on the community which included plans to kidnap students of a secondary school in the area. “We are also aware that there is an ongoing operation, that is, Operation Whirl Stroke and the intel came from several sources and even to the commander of that operation for the air component that there was a plan by terrorists within that area to carry out a massive attack,” NAN quoted Famuyiwa as saying.   “And then, there was a secondary school in question that they also planned to kidnap students. To that extent, the air force carried out surveillance and the surveillance confirmed that there were terrorists and that surveillance continued for almost throughout the day until later in the evening when a truck appeared in that scene. “The truck was suspected to have brought logistics to them and that was why approval was given by the appropriate authority that that truck be taken out and the truck was taken out. “Now if anyone is coming around to say innocent people were killed, where is the photograph of the truck that brought the cattle that they are talking about?” “The position of the air force is that terrorists were struck that day and whether it is whatever group and if they think they were innocent people, let them provide the evidence. “If you think the military is going to give you the evidence of that operation for now, you won’t get it because there is information that cannot be declassified now. “Let the people who said innocent citizens were killed, provide the evidence and let the press do the analysis and then the truth will come up.”

  In light of the current economic realities, the policy advisory council of President Bola Tinubu has asked the federal government to extend the validity of the old naira notes to December 31, 2024. The recommendation was made in a report, titled, ‘Policy Advisory Council Report: National Economy Sub-committee’. The council also suggested the implementation of a gradual phase-out (on a monthly basis) of the old currency notes. “Extend the December 31st, 2023, deadline to December 31st, 2024 (if required),” the document reads.   “Bring in new notes through the deposit money banks by 5% monthly and take out the old notes through the deposit money banks by the same 5% (12-18 months).” In October 2022, Godwin Emefiele, the erstwhile governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), announced the plan to redesign the naira to control money supply and aid security agencies in tackling illicit financial flows. Following the unveiling of the redesigned naira notes on November 23, 2022; the deadline for the validity of the old notes was fixed for January 31, 2023.   But this was later extended to February 10 amid a nationwide outburst in protest of what was described as poor implementation of the policy. On March 3, a supreme court judgement invalidated the naira redesign policy introduced by the apex bank as citizens’ angst spread across the country. Delivering judgment in a suit instituted by three states of the federation, a seven-member panel of the apex court held that the old N200, N500, and N1000 notes remain legal tender until December 31, 2023. About two weeks after the court ruling, the CBN complied with the directive, instructing commercial banks, in a statement, that the old N200, N500, and N1000 notes remain legal tender until December 31, 2023.   “In compliance with the established tradition of obedience to court orders and sustenance of the rule of law principle that characterised the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, and by extension, the operations of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), as a regulator, deposit money banks operating in Nigeria have been directed to comply with the supreme court ruling of March 3, 2023,” the statement had read. “Accordingly, the CBN met with the bankers’ committee and has directed that the old N200, N500, and N1000 banknotes remain legal tender alongside the redesigned banknotes till December 31, 2023.” TINUBU KEEPING HIS PROMISES? During his presidential campaign, Tinubu explained that he had nothing against the naira redesign policy “in principle”. In his inaugural speech on May 29, 2023, the president promised to revisit the demonetisation policy of the CBN. He said the currency swap was too harshly applied by the apex bank. Whatever merits it had in concept, the currency swap was too harshly applied by the CBN given the number of unbanked Nigerians,” Tinubu had said. “The policy shall be reviewed. In the meantime, my administration will treat both currencies as legal tender.”

  Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja on Thursday, June 15, 2023, again suspended the planned arraignment of a former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah and others on alleged N7.9 billion fraud charges, citing security reasons. According to the judge, the court will not continue with the trial until it is certain and satisfied that the security and safety of the persons involved in the trial is assured. At the last adjourned date, Justice Ekwo had complained about receiving private messages regarding the case from persons whose identities he did not disclose, while warning them to desist from intruding on his privacy. At today’s proceeding Justice Ekwo voiced his anger that the prosecution failed to fish out the culprits. “I want you to find out who that character is, arrest him and bring him to court on the next date. I am not going to go on with this trial until I am certain and satisfied that the security and safety of all the persons involved in the trial is assured,” he said. Justice Ekwo produced a publication wherein his life was severely threatened over his involvement in the trial. He urged the EFCC to fish out the culprits and bring them before the court, even as he ordered the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Court to liaise with the Corporate Affairs Commission to obtain the identities of the promoters of the offending publication. Before the case was adjourned, counsel to the seventh defendant, intimated the court of a letter wherein he informed the court that his client, Crystal Television, had entered into a plea bargain with the EFCC and already paid One Hundred Million, (N100, 000, 000.00) as part-payment for compounding the offence contained in the charge. Part of the letter reads: “Sequel to our letter dated 22nd May 2023, on the above matter, we hereby forward, under the covering of this letter, a Zenith Bank Manager’s Cheque (Bank draft) Nos. 00009061, 00009063, 00009065, 00009066, 00009068, 00009070, 00009071, 00009072 and 00009073, all dated May 2023, in the sum of N100, 000,000.00(One Hundred Million Naira) only as part payment for compounding of offenses contained in the above charge”. The letter further stated that, “Pursuant to all previous payments and the one referred to herein, our client has the sum of N280, 000,000.00 balance payment and the same shall be paid as soon as possible.” The judge however adjourned the matter till July 17, 2023 for the CAC to report on the owners of the organization, and the EFCC to fish out the culprits.

  The Labour Party (LP) and its presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi has tendered eighteen thousand and eighty-eight (18,088) blurred polling unit result sheets among other documents in continuation of the prosecution of their case before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) in Abuja. Counsel to the Petitioners, Onyechi Ikpeazu tendered the documents through the petitioners’ fourth witness (PW4), Eric Ofoedu, who is a Professor of Mathematics at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. The petitioners also tendered report of the witness’ analysis of some election materials, a copy of a letter, written to him by the LP, dated February 20, 2023, engaging Professor Ofoedu to help the party analyse data in respect of the February 25 presidential election and the subpoena issued on him to attend court and produce the said documents. Counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Abubakar Mahmoud, Wole Olanipekun representing President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettma, and Lateef Fagbemi for the All Progressives Congress (APC) objected to the tendering of majority of the documents with a promise to adduce reasons for their objection at the final stage of their written addresses Lawyers to the respondents expressed displeasure that the petitioners only served them the written statement of Professor Ofoedu a few minutes before the court arguing that they ought to be served earlier to enable them study the statement for the purpose of cross examination. The petitioners also called its fifth witness (PW5), Lumnie Edevbie, another subpoenaed witness from a private television channel station who tendered a flash drive, containing a video recording of a presentation by INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu at the Chatham House, London.

  The House of Representatives, on Thursday, unanimously voted against a motion seeking to make the Federal Government address the issues causing Nigerian professionals to migrate to other countries en masse, in search of greener pastures. A new member of the House, Philip Agbese, had moved a motion titled ‘Need to Declare Emigration of Young Nigerians Abroad A.K.A Japa Syndrome a National Emergency,’ urging the government to “convene a national summit with key stakeholders to effectively address the ‘Japa Syndrome.’ The phenomenon is popularly known as ‘Japa,’ a Yoruba word that simply means to go away from a problem or trouble. Agbese also prayed the House to “declare a state of Emergency on the factors that predispose young Nigerians to give up on Nigeria in preference for other nations.” The lawmaker cited statistics from the Nigerian Economic Summit, which says a growing number of young Nigerians are relocating abroad. He also said recent reports by the African Polling Institute indicate that 69 per cent of young people would opt to relocate abroad if given the chance or if the opportunity presents itself. He added that there is a 40 per cent increase in the number of young Nigerians leaving the nation, compared to the number captured in 2019, as the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs reported that international emigration from Nigeria in 2020 total 1.7million, which is a substantial increase from 990,000 in 2010. Agbese said, “The House is concerned that the growing statistics of young Nigerians leaving Nigeria and securing permanent residence in the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Canada portends a grave danger for our nation in many ways from economic to intellectual and social aspects. “The House is also concerned that the Nigerian population is made of two-thirds of persons under the age of 30 and a good number of these persons are already afflicted with what today is acceptably referred to as the ‘Japa Syndrome,’ as estimates indicate a staggering tens of thousands have relocated to the USA, Canada, South Africa and, even, Gambia over the last two years; “The House is worried that the eagerness to migrate to countries that offer hope seems to have a compelling influence. The House is also worried that those leaving Nigeria are not just the poor but middle class who possess skills/workforce, including bankers, lecturers, health care practitioners, doctors, nurses, and trained manpower, all of whom were trained in Nigeria and emigrating at a time when their services are needed to build a strong and vibrant economy in Nigeria. “The House is disturbed that if this scenario continues with our able minds, brains and skilled personnel leaving, Nigeria may fall into a grave crisis in our critical sectors from education to healthcare, thereby making a bad situation worse.” greatest assets. “Though the prospects of a growing Nigerians in the Diaspora could be beneficial in a way, it should not be at the expense of our needed manpower,” he added, stressing that it bothers on national pride “when our young bright minds leave the country in droves, conveying an impression that ‘Nigeria is a sinking ship that everyone is rushing to get out of.’” Agbese also stated that life-changing decisions, whether to stay in one’s country or emigrate, should not be anchored on challenges ranging from insecurity to poor health sector, poor educational system and poor economy, among others. However, after a ranking member of the House, Dennis Idahosa, seconded the motion, another ranking member, Sada Soli, raised a constitutional point of order to say that the motion would infringe on the fundamental rights of Nigerians if adopted by the chamber. Soli said, “Chapter 4 of the Constitution is talking about the fundamental rights; and go to Section 35 talking about the personal liberty of an individual. This motion, as it is, looks nationalistic but it contravenes the provisions of the Constitution. “It is the liberty of a Nigerian if he is qualified and he is normal, and he has all the granted right of movement (to) anywhere he wants. It is the right of a Nigerian if he has the right qualifications, to go anywhere to source for a living. The Constitution of Nigeria allows even dual citizenship, talk less of moving somewhere to earn a living. If we allow this motion on this floor, it contravenes the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” Opposing Soli, another ranking member of the House, Ahmad Jaha, argued that the motion was more about the factors causing mass exodus from Nigeria and not a restriction of exit from the country. He urged the lawmakers to “be mindful of the prayers of the motion before killing it.” Jaha partly said, “The mover of the motion is not praying that everybody should be stopped from going abroad. We should take this into consideration. But it is advising because we have to tell each other the truth; the factors enumerated, which are the actual factors or reasons behind people leaving this country to seek greener pastures somewhere (else). “What he is trying to say in a nutshell is that the international community has identified the reasons why Nigerians are compelled to go outside the country. What he is saying now is ‘let there be a national summit so that all these factors will be given priority, so that at the end of the day Nigerians will be discouraged from going abroad. So, as far as I am concerned, this motion is apt and it should be considered.” The immediate past Deputy Speaker of the House, Ahmed Wase, said “As good as the motion may be, first the fundamental issue raised in the Constitution; no law, including our motions and bills…if you go to Section 1(3) of the Constitution, it says any law that is inconsistent with the Constitution to the extent of that inconsistency is best null and void. So, as far as I am concerned, we have to rule on the point of

  Following the suspension of Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa by President Bola Tinubu, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has announced Mr Abdulkarim Chukkol as the Acting Chairman of the commission. Chukkol is an alumnus of the Federal Bureau of Investigations National Academy, Quantico, the European Center of Security Studies, Germany, and also a Fellow of the War College, Nigeria. The acting EFCC Chairman holds a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Maiduguri (2000) and Post Graduate Certificate in Criminal Justice Education from the University of Virginia, United States, as well as Graduate Diploma in Cybersecurity and Spectrum Management from the United States Telecommunication Training Institute, Washington DC, United States. The spokesperson for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren made the revelation in a statement on Thursday, noting that, until his new role, he was the Director of Operations of the commission. The statement partly read, “Following Wednesday, June 14, 2023, suspension of Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa, as Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission by the Federal Government, Mr Abdulkarim Chukkol has stepped in as Acting Chairman of the commission. “A pioneer staff of the commission and an illustrious member of the EFCC Cadet Course One, Mr Chukkol is a consummate and vastly experienced investigator with a specialty in cybercrime and money laundering. “His command appointments in the commission include spells as Head of the Advance Fee Fraud and Cybercrime Sections of the Lagos and Abuja zonal commands between 2011 and 2016, pioneer commander of the Uyo zonal command in 2017 and commander of Port Harcourt Zonal Command in 2020,” Uwujaren further noted that Chukkol has participated in several special operations with international law enforcement organisations and maintains a close relationship with Law enforcement agencies such as the FBI, UK National Crime Agency, United States Postal Inspection Service, United States Secret Service, Australian Federal Police, Dutch Police, German Police, South African Police etc. He added that the acting EFCC boss has worked closely with other governments to develop law and infrastructure for carrying out law enforcement actions. Uwujaren added, “He is Nigeria’s contact person at the International Mass Marketing Fraud Working Group representing key government regulatory, law enforcement, prosecution, immigration and customs, financial intelligence, consumer protection agencies as well and trade and competition bureaus dealing with mass marketing-related issues from Spain, Nigeria, Belgium, Europol, Canada, United Kingdom and the United States. “He has attended several courses, seminars and workshops on Public Corruption, Advance Fee Fraud and other economic and financial crimes both locally and internationally, including the Oxford University, United Kingdom, in 2022. “His work and initiatives over the years have earned him several awards and commendations both locally and internationally, including “the Most Outstanding Award in Operations” by the EFCC and the “Outstanding Performance Award” by the United States Department of Justice, among others. “He is also an alumnus of the FBI National Academy, Quantico; European Center of Security Studies, Germany and a Fellow of the War College, Nigeria.”