A federal high court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to grant Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), access to his medical records and doctors of his choice. In a judgment delivered on Thursday, Binta Nyako, presiding judge, dismissed the objections raised by the DSS for lacking merit. In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/ 2341/2022, Kanu prayed the court for leave to apply for an order of mandamus to compel the Department of State Service (DSS) to allow him to have access to his medical doctor, among others. More to follow…

  A former governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has been tipped as the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Daily Trust reliably gathered last night. Ganduje, 73, was yesterday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and three governors who are members of the APC. Barring any last-minute changes, the former governor will be named as interim national chairman of the ruling party, pending the conduct of the convention of the party later in the year. Recall that this paper had exclusively reported on Monday the resignation of Senator Abdullahi Adamu as the party’s national chairman. Adamu, following a plot to edge him out, tendered his resignation on Sunday. The national secretary, Iyiola Omisore, has also resigned. Ganduje is set to take over from Senator Abubakar Kyari who was named as the acting national chairman on Monday. Kyari, who hails from Borno State, is the deputy national chairman of the party (North). It was gathered that President Tinubu had on his return from the African Union (AU) meeting in Kenya on Monday, indicated interest in making Ganduje the party chairman. Thus, the Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma, who is the chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), was contacted to get the buy-in of his colleagues and other critical stakeholders. Uzodinma met with Ganduje on Tuesday, and yesterday, they both met President Tinubu along with Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun. At the meeting, a presidency source said the choice of Ganduje was sealed. Thereafter, the president, three governors and Ganduje met with Vice President Kashim Shettima. A source said, “It was on Monday that the issue of making Ganduje the chairman of the party started when the chairman of the PGF met with him in Abuja. Uzodinma told the former Kano State governor of the president’s intention to make him the party’s chairman.” He said the issue was finalised yesterday when the president met Ganduje together with the three governors. “From all indications, the issue is sealed. He would first be announced as the interim national chairman before the convention of the party, where his appointment would be ratified,” the source added. With this, the party’s plum seat has moved from the North Central geopolitical zone where Senator Adamu hailed from, whose resignation ignited lobbying by chieftains of the party in his geopolitical zone.   Jubilation in Kano Meanwhile, our correspondent in Kano State yesterday reported that the news of the selection of Ganduje for the party’s plum job has filtered into the centre of commerce. Top shots of the party have been rejoicing over the selection of Ganduje. An aide of the former governor, while confirming the report, said Ganduje’s selection would strengthen the party in the state and by extension the northwest and the country as a whole. Speaking to our correspondent in Kano, a chieftain of the APC, who is also a serving chairman of one of the local government areas in the state, said they have been informed that the former governor did not make the ministerial list. He said what they were told was that Ganduje would be given the opportunity to fill in the newly vacant position of the ruling party’s chairmanship. “For us, this is even better news because as the party chairman, Baba (Ganduje) will be directly involved with not just the party but also maintain his cordial relationship with the president,” he said. When asked, however, if he knew what was responsible for the decision, he said what they knew for certain was that was “not a victory for the opposition that had been carrying out a campaign of calumny but a strategic and political calculation by the president.” Daily Trust reports that the state’s Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) has reopened investigations into the alleged dollar bribery video showing the former governor stuffing dollar notes into his pocket as kickback from a contractor. The former governor has vehemently denied the allegation and said the video was doctored. This investigation, observers believed, might have put the president in a difficult situation as to the appointment of the former governor as a minister. Meanwhile, the court case instituted by Ganduje to stop the anti-graft agency from investigating him or any member of his family or his associates and appointees on the alleged video would be coming up for hearing tomorrow.

  An Onitsha trader, his wife, two children, mother in-law and newly arrived apprentice have been reported dead after inhaling poisonous fumes from the generator the first night they slept in their new mansion. Sympathisers who wailed uncontrollably yesterday at Borromeo hospital, Onitsha where the bodies were rushed to said the man, Identified as Ifeanyi from Enugu state , a trader at the Onitsha Bridge Head Market, had planned a surprise package for his wife after her discharge from the hospital having been delivered of a new baby by deciding that they would park into his new house at Nkwele Ezunaka to celebrate the new born and new house together . Following a blackout from the public power source, he put on the generator stationed at the veranda close to the bedroom to provide light in the new house that night. They were said to have chatted heartily as they made merry into the night before they slept off without putting off the generator. The next morning, a friend of his who was supposed to join them in the celebration but could not make it went to felicitate with them only to discover that the doors were locked but the generation was still buzzing. After knocking continuously without response, he alerted other neighbours and they forced the door open and saw the lifeless bodies. On rushing them to the hospital, the wife and one of the daughters were still conscious but later on died after all resuscitation efforts including fixing them on oxygen failed. Only the four-day old baby survived without any crisis thereby raising more curiosity on the circumstances of their death. Chairman of Onitsha Bridgehead drug market, Ndubuisi Chukwuneta who confirmed the sad development described the deceased Ifeanyi as a hardworking young man who desired the best for his family. Manager of St. Charles Borromeo Hospital, Onistha, Rev. Fr. Izunna Okonkwo confirmed that only the new born baby was in stable condition when they reached the hospital as four had already died before getting to the facility.

  A new report has ranked Nigeria 90th on the list of countries with the most visa-free access to other nations. The report released by Henley and Partners on Tuesday was based on exclusive and official data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). According to the report, Nigeria ranked 90th alongside South Sudan with visa-free access to only 46 platforms. Nigeria also ranked fifth lowest on the list of African countries with visa-free travel access, only above the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Eritrea, Sudan, and Libya — all countries experiencing extreme violence. Seychelles is in the 24th position with access to 155 countries and was the highest-ranked African country. Mauritius ranked 29th with access to 148 countries while South African nationals can visit 106 countries without a prior visa, holding down the 51st spot. Both countries were ranked second and third, respectively in the African continent. HOW OTHER COUNTRIES RANK Singapore topped the list, knocking off Japan for the first time in five years into third place. Citizens of Singapore, according to the report, can visit 192 travel destinations out of 227 around the world visa-free. Germany, Italy, and Spain all moved up into the 2nd place with visa-free access to 190 destinations, while Japanese passport holders alongside those from, Austria, Finland, France, Luxembourg, South Korea, and Sweden — all in third place – have access to189 destinations without a prior visa. Both the United Kingdom and the United States jointly held first place on the index nearly 10 years ago in 2014 but have been on a downward trajectory ever since, now holding fourth and eighth places, respectively. Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the index, with a visa-free access score of just 27 countries, followed by Iraq with 29, and Syria with 30 — the three weakest passports in the world.

  The United Kingdom government says it is suspending the visa-waiver agreement for all Dominican nationals, including to visit. The suspension, which comes into effect on July 19, will affect several categories of people, including Nigerians with Dominican citizenship. However, those who booked their travel visa before 3 pm on Wednesday will still be able to enter the UK without a visa. There will also be a four-week visa-free transition period for those with confirmed bookings, where arrival to the UK is no later than August 16. TheCable understands that Dominican visitors already in the UK will not be affected by the new requirement for the rest of their visit. According to the new policy, those who leave the UK will need a visa to re-enter, while citizens of Dominica will now need a visitor visa to travel for up to six months. Giving reasons for the suspension, Suella Braverman, UK home secretary, said the decision was made due to “clear and evident abuse of its citizenship by investment scheme, including the granting of citizenship to individuals known to pose a risk to the UK”. Nigeria-Dominica citizenship offers an opportunity to travel to over 46 countries without a visa, including China, Hong Kong, Singapore, the UK and the Schengen countries. Diezani Alison-Madueke, Nigeria’s former minister of petroleum, had obtained Dominica citizenship after she was appointed commissioner for trade and investment by Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit.

  The Department of State Security (DSS) has debunked claims by the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) the Governor of Enugu State and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the March 18 governorship election, Peter Mbah, forged his NYSC discharge certificate. The DSS made its position known in a written statement on oath adopted by its representative, Mr Yahaya Isa Mohammed, at the ongoing Enugu State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal as Mbah called two witnesses to open his defence on Wednesday. Giving evidence, the subpoenaed DSS Deputy Director, Operations and Strategic Department said the security agency commenced an investigation into the discharge certificate controversy, following a petition to it by Mbah dated February 8, 2023. The DSS said the certificates in a series that included Mbah’s were found to have been issued to Corps members in Lagos, contrary to the NYSC’s claim. It frowned on the NYSC’s misplacement of Mbah’s original file and opened a temporary one for him, noting that the Corps was also unable to trace to whom or which state or states of the federation 12 of its certificates, A808297 to A808308, were issued. The security agency said, “The failure of the NYSC to maintain a proper record-keeping system was the cause of its inability to trace Peter Ndubuisi Mbah’s initial certificate”, adding “It would be wrong for the NYSC to blame Peter Ndubuisi Mbah for its own failure in record keeping”. Mohammed said the investigation revealed: “That there were exchanges of correspondences between Mbah and the NYSC at every stage of their interactions. Mbah did not take any action without the NYSC’s approval. “That Mbah’s file with the NYSC got missing at some point in time and NYSC started using a temporary file for him. For instance, in NYSC response to his application for deferment, the file number was LA/10/1532, while in their response to his remobilization application, the file number was LA/01/1532/T. “That there was a mix-up in his record as a result of the missing file. Advertisement “That the difference in Mbah’s certificate number compared to others that were mobilized at the same time, is due to the inability of NYSC to trace the initial file where the first certificate A678 was.” According to him, “from the documents presented by NYSC regarding certificate numbers, about twelve (12) certificate numbers (A808297-A808308) which include that of Mbah, remained unaccounted for in the eight (8) series by the NYSC.” Mohammed stated further stated, “That the law firm, Udeh &Associates where Mbah served, cleared him for his monthly clearance for eleven (11) months covering January-June, 2002 and May-August, 2003 as well as his final clearance in September, 2003 covering the period of his first mobilization and re-instatement indicated that he served, hence no need for him to forge certificate. “That NYSC did not do a thorough job before concluding that the certificate Mbah presented is fake. “That the Director Corps Certification (Ibrahim Muhammad) failed to exploit all available avenues to ensure that due diligence was done before issuing a statement on the matter. “That against NYSC claim that “8 Series” Certificates were not issued in Lagos State, upon insistence by the Service for them to check their records properly, certificates in that series were discovered to be have issued to some Corps members who served in Lagos State. “That NYSC did not have a proper record. This resulted in the misplacement of Mbah’s initial file by NYSC and the use of temporary file for him as well as its inability to trace whom or which State(s) twelve (12) of its certificates (A808297 to A808308) were issued. “That all through Mbah’s service year, from the first mobilization to his service reinstatement after his Bar Final examination, Udeh & Associates where he did his primary assignment, issued him clearance letters on a monthly basis. “That NYSC certificate series are not based on State of service, as all certificate series including the “8-Series” were issued in all the States of the federation as against NYSC’s claim that its certificates series are State-based. “That the claim by Muhammad (NYSC Director of Corps Certification) that Mbah’s supposed ‘6-Series’ certificate was part of the certificates shredded/destroyed by the NYSC negates the claim that he did not serve, as it is impossible to produce the said shredded certificate for Mbah, if he did not serve”. Continuing, the DSS said if further found: “That the failure of the NYSC to maintain a proper record keeping system was the cause of its inability to trace Peter Ndubuisi Mbah’s initial certificate”, adding that “it would be wrong for the NYSC to blame Peter Ndubuisi Mbah for its own failure in record keeping”. The agency, therefore recommended: “That the NYSC should retract its initial letter that Peter Ndubuisi Mbah’s certificate was not issued by it, as it has failed to trace its records for twelve (12) certificates (A808297-A808308), inclusive of Peter Ndubuisi Mbah’s. “That the NYSC, the petitioner as well as other relevant action agencies such as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) be intimated about the outcome of the investigation. “That the NYSC be requested to explain how twelve (12) certificates with serial numbers (A808297 to A808308) are still unaccounted for, as well as be requested to trace the said certificates”. Meanwhile, the DSS said it came to its conclusion relying, among others, on the verified documents submitted by Mbah and the NYSC, most of which it said were “one and the same”. Documents tendered by Mbah, according to the agency, include the correspondence between Mbah and the NYSC at every stage of their interactions: Mbah’s call-up letter with Serial Number: 0134613, Reference Number: NYSC/FRN/2001/800351 and deployment State – (Lagos State); and Mbah’s posting letter with reference number LA/01/1532 to Udeh & Associates for his primary assignment. The documents also include Mbah’s signed monthly clearance letter for 11 months from Udeh & Associates law firm, Lagos; signed final clearance letter from Udeh & Associates law firm, Lagos dated

  First batch of petrol, 27 million litres imported by an independent marketer has arrived in the country, putting an end to a downstream monopoly market once enjoyed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited. The vessel, ST Nnene earlier billed to arrive since last week, but was held down off Lome waters due to adverse weather, birthed at Ijegun-Egba on Wednesday following the official end to subsidies by President Bola Tinubu on May 29. ST Nnene, The PUNCH gathered, had cost Emadeb Energy’s Chief Executive Officer, Adebowale Olujimi, and its bank partners of $17m (about N13b) to hire. Five financial institutions- Polaris, First Bank, Union Bank, Access Bank and Fidelity bank had bankrolled the deal. This was as foreign exchange rose from N745 to one dollar three weeks ago, to N845 as of Tuesday, and crude price rising to $80 per barrel as of 1:45pm Nigerian time on Wednesday. Until now, state oil firm NNPCL had enjoyed a monopoly downstream market for years. The firm had singlehanded imported petrol consumed in-country, and had dictated prices. Since the end of subsidies which cost the country about N12tn, prices of petrol had risen from an average of between N180/N200 per litre, to N614 per litre as of Tuesday. While speaking at the ceremony, Olujimi said petrol importation was no longer sustainable. According to him, resuscitating local refining was the way to go. He said, “Petrol importation is not a sustainable way for a country to run. From what we saw yesterday when PMS price rose to over N600 per litre, it is an indication that the dynamics of the business is a tough one. It requires huge US dollars to bring in this. The way forward is for local refineries to be revived,” he said. Representing the Chief Executive Officer, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed, Sadiq Bashir, explained that the development was an important milestone since the downstream sector was deregulated. He said, “This is what we have been looking forward to. When we talk about deregulation, people think it’s all about increasing prices. No. Although prices would now be determined by market dynamics, deregulation also opens up the market for other players to come in. “Yes, we would experience teething problems at first; however, if market forces are allowed to come into play, prices would eventually go down due to high competition. We assure that NMDPRA would continue to ensure quality control of products being sold to the public.” General Secretary, the Natural Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, Afolabi Olawale, also canvassed for local refining. He said, “If we want to go for deregulation, we should not go for importation. We should not submit our economy to be determined by foreign firms. But since we are there now, the government needs to speed up on palliatives because things are hard on everybody. We also enjoin marketers to shun excessive profiteering.” The National Controller Operations, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Mike Osatuyi, said issuing licences to independent marketers to import would give rise to competition and fairness in the downstream sector. He advised marketers to satisfy their customers by selling at fair prices, and dispensing the correct quantity.

  Thursday 20 July 2023 Fuel price hike: Business operators panic, fear shutdown, job losses Mmesoma appears before Reps panel, begs JAMB Economy: Tinubu meets Shettima, Akpabio, governors ahead of Thursday’s NEC session PoS operators insist on new charges Soldiers arrest Beninese, one other with truckload of cannabis PoS operators insist on new charges Senate probes firearms misuse, killings by Customs officials APC Govs Meet Behind Closed Doors Over Adamu, Omisore’s Resignation NNPCL Fixing Fuel Price Is Illegal, Contemptuous – Falana Attacks: Gov Mutfwang Receives IGP Egbetokun, Army Commander In Plateau Paris Club Refund: Court Threatens Emefiele With Arrest Warrant Tribunal: DSS Clears Mbah Over Alleged NYSC Certificate Forgery Court Upholds FG’s Prayer To Protect Witnesses In Suit Against Tukur Mamu Aregbesola’s Ex-Commissioners, Others Get Portfolios As Adeleke Swears In Appointees Reps Confirm Appointment Of Service Chiefs Tribunal: CJN Had No Phone Conversation With Tinubu, Others, Says S’Court Wildlife Trafficking: Court Jails Three Vietnamese, One Cameroonian N617 Per Litre Of Petrol Is Extortion, Says PDP Otti Celebrates Peter Obi On 62nd Birthday Reps Reject Amendment To Motion Seeking To Suspend Increase In Fuel Price FG To Partner US On Direct Flight To Texas Troops Rescue 40 Kidnap Victims In Zamfara AIU Provisionally Suspends Tobi Amusan For Three Whereabout Failures US Announces New $1.3b Military Aid Package For Ukraine More Knocks For FG Over Petrol Price Increase Ganduje Tipped As APC National Chair ‘Kogi, Benue, Taraba’ — WHO to spend $9.3m grant in 15 states with low COVID vaccination rate Naira plummets to N860/$ at parallel market as dollar demand intensifies Nigerian elite affected as UK suspends visa-waiver for Dominican nationals over ‘abuse’ Petrol price hike insensitive, PDP, LP tell APC, Presidency Drama as trader allegedly finds male’s private part inside food No apologies for sending my kids to private school — Gov Fubara Niger Gov, Bago terminates all revenue enforcement appointments MOMAN tasks FG on speedy implementation of gains from subsidy removal Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…

  Operatives of the Nigerian police in Imo State have foiled attempts by suspected IPOB/ESN members to invade the residence of the chairman, Imo State Traditional Rulers Council, HRH Eze Dr. E.C. Okeke at Amaifeke in Orlu Local Government Area of the State In a statement by the police spokesperson in Imo on Wednesday in Owerri, Henry Okoye said the hoodlums came in their numbers, shooting sporadically and fighting their way into the Palace were given a stiff resistance by Police operatives and local vigilantes who professionally took vintage positions and engage the hoodlums in a protracted gun duel, forcing them to flee to the adjourning bushes with various degrees of gunshot injuries. Speaking for CP Mohammed Barde, the Commissioner of Police in the State, Okoye advised the public to report any person seen with or treating gunshot injury to the Police. Full statement bellow: *IMO POLICE COMMAND PRESS RELEASE OF WEDNESDAY, 19TH JULY, 2023* *POLICE OPERATIVES FOIL ATTEMPT BY IPOB/ESN CRIMINAL SYNDICATES TO INVADE THE RESIDENCE OF CHAIRMAN COUNCIL OF IMO STATE TRADITIONAL RULERS.* *Report any person seen with or treating gunshot injury to the Police…. Says CP Barde* Police Operatives of Orlu Divisional Headquarters in a joint operation with the Local Vigilantes of Amaifeke ancient Kingdom, Orlu on 18/07/2023 at about 1415hrs foiled attempts to invade the Palace of the Chairman Council of Imo State Traditional Rulers, the Traditional Ruler of Amaifeke Ancient Kingdom, HRH EZE DR. E.C. Okeke at Amaifeke in Orlu LGA of Imo State by hoodlums suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed militia Eastern Security Network (ESN). The hoodlums who came in their numbers shooting sporadically and fighting their way into the Palace were given a stiff resistance by Police operatives and local vigilantes who professionally took vintage positions and engage the hoodlums in a protracted gun duel, forcing them to flee to the adjourning bushes with various degrees of gunshot injuries. Two Local Vigilantes whose names are withheld for security reasons were fatally injured in the ensuing gun duel and immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention. Unfortunately, one of them died while receiving medical attention, while the other is in stable condition. On combing the adjourning bushes blood stains were seen which evidentially suggest that the hoodlums were fatally hit. The Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Ahmed Barde calls on the good people of Amaifeke Kingdom to go about their lawful business as adequate security measures have been emplaced to forestall future occurrences. An intensive manhunt for the assailants is ongoing. They will be apprehended and made to face the full wrath of the law. More so, the CP beckons on the general public particularly owners of Hospital and first aid outlets to swiftly report any person (s) seen with or treating gunshot injury in the State to the nearest Police Station or via the Command’s emergency number 08034773600 or 08098880197. ASP OKOYE HENRY POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER FOR: COMMISSIONER OF POLICE IMO STATE COMMAND