President Bola Tinubu has departed Abuja for Nairobi, Kenya, where he will participate in the Fifth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union, the Regional Economic Communities, the Regional Mechanisms and the African Union Member States. President Tinubu was accompanied by some senior government officials. According to the Presidency, the Nigerian leader as the Chairperson of ECOWAS, will join Heads of State and Government, Foreign Ministers of the AU Member-States, and high-level dignitaries at the mid-year meeting which will take place on Sunday, July 16. The President will present a report on the status of regional integration in ECOWAS, highlighting actions carried out during the period under review by ECOWAS institutions, member-states, the private sector, and other stakeholders to deepen integration through trade, free movement of persons, investment promotion, infrastructure development, peace, security and stability. The 5th MYCM, which is convening under the AU’s theme for 2023 christened “Acceleration of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Implementation,” will bring together the Bureau of the AU Assembly, comprising the Heads of State and Government from Comoros, Botswana, Burundi, and Senegal, as well as the leaders of the eight RECs. These regional economic communities include ECOWAS chaired by Nigeria, the East African Community (EAC), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Community of Sahel–Saharan States (CEN SAD), the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA), and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS). The President’s spokesman, Dele Alake, noted in a statement on Friday that the meeting will also involve the African Union Commission and the RMs. Tinubu is expected to return to the country at the conclusion of the meeting.

  The Federal Government has filed a two-count charge of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition against suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, before the Federal High Court in Lagos. The FG, in the charge sheet seen by Channels Television’s judiciary correspondent, accused Emefiele of possessing a single-barrel shotgun (JOJEFF MAGNUM 8371) without a licence. The government maintained that the offence is contrary to Section 4 of the Firearms Act, Cap F28 Laws of the Federation 2004, and punishable under Section 27 (1b) of the same Act. In the second count, the suspended CBN Governor was accused of having in his possession 123 rounds of live ammunition (Cartridges) without a licence, which is contrary to Section 8 of the Firearms Act Cap F28 Laws of the Federation 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1)(b)(il) of the same Act. The case is yet to be assigned to a judge, but there are indications that this will be done next week. Emefiele has been in the custody of the DSS since June 10. The spokesman for the DSS, Dr. Peter Afunanya, had said it was for “investigative reasons”. Afunanya, in a statement on Thursday, also disclosed that the agency had charged Emefiele to court following an Abuja High Court ruling. Count one of the charges reads; That you, Godwin Emefiele, Male, of No. 8 Colorado Street Maitama Abuja, on or about the 15th of June 2023, at No. 3b Iru Close, Ikoyi, Eti Osa Local Government, Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, had in your possession one (1) Single Barrel shotgun (JOJEFF MAGNUM 8371) without a licence. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 4 of the Firearms Act, Cap. F28 Laws of the Federation 2004, and punishable under Section 27 (1b) of the same Act. Count two: That you, Godwin Emefiele, Male, of No. 8 Colorado Street Maitama Abuja, on or about June 15, 2023, at No. 3b Iru Close, Ikoyi, Eti Osa Local Government, Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, had in your possession One Hundred and Twenty-Three (123) Rounds of live ammunition (Cartridges) without a licence You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8 of the Firearms Act Cap F28 Laws of the Federation 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1)(b)(il) of the same Act. Meanwhile, Another Federal High Court in Abuja voided the arrest and detention of Emefiele by the DSS on Friday. Delivering judgement, Justice Bello Kawu held that the arrest, detention, and interrogation of Mister Emefiele are in violation of the subsisting judgement and orders of Justice M. A. Hassan. Mr Emefiele, through his Counsel, Peter Abang, had asked the court to set aside and nullify the arrest and detention of the Applicant for being illegal and a nullity in view of the subsisting judgment by another court delivered on 29th December 2022. Justice Kawu also made an order setting aside any warrant of arrest obtained or procured by the Respondents, especially the DSS for the arrest of Emefiele in connection with the allegations of terrorism financing, fraudulent practices, money laundering, threat to national security before any court. The court further granted an injunction restraining the respondents, particularly the DSS from arresting, detaining, or interfering with Mr. Emefiele’s personal liberty and freedom of movement. The court finally granted an order of injunction directing and mandating the Respondents, particularly the DSS to forthwith release Mr. Emefiele from any arrest or detention.

  The Coalition of Northern Groups, CNG, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to fall for the antics of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, insisting that the leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu must face trial. CNG in a statement on Saturday by its spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, lamented the level of insecurity plaguing the south-eastern part of Nigeria, calling on the federal authorities to resist campaigns of blackmail using Kanu’s release as a precondition for sustainable peace in the land. Suleiman further charged the federal authorities to disregard the unpatriotic calls by the Igbo leaders for Kanu’s release, and to remain resolute in seeing through his prosecution. The statement read: “The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has taken stock of events unfolding in Nigeria, noting especially, the unrelenting disturbances created by certain interest groups in the South-East, ignited and incessantly fanned and executed through the force of arms and terrorist tactics by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and co-authors of mindless violence and separatism. “CNG has carefully watched and studied these events and actions being perpetrated against the Nigerian state, against Nigerians collectively, and against northerners in particular, with considerable restraint and maturity. “Of late however, is the brutal enforcement of a week-long illegal stay-at-home order that mostly affects other Nigerians living as minorities in South-eastern communities, and the renewed resolve by Igbo leaders and elders to secure the unconditional release of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu. Matters have reached a point whereby silence has become complicity and inaction no longer an option. “The Federal authorities must resist the Igbo campaign of blackmail using Kanu’s release as a precondition for sustainable peace in the land; and to ask the following questions: How would the relations of the over 500 personnel of the various paramilitary organs who were indiscriminately attacked and killed while on duty posts at various checkpoints as a result of the incitement by Kanu. “As the Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces how and what words would Mr President use to encourage and retain other officers and men of the various forces if the man who incited the killing of their colleagues were to be released without even a trial?” The statement questioned further: “What would be the status of the families and community members of those killed, dispossessed or displaced as a result of the hate campaigns and propaganda conducted by Nnamdi Kanu and sponsored by his regional and ethnic collaborators? “How would the authorities react were other regions and people to be encouraged to take the law into their hands in the same manner as Kanu and IPOB? “We call on the federal authorities to disregard the unpatriotic calls by the Igbo leaders for Kanu’s release, and to remain resolute in seeing through his prosecution along with his sponsors, backers and collaborators for the heinous crimes against the Nigerian state and innocent Nigerian citizens; so as not to set the wrong precedent of regional leaders interfering with the course of justice. “We remind the President that by acceding to the demands for Kanu’s release, his government would be exposed to questions as to the status of the innocent Nigerian citizens of other regions killed, dispossessed and displaced as a result of Kanu’s incitement. “Hence, we call on the Federal Government to intensify ongoing action to disband all militias and armed groups in the South-East and other parts of Nigeria, by resorting to the use of force if need be, to ensure that no group has the capacity to challenge the state in its prerogative to maintain law and order, and protect citizens’ lives and properties.”

  The government of Seychelles has explained why it is banning Nigerian passport holders who want to visit the country for holiday purposes. Prior to the ban, Nigerian citizens enjoyed a long-standing visa-free agreement with Seychelles, allowing them to enter the country without a visa for up to 30 days. According to Seychelles News Agency, Ahmed Afif, the country’s vice president, said the ban is because of an increase in drug trafficking and fraudulent activities by Nigerians. He, however, said Nigerians with diplomatic passports, valid work or resident permits issued by the island nation, will be allowed to visit. “For the others, the government will keep its eyes open and SEBS (Seychelles Electronic Border System) will analyse much more to find out what reasons they are coming,” he was quoted as saying. “Example, someone who is coming for a holiday for only one day. We have to ask questions because it is strange and we have seen that happening.” He said there were several instances where many Nigerians said they were coming for holidays but only for one or two days. “When we checked the payments made for them to come to Seychelles, it is from only one source. This is for different people coming on different days which shows an organised syndicate,” he said. He explained that in the past year, especially the past few months, the government had observed “a tendency that we have deemed as dangerous for our border control and economy, due to criminal activities happening in the country”. “We have seen a clear link between this with certain people from Nigeria,” he said. “In the past two weeks, for example, 13 people coming from Nigeria have been arrested when entering Seychelles because they were carrying drugs into the country.” FALSE CREDIT CARDS He added that in the past months, there have been incidents where Nigerians have used false credit cards at tourist establishments. “In one case, 62 Nigerians who said they were on holiday, used false credit cards, and the money was never credited to the accounts of these establishments,” Afif said. “These establishments have lost money. These people spent free holidays in the country at the expense of the establishment owners and there is nothing that can be done for them.” He said there have been other incidents implicating financial institutions and in one case, Nigerians were involved in a fraud where £1 million was lost. “There are other online scams originating from Nigeria. We have seen that these people are also coming to Seychelles and doing those scams,” he said. “We do not have a problem with Nigeria or its people, though we do not tolerate such criminal activities in our country.” The news agency reported that Sylvestre Radegonde, the country’s minister of foreign affairs and tourism, is set to meet with the Nigerian ambassador to Seychelles, to discuss the matter. In December 2022, Nigeria and Seychelles signed a pact that would enable direct flights between both countries. Hadi Sirika, then minister of aviation, and Anthony Derjacques, the Seychelles’ minister of transport, both agreed that the pact would promote the African Union agenda 2063, while enhancing business and promoting tourism.

  Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Benjamin Kalu has disclosed that the South East region lost over N4trn to insecurity in the last two years. Mr Kalu said this in his address at the annual all markets conference in Lagos. His words: “This rising development has caused us a lot as we keep losing business investment to the constant sit-at-home. Insecurity remains a major problem in the east, the Yoruba are not our problem, we are our own problem in the east.   When you build 100 houses in Lagos, build at least 50 in your home. Migration can be reversed and people from Lagos can go to Igboland to buy goods. “The constant killing, kidnapping, among others happening in the south east are not helping us. We need to readjust and arrange our home. This is not our identity. Igbo are not known for violence. We must rise up with one voice and denounce this ugly situation in our land. I’m pained that we are no longer safe in the land that our forefathers gave us. We now sojourn in diaspora giving our children out in marriage in foreign land.” On his part, the Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, Prof. Okonkwo Obiora, said: “The support Igbo traders gave the governor in the March 2023 governorship election was not because he is Yoruba. It was rather because of the great competence he showed in piloting the affairs of the state during his first term. The traders also saw in him a detribalized leader who eschewed discriminatory and divisive politics which Lagos, a melting pot of ethnicities, requires to excel. “This is why some of us are very troubled by the occasional diatribe between the Yoruba and Igbo in Lagos state as is currently the case. It is not only unnecessary but also of no positive use for anyone to fan the embers of discord between the Yoruba and Igbo who have harmoniously co-existed in Lagos with other ethnic groups for well over a century. “As has been established over several decades, the Igbo, as traders and business leaders, thrive very well in peaceful and accommodating environments. It is only when the environment is welcoming and inviting that we best express ourselves building new businesses and communities through self-help programs and human capacity development. “One of such is the famed apprenticeship program which the American-Canadian TED Talks organization described as the greatest Venture Capital scheme ever. We invest in any place that we are welcome. Lagos State welcomes Igbo people and that is why we are able to help develop capacities and expand the economy. “However, that Lagos state welcomes the Igbo does not in any way suggest that the land called Lagos (Eko) belongs to the Igbo. Geographically, the Igbo people have their homelands. So, I will implore our Igbo brothers living and operating in Lagos that while we live here, do business and make a living here, we should not in any way suggest that Lagos is a no man’s land. It is erroneous and insulting to think so. Archeology tells us that even in lands where civilization has supplanted races, there are still people referred to as original inhabitants to those lands. “Therefore, good neighbourliness will only work for our good. We must therefore respect the laws of the land while making ourselves available to serve in any capacity the states invite us to. It is only when we respect the laws of the land that the land respects and appreciates us. It is always a reciprocal relationship.”

  The Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, says the sit-at-home enforced by a faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra in the South-East is causing the state to lose over N10 billion every Monday. The governor made this disclosure on Thursday in Enugu at a meeting with the Presidents-General (PGs) of all the autonomous communities in the state. He said the financial loss is recorded due to economic activities that are prevented from happening every Monday due to the illegal sit-at-home order. “It’s important for us to understand the connection between poverty and this so-called sit-at-home. Each Monday that we sit at home, we lose over N10bn naira from the economic activity that ought to have happened here in our state,” Mbah said. “People who ordinarily would have stayed in a hotel till Monday before they travel will decide against staying beyond Sunday. So, what happens? The revenue the hoteliers would have generated is gone. “People who would have come into Enugu to participate in one economic activity or the other won’t show up because you say you are sitting at home on Monday.” According to him, the perception of insecurity the sit-at-home creates will derail his administration’s plan to move the economy of the state from a public sector-driven economy to a private sector-driven economy. Governor Mbah has urged the PGs to speak to their people and make them understand that there is no such thing as a sit-at-home on Mondays or any other day. He told them never to allow unelected persons to issue orders to them, adding that taking orders from such people would mean that someone was making them inferior without their consent. Mbah assured the people that the security agencies had been put on alert to ensure that measures are in place to ensure the protection of lives and property in the state.

  The National Judicial Council (NJC) has appointed the son of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayoode Ariwoola, as a judge of the Federal High Court. In a statement on Friday by the Director of Information of the NJC, Soji Oye, said the new judge was appointed alongside one Grand Kadi, 23 judges of the Federal High Court, and four Kadis of the Sharia Court of Appeal in Kano. He said the new appointments were announced at the end of the 103rd meeting of the council presided by Justice Ariwoola in Abuja on Friday. Among the persons recommended by the interviews committee of the council for the Federal High Court are Ariwoola Olukayode Jnr, Ekerete Udofot Akpan, Hussaini Dadan-Garba, Egbe Raphael Joshua, Anyalewa Onoja-Alapa, Aishatu Auya Ibrahim, Ogazi Friday Nkemakolam and Ogundare Kehinde Olayiwola. Others are Chigozie Sergius, Hauwa Joeph Yilwa, Amina Aliyu Mohammed, Sharon Tanko Ishaya, Chituru Joy Wigwe-Oreh, Musa Kakaki, Owoeye Alexander Oluseyi, Abiodun Jordan Adeyemi, Agbaje Olufunmilola Adetutu, Salim Olasupo Ibrahim, Dipeolu Ibrahim, Dipeolu Deinde Isaac, Abdullahi Muhammad Dan-Ige and Mashkur Salisu. The council also recommended Kadi Muhammad Aminu Danjuma for Kaduna State; Muhammad Adam Kadem, Salisu Muhammad Isa, Isa Idris Sa’id and Aliyu Muhammad Kani as Kadis for Sharia Court of Appeal, Kano. Oye said the recommended officials will be sworn in after the approval of the president and their respective state governors.

  The spokesman of Edo State Police Command, Chidi Nwabuzor briefs Channels Television on some arrested suspects in Benin City on July 14, 2023. Five suspects have been arrested in Edo State for allegedly defrauding a student of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma. The suspects were arrested by the Edo State Police Command after hypnotising the 21-year-old victim, the police spokesman, Chidi Nwabuzor, said on Friday. Channels Television reports that the five suspects were part of 51 suspected cultists said to be terrorising residents of Benin City. He stated that the fraudsters, after hypnotising the victim, ordered her to transfer the said sum from her account.   “We made a notable achievement of arresting a total of 51 suspects, cultists. Amongst this number were five armed robbers and at the same time fraudsters,” Nwabuzor said. “These five suspects defrauded a female student of the Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, aged 21 years old, of a total amount of N9.8 million. “On that said day, the suspects met her on the way and tried to get information from her. While she was trying to do that (give them information), one of them touched her and she was no longer herself. “She was hypnotised and they took her phone, took all the information relating to her account details and went away with the phone. A total sum of N9.8 million was withdrawn from that account.” The police spokesman explained that the amount taken from the victim belonged to her recently deceased father of whom she was a beneficiary as the eldest child. After getting wind of the crime, Nwabuzor said the Commissioner of Police, Adamu Dankwara, ordered the tactical team of the Anti-Kidnapping and Cybercrime Unit of the Edo State Police Command to follow up on the case. “While the investigation was going on, they were able to track the suspects down. They were arrested between the 9th and 10th of July, 2023. “As we speak, they have made statements, confessed to the crime, and sooner or later, they will be arraigned in court,” the police spokesman added.

  Despite recent criticisms of plans to increase the price of service charges, the Association of Mobile Money and Bank Agents in Nigeria has said current economic conditions have not prompted point-of-sale operators to reconsider their plans to implement the new framework starting next Monday. This was as it indicated plans to extend the implementation of the new price range to the Federal Capital Territory and other states. The PUNCH reported that in June 30, the PRO, AMMBAN, Lagos Chapter, Stephen Adeoye, in an interview, said the association had come up with a new price list for PoS agents operating in the state. Justifying the increase in prices, he said PoS agents were adjusting their prices to reflect the country’s current economic realities. The raised elicited criticism from Nigerians, including threats of sanctions by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and the Central Bank’s promise to intervene. But speaking in an interview, the National publicity secretary of the association, Elegbede Segun, said the threats of sanctions were only on the pages of newspapers, adding that the association was well prepared to commence implementation. “The reactions you have seen are just on the pages of newspapers, as far as the central bank and FCCPC is concerned,” Elegbede said on Friday.