Friday 22 September 2023 FG may pay N1.68tn fuel subsidy, marketers forecast N900/litre Academic record: Delay Atiku’s request, Tinubu tells US court Mohbad: Sympathisers ‘dispersed with teargas’ at Lekki tollgate I remain loyal, forgive me, Shaibu begs Obaseki NNPP blames Kwankwaso as tribunal sacks Kano gov LP kicks as tribunal upholds Enugu gov’s election Akeredolu Not Involved In Move To Impeach Deputy – Adegboruwa We Musn’t Use Human Rights Advocacy As Weapon Against African Nations, Tinubu Tells UN’s Gutteres CBN Postpones September 2023 MPC Meeting Taraba Varsity ASUU Threatens Strike Over Six Months Unpaid Salaries, Others Fresh strike looms as NLC’s ultimatum expires today Mohbad: Police exhume corpse, conduct autopsy Sagamu cult clash: Ogun lawmaker, 6 others in DSS Missing Zamfara journalist, Hamisu, found dead We’re working to rescue 8 abducted corps members in Zamfara — NYSC Kano Lifts Curfew; Residents Lament Hardship Rep Decries Killing Of 10 Farmers In 10 Days Kidnapped NTA Staff, 12 Other Benue Links Passengers Freed Nigeria loses N1tr yearly importing active pharmaceutical ingredients Despite Tinubu’s assurances, U.S. issues travel advisory to citizens Dangote, modular refineries abandon petrol refining over return of subsidy Police recover body of missing 26-year-old woman in Abuja Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…

  Two days after the United States Deputy Treasury Secretary, Wally Adeyemo visited Nigeria as part of U.S. efforts to strengthen economic ties between both countries and a day after President Bola Tinubu, presently in the U.S. for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), advised Nigerians in abroad to return home, the U.S. government has warned its citizens to reconsider travelling to Nigeria due to increased risk of crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and armed gangs in the country. An updated travel advisory issued on September 20 by the U.S. Department of State included a flat “do not travel” warning for Borno, Yobe, Kogi, and Adamawa states due to terrorism and kidnapping; Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara states due to kidnapping. A similar travel advisory was issued for Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo, and Rivers states (with the exception of Port Harcourt) due to crime, kidnapping, and armed gangs. While placing these states on Level 4 – the highest risk category, the U.S. warned that the security situation in the states is fluid and unpredictable due to widespread terrorist activity, inter-communal violence, and kidnapping; and security operations to counter these threats may occur without warning. The travel advisory, which carpets 18 states in all, excludes Lagos, 17 other states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). “Violent crime – such as armed robbery, assault, carjacking, kidnapping, hostage taking, roadside banditry, and rape – is common throughout the country. Kidnappings for ransom occur frequently, often targeting dual national citizens who have returned to Nigeria for a visit, as well as U.S. citizens with perceived wealth. Kidnapping gangs have also stopped victims on interstate roads”, the advisory read. “Terrorists continue plotting and carrying out attacks in Nigeria. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting shopping centers, malls, markets, hotels, places of worship, restaurants, bars, schools, government installations, transportation hubs, and other places where crowds gather. Terrorists are known to work with local gangs to expand their reach. “There is civil unrest and armed gangs in parts of Southern Nigeria, especially in the Niger Delta and Southeast regions; and armed criminality and gangs, including kidnapping and assaults on Nigerian security services is also pervasive in this region. Violence can flare up between communities of farmers and herders in rural areas” it added. The State Department had last issued a travel advisory on August 2 to Niger, which is same Level 4 – Do Not Travel warning, owing to the July 26 coup which deposed President Mohamed Bazoum, placing him on house arrest, a situation that led to the immediate evacuation of non-emergency government employees from the country. On January 20, this year, in its previous alert on Nigeria, the State Department had updated its travel advisory to Level 3 – Reconsider Travel. However, in its updated advisory, it said terrorist groups based in the Northeast routinely target humanitarian camps, security forces, churches, schools, mosques, government installations, educational institutions, entertainment venues, and road travelers. Approximately two million Nigerians have been displaced as a result of the violence in Northeast Nigeria. The State Department further cautioned its citizens that the government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in many areas of Nigeria due to security conditions.

  A kidnapped staff of Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Tom Tikyaa and 12 other passengers of Benue Links bus have regained their freedom from captivity. The 13 people including driver of the bus were kidnapped on Sunday while traveling in the state owned transport company’s Benue Link bus along Otukpo – Ugbokolo road in Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State. Our correspondent reports that the vehicle was returning to Makurdi from Onitsha in Anambra State when the gun welding kidnappers hijacked it in Okpokwu LGA. Some family sources of the freed victims alleged that they paid a total sum of N7.5million to secure the release of the victims. But, Secretary General of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (Benue Links chapter), Comrade Gabriel Tachia, told our correspondent on telephone on Thursday that he does know about the payment of any ransom for the release of the victims. Tachia said all the victims however regained their freedom on Wednesday night. Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Benue Command, SP Catherine Anene, said she was yet to get information about the development.

  The Ondo State House of Assembly has denied accusation of witch-hunting following its impeachment move on the Deputy Governor of the state, Lucky Aiyedatiwa. The Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Oshati Olatunji, who was a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, maintained that they are not witch-hunting the Deputy Governor, but said that he has to defend himself from allegation of misconduct levelled against him. “There are some allegations that borders on emotions, we don’t want to take it up emotionally, which by the time we finish our investigations we will be able to explain better. There are many allegations and it borders on misconduct. “It is our duty that when you receive a petition, it is best thing for us to look into it. We have said it on several fora that we are not witch-hunting, we are just doing our job and our job is to investigate and by the time we finish the investigation the whole world will see. We are not after witch-hunting anybody; we are after sanitising the system. “There are about five allegations with us here that borders on misappropriation. Those were the allegations from the petition and it is left for him to defend himself. If he answers well, we are not after witch-hunting. “The other one is about his intention to divide the executive when the governor was away and planning to impeach the governor which he at least needs to defend himself,” Olatunji said. The impeachment move on the Deputy Governor by the House of Assembly started following the return of the Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu from his medical trip abroad. There have been accusations from some quarters that the governor is behind the move by the state House of Assembly to impeach Aiyedatiwa, but a Senior Advocate of Nigeria Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, who was also a guest on the programme disagreed. Adegboruwa said, “You know how politics go in Nigeria, people just cook up all manner of allegations in respect with whatever political allegations that they have. “I know his excellency, the governor of Ondo state as a man of courage, transparency and accountability. I am sure he is not involved in all this. “I believe that in the course of time, he will play his fatherly role and call all the gladiators to order and let governance take its centre stage in that state. I don’t think that this is the time for this kind of political tension.” Olatunji said that the House has sent invitation to the Deputy Governor to come and defend himself. According to him, he has seven days to appear before the House.

  The Indigenous People of Biafra has condemned the bloody attack that led to the death of eight police and military personnel at Umualumaku, Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State on Tuesday. The pro-Biafran agitation group said such reckless attacks and shedding of blood were not needed in the South-East region to achieve freedom. It added that the Biafra agitation cause championed by IPOB since 2012 had been totally peaceful until the Federal Government started sponsoring splinter groups in order to blackmail IPOB and its leader, Nnamdi Kanu. The group stated this in a statement issued by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, on Thursday. It said, “We, the global family and movement of IPOB ably led by the leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, condemn the bloody attack that led to the death of eight police and military officers at Ehime Mbano LGA of Imo State. “Such reckless attacks and shedding of blood are not needed to achieve Biafra freedom in our territory. The Biafra agitation championed by IPOB since 2012 had been totally peaceful until the Federal Government started sponsoring splinter groups in order to blackmail IPOB and Kanu. “Today, the monsters they have spoon-fed are consuming them. We in IPOB for years have been shouting about the evil plan of the Federal Government towards IPOB’s peaceful agitation, which is simply demanding a referendum date for the Biafran people to determine their own fate as indigenous people. “The Federal Government knows those behind this latest attack on the security personnel. They shouldn’t feign ignorance or claim to be surprised because they are working with the perpetrators of that unnecessary attack in order to blackmail IPOB and Kanu. The group added that if, indeed, the security agencies were interested in fishing out the killers of the security personnel, they knew exactly what to do and where to focus their attention. They, therefore, cautioned the police to go after the criminals who murdered their colleagues and not after innocent villagers. “No villagers will attack policemen within their village. Therefore, Ehime Mbano community should not be invaded as a result of the killing of the security officers. “The DSS and all the security machinery are putting their heads together to devise a strategy to blackmail IPOB and implicate Mazi Kanu for the violence and terrorism charges they have levelled against him. They should not deceive the public by blaming anybody when they are aware of the assailants. “Sacrificing some Nigeria Police and military officers’ lives to achieve blackmail against IPOB has been their old strategy and dirty game. “We, therefore, ask the Nigeria Police to go after the criminals who murdered their colleagues and not after innocent villagers. More often than not, Nigerian security agencies carry out revenge on ordinary citizens anytime armed criminals attack them. “Nigeria security forces must know that the villagers are innocent. IPOB doesn’t encourage people to murder or waste innocent people’s lives because lives are sacred and must be preserved and protected. We encourage Nigerian security to use their intelligence prowess to fish out the perpetrators,” the statement added.

  After what looked like a protracted crisis, the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, apologised to his boss, Governor Godwin Obaseki, on Thursday and begged for forgiveness. He apologised after his investiture by Catholic Men Organisation Nigeria, CMN Speaking to journalists shortly after the investiture, Shaibu asked Obaseki to forgive and forget, just as he announced that he had relocated to his new office in accordance with the governor’s directive. However, he added, there were still some work to be done in his new office located at 7 Osadebey Avenue. Asked if he had resumed at his new office, Shaibu said: “We have resumed but there is still a lot of work to be done there. “There is no problem about it. The governor has asked us to go there. Like I have always tried to prove, I am a loyal servant and nothing has changed. “I took a personal vow to support my governor and you can see my Catholic people are here. When I took a vow with God, nothing can change it and I wish that the relationship that we had will come back in the next few days and weeks. “I am missing my governor and by the grace of God, He will touch the governor’s heart and touch all of us and even those that are between us. “I mean well. If there is any mistake I have made as human, it is not out of wickedness because I know I’m not wicked. I have a very clean heart. “I want to use this medium to appeal to Mr. Governor that if there is any thing I don’t know that I have done, please forgive me so that we can develop our state together. “My Governor, I’m sorry and I need us to work together.”

  A farmer, Oro Umaru of Ba’abete Fulani Camp in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State was on Thursday arraigned before a Kwara State Magistrates Court sitting in Ilorin for alleged culpable homicide. Umaru was accused of cutting the wrist of one Abubakar Sanda who was his close neighbour in the Fulani Camp in the LGA over an allegation of having an affair with his (Umaru’s) wife. He was arraigned on a one-count charge of attempted culpable homicide contrary to section 299 of the penal code laws of Nigeria. According to the Police First Information Report, the case was reported by the brother of the victim, Sanda Mohammed. “That on 08/9/2023 at 2030hrs, one Sanda Mohammed ‘m’ of Ba’abete Fulani camp via Kaiama reported at Kaiama Police Station, that on the same date at about 1200hrs, while his younger brothers one Abubakar Sanda ‘m’ of the same address was returning from Kaiama kara market to the house, he was accosted and macheted by one Oro Umaru ‘m’ of the same address and in the process Abubakar Sanda’s right wrist was severed off the hand. Immediate Police action led to the arrest of Oro Umaru. During a discreet investigation at the Criminal Investigation Department, You Oro Umar confessed that you and Abubakar Sanda were living very close to each other and that sometime in the year 2022 you suspected Abubakar Sanda of having an affair with your wife, Fatima Oro, and that you have caught them on several occasion of which you reported same to your father, one Alhaji Hamadu but nothing was done. “You confessed further that on 06/9/2023 at about 2200hrs, you caught Abubakar Sanda discussing with your wife, Fatima and that when Abubakar Sanda sighted you coming in that direction, he took to his heels. You Oro Umaru further confessed that on 08/09/2023 you went and attacked Abubakar Sanda in his house and in the process you macheted him and severely cut off his right wrist and also macheted him on the forehead,” the charge sheet further added. The plea of the accused person was not taken by the court but the police prosecutor, Gbenga Ayeni, urged the court to remand the suspect to the Federal Correctional facility pending the time when investigation on the matter would be concluded. In her ruling, trial magistrate, Gbadeyan Kamson, ordered the remand of the suspect and adjourned the case till October 11, 2023.

  The Taraba State University chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is threatening to embark on an indefinite strike action if its demands are not met. Rising from a congress meeting held today, the union is urging the state government to take urgent and concrete steps to address their concerns and ensure the sustainable development and stability of the institution or risk industrial disharmony. Addressing journalists, Chairman of the union, Mbave Garba, disclosed that some of their concerns include Staff pension and gratuity, Salary crisis, non-implementation of Law No.4 of the Taraba State House of Assembly on funding, non payment of their earned academic allowances and non implementation of the Memorandum of Action. ASUU-TSU Congress raised concerns about the non implementation of Law No. 4 of the Taraba State House of Assembly, which outlines various funding sources for the university. ”These funding sources include 5% of the monthly state statutory allocation, 5% of the monthly allocation of local governments in the state, 2.5% of contracts awarded by the state and local governments, 2% as state education levy from charges on guests in hotels in the state, and other sources as determined by the university council.” He added that the lack of proper funding has negatively impacted the smooth running of the institution. On Salary crisis, he said ”members expressed deep concern over the inadequate funding of the university, which has led to the delays and irregular and sometimes fractional payment of salaries” ”In summary we are owed six full months and seven months fractional salaries, and it may interest you to know that as at today, our members are yet to be paid their salaries for the month of July and August “. ”It is worrisome to mention that our members are going through excruciating economic realities in the wake of the subsidy removal and inflationary forces and the general public may wish to know that besides other issues, this has been a major trigger of strike actions in the state varsity over the years ” On the non implementation of the Memorandum of Action, the union said, ”The agreement signed on 18th March 2021 by the Taraba State government, Taraba State University management and the ASUU-TSU branch is demoralizing” ”The Union members are owed Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) dating back to 2015 and the government lacks clarity regarding staff pension and gratuity” ”There has been no progress on constructing the perimeter fence to enhance the security of university as agreed upon in the MOA. The outstanding promotion arrears for 2020, 2021 and 2022, including the annual step increment from October 2020 to July 2021 have not been paid to its members,” the ASUU Chairman said.