The Ondo State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr Fatai Adams, is dead. Details of his death remained sketchy, but sources told Vanguard that he passed on in the early hours of today( Wednesday). Contacted, the state publicity secretary of the party, Kennedy Peretei, confirmed the unfortunate incident. Peretei said that the party would soon make official communication to the media on the matter.
Wednesday 14 February 2024 Cost of living: FG, NLC meeting deadlocked, bakers threaten shutdown Wigwe: Crash report ready March, kinsmen declare eight-day mourning Wigwe: Crash report ready March, kinsmen declare eight-day mourning Naira gains at official market, weakens to N1500/$ parallel market FG unveils ‘Pulaku’ initiative to end farmer-herder clashes Hardship: FG tackles PDP govs, others $6.2m theft: FG declares CBN staff, others wanted for forging Buhari’s signature Nigeria’s oil output rises further by 6.9% to 1.43m bpd — OPEC Over 96% of 2023 2nd WASSCE results released EFCC arrests 2 men for currency racketeering in Abuja Atiku To Media: Bwala Has Moved On, Stop Describing Him As My Aide Mama Boko Haram, 2 Others Jailed Over N40m ‘Fraud’ We’ll Resume Payment Of Wage Award This Week – FG How Ex-Airman Supplying Military Camouflage To Turji Was Nabbed Emefiele: Documents Used To Pay Election Observers $6.2m Not From My Office, Ex-SGF Testifies Nigeria Should Join BRICS, Sell Crude Oil In Naira – Falana Union Protests Ban On Sachet Alcohol In Abuja, Gives NAFDAC 14 Days 42,000 Nurses Have Left Nigeria In Three Years, Says FG Akpabio Swears In Three Newly Elected Senators Wigwe’s Death: Access Holdings Appoints Agbede As Acting CEO Fire Guts Female Hostel In Yobe Varsity Bandits kill two policemen, abduct 40 in Zamfara Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…
The federal government says it will resume the payment of the N35,000 wage awards and implement agreements with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC). On February 8, the NLC and TUC issued a 14-day ultimatum over the failure of the federal government to honour the 16-point agreement that was reached on October 2, 2023, with them. In a meeting with the leadership of the organised labour on Tuesday, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, minister of state for labour and employment, appealed to the unions to withdraw the ultimatum – with nine more days to go. “I called this meeting because dialogue has always been the best way out, and we are all for the well-being of our people. I am here to show good cause on why some agreement has not been met,” the minister said. “I want to promise that the government would keep working towards the complete implementation of the agreement and I therefore request the labour unions to withdraw their ultimatum. “I plead with you to sheath your sword. We have been showing good faith; it is just that it is not commensurate with your expectations. But I promise you that we will surpass your expectations this time, and I believe that everything will go well.” Joe Ajaero, the NLC president, said the federal government should not flout the deadline of the 14-day ultimatum He said “every party to the agreement should endeavour to live up to expectations for the interest of Nigerians and the government”
The West African Examinations Council has released the results of the 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examination for private candidates across the country. This was made known in a statement made available by the acting Head, Public Affairs, WAEC Nigeria, Moyosola Adesina, on Tuesday evening. According to her, only 46,267 out of the 80,904 candidates who sat for the examination scored a minimum of five credits. She said this translates to 57.19% of candidates obtaining credit and above in a minimum of five subjects (with or without English Language and/or Mathematics). She added that 35,830 candidates, representing 44.29%, obtained credit and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics. The statement read, “The examination was conducted in Nigeria between Friday, October 27, 2023 and Wednesday, December 20, 2023. The Coordination of Examiners and Marking of Candidates’ Scripts were carried out at SEVEN (7) Marking Venues in Lagos, Ibadan, Akure, Benin, Enugu, Uyo, and Kaduna from Tuesday, January 16, to Tuesday, January 30, 2024. A total of 4,162 examiners participated in the coordination and marking Exercise. “85,600 candidates, representing 10.07% increase, when compared with the 2022 entry figure of 77,768) entered for the examination, while 80,904 candidates sat the examination at 568 centres spread across the nooks and crannies of the country. “Amongst the candidates that sat the examination, (211) candidates, with varying degrees of special needs, were registered for the examination. “Out of this number, 33 were visually challenged, 21 had impaired hearing and 30 were Albinos. All these candidates with special needs were adequately provided for in the administration of the examination.” The regional examination body management urged candidates to check their results by visiting www.waecdirect.org and ascertain their status before visiting the Digital Certificate platform (www.waec.org) to access the digital copies of their certificates, which have been released along with their results.
The Special Investigator appointed by President Bola Tinubu to probe cases of fraud in the Godwin Emefiele-led Central Bank of Nigeria has written the International Police, National Central Bureau to place three Nigerians—a CBN staff member and two others—on its red notice. Monday’s request is connected to an alleged conspiracy and forging of signatures and documents in the name of former President Muhammadu Buhari to steal $6.23m from the CBN. A letter obtained by The PUNCH on Tuesday named Odoh Ocheme, a staff member of the apex bank, Adamu Abubakar and Imam Abubakar on the list directed to Interpol. The letter with reference number CR:3000/TSI/ABJ/VOL.1/85 and dated February 12, 2024, was addressed to the IGP and signed by the Head of Operations, Office of the Special Investigator, DCP Eloho Okpoziakpo,. It noted that the three persons who are now at large had conspired and forged documents in the name of the former President, carting away $6.23m. It read, “The Special Investigator appointed by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to investigate the Central Bank of Nigeria, Related Entities and other Key Government Business Entities kindly requests you to place the above-named individuals on INTERPOL RED NOTICE. “In the course of the Special Investigator’s assignment, Mr Odoh Eric Ocheme, (staff of the CBN) now at large and the other two accomplices, also now at large, were discovered to have conspired and forged documents in the name of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria with which they stole about US$6,230,000 in cash from the coffers of the CBN. “Consequent upon the above, a charge was filed and warrants of arrest have been issued by the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Abuja Division presided over by Hon. Justice ILE. Ekwo in Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/19/2024 B/w: Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Adamu Abubakar & 2 Ors for the arrest and production of the Defendants named above for their arraignment. “The data page of Odoh Eric Ocheme’s Nigerian International Passport No. B50082800, duly certified true copies of the warrants and the Order of the Court to that effect are hereby attached.” The Federal High Court, Abuja, had slammed Abubakar, Ocheme and Abubakar with six-count charges. The charges read, “That Adamu Abubakar (now at large), Imam Abubakar (now at large), Odoh Eric Ocheme (now at large), Bashirudeen Maishanu and others also now at large, on or about January 23, 2023, at the Central Bank of Nigeria, Abuja Branch, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, by false pretence that one man who held out himself as Jibril Abubakar is a Staff from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and had approval of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to source money from the Central Bank of Nigeria for foreign Election Observers, and with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of $6,230,000.00 from the Central Bank of Nigeria, Abuja Branch and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)[a] and punishable under Section 1(3) & Section 10 of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, Cap. A6 laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2010. “That Adamu Abubakar (now at large), Imam Abubakar (now at large), Odoh Eric Ocheme (now at large), Bashirudeen Maishanu and others also now at large, on or about the 23rd day of January 2023, at the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, conspired among themselves to commit offence to wit; Uttering forged documents and thereby committed an offence contrary to paragraph 3(6) and punishable under Section 1(2)[c] of the Miscellaneous offences Act, Cap. M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2010. “That Adamu Abubakar (now at large), Imam Abubakar (now at large), Odoh Eric Ocheme (now at large), Bashirudeen Maishanu and others also now at large, on or about the 23rd day of January, 2023, at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, forged the following documents: (i) The Presidency, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Identity Card in the name of Jibril Abubakar; (i) Letter dated 23rd January, 2023 purportedly written by Muhammad Buhari to the Mr. Boss Mustapha; (ili) Letter dated 26th January, 2023 purportedly written by Boss Mustapha to M.r Godwin Emefiele; (iv) Central Bank of Nigeria Internal Memo dated 31st January, 2023 purportedly written by the Director, Banking Services Department to the Governor; and (V) Central Bank of Nigeria Internal Memo dated 7th February, 2023 purportedly written by the Director, Banking Services Department to the Branch Controller, Abuja, Branch, with the intent that the Central Bank of Nigeria, Abuja Branch may in the believe that the documents are genuine be induced to pay you the sum of $6,230,000.00 and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 1(2)[c] of the Miscellaneous offences Act, Cap. M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2010.”
The Nigerian Breweries Plc has issued a new price review notification to all its customers in the West Zone. According to a letter dated Monday, February 12, 2024, the price review, effective from Monday, February 19, 2024, is deemed necessary to offset the impact of increased production expenses. “This is to inform you that we are constrained to review the prices of some of our SKUs with effect from Monday, February 19, 2024. “This review has become necessary because of continued rising input cost and the need to mitigate the impact,” the statement indicated AFCON 2023: Super Eagles Lose To Elephants To Clinch Runner-up0.00 / 0.00 The company assured customers that those who have fully paid for orders before the specified date would be honoured at the existing prices. However, orders exceeding the communicated quantity window will be subject to the revised pricing. “In appreciation of our great partnership and your commitment, we will deliver at current prices all open orders that are fully funded and created in our system before 00.00hrs on Monday 19th February 2024. “The exact quantity of orders that will be allowed will be communicated to you by your Regional Business Manager (RBM). Any order in excess of this quantity will be re-invoiced at the new price on the 19th of February 2024,” the statement added. The price adjustment by the FMCG company is believed to have been a result of the rising cost of production worsened by forex volatility. In the last 11 months, at least five multinationals have shut down operations in Nigeria, an analysis of separate notices filed by the firms has shown. In December 2023, another consumer goods giant, Procter & Gamble, dissolved on-ground operations in the country. The company explained that it was difficult to do business in Nigeria as a dollar-denominated organisation and the macroeconomic reality in Nigeria is responsible for its latest strategic decision. Before P&G, Unilever also announced in March 2023, it would fold up operations in the country. According to the multinational, the changes in its business meant it had to exit its home care and skin cleansing categories from Nigeria.
The Corporate Affairs Commission has urged social media content creators, Instagram users, and TikTok users with large followers to register their businesses with the commission in accordance with the Company and Allied Matters Act 2020. This is coming amidst alleged plans by the Federal Inland Revenue Services to onboard media content and influencers into its tax system. The Registrar General, CAC, Hussaini Magaji, made the call on Tuesday, when he was paid a courtesy visit by the Managing Director, Opay, Dauda Gotring, and his team in Abuja. The visit from the Opay team was to ensure the regularisation of 300,000 agents and merchants with the commission. This will expand the tax net, encourage businesses, and create more jobs for Nigerians. Last week, the commission began the registration of two million small businesses in partnership with Moniepoint, a fintech company. The CAC boss stated that social media and content creators are generating a lot of money without paying any form of tax to the Federal Government. Magaji said, “Ignorance of the law is not an excuse. It is stated in the Company and Allied Matters 2020 that for any business to take place in Nigeria, whether you are doing business with your name or another name, you must surrender your business for registration. ” If you are a content creator on the internet and you have a large followership and you are gaining or making money from it, you must register and that’s the provision of the law. “And we are all out to enforce the provision of the law with its penalties.” He added that the commission will soon begin compliance checks to ensure these businesses start paying their taxes to the government. He added, “This cannot go on, these groups of people are under mandate to register as a business considering the amount they make from the content creation. The government is all out to ensure every business in Nigeria, no matter what or how, is registered with the CAC. “The commission is registering another batch of 300,000 business names from Opay.” The CAC boss said the initiative is part of his target to register 20 million businesses in 2024 and 50 million jobs target for Nigerian youths. On his part, the Opay MD noted that the idea behind Opay operations is to deliver banking services to the unbanked persons in the country. “Opay is ready to partner with CAC to ensure these groups of people have their businesses registered, with their consent though,” he said. Gotring said the Opay organisation is working to ensure that all companies no matter how little, as long as you operate as a business you should be registered with the CAC. He added that since Opay handles, “these accounts they are working on sensitising the owners of the accounts so they can be registered with CAC.”
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha has said the signature of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari was forged by those who withdrew $6,230,000 from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on February 8, 2023. Mustapha, who was testifying on Tuesday, February 13, in the trial of former governor of the CBN, Godwin Emefiele, said his signature was also forged, adding that he knew nothing about the money reported to have been withdrawn for the payment of foreign election observers. The ex-SGF said it was not the business of the federal government or the office of the SGF to request funds from the CBN for the payment of foreign election observers, saying it was solely the responsibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deal with issues relating to election observers. An official of the CBN, Michael Onyeka Ogbu had told a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama on Monday that the amount was given out in cash to an official from the office of the SGF, named Jibril Abubakar following approvals by President Buhari and CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele following a request by the SGF. Emefiele is accused by the prosecution of being behind the withdrawal.
The Ondo State Police Command on Tuesday said the female student at the Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba Akoko (AAUA), Ifeoluwa Adekunle, was killed over an iPhone. Daily Trust had reported that Adekunle, a 300-level student in the Department of Economics in the institution, was found in a pool of blood on Saturday, February 3 in her room located off-campus. Abayomi Oladipo, the state Commissioner of Police, who briefed journalists in Akure on Tuesday, said Adekunle was allegedly killed while alone in her room by one Olubodun Sanni, her neighbour. Oladipo explained that Sanni fatally stabbed Adekunle in the chest after gaining access to her room in an attempt to steal her iPhone. “In the course of investigation, the police discovered that the deceased phone was missing. “The police through the use of modern technology traced the phone to one Olubodun Sanni ‘m’ aged 21yrs, a final year student at the same school who is also a neighbour of the deceased in the hostel. “The recovered phone led to further questioning of the suspect who gave details of what happened in his confessional statement; how he entered the deceased room, stabbed her in the chest with a knife and stole her iPhone XR,” he added. The CP, however, stated that the suspect would be charged after further investigation by the police.
The United Kingdom and Nigeria are set to sign a partnership agreement that will permit British legal practitioners to operate businesses and render services in Nigeria. In a press release on its website on Tuesday, the partnership deal between the UK and Nigeria is to promote trade and investment and open new prospects for both countries. It also disclosed that it was designed to extend beyond finance and it can build upon an already productive $7 billion partnership between both countries. According to the UK’s Department of Business and Trade, the two countries are set to sign a new partnership intended to enhance cooperation between both nations. The deal was tagged The Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP), which would be the first time the UK would be signing this particular deal with an African country. British Business and Trade Secretary, Kemi Badenoch disclosed that the agreement would open a lot of opportunities for the Brits as Nigeria is one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa. “This partnership with Nigeria, the UK’s first with an African country, will allow us to work together and seize the opportunities that lie ahead. Nigeria has one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. “UK businesses have already seen huge success here and I look forward to seeing how we continue to grow this relationship,” Kemi Badenoch added. The deal will also see Nigeria commit to taking steps toward reducing barriers that keep UK attorneys from practicing international and foreign law in the West African state. “It will see Nigeria commit to working towards removing barriers preventing UK lawyers from practicing international and foreign law in Nigeria, a step that could significantly increase UK legal services exports,” the release added.
