The Coalition of opposition lawmakers in the tenth National Assembly known as the G60 has faulted the controversial amendment and passage in law Rivers State Local Government (Amendment) Bill by Rivers State House of Assembly. The Rivers State House of Assembly had yesterday passed the amended Bill into law overriding the assent of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Reacting to the development, opposition lawmakers in the House of Representatives, in a statement signed by its spokesperson Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere stated the passage of the bill is unenforceable and invitation to anarchy. Ugochinyere stated that the ‘decamped’ Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers House of Assembly are illegitimate and has no right to enact, amend or veto any law hence it’s unenforceable and legislative rascality taken too far. They wondered how far the “illegitimate” lawmakers who are loyalists of Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike are willing go destabilise the government of Fubara and breaching the presidential peace accord. The federal lawmakers accused Amaewhule and his colleagues of entangling in unconstitutionality, stating that the passage of the amended Bill into law overriding the assent of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, is an exercise in futility. They called on the Inspector General of Police, IGP to arrest and prosecute the decamped Rivers lawmakers for criminally tampering with Rivers LGA law. The federal lawmakers said, “The audacity of Decamped Rivers State House of Assembly passing the Rivers State Local Government (Amendment) Bill into law overriding the assent of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, is legislative rascality taken too far. “Amaewhule and his cohorts are on a spree of amending several laws, even when they are still not lawmakers in the eyes of the law. This is in reference to Section 109(1g) of the 1999 Constitution as amended. So it’s laughable for the supposed lawmakers to assume that such law can take retrospective effect. “Decamped’ Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers House of Assembly are illegitimate and has no right to enact, amend or veto any law hence it’s unenforceable and legislative rascality taken too far. We therefore call on the Inspector General of Police, IGP to arrest and prosecute the decamped Rivers lawmakers for criminally tampering with Rivers LGA law.”

  The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, over an ongoing N8,069,176,864.00 money laundering probe. The indicted former Minister of Aviation arrived at the Federal Capital Territory Command of the EFCC at about 1:00 pm on Tuesday, The PUNCH can confirm. Our correspondent, who was at the Wuse office of the EFCC, observed the embattled former minister’s arrival at the anti-graft agency’s Abuja office. Following his arrival at the command, Sirika is currently meeting with EFCC investigators to answer questions on alleged fraudulent contracts awarded by him to a company known as Engirios Nigeria Limited, owned by his younger sibling, Abubakar Sirika. Impeccable anti-graft sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity, because they were not authorised to speak, confirmed the development to our correspondent on Tuesday. “Yes, that was Hadi Sirika who was taken into our FCT custody. He is currently meeting with EFCC investigators over the alleged N8,069,176,864.00 aviation ministry contract fraud,” a source revealed. Another source noted, “The N8,069,176,864.00 aviation ministry contract fraud was carried out in connivance with his younger brother, Abubakar Sirika, through the latter’s company.” In February, The PUNCH exclusively reported that the EFCC was investigating the activities of the Aviation Ministry under former Minister Sirika for conspiracy, abuse of office, diversion of public funds, and contract inflation. A credible source who spoke with our correspondent on Tuesday revealed that the anti-graft commission is investigating the activities of the Aviation Ministry for conspiracy, abuse of office, diversion of public funds, and contract inflation. Others are criminal breaches of trust and money laundering amounting to N8,069,176,864.00 during Sirika’s tenure in office. The sum is said to be for four aviation contracts from the former minister to a company known as Engirios Nigeria Limited, owned by his younger sibling, Abubakar Sirika. Apart from being listed as the company’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Abubakar is said to be the sole signatory to the company’s two accounts, domiciled in Zenith and Union Banksy. It was further revealed that the ex-minister’s younger brother, Abubakar Sirika, has been arrested and detained by the commission in connection with N3,212,258,930.18 paid to his company, Engirios Nigerian Limited’s, bank account by the former minister. It was noted that there is no trace of work done on any of the contract items to date. The source said Abubakar Sirika, who was arrested on Sunday, February 4, has since been assisting the commission in its probe of the Aviation Ministry’s financial expenditures during Mr Sirika’s tenure. The EFCC investigator said, “We’re investigating an N8,069,176,864.00 money laundering case linked to former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika. “Hadi awarded contracts to his brother Abubakar, knowing that the latter is a civil servant, a deputy director on Level 16 in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, where he has been working since 2000 till date. “The first of the contracts from the former minister to Engirios Nigeria Limited was on August 18, 2022, for the construction of the Terminal Building in Katsina Airport, at a cost of N1,345,586,500.00. The second was awarded on November 3, 2022, for the establishment of the Fire Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Center in Katsina Airport, valued at N3, 811,497,685.00. “The third contract was on February 3, 2023, for the procurement and installation of lifts, air conditioners, and a power generator’s house in Aviation House, Abuja, at the cost of N615,195,275.000, while the fourth was awarded on May 5, 2023, for the procurement of Magnus aircraft and a simulator for the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, at the cost of N2, 296,897,404.00. “Out of the total contract sum, the ex-minister paid out N3,212,258,930.18 to his younger brother’s Engirios Nigerian Limited, who, upon receipt of the payment, transferred it to different companies and individuals. There is no trace of work done on any of the contract items to date. “Abubakar Sirika is currently in our custody at the Headquarters, and he is providing us with more useful information on the financial activities of the Aviation Ministry under the supervision of his older brother, Hadi Sirika.”

  The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has frozen 300 illegal forex accounts trading on a peer-to-peer platform. The EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, revealed that the accounts were suspended on Monday following a court order. Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, Olukoyede explained that over $15bn passed through one of the forex platforms in the last one year, outside the financial regulations. He said the EFCC action was taken to ensure the safety of the foreign exchange market and protect the economy Details later…

  The operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have arrested a 30-year-old man identified as Jeffrey for allegedly defiling the teenage daughter of his landlady in an estate in Abuloma, Port Harcourt Local government Area of the State. It was learnt that the suspect, who has a tailoring shop at the estate, lured the 13-year-old girl to his business place one evening under the guise of showing her clothes. But Jeffrey ended up locking the shop, overpowered the girl, and allegedly had his way with the girl. The suspect was, however, arrested by men of the Trans-Amadi Police Division last Friday when the teenage girl opened up to her mother about what transpired. A source who does not want his name in print said, “Already a medical examination conducted on the minor indicated she was defiled.” When contacted, the spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident, saying the investigation was ongoing. “She stated, “Yes, I can confirm the arrest of the suspect. The matter has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Port Harcourt, for discreet investigation.” Iringe-Koko further said the command will ensure that the suspect is prosecuted to deter others.

  President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of 12 consuls-general and five chargè d’ affairs for 14 countries. Alkasim Abdulkadir, special assistant on media and communications strategy to Yusuf Tuggar, minister of foreign affairs, made the announcement in a statement on Tuesday. More to follow…

  The Ogun State Government has sealed three churches for allegedly contravening the state laws on noise pollution and defying government repeated order. The affected worship centres are Christ Apostolic Church, Fountain of Faith District Headquarters, Gbogunmi, Itedo Alafia Community, Bode Olude; Ambassador of Truth Assembly International located on Olorunseye Avenue, Ijeun Titun and Salvation Ministries on Kuforiji Olubi Drive Adigbe GRA, all in Abeokuta. In sealing the churches, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Environmental Compliance and Enforcement, Farook Akintunde, said all the three churches were sealed after several warnings and dialogue with the authorities to stop the noise pollution emanating from the worship centres proved abortive. Akintunde said the Christ Apostolic Church, Gbogunmi, was fond of holding vigils with its loud speakers placed outside its premises at night, thereby disturbing the peace of its immediate community. “The community has not only complained, but has written a strong petition against the church saying the noise pollution emanating from the church is affecting the health of their members. “All efforts to make the presiding Pastor and the Elders of the church to see reasons to stop the pollution proved abortive. No serious government will fold its hands and watch such infractions affect the health and well-being of its residents,” Akintunde stated. He therefore warned against obstructing government officials from performing their official duties, and cautioned other religious centres against noise pollution, saying the state government would not hesitate to seal up any of them found guilty of noise pollution in any part of the state.