The trial of detained Binance executive, Tigran Gambaryan, at the Federal High Court in Abuja took a dramatic turn following the defendant’s collapse in court on Thursday. At the resumed trial, the defendant failed to enter the dock when he was called upon by the court registrar for continuation of trial as he remained seated at the back seat. Following the failure of the defendant to enter the dock, the trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, asked after him. One of the lawyers in the defence team, who sat beside Gambaryan, assisted him by the side while holding his hand towards the dock but as they walked slowly to the dock, Gambaryan slumped and the lawyer helped him to sit in the front row seat. Lawyer to the defendant, Mark Mordi, however, told the court that his client has been indisposed and a written application letter had been filed to notify the court of this. At the last sitting, Justice Nwite had dismissed Gambaryan’s bail application on the ground that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had been able to establish that he posed a flight risk in the same manner as Nadeem Anjarwalla. Gambaryan, Anjarwalla, and Binance Holdings Limited are facing money laundering and terrorism financing charges, brought against them by the EFCC.

  The House of Representatives on Thursday passed a bill seeking to return Nigeria back to reciting the old National Anthem “Nigeria, We Hail Thee’ and discard the present one, ‘Arise O’ Compatriots. People Talk: On sale of new Naira notes at Nigerian parties0:00 / 1:00 Sponsored by the House Leader, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere, the bill speedily passed through first, second reading, considered and approved at the Committee of the Whole and passed for third reading at plenary The legislation is titled, “Bill For An Act to Provide for the National Anthem of Nigeria, and for Matters Related Thereto.” According to the bill “on the date of commencement of the Bill, the national anthem of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” which is prescribed in the Schedule to the proposed legislation. It added that the national anthem of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shal be a national symbol and sign of authority, and all persons, individuals or corporate entities, shall respect the national anthem and preserve the dignity of the national anthem. The proposed legislation provided that the national anthem shall be performed and sung on occasions such as: opening and closing ceremonies of Federal Executive Council, and State Executives Council meetings, opening and closing of sittings of Legislative Houses in Nigeria and Constitutional oath-swearing ceremonies. Others are: “Major celebrations, major award ceremonies, major commemorative ceremonies, national memorial ceremonies and the like, which are organised by MDAs, major diplomatic activities, major sporting events, other occasions as may from time to time, be determined by the minister responsible for education with the consent of the President.” It stated that the performance and singing of the national anthem shall follow the lyrics prescribed by the Federal Government of Nigeria. The new law prescribed that when the national anthem is performed and sung “-(a) those present shall stand and deport respectfully, and (b) at flag-raising ceremonies, those present shall face the flag, and uniformed military personnel, Police and other Security personnel are to give a hand salute, and other persons are to look on in respect. “The Ministry responsible for information shall organize the review and approval of the standard for performance of the national anthem, and record the official recording of the national anthem to be played. The standard and official recorded versions of the national anthem shall be published on the Federal Government of Nigeria’s website. “Primary and Secondary schools shall make the lyrics of the national anthem part of the civic education and organise pupils and students to learn the national anthem.The second stanza of the former national anthem shall be the national prayer,” the bill reads further. Presenting the Bill, the House Leader said that the old anthem gives a sense of commitment, sense of dedication and a desire to move Nigeria forward, hence the need for a change. “Mr Speaker a time comes in the life of every organisation or a nation when the people must sit down look at the past , the present, the future and have the courage, the sense of a nation to define , design the way forward. I believe that Nigeria is at that stage and momentum. “Great men have changed history. Mr Speaker, this bill is straightforward. It is a bill that seeks to enjoin us to at our Anthem as a national symbol and sign if authority. One that will pull us together, will give us hope and courage, a sense of duty to the nation. “That does not necessarily deny the reality and that is the maintain of contemporary societies. They deny reality, they pretend racism doesn’t exist, ethnicity doesn’t exist, poverty doesn’t exist. They rationalise this by looking at GMP, GDP and the reality stares people in the face and that is when you are faced with the realities then you can attack and deal with it frontally. “So it seeks to say that as a people as Nigerians fronting a new renewed hope moving forward, tackling the rot decay, dislocation and distortion of the past. We should go back to our old national anthem which gives us that energy, that sense of commitment, sense of dedication and a desire to move Nigeria forward. “I have taken time to look at the old Anthem, the old and the new, and as a Nigerian who had been involved in the struggle to make Nigeria a better place either as a student to the student union movement including the “Ali must go” movement or as a University teacher having been Secretary, vice chairman and chairman of ASUU or as a pro democracy activity who spent twelve and a half years in self exile. “I believe that the old anthem encompasses. I have taken time to look at the other anthems (the old and the new) we have been involved in the struggle to make Nigeria a better place. “I believe that the old Anthem, encompasses, contains, exudes the kind of energy, resourcefulness and a sense of vision that I believe is good for Nigeria. Mr Speaker the old Anthem not only begins by telling us of the pride to serve our nation which is what is required right now when people are “Japa-ing” left, right and centre. But it goes on to assert the sovereignty of our motherland. Speaking against the bill the Minority leader of the House Kingsley Chinda said the bill was not necessary at this difficult time. “Today we are taking ourselves back to the old National Anthem incidentally i will ask again is this bill important at the particular time in oir national lives, what value will it add to us as a nation.Tou see that these questions needs to be answered . ” Nigerians are looking up to us for more fundamental issues that will cause proper change .Prof took us to history days, what is the history we are about to make so i stand as a Nigerian to say no to this bill, I pray that we

  The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB) said the group has been vindicated by arrest of Chinasa Nwaneri Recall that on Monday, the Imo State police command confirmed the arrest of Nwanneri and four others over fraudulent activities. In a statement by IPOB’s Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful said the group has vindicated by the Police arrest of Mr. Chinasa Nwaneri over alleged fraud and intimidation, murder and kidnapping he pepertrated in Imo State and in South Eastern States. ”It will be recalled that IPOB has made numerous press statements over the violent intimidating and criminal activities of Mr Chinasa Nwaneri, in Imo State, supported by Hope Uzodinma, particularly the invasion and burning down of houses in Mbano before the governorship election in Imo State and Orlu zone. Powerful noted that the Police arrest of the said Nwaneri on fraud and intimidation is a new leg into the activities of the notorious Uzodinma’s aide. While IPOB knows the fraudulent activities of Nwaneri before he made the list of Uzodinma’s aide, IPOB know that other in Imo State who also know his past records and activities on issue relating to droid will not be surprise. ”The inclusion of Nwaneri as Uzodinma’s aid before his removal tells the type of characters that are in government in Imo State. The say in Igbo land that when the head is sick other parts of the body are also sick. Those who know Uzodinma before he entered into politics in Nigeria and subsequently become Governor in Imo State will not be surprise with the characters he has used and is still using to govern Imo State. ”We made allegations on the violent activities of Chinasa Nwaneri, many people particularly those who don’t know Uzodinma and Nwaneri may not believe us but now Police has arrested Nwaneri over fraud and intimidation including kidnappings and snatching of people’s cars in the region, we have been vindicated. The young man (Nwaneri’s) record in Imo State before he entered politics and now speaks volume. ”Half of numerous kidnapping and car snatching in the state and region were masterminded by Mr CHINASA Nwaneri criminal gangs known as Ebubeagu group. Therefore Nigerian police should hold CHINASA Nwaneri tight and never allow him go scot free from the terrorism act, he kidnapped and murdered many innocent people because of political interest. He also kidnapped for ransom of their victims because he has powers from Hope Uzodinma and his government in Imo state. ”It will be recalled that the national dailies in Nigeria has been awarshed with the arrest of Nwaneri by Imo State Police Command. ”The Police in Imo State confirmed the arrest of Mr. Nwaneri, the immediate past Special Adviser to Governor Hope Uzodinma on Special Duties over fraud allegation, something we all know is associated to him. ”The Police said that those arrested alongside Nwaneri were the President of Imo State Market Association Traders ISAMATA, Emmanuel Ezeanochie and three others. ”A press statement by Imo State Police Command spokesman Henry Okoye, simply said they were arrested over fraudulent activities but we in IPOB want to know their crime, Imo people will want to know the nature of their fraud to reconcile it with what Nwaneri is know for in the state. We want to know if it is the same kind of fraud the ex-Uzodinma’s aide is known for. ”The Police said the suspects were arrested for malicious damage, fraudulent activities, obtaining money under false pretense, (a crime we have already known for) and illegal use of government power/authority to harass, intimidate and frustrate the citizens of Imo State. ”Nwaneri had been Uzodinma’s personal aide for several years even before he became the Governor of Imo State, and we know why they have been that close, as our people say birds of the same feathers flock together. ”We know that was among the first set of appointees handling Soecial duties when Uzodinma took over power in Imo State on January 15, 2020.

  Thursday 23 May 2024 First anniversary: Tinubu directs 47 ministers to showcase scorecards Labour wants N497,000, FG laments paucity of funds Reps want seized property converted to govt offices FG bans money ritual, smoking scenes in Nollywood films Teesside varsity stops Nigerian students programmes, ordered to leave UK Prove claim military is profiting from terrorism, DHQ tells gov Labour Shifts To ₦497,000, Rejects FG’s Fresh ₦57,000 Wage Proposal CBN Issues Approved Guidelines For BDCs, Operators Get December Deadline To Reapply Speaker’s Impeachment: Security Agents Take Over Cross River Assembly Complex Emirates Airlines Must Apologise For Disrespecting Nigerians — Ex-Aviation Minister Court Grants Abba Kyari Bail For Two Weeks Tinubu To Attend Mahamat Déby’s Inauguration As Chad’s President Absence Of Binance Official Stalls Proceedings As Court Adjourns To June 14 Senate Seeks Special Intervention Funds To Maintain Transmission Lines Blogger VeryDarkMan Remanded For Alleged Cybercrime Tinubu Appoints ACM Shehu Mohammed As FRSC Corps Marshal Septuagenarian Collapses, Dies Inside Ondo Court Kano Assembly Advances Amendment To Emirate Council Laws Ireland, Norway, Spain to recognise Palestine Naira depreciates to N1,495/$ in parallel market NCAA threatens to penalise Turkish Airlines over ‘abrupt flight cancellations’ Zamfara Lawmaker’s Abducted Daughters Rescued After 17 Months One of abducted Abia children found Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…

  Nigerian Journalism once again came under attack on Wednesday, as the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the Globalupfront Newspaper (Online), Mr. Madu Onuorah was whisked away by men of the Nigerian Police Force at about 6pm. About ten fully-armed policemen stormed his residence in Lugbe, Abuja, in two Sienna buses. He was arrested in the presence of his wife and children who, fruitlessly demanded from the police why they were arresting the head of the family. The police have seized Mr. Onuorah’s phones, thereby completely cutting him off from communication with people, including his family members. He was not allowed to contact his lawyer or any of his relations before he was whisked away to the Lugbe police station by the stern looking operatives. To make sure Mr. Onuorah did not get attention or bail, the policemen who arrested him, though not of the Lugbe Police Station, simply dumped him at the Station and left no traces for friends and family members to reach them. Reacting to the arrest, the management of Globalupfront Newspapers, asked the police to immediately and unconditionally free Mr. Madu Onuorah. The management pointed out that Onuorah, who has worked in reputable newspapers such as being the former Abuja Bureau Chief of The Guardian Newspaper, former Managing-Director of The AUTHORITY Newspaper, has been operating operates within the ambit of the law. “Anybody who has any issue against Mr. Onuorah should approach the law court and not turn the Nigerian Police into a Gestapo outfit that bullies a man in the presence of his wife and children,” the newspapers said in a statement made available to journalists on Thursday in Abuja. “That any second Mr. Onuorah spends in police custody constitutes a serious infringement against his fundamental rights and a continuation of the assault on freedom of expression that has become frequent occurrence in Nigeria recently,” the paper noted.

  The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN yesterday released new operational guidelines for Bureau De Change, BDCs, and directing existing operators to reapply for new licenses and six six-month deadlines to meet the new minimum capital requirements. The new guidelines introduce two categories of BDCs, Tier 1 and Tier 2, with minimum capital requirements of N2 billion and N500 million respectively. The new guidelines were released yesterday via a circular to all BDC operators and stakeholders in the financial services industry. Among other things, the new guidelines limited the foreign currency holdings of BDCs (Net Open Position, NOP) to 30 per cent of shareholders’ funds unimpaired by losses. It also limited total borrowing to 50 per cent of shareholders’ funds unimpaired by losses. Titled, “Regulatory and Supervisory Guidelines for BDC Operation in Nigeria”, the circular was signed by the Director, Financial Policy and Regulation Department, Haruna Mustafa. The circular stated: “As part of reforms to re-position the Bureau De Change (BDC) sub-sector to play its envisioned role in the foreign exchange market in Nigeria, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) issued the Draft Operational Guidelines for BDC Operations in Nigeria in February 2024, for stakeholder comments/inputs. “Following the conclusion of the stakeholder consultations and in the exercise of the powers conferred on it by Section 56 of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2020, the CBN hereby issues the attached Regulatory and Supervisory Guidelines for Bureau De Change Operations in Nigeria 2024 for compliance by all operators and promoters of proposed BDCs in Nigeria. “The Guidelines, amongst others, introduce new licensing requirements and categories of BDCs as well as revise the permissible activities, financial requirements, corporate governance requirements and AMUCFT/CPF provisions for BDCs. “All existing BDCs shall; Re-apply for a new license according to any of the Tiers or license category of their choice as provided in the Guidelines; “Meet the minimum capital requirements for the license category applied for within six (6) months from the effective date of the Guidelines.”

  A federal high court in Abuja has granted bail to Abba Kyari, suspended deputy commissioner of police (DCP), for two weeks. Kyari has been in detention since his arrest in February 2022. In the ruling delivered on Tuesday, Emeka Nwite, the presiding judge, said the bail is to enable Kyari to conclude the burial rites of his mother, Yachilla Kyari, who died on May 5. The judge ruled that Kyari should deposit his international passport with the court and report to any National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) formation nearest to him, within the period of the bail. The judge fixed May 31 for the determination of Kyari’s main application for bail in the drug trafficking charge. Kyari was arrested on February 14, 2022, after the NDLEA declared him wanted over alleged links with an international drug cartel. On March 7, 2022, Kyari was arraigned alongside Sunday Ubia, Bawa James, Simon Agirigba, and John Nuhu, who are members of the police intelligence response team (IRT). Others are Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, two suspected drug traffickers who were arrested at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu. Upon arraignment, Kyari and four other defendants pleaded not guilty. However, Umeibe and Ezenwanne, the sixth and seventh defendants, pleaded guilty and were convicted accordingly. Since then, applications by the defendants to be released on bail have been rejected. The presiding judge refused to grant the defendants bail twice after they argued that their lives were being threatened by criminals whom Kyari’s team arrested. The court of appeal in Abuja also dismissed Kyari’s appeal for bail. In a sister case, the suspended DCP is also standing trial on a 24-count charge alongside his two siblings – Mohammed Kyari and Ali Kyari – over non-disclosure of assets. The defendants were granted bail in that case. However, the judge noted that Kyari’s release from prison custody is dependent on what happens in the drug trafficking case.