Governor Soludo of Anàmbra State has been asked to order for the repainting of buildings in Anambra State especially the ones in urban and semi-urban areas of the State. The Anambra Elders Forum (AEF), which made the call in a statement they made available to newsmen in Onitsha, the Anambra State commercial hub said the repainting and rehabilitation of buildings in the State would create not only aesthetic beauty for our urban cities but also enhance socio-economic development of the State. In the statement signed by the Director of Information, AEF, Chief Uzoma Anunihu, they said the repainting and renovation should take effect from August 2024 and end in December 2024, saying that it would give Anambra a befitting look during this year’s yuletide. The group said some states in the county have gone ahead to implement the policy, saying that Anambra would have joined the League of Environmentally Clean States if it implemented the program. They said it would also create job opportunities for artisans in the State who would be involved in painting and Mason works. AEF said if Governor Soludo carried out the program in addition to the current strategic decongestion of roads in the State, he would have succeeded in turning Anambra into the most beautiful State in the country.

  The General Superintendent of Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor Williams Kumuyi, has debunked circulating rumours about his alleged relocation to the United Kingdom. In a message posted on the Facebook page of Cross River State Deeper Life, the cleric described the relocation rumour as misleading. “You must have read that I relocated to the UK,” he said, before asking, “Did I relocate?” Clarifying the situation, Pastor Kumuyi explained, “I did not relocate anywhere. I travelled for a crusade and conference, and because of the time difference, the events couldn’t be transmitted back home. “Some countries, like the one I visited in May, have about five hours of time difference. When it is 7 am here, it will be 2 am there. There’s no way I could transmit that here because of the time difference.” He further elaborated on his travels, stating, “I visited many countries in the United Arab Emirates preaching the gospel. “It was a long trip, and after that, I needed a few days to rest to avoid returning weary and unable to preach. So I waited. And because I spent that time, they told you that I have relocated.” Pastor Kumuyi expressed shock over the rumours, recounting how someone wrote a letter to him addressed to the UK branch of the church, believing he had moved there. The letter stated, “I need prayers. I need counselling. But I heard you are now based in London.” Addressing his congregation, Kumuyi urged them to remain steadfast and not be swayed by misleading information. “You will not believe a lie. In our church, people creeping in are careless and corrupt. “They deliberately want to poison your mind against your pastor. “Nobody will do that to you. Someone hears that the General Superintendent of Deeper Life has relocated to England, and you read that without understanding. “They want to scatter us and say, ‘What are you still doing there? Your pastor has relocated to England.’ They tell other people, and those people tell more people. I did not relocate anywhere,” he added.

  France’s President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Gabriel Attal’s government on Tuesday, which will now serve only in a caretaker capacity, the presidency said. French politics have been in gridlock since an inconclusive snap election earlier this month, with parties in the National Assembly scrambling to put together a governing coalition and no successor to Attal in sight. The outgoing premier and his team would “handle day-to-day business until a new government is named”, the Elysee Palace said. “For this period to come to an end as quickly as possible, it is up to republican forces to work together to build unity,” it added, referring to mainstream political parties but excluding the far right and hard left. Macron had announced the plan earlier in the day at the government’s first cabinet meeting since his allies got roundly beaten earlier this month in a snap parliamentary election he had called to “clarify” the political landscape. Macron told the ministers he would ask Attal to stay on “for some weeks”, probably until after the Paris Olympics, which open on July 26, meeting participants said. This gives political parties more time to build a governing coalition after the July 7 election runoff left the lower house without an overall majority. – Left infighting – A broad alliance called the New Popular Front (NFP) which includes Socialists, Communists, Greens and the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) won the most seats, with 193 in the 577-strong lower chamber. ADVERTISEMENT Macron’s allies came second with 164 seats and the far-right National Rally (RN) third with 143. The divided NFP alliance has been scrambling to come up with a consensus candidate for prime minister. But internal conflicts — notably between the LFI and the more moderate Socialists — have thwarted all efforts to find a personality able to survive a confidence vote in parliament. Over the weekend, the Socialists torpedoed the hopes of Huguette Bello, 73, a former communist member of parliament and the president of the regional council in France’s overseas territory La Reunion, who had support from the other left-wing parties. The LFI, in turn, rejected 73-year-old Laurence Tubiana, an economist and climate specialist without political affiliation, who had the backing of the Socialists, Communists and Green party. Leftist lawmaker Francois Ruffin on Tuesday called the NFP’s infighting “shameful”, a day after Green member of parliament Sandrine Rousseau said the disagreements made her “very angry”. – ‘No warmth’ – On Saturday, Attal was voted in as leader of his party’s National Assembly contingent, as he eyes his own future outside government, saying he would “contribute to the emergence of a majority concerning projects and ideas”. Macron and Attal, observers say, are still hoping to find a right-of-centre majority in parliament that would keep both the LFI and the far-right RN out of any new coalition. Macron told the Tuesday’s cabinet meeting that it was the “responsibility” of his allies to come up with a proposal “for a majority coalition or a wide-ranging legislative pact”. This, he said, would help preserve his government’s “economic achievements” and favour “social justice”. Following their resignation, Attal and other cabinet members will be able to take their seats in parliament and participate in any coalition building. Parliament reconvenes on Thursday and will start by filling the National Assembly speaker job and other key positions. Cracks have appeared between Attal and his former mentor Macron, whom the prime minister appears to blame for the electoral defeat only six months after being appointed France’s youngest ever head of government at 34. At Tuesday’s cabinet meeting there was “no tension” visible between the two men, but “no warmth” either, said one participant. Macron still has almost three years to go as president before elections in 2027, when far-right leader Marine Le Pen is expected to make a fresh bid for power. AFP

  Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Dr Abraham Ehizojie, the Medical Doctor at the health facility of the Kuje Correctional Centre, over alleged refusal to produce the medical report of the detained executive of Binance Holdings Ltd, Tigran Gambaryan. Justice Nwite gave the order following an application by Gambaryan’s lawyer, Mark Mordi, on Tuesday. Gambaryan was whisked into the court building in a wheelchair earlier in the day. He, alongside the cryptocurrency firm, is facing a money laundering charge preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Justice Nwite had, on July 5, ordered the management of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to release the medical certificate of Gambaryan on or before July 16. The judge gave the order following an application by Mordi. Mordi had prayed the court to summon Ehizojie to explain why he had allegedly refused to make available his client’s medical report despite an earlier court order. Gambaryan had, on May 23, collapsed in the open court over alleged ill health. At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Mordi said in open court that the judge’s order had not been complied with. The judge then asked a prison official who brought Gambaryan to court about the development. The prison official said he got the court order and delivered the order to the doctor on July 9, 2024. The EFCC counsel, Ekene Iheanacho, told the judge that he thought that the medical officer would be in court today. Mordi then prayed the court to issue a bench warrant against the medical officer of the correctional centre to be produced in court at the next adjourned date. The lawyer also asked the court to make an order for his client to be given hospital remand immediately so that a thorough medical examination could be carried out on him to know his true state of health. Iheanacho, who did not dispute the fact that the defendant should be given adequate treatment, disagreed that Gambaryan should be placed in hospital remand. After listening to counsel’s submissions, Nwite said it was unfortunate that a government institution would be treating a court order with levity. “I hereby make an order of bench arrant on the medical doctor at the Kuje Correctional Service, to appear before this court,” he said. He also ordered that Gambaryan be taken to the Nizamiye Hospital for medicare for 24 hours, at any time of his choice but under full security surveillance. The judge adjourned the matter until October 11 and October 18 for the continuation of the trial. Earlier, Dr Olubukola Akinwunmi, Head, Payment Policy and Regulation Division at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), gave evidence and was cross-examined by Babatunde Fagbohunlu, SAN, counsel for Binance, the first defendant in the criminal charge.

  The Court of Appeal Abuja, has dismissed the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party and its governorship candidate, Samuel Anyawu, challenging the decision of the Imo State tribunal, which affirmed the election of Hope Uzodinma as the authentic governor of the state. The court held that the appeal lacked merit having resolved all issues formulated against the appellants in the suit. In the same vein, the appellate court also dismissed the appeal by the Labour Party and its candidate, Achonu Nneji, and that of the Allied Peoples Movement for also lacking in merit. The appellants who were dissatisfied with the tribunal Judgment, had approached the court of appeal on grounds that the November 11, 2023 election, was invalid because of non-compliance with the provision of the Electoral Act. The appellants also challenged Uzodimma’s qualification with an allegation that his WAEC Certificate of Education result, was forged. While delivering judgment, the court of appeal held that the appellants in their appeal, failed to prove the allegation of non-compliance as alleged. The three-man panel led by Justice Bitrus Sanga also held that the appellants failed, to prove that the governor submitted a forged certificate.

  The Rivers State House of Assembly led by Victor Oko-Jumbo, has condemned the resolution by the Martin Amaewhule-led House, barring Governor Siminalayi Fubara from spending public funds. The Speaker, Victor Oko-Jumbo stated this in his opening remark during plenary on Tuesday. He said what Amaewhule and 24 others whom he described as former members of the House did, was unfounded and without validity. Oko-Jumbo argued that the group had no legal capacity or moral basis, to bar the governor from spending public funds. He insisted that Amaewhule and 24 others are not members of the Assembly, following their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in December, 2023. Buttressing his argument, he said the section of the constitution which deals with the issue of defection is self-executing. He added that the section was further made effective following the declaration of the 25 seats vacant by Edison Ehie, who was legally recognised by a court as the Speaker, before his assumption He stated that the Assembly led by him, is the legally recognised section, which of course manages the statutory allocation of the house. Oko-Jumbo explained that Governor Fubara had duly presented the said appropriation bill to the house when Edison Ehie was the speaker, and that same was passed and signed into law. He said that the house is awaiting the presentation of the medium-term expenditure framework ahead of the 2025 fiscal year. He urged the public to ignore the Amaewhule pronouncement, and called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to without delay conduct the bye-election to fill the 25 vacant seats in the house. It would be recalled that on Monday, the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly, shut down all expenditures of the Rivers State governor. This followed a seven-day ultimatum the lawmakers gave the governor to present his budget before the House. The Leader of the House, Major Jack had raised the motion, after informing the House about the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum given to the governor to present the 2024 budget before the House. After deliberation, the House voted to shut down the Rivers State Consolidated Revenue Account, thus preventing Governor Fubara’s administration from spending any money on behalf of the state. Fubara had some months back, presented the budget to a set of lawmakers loyal to him. The House of Assembly members were then led by Edison Ehie who is now the governor’s chief of staff. Ehie and the lawmakers had then passed the budget estimates which Fubara later signed into law.

  A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama on Tuesday, refused an application by the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, to be granted permission to travel to the United Kingdom for a medical check-up. Emefiele is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission before on an amended 20-count charge bordering on procurement fraud, obtaining by pretence, and forgery while he held sway as governor of the apex bank. At the resumed hearing on the application for medical leave, the trial Judge, Justice Hamza Muazu, held that Emefiele failed to supply sufficient reasons to show that the medical trip was essential and unavoidable. Justice Muazu, in a ruling, while denying Emefiele’s request said he failed to show the court a copy of the medical appointment or invitation from the United Kingdom he claimed invited him for a medical check-up despite stating he will be away from July 28 to September 10. THE LOUNGE: Engaged To A Girl I Gang-R?ped In School – Should I Confess My Involvement0.00 / 0.00 The judge also said Emefiele could not establish that his ailment could not be attended to in Nigeria. The judge said although the court has the power to exercise its discretion, it might be a little too much of a request for Emefiele to ask because he is standing trial in three different courts in FCT and Lagos for various charges. “As it stands now, I cannot use my discretion to grant the application, and he is standing trial in three courts. “The application is hereby dismissed, and the adjourned date for continuation of trial still stands,” Justice Muazu said. Recall that EFCC had argued against Emefiele’s application on July 8. The prosecution counsel, Muhammad Omeiza, contended that there is no medical report showing that Emefiele was suffering from any particular ailment that could not be treated in Nigeria as presented to the court. He argued that Emefiele is a flight risk due to his connections with co-conspirators abroad, adding that the applicant is facing trials in three different courts. Emefiele’s counsel, Hakeem Labi-Lawal, urged the court to grant his client’s request and release his passport which was deposited as part of his bail conditions to the court registrar. He said the defence arguments were speculative. He added that an international red alert could ensure Emefiele is returned if he did not comply after the medical trip. After listening to both parties, Justice Muazu subsequently adjourned to today to rule on the application. Among others, Emefiele was said to have forged a document titled: “Re: Presidential Directive on Foreign Election Observer Missions ” dated January 26, 2023, with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201 and purported same to have emanated from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. He is also accused of using his office as CBN governor to confer unfair and corrupt advantage on two companies; April 1616 Nigeria Ltd and Architekon Nigeria Ltd. Emefiele in the amended charge was alleged to have, on February 8, 2023, knowingly obtained, by pretense, $6,230,000.00 by falsely representing that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation vide a letter dated January 26, 2023, with Ref No. SGF 43/L.01/201 requested the CBN to provide a contingent logistic advance for $6,230,000 “in line with Mr. President’s directive.”

  The Kano house of assembly has passed a bill to create second class emirates in the state. The bill, which was introduced on Monday, passed second and third readings on Tuesday. The legislation is seeking to create three emirates — Rano (Rano, Bunkure, Kibiya), Karaye (Karaye, Rogo), and Gaya (Gaya, Ajingi, Albasu). The second class emirates will be under Muhammadu Sanusi II, Emir of Kano. The development comes a day after a Kano state high court permanently restrained Aminu Bayero from parading himself as the Emir of Kano pending the determination of a suit. Aminu Aliyu, the presiding judge, also restrained four other dethroned emirs of Bichi, Gaya, Rano, and Karaye from parading themselves as monarchs. On May 23, Sanusi was reinstated as emir by Abba Yusuf, governor of Kano, at a colourful ceremony in government house. The Kano house of assembly repealed the law used by Abdullahi Ganduje, former governor of the state, to depose and exile Sanusi in 2020. The repeal paved the way for the reinstatement of Sanusi and the dethronement of Bayero. Since his dethronement, Bayero has been residing at the mini Nassarawa palace. The emirship tussle in Kano has heightened tension in the state since Bayero returned to a hero’s welcome in May — hours after he was deposed.