Crime Facts

Court stops Bayero, four others from parading selves as Emirs

  A Kano State High Court presided over by Justice Amina Aliyu has perpetually restrained Aminu Ado-Bayero and four other deposed Emirs of Bichi, Rano, Gaya and Karaye from parading themselves as Emirs. Delivering the judgment on Monday, Justice Aliyu further restrained the 15th Emir of Kano and four other dethroned Emirs by themselves, servants, privies and any other persons appointed by them from parading themselves as Emirs of Kano, Bichi, Gaya, Rano, Karaye. Recall that the Kano State Government had filed a suit asking the state High Court to stop the 15th Emir, Bayero, and four other Emirs of Karaye, Bichi, Rano and Gaya from parading themselves as Emirs. The government also gave the deposed Emirs 48 hours within which to vacate their respective palaces after being deposed. However, Justice Aliyu said while delivering the judgment, that the issue of evicting the deposed Emir, Bayero, from his Nassarawa mini palace is a rent tribunal matter and is not before it. In her judgment, she directed the deposed Emir and four other former Emirs to quickly hand over all the Emirate Traditional Royal Artefacts to the government and the substantive Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II. Justice Aliyu also said that the State Assembly Emirate Council Repeal Law 2024 was done according to the Law as enshrined in Section 4 of the Constitution. Similarly, she ruled that the State Governor, Abba Yusuf, assenting to the law is also done perfectly according to the Constitution.

UAE Visas Now Available For Nigerians — FG

  The Federal Government has reached an agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to allow Nigerian passport holders to obtain visas for travel to that Arab nation starting today, July 15, 2024. The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this on Monday when he briefed State House correspondents following the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting. The announcement comes more than two years after the UAE suspended visa issuance to Nigerians following a period of protracted diplomatic row with Africa’s most populous nation. It also comes about two months after UAE national carrier Emirates Airlines announced the resumption of flights to Nigeria. The airline said in May that its daily Lagos-Dubai flights would resume from October 1, 2024. Emirates Airlines suspended its Dubai-Lagos flights in 2022 over its inability to repatriate trapped funds in Nigeria in the heat of the diplomatic fireworks between the two countries. Nigeria and the UAE have a long history of restriction of flights between both countries based on certain unresolved issues surrounding the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA). Visa restrictions later surfaced as diplomatic fireworks continued between Nigeria and the UAE, which is a top destination for Nigerian migrants and tourists. In September 2023, President Bola Tinubu met with UAE President, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in Abu Dhabi, to smoothen the rough edges in the diplomatic relations between the two countries. More to follow…

Egbetokun Suspends Enforcement Of Electronic CMR After Criticisms

  The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun has ordered the suspension of the proposed enforcement process on the Electronic Central Motor Registry Registration Process (e-CMR). The process was initially scheduled to commence on the 29th of July, 2024. In a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, the relaxation of enforcement is to allow for massive enlightenment to highlight the benefits and effectiveness of the e-CMR initiative, which is designed to ensure the safety and security of all types of vehicles, including motorcycles by collating data imputed into the system by vehicle owners, and acting on such to flag the vehicles if reported stolen amongst other values The statement further explained that the e-CMR is not a revenue-generating platform, but an initiative to digitalise policing for effectiveness and general safety of lives and property of Nigerian residents. While urging members of the public to obtain the digitalised CMR certificate online at https://cmris.npf.gov.ng, the IGP warned all police officers, to desist from requesting e-CMR certificates, as individuals found extorting or exploiting members of the public under the guise of not having e-CMR certificates, will be sanctioned accordingly. The suspension comes after the Nigerian Bar Association’s Section on Public Interest issued an ultimatum to Egbetokun, demanding the immediate reversal of the directive. The directive had mandated vehicle owners across the country, to register and obtain a Central Motor Information System Certificate at a cost not less than ₦6,000. NBA-SPIDEL Chairman, John Aikpokpo-Martins and Secretary Funmi Adeogun of the NBA Section on Public Interest, issued the call in a letter directed to the IGP. The association questioned the legal basis for the Nigeria Police Force’s issuance of the CMRIS Certificates, stating that no law had granted the police the authority to issue such licences or certificates to vehicle owners following vehicle registration at the appropriate offices. It demanded an immediate halt to the issuance and enforcement of the CMRIS Certificates, urging the Inspector General of Police to issue a directive stopping the practice nationwide. They also called for the shutdown of the registration website and physical registration centres, with refunds to be made to those who had already paid.

Rivers Crisis: Amaewhule-Led Assembly Shuts Down Expenditures By Gov Fubara

  The Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly has shut down all expenditures of the Rivers State governor until Governor Siminalayi Fubara presents his budget before the House.   This follows a seven-day ultimatum the lawmakers gave the governor to present his budget before the House. The Leader of the House Major Jack raised the motion 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.   More to follow…

No Non-Ogoni Will Resume, MOSOP Tells FG Over Removal Of HYPREP Coordinator

  The Movement for The Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) has criticised the Federal Government’s decision to replace the current HYPREP Coordinator and an Ogoni native, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, with Dr. Olufemi Adekanmbi. In a statement, MOSOP argued that Prof. Zabbey, a non-partisan Ogoni, is highly qualified and dedicated to the role, which focuses on the environmental remediation of Ogoni land based on the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) Report. In the statement signed by MOSOP President, Prof. Olu Wai-Oguso, the group demanded the immediate reinstatement of Prof. Zabbey to complete his tenure, ensure that HYPREP is not used to settle political scores, and allow appointed HYPREP Coordinators to serve their full terms for stability and growth in Ogoni. MOSOP threatened to block the new appointee from entering Ogoni and seal the HYPREP office in Port-Harcourt if a non-Ogoni is appointed as HYPREP Coordinator. It said, “MOSOP insists that HYPREP must serve the Ogoni people and not political interests.” The leadership change in HYPREP has continued to attract reactions since its announcement. On Saturday, July 13 in a press release signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media, the approval of the appointment of the new HYPREP PC, Dr. Olufemi Adekambi was announced. He replaces Prof Nenibarini Zabbey who has served one year out of the statutory four-year tenure stipulated for HYPREP’s Project Co-ordinator.

BREAKING: Nigeria inflation soars to 34.19%

  Nigeria’s annual inflation rate increased for the fifth consecutive month to 34.19 per cent as residents of Africa’s most populous country grapple with a cost of living crisis, Premium Times is reporting. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), released on Monday, the June figure is 0.24 per cent higher than the 33.95 per cent recorded in May. The lowest figure in 2024 was 29.90 per cent, recorded in January. On a year-on-year basis, the headline inflation rate was 11.40 per cent points higher compared to the rate recorded in June 2023, which was 22.79 per cent. “This shows that the headline inflation rate (year-on-year basis) increased in the month of June 2024 when compared to the same month in the preceding year (i.e. June 2023),” the NBS said. The bureau also said on a month-on-month basis, the headline inflation rate in June 2024 was 2.31 per cent, which was 0.17 per cent higher than the rate recorded in May 2024 (2.14 per cent). This, it said, means that in the month of June 2024, the rate of increase in the average price level is higher than the rate of increase in the average price level in May 2024. According to the report, the food inflation rate in June 2024 rose 40.87 per cent on a year-on-year basis, which was 15.62 per cent points higher compared to the rate recorded in June 2023 (25.25 per cent). More details later……

NNPC reveals why stake in Dangote refinery was reduced to 7.2%

  The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited says its decision to limit its equity participation in the Dangote Petroleum Refinery was made months ago. In a statement on Sunday, Femi Soneye, NNPC’s spokesperson, said the national oil firm periodically evaluates its investment portfolio to make sure it is in line with the company’s strategic objectives. On Sunday, Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest person, said the NNPC no longer owns 20 percent stake in his refinery. Dangote said NNPC now owns 7.2 percent of the refinery over failure to pay the balance of their share, which was due in June. In response, Soneye said Dangote refinery was informed several months prior of NNPC’s decision to limit its equity participation at the paid-up amount. “NNPC Limited periodically assesses its investment portfolio to ensure alignment with the company’s strategic goals,” he said. “The decision to cap its equity participation at the paid-up sum was made and communicated to Dangote Refinery several months ago.” In September 2021, NNPC acquired a 20 percent interest in Dangote refinery for $2.76 billion. Revealing details of the transaction, NNPC, in its audited financial statements for 2022, said NNPC Greenfield holds the investment. NNPC said the balance ($1.76 billion) of the cost of equity investments made in Dangote refinery would be paid upon completion of the refinery project or any other date agreed. Dangote refinery commenced production on January 12.

DAILIES TOP STORIES: Dangote lists refinery shares March, supplies petrol August

  Monday 15 July 2024 Creating more states won’t solve S’East problems – Agbakoba LG autonomy: Nigerians draw up new expectation lists as S’Court breaks govs’ stranglehold Tinubu, world leaders condemn assassination attempt on Trump PDP Wins All 21 LG Seats In Adamawa Plateau Building Collapse An Avoidable Tragedy, Says NEMA NDLEA Uncovers Cocaine, Tramadol Hidden In Shoes, Custard Containers Disclose details of FG’s agreement with Twitter, court orders information ministry Consumer spending down as Nigerians remain gloomy on economy Katsina elders blast FG over insecurity, poverty, LGBT Equity market down as investors eye inflation, H1 earnings reports S’Court verdict: Panic in states as 437 LGs risk zero allocation this month Samoa Report: Ombudsman Writes Daily Trust, Asks For Response Banks’ credits to private sector rise to N74.31tr The Nation, Blueprint reporters regain freedom   Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…

NNPC no longer owns 20% stake in Dangote refinery – Dangote reveals

  The Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Refinery, Aliko Dangote, Sunday said that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation no longer owns a 20 per cent stake in the refinery. The richest man in Africa stated this while briefing journalists in Lagos State. According to him: “NNPC no longer owns a 20% stake in the Dangote refinery. They were met to pay their balance in June but have yet to fulfill the obligations. Now, they only own a 7.2% stake in the refinery.”

Delta poll: PDP sweeps all 25 LGs

  The Peoples Democratic Party has won all seats in Saturday’s Local Government election conducted across 500 wards in the 25 Local Government Areas of Delta State. The election was contested by ten political parties, who fielded candidates for chairmanship and councillorship positions. Declaring the results, the Chief Electoral Officer and Chairman of Delta State Independent Electoral Commission, Dr Raphael Agbaike, said the PDP contested and won in 24 LGs in the July 13 2024 election. ‘’However, the chairmanship candidate of the PDP in Udu Local Government Area was returned unopposed. “The PDP candidates for councillorship positions contested and won 499 electoral wards while the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) won one electoral ward in Oshimili North Local Government Area” he declared. Certificates of return were presented to 25 council chairmen. Meanwhile, TAF Africa has commended the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission for their exceptional efforts in ensuring a more inclusive and secure election environment, particularly for those with disabilities. The Founder of TAF Africa, Mr Jake Epelle, made the commendation on Sunday while giving the foundation report in Asaba after the 2024 Local Government election.   “Our observations from the field highlight both the positive strides made and the areas needing improvement to promote a truly inclusive democratic process,” he said. Epelle listed some key observations including adequate security and peaceful conduct, low voter turnout due to apathy, disfranchisement due to new polling units, inclusive voting practices, and non-conduct of elections in specific areas. He highlighted the need for SIEC to consider relocating these voters to polling units closer to their homes for better convenience and mobility. On his part, the Programme Officer of TAF Africa, Mr. Adeolu Kilanko explained that voter apathy posed a significant threat to the democratic system, adding that the impact was more pronounced in people with disabilities. “Voter apathy can lead to their voices being further marginalized. It is essential to ensure that the electoral process is not only inclusive but also perceived as trustworthy and transparent. “We can encourage greater participation from all segments of society including persons with disabilities, by rebuilding confidence in our elections”, Kilanko stressed. Also speaking, TAF Senior Communication Manager, Lynn Agwuocha called on all electoral management bodies to prioritize rebuilding public confidence and to make necessary adjustments to facilitate easier access to voting for all citizens particularly those with disabilities.