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President Tinubu, APC Governors Meet For First Time

Tosin Ranks
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President Tinubu, APC Governors Meet For First Time

Governors at the meeting include: Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos); Hope Uzodinma (Imo); Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa); Umar Namadi (Jigawa); Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe); Yahaya Bello (Kogi); Babagana Zulum (Borno) and Mai Mala Buni (Yobe).

Others are Uba Sani (Kaduna); Dikko Radda (Katsina); Father Hyacinth Alia (Benue); AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara); Dapo Abiodun (Ogun); Umar Bago (Niger); Aliyu Ahmed (Sokoto); Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi) and Bassey Otu (Cross River).

Other APC Governors not seen at the meeting include Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (Ondo) Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti);and Dr Nasir Idris (Kebbi).

Also in the meeting are the Permanent Secretary of the State House, Tijjani Umar and former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Nuhu Ribadu.

The agenda of the meeting, which kicked at around 11:35am, was unknown as at the time of filing this report.

Just In: Tinubu appoints Gbajabiamila as Chief of Staff, Akume, SGF

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Just In: Tinubu appoints Gbajabiamila as Chief of Staff, Akume, SGF

The President, Bola Tinubu, on Friday, appointed the outgoing Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, as his new Chief of Staff.

He also appointed a former Deputy Governor of Jigawa State, Sen. Ibrahim Hadejia, as Deputy Chief of Staff and Former Minister of Special Duties, George Akume, as Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

This was revealed in a statement signed on Friday by the State House Director of Information, Abiodun Oladunjoye, titled ‘President Tinubu appoints Gbajabiamila COS, Sen. Ibrahim Hadejia, DCOS, George Akume, SGF.’

“In a meeting with Progressives Governors Forum, the President also named former Governor of Benue State and immediate past Minister of Special Duties, George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation,” the statement read.

INEC explains kicking against tendering own documents against Tinubu’s election

Tosin Ranks
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INEC explains kicking against tendering own documents against Tinubu’s election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has shed light on why it kicked against the tendering of its documents as exhibits by the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Gregory Obi, to establish his petition against the election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The electoral body had on Thursday vehemently objected to the admission of several documents brought to the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) by Obi and the Labour Party for the purpose of tendering them as exhibits to justify their petition.

However, at Friday’s proceedings, INEC lawyer Kemi Pinheiro SAN, told the court that the electoral body kicked against the tendering of certified true copies of the documents, mainly election result sheets, because Obi and the Labour Party did not challenge the conduct of the election in the areas relating to the documents.

Pinheiro explained that issues were not joined in the local government areas where the result sheets were sought to be tendered, adding that it was wrong of the petitioners to go beyond the areas where the election is disputed.

He accused Obi of trying to confuse issues by bringing result sheets where he did not dispute the election and the returns adding that the presidential candidate ought to have guided himself with the pleadings in his petition.

According to INEC, the local government areas unlawfully smuggled into proceedings of the court are totally strange to the petition and cannot stand in the face of the law.

INEC’s explanation offered while lawyers were ordered to make an appearance, however, drew the anger of the Presiding Justice of the Court, Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani.

Justice Tsammani held that it was wrong of INEC’s lawyer to have smuggled the explanation into the proceedings because all parties in the petition had agreed to offer such explanations at the address stage of proceedings.

Pinheiro, in return, apologized to the court but said that he was forced to speak up on the objections because of the deluge of criticisms suffered in the media by his client.

The senior lawyer hinted that social media users had turned his client to an object of ridicule without finding out reasons for objections against the admissibility of the documents.

Meanwhile, the court has admitted as exhibits form EC8A from 21 local government areas of Adamawa and eight local government areas of Bayelsa States and parts of Rivers and Niger State as tendered by Obi and the Labour Party.

Peter Afoba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, is conducting proceedings for Obi and LP.

Earlier, hearing in the petition of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) was further shifted to June 9 by the court to enable lawyers to obtain the May 26 judgment of the Supreme Court that would determine whether the petition still has life to sustain it or not.

 

I Have No Doubt Tinubu Will Perform – Oba Of Benin

Tosin Ranks
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I Have No Doubt Tinubu Will Perform – Oba Of Benin

The Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, has said he has no doubt that President Bola Tinubu will perform excellently as the country’s helmsman, given his antecedent.

The Oba made the declaration on Thursday in a congratulatory message to Tinubu, which he signed on behalf of Royal Court of Benin, Benin Royal family and the people of Edo State.

He called on the President to give priority to youth development, while praying that God and the ancestors would back the President to deliver on his mandate.

“Your swearing-in as the 16th President of this great country was a result of the fulfilment of destiny, the people’s will and, the wish of God Almighty who made it possible (for you) to assume the mantle of leadership.

“From your antecedent, we have no doubt that you will excel in this position and fulfil your mandate to Nigerians. We, however, plead with Your Excellency to give more priority to youth development in this country,” the monarch said.

Tyrone is a story dare to my heart – Waheed Folarin

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Tyrone is a story dare to my heart – Waheed Folarin

The Nollywood industry as wide number of creative actors and Filmmakers. One we can refer to is Waheed Folarin, an actor, producer and serial entrepreneur.

He is the CEO of Wide World Films. The Abeokuta based actor who In the past have consistently produced several educative and creative movies. Some of the movies he has produced includes; Aba meta, Apola, Ola daddy, Kanmi, Ire ati Anu, Second chance and many more other movies.

 

Moreover, his ne movie TYRONE, directed by 9icefilms is the latest in his catalogue. According to him, Tyrone is a story dare to my heart. I decided to shoot the movie in English language in order to pass the message in a way I feel it’s best.

 

Some of the casts in the movie includes, Odunade Adekola,Tayo Sobola, Femi Jacobs, Emeka Darlington, Uche Montana, Waheed Folarin and several other actors.

The movie TYRONE will be premeir this Sunday, 4th June at Obasanjo Presidential Library OOPL in Abeokuta. Some of the special guests appearance set to grace the event includes; Remisce Alaga, Small Doctor, Shanko Rasheed, Baddy Osha and many more others.

The tickets for the premeir is still selling fast you.can get it at OOPL and designated sales point.

The former supermodel is suing Bill Cosby for sexual assault in 1969

Tosin Ranks
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The former supermodel is suing Bill Cosby for sexual assault in 1969

A former model, Victoria Valentino, has filed a sexual lawsuit against comedian Bill Cosby, alleging Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted her in 1969.

In her lawsuit, she said she met the actor in 1969 while she was an actress and singer.

According to her, they, however, later ran into each other at a Los Angeles restaurant and Cosby came over to say hello after spotting her in tears over the recent drowning death of her 6-year-old son. Later that day he gave her a pill,

Here! Take this! ” It will make you feel better. It will make us ALL feel better,” she alleged that Cosby told her.

Her lawsuit was filed on Thursday in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

The lawsuit is possible because of a new California law that lifts the statute of limitations for civil sexual abuse cases.

However, a representative for Cosby, Andrew Wyatt, criticised the new law in a statement, Fox News reports.

Victoria Valentino has skirted from town to town, promoting her alleged allegations against Mr. Cosby to anyone that would give her platform, without any proof or facts. It’s unfortunate that media has not vetted the inconsistencies in her many statements.”

“However, it’s more deeply disturbing and disappointing that our lawmakers would push forward these ‘Look Back Windows,’ which are a sheer violation of all Americans’ constitutional rights,” he added.

Statutes of Limitations reside in the Constitution, in order to protect those who are victims of a crime and to protect those that are accused of a crime. Unfortunately, these ‘Look Back Windows’ are brought to life because our political figures are being driven by click-baiters, likes and followers, in order to excel to their political aspirations.”

“What graveyard can Mr. Cosby visit, in order to dig up potential witnesses to testify on his behalf? America is continuing to see that this is a formula to make sure that no more Black Men in America accumulate the American Dream that was secured by Mr. Cosby.”

Tinubu Has Ordered Palliatives To Cushion Effects Of Subsidy Removal – Kyari

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Tinubu Has Ordered Palliatives To Cushion Effects Of Subsidy Removal – Kyari

The group chief executive officer (GCEO) of Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, has disclosed that President Bola Tinubu has ordered the putting in place of palliatives to cushion the effect of removal of fuel subsidy on Nigerians.

He also insisted that there was no going back on subsidy removal, as it was quite apparent that Nigeria can no longer afford the subsidy payment.

The NNPCL boss, who disclosed these after meeting behind-closed doors with members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Thursday, said the NNPCL won’t continue to be sole importer of oil in the country.

Kyari stated: “There is a gradual process now of making a flexible and single effect regime. Everyone will be able to have access to foreign exchange and there is a transition going on now.

“And NNPC cannot continue to be sole importer. We know that this is going to vanish and the market will stabilise this.”

Kyari also confirmed ongoing rehabilitation of the nation’s four refineries, saying one of them will start operations this year.

“There is an ongoing process of rehabilitation and one of the refineries will come on stream this year. The second will come on stream next year and the third will come in 2025,” he stated.

Noting that the country can no longer sustain the subsidy regime, the GCEO said subsidy bills have piled up.

He stated: “The country is not able to settle NNPC for the money we are spending on the subsidy. Therefore, pricing this petroleum at the market is the right thing to do at this time. We believe that this will benefit the overall country in the long run and in a long term.

“I am aware that Mr President has directed some engagement and some palliatives will be put in place, and I am very sure this will happen.”

Kyari further said while there was provision for subsidy in 2022, not a single Naira was provided to finance the subsidy in 2023.

He continued: “And ultimately, while we held back our fiscal obligations, we still have a net balance of over N2.8 trillion that the federation should have given back to the NNPC.

“For any company, when you have negative N2.8 trillion, there is no company in the whole of Africa that will lend to you. You cannot have receivables. The provision of subsidy is there but absolutely there is no funding for it. It means it is only on paper. So, it doesn’t exist.

“So we no longer can bear it because of liquidity. If we continue we will run into defaults and the defaults of NNPC is the default of Nigeria. Once NNPC goes into defaults and liquidity, it affects every borrowing done by the country. Even the sub-nationals. Your lenders will come back to you and say your country can no longer pay.”

On the benefits of subsidy removal, Kyari said when President Tinubu declared in his inaugural speech that subsidy was gone, the bond market appreciated within 24 hours.

Tinubu’s target, he pointed out, was to have 7 per cent growth of GDP, which he said cannot be achieved if there is distortion in demands and consumption patterns.

He added: “It is nothing else other than the statement around subsidy and balancing of the apex market. These two elements are major concern that every investor all over the world, every partner that we have is worried about. What is your apex regime and how do you deal with your subsidy?

“They know that this subsidy constitutes a huge amount of money and this country may not be able to survive and pay its debts. It is very clear that everybody understands this.

“Before today, the average subsidy level was N400 billion every month. That means every month you can do one major capital project from money that you do not have. This is really what it means. There is nothing anybody can do about it. There is this common argument that the masses will suffer.

“That we are going to have problems with them. I agree. That once you increase prices of this proportion, as it has happened, it will have impact on inflation. There is no doubt about it. It is very typical also, It goes up and down. The market determines what happens next.”

Subsidy: FG To Fix One Refinery Before December — Kyari

Tosin Ranks
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Subsidy: FG To Fix One Refinery Before December — Kyari

The Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari, has revealed that the administration of President Bola Tinubu has concluded an arrangement to have one of the four refineries repaired and operating at an optimal level before the end of the year.

Kyari made the revelation when he visited the party secretariat for a meeting with the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Abdullahi Adamu.

The NNPC boss, who arrived at the premises at about 12.30 pm, was warmly received by the chairman and members of the National Working Committee.

Addressing newsmen after the session, Kyari explained that following the hike in pump price and the resultant effect on commercial fare, the president is working out some palliative measures to ease the pains of Nigerians.

He also added that there is an ongoing process of rehabilitation to ensure one of the refineries is ready this year.

“I’m aware that Mr president has directed some engagements and some palliatives will be put in place. I am very sure this will happen. There is an ongoing process of rehabilitation. One of them will come this year, the second one will come on stream next year and then the third will follow thereafter.

“Of course, it is very obvious that we can no longer afford subsidy. Subsidy bills have piled up. The country is not able to settle NNPC for the money we are spending on subsidy. Therefore pricing this petroleum at the market price is the right thing to do at this point in time and I believe it would benefit the country in the long term,” he said.

Recall Tinubu had affirmed during his swearing-in ceremony that his administration would not continue to pay subsidy on petroleum products.

He said the Federal Government was struggling to fund subsidies, noting that it was no longer justifiable to continue.

The development had triggered a 100 per cent hike in transport fares, while long queues resurfaced at fuel stations across Lagos, Abuja, Ilorin, Benin, Asaba, Port Harcourt, Kano, Makurdi and other major cities and urban areas.

To worsen the situation, many outlets shut down their facilities and refused to dispense fuel to motorists, further creating scarcity and panic buying at the fuel stations that were opened to customers.

But Kyari confessed on Thursday said that the country can no longer sustain such an expensive regime.

According to him, over 38 per cent of the total fuel distributed in this country is consumed by four states namely Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Rivers.

He said, “There was subsidy in 2022 but in 2023, not a single naira was provided for the purpose. And ultimately while we held back our fiscal obligations, we still have a net balance of over N2.8trn that the federation should have given back to the NNPC. For any company, when you have negative N2.8 trn, there is no company in the whole of Africa that will lend to you. You cannot have receivables. The provision of subsidy is there but absolutely there is no funding for it. It means it is only on paper. It doesn’t exist.

“We can no longer bear it. If we continue, we will run into defaults and the defaults of NNPC is the default of Nigeria. Once NNPC goes into defaults and liquidity, it affects every borrowing done by the country. Even the subnational. Your lenders will come back to you and say your country can no longer pay. The only way you can stop this is to stop this conversation around subsidy. It is why Mr President announced that the subsidy is gone. In 24 hours, the bond market appreciated. It is nothing else other than the statement around subsidy and balancing of the apex market. These two elements are major concerns that every investor all over the world, and every partner that we have is worried about.

“Before today, the average subsidy level was N400bn every month. There is nothing anybody can do about it. There is this common argument that the masses will suffer. I agree that once you increase prices of this proportion, as it has happened, it will have an impact on inflation. There is no doubt about it. The market determines what happens next. Even inflation in very many countries goes up when you have the economic indices become difficult.

“Mr president’s target is to have seven per cent growth of GDP. You cannot have it if you have this disruption in your demands and consumption pattern. Very many of us here have at least two cars in our houses including myself. When you buy fuel of 100 litres in an SUV, you are literally subsidising three litres with 100 naira for all of us.

“Even the consumption itself is clearly skewed in locations and states where the level of economic activities are higher than the others. It is very understandable and that is why people can afford it in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Kano. So over 38 per cent of the total fuel distributed in this country ends up in these places. All the other parts of the country suffer for it and you can see the relativity. Imagine the per capital basis?

Joe Biden Falls Off Stage At U.S Air Force Academy Graduation Ceremony (Video)

Tosin Ranks
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Joe Biden Falls Off Stage At U.S Air Force Academy Graduation Ceremony (Video)

🇺🇸 President Joe Biden took a dramatic spill while passing out diplomas after giving the commencement address at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Gasps from the crowd followed Biden’s fall, which came as he handed out the last diploma, forcing the president to come down on his knees.

Biden, who was helped to his feet by Air Force officials, appeared to trip on a black sandbag that was on the stage.

Biden, 80, the oldest president in U.S. history, appeared to be OK and continued to stand as the ceremony concluded a few minutes later.

“He’s fine,” Ben LaBolt, White House communications director, said in a tweet. “There was a sandbag on stage while he was shaking hands.”

 

EFCC questioning Fayemi over N4bn money laundering

Tosin Ranks
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EFCC questioning Fayemi over N4bn money laundering

A former governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, is currently being interrogated at the zonal command office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, in Ilorin, Kwara State, over an alleged laundering of N4billion.

Impeccable sources privy to the development told our correspondent that Fayemi arrived at the EFCC facility at about 9:40 am on Thursday.

In May 2023, reported how Fayemi, through his lawyer, Adeola Omotunde, SAN, pleaded with the EFCC to allow him to present a book in honour of the former President, Muhammadu Buhari, on May 19, before honouring the agency’s invitation for questioning over money laundering allegations.

Confirming the development on Thursday, a source said, “Fayemi arrived at our Kwara command office at about 9:40 am today. Our operatives are currently grilling him over alleged misappropriation of N4bn.”

“I’m not sure whether he’d be released today or detained. However, he’s not the only former governor that’s currently being probed by the commission,” another source noted.

When contacted by our correspondent, the spokesperson for the anti-graft agency, Wilson Uwujaren, said he couldn’t speak concerning the development.

“I can’t speak concerning that, please,” Uwujaren said.

Meanwhile, in a letter dated May 12, which was obtained by our correspondent, the EFCC had asked the ex-Ekiti governor to appear before the head of its zonal command office in Kwara, Nigeria’s North-Central, to answer questions bordering on money laundering activities.

According to the letter issued by its zonal commander Micheal Nzekwe, the EFCC requested that Mr Fayemi appears before it on May 18.

The letter reads, “The commission is investigating a case of money laundering in which the need to seek certain clarifications from you has become imperative.

“In view of this, you’re kindly requested to come for an interview with the undersigned through the Head, Economic Governance section. Thursday, May 18, 2023. No. 10 Oko close, off station road, GRA, Ilorin, Kwara State. Time: 10: 00 hours.”

But in a follow-up letter through his legal counsel, Adeola Omotunde, SAN, dated May 15, which was sighted by our correspondent, Fayemi said he was one of the organisers and reviewer of one of the books published in Buhari’s honour.

Our client is in receipt of your letter of invitation dated 12th May 2023 for an appointment on Thursday, 18th of May, 2023,” Mr Fayemi’s lawyer noted.

The letter reads, “Our client is engaged on the 18th day of May 2023 as he is preparing for a public presentation and launching of two new books in honour of President Muhammadu Buhari, titled: ‘State of Repair: How President Muhammad Buhari Tried to Change Nigeria For Good’ by Anthony Goldman and ‘The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari’ by Abu Ibrahim slated for 19th May 2023 at the Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja by 10:00 a.m.

Our client is one of the organisers of the programme and will review one of the books. Our client has also committed himself to other programs between May 19, 2023, and May 24, 2023, before he received your invitation. We regret to inform you that our client will not be able to honour your invitation on the 18th May 2023 against the backdrop of the foregoing information.”

Fayemi’s lawyer could not be reached by our correspondent on Thursday, as the phone number obtained from his letter was unavailable.

Meanwhile, asides from Fáyẹmí, the EFCC has said it was also investigating the former governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, on allegations of corruption, award of phantom contracts and diversion of over N70bn.

The EFCC said it was compelled to make the development public following the recent attempt by the outgoing governor to cast aspersions on the integrity of the agency’s fight against corruption.

The Director, Media and Public Affairs, EFCC, Osita Nwajah, who spoke on behalf of the Chairman of the agency, Abdulrasheed Bawa, made this disclosure in May while addressing journalists at the commission’s headquarters in Jabi, Abuja.

Nwajah said, “It is intriguing that Matawalle would want to take on the role of a supervisor, who tells the EFCC whom to investigate. Is this a case of a ‘thief’ saying he must not be touched until other ‘thieves’ are caught?

“The real issue with Matawalle is that he is being investigated by the EFCC, over allegations of monumental corruption, award of phantom contracts and diversion of over N70bn.

“The money, which was sourced as a loan from an old generation bank purportedly for the execution of projects across the local government areas of the state, was allegedly diverted by the governor through proxies and contractors who received payment for contracts that were not executed.

“The commission’s investigations so far revealed that more than 100 companies had received payments from the funds, with no evidence of service rendered to the state. Some of the contractors who have been invited and quizzed by the commission made startling revelations on how they were allegedly compelled by the governor to return the funds received from the state coffers back to him through his aides after converting the same to United States dollars.

“They confirmed that they did not render any service to Zamafara State but were allegedly directed to convert the money paid to them into United States dollars and return to the state governor through some of his commissioners, notably the commissioners in charge of Finance and Local Government Affairs.”

According to Nwajah, one of the contractors involved, a popular Abuja property developer, collected N6bn on an N10bn contract without rendering any service to Zamfara State.

He noted that another contractor collected over N3bn for a contract for the supply of medical equipment, but the commission traced a payment of N400m from his account to a Bureau de Change operator. The contractor confessed the payment was to procure the dollar equivalent allegedly for the state governor.

As part of the extensive investigation of contracts awarded by the Matawalle administration, especially for phantom projects in the local government areas, the commission has recovered a sum of N300m from a company, Fezel Nigeria Limited. The funds were traced to the Zamafara Investment Company.

“The EFCC investigation is the source of anxiety in Government House, Gusau, with the governor in mortal dread of his fate once he steps down as governor on May 29.

“In Nigeria, state governors and their deputies enjoy immunity from criminal prosecution while in office, a reason the EFCC has yet to arrest Governor Matawalle,” he added.

The EFCC is also probing a former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, for alleged corruption over 14 properties both in Nigeria and abroad, and N400 million, among other allegations.

“The properties, including Hotel Apartment Community, Burj Khalifa lying, being and situate at, Plot 160 Municipality NO 345-7562, Sky View Building No 1, Property No 401, Floor 4, Dubai U.A.E., were reasonably suspected to have been derived from unlawful activity,” the anti-graft agency said in a statement obtained by our correspondent in May.

 

 

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