In a mild drama in the Senate, Senator Suleiman Kawu criticized what he deemed the premature removal of Mansur Kuliya, the Executive Director of the Midstream, Downstream, Gas Infrastructure Fund. Kawu argued that Kuliya’s removal, as indicated in President Bola Tinubu’s letter, was unlawful as it cut short his five-year term that began in 2022.
Senator Kawu raised a constitutional point, citing Section 34(2), 5, and Section 36(1) of the Petroleum Industry Act, which outlines the process for the removal or replacement of an executive director. He emphasized that there was no official communication or due process followed in Kuliya’s removal.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio referred the matter to the Senate Committee of the Whole and the Senate Committee on Gas and Downstream for further investigation. Akpabio instructed the committees to consider Kawu’s claims and make recommendations to the Senate for appropriate legislative action.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has granted provisional clearance to all ten aspirants who obtained nomination forms to participate in the Edo state governorship primary. The primary is scheduled for February 22, while the governorship election is set for September 21, 2024.
The aspirants, who each paid N5 million for the expression of interest and N30 million for the nomination form, underwent screening by the Governor Caleb Mutfwang-led Screening Committee on Monday at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja.
PDP National Organizing Secretary Umar Bature confirmed the clearance, stating that all ten aspirants are cleared to contest. The aspirants include Philip Shaibu, the Edo State Deputy Governor, as well as Blessing Igbinedion, Anselm Ojezua, Felix Akhabue, Martin Uhomoibhi, Umoru Hadizat, Osaro Onaiwu, Arthur Esene, and Omoregie Ihama.
It was noted that Sunday Egiele Balogun failed to purchase the party’s nomination form. The PDP aims to ensure a fair and competitive governorship primary in Edo State as part of its internal democratic process.
The Senate has adjourned plenary until February 6, 2024, following an Executive Session. Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the decision and stated that the Upper Chamber resolved to invite heads of security agencies to provide updates on the security situation in the country.
The invitation aims to address the ongoing insecurity crisis, covering issues such as kidnapping, murder, banditry, and the killing of hostages after ransom payments. The Senate is particularly concerned about the bomb explosion in Ibadan that resulted in the destruction of private and public facilities.
During the session, President Bola Tinubu’s letter requesting the confirmation of the sack of the Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Babatunde Irukera, was read. The request, in line with the provisions of Section 8 (2) of the FCCPC Act, 2018, was referred to the committee of the whole for further action.
President Tinubu had terminated Babatunde Irukera’s position as CEO of FCCPC, effective from January 8, 2024. The Senate will now deliberate on the confirmation of this decision.
In a tragic incident in Rivers State, scores of traders and passengers are feared dead after three passenger boats, laden with goods, caught fire and exploded at the Bonny/Nembe/Bille jetty in Port Harcourt on Monday evening.
The inferno not only destroyed the passenger boats but also spread to nearby properties, causing substantial damage worth millions of Naira. The incident was reported to have originated from the engines of one of the wooden boats undergoing maintenance.
An eyewitness stated that the fire started from the boat’s faulty engines while a mechanic was working on it. The spark from the engine ignited jerry cans loaded with fuel, making the fire uncontrollable and leading to the explosion, trapping occupants inside the boats.
The boats were preparing to travel to a fishing settlement in Bayelsa State, where traders would buy fish to bring back to Port Harcourt for sale. Several individuals narrowly escaped the tragedy, but others, including traders and passengers, were caught in the flames.
One witness shared a harrowing account, mentioning that a woman who left the boat briefly to buy something returned to find her three children missing. The extent of casualties and the number of lives lost in the tragic incident is yet to be confirmed.
Authorities are expected to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident to determine the cause and assess the overall impact on the community.
Governor Barr Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau state has commissioned 34 Hilux vehicles equipped with state-of-the-art security gadgets, a move aimed at enhancing the security of lives and properties in the state. The security vehicles were procured through collaborative efforts from the 17 Local Government Transition Implementation Committee Chairmen in the state.
The commissioning ceremony, held at the Old Government House in Rayfield, Jos, highlighted Governor Mutfwang’s commitment to fortifying security, particularly in rural communities across Plateau state. He emphasized the fundamental role of security as the foundation for meaningful development.
“This marks the initiation of our commitment to reshape the security architecture on the Plateau. The State Government will soon introduce additional measures to support security agencies in effectively executing their duties statewide,” stated Governor Mutfwang.
Assuring the citizens of Plateau, he emphasized the administration’s determination to fulfill its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property. “Our determination knows no bounds, and we will continue striving to ensure the effective discharge of this duty.”
Governor Mutfwang expressed gratitude to the Local Government Chairmen for pooling resources to enhance the well-being of the state’s citizens. He encouraged them to intensify their efforts in the best interest of the people.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Ephraim Usman, presented the security vehicles to the Governor, stating that the gesture aims to assist security personnel in responding promptly to security challenges within their respective Local Government Areas on the Plateau.
Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has reaffirmed the commission’s dedication to integrity, accountability, and excellence in establishing a Nigeria free from corruption and governed by the rule of law. The statement was made during the Commission’s management and leadership retreat held in Kano.
The retreat brought together management staff and Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioners (RACCs) from the 21 state offices of the Commission. Dr. Aliyu highlighted the significance of the retreat, providing an opportunity for the Commission to assess past achievements, analyze current challenges, and strategize for the future.
The Chairman introduced his vision and policy thrust, encapsulated by the acronym “CARE,” representing Culture, Accountability, Responsibility, and Efficiency. These core values and principles will guide the actions and decisions of the ICPC moving forward.
During the retreat, guest speakers contributed valuable insights, and the Chairman expressed hope that the outcomes would shape the future of the Commission and have a lasting impact on the nation’s socio-economic development.
Dr. Aliyu encouraged active participation, meaningful dialogue, and the contribution of valuable insights from all participants, emphasizing the collective opportunity to shape the future of the ICPC.
The three-day retreat included presentations by the Management team and Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioners. Additionally, lectures by Prof. Attahiru Jega, Justice HAO Abiru, and Dr. Ibrahim Sule, as well as strategy and interactive sessions, were scheduled. The resolutions from the retreat are expected to contribute to the ICPC’s 2024–2028 Strategic Plan and priorities.
The Rivers State Police Command has announced the successful operation that led to the demise of a notorious pirate, John Togo the Second, also identified as the kingpin of the Iceland Confraternity. Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji Disu, disclosed the information during a press briefing at the Command’s Headquarters in Port Harcourt.
CP Disu revealed that Togo had been a menace to coastal communities along the Bonny-Port Harcourt and Okrika-Andoni waterways. Following credible intelligence, the police, in collaboration with the C4i intelligence unit and Borikiri Police Division, launched an operation resulting in a fierce firefight, leading to Togo’s death and the recovery of his body.
The late pirate was involved in various criminal activities, including illegal oil bunkering camps, arms trafficking, and numerous ambushes on security agencies. He was responsible for the murder of four members of a sister security agency on November 1, 2023, along the Bakana River in Degema Local Government Area.
Despite previous encounters with security forces, John Togo continued to evade capture, engaging in shootouts with the Marine Police, Nigerian Army, and NSCDC. His criminal activities gained notoriety, sparking protests and campaigns against sea piracy in Bonny Island in January 2021.
In a separate incident, the police rescued a day-old baby and apprehended two suspects involved in human trafficking. The suspects, Daniel Destiny Onyegbulem and Uzodinma Eze, were stopped during a routine search along Igwuruta-Eneka Road. Daniel was found carrying a sack containing the newborn baby, covered in blood and struggling to breathe.
The police provided immediate medical attention to the infant, who is now in stable health. Daniel cooperated with the investigation, revealing Mama Destiny, a pastry vendor, as the woman who enlisted his services. Mama Destiny had tasked him with transporting the sack to Eneka junction for further instructions. The police are actively working to dismantle the criminal network involved in this heinous act.
In a gruesome incident in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, unidentified individuals have brutally murdered a young lady, leaving her lifeless body wrapped in a white bed sheet and discarded on a refuse dump at Iorapuu Adai street, Nyiman layout, Makurdi.
According to police sources, the circumstances surrounding the lady’s death remain unclear, but suspicions arise that the incident may be linked to a yet-to-be-identified hotel. The police revealed that there were no visible signs of violence on the victim’s body, with no marks, wounds, or blood observed.
“We got information that a young lady was killed and her body was seen. We don’t know what happened, and we didn’t see any trace of violence on her body; no marks, no wound or blood,” stated a police source. “They just tied her body in a white bed sheet, put her in a sack and dumped her at a dump site at Nyiman layout of Makurdi.”
The police are actively investigating the case to unravel the circumstances leading to the lady’s death. The suspicion that she may have died in a hotel arises from the appearance of the bed sheet used to wrap her body.
The lifeless body of the lady has been removed and deposited at the morgue of the Federal Medical Center (FMC), Makurdi.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the Benue State command, SP Sewuese Anene, confirmed the incident, stating, “For now, there is no information yet, but we believe we will get detail, dig into it and find out what actually happened.”
Residents discovered the victim’s body at a refuse site in the Nyiman area of Makurdi, leading to the police being alerted to the scene.
The investigation is ongoing to ascertain the motive and circumstances surrounding the tragic incident.
Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has unequivocally refuted claims of entering into any agreement with the presidency ahead of the Supreme Court verdict on the Kano Election Petition, where he emerged victorious on January 12, 2024.
In a statement released by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, a circulating document on social media alleging a four-term agreement between the Governor and the presidency was dismissed as an “imaginary piece devoid of all iota of truth.”
Dawakin Tofa emphasized in the statement that the purported agreement, including claims of Governor Yusuf switching to the ruling APC, dissolving emirates, halting demolition of illegal structures, and establishing the Kano Elders Council, should be disregarded.
Governor Yusuf, through his spokesperson, made it clear that the mandate bestowed upon him by the people of Kano, certified by the Supreme Court judgment, would not be influenced by any political opportunists. The statement asserted that political decisions in Kano would adhere to the rule of law and executive powers vested in the office of the Executive Governor.
The statement further clarified the establishment of the Kano Elders Council as a personal initiative by the Governor aimed at addressing socio-economic and political challenges, emphasizing that the Governor was not pressured to form the council.
The statement reads, “Governor Yusuf did not enter any agreement or condition with anybody before the Supreme Court Judgment. I, therefore, urge the public to dismiss the fallacy being orchestrated by enemies of progress.”
Expressing appreciation, Governor Yusuf commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for allowing a level playing ground and not interfering with the judicial process. The Governor described the President as a true democrat who upheld fairness and neutrality, contributing to the enduring atmosphere of peace and stability in Kano.
The statement concluded by affirming that Governor Yusuf had no prior agreement with the President, emphasizing that discussions during their meetings focused on the development of Kano State.
In the aftermath of the tragic explosion in Ibadan, Oyo State, Governor Seyi Makinde voiced his disappointment with former Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, for not extending condolences or reaching out amidst the disaster. The governor expressed these sentiments while hosting Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the last general election.
Governor Makinde commended both President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peter Obi for expressing sympathy and solidarity with the people of Oyo State. However, he pointedly remarked that Atiku Abubakar, the PDP candidate, had not offered any form of communication despite being in the same political party.
“I should use this opportunity on behalf of the good people of Oyo State to thank His Excellency, Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra state and also the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the last election,” Makinde stated. “I thank you because politics didn’t seep into this; you came to commiserate with us over the explosion.”
While expressing gratitude for the swift response to the explosion, Governor Makinde emphasized the need to separate politics from governance, underscoring that addressing human issues transcends political affiliations.
Peter Obi, in response, conveyed condolences to Governor Makinde and the people of Oyo State, acknowledging the tragic loss caused by the explosion. He lauded Makinde for his prompt and effective response, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging and commending responsive governance.
Obi also highlighted the necessity of reducing the cost of governance, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing critical areas such as education, health, and poverty alleviation. “It’s a matter of sacrifice; elections are over, governance is the key thing,” Obi asserted, advocating for a focus on essential sectors to effectively utilize resources.
As the investigation into the explosion continues, both leaders underscored the significance of collaboration and unity in addressing the challenges faced by the community and the nation at large.
