Author: The Nation

Gunmen on Friday night killed two members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State.

Also, a Commander of Ebubeagu in Ogboji Ward, Ezza North Local Government Area, Charles Nwankwo was killed by gunmen in his house on the same night.

The killing of the APC members reportedly took place in Mkpuma Akpatakpa Community in Izzi Local Government Area.

They were said to be attending an APC meeting late Friday in the community when the gunmen stormed the venue and opened fire on all present.

The hoodlums, who were said to be two in number, reportedly operated with a motorcycle.

They were said to have quickly zoomed off having completed their mission.

Two persons were confirmed dead while two others who were injured are receiving treatment at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki.(AE-FUTHA).

Gunmen also killed one Charles Nwankwo who is the Commander of Ebubeagu in Ogboji Ward, Ezza north local government area.

The gunmen, according to a source in the area, stormed the house of the Ebubeagu commander at around 1am and shot him dead.

The source noted that the gunmen carted away his motorcycle and gun.

“Charles Nwankwo is Ebubeagu commander in Ogboji Ward, Ezza North LGA. Gunmen visited him at his home town in Ogboji community and shot him dead, collected his motorcycle and gun and ran away”, the source said.

Read Also : How gunmen killed my expectant wife, by Ebubeagu commander

Ebonyi Commander of Ebubeagu, Friday Ujor confirmed the killings.

He however said he was yet to get full details of both incidents.

Ebonyi police pokesperson, Chris Anyanwu could not be reached for comments.

He did not take calls or reply text messages sent to his phone numbers. Ends

The crisis within the opposition Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) escalated at the weekend with the suspension of Senator Chimaroke Nnamami(Enugu North) and Oluwajomiloju, son of former Ekiti Governor Ayo Fayose and other prominent chieftains.
The National Working Committee(NWC) of the party said they were suspended for alleged anti-party activities.

Indications emerged that the suspension is a prelude to what awaits G-5 Governors comprising Nyesome Wike (Rivers); Seyi Makinde(Oyo); Samuel Ortom(Benue); Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi who have refused to support PDP’s presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar until the National Chairman Senator Iyorchia Ayu resigns.

Sources said the suspension option has become a big attraction for the party’s leadership to rein in the Governors who have not only boycotted Atiku’s rallies but also influenced their loyalists to follow suit.

The PDP has threatened to suspend the Governors and their loyalists with a defiant Wike bluffing the leadership to go ahead.

Also suspended were Chief Chris Ogbu, a chieftain of the party in Imo State and a claimant to the party’s ticket in Ideato South state constituency, Ayeni Funso, the Senatorial candidate of the party in Ekiti North, Ajijola Lateef Oladimeji and the PDP candidate in Ekiti Central.

Some other chieftains of the party who got suspended by the NWC are Emiola Adenike Jennifer, the House of Representatives candidate in Ekiti South II, Ajayi Babatunde Samuel, the House of Representatives candidate in Ekiti North II, Olayinka James Olalere, the House of Representatives candidate in Ekiti Central, Akerele Oluyinka, the House of Representatives candidate in Ekiti North I and the PDP House of Representatives candidate in Ekiti Central 1, Fayose Oluwajomiloju John, who incidentally is the son of former governor Ayodele Fayose.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said the party chieftains were suspended for alleged anti party activities.

The party also announced the dissolution of the Ekiti PDP Executive Committee and the setting up of a caretaker committee to run the affairs of the party for the next three months, pending the election of a new set of executive committee. The statement named Mr. Sadiq Obanoyen as chairman of the PDP Ekiti State Caretaker Committee.

While Senator Nnamani has been unrelenting in his public declaration of support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Ogbu has been waging an endless legal battle against the NWC of the party over the Ideato South state constituency ticket.

He has won his cases up to the Appeal Court prompting the NWC to challenge his victory at the Supreme Court recently. Against the wish of the party’s leadership, he is listed by INEC as the PDP candidate for the March 11 election.

In Ekiti, the party structure has been under the firm control of Fayose, who has been part of the G-5 Governors calling for the resignation of National Chairman Senator Ayu Iyorchia as a pre-condition for supporting the presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar.

Read Also: PDP suspends Nnamani, Fayose’s son, others for anti party activities; sacks Ekiti PDP Exco
Last month, members of Fayose’s group rejected their appointment as members of the party’s Presidential Campaign Committee and management committee. Those who turned down the appointments included a former governorship candidate, Bisi Kolawole, who named as the state PCC chairman. They accused the NWC of populating the PCC in Ekiti state with people who left the PDP before the governorship election and have not returned to the party.

Majority of the PDP National Assembly candidates in the state for the 2023 general elections loyal to Fayose, also rejected the composition of the Campaign Management Committee for the state, saying it comprised people who would work against their ambitions. “Particularly, the persons appointed as Directors of Campaign for the Central and North Senatorial Districts are members of SDP. SDP is fielding senatorial, House of Representatives, and House of Assembly candidates in the above-mentioned senatorial districts. The implication is that SDP members will work against us as our Senatorial Directors of Campaign for our elections,” they protested.

In the letter of suspension signed by Ologunagba and made available to journalists on Friday, the leadership of the troubled opposition party urged all leaders, critical stakeholders and members in Ekiti and other parts of the country to remain united and focused on the task ahead.

The Sultan of Sokoto and President General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar has refuted and described as fake a recent write – up credited to him endorsing the presidential candidate of Labour Party , Mr Peter Obi.

In a nine – paragraph statement made available to reporters by Mr Bashir Adefaka , described as a member of Sultan’s Media Team in reaction to the write – up circulating on social media tilted: “Breaking : Sultan of Sokoto Writes” the revered monarch said it is fake.

He said such a write-up, credited to him, could not have emanated from anywhere near or around him.

In the discredited statement , the Sultan purportedly said : “Hold me responsible if Peter Obi didn’t perform well, the problem of the North is from the north, not Peter Obi or an Igbo man, it will be worst and more deadly for the North if Tinubu wins, if they tell you an Igbo man is the problem of Nigeria, tell them Igbo man never rule Nigeria before and north is world poverty capital”.

Adefaka noted that it was not the first time such misleading statement would be circulated in an effort to use the name of an influential personality or that of the Sultan to score political points.

” Unfortunately for these pitiable political campaigners, Sultan of Sokoto is – strictly speaking – a traditional ruler and leader of Muslims of Africa’s most populous country. Moreso, as a retired Army General, his discipline, commitment and unalloyed loyalty to Nigeria is non-nogotiable.

” The statement is fake because such an irresponsible write-up, credited to him, could not have emanated from anywhere near or around His Eminence , Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) ,” Adefaka said

Read Also : Amb. Malami Ma’aji condoles Buhari, Sultan over Malami’s death

He said between Wednesday and Thursday, the Sultan played host to several figures including the outgoing and new General Officers Commanding (GOCs), Eighth Division Nigerian Army, Sokoto, Major Generals O. Bassey and Godwin Mutkut, respectively, Vice Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Kashim Shettima, among

” it would interest Nigerians to know that Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Dr. Peter Obi, was not one of those that paid visit to the palace, be it on Wednesday or Thursday. So, how some agents of discord whose stock-in-trade thrives on cooking falsehoods and peddling of fake news think that they can get through with this remains unknown to common sense, ” he said

The religious leader challenged those circulating the fake write – up to publish a copy of the letter purportedly written by the Sultan or a video or audio clip where he endorsed Peter Obi and denied APC Presidential Candidate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as contained in their peddled fake statement.

” If they cannot, and of a surety they cannot, they should desist from this indefensible claim and unpardonable lie using the good name of His Eminence because it will backfire”, the Sultan warned.

” It should, however, be made clear to the good people of Nigeria that this , like many others in the past by the Peter Obi campaigners, would not stop the Sultan from continuing to play his role as a multifaceted leader and father of all and so, his doors will remain open to all aspirants across all parties and other meaningful people from across the country

” More important to the Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar at this time and always are security, peace and unity of Nigeria, especially as the nation is fast moving into its long planned and heavily invested general elections, ” Adefaka’ statement said.

He said the Sultan will continue to support all efforts that will lead to success of the election and advised that “any incoherent claims of naysayers be ignored , ” as the Royal father is not a politician.”

End.

Governors of the 36 States have faulted the recent directive by the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) banning banks from executing demands for cash withdrawals from all public accounts.

The Governors, at a virtual meeting held on January 19, noted that the ban was beyond the powers conferred on the NFIU by law.

They argued, in a communiqué made available early on Saturday by the secretariat of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), that NFIU acted outside its legal remit and mandate.

In the communique signed by the NGF Chairman, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, the NGF expressed some reservations about the recent monetary policies introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), particularly the redesigned naira notes.

The NGF elected to constitute a committee, to be headed by a former CBN governor and Governor of Anambra State, Prof Charles Soludo to engage the CBN “in addressing anomalies in the country’s monetary management and financial system.”

Part of the communique reads: “We, the members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), received a briefing from the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, on the naira edesign, its economic and security implications including the new withdrawal policy.

“Governors are not opposed to the objectives of the Naira redesign policy.

“However, we observe that there are huge challenges that remain problematic to the Nigerian populace.

“In the circumstances, governors expressed the need for the CBN to consider the peculiarities of states, especially as they pertain to financial inclusion and under-served locations.”

The NGF members “resolved work closely with the CBN leadership to ameliorate areas that require policy variation, particularly the poorest households, the vulnerable in society and several other citizens of our country that are excluded.”

Read Also: CBN to fine banks N1m per day for not picking new naira notes

They also agreed to “collaborate with the CBN and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) in advancing genuine objectives within the confines of our laws, noting that the recent NFIU advisory and guidelines on cash transactions were simply outside the NFIU’s legal remit and mandate.”

Member agreed to “set up a six-member committee to be Chaired by the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Charles Soludo and the governors of the following States: Akwa Ibom, Ogun, Borno, Plateau and Jigawa as members, to engage the CBN in addressing anomalies in the country’s monetary management and financial system.”

The Director and Chief Executive Officer, NFIU, Haman Tukur had on January 5 argued that the ban on cash withdrawals was meant to halt the indiscriminate manner in which cash was being taken out of public accounts without regard for the extant provisions of the Money Laundering Act.

Tukur said the ban, scheduled to take effect from March 1, covers cash withdrawal from public accounts and payment of estacodes and travelling allowances.

He added that the ban, contained in NFIU’s new guidelines, also apply “to all foreign missions operating in Nigeria, accounts of all development partner institutions, and the accounts of all instituted funds in form of independent funds to be operated as mutual funds such as insurance funds, cooperative funds, brokerages funds, political party funds or pressure group/union funds, once the funds are designated to exist as funds or to operate independently for management and/or investment.

“By these guidelines, the local government N500,000 cash withdrawal limit with regards to public accounts and instituted funds are hereby discontinued.

“These guidelines supersede and repeal the N500,000 cash withdrawal limit of local government funds and also, since it is for a criminal purpose, supersedes the CBN’s Regulation on cash withdrawal limit with regard to public accounts and instituted funds.”

The NFIU warned that defaulters that withdraw cash from public accounts risk collaborative investigation by the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).

With effect from Monday 23, January 2023, rural dwellers and Nigerians living where there are no banking services can swap their old N1,000, N500 and N200 notes for the redesigned notes.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had insisted that anybody who wished to have the redesigned notes must open a bank account and deposit their old notes.

However, the CBN sent out a circular signed by Haruna Mustafa, Director Banking Supervision Department and Musa I. Jimoh, Director, Payment System Management Department to all Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) Mobile Money Operators (MMOs), Super Agents and Agents.

In the circular at the weekend titled: “Naira redesign policy: CBN launches cash swap programme in rural/underserved areas” the CBN said the programme will enable “citizens in rural areas or those with limited access to formal financial services to exchange old Naira notes for redesigned notes”.

From Monday, old N1000, N500, N200 notes can be exchanged for the newly redesigned notes and/or the existing lower denominations (N100, N50 and N20, etc) which remain legal tender.

Under the new initiative, agents can only exchange a maximum of N10,000 per person. “Amounts above N10,000 may be treated as cash-in deposit into wallets or bank accounts in line with the cashless policy”.

Agents are also required to demand for BVN, NIN, or Voter’s card details of the customers before accepting to exchange more than N10,000.

The new cash swap programme, the CBN said “is also available to anybody without a bank account.

“Agents were urged to open a wallet or account instantly upon request, “leveraging the CBN Tiered KYC Framework”.

Read Also: CBN sensitises Bayelsa traders on redesigned Naira notes

This will, the circular, said will “ensure that this category of the populace are able to exchange or deposit their cash seamlessly without taking unnecessary risk or incurring undue cost”.

Agents were authorised to sensitise their customers on opening wallets/bank accounts and the various channels for conducting electronic transactions.

Some designated agents are eligible to collect the redesigned notes from DMBs “in line with the Revised Cash Withdrawal Limit policy”.

Agents have been given permission to “charge cash out fees for the cash swap transactions but prohibited from charging any further commissions to customers for this service”. The apex bank was however silent on how much the agents should charge as cash out fees.

As part of the cash swap programme, agents are expected to “render weekly returns to their designated banks regarding the cash swap transactions, while DMBs will in turn render same to the CBN on a weekly basis”.

The CBN warned that Principals (Super Agents, MMOs, DMBs) will “be held accountable for their agents adherence to the above guidelines”.

It assured rural dwellers and those targeted by the programme that “Cash Swap agents will be readily identifiable in all local governments, particularly those in the rural areas”.