The Nation Newspaper

Category: autopost

“The pain is terrible” – Yul Edochie marks son’s 17th posthumous birthday

Amid the recent social media conflict with his estranged wife, May Edochie, the controversial Nollywood actor Yul Edochie has shared a heartfelt posthumous birthday message for his late son, Kambilichukwu, who would have turned 17 today, January 4.

The Nation reported that Kambili passed away in March 2023, having collapsed while playing football and subsequently rushed to the hospital.

The actor noted that he never knew he would one day write a note like this.

He wished him happiness in the afterlife where he is, and expressed how much he missed him.

Yul wrote: “Kambi yooooo! Happy 17th birthday, my great son.

Read Also: Return bride price I paid for you, Yul Edochie tells estranged wife, May Edochie

Hope you’re doing well over there. I never knew I’ll ever do a write-up like this, but here we are. Life. I kept asking God to let me see you again, and he granted my wish. And I saw you once in my dream. You looked much taller and more handsome. And bigger. You were glowing.

“Seems you’re now playing basketball over there and left football. You looked very happy. Obviously, life over there is quite different from here. Down here we’re doing our best to cope. It’s not been easy without you around. The pain is terrible. But I’m strong. Very strong.

“I have to be strong for me and your siblings. While submitting totally to the will of God. We miss you. We love you, but God loves you more. You’re elevated now. Keep watching over us all. Keep flying, son. Till we meet again. Don’t stop playing football. Happy 17th birthday, Son. Daddy loves you.”

January 4, 2024
Neo Akpofure’s first trip to Lagos was because of BBNaija – Phyna

Big Brother Naija Level Up housemate, Josephina Ijeoma Otabor, known as Phyna, has slammed her colleague, Neo Akpofure for speaking about her in a condescending manner during the All-Star edition of the show.

She said Neo rebuked someone for saying her slang around him, calling her “razz.”

The BBNaija ‘Level Up’ winner said it was degrading coming from Neo whose first trip to Lagos was because of Big Brother Naija.

She spoke in the latest episode of her podcast, Spill With Phyna.

Read Also: I’m not proud of abortion I did at age 20, says Phyna

Phyna said: “Neo was in Big Brother All Stars House, I was watching that day. I don’t know what made me watched. And I was watching Neo, I don’t know who he was talking to and the person used my slang, ‘Who deyyyy’ for him. And he was like, ‘Take that razz girl’s slang out of my ears. That girl is too razz.

“Coming from Neo that came to Lagos for the very first time because of Big Brother Nigeria. Till now I’m still trying to understand why he would have to say that about me because I’ve not even met the guy before. I don’t know what he looks like. I only see him online.”

Her guest on the show, Pere Egbi apologised to her on Neo’s behalf.

January 4, 2024
Top 10 richest men in Africa at the start of 2024

South African business mogul, Johann Rupert, has dethroned Nigerian Aliko Dangote to emerge as Africa’s wealthiest man, according to a list released by Forbes Magazine.

Here is a list of Africa’s richest men (Rank, Name and Net worth)

1. Johann Rupert & Family $10.3 billion

2. Aliko Dangote $9.5 billion

Read Also: S’African billionaire displaces Dangote as Africa’s richest man

3. Nicky Oppenheimer & Family $8.3 billion

4. Nassef Sawiris $7.4 billion

5. Abdulsamad Rabiu $5.9 billion

6. Nathan Kirsh $5.8 billion

7. Issad Rebrab & Family $4.6 billion

8. Mohamed Mansour $3.6 billion

9. Naguib Sawiris $3.3 billion

10. Mike Adenuga $3.1 billion

January 4, 2024
We are restructuring, not ending operations in Nigeria, says JSM

Jubilee Syringe Manufacturing Limited (“JSM”) located in Awa, Onna Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom state, has clarified that it has not ended its operations in Nigeria.

JSM, which was inaugurated on September 23rd, 2017, by the former Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has become the market leader with its top-quality syringes in the country, in addition to creating employment opportunities for Akwa Ibom people and other Nigerians.

However, despite the huge sum invested in the syringe factory, the management staff have been unable to meet up with its expected target, hence, the decision of the investors to restructure and reorganise the management team and the entire structures of the production lines for better profitability and sustainability.

A statement by JSM investors through the Managing Director of VKS Group of Companies, Mr. Onur Kumral, dismissed the reports that JSM was ending its operations in the country completely.

He explained that contrary to reports, the company is only undergoing a restructuring phase, which will only make the company experience a brief break within this period.

Read Also: As Tinubu moves to rev up economic recovery with consumer credit

Kumral noted that the reorganisation of JSM is a decision of the investors, following the inability of the management to meet up with its expected targets for several years, stressing that the shake-up only affects management staff and the entire structures of the production line, which is geared towards better productivity of the company.

He assured that the company will return to full operations soon.

The statement reads in part: “JSM is simply undertaking temporary measures to ensure the long-term sustainability of its operations. Restructuring is not new in any given business environment and sometimes you undertake reviews with sustainability in mind.

“When you set up a multimillion-dollar factory such as JSM, it is important to take a critical review of its operations and that of the management staff. JSM is a for-profit business and when expected targets are not met year after year, a shake-up is inevitable, which is what we have decided to do.

“We want to assure our esteemed customers that there is no need to panic. We are still in business as Jubilee Syringe Manufacturing Limited and we are poised to keep to our commitment to remain as the producer of the highest quality syringes in Nigeria.

“We call on the general public and our esteemed customers to disregard insinuations in certain media outlets reporting a total shut down of JSM operations in Nigeria, we remain in business, and we will come back stronger than before.”

January 4, 2024
S’African billionaire displaces Dangote as Africa’s richest man

South African business mogul, Johann Rupert, has dethroned Nigerian Aliko Dangote to emerge as Africa’s wealthiest man, according to a list released by Forbes Magazine.

Similarly, Nigerian billionaires Rabiu Abdulsamad and Mike Adenuga have lost their spots in the billionaire rankings released by the financial magazine

In the list, the Forbes Daily billionaires ranking platform, which tracks daily changes to the net worth of the most high-net-worth individuals across the world revealed that Aliko Dangote moved down to second position as his wealth decreased from $13.5b in 2023 to $9.5b in the start of 2024.

Read Also: Dangote Refinery awaits fifth one million barrels of crude

The wealth of Nigeria’s Mike Adenuga moved him to the tenth position, while Patrice Motsepe, who was in the top ten in 2023, didn’t make the top ten richest men in 2024.

One striking change in the Forbes wealthiest people in Africa list is that no woman made the top ten richest list at the start of the year.

The devaluation of the Naira and other economic issues can be attributed to the decrease of Dangote’s wealth.

In the 2024 rankings, Johann Rupert & Family’s wealth went from $10.7b down to $10.3b to emerge Africa’s richest man with the decrease of the wealth of long-time African richest Aliko Dangote which went from $13.5b to $9.5b.

Here is a list of Africa’s richest men (Rank, Name and Net worth)

1. Johann Rupert & Family $10.3 billion

2. Aliko Dangote $9.5 billion

3. Nicky Oppenheimer & Family $8.3 billion

4. Nassef Sawiris $7.4 billion

5. Abdulsamad Rabiu $5.9 billion

6. Nathan Kirsh $5.8 billion

7. Issad Rebrab & Family $4.6 billion

8. Mohamed Mansour $3.6 billion

9. Naguib Sawiris $3.3 billion

10. Mike Adenuga $3.1 billion

January 4, 2024
JUST IN: Two die in Sokoto deputy governor’s convoy accident

Two persons, a police man and a photographer in the convoy of Sokoto state deputy governor, Muhammad Idris Gobir, died in an accident on Wednesday evening while returning to the state capital after an official trip to Sabon Birni.

It was learnt that the state governor, Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto and his deputy, Muhammad Idris Gobir were at Sabon Birni with other top party officials for a function.

The deceased policeman and photographer, one Buhari Tanko according to reports, were on the entourage of the deputy governor.

Read Also:Tinubu celebrates Sokoto Gov at 54

A source who spoke to The Nation under anonymity said: “I just got a confirmation on the accident involving a police vehicle in which the deceased photographer was in the vehicle at the occurrence of the incident.

“I also had that a police man who’s name is yet to be known and the photographer died on the spot.

“It’s unfortunate and sad for the incident. We pray Allah grant their souls eternal rest”, the source concluded.

Confirming the incident, spokesman of the Sokoto State police command, ASP Ahmed Rufa’i, said the accident involved the deputy governor’s convoy pilot vehicle driven by a police officer and one person , a photographer who both died on the spot.

“Others who sustained injuries are already receiving treatment at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital here in Sokoto.

January 4, 2024
EFCC freezes N30b NSIPA cash traced to private accounts
- Anti-graft body grills coordinator, arrests ex-DFA
- Ex-Humanitarian Affairs minister fails to honour agency’s invitation
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has tracked N30 billion of the N44 billion moved from the accounts of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA).

The multiple accounts to which the funds were moved by some NSIPA officials have been frozen by the anti-graft agency as part of an ongoing probe.

It was learnt that the N44 billion was suspiciously moved from NSIPA’s accounts into private and corporate accounts linked to those serving as fronts.

Some of the officials of the agency have been undergoing investigation.

For hours yesterday, EFCC interrogators grilled the suspended National Coordinator/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the agency, Halima Shehu.

The anti-graft commission also arrested NSIPA’s immediate past Director of Finance and Accounts (DFA), Mr. Bwai Adamu Hamza.

Hamza retired from the agency in December.

Shehu and Hamza were subjected to interrogation yesterday by a special team.

Former Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development minister, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, failed to honour the EFCC invitation to appear for interrogation.

She also did not send any message on why she did not turn up.

Officials designated to interrogate her waited in vain.

The EFCC invited Umar-Farouq over the alleged laundering of N37, 170,855,753.44 during her tenure through a contractor, James Okwete. The former minister denied the allegations.

There were strong indications last night that having failed to turn up without explanation, the former minister might be declared wanted by the EFCC.

Investigations showed that the ongoing probe of NSIPA assumed a new dimension following the discovery that the total cash taken out of the agency’s vaults was N44 billion.

But, after tracking the movement of the cash, the EFCC recovered and froze the N30 billion it traced to multiple accounts.

As of Tuesday, the agency had intercepted and seized N17 billion.

Within 24 hours, the commission traced and froze an additional N13 billion in some accounts, raising the cash seized to N30 billion.

Detectives were still profiling many accounts last night to uncover the balance of N14 billion.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said the EFCC Executive Chairman. Mr. Ola Olukoyede was personally leading the probe.

The source said: “After hours of interrogation and profiling of many accounts, the EFCC was able to confirm that unauthorised N44 billion was suspiciously moved out of NSIPA’s account to some private and corporate accounts.

Read Also: EFCC to probe former minister Farouk Sadiya over alleged N37bn fraud

“So far, N30billion has been traced to some accounts and frozen.

“Our operatives are on the trail of the owners and alleged fronts or firms used to siphon the cash.

“Records showed that the N44 billion was hurriedly moved out of NSIPA’s account in one week.”

As of press time, the EFCC had arrested Hamza in connection with the action.

According to the investigation, Hamza, who retired on December 29, was picked up to clarify the movement of the cash under his watch.

Shehu and Hamza were said to have “worked closely” in the agency.

Another source said: “The National Coordinator and the ex-DFA were grilled by our investigating team for hours on Wednesday. Halima was taken into custody on Tuesday while Hamza was arrested yesterday.

“Based on the new focus of the EFCC chairman, Halima was, on compassionate ground, allowed to go home at about 11pm on Tuesday. She reported for another round of interaction yesterday.

“For Hamza, the EFCC arrested him following intelligence that he might travel out of the country for an engagement.”

The source added: “The two persons have made useful statements and we have recovered some records which enabled us to trace and freeze N30 billion. For a long time, the two officials have been working together.

“Immediately Hamza retired, Halima appointed him as a Special Adviser on Finance. He was expected to resume work on Tuesday.

“Our team is, however, working round the clock to uncover the accounts where the remaining N14 billion was hidden.”

On Umar-Farouq’s connection with the matter, her accuser, Okwete was in EFCC’s custody yesterday awaiting her arrival for a face-to-face interrogation.

“We will give her some grace and if she does not honour our invitation, the EFCC will have no choice but to declare the ex-minister wanted.”
January 4, 2024
Govt kicks off issuance of automated passports

Ahead of Monday’s commencement of automated passports issuance, Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) officers began training yesterday in Abuja.

Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who kicked off the training, assured that the process would eliminate all forms of human interference and graft.

Tunji-Ojo said that the training would fine-tune the knowledge of the personnel and make them efficient in service delivery.

He added at the event attended by NIS Comptroller-General, Wura-Ola Adepoju and Acting Interior Ministry Permanent Secretary Peter Egbodo, that with the commitment of the officers so far, the Monday target was attainable.

Read Also: Minister inaugurates training of Immigration personnel on automated passports

The minister also said the Tinubu’s Administration had demonstrated that it was possible for Nigerians to obtain passports anywhere in the world without delay.

He commended the NIS leadership for the cooperation given to him.

NIS boss Adepoju underscored the significance of the training to the challenges associated with the automated passport application process.

She said that the service would not tolerate any excuse from the personnel.

January 4, 2024
Fed Govt cash transfer scheme for 102,650 Edo beneficiaries

More than 102,650 persons from 1,969 communities in the 18 local government areas of Edo State will benefit from the second phase of the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Cash Transfer (RHCT) programme, the Edo State Government confirmed yesterday.

The General Manager, Social Investment Programme (SIP) in the state, Ms. Yuwa Aladeselu, broke the news at a one-day refresher training for local government cash transfer facilitators in Benin.

Ms. Aladeselu said the Federal Government’s RHCT programme was being implemented under the National Social Safety Nets Project Scale Up (NASSP-SU).

She said that Governor Godwin Obaseki has always shown readiness to key into any profitable intervention programme that would provide succour for the poor and vulnerable in the state.

The general manager, who said that the state has a social register of over 1.6 million persons, added that about 314,000 households had been captured in the register.

According to her, persons living with disability, among others, will be included.

In her remarks, Flora Bossey, Head of Unit, Edo State Cash Transfer, recalled that over 12,108 beneficiaries were enrolled and paid during the first phase of the implementation of the programme in the state in 2022.

She said the cash transfer was being implemented in line with the vision of the federal government to provide support for over 15 million poor and vulnerable Nigerians under the Expanded NASSP-SU.

Bossey said that the Expanded NASSP-SU was designed to support new beneficiaries for Economic Shock Response Cash Transfer in Urban areas.

She added that the programmes included Extended Regular Cash Transfer in rural areas across the country.

Read Also: NANS urges Fed Govt to sanction institutions offering unaccredited courses

According to her, the programme is the existing cash transfer beneficiaries that are yet to reach 12 cycles of payment to cushion the effect of the removal of fuel subsidy.

Mr. Mohammed Adams, Enrolment Officer, National Cash Transfer Office, said the training was to ensure that the facilitators rightly capture the biodata of the 101, 404 registered persons.

Adams said that the training was to properly enrol registered persons to receive the renewed hope cash transfer.

According to him, the payment delivery mechanism will ensure that payment is delivered to the eligible beneficiaries directly into their accounts and wallets at the right time.

He said: “All beneficiaries will receive their funds directly interoperable transactional accounts/wallets thus, leading to significant financial inclusion of the beneficiaries.

“We all know that times are hard; this intervention is to deliver support to those who need it most,” he said.

January 4, 2024
Seun Kuti: I’m ready to defend libel suit over P&ID

Musician and Grammy nominee Seun Kuti yesterday said he was ready to defend a libel suit against him over comments he made on the controversial Process & Industrial Developments Limited (P&ID) case.

According to him, his comments on the involvement of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, resulted in a lawsuit and a police invitation.

At a briefing in Lagos, he said he would also honour the invitation at 11 am today.

After years of intense legal battle, Nigeria secured a landmark victory in overturning a $10 billion judgment awarded against it in the case.

Judge Ross Cranston of the Business and Property Courts of England and Wales granted Nigeria’s application for sanction relief.

On October 31, Kuti took to his Instagram page to comment on the case.

He alleged that Ayorinde shared certain information with P&ID while representing Nigeria in the arbitration proceedings.

The SAN denied the allegations and filed a libel and character defamation lawsuit.

The case will come up for hearing in Oyo State on January 25.

Read Also: I’m not successful in music because of Fela – Seun Kuti

Seun said: “All I did was read out what the UK court said in their judgment.

“I went through the entire 140 pages, and everything I mentioned came straight from that judgment.

“But now, Ayorinde, Nigeria’s representative in the case, is dragging me to court, saying I defamed him. He even went to the police about it.

“I called the press here to carry them along and be with me as the eyes and ears of the Nigerian people.

“I didn’t call the press to be on my side but to monitor this issue to the end, to educate Nigerians to open their eyes.

“My interest is in the case is patriotic; anyone who is patriotic should be interested in the case.

“As a patriotic citizen deeply committed to the wellbeing and integrity of our nation, I believe in the importance of raising concerns about issues that affect the nation’s interests,” said the youngest son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti.

The musician said it was surprising that Ayorinde would file the lawsuit against him, especially considering the 140-page judgment was public.

He also wondered why the SAN chose to file the suit in Oyo when they both reside in Lagos.

Kuti added: “I stand by everything I have said on the case.

“I am ready to meet him in the court and I am optimistic that I will win this case because it runs in my family to fight against cases like this that affect the nation’s interest.”

He restated his commitment to advocating for causes that will advance the country’s progress.

January 4, 2024