Category: Lead

No fewer than 17 persons, including a Police Officer, have been killed in attacks and reprisal attacks in communities of Zangon-Kataf in the southern part of Kaduna State. 

The Nation gathered trouble started in the area last Thursday when a young herder was tied to a tree and macheted to death by some locals around Ungwan Juju.

It was learnt the situation became compounded Saturday afternoon when a misunderstanding arose between security operatives and some Fulani men at a checkpoint in Ungwan Wakili which led to a Fulani man and a Policeman being shot at the checkpoint.

Later that evening, a group of local youths who went fishing were attacked and one of them was said to have been macheted to death by the retaliating herders.

A senior military source from the area told The Nation: “On Thursday last week, one Umar Sambo (a herder) was killed while he was returning from grazing his cattle around Ungwan Juju in Zangon Kataf LGA.

“The killers tied the young herder up, matcheted him to death and hid the corpse in an unknown location. When his brother, identified as Safiyanu, could not find him, he reported to the security agencies, who then launched a search operation. His body was finally discovered at Ungwan.”

Read Also: ‘I’ve no hand in Opu-Nembe invasion, killings’

He said the security situation which they were making efforts to manage became compounded on Saturday evening when there was a clash between security operatives and some Fulani at a checkpoint in Ungwan Wakili, which led to the death of a Fulani man and a Policeman.

According to him: “Ungwan Wakili village of Atyap Chiefdom in Zangon Kataf LGA was attacked by unidentified persons around 8:40PM on Saturday, in an apparent reprisal following the killing of the herder earlier mentioned. 

“Another suspected immediate cause of the Saturday night attack, was the accidental shooting of a herder by a policeman at Ungwan Wakili Junction, the burning of herders’ motorcycles and the mob action which followed.”

He however said troops of Operation Safe Haven were mobilised to the village to repel the attack but about 16 to 17 persons were already killed with seven persons wounded. 

The wounded were taken to Zonkwa General Hospital for treatment. 

The local government authorities havd imposed a 24-hour curfew in the affected communities to prevent further breakdown of law and order. 

The councillor representing Echara Ward2 in Okposi Community, Ohaozara local government area of Ebonyi State, Mr Ogbonnaya Ugwu, popularly known as SPACO has been reportedly killed by gunmen.

It was gathered that Ugwu was killed around 10 pm on Saturday while returning from his shop, a drinking joint known in Okposi as ANGLE 90.

Sources in Okposi said Ugwu was accosted by the gunmen around Okposi Court Area junction.

“The honourable Councillor was accosted while he was returning from his shop, a popular drinking joint in Okposi known as Angle 90.

Read Also: BREAKING: 10 corpses found as gunmen attack Kaduna village

“They shot him and he fell inside a gutter there, and they set him ablaze and left the scene.

“As I am talking to you now, N’echara youths in Okposi are protesting over the incident,” the source said

Spokesperson of the Police in Ebonyi Command, Onome Onovwakpoyeya could not be reached for comment at the time of filling this report.

No fewer than 10 corpses have been recovered after gunmen suspected to be bandits attacked Unguwar Wakili in Zango Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State. 

In a statement, the local government authorities said a  24-hour curfew has been imposed on Ungwan Juju, Mabuhu, Ungwan Wakili and Zangon Urban with immediate effect. 

“This is to allow men of the Nigerian Army to restore peace on that axis,” Yabo Chris Ephraim,Special Assistant (Media) to Chairman ,Zangon Kataf Local Government Council of Kaduna State said. 

The Police in Kaduna were yet to react to the incident. 

Details Shortly…

• Realignments heat up gubernatorial race in Oyo, Ogun, Rivers, Abia, others

By Dare Odufowokan/Chris Njoku, Owerri/Nwanosike Onu, Awka/Toba Adedeji, Osogbo/Sunny Nwankwo, Umuahia

Saturday’s house of assembly election is looking to be tougher in Edo, Anambra, Osun and Imo than the other 32 states, according  to projections by our team of reporters.

The odds in the four states seem heavily stacked against the incumbent governors who are now under pressure to ensure their party controls the majority of the in-coming legislators.

Realignment of political forces in Oyo, Ogun, Rivers, Katsina, Adamawa and other states following the outcome of the February 25th presidential election has already heightened tension ahead of the governorship polls also scheduled for Saturday.

Although the governorship election will not take place in Edo, Anambra, Osun and Imo this weekend, Governors Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Charles Soludo (Anambra), Ademola Adeleke (Osun) and Hope Uzodimma (Imo) have an uphill task to deliver their states for their respective parties.

Obaseki’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Soludo’s All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Uzodimma’s All Progressives Congress (APC) performed poorly in the states in the presidential/National Assembly elections.

PDP’s performance was so awful in Edo State that Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu, lost their polling booths. The party came a distant third in the presidential election while the Labour party and APC won the majority of the national assembly seats.

Gone is the sympathy the PDP enjoyed from the majority of the people in the 2021 governorship election. The governor and his deputy have since launched an aggressive campaign to woo back the people but the plan does not appear to be working.

The presidential candidate of LP, Mr.Peter Obi, visited Benin yesterday and told his supporters to ensure that all the incoming 24 members of the state assembly are from his party.

Soludo too has been appealing to the electorate in his state, majority of whom lined up behind LP in the last election, to vote for APGA candidates this time around to enable him deliver on his promises.

The governor yesterday described as deceitful a comment by Obi that LP state assembly candidates should work with Soludo after Saturday’s election.

Soludo’s spokesman, Mr Christian Aburime, said: “That call was meant to deceive Anambra people. Obi cannot be talking about development in Anambra and also be talking about asking the Anambra people to elect lawmakers from an opposition party to work with Soludo.

“He worked with a legislature that was dominated by lawmakers from the PDP when he first came in as governor, and he knows that it was not easy for him.

“He even suffered impeachment because of that, and we hope it is not the same thing he wants to set Soludo up for.

“Anambra people should go all out next Saturday and vote for APGA if they want the developmental strides of Mr Governor to continue.

“You cannot be talking of development and at the same time talking of electing opposition politicians into the House of Assembly. It is not done. It is deceit.

“Anambra people supported Obi during the presidential election, and besides, Soludo refused to interfere as the people trooped out to vote for Labour Party, and that was even before Soludo made the environment conducive for people to come out and vote.

“We have voted Labour Party in the presidential election, but for the House of Assembly election, we are voting for APGA, and we want Anambra people to know so.”

Aburime told The Nation separately that the House of Assembly elections would be a different ball game altogether.

He said what the governor would not allow anyone to do is to cause problems during the election, adding that if INEC holds a free and fair election, APGA would triumph.

For Ozo Obi Ochije, one of the chieftains of APGA, the Labour Party candidates should not dream of what transpired during the presidential to repeat itself.

According to him, “Anambra State is APGA and APGA is Anambra. My problem with the LP members is that they only think straight forward without looking for other options.”

Uzodimma’s dilemma is similar to Soludo’s. He has a daunting task to get the electorate to vote for the majority of APC candidates.

Former Imo Assembly Speaker Kennedy Ibeh, who is contesting the Obowo seat for a record third time on the platform of APC will slug it out with the Labour Party candidate, Mbachu Nkechi Favour, and PDP candidate, Chika Ambrose.

He comes from a constituency where people believe strongly in equity, and on that premise, it may be a difficult task for him to survive the political chess of some leaders in the area, particularly now that LP is enjoying popularity bliss, although with the backing of Governor Uzodimma, he stands the chance of been reelected.

Another old war horse is the Deputy Speaker, Chycha Iwuanyanwu, from Nwangele state constituency. The deputy speaker is a member of APC and he is known as one of Uzodimma’s loyalists even though he has lately faced several integrity tests. He is a smart politician and stands a good chance to return if he plays his game well in his constituency.

Oru East is the governor’s zone and he has not lost his constituency to the opposition. It may not be a political miscalculation to say that the government determines who wins an election in his den. Thus the chances of the APC candidate in the local government Chigozie Nwaneri making a comeback the second tenure look bright.

In Ideato South, Johnson Duru will be facing hurdles during this election because his backbone, Rochas Okorocha, on whose back he rode to victory in 2019 is no longer there. Some of Okorocha’s loyalists are not likely to forgive him for ditching the former governor.

Adeleke’s PDP fared well in Osun State last month, but he too is leaving nothing to chance as he has spent the last one week moving from one part of the state to the other to  get support for PDP candidates.

For Governor Adeleke and his predecessor, Adegboyega Oyetola of the PDP, the Saturday election will be a fresh test of their popularity.

Both are determined to win the majority of the assembly seats for their parties more so when Oyetola is looking forward to returning to office on account of the petition he filed against the last governorship election.

The election petition tribunal adjudged him winner but Adeleke has taken the matter to the Court of Appeal.

Adeleke, since his inauguration, has been trying to endear himself to the people by clearing salary and pension arrears.

Oyetola urged the people of the state to vote massively on Saturday for the candidates of the APC, saying this would go a long way to make things easy for his administration when he returns to power soon.

He said: “We want you to continue to pray for us to reclaim our mandate soon. We want our people to win in the next House of Assembly election so that no opposition will be allowed.

“We want you to know that APC is the only party that can take us to victory. This is the party that God has made for us. That is where benefits lie.

“Please, vote APC all through. If we truly want to benefit from the federal government, please, let’s elect our people to House of Assembly. These are the people that will work with us when we return to government.”

Adeleke in a broadcast explained why he needed the state assembly to be filled by PDP member.

He said: “For me to continue to serve you well, I request that you vote for the 26 House of Assembly candidates of the PDP.

“They are the team I will work with. They are very important for the implementation of the Imole agenda.

“A PDP fully controlled State Assembly is the key to more dividends of democracy.”

A civil society activist, Comrade Ayo Ologun, charged the electorate not to be swayed by politicians’ campaign of which party owns the assembly but vibrant legislative arm that will make policies and contribute to good governance.

Majority of the current members of the state assembly are from the APC, which remains very popular in the state.

Realignment in Oyo, Ogun, Rivers, Katsina, Adamawa, others

The outcome of the last presidential election has sent the political class into a frenzy ahead of this weekend’s polls, the parties and candidates desperately resorting to fresh strategies in their bids to garner advantage over their opponents in the elections.

Some of the parties are battling fresh crises stemming from disagreements over various issues.

The governorship election will not take place in Edo, Anambra, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa states.

The political realignment is more noticeable in Oyo, Ogun, Rivers, Katsina and Adamawa.

In Oyo State, for example, many politicians are engaging in open rebellion against their political parties by dumping the candidates and opting to support those of other parties.

Leading beneficiaries of the unfolding political horse-trading are Governor Seyi Makinde of PDP and Senator Teslim Folarin of the APC both of whom have been receiving endorsement from different camps.

Folarin is enjoying the backing of a former governor of the state, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, who has asked his supporters to vote for Folarin.

The APC candidate is also understood to have met with other influential politicians in the state to support his bid.

These include a former deputy governor of the state, Hazeem Gbolarumi and Abdulrasheed Olopoenia.

However, candidates of the Accord Party, Social Democratic Party (SDP), and the Young Progressives Party (YPP) have suffered from rebellions and re-alignments within their parties.

The governorship candidate of Labour Party (LP) in Adamawa State, Engr Umar Mustapha, has declared support for the APC candidate, Senator Aishatu Binani. Mustapha said he decided to put his ambition on hold and fully support the governorship ambition of Binani because “I am confident that Binani will provide a people-centred leadership that will prioritise human capital and resource development that will prosper Adamawa State.”

More support for Sanwo-Olu in Lagos

In Lagos State, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Lagos State, yesterday asked eligible voters among the student populace in Lagos State to vote for Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, saying he is tested and trusted with the best plan for education in Lagos State.

Speaking during a press briefing at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja Lagos, Comrade Olusesi Tolulope hailed Sanwo-Olu’s contribution in the area of education.

He said: “The priority accorded to tertiary education in Lagos by the Sanwo-Olu led administration is unrivaled, as the upgrade of former Lagos State Polytechnic and Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education as Lagos State University of Education and University Science and Technology respectively are topnotch.”

He noted further that the Sanwo-olu-led administration has been working on setting up an education trust fund that will change the mode of funding tertiary education in the country, by showing that with the right leadership at the state level, education can be taken to a world-class level in Nigeria.

Amaechi canvasses vote for Tonye Cole

Former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi asked Rivers residents to go all out, vote and support Tonye Cole, the APC gubernatorial candidate of the state on March 18.

Amaechi, who spoke during a visit to the northern community in the state, also urged residents to protect their votes on election day.

“All we need from you is to go out and vote, and protect your votes; everybody should be his own policeman. When you vote, sit down there until they upload it. Even when they upload it, escort them to the Ward Centre. Let them upload it there.

“Another set of people should escort them to the Local Government centre. That’s how you become your own policeman,” he said.

Amaechi told the people that he did not discriminate based on ethnic and religious lines when he was a governor. He said that he made sure of was that 1,200 Christians went on pilgrimage, 500 Muslims also went on pilgrimage every year for eight years.

He added that he appointed a Muslim Pilgrims Board the same way he appointed a Christian Welfare Pilgrims Board.

The Chief Imam of Rivers State, Alhaji Haliru Imam, said that the Northern Community in Rivers expressed support for Cole who assured the people that his administration would give them an enabling environment to help them succeed.

PDP vows to defeat LP in Abia

The ruling PDP in Abia State said the Labour Party (LP) would be thoroughly defeated on Saturday.

The PDP in a statement signed by Michael Nwabueze, for its Campaign Council in Abia, said the people of the state were  already aware that Peter Obi, who made a majority of them vote for LP on the February 25, would not be on the ballot election.

The PDP Campaign Council berated the LP in Abia for alleging that it (PDP) has concluded plans to violently rig the March 18 governorship election, stressing that the reverse is the case.

“This has always been the character and tactics of the desperate serial losers that have currently taken over the LP’s platform in the state after failing miserably sojourning in the APC and All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA),” the Campaign Council said.

Ebonyi APC candidate dismisses death rumour

Governorship candidate of the APC in Ebonyi State, Chief Francis Nwifuru yesterday in Abakaliki dismissed social media report that he was indisposed or possibly dead.

Nwifuru, Speaker of the State House of Assembly told newsmen that the rumour was a distractive tool employed by opposition which felt threatened by his soaring acceptability by the people.

“You are already seeing me; I am alive, healthy and not sick. I never visited any hospital due to sickness. The last time I underwent medical check-up was in February 2022 and I am supposed to undergo another one in 2023,” he said.

“I will do so hopefully after my inauguration because I am confident of being sworn in as the state governor.”

Nwifuru urged the people to disregard reports about his ill-health, noting that he had nothing to hide.

He said: “Ebonyi people have seen that the opposition cannot offer anything to them except lies and deceit.”

Tension in Imo LP

Meanwhile, tension is brewing in the LP in Imo State over dissolution of the former ad hoc committee of the party and reconstitution of a new caretaker committee.

The party had on Thursday dissolved the old state leaders of the party led by Ambrose Onyekwere and put in place the Festus Onyekwulisi-led committee.

It was gathered that the development is now threatening the peace and harmony of the party as majority of the members including nine governorship aspirants are kicking against the change of executive leadership.

The governorship aspirants in a joint statement had frowned at the dissolution claiming it was a plot by a particular governorship candidate of the party to achieve his aim of grabbing the gubernatorial ticket as the party primary draws near.

APC, PDP at war in Ogun

Ahead of Saturday’s election, the Ogun State chapter of the LP has endorsed the re-election bid of Governor Dapo Abiodun of the APC.

The endorsement by the Ogun State leadership of the LP, which does not have a governorship candidate in the state, was led by its National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi.

Governor Abiodun said  the total endorsement by leaders of the frontline opposition party was a clear statement on how well the projects, programmes and policies that have shaped Ogun State under his administration sit with all and sundry, even across party lines.

Other leaders of the LP who were led by Dr Arabambi were Comr. Michael Ashade, Engr Michael Feyisola, Mrs. Oladimeji Elizabeth, Babaseun Ogunyemi, Shobajo Olaniyi, Adebiyi Adekunle, Barr. Monday M., Comr. Oyewale Okusanya, Otunba Yinka Adeboye, Adeleye Godwin, Olufemi Olusola, and Prince Tosin Meadows.

In a related development, factional governorship candidate of the PDP, Jimi Lawal, has joined the APC. Lawal’s defection to the APC came after he failed to make the courts declare him as the governorship candidate of the PDP in Ogun.

On Sunday, Lawal and his followers were received into the APC by Governor Dapo Abiodun. The defection of Lawal and his supporters is a big boost for the ruling party towards winning Saturday’s elections in the state.

But Ladi Adebutu, the PDP candidate in the state, said that he was not bothered about the defection of Lawal and other party chieftains. He spoke shortly after a peaceful reunion with one of the governorship aspirants of the party in the state, Hon. Segun Sowunmi, at his residence in Abeokuta, the state capital, to reconcile their differences within the party.

Adebutu, while speaking at the reunion, said that some bad elements in the party were responsible for the feud between Sowunmi and him, adding that it was instigated to frustrate his chances of winning the 2023 governorship election in the state.

Some other PDP bigwigs who dumped Adebutu to join Governor Abiodun include Segun Seriki, Johnson Fatoki, Otunba Femi Osifade, Alhaji Saula Adegunwa, Ralph Olaosebikan and Tola Mebude. Others are the former Financial Secretary of the PDP in Ogun State, Bola Odumosun; Chairman of the Elders Council, Alhaji T.A. Olatokunbo; Alhaja Fatimo Sonibare, former Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government, Michael Agbolaade and former House of Assembly member, Akeem Salami.

APC, PDP battle for assembly seats in Ekiti

The March 11 governorship election in Ekiti State will be a two-horse race between the ruling APC and the PDP.

Other parties appeared to have gone to sleep.

The APC has six female candidates while the rest 20 are male. The party’s candidates include Mariam Ogunlade (Emure), Okeimen Fakunle ( Ilejemeje), Hakeem Jamiu (Irepodun/Ifelodun), Tajudeen Akingbolu (Ekiti West), Lateef Akanle (Ekiti East), Adeoye Aribasoye (Ikole II), Ayorinde Oluwayomi, Ayodeji Ajayi (Ise/Orun), and Babatunde Fawekun ( Ido/Osi I).

Others are Babatunde Oke (Ikere II), Babatunde Idowu (Ikere II), Bode Oyekola (from Ekiti West II), Femi Akindele (from Irepodun/Ifelodun), and Adeteju Okuyiga (from Gbonyin).Abimbola Solanke (from Moba I), Ayodeji Adegbite (Ado I), Oladapo Osunniyi (from Ekiti southwest II), Bolaji Olagbaju (Ado II), and Bosede Olowookere (Efon ).

They also include Temitope Longe, (Oye 1), Kareem Agunbiade (Ekiti West I), Goke Oyeleye (Ijero), Babafemi Fatunla (Ikole 1), and Omoyeni Oluwasola (Ekiti East II), Abraham Fatoba (Ekiti East I), Mathew Attah (Ikere II), Idowu Odebunmi (Oye II), Oluwafemi Alabi, and Adeyemi Awoniyi (Moba II) and Rotimi Orewole (Gbonyin).

The PDP candidates are Akin Abimbola (Ekiti West 1), Anjorin Olarenwaju (Ikole 1), Abraham Adeleye ( Ekiti West 1), Bolarinwa Omolase(Ado 1), Victor Ogundipe (Ado 2), Simi Olusola (Ikere 2), Yomi Daramola ( Efon), Owoeye Oyeniyi ( Ikere 1) Oluwole Durodola ( Ijero) Kolade Oladeji (Emure) and Gbenga Olajide (Irepodun/Ifelodun 2).

Others are Kehinde Ogunlade (Ise/Orun ), Adeolu Fasakin (Gbonyin), Akin Adeyemi (Ekiti East 1 ), Abiodun Ogunlade (Ekiti East 2), Edward Ojaomo (Ekiti Southwest 1 ), Afuye Awosode (Ekiti Southwest 2 ), Niyi Adeogun( Moba 2), Awoniyi Tolulope ( Ido/Osi 1), Ayodele Alonge (Ido/Osi 2), Samson Ayodele (Oye 1), Kayode Ojo (Oye 2), Owolabi Taiwo ( Ilejemeje) and Anifowose Oluwafemi (Irepodun/Ifelodun1).

There is no doubt that the governorship race would follow the same pattern as the Presidential and National Assembly elections which the APC won with a wide margin.

In the presidential poll, the APC’s Asiwaju Bola Tinubu got 202,494 votes to defeat his main challenger and Atiku Abubakar of the PDP who polled 89,554 votes. APC won all the 16 local government areas of the state with wide margins.

The ruling APC also won all the National Assembly seats across the state, leaving the opposition PDP with nothing. It won the three senatorial seats and all the six House of Representatives seats, thus consigning PDP in Ekiti to the political dustbin at the moment.

The outcome of the February 25 election is currently having a reverberating effect on the camps of all the political parties ahead of the Assembly election in the state.

Observers believe that Saturday’s election may be an easy sail for the APC because Governor Oyebanji has wooed the people with his performance since assumption of office six months ago.

PDP’s chances have been undermined by internal crisis which has torn the party apart. The PDP leaders of who are ordinarily supposed to galvanize supports for their candidates are at war with one another.

Indications clearly shows that the ruling APC will clear all the 26 seats because Governor Oyebanji and his lieutenants are not leaving any stoned unturned in seeking votes across the states despite all odds in APC’s favour. So, it would be miracle of the year if PDP wins any seat.

• Anger in Ekiti, Osun, others over rejection of old notes
• Radio presenter slumps, dies while trekking to work

THE cash scarcity caused by the naira redesign claimed another life yesterday in Ibadan as pressure mounts on the Federal Government and the Central Bank (CBN) to ease the suffering of the people.

The Bayelsa State Government is suing for calm in the state following Friday’s protest by residents of Akenfa community in Yenagoa Local Government Area to call government’s attention to the tough life they have been facing over the naira scarcity. 

They said they had had enough of the rejection of the old naira notes by traders one week after the Supreme Court extended their validity to December 31, 2023.

The placard carrying protesters said life had come to a standstill as they could neither sell nor buy while hunger continued to bite them and their children.

Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji yesterday joined the list of governors threatening to arrest and prosecute traders and service providers who reject the old N500 and N1000 denominations.

But the threats are having little or no effect as traders continue to reject the old notes.

They insist that President Muhammadu Buhari and the CBN must speak out on the judgment of the apex court to guide Nigerians appropriately on the old naira notes.

Baba Bintin L’aye, a presenter with Ibadan-based private radio station, Fresh FM, slumped to death yesterday while taking a walk to the radio station to present his programme.

He had reportedly left home armed with his ATM card in the hope of getting some cash from a POS outlet to pay for his transport fare.

He apparently failed to get the cash hence he resorted to trekking from his Amuloko residence to Challenge area of Ibadan, the location of the radio station, only to collapse on the way.

Baba Bintin L’aye is the latest known casualty of the naira scarcity which has made life unbearable for millions of Nigerians.

Before him was a Kaduna pregnant woman who died at the point of delivery because her husband was unable to pay the required hospital deposit on account of the cash squeeze.

An employee of the Lagos State University (LASU), Johnson Adesola, had also slumped to death last month while on a queue to withdraw cash at a bank on the institution’s main campus at Ojo, Lagos.

At least three other persons were killed also last month during violent protests in Edo State over the naira scarcity.

The federal government and the CBN have continued to keep mum over the Supreme Court judgment, prompting the Kaduna, Kogi, Zamfara, Ondo, Ekiti, Katsina, Ogun, Cross River, Lagos and Sokoto state governments to consider slamming contempt charges against the Attorney Genral of the Federation and Justice Minister Abubakar Malami (SAN) and the apex bank for non-implementation of the court order.

The states on Friday served the Attorney-General of the Federation the enrolled order of the Supreme Court on the extension of the validity of the old N200, N500 and N1,000 to December 31, 2023.

By the service, the order became automatically applicable to all agencies of the Federal Government, including the CBN.

Malami and CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele risk being committed for contempt of the court if by Monday they fail to comply with the order of the apex court.

The 10 states have activated the machinery to file contempt charges against Malami and Emefiele if they defy the order of the Supreme Court.

The delay in releasing the Certified True Copy (CTC) seems to have encouraged the banks to adopt different attitudes to the judgment of the apex court.

Some of the banks have been giving the old notes to customers but insist that customers go through the strenuous process stipulated by the CBN for the old notes to be banked.

The Nation gathered that the enrolled order, dated March 3rd, 2023, was served on AGF Malami yesterday.

A counsel in the matter said: “We have finally served the Attorney-General of the Federation the enrolled order of the Supreme Court.

“What we did on Friday was to fulfill all righteousness by serving the enrolled order on the AGF.

“The Federal Government has been evasive by claiming that it had not received the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment, which we have obtained and made available to it.

“The burden is on Malami to act as the Chief Law Officer of the Federation to comply with the order.

“There is no hiding place for the government; there is no excuse again. While we are waiting for the government’s decision, the law provides us backing for Plan B.”

The enrolled order of the Supreme Court, which was sighted by The Nation, reads as follows: “It is ordered that this suit has merit. That the demonetization directive/policy by the President of the Federation to wit: withdrawal of the old 200, 500, and 1000 naira notes is not consistent with the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999(as amended) which makes provision for the Executive power of the President of the Federation and the extant laws on the subject matter.

“That the three months’ notice given for the implementation and completion of the said demonetization policy by which time the old N1,000, N500 and N200 naira notes shall cease to be legal tender does not satisfy the condition set out in Section 20(3) of the CBN Act 2007.

“That the President cannot unilaterally give a directive to embark on the demonetization policy pursuant to Section 20(3) of the CBN Act 2007 in view of Nigeria’s Fiscal Federalism, the economic interest of the Constituents of the Federation and without consultation with, and advice from the plaintiff, individually, and in their capacity as members of the National Council of States and National Economic Council and that the directive cannot be given without consultation with, and advice from the cabinet, the National Security Council and other stakeholders.

“That in issuing the directive for demonetization policy pursuant to Section  20(3) of the CBN Act, 2007 on behalf of the Federation of Nigeria, the President is under an obligation to ensure that adequate structures are put in place for the plaintiffs and Nigerian citizens prior to the implementation  of the said directive.

“That the demonetization directive/policy by the President of the Federation to wit: withdrawal of the old N200, N500 and N1, 000 notes unlawfully impede the exercise of the Executive Powers of the plaintiffs’ states and other obligations to facilitate and protect the welfare of the citizens of the said states pursuant to Section 5(2) and other provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999(as amended) as well as other extant laws.

“That the directive given by the President pursuant to Section 20(3) of the CBN Act 2007 limiting the amount that can be withdrawn and the charges therein without an enabling law is unconstitutional and not binding on the plaintiffs.

“That the directive of the President of the President of the Federation exercised is illegal to the extent that it restricts, without an enabling law, the rights of the plaintiffs to freely use their money in various bank accounts.

“That the old version of N200, N500 and N1,000 notes shall continue to be legal tender alongside with the new or redesigned version until 31st December, 2023.

“That the reception of old N200, N500 and N1,000 notes and the swapping of same with new Naira notes shall continue till 31st December, 2023.

“That all the consolidated suits listed in pp. 12-13 of the judgment shall abide this judgment.”

Bayelsa govt calls for calm

Following the Friday protest in Yenagoa and the continuing anger of the people over FG’s silence on the Supreme Court’s judgment, the Bayelsa State Government yesterday pleaded with residents of the state to be calm and shun acts that could jeopardise the peace of the state.

Information, Orientation and Strategy Commissioner Ayibaina Duba said in a statement that while the state government was not in any way against the naira redesign policy of the CBN or the federal government, it was “not comfortable with the method of its implementation that has resulted in further hardship on people of the state and, indeed, the country.”

It urged business operators in the state, particularly banks, traders and keke (tricycle) to “take into consideration the Supreme Court ruling in order to reduce the pains of people of the state.”

It also asked the CBN to “take immediate steps to ease the burden of doing business in the state by making implementation of the policy less cumbersome.”

Ekiti govt to arrest, prosecute traders rejecting old naira notes, says Oyebanji

Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji said government would arrest and prosecute traders and service providers who reject the old N500 and N1000 denominations.

His Special Adviser on Media, Mr Yinka Oyebode, in a statement in Ado Ekiti particularly appealed to traders and business owners in the state to stop creating hardship for residents.

The governor explained that the old N500 and N1000 denominations remained legal tender till the end of this year by virtue of the ruling of the Supreme Court.

Oyebanji said that his office had been inundated with the cries of the people due to the hardship being faced as a result of the low circulation of the redesigned naira notes.

Oyebanji said that the refusal of many business owners in the state to accept the old naira notes as means of transaction was unlawful.

He said: “This is an appeal to all residents of Ekiti to abide by the ruling of the Supreme Court, which has provided a reprieve for the people by extending the validity date of the old naira notes till December 31.

“As honourable people, what is expected of us is to abide by the ruling of the apex court and continue to accept the old naira notes as means of transactions and not to inflict further hardship on one another by rejecting it.

“Government will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute business owners found rejecting the old naira notes,” the statement quoted Oyebanji as saying.

He pledged that his administration would continue to explore avenues to make life more meaningful for the people, as it continues to build a more prosperous state.

The governor, therefore, appealed to the market women and men, artisans, transporters, filling station attendants, supermarket owners and school proprietors as well as service providers to remain law abiding and accept the old naira notes.

He also urged the commercial banks and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to make the old and new currencies available in their branches and at their Automated Teller Machines (ATM) points to ease the stress residents go through to get money for their daily and commercial needs.

Osun residents decry inability to spend old N500, N1000 notes

Residents of Osogbo in Osun have decried their inability to spend the old N500 and N1,000 denominations in spite of the  Supreme Court’s pronouncement that they remain legal tender until December 31.

Some of them told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday that were happy with the Supreme Court’s judgment, but were disappointed when traders refused to accept the money.

Mr Adejare Agunloye, a civil servant, said the N10,000 old notes he got from the ATM had become useless as traders refused to accept them from him .

 “The situation is really messed up,” he said.

“Imagine the situation where the Supreme Court would give a judgment and people still have to wait for the President to give such court order power of authenticity.

“I have been cash strapped since the new currency issue started and imagine my joy (like many others) when the judgment that banks should circulate the old N500 and N1,000 notes was given.

“Now see, after rushing to withdraw the old money from the bank, there is no where to spend it as traders continue to reject it because the President and CBN governor have not said it should be spent.

“At the moment, I have money I cannot spend, and the worst part is, banks are not collecting the old notes from customers who want to deposit them. Instead, they are asking us to take the money directly to the CBN office for deposit.

“I don’t understand why things in Nigeria are always made difficult by the authorities.”

Another resident, Mrs Ayoade Usman, said she withdrew N5,000 old notes from the ATM with the intention of buying food items from the market.

Usman said she almost got into a fight with some traders when they refused to collect the money from her, saying they don’t accept the old notes.

“I was angry after I wanted to buy pepper and meat and other food items, and these people said they are not collecting the old notes.

“This is the money that the Supreme Court said remains a legal tender till December and this is the same money these traders are refusing to collect.

“So, what is the essence of collecting the old Naira notes from the banks if business operators and traders would not collect them?

“I hope the CBN governor or Mr President would speak or issue an official statement to address this matter, because the banks are still paying out the old notes to customers while business owners are rejecting them,” she said.

Mr Ajayi Ogunsola, a resident and a commercial transport operator, said he was collecting the old notes from passengers, but stopped when he discovered filling stations and traders were not collecting them from him.

“I was collecting the old N500 and N1,000 when the court said we should continue to spend them. But to my surprise, when I wanted to buy fuel, the fuel attendant said she was not collecting the old notes.

“I thought she was joking and told her the Supreme Court has directed that the old notes should remain a legal tender till December 31, but she insisted that the management had directed her and her colleagues not to collect the old notes.

“At this point, I did not know what to do with the old notes with me because I heard banks are also not collecting them, and people are saying I have to take it to the CBN office.” he said.

May God’s judgement be on you, Fani-Kayode curses CBN managers

Lamenting the naira scarcity situation across the country despite recent orders by the Supreme Court, former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode took to his Twitter page on Saturday to rain curses on the people at the helm in Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for causing the people untold hardship.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain lamented that some people at the CBN believe they are greater than the court but should remember they are not greater than God.

“May God’s judgement and curse be upon those at Central Bank who believe that despite the ruling of the courts they are above the law & are greater than their creator. Your money, power, properties & wealth are for but a fleeting moment in the sands of time & echoes of eternity,” he wrote.

Immediate past Secretary General of pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, Seinde Arogbofa,  has revealed that the position of the group is represented by the stance of Pa Reuben Fasoranti on the victory of President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Crisis continues the group as Pa Fasoranti has insisted that he remained the leader of the group and no invidividual would foist the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, on the group.

Acting head of Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, had in a communiqué, said Obi won the presidential election and not Tinubu as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The communiqué was issued few days after Pa Fasoranti congratulated Tinubu on his victory at the poll and assured him of the group’s total support. Arogbofa, in a statement said Fasoranti’s pronouncement on any issue remained final on behalf of Afenifere.

He maintained that Afenifere was made up of people with sound intellects and strong convictions but have occasional divergent views. “Chief Dr. R. F. Fasoranti is still alive and kicking. By the Afenifere tradition, he is still the leader of Afenifere. We defer to him in line with our cherished Yoruba culture. So whatever any other member says or does after he has spoken or acted is immaterial.

“On March 3rd, 2023, Chief R.F. Fasoranti sent a very warm congratulatory letter, on our behalf and his own, to Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his hard-won victory in the February 25, 2023, presidential election. That was done in line with the well-known Afenifere practice. This is where Afenifere stands. The oracle has spoken. Any person or group that may see things differently is free to do so as he is free to exercise his liberty.

“You will recall that on September 3, 2020, in an interview, I granted that some members were foisting Peter Obi as a presidential candidate on us and that Afenifere members are not robots. They are made up of intelligent people with strong convictions but occasional divergent views. I concluded by saying, if elections will hold in 2023, most Afenifere members and, by extension, the right-thinking, accommodating, and unbiased Yoruba ethnic group who are in the silent majority will vote for Tinubu,” Arogbofa said.

• Rivers governor insists Amaechi worked for Atiku

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has described the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, as the hero of the just-concluded election saying his active participation stopped the North from retaining power after President Muhammadu Buhari.

Wike spoke during an interactive meeting  with Technical Dealers Association of Nigeria (TDAN), Computer Dealers Association (TDA), Garrison Phone Dealers Association (GPDA)  and Building Materials Traders Association (BMTA) in Port Harcourt on Saturday.

The governor explained that contrary to insinuation that he did not support Peter Obi,  most people failed to realise that LP candidate was his hero of the election. 

He said: “Obi is my hero. If Obi did not contest, power would have gone back to the North. The whole of Southsouth and Southeast that PDP lost, if Obi did not contest PDP would have won.

“The hero of this election is Obi whether you like it or not. I am not here to please you, Obi is the hero. He may not have been pronounced as the winner, no problem, the law will take its course. 

“If Obi did not run this election, power would have remained in the North. Whether he is declared a winner now or not, history will be on his side that he fought and fought well.”

Wike said the reason he did not publicly declare support for any presidential candidate was because the PDP G-5 governors had unanimously agreed to ensure the emergence of a president from southern Nigeria to succeed President Buhari.

The governor said while members of the G-5 assiduously worked for power to return to the South, the likes of former Rivers State Governor and immediate past Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, who is soliciting for Igbo to support APC candidate, Tonye Cole, mobilised votes for Atiku Abubakar. 

He said: “If Amaechi loves the Igbos, why did he not support Obi? Instead, he supported Atiku. He did not want power to return to the South because he lost APC ticket.”

The governor said the reason why Amaechi was deliberately canvassing support for Tonye Cole was because he wanted to stall their ongoing prosecution for allegedly embezzling $50M from the Rivers State government coffers.

Wike urged Igbo in Rivers State to be wary of Amaechi , who served as Minister of Transportation for over seven years, but failed to revive eastern ports and railway lines from Enugu-Aba-Port Harcourt. 

The governor recalled that when Amaechi was the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, he  vehemently opposed pland to compensate Igbo, who lost their property in the state during the civil war. 

“It is absolutely mischievous for Amaechi, who also served as Rivers State governor from 2007 to 2015, to wake up in 2023 to resurrect the issue of abandoned property because of his inordinate political ambition”, he said.

The governor announced the allocation of 150 plots of land to the Computer Dealers Association and 30 plots to Computer Dealers Association to develop an industrial park in Port Harcourt.

Chairmen of the Computer Dealers Association, Mr Anunobi Ikechi and Building Materials Traders Association, Okwudiri Onuorah , assured the governor of their support for the Rivers State PDP governorship candidate, Sir Siminialayi Fubara , in the 18 March , 2023 election.

THE Lagos State Government has said that the driver of the Lagos State owned staff bus that collided with a train last Thursday may be prosecuted.

A statement issued by the Lagos State Ministry of Justice yesterday said that Mr. Remi Osibanjo, who drove the BRT bus into the moving train at the PWD rail crossing in Ikeja, had been arrested and detained for further investigation.

The State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), said in a statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Grace Alo, that the staff bus driver was already being investigated by the Railway Police Command Headquarters, Ebute-Metta, Lagos.

 “The Commissioner of Police, Railway Police Command has taken over the investigation of the accident,” the statement reads in part.

It added that the bus involved in the collision had been retrieved and sent for thorough examination at the Lagos State Vehicle Inspection Service Office and the Ministry of Justice (MOJ).

The statement said reports were being awaited from the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) and the police regarding the cause of the accident.

“The state wants to assure members of the public that upon receipt of the case file from the police and the report of the VIO, the office shall not hesitate to prosecute any person(s) found culpable,” the statement added.

Meanwhile the Ministry of Justice has commiserated with victims of the accident and the families of those who lost their love ones in the tragic accident.

The staff bus with Reg. No.: 04A-48LA coming from Isolo to Ikeja, had in the early hours of Thursday, March 9, at about 7:30am, while crossing the railway line at the PWD, Ikeja, collided with a moving train, leading to the death of no fewer than six occupants.

Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike has described the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, as the hero of the just-concluded election.

He said his active participation stopped the North from retaining power after President Muhammadu Buhari.

Wike spoke during an interactive meeting with Technical Dealers Association of Nigeria (TDAN), Computer Dealers Association (TDA), Garrison Phone Dealers Association (GPDA) and Building Materials Traders Association (BMTA) in Port Harcourt on Saturday.

The Governor explained that contrary to insinuation that he did not support Peter Obi, most people failed to realise that LP candidate was his hero of the election.

He said: “Obi is my hero. If Obi did not contest, power would have gone back to the North. The whole of South south and Southeast that PDP lost, if Obi did not contest PDP would have won.

“The hero of this election is Obi whether you like it or not. I am not here to please you, Obi is the hero. He may not have been pronounced as the winner, no problem, the law will take its course.

“If Obi did not run this election, power would have remained in the North. Whether he is declared a winner now or not, history will be on his side that he fought and fought well.”

Wike said the reason he did not publicly declare support for any presidential candidate was because the PDP G-5 Governors had unanimously agreed to ensure the emergence of a president from the South to succeed President Buhari.

Rea Also : Obi support group denies endorsing Cross River PDP Gov candidate

The Governor said while members of the G-5 assiduously worked for power to return to the South, the likes of former Rivers State Governor and immediate past Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, who is soliciting for Igbo to support APC candidate, Tonye Cole, mobilised votes for Atiku Abubakar.

He said: “If Amaechi loves the Igbos, why did he not support Obi? Instead, he supported Atiku. He did not want power to return to the South because he lost APC ticket.”

The Governor said the reason why Amaechi was deliberately canvassing support for Tonye Cole was because he wanted to stall their ongoing prosecution for allegedly embezzling $50M from the Rivers State government coffers.

Wike urged Igbo in Rivers State to be wary of Amaechi , who served as Minister of Transportation for over seven years, but failed to revive eastern ports and railway lines from Enugu-Aba-Port Harcourt.

The Governor recalled that when Amaechi was Rivers Speaker, he vehemently opposed plans to compensate Igbo, who lost their property in the state during the civil war.

Former Cross River Governor Chief Clement Ebri has expressed optimism the President -Elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will run the country well and spark off national restoration..

He made this known in a letter of congratulations to Tinubu made available to newsmen in Calabar. 

He wrote: “Our President-in-waiting. I am confident that you will realign the logs and once again rekindle the embers of hope till they spark off a flame of national renaissance.

“I echo the trust of the multi-million Nigerians who voted for you, that as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, you will transform our socio-political and economic landscape that has been contoured by primordial fault lines accentuated by mistrust and distrust, into a seamless republic of boundless transformational growth, development and prosperity.”

Ebri, who is a chieftain of the governing All Progressive Congress (APC), noted the President-Elect, going by his antecedents, has the capacity and wherewithals to accomplish tasks required of his new office. 

He added: “I am confident that with your antecedent of providing inclusive, visionary and sterling leadership, there will indeed be a “Renewed Hope” as you work assiduously with your Vice President in waiting, Sen. Kashim Shettima to ensure a sustainable radical reduction in hunger, lack and conflict in our land.

Read Also : Buhari, Tinubu mourn APC’s NWC member Nwosu

“My prayers for your success as you prepare to assume office as President of the Federal republic of Nigeria, at a critical point in our collective national history. A point when our youths have never been so skeptical about the future, when despondency has almost become synonymous with our national identity.

“But perhaps you were born for just a time as this in our nation’s history, to bring “Renewed Hope” to a nation tottering on the cusp of despair.”