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  • Okowa appoints SSG, Chief of Staff

    Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta on Friday appointed Mr Chiedu Ebie as the Secretary to the State Government.

    The governor also appointed Olorugun David Edevbie as Chief of Staff and Chief Funkekeme Solomon as Senior Adviser, Political.

    Mr Edwin Ogidi-Gbegbaje, the Permanent Secretary, Government House, announced the new appointments made by the governor in a statement in Asaba.

    Read Also: Why I set up 20-man transition committee-Okowa

    “Okowa has approved the following key appointments: Mr Chiedu Ebie as the Secretary to the State Government, Olorugun David Edevbie, Chief of Staff and Rt. Hon. Funkekeme Solomon as Senior Political Adviser.

    “These appointments take immediate effect,” the statement said.

  • Breaking: Gunshots in Kaduna as Police disperse protesting Shi’ites

    There was panic on Friday as Police operatives fired shots into the air to disperse members of the Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky- led Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) otherwise known as Shi’ites, who stormed the streets to protest the continued ‘incarceration’ of their leader,

    El-Zakzaky and his wife Hajiya Zeenat Ibrahim among some other members of the group are facing charges in Kaduna State High Court and Magistrate Court respectively after being arrested in December 2015 following clash with the military in Zaria.

    The Shi’ite members in their thousands, composed mainly of young men and women, commenced the protest immediately after the Friday Jumaat prayer along Kano road by shouting “Allahu Akbar (Allah is greatest), free our leader”.

    As they stormed Ahmadu Bello Way, Kaduna city’s major thoroughfare, they were immediately accosted by security agencies who shot several canisters of teargas into the sky, forcing the protesters to scamper in different directions.

    Read Also: Police arrest six suspected illegal money traders in Abuja

    The protesters had caused immediate anxiety among residents and those who held their Friday Jumaat prayer in the area forcing everyone to scamper to safety for fear of being a victim of another crisis.

    The police gunshots further created fear in the vicinity with everyone in the earshot of the gunshot sounds running for cover.

    The police then cleared the roads, Ahmadu Bello Way, Kano Road, Ibadan Street and Abeokuta Street among others, while directing traffic to enable people move freely as traffic threatens to build up.

    It was not immediately ascertained if any of the protesters was arrested by the police.

  • I am not a weakling, says Obaseki

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has warned political detractors not to mistake his humane disposition for weakness.

    Obaseki, who declared he is not a weakling, said he was aware that tolerance of aggression would bring more aggression.

    Obaseki, however, said he would respond to opponents of second term with positive works adding that ‘Never again will the food of the children be given to the dogs’.

    The Edo Governor spoke when the Nigeria Labour Congress, National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) National Butchers Union, Market Women, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) youths and students held a protest march to endorse him for second term.

    Obaseki, who was represented by Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Barr. Paul Ohonbamu, said the social contract he entered with the people in 2016 was being fulfilled across the state.

    According to him: “Obaseki is a development warrior. He wants to create an alternate society where honour will be given to men and women who deserve it and not those who bought them.

    “That is the society he wants to create where there will not be primitive accumulation. Where there will not be wastage.

    “Obaseki believes the wealth of a state is not measured by the opulent of rulers of that state but the productivity of the people of the state. People are not comfortable with the process he is adopting.

    “The process of changing the fortunes of Edo people is being opposed. It is a system that can create winners and losers in the political arena and economy market place.

    “They are not comfortable because the type of politics Obaseki is playing is too sophisticated for them.

    “Obaseki has said he will continue to be an agent of the people. You must see the government as your agent to do that which you desire in line with legitimate expectation.

    “Those who threatened that they will let hell loose, I want to tell them that no Governor is a weakling.

    “Every Governor can sting, every Governor can strike. We are fortunate to have a governor who is an unwilling serpent.

    “This fight is not Obaseki’s fight. The people put him there. He has the legitimate votes from of the people and he cannot betray the trust. The goodwill cannot be squandered.”

    Read Also: No in-fighting in Edo APC, says Obaseki

    Chairman of NURTW, Comrade Odion Olaye, said the massive road network was beneficial to the drivers.

    Olaye said they would support Obaseki for second term.

    Two factions of NULGE leadership in the state led by Comrade Lazarus Adorolo and Comrade Gideon Akpata were in agreement in their support for Obaseki.

    They said the increased IGR for the 18 local governments have led to prompt payment of salaries and arrears.

    Comrade Barry Osayande who spoke on behalf of the NLC said they were satisfied with the performance of Obaseki.

  • LG Funds: NFIU guidelines take off today as Akwa Ibom fails to secure court order

    Following failure of Akwa Ibom State Government to secure a court order, the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) on Friday said it will go ahead with implementation of the guidelines on local government funds.

    The NFIU on May 6 issued the ‘Guidelines to Reduce Vulnerabilities Created by Cash Withdrawals from Local Government Funds throughout Nigeria.

    The guidelines restored the full mandate of the operations of State/Local Government Joint Accounts to be used solely for the distribution of funds directly to the accounts of the local governments.

    Banks were requested to ensure the full implementation of the guidelines with effect from June 1, 2019.

    However, all Local Government Areas in Akwa Ibom state, alongside the state government through the Attorney-General of the state approached the Uyo division of the FHC seeking to nullify the guidelines issued by NFIU in a suit filed with suit number FHC/UY/CS/88/2019.

    The court on Friday declined the request after listening to counsels from the state government and the NFIU.

    The plaintiffs, who were represented by the State Attorney-General, Uwem Nwoko (SAN) also urged the court to grant a restraining order against the NFIU stopping the commencement of the guidelines on the 1st of June, 2019.

    But a Learned Silk, Arthur Obi-Okafor( SAN), who represented NFIU challenged the locus standi of the plaintiffs and urged the court not to grant any order ” in favour of persons who are nothing but busy bodies”.

    He informed the court that the matter is of grave national security concern and that the urgency raised by the plaintiffs was self-induced since the guidelines were released on the 1st of May, 2019.

    The judge, Justice A. A. Okeke adjourned the matter to 21st June, 2019 to hear all pending applications while declining to issue any restraining order.

    A top source in NFIU said: “This agency is going ahead with the implementation of the new guidelines. All banks chief executive officers and compliance officers have been given the guidelines.

    “We are placing all State Joint Local Government Accounts and all local government accounts under strict monitoring.

    “We will not succumb to pressure under any guise. We are determined to save the third tier of government from collapse.”

    In a statement, NFIU explained the rationale behind the guidelines.

    Read Also: Ecobank to challenge judgment in Honeywell case on appeal

    It said: “The NFIU requests all financial institutions, other relevant stakeholders, public servants and the entire citizenry to ensure full compliance with the provisions of the guidelines already submitted to financial institutions and relevant enforcement agencies including full enforcement of corresponding sanctions against violations from 1st June, 2019.

    “Having realised through analysis that cash withdrawal and transactions from the State Joint Local Government Accounts (SJLGA), poses biggest corruption, money laundering and security threats at the grassroots levels and to the entire financial system and the country as a whole, decided to uphold the full provisions of section 162 (6) (8)of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution as amended which designated ” State Joint Local Government Account into which shall be paid allocations to the local government councils of the state from the federation account and from the government of the state.”
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  • Gov Zulum furious over Borno workers’ lateness

    Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum is angry over lateness of workers in the state.

    He discovered this during an unscheduled visit to the state secretariat on Friday.

    The Governor, who was at the Musa Usman state Secretariat, Maiduguri as early as 8:30 am expressed disappointment with the number of civil servants that came to work as at 9.30am.

    After spending an hour at the secretariat, Zulum counted only 135 out of about 12,000 workers at the secretariat.

    “We are not going to tolerate late coming and absenteeism though it is a Ramadan, we at least expect them to be at the place of work at least by 9:00am more especially the Christian ones.

    “Government will live up to its expectations but the workers too must do their own part,” the governor cautioned.

    Read Also: Court dismisses case against Borno governor-elect, Zulum

    in a dramatic twist of luck, Gov. Zulum has directed the State Head of Service to immediately pay the leave grants and other bonuses to the 135 workers he met on their duties during his visit.

    He warned his administration will not tolerate indiscipline and absenteeism, adding that hardworking and dedicated workers will be rewarded just as unserious one will be punished.

    The governor ordered the payment of all outstanding salaries, pensions and granites in the state amounting to over N20 billion.

    Workers in Borno state have been subjected to untold hardship due to a biometric exercise embarked upon by immediate past Governor Kasim Shettima for more than three years

  • Asset declaration: Rivers CCB declines comment

    The head of Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), in Rivers state, Mrs. Sotonye Amachree declined comments on the level of compliance of public servants in the state with the asset declaration act.

    Mrs. Amachree said her action followed express directives from the Abuja headquarters of the anti-corruption agency of the Federal Government.

    However, when the Nation visited the office Thursday afternoon, it was reliably informed that politicians in the state who won various elective positions at the last general elections, including the Governor Nyesom Wike and his Deputy, Dr. Ipalibo Harry-Banigo who were sworn into office for the second time May 29, have already filled received their forms, but could not ascertain as at the time of filing this report on whether or not they have also returned the forms.

    During the visit, Mr. Amachree and all the members of staff of the CCB office were very busy attending to forms apparently returned by politicians, who are going into elective office.

    Read Also: Sagay: APC should return to court on Zamfara, Rivers

    Informal interaction with some persons in the office revealed that majority of persons rushing into the office to either pick up the forms or return are winners of the state Legislative Assembly who would be inaugurated into office as members of the 9th assembly on Monday, June 3.

    They expressed satisfaction on the rate politicians are rushing to comply with asset declaration policy this time, stressing that “it has not been this responsive.

    They suspect that the reason might not be unconnected with the recent experience of the immediate past Chief Judge of the Federation, Hon. Justice Walter Onnoghen. They said, ” Politicians now know the implications of refusing to comply with the code of conduct policy of filling the asset forms before or while in office.

    They also hinted that “even the outgoing politicians who did not fill the form while in office are also coming to fill the form to regularise their files, for the fear of unknown.” They said.

  • Buhari observes jumaat prayer at Makkah Grand Mosque ahead OIC summit

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday afternoon observed Juma’at prayer at the Grand Mosque in Makkah with other Heads of State and Government.

    Buhari and other heads of government were in the Holy City for the Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, OIC,

    A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, said that the 14th session of the Summit Conference of the OIC hosted by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, will commence at midnight.

    Shortly on his arrival in Makkah on Thursday evening, President Buhari, accompanied by the Governors of Osun, Niger and Jigawa, performed the Umrah.

    Read Also: Buhari, 53 leaders attend Islamic Cooperation summit in S/Arabia

    The President and the accompanying delegation circumambulated the Ka’aba before visiting the area between the al-Marwah and al-Safa hills, itself a distance of between three and four kilometres in the Grand Mosque, which is part of the Umrah process.

    The Umrah is a Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca that can be undertaken at any time of the year, unlike the Hajj which has a fixed time.

    It is called the lesser pilgrimage, whereas the Hajj is the “major” pilgrimage which is compulsory for every able-bodied Muslim who can afford it. The Umrah is optional but recommended.

  • Godfatherism: my comment not for Tinubu, says El-Rufai

    Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El Rufai has disclosed that his comment on godfatherism was no directed at the APC National Leader, Bola Tinubu.

    El-Rufai, while receiving 121 members-elect, who were on consultation tour of Northwest on Friday at the Government House chamber in Kaduna said, it was a generic statement adding that he has a template that was used to retire some godfathers in Kaduna State.

    He said: “That was not an attack on Asiwaju, it was a generic statement, but the whole thing took a media frenzy because to some people Asiwaju is a meal ticket.

    “Let me tell you, because of that, some people started confessing to me that Asiwaju should be dealt with.

    Read Also: 9th Speaker: Gbajabiamila is Buhari’s choice – El Rufai

    “They said Asiwaju wants to finish you, he has been abusing you, we should finish him by finishing his man, Femi Gbajabiamila.

    However, contrary to insinuations in some quarters, El Rufai had disclosed that Femi Gbajabiamila is President Muhammadu Buhari’s choice for the Speakership position of the 9th House of Representatives.

    ” I told them that this is not about Asiwaju but President Buhari and I will fight it with the last drop my blood. I told them to change their mind.

    “I went to Asiwaju and told him that we will do what we can to make this project a success”.

  • Police arrest six suspected illegal money traders in Abuja

    The FCT Police Command has arrested six suspects for illegally trading in different denominations of new naira currency.

    The suspects are; Auwal Yunusa ‘m’ 22 years old, Mohammed Auwal ‘m’ 20 years old, Yusuf Shuaibu ‘m’ 31 years old, Suleiman Saidu ‘m’ 38 years old, Usman Ibrahim ‘m’ 24 years old and Mohammed Salisu ‘m’ 24 years old.

    They were arrested on Friday in Dei-Dei area of Abuja during a joint raid by the Central Bank of Nigeria Enforcement Committee on the Abuse of the Naira in collaboration with the FCT Police Command and Department of State Security Services.

    The Police recovered from them N1,948,060 in 200, N50, N20, N10 and N5 denominations.

    Details of the arrest is contained in a statement by the Command on Friday. It reads: ” On 31st May 2019 at about 1030hrs. Police carried out a joint raid at Dei-Dei under bridge where six persons were arrested for illegal Trading and Hawking of Nigeria Currency contrary to Sections 20 and 21 of the CBN Act, 2007.

    Read Also: Police arrest armed robbery suspects in Nsukka

    “The raid is part of the renewed effort of the Committee to enforce the provisions of the aforementioned Sections of the Act, which prescribes the offence of selling, buying, spraying and squeezing of the Naira for which, six months imprisonment or an option of N50,000 fine or both are prescribed as a penalty upon conviction.

    “Consequent upon the raid which recorded huge success with the recovery of the total sum of N1, 948,060 from the six suspects arrested and others at large at Dei-Dei under bridge.”

    The enforcement Committee reiterated its stance and readiness to sustain its raiding of identified areas where the naira is being abused.

    The Police while stating that effort is been intensified to arrest other suspects who escaped during the raid added that the suspects and exhibits have been transferred to the Command Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.

    It also disclosed that the case will be charged to court upon completion of investigation.

  • Gov Mohammed orders payment of workers’ salaries

    Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has ordered the immediate payment of workers’ salaries.

    He gave the directive in a press statement on Friday through his Senior Special Assistant on media,Mukhtar Mohammed Gidado.

    The Governor directed the payment must be effected from Friday 31st May to Monday 3rd June , 2019.

    He, however, said workers engaged by the immediate past administration in the last one month should be exempted from the payment.

    Read Also: Alleged ‘judge bribery’: Court orders Rickey Tarfa to present fresh medical report

    ” The State Accountant General is to ensure that all persons engaged into the state service between April and May are not reflected in the payment,” he clearly stated.

    Mohammed charged state government workers to be committed to their work in order to ensure effective, result oriented and efficient workforce.

    He assured that his administration remain committed to workers’ welfare.