News & Announcements

Kingsley Fanwo, the commissioner for information and communications in Kogi, claims that the state administration is unaware of some residents who have been detained on suspicion of money laundering.

In a statement he released in Lokoja, he made this claim while rejecting any involvement of the government or any officials in the incident.

According to an earlier release on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) website, some people who were allegedly Kogi government employees were charged for money laundering.

“Let it be on record that no money belonging to the Kogi Government was laundered.

“For many years, Kogi has won awards as one of the most transparent state governments such that an anti-graft agency can use Kogi as an example of transparency and excellence,” he said.

Fanwo urged the anti-graft organization to investigate the claims fully.

According to Governor Nasir El Rufai, the Kaduna State Government has developed a three-pronged strategy to address the state’s transportation issues for effective vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

The governor, who made this announcement during the BRT project’s launching, chronicles the government’s efforts to secure funding for the projects.

‘’We began to explore the possibility of having a light rail stretching from Rigachikun to Maraban Rido and we made progress securing financing from Indian Xing Bank to the tune of 6 million dollars to execute that project.

‘’We engaged the famous French Transportation Consulting firm, Systra to do the feasibility studies as well as engineering design for the project,’’ he added.

However, El Rufai bemoaned the government’s inability to “identify an operator, someone who will operate the light rail when it is finished.” And we believe it is crucial to finish that before moving on.

BRT, which the government first struggled to finance, is, in his opinion, the second element of solving the transportation issues.

However, the governor claimed that “the French government graciously stepped in and granted us a line of credit, a concessionary line of credit to finance this project,” through its development agency, AFD.

El Rufai expressed gratitude to the ‘’government of France as well as the Ambassador and her team for being patient and pushing very hard to get this project to this stage. ‘’

He expressed confidence that Kaduna would have a working BRT system in a few years, transporting tens of thousands of people each day.

With this scheme, the governor claimed, the government will collaborate with smaller bus companies and the Kaduna State Transport Authority to “carry most of the traffic of people coming to work and returning home every day in the city of Kaduna.”

‘’We hope with the success of this project, we will extend this to Zaria Metropolitan area and Kafanchan Municipal area and gradually to all our major towns and cities,’’ he said.

El Rufai thanked the French government for its assistance, the Federal Ministry of Finance for securing the facility related to the deal, as well as all the Organizations that contributed to making this possible.

The governor gave special thanks to the Director General of the Kaduna State Transport Regulatory Authority, Aisha Saidu Bala, and the Commissioner of Public Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Thomas Gyang, for all of their efforts.

Her Excellency Emmanuelle Blatmann, the French ambassador who laid the foundation stone alongside the governor of the state, responded by calling the project “ambitious” and a 110 euro investment.

She expressed the hope that other states in the nation will use the Kaduna model as a guide to follow.

Additionally, Her Excellency stated that the project will assist over 100,000 people and that over 100,000 commuters will utilize the service everyday.

The ambassador believed that the commercial ties between France and Nigeria will grow stronger as a result of this cooperation.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday disclosed that it has recovered over N30 billion out of the N109 billion allegedly siphoned by the suspended Accountant-General of the Federation, Idris Ahmed.

The Chairman of the Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, stated this while appearing at the Ministerial Media Briefing organized by the Presidential Communications Team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Idris was nabbed by operatives of the EFCC on May 16, 2022, in connection with a series of frauds that was initially thought to be N84 billion.

Three days after his arrest, Idris was suspended by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, to enable him to face his probe.

Giving highlights of the Commission’s achievements from January to December 2022, Bawa gave other recoveries as N134,33,759,574.25, $121,769,076.30, £21,020.00, €156,925.00, ¥21,350.00, CFA300,000.00 among others.

He also revealed that over 3,615 convictions were recorded within the period, affirming that the administration is serious about its anti-corruption programme.

The EFCC boss further announced that the nationwide auction of forfeited automobiles will be followed by the disposal of over 150 houses to interested buyers.

Despite guarantees from the Federal Government that the bridge will open at 12am on Thursday, December 15, 2022, the bridge opened at precisely 9:50am.

A government official claimed that a few minor alterations to the roadways that connect the bridge were the cause of the delay.

The first driver to pass through the bridge, Sunday Emem, expressed his delight.

“I feel so happy, at least it will reduce the hold-up. We’ve stayed over one hour at the other bridge,” he said.

The second driver to cross the bridge, Obinna Eze, pleaded with the current administration to finish it by May 2023.

“It is a reality, though it is not 100% complete, so far what we are seeing is impressive. We commend the present administration and we hope they complete it based on the time frame,” Eze said.

Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Minister of Works and Housing, announced last Thursday that the Second Niger Bridge would be open to traffic from December 15, 2022, to January 15, 2023, to improve travel conditions over the holiday break.

The 1.6-kilometer-long bridge connects the states of Delta and Anambra.

Shehu Shagari, a candidate for the National Party of Nigeria at the time, first suggested building the Second Niger Bridge during the electoral campaign in 1978–1979 (NPN).

But in August 2012, the Federal Executive Council, presided over by the then-President Goodluck Jonathan, authorized a N325 million contract for the bridge’s final planning and design.

President Muhammad Buhari followed a somewhat convoluted process after initially terminating the earlier contract in August 2015. On September 1, 2018, the administration, however, resumed the contract.

Stephen Boss, often known as “tWitch,” a former DJ and co-producer of the Ellen DeGeneres TV show, passed away at the age of 40.

On Tuesday, Boss’s wife, Allison Holker, reported to a Los Angeles police station that the radio host had left home without his car, which she stated was uncommon.

Following that, paramedics received a call for a medical emergency at a hotel in Los Angeles, where Stephen was later discovered dead from what seemed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to TMZ.

From 2014 to May 2022, when the Ellen program came to an end, the famous dancer appeared there.

He performed as Jason in the well-known dancing film series “Step Up.”

Holker referred to the dead as the best husband and father to their three children in a statement she provided to TMZ.

“Stephen lit up every room he stepped into. He valued family, friends and community above all else and leading with love and light was everything to him,” she said.

“He was the backbone of our family, the best husband and father, and an inspiration to his fans. To say he left a legacy would be an understatement, and his positive impact will continue to be felt. I am certain there won’t be a day that goes by that we won’t honor his memory. Stephen, we love you, we miss you.” She added.

Holker, who is also a dancer promised her late husband that, she will “always save the last dance” for him.

After Morocco’s 2-0 defeat to France in the FIFA World Cup semifinal match in Qatar, riots broke out last night in the French cities of Paris, Nice, and Montpellier, killing a 14-year-old.

According to reports, French-speaking supporters of Morocco were attempting to steal a France flag from a car being driven by a Frenchman when the Frenchman abruptly made a U-turn and drove off, hitting the teenager.

The boy reportedly had multiple injuries and was taken to the hospital almost away, but he later passed away.

The rioting spread to Brussels, the capital of Belgium, where the police detained some 100 people from Wednesday night until early Thursday morning.

On Wednesday night, there were football supporters detained on suspicion of upsetting the peace, causing damage to two police vehicles, and having illegal pyrotechnics.

The police in France had to use tear gas to disperse mobs of Moroccan supporters who were blowing off fireworks close to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and to do the same in the southern French city of Nice.

In France, over 170 football supporters were detained, including about 40 members of far-right organizations who were found in possession of illegal firearms.

The Atlas Lions of Morocco have received praise from the entire football world, but especially from Africa, for their outstanding performance at the World Cup. They defeated Canada, Belgium, Spain, and Portugal to become the first African team to advance to the semifinals.

However, they were defeated on Wednesday by a superior team, France, thanks to goals from Theo Hernandez and Randal Kolo Muani in the fifth and the 79th minutes, respectively.

The final will be played on Sunday at the 80,000-seat Lusail Stadium between France, the defending winners, and Argentina.

29 countries voted in favor of expelling Iran, 8 countries, including Nigeria, Russia, and China, voted against it, and 16 countries did not participate in the vote.

Despite Iran’s breaches of women’s rights, Nigeria joined seven other countries on Wednesday in voting to keep Iran on the UN Women’s Rights Commission.

After Tehran intervened to violently put an end to protests that had erupted in response to the disputed death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian woman, who died in detention, the United States demanded that Iran be overthrown.

The United States’ ongoing membership of Iran, according to Linda Thomas-Greenfield, ambassador to the UN, is a “ugly stain” on the commission’s integrity. She argued that if the U.N. is being undermined internally, it will be unable to carry out its important work of “promoting gender equality and empowering women.”

The U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), made up of 54 member states, accepted the resolution on Wednesday to “remove with immediate effect the Islamic Republic of Iran from the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) for the duration of its 2022-2026 term.”

After being detained for a few days on suspicion of breaking the Islamic country’s rigorous clothing standards, Ms. Amini unexpectedly passed away.

Global indignation over Ms Amini’s passing resulted in condemnation of Tehran from national and international human rights organizations. In Iran, women took to the streets to demonstrate against the passing of one of their own.

While distancing themselves from their government, which voted to keep Iran on the commission despite the mistreatment of women, some Nigerian people have resorted to social media to celebrate Iran’s removal from the committee.

The 63-year-old Nigerian ambassador to Spain, Demola Seriki, has passed away.

The former minister was claimed to have died on Thursday, December 15, “surrounded by his family,” according to a statement released by his children.

“It is with heavy hearts and profound gratitude to Almighty Allah that we announce the loss of our much loved and admired patriarch, husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend,” the statement reads.

Seriki, an All Progressives Congress (APC) leader in Lagos State and a former minister of state for defense, was born on November 30, 1959.

He was simultaneously accredited as Nigeria’s permanent representative to the United Nations World Tourism Organization while serving as Nigeria’s ambassador to Spain (UNWTO).

A Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin and presided over by Justice Ibrahim Yusuf on Tuesday sentenced two students, Abdulazeez Ismail and Ajala Oluwatimileyin, to death for the murder of a 300-level undergraduate of the University of Ilorin, Blessing Olajide.

Olajide was raped and killed by the duo on June 2, 2021, at her sister’s house in the Tanke area of Ilorin, Kwara State.

Justice Yusuf also sentenced another student, Oyeyemi Omogbolahan, to life improvement, while two siblings: Abdulkarim Shuaib (aka Easy) and Kareem Rasheed (Rashworld), were sentenced to three years imprisonment each for withdrawing money from the Guaranty Trust Bank account of the deceased a few days after she was killed.

Three others – Abdullateef Abdulrahman, Daud Adebayo (Bashman), and Akande Oladoja – were discharged and acquitted by the court.

Delivering judgment on 11 counts of conspiracy, armed robbery, rape, culpable homicide, and stealing of funds preferred against the eight accused, Justice Yusuf found the three students guilty of conspiracy, rape, and murder of Olajide.

At the same time, two other telephone repairers who helped to unlock her telephone and assisted in the withdrawal of money from her account were convicted of conspiracy and stealing.

The judge, who said 13 people testified for the prosecution. At the same time, 16 witnesses, including the accused, were called to testify for the defendants, stating that the prosecution proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

Justice Yusuf said, “While the prosecution established the ingredients of conspiracy and armed robbery against the first three accused persons, it proved beyond reasonable doubt that injury was inflicted on the deceased and she was raped to death.

“I direct that the neck hang Abdulazeez Ismail and Ajala Moses Oluwatimileyin until they are pronounced dead.”

The prosecution counsel and former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Salman Jawondo, who spoke to journalists after the court session, said, “The irony of it all is that all those involved are young men of 19, 23 years; it’s quite unfortunate. That shows that we have to work on our future in this country.”

The Federal High Court in Abuja has thrown out a certificate forgery suit filed by the Action Alliance (AA) against Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu, in a judgment on Tuesday, held that the suit instituted by AA was statute-barred, having not been commenced within the mandatory 14 days provided for under the 1999 Constitution (as amended by the Fourth Alteration Act).

Justice Egwuatu said the suit had become academic and grossly incompetent; hence, the court lacked the requisite jurisdiction to entertain it or grant the plaintiffs sought relief.

The judge, who said the plaintiff lacked locus standi to file the suit, also held that it acted like a busybody, having interfered in the internal affairs of another party.

He consequently dismissed the suit for constituting an abuse of the court process.

In a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/954/2022, the AA sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), APC, and Mr. Tinubu as first to third defendants, respectively.

In a writ of summons dated and filed on June 21 by its lawyer, U.O. Ukairo, AA sought a court declaration that the claim of the third defendant (Mr. Tinubu) that he attended Government College, Ibadan, and the University of Chicago on his INEC FORM CF 001 in 1999, which he presented to the first defendant (INEC) was false.

It also sought a declaration that the false information on the APC presidential candidate’s “INEC FORM CF 001 wherein he claims to have been awarded a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics by the University of Chicago is a forged certificate.”

It further sought a declaration that in view of section 137(1)(j) of the 1999 Constitution, Mr. Tinubu, having in 1999 presented a forged certificate to INEC in INEC FORM CF 001, which he submitted as a candidate in the 1999 general elections for the post of the governor of Lagos State was not qualified to contest the office of president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The party, which urged the court to declare that the submission of Mr. Tinubu’s name to the electoral umpire by the APC (second defendant) as its 2023 presidential candidate is null and void and of no effect, prayed for an order of perpetual injunction restraining INEC from publishing his name as a candidate in the general elections.

AA also sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining INEC from listing APC as a political party in the ballot for the conduct of the 2023 presidential election by INEC.

But in a preliminary objection dated November 1 and filed on November 2 by the APC and Mr Tinubu’s legal team led by Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, they argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

They urged the court to strike out the suit entirely, arguing that the originating process was fundamentally and incurably defective.

Besides, the defendants said the suit disclosed no reasonable cause of action against them, especially the third defendant (Mr Tinubu), among other arguments.