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Okorocha will be held in EFCC custody till May 30

Anayo Rochas Okorocha, the detained former governor of Imo State, will remain in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) until Monday, May 30, when he will be arraigned in court on the federal government’s N2.9 billion money laundering charges.

On that date, Okorocha, a presidential candidate for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), will be arraigned in Abuja’s Federal High Court.

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After a nine-hour siege, EFCC operatives arrested him on Tuesday in his Abuja home.

On Wednesday, sources in the EFCC’s legal department said that Okorocha was arrested as a proactive measure to force him to appear in court after his continued refusal to appear in court to enter a plea in the money laundering case.

On Monday, March 28, Justice Inyang Eden Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja threatened to dismiss Okorocha’s N2.9 billion money laundering charges if the Federal Government failed to bring him to court again.

Following the Federal Government’s inability to serve charges on Okorocha as required by law, the judge threatened to dismiss the charges.

The Federal Government had told Justice Ekwo for the second time, through its counsel, Mr Cosmos Ugwu, that he had been unable to see Okorocha and serve him with the charges at the March 28 hearing.

The cousel had informed the court that Okorocha had been evading service, but that he would make efforts and continue to make efforts until the former Imo State Governor was served with the court papers.

He then sought a new adjournment to allow the EFCC to do everything possible to serve the court papers in accordance with the law.

His excuse for not being able to reach Okorocha did not sit well with the Judge, who reminded him that the same story was told on February 22, when Okorocha was supposed to enter his plea.

Justice Ekwo had stated unequivocally that he would not accept the EFCC’s flimsy excuses and would not assist it in carrying out its mandate.

The judge reluctantly granted the request for a second adjournment, warning the EFCC that the case would be dismissed unless they showed seriousness.

According to EFCC sources at the Federal High Court, the anti-graft agency was forced to use force against Okorocha after he allegedly refused thrice to appear at the Commission’s office in Abuja to be served with the charge.

“The EFCC is a civilised organisation that will not take laws into its own hands, but suspects, particularly those in high positions, should always try to respect the law and due process as much as possible so that the law will protect them.”

“Because a court appearance is not a death sentence, no one should take it for granted.” As in the case of Senator Okorocha, suspects in Nigeria today can only run, not hide.”

Nobody will be able to bail the Senator out until his appearance and arraignment in court on Monday, according to the source, who did not want his name used.

Mr Cosmos Ugwu, the EFCC’s lawyer, was unavailable for comment.

Read Also: Kukah’s Katsina diocese attacked, two clerics reportedly kidnapped

On behalf of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, one A.O Ikota signed the Federal Government’s charges against Okorocha dated January 24, 2022.

In the N2.9 billion money laundering criminal charges, Okorocha, who is currently a Senator representing Imo West in the National Assembly, will stand trial with six others.

The Senator is facing 17 counts of criminal diversion of public funds and properties, according to the government.

May 25, 2022
Tickets Hit N100,000 As Abuja-Kaduna Flights Resume After 2 Months

Azman Air resumed flights to Kaduna after about two-month suspension due to terrorist attack on the Kaduna International Airport.

The airline touched down at the airport around noon on Monday, to the delight of airport stakeholders, passengers, and the airport authority.

On March 28, the airline cancelled the flight to Kaduna after terrorists invaded the airport runway.

The flight was halted while the airline assessed airport security.

Read Also: Breaking: EFCC storms Okorocha’s Abuja residence to arrest him

Following the attack on the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), other airlines also halted flights.

The Abuja-Kaduna train was attacked the next day, killing ten people and kidnapping 61 more.

Passengers on the Kaduna route, however, were given some relief when one of the airlines that served the route resumed flights.

Azman arrived at the airport with 42 passengers around noon on Monday, with some of the passengers paying more than N100,000 for the flight from Abuja to Kaduna.

According to reports, the flight time between Abuja and Kaduna is about 20 minutes, but many passengers paid over N100,000 for a two-leg ticket from Abuja to Kaduna.

Although the airline did not fly directly to Kaduna, it did fly passengers to Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed Airport, where they were connected to the Kaduna flight.

“This demonstrates how desperate people were to travel to Kaduna given the security challenges on the Abuja-Kaduna Road and the suspension of the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service,” a source said.

Read Also: COEASU gives FG 21-day deadline to meet its demands, or…..

The next flight to Kaduna will be on Wednesday, according to an Azman official who confirmed the flight’s resumption.

“It was a defining moment for the Aviation community as the airport was reopened after being closed for two months,” the airline said on its Twitter page. It’s wonderful to return.”

May 24, 2022
Breaking: CBN’s monetary policy committee raises interest rate to 13%

After more than two years of expansionary monetary policy, the Nigerian Central Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee unanimously voted to raise the benchmark interest rate to 13%.

This was revealed by the CBN’s Governor, Godwin Emefiele, while reading the communique from the year’s third monetary policy committee meeting on Tuesday, May 24th, 2022.

Read Also: COEASU gives FG 21-day deadline to meet its demands, or…..

The rate, which had been at 11.5 percent since September 2020 in an effort to boost economic growth after the covid-19 pandemic caused a recession in 2020, has now been raised by the apex bank as inflation rates have risen above 16 percent.

More details shortly…

May 24, 2022
COEASU gives FG 21-day deadline to meet its demands, or…..

The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) has given the Federal Government a 21-day ultimatum to meet its demands, stating that if the deadline is not met, it will be forced to engage in nationwide industrial action.

The union bemoaned the government’s indifference to the plight of its members, the majority of whom are owners of various educational institutions across the country.

COEASU stated its position in a press statement issued and signed by Mohammed Bello Umar, the union’s Vice President and Northeast zonal coordinator, with copies distributed to journalists in Bauchi.
The union expressed concern about lingering issues in the country’s educational institutions, claiming that the situation requires immediate attention to avoid further deterioration.

“This is to bring public and government attention to COEASU’s plight in Nigeria in the hopes of finding a solution.” Despite the government’s claim that it has plenty of time to address issues threatening Nigerians’ social, economic, and political lives, nothing has been done.

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“To put it mildly, the government’s attitude toward problems involving Nigerian educational institutions is concerning.

“The country’s educational sector is confronted with a slew of issues that have varying effects on staff, students, and, by extension, the general public.”

“If nothing is done about these problems, the next generation will suffer.” The main point of contention is governments’ inaction in renegotiating the COEASU-FGN 2010 Agreement.”

“After five years, the 2010 agreement should have been renegotiated to update the provisions, streamline some grey areas, and address emerging issues of contention in tertiary institutions.” The agreement aims to align with global best practises and foster long-term industrial peace.”

“Since 2015, when the 2010 agreement was due for renegotiation, the government has refused to allow for the start of renegotiation, which will fill many gaps.” Parts of the statement

At the start of the exercise, the union accused the government of making excuses and remaining arrogant.

“Other issues include the non-implementation of the white paper on the 2014 Presidential Needs Assessment across public COEs in Nigeria, inadequate funding of Colleges of Education, and poor implementation of NCCE approved Conditions/scheme of service across State-owned COEs.”

The rest includes FG’s obstinate stance in favour of IPPIS over the more reliable UTAS.” According to the press release

According to the union, the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) is causing more harm than good to tertiary institutions, citing issues such as staff omission in salary payment, unsolicited deductions, salary payment shortages, and unremitted third-party deductions.

Read Also: 2023: I Have Stopped Partisan Politics — Ex-President Obasanjo Tells Visiting Governors Wike, Makinde, Ortom

They also expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s refusal to comply with the Union’s demand for the adoption of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS), an alternative innovation developed by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and tailored to the tertiary education sector.

May 24, 2022
2023: I Have Stopped Partisan Politics — Ex-President Obasanjo Tells Visiting Governors Wike, Makinde, Ortom

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has stated that he is no longer involved in partisan politics, but that he wishes for Nigeria to overcome its numerous problems.
Obasanjo stated that a single effort would not be enough to solve the country’s problems, and that Nigerians must band together to solve the issues.

He said this to reporters shortly after receiving Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke, and others in Abeokuta.
In continuation of his consultations across the six geopolitical zones, Rivers Governor Wike paid a visit to the ex-president.
Obasanjo praised Wike’s courage, particularly the manner in which he pursued his goals.
He did, however, tell his guests that he had long since stopped being a partisan politician, but that he would continue to look out for Nigerians’ interests.

Read Also: Osun thugs attack journalists with axes and cutlasses during the governorship election

He claimed that if Nigeria enshrined the basic ingredients that would bring unity and inclusion, everything else would fall into place to help remove conflict, and the country would be able to solve insecurity and other issues.
Wike, for one, said zoning was in the PDP’s constitution and in line with the nation’s constitution, which also provided for fairness and equity, and that the party had thrown its presidential ticket open, and that he was willing to run in the primary election.
“I am confident that I have what it takes to win both the PDP primaries and the general election,” he said. I commit to working for Nigeria’s and Nigerians’ unity, stability, and security.”

May 24, 2022
60 farmers killed by Boko Haram terrorists in a mass attack in Borno, others are missing

In Rann, the headquarters of Borno State’s Kala-Balge Local Government Area, members of the Boko Haram sect launched a large-scale attack, killing over 60 farmers.
The bodies of the deceased farmers who were buried on Monday had several bullet wounds.

Many others, according to residents, are still missing.
“Boko Haram terrorists on motorcycles wielding guns and machetes encircled their farms and began killing them one by one,” a villager said.
“On Monday, over 50 people were buried in Rann. More bodies have been discovered as of this morning; the death toll now stands at over 60.”
Farmers, herders, and loggers have been increasingly targeted by Boko Haram, who accuse them of spying and passing information to the Nigerian military.
They’ve also raided herding communities, stealing cattle, a valuable commodity in the area, in order to fund their operations.

Read Also: Osun East Senatorial District PDP primaries have been postponed due to violence

Insurgents killed at least 43 farmers in a rice plantation in Zabarmari, a community in the Jere Local Government Area, in 2020.
In recent years, Boko Haram and its offshoot, Islamic State West Africa Province, have become more ruthless.
The Nigerian Army has consistently claimed that the insurgency has been largely defeated, while downplaying any losses.
The terror group has killed over 100,000 people and displaced millions of people, mostly in the states of Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe.

May 24, 2022
NNPC, Sahara Group invest $300 million in gas carriers

At the Hyundai MIPO Shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and the Sahara Group, an indigenous energy and infrastructure conglomerate, received two 23,000 Cubic Meter (CBM) Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) vessels yesterday.

The new vessels, MT BARUMK and MT SAPET, have increased NNPC and Sahara Group’s joint venture (JV) investment to over $300 million, bringing the JV’s gas infrastructure commitment to $1 billion by 2026 closer.
MT Sahara Gas and MT Africa Gas previously served in the fleet. Hyundai MIPO Dockyard, a leading global mid-sized carrier manufacturer, constructed the four vessels. Africa’s transition to cleaner fuels will be aided by the addition of 10 vessels over the next ten years. WAGL and Sahara Group’s investments in the JV are MT BARUMK and MT SAPET.
WAGL Energy Limited, a joint venture between NNPC and Oceanbed, a Sahara Group company, is driving NNPC’s five-year $1 billion investment plan announced last year to speed up the decade-long gas and energy transition agenda.
Mele Kyari, Group Managing Director of NNPC Limited, said an order for three more new vessels was being finalised, with the partners aiming to deliver ten vessels in the next ten years.

Read Also: Breaking: Gov. Wike sacks entire cabinet members

“In our energy transition quest, the NNPC and our partners stand out with integrity, and our commitment to environmental sustainability is unwavering,” said Kyari.
The vessels, he said, were critical in driving the Federal Government’s commitment to domestication of gas through a number of initiatives, as well as increasing continuous supply in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s mandate.
According to him, the LPG Penetration Framework and LPG Expansion Plan are aimed at encouraging the use of gas in households, power generation, auto-gas, and industrial applications, with the goal of reaching five million metric tonnes of LPG consumption by 2025.

Temitope Shonubi, Executive Director of the Sahara Group, said WAGL has operated two mid-sized LPG carriers in the region, MT Africa Gas and MT Sahara Gas, in accordance with international standards, delivering over six million CBM of LPG across West Africa.

“We are poised to promote and lead Africa’s energy transition with the new vessels,” Shonubi said.

The Federal Government’s representative in South Korea, Ali Magashi, said President Muhammad Buhari deserved praise for the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which he said would reposition the NNPC to explore more projects with partners such as the Sahara Group.

Read Also: DSS dismisses online publications on David Imoh’s killers

LPG has been the fastest-growing petroleum product in Sub-Saharan Africa over the last decade, with forecasts predicting a 7% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the next 15 years.

Increased LPG use will lower net GHG emissions and put less strain on forest reserves, improving environmental sustainability.

May 24, 2022
IPOB leader, Kanu, laments carnage in S’East, orders end to ‘senseless’ killings

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the outlawed Igno secessionist group the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has lamented the escalating cases of “senseless killings” in the South-East region and demanded an immediate halt to the carnage.

The IPOB leader, who spoke from the Department of State Services (DSS) detention centre in Abuja, expressed outrage over the recent bloodshed and insecurity in the region.

Read Also: DSS dismisses online publications on David Imoh’s killers

Kanu, who has been in the Directorate of State Services (DSS) detention facility since being arrested and extradited from Kenya back to Nigeria on treasonable felony charges, expressed his concerns on Monday evening through his younger brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, who visited him in detention, saying he was deeply saddened by reports of killings across the South-East by unknown gunmen claiming to be IPOB members.

After the visit, Prince Kanu told journalists that the Biafran agitator was unhappy with the situation in the region and that he “does not believe in bloodshed and felt too bad that blood suckers had been on the prowl in the South-East almost unchallenged.”

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the outlawed Igno secessionist group the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has lamented the escalating cases of “senseless killings” in the South-East region and demanded an immediate halt to the carnage.

The IPOB leader, who spoke from the Department of State Services (DSS) detention centre in Abuja, expressed outrage over the recent bloodshed and insecurity in the region.

Kanu, who has been in the Directorate of State Services (DSS) detention facility since being arrested and extradited from Kenya back to Nigeria on treasonable felony charges, expressed his concerns on Monday evening through his younger brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, who visited him in detention, saying he was deeply saddened by reports of killings across the South-East by unknown gunmen claiming to be IPOB members.

After the visit, Prince Kanu told journalists that the Biafran agitator was unhappy with the situation in the region and that he “does not believe in bloodshed and felt too bad that blood suckers had been on the prowl in the South-East almost unchallenged.”

“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is dissatisfied with the situation in Biafra land. He is distressed by the senseless killings in the South-East region and demands that they cease immediately.

“He also wants all those responsible for the current killings in the South-East to face justice because Ndigbo are not known for cannibalism.”

“Ochendo also demands Mrs Ukamaka Ejezie, also known as ‘Mama Biafra,’ be released immediately.

“On May 18, the septuagenarian was apprehended during his (Kanu’s) last court appearance in Abuja.” Since his parents died in 2020, Kanu claims the woman has been acting as his mother.

“He claimed the old woman did nothing wrong when she came to Abuja to support him in court when she was arrested.”

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“I saw her at the DSS detention cell after her clothes were washed and spread on the wall,” Mazi Nnamdi Kanu said. I demand her release because she did not commit any crime.

“She is an elderly woman, and I have adopted her as my mother since my mother died.” ‘The DSS should let her go.’

May 24, 2022
CBN says there’s enough forex to finance eight months importation, services

Amid the lingering forex scarcity and dwindling external reserves, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has assured that there is enough in the nation’s reserve to finance 8.3 months of imports for goods and services

CBN revealed this in its report on ‘Foreign exchange flows through the economy’ published on its website.

According to the report, Nigeria’s current reserves which stood at US$39.38 billion as at January 31, 2022 could finance 8.3 months of import for goods and services or 10.9 months of import for goods only.

The report also disclosed the foreign exchange inflows into the country fell by 36.7 per cent in one month to $4.36bn in January, figures obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria have shown.

Amid the lingering forex scarcity and dwindling external reserves, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has assured that there is enough in the nation’s reserve to finance 8.3 months of imports for goods and services

CBN revealed this in its report on ‘Foreign exchange flows through the economy’ published on its website.

According to the report, Nigeria’s current reserves which stood at US$39.38 billion as at January 31, 2022 could finance 8.3 months of import for goods and services or 10.9 months of import for goods only.

The report also disclosed the foreign exchange inflows into the country fell by 36.7 per cent in one month to $4.36bn in January, figures obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria have shown.

The CBN revealed in its report on ‘Foreign exchange flows through the economy’, that the economy recorded lower net foreign exchange inflow in January, driven, mainly, by net flows from the CBN and autonomous sources.

It stated that, “Aggregate foreign exchange inflow into the economy declined by 36.7 per cent to $4.36bn in January 2022, from $6.89bn in December 2021.
“

The total foreign exchange outflow decreased by 5.1 per cent to $3.41bn, from $3.59bn in the preceding period. A net inflow of $0.95bn was recorded in the month under review, compared with net inflow of $3.29bn in the preceding period.

Amid the lingering forex scarcity and dwindling external reserves, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has assured that there is enough in the nation’s reserve to finance 8.3 months of imports for goods and services

Read Also: 2023: A lawyer asks the EFCC to release an executive detained for an “offensive advertisement.”

CBN revealed this in its report on ‘Foreign exchange flows through the economy’ published on its website.

According to the report, Nigeria’s current reserves which stood at US$39.38 billion as at January 31, 2022 could finance 8.3 months of import for goods and services or 10.9 months of import for goods only.

The report also disclosed the foreign exchange inflows into the country fell by 36.7 per cent in one month to $4.36bn in January, figures obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria have shown.

The CBN revealed in its report on ‘Foreign exchange flows through the economy’, that the economy recorded lower net foreign exchange inflow in January, driven, mainly, by net flows from the CBN and autonomous sources.

It stated that, “Aggregate foreign exchange inflow into the economy declined by 36.7 per cent to $4.36bn in January 2022, from $6.89bn in December 2021.

Read also: CBN forex policy reduced ports business by 62%, 3m jobs lost –Stakeholders

“The total foreign exchange outflow decreased by 5.1 per cent to $3.41bn, from $3.59bn in the preceding period. A net inflow of $0.95bn was recorded in the month under review, compared with net inflow of $3.29bn in the preceding period.

“Further analysis shows that foreign exchange inflow into the Bank fell by 36.7 per cent to $1.82bn from $2.88bn, attributed to 45.4 per cent decline in non-oil components, mainly, TSA and third-party receipts/MDA transfers, other official receipts and swaps.”

Also, the report noted that autonomous inflow decreased by 36.7 per cent to $2.54bn, from $4.01bn, due to a reduction in invisible purchases.

Foreign exchange outflow through the bank fell by 18.3 per cent to $2.6bn from $3.18bn in December 2021, due, largely, to decrease in public sector/direct payment, third party MDA transfers, sales at the secondary market intervention and the Investors & Exporters’ windows.

Autonomous outflow, however, rose to $0.81bn, from $0.42bn in January, on account of higher invisible imports.

Read Also: Buhari reappoints Ibrahim Goni as National Park Service Conservator-General

The report disclosed that foreign exchange inflows into the economy declined in the fourth quarter of 2021, owing to lower receipts from the CBN and autonomous sources.

It stated “Foreign exchange inflow into the economy fell by 31.7 per cent to $20.62bn, from $30.2bn in the preceding period. The development was driven by the 45.5 per cent and 14.4 per cent lower inflow through the CBN and the autonomous sources, respectively.

“Foreign exchange inflow through the Bank at $9.18bn fell below the $16.83bn in the preceding quarter as both oil and non-oil receipts declined, as a result of lower receipts from interest on reserves and interbank swaps.”

May 23, 2022
Buhari reappoints Ibrahim Goni as National Park Service Conservator-General

Dr Ibrahim Goni’s appointment as Conservator-General of the National Park Service has been extended for another five years by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The re-appointment, according to Saghir el Mohammed, Director of Press at the Ministry of Environment, took effect on May 10, 2022.
“Minister of Industry Mohammed Abdullahi congratulated Goni on his reappointment and wished him a fruitful tenure in office,” he said.

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Goni was first appointed as the National Park Service’s Conservator-General in April 2017, a year before his retirement.

Goni established 10 new National Parks during his first term as conservator-general, as well as renovating the service’s headquarters building in Abuja and ranger barracks and chalets.

May 23, 2022