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Buhari begs UAE to review visa ban on Nigerians

Oghenekevwe UCHECHUKWU
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Buhari begs UAE to review visa ban on Nigerians

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has urged the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to resume flights to Nigeria and lift the visa ban imposed on Nigerians.

Since July 2021, the UAE’s Ministry of Labour (MOL) had barred Nigerians from applying for work permits in the country. The UAE also placed visa restrictions on them after a criminal profiling.

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According to a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Garba Shehu, the Nigerian leader made the appeal in a telephone conversation with the UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, while commiserating with him over the death of his mother-in-law, Maryam Al Falasi.

“The President requested his UAE counterpart to review the blanket visa ban imposed on Nigerians intending to travel to the UAE, recalling that mutually beneficial excellent relations have subsisted between the two nations over many years, symbolized by robust economic interactions and regular consultations on matters of common interest, including engagements at the highest political levels,” the statement said.

It added that Buhari noted that recent irritants in bilateral relations were generated by consular issues relating to the behaviour of some Nigerians in the UAE and had promised to apply necessary sanctions through appropriate judicial processes against anyone identified to have committed criminal acts in the UAE.

Flight operations by the Emirates Airlines to and from Nigeria had been suspended since October 29 2022, due to the airline’s inability to access its blocked funds in Nigeria.

Afenifere urges Buhari to resist non-democratic change of govt

Vincent Ufuoma
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Afenifere urges Buhari to resist non-democratic change of govt

AFENIFERE, a pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to resist any attempt to change government through non-democratic means in Nigeria.

The group made the call in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, on Wednesday, February 15.

Afenifere expressed concern over recent allegations made by Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, claiming that some elements within the presidency were scheming to install an interim government on Nigerians by contriving an atmosphere that would make free and fair elections impossible.

During his interview on Arise TV, the governor had stated that the lingering fuel and naira scarcity were being used to frustrate the conduct of the elections because their preferred candidate was not in the race.

He also reiterated this position in an interview with Premium Times on February 13, 2023.

Reacting to the development, Afenifere tasked the President to resist any temptation or pressure to foist on Nigeria any form of change of government that is not a product of democratic practice.

The association stressed that any change of government must come through democratic means as enshrined in Nigeria’s constitution.

The statement further noted that the call was made because of the sacrifices many Nigerians, including Afenifere, had made to ensure civil rule in the country.

It also acknowledged Nigeria’s progress with 24 years of civil rule and six transitions between civilian administrations since 1999.

Afenifere reiterated that anything that could prompt the change of government through any other means was unacceptable.

Nigeria has a long history of military coups and undemocratic government changes.

After years of military rule, Nigeria returned to democratic governance in 1999.

ICIR trains teachers, students on fact check tools

Faith ABEKA
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ICIR trains teachers, students on fact check tools

THE International Center for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) has organised a capacity building seminar for staff and students of a secondary school in Abuja.

The event was held on Tuesday, February 14, 2023 at Government Secondary School Wuse zone 3, Abuja.

Present at the event was Mary Ajibola, representative of the Director, Federal Capital Territory Secondary Education Board (FCT SEB).

Teachers and students were taken a through step by step guide on how to combat false news, identify phishing websites and how to archive claims online.

The editor, FactCheckHub, Opeyemi Kehinde, who also headed the facilitators, explained what could be said to be misinformation, disinformation and malformation.

He also stressed the need to cross check sources cited in a report .

The seminar emphasized the need to identify false news circulated on various platforms and how to fact check using the tools available.

Facilitators include Shehu Olayinka, head social media unit, Olugbenga Adanikin, head, Investigation unit, and Nurudeen Akewushola, a fact checker with the FactCheckHub.

Teachers and students at the event expressed gratitude to the organisers as they revealed it was an eye opening seminar.

A teacher, Suleiman Isah, said, “I like the methodology that you are using. It is very interactive and very good. It is an outstanding programme.”

Some of the students who spoke, also noted that the seminar has taught them not to be purveyors of false news and the need to always check sources of information obtained on social media platforms.

The principal, Funmilayo Kayode, also thanked the team for organising the training as she advised students to take advantage of the opportunity.

A programmes officer at The ICIR, Alfred Akerele, in his closing remarks, thanked the FCT education board and management of the school for the platform.

Photo does not show Mamman Daura giving orders to Emefiele

Nurudeen AKEWUSHOLA
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Photo does not show Mamman Daura giving orders to Emefiele

A popular columnist with The Nation newspaper, Sam Omatseye has tweeted a photo with a claim that it shows Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari’s nephew, Mamman Daura, giving orders to the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.

His tweet (now deleted) archived here read:

“Look at how the head of the said Cabal, Mamman Daura, is directing the Governor without a state, Emefiele, on what to do. These Aso rock folks are seriously working against BAT not to succeed Buhari. The same folks who have been using Buhari name in carrying out shady deal.”

CLAIM

Photo shows Mamman Daura giving orders to Emefiele.

THE FINDINGS

Checks by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE.

A Google reverse image search shows that the image has been online since 2015.

A screenshot of Sam Omatseye’s tweet before it was deleted.

According to a report by Sahara Reporters, the photo shows Nigeria’s Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele with Ismaila Isa Funtua (now late) and former Nigeria’s Chief of Army staff, Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau, during President Buhari’s official visit to the United States in 2015.

Sam Omatseye I Photo Credit: The Nation

The photo shows Emefiele in a conversation with the late Funtua, a close associate of President Buhari and Second Republic minister, who was part of the president’s entourage during the visit.

Funtua was a Katsina-born newspaper publisher and industrialist who died in 2020. He was also a minister under the civilian administration of Shehu Shagari and a member of the 1994-1995 Constitutional Conference. He was also the Chairman of the popular construction company, Bulet International (Nigeria) Limited.

THE VERDICT

The claim by Sam Omatseye that the photo shows Mamman Daura giving orders to Godwin Emefiele is FALSE; the image shows  Emefiele with the late Ismaila Funtua having a conversation.

*This report was republished from the FactCheckHub, read the original here. 

CBN to sanction PoS operators over exorbitant charges

Harrison EDEH
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CBN to sanction PoS operators over exorbitant charges

THE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has threatened to prosecute point-of-sale (POS) operators who demand exorbitant charges on transactions.

The CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, issued the threat today at a meeting with members of the diplomatic corps.

Emefiele, who admitted challenges in the implementation of the naira redesign policy that he introduced, said the PoS operators that would be prosecuted are those who charge above the stipulated amount.

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Currency Redesign: PoS merchants hike commission on transactions over redesigned notes

He said that while this is truly a challenging time for Nigerians, things should not be exaggerated, especially by people in authority to create panic.

The ICIR had reported how point-of-sale operators had resorted to increasing their commission on transactions.

The ICIR investigations today revealed that as most Nigerians scramble in a last-ditch effort to obtain the new notes, PoS merchants who have them have been making brisk business overcharging their customers.

For a cash withdrawal of N5,000 that normally attracted a N100 commission, most PoS merchants have been charging N1,000, just as they have upped the normal commission of N200 on a N10,000 withdrawal to N2000.

“We are still not getting enough of the new notes from the banks. Even getting these new notes is a business secret now.That is why I have to increase my cost of transaction. I don’t even know how soon I will get new ones when I run out of these,” a PoS merchant, Yusuf Abdulraman, told The ICIR.

Many Nigerians are in a fix, with most businesses dragged down as a result of the currency redesign policy that officially commenced in December 15, 2022.

The implementation of the policy has been marred by slow-paced circulation of the redesigned currency, with the economy and businesses thrown into a spin as the CBN does somersaults on acceptance and rejection of the old notes.

Naira Redesign: Buhari has limited knowledge of economics – Shehu Sani

Theophilus ADEDOKUN
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Naira Redesign: Buhari has limited knowledge of economics – Shehu Sani

A FORMER senator representing Kaduna central, Shehu Sani, has said President Muhammadu Buhari has limited knowledge of economics to implement the naira policy.

Speaking on Tuesday, February 14 on Arise TV, Sani said the naira redesign policy of the Buhari administration had brought more suffering and hardship to Nigerians.

He said that the policy lacked consultation with the legislative arm and various developmental civil society groups.

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The senator said, “What is wrong in this policy is that there should have been wide consultation. It’s not simply about the CBN governor going to the president to get his approval over an issue that I believe that the president of the country has limited knowledge of, because he is not an economist.

“I expected that before such a decision was made, there would have been wide consultation with the national assembly and also the civil societies. By doing that, you are carrying the whole country along and then ideas will be crystalised and problems that may arise will be predicted and they can be solved.

“All we have known was that the governor of the central bank has made it very clear that all he needed was the approval of Mr President, and he got that, and now everyone is paying the price.”

Sani expressed displeasure with difficulties he said Nigerians are experiencing in their adoption of a cashless system and internet banking that the CBN is insisting on.

He said, “They will tell you today cash is not available. But if you have to use the cashless system, sometimes the alert doesn’t come in time and as such, the whole transaction in the country has become a problem.”

He said the policy has forced border communities to start using foreign currencies in trade, commerce and investment.

He said, “Even our communities in the border areas are now using currencies like the cefa from other countries. As we have heard, people in rural areas have resorted to trade by barter. So, we have gotten ourselves into an economic turbulence that is man-made but could have been avoided.

“How can people that have paraded themselves as experienced in managing finance, banks, and whatever get us into this kind of situation?”

Sani, however, believed that the policy would reduce the incidence of vote-buying in the forthcoming general elections.

“Well, to be fair, if this redesigning of the naira and the cashless policy is about combating or containing vote-buying, that is a very good initiative. But the fallout or the consequences of it on the other side is that people are suffering, and you don’t know which of the notes to accept,” he said.

Infographics: Average prices of petrol per litre across Nigeria

Harrison EDEH
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Infographics: Average prices of petrol per litre across Nigeria

THESE infographics give a pictorial representation of average fuel prices per litre cross the country.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCLtd) remains the sole importer of the product. However, it has licensed major oil marketers who assist in importing it. But the marketers, of course, factor in their logistic costs beyond the federal government’s official price peg.

The third tier of importers are those who are not licensed to import but have to rely on third-party suppliers. These comprise mostly of independent marketers, whose prices of petrol per litre are higher than what are obtainable at NNPC and major marketers’ filling stations. By getting the product through third-party sources, they also factor in their costs, including distribution  logistics, beyond government’s official price peg in order to remain in business.

The infographics represent average prices of petrol per litre, according to survey checks across the states.

Average prices of fuel per litre across States
Average prices of fuel per litre across States
Average prices of fuel per litre across States
Average prices of fuel per litre across States

 

Naira redesign: Ogun to join suit against FG

Ijeoma OPARA
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Naira redesign: Ogun to join suit against FG

THE Ogun State government has filed an application at the Supreme Court to join other states in a suit against the Federal Government over the naira redesign policy.

In a motion of notice filed on Monday, February 13, the government noted that the naira redesign policy was having adverse effects on economic activities in the state.

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“The implementation of the policy has totally paralyzed and brought to standstill the economic activities of Ogun State and also severely impaired the government’s ability to deliver on its economic agenda to the people.

“The already existing Plaintiffs and Defendants will not be prejudiced in any way by the grant of this application which had been brought in the interest of justice and right to fair hearing to join the Applicant/Party seeking to be joined as a co-plaintiff. This application is necessary in order to prevent a multiplicity of suits,” parts of the application read.

The notice also stated that residents had been frustrated, and the policy had resulted in riots within the state.

At least seven All Progressives Congress (APC) states, including Kano, Ondo, and Ekiti, have sued the Nigerian government over the naira redesign policy.

Three governors, including Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna, Yahaya Bello of Kogi and Bello Matawalle of Zamfara, had originally filed the suit against the government, with other state governors joining subsequently.

On Wednesday, February 8, the Rivers state governor Nyesom Wike said his government would also join the plaintiffs in the suit over the naira redesign policy.

‘Bawa must go’ protest sponsored by persons under investigation – EFCC

Bankole ABE
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‘Bawa must go’ protest sponsored by persons under investigation – EFCC

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has raised the alarm over the activities of some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) who have been embarking on protests tagged ‘Bawa Must Go’ in Lagos.

The CSOs have been protesting against the Chairman of the EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, over the alleged politicisation of operations of the EFCC, disobedience of court orders and infringement on human rights.

The civil society coalition started with a call for the removal of the EFCC chairman before commencing protests on Sunday at Ikeja.

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But addressing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, February 14, EFCC spokesperson Wilson Uwujaren said the group protesting against Bawa is sponsored by persons under investigation.

Uwujaren claimed the groups have no interest in the fight against corruption.

“Information available to the Commission indicates that the group is sponsored by persons under investigation by the Commission and have been mobilised and mandated by their paymaster to embarrass the person of the Chairman through choreographed street protests across the country until he is removed from office.

“It is significant that this group found its voice after the EFCC launched an investigation into the mindless looting of the treasury of one of the states.

“This same group shouted that the Commission lacked the power to investigate the theft of the state’s resources. Their latest dance in the market square came a few hours after family members of a sitting state governor were arraigned at an Abuja court for allegedly stealing the state’s funds,” the EFCC spokesperson said.

The anti-graft agency appealed to the public to disregard the campaign by the group “as they do not represent the genuine interest of millions of Nigerians”.

“We want to assure Nigerians that the EFCC will not be distracted by this campaign of calumny as we believe that this agenda will fail.

“It is also important to reassure Nigerians and all stakeholders that the Commission has never, and will not take any steps to undermine the judiciary,” the Commission stated.

On the two cases of contempt against Bawa, the EFCC said it is essential to revisit the circumstances of the two orders.

“The first order by an FCT High Court on November 8, 2022, was issued over the failure to comply with a November 21st, 2018 order of the court directing the Commission to return seized assets comprising a Range Rover SUV and the sum of N40, 000,000.00 (Forty Million Naira) to the applicant.

“For the benefit of the public, the said order of the FCT High Court was given three years before Abdulrasheed Bawa became EFCC Chairman. Also, the contempt process is quasi-criminal in nature and must be served on the person involved. In this case, Bawa, as Chairman of the EFCC, was neither served Form 48 nor Form 49.

“Despite this fact, the Executive Chairman, upon being made aware of the said order of November 21st, 2018, had released the Range Rover in question to the Applicant on the 27th of June, 2022 and had approved the process of the release of the remaining N40m before the committal order was issued,” Uwujaren added.

Commenting on the latest order by Justice R.O. Ayoola of the Kogi State High Court, the EFCC spokesperson said the processes are still ongoing.

However, he noted that by invoking Form 49, the court failed to take cognisance of a pending appeal of its ruling of November 30, which directed the Commission to produce a fraud suspect, Ali Bello.

“As a law-abiding institution, EFCC approached the appellate court for a stay of execution.

“This is a valid and lawful remedy by law and does not evoke any aura of impunity or disregard for the judiciary.”

Meanwhile, in their hundreds, members of CSOs continued their protest against Bawa on Monday, February 13.

The protest was tagged ‘Protest Against Politicisation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Disobedience of Court Orders and Infringement on Human Rights of Nigerians’.

Monday’s protest was the third since the activists began their call for Bawa’s sack.

The EFCC is currently prosecuting the wife of Kogi State governor, Rashida Bello, a nephew to the governor, Ali Bello and others on an 18-count charge bordering on criminal misappropriation and money laundering to the tune of N3.081 billion.

The case will resume at the Federal High Court Abuja on Tuesday, February 14.

Police kill suspected kidnapper, rescue abductee in Rivers

Ijeoma OPARA
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Police kill suspected kidnapper, rescue abductee in Rivers

THE Rivers State Police Command has killed a suspected kidnapper and arrested another during a raid on criminal hideouts in Ndoki Waterfront, Port Harcourt.

According to a statement by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Command Grace Iringe-Koko on Tuesday, February 14, the suspect was killed when the five-man gang engaged the police in a gun duel.

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Other members of the gang fled in the process. An abductee was rescued by the security operatives, while arms and ammunition were recovered from the arrested suspects.

“The operatives, while acting on credible intelligence, on Saturday 11th February 2023 at about 0300hrs, swooped upon the syndicate at Ndoki Water Side, Port Harcourt. In the gun battle that ensued a key member of a 5-man gang terrorizing Rivers State was neutralised.

“One AK-47 rifle with 26 rounds of ammunition and one revolver pistol with 5 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the arrested suspect while one kidnapped victim was rescued unhurt. Efforts are being made to round up the fleeing members of the syndicate,” the statement said.

Iringe-Koko also noted that the criminal gang was notorious for kidnapping high-profile residents in the state.

Residents were urged to remain calm and report suspicious activities to the police.

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