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CBN to prosecute naira sellers, directs banks to issue new notes over counter

Vincent Ufuoma
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CBN to prosecute naira sellers, directs banks to issue new notes over counter

THE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has vowed to apprehend and bring to justice those who engage in the sale of the newly redesigned naira notes throughout the country.

This was disclosed in a statement by CBN Director of Corporate Communications, Osita Nwanisobi, on Thursday, February 2.

The apex bank said it has noticed an upward trend in the number of people stocking the new banknotes obtained from ATMs and unregistered persons swapping banknotes for members of the public across the country.

It warned that these actions are considered illegal and violate Section 21(3) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2007 (as amended).

The section states that “spraying of, dancing or matching on the Naira or any note issued by the Bank during social occasions or otherwise howsoever shall constitute an abuse and defacing of the Naira or such note and shall be punishable under the law by fines or imprisonment or both”.

Section 21(4) states that “It shall also be an offence punishable under Sub-section (1) of this section for any person to hawk, sell or otherwise trade in the Naira notes, coins or any other note issued by the Bank.”

The CBN said it is collaborating with law enforcement agencies, including the Nigeria Police, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), to address the “unpatriotic behaviour”.

It also warned Nigerians, especially those at social functions such as birthdays, weddings, and funerals, to refrain from disrespecting the naira or risk facing arrest by law enforcement agencies.

The statement noted the bank is committed to ensuring the effective distribution of the newly introduced naira banknotes and is working to address the issue of long lines at ATMs.

The statement further disclosed that CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, has directed deposit money banks (DMBs) to commence the payment of the redesigned naira notes over the counter, with a maximum daily payout limit of N20,000.

The CBN also encourages members of the public to embrace alternative payment channels for their transactions. According to the apex bank, the naira is the legal tender and symbol of national pride in Nigeria and should be respected and handled with care.

Fuel scarcity has nothing to do with election – Kyari

Vincent Ufuoma
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Fuel scarcity has nothing to do with election – Kyari

THE Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, has said the fuel scarcity being experienced in the country has nothing to do with the 2023 general elections.

Kyari stated this when he appeared on the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) ‘Good Morning Nigeria’ program on Thursday, February 2.

He explained that the shortage was not a deliberate attempt to influence the forthcoming general elections, noting that the crisis began in 2022 and that arbitrage has significantly impacted the product’s scarcity.

“I do not think anybody sits down to orchestrate that there should be scarcity so that it will impact elections and so on. I don’t think it happens that way if it is so. But it is not true because the reality is that these glitches actually started early in 2022,” he said.

“It has nothing to do with this election period. Once you have a challenge of this nature, it is a cyclical thing. Once you have this challenge, they continue to come up, and then once you have arbitrage issues, you have this glitch.”

Kyari stressed that it is not true that anyone would intentionally create a scarcity to impact elections and that such a notion is out of context and impossible.

According to him, the current redundancy of petroleum products supply in Nigeria is only three days and that any glitch extending longer than three days takes another three weeks to stabilize.

He emphasized that the NNPCL is doing everything possible to avoid such glitches from happening in the nearest future and that no one would intentionally create such a situation.

Kyari also stated that the petrol scarcity issue is a major concern for President Muhammadu Buhari and is frequently discussed in their briefings.

He observed that various challenges, including logistics, greed, cross-border problems, and international market situations, contribute to scarcity.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, had, during his rally in Ogun State last week, claimed that the petrol scarcity and the naira redesign policy were attempts to sabotage the elections.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has also expressed concerns that the ongoing scarcity might affect its logistics for the elections.

ICPC arrests woman selling new naira notes on social media

Bankole ABE
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ICPC arrests woman selling new naira notes on social media

THE Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) said it arrested a woman, Omoseyin Oluwadarasimi Esther, with the Twitter handle @SimisolaGold, offering new naira notes for sale on social media.

According to the ICPC, intelligence reports prompted its operatives to seek out and arrest the suspect on Wednesday, February 1.

This was disclosed in a statement by the spokesperson of ICPC Azuka Ogugua.

The statement partly reads, “Oluwadarasimi Emma, a social media “serial entrepreneur” who deals in skincare, sales of fuel, facilitation of foreign travels through visa acquisitions, and other businesses, seized the opportunity of the scarcity of the new naira notes to openly market the new notes.

Omoseyin Darasimi EstherPhoto credit: ICPC
Omoseyin Darasimi Esther
Photo credit: ICPC

“It is believed she is in collusion with key elements in the financial services sector, diverting the newly released notes away from banking halls and payment channels into a “black market,” the ICPC said.

The anti-corruption agency said Oluwadarasimi is currently in detention and is helping the Commission with its findings on the criminal trading of the naira and the attendant scarcity and adverse economic outcomes caused by the action.

The ICPC added that its action is in furtherance of the collaboration between it, the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in implementing the new cashless policy and naira redesign.

Akwa-Ibom condemns Tinubu’s comments on governor, demands apology

Vincent Ufuoma
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Akwa-Ibom condemns Tinubu’s comments on governor, demands apology

THE Akwa Ibom State government has condemned the recent comments made by the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, against the state governor, Udom Emmanuel, during the party’s presidential campaign in Uyo.

The former Lagos governor had, while addressing his supporters on Monday, January 30, insulted the governor of the state and threatened to send reptiles to invade the state government governor’s lodge and seize the property.

READ ALSO:
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Naira redesign, fuel scarcity are ploys to sabotage elections — Tinubu

Nigerians should look beyond Tinubu’s age, health — Shettima

Reacting to Tinunu’s comments on Wednesday, February 1, the state government expressed disappointment with Tinubu’s actions, calling his comments “unwarranted, uncharitable and anachronistic”.

The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Ini Ememobong, who issued the statement, said Tinubu’s actions were a cause for concern.

The state government demanded a public apology from Tinubu, who they considered immature and unexpected for a person of his advanced age.

The statement also pointed out that the government had approved the Nest of Champions, a state-owned property, for the APC Presidential Campaign and that Tinubu had used the state-owned and managed airport for his travels without any hindrance.

It noted that the governor had been duly elected and that Tinubu’s comments, calling him a “boy” and questioning his legitimacy, were “unpresidential and undemocratic”.

The government further advised all citizens of the state to ignore Tinubu’s insults and continue to co-exist peacefully with all Nigerians who are living and doing legitimate business in the state.

It also stated that Tinubu should focus on answering questions about his “nebulous history and his amorphous manifestos” instead of making insults and threats towards the people of the state.

The state government said it considers the matter of Nigeria’s presidency to be a very serious business that should be treated with seriousness and intellectual depth.

800,000 PVCs uncollected in Oyo – INEC

Vincent Ufuoma
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800,000 PVCs uncollected in Oyo – INEC

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said about 800,000 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) have remained uncollected in Oyo State.

The State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Adeniran Tella, made this known at a stakeholders’ meeting held in Ibadan, On Wednesday, February 1.

The meeting was part of the ongoing nationwide Mock Voters’ Accreditation/Verification exercise.

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Tella stated that with several training sessions for staff and ad-hoc staff members in the state, INEC is fully ready for the upcoming election.

The purpose of the mock voters’ accreditation, he said to identify any potential issues that may arise during the actual election, to enable the Commission make necessary adjustments.

“Collection of PVCs at 33 INEC Local Government Area offices has been further extended for eight days with additional two hours, which is expected to end on Sunday, February 5, 2023, starting from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. daily, Saturday and Sunday inclusive,” he said.

“As I speak to you, we have so far distributed over 402,321 PVCs in the state. We still have over 800,000 uncollected PVCs at our various 33 INEC LGA offices.”

The REC added that the mock voters’ accreditation exercise will be conducted across six councils of Akinyele, Atiba, Iseyin, Ogbomoso North, Ibadan North and Ido.

He said the exercise would test 12 polling units in three senatorial districts of the state, adding that it would take place this Saturday, February 4 from 8.00 am to 2.30 pm in all affected local government areas and polling units.

Tella emphasized the importance of having a PVC, stating that it serves as a voter’s power on election day.

Rivers people know presidential candidate I want them to vote – Wike

Vincent Ufuoma
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Rivers people know presidential candidate I want them to vote – Wike

RIVERS State governor, Nyesom Wike, has said the people of the state already know which candidate he wants them to vote for in the 2023 presidential election.

He spoke at a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign rally at Port Harcourt City Local Government Area on Wednesday, February 1.

He noted that those who expect him to publicly declare his preferred presidential candidate, as he had promised in December last year, will be disappointed.

Responding to a challenge by the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in 2015, Dakuku Peterside, who dared him to declare his preferred presidential candidate, Wike said he never promised to make a public declaration on his preferred candidate.

He stated that he never told anyone that he would face the cameras to announce his preferred candidate but that he told Rivers people which candidate they would support.

The governor further explained that he never stated the method of informing the people and never promised to hold live coverage to declare it.

“I never told anybody I will face cameras to announce to you this is who we will vote. I said I will tell Rivers people the candidate they will support. I did not state the method of telling it. I did not say I will hold live coverage to declare it,” he said.

He added that the people of Rivers already know who he supports and that those who expect him to make a public declaration are “mumu” (foolish) people who have never won in politics.

The governor also accused the State Commissioner of Police, Okon Effiong, of not doing enough to check perceived infractions on election campaigns by opposition parties in the state.

He accused Effiong of shying away from his responsibilities and warned that he would take over his job and unleash the Neighborhood Watch, a community policing outfit established by the state, on opposition parties if the CP did not perform his duties properly.

S’Court sacks Taraba APC guber candidate, Bwacha

Bankole ABE
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S’Court sacks Taraba APC guber candidate, Bwacha

THE Supreme Court has sacked the Taraba State All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate Emmanuel Bwacha.

The apex court on Wednesday, February 1, set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Yola Division, which had earlier on November 24, 2022, reinstated Bwacha as the governorship candidate of the APC in the March 11 governorship election.

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Tinubu’s outburst on exchange rate, an attack on PDP not Buhari – APC

Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who led a five-member panel, confirmed the verdict of the Federal High Court, which stated that the APC did not conduct any valid governorship primary in the state.
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The Appeal Court in Yola had reinstated Bwacha as the party’s candidate for Taraba state.

Two Federal High Courts in Jalingo and Abuja had at various times nullified the APC gubernatorial primary election and ordered a fresh primary within 14 days.

The Supreme Court, in its judgment, maintained that the court of appeal was wrong to have set aside the decision of the trial court.

Presidential election: Buhari not favouring anybody – Lai Mohammed

Vincent Ufuoma
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0
Presidential election: Buhari not favouring anybody – Lai Mohammed

MINISTER of Information, Lai Mohammed, has said the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government is not aware of anyone in working against All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu.

The minister also said Buhari was not favouring any candidate.

Mohammed spoke while fielding questions from newsmen at the State House on Wednesday, February 1.

READ ALSO:
Tinubu did not blame Buhari in comments on naira redesign, fuel scarcity — APC

Nigerians should look beyond Tinubu’s age, health — Shettima

Naira redesign, fuel scarcity are ploys to sabotage elections — Tinubu

Why Tinubu is unfit to be President – former APC-PCC member

He stressed that Buhari was not favouring or disfavouring any presidential candidate ahead of the election on February 25.

According to him, the President is committed to ensuring a free and fair election and has made this clear in his recent statements and actions.

“On a more serious note, one thing I can assure you is that, no matter who, this administration is focused and determined to ensure a free and fair election. And I think this administration, and for that matter now, the most important person in this regard is Mr. President.

“I think he has shown by words and deed that he is committed to a free, fair and credible election. And fair, free and credible elections mean not favouring or disfavouring anybody.

“Everywhere he goes, he makes that very clear, even as recently as Friday, when he was in Daura. He said the same thing. So if there’s anybody who’s working against any candidate, we don’t know officially.”

Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, had recently claimed that some individuals within the Presidential Villa are working against Tinubu’s candidacy.

He stated that the unnamed individuals are aggrieved about Tinubu’s victory in the APC presidential primary, where he defeated their preferred candidate.

El-Rufai cited the naira redesign policy as an example of actions aimed at Tinubu. He explained that the government initially resolved to remove petroleum subsidy which is costing the country trillions of naira. However, he claimed that some individuals in the Presidential Villa changed their stance on the policy.

The governor also alleged that the currency redesign policy was an attempt to sabotage Tinubu’s possible victory in the election.

He explained that the President has a history of changing the currency to catch individuals hiding illicit funds. However, he argued that the timing of the redesign, within the allotted time for the election, does not make political or economic sense.

Tinubu, at a rally in Abeokuta, Ogun State, also raised the alarm, alleging that the naira redesign policy and the fuel crisis in the country were part of the plot to undermine him during the election.

Tinubu’s outburst on exchange rate, an attack on PDP not Buhari – APC

Theophilus ADEDOKUN
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Tinubu’s outburst on exchange rate, an attack on PDP not Buhari – APC

THE Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said the party’s presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu did not criticise President Muhammadu Buhari in his outburst in Calabar, Cross River State, on Tuesday, January 31.

Tinubu, while condemning the current exchange rate of the naira at rally in Calabar, said President Buhari’s administration met the naira/dollar exchange rate at N200 but the naira had since depreciated in value to about N800 to a dollar at the parallel market.

Responding to the outburst on Wednesday, February 1, media director of the PCC, Bayo Onanuga said Tinubu blamed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the current exchange rate crisis experienced in the country.

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He stated that Buhari’s administration has been able to build back the reserve to about $38 billion.

According to Onanuga, “The reference to the exchange rate was not in any way an attack on the Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress administration but an attempt to capture how the economic mismanagement of the PDP created a forex crisis in the country since 2015.”

He said that anyone who followed the entire sequence and context of what Tinubu said at the rally in Calabar will know he directed his missiles at PDP and Atiku Abubakar.

“Let’s not forget, the PDP left the forex reserve at $28 billion by May 2015, when Buhari took over despite unprecedented revenue from crude oil. The futile attempt to misrepresent Asiwaju Tinubu by the mischievous PDP media did not detract from his central message.

“Asiwaju Tinubu could not have meant that President Buhari does not know the road, having celebrated, numerous times, the achievements of the Buhari administration. Tinubu had also said at campaign fora he would build on the achievements, when elected on 25 February.

“Our candidate explicitly said the people should not follow PDP and Atiku because they don’t know the road,” Onanuga added.

Tallen urges security agencies to prioritise gender issues

Ijeoma OPARA
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Tallen urges security agencies to prioritise gender issues

MINISTER of Women Affairs Pauline Tallen has urged security agencies to prioritise gender issues.

This was disclosed in a statement by the Director of Press and Public Relations of the Ministry of Women Affairs Olujimi Oyetomi on Wednesday, February 1.

According to the statement, Tallen made the call at the 3rd Annual Forum of Women, Peace and Security Sector Reference Group held in Abuja on Tuesday, January 31.

The minister noted that prioritising gender issues within the security sector includes protecting the rights of female officers and taking note of their challenges.

“The 2023 theme of the Forum, ‘The Role of Female Security Personnel in the 2023 General Elections,’ Tallen said, was carefully chosen to recognise the inherent potential of female security personnel to promote free and fair elections as well as to ensure violence free voting that will encourage increased women political participation,” the statement read.

She acknowledged officials of the Nigerian Armed Forces who had paid the ultimate price in defence of the nation amid worsening security challenges.

According to the statement, the UN Women Country Representative in Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Beatrice Eyong was also present at the event.

Eyong called for capacity building for Nigerian women to increase their ability to contest elective positions in the country.

“She noted that Women’s ability to vote for candidates of their choice or make themselves available to be voted for is hampered by socio-cultural and religious considerations,” the statement added.

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