Home Blog Page 2284

Osinbajo takes legal action against Timi Frank

Lukman ABOLADE
-
0
Osinbajo takes legal action against Timi Frank

THE VICE PRESIDENT Yemi Osinbajo has commenced legal action against the former deputy spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank amidst allegations of N90 billion allegedly released to him by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

Frank had alleged that Osinbajo and the presidency are at loggerheads not because of 2023 but because the latter could not give an account of the N90 billion released by FIRS for election purposes.

But the Vice-President on his official Twitter account said he has instructed the commencement of legal actions against Timi Frank and Katch Ononoju, an economist and public affairs analyst.

“In the past few days, spates of reckless and malicious falsehoods have been peddled in the media against me by a group of malicious individuals. The defamatory and misleading assertions invented by this clique have been making the social media rounds anonymously”.

“I will waive my constitutional immunity to enable the most robust adjudication of these claims of libel and malicious falsehood.”

Recall that FIRS’ director of information, Wahab Gbadamosi has dismissed the allegation, saying the service annual allocation was not even up to N100 billion.

Part of the statement read, “This campaign of calumny and vilifying false claims are entirely libelous, unfounded in fact, irresponsible and a brazen assault on the integrity of the Service as a responsible and accountable organisation and demonstrates an abysmal ignorance of the budgetary and expenditure process of the FIRS.”

Aid agency, Mercy Corps suspends operations in Northeast

Amos ABBA
-
0
Aid agency, Mercy Corps suspends operations in Northeast

ON Wednesday International aid agency, Mercy Corps announced a suspension of its operations in Borno and Yobe States following the closure of four of its field offices by the Nigerian Army.

This development is coming six days after the army closed Action Against Hunger’s office in Borno after accusing the agency of aiding terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State’s West Africa Province.

“Mercy Corps is suspending operations in Borno and Yobe States, Nigeria, following the closure of four of our field offices by the Nigerian military,” Amy Fairbairn, Mercy Corps head of media and communications, said in a statement on its website.

The conflict in northeastern Nigeria which has lasted for over a decade has led to the death of over 30,000 people and forced two million to leave their homes,  Reuters reports.

“We have not yet received an official reason from the Nigerian authorities for the closure and we are seeking to work with them to resolve this as soon as possible,”  she said.

Adding, that Mercy Corps’ work in other parts of Nigeria would not be disrupted by the temporary setback but would continue uninterrupted.

However, the Reuters reports that unnamed sources at the aid agency and the military confirmed that the army closed down Mercy Corps offices after troops said they allegedly found N29 million in cash being transported to Borno State by a driver who stated the money belonged to Mercy Corps.

The Nigerian Army recently launched Operation Positive Identification an initiative it hopes to use to identify and fish out fleeing insurgents hiding in towns and villages of Borno and Yobe States.

The move is to verify means of identification such as National Identification Card, Voters Registration Card, Drivers’ License and Passports or other valid official identification before granting such person passage.

Senate president tasks new committees on pressing problems

Nneoma BENSON
-
0
Senate president tasks new committees on pressing problems

THE Nigeria Senate President, Ahmad Lawal has charged the newly inaugurated Senate committees to tackle challenges of insecurity and unemployment in the country, using the instrument of legislation. 

He gave this charge during the plenary on Wednesday while inaugurating the senate 69 standing committees.

Lawan said though the country is endowed with plenty of solid minerals, Nigeria relies more on revenue from the oil and gas sector resource. 

“Our petroleum industry is almost stagnant and for long needing profound reform. Our oil and gas-related committees are therefore expected to work hard to take the lead in our determination to reform this vital sector,” he said

The Senate said the security architecture of the country had failed to deliver safety to citizens, and the youths have no job despite abundant arable land.

He charged the government to invest more in security as security is a fundamental responsibility of government.

“Our security-related committees are therefore challenged to assess and review both the architecture and structure of our security agencies towards improved efficiency,” Lawan said

The  Senate president wanted the leadership class to address Nigeria’s problems, using her rich resources more strategically.

“We can plan and use our agricultural potentials to achieve not only national food security but also the process for exports. Again, our solid minerals sector is largely untapped and we can exploit those resources through the right policies and supportive legislations.”

He called on the committee to focus on finding a lasting solution to the menace of insecurity, unemployment and other vices decaying the various sector of the economy while discharging their duties.

The Senate president had announced the sixty-nine members of the standing senate committees on July 31.

Buhari submits 2020-2022 budget plan to Senate

Nneoma BENSON
-
0
Buhari submits 2020-2022 budget plan to Senate

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has submitted to the Senate the 2020-2022 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP) to facilitate budget preparation by 2020.

The proposed budget expenditure amounting to N9.79 trillion was disclosed by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, upon the resumption of plenary on Wednesday.

The president said the 2020-2022 FSP should be considered a framework to facilitate the 2020 MTEF budget preparation.

Buhari noted that the key developments of the global and domestic environments were taken into consideration in the preparation of the MTEF/FSP.

According to the paper, the government has ensured that the projected revenues were not only realistic but also reasonably challenging in the face of its significantly constrained fiscal space.

It noted that planned spending has been set at prudent and sustainable levels consistent with governments overall developmental objectives as set out in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

The president in the letter appreciated the commitment and support of the legislators, stating that the preparation towards the submission of the 2020 budget to the National Assembly was progressive.

The current 2019-2021 MTEF/FSP is considered a government investment programme used for linking policy, planning and budgeting over a medium-term.

The MTEF/FSP consists of the macroeconomic model that indicates estimates of revenues and expenditures, fiscal targets, risks as well as government financial obligations, which has established a credible basis for allocating public resources to strategic priorities, and ensuring overall fiscal discipline.

ISWAP executes aid worker in Borno

Lukman ABOLADE
-
0
ISWAP executes aid worker in Borno

THE ISLAMIC STATE West Africa Province, a faction of the Boko Haram terrorist group, has allegedly executed one of the six  Action Against Hunger (AAH)’s workers abducted near Damasak town in Borno state on July 18.

ISWAP claimed the government deceived them after it reported to have opened secret negotiations with ISWAP through secret officials to ensure the release of the aid workers.

According to Ahmad Salkida, a renowned reporter of conflict and terrorism, the execution of the male aid worker was done in close range in a video clip made available to him.

“ISWAP has also threatened to execute the other remaining staff of the International Non-governmental Organization (ACF/AAH),” he tweeted.

READ ALSO:

Head of UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Nigeria, Peter Ekayu earlier last month said in 10 years, 37 aid workers had lost their lives to terrorist attacks in north-eastern Nigeria.

This recent execution raised the number of victims to thirty eight in ten years by the insurgent.

Salkida noted that the Nigerian Army declared the INGO persona non-grata last week for aiding terrorism in the region which forced the  Action Against Hunger to suspend all their activities in Nigeria.

AAH insisted that they are committed to delivering neutral, impartial, independent to millions of people in Borno and that decision of the Nigerian Army without notice or explanation jeopardises the assistance they provide to the vulnerable people of the state.

Absence of witness stalls trial of ex-Adamawa governor involved in N29 billion fraud

Amos ABBA
-
0
Absence of witness stalls trial of ex-Adamawa governor involved in N29 billion fraud

ON Tuesday, the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja adjourned the trial of former governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako for alleged money laundering to the tune of N29 billion.

The presiding judge,  O.E. Abang granted the adjournment to allow the prosecution team examine the available evidence and produce a credible witness before a subsequent hearing on the matter, which has been slated for October 29 and 30.

Nyako, who served as Adamawa State governor between 2011 to 2014 before he was impeached, is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, alongside his son, Abdulaziz Nyako, Abubakar Aliyu and Zulkifik Abba on a 37-count charge of criminal conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and money laundering.

At the resumed hearing, prosecution counsel, Oluwaleke Afolagbe, told the court that the prosecution needed an adjournment on the matter to be able to produce its witness.

“We still think we should put the witness in the box but the information we have is that the said witness is out of the country to the UK and that he is sick and receiving treatment.

He explained that one of the witnesses was no more in the picture because he could not be found, revealing that the prosecution has made several efforts that proved abortive.

“I apologise to the court that we are not able to produce our witness. We also apologise to the senior counsel to the defendant,” he said.

He disclosed that after the third adjournments on the matter, all efforts by the prosecution to bring the witness to the dock have been thwarted by the continued absence of the witness.

Defence counsel, Ibrahim Ishaku, opposed the application for adjournment, reminding the court that there was a pending application with respect for the release of the international passport of the defendant, which was dated September 20, 2019.

“My lord, we oppose the adjournment by the prosecution. The learned senior counsel had explained that they have two more witnesses, so if one is not present, another should be around.

“If the prosecution had witnesses, four months is enough for them to produce the witness and the liberty of the defendant is at stake. This is a criminal matter, we, therefore, oppose the application and urge the court to disapprove and adjourn the matter for us to open our defence,” Ishaku stated.

In his pronouncement, Justice Abang ordered the court’s chief registrar to release the international passport of the second defendant, Abdulaziz Nyako to enable him to travel to Ghana to see his family.

He stated that he shall return to the country on or before September 30, 2019, and that upon his return, he would deposit his international passport with the chief registrar of the court pending the conclusion of the trial.

Social Media cannot be allowed to continue fueling religious, racist and fake messages – BUHARI

Lukman ABOLADE
-
0
Social Media cannot be allowed to continue fueling religious, racist and fake messages – BUHARI

President Muhammadu Buhari has called on technology companies to be aware of their responsibilities.

He made this call while addressing World Leaders at the 74th United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday.

Buhari was the fifth speaker at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

While delivering his speech, the president said the massacre in New Zealand by a lone gunman that claimed the lives of 50 worshipers was fueled by social media networks.

He said the crime and similar ones were fueled by social media networks that risk seeping into an emerging digital culture.

READ ALSO:

He said “Major tech companies must be alive to their responsibilities.

They cannot be allowed to continue to facilitate the spread of religious, racist, xenophobic and false messages capable of inciting whole communities against each other, leading to loss of many lives“.

During his speech, he also stated that millions of people in Africa remain in abject poverty despite the growth in world economic riches.

Buhari also thanked the General Assembly for the honour bestowed on the Government and people of Nigeria by electing a Nigerian national, His Excellency, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande to the Presidency of the 74th Session of the august body.

“This is indeed a great honour to our country! Nigerians are truly grateful and shall endeavour to live up to the expectations and responsibilities thrust upon us,” he said.

The president concluded his speech by affirming that Nigeria is committed to promoting International Peace and security with sustainable development.

What Nigerians should expect from govt after its commitment to Universal Health Coverage

Rebecca Akinremi
-
0
What Nigerians should expect from govt after its commitment to Universal Health Coverage

ON Monday, the member states of the United Nations adopted a political declaration on universal health coverage (UHC) which sought after quality health for all population.

The 193 countries, including Nigeria, chose health for all at the high-level meeting of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on Monday.

“We, Heads of State and Government,…reaffirm that health is a precondition for and an outcome and indicator of the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable development and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and strongly recommit to achieve universal health coverage by 2030,” introductory to the declaration read partly.

Universal health coverage means all individuals and communities are able to access the health services they need – from health promotion to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care – without suffering financial hardship.

“Universal health coverage is a political choice: today world leaders have signalled their readiness to make that choice,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO’s Director-General while welcoming the action.

In this regard, the Nigerian government and others are committed to scale up its efforts and to implement actions which will make them achieve UHC by 2030.

The ICIR highlights health provisions Nigerians should be expecting from the government. The highlights are among what the government already committed itself to do on health on Monday.

Reduce out-of-pocket health expenditure, increase budgetary allocation

A stop in the rise of out-of-pocket expenditure is part of the commitments made on Monday.

Out-of-pocket health spending, according to WHO, is the direct payment made by individuals to health care at the time of service use. It affects the ability of households and individuals to meet basic needs and push many below the poverty line.

The Nigerian government is expected to reduce health-related expenses by implementing measures that will assure financial risk protection for all throughout the life course with emphasis on the poor as well as those who are vulnerable or in vulnerable situations.

It also signed for better budgetary allocation for the health with adequate financing for primary health care.

Nigerians are supposed to enjoy quality, safe, effective, affordable and essential health services, medicines, vaccines, diagnostics and health technologies without financial barriers by 2030, according to the declaration.

The former minister of health, Isaac Adewole had said in 2017 that “25per cent of households spend more than 10 per cent of their household consumption on health a sign that more people were prone to poverty traps if they fall ill”.

He had added that 75 per cent of total health expenditures in Nigeria is estimated to be from individuals out-of-pocket.

Expand vaccine coverage, prevent maternal and child mortality

The Nigerian government has also pledged to expand vaccine coverage in order to prevent the spread of diseases such as measles, cholera, tuberculosis and meningitis.

It is obligated to improve routine immunisation and vaccination capacities. It also committed to addressing maternal and child mortality and diseases.

Nigerian women are thus expected to have ease in accessing quality health-care services before, during and after pregnancy, after childbirth. This is to minimise maternal, infant, neonatal and child mortality and morbidity.

According to a UNICEF and WHO report in July 2019, 20 million children missed out life-saving vaccine globally in 2018. Of this 20 million, Nigeria has the highest figure with three million children not vaccinated.

Faisal Shuaib, Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) said in April 2019 that not less than 2,300 children under five years of age die daily in the country from preventable causes.

He also approximated that 145 Nigerian women die from causes related to pregnancy and childbirth.

Prioritise Primary Health Care, build people-centred health systems

“Expand the delivery of and prioritize primary health care as a cornerstone of a sustainable people-centred, community-based and integrated health systems,” a part read.

The Nigerian government has also chosen to strengthen the referral system between primary and other levels of care which are secondary and tertiary health care.

It also signed up for people-centred health systems where people could access safe and quality health services and medical products that are delivered in a timely, equitable, efficient and integrated manner.

The provision will be “built on a foundation of strong primary health care and coherent national policies and strategies for quality and safe health services.

So with the Nigerian government’s commitment to the universal health coverage, good health should be a right in the country by 2030 and not a privilege.

Atiku, PDP appeal Election Tribunal judgment

Lukman ABOLADE
-
0
Atiku, PDP appeal Election Tribunal judgment

PRESIDENTIAL candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 2019 general election has approached the Supreme Court to challenge the September 11 ruling of the Presidential Tribunal in favor of Muhammadu Buhari.

PDP and Atiku have filed an appeal on 66 grounds stating that the Presidential Election Petition Court constituted of Mohammed Garba, Abdu Aboki, Joseph Shagbaor,Ikyegh, Peter Olabisi, Samuel Oseji “err in law”.

The tribunal upheld Muhammadu Buhari’s victory in the February 23 Presidential Election discarding Atiku’s petition for inability to prove satisfactorily all the allegations brought before it.

PDP and Atiku filed a notice of appeal to the Supreme Court stating that they are dissatisfied with the judgement of the Court of Appeal seated as Presidential Election Petition Court.

“In furtherance of our desire to reclaim the popular mandate of Nigerians freely given to our Presidential Candidate, Atiku  Abubakar and Peter Obi, the Party and its candidates have filed a 66 Grounds of appeal at the Supreme Court” as contained in a statement by PDP.

Some of the ground of appeal read, Ground 1: ERROR IN LAW
The Learned Justices of the Court of Appeal erred in law when they relied on “overall interest of justice” to hold that the 2nd Respondent’s Exhibits R1 to R26, P85 and P86 were properly admitted in evidence.

Ground 2 of the Appeal Read: ERROR IN LAW
The Learned Justices of the Court of Appeal erred in law when they held thus:

“My firm view is that Section 76 of the Electoral Act is clearly inapplicable to the issues under consideration. The form referred to are the form to be used in the conduct of the election as FORM CF001 had been taken care of in Section 31 of the Electoral Act and the said FORM CF001 is tied to the steps laid down in the said Section 31 of the Electoral Act.

More importantly, the law is firmly settled that a candidate is not required by the Constitution or the Electoral Act to attach his certificates to FORM CF001 before the candidate can be considered or adjudged to have the requisite educational qualifications to contest an election.

The appeal continued with other 64 grounds on which the Muhammed Garba-led tribunal had “err in law”.

52-days after, Sowore granted bail

Olayinka SHEHU
-
0
52-days after, Sowore granted bail

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday has granted bail to the convener of RevolutionNow, Omoyele Sowore.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo made the ruling after listening to the argument of Sowore’s lawyer and the prosecuting counsel, J.O Agbadua.

Sowore was released to the custody of his counsel, Femi Falana, SAN.

The judge also as part of bail conditions, asked Sowore to drop his passport with the court within 48 hours.

The court, according to TVC had earlier struck out an application by the Department of Social Security (DSS) to further detain Sowore.

Sowore was arrested on August 3rd, by the DSS two days before a rally tagged Revolutionnow.

 

1...2,2832,2842,285...3,440Page 2,284 of 3,440