AFRICAN NEWS FLASH

Barely 48 hours after Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State appointed transition caretaker council chairmen for the 21 local government areas in the state, the All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday, vowed to contest the appointments in a court of law if they were not dissolved immediately. Addressing newsmen at the party’s secretariat, in Awka, the state chairman, Mr Emeka Ibe, described the appointments as illegal, unconstitutional and an aberration as they ran contrary to section 7 of the 1999 constitution as amended, which stipulates that there shall be elected local government chairmen across the country. He said: “It is a pity that Anambra State is still fixated to the days of backwardness, lawlessness and impunity. What is happening now across the country is that people are fixing dates for the election of council chairmen but here, the governor has brazenly appointed caretaker committee members at the council areas which is unlawful. “We, in the APC, are ...

The Lagos State Director of Fire Services, Mr Rasaq Fadipe, says no life is lost in the Saturday fire incident at the NAFDAC office in Oshodi, Lagos. Fadipe also told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that nobody was injured in the incident which happened at about 3.30p.m. He said that five water trucks were deployed to the scene immediately his men were alerted to put out the fire. According to him, it is not NAFDAC warehouse that was burnt. “The fire occurred in a container loaded with some tyres, drugs and other items. “I don’t know if they were seized items, but my men were able to prevent the fire from spreading to the warehouse and other buildings,” Fadipe said. In his account, Mr Adesina Tiamiyu, the General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), said that full investigation into the cause of the fire would be carried out by the appropriate authorities. Tiamiyu said that on the spot investigation showed that the incident started...

A former Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari could present his nominee for the chairmanship of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr Ibrahim Magu, up to four times to the Senate for confirmation. The Senate had for the second time failed to confirm the acting chairman of EFCC following reports from the Department of State Service. In an interview on Saturday, Ita-Giwa said Buhari could still re-present Magu to the Senate if he felt the acting chairman of the anti-graft agency is his best choice for the fight against corruption in the country. She listed a former chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu and an ex-minister of aviation, Prof. Babalola Aborishade, as nominees that were screened up to four times by the Senate before they were eventually cleared during the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo-led administration. According to her, what is needed i...

The Confederation of African Football on Thursday, elected Madagascan Ahmad Ahmad as the president, ousting veteran leader Issa Hayatou after 29 years in office. The announcement of the result led to wild jubilation in the plenary hall.

The long awaited list of the new Central Bank management team will be announced any minute from now. The list will be sent to National assembly immediately after the announcement. The new CBN management team will be headed by the former Unity Bank managing director Mr Henry James Semenitari who resigned from the bank in 2015. Henry Semenitari Other members of the team include the immediate past Director General of security and Exchange commission Aruma Oteh and Bode Agusto among others. Aruma Oteh Bode Agusto The team wound have been announced since, if not for the absence of President Buhari for medical trip. Our insider source also informed us that part of the discussion between the president and the leadership of the National Assembly two days ago was on how to make sure the list is approved as soon as possible . However, the Central Bank will now operate with a board that will not be headed by the Governor. Searching for who will head the board also contribute...

The Senate has requested that President Muhammadu Buhari nominate a replacement for the Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, following the rejection of his nomination by the legislature on Wednesday. The upper chamber of the National Assembly said the rejection had ended Magu’s chairmanship of the EFCC in acting capacity. The decision was based on a security report on Magu by the Department of State Services. Magu, however, denied the allegations against him in the report, saying the DSS never invited him to defend himself, urging the lawmakers to disregard the report. After all questions had been asked, President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, who presided over the plenary, asked the Clerk to the Senate to confirm how many letters were received from the DSS. He said, “Only one letter was received in my office on the 3rd of October, 2016, from the Department of State Services. Only one letter was received. The one of yester...

SENATE President, Bukola Saraki, said yesterday that Acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, would be screened today as substantive chairman of the anti-graft agency. Disclosing this at plenary, Saraki said: ”Tomorrow (today), we have the acting chairman of EFCC, who is also appearing before us for screening and it will follow at11:30 am.” It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had forwarded Magu’s name to the Senate on June 2016 for confirmation. He was appointed in acting capacity by President Buhari on November 9, 2015, following the sack of his predecessor, Ibrahim Lamorde. It would be recalled that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, acting as the President while President Muhammadu Buhari was away in London on a 10-day medical vacation in June 6, 2016 had forwarded a letter to the Senate. The letter was a request for the screening and subsequent confirmation of Ibrahim Mustapha Magu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP, a...

President Muhammadu Buhari is currently meeting the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki; and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The meeting is holding inside the President’s office. Saraki and Dogara arrived for the meeting at exactly 12noon. Both of them were driven into the forecourt of the President’s office inside Saraki’s official car. This is the first time they will be meeting the President after he returned to the country on Friday. Buhari had on Monday written to the National Assembly, informing the lawmakers of his resumption

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission has seized 220 flats, located in 20 estates, allegedly belonging to one Sanusi Mohammed, a former aide to ex-Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State. It was learnt that 165 rounds of ammunition, a pump action rifle and other weapons were found in some of Mohammed’s properties located at GRA, Bauchi. A source in Bauchi told one of our correspondents that the ICPC made the discovery following a tip-off by a whistle-blower. He said, “About 10 days ago, we received a tip-off from a whistle-blower about the lifestyle of one Sanusi Mohammed, a former aide to former Bauchi Governor, Isa Yuguda. “We traced 220 flats in 20 estates to him. The houses range from two-bedroom to three-bedroom flats. Inside some of the properties, we discovered four sophisticated guns with 165 rounds of ammunition, five exotic cars and 15 new air conditioners. “We believe the air conditioners were donated to the Bauchi Sta...

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have got reprieve for Etisalat on the loan default crisis facing the company. Mr Tony Ojobo, the Director of Public Affairs of NCC said in a statement on Saturday in Lagos, that the reprieve came following a meeting convened by CBN and NCC to find a quick resolution to the crisis. ”Friday’s meeting succeeded in halting the attempt by Etisalat’s creditors at bringing it under any form of take over. ”Receivership was completely taken off the table in a meeting that was very productive and constructive. ”The meeting, which held at the CBN office in Lagos, had the consortium of banks being owed and Etisalat in attendance. ”The banks and the mobile network operator agreed to concrete actions that will bring all parties closest to a resolution,” Ojobo said. He said that CBN and NCC were able to secure for Etisalat the necessary “oxygen” to enable it continue...

Nsukka (Enugu State) – Some residents of Nsukka near Enugu have expressed happiness on the arrival of President Mohammadu Buhari from a medical trip in the United Kingdom (UK). Residents, in separate interviews in Nsukka on Saturday, said they thanked God who healed the president. President Buhari being welcomed by his wife Aisha, daughter Zahra and other family members shortly after he arrived in State House after a medical vacation in London on 10th March 2017 Mr Desmond Ugwu, a chieftain of All Progressive Congress (APC) thanked God for answering the prayers of Nigerians on Buhari. “I am happy the president is back to continue his good work to Nigerians who massively voted for him.’’ he said. Similarly, Mrs Nneka Ozioko, a lawyer and human right activist, said she was happy that the president came back early to continue good governance and the fight against bribery and corruption. “Buhari’s administration has good plans for the country as his miss...

President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived Nigeria after an extended medical leave in the UK. He had originally planned to stay 10 days but stayed longer to rest on the order of his doctors.  More details coming.

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, yesterday, injected another $100 million into the nation’s foreign exchange market, bringing its intervention in the market to $1.12 billion in two weeks. Meanwhile, the naira appreciated to its highest level against the dollar in the parallel market this year, as the parallel market exchange rate dropped to N448 per dollar at the close of business yesterday. According to a  bureau de change chief executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity, “the market is dull and the rates are dropping.” Since Monday, February 20 2017, when it announced new measures to boost dollar supply and forestall the declining fortunes of the naira in the parallel market, the CBN has intervened in the forex market six times as follows: Tuesday February 21, $417 million; Thursday, February 23, $231 million; Monday, February 27, $180 million; Friday, March 3, $350 million, Monday, March 6, N367 million; and yesterday with $100 million. Confirming the injection of $100 ...

the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, barely 24 hours after it was issued. Onyeama, at  a press conference in Abuja, stated  that Nigerians with valid US visas were free to embark on their trips. Our correspondent gathered on Tuesday that certain elements in the Federal Government were displeased with the advisory issued by Dabiri-Erewa in which she advised Nigerians against visiting the US for now until there is clarity on US President Donald Trump’s new immigration policy. The advisory, which was against the backdrop of the barring of some Nigerians at the US  ports of entry, was believed to have offended some top functionaries of the government. A source said that Onyeama might have been directed to issue a rebuttal on the advisory in order to assert his position as the one in charge of the nation’s diplomatic relations. The source said, “The rebuttal of Dabiri-Erewa’s travel advisory clearly exposes the divisio...

The life style of the chairman of NDDC, senator Ndoma Egba , former senator leader in the 7th senate, was what put him and the managing director of NDDC, Nsima Ekere in trouble. Since they resumed work as chairman and managing director respectively they have been moving around with not less than eight cars in there convoy, that is a total of sixteen cars with over 50 police men. The management of the NDDC two weeks after assuming office ordered for the purchase of exotic cars worth over one billion Naira, which they shared among themselves and some Executive directors of the organisation. The statement by the Head of corporate affairs of the NDDC, Chijioke Amu Nnadi, that the chairman, managing director as well as the two Executive Directors are still using their private vehicles three months after assumption of duties is a not true. The official decided to hide the purchase car as soon  as investigation on the purchase was exposed. However, the registration nu...

The Ahmed Makarfi faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has denied being behind moves to establish a new party called Advanced Peoples Democratic Party, APDP. Some media reports have suggested that the faction has applied to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for registration. Sources were quoted as saying the faction took the decision because it has become apparent that the court-recognised national chairman, Ali Sheriff, is not genuinely ready for reconciliation. A report by The Nation on Friday quoted INEC spokesperson, Nick Dazang, as saying that the APDP is one of 70 new parties seeking registration. However, the spokesperson of Makarfi group, Dayo Adeyeye, said on Sunday his faction was not behind the newly proposed party. “We state clearly and without ambiguity that the National Caretaker Committee of the PDP is not in anyway involved in the plans to register any party by the name APDP or any other party for that matter,” he said in a st...

Democracy is the best form of government since it allows everybody to participate in the election that will produce the leaders. Democracy also assures the people of the protection of their fundamental human rights. The advantages of democracy are so many that almost all the countries of the world try to imbibe the democratic norm.   But there is no way democracy can be enthroned without free and  fair  elections. Democracy promotes development since  the government has to be people-oriented to continue to win  elections. The opposition,  on the contrary, always queries  the  actions of government to  put it on its toes ensure that  it  meets  the yearnings of the people.   The conduct  of good elections is essential in sustaining democracy. This is why, in assessing the Nigerian electoral system, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will be placed on the scale to see whether or not it has performed cr...

President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday directed the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to inject N2 billion into each of the 12 new universities established by the Federal Government in 2011. Buhari, who spoke as a visitor to the maiden convocation of the Federal University, Wukari in Taraba, said that the amount was to fund critical infrastructure in the institutions. President Buhari Represented by Dr Bello Kumo, the Director Academic Standards in the National Universities Commission (NUC), the President also directed that each of the institutions should be given additional N2.5 billion in the next two years. The amount was in addition to the normal N1 billion funding contained in the 2017 fiscal provision. He said that his administration was ready to support research, training and retraining of staff of the Federal Government-owned tertiary institutions in order to fulfill their mandates of teaching, research and community service. Buhari warned, “We will not condone corru...

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo was on Wednesday briefed on the present security situation of the country by the Service Chiefs. Present at the meeting were Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonishakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Tukur Buratai; Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ette Ibas, the Inspector-General of Police, Idris Abubakar, Director General of Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura, among others. The Service Chiefs declared their total support to President Muhammadu Buhari who is away in London on medical vacation. Minister of Defence, Masur Ali who spoke on behalf of the Service Chiefs reiterated their loyalty to the Commander-in-Chief, C-in-C. He lauded the present government for the “their relentless support” to the armed forces. He said that substantial success had been recorded in the fight against terrorism, saying that a good number of the terrorists had surrounded to the military. He said: “...

Central Bank of Nigeria The long awaited list of the new CBN management team would have been sent to the National assembly since January, 2017. The delay is as a result of President Buhari insisting that the Central Bank of Nigeria, should henceforth operate with a board that is not headed by the Governor. President Buhari since his medical vacation in London, has two times directed the acting President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo to forward the list to senate for there approval and confirmation, but has to put a stop to the directives because of the composition of the Board which must have a representative from every zone. As a result of 2019 political consideration, the board Chairman is zoned to the South-East since the Governor is from the South-South Nigeria. The Governor is the former managing director of Unity Bank. Mr Henry Semenitari, who hails from Rivers State. Mr Henry Semenitari The former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria Prof. Charles Soludo who was earlier pe...

Leader of All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, yesterday, vowed never to contest the Presidency against President Muhammadu Buhari. He noted that a newspaper report to the contrary was conjured to put him at odds with the President. In a strongly worded rebuttal to the news report by the daily, Tinubu affirmed his unwavering loyalty to Buhari, saying permutations of him defecting were ignorant of his consistent political principles. The daily in its front page report, Tuesday, had alleged that Tinubu had stepped up plans to contest the presidential election, irrespective of Buhari’s intentions, saying he had pencilled down three possible running mates, including Governor Aminu Tambuwal, Senator Abu Ibrahim and Serikin Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. Tinubu in his reaction issued by Mr. Tunde Rahman, his Media Assistant, said: “The story is a manufactured tale weaved by its authors to try to create division where there is none. Those who wrote this fantasy piece seek...

Members of the House of Representatives exchanged words on Tuesday over the health status of President Muhammadu Buhari. Lawmakers quarrelled over the use of the word “sickness” in referring to Buhari or explaining his reason for being away from the country to the United Kingdom since January 19. The disagreement was more pronounced among members of the ruling All Progressives Congress, the President’s party. While some members said Buhari was sick and was away to treat himself, others claimed that he was on “medical vacation.” It was the House Majority Leader, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, who started the argument when he tried to stop the Chief Whip, Mr. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, from describing the President as a sick man. Both Gbajabiamila, who is from Lagos State, and Ado-Doguwa, who is from Kano State, are members of the APC. Ado-Doguwa was contributing and opposing a motion, seeking to investigate the alleged harassment of members of ‘Kwankwasia’ followers, a political grou...