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  • Court Orders Ex-Minister, Umar-Farouk, To Account For N729bn

    Court Orders Ex-Minister, Umar-Farouk, To Account For N729bn

    Court Orders Ex-Minister, Umar-Farouk, To Account For N729bn

     

    Justice Deinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered a former minister of humanitarian affairs, disasters management and social development, Sadia Umar-Farouk, to make public the details of how N729 billion was paid to 24.3 million poor Nigerians for six months.

     

    Justice Dipeolu gave the order while delivering judgement in a Freedom of Information suit by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) seeking an order to compel the former minister to provide the list and details of the beneficiaries who received the payments, the number of states covered and the payments per state.

     

    The judge issued an order of mandamus directing and compelling the minister to provide SERAP with details of how the beneficiaries have been selected and the mechanisms for the payments to the beneficiaries.

     

    The court further ordered Umar-Farouk to explain the rationale for paying N5,000 to 24.3 million poor Nigerians, which translates to five percent of Nigeria’s budget of N13.6 trillion for 2021.

     

    In the verdict, Justice Dipeolu, who held that the former minister did not give any reason for the refusal to disclose the details sought by SERAP, also dismissed the objections raised by the minister’s counsel and upheld the plaintiff’s arguments.

     

    The judge further held that where a statute clearly provides for a particular act to be done or performed in a particular way, failure to perform the act as provided will not only be interpreted as delinquent conduct but will be interpreted as not complying with the statutory provision.

     

  • RACKETEERING…Air Passengers Lament As Touts Take Over Ticketing

    RACKETEERING…Air Passengers Lament As Touts Take Over Ticketing

     

    RACKETEERING…Air Passengers Lament As Touts Take Over Ticketing

     

    Airfares are soaring daily in the country as touts have taken over ticketing and flight booking in some airports.

     

    LEADERSHIP reports that despite passengers paying a princely N250,000 for a one-hour flight, for instance, from Lagos to Abuja, fare hikes, flight delays, and cancellations continue unabated at the nation’s airports, especially Lagos and Abuja.

     

    Stakeholders in the aviation sector have blamed the nuisance of racketeering on the reduction in the fleet of local airlines operating, which may have led to an increase in ticket prices and racketeering among airline staff and touts at the airports.

     

     

    reports that despite passengers paying a princely N250,000 for a one-hour flight, for instance, from Lagos to Abuja, fare hikes, flight delays, and cancellations continue unabated at the nation’s airports, especially Lagos and Abuja.

     

    Stakeholders in the aviation sector have blamed the nuisance of racketeering on the reduction in the fleet of local airlines operating, which may have led to an increase in ticket prices and racketeering among airline staff and touts at the airports.

     

    KICNEWS gathered that the reduction in local airlines’ fleets was due to an increase in the number of grounded aircraft of different operators due to volatility in the foreign exchange, as well as Dana Airline’s suspension by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)

     

    According to experts, the number of airline passengers has remained the same in the last year, and airline seats have shrunk due to the challenges bedeviling the sector.

     

    This development has further reduced the number of serviceable aircraft in the country, which has led to ticket racketeering as fewer seats are available for thousands of airline passengers across the country.

     

  • Ondo 2024: NNPP petitions INEC over candidates’ impersonation

    Ondo 2024: NNPP petitions INEC over candidates’ impersonation

    Ondo 2024: NNPP petitions INEC over candidates’ impersonation

     

    The New Nigeria People’s Party has petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission over the alleged impersonation of the governorship candidate of the party, Mr Gbenga Edema, and his running mate, Rotimi Adeyemi, ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State.

     

    The electoral commission scheduled November 16, 2024, for the governorship poll and the NNPP, is among the 17 political parties that would be contesting the election for the number one seat in the state.

     

    In a letter addressed to the National Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made available on Wednesday, the national secretariat of the NNPP, called for investigation and prompt legal action against the alleged impersonators.

     

    In the letter signed by the National Chairman and the National Secretary of the party, Mr Ajuji Ahmed and Dipo Olayoku, respectively, the party described the development as a clear breach of the 2022 electoral act, the party.

     

    According to the letter, the party said the INEC was duly notified of the emergence of Edema and Adeyemi as its standard-bearers during the substituted governorship primary held on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at Solton Hotel, Ijapo Estate, Akure, Ondo State capital, following the withdrawal of Oluwatosin Ayeni and Abigail Omoyugbo for personal reasons.

     

    It also maintained that the candidature of Edema and Adeyemi was legally recognised as their names and credentials were published by INEC as the party’s candidates.

     

    The party said in the letter, “We wish to bring to the attention of your good office a case of impersonation of the NNPP governorship and deputy governorship candidates in the forthcoming off-cycle on November 16, 2024. You would recall, sir, that we informed your good office of our Ondo State Governorship Primary fixed for Friday, April 26, 2024, via a letter NNPP/HQRTS/INEC/024/23 dated March 7, 2024.

     

    “At the said primary, monitored by officials of the INEC, Mr. Ayeni Oluwatosin Israel emerged as the NNPP governorship candidate, and he later picked Mrs. Omoyugbo Abike Abigail as his running mate, and the two names were published by INEC.

     

    “However, due to what they called personal reasons, the two of them withdrew their candidature, which prompted the NNPP to schedule a fresh primary to elect a replacement on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at Solton Hotel, Ijapo Estate, Akure, Ondo State via our letter NNPP/HQRTS/INEC/024/54. The fresh primary was monitored by INEC officials, where Barr. Gbenga Omogbemi Edema emerged as the new governorship candidate of the NNPP, and he later picked Barr. Rotimi Emmanuel Adeyemi as his running mate.

     

     

     

  • Ebonyi LP endorses Peter Obi as national party leader

    Ebonyi LP endorses Peter Obi as national party leader

    Ebonyi LP endorses Peter Obi as national party leader

     

    The Ebonyi State chapter of the Labour Party has adopted its presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Mr Peter Obi, as the party’s national leader.

     

    The party stakeholders also adopted Fidelis Nwankwo as the leader of the party in the state.

     

    The endorsement was part of the six-point communique issued at the end of an expanded stakeholders briefing held in Abakaliki on Sunday.

     

    The communique was signed by the leaders of the Ebonyi South Senatorial Zone and Ebonyi North Senatorial Zone, Mr Linus Okorie, and Emmanuel Ezeh, respectively.

     

    The communique was also endorsed by Mr Emmanuel Nwobo, Ebonyi Central Senatorial Zone, on behalf of members of the National Transition Committee and conveners of the expanded stakeholders briefing.

     

    The meeting also solicited the support of its members ahead of the party’s planned National Convention and state congress to elect new leaders of the party.

     

    The communique reads: members of the NTC of the party, Chief Fidelis Nwankwo, Okorie and Ezeh, convened the expanded stakeholders briefing with a view to informing members of the party’s, state chapter, about future political activities of the emerging Labour Party, including mobilisation of new members and registration.

  • Sit-at-home: NSCDC beefs up security in Anambra

    Sit-at-home: NSCDC beefs up security in Anambra

     

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Anambra State command, said it has deployed personnel across the state to protect critical national and state assets as part of efforts to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

     

    The Anambra State Commandant of NSCDC, Maku Olatunde, stated this in Awka, on Monday while monitoring the deployment of personnel for its renewed launch operations to encourage economic and commercial activities and combat the effect of Monday’s sit-at-home.

     

    Olatunde described it as a proactive move focusing on banks, financial institutions, parks, schools, government offices and potentially vulnerable points to maintain public trust and respond to security breaches.

     

    He said, “The exercise aims to boost economic activities, prevent miscreants, criminals, vagrants, vandals, hooligans, unruly individuals and economic saboteurs from attacking lawful residents of the state, particularly on Mondays.

     

    We emphasised the need for all personnel participating in the exercise to conduct themselves professionally and courteously in enforcing civil order while following established rules of engagement and standing operational procedures.

     

    “This deployment is to ensure the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure, in Anambra State, including banks, markets, parks, recreational centres, schools, government offices and other strategic locations. You must be vigilant in the discharge of your duties, be professional, courteous and responsive to the needs of the public.”

  • Ogun partners FG to reconstruct 14 roads

    Ogun partners FG to reconstruct 14 roads

    Ogun partners FG to reconstruct 14 roads

    The Ogun State Government says it is partnering with the private sector and the Federal Government on the rehabilitation of many roads in the state in its drive to bring succour to residents.

     

    The state government said no fewer than 120 roads across the 20 local government areas of the state were being considered for rehabilitation.

     

    It added that it was partnering with the Federal Government to reconstruct 14 roads in the state in line with the vision of Governor Dapo Abiodun.

     

    It added that it was partnering with the Federal Government to reconstruct 14 roads in the state in line with the vision of Governor Dapo Abiodun.

     

    The Head of Service, Kehinde Onasanya, in a statement made available to The PUNCH through his media office on Sunday, disclosed these at a book launch event held in Lagos

     

    There has been agitation from residents of the state on the dilapidated state of several roads across the state with many residents taking to the popular microblogging app, X.com, to express their dissatisfaction.

     

    According to Onasanya, the state government is harnessing the potential of Public-Private Partnership to address the challenge of infrastructure and boost the economic growth of the state.

     

    “The state is also collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Works for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of an additional 14 roads in line with the resolve to bring succour to the people,” Onasanya said.

     

     

  • Flood: Man electrocuted in Lagos

    Flood: Man electrocuted in Lagos

    The police in Lagos State said that a yet-to-be-identified 61-year-old man lost his life after being electrocuted during the flood incident.

     

    Police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed the death in a post he shared on his X handle @benHundeyin on Thursday.

     

    He said that the incident happened on Wednesday during a downpour in the Orile-Iganmu area of the state.

     

    During the rain yesterday in Orile-Iganmu, a 61-year-old man, while wading through the floods, held on to a street light pole and sadly got electrocuted,” the spokesperson said.

     

     

  • Customs seize 11,650 litres of PMS, drugs, others in Kebbi

    Customs seize 11,650 litres of PMS, drugs, others in Kebbi

    As part of its continued efforts to get rid of illegal smuggling of goods across the country, the Nigerian Customs Service has again seized 11,650 litres of petroleum motor spirits popularly called PMS

     

    Speaking while briefing newsmen in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday, Comptroller of the command, Iheanacho Ernest Ojike, said the command also recovered 40 cartons of foreign Spaghetti, 50 bales of secondhand clothing, 28 cartons of Diclofenac tablets of 50mg and 10 Jerry Cans of vegetable oils with total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of fourteen million, seven hundred and ninety-two thousand, four hundred naira.

     

    He further disclosed that “the seized PMS would be auctioned to the public with the expectation of generating eight million, one hundred and seventy-eight thousand, one hundred eighty-three (N8, 178, 183) and will be paid to the coffers of the Federal Government

     

    .The team was able to generate twenty-five million, eight hundred and forty-seven thousand, six hundred and eleven naira (N25, 847, 611) in June, which is 67.6 per cent increase as compared to the previous month of May”

     

    Meanwhile, the  Comptroller of the National Coordinator Operation WHIRLWIND, Hussien Ejibunu,

    in a separate briefing in Birnin Kebbi, said a giant stride was made by operatives of

    Operation Whirlwind Zone D’ axis with the seizures of PMS products in Sokoto Area Command.

  • AFCON qualifiers: Nigerian fans worried as Eagles face Benin again

    AFCON qualifiers: Nigerian fans worried as Eagles face Benin again

     

    The battle of optimism and pessimism is on between Nigeria and Benin Republic after both countries were drawn in the same group for the 2025 AFCON qualifiers on Thursday in South Africa, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

     

    Fresh from beating Nigeria 2-1 in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in June, the Cheetahs and the Super Eagles are drawn in Group D of the series, which also has Libya and Rwanda, another team in Nigeria’s current 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying group.

     

    Next year’s AFCON will be held from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026 following the decision of CAF to adjust the schedule of the tournament due to the congested FIFA calendar.

     

    The six-match qualifying series has been spread over the FIFA windows in September, October and November, with two matches in each seven-day window. The comprehensive fixtures are expected to be released by CAF soon.

     

    The Eagles’ 2-1 defeat in the hands of Benin Republic, who are managed by former Nigeria coach Genort Rohr was the last assignment the Eagles embarked on.

    It proved to be a damaging blow for the Eagles’ World Cup chances, leaving them with three points from four games and fifth in Group C of the World Cup qualifiers. Coupled with another bad result in the last window, Finidi George also resigned as Eagles coach, and the Nigeria Football Federation are still hunting for a foreign technical adviser to replace the new Rivers United coach.

     

    Rwanda on the other hand are currently top of Nigeria’s group in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers with seven points, same as South Africa and Benin. Nigeria and Rwanda are yet to meet on the road to the USA, Canada and Mexico 2026 but will meet over two legs in the 2025 AFCON before the end of the year

  • Father, son remanded for allegedly stealing N75m from Lagos firm

    Father, son remanded for allegedly stealing N75m from Lagos firm

     

    Thirty-one-year-old Babatunde Ishola and his father, Bayo, have been remanded by the court at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre for allegedly stealing N75m belonging to a lotto company in Lagos State.

     

    The defendants were arraigned on two counts of stealing and diversion of funds at the Yaba Magistrates’ Court in the state.

     

    The duo were alleged to have taken money from the company’s account and diverted it to their accounts and those of their cohorts who are now at large.

    In a document signed by the police prosecutor, Mike Enejere, the first defendant, Babatunde, served as the account officer of the lotto company as the funds were diverted between 2020 and 2023.

    The charge read in part, “That you, Ishola Mubarak Babatunde, Ishola Rasheed Bayo, and others now at large, between 2020 and 2023, at Lotgrand Limited, a registered lotto company in Lagos, within the Magisterial District of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit stealing. You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.