Wike’s ally Damagum remains acting chair as PDP asks members to work for party’s success

 Umar Damagum has retained his position as the acting charman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

 

On Thursday, the PDP conducted its 98th national executive council (NEC) meeting at the party’s secretariat in Abuja.

 

In a communique issued after the meeting, Debo Ologunagba, national publicity secretary of the PDP, said the NEC urged all members to continue to work together for the success of the party for the benefit of Nigerians.

 

On Wednesday, the national working committee (NWC) of the PDP passed a vote of confidence on Damagum.

 

Declining FX reserves not linked to defending naira, debts are being repaid– Cardoso

 

Olayemi Cardoso, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), says the recovery of the naira has little or nothing to do with the country’s foreign reserves decline.

 

Cardoso spoke during an interactive session with Abebe Aemro Selassie, the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) director of the African department, on Wednesday.

 

The event, a part of programmes at the ongoing IMF and World Bank annual meetings in Washington, focused on Nigeria’s foreign exchange (FX) market reforms.

 

For weeks, the gap between the local currency and the dollar has continued to shrink as the naira sustains its rally against the greenback in the FX market.

 

NPA introduces 72-hour access window for export trucks to avert congestion

 The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) says it has opened a 72-hour access window for all export trucks to access designated terminals.

 

The NPA made this known in a notice to stakeholders dated April 16, titled ‘Important Update: Revised Access Window for left-Pregated Export Trucks,’ issued by the management of Truck Transit Parks Limited (TTP).

 

According to the agency, the new policy is aimed at improving traffic flow and reducing congestion around the port access roads, and failure to use the window would result in deactivation.

 

“The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has issued an important notice for all stakeholders in the port ecosystem. Effective from next Monday, April 22, 2024, a new policy will be implemented regarding access to the port (terminal) for left-pregated export trucks,” NPA said.

 

Lagos, Anambra, Adamawa… FG says 31 states to experience severe flooding

 

The federal government says 148 LGAs in 31 states are at risk of severe flooding from April to November 2024.

 

It added that 249 LGAs in 36 states, including the federal capital territory (FCT), fall within the “moderate flood risk states”.

 

Joseph Utsev, the minister of water resources and sanitation, said this on Tuesday in Abuja, while briefing journalists on the 2024 annual flood outlook (AFO).

 

Utsev noted that the federal government has written to 31 governors, informing them of the impending flooding, which will enable them mitigate the impact in their states.

 

BREAKING: EFCC declares Kogi ex-gov, Yahaya Bello wanted

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has declared former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello wanted.

This followed the inability of the former governor to appear before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja on Thursday for his arraignment over alleged N84bn money laundering.

In a post on its official Facebook page on Thursday, the anti-graft agency urged Nigerians with useful information about Bello’s whereabouts to report to nearest police station.

The post reads, “EFCC Declares Former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello Wanted. Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, is wanted by the EFCC for offences relating to economic and financial crimes to the tune of N80.2 Billion.

CBN denies selling FX to BDCs at N1,001/$1

 The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has denied selling foreign exchange (FX) to bureau de change (BDC) operators at the rate of N1,001/$1.

CBN, in a post on X on Thursday, said a circular claiming the apex bank announced the sale of $10,000 to BDCs at the rate of N1,001/$1 was “fake”.

According to the circular, the BDCs are required to sell to eligible end users with a margin of no more than 1.5 percent above the buying cost.

“We write to inform you of the sale of $10,000 by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to BDCs at the rate of N1001/$1,” the circular reads.

Yahaya Bello: AGF faults Ododo, says obstruction of EFCC operation worrying

Lateef Fagbemi, attorney-general of the federation (AGF), has warned against obstructing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

 

This comes a day after Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi, “rescued” Yahaya Bello, his predecessor, from the EFCC siege in Abuja.

 

The EFCC operatives had restricted movement in and around Bello’s house situated on Benghazi street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.

 

Hours later, Ododo arrived at Bello’s residence and was reportedly seen leaving with his predecessor.

 

Adeleke calls for entry as opposition knocks Osun’s new logo

 

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has directed the holding of a logo crafting competition between April 19th and 26th.

The Osun State House of Assembly had in July 2023 repealed the state Anthem, Crest, and Flag Law 2012 and replaced it with a new law which enabled the executive to come up with a new logo for the state.

Adeleke had on Wednesday, signed a bill adopting a new logo for the state but the design released through the social media was greeted with criticism.

But Adeleke while commenting on the decision to have a logo drafting competition said, “As a listening leader, I have asked that we open the change of logo to more public input through this one-week competition.”

“I can’t imagine it’ – Aisha Yesufu on Gov Ododo stopping Yahaya Bello’s arrest

Aisha Yesufu, an activist, has expressed shock over the role played by Kogi Stars Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo in stopping the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, from arresting his predecessor, Yahaya Bello.

Ododo, as newsmen reported on Wednesday, obstructed the arrest of Bello by operatives of the EFCC.

The EFCC operatives had stormed Bello’s residence in Abuja in an attempt to arrest him over an ongoing fraud investigation.

But Bello was reportedly smuggled out of his residence by Ododo to evade arrest by the anti-graft agency.

Atiku present, Wike absent as PDP holds NEC meeting

 

Atiku Abubakar, former vice-president, is present at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

 

The NEC meeting is currently taking place at the national secretariat of the PDP in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

 

Former Vice-President Namadi Sambo is also present at the event.

 

Serving and ex-governors of the party are also present at the NEC meeting.

 

Yoruba Nation: You’ll pay the price – Tinubu warns agitators

President Bola Tinubu says criminals who seek to threaten Nigeria’s sovereignty “will have themselves to blame”.

 

In a statement on Wednesday, Ajuri Ngelale, the presidential spokesperson, said Tinubu spoke when he hosted leaders of the Afenifere, the Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, in Abuja.

 

Tinubu warned that those who threaten the sovereignty of Nigeria would pay a “heavy price”.

 

He highlighted the progress made so far in safeguarding the country’s territory and sovereignty.

 

Ganduje’s son visits Kano anti-graft agency amid ‘corruption’ charges against his dad

Abdulazeez Ganduje, son of Abdullahi Ganduje, national chair of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Wednesday visited the Kano state anti-corruption and public complaints commission.

 

On Tuesday, Muhuyi Magaji, chair of the anti-graft agency, said the commission is investigating a fresh case where N51 billion was allegedly diverted by the Ganduje administration.

 

The commission had earlier filed criminal charges against the former governor over an alleged $413,000 and N1.38 billion bribe.

 

The commission said it had assembled 15 witnesses to testify against Ganduje.

Protesters besiege PDP secretariat, demand Wike’s suspension

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Reform Vanguard has besieged the party’s secretariat in Abuja, to demand the suspension of Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT).

 

The group also called for the resignation of Umar Damagum as acting national chair of the PDP.

 

The group arrived the headquarters ahead of the scheduled national executive council (NEC) meeting of the PDP, while demanding that Wike should be suspended for alleged anti-party activities.

 

Speaking with reporters, Usman Seidu, convener of the group, said Damagum and Wike have “undermined our collective efforts and jeopardised our very existence as a formidable opposition force”.

 

EFCC charge: Court fixes April 23 to rule on substituted service on Yahaya Bello

An Abuja Federal High Court, on Thursday, fixed April 23 for ruling in an application by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, seeking a substituted service of the charge filed against the immediate-past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.

Justice Emeka Nwite fixed the date after counsel for the EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, and the ex-governor’s lawyer, Abdulwahab Mohammed, SAN, presented their arguments for and against the oral application.

When the matter was called for Bello’s arraignment on a 19-count money laundering charge preferred against him, the former governor was not in court.

However, his team of lawyers, including Adeola Adedipe, SAN, was in court.

Edo CJ frees inmate from detention after 4 years of awaiting trial

The Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa has ordered the release of an inmate, Saliu Akande, detained at the Auchi Medium Security Correctional Centre for four years over alleged rape.

Okungbowa ordered that the inmate be released due to the non-availability of his case file and charges against him when he visited the facility on Thursday in Auchi.

According to him, the visit was part of efforts to decongest the correctional centre and promote speedy dispensation of justice.

“Section 470 (2) of Edo State Administration of Law 2018 has entrusted us with the mandate to ensure the criminal matters are speedily dealt with and congestion of criminal cases in courts are drastically reduced.