Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, has said he is yet to receive a formal extradition request from the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) for Abba Kyari, Deputy Commissioner of Police, following his indictment by a US court.
Baba stated this while fielding questions from State House correspondents on Thursday.
Kyari has been accused of being a conspirator in a $1.1m fraud deal involving Instagram celebrity, Ramon Abbas aka Hushpuppi.
Baba confirmed that the panel constituted to investigate the case had submitted its report to the Secretary-General of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha.
“I have not received any extradition request formally. But I have read from other places that there was an extradition request. I’ve not seen it and that is one.
“Two, we took our own action by constituting a panel to look into the allegations that were made against the senior officer.
“The allegations were based on fraternising with Hushpuppi and receiving some series of instructions on extrajudicial torture and so on. We looked into all these allegations via the committee that was set up by the DIG and we submitted our report to the SGF.
“We just received legal advice from the office of the Attorney General on what to do next in terms of asking the officer to account for what we have gathered in the course of our investigation,” Baba said.
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Sadiya Umar Farouq
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Investment, Sadiya Farouq says no fewer than 228,046 children have benefitted from home grown school feeding in Gombe within the last five years.
Farouq also revealed that the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme is one of the Federal Government initiatives aimed at improving literacy among the populace.
She made this disclosure during the official hand over of 5,000 feeding utensils for the Home Grown School Feeding Programme by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social investment held at Hassan Central Primary School Gombe.
Farouq, who doubles as the National Co-ordinator Social investment Programme, explained that the School Feeding Programme is mainly designed to address poverty through collaboration between the State and the Federal Government.
The Minister said, “The Federal Government has since the inception of the program enrolled over 1,234 schools, with 228,046 children being fed using the service of 3,073 cooks.”
She added, “Total investment of the Federal Government on all these sectors amount to N320,104,400 monthly. The sum of 4.5 billion Naira has been expended in the state.”
On his part, Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Yahaya pledged his administration’s commitment to supporting all projects initiated by the Federal Government aimed at Fighting Poverty and Unemployment among Nigerians.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Ibrahim Njodi, Governor Yahaya said, “The APC led Federal Government has taken practicable measures to ensure social protection and poverty alleviation strategies which seek to raise school enrollment, school nutrition and boost local economic activities across the communities in the country.”
He assured that the state government will do everything humanly possible to ensure that the challenges facing the successful implementation of the programme in the state are identified and addressed.
In her remarks, the State Focal Person of the Programme and Special Advisers on Social investment, Hajiya Dijatu Bappa appreciated the Federal Government for the programme which she said has greatly improved school enrollment in the the state in addition to enhancing the economic wellbeing of the Pupils and the Food Vendors.
Meanwhile, Governor Yahaya has urged participants at a four day skills and enterprenuership development training for mobile Money Agents North East holding at the Gombe State University, to remain focus while the training lasts.
Represented by the SSG, Prof. Njodi said the programme which is aimed at improving the financial inclusion was an initiative of the Federal Government to create employment for the teeming Youths in the country.
He said, “It was the desire of President Muhammadu Buhari to bequeath a Nigeria where its working population will be gainfully employed thereby reducing poverty in the state.”
The representative of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social investment and Co-ordinator of the Programme Dr, Umar Bindir said the programme is expected to train, register and support participants with starter packs worth N20,000 to operate mobile services in their respective communities.
The Imo House of Assembly has charged Gov. Hope Uzodinma to take necessary steps to arrest those behind the recent killing of two traditional rulers in the state.
The house gave the charge on Thursday, following a motion moved during the plenary session by Dr Uju Onwudiwe, representing Njaba State Constituency. Onwudiwe also called for support for other victims of the attack that sustained severe injuries.
The lawmaker further called for full investigation into the dastardly act in order to identify the “direct and remote causes”.
She further appealed to the government to assist the families of the slain monarchs to recover their bodies and also render help to their communities during their burial.
She also urged the governor to “immortalise” the murdered monarchs. She underscored the need for chairmen of the 27 local government areas of the state to hold a security meeting with key stakeholders to chart a way foward to ensure security of lives and property.
Supporting, Deputy Speaker Amarachi Iwuanyanwu described the incident as unfortunate, saying the house was duty bound to ensure justice was served.
Also, Mr Ekene Nnodumele, representing Orsu Local Government Area (LGA), recommended that government should take urgent action to reduce criminality to the barest minimum in the state.
Following a unanimous vote in favour of the prayers, the Speaker, Mr Paul Emeziem, ruled in favour of the motion.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that yet-to-be identified gunmen, on Oct. 19, shot and killed Eze Anayo Duruebere of Okwudor Autonomous Community and Eze Sampson Osunwa of Ihebinowerre Autonomous Community, at Nnenasa in Njaba LGA. (NAN)
Social media giant, Facebook has changed its name to Meta.
Facebook made the statement on its official social media pages.
According to Facebook chief, Mark Zuckerberg, the parent company’s name is being changed to “Meta” to represent a future beyond just its troubled social network.
Speaking during the annual developer conference, he said, “We’ve learned a lot from struggling with social issues and living under closed platforms, and now it is time to take everything that we’ve learned and help build the next chapter.
“The metaverse is the next evolution of social connection. It’s a collective project that will be created by people all over the world, and open to everyone. You’ll be able to socialize, learn, collaborate and play in ways that go beyond what’s possible today.
“Whether you’re imagining feeling closer to your long-distance family members or dancing with your friends wherever they are, share your vision for the future in the comments below.”
Dr. Uchechi Iweala, son of the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Ngozi Okonji-Iweala, has broken a medical record in Maryland, United States.
On Thursday, the WTO boss announced that her son was one of the first spinal surgeons in Maryland to perform a successful navigated lumbar spinal fusion using a robot.
The proud mother took to her Twitter account to share the good news, as she congratulated and encouraged her son on his medical feat.
She wrote, “Congratulations Dr. Uchechi Iweala, on being one of the first spinal surgeons in Maryland to perform a successful navigated lumbar spinal fusion using a robot! So proud to be your Mum! Keep it going!”
According to the Center for Advanced Orthopeadics, Dr. Iweala is a fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon who specializes in spine surgery.
The doctor earned his Bachelor’s and Masters Degrees from Harvard and completed his residency training in orthopaedic surgery at George Washington University. Furthermore, Dr. Iweala completed a fellowship in spine surgery at New York University.
He majors in Robotic Spine Surgery, Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Cervical and Lumbar Disc Replacement, Spinal Fusion/Arthrodesis, Nerve Releases, etc.
The Abia State High Court has fixed November 2 for the hearing of fundamental rights suit filed by leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, made this known in a press statement titled, ‘Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s Fundamental Rights suit to be heard on 2nd November, 2021’, on Thursday.
The lawyer had, on August 27, 2021, filed the case, demanding that the Federal Government return the secessionist to Kenya where he was “abducted”.
He also demanded N5 billion from the government over alleged gross violation of Kanu’s fundamental rights.
At the last hearing of this matter on September 21, 2021, the vacation judge had made a ruling transferring the case to the Chief Judge of Abia State High Court for assignment.
The statement read, “For the information of the general public, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s Fundamental Rights suit pending before the High Court of Abia State has been assigned and set down for hearing on 2nd November, 2021.
“On this date, the Nigerian government and its Attorney-General will be expected to move their extant application for extension of time to file their defense to the suit and my opposition to the application.
“It is my intention to, on the spot, move for a Ruling on their application for extension of time, so that the case can proceed quickly to the next level, which is expected to be a definitive hearing on the substantive matter.
“Fundamental Rights suits are intended to be concluded quickly, especially in situations such as this where my Client, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu (the Applicant) is currently incarcerated.”
The Petroleum Products Marketing Company, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, has said the annual subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) will rise to N3tn if the current market realities persist.
The Managing Director, PPMC, Mr Isiyaku Abdullahi, said this on Wednesday at a panel session during the 15th OTL Africa Downstream Week 2021 in Lagos.
“At $80 crude oil, 60 million litres daily consumption and N411/$1 forex, PMS under-recovery per litre will be N138/litre. Daily PMS under-recovery will be N8.3bn. Annual PMS under-recovery will escalate to N3tn,” he said.
It was reported on October 12 that the sharp rise in global oil prices to record highs had pushed the subsidy cost being incurred by the Federal Government to N8.28bn daily.
The subsidy, which the NNPC prefers to call ‘value shortfall’ or ‘under-recovery’, resurfaced in January this year as the government left the pump price of petrol unchanged at N162-N165 per litre despite the increase in oil prices.
The Federal Government had in March 2020 removed petrol subsidy after reducing the pump price of the product to N125 per litre from N145 following the crash in oil prices.
The NNPC, which has been the sole importer of petrol into the country in recent years, has been bearing the subsidy cost since it resurfaced.
Isiyaku said with the rehabilitation of the country’s refineries and the construction of condensate refineries as well as the Dangote refinery, the Nigerian fuels market would transform from import-dependent to a net exporter by 2024.
Oil surge pushes daily petrol subsidy to N8.28bn He said full deregulation of the downstream sector might push an accelerated switching to Compressed Natural Gas and Liquefied Petroleum Gas, subject to global energy prices trend in the near term.
According to him, the Petroleum Industry Act presents a unique opportunity for investments across the value chain.
The Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, Mr Clement Isong, said with the Nigerian downstream sector headed for major changes, the regulator must strive to provide a level playing field, guard against the negative effect of a monopoly and encourage inflows from private sector investments.
He said, “The implementation of the PIA is now more critical than the law itself. Petroleum products pricing needs to be right. Eliminate pricing distortions and create a competitive market for the sale and distribution of petroleum products and natural gas.
“Price competition will over time lead to innovation which should reduce logistics and distribution costs. The pricing strategy needs to take into consideration freight, landing costs, jetty throughput charges, storage costs, etc.”
The Interim Administrator of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Dr. Efiong Akwa, says that the Commission must be transparent in its operations to better deliver on its mandate to the Niger Delta region.
Speaking during a two-day Workshop for management staff of the interventionist agency in Port Harcourt, Akwa declared that one of the biggest challenges to achieving organisational goals was lack of transparency and integrity.
“This workshop is part of on-going efforts initiated by President Muhammadu Buhari through the institution of the forensic audit into the activities of the Niger Delta Development Commission from inception to make the Commission better prepared to discharge its mandate to the Niger Delta region and Nigeria,” he said.
Akwa stated that the core objective of the workshop was not just to re-orientate the participants to a new ideology of transparency and integrity, “but to offer knowledge and skills required to work more effectively.”
The NDDC Chief Executive Officer stated: “The expected outcome is to enhance the performance and job delivery efficiency of all the Commission’s staff to ensure that we are better equipped to offer the Niger Delta region a service that meets their expectations and dreams. And this is very vital to the life and relevance of this Commission to be able to facilitate the sustainable development of the Niger Delta diligently, efficiently, and effectively.
“As a Commission, the task before us is to establish the institutional framework that will support the prudent and diligent discharge of our duties within the legal and institutional demands for integrity, decency, and due process.”
Akwa observed that the workshop would help to create a new zeal among the staff, encouraging them to become champions for transparency at all procedural and structural levels of work in NDDC.
“To achieve our mandate,” he stated, “we must be willing and determined to be the change we seek for the Niger Delta region. We must be willing and ready to comply with the civil service rules, financial regulations, as well as with the ICPC, EFCC and CCB acts and other extant rules and laws in Nigeria.
“The Federal Government, under President Buhari, and our supervising Minister, Senator Godswill Akpabio, is keen to establish within the Commission, and within us all, a new attitude towards our duties within the workplace. If we must become change agents, we must be equipped adequately to do what is right, within the law and our moral obligations. That is the new spirit we must embrace in NDDC. That is the new NDDC we must, collectively, build. We owe it to ourselves, this Commission, our stakeholders, and this great region. In the end, we will stand right before man and before God.”
There was confusion at the Plateau state House of Assembly on Thursday following the removal of Ayuba Abok as the Speaker.
Abok, a first-term lawmaker represents Jos East state constituency
It was gathered that eight lawmakers out of the 24-member Assembly carried out the impeachment at the Assembly complex on Thursday morning.
He was immediately replaced by the lawmaker representing Pengana constituency, Yakubu Sanda of the All Progressives Congress.
The lawmaker representing Rukuba/Irigwe constituency in the state House of Assembly, Musa Agah who confirmed the development in Jos on Thursday described the action of the lawmakers as “the height of illegality”
Explaining how the Speaker was removed, Agah said, “It was this morning (Thursday) that some few members rushed to the Plateau state House of Assembly as early as 6 am. You know the state House of Assembly is made up of 24 members and the constitutional requirement for the removal of the Speaker is 2/3 majority which is 16 members.
“So, eight lawmakers rushed to the Assembly this morning against the House rules that say that plenary commences from 9 am and even if there is going to be an extraordinary sitting, the Speaker is the one who is empowered to convene but that did not happen. When some of us got wind of what was happening, we rushed to the Assembly complex only to discover that Security operatives had barricaded everywhere. Some of us were stopped from gaining access to the Assembly complex while they also harassed others.
“While the confusion was going on, the eight members said they have passed a vote of no confidence on the Speaker and went ahead to purportedly remove the speaker.”
