Tinubu Appoints New Executives For NUC, NEPAD, Others

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  President Bola Tinubu has announced the appointment of Chief Executive Officers for some establishments in the country. The establishments include the National Universities Commission, the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, the Solid Minerals Development Fund/Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Initiative, and the New Partnership for Africa Development. Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, announced this in a statement he signed and released on Friday titled ‘President Tinubu announced key appointments into NUC, NERDC, NEPAD and SMDF.’ He appointed Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, a visiting professor at the NUC, as the organisation’s Executive Secretary. The statement read in part, “Prof. Ribadu is an expert in veterinary reproduction and has served as vice chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Yola, and the Sule Lamido University, Jigawa State. “President Tinubu appointed Prof. Salisu Shehu as Executive Secretary of the NERDC. “Prof Shehu is a renowned academic in educational and human Psychology.” Shehu was instrumental in establishing the School of Continuing Education at Bayero University, Kano, and was the Vice-Chancellor of Al-Istiqamah University, Kano. The President also announced Jabiru Abdullahi Tsauri’s appointment as the National Coordinator of NEPAD. Jabilu Tsauri holds a Master’s in International Affairs and Diplomacy from Ahmadu Bello University. He is a seasoned administrator with expertise in legislative affairs, global affairs, and democratic governance and vast experience in public service. Lastly, Tinubu appointed Yazid Danfulani as the Executive Secretary of the SMDF/PAGMI. Danfulani holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and a Master’s in Arts and Management from the University of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom. “He has extensive experience in Banking, Computing, and Business Administration. “He once worked at the Central Bank of Nigeria and was also a Commissioner for Commerce and Industry in Zamfara State,” the Presidency says. Onanuga noted that the President believes the appointees’ experience and track record will “bring a new sense of commitment, progress, and positive outcomes to fulfil Nigerians’ expectations of their respective organisations.”

Armed Security Personnel Take Over Kano Emir’s Palace

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  Armed security operatives have taken over the main Palace of the Kano Emir at Kofar Kudu in the early hours of Friday restricting people from going into and coming out of the palace. The heightened security presence comes as Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II was scheduled to accompany Alhaji Munir Sanusi, the newly-appointed Wamban Kano, to his district posting in Bichi. Bichi is one of the four emirates created during the tenure of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, which were later dissolved by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf. Sources also confirmed that the Bichi Emir’s Palace is under tight security, with armed policemen deployed to the area. The reasons behind the heightened security presence remain unclear as of the time of this report. Efforts to reach the Kano State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Haruna, were unsuccessful as his phone was unreachable. Many traditional rulers and title holders were stranded at the Kano Emir’s palace following the takeover of the palace by armed personnel. PUNCH Online observed that most of the stranded traditional rulers had to abandon their vehicles inside the palace and trekked to the central mosque for the Friday prayers. As of the time of filing this report, security operatives deployed to the palace have continued to keep vigil as human and vehicular movement had been restricted around the palace. A source at the palace told PUNCH Online that the monarch was still in the palace as most of the visitors had left the palace to attend the Friday prayers.  

Police Arrest Two Over Killing Of Aiyedatiwa’s Campaign Director

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  The men of the Ondo State Police Command have arrested two men in connection with the kidnap and killing of a member of the All Progressives Congress in Akoko-South Local Government Area of the state, Mr Alaba Abe. Abel, who was the coordinator of the Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organization in Akoko South-West LG, was allegedly kidnapped and killed by some gun at his house in Supare Akoko community in the council area in April this year during the preparation for the APC governorship primary. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami, who confirmed the arrest in a statement on Friday, said the arrest was made by the Special Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the command. Odunlami named the suspects as Mohammed Sheu and Abubakar Umar. She said, ” On 30th On the 14th of November, 2024, men of the Special Anti Kidnapping on Stop and Search at Ikare Junction at about 15.20 pm intercepted one Hiace vehicle popularly known as Hummer Bus conveying passengers to Owo. “During the search, Mohammed Sheu, 21 years demeanour changed, and on reasonable suspicion, he was singled out for brief interrogation. During interrogation, a voice note dropped as a message on his phone, when opened, it was a reply from Sheu’s friend, on the run, who confirmed to have seen his message. “A prior voice note sent by Sheu was opened; he told his friend that he is not financially buoyant and told him to contact him if there is any kidnapping job available that can fetch them some money. “Sheu was later arrested and taken to the station for proper investigation, where he confessed to other crimes he has committed ranging from kidnapping and robbery in various places like Kogi, Niger, Akoko, Ifon, Ipele axis and Owo. Odunlami stated that their style of operation was locating the victim’s residence, going in there and picking them into the bush, after which ransom would be demanded. The PPRO noted that efforts were ongoing to arrest other members of the group. “Further investigation led to the arrest of Abubakar Umar, 24 years old, who also confessed to committing a similar crime as a gang member. “The suspects stated further that they were responsible for the kidnap at Supare Akoko that led to the death of Alaba Abe Excel in April 2024, and in September, they all kidnapped another person in a popular Hotel in Owo,” she added.

Ekiti Court Remands Human Rights Lawyer Farotimi, Adjourns Till Tuesday

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  An Ekiti State Chief Magistrates Court, Ado Ekiti Division, on Wednesday, ordered the remand of human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, in the state’s correctional centre. Farotimi was arraigned in court over alleged defamation of character following his book, ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’ where he alleged, among others, that a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Afe Babalola, had compromised the Supreme Court. Chief Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun, after listening to the police prosecutor, Samson Osubu, who filed a 16-count allegations to which Farotimi pleaded not guilty, adjourned the matter till December 10, 2024. Farotimi was arrested in Lagos on Monday by policemen from Ekiti State and whisked to Ado Ekiti following which he was arraigned on Wednesday. Adeosun said, “The defendant should file a formal application for bail. The matter is adjourned till Tuesday, December 10, 2024. The defendant is hereby ordered remanded at the Correctional Centre, Ado Ekiti.” In an interview with The PUNCH on Tuesday, Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Mr Adeniran Akinwale, defended Farotimi’s arrest, for alleged cyberbullying and defamation. The CP said the offences allegedly committed by Farotimi included “defamation of character, cyberstalking and other things” noting that those two allegations were “fully established.” He said, “We are investigating him (Farotimi). If the suspect is arrested, we will bring him for investigation. We will conduct our investigation and will be able to know his level of culpability or otherwise.”

UK Set To Deport Renowned Nigerian Pastor, Tobi Adegboyega

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  The British Government is set to deport popular pastor, Tobi Adegboyega, to Nigeria after losing his case against deportation at the immigration tribunal. PUNCH Online reports that the UK government had shut down his church, SPAC Nation, after investigations exposed a misuse of funds by the church leadership. It was gathered that the UK authorities closed the church after Adegboyega failed to properly account for more than £1.87 million of outgoings and operating with a lack of transparency. However, according to The Telegraph, an immigration tribunal ruled that he should be deported back to Nigeria after investigations. After arriving on a visitor’s visa in 2005, Adegboyega has lived in the UK unlawfully ever since. In 2019, the pastor applied for leave to remain under ECHR’s right to a family life. His application was initially dismissed by a first-tier immigration tribunal before he appealed. Having been married to a British woman, the pastor claimed deportation would breach his right under the European Convention of Human Rights to a family life and failed to consider his community work with SPAC. His legal team described him as a ‘charismatic’ community leader of a large, well-organised church who had ‘intervened in the lives of many hundreds of young people, predominantly from the black communities in London, to lead them away from trouble’. Politicians including former Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, and senior figures within the Metropolitan Police had ‘lauded’ his work, he claimed, but no testimony by them was submitted to the court. However, the Home Office contended ‘all is not as it seems’ and dragged him before an immigration tribunal. However, according to the judgment as quoted by The Telegraph, the tribunal said evidences against the Nigerian pastor were taken to consideration. The judgment reads, “Various manifestations of [Mr Adegboyega’s] church have been closed down, by either the Charity Commission or the High Court, because of concerns over its finances and lack of transparency. “Former members of the church have alleged that it is a cult, in which impoverished young people are encouraged to do anything they can to donate money, including taking out large loans, committing benefit fraud and even selling their own blood. “It is alleged that the church leadership lead lavish lifestyles and there have, it is said, been instances of abuse. The [Home Office’s] case before us was that all of this needs to be taken into account when evaluating whether [Mr Adegboyega] is in fact of real value to the UK.” Speaking at the tribunal, Adegboyega said that claims that his chruch was a cult was unfounded and attacks on him and the church were politically motivated. He also maintained no one had ever faced criminal charges over his church’s finances, adding that his deportation would breach his human rights. However, the tribunal was told the Charity Commission concluded “there had been serious misconduct and/or mismanagement in the administration of the charity which was sustained over a substantial period of time.” The tribunal also found Adegboyega’s evidence to be “hyperbolic in many instances’ and had ‘sought to grossly inflate his influence.” The tribunal concluded, “We are not satisfied that the good work that SPAC Nation undertakes generally would collapse or even significantly suffer should the appellant be required to leave the UK. “Weighing all of the foregoing in the balance we conclude that the decision to refuse leave to remain was wholly proportionate. “Mr Adegboyega seeks to rely on family and private life relationships, all of which have been established whilst he was in the UK unlawfully, and which would survive his return to Nigeria. “The interference would therefore be limited, and lawful in all the circumstances.” Punch

VICTOR OLAWALE ARAOLUWA AKOMOLAFE 1956 – 2023

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  A year ago you left us without saying goodbye.The tragedy behind your death on the 4th of December 2023 is what we can’t still believe.But Allah knows best. Daddy,your kindness,love,wisdom and kind expression of sympathy and patience to all will be forever appreciated. Your legacies lives on in our hearts,always cherish the memories of laughter, stories, and time spent together. We express our gratitude to all friends,community, groups who stood by us during and after the burial.Your prayers and support in kind,gifts is highly appreciated. You’re fondly remembered by your wife children,Sisters,brothers Uncles and all AKOMOLAFE Dynasty home and abroad. Esther Omonike Akomolafe-Wife CHILDREN OLUWASEUN ㅐOLUWADAMILOLAㅐ OLUWATOBILOBAㅐ OLUWANIFEMI

Two Rivers Doctors Granted N2m Bail Over Alleged Manslaughter

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  Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has granted bail of N2m to two doctors in the state standing trial for alleged manslaughter. The doctors, Dr Jude Okpani, a gyneacologist (1st defendant) and Dr Isaiah-Tunde Akinlade, an anesthesiologist (2nd defendant), were arraigned by the Rivers State Government through the Ministry of Justice on two counts bordering on manslaughter and negligence. According to the charge, the two doctors are alleged to have on February 2, 2024, at a clinic in Port Harcourt, did cause the death of one Rebekah Tamunotorukubu-Sekidika, an offence contrary to Section 325 of the Criminal Code of Law of Rivers State 1999. The accused are also alleged to have neglected to administer the required dose of local spinal anesthesia to Rebekah Tamunotorukubu-Sekidika, which recklessly ruptured her uterus while carrying out a medical procedure on her leading to her death. When the charges were read to them in court, the doctors pleaded not guilty. Their counsel, C.T. Walter, orally applied for bail which was not opposed by the prosecution counsel, Christiana Tombari Bodo, a Senior State Council in the Ministry of Justice, but requested stringent conditions from the court on the grounds that the matter is sensitive. The trial judge, Justice Jumbo Stephens, after listening to the defence and prosecution counsels, granted bail to the two accused in the sum N1m each and two sureties who must be the Chairman and Secretary of Nigeria Medical Association, Rivers State Chapter. Justice Stephens also directed that the sureties must provide two passport photographs and their addresses must be verified by an official of the court and photocopies of either a valid driving licence, passport or voter card must be deposited in court. For the accused persons, Justice Stephens said, “The 1st and 2nd defendants who have just been admitted to bail are also to deposit to the registrar of this court two copies of their passport photographs. These are the bail conditions.” Justice Stephens thereafter adjourned the matter to January 20 and 27, 2025, for ‘definite’ hearing. Our correspondent recalls that Miss Rebekah Tamunotorukubu-Sekidika, (24-year-old at the time), a first class graduate of Microbiology from the Benson Idahosa University, Benin in Edo State was preparing for a trip to the United Kingdom for a Masters degree when the incident occurred.  

Emefiele,Associates Acquired 753-Duplex Estate With Forex kickbacks

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  Court papers filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have linked the immediate-past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, to the massive Abuja property with 753 duplexes and other apartments located in the Cadastral Zone area of the capital city. The anti-graft agency on Monday announced the recovery of the property from an unnamed ex-government top brass, describing the property as the biggest single recovery it had made in the course of fighting corruption since its establishment in 2003. The recovery followed a ruling delivered on December 2, 2024 by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the FCT High Court in Apo. In the court documents obtained by our correspondent on Tuesday, the EFCC ran a narration linking Emefiele to the massive property spanning 150,500 square metre and identified as Plot 109, Cadazral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja. Emefiele is currently being prosecuted by the EFCC in three separate cases before different judges. Before Justice Hamza Mu’azu, he is being tried for procurement fraud, forgery of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s signature, and other charges. Before Justice Rahman Oshodi at the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, Emefiele is charged with alleged fraud involving $4.5bn and N2.8bn. Additionally, Emefiele is before Justice Maryann Anenih of the FCT High Court in Abuja for allegedly approving the printing of N684.5m notes at the cost of N18.96bn. According to the document, Emefiele allegedly carried out “monumental fraud” as the CBN governor with his cronies to acquire several properties including the estate. “The commission whilst investigating the alleged monumental fraud carried out by the immediate past Governor of the CBN and his cronies traced and discovered several properties reasonably suspected to have been acquired and or developed with proceeds of unlawful activities. “The property highlighted in Schedule A to this application is one of the said properties recovered, having been reasonably suspected to have been acquired/ developed with proceeds of unlawful activities.” The EFCC alleged that “in the cause of this investigation, it was revealed that the erstwhile CBN governor negotiated kickbacks in return for allocation of foreign exchange to some companies who were in desperate need of foreign exchange for their lawful and legitimate businesses. “Our investigation equally revealed that erstwhile CBN Governor received kickbacks from some contractors who were awarded contracts by the Central Bank of Nigeria.” The anti-graft agency also alleged that Emefiele connived with several cronies, including one Ifeanyi Omeke, who “ran several errands for him, which included purchase and perfection of title documents for several properties located in highbrow areas of Lagos and Abuja.” It said the documents for the Abuja property were recovered during a search of Omeke’s office and that investigators located the property on September 17, 2024 “with the assistance of a surveyor from the Abuja Geographical Information Systems, using search results and coordinate.” The EFCC said its investigation “revealed that the said property has been abandoned and deserted with only a guard manning the said property since June 2023 upon the arrest of the erstwhile CBN Governor. “ The PUNCH reported that the Department of State Services arrested Emefiele in Lagos the following day he was suspended by President Bola Tinubu. In October, the EFCC arrested Emefiele in less than an hour he regained his freedom from the DSS. According to the EFCC, the massive property, allegedly acquired by Emefiele, through cronies, was originally meant for a mass housing development. The EFCC said its investigation revealed that Emefiele used three companies to pay a total of N2.2bn to buy the property. It said the seller “received the aggregate sum of N2,200,000,000.00,” adding that “the said three companies used for the payment of the property are enmeshed in criminal maneuvering of layering proceeds of illegal activities of Mr. Godwin Emiefele.” According to the EFCC, one of the companies was used to pay N900m, the second paid N700m, while the third paid N600m, totalling N2.2bn. It said the directors of the companies were arrested “and their statements voluntarily obtained in the course of investigation.” “The funds used in the acquisition of the property highlighted in Schedule A to this application are not legitimate earnings of Godwin Emefiele but funds acquired through illegal and unlawful activities. “That I know as a fact and verily believe that the source/origin of the funds used in the acquisition and/or development of the properties sought to be forfeited are proceeds of unlawful activities to wit: corrupt enrichment, receiving of gratification or kickbacks and abuse of office,” an EFCC investigator stated in the affidavit filed in court. The EFCC noted that the court had on November 1, 2024 made an order for the temporary forfeiture of the property “after evaluating facts placed before it.” It, therefore, urged the judge to order the permanent forfeiture of the property to the Federal Government as no one had come forward to challenge the facts placed before the court, in spite of adverting the interim forfeiture order in The PUNCH edition of November 6, 2024. According to the EFCC, the court acceded to its request and has now permanently forfeited the property to the Federal Government. Efforts to get the reaction of Emefiele’s legal team were unsuccessfuly. One of the lawyers, Matthew Burkaa( SAN), did not pick up calls to his line and had also yet to respond to a text message seeking Emefiele’s side of the story as of the time of filing this report. ‘Why EFCC concealed property owner’s identity’ Meanwhile, EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, defended the decision by the anti-graft agency not to reveal the identity of the owner of the property to the public. He was responding to public criticisms on the motive behind concealing the identity. “The allegation of a cover-up of the identity of the promoters of the estate stands logic on the head in the sense that the proceedings for the forfeiture of the Estate were in line with Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act, which is a civil proceeding that allows for action-in-rem rather … Read more

Makinde Appoints Akinwande As Special Adviser, Fire Service Agency Chairman

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  Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has appointed a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon Moruf Akinwande as his Special Adviser on Fire Service Reforms. The governor, in an appointment letter signed by his Chief of Staff, Hon. Segun Ogunwuyi, also designated Akinwande as the Chairman of the Fire Services Agency of Oyo State. The governor’s Special Assistant (Print Media), Moses Alao, said this in a statement on Tuesday, December 3. The appointment takes immediate effect. The governor charged the new appointee to discharge his duties with dedication, commitment and loyalty to the state. Akinwande represented Oyo West/Oyo East/Afijio/Atiba Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives between 2003 and 2007. He equally served as the Chairman of the Oyo State Water Corporation between 2022 and 2023.  

Just In: Sanwo-Olu Approves Lagos Electricity Bill Into Law

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The Governor of Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has signed the Lagos Electricity Bill 2024 into law. The law is a comprehensive plan aimed at addressing challenges in the energy sector and is expected to lay the foundation for economic and industrial growth in Lagos. The governor signed the bill on Tuesday at the Lagos House, Ikeja. “The bill is a major step by the state government to ensure a 24-hour electricity supply to every corner of the state, following the Federal Government’s approval for states to generate and distribute energy in 2023,” said the governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, on X. This move is expected to reduce the state’s dependency on the national grid. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Sanwo-Olu stressed the importance of the bill in transforming Lagos into a global city with a reliable and uninterrupted power supply. In November, the Lagos State Government called on independent power producers and energy solution firms to submit bids for the construction of gas-fired power plants to bridge the state’s persistent electricity gap. The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, in partnership with the Office of Public-Private Partnerships, made the call for the initiative to enhance Lagos’s power supply through the Clean Lagos Electricity Market. The announcement was jointly made by the Commissioner of the Ministry of Energy & Mineral Resources, Biodun Ogunleye, and the Special Adviser of the Office of Public-Private Partnerships, Bukola Odoe.

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