Eko Hot Blog reports that The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, has vowed to lay down his life to ensure peace and security across the Southeast.
Iwuanyanwu said: “I’ll take a kinetic approach that will require the cooperation of everybody. I’ll talk peace. I am ready to lay down my life to see that there is peace in Igboland. I’ll go to Finland and everywhere to see that there is peace in Igboland. I’ll go and cry to them. I pray to God that I achieve success.”
EKO HOT BLOG reports that some protesters are currently on the streets in defiance to the ban on demonstrations by the police.
The state commissioner of police, Mohammed Usain Gumel, had banned protests after members of the ruling New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) asked their members to pour on the streets over alleged bribery of the judiciary..
The commissioner said any attempt to disrespect the ban would be treated as an offence against National Security.
He said, “Members of the public should therefore note that it has come to our knowledge that both the APC and the NNPP members are currently mobilizing rented crowd in the guise of Civil Society Coalition and without clearance from the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and without prior approval from the security agencies in the state.
“Both organizers as well as the umbrella body should note that any attempt to disrespect NLC and the Security Agencies in the state, by playing around the fragile security situation, which the combined security agencies have been managing, is not only uncivil, criminal but also an offense against National Security.”
But shortly after the order, the protesters converged on the streets and headed for the Government House.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bala Ibrahim, has reacted to the claims by the Labour Party (LP) about a possible presidential election rerun.
This online media platform reports that the LP and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, are at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal challenging the declaration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the winner of the February 25 presidential election.
LP made several allegations against the APC presidential candidate and faulted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) role before, during and after the polls.
Recently, the Director-General of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, Akin Osuntokun, called for the removal of INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu.
The party also hinted that the ongoing case at the Tribunal may result in a rerun.
Speaking, however, on LP’s speculations and allegations, Ibrahim, a Director of Publicity for the ruling APC, said there could never be a rerun in any election where a winner had been declared.
Mocking the opposition party, Ibrahim said that to LP, what happened on February 25th was never an election but a sham because they lost.
“What do you expect? As far as the Labour Party is concerned, what happened was not an election but a sham because they lost. In a contest, you have to know that there are two outcomes; you either win or lose. If you say you will only accept the result if you win, you are not a good sportsman. Certainly in every election, there has to be a loser and a winner. In this particular election, LP is the loser, but because INEC has declared them the loser, they are calling INEC all sorts of names. Before the election, they signed a peace agreement organised by the same electoral umpire. They recognised INEC and agreed with the terms given by the commission because they thought they would win. Having lost, they are now reneging on the things they agreed on. The call for Prof Mahmood Yakubu’s dismissal is simply the outburst of a loser, and that is how bad losers behave all over the world,” said the APC scribe when asked to speak on his view about Osuntokun’s call for the removal of INEC chairman.
Ibrahim, who spoke with The Punch on the rumoured reports that the APC is preparing for a presidential rerun as possible fallout of the tribunal, lampooned the Labour Party and those involved in spreading the report.
He said: “I really don’t get it. It looks like LP is still in labour while forgetting that the maternity is already close. How can you have a rerun in an election you have won and have been declared a winner? What election are they talking about? Is it the 2027 election? Of course, there can’t be a rerun in any election where a winner has been announced, inaugurated and its government is being formed. LP should better wake up.
When asked further if he thinks it was wishful thinking as the erstwhile National Secretary of the APC, Senator Iyiola Omisore, described the alleged rerun by the LP, Ibrahim said: “This is beyond wishful thinking; it is a stupid thinking. I can’t even comprehend what they are talking about. It simply means the party is into protracted labour that may result in unwanted fever. An election has been conducted, and a winner has been declared. The government is in the making, and congratulations have come in from all over the world. What are they thinking by mentioning rerun? You can only think about rerun come 2027. That is if at all there will be one. This is an election that has been won free and fair.”
EkoHotBlog reports that Abdullahi Adamu, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says Rotimi Akeredolu, governor of Ondo, is hospitalised and in a state of “extreme incapacity”.
Adamu spoke on Monday in Abuja at a meeting with chairmen of the APC across the country.
Akeredolu had embarked on a 21-day leave on June 7 and was expected to return on July 6.
However, he wrote to the state house of assembly, extending his medical leave.
“We regret to announce the extreme incapacity of the Governor of Ondo state who we understand has been hospitalised overseas. We wish and pray for him for a speedy recovery,” he said.
Adamu said President Bola Tinubu is consulting extensively before drawing up his ministerial list.
“The president has just started. And he is doing his extensive consultation before coming up with his nominees for ministers,” he said.
“The nomination of the ministers will come first. They will go through their screening until they are pronounced after they have been submitted by Mr. President.
HRM Oba Moses said he was confident that in coming years, the real estate executive would
“And Mr. President will formally appoint his ministers and swear them in.
“Only after doing that will he disclose each of them to the country to know which minister is going to which ministry, and how many ministries we are going to have.”
Eko Hot Blog reports that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has returned to Abuja after attending 63rd ordinary session of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of states and Government in Guinea Bissau, where he emerged as ECOWAS Chairman.
President Tinubu arrived at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at about 6:30 pm, aboard the NAF 001 Boeing 737 jet.
Watch his arrival at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
BREAKING NEWS
President Bola Tinubu returns to Abuja after attending 63rd ordinary session of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of states and Government in Guinea Bissau, where he emerged as ECOWAS Chairman. WATCH🎥 pic.twitter.com/WGowJhy8Wr
While in Bissau, the President was unanimously named the new Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, making him one of the fastest into that office, after the election into office as President of any of the member-states.
After accepting the role of Chairman of the Authority, Tinubu pledged to bear the responsibility of the office and run an inclusive administration of the regional organisation.
He warned that terrorism and the persistent pattern of coup d’etat in the region had reached alarming levels, demanding urgent and concerted action.
He argued that insecurity and creeping terrorism were stunting the progress and development of the sub-region, necessitating collective action from member-states.
While decrying the emerging pattern of coup d’etat in West Africa, Tinubu charged ECOWAS to stand firm in defence of democracy.
“There is no one among us who did not campaign to be a leader. We didn’t give our soldiers resources, we didn’t invest in them, in their boots, in their training to violate the freedom of the people,” he said.
According to him, the military turning its guns against civil authorities violates the principles upon which they were hired, which is to defend the sovereignty of their nations.
“We must not sit in ECOWAS as toothless bulldogs,” he added.
He urged his counterparts to strengthen their respective democratic institutions and ensure respect for human rights and the rule of law, saying his one-year tenure “will enhance engagements with the countries in transition (Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso) to ensure their quick return to democratic rule.”
Bamidele Opeyemi Biography and everything you need to know about the majority leader of the 10th Senate Bamidele Opeyemi can be accessed below.
EkoHotBlog reports that Senator representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District, Bamidele Opeyemi emerged as the Majority Leader of the 10th Senate on Tuesday, 4th of July in 2023.
All You Need To Know About Senate Majority Leader Bamidele Opeyemi
1. Bamidele Opeyemi was born on 29 July 1963, at Iyin Ekiti, a town in Ekiti State, southwestern Nigeria, but spent his early life in Lagos State.
2. While in Lagos State, he attended Baptist Academy secondary school. He later went to Obafemi Awolowo University where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in religious studies.
3. Bamidele also attended the University of Benin where he received a bachelor’s degree in law in 1990. Having graduated from the Nigerian Law School, he was called to the bar in 1992.
4. Bamidele didn’t stop there, he proceeded to Franklin Pierce University where he received a master’s degree in law and was called to the New York Bar in January 1999.
5. He was one of the defence counsel, led by Chief Godwin Olusegun Kolawole Ajayi to defend Moshood Abiola on his treason trial.
6. In June 1992, he contested in the primary elections to the Federal House of Representatives representing Oshodi/Isolo Federal Constituency in Lagos State under the platform of the Social Democratic Party but lost.
7. He served as special assistant on legal matters to Senator Bola Tinubu until November 1993 when Nigeria’s democracy was truncated by General Sanni Abacha.
8. In July 2000, he was appointed senior special assistant on political and intergovernmental relations to the Lagos State governor.
9. He was later appointed as commissioner for the Lagos State Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Social Development in governor Bola Tinubu’s administration.
10. In April 2011, he was elected as a member of the 7th National Assembly to represent Ekiti Central federal constituency 1.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Nigeria’s Military is leveraging the new impetus of its rejigging by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to combat security challenges.
This played out at the ‘@HQNigerianArmy Four Special Forces Command’ Doma, Nasarawa State with the arrest of Twelve suspected rail track vandals and Two truck load of railway tracks.
The suspects were handed over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps whose mandate is to protect critical National Infrastructure, and for further investigations.
Handling over the suspects, The Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations of the four special forces, Major Joseph Adekunle said the suspects of the rail track vandal were arrested during a routine patrol and intercepted five suspects between angwanyara and angerongu communities along Makurdi road.
He noted that the troop further conducted another raid operation at the resident of one of the kingpin through an intelligence report which led to the arrest of seven other suspects connected to the railway track vandalism.
Eko Hot Blog reports that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed AVM Hassan Bala Abubakar as Chief of Air Staff.
This was was made public in a press statement released by Willie Bassey, the Director of Information on behalf of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.
The move by the President followed persistent calls by civil society organisations that the security architecture be rejigged and fresh hands allowed to handle the nation’s security apparatus.
BACKGROUND
Air Vice Marshal HASSAN BALA ABUBAKAR was born on 11 September 1970. He hails from Shanono Local Government Area in Kano State. He enlisted into the NAF as a member of NDA RC 39 and commissioned Pilot Offr on 19 Sep 92.
COURSES ATTENDED AND QUALIFICATIONS
The Air Officer Commanding, Logistics Command has attended several courses. Some of these include:
Bachelor of Science Degree from the Nigerian Defence Academy Kaduna.
Ab initio and Basic Flying Training Courses at the 301 Flying Training School Kaduna.
Basic and Advance Airborne Courses at Nigerian Army Infantry Center and School Jaji.
Company Amphibious Operations Course at Nigerian Army Infantry Center and School in Calabar.
Junior and Senior Command and Staff Courses at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji and
National Defence Course at the Nasser Higher Military Academy, Cairo – Egypt.
Master’s Degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy from ABU Zaria.
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS
The very senior officer has held several appointments, some of which are:
Admin Officer 16 Engineering Wing, 1 Engineering Group NAF Makurdi.
Officer Commanding Admin Services Flight/ Group Public Relations Officer, 97 Special Operations Group NAF Port Harcourt.
Officer Commanding Yellow Squadron – Air Force Military School Jos.
Admin Officer Primary Flying Training Wing – 301 FTS NAF Kaduna.
SO1 Admin 301 FTS NAF Kaduna.
Officer Commanding ‘B’ Squadron (Do 228) – 81 Air Maritime Group NAF Benin.
Team Leader MILOB Team Site 615 Mahagi (Ituri Brigade) MONUC.
Aviation Planning Officer, MONUC Air Operations Kinshasa, DRC.
Commanding Officer Base Services Wing 81 Air Maritime Group Nigerian Air force Benin.
Operations Officer Operational Conversion Unit 88 Military Airlift group Nigerian air Force Lagos.
Operations Officer 88 Military Airlift Group Ikeja Lagos. Commanding Officer 21 Wing 88 Military Airlift Group Lagos.
Group Safety Officer 88 Military Airlift Group Ikeja Lagos.
Fleet operation officer – 011Presidential Air Fleet.
Commander 011 Presidential Air Fleet.
Chief of Staff, Mobility Command.
Director of Policy, HQ NAF and lastly
Director of Operations, HQ NAF
Air Officer Commanding Logistics Command.
Currently the Chief of Standards and Operations, HQ NAF.
AWARDS/DECORATIONS
The senior officer has earned several awards and decorations, some of these include:
Distinguished Service Star.
Passed Staff Course (psc)
Fellow Defence College
Masters in International Affairs.
Member National Institute of Management.
Member Chartered Institute of Public Management.
Member Nigerian Institute of Safety Professionals.
MARITAL STATUS AND HOBBIES
Air Vice Marshal HB Abubakar is happily married with children and in his leisure time, the senior officer enjoys flying airplane, reading, reflecting and keeping fit.
Ortom has opened up about the possibility of dumping the PDP for APC after his tenure as Governor.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has firmly quashed the possibility of defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC) after his tenure concludes.
However, Ortom expressed his commitment to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and declared his determination to support and contribute to the presidency of Bola Tinubu as the elected leader.
Speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Wednesday, the governor said he would continue to ensure equity and justice in Nigeria.
Ortom said he worked for the emergence of a southern presidency because he wanted equity and justice.
According to him: “That is not on my table, I’m in PDP, and I worked for the Southern presidency, which Tinubu and Obi were part of. Defecting is not on my table now.
“If Tinubu is sworn in, I will continue to pray and support him to succeed.
“I remain the leader of PDP in Benue State but will continue to work for equity and justice in Nigeria.”
President Buhari has approved the appointment of the first female Accountant General of the Federation.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein as the new Accountant General of the Federation.
The appointment was announced in a statement signed by the President’s Director of Communication, Mohammed Ahmed on Friday, 19th May 2022.
Madein, alongside 19 other candidates was shortlisted for the position back in January.
“President, Muhammadu Buhari, has approved the appointment of Dr. (Mrs) Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein, as the substantive Accountant-General of the Federation following the successful conduct of a selection process to fill the existing vacancy.
“The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, CFR made this known today, Friday 19 May 2023, in Abuja, adding that the appointment is with effect from Thursday, May 18, 2023,” the statement read.
According to the statement, the new appointee is to resume immediately.
Prior to this appointment, she served as the Director, Finance and Accounts, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
The Adamawa REC, who was suspended, has been granted bail.
Hudu Yunusa-Ari was suspended following the controversial declaration of Aisha Binani as the winner of the Adamawa guber election.
They were released on administrative bail and with conditions.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that Hudu Yunusa-Ari, the suspended Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), who is under police probe, has been released on bail.
After being interrogated at the Police Headquarters regarding the Adamawa Governorship Election saga, two commissioners and officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were released.
They were released on administrative bail and with conditions. But, they must deposit their travel passports; and their movement is restricted within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
It was gathered that a senator stood surety for Yunusa-Ari after he was interrogated for three days while in the custody of the police.
Inspector-General of Police Alkali Baba also personally interrogated the REC, the national commissioners, and the others.
With the IG during the session, it was learnt were Deputy Inspectors-General. Yunusa-Ari, according to sources, exchanged words with the INEC commissioners over the claim that he fled and was incommunicado.
The session dwelt on allegations of bribing during the April 15 Supplementary election, after which REC declared All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Ayisetu Dahiru Binani as governor-elect, which collation of results was going on in usurpation of the Returning Officer’s role.
It was gathered that the police restricted the suspects’ movement to enable them to invite all the officials at short notice when needed.
A top source said, “Our investigators have interacted with the REC, some INEC National Commissioners, and other officials undergoing interrogation. We have asked the affected officials to submit their travelling documents.
“The REC promised to drop his passport at the Force Headquarters yesterday.
“And if it is necessary to arraign any of the officials after the conclusion of the ongoing investigation, it will be easier.”
The source added, “In line with the law and international best practices, the police have granted bail to the REC, the National Commissioners and all officials under investigation. They have been released accordingly.
“The bail surety for the REC is a Senator.
“But all those quizzed got an advisory to limit their media visibility for unfettered investigation.”
The source said placing the REC and others on bail will not prejudice the probe.
The source added: “With the involvement of the IGP and his management team, you can determine the commitment attached to this case. Granting bail will not hamper the investigation.
“There were allegations and counter-allegations on nocturnal meetings, choice dinner and bribery scandal during the elections.
“Detectives will look into this dimension of influence peddling and bribery. The scope of investigation will be widened.”
All those summoned were grilled by the Police Election Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Team unit of the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB).
Tinubu held a closed-door meeting with Adamu, Lawan, and others at the Defence House.
The meeting was behind closed doors with some senior elected government officials and members of the APC National Working Committee.
Tinubu visited the Defence House for the first time since winning the presidential election.
EKO HOT BLOGreports that the President-Elect, Senator Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, met with the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu at the Defence House in Abuja.
In attendance at the meeting which was held behind closed doors are the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan; the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege; APC National Publicity Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore and former Secretary of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Hon James Faleke.
At the end of the meeting, the APC National Chairman said the meeting is a routine exercise. He declined to disclose issues discussed at the meeting.
The meeting comes barely two days after Tinubu’s return to the country after over one month away in Europe.
The President-Elect is due to be inaugurated as President Muhammadu Buhari’s success on May 29.
Tinubu scored the highest votes in the February 25 poll and was declared the President-Elect by the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), though his victory is currently being vigorously challenged at the tribunal by two top contestants — Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
On March 22, after controversy surrounding his whereabouts, Tinubu’s spokesman, Tunde Rahman said his principal travelled to Paris in France to rest and observe the lesser hajj but no photo of the President-Elect was made public while he was away.
Tinubu’s health has been a subject of controversy in the last two years. In 2021, Tinubu was away in the United Kingdom for over three months where he underwent surgery and therapy for a knee injury. He subsequently travelled to the UK and Paris a few times in 2022.
The Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has given an update on the ongoing APC governorship primary elections in the state.
He commends the party members for coming out en masse to participate in the exercise and appreciates their peaceful conduct.
The governor’s preferred candidate, Usman Ahmed Ododo, is currently ahead in the results.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has come out to give update on the ongoing governorship Primary elections of the the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
This is as the governor applauded members of the party in the 239 wards of the state for coming out en mass to take part in the exercise.
Bello gave the commendation after casting his vote at his Agasa Ward in the Okene Local Government Area of the State where he addressed pressmen during the exercise.
The governor appreciated voters for their peaceful conduct, staying people could turn out to vote en mass because of the peaceful atmosphere created by his government.
He noted that they should vote for candidates who have the capacity to push the New Direction administration for continuity and sustainable development for the overall good of the State.
Bello also appreciated security agencies for a job well done, as he urged them to be civil in their dealing of matters arising.
The governor said “You can see the massive turnout of party members in this ward. These are financial members with an up-to-date financial commitment to our party in line with Article 9.3 (i) and (ii) of the APC Constitution.
“From the reports I received so far, the turnout is good all over the 239 wards in the 21 local government areas of the State.”
It was gathered that with the results coming in so far, Usman Ahmed Ododo, who is the governor’s preferred candidate and the immediate past Auditor-General for Local Government, is ahead.
The former chairman of the Labour Party in Lagos State has accused the party’s governorship candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, of plotting his removal from office.
Salako claims he was forced to step aside due to accusations that he was a mole in the party and was working for the APC’s presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu.
He also alleges that Rhodes-Vivour betrayed him by working with others to orchestrate his removal.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that the immediate past Chairman of the Labour Party (LP) in Lagos State, Olukayode Salako, has accused the party’s governorship candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, of plotting his removal from office.
Salako stated that he was forced to step aside following an accusation that he is a mole in the party and was working for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu.
He stressed that supporters of the presidential candidate of the party, Peter Obi, popularly known as ‘Obidients’ accused him of planning to divert money sent to campaign for Rhodes-Vivour for personal use or work for Tinubu.
In an interview with The Punch, Salako said Rhodes-Vivour betrayed him because he reported him to the Forum of Leaders and Elders’ Council of the party for not doing the right thing.
He said: “I didn’t resign as the chairman, I was forced to step aside. The Obidients said they could not trust me with the campaign funds the presidential candidate, Peter Obi, wanted to send to Lagos because my wife worked for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s presidential bid and the All Progressives Congress.
“They saw me as Tinubu’s man, so they said I was a mole in the Labour Party. They said if any money was sent to Lagos, I would divert it for personal use or work for Tinubu. For those reasons, I was forced to step aside.
“I wasn’t a mole. It was Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, whom I discovered and I worked hard to get the governorship ticket for, that orchestrated my removal. He betrayed me. He wasn’t doing well with the party as the governorship candidate and I reported him to the Forum of Leaders and Elders’ Council of the party for them to tell him to do the right thing.
“Instead of that, he decided to make me his enemy and he became vindictive. He pushed me aside and was working with strange people that did not know how he got the ticket.”
Salako stated that he felt betrayed and badly treated by the Lagos State chapter of the party and he is not happy at all with the situation.
He added: “He didn’t run anything by me and because there was no way he could operate without working with the state chairman of the party, he chose to work with some persons for me to be removed and he did that in connivance with the current state chairman of the party, Dayo Ekong; the secretary, Sam Okpala; and his running mate, Islamiyat Oyefusi. They all thought I was a mole who would not make them win Lagos State, but we can see what happened afterwards.
“He started misbehaving the day after he got the ticket. However, I was already deeply involved, so I couldn’t go back at that point. I had to continue working towards his success at the poll. After he got the ticket, he became arrogant, intolerant to opposing views, and started calling himself my leader. His type cannot rule a local government let alone come to rule Lagos.
“He didn’t carry me along. I ran the office of the state party chairman for five months without anybody giving me ‘shishi’ because they saw me as Tinubu’s mole. I didn’t betray anybody but Gbadebo and those party chieftains in Lagos betrayed me, and God does not reward betrayal. I felt betrayed and badly treated by the Lagos State chapter of the Labour Party and I am not happy at all.”
The Nigerian House of Representatives has called on the CBN to direct all commercial banks in the country to overhaul theirelectronic transaction platforms.
The move was in response to the recent CBN policies, which have placed pressure on online and electronic banking.
The House has also mandated its Committee on Banking and Currency to ensure compliance with the resolutions.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that the House of Representatives has urged the Central Bank of Nigeria to direct banks to immediately overhaul their electronic transaction platforms.
According to the House, the move has become necessary in the aftermath of the recent CBN policies, which have put pressure on online and electronic banking.
The CBN had set lower limits for cash withdrawal and redesigned the N1,000, N500 and N200 noted, policies that caused chaos in the country.
A member of the House, Sergius Ogun, at the plenary on Thursday, moved a motion demanding reinforcement and upgrade of banking systems, especially those of the Deposit Money Banks also known as commercial banks.
The motion was titled ‘Call on the Central Bank of Nigeria to Direct All Commercial Banks to Overhaul their Online Banking Service Platforms to Ease Electronic Banking Operations.’
Moving the motion, Ogun noted that Section 88 (1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution empowers the National Assembly to conduct investigations into the activities of any authority executing or administering laws made by the National Assembly, like the CBN.
The lawmaker also noted that the CBN was established under Section 1 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, Cap. C4, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to issue legal tender currencies in Nigeria. He added that Section 2 of the CBN Act saddles the bank with the duty of promoting a sound financial system in Nigeria.
He said, “The House acknowledges that in the wake of the recent naira redesign and cash withdrawal limit policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria, there has been an increase in the use of online and electronic banking services to carry out monetary transactions across the country.
“The House also acknowledges that the use of online or internet banking services by Nigerians in the past three months or thereabout has been characterised by varying degrees of hitches, ranging from unsuccessful electronic bank transfers, Point of Sale service failure and a host of others.
“The House is disturbed that the ineffectiveness or difficulty in using internet banking services across the online banking platforms of most commercial banks in Nigeria has brought untold hardship, suffering and difficulties on Nigerians in the past three months.”
Ogun added, “The House is worried that if nothing is done by the Central Bank of Nigeria and the commercial banks to address these difficulties or ineffectiveness, Nigerians will continue to suffer untold hardships and loss of monies to unsuccessful electronic bank transactions.”
Adopting the motion, the House resolved to urge the CBN to “direct all commercial banks in the country to immediately overhaul their existing online/electronic banking platforms for efficiency and ease of conducting electronic banking operations.”
The House further mandated its Committee on Banking and Currency to ensure compliance with the resolutions and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
Buhari has sent a message to winners of the Senate and House of Reps.
The President urged them to respect voters.
He also noted that the people have the power to send them out in the next election.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that as the collation of Saturday’s presidential election continues underway, President Muhammadu Buhari has advised the winners of Senate and House of Representatives elections in the Daura zone to respect voters to avoid being kicked out of office.
This online media platform gathered that the President gave the advice when he received the winners in Daura, his country home in Katsina State.
Buhari according to a statement on Monday by his spokesperson, Garba Shehu urged them to make the voters feel important as they would determine their fate in the next election.
He said: “Respect the voters and make them feel important. If you don’t, they will wait in ambush for you in the next election. Depending on how you deal with them, they will keep you in the office, or they will send you packing.”
This was in Karewa, Yola North Local government area of Yola state
Eko Hot Blog reports that the Presidential Candidate of the Labour party, Peter Obi has won in one of the polling units in Adamawa, the home state of the PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
In polling Unit 35, Karewa, Yola North Local government area of Yola state, Peter won with a total of 120 votes while Alhaji Atiku Abubakr secured 82 votes and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressive Congress got 26 votes and Rabiu Kwankwaso of NNPP got 2 votes.
The court however stressed that gay sex remains illegal
As Kenya’s highest court, the Supreme Court’s ruling cannot be overturned
As Kenya’s highest court, the Supreme Court’s ruling cannot be overturned
Eko Hot Blogreports that Kenyan authorities were wrong to ban the gay community from registering a rights organisation, the country’s Supreme Court has ruled.
Yet at the same time it stressed that gay sex remains illegal.
The judges ruled three-to-two that the country’s NGO board was wrong to stop the National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (NGLHRC) from registering in 2013.
As Kenya’s highest court, the Supreme Court’s ruling cannot be overturned.
In their judgment, the judges ruled that “it would be unconstitutional to limit the right to associate, through denial of registration of an association, purely on the basis of the sexual orientation of the applicants”.
Nevertheless, the ruling is bitter-sweet for Kenya’s gay community. Laws which were introduced under British colonial rule mean that it is criminal to have sex that “is against the order of nature”, which can result in up to 14 years in prison.
In May 2019, Kenya’s high court rejected an attempt to overturn these laws.
Friday’s judgement ends a 10-year legal battle which began in 2013 when Eric Gitari, the former executive director of the NGLHRC, challenged the head of Kenya NGO Coordination Board’s refusal to permit him to apply to register an NGO under a name containing the words gay or lesbian.
The judges ruled in his favour at the High Court in 2015, again at the Court of Appeal in 2019 and finally in 2023.
Speaking after the ruling, Njeri Gateru, the current executive director of the NGLHRC, said: “The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the lower courts’ rulings is a triumph for justice and human rights.
“At a time where the Kenyan LGBTIQ+ community is decrying the increased targeting and violence; this decision affirms the spirit and intention of the Constitution to protect all Kenyans and guarantee their rights.”
The ruling comes at a time when homophobic rhetoric has been rising in Kenya.
Members of the LGBTQI+ community have been harassed by police, subjected to body examinations to “prove” gay sex, and openly insulted on social media and in public spaces. Some say they have even been denied healthcare and thrown out of rental houses for being gay.
On the day of the judgement, Member of Parliament George Peter Kaluma filed an official notice that he intended to introduce a bill which would jail for life people convicted of homosexuality or the promotion of it.
While Friday’s Supreme Court ruling arguably torpedoes any attempts to legally harass openly gay people with new laws, Mr Kaluma can still rally MPs to increase jail terms for gay sex.
It is also illegal to have gay sex in neighbouring Uganda, where Muslim leaders used Friday prayers to preach against homosexuality.
The head of the country’s Muslims, Mufti Sheikh Ramathan Mubajje, called on the authorities to enact even tougher laws against same-sex relations.
He was speaking at the Old Kampala mosque in the capital, Kampala, where hundreds had gathered for Friday prayers.
Earlier in the week, the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council circulated a letter to all clerics under its association gazetting Friday as the day to carry out peaceful protests against homosexuality in Uganda.
The clerics were asked to prepare sermons condemning same-sex relations and extend the same message to the media and schools.
In the event, the protests were only held in the eastern city of Jinja.
Gay rights activist Frank Mugisha described the protests as dangerous, saying they could increase cases of violence against those who identify as LGBT.
There has been a recent surge in homophobic sentiment in the country.
Last week, President Yoweri Museveni said Uganda would not embrace homosexuality and that the West should stop trying to impose its views and “normalise” what he called “deviations”.
An angry mob has reportedly burned down Access Bank, Union Bank, and First Bank in Delta.
The protest started peacefully on the streets of Udu before it turned violent.
Also, in Oyo and Osun, there have been violent protests over the scarcity of fuel and the new naira notes.
EKO HOT BLOGreports that Some hoodlums who joined protesters on Wednesday set ablaze Union, Access Bank, and First Bank branches in Udu area of Warri, Delta State.
The protest against the scarcity of the new Naira notes began on the streets of Udu before it turned violent, resulting in the burning of buildings by some hoodlums.
Yahaya Bello has revealed why he went alongside with El-Rufai to the supreme court.
The Supreme Court postponed the hearing of the states’ pooled lawsuits.
According to the Kogi governor, they are not against the redesign policy but the implementation by CBN.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has revealed why he and the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, stormed the Supreme Court on Wednesday.
The Supreme Court of Nigeria held a brief hearing on the suit filed on the naira swap policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The apex court, however, adjourned the hearing of the consolidated suits by states to Wednesday, February 22, 2023.
Bello, while addressing newsmen after the adjournment, said he and his Kaduna counterpart stormed the court to ensure that justice is obtained for the masses who are suffering the brunt of the policy at this time.
The Kogi State Governor said he and El-Rufai are not against the redesign policy but against the CBN implementation.
The Supreme Court hearing was attended by a delegation of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) on Wednesday.
He said, “We are in court because Nigerians are suffering as a result of this CBN muddled-up cashless versus currency redesign policy, that is why we are here today.”
Bello said the understanding from court proceedings suggests that the order made by the justices still subsists up till Wednesday, February 22 when the matter will be heard.
According to him, this is in reference to an injunction by the court, temporarily banning the implementation of the February 10 deadline of the CBN from making the old N200, N500 and N1,000 notes legal tender.
