The Chairman of Eti-Osa East Local Council Development Area, John Campos, has directed the naming of a street in the area after the slain 41-year-old lawyer, Bolanle Raheem. Campos made this known during a visit to the family of the deceased lawyer on Wednesday. The husband of the deceased lawyer, Mr Gbenga Raheem, while speaking to sympathisers, appealed for calm, saying nothing could bring back his wife. The late Raheem was shot by a cop on Christmas Day while trying to make a U-turn at the Ajah Bridge.   She was a graduate of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State. She was the Chief Executive Officer of Croston Homes and co-founder, City Building, a real estate and property development company. The deceased was seven months pregnant when the tragedy struck.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has concluded plans to conduct sales of properties that are subjects of Final Forfeiture Orders. According to the commission, interested persons or organisations have until 12:00 noon Monday, January 9, 2023, to submit their bids. The EFCC’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, revealed in a statement obtained by our correspondent on Wednesday. Uwujaren said, “The properties consisting of 61 units of luxury apartments, plots of lands and apartments across the country are being offered for sale in accordance with the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004, Public Procurement Act, 2007 and the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022.” The PUNCH had earlier exclusively reported that the EFCC would auction 144 forfeited houses and lands across the country, with Lagos, Abuja, and Rivers State taking the lead. The EFCC spokesperson noted that the distribution of the properties were 24 units of luxurious block of flats at Banana Island,...

Nigerian pilgrims to Israel have been warned against any attempt to abscond at this year’s spiritual exercise. The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, Rev. Yakubu Pam, has said such a pilgrim will be arrested and prosecuted. Pam gave the warning at Yola International Airport during the official airlift of over 270 pilgrims from Taraba and Gombe states. He insisted that whoever absconded would be arrested and prosecuted by the Federal Government. Taraba and Gombe Christian pilgrims’ participation in this year’s exercise is coming after the return of over 300 pilgrims from Enugu State, who participated in the spiritual exercise. Addressing the pilgrims, the Executive Secretary of the commission charged them to be good ambassadors while in the Holy Land. He also urged them not to abscond, describing it as a grave offence. He noted that measures had been put in place to ensure that whoever absconded would be arrested and prosecuted. He thanked the...

Twitter followers have continued to react angrily to the death of the pregnant female lawyer, Bolanle Raheem, allegedly killed by an Assistant Superintendent of Police in Lagos. The two policemen on duty when the incident occurred in the Ajah area of the state on Sunday were also said to have been detained. Raheem, her sister, and four children were returning from an eatery in their car around 11 am when the policemen flagged them down under the Ajah Bridge. The ASP was said to have shot at the moving vehicle and a bullet hit Raheem who later died at the hospital she was rushed to. While reacting to the situation, a Twitter user, Olaniyan Sunday Olubunmi opined that there is an impending danger as police officers have started to take the law into their hands. He said, “Fire is burning on the mountain now & nobody seems to be on the run. Police have started again but nobody is saying anything to caution them but when members of the public take laws into their own hands n...

The United States government has announced a project that will strengthen the forensic and chemical analysis capacity of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, as well as its intelligence gathering and prosecution capabilities, The PUNCH reports. The latest support from the US Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs comes on the heels of an award of N500 million grant to fund selected projects in the anti-narcotics agency by the Abdul Samad Rabiu Initiative. The spokesperson for the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, revealed in a Monday statement obtained by our correspondent. Babafemi said, “According to an official letter announcing the US project grant to the NDLEA, the award followed requests by the Chairman, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), during a series of meetings with top US officials both in Abuja and in Washington DC. The letter noted that the project will be implemented by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in N...

Travellers across the southeastern states, who are going for the yuletide at various places, are lamenting the high cost of transportation occasioned by the festive period and increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol. As of Friday, petrol was selling between N260 to N370 per litre in some parts of Awka, Onitsha, Nnewi and Owerri and other parts of the region. While many filing stations were not dispensing the product, those that were selling had long queues, especially the ones selling at cheaper rates. Our correspondent who went round Onitsha, Awka, Nnewi, Owerri, observed that as a result of this, the cost of transportation has sharply increased across board up to about 300 per cent. This is in response to the fuel hike and the festive period, which always generates large turnout of commuters at motor parks. Some motorists expressed concern that the price of petrol and transportation fare have continued to rise even before and during the yu...

Christmas address by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Federal Republic of Nigeria, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), delivered on December 24, 2022. I heartily rejoice with our Christian brothers and sisters on the occasion of this year’s Christmas. Many of us look forward to this festive season as a time to travel, share gifts, spend quality time with family and friends, attend special carols and events, and generally relive the good moments of the year. In whatever circumstances we find ourselves, Christmas is a period when we come together to rejoice and set aside our differences. For me and my family, this year’s celebration is unique. It is my last as your elected President. Twenty-two weeks from now, this administration will hand over to another. In the last seven years, I have had the privilege of receiving members of the Federal Capital Territory community on Christmas homage, except the year the COVID-19 pandemic denied us that opportu...

The demand for the restructuring of Nigeria took centre stage in Abuja on Wednesday during a town hall meeting organised for stakeholders and political parties by African Network for Environmental and Economic Justice, a civil rights organisation. While expressing concerns about the challenges facing Nigeria, the parties, in separate interviews with The PUNCH, said restructuring was the way forward for Nigeria should they get to office in 2023. During the town hall meeting organized by ANEEJ with support from the United States Agency for International Development and Palladium, the stakeholders said the restructuring would involve the devolution of powers from the centre to the states. The parties at the event included New Nigerian Peoples Party, Allied Peoples Movement, Labour Party, Action Alliance, Young Progressive Party and Accord Party. The Deputy Executive Director of ANEEJ, Leo Atakpu, said the program aimed to secure the commitment of political parties on anti-corr...

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has forwarded to the Senate, a request for approval of restructuring of N23.7tn Ways and Means advances given to the Federal Government by the Central Bank of Nigeria. The President as stated in a letter read in Senate Plenary on Wednesday, said Ways and Means are advances from the CBN to the federal government for emergency funding of delayed receipt of fiscal deficit. The letter titled ‘Restructuring of Ways and Means Advances’ reads in part, ” The ways and means advance by the central bank of Nigeria, to the federal government has been a funding option to the federal government to cater for short term or emergency finance to fund delayed government expected cash receipt of physical deficit. “The ways and means, balances as of 19th December 2022 is N23,719,703,774,306.90. “I  have approved the securitization of the ways and means balances along the following terms ÷ Amount. N23 .7tn Tenure 40 years, Moratorium on ...

The federal government says it is putting measures in place to stop cash withdrawal from the federal, states and local government accounts. The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Modibbo Hamman Tukur revealed this on Tuesday at a parley with the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmud Yakubu. According to the NFIU boss, “Due to the consistent devaluation of the naira and the introduction of a new naira policy, Section 1 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act is automatically activated.” Tukur further stated that most cash withdrawals from government accounts including payments were often in excess of the cash withdrawal limit provided by the Money Laundering Act. He said this exposed innocent public servants to being liable to imprisonment. He added that the NFIU would send an advisory to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, all governors and local government council chairmen, dir...

The House of Representatives has resolved to constitute an ad hoc committee to investigate a whistle-blower’s allegation of illegal sale of 48 million barrels of Nigeria’s Bonny Light crude in China in 2015 and the insurance status of the cargo. The committee is also to investigate all crude oil exports and sales by Nigeria from 2014 to date, with regards to quantity, insurance, revenue generated, remittances into the Federation Account or other accounts as well as utilisation of the revenue for the period under review. In addition, the panel will investigate all proceeds recovered through the Whistle-Blowers Policy of the regime led by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), and the level of compliance by the policy. The committee is to report back within four weeks for further legislative action. These resolutions followed the unanimous adoption of a motion moved by a member of the House, Ibrahim Isiaka, titled ‘Alleged Loss of over $2.4 Billion in Revenue ...

Protesters numbering over 200 on Monday stormed a Federal High Court in Abuja following a suit secretly filed by the Department of State Services, accusing the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, of terrorism financing and other crimes. The protesters included Buhari Legacy Defenders, Arewa Youth Consultative Movement, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Movement, African Centre for Justice and Human rights, Ethnic Youth Leaders, Political Parties Chairmen Forum and Lawyers in Defence of Economic Rights and Justice. They marched to the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation where they submitted a petition against the action of the DSS and demanded the sack of its DG, Yusuf Bichi. They also submitted similar letters to the office of the President, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Inspector-General of Police, among others. The protesters, who carried placards with various inscriptions, also alleged that the DSS embarked on the plot to remove th...

The Nigeria Correctional Service said the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.)’s foresight gave the service a new face that has enhanced commitment to duty. The National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Controller of Corrections, Umar Abubakar, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Abuja. Abubakar said President Buhari’s massive support had brought about a lot of changes that were evident in the service, adding that the new face currently unveiling was a work in progress. He said, ”I want to use this opportunity to appreciate President Buhari for his foresight in ensuring that there is a new face of NCoS. “There are a lot of changes that have been done and still ongoing. “I will refer to it as a work in progress because it is just part of the 2019 NCoS Act that was signed into law that brings about some of these changes. “This is not a change in just the uniform of the officers and men, or that of the inmates or even the chan...

At least one person has been confirmed dead following a rail/motor fatal accident at Chikakore axis in the Kubwa Area council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Confirming the unfortunate incident which occured on Thursday, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Josephine Adeh said officers have been mobilized to the area to investigate the matter. The PPRO said the victim was confirmed dead by a medical practitioner shortly after operatives of the command were swiftly drafted to the area to take charge of the development. The statement reads, “The FCT Police Command is aware of the unfortunate incident of Rail/ motor fatal accident that happened at Chikakore axis in the Kubwa Area council of the FCT. “Upon receipt of the information Crime scene investigators attached to the Byazin Divisional Police Headquarters drifted swiftly to the scene, took charge of the situation, where the victim was confirmed dead by medical practitioner on ground. “Investigation has co...

Nigerians will mark Christmas and New Year celebrations with hike in good prices as inflation rose to 24.13 per cent in November. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the food inflation rate in November was 6.92 per cent higher compared to the rate recorded in November 2021 (17.21 per cent). NBS said the rise in food inflation was caused by increases in prices of bread and cereals, oil and fat, potatoes, yam and other tubers, food products and fish. It added that headline inflation rate also rose to 21.47 per cent. “This was 6.07% points higher compared to the rate recorded in November 2021, which was 15.40%. This means that in the month of November 2022, the general price level was 6.07% higher relative to November 2021.” “On a month-on-month basis, the headline inflation rate in November 2022 was 1.39%, this was 0.15% higher than the rate recorded in October 2022 (1.24%). This means that in the month of November 2022, the general price level was 0.15 perc...

The Federal Government, on Wednesday, approved a new Whistle Blower draft bill. It also lamented that the existing Whistle-blowing policy launched on December 21, 2016, is “losing momentum.” The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr Zainab Ahmed, disclosed this to State House Correspondents after this week’s Council meeting, chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja. Launched in December 2016 by the Buhari-led Government, the Whistleblower Protection Act, facilitated through the Federal Ministry of Finance, provides legal cover for individuals who voluntarily expose acts of fraud, bribery, looted government funds and assets, financial misconduct and other forms of corruption. The policy also rewards a whistleblower who provides information about any financial mismanagement or tipoff about stolen funds to the ministry’s portal with 2.5 – 5 per cent of the funds recovered by the Nigerian government. Speaking after this week’s FEC me...

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has disbursed the sum of N9.714 trillion through various intervention funding programes across several real sector industries.  According the bank’s Development Finance  Department (DFD) Report made available at its 2022 Retreat,  in Abuja, yesterday,  the Manufacturing/Industry sector had the highest allocation of 32.6 percent. It was followed by Energy/Infrastructure and Agriculture with 23. 1 percent and 22.8 percent allocations, respectively. Speaking at the retreat, the Director of DFD, Mr. Philip Yusuf, said that the CBN was at the forefront of food security in the country.  He noted that although some people had raised concerns about rising food inflation, despite the bank’s massive interventions in the agricultural sector, the nation would have faced famine if the CBN had not intervened. His words, “The CBN has been at the forefront of ensuring Nigeria achieves food security in collaboration with other fiscal...

Forty-eight hours after the expiration of the ultimatum by the Department of State Services (DSS) to stakeholders in the oil sector, petrol scarcity has persisted in Plateau, Kaduna, Kogi and Kano states, and other parts of the country, Daily Trust reports. The DSS, at a meeting with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), Depot and Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPMAN) and Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) on Thursday, gave the stakeholders a 48-hour ultimatum to end the fuel scarcity to avert incitement or security breach in the country. The stakeholders had agreed to resolve the crisis. But Daily Trust observed on Monday that long queues were yet to disappear in major cities, making black marketers have a field day, selling the commodity for as much as N350 per litre.

The Comptroller-General of Immigration Service (CGIS) Isah Jere Idris, has directed the immediate setting up of diaspora desks in all International airports in order to have a seamless passport process for all Nigerians coming home this yuletide period and may be desirous of processing their passports. The Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Anthony Akuneme (DCI), disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Monday. He added that, in line with this, the CGIS had directed passport offices across the country to give priority attention to such citizens living outside the country and their families bearing in mind that most of them have a specific time of returning to their countries of residence. “The CGIS affirmed the commitment of the Service to continue rendering effective and efficient service delivery to all Nigerians both at home and abroad, as well as non-Nigerians who are desirous of using any of the service windows,” the statement added. Th...

The Federal Government through the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority on Monday said pre-arrival or post-arrival testing for COVID-19 was no longer a prerequisite for travellers, “irrespective of vaccination status.” This announcement was contained in a letter by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, dated December 12, 2022, and addressed to airline operators. The letter read, “COVID-19 Travel Testing: Pre-departure and post-arrival COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction tests are no longer required for all passengers irrespective of vaccination status. The PCR tests required for all passengers who are partially/not fully vaccinated have been suspended.” It further noted that aside from the suspension of the COVID tests, wearing of face masks was no longer mandatory for passengers on-board aircraft. When contacted, the General Manager Public Affairs, NCAA, Sam Adurogboye, said, ”That is the current state and development which is at the instance of the Presidential Steering Comm...

Passengers of the Abuja-Kaduna Train station on Monday were left stranded as a result of the inactiveness of the National Identification Management Commission server. The PUNCH  reports that the train services resumed operations on December 5, 2022, after eight months of suspension on the rail lines as a result of the terrorists’ attack on the train. According to media reports, train passengers scheduled for 9:45am trip could not board the train as a result of the breakdown of the server. The report further stated that passengers were left with no other choice than to travel to Kaduna by road. When contacted, the Station Superintendent, Idu, Peter Osazuwa, said, “We had small network issues concerning the National Identification Number, not our own server. It was later rectified and we used it for the other train that left by 3pm today.” Responding to a question on what happened to the passengers, he said, ”The instruction is from the Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu ...

The management and board of governors of Rehoboth College, Ilorin, Kwara State, have congratulated the overall best graduating student of the Nigerian Law School, 2022, Omotayo Dada. The congratulatory message was contained in a statement by a foremost Professor of Education, Prof. Alfred Adegoke, on Sunday, in Ilorin on behalf of Dada’s alma mater, Rehoboth College. He described Dada as a flagship alumnus of the institution and a glowing light of the school’s virtues and tenacity for academic excellence. “The entire community of the school is extremely glad to identify with your noble achievement at the Nigerian Law School. “This is a vivid indicator that the motto of the school, which is Godliness, the foundation for academic excellence, was well imbibed by you. “We, therefore, implore you not to relent in your career pursuit, and we pray that you will fly higher in the legal profession, even on a global stage,” he said. Dada received her secondary school education at Reh...

Despite the denial by the Nigerian security authorities, the United Nations has urged the Federal Government to investigate the report by Reuters of alleged abortions on pregnant women associated with the Boko Haram insurgents by Nigerian soldiers. Reuters had on Wednesday, December 7, 2022, in a publication, alleged that the Nigerian Army has been running a secret and illegal abortion programme in the northeast since at least 2013. The report alleged that no fewer than 10,000 pregnancies among women and girls, many of whom had been kidnapped and raped by Islamist militants. The military however denied the report, saying it was false. The military egghead also claimed that the report was an attempt to paint the military and the country in a bad light, stressing soldiers had always upheld the best global ethical standards in their operations. But, the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, called on the Federal Government to investigate the allegation of coerced...

The Senate on Friday screened the two newly re-appointed deputy governors of the Central Bank of Nigeria and backed down on the planned grilling of the officials on the cash withdrawal limit policy unveiled by the apex bank on Tuesday. The Red chamber had on Wednesday at the plenary commissioned the committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions to get clarifications from the apex bank chiefs when screening them for their re-appointment. Controversies have continued to trail the planned policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria to limit cash withdrawal for individuals to N100,000 and Corporate Bodies N500, 000 per week, the apex bank chiefs, however, told the Senate Committee that it was high time Nigeria embraced the policy. Our correspondent observed that the senators simply asked for an explanation from the deputy governors without further probing into the policy’s details. The Deputy Governor of CBN on Financial System Stability, Mrs Aishat Ahmad, explaine...

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Kwara State Command, has arrested three suspects for alleged criminal conspiracy and fuel diversion. The Commandant, Ibrahim Tukur, disclosed this at a press briefing in Ilorin on Thursday. He said the fuel tanker driven by one Buhari Joda, (37), with 33,000 litres of PMS was arrested at Oladeji filling station in Ilorin, the state capital on December 7th,2022. The Commandant said while 22,000 litres were discharged at the Oladeji filling station in the Ilorin metropolis, the remaining 11,000 litres were discharged at the Oladeji filling station at the Oko-Olowo axis of Ilorin. The two filling stations have also been sealed while investigations is ongoing. Tukur said the waybill of the truck indicated that the fuel supply was meant for a community at Ikorodu in Lagos State but diverted to Ilorin, Kwara State capital. The Commandant revealed that the driver, arrested alongside two motor boys, Hamidu Joda (32) and Buhari Am...

President of the United States of America, Joe Biden, has invited 49 African heads of state and the head of the African Union for a three-day US-Africa Leaders Summit. The summit, scheduled for 13-15 December 2022, will take place in Washington DC, the US capital. This was contained in a press statement made available to our correspondent on Thursday. According to the statement, Biden believes that U.S. collaboration with African leaders, as well as civil society, business, diaspora, women, and youth leaders, is essential to addressing these shared challenges. The goal of this historic summit will be to build and expand vital political, economic, and strategic partnerships, as well as people-to-people dialogue, based on mutual interests and shared priorities in Africa. The statement noted, “The summit’s agenda will be packed, including increasing sustainable food production, strengthening health systems, providing humanitarian assistance, responding to the climate crisis, r...

The House of Representatives has passed for second reading, a bill, which proposes six months jail term for parents who abandon their newborns or growing children.  The bill tagged, “Act to Re-amend the Child Rights Act, Cap. C50, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004,”’ is sponsored by the member representing Esan North East/Esan South East federal constituency, Sergius Ogun (Edo, PDP).   Presenting the bill at the plenary on Tuesday, the sponsor stated that, “This bill seeks to make provision within the child’s right act against the practice of child abandonment by parents by introducing a new sub-section 3 into the extant section 14 of the Act. The provision goes thus; ‘No child shall be abandoned at the time or place of birth, the conditions of his birth notwithstanding.”   “Parents that abandon a child at the time of his birth shall be guilty of an offence and upon conviction shall be liable to fine of N200,000 or six months imprisonment or bo...

The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, (JAMB), Prof Ishaq Oloyede, has called for the review of relevant civil service laws to address the lacuna bordering on the death of a worker on the eve of retirement. Oloyede made the call in Bwari, Abuja at a ceremony held in honour of 24 staff of the board who have attained the compulsory retirement age of 35 years of service. The JAMB boss described the retirement ceremony as a joyous event as the staff were retiring without blemish when there were some who started with them but were not there to finish. He urged the retirees to be thankful to God for meritorious services to the country and the grace to peacefully retire. He disclosed that six directors were among the retirees adding that Dr Yusuf Lawal, who was the former Director of Test Administration at JAMB, had transferred his services to the University of Abuja. Earlier, the Director of Human Resources, Mr Mohammed Shehu, while congratulating the reti...

The 63 kidnapped victims of the March 28 train attack on the Abuja-Kaduna passengers are demanding compensation from the Federal Government to enable them to start a new life. Their demand came barely 24 hours after the Nigerian Railway Corporation resumed train services on the Abuja-Kaduna route. The deadly attack claimed the lives of nine passengers. Speaking to journalists in Kaduna on Tuesday, the victims lamented that most of them lost their means of livelihood during the period they were in the custody of the terrorists who kidnapped them during that attack. They also claimed that the Federal Government was yet to fulfil the promises made to them shortly after meeting with the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), upon their release in October, noting that most of them were already suffering from depression and psychological disorder that required urgent medical attention. The PUNCH reported that terrorists had released their captors in batches until the ...

The Congress of University Academics (CONUA) has expressed its disappointment with the Federal Government, especially the Ministry of Labour and Employment, over the non-payment of its members’ withheld salaries and threatened to seek legal redress. The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, had presented certificates of registration to CONUA and the Nigeria Association of Medical and Dental Lecturers in Academics (NAMDA) at the peak of the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in October, a move believed to be targeted at decimating ASUU’s authorities. The president of CONUA, Dr. Niyi Sunmonu in a statement issued on Tuesday said even when the government knew its members were not involved in the strike action that lasted for eight months, their salaries were being withheld. He said the non-payment of their withheld salaries contravened Section 43 (1b) of the Trade Disputes Act CAP. T8, which states that “where any employer locks out his workers...