BREAKING: NCC Restores Regulatory Services to Globacom

By Dansu Peter 

The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) has restored regulatory services to one of its licensees, Globacom Limited after it successfully cleared its outstanding debt obligations to the Commission for unpaid Spectrum Fees, Numbering Fees and Annual Operating Levy (AOL).

The Commission has also stepped down planned enforcement action against Globacom over its breach of extant regulations by failing to pay its debts despite several demand notices.

The Commission had temporarily withdrawn the suspension of regulatory services to Globacom in a letter dated May 22, 2023, titled “Re: Continuous Breach of Commission’s Laws and Regulations.”

The suspension of regulatory services to Globacom was automatically reinstated after it failed to meet the conditions for the earlier withdrawal.

DSS arrests suspended CBN Governor, Emefiele

By Dansu Peter 

The suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele has been arrested, multiple media reports suggest.

Reports say he was arrested by the men of the Nigerian Secret Police, the Department of State's Security. The arrest was reported shortly after President Bola Tinubu suspended Emefiele.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has earlier suspended the CBN Governor. He was suspended due to the ongoing investigation of his office and the planned reforms in the financial sector of the economy, the Presidency said. 

Prior to Emefiele’s suspension, the DSS, on December 7, 2022, in an exparte application with reference no: FHC/ABJ/CS/2255/2022, sought an order to arrest the CBN Governor.

The security agency accused Emefiele of financing terrorism, fraudulent activities and economic crimes of national security dimension.

The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice J.T Tsoho, however, refused to grant the application of the DSS.

The court said such an application should have been accompanied with the presidential approval because of the grave implications for the Nigerian economy if the CBN governor is arrested and detained.

BREAKING: Court sentences Osun billionaire hotel owner to death by hanging

By Dansu Peter 

Dr. Rahman Adedoyin, the billionaire owner of of Hilton Hotel, Ile-Ife has been sentenced to death by hanging by Osun State Chief Judge, Justice Oyebola Ọjọ́ over the murder of Timothy Adegoke. 

Earlier, Justice Ojo declared that Adedoyin, owner of Hilton Hotel, Ile-Ife, where Timothy Adegoke, an OAU postgraduate student was allegedly killed was culpable of murder.

The judge in her ongoing judgement said the owner of the hotel and two of his workers, based on the circumstances of the case established by the prosecuting counsel, Femi Falana, SAN, are found culpable of conspiracy to commit murder, and unlawful killing of the deceased.

Transport minister in maritime contract mess two weeks to exit

By Dansu Peter 

With less than 20 days to the end of the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, minister of transportation, has been accused of attempting to hijack the award of a lucrative maritime contract.

It was gathered tgat Sambo pressured relevant government institutions to terminate a procurement process and give the contract out to July Seventh Ventures Limited, a company linked to a former governor of Ogun state.

The job in contention is the channel dredging contract by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

Following the expiration of the previous Bonny Port dredging contract, the NPA management initiated a process to contract the task to qualified companies through an international competitive bidding process.

Aside the documented communication, the minister was said to have told persons involved privately that his attempt to seal the deal is at the behest of President Muhammadu Buhari, who, Sambo allegedly claimed, had directed him to give one of the channels to his long-term associate and former governor.

A search at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) shows that two directors of July Seventh Ventures Limited, who served under the former governor, were appointed into the position around the time Sambo began pushing for the company to take over Bonny Port dredging through the now controversial process.

In his bid to hasten the process and push for the contract, Sambo is working round the clock to pull the strings and ensure the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) is pressured into giving its nod on the deal, according to insiders.

The minister also reportedly held a weekend meeting with Mamman Amadu, director-general of BPP, and the leadership of the NPA on May 6.

The minister also took the BPP boss to see a top presidential aide at home to have the process fast-tracked, it was alleged.

But Mamman was said to have pointed out the implications to both the minister and the presidential aide, pleading with them to allow the NPA management conclude the process already in the pipeline.

The process for engaging new dredging companies for the three politage districts covered by the NPA was halted following refusal by its management to issue award letters to the pre-qualified companies, despite the certificate of no-objection issued by the BPP.

The NPA management, in a letter dated November 23, 2022, employed some technicalities along the initial procurement process to justify its request for cancellation of the almost concluded process and restarting it.

Disturbed by the suspicious moves, two of the pre-qualified companies in the botched procurement process, Messrs Dredging and Reclamation Jan De Nul Limited and Red Star Global Construction Limited approached federal high courts in Lagos and Abuja separately challenging the attempt to cancel the procurement process.

With the new legal challenge, both the BPP and Abubakar Malami, the attorney-general of the federation, have advised against the termination of the process pending the determination of the matter.

In a letter dated February 22, 2023, to one of the plaintiffs signed by the director solicitors of the ministry, she indicated that the attorney-general of the federation is unable to intervene on the matter in view of its pendency in court.

Insiders, however, said Sambo has refused to yield any ground.

Buhari responsible for insecurity in Benue, Nigeria - Benue Youth

By Dansu Peter 

The Benue Youth Forum, BYF has vehemently accused President Muhammadu Buhari of being responsible for the widespread of insecurity in Benue state and Nigeria as a whole.

The youths said it read with utter shock and disappointment a statement by  Buhari wherein he blamed Governor Samuel Ortom for the Federal Government's inability to protect lives and property in Benue state.

The President of the BYF, Terrence Kuanum in a  statement issued in Makurdi said its equally laughable how Buhari will be comparing himself with a state Governor in terms of achievements 

Kuanum said, "In the said statement by the loquacious Garba Shehu, the President claims that the security situation in Benue state was aggravated by Governor Ortom's refusal to accept and work on intelligence given to the Benue governor.

"What was most laughable about the statement is how the President would choose to compare himself with a state Governor in terms of achievements. And talking about achievements, perhaps the President needs to be reminded that no federal road is motorable in any part of Benue State as we speak. His administration has abandoned the state in every aspect of development. 

"Garba Shehu should inform Mr President that more than 200 innocent Benue people have been killed by armed herdsmen in the last two months and President Buhari or any of his appointees have not bothered to visit the state to see the level of devastation caused by the attacks and to console the people. 

"BYF wonders if Ortom's alleged refusal to treat intelligence as expected is responsible for the President's failure to end banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, religious tension and general insecurity especially in the North and his home state of Katsina.

"The President apparently wants Nigerians to believe that states like Kaduna, Plateau, Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, Borno and others are experiencing massive bloodletting because the governors of those states failed to accept and work on intelligence available to them.

"It is indeed unfortunate that the President has a tradition of blaming others for his colossal failure to guarantee the security and welfare of Nigerians.

"Also worrisome is the President's celebration of the defeat of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 elections in Benue state. But mocking Benue people does not in anyway invalidate the fact that Buhari and the All Progressives Congress, APC used instruments of state to militarize the polls and practically captured the state for their cronies who they believe would subvert the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of the state to cede land to Fulani pastoralists.

:Buhari should be aware that Benue people are still standing tall despite the militarization of the elections and would not be cowed by the antics of enemies of the state. 

It was ironic and shameful that a federal government which cannot protect Nigerians would deploy heavy military presence to Benue state to intimidate the people and ensure that its favorite candidates won the elections. 

"The Benue Youth Forum also expects the governor-elect to be mindful of the fact that he is seen as an ally of enemies of the state and should be cautious not to mortgage the lives of the people for political convenience and correctness.

"We call on the Benue APC to retrace its steps and change the narrative of rationalizing the killings in Benue state and desist from accusing the people of killing their loved ones.

"We once again state our resolve to stand by the law banning open grazing in Benue state and maintain our commitment to legally resisting any attempt to tamper with the law and pave way for land grabbers and merchants of death to have a field day in the state" he said

4 die, 11 rescued while fasting in forest to see "Jesus"; pastor arrested

By Dansu Peter 

                  (Picture only illustrative) 

FOUR brainwashed congregants have reportedly died in Kenyan forest while fasting to see Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

According to Kenyan police authority on Saturday, they have arrested a local cult leader who parades self as pastor following the death of 4 followers he reportedly told to starve themselves in order to “meet Jesus”.

Eleven other followers of the Good News International Church led by Makenzie Nthenge were taken to hospital, three of them in critical condition, after being rescued Friday in the Shakahola forest near the town of Malindi.

 My Pastoral Work Doesn't Stop Me From Singing Secular...

Police said they feared more victims would be discovered.

“The pastor is under arrest after he surrendered because he knew we were looking for him,” said Charles Kamau, criminal investigations chief of Malindi sub-county.

 

He was taken into custody, ahead of a court appearance scheduled for Monday.

Police raided the forest on the Kenyan coast on Friday after receiving reports of “ignorant citizens starving to death under the pretext of meeting Jesus after being brainwashed by a suspect, Makenzie Nthenge, a pastor of Good News International Church”.

The four dead have not yet been identified.

BREAKING: Police dismisses 1 inspector, 2 sergeants for unprofessional conducts

By Dansu Peter 

THREE officers of the Nigerian Police Force in Kano, Inspector Dahiru Shuaibu, Sergeant Abdullahi Badamasi, and Sergeant Isah Danladi have been dismissed for professional misconduct, the authority has said. 

According to the police authority, arising findings on video evidence widely circulated on Friday 7th April, 2023, on social media of high-handedness, unprofessional conduct, and misuse of firearms against some policemen from Special Protection Unit (SPU) Base 1, Kano,  and a follow-up orderly room trial of the affected policemen by the Force Provost Marshal, three officers from the SPU Base 1 Kano have been dismissed for the offences of discreditable conduct to wit misuse of firearms, abuse of power, gross indiscipline, and wastage of live ammunition.

The trio, Inspr. Dahiru Shuaibu, Sgt. Abdullahi Badamasi, and Sgt. Isah Danladi were attached to a musician in Kano on escort duties. In the course of their duty on Friday 7th April, 2023 at Kahutu Village, Katsina State, the officers repeatedly fired shots from their official firearms into the air despite police policy against firing in the air, standard operating procedure and relevant Force Orders; and disregarding the possible risk to the crowd at the location which included children. The act was not only criminal and unprofessional but also embarrassing to the Force and the nation at large.

The Nigeria Police Force hereby warms all officers to ensure they carry out their duties in line with the extant laws to avoid running foul of its provisions and attracting attendant sanctions. Supervising officers have also been tasked to ensure continuous and detailed lectures of their men to ensure they are well acquainted with all necessary standard operating procedures.

Property developer challenges AGF over legality of theft charges against him

By Dansu Peter 

A property developer, Mr Cecil Osakwe has challenged the legality of the charges brought against him by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice.

The AGF had, in a charge accused Osakwe of electricity theft to the tune of N11 million.

But, Osakwe, through his Counsel, Mr Victor Giwa, accused the office of the AGF of being used to harass and intimidate his client.

When the proceedings came up before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Osakwe challenged the legality of the task force that investigated the process leading to the filing of the charges against him on the ground that, the task force is unknown to law.

Osakwe had through his counsel filed a motion seeking to halt his arraignment on the ground that the special investigative task force on electricity set up by the Attorney General of the Federal and Minister of Justice was unlawful.

The Counsel drew the attention of the court to a pending suit challenging the legality of the panel that investigated his client and appealed to the court to stay  proceedings pending the determination of the suit.

The federal government, in a criminal charge filed against the property developer, Mr. Cecil Osakwe, over alleged N11 million electricity theft, accused him of tampering with electricity meters which resulted in the loss of N11 million in revenue to the Federal Government.