President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday approved $8.5 million for the immediate evacuation of Nigerian citizens from Ukraine.
In a statement to newsmen, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Zubairu Dada, said no fewer than 5,000 citizens will be evacuated.
The approval was issued earlier today at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.
In preparation for the evacuation, Air Peace and Max Air airlines have been reportedly contracted to provide three aircraft to facilitate the rescue.
Naija News understands that the evacuation became necessary following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
Women protesters have stormed the National Assembly to kick against the outcome of the voting on constitutional amendment.
Naija News recalls that four bills promoting the interest of women were rejected by members of parliament on Tuesday during the electronic voting process.
The rejected bills are special seats for women in the legislature, reserve quota for women on appointments, citizenship and 35 percent party leadership.
On Wednesday, the women groups across the country blocked the Federal Secretariat axis entrance of the National Assembly to protest against the rejection of the bills.
The protesters, who were not allowed into the legislative complex by security operatives, called on the lawmakers to reconsider the rejected gender bills.
The women promised not to leave the National Assembly gate until the leadership of the legislature address them.
According to the protesters, the national leadership must reveal how each lawmaker voted on the bills.
Recall that a civil rights activist, Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, had said that women groups all over the nation would storm the national assembly in protest of the lawmakers’ actions.
Speaking during a virtual media briefing on Tueday, Akiyode-Afolabi said Nigeria women are disappointed by the actions of the national assembly.
She said: “The proposed gender bills in the constitution alteration bills that were all rejected are bills targeted at addressing the current gender imbalance across the legislative arm of governments across the country, whilst reducing the under-representation of women in political office.
“The men of the ninth national assembly, by their actions, have taken us backwards. Their actions undermine the importance and relevance of women’s contribution to the governance of Nigeria, including the key role women play to bring victory to political parties in elections at all levels across the country.
“Nigerian women, therefore, demand that all gender bills be reconsidered. We call on the national assembly to re-present these bills as a matter of urgency and ensure that they are passed.”
Heavyweight boxer, Vitali Klitschko on Tuesday addressed the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin over the invasion of Ukraine.
Klitschko who took up arms alongside his brother, Wladimir Klitschko last Friday noted that they are ready to die protecting Ukraine.
Russian troops invaded Ukraine last Thursday following an order from President Putin
Klitschko who is the Mayor of Kyiv disclosed that there are enemies on the outskirts of the capital, but added that the Ukrainian military is ‘preparing to defend Kyiv’.
Klitschko in an interview with CNN said, “We were in the USSR, we don’t want to go back to the Russian empire.
“I am very proud to see how patriotic people are. We’re not interested in how strong the Russian army is, we’re ready to fight.
“And we’re ready to die for our home country and our families, because it’s our home, it’s our future and somebody wants to come to our home and steal our future from us.”
Klitschko when asked how long Kyiv can hold out, “I’m not ready to give you a clear answer. So long, so long time, if we’re still alive.”
The war has left hundreds of people dead, properties destroyed, and thousands have been rendered homeless.
The Oyo State Government has condemned the arrest of arrested the Accountant-General of the state, Alhaji Gafar Bello, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Naija News had reported that the anti-graft agency arrested Bello and a yet-to-be-identified politician last week Friday over his alleged involvement in N9billion money laundering.
It was learned that Bello was arrested over the deduction of N9billion from the local government funds to finance the upcoming elections in the state in 2023.
In a statement on Tuesday, the state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Wasiu Olatubosun described Bello’s arrest as illegal and unacceptable.
The commissioner said the continued harassment and intimidation of officials of the state government by the EFCC is being contested in a court of competent jurisdiction.
He said officials of the agency have since last year been mounting pressure on the state and its officials to provide documents regarding disbursements and expenditure of some funds and security vote lawfully passed into law by the state House of Assembly.
The statement reads: “The continued harassment and intimidation of the Accountant General and other officials of the state government by the EFCC is totally unconstitutional and unacceptable and is being contested in a court of competent jurisdiction.
“The EFCC and its officials have, since last year been mounting pressure on Oyo State and its officials to provide documents regarding disbursements and expenditure of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, Contingencies Fund and Security Vote lawfully approved and passed into Appropriation Law of Oyo State by the Oyo State House of Assembly. This is despite the fact that the Supreme Court of Nigeria has decided in a long line of cases that the EFCC lacks the powers to prosecute issues that are not corruption cases.
“We would like to put it on record that by virtue of Section 128 (1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, unless and until the Oyo State House of Assembly reports or exposes any corruption, inefficiency or waste in the execution or administration of laws within its legislative competence and in the disbursement or administration of funds appropriated by it to the Executive Governor of Oyo State and Commissioner for Finance, Section 6 (h) of the EFCC Establishment Act 2004 (as amended) cannot be triggered.
“The Oyo State House of Assembly has not made any such reports and thus the actions so far by the EFCC and the EFCC Chairman are unconstitutional and ultra-vires.
“In line with this conviction, the Oyo State Government had approached the Federal High Court, in the Ibadan Judicial Division on February 8, 2022, for declaratory reliefs and to among other things, issue an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Defendants (1. Attorney General of the Federation; 2. Economic and Financial Crimes Commission; 3. President of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria and 4. The Chairman EFCC) their functionaries or agencies or whosoever from interfering with the activities of any government officials in Oyo State (i.e. any public officer or functionary or officer or servant of the government of Oyo State) in the exercise of powers purported to be conferred by or under the provisions of the EFCC Act, 2004 with relation to the expenditure and or spending of the Oyo State Government or security votes as vested in the Governor of Oyo State.
“The EFCC had brazenly refused service of the processes at the Abuja Head Office for reasons unknown to the law but as of today, March 1, 2022, at the hearing in Ibadan, Hon Justice N. Agomoh directed the EFCC to accept service of the Oyo State Government originating processes and pending applications in the full glare of the Court. The Trial Judge also ordered that all forms of arrest and intimidation by the EFCC should cease. The case has been adjourned to March 9, 2022 for the hearing of all applications.
“The arrest of the Oyo State Accountant General on Friday, February 25, 2022, was a desperate and malicious attempt at thwarting a constitutional process that had already been instituted at the Federal High Court, Ibadan, with a hearing date of Monday, March 1, 2022.”
The Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi and the Alaafin of Oyo Oba Lamidi Adeyemi have met with the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola at his private residence with the aim of settling the rift between him and Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Recall that Naija News earlier reported that highly placed sources had said that stakeholders in Yoruba land, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party, and some influential leaders of thought in Nigeria are making efforts to bring the duo back together.
The reconciliation is said to be paramount for the success of the APC in the upcoming governorship election in Osun State and the 2023 general presidential election.
The source said: “I can say authoritatively that reconciliation efforts to close the rank between Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola are underway, and already beginning to yield positive results. I am confident that sooner than expected, the two APC chieftains will embrace each other and continue to work together as brothers.”
New reports have emerged from the palace revealing that the reconciliation is moving foward smoothly and both parties have shown that they are interested in putting their differences aside, Vanguard reports.
The involvement of the monarchs in the situation has reportedly helped in making the situation between the duo better.
The House of Representatives has rejected the proposal to grant constitutional life pension to the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives and their deputies.
Naija News reports that 162 lawmakers voted to knock out the proposal, 28 members voted to grant them life pension while three lawmakers stayed away from the voting exercise.
After the voting exercise, a total of 193 votes by the members of the House of Representatives were recorded.
In a related development, the National Assembly has passed a bill for an Act mandating the President and Governors to submit nominees for Ministers and Commissioners within 30 days of swearing-in.
Ninety-two Senators voted in favour of the bill while one abstained.
In the Green chamber, twenty hundred and eighty-nine House of Representatives members voted in favour of the bill, which was passed.
The National Assembly on Tuesday voted against the provision of special seats for women in the legislature.
Members of the two chambers rejected the provision during voting on clause 68 being considered in the ongoing constitutional amendment.
The proposed Bill on VAT reads: “A Bill for an Act to Alter Part I of the Second Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to include Value Added Tax on the Exclusive Legislative List; and for Related Matters”.
Naija News reports that both the Senate and the House of Representatives moved against moving Value Added Tax (VAT) to exclusive legislative list.
At the House of Representatives, 209 members voted against moving VAT while 208 members voted against the provision of special seats for women.
The Bill on Special seats for women reads: “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Provide for Special Seat for Women in the National and State Houses of Assembly; and for Related Matters”.
41 Senators voted in favour of the proposed amendment, while 44 voted against, failing to meet the required two-third (73) membership.
Like the green chamber, the red chamber also voted against creating special legislative seats for women in the National and State assemblies.
The proposed amendment suffered set back after 30 senators voted in favour, while 58 voted against.
The bill seeks to create special seats for women in the Senate, House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly by creating one special seat in each state of the Federation and the FCT reserved solely for women without prejudice to their eligibility to contest in the existing senatorial seats in each state and the FCT.
For the House of Representatives, it is two additional seats for each state and the FCT that is to be reserved for women without prejudice to their eligibility to contest for the other seats.
And finally for the Houses of Assembly of each state one additional seat from each of the three Senatorial District is reserved solely for women.
Also, a proposal to include at least 35 women in political party administration also failed to scale through.
34 senators voted in favour of the provision while 53 voted against it.
The founder and executive chairman of Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspapers, SuccessDigest and other online publications, Dr. Emmanuel Sunny Ojeagbase has died.
Naija News reports that his death was announced in a statement on Monday by Mr Julius Ojeagbase on behalf of his family.
Pastor Ojeagbase died on Saturday, 26 February, 2022 in Atlanta, United States of America (USA) after a brief illness.
Dr. Ojeagbase, who was 71 years, hailed from Uzebba, Iuleha in Owan West of Edo State.
Popularly known as Sunny Ojeagbase (or simply “S.O.”) before he added Emmanuel to his names, the late media entrepreneur broke into national consciousness as the pioneer publisher of sports news in Nigeria when he established Sports Souvenir weekly newspaper in 1984.
Before then, he was a retired soldier of the Nigerian Army who cut his teeth in sports journalism as a stringer at the Daily Times newspapers in the mid-1970s. Through sheer talent, determination and hard work, Ojeagbase blossomed very quickly and was appointed sports editor of Sunday Concord newspapers at inception in 1980 and sports editor of The Guardian newspapers also at inception in 1983. He resigned from The Guardian in 1984 to pursue his dream as an entrepreneur.
Between 1984 and 1994, Ojeagbase introduced several other pioneering sports titles including Complete Football magazine, Complete Football International (CFI) and International Soccer Review (ISR) into the Nigerian sports market. Remarkably, the Complete Football titles played very prominent roles in ensuring Nigeria’s first appearance at the FIFA World Cup at USA 1994 as well as the country’s football Gold medal win at the Atlanta ’96 Olympic Games also in the USA. Between those two historic events in Nigerians sports, Ojeagbase introduced Complete Sports as the Number One daily sports newspaper in Nigeria in 1995.
Also in 1994, Ojeagbase co-founded with his wife, Pastor (Mrs) Esther Ojeagbase, the Success Attitude Development Centre (SADC) with a vision and mission to teach young Nigerian entrepreneurs how to start, run and make a success of their businesses. SADC has gone on to produce and inspire thousands of successful entrepreneurs who are protégés of the Ojeagbase’s and many of whom are now employers of labour.
Pastor, Dr. Sunny Emmanuel Ojeagbase is survived by his wife, Pastor (Mrs) Esther Ojeagbase, his children both biological and adopted, as well as grandchildren and other relatives. He will also be sorely missed by friends, mentees and business associates.
The entire Ikateland and the Elegushi household have been thrown into deep mourning after Oba Saheed Elegushi, Ikusenla II, the Oba of Ikateland, lost his only son.
The young lad, who recently clocked a year and seven months old, is his first and only son from his second wife, Queen Hadiza Elegushi, nee Tanko.
The toddler who was born on August 21, 2020, in London, was the heir apparent to the Elegushi throne before his death.
The national body of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has queried the Lagos State Council Chairman, Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya aka MC Oluomo, over alleged insubordination and anti-union activities
The letter dated February 14, signed by the General Secretary of the union, Alhaji Kabiru Ado Yau, accused Akinsanya of refusing to carry out directives given to him by the national body.
The letter reads: “Our attention has been drawn to the fact that despite the National Secretariat’s directives during a meeting with you and other members of the Lagos State Administrative Council (SAC) in Abuja on February 9, pertaining to the appointment of Alhaji Azeez Abiola as chairman, Lagos State NURTW Tricycle Operators, you have refused to comply. Instead, you have resorted to intimidation and assault on the newly appointed tricycle chairman.”
The national body added that Akinsanya refused to hand over the former NURTW Secretariat situated at Abule Egba to the tricycle caretaker committee in a bid to prevent them from using the office.
He was also accused of using thugs to forcefully take over branches of his perceived enemies.
“It is on record that you mobilised thugs to forcefully take over the operations of some local branches headed by perceived opponents. To avoid the wrath of the union, the national headquarters, directed M C Oluomo to within 48 hours hand over the former state council secretariat at Abule Egba to the newly appointed Lagos state Tricycle Committee; withdraw all those men you sent to take over the branches of your perceived opponents and submit a written apology to the national secretariat. Failure to comply with the foregoing directives will leave the National Secretariat with no option other than to take disciplinary action against you in line with the provisions of the union’s constitution,” the letter reads.
Speaking with The Nation yesterday, Akinsanya said the letter got to his office on February 25.
“I was not around when the letter was delivered. I will be in office tomorrow (today) to look at the content and respond appropriately. I will also avail you (The Nation) my response,”Akinsanya said.
