Daybreak, Politics, Entertainment, Sport

Category: News

You can add some category description here.

Group Clear CBN of Corruption Allegations
… Threatens to Sue US Based Organisation
A coalition of civil society groups, Conference of Harmonised Civil Society Organisations has said the allegations of corruption levelled against the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and her officials by a US based group, Young Professionals Forum are mere fabrications and an attempt to demarket the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Speaking on behalf of the CSOs at a press conference in Abuja, Rev Solomon Semaka, Convener, Save Nigeria Movement explained that investigation by the taskforce revealed that the petitioners made no efforts to get clarifications on issues from the CBN before making its allegations and sued for caution.
Recall that the CSOs had set up a taskforce headed by Rev Solomon Semaka of the Save Nigeria Movement following allegations of corruption against the apex bank and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for illegal diversion of $24,263,008.56 by a US group, to investigate and come up with a report on the exact situation without fear or favour.
“In the cause of our findings, we discovered that all the allegations leveled against the Central Bank Of Nigeria were premeditated, concocted and represents an indisputable definition of wild speculation precipitated on blackmail , and a coordinated smear campaign against the CBN Governor and the institution.
“The Young Professional Forum has the right to fact check every information with the CBN using the freedom of Information Act (FOI). As Nigerians, to resort to blackmail, intimidation and smear campaign against the highest financial regulatory authority of our their country why sitting outside the shores of Nigeria is to say the least a very shameful and unpatriotic act”,. he taskforce maintained.
It further described as unfortunate the petition by the group saying it was unpatriotic for Nigerians to team up with enemies of the country outside to demarket the country and its institutions.
” What exactly is the motive of the organisation’s haste in writing to the US Congress Speaker even before writing to the Nigerian Parliament. Is this not simply to demarket the Nigerian state and ridicule the nation?
“On the allegations of the illegal diversion of $24,263,008.56 by CBN and NNPC, the task force maintained that no such fund ever existed let alone diverted.
“We wish to further enlightened the Nigerian public that the forex market as highlighted in those allegations was already been run by some individuals and organizations in line with CBN regulations before the assumption of duty of the current leadership. And the market value is well above ($800M).
“To therefore continue to drop the names of Alh Isa Funtua, Maman Daura, Nasir Danu, Lawan Daura, etc to paint a picture of an illegal cartel against the country is very shameful, despicable and unpatriotic, the task force maintained.
“To confirm that, the allegation of the award of thirty billion naira contract to Bullet Construction was emotional, light weight and of no effect. Firstly, Bullet construction can do jobs anywhere in Nigeria, including at the CBN. The company is very qualified and above all competent. Or does the group prefer foreign companies as always? Or should Nigerians suspect a sponsorship from a rival foreign company? This calls to question the credibility of the purpose and intent of the US based group against the CBN.
“We have resolved as the watchdog of the society to always hold governments accountable to communicate our findings to Nigerians and the US Congress just for record purposes. Our resolution 112 is to write to the US Congress to disregard the allegations against the CBN by the Young Professionals Forum in New York”.
The CSOs further urge the group and any other Nigerian who has issues with operations of any agency in the country to make use of nation’s anti corruption agencies such as EFCC and ICPC to get things done rather than resort to black market and short circuits formulas.
“By this, and in the interest of our national image, we here pass a vote of confidence on the CBN Leadership .
“We furthermore , give the group and her leader, Mr Jackson Ude (14 days) to retrieve those publications against the CBN and above all apologize to Nigerians or face legal action”, the group added.
June 16, 2020
China-Africa summit against COVID-19 holds Wednesday
Chinese President Xi Jinping will preside over an extraordinary China-Africa summit on solidarity against Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Beijing on Wednesday.
He will also deliver a keynote speech, foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying announced Tuesday.
The summit is jointly proposed by China; South Africa, the rotating chair of the African Union (AU); and Senegal, co-chair of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
It will be held via video link.
Leaders of African countries, including members of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government and rotating chairs of major African sub-regional organisations; and the chairperson of the AU Commission will attend the summit upon invitation.
The secretary-general of the UN and the director-general of the World Health Organisation will attend the meeting as special guests.(Xinhua/NAN)
June 16, 2020
Why I visited Synagogue church –Man United player, Gomez
A Manchester United Football Club player, Angel Gomez, has reacted to a viral video on the social media showing his visit to the Synagogue Church of All Nations, Lagos State.
The video, released by the church, shows the Briton telling the SCOAN’s founder, Prophet TB Joshua, that he is 16 and has injuries in his hips and groins.
He also says the injuries have affected his career.
He is touched by Joshua in the head, shoulder and legs, and later says he has been healed.
Some Nigerians, who saw the video, queried why Gomez visited the church and if he was indeed healed after the deliverance session.
The player, in a series of tweet on Tuesday, clarified that the incident happened in 2016, adding that he was young at the time.
Gomez said his mother compelled him to visit the church because she was a fan of Joshua.
“Regarding the video that has come out from 2016. I am from a Christian family at the time my mum was a fan of the pastor, and she really wanted me to go. I was going through some issues. From the outside looking in it looks crazy, but I was just practicing my faith.
“I didn’t really need to explain myself but a lot of people was asking me what the video was about. I was young at the time and if my parents thought something was best for Me I would do it. There are far more important issues out there in the world we can tackle.”
Some of his followers urged him to ignore critics and he needed not explain himself to anyone.
June 16, 2020
Fresh protest in Katsina over killings
Youths in Katsina State on Tuesday hit the streets to protest the renewed insecurity in the state.
The youths, who staged the protest under a group, Collation of Northern Groups, said they were annoyed over renewed attacks by bandits in the state and in Northern Nigeria.
They called on the state government and the Federal Government to redress the situation.
The youths began the protest in the morning from the roundabout adjacent the Muhammed Dikko Central Mosque and they marched through Nagogo Road, Kofar Durbi, and GRA Roundabout before ending it within Government House premises.
The youths chanted various songs urging governments to take decisive action against bandits in the state.
June 16, 2020
We’re not aware Obaseki has left us -APC
The All Progressives Congress has said it was yet to be notified of the reported resignation of the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki.
National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, said this in response to inquiries about Obaseki’s resignation.
He said, “The party has no record of the reported defection of Governor Godwin Obaseki from the Progressive party.
“We cannot comment at this moment on media reports suggesting the Edo governor or anyone else has left our great party.”
The APC Screening Committee for the Edo State Governorship Primary on Friday declared Obaseki and two others ineligible to contest the party’s June 22 primary citing discrepancies in his University and National Youth Service Scheme Certificates as the reason for the action.
This decision was upheld by the Screening Appeal Committee and the party’s National Working Committee on Saturday.
June 16, 2020
BREAKING: Sanwo Olu cancels planned reopening of churches, mosques
The Lags State Government has cancelled the planned reopening of churches and mosques in the state.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu made the announcement on Tuesday at a televised press briefing.
Details later…
June 16, 2020
Ondo: Akeredolu presents form to Buhari, confident of victory
Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, on Tuesday formally informed the President, Muhammadu Buhari, of his intention to seek second term in office on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The governor went ahead to present his Expression of Interest forms to the President at a meeting held inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
At the end of the meeting, Akeredolu told State House correspondents that he is sure of victory in the forthcoming governorship election.
He said he was ready for any type of primary election, direct or indirect, that his party may adopt for the election.
Details later…
June 16, 2020
Court to hear suit against ministers, aides who attended Abba Kyari’s burial
Life Camp Magistrate Court, Kado, Abuja, has fixed June 30 for hearing a suit filed against the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema, and 10 others who attended the burial of the President’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, on April 18, 2020.
Others joined in the suit are the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu; the National Security Adviser, Babagana Moguno; the Director-General of National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Rufai; the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq; and the Chief Protocol Officer, Amb Lawal Kazaure.
The President’s Personal Assistant on New Media, Bashir Ahmad; the President’s Private Secretary and nephew, Yusuf Sabiu aka Tunde, Special Assistant to the President, Musa Daura; and the National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19, Dr. Sani Aliyu, were also joined in the suit.
Determined to bring the public officers to book, human rights lawyer, Tope Akinyode, filed a direct criminal complaint against them at the Magistrate Court, Wuse, Zone 2.
Initially, the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Justice Ishaq Bello requested the case file of the erring politicians from Magistrate Zubairu Mohammad who was initially handling the case and the Chief Judge thereafter took the case file into hiding without offering explanation.
“However, in the latest development, a Court Registrar, Mr Yahaya, disclosed on Monday that the case had been reassigned from the Wuse Magistrate Court to Magistrate Court 1, Life Camp, Kado, FCT. Hearing will begin on June 30,” Akinyode told Daybreak.
June 16, 2020
2020 UTME: JAMB to announce cut-off marks today
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board and Heads of Tertiary Institutions are expected to announce cut-off marks and other guidelines for the 2020/2021 Admission exercise today.
The exam body and institution heads are holding the 2020 Policy Meeting of tertiary institutions virtually at present in Abuja.
During the meeting, the Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, told the heads of institutions not to reopen without the approval of the Federal Government.
He also listed conditions for the reopening of schools and tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
Before the meeting, JAMB apologised for its inability to stream the policy meeting on social media.
It tweeted, “The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board apologises to the general public that there would be no live streaming of its 2020 Policy Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, June 16, 2020, on the Board’s Facebook page due to security reasons. The Board deeply regrets any inconveniences for the sudden change.”
However, in its bulletin, JAMB said, “Compliance with this directive has become imperative as no fewer than 4,000 Heads of Tertiary Institutions comprising Degree, Diploma, NCE, and NID-awarding institutions and other stakeholders would normally be expected to congregate at a location but because of extant protocols, they would now be expected to participate in the virtual meeting.
“The meeting will discuss critical issues bordering on the advances made in the educational sector in the last one year in addition to setting the tone for the 2020/2021 Admission exercise.
“The meeting will also chart policy directions for the nation’s tertiary institutions, set admission guidelines, and make a holistic review of application statistics, performance as well as evaluate the 2019 admissions exercise.
“Te meeting, in addition to other deliberations, would take a stand on concessional and acceptable minimum admissions standards to be applied in all admissions to be undertaken by all tertiary institutions in Nigeria.”
June 16, 2020
Gunmen kidnap housewife in Nasarawa
The wife of Eggon Youth President in Nasarawa State, Mr. Daniel Anyabuga, was on Monday night kidnapped by unidentified gunmen in the State.
The Punch learnt that the gunmen numbering about ten invaded the resident of the Eggon Youth President at Ombi 2 about 11 pm and took his wife away to a yet to be identified destination.
The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bola Longer, who confirmed the incident to our correspondent in Lafia, said upon receiving the information, the command immediately mobilised its men to the scene of the incident.
He said four persons had been arrested in connection with the incident.
Longer said, “The suspected kidnappers were arrested along Kwandere Road, Lafia North Development Area of the State.
“No fewer than four persons in connection with the kidnapping have been apprehended and the motorcycles used during the operation have also been retrieved from the suspected kidnappers.”
The police boss added that those arrested include two Fulani herders and two indigenes.
Longe, who reiterated the command’s commitment to rescue the victim from the hands of the kidnappers urged members of the public, particularly the residents of the state to help the police with useful information that could lead to the rescue of the woman.
June 16, 2020