Edo Assembly asks Chief Justice to probe allegations against Shaibu

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March 19, 2024

The Edo State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution directing the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, to set up a seven-man committee to investigate the allegations of gross misconduct levelled against the deputy governor, Philip Shaibu.

At the plenary, 19 members out of the 24 members voted in favour of the resolution.

The House of Assembly commenced impeachment proceedings against Shaibu on March 5, accusing him of perjury and leaking of government’s secrets.

However, all efforts to get the impeachment notice to him proved abortive as he was said to be out of the state.

After it became clear that the notice could not be served physically, the House served him the notice on March 12 through substitution (by publishing the letter in three national dailies).

The impeachment move is believed to be the latest development in the rift between Shaibu and his principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki.

There had been an uneasy calm between the deputy governor and his principal since last year when Shaibu declared his interest to join this year’s Edo governorship race.

Earlier, Speaker of the House, Blessing Agbebaku, had notified his colleagues that the seven-day ultimatum granted the deputy governor to respond to the impeachment notice served on him has expired.

Agbebaku said the impeachment notice was earlier served on the deputy governor on March 6, 2024, but due to the alleged evasion of service, the House ordered substituted service.

Slain Soldiers: Reps mandate Military investigation in Delta State

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Mana Balagbogbo

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March 19, 2024

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The House of Representatives on Tuesday mandated the Armed Forces of Nigeria to conduct a thorough and wholesome investigation into the circumstances that led to the heartless, gruesome and despicable killings of Soldiers in Delta state.

This is as Hon Francis Waive (Delta, APC) speaking on the incidence during plenary called on the military to abide by international engagement, stop burning of houses in the community and called for an end to reprisal attacks.

The House also in it’s resolution on the matter urged the military to work with the relevant authorities to bring all perpetrators and their collaborators to book.

The House further mandated its Committees on Defence to interface with the Armed Forces of Nigeria to ensure compliance and report to the House within four weeks.

The resolutions were sequel to a motion of urgent national importance titled – “Need to investigate and apprehend perpetrators of the gruesome killing of seventeen military personnel in delta state by Hon Babajimi Benson during plenary in Abuja.

Moving the motion, Benson noted with deep sadness, the needless and gruesome murder of seventeen military personnel in Delta state on Thursday 14 March 2024.

He also noted that the murdered military personnel comprise of Lt. Col. A.H. Ali who was the Commanding Officer, 181 Amphibious Battalion of the Nigerian Army, Major S.D Shafa, Major D.E Obi, Captain U. Zakari and thirteen other rank and file of the Nigerian military.

He further noted that the fallen soldiers were on a peaceful and mediatory mission to quell communal clash between Okuama and Okoloba Communities in Ughelli South and Bomadi LGAs of Delta State respectively when the horrific incident occurred.

According to him, the military personnel were only responding to a distress call in their service to their fatherland when they were ambushed and killed on Thursday.

He said that the perpetrators of the heinous act did not only stop at killing the military personnel but also went ahead to sacrilegiously debase their remains by ripping out their hearts and other body parts.

“Worried that unless checked and stopped, acts like this, by the very people the AFN are meant to protect, have a potential of demoralising the military and affecting the war on insecurity which has so far recorded some successes.

Speaking also on the motion Hon Francis Waive said “In as much as we condemn this act carried out in this community we call on the military in the mist if this provocation, we appeal to our military to observe some level of international engagement and put an end to the burning of the community.

The house to this end observed a minute silence in honour of the murdered military personnel and called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide relief materials to those affected in the community.

Take me to prison before I die in DSS custody – Kanu

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Mana Balagbogbo

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March 19, 2024

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Detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, whose request for bail was refused by the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, has pleaded to be transferred to Kuje prison.

Kanu, who is currently in custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), said he has a very serious health condition that could not be handled in his present detention centre.
According to him, the DSS lacked the medical facilities required for his treatment.

He told the court that his ailment had to do with the heart, a situation he said had started manifesting in his physical appearance, especially his feet.

Besides, he decried that the security agency had continued to restrict his visitors from having access to him.

Speaking from the dock, shortly after his bail application was denied by trial Justice, Binta Nyako, Kanu alleged a conspiracy to allow him to die in custody of the secret police.

He said, “People will come to see me; they will not allow them. They don’t have the medical facility. I have congestive heart failure; they are patching me up.

“My foot is swollen. I asked them to conduct surgery, and they said they couldn’t.

“There is a conspiracy for me to die in detention. I want to be transferred to Kuje,” he told the court.

Nnamdi Kanu is answering a seven-count treasonable felony charge that was preferred against him by the Federal Government.

Though the Court of Appeal quashed the charge and ordered his immediate release from detention, following an appeal that was lodged by the government, the Supreme Court vacated the judgement and ordered the resumption of his trial.

President Ruto signs Affordable Housing Bill into law

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Mana Balagbogbo

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March 19, 2024

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Kenya’s President William Ruto has signed into law a controversial bill, paving the way for the government to continue collecting a housing levy of 1.5% of a worker’s monthly pay.

The levy aims to fund the construction of affordable housing for low-income citizens, though its implementation has sparked widespread criticism.

Opposition voices and a significant portion of the public have expressed dismay over the levy, viewing it as an additional burden amidst a slew of new taxes.

Legal hurdles previously delayed the bill’s enactment, with a judge halting deductions due to a lack of a proper legal framework. Despite objections from opposition lawmakers, the bill was amended and ratified by Members of Parliament last week.

Originally outlined in President Ruto’s 2022 election manifesto, the levy forms part of a broader finance law passed last June, which also saw a doubling of the sales tax on fuel. Additionally, a heightened health insurance levy is set to be introduced soon.

The government contends that bolstering tax revenues is essential to narrowing the budget deficit and funding essential public services.

The authorities had begun deducting the 1.5% housing levy from salaries since last July. However, amid public anger, one activist took the government to court arguing successfully that it unfairly singled out Kenyans in the formal sector who get a regular monthly salary.

In order to address the issues raised by the court, the new law now extends the levy to other workers and now requires non-salaried Kenyans in the informal sector to pay the levy.

The new law also establishes the Affordable Housing Fund, which is intended to manage the money the government will get from the levy.

The authorities say the deduction will not be backdated to include the money that would have been paid had the scheme not been suspended.

President Ruto is aiming to construct 200,000 affordable housing units every year and hopes to create more than 600,000 jobs.

Nigerian Labour Congress Backs NASU, SSANU Strike

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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March 18, 2024

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The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has said it is in support of the ongoing strike by the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational (NASU) and associated institutions of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and has demanded an “immediate” payment of the withheld salaries of the aggrieved workers.

A statement signed by the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, on Monday, said there had been no credible reason or explanation for withholding those salaries in the first place.

“We join our affiliate unions, the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational (NASU) and Associated Institutions and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) in demanding the immediate payment of the withheld salaries of their members,” the statement read in part.

ASUU Backs SSANU, NASU On Warning Strike

Ajaero said the withheld salaries had plunged the members into indescribable hardship.

“Much worse, it defies logic to try to subject members of these unions to discriminatory treatment. By so doing government is courting avoidable industrial disputes.

“At a time confidence is being restored to the public universities the least government could do is not engineer another strike.

“The toll on all the parties will be unacceptably high, especially for students and parents who bear the burden of movement on our dangerous roads,” the NLC chief said.

The NLC urged the government to expeditiously pay up the outstanding salaries, advising it not to take for granted the maturity of the unions.

The unions on Monday, flagged off a 7-day warning strike in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Members of the SSANU at the University of Abuja had blocked the entrance to the gate of the university in compliance with the industrial action.

Kyari Joins Global Energy Leaders at CERAWeek 2024

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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March 18, 2024

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The NNPC Ltd will be at the 2024 CERAWeek Conference scheduled to hold in Houston, United States from 18th to 22nd March 2024.

Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Mele Kyari, will headline the Plenary Session titled “Leadership Dialogue” on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at the annual strategic conference.

Same day, NNPC Ltd’s Executive Vice President, Upstream, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, will also headline a Plenary Session titled “What are the Choices for Upstream Strategies?”

On Wednesday, March 20, 2024, it will be the turn of the Executive Vice President, Gas, Power & New Energy, Olalekan Ogunleye, who will be a Panelist on a Strategic Dialogue Session titled “Africa’s Energy Future: Access, Investment & Sustainability”.

Reps Committee Cancels Probe Over Kyari, Others Absence

CERAWeek is one of the largest energy conferences in the world, drawing thousands of foremost global energy industry experts and a host of other corporate and government leaders from around the world annually to Houston, United States, for a week-long conversation on the future of energy.

Organised by S&P Global, the conference has grown in recent years to accommodate new energy technologies and climate issues. The 2024 conference is expected to have participants from 90 countries and will feature 1,400 speakers.

Under the theme “Multidimensional Energy Transition: Markets, Climate, Technology and Geopolitics” the CERAWeek 2024 will explore “strategies for a multidimensional, multispeed and multifuel energy transition,” as the global energy industry tries to respond to, and offer insight into roadmap towards, growing demand for emissions reductions and moving towards cleaner forms of energy.

Court Orders Binance to Release Data of Nigerian Users

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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March 18, 2024

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A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered Binance Holdings Limited to provide the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission with comprehensive information on all persons from Nigeria trading on its platform.

The court handed down the order in an ex-parte motion filed by the EFCC demanding information about Nigerians trading on Binance.

Reps Summon Binance Over Alleged Terrorism Financing

The suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/259/2024 and dated February 29 according to the anti-graft agency was brought pursuant to Sections 6(b), (h), (I), 7(1), (a)(2), and 38 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Establishment Act, 2004 and Section 15 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 (as amended).

In the affidavit in support of the motion deposed to by an operative of the EFCC, Hamma Bello, he stated that the Special Investigation Team of the commission domiciled in the Office of the National Security Adviser received intelligence that money laundering and terrorism financing was carried out on Binance.

He said, “The Special Investigation Team of the commission domiciled in the Office of the National Security Adviser received an intelligence stating the nefarious activities (money laundering and terrorism financing) on Binance, a cryptocurrency exchange platform.

“That on receipt of the intelligence, the team began an investigation by conducting surveillance of the activities of the platform.

“The team uncovered users who have been using the platform for price discovery, confirmation, and market manipulation, which has caused tremendous distortions in the market, resulting in the Naira losing its value against other currencies”

Bello also said the team uncovered some users whose activities on Binance resulted in the country’s currency losing its value against other currencies.

He said, “That the team uncovered users who have been using the platform for price discovery, confirmation and market manipulation which has caused tremendous distortions in the market, resulting in the Naira losing its values against other currencies.

“That the damage the platform has caused was clearly explained to the operators of the platform, and they were requested to delist the Naira and avail the ONSA on the activities of the Nigerians on their platform.

“That from the information afforded to the team by Binance shows trading volume from Nigeria in 2023 alone stood at $21.6bn.

“Attached and marked as Exhibit EFCC 1 is a copy of the document from Binance to the ONSA stating this fact amongst others.

“That the commission will ensure that investigation is conducted within such reasonable time,”

Bello stated that the requested data would help the commission complete its investigation.

According to a certified true copy of the ruling, which was delivered on February 29 but sighted by journalists on Monday, Justice Emeka Nwite granted the interim order.

Nwite said, “The applicant’s application dated and filed 29th February 2024 is hereby granted as prayed.

“That an order of this honourable court is hereby made directing the operators of Binance to provide the commission with comprehensive data/information relating to all persons from Nigeria trading on its platform.”

School Transport: Children Let Down By Dropped Changes

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Nzubechukwu Anodo

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March 18, 2024

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The Children’s Commissioner for Wales says children are being let down by a decision not to change school transport laws.

It said Councils have to provide free transport if pupils live three miles (4.8km) or more from a secondary school or two miles or more from a primary school.

Considered reforms included reducing the distance children travel to school before they qualify for free transport.

But the Welsh government said major changes were not affordable.

Welsh social worker and academic, Rocio Cifuentes said limits on distance were too high and could affect attendance at school.

Ms Cifuentes said she was considering using her legal powers to challenge the government.

She said the lack of a legal duty on councils to provide transport for students over 16, or for young people with additional learning needs, were also concerns.

She said there should also be risk assessments on routes children had to walk to get to bus stops.

The Welsh government report said councils’ school transport costs – which are about £160m a year – had increased significantly due to higher fuel prices, driver shortages and the availability of buses.

It said any changes would require significant Welsh government investment that, currently, cannot be afforded.

Mjwara Takes Bow As Director-General Of Science And Innovation In South Africa

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Nzubechukwu Anodo

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March 18, 2024

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Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Professor Blade Nzimande has announced the retirement of Dr Phil Mjwara, the country’s longest-serving Director-General, from his role as Director-General of the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI).

In a statement on Friday, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation said Dr Mjwara has a long and distinguished career as a senior public servant. With 18 years of service, he holds the distinction of being the country’s longest serving Director-General.

The statement read he played a leading role in shaping the policy and institutional architecture of South Africa’s National System of Innovation (NSI). He led the establishment of some of our country’s key science institutions, such as the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) and the South African National Space Agency (SANSA).

He also played a leading role in laying the basis for and repositioning our NSI through policy interventions such as South Africa’s first national Science and Technology Foresight Exercise in the 1990s and later, the White Paper on Science, Technology and Innovation and the Decadal Plan for Science, Technology, and Innovation,” the ministry said.

As chairperson of the Forum of South African Directors-General (FOSAD), he also played a critical role in coordinating some of the key projects of government and ensuring inter-departmental synergies.

Dr Mjwara leaves the public service with a solid reputation of visionary and ethical leadership.

Nzimande also announced that Mr Daan Du Toit has been appointed as acting Director-General for the Department of Science and Innovation,for a period of 12 months.

Du Toit brings with him a wealth of experience. He started his career in government at the then Department of Foreign Affairs, where he trained as a diplomat. Since 2002, he has been attached to the Department of Science and Innovation and served as the department’s representative in Europe.

Du Toit is currently the Deputy Director-General at the Department of Science and Innovation, responsible for International Cooperation and Resources. Through this position, he has played a significant role in initiating and maintaining some of South Africa’s key global engagements and partnerships in the area of science, technology and innovation.

The Minister thanks Dr Mjwara for his service to the nation, and wishes Mr Du Toit well on his appointment as Acting Director General.

South Sudan Closes Schools As Heatwave Intensifies

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Nzubechukwu Anodo

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March 18, 2024

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South Sudan has announced an indefinite closure of all schools as a result of heatwaves over the past few days with very high temperatures both during the day and night.

Minister for Health, Yolanda Awel Deng said most parts of South Sudan are experiencing a heatwave expected to last at least two weeks with temperatures ranging between 41 degrees and 45 degrees Celsius.

Awel, while speaking with newsmen in Juba, the capital of South Sudan said the government has decided to take the following measures, one, close down all schools with effect from March 18, two, during the closure of the schools, parents are advised to stop their children from playing outdoors for prolonged periods and they should also monitor children, especially the young ones, for signs of heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

She said heatwaves can acutely impact large populations for short periods, often trigger public health emergencies and result in excess mortality and cascading socioeconomic impacts like loss of work capacity and labor productivity and can also cause loss of health service delivery capacity, where power shortages which often accompany heatwaves disrupt health facilities.

Awel said her ministry’s disease surveillance department has put a system in place to detect and respond to cases, as there are already cases of death related to excessive heat being reported in South Sudan.

Joseph Africano Bartel, undersecretary for Environment in the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, said climate change is becoming a global phenomenon in which South Sudan will be experiencing a lot of temperature fluctuations.

He advised schools to make sure that they have good ventilation, install solar panels such that they will be able to have fans working and also to make sure that trees are planted in compounds to produce microclimate.

Africano called on developed countries to cut emissions, warning South Sudan will experience the unusual impact of climate change soon including heavy rains, floods, and droughts.