The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Thursday, July 28, announced that it found a total of N540 million in the account of a public primary school teacher with a salary of N76,000.
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has also ordered the final forfeiture of N120 million traced to the teacher, Roseline Egbuha who teaches at Ozala Primary School, Abagana, Anambra State.
Mrs Roseline Egbuha . Photo: ICPC Source: UGC
A statement by the commission's spokesperson, Azuka Ogugua said that the court headed by Justice D.U Okorowo also ordered the forfeiture of cars traced to Egbuha and some of her accomplices in money laundering activities.
According to the ICPC, the court's order is a sequel to an ex-parte motion filed by the commission in 2021.
The motion also followed an allegation surrounding N540 million linked to Egbuha and her accomplices who tried to hide the funds in her Guaranty Trust Bank account.
Investigations by the commission also prompted the ICPC to place a Post-No-Debit on her account which led to her obtaining a court order from the Federal High Court, Abuja to lift the PND placed on the account.
It was gathered that the accused immediately withdrew the funds and distributed them to multiple accounts owned by Bureau de Change owners and some other private individuals including James Erebouye, Emon Okune and Chisom Iwueke.
Others are Alonge Ojo, Maureen Chidimma, Owoyemi Mayowa and Ejeaka Ifeoma in addition to two private companies charged to court over fraudulent activities and warehousing proceeds of the alleged crimes.
Other items forfeited by the respondents are cars which include Toyota Lexus and Venza sport utility vehicles.
On Tuesday, July 26, the Senate received a formal request from PresidentMuhammadu Buhari to confirm Justice Olukayode Ariwoola as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
Ariwoola’s nomination was disclosed in a letter dated July 25 and read during the plenary by the senate president, Ahmed Lawan, on Tuesday.
President .Buhari Photo Credit: Femi Adesina Source: Facebook
This was contained in a statement signed by the special assistant on media to the senate president, Ezrel Tabiowo. The letter read:
“Pursuant to Section 231(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), I forward for confirmation by the Senate, the appointment of Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola as the Chief Justice of Nigeria.”
President Buhari also asked the red chamber to confirm the nomination of Suleiman Agha Afikpo as representing commissioner for the southeast zone in the national hajj commission of Nigeria.
Buhari noted that his request is in line with section 3(2) of the hajj commission act 2004. The president urged the Senate to consider his submission with the highest consideration.
Ariwoola, a 62-year-old justice, resumed acting CJN following the resignation of Justice Muhammad Tanko, who had resigned on health grounds.
Tanko’s resignation came following a protest by 14 aggrieved justices on issues bordering on welfare.
But the former CJN stated in his resignation letter that his health was the reason for his decision.
Meanwhile, Justice Ariwoola will be functioning on an acting basis pending when he will be confirmed by the national judicial council (NJC).
The International Monetary Fund. Photo: Olivier DOULIERY / AFP/File Source: AFP
Surging inflation and severe slowdowns in the United States and China prompted the IMF Tuesday to downgrade its outlook for the global economy this year and next, while warning that the situation could get much worse.
"The outlook has darkened significantly since April," said IMF chief economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas. "The world may soon be teetering on the edge of a global recession, only two years after the last one."
"The world's three largest economies, the United States, China and the euro area are stalling with important consequences for the global outlook," he said at a briefing.
In its latest World Economic Outlook, the International Monetary Fund cut the 2022 global GDP estimate to 3.2 percent, four-tenths of a point lower than the April forecast, and about half the rate seen last year.
Last year's "tentative recovery" from the pandemic downturn "has been followed by increasingly gloomy developments in 2022 as risks began to materialize," the report said.
"Several shocks have hit a world economy already weakened by the pandemic," including the war in Ukraine which has driven up global prices for food and energy, prompting central banks to raise interest rates sharply, the IMF said.
Ongoing Covid-19 lockdowns and a worsening real estate crisis have hindered economic activity in China, while the Federal Reserve's aggressive interest rate hikes are slowing US growth sharply.
But the IMF offered a stark caveat to the forecasts, cautioning that "risks to the outlook are overwhelmingly tilted to the downside," and if they materialize could push the global economy into one of the worst slumps in the past half-century.
Key among the concerns is the fallout from the war in Ukraine including the potential for Russia to cut off natural gas supplies to Europe, as well as a further spike in prices and a food shortage due to the chokehold the war has on grain supplies that could trigger famine.
In an ominous warning, the WEO said "such shocks could, if sufficiently severe, cause a combination of recession accompanied by high and rising inflation ('stagflation')."
That would slam the brakes on growth, slowing it to 2.0 percent in 2023. The global growth rate has only been slower five times since 1970, the report said.
Gourinchas said that would be "getting really close to a global recession."
The top priority for policymakers is to rein in soaring prices, even at the cost of inflicting pain on their citizens, the fund said, since the damage caused by allowing inflation to rage out of control would be much worse.
Gourinchas, in a blog post about the report, noted that the "synchronized" moves by major central banks to deal with the inflation threat "is historically unprecedented, and its effects are expected to bite."
"Tighter monetary policy will inevitably have real economic costs, but delaying it will only exacerbate the hardship," he said.
The IMF now sees consumer prices jumping 8.3 percent this year, nearly a full point higher than previously forecast, while emerging market economies face a 9.5 percent increase in consumer prices.
But, "further supply-related shocks to food and energy prices from the war in Ukraine could sharply increase headline inflation."
That would increase the pain for poor nations least able to withstand the shock, where food makes up a larger share of family budgets. While the global economy did a bit better than expected in the first three months of the year, it appears to have "shrunk in the second quarter -- the first contraction since 2020," the IMF said.
The IMF downgraded growth forecasts for most countries, including big revisions for the United States and China, cutting more than a point off the prior forecasts.
The fund now sees US growth this year of just 2.3 percent, amid slowing consumer spending and rising interest rates, and the report said a recession -- defined by two quarters of negative growth -- may already have begun.
China's economy is expected to slow dramatically in 2022, expanding just 3.3 percent -- the lowest in more than four decades other than the 2020 pandemic crisis -- due to Covid concerns and the "worsening crisis" in the property sector, the report said.
"The slowdown in China has global consequences: lockdowns added to global supply chain disruptions and the decline in domestic spending are reducing demand for goods and services from China's trade partners," the report said.
There were some exceptions to the gloomy outlook, including upgrades for Italy, Brazil and Mexico, as well as for Russia which is still expected to contract but is benefitting from rising oil prices due to Western sanctions, the WEO said.
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state says he has met with other aggrieved colleagues, including Governor Nyesom Wike, and they have resolved to remain in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The governor made this known today during a television Program on Arise News TV's Morning Show. He said.
Governor Ortom.Photo credit: Benue State Government Source: Facebook.“One thing I want to assure Nigerians is that we are not going to defect to any political party, adding that he recently met with Governors Wike, Seyi Makinde and Okezie Ikpeazu in London, where they took the decision.
Wike, governor of Rivers state, is unhappy with the decision of the PDP's presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to pick Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate over him.
Ortom is one of the PDP governors who are sympathetic to the plight of Governor Wike, who had earlier lost the presidential ticket to Atiku.
The Benue governor said he and his aggrieved colleagues have agreed they are not leaving the PDP. He, however expressed that Alh. Atiku the PDP presidential candidate has to reach out to Governor Wike for full reconciliation.
He noted that the Rivers state governor is a big factor who has remained in the PDP even when he (Ortom), and Atiku at some point left the party for the APC.
"Wike in particular has been very instrumental to the growth of our party in the absence of any former President produced by our dear party," the governor noted.
“You are aware that President Olusegun Obasanjo that was produced by this party, you are aware that President Goodluck Jonathan that was produced by this party also has issues. They decided not to get involved in what is happening in the party.
“So, Wike was the anchor man. We discussed this matter in our meeting in London, and we all agreed that we are not leaving the party. But let there be due process and the need to ensure that everybody is carried along.
“You’re aware that since the emergency of PDP in Nigeria, Wike has been there. Even some of us, because of the injustice that was meted out on us in 2015, left for APC, until APC started dancing in the wrong direction. Then, we left back to PDP. Who was instrumental in my coming back? It was Wike.”
Governor Ortom also noted that Atiku has reached out to him to further persuade Wike and agreed to sit down with the Rivers governor to iron out their differences.
The Benue governor said once Wike is pacified, he is also pacified. He said they agreed in their meeting that Governor Wike needs to be pacified.
"It is not late to put our house in order," the governor added.
No fewer than 24 out of the 34 local government areas of Katsina State have been declared Open Defecation Free (ODF), the Clean Nigeria Campaign says.
The Coordinator of the campaign, Mrs Chizoma Opara, disclosed this on Monday in Katsina at the opening of a 2-day Northwest zonal retreat on ‘Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet’ campaign.
Represented by her Deputy, Alhaji Musa Lawal, Mrs Opara said that the best results of the Clean Nigeria Campaign was recorded in the North West, particular in Katsina and Jigawa.
“These two states are already far ahead of other states, with Jigawa almost being declared as state-wide ODF, with 26 out of 27 LGAs already declared ODF, while 24 out of 34 LGAs in Katsina State are ODF.
“At this point, therefore, I wish to commend the Katsina State Government for taking the lead to host the first zonal review meeting for the North-West and to showcase the success stories from the zone.
“I also charge you to intensify your efforts in achieving the state-wide ODF for the entire zone,” the coordinator said.
Chizoma expressed the hope that other states in the zone would learn from the two states and take home key action points to drive the campaign to the next level.
“They should also contribute to our national aspiration. We must also explore the option of private sector involvement, which will increase the uptake of public toilets,” she added.
The coordinator explained that the campaign was aimed at mobilising high level political support, resources and the entire populace towards building a new culture of safe sanitation.
“Following the national launch of the campaign, many states followed suit with the launch of their state level campaigns and target dates which ranged from 2022 to 2025.
“As at December 2021, all states have launched their campaigns which is a good indication of commitment to driving the campaign.
“However, in spite of these state level official launches, not much is going on regarding implementation and achievement of results in meeting the campaign objectives in many states,” she noted.
She said there was no commensurate allocation of human and financial resources needed to drive the campaign in most states and LGAs.
“As at May, 2022, 83 ODF LGAs have been recorded. While this is a good progress, it is not significant enough to put us on course our national target of an ODF Nigeria by 2025. “Also, the spread of the 83 ODF LGAs is limited to 12 out of the 36 states and the FCT. This means that 24 states and the FCT have not been able to contribute any ODF LGAs to the national statistics,” she said.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary, Katsina State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), Aminu Dayyabu, said the retreat was an opportunity for participants to restrategise on ending open defecation.
“Katsina State has already gone far with the current total number of 24 LGAs that have attained ODF status. This was achieved through the support of the state government.
“The government under the leadership of Gov. Aminu Masari has been supporting such efforts through funding and providing enabling environment to our agency,” he added.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the retreat was organised by the Katsina State Government in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Water Resources. (NAN)
Prince Harry delivers the keynote address on Nelson Mandela International Day at the United Nations in New York on July 18, 2022. Photo: TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP Source: AFP
Britain's Prince Harry told the UN Monday that the overturning of constitutional rights in the United States was part of "a global assault on democracy and freedom."
The Duke of Sussex addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York at an event marking Nelson Mandela International Day.
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"This has been a painful year in a painful decade," the royal told delegates.
He cited the continuing fallout from the pandemic, climate change, disinformation and Russia's invasion of Ukraine before alluding to the Supreme Court's recent overturning of America's nationwide right to abortion.
"And from the horrific war in Ukraine to the rolling back of constitutional rights here in the United States, we are witnessing a global assault on democracy and freedom, the cause of Mandela's life," Harry said.
The royal paid tribute to Mandela, South Africa's anti-apartheid hero who spent 27 years in prison before being elected the country's first Black leader, as "not only a man of conscience" but "a man of action."
Harry, 37, invoked that sentiment to urge leaders to tackle climate change, as his wife Meghan Markle looked on from the chamber.
"As we sit here today, our world is on fire again," said the prince, adding that "historic weather events are no longer historic."
"More and more, they are part of our daily lives. And this crisis will only grow worse unless our leaders lead.
"Unless the countries represented by the seats in this hallowed hall make the decisions, the daring, transformative decisions that our world needs to save humanity," he added.
The General Assembly designated July 18, Mandela's birthday, Nelson Mandela Day in 2009 to honor his life and legacy.
Assembly president Abdulla Shahid and New York City Mayor Eric Adams were among other delegates to make speeches.
In a personal moment, Harry said a photograph of his mother Princess Diana with Mandela is "on my wall and in my heart every day."
It was taken in Cape Town in 1997, a few months before Diana's death in a car crash in Paris.
"When I first looked at the photo, straightaway what jumped out was the joy on my mother's face. The playfulness, cheekiness even, the pure delight to be in communion with another soul so committed to serving humanity," said Harry.
The Oyo State Deputy Governor, Rauf Olaniyan, has officially been sacked by the State House of Assembly.
Olaniyan’s removal followed the state Assembly’s adoption of the report of the seven-man panel constituted by the chief judge to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against the deputy governor at its plenary on Monday, July 18.
Oyo deputy Governor, Rauf Olaniyan has been impeached by the State Assembly. Photo credit: @raufolaniyan, Seyi Makinde Source: Facebook
The report as read by the majority leader of the Assembly, Honourable Sanjo Adedoyin, the deputy governor was found culpable, indicted of all allegations, and complaints levelled against him.
The Assembly approved Olaniyan’s removal from office leaning on section 188(9) of the 1999 constitution (as amended).
Meanwhile, Olaniyan was elected in 2019 on a joint ticket with the current Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde on the platform of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) until his recent defection to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
Earlier, Olaniyan had approached an Oyo High Court to stop the process instituted by the House of Assembly against him.
Twenty-four out of the 32 members of the State House of Assembly had, in a petition, accused the deputy governor of gross misconduct, abuse of office, financial recklessness, abandonment of office on official duty, insubordination and other offences.
This process, according to petitioners, was in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended in 2011 Section 188.
Investigation revealed, however, that the deputy governor had responded to all the allegations raised in the petition through his legal counsel.
Less than six hours after the removal of theOyo statedeputy governor, Mr Rauf Olaniyan by the state parliament, a replacement has been approved by the parliamentary house.
The approval came after Speaker of the Assembly, Honourable Adebo Ogundoyin read a letter from Governor Seyi Makinde seeking the Assembly’s approval of his nomination of Lawal as the deputy governor.
Until his approval as deputy governor, Lawal was Chairman of Oyo State Water Corporation and nominated as Makinde’s running mate for the 2023 governorship election.
Lawal Bayo Lawal is from Kishi, Irepo local government area of Oke Ogun, Oyo state.
He is also a former Attorney General of Oyo state in 1999 under the administration of Governor Lam Adeshina.
Prior to the approval of Lawal as the new deputy governor, the impeached Olaniyan defected from the state-ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the main opposition, the All Progressive Congress (APC).
This move however prompted the state parliament to hold plenary proceedings over Olaniyan's action in other to effect his removal.
It was, therefore, gathered that Olaniyan tabled the matter before an Oyo High Court to give a verdict that will halt plenary proceedings against him at the Oyo state parliamentary house.
However, the majority of the lawmakers in the parliament signed a petition against the embattled Olaniyan accusing him of gross misconduct, abuse of office, financial recklessness, abandonment of office on official duty, insubordination and other offences.
As gathered, the petition was filed on the premise of the already existing stipulations of the federal constitution as amended in 2011 Section 188.
France's anti-jihadist mission Barkhane is being reconfigured as its troops pull out of Mali. Photo: ludovic MARIN / AFP Source: AFP
Key ministers from France and Niger met on Friday as French forces revamp their mission in the Sahel following a planned pullout from Mali.
Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna and Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu arrived in the Nigerien capital late Thursday.
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Their joint visit aims to "represent the combined civilian and military" support given by France, a French diplomat said.
The talks take place as French forces complete a pullout from Mali, placing the spotlight on Niger as a frontline state in the fight against jihadism, and as the unstable region struggles with a string of military coups.
"The democratic regression in West Africa is extremely worrying," Colonna told French MPs ahead of her trip.
"However, in spite of these events (and) the withdrawal from Mali, France will continue to help West African armies fight terrorist groups."
"We are currently in consultation with our partners to determine with them, in line with their requests and needs, the kind of support that we are able to provide."
Niger is one of the biggest recipients of French aid, receiving 143 million euros (dollars) last year.
The two sides will sign agreements for a French loan of 50 million euros and a grant of 20 million euros.
The French ministers will also meet President Mohamed Bazoum and visit a base at Ouallam, north of Niamey, which oversees joint operations on Niger's western border by several hundred French and Nigerien troops.
Niger, the world's poorest country by the benchmark of the UN's Human Development Index, has been badly hit by the jihadist insurgency that began in northern Mali in 2012 and then swept to neighbouring countries.
Thousands of civilians have been killed across the region and more than two million have fled their homes.
Niger itself is facing insurgencies both on its western border with Mali and Burkina Faso and on its south-eastern frontier with Nigeria.
It hosts tens of thousands of internally displaced people, as well as refugees from Burkina Faso, Mali and Nigeria.
French forces who have been supporting Mali for nearly a decade are expected to complete their pullout in the coming weeks after France and the Malian junta fell out.
The roots of the dispute lie in a military takeover in August 2020, which was followed by a second coup in May 2021.
Friction developed over the junta's delays in restoring military rule and escalated when Mali brought in Russian paramilitaries -- personnel described by France as "mercenaries" from the pro-Kremlin Wagner group.
Coups followed in Guinea last September and in Burkina Faso in January.
At its peak, France's Barkhane mission had 5,100 troops among five Sahel allies, all former French colonies -- Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger.
The forces have provided key support in air power, troop transport and reconnaissance. In Niger, France notably has an air base at Niamey where it has deployed drones.
After the Malian pullout, the mission will have "around 2,500" troops, Barkhane commander General Laurent Michon said in an interview this month.
The reconfigured mission will emphasise "more cooperative operations," he said.
These operations will be "determined more strictly by requests from the African countries and will take the form of 'in support of' and not 'in replacement for'" the local military, he said.
More than a thousand troops will be deployed in Niger, providing air support and training, French sources say.
French troops are also in Gabon, Ivory Coast and Senegal, as well as in the east of Africa in Djibouti.
On Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macon said he had asked the government and military chiefs to "to rethink our overall presence on the African continent by the autumn."
He called for "a presence that is less static and less exposed" and "a closer relationship" with African armed forces.
