The suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, is in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) custody, the secret police has confirmed.

   

This is according to a statement by the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Peter Afunanya, on Saturday.

“The Department of State Services (DSS) hereby confirms that Mr Godwin Emefiele, the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is now in its custody for some investigative reasons,” it said.

“The public, particularly the Media, is enjoined to apply utmost caution in the reportage and narratives concerning this.”

Credible sources around the presidency and the intelligence community said Emefiele was suspended because of many reasons, among them his recent role in naira swap and cashless policy that mopped up the entire money in circulation in the country, which nearly truncated the conduct of the 2023 general elections.

Police operatives storm Zamfara ex-Gov’s house, recover over 40 cars.

The former House of Representatives member and former governor, though being accused of looting at home in Zamfara, is believed to be lobbying Tinubu in Abuja to be appointed into the Federal cabinet.

 

 Zamfara State government has explained the operation of the Nigeria Police Force that led to the recovery of vehicles looted by the former state Governor, Bello Mohammed Matawalle.

In the early hours of Friday, the police operatives stormed the residence of the former Governor, where over 40 vehicles were impounded.

   

Spokesperson of the Zamfara State Governor, Sulaiman Bala Idris, in a statement he issued Friday in Gusau, revealed that the police had acted on a court order and a search warrant was obtained for the operation.

“Recall that the Zamfara State Government has communicated officially to former Governor Bello Matawalle and his Deputy to return all the missing vehicles within five (5) working days.

“We also lodged an official complaint with the Police on overriding public interest on wasteful looting of valuables including official vehicles.“Consequently, the Police sought a search warrant which was duly given by the court and hence raided Matawalle’s residence in Gusau, Maradun Local Government, and another unidentified hideout.

“Over 40 vehicles were recovered including Three bulletproof vehicles and Eight SUVs.
“We want to reaffirm our commitment to recover all that belongs to the people. Our common resolve is to rescue and rebuild Zamfara. Recovering the proceeds of crime and public assets is a critical part of our rescue mission.

“We want to call on the people of Zamfara to remain calm as we continue to record massive improvements in the areas of security and the lingering water scarcity in the state,” the statement by the Spokesman of the Zamfara Governor, Sulaiman Idris, said.

According to our Correspondent, former Governor Bello Matawalle left and has not returned to the state since he lost a re-election bid as governor. He has, however, been sighted in pictures holding meeting with the current President, Bola Tinubu.

Tinubu Appoints Folashodun Shonubi Acting CBN Governor, suspends Emefiele.

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Folashodun Shonubi as Acting Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. Shonubi’s appointment follows the suspension of Godwin Emefiele as CBN governor on Friday night.

 

Emefiele was subsequently asked to hand over a Shonubi with immediate effect, pending the outcome of an ongoing investigation and reforms process.

Who is CBN Acting Governor, Folashodun Shonubi?

Shonubi is an experienced financial expert and Deputy Governor (Operations Directorate) of the Central Bank and is expected to assume the role of acting Governor with immediate effect.
He holds double Masters Degree in Business Administration and Mechanical Engineering, from University of Lagos.
Shunobi is a resourceful professional with over 30 years of professional experience.

Prior to his appointment as Deputy Governor in the Central Bank of Nigeria; he was the Managing Director/CEO in the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System PLC from 2012 – 2018.

Prior to his appointment as the Managing Director NIBSS PLC, Mr. Shonubi was Executive Director, Information Technology and Operations at Union Bank of Nigeria Plc; a member of the Board of Union Homes and Director, Information Technology and Corporate Services in Renaissance Securities Nigeria limited, with responsibility for the Group’s IT infrastructure in Africa.

Between 1999 and 2007, he worked in MBC International as Deputy General Manager and supervised their IT operational platforms, served in First City Monument Bank Limited as Vice President and in Ecobank Nigeria Limited as Executive Director.Mr. Shonubi also had a stint with Citibank Nigeria Limited as its Head, Treasury Operations (1990-1993).

He has served on a number of sub-committees of the Bankers Committee, Including the Ethics and Professionalism.

Tinubu signs electricty light act 2023. Here is what it means and how it affects you.

Less than three months after Muhammadu Buhari moved electricity from the exclusive list to the concurrent list, President Bola Tinubu, on Friday, June 9, 2023, signed the Electricity Act 2023, his second piece of legislation since taking the oath of office as Nigeria’s 16th president on May 29, 2023.

 

According to the Constitution, the “Exclusive Legislative List” comprises matters on which only the National Assembly has the right to make laws, excluding State Houses of Assembly. The “Concurrent Legislative List” comprises matters on which both the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly are allowed to make laws.

The signed bill, which the Nigerian Senate passed on June 20, 2022, is a further step in the privatisation of the Nigerian power sector, initiated on November 1, 2013, by the administration of ex-president Goodluck Jonathan. With the new bill, states can generate and enact power generation and transmission laws.

How the Electricity Act 2023 bill will affect Nigerians.

Despite the supposed deregulation of the power sector that began in 2013, electricity remains a major issue in Nigeria. Between January 2022 and July 2022, the national grid collapsed seven times, disrupting business activities across the country. Small business owners who have to rely on generators are mostly affected by the impact of Nigeria’s ailing power sector. This frequent grid collapse persists despite former Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo’s declaration in 2019 that the Buhari administration had invested ₦1.5 trillion in power in the previous two years. Despite significant investments in electricity over the years, around 85 million Nigerians still lack access to grip electricity.

Prior to Buhari’s transfer of power to the concurrent list, the generation and transmission of electricity were solely the responsibility of the federal government, which many believed hindered communities and private individuals from generating and transmitting power within their localities.

However, with the newly signed Electricity Act, Nigerians, including foreign investors, can now generate electricity up to one megawatt in total at a site or distribute a capacity not exceeding 100 kilowatts without a license. With an average consumption of 44 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day, one megawatt (MW) of electricity can power nearly 7,000 homes in a specified location.

In Nigeria, the power sector is divided into three segments: Generation Companies (GenCos), Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), and Distribution Companies (DISCOs).

The GenCos are responsible for generating power, usually measured in megawatts (MW), primarily through hydro and gas plants. While the 23 generating plants in Nigeria have the capacity to produce over 11,000 MW, a significant amount of the electricity generated is lost during transmission. The frequent collapse of the national grid in the country is believed to be due to the inability of the government-run Transmission Company of Nigeria to transmit over 5,000 MW to the substations.

While the act does not permit interstate transnational electricity distribution, states, firms, and individuals are allowed to transmit electricity. State governments, through state regulatory boards, when established, can issue licences to private investors to operate mini-grids and power plants within the state. Across the country, there are three states, Lagos, Edo, and Kaduna, with existing state regulatory bodies which can start regulating their markets.

With 133 million Nigerians multidimensionally poor, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), electricity has been considered the catalyst needed to drive Nigeria towards production and lift millions out of poverty. Due to regular power outages, many small-scale business owners resort to generating their own electricity using generators, which increases their production costs. This is amidst high inflation, fluctuating fuel pump prices, and occasional fuel scarcity.

Akeredolu: Ondo Govt Opens Up On Reports Of Governor’s Sickness.

The Ondo State government has denied reports claiming Governor Rotimi Akeredolu is incapacitated.

The state government made the clarification in a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Bamidele Ademola-Olateju.
The statement added that contrary to reports in some quarters, the Ondo State cabinet is not divided and instructions on governance are still coming from Governor Akeredolu.

 
The Commissioner urged members of the public to disregard reports claiming Akeredolu is incapacitated, adding that such reports are the handiwork of unscrupulous persons trying to mislead unsuspecting members of the public.

Gov Mbah Meets Tinubu For Nnamdi Kanu’s Release.

Enugu State’s Governor, Peter Mbah, held a private meeting with President Bola Tinubu on Thursday.

 
The central topic of their discussion was the possible release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Governor Mbah, speaking to reporters after the meeting, shared that he asked President Tinubu to consider releasing Kanu as part of a broader national healing process, which he stated the President had already initiated. He expressed hope that the President would view the request favorably.

In addition, the governor sought the federal government’s assistance in harnessing Enugu State’s abundant mineral resources for the betterment of its people.

Democracy Day: FG Declares June 12 Public Holiday.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has declared Monday, June 12, 2023, a public holiday to mark this year’s Democracy Day.
The announcement was stated in a statement released in Abuja on Thursday.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Dr Oluwatoyin Akinlade, conveyed the government’s congratulations to all Nigerians on this occasion.

   
She recognized that Nigeria’s journey to democracy, like many other nations, has experienced both trials and triumphs.
In her message, Akinlade encouraged Nigerians and friends of Nigeria to reflect on the progress made, celebrate the milestones achieved, and anticipate a better future for the country’s democracy.

10th National Assembly To Be Inaugurated Tuesday.

The Clerk to the National Assembly, Sani Tambawal in an announcement revealed that the 10th National Assembly of Nigeria is set to be inaugurated on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, at 10:00 a.m.

 
Senators-elect and House of Representatives members-elect are asked to bring copies of their code of conduct clearance, certificates of return, and valid identity cards to the Senate and House of Representatives conference rooms for registration on Monday, June 12, at 10:00 am.

Owing to ongoing renovations in both chambers, each member-elect is permitted to bring only one guest for the ceremony.
Lawmakers elected into the 10th National Assembly are expected to elect their leaders and principal officers on their inauguration day.

Tinubu Signs Bill Raising Judges’ Retirement Age Into Law.

President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, signed the bill on uniform retirement age for judicial officers into law, two weeks after his assumption of office.
The President signed the bill into law at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, making it the first bill signed by the President.

   

The constitutional bill seeks to extend the retirement age of High Court Judges and others from 65 to 70 years, while the retirement age of Justices of the Appeal and Supreme Courts is already pegged at 70.

The proposed alteration was entitled ‘Constitution of The Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Altercation) (No.37) Bill, 2023’.

The bill also seeks to ensure uniformity in the pension rights of judicial officers of “superior courts of record” specified in section 6(5) of the 1999 constitution (as amended).

The courts listed in section 6(5) are the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, Federal High Court, High Court of Abuja, High Courts of States, Sharia Court of Appeal, National Industrial Court, and Customary Courts of Appeal, among others.

PDP G5 Reveal Reason For Meeting With Tinubu.

The aggrieved Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), popularly known as G5, have revealed the reason behind their visit to President Bola Tinubu.
This news platform had earlier reported that the G5 were in the Presidential Villa, Abuja to meet with the President.
Disclosing the purpose of their visit to the Presidential Villa, the G5 said it was to reinforce their commitment to fairness, justice and equity in the country.

   

The G5 group is made up of Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde; former Governors Nyesom Wike (Rivers); Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia); Ifeanyi Ugwuwanyi (Enugu) and Samuel Ortom (Benue). They are noted for working against their party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, during the February 25 presidential election.

Speaking after their closed-door meeting with the President, Makinde, who spoke on behalf of the group, said they came to let Tinubu know that they stood with him for fairness.

Anambra PDP Chairman Denies Saying Peter Obi Rigged Election.

The chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State, Chief Ndubisi Nwobu, has condemned claims that he accused the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, of rigging the February 25 presidential election in Anambra.

Nwobu asserts that his statement was distorted to distract public attention.
In a statement delivered via the deputy director of media and publicity of the Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Committee, Uloka Chibuike, Nwobu insisted that the petition filed by his party at the tribunal was against the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), not the Labour Party or Peter Obi.

The statement denounced the fabrication and referred to it as a “deliberate attempt by a few innuendos to discredit and blackmail Chief Nwobu.”

It was affirmed that Nwobu testified on June 7, 2023, as Atiku Abubakar and the PDP’s 11th witness, emphasizing INEC’s failure to comply with its election guidelines for real-time electronic transmission of polling unit results.

The statement further clarified that Nwobu explicitly told the tribunal that the Labour Party had won the presidential election in Anambra, not that Obi had rigged it.
He indicated that the dispute was with INEC and not with the Labour Party.

PSC Directors Trained On Accountable Policing Oversight And Criminal Justice System; Arase Hails Progress.

In an effort to enhance accountable policing oversight and the criminal justice system, four directors of the Police Service Commission (PSC) have successfully completed a week-long international training program.

       
The training, organized by the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria in collaboration with the African Policing Oversight Forum, saw the participation of 81 professionals from 21 countries.

Led by the former Inspector General of Police and Chairman of the Commission, Solomon Arase, the PSC directors underwent comprehensive sessions that covered crucial topics such as international and regional human rights standards relevant to policing and the criminal justice system.

The program aimed to familiarize the participants with democratic policing, accountability frameworks, the use of force, arrest and detention procedures, effective interviewing techniques, and prevention of torture.Notably, Arase, an internationally acclaimed scholar and consultant, also served as a facilitator during the training.

While speaking, he expressed his confidence that the training marks the beginning of a series of international and national programs designed to strengthen the Commission’s oversight capabilities and equip its staff with the necessary knowledge and skills.

He, also, emphasized the importance of respecting the fundamental human rights of Nigerians and pledged to extend similar training opportunities to the police force.

The Chairman highlighted that these training initiatives would be continuous and extensive, including exchange programs to foster adherence to international best practices and boost the self-confidence of the Commission’s staff and police officers.

In a another development, Arase applauded the National Assembly for passing a significant law that removes the police from the contributory pension scheme, aligning them with their counterparts in other security services. The legislative change is expected to alleviate the financial challenges faced by retired officers and mitigate associated health risks.

He commended the retired officers for their resilient and civilized pursuit of their interests, noting that the swift enactment of the bill will help alleviate the profound poverty many have experienced after dedicating their lives to safeguarding the country’s security and public safety.

Furthermore, Dr. Arase continued his stakeholders advocacy efforts by visiting the Head of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS.

During the visit, he sought support for police reforms, training and retraining of police personnel in investigation techniques, and alternative dispute resolution to address human rights violations and pre-trial detention cases while stressing the need to cultivate responsible policing practices in Nigeria.

Mr. Ruben Alba Aguiler, the Team Lead of the Delegation, acknowledged the European Union’s commitment to security sector reform in combating terrorism and all forms of criminality in the country.

He expressed the EU’s interest in partnering with the new administration but stressed the importance of understanding the government’s direction regarding police and security sector reforms. Mr. Aguiler assured Dr. Arase that the EU would engage other development partners to forge a broader partnership in support of these initiatives.

With the PSC directors’ successful completion of the training program and Arase’s ongoing advocacy efforts, the Commission and the Nigerian police are set to benefit from improved oversight practices, enhanced professional skills, and greater international cooperation.

 FG through NUC Presents Operational  Licences to 37 New Private Universities.

The federal government, through the National Universities Commission (NUC) Friday, presented operational licences to 37 new private universities across the country.

   

This was disclosed by the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Professor Abubakar Rasheed. This is coming after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had on May 15, 2023, approved the registration of 37 private universities across Nigeria.
With the development, the number of private universities operating in the country now stands at 147.

Professor Rasheed said the country now has 264 universities, noting that investment in tertiary education was a requirement for human capital development in Nigeria. He said access to university education remains a challenge due to the high demand and increasing number of secondary school graduates.

”The Nigerian statistics of high demand for tertiary education is grossly inadequate. Statistics put the number of enrollment in tertiary institutions at 2.23 million which is about 12 per cent of the total population of 220 million,” Rasheed said.

He challenged the proprietors of the newly established universities to ensure that the motive for establishing the universities were not for money but for a higher and noble goal.

”In establishing universities, you don’t expect to get financial rewards. If your main motive is to make money, then you are in a wrong place. You are here to pay back to humanity. ”The establishment of private universities is in dire need of passion from people, so that passion should drive you.”

While charging the proprietors of quality assurance in the universities, the
The NUC Secretary assured of the commission’s support and cooperation to grow the university system even as he charged the proprietors ensure quality education in the institutions.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr David Adejo, said the Federal Government was committed to public private partnership, especially in education sector which gave rise to the new universities.

He said the gross total enrollment ratio stands at 12 per cent so there is a gap between demand and supply,  and as long as this gap exists, government will continue to welcome proposals for university’s enrollment by credible group, but compromising not quality and minimum standards in those universities.

The new universities are: Phoenix University, Nasarawa state; Peaceland University, Enugu state; Amadeus University, Abia state; Vision University , Ogun state;  Azman University, Kano state; Huda University, Zamfara state; Franco British International University, Kanduna;  Canadian University of Nigeria, FCT; Rayhaan University, Kebbi state; Muhammad Kamalu-Deen University, Kwara state, among others.