President Bola Tinubu and the recently appointed security chiefs, alongside National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu in a closed-door meeting in Abuja.

The meeting took place on Monday and was the first time Tinubu to engaged directly with the security chiefs since their appointment on June 19.

Guided by Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser (NSA), the meeting had in attendance prominent security officials. Among the attendees were Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff; Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff; Emmanuel Ogalla, the Chief of Naval Staff; Hassan Abubakar, the Chief of Air Staff; and Kayode Egbetokun, the Acting Inspector General of Police.

Following the meeting, Ribadu addressed the press, revealing that President Tinubu expressed his unwavering support to the security chiefs in carrying out their duties.

The President emphasised the importance of resolving the country’s security challenges and stressed the significance of unity and cooperation in achieving success.

Ribadu shared, “We’re here to express our gratitude to Mr. President for the opportunity he has given us to serve our country and his government. We have also pledged our loyalty to him, Nigeria, and Nigerians. We firmly believe that the President’s choice is the right one, the correct one, and we understand his vision for this country.”

“We are committed to working tirelessly to achieve the objective of securing our nation, establishing peace and stability, and restoring normalcy to our lives. President Tinubu has assured us of his unwavering support. He emphasised the need for teamwork and stressed that there is much work to be done. We are grateful for this opportunity, and that’s why we are here,” Ribadu added.

Ribadu further highlighted the improving security situation in the country, expressing confidence in the ability of the security chiefs to safeguard the nation.

He stated, “We can already see that things are improving in our country. Crime rates and the activities of criminals are on the decline, and this trend will continue. We will secure our nation. Nigerians have witnessed the calibre of individuals given this opportunity, and they are undoubtedly some of the best we have. They will not you, they will undoubtedly deliver’.

Court Orders PSC To Pay Retired AIG Mbu N40M General Damages.

The Police Service Commission ( PSC),  has been ordered by the National Industrial Court on Monday, to pay retired AIG Mbu Joseph Mbu, the sum of N40 million as damages. The payment as ordered by Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae, was for the unlawful retirement of Mbu before he attained the mandatory age of 60 years.

”I hold that the claimant’s premature retirement through a press release on July 2, 2016 is unlawful, unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect”. The court in addition set aside the purported retirement and declared that the claimant remained an officer of the Nigeria Police Force ( NPF), until he attained the mandatory retirement age of 60 on May 10, 2018.

Furthermore, the court ordered the defendant to pay Mbu his salaries, allowances and entitlement from July 2, 2016 when he was retired until May 10, 2018 when he ought to have retired having attained 60 years.

The judge while delivering the judgment ordered that the sum of N750,000 be paid to the claimant as cost of the suit, stating that failure of the defendant to comply with the orders of the court within 30 days will attract a 10 per cent interest per annum. The court, however, declined the relief of promotion to the position of a DIG and reinstatement sought by the claimant.

The court explained cannot be sustained as the claimant had reached the mandatory retirement age on May 10, 2018 when the suit was pending. From facts, the claimant, Mbu instituted the suit against the commission over his alleged compulsory retirement on July 2, 2016, when he was the commandant of the Police Staff College.

In his statement of facts, he stated that he was born May 10, 1958, and joined the police on Dec. 11, 1985, and had not reached the mandatory retirement age of 60, nor had he spent 35 years in service before he was retired in 2016.

The claimant had therefore sought, amongst other reliefs, an order of the court to invalidate his retirement, which he claimed was done via a press release as he was never served statutory notice of retirement. He also sought for an order of the court.

He also sought for an order of the court directing the defendant to pay his salaries, allowances and other entitlements from July 2016 to 2018, when he would have been due for retirement. He also sought for payment of his terminal benefits, N500 million as general damages and N20 million as cost of the suit.

The defendant on its part through processes stated that the claimant was not retired through press release, but that he was pulled out from the force in a ceremonial event.

The defendant equally averred that promotion in the force is not automatic and that the claimant did not meet some of the requirements for promotion.
According to the defendant the reorganisation in NPF at the time of the claimant’s retirement followed due process and the claimant was not the only person affected.

The court in its judgment stated that although the defendant abandoned it case by failing to show up in court to conduct its defence, the action did not exonerate the claimant from the burden to proof his case.

The judge submitted that pleadings are not synonymous to evidence as the defendant was never in court regardless of several hearing notices served.
Obaseki-Osaghae in addition stated that the defendant was deemed to have abandoned its case as the claimant’s submissions were not contested.

She said that the claimant having proven his case on its strength through credible evidence without relying on the weakness of the defendant’s, was entitled to some of the reliefs he sought. (NAN).

President Tinubu Set To Forward Minister Nominees’ Names To Senate.

As lawmakers prepare to return from their Sallah break, signs suggest that President Bola Tinubu might send his ministerial nominees’ list to the National Assembly this week.

The 10th Senate and House of Representatives will resume their duties on July 4, following their recess. It is expected that the ministerial list may be a top agenda item upon their return. Since President Tinubu took office on May 29, there’s been considerable speculation and heated debates about who would make the cut for the ministerial positions.

The President has kept his choices under wraps, even from his closest allies.There was a buzz last week that some All Progressives Congress (APC) governors might have the opportunity to nominate more than one person for the ministerial positions.

According to an anonymous source that spoke with Punch, the ministerial list could reach the Senate this week, with the new cabinet expected to be in place later this month.

Publish Details Of What N400 Billion Saved From Subsidy Removal Was Used For – SERAP To Tinubu.

President Bola Tinubu has been admonished to publish the details of what the N400 billion saved so far on the removal of fuel subsidy has been used for.

The call was made by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) in a letter dated July 1, 2023, and signed by the group’s deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare.

SERAP noted that it was vital for the Tinubu-led government to “urgently publish details of spending of about N400bn so far saved as a result of the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit popularly known as petrol.”

According to the rights group, Nigerians have the right to know what the savings was used for, adding that to “provide details of the plans on how subsequent savings from the removal of petroleum subsidy would be used, including specific projects on which the funds would be spent, and the mechanisms that have been put in place to ensure that any such savings are not embezzled, misappropriated, or diverted into private pockets.”

SERAP’s request follows reports that the Federal Government saved N400 billion in the four weeks after the implementation of the policy on the removal of petrol subsidy payments.

 

Subsidy Removal: Palliative Can Easily Become Another Subsidy – Prof Ibrahim.

A member, of the governing board of the Center for Democracy and Development (CDD), Professor Jibrin Ibrahim has said the planned palliative by the federal government might end up like the situation with COVID-19.

According to him, the subsidy removal palliative might end up not serving its intended purpose just like in the case of the COVID-19 palliative during the pandemic.
Ibrahim, while featuring on ARISE TV, said the fuel subsidy palliative can on its own become another subsidy regime on it’s own.

 

2023 Election: It Is Preposterous And Unconscionable – Presidency Fires European Union.

The Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration has rejected the European Union’s conclusions on the 2023 general elections.

The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) had criticized the handling of Nigeria’s 2023 general elections. It said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) failed to deliver on its promise of a transparent and inclusive democratic process.

The EU EOM pointed to gaps in law and electoral administration that negatively affected the quality and inclusiveness of the elections and undermined trust in the INEC.

According to the EU EOM’s final report, public faith in INEC was severely dented during the presidential election and was not rebuilt in subsequent state-level elections. Reacting in a statement on Sunday, the Special Adviser to the President (Special Duties, Communications and Strategy), Dele Alake, described the report as preposterous and unconscionable.

He stated that the government is aware of the machinations of the European Union to sustain its unfounded bias and claims on the election outcomes.

 

JAMB Declares Result Of Anambra Student Who Claimed To Have Scored 362 In 2023 UTME As Fake.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has declared the result of a student from Anambra State, Ejikeme Mmesoma who claimed to have scored 362 in the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) as fake.

JAMB in a statement on Sunday disclosed that her real score is 249 but she used a software to manually manipulate her results.

The board added that with her fake result, she has been able to attract a N3 million scholarship from Innoson Motors and was set to be honored by the Anambra State government before she was exposed.

As a punishment for her actions, JAMB announced that the result of the student would be withdrawn and she would be prosecuted.

 

Dialogue With Bandit Terrorists Like Niger-Delta Militants – Yerima To Tinubu.

A former Zamfara Governor, Sani Yerima, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to dialogue with bandits, just as the late former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua dialogued with Niger Delta militants.

Yerima promoted Sharia law during his tenure as Governor, stated this while speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa on Saturday. The former Zamfara governor admitted that some bandits terrorising Nigeria are foreigners.

Yerima said, “I’m advising the government to, first of all, find time to sit with these bandits, just like they sat with Niger Delta militants in the past. Because a majority of them are Nigerians, even though there are some foreigners among them.
“But Nigerians among them can be convinced, as the Niger Delta militants were convinced and empowered to stop.“If that fails, then the government can use force on them wherever they are.”

IGP Egbetokun Rolls Out Award And Commendation System To Reward Excellent Police Officers.

The Acting Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olukayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has ordered the resuscitation of the Awards and Commendation system for the Nigeria Police Force, implemented under the guidance of his administration, to enhance motivation and encouragement among Police Officers.

This renewed commendation system represents a significant advancement from the past, as it now covers all officers involved in every major case, moving away from solely focusing on arresting officers or commanders.
According to a statement made available on Sunday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the new system is in line with the provisions of Section 92 of the Police Act 2020, and Order 68 of the Force Orders and Instructions, and will be a milestone in recognizing the collective efforts of all officers in upholding law and order in the nation.

Traditionally, the Nigeria Police Force has a history of conferring commendations and rewards to specific officers who have displayed exemplary performances in critical operations. With the new system, commendations and awards will now be bestowed upon all officers who played a crucial role in resolving major cases, promoting a sense of camaraderie, unity, and teamwork within the force.
This development emphasizes the importance of collaboration and shared responsibility in achieving the force’s objectives.

Furthermore, the introduction of this new commendation and award system also marks a commitment to shelve unnecessary special promotions, which have hitherto been ridiculous in the NPF.