The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal will deliver its judgment on the election petition filed by Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday, September 6, 2023.

The petitions challenge the election of Tinubu as president of the country.
The petitioners alleged that there were widespread irregularities and malpractices in the election, which they said affected the outcome of the vote. The tribunal is expected to issue its judgment on Wednesday, September 6,20233.

The Tribunal in May had merged the petitions submitted by the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party and Peter Obi of the Labour Party. It also reserved judgment on the petitions.

The court had last week denied that it had fixed September 16 for the judgment.

I have capable hands as Ministers I will not fail you – President Tinubu makes promises to Nigerians.

President Bola Tinubu has reassured Nigerians of his determination not to fail the country in carrying out a permanent transformation of the nation’s economy to an enduring prosperity.

Tinubu said this while receiving members of Tinubu Support Organisation (TSO) on a solidarity visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja. This is contained in a statement signed by Chief Frank Ebere-Njoku, National Spokesperson, Tinubu Support Organisation (TSO), given to newsmen in Abuja on Monday.

The president, who thanked the organisation for standing on his mandate, said that Nigeria was on the path of recovery. Tinubu expressed confidence in the capacity of his cabinet members to rescue the country from the present economic quagmire.
“I have at this point assembled ministers to work toward achieving my goal of a progressive Nigeria.

“I am sure that they are capable of delivering on their primary assignment of rebuilding the Nigerian economy because I will remove anyone who fails, because I want results,” he said.

Tinubu, however, promised to run an all-inclusive government where everyone would be given the opportunity to serve, especially those that worked for him. According to him, “I will always reward loyalty, excellence and hard work.”

Earlier, Alhaji Aminu Suleiman, Founder, Tinubu Support Organisation (TSO) reassured the president of their loyalty and support. Suleiman, who expressed unwavering support to President Tinubu, said they were committed to making the government a great success.

TSO is one of the associations that mobilised support for President Tinubu’s presidency. (NAN)

Subsidy Removal: Sanwo-Olu Flags Off Distribution Of Rice, Beans, Garri As Palliatives In Lagos.

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Sunday flagged off the distribution of food items for vulnerable households through the Lagos Food Bank Programme, to cushion the effects of the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal government on Lagos residents.

The flag off of the food bank programme is part of the social and economic intervention programmes by the Lagos State Government to ameliorate the pains some Lagosians are experiencing due to the increase in transportation costs and food prices across the State as a direct effect of the policy on the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government, a statement by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile explained.

He added that the Food Bank initiative is an addition to different measures rolled out and currently being implemented by the Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration. The measures include 50 per cent reduction in transportation costs in the government-owned bus system and free health services for pregnant women in government hospitals.

Speaking during the flag-off of the Lagos Food Bank Programme at Lagos House, Ikeja on Sunday, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the programme will directly impact 500,000 benefitting households, noting that over 2,500 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises were involved in bag manufacturing, food aggregation, packaging, and logistics, while over 25,000 employees of the MSMEs will be indirectly impacted.

 

‘You Have 30-Day Ultimatum Or Face Full Wrath Of The Law’ – Alake Warns Illegal Miners.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has issued a 30-day ultimatum to all miners engaged in the illegal extraction of mineral resources in the country to join notable mining cooperatives or face the full wrath of the law.

The illegal mining of mineral resources has remained a worrisome trend for the Federal Government.
Speaking at a world press conference held in Abuja on Sunday, Alake unveiled a plan to set up a surveillance task force that would include police officers and other relevant agencies to secure the mines in the country.

While announcing the 30-day ultimatum to miners and plan to introduce security operatives as parts of his seven transformation agenda, the minister expressed surprise that a country with precious minerals like gold, bitumen, lithium and uranium in massive proportions could fail to use the resources to liberate its citizens.

Alake added that the directive to illegal miners will be interpreted into Nigerian languages and broadcast on the radio to ensure no one is ignorant.

 

Over 8.3 Million Northerners In Dire Need Of Humanitarian Interventions – FG.

The Federal Government has said that no fewer than 8.3 million Nigerians based in the northern region are in dire need of humanitarian assistance.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday (yesterday) through her media aide, Rasheed Zubair.

According to the Minister, the concerned people are located in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States. Edu said the figure is part of the total 16 million Nigerians affected by various humanitarian crises, with the three states worse hit.

She noted that apart from the North-East, Benue in the North/Central had been tagged the capital of humanitarian crises in Nigeria by the United Nations.

 

No Minister Approved Over N25 Million Without My Consent – Obasanjo.

Former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo in a recent interview revealed no minister during his administration had the authority to approve more than N25 million without his consent.

Obasanjo stated this in an interview with The Cable. Obasanjo in his statement wondered where the former minister of power and steel, Olu Agunloye, got the authority to award a $6 billion contract to Sunrise Power and Transmission Ltd in respect of the Mambilla Hydropower Project in 2003.

Sunrise Power is currently in arbitration with Nigeria at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Paris, France, over an alleged breach of contract by the federal government.

In the first arbitration, Sunrise demanded a compensation of $2.3 billion, claiming it had spent millions of dollars on financial and legal consultants before the contract was jettisoned.

In the second one, the company asked for a $400 million settlement being the terms of the agreement it entered with the federal government in 2020 to end the arbitration.
Obasanjo while speaking on this said, “When I was president, no minister had the power to approve more than N25 million without express presidential consent.

“It was impossible for Agunloye to commit my government to a $6 billion project without my permission and I did not give him any permission.

 

Tinubu Departs Nigeria For India To Attend G-20 Summit.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will on Monday depart Abuja to attend the G-20 Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi, India, on the special invitation of Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.

This was made known on Sunday in a statement by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.
The statement noted that on the sidelines of the Summit, the President will participate in and deliver keynote addresses at both the Nigeria-India Presidential Roundtable and the Nigeria-India Business Conference.

He stated that the CEO Roundtable will be attended by leading industrialists in the Indian private sector, Nigerian industrialists, as well as senior government officials from both countries.

 

You Lack Moral Standing To Accuse Buhari Of Corruption – Garba Shehu Condemns Adoke.

The former spokesman of ex-President, Muhammadu Buhari, Garba Shehu on Sunday accused ex-Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke of anti-corruption pretence.
Adoke during an interview with Adesua Giwa-Osagie, reacted to the corruption allegations levelled against him and former Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

Shehu in his reaction to Adoke’s statement said the cases cited by Adoke as a reference point of corruption were cases that originated from a government in which he himself was the man responsible for the administration of justice.
He said Adoke’s record in office made him the wrong character for “this famous skit.”

 

Minister Reveals What President Tinubu Plans To Do With N-Power.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu on Sunday revealed that President Bola Tinubu plans to revamp and expand the N-power scheme.

Edu in a statement released by her special adviser on media and Publicity, Rasheed Zubair said the revamping of the N-Power scheme would be done in line with the ‘renewed hope’ concept of the current administration.

Specifically on the N-Power scheme, the Minister assured that there would be prompt payment of stipends to beneficiaries. She added that apart from N-Power, all existing empowerment schemes within the National Investment Programme will be rejigged and expanded for more effectiveness as her Ministry targets lifting Nigerians out of poverty.

 

Police Resque 2 Lagos Abducted Teenage Boys in Ogun

Two teenage boys, abducted in  Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State, have been abandoned by a riverside in Oru-Ijebu, Ogun State.

The victims, Chindalu Umadi, 17, and Udeba David 16, have, however, been rescued by police operatives attached to the Oru-Ijebu Division, while on patrol.

They were rescued on September 3, at about 3:30pm following their kidnap at about 8:20am same day in the Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State.

A statement issued by the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Omolola Odutola disclosed.

“Recounting their ordeal to the police, the duo stated that two unknown persons abducted them into a Toyota saloon car, and could not recollect what happened during their captivity until they were discovered abandoned near a riverside in Oru-Ijebu”.

According to the PPRO, the prompt response of the patrol men from Oru-Ijebu Divisional Police Headquarters led to their rescue, and they were subsequently taken to the Police Station, where the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), CSP Mathew Ediae, interviewed them and obtained information about their ordeal.

The boys shared their account, stating that they were on their way to play football, when they were forcibly taken into custody by their abductors.

Meanwhile, the DPO, according to the release, had reached out to the distraught parents of the victims, who had been searching for them, stating that, on their arrival at the station for identification, the teenagers would be reunited with their families.

“This incident highlights the importance of prompt and vigilant patrolling by men of the Nigeria Police, as well as the collaborative efforts between law enforcement and concerned parents, in ensuring the safety and well-being of teenagers in such distressing situations”, the PPRO stated.

In his reaction, the state Commissioners of Police, Alamutu Abiodun Mustapha, expressed his satisfaction with this positive outcome. Alamutu charged parents and guardians on the need to be more vigilant towards their children and wards, especially during the ember months, “which are notorious for increase in criminal activities”.

“He advised parents to be aware of their children’s whereabouts at all times and encouraged teenagers to move in groups to minimize the risk of falling victim to such incidents”, the statement added.

 

Alleged Diversion: Falana Charges DSS To Release Suspended Ogun LG Boss, Adedayo.

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) on Sunday asked the Department of State Services (DSS) to release the detained suspended Chairman of the Ijebu East Local Government in Ogun State, Wale Adedayo.

Adedayo accused the state Governor, Dapo Abiodun of diverting the statutory allocations of the 20 local governments in the state. He was subsequently suspended for three months on allegations of maladministration and financial mismanagement by seven out of the 11 councillors that made up the local government legislative council.

Falana in a statement released on Sunday said Adedayo was invited to the Ogun State Command of the secret police on Friday.

Falana said though the Ogun State Government has denied the allegation of funds diversion, the governor should sue Adedayo for libel in the Ogun State High Court.