Day: January 17, 2025

Sardauna Memorial:  “We won’t stand aloof and see the North decay” – Al-Mustapha

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Hamza al Mustapha reaffirms

Former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the Late military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, Major Hamza al-Mustapha, (rtd), has reaffirmed their commitment to getting the North back on track, and to get it totally unified. Speaking to newsmen at the sidelines of an event  in memory of Sardauna Ahmadu Bello, the Premier of Northern Nigeria in Kaduna, the former CSO said it would be wrong for them to sit idly and watch the North decay. According to al-Mustapha, in order to bring back the North on the path of…

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NGF back Tax Reform Bills, proposes 50:30:20 VAT ratio

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NGF back tax reform

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum, (NGF), has finally supported the proposed tax reform Bills of the Bola Tinubu-led administration currently under consideration at the 10th National Assembly. The NGF also unanimously rejected an increase in the Value-Added Tax (VAT) rate, while proposing a revised sharing formula for distribution . According  to a communiqué issued yesterday, after 2-day sub-national consultation meeting between the governors and the Presidential Tax Reform Committee, led by Taiwo Oyedele, in Abuja. NGF Chairman and Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq disclosed that the Forum endorsed a revised VAT-sharing…

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Insecurity: “FG drifting into realm of mis-governance” – CNG

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CNG on insecurity

The Coalition of Northern Groups, (CNG), says it is deeply saddened by the recent incidents that have “once again brought sorrow and grief to our communities in Northern Nigeria”. In a statement issued by the CNG’s spokesman, Comrade Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, extended its condolences to the peoples and governments of Borno and Zamfara States over the loss of lives in two events. Charanchi said in Borno State, the heinous killing of 40 farmers by suspected members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in Kukawa local government area,…

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₦12.3bn alleged fraud: EFCC to arraign Oba Otudeko, ex-First Bank MD, Onasanya on Monday 

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EFCC to arraign2

The Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed Monday, January 20, 2025, for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), to arraign the Chairman of Honeywell Group, Chief Oba Otudeko and a former First Bank MD, Stephen Olabisi Onasanya, for allegedly looting ₦12.3billion from First Bank. Otudeko – former Chairman of First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) Holdings –  and Onasanya are to be arraigned alongside a former Board member of Honeywell, Soji Akintayo and a firm, Anchorage Leisure Ltd. connected to Otudeko. According to the EFCC, the four committed the…

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Pope Francis sustains forearm injury after fall

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Pope Francis sustains forearm injury

The Vatican announced yesterday that Pope Francis injured his right forearm after falling at his residence, but confirmed that there were no fractures. The statement read: “This morning, following a fall at the Santa Marta residence, Pope Francis sustained a contusion on his right forearm, without fractures. As a precaution, the arm was immobilised”. The 88-year-old pontiff, who has led the 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church since 2013, often relies on a cane or wheelchair due to knee and back pain. In recent years, Pope Francis has faced several health challenges,…

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‘Ɗangote Refinery production pushing EU refineries out of business’ – OPEC 

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OPEC on Ɗangote refinery

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, (OPEC), says the Ɗangote Refinery is affecting European markets, noting that importation of petroleum products in Nigerian has dropped reasonably. OPEC, in a report issued on Wednesday, disclosed that in the last quarter of 2024, “imports also declined, particularly oil product imports, improving the outlook for the external sector”. Recall that in September last year, Ɗangote Refinery, a $20 billion project spearheaded by billionaire Aliko Ɗangote, officially begun petrol production, marking a significant milestone in Nigeria’s energy sector. Announcing the feat, Ɗangote said: “This…

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Hardship: “Tinubu had no manifesto, just a sense of entitlement” – Apostle Suleman

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Apostle Suleman on Tinubu

Senior Pastor of Omega Fire Ministries, Apostle Johnson Suleman, has attributed the current economic hardship in the country to the unpreparedness of President Bola Tinubu for governance, noting that the President only came with a sense of entitlement. The clergy, who made this assertion during Tuesday and Wednesday’s 2-day “Recovery Conference 2025” in Bauchi State, blamed Nigerians for poor electoral choices in the 2023 general election, noting that they partly deserve what they are getting under the Tinubu administration. Suleman had, ahead of the event, paid a courtesy visit to…

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Kaduna: Court denies el-Rufa’i’s ex-aide, Jimi Lawal bail in money-laundering case

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Court denies Jimi Lawal bail

A Kaduna State High Court has denied bail to Muhammad Bashir Sa’idu, the former Chief of Staff to Nasir el-Rufa’i, the immediate-past governor of the State, in a money-laundering case filed against him. The court delivered its ruling yesterday, refusing the bail application principally on the grounds  that a formal charge had been filed at the Kaduna State High Court II against Sa’idu. According to the Kaduna State Director of Public Prosecution, Samson Irimiya, “The bail application ruling was delivered refusing the bail application principally on the grounds that since…

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