CNG flays Prof. Yusuf Usman’s arrest, demands his release

CNG calls on FG

…Warns against stifling free speech The Coalition of Northern Groups, (CNG), has condemned the arrest and continued detention of Prof. Usman Yusuf, former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), describing it as an attempt to suppress dissent. In a statement issued yesterday by the group’s National Coordinator, Comrade Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, the CNG expressed concern over the detention of Prof. Yusuf, who has been an outspoken critic of the current administration. The Coalition asserted that Yusuf’s arrest was politically-motivated…

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Power Minister outlines fresh plans to raise electricity tariffs 

Electricity hike

The Federal Government has disclosed that it wants to attract up to $15 billion in private investments into the power sector.  The Government also unveiled plans to increase the electricity tariff for Nigerians, to reflect the full cost Nigerian government still spends trillions of naira on energy subsidy despite removing subsidy for Band-A subscribers last year. Although the Government removed subsidies for about 15% of urban households last year, tripling tariffs, authorities still spent N2.2 trillion on subsidies. However, the Government’s new plan aims to implement full-cost tariffs by 2027…

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SDP Chairman, Gabam condemns arrest of Prof. Usman, urges end to harassment

SDP rules out alliance

National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP),  Shehu Musa Gabam, has strongly condemned the arrest of ex-NHIS Executive Secretary,  Prof. Yusuf Usman, describing it as an act of political intimidation and a violation of democratic principles.  In an issued press statement yesterday, Gabam criticised the government for using the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to suppress opposition voices. Professor Usman, a respected advocate for justice and democracy, was reportedly arrested after openly criticising government policies. His detention, according to Gabam, raises concerns over the shrinking space for dissent…

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“Your criticism of Tinubu’s govt. out of vengeance, not patriotism”, Bwala chides el-Rufa’i

Bwala on el Rufa'i

Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has accused former Kaduna Governor, Nasir el-Rufa’i, of pursuing a “vengeance mission” rather than acting out of patriotism in his recent criticisms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.  Bwala made the assertion in a response to El-Rufai’s earlier post on his verified X handle, @BwalaDaniel, yesterday.   Bwala, while expressing admiration for el-Rufa’i, questioned the motive behind the former governor’s statements and actions. He said:  “My worry however is the motive behind your statements and actions; they are not borne out…

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Court adjourns arraignment of ex-NHIS boss, orders remand in EFCC custody

Screenshot 20250131 025632

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Kuje has postponed the arraignment of former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS),  Prof. Usman Yusuf, until February 3. Recall that Yusuf was taken into custody by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday, and appeared before Justice Chinyere E. Nwecheonwu yesterday to face fraud allegations. However, the court delayed the case to permit charge amendments. This development was disclosed in an EFCC statement issued yesterday. During the brief hearing, defense counsel Isah Dokto Haruna requested bail…

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“26yrs of unbroken democracy due to people’s resilience” – AbdulSalami

Former Head of State, Gen. AbdulSalami Abubakar (rtd), has said 26 years of uninterrupted democracy should be attributed to the resilience of ordinary Nigerians. Speaking  at the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC)’s public presentation of its book, with the theme: “100 Years of Political Parties Evolution in Nigeria, the Imperative of Nigeria’s Political Stability: Issues and Solutions’, Abubakar noted that 2025 will make it 102 years of the formation of political parties in the country, adding that it was a milestone in the nation’s democratic process. Represented by his Chief Security…

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Yoruba group rejects Shari’ah Law in S’West, demands preservation of cultural values

Islamic cleric on Shariah

A Yoruba socio-cultural group, ‘The Society for Yoruba Culture Renaissance’, has strongly opposed the establishment of Shari’ah arbitration panels in Oyo, Ekiti, and other southwestern states, describing the move as incompatible with Yoruba societal values.  In a press statement issued yesterday, the group stated that such legal structures are foreign to the region’s traditions and could disrupt the region’s long-standing tradition of peaceful co-existence among people of diverse religious beliefs. The statement was issued in response to recent developments, including the first public sitting of the Independent Sharia Arbitration Panel…

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Broadcasting: IBAN calls for regulatory engagement, capacity-building and Government support

IBAN calls for govt support

The Board of Trustees (BOT) and Executive Council of the Independent Broadcasting Association of Nigeria, (IBAN), have outlined key action plans aimed at addressing pressing challenges in the broadcasting industry.  The resolutions were made during a joint meeting hosted yesterday by Channels Media Group, which was held in Abuja. In an issued communiqué, signed by IBAN Chairman, John Momoh, and Secretary, Charles Daniels, the association emphasised the need for engagement with regulatory bodies such as the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria, (ARCON).  Given the…

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