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Buhari Heads To Senegal For International Agriculture Conference

President Muhammadu Buhari will leave Lagos on Tuesday for Senegal, where he will attend the 2nd Dakar International Conference on Agriculture.

Mr Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman confirmed this in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja.

According to a presidential aide, the high-level Dakar 2 Summit, hosted by Senegal’s President Macky Sall and the African Union’s Chairperson, would be held under the topic “Feeding Africa: Food Sovereignty and Resilience.”

“The meeting, which attempts to establish favorable conditions for African food security, is convened jointly by the government of Senegal and the African Development Bank,” Adesina stated.

”There will also be side meetings to discuss agreements on the delivery of food and agricultural products in some countries, including Nigeria.

”With Africa accounting for 249 million or a third of the 828 million hungry people in the world, the Summit, to be attended by African Heads of State and Government, Ministers of finance and agriculture, as well as several global development partners, is expected to make commitments on eradicating hunger in Africa by 2030.”

Members of the President’s delegation include Ministers and high government officials such as Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Dr. Mohammad Abubakar, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Others include retired Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno, the National Security Adviser, and Amb. Ahmed Abubakar, the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).

According to Adesina, the president will return to the country on January 25.

According to the Nigerian News Agency (NAN), the topic of this Summit is “Feed Africa: Food Sovereignty and Resilience.”

The event will bring together more than 1,500 people, with the participation of Heads of State and Government, Ministers in charge of Economy and Finance, Ministers of Agriculture and related sectors, Governors of Central Banks as well as private sector stakeholders, multilateral organizations, non-governmental organizations, leading academics and scientists.

During the three-day summit, key stakeholders, including heads of state, development partners and private sector participants will come together to mobilise financing that will harness Africa’s food and agriculture potential.

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In Serial Raids, DSS Arrests Retired Soldier, Five Other Criminals

A retired soldier and five other suspected criminals operating along the Lokoja-Abuja highway have been arrested by operatives of the Department of State Security DSS.

In a statement on Sunday, Peter Afunanya, DSS spokesperson, said the suspected criminals were apprehended on March 26.

The DSS, in collaboration with sister agencies, also arrested a 20-year-old suspected kidnapper, identified as Haruna Adamu, in Adamawa.

Afunanya said a suspected gunrunner was apprehended in Abuja while travelling from Nasarawa to deliver arms to bandits in Niger state.

“The sum of twenty-one thousand, four hundred naira (N21,400) was also recovered from the suspect. Earlier on 22nd March, 2023, Babangida Ibrahim, an arms courier to bandits in Zamfara state was apprehended along Bukuru in Jos South LGA, Plateau state.

“Recovered from him were four hundred and sixty-eight (468) rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammunition and the sum of twenty one thousand, ninety naira (21, 090).”

The DSS spokesperson said all the suspects are in custody and would be subsequently prosecuted.

He added that the DSS will continue to partner with relevant stakeholders to address crimes in the country.

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Pandora Papers: Law Firm Asks CCB To Prosecute Peter Obi For Not Fully Declaring Assets

A Lagos-based law firm, Lawflex has asked the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to prosecute Peter Obi, Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, over his alleged failure to declare secret assets stashed in tax havens while he was Anambra state governor.

In a petition dated March 23 and received by the CCB on the same day, Olukoya Ogungbeje, the signee, urged the bureau to commence an immediate investigation against Obi and invite him for questioning.

The law firm threatened to seek a “judicial review by way of an Order of Mandamus in a court of competent jurisdiction in a bid to compel performance of public duty” if the CCB fails to take constitutional action within 30 days.

Leaked files, which were retrieved from 14 offshore service firms around the world and revealed in a Pandora Papers project led by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), and which Premium Times was a part, had shown how the former governor failed to declare assets kept in tax havens.

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“A Fine Officer”, Lawan Mourns Diya

Ahmad Lawan, president of the Senate has sent his condolences to the family of a former Chief of General Staff, Lt. General Oladipo Diya, over his death on Sunday.

Lawan also condoled with the government and people of Ogun State over the loss of the one-time number two citizen under the military regime of the late General Sani Abacha.

He described Gen Diya as a fine officer who played his role dutifully during some of Nigeria’s most critical times.

Lawan said, “Diya kept his dignity under the unfortunate circumstances that ended his military career and remained a respected member of his community until he breathed his last.”

The Senate president also prayed for sweet repose of the soul of the departed General and for fortitude for his family, friends and associates to bear his loss.