News
Edwin Clark slams Tinubu for scrapping Ministry of Niger Delta
South-South leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has taken a swipe at President Bola Tinubu for scrapping the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, saying the people of the region will not allow that.
Recall that President Tinubu and the Federal Executive Council, FEC, announced the scrapping of the Niger Delta Ministry and the Ministry of Sports Development.
A tweet by the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, Bayo Onanuga, on Wednesday said the decision was reached during FEC meeting.
Reacting to the development, the elder statesman, who noted that there was no basis for the scrapping of the ministry, accused the federal government of plans to use the money from the South-South geopolitical zone to develop the various development commissions of other geopolitical zones that have been established.
He said President Tinubu has no good plans for the people of the Niger Delta, just as he said that the late President Umaru Yar’Adua created the ministry for the development of the zone and to ensure permanent peace as well as to nip in the bud cases of pipeline vandalisation.
Clark, the leader of the Southern and Middle-Belt Leaders Forum, SMBLF, said he received the news as a surprise.
“What I have noted so far is that there is no basis for scrapping it. Yar’Adua had a clear purpose to address the security situation in the Niger Delta, which led to the creation of the ministry to focus on the development of that area. We have been working for some time now, managing our commissions,” he said.
News
President Tinubu swears in seven new ministers
President Bola Tinubu has sworn in seven newly-appointed ministers at the Council Chambers in Abuja.
Those sworn in include Nentawe Yilwatda as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction; Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi as the Minister of Labour & Employment; Bianca Odinaka Odumegwu-Ojukwu as the Minister of State Foreign Affairs.
Others are Jumoke Oduwole (Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment (Trade and Investment), Idi Mukhtar Maiha (Minister of Livestock Development), Yusuf Abdullahi Ata (Minister of State, Housing, and Urban Development), and Suwaiba Said Ahmad as the Minister of State Education.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presides over the Swearing in Ceremony of New Ministers Screened by the Senate at the State House
Monday’s swearing-in came days after their appointments by President Tinubu and subsequent confirmation by the Senate.
Calls for the reshuffling of the president’s cabinet reached new levels in the wake of Nigeria’s dwindling economic fortunes which have worsened the living standards across the country.
President Tinubu heeded the calls in October, sacking five ministers and nominating seven others. Those dismissed included Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye (Women Affairs); Lola Ade-John (Tourism); Tahir Mamman (Education); Abdullahi Gwarzo (State, Housing and Urban Development), and Jamila Ibrahim (Youth Development).
This was in addition to the reassignment of new portfolios to 10 other ministers.
News
Osun: Police confirm arrest of man for allegedly killing father
The Osun State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of a man identified as Saidi for the alleged murder of his father, Bale in his farm at Ilusi, Osun State.
The Osun police spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, who confirmed the arrest, disclosed that investigation has commenced into the matter.
Opalola said, “The suspect was arrested on the suspicion that he killed the father. I have been briefed about it. Investigation is ongoing.”
Village sources also revealed that the remains of the Bale was discovered on his farm on Friday after it was noticed that he had been missing for some hours.
A resident of the village, simply identified as Sakariyau, said that Bale went missing last Thursday and after a thorough search around the village, his corpse was found on his farm the following day covered with leaves.
He said, “Before he (Bale) was traced to his farm on Friday, he could not be found anywhere around the village since he left for the farm.
“When we got to his farm, we searched everywhere and found his remains covered with leaves. His head was cut off by unknown people.
“Thereafter, people around, who suspected Bale’s son, who accompanied the deceased to the farm on the day he was killed, descended on him.
“He was seriously beaten because people knew he went with his father to the farm to harvest cocoa. He initially denied killing the man, but he later admitted committing the crime after he was seriously tortured by some angry youths.
“The cocoa produce already harvested and the motorcycle of the deceased were found on the farm. The boy was later handed over to police and he was taken to the Iperindo station for further investigations.”
News
Appeal Court acquits ex-CJN Onnoghen
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has discharged and acquitted a former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, from his conviction of false assets declaration by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
The conviction of Onnoghen was thrown out by the appellate court following the resolution of the issues that led to his trial and conviction.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari had on January 25, 2019, about 29 days before the presidential election, suspended Onnoghen from office as the CJN and swore in the next most senior jurist of the Supreme Court, Justice Tanko Muhammad, to take over the leadership of the judiciary.
Delivering judgment, the Presiding Justice, Justice Abba Mohammed, adopted the terms of settlement between the federal government and Onnoghen.
He also ordered that the four bank accounts of the former CJN forfeited be returned to him.
Shortly after the judgment, Counsel to Onnoghen and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Adegboyega Awomolo, thanked President Tinubu and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Lateef Fagbemi for ensuring the resolutions of the issue.
Onnoghen’s suspension came barely eight hours after he announced his decision to inaugurate judges who would preside over election petition tribunals.
Ex-President Buhari’s action elicited varied reactions from both within and outside the judicial circles, with the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, describing it as a coup against the judiciary.
Onnoghen was later convicted by the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, on a six-count corruption charge that was preferred against him by the Federal Government.
It was alleged that he made a false declaration to the Code of Conduct Bureau.
-
News2 days ago
We’ll bring back indigenous arraigned minors to Kano – Gov Yusuf
-
News3 days ago
Court orders final forfeiture of $2.04 m linked to Emefiele
-
News2 days ago
Lagos council boss, Olakanle dies at 54
-
International2 days ago
British-Nigerian, Kemi Badenoch emerges leader of UK Conservative Party
-
Education5 days ago
IGP launches school Protection Squad in Anambra
-
News4 days ago
Wreckage of crashed helicopter found- NSIB reveals
-
News2 days ago
Prof Utuama’s death devastating – Gov Oborevwori extends condolences
-
News4 days ago
25m Nigerians received ₦25,000 conditional cash transfer – FG
-
Entertainment3 days ago
EFCC: Why Bobrisky was re-arrested, flown to Abuja
-
Local News5 days ago
Physically challenged man arrested in Kogi for raping 10-year-old girl
-
News2 days ago
Police arrest seven-man gang terrorising and kidnapping travellers on Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode expressway