CASH POLICY: NAIRA SCARCITY
Due to the ongoing cash policy, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp, NSCDC, says it will continue to arrest and prosecute offenders. These are people involved in producing and circulating fake redesigned naira notes.
The commandant-general of the corps, Ahmed Audi, told journalists in Abuja. The number of cases of circulation of fake naira notes has become worrisome.
He warned perpetrators to desist from this act. Adding that the NSCDC won’t relent in the arrest and prosecution of offenders. “Those involved in economic sabotage of this country will be severely dealt with” he ended.
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele has at this morning debunked a fast spreading news. He said news on him launching a plot on the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu is rubbish. “The attention of the CBN has been drawn to a story published in The Nation newspaper“.
“It alleged that I’ve launched a fresh plot against President-elect. This is completely false and we never gave any politician any cash during the elections”. The Governor said. A statement from the Central Bank of Nigeria was also released.
“We wish to reiterate that the CBN Governor does not take part in politics. We therefore urge anyone with contrary information to prove the Governor wrong by providing any facts.”
“As such, the Governor and his team at the CBN should be allowed to focus on their assigned job. With a view to achieving the statutory mandate of the Bank.” The statement ended.
It’s illegal to reject old naira notes – Sanwo-Olu
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has called on residents to accept the old N500 and N1,000 notes. This is in line with the Supreme Court judgement. The court ruled that the currency remains legal tender until December 31, 2023.
Sanwo-Olu made this known in a statement through the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, yesterday.
The statement read, “The Lagos State Government has noted the hardship sparked by the Naira redesign policy. This has affected business and commercial activities. There is no reason to reject the old notes, going by the Supreme Court judgement delivered on March 3, 2023. All agencies of the Lagos State Government are advised not to reject payments made with the old currency by the public.”
STILL ON THE CASH POLICY
ACF, others tackle Buhari over naira redesign policy
Arewa Consultative Forum has told President Buhari that the much-touted benefits of the naira redesign policy can never be justified. The body also said this cash policy has caused a damage to his credentials as a democrat and a stickler for the rule of law.
Finally, the body asked the federal government to implement the Supreme Court judgement which ordered that the old N500 and N1000 circulate with the new notes.
2023 ELECTIONS
Presidential candidate of the Labour Party Peter Obi said he has no grudges with the President-elect Bola Tinubu. He regarded his declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC as the winner of the 2023 presidential election.
Obi stated this while speaking in an interview with Arise TV on Monday.
“I and Tinubu have no issues. He is somebody I have so much respect for as a brother and regard as a father. I am only challenging the process in which INEC declared him as the President-elect.”
“There is no issue with his declaration as the President-elect.” Peter Obi continued.
He also made an appeal to the electoral body to rise up to the responsibility of helping Nigeria build a viable image in the global world.
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Monday reserved judgement on the Osun State governorship appeal filed by Governor Ademola Adeleke. The appeal filed by Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party is against a judgment of the tribunal which invalidated his election as governor of Osun State.
The Independent National Electoral Commission and the PDP are also joined as 3rd respondent and 4th respondents respectively.
The tribunal had commenced sitting in August 2022, a few weeks after the governorship election. Oyetola and the APC were petitioners in the case with Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and Akin Olujimi, SAN, as their lead counsels.
INEC was the 1st defendant, Adeleke the 2nd defendant and PDP as 3rd defendant. The hearing was still ongoing as at the time of filing the report.
BVAS reconfiguration to be completed Tuesday – INEC
The Independent National Electoral Commission said the reconfiguration of the BVAS machines would be completed by Tuesday. This is in preparation for the March 18 governorship and state assembly elections.
The commissioner of the body, Festus Okoye made this known to reporters. Okoye also stated that no political party will be allowed to look into the brain of the BVAS machines used for voter accreditation and electronic transmission of votes.
He said political parties deployed more polling unit agents than the number of officials deployed by the Commission. So because of this, they are able to adequately monitor their results per polling units.
Communities in Lagos have Shown Support for Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu
Twenty-two indigenous communities of Idasho, Ibeju-Lekki in Lagos have thrown their weight behind the re-election bid of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu. The Secretary-General of the communities, Ladipo Adeokun briefed the media on Sunday.
The Secretary-General said the communities were pledging their support for the candidacy of Sanwo-Olu for a second term. This is because of the good work started by the current government. He also enjoined the Ibeju-Lekki residents to come out en masse and vote for all the political candidates of the APC.
Labour Party chieftains in Badagry accused of imposing candidates for assembly election
The LP chairman in Badagry, Lagos state, Akande Mark said the names of candidates for the assembly election submitted by stakeholders of the party in Badagry differed from the names submitted to INEC by the party’s officers in the state.
“I want to make it categorically clear that as the chairman of LP in Badagry, we don’t know anyone bearing the names Okoya Ashafa or Ajani Olanrewaju. In Badagry, we have been working with Sewanu Jayesinmi, who is our candidate for Badagry Constituency 1 and Efe Omoya, candidate for Badagry Constituency 2, since April 2022″. He concluded.
IN OTHER NEWS
36 persons have been killed by gunmen in Kaduna and Katsina states.
While gunmen killed 17 persons in Southern Kaduna state. About 19 villagers were killed and 15 others injured during a Saturday clash between vigilantes and terrorists in Kankara communities, Katsina State.
Zangon Kataf is one of the LGAs in the southern part of Kaduna that has witnessed killings over the years. This is due to a complex number of problems including farmer-herder conflicts.
Spokesman of Kaduna State Police Command, Muhammad Jalige, who confirmed the attacks said. “From the briefing I received from the Area Commander, trouble started because a boy rearing cattle was murdered.”
“We have been trying to manage the situation while investigating the sad occurrence before trouble broke out. A joint security team will be combing the bushes in the area by Sunday afternoon to search for bodies if there are any. They will also apprehend the suspects responsible for the killings”.
The Governors of both states are yet to comment as they’re still waiting for full reports.
A teenager has been arrested in Abuja today after trying to rob a church building. The police charged Mr Kadiri, 18, with criminal trespass and attempt to commit an offense. The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The judge, Hassan Mohammed, admitted the defendant to N20,000 bail with one surety in like sum. The judge adjourned the case until March 28 for further hearing.
ENTERTAINMENT
Oscars 2023
The 95th edition of the Oscar academy awards unfolded yesterday in Los Angeles. This year’s Oscars included a record number of Asian artists nominated for the acting categories. India also made history with its first nomination and win in the best song category. 31 different winners were made on the night for different roles in the acting category.
Still on the Oscar awards. Nigerian superstar Tems stirred a controversy at the events because of her outfit. The singer wore a dress that was clearly impeding the vision of the audience behind her. Many people thought it was very rude of the artiste to do that while some felt its her choice of cloth and she should be left alone.
It didn’t end there as there were lots of back and forth on the social media app, Twitter. While a lot of users argued that she was wrong for that choice of attire, some supported the ‘Essence’ singer. What do you make of her outfit? Let us know in the comment box below.
FOREIGN
48,000 people have died from the earthquakes – President Erdogan
The President of Turkey Recep Erdogan has said the death toll emanated from the earthquake that rocked the country a month ago has now crossed 48,000. “The death toll has reached 48,000 and the number of injured has exceeded 115,000,”. Erdogan said in a televised address to the nation from the Samandag district of Hatay province. The President concluded that his Government will keep doing everything in its power to aid the families of the disaster victims.
SPORTS
The Premier league battle for glory rumbled on over the weekend as both leaders and chasers stay winning. Manchester City won away from home to cut the points from the top to two. Arsenal responded in style, beating Fulham three nil to restore their five points cushion.
Elsewhere, Chelsea won a second consecutive league match for the first time since last November. Beating Leicester city 1-3 away from home. Manchester United dropped points after a goalless draw at home against bottom-placed Southampton.
In other results, Tottenham beat Nottingham Forest 3-1 while Everton clawed past Brentford 1-0.
Thanks for reading.
