President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday received in audience members of the National Association of Nigerian Students, led by the President, Usman Umar Barambu at the state house.

The visit comes less than 24 hours after the President signed into Law the student loans Bill into an Act, that will provide easy access to higher education for indigent Nigerians through interest-free loans from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.

The president during the visit said; “Poverty should not prevent anybody, any child, including the daughter or son of a wood seller, ‘Bole’ (plantain) seller or yam seller from attaining their highest standard of education. If we all believe that education is the greatest weapon against poverty, then we have to invest in it. If you eliminate poverty from one family, you can carry the rest of the weight.”

Therefore, he pledged that his administration would commit more resources to the education sector to ensure that every Nigerian child, regardless of their background, has access to quality education.

President Tinubu, who promised to consider the requests of the NANS leaders, urged the student body to ensure unity among its members across the country to achieve more.

“You have to promote unity and stability among each other. You have to employ democratic means in your programmes and elections. I have to say, anyone who is unable to accept and celebrate a free and fair election, does not deserve the joy of victory,” he advised.

He thanked the students for supporting the removal of subsidy on petrol, explaining the reasons behind the decision and the need to curb smuggling.

”I’m glad you understand the reason for the subsidy removal. We were at a point where Nigeria tried to draw water from a dry well and that is no longer acceptable and we equally must not continue to service the smugglers because they used to take our tankers and Premium Motor Spirit across the borders. We will put our money where our mouth is,” he said.

The leader of the delegation, Umar Barambu, said the purpose of the students’ leaders visit was to thank the president for the signing into law of the Student Loan Bill, which will provide loans to indigent students such that no Nigerian student in tertiary institutions will drop out of school over inability to pay school fees.

The Bill, sponsored by former House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, was signed into law by President Tinubu on Monday, June 12, which is Democracy Day.

Barambu said “We are here to congratulate you and to thank you for what you have been doing to the country since you assumed responsibility as the President. We want to equally thank you for the Students Loan Bill.”

Speaking to State House Correspondents after engagements with the President, Barambu revealed that they urged him to review the constitution of the special committee that will oversee the new Nigerian Education Loan Fund to include student representatives.

He said the students want the inclusion of its past national leaders and the exclusion of lecturers and lawyers from the loans board as provided in the Students Loan Act.

Speaking on the contentious clause of the Act, the NANS President said: “We have outlined the clauses that we are not too comfortable with. And part of them is the issue of that board that we mentioned to the President, which we said at least students’ representatives should be captured and there are some organisation that they put there, which to us, they don’t need to be there.

“We gave him an example, most especially the Nigerian Bar Association, ASUU. ASUU have their own microfinance bank running their own affairs without students on their board. So I don’t think it’s wise for us to allow them to be inside our own board because it is purely students.

“We are the major stakeholders of that bank. So I don’t think allowing them to be there is good. Not only them, but we also mentioned a lot of people that they should remove and put more of student-oriented organisation.”

Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori has urged Local Government Council Chairmen to check the activities of revenue collectors to reduce the burden of fuel subsidy removal on the people.

Oborevwori made the call when the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria ALGON, Delta State Chapter led by Hon. Victor Ebonka, paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Asaba on Wednesday.

He said that people were facing serious hardship following removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government and cautioned Council chairmen against multiple taxation and avoid taxing the people more at this critical time.

Oborevwori said; “funding remains a challenge in our local government councils. It is our hope that with the removal of the fuel subsidy, more monies will be accrued to the local governments and states.

“But until such happens, we urge you to be very prudent and creative in the management of your resources. Even though taxes are pertinent sources of council’s revenue, I want to assure you that the conflicting issues and laws will be handled.

“With the hardship we are facing now with this subsidy removal, I want to appeal to you to talk to your people, your agents and tax collectors not to impose unnecessary taxes on our people.

“There are a lot of expections from our people and at this time, we need to manage them, see how much we are buying fuel now. We are looking for how we can provide palliative for our people.”

He tasked the Councils to take seriously the issues of environmental sanitation and sustainability, adding that “operation keep Delta State clean is a collective responsibility of all.

“In the remaining months of your tenures, one issue I want you to treat with urgency, is sanitation. Last week, I went through the Warri/Effurun area, I called on the Chairmen of Warri and Uwvie Local Government Areas, and discussed with them.

“Every month you do your sanitation and there are provisions to do that; you must keep your environment clean. It is very important to educate our people on the benefits of keeping our environment clean,” he said.

He said local governments play important roles in the development of the grassroot and urged Council Chairmen to ensure proper management of their resources for the good of the people.

“As the third tier of government, the local government plays a very significant role in our democratic setting and political evolution; being the arm of government that is closest to the grassroot.

“I note with delight that the local government administration in the state has been characterised by peace and stability, in addition to strong synergy with the state government”.

The Governor further remarked that his administration would collaborate with local government councils to pay the backlog of pensions owed local government retirees and retired primary school teachers.

“Unlike some states, our local government councils have full control of their finances. In fact, the previous administration regularly assisted with grants, as a result of which we have continued to see steady progress in developing our rural areas.

“We may not have been where we want to be but I am proud of the progress we have made. This administration will sustain the precedent that has been laid by my predecessor.

“We shall not interfere with your finances and we will offer assistance where necessary. In this regard, we shall be collaborating with the Local Government Pension Bureau, to see how the lingering pension issues will be resolved.

“We met last week to discuss the issue but with a caveat that it is necessary to have an Auditor to audit the pension board and see how the process is carried out diligently so that we can know the actual persons who are due for such monies. We don’t want pension funds to be manipulated,” Oborevwori stated.

Earlier, Hon. Ebonka said they were at Government House to formally congratulate Governor Oborevwori on his emergence as Governor and to formally pledge their loyalty to his administration’s M.O.R.E Agenda.

He commended the Governor for his leadership style which brought peace and stability to the legislature, adding that throughout your tenure as Speaker, “no local government council chairman was summoned to the State Assembly rather you set up machinery in place to ensure prompt resolution of disputes.”

He appealed to the Governor to look into conflicting laws regarding building permits, sanitation and waste management even as he lauded the Governor for assisting them to work out modalities to defray pension liabilities owed local government pensioners and retired primary school teachers.

Delta Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori on Monday unveiled his official portrait with a call on Deltans, Nigerians and the general public to patronise the said photograph.

This was contained in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Festus Ahon, in Asaba, wherein the Governor said that all other photos in circulation were unauthorised and should be discarded forthwith.

The statement further directed all government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, banks, hotels and others to comply with the said directive.

By Fidelis Egugbo

DELTA State Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme, has urged members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to remain united and committed to the ideals of the party.

Sir Onyeme, made the call on Wednesday in Asaba when he received members of Ndokwa Core Group, a political pressure group within the PDP.

According to him, it was a thing of joy that the PDP emerged victorious in the gubernatorial election in the state and assured members of the Ndokwa Core Group, in particular, and members of the PDP that Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration will not disappoint Deltans.

“That elections are over does not mean that we should relax on our oars; we should be more united and committed to our party.

“As a victorious people, we should be proud to be members of the PDP and support the government that we voted for, the administration of Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori to succeed,” Sir Onyeme said.

On the issue of political appointments, he noted that the governor was meticulous in the appointments that he is making, and appealed to Deltans to be patient and pray that the governor will continue to get capable hands to work with him for the good of all Deltans.

He also thanked members of the Ndokwa Core Group for being a formidable political body, disclosing that, “The idea behind the Ndokwa Core Group is to bring the elected and appointed political office holders under one umbrella, but with time, people with like minds joined us.

“It is good that we have recorded successes and we should work harder and be more united in supporting our administration.

“Be assured that with time, Deltans will get the benefits of voting for a people-oriented government.”

Those who spoke at the occasion include, Rt. Hon. Nnamdi Ezechi, House of Representatives member-elect for Ndokwa Ukwuani Federal Constituency, Hon. Charles Emetulu, member, Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Chukwudi Dafe, House of Assembly member-elect, Ukwuani Constituency, Barr. Ernest Ogwezzy, Chief Fidelis Okoloafor, among others.

They congratulated Sir Onyeme for his successful assumption of office as the Deputy Governor of Delta State and promised to work for the success of his administration.

Some members of the Ndokwa Core Group, who were on the visit include the Deputy Chief of Staff, Government House, Sir Christopher Osakwe, the Chairmen of the PDP in Ndokwa West, Ogbuefi Lucky Okuji, Ukwuani, Chief Patrick Kaine, Ndokwa East, Hon. Vincent Osilonya; member-elect, Ndokwa East Constituency, Delta State House of Assembly, Prince Emeka Osamuta, Chairman, Ukwuani Local Government Council, Hon. Possible Ajede, Dr. Kingsley Ashibogwu, Hon. Ossai Orji, Chief Lucky Ossai, Chief Godday Aboh, Chief Daddi Amudo, Hon. Kate Onah, Chief Anthony Onah, Hon. Patrick Ogelenya, among others.

By ABEL JOHNGOLD ORHERUATA

The Delta State Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme, on Wednesday, charged Police Officers to be diligent in their duties.

Onyeme gave the charge after decorating one of the Police Officers attached to his security team, Mr Haruna Barth Katuka. Katuka was promoted from the rank of Sergeant to Inspector.

At a brief, but impressive ceremony held in his office, Onyeme said, “officers should be committed, dedicated to their duties and be ready to make sacrifice at all times.

“Your sacrifice will be rewarded with promotion to your next rank which is a challenge to continue with your good work and even perform better.

“Always try to be honest because there is nothing better than honesty in life.

“Be straightforward in whatever you do, because, God will make you to shine more in your career.”

While praying for more career success for his aides and staff, Onyeme enjoined them to be honest and straightforward in the discharge of their duties, observing, “Katuka is the first officer in the team to bag promotion, so, this is worthy of celebration, that the sky is the limit for anybody that is loyal, committed and hardworking in the performance of his or her duties.”

Speaking after the decoration was performed, the Convoy Escort Commander, ASP Christopher Dedan, described the Deputy Governor as a father to all officers in the Convoy.

He promised that the newly promoted officer would be more committed to his duties to justify his new rank and also add more value to the Police.

In his remarks, the newly promoted Inspector Katuka, thanked God for his elevation saying, “The Deputy Governor is our father, and he took us as his children, so, it is an honour for him to decorate me with my new rank.”

The Deputy Governor was assisted in performing the decoration by the Deputy Chief of Staff (DCOS), Hon. Christopher Ifeanyi Osakwe and the Convoy Escort Commander, ASP Christopher Dedan.

The immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has congratulated Senator Godswill Akpabio and Rep. Tajudeen Abbas for emerging as the 10th President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively following a keenly contested election on Tuesday.

Gbajabiamila also sent his congratulations to Sen. Jibrin Barau and Rep. Ben Kalu as deputies to the presiding officers.

According to Gbajabiamila, who is set to resume as the Chief of Staff (CoS) to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the emergence of the presiding officers was an affirmation of the cohesive nature of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the triumph of party supremacy.

He said it is instructive and reassuring to note that the outcome of the election of the presiding officers showed that the party and the lawmakers have shown that unity of purpose and focus on the needs of the country are greater than personal interests.

He also congratulated all the members of the 10th National Assembly, including members of the opposition parties that buried their political differences in favour of the national interest to support the candidates of the APC.

Saying that the members should not lose sight of the work ahead, Gbajabiamila however urged them to keep supporting the presiding officers in their bid to succeed in their constitutional duties for the benefit of Nigerians.

While wishing them well in their legislative journey, Gbajabiamila also urged the newly inaugurated National Assembly not to abandon some legislation that the last Assembly could not conclude work on.

The Oyo State Government and Miners whose Cadastral Line encroaches Opara Forest Reserve have agreed on an actual ground rent of Two Thousand Five Hundred Naira per hectare per year with effective date from year 2020.

This was disclosed in a release issued by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources after a meeting the Ministry held with some members of komu Miners Association on 25th May,2023.

The release noted that the meeting which was held in the Conference room of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs M.E Adeleye had in attendance Director of Forestry Department and other relevant officials of the Ministry, Legal Counsel from Ministry of Justice, members of the Komu Miners Association as well as erstwhile Honourable Commissioner of the Ministry.

According to the release, the Miners’ Association in 2018 had resolved for out-of-court settlement when their attempt to seek relief from a Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan over the quit notice issued to them by the state government failed.

The release added that due to the commitment of the State government at creating a friendly environment for Miners in the state, the Ministry decided to set up an inter-ministerial committee which is saddled with the responsibility of finding a lasting solution to the lingering issue.

The release further explained that both parties expressed their satisfaction at the resolution reached at the meeting held on 25th May, 2023 while the legal counsels for both parties were mandated to work on the payment schedule.

A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, awarded a N20 million fine against Chuks Nwachukwu, a lawyer representing five FCT residents in a suit seeking an order to stop the swearing-in of President Bola Tinubu.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a judgment, struck out the suit on the grounds that the plaintiffs lacked locus standi to institute the matter.

“I make an order striking out this action on grounds of lack of locus standi of the plaintiffs, lack of jurisdiction of the court and failure of the plaintiffs to demonstrate to this court that similar subject is not pending before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal which proceedings are on-going,” he declared.

Justice Ekwo consequently ordered the lawyer to pay the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), listed as 1st and 2nd defendants in the case, the sum of N10 million each.

He directed that until Nwachukwu paid off the N20 million fine, no further action should be taken on the matter.

The judge, who condemned Nwachukwu’s comments in the media, said with his interview, if the lawyer was in the courtroom, he would have been barred “from practicing until he appears before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee to determine whether he is fit to practice the profession.”

“But since he is not in court, I made an order, directing the registrar to forward all the processes to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee to determine whether he is fit to practice the profession,” he declared.

He also directed that the order of the court be served on the chief registrar of the Supreme Court, the AGF and the Nigerian Bar Association.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that five FCT residents: Anyaegbunam Okoye, David Adzer, Jeffrey Uche, Osang Paul and Chibuike Nwanchukwu, had filed the suit through their lawyer, for an order of the court to stop the inauguration of Tinubu and his vice, Sen. Kassim Shettima, slated for May 29.

The plaintiffs had sued for themselves and on behalf of other residents and registered voters in the FCT.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/578/2023 and filed on April 28, the plaintiffs averred that Tinubu failed to secure at least 25 per cent of votes cast in the FCT.

They, therefore, sought an order of court restraining the CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, and any judicial officer and/or any authority or persons from swearing in any candidate in the Feb. 25 presidential election as president or vice president, among other prayers.

Delivering the judgment, Justice Ekwo said upon reading the affidavit attached to the application, “I can discern that the averments thereof are merely the voice of Esau and the hands of Jacob.

“It means that the said Chucks Nwachukwu of counsel for the plaintiffs instigated this suit and merely got the plaintiffs to stand in as parties while he handles the suit as a lawyer.

“This is an unprofessional conduct on the part of the said Chucks Nwachukwu of counsel of the plaintiffs.

“It is unfortunate that lawyers like Chucks Nwachukwu of counsel to the plaintiffs continue to engage in this sort of activity by procuring innocent citizens to act as fronts in litigations which are actually their personal cases.

“This is done with such impunity and lack of fear of the consequence to the chagrin and ruin of the reputation of the legal system in this country.

“It is so because the learned counsel has made himself to believe that he can flout the Rule of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners without any consequence.

“On the whole I find that this action is premised on recklessness, frivolity and complete lack of knowledge of elementary principle of law as it relates to the Constitution and Electoral Act, 2022,” he said.

According to the judge, in my opinion, this action was willfully initiated to not just circumvent but to overreach the on-going proceedings of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

“The aim thereof which cannot be denied, is to plunge this country into unprecedented constitutional anarchy capable of causing bloodshed and genocide.

“The plaintiffs and their lawyer ought to be deprecated in the strongest term for this type of adventure and I so do,” Justice Ekwo declared.

NAN reports that Nwachukwu had granted an interview in the media, accusing the judge of shying away from delivering the judgment in his suit.
Advertisement

The lawyer, who accused the judge of deliberately abandoning his duty, threatened to sue him up to the Supreme Court.

But Justice Ekwo, before delivering the judgment, said he could not hear the matter on May 26 because he was on official duty.

NAN had earlier reported that the judge had been away for some days due to official engagement.

The development had forced the court to adjourn cases, including high profile and election-related matters, before it.

This was also contrary to the rumour going the round that Justice Ekwo’s absence to hear the suit on May 26 was a ploy to comply with alleged standing order handed down by the FHC Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho, to all judges of the court’s divisions across the country, directing them not to entertain cases bothering on presidential election or swearing-in of Tinubu and Shettima.
Advertisement

NAN reported that a sister court presided over by Justice James Omotosho had, on same May 26, delivered a judgment in another suit filed by three applicants seeking to stop the swearing-in of Tinubu on May 29 as fifth Nigeria’s democratic president.

The judge had awarded a total sum of N17 million against the three applicants: Praise Ilemona Isaiah, Pastor Paul Isaac and Dr Anongu Moses, including their lawyer, Daniel Elombah, for filing a suit considered to be “frivolous, vexatious and an abuse of court processes.”

For former Big Brother Naija star, Angel Agnes Smith, has said that whatever she does with her boobs is nobody’s business.

Reacting to the question about her most prized possession that she would love to insure, Angel disclosed that she would rather have her eyes insured than her sexy boobs, which she says have attracted more attention to her.

“Honestly, it’s not anybody’s business what I do with my boobs. I will rather insure my eyes because I have an intense eyes alongside my most prized possession which is my mind,” she said.

According to the 21-year-old ( now 23) Akwa Ibom-born writer, who was the first female contestant to enter the BBNaija Season 6 House, she knew she was going to be controversial and people were going to ‘roast’ her for wearing revealing clothes. But then, she cared less because there were so many perspectives to her personality that many people did not know.

“I am not stereotypical. I don’t think the way every other person thinks. I am strategic and smart. My most prized possession is my mind, as it has always put me in many beautiful positions.

“Actually, it has been a blessing because once my mind is active, I go to work. My mind has put me in many beautiful places and not my physical endowment or appearance. It’s my mind that took me to Big Brother and gave me this huge platform that has made so many people now want to listen to me,” she narrated.

While admitting that she has a notorious mood swing, Angel, whom many perceive as flirty, described herself as naturally reclusive.

“I am a hyper-aware character who is always very conscious of her surroundings. I am overtly moved and if anything moves, I’ll move with it. I have social anxiety to the extent that for some days, I may not feel like talking to anybody. What people perceive as me having mood swing; is me just wanting to be in my own space. I genuinely like to be in my own space and I think that’s normal,” she said.

Angel noted that now that she is in the spotlight, nothing significant would change about her personality.

“Before the Big Brother, I was a bit reserved compared to when I was in the house where I had to push my emotions aside just to participate in some of the games, even if I didn’t feel like doing it.

Now outside the house, I am back to my natural self and the way I talk, dress and have fun, which I am not going to tone down, it’s nobody’s business,” she said.