NIGERIAN NOTCH

  The signing of the Electoral act  All eyes were on President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the amended electoral act. The new electoral act contained some game changers like the electronic transmission of votes. Many were surprised by the delay of the president to sign the new act taking into cognizance his vow to bequeath a legacy of free, free, and credible elections to Nigerians. It is instructive to note that the President had refused assent to the bill five times citing reasons that ranged from cost of election, insecurity, and drafting errors to proximity to the date of elections. On February 25, the president finally signed the reworked Electoral Amendment bill into law. Before he signed it, the president sought an amendment to the bill by asking the National Assembly to delete Clause 84(12) of the bill. The clause reads, “No political appointee at any level shall be a voting delegate or be voted for at the Convention or Congress of any political party for the nomination o...

Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has advised Governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State to end their romance with Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State. In a statement on Friday by the National President of the group, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, he said the advice became necessary to avoid regrets.  Okwu said the two governors, who are running for political positions in their respective States, would do themselves great injustice by endorsing a candidate of another political party.  He observed that, “Governor Ugwuanyi is an asset we will need in the Senate as he has the experience needed to attract federal presence to the State. However, should Wike lure them into endorsing another presidential candidate, it could backfire and cost him the ticket.  “We have it on good authority that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, national leadership has concluded plans not just to expel the governors from the party,...

Pele, the magical Brazilian soccer star who rose from barefoot poverty to become one of the greatest and best-known footballers in modern history, died at the age of 82, his daughter said on Instagram on Thursday. The standard-bearer of “the beautiful game’’ had undergone treatment for colon cancer since 2021 and he had been hospitalized for the past month with multiple ailments. Widely regarded as one of football’s greatest players, Pele spent nearly two decades enchanting fans and dazzling opponents as the game’s most prolific scorer with Brazilian club Santos and the Brazil national team. His grace, athleticism and mesmerizing moves transfixed players and fans. He orchestrated a fast, fluid style that revolutionized the sport — a samba-like flair that personified his country’s elegance on the field. He carried Brazil to football’s heights and became a global ambassador for his sport in a journey that began on the streets of Sao Paulo state, where he would kick a sock stuffed with ne...

  A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has forbidden the Department of State Services, DSS, from arresting and detaining the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Godwin Emefiele on allegations bordering on terrorism financing and economic crimes. The restraining order issued by Justice M.A. Hassan, the presiding judge, on Thursday, was also extended to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the CBN, who are listed as respondents. The DSS had in an ex parte application marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/2255/2022, sought an order to arrest the CBN Governor over alleged acts of financing terrorism, fraudulent activities and economic crimes of national security. But the Chief judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, in a ruling delivered on December 9, rejected the application on the grounds that the DSS failed to provide sufficient evidence to warrant the issuance of an arre...

~  warn of impending danger, if continued  ~ Ask Caretaker Chairman to rescind decisions.  Stakeholders and some  executives of NASPA Nnewi has called on the caretaker chairman of the market to stop forthwith the drainage he is building presently in the market because it will led to flooding in the market when the rains come back.  Hon. Obinna Okechukwu, the former Caretaker Chairman of the market made this assertion in an interactive session with journalist yesterday in Nnewi.  He said " this particular drainage the new chairman is constructing is uncalled for and a total waste of scare resources. The former drainage is supposed to be where it is and not encroaching into the main road. I am totally against it as it will not add value to the market" Continuing, Hon. Obinna Okechukwu lamented the unwanton destruction of already built infrastructure in the market just to do new ones are uncalled for. He said " when I was the chairman of that market, i did a b...

  The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC, EEDC, has warned it's customers and the public against indiscriminate bush burning as the harmattan sets in. The harmattan season is characterized by dryness of leaves and every object/material, including human, which makes it very easy for fire to spread at every given opportunity.  Making this appeal in Enugu on Thursday, the Head, Corporate Communications, EEDC, Mr. Emeka Ezeh, said the appeal is timely owing to the fact that fire outbreak is the most common risk during harmattan. Ezeh recounted the losses the company had borne in the past as a result of uncontrolled!/indiscriminate burning of bushes and refuse dumps and prays that such experience never repeats this season. Our network spans through, bushes, forests, neighbourhoods, farmlands etc, and any form of burning if uncontrolled could lead to a fire outbreak which may damage transformers, feeder pillar units, and the lines with their associated accessories, in additi...

The Police in Imo State on Wednesday arrested one of the notorious IPOB/ESN Commanders, a deserter from the Nigerian Army, Lance Corporal Nwangwu Chiwendu aka “Onyearmy” ‘m’ aged 34 years, a native of Amaohuru Nguru in Aboh Mbaise LGA of Imo State, who has been on the Command’s wanted list and was being trailed for a long time. Disclosing this in a statement, made available to Nigerian Notch in Owerri, the Police Public Relations Officer, Imo State Police Command, Micheal Abattam said the suspect, whose mode of operation is through unleashing surprise terror attacks and going into hiding in neighbouring states was arrested, on 23/12/2022 at about 1030 hours in his home town, Amahohuru Nguru in Aboh Mbaise LGA during the late father’s funeral. According to the police, ”The suspect who sat on a vantage position while his members were on surveillance, on sighting the police operatives,  took to their heels, while he engaged the Operatives in a shoot-out, using the crowd as a shield. T...

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has concluded plans to conduct sale of properties which are subject of final forfeiture orders. The spokesperson of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren said the properties consisting of 61 Units of luxury apartments, Plots of lands and apartments across the country are being offered for sale  in accordance with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004, Public Procurement Act, 2007 and the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022. He listed the distribution of the properties as: 24 Units of luxurious block of flats at Banana Island, Lagos; 21 units of luxury terrace and block of flats at Thornburn, Yaba, Lagos; 16 units of 4 bedrooms terrace duplex at Heritage Court Estate, Port Harcourt; Others are apartments and plots of land in Lagos State; apartments and plots of land within Abuja metropolis; plots of land and apartment in Anambra, Ebonyi and Gombe States; apartments and plots of Land in Kaduna...

  On behalf of the government and people of Imo state, I, Sen Hope Uzodimma, the Executive Governor of Imo state, sorrowfully announce the passage of a great Son of Imo state and Nigeria, the President General of ohanaeze Ndigbo, worldwide, Prof George OBIOZOR. A renowned academia an exceptional diplomat, statesman and a tenacious patriot, Prof George Obiozor passed on recently after a brief illness. The death of this foremost Igbo leader and former Nigeria ambassador to the United States and the State of Israel is a big loss to the Imo state, the South East and entire Nigeria. I do not doubt that both Nigeria and the international community will miss his profound intellectual contributions and wise counsel on national and global issues. His burial arrangements will be announced in due course by the family  May his great and gentle soul rest in peace. Sen Hope Uzodimma  Governor of Imo state #HopeNewAndElectronicMediaCenter

Military High command has confirmed the killing of top terrorists commanders and over 100 fighters in air and ground operations conducted on December 20, 2022 at Mantari in Gezuwa area of Bama local government area (LGA) of Borno State. A statement by the director public relations and information, Air Cdre Edward Gabkwet named the three notorious Boko Haram terrorists as Khaids Abbah Tukur, Maimusari and Bakura Jega. This is just as the chief of army staff, COAS, Lt. Gen. Faruk Yahaya, and his counterpart, the chief of air staff, CAS, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, arrived Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Sunday morning, to celebrate the yuletide with frontline troops. He said the air strike was authorised after it was discovered that a Boko Haram terrorist commander simply known as Ikirima, had stationed his fighters and gun trucks at Mantari village, alongside other terrorists from other locations who had converged at the same location arrived with motorcycles and bicycles. Followin...

Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and his Labour Party counterpart, Peter Obi, have accentuated their governance blueprints for the country, as the campaigns for the 2023 general election intensify.   Tinubu yesterday assured entrepreneurs that he would turn the nation’s current challenges into opportunities for growth and development if elected in the forthcoming presidential poll. Obi, on the other hand, said his administration would be driven by youths and women mostly if elected next year. Tinubu spoke at a business luncheon with business owners titled, “Business Forward”, at the Wings, Victoria Island, Lagos, while disclosed his plans at a town Hall meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State Capital. At the Luncheon in Lagos, the APC flagbearer also promised to work towards ensuring there is security in the country to create an enabling environment for them to do their businesses. Tinubu said since it is the responsibility of th...

  ~ Builds homes for the  indigents widows worth over 100M The Sir Emeka Offor Foundation yesterday the 21st of December 2022 put similes to the faces of many indigent women from Orafite numbering over 3000. The women where gifted with 50Kg bags of Rice, a wrapper and a take home stipend to support themselves and family. This is inline with the vision of the founder of the NGO, Sir Emeka Offor, to reduce the economic hardship occasioned by high cost of living in the country.  The founder of the foundation, Sir Emeka Offor was himself present to celebrate with the widows, an event which has now become a quarterly event aimed at giving succor to these widows. While addressing the women, who thronged out in their numbers to witness the Christmas get together, Sir Emeka Offor retirated his resolve to continue with the empowerment of women, especially widows who he said, are the bedrock of any family. He retirated the fact that the foundation was committed to improving the liv...

The criminal summons issued by a District Court against Ugochinyere Ikeagwuonu is still pending hearing as adjourned to January 2023. There is no interlocutory appeal filed before the district Court against the ruling of the court, it will amount to abuse of court process for any court to assume jurisdiction over a matter that is pending before another court. A high court in the circumstance can only sit on appeal over the ruling/order of a district court and we state equivocally that there is no such appeal. We challenge ugochinyere to provide the suit number in which the court made the purported order. Note: Ugochinyere Ikeagwuonu have already, through his counsel admitted to making the defamatory statement for which he is accused of. Ugochinyere should wait for his day in court. J. C. Nwosu Esq.

  Inspite of the antics of his Political adversaries, Gov. Hope Uzodimma has continued to be a trailblazer in the delivery of dividends of democracy to Ndi Imo. Under the 3R Government of Gov Hope Uzodimma, Imo State has continued to witness unprecedented infrastructural development, heathcare service delivery, agriculture, youth empowerment among others. Putting the cards on the table and critically reviewing the 2023 budget proposal wherein infrastructural development took  78.8% of the budget, there is no better way to appreciate Gov. Hope Uzodimma other than to continue to support him in order deliver more to Imolites. No one can be blind to the remarkable transformations that has happened to the road network infrastructures dotting the vast landscape in the state. This is owing to the fact that his administration saw to the increase of the internal generated revenue as never have been seen before in the state. There is no gain saying the fact that Imo State would witness ...

Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has again called for an end to the killing of indigenes of Eha-Amufu in Enugu State by suspected Fulani herdsmen.  Eha-Amufu has become a theatre of war, with several lives and properties lost.  Just yesterday, (Tuesday) Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State summoned another emergency meeting of all the stakeholders from Eha-Amufu where far reaching decisions were taken.  In a statement made available to journalists by the National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, he hailed Governor Ugwuanyi for all his efforts in search of solutions for an end to the carnage in Eha-Amufu.  The group, however, alleged that security agencies were not doing enough to save the situation in the area despite the support from the State Government.  Okwu, who said he had been keenly observing the ugly incidents in the area, noted that despite the complex nature of ...

Federal government has taken a swipe at opposition parties over claims that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration had “no achievements” to campaign ahead of the 2023 general elections. The minister of information and culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed who made the counter argument in his welcome address, during the presidential scorecard series, held at the National Press Center in Abuja yesterday said the administration was “spoilt for choice” on which of its achievements to campaign with, as it had several. The scorecard event is the 14th in the series, having previously held 13 editions that had presentations from the ministers of Works and Housing, Transportation, Aviation, Interior, Agriculture and Rural Development, Finance, Budget and National Planning, and the Minister of Water Resources, among others. He said, “As I have said on more than one occasion, we are spoilt for choice regarding the achievements we will pick upon to campaign. This is a fact, as you have heard from...

Members of the House of Representatives have stuck to their opposition to the new cash policy introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), with Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila meeting President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday to discuss the newly introduced cash withdrawal limits as well as the rising cases of violent attacks at political rallies. The Speaker, who disclosed this to State House correspondents after the closed-door meeting in the President’s office at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, described the session as routine and meant to deliberate on key national issues. He, however, did not reveal the outcome of the discussion. Gbajabiamila also said that the House of Representatives was not involved in the ongoing controversy stirred by its member representing Kazaure, Roni, Gwiwa and Yankwashi Constituency of Jigawa State, Hon. Gudaji Kazaure, over the alleged missing N89 trillion accruing from Stamp Duty. The Speaker said: “It’s the regular routine discussions on state matters and of...

  Meanwhile, the presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has said that he was confident of winning the 2023 presidential election because the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari had personally assured him of a free and fair contest. The former vice president, in an interview with the Financial Times of London, said he met with President Buhari twice on the matter. “I’ve gotten a commitment from the president personally, because I sat down with him twice; (he said) that even if it is the only legacy he will leave, he will make sure he conducts free, fair and credible polls,” Atiku said.

By Chigozie Igbo Jr  I remember with zest, our vigorous exercise for the governorship of Anambra state in 2021, although it's now history, but it reminds me of my July 20th, 2021 piece  titled, IFEANYI UBAH: THE GRASSROOTS GENERAL . Since then, a lot has changed as Senator Dr Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah has gone a notch higher to show that his interest is for the people and not just himself alone.  In that piece I started with Mohammed Ibrahim's quote which stressed that, "If we are to build grassroots respect for the institutions and processes that constitute democracy, the state must treat its citizens as real citizens rather than as subjects." Mo Ibrahim.  Senator Dr Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah has shown that the citizens matter to him, he has shown true representation, he has indeed shown that he loves his people by the many interventions he has brought to bear, even as a first time senator of the federal republic of Nigeria. He is indeed a Grassroots General, he has shown cap...

Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, yesterday described the conviction of the director-general (DG) in-charge of his campaign organisation, Chief Doyin Okupe, as a deliberate ploy to distract him from his ongoing quest to lead the country, assuring he campaigns train was on track. He said the witch-hunting of persons in his campaign team cannot break his resolve to be Nigeria’s president. Obi, who was addressing journalists in Uyo at the Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, said he remains undaunted by the conviction of Okupe, even as he affirmed that he doesn’t need his message to reposition Nigeria to be delivered on his behalf by another person. “I am hearing about it (the conviction) just like you. I am still studying what is coming out of the courts. I believe  in the rule of law. It is not going to demoralize me. “Today, when I arrived at Akwa Ibom somebody asked me why I haven’t been using my aircraft because it...

Argentina are 2022 World Cup champions for the third time after beating France on penalties in the final in Qatar. Gonzalo Montiel scored the winning spot-kick to give the South Americans a 4-2 victory in the shoot-out, after a frenetic game ended 3-3 after extra time. Lionel Messi scored twice and Angel di Maria netted for the Argentines, while France's Kylian Mbappe became the first player since Geoff Hurst in 1966 to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final. Argentina eventually triumphed to seal their third world title, with Messi crowning an extraordinary career by lifting the golden trophy at Lusail Stadium.  Here is the tale of a remarkable football match, told through the best pictures from the final... After 63 games in just under a month, the 2022 World Cup final came down to Argentina v France at Lusail Stadium. Following the closing ceremony, the main event began... Argentina started strongest and were awarded a penalty on 23 minutes when Ousmane Dembele fouled Angel di M...

The Debt Management Office (DMO) has raised N615.557 billion through Sukuk for the rehabilitation and construction of new roads across the country in four years. The director-general of DMO, Ms. Patience Oniha, made this known in her presentation entitled: ‘Nigeria Public Debt, Some Considerations’, at the Capital Market Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CAMCAN) 2022 conference in Lagos. Sukuk is an Islamic financial certificate that complies with Islamic religious law commonly known as Sharia. Corporations or governments invest capital raised in accordance with Sharia. Oniha said N615.557 billion had been raised through Sukuk from September 2017 to December 2021, with N365.557 billion deployed to the construction of 1,881km of roads and six bridges. She stated that the last Sukuk issued in December 2021 targets 71 road projects. According to Oniha, some of Sukuk-funded projects are the reconstruction of Bida-Lambata road in Niger State, rehabilitation of Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta road i...

Sir Emeka Offor Foundation (SEOF) on Friday donated food stuff and toiletries to inmates of the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the foundation donated 50 bags of 50kg rice, five bags of 100kg beans, five bags of 10 kg garri and 50 cartons of noodles. The foundation also donated 10 jerry cans of vegetable oil, 20 bundles of tissue papers, 100 tubers of yam, 10 cartons of tomatoes and five bags of salt. Mrs Adaora Offor, the Vice President of the Foundation, said the donations which were coming at the Christmas season, were to carry a message of love and care for the inmates in the spirit of the yuletide. “We are here to share love and remember our brothers and sisters who are incarcerated for various reasons in accordance with the laws of the land. “Today’s event is made possible by the vision and thoughts of my husband who has always maintained that all men and women created by God need a touch of hope and love irrespective of their presen...

The Apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, on Sunday, came hard on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over its role in the ongoing trial of former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu. The group's statement signed by its National President, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike was in reaction to the revelation that the EFCC wrote a letter to the United Kingdom court where the lawmaker is standing trial. Ohanaeze said its earlier position that there is more to the London travail of Ekweremadu than meets the eye had now been justified by the revelation in court on Thursday by the lawmaker’s legal counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), that the EFCC authored a letter with which the London Metropolitan Police scuttled the Senator’s bail in the ongoing organ harvest trial and also concealed vital information from the Federal High Court Abuja to obtain an ex-parte interim assets forfeiture order against the lawmaker. The organisation a...