NIGERIAN NOTCH

••• Breaks 59 Year Old Jinx History was on Friday made in far away oil rich country of Angola, when the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Leader of Nigeria's delegation to the 147th Inter-Parliamentary Union General Assembly in Luanda, Angola broke a 59 year old jinx, by being elected into the Executive Committee of the global parliamentary body.  The last time a Nigerian was elected into the Executive Committee of the Parliamentary Union was in 1964. The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is the global organization of national parliaments founded in 1889, and dedicated to promoting peace through parliamentary diplomacy and dialogue.  It has grown over its 135 years into a truly global organization with 179 country members out of 193 countries in the world. The IPU facilitates parliamentary diplomacy and empowers parliaments and parliamentarians to promote peace, democracy and sustainable development around the world. A statement by the Sp...

A High Court sitting in Enugu State and headed by Justice A. O. Onovo, has declared as unconstitutional the proscription and designation of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist organisation by the federal government and the South East governors. The ruling followed a suit brought before the court by the IPOB legal team led by Aloy Ejimakor, challenging the 2017 proscription of IPOB as a terror organisation. Justice Onovo, who delivered judgment in the suit marked E/20/2023, declared that “the practical application of the Terrorism Prevention Act and the executive or administrative action of the respondents (Southeast Governors Forum and the federal government) which directly led to the proscription of IPOB and its listing as a terrorist group”, was unconstitutional. Reacting to the judgement,  Ejimakor said the court held that “IPOB being comprised of citizens of Nigeria of the Igbo and other Eastern Nigerian ethnic groups, professing the political opin...

The President of the Senate Senator Godswill Akpabio, CON has congratulated President Bola Tinubu on the revalidation of his February 25, 2023 election victory by the Supreme Court describing the decision as reflective of the will of the people. Senator Akpabio in a congratulatory message to President Tinubu said the decision of the apex court was a welcome relief as it finally unfastens the last bolts to the path for social-political engineering that President Tinubu promised the nation. “Mr President, I am personally elated that the jurists of the Supreme Court saw through the arguments and even without much technicalities easily confirmed your victory in the poll. “There is no doubt that victory came at a cost, but Mr President, that makes it even sweeter. I know you have in your years of public service yielded your personal and other comforts for the collective good and what it cost to confirm the victory in the courts should be seen with a similar vista. Senator Akpabi...

The Minister for Trade Industry and Investment Dr.Doris Uzoka, on Thursday, described the judgement of the Supreme Court panel that affirmed President Bola Tinubu’s victory as a “sound one” that would further deepen the country’s electoral laws and judicial jurisprudence. In a statement personally signed by the Honourable Minister, the minister said the judgement had finally settled the legal battle over the 2023 presidential election, saying lovers of democracy must commend the resilience of the judiciary in deepening the country’s democracy through its sound judgments. It read partly, “On behalf of the Federal Ministry of Trade Industry and Investment, I congratulate our president, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the vice president, Senator Kashim Shettima, on their victory at the Supreme Court. “Today’s judgement has put to an end the needless bickering, distractions and litigation that greeted the 2023 presidential election. It is my hope that the opposition will team up ...

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Imo State chapter, has received with excitement and fulfilment the Supreme Court judgement reaffirming the resounding victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, in the recent presidential election. The landmark judgment by the highest court in the land validates the overwhelming mandate given to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by majority of Nigerian people, in clear demonstration of their trust in his leadership and vision for a better Nigeria. It also affirms the collective will of the citizens, who came out en masse to cast their votes for progress, development and a brighter future. President Tinubu's inspiring tenure so far has been marked by dedication to national unity, economic growth, and pursuit of a more inclusive and prosperous Nigeria. His leadership has consistently shown a commitment to the APC's core values of change, progress, and good governance. The APC, Imo State chapter, commends the judiciary for its diligent ...

The supreme court said it cannot allow the matter of double nomination to be relitigated, having issued a judgement on it. Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) had alleged that Vice-President Kashim Shettima was guilty of double nomination, and as such, was not qualified to serve as running mate to President Bola Tinubu. "This matter ought not to have come here. When the matter was pending at the trial court, this court delivered judgement on it. This appeal lacks merit and is hereby dismissed," the court ruled. There were seven issues raised by Peter Obi. Inyang Okoro said Issues 1,2,3,5,6,7 have already been dealt with in the decisions just delivered during Atiku's appeal. "It is our decision that this appeal shall abide with the decision in that of Atiku," the court held. #SupremeCourt

ABUJA-- The Supreme Court, on Thursday, affirmed President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as the valid winner of the presidential election that held in the country on February 25. The ruling will give the 71-year-old Tinubu a clear mandate to govern Africa's most populous nation, which is grappling with double-digit inflation, foreign currency shortages and a weakening naira, widespread insecurity and crude oil theft. The judgment by seven Supreme Court judges, which is final, follows a pattern seen in previous presidential elections that have been challenged in court. None of the attempts to overturn results through the courts has been successful. Atiku Abubakar of the People's Democratic Party and Peter Obi of the Labour Party came second and third respectively in the February vote, but rejected the result and called for Tinubu's win to be annulled. The two opposition leaders had appealed a Sept. 6 tribunal judgment that endorsed Tinubu...

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC),  has been told to beam its fresh searchlight on the former Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano's eight years reign. Executive Director, Human Rights, Liberty Access and Peace Defenders Foundation and Chairman, Campaign for Democracy, South East, Dede Uzor, A Uzor, in a statement in Awka said the former Governor must be made to account for the "the wasted eight years he held sway as the Anambra State Governor.  He expressed disappointment that  for eight years Obiano could not do anything in the state that would have direct impact on the people , lamenting that he left the state under abject poverty. Dede Uzor said Obiano's legacies were  glorified airport, stadium, all white elephant projects that don't have direct bearing on the people of the State. He said even Local Government Chairmen during his administration should be probed as most of them became so corrupt that they siphoned the alloca...

As the first Abuja Investment Summit and Expo 2023 gets underway, from Tuesday 14th to Wednesday 15th November, 2023 at the Velodrome, Package ‘A’, M.K.O. Abiola National Stadium – Abuja, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite is leading Federal Ministries, Departments Agencies, under her purview at the Summit to brainstorm on critical industry, trade and investment matters for the economic growth and development of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, and Nigeria as a whole. According to a statement u on Tuesday, the event with the theme Unlocking Investment Opportunities in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, the Minister, as the focal point of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the industrial, trade and business growth of the national economy, will be Guest Speaker on Key thematic topic, with panel members drawn from Agencies under her watch and experts from the private sector discuss on the various sub-themes of the...

The Pentagon has ordered additional troops and weaponry to the Middle East as the Biden administration seeks to stop Iran and Hezbollah from widening the Israel-Hamas war. John Kirby, a White House spokesman on national security matters, said Monday that the U.S. “has added additional military forces to the region and more forces will be coming in days and weeks ahead to try to deter any action from widening or deepening this conflict.” Over the weekend, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered additional Terminal High Altitude Defense and Patriot anti-aircraft systems to the Middle East while putting additional troops on prepare-to-deploy orders, according to Defense officials who briefed reporters anonymously under department rules. The Pentagon has already sent two carrier strike groups to the region. The moves come after Kirby said the U.S. has identified an “uptick” in rocket and drone attacks by Iranian-backed proxy groups against military bases housing U.S. personnel in Iraq and S...

Hamas has released two more hostages, the International Committee of the Red Cross said Monday. "We facilitated the release of 2 more hostages, transporting them out of  #Gaza  this evening,'' the  ICRC tweeted . "Our role as a neutral intermediary makes this work possible & we are ready to facilitate any future release." The news came as the U.S. is urging Israel to delay its ground invasion of Gaza to encourage continued negotiations that could free dozens of dual-citizenship captives, according to American and Israeli officials. The newly freed hostages, both Israeli women, went out through the Rafah crossing into Egypt, where television footage showed them getting ushered into ambulances. Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, and Nurit Cooper, 79, were abducted along with their husbands from the Nir Oz kibbutz. Their husbands were not released. In a call Monday evening with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Joe Biden welcomed the release of the two wo...

Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, reiterated his dedication to upholding the Imo State Charter of Equity during a visit by the Imo State Elders Council to the Government House Chambers. Governor Uzodimma assured the Elders Council that he views the Charter of Equity as a pragmatic and achievable framework, and he pledged to utilize the full extent of government resources to protect its integrity. He stressed that implementing the document requires a joint effort and called upon the Elders Council and the citizens of Imo State to provide their united support. According to the Governor, "The Imo State Charter of Equity is realistic and assures you that as the Governor of Imo State, I will use all Government's machinery to defend the document". He, however, stated that the implementation of the document is a collective responsibility and therefore urged the Elders Council and the entire good people of Imo State for their collective support. He praised th...

How did Nigeria end up owing P&ID nearly $11 billion? What deal was made and who was involved? By Chigozie Igbo Jr In January 2017, an independent London tribunal found that Nigeria was liable for $6.6 billion in damages against Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) after it failed to deliver on terms agreed in a 2010 gas facility contract. Three years later, and prompted by P&ID looking for enforcement of the ruling, a United Kingdom (U.K.) court ruled that Nigeria’s state-owned assets could be seized if the country refused to settle its bill, which had risen to $9.6 billion because of accrued interest. Nigeria was granted the right to appeal but asked to pay $200 million in the meantime. The judgement caused a stir in Nigeria, given that the sum is over 20% of both the country’s reserves and the value of its annual exports. Amid this, the government essentially accused international parties of trying to scam the country while the Economic and Financial Cri...

The Nzuko Ndi Owere, in recognition of the significant achievements of Governor Uzodimma's Shared Prosperity administration, has officially endorsed His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodimma for his re-election. Governor Uzodimma expressed gratitude for the unwavering support from the people of Owere Zone and their contributions to the development of Imo State. The Governor emphasized that this endorsement symbolizes a commitment to advancing the "Next Level of Shared Prosperity" and building a stronger and more prosperous Imo State for all its residents. He extended his heartfelt appreciation to the people of Owerri and emphasized the importance of unity in working together for the betterment of the state. At the event, Prince Lemmy Akakem lauded the Governor's remarkable achievements, which have transformed Owerri Zone and the entire state. Prince Alex Mbata highlighted the Governor's achievements in Owerri Zone, including infrastructure improvements, he...

Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, has denied reports of assassination attempts on his life by gunmen in military uniforms as claimed by his Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo. Reports have it that the Commissioner had earlier on Sunday issued a statement on behalf of the Kogi State Government alerting the public to failed assassination attempts on the life of the State governor while on transit from Lokoja to Abuja for official engagements. Fanwo had claimed that the attackers, who were dressed in military uniforms, waylaid the governor’s convoy and started shooting sporadically at his vehicle and other vehicles in the convoy. Fanwo noted that Governor Bello was attacked at three different points on the Lokoja-Abuja highway, the last being around Kwali Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at about 4.20pm on Sunday evening. He added that it took the swift intervention of the security personnel attached to the governor to foil the “...

By Kamen Chuks Ogbonna  The Senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District ,Dr Ifeanyi Ubah CON,  is known for going to where the terrain is tough to squeeze out political capital and trigger development for not just his Senatorial District but for Ndi Igbo in general.  In recent times,  Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah CON has championed the fight for the restoration of security to the entire southeast region.  This he set about  , in various ways, one of which was creating a model security architecture using Nnewi for the pilot scheme in order to showcase his belief that a secured Southeast region is possible where there is political will, and the capacity to deliver. Today, Nnewi has emerged the safest city in the entire southeast region with the last new yam festival in the town, witnessing an unprecedented turnout and mass return from the people . Senator Ubah went on to travel to Germany (a country hitherto dreaded by the Igbo political cl...