innosreport

(Nigeria) Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, has commended the staff and management of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH, for their unwavering commitment, dedication, and hard work in providing high-quality healthcare services to the people of Edo State and Nigeria in the past fifty years. Obaseki, at a dinner organized in honour of the Committee of Chief Medical Directors of Nigeria, at the Government House, Benin City, reassured the government’s continuous partnership and collaboration with the federal government-owned health institution to strengthen the health system and ensure quality health delivery to Edo people. The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Philip Shaibu, reeled out the gains of the government’s reforms in the health sector, commending the medical centre for bolstering the government’s efforts at transforming Edo State into a health hub. He said, "We came into a wilderness where you have to cut a part for yourself and fix it. We held...

*Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri (Nigeria) Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has said the ruling of the country’s apex court on the Osun State governorship election was an affirmation that power in a democracy resided with the people. Governor Diri, while congratulating Senator Ademola Adeleke in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, on Wednesday, expressed joy that the Supreme Court sealed the mandate freely given to the governor by the Osun people. The Bayelsa governor also said the verdict reflected the current mood of the country where those whose stock-in-trade is to promote electoral violence and subvert the will of the people have no place in our electoral system. He expressed the hope that introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, will instil more confidence in the electoral process, urging the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to deepen Nigeria’s democracy by also introducing electronic votin...

*Presidential election petition tribunal sittings in Abuja (Nigeria) Conference Of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, has thrown its weight behind calls for live broadcast of the proceedings of the presidential election petition court sittings in Abuja. In a statement by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, the umbrella body of all registered political parties and political associations in the country noted that not only will the live broadcast douse tension associated with the ongoing proceedings and high expectations by the electorates, it will also promote transparency in the court process in public interest. The CNPP also reasoned that “there is no way the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and it's candidate in the presidential election, Bola Tinubu, will oppose a live broadcast of the tribunal’s sittings up to the Supreme Court of Nigeria where the matter will eventually terminate if any of the parties procee...

(Nigeria) The Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, has commended the Federal High Court Abuja, over its order of perpetual injunctions restraining the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, from imposing fines on broadcast stations in the country. Ruling on originating motions marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1386/2021, instituted by the Incorporated Trustees of Media Rights Agenda against the NBC - as sole respondent in the suit, Justice James Omotosho, also set aside the N500, 000 fines imposed on March 1, 2019, on each of 45 broadcast stations. The judge also held that the NBC, not being a court of law, had no power to impose sanctions as punishment on broadcast stations. He further held that the Nigeria Broadcast Code, which gives the commission the power to impose sanction, is in conflict with Section 6 of the Constitution that vested judicial power in the court of law. In a statement by its President, Mustapha Isah and the General Secretary, Dr. Iyobosa Uwugiaren, on Wednesday, the Guild salut...

(Nigeria) The National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, has been restrained by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, from imposing fines on broadcast stations in the country. Trial judge in the matter, Justice James Omotosho also set aside the N500,000 fines imposed on March 1, 2019, on each of 45 broadcast stations. The court made the orders in its judgment a suit by the Incorporated Trustees of Media Rights Agenda, MRA, which had sued the NBC. Justice Omotosho held that the NBC, not being a court of law, had no power to impose sanctions as punishment on broadcast stations. The court further held that the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, which gives the commission the power to impose sanction, is in conflict with Section 6 of the Constitution that vested judicial power in the court of law. He said the court would not sit idle and watch a body imposing fine arbitrarily without recourse to the law. He said that the commission did not comply with the law when it sat as a complainant and at...

*President-elect,  Bola Tinubu,  departs Nigeria for Europe on working visit (Nigeria) President-elect Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, departed Nigeria for Europe on a working visit. Office of the President-elect, in a statement on Wednesday, by Tunde Rahman, said: “He will use the opportunity of the trip to finetune the transition plans and programmes, and his policy options with some of his key aides without unnecessary pressures and distractions. “During the visit, the President-elect will engage with investors and other key allies with the goal of marketing investment opportunities in the country and his administration’s readiness to enable a business-friendly climate through policies and regulations. “Already, meetings with multi-sectoral actors in Europe’s business community including manufacturing, agriculture, tech and energy have been lined up. “Asiwaju Tinubu hopes to convince them of Nigeria’s readiness to do business under his leadership through mutually-beneficial partn...

*President Muhammadu Buhari (Nigeria) Despite Nigeria's foreign debt profile, now about $41.7billion, President Muhammadu Buhari has written the Senate, asking it to approve a fresh loan request of $800million. According to a  letter addressed to the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, said: read in full:  "It is with pleasure that I forward the above subject to you. Please note that the Federal Executive Council, FEC, approved an additional loan facitity to the tune of U$800 million to be secured from the World Bank, for the National Social Safety Net Programme, NASSP and the need to request for your consideration and approval to ensure early implementation. (Copy of FEC Extract attached). "The Senate, may wish to note that the Programme is intended to expand coverage of shock responsive Safety Net support among the poor and vulnerable Nigerians. This will assist them in coping with the costs of meeting basic needs. "You may wish to note that, the Fed...

(Nigeria) Police from Force Criminal Investigation Department, Force CID, Annex, Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos, have charged the Chairman of NEM Insurance company, Chief Adewale Teluwo on charges of conspiracy and wilful destruction of property. The insurance guru was arraigned Tuesday, before Yaba Chief Magistrate Court, Lagos on the alleged offences. The prosecutor, Morufu Animashaun, while arraigning the defendant before the court presided over by Magistrate O. Y. Adefope, told the court that the defendant committed the offences around Mile 12, Area of Owode-Onirin, Lagos, on November 25, 2021. He told the court that the defendant, and others now at large wilfully destroyed the perimeter fence of the aforementioned property belonging to one Isiaka Abdullahi. The prosecutor told the court that the offences committed by the defendant contravened sections 411 and and 340 of the Criminal Law of Lagos state 2015, and punishable under the same sections. The defendant pleaded not guilty to the...

(Nigeria) The Board Chairman of Seplat Energy Plc, Mr. Basil Omiyi, has assured that the company would hold its scheduled Annual General Meeting, AGM, on Wednesday, in compliance with the final and binding judgment of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja. The court, Tuesday, in its judgment, ordered Seplat Energy Plc to hold its AGM as scheduled. The judgment by Justice A. Mohammed in suit number FHC/ABJ/PET/7/2023 - Akinnifesi & Adelaja V. Seplat Energy Plc - ‘further restrains any current or former directors, shareholders, and officers of the company from cancelling or postponing the AGM as announced to the public.” Consequently, Mr. Basil Omiyi in a statement said that in due compliance with the law and the judgment, its AGM will hold on May 10, 2023, at 11a.m., as expressly ordered by the court. According to him, the announcement on the AGM, “Is made pursuant to Rule 17.10 of the Rulebook of the Nigerian Exchange, 2015 (Issuer’s Rule).” The suit before Justice Inyang Ekwo, wa...

(Nigeria) Pan-Igbo sociopolitical pressure organisation, the South East Revival Group, SERG, has frowned at the incoming executive's interference in the choice of the elective leadership of the 10th National Assembly through the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, urging opposition lawmakers and the “excluded North Central to work together with other aggrieved political blocs to elect leaders of the 10th National Assembly based on competence, justice and equity.” In its reaction to the nomination of individuals as preferred lawmakers for various elective legislative offices in the incoming National Assembly, the SERG in a statement by its President and National Coordinator, Chief Willy Ezugwu, the pro-Igbo group noted that “the list released by the APC shows clearly that the party has learnt no lesson from its politics of exclusion in since 2015.” Recall that the National Working Committee, NWC, of the APC had on Monday announced the zoning of the leadership of the 10th Nation...

VP Yemi Osinbajo has commissioned 240MW Afam Three Fast Power plant in Afam, Rivers State (Nigeria) Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has commissioned Transafam Power Limited, a subsidiary of Transnational Corporation Plc’s 240MW Afam Three Fast Power plant in Afam, Rivers State. With an already existing power plant residing in Afam, this brings the cumulative generating capacity of the plant to 1,000MW. In line with Transcorp’s transformative drive, the VP and Chairman of National Council of Privatisation NCP, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Tuesday presented Transcorp Power Limited, its post privatization discharge certificate, following fulfilment of all privatisation conditions at the meeting of the NCP. This means the power company will no longer be subjected to post-privatisation monitoring. Speaking at the commissioning ceremony the Vice President lauded Transcorp Group's impressive strides in the power sector, saying, “the last few days I must say belongs to Transcorp Power. Just ye...

*Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State (Nigeria) The Supreme Court has upheld the election of Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as the Osun State governor. A five-member panel of the apex court in its judgment on Tuesday, held that the Appeal Court correctly reinstated Adeleke as governor of Osun State. *The Supreme Court The apex court held that since it was not in dispute that the BVAS contain record of accredited voters, "it is, therefore, the only direct and primary record of voters accredited at polling units on election day." The apex court said it found no reason to set aside the verdict of the Court of Appeal which upheld Adeleke's election victory and dismissed the appeal by Adegboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress, APC. .

*Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (Nigeria) Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has filed a contempt suit against the Federal Government and Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice “for failing to recover over N40 billion double pay and life pensions from former governors who are serving as lawmakers and ministers.” Justice Oguntoyinbo of the Federal High Court, Lagos had in November 2019 ordered the Federal Government to “recover life pensions collected by former governors serving as ministers and members of the National Assembly.” Justice Oguntoyinbo also directed Mr Malami to “challenge the legality of states’ life pension laws permitting former governors and other ex-public officials to collect such pensions.” However, the government of President Muhammadu Buhari has failed to implement the judgment. Justice Oguntoyinbo who last month retired from the bench expre...

*Musilu Akinsanya, aka MC Oluomo (Nigeria) Road Transport Employers' Association of Nigeria, RTEAN, has called on the Lagos State Government to direct members of Parks and Garages Committee, led by Musilu Akinsanya, known as MC Oluomo, to leave their offices in compliance the judgment of a National Industrial Court sitting in Lagos. Acting Chairman of RTEAN in the state, Aransiola Qudus, who briefed newsmen in Lagos on Thursday, said: “RTEAN as a law-abiding organisation that does not take the laws into its hands but believes in the rule of law and follow due process, took the matter to a competent court of jurisdiction, the National Industrial Court of Nigeria in Suit No: NICN/LA/381/2022. “RTEAN is a registered trade union established under Decree 21 and 22 of 1978 as amended by Decree 1 of 1999 under the senior staff and employers Association as well as the Trade Union Act CAP T14 laws of the federation 2004 which falls under the exclusive legislative list of the constitution ...

*Senator Magnus Abe, Governorship Candidate of Social Democratic Party in Rivers State (Nigeria) Governorship Candidate of Social Democratic Party, SDP, in Rivers State, Senator Magnus Abe, has said that his relationship with the President-elect, Senator Bola Tinubu transcends party politics. This as he maintained that his political group has always worked with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and described it as the best place to belong. He said: “We had always been with Asiwaju and that’s where we are. That’s fine because, that’s the right place to belong”. Abe, who spoke on a live national television programme, monitored in Port Harcourt, also expressed regrets that a lot of SDP members and supporters in the State have been imprisoned while several others are being arrested. He stated that the alliance between Governor Nyesom Wike-led G5 governors and the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, changed the dynamics of politics in Rivers State. The Senator said: "I t...

*Court of Appeal, Lagos (Nigeria) The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has asked the Court of Appeal, sitting in Lagos, to declare the purported pardon granted to an Indian businessman, Ashok Israni and three others, by the Lagos State government as illegal, unconstitutional, null and void. Addressing a special panel of the appellate court on Thursday, during the hearing of the appeal filed by Israni, and two officials of Keystone Bank, Anayo Nwosu and Olajide Oshodi, EFCC lawyer, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, submitted that there are plethora of legal authorities that pardon cannot be granted to convicts whose rights of appeal have not been exhausted. Members of the Special Panel are: Justice Joseph Ikyegh (Presiding), Justice Ebiowei Tobi, and Justice B. Gafai. Justice Kudirat Jose of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Igbosere, had on December 9, 2019, convicted Israni, and two officials of Keystone Bank, Anayo Nwosu and Olajide Oshodi, on an amended 15-count charge b...

(Nigeria) Labour Party, LP, through its National Working Committee, NWC, has disassociated the party from a purported Lamidi Apapa-led faction of the party which sought to hold a parallel National Executive Council meeting in Bauchi State. Deputy National Chairman of the party, Ladi Illiya, who chaired a meeting of party stakeholders, including most of the 36 State Chairmen and Secretaries in Abuja, said the party remains committed despite ancits of paid agents to distabilise the party, as they restated their support Julius Abure, as National Chairman, as confirmed by the National Executive Council, NEC, meeting in Asaba a forthright ago. Illiya, who addressed newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday, said: “Those who are gathering in Bauchi to hold a fake, unconstitutional NEC meeting do not represent our party. “We held our authentic constitutionally approved NEC meeting in Asaba about two weeks ago. State Chairmen and Secretaries from the 36 states, who are here today were in attendance....

(Nigeria) The Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Lagos State Council, has urged media practitioners to take cognisance of quality news reporting to enhance the profession as the World marks the Press Freedom Day. The union in a statement by Lagos State Council, Chairman, Adeleye Ajayi and Tunde Olalere, Secretary, on Wednesday, noted that the quality of our news reports was very essential. The union recalled that over the past 30 years, World Press Freedom Day celebrations had taken the media on a journey, giving prominence to the right to free expression and emphasizing various aspects of press freedom’s importance. Celebrated May 3, this year’s theme for the Day: “Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of expression as a driver for all other human rights,” is very apt. The union added that in the face of multiple crises globally, media freedom, journalists’ safety and freedom of expression, as well as other human rights were increasingly under attack. NUJ said that the day reminded the...

(Nigeria) Media Rights Agenda, MRA, on Wednesday, called on the Federal Government to ensure adequate protection for media freedom in law and in practice, noting the relentless attacks on the media over the years had also undermined the general human rights protection for all Nigerians, democracy and sustainable development in the country. MRA in a statement to commemorate this year’s World Press Freedom Day and the 30th anniversary of proclamation of the Day by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993, said by strengthening the right to freedom of expression, which is a critical human right that serves as a driver for all other human rights, the Government could ensure a future where all other human rights are adequately protected and respected in Nigeria. MRA’s Programme Director, Mr. Ayode Longe, noted in the statement that given enormous duty imposed on the media by the Constitution, particularly Section 22, which requires the media sector to ensure that the Government lives ...

*Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State  (Nigeria) The Central Working Committee, CWC, of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC and Trade Union Congress, TUC, have announced an indefinite shut down of Imo State from Wednesday, following alleged disruption of Workers May Day celebrations in the state by thugs, suspected to be working for the government. A communique by Emmanuel Ugboaja, General Secretary- NLC and Nuhu Toro, Secretary General, TUC, on Tuesday, said: “The joint CWC-in-session of the NLC and TUC after careful deliberation on the violent disruption of Workers May Day celebrations earlier Monday in Owerri by the agents of Imo State Government strongly and overwhelmingly condemn the unprovoked assault on Imo State workers. The TUC and NLC thus reached the following conclusions: “That the Government of Imo State has grossly violated the rules of engagement amongst the Social partners in Industrial Relations in the country by using thugs to violently disrupt this year's May...