“IPOB and ESN will not enforce the sit-at-home but Biafrans must not endanger their lives. For your safety, please sit at home on Thursday, May 30, 2024, and honour Biafran heroes and heroines. Do not endanger your lives,” the statement added.
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Alleged $6bn Mambilla power fraud: Court adjourns hearing in Agunloye’s application
An FCT High Court in Apo adjourned hearing in the preliminary objection filed by a former minister of Power and Steel, Olu Agunloye until March 4
The application is challenging the powers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to prosecute him regarding certain infractions in the $6billion Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station in Taraba.
Agunloye, who served as a minister in the under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, is charged with seven counts of forgery, disobedience of presidential order and corruption.
He was alleged to have , among others, on May 22, 2003 awarded a contract titled “Construction of 3,960 megawatt Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station on build, operate and transfer basis to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited without any budgetary provision, approval and cash backing.
The prosecution also alleged that it traced some suspicious payments made by Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited to the former minister’s accounts.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him.
Justice Onwuegbuzie had on Feb. 12 declined to hear the preliminary objection, filed by counsel to the former minister, Adeola Adedipe SAN, on the ground that it was not ripe for hearing.
However, hearing did not hold because the judge was attending a conference.
In the preliminary objection challenging EFCC’s powers to try the former minister, Adedipe had sought an order of the court prohibiting the anti-graft agency from prosecuting or further prosecuting the instant charge against the defendant.
He argued that the commission lacked both investigative and prosecutorial powers under Sections 6, 7 and 46 of EFCC Act, 2004.
He argued that the offence allegedly committed by Agunloye were based on his (Agunloye’s) activities as a public officer.
He added that the former minister was alleged to have awarded the contract for the power plant without budgetary provision, approval and cash backing.
Adedipe further argued that the defendant was accused of an alleged disobedience to the directives of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as a forgery of a letter dated May 22, 2003.
The senior advocate submitted that the allegations against the former minister did not constitute financial crimes and as such could not be investigated and prosecuted by EFCC.
“These allegations do not constitute financial crimes which can be lawfully investigated and prosecuted by EFCC, pursuant to its powers under Section 6,7 and 46 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act in consonance with the supreme Court’s decision in Nwokobi vs Federal Republic of Nigeria (2002) 6 NWLR (Part 1.1826)293.”
He further argued: “not having the mandatory statutory powers to investigate the allegations in the charge ab initio, I know that the purported investigation and current prosecution of this charge by the EFCC is ultra vires.”
He further submitted that it would be most unjust and unfair to subject the 76-year-old Agunloye to criminal trial or prosecution before determining whether the prosecuting body has the requisite statutory powers to do so.
While urging the court to annual the charge against Agunloye, Adedipe submitted that, “it will be fair and just for this honourable court to first determine and render a decision on this threshold issue of EFCC’s competence to investigate and prosecute this case.”
He then stated that it was in the interest of justice to grant the application.
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IPOB declares May 30 sit-at-home in South-East to honour Biafran soldiers
The Indigenous People of Biafra has declared May 30, 2024, as a sit-at-home day across the South-East to celebrate Biafran soldiers.
The pro-Biafran group said that day is set aside annually to celebrate the men and women who died in the Biafran war between 1967 and 1970 and beyond and even until now.
This was made known in a press statement by the group’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, on Thursday, adding that every Biafran in the South-East is expected to sit at home and reflect on the war.
Powerful cautioned South-East residents to avoid loitering about on this day, adding that those who intend to travel to and fro Biafra land must do so before the evening of May 29.
The statement read, “We the global family of IPOB declare Thursday, May 30, 2024, a sit-at-home day in Biafra land for all Biafrans, friends of Biafra, lovers of freedom, and all residents in Biafra Land.
“Annually, we celebrate May 30 as our heroes and heroines day when we remember the men and women who died that we may live, before, during, and after the war against Biafrans between 1967 and 1970 and beyond and even until now.
“To honour our heroes and heroines. Biafrans are asked to observe this one-day sit-at-home in reverence to the spirits of our departed heroes who fought for us to be alive today. Every Biafran in Biafra territory is expected to sit at home on this day and reflect on the danger of the forced unity called Nigeria that has taken millions of lives of Biafrans.
“Other Biafrans outside Biafra territory are also encouraged to honour our heroes by observing the sit-at-home if possible or by limiting their activities on this day.”
According to the group, all schools, government offices, private offices, banks, transport unions, market unions and private individuals should shut down all operations in honour of our it’s heroes and heroines.
They added that exceptions to these directives are institutions and individuals on special duties such as nurses, doctors, ambulance services, hospitals, and medical workers who are allowed to operate on that day.
“We call on Christians and traditional worshipers to use this day to pray to Chukwu Okike Abiama for the fallen heroes and also pray for Biafra Independence from this murderous contraption called Nigeria.
“Heroes Remembrance Day is a call to duty for Biafrans to remember and honour our fallen heroes who were brutally murdered between 1967 to 1970 during the genocidal war against Ndigbo before and beyond. Biafrans living in the Northern and Western parts of the zoo called, Nigeria will join and stay indoors for this commemoration and remembrance of our heroes and heroines who died so that we may live.
“At this special event, IPOB members must light candles in remembrance of our fallen heroes. Heroes like our eternal leader Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Retired General Phillip Efiong, Col. Achuzie (Air Raid), Frank Opigo, Okonkon Dem, Sam Mbakwe, Akanu Ibiam, and many others who contributed immensely to the survival of Biafrans from the extermination war led by Nigeria military.
IPOB in the statement directed that all the residents of “Biafra Land” are to stay indoors from 6 am to 6 pm on May 30, 2024.
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Lagos disburses N1.3bn to 11,386 households – Commissioner
Lagos State government has disbursed over N1,346,030,000.00 to 11,386 households through its bi-monthly Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Mr Akinyemi Ajigbotafe, said this at the 2024 Ministerial Briefing on Thursday at Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja.
“We have 12 local governments that have benefitted from this programme and they are Apapa, Amuwo Odofin, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Agege, Badagry, Epe, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos Island, Shomolu, Ifako-Ijaye and Alimosho.
“The implementation of the CCT programme has contributed to the improved livelihood of beneficiaries through savings group mobilisation activities.
“Also the unit implemented the NG cares programme where transfer of N343,200,000 million was made to 2,145 beneficiaries in Eti-Osa, Kosofe, Mainland, Iru, Victoria Island, Agboyi -Ketu, Ikosi Isheri and Yaba,” he said.
Ajigbotafe reiterated the commitment of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration to wealth creation and employment for residents of the state.
“Under the visionary leadership of Gov. Sanwo-Olu, no stone is left unturned. Come July we’ll inaugurate our leather hub at Matori Mushin, a N4 billion leather industry in Lagos.
“We got our machine and equipment from Italy. This will create more employment for the good people of our dear state,” he said.
He also said Lagos State was particular about the growth and development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), with the initiative to assist start-ups, artisans and entrepreneurs in the state.
“The MSME loan programme in 2023 disbursed N859 million to 1,271 MSMEs in the state.
“Also Lagos Care supported 1,425 MSMEs with grants worth N358 million across the three disbursement linked indicators, which are credit, operation and IT enhancement,” he said.
Lagos Care is a World Bank sponsored intervention designed to cushion the effect of COVID-19 pandemic.
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