General
Lagos Guber: Emefiele Not Involved in Politics or Supporting Gbadebo—CBN
By Dipo Olowookere
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reacted to a report by a national newspaper alleging that its Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, was plotting to get back at the president-elect, Mr Bola Tinubu, by ensuring that the candidate of the opposition Labour Party (LP) in Lagos State, Mr Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, fondly called GRV, defeats the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Saturday, March 18, 2023.
Mr Tinubu is believed to be in control of Lagos State, which is the commercial capital of Nigeria, since 1999, when he was elected as the governor of the state.
Though his term ended in 2007, according to reports, he has been actively involved in who leads the state, from Mr Babatunde Fashola (the current Minister of Works and Housing) in 2007 to former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in 2015 and the incumbent Mr Sanwo-Olu, who now seeks another four-year term in office.
In the February 25, 2023, presidential election, Mr Tinubu, for the first time, lost Lagos State to the candidate of LP in the contest, Mr Peter Obi. This unsettled his camp and has put Mr Sanwo-Olu under pressure over fears that another protest vote could chase him out from Alausa this weekend.
Last year, Mr Emefiele attempted to clinch the presidential ticket of the APC but was stopped by the court, which held that he could not remain as the CBN chief and be involved in politics.
This fuelled calls for his resignation and cast doubt on his Naira redesign and cashless policies, which some politicians, including allies of Mr Tinubu, said were targeted at the president-elect.
Today, a newspaper with ties to Mr Tinubu published a story alleging that the apex bank boss was plotting to ensure the president-elect loses control of Lagos State in the governorship election this Saturday.
According to the report, Mr Emefiele has provided funds to the candidate of the Labour Party to prosecute the election and unseat the ruling party.
However, the acting Director of Corporate Communications of the CBN, Mr Isa Abdulmumin, refuted these claims, stressing that his boss is not partisan.
“The attention of the CBN has been drawn to a story published in The Nation newspaper of Monday, March 13, 2023, edition, alleging that the Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, has launched a fresh plot against president-elect.
“The aforementioned story went further to allege that the Governor has made a certain amount of money available to a candidate ahead of the March 18, 2023, gubernatorial poll.
“We wish to inform members of the public that this story is completely false and malicious as the CBN Governor does not know and has never met or even spoken with Mr Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, either in person or through a proxy.
“We wish to reiterate that the CBN Governor does not take part in politics and, therefore, urge anyone with contrary information to prove the Governor wrong by providing any facts.
“As such, the Governor and his team at the CBN should be allowed to focus on their assigned job with a view to achieving the statutory mandate of the bank,” the statement said.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Lagos State Police Command is investigating the delivery of a parcel containing live ammunition delivered to the managing director of First Bank Nigeria, Mr Oluwasegun Alebiosu.
The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State command, Mr Tijani Fatai, confirmed the incident on Tuesday during a press briefing at the command headquarters.
He said Mr Alebiosu reported the case on May 7, noting that two rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition were sent to him through a parcel.
“The managing director reported the matter to the police after a package containing two rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition was delivered on his behalf by his security guard at his residence. The case is still under investigation, and we are treating it with the seriousness it deserves,” he said.
According to him, the parcel was first received by the bank chief’s security guard, who then handed it over to him.
The police commissioner said that operatives have launched an investigation, including forensic analysis and intelligence work, to identify the perpetrators and the circumstances of the incident.
He added that no suspect linked to the crime has been brought into custody.
“Presently, no suspect is in custody. Even though the MD has mentioned some people whom he suspected of being the brains behind it, that is his suspicion, anyway. We are still working on it,” he said.
Mr Fatai noted that detectives are reviewing information provided by the complainant, including details of individuals who may have relevant knowledge of the incident.
He assured the public that the command would keep them informed as the investigations go on, adding that the public should allow the police to carry out their duties.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Governor of Oyo State, Mr Seyi Makinde, has approved the declaration of a 16-hour curfew in 10 local government areas of the state, as part of measures targeted at tackling insecurity.
According to a memo issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Musibau Babatunde, the curfew takes effect from Wednesday, June 24, 2026.
The movement restriction, between 4 pm and 8 am, lasts for 48 hours in the first instance and affects local government areas bordering the Old Oyo National Park.
The affected local councils are Oriire local government (Headquarters: Ikoyi-Ile), Orelope (Headquarters: Igboho), Irepo (Headquarters: Kisi), Saki West (Headquarters: Saki), Saki East (Hq Ago-Amodu), Atisbo (Headquarters: Tede / Ago-Are), Itesiwaju (Headquarters: Otu), Iseyin (Headquarters: Iseyin), Olorunsogo (Headquarters: Igbeti), and Atiba (Headquarters: Offa-Meta, Oyo).
The development followed a series of protests that rocked the state over the abduction of children and teachers in the Orire Local Government Area in May.
The National Coordinator of the movement, Mr Juwon Sanyaolu, who spoke during the latest protest held on Monday, said the demonstration was part of ongoing efforts by the group to push for the freedom of the victims.
According to him, the protest “is a continuation of actions the organisation has embarked upon since the abduction of children and teachers” in the Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State in May.”
“We will continue to protest for the release of all abducted victims until they are free. We believe that government officials are in the comfort of their rooms and offices while innocent 46 students and their teachers are languishing in the kidnappers’ den.
“We are demanding freedom for all captives in the North, South, West, and East of Nigeria,” Mr Sanyaolu said.
He also criticised political leaders for focusing on preparations for the 2027 elections while insecurity continues to threaten the lives of Nigerians.
“We will not be sitting until 2027. By that time, we won’t even know how many will be alive.
“So that is why we are at the heart of Ibadan in Oyo State, where the abduction took place. The state and federal governments must act, or they will continue to witness mass action,” he added.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Department of State Services (DSS) has closed its case against former Kaduna State Governor, Mr Nasir El-Rufai, in the ongoing alleged wiretapping trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
At the resumed sitting on Tuesday, prosecuting counsel, Mr Oluwole Aladedoye, informed the court that the prosecution would not be calling further witnesses in the matter, prompting the formal closure of the DSS case.
Following the development, defence counsel, Mr Paul Erokoro, told the court that the defence intends to file a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution has failed to establish sufficient evidence against the former governor.
The defence subsequently sought two weeks to file the application, while the prosecution requested two weeks to respond.
The defence also applied for a variation of some of the bail conditions earlier granted to El-Rufai, describing them as stringent and difficult to meet.
They argued that the bail terms were too stringent, particularly the requirements for level 17 civil servants with properties in Maitama or Asokoro, as well as verification and attestation letters from the Kaduna state traditional council.
However, the prosecution opposed the request, insisting that qualified public officers who meet the conditions exist and urging the court to refuse the application.
Delivering the ruling, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik declined the request to vary the bail conditions, ruling that there are civil servants who own properties at the said location.
The court, however, adjourned to September 22 for the filing of the no-case submission and continuation of the trial.
In February, the federal government filed a three-count charge against the former governor of Kaduna State over an alleged interception of communications belonging to Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Mr Nuhu Ribadu.
In a television interview, he confessed that he and other unnamed individuals listened to conversations from Mr Ribadu’s phone after it was tapped by a third party. While acknowledging that such interception is technically unlawful, he argued that illegal surveillance was not unusual.
However, the FG, through the secret police, filed charges against Mr El-Rufai at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
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