NEWS
Emefiele Probe: Don’t Let Yourselves Be Used By Politicians – Saraki Tells DSS
The plot to remove Godwin Emefiele as governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), according to former Senate President Bukola Saraki, is connected to the 2023 election.
The former governor of Kwara issued a warning to security organizations not to allow themselves to be used to rig the presidential election.
Emefiele was accused of supporting terrorism and committing economic crimes by the Department of State Services (DSS), which hurts the apex bank’s reputation and raises concerns about additional currency depreciation.
Saraki stated this in a statement on Wednesday through his Media Office in Abuja, while reacting to the recent court case in which the De-partment of State Services (DSS) accused the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, of terrorism and other sundry charges.
DSS seeks a court order for Emefiele’s arrest.
“As somebody who had been wrongly accused of involvement in the Offa robbery by political opportunists and manipulators before their evil plots are now beginning to unravel in the court of law, I feel that a similar intrigue is being woven by those who are bent on sabotaging the 2023 election as the obvious outcome is not going their way.
“In this court case in which the CBN governor is being accused of terrorism through a suit which the Federal High Court has now described as frivolous and without con- crete evidence, my position is not to support Emefiele but to support democracy which is being targeted by the plotters.
“With all the due respect that I have for the DSS as a very professional security agency, I still find it very difficult to understand what led to the charges, why concrete evidence that will enable the court to take a good decision was not provided and why the department gave room for suspicion and speculations as the case file has gaping holes as noted by the Honourable Judge John Tsoho.
“One of the suspicions this case has raised is that it is part of a grand plot by those who want to undermine and sabotage the coming general election because their calculation on vote buying, rigging, and excessive use of money is falling apart.
“The CBN guidelines have derailed the plan of those who believe that they will not allow the ‘one man, one vote’ system in which the electorate freely choose their representatives in a fair and peaceful atmosphere.
“I urge the DSS, police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the military, and all security agencies to be wary of political manipulators, despots, and anarchists who may want to use the case to derail the free and fair election regime that the new Electoral Act, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and President Muhammadu Buhari have promised.
“These same undesirable elements in the political process have attempted to use the National Assembly to scuttle the electoral process by frustrating the provisions on electronic transmission of results, use of Biometric Voters Accreditation System (BVAS), the new guidelines on currency change and cash withdrawal. They failed. They have also put pressure on the presidency to reverse some of these innovations.
“They did not succeed. Now, they are resorting to the use of the judiciary.
“Their desperate resort to the manipulation of the judicial process and the use of security agencies that may be inadvertently lending support to the plot without knowing the full implication and ramifications should remind Nigerians of the antics of the Association for Better Nigeria (ABN) which was used by antidemocratic elements during the military transition programme in the early 90s.
“I, hereby, urge the security agencies to distance themselves from the anarchists and anti-democratic elements masquerading as democrats or political players.
“With the current situation in the country, all the citizens, national institutions, residents, and foreign friends of Nigeria should commit to the goal of having free, fair, peaceful and credible polls in 2023.
“It is my prayer that next years election should provide a positive turning point for rebuilding, refocusing, resetting, redeeming, restructuring, repositioning, and revamping our country.”
Locals and traders have became frightened after the government demolished numerous shops and kiosks in the famed Ojoo market in the Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State on Thursday.
Biztellers gathered that the traders were handed a quit notice by the Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development a long time ago, but they refused to vacate the market.
The Chairman of the market, Muhdeen Ganiyu, fondly called Elewedu, however, told our correspondent that the quit notice was too short but the executive members of all the affected markers would meet after the demolition exercise.
“The quit notice was too short. All executive members of all the affected markers will soon meet. So, I cannot say anything for now,” he stated.
When contacted, the Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Williams Akin-Funmilayo, confirmed the ongoing demolition exercise.
He said, “The State Governor, Seyi Makinde, had gone there personally to address them. The government will provide another place. That place is dangerous. And the new place is not far. Just at the front of the Barracks.”
Additional images from the demolition:
Young C, a Nigerian man, has been buried alive in a coffin for twenty-three hours.
On Thursday, he posted an update on his Instagram account saying, “Guys, I am still alive, I am still fine, I am okay. A lot of you might think something has happened, but nothing has happened, I am fine.
Breathing heavily he said, “My problem is just that I have run out of water, I might be forced to drink this (my urine). Guys, I am fine.”
Young C had embarked on this daring challenge on Wednesday, announcing his intention to be buried alive for 24 hours.
He shared a video on his Instagram account, emphasizing that the stunt was genuine and not a hoax. He also announced his plan to broadcast live footage from the coffin at night.
In an earlier update, Young C revealed that he had been buried for over 8 hours and was experiencing physical discomfort, including excessive sweating.
He shared a video from the coffin, showing his camera and light still functioning, and expressed his determination to complete the challenge.
This accomplishment brings to mind another challenge that American YouTuber MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) undertook two years ago to raise awareness about deforestation. In that challenge, he buried himself alive for fifty hours.
He overcame both physical and mental obstacles to finish the task and was ultimately exhumed, warning onlookers not to attempt such exploits since they could be dangerous.
Former Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Hadi Abubakar Sirika, along with his daughter, Fatimah Hadi Sirika, and son-in-law, Jalal Hamma, secured bail from the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.
This follows their indictment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for their alleged involvement in a N2.7bn fraud tied to the Nigerian Air project.
The defendants, including Sirika and his family members, vehemently denied the charges during their appearance before Justice Sylvanus Orji, who granted them bail pending further legal proceedings.
Recall that Sirika faces a 6-count amended criminal charge before Justice Oriji, where the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs SAN, presented an amended charge by the EFCC dated May 7 and filed on May 8.
This amendment was unopposed by the defendants’ counsel. Lead counsel Kanu Agabi (SAN), representing Sirika, submitted his client’s bail application dated May 6 during the proceedings.
The remaining defendants also filed their bail applications, urging the court for leniency in setting the bail terms.
Prosecutor Jacobs highlighted that all defendants were on administrative bail and requested bail conditions ensuring their presence for trial.
Following arguments from both sides, Justice Orji granted bail to each defendant in the amount of ₦100 million, requiring two sureties for each.
Furthermore, the judge stipulated that one surety must possess a landed property with valid land titles within the Federal Capital Territory.
Additionally, the sureties must provide an affidavit of means..
The defendants were restricted from leaving the country without the court’s permission, with the consequence of non-compliance being detention in a correctional facility.
He said, “I admit the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendant to bail in the sum of 100 million each with 2 sureties of like sum.
“One of the sureties must have a landed property within the Federal Capital Territory. The defendants must not travel outside the country.
“Any of them who is unable to fulfil the bail conditions will be remanded in the correctional centre.” he added
The trial dates were set for June 10th, 11th, and 20th, marking the next steps in the legal proceedings.
TikTok Bans Content Creator After 24-Hour Buried Alive Challenge
JUST IN: Fear As Oyo Destroys Shops In Popular Ibadan Market
VIDEO: Nigerian Man Spends 23 Hours Buried Alive In Coffin
Court Grants N100m Bail To Sirika, Daughter In N2.7bn Fraud Case
N2.7bn Fraud: Sirika, Daughter To Be Arraigned Today
I’ve Dated More Than 100 Women – Singer Skales
Sahara’s Tonye Cole resigns from GPHCDA
Oando opens ultra-modern petrol station in Lagos
Niger Delta Avengers: President Buhari Reads riot Act …considers the carrot and stick option
Adeosun: We are investing in infrastructure to grow the private sector
Shell launches Nigeria campaign on energy efficiency
