Nigeria has flayed the host country of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, Côte d’Ivoire in their second leg encounter.
A penalty goal from the super eagles’ defender, Williams Troost- Ekong gave Nigeria a lone goal victory.
Details later!
MTN-GLO debt dispute: NCC suspends disconnection deadline by 21-day
The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has instructed MTN Nigeria to suspend plans to disconnect Globacom(Glo) subscribers due to lingering inter-connection debt between the Mobile Operators.
Also, the Commission gave MTN and Glo 21 days to resolve all outstanding issues.
NCC disclosed this on Thursday in a statement by its Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Mouka.
“On January 8, 2024, the Nigerian Communications Commission published a Pre-Disconnection Notice informing subscribers of the approval granted to MTN Nigerian Communications Plc. (MTN) to commence the phased disconnection of Globacom Limited (Glo) with effect from January 18, 2024, due to a long-standing interconnection debt dispute between the parties.
“In approving, the Commission was deeply conscious of the potential impacts of the decision on consumers and therefore continued to engage both parties to facilitate a resolution which prioritizes and protects consumer interest and the seamless operation of the national telecoms network.
“The Commission is pleased to announce that the parties have now agreed to resolve all outstanding issues. For this reason, and in exercising its regulatory powers, the Commission has put the phased disconnection on hold for 21 (twenty-one) days from today, January 17, 2024.
“Whilst the Commission expects MTN and Glo to resolve all outstanding issues within 21 days, the Commission insists that interconnect debts must be settled by all operating companies as a necessary component towards compliance with regulatory obligations of all licensees. Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and other telecom industry licensees must keep to their licenses’ terms and conditions, especially as contained in their interconnection agreements.
Recall that last week, NCC published a Pre-Disconnection Notice informing subscribers of the approval granted to MTN to commence the phased disconnection of Glo with effect from January 18, 2024.
BREAKING: Court grants Ex-cbn governor Emefiele permission to travel
The Federal Capital Territory High Court has granted the request of a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele, to travel out of Abuja.
Recall that the court gave the verdict when the embattled apex bank boss appeared on Thursday, January 18, to seek a variation of his bail conditions.
The court, however, said Emefiele must remain in the country.
In his bail terms, he was restricted to the FCT.
Newssphere recalls that in November last year, the court granted Emefiele N300 million.
After meeting his bail conditions, Emefiele was freed from Kuje prison in December.
Recall that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Nigerian Federal Government over alleged N1.2 billion procurement fraud.
Meanwhile, revelations from Jim Obazee, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s special investigator probing the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN showed that Emefiele used proxies to acquire Union Bank of Nigeria for Titan Trust Bank Limited and Keystone Bank without any evidence of payment and among other indictments.
We’re in control – Oyo govt gives update on Ibadan explosion
The Oyo state government has assured residents of safety as explosion rocks Ibadan on Tuesday.
Prince Dotun Oyelade, Commissioner for Information and orientation Oyo state disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.
He confirmed that the explosion occured around 8pm on Tuesday.
Oyelade said the government is working with security agencies to uncertain the cause of the explosion.
“Residents of Ibadan and immediate environ experienced an uncommon explosion about 8pm this evening.
“There are various interpretations of the incident but it is important for us to state categorically that the state government has taken over and in the full control of the unfortunate occurrence in in order to mitigate the incident.
“All security service chiefs including para military chiefs and Fire Operatives have been deployed by the governor to Reign in the spillover from the explosion.
“His Excellency Governor Seyi Makinde therefore implores citizens to calm down and be rest assured that their interests are being looked after”, he stated.
ICPC Chairman endorses CITN partnership to combat fraud
Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, has stated a willingness to foster a partnership request by the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) to combat fraud, promote transparency and accountability in the national taxation system.
The Commission’s spokesperson, Mrs Azuka Ogugua disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.
According to the statement Aliyu gave the endorsement when the President of CITN, Mr. Samuel Agbeluyi, paid a courtesy visit to the ICPC Headquarters in Abuja.
Aliyu outlined key agenda for the partnership to include public awareness, technology and policy advocacy, which according to him, were crucial to the promotion of transparency, accountability and excellence in the taxation sector; stressing the need for Nigerians to contribute to its development by normalising tax payment.
He further stated that “the relationship between ICPC and CITN will be consolidated by revisiting the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and ensuring that the terms are reviewed and improved upon”.
ICPC boss subsequently assured CITN of the Commission’s unwavering support, as well as collaboration with other key players in the sector, including Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to effectively prevent and check tax related offences.
Agbeluyi reiterated “The commitment of CITN to make Nigeria great by plugging loopholes in the taxation system and that has led us to numerous interactions with stakeholders to discuss promotingexcellence, professionalism and ethical standards in the practice of taxation”.
The CITN President posited that “The crucial role that an efficient tax system plays in building a sustainable and prosperous economy cannot be over emphasised.In his opinion, the drive to make taxation a cornerstone of national economic development necessitated collaboration with key stakeholders”.
He identified capacity building and public advocacy as some of the areas in which the institute hoped to partner, with the aim of creating a robust and efficient tax administration system that will boost revenue generation of the country.
Tinubu suspends N-Power, three other NSIPA programmes amid probe
President Tinubu has suspended all poverty alleviation schemes run under the National Social Investment Programmes, NSIPA, amid a probe by the Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation Ministry.
Channel Television on Friday reports that the programme will be suspended for six (6) weeks in the first instance.
The four Programmes affected are those administered by NSIPA: N- Power Programme, Conditional Cash Transfer Programme, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme and Home Grown School Feeding Programme.
The Presidency says President Tinubu has also raised significant concerns regarding operational lapses and improprieties surrounding payments to the Programs’ beneficiaries and has constituted a ministerial panel to conduct a thorough review of the Agency’s operations to recommend necessary reforms of the NSIPA.
Nigerian Newssphere recalls that on January 2nd 2024, Tinubu suspended Halima Shehu, the national coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme Agency, over financial misappropriation
Days after, the President suspended the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, over N585 million corruption allegations.
Sexual Harassment: Court Remands Suspended UNICAL Professor Pending Bail Application
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja has ordered that Professor Cyril Ndifon, the suspended Dean of Faculty of Law, University of Calabar (UNICAL), be remanded at the Kuje Centre of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending the conclusion of his bail application.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had on Monday, arraigned Ndifon in court on four (4) counts charge over an alleged sexual misconduct against some of his students.
The Professor of Law however pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.
Counsel to the defendant, Okon Efut had prayed that the defendant be granted bail as the application for that had been filed on his behalf on January 2nd, 2024.
However, counsel to the ICPC, Dr. Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha opposed the bail application on the ground that one of the lawyers representing the defendant, Barrister Sunny Anyanwu had allegedly threatened one of the star witnesses ICPC lined up for the trial.
In his defence, Barrister Anyanwu, who had earlier argued that the name of the said witness should not be listed in the charges read, later told the court that it was the ‘witness’ that called him.
Justice Omotosho however directed Barrister Anyanwu to file his affidavit of fact within 48 hours over the threat allegation of ICPC witness leveled against him.
He also ruled that the defendant, Professor Cyril Ndifon, be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre till on Wednesday, 10th of January, 2024 when hearing on his bail application would be concluded.
BREAKING: Glo subscribers maybe barred from outward calls to MTN lines- NCC
Globacom subscribers may not be able to make calls to MTN lines soon, due to the non-settlement of interconnect charges.
The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, disclosed this on Monday in a public notice signed by Director, Public Affairs Department, Reuben Muoka.
The notice stated that the Commission granted partial approval for the disconnection of Globacom from MTN Nigeria Communications Plc.
The notice partly reads, “Globacom was notified of the application made by MTN and was given the opportunity to comment and state its case.
“The Commission, having examined the application and circumstances surrounding the indebtedness, determined that Globacom does not have sufficient or justifiable reason for non-payment of the interconnect charges.”
The NCC revealed that at the expiration of 10 days from the date of the notice, “subscribers of Globacom will no longer be able to make calls to MTN but will be able to receive calls”.
It added, “The partial disconnection, however, will allow in-bound calls to the Globacom network.”
N585m scandal: Tinubu bows to pressure suspends Betta Edu
President Bola Tinubu suspends the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, from office with immediate effect.
Aguri Ngelale, presidential spokesperson disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
The President further directs the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conduct a thorough investigation into all aspects of the financial transactions involving the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, as well as one or more agencies thereunder.
“The suspended Minister is hereby directed to hand over to the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, and she is further directed by the President to fully cooperate with the investigating authorities as they conduct their investigation.
Furthermore, the President has tasked a panel that is headed by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance to, among other functions, conduct a comprehensive diagnostic on the financial architecture and framework of the social investment programmes with a view to conclusively reforming the relevant institutions and programmes in a determined bid to eliminate all institutional frailties for the exclusive benefit of disadvantaged households and win back lost public confidence in the initiative.
“These directives of the President take immediate effect”, he stated.
Newssphere reports that about N585.189 million meant for the vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos states, was reportedly diverted into a private account.
This led to widespread outrage and a call for Edu’s sack and prosecution.
In a viral document signed by Edu and directed to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, the minister directed the disbursement of N585.189 million into one Bridget Mojisola Oniyelu’s private account.
The leaked document revealed that the money was paid into Oniyelu’s account.
Amid the widespread outrage, Edu, in a statement by her Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Rasheed Zubair, said the payment followed due process.
