Senate Extends 2022 Budget Implementation

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December 28, 2022

Head of Catholic Church, Pope Francis has urged the global community to offer prayers on behalf of his predecessor, ex-pope Benedict XVI, saying he is “very sick”.

Benedict, 95, had rendered his resignation from his position in 2013 on reasons bordering on advancing age. He was the first pope in about 600 years to do so. He has been living in the Vatican since then.

“I would like to ask all of you for a special prayer for Pope Emeritus Benedict, who, in silence, is sustaining the church,” Francis appealed on Wednesday at the end of his general audience in Italian but did not give details.

“Let us remember him. He is very sick, asking the Lord to console and sustain him in this witness of love for the church, until the end,” he added.

Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni said Pope Francis went to visit his predecessor.

“Regarding the health conditions of the emeritus pope, for whom Pope Francis asked for prayers at the end of his general audience this morning, I can confirm that in the last hours, a worsening due to advanced age has happened,” Bruni said in a written statement.

“The situation at the moment remains under control, constantly monitored by doctors,” according to the statement.

Those who had in recent times come in contact with Benedict said his body was very frail but his mind was still sharp.

One of the latest known photographs of Benedict was taken on December 1, when he met the winners of a prize for theologians named after him. He was seated and looked exceptionally weak.

Since his resignation Benedict has been living in a former convent inside the Vatican gardens, with his secretary, Archbishop Georg Ganswein, and a few other aides and medical staff.

Benedict announced his intention to resign on February 11, 2013, shocking a meeting of cardinals. He said he no longer had the physical and mental strength to run the church.

He formally stepped down on February 28 that year, moving temporarily to the papal summer residence south of Rome while cardinals from around the world came to Rome to choose his successor.

Umahi Orders Arrest Of Ebonyi APC Chairman, Reps Candidate Over Alleged Involvement In Murder

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December 28, 2022

Umahi: Construction Ongoing On Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway — Dave Umahi

Governor David Nweze Umahi has directed the immediate arrest and prosecution of the State APC Chairman, Chief Stanley Emegha and Candidate for Afikpo North/Afikpo South Federal Constituency, Chief Eni Uduma Chima for their roles in the murder of three persons in Ekoli Edda.

Governor Umahi gave the directive during an on the spot assessment of the level of damages in the area.

According to a statement by his special aide, Chooks Oko, the governor also directed the Commissioner of Police to arrest all those connected with the carnage and ensure they face justice.

Umahi while announcing the suspension of all social gatherings in Edda until normalcy returns, urged the Commissioner of Police to saturate the area with security presence to forestall further breakdown of law and order.

As at the time of filing this report, the whole Ekoli Edda has been cordoned off by the combined team of the Police, Army and the Ebubeagu Security outfit.

How Abuja 31-Year-Old Man Killed Lover, 48 He Met On Facebook Group

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December 28, 2022

Operatives of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) have arrested a 31-year-old man who allegedly killed his lover, 48-year-old Ijeoma Felix in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The suspect, who was paraded at the IRT Office in Abuja on Tuesday, confessed to having hit the victim with a pestle during an allegedly violent argument at her two-bedroom residence in the Lugbe area of the FCT on October 24.

After hitting her, the suspect said he took the Toyota Camry belonging to the deceased, along with her phone and some other belongings before leaving the house. He added that he was arrested on November 2 after changing the car documents of the Camry and selling it for N1.7 million.

Recounting his version of the events that led to Ijeoma’s death, he told journalists both he and Ijeoma had an argument over a Toyota Highlander she had given him, which he sold without her consent.

The suspect said he met the deceased in a Facebook group in 2020, adding that their relationship started on a good note, which led to him moving into her apartment. He claimed that the relationship turned abusive with him being the victim.

The victim’s elder sister told journalists how she learnt of the death of her sister, Ijeoma Felix after her gruesome killing on October 24 at her residence.

She stated that she received a call from the caretaker of the property where her late sister’s apartment resided, informing her that Ijeoma had not been seen for days and that she might be seriously ill. Upon her arrival at the residence, she said there was a foul odour but that her car was nowhere in sight.

After learning that a report had been made at Lugbe Police Station, she went there but was asked to return the following day as the investigating police officer (IPO) was not on duty.

“The next day, we went there (Lugbe Police Station). Then we were able to meet the IPO. They had already made arrangements for the environmental (agency). We were even at that police station when the environmental people came. All of us went to the compound.

“They went in; they brought out my sister, wrapped in her centre rug. She was smelling already. That means the smell I was perceiving (the day before) was my sister. She had been there for days, smelling! That was how we took her to Gwagwalada Hospital and deposited the body.

“The car was not there. The telly was not there. The phones were not there. But you could see the charging things there. And they told me that the guy in question was the last person that came that Monday (to her apartment) and they didn’t see when he left and the car had not been there since he left,” she said, adding that the family wants justice.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi said the arrest of the suspect followed the directive of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba to fish out the culprit and to ensure no stone is left unturned in dealing with criminal elements.

Adejobi stated that the investigation is still ongoing and warned the public to be cautious about their activities on social media.

Channels TV

Life No More Enjoyable To Me, I Wish To Leave In Good Fate

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December 28, 2022

Elder statesman and renowned business mogul, Aminu Alhassan Dantata, has revealed that he no longer enjoys life and he is hoping to depart this world in good fate.

Dantata, 91, disclose this when he received the Vice Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kashim Shettima.

He said from a youthful age, he had the privilege of meeting many people and had engaged in friendship in all states of Nigeria but could hardly call out 10 who are still alive.

“I have travelled to all the states in Nigeria and I have done things with people across all states, many were friends but sadly, all the people I know, I hardly can call out 10 that are still alive.

“Honestly, as I am right now, I am just waiting for my time. I no longer enjoy life anymore. I hope I depart this world in good fate.

“I hope I did not offend anyone in life. If I offended anyone, I hope they find it in their hearts to forgive me. If anybody has offended me, I have forgiven them.

“I am now the only one left in my family living with grandchildren.”

Dantata, while expressing joy and appreciation for the visit, prayed for Nigeria for everlasting peace and harmony.

“May God not leave us with our efforts alone, we pray for his continued guidance and protection,” he added.

Earlier, Shettima, who was on a consultation visit to the state, pointed that the purpose of the visit is largely to reach out to elder statesmen on the ongoing project in the north ahead of the 2023 general elections.

He embarked on the visitation alongside the state governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Musa Gwadabe, General Lawal Jafaru Isah and Tanko Yakasai

He also visited the ongoing project of Kano Cancer Centre which is on the verge of completion before departing to the airport.

Labour Party Carpets Arthur Eze Over Comment On Peter Obi’s Ambition

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December 28, 2022

Diran Onifade, spokesperson for the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, yesterday, described comments ascribed to Anambra businessman, Arthur Eze, about the LP candidate as unfortunate but not unexpected.

Eze had condemned Obi’s ambition of becoming Nigeria’s next president after President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.

He said this during the 2022 Ofala festival of Igwe Robert Eze, the traditional ruler of Ukpo in Dunukofia local government area of the State.

The businessman noted that he advised Obi to wait for next time after, however, listening to him list the number of states he thought he would win.

Eze said: “I warned Peter Obi to withdraw from this race but he would not listen. I told him plainly that I am not part of his plans. I told him to drop his ambition, and wait for next time.

“When he told me about his ambition, I asked him the states he thinks he can win in the west and in the north – he told me; but I was not convinced. I told him he cannot win; so that he would not waste his time and money.”

But Onifade, in a chat with Vanguard, was responding to Eze’s call on Obi to jettison his Presidential ambition because Ndigbo had other plans for now and in the future.

Onifade, who made it clear that he was expressing his personal opinion on the subject, said: “It is the influence of people like that that we want to take our politics away from.”

He said: “He is part of the establishment and structure that young Nigerians want to take our country back from.

“When we take power from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the All Progressives Congress, APC, the likes of Arthur Eze will no longer wield the kind of influence they enjoy today.

“You don’t expect them to take this lying down. Our candidate and our campaign remain focused on the task ahead which is to take back our country, rebuild it to make it take its proper place in the comity of nations.”

Vanguard

PDP Crisis: G-5 Governors Meet In London

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December 28, 2022

PDP Crisis: G-5 Governors Meet In London

The Nyesom Wike-led group of five governors of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have converged in London, United Kingdom, in continuation of their meeting to purge their differences ahead of the 2023 presidential election.

ABN TV gathered that the group, comprising governors Sam Ortom of Benue, Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Ifeanyi Uguanyi of Enugu, and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, jetted out of the country on Monday, Boxing Day, for the meeting.

The group of governors had insisted on their call for the removal of the national chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu, and the emergence of a southern politician as the party’s chairman.

The group, therefore, withdrew their support for the presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar, over his alleged refusal to yield to their demand.

Meanwhile, sources within the party said a former National Security Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Aliyu Gusau, had waded into the G5 feud with the presidential candidate of the PDP.

Findings revealed that the Zamfara State-born politician had invited Mr Ortom to his Abuja residence for a meeting over the crisis.

‘Using Thugs To Eject Tenants Illegal’

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December 28, 2022

A Lagos-based real estate practitioner, Mr Ademola Ayobami, has warned landlords in the state against ejecting their tenants using hoodlums, which he described as illegal.

Ayobami stated this on Tuesday during a telephone interview with The PUNCH (not ABN TV), adding that the state government also had the responsibility to compensate landlords when their properties are compulsorily acquired by the state.

He said, “A landlord is the owner of a premise or the holder of the reversionary interest in the property. That means that at the expiration of every tenancy, the right to possession and ownership of the said premises goes back to the landlord.

“But to lawfully eject a tenant, the appropriate notices have to be given in accordance with the law before proceeding to the court.

“It is illegal to use self-help by inviting thugs or ‘area-boys’ to assist in ejecting a tenant as it happens many times in Lagos State. Those culpable can be liable for the crime of disruption of public peace and criminal assault among others.

“The governor of the state, by virtue of the Land Use Act, has the right to compulsorily acquire properties within the state for ‘overriding public purposes.’

However, whenever such occurs, the landlord has the right to be given compensation by the state government for the unexhausted improvements he has made on the land.”

The real estate practitioner further stated that tenants are protected by law from being arbitrarily evicted by the landlord.

FG To Announce Salary Increment For Civil Servants — Ngige

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December 28, 2022

I Won’t Work For Any Presidential Candidate – Ngige — Chris Ngige

The Federal Government said it will soon announce salary increments for civil servants and public officials due to the steady increase in consumer goods.

This was as it said a Presidential Committee on Salaries is currently reviewing salaries with a plan to announce its decision in early 2023.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, disclosed this to State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.

ABN TV reports that Ngige had earlier insinuated that the FG will review the salaries of civil servants upwards to cushion the effect of inflation.

Fielding questions on the issue, he said, “Yes, that’s what I am saying, that the Presidential Committee on Salaries is working hand-in-hand with the National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission. The commission is mandated by the Act establishing them to fix salaries, wages, and emoluments in not only the public service.

“If you want their assistance and you are in the private sector, they will also assist you. They have what is called the template for remuneration, for compensation. So, if you work, you get compensated, if you don’t work, you will not be compensated.

“So they have the matrix to do the evaluation, so they are working with the Presidential Committee on Salaries Chaired by the finance ministry and I’m the co-chair to look at the demands of the workers. Outside this, I said discussions on that evaluation are going.”

Asked about a workable timeframe for the implementation of salaries under review, the former governor said, “As we enter the new year government will make some pronouncements in that direction.”

Ngige revealed that he was at the State House to brief the President on the activities of his ministry as 2022 rounds up.

He said, “Majorly, I came to brief Mr President. You know the year is coming to an end and we have to look at 2022 exhaustively. As part of my ministry, we are to discuss labour issues…and what we are able to do. First and foremost, we look at the employment situation in the country and what we have achieved and what we have not achieved.

“Employment is high and various policies and I have to tell him the successful ones we are in them. We also had a briefing on productivity viz-a-viz the various industrial disputes we had in 2022.”

Citing the ASUU strike, industrial action by sister unions, and strikes by medical practitioners earlier in the year, he described 2022 as “a year of industrial dispute.”

He noted that the private sector managed its affairs better, perhaps because its finances and its management lie within its audit.

“They could do collective bargaining very easily with their workers. The banking sector, food, beverages and finance, insurance, everywhere.

So, there is calm there. We didn’t have the desired calmness on the government’s side because of the government’s finances.

“However, I’ve briefed him, we are doing some review within the Presidential Committee on Salaries, and discussions are ongoing. The doctors are discussing with the ministry of health, and insurance people in the public sector discussing and there is a general calmness.

“Hopefully, within available resources, the government can do something in the coming year,” he explained.

When asked about FG’s position on the eight months’ outstanding salaries due to public university lecturers, he said the matter is still sub judice for proper interpretation of the Trade Dispute Act as it pertains to the no-work-no-pay policy the Federal Government adopted during the strike.

“ASUU has not pronounced anything on their salaries anymore because it’s one of the issues that was referred to the National Industrial Court for determination, whether a worker who is on strike should be paid in violation of section 43 of the Trade Dispute Act which says when you go on strike, the consequences are these: number one, you will not be paid, you will not be compensated for not going to work to enable your employer keep the industry or enterprise afloat.

“That money should not be given to you, and that compensation should not be given. It’s there in Section 43 (1).

There is a second leg to Section 43, it also said that that period you were on strike will not count for you as part of your pensionable period of work in your service. That leg, the government has not touched it, but the leg of no-work-no-pay has been triggered off by that strike,” Ngige argued.

He said the Labour ministry is asking the court to consider the sections of the constitution concerned.

Therefore, “The matter is out of the hand of the executive, that’s us, and on the hand of the judiciary. ASUU has also put up a defence in court, asking the court, yes, we went on strike, but we did that for a reason. So, it’s now left for the court to look at it.”

Gov. Umahi Orders Arrest Of Ebonyi APC Chair, Reps Candidate Over Alleged Killing Of Policeman, Others

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December 27, 2022