Ondo Commissioner Writes Aiyedatiwa, Raises Alarm Over Akeredolu’s ‘Forged’ Signature

Ondo Commissioner Writes Aiyedatiwa, Raises Alarm Over Akeredolu’s ‘Forged’ Signature

Ondo Commissioner Writes Aiyedatiwa, Raises Alarm Over Akeredolu’s ‘Forged’ Signature

The commissioner said that after his discovery, the forensic expert had confirmed that the governor’s signature was forged.

The Ondo State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Razak Obe, has alleged that the signature of the state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, on a ‘certain document’ was forged.

In a letter dated December 7 and addressed to the deputy governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the commissioner explained that the irregularities were first noticed when a file from his ministry, out of the five submitted to the governor’s office for approval, was returned.

The letter was obtained by Channels Television on Saturday.

“I write to bring to your attention a critical matter that requires immediate action. It has been confirmed that the signature of Mr. Governor on a certain document has been forged,” the letter partly read.

The commissioner said that after his discovery, a forensic expert had confirmed that the governor’s signature was forged.

“The irregularities in the signature were first observed when a file from my ministry was returned through the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG). This is the only file that has been returned so far out of the five files that were sent for Mr. Governor’s approval about two months ago.

“Upon closer inspection, I noticed significant differences between the suspicious signature and handwriting and Mr. Governor’s known signatures and handwriting in the file.

“Concerned about the gravity of the situation, I decided to seek a forensic review before disclosing my discovery. I sent the suspicious signature, handwriting samples, and copies of the old regular signatures to forensic experts, who have now confirmed that the suspicious signature and handwriting were indeed forged.

“Despite the inherent risks involved, I have chosen to fulfil the obligations of my office by reporting this alarming development to you as the highest-ranking member of the State Executive Council after Mr. Governor.

“I firmly believe that this is the course of action our esteemed leader, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, would take in such a situation.

“Considering the possibility that such forgery may be widespread, this heads-up is of utmost importance to the government and people of Ondo State. I have attached a copy of the forensic report and relevant pages from the file for your reference,” he stated.

The Ondo governor has been absent from the state since June due to medical reasons. Upon returning to Nigeria after a three-month medical leave in Germany, Akeredolu has been in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.

Look Away From National Politics If You Want To Succeed, Group Tells Fubara

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Look Away From National Politics If You Want To Succeed, Group Tells Fubara

“Nobody should cajole him to dabble into national politics if he wants to write his name in gold,” he added.

River State Governor Siminalayi Fubara. 

 

As the political crisis in Rivers  State persists, Governor Siminalayi  Fubara has been advised to look away from national politics and concentrate on Rivers State to bring the desired development to the oil-rich state.

The National Co-ordinator of Ogoni Solidarity Forum Celestine Akpobari handed the advice while speaking with journalists on Thursday in Port Harcourt.

“He should stay away from national politics because that is the drain; conduit that has eaten deep into the resources of Rivers State,” Akpobari said.

“Nobody should cajole him to dabble into national politics if he wants to write his name in gold,” he added.

Akpobari, who is also a renowned environmental activist, noted that instead of exhausting energy into the political tussle and federal politics, the Governor should maximise the support he is presently enjoying from Rivers people and harness the untapped treasures that lie in the green economy and tourism in Rivers State.

He urged the Rivers governor to spread development to other parts of the state instead of just the capital, Port Harcourt.

“There are a lot of things he can do in this state. The first is to ensure that the one-city state syndrome is destroyed,” he added.

Earlier, the Leader of the Ogoni Peoples Assembly, Reverend Probel Williams, appealed to genuine elders in the state to wade into the crisis in the state,  admonishing some persons he alleged are fueling the crisis to allow peace to reign.

While condemning the political crisis, he described the development as avoidable and an embarrassment.

“We are using this opportunity to call on elders of Rivers State to wade into the crisis in the state and give all necessary support to the Governor [Sim Fubara],” he said

UK Mobile Phone Giants Face Class Action For Alleged Overcharge

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UK Mobile Phone Giants Face Class Action For Alleged Overcharge

The big four operators allegedly overcharged on up to 28.2 million contracts, resulting in damages sought totalling £3.285 billion.

Britain’s biggest mobile phone operators are facing a class action lawsuit that seeks damages of almost £3.3 billion ($4.1 billion) after lawyers on Friday alleged that customers had been overcharged.

Vodafone, EE, Three and O2 are accused of “loyalty penalties”, leaving existing customers paying more than new customers for the same services, stated law firm Charles Lyndon, which has brought the case along with an adviser on consumers’ legal rights, Justin Gutmann.

In reaction, the accused refuted the claim and said they were awaiting more detail.

The claim relates to contracts whereby a customer had bought a phone together with airtime services.

It alleges that the firms failed to reduce the overall amount charged once the minimum contractual term expired, despite the fact that consumers had fully paid for the phone.

The class action has been filed with the Competition Appeal Tribunal in London, with all qualifying consumers are automatically included in the claim for free unless they decide to opt out.

The big four operators allegedly overcharged on up to 28.2 million contracts, resulting in damages sought totalling £3.285 billion.

Gutmann said if successful, a consumer who bought a contract made up of a mobile phone and services such as data, minutes and calls with one of the mobile operators could receive as much as £1,823.

“I’m launching this class action because I believe these four mobile phone companies have systematically exploited millions of loyal customers across the UK through loyalty penalties, taking over £3 billion out of the pockets of hard-working people and their families,” Gutmann said in a statement.

“These companies kept taking advantage of customers despite the financial crisis of 2008, Covid and now the cost-of-living crisis. It’s time they were held to account.”

Responding, EE said “we strongly disagree with the speculative claim being brought against us”.

Vodafone said it had yet to “have sufficient detail for our legal team to assess”.

An O2 spokesman added: “To date there has been no contact with our legal team on this claim. However, we are proud to have been the first provider to have launched split contracts a decade ago which automatically and fully reduce customers’ bills once they’ve paid off their handset.”

‘Bottle FC Is Back’, Ozil Mocks Tottenham’s Winless Run

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‘Bottle FC Is Back’, Ozil Mocks Tottenham’s Winless Run

Spurs lost 2-1 to West Ham United on Thursday night London derby after taking the lead, making it their third home defeat on the bounce.

 

Former Arsenal star, Mesut Ozil, has taunted old rival Tottenham following their latest defeat, labelling them “bottle FC”.

Spurs lost 2-1 to West Ham United on Thursday night London derby after taking the lead, making it their third home defeat on the bounce.

The defeat also marked the first time a Premier League side has taken the lead in five straight matches and not gone onto win the game.

The string of disappointing results has derailed Spurs who enjoyed a superb start to the season, briefly moving top of the league in late October.

They have only managed to pick up one point since a 4-1 defeat at home to Chelsea in a game where they had both Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie sent off while losing James Maddison and Micky van de Ven to injury.

The Chelsea defeat was followed by a late defeat away to Wolves and a home defeat to Aston Villa.

Before last night’s loss, Tottenham rescued a late point in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Manchester City at the Etihad last weekend.

Sharing post containing statistics of Tottenham’s recent woes, Ozil wrote: “Who else should be able to break that record? Bottle Job FC is back”.

Tottenham have now slipped down to fifth place, eight points behind North London rival Arsenal, who currently lead with the pack with 36 points.

Sacked Burundi PM Gets Life In Prison For Trying To Overthrow Govt

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Sacked Burundi PM Gets Life In Prison For Trying To Overthrow Govt

Bunyoni, whose trial opened three months ago, was prime minister from mid-2020 until September 2022 when he was fired, days after President Evariste Ndayishimiye had warned of a "coup" plot against him.

Burundi’s Supreme Court sentenced ousted prime minister Alain-Guillaume Bunyoni to life in prison on Friday on charges including attempting to overthrow the government and threatening the life of the president, a judicial source said.

Bunyoni, whose trial opened three months ago, was prime minister from mid-2020 until September 2022 when he was fired, days after President Evariste Ndayishimiye had warned of a “coup” plot against him.

He was “sentenced to life imprisonment (on charges)… including plotting against the head of state to overthrow the constitutional regime”, a judicial source told AFP on condition of anonymity.

The army general was also accused of using witchcraft to threaten the life of the head of state, undermining national security, destabilising the economy and illegal enrichment, among other charges.

He had pleaded not guilty to all charges and said he should be acquitted because of a lack of evidence.

The court, which met in the political capital Gitega, also ordered the authorities to confiscate four houses and buildings as well as a land parcel and 14 vehicles belonging to Bunyoni, the judicial source said.

Five others in the dock including the two main co-defendants, a police colonel and a senior intelligence agent, received “sentences ranging from three years to 15 years,” the source added.

The seventh defendant, a driver, was acquitted, according to the same source.

Chief Justice Emmanuel Gateretse delivered the verdict on Friday afternoon, with the court sitting in session at the prison where Bunyoni was detained.

Bunyoni was arrested in April in Burundi’s economic capital Bujumbura on the eve of his 51st birthday.

A former police chief and internal security minister, Bunyoni was seen as the head of a cabal of military leaders known as “the generals” who wielded the true political power in Burundi.

A close ally of former president Pierre Nkurunziza, Bunyoni was an influential figure in the ruling CNDD-FDD party since it took power in 2005.

He had long been seen as de facto number two in the regime since a 2015 political crisis.

Ndayishimiye took power in June 2020 after Nkurunziza died of what the Burundian authorities said was heart failure amid widespread speculation he succumbed to Covid-19.

He has been hailed by the international community for slowly ending years of Burundi’s isolation under Nkurunziza’s chaotic and bloody rule.

But he has failed to improve a wretched human rights record and the country of 12 million people remains one of the poorest on the planet.

In 2015, Nkurunziza oversaw a crackdown on political opponents and made Burundi a global pariah amid turmoil after he launched a bid for a third term in office, in violation of a peace deal that ended a bloody civil war in 2006.

Counterfeit Naira Banknotes In Circulation, CBN Alerts Nigerians

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Counterfeit Naira Banknotes In Circulation, CBN Alerts Nigerians

The CBN, however, assured the public that it is working with law enforcement operatives to apprehend those responsible for circulating counterfeit currency.

Redesigned naira notes

 

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has alerted Nigerians to be cautious of counterfeit naira notes in circulation.

The apex bank issued this warning in a statement it released on Friday, advising Deposit Money Banks, Financial Houses, Bureau de Change, and the public to be vigilant and implement necessary precautions.

The CBN, however, assured the public that it is working with law enforcement operatives to apprehend those responsible for circulating counterfeit currency.

It also encouraged the public to embrace alternative modes of payment for day-to-day transactions to mitigate the risk of spreading counterfeit banknotes.

The statement read in part, “The attention of the Central Bank of Nigeria has been drawn to the circulation of counterfeit banknotes, significantly higher denominations, by some individuals for transactions in food markets and other commercial centers across major cities in the country.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Section 20(4) of the CBN Act (2007) as amended, states that: “It shall be an offence punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than five years for any person to falsify, make or counterfeit any bank note or coin issued by the Bank which is legal tender in Nigeria.”

“The CBN is constantly collaborating with relevant security and financial agencies to confiscate fake Naira banknotes and arrest and prosecute counterfeiters.

“Members of the public are also encouraged to report anyone suspected of having counterfeit naira notes to the nearest police station or branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“Meanwhile, all Deposit Money Banks, Financial Houses and Bureau de Change and the general public are enjoined to be more vigilant and take all necessary precautionary measures to curtail the acceptance and distribution of counterfeit notes.

“Furthermore, the general public is encouraged to embrace alternative modes of payment, echannels, for day-to-day transactions to mitigate the risk of spreading counterfeit banknotes.”

Kyari Appears Before Senate, Says Refineries Not Created To Reduce Petrol Price

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Kyari Appears Before Senate, Says Refineries Not Created To Reduce Petrol Price

He explained that it might be possible to have a reduction, but it is not the main objective of the refineries.

NNPCL Group CEO Kyari Appears Before Senate For Budget Defense

 

Forty eight hours after being summoned by the Senate, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mele Kyari, has now appeared before the joint committee on appropriations.

The Senate had issued a 24-hour ultimatum on Wednesday to the NNPCL boss after an observations that he had in previous occasions, shunned summons by the Senate to appear before its ad-committee probing over 11 trillion naira expenditure on turn around maintenance of refineries in the country between 2010 and 2023.

Responding to questions by the senate committee on appropriations on the potential drop in pump price of petroleum owing to the expected functionality of refineries, Kyari clarified his comment after he was interrogated again. He explained that it might be possible to have a reduction, but it is not the main objective of the refineries.

He buttressed that maintaining the energy security target has fostered the confidence that in 2024, Nigeria will become a net exporter of petroleum products.

The NNPCL boss affirmed that no subsidy is charged to the federation, adding that the NNPC has contributed 4.45 trillion naira as direct revenue into the federation in a combination of taxes, royalties and dividends and paid 406 billion naira as dividend to Federal Government’s account from July 2023.

According to him, Nigeria does not have credible data for PMS consumption in the country because of the absence of the instrument to measure.

The Chairman of the Senate Appropriation Committee, Senator Adeola Olamilekan, had on Wednesday, directed Kyari to appear before the committee in 24 hours.

Olamilekan, who asked Kyari to appear in company of the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), warned that failure to appear undermines the legislature and sabotages the process.

They are required to present the list of all individual companies operating with OML licenses in Nigeria as well as total production output approved on a daily basis.

The lawmaker expressed concerns that some of the revenues required to drive the 2024 budget was attributed to the NNPCL, which according to him, was owned by the Federal Government and responsible to it, and by extension the three arms of government.