COURT ORDERS EDO GOVT TO PAY RETIRED JUDGE’S BENEFITS

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria sitting in Benin City, has ordered the state government to pay cumulated pension and gratuity to James Oyakhirome, a retired judge of state High Court.

The Presiding Judge, Adunola Adewemimo, ordered the Edo State government and the state’s pension board to pay the retired Judge the sum of N30,301,584.60 as gratuity.

The Court also ordered Edo State Government to pay additional sum of N11,728,907.06 being outstanding balance of monthly pension from August 2019 till the date to the retired Judge within 30 days.

Delivering the judgment Adewemimo, held that having attain 15 years in service, a Judicial Officer will be entitled to full pension and retirement benefits as a judicial officer, while lesser years of service would be pro-rated in relation to 15 years.

The Court refused the averment that the payment of Oyakhirome’s benefits is a responsibility which must be shared with the University of Benin to which the retired Judge had earlier rendered service before his appointment as a High Court Judge.

The court emphasized that the Pensions Act 1990 that the pension and gratuity of the retired jurist be apportioned between the Federal and State Government, which the Edo State government relief upon, has been replaced by the Pension Reform Act of 2014, and the repealed law is obsolete and of no legal effect.

The claimant, retired Justice Oyakhirome, had submitted that he served as a judge of the High Court of Edo State for 12 years without blemish and retired in December 2018 upon attainment of the mandatory retirement age of 65 years.

eNaira WILL STRENGTHEN ECONOMY AND CROSS BORDER TRADE -PRESIDENCY

President Muhammad Buhari has declared that he adoption of the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) and its underlying technology, called blockchain, can increase Nigeria’s GDP by $29billion over the next 10 years.

President Buhari made the declaration on Monday at the official launch of the eNaira, in Abuja.

In a statement by his Spokesperson, Femi Adesina, declared that the introduction of the eNaira would enable the government to send direct payments to citizens eligible for specific welfare programmes as well as foster cross border trade.

He emphasized that apart from the global trend to create Digital Currencies, there are Nigeria-specific benefits which cuts across different sectors of the economy and that the use of CBDCs is capable of moving many more people and businesses from the informal into the formal sector, to encourage the tax base of the country.

The President who commended the Governor of the Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele, his deputies and the entire team of staff for the achievement, revealed that the launch of eNaira, has made Nigeria the first African country and one of the first in the world to introduce a Digital Currency.

The President, who assured Nigerians of the safety and scalability of the CBDC system, said the journey to create a digital currency for Nigeria began sometime in 2017.

”Work intensified over the past several months with several brainstorming exercises, deployment of technical partners and advisers, collaboration with the Ministries of Communication and Digital Economy and its sister agencies like the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), integration of banking software across the country and painstaking tests to ensure the robustness, safety and scalability of the CBDC System.”

”In recent times, the use of physical cash in conducting business and making payments has been on the decline.

“This trend has been exacerbated by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resurgence of a new Digital Economy.

”Alongside these developments, businesses, households, and other economic agents have sought for new means of making payments in the new circumstances.

”The absence of a swift and effective solution to these requirements, as well as fears that Central Banks’ actions sometimes lead to hyperinflation created the space for non-government entities to establish new forms of “private currencies” that seemed to have gained popularity and acceptance across the world, including here in Nigeria.

”In response to these developments, an overwhelming majority of Central Banks across the world have started to consider issuing digital currencies in order to cater for businesses and households seeking faster, safer, easier and cheaper means of payments.

”A handful of countries including China, Bahamas, and Cambodia have already issued their own CBDCs.

”A 2021 survey of Central Banks around the world by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) found that almost 90 per cent are actively researching the potential for CBDCs, 60 percent were experimenting with the technology and 14 per cent were deploying pilot projects.

”Needless to add, close monitoring and close supervision will be necessary in the early stages of implementation to study the effect of eNaira on the economy as a whole.

”It is on the basis of this that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) sought and received my approval to explore issuing Nigeria’s own Central Bank Digital Currency, named the eNaira.’’

”This payment system now provides high‐value and time‐critical payment services to financial institutions, and ultimately serves as the backbone for every electronic payment in Nigeria.

”They have also supported several private‐sector initiatives to improve the existing payments landscape, and in turn, have created some of the world’s leading payment service providers today,’’ he said.

In his remarks, the CBN Governor explained that eNaira is Nigeria’s CBDC and it is the digital equivalent of the physical Naira.

According to Emefiele ”As the tagline simply encapsulates, the eNaira is the same Naira with far more possibilities.

“The eNaira, like the physical Naira, is a legal tender in Nigeria and a liability of the CBN.

“The eNaira and Naira will have the same value and will always be exchanged at 1 naira to 1 eNaira.“

”33 banks are fully integrated and live on the platform, 500 million has been successfully minted by the Bank, N200 million has been issued to financial institutions, over 2,000 customers have been on boarded and over 120 merchants have successfully registered on the eNaira platform”.

The CBN Governor assured of strict adherence to the anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) standards aimed at preserving the integrity and stability of Nigeria’s payment system and there has been overwhelming interest and encouraging response from Nigerians and others worldwide.

“Rather than worry today on the direction of the exchange rate, let us take a step back and analyze how we got here in the first place.

”Please recall that since the advent of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) led Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) in 1986, and the introduction of the Second Tier Foreign Exchange (SFEM) market, the Naira has been on a one-way free fall from parity to the US Dollar in 1984 to over N410/USD today.

”Some 35 years later, we have not been able to achieve the many promises and objectives of that programme.

”Instead, what we have seen is widespread import dependency, which has wiped out most of our production and manufacturing bases and exported all our jobs in the process.

”What has happened to the massive textile factories across our nation such that we import almost all cotton products when we are rich in cotton?

”What has happened to our vehicle assembly plants across the nation such that we import most vehicles and have become a massive dumping ground for dying second-hand vehicles?

”What has happened to our rubber plantations through which we made the best tyres and rubber products in the world? What has happened to our groundnut pyramids? What has happened to our Cocoa farms? What has happened to our palm oil mills?

”Under your leadership, Mr. President, we must stop this decline for good! We must return to massive homemade production; we must get our people working again.

“We must create the economic environment for massive domestic production and significant non-oil exports.

”As custodians of your national reserves, let me first assure you that there is no cause for alarm.

“Our FX reserves are strong and indeed getting stronger by the day, crossing the 40 billion USD mark, and is one of the highest in Africa and growing.

”But we cannot fritter our reserves away on cheap imports and currency speculators. We must return to an employment-led growth anchored on productivity and rewarding producers of local goods, services, innovation and new technologies.

”If you consume cheap imports and export our jobs, we will make you pay dearly, but if you produce locally, with little or no foreign inputs beyond machinery, we will support you, and the markets will reward you abundantly.”

The CBN Governor announced a new financial instrument, under his direct supervision, titled “The 100 for 100 PPP – Policy on Production and Productivity”, which will be anchored in the Development Finance Department.

Emefiele disclosed that under this policy, the CBN would advertise, screen, scrutinize and financially support 100 targeted private sector companies in 100 days, beginning from 01 November 2021, and rolling over every 100 days with new set of 100 companies, to be published in National Dailies for the citizens to verify and confirm.

Emefiele noted that the country has invested so much in creating the Payment System that is ranked the best in Africa and amongst the world’s top ten.

ANAMBRA ELECTION MUST HOLD -FG INSISTS

National Security Adviser NSA, Maj. Gen. Mohammed Monguno, says Government will not to allow terror elements hijack the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State.

The NSA, who stated this on Monday at a special meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security ICCES in Abuja on Monday, disclosed that there is no need to embark on an exercise of self delusion.

According to him, “For those of us in security, we have already done most of what we are supposed to do.

“All the law enforcement agencies and security agencies have been charged to conduct themselves in a manner that will command the general widespread respect of all the people of Anambra state and, by extension, the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“They have been asked, charged to exhibit the highest level of professionalism, patience, perseverance, as well as self-restraint.

“We have been told to operate within the confines of the law, and not to go out and exhibit tendencies that would jeopardize this exercise.

“I want to reassure the general public that the security agencies are going to do everything within their power to ensure that the people of Anambra State undergo this exercise without any incident.

“In the same vein, I want to offer a word of brotherly advice to our brothers and sisters in Anambra State who may want to use means, methods that are unorthodox and that are unusual to destabilise an already delicate situation, to please think again.

“We are all eager to achieve results in this election that will be acceptable to everybody.

“I don’t think it will be helpful for anyone to go out and ignite something that might cause pain for the good people of Anambra State — the peace-loving people — under whatever guise.

“Please, think again because the law enforcement agencies, in as much as we will operate in accordance with the requirements of their profession, will not sit by idly and allow people to start looting, destroying public property, and resorting to not just intimidation, terrorizing people, possibly arson and even homicide.

“Law enforcement agencies have been asked to watch out for such elements. Because what you start, you don’t know how it will end.

“There is no need embarking on an exercise of self delusion, futility or some form of tangle.

“Please, I am appealing to you, we are all brothers. Stay within your wards, your local government and let us have a peaceful election.

“For the security agencies in the wards, any rogue element that decides to behave in a manner that will tar our collective institutions in very dark colour will be brought to justice in accordance with the rules of those institutions.

“Do not do anything that will harm this process.

“Finally, I want to encourage agents of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

“I know you have gone through a lot of pain, a lot of losses with your colleagues from the Nigeria Police Force and other agencies, do not allow what has happened in the past to dampen your spirits.

“Do not allow it to drive you into a state of lethargy. Please continue to support the leadership of INEC and let us get this job this job done.” the NSA concluded.

WE ARE READY TO CONDUCT ANAMBRA ELECTION -INEC

Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has expressed readiness by the Commission to conduct the November 6 Anambra election.

“The 2021 Anambra State Governorship election is holding in the next 12 days on 6th November 2021.

“Our deployment of non-sensitive materials and training of personnel for the election have virtually been concluded.

“The Commission has successfully accomplished 12 out of the 14 activities listed in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election released in January this year.

“The two outstanding activities are the last day of campaign, at midnight on Thursday, November 4, and Election Day which remains Saturday, November 6.

“INEC is determined to proceed with the Anambra State Governorship election as scheduled.“The safety and protection of voters, our personnel, accredited observers, the media and materials are cardinal considerations in any election.

“We have been assured by the security agencies of a secure environment for the election.”

POLICE DIVISION ATTACKER KILLED, 2 AK-47 RIFFLES RECOVERED

The Ebonyi State Police Command, has confirmed the death of an of assailant, who attacked the Unwana Police Division in Afikpo Local Government Area of the State.

A statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) DSP Loverth Odah, said that the attackers invaded the police division at about 3am on Sunday, October 24, 2021.

According to the PPRO, the yet-to-be identified gunmen stormed the division and started shooting sporadically at the policemen on duty, who responded swiftly.

“One (1) of the hoodlums was killed and two AK47 rifles/other incriminating items were recovered while others escaped with bullet wound injuries,” she said.

According to her, a Police Inspector attached to the Division was fatally wounded and killed while the gun due lasted.

DSP Odah added that the Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Command, CP Aliyu Garba, has embarked on an on-the-spot assessment of the Division and has also ordered a manhunt of the fleeing hoodlums.

The Police spokesperson stated that the CP further appealed to law-abiding citizens of the State to promptly volunteer useful information that will assist the Command in the investigation.

DSP Odah disclosed that preliminary investigation revealed that the deceased suspect had been on the police wanted list for various attacks on police stations, adding that one of the recovered AK-47 rifles has been identified to be the rifle stolen from Ohaukwu Police Division early this month.

TWO POLYTECHNIC LECTURERS DISMISSED OVER ALLEGED SEX SCANDAL

The Governing Council of the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi has approved the dismissal of two lecturers, Malam Abubakar Baba and Mr Adebusoye Sunday over allegations of sexual harassment levelled against them.

The Rector, Mr Sunusi Gumau, announced their dismissal while briefing newsmen at the end of the 98th meeting of the council, on Sunday in Bauchi.

Gumau said that the decision was reached after thorough investigation of the matter by a committee set up by the institution.

He said that Baba was a lecturer in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics while Mr. Sunday was a lecturer of the Department of General Studies.

“This is the final verdict of all that has been making waves in the media concerning the issue of our staff reported on alleged case of rape.

“This issue of Abubakar Baba came up on the Aug. 4, 2021.

In the rules of the Polytechnic, if an issue of this magnitude happens, the complainant has to write and immediately she wrote.

“I asked the staff to be queried.

“When we queried him, the suspect replied and the reply was not satisfactory, and we established a committee to investigate the matter thoroughly to logical conclusion.

“We did that and after the committee submitted its report, the Senior Staff Appointment and Disciplinary Committee met, invited the suspects, cross examined and we made our recommendation to the council.

“Today; the council has finally approved the dismissal of Abubakar Baba from the services of the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi,” said the Rector.

Sanusi further revealed that Mr Sunday was equally dismissed from the service of the Polytechnic with immediate effect.

The Rector said that concrete evidence had been established against Sunday for sexually assaulting his student.

He further said that the victims had military background which propelled the exposure of the culprits.

Gumau said the two lecturers were no longer staff of the Polytechnic and assured that their dismissal letter would be handed over to the necessary security agencies for appropriate actions.

“In the case of Baba, the father of the student involved is military personnel while in the case of Sunday, the victim is a sister to a military woman.”

The Rector commended the Bauchi State Government, traditional leaders and host communities for their support to the institution.

Meanwhile, the Rector revealed that the Students’ Academic Board of the institution had also expelled 30 students for various offences.

Gumau said that 14 of the students were expelled for examination malpractices while 16 others for certificate forgery. (NAN)

GUNMEN ABDUCTS THREE CHERUBIM AND SERAPHIM CHURCH MEMBERS

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ogun State Command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, has confirm kidnapp of three Cherubim and Seraphim Church worshippers in Obada Oko in Ewekoro Local Government Area of the State, in the early hours of Sunday.

The Police Public Relations Officer disclosed that the command’s anti-kidnapping unit has been dispatched to the area to partner with the Obada Oko Division of the police to rescue the victims.

“We have told our people to stop praying or holding vigils in the bush or isolated places like that place.”

“But, if at all they must hold such programmes in such places, they should let us know so that police patrols vans can be extended to those places.

“As we speak the state command anti-kidnapping unit has been dispatched to the area to partner with the Obada Oko Division of the police to report ensure the rescue the victims.”

Sources disclosed that the victims are; Ifeoluwa Alani-Bello, Adebare Oduntan and Mary Oliyide.

It was gathered that the abductors have contacted family members of the victims and demanded ransom of N6 million.

GORONYO MARKET MASSACRE: NORTH EAST GOVERNORS DONATES N20M TO FAMILIES OF VICTIMS

Governors in the Northeast Governor’s Forum on Saturday in Sokoto donated N20 million to support families of victims of the October 17 massacre at Goronyo Market in Sokoto State.

This is contained in a statement issued in Sokoto by Muhammad Bello, Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to Governor Aminu Tambuwal.

Chairman of the forum, Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno, who made the donation on its behalf, expressed displeasure at the massacre.

“Our region, especially my state has in more than a decade, experienced a lot of challenges of insecurity occasioned by Boko Haram insurgency.

“As such we will continue to offer valuable counsel to Sokoto State and other northwest states currently experiencing the scourge of bandits and marauders,’’ he said.

Mr Zulum, accompanied by Governor Muhammad Yahaya of Gombe State, condoled with the government and people of Sokoto State over the attack.

Responding, Governor Tambuwal applauded the North-east Governor’s Forum for its kind gesture and assured that his administration would avail itself of the wealth of experience of its counterparts.

He attributed the influx of marauders into Sokoto State to military operations in neighbouring Zamfara.

“The Federal Government should expand the military operations to other states in the Northwest in order to ensure lasting solution to address the menace of criminals.

“The Federal Government should also provide more fighting equipment for the security operatives to enable them to confront and curtail the bandits and other criminals,’’ he said.

Mr Tambuwal also said that Sokoto State had formally written to the Federal Government to suspend the blockade of telecommunications services earlier imposed on 14 local government areas of the state.

He said the call for the rescinding of the blockade became necessary in view of concerns expressed by security outfits in the state that the outage was affecting the smooth conduct of their operations.

Bandits shot and killed 43 persons at Goronyo Market in the eastern part of Sokoto State on Sunday, October 17. (NAN)

BUHARI TO LAUNCH eNaira OCT. 25

A statement Saturday by the spokesperson of the bank, Osita Nwasinobi, said President Buhari will formally launch the eNaira on monday October 25, 2021 at the State House, Abuja.

“The launch of the eNaira is a culmination of several years of research work by the Central Bank of Nigeria in advancing the boundaries of payments system in order to make financial transactions easier and seamless for every strata of the society,” the statement said.

“Following a series of engagements with relevant stakeholders including the banking community, fintech operators, merchants, and indeed, a cross-section of Nigerians, the CBN designed the digital currency, which shall be activated on Monday, October 25, 2021.

“The eNaira, therefore, marks a major step forward in the evolution of money and the CBN is committed to ensuring that the eNaira, like the physical Naira, is accessible by everyone.

“Given that the eNaira is a journey, the unveiling marks the first step in that journey, which will continue with a series of further modifications, capabilities, and enhancements to the platforms,” Mr Nwasinobi said.

He said the CBN will continue to work with relevant partners to ensure a seamless process that will benefit every user, particularly those in the rural areas and the unbanked population.

The bank said it has put in place a structure to promptly address any issue that might arise from the pilot implementation of the eNaira since the currency is a new product, and amongst the first CBDCs in the world.

“Accordingly, following Monday’s formal launch by the President, the Bank will further engage various stakeholders as we enter a new age consistent with global financial advancement. The theme of the eNaira is: “Same Naira, more possibilities,” he said.

The Central Bank of Nigeria had earlier announced the launch of the digital currency on October 1 but was later postponed.

INMATES FREED AS GUNMEN ATTACKS CORRECTIONAL CENTRE

Some gunmen on Friday night attacked the Abolongo Correctional Centre in Oyo town, freeing unspecified number of inmates at the facility.

Mr Olarewaju Anjorin, the Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Correctional Service, Oyo State Command, confirmed the attack to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Ibadan.

Anjorin said that the attack happened around 9.50 p.m on Friday.‌

It was gathered that the attackers were heavily armed and engaged the guards in a fierce gun battle before freeing some inmates.

Anjorin said: “Yes, I can confirm to you that the place was attacked and some of the awaiting inmates were set free.

“I am there right now with the Controller and some other senior officers doing assessment of the damage done to the facility.

“Now, we cannot ascertain the numbers of the inmates freed or people that get injured, but definitely, I will be giving you an update later.”

NAN