Aso Rock In Jittery As Atiku Petition Panel

There is reported palpable tension in the Presidency in Abuja after the Presidential Petition Panel began sitting on Wednesday in the case filed by the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] and its candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

It could be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari and his party, the All Progressives Congress [APC] had evaded service up till Tuesday.
Consequently, the Election Tribunal had granted PDP and Atiku Abubakar leave for substituted service on APC and its candidate, Buhari.

The three-man panel, led by Justice Abdul Aboki, granted the application on Wednesday.
Atiku’s counsel, Chris Uche [SAN] had asked the court for leave for substituted service on the respondents in a motion ex parte dated March 2, 2019.
According to him, all efforts to serve the respondents have proved abortive, moving the Tribunal to grant the application.
Information reaching us from an insider has it that President Buhari and his inner caucus are quite restless over revelation by PDP/ Abubakar in their application.

The opposition party had alleged that Buhari lied under oath when he delivered affidavit to the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] claiming he attended Elementary School Daura and Mai Aduaa between 1948 and 1952.

Atiku informed the court that those schools were not in existence between 1948 and 1952 and therefore Muhammadu Buhari could not have attended either school.
PDP also pointed out that the President swore on oath that he attended Middle School Katsina between 1953 and 1956.
Atiku, however, deposed on court papers at the Election Tribunal that the middle school was also not in existence as at 1953 and up till 1956.
Moreover, Buhari swore on oath that he attended Katsina Provincial College between 1956 and 1961.

BREAKING: FG sets to increase Corps members’ allowance – NYSC DG

The Director General, National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Major General Suleiman Kazaure has said that the increment of allowances for Corps Members will be considered as soon as the minimum wage increment was sorted.

Speaking today in Abuja during the swearing-in ceremony of 3,022 Batch A Corps members into the FCT orientation camp, he said all hope was not lost as the scheme was waiting for the Federal Government to sign the minimum wage into law.

Kazaure told them to remain patriotic when they are posted to their communities of primary assignments and ensure that they make impacts in their host communities.

While declaring the orientation camp exercise open, Minister of the FCT, Alhaji Muhammad Bello represented by the Director, Administration and Finance of the Ministry, Hajiya Safiya Umar drew the attention of the Corps members to the NYSC reward system where special contributions, hard-work and excellence by corps members were recognised and honoured accordingly.

He also urged them to tap into the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurial Development (SAED) programme carried out by the scheme to train corps members on various skills that will help them become entrepreneurs rather than job seekers.

Popular Nigerian actress and comedienne, Helen Paul bags PhD

Popular Nigerian actress and comedienne, Helen Paul has bagged a Ph.D in Theatre Arts from the University of Lagos.

Paul is also a stand-up comedian, popularly known as Tatafo, characterized by a voice range that makes her sound like a child, is the first among her Nigerian colleagues to bag a Ph.D.

The comedian, who is also a singer announced the news on her instagram handle, itshelenpaulon Friday, March 29, 2019.

“Can’t wait to wear my beautiful gown on Thursday. Special thanks to the University of Lagos, for finding me worthy of this great position as the first Nigerian stand – up comedian to have a Ph.D. (Please argue with the gods) #helenpaul #drhelenpaul.

“MIGHTY Thank You to God almighty for using my mentor and teacher as my supervisor (Prof. Osita Ezewanebe), mama tough no be small, days of crying, fasting, waking up at midnight to pray and even swearing, then asking myself questions like Helen Paul Who send you?

“To my husband, Papa thank you for your encouragement, your words are sweet ( do it jor, babe face that fear, I can’t wait to see a doctor as my wife every morning).

“ You are all invited to the University of Lagos as my convocation is on the 4th of April. (Positive minds only) @officialbunmidavies thank you for all the free food, my roommate is also grateful and now we are missing our rooms. (Back to the wife and mummy duties fulltime) POST DOCTORATE NEXTTT!!!!” she wrote.

Paul has worked as both a freelance and full-time presenter at several media houses in Nigeria including Lagos Television (LTV 8), Continental Broadcasting Service (CBS), and MNet (where she currently co-presents “JARA” on Africa Magic).

She broke out as a naughty comic character on a radio program known as “Wetin Dey” on Radio Continental 102.3FM, Lagos and popularly known on the programme as “Tatafo” – a witty kid that addresses and lampoons societal issues in a satirical manner.

She is a recipient of several awards including the 2012 African Film Awards, 2012 Exquisite Lady of the Year Award , 2014 Female TV Presenter of the Year, TV Presenter of the Year (Jare, Africa Magic), 2014 Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Awards (NBMA) – Outstanding TV presenter (Female) (Entertainment/Talk Show.


Others are 2012 National Institute for Cultural Orientation, 2009 Exquisite Lady of the Year Award, Female Comedian of the Year, 2012 Effizie Style and Effects Awards, 2012 Sacramento Productions – Children’s Entertainer of the Year. (NAN)

SN

BREAKING: INNOSON TAKES OVER GTB OVER N8.7 Billion JUDGEMENT DEBT; AS SUPREME COURT DISMISS GTB’s APPEAL

Press release

The Chairman of Innoson Group, Chief Dr Innocent Chukwuma, OFR has through a Writ of FiFa taken over Guaranty Trust Bank PLC for and on behalf of Innoson Nigeria Ltd as a result of the Bank’s indebtedness to Innoson Nigeria Ltd.
In a landmark decision on February 27th 2019, the Supreme Court of Nigeria dismissed GTB’s appeal - SC. 694/2014- against the judgment of Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division.

The Court of Appeal, Ibadan division had in its decision of 6th February 2014 dismissed GTB’s appeal against the Federal High Court, Ibadan Division. Thus, the Court of Appeal affirmed the judgment of the Federal High Court, Ibadan Division which ordered GTB by way of Garnishee order absolute – to pay N2.4 Billion to Innoson with a 22% interest, per annum, on the judgment sum until the final liquidation of the judgment debt.
Rather than obey the judgment of the Court of Appeal, GTB approached the Supreme Court to challenge the Court of Appeal's decision.

However in an ruling delivered by Honourable Olabode Rhodes-Vivour JSC on Wednesday, February 27th2019, the Lord Justices of the Supreme Court (JSC) dismissed GTB’s appeal and thus affirmed the concurrent judgment of both the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court, Ibadan Division which ordered GTB by way of Garnishee order absolute – to pay N2.4 Billion to Innoson with a 22% interest, per annum, on the judgment until the final liquidation of the judgment. The Judgment debt of N2.4B has an accrued interest as at today of about N6,717,909,849.96 which results to about N8.8 Billion.

Based on the Supreme Court's decision of 27th February 2019 the counsel to Innoson, Prof McCarthy Mbadugha ESQ, had approached the Federal High Court, Awka Division for leave to enforce the judgment having obtained Certificates of Judgment from the Ibadan Division of the Federal High Court.
Having obtained the requisite leave, the Federal High Court issued the necessary process for levying execution - the Writ of Fifa.

Cornel Osigwe
Head of Corporate Communications
Innoson Group

No Harm Should Befall Nnamdi Kanu Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Warns

Following the treat by Nigerian government to arrest the leader of the indigenous people of Biafra IPOB Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the Israeli foreign affairs minister has  warden the Nigerian government.
  Yesterday, the Nigerian court ordered for the arrest of Kanu for having jumped baill and proceeded to try him in absence.

In response, the Israeli Minister Yiaserel Katz warned that on no account should any harm befall Nnamdi Kanu. 

It will be recalled that Kanu excapped to Israel when the Nigerian military came to assassinate him in his home which lead to the  death of 28 persons who are mainly his followers and some family member including his pet dog.

FG’s Plan To Cut Salaries Scares NNPC, CBN, FIRS Workers

There are strong indications that as President Muhammadu Buhari appears ready to assent to a new national minimum wage, following its recent passage by the National Assembly, he may be compelled to prune down the bogus salaries earned by some classes of civil servants in the country, particularly those in the employ of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), among other agencies.

This much became glaring when the president received the report of the Presidential Technical Advisory Committee on Implementation of National Minimum Wage, which was headed by Bismarck Rewane, at the Presidential Villa, on Monday.

Although the National Assembly was yet to transmit the new wage bill it passed to the president for assent, Buhari had on January 9, 2019 inaugurated the committee, with a clear mandate that it should advise the government on how best to fund, in a sustained manner, the additional costs of implementing the imminent increase in the National Minimum Wage.

Part of the terms of reference he gave the committee was that after the new minimum wage had been passed into law, government would go into negotiations for salary review for all the workers who were already earning above the new minimum wage.

The president had underscored in his remarks that it was important to properly prepare the minds of those public servants involved so that they would not be taken unawares when it was to time for implementation.

In tandem with the grievances of organised labour movement, the president had noted that the last time Nigeria’s national minimum wage was reviewed was in 2011, hence it was evident that a review was necessary, despite the prevailing fiscal challenges.

Although full details of the recommendations were still being kept under wraps by the government, Buhari had while receiving the report from Rewane, commended the committee members for their patriotism, hard work, commitment, and sacrifices.

“I understand that you have worked tirelessly to ensure that you deliver the report before we receive the Minimum Wage Bill from the National Assembly,” the president told the members which included Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Dr. Babatunde Fowler, ex-FIRS boss, Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru, Dr. Ayo Teriba, Chief Executive Officer, and Prof. Akpan Ekpo, among others.

The membership from the public sector included the Director General of Budget Office, Ben Akabueze, who is the secretary of the committee; representative of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF); Chairman of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, Richard Egbule; Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack; Permanent Secretary, General Service Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Olusegun Adekunle; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Dr. Mahmoud Isa-Dutse; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Olajide Odewale; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, and Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Dayo Apata.

Others were Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, Office of the Vice President, Dr. Adeyemi Dipeolu; Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Economic Policy, Dr. Joseph Nnanna; Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris; Director General, Debt Management Office, Ms. Patience Oniaga; Director General, National Institute of Social and Economic Research, Dr. Folarin Gbadebo-Smith; Statistician General, National Bureau of Statistics, Dr. Yemi Kale; Mrs. Aisha Hamad, Mamman Garba, and Tunde Lawal.

There were indications that the Federal Government was also mulling an increase in Value Added Tax (VAT) from five percent to about fifteen percent, so as to enable it meet the envisaged wage increase.

“However, we anticipate that after the new minimum wage has been passed into law, we will be going into negotiations for salary review for all the workers who are already earning above the new minimum wage. It is therefore important that we are properly prepared to meet these demands.

“We must therefore look at ways of implementing these consequential wage adjustments in a manner that does not have adverse effects on our national development plans, as laid out in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

“The ERGP sets appropriate targets for levels of capital expenditure, public debt, inflation, employment. It is absolutely important that the implementation of a new minimum wage does not adversely affect these targets, and thereby erode the envisaged gains for the workers.

“It is against this background that I have set up a technical committee to advise government on how best to fund, in a sustained manner, the additional costs that will arise from the implementation of the consequential increases in salaries and allowances for workers currently earning above the new minimum wage,” Buhari had stated.

Prior to the 2019 general elections, government had settled for N30,000 as minimum wage for federal workers, while state workers were to go home with N27,000 after consulting the National Council of State members comprising former presidents, military heads of state, including former chief justices of the Supreme Court.

But with the latest passage, the National Assembly may have pegged the wage bill across all categories of workers at N30, 000.

DI

Breaking: Senator Bala Mohammed Of PDP Declared Gov Elect Bauchi State

Senator Bala Mohammed, governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bauchi State, has won the governorship election in the state.

Mohammed defeated Mohammed Abubakar, incumbent Governor of the state, and candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC).
After the collation of results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday, including that of the much-debated Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area (LGA), Mohammed was announced winner of the election.

Dr. Musa Dahiru, the new collation officer, said PDP polled 39,225 votes against 30,055 votes polled by APC.
Total figure of registered voters at Tafawa Balewa LGA was 139,240; accredited voters were 74,181; total votes cast was 73,779; total valid votes, 73,041, and rejected votes were 738.

Trump keeps to his promise on Israel once more

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BRITISH AIRWAYS FLIGHT TO GERMANY ACCIDENTALLY LANDS IN SCOTLAND

The Independent Travel
A British Airways flight to Dusseldorf mistakenly landed in Edinburgh due to a mix up with paperwork.

The accidental diversion from London City airport happened after incorrect documentation was submitted for the flight.

Passengers did not realise the error until a “Welcome to Edinburgh” announcement was made over the tannoy.

Passenger Son Tran tweeted: “British Airways, can you please explain how can my morning flight taking off from LCY to Dusseldorf land in Edinburgh? While an interesting concept, I don’t think anyone on board has signed up for this mystery travel lottery".

He added: “This feels like an honest mistake rather than a diversion. The crew was convinced of the Edinburgh flight path from the get-go".

BA flight 3271 took off at 7.46am and touched down in the Scottish capital at 8.47am, rather than the planned 9.40am arrival in Dusseldorf.

The plane sat on the tarmac for two and a half hours before finally setting off for western Germany, 24-year-old management consultant Sophie Cooke told the BBC.

United becomes first US airline to offer non-binary gender options
She added that passengers assumed it was a “joke” when the pilot initially made the announcement that the plane was about to land in Edinburgh.

British Airways said the service was actually wet leased - or hired - by a company called WDL Aviation on behalf of BA City Flyer.
It was WDL’s aircraft, crew and pilot that operated the flight.

WDL staff listed the incorrect flight path in the paperwork submitted the night before the scheduled service.

As far as the pilot and air traffic control were concerned, the flight was Edinburgh-bound and they followed correct procedures, according to BA.

The safety of passengers was not compromised at any point, the airline added.

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A BA spokesperson said: “We are working with WDL Aviation, who operated this flight on behalf of British Airways, to establish why the incorrect flight plan was filed.

“We have apologised to customers for this interruption to their journey and will be contacting them all individually.”

WDL Aviation said in a statement: “We are working closely with the authorities to investigate how the obviously unfortunate mix-up of flight schedules could occur. At no time has the safety of passengers been compromised.

“We flew the passengers on the flight with number BA3271 to Düsseldorf after the involuntary stopover in Edinburgh.

ID

Rivers: AAC Dep. Gov. Candidate withdraws from the 2019 Governorship Election, defects to the PDP

The Rivers State Deputy Governorship Candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) , Chief Akpo Bomba Yeeh has withdrawn from the 2019 Rivers State Governorship Election , defecting to the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP).
Addressing journalists at his home in Port Harcourt on Monday, Chief Yeeh said the reason for his decision is for him to join hands with Governor Wike to move Rivers State forward.

He said: "After due consultations with my immediate family, friends and supporters, I Chief Akpo Bomba Yeeh, the Deputy Governorship of the AAC for the 2019 Governorship election hereby resign my membership of the AAC and announce my defection to the PDP to join hands with Governor Wike to move the state forward ".
He added: "I was the Deputy Governorship Candidate of the AAC in Rivers State up till today 25th March, 2019 , when I decided to withdraw my candidature and resign from the party with immediate effect.
"The March 9 , Governorship election in Rivers State has been lost and won; lost by my party, African Action Congress (AAC) and its Candidate, Engineer Biokpomabo Awara and undoubtedly and overwhelmingly won by the Governor of Rivers State, the candidate of PDP, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike ".

He said that despite the interference of the security agencies, Rivers people stood their ground and voted for Governor Wike.
He said: "The collated results further showed that contrary to the false claim of fictitious lead by the AAC/APC alliance, the PDP overwhelmingly won all the elections in 18 out of the 19 LGAs, culminating in the declaration and return of the party 26 House of Assembly Constituencies by the Constituency Returning Officers.

"This fact was confirmed on the 13th of March 2019, when INEC stated, as a matter of fact, that it had in it's safe custody collated results for 17 Local Government Areas as well as the declaration of the PDP Candidates for 21 State Constituencies.
"The outcome of the elections on March 9, 2019 clearly showed the preference of the people of Rivers State. Even the blind can see and the deaf can hear the echo that Rivers people overwhelmingly voted to stick with Governor Wike for the next four years to encourage him to continue with the good works".

The Former Deputy Governorship Candidate of the AAC informed that the Minister of Transportation forced him to sign an un-dated letter of resignation to be effective after their expected inauguration.
"I was forced to sign an un-dated letter of resignation as the Deputy Governor of Rivers State to pave way for Rotimi Amaechi to nominate another person as Deputy Governor.

"These were slavish conditions for any rational politician worth his name to accept, but I pretended to play along because doing otherwise at that time would have been too dangerous for the safety of my life, given Rotimi Amaechi's desperation to remove Governor Wike from office and install his stooge in the person of Engr Awara against all odds".
He said that though the AAC Campaign was never serious and never campaigned for the office of the position of Governor of Rivers State, Amaechi during the adoption of the party, said that he would fund the elections and do everything under the sun to give AAC victory at the polls.
He said: "Amaechi disclosed to us that he had already assembled security personnel drawn from the Nigerian Army, the Police, DSS and FSARS to provide adequate security cover and enablement for members of the AAC and APC to effectively rig the Governorship election and have us declared as winners on March 9 , 2019".
He stated that the adoption and promise to deliver AAC was with conditions that conferred de facto governance on the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

Chief Yeeh outlined the conditions: "First, he (Amaechi) must be the one to appoint 90 percent of all political office holders, including commissioners, Special Advisers, and chairmen and members of Government Agencies and parastatals.
"Second, he must be the one to nominate and produce all the 23 Local Government Council Chairmen and other principal officers of the councils.

"We, that is, Engr Awara and my humble self must consult and take instructions from him on all financial, policy and fiscal matters, as well as award and payment of all contracts and other financial transactions upon inauguration as Governor and Deputy Governor of the state".

He added: "As a practicing Christian, I have come to the conclusion that the actions and desperate attempts by Amaechi and the AAC/APC alliance to rig the Governorship and State Assembly elections in Rivers State are both morally and legally wrong, reprehensible and inimical to the collective interest of the people of Rivers State.
"The Almighty God will not forgive me if I continue to lend my support to Rotimi Amaechi's perfidy against the democratic rights of the people of Rivers State to freely elect their own leaders ".

He condemned the Minister of Transportation for unleashing violence on Rivers people in his failed attempt to rig the 2019 Rivers Governorship election.
The Former Deputy Governorship Candidate of AAC stated that he has informed Engr Awara in writing of his withdrawal and resignation from the Governorship race and the AAC.