Saraki denies importation of bullet proof SUV Jeep

Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Monday appeared before Senate Committee on Public Petitions, Ethics and Privileges investigating him over alleged SUV Jeep impounded by the Nigerian Customs Service.

While responding to questions posed to him by the Committee Chairman, Senator Samuel Anyanwu and other members, if he was involved in importation of a bulletprrof SUV Jeep worth N370million and subsequently evaded payment of Customs duties, he said that he was neither an importer nor involved in the importation of the said vehicle by using any agent on his behalf.

He added that there was no document linking him with the said vehicle.

“Thank you members of the Senate Committee for inviting me. I am not an importer, I have no agent involved in importing the vehicle on my behalf”, he said

Saraki said he was further encouraged that his appearance before the Committee would clear him of any complicity in the alleged evasion of custom duties over the vehicle.

He said the onus was on the Senators to protect the institution from those trying to pull the Senate down at all cost, stressing that the only difference between the military administration and that of democracy was the National Assembly.

It would be recalled that Senator Ali Ndume raised a motion through order 14 and 15 of the Senate rules, calling for investigation of the Senate President on the report in some online media that the SUV bullet proof Jeep impounded belonged to him.

Read More »

What I discussed with Buhari on Nnamdi Kanu’s release – DG VON,

The Director General of Voice of Nigeria, VON, Osita Okechukwu, has disclosed how he tried to convince President Muhammadu Buhari to release leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu from prison.

Addressing newsmen after attending a radio programme, Freedom Square, in Enugu state, Osita revealed that he has been pleading with Buhari to release Nnamdi Kanu and other pro-Biafrans held in detention.

The DG disclosed that he told the President that the IPOB leader is from England and his stand in Nigeria is not yet known.

According to Okechukwu, “Mr President is just back. We will continue to plead on his (Kanu) behalf because we told Mr President that, this is a young man from England. That, actually we don’t know his stand in Nigeria. Give him pardon.

“Mr President asked me, Osita, have you talked with him (Nnamdi Kanu)?

“I will find time to talk with him. But anybody that has access to talk with him should tell him that Nigeria is not a zoo where you want to bring Igbo out.”

Following the detention of Kanu since October 2015, there has been an uneasy calm in the South EastKanu is currently standing trial before an Abuja Federal High Court five counts charges levelled against him by the Federal Government. 

Read More »

Sell 1 dollar at N360 – CBN orders commercial banks

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, on Monday directed all deposit money banks to immediately commence the sale of foreign exchange to their customers at N360 to the dollar.

In a statement by the apex bank spokesperson, Isaac Okoroafor, all customers requesting forex for their basic transport allowance and personal transport allowance, tuition and medical fees, would henceforth get it at an exchange rate not more than N360 to 1 dollar.

The terse statement reads, “The CBN to sell forex to banks at N357/$1, while banks will sell to their customers at N360/$1 for invisibles (BTA, medicals, fees, etc),” the apex bank said on Monday.

“CBN directs banks to post new rates in the banking halls of their branches immediately. CBN examiners to visit banks to ensure the new rates are implemented.

“CBN prohibits banks from selling forex funds meant for invisibles to BDCs”

The apex bank said it would sell to commercial banks at N357 per dollar and banks are to post the new rates in their banking halls of their branches immediately.

Read More »

GunMen in a day light abducted two in sokoto

The Sokoto State Police Command has confirmed the kidnap of two businessmen – Labbo Giyawa and Murtala Dantata – by some unknown gunmen.

The Command’s spokesman, El-Mustapha Sani, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto on Monday that the two men were kidnapped at Giyawa, Goronyo Local Government Area of the state.

Sani said: ”I can confirm the abduction of the two businessmen on Sunday night, at around 10 p.m.

”They were seized by some gun-wielding men, while they were reportedly sleeping in the frontage of their various houses.

”They were said to have been taken to an unknown destination, but the police is suspecting that they were being held captive in the nearby Gundumi Forest.”

He, however, said that the kidnappers were yet to establish communication with either their families or the police.

Sani said that the command had taken stern measures to ensure the safe rescue of the captives.

The police spokesman also confirmed the arrest of four gang leaders of street urchins at the Kwanni area of Sokoto on Monday.

Sani said that the suspects were arrested following raids on their hideouts, adding, ”we will thoroughly drill them to unravel their various memberships.”

NAN recalls that two local government officials in the state who were recently kidnapped were rescued from Gundumi Forest.

Read More »