EFCC can invite me anytime, I’m not afraid – Ortom
The outgoing governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has said that he is not going to run away from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission anytime he is invited.
Ortom made the declaration on Friday during the valedictory session held at the old Banquet hall of Government House, Makurdi.
The governor who encouraged his council members not to entertain any fear if the anti-graft agency invite anyone of them said that he was ready to honour any invitation from EFCC anytime, any day.
He said, “Anytime you are invited by EFCC, don’t be afraid to go; as for me, I am not a coward that runs away from EFCC, if they come for me, I will follow them. I don’t have any investment in Europe. All I have are in this state.
“If I have committed any crime, let the person come and show me.
The outgoing governor said contrary to what was obtainable in other states, he was not ready to dissolve his council, adding, “By noon of May 29 when a new government takes over everyone will find his way.
Gombe Head of Service resigns
Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, has accepted the resignation of the Head of Service, Bapayo Yahaya, and replaced him with his Principal Private Secretary, Ahmed Abdullahi.
This was contained in a statement made available to our correspondent by the Director-General, Press Affairs Gombe Government House, Ismaila Misilli.
According to the statement, Abdullahi would work in an acting capacity following the acceptance of Yahaya’s resignation by the governor.
The statement partly read, “Governor Inuwa Yahaya, has also accepted the resignation of the Gombe State Head of Civil Service, Alhaji Bappayo Yahaya. In his place, the governor has approved the appointment of the Permanent Secretary/Principal Private Secretary PPS to the governor, Ahmed Kasimu Abdullahi as Acting Head of Civil Service.”
Misilli also disclosed that Yahaya dissolved the Gombe State Executive Council and equally approved the termination of the appointment of all political appointees with effect from Friday.
Subsidy removal, regulating exchange rates will bring initial hardship – Tinubu
The President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has identified the pending plans to remove petroleum subsidy and end the multiple foreign currency exchange rates as issues that will pose the initial challenge to the in-coming administration.
The President-elect noted this while speaking at the public lecture and Jumat Prayer at the National Mosque in Abuja as part of the 2023 Presidential Inauguration programme of events.
Tinubu, who was represented by the Vice President-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima, however appealed to Nigerians to stand with the government as it would be working to deconstruct the maze of challenges facing the nation, warning that the take off point might be rough.
Tinubu, who noted the myriad of issues weighing on Nigeria had prevented it from taking its pride of place as a global power, said the time had come for all Nigerians to face the challenges, assuring all that he would treat all Nigerians equally, irrespective of political, religious and ethnic differences.
Court affirms Abure as LP chairman, restrains Apapa faction
A High Court sitting in Benin City, the Edo State capital has dismissed the notice of suspension issued against the embattled National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, by some party members at the ward level.
The judge, Justice Emmanuel Aihamoje, on Friday, threw out the case for lacking merit.
A copy of the judgement was shared by the Acting National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, who also confirmed that the action was filed by Abure and the executives of LP Ward 3 in Esan North East of Edo State.
In his judgement, which lasted for nearly two hours, Aihamoje judged that the party ward executive in Uromi in ward 3 lacked the power under the Labour Party Constitution, particularly Act 13 & 17 and the Electoral Act 2022, as amended to remove the national chairman of the party.
