Flowerbud News

Month: October 2023

  • Israel requests $10bn in emergency assistance from U.S. – Reports

    Israel requests $10bn in emergency assistance from U.S. – Reports

    By Flowerbud News

    Oct. 17, 2023

    Israel has asked the United States for $10 billion in emergency aid amid the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the New York Times newspaper reported.

    The White House is reportedly preparing an assistance package for Israel, which also contains aid to Ukraine, funding to reinforce the U.S.-Mexico border, and aid to Taiwan, the newspaper said late on Monday night.

    On Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Washington was considering Israel’s requests for additional military aid to conduct its operation in the Gaza Strip.

    On Tuesday, White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said that U.S. President Joe Biden during his visit to Israel scheduled for Oct. 18 would get an update from Israeli officials about their strategy against Hamas in Gaza, including the pace of their military operations.

    Last week, a U.S. official told Sputnik that Washington had not made a decision on whether it would tie in assistance for Ukraine and Taiwan in a supplemental funding request it was preparing to submit to Congress seeking additional aid for Israel.

    U.S. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said the U.S. military would need additional support from Congress to be able to provide security assistance to Ukraine and Israel simultaneously.

    On Oct. 7, Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, prompting retaliatory strikes on the Gaza Strip.

    The conflict has left thousands of people dead and injured on both sides.

    Sputnik/NAN

  • Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, the New CAC Registrar General Assumes Duty,  Pledges Enhancement of Revenue Base

    Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, the New CAC Registrar General Assumes Duty,  Pledges Enhancement of Revenue Base

     

    Abuja (Flowerbudnews): The newly appointed Registrar-General/CEO of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, SAN, has assumed duty.

    Addressing the Management Staff of the Commission shortly after his arrival at the Commission’s headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, the Registrar-General expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for finding him worthy of the appointment.

    Ishaq Magaji, who also used the forum to appreciate the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite, pledged to justify the confidence reposed in him.

    Speaking on his vision for the Commission, the new CAC Scribe stressed that increasing its revenue base would be accorded top priority attention in line with President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.

    He said that enhanced human capital development would also receive due attention.

    The New Registrar General also solicited the support and cooperation of the management and staff of the Commission to enable him to deliver on his mandate.

    The new RG said that he was ready to listen, learn, and build upon the Commission’s successes.

    Responding on behalf of the management, the Director of Compliance, Justin Nidia Biraol, briefed the newly appointed Registrar General on the operations of the Commission.

    Justin Nidia pledged the management’s commitment to ensure that he succeeds in his new assignment.

    The Registrar-General later took a tour of the departments and units of the Commission. (Flowerbudnews)

  • Appeal Court sacks Sen. Elisha Abbo

    Appeal Court sacks Sen. Elisha Abbo

     

     

    Abuja: An Appeal Court sitting in Abuja, on Monday, sacked Sen. Elisha Abbo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker representing Adamawa North Senatorial District.

    A three-member panel presided over by Justice C.E. Nwosu-Iheme, in a judgment, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue a Certificate of Return to Rev. Amos Yohanna of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as validly elected lawmaker for the senatorial district.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that INEC had, on Feb. 25, declared Mr Abbo as the winner of the senatorial poll.

    Dissatisfied with the declaration, Yohana and the PDP filed a petition before the National and State Houses of Assembly Election Tribunal sitting in Yola, Adamawa State challenging the return of Abbo.

    The tribunal, in its judgment, dismissed the Yohanna’s petition for lacking in merit.

    Further dissatisfied with the tribunal’s decision, the PDP’s candidate, through his counsel Johnson Usman,SAN approached the Appeal Court via appeal number: C.A/YL/EP/AD/SEN/06/2023 between Rev. Amos Kumai Yohanna and another Vs Ishaku Elisha Cliff and others.

    The Court of Appeal, after hearing arguments from parties, agreed with Mr Usman that based on Section 137 of the Electoral Act, 2022, the results tendered clearly showed that there was no compliance with the Electoral Act.

    The court, thereafter, deducted the invalid votes from the parties and found that Yohanna and PDP won the election by majority of lawful votes.

    The court proceeded to set aside the Certificate of Return issued to Abbo and ordered INEC to issue same to Yohanna as the valid winner of the election representing Adamawa North Senatorial District.

    Reacting to the judgment, Mr Sam Ologunorisa, SAN, said he had nothing to say since “the Court of Appeal is the final court.”

    When contacted on his reaction to the judgment, lawyer to the APC, Mr Michael Numa, SAN, said he had nothing to say until he sees the judgment.

    “I was not in court when the judgment was delivered. So, I will have to see the judgment before I can comment on it,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other members of the panel include Justice M.I SIRAJO and Justice O.A ADEGBHINDE.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng) / Flowerbudnews

  • Training, retraining imperative to meet current, emerging, dynamic security situations – GOC Dada

     

    By Flowerbudnews

    Enugu:  Maj.-Gen. Hassan Dada, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, says that training and retraining remains imperative to meet current, emerging and dynamic security situations in the country.

     

    Dada said this on Monday while declaring open 82 Division Operational Planning Cadre 2023 holding at the Division’s Headquarters in Enugu between Oct. 16 and Oct. 20.

     

    The GOC, represented by Brig.-Gen. Anthony Kubiangha, Commander of 54 Signals Brigade, noted that there was need for adherence to Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTP) in Nigerian Army operations.

     

    Dada, who is also the Commander of Joint Task Force South-East Operation, code-named “Operation UDO KA II”, said that the Division would continue in its training and retraining programmes as well as evolve TTP were necessary.

    “This Cadre keys into the clear Command philosophy outlined by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, which is to Transform the Nigerian Army into a Well-Trained Equipped and Highly Motivated Force Towards Achieving Our Constitutional Responsibilities Within a Joint Environment.

     

    “This philosophy aligns perfectly with the aim of this Cadre, which is to refresh and equip our officers and other participants with the skills to plan, organise and execute military operations seamlessly in conventional and asymmetrical warfare situations.

     

    “Participants are therefore encouraged to take the Cadre seriously by paying utmost attention in order to understand what is being taught and also make meaningful contributions,” he said.

     

    According to him, we (officers of Nigerian Army) cannot afford to be complacent in our efforts towards ensuring that we are adequately prepared to face any challenge that may arise, and this Cadre is an essential step in that direction.

    “The resources persons from the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, who have joined us here, are highly experienced and knowledgeable on the subject matter.

     

    “I urge all participants to actively engage in all the activities and discussions, for I firmly believe that their input will prove invaluable in enhancing our capabilities,” he said.

     

    The GOC expressed optimism that the involvement of some para-military agencies – Nigerian Police, DSS, NDLEA and DSS – in the training would enhance the Cadre.

     

    “Collaborative partnerships such as this demonstrate that we (Nigerian Army) recognise the importance of inter-agency cooperation in addressing security challenges,” he said.

    The GOC called on the participants to use the opportunity and advantage the training provide to tone and refine their operation skills. (Flowerbudnews)

  • Fake’ lawyer wins all 26 of his cases

    Fake’ lawyer wins all 26 of his cases

    A ‘fake’ lawyer, who reportedly won all 26 of his cases despite having no legal training, has been arrested in Kenya.

     

    On Thursday, legal officiaThey said the man was a “masquerader” who had stolen the identity of a real lawyer, named Brian Mwenda Ntwigals in Kenya urged police to arrest a man practicing under the name “Brian Mwenda”.

    Local media reported that a “fake lawyer” had won dozens of lawsuits despite not being trained.

     

    The case has captivated the East African country over the past few days, eliciting reactions from outrage to amusement.

     

    Despite condemnation by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and the country’s Director of Public Prosecutions, the alleged imposter has garnered several supporters.

     

    He has been praised by Kenya’s Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) as a “brilliant young mind” who has succeeded “without traditional qualifications”.

     

    He has also been backed by Mike Sonko, the controversial former governor of Kenya’s capital, Nairobi.

     

    Mr Sonko posted a video on social media, in which he said the man standing next to him is the accused “fake lawyer”.

     

    The man in the video, who appeared to be Mr Mwenda, the Kenya ‘lawyer’, said: “I would like to convey my gratitude to the people that are supporting me and praying for me… in the fullness of time I will be able to clear this misunderstanding.

    I will be also be able to provide my innocence and provide the actual context.”

    He said he would go to a police station and provide officers with a statement “hopefully” on Monday or Tuesday.

     

    Mr Sonko, a divisive politician who has faced allegations of drug trafficking and money laundering, said those attacking the “fake lawyer” are “nincompoops”.

     

    “He’s never killed anyone, he’s not a terrorist,” Mr Sonko said.

     

    Despite this backing, Kenya’s director of public prosecutions said “Mr Mwenda” faces prosecution.

     

    In a statement on Saturday, Renson Mulele Ingonga wrote: “I have directed the Inspector General of the National Police Service to undertake expedited comprehensive investigations.”

     

    Mr Ingonga said this case is not unique – he has noticed “increased cases of unqualified persons… pretending to be Advocates of the High Court of Kenya”. BBC

     

  • MURIC Urges President Tinubu to be Fair to Southwest Muslims Who Voted for him

    MURIC Urges President Tinubu to be Fair to Southwest Muslims Who Voted for him

     

     

    By Danladi Ahmed

    Abuja (Flowerbudnews): An Islamic Human Rights Organisation, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to be fair to the Muslim population of the Southwestern states of Nigeria in appointments to political offices.

    MURIC, Which is headed by Prof. Isiaq Akintola, a former Don at the Lagos State University (LASU), recalled that the Muslims were the ones that wholly supported President Bola Ahmed Tinubu totally during his efforts to become president of Nigeria.

    The Muslim Non-governmental Organisation said that ”The Muslim Ummah in Yorubaland is extremely shocked. MURIC is shocked”.

    MURIC observed: ‘:In Tinubu’s government, monkey dey work, baboon dey chop. You can reap where you didn’t sow”

    In a statement titled; And Tinubu’s onslaught against South West Muslims continues, the Muslim NGO gave the breakdown of appointments as follows:

    —–

    IGP: Yoruba Christian

    CBN Governor: Yoruba Christian

    FIRS Chairman: Yoruba Christian

    Minister of Finance: Yoruba Christian

    Chief of Army Staff: Yoruba Christian

    10 South West Ministers: 7 are Christians.

    CEO, Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) — Yoruba Christian

    DG, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC)—Yoruba Christian

    Chairman, Tax Reform Committee—Yoruba Christian

    Special Adviser, Economic Affairs—Yoruba Christian

    CEO, Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) — Yoruba Christian

    EFCC Chairman: Yoruba Christian (RCCG Pastor) the same religious cult that set up a department and almost truncated Tinubu’s presidential ambition during the APC Primaries.

    South West Special Advisers/Senior Special Assistants/Special Assistants: over 90% are Christians

    The Muslim Ummah in Yorubaland is extremely shocked. MURIC is shocked.

    In Tinubu’s government, monkey dey work, baboon dey chop. You can reap where you didn’t sow. (Flowerbudnews)

  • Nigerian Commends Alhaji Garba Abubakar for Modernising CAC Operations With Technology

    Nigerian Commends Alhaji Garba Abubakar for Modernising CAC Operations With Technology

     

    By Biola Lawal

    Abuja (Flowerbudnews):  Alhaji Garba Abubakar, the immediate past Registrar General of the Corporate Affairs Commission CAC) has been commended for Modernising the operations of the Commission to the satisfaction of its customers.

    A Lawyer, Barrister Sylvester Udemezue gave the commendation in a public comment he wrote on the tenure of  Alhaji Abubakar as the Chief Executive Officer of CAC, a copy of which was made available to Flowerbudnews on Monday in Abuja.

    Barr  Udemezue noted that Alhaji Abubakar successful implemented the Federal Government’s ease of doing business policy to transform CAC operations with deployment of effective ICT technology.

    He wrote:  A. G. ABUBAKAR, ESQ came in as the Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission, and practically deployed ICT-system that radically transformed the whole face of the CAC.

    He made doing legal business at CAC stress-free or less stresssful. Before A. G. ABUBAKAR came on board, lawyers could spend up to 3-4 weeks just to reserve a name for company or business-name registration at CAC.

    And one had, THEN, to personally be at the CAC office, and experiencing all manner of bottlenecks plus atrocious extortions and by some CAC officials before one’s legal job could be attended to.

    The process of registration of company could, THEN, last up to 3-4 months before the arrival of A.G. ABUBAKAR as the RG of CAC.

    Now, A. G. ABUBAKAR installed ease-of-doing business; for the past almost 4 years he was at CAC as the RG, No more delays.

    No more hassles!
    No more extortions!

    The entire process of registration of a company (from application for approval and reservation of name up to conclusion, and then collection of Certificate of Incorporation) does not last beyond SEVEN (7) DAYS (I mean seven days!!!!) unless the applicant has not fulfilled necessary conditions-precedent to registration of his company or business name.

    Besides, NOW, one could from one’s bedroom, start and finish the whole process of incorporation of a company, and within one week.

    One can now start and finish any legal job at CAC, from one’s bedroom, without any reasons whatsoever to personally or physically visit the CAC office.

    YET, the same man is removed and some lawyers suddenly start protesting to celebrate his removal. Unthinking, undiscerning, brainless brownnosers.

    Lawyers are a greater part of the problems of Nigeria!!!!!* From his strides at the CAC, A.G. ABUBAKAR is among the few to have made outstanding strides in public office in Nigeria.

    Those castigating him are mostly sponsored by the few disgruntled, corrupt CAC staffers whose corrupt, extortionist tendencies had been halted, and shut out by A.G. ABUBAKAR’s ICT-driven 21st-century innovativeness at the CAC.My opinion, with due respect, Barrister Udemezue concluded (Flowerbudnews)

  • Stop distracting Tinubu; he has capacity to deliver” – APC support group tells opposition Support

    Stop distracting Tinubu; he has capacity to deliver” – APC support group tells opposition Support

     

    By Sumaila Ogbaje

    Abuja:  A support group of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Grassroots Governance Group (G3) has urged opposition parties to stop distracting President Bola Tinubu so he could deliver on his “Renewed Hope’’ agenda.

    “The president has showed capacity to deliver within his short time in office.

    “ We commend the various policies of the Tinubu-led administration,’’ the group declared in a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday.

    The statement was jointly signed by the APC G3 National Coordinator, Mr Amechi Oyema; Chairman, Advisory Board, Prof. Ojo Ademola and Chairman, Board of Trustees, Dr Jerry Ugokwe.

    It urged opposition political parties still in court over the outcome of the Feb. 25 presidential election to rather join the Tinubu administration to bring Nigeria out of its present economic woes.

    “This is not the time for any distraction.

    “We commend President Tinubu for headhunting and putting the right people in the right offices because the appointments made so far have been square pegs in square holes.

    “With pride, we commend the Minister of Works, Chief Dave Umahi, for bringing his professional qualifications as an engineer to bear in the task assigned to him.

    “We endorse the way the minister had been technically tackling road contractors who before this time had been holding the country to ransom.

    “We are proud of what Mr Nyesom Wike, Minister of the FCT is doing in the FCT.

    “He has showed uncommon zeal to do the right thing. The Minister of Interior, Mr Tunji Ojo, has shown that passports can be easily procured in Nigeria.

    “Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betty Edu, has been on the road putting smiles on the faces of the downtrodden.

    “Minister of State for Environment, Dr Iziaq Salako, has been doing everything to better our environment.

    “We cannot mention all the ministers, but APC G3 can boldly say that the “Renewed Hope’’ agenda is rightly on course,’’ the group stated.

    It also endorsed the lift on FOREX ban on the importation of 43 items.

    It noted that eminent Nigerians like the former Chairman of Stanbic IBTC, Chief Atedo Peterside, and public affairs analyst, Dr Sam Amadi, had also commended CBN’s decision to lift the FOREX ban.

    “We urge Nigerians to exercise patience as there is hope in what the administration is doing,’’ the group stressed. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng) /. Flowerbudnews

    Edited by Stanley Nwanosike/Alli Hakeem

  • Why I am advocating trust in public communication – Information Minister

    Why I am advocating trust in public communication – Information Minister

     

     

    By Collins Yakubu-Hammer
    Abuja:  The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris says he is advocating trust in public communication as most Nigerians no longer have faith in their leaders.

    The Minister stated this in an exclusive interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.

    “What we want is to let Nigerians know the truth from those that should tell the truth. I think it is imperative that trust in public communication should be returned.

    “This is because, we have seen a gradual erosion in the believe and trust of government communication in this country.

    “We have reached a level where most Nigerians don’t even believe what their leaders are telling them and these are leaders the people elected by themselves.

    “So, there is a need for us, seeing where we are coming from and seeing that deficit in trust, to begin to, at least maintain the truth at all times, no matter what it cost, so that people can then trust their leaders and the information coming from them,” he said.

    According to the minister, telling the truth is the starting point, adding that when people know that. government is telling the truth, those who are reporting the information also have to report the truth.

    He said the government is going to encourage everyone involve to always say the truth.
    “We are going to campaign against conveyors of bad news, because bad news can lead to destruction, anarchy and disunity.

    “It is absolutely important that we tell the truth at all times, and we are going to encourage all media practitioners to adhere to the values and truth; the values that this profession had taught us,” the Minister said.

    On fake news, the Minister emphasised that it was not only Nigeria’s problem, stressing that it is actually a global challenge that even developed countries are struggling to overcome.

    He explained that there is a global search for the best way to tackle the issue of fake news.
    “When such best strategy is gotten, Nigeria will begin to key into it, to see that the issues of fake news are deal with in a more responsible manner.

    “This will be done without infringing on the rights of the people and what is happening around them”. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng) / Flowerbudnews

    Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi/Ekemini Ladejobi