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Labour Party NEC Suspends Acting Chairman Apapa, Five Others Over Anti-Party Activities

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The crisis rocking the Labour Party got worsened yesterday by the suspension of the party’s Acting National Chairman, Lamidi Apapa and five other national officers.

Others suspended are Alhaji Saleh Lawal (Deputy Secretary); Rawland Daramola (Financial Secretary); Prince Reuben Favour (Vice Chairman, Southsouth); Samuel Akingbade (Legal Adviser) and Mohammed Akali (Vice Chairman, Northeast).

They were sanctioned by the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) for alleged anti-party activities.

The NEC also upheld the decision of the Akure convention, which expelled the National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi.

On April 6, Apapa and five others took over the affairs of the party following the ruling of a Federal High Court, which barred Julius Abure from parading himself as chairman of the party. The court also restrained three others from functioning.

Acting on the order, Apapa, who doubles as the Vice Chairman (South), took over the party, pending the vacation of the court order.

But the NEC, during a meeting in Asaba, Delta State, announced the suspension of Apapa and his acting executive council.

It passed a vote of confidence on the Abure-led NWC at the meeting.

At yesterday’s NEC meeting were state chairmen; state secretaries; presidential candidate of the party Peter Obi; National Assembly members-elect, In+dependent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

It was gathered that the meeting was called by Abure and the former National Secretary of the party, Umar Farouk.

The NWC has the power to summon a NEC meeting. Abure and Farouk are members of the NWC.

The NEC also extended the tenure of the present NWC of the party by one year.

In a joint statement by the Deputy National Chairman, Ladi lliya, and Deputy National Secretary, Prince Kennedy Ahanotu, the LP said: “NEC in session examined the anti-party activities of some of its members and resolved as follows:

  • Reaffirm and uphold the decision of the Akure convention which expelled Comrade Arabambi Abayomi.
  • NEC considered the disciplinary committee report which recommended the suspension of Anslem Eragbe and recommended the same to the next convention for expulsion. Pending the next convention, NEC suspends him indefinitely.
  • NEC suspended the following NWC members: Lamidi Apapa; Alhaji Salem Lawal; Prince Favour Reuben; Gbenga Daramola; Samuel Akingbade and Mohammed Akali
  • NEC in session constituted a disciplinary Committee as follows: Ladi Illiya; Rotimi Adekunle; Prince Kennedy Ahanotu; Yunusa Tanko; Chief Tony Ezeagwu.”

The NEC also appointed Prince Kennedy Ahanotu as the National Youth Leader; Obiora Ifoh, acting national publicity secretary; Edun Kehinde, acting national Legal adviser; Rotimi Kehinde, deputy national secretary and Chief Anthony Ezeagwu, Acting national vice -chairman (Southsouth).

It added that after considering that the tenure of the current NWC would end in June, the numerous court cases and the outcomes of the general elections, it would be “most malapropos to convene a national convention.

Consequently, the NEC resolved to extended the tenure of the current NWC by one year in line with “our party’s constitution in article 13 (2) (B) IX.”

The NEC also restated its ”implicit confidence in the Abure – led NWC.”

Obi sues for calm

But in a statement, Obi said he never expected the journey to a New Nigeria to be an easy one.

He, therefore, called on supporters to be steadfast and calm.

According to the statement by the Obi – Datti Media Office, the former governor assured Nigerians, particularly Obidients, that he would not give up on the journey until victory was achieved.

Obi said: “If they come at us through land, air, and sea, we will respond to them through land, air, and sea, but we will remain law abiding and will never give up on the nation.

“We are on the right path, and we will remain committed to the course.”

He revealed that there might be more mudslinging on him from those who are against the emergence of a new Nigeria.

His words: “I have always lived my life in the most law-abiding manner possible. Sometimes, as humans, we make mistakes, but I will never knowingly break any law. I am, therefore, not afraid of the lies and propaganda against my person. They are part of the journey to a New Nigeria.”

 

Credit: The Nation

BIG STORY

FEC Steps Down Minimum Wage Memo, President Tinubu To Consult Governors, Private Sector

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President Bola Tinubu has been given permission by the federal executive council (FEC) to consult with state governors and the commercial sector regarding the new minimum wage.

Following the FEC meeting on Tuesday, Minister of Information Mohammed Idris made the announcement in an interview with State House media. States, local government districts, the corporate sector, and the federal government will all be impacted by the ultimate decision on the new national minimum wage, according to Idris.

The minister of information stated that Tinubu will make a well-informed decision following broader consultation and that all relevant parties must provide feedback on the new minimum wage.

“I want to inform Nigerians here that the federal executive council deliberated on the report of the tripartite committee on the new national minimum wage,” the minister said.

“The decision is that because the new national minimum wage is not just that of the federal government, it is an issue that involves the federal government, the state governments, local governments, and the organised private sector and of course, including the organised labour.

“That memo was stepped down to enable Mr. President to consult further, especially with the state governors and the organised private sector, before an executive bill is presented to the national assembly.

“So I want to state that on the new national minimum wage, Mr. President is going to consult further so that he can have an informed position because the new national minimum wage, like I said, is not just an issue of the federal government.

“It affects the state governments, local governments, the organised private sector. That is why it is called the national minimum wage. It’s not just an affair of the federal government.

“So, Mr. President has studied the report and he is going to consult wider before a final submission is made to the national assembly.”

Recall that over the past few months, the federal and state governments, organised labour, and the private sector have been negotiating on a new minimum wage.

At the last meeting of the tripartite committee on minimum wage, organised labour rejected the N62,000 proposal by the government and insisted on N250,000 as the living wage.

The federal government had asked the labour unions to demand a more realistic and sustainable minimum wage.

On June 7, governors under the aegis of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) said the N60,000 minimum wage for workers is not sustainable.

On June 10, the tripartite committee submitted its report to George Akume, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF).

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Court Freezes N1.1billion Linked To Former Globus Bank Staff Accused Of Hacking, Stealing Customers N3.5 Billion

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The Federal High Court in Abuja has placed about N1,198,911,864.72 under lockdown at four Nigerian banks in connection with funds connected to former Globus Bank employees who are accused of hacking into and stealing N3.5 billion worth of client transactions.

Order was issued against the following account names: Oluwaseun Adeniyi Afolabi, Onobun Oluwaseun Olumide, Abdullahi Abubakar Sadiq, and Haril Global Solutions Ltd.

The order was made in response to a request for information on summons (dated January 12, 2024) from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) regarding its expertise.

The EFCC counsel, Olanrewaju Adeola, had asked the court to freeze all the accounts in the interest of justice and stop all outward payments, operations or transactions (including bill of exchange) on those accounts, in suit NO/FHC/CS/32/2024.

  • EFCC’s Allegations Against Suspects

In EFCC’s affidavit in support deposed to by its Litigation Clerk,  Samson Oloje, the commission received an intelligence report about the activities of ex-staff of Globus Bank who allegedly hacked into the bank systems and stole the sum of N3.5000.000.00 of customers’ money.

Upon receipt of the intelligence report, Globus Bank was invited wherein one Monday Edward, Head of Internal Audit/Chief Inspector of the Bank came and volunteered a statement confirming that the bank system was hacked.

He added that the intelligence report was assigned to the Advance Fee Fraud Section of the Commission and investigation thus far reveals that about three ICT staff of the bank perpetuated the fraud before leaving the institution.

He stressed that as pioneers and architects of the Globus Bank ICT software platform, Babatunde Idris Olayiwola, Chinedu Ihuma and Igwe George Benedict Obinna, who allegedly carried out the crime are abreast of the platform working details and knew how to access all the accounts of Globus Bank.

He stated in his affidavit,

“That one Babatunde Idris Olayiwola a former staff of Globus who is an ICT expert, who created all the software platforms the bank is using in its daily operational business introduced one Chinedu lhuma to Globus Bank when the former was about to exit the bank.

“That Chinedu Ihuma, a former staff of Globus Bank was also an ICT expert introduced to the Bank by Babatunde Olayiwole to oversee the ICT software operational platforms created by Babatunde Olayiwola for the Bank. He also introduced one Igwe George Benedict Obinna to the bank to take over and oversee the ICT software operational platforms when the former was about to exit the bank.

“That investigation reveals that Babatunde Idris Olayiwola, Chinedu Inuma and Igwe George Benedict Obinna hacked into the computer systems of Globus Bank and they transferred monies over three billion, five hundred million Naira (N3,500,000,000) from the account of the Bank into various account belonging to Haril Global Solutions Ltd and affiliate different bank accounts domicile in various banks across the country.

“That further investigation reveals that the fraud was perpetrated through the login details of Igwe George Benedict Obinna which he shared with the duo of Babatunde Idris Olayiwola and Chinedu Ihuma.”

Oloje stated that sequel to the findings of the investigations, all bank accounts related to the fraud were requested via investigation activities letters to banks concerned wherein evidence of receipt of funds was established.

The EFCC staff also informed the court that Globus Bank management earlier approached the Federal High Court, Lagos to place a Post No Debit (PND) order on the bank accounts where the monies had been diverted, in order to prevent the depletion of the funds in the accounts.

Furthermore, he informed the court that the computers and telephone device of Igwe George Benedict Obinna has been sent for forensic analysis to know the extent of the involvement of Babatunde Idris, Olayiwola Chinedu Ihuma and Igwe George Benedict Obinna in the illegal activities.

“During the course of the investigation, the prime suspect, Igwe George Benedict Obinna was arrested and interviewed and made a statement to the effect of his dealing with the perpetuation of the fraud,” the EFCC stated.

The EFCC asked the court to grant its request as not granting it would jeopardize the ongoing investigation into the intelligence report received by the commission.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, on January 23, 2024 freezed the accounts in dispute and adjourned for the EFCC to provide reports of the final outcome of its investigation.

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BREAKING: Customs Deputy Comptroller Slumps, Dies At Reps Investigative Hearing

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Essien Etop Andrew, the deputy comptroller of finance administration and technical service at the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), is dead.

It was gathered that the customs officer was fielding questions from members of the house of representatives committee on public account when he coughed and slumped.

Andrew was rushed to the national assembly clinic where he was confirmed dead.

 

More to come…

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