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The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has threatened to expel from the party the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, and Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, for their failure to inaugurate boards of parastatals under their ministries.

Oshiomhole said if President Muhammadu Buhari can condone indiscipline by the Ministers, he will not allow them do the same to the party.

Oshiomhole, who spoke with State House Correspondents against the backdrop of his recent directive to Ngige and Sirika to inaugurate Boards under their Ministries, said when expelled, they will be booted out of the Federal Executive Council as rebels.

Oshiomhole, who met with the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, said: “If the minister refuses, we will suspend him from the party.

“You know we must return to internal discipline.

“For me, it is the height of mischief for any minister.

“You cannot purport to be an honourable minister and you act dishonourably and nobody is greater than the party.

“And if the President condones disrespect for his office, I will not condone disrespect for the party.

“And when we expel the minister, we will prevail on the President that he can’t keep in his cabinet people who have neither respect for his own decisions nor have respect for the party, without which they would not have been ministers.

“There are no independent candidates in our system.

“Nobody, I emphasise, no minister is above the party and they have taken undue advantage of the President’s fatherly disposition.

“Now, it is the same green pen that made them ministers that appointed these boards that they are refusing to swear in.

“And it is absolutely illegal for a minister in a democracy to prey the powers of the board because the laws establishing those institutions are clear: that the boards have procedures to follow.

“So, when a minister sits in his office to appropriate the powers of the board in a democracy, not in a dictatorship, award contracts that didn’t go through boards, those are clearly an abuse of office for which they are liable.

“I am convinced that what they are doing is not with the endorsement of Mr. President.

“Over the period they have tried to drop the President’s name but I tell them it is the same authority that appoints these people.

“So, we are informing them that it is either they comply with the President’s instructions or they comply with the party’s position or they go and administer outside the government.

“We have respect for ministers but only to the extent that they recognize that they are a product of a political party and we are not negotiating that.

“If they did that in the past, under our leadership we will not tolerate it.

“They either comply or we will expel them from the party.

“When we expel them, we will find out how a government can keep a rebel in the cabinet.

“There is no question about that.”

Oshiomhole had on July 12, 2018 given a one-week ultimatum to Ngige and Sirika to inaugurate the Boards under their ministries.

But Ngige in a letter to Oshiomhole, published elsewhere on this news website, said he cannot inaugurate one of the Boards, Nigeria Social Investment Trust Fund owing to alleged fraud.

He said the Fund was being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

BIG STORY

NOVA Bank Achieves Global Cybersecurity Milestone With ISO 27032 Certification

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NOVA Bank has achieved a major milestone in its commitment to safeguarding customer data and digital operations by attaining the globally recognized ISO 27032 Cybersecurity Standard certification. This significant achievement positions NOVA Bank among the elite financial institutions in Nigeria with such a distinction.

The ISO 27032 certification focuses on fortifying cybersecurity measures, ensuring robust protection for data, systems, and online transactions amid an ever-evolving cyber threat landscape. In addition to this achievement, NOVA Bank is already certified in ISO 27001 for Information Security Management and BCMS 22301 for Business Continuity Management, further underscoring its dedication to operational excellence and security.

Speaking on the achievement, Acting Managing Director and CEO of NOVA Bank, Mrs. Chinwe Iloghalu, described the certification as a pivotal moment for the Bank and its customers.

“This certification underscores NOVA Bank’s unwavering dedication to maintaining the highest global standards in cybersecurity. As we continue to innovate with customer-centric retail products, cybersecurity remains at the heart of our operations. Our customers can rest assured that their data and transactions are protected by some of the most advanced security frameworks in the industry. Trust is built on security, and NOVA is committed to providing a secure, reliable, and innovative banking experience,” Mrs Iloghalu stated. The Bank’s Executive Director for Operations and Information Technology, Dr. David Isavwe, who also serves as the President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Information Security Society of Africa, Nigeria (ISSAN), emphasized the broader implications of the certification.

“The ISO 27032 certification highlights NOVA Bank’s proactive approach to addressing cybersecurity challenges. It demonstrates our readiness to protect against evolving threats and our ability to adapt to the dynamic landscape of digital banking. This certification reinforces our commitment to delivering secure and uninterrupted services to our valued customers,” Dr. Isavwe remarked.

This milestone aligns with NOVA Bank’s overarching strategy of integrating cutting-edge technology with its trademarked Phygital model—seamlessly blending physical and digital banking experiences, while maintaining an unwavering focus on customer trust and satisfaction.

As the bank prepares to launch a series of innovative retail banking products, this certification highlights its dedication to prioritizing cybersecurity, ensuring a secure and seamless banking experience for all its customers.

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BIG STORY

JUST IN: Customs Hands Over 21 Stolen Vehicles To Canadian Government

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The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has transferred 21 stolen “Sport Utility Vehicles” (SUVs) and other assorted vehicles to the Canadian Government, following their recovery from various locations across the country.

 

More to come…

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BIG STORY

Former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello Now In Our Custody — EFCC

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has revealed that former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, has been detained in the agency’s custody for allegedly misappropriating over N110 billion in public funds.

The EFCC stated that the former governor appeared at its headquarters after months of ignoring invitations and avoiding court summons related to fraud connected to his administration.

EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, on Tuesday said that Bello had been detained and would be questioned about the allegations against him.

According to reports, Bello responded to the EFCC’s invitation on Tuesday, arriving at the EFCC office with his lawyers, but without his successor, Governor Usman Ododo, who had reportedly been shielding him from arrest.

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