The senator representing Bayelsa Central Senatorial District, Konbowei Benson, was arraigned before the FCT High Court in Abuja on Tuesday for allegedly forging exemption certificate of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Mr Benson, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was arraigned on a three-count charge for acting contrary to provisions of Penal Code Act, forgery of the NYSC exemption certificate and submitting the forged certificate to secure admission into the School of Postgraduate Studies of the Imo State University, Owerri.
In February, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, instituted a forgery suit against the lawmaker.
In the suit marked: CR/028/2023, the IGP specifically accused the senator of forging a document titled ‘Certificate of Exemption’ with number 000256454 and dated 4 July 2008.
Mr Benson was subsequently charged to court and was to be arraigned on 12 February at the FCT High Court in Abuja, but his absence, due to ill health, stalled the arraignment.
The senator’s counsel, Gordy Uche, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), told the court on that day that his client was “medically indisposed” and submitted a medical report to substantiate his claim.
“My lord, the defendant is medically indisposed and cannot be in court. He is on a drip. I pray the court for an adjournment. I promise to provide him at the next proceedings,” the counsel pleaded.
Charges
At the resumed proceeding on Tuesday, Mr Benson and his counsel were present.
Count one of the charges against the senator was that he acted contrary to the provisions of sections 366,156 and 158 of the Penal Code Act CAP 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 and was liable to punishment under Section 364 of the same Act.
Other charges are “That you, Benson Friday Konbowei, sometime in March 2014 within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory fraudulently used as genuine a certain document to wit: Certificate of Exemption Number 000256454 dated 4th of July 2008 signed by the Director-General, NYSC, Directorate Headquarters, Abuja to the Independent National Electoral Commission to contest election into the Bayelsa State House of Assembly in 2015 election, which you won and represented Southern Ijaw Constituency IV and the Bayelsa Central Senatorial District National Assembly election conducted on February 25, 2023, which you won and currently a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“And you also submitted four copies of the same forged NYSC certificate to gain admission into the School of Postgraduate Studies of the Imo State University, Owerri, which you then knew to be a forged document and you submitted four copies of the forged Certificate of Exemption Number 000256454 dated July 4, 2008, as a compulsory requirement to the School of Postgraduate Studies of the Imo State
University Owerri, which is a compulsory requirement to get admission into the school of postgraduate studies to study.”
Mr Benson, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to him.
The trial judge, Christopher Oba, adjourned the case till 28 March for the commencement of trial.
A former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has visited ex-military Head of State, Yakubu Gowon.
El-Rufai visited Gowon at his residence in Abuja on Tuesday.
The meeting is coming shortly after the All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain met with leaders of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, for the second time.
The second visit further fueled speculations that the former governor is planning to dump the APC.
El-Rufai was pictured at the Abuja residence of Senator Abubakar Gada, along with SDP chairman Shehu Musa Gabam and other party leaders.
Also reported to be present at the meeting were Senator Teslim Folarin, APC, gubernatorial candidate for Oyo State in the 2023 general elections, and Senator Nazif Suleiman, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from Bauchi State.
The meeting at Gada’s home in Abuja on Sunday night came after El-Rufai hosted a Ramadan iftar at his Abuja residence.
Those at the Ramadan iftar include the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, Shehu Musa Gabam, and others.
El-Rufai also visited Gabam at the SDP secretariat.
A former Minister of Communication Adebayo Shittu has urged the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government to promise bandits a promising future by negotiating with them.
Shittu said most of these bandits are able-bodied men whom the Federal Government should retain.
Featuring on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, the former minister said non-kinetic approach in dealing with banditry would bring about a lot of results.
“If I am in position, it is not too late to use non-kinetic measures in negotiating with bandits, giving them a promising future. Let us retain them. Many of them are very intelligent, many of them are able-bodied,” Shittu said.
The ex-minister said the millions of out-of-school children in Northern Nigeria is a “production factory for banditry” in the country.
This is coming when controversial Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, had urged the Federal Government to negotiate with bandits.
Gumi had urged Tinubu against toeing the path of former President Muhammadu Buhari who refused to negotiate with bandits.
…Describes Appointments as an Affirmation of a Strategic Approach to Transform Bayelsa
Director General of Nigeria’s biggest grassroots football tournament, the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament tagged the Prosperity Cup, Mr Ono Akpe has welcomed the appointments of Prof Ayawei as the Secretary to State Government, Dr, Peter Akpe, Chief of sttaff, Mr Iroro Komonibo as Deputy Chief of Staff and Mr Daniel Alabrah as Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Bayelsa State.
This was contained in a statement on Tuesday by Hananeel Jackson, Media Officer Prosperity Cup 2024.
According to the statemnet, Mr Akpe described their appointments as a step in the right direction for the Prosperity Administration, stating that he is confident the appointees would bring their wealth of experience to bear in making the Prosperity Administration succeed in policy, project and program execution.
According to him, the four appointees are men who have proven themselves in different capacities both in the public and private sectors, pointing out that the Prosperity Administration would experience more growth in the new dispensation, describing their appointments as round pegs in round holes.
He noted that Prof Nimibofa Ayawei’s wealth of experience in governance, garnered over the years, will serve as an added advantage to the Office of the Secretary to the Government , affirming that the new Bayelsal SSG, with his compassion, charm, discipline and humility, is an excellent choice for the office.
He appreciated Prof Nimibofa Ayawei for always supporting the Prosperity Cup, maintaining that Prof Ayawei’s is a man with a considerable understanding of the government and people of the state, having worked closely with the present administration.
The statement equally eulogized Dr Peter Akpe, Mr. Irorodamie Komonibo and Mr Daniel Alabrah for the support they have rendered to the Prosperity Cup over the years particularly Alabrah who was Tournament Deputy Director General at a point, adding that their appointments would bring immense progress to the tournament and to sports development in general.
Mr Akpe thanked the Governor, Senator Douye Diri for the appointment of these experienced hands in his administration, describing the governor’s action as an affirmation of strategic approach to the transformation of the state. He prayed for God to grant them wisdom, diligence, and dedication in their various assignments.
Governor Similanayi Fubara of Rivers state has said he would not operate as a dictator.
Speaking at Government House, Port Harcourt, during the formal presentation of Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office to the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, King Ateke Michael Tom, on Tuesday, Fubara said his administration will collaborate and continue to consult widely in delivering a liberated state experiencing enduring peace.
He said as someone with the interest of the state at heart, he is determined to leave a lasting legacy that can be celebrated.
“We are at a crossroad in our state where we all need to stand for what is right. It happens once in a life time. So, for now, be one of those people that will be in the course to liberate and free our dear State.”
“And I know strongly that having the support of a peace-loving Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, having the support of the wonderful Council of Chiefs, having the support of the great people of Rivers State, we will bring peace to our State. We will do those things that are right to develop our State.
“We will continue to consult. We will not act as dictators. We will act as people who know that one day, we will leave, and when we leave, the way we have acted will speak for us. We will not force people to talk good about us. Our legacy will be a signature for how we led.”
Governor Fubara explained that he acted within the ambit of the law to upgrade the traditional stool upon which King Ateke Tom sits in recognition of his efforts in promoting peace in Okrika, and indeed, the State, and urged him to continue to do justice to everyone.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC) has constituted a governorship primary election committee.
This was confirmed through a resolution passed during the NWC’s 144th Meeting convened on March 26, 2024.
The composition of the Committee is as follows:
Hon. Emma Eneukwu, OFR – Chairman
Barr. Festus Fuanter – Member
Chief (Hon.) Victor Giadom – Member
Prof. Abdulkarim Abubakar Kana – Member
H.E. Sulaiman M. Argungu, OFR – Member
Dr Mary Alile Idele – Member
Aare (Hon) Durotolu Oyebode Bankole – Member
Nze Chidi Duru, OON – Member
Felix Morka, Esq. – Member
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Major-General Adamu Garba Laka as the new National Coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre under the Office of the National Security Adviser.
Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.
According to Ngelale, General Laka served in various capacities in the North-East of Nigeria, where he deployed tactical means to degrade terrorist groups.
He also served in Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo under the United Nations and was part of the Nigerian contingent in the US AFRICOM exercise in Senegal.
He holds a Master’s Degree in National Security from the National Defence University in Pakistan and International Affairs and Strategic Studies from the Nigerian Defence Academy.
“The President anticipates that General Laka will bring his vast experience into this critical role to effectively remove security threats through pre-emptive, proactive, and diligent counter-terrorism coordination”, Ngelale said.
Employee Caught Sharing Customer’s Credit Card Information with Her Friend via FaceTime
An employee has been caught sharing a customer’s credit card details with her friends via FaceTime, while pretending to be attending to the customer.
In the video, you can see the employee subtly lifting the card of an unsuspecting customer and sharing it with her friend on the other end of FaceTime.
This shows the importance of remaining vigilant whenever you use your credit card.
Always keep your eyes on your card and never allow it to be used out of your sight.
I hope this serves as a wake-up call, and that you never become careless when using your credit card for transactions.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed deposit money banks in the country to expedite action to increase their capital base from the current ₦25bn.
CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso stated this during the apex bank’s 294th meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) on Tuesday in Abuja, when the MPC hiked the interest rate by 22.75% to 24.75%.
The apex bank chief said the MPC examined developments in the banking sector and expressed satisfaction that the industry remained stable. The committee, however, said to guard against risk, commercial banks in the country should accelerate their recapitalisation efforts.
Cardoso said, “The MPC also reviewed developments in the banking system and noted that the industry remains safe, sound, and stable. The committee thus called on the bank to sustain its surveillance and ensure compliance of banks with existing regulatory and macro-potential guidelines.
“The MPC also enjoined the banks to expedite actions on the recapitalisation of banks to strengthen the system against potential risks in an increasingly globalised world.”
Last November, Cardoso, who assumed office two months earlier, had said commercial banks in the country would be directed to increase their capital base to service a $1 trillion economy ambition of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
The last time the CBN increased capital base for banks was in 2005, when the current Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, was the apex bank chief. Capital base was raised from ₦2bn to ₦25bn.
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