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A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome said the Federation Account Allocation Committee will not send money to Caretaker Committee Chairmen of local government areas by the virtue of the Supreme Court judgment on Local Government Council Autonomy on Thursday. Ozekhome stated this in an interview with Channels Television on Friday. He said, “The judgement of the government is clear. If you want to receive funds from the federation account, then conduct an election.” Speaking on the next steps for local government areas with caretaker committees, Ozekhome said, “If what you have in place is a caretaker committee as local…

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday granted N10 billion bail to former Minister of Power, Mr. Saleh Mamman, who was remanded in prison custody over his alleged involvement in a N33 billion fraud. The trial judge, Justice James Omotosho, who delivered the ruling, permitted Mamman, who is facing a 12-count charge, to N10 billion post bail with two sureties required to provide equivalent guarantees. The court specified that the sureties must own landed properties in Abuja with a minimum valuation of N750 million. Additionally, they must present three-year tax clearance certificates and affidavit of means. Both Mamman and…

FOSAD commends Supreme Court judgment on financial autonomy for Local Government Areas…Says ruling will stimulate grassroots development   The Forum of South-East Academic Doctors (FOSAD) enthusiastically commends the recent Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Nigeria. This landmark decision is a pivotal step toward stimulating grassroots development and enhancing democratic governance at the local level. The Supreme Court's ruling is poised to empower LGAs with greater control over their finances, enabling them to address and implement development projects tailored to the specific needs of their communities. Financial independence is crucial for the efficient delivery…

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE PRESIDENT TINUBU SALUTES PROFESSOR WOLE SOYINKA AT 90, RENAMES NATIONAL THEATRE IN HIS HONOUR President Bola Tinubu heartily congratulates Nigeria's literary colossus and global icon, Professor Akinwande Oluwole Babatunde Soyinka, famously known as Wole Soyinka, on his 90th birthday, July 13, 2024. Professor Soyinka is a globally celebrated playwright, novelist, poet, essayist, actor, singer, composer, and documentarian. He is also a foremost advocate of good governance and of a fair and just society. He won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1986 - the first African to win the Prize in that category. The Nobel Prize…

The Senate on Thursday went into an emergency closed-door session sequel to a heated disagreement between a former Senate President, Senator Ahmad Lawan (Yobe North) and the incumbent Senate President, Godswill Akpabio during plenary. According to the Senate rules, plenary is supposed to commence by 10am and rounds off by 2pm. But the rule has been jettisoned as senators come to the chamber as late as 11am and sometimes extend the 2pm closing time to enable them exhaust items on the Order Paper. Daily Trust reports that on Thursday, the Senate sought to formally amend its rules to shift the…

A former governor of Abia state, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has commended the Supreme Court verdict which granted financial autonomy to local government areas. In its lead judgement read by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the apex court mandated the Federal Government to begin immediate and direct payment of local government funds to the latter’s exclusive accounts. The Supreme Court scolded the decades-long refusal of the state government on financial autonomy for local governments. While reacting to the judgement, Kalu, who is the lawmaker representing Abia North Senatorial District in the National Assembly applauded the judiciary, describing the judgement as courageous. He…

A fresh showdown is imminent in the House of Representatives as over 150 aggrieved first-time members are up in arms against the House leadership over alleged marginalisation and exclusion from legislative business. Already, the embittered federal lawmakers have formed a pressure group, codenamed “Novelty Group,” as a veritable platform for realising their mission and vision. The group’s inaugural meeting, initially scheduled for Abuja yesterday evening, was abruptly cancelled following the death of a House member, Hon Olaide Adewale Akinremi. Until his passage, Hon Akinremi represented Ibadan North Federal Constituency of Oyo State on the platform of the governing All Progressives…

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE PRESIDENT TINUBU WELCOMES SUPREME COURT JUDGEMENT AFFIRMING CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS President Bola Tinubu welcomes the decision of the Supreme Court of Nigeria affirming the spirit, intent, and purpose of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the statutory rights of local governments. The President states that a fundamental challenge to the nation's advancement over the years has been ineffective local government administration, as governance at the critical cellular level of socio-political configuration is nearly absent. The President emphasizes that the onus is now on local council leaders to ensure that the broad…

The lawmaker representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Chief Ibe Okwara Osonwa says Governor Alex Otti has taken the development of nano and micro entrepreneurs in the state to a higher level. The lawmaker in a chat with journalists in Abuja, while reacting to the official launch of the Abia State Cooperative Support Scheme, and disbursement of credit facilities to 10,000 nano and micro businesses drawn from the 184 wards in Abia state commended Governor Alex Otti for his efforts towards creating a better future for all Abians. He noted that the Abia State Cooperative Support Scheme…