Villa mechanical, electrical maintenance  N9b

Vehicles – N6bn  lFood stuff, 

catering materials supplies -N602m

State House miscellaneous – 2.54bn

Villa computers, repairs  -980m 

Villa honorarium -N365.8m

 

 

The figure is contained in the 2024 Appropriation Bill, now being considered by the National Assembly.

The breakdown of the figure showed that President Tinubu would spend the sum of N7. 630 billion on travels, with the bulk of the money to be spent on foreign trips.

If approved by the federal legislature, he would spend N6.992 billion on foreign trips and N638.535 million on travels within the country.

Similarly, Vice President Shettima would spend a total of N1.847 billion on international and local travels.

According to the budget proposal, he will spend N1.229 billion on foreign trips and N 618. 399 million on local trips.

Another N6.484 billion was provided for Villa Headquarters international and local travels.

It consisted of N 6.282 billion for international travels, N60. 981 million for local travels for training and N140.640 million for local travels.

The Villa Headquarters was allocated N40.616 billion in the 2024 federal budget, with a capital vote of N12.497 billion, overhead N10.334 billion, while Personnel receiving N163 billion.

Routine maintenance of mechanical, electrical installations N9bn

Annual routine maintenance of mechanical and electrical installations in the Villa was allocated N9 billion, while another N4.5 billion was set aside for Juliuus Berger liabilities on routine maintenance for 2022/2023 and work as directed 2022-2023 inclusive of Kaduna work.”

The construction of office comes for Special Advisers and Senior Special Advisers was allocated the sumof N3 billion.

Another N3 billion was provisioned for the acquisition, renovation, rebalitation and furnishing of State House Annex.

N6bn for vehicles
Despite the budgetary provision for operational vehicles in the 2023 Supplementary Budget, recently another N4 billion was allocated to Operational Vehicles, while another N 2 billion was provisioned for SUVs.

The rehabilitation of Animal Enclosure in the Villa was allocated the sum of N45. 259 million, Villa Ranch and construction of wild life conservation got N130.076 million.

N5.1bn on food, honorarium, computers, others
President Tinubu and his Vice, Shettima are to spend the sum of N5.128 billion on foodstuff, miscellanious, honourarium, refreshments and repair of fixed assets, as well as on acquisition of Computers software in 2024.

The breakdown of the figure showed that President Tinubu would spend N254 million on foodstuff, while his Vice, Shettima would spend N348 million on foodstuff and catering materials supplies.

The sum of N430million is budgeted for State House headquarters for the same purpose within the 2024 budget circle.

President is expected to spend the sum of N219million on Miscellanious expenditure and in the same period, the Vice President would be spending N187million also on miscellanious items.

Similarly, the State House Headquarters would be spending the sum of 2,54bn on Miscellanious in the same period.

Further breakdown of the figure shows that President Tinubu would be spending N152.4million on honorarium and sitting allowance, whereas the Vice President would be spending N67million on the same item.

For State House Headquarters, the sum of N365.8million is budgeted for Honorarium.

The sum.of N650million has been proposed to be spent by President on repairs and rehabilitation of fixed assets, the sum of N103million is expected to be spent by the Vice President on acquisition of computer softwares.

In the sane vein, the sum of 980million is esimated to be spent on computers and repairs of assents by the Villa Headquarters.  

The Federal Government has budgeted a staggering N138,066,187 to combat fake news and print calendars. The money was budgeted through the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation. Part of the sum will also be used to facilitate media appearances for ministers and organise engagement with social media influencers among others. This is contained in the details of the 2024 Appropriation Bill currently before the National Assembly.

A former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, initiated an advocacy against fake news under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. Muhammed, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in 2021, stated that Nigeria had graduated from ordinary fake news to “deep” fake news, which according to him, was being used to wage war against the government and its officials. He had also said that at the beginning, purveyors of deep fake news were largely unknown online publications, adding that it was, however, unfortunate that otherwise reputable publications and some mainstream media had joined the bandwagon while adding that citizens found guilty would be sanctioned.

In the 2024 budget, N24.5m has been allocated for a “special enlightenment campaign on government’s programmes and policies, testimonial series to gauge the impact of government policies on the citizenry.

“Advocacy against fake news, hate speech, farmers-herders clashes, banditry, rape, etc.” The details also showed that the government would spend N40m to produce calendars; N30m was voted for external publicity and engagement with foreign media; N20.7m was voted for media interactions by ministers, influencers, and analysts on print and social media.

The government also said it would spend N21.7m on the development of social media platforms and networking with other platforms. President Bola Tinubu submitted the 2024 appropriation budget to the National Assembly last week.

The Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu says one million vulnerable households in Kogi State have benefited from the Federal Government’s Conditional Cash Transfer as part of efforts to ameliorate the impact of the harsh economic situation in the country.

Edu disclosed this in Kabawa, a suburb of Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, while fielding questions from journalists on Tuesday evening.

The Minister, who had earlier in the day officially kicked-off the Federal Government’s Grant for the Vulnerable, disclosed that the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration was targeting lifting at least 50,000 000 people out of poverty within the next 42 months.

She pointed out that the Government was bringing on board the “end hunger program” which would help to renew the hope for the very poor and vulnerable people in the society.

“For the grant which was just given earlier today, the Federal Government was able to support the vulnerable and poorest of the poor in Kogi State.

“For the first batch, we have 10,000 beneficiaries, while the second batch will commence immediately. For petty traders across various homes, 1000 families have been given the needed support through their various channels, while others will get their intervention through their youth leadership, women groups and many more.

“The idea is that the Federal Government does not want to do programs that are not felt by the grassroots. The only essence of governance is to bring relief to the people.

“That is the reason for social protection. We are a government that is interested in the people. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is 100 percent committed to this course. We won’t rest on our oars until everyone that is expected to be reached out is truly reached.

“We are hoping that the support we have been able to give them today will help them grow their petty businesses and support their families, especially their children to go to school,”
Edu added.

Delta State Police Command says a yet-to-be-identified officer who allegedly shot a motorist in a viral video has been arrested and detained.

The Delta Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe, who made this known in a post on his official X handle, expressed disappointment over the unprofessional conduct of the officer.

It was learnt that the erring officer who was on a stop and search on the East-West Road, Ughelli town, opened fire on the victim after an argument.

The motorist whose identity is yet unknown, was according to the viral video, shot on the leg and stomach.

Sharing the video on his X page, the PPRO said, the “Nigeria Police Force does not and will never tolerate unprofessional conduct from any personnel.

“On this premise, the Commissioner of Police, CP Wale Abass ordered the immediate detention of the erring Police Inspector.

“The injured victim is being treated. Meanwhile, the CP urges members of the public to remain calm, as he guarantees justice,” he said.

Watch video here.

The Mokopane Regional Court in South Africa has sentenced a 35-year-old woman, Tshepho Mogoshadi Mphahlele, to 15 years imprisonment, over the gruesome murder of her twin sister at Ga Mogotlane village in Limpopo.

 

According to Limpopo police spokesperson, Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba, the woman was found guilty of brutally killing her twin sister on January 18, 2023.

"During the trial, the court heard how the accused attacked her twin sister after they got into a heated argument and she stabbed her with a knife several times until she died at their residence,” Mashaba said. After the murder, Mphahlele chopped her sister’s body up with an axe, before fleeing the scene.

She later handed herself over to the Moletlane police station on January 20, and she was then arrested.

''The case was assigned to Sergeant Rodney Mothiba, and he diligently worked on the case to ensure that the accused was denied bail until she was found guilty,” said Mashaba. “The accused was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment for the murder of her twin sister.” Hadebe added that no person has the right to take away someone’s life, even after being provoked.

In a video shared online, Korra alleged that Justin Dean has failed to contribute towards their children’s health care, food and others. She said she recently got a mail from their daughter, June’s school informing her that Justin hasn’t paid his own portion of their her school fees and that they may have to expel her. She said all she is asking for is for Justin to pay his own part of their children’s support.

She said if Justin has money to pay a lawyer, why can’t he pay $850.

‘’I have been paying for June’s school fees from July. Infact, he just stopped paying and didn’t tell anybody until the school sent me an email that they were going to expel June from school. So I told them ‘Please, send me all the bills he hasn’t paid’ and then moving forward from then, I started to pay in full from the middle of the year until this end of the year and still he has not not paid. I am not lying, I have receipts of the payment’. I have no business with this man if it is not for my daughters.’

Speaking further, she said

‘’Thank God for independence and thank God for him saving me. I have no business with him, I can take care of myself. I don’t your alimony, I don’t want your child support. I just want you to pay your 50%’’

The recent controversy over Nigeria’s 1,411 delegates at the ongoing COP28 climate summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, UAE, has raised serious concern about the current administration’s commitment to cutting the cost of governance amid rising inflation and economic hardship.

This is coming at a time the government has consistently appealed to the citizens to make sacrifices and endure the pains of the hardship in the country.

But the citizens say the government is not walking the talk.

DAILY POST reported that President Bola Tinubu arrived in Dubai with 1,411 delegates, according to the UN Climate Change list, making him the leader in Africa with the highest entourage and the third largest representation among global countries attending the conference.

Many Nigerians have criticised the high number of Nigerian delegates, the third highest at COP28, amid the economic suffering of millions of citizens due to government policies.

The development came amidst the administration’s recent claim that it inherited an ‘empty treasury’ and ‘bankruptcy’.

The claim followed public outcry over rising inflation, which has continued to bite harder, pushing more citizens into poverty, as cost of living and purchasing power shrink under the current dispensation.

This is also coming on heels of the report by the World Bank disclosing that Nigeria spent over 96 per cent of its revenue in 2022 on debt servicing as its total debt stocks rose to N87.38 trillion in the second quarter of 2023.

Before now, many Nigerians had called on Tinubu to follow up on his announcement that petrol subsidy is gone with measures to cut the outrageous cost of running the government.

However, despite the hardships faced by Nigerians, the government has not taken visible steps to reduce the cost of governance.

Instead, it recently allocated a staggering N5 billion for acquiring a presidential yacht, over N19 billion on state house vehicles, and renovating the President and Vice President’s lodges amidst untold hardship.

Reacting to the criticisms that greeted Nigeria’s high number of delegates to the COP28 climate summit in Dubai, the Presidency clarified that only a handful of the 1,411 Nigerian delegates were sponsored by the Federal Government.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and publicity, Temitope Ajayi, disclosed this in an article shared with newsmen on Sunday morning.

According to him, a bulk of the contingents comprised private sector players such as business people, Civil Society Organisations and delegates from Nigeria’s oil-producing Niger Delta region.

“It is important to state here that delegates from all countries, whether from government, private sector, media and civil society groups, attend COP summits and conferences as parties, and the number of attendees are registered against their countries of origin. This does not mean they are sponsored or funded by the government.

“This does not mean that they are sponsored or funded by the government. It must also be said that the fact that people registered to attend a conference does not mean everyone who registered is physically present.

“As the biggest country in Africa, the biggest economy and one with a bigger stake in climate action as a country with a huge extractive economy, it is a no-brainer that delegates from Nigeria will be more than any other country in Africa,” part of the statement read.

However, on Monday, the federal government further clarified that it funded 422 delegates to the ongoing climate summit.

The clarification was contained in a statement issued by Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris on Monday, arguing that President Bola Tinubu and other officials were in Dubai for ‘serious business’ and not for jamboree.

Idris pointed out that “The overall Nigerian delegation to COP-28 consisted of Government-sponsored (Federal and State Governments) and non-government-sponsored participants (from Private Companies, Non-Governmental Organisations, Civil Society Organisations, media, academia, etc).”

According to the breakdown: “32 delegates were from the National Council on Climate Change; 34 from the Federal Ministry of Environment; 167 delegates from All Ministries; 67 from the presidency; nine from the office of the Vice President; 40 from the National Assembly; and 73 from the Federal parastatals/agencies.”

Meanwhile, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Mr Peter Obi, via his X handle on Sunday tackled the administration over the development.

Obi lamented that the huge contingent was out at public expense when most Nigerians could hardly afford food and basic needs due to economic hardship.

According to him, most of those in the Nigerian delegation to COP28 were either non-relevant civil servants or relations, friends and hangers-on of high government officials, claiming they hardly understand or have anything to do with climate change.

The former Anambra State governor questioned why Nigeria matched China in the total number of contingents when it has more people living in ‘Multi-Dimensional’ poverty than China.

“This huge contingent is out at public expense at a time when most Nigerians can hardly afford food and basic needs as a result of economic hardship.

“I pray earnestly that a day will come soon enough when we can focus on competing with China on productivity and the miracle of migrating the highest number of its citizens out of poverty over a relatively short time.

“As we have kept emphasising, we must stop waste as a tradition of our government and nation. We urgently need to cut the cost of governance and invest in production.

“We need to de-emphasise unnecessary ceremony and showmanship as a mode of government behaviour. We need to tie spending to necessity and national Priority. A New Nigeria is possible. We only need to do the reasonable and the necessary,” Obi said.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, also reacted by knocking President Bola Tinubu over what it termed an “over-bloated delegation of about 1,411 individuals to the Conference of the Parties (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates”.

PDP, in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, held that the development further validated insinuation that “the Tinubu-led APC administration is wasteful, frivolous and reckless in the application of the scarce resources of the nation, especially at a time Nigerians are yearning for prudent management of resources to achieve the desired infrastructural regeneration, job creation and revamping of the economy”.

The main opposition party questioned why a country “whose citizens are dying daily from the inability to purchase necessities would be willing to fritter its resources and scarce foreign exchange in such a manner”.

According to PDP, Tinubu conveying many individuals to the event only “points to the fact that this administration is not interested in the good of the generality of our citizens but for a select few positioned to fleece the nation’s resources”.

The party challenged the Presidency to “come clean by making public the names of the official delegation sponsored by the Federal Government to the Conference”.

Speaking on the matter during the Arise Television Morning Show programme on Tuesday, a news analyst, Dr Reuben Abati faulted the statement issued by the Minister of Information.

Abati said he considered the minister’s statement ‘absolutely unnecessary, surplus to requirement’ because it contradicted the earlier statement issued by the presidential spokesperson.

‘‘This is a second reaction from the federal government. This first was by Mr Tope Ajayi, the special adviser. Then the second one by Mohammed Idris, the minister of Information.

‘‘I consider the response by the minister of information absolutely unnecessary, surplus to requirement because what is indicated is that the spokesperson in the villa is saying one thing and the minister is saying another thing.

“And there are contradictions in the statement by the minister. He said over 70,000 people are attending the COP28 when the organisers are saying over 97,000 people. Is it so difficult for the minister of information to get the right information?

‘‘And then, he does a breakdown – a breakdown that he has provided is different from the breakdown that the spokesperson at the Villa provided. And that is why I say, look, when you have a communication strategy and you have different spokespersons, what you just need to do is simple: as dictated by common sense, coordinate.

‘‘So, I have a problem with lack of coordination and giving the wrong impression.

‘‘What people are complaining about is the size of the delegation. And the minister comes and says, ‘it is not 590, it is just 422’. Okay, what is the difference between 422 and 590?

‘‘If people say it is 590 and you are adjusting and spinning it is 422, even 422 is quite large because what we have seen is that some of the people, as we reported yesterday, have not been seen in any significant event. Many of them did not even show up at the Nigerian pavilion,’’ Abati said.

Also, reacting to the development, the President of the Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN), Olu Omotayo, told DAILY POST that it was not proper for the government to sponsor such a large number of people to Dubai when not many could afford three square meals in the country.

Omotayo opined that if there is going to be sacrifice, it should be from the government including the executive, legislature and judiciary.

He said, ‘‘If the government says it is 422 persons, it is still on the high side. Why is the government sponsoring 422 persons to go to Dubai when an average Nigerian cannot afford three square meals?

‘‘The per capita income is going down everyday. We are now running an elitist government. It is not proper this time in the country. It is not only the masses… you continue saying ‘the masses should sacrifice’, ‘the masses should sacrifice’. It should be from the top, if there is going to be sacrifice, it should be from the top – from the executive, legislature, judiciary.

‘‘So, it is not that the people from the ruling party should continue to feast on the economy and they are advising the masses to continue to sacrifice. That means we have not actually got it right.

‘‘We hope that this government will look at it, try to curtail wasteful spending and take care of the public and guarantee our safety in this country.’’

Also speaking to DAILY POST, a Public Affairs Analyst and Communication Scholar at Peaceland University, Enugu, Nduka Odo said that there was no moral justification for having such a number of delegates to the COP28.

According to him, the nation has a situation far more critical than climate change, lamenting about widespread poverty and hunger caused by mismanagement of national wealth.

Odo further advised the government to cut out frivolous expenses.

He said, ‘‘Yes. Truly, climate change is a critical global issue. We can’t pretend not to feel the impact when the Sahara Desert is rushing towards the Atlantic.

‘‘The question I have for the Nigerian government is, what is the stake of Nigeria in climate change that we had to fly more than 1000 people to Dubai when citizens find it hard to feed?

‘‘How many industries do we have running in the country?

“How do we contribute to carbon emissions when we have failed to harness our coals?

‘‘There is no moral justification for having that number of delegates to the COP28. This happens in a country where the government keeps urging the citizens to endure the economic hardship unleashed on them.

‘‘The most painful part is that there are names of individuals who obviously have never had anything to do with climate advocacy. That’s pure wastage in the face of languishing citizens. If the government encourages citizens to endure or have faith, they should also wear a human face.

‘‘My advice is that the government should start from now to cut down and cut out frivolous expenses. What will remain for development projects if we keep flying thousands and hundreds around to the world for one event or the other? Nothing.

‘‘Every action so far is calling on the leadership to retrace steps. Climate is an important course, we must pay attention to it.

“But as a nation, we have a situation far more critical than climate change. That situation is widespread poverty and hunger which originate from mismanagement of national wealth.”

More details have emerged after a Nigerian man killed his wife in the United Kingdom.

According to information gathered, the tragic incident happened at 259 Exning Road, Newmarket, Suffolk — a suburban terrace in the market town of West Suffolk.

It was gathered that the lifeless body of Taiwo Owoeye Abodunde, a nurse and mother of three was found lying on the floor of her living room.

The police’s grim discovery was an unplanned encounter, prompted by a follow-up visit related to a previous report of assault made against her estranged husband, David Olubunni Abodunde, according to a correspondent from TheNation.

According to the police, the visit was scheduled as “a pre-arranged meeting to gather evidence in relation to the assault allegations made against Olubunni Abodunde on November 27 by Taiwo, which led to his arrest.”

The police report indicated that they arrived at 259 Exning Road, Newmarket, Taiwo’s home address, at 9:55 am on Tuesday, November 28, 2023. Upon entering the residence, they discovered her unresponsive on the living room floor. Despite prompt medical attention, paramedics declared Taiwo dead at the scene.

Olubunni Abodunde, the husband, was found inside the residence and subsequently arrested on suspicion of her murder. He was then taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning and later appeared at Ipswich Crown Court and Suffolk Magistrates’ Court for a preliminary hearing.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is also investigating the force’s response as officers had been called to the address earlier. A spokesperson for the IOPC said: “We can confirm we have received a referral from Suffolk Constabulary in relation to this incident and we are carrying out an assessment to determine what further action may be required from us.

” The intervention of IOPC was prompted by a suspicious failing by the Police over a previous correspondence with the Taiwo’s family on November 27, 2023, over previous assault.

The Police added: “On Monday 27th November 2023, Taiwo contacted Suffolk Police reporting an assault by Olubunni on her that day and a further assault from 15th August 2023. Olubunni was arrested on suspicion of both assaults at 10:23am 27/11/2023. He was released from police custody at 6:20pm 27/11/2023 with police bail conditions. The Police Bail conditions imposed were: Not to go to 239 Exning Road, Newmarket, CB9 0AY. Not to contact Taiwo Abodunde directly or indirectly except via a third party to arrange child contact.

“The incorrect address of 239 Exning Road, Newmarket on the bail condition should have in fact been recorded as 259 Exning Road, Newmarket. When Suffolk Police attended Taiwo’s address on Tuesday 28th November, this was for a pre-arranged meeting to gather evidence in relation to the assault allegations that were made against Olubunni Abodunde on 27th November which led to his arrest. Because of these recent police contact with Taiwo, Suffolk Constabulary have made a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

“We will keep you updated on this process. We also want to make you aware we initially identified two scenes in relation to what happened but following our enquiries we have removed one scene, but one remains in place. This continues to be a location where evidence is present.”

More than anything else, this chance finding by the police of the dead formed a leg in the intrigue and misfortune suffered by a family that was enmeshed in marital distrust, domestic abuse and the struggle for economic survival right out of the sleepy towns of Ipoti Ekiti and Igogo Ekiti. The late Taiwo was a native of Igogo Ekiti and Olubunmi from Ipoti Ekiti. They both met at Otun Ekiti in 2004 during a 7th Day Adventist Church social-religious camp for young people. It wasn’t love at first sight, but Taiwo would later agree to date and marry Bunmi following persistent pressure and persuasion from the husband.

Both Ipoti Ekiti in Ijero Local Government Area and Igogo Ekiti in the Moba Local government area are located in Ekiti state -Southwest geopolitical region of Nigeria. Known for its myths and festivals, the two towns are roughly 15 miles of each other. Igogo Ekiti is popular for its royal folklore of Queen Oronsen who while married to King Rerengejen fled the palace in anger because of the conspiracy against her. She would be immortalised with a terra cotta image near ‘Igbo Oluwa’ a sacred forest in the town. Natives make annual ritual sacrifice of different articles, such as dried fish, colanut, alligator pepper, and bitter cola in return for her spiritual protection of the kingdom.

Interestingly, the tradition and folklore of Ipoti Ekiti is also woven around a wife who was assured after Ifa divination that she would have three male issues on the account of faith, belief and offering to placate the gods. The late Taiwo and her estranged husband, Olubunmi Abodunde, have three male children David 16, Daniel 14 and Jetemi 11. The husband, Olubunmi Abodunde, 47-year-old self-declared engineer migrated to the United Kingdom in November 2022 with the three children to join his wife of 17 years. But their marriage, which withstood several challenges, soon began to disintegrate over controlling behaviour, domestic violence, allegations of infidelity and distrust. He became verbally violent, kept throwing fist and calling the wife unprintable names, said Adekunle Owoeye, the twin brother to the late Taiwo.

It’s hard to overstate what a cataclysmic episode this was for the couple and the people of the two neighboring towns of Igogo and Ekiti where the case had dominated airwaves and street conversation since last week. Adekunle Owoeye, speaking on behalf of the late Taiwo’s family recalled an incident some years back in Igogo Ekiti when Bunmi and Taiwo attended an event where the couple exchanged hot arguments and fists over where to sleepover after. Bunmi was said to have hit the wife and the mother-in-law who protested his violent behaviour. The matter was later resolved by the two kings of the towns; the Onigogo of Igogo Ekiti HRM Oba Sunday Adewunmi, Okinbaloye the 1st and the Olupoti of Ipoti Ekiti, HRM Oba Oladipupo Kolade.

HRM Oba Sunday Adewunmi, Okinbaloye said he was very disheartened to hear about the sudden demise of the late Taiwo because of the hard-work put in by the royal house to make the marriage work and the guidance he provided for Taiwo to help the family in their pursuit for better life overseas.

“My sister had endured a lot of assaults from Bunmi over petty marital issues,” said the twin brother Adekunle Owoeye.

Adekunle described the past 18 years as a ‘living nightmare’ for the late sister. But he added: “I was elated and relieved that my sister was traveling overseas where domestic violence cannot happen. She had not long earlier retrieved her academic certification from the husband after he hid it for 10 years over envy to stop Taiwo from earning her own income independently.”

The relocation was indeed ominous as family members recalled the worry and excitement that greeted the news of their relocation to the United Kingdom. Elder Ayo Abodunde, who is an uncle to the husband, said he was very happy but also worried about the couple given the previous intervention of third parties in their issues.

“I counselled Bunmi to be very patient and understanding when dealing with women and especially a wife. I told him that he has to avoid any situation that will lead to arguments and fights, especially because of their children and the domestic law in the new country.”

He added that the tension is now very high in the two towns over the sad development. “I have now arranged for our family to go to Igogo Ekiti on Wednesday (today) to visit and engage the other family (late Taiwo’s) on the way forward.

A neighbour living near the unfortunate home of the couple in Newmarket described her routine observation: “I came home to see that the whole street was just covered in police and ambulances, but two days prior there were police. I knew it was something really bad with the amount of police here and the way they were not telling anyone anything. Normally they say something, but they were very hush-hush.”

Another added:

“It’s just awful, everyone is really shocked. I used to see some young boys kicking a ball about in their garden.”

In a condolence note penned through his social media handle, the Kehinde Owoeye said; “I want to tell the entire member of Owoeyes’ family to stay calm (though painful) as justice will be served on the killer in due course; be rest assured. I want to thank UK Govt, Detectives Peter, Amy and the hired Private investigators, as well as the Nigeria Embassy in London for their professionalism. To the Onigogo of Igogo-Ekiti and sons and daughters of Igogo, with a lot of our friends especially in the United Kingdom, we say thank you for your efforts so far. To the people that came from far and near to console, we appreciate.

“To my mum, though it’s an irreplaceable loss, please take heart (though not easy), it’s only God that can console you divinely. To the entire Amuludun dynasty, please NO to derogatory post, calm down as we await his trial in the Court of the UK. Thanks for your understanding the children are currently being taken care of by the UK social services.”

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petiton has issued warrant of the arrest on the Central Bank Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, the Accountant General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein and 17 others for refusing to appear before it to answer questions on their operations.⁣
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This followed the adoption of a motion by Rep Fred Agbedi (PDP-Bayelsa) at the committee’s hearing on Tuesday, December 05, 2023.⁣
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Moving the motion, Agbedi said that the arrest warrant had become inevitable following the attitude of the invitees.⁣
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He said that the parliament worked with time and the CEOs had been invited four times, but failed to respond.⁣
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He said that the CEOs should be brought to appear before the committee by the Inspector General of Police through a warrant of arrest after due diligence by the Speaker, Rep Tajudeen Abbas.⁣
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In his ruling, the Chairman of the committee, Rep Micheal Irom (APC-Cross River) said that the I-G should ensure the CEOs were brought before the committee on Dec. 14.⁣
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Earlier, the petitioner, Fidelis Uzowanem, said that the petition was anchored on the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) report of 2021.⁣
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He said that the report was a summary of the transactions in the oil and gas industry for 2021 which NEITI could to be challenged.⁣
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“We took up the challenge to examine the report and discovered that what NEITI put together is a report is only consolidation of fraud that has been going on in the oil and gas industry.

The lifeless body of a 16-year-old girl, Machaka Radebe, has been found two days after she was reported missing in Free State, South Africa.

Machaka's body was discovered with a stab wound in an open field in Bloemspruit in the early hours of Monday morning, December 4, 2023.

Machaka was last seen by her brother on Saturday afternoon, December 2.

Police spokesperson, Sergeant Mahlomola Kareli, who confirmed the development in a statement said the siblings were asleep at their home in Rocklands and when her brother woke up, he noticed that Machaka was not in her bedroom.

"He tried to call her but her mobile phone was answered by an unknown male demanding cash or his sister will die," Kareli said.

Kareli said the brother called his mother and they reported the matter at the Kagisanong police station where a case of kidnapping was opened.

Police are appealing for information that can assist in the investigation into Machaka's murder.

They are urged to contact Colonel Bolsiek on 082 466 8530.

Meanwhile, police in the Free State are pleading with teenagers to stop providing or sharing personal information with unknown people online.

"We also wish to advice young girls not to agree to meet with anyone they met on social media,” Kareli said.