Ex-VP chasing shadows, says President’s Chicago lawyer.

Ex-VP chasing shadows, says President’s Chicago lawyer.

Mr Wole Afolabi, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Chicago-based lawyer said last night that all the claims by Atiku Abubakar on Chicago State University (CSU)’s documents on the President as obtained, were false.

He also said the former Vice President his on a wild goose chase, if he took the documents to the Supreme Court.

Speaking from his base on Television Continental (TVC), he said: “The wrong information was planted out there that President Bola Tinubu did not attend Chicago State University and someone sold that to Waziri Atiku Abubakar and on that premise, he approached, through his lawyers, the High Court in Chicago asking that its record be released to him that he had it on good authority that he (Tinubu) did not attend university. 

 “The Chicago State University (CSU) through its Registrar, deposed to an affidavit wherein it was stated that not only did the President attend CSU, but he in fact graduated with honours in very rigorous majors, accounting, he was one of their best students. No wonder, he was hired directly out of college.

“So, confronted with this information and being reluctant to beat a retreat they pivoted and went in the direction that the certificates that he (Tinubu) presented to INEC was forged.

“Now, the university came out and said that this is their characteristics. (For diplomas) what is important to them and to many universities is in America is transcripts.

“It is in the transcript that you see the grades, the courses that he took and everything related to the students, all you need to know about the students basically. But the diploma is merely ceremonial. 

“So, the university said the practice is that once you give it out (Diplomas) they don’t retain copies, so haven’t given out the version that the president submitted to INEC they did not have it in their possession.

“Now, at some point the president requested for a replacement diploma as some students do. It was prepared but the president did not go back to pick it up it was asked of the registrar why he did not pick it up or ask that it be sent to him and he correctly answered that ‘Why don’t you ask him?, I’m not in a position to answer to that.’”

Afolabi said Atiku’s camp failed to realise that “in America, it is not just one diploma that is issued for all purposes. You can have as many diplomas as you want if you want to apply for it or you have to do is to pay for it. 

“Like in the president’s case, there were other students who applied for the diplomas and didn’t pick them up. And this is school made available to Waziri Abubakar’s lawyers for comparison. Social media is awash with all of these documents.

“If you take a look at what was issued to the President and some of the samples that the university filed you’ll see similarities they are very similar. Honestly to me with all sense of responsibility to me honestly this is not it just doesn’t make any sense.

Afolabi also explained the use in court of the phrase “irreparable harm” in defence of Tinubu’s opposition to the release of his academic records.

He said there was nothing sinister or unusual about it, rather, it is a legalese.

But explaining what he meant, Afolabi said: “That was a lawyer’s language, that’s legalese. Any lawyer that you speak to who is a practitioner will tell you that when you approach the court of law to get an interlocutory relief that is after someone gets a judgement rule against you want to appeal you can go to the court and say you want a stay of execution, meaning don’t do that thing before this appeal or this review as in this case is done.

“It is actually one of the things you have to satisfy the court is that you have to tell the court that look your honour if you go ahead and allow this document to be released now irreparable harm would have been done. What does that mean in everyday language? It means that once the genie is out of the bottle, you can’t put it back. 

“Now, we contested based on FERPA laws – Federal Educational Rights Privacy Act – a student is entitled to protection, that a student’s records are entitled to protection, that was what we maintained. I have three kids here, one has graduated college and two are still in college; I don’t have access to their records. I can’t go to their registrar and say hey, I’m paying their tuition, turn these things over to me. 

“So, we maintained that under FERPA, the President is entitled to privacy to his records, unless he elects to release them. So, the magistrate judge Gilbert, having ordered that the documents be released within 48 hours, was just a few hours away from reaching the time frame. So we went to Judge MacDonald and said ‘your honour, put a stop to the execution of this order, because if you don’t and these records are released, then they’ll be nothing for you to review anymore.

“That was all that we meant by that. Not irreparable harm by being shot or been killed. No. It’s a legal term. If you’re asking for a stay, you have to demonstrate that if this order is not granted, there’ll be nothing for you to review and the judge listened to us and granted that order. The judge agreed with us.”

Ogun Begins Payment Of New Salaries To Beneficiaries Of 2021 Promotion.

Ogun Begins Payment Of New Salaries To Beneficiaries Of 2021 Promotion. 

In fulfilment of his promise to implement the payment of incremental salary of the 2021 Promotion in September, the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun has approved the immediate payment of new salary to beneficiaries of the 2021 Promotion.

The State Head of Service, Mr. Kolawole Fagbohun made this known in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta while fielding questions from journalists.

He said the 2021 and 2022 promotion letters were released to deserving Civil/Public Servants of the State in August 2023 with the assurance that the implementation of 2021 will take effect from September while that of 2022 in December.

"The implementation, which represents the government's demonstration at enhancing the welfare of Public Service and ensuring the healthy wellbeing of its workers, further complements government efforts in the ‘Building Our Future Together’ Agenda of the present administration" he noted.

Mr. Fagbohun added that while the implementation of 2022 promotion is expected in December, ‘’the State government, under the leadership of Prince Abiodun has embarked on various people-oriented policies and programmes, some of which are pivotal to his commitment towards the welfare and motivation of workers’’.

The Head of Service said others are directed towards providing succour for the petrol subsidy removal by the Federal Government which included, the renewal of the State Public Service via the appointment of key personnel, allocation of Official Vehicles to Government Officials, approval of Site and Services for Civil/Public Servants, payment of hazard allowance to health workers, payment of peculiar allowance to deserving workers, and release of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) bus to workers.

He further enumerated the efforts of the government in the area of workers’ welfare including payment of ₦10,000 cash palliative for Public Servants for a period of three months, approval of the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure for Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), various training initiatives for middle and management level officers.

Others are the constitution of various Committees to develop an induction/orientation manual, review of the Public Service Rules and the Financial Regulations, and approval to replace top-level Officers retiring from the Public/Civil Service at entry levels, among others.

Mr. Fagbohun said the Governor had also extended magnanimity to the pensioners through the; 

1. Implementation of the minimum pension of ₦10,000.00 to both the State and Local Government Pensioners,

2. The inauguration of a Committee on Pension Consequential Adjustment to review upward the Pensioners’ monthly pension across board, and to align with the economic reality, 

3. Payment of monthly pension to Fifteen Thousand, Four Hundred and Ninety-Six State pensioners as at when due, 

4. Upward review of the quarterly release of gratuity from Six Hundred Million Naira (₦600,000,000.00) to One Billion Naira (₦1,000,000,000.00), 

5. Distribution of palliatives to the citizens of the State including State Pensioners, 

6. The commencement of the direct payment of ₦10,000.00 palliative from July 2023 to State Pensioners and; 

7. Individual approvals of fund for Pensioners with urgent medical needs/surgery.

The Head of Service enjoined workers in the State to reciprocate the kind gestures of the Governor at enhancing the quality of the Civil/Public Service by being more dedicated and committed to their duties, and performing their responsibilities conscientiously, while equally providing all necessary support, toward the continued actualisation of the ISEYA mantra of the present administration.

Ogun Assembly Commends International Breweries For Promoting Local Content In Employment, Raw Materials.

Ogun Assembly Commends International Breweries For Promoting Local Content In Employment, Raw Materials. 

Ogun State House of Assembly has commended the management team of International Breweries Plc, for  giving high regards to the promotion of local content through massive employment of Nigerians in the company and major  reliance on local sources of raw materials for their products.

The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olakunle Oluomo, gave the commendation, while leading other members of the Assembly on a facility tour of the company as part of the stakeholders' engagement with the Management of the Gateway Plant of the Company along Abeokuta-Sagamu interchange in Obafemi/ Owode Local Government Area of the State.

Oluomo noted that for the Company to have Nigerians occupying the management positions and for all its employees being mainly Nigerians,  was a good step towards the growth and development of the nation's economy.

He also acknowledged the laudable efforts of the company in according high regards to safety in work environment, noting that such step would reduce office accidents and promote well-being of workers, which in turn would help boost the overall output of the company.

He encouraged the organisation not to rest on its oars, stressing the need to further encourage internship  programmes for  undergraduates of engineering from tertiary institutions and corps members posted to the State on safety and other training that would advance their career prospects.

Earlier in his presentation on safety and production process in the company, the Head of the Gateway Plant, Mr. Akintayo Olutunde, explained that the company which had its headquarters in Belgium, began its operations in the State in 2018, aside from other plants in Ilesha, Onisha and PortHarcourt. 

Mr. Olutunde said that the company accorded high regards to safety, maintenance, quality control, logistics and safe environment, adding that it relied on 97% local packaging materials with over 15,000 being employed through value chain.

He stressed that the company paraded 99% local manpower utilization out of 2,000 employees of the company, with high regards to water stewardship, smart agriculture,climate action, youth entrepreneurship and empowerment as well as stakeholders' engagement.

Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Olakunle Oluomo, 8th from right, Head of the Gateway Plant of International Breweries, Mr. Akintayo Olutunde (7th right) and other members of the Assembly and Staff of the company during a facility tour of the Plant at Abeokuta-Sagamu interchange, Ogun State.

Akpabio Mourns Adeyemi, Deceased Tribune Senate Correspondent.

Akpabio Mourns Adeyemi, Deceased Tribune Senate Correspondent.

The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, CON has expressed shock and sadness over the death of Alhaji Tijani Adeyemi, who was the Senate Correspondent of Tribune Newspapers.

In a statement issued on Thursday, October 5, 2023, through his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Hon Eseme Eyiboh, the Senate President lamented that Adeyemi’s death had robbed the nation of one of the richest handlers of the institution memory of the National Assembly.

Quoting from a letter to the widow, Alhaja Mamunat Adeyemi, he said:

“Though your husband and I were not particularly close, but my information is that he was a very peaceable and gentle in all his dealings.

“To his colleagues, he was a very diligent journalist whose assiduous dedication to duty made him one of the most established journalists in the National Assembly.

“I am informed that he qualifies to be so described as the doyen of the National Assembly Press Corp, having covered the Fourth National Assembly from about its establishment.

“Though he has crisscrossed the media terrain from broadcast to print under different organisations, it was the outstanding streak in legislative reporting that made the various organisations he worked for to post him to the National Assembly.

“The institutional memory of the National Assembly and his rich flair in legislative reporting shall surely be missed.

“On behalf of my Distinguished Colleagues, I pray God to comfort you and your four children.”

“I join you to pray for the repose of his soul in Aljannah Friddaus.”

EU Restates Support For President Tinubu’s Developmental Policies.

EU Restates Support For President Tinubu’s Developmental Policies.

....We're committed to partnerships that work, says VP Shettima.

The European Union (EU) has reassured of its relentless support for the development policies and programmes of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying it will continue to identify more areas of collaboration. 

The assurance was given by Rita Laranjinha, managing director of European Union's External Action Service, when she briefed Vice President Kashim Shettima on the forthcoming Ministerial Dialogue to be held on October 19, 2023. 

The VP, while welcoming the team to the Presidential Villa, reiterated Nigeria's resolve to remain open to interventions that work, adding that mutual and beneficial partnerships remained the utmost in President Tinubu's foreign policy directive. 

He maintained that the Tinubu administration remains a breath of fresh air, observing that despite its current share of challenges, "the nation, like a phoenix, will rise from the ashes of despair and soar.

"Support us and we will, in turn, support not just West Africa but the entire African continent as a result of our Domino effect. We are really out to reposition this country. God has blessed this nation. We have not utilised half of our arable and fertile land, much more our bountiful human resources. We are ready to partner with the EU in the execution of mutually beneficial projects and programmes to the benefit of Nigerians," the VP stated. 

Sen. Shettima who expressed concerns about migration issues called on the EU to join hands with the Tinubu administration in creating jobs in the digital world, more so that the EU agenda perfectly blends with the eight-point agenda of the Tinubu administration. 

Speaking earlier, Laranjinha who led the EU delegation, said she was in the country ahead of the Ministerial Dialogue with Nigerian officials billed to take place on October 19.

"This Ministerial Dialogue will be chaired by the Vice President of the EU Mission. He will be here to hold meetings with members of the Nigerian government to take stock of the relations between the EU and Nigeria in different areas and to prepare the way forward in this relationship. 

"Today, it was very clear that there is a lot of common interest in the relationship but there is still a lot that we can still do. Nigeria matters in the region, continent and the world, and the EU wants to make sure that we will be a partner of choice for Nigeria," Laranjinha submitted. 

She thanked the Vice President for his support, saying the EU delegation is committed to working closely with Nigeria in the different areas of trade, investments, energy, digitalization, peace and security matters.

FG To Launch $617M Investment In Digital, Creative Enterprises Programme.

FG To Launch $617M Investment In Digital, Creative Enterprises Programme.

....VP Shettima directs technical committee to ensure inclusivity.

Determined to deliver on the promise to create millions of jobs in the technology space, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration has proposed November 2023 to launch the $617.7 million Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (i-DICE) programme.

To ensure this unfolds into a reality, Vice President Kashim Shettima has given marching orders to members of the i-DICE Steering Committee, tasking them to make sure the programme starts before the end of November this year.

The VP gave the directive on Friday when the i-DICE team gave him an update on the progress made so far during a meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

At the meeting, Sen. Shettima emphasised the importance of the initiative to Federal Government’s digital jobs drive, saying the administration is keen on delivering on its promises to Nigerians.

Accordingly, he urged all partners in the i-DICE programme to ensure judicious utilisation of the funds, noting that the $617.7 million scheme could be a game changer.

The Vice President stated: “The peculiarity of the challenges we face in the country demands that we have to create jobs for our teeming youths to address the crises associated with youth unemployment. I want to appeal to all of us here to unite and see that this programme takes off latest by the end of November this year.

“I am interested in getting a weekly update on what is being done to kick-start this programme. We also need to spread out to cover the whole country so that there is inclusivity. If we judiciously utilise these funds, the target impact and anticipated benefits will be immense.

"I want to assure the technical committee, all those working on this programme and our international partners, that you will get all the support that you will need. We mean business. My boss, President Bola Tinubu, is passionate about the transformation of this country. So, you have nothing to worry about the government’s support".

Speaking with State House correspondents shortly after the meeting, Minister of Finance, Mr Wale Edun described the project as “very key to the promise of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly to the youth, for the creation of 1.2 million digital jobs. 

"This $617 million project will go a long way to achieving the President's priorities on job creation and economic growth, particularly inclusivity. One of the major elements is going to have 50% participation by women,” he added.

On his part, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Mr Bosun Tijjani, said the scheme is a unique opportunity.

He noted: “The Nigerian technology and creative ecosystem has been doing well and is the best on the continent. We actually want to be a leader globally. And there's no other way to do that than investing in the technology startups that are building these solutions. 

"So, the government is putting its skin in the game to say 'we want to support; we want to see more local confidence building'. And there's no other way to show that than by putting money in some of the startups.”

For his part, the Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, Mr Kayode Pitan, hinted that the Vice President gave them marching orders to start by next month.

He said, "The Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (i-DICE) Programme programme is actually a $617 million programme. The funding has been concluded with African Development Bank (AfDB), the French Development Agency (AFD) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).

“BOI (Bank Of Industry) also will put in some part of that funding. It will cover the digital area, the creative area and entertainment area, especially the areas that the youth are interested in. So, this is actually for the youths - people below 35. We have some grants, we have some loans. There's some equity, and for the startups, government is hoping that some new unicorns are going to emerge from this particular programme”.

Also present at the meeting were the Ministers of Science and Technology Innovation, Mr Uche Nnaji; Industry Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite; Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Hajiya Hannatu Musawa, among others.

Stanley Nkwocha

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications

(Office of the Vice President) 

6th October, 2023

Afe Babalola Accuses Governors Of Stealing Council Funds.

Afe Babalola Accuses Governors Of Stealing Council Funds.

Founder of Afe Babalola University in Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) has revealed that state governors in Nigeria are misappropriating funds allocated to them.

He accused the governors of misapplying financial allocations to local governments in their domains.

Babalola made this known yesterday in the state’s capital, while declaring open the eighth edition of the Afe Babalola Agricultural Expo.

He lamented that the ‘inactions’ of the governors were limiting the development at the grassroots as well as depriving the people of the benefits that they should access without stress.

The legal icon expressed displeasure with the way governors run the third tier of government.

He said the governors have made the local governments the appendages of the state government, thereby rendering them ineffective.

He subsequently called on President Bola Tinubu to send the local government their allocations directly from the Federation Account.