Breaking News in Nigeria Today: Atiku Abubakar Goes to America and Czech offers Nigerians €4,000 to Leave. Continue reading iDonsabi for more.

1. Court Grants Senator Dino Melaye Bail

Kogi-West Senator, Dino Melaye has been granted bail by an FCT High court in Maitama, Abuja.

iDonsabi has gathered that the presiding judge, Justice Halilu, granted him the bail at the resumed hearing of the case on Friday.

Before the case was adjourned on Thursday, Justice Halilu had ordered the Nigeria Police Force to show cause for Melaye’s continued detention by the force sinceof the senator who according to him had been in their custody since January 4, 2019.

SEE ALSO: Court Orders Police to Prove Cause for Detaining Melaye

2. My US Ban was Disinformation – Atiku

In an interview with VOA Hausa in Washington DC, PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar said stories that he was banned from the United States were ‘disinformation’.He spoke on Thursday, after his arrival at Washington DC, where he lodged at Trump’s International Hotel.

In his words, he said: “my coming to the United State is in the hands of Americans if they decided to issue a Visa to me I will definitely come and if they refused to give me I cannot come. And now they have issued it to me and I am here”.

3. Buhari is Fighting Opposition, Not Corruption – Atiku

Presidential candidate of the PDP; Atiku Abubakar has come down hard on President Muhammadu Buhari over his treatment of the corruption allegations against Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State.

Speaking during a town hall meeting, tagged ‘’The Candidates,’ on NTA in Abuja, Wednesday night, the President said he decided not to take any action about the issue because the state assembly has the mandate to deal with it.

But in a statement, yesterday, Atiku accused President Buhari of defending his inaction with regard to the alleged bribery case.

According to Atiku, Buhari’s excuse was untenable because the President has never shown this level of inaction when condemning the alleged corruption cases of non-APC members.

4. APC Disciplinary C’ttee Plans Okorocha’s Expulsion

The Imo State APC, 9-man Disciplinary Committee, yesterday recommended that Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha be expelled from APC for engaging in anti-party activities.

The letter from the disciplinary committee was was signed by the committee chairman, Matthew Omeghara and Secretary, Mr Kevin Ugwu.

One of the reasons why the Committee wants to sack him reads, “That His Excellency was openly and brazenly, sponsoring, financing,   campaigning for his son-in-law Uche Nwosu, who is the gubernatorial candidate of Action Alliance, AA”.

5. FG to Review Revenue Sharing Formula Over Minimum Wage

The FG is considering a review of the federation allocation sharing formula as demanded by Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, to make provisions for the N30, 000 minimum wages for states.

The governors had given the review as one of two conditions upon which they would pay the proposed N30, 000.

The second condition was to downsize workforce, claiming that accepting to pay the new wage without fulfillment of the conditions will make the states go bankrupt.

Though the Minimum Wage Tripartite Committee, led by the former Head of Service of the Federation, Ms Ama Pepple, had recommended N30,000, the Federal Government agreed to pay N24,000, while state governments insisted on N22,500.

However, with the threat by the organised labour to shutdown the economy if the government refused transmission and implementation of the N30, 000 new minimum wage, the FG has decided to take the governors’ request of possible review to the National Economic Council, expected to meet on January 22.

ALSO READ: Buhari Declines Assent to 5 Bills

6. Atiku Abubakar Goes to America

PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has arrived at Dulles International Airport, in the United States of America.

Atiku is on a working visit to Washington DC.

The PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar will engage in bilateral meetings with a high powered, bi-partisan delegation of US congressmen who are deeply concerned and troubled about the future of democracy in Nigeria.

The delegation is seeking Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s views on how best the United States can support Nigeria in ensuring democracy and the will of the people is made a priority.

7. Army Announces January 23 for Alex Badeh’s Burial

The Defence Headquarters has announced January 23 for the burial of former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (rtd).

The Acting Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General John Agim announced the date on Friday.

Activities lined-up for the interment of the former defence chief will begin on Sunday with the Service of Songs at the Nigerian Air Force Base Protestant Church in Abuja.

This would be followed by a church service at same venue on Wednesday next week.

Badeh would be laid to rest later in the afternoon at the National Military Cemetery in the nation’s capital.

HAVE YOU READ: Buhari Reveals What Will Happen to Protesting Soldiers?

8. Governor Wike’s SA, Onuoha Kidnapped

The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the Kidnap of the Senior Special Adviser to Governor Nyesom Wike on Lands and Survey, Chief Anugbom Onuoha.

Onuoha was kidnapped Thursday night by heavily armed gunmen after exchange of gunfire at his Hotel around Ada George area of Port Harcourt.

The gunmen, it was gathered overpowered 4 armed Mobile Police officers attached to the SA.

The Spokesman for the Command, DSP Nnamdi Omoni confirmed the kidnap saying the gunmen had military uniforms.

9. FG Says Atiku Has a Corruption Case to Answer

The FG has announced that the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar has a corruption case to answer when he returns from the United States.

Minister of Information and Culutre, Lai Mohammed announced this to State House reporters on Friday.

He said Atiku who left the country on Thursday will explain his role in the collapse of the defunct Bank PHB when he returns.

10. Czech Republic offers Nigerians, Others €4,000 to Leave Country

The Czech Republic has set up a new programme meant to encourage migrants from Nigeria, Iraq, Mongolia, Russia and Vietnam to leave their country and not return.

A local newspaper, Remix, reports that anyone who voluntarily leaves the country and promises not to return not only to the Czech Republic but to the European Union would be eligible for the money.

The programme, tagged Returns is supposed to help them fund transportation costs and integration in their countries of origin, including accommodation, household equipment or domestic animal expenses.

11. How APC, Cabal Plan to ‘Kill’ Buhari – Secondus

The National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus on Friday called on the APC and members of what he described as a cabal in the Presidency, not to kill President Muhammadu Buhari with undue pressure.

Secondus made the call on Friday while inaugurating 27 Presidential election campaign committees at the party’s headquarters in Abuja.

He said that for selfish reasons, some power grabbers were putting undue pressure on the President.

According to Secondus, from what Nigerians and the international community were witnessing around the President lately, it was obvious that the president is tired and can no longer perform in his role as Head-of-state.

His words: “He (Buhari) is tired and incapable but they would not let him. There is no way this President can cope given what we are witnessing and added to that is the incompetence in leadership that Nigerians have been seeing in the last three years.