Latest News in Nigeria Today 23rd January 2019

In Today Latest News:  EU Speaks On Preferred Presidential Candidate and CJN Onnoghen Loses in Court, Continue reading iDonsabi for more latest news…

1. IMF Announces Downward Review for Nigerian Economy

International Monetary Fund (IMF) has made a downward review of of its growth forecast for Nigeria’s economy in 2019 to 2.0%. This declination in growth forecast was attributed to the current fall in crude oil prices.

The IMF made this announcement in its World Economic Outlook, WEO,  January update which was released yesterday.

The Organization also projected that global economic growth will weaken to 3.5% this year due to the negative impact of the ongoing trade war between the United States and China.

2. EU Speaks On Preferred Presidential Candidate

European Union (EU) has announced it has no preferred candidate or party in the forthcoming presidential election in Nigeria.

EU made its position in the coming elections known on Tuesday at a press conference organised by the EU-Election Observer Mission to Nigeria (EOM) 2019 in Abuja.

According to the Chief Observer of the Mission, Maria Arena, the EU-EOM will only “come with a fresh pair of eyes, looking just at the election process”.

In her words: “We are not interested in the outcome of the elections; we have no interest in seeing this or that candidate or party win. We are here to observe if the electoral process was conducted in a transparent and credible manner,” she said.

3. Workers Bundle MD Out of Enugu Hospital

A mild drama occured at the Federal Neuropsychiatic Hospital Enugu, as an embattled Medical Director, Dr. Jojo Onwukwe was bundled out of the hospital by the workers.

Reports say that Onwukwe was suspended on 10th January, 2019 by the Hospital Board over some allegations.

However, Onwukwe tried to make a forceful return to resume duties on Monday, two weeks after his suspension.

He had sent an advanced team of policemen to the hospital on Monday, an action that was said to have provoked the workers.

The workers in return mobilized themselves and laid in wait for the Medical Director, vowing not to let him in.

On Tuesday when the Medical Director finally tried to make his full return to work,the workers made real their threat and bundled him out of the Hospital.

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4. Namdi Kanu is Anti-Christ – Prophet Nwoko

An Enugu-based prophet, Anthony Nwoko, has sounded a note of warning to all IPOB members that their leader, Nnamdi Kanu is an anti-Christ. He also described Kanu as deceitful.

He said the IPOB leader was an anti-Christ and a cruel businessman in politics who does not truly have the interest of the Igbos at heart.

The Prophet made these statements on Monday while addressing reporters in Enugu.

He also warned Kanu’s followers to stop the loyalty and allegiance to him, adding that the IPOB leader would only use and dump them at critical time.

The cleric finally stated that IPOB members were still ignorant of Kanu’s true character

5. Senate Adjourns Sitting Over Lack of Quorum

The Senate on Tuesday adjourned plenary to Wednesday after about ten minutes of sitting over lack of quorum.

Their sitting on Tuesday had in attendance only five Senators out of the 109.

After an opening prayers by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Senator Olushola Adeyeye moved a motion for adjournment to Wednesday.

Adeyeye said it was not normal in parliamentary practice for sitting to take place when a quorum was not formed.

The lawmakers that were present at the plenary include: Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki; Senator Philip Aduda; Senator Emmanuel Bwacha; Senator Olushola Adeyeye; Senator Shaba Lafiagi

6. CJN Onnoghen Loses in Court

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Tuesday has refused granting a request by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, to make an order stopping his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT.

The CCT had on January 14 fixed January 22 for hearing in the six counts of false assets declaration filed by the Code of Conduct Bureau against CJN Onnoghen.

Recall also that two non-govermental organisations, namely the Centre for Justice and Peace Initiative, CJPI, and International Association of Students, IAS, had approached the Abuja Federal High Court to request an order stop the charges against the CJN.

However, the three Justices of the Court of Appeal declined granting Onnoghen’s request for an order stop the CCT trial.

According to the Appeal Court panel, “We are of the view that no form of order shall be made at this stage pending hearing of motion on notice.” The suit was adjourned till January 24.

7. Buhari ‘Fake’ Fulani Man – Atiku

The Presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, has taken another jab at President Buhari.

He said the president is not “a full-fledged Fulani man because he cannot speak Fulfulde.”

Atiku stated this on Monday at the PDP campaign rally in Jigawa. He also described President Buhari as ‘fake’ Fulani man.

In his words: ”a real Fulani man would not drag his followers into extreme poverty like what is happening under the APC administration”.

8. Buhari Campaign Organization Sues Atiku for N40m

The Buhari Campaign Organisation, BCO, has filed a N40million libel suit against the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, accusing him of defaming President Muhammadu Buhari and his family.

President Buhari was cited as the 2nd Plaintiff in the suit that was lodged before an FCT High Court.

The Plaintiffs are praying the court to compel Atiku Abubakara to pay damages for alleging that President Buhari and members of his family were the real owners of 9mobile and Keystone Bank.

The BCO, in the suit that has Atiku’s aide, Mr. Phrank Shaibu as the 1st defendant, insisted that the claim was not only false, but very libelous.

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9. NLC Rejects N27,000 Minimum Wage

The Nigeria Labour Congress has rejected the N27,000 new national minimum wage adopted by the National Council of States on Tuesday.

According to the NLC Secretary-General, Dr. Peter Ozo-Esonh, the council has no jurisdiction determining another amount after a Tripartite Committee had submitted its report.

However, Ozo-Eson said the NLC has scheduled an emergency National Executive Council meeting for Friday to determine their next line of action.

He also added that the FG was only pushing for a shutdown of the economy with its latest action.

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10. ECOWAS, Others Move to Eliminate Child Marriage in West Africa

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced their interest to eliminate child marriage in West Africa.

They mapped out to do this through the validation and implementation of its reviewed Child Policy and Plan of Action.

ECOWAS Commissioner for Social Affairs and Gender, Dr. Siga Jagne, at an experts’ validation meeting on child policy in Abuja yesterday said the increasing rate of child marriage in West Africa was unacceptable.

He said the West African region accounts for the highest in Africa and also the second highest in the world.

She stated that: “Two ECOWAS countries, Nigeria and Niger, rank among the 20 countries with the largest absolute number of child marriages in the world.”

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