Latest News in Nigeria Today 28th January 2019
Latest News Today: NAF to Send Female Soldiers to Battle against Boko Haram. Read more Quick News on iDonsabi…
1. El-Rufai ‘Reveals’ Plot to Disrupt Elections
Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El Rufai has alleged that there is a plot by the PDP to disrupt the forthcoming elections.
He said the PDP is afraid of an imminent defeat by the APC.
El-rufai made the allegation during a stakeholders’ meeting in Kaduna over the weekend.
The governor cited an unnamed intelligence reports as basis for his allegations.
2. NAF to Send Female Soldiers to Battle against Boko Haram
The Nigerian Airforce (NAF) has announced that from now onwards it will deploy air women and female air officers in the on-going counter-insurgency operation against Boko Haram terrorists in the North-East.
Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar on Sunday told news men that NAF is a gender-sensitive armed force that encourages both gender to explore their potentials in the military service without any form of limitation.
According to the Air Chief: “We call them Women of War as they are well trained to engage in combat and combat support operations for peace, security and national development.”
3. Senator Abe Pinpoints Amaechi in the Dissolution of NDDC Board
Rivers South-East Senator in the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Abe, has reacted to the removal of Derek Mene as the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.
Abe, in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Parry Benson, said no amount of arm-twisting will make him abandon the struggle for justice.
It is no longer a secret that Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi was behind the removal of Derek Mene as a Director of the NDDC Board, Abe explained.
Abe added that despite the touted dissolution of the Board, Derek Mene was the only executive removed in the dissolution.
He further alleged that Derek Mene’s position has now been given to someone from Rivers East Senatorial District, the home district of the Minister and present Governor of the State.
SEE ALSO: Senate, House of Representatives Should Impeach Buhari – Fani-Kayode
4. Tribunal to Rule on Ekiti Fayemi and Olusola on Monday
The judgment of the Ekiti Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in Abuja will be delivered today being Monday, 28th January.
The PDP governorship candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, had challenged the declaration of the now Governor Kayode Fayemi of the APC as winner of the July 14, 2018, governorship election.
Kolapo recorded a total of 178,223 votes in the election while Fayemi recorded 197, 459,
However, Kolapo alleged that there were irregularities in the election supposedly won by Fayemi.
5. NJC to Hold Emergency Meeting on Monday over Onnoghen’s Suspension
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has summoned an emergency meeting of its members today, Monday 28th January over the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen.
The meeting will be held by 10am in Abuja on Monday.
Neither the suspended CJN, Onnoghen or the acting CJN, Tanko Ibrahim Muhammad will preside over the meeting.
Recall that President Buhari had on Friday suspended Onnoghen and subsequently appointed Muhammed as acting CJN.
6. Okonjo-Iweala Eyes World Bank Presidency
Nigeria’s former two-time Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has declared that she is ready to take up the job of President of the World Bank, if she is nominated.
Okonjo-Iweala, a former senior World Bank official, contested for the position against Kim in 2012 and is considered a front runner in the race this year.
7. FG Releases Names of Illegal Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria
The Federal Government has directed the immediate crackdown on all illegal tertiary institutions across the country in a bid to make the job of regulatory agencies easier and protect students.
The directive was announced by the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, in a press conference in Abuja on Sunday.
Some of the illegal universities as identified by the NUC include, University of Accountancy and Management Studies, University of Industry, Yaba, Lagos, Blacksmith University, Awka, Atlanta University Anyigba, Logo state and UNESCO University, Ndoni, River State.
Some of the foreign operators in Nigeria include, Columbus University, UK, London External Studies, UK, Pebbies University, UK, Tiu International University, UK, among others.
Similarly, Adonai Polytechnic, Benue, Al-Ameen College of Health Sciences and Technology, Kaduna state, Assam School of Basic Health Science and Technology, Kaduna, Bethel Polytechnic, Benue State and Grand Royal College of Health Technology, Ekiti State were on the list of 68 unapproved polytechnics and Monotechnics compiled by the NUC.
8. Fulani Herdsmen Speaks on Buhari, Atiku Presidential Bids
The leader of coalition of Fulani herdsmen groups in Nigeria, Alhaji Saleh Bayari says they have endorsed neither President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC nor Atiku Abubakar of the PDP.
The Fulani Herdsmen leader stated that Buhari and Atiku are both Fulani men.
He added that they can only urge their members to elect anyone who is sympathetic to their pastoralists’ cause.
Bayari spoke at a National Delegates’ meeting of coalition of Fulani Associations from the 36 states of the federation including the FCT held in Sokoto on Sunday.
ALSO READ: CCT Ordered Me to Suspend Justice Onnoghen – Buhari
9. We Didn’t Endorse Atiku – Ohanaeze Secretary-General
The Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Barr Uche Okwukwu has denied that Ohanaeze Ndigbo endorsd Atiku Abubakar as its preferential presidential candidate in the forthcoming presidential election.
Speaking with reporters in Awka on Sunday, Okwukwu said that there was never a meeting of Ime-Obi Ohanaeze where the body endorsed a candidate for Ndigbo.
In his words, “No such thing was done and anybody purporting to have had any Imo-Obi meeting where Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was endorsed as our Presidential candidate is on his own.”
Okwukwu further informed the public that the Ohanaeze Ndigbo as a body will soon hold the Ime-Obi meeting where it would decide, endorse and announce its choice presidential candidate.
10. Presidency Fires Back at US, UK, EU, Says Onnoghen Not Removed
The Presidency yesterday said the position of the US, UK and EU on the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen was driven by unfounded assumptions.
Recall that the US, UK and the EU had in separate statements condemned the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN Walter Onnoghen barely 20days to the presidential election.
The presidency has now clarified its action to the US, UK, EU saying that the CJN has neither been removed from office nor permanently replaced.
In Garba Shehu’s words, “CJN Onnoghen has been suspended pending the final determination of the substantive issues in his matter. The suspension is only temporary. This is only as it should be. He cannot sit as both defendant and umpire in his own matter.”
