There is currently a large crowd at the office of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Marina, Lagos.

The crowd consists of persons trying to swap old currencies in line with the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari.

In his national broadcast on Wednesday, Buhari declared that old N500 and N1000 notes had ceased being legal tender, directing Nigerians to take the notes to the CBN and designated places.

He also ordered the CBN to recirculate old N200 notes until April 10.

Criticisms followed Buhari’s comment, especially from some governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state had said old N500 and N1000 notes remain legal tender in his state until Supreme Court rules otherwise.

Meanwhile, officials are struggling to control the crowd at the Lagos CBN office. At a point, they asked the depositors to take the old notes to their commercial banks, but the people rejected it.

Commenting on the situation, a social media user identified as Malik said his brother got to CBN in Marina around 6am in the morning and he was number 420 in the queue.

He said it was also difficult for many persons to generate the code needed for depositing money on CBN website.

The Prime Minister of Finland, Sanna Mirella Marin, has ordered former Radio Biafra anchorman, Barrister Simon Ekpa, to recant and withdraw her orders to stop election in South East region or face arrest for international terrorism.

Read the letter personally signed by the Prime Minister of Finland below:

President Muhammadu Buhari has authorised the use of the old N200 as legal tender until April 10, 2023.

The President announced this during a speech to Nigerians on Thursday morning.

See the full text below;

My Dear Compatriots,

I have found it necessary to address you today, on the state of the nation and to render account on the efforts of our administration to sustain and strengthen our economy, enhance the fight against corruption and sustain our gains in the fight against terrorism and insecurity which has, undoubtedly, been impacted by several internal and external factors.

2. Particularly, I am addressing you, as your democratically elected President, to identify with you and express my sympathy, over the difficulties being experienced as we continue the implementation of new monetary policies, aimed at boosting our economy and tightening of the loopholes associated with money laundering.

3. Let me re-assure Nigerians, that strengthening our economy, enhancing security and blockage of leakages associated with illicit financial flows remain top priority of our administration. And I shall remain committed to my oath of protecting and advancing the interest of Nigerians and the nation, at all times.

4. In the last quarter of 2022, I authorised the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to redesign the N200, N500, and N1000 Nigerian banknotes.

5. For a smooth transition, I similarly approved that the redesigned banknotes should circulate concurrently with the old bank notes, till 31 January 2023, before the old notes, cease to be legal tender.

6. In appreciation of the systemic and human difficulties encountered during implementation and in response to the appeal of all citizens, an extension of ten days was authorized till 10th February, 2023 for the completion of the process. All these activities are being carried out within the ambit of the Constitution, the relevant law under the CBN Act 2007 and in line with global best practices.

7. Fellow citizens, while I seek your understanding and patience during this transient phase of implementation, I feel obliged to avail you a few critical points underpinning the policy decision. These include:

a. The need to restore the statutory ability of the CBN to keep a firm control over money in circulation. In 2015 when this administration commenced its first term, Currency-in-Circulation was only N1.4 trillion.

b. The proportion of currency outside banks grew from 78%in 2015 to 85% in 2022. As of October 2022, therefore, currency in circulation had risen to N3.23 trillion; out of which only N500 billion was within the Banking System while N2.7 trillion remained permanently outside the system; thereby distorting the financial policy and efficient management of inflation;

c. The huge volume of Bank Notes outside the banking system has proven to be practically unavailable for economic activities and by implication, retard the attainment of potential economic growth;

d. Economic growth projections make it imperative for government to aim at expanding financial inclusion in the country by reducing the number of the unbanked population; and

e. Given the prevailing security situation across the country, which keeps improving, it also becomes compelling for government to deepen its continuing support for security agencies to successfully combat banditry and ransom-taking in Nigeria

8. Notwithstanding the initial setbacks experienced, the evaluation and feedback mechanism set up has revealed that gains have emerged from the policy initiative.

9. I have been reliably informed that since the commencement of this program, about N2.1 trillion out of the banknotes previously held outside the banking system, had been successfully retrieved.

10. This represents about 80% of such funds. In the short to medium and long terms, therefore, it is expected that there would be:

a. A strengthening of our macroeconomic parameters;

b. Reduction of broad money supply leading to a deceleration of the velocity of money in the economy which should result in less pressures on domestic prices;

c. Lowering of Inflation as a result of the accompanying decline in money supply that will slow the pace of inflation;

d. Collapse of Illegal Economic Activities which would help to stem corruption and acquisition of money through illegal ways;

e. Exchange Rate stability;

f. Availability of Easy Loans and lowering of interest rates; and

g. Greater visibility and transparency of our financial actions translating to efficient enforcement of our anti-money laundering legislations.

11. I am not unaware of the obstacles placed on the path of innocent Nigerians by unscrupulous officials in the banking industry, entrusted with the process of implementation of the new monetary policy. I am deeply pained and sincerely sympathise with you all, over these unintended outcomes.

12. To stem this tide, I have directed the CBN to deploy all legitimate resources and legal means to ensure that our citizens are adequately educated on the policy; enjoy easy access to cash withdrawal through availability of appropriate amounts of currency; and ability to make deposits.

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday declined to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to allow Nigerians in diaspora participate in the forthcoming general elections.

The court, in a judgement delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo, held that existing laws in the country didn’t permit INEC to include citizens in diaspora in the database of eligible voters for the election.

According to the court, by the provisions of Sections 77 (2) and 117 (2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, the right to vote was reserved for every citizen of Nigeria that has attained the age of 18 years and who is residing in the country at the time of registration of voters for the purpose of election.

Justice Ekwo noted that there was a lacuna in the Constitution that ought to be filled to guarantee the right of citizens outside the shores of the country to vote.

It will be recalled that Nigerians in diaspora had sued President Muhammadu Buhari and INEC, insisting they must be allowed to participate in the 2023 general elections.

The plaintiffs, who told the court that they are resident in the United Kingdom and various parts of the world, prayed the court to halt further preparations for the elections, pending their inclusion in INEC’s database.

They contended that the continued refusal of the electoral body to create room for them to participate in general elections, amounted to gross violation of their fundamental rights.

The suit marked: FHC/ ABJ/ CS/2119/2022, was brought by two plaintiffs, Chikwe Nkemnacho and Kenneth Azubuike Nkemnacho, both of whom are resident in the UK.

the plaintiffs, among other things, prayed the court to declare that they were entitled to participate in the electoral process by being registered to vote in 2023 and in all elections wherever they are domiciled worldwide, in line with sections 13, 14, 42 and 17 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

As well as a declaration that there was sufficient time for INEC to include them in its database.

Cited as 1st to 4th defendants in the matter were; the INEC and its Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, President Buhari and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In his judgement, Justice Ekwo held that the Constitution was specific that only citizens “residing in Nigeria”, could vote in an election.

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has asked all Igbos who desire to participate in the general elections, to vote for any candidate of their choice.

The group made this known in a statement released by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, on Wednesday, February 15.

Powerful was reacting to a threat issued via an audio by an alleged community leader in Lagos state saying those who fail to vote for a certain party in the forthcoming elections will not be allowed to do business in the locale.

According to the Nnamdi Kanu-led self-determination group, while referendum to determine whether the Igbos will continue with Nigeria or not is its interest, anyone from the South-East in any part of the country has the right to vote for any candidate of their choice.

Any Biafran (Igbo) who wants to vote in this election has the right to vote for any party or candidate of his/her choice, and nobody should direct or threaten them to vote a particular party in their community or state,? IPOB’s statement in part read

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Monday, Feb. 13, that elections will not hold in about 240 polling units across 28 States of the federation.

INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu disclosed this when he addressed members of the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) at the INEC headquarters in Abuja ahead of the elections.

He explained that the affected polling units have no registered voter.

He said with the exclusion of the 240 polling units, election will take place in about 176,606 polling units across the country.

Yakubu said: There are 240 polling units without registered voters spread across 28 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). They range from one polling unit to 12 polling units in each State and the FCT, except Taraba and Imo States with 34 and 38 polling units respectively.

No new registrants chose the polling units and no voters indicated interest to transfer to them during the last Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), mainly for security reasons. This means that no elections will hold in these polling units.

The Commission also warned that it will not accept a situation where two or more party agents report to the polling units and caused confusion. INEC added that any agent found to be engaged in such act will be arrested and prosecuted.

With two weeks left to the Presidential election, All Progressives Congress candidate (APC) Bola Tinubu has all but taken the gloves off in his battle against President Muhammadu Buhari’s men whom he has accused of frustrating his campaign. Will he come out on top? 

For the last six months, the ruling APC had been mocking the Presidential candidate of the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, over his dwindling chances at the poll due to a feud between him and five PDP governors known as the G5. 

This feud had made even public commentators write off Atiku in the upcoming election. However, unbeknownst to the APC, there were columnists within their ranks as well. 

“I don’t know which party my wife belongs to, but she belongs to my kitchen and my living room and the other room.”

[theafricareport]

Many churches in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on Sunday rejected the old N1,000, N500 and N200 notes as offerings, insisting on the new currencies.

This, it was gathered, constrained many worshippers to give their offerings electronically, following their inability to get the new naira notes which have remained unavailable.

Our correspondents who visited some churches in Abuja observed that old notes were not accepted in many churches.

At The Redeemed Christian Church of God located along Airport Road, the announcer said, “We have been given a directive last week to stop collecting the old notes, so please today, it is the new notes.

“I’m sure you have it and if you don’t have it, you can please make a transfer to the church account. Thank you.”

Also, a branch of the Church under FCT province 2 rejected the old notes and encouraged members to go cashless.

However, a new-generation church did not give preference on notes to be given

A member who spoke to our correspondent said, “We just collected offerings, old or new. People gave what they had.

“Every seat has a customised envelope that is usually on the chairs before the service starts and we either pay in the envelope or transfer it to the church account.”

At the Living Faith Church in Kubwa, a satellite town in FCT, it was observed that the church was no longer accepting old notes for offering and tithes.

The members were encouraged to transfer their offerings and tithes electronically or write a cheque.

However, a worshipper, Stephanie Ekpo told The PUNCH that in the past two weeks, the church has been announcing that it will no longer accept the old notes with effect from January 29.

Our correspondent who visited the regional headquarters of The Apostolic Faith Church, Jabi, observed a notice on the board warning members against offering the old naira notes.

One of the pastors also reiterated the warning during the Sunday service.

At the Dunamis Church along Airport Road, Lugbe, it was observed that old notes were still in circulation but the church prohibited members from spending the money with effect from Sunday.

At the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Sanctuary of Great God Parish, Dutse Tipper Garage, the collection of offerings went on normally, and there was no announcement regarding the new naira or any preference of notes.

At the Petra Christian Centre, Peka Park and Gardens, Wuse Zone 3, members were seen offering both the old and new currencies.

Equally at the Celebration Church, Eden Park and Gardens, Utako, there was no preference for the new notes.

The Living Faith Church in the Lokogoma area of FCT did not reject the old notes.

Also, at the Celestial Church of Christ, Central Cathedral, Garki, our correspondent reports that there was no restriction on the old notes but it was observed that the majority of the congregants gave the new notes as offerings.

At the Living Faith Church, Jikwoyi, Abuja, parishioners had no directive on the use of old or new currency notes for either offering or tithes.

The Senior Deacon, Gabriel Idris, who monitors offering and tithes’ collection told our correspondent that the bulk of monies collected in the church were old notes.

“You know ours is a big church. Banks come at every service to take the money away. What we collected today were mostly old notes. I can say more than 90 per cent of what worshippers gave the church in the form of offerings and tithes were old notes,” he said.

The same situation was observed at the Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Kubwa, Abuja, where members freely gave the old notes during the mass.

The PUNCH also observed that some churches around Lagos and its environs are still collected the old notes as offering on Sunday.

A leader in one of the churches along Ikotun-Idimu Road, Alimosho Local Government Area, who simply gave his name as Mr Augustine said, “Churches can still collect the old currency for today because they have tomorrow to go and make the deposits in the bank. But no one may be collecting the old notes within the week.”

A member of the Redeemed Church along, Liasu Road, Egbe, Ikotun, who doesn’t want his name on prints, said there parish still collected old notes as offerings and other things on Sunday.

The Atiku-Okowa Presidential Campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has commenced court proceedings to disqualify the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, over criminal conviction and sentencing by a court of competent jurisdiction in the United States over trafficking in narcotics.

However, APC PCC immediately countered the PDP, saying the party did not only lack originality but was also a copycat.

But PDP’s move is a counter to the APC which on January 20, approached the courts to disqualify Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the PDP from the presidential poll over what it termed as #Atiku-Gate and Special Purpose Vehicle, SPV, saga.

Yesterday, the PDP insisted that the conviction of Tinubu for a criminal offence by a court of competent jurisdiction in the United States of America rendered him ineligible to contest any election.

The spokesman of the Campaign, Kola Ologbondiyan, said this at a media briefing in Abuja yesterday.

Ologbondiyan said the decision of a court in Chicago, which led to Tinubu forfeiting $460,000 in funds believed to be proceeds of crime, specifically, the sale and distribution of narcotics renders his nomination null and void.

He said: “Nigerians are not unaware of the criminal matter concerning the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in respect of his criminal conviction and sentencing by a court of competent jurisdiction in the United States over a criminal case of trafficking in narcotics for which Tinubu forfeited the sum of $460,000 to the state.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the United States court in sentencing Asiwaju Tinubu ordered ‘that the funds in the amount of $460,000 in account 263226700 held by First Heritage Bank in the name of Bola Tinubu represent proceeds of narcotics trafficking or were involved in financial transactions in violation of 18 U.S.C. S1956 and 1957 and therefore these funds are forfeited to the United States pursuant to 21 U.S.C. S881(a)(6) and 18 U.S.C S981.’

“From the declaration of the court and the sentencing, it is clear that Asiwaju Tinubu was summarily convicted by the court, he took no step to challenge the judgment but acceded to the forfeiture of the $460,000 found to be the proceeds of narcotics trafficking.” 

The PDP campaign Spokesman noted that it is an established fact that trafficking in narcotics is an international crime which all nations are obligated by international conventions and statutes to arrest, prosecute and implement any court judgment imposed on offenders anywhere in the world, as well as the consequential effects of such judgments.

He further said: “Having been convicted and having acceded to be guilty as charged by way of forfeiture of the $460,000, Nigeria is a signatory to International Convention is mandatorily obligated to execute the consequential effect of that conviction by virtue of Section 137 (1) (d) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). 

“For clarity, Section 137 (1) (d) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) provides that:(1) A person shall not be qualified for election to the office of President if….(d)

“He is under a sentence of death imposed by any competent court of law or tribunal in Nigeria or a sentence of imprisonment or fine for any offence involving dishonesty or fraud (by whatever name called) or for any other offence, imposed on him by any court or tribunal or substituted by a competent authority for any other sentence imposed on him by such a court or tribunal.” 

He explained that the import of the constitutional provision was that having been so convicted and fined and having acceded to the sentencing by way of forfeiture of $460,000 and have not received any state pardon or acquitted by any court of competent jurisdiction, “Tinubu remains a convict and the consequential effect is that he cannot contest the election at any level in Nigeria.”

The PDP Campaign equally said: “The effect is that the listing of the name of Bola Tinubu, who stands convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction on the ballot for the 2023 presidential election is by the virtue of Section 137 (1) (d) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) fundamentally illegal, invalid and must be expunged immediately.”

Ologbondiyan also revealed that the PDP has approached the courts to seek Tinubu’s disqualification.

He said: “Our Campaign has proceeded to the court demanding the court to:

“Declare Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Presidential Candidate of the APC, having been convicted, as ineligible to contest the Presidential election by virtue of section 137 (1) (d) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“Compel the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to immediately delist Asiwaju Tinubu as Presidential candidate of the APC or any other political party for that matter and expunge his name from all materials and documents related to the 2023 Presidential election.”

According to him, the PDP campaign is also filing for an accelerated hearing in order to save the nation from an impending catastrophe.

He said: “This case is in the interest of the nation as our laws do not permit a convict, let alone an individual convicted on account of the international crime of trafficking in narcotic, to stand election at any level.

“Nigeria cannot afford the embarrassment of having a convict hold office at any level against our laws.”

Gunmen who kidnapped three persons in Fulani settlements near Iwo town, Osun State, have reportedly told families of the victims to pay ransom in dollars.

WITHIN NIGERIA had reported that gunmen kidnapped the victims after invading the community at about 10 pm last Friday.

According to PUNCH, one of the victims, Adams Ojonla, has regained his freedom after the abductors ran into some hunters around the Papa area of Iwo on Monday.

The gunmen numbering eight kidnapped 38-year-old Ojonla, a Fulani; Hamzat Ibrahim and Deere Ibrahim, both Bororo, at Idi Araba and Laagi Fulani, along Iwo/Aawe/Oyo Road last Friday.

During the encounter at Papa, the abductors were said to have engaged the hunters in a gun battle, during which Ojonla was abandoned.

PUNCH reported that the abductors told the families of the remaining victims during negotiation to pay the ransom in dollars.

A source said, “They contacted the families of those abducted late on Sunday. They initially asked for N5m for each one of them. But today (Monday), they reduced the sum to N4m for each of the two people in their custody.

“Police operatives and hunters are on the trail of the perpetrators. One person has been rescued, but two are still being held.”

The state police spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, said, “One person has been rescued. But a search-and-rescue operation is still on to free others.”

The Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has voted to increase the benchmark interest rate by 100 basis points, from 16.5% to 17.5 percent to tame inflation.

The CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, disclosed this Tuesday, Jan. 24, while reading the communiqué of the end of the two-day MPC meeting in Abuja, the first of the year.

The development means this is the fifth time the CBN would increase the interest rate despite calls by stakeholders against the increment.

The CBN said previous increases were beginning to yield results with the slight drop in the inflation rate recorded in December 2022.

However, the CBN stressed that there was a need to keep tightening its fiscal policy.

Meanwhile, the CBN retained other variables including the asymmetric corridor at +100/-700 basis points around the MPR.

The CBN also retained the CRR at 32.5 per cent while the liquidity ratio was kept at 30 per cent.

Earlier, the apex bank had increased the MPR from 11.5 per cent earlier last year to 16.5 per cent across four consecutive rate hikes in 2022.

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has sued the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, over an alleged defamatory publication.

Through his lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, Kanu accused the AGF of defaming him by claiming he jumped bail.

He went on to demand N20bn for damages.

Ejimakor, who shared copies of the suit on his Twitter page on Tuesday, Jan. 17, noted that Malami’s ”defamatory publication” was injurious to Kanu’s pending cases.

Ejimakor tweeted, “Last week, I filed a Suit against AGF Malami to stop him from making any further defamatory publication that Onyendu #MNK jumped bail. Such publication is highly prejudicial & injurious to MNK’s other cases pending in various courts. It has to stop!”

In the suit, Kanu demanded, “a declaration of this Honorable Court that, in view of the said Judgment of Abia State High Court, the Defendant’s published statements or utterances to the effect that Claimant jumped bail, as published in the said Vanguard newspaper publication, are libelous and defamatory;

“An order of this Honourable Court directing the Defendant to retract the said Vanguard newspaper publication through another press statement to the Vanguard newspaper;

“An order of this Honorable Court directing the Defendant to write and deliver to the Claimant, an unreserved letter of apology. The letter of apology shall be prominently and boldly published full-page in two Nigerian Newspapers of national circulation, namely: Guardian Newspaper and Sun Newspaper.

“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the Defendant from further and forever uttering the said defamatory and libelous words about or concerning the Claimant;

“An order of this Honorable Court directing the Defendant to pay to the Claimant the sum of N20,000,000,000.00 (Twenty Billion Naira only) being general and exemplary damages.”

The Nigeria Immigration Service, on Monday, opened its portal for the 2023 recruitment for interested applicants across the country.

According to a statement on the official website of the Service, the recruitment is open to applicants who want to apply for the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board.

The application processes highlight 12 major things to know in order to have a successful application below:

1. Start and end dates of application 

The application into the NIS began on Monday, January 16, 2023, and will end after two weeks, that is January 30, 2023.

2. Method of Application

All NIS Applications shall be made online. And candidates are expected to log on to the portal to fill out and submit the application form. Candidates are advised to print out the Referee forms which must be duly completed for submission during the Screening.

3. Positions available and their qualifications

Category A: Superintendent Cadre:  

i. Superintendent of Immigration (SI) compass 11 professional (Doctors): Applicants must possess a first degree in MBBS from a recognised institution of higher learning and an NYSC discharge/exemption certificate.

ii. Deputy Superintendent of Immigration (DSI) CONPASS 10 professional (pharmacists): Applicants must possess a first degree in Pharmacy from a recognised institution of higher learning and an NYSC discharge/exemption certificate.

iii. Assistant Superintendent of Immigration II (ASI) CONPASS 08: Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree, Higher National Diploma or its equivalent from a recognised institution.

Category B: Inspectorate Cadre: 

i. Assistant Inspector Immigration (All) General Duty CONPASS 06; Applicants must be holders of a National Diploma, NCE or Advance NABTEB obtained from recognised institutions.

Category C: Assistant Cadre:

i. Immigration Assistant; (IA I11) CONPASS 03 General Duty: Applicants must be holders of GCE Ordinary Level, SSCE/NECO, GCE or its equivalent with a minimum of 4 credits in not more than two (2) sittings, which must include English and Mathematics.

ii. Immigration Assistant III (IA III CONPASS 03 Artisans: a) motor driver b) Mechanic: Applicants must be holders of ordinary level SSCE or its equivalents and appropriate trade test certificate.”

3. Nationality of applicants

The NIS said all applicants must be Nigerians by birth. 

4. Documents needed for application

i.National Identity Number

ii. e-copy of certificates and requisite qualifications in the section of the application.

iii. Certificates of medical fitness from government-recognised hospitals.

5. Test of drugs or other substances 

All applicants must do a drug test to be qualified for the recruitment.

6. Financial stability

Although the NIS did not state an amount to have for its financial status, it said any of its applicants must not be ‘financially embarrassed’.

7. Age limits

All applicants must be between the ages of 18 years and 30 years with the exception of doctors and pharmacists who must not be more than 35 years. 

8. Computer Literacy

Although, this is not a must to have, the NIS has considered it an added advantage for applicants.

9. Chest measurement

The applicant’s chest measurement only applies to men and must not be less than 0.87.

10. Failure to submit the certificate 

NIS said any certificate or qualification not declared and accepted during documentation should not be accepted after the recruitment.

11. Disqualification

NIS said candidates with multiple applications shall be disqualified.

12. Exam mode

The recruitment exam mode shall be a Computer Based Test for shortlisted candidates and an appropriate time and date shall be communicated.