Author: Chief Editor

The Progressives Governors’ Forum has broken its silence on the exit of former National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, and National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, saying it was a voluntary action. Chairman of the forum and Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State stated this while addressing newsmen at the end of their closed-door meeting in Abuja on Wednesday night. This was even as the governors elected on the platform of APC apologised for the recent adjustment in the pump price of petrol from the previous N550 to N617, promising that the current hardship occasioned by the skyrocketing…

President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday evening met with Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and some state Governors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The meeting comes on the eve of the administration’s second National Economic Council meeting scheduled to hold at the State House on Thursday morning. Although the details of Wednesday’s closed-door meeting are not yet public, The PUNCH gathered that the meeting was convened by the President as part of steps to restructure the economy. Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communication and Strategy, Mr Dele Alake, said the leaders also considered final arrangements…

The economic crisis in the country has continued to deepen with a spike in inflation as President Bola Tinubu delayed the composition of the Federal Executive Council 52 days after taking office. The Fifth Amendment to the Nigerian Constitution mandates the president and governors to submit the names of their ministerial and commissioner-nominees within 60 days of taking the oath of office for confirmation by the Senate or state House of Assembly. The cabinet gives a glimpse into the President’s governance style, policy direction, and the team executing the administration’s agenda. The Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly…

First batch of petrol, 27 million litres imported by an independent marketer has arrived in the country, putting an end to a downstream monopoly market once enjoyed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited. The vessel, ST Nnene earlier billed to arrive since last week, but was held down off Lome waters due to adverse weather, birthed at Ijegun-Egba on Wednesday following the official end to subsidies by President Bola Tinubu on May 29. ST Nnene, The PUNCH gathered, had cost Emadeb Energy’s Chief Executive Officer, Adebowale Olujimi, and its bank partners of $17m (about N13b) to hire. Five financial institutions- Polaris,…

On Tuesday, July 18, 2023, the Federal High Court in Lagos, presided over by Hon. Justice Liman, delivered a judgment in favour of Honeywell Flour Mills Plc (HFMP) in its damages suit against Ecobank Nigeria. In his judgment, Hon. Justice Liman carefully considered the arguments presented by both parties and acknowledged the issues at hand. He granted all reliefs sought by HFMP, dismissing Ecobank’s request: The plaintiff was denied the use of funds in his account based on the ex parte order granted in favour of the defendant. It is therefore, my firm view that the Plaintiff is entitled to the amount…

The Supreme Court has faulted the claim on social media that President Bola Tinubu had a phone conversation with the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) in relation to the proceedings before the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC). The apex court’s spokesman, Dr. Festus Akande said this in a statement on yesterday. The statement reads: “In view of the rumour currently circulating in the social media space that the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola had a telephone conversation with His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Director General of the Department of State Service (DSS) with a view to…

The Federal High Court in Abuja has threatened to issue a warrant of arrest against the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele. The threat bothers on Emefiele’s failure to appear in court and explain the circumstances surrounding a $53 million judgement debt arising from the Paris Club refund. Justice Inyang Ekwo, who renewed his order for Emefiele to appear at the next hearing date, stated that he would exercise some restraints to allow Emefiele to explain himself. Emefiele’s counsel, Audu Anuga, asked the court to give his client another chance because they had been unable…

• Reps summon Kyari • You lack power to fix fuel price, Falana tells NNPCL• PDP: APC’s N617/litre provocative, fuel shouldn’t sell more than N150/litre• Nigerians deceived, punished unnecessarily on petrol pricing –NLC Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has slammed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) over the fresh fuel price hike, adding that it lacked constitutional powers to fix the prices of petrol. This is just as the House of Representatives yesterday summoned the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, and operatives of independent marketers in the country in reaction…

The Federal Government through the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission is set to issue an order against moves by Point of Sale agents to hike transaction charges across the country. The Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Babatunde Irukera, confirmed this exclusively to The PUNCH on Wednesday. According to him, the order would be issued in a couple of hours. He noted that following its first advisory to the Association of Mobile Money and Bank Agents in Nigeria, which was ignored, it is now ready for more definite enforcement. He told The PUNCH, “What we did initially was to issue an advisory, which…

The Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace has disclosed plans to commence the process of direct flight from Nigeria to Houston Texas. The federal government revealed this in Abuja during a visit by a delegation from the United States of America, led by the Mayor of Houston Texas, United States of America, Mr. Sylvester Turner. The FG while assuring the delegation, said it will work on their requests for a direct flight from Nigeria to Houston. It also said it will consider their request of having a consulate office in Houston city to deepen the bilateral relations with the government of…