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DSS urged to prosecute CBN’s governor’s, emeifele
By Abubakar Y. Ojima
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The Northern Forum (CNF) has urged the Department of State Services (DSS) to appeal a High Court decision barring the agency from arresting Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele.
Other groups from the North and Middle Belt, however, have condemned Emefiele’s ordeals, saying it is an inappropriate way to reward a hardworking public servant.
According to the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) and the Middle Belt Youths (MBY), CBN interventions in several sectors under Emefiele saved the Nigerian economy over the last six years.
During a press conference in Kaduna State yesterday, CNF spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam stated that Emefiele is not above the law and that state security should be allowed to do their job.
On Thursday, a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Garki issued an order prohibiting the State Security Service (SSS) and its agents from arresting, detaining, or restricting the movement of the CBN governor due to alleged ties to terrorism.
The Federal High Court’s Chief Judge, John Tsoho, ruled that the SSS failed to provide sufficient evidence to warrant the issuance of an arrest warrant against Emefiele.
The SSS “acted wrongfully and illegally in instigating the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria against Emefile in respect of the exercise of his statutory duty relating to the issuance of monetary policies and directives in the interest of national security and economy,” said Justice M. A. Hassan, who issued the order while ruling on a suit filed by the Incorporated Trustees of Forum for Accountability and Good Leadership (ITFAGL).
While calling on the CBN governor to resign because his character was already called into question, Abdulsalam said the DSS had done a good job over time, particularly in the area of intelligence gathering, and that the case of the apex bank should not be an exception.
He went on to say that Emefiele spending N58.6 billion to print N2.5 billion notes at a time when Nigeria was in the grip of a financial crisis, including spiraling inflation and unemployment, is absurd, and that the sooner the CBN boss is forced to face the law and answer the allegations, the better.
Buhari to sign 2023 budget on Tuesday, says Lawan
By Abubakar Yunus, Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari will on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, sign the 2023 appropriation bill into law.
Ahmad Lawan, senate president, made the disclosure to state house correspondents after meeting with Buhari on Friday.
This comes two days after lawmakers in the house of representatives and senate passed a budget of N21.83 trillion for the 2023 fiscal year.
The two chambers of the national assembly increased the budget spending by N1.33 trillion from the proposed N20.51 trillion to N21.83 trillion.
Buhari had proposed an oil benchmark fixed at $70 per barrel, but the lawmakers while passing the medium-term expenditure framework (MTEF), raised it to $73 per barrel.
Other parameters included daily oil production estimate of 1.69 million barrels (inclusive of condensates of 300,000 to 400,000 barrels daily) at exchange rate of N435.57/$.
In addition, the gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate was projected at 3.75 percent, with 17.16 percent inflation rate.
The national assembly also passed the 2022 finance bill which aims to expand the tax net to increase revenue for the federal government.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, the Lawan said his discussions with Buhari centred on the 2023 appropriation bill and the recent additional loan request.
The senate president expressed regret that the 2023 budget signing is happening a bit later than that of 2022 which was signed on December 31, 2021.
According to Lawan, with the January to December budget cycle adopted and maintained by the 9th Assembly, the delay of one week was due to anomalies discovered by the legislature in the budgetary documents submitted by the executives.
He also said the upcoming general elections were part of the national issues that were discussed.
The lawmaker assured that the legislature will ensure the that Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is given adequate budgetary provisions to conduct a free and fair elections devoid of underfunding.
President Muhammadu Buhari receives the President of the Senate Dr Ahmad Lawan during an audience at the State House in Abuja. PHOTO; State House
Lagos picks preferred bidder for Fourth Mainland Bridge construction
By Abubakar Yunus Abuja
The Lagos state government has announced CCECCCRCCIG Consortium as the preferred bidder for the construction of the Fourth Mainland Bridge (4MB) project.
Ope George, special adviser to the governor on publicprivate partnerships, disclosed this at the agency’s office in Ikeja on Thursday.
George said the 4MB project, which is a proposed PPP transport infrastructure development, will comprise the construction and operation of a greenfield tolled road and bridge with a design speed of 120 kilometres per hour, including the development of adjacent real estate.
He added that the bridge, when completed, would become the second longest in Africa with three toll plazas, nine interchanges, a 4.5km Lagoon Bridge and an eco-friendly environment.
The project, George explained, is also expected to span about 37 kilometres, starting from Abraham Adesanya in Ajah, on the Eti-Osa-Lekki-Epe corridor and traverse the north-west towards the lagoon shoreline of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway via Owutu/Isawo in Ikorodu.
“You will recall that the Lagos state government commenced a competitive bidding process for the selection of a concessionaire, by the issuance of the request for expressions of interest (REOI) on 27th of November, 2019,” George said.
“A total of 52 responses were received with 32 being responsive.
“Subsequently, a request for quotation (RFQ) was issued on February 10, 2020 to the 32 eligible applicants and responses were received on 15th April, 2020 with a total of 15 responses.
The list was further streamlined to three bidders last month, as the state promised to announce the winner by year end.
George explained that the bids have now been evaluated and CCECC-CRCCIG Consortium emerged as the preferred bidder while the Mota-Engil (Nigeria and Africa) CCCC & CRBC Consortium, was chosen as the reserved bidder for the project.
The special adviser said the bridge would reduce congestion on the existing Carter, Eko and Third Mainland Bridges while opening new areas of the city for future developments.
