Presidential transition council headed by SGF for inauguration Feb 14

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the establishment of a Presidential Transition Council for facilitating and managing the 2023 transition programme.

The President also signed the Executive Order No. 14 of 2023 on the Facilitation and Management of Presidential Transitions.

This was disclosed in a statement by Willie Bassey, Director of Information for the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on Thursday.

The Transition Council will be inaugurated by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on Tuesday 14th February, 2023 at 12 noon at the Conference Hall of the SGF, according to the statement.

It said the members are expected to attend the inauguration in person.

A key feature of the Presidential Executive Order No. 14 of 2023 is the institutionalization of a legal framework that would enable a seamless transition of power from one Presidential Administration to another which is part of President Buhari’s legacy.

Members of the Committee are: Secretary to the Government of the Federation who is Chairman, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the SolicitorGeneral of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Permanent Secretaries from the following Ministries and Offices: Defence, Interior, Finance, Budget and National Planning, Foreign Affairs, Information and Culture, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Cabinet Affairs Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), General Services Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), Economic and Political Affairs Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), State House, National Security Adviser, Chief of Defence Staff, Inspector-General of Police, Director General, National Intelligence Agency, Director General, State Security Services, Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, and two representatives, to be nominated by the Presidentelect.

Police arrest woman extorting money for PVCs

The Police Command in Enugu State says it has arrested the woman in a trending video allegedly extorting money before issuing voter cards to their owners.

This is contained in a statement by the command Public Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, on Thursday in Enugu.

“Police detectives serving in the State Criminal Investigation Department of Enugu State Command on Jan. 31, 2023, arrested a female suspect, one Chinwendu Nnamani, 41.

“Nnamani was involved in the viral social media video clip in which she is seen and alleged to be selling INEC

Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) at the sum of One Thousand Naira, at a Primary School in Emene, Enugu.

“Also arrested is one Nkiruka Patience Obinna, 38, identified as an INEC staff and alleged to have given the said PVCs to the first suspect for distribution to the actual owners.

“Investigation has been concluded, the case charged to court in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, and the suspects arraigned accordingly,” he said. The police spokesman further said that the suspects were granted bail and the case adjourned to Feb.15 for further hearing. (NAN)

Why Orji Kalu deserves 2nd term in Senate — Nkah

Mr Leo Nkah, former president, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) Ebonyi Chapter, says the Senate Chief Whip, Sen. Orji Kalu deserves to return to the Senate based on his quality representation.

He described Kalu as a lawmaker with a wealth of experience needed to befittingly represent Abia North Senatorial District.

“A former student activist, an erstwhile member House of Representatives, an eight-year governor of a state, an accomplished business man and now a sitting senator.

“His people stand to gain more in federal infrastructure based on the fact that like wine, representation at the parliament gets better with years as no door can be shut at a personality like Kalu,’’ Nkah said.

According to him, Kalu is needed by people at the grassroots who earnestly yearn for true representation based on his track records and friendly disposition to the cause of returning local governments to their true destinies.

“Orji Kalu has also been known to speak for the cause of Ndigbo in the past in spite of the persecution it had attracted to him.

“So, it will be a minus for Ndigbo to lose such a voice in the Senate,’’ he said.

Providing a list of bills and motions sponsored by Kalu since he was elected a senator, Nkah said that the 51 bills and 28 motions were geared towards improving the welfare of Nigerians.

Some of them include: Citizens Welfare Bill 2022, Bill to Amend the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and a Bill to Provide for Increased Funding of Basic Education in Nigeria Bill 2022.

Others were: A Bill to Provide for the Establishment of Federal College of Education (Technical), Arochukwu and the Federal Polytechnic Abiriba, Abia State Establishment Bill 2022. Kalu, 62, assumed office as the Senator representing Abia North on June 11, 2019. (NAN)

2 Friends Jailed 24 Months Each For Stealing Tricycle

An Area Court in Jos on Thursday sentenced two friends to 24 months imprisonment for stealing a tricycle worth N670,000.

The judge, Mr Thomas Ajitise sentenced Hassan Abdullahi, 30, and Yau Mohammed, 22, following their guilty plea for conspiracy and theft and begged the court for leniency.

Ajitise gave the convicts an option of N50,000 fine each.

Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Insp. Labaran Ahmed told the court that the case was reported at the Laranto police station on Jan. 5, by Mr Adam Shuiabu.

He said the complainant said the convicts stole his tricycle where it was parked.

The prosecutor further told the court that during police investigation the convicts confessed to the crime and the tricycle was recovered.

The offence, he said, contravened the Plateau Penal Code law of Northern Nigeria. (NAN)