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SouthEast Bishops Declare Enugu Governor-Elect Unfit, Ask Police to Arrest Him for Forgery

Published

2 years ago

May 20, 2023

62 Views

Three days after the Southeast Zone of the Network of Evangelical Bishops of Nigeria (NEBN) accused the Enugu state branch of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of being composed of “a tiny band of buccaneers” planning to “kidnap the finances of the state”, it has described the party’s gubernatorial candidate in the March 18 election, Peter Mbah, as unfit for public office.

“Mbah is fast gaining the reputation of a forger and blackmailer”, declared the bishops in a statement in Enugu today in reference to the National Youth Service Corps Discharge Certificate A808297 purportedly signed on January 6, 2003.

The NYSC director general, Brigadier General Yushau Dogara Ahmed, was on Arise Television on Friday morning to mark the organisation’s 50th anniversary and used the opportunity to refute the claim that the discharge certificate Mbah submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (NYSC) emanated from it.

The police should arrest Mbah immediately and prosecute him for forgery, according to the NEBN.

“He is not a fit and proper person to hold public office, let alone the exalted office of the Enugu State governor”, they stated.

“The NYSC DG has corroborated the statement by the NYSC Director of Certification, Alhaji Ibrahim A. Muhammadu, on February 1, 2023, that the certificate is false and forged”, said the bishops in the statement signed by their president, Bishop Samuel Ani, and the acting secretary, Bishop Emmanuel Eneh.

Mbah had on May 15 obtained an ex parte order from Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja to stop the NYSC from testifying on the authenticity of the discharge certificate and has even announced a N20bn libel suit against the NYSC for its position that the certificate is not genuine.

“Only a pathological liar, forger, and blackmailer would have the audacity to announce to sue the NYSC for N20b for telling the truth which everyone knows”, the religious leaders observed.

“Only a person with integrity can sue for libel where he or she will prove that his reputation has been tarnished by a publication.

“A forger has no reputation to protect and, therefore, does not have the grounds to sue for libel or slander”.

The bishops continued: “The PDP candidate is merely striking postures meant to cow the public institutions and our society at large, so that he can find himself into Government House on May 29 and begin to use the state resources and apparatus brazenly to barricade himself against the long arms of the law”.

On January 13, 2020, as David Lyon of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was preparing to be sworn in the next day as the Bayelsa State governor, the Supreme Court passed a judgment shattering his ambition because it was discovered that his deputy, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremioye, had presented false documents to the INEC.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s first Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, was forced to resign on September 14, 2018, after it was reported that she presented a forged NYSC Discharge Certificate in her curriculum vitae (CV).

“Mbah can run, but can’t hide”, said the bishops who reiterated their position that “he is not the Enugu State governor-elect because he did not win.

“Hiring an almost countless number of the most paid Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) from different parts of the country with resources of the Enugu State people to intimidate the judiciary in the name of representing him at the Election Petitions tribunal can’t help him.

“The Enugu people voted overwhelmingly for the Labour Party, the party that defeated Mbah’s foremost backer, Governor Ifeanyi Lawrence Ugwuanyi, in his polling booth, polling unit, and local government area when the outgoing governor sought to be voted into the Senate on February 25 on the PDP platform”.

The bishops also took a swipe at Justice Inyang Ekwo for granting Mbah the ex parte motion stopping the NYSC from testifying against the PDP candidate’s credentials and asked the National Judicial Council (NJC) to punish the judge.

“An ex parte order can be granted only in an emergency, but Nigerians are unable to see the emergency which prompted the order in this case”, they stated.

“For failing to heed the counsel by different Chief Justices in Nigeria over the years against granting frivolous injunctions, the National Judicial Council needs to remove people like Justice Inyang immediately from the Bench in the overriding national interest”.

News

NAFDAC : Fake Cowbell Milk in circulation

Risks include foodborne illnesses, allergic reactions, and organ damage, and in severe cases, death.

Published

11 hours ago

August 22, 2025

OCHEFA

23 Views

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) advises Nigerians to be vigilant and avoid purchasing counterfeit 12g Cowbell “Our Milk” sachets circulating across the country.

In a statement issued on Friday, the agency explained that the counterfeit product imitates the discontinued Cowbell “Our Milk” packaging, which Promasidor Nigeria Ltd stopped producing in September 2023.

The legitimate product was replaced with Cowbell “Our Creamy Goodness.”

The fake sachets unlawfully bear the Cowbell brand name, NAFDAC registration number and packaging design, despite not being manufactured or distributed by Promasidor.

The counterfeit products currently in circulation are imitations of the discontinued ‘Our Milk’ packaging and are not manufactured or distributed by Promasidor,” the agency stated.

“They bear unauthorised use of the brand name, NAFDAC Registration Number, and packaging design.”

The regulator raised concerns over the health risks posed by the counterfeit product.

“Risk Statement: Consumption of counterfeit milk poses serious health hazards, including exposure to toxic chemicals, unapproved additives, or diluted ingredients.

Risks include foodborne illnesses, allergic reactions, and organ damage, and in severe cases, death.

Infants, children, pregnant women, and the elderly are particularly vulnerable,” NAFDAC warned.

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Japan designates the city of Kisarazu for Nigerians to live and work

Through this arrangement, we aim to strengthen exchanges and create a foundation for manpower development that will contribute to economic growth in both Japan and Nigeria,” said Mrs. Florence Akinyemi Adeseke, Nigeria’s Charge d’Affaires and Acting Ambassador to Japan.

Published

16 hours ago

August 22, 2025

OhiBaba

27 Views

The Japanese government has designated the city of Kisarazu as the official “hometown” for Nigerians seeking to live and work in Japan

Japan also unveiled similar hometown designations for Tanzania, Ghana, and Mozambique in Nagai, Sanjo, and Imabari, respectively.

The announcement was made on the sidelines of the 9th Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICAD9), a move aimed at deepening cultural diplomacy, promoting economic growth, and enhancing workforce productivity.

Under the new arrangement, the Japanese government will introduce a special visa category for highly skilled, innovative, and talented Nigerian youth. Artisans and other blue-collar workers willing to upskill will also be eligible to live and work in Kisarazu under the special visa dispensation.

“Through this arrangement, we aim to strengthen exchanges and create a foundation for manpower development that will contribute to economic growth in both Japan and Nigeria,” said Mrs. Florence Akinyemi Adeseke, Nigeria’s Charge d’Affaires and Acting Ambassador to Japan.

The designation of Kisarazu builds on historical ties between Nigeria and the city.

The Nigerian Olympic contingent trained in Kisarazu during preparations for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where athletes acclimatised before moving to the Olympic Village.

Mayor Yoshikuni Watanabe of Kisarazu, who received the certificate from the Japanese government alongside Mrs. Adeseke, expressed optimism that the initiative would boost the city’s population and contribute to regional revitalisation efforts.

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BREAKING: FG, state, local governments share N2.001trn July revenue

Published

19 hours ago

August 22, 2025

Charles Flames

37 Views

The three tiers of government—federal, state, and local—shared a total of N2.001 trillion from the Federation Account as revenue for the month of July 2025, according to the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).

The allocation was made during the FAAC meeting held in August 2025 in Abuja, with details released in an official communiqué.

The distributable revenue included:

N1.282 trillion in statutory revenue
N640.610 billion from Value Added Tax (VAT)
N37.601 billion from Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL)
N39.745 billion from exchange rate difference

Out of the total distributed funds:

The Federal Government received N735.081 billion
State Governments received N660.349 billion
Local Government Councils received N485.039 billion
N120.359 billion was shared to oil-producing states as 13% derivation revenue

Revenue Breakdown:

Statutory Revenue (N1.282 trillion):

FG: N613.805 billion
States: N311.330 billion
LGs: N240.023 billion
13% Derivation: N117.714 billion

VAT (N640.610 billion):

FG: N96.092 billion
States: N320.305 billion
LGs: N224.214 billion

EMTL (N37.601 billion):

FG: N5.640 billion
States: N18.801 billion
LGs: N13.160 billion

Exchange Gains (N39.745 billion):

FG: N19.544 billion
States: N9.913 billion
LGs: N7.643 billion
13% Derivation: N2.643 billion

The total gross revenue for July was N3.836 trillion, down from N3.485 trillion in June. Cost of collection deductions amounted to N152.681 billion, while N1.683 trillion was allocated for transfers, refunds, savings, and interventions.

FAAC noted improved collections from Petroleum Profit Tax, Oil and Gas Royalties, EMTL, and Excise Duties, while Companies Income Tax and CET Levies declined slightly. VAT and Import Duties saw marginal growth.

The committee reiterated its commitment to ensuring transparency in the allocation of national revenues across all levels of government.