Latest Nigeria News This Evening Sunday, 7th June, 2020

1. Anxiety over leak AfDB, Finance Minister’s memo to Muhammadu Buhari

The struggle for Management of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, has taken apprehensive dimension following alleged leakage of top confidential document from the Presidential Villa, Abuja, currently in possession of factional leadership of trade union in the Ministry of Power.

The letters, according to a reliable source close to the power pay was written by the top management at the African Development Bank, AfDB, intimating the President, Muhammadu Buhari on the implication of removal of the former Managing Director of Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, Mr. Usman Gur Mohammed, particularly with the donor agencies considering to decline further transactions in power sector.

The letters, reports gathered, were those written by the President, African Development Bank, AfDB, Akinwunmi Adesina and the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, to which the both technocrat made comprehensive reports on what the nation’s power sector stands to benefit, if Mr. Usman Gur Mohammed is reinstated to steer the affairs of TCN, most especially in the area of transparency, which the foreign donors strictly adhered to.

It would recalled that a group, the Nigerian Power Consumers Forum, NPCF, recently issued a warning that the removal of MD, TCN, Mr. Mohammed, would threaten $1.66 billion foreign donor fund the company has attracted to expand power transmission to 20,000 megawatts.

General Secretary of the Forum, Michael A. Okoh, who called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately direct a reversal of the sack in order to save the power sector from the dictatorship that is engulfing it.

According to the source, “I was told the Chief of Staff, CoS, to the President, Professor Ibrahim Agbola Gambari forwarded the letter of the Honourable Minister of Finance Budget and National Planning to His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari with attached letter of the President, African Development Bank to Minister of Power for his comment.

2. 5 feared dead as troops repel gunmen attack in Benue state

Troops of the joint military operation codenamed Operation Whirl Stroke have reportedly killed five gunmen in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.

The troops were said to have responded to the distress call made by the authority of the local government over the invasion of three villages: Torkula, Kponko and Kaseyo.

Five of the gunmen were reportedly killed.

When contacted, the Force Commander of OPWS, Maj. Gen. Adeyemi Yekini, declined making a comment on the attack but referred our correspondent to the Defence Headquarters Information Directorate.

However, Benue State Command Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Catherine Anene, confirmed the incident.

She said the command was yet to ascertain the number of casualties as of the time of filling this report.

Anne confirmed that the intervention of the joint military troops averted further attack on the affected areas.

3. Governor Sanwo-Olu crowns, presents staff of office to Lawal as 15th Oniru of Iruland

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Sunday, crowned and presented staff of office and instrument of appointment to new Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, Abisogun II, as the 15th Oniru of Iruland, Eti-Osa Local Government Area of the state.

Also in attendance were traditional leaders led by Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwanu Akiolu I and also state Executive members, prominent sons and daughters of Iruland.

Recall that until his recent resignation, Prince Lawal was the state Commissioner for Agriculture.

Prince Gbolahan Lawal, succeeds late Oba Idowu Abiodun, former Oniru of Iruland, who passed on in year 2019 at the age of 82.

Lawal, former Aide-De-Camp (ADC) to Governor Bola Tinubu during his tenure in Lagos.

It was gathered that Lawal eventually emerged as Tinubu’s choice to occupy the vacant throne which had been a subject of controversy from the Abisogun and Akiogun Ruling Houses.

4. Edo state deputy governor challenges Oshiomhole, Ize-Iyamu to open debate

BENIN – AHEAD of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary in Edo state, Deputy Governor of the State, Comrade Philip Shaibu, has challenged the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and other governorship aspirants to an open debate on moral uprightness and service delivery.

The deputy governor in a statement in Benin on Sunday through his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Benjamin ATI said, “I am throwing an open invitation to anyone who has the moral standing of Godwin Obaseki to come out and defend their statements in an open debate.

“The nature of a political system is a factor that usually conditions the expectation and behaviour of political actors’’.

“Adams Oshiomhole has created a political system that has made it difficult for leaders to lead effectively and for followers to follow voluntarily.

“We have given voice to the voiceless. The government has returned power to the masses. We run a transparent government where our records can be evaluated.

“It beats my imagination that the same man who betrayed an arrangement suddenly turned 360 degrees against his words and started tormenting the government”.

The deputy governor attributed the present crisis in the party to the various means and strategies used by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to direct the behaviour and actions of his political associates.

5. N40bn scandal : I did not ask EFCC to probe Akpabio – Omo-Agege

The Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, has described as fake, a letter purportedly written on his behalf by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Nelson Ayewoh.

The letter, which started circulating on the various social media platforms since Sunday morning, was allegedly written by the Clerk on Omo-Agege’s behalf to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu.

Omo-Agege, according to the discredited letter, allegedly urged the EFCC boss to commence investigation on the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, over allegations of corruption levelled against him.

The National Assembly is currently probing allegations that the Interim Management Committee of the NDDC, allegedly mismanaged N40bn in three months and had demanded written explanations from Akpabio, whose Ministry supervises the activities of the intervention agency.

But Omo-Agege, through a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yomi Odunuga, on Sunday, denied asking the Senate Clerk to write any letter to the EFCC Chairman.