Author: straightnewsng.com

The planned constitution of a task force to reactivate Akwa Palm Industries Limited, Etebi in Esit Eket local government area by Akwa Ibom government is seen by All Progressives Congress, APC in the state as vote-seeking ploy. Located in Etebi, Esit Eket Local government areas with head office in Uyo, the plantation, which was established in 1988 with World Bank-assisted loan, covers 4.5 hectares. The task force contradicts the position of Governor Udom Emmanuel who in September 2018, had called on local investors to partner his administration to reactivate the services of the Akwa Palm Industries, noting that it was part…

Given the tight monetary policy which has affected banks’ investment in the debt instruments, the Debt Management Office, DMO has commenced intensive diversification of investors’ base in Federal Government bonds. Director-General of the DMO, Ms Patience Oniha, who said this on Sunday in Abuja, explained that private investors’ interests in the bonds had been growing steadily in the last few months. Oniha said: “Monetary policy has been tight. I think in some way, because of the monetary policy stance, their (banks’) ability has somewhat been reduced but having said that, our goal is to diversify the investment base. “It’s more…

Marsai Martin is moving towards claimimg the title of the youngest executive producer in Hollywood history. This is so as her film, ‘Little’ will debut the theatres in April 2019. The 14-year-old ‘Black-ish’ actress stars alongside Issa Rae and Regina Hall in the body-switching comedy. The film, according to her, was inspired by the movie, “Big,” which she watched at the age of 10. “It was one of my most favourite films growing up,” Marsai said. “After the Season 1 finale of Black-ish, we told Kenya Barris about it, and he called Will Packer and said: ‘Yo, you know the…

The Federal High Court, Abuja has ordered Federal Government not to arraign Walter Onnoghen, the Chief Justice of Nigeria before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT). The Federal Government through the Code of Conduct Bureau filed six counts of non-declaration of assets against the CJN on Friday. Ruling on two separate ex parte applications on Monday, Justice N.E Maha, ordered parties to maintain status quo till January 17. Maha ruled in the two different suits that the defendants to be served with all the papers filed and they should appear in court at the next hearing. One of the two…

Nigerian singer and rapper Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz, has released another thought provoking single entitled “Talk”. ‘Talk’ is a song that addresses the state of affairs in the country as well as advises the youths to be wary of ‘greedy politicians.’ He also got everyone ‘talking’ including sparking comparisons with Fela, the Afrobeat Legend. As with his song ‘This is Nigeria’ and with the 2019 elections approaching, the artiste once again uses music to address political and social issues in the country. The rapper also did not spare politicians, about whom he said, “Four year tenure, three year…

Sixty-one political parties have threatened to sue the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, over the latter’s guidelines for the 2019 general elections. The development came few days after the political parties, operating under the aegis of Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP and Inter-party Advisory Council, IPAC, unanimously rejected the draft guidelines presented to them by the electoral umpire. In a signed Sunday by CUPP’s 1st national spokesman, Ikenga Ugochinyere, the 61 aggrieved parties said they will file a legal suit today to stop INEC from releasing the guideline and also quash some sections of the draft guideline which were…

The trial of Justice Walter Onnoghen, Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), which commenced on Monday has been adjourned to Tuesday, January 22, 2019. Justice Onnoghen who is facing six charges bordering on failure to declare his assets and operating a domiciliary account, among other charges did not appear in the tribunal on Monday. Danladi Umar, the Code of Conduct Tribunal chairman, called Mr Onnoghen’s case at about 10:08 on Monday, and the chief justice was absent. The defendant is represented by 71 lawyers and out of the number 46 are Senior Advocate of Nigeria while the prosecution represented by five…

Niger Delta Militants have threatened to shut down oil wells in Nigeria if the Federal Government goes ahead to arraign the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen in court today. The Niger Delta Militant militant groups who said they were shocked to learn about the planned arraignment of the CJN over allegations of false asset declaration, claimed that the CJN was being persecuted because he was from the Niger Delta, adding that the petition was plotted by the Presidency to forcefully remove and replace him with a northerner. The statement which was issued via electronic mail by the coalition…

Ahead of the February 16 presidential and National Assembly elections in the country, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Sunday, warned Nigerians to learn from the lessons and consequences of the 1966 coup and civil war. Cardinal Onaiyekan, who gave the warning during the Interdenominational Church Service for the 2019 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration at the National Christian Center, Abuja, advised the security agencies to be neutral in the elections. He said the blood of every Nigerian was precious and should not spill even as the February general elections draw nearer. He said: “Today, we cannot forget…

The Presidency, Sunday, warned Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State to stop what it described as campaign of falsehood against President Muhammadu Buhari in his re-election bid. The Presidency specifically said the anti-open grazing law in Benue State would have not succeeded without the backing of the federal government. Besides, it charged Benue people to ask the governor why he allegedly refused to pay workers salaries and pensions and what he did with the money from the Excess Crude Account, ECA. The Presidency in a statement signed by Mallam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media…