Author: straightnewsng.com

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says it has imposed heavy sanctions totaling N5.87 billion on four banks under its regulatory purview. By implication, the banks are to refund $8,134,312,397.63 for ‘flagrant violation of extant laws and regulations of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, including the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1995 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Foreign Exchange Manual, 2006.’ Figures obtained from the CBN on Wednesday, August 29, 2018, indicate that the highest fine of N2,470,604,767.13 was slammed on Standard Chartered Bank, while Stanbic IBTC Nigeria was fined N1,885,852,847.45. For its punishment, Citibank…

Ibanga Isine More than a dozen naval patrol Hilux pickups barricaded adjoining streets, isolating the Otop Abasi police station in Calabar, the Cross Rivers State capital on May 30, 2017. As residents scampered for safety under a barrage of gunfire, one woman, her husband a police officer, crouched on the floor of their police barracks home and pushed her children under the bed. “It was a war. We could not run away because all the routes were blocked and bullets were flying everywhere,” the woman, agreeing to speak in return for anonymity, said. “My kids had just returned from the…

Seven Nigerian states close to the banks of River Niger and its floodplains are listed by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, NIHSA over possible flooding. Consequently, Nigerians living in Anambra, Delta, Bayelsa, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara and Kogi states have been advised to immediately relocate to avoid the disaster. In a statement in Abuja signed by Mr Clement Nze, the agency’s Director of Engineering Hydrology, the ageny said the middle Niger portion of the Niger basin (Niger Republic) experienced high flows last week with the flood advancing into the Lower Niger (Nigeria). NIHSA noted that both Kainji and Jebba Dams were…

Two presidential aspirants on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Wednesday condemned the Federal Capital Territory Administrator’s refusal to allow Rabiu Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano, use Eagle Square to declare his presidential ambition. The Senate President, Bukola Saraki and former Vice President, Abubakar Atiku in their different statements, said the move has sent out a wrong message about the country’s democracy. Saraki, who reacted through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in a statement Wednesday, said the development connoted intolerance in the country’s politics. He said: “The refusal to allow senator Kwankwaso to utilise the…

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has promised to ensure compliance with the electoral guidelines, fairness and justice in the conduct of its primaries. It also promised to observe all the principles of internal democracy during the primaries which date are yet to be fixed. National chairman of the party , Adams Oshiomhole, gave the assurance when he spoke to state house correspondents at the end of the APC caucus meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday night. He confirmed that the meeting discussed the upcoming party primaries based on the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2019…

Former Kano state governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso Wednesday declared intent to run for the Office of the President in the 2019 general elections on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) without police presence at the declaration venue. Kwankwaso, a lawmaker representing Kano Central senatorial district at the National Assembly who had to make do with an improvised venue for his declaration following the non-approval of the use of the Eagles Square, Abuja, attracted thousands of supporters from across the country to Chinda Hotel, venue of the declaration. Decked in red caps (for men) and red head scarfs (for women),…

An Imo State High Court has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to pay Chief Mike Ikenna Ahamba, SAN, “the sum of N5 million as damages and compensation for the violation of his fundamental rights”. Delivering judgment in suit number HOW/908/2017, which lasted for about one hour, 30 minutes, Justice Eze Fred Njemanze equally ordered the EFCC and the Chairman of EFCC, to “pay a cost fixed at N100,000 in favour of the Applicant (Ahamba)”. “In conclusion, this fundamental right proceeding succeeds as it is meritorious and deserving to be granted. Injunction is granted restraining the Respondents, their…

Nollywood industry has lost more than 25 talented actors and actresses from 2010 to 2018. The latest is popular actress Uduak Akrah who died last Saturday. Sources close to the family stated that Akrah fell in her bathroom and had been ill for some time. The source said she was rushed to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival. Akrah was known for movies like Emotional Crack and Bafana Bafana. A graduate of Creative Art from the University of Lagos, she was also an event planner and singer. Among popular ones who died included Ashley Nwosu,…

By Franklyn Isong I had thought I could stay out of trouble this week. But no!  The week has just started. Today is Tuesday. A lot have happened and are happening in Akwa Ibom state. I owe a duty to contribute to the development of my state, else I would have failed in my social responsibility. And so, this particular piece my spirit tells me, would not go down well in some quarters. I will be misconstrued and abused by my readers -majority of who are sponsored attack-dogs, who have sold out their consciences for a pot of porridge. But…

The Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, has berated the Presidency for what it termed the growing culture of intolerance of the opposition in the past three years. First spokesman of the coalition, Ikenga Ugochinyere while briefing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, warned the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government not to plunge the nation into chaos and lawlessness. This was in reaction to a press release by The Kwankwaso Campaign Organisation, made available to journalists Tuesday,that the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) suddenly turned down a request earlier approved for the declaration of  Rabiu Kwankwaso, erstwhile Kano State governor for presidency…