According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Limawa handed over the different currencies to the Executive Chairman, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Malam Jalal Arabi during the post-Afarat conference, held on Wednesday in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

He said that he found the money inside a waist bag, while on his way to pray at the Masjid Haram (Mosque). ” Initially, I wanted to ignore the waist bag and moved to the Mosque, but on a second thought, I said it might belong to a Nigerian, especially some of our old women. “

So, I decided to pick it, and I proceeded to the mosque. When I returned to my accommodation, I opened the bag and discovered that there is no Nigerian currency and no any sign that it belonged to a Nigerian. ” Immediately, I approached one of the officials of the Jigawa State Pilgrims Welfare Boards, narrated the story and presented the money to him. ”

From there, he commended me for showing an exemplary character and honesty and told me that he will handover the money to the NAHCON, to ensure that the owner gets his or her money,” he said.

Responding, Arabi commended Limawa for being honest and projecting the image of Nigeria positively at the international arena.

Uskys met Fury with a stirring second-half comeback to be crowned the undisputed heavyweight world champion.

According to the BBC, Fury dominated the first half of the fight, belying the magnitude of the night by clowning around at every opportunity.

But Usyk made a stirring comeback in the desert, forcing the referee to issue a count when only the ropes held his rival up in the ninth round.

Fury struggled to regain the momentum and would have been the happier of the two men to hear the final bell.

But his relief was short-lived as Usyk was announced the winner – and the division’s first undisputed ruler for 25 years – by split-decision.

The Brit, who was making the fourth defence of his world title, had weighed in 40lb heavier than bid rival and also enjoyed a six-inch height advantage.

He towered over Usyk as they touched gloves, telling the smaller man he was “going to school”.

Despite the occasion, Fury was in a playful mood from the first bell, taunting Usyk by lying back on the ropes. He then repeatedly punched himself in the head, beckoning his rival on.

Usyk landed a one-two at the start of the second round as Fury began to target the body – before punctuating the three minutes with an uppercut.

Fury was content to box on the back foot but began to use his size to lean on Usyk.

He switched to southpaw in the fourth round and prematurely raised his hands in victory after landing a back hand.

Such was Fury’s reach advantage that Usyk was at times struggling to close the distance.

Fury whipped in hooks to either side of the Ukrainian’s midriff as the former cruiserweight champion showed the first signs of struggle.

By the sixth round Fury looked to be in complete control as Usyk began to tire. Now the Brit was on the front foot as his rival backtracked and he reached the halfway mark with his hands behind his back.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Anthony Joshua had the best seats in the house alongside boxing’s new power broker Turki Alalshikh.

Steven Gerrard paid a visit to Fury’s dressing room before the first bell while Brazilian superstar Neymar also made an appearance.

And they would have enjoyed Fury’s performance in front of 28,000 fans, including a travelling contingent of Fury’s loyalists.

But Usyk was never going to lie down easily and returned fire in the seventh round with two left-hand reminders.

Fury was alive to the threat however and immediately answered back.

Usyk increased his urgency in the eighth round as he chased down his fellow champion, appearing to demand he meet him for a fire-fight.

The scathing remarks were unveiled during a media briefing on Saturday by Musa Rafsanjani, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Transparency International in Nigeria. Rafsanjani highlighted that Tinubu’s nomination of ex-governors with ongoing graft cases demonstrated a disregard for public concerns about corruption.

Rafsanjani stated, “President Tinubu’s actions reflect a lack of concern for public integrity and the ramifications of corruption. It’s disheartening to see him assemble individuals with corruption allegations and a dearth of integrity in public service.”

The Transparency International representative further criticized Tinubu’s choices, pointing to instances where the President seemingly overlooked corruption allegations.

Rafsanjani drew attention to the controversial appointment of a Senate President facing corruption charges despite substantial evidence of wrongdoing.

Bagudu, who had faced accusations of money laundering and aiding former military dictator General Sani Abacha in embezzling public funds, was highlighted as one of Tinubu’s ministerial nominees. Matawalle, also nominated for a ministerial position, faced charges of misappropriating over N70 billion from government funds. Both individuals’ nominations raised eyebrows given their alleged financial misconduct.

Additionally, Transparency International brought to light the nominations of Gboyega Oyetola (Osun) and Simon Lalong (Plateau), former governors facing ministerial nominations by Tinubu.

The organization’s stance underscores the concerns over the President’s cabinet selections and their potential impact on the nation’s fight against corruption.

In his congratulatory message to the new King, Tinubu expressed his commitment to the bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Britain, hoping that it would continue to grow stronger during King Charles’ reign. He also praised the monarch for his love for the environment, emphasizing his lifelong crusade for sustainability and biodiversity.

Tinubu’s letter read in part: “By way of this letter, therefore, I convey to you my warmest congratulations on your coronation. Bearing your unique place in history as the first King to be inaugurated in Britain since 1937, I trust that you will follow in the glorious footsteps of your late mother and even surpass her achievements in the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.

“Particularly remarkable about you is your love for the environment, importantly your lifelong crusade for sustainability and biodiversity. I look forward to further engagements with you and the opportunity of a meeting in the nearest future as both of us had earlier indicated in discussions with mutual friends and associates.”

Tinubu ended his letter by praying that God Almighty would grant King Charles strength and wisdom and make his reign successful for the benefit of not only the people of Great Britain but the entire world.

The coronation ceremony of King Charles III was one of the biggest events to take place in the UK since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. It marks the start of a new era for the British monarchy, with the new King expected to continue his mother’s legacy of service to the Commonwealth and the environment.

The stimulus, which comes in food packs, to be distributed to every local government in the State is aimed at cushioning the effect of the fourteen days stay-at-home directive.

Speaking after an on-the-spot assessment of one of the State-owned food banks, located inside the premises of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives in Agege, Sanwo-Olu said the economic stimulus will reduce the burden of the temporary economic downturn on the citizens caused by the outbreak of COVID-19.

The Governor said the food packs, which were put together by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives will reach the most vulnerable communities and households across Lagos, saying that the indigents who rely on daily wages will be given priority.

He said: ‘‘We are here for an on-the-spot assessment, of our readiness, to see how we can fast track some of our stimulus package for our citizens. We are all aware that this is a trying time for our citizens and since the partial drop in economic activities, our government deemed it necessary to reach out to the vulnerable ones in the society. These people are those that fall below the pyramid, the aged and the physically challenged who need to move from one part of the city to another for them to have a living. We felt that as a government, the least we can do is to identify them and give them these stimulus packages immediately.’’

The Governor stated that the package will touch at least 200,000 thousand households in the first phase, saying the food packs are produced for a size of six people per household and would last for at least fourteen days.

“We have packaged dry food stimulus for about two hundred thousand families in the first instance for a household of husband, wife and about four children. We would be giving bags of rice, bags of beans, garri, bread, dry pepper and we are trying to see if we can add water and some elements of vitamin C. Each ration, we believe is going to be able to last them at least minimum 14 days just so our advocacy around stay at home, stay with your loved ones will be respected.

“This is a catalytic initiative of our administration with the hope that well-meaning corporate organisations and private individuals can step up to complement the efforts of the government’’ Sanwo-Olu said.

The Commissioner of Agriculture, Prince Gbolahan Lawal earlier said the Government would be working with the existing database of the state – using the Lagos State Social register and 4000 community development association register in 377 wards.

He said the economic stimulus is part of Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration’s initiatives tailored towards ensuring that food security is sustained in Lagos.

It described the clergyman’s position as a jaundiced and fraudulent view fuelled by his lingering bitterness over Nigeria’s rejection of his preferred candidate at the 2019 Presidential election.

In a statement signed by its Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Madueke, BMO said it was disingenuous for Bishop Oyedepo to take to the pulpit to launch a scathing attack on President Buhari over a purely legislative matter.

“We expected a man who is well-traveled to be more knowledgeable about lawmaking but we are surprised to find out that the reverse is the case judging by the Bishop’s tirade against the President over the social media regulation bill.

“We, like many Nigerians, know he desperately wanted someone else to be President in 2019 and also know how he openly campaigned for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flagbearer Atiku Abubakar, even from the pulpit, but God had a different plan and a majority of the voting public opted for a man they considered better in more ways than one.

“It is on record that President Buhari won in virtually all polling units in the area that the global headquarters of the church is located in what is clearly a rejection of the Bishop’s incursion into the political field.

“We are not surprised that the bitterness is still lingering more than one year after the election but it is not proper for a Christian leader of Oyedepo’s standing to allow it to becloud his sense of reasoning.

“We make bold to say that the Buhari administration had no hand in what is clearly a private member bill that is not even a piece of legislation, yet an influential religious leader does not consider it necessary to direct his words at Federal legislators that would be considering it,” it added.

BMO also took exception to the clergyman’s choice of words on Nigeria aside from saying that President Buhari administration’s days are numbered.

The group said: ” That was not the first time, the Bishop will allow his emotions to override his sense of duty on the pulpit.

“We can easily recall how he preached a sermon from a false narrative of the silly ‘Jubril of Sudan in Aso Rock’ notion and used a satirical piece in a national newspaper as a confirmation of the fake news.

“So, him saying that President Buhari’s administration days are numbered and adding that he was speaking as a prophet is quite laughable. Or is there any Nigerian that does not know that the President has a tenured term in office which elapses in 2023?

“To add insult to injury, the Bishop was even quoted as describing Nigeria as an ‘animal farm’. This is clearly not the type of comment one expects from a respectable clergyman.

“But we need to ask him at what point a country that went through a 16-year long PDP misrule without a whimper from him became an animal farm in his view?

“Was it after President Buhari opted to put a stop to free funds going into the pockets of tainted political and religious leaders at the expense of average Nigerians?

“We don’t need to be a prophet or Bishop to know that these funds are now finding their ways into modern infrastructure and social investment programmes to help millions of Nigerians out of poverty rather than funding the expensive lifestyles and maintain private jets of the elite.

“And just like when he jumped on the ‘Jubril of Sudan’ narrative, Bishop Oyedepo has again shown that he is a partisan clergyman who has forgotten the admonitions of the Holy Bible on political leadership.”

The group called on the clergyman to repent, transform his mind and resort to non-acerbic sermons from the pulpit targeted at a perceived political opponent.

Granting the injunction, the Judge posited that political parties must be bound by their constitution.

According to Justice Senchi, since Mr Oshiomhole has been suspended by his ward, he could no longer function as the National Chairman of the party pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

The Judge thereafter fixed hearing for April 7 and 8, 2020.

Prompt News recalls that Mr Oshiomhole has been under intense pressure from different groups within the party to quit as national chairman.

The Commissioner for Information in Plateau, Dan Manjang, disclosed this to Channels Television on Saturday.

He revealed that the three Chinese citizens, who are workers in a mining site in Wase, flew into Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory on Wednesday.

“The situation right now is that they have been isolated,” Manjang confirmed.

He added, “The three of them came in through Abuja and once we heard that, the Commissioner for Health had to take a proactive measure to send a medical team to Wase to go and investigate.”

Manjang explained that they then made their way to Jos, the Plateau State capital, on Thursday.

He, however, said they were being clinically examined by a medical expert deployed by the State Ministry of Health.

According to the commissioner, there is presently no confirmed case of coronavirus in Plateau as it stands.

He was worried that the word ‘quarantine’ could be misconstrued, thereby causing panic among the people.

Manjang assured the people of the state to remain calm and go about their businesses, noting that the case was being investigated.

He said, “The problem that we have is that there is a tendency for people to think that investigation or quarantine, as the case may be, means that there is an outbreak of the virus.

“As far as Plateau case is concerned, there has been no known case of this virus on the Plateau; we just took proactive measures to make sure that we place them (the Chinese nationals) under investigation and that will take 14 days.”

The government, according to the commissioner, awaits the report of the team that was sent to Wase before taking the next step.

SERAP is also seeking a court order to “restrain and stop the National Assembly Service Commission from releasing any public funds to the House of Representatives to buy 400 Toyota Camry 2020 model cars estimated to cost $35,130 per car, until an impact assessment of the spending on access to public services and goods like education, security, health and clean water, is carried out.”

In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/205/2020 filed last Friday, SERAP and the concerned Nigerians argue that: “Nigerians have a right to honest and faithful performance by their public officials including lawmakers, as public officials owe a fiduciary duty to the general citizenry. All those who hold the strings of political power and power over spending of Nigeria’s commonwealth have a duty to answer for their conduct when call upon to do so by Nigerians.”

The plaintiffs also argue that: “It is illegal and unconstitutional for members of the House of Representatives to choose to buy expensive and exotic cars while encouraging Nigerians to tighten their belts and to patronize Nigerian brands. It is also illegal for members to reject cheaper and equally reliable options.”

According to the plaintiffs, “If the members of House of Representatives take their duties to the most vulnerable and disadvantaged among us seriously, including their duties to judiciously spend public funds, they would not have voted to spend over $35,000 per car, especially given the current economic and financial realities of Nigeria.”

“There is chronic poverty in Nigeria and many state governments are unable to pay salaries of workers and pensions. Unless the reliefs sought are granted, the House of Representatives will spend over N5 billion of public funds to buy the exotic cars at the expense of many Nigerians living in poverty and misery.”

The plaintiffs are asking the court to determine “Whether the proposed plan and resolution by the House of Representatives to buy 400 exotic cars for principal officers and members amounting to over Five Billion Naira in total, is not in breach of Section 57[4] of the Public Procurement Act 2007, the oath of office, and Paragraph 1 of Code of Conduct for Public Officers [Fifth Schedule Part 1] of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 [as amended].”

The suit, filed on behalf of SERAP and the concerned Nigerians by their lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare and Opeyemi Owolabi, read in part: “Members of the House of Representatives are either unaware of the constitutional and statutory provisions on their fiduciary duties and judicious use of public funds or deliberately glossing over these provisions.”

“It is also apparent that, besides elevating their personal interests over and above the public interests, members of the House of Representatives have shown insensitivity to the plight of Nigerians, thereby violating section 14 (2)(b) of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999, to the effect that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government and its institutions.”

“It is public knowledge that members of the House of Representatives receive huge sums of money as monthly allowances and severance pay on conclusion of their respective terms at the National Assembly. It is rational that many Nigerians are calling for a review downward of the sum proposed to buy cars for members.”

“There is no better time for any government/public institution to take issues of security and welfare/wellbeing of Nigerians seriously due to rampant kidnapping, banditry and terrorism in many parts of the country than now.”

“This case raises issues of public interests, national interest, public concern, social justice, good governance, transparency and accountability.”

“The House of Representatives during an executive session held on 5th February, 2020 reportedly passed a resolution that 400 Toyota Camry 2020 cars be purchased as official vehicles for 360 members and other persons, including top management staff, Chief of Staff to the two presiding officers, as well as some of their special advisers and assistants.”

“About Three Billion was voted to buy cars for members of the House of Representatives in 2016. The sum of N128 billion was budgeted and allocated to the National Assembly in the approved 2019 national budget.”

The plaintiffs are seeking the following reliefs:

1. A DECLARATION that the plan and resolution to buy 400 Toyota Camry 2020 cars for members of the House of Representatives at the estimated cost of $35,130:00 per car is in breach of Section 57[4] of the Public Procurement Act 2007, Paragraph 1, Code of Conduct for Public Officers [Fifth Schedule Part 1] of the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 and Oath of Office [Seventh Schedule] of the Constitution
2. A DECLARATION that the sum of $35,130 per car proposed and voted to buy 400 Toyota Camry 2020 cars for members of the House of Representatives is a breach of the Defendants’ solemn constitutional obligations to know and follow constitutional oaths and other constitutional and statutory provisions governing their conduct, including their duty of care to Nigerians to faithfully protect and defend the Constitution and improve the lives, well-being and welfare of Nigerians
3. AN ORDER OF THE COURT restraining and stopping the National Assembly Service Commission from releasing the money to the House of Representatives until an assessment of the impact of the spending on critical sectors like education, security, health, clean water and safe roads is carried out in the public interest in accordance with their constitutional oaths of office and constitutional provisions
4. AN ORDER OF THE COURT restraining and stopping all members of the House of Representatives, their assistants, agents, assign or such other person acting on their behalf from demanding or receiving the sum of $35,130 per car for purchase of 400 Toyota Camry 2020 cars until an assessment of the impact of the spending on critical sectors like education, security, health, clean water and safe roads is carried out in the public interest in accordance with constitutional provisions
5. AND FOR SUCH FURHTER ORDER(S)that the Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstance of this suit

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

The spokesman of the police in the state, DSP William Aya, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja that the officers were kidnapped at a spot in Alo-Offoke community on the Itobe-Ayingba road.

The officials were said to be travelling to Makurdi for promotion examination when their vehicles were stopped by the kidnappers.

” Information gathered reveals that four civil defence personnel were among the kidnapped victims, “Aya said, indicating that those kidnapped may be more than four.

He said that three other persons that sustained injuries during the attack were currently receiving treatment at a hospital.

Aya explained that the police responded immediately it received distress calls that some armed men were operating between Alo- Offoke and Ayingba.

”The Divisional Police Officer in charge immediately mobilised his personnel to the scene where they met two abandoned vehicles, one Volkswagen Sharon bus with registration number Kogi KNA 220 LG and a Volkswagen Gulf car with registration number Lagos EZ 376 SMK.

”Both vehicles were riddled with bullets and occupants suspected to have been abducted while 20 expended AK47 ammunitions and civil defence kits were recovered from the scene,” he said.

To stem the tide of kidnapping and armed robbery activities currently rocking the state, Aya said that the command had flagged off aerial surveillance patrol of Obajana axis and other black spots.

According to him, the operation also involved ground troops consisting of police and military personnel who are now combing the bush to rescue victims.

He said that the new operation was being led by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Ayuba Ekpeji.