News

Atiku Files deposition Against Buhari’s Aide On N2.5bn Libel Suit

Published

7 years ago

December 3, 2019

Former Vice President , Atiku Abubakar , on Tuesday , appeared at the registry of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama, Abuja , to sign and file his deposition in support of the N2 . 5 bn libel suit which he instituted against President Muhammadu Buhari ’ s Special Assistant on Social Media , Lauretta Onochie , earlier in June this year .

Pictures of the Peoples Democratic Party ’ s candidate in the last presidential election with his lead counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome ( SAN ) , and others in the legal team were sent to journalists on Tuesday .

In one of the pictures, Atiku was seen seated while holding a pen above a white paper with Ozekhome bent over the table beside him .

In the caption accompanying the pictures, Ozekhome stated , “ Chief Mike Ozekhome , SAN , OFR , today , at the Central Registry of the FCT, High Court , Maitama , Abuja, with his client , His Excellency , Alhaji Atiku Abubakar , Waziri Adamawa .

“ The former Vice President was physically at the Registry to sign his witness deposition (on oath ) before the Commissioner for Oaths , on the case he instituted against Lauretta Onochie .
“ The Waziri is claiming amongst others, the sum of N2 . 5 bn only , from the Presidential Assistant on Social Media , as general , aggravated , punitive and exemplary damages against her .
“ Atiku is claiming this sum from her for her defamatory story published on her twitter handle and Facebook page , in which she stated that Atiku was on the UAE watch list, as a wanted man , asking, ‘ shopping for terrorists ?”

Atiku had, on June 26 , 2019 , instituted the suit against Onochie for her alleged libelous tweet against him via her twitter handle on May 7 , 2019 .

The tweet allegedly suggested that Atiku was on the watch list of security operatives in the United Arab Emirates and had travelled to shop for terrorists in the Middle East .

He prayed the court in the suit marked CV / 2287 /19 , to order Onochie to pay him the N 2 . 5 bn as “ general , aggravated , punitive and exemplary damages over the untold embarrassment , derision , public ridicule, odium, obloquy , marital disharmony , mental agony and psychological trauma which the defendant ’ s publications have caused the claimant. ”

Denying the allegations in the said tweet, Atiku said it was “politically orchestrated” “ solely to cause maximum damage” to his “ high reputation” while challenging “ the purported victory ” of Onochie’ s boss , President Buhari in the last presidential election at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal .

The presidential candidate of the PDP in the February 23 , 2019 poll had, through a May 14 , 2019 letter signed by Ozekhome , demanded from Onochie an apology , a retraction of the said post and a payment of N500 m compensation to him “ to assuage” the damage allegedly done to him by her social media post.

He also threatened to sue her should she fail to accede to the demand “ within 48 hours ”.

Justifying his suit , Atiku stated in his statement of claim accompanying his suit , that rather than show “ remorse by retracting her earlier publication” , she further , on May 20 , made “ another derogatory publication and also published same online in the social and other print media ” against his person. ”

(Punch)

News

Six Corps Members Receive N10m Grants To Boost Agribusiness

Published

12 hours ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

Six members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have received a total of N10 million in grants to expand their agribusiness ventures under the Farmers for the Future Programme.

The programme was organised on Monday by the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) in collaboration with the NYSC to encourage young Nigerians to embrace agriculture and develop sustainable businesses.

Presenting the cheques to the beneficiaries in Abuja, the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, urged Corps members to maximise the opportunities provided by the service year by venturing into commodity marketing and other viable businesses.

Nafiu said agribusiness remained a viable avenue for young people to build sustainable enterprises, create employment and generate wealth.

He also stressed the importance of value addition to the success and sustainability of business ventures, while commending BATNF for placing Nigerian youths at the centre of its entrepreneurship initiatives through value-chain development, employment creation and its partnership with the NYSC.

“I charge you to spread the news around. We have seen the outcome, and it is a good idea,” he said.

The beneficiaries are Dominic Olufemi (FC/25C/1143), who received N3 million; Temitope Adewole (ED/26A/2251), N2 million; Abdulwaheed Bala (ED/25B/1402), N2 million; Olanike Mayungbe (OG/26B/1037), N1 million; Kingsley Udoeyen (KG/26A/1735), N1 million; and Lorember Lorsue (JG/25B/1742), N1 million.

Speaking on the selection process, the Acting Director, Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED), Mrs Winifred Shopeka, said the programme began with an online registration portal through which Corps Members engaged in agribusiness submitted their business plans.

She said nearly 3,000 Corps members applied and underwent a rigorous selection process that produced 20 finalists.

According to her, the finalists participated in a boot camp and a final pitching session, which produced the 10 best presenters before the six ultimate winners were selected.

Shopeka said the beneficiaries had also been mentored and attached to established market operators to assist them in marketing their products.

She added that Corps Members who did not make the final stage of the competition were also trained by BATNF.

The BATNF Team Lead, Mr Oludare Odusanya, congratulated the beneficiaries and urged Corps Members engaged in agribusiness to master the fundamentals and acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed.

“We are happy with our collaboration with the NYSC, and it will continue,” he said.

Odusanya explained that BATNF was an independent organisation established to contribute to poverty reduction in Nigeria through sustainable agricultural practices and other interventions.

He said the Farmers for the Future Programme was instituted in collaboration with the NYSC to encourage Corps Members to venture into agribusiness and become job creators.

He added that the beneficiaries would be attached to mentors who would guide them towards achieving success in their respective businesses.

According to him, the programme has, since its inception, continued to enhance the entrepreneurial capacity of Corps Members.

News

CBN Reduces Interest Rate To 23%

Published

12 hours ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Tuesday announced the reduction of the interest rate, also known as Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) to 23 percent.

Briefing the media in Abuja, the Governor of the CBN, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, said at the 307th MPC meeting held on September 22, 2026 agreed the resetting of the MPR and recaliberation of the monetary policy market.

According to Cardoso, the committe is satisfied with the disinflation progress, adding that members noted stable banking sector following successful recapitalisation.

Meanwhile, according to Nigerian Tribune, reports that that the MPC, at its 306th meeting in July 2026, disclosed its resolution to retain the interets at 26.5 percent.

According to the Governor of the CBN, Olayemi Cardoso, “the Committee’s decision to maintain the current policy stance followed a thorough assessment of the balance of risks. Although headline inflation moderated marginally in June 2026, global uncertainties have heightened, due mainly to the renewed hostilities in the Middle East.

“In view of the evolving developments, maintaining a cautious monetary policy stance remains appropriate. In arriving at its decision, the Committee noted the recent resurgence of hostilities in the Middle East, with particular attention to its spillover effects on global energy prices and the potential pass-through to domestic inflation.”

News

NURTW: KWAM1 Settles Long-time Rift Between MC Oluomo, Tafa Sego

Published

13 hours ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

Nigerian Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM1, has brokered a peace deal between the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) National President, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, and the Lagos State Chairman of the union, Mustapha Adekunle, aka Tafa Sego.

The reconciliation took place at Ojusagbola in Ijebu, Ogun State, where several NURTW chieftains gathered for the meeting.

The development was announced on Tuesday on KWAM1’s digital media page on Instagram, alongside photographs from the meeting.

According to the post, the two union leaders have resolved their differences after years of strained relations.

“After years of an age-long rift, MC Oluomo and Tafa Sego have finally settled their differences. And from what we know now, this is final,” the post said.

The musician was said to have intervened as the Mayegun of Yorubaland, with the aim of bringing an end to the longstanding disagreement between the two NURTW figures.

“K1 acted in his role as the Mayegun of Yorubaland by seeking an end to the long-standing rift, once and for all,” it said.

The post also described the meeting as a significant step beyond previous public displays of reconciliation.

“This time, it was not just another handshake for the cameras. The two old friends and colleagues came together at Ojusagbola, with King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (K1) playing the peacemaker.”

Both MC Oluomo and Tafa Sego were reported to be pleased with the outcome of the intervention.

“Both parties are delighted about the new development,” the post said.

The two men had previously been allies and prominent figures within the Lagos NURTW before their relationship became strained amid disagreements linked to leadership of the union in the state.