Hilda Baci’s record for longest cooking marathon is confirmed

-

June 14, 2023

In his bid to establish his allegations of malpractices in the conduct of the February 25 presidential election, the Labour Party (LP) candidate in the last election, Peter Gregory Obi on Tuesday, tendered additional 188 exhibits against the declaration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as winner of the election.

The exhibits, mainly results sheets and reports used by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the election, were tendered at the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) and admitted as exhibits to be used to determine the legality or otherwise of Tinubu’s return as the President.

Obi, through Peter Afoba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, tendered forms EC40GPU, EC40G1 and reports prepared by the electoral body after the election.

A breakdown showed that 45 EC40GPU forms were tendered in 10 Local Government Areas of Niger State, 23 in seven Local Government Areas of Osun, 17 in three Local Government Areas of Edo State and 52 EC40GPU forms in five Local Government Areas of Sokoto were tendered.

Obi also tendered 15 forms EC40G in 8 Local Government Areas of Osun State, 12 forms EC40G1 in 12 Local Government Areas of Edo, 15 forms EC40G in four Local Government Areas of Sokoto and 9 EC40G1 forms in two Local Government Areas of Sokoto.

The Labour Party’s presidential candidate also tendered 5 reports on the conduct of the election in Niger State and 8 in Edo to back his allegations of malpractices during the conduct of the election.

Although the admission of the exhibits was contested by INEC, Tinubu, KashimShetima and the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Presiding Justice of the Court, Haruna Simon Tsammani admitted them as exhibits.

At Tuesday’s proceedings, Obi also tendered INEC Results Viewing (IRev) reports in 21 Local Government Areas of Adamawa State, 20 in Ogun State, 16 in Ekiti State, 19 in Rivers State and 25 in Akwa Ibom State.

Meanwhile, the Court has shifted further hearing in the petition to June 14.

Credit: dailypost.ng

Court orders IGP, AIG’s arrest for contempt

By

-

June 14, 2023

Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba

A National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the arrest of the Inspector General of Police, Mr Usman Alkali, and the Force Secretary, AIG Hafeez Inuwa, for disobeying the court order, which was regarded as contempt.

The court had earlier ordered the IG to reinstate some police officers, who are graduates of Courses 33, 34 and 35 of the police academy, who were said to have been forcefully retired by the force, but the court order was allegedly not obeyed by the IG.

The aggrieved officers approached the court and sought an order to nullify their compulsory retirement from the service by the IG. The court, presided over by Justice Oyebiola Oyewumi, then ordered that the IG, the Police Service Commission, and the Force Secretary of the Police reinstate the forcefully retired officers.

However, since April 19, 2022, when the judgement was delivered, the IGP and other defendants have yet to obey the court order.

In a recent order given by the court on June 8, 2023, a copy of which was made available to our correspondent on Tuesday, Justice Oyewumi berated the IG for the latter’s refusal to obey the court despite advice from the relevant stakeholders in the police force.

The court order read, “It is on record of this court that the court delivered a judgement in this case on 19/4/2022 and ordered that the judgement creditors/applicants should be reinstated forthwith.

It is on record of this court also that the Police Service Commission, the statutory body that is vested with the power to appoint, promote and discipline the judgement creditors/applicants had ordered the Inspector General of Police to comply with the judgement of this court.

“It is equally noteworthy that the CP, Legal, the Head of Department of the Nigerian Police Force had also issued a legal advice urging the Inspector General of Police to comply with the order of this court vide a letter dated and the Inspector General of Police received it on 27/7/2022 yet he has refused to obey or comply with the judgement of this court.”

Credit: punchng.com

US to pause interest rate hikes

By

-

June 14, 2023

The latest US inflation report suggests that the Federal Reserve will pause interest rate hikes tomorrow (Wednesday), but investors need to “stay grounded” as more rate rises are likely this year.

This is the warning from Nigel Green, the CEO and founder of deVere Group, one of the world’s largest independent financial advisory, asset management and fintech organizations, as the Bureau of Labour Statistics releases the US CPI data today showing that inflation rose at a 4% annual rate in May, which is the lowest in 2 years.

He says: “Tuesday’s report shows again that the prices rises, which have been hitting consumers, businesses and financial assets for two years, are decelerating. The 12-month increase was the smallest since March 2021.

“It’s a feel-good headline figure that will cheer investors as it will add further pressure on the Fed to pause its interest rate hike agenda.

“The US central bank is now 15 months and 10 consecutive rate increases into its battle to cool red-hot inflation, but markets will be expecting that the latest CPI report will now be enough to convince officials to hit the pause button.”

The deVere CEO expects that other sectors which have “been outperformed so far in 2023” by mega-cap tech stocks are likely to get a boost should the Fed, as is anticipated, pause rate hikes this week following the CPI data.

“This will firmly signal that progress is being made in the battle to cool inflation and this will buoy investors across the board, finally providing a boost to sectors which have been unloved so far this year.”

As such, investors should be speaking to an advisor about the “possibility of an opportunity-packed new rally if the Fed, as is expected, pauses rate hikes this week.”

However, Nigel Green also issues a warning: “Investors need to stay grounded as despite a possible pause, more rate rises are likely this year, which would be a negative shock to stock markets.

“Inflation is certainly coming down so far, but it is very, very gradual. It remains sticky and a long way from the 2% target, largely due to a tight labor market.

“Therefore, investors need to brace for at least another interest rate hike this year, even if the Fed skips this one.”

Diversification remains investors’ best tool for long-term financial success. As a strategy it has been proven to reduce risk, smooth-out volatility, exploit differing market conditions, maximise long-term returns and protect against unforeseen external events.

“The likely market relief rally that is expected if the Fed pauses could provide important opportunities for investors, but they shouldn’t get overconfident that this is the end of the most aggressive monetary policy since the 1980s.“The Fed isn’t done yet,” notes the deVere Group CEO.

Source: deVere Group

‘1D1F: 296 projects at various stages of implementation’

By

-

June 14, 2023

From 2017 to date, 296 projects under the One District, One Factory (1D1F) Programme are at various stages of implementation, Mr Kobina Tahir Hammond, the Minister of Trade and Industry, has disclosed.

The breakdown includes 126 companies in operation, 143 companies under construction whereas 27 companies are pipeline projects.

Mr Hammond made the disclosure on Tuesday on the floor of Parliament in response to a question by Mr Desmond De-Graft Paitoo, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Gomoa East.

The MP wanted to know from the Minister how many factories had been built so far by the Government under the One District, One Factory (1D1F) Programme and how many of these factories are in partnership with private companies or organisations.

He reiterated that out of the 296 factories under the programme, 233 projects were established by private sector business promoters with the active facilitation of Government, while 63 1D1F projects were established directly by the Government.

“Mr Speaker, it must be noted that Government’s active facilitation of the private sector investment in 1D1F projects consists of special incentives including tax exemptions and the provisions of interest subsidies on loans granted by Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs),” Mr. Hammond said.

“It also includes, where applicable, the extension of critical utilities such as access to electricity and water.”

He said the 63 Government-established 1D1F factories were agro-processing facilities financed with the support of the African Development Bank (AfDB) and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) under the Ministry’s Rural Enterprise Programme (REP).

The Minister said these include 58 Enable Youth 1D1F projects established for youth groups while five were Common User Facilities established for farmer-based groups to operate.

The 1D1F initiative is the Government’s Policy to change the nature of Ghana’s economy from one which is dependent on import and export of raw material to one which is focused on manufacturing, value addition and export of processed goods.

The initiative, which is private sector led, seeks to create the necessary conducive environment for businesses to access funding from financial institutions and other support services from Government agencies to establish factories.

Source: GNA

Sunyani NEDCo begins exercise to retrieve GH¢270m

By

-

June 14, 2023

Mr Eugene Odoi Addo the Area Manager of NeDCO

The Sunyani Area Office of the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) has scheduled Thursday, June 15 this year to commence revenue mobilization exercise to retrieve more than GH¢270 million owed by customers in the Bono and Ahafo Regions.

Mr Eugene Odoi Addo the Area Manager, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday in Sunyani said the exercise would run till Friday, June 30 this year, saying the Office was waiting for Management’s advice if there should be an extension.

He explained that about 40 per cent of the debt was owed by the state institutions, the remaining by the private small-medium and large corporate organisations as well as the general consuming public, saying their target was to collect 50 per cent, if not the total debt owed by consumers.

Mr Addo stated that the debt profile showed some debts dating from 10 years back, saying because of that the company was trying to use technology to improve the revenue collection.

He said in the early 2000s the pre-paid meters were introduced, and the Company was still pursuing that agenda in the ensuing years for pre-payment to dominate the entire metering system to boost revenue collection.

Mr Addo said a similar exercise started by the Office months ago could only rake in GHS 17 to 18 million out of a targeted amount of GH¢120 million, saying it was a good start and the lessons learnt would propel them to achieve the target of this time.

He said defaulting consumers were expected to pay all their debts, but added those who could show commitment would be allowed to pay up to 80 per cent if full payment could not be made to avoid being disconnected.

He stated that the objective of the exercise was not targeted at disconnecting consumers but encouraging them to show obligation by paying their bills to help the Company to deliver efficient services.

Source: GNA

Female Artistes in Western Region respond to concerns about their struggles

By

-

June 14, 2023

Entertainment pundits in Western Region have raised concerns about how female Artistes in the region are struggling to make it in the industry.

With some blaming players in the industry for not providing enough support for the females, others have also argued that the female Artistes are lazy and not pushing enough.

One of such pundits who have made a strong case for support for the female Artistes is Kwesi Network, an industry player and a panel member of Skyy Power FM’s OC Showbiz Review.

In his argument Kwesi Network thinks organisers of the Western Music Awards should take up the role of furthering the cause of the female Artistes in the region since they award their works. “I know how influential the organisers of the Western Music Awards are. They can just take up the role of helping the female Artistes by connecting them with national Artistes like Adina, and the likes.”

Speaking to some of the female Artistes in the region, they reject the opinion that they are struggling. Even though they agree they have not made the maximum impact like the national Artistes, they mention that, they are active and doing their best in their career.

Naf Kasi, a Highlife Artiste in the Western Region mentioned to The Chronicle that; “I’m currently in school. I am now at KLINTAPS School of Health and Allied Sciences, pursuing a degree in Medical Sonography. That has taken my time now since I have to put in enough work and finish the school.”

“It is a four-year programme and I am currently in level 300. I have only one more year left so I will go hard on the music after, I have not abandoned music at all. School has slowed me now” Naff Kasi added.

In her explanation, Gospel Artiste, Ewuraba Eesi argued that; “I am actively pursuing music. I am even about to release a new song so we have not been slow in music.”

“What I can say is that we don’t get enough support in the region There aren’t enough Promoters and Producers in Western Region like the other regions so that alone makes it difficult. Most of the time, the event organisers underrate the female Artistes, arguing that we don’t have much energy like the males so they often don’t bill us.”

“Notwithstanding, we are doing our best. There are more females even coming up now. Someone like Efua Black and others are coming up in the industry. As we speak, I am about to organise my ARUKA Experience event so we are not relaxed at all,” Ewuraba Eesi stated.

Joe Mettle rules out chances of featuring secular Artistes

By

-

June 14, 2023

Gospel Artiste Joe Mettle has revealed the possibility of featuring a secular Artiste on any of his songs.

The ‘Bono ni’ hitmaker does not appear to entertain the thoughts of having any secular Artiste on any of his songs, whether a yet to be released or a remix of any of his popular songs.

During an interview on Luv FM in Kumasi, Joe Mettle, was asked about his plans to feature secular artistes.Answering the question, Joe said he has no plans to feature secular artistes.

“I don’t have plans like, at all,” he emphatically stated.

Gospel Artistes who have featured secular Artistes have often come under criticisms, with many questioning why they would relate with the unbelievers.

Others have also argued that, it is even a good chance for the gospel Artistes to win souls via the features and performances with the secular artistes.

Why Camidoh was nominated for BET Awards and not Black Sherif-Manager

By

-

June 14, 2023

Following the announcement of Camidoh’s nomination for BET Awards’ Best International Act: Africa,’ many have wondered why Black Sherif was not rather nominated.

Speaking on Property FM, the Manager of Camidoh, George Britton explained that; “Of course Black Sherif won the Artiste of the Year at the 2023 VGMA and usually if you win such an award then you get the BET Awards nomination.”

“But for some time now, it doesn’t happen like it used to be some years ago so things have changed a bit in that regard,” he added.

He continued; “They now look at what you are also doing in their space, I mean internationally what is your song doing.”

“So that is some of the things they consider and that’s how come they considered Camidoh for nomination instead of Black Sherif,” he justified on the show.

He ended by adding that; “They realized sugarcane was huge in Europe, Asia, and everywhere they go so that’s the reason why we got recognised by such a prestigious organization.”

Samini announces return to music after completing GIMPA

By

-

June 14, 2023