News

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has required citizens to take their current naira notes to the banks as quickly as possible.

The CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, made this disclosure while fielding questions from State House reporters on Thursday.

He said that the banks had already started dispensing the new cash, which reached their various offices on Wednesday to their customers.

The redesigned notes presented to the public are the N1000, N500 and N200, respectively.

The governor added, “I can only assure you that it will go around. Let us just be calm. Luckily, the old currency continued to be legal tender till January 31, 2023. 

“So, I want to crack a joke, both the painted (new notes) and unpainted (old notes) will operate concurrently as legal tender. 

“But by January 31, the unpainted one will not be useful to you again, so please take it to your bank as quickly as possible,” he said.

By Ibrahim Hamisu

Following the cheerful welcome received by the presidential candidate of All Progressive Congress, APC, candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, when he visited Kano State, and the considerable role played by many members of Kannywood in his acceptance in the state, names of many members of the industry appeared in the list of the members of Tinubu/Shatima campaign committee. 

The list was a part of an announcement made by the Director General of the APC presidential campaign committee, Governor Simon Bako Lalong. He confirmed the selection of Kannywood members among the Presidential Campaign Council, PCC, with producer Abdul Amart Maikwashewa, as its leader. 

The announcement was signed by the Director of Press and Public Affairs to Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, Dr Makut Simon Macham, on 8th November 2022. 

The PCC chairman, Governor Simon Lalong, beseeched the members of Kannywood to call all their fans, supporters, and every Nigerian to support their candidate and promote his good political agenda. 

The members include Abdul Mohd Amart (Maikwashewa) as Director, Isma’il Na’abba Afakallah as Deputy Director, Jadda Garko as Deputy Director II, and Sani Mu’azu as secretary. 

Other members include Malam Khalid Musa, an advisor to the Kano State Governor on the Kannywood industry, as an advisor of the committee; Bala Ahmad and Shu’aibu Yawale, also as advisors. 

Others include a veteran actor in the industry, Ali Nuhu, as a director of actors’ affairs; Jamila Umar Nagudu as his Deputy I and a comedy actor, Sulaiman Yahaya (Bosho), as Deputy Director II. 

A famous singer, Fati Nijar, was appointed as Deputy Director I, singer’s affairs; Ado Gwanja is her Deputy Director II; Dan Isa Mai Kaho is Deputy Director III. 

A comedy actor, Mustapha Badamasi Nabraska, an advisor to Kano State Governor on propaganda, was appointed as director of Works, while Alasan Kwalle was appointed as his deputy. 

Ahmad Salihu Alkanawy will be the operation director; Emmanuel will be his assistant. Tahir I. Tahir will be the program secretary; Adam A. Zango will be his Deputy I; Dailo Pam Lojok will be Deputy II. 

Nasir S. Gwangwazo, a writer, film producer, and editor of Manhaja Newspaper of the Blueprint Media company, will be the News and Publicity Secretary. Hafsat Sulaiman from Kaduna State will be his assistant. 

Hassan Shehu Kano will be the news coordinator on newspapers, radio, and television. Ibrahim Adamu will work as a social media news coordinator, where they will assist Gwangwazo. 

Malam Ado Ahmad Gidan Dabino (MON) will be the director of technical works; Hamza Baban Muri as his Deputy I, and Ibrahim Maishunku as his Deputy II.

Ɗan Musa Gombe will be the studio’s matters, while Sulaiman Albankudi will be the coordinator. Auwal Big Time will be the assistant coordinator. 

Mansura Isa will be the welfare officer; Nuhu Abdullahi will be her first assistant, while Abubakar Ndako Kutugi will be her second assistant. 

Director Sadiq N. Mafia will be the program manager, Audi Sitin will be the first assistant, and Audi Boda will be the second assistant. Asma’u Sani will be the women’s coordinator I, while Maijidda Minna will be coordinator II. 

Sadiq Sani Sadiq, transportation coordinator; Bello Muhammad Bello will be his assistant. Falalu A. Dorayi is the finance director, while Shatima Mansoor will be his assistant. Amina Adamu will be the chief coordinator, while  Ibrahim A.I.T will be her assistant. 

There is also the list of elders of the committee, which include: Sani Idris Moɗa, Magaji Ibrahim Mijinyawa, Muhammad B. Uwar Hankaka, Hajara Usman, Sa’idu Isa Gwaja, and Ɗan Azumi Baba which is also known as Kamaye. 

List of general members of the committee includes Maryam Yahya, Husaini Sule Koki, Nura Ɗan Dolo (Yaya Dankwambo), Aminu Ari Baba, Fati Abubakar Das, Nazifi Shariff, Abubakar Sulaiman (Ɗan Auta), Umma Shehu, Yahanasu Sani, Hauwa Abubakar (Waraka), Aminu Mirror, Waziri Dabo, Anas Sulaiman Nasir, Sani Ɗangwari, Bala Kufaina Abuja, Hamza Badamasi, Hadiza Abdullahi Kabara, Aminu Dumbulum, Maimuna Abubakar (Momi Gombe), Hauwa Garba (‘Yar Auta), Aisha Mahuta, Musa Mai Sana’a, Binta Ola, Abdulrahman Alfazazee, Nasir Adam Salih, Adamu A.D Bauchi, Mudassir Kassim, and Tijjani Abdullahi Asase.

Kannywood Elders Forum, through its public relation officer, Kabiru Maikaba, has already congratulated Abdul Amat Maikwashewa and other members of Kannywood for the well-deserved appointments.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

Senator Rabiu Kwakwanso, the presidential candidate for the New Nigeria Peoples Party, labelled the proponents of his rumoured merger with another party as failed politicians on Thursday.

Just moments after addressing NNPP members at the party office in the state capital, Kwankwaso made this statement while responding to reporters in Abeokuta.

Kwakwanso was quoted saying, “That’s absolute nonsense. You see we believe that we are not above the three or four parties in this country, but by 2023, next year, by the grace of God, the NNPP will win the election at national and all other levels.

“So, these are people who are failed politicians who have nothing to tell Nigerians other than to spread unnecessary rumour of a merger.

“Merger is already gone. We have our candidates. In all the parties, everybody is campaigning. So, disregard that nonsense.”

By Uzair Adam Imam

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressive Congress, has continued to be criticised over his failure to show up at the ARISE Townhall interactive sessions attended by other presidential candidates on Sunday.

Tinubu has been challenged for being unprepared and incapable of withstanding the rigour and the complex nature of the session.

The main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said Tinubu decided to avoid the debates intentionally because he had nothing to tell Nigerians.

However, addressing some young Nigerians in London, Tinubu said the debate was not an issue, adding that he could have debated from morning till night.

He added, “I am ready to debate with you from morning till night… and I’m speaking in London, not in Jigawa. It is great that you are alive to tell the story, just giving the assurance never to give up…

“Broadband creation, the energy that you talked about.. if they’ve taken our advice.. at the beginning of democracy in 1999, we brought in investment. 

“My Deputy then is here.. and then so many other innovative things….,” he said.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has condemned a decision by the Lagos State Office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to hold its meeting inside a church in Ikeja, Lagos State.

Prof. Ishaq Akintola, the MURIC Director, made the condemnation in a statement released and issued to journalists on Thursday.

It was gathered that the Lagos headquarters of INEC scheduled a meeting for Thursday and picked Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, Ikeja, as the venue of the meeting.

Akintola advised INEC Lagos headquarters not to hold any of its activities in any church except those meant for church members alone and that same goes for mosques and shrines.

He added that INEC has no business using places of worship for their activities, adding that the development is ‘very disappointing’.

The statement read, “This is very disappointing. How can an electoral body of INEC status pick a religious house of worship as venue for its meeting? Is the meeting for the Christian wing of INEC or what? Is INEC meeting members of the church? It is unacceptable.

“The choice of a church as venue for a meeting of INEC is very insensitive particularly given the very volatile situation, we are in Nigeria today. It is an open secret that Christian pastors are deeply involved in political campaigns.

“Many of them have turned 2023 election into a straight fight between them and the Muslims.

“INEC Lagos Headquarters has taken a false step. Holding an electoral body’s meeting inside a church is like holding it inside the secretariat of one of the political parties.

“It erodes confidence. It is totally wrong particularly in a situation whereby the church has publicly revealed that it is an interested party in the ongoing electioneering exercises.

“Why pick a church when there are hundreds of neutral places all over Lagos? Is INEC promoting the church’s vested interest in the 2023 election? Is some kind of connivance in the offing?

“INEC Lagos headquarters must prove to Lagosians that their votes will count. We call on Lagosians to watch the activities of INEC from now on because we are not convinced that it is going to be neutral,” Akintola said.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

Nigeria’s Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is set to attend a meeting in the United States for African Carbon Market.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity (Office of the Vice-President), Laolu Akande said Prof. Osinbajo will be in attendance alongside other key actors in the clean energy market.

Mr Akande said the Vice-President will be delivering the keynote address at a high-level meeting hosted by the Rockefeller Foundation in New York.

He said : “In a major push for funding and technical support for the Nigerian Energy Transition Plan, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, will be delivering the keynote address at a high-level meeting hosted by The Rockefeller Foundation in New York, with global agencies and potential financial partners in attendance to facilitate the activation of the Voluntary Carbon Market in Nigeria and on the African continent.”

He also noted that the high-level which holds on Friday will also be attended by officials from the US government and will explore potential opportunities which the carbon markets offer.

“The high-level meeting which holds on Friday will also be attended by officials from the US government and will explore potential opportunities which carbon markets offer to generate resources for clean energy transitions while accelerating economic growth in Nigeria and other African countries.” He said.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

The Senate has scheduled a hearing on the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) most recent cash withdrawal limit policy for Tuesday, December 13, 2022.

In its plenary session on Wednesday, the Senate voiced its concerns.

In a point of order, Senate Minority Leader Aduda Phillip called attention to the CBN’s new policy because it will have an impact on many people, particularly small company owners.

In response, Senate President Ahmad Lawan instructed the banking committee to speak with the CBN and discuss the issue during the screening of the CBN Deputy Governor, which is anticipated to take place before the next week. 

Recall that Lawan had previously advised the CBN not to approach the policy immediately.

The CBN limited the maximum weekly cash withdrawal over the counter (OTC) by corporate organisations and individuals to N500,000 and N100,000, respectively, under the new withdrawal policy.

The new withdrawal rule set the weekly limit cash withdrawal by Automated Teller Machine (ATM) at N100,000, with a daily maximum of N20,000.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Bill Cosby, a renowned American stand-up comedian and actor, has been sued by five women over sexual assault during their early careers.

The 85-year-old Cosby has been dragged through the mud by numerous women over the allegation of rape throughout the years.

The Daily Reality recalls that back in 2018, the comedian bagged a 10-year jail term in Pennsylvania for indecent assault.

Several reports indicated that the majority of the women sued the actor for acting more like a predator than a mentor to them.

The victims were identified as Plaintiffs Lili Bernard, Eden Tirl, Jewel Gittens, Jennifer Thompson, and Cindra Ladd.

They alleged that the actor was able to take advantage of them because they were young and vulnerable.

Some time ago, the actor was also dragged to court by Mrs Minifield, who claimed Cosby drugged and abused her multiple times.

The victim recalled one incident in which she awoke during a rape to discover the actor trying to smother her with a pillow.

By Habibu Maaruf Abdu

The Arewa Film Makers Association of Nigeria (AFMAN) Kano chapter has elected new executives to pilot its affairs for the next two years.

The ten-member exco were elected unopposed in an uncontested election held on Saturday, December 3, 2022, at the Social Welfare Centre, Court Road, Kano.

Captain Musa Gambo emerged as the union’s new chairman, succeeding Jamilu Yakasai who had been holding the position since 2019.

Other members of the new exco include:

Mansurah Isah – Vice chairperson

Mustapha Anwar – Secretary

Abubakar Adamu G. Boy – Treasurer

Hassan Maiwada – Financial secretary

Zaharaddeen Muhammad – Press secretary 1

Abubakar Alaramma – Press secretary 2

Ali Worth Me – PRO 1

Rahama M.K. – PRO 2

Maimuna Muhammad (Wata Yarinya) – Welfare officer

By Muhammadu Sabiu

As a step toward implementing the naira redesign strategy, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has released a new cash withdrawal policy that states withdrawals over N100,000 and N500,000 will now be subject to 5% and 10% fees, respectively.

The apex bank also said that going forward, only denominations of N200 and lower will be accepted at ATMs.

All Deposit Money Banks, other financial institutions, primary mortgage banks, and microfinance banks received a letter on Monday from the director of banking supervision at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Haruna Mustafa.

A third-party check for more than N50,000 would not be accepted for payment, per the letter cited with the BSD/DIR/PUB/LAB/015/069. The daily cap for over-the-counter, OTC, and ATM withdrawals is N20,000.

The letter reads, “The maximum cash withdrawal over the counter (OTC) by individuals and corporate organizations per week shall henceforth be N100,000 and N500,000, respectively.

“Withdrawals above these limits shall attract processing fees of 5% and 10%, respectively; third-party cheques above N50,000 shall not be eligible for payment over the counter, while extant limits of N10,000,000 on clearing cheques still subsist; the maximum cash withdrawal per week via Automated Teller Machine (ATM) shall be N100,000 subject to a maximum of N20,000 cash withdrawal per day; Only denominations of N200 and below shall be loaded into the ATMs; The maximum cash withdrawal via point of sale (PoS) terminal shall be N20,000 daily and in compelling circumstances, not exceeding once a month, where cash withdrawals above the prescribed limits are required for legitimate purposes, such cash withdrawals shall not exceed N5,000,000 and 10,000,000 for individuals and corporate organizations.”