Today's Headlines: US President, Biden Says Russian Leader, Putin Complicit In Wagner Boss, Prigozhin’s Killing, Alleged Bribery: Court Grants Bizman N500m Bail
US President, Biden Says Russian Leader, Putin Complicit In Wagner Boss, Prigozhin’s Killing
Photo Credit: Sahara Reporters
The United States’ President, Joe Biden on Wednesday said he was “not surprised” at news that Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner mercenary group, may have died in a plane crash in Russia.
“I don’t know for a fact what happened, but I’m not surprised,” Biden said.
“There’s not much that happens in Russia that (President Vladimir) Putin is not behind,” Biden told reporters after taking an exercise class with his family near Lake Tahoe.
“But I don’t know enough to know the answer” of what may have happened to the powerful former Putin henchman,” he said.
Prigozhin’s name was on the passenger list of the aircraft, which crashed northwest of Moscow, according to Russian State media.
Alleged Bribery: Court Grants Bizman N500m Bail
Photo Credit: Leadership
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama has granted N500 million bail to a Lagos businessman, Dr Akintoye Akindele, accused of offering N50 million bribe to men of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
Justice Hamza Muazu, in a ruling yesterday, rejected the request by the lawyer for the prosecution, Simon Lough (SAN) to further detain the defendant to enable the police to conclude investigation.
Justice Muazu agreed with the defence lawyer, Henry Eni-Otu that the offence, with which the defendant was charged, is ordinarily bailable.
He proceeded to admit Akindele, the managing director and chief executive officer of Duport Midstream Company Lld, to bail at N500 million, with two sureties in like sum.
Justice Muazu, who is sitting as the court’s vacation judge, said one of the sureties must own landed property within the jurisdiction of the court and should be a resident of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The judge ordered the defendant to deposit his international passport with the court.
45 ministers not adequate for Nigeria – APC chieftain
Photo Credit: Punch paper
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and member of the Media Strategy Subcommittee of the party’s Presidential Transition Council, Aliyu Audu, has said 45 ministers appointed by President Bola Tinubu is not enough.
Audu said this on Wednesday while speaking on Channels TV Sunrise Daily.
While not stating a particular number of ministers to be appointed, he said, “I don’t think 45 is even enough. I don’t think 48 is enough. We have a population of over 200 million. We are in a crisis.”
Audu asserted that during Bola Tinubu’s tenure as the governor of Lagos State, it was widely recognised that bringing governance closer to the people necessitated the establishment of additional local governments.
“A lot of people thought he was taking it too far but look at how Lagos has moved in 24 years and how every other state has moved in 24 years.
“I’m not talking about potential. I’m not talking about what it used to be before but I’m talking about sheer growth between then and now,” he said.
I’m not using bulletproof car as FCT Minister — Wike
Photo Credit: Nigeria Tribune
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Barr Nyesome Wike has come out to debunk the viral social media story that he requested and is driving a bulletproof car as minister of the nation’s capital.
Speaking at the sidelines after the Abuja Light rail facility tour, the Minister openly showed his official car to newsmen and asked them to confirm if his official car was bulletproof.
Recall that a viral social media report had accused Wike of using an N300 million bulletproof vehicle, speculating that while he was taking a look at his official residence, he requested a bulletproof vehicle.
Wike, however, said that when he resumed office, the Permanent Secretary told him that there were official vehicles for him, and that is what he is using, not a bulletproof vehicle.
“I want you people to go hit your hand there (on the car) and see whether it is a treated car. With all due respect, people should be careful not to destroy other people.
“When I came, the Permanent Secretary said they have a car for us, and the car we use is this. I have never approved any car to be bought, and I have not used an official bullet-proof car. Whether I have cars as governor? Yes, as a governor, what do you expect I should have? But, as I’m not using the bulletproof car as FCT Minister, we should report the right thing and not destroy ourselves. I want you to take a look at where you have the flag and see whether it is a bullet-proof car.”
Photo Credit: Google
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