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‘We can’t cope’, Abuja Civil servants abandon their vehicles over fuel hike

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Civil servants in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) now pack their vehicles and use public transportation due to the high cost of fuel, a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) survey reveals.

Some of them who spoke to NAN in Abuja on Sunday said it is cheaper to use public transportation than to use personal vehicles to work and other engagements.

Mrs Elizabeth Ekwere (pseudo name), civil servant, said she decided to pack her vehicle as it was no longer sustainable to use it with the current pump price of fuel and her meagre salary.

Ekwere who said it was cheaper to use public transportation, said she had also reduced the number of days she went to work to avoid going into debt.

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”Every week I drive my car to work, I spend nothing less than N100,000 on fuel alone. I have not talked about the food I and the children eat. When I bought the fuel for two weeks, I told myself the truth that I cannot continue.

“I had to pack the vehicle because I cannot continue to spend huge amount of money on a daily basis which will result to me living above my means.
“Now, with the permission of my superiors in the office, we go to work two times in a week depending on your schedules,” she said.

Mr Festus Ugwu, a public servant, said his vehicle which he usually packed every work day was being used only on Sunday to take his family to church.

Ugwu said although he was afraid of the activities of ‘one chance’ group, he was using public transportation to cut cost.

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He appealed to the Federal Government to pay minimum wage and other allowances to help cushion the effect of the fuel pump price hike on workers. Using car is a luxury now because you pay through your nose to maintain it.
”One has to calculate very well before driving to any place now because it is not wisdom to spend all your earnings on fuel,” he said.

Caroline Ade, also a civil servant, said the increase in fuel pump price had forced many citizens to live like people abroad.

Ade, who said that many workers living abroad used train transportation to and fro work, appealed to the government to revive the train system for a more reliable and sustainable transportation network.

Mr Emeka Eluagu, another public servant, said the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiative of the Federal Government, when fully implemented, would help cut transportation cost for workers.

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Eluagu appealed to the government to ensure effective support to enable the CNG initiative to work.

“I do not think that we are prepared for this CNG thing because I saw a video where someone’s CNG car exploded.

“The government needs to take this CNG thing seriously as an alternative to this fuel hike,” he said.

Aisha Mahmoud, also a civil servant advised the government to introduce govt-owned buses to help convey workers and other citizens to their destination at a cheaper rate.

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Mahmoud said the initiative would help cushion the effect of the high cost of fuel and also reduce activities of one chance groups in the FCT.
”Many people are now selling off their fuel consuming vehicles to go for the ones that have fuel economy,” she said.

NAN reports that a litre of fuel is now being sold between N1,030 and N1,400.

(NAN)

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End bad governance protests: Drama in court as four kids brought for trial slump

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There was confusion at a Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, as no fewer than four children, among the 76 defendants, billed for arraignment over their involvement in the August #EndBadGovernance protest held across the country, slumped during their trial.

Recall the protest, which began on Aug. 1 to demand for good governance, ended on Aug. 10.

The Inspector-General (I-G) of Police had, earlier charged 11 of the protesters before Justice Emeka Nwite of a sister court on alleged treason, intent to destabilise Nigeria, conspiracy to commit felony and inciting mutiny, among others, which are punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code.

The protesters were arrested in Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto and Gombe over the 10-day protest which resulted in violence and killings in parts of the country.

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However, when the matter was called on Friday, I-G’s lawyer, Audu Garba, informed the court that the matter was slated for arraignment of the 76 defendants, who had been in detention.

Shortly after they were called into the dock to take their plea, four of the children slumped in the open court.

The four of them were Usman Fatihu (21 years), Muhammed Yahaya (14 years), Muktar Ishak Alhassan (16 years) and Mustapha Ibrahim (18 years).

They are 68th, 74th, 75th, and76th defendants respectively in the 10-count charge bordering on treason, among other offences.

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The trial judge, Obiora Egwuatu, abruptly stood down the trial and rose.

Justice Egwuatu came back after some minutes later to continue with the trial

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Top bankers under probe, Bobrisky case ongoing – EFCC

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By Francesca Hangeior.

 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has said that it was investigating some bank executives for various offences.

The commission also said that it has submitted its preliminary report on the investigation of the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu, to President Bola Tinubu.

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According to the anti-graft agency, about five bank executives are serving various jail terms at the custodial centres in the country.

The Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwajaren, disclosed this while stating the achievements of the commission under Ola Olukoyede.

Uwujaren, who didn’t mention names of the bank executives under probe, noted that the banking sector has not been overlooked in the last year.

He said, “It’s just for us to look back and realise that EFCC has never shifted focus from any sector. Between 2009 and 2011, at least five bank executives were investigated and served their jail terms. There are still some that are under investigation.

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“They are not politicians. Bank MDs are not immune to investigations or prosecution by the EFCC. We cannot mention names until those things are concluded. “

On Betta Edu, Uwajaren said, “I don’t know the outcome. But I believe that we have submitted a preliminary report to the president. And I believe that we are still on the matter.

“The last time I checked, we mentioned the number of bank accounts that we were monitoring. We were looking at about 140 accounts. And we know it takes time to look into and get the required information.”

On the investigation of controversial crossdresser Idris Okuneye, aka Bobrisky’s allegations, Uwujaren said he could face a fresh charge from the commission if the allegations against the EFCC are false.

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Bobrisky had in a voice note shared by controversial social critic Martins Otse, aka VeryDarkMan, allegedly said he bribed EFCC officers with N15m to drop money laundering charges against him.

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Alleged Impersonation: Police arraigned VeryDarkMan, gets N2m bail

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By Francesca Hangeior.

 

A popular social media activist, Martins Otse, otherwise known as VeryDarkMan, was on Friday, arraigned before an Abuja Chief Magistrate Court sitting at Wuse Zone 6, over an allegation that he falsely presented himself as a police officer.

The defendant, who was in the charge marked: CR/510/2024, accused of impersonation and making unauthorized use of the police uniform, pleaded not guilty to the allegation.

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He was subsequently granted bail by the court to the tune of N2million with the two sureties in the like sum.

The court maintained that the sureties must not only be resident within the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, but must also submit their passports to its registry.

⁠According to the court, the sureties must also provide a means of identification and depose to an affidavit to provide the defendant for his trial, at all times.

It mandated the police which is prosecuting the matter to verify the address of the sureties who were equally directed to provide an evidence of payment of their utility bills.

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The defendant was also directed to deposed to an affidavit that he would always make himself available for the trial.

It will be recalled that the VeryDarkMan was detained on Thursday after he honoured an invitation that was extended to him by the police.

The defendant was seen in a video that went viral on various social media platforms, wearing an uniform that was similar to that of the Nigeria Police Force.

He described himself as a CSP of an online division and jokingly urged his fans and followers to always acknowledge him with his new rank instead of referring him as an activist.

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