Gunmen kidnap Pastor in Gboko, demand N10million ransom

Unknown armed men last night kidnapped the proprietor of Excel Grace Secondary School, Akaajime, Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, Pastor Emmanuel Apeh during a church programme and whisked him away to an unknown destination.

It was learnt the armed men who took their victim on a motorbike had stormed the venue of a church crusade pretending to be worshippers. According to the source, “they stormed church at Behind Mbalemen’s Filling Station Akaajime, around Mkar-Katsina/Ala road, Gboko about 8pm. “And after the programme, they trailed Pastor Apeh to his car, shooting sporadically to scare people way and immediately taking him away on a motorbike to unknown destination. “It was gathered that they have already started making demands and asking for N10million ransom for his release”. 

“His devastated wife and family members have been making frantic efforts to have him released before it is too late,” he added. When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent, DSP, Catherine Anene who confirmed the abduction said the Command was working round the clock to secure the release of the victim.

Central Bank of Nigeria grants licenses to 3 Payment Service Banks

 

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has granted final licenses to 3 Payment Service Banks (PSBs) to start operation.

The final approval to the 3 Payment Service Banks to operate follows their compliance with the licensing requirements which were stipulated by the apex bank. The three PSBs include:

(a)  Hope PSB

(b)  Moneymaster PSB

(c)  9 PSB

The final approval is coming after the CBN issued an updated and revised guideline for the licensing and regulation of Payment Service Banks in Nigeria on August 27, 2020. The first guideline for the PSBs was issued on October 26, 2018.

The CBN, while disclosing that the licensing of the new Payment Service Banks will strengthen Nigeria’s financial inclusion drive leveraging mobile and digital channels, has expressed its commitment towards the implementation of policies that will engender a diverse financial system that meets the needs of all stakeholders.

The CBN also said that it will continue to monitor developments in the sector and grant additional PSB licenses in due course.

Payment service banks refer to a new category of the bank with smaller-scale operations and the absence of credit risk and foreign exchange operations. In addition to operating current and savings accounts they can also offer payments and remittance services, issue debit and prepaid cards, deploy ATMs and other technology-enabled banking services. 

The PSBs are to facilitate high volume low-value transactions in remittance services, micro-savings and withdrawal services in a secured technology-driven environment to further deepen financial inclusion.

Adesina Re-elected President of the African Development Bank (AfDB)

Akinwumi Adesina

African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina was re-elected for another five-year term following a tumultuous three months that divided shareholders.

He received unanimous support; the Abidjan, Ivory Coast-based lender said in an emailed statement Thursday. “As shareholders, we will give him all the necessary support to carry forward and implement his compelling vision for the bank.”

“I look forward to working closely with each and everyone of you for the urgent and difficult task ahead of supporting Africa to build back, better, smarter, and boldly from the Covid-19 pandemic,” Adesina said in a speech following the vote.

The 60-year-old Nigerian was the sole candidate to head the continent’s biggest multilateral lender, in a virtual vote as a result of the coronavirus, at the end of its two-day annual meetings. The run-up to the election saw the AfDB survive a corporate governance test when unidentified whistleblowers accused Adesina of helping friends and relatives get jobs and contracts from the bank.

While he was cleared by an internal investigation, the U.S. wanted an independent probe, a position supported by Western nations including the U.K., the Netherlands, Switzerland and Sweden. It was vehemently opposed by Nigeria, while Equatorial Guinea and Sierra Leone expressed their support for Adesina. An external review headed by former Irish President Mary Robinson last month cleared him.

LeBron James Reacts to Jacob Blake Shooting

Lebron James

LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers blew out their playoff opponent, the Portland Trail Blazers, on “Mamba Day” Monday. But honoring the late Kobe Bryant with a win was not the only thing on his mind after the game. Another unarmed Black man was shot by the police.

“If you’re sitting here telling me that there was no way to subdue that gentleman, or detain him, or before the firing of guns, then you’re sitting here, you’re lying to not only me, you’re lying to every African American, every Black person in the community because we see it over and over and over,” James told reporters of the Kenosha, Wis. police officer who grabbed 29-year-old Jacob Blake by the t-shirt as he was getting into his car, and fired seven shots at point blank range into his back. He is currently hospitalized. According to a family attorney, his three children aged three, five and eight were in the back seat.

“If you watch the video, there (were) multiple moments where if they wanted to they could have tackled him, they could have grabbed him. They could have done that. Why does it always have to get to a point where we see the guns firing? …And his family is there. The kids are there. It’s in broad daylight … It’s just, quite frankly, it’s just f**ked up in our community.”

On Monday, protesters in Kenosha clashed for a second night with police in riot gear outside the city’s courthouse. An armored vehicle was also on the scene and police threw gas into the crowd of protesters.

Nigeria strengthens her voting rights ahead of AfDB election

 

Nigeria has boosted its voting powers ahead of the African Development Bank election.

The election is expected to hold during the virtual annual meeting scheduled between August 25 and August 27.

According to a report by Bloomberg, Nigeria has almost doubled its voting rights in the AfDB to 16.8 per cent.

By doubling its right, Nigeria reaffirms its position as the biggest rights holder followed by non-regional members Germany with 7.4 per cent and the U.S. with 5.5 per cent.

This was contained in a memorandum sent to governors on August 20.

This is as Nigeria’s Akinwumi Adesina is seeking re-election as the bank’s president for another five-year term.

Unlike in 2015 when he faced off against Chadian Finance Minister Kordje Bedoumra and Cape Verde’s Agriculture Minister Cristina Duarte, this time he is the sole candidate.

Adesina says the 2020 Annual General Meeting of the bank will provide a forum to discuss ways to help Africa in its economic recovery.

According to him, it will also provide an avenue to come up with post-COVID-19 strategies.

Adesina said this in a video to welcome shareholders and other stakeholders ahead of the forthcoming virtual annual meeting.

“We may not be in the same physical location, we are together in our commitment to Africa, we are together in our determination to help Africa build back its economy from the devastating effect of COVID-19.

“We are together to support and strengthen the AfDB and your collective support is what will keep us going,” he said.

Top Trump's aide bent on leaving the White House

Kellyanne Conway

 

Kellyanne Conway, one of President Donald Trump’s most influential and longest serving advisers, announced Sunday that she would be leaving the White House at the end of the month.

Conway, Trump’s campaign manager during the stretch run of the 2016 race, was the first woman to successfully steer a White House bid, then became a senior counselor to the president. She informed Trump of her decision in the Oval Office.

Conway cited a need to spend time with her four children in a resignation letter she posted Sunday night. Her husband, George, had become an outspoken Trump critic and her family a subject of Washington’s rumor mill.

“We disagree about plenty but we are united on what matters most: the kids,” she wrote. “For now, and for my beloved children, it will be less drama, more mama.”

Conway cited a need to help her children''s remote learning during the coronavirus pandemic as a need to step away from her position. She had remained a trusted voice within the West Wing and spearheaded several initiatives, including on combating opioid abuse.