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We’re working to make estimated billing unattractive – Irukera

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Mr Babatunde Irukera - EVC, FCCPC
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Mr Babatunde Irukera, Executive Vice Chairman of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has said that the Commission is working towards making estimated billing unattractive for power holding companies so as to enable them make prepaid meters available for consumers.

Irukera who said this during an interaction with journalists on Tuesday in Abuja, wondered why power distribution companies should issue exorbitant estimated billings to consumers when they have not given light for a while.

He lamented the difficulties in procuring pre-paid meters, describing some billings as arbitrary.

He said, “How can you be billing people who you have not given light for a while?

“We are working towards making estimated billing unattractive for Discos to enable them to see reasons to make prepaid meters available for consumers”.

Speaking on the recent raids on loan sharks, Irukera, said no fewer than 30 bank accounts operated by illegal loan organisations.

He said that the Commission was currently engaging some major loan companies affected by the Commission’s raid, saying that the move is to ensure sanity in the sector and prevent abuse of consumer rights.

Irukera said: “The day we conducted the raid, we have some limited information about the bank accounts that some of the loan companies operated.

“All the bank accounts that were provided were immediately blocked but these companies operate multiple bank accounts with multiple names.

“Between the time we raided and now, we have discovered additional 30 accounts and all have been frozen and we will continue to freeze as we discover them.

“I am certain that with the actions that we have taken and the nature of the engagement we are having with the loan companies, at least three of the major ones that their businesses have been severely affected by either our search or the account closure, they are modifying.

“It will take some time but I can assure you that the space is changing now”.

He said that the Commission had engaged Google and Apple Stores to take down some loan applications from their stores, noting that there were certain processes required for that to happen.

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Ibom Air Passenger Who Slapped Crew Lands in Kirikiri!

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Ibom Air
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In a dramatic twist to an in–flight scandal, Comfort Emmanson — the passenger accused of assaulting airline staff during an Uyo–Lagos Ibom Air flight — has traded her trip for prison bars.

The incident, which shocked fellow passengers, has now culminated in her being charged to court and remanded at the notorious Kirikiri Correctional Centre in Lagos.

Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo, SAN, broke the news on Monday via his official X handle.

“The more reason the flying public should be more careful… the unruly passenger on the Uyo–Lagos bound Ibom Air, Miss Comfort Emmanson, has been charged to court and she’s now cooling off in Kirikiri,” Moshood revealed.

Witnesses say the altercation left crew members shaken, sparking renewed calls for stricter penalties for in-flight misconduct.

 

 

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NASS Passes ₦54.99trn 2025 Budget

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National Assembly Complex Abuja.
National Assembly Complex Abuja.
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The National Assembly on Thursday passed the ₦54.99trn 2025 Appropriation Bill.

The bill was passed separately by the Senate and the House of Representatives.

A breakdown of the budget showed N3.645trn for statutory transfers, N14.317trn for debt servicing, N13.64trn for recurrent expenditure and N23.963trn capital expenditure (development fund), with fiscal deficit put at N13.08trn.

The Deficit-to-Gross domestic product (GDP) Ratio was put at 1.52%.

Last Week, President Bola Tinubu increased the 2025 fiscal year budget from an initial N49.7trn to N54.2trn, seeking approval from the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, Abubakar Bichi, while presenting the bill for consideration, stated that the committee met with the Presidential Economic Planning team to further discuss revenue projections and expenditure for the 2025 Appropriation Bill.

According to him, the 2025 Appropriation Bill was presented late, compared to that of 2024.

He urged the executive to present subsequent budgets to the National Assembly not later than three months before the next financial year, to maintain the January to December budget cycle.

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Court Sacks APC Governorship Candidate In Bayelsa

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Timipre Sylva
Timipre Sylva
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The Federal High Court, Abuja, has disqualified the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva, from contesting the November 11 Guber election in Bayelsa state.

The suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/821/2023 was filed on June 13, 2023, by Deme Kolomo, a member of the APC.

Justice Donatus Okorowo ruled that Sylva, having been sworn in twice and ruled for five years as governor of the state, would breach the 1999 constitution as amended if allowed to contest again.

The judge also declared that Sylva was not qualified to run in the November poll because if he wins and is sworn in, he would spend more than eight years in office as governor

Citing the case of Marwa vs Nyako at the Supreme Court, Okorowo noted that the drafters of the country’s constitution stated that nobody should be voted for as governor more than two times and that the parties to the suit agreed that Sylva was voted into office two times.

He further stated that the Supreme Court ruled in the case of Marwa vs Nyako that nobody can expand the constitution or its scope, stressing that if Sylva was allowed to contest the next election, a person could compete as many times as he wanted.

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