Lifestyle Nigeria gathered that the 2023 Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has said Nigeria needs 60 per cent reduction in the cost of governance.

Obi said the decision of President Bola Tinubu to reduce the cost of Federal Government’s official entourage during trips was scratching the surface.

He wondered why the government had not disclosed how much would be saved as a result of the reduction.

On Tuesday, Tinubu had announced a slash in the travel expenditure of government officials by 60 per cent.

This reduction affected his entourage, Vice President Kashim Shettima, First Lady Remi Tinubu, and ministers.

Reacting, Obi posted on X: “The just announced 60% cut in the size of federal official entourages on travels is one positive step towards the reduction of cost of governance and a way of halting wastage. But this measure is just scratching the surface as It is limited in scope and can only lead to a very negligible saving.

“We are yet to be told how much savings this will amount to. While this modest step may be somewhat commendable, what is desirable should be both a 60% reduction in federal official overseas trips as well as a 60% reduction in the size of delegations.

“Most importantly, what our current economic reality demands is a 60% reduction in the total cost of governance at the Federal level. This implies that the recently passed federal budget needs to be revised to cut all wasteful and unnecessary items.

“This is the level of cost-cutting and savings that can meaningfully impact the present state of the economy. This level of cut in the cost of government should lead to substantial savings.”

The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed three separate appeals by the All Progressives Congress, APC Young Progressives Congress, YPP and New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP and their candidates against Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno.

This was after counsel for the parties involved in the matter opted to withdraw the appeals.

The parties had asked the apex court to remove the governor of the state, alleging certificate forgery among others.

The tribunal and Court of Appeal  in Lagos had in November 2023 affirmed the election Eno as the winner of the governorship election held in the state on March 18,2023.

The appellate court in its judgment dismissed three separate appeals filed against the governor’s election.

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Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Apo has granted bail to former Minister of Power and Steel, Olu Agunloye in the sum of N50m.

Lifestyle Nigeria reports that Agunloye is currently remanded in Kuje Correctional Service by a Federal High Court in Abuja.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday, arraigned Agunloye on allegations of fraud – a $6 billion Mambilla hydropower contract.

Agunloye was arraigned on seven-count charges, bordering on fraudulent award of a contract and official corruption.

Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie had ordered his remand in Kuje correctional centre pending a hearing and ruling on the bail application.

Counsel to the former Minister, Adeola Adedipe, while moving the application on Thursday, prayed the court to grant bail to his client “by way of self-recognisance or in liberal terms.”

Adedipe said Argunloye is not a flight risk and that the notion canvassed by the prosecution was “borne out of misconception and communication barrier.”

He further appealed to the court not to order the use of a public servant as surety for his client.

The senior lawyer, while citing the case of former National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki in Dasuki v DG SSS (2020) Part 1731 NWLR, submitted that public officers should not be used as sureties, because the court of appeal found such conduct to be “unknown to our laws”; especially because corruption is encouraged that way.

He also argued that the apprehensive misconception about bail and the mischief argued by the prosecution has been solved by Section 352( 4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).

Under this provision, Adeola said, “Once a defendant is admitted to bail, even if he absconds, the trial will continue and he will be convicted where necessary.”

However, the prosecution counsel opposed the bail application.

The presiding judge, Justice Onwuegbuzie said the pendulum of the court swings in favour of granting bail to the defendant.

Onwuegbuzie granted N50 million bail to the Agunloye and ordered him to produce two sureties in like sum.

The sureties must:

• Be a “reputable” and “people of means” resident within the FCT.
• Must have properties worth N300 million with a Certificate of Occupancy that must be verifiable.
• Must submit copies of their identity cards and photocopies of their international passports to the court.

Justice Onwuegbuzie added that the defendant must submit his international passport to the court and must be present for the hearing at all times.

The matter was thereafter adjourned to February 12 for hearing.