Ahmed Idris, Mike Sonko, and Kais Saied walk into a bar...
Podcast
Nothing this week folks! Someone (not Loye for once) lost their voice!
Song
This episode was edited while we were listening to:
Quote of the week
“You can tell nothing from a man's appearance, nothing except the depths of your own prejudice.”
"The speed of the human mind is remarkable. So is its inability to face the obvious...Faith is the enemy of discovery." [Edited]
— Simon Mawer
What’s Happening in Nigeria?
AG Billions
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nigeria’s anti-corruption watchdog, arrested the Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, for fraud on Monday, May 16th. According to the agency spokesman Wilson Uwujaren, Mr. AG had been avoiding invitations to testify about his fraudulent activities, so they swooped in.
The funds, allegedly siphoned via several channels, is a brazy (brave and crazy) N80 billion ($190,000,000+).
He allegedly raked off these funds via “bogus consultancies and other illegal activities using proxies, family members, and close associates." The funds were then laundered via real estate investments in Kano and Abuja along with agriculture projects and grain stores across Northern Nigeria
Following his arrest, the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed has declared his indefinite suspension to allow for a thorough investigation in accordance with public service regulations.
We have to take a second to acknowledge, the Accountant General of the country was running these scams.
Okada must go
Babajide Sanwo-Olu The Governor of Lagos, Nigeria's most populous state and largest commercial centre, issued a directive that drew both praise and criticism. He announced the final ban on the operation of Commercial Motorcycles, widely known as Okada, in various sections of the state during a security conference with police personnel in the state's capital. According to the Governor, there has been an invasion of criminals disguised as okada riders into Lagos, and they must be flushed out immediately for the safety of Lagosians.
In reality, the Lagos State government has yet to account for a large number of motorcycle riders, many of whom are alleged to be foreigners from Niger, Chad, Benin Republic, and Togo. 70% of bikes in Lagos are unregistered and have no record with the state, making it practically impossible to track riders' movements.
Many bike owners and residents in the impacted local governments have decried the decision as insensitive. It was, nevertheless, almost certain to be made sooner or later. There have been numerous reports of motorbike riders being violent. David Imoh, who was brutally killed and burned by okada riders following a quarrel over a sum of 100 naira ($0.24), was a recent example.
In a bid to express their displeasure, some motorcycle riders took to attacking some innocent citizens in the affected local governments, accusing them of influencing the Governor's directive. Governor Sanwo-Olu however has stated categorically that there would be no going back on his decision. They should seek alternative sources of income or leave the state.
In an interview, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, revealed that the prohibition also applies to tricycles, commonly known as Keke Napep. However, the major focus will be on Okada, with only Powerbikes, delivery bikes, and police-owned bikes being spared.
The ban covers Surulere, Ikeja, Eti-osa, Mainland, Apapa and Lagos Island local governments as well as major highways and bridges in the state.
This is an unpopular decision mainly due to the lack of public transportation in the state. Lagos has been building a monorail system for almost 20 years and has yet to finish one line. Most residents of the state depend on okadas to make their daily commutes in a city infamous for its traffic. And yet, governor after governor bans these okadas…without much success.
What’s Going on Across Africa?
Conde Nasty
Ex-Guinea President, Alpha Conde, who was charged earlier in May for murder, torture, and kidnapping is now out of the country. The National Rallying Committee for Development (CNRD), Guinea's ruling body granted the 84-year-old a stay ‘abroad’ to seek medical treatment and has not disclosed the location.
Local news sources however claimed that Conde flew out on board a Turkish plane.
Anticompetitive lawyers
The Namibian competition authority has commenced an investigation into potential anticompetitive conduct by a law firm, Dr Weder, Kauta, and Hoveka, and a bank, Bank Windhoek. The two entities are alleged to have entered into an exclusive arrangement for property conveyancing, meaning that, customers obtaining loans from Bank Windhoek are allegedly forced to use Weder’s legal services.
The agreement limits competition by preventing other legal service providers from reaching the customers and also by preventing the customers from choosing between different law firms. I (Fola) previously wrote an article elsewhere on whether law firms could be anticompetitive. I argued yes. And the Namibian competition authority seems to agree with me.
Aid package extended
The International Monetary Fund has agreed to extend the duration of a crucial aid package to Somalia, following a long-overdue presidential election last weekend.
The three-year $400m aid package from the IMF had been set to automatically expire on May 17 if a new administration was not in place by then, with multiple election delays adding to the troubles. But last week the IMF accepted Somalia’s request for a three-month extension until August 17, giving newly-elected President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud‘s government time to examine and endorse planned reforms.
Speaking of the IMF:
Running to where?
You might have heard of Mike Sonko before, but if you haven’t he was previously the governor of Nairobi and he was impeached in December 2020 for gross misconduct, abuse of office, and violating the constitution and was found unsuitable to hold office. He is currently facing criminal charges for money laundering and terrorism.
Well, this week, the high court in Mombasa ordered the Kenyan electoral commission not to process Sonko’s papers to run as governor of Mombasa in the upcoming elections. Three civil society organisations want him disqualified for obvious reasons.
Copyright
Kenyan music band, Sauti Sol, has threatened to sue Raila Odinga’s presidential campaign for alleged copyright infringement. Mr Odinga’s social media accounts used Sauti Sol’s song, Extravaganza, as a soundtrack to announce Martha Karua as Mr Odinga’s running mate without Sauti Sol’s permission. Sauti Sol announced that they are not aligned to or associated with Mr Odinga or any other political movement.
Stadium settlement
Three construction firms in South Africa have paid the Cape Town authorities almost $6 million as a settlement for allegedly colluding to inflate the cost of building the Greenpoint stadium in Cape Town for the 2010 World Cup. The sum will be paid over the next three years and some will be towards solar energy projects in the city. That said though, the stadium was estimated to cost $370 million, but ended up costing $600 million, so the $6 million seems to be a drop in the ocean. Regardless, the Cape Town authorities appear relieved to finally put a long, drawn-out dispute behind them.
Climate change
With a budget of about 344 billion dollars, Egypt is going big on climate change.
The Prime Minister, Mustafa Madbouly revealed that the country is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change, emphasizing the importance of addressing climate change and describing it as a threat to national security.
"Climate change is considered one of the most important issues that concern us and the whole world due to the threats on sustainable development which will affect the development plan, food security, and water availability.:
"Therefore it will have an impact on the national security as the world will suffer from an increase in poverty rates and other challenges," he said.
Earlier this year, a $5 billion memorandum of understanding was signed with Scatec, a Norwegian renewable energy company, to build a plant in the Suez Canal to produce green ammonia from green hydrogen.
With a harsh desert climate and little precipitation, and the ever-changing climate, the country's decision to establish a strategy to tackle climate change may be one of the wisest.
Anti-Saied protests
Many Tunisians have been protesting in the country’s capital, Tunis, against President Kais Saied’s recent political measures and rising food prices. People are chanting ‘Leave’, people are waving loaves of bread, and the protest is said to continue through sit-ins, marches, and hunger strikes. Regular readers and listeners will know that Mr Saied has been expanding his powers and dismantling elected institutions ever since he suspended the country’s parliament last year. And people, it seems, have had enough.
Bridging rivers
South Sudan has opened its first permanent bridge over the River Nile. It is called the Freedom Bridge and is 560m long. Construction initially commenced in 2013, but was suspended because of the civil war and the pandemic. But now, it is expected that the bridge will ease traffic congestion in the capital, Juba, and also speed up trade.
What is particularly interesting here is who built the bridge: it was constructed using a grant from the government of Japan. In fact, at the opening of the bridge, President Salva Kiir announced that the bridge was a symbol of long and lasting friendship between the people of Japan and South Sudan. Could we say that Japan is following in the footsteps of China’s belt and road initiative? Perhaps.
Other News
The head of Okechukwu Okoye, a legislator in Eastern Nigeria, has been found in a park; sparking a police investigation. No suspects have been identified but the Anambra state governor has announced a $10m reward for information about the killers.
The former president of Malawi, Bakili Muluzi, has lost an appeal over a corruption case against him.
Zimbabwean central bank does quick u-turn on suspension of bank lending.
The American subscription video-on-demand streaming service Disney Plus launches in South Africa.
Nigerian automobile start-up, Autocheck, acquires Moroccan startup to drive North African expansion
Nigeria to join Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Africa in 5G rollout.
The Tigray rebel forces fighting Ethiopia’s federal army have said they will release 4,000 prisoners of war as part of an amnesty.
President Umaro Sissoco Embalo has dissolved Guinea-Bissau’s parliament and said early parliamentary elections would be held this year to resolve a long-running political crisis.
Ethiopia and the World Bank have signed a pact for a grant of $300m to assist reconstruction and recovery in conflict-hit areas.
What in the World?
(The segment where we highlight the most outrageous story we have come across while scraping the web for news articles for you. We have taken to using what we call the Ehn scale. The longer the Ehn the more incredulous. For example, President Buhari is not Nigeria’s most prolific travel blogger: Ehnnnnn? Got it?)
Pablo Escobaress
This week, a 59 year old drug Baroness, Bridget Emeka alias 'Mama' and her 9 dwarfs (goons) were nabbed by the NDLEA(National Drug and Law Enforcement Agency) at her residence in Delta State, Nigeria.
Mama was in the business of cooking and distributing all sorts of work aka illegal treats such as meth, molly, marijuana, cocaine and crack cocaine to her associates and other dealers.
In addition to the drugs found at her mansion, the officers also found a pump-action gun, 15 cartridges, documents, 2 cars, mobile phones and other drug ingredients.
Someone must have told on Mama. But why?! She was only cooking as Mamas do!
Rating: Ehhhhhhhhnnnnnnnnnnnn?????????
Editor’s Corner
Two thoughts:
Stay Humble: “Let him whose kernels have been cracked for him by a benevolent spirit not forget to be humble.”
Invert, always invert:
