Former Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, is challenging the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, Abuja, to hear the alleged fraud preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The EFCC had on January 24 arraigned the former governor on nine charges bordering on alleged money laundering to the tune of 4 billion naira.

At the proceedings, counsel for the EFCC, Sylvanus Tahir, told the court he was ready for the commencement of trial and had three witnesses to present in court.

But counsel for the defendant, Onyechi Ikpeazu, told the court that he had filed a motion challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter.

He urged the court to exercise its discretion to determine his motion first before the commencement of trial.

The trial Judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, subsequently adjourned the matter to March 7, 2024, for a hearing of the motion.

A former Governor of Bauchi State, Isa Yuguda, has stated that the Federal Government still pays subsidy on petroleum products.

In his inaugural speech last year, President Bola Tinubu announced that fuel subsidy is gone, adding that the 2023 Budget made no provision for fuel subsidy and more so, subsidy payments were no longer justifiable.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) in one of its reports last month also advised Nigeria to completely phase out costly fuel and electricity subsidies as part of measures to address its economic challenges.

Speaking on a monitored programme, Yuguda said if the IMF says we are paying subsidy, then we are.

He, however, said the subsidy that was removed was the one that was going into private pockets.

The former Bauchi Governor equally said with more monies accruable to the subnational governments as a result of subsidy removal, they should do more to better the lot of their subjects.

The state government has restated its dedication to mitigate the current economic hardship in the country through its intervention programmes for the residents.

Speaking on Inspiration FM’s community show, Around Town, Commissioner for Agriculture in the state, Abisola Olusanya, disclosed that key food interventions, such as the Sunday markets and food hubs, will become fully operational with effect from this month.

She outlined the interventions, noting that comprehensive efforts are being made to ensure every Lagosian benefits and the exercise is transparent.

Olusanya also gave an update on the Lagos Imota Rice Mill, whose operations have stalled in recent times.

She said the 2.8 million 50kg bag capacity rice mill will resume operations in a matter of days.