Aromolaran among most lettered traditional rulers – Speaker Abbas

The Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court sitting in Kuje has fixed February 27 to rule on the bail application filed by former executive secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, Professor Usman Yusuf, who is facing corruption allegations. Trial judge Justice Chinyere Nwecheonwu held that the defendant be remanded in the Nigerian Correctional
Court to decide ex-NHIS boss’ bail application Feb 27

The Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court sitting in Kuje has fixed February 27 to rule on the bail application filed by former executive secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, Professor Usman Yusuf, who is facing corruption allegations.

Trial judge Justice Chinyere Nwecheonwu held that the defendant be remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Service facility in Kuje pending the ruling on his bail application.

Recall that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is prosecuting Yusuf on five-count charges bordering on alleged embezzlement and conferment of undue advantage to himself, as the boss of the NHIS in 2016, by approving the purchase of a vehicle at the cost of N49,197,750, against the budgeted sum of N30,000,000.

The anti-graft agency also alleged that Yusuf retained a private interest in a corporate entity without due process and awarded a contract in the sum of N10.1 million in favour of the said company, for the purported training of 90 persons when the actual number of trainees was 45.

The EFCC further accused Yusuf of knowingly acquiring a private interest in an entity with his nephew, Khalifa Hassan Yusuf, by awarding him a contract for media and special public relations consultancy in the sum of N17,500,000.00.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Arguing against the bail, the prosecution counsel, Francis Usani informed the court that Yusuf did not comply with the terms of an administrative bail granted to him by the EFCC to report bi-weekly to its office.

He further submitted that the defendant had boasted about his political connections and would abscond from the trial if granted bail.

“It took the respondent (EFCC)’s officers’ discreet surveillance and high-powered intelligence to apprehend the defendant to bring him to court,” he said.

The defence counsel, O.I. Habeeb, SAN, pleaded for the release of the defendant as the alleged offences brought against him are ordinarily bailable.

Court to decide ex-NHIS boss’ bail application Feb 27

Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, on Tuesday, said no fewer than 200,000 European peacekeepers would be needed to prevent a new Russian attack after any ceasefire deal. Zelenskiy stated this at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, a day after Trump returned to power following months of promises to end the war in Ukraine quickly,
Security guarantee would need 200,000 peacekeepers – Ukrainian President, Zelenskiy

Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, on Tuesday, said no fewer than 200,000 European peacekeepers would be needed to prevent a new Russian attack after any ceasefire deal.

Zelenskiy stated this at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, a day after Trump returned to power following months of promises to end the war in Ukraine quickly,

The Ukrainian leader, who is seeking a meeting with Trump, urged European leaders to do more to defend the continent.

According to him, the prospect of a rapid settlement has focused minds in Kyiv, adding that Europe is on the urgent need for security guarantees to prevent any future Russian attack, with the idea of peacekeeping force circulating.

“From all the Europeans? 200,000, it’s a minimum. It’s a minimum, otherwise it’s nothing,” Zelenskiy said.

He added that the number is around the size of the entire French armed forces, estimated at just over 200,000 by France’s defence ministry in 2020.

Zelenskiy said at least that number would be needed as a security guarantee if Russia’s armed forces totalled 1.5 million personnel and Ukraine had only half that number.

According to him, such a force would only be part of the security guarantees that Ukraine needed, reiterating that Kyiv was working to set up a meeting between himself and Trump.

“The teams have been working on a meeting, they are currently in the process,” Zelenskiy said about those efforts.

DAILY POST gathered that Trump, who returned to office on Monday, has said he would stop the war in Ukraine swiftly, without saying how.

Zelenskiy said Ukraine would not agree to Russian demands that it drastically reduce the size of its military, predicting that Russian President Vladimir Putin would demand Ukraine cut its armed forces to a fifth of their size.

Security guarantee would need 200,000 peacekeepers – Ukrainian President, Zelenskiy