Recession: NYSC asks for subsidized feeding.
ENUGU—The Enugu state command of National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, has pleaded with the state government to subsidize the feeding of the corps members in view of the increasing population of the members.
The state coordinator of NYSC, Mrs. Nwano Ukagha also said that despite all the assistance the state has been giving the command, it is constrained to plead for more assistance, especially in provision of facilities at the orientation camp. The command made the request during the swearing-in ceremony of the 2016 ‘B’ corps members at the state orientation camp in Awgu, Enugu State, yesterday. The new corps members of 2016 Batch ‘B’ deployed to the state however told correspondents that except for inadequate water supply at the orientation camp, other facilities as hostel, electricity and social services were in fair supply. The state Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who was represented at the ceremony by the state commissioner for Education, Prof. Uchenna Eze, said government was aware of their challenges and is taking concrete steps to launch an intervention programme. “I wish to remind you of the importance of the NYSC programme and the need to be committed to the realization of its objectives. In order to make success of this assignment, you must be dedicated, focused and ready to apply yourselves to the activities of the orientation course,” said Ugwuanyi. A total of 2, 169 corps members were registered in the camp, comprising 1, 201 males and 968 females.
Tuesday, 29 November 2016
GSM subscribers to pay more for data from Dec.1
GSM subscribers to pay more for data from Dec.1
Subscribers of the Global System of Mobile telecommunications across the country would pay more for data with effect from December 1, 2016.
Although the telecoms companies declined to speak on the matter, top management workers across the networks confirmed the story to our correspondent, saying that the directive was from the Nigerian Communications Commission.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a senior management employee of Etisalat Nigeria said, “The NCC issued the directive late last week on the orders of the Federal Government. We have not announced it yet because most of the major telcos have been meeting the NCC on how to reverse this policy, because it will be too harsh for Nigerians.
“However, we further gathered that the Federal Government took the decision having discovered that data rates are very low-priced in Nigeria, compared to other countries, including nearby African countries.
“The government might have also taken the decision given that Nigerian subscribers have been kicking against the proposed nine per cent Communication Tax, whose bill is currently in the National Assembly.”
Pleading not to be mentioned, an employee of MTN said, “What this means is that MTN, Airtel, Etisalat And Globacom will increase their data rates as from December 1, 2016. A data plan of N1,000 for 1.5 Gigabytes will now be increased to N3,000 at N1,000 per 500 Megabytes.”
In text messages sent out to its subscribers, MTN, Africa’s mobile telecommunications giant, confirmed that it had agreed to implement the directive of the NCC.
The MTN text read, “Dear customer, please be informed that from 1st of December, some MTN data tariffs will be increased to reflect the new rates set by the NCC for operators. Thank you.”
We could not obtain an official response from the NCC as of the time of filing this report.
However, a representative of the commission said that the telecoms regulator was unaware of such plans by the operators, even as she said her bosses had claimed ignorance of the circulated message.
“We are unaware of it. I just asked my bosses; they are unaware. We will forward your query to MTN for appropriate attention,” she said over the telephone.
However, in a letter by the NCC to the operators sighted by our correspondent, the commission stated, “This rate will subsist pending the finalisation of the study on the determination of cost-based pricing for retail broadband and data services in Nigeria.
“In order to provide a level playing field for all operators in the industry, small operators and new entrants to acquire market share and operate profitably, small operators and new entrants are hereby exempted from the price floor for data services.”
It added, “For the avoidance of doubt a small operator is one that has less than 7.5 per cent market share and a new entrant is an operator that has operated less than three years in the market.
“All operators are to ensure that subscribers are not automatically migrated to pay-as-you-go platform.
“Also, note that effective date for the interim price floor is December 1, 2016.”
Reacting to the development, the President, National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers, Mr. Adeolu Ogunbanjo, said that the NCC representative was being economical with the truth.
He said that for MTN to have sent out millions of text messages to its subscribers “clearly shows that the NCC indeed issued the directive.”
Ogunbanjo, however, said that the association would resist the tariff hike, adding, “We will challenge it in court. We are going right away to set the machinery in motion. We are also going to do an urgent letter to the NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Prof. Umar Danbatta, which we will drop in his e-mail box.
“Unfortunately, the notice is short; today is November 28, yet the order will take effect from December 1. It is not just good for broadband penetration, whatever the reason may be. It is against telecoms subscribers.”
According to him, data availability means more youth engagement because they use data to develop apps and build software.
“But with what the NCC has done, these boys who develop apps will be slowed down and limited. The cost of doing business will also increase,” he added.
Subscribers of the Global System of Mobile telecommunications across the country would pay more for data with effect from December 1, 2016.
Although the telecoms companies declined to speak on the matter, top management workers across the networks confirmed the story to our correspondent, saying that the directive was from the Nigerian Communications Commission.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a senior management employee of Etisalat Nigeria said, “The NCC issued the directive late last week on the orders of the Federal Government. We have not announced it yet because most of the major telcos have been meeting the NCC on how to reverse this policy, because it will be too harsh for Nigerians.
“However, we further gathered that the Federal Government took the decision having discovered that data rates are very low-priced in Nigeria, compared to other countries, including nearby African countries.
“The government might have also taken the decision given that Nigerian subscribers have been kicking against the proposed nine per cent Communication Tax, whose bill is currently in the National Assembly.”
Pleading not to be mentioned, an employee of MTN said, “What this means is that MTN, Airtel, Etisalat And Globacom will increase their data rates as from December 1, 2016. A data plan of N1,000 for 1.5 Gigabytes will now be increased to N3,000 at N1,000 per 500 Megabytes.”
In text messages sent out to its subscribers, MTN, Africa’s mobile telecommunications giant, confirmed that it had agreed to implement the directive of the NCC.
The MTN text read, “Dear customer, please be informed that from 1st of December, some MTN data tariffs will be increased to reflect the new rates set by the NCC for operators. Thank you.”
We could not obtain an official response from the NCC as of the time of filing this report.
However, a representative of the commission said that the telecoms regulator was unaware of such plans by the operators, even as she said her bosses had claimed ignorance of the circulated message.
“We are unaware of it. I just asked my bosses; they are unaware. We will forward your query to MTN for appropriate attention,” she said over the telephone.
However, in a letter by the NCC to the operators sighted by our correspondent, the commission stated, “This rate will subsist pending the finalisation of the study on the determination of cost-based pricing for retail broadband and data services in Nigeria.
“In order to provide a level playing field for all operators in the industry, small operators and new entrants to acquire market share and operate profitably, small operators and new entrants are hereby exempted from the price floor for data services.”
It added, “For the avoidance of doubt a small operator is one that has less than 7.5 per cent market share and a new entrant is an operator that has operated less than three years in the market.
“All operators are to ensure that subscribers are not automatically migrated to pay-as-you-go platform.
“Also, note that effective date for the interim price floor is December 1, 2016.”
Reacting to the development, the President, National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers, Mr. Adeolu Ogunbanjo, said that the NCC representative was being economical with the truth.
He said that for MTN to have sent out millions of text messages to its subscribers “clearly shows that the NCC indeed issued the directive.”
Ogunbanjo, however, said that the association would resist the tariff hike, adding, “We will challenge it in court. We are going right away to set the machinery in motion. We are also going to do an urgent letter to the NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Prof. Umar Danbatta, which we will drop in his e-mail box.
“Unfortunately, the notice is short; today is November 28, yet the order will take effect from December 1. It is not just good for broadband penetration, whatever the reason may be. It is against telecoms subscribers.”
According to him, data availability means more youth engagement because they use data to develop apps and build software.
“But with what the NCC has done, these boys who develop apps will be slowed down and limited. The cost of doing business will also increase,” he added.
Tuesday, 22 November 2016
FG saves N20bn on salaries monthly-Perm. Sec
FG saves N20bn on salaries monthly-Perm. Sec
The Federal Government says it has been saving about N20 billion on salaries monthly since it began to fish out ghost workers. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mr Mahmoud Isa-Dutse, said this while addressing newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja on the sideline of a workshop on cost management.
The workshop was organised for Directors and top civil servants of Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) by the Efficiency Unit of the Ministry of Finance. Isa-Dutse said that the drastic reduction in the cost of monthly wages was from N165 billion to N145 billion monthly. He said this was done with the assistance of the Presidential Committee on Audit of MDAs. He said the committee had the responsibility of continuous auditing of MDAs’ salaries and wages.
Isa-Dutse had declared the workshop open on behalf of the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun when she said the present administration was interested in cutting costs and giving value for money spent. She said that the main aim of the workshop was to sensitise public officials to cost and share with them some tools to manage the cost. “It is basically to train on how, as a government, we can manage our cost better. “It is not only imperative that we look at ways to generate more money for government, but at the same time we must also manage our cost more efficiently. “As we have seen even though revenue has gone down in the last couple of years, expenditure, particularly overhead has not gone down correspondingly and that has created fiscal pressures for government. ” What we are doing is to look at whatever ways we can to generate more savings for government to be run more efficiently. “We want the savings realised from the efficiencies to be channeled into higher priority areas like infrastructure and social welfare spending,’’ she said Head of the Efficiency Unit, Mrs Patience Oniha, said that in the last one year that the unit was established, it had saved the government about N15 billion. The savings, she said, were from overheads and reduction in excessive foreign travels and other allowances. The Head of the Efficiency Unit added that more funds would be saved by consciously eliminating waste of government resources. She also said that the unit was working on several other items to be added to the list of cost cutting items.
The Federal Government says it has been saving about N20 billion on salaries monthly since it began to fish out ghost workers. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mr Mahmoud Isa-Dutse, said this while addressing newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja on the sideline of a workshop on cost management.
The workshop was organised for Directors and top civil servants of Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) by the Efficiency Unit of the Ministry of Finance. Isa-Dutse said that the drastic reduction in the cost of monthly wages was from N165 billion to N145 billion monthly. He said this was done with the assistance of the Presidential Committee on Audit of MDAs. He said the committee had the responsibility of continuous auditing of MDAs’ salaries and wages.
Isa-Dutse had declared the workshop open on behalf of the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun when she said the present administration was interested in cutting costs and giving value for money spent. She said that the main aim of the workshop was to sensitise public officials to cost and share with them some tools to manage the cost. “It is basically to train on how, as a government, we can manage our cost better. “It is not only imperative that we look at ways to generate more money for government, but at the same time we must also manage our cost more efficiently. “As we have seen even though revenue has gone down in the last couple of years, expenditure, particularly overhead has not gone down correspondingly and that has created fiscal pressures for government. ” What we are doing is to look at whatever ways we can to generate more savings for government to be run more efficiently. “We want the savings realised from the efficiencies to be channeled into higher priority areas like infrastructure and social welfare spending,’’ she said Head of the Efficiency Unit, Mrs Patience Oniha, said that in the last one year that the unit was established, it had saved the government about N15 billion. The savings, she said, were from overheads and reduction in excessive foreign travels and other allowances. The Head of the Efficiency Unit added that more funds would be saved by consciously eliminating waste of government resources. She also said that the unit was working on several other items to be added to the list of cost cutting items.
Lagos Assembly orders D-G to vacate office.
Lagos Assembly orders D-G to vacate office.
The Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday ordered the Director-General (D-G), Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr Hakeem Dickson, to vacate office until given approval by the House. The order followed an observation by the Chairman, House Committee on Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Mr Olusola Shokunle, that Dickson was occupying the position without the approval of the House.
Shokunle (PDP-Oshodi/Isolo I) told the House that Dickson had not been given approved at any time by the Assembly. The lawmaker added that such a development was against normal practice and the law which established the commission.
He said,“ This is a wrong step that should be urgently addressed by the House.’’ Supporting Shokunle’s position, Mrs Adefunmilayo Tejuosho, the Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary, Petitions, Human Rights and Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, noted that the public was watching activities of the state government. Tejuosho said that whoever would occupy such a public office should be given clearance by the House. Also commenting, the House Chief Whip, Mr Rotimi Abiru, and the Chairman of the House Committee on Education, Mr Olanrewaju Ogunyemi, urged the Assembly to request Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode to send Dickson to the House for screening. Consequently, Speaker Mudashiru Obasa directed the acting Clerk of the House, Mr Azeez Sanni, to write a letter to the commission, asking Dickson to step aside and stop parading himself as the D-G. He said that this became necessary to allow due process. Obasa said that the order would remain until Dickson’s clearance by the House. According to him, the House will enquire if the commission has a legal department which ought to have advised the management on the steps to take before someone occupies the office. NAN reports that Dickson was appointed into the office after the exit of its former D-G, Mr Fouad Oki.
The Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday ordered the Director-General (D-G), Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr Hakeem Dickson, to vacate office until given approval by the House. The order followed an observation by the Chairman, House Committee on Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Mr Olusola Shokunle, that Dickson was occupying the position without the approval of the House.
Shokunle (PDP-Oshodi/Isolo I) told the House that Dickson had not been given approved at any time by the Assembly. The lawmaker added that such a development was against normal practice and the law which established the commission.
He said,“ This is a wrong step that should be urgently addressed by the House.’’ Supporting Shokunle’s position, Mrs Adefunmilayo Tejuosho, the Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary, Petitions, Human Rights and Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, noted that the public was watching activities of the state government. Tejuosho said that whoever would occupy such a public office should be given clearance by the House. Also commenting, the House Chief Whip, Mr Rotimi Abiru, and the Chairman of the House Committee on Education, Mr Olanrewaju Ogunyemi, urged the Assembly to request Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode to send Dickson to the House for screening. Consequently, Speaker Mudashiru Obasa directed the acting Clerk of the House, Mr Azeez Sanni, to write a letter to the commission, asking Dickson to step aside and stop parading himself as the D-G. He said that this became necessary to allow due process. Obasa said that the order would remain until Dickson’s clearance by the House. According to him, the House will enquire if the commission has a legal department which ought to have advised the management on the steps to take before someone occupies the office. NAN reports that Dickson was appointed into the office after the exit of its former D-G, Mr Fouad Oki.
Court declines making order on frozen $15.5m linked to Patience Jonathan
Court declines making order on frozen $15.5m linked to Patience Jonathan
Lagos – Justice Mohammed Idris of a Federal High Court Lagos, on Tuesday, refused to restrain a brother judge from taking steps in relation to the frozen 15.5 million dollars allegedly belonging to Patience Jonathan. Idris declined an application by counsel to the former first lady, Mr Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), who sought an order to restrain Justice Babs Kuewumi from taking further steps on the frozen sum.
Adedipe had urged the court to stop Kuewumi from making any forfeiture orders, in respect of the said sum, which was frozen by the EFCC, until the determination of an interlocutory application on the subject. It will be recalled that Jonathan had instituted a fundamental rights suit against the EFCC, claiming the sum of 200 million dollars as damages for inconveniences suffered. In her suit, she had joined the EFCC, Skye Bank plc, and a former aide to ex president Goodluck Jonathan, Warampo Dudafa as respondents. Also joined in the suit are four companies namely: Pluto Property Ltd, Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Ltd, Transocean company Ltd and Globus Integrated Service Ltd. It will be recalled also that Dudafa was charged alongside the four companies before Justice Kuewumi, on 15 counts of money laundering. Representatives of the four companies, which the EFCC claimed were used by Dudafa to launder the said money, had all pleaded guilty to the offences. The said 15.5 million dollars, is the same sum which the former first lady claims belongs to her as sole signatory to the accounts of the companies. When the case was called on Tuesday, Justice Idris acknowledged a letter from counsel representing Skye Bank, Mr Lanre Ogunlesi, stating that he was indisposed and could not attend the court. The judge added that since Ogunlesi has requested for a new date to enable him appear in court, the hearing of the application on notice can not proceed. Meanwhile, before the court could adjourned the case, Adedipe had urged the judge to direct the EFCC not to tamper with the subject matter of the case pending the hearing of the interlocutory application. In response, Counsel to the EFCC, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, urged the court to dismiss the application on the grounds that the accounts which housed the money had been frozen. He urged the court to dismiss the application with a “wave of hand”; adding that there was already an order of court convicting four defendants for warehousing proceeds of crime. In a short ruling, Justice Idris held that he could not go into the merits or demerits of the interlocutory application, until it is moved. He ordered accelerated hearing of the case and said that he could not make any order that will be prejudicial to the outcome of the main suit. He consequently, adjourned the case to Dec. 7 for hearing of the main application. In her suit, Jonathan is urging the court to issue an order discharging the freezing order, and restraining the EFCC and it’s agent from further placing a freezing order on the said accounts.
Lagos – Justice Mohammed Idris of a Federal High Court Lagos, on Tuesday, refused to restrain a brother judge from taking steps in relation to the frozen 15.5 million dollars allegedly belonging to Patience Jonathan. Idris declined an application by counsel to the former first lady, Mr Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), who sought an order to restrain Justice Babs Kuewumi from taking further steps on the frozen sum.
Adedipe had urged the court to stop Kuewumi from making any forfeiture orders, in respect of the said sum, which was frozen by the EFCC, until the determination of an interlocutory application on the subject. It will be recalled that Jonathan had instituted a fundamental rights suit against the EFCC, claiming the sum of 200 million dollars as damages for inconveniences suffered. In her suit, she had joined the EFCC, Skye Bank plc, and a former aide to ex president Goodluck Jonathan, Warampo Dudafa as respondents. Also joined in the suit are four companies namely: Pluto Property Ltd, Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Ltd, Transocean company Ltd and Globus Integrated Service Ltd. It will be recalled also that Dudafa was charged alongside the four companies before Justice Kuewumi, on 15 counts of money laundering. Representatives of the four companies, which the EFCC claimed were used by Dudafa to launder the said money, had all pleaded guilty to the offences. The said 15.5 million dollars, is the same sum which the former first lady claims belongs to her as sole signatory to the accounts of the companies. When the case was called on Tuesday, Justice Idris acknowledged a letter from counsel representing Skye Bank, Mr Lanre Ogunlesi, stating that he was indisposed and could not attend the court. The judge added that since Ogunlesi has requested for a new date to enable him appear in court, the hearing of the application on notice can not proceed. Meanwhile, before the court could adjourned the case, Adedipe had urged the judge to direct the EFCC not to tamper with the subject matter of the case pending the hearing of the interlocutory application. In response, Counsel to the EFCC, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, urged the court to dismiss the application on the grounds that the accounts which housed the money had been frozen. He urged the court to dismiss the application with a “wave of hand”; adding that there was already an order of court convicting four defendants for warehousing proceeds of crime. In a short ruling, Justice Idris held that he could not go into the merits or demerits of the interlocutory application, until it is moved. He ordered accelerated hearing of the case and said that he could not make any order that will be prejudicial to the outcome of the main suit. He consequently, adjourned the case to Dec. 7 for hearing of the main application. In her suit, Jonathan is urging the court to issue an order discharging the freezing order, and restraining the EFCC and it’s agent from further placing a freezing order on the said accounts.
Speak out on implications of $29bn loan, Abiola-Dosumu tells women.
Speak out on implications of $29bn loan, Abiola-Dosumu tells women.
Lagos business woman and socialite, Mrs Erelu Abiola-Dosumu, has called for the input of women entrepreneur on the government’s plan to borrow about 29.9 billion dollars for infrastructure projects.
Abiola-Dosumu, who spoke at a round table conference in Lagos on Tuesday, said that the money would be better invested to yield income than to be used on infrastructure.
“I appeal that people like Mrs Nike Akande, President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) should speak out about the implications of the loan,’’ she said.
President Muhammadu Buhari, on Oct. 28 sought the approval of the National Assembly for external borrowing plan of 29.9 billion dollars.
According to the President, the money if approved will help to execute key infrastructure projects across the country between 2016 and 2018.
The Lagos socialite said that investing such huge amount into infrastructure projects would be perishable and affect the future generation.
“Let us invest money on things that will bring returns and put smiles on the faces of Nigerian citizens,’’ she said.
In her response, Akande said that the country needed to re-diversify in the agriculture and solid mineral sector, especially now that oil was not accruing the desired revenue.
She said that the country would not progress if it did not identify its challenges and find solutions to them.
She said that LCCI was planning to have a rice investment, adding that LCCI would take leadership position on industry, trade and investment.
Also, Mrs Kema Chikwe, former Minister of Aviation urged the LCCI to take control of the business sector to attract more investors into the country.
According to Chikwe, in Nigeria, seasonal fruits such as mangoes are allowed to waste due to lack of processing and storing facilities.
She decried the importation of tomatoes which had become expensive because of high cost of clearing goods at the port
Chikwe added that Nigeria was capable of producing its own.
Quack doctor arrested after 11 years’ practice.
Quack doctor arrested after 11 years’ practice.
The police in Lagos State on Monday paraded an alleged quack doctor, Celestine Yolonfun, who was arrested in the Apapa area of the state.
Our correspondent gathered that 32-year-old Yolonfun had been practising as a doctor since 2005 after he dropped out of a nursing school in the Benin Republic.
We learnt that Yolonfun was arrested on Wednesday by operatives of the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, Yaba.
It was gathered that a pregnant woman, who was due for delivery, allegedly died in Yolonfun’s hospital, and her husband reported the doctor to the police at the SCIID.
Our correspondent was told that the police went to Yolonfun’s hospital – Be Well Hospital – on Liverpool Road, Apapa, and arrested him.
Yolonfun, who hails from Badagry, Lagos State, told our correspondents that he had been practising since 2005 and only two patients had died in his hospital.
The suspect confessed that he paid a colleague N70,000 to obtain fake certificates of the Nigerian Medical Association and the University of Ibadan, Oyo State.
He said, “I have been practising since 2005. I did not attend any school in Nigeria. I went to the Benin Republic. I sat for the General Certificate Education two years ago. I wanted to attend a university in Nigeria to study Medicine. But my wife fell sick and I could not.
“I dropped out of a nursing school in the Benin Republic. I came back to Nigeria in 2004, and I started the hospital in 2005.
“Since I started the hospital, which takes care of general ailments, only two persons had died in the hospital. The first patient died in 2013.
“The second patient was that woman who died penultimate Saturday. The woman was pregnant. She also had high blood pressure. After giving her the initial treatment, I planned to refer her to a bigger hospital, but she died before I could move her. Her baby also died.”
The state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, said the police had contacted all the medical associations the suspect claimed to be registered with and they had confirmed him to be a fake doctor.
He said, “The suspect was arrested and was found to have been in this illegal practice since 2005. He operated a makeshift hospital in the Liverpool area of Apapa.
“We found a fake University of Ibadan MBBS certificate, a fake Dental and Medical Council of Nigeria certificate and a fake Corporate Affairs Commission certificate in his house.
“The professional bodies have been contacted by the police, and the suspect had been confirmed to be a fake medical practitioner.”
The police in Lagos State on Monday paraded an alleged quack doctor, Celestine Yolonfun, who was arrested in the Apapa area of the state.
Our correspondent gathered that 32-year-old Yolonfun had been practising as a doctor since 2005 after he dropped out of a nursing school in the Benin Republic.
We learnt that Yolonfun was arrested on Wednesday by operatives of the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, Yaba.
It was gathered that a pregnant woman, who was due for delivery, allegedly died in Yolonfun’s hospital, and her husband reported the doctor to the police at the SCIID.
Our correspondent was told that the police went to Yolonfun’s hospital – Be Well Hospital – on Liverpool Road, Apapa, and arrested him.
Yolonfun, who hails from Badagry, Lagos State, told our correspondents that he had been practising since 2005 and only two patients had died in his hospital.
The suspect confessed that he paid a colleague N70,000 to obtain fake certificates of the Nigerian Medical Association and the University of Ibadan, Oyo State.
He said, “I have been practising since 2005. I did not attend any school in Nigeria. I went to the Benin Republic. I sat for the General Certificate Education two years ago. I wanted to attend a university in Nigeria to study Medicine. But my wife fell sick and I could not.
“I dropped out of a nursing school in the Benin Republic. I came back to Nigeria in 2004, and I started the hospital in 2005.
“Since I started the hospital, which takes care of general ailments, only two persons had died in the hospital. The first patient died in 2013.
“The second patient was that woman who died penultimate Saturday. The woman was pregnant. She also had high blood pressure. After giving her the initial treatment, I planned to refer her to a bigger hospital, but she died before I could move her. Her baby also died.”
The state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, said the police had contacted all the medical associations the suspect claimed to be registered with and they had confirmed him to be a fake doctor.
He said, “The suspect was arrested and was found to have been in this illegal practice since 2005. He operated a makeshift hospital in the Liverpool area of Apapa.
“We found a fake University of Ibadan MBBS certificate, a fake Dental and Medical Council of Nigeria certificate and a fake Corporate Affairs Commission certificate in his house.
“The professional bodies have been contacted by the police, and the suspect had been confirmed to be a fake medical practitioner.”
Monday, 21 November 2016
Pirated product as poisonous as adulterated drug – Lai Mohammed.
Pirated product as poisonous as adulterated drug – Lai Mohammed.
Lagos – The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said that “a pirated product is as poisonous as an adulterated drug” and urged stakeholders to take necessary steps to stem piracy. The minister said this on Sunday night in Lagos at the command performance of one of Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka’s iconic plays, “Death and the King’s Horseman”.
The play was staged by the National Troupe of Nigeria to celebrate Soyinka, one of Nigeria’s literary gifts to the world.
Mohammed decried the level of piracy of intellectual property in the country, stating that elites were most guilty of patronising pirated goods. “There are existing laws that protect the artists against piracy. However, it is the elites that mostly patronise pirated copies of movies and records. “We need to start our campaign by letting the elites understands that a pirated product is as poisonous as an adulterated drug and worse than armed robbery “When an educated person stops at a bus stop and in traffic and buys pirated CDs, books or other works of art, what signal is he sending out? “We must first launch the campaign for people to know that piracy is worse than armed robbery; just as receiver of stolen goods is as guilty as the thief, so should we treat those who patronise pirated products,” he said. Mohammed also called on the National Assembly to take a second look at the various Bills before it, notably the “Bill for the Creation of National Endowment Fund for the Arts”. According to him, anywhere in the world, the creative industry thrives on accessibility to grants from government. “You cannot successfully run the creative industry when you borrow at 20 to 30 per cent interest rate. “You can only improve and grow the creative industry when there is the enabling environment and access to fund,” he said. The minister described Soyinka’s literary creativity, ingenuity and contributions to the growth and development of literature and dramatic arts, as legendary. “I recall how, this time 30 years ago, Nigeria was inducted into the hall of fame of producers of Nobel Laureates with Professor Soyinka’s winning of the 1986 Nobel Prize in Literature. “It was such a historic moment for us in the creative industry as a nation and as a continent because it was the first time that a Nigerian, an African and indeed a black writer will be named a recipient of the prestigious Nobel Prize in Literature,” he said. Mohammed solicited the continued support of the literary giant in the quest to develop and promote the country’s creative industry to enhance its contributions to the national economy. Mr Akin Adejuwon, the Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Troupe of Nigeria commended the efforts of the minister at revamping the creative sector in the country. He said stakeholders were looking up to him and believed in his capability to turn the industry around for the best. NAN reports that an award was presented to Soyinka, who was represented at the event by his son, Makin.
Lagos – The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said that “a pirated product is as poisonous as an adulterated drug” and urged stakeholders to take necessary steps to stem piracy. The minister said this on Sunday night in Lagos at the command performance of one of Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka’s iconic plays, “Death and the King’s Horseman”.
The play was staged by the National Troupe of Nigeria to celebrate Soyinka, one of Nigeria’s literary gifts to the world.
Mohammed decried the level of piracy of intellectual property in the country, stating that elites were most guilty of patronising pirated goods. “There are existing laws that protect the artists against piracy. However, it is the elites that mostly patronise pirated copies of movies and records. “We need to start our campaign by letting the elites understands that a pirated product is as poisonous as an adulterated drug and worse than armed robbery “When an educated person stops at a bus stop and in traffic and buys pirated CDs, books or other works of art, what signal is he sending out? “We must first launch the campaign for people to know that piracy is worse than armed robbery; just as receiver of stolen goods is as guilty as the thief, so should we treat those who patronise pirated products,” he said. Mohammed also called on the National Assembly to take a second look at the various Bills before it, notably the “Bill for the Creation of National Endowment Fund for the Arts”. According to him, anywhere in the world, the creative industry thrives on accessibility to grants from government. “You cannot successfully run the creative industry when you borrow at 20 to 30 per cent interest rate. “You can only improve and grow the creative industry when there is the enabling environment and access to fund,” he said. The minister described Soyinka’s literary creativity, ingenuity and contributions to the growth and development of literature and dramatic arts, as legendary. “I recall how, this time 30 years ago, Nigeria was inducted into the hall of fame of producers of Nobel Laureates with Professor Soyinka’s winning of the 1986 Nobel Prize in Literature. “It was such a historic moment for us in the creative industry as a nation and as a continent because it was the first time that a Nigerian, an African and indeed a black writer will be named a recipient of the prestigious Nobel Prize in Literature,” he said. Mohammed solicited the continued support of the literary giant in the quest to develop and promote the country’s creative industry to enhance its contributions to the national economy. Mr Akin Adejuwon, the Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Troupe of Nigeria commended the efforts of the minister at revamping the creative sector in the country. He said stakeholders were looking up to him and believed in his capability to turn the industry around for the best. NAN reports that an award was presented to Soyinka, who was represented at the event by his son, Makin.
EFCC files 30 charges against Justice Ajumogobia, SAN.
EFCC files 30 charges against Justice Ajumogobia, SAN.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has filed 30 charges against a Federal High Court judge, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia; and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Obla.
The EFCC said about $793,800 passed through the judge’s domiciliary accounts between 2012 and 2015. The judge allegedly used the money to buy a house in London.
The two accounts, Access Bank (0002649223) and Diamond Bank (0032091183) have since been frozen by the EFCC.
The commission is expected to arraign the two suspects before a Lagos State High Court this week.
Five of the charges are centred on an alleged N5m bribe given to the judge by the senior advocate while the remaining 25 charges are on the huge amounts that passed through the accounts of Ofili-Ajumogobia and her alleged inability to explain her source of wealth.
The other charges filed against the judge border on forgery, lying, unlawful enrichment and other related offences.
Ofili-Ajumogobia and Obla have been in the custody of the EFCC for about 10 days following revelations that the senior advocate paid N5m into her account in 2015 at a time she was presiding over one of his cases.
While Ofili-Ajumogobia claimed the money was a deposit for a N40m property she sold to Obla, the senior advocate said the money was a payment for building materials.
Obla also insisted that he did not know that the account belonged to the judge.
Some of the charges read in part, “That you, Hon. Justice Ngozi Ofili-Ajumogobia, and Godwin Obla (SAN), on or about May 21, 2015, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired with each other to pervert the course of justice in charge number FHC/L/C/482C/10 with the sum of N5,000,000.
“That you, Godwin Obla (SAN), on or about May 21, 2015, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, intentionally gave the sum of N5,000,000 to Hon. Justice Rita Ngozi Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court directly from your Obla and Company account (1015319084) domiciled in the United Bank for Africa Plc in order that the said judge acts in the exercise of her official duties.”
Investigations by the EFCC further revealed that about $793,800 passed through the judge’s accounts and she allegedly was not able to explain to detectives how she came about the sums.
Breakdown of figures
A breakdown of the figures by the EFCC showed that Ofili-Ajumogobia received a deposit of $130,000 through her Diamond Bank account on May 30, 2013. On June 2, 2014, she allegedly received $70,000 through the same account.
The anti-graft agency said the judge received $55,000 on March 27, 2014, and another $55,000 on October 14, 2014 while $20,000 was received through the same account on June 19, 2014.
The commission alleged in the charge sheet that Ofili-Ajumogobia also received $20,000 on October 13, 2014 while she got an additional $50,000 on December 20, 2014.
The judge allegedly received $50,000 on November 21, 2014 and $30,000 between June 17 and June 19, 2015 through the same Diamond Bank account as well as another $10,000 on July 6, 2015.
She allegedly received $20,000 on June 11, 2013; $30,000 on February 11, 2014 and $150,000 on March 29, 2014.
The EFCC accused the judge of receiving $68, 800 through her Access Bank account between August 11, 2011 and March 27, 2012.
She also allegedly received $35,000 through the same account between April 30 and September 3, 2012.
The charges were said to be contrary to Section 82 (a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, No 11, 2011.
Some of the charges read, “That you, Hon. Justice Rita Ngozi Ofili-Ajumogobia, between the 11th day of August 2011 and 27th day of March 2012, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, being a judge of the Federal High Court, enriched yourself with a total sum of $68,000 through your account (0002649223) domiciled in Access Bank Plc, so as to have a significant increase in your assets that you cannot reasonably explain in relation to your lawful income.
“That you, Hon. Justice Rita Ngozi Ofili-Ajumogobia, between the 10th and 30th day of May 2013, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, being a judge of the Federal High Court, enriched yourself with a total sum of $130,000 through your account (0032091183) domiciled in Diamond Bank Plc, so as to have a significant increase in your assets that you cannot reasonably explain in relation to you your lawful income.
“That you, Hon. Justice Rita Ngozi Ofili-Ajumogobia, on or about the 20th day of December 2014, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, being a judge of the Federal High Court, enriched yourself with a total sum of $50,000 through your account (0032091183) domiciled in Diamond Bank Plc, so as to have a significant increase in your assets that you cannot reasonably explain in relation to you your lawful income.”
The judge allegedly received over N40m in mysterious deposits made by some companies.
Judge accused of lying
The EFCC also accused the judge of telling lies.
Specifically, Ofili-Ajumogobia had told detectives around 7.16pm on October 19, 2016 that she would not be able to honour an invitation because she was admitted to Golden Cross Hospital, Bourdillon, Ikoyi.
However, the judge was not there when detectives checked the hospital.
She was also accused of forging a deed of assignment between County City Bricks Development Company Limited and Niger & Colive Limited in 2010.
UN’s ex-prosecutor to lead Justice Ngwuta’s trial today
A former prosecutor at the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, Mr. Segun Jegede, has been engaged by the Federal Government to handle the trial of a Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, who is to be arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja today (Monday).
Jegede and another international lawyer, Mr. Charles Adeogun-Philips, have been engaged by the Federal Government to prosecute all the judges it lined up for trial.
The two lawyers with decades of international practice are separately leading two teams that have been briefed by the Federal Government through its National Prosecution Coordination Committee.
While Jegede is leading the prosecution of Justice Ngwuta, Adeogun-Philips has been briefed to lead the prosecution of some Supreme Court officials who had been charged with diversion of N2.2bn belonging to the apex court.
The two lawyers are both on the team of 80 special prosecutors of the Federal Government whose activities are being coordinated by the NPCC.
Jegede reportedly worked at the UNICTR for over a decade.
Jegede’s work at the UNICTR mainly revolved around the investigation and prosecution of some of the known masterminds of crimes committed during the Rwandan genocide.
According to online search engine, Wikipedia, the Rwandan genocide, which lasted about 100 days in 1994, was a mass slaughter of the members of the Tutsi ethnic group in Rwanda by the members of the Hutu majority government.
Jegede was also said to have had a stint at the Federal Ministry of Justice as a state counsel before going into legal practice and establishing his own law firm in 1988
Adeogun-Philips, who was born in England 50 years ago, is a former genocide and war crime prosecutor at the International Criminal Court.
Already, three cases have been filed with respect to the charges of corruption preferred against some judges and court officials, following the raid on the houses of some judges by the operatives of the Department of State Services between October 7 and 8, 2016.
The first case involved a Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Ngwuta, who was charged with 14 counts of money laundering before Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Another case involved a Federal High Court judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, who was charged with receiving gratifications, along with his wife.
The other one involved the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Mr. Ahmed Saleh, who was charged along with two other officials of the apex court.
The three apex court’s officials were jointly charged with alleged diversion of N2.2bn belonging to the court and receiving gratifications from contractors providing services to the court.
Also to be later charged is another Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Inyang Okoro.
Justice Ngwuta, who was charged with 14 counts of money laundering, has been scheduled to appear before Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, for arraignment today.
It was alleged in the 14 counts of money laundering that Ngwuta transferred the total sum of N505m “denominated in naira and US dollars” to a building contractor, Nwamba Linus Chukwuebuka, between January and May 2016.
The N505m was alleged to be part of proceeds of Ngwuta’s “unlawful” activities.
He was also accused in the amended charges of retaining N35,358,000; $319,596 and £25,915 during the raid on his house by the operatives of the Department of State Services between October 7 and 8.
Apart from the money laundering charges, Ngwuta was accused of passport offences in counts eight to 14 of the amended charges.
He was accused of being in possession of two valid diplomatic passports and another two valid Nigerian passports, when his house was raided by DSS operatives on October 8, 2016.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has filed 30 charges against a Federal High Court judge, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia; and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Obla.
The EFCC said about $793,800 passed through the judge’s domiciliary accounts between 2012 and 2015. The judge allegedly used the money to buy a house in London.
The two accounts, Access Bank (0002649223) and Diamond Bank (0032091183) have since been frozen by the EFCC.
The commission is expected to arraign the two suspects before a Lagos State High Court this week.
Five of the charges are centred on an alleged N5m bribe given to the judge by the senior advocate while the remaining 25 charges are on the huge amounts that passed through the accounts of Ofili-Ajumogobia and her alleged inability to explain her source of wealth.
The other charges filed against the judge border on forgery, lying, unlawful enrichment and other related offences.
Ofili-Ajumogobia and Obla have been in the custody of the EFCC for about 10 days following revelations that the senior advocate paid N5m into her account in 2015 at a time she was presiding over one of his cases.
While Ofili-Ajumogobia claimed the money was a deposit for a N40m property she sold to Obla, the senior advocate said the money was a payment for building materials.
Obla also insisted that he did not know that the account belonged to the judge.
Some of the charges read in part, “That you, Hon. Justice Ngozi Ofili-Ajumogobia, and Godwin Obla (SAN), on or about May 21, 2015, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired with each other to pervert the course of justice in charge number FHC/L/C/482C/10 with the sum of N5,000,000.
“That you, Godwin Obla (SAN), on or about May 21, 2015, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, intentionally gave the sum of N5,000,000 to Hon. Justice Rita Ngozi Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court directly from your Obla and Company account (1015319084) domiciled in the United Bank for Africa Plc in order that the said judge acts in the exercise of her official duties.”
Investigations by the EFCC further revealed that about $793,800 passed through the judge’s accounts and she allegedly was not able to explain to detectives how she came about the sums.
Breakdown of figures
A breakdown of the figures by the EFCC showed that Ofili-Ajumogobia received a deposit of $130,000 through her Diamond Bank account on May 30, 2013. On June 2, 2014, she allegedly received $70,000 through the same account.
The anti-graft agency said the judge received $55,000 on March 27, 2014, and another $55,000 on October 14, 2014 while $20,000 was received through the same account on June 19, 2014.
The commission alleged in the charge sheet that Ofili-Ajumogobia also received $20,000 on October 13, 2014 while she got an additional $50,000 on December 20, 2014.
The judge allegedly received $50,000 on November 21, 2014 and $30,000 between June 17 and June 19, 2015 through the same Diamond Bank account as well as another $10,000 on July 6, 2015.
She allegedly received $20,000 on June 11, 2013; $30,000 on February 11, 2014 and $150,000 on March 29, 2014.
The EFCC accused the judge of receiving $68, 800 through her Access Bank account between August 11, 2011 and March 27, 2012.
She also allegedly received $35,000 through the same account between April 30 and September 3, 2012.
The charges were said to be contrary to Section 82 (a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, No 11, 2011.
Some of the charges read, “That you, Hon. Justice Rita Ngozi Ofili-Ajumogobia, between the 11th day of August 2011 and 27th day of March 2012, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, being a judge of the Federal High Court, enriched yourself with a total sum of $68,000 through your account (0002649223) domiciled in Access Bank Plc, so as to have a significant increase in your assets that you cannot reasonably explain in relation to your lawful income.
“That you, Hon. Justice Rita Ngozi Ofili-Ajumogobia, between the 10th and 30th day of May 2013, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, being a judge of the Federal High Court, enriched yourself with a total sum of $130,000 through your account (0032091183) domiciled in Diamond Bank Plc, so as to have a significant increase in your assets that you cannot reasonably explain in relation to you your lawful income.
“That you, Hon. Justice Rita Ngozi Ofili-Ajumogobia, on or about the 20th day of December 2014, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, being a judge of the Federal High Court, enriched yourself with a total sum of $50,000 through your account (0032091183) domiciled in Diamond Bank Plc, so as to have a significant increase in your assets that you cannot reasonably explain in relation to you your lawful income.”
The judge allegedly received over N40m in mysterious deposits made by some companies.
Judge accused of lying
The EFCC also accused the judge of telling lies.
Specifically, Ofili-Ajumogobia had told detectives around 7.16pm on October 19, 2016 that she would not be able to honour an invitation because she was admitted to Golden Cross Hospital, Bourdillon, Ikoyi.
However, the judge was not there when detectives checked the hospital.
She was also accused of forging a deed of assignment between County City Bricks Development Company Limited and Niger & Colive Limited in 2010.
UN’s ex-prosecutor to lead Justice Ngwuta’s trial today
A former prosecutor at the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, Mr. Segun Jegede, has been engaged by the Federal Government to handle the trial of a Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, who is to be arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja today (Monday).
Jegede and another international lawyer, Mr. Charles Adeogun-Philips, have been engaged by the Federal Government to prosecute all the judges it lined up for trial.
The two lawyers with decades of international practice are separately leading two teams that have been briefed by the Federal Government through its National Prosecution Coordination Committee.
While Jegede is leading the prosecution of Justice Ngwuta, Adeogun-Philips has been briefed to lead the prosecution of some Supreme Court officials who had been charged with diversion of N2.2bn belonging to the apex court.
The two lawyers are both on the team of 80 special prosecutors of the Federal Government whose activities are being coordinated by the NPCC.
Jegede reportedly worked at the UNICTR for over a decade.
Jegede’s work at the UNICTR mainly revolved around the investigation and prosecution of some of the known masterminds of crimes committed during the Rwandan genocide.
According to online search engine, Wikipedia, the Rwandan genocide, which lasted about 100 days in 1994, was a mass slaughter of the members of the Tutsi ethnic group in Rwanda by the members of the Hutu majority government.
Jegede was also said to have had a stint at the Federal Ministry of Justice as a state counsel before going into legal practice and establishing his own law firm in 1988
Adeogun-Philips, who was born in England 50 years ago, is a former genocide and war crime prosecutor at the International Criminal Court.
Already, three cases have been filed with respect to the charges of corruption preferred against some judges and court officials, following the raid on the houses of some judges by the operatives of the Department of State Services between October 7 and 8, 2016.
The first case involved a Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Ngwuta, who was charged with 14 counts of money laundering before Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Another case involved a Federal High Court judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, who was charged with receiving gratifications, along with his wife.
The other one involved the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Mr. Ahmed Saleh, who was charged along with two other officials of the apex court.
The three apex court’s officials were jointly charged with alleged diversion of N2.2bn belonging to the court and receiving gratifications from contractors providing services to the court.
Also to be later charged is another Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Inyang Okoro.
Justice Ngwuta, who was charged with 14 counts of money laundering, has been scheduled to appear before Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, for arraignment today.
It was alleged in the 14 counts of money laundering that Ngwuta transferred the total sum of N505m “denominated in naira and US dollars” to a building contractor, Nwamba Linus Chukwuebuka, between January and May 2016.
The N505m was alleged to be part of proceeds of Ngwuta’s “unlawful” activities.
He was also accused in the amended charges of retaining N35,358,000; $319,596 and £25,915 during the raid on his house by the operatives of the Department of State Services between October 7 and 8.
Apart from the money laundering charges, Ngwuta was accused of passport offences in counts eight to 14 of the amended charges.
He was accused of being in possession of two valid diplomatic passports and another two valid Nigerian passports, when his house was raided by DSS operatives on October 8, 2016.
You can’t bar me from Anambra, Obi tells Obiano.
You can’t bar me from Anambra, Obi tells Obiano.
A former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, has said that his successor, Chief Willie Obiano, has no legal right to bar him from visiting the state or airing his opinion about the state.
Obi, who spoke at Oraifite during the burial of Chief Emeka Offor’s father, Benneth Offor, described an alleged threat by Obiano to unleash an attack on him if he did not behave himself, as an empty one.
A media aide to Obiano, Mr. Oliver Okpala, was reported to have threatened to deal with Obi and a former Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Oseloka Obaze, over their comments on Obiano, which were considered to be unwarranted.
The governor’s aide said, “To this end, this is a notice that, henceforth, any further unwarranted attack on the governor will be met with a very tough response.
“Let it be noted that we have done our investigations, and we know that those sponsoring these unfounded attacks against the governor include those who have tasted power before, either as governor or secretary to the state government.
“We have their records, to the minutest of details, and we will not hesitate to unleash a higher degree of attack on their persons with verifiable proofs in our possession so that the world would know the dirty stuff they are made of.”
Obi, in his reaction, said it would be disastrous if Anambra degenerated into a dictatorial society under a democracy.
On what he would do should Obiano carry out his threat, Obi said the state should be advancing in civilisation by upholding the tenets of democracy and decency, rather than going back to the Hobbesian era.
He said, “Such an order will amount to asking me to go on exile. I have a house in Onitsha and live there.
“I served Anambra State for eight years. As the governor, I kept saying I would live in the state for the rest of my life to enable me share the joy and grief of the people. Why would somebody say I should not attend events in the state?
“Why would somebody request that I should stop saying what I did as the Governor of Anambra State, when people are still talking about the good deeds of the likes of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Chief M.I. Okpara?
“Most of the things said are not for self-adulation, but to use my experience to demonstrate to our people that we can do certain things we thought are impossible, an example was that I returned schools to the church and provided them with over 30,000 computers, generators and Internet connectivity.
“The fact is that under our government, we cleared arrears of pension of over N35bn, paid for all the certificates generated by contractors without borrowing a kobo, but instead left money, including dollars for the state.”
Meanwhile, Obi’s kinsmen, under the aegis of Agulu Leaders of Thought on Sunday appealed to Obiano, to stop threatening their son.
They reminded Obiano that it was Obi that single-handedly made him a governor.
A statement signed by the group’s secretary, Joachim Emegwamuo, and made available to journalists in Awka, read in part, “When the news of the threat to the life of our son, Mr. Peter Obi, started circulating, we ignored it as one of those rumours until Chief Joe-Martins Uzodike made it clear during a radio programme.
“We are aware that it was Obi who single-handedly made Obiano governor and we are also aware of several indignities Obi is suffering under the governor, ranging from lack of respect to continued and inexplicable witch-hunt.
“Obiano has deliberately allowed his aides to abuse Obi to the point of openly denying the over N75bn bequeathed to him.
“Obiano has abandoned the projects started by Obi upon which he was elected, thus portraying Obi as an unreliable leader among the Anambra people.
“If anything happens to Mr. Peter Obi or any of his aides, Obiano should be held responsible.”
A former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, has said that his successor, Chief Willie Obiano, has no legal right to bar him from visiting the state or airing his opinion about the state.
Obi, who spoke at Oraifite during the burial of Chief Emeka Offor’s father, Benneth Offor, described an alleged threat by Obiano to unleash an attack on him if he did not behave himself, as an empty one.
A media aide to Obiano, Mr. Oliver Okpala, was reported to have threatened to deal with Obi and a former Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Oseloka Obaze, over their comments on Obiano, which were considered to be unwarranted.
The governor’s aide said, “To this end, this is a notice that, henceforth, any further unwarranted attack on the governor will be met with a very tough response.
“Let it be noted that we have done our investigations, and we know that those sponsoring these unfounded attacks against the governor include those who have tasted power before, either as governor or secretary to the state government.
“We have their records, to the minutest of details, and we will not hesitate to unleash a higher degree of attack on their persons with verifiable proofs in our possession so that the world would know the dirty stuff they are made of.”
Obi, in his reaction, said it would be disastrous if Anambra degenerated into a dictatorial society under a democracy.
On what he would do should Obiano carry out his threat, Obi said the state should be advancing in civilisation by upholding the tenets of democracy and decency, rather than going back to the Hobbesian era.
He said, “Such an order will amount to asking me to go on exile. I have a house in Onitsha and live there.
“I served Anambra State for eight years. As the governor, I kept saying I would live in the state for the rest of my life to enable me share the joy and grief of the people. Why would somebody say I should not attend events in the state?
“Why would somebody request that I should stop saying what I did as the Governor of Anambra State, when people are still talking about the good deeds of the likes of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Chief M.I. Okpara?
“Most of the things said are not for self-adulation, but to use my experience to demonstrate to our people that we can do certain things we thought are impossible, an example was that I returned schools to the church and provided them with over 30,000 computers, generators and Internet connectivity.
“The fact is that under our government, we cleared arrears of pension of over N35bn, paid for all the certificates generated by contractors without borrowing a kobo, but instead left money, including dollars for the state.”
Meanwhile, Obi’s kinsmen, under the aegis of Agulu Leaders of Thought on Sunday appealed to Obiano, to stop threatening their son.
They reminded Obiano that it was Obi that single-handedly made him a governor.
A statement signed by the group’s secretary, Joachim Emegwamuo, and made available to journalists in Awka, read in part, “When the news of the threat to the life of our son, Mr. Peter Obi, started circulating, we ignored it as one of those rumours until Chief Joe-Martins Uzodike made it clear during a radio programme.
“We are aware that it was Obi who single-handedly made Obiano governor and we are also aware of several indignities Obi is suffering under the governor, ranging from lack of respect to continued and inexplicable witch-hunt.
“Obiano has deliberately allowed his aides to abuse Obi to the point of openly denying the over N75bn bequeathed to him.
“Obiano has abandoned the projects started by Obi upon which he was elected, thus portraying Obi as an unreliable leader among the Anambra people.
“If anything happens to Mr. Peter Obi or any of his aides, Obiano should be held responsible.”
Conte lavishes praise on ruthless Costa.
Conte lavishes praise on ruthless Costa.
Antonio Conte hailed a newly-focused Diego Costa as “one of the best strikers in the world” after the Spaniard’s match-winning strike at Middlesbrough fired Chelsea to the top of the Premier League table.
Costa scored the only goal of the game at the Riverside, pouncing after a first-half corner rebounded inside the six-yard box, and now tops the Premier League goalscoring charts with 10 goals from 12 games.
Perhaps just as significantly, he has not been booked since the middle of September, and whereas post-match discussions would once focus on a perceived lack of discipline and a penchant for arguing with officials, it is now Costa’s football that is doing the talking.
“Diego is always important, not only for today,” said Conte. “He is our point of reference in attacking. He is impressive in the way he is finding his goals, and it is important to continue this way because we need his goals.
“Is he focused just on his football? It is important to have this question. In the past, people have been asking me about his behaviour and his reactions, but now as a striker, I think he is one of the best in the world.
“He has to continue this way, and he is showing his patience in the right way and is focused on helping the team, with and without the ball.”
With Liverpool having failed to beat Southampton on Saturday, Chelsea’s victory took them to the top of the table for the first time under Conte’s management.
Having won their last six games without conceding a goal, they are one point clear of both Liverpool and Manchester City, although Conte feels it is far too early to be talking about their title-winning credentials.
“I think that now it is difficult to reply to this,” he said. “Only a month and a half ago, you saw Chelsea conceded two defeats to Liverpool and Arsenal.
“After this, Chelsea were not a favourite or a team who could fight for the title until the end. Now, it is difficult to change that opinion completely.
“We are working well, but if you ask what is our target, I want to wait until the end of the first part of the championship.
“It’s hard to say if we’re the best side in the country right now, but I’m pleased with the players because they know our fans demand that we must fight until the end. I’m seeing with my own eyes that we have special players.”
Things are about to get more difficult for the league leaders, with next weekend’s home game with London rivals Tottenham Hotspur preceding a trip to Manchester City.
“We’re ready to play many games in a few days because from the start of the season, we’ve worked not only on the tactical aspect but also the physical aspect,” said Conte.
“You need the strength to run from the start to the end with good technique and talent. If you link the two, it’s important.
“Our trust in what we’re doing and how we are working is increasing, and now it’s important to focus on the next game, a massive one against Tottenham.”
Having claimed recent draws against Arsenal and City, Middlesbrough produced another spirited display against one of the title contenders. However, for all their improved form, Aitor Karanka’s side are just one point clear of the relegation zone.
“Playing against a team like Chelsea, we knew it would be tough,” said the Boro head coach.
“One mistake punished us, but we have shown we can compete against the best teams in the league. You can’t be pleased to lose one game, but I am pleased with the attitude of the players.”
Antonio Conte hailed a newly-focused Diego Costa as “one of the best strikers in the world” after the Spaniard’s match-winning strike at Middlesbrough fired Chelsea to the top of the Premier League table.
Costa scored the only goal of the game at the Riverside, pouncing after a first-half corner rebounded inside the six-yard box, and now tops the Premier League goalscoring charts with 10 goals from 12 games.
Perhaps just as significantly, he has not been booked since the middle of September, and whereas post-match discussions would once focus on a perceived lack of discipline and a penchant for arguing with officials, it is now Costa’s football that is doing the talking.
“Diego is always important, not only for today,” said Conte. “He is our point of reference in attacking. He is impressive in the way he is finding his goals, and it is important to continue this way because we need his goals.
“Is he focused just on his football? It is important to have this question. In the past, people have been asking me about his behaviour and his reactions, but now as a striker, I think he is one of the best in the world.
“He has to continue this way, and he is showing his patience in the right way and is focused on helping the team, with and without the ball.”
With Liverpool having failed to beat Southampton on Saturday, Chelsea’s victory took them to the top of the table for the first time under Conte’s management.
Having won their last six games without conceding a goal, they are one point clear of both Liverpool and Manchester City, although Conte feels it is far too early to be talking about their title-winning credentials.
“I think that now it is difficult to reply to this,” he said. “Only a month and a half ago, you saw Chelsea conceded two defeats to Liverpool and Arsenal.
“After this, Chelsea were not a favourite or a team who could fight for the title until the end. Now, it is difficult to change that opinion completely.
“We are working well, but if you ask what is our target, I want to wait until the end of the first part of the championship.
“It’s hard to say if we’re the best side in the country right now, but I’m pleased with the players because they know our fans demand that we must fight until the end. I’m seeing with my own eyes that we have special players.”
Things are about to get more difficult for the league leaders, with next weekend’s home game with London rivals Tottenham Hotspur preceding a trip to Manchester City.
“We’re ready to play many games in a few days because from the start of the season, we’ve worked not only on the tactical aspect but also the physical aspect,” said Conte.
“You need the strength to run from the start to the end with good technique and talent. If you link the two, it’s important.
“Our trust in what we’re doing and how we are working is increasing, and now it’s important to focus on the next game, a massive one against Tottenham.”
Having claimed recent draws against Arsenal and City, Middlesbrough produced another spirited display against one of the title contenders. However, for all their improved form, Aitor Karanka’s side are just one point clear of the relegation zone.
“Playing against a team like Chelsea, we knew it would be tough,” said the Boro head coach.
“One mistake punished us, but we have shown we can compete against the best teams in the league. You can’t be pleased to lose one game, but I am pleased with the attitude of the players.”
How I stole N5.675m from Diamond Bank – Cleaner.
How I stole N5.675m from Diamond Bank – Cleaner.
A cleaner, Peter Oko, has narrated how he stole N5.675 million from the New Nyanya branch of Diamond Bank, where he worked.
The 29 year-old stated that he took the keys to the vault, stole the money and hid it in a carton, which he took home after the close of work.
The money was however recovered by the police, which said that the suspect had been charged to court.
Oko told Northern City News at the Nasarawa State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department in Lafia that he carried out the theft alone, saying, “As a cleaner, I knew where all the keys were kept.”
He added, “I single-handedly carried out the operation because I have been working as a cleaner in the bank for the past 10 years and my eyes had been on one of the keys to the vault, where the bank used to keep all its money.
“As a cleaner, my attention was not only on the keys, but on how I will carry out the operation successfully without being caught by either the security or any staff of the bank.”
The suspect said he stole the money without the knowledge of the bank workers, adding that he had access to all the foreign currencies in the bank as he knew where they were kept.
“As a cleaner, I knew where all the secret files were kept and where the bank kept its keys where you can have access to dollars, Nigerian currency and all other currencies.”
Oko blamed the economic situation for his action, stating that he had never been involved in a criminal act before now.
“The devil of economy recession pushed me into the crime; I have never committed a criminal act before, luck ran out on me and I was caught in the process,” he stated.
The state Commissioner of Police, Abubakar Bello, said the crime was reported to the police in October, 2016, by the bank, adding that the matter was then transferred from Karu Divisional Police Headquarters to the SCIID for investigations.
A cleaner, Peter Oko, has narrated how he stole N5.675 million from the New Nyanya branch of Diamond Bank, where he worked.
The 29 year-old stated that he took the keys to the vault, stole the money and hid it in a carton, which he took home after the close of work.
The money was however recovered by the police, which said that the suspect had been charged to court.
Oko told Northern City News at the Nasarawa State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department in Lafia that he carried out the theft alone, saying, “As a cleaner, I knew where all the keys were kept.”
He added, “I single-handedly carried out the operation because I have been working as a cleaner in the bank for the past 10 years and my eyes had been on one of the keys to the vault, where the bank used to keep all its money.
“As a cleaner, my attention was not only on the keys, but on how I will carry out the operation successfully without being caught by either the security or any staff of the bank.”
The suspect said he stole the money without the knowledge of the bank workers, adding that he had access to all the foreign currencies in the bank as he knew where they were kept.
“As a cleaner, I knew where all the secret files were kept and where the bank kept its keys where you can have access to dollars, Nigerian currency and all other currencies.”
Oko blamed the economic situation for his action, stating that he had never been involved in a criminal act before now.
“The devil of economy recession pushed me into the crime; I have never committed a criminal act before, luck ran out on me and I was caught in the process,” he stated.
The state Commissioner of Police, Abubakar Bello, said the crime was reported to the police in October, 2016, by the bank, adding that the matter was then transferred from Karu Divisional Police Headquarters to the SCIID for investigations.
Between the Nigerian State, Shi’ites and the Sunnis.
Between the Nigerian State, Shi’ites and the Sunnis.
THE Sunni-dominated Northern political and clerical establishment is using the machinery of the Nigeria State to wage war against their co-religionists and rival, the Shia Muslims, whose organisational umbrella, the Islamic movement of Nigeria, IMN, is currently under siege. The latest heavy-handed and ruthless measure, against the shia Muslims or shittes as they are referred in the popular media is the police massacre of their members in Kano, who were doing a peaceful trek in one of their religious rituals.
The weapons with which they allegedly provoked the police, consisted of catapults and sticks for which the police responded with heavy machine gun fire which the media reported killed about twenty of them. However, the group said that their casualty figure is over fifty. Antecedents show that the group figures are usually more correct. December, last year, when the army ruthlessly descended on the group in Zaria, following a stand-off, the group had with the army chief, Gen. Buratai over traffic gridlock allegedly orchestrated by the shitte movement, the group put their dead at nearly half a million which was disputed by the army. During the Kaduna state government panel of inquiry, which supposedly investigated the fracas, the state government officials let out the cat, of a hurriedly-dug mass grave, which contained at least 347 bodies of the decimated Shia members including women and children. The panel of inquiry concluded their months long seating without testimony from the shittes group, whose leader, El Zaky-Zaky and his wife, both mortally wounded in the Army-December onslaught, were taken prisoners and kept incommunicado, since then. Even Mr. Abdullah Ocalan, the leader of the armed Kurdistan workers party, PKK, who for years before his capture in the late 1990s waged war against Turkey, in his maximum security prison had lines and channels of communication with his armed party, that is engaged in an on and off war with Turkey. To lock away a man, who is not leading an armed rebellion, and whose three undergraduate sons were brutally killed by security a force, unarmed members routinely harassed and killed, with his wife separately, in obvious solitary confinement is the most unconscionable assault on human dignity. It is more horrifying and even revulsing that a government that is in desperate search to placate and pacify the brutal and murderous Boko Haram, that has killed over 20,000 Nigerians and tormented the lives of several millions, is unleashing State-directed terror, at a group whose only alleged acts of public disorder, consist of obstructing the convoy of the army chief, and public marches in observation of their religious rites. The Nigerian State is constitutionally secular, and therefore, should not and would never be conscripted to prosecute a sectarian war of any religious group against the other. The current government is in flagrant breach of the secularist character of the Nigerian State, because in its current war against the shittes, there is no shred of a Shia threat to state security, except the mortal fear of Shia rivalry to the hegemony of the Sunni-dominated northern political and clerical establishment. The ideological insecurity of the Sunni-dominated northern establishment should never be taken for a threat to state security. How could the “roar of the words”, for which the Shia clerical establishment is famous all over the world and which is replicated in Nigeria by the equalitarian, republican sermons of the Islamic movement of Nigeria, constitute a threat to state security? Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the firebrand Shia cleric, who up turned the Pahlavi dynasty and founded the Islamic Republic, in Iran, did not lead an armed opposition, let alone an armed insurgency. He used the “roar of the words” to crack the decomposing and corrupt regime of Shah Reza, who had relied on the crude method of brutal force. In fact, there is nothing in historical Shia Islam that associates it with aggressive violence. Ali, the fourth caliph of Islam and the progenitor of Shia Islam, while on the verge of military victory over the ruthless and cunning governor of Sham (Syria) Muayiwa, opted to negotiate peace, in recognition that military victory secured with the blood of co-religionists even on the opposing side was not worth it. Even, the revered figure of Shia Islam, Iman Hussein, grandson of prophet Muhammed, born to Ali by the prophet’s daughter, Zainabu, was not exemplary for aggressive violence, but in patient resistance and heroic endurance in the face of overwhelmingly superior adversary. Even as he and his starving and thirsty associates were been decimated, he remained uncompromising to the values of his conviction. Nearly two years ago, the three undergraduate sons of Mr. El Zaky-ZAky were brutally murdered by Nigerian security, when the group marched to commemorate the mytardom of Imam Hussein and his associates otherwise known as ashoura in Shia Islam. Given the extreme measure at which the Sunni-dominated northern establishment commandeers the Nigerian State to do its bidding, in suppressing the Shia Muslims, the question arises as to what is in the “roar of the words” of the shittes that triggers the paranoid of the mainstream, Sunni-dominated establishment. The chasm of the social distance between the mainly Sunni-northern political and clerical establishment and their rank and file in accessing economic and political opportunities is largely viewed as a pre-ordained religious order, for which the Shittes vehemently disputes. It appears that it is the danger of leading an Islamic social reawakening that the Sunni-dominated northern establishment is mortally fearful of the Shia movement than the fabrication that the shittes are not only running a parallel state, but plans a takeover of the Nigeria state. The comparison of Shia Muslims to Boko Haram is essentially fraudulent. If, in provoking the shittes, the aim is to push them to armed insurgency as the Boko Haram, it is a futile effort. The only Shia armed group, the Hizbollah in Lebanon is not fighting to establish Shia hegemony or even to take over the Lebanese state, but as rather contributing a national effort to checkmate Israeli routine aggressions of Arab states. Recently, the Hizbollah supported very strongly, the election of General Michel Aoun ,a Lebanese Christian manorite leader as the president of the country. It currently fights alongside the largely secular Syrian national army to fend off, the extremist armed insurgents consisting of the Islamic state and Al-Nusra front. The current violent persecution of the shittes is an unnecessary distraction to urgent key challenges to the Nigerian State. As one of the shitte leader, was reportedly quoted that “our religious inclination is a matter of the heart, therefore, no amount of intimidation, or blackmail can change our posture. it would better to leave us with our faith”. To leave the shittes to practice their faith is not an act of favour, but a constitutionally guaranteed responsibility, which the State is under obligation not only to dutifully protect the group but to ensure that, they practice their faith without the fear of molestation. Mr.Charles Onunaiju, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Abuja.
THE Sunni-dominated Northern political and clerical establishment is using the machinery of the Nigeria State to wage war against their co-religionists and rival, the Shia Muslims, whose organisational umbrella, the Islamic movement of Nigeria, IMN, is currently under siege. The latest heavy-handed and ruthless measure, against the shia Muslims or shittes as they are referred in the popular media is the police massacre of their members in Kano, who were doing a peaceful trek in one of their religious rituals.
The weapons with which they allegedly provoked the police, consisted of catapults and sticks for which the police responded with heavy machine gun fire which the media reported killed about twenty of them. However, the group said that their casualty figure is over fifty. Antecedents show that the group figures are usually more correct. December, last year, when the army ruthlessly descended on the group in Zaria, following a stand-off, the group had with the army chief, Gen. Buratai over traffic gridlock allegedly orchestrated by the shitte movement, the group put their dead at nearly half a million which was disputed by the army. During the Kaduna state government panel of inquiry, which supposedly investigated the fracas, the state government officials let out the cat, of a hurriedly-dug mass grave, which contained at least 347 bodies of the decimated Shia members including women and children. The panel of inquiry concluded their months long seating without testimony from the shittes group, whose leader, El Zaky-Zaky and his wife, both mortally wounded in the Army-December onslaught, were taken prisoners and kept incommunicado, since then. Even Mr. Abdullah Ocalan, the leader of the armed Kurdistan workers party, PKK, who for years before his capture in the late 1990s waged war against Turkey, in his maximum security prison had lines and channels of communication with his armed party, that is engaged in an on and off war with Turkey. To lock away a man, who is not leading an armed rebellion, and whose three undergraduate sons were brutally killed by security a force, unarmed members routinely harassed and killed, with his wife separately, in obvious solitary confinement is the most unconscionable assault on human dignity. It is more horrifying and even revulsing that a government that is in desperate search to placate and pacify the brutal and murderous Boko Haram, that has killed over 20,000 Nigerians and tormented the lives of several millions, is unleashing State-directed terror, at a group whose only alleged acts of public disorder, consist of obstructing the convoy of the army chief, and public marches in observation of their religious rites. The Nigerian State is constitutionally secular, and therefore, should not and would never be conscripted to prosecute a sectarian war of any religious group against the other. The current government is in flagrant breach of the secularist character of the Nigerian State, because in its current war against the shittes, there is no shred of a Shia threat to state security, except the mortal fear of Shia rivalry to the hegemony of the Sunni-dominated northern political and clerical establishment. The ideological insecurity of the Sunni-dominated northern establishment should never be taken for a threat to state security. How could the “roar of the words”, for which the Shia clerical establishment is famous all over the world and which is replicated in Nigeria by the equalitarian, republican sermons of the Islamic movement of Nigeria, constitute a threat to state security? Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the firebrand Shia cleric, who up turned the Pahlavi dynasty and founded the Islamic Republic, in Iran, did not lead an armed opposition, let alone an armed insurgency. He used the “roar of the words” to crack the decomposing and corrupt regime of Shah Reza, who had relied on the crude method of brutal force. In fact, there is nothing in historical Shia Islam that associates it with aggressive violence. Ali, the fourth caliph of Islam and the progenitor of Shia Islam, while on the verge of military victory over the ruthless and cunning governor of Sham (Syria) Muayiwa, opted to negotiate peace, in recognition that military victory secured with the blood of co-religionists even on the opposing side was not worth it. Even, the revered figure of Shia Islam, Iman Hussein, grandson of prophet Muhammed, born to Ali by the prophet’s daughter, Zainabu, was not exemplary for aggressive violence, but in patient resistance and heroic endurance in the face of overwhelmingly superior adversary. Even as he and his starving and thirsty associates were been decimated, he remained uncompromising to the values of his conviction. Nearly two years ago, the three undergraduate sons of Mr. El Zaky-ZAky were brutally murdered by Nigerian security, when the group marched to commemorate the mytardom of Imam Hussein and his associates otherwise known as ashoura in Shia Islam. Given the extreme measure at which the Sunni-dominated northern establishment commandeers the Nigerian State to do its bidding, in suppressing the Shia Muslims, the question arises as to what is in the “roar of the words” of the shittes that triggers the paranoid of the mainstream, Sunni-dominated establishment. The chasm of the social distance between the mainly Sunni-northern political and clerical establishment and their rank and file in accessing economic and political opportunities is largely viewed as a pre-ordained religious order, for which the Shittes vehemently disputes. It appears that it is the danger of leading an Islamic social reawakening that the Sunni-dominated northern establishment is mortally fearful of the Shia movement than the fabrication that the shittes are not only running a parallel state, but plans a takeover of the Nigeria state. The comparison of Shia Muslims to Boko Haram is essentially fraudulent. If, in provoking the shittes, the aim is to push them to armed insurgency as the Boko Haram, it is a futile effort. The only Shia armed group, the Hizbollah in Lebanon is not fighting to establish Shia hegemony or even to take over the Lebanese state, but as rather contributing a national effort to checkmate Israeli routine aggressions of Arab states. Recently, the Hizbollah supported very strongly, the election of General Michel Aoun ,a Lebanese Christian manorite leader as the president of the country. It currently fights alongside the largely secular Syrian national army to fend off, the extremist armed insurgents consisting of the Islamic state and Al-Nusra front. The current violent persecution of the shittes is an unnecessary distraction to urgent key challenges to the Nigerian State. As one of the shitte leader, was reportedly quoted that “our religious inclination is a matter of the heart, therefore, no amount of intimidation, or blackmail can change our posture. it would better to leave us with our faith”. To leave the shittes to practice their faith is not an act of favour, but a constitutionally guaranteed responsibility, which the State is under obligation not only to dutifully protect the group but to ensure that, they practice their faith without the fear of molestation. Mr.Charles Onunaiju, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Abuja.
Sunday, 20 November 2016
EPL: How Costa sent Chelsea top of table.
EPL: How Costa sent Chelsea top of table.
Diego Costa scored his 10th goal of the season as Chelsea won 1-0 at Middlesbrough to record a sixth consecutive victory and take over at the Premier League summit.
Costa struck for the third straight game with half-time approaching in Sunday’s game as Antonio Conte’s side underlined their title credentials by posting a sixth clean sheet in a row.
It took them a point clear of Liverpool and Manchester City, and three ahead of fourth-place Arsenal.
“It was a good performance against a very strong team,” Chelsea manager Conte told Sky Sports.
“Don’t forget Middlesbrough drew with Arsenal and Man City away. For this reason I’m pleased for the performance and attitude of my players.
“If you have the possibility to kill the game, it’s important to kill the game. But I’m pleased because Middlesbrough showed themselves to be a good team.”
Only the woodwork prevented Chelsea from winning by a more handsome margin as Pedro Rodriguez hit the bar midway through the second half, during which Middlesbrough were forced to hang on for long spells.
Aitor Karanka’s side retained hope while the deficit remained at a single goal, but the gulf in class between the sides was clear.
It leaves Boro one point above the relegation zone in their first season back in the Premier League following promotion.
“I am really pleased with the attitude of my players,” said Karanka.
“I am not worried about the look of the league table at the moment because all I am concerned about is the performances.
“If the performances were bad I would worry, but if the performances are good then we will start to win games.”
Costa rewarded Chelsea’s dominance as the Spain striker put the visitors — unchanged for the fifth consecutive league game — ahead four minutes before the end of the first half.
It stemmed from a disputed corner, Middlesbrough claiming debutant full-back Fabio da Silva had not touched the ball as it ran out of play.
– Fingertip save –
Eden Hazard’s in-swinging set-piece looped into the air as Calum Chambers and Gaston Ramirez challenged Marcos Alonso at the near post.
Despite the hosts having numbers back to defend, Costa reacted first to volley the loose ball home from inside the six-yard box, taking him to double figures for the campaign.
Middlesbrough goalkeeper Victor Valdes was partially at fault for failing to come off his line.
His indecision was in stark contrast to earlier in the half when the former Barcelona man produced a stunning fingertip save to deflect a first-time Pedro shot over the bar.
It was one of few clear-cut chances before the interval as Boro were largely successful in their attempts to negate the threat of Conte’s side by packing midfield and looking to counter-attack.
The out-of-touch Alvaro Negredo wasted their two main openings, first firing across the face of goal and then heading wide from Antonio Barragan’s deep cross.
Ramirez shot over early in the second half after Negredo’s dummy created space on the edge of the box for the Uruguay international, but it was a rare threat from the hosts.
Boro have forced draws against Arsenal and Pep Guardiola’s City this season, but after falling behind they rarely looked like troubling Chelsea’s three-man back line.
Having not conceded a league goal since September 24 — almost 10 hours of football — Chelsea are on their best defensive run for six years.
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois preserved their latest shut-out late on when he parried a powerful Negredo volley as the hosts belatedly pushed bodies forward.
The majority of chances arrived at the other end.
Alonso almost doubled the visitors’ advantage within seconds of kick-off in the second half, the Spaniard forcing a fine low save from Valdes after Hazard helped on Victor Moses’s cross.
The second goal failed to materialise, but Chelsea closed out their latest victory with relative ease to secure another valuable three points towards their growing title challenge.
Diego Costa scored his 10th goal of the season as Chelsea won 1-0 at Middlesbrough to record a sixth consecutive victory and take over at the Premier League summit.
Costa struck for the third straight game with half-time approaching in Sunday’s game as Antonio Conte’s side underlined their title credentials by posting a sixth clean sheet in a row.
It took them a point clear of Liverpool and Manchester City, and three ahead of fourth-place Arsenal.
“It was a good performance against a very strong team,” Chelsea manager Conte told Sky Sports.
“Don’t forget Middlesbrough drew with Arsenal and Man City away. For this reason I’m pleased for the performance and attitude of my players.
“If you have the possibility to kill the game, it’s important to kill the game. But I’m pleased because Middlesbrough showed themselves to be a good team.”
Only the woodwork prevented Chelsea from winning by a more handsome margin as Pedro Rodriguez hit the bar midway through the second half, during which Middlesbrough were forced to hang on for long spells.
Aitor Karanka’s side retained hope while the deficit remained at a single goal, but the gulf in class between the sides was clear.
It leaves Boro one point above the relegation zone in their first season back in the Premier League following promotion.
“I am really pleased with the attitude of my players,” said Karanka.
“I am not worried about the look of the league table at the moment because all I am concerned about is the performances.
“If the performances were bad I would worry, but if the performances are good then we will start to win games.”
Costa rewarded Chelsea’s dominance as the Spain striker put the visitors — unchanged for the fifth consecutive league game — ahead four minutes before the end of the first half.
It stemmed from a disputed corner, Middlesbrough claiming debutant full-back Fabio da Silva had not touched the ball as it ran out of play.
– Fingertip save –
Eden Hazard’s in-swinging set-piece looped into the air as Calum Chambers and Gaston Ramirez challenged Marcos Alonso at the near post.
Despite the hosts having numbers back to defend, Costa reacted first to volley the loose ball home from inside the six-yard box, taking him to double figures for the campaign.
Middlesbrough goalkeeper Victor Valdes was partially at fault for failing to come off his line.
His indecision was in stark contrast to earlier in the half when the former Barcelona man produced a stunning fingertip save to deflect a first-time Pedro shot over the bar.
It was one of few clear-cut chances before the interval as Boro were largely successful in their attempts to negate the threat of Conte’s side by packing midfield and looking to counter-attack.
The out-of-touch Alvaro Negredo wasted their two main openings, first firing across the face of goal and then heading wide from Antonio Barragan’s deep cross.
Ramirez shot over early in the second half after Negredo’s dummy created space on the edge of the box for the Uruguay international, but it was a rare threat from the hosts.
Boro have forced draws against Arsenal and Pep Guardiola’s City this season, but after falling behind they rarely looked like troubling Chelsea’s three-man back line.
Having not conceded a league goal since September 24 — almost 10 hours of football — Chelsea are on their best defensive run for six years.
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois preserved their latest shut-out late on when he parried a powerful Negredo volley as the hosts belatedly pushed bodies forward.
The majority of chances arrived at the other end.
Alonso almost doubled the visitors’ advantage within seconds of kick-off in the second half, the Spaniard forcing a fine low save from Valdes after Hazard helped on Victor Moses’s cross.
The second goal failed to materialise, but Chelsea closed out their latest victory with relative ease to secure another valuable three points towards their growing title challenge.
Volkswagen CEO says sees case for building own battery factory
Volkswagen CEO says sees case for building own battery factory
Volkswagen currently relies on external battery suppliers for the electric vehicles it makes.
Frankfurt: Europe’s largest carmaker Volkswagen sees building its own factory to make electronic vehicle batteries as a logical move as it expands production of low-emission cars after its emissions scandal.
Volkswagen and its labour unions agreed on Friday to cut 30,000 jobs at the core VW brand in exchange for a commitment to avoid forced redundancies in Germany until 2025.
The cuts came with a management pledge to create 9,000 new jobs in the area of battery production and mobility services at factories in Germany as part of efforts to shift towards electric and self-driving cars.
“If more than a quarter of our cars are to be electronic vehicles in the in the foreseeable future then we are going to need approximately three million batteries a year,” chief executive Matthias Mueller told Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung. “Then it makes sense to build our own factory.”
Volkswagen currently relies on external battery suppliers for the electric vehicles it makes.
Mueller said that Volkswagen has been in talks with ride-hailing service Uber on potential cooperation but the carmaker would not settle for the role as a mere supplier.
“They (Uber) saw us more in the role of a supplier. But we said: Okay guys, this is a contest which we are happy to take on. We will remain in command,” Mueller said.
Automakers like VW are developing electric vehicles and billing themselves as mobility companies that don’t merely sell cars but also get involved with alternatives to conventional car ownership such as ride-hailing.
Mueller confirmed that Volkswagen had set aside €18 billion ($19.1 billion) to cover the cost of its diesel emissions cheating scandal.
Volkswagen does not expect the German government to make tax demands to cover any revenue losses related to the scandal, a company spokesman said on Saturday.
Volkswagen currently relies on external battery suppliers for the electric vehicles it makes.
Frankfurt: Europe’s largest carmaker Volkswagen sees building its own factory to make electronic vehicle batteries as a logical move as it expands production of low-emission cars after its emissions scandal.
Volkswagen and its labour unions agreed on Friday to cut 30,000 jobs at the core VW brand in exchange for a commitment to avoid forced redundancies in Germany until 2025.
The cuts came with a management pledge to create 9,000 new jobs in the area of battery production and mobility services at factories in Germany as part of efforts to shift towards electric and self-driving cars.
“If more than a quarter of our cars are to be electronic vehicles in the in the foreseeable future then we are going to need approximately three million batteries a year,” chief executive Matthias Mueller told Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung. “Then it makes sense to build our own factory.”
Volkswagen currently relies on external battery suppliers for the electric vehicles it makes.
Mueller said that Volkswagen has been in talks with ride-hailing service Uber on potential cooperation but the carmaker would not settle for the role as a mere supplier.
“They (Uber) saw us more in the role of a supplier. But we said: Okay guys, this is a contest which we are happy to take on. We will remain in command,” Mueller said.
Automakers like VW are developing electric vehicles and billing themselves as mobility companies that don’t merely sell cars but also get involved with alternatives to conventional car ownership such as ride-hailing.
Mueller confirmed that Volkswagen had set aside €18 billion ($19.1 billion) to cover the cost of its diesel emissions cheating scandal.
Volkswagen does not expect the German government to make tax demands to cover any revenue losses related to the scandal, a company spokesman said on Saturday.
Saturday, 19 November 2016
Nnamdi Kanu a combination of Azikwe, Ojukwu, Kaduna Nzeogwu all rolled into one – Fani- Kayode.
Nnamdi Kanu a combination of Azikwe, Ojukwu, Kaduna Nzeogwu all rolled into one – Fani- Kayode.
ABUJA- FORMER spokesperson to ex- President Goodluck Jonathan campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani- Kayode said Saturday that him and others would join hands with the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu to collectively bring down those he termed, their collective enemies. In a statement, Fani- Kayode who extolled the qualities of Kanu, said that he is not just a combination of Owelle Nnamdi Azikwe and Dim Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu: but a combination of Azikwe, Ojukwu and Major Kaduna Nzeogwu all rolled into one.
According to Fani- Kayode, Kanu who loves the Igbos, serves as a rallying point for Igbo nationalism, the fight for self-determination of the people of the east and the establishment of the sovereign state of Biafra.
He said, “And when that time comes we shall stand shoulder to shoulder with men like who is the leader of IPOB a Nnamdi Kanu and face down our collective enemies.” In a statement titled, “the Heart and Soul of Nnamdi Kanu, Chief Fani- Kayode said, “In my essay titled “Head Bloodied But Not Bowed And The Ascension Of President-Elect Donald J. Trump” (Part 1) I wrote the following: “When I went to visit the great and brilliant freedom fighter, Nnamdi Kanu, who is the leader of IPOB and easily the most courageous, powerful and credible Igbo leader in Nigeria today in his cell we had a very instructive and long discussion. “I had never met Nnamdi before and I was amazed at his depth of knowledge, his immense courage and his deep convictions. “There is no doubt in my mind that the man is going places and in him the Igbo have an Ojukwu and a Nnamdi Azikiwe all rolled into one. He is destined for greatness”. “Apparantly my words have created quite a stir amongst those who believe that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu cannot be mentioned in the same breath as Azikiwe or Ojukwu, both of whom, in my view, are also great men. “Yet despite their reservations I believe that we must give honor to whom it is due. Consequently I have no regrets for what I have said. “Those that are upset at the fact that I spoke highly of the IPOB leader are misguided and, worst still, they lack vision, foresight and insight. “They not only lack the ability to perceive individuals and events accurately but they also lack the gift of discermment. They may see the man but they cannot assess or recognise the spirit that is in him and that motivates him. “Worse of all they are suffering from good old fashioned envy and they have been afflicted with the worst form of ignorance. “Most of them have never even met Kanu let alone know him. I sat next to him for three solid hours in the most challenging and difficult circumstances. “We discussed our respective views about Nigeria, our collective history, the suffering and marginalisation of our respective people, the Nigerian civil war, the reptilian and violent nature of the Nigerian state, the present dispensation, the Buhari government and the way forward. “I have associated with, met and worked with many men of influence and power since I entered the combustible fray of politics thirty years ago but this one was different. “This was a man that had what I would describe as a Mahatma Ghandi-like quality. That is to say he is one that is prepared to sacrifice everything and anything for his beliefs, his people and his cause. “Like the great Scottish freedom fighter William Wallace I have no doubt that if he deemed it necessary he would go as far as to sacrifice his very life in the struggle for freedom and independence for his Igbo people from the Nigerian state and from our internal colonial masters and for the establishment of his beloved Biafra. “Not all may agree with him on that course but they must respect his determination, passion and courage. “Very few Nigerian leaders have that level of selflessness and commitment to any cause and, simply put, I admire it. “I looked deeply into his eyes as we spoke and I touched and weighed his soul. “I can tell you, without any fear of contradiction, that he is a profoundly good man who loves his Igbo people deeply. “He is also well-educated and widely-read and he is a formidable intellectual. “We may not have agreed on everything but I can tell you this much: we share an aversion to the spread of radical Islam and terror in Nigeria and indeed throughout the world. “We also share deep concerns about the oppression of our people by the state, the vicious persecution and desperate attempt to silence all the voices of the opposition in our country, the marginalisation and suppression of the good people and ethnic nationalities of the south and the Middle Belt, the implementation of a plainly racist and apartheid-like agenda by our government, the regular and consistent practice of genocide by our security forces, the rise in power and increasing callousness and brutality of the Fulani miltias and herdsmen in our midst, the not so hidden agenda to Islamise our nation and violate the secularity of our state, the violation of court orders, the brazen intimidation of the Judiciary and the resort to the most barbarous and hideous form of gestapo tactics, tyranny and human rights abuses by the Buhari administration. “I can also tell you that he feels and shares the pain of the Igbo and he yearns for their liberation and emanciption from an increasingly hostile and oppressive Nigerian state. “He is not a politician in the true sense of the word but rather a freedom fighter and a charissmatic leader who has managed to inspire millions of Igbo youth all over the world to once again have faith in themselves and their collective cause and aspirations. In my view that is a good thing. “I can also tell you this: he is a man of great faith and conviction and his rise to prominence is not ordinary but instead prophetic. “He cannot be destroyed or silenced by any government or man born of woman because the Lord is with him and He is using him. He is using him to say and do the things that many believe but that are too scared to say or do. “Other leaders have had their time in the past and now this is his. He is paying a very heavy price right now for what God will use him for in the future. “I recognise that fact and I sincerely hope and pray that his Igbo people will come to appreciate him and do so as well. “Very few leaders can or would be willing to take the pain and make the kind of sacrifice that this man is making today. “I am a very cautious and circumspect person and it takes me a while to warm to people or for them to win my confidence. Yet this case was different. “Nnamdi and I, rather like Che Guevera and Fidel Castro at the beginning of the Cuban revolution, connected immediately and he won my trust, respect and admiration. “If there is anyone that can truly build the much needed bridge between the south-west, the south-south and the south-east it is Nnamdi Kanu. “This is because he is pragmatic and sincere. It is because he is respectful and accomodating of alternative points of view and dissenting opinions and he speaks from a position of knowledge and strength. It ibecause he is very proud of his Igbo heritage and he would never betray his people or prostitute his principles. “The truth is that he is not just a combination of Owelle Nnamdi Azikwe and Dim Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu: he is a combination of Azikwe, Ojukwu AND Major Kaduna Nzeogwu all rolled into one. “The fire of revolution and the yearning for fundamental and equitable change burns in his blood and resides in his bones. “He has spoken up for, defended and fought for the preservation and dignity of his people just as those other three leaders did in the past at different times in our history. “He also serves as a rallying point for Igbo nationalism, the fight for self-determination of the people of the east and the establishment of the sovereign state of Biafra. “His love, remarkable courage and sheer passion for his people and their cause is boundless and unfathomable. “The Igbo is blessed to have him as one of the most respected and reverred leaders in our entire history as a nation. “They would do well to appreciate him more, pray for him, stand up for him, line up behind him and insist that the government honors the numerous court orders that have granted him bail and release him from prison. “Why? Because he bleeds and suffers for their collective cause and he is sacrificing all to remove their shame and lift their pain. “What a man he is. What a mighty spirit. What a beautiful soul. What a braveheart. “Permit me to conclude this contribution with the following observations. “All over the world today the concept of political correctness has been discredited and rejected. Consequently right-wing nationalist and ultra-nationalist groups and political parties are rising up and regaining credibility and power. “In the United Kingdom we have the Nick Farage’s of this world and his UKIP whose magnificent efforts resulted in Brexit. In France we have the Marie Le Pen’s and her National Front. In Hungary we have the Viktor Orban’s and his Fidesz party. “In the United States of America we have the Donald Trump’s and his new and redefined Republican party. “We also have plain-speaking and honest men like Michael Flynn, who has just been appointed as Trump’s National Security Advisor. “Political parties with a similar ideology and that are led by equally strong-willed, focused and charissmatic figures are also making great waves and slowly gaining more power and relevance in Italy, Germany, Austria, Holland, Greece, Belgium, Hungary, Russia, the Phillipines, Israel and indeed all over the world. “Thankfully Nigeria has not been left out. We have men like Nnamdi Kanu in the east, Ganiyu Adams in the west, Asari Dokubo in the Niger Delta and others from elsewhere who believe passionately in the restructuring of the Federation, the redefinition of the Nigerian state, the right of self-determination for their respective people and the expression of power, pride, self-respect and dignity for their various ethnic nationalities. “Freedom beckons whilst the wind of change is blowing across the world and no-one can stop it. “I thank God for that and I also thank Him for the millions of men of courage, strength and vision that have joined the fray. “Whatever happens in Nigeria and whatever may come our way, one thing remains clear: an idea whose time has come cannot be successfully resisted. Today may belong to our oppressors but tomorrow belongs to us. “At the appointed time we shall rise up to where we belong as a people and we shall free ourselves from the demonic shackles and satanic chains that have have been placed upon us by our collective tormentors. “And when that time comes we shall stand shoulder to shoulder with men like Nnamdi Kanu and face down our collective enemies. “The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob shall rise to our defence and the Lord of Hosts, the Ancient of Days, the God of the Armies of Israel and He who holds the universe together by the power of His word shall lift us up to where we belong.”
ABUJA- FORMER spokesperson to ex- President Goodluck Jonathan campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani- Kayode said Saturday that him and others would join hands with the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu to collectively bring down those he termed, their collective enemies. In a statement, Fani- Kayode who extolled the qualities of Kanu, said that he is not just a combination of Owelle Nnamdi Azikwe and Dim Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu: but a combination of Azikwe, Ojukwu and Major Kaduna Nzeogwu all rolled into one.
According to Fani- Kayode, Kanu who loves the Igbos, serves as a rallying point for Igbo nationalism, the fight for self-determination of the people of the east and the establishment of the sovereign state of Biafra.
He said, “And when that time comes we shall stand shoulder to shoulder with men like who is the leader of IPOB a Nnamdi Kanu and face down our collective enemies.” In a statement titled, “the Heart and Soul of Nnamdi Kanu, Chief Fani- Kayode said, “In my essay titled “Head Bloodied But Not Bowed And The Ascension Of President-Elect Donald J. Trump” (Part 1) I wrote the following: “When I went to visit the great and brilliant freedom fighter, Nnamdi Kanu, who is the leader of IPOB and easily the most courageous, powerful and credible Igbo leader in Nigeria today in his cell we had a very instructive and long discussion. “I had never met Nnamdi before and I was amazed at his depth of knowledge, his immense courage and his deep convictions. “There is no doubt in my mind that the man is going places and in him the Igbo have an Ojukwu and a Nnamdi Azikiwe all rolled into one. He is destined for greatness”. “Apparantly my words have created quite a stir amongst those who believe that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu cannot be mentioned in the same breath as Azikiwe or Ojukwu, both of whom, in my view, are also great men. “Yet despite their reservations I believe that we must give honor to whom it is due. Consequently I have no regrets for what I have said. “Those that are upset at the fact that I spoke highly of the IPOB leader are misguided and, worst still, they lack vision, foresight and insight. “They not only lack the ability to perceive individuals and events accurately but they also lack the gift of discermment. They may see the man but they cannot assess or recognise the spirit that is in him and that motivates him. “Worse of all they are suffering from good old fashioned envy and they have been afflicted with the worst form of ignorance. “Most of them have never even met Kanu let alone know him. I sat next to him for three solid hours in the most challenging and difficult circumstances. “We discussed our respective views about Nigeria, our collective history, the suffering and marginalisation of our respective people, the Nigerian civil war, the reptilian and violent nature of the Nigerian state, the present dispensation, the Buhari government and the way forward. “I have associated with, met and worked with many men of influence and power since I entered the combustible fray of politics thirty years ago but this one was different. “This was a man that had what I would describe as a Mahatma Ghandi-like quality. That is to say he is one that is prepared to sacrifice everything and anything for his beliefs, his people and his cause. “Like the great Scottish freedom fighter William Wallace I have no doubt that if he deemed it necessary he would go as far as to sacrifice his very life in the struggle for freedom and independence for his Igbo people from the Nigerian state and from our internal colonial masters and for the establishment of his beloved Biafra. “Not all may agree with him on that course but they must respect his determination, passion and courage. “Very few Nigerian leaders have that level of selflessness and commitment to any cause and, simply put, I admire it. “I looked deeply into his eyes as we spoke and I touched and weighed his soul. “I can tell you, without any fear of contradiction, that he is a profoundly good man who loves his Igbo people deeply. “He is also well-educated and widely-read and he is a formidable intellectual. “We may not have agreed on everything but I can tell you this much: we share an aversion to the spread of radical Islam and terror in Nigeria and indeed throughout the world. “We also share deep concerns about the oppression of our people by the state, the vicious persecution and desperate attempt to silence all the voices of the opposition in our country, the marginalisation and suppression of the good people and ethnic nationalities of the south and the Middle Belt, the implementation of a plainly racist and apartheid-like agenda by our government, the regular and consistent practice of genocide by our security forces, the rise in power and increasing callousness and brutality of the Fulani miltias and herdsmen in our midst, the not so hidden agenda to Islamise our nation and violate the secularity of our state, the violation of court orders, the brazen intimidation of the Judiciary and the resort to the most barbarous and hideous form of gestapo tactics, tyranny and human rights abuses by the Buhari administration. “I can also tell you that he feels and shares the pain of the Igbo and he yearns for their liberation and emanciption from an increasingly hostile and oppressive Nigerian state. “He is not a politician in the true sense of the word but rather a freedom fighter and a charissmatic leader who has managed to inspire millions of Igbo youth all over the world to once again have faith in themselves and their collective cause and aspirations. In my view that is a good thing. “I can also tell you this: he is a man of great faith and conviction and his rise to prominence is not ordinary but instead prophetic. “He cannot be destroyed or silenced by any government or man born of woman because the Lord is with him and He is using him. He is using him to say and do the things that many believe but that are too scared to say or do. “Other leaders have had their time in the past and now this is his. He is paying a very heavy price right now for what God will use him for in the future. “I recognise that fact and I sincerely hope and pray that his Igbo people will come to appreciate him and do so as well. “Very few leaders can or would be willing to take the pain and make the kind of sacrifice that this man is making today. “I am a very cautious and circumspect person and it takes me a while to warm to people or for them to win my confidence. Yet this case was different. “Nnamdi and I, rather like Che Guevera and Fidel Castro at the beginning of the Cuban revolution, connected immediately and he won my trust, respect and admiration. “If there is anyone that can truly build the much needed bridge between the south-west, the south-south and the south-east it is Nnamdi Kanu. “This is because he is pragmatic and sincere. It is because he is respectful and accomodating of alternative points of view and dissenting opinions and he speaks from a position of knowledge and strength. It ibecause he is very proud of his Igbo heritage and he would never betray his people or prostitute his principles. “The truth is that he is not just a combination of Owelle Nnamdi Azikwe and Dim Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu: he is a combination of Azikwe, Ojukwu AND Major Kaduna Nzeogwu all rolled into one. “The fire of revolution and the yearning for fundamental and equitable change burns in his blood and resides in his bones. “He has spoken up for, defended and fought for the preservation and dignity of his people just as those other three leaders did in the past at different times in our history. “He also serves as a rallying point for Igbo nationalism, the fight for self-determination of the people of the east and the establishment of the sovereign state of Biafra. “His love, remarkable courage and sheer passion for his people and their cause is boundless and unfathomable. “The Igbo is blessed to have him as one of the most respected and reverred leaders in our entire history as a nation. “They would do well to appreciate him more, pray for him, stand up for him, line up behind him and insist that the government honors the numerous court orders that have granted him bail and release him from prison. “Why? Because he bleeds and suffers for their collective cause and he is sacrificing all to remove their shame and lift their pain. “What a man he is. What a mighty spirit. What a beautiful soul. What a braveheart. “Permit me to conclude this contribution with the following observations. “All over the world today the concept of political correctness has been discredited and rejected. Consequently right-wing nationalist and ultra-nationalist groups and political parties are rising up and regaining credibility and power. “In the United Kingdom we have the Nick Farage’s of this world and his UKIP whose magnificent efforts resulted in Brexit. In France we have the Marie Le Pen’s and her National Front. In Hungary we have the Viktor Orban’s and his Fidesz party. “In the United States of America we have the Donald Trump’s and his new and redefined Republican party. “We also have plain-speaking and honest men like Michael Flynn, who has just been appointed as Trump’s National Security Advisor. “Political parties with a similar ideology and that are led by equally strong-willed, focused and charissmatic figures are also making great waves and slowly gaining more power and relevance in Italy, Germany, Austria, Holland, Greece, Belgium, Hungary, Russia, the Phillipines, Israel and indeed all over the world. “Thankfully Nigeria has not been left out. We have men like Nnamdi Kanu in the east, Ganiyu Adams in the west, Asari Dokubo in the Niger Delta and others from elsewhere who believe passionately in the restructuring of the Federation, the redefinition of the Nigerian state, the right of self-determination for their respective people and the expression of power, pride, self-respect and dignity for their various ethnic nationalities. “Freedom beckons whilst the wind of change is blowing across the world and no-one can stop it. “I thank God for that and I also thank Him for the millions of men of courage, strength and vision that have joined the fray. “Whatever happens in Nigeria and whatever may come our way, one thing remains clear: an idea whose time has come cannot be successfully resisted. Today may belong to our oppressors but tomorrow belongs to us. “At the appointed time we shall rise up to where we belong as a people and we shall free ourselves from the demonic shackles and satanic chains that have have been placed upon us by our collective tormentors. “And when that time comes we shall stand shoulder to shoulder with men like Nnamdi Kanu and face down our collective enemies. “The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob shall rise to our defence and the Lord of Hosts, the Ancient of Days, the God of the Armies of Israel and He who holds the universe together by the power of His word shall lift us up to where we belong.”
Police Arrests Man For Allegedly Defiling His 12-Year Old Daughter.
Police Arrests Man For Allegedly Defiling His 12-Year Old Daughter.
The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a 45-year-old man, Adisa Olayide, for allegedly defiling his 12-year-old daughter in Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area of the state.
The suspect was said to have been arrested on Wednesday, November 16 following a complaint from the daughter who cried to the police station and reported her father.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the little girl told the police that her mother was late, and the suspect had remarried and had three wives after the demise of her mother.
Oyeyemi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, explained further that upon the victim’s complaint, the Divisional Police Officer, Ilaro division detailed police detectives to effect the arrest of the suspect.
He said the state Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, had ordered the immediate transfer of the case to Anti- Human Trafficking and Child Labour Unit of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Abeokuta, for further investigation.
The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a 45-year-old man, Adisa Olayide, for allegedly defiling his 12-year-old daughter in Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area of the state.
The suspect was said to have been arrested on Wednesday, November 16 following a complaint from the daughter who cried to the police station and reported her father.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the little girl told the police that her mother was late, and the suspect had remarried and had three wives after the demise of her mother.
Oyeyemi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, explained further that upon the victim’s complaint, the Divisional Police Officer, Ilaro division detailed police detectives to effect the arrest of the suspect.
He said the state Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, had ordered the immediate transfer of the case to Anti- Human Trafficking and Child Labour Unit of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Abeokuta, for further investigation.
28 suspected teenage cultists arrested in Delta.
28 suspected teenage cultists arrested in Delta.
The Delta Police Command has arrested 28 suspected teenage cultists operating in some public secondary schools in Asaba, in Delta.
The State Police Commissioner, CP Zanna Ibrahim, disclosed this on Saturday in Asaba.
He said that the teenage secret cult group was known as the “Future Trigger Boys’’ (FTB).
The CP said the suspected cultists, aged between 13 and 16 years old, were rounded up during school hours, following intelligence reports from members of the public.
“These are children, who were sent to school to study but regrettably, they form cult group to terrorise their fellow students and the entire school.
“They call themselves the ‘Future Trigger Boys’. We were able to arrest these ones, while many others are still on the run.
“Since we arrested them, many of their parents have been on our neck,” Ibrahim said.
The CP urged members of the public to continuously avail the command with valuable information that would help the Police checkmate all forms of crimes in the society.
The Delta Police Command has arrested 28 suspected teenage cultists operating in some public secondary schools in Asaba, in Delta.
The State Police Commissioner, CP Zanna Ibrahim, disclosed this on Saturday in Asaba.
He said that the teenage secret cult group was known as the “Future Trigger Boys’’ (FTB).
The CP said the suspected cultists, aged between 13 and 16 years old, were rounded up during school hours, following intelligence reports from members of the public.
“These are children, who were sent to school to study but regrettably, they form cult group to terrorise their fellow students and the entire school.
“They call themselves the ‘Future Trigger Boys’. We were able to arrest these ones, while many others are still on the run.
“Since we arrested them, many of their parents have been on our neck,” Ibrahim said.
The CP urged members of the public to continuously avail the command with valuable information that would help the Police checkmate all forms of crimes in the society.
EPL: How Watford beat Champions, Leicester City 2-1.
EPL: How Watford beat Champions, Leicester City 2-1.
Etienne Capoue struck after just 32 seconds as Watford added to Leicester’s domestic woes by beating the Premier League champions 2-1 at Vicarage Road on Saturday.
Roberto Pereyra netted Watford’s second after 12 minutes and Riyad Mahrez’s penalty couldn’t revive Leicester.
Claudio Ranieri’s side are still looking for their first away win of the season and remain stuck within sight of the relegation zone.
Leicester will return to Champions League action against Club Brugge next week but while they have impressed in Europe, they continue to struggle for form back at home in the Premier League.
Once again Jamie Vardy failed to find the target, extending his club drought to 13 games although the forward did follow up his midweek strike for England by winning the penalty that allowed Mahrez to bring his side back into the game.
But the defensive weaknesses that have marked their disappointing title defence were again all too apparent as Watford claimed the victory that consolidated their place in the top half of the table.
Walter Mazzarri had been left incensed by Watford’s performance in the 6-1 defeat at Liverpool immediately before the international break and had insisted the anger shared by manager and players would ensure there would be no repeat.
But as anxious as the manager was to see his players recover quickly, their response was even more impressive than he might have hoped.
Just 32 seconds had elapsed when Watford exposed Leicester’s fragile defence to take the lead, and they had doubled that advantage within 12 minutes.
Pereyra was involved on both occasions, with the Argentinian’s left wing cross helped on by Troy Deeney’s backward header into the path of Capoue, who placed his volley beyond Leicester keeper Ron-Robert Zieler.
Etienne Capoue struck after just 32 seconds as Watford added to Leicester’s domestic woes by beating the Premier League champions 2-1 at Vicarage Road on Saturday.
Roberto Pereyra netted Watford’s second after 12 minutes and Riyad Mahrez’s penalty couldn’t revive Leicester.
Claudio Ranieri’s side are still looking for their first away win of the season and remain stuck within sight of the relegation zone.
Leicester will return to Champions League action against Club Brugge next week but while they have impressed in Europe, they continue to struggle for form back at home in the Premier League.
Once again Jamie Vardy failed to find the target, extending his club drought to 13 games although the forward did follow up his midweek strike for England by winning the penalty that allowed Mahrez to bring his side back into the game.
But the defensive weaknesses that have marked their disappointing title defence were again all too apparent as Watford claimed the victory that consolidated their place in the top half of the table.
Walter Mazzarri had been left incensed by Watford’s performance in the 6-1 defeat at Liverpool immediately before the international break and had insisted the anger shared by manager and players would ensure there would be no repeat.
But as anxious as the manager was to see his players recover quickly, their response was even more impressive than he might have hoped.
Just 32 seconds had elapsed when Watford exposed Leicester’s fragile defence to take the lead, and they had doubled that advantage within 12 minutes.
Pereyra was involved on both occasions, with the Argentinian’s left wing cross helped on by Troy Deeney’s backward header into the path of Capoue, who placed his volley beyond Leicester keeper Ron-Robert Zieler.
Messi-less Barca fire blank against nine-man Malaga.
Messi-less Barca fire blank against nine-man Malaga.
Barcelona paid a heavy price for the absence of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez as nine-man Malaga held out for a 0-0 draw at the Camp Nou on Saturday.
Carlos Kameni produced an incredible 94th minute save from Neymar after Diego Llorente had been sent-off midway through the second-half.
Juan Carlos also then saw a straight red in the sixth minute of time added on, but Malaga hung on as Barca blew the chance to go top of the table.
The champions now trail leaders Real Madrid by a point ahead of their trip to Atletico Madrid later on Saturday.
Five-time World Player of the Year Messi was ruled out just hours before the game due to illness, whilst Suarez was suspended.
In the absence of the Uruguayan, Paco Alcacer was handed a rare start, but his search for a first Barca goal continues as he failed to make any meaningful impact.
Without his usual two strike partners, the focus was on Neymar to break down the mass ranks of Malaga defence.
The Brazilian fired into the side-netting inside the first 10 minutes, but Barca’s bright start quickly fizzled out.
Rafinha’s drive produced Kameni’s only serious save of the first 45 minutes.
Barca continued to dominate possession without a cutting edge at the start of the second period and should have been caught out on the counter-attack.
Carlos had the best chance of the game just before the hour mark when he rounded Barca ‘keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen but fired into the side-netting with the goal gaping.
Malaga had to see out of the final 21 minutes with 10 men when Real Madrid loanee Llorente cynically chopped down Neymar and was shown a straight red card.
Yet, even with a man advantage, Barca badly missed the creativity of Messi and injured captain Andres Iniesta as they resorted to launching cross balls into Gerard Pique, who moved forward from central defence to act as an emergency forward.
Substitute Ivan Rakitic headed inches wide, whilst Pique also had a goal ruled out for offside after Andre Gomes had struck the bar.
However, Barca’s best chance came deep into stoppage time when an injured Kameni somehow clawed Neymar’s header from point-blank range to safety.
Earlier, Sevilla moved up to third as defender Gabriel Mercado sealed a stunning fightback from 2-0 down at Deportivo la Coruna to win 3-2.
Sevilla’s demons away from home looked set to strike once more when Ryan Babel’s first-minute opener and a wonderful individual effort from Florin Andone handed struggling Deportivo a 2-0 lead.
However, in-form French midfielder Steven N’Zonzi launched the comeback with a vital goal just before half-time to give Sevilla hope.
Jorge Sampaoli then introduced Spanish international Vitolo at the break and Sevilla were transformed in the second half.
The visitors had to wait until three minutes from time to level when Vitolo fired home at the back post despite Przemyslaw Tyton’s best efforts.
And Tyton was beaten again deep into stoppage time when he saved Nico Pareja’s first effort, but Mercado followed up to blast home the rebound.
Barcelona paid a heavy price for the absence of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez as nine-man Malaga held out for a 0-0 draw at the Camp Nou on Saturday.
Carlos Kameni produced an incredible 94th minute save from Neymar after Diego Llorente had been sent-off midway through the second-half.
Juan Carlos also then saw a straight red in the sixth minute of time added on, but Malaga hung on as Barca blew the chance to go top of the table.
The champions now trail leaders Real Madrid by a point ahead of their trip to Atletico Madrid later on Saturday.
Five-time World Player of the Year Messi was ruled out just hours before the game due to illness, whilst Suarez was suspended.
In the absence of the Uruguayan, Paco Alcacer was handed a rare start, but his search for a first Barca goal continues as he failed to make any meaningful impact.
Without his usual two strike partners, the focus was on Neymar to break down the mass ranks of Malaga defence.
The Brazilian fired into the side-netting inside the first 10 minutes, but Barca’s bright start quickly fizzled out.
Rafinha’s drive produced Kameni’s only serious save of the first 45 minutes.
Barca continued to dominate possession without a cutting edge at the start of the second period and should have been caught out on the counter-attack.
Carlos had the best chance of the game just before the hour mark when he rounded Barca ‘keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen but fired into the side-netting with the goal gaping.
Malaga had to see out of the final 21 minutes with 10 men when Real Madrid loanee Llorente cynically chopped down Neymar and was shown a straight red card.
Yet, even with a man advantage, Barca badly missed the creativity of Messi and injured captain Andres Iniesta as they resorted to launching cross balls into Gerard Pique, who moved forward from central defence to act as an emergency forward.
Substitute Ivan Rakitic headed inches wide, whilst Pique also had a goal ruled out for offside after Andre Gomes had struck the bar.
However, Barca’s best chance came deep into stoppage time when an injured Kameni somehow clawed Neymar’s header from point-blank range to safety.
Earlier, Sevilla moved up to third as defender Gabriel Mercado sealed a stunning fightback from 2-0 down at Deportivo la Coruna to win 3-2.
Sevilla’s demons away from home looked set to strike once more when Ryan Babel’s first-minute opener and a wonderful individual effort from Florin Andone handed struggling Deportivo a 2-0 lead.
However, in-form French midfielder Steven N’Zonzi launched the comeback with a vital goal just before half-time to give Sevilla hope.
Jorge Sampaoli then introduced Spanish international Vitolo at the break and Sevilla were transformed in the second half.
The visitors had to wait until three minutes from time to level when Vitolo fired home at the back post despite Przemyslaw Tyton’s best efforts.
And Tyton was beaten again deep into stoppage time when he saved Nico Pareja’s first effort, but Mercado followed up to blast home the rebound.
Thursday, 17 November 2016
Official: NYSC Confirms Date For 2016 Batch B Streams.
Official: NYSC Confirms Date For 2016 Batch B Streams.
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has assured university graduates that it has made necessary arrangements to ensure eligible prospective corps members, are mobilised in the next service year.
In a chat with newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday, the Director General of the NYSC, Brigadier-General Sule Kazaure, disclosed that 2016 Batch ‘B’ stream 1 will commence orientation exercise on the 24th of November while stream 2 are expected to commence orientation in January 2017.
The DG said, “In the 2016 budget, provision was made for the mobilisation of a total of 210,000 corps members. However, the figure for both 2016 Batch ‘A’ and Batch ‘B’ has more than doubled the original projection,” he said.
“Like we did before the 2016 Batch ‘A’ orientation course, we have appealed to the government for special intervention grant to mop up excess of this figure.
“So far, we have received the green light from the relevant government agencies to prepare for the mobilisation of all qualified prospective corps members.
“However, the limited cumulative capacity of the orientation camps nationwide necessitates a second stream orientation course for the 2016 Batch ‘B’ which is planned for January 2017,” he added.
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has assured university graduates that it has made necessary arrangements to ensure eligible prospective corps members, are mobilised in the next service year.
In a chat with newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday, the Director General of the NYSC, Brigadier-General Sule Kazaure, disclosed that 2016 Batch ‘B’ stream 1 will commence orientation exercise on the 24th of November while stream 2 are expected to commence orientation in January 2017.
The DG said, “In the 2016 budget, provision was made for the mobilisation of a total of 210,000 corps members. However, the figure for both 2016 Batch ‘A’ and Batch ‘B’ has more than doubled the original projection,” he said.
“Like we did before the 2016 Batch ‘A’ orientation course, we have appealed to the government for special intervention grant to mop up excess of this figure.
“So far, we have received the green light from the relevant government agencies to prepare for the mobilisation of all qualified prospective corps members.
“However, the limited cumulative capacity of the orientation camps nationwide necessitates a second stream orientation course for the 2016 Batch ‘B’ which is planned for January 2017,” he added.
Gareth Bale Slys Ronaldo In Latest ‘Best Teammate’ Revelation.
Gareth Bale Slys Ronaldo In Latest ‘Best Teammate’ Revelation.
Real Madrid star Gareth Bale has said Ryan Giggs is the greatest player he has ever player with despite winning several titles with Cristiano Ronaldo.
Bale has been a wonder to watch both for club and country, helping Wales to a memorable semi final record at the Euro 2016 tournament. Having started his rise at Tottenham hotspurs, Bale sealed a world-record move to the Santiago Bernabeu and went on to form a formidable partnership with Cristiano Ronaldo, producing to two Champions league trophies for the Los Blancos.
Gareth Bale Slys Ronaldo In Latest ‘Best Teammate’ Revelation.
Real Madrid star Gareth Bale has said Ryan Giggs is the greatest player he has ever player with despite winning several titles with Cristiano Ronaldo.
Bale has been a wonder to watch both for club and country, helping Wales to a memorable semi final record at the Euro 2016 tournament. Having started his rise at Tottenham hotspurs, Bale sealed a world-record move to the Santiago Bernabeu and went on to form a formidable partnership with Cristiano Ronaldo, producing to two Champions league trophies for the Los Blancos.
However, Bale has revealed that compatriot Ryan Giggs is the best teammate he has had during a Question and Answer session with Foot Locker, he said: “For me the greatest player is Ryan Giggs. He was my hero growing up and is a legend in world football. It also helps he’s a fellow Welshman,”
This revelation might upset Ronaldo who led Portugal to beat Wales 2-0 at the semi-finals of the Euro 2016 in France.
Giggs was an Old Trafford hero spending his entire footballing career with United, becoming the most decorated player in club football history. Ronaldo has quite a number of laurels to his name and has notably won three Ballon d’or till date.
Real Madrid star Gareth Bale has said Ryan Giggs is the greatest player he has ever player with despite winning several titles with Cristiano Ronaldo.
Bale has been a wonder to watch both for club and country, helping Wales to a memorable semi final record at the Euro 2016 tournament. Having started his rise at Tottenham hotspurs, Bale sealed a world-record move to the Santiago Bernabeu and went on to form a formidable partnership with Cristiano Ronaldo, producing to two Champions league trophies for the Los Blancos.
Gareth Bale Slys Ronaldo In Latest ‘Best Teammate’ Revelation.
Real Madrid star Gareth Bale has said Ryan Giggs is the greatest player he has ever player with despite winning several titles with Cristiano Ronaldo.
Bale has been a wonder to watch both for club and country, helping Wales to a memorable semi final record at the Euro 2016 tournament. Having started his rise at Tottenham hotspurs, Bale sealed a world-record move to the Santiago Bernabeu and went on to form a formidable partnership with Cristiano Ronaldo, producing to two Champions league trophies for the Los Blancos.
However, Bale has revealed that compatriot Ryan Giggs is the best teammate he has had during a Question and Answer session with Foot Locker, he said: “For me the greatest player is Ryan Giggs. He was my hero growing up and is a legend in world football. It also helps he’s a fellow Welshman,”
This revelation might upset Ronaldo who led Portugal to beat Wales 2-0 at the semi-finals of the Euro 2016 in France.
Giggs was an Old Trafford hero spending his entire footballing career with United, becoming the most decorated player in club football history. Ronaldo has quite a number of laurels to his name and has notably won three Ballon d’or till date.
Bus driver, conductor abduct eight Ogun school children.
Bus driver, conductor abduct eight Ogun school children.
There was confusion in the Ifo area of Ogun State after a bus driver, Akorede Ogunjobi, and his conductor, Kazeem Adelere, were attacked by an angry mob for allegedly abducting eight pupils of Oyes Faithful College, Ifo.
The suspects would have been lynched, but for the intervention of policemen from the state command who took them into custody.
It was learnt that 10 pupils of the school had on Tuesday joined the commercial bus marked, AKD-948-XJ Lagos, at the Techno bus stop after leaving the school.
It was learnt that two unidentified men sat beside the driver, while the conductor manned the bus entrance.
After two of the pupils alighted at their designated bus stop, the driver was alleged to have refused to stop for other pupils.
When the pupils indicated that they wanted to alight at the bus stop, the driver was alleged to have shunned their calls and continued speeding on the expressway.
The conductor was alleged to have stood at the bus entrance to prevent the pupils from escaping.
Our correspondent was told that one of the pupils in Senior Secondary School 1, Akorede Aliu, 13, jumped off the bus while on motion.
Some minutes later, another male Junior Secondary School 1 pupil, Ajibose Fawasi, 11, was said to have also leaped out of the bus, leaving behind six female pupils.
A motorist was reported to have blocked the commercial vehicle’s path and forced it to a halt.
A lawyer, Isaac Durowoju, told correspondents he called the police to rescue the suspects from the mob, adding that injured pupils had been taken to the hospital.
He said, “After two of the pupils alighted at Iya Abiodun bus stop, other pupils observed that the driver took to the fast lane and started speeding.
“When they told the driver and the conductor where they would alight, the two men laughed at them. While on motion, two boys jumped out at different intervals, but the driver refused to stop. This was what aroused the curiosity of a motorist, who blocked him three bus stops from where he should have stopped.”
It was learnt that the two unidentified passengers, escaped from the scene while the suspects were being mobbed.
Our correspondent gathered that the driver and the conductor denied abducting the pupils at the police station.
A source said when queried on why they refused to pull over after the two pupils jumped out of the vehicle, they reportedly pleaded for mercy.
It was learnt that the state commissioner of police, Ahmed Ilayasu, had ordered that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Eleweran.
A representative of Oyes Faithful College, Mr. Ayodele James, confirmed the incident to our correspondent, adding that the case was with the police.
She said, “The incident happened immediately we closed from the school around 4pm. There was an attempt to abduct some pupils, but a motorist prevented it.”
A parent of one of the affected pupils, Mrs. Olasumbo Olojede, said her daughter, Bisola, told her the driver and conductor wanted to take them to an unknown destination.
The mother added that although Bisola was still in shock, she was doing well.
Korede’s mother, Mrs. Risikat Aliu, said she did not know the extent of his injuries after he jumped out of the vehicle.
“But we give God the glory for the safety of the children,” she added.
The spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said, “The case was reported by the proprietress of the school around 5.30pm on Tuesday. When the students closed from school, 10 of them boarded a commercial bus. Two of them alighted at their designated bus stop.
“But the driver made an attempt to drive the remaining eight pupils to an unknown destination. It was a Good Samaritan who used his vehicle to block the bus when the pupils started shouting. Two of them even jumped out of the vehicle.
“The case has been transferred to the SCIID, Eleweran, on the order of the CP. At the end of investigation, the suspects would be arraigned in court.”
There was confusion in the Ifo area of Ogun State after a bus driver, Akorede Ogunjobi, and his conductor, Kazeem Adelere, were attacked by an angry mob for allegedly abducting eight pupils of Oyes Faithful College, Ifo.
The suspects would have been lynched, but for the intervention of policemen from the state command who took them into custody.
It was learnt that 10 pupils of the school had on Tuesday joined the commercial bus marked, AKD-948-XJ Lagos, at the Techno bus stop after leaving the school.
It was learnt that two unidentified men sat beside the driver, while the conductor manned the bus entrance.
After two of the pupils alighted at their designated bus stop, the driver was alleged to have refused to stop for other pupils.
When the pupils indicated that they wanted to alight at the bus stop, the driver was alleged to have shunned their calls and continued speeding on the expressway.
The conductor was alleged to have stood at the bus entrance to prevent the pupils from escaping.
Our correspondent was told that one of the pupils in Senior Secondary School 1, Akorede Aliu, 13, jumped off the bus while on motion.
Some minutes later, another male Junior Secondary School 1 pupil, Ajibose Fawasi, 11, was said to have also leaped out of the bus, leaving behind six female pupils.
A motorist was reported to have blocked the commercial vehicle’s path and forced it to a halt.
A lawyer, Isaac Durowoju, told correspondents he called the police to rescue the suspects from the mob, adding that injured pupils had been taken to the hospital.
He said, “After two of the pupils alighted at Iya Abiodun bus stop, other pupils observed that the driver took to the fast lane and started speeding.
“When they told the driver and the conductor where they would alight, the two men laughed at them. While on motion, two boys jumped out at different intervals, but the driver refused to stop. This was what aroused the curiosity of a motorist, who blocked him three bus stops from where he should have stopped.”
It was learnt that the two unidentified passengers, escaped from the scene while the suspects were being mobbed.
Our correspondent gathered that the driver and the conductor denied abducting the pupils at the police station.
A source said when queried on why they refused to pull over after the two pupils jumped out of the vehicle, they reportedly pleaded for mercy.
It was learnt that the state commissioner of police, Ahmed Ilayasu, had ordered that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Eleweran.
A representative of Oyes Faithful College, Mr. Ayodele James, confirmed the incident to our correspondent, adding that the case was with the police.
She said, “The incident happened immediately we closed from the school around 4pm. There was an attempt to abduct some pupils, but a motorist prevented it.”
A parent of one of the affected pupils, Mrs. Olasumbo Olojede, said her daughter, Bisola, told her the driver and conductor wanted to take them to an unknown destination.
The mother added that although Bisola was still in shock, she was doing well.
Korede’s mother, Mrs. Risikat Aliu, said she did not know the extent of his injuries after he jumped out of the vehicle.
“But we give God the glory for the safety of the children,” she added.
The spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said, “The case was reported by the proprietress of the school around 5.30pm on Tuesday. When the students closed from school, 10 of them boarded a commercial bus. Two of them alighted at their designated bus stop.
“But the driver made an attempt to drive the remaining eight pupils to an unknown destination. It was a Good Samaritan who used his vehicle to block the bus when the pupils started shouting. Two of them even jumped out of the vehicle.
“The case has been transferred to the SCIID, Eleweran, on the order of the CP. At the end of investigation, the suspects would be arraigned in court.”
Ex-minister, Rasheed Gbadamosi, dies at 72.
Ex-minister, Rasheed Gbadamosi, dies at 72.
A former Minister of National Planning, Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi, is dead.
Gbadamosi, who was a leading industrialist, art collector and writer, died on Wednesday at the age of 72.
Although he was still active on the socio-cultural scene, he was said to have suffered from multiple strokes since last year and had recently gone abroad for medical treatment.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, confirmed the death of the man who was also the co-chairman of the Lagos @50 Planning Committee.
The Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, is the chairman.
Ayorinde said, “The Lagos State Government mourns the passing of a leading industrialist, art patron, former minister and co-chairman of the Lagos@50, Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi.
“Chief Gbadamosi will be remembered for being a true Lagosian, a nationalist and an art aficionado.”
Ayorinde added that his remains would be interred on Thursday (today) afternoon.
Among his other strides in the business world, Gbadamosi was chairman, Ragolis Water Ltd., AIICO Pension Managers and Lucky Fibres Nig. Plc.
He was also a former chairman of Bank of Industry.
On the political front, Gbadamosi was also a former chairman, Petroleum Products Prices Regulatory Agency.
Besides, Gbadamosi was deeply involved in creative development.
As a playwright, he authored Trees Grow in the Desert, which has been widely performed.
He was a founding member of the MUSON Centre, Lagos, while he was one of Nigeria’s biggest art collectors.
Indeed, at a time, he and the founder of the Omooba Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon Foundation, Prince Yemisi Adedoyin; and the late businessman, Mr. Sammy Olagbaju, were described as the three musketeers of visual arts in Nigeria.
Incidentally, Olagbaju also passed on recently.
As a result of Gbadamosi’s involvement in the art and culture, stakeholders have received news of his death with shock.
According to a seasoned artist, Kolade Oshinowo, the development is disturbing.
He told our correspondent on the phone on Wednesday, “I have been on the telephone since about an hour ago. People have been calling me from different parts of the country.
“It is a huge shock to us because it is happening when we have not fully recovered from the demise of Mr. Olagbaju. It is painful that we are losing those who have supported the arts.
“He was involved in performance, music, visual, literary and other aspects of the arts. I don’t think many people will forget his contributions to the industry.”
On his part, Shyllon, who noted that he and Gbadamosi had a long-time relationship as co-art patrons, family friends and business partners, described his passage as very painful.
According to him, Gbadamosi was a selfless man who touched the lives of many people and institutions.
A former Minister of National Planning, Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi, is dead.
Gbadamosi, who was a leading industrialist, art collector and writer, died on Wednesday at the age of 72.
Although he was still active on the socio-cultural scene, he was said to have suffered from multiple strokes since last year and had recently gone abroad for medical treatment.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, confirmed the death of the man who was also the co-chairman of the Lagos @50 Planning Committee.
The Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, is the chairman.
Ayorinde said, “The Lagos State Government mourns the passing of a leading industrialist, art patron, former minister and co-chairman of the Lagos@50, Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi.
“Chief Gbadamosi will be remembered for being a true Lagosian, a nationalist and an art aficionado.”
Ayorinde added that his remains would be interred on Thursday (today) afternoon.
Among his other strides in the business world, Gbadamosi was chairman, Ragolis Water Ltd., AIICO Pension Managers and Lucky Fibres Nig. Plc.
He was also a former chairman of Bank of Industry.
On the political front, Gbadamosi was also a former chairman, Petroleum Products Prices Regulatory Agency.
Besides, Gbadamosi was deeply involved in creative development.
As a playwright, he authored Trees Grow in the Desert, which has been widely performed.
He was a founding member of the MUSON Centre, Lagos, while he was one of Nigeria’s biggest art collectors.
Indeed, at a time, he and the founder of the Omooba Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon Foundation, Prince Yemisi Adedoyin; and the late businessman, Mr. Sammy Olagbaju, were described as the three musketeers of visual arts in Nigeria.
Incidentally, Olagbaju also passed on recently.
As a result of Gbadamosi’s involvement in the art and culture, stakeholders have received news of his death with shock.
According to a seasoned artist, Kolade Oshinowo, the development is disturbing.
He told our correspondent on the phone on Wednesday, “I have been on the telephone since about an hour ago. People have been calling me from different parts of the country.
“It is a huge shock to us because it is happening when we have not fully recovered from the demise of Mr. Olagbaju. It is painful that we are losing those who have supported the arts.
“He was involved in performance, music, visual, literary and other aspects of the arts. I don’t think many people will forget his contributions to the industry.”
On his part, Shyllon, who noted that he and Gbadamosi had a long-time relationship as co-art patrons, family friends and business partners, described his passage as very painful.
According to him, Gbadamosi was a selfless man who touched the lives of many people and institutions.
Trump will confront those with hidden agenda to Islamise Nigeria, Fani- Kayode
Trump will confront those with hidden agenda to Islamise Nigeria, Fani- Kayode
ABUJA- FORMER spokesperson of ex- President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign organisation, Chief Femi Fani- Kayode said yesterday that the President- elect of the United States of America, USA, Donald Trump would confront those in government with hidden agenda to islamise Nigeria and turn Nigeria into a nation of ethnic and religious vassals that must bow before President Muhammadu Buhari and his kinsmen.
In a statement yesterday in Abuja, Fani- Kayode who personally signed the statement congratulating the President- elect, said that his victory was a fulfilment of prophesing, said, “He will also confront their hidden agenda to islamise Nigeria and turn us into a nation of ethnic and religious vassals that must bow before President Muhammadu Buhari and his kinsmen.
“For those that wield political power in Nigeria and for the small cabal of ethnic hegemonists, “born to rule” irredentists and religious bigots that run the affairs of our nation, the writing is on the wall. “Their days are numbered because those that put them in power from America have themselves been shamed and removed from power by the Living God.” The former Minister of Aviation who tagged his statement, ” head bloodied but not bowed and the ascension of President- elect, Donald J. Trump( Part2) read in full, “Though rather belated, I hereby congratulate President-elect Donald Trump on a magnificent victory at the polls in America and I wish him well. “I have been an ardent supporter of a Trump presidency for the last one year and I wrote two essays predicting his victory and stating the reasons why I supported him during the primaries and before the election respectively. “More importantly the election of Trump was a fulfilment of prophecy. His ascension to power was propelled by a force and power that is not of this world and that simply cannot be resisted by any human being or satanic conspiracy. “Simply put the Lord Himself raised and prepared Trump and He will use him to bring glory to His name, to effect His purpose and to establish His counsel and will in the United States of America and indeed the entire free world. “Most importantly I celebrate the fact that with His son and servant Donald J. Trump in the saddle, God Himself will be back in the White House and good old fashioned Christian values will once again be cherished and espoused by the leader of the leader of the free world and the most powerful man on earth. “If I can say that I had at least one beautiful moment in the last three weeks during my illegal incarceration by the EFCC this was it. “As the news filtered into the underground cells that Trump had won I shouted “praise the Lord” at the top of my voice to the utter amazement and chagrin of my cell-mates and the cell-guards. “Finally let it be clearly understood that the implications of a Trump presidency for Nigeria are far-reaching and self-evident. “Those that came to power last year on the the mantle of islamic domination, religious intolerance and racial discrimination and that espoused the most hideous form of ethnic bigotry and religious fanatacism certainly have a lot of soul-searching to do because there friends in the Obama White House are on their way out and their darling Hilary is not coming in to replace him. “I assure you that President Donald Trump, who I have known and studied closely for many years, will literally give them hell. “Not only will he resist their constant and gross violations of human rights and civil liberties but he will.also bring them to justice for their regular use of genocide against religious and ethnic minorities in our country. “He will also confront their hidden agenda to islamise Nigeria and turn us into a nation of ethnic and religious vassals that must bow before President Muhammadu Buhari and his kinsmen. “For those that wield political power in Nigeria and for the small cabal of ethnic hegemonists, “born to rule” irredentists and religious bigots that run the affairs of our nation, the writing is on the wall. “Their days are numbered because those that put them in power from America have themselves been shamed and removed from power by the Living God. “In the next few years many changes will take place in politics throughout the world as the forces of Christendom and right-wing nationalism ride on the crest of a rising tide and a beautiful wave. “Nothing will be able to stop the irresistable and righteous quest for self-determination and the reawakening of ancient cultural identitities all over the world in the next few months which has come as a consequence of the Trump victory. “It started with Brexit in the United Kingdom and the rise of right wing and ultra nationalist political parties like Marie Le Pen’s National Front in France, Italy, Holland and Germany. It has now culminated in a Trump victory in the United States of America. “Throughout the world there is a new, strong and rising tide of resisitance to governmental tyranny, the propagatiion of political correctness, the imposition of foreign and alien values, the establishment of state-sponsored slavery, the promotion of anti-Judeo-Christian philosophies, the enforcement of religious bigotry and servitude, the pampering and accomodation of radical islam and terror and the supression of ethnic and religious minorities. “We in Nigeria will not be left out. The time for our final emancipation and permanent liberation from the representatives of satan on earth, the foces of darkness and our internal colonial masters are at hand. “Freedom beckons and greatness calls all those who dare to believe and who are courageous enough to damn the consequences and take it. If Trump can turn the tide and the tables in America then we, by the grace of God, can also do it here. “As my friend Jackie Macgunn wrote on Facebook, “A Putin/Trump/Netanyahu coalition is the worst nightmare for the world sponsors of terror and marks the end of an era of the Washington apologists for ISIS, AL Qaeda, AL Nusra, the Taliban, AL Shabab, Boko Haram and the Fulani militants and herdsmen”. “This is what they call the “Trump-effect” and those that are not comfortable with it must be prepared to live with it for the next eight years whether they like it or not. “I thank God for President-elect Donald J. Trump and I trust and believe God that his era will.be one of great glory for the United States of America and indeed the civilised world.”
ABUJA- FORMER spokesperson of ex- President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign organisation, Chief Femi Fani- Kayode said yesterday that the President- elect of the United States of America, USA, Donald Trump would confront those in government with hidden agenda to islamise Nigeria and turn Nigeria into a nation of ethnic and religious vassals that must bow before President Muhammadu Buhari and his kinsmen.
In a statement yesterday in Abuja, Fani- Kayode who personally signed the statement congratulating the President- elect, said that his victory was a fulfilment of prophesing, said, “He will also confront their hidden agenda to islamise Nigeria and turn us into a nation of ethnic and religious vassals that must bow before President Muhammadu Buhari and his kinsmen.
“For those that wield political power in Nigeria and for the small cabal of ethnic hegemonists, “born to rule” irredentists and religious bigots that run the affairs of our nation, the writing is on the wall. “Their days are numbered because those that put them in power from America have themselves been shamed and removed from power by the Living God.” The former Minister of Aviation who tagged his statement, ” head bloodied but not bowed and the ascension of President- elect, Donald J. Trump( Part2) read in full, “Though rather belated, I hereby congratulate President-elect Donald Trump on a magnificent victory at the polls in America and I wish him well. “I have been an ardent supporter of a Trump presidency for the last one year and I wrote two essays predicting his victory and stating the reasons why I supported him during the primaries and before the election respectively. “More importantly the election of Trump was a fulfilment of prophecy. His ascension to power was propelled by a force and power that is not of this world and that simply cannot be resisted by any human being or satanic conspiracy. “Simply put the Lord Himself raised and prepared Trump and He will use him to bring glory to His name, to effect His purpose and to establish His counsel and will in the United States of America and indeed the entire free world. “Most importantly I celebrate the fact that with His son and servant Donald J. Trump in the saddle, God Himself will be back in the White House and good old fashioned Christian values will once again be cherished and espoused by the leader of the leader of the free world and the most powerful man on earth. “If I can say that I had at least one beautiful moment in the last three weeks during my illegal incarceration by the EFCC this was it. “As the news filtered into the underground cells that Trump had won I shouted “praise the Lord” at the top of my voice to the utter amazement and chagrin of my cell-mates and the cell-guards. “Finally let it be clearly understood that the implications of a Trump presidency for Nigeria are far-reaching and self-evident. “Those that came to power last year on the the mantle of islamic domination, religious intolerance and racial discrimination and that espoused the most hideous form of ethnic bigotry and religious fanatacism certainly have a lot of soul-searching to do because there friends in the Obama White House are on their way out and their darling Hilary is not coming in to replace him. “I assure you that President Donald Trump, who I have known and studied closely for many years, will literally give them hell. “Not only will he resist their constant and gross violations of human rights and civil liberties but he will.also bring them to justice for their regular use of genocide against religious and ethnic minorities in our country. “He will also confront their hidden agenda to islamise Nigeria and turn us into a nation of ethnic and religious vassals that must bow before President Muhammadu Buhari and his kinsmen. “For those that wield political power in Nigeria and for the small cabal of ethnic hegemonists, “born to rule” irredentists and religious bigots that run the affairs of our nation, the writing is on the wall. “Their days are numbered because those that put them in power from America have themselves been shamed and removed from power by the Living God. “In the next few years many changes will take place in politics throughout the world as the forces of Christendom and right-wing nationalism ride on the crest of a rising tide and a beautiful wave. “Nothing will be able to stop the irresistable and righteous quest for self-determination and the reawakening of ancient cultural identitities all over the world in the next few months which has come as a consequence of the Trump victory. “It started with Brexit in the United Kingdom and the rise of right wing and ultra nationalist political parties like Marie Le Pen’s National Front in France, Italy, Holland and Germany. It has now culminated in a Trump victory in the United States of America. “Throughout the world there is a new, strong and rising tide of resisitance to governmental tyranny, the propagatiion of political correctness, the imposition of foreign and alien values, the establishment of state-sponsored slavery, the promotion of anti-Judeo-Christian philosophies, the enforcement of religious bigotry and servitude, the pampering and accomodation of radical islam and terror and the supression of ethnic and religious minorities. “We in Nigeria will not be left out. The time for our final emancipation and permanent liberation from the representatives of satan on earth, the foces of darkness and our internal colonial masters are at hand. “Freedom beckons and greatness calls all those who dare to believe and who are courageous enough to damn the consequences and take it. If Trump can turn the tide and the tables in America then we, by the grace of God, can also do it here. “As my friend Jackie Macgunn wrote on Facebook, “A Putin/Trump/Netanyahu coalition is the worst nightmare for the world sponsors of terror and marks the end of an era of the Washington apologists for ISIS, AL Qaeda, AL Nusra, the Taliban, AL Shabab, Boko Haram and the Fulani militants and herdsmen”. “This is what they call the “Trump-effect” and those that are not comfortable with it must be prepared to live with it for the next eight years whether they like it or not. “I thank God for President-elect Donald J. Trump and I trust and believe God that his era will.be one of great glory for the United States of America and indeed the civilised world.”
Senate fails to stop ASUU strike, summons Adeosun.
Senate fails to stop ASUU strike, summons Adeosun.
Attempts by the Senate to stop the warning strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, which started on Wednesday (yesterday), has failed.
Senate President Bukola Saraki presided over a three-hour closed-door meeting with the officials of the union.
Saraki did not, however, speak with journalists after the crucial meeting.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFund, Senator Jibrin Barau, who addressed journalists, said the Senate could not stop the warning strike.
He, however, said its intervention would prevent the strike from transforming to an indefinite action.
Barau added that the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, had been asked to attend a meeting of a committee comprising officials of ASUU and the ministries of education and labour on Thursday.
The meeting on Wednesday was also attended by the officials of the Ministry of Education as well as representatives of the Ministry of Labour and Productivity.
The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, who was absent at the meeting, was represented by the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Anthony Anwuka.
Barau said the lawmakers had a “fruitful deliberation” with the striking lecturers, adding that “a way forward has been found” and that “the issues will soon be resolved.”
He admitted that the warning strike would continue while the Senate worked towards preventing the lecturers from embarking on a total strike.
The senator announced that a sub-committee, made up of representatives of all the stakeholders had been set up while the panel would continue with the roundtable discussions on Thursday.
He said what the Senate had done was to create a template for dialogue, describing an end to the crisis as “a work in progress.”
Barau said, “We have had a fruitful deliberation and a way forward has been found by creating a sub-committee of this committee to sit and find out certain things in the Ministry of Finance, which will bring us closer to the resolution of this problem.
“We will start sitting tomorrow (Thursday), including the Minister of Finance (Kemi Adeosun), who has not been able to attend this meeting but we are sure she will be here tomorrow and the Director-General of the Budget Office.
“We have created a template on how to resolve this problem. And you know ASUU is a democratic body, they have to consult. So, it’s ongoing; it’s a work in progress and a very important headway has been created. A good template has been created and we see light at the end of the tunnel.”
The National President of ASUU, Abiodun Ogunyemi, who earlier declined to speak on the outcome of the meeting, later thanked the Senate for its intervention.
He said, “We have discussed and our union will work with him (Saraki). We will do all possible, with the approval of our membership, to get the matter resolved as soon as possible.”
The Senate had, on Tuesday, expressed its resolve to intervene in the face-off between the Federal Government and ASUU.
The lawmakers had specifically asked to intervene in the matter and prevent ASUU from embarking on the one-week warning strike.
The lawmakers, during the plenary on Tuesday, urged the two parties to embrace dialogue.
A document containing the demands of ASUU, which was obtained from one of its executive members after the meeting, indicated that demands bothered on the implementation of the 2009 agreement and the 2013 Memorandum of Understanding between the union and the Federal Government.
Under the ‘Payment of fractions of staff entitlements’, ASUU said, “The 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement Implementation Committee had submitted a report of the outstanding balance of N65, 833, 047,372.24 (2009-2013) plus N62,417‚645‚224.23 (2014-2016), amounting to an unpaid balance of N128‚250‚692‚596.47. This was in line with the Memorandum of Understanding between the Federal Government and ASUU, while resolving the crisis of June-November, 2013.
“ASUU stated that the initial N30bn paid university staff as part of EAA (earned allowance) in 2013 was given to the governing councils, not the union, as presented by the ministry. The union also corrected the impression that the record of the balance of the EAA had not been submitted by the lMC. The minister subsequently directed the Director of Tertiary Institutions to expeditiously address the matter to enable him to follow up on the matter.”
Attempts by the Senate to stop the warning strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, which started on Wednesday (yesterday), has failed.
Senate President Bukola Saraki presided over a three-hour closed-door meeting with the officials of the union.
Saraki did not, however, speak with journalists after the crucial meeting.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFund, Senator Jibrin Barau, who addressed journalists, said the Senate could not stop the warning strike.
He, however, said its intervention would prevent the strike from transforming to an indefinite action.
Barau added that the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, had been asked to attend a meeting of a committee comprising officials of ASUU and the ministries of education and labour on Thursday.
The meeting on Wednesday was also attended by the officials of the Ministry of Education as well as representatives of the Ministry of Labour and Productivity.
The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, who was absent at the meeting, was represented by the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Anthony Anwuka.
Barau said the lawmakers had a “fruitful deliberation” with the striking lecturers, adding that “a way forward has been found” and that “the issues will soon be resolved.”
He admitted that the warning strike would continue while the Senate worked towards preventing the lecturers from embarking on a total strike.
The senator announced that a sub-committee, made up of representatives of all the stakeholders had been set up while the panel would continue with the roundtable discussions on Thursday.
He said what the Senate had done was to create a template for dialogue, describing an end to the crisis as “a work in progress.”
Barau said, “We have had a fruitful deliberation and a way forward has been found by creating a sub-committee of this committee to sit and find out certain things in the Ministry of Finance, which will bring us closer to the resolution of this problem.
“We will start sitting tomorrow (Thursday), including the Minister of Finance (Kemi Adeosun), who has not been able to attend this meeting but we are sure she will be here tomorrow and the Director-General of the Budget Office.
“We have created a template on how to resolve this problem. And you know ASUU is a democratic body, they have to consult. So, it’s ongoing; it’s a work in progress and a very important headway has been created. A good template has been created and we see light at the end of the tunnel.”
The National President of ASUU, Abiodun Ogunyemi, who earlier declined to speak on the outcome of the meeting, later thanked the Senate for its intervention.
He said, “We have discussed and our union will work with him (Saraki). We will do all possible, with the approval of our membership, to get the matter resolved as soon as possible.”
The Senate had, on Tuesday, expressed its resolve to intervene in the face-off between the Federal Government and ASUU.
The lawmakers had specifically asked to intervene in the matter and prevent ASUU from embarking on the one-week warning strike.
The lawmakers, during the plenary on Tuesday, urged the two parties to embrace dialogue.
A document containing the demands of ASUU, which was obtained from one of its executive members after the meeting, indicated that demands bothered on the implementation of the 2009 agreement and the 2013 Memorandum of Understanding between the union and the Federal Government.
Under the ‘Payment of fractions of staff entitlements’, ASUU said, “The 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement Implementation Committee had submitted a report of the outstanding balance of N65, 833, 047,372.24 (2009-2013) plus N62,417‚645‚224.23 (2014-2016), amounting to an unpaid balance of N128‚250‚692‚596.47. This was in line with the Memorandum of Understanding between the Federal Government and ASUU, while resolving the crisis of June-November, 2013.
“ASUU stated that the initial N30bn paid university staff as part of EAA (earned allowance) in 2013 was given to the governing councils, not the union, as presented by the ministry. The union also corrected the impression that the record of the balance of the EAA had not been submitted by the lMC. The minister subsequently directed the Director of Tertiary Institutions to expeditiously address the matter to enable him to follow up on the matter.”
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