DTN-10-11-18

Teleology completes acquisition of 9mobile, takes over g 5

Tension as ‘conmen’ float illegal refinery in A’Ibom https://plus.google.com/+DailytimesNgr/posts

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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2018

VOL. 3

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Mobilse youths with N4,000 each to clear site for project Community elders take case to Dep Gov

Isaac Job, Uyo Tension, fear and anger loom in Inen Ekeffe community in Oruk Anam council area of Akwa Ibom State as strange persons suspected to be fraudsters have invaded their land with survey instruments to measure proposed area of their land for a refinery project.

The Daily Times investigation revealed that the community land located at the shores of Imo river in an Island close to the river estuary known in their local name as ‘obot ufford’ was cleared by some people on the pretext to build a private refinery in the area.

It was further learnt that the strange CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Despite visits to Aso Rock, Okorocha, Amosun’s guber g 3 candidates missing from INEC list

N242bn virement: We acted in alignment with g 5 executive for 2019 polls funding –Senate

Stakeholders laud Pinnacle g 5 Communications contributions to digital broadcast in Nigeria

Auto accidents: FRSC boss orders conduct of eye test for motorists g 5

A good actor should be so convincing g 11 in a role – Paschaline Okoli

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Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, November 10, 2018

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, November 10, 2018

...‘conmen’ float illegal refinery in A’Ibom Continued from page 1

visitors mobilised unemployed youths of the area and paid them wages of N2000 and N4000 daily as they were engaged to clear the land and assisted the team of surveyors for detailed plan preparatory for payment of compensation to the land owners.

Worried by the speed of work at the site, the elders of the community represented by Barrister Okon Akpanbrown and Mr. Anyanime Isaac Umoren, approached the Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Moses Ekpo, to confirm the authenticity of the investors in their community.

Umoren told our correspondent that on

their arrival at the Deputy Governor’s office, the investment profile of the company was reviewed and there was no record of the refinery project.

He said Mr. Ekpo called the state chairman of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Dr. Gabriel Ukpe, to check if there was any foreign firm billed to build refinery in the state but there was none.

But The Daily Times investigations revealed that the company known as Marsh Ken Global Investment Ltd located at 148 Oron, Uyo with their chairman, Obong Edidem Bassey, claimed to be in partnership with European Union on the refinery project.

He told The Daily Times that he had made attempt at Ikot Abasi,

Mkpat Enin axis of Akwa Ibom State for the same project but the youths of the area revolted and chased them away before someone directed them to the present community of their operations.

However, the elders said the inability of the company to provide approval documents from the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and other relevant government agencies heightened their suspicion, thereby casting apprehension in the community.

Meanwhile, the elders said the Deputy Governor, Mr. Moses Ekpo, had warned them not to sign any document that may cede their land to any group of persons until the authenticity of the firm is confirmed.

3 News

PHOTO TIMES

President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki (5th left), Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, former President Olusegun Obasanjo (2nd right), ex-Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (right), Chief Jim Ovia (left), Chief Felix Ohiewere and other guests during the Funeral Service for late Mr. Allison Ayinda at Our Saviour’s Church, TBS, Lagos...on Friday.

Despite visits to Aso Rock, Amosun, Okorocha candidates missing on INEC list

Kashamu’ PDP faction recognised in Ogun

Tunde Opalana, Abuja Despite several visits to President Muhammadu Buhari in Aso Rock to register their displeasure over outcome of Governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun and his Imo State counterpart, Rochas Okorocha finally lost out of contest as names of their preferred governorship candidates were missing from the list released on Friday by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The Commission had on Friday released and published 67 names of cleared candidates for the 2019 gubernatorial elections in 29 states.

In Ogun State, INEC published the name of Dapo Abiodun as the APC candidate and Bode Mustapha as his running mate as against the name of Hon. Adekunle Akinlade backed by Governor Amosun.

Governor Okorocha was also unlucky as the Electoral body did not publish name of APC candidate while name of former deputy speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, was published as PDP candidate.

The failure of INEC to capture the APC on the list was as a result of legal tussle between Uche Nwosu, the son-in-law and anointed

candidate of Governor Okorocha and Senator Hope Uzodinma backed by the national body of the party.

In Cross River State, Niger Delta Minister, Usani Usani lost out to Senator John Enoh, whose name was published as APC candidate.

Meanwhile, Senator Buruji Kashamu faction of the PDP in Ogun State floored the National body of the party as INEC published the name of Lawal Shittu and former Presidential spokesman, Dr Reuben Abati, as governorship and running mate candidates of PDP in Ogun State.

The Daily Times recalls that just last week, the National Working Committee of PDP had accused INEC of complicity in the crisis rocking the state chapter of the party by obtaining lists of candidates from the Kashamu faction instead of the NWC backed Adebayo Dayo faction which nominated Hon. Oladipo Adebutu as governorship candidate.

In Zamfara State, names of the APC candidates were missing in the list displayed at the INEC Secretariat in Gusau.

The political parties whose candidates were on the list were APGA, PDP, NRM, SDP, PRP, GPN and NCP among others.

Speaking to newsmen in Gusau, the National Commissioner in-charge of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara, Hajiya Amina Zakari, who

was in the state for official visit, said the commission had not received a list of APC candidates.

“I think, it has been said several times that the APC didn’t have candidates in the state, so we have not received their candidates.

This issue is in court and if court asks us to go ahead and receive their list, we will certainly receive their names. Therefore, since date for the submission of candidates has been passed, we shouldn’t go on that now; we should concentrate on what will be beneficial to the communities which is voter register, claims, objections and verification,” she said.

Zakari said she was in Zamfara to see how the state INEC office was doing and to observe and monitor the ongoing display of voters’ register, claims and objection.

“The reason for the exercise is for eligible persons to check their names and confirm if they are on the list or if there is any mistake in the names or misspelled. It is important for the politicians to look at the register critically and confirm to have credible list for the election.”

She decried low turnout for collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards at the centres across the three states, urging stakeholders to assist in enlightening the public on the importance of PVC collection.

President Muhammadu Buhari (middle); Chairman Tripartite Committee on the Review of National Minimum Wage, Amal Pepple and others during the presentation of report by the Committee to the President at the State House ...on Tuesday.

President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, signing a condolence register in honour of the late Chief Tony Anenih. With him from right is Senator Clifford Ordia, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Mr. Tony Anenih jr., and Senator Matthew Urhoghide, in Abuja... on Tuesday.

R-L: Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; European Union Ambassador/Head of Delegation in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Ketil Karlsen and the Netherlands’ Ambassador to Nigeria, Robert Petri, when the duo paid a courtesy visit to the governor at the Government House, Enugu...on Tuesday.

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Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, November 10, 2018

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, November 10, 2018

Teleology Holdings completes acquisition of 9mobile, takes over Motolani Oseni, Lagos Following the sales approval of 9mobilethe third largest mobile network operator in Nigeria to Teleology Holdings Limited by both the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) since August this year, the acquisition process has finally completed, investigations by The Daily Times revealed.

An inside source told us that the sale of 9mobile to Teleology was approved at cost not less than $500million.

The development has put to rest, one year of back and forth struggle, process of selecting a preferred bidder amidst a media war that raged between leading bidders.

The CBN and NCC had jointly, in their roles as regulators, opted for an innovative approach to deal with a distressed company - 9mobile operated by

Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services Limited (EMTS) which its predecessor, Mubadala Group, Etisalat International brand pulled out of the country due to heavy debt.

Over 4000 employees were thrown into the labour market and almost disconnected 22 million subscribers.

In an effort to safe job and protect the 22 million subscribers on the network, the CBN and NCC jointly took over the running of the distressed network under a new name -9mobile and invited prospective buyers to bid.

Responding to our text message enquiry about the development, Acting Director, Regulatory & Corporate Affairs, 9mobile, Oluseyi Osunsedo, stated: “We will provide updates in due course.’

But efforts to reachout to NCC for comments proved abortive at press time as there was no response to a text message sent to the Media Management

Unit, Public Affairs of the regulator.

Meanwhile, of the companies that indicated interest, five made it to an advanced stage. One pulled out of the acquisition bid, two were dropped for not including financial offers in their bids leaving Smile Telecoms and Teleology Holdings Limited, which made offers, as the last two standing.

Financial advisor to the transaction, Barclays Africa, after its analysis of the offers named Teleology as the preferred bidder. By default, Smile became the reserve bidder, waiting in the wings to snatch 9Mobile where the preferred bidder is unable to meet up with its obligations for the phased payment.

But Teleology met the first timeline by paying the initial $50million deposit within the stipulated timeframe.

Industry watchers also suggested that Teleology Holdings, with its technical partner, is most qualified to takeover the telecoms firm.

Stakeholders laud Pinnacle Communications’ contributions to digital broadcast in Nigeria

Pinnacle Communications Ltd has given a superlative account of itself as regards transition from analogue to digital broadcasting in Nigeria.

The company, which commenced business in 1998, has consistently installed television and FM radio systems across the country.

Not only that, Pinnacle is reputed for installing quality, classy and durable broadcast equipment.

It is on account of the foregoing that different stakeholders poured encomiums on Pinnacle Communications at the just concluded 12th Afro-Centric Biennial Conference and Exhibition of African Broadcasters organised by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) penultimate Tuesday.

Prominent among those who eulogised the attributes of Pinnacle at the conference which had as its theme, “The Dynamics of Broadcasting in the Digital Era” was the Director General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Yakubu Ibn Mohammed, who did not mince words in showering praises on Pinnacle. While delivering his speech, he said that the NTA was proud to be

associated with the initiatives right from inception till date.

He stressed that they would continue to support the NBC and other stakeholders in this venture because among other things, it reinforces Nigeria’s position as a giant of Africa.

He added that no one gave Pinnacle a chance in the digitalisation process but the firm has proven critics wrong as regards installing sophisticated equipment.

In the same vein, one of the exhibitors, Ralf Schimnel, said as regards digitalisation, Nigeria is on the right part.

“It is a long road, it is not an easy one, it requires a lot of investment to make these changes. I don’t know how long it will take,” he added.

The Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mallam Is’haq Modibbo Kawu, said the quality of the show would be sustained He said, “For this market, we will continue to grow because more and more people are coming into broadcasting. A few weeks ago, the President of Nigeria approved a lot of Radio and television

licences, so all these people will set up radio and television stations and employ new people.”

Some stakeholders who had earlier visited the Pinnacle Broadcast Centre, Mpape, Abuja, also commended the firm for installing modern and world-class broadcast equipment.

In his goodwill message at the conference, the chairman of Pinnacle Communications Ltd, Sir Lucky Omoluwa, said he was encouraged by the drive of NBC to achieve digital broadcasting in Nigeria.

Omoluwa said, “It is very clear that the completion of the transition to the digital is very near. We may wonder what the benefits are but I can assure you all that the social, political and economic arena of Nigeria will never be the same again. Nigeria will experience growth, employment and prosperity.”

He added that the analogue to digital process was in comatose before the emergence of this administration but the present administration has encouraged stakeholders but they need to do more in terms of funding, so that total transition to digital can be completed.

Presidency bemoans attack on TraderMoni empowerment scheme Motolani Oseni, Lagos

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, Mr Laolu Akande, has said that any attack on the TraderMoni scheme is an attack on hardworking petty traders and Nigerians in general.

A group, Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum, recently called for the suspension of the programme, one of the microcredit schemes of President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s Social Investment Programmes (SIPs).

Akande, Osinbajo’s Spokesman, in a statement on Friday in Abuja, described the call as both unbelievable and unfortunate. Akande, who was reacting to a news report credited to the group, noted that such an attack on the SIPs was a direct confrontation with the millions of Nigerians benefitting from all the schemes.

He said it would be deceitful for anyone or group to accuse Osinbajo of advance vote buying through TraderMoni, a micro-credit scheme designed to assist the bottom of the pyramid petty traders nationwide.

He said, “This was the false claim contained in a communiqué jointly signed by the leadership of a group called

Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum recently.

“We do not think the Nigerian people are up for sale, nor can they be bought.

Such suggestions are an insult on our collective identity.

“And calling for the suspension of a scheme that improves the businesses of ordinary, hardworking Nigerians, like petty traders, is not only unfair, but an attack on the common man. “The Social Investment programme of the Buhari administration started in 2016, and the TraderMoni scheme is a part.

“So, it is false to even insinuate that the scheme was meant for advance vote buying when it was conceived two years ago.

“TraderMoni, which is part of the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) under the SIPs, is designed to assist petty traders across the country expand their trade through the provision of collateral and interest-free loans from N10,000. The loans are repayable over a period of six months.”

Akande said that it seemed naysayers could not withstand the fact that the administration was fulfilling its promise.

He asked if they would rather share the funds among themselves instead of

supporting petty traders.

“After all, in some few instances, a combined sum of N100 billion was shared under the former administration.

“If that N100 billion had been given to petty traders as loans, like the Buhari administration is doing now at N10,000, 10 million petty traders nationwide would have been beneficiaries. “We will not choose to engage with the notion that Nigerians and their loyalty are for sale. “This administration has proven over and over again that it is committed to the welfare of everyday Nigerians, the common man.

“That is why we started the largest Social Investment Programme in the history of our country. And we will not relent in staying connected with our people.

“This is a major reason why TraderMoni, which has since been formally launched in 33 states and the FCT, will continue nationwide as we intend to reach two million Nigerians by the end of the year. Over 809,000 Nigerians are currently beneficiaries of the microcredit scheme.’’

Akande noted that it was a season of upcoming elections and desperate politicians resorting to desperate measures.

5 News

N242bn virement: We acted in alignment with executive on funding for 2019 polls – Senate Tunde Opalana, Abuja

In an apparent defence of its action to defy President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to source the N242.4 billion 2019 elections fund from legislators constituency allowances, the Senate has said the decision to fund the polls with N121.2 billion from allocations of 30 MDAs and a balance of N121.2 billion from Service Wide Votes was taken after due consultations with the Executive arm of government.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions, Senator Rafiu Ibrahim, explained that the Senate’s decision to rescind and revise the methods of funding of the supplementary budget of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies for the conduct of the 2019 general elections, was done in good faith, after due consultation with the Executive.

Senator Ibrahim, in a statement made available on Friday, said that on Tuesday, October 16th, the Senate had already passed the N242, 245, 050,100 virement request with the stipulation that it should be funded from the Service Wide Vote, but had to rescind, reconsider and revise its position following pressure on members of the Appropriations Committee by the Executive.

Rafiu, who is also a member of the Senate Appropriation Committee said: “The insinuations being

peddled that the Senate singlehandedly and unilaterally cut the budgets of critical MDAs is false.

Such actions are uncharacteristic of this 8th Senate.

“The facts remain that on Tuesday, October 16th, the Senate approved a Report that stipulated that the supplementary funding for INEC and security agencies to conduct the 2019 election should be sourced from the Service Wide Vote of the Executive through virement. This information is out everywhere.

“However, the Executive came up with a counter-proposal that asked that the election be funded through both the Service Wide Vote and the budgets of 30 MDAs —on a pro rata basis. This is why, the Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Danjuma Goje, had to come up with a Motion to rescind, reconsider and revise the source of funding contained in the original approval granted by the Senate.

“So, if you take a close look at the Senate’s Order paper of Wednesday, November 7, 2018, you will see that N121,122,525,050, which represents half of the entire supplementary budget, was sourced from 30 MDAs chosen by the Executive, while the other N121,122,525,050 was taken from the Service Wide Vote.

“As always, all Senators remain committed to ensuring that Nigeria has free, fair and credible general elections next year, and they will continue to collaborate with the Executive, members of the public and all other stakeholders to ensure that this happens”, Ibrahim stated.

Auto accidents: FRSC boss orders conduct of eye test for motorists Gbenga Sodeinde, Ado Ekiti

In the quests to curtail rampancy of carnage on Nigerian roads by preventing road users from driving with defective eyesight, the Federal Road Safety Corps(FRSC) will soon begin conduct eye test on road users to make the ember months free of accidents.

The Corps said the step became imperative owing to 1,602 deaths recorded on highways from 2,805 accidents between September and December 2017 across the country, describing the scenario as too devastating to be overlooked .

Speaking in Ado Ekiti on Friday during the 2018 ember months campaign tagged: ‘Safe Driving , Saves Lives’, the Corps Marshall, Boboye Oyeyemi, said the FRSC would no longer tolerate unwarranted killings of innocent Nigerians owing to recklessness on the part of some road users.

He said the Corps is going to be strict on its conduct of vision acuity tests to make sure all drivers on roads don’t have defective eyesight , calling on other traffic agencies to collaborate with FRSC to achieve the task.

He said, “The ember months is a period of festivity many people erroneously believe that evil forces on the roads are responsible for road crashes and fatalities.

“Whereas, it is the struggle on the part of most people to travel to meet their loved ones, more trips on the part of commercial drivers to make more money in preparation for the yuletide without adequate rest that are responsible for the road mishap “The Corps is going to be strict on its conduct of vision acuity tests to make sure all drivers on the roads do not have defective eyesight , and responsibility equally falls on the other traffic agencies to collaborative with FRSC to achieve this task.

“In the months September to December in 2017, the total number of crashes recorded were 2,805 , number of deaths were 1,602 , people involved were 20, 196 and vehicles involved were 4, 503.

“The corps has resolved to trend down the figures listed by a huge margin, and this can only be achieved with the cooperation of all road safety stakeholders”, the FRSC boss stated.

Oyeyemi said his men would step up the FRSC’s ‘Operation Cobra’ to stop the menace of light violation, drunk driving , dangerous driving, use of phone while driving and other routine violation common to motorists.

The FRSC boss advised that road users should drive cautiously when the weather condition is not favourable or stop and wait until the situation normalizes .

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, November 10, 2018

Chinese govt, military taskforce spend N6m on IDPs Kingsley Chukwuka, Jos

The Chinese government in collaboration with the Special Task Force code named Operation Safe Haven on Friday gave relief materials worth of N6 million to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), in Plateau State.

The Chinese government represented by the Deputy Ambassador to Nigeria, Lin Jing, said the Chinese government is always willing to share the fruits of development with other countries, adding that the aim of the Chinese government is to boost the economy of developing countries and to ensure that peace and stability is maintained.

The Deputy Ambassador who spoke on Friday in Jos at a brief ceremony during the presentation of items to IDPs, in Geo- Science Anguldi IDP camp in Plateau State, also said the Chinese government is hoping to build a peaceful world where security of

lives and property will be top priority.

He lamented regrettably that Nigeria still face a lot of security challenges with the emergence of farmers headers clash, adding that with the renewed vigour of the Special Task Force Commander, Major General Augustine Agundu, the ugly tale will soon be a thing of the past.

Lin Jing who represented the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Zhou Pingjian, said the alarming number of over 40,000 IDPs in Plateau is devastating.

However, the STF Commander, Major General Augustine Agundu while delivering his remark at the donation ceremony, said the IDPs in Plateau have been traumatized.

He said the aim of his Command is to ensure that the IDPs return to their various homes within the shortest time frame.

“We are going to work hard to ensure that they return home. They are not interest in staying in camp; they want to go back to their various

communities, because they are hard working people and would not want to depend on relief materials.

“We will collaborate with all relevant security agencies to see that the IDPs return home: what is required is to rebuild their villages, and with this, I am sounding a strong warning to those who are cursing trouble in Plateau, by now they should know that the game is over as we are determined more than ever to deal decisively with them”, Agundu said.

On his part, the Chairman Civil Military Relationship in Plateau, Mr. Chuwang Rawnpan said it is instructive to note that the mandate of the Military Task Force goes beyond maintaining peace with the use of force, but also to also demonstrate civil military relationship aimed at winning the hearts and minds of the people.

Our correspondent reports that the STF sends relief materials to three IDP camps in Barkin-Ladi, Gassa and Anguldi communities in Plateau State.

Short News IBEDC loses N2.5bn monthly to vandalism – Official Kehinde Akinpelu, Ilorin The lbadan Electricity Distribution Company (lBEDC) said it lost N2.5 billion monthly to various cases of electrical installations vandalism in various parts of the Country Chief Commercial Officer of lBEDC, Mr Olu ljoshe, made this known on Friday, in llorin during the inauguration of Ilorin Customers Complaints Forum office of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

The Daily Times, reports that the inauguration brought to 27 such NERC offices established in various parts of the country to serve electricity customers better.

Ijoshe regretted that several electrical installations in various parts of the country were being vandalised or stolen by some unidentified persons.

He said the situation, now at alarming rate, was responsible for the loss of about N2.5 billion monthly by the company and epileptic power supply in several parts of the country.

The officer expressed worry that several communities in some states of the Federation are in blackout for years following theft and vandalism of their transformers, cables and other electrical gadgets.

He appealed to electricity customers to always guide electrical installations in their domains jealously, against vandalism and theft.

He warned Nigerians using electricity without payment and those tampering with meters to desist from the act to improve the nation’s economy.

Bello lauds lawmakers’ contribution to Abuja’s development Idu Jude, Abuja Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has commended federal lawmakers for their enormous contributions to the development of the FCT. He said their guidance and support have helped to ensure that the current FCT administration succeeds in the discharge of its mandate.

The FCT Minister who gave the commendation when the Senate Committee on Public Procurement, led by Senator Andrew Uchendu, paid him an oversight visit in his office on Thursday, said his administration holds the lawmakers in very high esteem for the role they play in achieving good governance.

Malam Bello disclosed that the information he received from one of the National Assembly Committees a month after he became Minister has continued to be part of the guiding principles that have helped to ensure that he succeeds as Minister of the FCT. He said the calibre and experience of the people in the National Assembly is unmatched anywhere else in the world.

Cleric urges INEC to conduct extensive sensitisation on PVC collection

L-R: Bishop Capt Mother, Oluyemisi James-Ige; Snr, Supt, Apostle Joseph Adagba, Chairman of Lagos State chapter; Gen. Supt.

Apo. Mother, Oluseye Yomi-Sholoye, Supt. Ap. Niyi Owomoyela, Chairman NEC and Special Apostle Tunde Ogunkunle, Secretary General of Cherubim & Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria during the opening ceremony of the state chapter’s 5h annual general meeting held in Lagos...On Friday.

Campaign promises: Group mocks Atiku Tom Okpe, Abuja A Group, Buhari Media Organization (BMO) has mocked the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) over what it described as “Atiku’s outland campaign promises”.

The group said the claims by the opposition flag bearer in the 2019 general election dismissed claims by the presidential candidate of the PDP of a N33,000 minimum wage for his staff is yet another attempt to hoodwink Nigerians.

In a press statement released by BMO on Friday in Abuja by its chairman, Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary, Cassidy Madueke said that the claim came at a time that some of his former workers went public with revelations of unpaid wages and severance benefits as well as unfair labour practices It also wondered how the number of staff said to be in his employment has increased from 50,000 to 100,000 within a few weeks The statement reads: “We are indeed

amused that Atiku who only recently retrenched some staff of his GOTEL TV in Adamawa state without properly paying them off is dropping hints in the media about a N33, 000 minimum wage for his staff.

“One of his senior managers was even quoted as saying over 100,000 people are currently drawing salaries on a monthly basis from the former Vice President, so we are wondering who between him and the PDP presidential candidate is lying about the actual staff strength of the companies”.

According to BMO, “not even Dangote Group which is the largest conglomerate in West Africa has the number of staff these people claim to be on Atiku’s payroll”.

BMO however noted that this is not the first time the candidate and his people have sought to bamboozle Nigerians.

“Only a few days ago, the PDP presidential candidate promised to reduce fuel price to N90 per litre if voted into power at a time it is common knowledge that the landing cost of a litre of refined petrol is about N158.

“He must have been shocked in Dubai to see how Nigerians instantly rubbished

his poorly thought out ‘campaign promise’.

“While it is not in our place to advice them but we urge the Atiku campaign team and the PDP to make only realistic promises as even in propaganda, you have to be truthful to the people you seek their votes”, the group said.

The group also advised Nigerians to be wary of empty promises by a candidate whose actions are always at variance with his pledges.

“Here is a man who has vowed to get Nigeria working but has spent the last few weeks with his associates boosting the local economy of Dubai under the guise of strategizing for the presidential campaigns.

“We believe that the huge resources they have wasted there would have taken many Nigerians out of poverty.

“On the contrary, President Muhammadu Buhari is not only committed to ensuring a new national minimum wage but is also keen on ensuring that more Nigerians benefit from his social welfare programs across the country”.

An Islamic Cleric, Abdulrahman Idris, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to embark on aggressive sensitisation so that Nigerians would collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

Idris, the Chief Imam of GRA Bauchi Friday Mosque, made the call in a sermon during Jumat service.

“INEC should carry out sensitization to the nooks and crannies of the country on the process of collecting their PVCs. “The commission should collaborate with religious and traditional leaders from the wards, hamlets, towns and cities; this will go a long way in creating more awareness.

“They should engage in media campaigns that will reach all crannies of the country, to enable citizens get proper understanding of the PVC collection.

“INEC should also embark on public enlightenment through radio, television and newspapers until this issue are sufficiently addressed.”

Idris noted that there was growing interest among Nigerians regarding the 2019 elections.

He noted that the right to vote was a civic obligation and fundamental to the entrenchment of democracy in the country.

1 out of 9 men prone to prostate cancer-Expert A medical practitioner, Dr Yunusa Nda, says that one out of every nine men are prone to prostate cancer, therefore, they should always go for early diagnosis and treatment.

Nda, who disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Friday, said receiving cancer diagnosis remained one of the most terrifying experiences someone could have.

According to the medical expert, roughly one in every nine men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime.

“Fortunately, a prostate cancer diagnosis is far from a death sentence.

“Roughly, 96 per cent of men treated for prostate cancer of all stages are alive, 15 years after diagnosis and treatment,” he said.

He said that many prostate cancer cases tended to be slow-growing, meaning that the tumours grew so slowly that they were unlikely to be life-threatening or to impact quality of life.

According to Nda, it may also take up to 30 years for a prostate tumour to grow large enough to cause symptoms.

Nda said that for men diagnosed of prostate cancer, doctors often recommended “watchful waiting or active surveillance.”

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, November 10, 2018

Justice Oputa Foundation tasks govt on rule of law Adebisi Oyindamola, Abuja The Justice Oputa Foundation on Friday stated that public office holders should uphold the sanctity of the rule of law, respect for human rights, and competence in service, if the country was to attain greatness again.

In a bid to celebrate the legacies of the late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, The Foundation announced the commencement of the Justice Oputa Annual Conference (JOAC) targeted at grooming and engaging Nigerian on the necessity of capacity and competence from public office holders.

Declaring these in Abuja, on Friday, The foundation announced the beginning of the Justice Oputa Annual Conference that would revive the consciousness of the electorates on key development issues to

engage seekers of political offices.

The Chief Executive Officer JOF, George Oputa revealed these plans in Abuja while addressing journalists.

He said the annual conference which is scheduled for 4th of December 2018, would serve as a platform to beam searchlight on core values of integrity and competence for those aspiring to highest offices in the country.

Mr Oputa informed that it was only through the advocacy for competency in leadership that Nigeria would be great again.

He expressed dissatisfaction that Nigeria is not among league of countries who are striving for sustainable development.

“Leadership should be defined by character, competence and capacity.

“Good governance is imbedded when the character capacity of competence the elective officers are questionable, and that

is our responsibility.

“At the end of the day, we expect the conference to help a larger Nigerian to have a shared understanding that good governance starts with getting the right people in places of position, and that begins from this election we are approaching.

While expressing optimism that the JOAC would deliver on its objectives, through cross fertilization of experiences from experts of diverse climes and backgrounds, he said “We want to be able to hold our governments accountable.”

“Our partnership with the Nigerian Governors forum will bring practical resources to help policy makers and industries to deliver on promises,” he disclosed.

According to him, about 500 delegates from all walks of life were expected at the upcoming event that would hold in Abuja, next month.

7 News

Short News FRSC prosecutes 36 motorists for 110 traffic offences in Anambra The Anambra Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says it has within the last few days, arraigned and prosecuted no fewer than 41 motorists at the Special Mobile Court for various traffic offences in the state.

The Sector Commander, Mr Sunday Ajayi, made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen on Friday in Awka, the state capital.

Ajayi said that while the offenders committed 110 traffic offences, 36 of the tried offenders were convicted with option of fines.

He added that the court, however, acquitted five of the offenders after they were cautioned and discharged of the alleged charges.

The FRSC boss noted that the prevalent among the offences were violation of Installation of Speed Limiting Device, Number Plate Violation and Light Sign Violation.

“A total of 41 traffic offenders were arrested and prosecuted in a Mobile Court held at RS5.3, Awka on Nov. 8, for committing various traffic Offences.

“The major offences were failure to install speed limiting device, number plate violation, and light sign violation.

“At the end of the mobile court session, 36 offenders were convicted with option of fines, while five were cautioned and discharged.

Anambra PDP stakeholders resolve to work for Atiku-Obi victory

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra has resolved to work for the victory of Alhaji Atiku Abubarka and Chief Peter Obi, the party’s presidential and vice presidential candidates respectively in the 2019 elections.

The party said this in a communiqué read after the stakeholders meeting of the party in Awka on Friday.

In attendance at the meeting were: former governor, Obi, Amb. Oseloka Obaze, former gubernatorial candidate, members of the party in the National and state Assemblies from the state.

Others were members, State Executive Committee (SEC) of the party in Anambra, led by Chief Ndubuisi Nwobu, and other high-powered stakeholders of PDP in Anambra.

A member of the communiqué drafting committee, Chief Okey Muo-Aroh, read the communiqué on behalf of the party.

The PDP congratulated Obi for his nomination and thanked Abubarka for finding one of their own worthy to be his running mate.

They restated their full loyalty and commitment to the Atiku-Obi ticket and resolved to mobilise and work assiduously for their victory and that of the party’s candidates in all contested positions.

It announced the constitution of contact and mobilisation committee to help actualise victory of the party in the state.

Senate committee lauds National Boundary Commission

R-L: Wife of Edo State Governor, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; his Deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu; his wife, Mrs. Maryann Shaibu; Secretary to State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq. at the Edo Women’s Summit, in Benin City... on Friday.

Emir of Kano, Sanusi invests $1bn in Isaac Job, Uyo The former Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Emir of Kano, His Royal Majesty Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has indicated interest to invest one billion dollars in Qua Iboe Power Project (QIPP) in Akwa Ibom state.

Emir Sanusi disclosed this in Uyo yesterday during his visit to Governor Udom Emmanuel in Government House.

Reacting to such huge investment, the Special Assistant to Governor Emmanuel on Marketing and Brand Management, Mr Sam Edoho said the investment was as a result of Governor Emmanuel’s peaceful disposition and urgent industrialisation drive.

Edoho, who is a brand expert and former Director with GLOBACOM said it is only a governor like Udom Emmanuel who has “a peaceful disposition and understands the nature of international business and commerce” that can attract an investor of the Emir’s calibre to invest their money in the local economy.

In his words, “the visit of Emir Sanusi to Akwa Ibom state can be said to be a

continuous harvest of gains by Akwa Ibom people for the right decision we made in 2015 to elect a practical economist, an intellectual and a governor whose career profile is above the bar as far as banking, international business and commerce is concerned.”

He explained that the Emir’s company is investing in Qua Iboe Power Project, QIPP, to the tune of 1billion US dollar.

“This is mega investment anywhere in the world and it is happening in Akwa Ibom state under the leadership of Governor Udom Emmanuel. This project is real. I have attended some technical sessions of the QIPP and this is a plus to our state” he said “So the Emir came to Akwa Ibom state for serious business not to play politics. It is because this is serious business that is why Emir Sanusi left his palace in Kano and came to Uyo” Edoho who also coordinates the Dakkada philosophy of the state government went further to urge Akwa Ibom people to re-elect Governor Udom Emmanuel for another four years to attract prosperity for the people and completely change the status of the state from a civil service and politics driven economy to a mega industrialized and private sector driven economy.

“Many states in this country are envious of the quality of Governor that Akwa Ibom has. Do you think that many Governors would not like to create investment opportunities in their state?

“Their spirit is willing but the flesh is weak, that is to say the technical know-how is not sufficient. We must ensure that the peace we currently enjoy continue. We must not miss this unique opportunity of having a governor whose personal profile and integrity is attracting investors to our state and making Akwa Ibom the cynosure of all eyes he cautioned.

He advised Akwa Ibom people not to make the mistake of electing people that will take them back to the days of insecurity, mismanaging of our common patrimony via sharing of money and mortgaging the future of our unborn children through unnecessary loans taken to finance imaginary projects.

The former Central Bank Governor and Emir of Kano had applauded Governor Udom Emmanuel for making Akwa Ibom conducive for investors by maintaining peace and promised to expand his company’s investments in the gas sector in the state to the tune of a billion dollars.

The Senate Committee on States and Local Government Administration has commended the National Boundary Commission for its good performance in the implementation of its 2018 budget.

Resident Information Officer, National Boundary Commission, Mr Kabir Isa, disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

Isa said that the commendation was made by members of the committee during their oversight visit to the commission.

He said that the Chairman of the committee, Sen. Abdullahi Gumel, while leading other senators during the oversight function, expressed satisfaction with the implementation of both recurrent and capital budgets of the commission.

“I am happy with what I saw and this would encourage us to make sure that more funds are approved for you and looking at what is on ground, I mean your offices are now looking more cooperate than ever.

“I am optimistic that the commission deserves more funds. Accordingly, we will reflect such in our report to the senate,” he said.

Gumel enjoined staff of the commission to persevere in the discharge of their duties, noting that one important function of the commission was settling conflicts arising from boundary disputes.

Synergos Nigeria sets up pilot knowledge farm in Kuje, FCT

Senior Technical Adviser to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Nuraini Funsho, says Synergos Nigeria has sponsored the establishment of a pilot knowledge farm in Kuje.

He said this on Friday in Abuja, while addressing farmers and farmer groups at the ongoing Annual Smallholder Farmers Produce Forum organised by Synergos Nigeria.

Funsho said that Synergos had established the farm through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for farmers so as to enable them to acquire modern farming skills.

He said that in the pilot knowledge farm, every aspect of farming activity was undertaken to enable farmers to visit the place to acquire knowledge which could benefit them and the entire society.

He said that plans were underway to replicate the farm in the states for the benefit of other farmers across the country.

Besides, Funsho advised farmers to encourage landowners to rent out their lands, stressing that such arrangements would encourage the youth to engage in commercial agriculture.

The senior technical adviser, however, cautioned farmers against erecting permanent structures on leased or rented lands.

He said that this would enable the farmers, in the event of any disagreement with the landowners, to dismantle their make-shift structures before returning the lands to their owners.

News 8

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, November 10, 2018

2019: PDP alerts on FG’s plan to foist security siege on Bayelsa *Says deployment of 8 Police Commissioners within 3 months is plot to destabilise state Tunde Opalana, Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alerted the national of an alleged plot by President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to foist security siege on Bayelsa and other littoral states ahead of 2019 general elections.

The PDP warned Buhari-led federal government and the APC to backtrack on security infringement and immediately steer clear of Bayelsa state as planned continued onslaught and siege on the state would spell doom on the nation.

The National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan while addressing a world press conference in his office on Friday explained that it is no longer news that the APC, for obvious reasons, has been bent on forcefully taking over the control of oil rich Bayelsa and other littoral states.

The party alleged that the Federal Government seeks to turn the Niger Delta states into theatres of war, with the support of certain individuals in control of federal apparatus of power.

He said “today, the PDP and the people of Bayelsa state are being pushed to the wall as with the on-going plot by the APC and the Buhari Presidency to bully the people of Bayelsa and politically annex the state, by the use of crude force.”

The party alerted Nigerians of “the current design to use security agencies, particularly the police to browbeat the people, foist a siege mentality on the state, trigger confusion and violence; then create an impression of security emergency with a view to use such as justification for a coordinated invasion, attack

and annexing of political structures of the state for President Buhari and the APC ahead of the 2019 general elections.

“In the bid to forcefully seize control of Bayelsa state, the APC is attempting to convert the Police into its violent militant wing, leading to the violations of rules of engagement and putting security agencies on collision course with the people despite potential bloody consequences.

“It may interest Nigerians to know that, in its desperation, the APC has directly influenced the Inspector General of Police into posting eight different Commissioners of Police to Bayelsa State within the space of the last three months just to destabilize the state.

“Some of the Police Commissioners spent less than a week before being pulled out of the state by the police authorities that have unfortunately acceded to the demands of the APC on the deployment of police chiefs to Bayelsa State.”

PDP spokesman pointed out that the change of guard is part of the plan to compromise security architecture of the state and by extension rig the election for President Buhari in 2019.

“This alarming change of guard of Police hierarchy in Bayelsa state is part of the devious plot to compromise the security architecture of the state, orchestrate security uncertainty, instil fear and siege mentality on residents and then seize the political structure in the state so as to pave way for massive rigging for President Buhari and the APC in the 2019 general elections.

“We are privy to the fact that some of the Police Commissioners were changed due to their failures to infiltrate the firm resolve of the people to remain peaceful and determinedly supportive of the development-oriented PDP

administration in the state, under Governor Seriake Dickson.”

Ologbondiyan also revealed that the party is aware of series of meetings in Abuja involving certain cabinet ministers, two particular Presidency aides, some APC leaders, some top security officers and certain compromised officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), including a close relation of President Buhari, where plots to destabilize Bayelsa state were hatched and orders handed to the police.

“We have documentary evidence of these meetings and will not hesitate to make them public if the APC fails to steer clear of Bayelsa state,” he said.

“The fact remains that the APC knows that it cannot win any election in Bayelsa state as well as other littoral states or any PDP state for that matter. As such, it believes that the only way for them is to use security agencies to frighten Nigerians and break their resolve of ahead of the 2019 polls”.

Warning that their assault on Bayelsa will definitely attract very terrible consequences, as it will be firmly resisted by the people, head to head, with every means available, accessible and implementable in the defence of democracy, Ologbondiyan called on Nigerians to counsel the IGP, Ibrahim Idris to tread cautiously and protect his office from politicization.

“Bayelsa remains a stronghold of the PDP and this fact is known to all. The Buhari Presidency and the APC should recall that they tried to forcefully take over the state in 2016 with their ‘penetration plan’ but failed woefully. Bayelsa has not altered its status as a stronghold of the PDP and any attempt to disrupt this order has the capacity to trigger a crisis that is capable of sinking our nation’s economic mainstay.

Short News Insurgency: Nigerians call for peace, unity to rebuild North-East Some of the Nigerian Delegation to Rwanda on post-conflict learning visit on Friday stressed the need to restore peace and unity in the North-East for meaningful reconstruction and development.

They made the call while listing some of the lessons learnt during the tour in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kigali.

They expressed worry over the activities of insurgency in the North-East and called for immediate halt and reconciliation mechanisms.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Borno, Hajiya Mairo Lawan, said that reconciliation and forgiveness was a significant tool she learnt that would propel peace and unity in the North-East region.

Lawan pointed out that without peace and unity national development could not be achieved.

According to her, it is the determination of the Rwandans to live in peace that had enabled them to excel after their crisis as a country.

“The people of Rwanda are driven by good leadership quality and the ability to utilise their own home grown solutions in reconciliation and development processes.

“I hope and pray that the good people of Borno will be willing to emulate such spirit and reconcile with Boko Haram, so that we can catch up with development,” she said.

Gov Fayemi’s aide urges Fayose to apologise for debasing Ekiti values Gbenga Sodeinde, Ado Ekiti Governor Kayode Fayemi’s aide, Segun Dipe has called on immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Peter Ayodele Fayose to apologise to the people of the state, “for despoiling their values and giving them poor image in the eyes of the world”.

The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Fayemi on Public Communications, Segun Dipe, who made the assertion, in a statement on Friday described Fayose’s four-year reign between October 2014 and October 2018 as the worst that ever happened in Ekiti, which every discerning son and daughter must never wish for again.

Dipe described Fayose as an enemy of the people, “who came to Ekiti to loot, to kill and to destroy. He added that Fayose’s indecency so rubbed off on the image of the state that people started regarding everyone from Ekiti negatively.

“Fayose was a disaster that happened to Ekiti. He ruled as if his reign had no expiry date. He had no respect for the rule of law, he was the executive, the legislative and the judiciary rolled into one, preparing the state budget, presenting it to himself and approving it by himself.”

Obaseki launches Edo jobs internship, apprenticeship skills scheme Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo on Friday launched the Edo Jobs Internship and Apprenticeship Skills Scheme to give youths more opportunities for work and job experience.

Obaseki launched the scheme during the 2018 Youth Summit in Benin, as part of activities to celebrate his administration’s two years in office.

He said that, with the support of the Federal Government, the scheme had identified projects in different areas such as construction, technology and agriculture which would be of immense benefits to Edo youths.

“Where we send you for training as you get trained, you will earn a stipend, and at the end of the training, we will place you on a specifically identified jobs.

“Edo youths are inspirational because of their dreams to dominate their environment.

“Our role as a government is to help you achieve these dreams,” he said.

The governor also provided N100 million grants for innovative youths under the Edo Start-up Fund Initiative to fund their businesses in 2019.

Obaseki pledged to support innovative youths who distinguished themselves through Edo Start-up Fund Initiative.

Residents of Benin City at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office during the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, along Asoro Slope, Ekehuan Road, in Oredo Local Government Area, Edo State.

Imo 2019: APC guber candidates missing in INEC list Val Okara, Owerri The ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC) Imo State may end up in filling no governorship candidate in the 2019 general election as the party’s flag bearer was yesterday conspicuously missing in the 67 gubernatorial candidates published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The National Working Committee (NWC) of APC had earlier submitted the name of Senator Hope Uzodinma as its

governorship candidate for Imo State but no reason was given by the Electoral body for not including the name submitted by APC NWC. Daily Times reports that Chief Uche Nwosu, the son in-law to the state governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha had engaged in a running battle for a period of time with Senator Hope Uzodinma. It was gathered that non inclusion of APC governorship candidate in INEC list was not unconnected with several litigations in different courts.

Chief Emeka Ihedioha of the PDP governorship candidate and Senator Ifeanyi Araraume of APGA made the list. The

former governor of the state, Chief Ikedi Ohakim could not make the list as his name was nowhere to be found.

Among the gubernatorial candidates that scaled INEC hurdle include five females, Mrs. Joy Emeziem of GPD, Ijeoma Onwubuari (NDLP), Mrs. Joy Udodiri Iheanacho (MMN), Mrs. Ibe Mercy (DP) and Mrs. Ihemedu Nkemjika (NCP) other governorship candidates were Chief Ibe Kenechukwu, (Accord Party), Chief Okechukwu Eze (SPD), Mr. Alusous Osuji (MAJA) Mr. Linus Okorie (YPP), Mr. Akagburuonye Success (ADP) and Anthony Nwulu (UPP).

Poor turnout mars collection of PVCs in some Adamawa areas – INEC The National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in charge of Adamawa, Taraba and Borno, retired AVM Tijjani Mu’azu, has decried the poor turnout of eligible voters to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in parts of Adamawa.

The commission had displayed names of registered voters for claims and objections and the exercise commenced on Nov. 6 and will end on Nov. 12.

Tijjani made the observation during a supervision visit to some polling units in Yola North and Yola South local government areas on Friday.

He described the situation as “an issue of concern”.

“As far as INEC is concerned the turnout of voters for collection of their Permanent Voter Cards in some areas visited especially in Yola North is not encouraging,” he said.

The commissioner appealed to the registrants to come forward and collect their cards.

However, in Girei Local Government Area of the state, the commissioner expressed satisfaction over the appreciable turnout of voters for the exercise.

He said over 1000 voters had so far collected their voter cards in Girei since the commencement of the exercise two days ago.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr Kasim Gaidam in Adamawa said a total of 288,043 Permanent Voter Cards remained uncollected in the commission.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, November 10, 2018

9 News

Court orders arrest of whistle-blower

Short News

Wuse District Magistrate Court in Abuja has ordered the arrest of an Abuja based whistleblower, Jeff Ove for his failure to appear in court for trial for allegedly giving false information to the Special Presidential Investigation Panel on Recovery of Public Properties.

Chief Magistrate Ahmed Ndajiwo, yesterday issued bench warrant against the Bayelsa State born whistleblower for his refusal to appear in court for trial in the four count criminal charge brought against him by an presidential panel.

Ove was alleged to have given false information against a businessman, Engineer Emmanuel Mbaka to the effect that the businessman starched huge amount of money in foreign and local currencies in his house at Gwarinpa Estate in Abuja.

At the resumed trial yesterday, Ove,

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Area 11 Command in Onne Port in Rivers State, South-South Nigeria has raked in over N26 billion as revenue in less than three months from August 16 till date.

The Command also seized various contraband goods and prohibited items worth over N543 million within the same period.

Customs Area Controller of the Command, Mr Aliyu Galadima Saidu made the disclosures on Thursday in his maiden media briefing held in his office at the Onne Port Complex.

He said, “the Command generated total revenue of twenty six billion, three hundred and eighty-eight million, seven hundred and fifty four thousand, two hundred and forty four Naira and thirty seven Kobo (N26,388,754,244:37) from duty paid on imported goods and recorded ten seizures of prohibited items with duty paid value of five hundred and forty three million, nine hundred and fifty eight thousand, seven hundred and forty Naira (N543,958,740:00) from August 16, when I took over this year to date.

Andrew Orolua, Abuja

who is the first defendant in the criminal charge was conspicuously absent in court without cogent reason.

His counsel, Abubakar Suleiman in the bid to pacify Magistrate Ndajiwo informed the court that his client was involved in an accident and could not make his way to Abuja.

The counsel further told the court that the surety to the first defendant was away to Port Harcourt on official assignment and pleaded with the magistrate to pardon the absence of his client.

However, counsel to the presidential committee, Dr Celsius Ukpong opposed the excuse adduced for the absence of the whistleblower in court for trial as demanded by law.

Ukpong argued that the defendant inflicted malady on himself by not coming to court in spite of the gravity of the charge against him.

He therefore applied to the court to revoke the bail granted the accused person by the court to enable him stay in Abuja to face his trial as required by law.

Ukpong also urged the court to order the surety to the first defendant to appear in court to show cause why he should not forfeit the bail bond he entered.

In his ruling, Ndajiwo agreed with the prosecution that there was nothing to show that the 1st defendant was involved in an accident or has taken I’ll as claimed by his counsel.

The Magistrate therefore issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the defendant and that he should be produced in court on November 30 for trial.

The court also ordered his surety to appear in court on the adjourned date to show cause why he should not forfeit the bail bond he entered for the defendant.

Ove and one Mohammed Sanusi were said to have on September 27, gave false information to the presidential Committee that they are victim, of who is said to be Chairman of Trademore Investment, stockpiled arms and also starched huge amount of public funds in his Abuja residence, they claims that were found by the panel to be untrue.

Customs rakes in N26bn, seizes contraband goods worth N543m

Governorship candidate urges electorate to shun sentiments The Adamawa governorship candidate of the All Blending Party (ABP), Mr Daniel Shaga, has urged the electorate to shun sentiments and emotions while electing their representatives during the 2019 elections.

Shaga made the call while addressing newsmen on Friday in Yola.

He said voting under the influence of sentiments and emotions would deprive the electorate of the quality representation they were yearning for.

“Good governance is only achievable through the wise choices that you make as electorate in a participatory democracy.

“I am therefore appealing to you to keep sentiments and emotions aside, and to make the right choice on Election Day so that you may be guaranteed of a better tomorrow,” he said.

Shaga, who had defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the ABP, said he left the PDP because of alleged imposition of candidates.

He said it was high time the electorate taught the major political parties a lesson by voting for smaller parties that ensured internal democracy in picking their candidates.

He also said the major political parties had failed, giving the electorate the reason to stop placing priority on party and go for credibility and integrity of candidates presented by political parties during elections.

“Party is just a platform; it is the quality of candidate and his commitment to selfless service that matters,” the governorship candidate said.

Human trafficking: NAPTIP to use entertainment to raise awareness

L-R: Publicity Secretary, Lagos Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Taofik Gani; governorship aspirant, Adedeji Doherty; Chairman Adegbola Dominic and elected PDP governorship candidate, Jimi Agbaje, shortly after his declaration as the winner of the governorship primary, in Lagos..

Investments in sports have restored our legacy - Gov Ugwuanyi Moses Oyediran, Enugu Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has stated that the deliberate policies introduced by his administration have restored the legacy of the state as a breeding ground for sporting talents in Nigeria.

Gov. Ugwuanyi added that the policies have also ensured that the state reaped the full benefits of sports and sports tourism to the socio-economic development of the state.

Speaking while receiving the National Sports Festival Torch, popularly known as Torch of Unity, from representatives of the Federal Ministry of Sports, Abuja, when it arrived Enugu State, Gov. Ugwuanyi noted with gladness that “the results from our investments in this regard have been most rewarding and encouraging”.

The governor disclosed that the investments were responsible for the remarkable feats recorded under his

administration by the Rangers International Football Club of Enugu, which lifted the 2015/2016 Nigeria Professional Football League trophy and the recent 2018 NFF/ AITEO cup after a dramatic comeback.

His words: “Just a couple of weeks ago, our darling Rangers International Football Club of Enugu won the Challenge Cup now known as the AITEO Cup after 35 years of its last triumph in the competition. The club had broken another jinx two years earlier when it lifted the 2015/2016 Nigeria Professional Football League trophy for the first time in 32 years. Also in the same year, an athlete from Enugu State, Mrs. Lucy Ejike, won the gold medal at the Paralympics held in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil”.

Speaking further, Gov. Ugwuanyi maintained that “Enugu State is reputed to be one of the centres of sports excellence in Nigeria having produced many famous sports men and women”, stressing that the state has participated in all editions of the National Sports Festival since its creation in 1991.

The governor, who reiterated his administration’s conviction that sports harbours tremendous opportunities for economic growth, empowerment, employment generation, poverty alleviation as well as progressive youth and social development, also pointed out that “our schools have been providing the basic platform and environment for the discovery and nurturing of young talents” through the inculcation of sports awareness among school children while strengthening the state’s annual school sports festival.

“I want to assure you that we are leaving no stone unturned to ensure a laudable performance of the state at the 19thNational Sports Festival scheduled to hold next month in Abuja”, Gov. Ugwuanyi said, while appealing to the private sector and other stakeholders in the country to complement the efforts of government by investing more robustly in the state’s sports sector “so that we can collectively, harvest its vastly untapped treasures for the benefit of our people more especially, the youth”.

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) says it will explore the entertainment industry to create awareness on combating human trafficking in the country.

Director-General of NAPTIP, Ms Julie Okah-Donli, stated this while signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Heatfactory ICI Production and Otabor TV in Abuja on Friday.

Okah-Donli explained that in the past, the agency explored industry sector by partnering Wale Adenuga Productions to produce one of the popular super stories, Itohan, to raise awareness on dangers of human trafficking.

She said that the impact such production had on awareness creation was huge and prominent.

According to her, the agency is seeking for ways to replicate the same in Nollywood.

“It is a thing of joy to engage with Heatfactory ICI Productions and Otabor TV to bring such emotional and captivating stories to the screens.

“We are willing and poised to extend a hand of partnership to any organisation ready to assist us spread the anti-human trafficking message to the world.

UN plans to double Yemen food aid to prevent mass starvation

The UN is trying to prevent mass starvation in war-ravaged Yemen by increasing its food distribution from eight million to 14 million people, the World Food Programme (WFP) said on Friday.

“Those plans to increase to up to 14 million people are a massive logistical and human undertaking,” WFP spokesman, Herve Verhoosel, acknowledged at a Geneva news conference.

“We will need the support of everybody. Inside and outside Yemen,” he said, calling for international donations.

The UN considers Yemen the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

In March 2017, humanitarian experts assessed that 6.8 million Yemenis face a food emergency with acute malnutrition and a rising death rate – only one step away from outright famine.

A new assessment that is scheduled for mid-November is expected to raise the number to 12 million or 14 million people – nearly half of Yemen’s population, according to the WFP. Boosting food aid not only depends on funding, but also on the fighting, Verhoosel stressed.

The WFP is unable to reach a major mill on the Red Sea that could provide flour to 3.7 million people for one month.

The UN agency also urged the warring parties to allow shipments into the embattled port of Hodeida, which handles most of Yemen’s imports.

News 10

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, November 10, 2018

Ondo Assembly Speaker, Deputy impeached Short News over alleged gross misconduct Adamawa nursing college introduces Adewale Momoh, Akure Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Bamidele Oleyelogun has been impeached.

The Speaker was also impeached alongside his deputy, Rt. Hon. Iroju Ogundeji.

Meanwhile, Hon. Olamide George from Akure North constituency has been sworn in as the new Speaker of the House after the impeachment of the former principal officers was endorsed by 18 members of the house.

Hon. Abimbola Fajolu, Ile-Oluji/ Oke-Igbo constituency was also sworn in as the new Deputy Speaker.

Confirming the impeachment of the House leadership, spokesperson of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Fatai Olotu representing Akoko North-East state constituency disclosed that the impeachment of the speaker, Rt. Hon. Bamidele Oleyelogun and his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Iroju Ogundeji was due to alleged incompetence and financial misappropriation.

Olotu maintained that within the spate of six months the former leadership exhausted N1.5 billion budgetary allocation of the House meant to last one year.

He stated that the impeachment is in accordance with the law as 18 out of 26 members of the House supported their removal, which he said formed two-third majority needed and was also witnessed by the Clerk of the House, Mr. Bode Adeyelu.

He said “In accordance with the rule guiding the house and by the power conferred on members of the house, the house as at today has successfully impeached the former speaker and deputy speaker.

“Immediately after their removal, Rt. Hon. Olamide George from Akure North state constituency was elected as speaker and was duly sworn in by the clerk of the house. Rt. Hon. Abimbola Fajolu representing Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo was also sworn in.

“For the avoidance of doubt, 18 members moved for their removal, that’s to say that’s two-third of the members of the house, so we’ve fulfilled that requirement.

“There are many reasons for their removal, but I want you to know that changing leadership is an inherent right of the members of the house, but this former speaker of the house has shown great incompetence. They have run the House aground financially.

“Just for an instance as at June this year, the Speaker and the deputy speaker have exhausted all budgetary allocation for the house with the knowledge of the member which is to the tune of N1.5 billion.

“It’s when we stumbled on this, a budget that is supposed to run for a year they exhausted it within six months, which was already exhausted as at June this year. They never followed due process. If you have to run the finances of the house we have cash allocation committee which is their duty. It’s the parliament that must approve such monies not the sole responsibility of the speaker.

Also, Rt. Hon. Fatai Olotu who was once a former deputy speaker of the house has admonished the Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu not to interfere with the development.

“The speaker and the deputy are grossly incompetent in running the affairs of the house and they are in the habit of blackmailing members, because they know that their time is over.

“We have even informed the executive that we don’t want them again. But they have been telling the executive that once they are removed, the governor would be removed.

“I’ve been in the House for some time, there’s no nexus between removing the leadership of House and that of the Governor because the Governor has not committed any impeachable offence. To the best of our knowledge, the Governor has not done anything wrong.

“You were elected by members, if the they say they no longer want you, then you comply.

“We have never seen that kind of leadership that have run the house in the manner that does not have regards for the house.

“They are lots of other things we would address the press in due course. But the house has carried out its constitutional role. We don’t have any problem with the Governor; we don’t have any problem with the executive. The executive should stay out of this.

The last time we impeached the deputy speaker, the pressure was on us. The pressure was just too much we have to reverse it. The reversal was unconstitutional, it was illegal, he stated.

Meanwhile, the impeached speaker, Rt. Hon. Bamidele has insisted that he remains the speaker.

community midwifery course Tom Garba, Yola

The Adamawa state college of Nursing and Midwifery has introduced community midwifery as a new course of study in the college, on announcing the sales of its 2018/2019 entry forms.

The Provost of the college, Alhaji Abubakar Salihu said the achievements is a collaborative effort of the institution and the state’s primary Health care to enhance good health services to the people of the State.

Salihu also opined that the course is good as it’s aimed at reducing child mortality rate by wiping away an unprofessional traditional birth attendance in rural communities.

“The course will replace traditional birth attendance, enhance good delivery and reduce child mortality rate as a result of poor child bearing in the state.” He Said According to him the requirement entry of the course is lesser, demanding four credits in sciences including biology and the entry requirements of basic midwifery are five credits in sciences including English and Maths.

Abubakar praised the Senator Muhammadu Umaru Jibrilla Bindo’s administration for given a huge priority to Health sector which it has earlier been declared into a State of emergency.

FCTA to release tricycles, Okada riders’ certification Idu Jude, Abuja In an effort to control the uncivilised operations of the commercial tricycle and bicycle operators within the city centre, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) administration is working to introduce Riders’ Certification, allocate areas to operators as well as assign routes for the group.

Speaking during the meeting of FCT officials with the leadership of the National Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association (NACTOMORAS) for FCT and 19 Northern States, FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, also assured members that he is willing to direct for the release of all impounded tricycles (aka Keke Napep) as long as the operators were ready to partner with the administration for orderly conduct.

Bello added that tricycle and motorcycle owners association represents a very important economic bloc in Nigeria today that provides needed services for the people.

He noted that a substantial population of this country rely on motorized tricycles for mobility and for the movement of goods and services.

The Minister however regretted that Keke and Okada operators who are increasingly flooding the city for security and comfort, have failed to abide by the agreements reached between the riders association and the relevant secretariats of the FCT Administration.

NGO decries prevalence of Typhoid, Malaria in IDPs camp

A cross-section of Ondo State indigenes studying at the University of Jos (UNIJOS), Plateau State who were evacuated by the state government from the tertiary institutions.

ASUU strike: AAU, UNIBEN lecturers join action, cripples academic activities Titus Akhigbe, Benin-City The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ambrose Alli University and the University of Benin (UNIBEN) chapters yesterday unanimously resolved to fully comply with the resolution of the NEC of ASUU to resume a total, comprehensive and indefinite strike nationwide.

ASUU Chairman, University of Benin Chapter, Prof Julius Iyasele who confirmed the action to newsmen said that government’s insensitivity to the plight of Nigerians and public tertiary institutions in

the country prompted the strike.

Chairman AAU, Ekpoma, Dr. Monday Igbafen disclosed that academic activities have been paralysed in AAU Ekpoma following the withdrawal of Academic staff from attending lectures.

In a statement issued by the Zonal coordinator ASUU, Benin Zone, Prof. Fred Esumeh said branches in the zone that embarked on the strike include, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Ondo State University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa and the University of Benin, Benin City.

“Our union calls on well meaning Nigerians to prevail on government to save

public universities and ensure the future of our children”.

Igbafen accused government of deliberate systematic destruction of Education sector and particular reference to public universities in the country through adoption and implementation of neo- Libra policies.

“Government must not be allowed to continue on this part of annihilation of public universities in the country through the promotion of a regime of commercialization of Education, inadequate funding, fragrant disregard for agreement and promotion of impunity.”

Igbafen said.

Founder of Halima Factor Community Initiative, an NGO, Mrs. Halima Usman, has said that Typhoid, Malaria and other illnesses are killing Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) more than the Boko Haram attacks.

Usman said this on Friday during a medical outreach organised by the NGO, in collaboration with Society for Family Health (SFH) at Wasa IDPs camp located in the suburb of Abuja.

She said that of the over 300 IDPs that benefitted from the outreach, more than 200 people were treated for either Malaria, Typhoid or other related sicknesses.

“There are over 5,000 IDPs living in this camp and you can imagine what this place will look like if there is no much medical attention to them.

“I learned that in 2017, a lot of children died of preventable diseases like Typhoid and Malaria.

“So, we are doing this outreach not only to help them, but also to bring people’s attention to this camp so that other people can also tow this path in helping them regain some sanity as human beings.

UNICEF counsels mothers on exclusive breast feeding

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has advised mothers in Nasarawa State and Nigeria at large to embrace exclusive breast feeding, in the interest of the health of their new born babies.

Nutrition Specialist, UNICEF Kaduna Field office, Ms Chinwe Ezeife, gave the advice on Friday when members of the organisation were on assessment tour to one of its service centres in Keffi.

She said that exclusive breast feeding was good for the health of new born babies, hence the need for mothers to feed their children exclusively for six months of life.

“We are encouraging mothers to embrace exclusive breast feeding. One hour after the birth or delivery, mothers should put their babies to breast feeding. `She should feed the child exclusively for six months of life.

“After that, the mother will introduce other complementary foods because after six months, only breast milk cannot satisfy the nutrient requirement of the child,” she said.

Ezeife also called for collective efforts to address the challenges of malnutrition in the country.

“My call on the parents, especially the mothers and fathers is for them to join hands to ensure that the child is given exclusive breast feeding.

“We know that mothers own the breast, it is also left for the fathers to do their part, to be supportive in terms of providing the necessary needs required by the mother.

Daily Times Nigeria

Saturday, November 10, 2018

Life & Times

11

Not every movie must appear in cinemas - Paschaline Alex Okoli Paschaline Alex Okoli is a Nigerian actress who is quite bold and strong-willed. Although, she had been labelled a snob and lesbian, but the Anambra State born actress is far from such unfounded accusations leveled against her. In this interview with MUTIAT ALLI the script interpreter clears the air on her personality, her kind of man, premarital sex and lots more.

How has the year 2018 been for you?

So far, it has been so good. The year has been litty litty (if you know what I mean?)

What are your plans for the remaining of the year?

My plans for the year is to set a clear goals for myself.

Any plans to go into movie production?

For now, nope. Well, maybe before the year ends, something might come up in terms of going into production.

Aside Jenifas dairy, you are hardly seen in regular movies, why?

I do other movies too, but not constant.

Which movie brought you to limelight?

College girls, the pay was nothing to write home about, but in all I am grateful.

How supportive are your parents of your chosen career?

Well, my mum 1million percent from the scratch.

But my dad was not having it the first time he knew about the movie stuff, but as a daughter that is as stubborn as her father, the old man had to accept by force, after much persuasion.

Talking about being stubborn, we have heard people say you are also snobbish, how true is that?

Wow! snub? Not true at all. Being stubborn and snobbish are two different things. People that don’t know me see me as a snobbish little lady. But, I can’t go about trying to make people understand me. If you know me - you know!

Aside movies what else do you do?

I run a cleaning company #Weclean. It is actually my personal little company.

How long have you been in it and how did you start?

I started last year. It is not easy you know. I’m that girl that loves success, so I try to venture into one or two businesses apart from acting.

Who are those you look up to in Nollywood?

Hmmm, I look up to my hardworking senior colleagues in the industry too numerous to mention.

So many stories surround the success of female celebrities, so many saying that they engage in kinds of promiscuity to live a luxurious lifestyle, whats your take on that?

One sentence for this question is “people must talk”, no matter what you do or didn’t do.

It was once rumored that you are a lesbian, can you defend that?

Like you said it’s all a rumour. Not true at all.

What’s your take on same sex marriage?

No! I don’t think it’s right!

How about sex toys, it’s almost taking over the world?

I don’t support that either.

What do you think should be done to take Nollywood to a bigger height, just like their contemporaries?

The government should invest in entertainment industry.

The qualities of movies are dropping, which way forward?

Like I said it still government, because we have good filmmakers.

Even your colleague, Rita Dominic said the qualities of movies been shown in the cinemas are not worth it, is it the government’s responsibility too?

Yes, it is not every movie that should be in cinema. Let the quality of the film match the hype they always give it. Then, lack of fund.

The government have not been supportive of the industry, most of the production you see out there are mostly self sponsored.

Another one is greed! Some individuals have the resources to make a quality movie but because they want to make enough profit, they’d rather make a low quality movie for high profit.

Not all Nigerian movies have poor picture quality and bad sound, there are exceptions. Some good and thorough movie producers are doing good works.

During your early days in the industry, can you share your encounter as a green horn?

My first encounter with Nollywood was in 2010, when I did waka pass in a movie directed by Kalu Anya and it starred the likes of Chika ike among other actors. The movie was shot in Asaba, but at that, I was not ready to make it a career cos I was still in school.

What’s your opinion on premarital sex?

I’m not a saint ooooo but Our bodies are to be temples of the Holy Spirit. St. Paul indicates that sin of the body is serious compared to sins outside the body.

What makes a good actor?

A good actor should be so convincing in a role that he can hold an audience captive and make them feel as if there is nothing but the story at hand.

Are you currently in a serious relationship?

Yes! I’m in a very serious relationship with God. Very serious.

At what stage do you want to get married?

When the time is right.

What kind of man do you want for marriage?

A man who will support me and encourage me to pursue my desires and dreams. A man that will make me feel comfortable expressing my thoughts and feelings openly to him without fearing his judgment or ridicule Single and ready to mingle?

It’s personal to me. Can we leave relationship matter, best known to me.

What’s your best fashion accessories?

Shoes and bags.

Have you been heartbroken? And did you deal with it?

Yes, I am human, but after 2weeks I was back to normal Did that make you cry or starve yourself of food?

I was hurt to be honest, but I didn’t starve myself.

What turns you off in relationships?

Fake lifestyle, pretense and lies.

Do you have a regular beauty routine? If yes, can you share?

Yes, I use egg white, lemon, milk mix with sugar to scrub face once in a while.

You have been with Funke Akindele’s production for years now, how best can you describe her?

She is an amazing woman.

What could make Paschaline shed midnight tears?

When I miss home or things ain’t going the way I want it to, it makes me cry.

Where do you see your brand in a couple of years time...?

Well, I hope to have an acting school for young talents. I’m very passionate about helping people with my brand.

Society Gist 12

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, November 10, 2018

Why I’m coming to Nigeria to promote Curvaceous lifestyle -Obafemi Richard Jegede

Popular director and producer, Oreofe Williams honoured Living an impactful and meaningful life has always been the sole aim of popular actor, producer and director, Oreofe Williams, whom over the years, had been known for his robust contribution to raising giants and breeding fresh talent through mentor-ship and Drama.

The Masters Degree holder from the University of Ibadan, is being guided by the teachings of the bible in proverbs 22:29 which says that; ‘’Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men’’.

The Awo Jesu fame actor and producer, has been resilient and dogged in achieving his dreams, which led to the recent launch of his Livewire Broadcasting Network on YouTube with millions of subscribers and also Oreofe Films Mobile Application the first of his kind by a filmmaker.

To appreciate his philanthropic and humanitarian work, The controversial filmmaker was appointed and

Oreofe William honoured as a Patron of The MAN ‘O WAR, OLABISI ONABANJO UNIVERSITY IN OGUN STATE chapter. The Graduate of English from Olabisi Onabanjo Univeristy, became the youngest Patron of the organization and the first Filmmaker to be so honoured. He also joined the long list of other patrons and patronesses include the greatest intellectual minds and business moguls, whom are Prof Alaba Adenuga, Prof Akindele Oscar, Prof Lai Ogunkoya,Prof (Mrs) Sotanade Prof (Mrs) Oluremi Adesemowo and Prof Ebun Oduwole, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor(Administration) at

OOU. Other patrons include Chief M.O Ogunjimi and Alhaji Olanrewaju Kazeem.

When he was conferred with the title as a patron, Oreofe in his word said that; ‘’I did not count myself worthy when I received the letter of appointment. It came as a good surprise to me. I was almost dodging it when I was told about the calibre of Professors and multi-millionaires who were so honoured. Thank you for the privilege and I am sure this will renew my commitment to supporting the dreams of as many talents as possible across the world.’’

Mrs. Useni shares reasons why emergency medical service should be properly funded Stories by Isaac Oguntoye Health is seen as one of the fundamental rights of every citizen.

Access to needed health service is crucial for maintaining and improving health and despite the fact that the emergency are largely preventable, they continue to threaten the health of the citizens. In this vein, Mrs. Useni M.O, the coordinator SPBNS, Igbobi Lagos has called on the Federal Government to ensure adequate and proper funding in infrastructure, modern equipment, favourable policies hospital management, enabling environment, safe working condition staff training and staff motivation.

She made this clarion call during the 7thNational Annual Scientific Conference/workshop of Emergency Nurses Association of Nigeria held on Monday 21st of October 2019 at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital LASUTH. According to her, the goal of every emergency medical service system should be to provide universal emergency care, and that is emergency care to all who need it for divers kind of illnesses and injuries at all places and at all time saying “Good health is essential to sustained economic and social development and poverty reduction. Access to needed health service is crucial for maintaining and improving health.”

She further said “the challenges of emergency medical service system

has been hampered by various challenges ranging from funding to inadequate infrastructure and various stakeholders must work together to ensure an effective and efficient emergency medical service system which include government funding and providing all the necessary support for all the health workers.”

While concluding, Mrs. Useni said the concept of universal health coverage is still a challenge to the many developing nations. And a well position EMSS can be a veritable tool in driving the goal while the challenges must be to overcome through effective participation of all stakeholders.

The event was however witnessed by top personalities from all spheres of life ranging from medical practitioners and business gurus all over the world.

Obafemi Richard Jegede is one the young, agile vibrant entrepreneurs who believes every curvaceous lady deserve a good and healthy lifestyle.

He is the chief executive director of Curvaceous Lifestyle Africa. The company that was established in South Africa with the aim of promoting and empowering curvaceous women.

This is an industry that has suffered a major setback in the modeling industry.

According to research, some ladies in this category feel intimidated by the slim and big ladies as most of the cloths made by designers are majorly for either the skinny or the plus size ladies.

Now, Obafemi, the CEO Curvaceous Lifestyle Africa is coming to Nigeria to fill this vacuum and re-orientate ladies on reason why they should be proud of their natural endowment.

While speaking about the concept behind the brand he said “Curvaceous Lifestyle is basically into promoting women and fight against any form of women abuse and body shaming. The brand is exclusive because if you look at the modeling industry, the industry has made us believe that, to be a model, you have to be slim, beautiful and tall or you have to be big which is plus size. But the women at the center, which is my niche market, are the curvaceous. The likes of Omotola Jolade, Mercy Johnson and others are not plus size, they are curvaceous. So, our focus is women like that because women like that have lost their confidence. We’re creating a platform for them. We’re helping them to find themselves and to find their fit and to give them confidence that they can become whatever they want to become in the industry.”

He also emphasized on the need why the ladies need to look harder because the industry doesn’t make enough clothes for their shape. So in the end, they won’t have to worry about wearing the same Forever 21 dress every other girl is wearing saying “The idea was conceived around 2009 but I started running it in 2010. And I did a research at three different malls in South Africa where I asked them what and where they are lacking from? I was made to understand that, they hardly find their choice sizes anytime they go for shopping. So, most time what they will do is because they like the jeans, they will buy the jeans and they will go and slim fit, then the jean is no more original.”

Obafemi Richard “Our coming to Nigeria will expose these ladies and also give them room to showcase what they have while making money.”

When he was asked about the acceptance, he said “The acceptance has been awesome in South Africa. I started the pageant Miss Curvaceous in 2013 and 2015, I introduced reality show into it. We’ve done our fashion show; we do promotion and brand activation. We’ve worked with Lady Gaga brand, Lady Gaga Films, Dimension Data and other top brands in South Africa and we hope to do the same in Nigeria.

Osinbajo, Ambode, others honoured at Africa HR Awards and Conference

Nurses Association

It was celebration galore as Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo and Incumbent Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, were honored at the Africa Human Resources Excellence Awards and Conference held on 9th November 2018 at the Lagos Sheraton Hotels.

The epoch-making event attracted over 500 HR professionals both within and outside the country was put together by management of Delta Business School led

by Barrister Christian Akpotohwo.

The maiden edition according to organizer is structured to be a benchmark

within the human capital development industry in Africa as well as raised the output of our human resources to what is obtainable worldwide.

Aside prominent Nigerians and outstanding Companies that was rewarded, notable professionals like Alexander Opong, a Forensic and Information security guru, Group HR EIB Network are among Resouce persons on the day.

The Excellence award apart from recognizing Prof Osinbajo and Governor Ambode also honour former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili and Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege among others.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, November 10, 2018

13 Mixed Grill

Timilehin Bello named among top 25 innovators in Europe, Middle East Stories by Mutiat Alli Timilehin Bello, the CEO of one of Nigeria’s leading PR and Digital Marketing agencies, Media Panache, has been named one of the Top 25 innovators in Europe, Middle East and Africa by the Holmes Report, a trusted global Platform for Public Relations.

Timilehin is listed alongside 24 other Innovators from various parts of the three continents, who are noted for making an exemplary impact in today’s marketing and communications era; cutting across several facets of the industry, including branding, reputation management, social media strategy, among others.

Big Timi as he is fondly called is the only Nigerian on the list, along with a South African innovator, ultimately bringing the total of Africans on the list to two - with the other innovators coming from European and Middle Eastern countries like Germany, Italy, UAE, and UK. In a hearty post, the young CEO took to his social media to relay the news to his thousands of followers, writing; “We did it Nigeria! We did it! Okay, I just want to use this medium to announce that I’ve been listed as one of the Top 25 Innovators in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) by one of the world’s most trusted PR Platforms; the Holmes Report.

Timilehin Bello Photo Being the only Nigerian on the list is beyond humbling - I am incredibly proud of the exponential growth our PR industry has achieved in recent times! I just want to say a big thank you to everyone who has supported myself and Media Panache from the get-go. This God’s Grace is sufficient for us.”

The Holmes Report has described

Timilehin as an individual to watch in Africa’s PR industry; commending his approach to PR in Nigeria and how he has carved a remarkable niche for his company Media Panache since inception only two years back.

The platform goes on to list out some of his company’s most impressive projects handled, including Davido’s ’30 Billion Gang Concert’ and ‘Inspire Youngsters’; a campaign initiated by the company; to teach young Nigerians how to effectively use social media in the contemporary world.

Some of the noteworthy individuals listed alongside Bello include, Alex Brock; Head of Digital at Syneos Health Communications Europe, Jim Hawker; co-founder of Threepipe in London, Sarah Gower; Managing Editor of Adidas in London, Abey Mokgwatsane; Managing Executive of Brand at Vodacom in South Africa, and a host of others.

Timilehin’s company had made headlines last year; following his win at the Future Awards Africa, in the ‘Best Media Enterprise Category’.

The company has gone to work with some of the most reputable names, both in the entertainment and corporate industry, some of which include; Alibaba, Jumia, Bank of Industry, Korede Bello, Adekunle Gold, MTN Foundation, Simplified Corporate Logistics, WhoGoHost and several others.

Fashola Photographic Foundation winner exhibits at Lagos Photo Tagged ‘The Passing of Time, Akinbo’s works is among works currently showing at the Mike Adenuga Centre, Ikoyi. The official opening of the Festival was held at the Federal Government Press, 9 Broad Street, Lagos Island and runs from October 27 to November 15.

This year’s edition features works from over 20 photographers some of whom include Abosede George, Adji Dieye, Alfredo Jaar, Amanda Iheme, Emmanuekke Andrianjafy and Ismail Bahri.

Tipped as one of the emerging talents to watch out for, Akinbo has been singled out for her passion, her vision for eye-catching scenes and compelling narratives.

A statement by organizers of the visual fest said, “LagosPhoto is pleased to Partner with the Fashola Photographic Foundation to showcase a body of work shot by emerging Lagos based photographer Ebunoluwa Akinbo.

Ebun combines her background in Sociology with photography to create visually compelling stories with strong narratives.”

“Time Has Gone”, the 9th edition of LagosPhoto Festival, explores the configurations by which the past, the present and the future interact within the photographic medium. Time will be approached from different angles, highlighting matters of momentum, documentation and preservation, taking into consideration the intimacy of stories as well as the breadth of the concept itself,” it added.

Ebun

His Royal Majesty, King (Dr.) Ebenezer Olufemi Alani Egunjobi, the Elerinja of Erinja Kingdom

2018 Erinja Day celebration: Peace, progress, development of Erinja Kingdom, my focus - Elerinja As the people of Erinja kingdom celebrate this year’s Erinja Day in grand style, His Royal Majesty, King (Dr.) Ebenezer Olufemi Alani Egunjobi, the Elerinja of Erinja Kingdom, has reassured his people that peace, progress, and development of Erinja Kingdom remained his priority.

In fact, what could have led a retired company secretary and accountant of many reputable organisations to venture into kingship if not for the pursuance of altruistic ideals propelled by the commitments to seeing it achieved? This is the case of HRM Erinja of Kingdom.

However, the Erinja Day Celebration is an annual event and usually spread for one week full of different activities, and this year edition is not in anyway different, as the celebration has started since Monday, and expected to conclude with a grand finale, today Saturday 10th November 2018.

Some of the activities include the interdenominational service; Iyan night (Pounded yam night); Visiting of shrines in the community and paying homage to HRM Oba Olufemi Egunjobi by the prominent people, among many others.

This is even as both indigenes and non-indigenes of Erinja kingdom had poured encomiums on HRM Oba Olufemi Egunjobi whom they all described as God fearing and loving monarch.

Some even described him as a monarch with Midas touch, who had always been using human resources to touch lives and making life worth living for his subject.

Speaking with The Daily Times, HRM Oba Olufemi Egunjobi, in his palace expressed his gratitude to God Almighty for the journey so far and also appreciated the support of the good people of Erinja kingdom since he ascended the throne.

Oba Olufemi Egunjobi can be described as an amiable, truthful, and humble monarch and had received accolades for his unparallel

humanitarian services and for being consistent towards the peace, development, and progress of Erinja kingdom. That is why he is being regarded as a monarch with ideas and visions.

Amidst qualitative and prioritized achievements on the throne, and coupled with his love for education, Kabieyesi shared Nelson Mandella’s School of thought that education is the best weapon to change the world.

He collaborates with some people to resuscitate the community school which for over a decade has been shut down by the then general Oladipipo Diya due to standard operation. The school today under the control of the community, though several appeals have been made to the state government to take over its operation to further enjoy better educational facilities and dividends of democracy in the community.

If there is a great desire Oba Olufemi Egunjobi has in his heart now, It is to see the roads connecting his community and environments to the standard by the local government, the fact which he believed will further open the town equipped with farm loving people especially in cassava plantation and garri, fufu as bye-products, endowed with massive land for industrialization to contributes its quota to the development of the state and better the lives of his people.

The revered king, while rejoicing with the entire Erinja people on this year’s Erinja –day, seized the opportunity to pray for peace, progress and development of the land, the state and the entire people of Nigeria.

Oba Egunjobi must have taken the concept of bridge-building into kingship far beyond its figurative connotation, as the boundary of the class does not limit his interest in the prosperity, peace, and progress of Erinja Kingdom.

Speaking with the newsmen, Prince Olurotimi Olaleye, described Oba Egunjobi as a colossus whose reputation is as big as his fame, peace-loving, and a focus driving monarch.

14

Daily Times Nigeria

Saturday, November 10, 2018

Life & Times Flytime entertainment unveils 3 days line-up event

Boomplay Regional Director, West Africa, Oye Akideinde

Boomplay & Universal music group announce distribution partnership in Africa Mutiat Alli, Lagos Boomplay, Africa’s leading music streaming and download service and Universal Music Group (UMG), the world leader in music-based entertainment, on Friday, announced the signing of a landmark licensing agreement covering multiple markets within Africa.

UMG is the first major music company to license its catalog to Boomplay, which has quickly established itself as the most popular streaming service in Africa. Under the terms of the multi-year agreement and effective immediately, Boomplay will distribute music from UMG’s world-renowned labels through its streaming and download platform in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda and Zambia. Boomplay currently provides more than two million songs and thousands of music videos to more than 36 million users, with nearly two million new users added each month.

Users will now have access to UMG’s extensive catalog of both local and global recording artists including Eminem, Tekno, Post Malone, Nicki Minaj, Lady Zamar, Lil Wayne, Bob Marley, Brenda Fassie, Wurld, J.Cole, Dr.

Tumi, Nasty C, 6lack, Diana Ross, Hugh Masekela, Jon Bellion, Larry Gaaga, Tamia, Maroon 5, Aka & Anatii, TJAN, Jah Prayzah, Nonso Bassey, Mafikizolo, Cina Soul, Ella Mai,and Mr. Eazi.

Earlier this year, UMG announced the launch of Universal Music Nigeria, a new division within Western Africa to provide artists with comprehensive opportunities throughout the region and to provide pan-African talent the best possible launch pad for wider international success. UMG is accelerating the company’s focus on growing the entire African music ecosystem including recorded music, music publishing, production, live events, brand partnerships and merchandising efforts.

In making the announcement, Universal Music Group, Executive Vice-President, Market Development Adam Granite said, “We’re looking forward to working with Boomplay as we provide our African artists a range of creative, marketing and promotional resources to accelerate their careers within this vibrant and growing music market. This agreement will help UMG artists to reach new audiences, whilst boosting the African streaming experience to benefit both music fans, artists and songwriters.”

“This partnership extends our reach and makes our artists’ music accessible to millions of African music lovers,” said Ezegozie Eze Jr., General Manager, Universal Music Nigeria, “We are delighted to be the first global music company to partner with Boomplay and look forward to bringing the extraordinary creativity of our artists to as many Africans users as possible.”

Also commenting, Boomplay’s CEO, Joe He, said that Boomplay will continue to forge partnerships that enriches the digital ecosystem and connects music lovers with their favorite songs anytime and anywhere.

“Boomplay is determined to continue meeting the music passion point of Africans in a legitimate way, especially Boomplay users, and teaming up with a major music company in the global music industry like Universal Music Group, offers yet another significant opportunity for us to do so”, he said.

The Boomplay App, which is currently only available for Android users, is scheduled for release via iOS in the coming weeks. In addition, new Boomplay users will be able to obtain a free one-month subscription when they opt in for a monthly autorenewable subscription plan

Nigeria’s foremost concert organiser, Flytime Promotions has announced its 3-day lineup of electrifying shows- Pepsi Rhythm Unplugged, RBRM featuring Bobby Brown & Bel Biv Devoe & Olamide Live, under the grand Flytime Music Festival.

These events will host the largest number of music lovers on the continent from the 21st to the 23rd of December.

Sponsored by Pepsi and Baba Ijebu, Pepsi Rhythm Unplugged will kick off day one of the festival. Flytime Promotions is set to announce performances from A-List Nigerian artists, who will be bringing the best of energy and good vibes to give the concertgoers the time of their lives, as they wrap up an exciting year.

The 2nd day of the festival will feature international artists; legendary Grammy Award winner, Bobby Brown and Bel Biv Devoe, who will perform their biggest hits, taking guests down memory lane with award winning tracks like “If It Isn’t love”, “Candy Girl” and many more. Following their recently concluding tour, they are set to hit the stage at the Eko Convention Center this December for an exclusive and explosive show.

Speaking on this year’s triple treat delight, Flytime Talent Management Head, Sasha Alabi, said: “Flytime has built a formidable brand that has been consistent in catering to the entertainment needs of Nigerian concertgoers for over a decade. This year, we plan to bring a heightened feeling of what our fans are used to; leaving

them with an unforgettable triple, treat experience.”

Day 3 of the festival will close out with a bang, showcasing the one and only OLAMIDE LIVE! The YBNL boss and “King of the Streets” will be hitting the stage alongside some of the music industry’s favorites and his renowned YBNL army. The ‘Wo” crooner promises to deliver a top notch show that guarantees to keep the crowd lit all night long!

The annual culture of Rhythm Unplugged never fails to surprise fans. And last year, fans received the ultimate surprise, witnessing the union of two of Africa’s most prominent music stars, Davido and Wizkid live on stage. This year, Flytime Music Festival is set to leave Lagosians speechless for months to come.

Concert-goers have been advised to “stay woke” as “Anything Can Happen” on stage.

Olamide

Singer, Annjay to launches new beauty product Nigerian singer, actress and entrepreneur, Angela Chioma John, who recently bagged the ambassadorial deal of a Chinese tech company, Ja Solar Energy Equipment, has added more feathers to her hat.

The ‘Man No Be God’ crooner is set to launch her customized Mink eyelashes which just got into Nigeria from China.

Speaking on why she went into beauty business, Annjay stated that her love to good look is inborn.

“I went into beauty business because I like it since childhood.

It’s also part of my profession as a singer and a model. I have been doing this business before I went into journalism but not as big as it is now. Annjay products are international now. We have our clients globally. Some USA U.K., SA, Ghana and many more.

People order our goods products from there and we ship to them.”

On the affordability of her

products, the light skinned entertainer maintained that its for all and sundry.

“All our products is affordable.

From our Brazilian virgin human hair, Annjay 3D Mink Lashes, Hair wash and many more, anybody can afford it. I want to also use this opportunity to say that we sell top quality products. Quality assurance is our watch word,” she added.

Annjay

BUSINESS TIMESg

14 15

Daily 2018 Daily Times Times Nigeria Nigeria Tuesday, Saturday,November November6,10, 2018

R-L: Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment, Sunday Edet Akpan, discussing with Director General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Osita Aboloma, during the Nigeria Trade and Investors Forum in Shanghai, China

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Union Bank, Emeka Emuwa; Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo; Convener, Art Summit Nigeria, Adenrele Sonariwo and Managing Partner, Aluko & Oyebode, Gbenga Oyebode at the opening ceremony of Art Summit Nigeria

Buhari reassures of sustained massive investments on infrastructure Development Bank of Nigeria

Joins SME Finance Forum Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhar has reassured Nigerians that his administration Oseni willMotolani sustain massive investments to upgrade and develop the country’s transport and power Theinfrastructure.

Development Bank of Nigeria Buhari thisaon Monday he (DBN) hasstated become member of when the SME received members of the Association of Finance Forum, a global membership Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria network that together financial (ARCAN) led brings

by Ambassador Oladapo institutions, companies, Fafowora, at the technology Presidential Villa, Abuja.

and development finance institutions to share knowledge, spur innovation, and promote the growth of SMEs. Established by the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI) in 2012, the SME Finance Tunde Opalana, AbujaForum was set up as a knowledge center for data, research best practice in promoting Senate and President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, SMEsaid finance. an on implementing has that the As Senate resumption partner forwill thefurther GPFI, probe the International of plenary the claims

The President told the retired Ambassadors that Nigerians will never forget the ‘‘lost opportunity between 1999 and 2015,’’ when the nation had enormous resources at its disposal.

Finance (IFC) wasI haven’t tasked ‘’ThereCorporation is no part of the country with managing initiative. been to, having the attempted to be President fourAccepting times.

DBN into the Forum, ‘’I know the condition The Chief Executive Officer,of our SMEroads.

Finance rails wereMatthew killed, there was nosaid, power“We despite Forum, Gamser, are the admittance some previous leadership proud to haveofthe Development Bank of that they spent $16 billion on the sector.

Nigeria joinwe ourare network 140 members ‘’Today, gettingof our priorities who work to expand accessof tothefinance right and we believe that three

for small and medium businesses. It has been discovered that 200 million businesses worldwide need financing to invest, grow and create new jobs.”

“Founded in 2014, DBN focuses on Nigerians and others who wanted to know alleviating constraints faced the position financing of the Senate on the issues

by MSMEs and small raised by the NNPC’s GMDcorporations before the in Nigeria through provision of Ahmad Lawan’s Adhoc the Committee. financing partialin credit guarantees This wasand contained a statement by the Special Adviser to theintermediaries, Senate Presidentonona to eligible financial

fundamental issues we campaigned on – security, the economy and fighting corruption-, we have remained very relevant and Nigerians believe we have achieved something,’’ the President said. market-conforming fullyoccasion financially Buhari also usedandthe to sustainable basis. appreciate the People’s Republic of China financing some of the rail and The for bank supports inclusive growth power projects wholesale in the country and provides fundingthrough to fill concessionary loans. identified enterprise financing gaps ‘’I will do best In to 2017, see that in the MSMEmy sector. thewhere bank there are possibilities of making a quick disbursed a total of N5bn to microfinance improvement on infrastructure, we will do institutions it,’’ he said. for on-lending to over 20,000

MSMEs across the country”, Gamser noted.

Expressing delight on the announcement of DBN’s reception into the forum, the Managing Director/ “Let me assure Nigerians that there will CEO, Development of Nigeria, be no cover-up.

We areBank confident that the Mr. Tony Okpanachi, “We job. are adhoc committee will do asaid, thorough excited to expand of SME All the issues will our be knowledge unearthed. That is financing participation in the why whenand the believe Senate set up investigative committees on issues, want Nigerians SME Finance Forum we member working

He also appealed to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to consider what this government inherited and the more it is doing with fewer resources in putting the economy right. groups will affordtook us with The President note a ofplethora some of networking and developmental concerns raised by the retired Ambassadors including an appeal for the adjustment opportunities.” of DBN their was pension entitlements, conceived by theretention Federal of diplomatic passport for retired Government of Nigeria (FGN)career in ambassadors, of land for ARCAN collaborationallocation with global development headquarters in Abuja and adequate partners of to the address the Affairs major financing funding Foreign ministry, challenges among others.facing Micro, Small and

Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria.

The bank is a wholesale Development Finance Institution (DFI) providing sustainable financing through eligible colleagues that certain irregularities are Participating Financial (PFIs), being perpetrated andInstitutions we should let who in turn, to end-borrowers Nigerians knowlend the truth.

That is why weMicro, Small and Medium set up the committee in the firstEnterprises place and (MSMEs) for the development that to demonstrate the seriousness weofattach to the issue, we decided that the ad-hoc segment.

Senate to probe NNPC’s claim on diversion of NLNG’s dividend

made before the Senator Ahmad Lawan’s Adhoc Committee by the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), on how and why the corporation was diverting the dividend from the Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas Fowoyo (NLNG) to defray the cost of Peter under-recovery in the importation of fuel.

Saraki, while reacting to questions from newsmen at the Ilorin Airport, admitted in a suit filedof by MTN thatHearing, he had received series telephone Nigeria Ltd, against the calls onCommunication the issue by many concerned

Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu.

The Senate President stated that the disclosure by the NNPC boss in response to enquiries by the Senate adhoc committee probing the issue of illegal payment of subsidy on fuel, called for Counsel informed by thethe court of their further investigation Senate and various processes before court also showed that asfiled alleged in the a motion and served partiesLeader, to the moved earlieronbyrespective Senate Minority Senator Biodun Olujimi, a lot of illegal and suit. unapproved are going onJustice in the Followingspendings this development, petroleum Aneke setcorporation.

Dec.3 for hearing of all

to have confidence in us that we do not act because we want to embark on a wild goose chase. There must be some serious issues to be looked into. The revelations by the NNPC’s GMD have justified the need for this investigation and they have shown thatAweDeclaration are acting inthat goodthe faith.AGF acted illegally, theon powers of the “Whenbyin usurping my ruling the motion Federal by Inland Revenue Service, audit raised Senator Olujimi, I to insisted that we want remittance a transparent, honest and and demand of withholding non-partisan investigation tax and value-added tax. on the fuel subsidy issue, it wasthat clearthe to me and my A Declaration purported

committee should be led by the Leader of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan.

“We are however shocked that the NNPC’s GMD was claiming that the illegal diversion of dividends from the NLNG which should be paid into the Consolidated the defendant, which General Revenue Fund of the covers Federation for damages,theexemplary funding fuel subsidydamages, was done and ‘in Legal costs. with the National Assembly compliance directive that NNPC of last Meanwhile, in as the its supplier preliminary resort should, has, maintained objection, theandAGF argues thatrobust the petrol supply”, he stated. plaintiff in seeking redress to the subject

MTN Vs FG: Court fixed Dec.3 to hear suit Attorney General of the Federation, over alleged N242 billion and $1.3b import duties and withholding tax assessment has been fixed by a Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Justice Chukwujekwu Motolani Oseni Aneke, on Thursday fixed December 3, 2018, for theInterswitch hearing of all pending Group, a applications, Pan-African after counseldigital representing parties and had integrated payments, informed company, the courtinofpartnership their various commerce with applicationhas filed and served.

Microsoft, announced the launch of its innovative blockchain-based When the matter camesupply up, chain Chief financing service. (SAN) alongside a Wole Olanipekun This initiative brings appeared together host of novel other senior lawyers, entrepreneurs, major financial institutions for MTN, while Mr. T.A Gazali, a Chief and corporate organisations, all on a single State Counsel from the Federal Ministry platform to provide end-to-end visibility of Justice, appeared AGF. trade that will ensure fast for andtheseamless

pending applications before the court.

MTN instituted the suit by a writ, dated Sept.10, challenging mainly, the legality of the AGF’s assessment of its import duties, tax and financing in supplywithholding chain operations. value tax in Blockchain the sums ofService N242 The added Interswitch billion and 1.3 billion dollars.

(Supply Chain Finance Module), built andInhosted using MicrosoftMTN Azureis its writ of the summons, Blockchain technology, provides proven seeking Declaratory reliefs aon the security, followingcompliance grounds: and scalable cloud platform thatpurported accelerates and supports That the “Revenue assets the next generation of blockchain investigation” allegedly carried out by applications. theMitchell Federal Government on MTN, from Elegbe, Group Managing 2007 to 2017, its decision Director and and Chief Executiveconveyed Officer through the office of the letter at Interswitch said: “In AGF our by 15 a years dated Aug. 20,we violates provisionsthe of of operation, have the experienced bottlenecks with the existing section 36 ofassociated the constitution.

“self-assessment” exercise instituted by the AGF via its letter of May 10, is unknown to the law, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.

A Declarationfinancing that the AGF’s demand corporate-based infrastructure of Nigeria. the sums billion and 1.3 in Thisofis N242 why we are happy to billion with dollars from MTN, is premised partner Microsoft, by leveraging the advanced technology of the Microsoft on a process which is malicious, Azure Blockchain, proveonthe unreasonable andtomade thepossibility incorrect of building legal basis. a distributed ledger that is practical, viable and wants has the propensity Also, the plaintiff a court order, to solve some of Nigeria’s most difficult vacating the AGF’s demand letter dated financial and logistic problems.”

Aug. 20, the for the sumsof of N242 billion and With launch the Interswitch 1.3 billion dollars MTN Nigeria Blockchain Servicefrom (Supply Chain Communications Finance Module), Ltd. small to middle-sized Besides, can MTN is more claiming a total businesses access funding in asum shorter time (up tointhree weeks)against from of N3 billion damages,

matter has just three months from the date the cause of action arose, to institute the action.

MTN also filed a similar suit before a brother judgebanks of thesuch same participating as court, Unitedagainst Bank TheAfrica Central Bank ofGuaranty Nigeria (CBN) over for Plc (UBA), Trust Bank alleged 8.1bllion Plc (GTB) and Zenith dollars Bank Plc,repatriated and enjoy increased funds. sales cycles from participating corporations suchanasinjunction the Dangote It is seeking to Group. restrain application of blockchain theWhile CBNthe from taking further actions isto usually reclaim associated the allegedwith debts.cryptocurrency, the Interswitch Blockchain service does The CBN alleged that the telecoms not deploy the use of cryptocurrency in firmapplication. improperly Transaction repatriated dividends, its enquiries and verifications requested that returns by 8.1 and willMTN be handled billion dollars to its coffers. authorised officials from participating This latter suit isthe set down for hearing entities, without incentives of a cryptocurrency. before Justice Saliu Saidu on Dec.4.

Interswitch, Microsoft, partner to pioneer Blockchain technology in Nigeria

Nigerians laud Servicom: government FAAN to empowerment address staff initiative extortion,as FG targets 2m negative TraderMoni attitudes beneficiaries Chukwuemeke Motolani OseniIwelunmo The Federal Airports Authority of Petty traders from the Nigeria FAAN who saysareitbeneficiaries is strategizing to ongoing disbursements of N10, 000 collateralensure that the issues of reports of negative free loans scheme,lack tagged, were staff attitude, of ‘TraderMoni’, trust, extortion, so excited and have continuedmanagement to appreciate weak customer relationship the service federal failures government and across empowerment agencies are initiative. addressed.

For this instance, Prof Yemi To end,Vice the President, FAAN Managing Osibajo, was at the Adebayoat Market, in Director, Saleh Dunoma the 4th Lagos to unveil TraderMoni, whereForum a lot SERVICOM Quarterly Stakeholders in as were a matter of urgency, of Lagos petty said traders beneficiaries of the this agency is brainstorming and strategizing on empowerment programme. the Vice wayPresident forward for upcoming year. the hadthe disclosed that under This is justScheme, as he added that the agency is TraderMoni the federal government reviewing whatmicrocredit has been done the earlier will be giving to 2 in million petty Programmes andcountry. identify whatever area traders across the that“We theystarted are yetby togiving improve upon. them N10, 000 and Dunoma represented Lagos when they pay back withinby six the months, we Airport International Manager, Mrs. give them N15, 000 and then N20, 000 until Victoria Shinaba noted that with the they graduate into thefrom GEEPthe programme”, he complaints receive SERVICOM disclosed. of ill-treatment of airport users, Presidency Osinbajo, ofwho waswithout accompanied byloss the cancellation flights resource, Lagos stateand Governor, Akinwumi Ambode of baggage non-refund of claims, 100% and the satisfaction APC Lagos statebegovernorship customer cannot said to have aspirant for the 2019 general election, Babajide been achieved.

Sanwo-Olu took a tourare of the “Our customers themarket voiceto the of delight of that the traders as endeavor the team to formally reasoning we must listen introduced the traders.results. to if we arethe toinitiative achieve to remarkable WeSpeaking must cooperate with themthe to Babaloja achieve about the project, seamless facilitation”. of Adebayo Market and Bariga LCDA, Alhaji He emphasized this is the made time toa Rasaq Rabiu said that the presidency think outside the box and seek to WOW thoughtful decision in remembering traders its “the is a support global village andcustomers, giving them theworld financial which and suchtheir we businesses. must strike to replicate other will as boost good things wetohave otherGod; airports According him,seen “weinthank the globally, we mustcame not be left because behind.” of the Vice President here General Manager, SERVICOM, Mrs. money they are giving to the traders’ money Ebele Okoye while delivering her address to maintain market so they of welcometheir noted that aftercanthemake lasta profit. Those who collected this raised money like will Quaterly meeting some issues not curse theofgovernment instead will maintenance the conveyor belts,they CCTV, praise them.facilities We willhave continue to pray for convenience been addressed. government to continue and doinstalled more than “More CCTV have been in this.” strategic places for more coverage at the A catfish seller, Miss Adeola Oyekanmi airport environment, conveyor belts are who got her moneyfor within three days of constantly serviced efficiency, FAAN registering for thethe project couldn’tfrom hide the her has illuminated walkways MMIA building the car park feelings terminal as she hailed the togovernment for to ensure passengers/customers considering them in the project. safety, the lift “We is in started a far better working hearing it sincecondition Friday thatand we more are register in place ensure more shouldefforts come and andtoafter registering seamless we got a service.” message and the next was a credit She explained thatthethemoney forumtoday. has been transfer alert. I got The held at 5 airports across the country, money will improve my market, I amnamely selling MMIA, Enugu, if Kano, andN10,000 Portfish and Abuja, I have N50,000, I add the Harcourt airports, x-raying the primary to it, it will boost my market, It will help me a challenges faced by their stakeholders who lot, she said. interface with service seekers have I depth a stockfish Mrs. Unwachukwu andAlso, solution were seller, also proffered through Ebere said she was happy on hearing about this process. theMeanwhile, money thoughthe she did not know it is a Federal Airports loan. “I have money. money Authority of collected Nigeria my FAAN has The presented willcertificate boost my of business.

I am doing business the appreciation to the Daily with 5,000; if Icovering add the 10,000 it will surely help Times in the of servicom activities me. at the airport.

The Iyaloja of Market, Presenting theAdeboyo certificate to Bariga The Daily the Servicom quarter who isTimes also a at beneficiary of the last Trader Moni stakeholders’ 2018, Managing said the moneyforum is a good waythe of encouraging Director FAAN Saleh Dunoma, the tradersofand it will Engr help them. represented theGiving General manager “The loan isbygood.

N10,000 is better Customers service, Mrs. Ebele said than nothing, and I’m very sureOkoye that paying The Timeswill hasnot been back Daily the money be objective a problemand for timely thecollected reportageit,ofbecause its activities at the peopleinthat the interest airport. rate is minimal”, she explained.

While enjoining The Daily Times team The Bank of Industry is supporting to continue with the quest of educating, the federalandgovernment and informing entertaininginitiative, the public, beneficiaries can pay back through any of the the FAAN boss remarked that FAAN will followingpartner banks - Heritage, UBA, Sterling, Jaiz always organisations that were and Union Bank among others. ready to bring change.

Business Times 16

Daily Times Nigeria Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, November 10, 2018 Tuesday, November 6, 2018

15 Business Times

Crude oil priceCMO Expert shares hits $72.83for as 2019 US’ predictions restriction Iranian Godwin Anyebe export begins

From political and social unrest sparking controversial ad campaigns to the complexities of GDPR, 2018 has been a wild ride for Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs). With all that Brent marketing crude oil price on may Monday a barrel, while turmoil, chiefs veryrose welltobe$72.83 looking forward to US light crudeYear was has 15 cents lower at $62.99, as United States what the New to offer. sanctions against Iran’s fuel exports began.presented a preview Forrester, a research firm yesterday Although, the impacts softened by waivers, which of what to expect, yesterdaywere released its CMO predictions for allowed major buyers to import Iranian crude for to a better while, 2019, its version of a crystal ball for brands looking however,with Tehran said that it would defy Washington and connect consumers. continue to sell.

The report explains that organizations are continuing to shift At 2.00 a.m. commodities, US crude wasthat $62.91 perwill barrel toward customer-centric practices and 2019 be and the BrentCMOs was lastprioritize at $72.62.strategies that harness their customers’ year At 3.00 a.m.

US use crude wascollective $62.68/barrel whiletoBrent was last energy and then that vivacity reinvigorate at $72.41. their brand.

“Oil bulls have long pinnedvice theirpresident, hopes on the factor Keith Johnston, Forrester andIran research and today’s dearth of upside potential will be report, a majordisclosed source of director serving CMOs, and co-author of the concern,’’ Stephen Brennock, an analyst at brokerage that with the ubiquity of digital technologies, there PVM needsOil, to said. differentiation in the marketplace, and that starts with more Washington imposed sanctions against Iran on Monday, branding. restoring lifted on under a 2015divisions nuclear deal negotiated CMOsmeasures will capitalize societal to disrupt part by of the administration President Barack Obama. any marketer’s jobofisformer to cut US through all the noise and clutter.

In response, Iranian President Hassan said, in a Forrester believes this will involve CMOsRouhani “treating societal speech broadcast on statetoMedia Iran would break the divisions as a mechanism tap intothat their customers’ energy.” sanctions andjust continue to sellitsoil.

Nike did that with Colin Kaepernick campaign as it exploited “short-term gains by animating a large enough segment of its customer base” to hopefully pave paths to new long-term growth.

Johnston said this approach can galvanize a company’s customers and internal employees, but not every organization can afford to do this.

“You need to be the right brand for sure, but [being] the right brand is contingent on who your consumer is,” said Johnston.

“It’s not really about launching a campaign; it’s about setting an overture in the market and letting consumers respond to it. That’s when this stuff is most effective, and not all brands do that.”

Nike has a large enough consumer base to launch such a Motolani campaign withoutOseni risk of total alienation and with speed.

Johnston said exploiting cultural, political, or societal tensions is about under being opportunistic fast, so the timing of Companies the leadingandAfrican Indigenous press events or content creation is crucial.

Conglomerate, Dangote Industries Limited, as part of its Forrestertopredicts that 2019 isshare the year “gets sexy strategies increase market andmarketing deepen customers’ again.” affection, will be unveiling their various new products at report Lagos claimsInternational that CMOs Trade are theFair executives most theThe on-going at the Tafawa responsible for customer experience, which has stagnated year Balewa Square (TBS) Onikan, Lagos. after expects that, to combat this, Blocmaster companies Ofyear. note Forrester is the grand introduction of the new will undergo transformations. cement frombrand the staple of the company’s flagship business unit, Dangote Cement pls.

NASCON Allied Products Plc, the producer of the prominent Dangote Salt and DanQ seasoning is also introducing Dangote Stew mix and Curry power to the delight of visitors to the company’s stand.

Other business units from the group that is exhibiting at the fair include Dangote Sugar Refinery, Dangote Flour Mill, Dangote Agrosacks, Dangote Pasta, and Dangote Cement.

SomeEdo of the products to be displayed at theObaseki, fair include The State Governor, Mr. Godwin has Danvita, Alkama (wheat flour,System sugar, condemned the theft of partmeal), of the confectionary Instrument Landing salt, Dangote seasoning, and its pasta varieties.

(ILS) being installed at the Benin Airport, and directed the According to a and statement from Company signed by Nigerian Air Force the Department of State Security to its Chief and Corporate Communications Officer, Anthony investigate arrest the culprits.

Chiejina, to directive the group pavilion at fair will have Obasekivisitors gave the after inspecting facilities and the opportunity of buying products ofinstalled these companies at components that make up the ILS being by the state reasonably reduced prices.with relevant federal government government in collaboration A unique offering from the Group in this year’s Lagos agencies.

Trade Fair is the Dangote Combo pack. The pack room contains The installation of the facilities is expected to make for products from the stable ofAirport. business units within the 24-hour operations at the Benin Group and is offered participants at the fair at aa closedmuchBefore inspecting thetofacilities, the governor had reduced price. door meeting with the Commander, 107 Air Maritime Group, statementAirforce, indicated thatCommander, the economyFatai packGaniyu, which of The the Nigerian Wing will contain household the products likeon Dangote spaghetti, who later accompanied governor inspection of the macaroni, sugar salt andAirport seasonAuthority products equipment, with packets officialsasofwell theasFederal range would be combined a pack at a giveaway price. of Nigeria (FAAN) and the in National Airspace Management The combo pack, it stated further will offer participants Agency (NAMA). at Obaseki the fairdirected an opportunity to purchaseand all State consumable the Wing Commander Director product rangeSecurity in Dangote Group a single buy.launch an of the State Service to inimmediately There willinto alsothe beincident, free samples of“Ithe products the investigation adding, assured Edo for people visitors.

Dangote be offering freewe samples of that our Airport willPasta renderwill 24-hour services and have been several varieties of its to visitors to the agencies kitchen/ working on that with theproducts relevant federal government restaurant to equipment the Dangote to to see how which we canwill get be theattached necessary in Stand place to wet their appetite. allow this happen.”

Dangote Cement recently unveiled to “We have been able to secure the ILS andinthe Lagos necessary the delightweofalso block distributors and lights other equipment, have makers, an agreement to put runway stakeholders, a new premium high strength the so that planes can be guided to land at night.

Workcement, has started Blocmaster. but there is little incident as some of the equipment bought last According tostolen. the Group Managing of Dangote week have been We have broughtDirector in security agencies Cement Plc, and Engr.

Joseph Makoju, blocmaster is to investigate get the culprits arrested and ensurewhich the work presentlyason displayObaseki at the added..” trade fair is the final answer proceeds desired,” to The the Instrument yearnings Landing and expectations of Block andnavigation concrete System (ILS) is a radio makerswhich who desire a new product could combine all system provides aircraft with that horizontal and vertical the qualities of the range of cement in the market. guidance before andexisting during landing.

Hesource explained that BlocMaster is awant product of intensive A at the airport who does not his name in print, research, laboratoryin and fieldSlope, tests,a component and regulatory said some equipment the Glide of the authorities’ approval. to him, was the new ILS, which provides theAccording vertical guidance stolencement while comes with a localiser difference and valuewere for intact. money. facilities at the component

Dangote Group unveils new products at Lagos Trade Fair

Edo govt. flays over theft of airport facilities, orders investigation

L-R: GMD / Founder, Interswitch Group, Mitchell Elegbe; Principal Program Manager, Microsoft Azure Blockchain at Microsoft Corporation, Michael Glaros; Group Chief Information Officer, Dangote Group, Prasanna Kumar Burri; Divisional Chief Executive Officer, Payments Processing, Interswitch Group, Akeem Lawal and Country Manager, Microsoft Nigeria, Akin Banuso, at the launch of Interswitch Blockchain Group Head, Mr Ahmed Abubakar Badawi; Business Development Manager, Yola/Jalingo, Mr Mustapha Mohammed Munir and Service (SupplyNorth ChainEast, Financing Module) on Friday Business Manager, Jalingo Main Branch, Ayuba Mamman-Maina with a cross-section of staff and students of Muhd Nya Secondary School during FirstBank’s commemoration of World Savings Day at the school..

Finance Minister tasks tax appeal Stakeholders unveil strategies to on professionalism deepen Nigeria’s debt market Denies report of looming petroleum products shortage Motolani Oseni Mathew Dadiya, Abuja Critical steps required to deepen Nigeria’s Themarket Minister Mrs. Zainab debt was of the Finance, focus of discourse in Shamsuna Ahmed, on Monday, urged and the Lagos as the Annual Bonds, Loans newly inaugurated Tax Appeal Tribunal Sukuk Nigeria Conference was held in(TAT) the Commissioners “to discharge their Nigerian commercial capital at theduties Eko with high level of professionalism, integrity, Convention Centre. diligence, and fairness to all parties”.

The conference, with Stanbic IBTC as of brought Finance, who statedover this a The goldMinister sponsor, together while inaugurating the new commissioners in 300 participants comprising government Abuja, also implored the commissioners to avoid officials, corporates, Banks, fund managers, unnecessaryand delays and adjournment of cases investors, advisors.

It is the premier and that their decisions should be in line with event connecting fundraisers with lenders tax laws. and investors active within the Nigerian Ahmed said that the government’s desire to capital market space. achieve a sustainable growth development The event featured over and 30 key industry of our economy has informed thelocal concerted speakers who shared views on asset efforts by successive governments overpensions the time management, developments in the to reform the Nigerian taxmanagement system, among space, others. and alternative asset According to her, one of the outcomes of and issues affecting institutional investors; thewell seriesasofproviding reforms is insights the strengthening of the as on the capital appeal process and creation of the Tax Appeal market strategies of leading sovereign, Tribunal byand the project Federal companies.

Government in 2010. corporate She conference noted thatalso thefacilitated establishment of the The networking Tribunal marked veryregion’s significantmost milestone in meetings with athe active issuers, offering a sneak peek into proposed new innovative financing structures.

Chairman of the event and Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC, Demola Sogunle, in his welcome address, said the

conference is growing in stature as a major the annals of nation’s tax dispute resolution platform to our glean useful information on mechanism. capital market developments, especially minister “One the critical at The a time that said, access toofcapital hasobjectives become of the government in setting up the Tribunal is to imperative for Nigeria in the wake of global reduce the incidence of tax evasion and improve market volatility. the“The taxpayers’ confidence.

Others include bond market plays a central rolethe in need to ensure fairness and transparency the the deepening of financial markets notofonly tax administration to minimize delays and for the diversity and of products it offers the bottlenecks in the adjudication of tax disputes. market but essentially its role in improving an essential component the ‘change’ the“As diversification of fundingofsources and agenda of the present administration, increasing access to credit markets. It is, Nigeria launched a Revised Tax therefore, the right time to National ensure that Policy in January 2017 and a provided tax proper structures are in place to ensure amnesty platform ofthrough the expansive Voluntary the development a deep and Assets and Income bonds, loans and Declaration derivativesScheme. marketVery in fundamentally, the stated. current tax policy of the Nigeria”, Sogunle government emphasizes areas harnessing all He said by throwing its of weight behind necessary towards the event,inputs Stanbic IBTCachieving hopes tovoluntary trigger tax compliance.

We, therefore, you to ensure the inflow of foreign directurge investment into quality service delivery in line extanthuge laws, Nigeria by highlighting the with country’s particularlyand in supporting the government This, quest potential growth opportunities. to improve generation and minimize the he said, is revenue in line with the group’s tradition monolithic dependence on oil revenue. of facilitating must-attend forums where “The insights government the Tax critical on has the strengthened Nigerian economy Appeal Tribunal by ensuring that the tribunal and the opportunities therein are provided.is constituted the six zones in Headlineacross speakers at geo-political the event included Director-General, Debt Management Office, Patience Oniha; Senior Resident Representative in Nigeria, International Monetary Fund(IMF), Amine Mati; Acting Director-General, Securities and Exchange centres and shut down the airspace.

He, however, said that the industry unions were not unmindful of existing Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) arrangements Nigeria had with foreign countries whose airlines the Managing Director, Ademola Adebise, operate into the country, stressing that thevisited issue five schools acrossone, fivewhich different states in at hand was aeach domestic should not be each of to theaffect Geopolitical zones including Edo, allowed international airline operators.

Bauchi, Oyo, Ogun, and Enugu.

He recalled that during the fuel pump price hike at one of the allowed schools international visited, Mr. of Speaking January 2012, the unions Adebise explained an interactive sessionfrom with6 airline operators to in reschedule their flights some that there secure am tostudents 6 pm, stressing thatisifno thefuture strikeaswent on as the futuresuch of a person who saves. planned, treatment may recur.

“Don’t ever forgetthat thatthe yourunions journey to building Ahmadu stated had allowed ainternational wealthy future startstowith nurturing a good and carriers operate into the country sustainable savings some culture today,” caught Adebiseintold in the past because Nigerians the the webstudents. had traveled into the country for holidays 1924tototheir promote the countries value of andIntroduced needed to in return respective bank savings, theadding World that Savings also aims to resume work, someDay were equally to promote savings inmedical. educational institutions traveling on scheduled

Commission of Nigeria, Mary Uduk; addition to the ones in Lagos and Abuja for ease General Manager/Corporate Treasurer, and accessibility the taxpayers.

Additionally, MTN Nigeria, byIshmael Nwokocha; and we have alsoDirector expandedand the Chief Lagos Tribunal to Managing Executive three panels to Pensions facilitate Ltd., the timely Officer, Sigma Dave resolution Uduanu. of Oniha, appeals who emanating spokefromon Lagos. the Going topic forward, the government workingwhat towards “Understanding Islamic is Finance: are the strengthening the operations legal the requirements,of processes and and benefits framework the this Tax Appeal Tribunal in line of tapping ofinto market”, enumerated with the recommendation of the National Tax the impact of Islamic finance in the growth Policy Review trajectory of Committee.” many countries across the Earlier, the Permanent Ministry of world.

While making a Secretary, case to harness this Finance, Dr. Mahmoud had she said,also the very important sourceIsa-Dutse, of funding, Tax Appeal Commissioners highlighted government’sbeing keyinaugurated funding today are “expected to hold the officefunds for a term requirements and where will of threefrom years, which is subject to renewal for come and the role of government in another term of three years projects. only” delivering infrastructure He noted the Tribunal is one of The forum that had panel discussions which the windows provided tax featured in-depth analysisinof Nigeria’s case studies, administration system which offersuse an aggrieved as well as examining Africa’s of debt party the opportunity exploreto other dispute products, and what isto required sustain the resolution mechanisms before gaining access to continent’s growth story. theALaw Courts.

Amongst other things, it helps panel session on ”Bringing issuers and to reducetothe of themarkets: over-laden regular traders thecaseload NGN bond Boosting courts by providing lessvolumes” formal forafeatured for quicker, liquidity and trading as cheaper and expert of tax President, disputes in discussants; Maryresolution Uduk, Vice the public interest.

Financial Markets Dealers Association, Adetoun Dosunmu; and Head of Global Markets, Stanbic IBTC, Sam Ocheho. It was moderated by Konrad Reuss, Managing Director, South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, S&P Global He said: “The fact isRatings. that we are affiliated with labour centres and we are under obligation to comply with directives. So, from the strike notice issued so far, we are to shut down by mid-night of today. However, as we speak, the tripartite such as schools of the member and discussions have resumed; they arecountries in a meeting thus various movements planned and we hope savings that something good were will come out in schools. so It emphasizes importance of of the meeting that we will the no longer embark savings to economic development and provides on the strike. an “You excellent occasion at how fintech may know, we aretoinlook a very volatile industry. help challenge of savings.

This solve is ourthenational problem; we have several In its agreements 72 years ofwith existence, Wemanations Bank bilateral most foreign has thefly savings culture among its that encouraged their airlines into Nigeria.

It is our customers and has We reinforced domestic problem. should this not position allow it by to setting up affect ALAT,the a digital thatinternational offers 10% adversely fortunesbank of the interest onWe savings.

There aarecorridor two variants of operators. have offered where we savings on ALAT; ALAT and ALAT Savings will accommodate them.Stash The primary shut down Goal.

Customers can industry enjoy 10%sointerest both we have had in this far wason during variants despitePresident the flexibility they the priceregardless hike of of former Goodluck offer.

Jonathan.

Nationwide strike: Foreign airlines may be exempted - Union boss Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo

There are strong indications that foreign Wema Bank encourages students on healthy savings culture airlines operating into the country may not adversely be affected by the planned grounding Oseni following agitation for of Motolani activities in Nigeria, wage increase by the nation’s unions.

In a is bidas to foster unions a healthier and empathised sustainable This aviation said they savings culture inoperators kids, and Wema Bank has with the domestic other business encouraged build healthy organisationsNigeria in the students industrytothat would be savings an earlysaying stage inthat life.as affiliated affectedhabits by theat action, The lender recently joined the to world in members of labour centres, they had comply celebrating the World Savings Day under with their directives. theSpeaking theme “decoding the financial oneducates with our correspondent phone, challenge.”

The bank visitedPresident several schools Comrade Illitrus Ahmadu, of Air across the country encourage to build Transport Servicesto Senior Staffstudents Association of healthy habitssaid and that educate themtripartite on the Nigeria savings (ATSSSAN) if the ways to grow theyGovernment manage to save. meeting with the little Federal failed, the Seniorwould members staffdirective of the Bank, including unions obeyofthe of the labour

POLITICS TIMES g Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, November 10, 2018

17

How we tried to save Ambode’s second term - Adefuye Alade Tasma Leaders of the All Progressive Congress (APC), in Lagos East Senatorial District have denied insinuations that leaders of the party in the district did not make case for Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on his second term ambition.

Speaking at a reconciliatory meeting of the district held at CMD Shangisha, Lagos on Thursday, Senator Anthony Adefuye who spoke on behalf of the leaders disclosed that they did their best to have a meeting with the Governor before the issue went out of hand all to no avail.

“People accused me of removing Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, but the truth is that we saw this crack four months ago and we decided to meet with our Lagos Central Senatorial Leader, Alhaji Tajudeen Olusi and three of us went to see Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

“We asked Tinubu if there was any problem, and he said that there was a problem and narrated it.

“We prostrated and asked him to call the governor and speak with him. He agreed to call him that day and asked him to remove the Commissioners for Finance, Hon. Akinyemi Ashade and Commissioner for Justice, Kazeem Adeniji (SAN).

“We left the place and started calling the governor to give him a hint of the meeting, but he did not pick our call.

“Tinubu also said the governor

Adefuye

was not picking his calls too. I actually tried my best, but it continued like that.

However, Tinubu promised to call us after speaking with him,” Adefuye stated.

The former Senator also revealed that he spoke with the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo during Sallah that Asiwaju Tinubu would not return the governor and urged him (Osinbajo) to see Tinubu over the issue.

Adefuye further explained that he went to Epe on the second day and tried to see the governor, “while in Epe, I called him, (Ambode) but he did not pick his calls.

“They said I would not see him until the following day, a Sunday, but they later said he would not see me that he was going to Lagos.

“We also tried to see Asiwaju Tinubu, but they said he was not around and we

called Hon. Sikiru Oshinowo to help us see Tinubu so that we could see him.

“We later met with Tinubu, unfortunately, the governor did not get back to us despite all our efforts.

“We saw Asiwaju at 10pm and he told us a lot of things till 12 midnight. We then told Asiwaju to call GAC meeting and invite the governor and the governor was able to speak with us for the first time.

It was a great opportunity that we lost,” Adefuye stated.

The party leader therefore, advised party faithful in the district not to put anybody that is not a member of the party in any sensitive positions. Pointing out that politics is about what one can get for his people as a good leader, saying a leader may be disgraced when fighting for his people.

Another leader of the party in the district, Chief Lanre Rasak said the district has not been able to resolve its issues like those in the Lagos Central and West Districts.

He then gave a report of a meeting held by the leaders in the district on 31st May, where it was agreed that the district should be divided into zones.

“We decided to have a senatorial leader and deputy senatorial leader as well as a district committee. Members would be the Chairman, then a zonal leader from Ikorodu and another one from Epe, and Kosofe would be members.

“It was agreed that three zones shall be established. Senator Anthony Adeduye was appointed the new

Senatorial Leader, while Alhaji Akanni Seriki (Baba Bamu) was appointed as the Deputy Senatorial Leader.

“For Ikorodu, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye is the Vice Chairman, while Omooba Sosanya would be Vice Chairman for Kosofe Zone while Chief Lanre Rasak is the Vice Chairman for Epe Division.

“Each vice chairman would chair the meeting in their areas while it was also agreed that nobody should break the chain of command in their area,” Lanre Rasak explained.

The new committee according to Chief Rasak would comprise members of the Governors Advisory Council (GAC), Senator Gbenga Ashafa, Hon. Sikiru Oshinowo, and the Vice Chairman of the party in the East, Chief Asipa Kaoli.

Also speaking at the forum, the Deputy Senatorial Leader of Lagos East, Alhaji Sikiru Akanni Seriki (Bamu) thanked Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for all his efforts.

While thanking the party’s Senatorial Candidate for Lagos East, Hon. Sikiru Oshinowo, Alhaji Seriki advised that the party should reward those who are working for the party before talking of those who did not work for the party.

“We should all go back home and work amongst our people at the ward levels. Those, who left for Labour Party then regretted it. We pray not to have a repeat of our bad experiences. We should all work for the unity of the party in our local levels,” Seriki concluded.

I have been treated badly by Akeredolu since I joined APC in Ondo, Olusola Oke insists Patrick Okohue The governorship candidate of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in last year’s election in Ondo State and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Olusola Oke has insisted that the state Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN has not treated him and his supporters fairly since they joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) after the election.

Reacting to a release by the APC and signed by the state Publicity Secretary, Mr. Alex Kalejaye suggesting that the party chairman in the state, Engr. Ade Adetimehin and Governor Akeredolu hold him in high esteem, Oke said nothing can be farther from the truth.

The senior lawyer in a statement signed by his Special Assistant, Omosayo David, noted that “Our attention has been drawn to a statement credited to the Ondo

State Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Alex Kalejaye, which created the impression that Chief Olusola Oke, SAN and his group are well appreciated within the party fold.

“Mr. Kalejaye equally said that the governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN and the State Chairman, Engr. Ade Adetimehin, have been relating well with the former governorship candidate of the Alliance for Democracy.

“While we concede the right to speak on behalf of the State chapter of the party to Mr. Kalejaye, we hold that he erred in attributing to the Governor the good steps he never took.

“We state categorically that Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has no iota of respect for the person of Chief Oke. In fact, he has treated our leader and the entire group with unimaginable disdain since we joined the party.

“Shortly after we returned to

the APC, Governor Akeredolu cut off every opportunity and channel to relate with him, and ignored every efforts by Chief Oke to have audience with him.

“It is curious that a leader who professes commitment to the fortunes of his party would treat politically experienced personalities like Oke and his group in that manner.

Our conclusion is that the governor believes only in the political strength of his so-called ‘Team Aketi’ to deliver votes for the party during elections.

We are not unaware that arrogance and exclusion do not translate into electoral victory in any election, and Ondo State would not be an exemption.

We therefore want to reinforce our earlier position that we have suffered a high level of humiliation and rejection in the hand of Mr. Akeredolu and his team since we returned to the party.

Olusola Oke

Politics Times 18

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, November 10, 2018

My ordeal in the hands of police still a shock to me – Pelumi Rt. Hon. Jokotola Pelumi , a former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly is a frontline leader in the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a senior lawyer. He was recently arrested by the Police in the state, who raided his house on allegation of housing some cult members who were allegedly involved in the killing of a senior police officer in the Agbowa Area of Epe Lagos. In a chat with select journalists, Pelumi speaks on the incident insisting that the allegations by the police are complete falsehood assuring that he will get to the root of the matter. PATRICK OKOHUE was there.

You were recently arrested by the police on allegations of having criminal elements in your house, what really happened?

On Saturday, October 27, one of our former councillors and one of our leaders, the mother died and he was to do a party, the venue of the party was close to my house, a trekking distance, four of us were to go to the party, but when we came out of the house I saw people running all about and that made me uncomfortable and with that I said I wasn’t going to the party again, so we came back and sat in front of the house. We were just relaxing, some were playing draft, some playing cards, it’s a usually busy place, they call that place Bourdilon, suddenly we started hearing shooting, so because of that people were no longer going through the street were the party was holding, they were now going through the front of my house. When we saw that we asked some of the people what happened and they said they killed one policeman, we were alarmed, everybody immediately dispersed, that was how I went inside, that was a little after 6pm or thereabout, so I took my shower and was about to go to bed, then I started hearing noise and banging on the gate with people shouting open the gate. My cousins and their wives were living with me, my cousins were outside, I think when they saw the policemen coming they ran into the compound and locked the gate, but one of the policemen jumped through the fence into the compound, opened the gate for others and they started smashing all the reflective glasses and windows, they break the security door that leads into my apartment, then I came out from my bedroom and saw about six or seven of them, fully armed, some with cutlasses and cudgels.

You mean they were policemen?

Yes, policemen with cutlasses and cudgels, one grabbed me and I said look I am former Speaker, they wanted to take my cousins away, those are among the ones that were later arraigned and I said what have they done, they said they are the ones that killed the policeman and I said, no not these ones, when I said I am former Speaker one of them said Speaker my foot and hit my face with the butt of the gun, immediately blood started oozing out of my face and there was blood all over the place, that was how they dragged me in my pants and put us in a bus outside, threw a teargas inside the

bus and locked all the windows.

There is this boy that sleeps in my gate house, Alado, he has a machete cut on the head. So they took us to Agbowa Police Station, dropped us there, that vehicle went away, they went and raided other people and brought them in again, all together by their own count about 49 people.

Then they came to me and said you former Speaker, honourable habouring criminals, I said I don’t know what you are talking about, they took us to Panti overnight.

When we inquired from some of the people arrested that were running about earlier, they said one policeman was killed, that same road where the party held is the same road that leads to Ikosi beach, that they went to do operation there, maybe the anti-cultist unit of the police, that they went to do a raid, I really don’t know the details, I wasn’t there and that by misadventure a policeman died, but the story that we heard was that their own vehicle while attempting to get away from the boys, perhaps they tried to overpower them, that in an attempt to get away the vehicle ran over the man and that was how he died, they said he is a DSP or so.

They said the police now came back and raided the party, if you see some of those boys that were paraded, the ones in T-shirts are said to be servers at the party and lately I heard that one of them is a student of LASU and that he just came to do that day job. I am not defending them, but my own cousins are among the ones arraigned, these are my cousins, Kazeem and Adekunle.

It was when I came back to the house that I told them not to go to the party again because of what I heard, because I know the police will not take it easy, they were not at the party, I was not at the party. Later, after they took us to the police station they ransacked my house, vandalised the house, I will show you the pictures, all the plasma TVs there, in the two sitting rooms and my private sitting room, damaged them, the one in my bedroom, damaged everything, took away my gold, my hand chains, took away my two Rolex gold watches, took away money about N38,000, then $10,000 in a white envelop taken, brake all the glasses, tables, the chandeliers, even entered the kitchen and did so much damage, the air conditioners, the condensers outside dragged them down and damaged them, you can go there to see for yourself, even men of Panti CID have been there.

me on a personal note, I don’t want to preempt the system, I will allow the law to run its course, allow the system to take care of issues and whatever transpires from there will determine what next steps that I take, but you can be sure of one thing, that level of vandalisation and harassment which are all documented we will have to seek redress for that, because it is a gross abuse of state power.

Do you suspect that this may be a targeted attack at your person?

I don’t engage in speculative ventures, I am not a flippant person, I am a lawyer and my job is about details, I don’t make representations about things I do not know, that I am not privy to. If we have to do anything it will be determined by the course that the law takes, I am not going to preempt the system.

I have absolute respect for the Nigerian Police and I am sure they have capacity to unravel the truth of the matter.

Pelumi

The injury you see on my face is a butt of the gun by one of them.

Eventually on Sunday morning they took me to the police clinic in Falomo that is where it was stitched on the directive of the DC Panti and then on Monday they put us in a car and took us to Ikeja as if they were going to arraign us in court, I later learnt they paraded my cousins among the people, two of the boys paraded are my cousins.

Are they living with you?

Yes, I come home every Friday and once I come they all move to stay with me, with their wives and children and are with me until I leave on Sunday, so every Friday they are with me.

So, what is your next step of action now?

Not to be preemptive of the system, I believe the system will take care of issues, as a senior member of the bar and as a senior stakeholder in the state I have implicit confidence in the capacity of the system to get to the bottom of the case and unravel the whole thing and again the House of Assembly, where I was the Speaker, I am told raised it on the floor of the House and actually sent Principal officers to the court room on Tuesday, when we were arraigned. So, I expect that the House of Assembly as an institution will also do what it has to do in the circumstance, but for

I expect that the House of Assembly as an institution will also do what it has to do in the circumstance, but for me on a personal note, I don’t want to preempt the system, I will allow the law to run its course, allow the system to take care of issues and whatever transpires from there will determine what next steps that I take, but you can be sure of one thing, that level of vandalisation and harassment which are all documented we will have to seek redress for that, because it is a gross abuse of state power.

If you are to put a price at the cost of vandalisation what will it be?

It will run into millions. My gold alone runs into hundreds of thousands, wristwatches, chandeliers, three large plasma televisions, home theaters, reflective windows round the house, it will run into millions if we were to undertake a valuation exercise, but I will want the professionals to do it and I also want you to visit the place and do the evaluation by yourself.

In the process of arraignment were you also arraigned?

Yes, I was arraigned for accessory after the fact, something like that and applications were made for them to release us on self recognition and the magistrate attached certain conditions, which were met. I was officially granted bail by the court.

How many days were you in their custody for?

We were taken in on Saturday at about 7 pm, we were in Panti overnight, taken to Ikeja on Monday and then brought back again and formerly arraigned at the Magistrate Court in Oyingbo on Tuesday.

During the whole episode was there anybody picked from your house either taking refuge or living there that any of the police officers could identify as being directly involved in the fracas that led to the death of the officer?

None whatsoever, nobody was identified, these are my cousins.

ARTS & CULTURE TIMES g19

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, November 10, 2018

QMA 32 finalists goes to camp Stories: Chris Onuoha About 32 finalists have been shortlisted for the Queen Moremi Ajasoro cultural pageant camp programme scheduled to run for 2 weeks.

The cultural pageant under the auspice of the House of Oduduwa Foundation with support from Ooni of Ife’ s palace is one unique contest that was initiated in line with the Ooni of Ife’s mandate to promote art and culture in Yorubaland and beyond, and also to immortalise the heroine, Queen Moremi Ajasoro.

The programme that started with selection of eligible contestants held last week in a 3-day hectic audition process in Ile-Ife, handled by seasoned cultural experts, produced the 32 qualified finalists out of about 400 registrants that indicated interest.

A statement from the organisers, House of Oduduwa, indicates that all plans are on ground to have a successful camp programme for the young ladies who will be embarking on a cultural journey that will change their life for good.

Line up of activities that the ladies will engage while in camp include exclusive cultural orientation to acquaint them with the task ahead, formal and informal tutoring on cultural values, cooking and domestic chores, cultural education to furnish them with Yoruba history among other things.

These, according to the statement is in line with the expected task and quality of who becomes an ambassador of the respected heroine, Queen Moremi Ajasoro. Besides, the essence of the rigorous camp experience is to imbibe the cultural values of Yoruba among youths who are losing touch with cultural realities.

“Having noticed the dearth of culture among youths of today, efforts in reviving it through cultural awareness programmes like this became

necessary to avert near extinct of our heritage. This will also prepare them for future as custodians of culture,” stated the organisers There will also be daily evictions by celebrity judges who will task the girls and judge them according to their performances. They will visit various historical places in the ancient city of Ife to know more about the history of the land. They will also perform some cultural task during the Council of Oba’s conference to hold within the period.

The most qualified will stay in camp for 2 weeks before they procced to Ogun State for the Grand Finale to hold by December.

The Global Cultural Ambassador of Queen Moremi Ajasoro initiative, Princess Ronke Ademiluyi while speaking on behalf of the organisers, Oduduwa Foundation, stated that the whole essence of the rigorous preparation is to show that whoever wears the crown as Queen matches the feat of the heroine in deed, character and charisma.

Face of Nigeria pageant gives out 3 cars to new queens

Bespoke event centre, Lekki lagos was temporarily brought to a standstill last Sunday night when it played host to over 1000 guests for this year’s edition of the prestigious Face of Nigeria beauty pageant event.

The fashion event attracted notable personalities,socialites and actors who came out to witness the 5th edition of the annual pageant event themed “The independent woman”.

The event was laced with music,dance and professional displays. Expectedly, the 30 contestants took time out to flaunt their fabulous figures, curves and good looks on the runway.

At the end of the show,two main winners were crowned: Miss Enugu, Linda Onuora and Miss Abuja, Joy Nguma got a Lexus Es 350 and Toyota Corolla Car plus other cash prizes respectively.

Other third winner, Miss Benue, Chika Nwachukwu also got a brand new Toyota Prado.

Top 5 Winners include “MISS ENUGU” Linda Onuora; “MISS ABUJA” Joy Nguma; “MISS BENUE” Chika Nwachukwu; “MISS EBONYI” Barbie Madu; “MISS IMO” Courage Ifeoma Ugboaja and “MISS ONDO” Nikky Ejerenwa respectively.

The Pageant Producer, Mr Ozoya Salami stated that the platform is totally focused on the winners and contestants as so many contestants won cash prizes and gifts even without becoming winners on the night.

While addressing the news men, the organizer thanked all the sponsors: Royal Heriatge Entertainment Agency, X Touch Mobile, Sapphire scents, Mikini Cosmetics, Transform Nigeria and everyone who came out to grace the Occasion for the success of this year’s edition.

There is a purpose for our creation… We need to find it and start living according to it – Abiola Salami Abiola “Champ” Salami is an internationally published author and motivational speaker, who within less than a decade of mentorship and inspirational speeches has impacted on millions of people globally.

He is recognized as a Global Young Leader. Salami has coached several young people and business executives all across Nigeria, Africa & the United States of America.

He tells Vanguard about his journey towards the 1 Billion Champions Goal as well as the CHAMP Xceptional Leadership BootCamp coming up in December and a lot more My story Abiola “Champ” Salami is a gentleman with a passion to inspire people to rock their world like champions.

I’m proudly Nigerian and African and I was raised, bred, buttered in Nigeria and then sold out to Africa and the world to inspire people to rock their world like champions. Everything started with a discovery. And it all started in my penultimate year in the university where I was searching for meaning in life. Prior to that time, I had read many books and have been exposed to many insights and philosophies about life and it all came to one thing for me that every human being was created for a purpose. In those days, people described me and being multitalented but, I discovered that without a sense of personal leadership, an individual can be multi-talented and multi-confused at the same time. The discovery of purpose led me to understand that I can combine all my gifting towards inspiring other people to think better, do better and live better. That is the entire purpose of CHAMP. The discovery that time led me to a further discovery that I didn’t have the requisite knowledge, skills and relationships for the delivery of the vision so I had to go through a process. That’s what got me into working in four thriving industries – Non-Governmental Organization, Health Maintenance Organization, Banking and Consulting. And finally after nearly a decade of working in these industries, I resumed running full time with The CHAMP Vision on 1st of December 2012.

How was starting like?

The beginning days were quite interesting. Most times when you start something new, people don’t pay attention to you. Some think you are wasting time; some

don’t even want to hear you speak at all. In fact, someone I have a lot of admiration for at some point said I should go and bring my CV because he thinks I am running CHAMP because I am jobless. Why? There were many people who felt I didn’t know what I was doing at the beginning of the project. You have to choose the right Peers and Mentors and there is Dr. Christopher Kolade who has been a great source of inspiration in encouraging me even when things aren’t going well. Many were skeptical about this new thing that seems not to have a success path - there was no evidence. But these are the things I found: Firstly, you need passion as energy. It works for you when nothing else is working. It’s also what fuels your vision when you are seeing one thing and everyone is seeing something else. So with full passion to inspire and persuade people to rock their world like champions, I went head on into what looked uncertain. It is six years down the lane and things are getting better by the day.

By your definition who is a CHAMPION? Our working definition of a Champion is any individual that is committed to using his or her competence, character, creativity, courage and compassion to make a positive difference anywhere in the world - family, industry, community. Our own commitment is working with anyone that shows this commitment to develop the necessary skills required while also providing opportunities for them to deliver the Champion in them to the world. So we fill the gap between desire and delivery of the vision of Champions.

With the Champions message, we focus on Workforce Productivity, Women Empowerment and Youth Leadership. And our goal is to have inspired 1 Billion Champions by November, 2026.

My exposures abroad Some years ago, I was invited by the administration of President Barack Obama to the US on a US Consulate Program called IVLP. That exposed me to a lot of lessons in leadership from Educational, Business and SocioPolitical Institutions. Two of the Educational institutions that made a huge impact on me were, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio and University of Florida, Jacksonville, Florida. Mentorship While I have been Tutored closely by the likes of John c. Maxwell, Les Brown & Brian Tracy, I have enjoyed

immense Mentorship & Support from the following people Dr. Christopher Kolade (CON); Chief Oyekunle Alex-Duduyemi; Mrs. Mosun Belo-Olusoga; Dr. Herbert Wigwe; Mr. John Obaro; Mr. Jimi Awosika; Prof. Pat Utomi; Mr. & Mrs. Udezue; Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

It is important to note that whatever dream you have; you are the first to step out to pursue it. Even when you have no proof of concept, your passion should be evident enough; and gradually the world will start opening up to embrace your dream. That is how we got here today.

We opened Champ city last year As part of our commitment to inspired 1 Billion Champions, we opened CHAMPCity, an inspirational center in 2017. CHAMPCity is the place where despite your gender, religion, ethnicity, race or political leanings, people can come and learn to rock their world like Champions. Champ City is growing fast and we have training facilities where people make use of and there are up to 15 programs available for those who desire to learn. We also have a free monthly business and career advancement series through which we build the capacity of Professionals & Entrepreneurs. We leverage our strong network of Top Professionals from different industries to share experiential knowledge and experience has been phenomenal. So far we have engaged about five hundred plus people within a year. And our goal is to have inspired One Billion Champions by Monday 30th November 2026. We started counting in 2016 after we inspired 2.3 Million across 30 countries, last year we inspired 5 Million across those countries and based on our 2018 interim reports we have inspired 8.25 million across 30 countries.

consistent high performance.

This book will be presented at CHAMP International Business & Leadership BootCamp in December 2018.

It is a high profile leadership development program with the theme Xceptional Leadership – Accelerating the Performance OF High Performing Champions. The target audience are high performers within organizations and we will be privileged to have in attendance His Excellency, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Christopher Kolade, Mrs. Mosun Bello Olusoga, Dr. Herbert Wigwe, MD, Access Bank, Mr. Jimi Awosika and many others that will be on the faculty. It is a two day-program with a lot of learning and fun activities. We will also be celebrating our 10million Champions milestone and 6 Years of CHAMP.

What is ‘You Too Can Be An Xceptional Leader’ about?

‘You Too Can Be An Xceptional Leader’ is my forthcoming book based on the philosophy that for any social entity to experience transformation, everyone that identifies with that entity, should develop competencies in Personal, Visionary & Sustainable Leadership. The foreword is being written by the His Excellency Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (GCON). Some people say leaders are born but we believe anybody can develop these competencies not just to be an ordinary leader but an exceptional leader. It is a book every forward-thinking organization should invest in, to empower their workforce to deliver

Youths are leaders I prefer to call every young person an Emerging Leader. Every emerging leader need to have realistic expectations. Because statement like ‘I want to be my own boss’ is good to say but when it comes to the reality of it, it is good to know that everybody has a boss. Hunger can be your boss. At times, responsibilities can also be your boss. What you need to know is to discover what you are supposed to do and the purpose. Then, grow through, sowing seed to benefit other people and no leader should jump up saying ‘I want to start a business.’ First, in the place you are now, how faithful are you? Also know that the things you sow are what you will reap.

Abiola

Classified 20

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, November 10, 2018

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FOREIGN TIMES

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, November 10, 2018

g 21 Austrian ex-officer suspected of spying for Russia for years

Somalia: At least 20 killed in Mogadishu explosions, gunfire At least 20 people have been killed and 17 wounded in explosions followed by heavy gunfire in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, according to police.

Plumes of smoke billowed into the air on Friday as at least two car bombs went off near the popular Sahafi Hotel and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).

Initially, “two blasts struck the perimeter of the Sahafi Hotel along the main road,” Ibrahim Mohamed, police official, was quoted as saying by the

AFP news agency.

A third explosion later hit the busy street, according to witnesses.

Although the attackers “failed to access the hotel, the blasts outside the hotel killed many people”, Mohamed Hussein, police captain, told The Associated Press news agency.

Twitter Ads info and privacy Some of the victims were burned beyond recognition when one car bomb exploded next to a minibus, police said.

“I’ve pulled many dead bodies from the cars,” Mohamed Aden, a witness of the attack, told Al Jazeera in Mogadishu.

“The number of casualties is unknown as bodies are still being pulled from the burning cars”.

“The street was crowded with people and cars, bodies were everywhere,” said Hussein Nur, a shopkeeper who suffered light shrapnel injuries on his right hand.

“Gunfire killed several people, too.”

Another police captain, Mohamed

Ahmed, was quoted by the Reuters news agency as saying 22 civilians were killed, along with six of the attackers.

“So, in total, 28 people died,” Ahmed said.

Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack, according to its Adalus radio station.

The armed group has been carrying out frequent attacks in the Somali capital in its bid to topple the country’s internationally recognised government.

Mass grave with 200 bodies unearthed in eastern Ethiopia Ethiopian police have unearthed a mass grave with an estimated 200 bodies in an area between the country’s Oromia and Somali regions, according to stateaffiliated media.

Fana Broadcasting Corporation said on Thursday the grave was found during an investigation into atrocities allegedly carried out by a paramilitary force known as the “Liyu Police” that were seen as loyal to Abdi Mohammed Omer, the former president of the Somali region.

Adbi was forced to resign on August 6 and was later arrested after fighting broke out in the provincial capital, Jigjiga, and surrounding towns. He is now in detention facing trial for alleged human rights violations.

According to Fana, police were granted 14 days to unearth and do forensic examinations on the bodies.

“If these mass graves are proved to be related to a systematic attack to the local populations, certainly, we are looking at a case of war crimes and crimes against humanity,” Awol Allo, a lecturer at Keele University’s School of Law and an expert on Ethiopia, told Al Jazeera.

“The man in the centre of this theatre cannot really wash his hands.”

‘Absolute control’ The eastern region has been plagued by violence for decades as the government fought the secessionist Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) before both sides signed a peace deal last month.

Human rights groups have often accused Abdi’s former administration of human rights abuses.

In July, US-based group Human Rights Watch (HRW) alleged that Abdi was running a secret jail where

suspected ONLF members were tortured.

In a letter to the commissioner of African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, HRW said it had documented cases of abuse, rape and humiliation in Jigjiga central prison that directly involved the Liyu Police.

Awol said the unofficial militia “were directly accountable and loyal to him (Abdi) long before he became president - after he became president, he had absolute control.”

In August, Ethiopian officials said the Liyu Police carried out an attack that killed 41 people and wounded 20 others.

‘Accountability for victims’ When ethnic Somalis and Oromos clashed in border areas over claims to land and resources in the previous months, several hundred others were also reportedly killed.

Since taking power in April, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has overseen a number of reforms and pursued a reconciliation strategy, steering the state away from a hardline security policy in place for decades.

But Abiy’s moves have yet to halt ethnically motivated violence, seen as the new prime minister’s biggest domestic challenge.

Awol noted, however, that the appointment of Mustafa Omer, a human rights campaigner who lived in exile, as acting president of the Somali region was a step in the right direction.

“At the centre, the federal government is taking some radical steps in terms of transforming the political landscape, but it is important that accountability for victims of human rights is also part of this transformation.”

Austria has launched a probe into an army colonel suspected of spying for Russia for decades, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has said, the latest in a string of cases where Moscow has been accused of espionage in European Union states.

The comments by the Austrian leader on Friday were quickly dismissed by Moscow.

Kurz told a press conference on Friday that the colonel, now retired, is suspected to have worked with the Russian intelligence since the 1990s and until this year.

“Of course, if such cases are confirmed, whether it be in the Netherlands or in Austria, it can’t improve the relationship between EU and Russia,” Kurz told reporters in Vienna.

He was referring to the expulsion of four Russian agents by the Netherlands in April for allegedly planning a cyber attack on the global chemical weapons watchdog at The Hague.

“Russian spying in Europe is unacceptable and to be condemned,” the chancellor said.

He said that Austria was “demanding transparent information from the Russian side” and that it would consult its European partners on further steps.

Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl summoned Russian authorities over the matter and cancelled an upcoming trip to Russia.

In response, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said he was “unpleasantly surprised” by the revelation and accused Austria of “making an accusation [Russia knows] nothing about.”

“If a country has concerns or suspicions about another country’s actions and its alleged involvement [is] seen as a threat, it should directly ask for an explanation in line with the international law,” Lavrov said.

Russia’s foreign ministry summoned the Austrian ambassador to Moscow to discuss the issue, saying the suspicions had “exacerbated” the two country’s “previously positive ties”.

Equipment handed over Austrian Defence Minister Mario Kunasek said the case came to light “a few weeks ago” as a result of information from another European intelligence agency.

“We can’t say for the moment whether this is an isolated incident or not,” Kunasek said.

He said that the colonel had handed over “technical equipment”, including his laptop which is being examined.

Kunasek said that during questioning, the colonel said the Russians were interested “in weapons systems, in the migration situation here in Austria in recent years”.

“Profiles of certain people were also created and passed on,” Kunasek said.

The case indicated that “even after the end of the Cold War, spying has continued and shows the need to tighten our security network, within Austria and within the defence ministry,” Kunasek said.

According to Austrian media reports, the colonel was paid an equivalent of $340,000 for his services.

Austria is not a member of NATO and asserts its status as a neutral country.

It was one of the few European countries not to expel Russian diplomats following the poisoning of ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Britain in March.

SPORTS TIMES Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, November 10, 2018

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi: Investments in sports have restored our legacy Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has stated that the deliberate policies introduced by his administration have restored the legacy of the state as a breeding ground for sporting talents in Nigeria.

Ugwuanyi added that the policies had also ensured that the state reaped the full benefits of sports and sports tourism to the socio-economic development of the state.

Speaking while receiving the National Sports Festival Torch, popularly known as Torch of Unity, from representatives of the Federal

Ministry of Sports, Abuja, when it arrived Enugu State, Governor Ugwuanyi noted with gladness that “the results from our investments in this regard have been most rewarding and encouraging”.

The governor disclosed that the investments were responsible for the remarkable feats recorded under his administration by the Rangers International Football Club of Enugu, which lifted the 2015/2016 Nigeria Professional Football League trophy and the recent 2018 NFF/AITEO cup after a dramatic comeback.

His words: “Just a couple of weeks ago, our darling Rangers International Football Club of Enugu won the Challenge Cup now known as the AITEO Cup after 35 years of its last triumph in the competition.

The club had broken another jinx two years earlier when it lifted the 2015/2016 Nigeria Professional Football League trophy for the first time in 32 years. Also in the same year, an athlete from Enugu State, Mrs. Lucy Ejike, won the gold medal at the Paralympics held in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil”.

Speaking further, Gov. Ugwuanyi maintained that “Enugu State is reputed to be one of the centres of sports excellence in Nigeria having produced many famous sports men and women”, stressing that the state has participated in all editions of the National Sports Festival since its creation in 1991.

The governor, who reiterated his administration’s conviction that sports harbors tremendous opportunities

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for economic growth, empowerment, employment generation, poverty alleviation as well as progressive youth and social development, also pointed out that “our schools have been providing the basic platform and environment for the discovery and nurturing of young talents” through the inculcation of sports awareness among school children while strengthening the state’s annual school sports festival.

“I want to assure you that we are leaving no stone unturned to ensure a laudable performance of the state at the 19th National Sports Festival scheduled to hold next month in Abuja”, Governor Ugwuanyi said.

He appealed to the private sector and other stakeholders in the country to complement the efforts of government by investing more robustly in the state’s sports sector “so that we can collectively, harvest its vastly untapped treasures for the benefit of our people more especially, the youth”.

Tiger Woods rejects $3 million to play in Saudi Arabia over Jamal Khashoggi’s death

Golf’s 14-time major winner Tiger Woods has turned down a record fee – believed to be $3 million not to withdraw from the Saudi leg of the European tour in the wake of the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey in October.

The figure paid to 42-year-old California native Woods to play in the European Tour’s inaugural event in Saudi Arabia next year, would have been his largest overseas appearance paycheck ever, The Telegraph reports.

That amount dwarfs any previous pay packet Woods has received for an overseas invitation in his glittering career, which has seen him travel extensively,

including to China and United Arab Emirates.

Since turning pro aged 20, Woods has won all majors, become a four-time PGA Championship winner and numerous times become the world’s number one golfer.

However Woods has refused to play in the government-sponsored event, that has already signed up Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed and Paul Casey to compete.

It is not yet clear whether Woods’ decision is political or if it was made to ease pressure on a back problem that could be agitated by long-haul travel.

Events in Saudi Arabia have become a

CAF appoints Shehu Dikko as Champions League final match commissioner CAF has appointed the second vice president of NFF, Shehu Dikko, as the match commissioner for the second leg of the CAF Champions League final between Esperance FC and Al Ahly.

The CAF Champions League final cracker will be played in Tunis.

Already, the NFF second vice president is in Tunis for the final of the biggest continental club championship.

In a related development, another Nigeria was also appointed as one of the officials for the Champions League final, he is Dr. Chris Omerua, a member of the NFF Integrity Committee.

Omerua has been appointed by CAF as the Security Coordinator for the grand final which would see the best of African football.

Shehu Dikko, who spoke from Tunis, expressed his delight for the CAF appointment of himself and Omerua, who have been saddled with the responsibility of taking charge of the two very important aspects of such a glamorous final match between the best two teams in the continent.

He said: “It is indeed a great honours for us to be involved in this

extremely important and headline match for CAF and all thanks to our president, Amaju Pinnick.

“We promise to give our best in the discharge of our duties.”

Al Ahly defeated Esperance 3-1 in the first leg final played on Friday, November 2, at the Borg El Arab Stadium. Al Ahly needs just a draw or a 1-0 defeat to clinch the title.

controversial issue following the killing of Washington Post journalist Khashoggi, who died after a visit to the Saudi Embassy in Istanbul.

Woods likely doesn’t want to deal with any negative backlash similar to what the WWE has dealt with after journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey.

Woods hasn’t commented publicly on why he turned down the pay day, but he doesn’t need the money, nor does he need the bad press. The event also takes place a week after the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines which is generally a regular stop on his PGA Tour schedule.

Super Falcons coach Thomas Dennerby denies exit rumours Super Falcons coach Thomas Dennerby has denied reports that he is about to dump the team few days to the Africa Women championship starting in Ghana this month.

Reports in some sections of local media has it that the Dane is on verge of dumping the most successful African Women football team over unpaid eight month salaries .

The Coach however denied the claim and reiterated his commitment to the Nigeria Women national team.

“I am in shock over the news that I have resigned my position as the coach of the team [Super Falcons],” Dennerby told Goal.

“I heard about the rumour too and was surprised because I never made such a decision. I am busy here [in Abidjan] with the team’s preparations and at no point spoke to anyone about resigning.”

The 59-year-old, who was appointed by the Nigeria Football Federation in

January to replaced former coach Florence Omagbemi said he never threatened the Nigeria Football Federation he will quit the team.

“I never threatened to quit the team and do not have such plans on my mind. At the moment, we need maximum concentration

for our preparations and any distraction now will do us no good.”

Meanwhile the Super Falcons will take on Asec Memosa U16 male side in Abidjan as they step up preparation for the tournament which kick-off in a few days.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, November 10, 2018

23 Sports Times

Umeohia Nnaedu emerges new Abuja Karate Board chairman The Abuja Karate Board of Nigeria has elected a new chairman.

He is Umeohia Nnaedu, the founder of Goodfathers Foundation, who emerged winner of the keenly contested election.

Before now Nnaedu had been quite active in the state and national activities as it concerns Karate tournaments and the organisation.

He has been promoting Karate by advocating for a blend of good fatherly leadership principles and sports.

Speaking after he was declared winner, the new chairman spoke on the state of Karate in Nigeria. He said many of Nigerian Karate athletes have shown great determination by winning several medals within and outside Nigeria.

Nnaedu said he believed that proper funding Karate could be one of the leading sporting activities in Nigeria.

He said, “I believe brands will support the growth of Karate in our Nation because of the benefits it adds to the development of the nation citizen.

“Karate as we know is not just a physical fitness exercise, it also creates in individual mental and emotional balance, therefore, producing individual who are resilient and can comfortably

lead in their different areas of profession”.

The new Chairman told newsmen that he was pleased to be elected by the Federal Capital Territory Karate Board to head the association.

He said he accepted the role with much gratitude and deep responsibility to focus the organisation’s effort in achieving the task ahead of them.

“Our promise is that at the end of this 4-year tenure, we hope that schools would include Karate as part of their sporting curriculum.

“We would visit schools across the state. And host various Karate tournaments to showcase and recognise outstanding students” he said.

Nnaedu also added that Karate is still a growing sport in Nigeria and that the government should support the growing sports by funding major tournaments.

Parents are advised to encourage their kids to participate in Karate as they stand to benefit not just from being physically active but also from the moral principle and discipline that they will experience.

Arsenal and Chelsea through to Europa last 32, Marseille out Arsenal and Chelsea were among seven teams to reach the UEFA Europa League knockout stage on Thursday, while last year’s runners-up Olympique de Marseille were eliminated at the group phase.

The two English Premier League teams were joined by Eintracht Frankfurt, Lazio, Bayer Leverkusen, FC Zurich and Dinamo Zagreb in the last 32.

But there are two games still to play before the draw for the next round in Nyon, Switzerland on Dec. 17.

Arsenal qualified with a 0-0 draw against Sporting at The Emirates, although striker Danny Welbeck was carried off on a stretcher in the first half with a serious ankle injury.

Chelsea won 1-0 at BATE Borisov in one of the early kickoffs.

A heavily-changed Arsenal side were unable to break down a dogged Sporting team, who were reduced to 10 men in the 88th minute.

That was when defender Jeremy Mathieu fouled striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as he raced towards the area.

However, the point was enough to guarantee the north London side a place in the last 32 atop Group E on 10 points, with Sporting behind them on seven.

Vorskla Poltava lost 1-0 to FK Qarabag, with both teams on three points.

Arsenal forward Welbeck was taken off on a stretcher and given oxygen in the 25th minute after landing awkwardly when jumping for a header.

The incident came only hours after he was named in the England squad for their next internationals.

Earlier, Chelsea’s France striker Giroud got his first goal this season in the second half to secure a win at BATE, meaning Maurizio Sarri’s side have qualified from Group L. “I think the first target in this competition was to qualify and now the second target is to win our group. So, I think we need one more point,” the Italian coach said.

“It’s very important because then we can talk again about this competition in February, when we will have another target.”

Chelsea have yet to lose under Sarri so far this season.

Marseille were dumped out when they lost 2-1 at Lazio in Group H. Goals from Marco Parolo and Joaquin Correa were enough to extend a miserable run for the French side, who have now lost four games in a row in all competitions.

Lazio, meanwhile, went through along

with Eintracht who eliminated Apollon Limassol with a 3-2 victory in the other game in the section.

Leverkusen joined both teams in the next stage after beating FC Zurich 1-0 at home in Group A but thanks to Ludogorets 0-0 draw with AEK Larnaca the Swiss side also progressed.

Dinamo Zagreb beat Spartak Trnava 3-1 to qualify from Group D while Anderlecht, UEFA Cup winners in 1983, were eliminated after their 2-0 defeat by Fenerbahce in the same group.

Sevilla, the most successful team in the history of the competition with five titles, went down to 10-men at Akhisarspor but came away with a 3-2 win in Group J. A late Ever Banega penalty kick ended the Turkish side’s qualifying hopes.

There was a goalfest in Russia as Spartak Moscow came from 3-2 behind to lead Rangers 4-3 in two minutes before the hour mark.

The home side’s eventual win took them to second place and level with their opponents on five points in Group G. Rangers’ domestic rivals Celtic kept their hopes alive with a 2-1 win over RB Leipzig in Group B, while AC Milan and Real Betis took a step towards qualifying with a 1-1 draw in Group F.(Reuters/ NAN)

Southampton sensation Michael Obafemi snubs Nigeria, opts for Ireland NFF through the Second Vice Chairman has revealed the disappointment of the body in Nigeria over the decision of Southampton forward Michael Obafemi who has picked Ireland ahead of Nigeria.

Born in Dublin to Nigerian parents, the 18 year old who was raised in London represented Ireland at youth level but he is among the players Nigeria were eyeing to switch allegiance to the Super Eagles.

Obafemi caught the attention of the NFF when he made his maiden

appearance for the first team of Southampton two years ago when he appeared off the bench in their Premier League game against Tottenham in January 2016.

That appearance made him the second youngest player to play for the Saints at the first-team level behind Luke Shaw and last weekend he made his second appearance against Manchester City, two years after his first game for the main team.

The pacy forward was high on the list of the NFF and according to vice-president of the association they tried to get him

Southampton sensation Michael Obafemi snubs Nigeria, opts for Ireland NFF through the Second Vice Chairman has revealed the disappointment of the body in Nigeria over the decision of Southampton forward Michael Obafemi who has picked Ireland ahead of Nigeria.

Born in Dublin to Nigerian parents, the 18 year old who was raised in London represented Ireland at youth level but he is among the players Nigeria were eyeing to switch allegiance to the Super Eagles.

Obafemi caught the attention of the NFF when he made his maiden appearance for the first team of

Southampton two years ago when he appeared off the bench in their Premier League game against Tottenham in January 2016.

That appearance made him the second youngest player to play for the Saints at the first-team level behind Luke Shaw and last weekend he made his second appearance against Manchester City, two years after his first game for the main team.

The pacy forward was high on the list of the NFF and according to vice-president of the association they tried to get him when the Eagles had a training camp in London but their effort didn’t see the light of the day.

Didier Drogba retires from professional football at 40 Africa Football and Chelsea Legend Didier Drogba’s illustrious career in professional football has finally come to an end at the age of 40.

The legendary Drogba has hung up his boots at the age of 40 following Phoenix Rising’s 1-0 defeat against Louisville City in the USL Cup final on Thursday night.

Drogba helped Phoenix reach the final by scoring three goals in three matches – including a magnificent free-kick in the team’s post-season opener – but, unfortunately, was unable to help his final club lift the trophy.

The 40-year-old who scored

10 goals in 14 games during his debut season in USA’s second tier before netting five goals in nine regular-season games this term, still bows out of football with an impressive collection of winners’ medals.

During his remarkable 20year playing career, Didier won four Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups, two Premier League Golden Boots and, of course, the UEFA Champions League with Chelsea.

Away from Stamford Bridge, he also won the Turkish Super Lig, the Turkish Cup, Turkish football’s Player of the Year award, and two African Player of the Year awards.

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