Buhari charges Western nations to take ICC serious Assures ICC of Nigeria’ssupport
Mathew Dadiya, Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has appealed to the developed countries to take the International Criminal Court (ICC) more seriously in order to strengthen
the rule of law and democracy. The president gave the assurance on Friday while receiving the Nigerian-born President of the ICC, Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji, at the State House, Continued on page 3
Troops kill 15 bandits in Zamfara g
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How 4 brothers allegedly killed artisan in Osun
FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2019
VOL. 3
NO. 977
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We’ve arrested 5 suspects in connection with the crime – Police
Olaniyi Ajibola, Osogbo Oke-Iba, a village in Ikirun, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Osun State is currently enveloped in tension and fear following a revelation that four sons of a popular Islamic cleric in the town allegedly killed a 25-year-old artisan, Azeez Adeleke, during an argument last Sunday. A close family source, known as Hakeem, who narrated how his relative was killed, informed journalists that the victim met his untimely death in the hands of the four men because he asked them to get off his motor-cycle. “The artisan attended a birthday party organised by one of his colleagues called
N6.2bn fraud trial: Court admits minutes of meeting as exhibits g5
Wasiu for his child. He had work to do which made him arrive at the venue of the event late. He got there around 5pm and left 7pm. “When he wanted to leave, he met four men sitting on his motorcycle and politely requested that they get off the motor bike so he can go home with it. But, they descended on him instead. He was beaten by the four of them with his clothes torn to shreds. “He struggled to get on the bike and got down at a filling station along Ekoende, where he asked people around the area for water to drink, but died later. The story in town is that he must have been hit with a powerful charm by the attackers,” Hakeem stated. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
PDP challenges Buhari, Osinbajo, others to publicly declare assetsg 5
Rumpus in Librarians MSMEs employ Registration Council 59.7m people in over appointment, Nigeria promotions g7 g
– SMEDAN
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No big deal marrying an aged g 11 man- Annjay Chioma
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How 4 brothers allegedly killed artisan in Osun Continued from page 1
Hakeem, who became quite emotional while briefing newsmen, said the incident has thrown members of the family, including the residents of the area into mourning. He also shared the mobile number of one Wasiu Sadiq, another witness to the assault, who confirmed the story and gave the names of the alleged killers as Simiu Hassan, Jelili Hassan, Abiodun Hassan and Ridwan Hassan. Wasiu said the artisan met the four sitting on his motor-cycle and upon asking them to let him carry his bike, they got angry and argued with him. A resident of the
community, Semiu Adeyemi, recounted how the suspects had been victimising the people of the area with impunity. He said the four brothers have constituted themselves as a big threat in the area, adding that they always threaten passersby with charms on the slightest provocation. Adeyemi, therefore, called on the police authorities and human right organisations to come to their rescue by ensuring that justice prevail over the murder of the young man by the four brothers. When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Folasade Odoro, said the Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Ige,
had directed thorough investigation into the matter. Odoro explained that the father of the deceased, Waheed Adeleke, reported the incident on Monday around 1:30am. “The deceased was lying unconsciously beside his motorcycle at TJ filling station and was then conveyed to Alayo private hospital where a doctor confirmed him dead. “Information revealed that some boys fought him at Emiloju Area of Ikirun where he attended his friend’s birthday. His remains have since been deposited in the morgue for autopsy. Five suspects have been arrested in connection with the crime,” she said.
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PHOTO TIMES
R-L: President Muhammadu Buhari receiving the President, International Criminal Court (ICC), Justice Chile Eboe-Osuji, during his courtesy visit to the State House, Abuja...on Friday.
Buhari charges Western nations to take ICC serious
Continued from page 1
Abuja. He also assured that Nigeria will continue to support the ICC as much as possible to enable it fulfill its mandate. According to the Nigerian leader, “The ICC provides a moral strength for victims to receive justice against internal and external injustice.” President Buhari also commended Judge EboeOsuji for the achievements of the ICC under his presidency. Earlier, the President of the ICC had congratulated President Buhari on his re-election and successful inauguration for a second tenure. He lauded the Nigerian leader’s “strong and unambiguous statement in support of the rule of law” and for the Court and its principles during his visit to the headquarters of the ICC in The Hague last July. Judge Eboe-Osuji appealed to President Buhari to continue to support the ICC, and to urge African leaders whose countries have not ratified the Rome Statute which established the Court to do the needful. Eboe-Osuji-Osuji was on March 11, 2018 elected by
the judges of the ICC for a three-year term. The Daily Times recalls that some African leaders had in different instances criticized the activities of the court. Rwandan President, Paul Kagame, had repeatedly accused the ICC of open bias against Africa, saying it has failed to mete out justice in any other part of the world. “The ICC was supposed to address the whole world, but it ended up covering only Africa,” Kagame said at a meeting with British-Sudanese telecoms tycoon and philanthropist, Mo Ibrahim, in Rwanda’s capital, Kigali recently. “From the time of its inception, I said there was a fraud basis on which it was set up and how it was going to be used. I told people that this would be a court to try Africans, not people from across the world. “And I don’t believe I have been proven wrong,” he added. The permanent court in the Netherlands was established by the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court treaty in 1998 in order to prosecute and punish individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and
crimes of aggression. It entered into force in 2012. But in recent years a number of African countries have threatened or announced plans to withdraw from The Hague-based court over what they call its disproportionate targeting of the continent. To date, all but one of the ICC’s 10 investigations have been in Africa and its five convicted suspects are from Democratic Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic and Mali. “There are many people across the world that should be tried by the court,” Kagame said. “Some leaders from African countries who are being tried by the ICC, whatever they are being tried for, [their crimes] have been committed in partnership with other countries, which the ICC don’t try,” he stated. Rwanda is not a party of the Rome Statute and Kagame himself has been a consistent and longstanding critic of the ICC, calling it in 2008 a “fraudulent institution”. Meanwhile, there have been calls from many quarters for Nigeria to exit the ICC based on perceived injustice.
L-R: Director, NASCON Allied Industries Plc, Olakunle Alake; Director, NASCON Allied Industries Plc, Halima Aliko Dangote; Chairperson, NASCON Allied Industries Plc. ‘Yemisi Ayeni; Director, NASCON Allied Industries Plc, Abdu Dantata; and Executive Director, Commercial, NASCON Allied Industries Plc, Fatima Aliko Dangote, at the 2018 Annual General Meeting of NASCON Allied Industries Plc, in Lagos.
Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele (middle) with CBN Deputy Governors during a recent function in Abuja, recently.
Divisional Head, Private Banking, Fidelity Bank Plc, Chioma Nwankwo (middle) with the Managing Director, Quelu Konsult, Mrs. Margaret Anyigbo (right); and Anne-Marie Abebe of Nubi Education, UK, (left), the facilitators of the Fidelity Private Banking Education Advisory Forum held in Lagos, recently.
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Saturday, June 29, 2019
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N6.2bn fraud trial: Court admits Troops kill 15 minutes of meeting as exhibits bandits in Zamfara Andrew Orolua, Abuja
Justice Daniel Longji of Plateau State High Court, sitting in Jos, has admitted as exhibits the minutes of meetings of the State Security Council and the State Executive Council between 2014 and 2015 in the ongoing trial of former Governor David Jang. Senator Jang is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for an alleged N6.2 billion fraud while in office. At the last sitting on June 13, 2019, counsel for Jang, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), had raised objections to the admissibility of the minutes of the State Security Council meeting and that of the State Executive Council between 2014 and 2015 during Jang’s tenure. Sunday Odey, counsel for Yusuf Gyang Pam, a cashier of the Office of the Secretary to the Plateau State Government, who is standing trial along with Jang, also objected to the admissibility of the document. Counsel for the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), while leading in evidence the ninth prosecution witness, Jonah Kabong, a civil servant in the office of the Secretary to the State Government, had sought to tender the documents.
Jonah Jang
Describing the documents as “crucial in the prosecution of the matter”, Jacobs had argued that “the government does not need an authority from itself to tender a document that’s within its custody”, stressing that what governed admissibility of a document in court was the Evidence Act. Delivering ruling at the resumed hearing, Justice Longji dismissed the objections and admitted the documents as exhibits P47 - P50. The trial court judge held that having carefully considered the submissions of both counsels on some of the issues raised, the documents are admissible. “The issues raised by the defence team are elementary,
and the crucial issue is that all the authorities cited are considered civil matters, and none of the documents tendered in support of their position has met requirement of the law in dismissing the application made by the prosecutions.” Justice Longji further held that: “Only the State Government knows the information that will jeopardise the security of the State and the government has released these documents, the PW9 did not tender it in a private capacity, he is a representative of the government and no private individual has the right to challenge it.” The case has been adjourned to July 10 and 11, 2019 for “continuation of trial”.
PDP challenges Buhari, Osinbajo, others to publicly declare assets Tunde Opalana, Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has challenged President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to publicly declare their assets as prove to Nigerians and the world that they are not corrupt and to demonstrate leadership by example. This is even as the party charged Senate President, Ahmed Lawan and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, to also make public their assets in other to convince Nigerians that they are indeed advocates of the anti-corruption crusade. A statement by the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Diran Odeyemi, made available to newsmen in Abuja on Friday, condemned the position of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), which has all the while, insisted that it could not release details of assets of the President and other top government officials without their consent.
The party, therefore, also called on all high- ranking political office holders to waive the caveat placed on the Code of Conduct Bureau and make their asset known to Nigerians. The statement noted that if former Chief Justice of the Federation, Walter Onnoghen, could be made to face prosecution for not declaring in full his asset, other top government officials should also submit themselves for public scrutiny through public declaration of what they own as asset. The party, however, queried the alleged tardiness of President Buhari in subsequently directing CCB not to release details of his assets in 2015 and now, 2019, for proper scrutiny to convince Nigerians that he is not corrupt and therefore capable of fighting corruption. The statement read: “We are of the opinion that President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan and Speaker,
House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila should declare openly their assets to allow Nigerians to further see how much wealth they have acquired since joining government. “We believe laying claim to sainthood is easy as President Buhari and others have been doing all along, but Nigerians deserve to see beyond whatever government forces down their throats. By making public declaration of their assets, Nigerians will be able to see better and judge accordingly.” The party further warned that should the President and others fail to make public declaration of their assets, further aspersions would be cast on the anti-graft efforts of the present administration. The statement also stressed that rather than build on several innovations to end graft introduced by PDP administrations, “President Buhari appears directionless and uncoordinated to stop corruption in the country.”
Troops of Operation Hadarin Daji have again killed 15 bandits terrorising innocent citizens in Dansadau district of Zamfara State. This came hours after the troops announced on Thursday, the killing of 29 bandits in an encounter in Moriki general area in the state. This was made known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday, in a statement signed by the Acting Force Information Officer, Lt. Ayobami OniOrisan. He said the bandits were overrun at their camps in Madada forest under Dansadau District in Magami of Maru Local Government Area of the state. The spokesman said: “The troops maintaining an aggressive posture, encountered heavy resistance from the heavily armed bandits who were eventually overpowered and ran away with bullet wounds. The gallant troops effectively neutralized 15 bandits and destroyed all their camps and logistics.” He, however, stated that one soldier was killed and a vigilante member seriously injured in the encounter. Oni-Orisan maintained that the troops had continued the pursuit of the fleeing bandits “with the explicit orders to destroy all camps and neutralize any resistance.”
He noted that Madada forest had become too notorious for harbouring heavily fortified bandits camps in the state. He recalled that, ” earlier, on 26 June, 2019, the troops, acting on actionable intelligence, apprehended two suspected bandits’ informants at Bagega notorious for spring on troops’ movement and deployments for onward relay to the bandits. “The troops also in Wanke and Kanoma of Maru local government recovered about 100 cattle from armed bandits who earlier rustled them from Kanoma district. “On sighting the troops, the severely demoralized and destabilized bandits fled the encounter and abandoned their mission in the area with gunshot wounds. “Furthermore, troops deployed at Faru equally recovered 14 cows at Tungar Hako forest abandoned by bandits afraid of the troops.” The statement restated the appeal of the Force Commander, Maj. Gen. Jide Ogunlade, encouraging members of the public to provide credible information to the troops that would assist in annihilating the bandits. The commander assured that the troops will not relent until banditry is completely wiped out from the state.
Buhari calls for collective effort by ECOWAS to combat transnational crime Okays Munich approach to tackling illicit flows
Mathew Dadiya, Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has called for collective and effective effort by ECOWAS member states to combat transnational organised crimes and illicit flows. President Buhari stressed that it was necessary that the member states in the region collectively bring adequate resources and reinforce the security challenges confronting the region, noting that “no government can do it alone.” The President said this on Friday during the Munich Security Conference held in Abuja, on the eve of the 55th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS. Buhari said that he was aware that one of the key facilitators of transnational organised crime including illicit flows is the porous nature of our borders. This, according to him, is a major challenge to the region. He said: “We will continue to count on the support of our international partners for new technologies to effectively police our borders. “Here in the West African sub-region we have taken important steps to address some of our security concerns through improved political governance as contained in the relevant regional mechanisms of ECOWAS, which I currently have the privilege of chairing. I therefore, welcome the Munich Security Conference for launching its Transnational Security Report in Abuja today. “I am pleased that the launching of this report on the eve of the ECOWAS Summit, offers a unique opportunity to bring together decision-makers and experts to discuss new cooperation approaches to counter the challenges of illicit flows and other transnational crimes.”
The Nigerian leader further expressed confidence that the deliberations of the report would produce positive results which will guide the leaders to strengthen their existing frameworks and strategies for durable solutions to their current cross-border security challenges. President Buhari therefore, commended the Munich Conference which he noted, has overtime, proven to be “a valuable and effective platform for addressing contemporary security challenges.” “With the advent of globalisation and new technologies bringing nations and peoples closer, and creating new opportunities of interaction and trade, comes significant issues of security. “We can see through the increasing number of evil actors, especially perpetrators of organized crime who profit from the illicit flows of assets out of the African continent. “In recent years, the challenges posed by illicit outflows of our resources have increased, with attendant sophistication due to the fast pace of technological advancement. Illicit flows have further fuelled terrorism and the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons. “Our sub-region is not only a victim of Illicit financial flows but also of human trafficking, arms and drugs trade with dire consequences on the wellbeing of our people and on national security,” the President added. According to him, it is common knowledge that illicit flows compound the problems of corruption and impede efforts towards sustainable economic growth. “This is why, I will continue to take decisive action to fight corruption and confront insecurity especially in the border areas,” Buhari reiterated. He maintained that relevant agencies had also been mandated to work towards strengthening regional and international partnership to address these threats.
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N6.9bn fraud: We’re still probing Short News Justice Valentine Ashi of FCT High Court is dead Fayose, says EFCC Peter Fowoyo, Lagos
A Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos on Friday heard that embattled former Governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose is still under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Fayose is being prosecuted by the anti -graft agency over N6.9 billion fraud and was first arraigned on October 22, 2018, before Justice Mojisola Olatotegun, alongside a company, Spotless Investment Limited on an 11 –count bordering on fraud and money laundering. He had pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail on October 24, 2018 in the sum of N50 million with sureties in like sum. The prosecution had opened trial on Nov. 19, 2018, and had so far called 13 witnesses out of the15 listed. However, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Adamu Abdu-kafarati transferred the case from Justice Olatoregun, to a new judge, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, following a petition by the EFCC seeking a transfer of the case.
Fayose was billed for re-arraignment before Justice Aneke on Friday, but counsel representing the prosecution, S. A. Obafemi asked the court to adjourn the case to a further date. He said that the commission was still investigating the defendant, adding that at present, there were no clear directives from the commission on the steps to take. “The matter is coming up for the first time before this court and the information we gathered from our client (EFCC) is that the first defendant is still being investigated for other matters. “The arraignment will not be possible this morning as we are yet to hear from the complainant on further steps to be taken,” he said. According to Obafemi, the main prosecutor of the case, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) was absent in court as a result of the situation. He therefore, urged the court to grant an adjournment. Responding, defence counsel, Ola Olanipekun (SAN) and Olalekan Ojo (SAN) respectively, opposed the request for adjournment, describing the EFCC as a nominal party to the suit and the federal
government the main party. According to the defence, there must be an end to litigation and the charge cannot lie before the court in perpetuity, adding that the commission has began investigation of the defendant even before expiration of his tenure as governor. Ojo specifically said: “The prosecutor has cited no law to back up this strange proposition of having this arraignment postponed, just because the prosecution is investigating the defendant for other cases. “The court has a mandatory duty to prevent persecution of any criminal defendant, as this is the only way the integrity of the criminal justice system can be guaranteed.” He urged the court to order the charge to be read over to Fayose. In considering the prayer for adjournment, the court first frowned at the request, on the grounds that the charge was transferred to the court and was slated for re -arraignment today (Friday) which is its main concern. The judge however, said that since it was not the main prosecutor (Jacobs) who appeared in the case, he would grant an adjournment in the interest of justice.
Andrew Orolua, Abuja
A judge of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Justice Valentine Ashi is dead. He died on Friday in an Abuja hospital after a brief and undisclosed ailment. Source at the Federal Capital Territory High Court confirmed that Justice Ashi died early hour of Friday. Though, the FCT High Court is yet to issue a statement to that effect, a source confirmed that late Justice Ashi relations have reported his demise to the authorities of the FCT High Court. Our reporter who visited the FCT High Court on Friday reports that Justice Ashi death has thrown the staff into mourning. “Justice Ashi sat in his court on Monday,” one of the mourning staff said. Before his elevation to the bench, Justice Ashi was a lecturer at the Nigerian Law School, Bwari where he taught law of evidence He is generally remembered for ordering security agencies to arrest and produce the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, who is on self exile within 72 hours in court.
Abba Kyari committed to Buhari, national interest, says group Tunde Opalana, Abuja
Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mallam Abba Kyari has been commended for his fierce loyalty to his principal and his upholding of national interest above the selfish agenda of a few. This is coming against the recent protest by some members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) against Kyari’s continuous stay in office as Buhari’s chief of staff. A group under the umbrella of Friends of Mallam Abba Kyari in a statement in Abuja on Friday insisted that President Buhari needs not less than a personality like Kyari, who is extremely intelligent, unassuming and well-read with a wide and deep grasp of issues to be his chief of staff. Spokesperson for the group, Adekola Adeyemi said antagonists of Kyari are some unnamed forces who are threatened by his antecedents and critical role in the ongoing rebuilding of Nigeria. “He is a lawyer, journalist and banker by training and profession. He is diligent; known to read policy documents carefully, but speedily, making corrections and seeking inputs widely from informed colleagues and relevant officials of government before presenting it to the President for informed executive consideration and action.
Niger to sustain partnership with UNICEF, others for growth Saka Bolaji, Minna
L-R: Chief Financial Officer, Lagos Free Trade Zone Company (LFTZC), Ashish Khemka; Relationship Group Director, Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise Limited (LPLEL), Adesuwa Ladoja; Winner of 2019 Tolaram Science Challenge and Pupil of Albesta Academy (Lekki), Oreoluwa Ala; Assistant Director, Education District 3 (Lagos State), Morebise Ajibola and General Manager, Lagos Free Trade Zone Company (LFTZC), Kumar Padala during the prize presentation to the winner of the 2019 Tolaram Science Challenge held in Lagos.
Again, Innoson boss, 3 others absent in court Peter Fowoyo, Lagos The planned arraignment of the Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer of Innoson Nigeria Limited, Innocent Chukwuma and three others before a Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos could not go ahead on Friday as the defendants again refused to show up in court despite the warrant of arrest issued against them. Justice Ayokunle Faji had earlier this week ordered the trio of Chukwuma, Charles Chukwu and Anajekwu Sunny to appear before him yesterday, but they all failed to turn up for possible arraignment. The inspector-general of police has slammed a four -count-charge of conspiracy, forgery and fraud to the tune of N2.4 billion against the Innoson chief executive and others in the charge marked FHC/L/565c/2015 and filed by the prosecutor, Julius Ajakaiye, a deputy director in the Federal Ministry of Justice. However, due to their persistent refusal to come to the court for the purpose of taking their plea, the court presided over by Justice Ayokunle Faji on June 24, granted prosecution’s application to issue warrant of arrest against the defendants to be produced in court for their arraignment and the trial was adjourned till today. When the matter came up yesterday, the
prosecutor Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN) leading other counsel informed Justice Faji that on June 24, the court ordered warrant of arrest to be issued and served on the first defendant, Innocent Chukwuma, second defendant, Innoson Motors Nigeria Limited and the third defendant, Charles Chukwu and Anajekwu Sunny to compel their appearance in the court. Chief Ayotunde said the prosecution has just been able to obtain the original copy of the warrant and intend to execute same on the named defendants. He also said he was gratified that the defendants are represented by their counsel to aid and accelerate the course of justice, adding that he is not sure if Chief George Uwechue (SAN) will be willing to assist in locating the defendants who are his clients so that the warrant can be executed. The defendants’ counsel, Chief George Uwechue (SAN) in his response told the court that consequent upon the ruling of the court on June 24, the first, second and fifth defendants have each filed an appeal against the ruling and also filed a motion on notice for an order staying the execution of the warrant or in the alternative dismissing the warrant for it was given out of jurisdiction. He said the defence is yet to serve the other parties and further informed the court that the second motion which was also dated June 26 is also seeking for a relief striking out the
proceedings of the court on June 24 for lack of jurisdiction. Responding, Chief Ayorinde (SAN) said the first question to be asked is where are the defendants, adding that “do they want them to come here or be smoked out which may not be necessary.” He said that the defendants can file any motion in this world as many as they like, but that under Section 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), no court can stop any court from proceeding with criminal matters before it. “My learned friends are here and should explain the whereabouts of their clients. My Lord, I urge the court to give us a short adjournment for the arraignment of the defendants,” the counsel stated, adding that for the defendants to be asking the court to hear their motions, they should first be brought to court as anything short of that is making mockery of the judicial system which must not be tolerated. However, Justice Faji while reacting to the submission of the parties particularly, Chief Ayorinde’s submission for a date to arraign the defendants, said it would be proper to hear the defendants’ motions since they are challenging the proceedings of June 24 and also seeking to set aside the warrant for lack of Jurisdiction. Consequently, Justice Faji adjourned the matter till September 23, 2019.
The Niger state government has said it will continue to maintain the existing partnership between the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other development partners for the development and progress of the state. This was disclosed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ahmed Ibrahim Matane when UNICEF’s Chief Field Office, Kaduna, Dr. Zakari Adams, paid him a courtesy visit in his office. Matane stated that the collaboration between the state government and UNICEF which is geared towards the provision of qualitative education, health and potable water among others will be sustained. He assured UNICEF that the commitment and support it is receiving from the state government will be strengthened with a view to achieving the set objectives. Earlier, the Chief Field Officer, UNICEF, Dr. Zakari Adams told the secretary to the state government that the delegation was in the state for UNICEF’s 2019 mid-year review and planning meeting. Dr. Adams assured the secretary to the state government that the partnership between the state government and UNICEF will be sustained in order to attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Glo-powered CNN African Voices shares story of 3 sky gladiators Ladesope Ladelokun, Lagos In continuation of its tradition of showcasing talented Africans who are carving out a niche in different fields of endeavour, Globacom-sponsored CNN African Voices will this weekend bring to viewers the exciting story of two pilots and a paraglider. The first guest on the programme is Kenya’s hot air balloon pilot, David Eris Nguruga, who from childhood nursed the dream of flying airplanes. The desire has blossomed into a 12-year romance with hot air balloons and he takes viewers through his interesting journey to stardom, including how he grew from being a crew member to a pilot. “I had developed a liking for flying airplanes when I was a kid. I remember, we were having lunch and this fighter jet came out. I stepped on my food just to see this plane. I was like whoa. I said I want to be in one. So, I think I developed that from my childhood, but never thought that I could do it,” he says. Next on the show is Tumi Carter Katisi, a commercial pilot from Pimville, Soweto, South Africa. She developed a love for flying in her tenth year in school when she was assigned to shadow a professional in the workplace. Because of her childhood dream to be a doctor, she chose to carry out the assignment in a hospital. However, she was not successful in this endeavour as none of the hospitals she approached gave her the green light. She then decided to visit her aunt who works with South African Airways. After that first visit, Katisi went back to the airport at every opportunity she had and this helped her build a relationship with pilots who shared their secrets with her and allowed her to be part of their simulator time. Her passion for flying got a boost when her community helped pay her fees up to last year when she got her commercial licence.
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Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, June 29, 2019
Firm seeks N1bn punitive damage against ICPC, bank Court fixes Oct. 8 for hearing
Andrew Orolua, Abuja The suit filed by Pinnacle Communications Limited against the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) and a bank asking for N1billion as general and punitive damages for an alleged unlawful closure and seizure of its bank account has been shifted to October 8. When the matter which was fixed for hearing before Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja came up the court clerk informed the parties that the judge was away on another assignment. The company is asking for the award of N1billion as damages against the ICPC for unlawfully withholding its money domiciled in Zenith Bank without a valid court order. Specifically, Pinnacle Communications is seeking a declaration that the act of the first defendant in ordering the third defendant to place a post-no-debit restriction on the plaintiff’s account with the third defendant
without any court order and or any valid court order is ultra vires, unlawful, injurious, and unconstitutional and a breach of the plaintiff’s right to its movable property. The plaintiff is also seeking a declaration that the act of the second defendant in placing a post-no-debit restriction on the plaintiffs account number with the third defendant without any court order and or any valid order is unlawful, injurious, and unconstitutional and a breach of the plaintiff’s right to its movable property. In addition, Pinnacle Communications wants a declaration that the failure of the third defendant to right the wrongful act of the first defendant in ordering a post no debit restrictions on the plaintiff’s account with the second defendant without a valid court order is unlawful, illegal, and unconstitutional and a breach of the plaintiff’s right to its movable property. Therefore, it wants an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendant from placing any restrictions on plaintiff’s account
with the second defendant without a valid and competent court order. The communications outfit equally wants an order of perpetual injunction restraining the first defendant from placing any form of restrictions on the plaintiff’s account with the second defendant and or any other bank or financial institution in which the plaintiff maintains any account and or dealings, without a court order and or valid and competent court order. It is seeking the payment of the N1billion as general, exemplary and punitive damages against the defendant for their unlawful and illegal act. The company had last year commenced the action after the ICPC placed a post-no-debit on its accounts. But, the anti corruption agency could not file its response until after eight months. At the last adjourned date on May 21, the court had directed all parties in the suit to file and exchange processes to enable the court hear all pending applications.
7 News
Short News Niger governor disowns campaign posters for 2023 polls Saka Bolaji, Minna Governor Abubakar Sani- Bello of Niger state has dissociated himself from a campaign poster(s) being circulated on social media platforms campaigning for a joint ticker as vice President to incumbent Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo in the 2023 general elections. A statement issued by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mrs. Mary Noel Berje, the governor said it was not the time to talk about 2023, “knowing very well that we just came out of elections and are yearning to fulfil promises made to the people.” The governor stated that there was no basis or justification for such posters, stressing that it is the handiwork of mischief- makers trying to distract the state government’s attention from discharging its mandate to the citizens. “Our priority is to support the federal and state government’s policies and programmes, and to fulfil their campaign promises as the tenure is just beginning. “We hereby describe the posters as well as their authors as fake and unpatriotic. We are fully focused to work for our people and we remain loyal to the ruling party and the federal government ably led by President Muhamadu Buhari,” the statement added.
LG polls: Be neutral, Jigawa NSCDC tasks personnel The Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Jigawa state command, Alhaji Garba Muhammad has directed the 1, 150 personnel deployed for today’s local council election in the state to be neutral. Garba gave the directive in a statement issued and signed by the Command’s Spokesman, Adamu Shehu in Dutse. The Jigawa state Independent Electoral Commission (JISIEC) has scheduled the election for June 29 in all the 27 local government areas of the state. Muhammad therefore, advised party leaders in the state to warn their supporters against acts capable of causing the breakdown of law and order during the exercise. He urged voters in the state to be orderly at the polling stations to ensure the success of the election, adding that officers on election duty should be apolitical and not to engage in partisan politics. According to him, any officer caught taking sides during the exercise will be dealt with accordingly and has directed NSCDC personnel to be stationed at polling units and collation centres while others are to man strategic places with other security agencies in the state.
Rumpus in Librarians Registration Council over appointment, promotions An uneasy calm is pervading the Librarians Registration Council of Nigeria following complaints of irregular appointments and promotions carried out by the management of the council. Aggrieved staffs of the council are protesting the manner favoured staff are promoted and elevated to management cadre without complying with civil service rules. In this regard, they are calling for the ministry of education to carry out a staff audit during which the educational and other credentials can be screened by an independent panel. Also, they accuse the management of the council of deliberately sidelining the core professional services staff of the establishment to the detriment of its core mandate and instead, concentrating on other auxiliary departments and units. According to a source, who craved anonymity, the most glaring case of irregular appointment and promotions involves the elevation of the image-maker of the council, Ngozi Oboh, who was elevated from a chief information officer to a deputy director in breach of regulations. Members of the Governing Board of Securities and Exchange Commission during their Inauguration by the Permanent, Secretary Ministry of Finance in Abuja, recently.
Asaba residents petition Okowa over 16-yr-old water projects Nosa Akenzua, Asaba Angry residents of Asaba and its environs have petitioned Governor Ifeanyi Okowa over the failed water projects allegedly awarded 16 years ago. In the petition signed by Emma Okonta and Nnamani Felix and addressed to the governor, the residents alleged that N450 million was wasted on the Asaba water projects by the previous administration, saying that 16 years after the project was completed the people still don’t have potable drinking water to drink because the project in not functional. The petition reads: “We residents of Asaba and its environs are asking for your intervention, Governor Ifeanyi
Okowa on the failed Asaba water projects. For over 16 years now, we have not been drinking potable water supply other r than borehole water. “The Asaba water projects we were told was awarded by the previous administration and up until now, no water for us to drink than our borehole water and we are not happy.” The statement explained that in most cases many house owners cannot afford to sink a borehole, but buy water from neighbours at N50 per jerry can of water, regretting that Asaba as a state capital is yet to be developed. Last Monday, the state government through the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Dr. Felicia Adun called on stakeholders in the water sector to contribute their
quota towards ensuring that Gov. Okowa’s efforts in the revitalization of the sector y achieves the desired objective. Adun said that the state government would continue to ensure the availability of potable drinking water, sanitation and hygiene for the overall health and well-being of citizens of the state, stressing that the governor has shown strong commitment for the growth of the sector through the declaration of the state of emergency on water, sanitation and hygiene, and consequently, signing into law the water policy bill. She however, identified poor environmental and hygiene issues as critical factors militating against effective water supply in the state capital.
SON seizes over N200m goods from 3 firms in A’Ibom Isaac Job, Uyo
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has seized sub-standard aluminium sheets worth over N200 million from three aluminium companies in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state. Parading the confiscated goods in Uyo yesterday, the Director, Inspectorate and Compliance Directorate, SON, Obiora Manafa, noted that the agency is on a nationwide mission to save the lives of Nigerians. Manafa explained that the organisation is out to discourage the importation of sub-standard products into the country and warned the perpetrators to discontinue from such deals. He said the seizure would serve as a deterrent to others as the defaulting companies have been found guilty of the illegality and would be prosecuted for their actions while the seized products would be recycled. Manafa said the minimum thickness of aluminium roofing sheets is 0.4 millilitres as specified by the NIS 488 code and warned Nigerians to be sure of the quality of roofing sheets they buy for their buildings. He advised buyers of roofing sheets to either go with qualified engineers to buy the product or go with the required measuring instrument to verify the standard length and width of the aluminium sheets they intend to buy, adding that they can even consult any of the state offices of SON for guidance. “We are here to evacuate sub-standard roofing sheets found here. We have aluminium roofing sheets and galvanised roofing sheets. In this case, we have seen aluminium roofing sheets that are below the minimum required standard.
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My suspension from YCE won’t stand-Olajide Gbenga Sodeinde, Ado Ekiti
Secretary General of the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), Dr. Kunle Olajide, has described his purported suspension from the council as “a joke taken too far.” Olajide said the action taken by a group within the YCE called senior elders’ committee suspending him over what he described as phantom accusations was nothing, but a flagrant disregard to the constitution of the socio- cultural body. The medical doctor insisted that those who carried out the illegal suspension were allegedly railroaded into such action by the acting National President of the YCE, Col. San Ade Agbede. The YCE through the senior elders’ committee had on Thursday after its meeting in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital suspended Olajide from the body for alleged gross misconduct and
mandated the Assistant General Secretary 1, Sam Agbetuyi to act as general secretary. Reacting to the action in Ado Ekiti on Friday, Olajide in a statement said “my purported suspension by hand-picked senior comedians in the YCE is a huge joke taken too far. “I have not received any letter from this innocuous body unknown to YCE. This reaction is to assure the Yoruba race that this action was nothing, but a joke and a nullity coming from these elderly comedians.” Olajide said the apex body in the YCE which is the national executive committee will meet on the matter and brief the public over this illegal action, adding that “we won’t allow people seeking relevance to distract us because the YCE is an honourable body.” Shedding light on the leadership problem in the YCE, Olajide clarified that “our National President, Chief Idowu Sofola (SAN) died in February and the body decided to honour him by not electing another person and Col. Agbede
was mandated to act pending the election of the president of NEC who has powers to suspend me and anybody in this noble organization. “Using his powers, Col. Agbede has made it impossible for NEC to meet and elect a new leader. He selected a few elders called senior elders committee unknown to YCE constitution to take actions. “I will remain resolute and I will stand on that pedestal that due process must be followed in electing or appointing new officers in YCE. This body will not resort to unorthodox means to elect or appoint its council members or suspend anybody in a brazen manner without recourse to the constitution.” The embattled YCE scribe stated that the state chapters of the body will soon take a decision on whether to either confirm Agbede as a substantive leader or elect another president. He called on Agbede and his ilk to embrace democratic culture and refrain from taking actions that can drag the body into the mud.
Short News Mob lynches 2 robbery suspects in Delta community Nosa Akenzua, Asaba A mob in the early hours of Friday in Abraka community in Delta state allegedly beat to death two robbery suspects. Commissioner of Police in the state, Adeleke Adeyinka confirmed to journalists in Asaba that luck ran out on the robbery suspects when they robbing a couple around the market in Abraka. Adeyinka said that the mob descended on the suspects who were subsequently, disarmed and beaten severely before they gave up the ghost before the police could rescue take to the hospital for treatment. The police boss identified the suspects as Uchenna Ezekonyi and Mbachu Sunday, saying that they trailed a couple who were returning from morning mass to their house where they robbed them of N250, 000, but unfortunately, the mob got wind of the robbery and chased the suspects. “The angry mob got wind of the robbery and moved into the scene where they met the suspects and gave them severe beating before they handed them over to the police who were about taking them when they gave up the ghost”, Adeyinka said
Activities marking Army Day celebration begin Andrew Orolua, Abuja Activities marking this year’s Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) commenced on Friday with one week combat support arms training in Lagos and a press conference by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai at the headquarters, theatre command, command and control centre in Maiduguri, Borno state. The week -long training in Lagos has the theme: “Professionally responsive soldiering: A panacea for successful military operations.” Other activities lined up by the army for the celebration includes environmental sanitation exercise on June 29 in some designated areas within the 81 Division area of responsibility as well as in all units and formations across Nigeria. A statement by the acting Director, Nigerian Army Public Relations, Col. Sagir Musa stated that an inter-denominational church service will hold at St. Charles Lwanga Catholic Church, Ikeja cantonment and in all Catholic and protestant churches in army barracks on June 30 while Juma’at service will hold on July 5 in all the mosques across army formations and units. Other activities include novelty football match between the chief of army staff team and Actors Guild of Nigeria team on July 4 while free medical outreaches in some selected communities in 81 Division area of responsibility and other formations and units will be conducted on July 3. President Muhammadu Buhari will be the special guest of honour during the grand finale slated for July 6 where he is expected to inspect an army parade at the Ikeja military cantonment.
I’m optimistic PDP will conduct free primary in Bayelsa - Okoko Tunde Opalana, Abuja
L-R: Dr. Ibironke Sodeinde; Past Presidents, Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria, Dr. Tutu Seni-Arije; Dr. Iyabo Tijani; wife of Lagos State Governor, Dr. (Mrs) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; outgoing President of the Association, Dr. Omowunmi Bakare; incoming President, Dr. Funmi Ajose; Dr. Danna Umesi; Dr. Simiat Elias during a courtesy visit to the wife of the Governor at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, recently.
NYCN dissociates self from award to Obasanjo, others Tunde Opalana, Abuja National leadership of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) under the leadership of Comrade Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo has distanced itself from a recent award given to former President Olusegun Obasanjo by people parading themselves as officers of the council. While restating that it holds the former President in high esteem, the NYCN leadership said it finds it expedient to notify the public that the initiators of the award, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere and Nihi Oladele John were not executive members of the council and couldn’t have given such an award in the name of the council. National Public Relations Officer of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Olugbode Damola Hammed, in a statement in Abuja on Friday, said the council was dismayed over the honour conferred on the former President as “father of the nation” and a donation of N1 million to buy books for Obasanjo presidential library by I kenga and Nihi in the name of the NYCN. He described the occurrence as not only unfortunate, but a daylight robbery carried
out in Abeokuta on Thursday in the name of the organization by persons running rackets with the collective identity of Nigeria youth. The NYCN in the statement said “for the record, Ikenga Ugochinyere was a former senior adviser to Senator Abubakar Saraki (Senate President), the spokesman of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) and Nihi Oladele John was also a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Kogi state campaign team and is personal assistant to Senator Dino Melaye. “The leadership of the council has on several occasions dissociated itself from Ikenga and Nihi, who are political jobbers without virtue and known scavengers. They have been barred from the activities of the council and do not represent the interest/ structure of the council at any level. The general public is therefore, advised not to fall victim to the duo. “It’s worrisome that these charlatans can do this to a prominent personality as the former President of Nigeria. While we sympathize with the former President, we urge him to subsequently ascertain the authenticity of the group with the ministry of youths (a ministry he created) and the necessary security apparatus before opening his door to impostors.
“We also caution Nigerians to beware of these fraudsters, Ikenga and Nihi alongside their likes; they are impostors that go around exploiting innocent Nigerians. Opening your doors to these jobbers is at your own peril. “The national leadership of the National Youth Council of Nigeria under the leadership of Amb. Sukubo Sariagbe Sukubo hereby distances itself and Nigerian youth from the Abeokuta charade as it does not have the backing of the youth and it’s orchestrated by impostors of the council. “If the former President is to be honoured, this will be the decision of Nigerian youth with due process. The youth council is not a platform for political jamboree and our leadership has zero tolerance for such.” The council buttressed its authenticity claim by presenting to the press, a letter by the immediate past Minister of Youths and Sports, Comrade Solomon Dalung dated May 9, 2019 to the National President of NYCN, Comrade Sokubo Sara- Igbe Sokubo identifying with his leadership of the council as legal and authentic. The NYCN therefore, charged the security agencies to speedily intervene and stop the impostors to prevent them from further defrauding other members of the public.
An aspirant for the November 16 governorship election in Bayelsa state on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Keniebi Okoko has expressed confidence in the ability of the leadership of the party at national and state levels to conduct a free, fair and transparent primary election to pick the party’s candidate. The aspirant exuded this confidence after collecting the nomination and expression of interest forms on Friday at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja. Okoko said PDP in Bayelsa state is a united front without division and that there is no influence of godfathers in the contest for the party’s gubernatorial ticket, while ruling out the possibly of an anointed candidate for the position. Confident that he has been anointed by God for the position, he said “I am anointed by God, I do not know about cabal. I do not think there is cabal in Bayelsa state PDP. I am also a part time pastor in Salvation Ministries. “If you are anointed by God, it is the most important anointing. PDP has always run a free and fair election in Bayelsa and I do not think there is any cabal in Bayelsa that will anoint any candidate. The national chairman and the state chapter of the party have said that and I believe in them.” On the cost of obtaining the N21 million forms, he said he has no choice than to abide by the party’s decision on the fees.
VC vows to dismiss lecturers harassing female students
Vice-Chancellor of the Nasarawa state University, Keffi (NSUK), Prof. Suleiman Mohammed, has vowed to dismiss any lecturer caught harassing female students on campus. The vice-chancellor said this while delivery his goodwill message at a seminar organised by the Centre for Gender Studies of the university in Keffi. Represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (academics) of the institution, Prof. Akinwumi Olayemi, Prof. Mohammed said the laws of the university are clear on the issues of sexual harassment. “The sanction for any staff found culpable of the offence is instant dismissal from the institution and the management would make sure the law is enforced to serve as deterrent to others,” he said. The vice chancellor commended the centre for organising the seminar and promised to support in championing the cause for gender based violence in the country. In her welcome address, Hajiya Hauwa’u Mainoma, the director of the centre, called on the federal government and other stakeholders to urgently take steps towards addressing gender-based violence in the country. She explained that the seminar was the first of its kind by the centre since its inception in 2017.
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Monarch, CJ warn judges against bribe taking to pervert justice Gbenga Sodeinde, Ado Ekiti A first class traditional ruler in Ekiti state, the Alawe of Ilawe, Oba Adebanji Alabi, has advised judges in the country to shun corrupt acts for justice to be deeply entrenched in the society. Oba Alabi said the worst corruption and crime that can be committed against any nation is for judicial officers to collect bribes to pervert justice. The monarch said many of the crises bedevilling the country could have been resolved naturally, if the culture of justice and fairness are deeply rooted in our system. Oba Alabi gave the charge in Ilawe Ekiti on Friday during the inauguration of the Ilawe Ekiti Judicial Division of the state high court by the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola.
The monarch said the construction of an ultra- modern high court will reduce the culture of self- help and speedy dispensation of justice. Oba Alabi appealed to the judiciary to work assiduously to regain the confidence reposed in it by Nigerians, saying “justice they say is rooted in confidence. “There is no virtue so truly great and God like as justice. Where there is no justice, there can never be peace. So, justice must be made accessible and affordable to all. “It is therefore, apposite and appropriate that only a fearless judiciary can give hope to a common man and only way to foster peace and unity among people, and ensure public order. “ A society that is well grounded and founded on the rule of law and devoid of arbitrary use of powers must run a well defined and established laws, supremacy of the laws, equality before
the law, separation of powers, be devoid of corruption and quick dispensation of justice.” The monarch applauded the state government for the gesture of establishing a high court in his domain, saying this will bring justice close to the grassroots and help then to see judicature as the best way to settle differences rather than is resorting to self help. The state Chief Judge, Justice Daramola said the gesture was meant to bring judiciary to the footsteps of the rural dwellers. He said the facility will also help in ensuring the quick disposition of any suit pending in court and decongest the Ikere division that has jurisdiction over the town in the past. The chief judge also warned against resorting to jungle justice, describing it as not only bestial, but obsolete and old fashioned.
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Short News MSMEs employ 59.7m people in Nigeria – SMEDAN
The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) says small, micro and medium enterprises (MSMEs) employ 59.7 million people in Nigeria. Director-General, SMEDAN, Dr. Dikko Umar Radda, disclosed this in Katsina while marking the 2019 international MSMEs day. Represented by Katsina state Coordinator of the agency, Shuaibu Muhammad, Radda said the data was obtained in a survey conducted by the agency in collaboration with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in 2013. He said the figure represented 84.02 per cent of the labour force in the country. According to him, MSMEs contributed 48.47 per cent to the Growth Domestic Product (GDP) and 7.27 per cent to exports. The director-general said the survey also revealed that the country has about 37 million MSMEs. He said the theme for this year’s celebration was: “Big money for small business: Financing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).” Radda said that “the 2019 MSMEs Day is expected to raise awareness on the need for greater investments in micro, small and medium enterprises in developing countries. This is crucial for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”
Court orders woman to return estranged husband’s bride price
A Gudu Grade I Area Court in Abuja has ordered a housewife, Amina Abdullahi, to return the N50, 000 her estranged husband, Abdulhakeem Adepoju paid as her bride price. Amina had approached the court seeking the dissolution of her marriage to Adepoju on the basis of ‘Khul’ (also called Khula, a procedure through which a woman can divorce her husband in Islam by returning the dower). She told the court that she was not interested in the marriage since her husband has decided to bring in a new wife. The judge, Ado Muktar, then asked the petitioner if she was willing to refund the dowry as a form of compensation to leave the marriage. In reply, Amina told the court that she was willing to pay back the N50, 000 to Adepoju. However, Adepoju informed the court that he didn’t want the money, but that he would grant her the divorce if she gives him custody of their two children. The respondent requested that the children aged four and one be given to him so that he can raise them himself, adding that “this is the only way I can grant her the divorce.” Amina objected to the request, saying she will not give up her children “over her dead body.”
Court sentences man to prison for chopping off AEDC official’s finger
L-R: Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives; Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu I; Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin during the Governor and Speaker’s joint visit to the Oba, at the Oba’s Palace, Iga Iduganran, Lagos.
UPP tells tribunal it didn’t field candidate for Plateau North Kingsley Chukwuka, Jos The United Progressive Party (UPP) has informed the National Assembly Petitions Tribunal sitting in Jos, the Plateau state capital that the party did not field any candidate for the Plateau North Senatorial District during the 2019 general elections. Rather, the UPP confirmed forwarding the name of Inuwa Sanusi as its candidate for Plateau South Senatorial District in the election held on February 23, 2019. The party made this disclosure through its National Secretary, Alh Sadeeq Masalla, who testified that it forwarded the name of Inuwa Sanusi as its candidate for the senatorial election for Plateau South. It would be recalled that Sanusi Inuwa had petitioned the election tribunal alleging that the logo of his
party, the UPP was wrongly excluded by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the senatorial election for Plateau North and is therefore, asking the tribunal to cancel the victory of Senator I.D. Gyang, who won the election and conduct a fresh poll. However, Sen. Gyang and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who are the respondents in the suit submitted that Inuwa Sanusi couldn’t have contested the election for Plateau North Senatorial District as his party the UPP fielded him as their candidate for Plateau South Senatorial District as evidenced by form CF200 which it rightly submitted to INEC. Consequently, Masalla in his witness statement and testimony told the tribunal that together with the national chairman of the UPP, they signed and endorsed the appropriate
INEC Form CF002 and forwarded same to INEC. He confirmed to the tribunal that the forms were filled by all their candidates across the nation while the party’s national chairman and national secretary only endorsed same after which the forms were forwarded to INEC including that of Inuwa Sanusi. Under cross examination, Sanusi made frantic effort to disown the form in contention, but a certified true copy of the form from INEC was however, tendered in evidence before the tribunal. INEC’s representative in testifying before the tribunal confirmed that form CF200 was the certified true copy from INEC. Chairman of the tribunal, Justice T. N Nzeogwu however, adjourned the case for further hearing.
A Mararaba Upper Area Court in Nasarawa state has sentenced a 24-year-old man, Abubakar Gambo to 11 months in prison for chopping off the finger of an official of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) with a cutlass. The judge, Ibrahim Shekarau, sentenced Gambo, who resides in Mararaba after he pleaded guilty to assault and criminal force causing hurt. Shekarau however, gave the convict an option to pay a fine of N10, 000. Earlier, the prosecutor, Sergeant Godwin Ejeh, told the court that the victim, Ahmed Tijani, a staff of AEDC reported the matter at the Sani Abacha Road Police Station, Mararaba, Nasarawa state on June 11. Ejeh said the complainant alleged that while discharging his official duty of disconnecting power, the convict confronted him and in the process cut off his finger with a cutlass. The prosecutor also said that the offence contravenes the provisions of Sections 265, 263 and 246 of the Penal Code.
Man allegedly abducts, defiles neighbour’s 5-year-old daughter
An Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos state has remanded a 35-year-old man, Olayiwola Oguntola, who allegedly abducted and defiled his neighbour’s five-year-old daughter. Magistrate K. O. Doja-Ojo ordered that the defendant should be kept in prison, and directed that the case file be duplicated and sent to the Lagos state Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) for advice. The defendant is standing trial on a two-count charge of abduction and defilement. He, however, plead not guilty to the charges. Earlier, the prosecutor, Inspector Peace Chukwudi, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on June 21, at 1.00p.m on Seaside Estate in Ajah, Lagos. Chukwudi said that the defendant abducted his neighbour’s five-year-old daughter and defiled her, adding that “Oguntola forcefully took the five-year-old girl to his apartment and had carnal knowledge of her.” Chukwudi urged the court to remand the defendant pending the DPP’s advice. The alleged offences contravene Sections 137 and 268 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos state, 2015. The case was adjourned until July 24 for mention.
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Court admits evidence in Bulama, 4 others N450m fraud trial Andrew Orolua, Abuja
Justice Hammadam Dashen of the Federal High Court, sitting in Damaturu, the Yobe state capital has admitted a letter from Fidelity Bank to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) acknowledging the withdrawal of funds from an account as exhibit in the trial of former Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Abdu Bulama and four others. Bulama is being prosecuted by the EFCC on a seven-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of N450 million. He is facing trial alongside Mohammed Kadai, a former commissioner for integrated and rural development, Abba Gana Tata, Muhammad Mamu and Hassan Ibn Jaks. It would be recalled that Muhammad Monguno, counsel to the first and
second defendants raised objections to the admissibility of the cash withdrawal instrument from Fidelity Bank to the EFCC on the grounds that the document did not fulfill the requirements of Section 15(4) and 17(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015. Monguno also added that the statements of the defendants were obtained under duress by the prosecution. Counsel to the third, fourth and fifth defendants agreed and adopted the submissions made by Mungono. However, in admitting the document, Justice Dashen noted that “the photocopy of the reply letter to EFCC from Fidelity Bank is relevant in this case. Sufficient foundation has being laid by a prosecution witness, Salisu Muhammad Rabiu as to the whereabouts of the original. The document sought to be tendered by the prosecution is hereby admitted in evidence and to be marked as exhibit A.”
The said witness, who is an operative of the EFCC had narrated how an intelligence report received from the commission’s headquarters formed part of the investigation. He stated that “a former minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani AlisonMadueke warehoused the sum of $115, 010, 000 being equivalent sum of N23, 299, 705, 000 through Fidelity Bank during which the first and second defendants signed and collected the N450 million from Fidelity Bank, Damaturu branch.” Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Mukhtar Ali Ahmad, Rabiu stating that he could identify the written statements of the defendants because “all the statements were recorded on the EFCC’s statement sheet endorsed by myself, Dauda Umar and Jonah Sunday,” he said. Justice Dashen adjourned the matter to July 5.
Short News Ondo APC chieftain decries poor welfare of journalists
A former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state, Isaac Kekemeke, has decried the poor take-home-pay and general welfare of journalists in Nigeria. Kekemeke made the remark while receiving the executive members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ondo state council led by the Chairman, Adetona Aderoboye in Akure. He described the media as a very powerful and indispensable segment of the society which deserves better welfare package and urged the government to partner the NUJ to better the lots of media practitioners in the state and the country at large. “When everybody is sleeping, journalists are finding ways to serve the society. You deserve better welfare packages. You deserve good salaries. How much would it cost government and other private employers to give you better welfare, ‘’ he said. The APC stalwart described the NUJ as a vital organ of the society that plays indispensable roles, urging the government and private media owners to do more to improve the status and welfare of journalists. He appealed to Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo state to support the union to rebuild its press centre in Akure.
Police nab 86 suspected criminals in Bauchi Samuel Luka, Bauchi In its continued onslaught against crime and criminality, the Bauchi state Police Command said it has arrested 86 suspects in connection with various criminal offences across the state. Those arrested include political thugs, armed robbery, kidnapping suspects, suspected motorcycle thieves, drug pushers and rape suspects amongst others. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, Kamal Datti, who paraded the suspects, said one Adamu Mohammed, 30, of Tirwun ward Bauchi and Chinelo Nwanna, 27of Bayan Gari Bauchi were arrested for dealing in illicit drugs. He stated that “on June 21 the command’s tactical team attached to Operation Puff Adder acting on credible intelligence raided two chemists at Bayan Gari area and arrested the suspects.” Exhibit recovered from the suspected drug pushers according to the police spokesman, include 142 bottles of codeine syrup and 490 assortments of illicit drugs. Also, arrested were two armed robbery suspects, Aliyu Habibu of Bauchi Road, Jos, (22) and Auwal Hassan of Bauchi Road, Jos, (23). The police spokesperson said the arrest of the armed robbery suspects came following a credible intelligence that an armed robbery gang arrived Bauchi metropolis from Jos, Plateau state with intent to rob innocent citizens of the state. “On receipt of the information all tactical teams attached to Operation Puff Adder of the command were drafted to be on watch of the suspects. Fortunately, at about 11 pm of same date, the said suspects were intercepted at AKY Makama Filling Station near Bayan Gari Area of Bauchi metropolis,” he added.
Laundry man docked for allegedly aiding in stealing $30, 000
L-R: General Secretary, Nigerian Society of Engineers, Lagos Branch, Engr. Adesina Osinloye; Treasurer, NSE, Lagos Branch, Engr. Olufemi Ogundipe; Education officer, Nigeria Prison Service, Ikoyi, Idris Ibikunle; Immediate Past Chairman, NSE, Lagos Branch, Engr. Johnson Komolafe; and Deputy Controller, Nigeria Prison Service, Ikoyi, Tolu Ogunshakin, dueing a welfare visit and donation of food items to the Ikoyi prison by NSE, Lagos Branch, in Lagos recently.
Court jails internet kingpin in Calabar, loses exotic cars to FG Andrew Orolua, Abuja A notorious internet fraudster, Akpojivi Onoriode, has been sentenced to six month imprisonment with an option of N500, 000 fine. Justice Simon Amobeda of the Federal High Court, Calabar, Cross River state, who convicted Onoriode on a one- count charge also ordered the forfeiture of his exotic cars and posh house to the federal government. The convict was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a one-count charge bordering on cybercrime. Onoriode, a 29-year-old graduate of the Delta state University, Abraka and a father of two was arrested by operatives of the Uyo zonal office of the anti-graft commission in the early hours of May 4, 2019, following intelligence report exposing him of living above his means. He was picked up at his lavishly furnished duplex on Plot 10, Block VI, Unical Satellite Town, Calabar, Cross River state. Upon his arrest, the convict popularly known as “Blinks” or “Mr. White” confessed to having offshore accounts in China and narrated how he started the business of defrauding people quite early while he was still an undergraduate at the Delta state University, Abraka in Delta state. The charge against Akpojivi reads: “That you, Onoriode Joel Akpojivi, on or about the May 4,
2019, in Nigeria did unlawfully produce, supply, procure for use and distributed a computer programme (fake online banking link platform) designed for the purpose of electronically defrauding unsuspecting persons and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 28 (1) (a) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention) Act 2015 and punishable under Section (1) (c) of the same Act.” Shocked by the weight of evidence gathered against him by the EFCC, Akpojivi chose not to waste the time of the court as he pleaded guilty to the charge. In view of his plea, counsel to the EFCC, A.S. Abuh, informed the court of a plea bargain arrangement entered into between the convict and the commission, on June 19, 2019 and filed on June 20, 2019. “I hereby pray the court to convict and sentence him based on the terms of the agreement,” she said. Delivering judgement, Justice Amobeda held that: “It is a known fact that crimes of this nature appear now to be prevalent in our time. I do hereby sentence the convict to six months imprisonment with an option of fine of N500, 000. “The convict shall forfeit to the federal government the instruments used in the commission of the offence being thus; Acura ZDX with registration number SMK 245 DQ
Lagos, Range Rover Envogue with registration number FST 772 EQ Lagos, Mercedes Benz E 300 with registration number LSD 393 EG Lagos and the seven bedroom duplex situated at Victory Way Extension, Satellite Town, Calabar, Cross River state.” Earlier, Justice Amobeda had convicted another graduate of the Delta state University, Abraka, Obabueki Philips, who was equally arraigned by the anti-graft agency on a onecount charge bordering on impersonation and cybercrime. When Obabueki was arrested, he admitted that his area of specialization was impersonation and that he sends out fraudulent e-mails to defraud his victims. A forensic analysis of his laptop led to the recovery of quite a number of highly incriminating scam documents that further indicted him of the crime. The charge to which Obabueki pleaded guilty to reads: “That you, Obabueki Eromosele Philips (aka Leo Sim) on or about May 30, 2019 did fraudulently impersonate one Leo Sim, with intent to obtain property from unsuspecting persons, the pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition and Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) (iv) of the same Act.”
A 33-year-old laundry man, Solomon Aganyi, who allegedly acted as an accomplice in stealing $30, 000 has appeared before a Wuse Zone 6 Chief Magistrates’ Court, Abuja. The police charged Aganyi with two counts of criminal conspiracy and theft. Prosecution counsel, Okokon Udo, told the court that Austine Obilonu of Polaris Bank, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, reported the matter at the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (CIID), Abuja, on May 8. Udo alleged that the complainant on the same date said that one Adeyemi Folarin a staff of the bank stole the sum of $30, 000 belonging to a customer. The prosecutor further said that during police investigation, Adeyemi confessed that the money was given to one Obalola Adesoye now at large and he transferred another N12, 000 into the defendant’s GTB account number 0170512281 for ritual purpose to conceal the crime. Udo said the defendant was arrested when he went to the bank to withdraw the said money, adding that the offence contravenes the provisions of Sections 97 and 287 of the Penal Code. Both accused persons however, pleaded not guilty to the charge. The magistrate, Ahmed Injidawo, admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case until July 24, for hearing.
Man, 44, docked for allegedly kidnapping toddler
A 44-year-old man, Mufutau Ogunmola has appeared before an Ebute Meta Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly kidnapping a toddler. Ogunmola is facing charges of conspiracy and kidnapping to which he pleaded not guilty. The prosecutor, Inspector Chinalu Uwadione, had told the court that the defendant committed the offences on June 23 at about 11.00am at No. 1, Muritala Mohammed Way, Ebute Meta. Uwadione said that the defendant kidnapped a three-year-old son to one Mrs. Amaka Ifeanyi, adding that the offence contravenes Sections 2 and 3 of Kidnapping Prohibition Law of Lagos state, 2017 which prescribes life imprisonment for offenders. Chief Magistrate Adeola Adedayo, remanded the defendant at the Ikoyi Prisons and adjourned the case until July 1.
Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, June 29, 2019
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No big deal marrying an aged man - Annjay Chioma Annjay Chioma is a young, multi - talented entrepreneur, who at a young age fiercely worked hard to make a name for herself in the Nigerian music industry, while also writing for different media houses. Although she had given up on Journalism, Annjay has taken her business to the next level, introducing different beauty and fashion brands into the Nigerian market. From Annjay Hair, to Eyelashes, makeup kits and more; recently, she launched her latest product, Cura Sunglasses, which comes in different stylish shapes and sizes. In this chat with MUTIAT ALLI, she shares her inspiration, career journey and success story. Recently, you reprimanded those criticizing Regina Daniels, so what’s your take on marriage to older men? See, marriage is a choice and age is just a number. If she decided to marry an aged man, it’s her choice and she is not the first and not gonna be the last. What about those who married younger boys and ended up divorcing them? What should we say about them? My own opinion is that if you find happiness in marrying an aged man and it’s cool, go ahead as long as you are happy. Some of them criticizing her wished to be in her position and some dey go Dubai go use mouth collect shit for dollars. I have read that story several times on Asia blogs. If I like make I marry old man Na my palaver ooo.
challenging but thank God for everything. Fashion and beauty is a part of me and I’m happy whenever see our clients wearing Annjay brands. This gives me more courage to push and keep pushing. It has not been easy but it’s worth it after all.
What has Annjay been up to? Annjay has been extremely busy working for the past few years now. I’m a full time Entrepreneur and a singer. I’m into beauty products such as Brazilian virgin human hair, eyelashes, sunglasses and many more. I have been doing this business for years now and I’m happy doing it although it’s quite challenging in terms of dollar exchange rates, custom duties but we keep going in the business with God on our side.
Are you currently in a relationship? Yes I’m and not going to talk about it because it’s part of my privacy. I don’t like talking about relationships on papers or flaunting it on social media. Its part of my lifestyle and I like it that way and that doesn’t mean that I don’t love him or proud of him.
Seems you took a break from your music career, when next are your fans hearing from you? I have produced a lot of songs and still doing more. I’m not going to quit music, I’ll keep it flowing because of the passion I have for it. My fans would hear me soon. Since you ventured into fashion and beauty business, how has it been? Yeah! It’s been good and
Why did you chose beauty and fashion products? I went into the business because I like it and it’s 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 its now. An Annjay product is international now. We have our clients all over the world. The latest Annjay product is Cura Sunglasses. It is the best of its kind. Cura launched into the Nigerian market few weeks ago.
What kind of man would settle with when the time comes? I like God fearing, intelligent, smart, young or older, ugly or handsome. All I need is a hard working person like me and I don’t care about heights. Even if I marry today I won’t publicize it. What is the best part of your body? Every parts of my body are the best but I will say my slim stature and sexy eyes balls. It is not always easy for female Entertainer to rise without been
sexually harassed by men, have you experienced that? No! I have never experienced it because music is all about you. If you have something doing for a living that is generating funds for you, I don’t see why you should be sexually harassed. It’s those looking for free things that are sexually harassed. Everyone knows me as a workaholic. I started working as a journalist and making my own money from advertisement at age 16. I don’t look for free productions or free song writers. And funny enough, the producers I work with are my big brother’s friend and also family friends. You were a journalist turned musician, what prompted this, is journalism not paying your bills anymore? Journalism prepared me for everything I’m today. It pays but the truth is that I have other businesses that I’m doing by the side. It has been helping my music and paying my bills. I can no longer combine both because my hands were full. So, I stopped working as a journalist. Many people recognized me as a journalist in the industry. But my passion for journalism is still intact if you ask me. What should your fans expect from you musically? They should expect more cool sounds and good music from me. I’m not done yet but taking my time to do things right musically. I’m not in a rush at all to release unpleasant songs. You own many businesses, how do you combine it with music? I have staff members working for me because I can’t do it alone.
Annjay Chioma
By grace of God, I have been able to combine both and it worked out. What is the nature of your business? Beauty and fashion products. How affordable are your products? All our products are affordable. From our Brazilian virgin human hair, Annjay 3D Mink Lashes, Hair shampoo, conditioner, Cura Sun glasses and more, they are affordable. Anybody can afford it. I want to also use this opportunity to say that we sell top quality products. Quality assurance is guarantee. What inspires you? God and myself. My hard work inspires me a lot. I like beauty products too and I can spend my last kobo on it. As a teenager back then, if I want to buy any beauty product and my money is not complete, I’ll go into
installment agreements with them, after payment they hand over my what I paid for to me. I use quality expensive beauty products on myself and that’s why we sell good things. Do you have a particular beauty routine? Yes. I drink water every morning; eat a lot of fruits to keep my skin radiant and beautiful. I also exercise regularly to keep fits. Who are your best Nigerian designers? I haven’t worked with any of them in the present and past but that doesn’t mean we not going to work together in the future. However I look Lanre Da Silva, Zizi Cardow and Mai Atafo. I have international designers whom I wear their clothes, shoes, bags and perfume and haven’t met them personally before.
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Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, June 29, 2019
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Mercy Johnson completes 13 episodes of new TV Cooking show Curvy Nollywood actress, Mercy Johnson Okojie has completed 13 full episodes of her forthcoming TV Kitchen Talk show tagged ‘Mercy Menu’ come July, 2019. According to her media managers, the 13 episodes features Liz Benson, AY, Chigul, Omawumi, Niniola, Ufuoma McDermott, Lolo 1, Maraji,
Busola Dakolo, Kemi ‘Lala’ Akindoju, Ill Bliss and Munachi, Lagos House Wife (Rayo), Prince Odi Okojie, Purity, Henry, and Angel. Mercy’s new cooking/talk show sees her talking to fellow celebrities on their lifestyle, their opinion on life issues and their intimate secrets while cooking.
Stanley Enow
AFRIMA hosts stakeholders conference in Cameroun In its continued drive to build capacity for knowledge sharing among African music professionals and culture enthusiasts, the 6th All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, hosted music and culture industry stakeholders to a Stakeholders’ Conference on Friday, June 28, 2019 at the Las Vegas VIP, Sable, Bonamoissadi, Douala, Cameroon. The AFRIMA-Cameroon conference specifically revealed details of the 6th AFRIMA entry submission process and other programmes for the annual continental awards to effectively engage music talents and content creators who are key stakeholders and beneficiaries of the awarding process. The 6th AFRIMA Entry Submissions that closes on Friday August 2, 2019, is open for entries to Artistes, Songwriters, Video Directors, Producers, Dancers/ Choreographers, DJs and unrecorded artistes of African origin living on the continent and Diaspora.
According to the AFRIMA Regional Director, Central Africa, Mr. Ernest Ewane, “AFRIMA is sharing the spirit of Pan-Africanism for greater collaborations in culture, music and entertainment for sustainable development in line with the African Union (AU) cultural agenda for peace building, integration, democracy, economic advancement and youth social development. The Conference also focused on AFRIMA 2019 build-up events which include Turn Up Africa Music Concert & Conference, the Adjudication Process, the Nominees’ Announcement, Public Voting as well as the Main Awards Ceremony events such as the Africa Music Business Summit; the AFRIMA Music Village, and the Awards Night which comes up in November. Those who attended the event in Cameroon include music professionals, creative experts, cultural industry practitioners,
recording artistes, record labels, artiste managers, publishing companies, policy makers, government officials, business and media practitioners in Cameroon and neighbouring countries. Some past AFRIMA winners and nominees from Cameroon are Stanley Enow (2015 winner, Best Male Artiste in Central Africa, and 2016 winner, Best Artiste in African Hip Hop), Charlotte Dipanda (2015 winner, Album of the Year, Best Artiste in African Contemporary, & Best Female in Central Africa), Montess (2017 winner, Best Female Artiste in Central Africa), Nde Ndifonka aka Wax Dey (2016 winner, Best Male Artiste in Central Africa), Daphne (2018 winner, Best Female Artiste in Central Africa), Locko (2017 winner, Best Male in Central Africa), Salatiel, Magasco, and Mr. Leo amongst others. The Cameroon event partners include Calabash, Las Vegas VIP, and Atalaku Music.
Why I want to change face of movie production-Nigerian producer, Daniel Cole Stories Mutiat Alli Fast rising Nigerian movie producer, talent manager and CEO of Underground Entertainment, Daniel Cole has revealed that one of his major focus as a producer is to further change the face of movie production and the art of telling stories in the entertainment industry via quality movie production that will suit international standard. ‘The movie industry in the last few years have done a lot of commendable jobs in terms of filming and as such there is still room for a whole lot of improvement that can make us compete with other countries of the world through investment in the state of the art equipments , indepth script to mention amongst other factors ‘
Daniel Cole)
As a producer, Daniel is a props to the success story of Achievas entertainment’s first major blockbuster “Knocking On Heavens Door” which was known to be the first ever Netflix Nollywood content acquisition through Iroko in 2015; with his passion and love for storytelling, he equally served as the producer in the film The Island, which received 10 Nominations from Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival in Canada and winning 4 of it including the award for the Best African Film.It is pertinent to note that the Mass Communication graduate has excel well when it comes to event management having executed top notch shows that includes Olamide Live in Concert, Davido’s 30Billion Concert, Burna Boy Musical concert amongst others under the Achievas entertainment limited .
Mercy Johnson
Super model, Anita Osikhena Osikweme announced as model host for TINFF 2019 Ahead of the third of the Toronto International Film Festival (TINFF) come September 7, 2019 at the York Cinema, Canada, organisers have announced Nigeria’s super model, Anita Osikhena Osikweme as the model host for this year’s edition of the award. A woman of many parts, Anita is currently the face of popular cosmetic brand, Zaron making her a young millionaire; a step that opened her foray into the modeling industry and ever since, the zealous model recently emerged the 1st runner up for the Most Beautiful Model in Nigeria and brand ambassador to Wholesale Naija hair brand amongst others. Year in year out the festival is a community event that brings filmmakers from around the Globe to celebrate diversity through film
Anita
together as organisers have equally hinted that all hands are currently on deck towards a successful execution of the event as other side attractions will make this particular edition spectacular to awardees and participants amongst others. On her hosting the forthcoming the award, Anita disclosed that having followed the other two editions of the awards ceremony, it will nice to say I am only privileged to have invited to serve in the capacity of the host model this year. ‘I am glad as this further indicates that the brand is not just been recognized here in Nigeria alone but across the world and I am super excited that aside been the model host, works from Nigeria will also be considered at the august ceremony’ she said ,
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Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, June 29, 2019
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Society Gist
Fola & De Black Africans Band drop ‘Dare 2 Love’
Shade Okoya
Kalu, Lai Muhammed, Shade Okoya, others for Timelineng lecture/awards 2019 Isaac Oguntoye Prominent Nigerians in the political, social and business circle are all set to grace this year’s edition of Timeline Awareness Initiative Lecture and Awards Presentation slated for Lagos Sheraton Hotel in Ikeja. The event which comes up on Wednesday 3rd July is the third in series and will witness former Governor of Abia State and Senator of Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, Dr. (Mrs.) Shade Okoya, Managing Director of Eleganza Industry, and Speaker, Lagos House of Assembly, Rt. Mudashiru Obasa among many others
billed to be honoured with excellence award on the day. The annual educative programme put together by popular Online Newspaper TimelineNG was designed 3 years ago as the Socio-Political awareness platform of the newspaper to contribute its own quota to the political development of the country especially at a point new elected officials were just sworn in to begin a new political dispensation. This year’s edition according to the organizers has selected very popular politician, Lawyer, lawmaker with a great affection with media, Hon Tunde Braimoh, former Committee Chairman on Information & Strategy for Lagos State House of Assembly,
as Guest Speaker to discuss the topic ‘ Imperative of Effective Collaboration With The Media In Lawmaking, Setting Agenda For 9th Assembly’. The event which promises to be epoch-making will be Chaired by the Former Governor, Sen Orji Uzor Kalu while a Former Governorship Aspirant in Ogun State who was in the Federal House of Representative for 12years, Hon Abiodun Isiaq Akinlade is the Special Guest of Honor. Apart from Mrs Okoya who will be honored for giving Eleganza Industry a new face, Semator Bayo Osinowo popularly known as Pepper will also be decorated for his meritorious 16years at the Lagos State Assembly before moving to the Senate.
K1 meets kid artist, restates full scholarship promise Fuji Music living legend, King Wasiu Ayinde Mashal, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate, has met the representatives of Lagos State government and African Church Primary School, Meiran, over his promise to sponsor the education of Oluwatobi Ilelolawa, the 12-year-old Primary Six pupil of African Church Primary School, Meiran, who sketched President Muhammadu Buhari’s portrait with pen without any alteration few days ago. At the presentation of the kid artist to K1 at Radisson Blu Hotel, Isaac John Street, GRA, Ikeja, the musician said he was committed to the sponsorship of the boy in line with the vision of his 26-year-old Foundation, which was established to help him contribute meaningfully to the society. The issue was brought to the attention of the Fuji icon few months ago by his publicist, Kunle Rasheed, following a Facebook broadcast by Editor, Brands and Marketing of THISDAY Newspapers. While assuring the parents of the boy that he would henceforth shoulder all financial responsibilities to educate the boy, he urged them to guide and monitor him very well. “As a young boy who is talented, I think the best thing people like us
K1 should do is to support him. By doing so, we are not only touching lives but helping the society to grow. I have always maintained that government alone cannot do it, hence the need for individuals and organisations that have the means to sow seeds that would promote development and touch lives by contributing to the society,” he said. K1 described the boy as a raw talent that must be guided, supported and not allowed to waste.
“I was touched when the story was brought to my notice and I see it as one of those things one can do to impact the society. Education is key to success and who knows the boy we are talking about may be a governor or President in the making. He may become another Ben Enwonwu, Bruce Onobrakepya, Wole Soyinka or an international artist of repute in the future. If the society fails to give him the needed support now, posterity will not forgive us. This is the time to lift a hand and groom a talent for posterity.” Also speaking at the short event, immediate past Minister of Information, Lai Muhammed commended K1 for the gesture and urged other well meaning Nigerians to toe the line and support indigent pupils in the society. Responding on behalf of Lagos State Ministry of Education, the Education Secretary, Alimosho Local Government, Alhaja Airat Mojirade Alamu, expressed her gratitude to the Fuji Star, adding that his decision to help the boy would send a positive signal to other prominent people in the society on how to impact lives. The Education Secretary, who was represented by Mrs. Yetunde S. Alimi of School Support Services, however prayed that God will continue to bless K1 to be able to impact more lives.
Music they say is life especially when it’s been played by a professional. While the Nigeria based artistes are busy promoting our cultural heritage through music globally, Folashade John Akinboboye, an America based act is also leaving no stone unturned as he is working tediously to break the international jinx. Folashade who is popularly known as Fola is the brain behind Fola & De Black Africans Band. According to Fola, growing up in Nigeria was an amazing experience for him which was part what motivated him into music saying “ I grew up in Lagos, Okokomiko area. I lived in Ondo state for sometime too. Tales by moonlight stories was one of my most memorable experiences when I was growing up in Nigeria. It was very educational and also teaches us about moral values. This is why most of my songs talk about the richness of African culture and my heritage. Preaching peace and love through my songs and fashion label known as Dare 2 love fashion line.” When he was asked about what he is working on at the moment, he said “I am recording my new album titled ‘Dare 2 Love’. I will be releasing an Ep of 3 songs from the album under the record platform of West Land Music/ GRA Records.” Meanwhile, the talented cool dude also emphasised on the need for a better structure when it comes to Nigeria music industry, saying: “The two industries are similar but they are different in their own
Fola unique ways. Nigerian music industry still need better structures, better copyright laws, licence, etc. However the potential of Nigeria music industry is endless and is growing really fast. USA music industry has all the right structures to make sure artist are paid for their creative work and the investors in the industry are also able to invest without fear of piracy and other issues. These are the major differences.” Before now, Fola had dropped one EP titled “My fans” and it has 6 songs. He also dropped another single titled, ‘Marry U’. And by July 30 he will be releasing a new EP with 3 songs and the title is ‘Mother Land’ with songs like Afrika, What and My Shine.
Jubril Adewale Tinubu celebrates at 52 For some human creatures, life is one sweet song that must be on the repeat mode. Yet, for some others, the harsh realities of life are forcing them to seek an urgent meeting with their forebears. Among the lucky creatures, who see life as worth living is Wale Tinubu, a businessman and an oil mogul. He turns 52 today! And for Tinubu, who holds a Master’s degree in Law from the London School of Economics, the day must be celebrated with moderate fanfare. A family source disclosed that Tinubu is more interested in expressing gratitude to God for the battles fought and won and the triumph over adversity in the past years; and the need to continually seek God’s favour in his future business plans. Perhaps, this explains the low-key birthday devoid of huge celebration. Rather, the billionaire is abroad exploiting more frontiers for the leading oil and Gas Company. Indeed, Tinubu, a respected businessman, has evolved as an Iroko
Jubril Tinubu
in the industry, as a result of his unbent resolve not to live under the shadow of his privileged family background. From age 22 when returned to Nigeria armed with his Master’s degree in Law to when he attended the Nigeria Law School; and from when he started his career with in his family Law firm, K.O. Tinubu and Co. Chambers to when he set up his oil business, the paths have been laced with roses and thorns. But where he has encountered thorns, he has refused to give up on his dreams; and at 52, he is not under any illusion that there are still no boulders here and there. Even now, as he tackles the Security and Exchange Commission, SEC, over its recent pronouncement on his company, Tinubu is confident that he will emerge victorious in the end. So, if there is any one request he will make of his family, friends and business associates who are celebrating him today, it is that they humbly pray for many happy returns of the day in sound health as he pursues his dream on the global stage.
Chief Executive Officer, Stylenest International, Chinwe Okwu
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Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, June 29, 2019
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Mixed Grill
Sony Music West Africa welcomes Oluwaseun Lloyd as new GM Mutiat Alli As you must have read by now, Sony Music West Africa has appointed foremost music entrepreneur and now former President of Davido Music Worldwide, Oluwaseun Lloyd, also known as Banko, as its General Manager. The record company said its partnership with Banko is based on his pure love for African music and his desire to push the culture beyond the waters of the land. The music entrepreneur horned his craft in the music business in Canada, after which he returned back to Nigeria to set up Davido Music Worldwide. “We have no Iota of doubt that the record company is in safe and profitable hands under Banko’s
management,” Sony Music West Africa said. In sharing his plans for the company, Banko expressed determination to grow Sony Music West Africa to the next level, saying he plans to diversify the company’s business interests and woo investors. “There is no reason why Apple, Tidal and Spotify should not have their platforms in Africa. African music is overripe for platforms like Apple and Spotify to ignore,” Banko said. “I will not rest until the voice of every talented West African is heard on the world music stage. From the bubbling city of Lagos, down to the Kente-dressed natives of Ghana, even to the football-governed country of Sierra Leone, let this message be passed into every nook and cranny of West Africa that Sony Music West Africa is here not just
to make indigenous stars but build stars of tomorrow that would shine independently.” On his big plans for West African artistes, Banko said: “To every young, talented West African with a dream of bringing home the coveted Grammy Awards, we say, wake up from your dreams; the time has come to turn it to reality. In a few days from now, we will be knocking on your doors; do not hesitate to open your them to us.” In times past, Sony Music Worldwide has watched great talents such as Angélique Kidjo, Davido, Wizkid spring out of the continent. This was why, in February 2016, the record company decided to invest in West Africa by setting up Sony Music West Africa in line with its vision to make Africa a musical repertoire centre of the world.
Mona Matthews, Delabique, Proverbs Creations and TBR Tailors return with Style Express 2 After a successful first edition, Nigerian Female designers, Mona Matthews, Delabique and Proverbs Creations have return with Style Express 2 and added to this mix is The Bespoke Royal Tailor, a men’s wear label founded and run by Shadrach Haozume.
Style Express is a Pop-upBoutique Experience where customers pain points are addressed. From getting the right outfits and perfect fit irrespective of shapes and sizes to getting quality made in Nigeria clothes, shoes, to handbags, jewelry, fascinators etc.
Mona Matthews, Delabique, Proverbs Creations and TBR Tailors
The event is also a great place to connect with friends, meet like-minds, network, make new connections and experience quality shopping like no other in a relaxing and cosy environment. Style Express holds on 30th of June 2019 at Radisson Blu Hotel, Isaac John Street GRA Ikeja Lagos.
Five thousand Stylenesthair customers set to win special gifts cards Stylenest International, the largest human hair extension marketing company in Nigeria in furtherance of its effort at promoting beauty in Nigeria and African continent has announced plans of offering special gift cards and other mouthwatering prizes to over 5,000 customers nationwide. Announcing the offer, the Chief Executive Officer, Stylenest International, Chinwe Okwu said Stylenesthair customers in eight major cities across the country namely; Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Warri, Enugu, Owerri, Asaba and Benin will benefit from the sale promotion campaign. “Our planned sales promotion in these major cities across the country affords women in these locations access to quality hair extensions and haircare products at affordable prices” she remarked. The Stylenest hair boss explained that to be eligible for the offer, retail and individual customers would make a purchase of hair extension or haircare products worth N50,000 and above to get these gift cards and customers who bring two friends or relatives to make purchase worth N30,000 each also stand a chance of winning mouth-watering prizes. Okwu, further pointed out that wholesales customers who make purchase of goods worth N1,000,000.00 and above will have 10% discount on all items selected. “For Stylenesthair customers and
distributors it’s a win-win situation as they are not only purchasing quality hair extensions but also getting these products at a discounted rate. Stylenest International which commenced the marketing and distribution of quality hair extensions and haircare products in 2011 currently has 3 branches in Nigeria and has plans to open more outlets in other parts of country. The sales promotions offer commences on 1 July and 31October, 2019
Chinwe
Nigerian artistes must not be comfortable with fame, fortune - Biodun Koya Ladesope Ladelokun America-based Nigerian Opera singer, Biodun Koya, says Nigerian artistes should not be comfortable with the fame and fortune they have acquired, noting that there is need for them to go back to the assignment of hearing from God and propagating the messages of hope and positivity as messengers of God. Koya said this while speaking with journalists last night during the presentation of an album she titled “Lift Up Nigeria” at the Intercontinental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. She charged Nigerians to have the positive outward of Nigeria in their consciousness and portray it in their dealings across the world. The Nigerian superstar said it was the responsibility of all Nigerians to “Lift Up Nigeria” in all aspects of their endeavours at home and abroad. On what she intends to achieve with the album produced by highly rated Wole Oni, Koya said she wanted to spark hope in the minds of Nigerians and send them the message that the task of lifting up Nigeria lies in their hands. “We have to love ourselves and lift up Nigeria. We have to create a new path and a new world for the children unborn because we can’t leave the present situation to our unborn children. We should endeavour to work hard and create an amazing Nigeria for a new generation unborn,” she said Also, chairman of the day, front-rank economist and politician, Prof. Pat Utomi, said the contribution of Nigeria in music and entertainment generally to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is third after Hollywood in America and Bollywood in India, describing it as the fastest in terms of velocity while speaking with journalists. He said with proper regulation, encouragement and promotion, unemployment will be substantially taken care of and hard foreign currency will come into the country. Utomi, who was represented by Mr. Akin Fatunke of the Music Minds Fraternity,
which Utomi belongs, said: “Nollywood is contributing more than even what we have planned an envisaged to the GDP of Nigeria. As a matter of fact, developmental economists will tell you that is one area that is still waiting to be harnessed. All over the world, Nigeria’s contribution to GDP is third after Bollywood in India, Hollywood in the US and then Nigeria. But Nigeria has had the fastest in terms of velocity that you can imagine and envisage,” he said. The event also provided opportunities for guests to bare their minds on the state of the nation. Addressing the audience, former Commissioner of Police in Lagos, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, lamented the decay that has permeated virtually every facet of national life. He, however, expressed reservations about the potency of state police in checking the alarming rate of crime in the country, calling for the strengthening of the current force. Among the distinguished Nigerians that graced the occasion were former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia, former Ogun governorship candidate, Mr. Segun Odegbami, Ms. Yemisi Ransome- Kuti and Mr. Allen Onyema, Chairman, Air Peace Airlines.
Biodun
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NBC restates commitment to pollution-free environment Godwin Anyebe Non-alcoholic and beverage manufacturing company, Nigerian Bottling Company Limited (NBC), has reaffirmed its commitment towards a safe, clean and pollution free environment as the company led members of its staff and representatives from Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) in a beach clean-up activity which held to observe the 2019 World Environment Day. Speaking on the coastal beach cleanup exercise which held at the Kids Beach Garden, Lagos recently, the Public Affairs and Communications Director of Nigerian Bottling Company Limited, Ekuma Eze described the action as part of the company’s contribution to achieve its 2025 commitments geared towards making the environment safe. Mr. Eze, who spoke on the theme of 2019 World Environment Day tagged “Beat Air Pollution”, explained that current environmental challenges demand urgent attention. “Environmental sustainability has remained a major focus for us at NBC. We believe that a concerted effort is necessary to ensure that the environment is preserved for future generations. This duty cannot rest solely on the shoulders of the government, the private sector, or environmentally conscious individuals; everyone has an important role to play. We are here today to play our own part and to draw the public’s attention to the importance of preserving our environment. “We need to come to the point in Nigeria where issues of environmental sustainability are integrated into our environmental architecture and strategy. Air pollution comes from household, industry, agricultural, transport and waste management activities. We need to be conscious of the ways our activities in these areas impact on the environment. For instance, improved collection, sorting and recycling of waste ultimately reduces the amount of waste that is burned or landfilled. We encourage other individuals or institutions to emulate what we are doing here today and take concrete steps to protect the environment”, he explained. He disclosed that aside the 2019 coastal beach cleaning exercise, the company continuously reviews and optimises its operational and production processes to drive sustainability. “On our own part, we and our strategic partners, The Coca-Cola Company, are embarking on a comprehensive, multiyear plan that directly addresses issues regarding packaging. This approach – World Without Waste – has a goal to collect and recycle the equivalent of a bottle or can for each one we sell by 2030. In addition, most of our plants are now being powered using renewable energy sources. With our combined heat and power plant, we have been able to reduce our amount of carbon footprint drastically, as is obtained in other developed countries”, he added. Assistant Director, Cleaner Lagos Initiative, Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Adewunmi Adetona who represented the General Manager of the agency, commended the management of Nigerian Bottling Company Limited for its thoughtfulness in cleaning up the shoreline, noting that this action would go a long way to reduce the impact of flooding and other environmental hazards plaguing the area.
MD/CEO, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Umaru Ibrahim (fist right) when he leads a delegation of the Corporation’s Executive Management on a courtesy visit on the Senate President, Dr Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan (first Left).
NDIC boss highlights challenges facing Nigeria’s economy Says only a stable banking system could guarantee sustainable growth
Seeks speedy passage of amendment Act of NDIC Motolani Oseni The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) Umaru Ibrahim has highlighted various challenges facing the Nigerian economy and observed that only a stable banking system could guarantee sustainable growth of the economy. He also appealed to the 9thSenate of the Federal Republic for the speedy passage of the NDIC Act, 2006 (as amended) currently before the National Assembly. The NDIC Boss made the plea when the Management of the Corporation paid a courtesy call on the newly elected President of the Senate, Dr.Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan in his office during the week. In his opening remarks, the NDIC boss added that the Corporation was working in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and other relevant
stakeholders through effective supervision and prudential regulation of the banking system. Speaking on the importance of the bill, he assured the Management of the Corporation that the 9th Senate would give the bill the accelerated consideration it deserved. He, however, noted that the resolve of the Corporation to work closely with the Senate leadership and the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions is to ensure a stable banking system which is critical to the stability of the nation’s financial system. Alh. Ibrahim recalled that in the past, the Corporation had worked with the Senate on the Bill to Amend the NDIC Act 2006 through the holding of seminars, workshops and active participation in public hearings, stating that the Senate of the 8th Assembly was unable to pass the Bill unlike the House of Representatives
which accorded the process the priority it deserved. The NDIC Boss enumerated the supervisory challenges facing the Banking System in the last few years including issues related to risk management, corporate governance, non-performing loans, and the need to for more efficient management cybersecurity systems as well as consumer protection. He noted that the Financial Services Regulation and Co-ordinating Committee (FSRCC) comprised of CBN, NDIC, PENCOM SEC, NAICOM and CAC amongst others would continue to collaborate to ensure financial system stability. The Managing Director /CEO concluded his remarks by reiterating the commitment of the Corporation to the sustenance of an excellent relationship with the Senate particularly the distinguished Senators who would be on the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and
Other Financial Institutions adding that the cordial working relationship was not only crucial to the passage of the amendment of the NDIC, but other important Bills such as the Financial Ombudsman which was intended to provide a quasi-judicial framework for resolving disputes between banks and their customers. Responding, the Senate President promised that the Senate would immediately commence work on the Bill to Amend the NDIC Act 2006 afresh as the work earlier done by the 8thSenate had lapsed with the expiration of that Assembly. While thanking the NDIC Management for the visit, the Senate President noted the importance of the Corporation as an institution that ensured the safety and soundness of the banking system in Nigeria through the protection of depositors and acknowledged that it had done quite well in the discharge of its mandate over the years.
Compensation Scheme: NSITF charges employers on awareness of employee’s benefits Joy Obakeye The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has explained that employers ought to be made aware of the advantage of enrolling their workers in the Employee Compensation Scheme (ECS). The employers, according to the chairman of the board of the NSITF Austin Enejamo-Isire, are major contributors to the fund and that is why they want to carry out a massive awareness campaign to increase enrolment in the scheme. “I have just resumed as the chairman of the NSITF board and I believe that one way to increase enrolment is to create
awareness and I do know that if you do great things and you fail to propagate those things, nobody will recognise that. “One of the key things we are going to do to stimulate greater enrolment is awareness creation. We must let them be aware that there are great benefits in enrolling in the social security work of the government. He noted the role government has played in trying to provide decent work for the populace. “For example, looking at it from the angle of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, we are basically out to provide a fair guarantee system for all those who are affected by occupational hazard and bring succour to them. “It is sad when two things happen to
a man and that is when a breadwinner is gone and the bread itself is gone. That is why the NSITF is out to ensure that beneficiaries of those who suffer death as a result of being in active service are adequately rewarded. “We have a way of bringing succour to those who suffer disability up to cover their medical expenses. All these are being done to ensure that a decent environment is created. The drive and the vision of President Muhammadu Buhari is particularly in the area of social investment and a whole lot is being done. “Poverty alleviation comes from there, training and awareness are galvanised to provide very decent work for Nigerian workers. This is a step in the right direction and in line with the
ILO yearning for decent work,” he said. He said just as prevention is better than cure, same applies to occupational hazard prevention, which is very key in the world of work. The NSITF boss said surveys were being done in the health and safety department and he has gone ahead to encourage them to include occupational hazard to the extent of asking for fire extinguishers. He stated further: “Awareness is being done in all areas and that is better than being a reactive person. If we are proactive in addressing all the issues, you will have safety and good work environment. At NSITF, we have a full department handling this area and we are trying to see how we can change the narratives.”
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Promasidor donates to Orphanages in Lagos Godwin Anyebe
L-R: Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, UACN, Mr Folasope Aiyesimoju; Chairman, Mr Daniel Agbor; and Company Secretary, Mr Godwin Samuel, at the 2019 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the UACN, held during the week in Lagos.
CBN injects $242.04m, CNY 32.3m into Retail SMIS Mathew Dadiya, Abuja In continuation of its intervention in the inter-bank foreign exchange market, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has injected the sum of $242.04million into the retail Secondary Market Intervention Sales (SMIS). The apex bank also wired CNY 32.3million in the spot and short tenored forwards segment of the inter-
bank foreign market. The Director, Corporate Communications Department, Isaac Okorafor on Friday disclosed that the intervention was driven by requests in the agricultural and raw materials sectors. Okorafor added that the Chinese Yuan, on the other hand, was for Renminbi-denominated Letters of Credit. He further expressed satisfaction over the stability of the foreign
exchange which according to him, was largely due to sustained intervention by the Bank. He assured that the apex Bank Management would remain committed to ensure that all the sectors of the forex market continue to enjoy access to the needed foreign exchange. He reiterated that with the improved inflow of foreign exchange, the exchange rate had remained stable around N360/$1 for the past 27 months.
The Daily Times recalls that the Bank on Tuesday, June 25, 2019, offered authorized dealers in the wholesale segment of the market the sum of $100million, while the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and the invisibles segments each received the sum of $55 million. Meanwhile, $1 exchanged for N361 at the Bureau de Change (BDC) segment of the foreign exchange market, while CNY1 exchanged at N55 on Friday, June 28, 2019.
Medview airline to acquire more aircraft ... To air lift 6000 pilgrims
Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo Medview airline, one of Nigeria’s domestic airlines has concluded plans to enter into a strategic partnership with a foreign company for additional aircraft to its fleet. Chief Executive Officer, Medview airline, Alhaji Muneer Bankole who disclosed this at the airline’s Annual General Meeting in Lagos, said the company had gone a step further to ensure that it does not lease any aircraft again for its operations after 2018 experience. He said discussions were at its final stage
with the foreign company he described as strong and serious to do business with Medview. Bankole assured the shareholders that with additional aircraft to the fleet, the airline will soar. “I assure you that the experience of 2018 was a lesson to this company, we have said to you, that we will not lease an aircraft but we have gone a step further to tell you that we are working towards a strategic partnership with a very strong airline in the coming months to bring in some newer aircraft to join our fleet, our assurances are based on our current meeting with some of these operators who we know are very serious.”
The Medview boss also emphasized that for the maintenance of its fleet, the airline had signed a contract with Ethiopian airline for its Boeing 777 aircraft. “We have the 777, we signed a contract with Ethiopian airlines, which has a lot of AMO, to do a full maintenance on this aircraft, as am talking to you, the Ethiopians people are arriving on this the flight today to join this company to give full support in maintenance to this organization.” Also speaking on the airlift of pilgrims for this year’s hajj, Bankole said, the airline had put all arrangement in the place to ensure a hitch-free airlift. According to Bankole, as a major player in
Hajj operations, shareholders should expect a turnaround this year. “We are in Hajj operations, one of the major players; we expect the turnaround in 2019 by His grace.” He added, “We have signed with the Nigeria High Commission a contract of over 6,000 pilgrims for the airlift for 2019 pilgrim airlift. We have a total of 3,600 pilgrims in Kaduna and we are graceful to the Executive Governor who believe in this company for the last 6 years or 4 years of his second term, he has made a commitment to Medview airline and apart from the collaboration, he has provided for us a very big land next to the National Defence College.”
Seekmed enjoys Mobile App adoption from Nigerians after release Ladesope Ladelokun Following a successful launch and quick adoption of SeekMed - a mobile telemedicine application - by a majority of early users, the mobile app has found its way into the healthcare market, enjoying positive reviews and a 4.8-star rating on Google Play Store. Primarily created to offer users medical second opinion before making major surgical or complex treatment decisions in the lines of nephrology, cardiology, neurology, oncology, orthopaedics
and others; Medical tourists can also get adequate information about ailments before committing themselves to long hours in the air; seeing as it has become increasingly impossible to eliminate medical tourism. Alok Awasthi, Founder of SeekMed fondly acknowledged that the App wasn’t created to halt this growing trend, rather, it was created to make life easier for users. “In this day and age, it is impossible to completely eliminate or avoid medical tourism. However, the flight of capital from a patient’s home country could somewhat be
contained by leveraging virtual medical tourism services provided by SeekMed,” he said. “Traveling to other countries for surgeries and other complex procedures can’t be avoided but the majority of consultations could still be carried out via SeekMed.” As such, SeekMed has carried out hundreds of consultations since its Nigeria launch in March and have been greeted by waves of reviews and endorsements. One user wrote: “My experience with them was excellent and this is the best app to get medical attention. I encourage everyone
with different types of diseases to join Seekmed they are excellent doctors with good reception.” SeekMed App is widely perceived as an innovative app that offers immediate solutions to some of the existing problems of healthcare and Nigerian medical tourists. There are three easy steps involved to use the app. One, download the app which is currently only available on Google Play Store. Two, register and book an appointment with a specialist. Finally, pay a sum of 5,200 Naira through an online channel and then proceed with your consultation.
Promasidor Nigeria Limited has donated products of high nutritional value to underprivileged children in orphanages in Lagos as its contribution to their upkeep. Promasidor, leading player in the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector, made the donation of Cowbell Milk, Miksi Chocolate drink, Cowbell Strawberry and Sunvita, all rich in vitamins and minerals, to So-Said Charity Home in Okota; Tower of Refuge Orphanage, Surulere; Bab-Es-Salam Home, Ikeja; and Little Saints Orphanage located in Egbeda. Commenting on the donation, Vincent Olayinka, Category Manager, Dairy and Beverages, Promasidor Nigeria Limited, said the company through its flagship brand, Cowbell, Our milk, embarked on the initiative as part of its corporate social responsibility to celebrate children and enhance their nutritional intake. He emphasised that Cowbell, Our Milk, contains a special blend of Vitamins and minerals known as Vitarich, and especially, it contains Vitamin B9 for cognitive development of children. According to Olayinka, the initiative is embarked upon annually, as the company did same to five orphanages last year to mark the yearly event. Receiving the products, Roseline Banks, the Administrator of SoSaid Charity Home, commended Promasidor for the gifts, saying it is worth emulating as they would help keep the children healthy, with all the nutritional values attached. At Towers of Refuge Orphanage, Mercy Arinze, the Administrator, applauded Promasidor for alleviating the plight of the less privileged. There were also smiles on the face of Hassan Tahir, Head of BabEs-Salam Home, who received the products. He said the orphanage has been existing for the past 28 years and that some of the children have grown up to be students in tertiary institutions across the country, while some others worked in various large organisations in Lagos. Appreciation was also shown at Little Saints Orphanage. George Mathew, who is a Pastor of Christian Youth Fellowship attached to the orphanage extolled Promasidor and its team for extending their kindness to children. Promasidor has been at the forefront of promoting children’s wellbeing. For over 20 years, Cowbell has encouraged secondary school students to develop an interest in the subject area of mathematics through Cowbellpedia Secondary School TV Quiz Show. The company’s Loya Milk the brand has nurtured swimming talent among students through the Loya Swim Meet competition, which has been held in various cities across the nation. Also, Promasidor, through its career guidance workshop christened Promasidor Harness Your Dream, has helped students to make proper career choices that relate to their talents, attitude and dreams in their educational pursuits.
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Its time Buhari gives more priority to anti-graft war, economy, security and agriculture - Ologunde Funsho Ologunde is not a new name in the politics of Lagos State, especially among stakeholders in the All Progressives Congress (APC). He is currently the Vice Chairman, Southwest of the APC in Lagos State, in this interview Ologunde speaks on the last general election, the performance of the APC, especially in Lagos State, the performance of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), among other issues. PATRICK OKOHUE reports. The APC in the last election, unlike in 2015 won almost all elective positions in Lagos State, how was this achieved? We did not win everything. We won most of the positions and lost some; but not many positions were lost, which was a significant improvement on our performance in the 2015 general elections. The 2015 election was not a reflection of our performance; all those places that we lost it was because of the dollars distributed by PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) in their crazy bid to win Lagos State at all cost. But we sat down and realised the mistake and this time around we were able to overhaul our machinery which make us to string back. However, we are not there yet, in subsequent elections, we would establish the dominance of APC, for the governorship election we could have done more. In the governorship election in 2015, we defeated the PDP with about 100,000 votes, but this time we had 500,000 votes’ differences. Before the election you would realise that the PDP never mounted any podium to campaign, which indicated that they didn’t have confidence in themselves; they had planned to rig massively, unfortunately for them it was neutralised this time around. Their plans to rig collapsed like a pack of cards; they depended too much on rigging that they never bothered to mount a table to tell Lagosian what they were going to do. But some opposition parties have accused the APC of colluding with INEC to manipulate the 2019 election in the state, some of the governorship candidates are in tribunal now? Well that is the imagination of a loser. I said earlier, that parties did not go out to campaign, they hoped on rigging because they had been assured by their god -father outside the state that they would do it for them. So how could they have won the election? That was failure. You said they are in the tribunal; let them go, who was it that sang the song that the harder they go they will continue to fail; the tribunal intrigues will fail like a pack of cards before the eyes of all Lagosians. The election was free and fair, is it because they were not able to smuggle thumb-printer ballot paper? But there were allegations of violence against nonYoruba’s in some part of the state. That is not true; because as an officer of the APC in Lagos State there was no such plan, or an order to some people to do that. Those places you talked about are my constituency over which I have responsibility; there was never a time the party programmes anybody to go out and cause violence, never. If some people misbehaved and some people reacted they should not blame it on anybody. You were here during the campaigns and after the campaign, the Ohaneze sent messages to South-easterners residing in Lagos State, about who they should vote for in the election. If all those things, happened and our people kept quiet, believing and trusting God for the good things the APC can do in Lagos State should anybody now turn around and blame the APC.
around in a Siena bus, as they approaches a Police check point they felt they would be caught and they all ran out of the car. When the police searched the vehicle, they saw 5 long range guns, it was an unmarked vehicle, an unregistered Siena bus. She knew she won the election fraudulently in 2015, and the APC also had put their house in order; the people are no more ready for her money, the money even no more coming freely. The APC know who often give the money out, that person is tired of bankrolling violence and election in Lagos. So you are saying APC won? Yes the party won. The same day there was also a byelection for the state Assembly position for Surulere, the APC won that place too. The PDP were unable to raise anything or protest because it was obvious they could not even come out and mobilise their supporters to vote, was it the APC that locked them at home? They could not come out, whoever is complaining that the election was not free and fair is not sincere.
Ologunde It was even the reverse, when a tenant enters the house of a landlord and begins to challenge the landlord and start to prove equality it is palaver that is coming. What happened in the supplementary election in Ajeromi Ifelodun federal constituency of the state? That is another story, in 2015, Rita did not win by popular votes it was rigged, the first part of 2019 elections in AjeromiIfelodun where she had 3,000 majority votes it was through the influence of name dropping and the use of imported fake military men, DSS and fake Police officers, that she imported. The people were going round intimidating voters; because she knew that she could not win comfortably if the election was allowed to hold peacefully. She also planned with her supporters to cause violence in a key section in the constituency where her opponent from the APC was popular, while she allowed peaceful election to hold where her stronghold was. She disrupted elections were it is not her stronghold; and she thought she could influence INEC to cancel elections result in those areas and declare her winner. The party protested to INEC and we were able to convince INEC to see reason with us, so she went to court, and the court said no INEC was in charge of that election, INEC should declare the result and go ahead and hold rerun election. In the course of the election, some of her supporters were driving
Before the election you would realise that the PDP never mounted any podium to campaign, which indicated that they didn’t have confidence in themselves; they had planned to rig massively, unfortunately for them it was neutralised this time around. Their plans to rig collapsed like a pack of cards; they depended too much on rigging that they never bothered to mount a table to tell Lagosian what they were going to do.
What is your assessment of the performance of INEC in the general election across the country? INEC tried their best across the country; I recollect how INEC was sabotaged in the first election to the extent that the election had to be postponed. The postponement was imposed on INEC because the big time politicians in Nigeria did not want the presidential and National Assembly election to hold in one day, they were not ready even with the postponement, they could not sort it out, but Nigerians voted who they wanted. You remember before the election a former president who said that the election was bad, later changed his mind that it was the candidate that was bad; does it mean the other candidate is the one that is now good. Why did the Card Reader fail? Why did they have to revalidate the Card Reader to work properly? The logistic challenges faced by INEC were not all their making; there were evil men that were out to disrupt the election, they did not want the election to hold, even during the election they instigated violence across the country after the election of the President, they had planned to cause violence and show the international community that the election was not free and fair, they said Buhari was not popular they said APC was bad. They are not sincere, inspite of negative campaign for Buhari Nigerians still voted for Buhari. In 2015 Buhari won by 1.5 million votes, this time, he won by more than 4 million votes, now they are still crying that Buhari is not popular and APC is not popular they have to sit down. Don’t you think the signing of the Amended Electoral Law would have eliminated some of these bottlenecks? Despite that the President refused to sign that law that was amended by the lawmakers mischievously was there any state that the Card Reader was not used? I have not seen any report that says that. Some political observers were surprised with the number of votes the President Buhari got in some Northern states, compare to Lagos, and the number of voters? Yes Lagosians appears to be the most educated in terms of the concentration of citizen in Nigerians, but it appears, the more educated the less likelihood of them voting. So you cannot blame the people if Lagosians did not come out, it is not the fault of the people who are not educated in the North, if you are educated and you refuse to exercise your right to vote then you don’t care who governs you. We have more than 5 million voters in Lagos State, but they did not come out, there was no restriction, even with all our campaigns in Lagos State people did not come out to vote, who is to blame?
Continued on page 18
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Nigeria election: Another political party slams INEC over Chairman’s claims Following claims by the Chairman of the Independent National Election Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, that INEC is the most improved public service institution in Nigeria, another political party, the Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP), on Friday, has put a lie to the claim, saying that the electoral umpire will only be right if they mean the claim in the negative. National spokesman of the ANRP, Mr Sesugh Akume told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that INEC’s performance in the 2019 elections did not show that there were improvements on what happened in 2015. Yakubu had on Wednesday, stated during the review of the conduct of the 2019 general elections with the second batch of Electoral Officers from southern states of the country that INEC had significantly improved from where it used to
Egberongbe
Reps member commends FG over work on Apapa gridlock, seeks revival of rail, water transport Stories by Patrick Okohue A member of the House of Representatives for Apapa Federal Constituency, Hon. Mufutau Egberongbe, has commended the task force set up by the Federal Government for the cleaning of Apapa area of Lagos for its resilience and determination to end the perennial gridlock experienced by the residents. Egberongbe who made the commendation in a statement on Friday in Lagos, said however that more needed to be done to sanitise the area. The lawmaker noted that the “notorious traffic situation” in Apapa was orchestrated by the activities of the ports located in the area. According to him, “the port was originally designed to do 33 million metric tones, but it currently does 80 million showing that the infrastructure is now overstretched and resulting
in the terrible traffic congestion experienced on roads around the area daily.” He also commended the vice chairman of the presidential task force, Kayode Opeifa, and the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for their constant visits to Apapa with a view to ensuring the lamentable situation is resolved. “I want to ask that they should accelerate the issue of the port ongoing in Badagry and that of the Lekki Free Trade zone for the decongestion of the Apapa while, in the long run, the railway and the water transportation facilities in the state should be rejuvenated. “The railway had been a medium of carrying large amount of goods from Apapa to other areas of the state and the country before the facility became moribund. The rail lines are still there; they should be revamped,” he said while urging the Federal
Government to also take advantage of the navigable waterways in the state. Apart from these, the lawmaker said it was important for the authorities to consider cargo tracking at the port as one of the means of reducing gridlock in the area. Hon. Egberongbe also urged the Federal Government to make funds available to the Lagos State and the Apapa Local Governments as a form of revenue to make it easy for them to sustain and protect roads and other infrastructures in the areas affected by the activities at the port. While lamenting that the challenge has resulted in low value of properties in Apapa, he called on the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), NIMASA and private organisations operating in the area to activate their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), especially in relation to roads and drainage facilities.
be in 1999. It would be recalled that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had on Thursday lambasted Yakubu over the boast. Akume, however, said: “It is not true that INEC is an improved public service institution, except perhaps in a negative sense. “In 2019, INEC got worse than 2015. It was expected that 2019 would be an improvement on the 2015 elections, but that is not the case. “For instance, INEC performed poorly from mobilising the electorate to come out and vote, many registered voters were disenfranchised as they did not get their cards, all the way to failing to announce results clearly,” he said. Akume, who contested for House of Representatives, Sankera Federal Constituency in Benue State, said that a Freedom of Information request he made to INEC since November 2018
was yet to be answered. He stated that there were many flaws during the 2019 elections. “We experienced a situation whereby it took three days for election results to move from one part of town in Sankera constituency to the other where the INEC office is,” Akume said. He also claimed that local Electoral Officers in his constituency were ignorant on basic election processes, which had implications on the exercise. Akume advised INEC to stop boasting about its performance and face the reality of negative feedback of the “very poorly conducted elections” which he said, had resulted in the number of election petitions and upturned results. “What INEC needs to do is to get off its high horse and reflect soberly on making things right,” he said.
Its time Buhari gives more priority to anti-graft war, economy, security and agriculture - Ologunde Continued from page 18 How do you react to the comment by an Afenifere chieftain, who said he would not recognise President Buhari beyond May 29? Chief Ayo Adebanjo is just one person, he has never contested election for any position in his life. One of the oldest men we have in this country, but he is a specialist together with Afenifere in criticising and destroying. We know the role Afenifere played in the 2019 election, by making this point, what does he want to do now? Is he going to pack his things and leave Nigeria? I am sorry to say, that is the view of a frustrated elder citizen who is so disappointed that his negative wishes for the country was not actualised. But Afenifere leaders have always said their only problem against Buhari is his opposition to restructuring of the country, and that they are supporting Atiku because of his support for restructuring? Because Afenifere always give a reason to behave the way they behave. You remember Afenifere moving from the South West to the South Est to engage Ohanaeze, they engaged the Middle-belt Forum, and also moved to the North to engage
Arewa to join them to build a Fabre of destruction for the country, but it is unfair. I don’t see them as good, the way they behave during the period of the election. All the leaders of Afenifere, this is the kind of attitude they put up that makes the young ones like us say that Afenifere does not represent the interest of Yourba’s. You can see the way Ohanaeze stood in the just concluded election, they did not want Buhari to win the presidential election, but the South West came out to say no. What areas do you think President Buhari should give priority in his second term? President Buhari should give priority to the antigraft war, he should step it up. The economy, security and agriculture, education, job creation. I think the four point which the President used to campaign in 2015 is still relevant; is not as if he is not working, just that the more he works the more those areas are exposed. Does it mean the APC does not believe in the on-going agitation for restructuring? Look the people who believe we need restructuring are people who sleep and work. I remember
at independence we had three regions; the North, South and Eastern region. Restructuring started after the war, we had region later Lagos was removed from Western region. Gowon enacted a decree and dissolved the region and created 12 states so from three region, we had twelve states. Later it was eighteen states, twenty, states, twentyfour , thirty to the present thirty- six states that we have now, plus the federal capital territory. What can kind of restructuring can be more pragmatic? The Federal Government also created the local government areas, and today we have 774 LGA’s, and before Abacha died we had geo-political zones created, this are all evidence of restructuring that is ongoing. But the APC promised Nigerians restructuring? APC did not promised restructuring, even when Jonathan assembled people to write the constitution for the country, APC opted out because we told them as a policy that nothing good would come out of it and it has come to pass. I know that APC said that restructuring should be on-going, until it continues to be better and better, today, we say we are moving to the next level.
Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, June 29, 2019
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Scrap aviation ministry to ensure development, ART boss tells FG Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo President, Aviation Roundtable Safety Initiative (ART), Elder Gbenga Olowo, has attributed the poor growth in the Ministry of Aviation to overbearing influence from government officials and politicians, calling for the scrapping of the ministry. Olowo described it as a clog in the wheel of progress and a major setback in the aviation sector. He, therefore, called for the Ministry to be scrapped and made a small department in the Ministry of Transport as it is done in other climes. “Aviation ministry should be shut down, I don’t know if you agree with me, it has always been my struggle because Aviation Ministry to a very large extent they are a clog on the wheel, clog on the wheel of Aviation movement”. Elder Olowo during his opening speech at the ART Quarterly Breakfast Meeting in Lagos with
theme: “Safety Challenges in Air Navigation and Air Traffic Service Delivery”, said the ministry was a distraction to the heads of the various Agencies who seem not to be focused in doing their jobs due to their frequent visits/ summons to Abuja by the minister. “If we don’t have Aviation Ministry and we have a small department in transport, they wouldn’t be putting too much burden on the practitioners in the sector, they can focus, the DG can focus on Aviation and the guy in Maritime would focus on Maritime and the guy on road would focus on road and the minister would have so much to handle, they would not be disturbing aviation people, that is my drive”. Olowu explained that the aviation industry under state has failed to perform up to expectation hence the rot in the sector. According to him, with separate ministries, things will move faster in the aviation sector.
Elder Olowo
Olowo said the aviation industry has suffered from lack of plans in the past, saying there is the challenge of planning into the future. Olowo added: “Aviation has been subjected to junior minister. I would like to see that cancelled totally, we don’t want a minister. We want aviation the way it is
done in other area under transport, very small ministry, so that our professionals can do their job. NCAA would be empowered to do what he has to do, NAMA would do its priority, and FAAN would place their priority on what they need to do and not political influence around them all the time”.
Delta Govt battles land poachers at Asaba Airport, Okpanam, others Nosa Akenzua, Asaba Delta State government has taken steps to curb the increasing land poaching at Asaba Airport, Okpanam and others in the state. Investigation revealed that land poachers operating in Asaba Airport, Okpanam community, Asaba and others have in the last few months allegedly ripped off unsuspecting persons under the cover of fake approval for land sale purportedly issued by the state government. Sources said unsuspecting land buyers interested in Asaba Airport within, Okpanam community among others, have been swindled in millions of naira by these ubiquitous land poachers who are armed with misleading documents. Their modus operandi is to woo unsuspecting land
buyers to Asaba Airport within and Okpanam community where they allegedly hoodwink them that the Airport extension lands were approved for sale by the state government. “We bought over eight plots of lands from one Ikechukwu Nwanbuze who showed us some documents that were purportedly approved by the state government within Asaba Airport and we paid N46 million only for us to be told that it was for the state government”, Chief Onwodi Joseph, one of the victims who told journalists in Asaba on Friday. Sources further said Okpanam community had been worse hit by the fraudulent activities of the poachers who drive in expensive cars and live in mansions. There, plots of lands are allegedly sold to several persons and fake
documents given to them, especially unsuspecting land buyers who are non Indigenes. But Police Commissioner in the state, Adeleke Adeyinka, who confirmed that he had received over two hundred petitions which bother on land disputes and others, disclosed that several arrest were in the last few weeks made following the petitions. “We have in our possession over two hundred petitions that are being attended to on land disputes relating to poachers and we have also made several arrests and investigation ongoing”, Adeyinka said. The state government through its Secretary (SSG), Barr Chiedu Ebie, in a statement issued and signed, a copy made available to journalists in Asaba on Friday, stated that the land earmarked for the Asaba Airport
extend beyond where the perimeter fence end. Part of the statement reads:” It has become expedient to clarify for the information and guidiance of the general public, particularly land developers around the Asaba Airport that the Airport land extends beyond the perimeter fence which has been erected primarily to safeguard aircraft and prevent any form of encroachment on the airport runway”, the statement averred. The statement therefore warned property developers who had wrongfully built and were still developing structures on the land earmarked for the airport to desist from such and attributed their action to the erroneous assumption that the boundary of the Airport land ended where the perimeter fence had been erected.
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Out-of-School: UBEC commences Open Schooling Programme in July - Official The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), says it will commence Open Schooling Programme across the 36 states of the federation by July, as part of strategy to reduce the number of Outof-School children in the country. Dr Hamid Bobboyi, Executive Secretary, UBEC, represented by Mr Unwaha Ismail in the Commission, disclosed this at the national stakeholders meeting on Open Schooling Programme in Nigeria, on Thursday in Abuja. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the programme was launched on May 30, this year to reduce the large numbers of out-of-school children in Nigeria. The programme will receive technical support from the Commonwealth of Learning, Canada. Bobboyi said that the issue of the out-ofschool children had been on the increase for different reasons, but was now receiving great attention from the Federal Government. “The Federal Government is thinking about putting an end to the issue by sending these children back to school, which is not only formal but non-formal education. “UBEC has other initiatives for better basic education in the country; the out-of-school issue is multi-directional and has to be solved through multidirectional approach. “We have education delivery for all programme, that is going on in the affected states to supervise them in the planning and to how we can reach as many as out-of-school children as possible,’’ he said. He added that UBEC had meeting with other agencies few months ago on ways to tackle the large number of children that are out- ofschool. According to him, certain decisions were reached during the last meeting, and those decisions will be implemented, particularly on how other agencies can key into it. “ This will identify the role they are going to play and we are going to synergise on how UBEC is going to coordinate the activities that will involve. “Open Schooling programme will start by July because a lot of things needs to be put in place as planned, we need to start as early as possible,’’he said. The executive secretary also said that UBEC has not reached the stage of
disclosing how much the commission was going to spend on the programme. “We are working on what the cost elements involved in this programme would be, but what we are sure of is that Commonwealth of Learning (CoL) is going to give us technical support. “Such support from the commonwealth will push this programme, but we also need to know which activities to be involved in, equipment needed to buy and other things we need to do. “If all these are done, we can now disclose the estimated amount that the programme will cost,’’he said. Prof. Abba Haladu, Executive Secretary, National Mass Literacy, Adults and Non- formal Education (NMEC), represented by Mrs Afiniki Achi, said that Nigeria has a large number of illiterate and something needed to be done to address it. Haladu said that NMEC was lagging behind and was in support of Open Schooling initiative as it addresses the issue of outof- school children. “ We are all in this fight together and hope this meeting is going to give us fruitful deliberation that will bring about the important of basic education. “NMEC, UBEC and other agencies are doing very well, but most stakeholders do not really know what we are doing. “We want the public to know that we are really working towards the reduction of number of outof- school children and, we hope to end this soon,’’he said. Also speaking, Mr Akaaba Yakubu, National Teacher Institute (NTI), Director, Field Operations and Students Services, said that the Institute has been appreciative for the partnership with UBEC. Yakubu promised to continue pursuing anything education since it is the institute focus, adding that NTI will continue to impart knowledge in teachers and also equip them with the methodology to teach. “ The Out- of- School children issue is a great challenge to the country, the NTI partnership with UBEC will no doubt ensure that majority of these children are educated,’’he added. According to UNICEF current report, in Nigeria, about 10.5 million children are not in school even though education is officially free and compulsory. (NAN)
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Suspected cultists invade Mararaba in Nasarawa Godwin Idagu
Residents of Mararaba, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory, in Karu Local Government of Nasarawa state are living in palpable fear of the unknown following the activities of cultists and area boys popularly known as ‘agbero’s’ who are terrorizing the peace of the community. Reports reaching Daily Times has it that the cultists mostly consists of young boys who unleash terror on residents by attacking and dispossessing them of their valuables and breaking into houses, and carting away valuables. They kill and maim anyone who challenges them with their victims helpless to protect themselves. According to a resident, Mrs. Aboman, who narrated how a neighbour was attacked, said that “on Thursday, at about 7.00 pm some boys numbering about five came into Mr. Yellow’s shop in Aso, Mararaba, holding all manners of dangerous weapons, including guns. “Before we know it, we heard gun
shots and shouts, we were afraid to near the shop and after about 30 minutes when they have left, we summoned courage to enter the shop only to find Mr. Yellow in the pool of his own blood as a result of the attack by the boys. “They will enter your house, take all your properties including gas cylinder, ask for money and if you don’t have, they either shoot you or attack you with cutlass. “On further inquiry, we learnt he was shot in the stomach and members of his family were attacked with cutlasses, some men quickly mobilized and took him to the National Hospital. We pray God save him because the injury is life threatening,” she said. She went further to say that the police are helpless as it is said that the boys don’t fear the police because they are ‘cooked with juju’ so, the weapons of the police do not scare them. Also, it was further learnt that for the past two weeks, residents of Aso and Aku Village in Mararaba now live in fear, as they don’t know who will be the next victim of the nefarious activities of the
cultists. Another resident, Miss Joy also corroborated the story, saying that one of her friend’s uncle was a victim of
the activities of the cultists as he was attacked. The residents are therefore, calling on security agencies to come to their aid as
the boys brandish dangerous weapons and are armed to the teeth. This reporter was not able to speak to any police officer before filing this report.
Our job is not to chase erring drivers but prevent accidents –FRSC Commander
The Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, Bauchi State, Mr Abdulrasak Najume, has reminded his men that it is unethical to run after erring drivers who refused to stop at Check Points. Najume made the clarification in Bauchi on Thursday while addressing drivers at Muda Lawal Central Motor Park during a sensitisation programme. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme was designed to sensitise motorists on road crashes mitigation and compliance of necessary documents and plate number. “It is not part of our job to run after any driver, because we have seen so many cases that a driver who is running to avoid being questioned or
arrested got involved in fatal accident. “Our job is to prevent road crashes and ensure that our drivers comply with road rules. We want the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) leadership to help us educate their members that we are on the road to help them on road safety. If they are asked to stop, they should obey and simply answer our men,’’ he said. The commander also said that the Corps had set a day aside to educate and remind its staff about the operations of the road and how to treat drivers. He added that some drivers might be having intrinsic challenges and other domestic discordance which may lead to how they react on the stirring.
Also speaking, the Zonal Commanding Officer of the corps, Asst. Corps Marshal Imoh Etuk said that the purpose of the gospel was to educate them on the danger of overloading, drinking, speeding and other acts they engage in while driving. The Zonal commander, who is overseeing Bauchi, Yobe and Borno said: “we have come to tell you that by August 1, we shall begin clampdown on operators of tricycles who are yet to get their number plates.’’ He also said 50 per cent of the drivers in the state had installed speed limiting device in their vehicles, adding that the corps would intensify campaign on the need to install the device to reduce road accidents. (NAN)
FOREIGN TIMES
Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, June 29, 2019
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Slipping away? US-China trade deal appears elusive at G20 summit
Ethiopia steps up arrests as shockwaves from coup bid continue
Ethiopian authorities have arrested hundreds of people in different parts of the country, stepping up a crackdown on suspected supporters of a failed regional coup attempt over the weekend. The office of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said on Friday on Twitter that 212 suspects had been apprehended in connection with the June 22 coup bid in the region of Amhara, with 43 others held in the capital, Addis Ababa. The investigations were “still ongoing with potential for more arrests”, it added. The statement came amid reports that Christian Tadele, spokesman of the National Movement of Amhara (NAMA), an ethnocentric opposition party that has become increasingly popular with many Amhara people, was also arrested. Speaking to Al Jazeera on Thursday, Christian had accused authorities of engaging in mass arrests of the party’s supporters and sympathisers. “Fifty-six NAMA members have been arrested in Addis Ababa with dozens of other members and supporters arrested in other parts of Ethiopia, in an orchestrated attack not only on NAMA, but the Amhara nation as a whole,” Christian had said. Ethiopians have been in shock since two separate attacks on Saturday in Amhara’s regional capital of Bahir Dar and Addis Ababa killed the region’s president, the national army chief of staff and several other senior officials. The government referred to the attack in Bahir Dar as a coup attempt orchestrated by former General Asamnew Tsige. Asamnew was killed by security forces on Monday. Jailed in 2009, Asamnew was released from prison last year as
part of an amnesty granted by Abiy, who has overseen a series of reforms since coming to office in April last year. In September 2018, officials in Amhara hired Asamnew as a regional security chief. After assuming his duties, Asamnew, a strident Amhara nationalist, promised to protect the Amhara people, who make up around 28 percent of Ethiopia’s population. Earlier this month, he was caught on video telling a regional religious elder to prepare for martyrdom to protect the Amhara people from persecution. Ethiopian government officials have also accused Asamnew of training militias and police forces with the intention of attacking neighbouring regional states and challenging the power of the federal government. More than 50 people, including children, were killed on Monday in the Metekel zone of the BenishangulGumuz region, Abera Bayeta, the region’s peace and security bureau chief, told Al Jazeera on Thursday, blaming the attack on suspected militia members linked to Asamnew. Despite the apparent failure of the coup attempt, analysts say Abiy’s government will likely find it difficult to control ethnonational forces in the country ahead of national elections next year. Costantinos Berhutesfa Costantinos, an Ethiopian adviser to international organisations including the African Union, said the country was at a critical juncture. “If the 2020 elections go ahead as planned, ethnonationalist parties are likely to be dominant,” he told Al Jazeera, calling for broad
nationwide discussions in a bid to harmonise the intense ethnonational sentiment across the country and maintain Ethiopia’s national character. “With pan-Ethiopian parties seemingly having weak support, Ethiopia needs to have a debate on the broader meaning of democracy and tolerance of differing opinions - that has deeper meaning than holding elections,” Costantinos said. Earlier this week, the Crisis Group think thank said in a statement that Ethiopia’s ruling coalition, which is mainly divided along ethnic lines, was facing an unprecedented challenge from ethnonationalist parties. “The June 22 killings confirm the dangers in handing security portfolios to hardliners like Asamnew who are ready to pander to extreme ethnonationalists, from whichever of Ethiopia’s ethnicities,” the statement said. For now, life appears to be returning to normal in the unresthit parts of Ethiopia, including in Bahir Dar. The federal government also seems to be slowly ending its dayslong internet blackout which came into force in the wake of Saturday’s coup attempt. The government has so far refrained from commenting on the latest internet blackout. Costantinos said the killings of senior officials and army generals warranted a robust government response to deter any power-grab attempts in the future, but warned against using the arrests as scoresettling mechanisms. “Ethiopia had lost around one million people through purges and civil wars in the 1970s to early 1990s during the period of the military regime that ruled Ethiopia from 1974 to 1991,” he said. “The country can’t afford any repeat of past turbulence.”
If United States President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are headed for a grand bargain over their bilateral trade dispute, there was little sign of it on the first day of the G20 Summit in Osaka, Japan on Friday. When the working lunch on “Growth, Investment and Trade” was held behind closed doors, the short briefing that an unnamed White House official gave to reporters suggested that the two sides remain far apart. “The tone was largely positive from the various world leaders, [and] China was less positive,” the official said. “Just a more negative tone [from China].” Trump and Xi are expected to meet on the sidelines of the summit on Saturday in what is likely to be the most keenly watched bilateral session of the two-day event. “At a minimum, it will be productive,” Trump said of the meeting with Xi. After meeting Brazilian leader Jair Bolsonaro, Trump gave no indication as to whether the US and China were any closer to a deal. “We’ll see what happens tomorrow. It’ll be a very exciting day, I’m sure. It’s going to come out hopefully well for both countries,” Trump said. The stakes are high. Trump more than doubled import tariffs on $200bn worth of Chinese goods to 25 percent in May. He has also threatened to impose tariffs on another $325bn of goods, covering nearly all the remaining Chinese imports into the US, including consumer products such as mobile phones, computers and clothing. Beijing retaliated with increased tariffs on $60bn worth of US goods, and state media have raised the possibility that China could start holding back exports of so-called rare earth elements, which are crucial for a variety of electronic components. Economists, including International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Christine Lagarde, have warned that global economic growth could suffer if the trade war is not resolved soon. Earlier this month, the IMF said current and threatened US-China tariffs could cut 2020 global gross domestic product (GDP) by 0.5 percent, or about $455bn - a loss larger than G20 member South Africa’s annual economic output. Recent manufacturing data from China suggests the world’s second-biggest economy may already be slowing down. The G20 is an international leaders’ forum consisting of 19 countries and the European Union. Collectively, this grouping represents more than 80 percent of the world’s economic output and two-thirds of its people. Its primary aim is to promote international financial stability. Another thorn in the side of the US-China relationship is technology. The US wants China to stop forcing foreign companies to transfer technology in key areas such as artificial intelligence and telecommunications. It also wants it to curb subsidies to stateowned firms and grant foreign companies better access to Chinese markets. The highest-profile victim of Trump’s moves in this area is Chinese technology giant Huawei, a leader in the latest 5G mobile phone technology. The US has barred American firms from selling Huawei’s key components, saying it is a threat to US national security. While Huawei was not mentioned by name at the “Side-Event on Digital Economy,” there were clear references to the industry in which it operates. Xi called for a “fair, just and nondiscriminatory market environment” and added that “data to the digital economy is the same as oil to industrial economies”. Trump struck a cautious note on the issue. “At the same time as we expand digital trade we must also ensure the resilience and security of our 5G network,” he said. “This is clearly an exchange about the sanctions imposed against Huawei and some other Chinese hi-tech firms,” Daniel Sneider, a lecturer in international policy at Stanford University, told Al Jazeera. “Lifting those are a priority for Xi and the Chinese regime.” The Trump administration has accused
technology firm Huawei of engaging in spying on behalf of the Chinese government and engaging in industrial espionage. The US government has not only instituted its own ban on the use of Huawei technologies, but has been pressuring other nations to follow suit. While no resolution of the US-China trade dispute appeared to be in sight, talks between the US and Japan bore more fruit. The two sides agreed to hold working-level meetings starting early next month to accelerate progress towards a trade agreement. Trump has long argued that US trade agreements with allies like Japan - and not only with rivals like China - are unfairly weighted against his country. “We share understanding of each other’s thinking and stance and where our gap lies. Based on that, we are discussing ways to narrow our differences,” Japan’s Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry, Toshimitsu Motegi, said after meeting US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on the sidelines of the summit. Despite the very real tensions, there were plenty of smiles among the leaders. At a trilateral meeting between Trump, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the three bumped fists instead of shaking hands. Abe described the grouping as “the foundation of peace and prosperity in the region”. Earlier this month, India imposed higher tariffs on 28 US goods such as walnuts, almonds and apples. That was in retaliation for Trump’s move to scrap Generalized System of Preferences trade privileges for India, the biggest beneficiary of a scheme that allowed duty-free exports of up to $5.6bn a year. As for the upcoming US-India trade negotiation, Trump said: “It’ll be very positive ... I think we will just continue to get along with India ... I think we are going to have some very big things to announce. Very big trade deal.” This was in stark contrast to Trump’s tweet the previous day stating that Indian tariffs on US products were “unacceptable”. Mason Richey, a professor of international relations at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul, said it was all part of Trump’s negotiating strategy. “I think in some ways he’s perhaps playing good cop, bad cop with himself. He’s played bad cop with Japan and India on security issues and on trade issues. And now he’s there playing up the positive side of the relationship, talking about how close the US relationship is with India and Japan,” Richey told Al Jazeera. But the other big source of concern for global stability is the worsening relationship between the US and Iran, which is not a G20 member and which was not represented at the gathering. Tensions between the two countries have been on the rise since May 2018, when Trump pulled the US out of an international deal with Tehran giving it economic incentives to shut down its nuclear programme. Crude oil prices surged last week after Iran shot down a US military drone. That followed attacks in recent weeks on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial chokepoint for global oil shipments. And ratcheting up the stakes even further, Trump imposed sanctions on Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei and other top officials on Monday. “We have a lot of time - there’s no rush [and] they can take their time. There is absolutely no time pressure. Hopefully in the end it’s going to work out. If it does, great, if it doesn’t, you’ll be hearing about it,” Trump said. Meanwhile, following a frosty reception at last year’s G20 Summit in Buenos Aires, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MBS, was warmly welcomed. This was despite a report presented earlier in the week by Agnes Callamard, the United Nations special rapporteur on extrajudicial executions, saying MBS and other senior officials should be investigated for the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul last year. Russian President Vladimir Putin was also made to feel at home, with Trump jokingly asking him in front of journalists not to “meddle” in US elections.
SPORTS TIMES Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, June 29, 2019
Paris SaintGermain, Nike extend sponsorship contract
French champions Paris Saint-Germain said Friday they had signed their biggest ever sponsorship deal with US sportswear giant Nike. No financial details were disclosed, but PSG said the new agreement extends an existing contract with Nike from 2022 until 2032 and represents “the biggest sponsorship agreement in the club’s history”. A source close to the club told AFP the deal was worth
READ MORE ON: www.dailytimes.ng more than an agreement signed in February with shirt sponsor Accor estimated at between 55-75 million euros ($62-80 million.) Although the current deal with Nike, worth 25 million euros, runs until 2022, the new higher financial terms will come into effect immediately, the source said. The new deal places PSG among Europe’s top five clubs by way of sponsorship
g22
earnings, the source said, with the rankings led by Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid. On its website, the club said the deal opened “a new era of collaboration” in a 30-year relationship between club and sponsor. “The partnership which now runs until 2032 will enable the French champions to further build the brand’s success globally,” the statement added.
Full list of D’Tigers players for FIBA World Cup Here is the full list of players invited by ’Tigers Head Coach, Alex Nwora, for the 2019 FIBA Men’s World Cup in China. A statement by Afolabi Oni, Media Officer, Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), on Thursday said that the camping exercise will commence on July 7 in Erie Community College, Buffalo, U.S. The invited players include D’Tigers captain, Ike Diogu, Ben Uzoh, Ike Iroegbu, Agada Caleb, Emegano Obinna, Efevhera Michael, Portland Trailblazer’s Al Farouq Aminu, Stanley Okoye, Jordan Nwora, Aminu Alade, Tosin Mehinti, Zana Talib, Chris Obekpa and Ayodeji
Akindele who all featured during the qualifiers. Others include David Nwaba (Cleveland Cavaliers), Josh Akogie (Minnesota Timberwolves), Nwamu Ike (Fort Wayne Mad Ants), Michael Eric, Charles Bassey, Ike Obiagu, Achiuwa Precious, TK Edogi, Stephen Ugochukwu and Ado Abdul, Chimezie Metu (San Antonio Spurs). It also include Ekpe Udoh (Utah Jazz) and recently drafted trio of Miye Oni (Miami Heat), Chuma Okeke (Orlando Magic) and Kezie Okpalla (Phoenix Suns). Nwora also extended invitation to five Nigerian based stars – Agu Abuchi Ibe, Okpe Ocheibi Victor,
Abdul Yahaya, Vincent Buchi Nwaiwu, Victor Koko Anthony alongside former Golden State Warriors player, Festus Ezeli, Michael Oguine and Jordan Ogundiran. Ogugua “OG” Anunoby (Toronto Raptors), Semi Ojeleye (Boston Celtic), Ochai Agbaji, Vincent Nnamdi, Stephen Domingos, Moneke Chima and Joshua Ifeoluwa Ajayi complete the 44- man list. The statement said as part of the NBBF’s effort to effectively prepare the team, D’Tigers will face fellow World Cup-bound Dominican Republic at the Palacio de Los Deportes in San Domingo on July 20th and July 22nd.
Frank Lampard set to decide the Rafael Nadal drawn to meet Roger Federer in Wimbledon semis future of three Chelsea stars Chelsea potential manager will decide the future of three Blues players if he is installed as the head coach of the club. Chelsea is prepared for a difficult summer due to the FIFA ban that hit the club that prevents them from signing new players this summer. Though they have appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport
as per the transfer ban, the likes of Kurt Zouma and full-backs Marcos Alonso and Davide Zappacosta’s future will be determined until Lampard takes full charge of the job, according to the Telegraph. Chelsea is expected to make Mateo Kovacic’s move permanent as they aim to strike a deal with Real Madrid before the close of the transfer period.
Rafael Nadal breathed a sigh of relief Friday after he was slated to meet eight-time champion Roger Federer in the Wimbledon semi-finals. Nadal’s fears that he would be drawn in top-seeded favourite and defending champion Novak Djokovic’s half of the draw — and face him in the semis — proved unfounded despite Wimbledon promoting Federer above him in the seedings. The Spaniard seeded third behind Federer, had complained earlier this week that Wimbledon’s unique formula for seeding that combines ranking points with
form i n grassc o u r t competitions was
disrespectful. World number one Djokovic will, in theory, face South African fourth seed and last year’s beaten finalist Kevin Anderson — who was promoted from eighth in the world — in the last four. Nadal, who comes in on the back of his 18th Grand Slam singles title after winning his 12th French Open which included beating Federer in the semifinals, will do well to reach the last four as he has a tough looking draw. He should have little trouble with his first round opponent, Yuichi Sugita of Japan, but after that things become more perilous. Moody but talented Australian Nick Kyrgios — who beat Nadal in the last 16 at Wimbledon in 2014 — is a potential second-round opponent and highly-rated Canadian youngster Denis Shapovalov could await in the third round. If he emerges from those tussles he could face Croatia’s 2017 Wimbledon singles finalist Marin Cilic in the last 16. His great rivals Djokovic and Federer begin their campaigns against 35-year-old German Philipp Kohlschreiber and Lloyd Harris of South Africa respectively. Kohlschreiber beat Djokovic earlier this year in the third round at Indian Wells. The women’s draw sees Australia’s
new world number one and French Open champion Ashleigh Barty open against China’s Zheng Saisai with a potentially tricky date with Spain’s 2017 champion Garbine Muguruza in the third round. The most intriguing match-up could come in the fourth round with a rematch of last year’s final between defending champion Angelique Kerber of Germany and American legend Serena Williams. There is a first round match of the old and the very new as Williams’s 39-year-old sister Venus will play compatriot Cori Gauff, who on Thursday at 15years of age became the youngest woman to qualify for the tournament in the Open era. Adding extra spice to the encounter is that the Williams sisters are the reason Gauff took up tennis. “Serena Williams has always been an idol and Venus,” she said. “I mean they’re the reason why I wanted to pick up a tennis racket. “I’ve met them both and they are super kind people I’m just thankful they took up tennis because I am sure they would dominate any sport.” Japan’s Naomi Osaka — whom Barty replaced as world number one when she won the Birmingham tournament last Sunday — begins her bid to add Wimbledon to her US and Australian Open titles against Kazakh Yulia Putintseva.
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Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, June 29, 2019
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AC Milan banned from Europa League AC Milan have been excluded from the 2019-20 Europa League as a result of Financial Fair Play (FFP) breaches, the Court of Arbitration for Sport has announced. The Serie A giants will play no part in continental competition during the upcoming campaign, despite having secured a fifth-place finish last season. They ended 2018-19 one point behind archrivals Inter and outside of the Champions League spots. The Rossoneri were due to participate in Europe’s secondary club tournament, but they have been forced to withdraw after failing to adhere to FFP regulations. A statement from CAS reads: “AC Milan is excluded from participating in the UEFA Club Competitions of the sporting season 2019/2020 as a consequence of the breach of its FFP breakeven obligations during the 2015/2016/2017 and the 2016/2017/2018 monitoring periods. “The Adjudicatory Chamber of the UEFA Club Financial Control Body is invited to issue a Procedural Order, acknowledging the outcome of the present arbitration(s) and terminating the AC-01/2019 proceedings relating to the 2016/2017/2018 monitoring period, which have become moot.” Milan had faced similar sanctions ahead of the 2018-19 campaign, with UEFA having brought charges against them intending to block their participation in the Europa League. That decision was overturned on appeal by CAS and the Rossoneri were reinstated but the Italian giants have been unable to repeat that success 12 months on. Having been allowed to compete in 201819, Milan ended up being knocked out at the group stage. A side then managed by Gennaro Gattuso
finished third behind Real Betis and Olympiakos, falling at the first hurdle. There has been plenty of change at San Siro since then, with Marco Giampaolo now at the helm but he will not get the chance to take in European action during his debut campaign. With Milan being ruled out of the Europa League for 2019-20, Italian football has one place to fill. That invitation will drop one place down the final standings in Serie A from 2018-19, with Torino seemingly now replacing Milan. Their campaign will start at the second qualifying round, with Roma joining old adversaries Lazio in securing a passage straight through to the group stage.
Afcon: Ghana not repeating Benin mistakes against Cameroon – Deputy skipper
Ghana deputy skipper Kwadwo Asamoah says the Black Stars are poised to beat Cameroon at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt to bring their campaign back on track. James Kwesi Appiah’s outfit are eyeing their first win at the continental fiesta following a disappointing 2-2 draw with Benin in their opening Group F fixture. Saturday’s tie at the Ismailia Stadium will be the second clash between the two teams, at successive Afcons, following their meeting in 2017. Cameroon won a keenlycontested semifinal encounter 2-0 in Gabon. “We didn’t get a good result in the first game but I know Ghanaians are still supporting us,” Inter Milan ace Asamoah, who is back at Afcon after excusing himself from the last two editions due to fitness issues, said at the pre-match press
conference on Friday. “We have picked a lot from the first game and we will not repeat those mistakes against Cameroon. “Everyone in Ghana is expecting a lot from us especially now because they strongly believe we are a team that can bring the cup home. “The last tournament when we played against Cameroon, I wasn’t there due to injuries, but things have changed and we are well prepared. “We know they are a very strong side but it doesn’t change anything so we still have to give our best.” Asamoah is likely to have a first taste of Afcon 2019 on Saturday following his bench role against Benin. Cameroon, who beat GuineaBissau 2-0 in their tournament opener, and Ghana are the second and third most successful teams in Afcon history with five and four titles, respectively.
Chelsea get three-day ultimatum to sign striker Chelsea has been slap with a threeday ultimatum to sign a striker, according to report. The Blues have been given three days to decide if they will retain the services of Gonzalo Higuain on a permanent basis by Juventus, according to report in Football London. Higuain showed his finishing prowess at Chelsea but was unable to show some of the
qualities that made him one of the best strikers of his generation. Higuain risked the wrath of Chelsea fans after he failed to make use of some best chance that came his way last season but failure for Chelsea to decide in the next three days the Argentine will quit Stamford Bridge outfit to reunite with his former Napoli and Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka has completed his Manchester United medical and a formal announcement on his move to Old Trafford is expected on Friday, Sky Sports News understands. The 21-year-old defender completed the second part of his medical at Carrington on Thursday ahead of his move from Crystal Palace. United are now expected to confirm that the deal has been finalised on Friday. Wan-Bissaka’s fee is expected to be £45m plus £5m in add-ons, which are understood to be based on appearances. He flew to Manchester on Wednesday evening before completing the first part of his medical. Wan-Bissaka, who was part of England’s Euro U21 squad, will be Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s second signing of the summer after Daniel James joined the club from Swansea. Sky Sports News first reported that Palace had rejected a £40m bid for Wan-Bissaka on June 8
but the two sides agreed a fee this week. Should the deal go through as expected, Wan-Bissaka will become United’s fifth most expensive signing of all-time behind Paul Pogba (£89m), Romelu Lukaku (£76m), Angel Di Maria (£59.7m) and Fred (£52m).
Aaron Wan-Bissaka completes Manchester United medical
Mali expel player from Afcon Mali have expelled striker Adama Niane from their squad for indiscipline, the third player to be turned out by his team at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). “Adama Niane was excluded from the Eagles group for nonrespect,” said the team’s media officer Ibrahim Coulibaly. Reports said the 26-yearold Belgium-based player had slapped a team mate in an altercation over queuing. The decision came on the eve of Friday’s Group E match against Tunisia in Suez. Burundi had sent home 32-year-old midfielder Selemani Ndikumana for ill-discipline before their first game without offering any further details. On Wednesday Egypt sent Amr Warda packing for what the Egypt Football Association described as “disciplinary reasons”. Warda, who plays for Greek club Atromitos on loan from
PAOK, has been widely accused of trolling women on social media. He has been the subject of a previous complaint, filed with Egypt’s Attorney General, of harassing a fashion model on Instagram. Warda has since posted a video on Facebook in which he apologised. He apologised to his family, his team mates, to the EFA and to “anyone who is upset at me or anyone I have upset” as his team mates rallied around him. Among them was Mohamed Salah who said: “Women must be treated with the utmost respect. “But I also believe that many who make mistakes can change for the better and shouldn’t be sent straight to the guillotine, which is the easiest way out. “We need to believe in second chances… we need to guide and educate. Shunning is not the answer.”
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AFCON: Victor Osimhen injury not serious – Toyin Ibitoye
The injury sustained by RSC Charleroi of Belgium forward, Victor Osimhen is not that serious and may not stop the 20-year-old from making his 2019 Africa Cup of Nations debut in Nigeria’s last group game against Madagascar on Sunday in Alexandria. There were fears that the ex-Golden Eaglets star was going to join the list of injured players in the Eagles camp when he went down after he was tackled in the team’s training session at the Arab Academy of Science, Technology and Maritime
Transport, Alexandria on Thursday morning. Osimhen was able to shake off the injury and finished the training with the rest of his teammates after receiving treatment from Eagles’ medical crew. “Osimhen is fine” Toyin Ibitoye, the media officer of the Eagles replied when asked him about the injury to Belgium based forward. “Yes, he might have picked a knock in training which is not a big deal but he was in training from start to finish,” Ibitoye said. Ibitoye further added that
all the players participated in yesterday’s training session apart from the recuperating duo of Jamilu Collins and Shehu Abdullahi. Germany based Collins who has not played a game for the Eagles since the AFCON started may not be fit for Sunday’s game against Madagascar same with Abdullahi who started Nigeria’s opening game against the Swallows of Burundi but had to be Stretchered off due to injury with Chidozie Awaziem taking his place.
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Mikel Obi is good leader, motivates us on and off the pitch – Oghenekaro Etebo Super Eagles midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo has described Nigeria captain, John Obi Mikel, as a ‘good leader’ performs his role on and off the pitch. The former Warri Wolves ace spoke after Mikel played his captaincy even as an unused substitute in Super Eagles’ 1-0 over the Syli Nationale of Guinea on Wednesday to berth in the round of 16 of the ongoing 2019
Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. “Mikels motivates us, on and off the pitch goals,” Etebo told reporters in Alexandaria. ‘’He is a good leader, even when he is not on the pitch, he always encourages everyone”. Etebo who is delighted Super Eagles have reached the knock out stage of the AFCON even with a game to spare posits there’s nothing wrong with the 1-0
winning scoreline amidst suggestions that the team’s attackers are not turning in the goals as would be expected. ‘’What matters most is that we win and get the three points,” the stoke city midfielder stated. ”You saw the Ghana/ Benin game which ended in a 2-2 draw. “So it is important to win even if it is by a goal margin. The three points is very important not the number of goals scored.”
Egypt’s Amr Warda recalled after harassment claims
Super Eagles to hold open, closed-door training sessions ahead Madagascar clash Nigeria’s Super Eagles will hold an open training session today (Friday) ahead of Sunday’s AFCON 2019 Group B clash against the Barea of Madagascar. The training session at the Arab Academy of Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, Alexandria, will start at 5.30pm local time. However, the last training session which will take place at the Alexandria Stadium on Saturday before the game against Madagascar which will also begin at the 5.30pm will only be open to the fans and journalists for the first 15 minutes only. The official interaction
with the media ahead of the game will hold at the press conference room of the Alexandria Stadium at 11.30am on Saturday. “Our training session today, Friday, June 28, will start at 5.30pm. It will be a COMPLETELY OPEN session. Tomorrow’s session, at same time, will be open for the first 15 minutes only. #TotalAFOCN2019 #SoarSuperEagles #Team9jaStrong,” reads a Tweet on the official Twitter handle of the Super Eagles. “Our official press conference, ahead of our
final #TotalAFCON2019 Group B game against Madagascar, will hold at the Press Conference Room of the Alexandria Stadium from 11.30am on Saturday. #SoarSuperEagles #Team9jaStrong.” The Super Eagles are already through to the second round of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt after recording victories in their first two games against Burundi and Guinea. Their Sunday’s match against the Barea of Madagascar will kick off at 5pm Nigerian time.
Egypt midfielder Amr Warda, who was kicked out of the squad over claims of sexual harassment, will return for the Africa Cup of Nations knockout stages at the request of his team-mates, the country’s football association said Friday. The 25-year-old Warda was excluded ahead of Wednesday’s 2-0 victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo after sexual harassment claims surfaced earlier this week on social media platforms. Multiple women posted screenshots and testimonies of Warda’s alleged lewd comments, as well as explicit videos attributed to the player. The head of the Egyptian FA, Hani Abou Rida, “has decided to reduce the suspension of the player so it only runs until the ends of the first round,” the association said in a statement. Hosts Egypt are already qualified for the last 16 of the competition after victories in their first two games in Group A. Warda’s team-mates expressed support for him both during and after the win over DR Congo, with Mohamed Salah calling for “a second chance” while strongly condemning harassment. Warda, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Atromitos from PAOK in Greece, issued an apology to supporters in a video on Facebook. “Hani Abou Rida recognised the spirit of solidarity between the players and their wish to forgive their team-mate, Amr Warda,” the Egyptian FA added. His reintegration into the squad sparked controversy on social media in Egypt,
considered one of the worst offenders worldwide for sexual harassment — endured by more than 99 per cent of women in the county according to a 2013 United Nations report. A lot of internet users, including women, took to his defence while the “team of harassers” hashtag, in Arabic, was the most shared in Egypt on Friday according to Twitter. Faced with calls for leniency towards Warda, other internet users denounced a double standard in a country where several women and homosexuals are imprisoned for “inciting debauchery”.
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