by Admin | Jul 12, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI Ibadan–IN response to various calls made by concerned Nigerians on lecturers of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology to resume duties, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of the institution has insisted that its members would not return to work unless its demands from the owner states of Oyo and Osun are met. This was disclosed by the Chairman ASUU, LAUTECH, Dr Abiodun Olaniran while speaking in Ibadan yesterday. He stressed that solution to the issue had transcended newspaper appeals but that the owner state governors should tackle what he described as chronic under-funding of the university. He said; “Issue of ultimate survival of the institution as a proper university in the comity of other universities elsewhere” was never negotiable. “While ASUU is eager to put this ugly situation in LAUTECH behind us, we are interested in a honest and holistic address of the issues that forced us to proceed on the current strike”, he added. “It is gratifying that even the visitation panel set up by the owner states clearly called attention to this problem.“ Apparently making reference to the call by Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, the academic Union maintained that, “For the governor to be calling on the striking staff who have been reduced to paupers due to months of unpaid salaries is the peak of insensitivity to the plight of the workers”, he complained. The institution has almost lost a session as a result of the strike and yet there appears no solution in sight. Assembly probes LAUTECH Hospital contract Meantime, the Oyo State House of Assembly yesterday, inaugurated a special committee...
by Admin | Jul 11, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI ABUJA—In its determination to ensure improved electricity supply, the Federal Government has commenced disbursement of the N701.9 billion intervention funds to power Generation Companies, GENCOs. The N701 billion was approved for Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading, NBET, under the Power Purchase Guarantee Funds to enable it pay for power purchased. Disclosing this, yesterday, at the 17th Power Sector Stakeholders’ monthly meeting at Apo Injection Substation in Abuja, Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, announced that the payment was part of various measures being taken to address liquidity crisis in the power sector. Meanwhile, the Federal Government has commissioned the Kukuaba 2x60MVA/132/33Kva transmission sub-station in Abuja in order to boost electricity supply to Lugbe area of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. Electricity Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Power, Mr. Louis Edozien, Fashola explained that the payments for the month of January had been completed, while that of February had almost been completed. Speaking on the newly commissioned Kukuaba transmission sub-station, the minister said the sub-station was further evidence of Transmission Company of Nigeria’s commitment to keep transmission wheeling capacity ahead of all generation capability on the grid and also ahead of distribution requirements of the companies. In his welcome address, Managing Director of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, AEDC, Ernest Mupwaya, promised that the company would roll out 120,000 meters this year under its mass metering project. Mupwaya explained that since the flagged off of its mass metering of Small Power Users, SPUs, in December 2016, close to 90,000 had been metered so far, adding that currently, additional 30,000 meters were being installed...
by Admin | Jul 11, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI An American, Marco Ramirez, who allegedly defrauded three Nigerians of 565,000 dollars in an American Green Card scam, was granted bail on Monday. Ramirez was granted bail in the sum of $250,000 by an Ikeja High Court. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ramirez was earlier remanded in Kirikiri Prisons, after his arraignment on June 22 over the alleged scam. Justice Josephine Oyefeso, while granting the bail said: “the defendant is hereby granted $250,000 bail or its naira equivalent with two sureties in like sum. “The current exchange rate should be put into consideration. “One of the sureties should be resident in Lagos, be a director of a reputable company and have landed property in Lagos State. “The sureties must show evidence of source of livelihood and swear to an affidavit to show same. “A copy of the ruling should be sent to all immigration agencies both land and air. “The defendant must report to the Lagos or Abuja offices of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) once a week.” NAN recalls that the EFCC had slammed a 16-count charge, bordering on obtaining 565,000 dollars under false presences from three Nigerians to get them American green card. Mr. Ramirez, the Managing Director of three companies – USA Now Plc., Eagleford Instalodge Group and USA Now Capital Group – committed the offences between February 2013 and August 2013, according to the EFCC. The American was alleged to have fraudulently received 545,000 dollars from one Godson Echejue to invest in Mr. Ramirez’s company. The plan was to procure an American green card (permanent residence card) for...
by Admin | Jul 11, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI The Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday granted the former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Umar Dikko, permission to travel abroad for medical checkup. Dikko, who was head of the Nigeria Air Force from September 9, 2010 to October 4, 2012, is facing a seven-count charge of money laundering before the court. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleged that he used looted funds to purchase six choice properties in Abuja, Kano and Kaduna. At the resumed hearing of the case, the defendant, through his counsel, Ibrahim Bawa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, begged the court to allow the defendant to travel abroad for medical checkup. In his ruling, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba said he was disposed to granting the motion since it was not opposed by the...
by Admin | Jul 11, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI An investigator yesterday told an Ikeja High Court in Lagos how a former Nigerian Maritime Adminstration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Director General and five other officials stole N754 million belonging to the agency. Mr Chukwudi Orji of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) spoke during his testimony in the ongoing trial of ex-NIMASA Director General Patrick Akpobolokemi and six others on a 13-count charge of stealing and fraud. Akpobolokemi’s co-defendants are: Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan, Vincent Udoye, Adegboyega Olopoenia and a company — Gama Marine Nigeria Ltd. Orji told the court: “Vimsat Committee, a committee of NIMASA, opened an account in a bank, which had only two inflows. “On Aug. 29, 2015, N498.4 million was paid into that account by NIMASA and on May 20, 2015, N318 million was also paid into that account by NIMASA. “This gave the account a total inflow of N816.2 million. On Sep. 29, 2015, there was a transfer of N11 million into the account of one Lakewood Garden Ventures Ltd from the Vimsat Committee account. “The money was never used for research work as it was mandated to be. This money was part of the sharing formula of the defendants.” Orji, explaining the role of Vincent Udoye, one of the defendants in the alleged scam, said:”On March 6, 2015 N7.8 million was transferred from Vimsat account into the another account with Diamond Bank account with number -0020802815 of the fifth defendant (Udoye). “On June 4, 2015 he transferred N5 million from that account into another Diamond Bank account with number 006567038 which was also operated by him. “The...
by Admin | Jul 11, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI Mrs. Patience Jonathan, wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of sending assassins after her. Mrs. Jonathan said she had survived two of such attempts but urged the House of Representatives to quickly intervene before the EFCC would succeed in the alleged plot to eliminate her. In a letter written by her lawyers, Granville Abibo (SAN) & Co, Mrs. Jonathan said, “There have been assassination attempts, at least twice, between February and April, 2017, against our client ostensibly by the operatives of the EFCC along the Yenagoa-Mbaima Road, Bayelsa State, in furtherance of its unlawful actions against the former first family.” Patience also accused the anti-graft agency of bugging her telephone lines, adding that agents of the commission had been sending threatening text messages to her. The former President’s wife said, “The EFCC and its agents have repeatedly bugged the personal telephones of our client and her relations through its many operatives and has inundated her with numerous threatening calls and text messages.” She said apart from the EFCC, other agencies of the government, like the Federal Inland Revenue Service had intimidated her. Patience alleged that officials of the FIRS stormed her hotel in Bayelsa State two months ago and vandalised its properties. Mrs. Jonathan added, “On May 3, 2017, officials of the FIRS, in a convoy of about 20 trucks and over 70 personnel, raided our client’s NGO – Aridolf Jo Resort Wellness and Spa Limited – situated at Kpansia Expressway, Bayelsa State, and orchestrated a massive destruction of personal properties belonging to our client without any lawful court...
by Admin | Jul 11, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI aviour Enoch, an undergraduate of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, was on Saturday night in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, killed by persons suspected to be members of a cult. On Monday, his family urged security agencies in the state to find his killers and bring them to justice. Ovieakini Enoch, the deceased’s uncle, said that 20-year old Saviour was shot dead at about 8 p.m. on the Gwegwe/Naval Road in Ovom, Yenagoa Local Government Area. He disclosed that Saviour was admitted into the NDA two years ago and that his father, Gbavieme Enoch, also died two years ago while serving in the Nigerian Army in Maidugiri, Borno. According to him, Gbavieme, who was a Staff Sergeant, was killed while performing a national duty on Jan. 25, 2015. “That is why Saviour’s death is a painful one,” he said. “We are calling on the police and other security agencies to assist us to bring the perpetrators to justice. He added he learned the police made some arrests on Sunday night. Saviour’s mother, who cried uncontrollably, also urged the security agencies to help the family to fish out the killers. “My son died by shooting and my husband also died by shooting; my husband was a Staff Sergeant in the Army, he died two years ago and now, my son,” she lamented. Speaking by telephone, ASP Asimin Butswat, the spokesman of the Police Command in Bayelsa, said he would brief journalists on the matter when authorized to do...
by Admin | Jul 10, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI A former Attorney General and Minister of Justice of Nigeria, Justice Bola Abdul-Jabbar Ajibola (SAN), has called for the establishment of special tribunals to tackle corruption in Nigeria. Ajibola said special tribunals were necessary to ensure “social justice” because abnormal situations often require abnormal remedies, noting: “We have done it before”. The former judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at the Hague explained that to ensure social justice, the spirit and letter of the law must be considered in resolving cases in many instances. According to him, recent judicial pronouncements on many cases related to corruption and abuse of office show “obvious weaknesses and spinelessness” in the administration of justice. “We can still operate special tribunals with honest, intelligent justices of high integrity that will dispense justice fairly impartially, equitably under the rule of law”, Ajibola stressed. He advised that the executive and the judicial arms of government must quickly come together to initiate other forms of tackling corruption as the current system was not yielding expected results. SOURCE:...
by Admin | Jul 10, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI The former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, revealed on Saturday that the late dictator, Gen. Sani Abacha wanted him, the late Shehu Musa Yar’Adua and the June 12 hero, the late Moshood Abiola, dead while in prison. He stated this at a dinner program organized by an inter-denominational Christian organization, Christ The Redeemer’s Friends International of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Lagos Province 39 Chapter. The former president alleged that Yar’Adua was poisoned by Abacha’s killer squad, adding that he was to be next victim, but that he was saved by God’s divine grace. Obasanjo said, “Two people had earlier told me Abacha promised that three of us would not come out of prison or detention alive; myself. Shehu Yar Adua and MKO Abiola. And two of them did not come out alive. So, that I came out alive, maybe God has a purpose. And therefore if the purpose is for me to serve the people and by so doing, serve God, then so be it. “Abacha claimed that I was plotting a coup. I wasn’t the first to be arrested. When Shehu (Yar’Adua) was arrested, I tried to plead for his release. When Abacha said he didn’t know about Shehu’s arrest, I said to him, ‘the number two man in this country cannot be arrested without you knowing.’ He then said he would go and find out. “In Abacha’s plan, he left God out of it and because he left God out of his plan, it (his government) eventually failed. There is God’s hand in the life of each and every one of us and every...
by Admin | Jul 10, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI The Police Command in Enugu State has raised alarm over increasing cases of passengers and drivers being drugged and disposed of their belongings and vehicles by unscrupulous elements in the state. The Command’s spokesman, SP Ebere Amaraizu, said this in a statement on Monday in Enugu. Amaraizu said that the command was trailing such elements who engaged in the crime. “The command wishes to inform members of the public, particularly tricyclists or taxi drivers as well as other members of the public about the antics of hoodlums. “The hoodlums at times present themselves as doing good by way of offering of edibles, fruit juice and drinks to their victims. “Passengers and drivers are advised to be wary of this as it could serve as a ploy to make one eat and drink and thus, lose consciousness, thereby paving way for the victim deprived of his or tricycle, taxi or other valuables,’’ he said. He called on members of the public to report any suspicious person, movement, object as well as suspicious gathering in their localities. “Members of the public are further reminded of the need to be security conscious and report any suspicious movement and threat to peace in their environment to the police or sister security agencies. “The state command distress call numbers are 08032003702, 08075390883, 08086671202 and 08098880172. “This can also be through our social media platforms: Twitter handle @policeNg_Enugu and Facebook Nigeriapoliceforceenugustatecommand.’’ (NAN) SOURCE: THE...
by Admin | Jul 10, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI Floods hit many Nigerian cities after long hours of rainfall at the weekend. There were deaths. Homes were flooded. Eleven people died in Suleja and other towns in Niger State. Many parts of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, were flooded. Residents of highbrow Victoria Island, Lekki and Ajah in Lagos were yesterday waiting for the floods to recede. They were warned to vacate the flood-prone area because of the expected intense rains. Many parts of Lagos Island have been thrown into darkness because the floods soaked power facilities. Niger State was worst hit by the floods after five hours of rainfall. Nine people died in Checheniya and one in Kuala, Suleja. Another person died in Ayin-Nassarrawa in Tara Local Government Area of Niger State. Houses were submerged. Properties worth several millions of naira were destroyed in Kaltuma and Angwan Hearing in Suleja. Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) Director-General Ibrahim Ahmed said two bodies were found, adding that search and rescue operation officials were at the site to recover the remaining bodies. He said the identities of the victims were yet to be ascertained, but confirmed that 11 people had been declared dead between Saturday night and yesterday. Ahmed said: “As I am talking to you now, the search and rescue operation is going on and so far, two bodies have been recovered. Initially, we thought eight people were lost in Suleja but we received a report from the team that the number had increased to ten. We have one in Tara.” But the worst-hit areas include Kaduna Road through Bakin-Iku, Chanchania and Yaro College, Kantoma, Kuspa,...
by Admin | Jul 10, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Samson Ayokunle, has described allegations of financial impropriety against his leadership as a blatant lie concocted by agents of Satan, who are opposed to ongoing overhaul of CAN. It could be recalled that DAILY POST reported that the National President, Patriotic Christian Youth of Nigeria, PSYN, an affiliate body of CAN, Evangelist Simon Timothy Nasso, had in Lafia, Nasarawa State, accused the CAN president of diverting over N40 million meant to take care of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), to buy official cars. Reacting to the allegation, Ayokunle said the allegation was a blatant lie. He said: “You should know that somebody of my spiritual status cannot misappropriate money because I came to CAN from a denomination with bigger administrative set up and with more funds to manage for different mission works. “Let them know that I am not a novice in administration and my integrity is the hallmark of my ministry. Fani-Kayode ‘reveals’ those against restructuring “Few remnants of political jobbers who feel that they are loosing out in CAN and are opposed to a total overhaul of things in CAN that are behind such allegation. ‘’They belong to the camp of evil men like Korah and Abiram that opposed Moses and accused him wrongly. “Ask them to give him documentary evidence for their claim. Besides, he should tell them to wait for the external auditor’s report before their campaign of calumny. Tell him that the people are agents of Satan who do not worry about rubbishing the image of Christ, which CAN and its leadership stand...
by Admin | Jul 9, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI The Deputy Superintendent of Police rtd, Christopher Archibong who was arrested for raping a nine-year-old girl has been remanded in Prison custody in Calabar, Cross River State by the order of Magistrate Ochinke Disclosing this to DAILY POST in Calabar on Saturday, the lawyer handling the matter, Barrister James Ibor, who is also Executive Secretary of Basic Rights Counsel Initiative, said the suspect was remanded in Prison custody on Friday for raping the minor. Ibor said the Magistrate ordered that the case file be transferred to Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for advice. He disclosed that there were several attempts to compromise the investigation but was thwarted by his organization. “There were many attempts to compromise investigations but were thwarted by Basic Rights Counsel Initiative with the support of Cross River State First Lady, Linda Ayade, Stella Odey, Safe Child Africa and CPN”. How Abacha killed Yar’Adua, Abiola, planned to eliminate me too – Obasanjo He said the accused will remain in prison custody pending the advice of the DPP as the matter has to be transferred to High Court. Daily Post had recently reported that the state commissioner of Police Hafiz Inuwa had paraded the Deputy Superintendent of Police rtd, Christopher Archibong for allegedly raping of a 9 year old girl. The suspect was paraded alongside 62 other suspects by the Commissioner. He said the suspect (Rapist) committed the crime on May 31, 2017 in Calabar. Inuwa said that Archibong, 55, lured the victim into his uncompleted building to park woods and later defiled her after threatening to kill her spiritually if she resisted. On May...
by Admin | Jul 9, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI A son-in-law of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Prince Goodwill Edward, is now lying critically ill in a hospital in Calabar, after he was shot by unknown gunmen in his residence in the Cross Rivers State capital on Friday. Edward is the Special Adviser on Youth Affairs to Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State. He was attacked at his State Housing Estate home in Calabar. The severity of his injuries could not be immediately ascertained neither was the name of the medical facility he was rushed to. Edward who hails from Abi local government area of Cross River State, married Jonathan’s daughter in a very lavish and publicized wedding in 2014. Police Commissioner Hafiz Inuwa confirmed the incident although he said the matter was yet to be officially reported to the police. He also said the Friday attack was the “third or fourth” attempt on Edward’s life. “As at now I’m talking to you there is no official report about it. We are not going to wait until the matter is reported,” Inuwa said. “We are the police, we know our responsibility. Even if they have a reason for not reporting, we are not going to sit down until the matter is reported. “We have the responsibility and will investigate and by the grace of God we will go after those responsible.” Asked if he knew why the matter had not been officially reported to the police, he retorted: “How can I know why they have not come to report? I am a new person in the command. I did not even know that this had happened...
by Admin | Jul 9, 2017 | Blog
Follow @NigeriaPI Professor Steve Nwabuzor, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Federal University Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, has received a letter containing a threat to his life. Professor Nwabuzor’s plight, SaharaReporters learned, is connected to his nomination as a member of a panel set up by Ms. Gbemisola Saraki, Chairperson of the institution’s Governing Council, to investigate employment racketeering allegedly carried out by Professor Seth Accra-Jaja, incumbent Vice-Chancellor of the University. Jobs were given out despite a subsisting embargo on employment. In recent times, the University has been a hotbed of crises, which are largely fuelled by tribal sentiments. Various Ijaw groups, including Ogbia Brotherhood and Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), have disrupted academic and non-academic activities of the institution on account of their belief that the university was established exclusively for the Ijaw people by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan. SOURCE: SAHARA...
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