The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • DHQ constitutes joint panel to probe killing of policemen in Taraba

    The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Friday announced a joint panel to investigate Tuesday’s killing of three police officers and a civilian by soldiers in Taraba State.

    Heading the seven-man panel is Rear Admiral I.T. Olaiya.

    Acting Director of Information Defence Headquarters, Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu, said that the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin, constituted the committee in line with the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The panel comprises representatives of the Army, Navy, Air Force, the Police, Department of State Services (DSS) and the Defence Intelligence Agency.

    Colonel Nwachukwu said the committee has been asked to unravel the circumstances that led to the killing of the security personnel and the civilian along Ibi-Wukari Road in Taraba on Tuesday.

    A separate panel set up by the police to investigate the killing yesterday visited the scene of the incident on the Ibi-Wukari road, Taraba State.

    Read Also: Soldiers ‘kill’ three policemen, one civilian in Taraba

    The officers were on investigative duties when they reportedly came under sudden attack and serious shooting by soldiers.

    The police named the slain officers as Inspector Mark Edaile, Sergeant Usman Danzumi and Sergeany Dahiru Musa.

    The officers, according to the Force Spokesperson, DCP Frank Mba, had gone to arrest one Alhaji Hamisu Bala Wadume who was indicted in a series of high-profile kidnap incidents.

    The army however disputed the police version of the story saying the bus conveying the policemen and Hamisu refused to stop at three check-points and that the policemen fired the first shots.

    Army spokesman, Col. Sagir Musa, said the soldiers only “acted on a distress call, suggesting that Hamisu was abducted by suspected kidnappers.

    He said the police team refused to stop at three checkpoints which prompted a hot pursuit of the “fleeing suspects by the troops.”

    He added: “It was in this process that the suspected kidnappers who were obviously armed opened fire at the troops sporadically, thus prompting them to return fire.”

  • Kwara Imam cautions Nigerians against needless demands from govt officials

    Nigerians should refrain from making personal demands from elected or appointed government officials, as such demands are often beyond what the officials could afford without breaching the law, a top Muslim cleric said on Friday.

    Sheikh Sa’adudeen Muhammad Jamiu, the chief Imam of the Admiralty Villa Central Mosque in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, said in his Jum’at lecture attended by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Senator Ibrahim Yahya Oloriegbe that leaders have a duty to serve the people as a whole instead of being made to serve any selfish interest of individuals.

    “Our Governor here is a servant of the people. The same thing applies to the senator and other officials. They are there to serve the people and God will ask them to give account of their stewardship. But I urge our people to stop making demands or seeking personal favours that are beyond them. Let them serve the people,” Jamiu stated.

    Read Also: Kwara governor hits the ground running

    Jamiu also prayed God to stand by the Governor and his administration to fulfil their campaign promises.

    He commended AbdulRazaq for his discipline, humility, and a culture of always keeping low profile especially at worship centres, adding however that he ought to be seated at the front roll as the political leader of the state.

    The Governor had quietly sat at the third roll in the mosque since the first two rolls had been occupied when he entered, firmly turning down gestures for him to relocate to the front roll.

    The Imam meanwhile urged Muslim faithfuls to fear God and imbibe the spirit and lessons of the upcoming festival which he said include sacrifice, forbearance and firm belief in God’s destiny for everyone.

    He urged the faithful to pray for the country and Kwara, warning against divisive and selfish tendencies.

  • Ambode denies links to N9.9bn frozen bank accounts

    The immediate past governor of Lagos State Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, said on Friday that he has nothing to do with the bank accounts frozen by a federal court on Tuesday over an alleged N9.9 billion fraud.

    He said no account of his contained N9.9 billion, let alone being frozen by the EFCC.

    A federal judge had ordered the temporary freezing of the accounts domiciled in Zenith Bank, Access Bank and First City Monument Bank, following an ex parte application brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

    According to the EFCC, N9.9 billion was paid from the state government’s accounts into the FCMB account opened on September 17, 2018, and operated by Adewale Adesanya, the permanent secretary in the Office of the Chief of Staff to Mr Ambode.

    Mr Ambode served as governor between 2015 and 2019.

    The accounts ordered frozen by the court, he said, belong to the Lagos State Government and not him or any individual.

    Read Also: EFCC secures order to freeze N9.9b in three accounts linked to Ambode’s Perm Sec

    “Those accounts were opened in the course of normal operations by the Lagos State Government for its administrative purposes and not for the former governor’s personal transactions as was being wrongly insinuated and have been operated to ensure smooth operations of government activities by previous and present administrations,” he  said in the statement issued by his media aide, Habib Aruna.

    “The former governor was not and will never be involved in any unauthorised use of government property and resources.

    “We strongly believe that after four demanding years as Chief Executive of Lagos State, Mr Ambode is entitled to some deserved rest with his family and loved ones without the unwarranted attacks on his well-earned reputation.”

    Mr Ambode said while he did not intend to join issues with the anti-corruption agency, especially as there had been no communication between them on the issue, it is pertinent to clarify what he believed was a misleading import of the press statement on Tuesday.

    The statement added that the former governor believed that at this time in the nation’s polity, all hands must be on deck to support “our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), both at the state and national levels in order to continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to Lagosians and Nigerians respectively.”

  • I’m happy and sad, says pupil with eye damaged by teacher’s cane

    For years to come, Daniel Agboola will not forget March 29, the day he almost lost one of his eyes from the damage his class teacher, Mr. Oludare Olaleye’s cane did to it. As it was reported by The Nation on May 4, it was exam period at Camp David Group of Schools in Ogba, a Lagos suburb, so the SS2 pupil sat in the classroom with his classmates, awaiting the question papers.

    Then came in Olaleye, their supervisor and teacher in the school, who told them to move out of the classroom as necessary arrangements were being made to get the questions ready. It turned out that Daniel was the last of the pupils to step out of the classroom as directed.

    Daniel had barely stepped out of the class when the teacher called him back and accused him of marching on his foot as he was going out. Daniel responded by saying that he did not know that he marched on the teacher’s foot. But rather than demand an apology, the teacher fetched a cane and flogged Daniel mercilessly, injuring his right eye in the process.

    Lamenting the incident, Daniel recalled that he had gone to school late on that day and would have stayed at home if he had an inkling of the evil that lurked in the corner.

    He said: “I went to school late on that day. If I had known what fate had in store for me, I would have absconded from school. The incident gave me a lot of psychological stress for months.”

    Since the incident, Daniel had not gone to school because he could not see with his damaged right eye. He also could not write the remaining subjects in the examination. But respite finally came after some turbulent exchanges between him, his parents, the teacher, the school’s authority and the Lagos State Government. His damaged eye was operated upon and now he admitted enjoying such a relief that he thinks he is in a dream.

    The operation, paid for by the school, was carried out on May 28 at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) where he is still going for checkups. But Daniel still desires regaining his clear vision back even though he can now see better than he did when the incident occurred.

    But he has his worries, the biggest being how he would avoid losing one academic year, knowing that he did not finish the second term exams while the third term exams are around the corner.

    He said: “My right eye vision is not yet clear. I can only see things that are very close. I cannot read. I cannot see from afar. I want my vision to be clear. I don’t want to use recommended glasses.”

    Recalling his time under the surgeon’s knife, Daniel said he was scared going for the operation. He said: “It was something new and strange to me. I had not gone for an operation nor seen one before.

    “When I entered the theatre, fear struck me, but I had to bring my faith into action. Undergoing an operation was not an easy task. I was told not to move for about 30 minutes that the operation lasted. I thank God it was successful.

    “My left eye was covered so I did not see what was going on. But I heard some of the things the doctors said and felt what they were doing to the eye. I know they changed my lens. I was just praying to God for success.

    “The initial pain in the eye has reduced after the operation. Now I have been told that I must not bend and must always put on the sun shade till the eye is fully recovered.

    “I faced the stress of going to the police station to write a statement after the operation. My education has been affected. It is not easy for me to remember some things, especially school work. I am just recovering and getting myself back. I don’t want to repeat SS2.

    “I believe I can meet up with extra classes to do the SS2 promotional exam and pass, but I cannot read with the eye. I want my vision back. I want the school to pay damages for the stress I have passed through, and those of my mother and my entire family.”

    Angry, distressed and unhappy over the condition of her son’s eye, Daniel’s mother, Hannah Agboola, said the incident had cost her a whole lot. “Is it the physical stress that I want to count or the emotional or psychological or unbudgeted financial expenses?

    “This school has stressed me beyond measure over the past two months. I cannot go to work or carry out my duties as an evangelist in the church. I have to stay all day with Daniel to apply his various eye drops. Some are to be administered every one hour, two hours, five hours and so on. I have had to set the alarm as a reminder. I dare not miss one, because he cannot apply them himself. I even wake up the night to apply the eye drops.

    Distraught mum salutes The Nation

    Commending The Nation for its reports on the issue, Mrs. Agboola said: “When the first story was published, I saw in it the school’s claim that my son’s eye was already paining him before he came to school, but I said that was a lie.

    “The Lagos State Ministry of Youths and Social Development called me and requested that I should write out all my expenses and bring it to their office. I told them I could not write out how much I had spent, but that I would come to the office.

    “When I got there, the woman who attended to me said they have to call me because the teacher said he did not beat my son in the eye. But I debunked the claim because the teacher admitted at the onset that the so-called beating was a mistake.

    “There was a lot of drama in the school. They wanted to cheat me because they thought there was nothing l could do.

    “A woman in the school said that since I was shouting that I wanted the operation done at eye foundation, I should bring N500,000 because the school had no money. I asked if I looked like someone that had that kind of money. Then I said I was not doing the operation in Nigeria again, that I wanted it done abroad

    “In the end, one of the teachers followed us to LASUTH, but the operation was not done on that day. He was checked and it was confirmed that he had cataract. The school owner later begged.

    “The following day, I went to the state Ministry of Education because I wanted to know the report that education ministry gave to the ministry of youth and social development. They condemned the step l took by reporting the incident in the newspaper.

    “The next day, we went to LASUTH where it was also confirmed that he had cataract. We did different tests on several days, but I thank God that the operation was eventually done on May 28, almost two months after the incident.

    “I thank God that the operation was successful. He went home the same day the operation was done.” she explained.

    Daniel’s mother said the first publication on the incident The Nation was the saving grace because the school authority were not ready to shoulder the operation bills. She however said she spent some of her personal money before the operation took place.

    Errant teacher dragged to court

    Teacher Oladele was, however, dragged to an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court on July 22, 2019 for inflicting an injury on his pupil.

    According to the prosecutor, ASP Benson Emuerhi, the teacher committed the offence on March 29 between 11 am and 1 pm at Camp David Academy located at No. 7, Bodunrin Caulcrick Close, Ogba, Lagos.

    Emuerhi said: “The teacher was on duty supervising examinations at the school and had requested that the SS1 and SS2 students leave the hall before the commencement of their examination.

    “The defendant alleged that the complainant, Daniel Agboola an SS1 student, had hit him while leaving the hall and Olaleye caned the student as punishment.

    “While the teacher was caning Agboola, the cane hit him in his right eye, leading to a serious injury which required surgery.”

    According to the prosecution, the offence contravened Section 173 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

    Following the teacher’s arraignment, the Chief Magistrate, Mrs Olufunke Sule-Amzat, granted the teacher bail in the sum of N50,000 with a surety in like sum. She adjourned the case until October 21, for mention.

  • Second journey to armageddon (ii): Scandal rocks Libya returnees’ resettlement programme

    • Millions released for training, ID cards shrouded in controversy
    • Returnees accuse govt officials of stuffing beneficiaries’ lists with names of family members
    • Niger Delta Ministry, Senator roll out conflicting figures
    • Edo Attorney-General: returnees’ allegations unfounded

    Millions of naira meant for training young Nigerians recently repatriated from Libya and other foreign countries is enmeshed in a scandal.

    Supposed beneficiaries of the training in poultry and fishery organised for them in Edo and Oyo states are accusing government officials of hijacking the training for the benefits of their family members and other relations.

    Participants at the training programmes were meant to receive the sum of N300,000 each besides other benefits, but smart government officials replaced the names of many of the returnees with those of their relations.

    The aggrieved returnees are also accusing the Anti-Human Trafficking Taskforce officials in the state of inflating an ID card contract executed by the body to their detriment.

    The trend has compounded the apprehension of many of the returnees who are now threatening to return to the perilous journey from which they were earlier rescued.

    For instance, some of the returnees who spoke with our correspondent claimed that they had no knowledge of a training programme organised for them in Ibadan and Benin, funded by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.

    The lawmaker representing Edo South, Senator Mathew Uroghide, was said to have been involved in the project as part of his constituency project.

    One of the returnees, who identified himself as Fatai Yusuf, said he was not aware of the training programme despite the fact that the organisers had his telephone number

    Yusuf said: “I was not informed about any training by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs in Ibadan. They chose people who are related to them and picked women from different places to attend the training.

    “Everybody in the government house has my number. I told them to call me anytime they have something to do.

    “I used to leave Kano to go to Benin for training. If I could do that, is it Ibadan I would not be able to go? They can send me to Lagos to be asked useless questions on television.”

    Another returnee, who gave his name simply as Sunny, alleged that the training programme was only another opportunity by government officials to enrich themselves.

    He said: “Those people are only using our group’s name to sign out money from government’s purse. We didn’t benefit from the training.

    “This is our group and we know ourselves. They should make public the names of all the beneficiaries and let us see how many returnees are on the list.

    “I can bet that most of the names you will find on the list would be those of their relations and girlfriends.

    “This is a clear case of fraud and injustice, and we will resist it.”

    Another returnee, who gave his name as Sam, said: “This is a clear case of monkey dey work, baboon dey chop.

    “We are daily agitating in the rain and in the sun on empty stomach while some people are exploiting our plight to enrich themselves, and you say we should continue to keep quiet. That will never be possible.”

    Sam also flayed the government officials for telling the public that many of them were invited for the training but they failed to turn up.

    He said: “We were surprised that they said they contacted us but we refused to go. They have the names and contacts of most of us.

    “We are more than 3,000, so there is no way they would reach out to 1,000 and at least 200 would not be willing to go. You can see through their lies.

    “If you multiply the sum of N300,000 received by each beneficiary by the total number of participants, you can guess what the figure will be.

    “This excludes the monies they collected and spent on feeding, transportation and accommodation during the two-week training.”

    Two other returnees, Ngozi Nwachukwu and Blessing Gabriel, also denied getting invitation to attend the controversial training.

    “I didn’t attend the training in Ibadan. They didn’t invite me and I have been quarreling with them over this,” Ngozi said.

    Blessing on her part said: “I was not aware of it and didn’t attend the training in Ibadan.”

    Niger Delta Ministry, Senator contradict each other on number of trained returnees

    In separate interviews with our correspondent, the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and Senator Uroghide gave conflicting figures about the sums involved and how many returnees benefitted from the programme.

    Both also declined comments on the total sum approved for the execution of the training programme.

    While the ministry said that a total of 104 returnees were trained, Uroghide said they were 200.

    Contacted, the spokesperson of the ministry, Stephen Kilebi, said he had been moved to another ministry but offered to get the necessary response for this reporter.

    He later called back and said: “The total of people trained is 104 for both Ibadan and Edo. They were trained in poultry and fishery. Each of them was given N300, 000 as starter pack. That was what the department told me.

    “The ministry would from time to time check to know if they are doing what they are meant to do with the training and the empowerment.”

    Asked what the total budget was, he said: “I would not be able to get that one because I am not even there. I am just trying to help you write your story.”

    When The Nation reached out to the Community Development Department of the ministry, using the mobile telephone number on the ministry’s website, a lady at the other end demanded to know what the reporter wanted.

    After explaining to her, she said the appropriate person to respond was not around.

    The reporter later called back but she responded angrily, saying: “You called me earlier and I told you that the person that was supposed to speak to you was not around.

    “Excuse me! I think I’m done with you. I have other things to do.”

    Contrary to the ministry’s claim that they trained 104 returnees, Uroghide said 200 returnees were trained.

    “The Libya returnees that were trained were actually 148.  The remaining 52 others were unemployed youths from Edo South, my constituency.

    “The ministry of Niger Delta Affairs was already training people in the region for one reason or the other.

    “As a member of the committee, I told them that some people came from Libya and that the government documented them.

    “Then they said the state government should submit the names of those returnees. The state submitted the list. Ninety-six names were sent but they found that some of them didn’t come.  These returnees are not in a camp. They are all around.

    “Then they had another 104, because it was not the same organization that did all the training. Fifty-two of them were Libya returnees and the other 52 were people in my constituency whose names I put together.”

    Corroborating the ministry’s remark on what the participants were paid, the lawmaker said: “The participants who were trained in fishery and poultry had got starter packs of N300,000 and had their money paid into their accounts by the government.

    “Twenty of the returnees whose names were on the submitted list didn’t report to Ibadan. When I was informed, I said I still have thousands of people who are waiting to be trained. We had to tell our youths to go and take the place of those that didn’t go.

    “Many of the returnees are not documented by the state government, so how would you know that they are returnees?

    “Even if we had taken all the returnees, we couldn’t have trained all of them because they are in thousands.

    “More trainings are coming and they must be properly coordinated.”

    Despite facilitating the training, Uroghide said he did not know how much was budgeted for it.

    “I don’t know the budget for the project. I don’t award contract. It is the Ministry of Niger Delta that will know that.

    “I don’t even know the people who facilitated it. If you ask the Director of Training in the Niger Delta Affairs Ministry, Ataya, he would be able to tell you.”

    Following the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and Senator Uroghide’s inability to give the total budget for the controversial training, this reporter reached out to the Ministry of Finance to obtain the information. Calls to the mobile number of the spokesman of the ministry, Hassan Dodo, were neither answered nor replied. He, however, responded later via a text message after The Nation informed him about the unanswered calls and the purpose of calling him.

    “Hello Mr. Duru, I was held up in a long meeting where I went to represent my boss.

    The Permanent Secretary (PS) may likely help out on this, but he wears two big caps: that of the minister and his. These have, however, made him truly busy outside the office, but hope is not lost. Let’s see what happens tomorrow (Tuesday), please. Regards,” the text message read.

    Buoyed by the assuring tone of the  message, the reporter on Tuesday reached out to Dodo, trusting that the details of the budget would  be made available after exchanging pleasantries with him.

    But that did not happen as Dodo regaled the reporter with tales of how the two Permanent Secretaries working in that section have been very busy. One of them, according to him, is on pilgrimage. Asked if there was no other person that could provide the requested information aside from the permanent secretaries since the details of the budget must have been stored in the ministry’s computer.

    He said: “You know we have hierarchy in government. The permanent secretary, this one in particular is the accounting officer. It is even good I am discussing with you now verbally. If you had written to that effect, the letter wouldn’t have come to my office yet because he has to be there to sign and send it back to me. That is how the government runs and we cannot circumvent any of the processes.”

    When this reporter asked that it appears he would not be able to provide the information going by how he sounded, Dodo replied: “I wouldn’t know. Everybody has his or her own duties. Even the PS would most likely refer you to a particular director. I wouldn’t even know who he would be. He has to get a directive from him. Nobody would just act on his own, especially when it comes to talking with journalist. If the instruction comes from the PS or the minister, it would be immediately attended to.”

    Controversy dogs N7.4m ID card project

     

    Aside from the controversy over training, the returnees have also accused the anti-trafficking agency in the state of inflating the sum for the ID cards issued to about 3,000 members of the group.

    They claimed that the contract which gulped about N7.4 million was outrageous and another way that government officials have continued to feed fat on the group.

    Sam said: “The money they claimed to have used to produce ID cards is shocking. They claimed that one was done for N1,500 when an ID card costs between N300 and N500 here in Benin. If you now have to produce for as many as 3,000 people, the cost should even be lower.

    “I told you that our group has become their ATM card. Whenever they need money, they would use our names to get as much as they want. We need explanation on why the ID card project gulped so much.”

    Fatai also condemned the ID card, project, saying “I have the Go Getters ID card. I can print that ID card for N200 here in Aduwawa. Which useless ID card is that? Is it a military ID card or ambassadorial ID card?”

    Returnees’ allegations unfounded – Edo State Attorney General and taskforce chair 

    Edo State Attorney General and chairperson of the anti-trafficking taskforce, Prof Yinka Omoregbe, described the allegations of the returnees about the ID card project as baseless.

    Responding to our reporter’s request for the total money spent on the ID card project, Omoregbe said: “I can’t remember the exact amount, but please do your arithmetic. An ID card for N1,500 that gives you a data base is not a N100 ID card. The ID card has a data base attached to it.

    “If I want to look for anything for my family, it is not all this. I come from one of the most educated families in Edo State. My father was the first Benin graduate and lawyer. He had an unblemished reputation. I will not be the child to bring it down for anything.

    “My mother as well is a medical doctor. I was also in NNPC as secretary to the corporation and legal adviser. I left there with my name intact.

    “I am an energy lawyer, and in energy law, it is not naira they pay. I don’t have money but my reputation is intact.

    “It is a non-issue, and how it is generating all the noise, I sincerely don’t know. It is absolutely a non-issue. ”

    Also responding to the returnees’ allegation about the controversial training, she said: “I have known Senator Uroghide since, and he is a childhood friend of my husband. He is a PDP senator. If I was not there, would a PDP person call an APC person to bring people for training?

    “They called the returnees, but if what you are calling them for is not next door to their house, they wouldn’t go.

    “For example, Junior’s Hub, one of our trainers, has rented a place where people are supposed to go and set up their business in the GRA, but because they don’t live around there, they didn’t go.

    “I have been telling them that they have to move to their market because that is where they would make their money.

    “When they called the returnees for the training, they said they didn’t have money to go because it was taking place in Ibadan. About 12 of them who were smart went there.

    “The organisers gave money for transportation, money for feeding every day while they were there for two weeks, and at end of the day,  they gave each of them N300,000.

    “When the ones that didn’t go heard this, they all went very crazy, saying that task force people must have put their relations there. When I heard it, I went mad.

    “I don’t know how many people’s names were sent for the training. Once I get something, I pass it to the secretariat.

    “I didn’t even add a human being to the list.  I would only add if I see a traumatised person and I may have done this once or twice.

    “If they want to investigate the names of people that attended the training, let them do that. It is curses that come on the head of the person who bites the hand that has fed him.

    “That is just what they are putting upon themselves by abusing the state government and the task force.”

    A Lagos printer, Ken  Ikpowonsa, who was shown a soft copy of the  controversial ID cards, said it does not have any features of a database card.

    “This is just an ordinary plastic card. A database card would ordinarily have microchip that can be used to get information about the owner when  slotted into a computer. This particular one should not cost more than #300 if the number to be produced is much.”

  • Five important stories you might have missed this week

    It’s been such a busy week with so many stories. We take a moment every week to bring you important stories.

    ‘Revolution Now’ Protest, Sowore’s Detention, Nigeria Police Vs Army Saga, El-Zakzaky’s Release and other controversial news dominated the socio-political discourse this week.

    The Nation brings you a brief round-up of the major stories this week. Alao Abiodun Reports.

    Here is a recap of the week’s big news:

    Protesters Defy Police, Hold ‘Revolution Now’ Protest

    Revolution Now protesters in Lagos
    Revolution Now protesters in Lagos

    Despite the arrest of its lead convener, Mr Omoyele Sowore, by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), the ‘Revolution Now’ went ahead with the exercise on Monday.

    Several protesters were arrested at the National Stadium in Lagos after a crowd gathered to begin its protests against bad governance in Nigeria.

    States where the Revolution protests took place were Lagos, Osun, Ondo and Cross River.

    In Abuja, protesters took to the streets to air their grievances against bad governance.

    The protesters, who defied the early morning downpour converged on the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) office chanting anti-government songs and calling for a ‘revolution’ in Nigeria.

    However, mixed views have continued to herald the Monday’s protests in some states of the country and security agents clampdown on the protesters.

    Meanwhile, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, said Nigerians have the right to protest but they must properly articulate their grievances.

    Sowore to spend 45 more days in DSS detention after court ruling

    Omoyele Sowore and other protesters

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has asked that Omoyele Sowore be kept in detention for 45 more days pending investigation by the Department of State Services.

    Sowore was arrested for organising a ‘Revolution Now’ protest against the federal government.

    The Nation reports that Justice Taiwo in his ruling on Thursday, August 8, granted an ex-parte motion filed by the DSS asking that it be allowed to keep the former presidential candidate in its detention.

    The judge said the detention could be renewed upon to enable the DSS complete its investigation.

    The DSS in the motion accused Sowore of terrorism by tendering two digital video disks showing the former presidential candidate with Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    In the second video, Sowore was shown boasting that members of the equally proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) were going to join forces with him to bring down the Nigerian government.

    DSS bows to court order, releases El-Zakzaky

    Leader of Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky

    The Department of State Services, DSS, has released leader of Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife, following the order of Kaduna High Court.

    The court had ruled that the cleric and his wife be allowed to travel to India for medical attention.

    Public Relations Officer of DSS, Dr. Peter Afunanya, confirmed the released in brief statement in Abuja.

    El-Zakzaky and his wife who were not in court, have been in detention since 2015, following a bloody clash between members of IMN and the military that left scores of his members dead.

    Soldiers Kill three Policemen, Release Notorious Kidnapper in Taraba

    Nigerian Army on patrol
    Nigerian Army on patrol

    Some yet to be identified personnel of the Nigerian Army have been accused by the police of killing three of its officials and releasing a kidnap kingpin in the process.

    The incident was said to have taken place along Ibi-Jalingo Road, Taraba State, on Wednesday.

    The incident also resulted in injuries for other police officers and civilians as well.

    According to a statement by spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force, Frank Mba, the affected officers led by Assistant Superintendent of Police, Felix Adolije, of the Intelligence Response Team, reportedly came under attack in the process of moving kidnap kingpin, Alhaji Hamisu, to the Command Headquarters in Jalingo, the capital of Taraba.

    Mba disclosed that one inspector, two sergeants and a civilian died as a result of gunshot injuries sustained during the attack by the soldiers.

    Following Nigeria Army’s statement over death of police officers killed by soldiers, the Nigeria Police Force has raised some questions for the Nigeria Army to answer.

    Reacting to the accusation, the army in its statement on Thursday, August 8, 2019, said that the soldiers chased and exchanged fire with the police officers because they were mistaken for kidnappers, having received a distress call from villagers that Alhaji Hamisu had been kidnapped.

    However, the police in a series of tweets has faulted the army’s statement raising questions on the whereabouts of Hamisu and why the soldiers decided to release him without taking him to the Army base for documentation.

    The police said it expects the Nigeria Army to answer the questions as they emanated from the statement the army released over the killing of the police officers.

    APC suspends Kogi Deputy Governor

    Kogi Deputy Governor
    The embattled Kogi Deputy Governor, Elder Simon Achuba

    The All Progressive Congress, APC, Kogi State chapter, has suspended the embattled Deputy Governor, Elder Simon Achuba from the party for “anti-party activities.”

    The party also based the suspension on some actions the Deputy Governor allegedly took that constituted embarrassment to APC family in Kogi State.

    APC State Chairman, Abdullahi Bello, who disclosed this at a briefing in Lokoja, said the party had received several petitions from stakeholders in Iyano ward of Ibaji local government area where the Deputy Governor hails from, alleging that Achuba had discretely and openly worked for the candidates of the opposition parties during the presidential, national and state assembly elections in the state.

    The Chairman noted that the report of the disciplinary committees constituted by the Iyano ward and Ibaji local government APC to probe the crises in the area allegedly indicted the Deputy Governor and also recommended for his suspension to be followed by expulsion if he did not show any remorse.

  • TATC forecasts African talents 

    The African Talent Company (TATC) has held its maiden edition of human resources workshop, themed: “Talking Talent”, with top human resources professionals, business leaders, and talent gurus who understand the challenges facing companies gathered to discuss issues concerning the Africa talents.

    The event, held at the Radisson Blu Anchorage Hotel, Victoria Island, also featured a panel discussion where experts discussed approaches and sharing techniques which they have successfully applied to solve these human resource challenges.Martin Sutherland of Global Director, PeopleTree Group, noted that human resource is the most valuable resource in Africa. According to him, a company is as good as its workers and the power to pinpoint talent, explore leadership options, increase employee engagement and thereby impacting the earnings of an organisation resides in data analytics.

    Read Also: Honeywell, LSETF partner on talent development

    “We believe that Africa’s talent is her future, and we constantly strive to ensure that we leverage Africa’s talent. I urge people to be more data focused because it is data that allows you to find things you have not seen or known before Date is very liberating and a democratic way of identifying talent. So, managers should endeavour to know more about their staffs.

    “We are well-versed in understanding and solving the complex challenges in Africa today, and we take pride in delivering the right people for the right job; thereby ensuring our clients’ growth and continued success in Africa.”

    Managing Partner of TATC Heather O’Shea said: “Research is on to offer our clients the insights into Africa, unmatched by our competitors and we are also using our superior sourcing abilities we are able to procure the finest talent in Africa who have been thoroughly assessed and surpass both organizational and industry standards by a mile.

  • Defiant Tekno releases controversial music video, ‘Agege’ showing ‘half-naked’ girls

    Popular Afro beats singer and songwriter, Augustine Kelechi, also known as Tekno, has released a music video titled “Agege” and featuring Zanku pioneer, Zlatan.

    Despite the ongoing investigations as regards the controversial music video, the video shows scenes of four strippers’ pole-dancing in a moving van on the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge in Lagos.

    He was seen throwing money at the semi-nude young women.

    The viral video of Tekno and the dancers was met with criticisms by the Government and members of the public.

    Tekno had, in a statement on his official Instagram account, claimed that the viral video was as a result of logistical issues experienced during the shoot.

    READ ALSO: Alleged indecent advert: Tekno arrested

    He had said, “There was no reason for us to be dancing in a truck around Lekki. There was no music and ventilation in the truck.

    “We were shooting a music video and we had a shortage of vehicles to convey people to the next location, because some of the cars broke down in between the shoot. We divided ourselves into various vehicles, because we had been shooting all day and having fun; we then moved to the next location.

    “We sincerely apologise if some people saw this and felt offended by the scenery. It was never my intention.”

  • Monsurat Adeola Adeosun Impact on Procurement and Finance with Connex

    Monsurat Adeola Adeosun Impact on Procurement and Finance with Connex

    The demand for innovative solutions in supply chain management has reached unprecedented heights, driven by the urgent need for efficiency and speed in today’s fast-paced business environment. Developed under the exceptional leadership of Monsurat Adeola Adeosun, Connex emerges as a transformative product designed to enhance connectivity, streamline operations, and foster collaboration among diverse supply chain stakeholders.

    At its core, it is a robust fintech product that integrates various functions of supply chain management into a single, user-friendly interface. By linking valuation and supply chain processes, it connects suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, ensuring seamless communication and real-time information sharing among all parties involved. This holistic approach enables businesses to respond swiftly to market changes, optimize inventory levels, and significantly improve overall operational efficiency.

    A notable advantage of this product is its exceptional capacity to deliver end-to-end visibility throughout the supply chain. The solution uses complex data analytics and cutting-edge tracking technology to provide stakeholders with real-time insights into inventory status, shipment tracking, and demand forecasts. This level of openness not only improves decision-making but also reduces risks connected with stockouts and overstocking, resulting in higher customer satisfaction.

    Her acute understanding of the difficulties faced by companies functioning in Nigeria’s intricate supply chain environment gave rise to her idea for the product. Conventional approaches frequently result in annoying hold-ups, misunderstandings, and inefficiencies that impede expansion and general competitiveness. By emphasizing connectivity, it enables businesses to dismantle organizational silos and improve collaboration, fostering a more harmonious workplace.

    In addition to enhancing operational efficiency, this product places a strong emphasis on sustainability in supply chain practices. By optimizing logistics and inventory management, the product helps significantly reduce waste and energy consumption, aligning with global goals for environmental responsibility. Companies leveraging the product can not only improve their bottom line but also contribute positively to a more sustainable future for the planet.

    This product is a shining example of supply chain management innovation and quality in an evolving economic environment. By addressing critical inefficiencies and streamlining operations, it has set a new benchmark for efficiency and effectiveness. Her initiative and strategic leadership played a pivotal role in the successful implementation of the product, ensuring it meets industry needs while driving sustainable growth. Through careful planning, collaboration, and execution, she has transformed an idea into a practical solution that enhances procurement, inventory management, and logistics. The product’s success underscores her ability to blend innovation with real-world applications, reinforcing its value in today’s competitive business landscape.

  • ITTF Challenge Plus Nigeria Open: Kid star Okanlawon dazzles as qualifiers end

    Oyo State-born star, 12-year-old Usman Okanlawon entertained fans with his near-perfect performance against the national junior star, Amadi Omeh in the men’s singles first round of the 2019 ITTF Challenge Plus Nigeria Open.

    The kid star who was crowned the U-12 champion in Oman was competing in his first senior tournament and he threw caution to the wind to humble his senior counterpart on table six at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium.

    From the start of the encounter, Okanlawon displayed rare confidence to take the lead but Omeh restored parity to put the encounter at 2-2. The fifth match which was the decider was cheered by the fans and it was the youngster who had the last laugh with a superb win over Omeh to record a crucial win in his debut at senior level.

    Read Also: Sanwo-Olu reaffirms support for Nigeria Open

    An excited Okanlawon said: “This is my first time of playing against him and I was told that I should play with confidence and so I did. I will be competing in the senior category for the first time, I hope to see myself in the finals and meet the likes of Aruna Quadri and the rest of them. But I am happy I defeated my opponent.”

    Visiting Indian star – Soumyajit Ghost described the tournament as exciting following the huge presence of fans on day one of the competition.

    The Indian star who is aiming for a place in the main draw said: “It was a good one for me and this is my first time in Nigeria and first in Africa. The fans are very cheerful. I will like to play each match and keep going match by match and this is my target.”

    The qualifying matches end today as players are aiming for places in the elite stage of the championship.