The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Death toll rises to 15 in boat mishap

    The death toll in Saturday’s boat accident at Badore near Lekki, Lagos has risen from two to 15.

    Reports monitored on Television Continental (TVC) quoting Ijede Local Council Development Area chairman Salisu Jimoh that four bodies were recovered on Sunday and 11 yesterday.

    A statement by Lagos State Emergency Agency (LASEMA) confirmed the recovery of four bodies on Sunday.

    The statement signed by its public affairs officer Kehinde Adebayo, however, said five bodies were recovered yesterday.

    It said efforts were ongoing to get others who were on board the 20-seater boat.

    A “sudden mechanical fault” caused the accident, the statement said:

    “Search and rescue are still ongoing for the other missing persons yet to be found by officials of Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) and Marine Police with support from the local divers.

    Read Also: Two dead, 12 others missing in boat accident

    “Community leaders, as well as local fishermen in the area, have been informed to avail the agency of any information through the emergency toll-free lines 112/767 to enhance total recovery”, the statement said.

    It urged those whose relations are missing to report to the Marine Police or any police station around the scene of the accident.

    LASEMA stressed the importance of the use of life jackets by drivers and passengers to ensure safety.

    Also yesterday, Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa said the government would continue to fashion out ways to ensure safety on road, waterway and rail.

    “It’s sad to hear of yet another boat mishap on our waterways. May God rest the souls of those departed while we keep working on finding lasting safety precautions for our waterways. It is sad,” Obasa said.

  • N2.5bn DSO Trial: Defendants kick against Lai Mohammed’s appearance in court

    Defendants in the case of alleged misapplication of N2.5 billion Federal Government Digital Switch-Over (DSO) programme, have countered application by the prosecution to present former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed as a witness in court.

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC is prosecuting the Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Ishaq Kawu in a Federal High Court, Abuja, for alleged abuse of office and money laundering

    The Commission had filed a 12-count charge before Justice Folashade Ogunbanjo-Giwa, against Kawu, Lucky Omoluwa and Dipo Onifade, the Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of Pinnacle Communications Limited respectively.

    In a motion filed before the court, Alex Izinyon, SAN, Counsel to Omoluwa and Onifade, opposed the list of the former minister and  Shuaibu Sabo as additional witnesses in the trial as requested by the anti-graft body.

    In the motion, the defendants are seeking the court order, “disallowing/prohibiting or forbidding the complainant/respondent to lead and use the additional list of witness of one Mr Lai Mohammed filed on 2nd June 2019 at the continuation of hearing of this criminal proceeding or any other date whatsoever.

    “And for such further order(s) as this Honorable court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this case”.

    It will be recalled that the anti-graft body had said that the former Minister will serve as a prosecution witness in the alleged N2.5 billion fraud trial.

    At the resumed hearing of the trial on Monday, ICPC lawyers, Henry Emore and E. A. Shogunle reminded the court of their application to call the two additional witnesses – Mohammed and Sabo.

    Shogunle said that they had filed a counter affidavit to the motion by the defendants opposing their requests to call Mohammed and Sabo as additional witnesses.

    On his part, Iziyon said the motion was not ripe for hearing because he would be filing a reply on point of law, to the prosecution’s counter affidavit.

    Meanwhile Justice Oginbanjo-Giwa has reprimaded the ICPC for disobeying the order of court regarding the application by the defendants seeking release of their travelling passports.

    The second and third defendants had filed the application seeking the release of their international passports to enable them travel abroad for official functions.

    The judge who had fixed the application for ruling on Monday said the prosecution had failed to carry out her order to verify the addresses and other particulars of the defendants and their sureties. .

    “I cannot give the ruling now because in the course of reviewing the motion, I realised that the prosecution has not carried out the order of the court to verify the addresses of the defendants and their sureties within five days.’’

    Read Also: Alleged N2.5b NBC fraud: Ex-Minister Lai Mohammed to appear as witness, says ICPC

    Counsel to the prosecution said he had done the verification and satisfied with it after the grey areas observed were addressed by the defendants.

    He, however apologised for his failure to file the report of the verification before the court.

    The judge, who expressed displeasure over failure of the prosecution to file the report of the verification stood down the case for the lawyer to do so.

    She stressed that she could not continue with the case while the prosecution was in disobedience of the court order.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the judge resumed the case about two hours after the prosecution had complied with the order.

    Upon resumption, the defendants took fresh plea of not guilty to the amended charges brought to them by the prosecution.

    The amended charges, according to ICPC lawyer were largely due to typographical errors which the lawyers to the defendants did not oppose to.

    Justice Ogunbanjo-Giwa adjourned the case until July 4 to hear motions on the release of the defendants’ passports and that challenging the listing of Mohammed and Sabo as additional prosecution witnesses.

    (NAN)

     

  • Court orders Kogi, others to release judiciary workers’ pay arrears

    Succor seems imminent for thousands of unpaid court workers in Kogi State as the National Industrial Court of Nigerian (NICN) in Abuja has ordered Governor Yahaya Bello and others to release forthwith funds due to the state’s judiciary, which were withheld since July 2018.

    Justice Edith Agbakoba, in a judgment, also ordered the state’s Chief Judge and other heads of courts in the state to immediately begin payment of salaries, allowances and emoluments owed to court workers on their receipt of funds from the executive arm of government.

    The judgment is on a suit filed by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) against the Kogi State governor and eight others.

    The others are the Attorney-General, Kogi State, Commissioner for Finance, Accountant-General, Auditor-General, the Chief Judge, the Grand Kadi, President, Customary Court of Appeal and the Judicial Service Commission.

    The plaintiff said its members in Kogi State have not been paid since July 2018, owing to the failure of the state government to release funds due to the judiciary from the Consolidated Revenue Funds of the state, from which salaries and other payments are made to court workers.

    Justice Agbakoba, in the judgment delivered on June 3, 2019, a copy of which The Nation sighted in Abuja yesterday, declared as a violation of sections 121(3) of the Constitution and 5 of the Kogi State Public Finance (Judiciary Special Provisions) Laws No. 6 of 1991 the failure of the first to fifth defendants to release to heads of courts’ funds due to the judiciary from which the salaries, allowances and other payments are to be made.

    Read Also: Bello, Audu, Dichie and struggle for Kogi APC ticket

    The first to fifth defendants are the governor, the Attorney-General, Finance Commissioner, Accountant-General and Auditor-General.

    Justice Agbakoba held that the first to fifth lacked the power to withhold court workers’ salaries and other entitlements which are payable from any amount standing to the credit of the Kogi State Judiciary in the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the state.

    The judge, particularly ordered: “he 1st – 5th defendants are hereby directed to pay forthwith, the arrears of salaries, allowances and emoluments of the members of the claimant from the N1, 529, 885, 261.92 being eight months accumulated arrears standing to the credit of the said Judiciary from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the State and payable directly to the heads of the courts from which salaries and emoluments of the members of the claimant ought to be paid for the past eight  months since July 2018 to February 2019.

    “The 1st – 5th defendants whether acting by themselves, their agents, privies or servants, are by a perpetual injunction order of this court hereby restrained from continuing to withhold the monthly salaries, allowances and emoluments payable from subventions or amounts standing to the credit of Kogi State Judiciary in the Consolidated Revenue Funds of the State and payable directly to the heads of the courts concerned in line with the provision of section 121(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999(as amended).”

    Listed as the sixth to ninth defendants are the Chief Judge, the Grand Kadi, the President, Customary Court of Appeal and the Judicial Service Commission.

  • Five die in Bauchi-Jos road crash

    The Federal Road Safety Corps, Bauchi State Sector Command on Sunday, confirmed the death of  five persons in a ghastly motor accident on  Bauchi-Jos federal highway.

    The Nation gathered that the accident involved a trailer and a Peugeot 406, which had a head on collision, leading to the death of the five persons.

    Confirming the accident, FRSC spokesman Rilwan Suleiman, said  eight people were involved in the accident, but five persons were killed.

    He said the driver of the Peugeot 406 veered off his lane into the lane of the trailer.

    Suleiman said the  driver of the trailer did all he could to avoid him, but the two vehicles were over speeding.

    “The trailer had a speed mark of about 50 to 60 meters before hitting the 406.

    Read Also: Two dead, 12 others missing in boat accident

    “And as a result, all the occupants of the 406 – two women and three men – sustained severe injuries. Our men immediately rushed to the scene after receiving the information and rushed them to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi for medical attention. Unfortunately, they were confirmed dead on arrival by a medical doctor.”

    Suleiman added that because of the impact of the accident, it took them hours before they succeeded in removing the trailer from the Peugeot.

    “The trailer crushed the Peugeot and it was under the trailer. We had to seek for the services of two cranes and it took us several hours before we were able to separate the two vehicles,” he stated.

  • Two kids drown in Benue community

    Two children – Shater Abomnger (10) and Terhide Abomnger (eight) – have drowned in a stream in Gboko South, Gboko Local Government Area in Benue State.

    The tragedy ocurred at noon on Saturday.

    The deceased were siblings.

    Their father, Mr. Teryima Abomnger, is a yam dealer of No. 5 Ahule Iusu Street, Gboko South.

    The incident took place near Nguembi stream around St. Thomas Catholic Church, Gboko South.

    A witness, Mr. Joseph Orban, a resident of No. 30B Shaahu Road, Gboko South, who spoke with The Nation at the scene of the unfortunate incident,  said the two siblings were drowned at about 12:45 noon while in search of used water plastic containers.

    The deceased were primary five  and three pupils at Aunty Ayam’s Nursery and Primary School, Gboko.

    According Orban, Shater slipped and was drowning in the lake and his younger brother, Terhide, dived into the stream to save him. They both got drowned.

    Read Also: Three teenagers drown in Akwa Ibom beach

    He explained that efforts by him and others to save the two kids proved abortive.

    But with the help of some young men, their bodies were recovered and taken to the General Hospital, Gboko, where they were certified death.

    Orban called on both Gboko Local Government and Benue State Government to come to the support of the community by filling up the lake. He added that erosion that ravaged the lake has now turned it into a death trap.

    He regretted that within his 15 years in the area, he had witnessed over 30 drowned cases.

    The bereaved father, who is an indigent of Kunav Mbayongu, Vandekya Local Government Area, told reporters that he and his wife left their children at home for Gboko market.

    He said a friend called him on the phone that two of his children have been drowned in a stream.

    He said: “I was shocked when I rushed home and found their bodies on the floor of my house with sympathisers standing by and wailing.”

    Chairman of Gboko Local Government Jacon Iorver said drastic measures would be taken to sand fill the stream to avoid future occurrence.

  • Airtel Africa to boost Nigerian equities with N1.4tr

    Airtel Africa Plc is set to become the third most capitalized quoted company on the Nigerian stock market as the telecommunications company concludes arrangements to list its shares on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). Nigeria alone accounts for 36% of its total revenue.

    Airtel Africa had last week successfully raised $750 million or N270 billion in its combined global initial public offering (IPO), which included listing on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and the NSE. After a 10-day book building, the IPO, which had set a price range of 80 pence and 100 pence, was priced at 80 pence, implying a market capitalisation of $3.9 billion or N1.4 trillion for the telco giant.

    The IPO included a Naira-based offering to Nigerian investors. The final term sheet for the IPO indicated that the Nigerian offering was priced at N363 per share. Many Nigerian investors participated in the IPO. Airtel Africa’s Nigerian subsidiary, Airtel Networks Limited, second largest telecommunication company in Nigeria, accounts for more than one-thirds of the group’s turnover.

    Airtel Africa indicated that 39.23 million ordinary shares were allotted to qualified institutional investors and high net worth investors in Nigeria while 704.82 million shares were allotted to other global investors in various jurisdictions outside Nigeria.

    Under the IPO schedule, the allotment of ordinary shares and crediting of ordinary shares to the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) accounts of successful Nigerian subscribers will take place on June 29, 2019 and   July 3, 2019 respectively. Airtel Africa is scheduled to be admitted to the official list and begin trading on the NSE on July 5, 2019.

    Already authorities at the NSE and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have approved the listing of Airtel Africa. Airtel Africa is expected to be listed on the premium board of the NSE, trailing its closest rival MTN Nigeria Communications Plc as the third largest quoted company. MTN Nigeria was listed in May 2019 with a market capitalisation of N1.83 trillion, making it the second largest quoted company after Dangote Cement Plc.

    The listing of MTN Nigeria had triggered a massive rally that market capitalisation of Nigerian equities to a gain of N2.726 trillion in May 2019, one of the two positive months for the Nigerian stock market so far this year.

    Market analysts also expected a reasonable enthusiasm for Airtel Africa on debut at the NSE but the wider distribution of its shares due to the IPO may moderate the pricing trend compared with MTN Nigeria’s pricing upsurge. MTN Nigeria had sustained a day-on-day maximum allowable gain for many days, setting off a major debate about the propriety of the pricing mechanism. However, the NSE affirmed that the pricing mechanism was in line with established market forces.

    Airtel Africa’s debut trading on the LSE was however weak, dropping by as much as 16 per cent during the first trading session.

    The Nation had reported that Nigerian retail investors had opted for the use of special purpose vehicles (SPVs) to aggregate funds and buy into the Airtel Africa’s IPO. Airtel Africa, a subsidiary of India’s Bharti Airtel Limited, had restricted the IPO to qualified institutional investors and high net worth investors (HNIs) in Nigeria.

    Under the extant rules in Nigeria, a high net worth investor is defined as an individual with net worth of at least N300 million excluding automobiles, homes and furniture. This implies that only individuals and institutions with a minimum assessable investment of N300 million can participate directly in the IPO.

    To bypass the restriction, many investment houses created SPVs which were designed to aggregate subscriptions from retail investors. While the arrangements differed slightly, the investment firms used almost similar template for the SPVs, suggesting a sort of industry consensus on the approach to bypass the high net worth restriction.

    Under the arrangements, the SPV will aggregate demand from retail investors and use its net worth to subscribe to the shares on behalf of the retail investors. Once successful and its account credited with the IPO shares, the investment firm will cross the shares into the CSCS accounts of the retail investors at the commencement of trading on the NSE.

    The minimum share subscription by most SPV was fixed at 500 ordinary shares while the price was fixed at the ceiling of N454 per share, implying a minimum subscription of N227,000. Under the terms, the in-house allocation may be done on a pro-rata basis in the event of under allotment of the full subscription while the retail investors will bear all transfer charges. However, with the clearing price of N363 lower than N454, the excess amount will be refunded to the investors in line with the terms of the SPV.

    Nigerian market has substantial retail investors. Latest data from the NSE indicated that domestic retail investors accounted for 42 per cent of total domestic transactions at the Nigerian equities market. The five-month report ended May 31, 2019 showed retail investors led the market in two months.

    SPVs used attractive dividend policy to woo retail investors, who characteristically are usually excited by dividend-paying companies. Airtel Africa aims to distribute a minimum of 80 per cent of its consolidated free cash flow to its shareholders as cash dividend, subject to a ratio of net debt to underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of between 2.0 times to 2.5 times being maintained. Dividend distribution is also subject to all regulatory, statutory and monetary restrictions.

    While the Nigerian offer was issued in Naira, Airtel Africa has avowed that the rights attaching to the shares allotted under the Nigerian offer shall be uniform in all respects and they will form a single class for all purposes, including with respect to voting and for all dividends and other distributions thereafter declared, made or paid on the ordinary share capital of the company.

    According to the company, on a show of hands every holder of ordinary shares in the capital of the company who is present in person shall have one vote and on a poll every shareholder present in person or by proxy shall have one vote per ordinary share.

    Airtel Africa added that except as provided by the rights and restrictions attached to any class of shares, shareholders will under general law be entitled to participate in any surplus assets in a winding up in proportion to their shareholdings.

    “There are no restrictions on the free transferability of the Nigerian offer shares,” Airtel Africa stated, adding that no expenses will be charged by the company to any investor who purchases the Nigerian offer shares.

  • 40 Choba pupils get N4m scholarship

    Dufil Prima Foods, makers of Indomie noodles, has given out N4 million in scholarships to 40 junior secondary and primary school pupils in Choba community, Rivers State.

    Choba is the host community for the firm’s factory in Rivers State.

    The funds will cater for the children’s educational needs, including tuition, books and others.

    Ten pupils from the four public schools in the community – two junior and two secondary schools – got N100,000 each based on their academic standing in the last session.

    The benefiting schools are Community Junior Secondary School; Olobo Premier College; Universal Primary Education (UPE) and State Primary School.

    The Group Public Relations and Events Manager of Dufil Prima Foods, Temitope Ashiwaju, handed the cheques to the beneficiaries at a ceremony in Port Harcourt.

    He said the gesture was borne out of the need to reward academic excellence and spur the pupils to do more.

    For Dufil, it was also a way of adding value to the lives of residents of its host community. According to Ashiwaju, education is one of the pillars of Dufil’s corporate social investments. He said Dufil would stop at nothing to ensure every child is supported to become the best they can be.

    He said: “Dufil Prima Foods is passionate about education, and we will continue to support education in Nigeria through scholarships and other social investment initiatives.

    “Education is the bedrock for the growth and meaningful development of any country. It is also a process of developing the child’s moral, physical, emotional and intellectual wellbeing. Dufil believes strongly in this assertion and will continue to play its part.”

    The Desk Officer, Debate, Quiz and Competition of the Rivers State Universal Education Board, Mrs. Susan Ejiohuo, praised Dufil for the scholarships, and urged other companies and organisations to emulate the gesture to complement the government’s efforts.

    She enjoined parents to ensure the funds are well utilised to enhance their wards’ education. Ms. Lebura Favour of UPE Primary School, who responded on behalf of other beneficiaries, thanked Dufil and promised to make the best use of the support.

  • ‘Sanwo-Olu should instill sanity on roads, hospitals’

    An advocacy group, Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistic of Nigeria (APFFLON), has called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to end insecurity on Lagos roads and extortion of patients in the general hospitals.

    The National President, Frank Ogunojemite, who addressed a news conference at the weekend, said it was no longer news that hoodlums seize every opportunity to dispossess motorists of their belongings, especially when they are stuck in traffic.

    Ogunojemite noted that the stress and inhuman conditions patients are subjected to in government-owned hospitals should also be looked into.

    He said: “Important steps like the executive order on waste management, zero tolerance on pot holes, the riot act on traffic management, and above all, your urgent intervention in the perennial Apapa gridlock which has brought so much pains to port users and residents, these are indeed noble steps sir.

    “Commuters are being molested daily, even in the full glare of the public, and nothing happens. Therefore, it is very imperative to address insecurity to have a safer Lagos.

    Read Also: Abibatu Mogaji lived exemplary life, says Sanwo-Olu

    “Besides, the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) must rise to their responsibilities; they should tackle the insecurity on our roads as molestations and robberies have become the order of the day.”

    Ogunojemite suggested that more LASTMA officials be recruited to ensure efficiency in traffic management as the current number cannot effectively control Lagos traffic.

    He also appealed to the governor to ensure that motorcyclist be routinely checked to ensure they are mentally stable and drug free, and above all, professionally qualified to carry out such service.

    The president also lamented that most health workers have no modicum of regard for patients, saying the difficulties they go through before medical attention is highly demoralising.

    “To see doctors in these government hospitals become very difficult due to systemic corruption, in most cases only those who bribe them go in first for consultation while those who have no money are made to see the doctor last.

    “We urge you to set up measures to address the extortion and misconduct as the system has been polluted,” Ogunojemite added.

  • Ex-Edo Speaker attacks Oshiomhole

    Immediate past Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly Kabiru Adjoto has vowed to open a can of worms on National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Adams Oshiomhole.

    Adjoto was sacked by the Supreme Court two weeks after he was sworn in as a member of the House of Representatives. He was replaced by Peter Akpatason, who has the backing of Oshiomhole.

    At a homecoming reception at Igarra, Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, Adjoto said Oshiomhole, who was an apostle of ‘One Man One Vote’, and fought ‘Godfatherism’, has now become an ‘Emperor’ who wants to lord over everybody and everything.

    The former speaker said the APC chairman had succeeded in negatively changing the destiny of many people since becoming the National Chairman. He vowed to speak on Oshiomhole’s ‘many atrocities’ when the time is right.

    He said: “Oshiomhole wants to be everywhere at the same time. Everything he preached against, and we supported him to fight against, is what he is now doing. When Oshiomhole introduced one man one vote, we believed in him and supported him. We did same when he fougth ‘godfatherism’, insulting Chief Tony Anenih and Chief Gabriel Igbinedion.

    Read Also: Adams Oshiomole: Victim of reactionary forces

    “We were with him, and even helped him to remove the leadership of State Assembly that was against his government then. Whatever success you can attribute to him today is because of the support we gave him.

    “I was under intense pressure to give Governor Godwin Obaseki problem when I was speaker, but I resisted because it is the people who will suffer when it happens. We will resist Oshiomhole’s antics. We will support Obaseki to make him succeed. He is doing wonderfully well and has surpassed the previous administration.

    “God will catch them if they say Obaseki will not come for second term. Let them try it, that time, the whole world will know the truth about the Mobutu Seseseko Mansion and many other things.”

    But Akpatason described Adjoto’s comments as the cry of a frustrated man, who lost at the Supreme Court.

    Akpatason challenged Adjoto to tell Akoko-Edo people the development he brought to the area as Speaker.

    He said: “Adjoto should be ashamed of himself for trying to deride Oshiomhole who made him all he is today in politics. What will he say his new found friend Obaseki has done for him, rather than use willing tools like Adjoto to insult our leader Oshiomhole. They are a bunch of ingrates and God will not forgive them.

    “The masses have always known and identified with the dispositions of Comrade and what he stands for. The APC National Chairman has always been recognized for his unassailable democratic ethos, his championing of political inclusiveness. So whether Adjoto and his cohorts like it or not, they cannot change history.”

    Pioneer of One Man One Vote; One Woman One Vote, his headlong battle against godfatherism, and several other causes that promote the Rule of Law. So whether Adjoto and his cohorts like it or not, they cannot change history.”

  • I inherited N3b debt, says hospital director

    The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Prof. Ikpeme A. Ikpeme, has said he inherited a N3 billion debt when he became the CMD.

    Ikpeme, who spoke at the hospital’s conference room during a meeting with the creditors and contractors, appealed for patience and cooperation as the two-month old management works out a payment plan.

    He said: “We invited you to appeal for your patience. We are just struggling now, and it’s a struggle to get going and getting the place to function as it should. We have also promised you that we will regularly set aside a certain percentage of our earnings and allow it to accumulate; once it gets to a certain level, we will pay you in batches no matter how little, On the basis of first come first serve.

    Read Also: ‘Fake doctor’ arrested for ‘killing’ patient during surgery

    “We will set up a committee and from time to time they will call you up. We will also have a database of our contractors so that those still interested in working with us will register.

    “I don’t think any CMD will like to inherit a debt of N2.5 billion to N3 billion. If we have, we would have paid you like one million each to show that we are committed to paying and will partner you. But we do not have.

    “We will not lie to you.  This management will not lie to you. When we have, we will tell you. Give us some time. We are working as hard as we can to ensure we defray or at least begin the process of defraying the debt.”

    Many of the creditors and contractors praised Ikpeme for inviting them, saying it had never happened in the years they have been in business with the hospital.