The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  •  UI, DLC to hold first joint matriculation of Osun Assembly member, 5,000 others

    For the first time, the University of Ibadan (UI) will hold a joint matriculation ceremony for its students and those of its Distance Learning Centre (UIDLC).

    No fewer than 5,742 will matriculate, of whom 3,600 are regular students with the remaining 2,142 registered for distance learning.

    The UIDLC intending matriculants include Kunle Oyekunle, a member of the Osun State House of Assembly.

    The new students were admitted for the 2018/2019 session of the university.

    Read Also: University of Ibadan, others…

    The director of the UIDLC, Prof. Oyesoji Aremu, told reporters in Ibadan, yesterday, that the distance learning candidates have already paid their acceptance fees and more could join them before the matriculation ceremony.

    He also said, that graduates of the DLC have been approved to participate in the one year compulsory national service conducted by the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC).

    The matriculation is scheduled for next week at the International Conference Centre of the university.

  • 34 LASTMA officials dismissed for extortion

    Lagos State Government, on Friday evening, disclosed that in the last 18 months, no fewer than 34 officers of the State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) have been dismissed, with two others under investigation for extortion and sundry issues.

    The Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, and LASTMA’s General Manager, Wale Musa, disclosed this to correspondents at the State House in Alausa, Ikeja.

    Hamzat, while stressing that the present administration was committed to giving adequate support to LASTMA officials towards reducing travel time within the state, it would not condone any state government official that terrorizes the citizens.

    ”And that is why we are currently investigating two of our officers that allegedly harassed citizens who admitted driving against traffic. But the essence of LASTMA officers on the road is not to harass but to affirm the dictate of the road traffic law and be civil while enforcing it.

    ”The claim is that the two officers allegedly extorted money from the driver. A petition has been written to the state government by a law firm stating how it happened. The officers have been referred to the agency that has power to discipline them for investigation,” he added.

    Read Also: Don’t spare traffic offenders, Sanwo-Olu tells LASTMA

    While disclosing that the officers were currently before the State Disciplinary Management Board, the deputy governor assured residents that none of the officers enforcing the law has a right to harass them.

    Hamzat cautioned the residents against depositing money for fines into officers’ personal accounts, saying, the only approved account must have Lagos State Government as the account holder.

    Explaining how the officers were dismissed, Musa said, that while 24 were dismissed last year, 10 have been dismissed between January and May 31.

    He noted that the agency has decided to intensify it’s enforcement and keep watch on LASTMA officers.

    ”Any officer found wanting will be disciplined accordingly. We have been doing it. This year nothing less than 10 LASTMA officers were dismissed. Same last year, over 24 were dismissed. We have a system where we can discipline our staff.

    ”Anyone that has an issue, should please take it up with us, we will deal with it accordingly. We have been seeing so many social media comments on the law, the truth is that the law is meant to be obeyed.

    “But we have a system where no LASTMA officer issues you a ticket. The LASTMA officer and yourself will face the law. It is not the right of the LASTMA officer to tell you that you are guilty, it is the court that decides.

    ”If members of the public can cooperate with us, we are ready and willing to ensure that the laws are obeyed and that our men work without fear or intimidation and no member of the public will be intimidated.

  •  Confusion in Ondo community over death of missing Fulani teenager

    There was tension in the ancient town of Isua, headquarters of Akoko South East local government area of Ondo State, on Friday, when the 13-year-old son of a fulani herdsman, Suleiman, who was earlier declared missing, was found dead in a river, where he was allegedly dumped by suspected assailants.

    The father of the deceased,  Usman, and his mother, Asimowu, were said to be away, when two persons arrived on a motorcycle to abduct the deceased.

    When the case was reported at Isua-Akoko, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Akinbode Olowoyo, a Superintendent of Police (SP), led his men to carry out an intensive investigation, which led to the arrest of two suspects with the motorcycle reportedly used to carry out the act.

    Read Also: Ex-Ondo deputy governor to appeal suit over entitlements  

    The motorcycle was identified by a friend of the deceased.

    The Special Assistant (SA) to Governor Akeredolu on Hausa/Fulani Matters, Bala Umar, swung into action with the help of the Isua police to douse tension and prevent imminent reprisal in the community.

    He urged the Fulanis to be patient and avoid taking laws into their hands as the government and law enforcement agencies would do the needful.

    Meanwhile, the corpse of the boy has been deposited in a mortuary, while the suspects are being prepped for transfer to Akure for further interrogation.

  • Ogun governorship: Tribunal dismisses Labour Party’s petition

    The Ogun State Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Abeokuta, on Friday, struck out the petition by the Labour Party (LP) challenging the victory of Governor Dapo Abiodun.

    The Labour party had gone to the tribunal to challenge the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for alleged unlawful exclusion of the party’s candidate from contesting during the last governorship election in the state.

    The tribunal also awarded a N500,000 compensatory fine against the Labour Party, to be paid to Governor Abiodun. The tribunal predicated its judgement on the absence of the petitioner in court and neither was it represented by any counsel.

    Reacting to the news, Governor Abiodun, declared: ”The people spoke with their votes on March 9 and today the tribunal confirmed it. That is democracy at work. So, I believe that puts an end to the petition and we pray that the petition will rest in perfect peace. Now, we expect all political parties and other purpose-driven stakeholders to join hands with us to build our future together.”

    Speaking with newsmen after the judgement, Prof. Taiwo Osipitan (SAN), the lead counsel to Governor Abiodun, said the petitioner had based “their argument for nonappearance on a letter written to the Court of Appeal asking for the case to be transferred, which was rejected by the Tribunal.”

    Osipitan had prayed the court to dismiss the petition due to the absence of the petitioner as enshrined in the nation’s law, that, when a petitioner and his counsel fail to appear in court, such a petition should be dismissed, which was later agreed upon by the tribunal.

    Read Also: Ogun: Tribunal directs INEC to grant Akinlade, APM access to election materials

    He said: “We joined issues with them, that, they have no candidates, so to say, or that the nominations of the candidate were not lawful and, therefore, INEC was right in not listing their candidates for the election. But after we had filed all our papers, today (Friday) was fixed for the hearing, for the case to commence. Neither the petitioner, that is, the candidate of the party, nor their counsel was in court.

    ”They predicated their absence on a letter they wrote to the president of the court of appeal, asking for the case to be transferred. We felt that is not a reason why they should not be in court at all, that even if they have any issues, they should come to court and say it out loud and clear.

    ”At any rate, we looked at the provisions of the law that say that when a case is fixed for hearing and the petitioner is not in court, then we as respondents are entitled to judgement dismissing the case and once it is dismissed, there is no room for it to be re-listed.

    ”So we invoked that provision and applied to the tribunal that the petition be dismissed for want of diligent persecution because they were absent in court.”

    Meanwhile, the Ogun State Chapter of the APC has described the decision of the state’s Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, dismissing the petition filed by the Labour Party as a welcome development.

    The party’s caretaker committee’s Publicity Secretary, Tunde Oladunjoye, in a press statement, released in Abeokuta, on Friday, described the decision of the tribunal as a “welcome development,” stressing that LP’s inability to prosecute its petition is “not unexpected.”

    ”It is expected because the rag-tag party who could not even fill candidates for half of the elective positions at the last elections, deliberately waited till after the elections to resort to blackmail, arm twisting and other undemocratic tactics. We all know in Ogun State that LP is a shaky platform that springs up in each election year to extort gullible politicians and rabble-rouse.

    ”We commend the courageous decision of the tribunal, which was in tandem with Section 46 (3) of the First Schedule to the provision of Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), which entitled the respondent to final judgement for failure of the petitioner to attend the tribunal for the hearing of the petition,” the party said.

  • NACCIMA boss seeks road map for capacity development of chambers

    The National President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) Saratu Iya Aliyu has called on the World Chambers Congress for a Road Map for Capacity Development of Chambers to enable them make significant contributions to inclusive economic growth and development.

    She made the call while addressing delegates to the 11th World Chambers Congress in Rio de Janeiro  Brazil.

    Hajia Saratu Iya Aliyu drew attention to the positive role the Chambers movement can play in various  parts of the world including  Nigeria.

    Read Also: NACCIMA restates commitment to Nigeria’s socioeconomic growth

    She called for rethinking of the educational processes  and specifically identified continuous training and retraining to enable Chamber members and future generations to meet the challenges and opportunities unfolding in an era of e-commerce revolution, digital trade, Start Ups all of which are transforming the global  World.

    On her delegation were the President of Lagos Chambers of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture ,Mr Babatunde Ruwase; the Director General of NACCIMA, Amb Ayo Olukanni; Mrs Toki Mabogunje ;Chief Bayo Jimoh; President Benue Chambers, Dr Ubwa.

  • ‘How state police, NSIP can fight crime’

    As government is toying with the idea of state police, the founder of the Ekiti Youth Movement, Lanre Ajegbomogun, has said crime control is doomed to fall short, if the Federal Government fails to adequately equip the Nigerian Police Force (NPF).

    He also called for the expansion of the National Social Investments Programme (NSIP) to capture more Nigerians.

    In a statement issued in Lagos, Ajegbomogun said the Federal Government should aggressively continue and expand its NSIP to capture more Nigerians wallowing in poverty, unemployment and others, while the 36 states need to be made to buy into the NSIP at their level.

    Read Also: I am for state police, says el-Rufai

    According to the youth leader, that the wife of the President, Aisha Buhari could criticize the NSIP, shows that the programme is only a drop in the ocean and it needs to be radically expanded to accommodate millions of jobless youths and the poor.

    While lauding Vice President Yemi Oshibajo empowerment programme for women and traders, he said same should also be extended to the youths that have graduated from schools, who are without jobs.

  • Vodacom unit to sell operations in Nigeria, others

    South African mobile phone operator, Vodacom Group Ltd, announced on Friday its plan to sell its Business Africa unit’s Angolan operations and assets to Internet Technologies, Angola, for an undisclosed amount.

    Separately, Vodacom, which is majority owned by Vodafone Group Plc., also announced an agreement to sell the unit’s operations in Nigeria, Zambia and Cote d’Ivoire to Synergy Communications.

    Read Also: Vodacom Bags Three Awards, Inducted into Hall of Fame

    Vodacom said it would no longer service enterprise customers directly in any of the four markets but would continue to service clients through local service providers.

  • Oando: US-Nigeria Council for Food Security asks SEC to follow due process

    Nigeria Council for Food Security, Trade & Investment wants the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) to exercise restraint in its handling of the Oando matter and follow due process.

    The council which  promotes opportunities in Nigeria to US investors and advances commercial partnerships which contributes to economic growth of Nigeria said in a statement that SEC should  sheath its sword in its current feud with Oando.

    “Oando PLC, as a founding member of the Council and as an active and valued participant in the Council’s activities, plays an important role in promoting business and direct investment in Nigeria,” the council said.

    Read Also: Oando: Pressure mounts on SEC over due process

    Reiterating its commitment to strengthening the commercial relations between the United States and Nigeria,the council said it “recognizes the importance that strong capital markets play in attracting foreign investment, creating new jobs and stimulating economic growth.”

    This, according to it, underlines the fact that if a regulatory body for the capital market is perceived to be stifling the market it will have a detrimental effect on the ease of doing business, business growth and sustenance, deter new business and international investment, all of which will eventually translate to economic decline.

    The USNC further challenged the regulatory body to discharge its duties with due process and fair equitable treatment for all parties.

  • LCC donates GCE forms to 50 students

    Lekki Concession Company Limited (LCC) has reiterated its commitment to support indigenes of Eti-Osa as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR).

    The Managing Director of the company, Mr Mubashiru Hassan, gave this assurance on Thursday while presenting a cheque to the executives of the Eti-Osa Indigenes’ Forum for the purchase of the General Certificate of Examination (GCE) forms to 50 indigenes of Eti-Osa Local Government Area.

    Hassan said the donation of the forms was part of his administration’s commitment to support indigenes, most especially indigent students of the Eti- Osa Local Government Area in secondary schools in the state towards their educational development.

    Read Also: MY LIFE from orphan to PERM SEC —Lekki Concessions Company boss Hassan

    He said that in the last few years the company had impacted on the lives of the people in its catchment areas through the execution of various projects along the Eti-Osa Lekki-Epe corridor as part of its corporate social responsibility programmes.

    “This gesture is part of the company’s resolve to give back to the communities in our catchment areas. What we require from them is their co-operation to achieve the aims and objectives of the company in the areas of a smooth flow of traffic and security of lives and property on the Eti-Osa Lekki-Epe expressway,” he said.

    He advised the executives of the Eti-Osa Indigenes Forum to spread the distribution of the forms to all the communities in the local government area in order to foster unity amongst members.

  • Buhari signs bill seeking foreign assistance to recover proceeds of crime into law 

    President Muhammadu Buhari has signed a bill titled ‘Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act, 2019’ into law.

    The Senior Special Assistant on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, briefed State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He said that the law which takes effect from June 20, 2019, specifically seeks to facilitate the identification, tracing, freezing, restraining, recovery, forfeiture and confiscation of proceeds, property and other instruments of crime by Nigerians in other countries.

    Read Also: Buhari signs Polytechnic, National Institute for Security bills into law

    The aim, according to him, is to obtain from other countries, on reciprocal basis, mutual assistance in the prosecution of criminal matters, including the location and identification of suspects, witnesses and other materials for prosecution of criminal matters.

    He said that the new law explained other provisions of the legislation, including the interception of telecommunications and conversion of electronic surveillance,  restraint of dealings in property, or the freezing of assets, that may be recovered, forfeited or confiscated in respect of offences.

    He further explained that the Attorney-General of the Federation is designated as the Central Authority for making, receiving and transmitting requests for assistance to and from other countries as well as performing other functions reserved in the Act.