The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Police nab 1,154 suspected kidnappers in 8 months

    The Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu, says 1,154 suspected kidnappers were arrested across the country between January and August.

    Adamu, who made the disclosure on Monday during the Southwest Geopolitical Zone Security Summit held in Ibadan, said that 147 of the arrests were made in the Southwest.

    He said that a total of 837 victims of kidnapping were rescued with 106 of such rescues achieved in the Southwest.

    He further said: ”Between January and August, a total of 552 murder suspects were arrested with 66 such arrests effected in the Southwest.

    ”2,015 armed robbery suspects were arrested with 363 of the figure arrested in the zone.

    ”1,183 suspected cultists were napped, out of which 425 were arrested in the zone.

    ”In relation to recovery, 1,356 firearms of various calibre and descriptions were recovered in various intelligence-led operations by the Police, with 277 of such recoveries made in the Southwest.

    ”Similarly, 21,300 ammunition of various descriptions and calibre were recovered with the highest number of 5,270 ammunition recovered from criminal syndicates in the zone.

    ”Also, 1,541 stolen vehicles were recovered across the country, with 482 of such recoveries in Southwest,” he stated.

    The IGP said the statistics pointed out that the Police in recent months have developed capacity and demonstrated the requisite professional zeal.

    Read Also: IGP to CPs: You are liable for any attack on police facilities

    He, however, said there were isolated cases of kidnapping and armed robbery in the Southwest, particularly along Benin-Ore-Lagos highway and across Ondo state.

    He said the current operations of the Police and other security agencies across the country, particularly along Niger- Kogi- FCT -Kaduna -Katsina and Zamfara state has been successful.

    “The operations areas have engendered a dispersal and relocation of some of the criminals to new localities including the Southwest.”

    He said a special operation was underway across South west to specifically address the threat of kidnapping and armed robbery on the highways and other locations.

    He therefore called on the security stakeholders in the zone to support the Police in strengthening and advancing in the interest of communal and internal security.

    On the essence of the security summit, Adamu said the meeting was convened within the context of police community policing vision which emphasise citizens engagement in the process of identifying, dissecting ”and prioritising threats to communal values.

    ”Partnering to develop strategies to address the threats and building trust to undertake actions directed at mitigating them.”

    He noted that experience from the first security summit held in the North East geopolitical zone highlighted the fact that Police could not proceed on an anti-crime war against criminal elements that were united in their determination to threaten nation’s common values with a divided front.

    ”Hence we must as a strategy, strengthen partnership among ourselves as a community on the one hand and between the communities and the Police on the other hand.

    ”The strength of this partnership and the commitment of all actors within the process will undoubtedly, influence the extent of success we can record against the criminals.

    He noted that the first security summit underscores the strategic importance of community policing as the most potent strategy for internal security governance.

    He posited that no police agency either in the advanced or developing climes can succeed in its mandate without the consent, support and trust of the citizens, regardless of how well equipped, trained or motivated they might be.

    He stressed that police legitimacy draws from public consent and trust, saying that lack of effective partnership between the police and the public could only sustain ineffective policing and engender insecurity.

    He expressed optimism that the aim of convening the summit ”can and shall be achieved; including advancing the principles of community policing in engaging the citizens towards X-raying the dynamics of crime in the Southwest geopolitical zone.

    Adamu further disclosed that 40,000 Community Police Officers (CPOs) would be recruited in order to give full effect to Community Policing Vision as a pathway towards bridging security gaps across the country.

    He said the CPOs would be recruited from within the communities where the prospective applicants reside.

    Reading the communique at the end of the summit, the host governor, Mr Seyi Makinde of Oyo state, said that the IGP has approved the deployment of special forces to be commanded by a Commissioner of Police.

    Makinde said the CP would lead a Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) team to support the crime-fighting initiative of the state commissioners of police.

    Makinde said the South West States Governors have made commitment towards provision of more serviceable, fast-moving patrol vehicles in support of crime-fighting, which shall be launched in no distant future, to complement the available fleet.

    He said the traditional rulers have promised to join hands with the Police to take the ongoing fight against heinous crime to the door steps of the criminals.

    ”The Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) has equally agreed to partner with the Police in fighting crime to bring it to the lowest ebb.

    ”The deployment of cutting-edge technology, like CCTV will be strengthened. Aerial surveillance of flashpoints across the South West Geo-political Zone will be sustained.

    ”In order to give effect to the community policing vision of the Nigeria Police Force, Community Policing Officers (CPOs) would be recruited from within the communities where they reside.

    ”This will complement the Police in law enforcement functions within their localities by performing low-risk and non-sensitive police functions.

    ”It’s agreed that a committee, consisting of policemen, other security agencies, the OPC led by Chief Gani Adams, Miyetti Allah and the citizenry should be set up in each state.

    ”This is further discuss the modalities on reduction of crime and criminalities as it affects the state,” Makinde stated.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governors of the Southwest states; Oyo – Makinde and Osun – Gboyega Oyetola were present at the occasion while Lagos, Ogun, Ondo and Ekiti were represented by their deputies.

    They were Dr Obafemi Hamzat- Lagos, Noimot Salako- Oyedele- Ogun, Agboola Ajayi- Ondo and Bisi Egbeyemi-Ekiti.

    Traditional rulers across the Southwest geopolitical zone and Chief Gani Adams- the Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land also participated in the summit.

    Among the monarchs were Ooni of Ife- Oba Enitan Igunwusi, Oba of Lagos- Rilwan Akinolu, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo- Alake of Egba land and Oba Akanmu Adetunji- Olubadan of Ibadan. (NAN)

  • Diezani paid $865,300 cash for jewellery, EFCC tells Court

    A Federal High Court in Lagos Monday heard that a former Petroleum Resources Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke allegedly paid $865,300 in cash for jewellery from a seller on Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) told Justice Nicholas Oweibo that Mrs. Alison-Madueke did not acquire the items with her salary or any part of her legitimate income.

    The anti-graft agency made the claims while seeking the permanent forfeiture of 2,149 pieces of jewellery and a customised gold iPhone, valued at $40m, recovered from her Abuja home.

    But Diezani opposed the commission’s prayer on the ground, among others, that the seizure of the items amounted to a violation of her constitutional right to own property.

    The court, on July 5, ordered the temporary forfeiture of 2,149 pieces of jewellery and a customised golden iPhone recovered from Alison-Madueke’s home.

    According to the EFCC, which obtained the order, the items were suspected to be bought with illicitly acquired funds.

    Justice Oweibo fixed yesterday to hear pending motions.

    Read Also: Final forfeiture of Diezani’s N14.4b jewellery adjourned till Monday

    When the matter was called, prosecuting Counsel Rotimi Oyedepo told the judge that it was in the best interest of justice for the jewellery and the gold iPhone to be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

    He said the court was empowered to make such forfeiture order under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offence Act 2006, because “the respondent’s known and provable lawful income is far less than the properties sought to be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”

    He supported his application with, among others, an affidavit deposed to by an EFCC investigator, Rufai Zaki.

    Zaki recalled that Alison-Madueke was appointed Minister of Petroleum Resources on April 12, 2010.

    He said EFCC findings showed that she started acquiring the jewellery in 2012 from one Bukola Oyewumi of Trinket Box Bespoke Jewellery at Ikeja City Mall, Alausa, Lagos.

    The investigator said the commission was in possession of details of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) account through which Alison-Madueke received her salary as a minister.

    “The respondent did not utilise her salary or any part of her legitimate income to acquire the assets sought to be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria,” Zaki said.

    He averred that a “damning intelligence report” received by the EFCC led to a search of Alison-Madueke’s house at No. 10 Fredrick Chiluba Close, Asokoro, Abuja.

    Zaki’s said the EFCC invited Oyewumi and she made a statement, saying she started selling jewellery to Diezani in 2012.

    According to Zaki, Oyewumi also made available to the EFCC the invoices issued in respect of the jewellery in which ‘Aunty D’ was written as the buyer.

    He said the EFCC also discovered that apart from Oyewumi, Alison-Madueke also bought jewellery from one Minal Ratanani of Bella Vista Apartment, Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos.

    According to him, Ratanani admitted during questioning by the EFCC that Alison-Madueke bought jewellery worth $865,300.00 from her over a period and the former minister paid cash.

    But Alison-Madueke, through her counsel, Nnamdi Awa-Kalu, challenged the court’s jurisdiction to hear the suit.

    She insisted that the seizure of the items amounted to a violation of her right to property under sections 43 and 44 of the 1999 Constitution and “to appropriate them at her discretion”.

    She further contended that the EFCC should not have the power to barge into any Nigerian’s home, seize their property and come to court to claim that the property is illegal.

    Mrs. Alison-Madueke, who is said to be under investigation in the United Kingdom (UK), urged the court to reject EFCC’s prayer to permanently forfeit the jewellery and the golden iPhone to the Federal Government.

    The former minister contended that the court lacked jurisdiction to grant the interim forfeiture order, besides the EFCC did not charge her with any crime or serve her with any summons.

    Following the conclusion of hearing, Justice Oweibo adjourned till September 10, 2019 for ruling.

    According to a schedule attached to the application, the jewellery, categorised into 33 sets, include “419 expensive bangles and 315 expensive rings”.

    Others are: 304 expensive earrings, 267 expensive necklaces, 189 expensive wristwatches and 174 expensive necklaces and earrings.

    The rest are: 78 expensive bracelets, 77 expensive brooches and 74 expensive pendants.

  • 10 die in Anambra accident

    An accident involving a truck and four other vehicles have claimed 10 persons with many others seriously injured.

    The incident happened near Agulu lake, in Anaocha local government area of Anambra State.

    Anambra state Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, who visited the scene of the incident,

    promised to foot the bills of the injured .

    He also, assured he would put barricades on the road to avoid further occurrance

    The accident, which occurred along Agulu Nise road, involved a truck with registration number XB 238 MBA fully loaded with metal objects .

    Read Also: One dead, two injured in Anambra accident

    An eye witness said the brake failed and collided with four other vehicles resulting to the loss of about persons

    The  Governor  equally  visited St. Joseph’s Hospital, Adazi Nnukwu where more than ten persons who were critically injured were admitted.

    He  directed that speed brakers be constructed as a means of checking reoccurrence of accidents along the road.

    Obiano however, sympathised with families of the deceased and victims , directing that the injured be taken to the teaching hospital, Amaku, Awka where they would receive proper medical attention.

    Supervisor of St. Joseph’s Hospital, Adazi Nnukwu, Rev. Fr. Jerome Okafor, commended Obiano for his prompt response, promising that the injured would be properly taken care of.

  • Ibadan obas drop crowns, reconcile with Olubadan

    The new 21 obas in Ibadan land appeared to have dropped their crowns in a move seen as surrendering to the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji.

    They appeared as part of the entourage of the monarch to the ongoing Southwest security summit at the Internatuinal Conference Centre, University of Ibadan on Monday.

    The joint public appearance came two years after they went their separate ways following the crowing of members of the Olubadan-In-Council in 2017 by the immediate past Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

    The new obas had boycotted the palace since their crowning due to the Olubadan’s opposition to their elevation by the governor.

    They were meeting at Mapo Hall.

    The monarch argued that the State Government has no right to independently elevate his chiefs.

    Though both parties indicated willingness to reconcile while the crisis lasted, the Olubadan insisted that the only condition for reconciliation was for the new obas to drop their crowns and wait for their time to ascend the throne of the Olubadan in line with the custom.

    But the obas also stood their ground, stressing that their crowning was already gazetted by the state government.

    The appearance of the obas at the security summit however indicated that they have surrendered to the tough stance of the Olubadan.

    They wore only common hats as they sat two lines behind the Olubadan as members of his entourage.

    The outing may be a silent indication that the royal rumble in the Olubadan palace has come to an end without fanfare.

    On the entourage today are the Otun Olubadan, High Chief Lekan Balogun; Asipa Olubadab, High Chief Eddy Oyewole; Balogun Olubadan, High Chief Owolabi Olakulehin; the Asipa Balogun, High Chief Lateef Gbadamosi Adebimpe; the Ekarun Olubadan, High Chief Amidu Ajibade and the Ekarun Balogun High Chief Adegbola.

    At the meeting are also the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; Olugbo of Ugbo land, Oba Frederick Akinruntan; Oba of Lagos, Oba Rowland Akiu and a host of other traditional rulers.

    Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde commended the reconciliation between the Olubadan of Ibadan Oba Saliu Adetunji and his high chiefs.

    He gave the commendation during his welcome speech at the ongoing South West security meeting at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.

    Sighting the high chiefs without their crowns in their attendance with the Olubadan, Makinde said: “In the entourage of the Olubadan, I can see the high chiefs.

    ” I think it is a positive development in Oyo State. We are talking about security here; and I think it is part of what will help overall security of the society.”

  • Barca’s Rafinha joins Celta Vigo on loan

    FC Barcelona have confirmed Rafinha’s on-loan departure to Celta Vigo after the midfielder has signed a renewal with the Catalans that will expire at the end of the 2020/21 season.

    Rafinha joins Celta Vigo on a one-year loan deal. Celta will pay him the full salary plus potential add-ons of up to €1.5m.

    The Catalans official statement reads: “FC Barcelona would like to publicly express its gratitude to Rafinha for his commitment and dedication, and wishes him the best of luck and continued success.”

    Rafinha arrived at FC Barcelona back in 2006,  at the age of 13. He was one of the key members of Luis Enrique’s three seasons at the wheel, despite an injury that kept his sidelined for more than 200 days.

    While at Barca, Rafinha won 11 trophies: UEFA Champions League, three La Liga titles, three Copas del Rey, UEFA Super Cup, two Spanish Super Cups and the FIFA Club World Cup. With the senior squad, he scored 12 goals in 91 outings.

    (Tribuna)

  • We offer education beyond classrooms- Adigwe

    The Executive Director of Reagan Canadian International School, Ijebu-Ode, Mrs. Rita Adigwe, has declared the school provide an all-embracing education that is 21st century standard.

    She said at tender age, pupils at the school are exposed to various activities which will help developed their individual skills to becoming global citizens.

    “We recognize the diverse educational needs of our pupils. Through appropriate provision we respect and acknowledge that children education is beyond the classroom and we recognize strong academic performance is not enough.

    “Which is why we invest an extra-curricular activities that help our students to develop and stimulates creativity, build confidence, learn life skills and create social awareness.”

    She said the quest to come up with a school that meets international standard and an overreaching objective to produce student that can compete favorably in a global market brought about the creation of Reagan Canadian International School.

    According to Adigwe, the school which is the first of such schools in the Southwestern part of Nigeria, operates a hybrid curriculum.

    “We implement a hybrid curriculum which is derived from the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) – the Canadian curriculum, British curriculum and the Nigerian curriculum,” she stressed.

    She explained that the curriculum which is a unique fusion of the Nigerian and Canadian educational system is designed to help give kids an excellent head start, especially from early literacy to creative expression.

    “We’re proud of our International and multi-cultural ethos, which reflects in the way our students collaborate to make a difference with a team of experienced and dedicated professional teachers.

    “Aside from taking students to field trips outside and within Nigeria to explore wider horizon that impact their learning, our students have easy and direct entry to Canadian Universities and other Universities around the world,” Adigwe added.

    She also added that the school is in partnership with a number of international schools worldwide, and that as a way of giving back to the society, it has commenced plans to give scholarship to students annually.

  • OOUTH resident doctors down tools alleged over neglect, poor working condition

    Doctors at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu on Monday embarked upon an indefinite strike to protest the worsening conditions of service and the unwillingness of successive state government to address the situation.

    The doctors under the aegis of Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), OOUTH chapter, lamented that they have been overburdened with work load because of the “enormous and persistent decline in workforce”.

    They said they were compelled to resort to strike action to draw attention to their plights when several meetings with both previous and current state governments became a thing of no effect.

    Rising from its meeting in Sagamu, on Monday, the OOUTH’s ARD said the teaching hospital had witnessed grave reduction in its workforce, which culminated in the loss of accreditation for full training of the resident doctors.

    ARD added that the reduction in workforce has also taken a serious toll on the health of few doctors still working in the teaching hospital.

    Read Also: Special Report: OOUTH Sagamu: A Teaching Hospital in a mess

    In a statement at the end of its meeting by the chapter chairman and secretary of the Association: Dr. Osikoya Oludotun and Dr. Ajose Oluwafemi respectively, ARD said its decision to embark of the industrial action became inevitable in order to force the state government to do the needful for the hospital.

    Read Also:

    The resident doctors also accused the state government of paying lip services to their plights and condition of the hospital, particularly the manpower shortage.

    They stated that they were aware of the last administration’s caveat to the Management not to exceed a certain wage bill, wondering why wages of resident doctors who had exited the system could not be freed for the employment of new doctors.

    They also claimed that the workload is so enormous that it had prevented them from adequately preparing for their postgraduate examinations.

    They called on the state government to immediately replace the resident doctors who had exited the system over the years, in order to prevent poor outcomes, breakdown of health of doctors as well as low morale and frosty relationships among staff of the teaching hospital.

    The statement reads: “We have engaged the hospital management on many occasions without clear reprieve, since it appears to be beyond their reach.

    “We have also met on several occasions with the representatives of the state government both in the previous and current administrations.

    “The inertia is really disturbing: we sincerely want to take care of our patients; we don’t want poor outcomes.

    “But this is already happening when the doctors are working under hectic conditions and the health of the caregivers is also seriously endangered.

    “We have been forced to resort to this measure, after many notices and warnings that we cannot go on like this, in the hope that the government will wake up to the real issues.

    “We are aware that the governor of the state, Dapo Abiodun had set up an administrative panel to look into the matters of the Teaching Hospital, which we hope are working on as expected but it appears their focus is on long term infrastructure, with no clear regard for the presentation discharge of health care to the citizens of Ogun state, OOUTH being the only state-owned tertiary health institution in the state.”

    Abiodun apparently in reaction to the doctors’ strike has approved the immediate recruitment of resident doctors for the health institution.

    Also to be recruited are nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists and all other categories and cadres of healthcare professionals.

    Abiodun, who made this known on Monday through his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, said the decision was sequel to the interim recommendations submitted to him by the Administrative Panel set up to look into the remote and immediate causes of the challenges facing OOUTH.

    The Governor also directed that advertisement to that effect should urgently be rolled out in all Departments where manpower shortage exists, adding that that recruitment should take immediate effect.

  • FG promises ‘definite measures’ over xenophobic attacks

    The Federal Government has condemned the renewed attacks on Nigerian businesses in South Africans, describing the perpetrators as mindless criminals.

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama on Monday said Nigeria will take definite measures against the xenophobic attack on Nigerians living in South Africa.

    Onyeama, who stated this on his Twitter handle, described the South African police as ineffective, adding “Enough is Enough”.

    Read Also: Xenophobia: NANS wants Nigeria, South Africa leaders to intervene

    The minister, who was livid over the situation, however failed to state what measures the government intend taking.

    The tweet reads: “Received sickening and depressing news of continued burning and looting of Nigerian shops and premises in South Africa by mindless criminals with ineffective police protection.

    “Enough is enough. We will take definitive measures.”

    Nigerians have been subject of attacks by the South African police and criminal elements in recent time.

  • Tension as PDP elects governorship candidate in Bayelsa

    Tension has gripped the oil-rich Bayelsa State following the governorship primaries of the ruling party in the state, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scheduled for Tuesday in Yenagoa, the state capital.

    It was observed that 21 aspirants in the race for the party’s ticket were engaged in high-wire politicking and supremacy battle to emerge as the candidate of the party.

    The aspirants belong to two groups comprising the Restoration Caucus of the PDP, which is the political family of the state Governor, Seriake Dickson, and other non-restoration contestants.

    Ahead of the stormy contest, stakeholders of the Restoration Caucus, which boasts of over 80 per cent of the party delegates, have thrown their weight behind one of the aspirants from the caucus and Senator representing Central Senatorial District, Douye Diri.

    It was endorsement galore as the stakeholders from the eight local government areas met at different halls and hotels in the capital city to endorse the senator and direct delegates loyal to the caucus to vote for him.

    Other aspirants from the caucus such as Dr. Nimibofa Ayawei, Fred Agbedi, former Speaker Kombowei Benson, Deputy Governor, John Jonah, Talford Ongolo and Kemela Okara were reportedly dismissed the directive, which was said to have been engineered by the governor.

    Their refusal to step down for the caucus’ anointed aspirant was said to have cast doubts on the possibility of the caucus to muster required unity and cohesion to approach the internal poll against other non-restoration aspirants.

    Read Also: Poll: Seriake Dickson , APC clash in Bayelsa

    Restoration caucus stakeholders from Nembe, Southern Ijaw and other local government areas, said among other aspirants Diri possessed the qualities required to win the governorship election for the PDP.

    Speaking for the Southern Ijaw caucus, the Leader of the state House of Assembly, Monday Obolo said Diri’s candidature was the best thing that could happen to this state saying the senator was the most experienced among other aspirants.

    “He has worked at different capacities. The restoration government has laid a solid foundation and other eminently qualified aspirants, we believe that Senator Douye Diri is a man that can consolidate on the gains of restoration.

    “He is the one that can win th election for the PDP. We believe that he will not waste the resources of Bayelsa State. We believe that he will use the resources for the food of the people and he has the capacity to develop Bayelsa”.

    Also the leader of Nembe Caucus and Commissioner for Education, Jonathan Obuebite said all the Nembe people representing the 13 wards in the council had taken the decision to support Diri.

    “The restoration government has spoken. Three persons were asked to go and pick forms and the leadership of the restoration sat down and they have come up with a position. We have picked Douye Diri to represent us”, he said.

    But other aspirants such as former Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission, Chief Timi Alaibe and Keniebi Okoko and Ayawei, were said to be upbeat with a plot to cause upset at the primaries.

    Alaibe said he would go full blast at the primaries expressing the optimism of winning the ticket of the party for the November 16 election.

    He, however, promised to support anybody that emerged winner in a free, fair and transparent contest adding that contrary to insinuations he was not a desperate politicians.

    He further described himself as an apostle of non-violence saying he would never depend on people to make him governor through bloodshed.

    Alaibe said: “We will face the primaries and we will go full blast. By the grace of God we are going to win. The delegate elections are past and I don’t want to comment on them. We have passed that stage.

    “I have been a contender for many years and I told you why I do that because I love this state. I am not a desperate politician against what some people think. I have stepped down for people at various times when people wanted to run amok with violence”.

    Ayawei said as the leader and card-carrying member of the party, Dickson should not be challenged for supporting his preferred aspirant to win the September 3 primaries.

    Ayawei, who chaired the state Revenue Board, however, said: “The governor has the right to support a candidate.

    “He is the leader of the party. And I think he is supporting Ayawei. He knows Ayawei is forthright. Ayawei is young and dynamic”.

    The aspirant popularly called the DNA, however, appealed to the delegates to judge the individual characteristics, track records and loyalty of the aspirants when casting their votes.

    “But like I mentioned, all these other aspirants are eminent qualified. They are professionals and politicians.

    “They all have things to offer. But I think I am better than all of them because I am the only Chemist taxman in the country that has come to open more frontiers for our people.

    “I am very prepared for the primaries. Party primaries are not general elections and I hope the delegates see the good part of me. I have spoken with all of them and they appreciate my vision.

    “I am looking at how to get the money to do projects because with the present revenue we are having, there is no magic. I know what is coming to the state.

    “The only way we can have a leverage to develop ourselves is to get a road to Brass and open up that island,” he said.

    Okoko also said he would continue to consult with stakeholders, delegates and people of the state, adding that in those meetings, his ideas and plans to move the state to the next level of development had been accepted by all.

    He said: “Everything is working to our advantage. There are some things we cannot say in public.

    “Nobody is willing to sacrifice the interest of party for any individual for selfish interests.

    “The major power brokers are aligned with me. This is getting clearer to everybody.

    “I am talking to the delegates and each of them that I meet falls in love with my ideas, plans and blueprint. Some people might try to blackmail me, but it won’t work.

    “Every day, we are meeting with delegates, convincing them. Things are happening. Everybody who matters is collapsing into my structure.

    “I am one of the few marketable aspirants, without mincing words, I am acceptable.

    “And what that means for our young people is that this will be like a revolution for a change because the younger ones see hope through me”.

    Investigations further showed that there were fears of violence especially following the recent dynamite explosions at the homes of some PDP stalwarts.

    But the Commissioner of Police, Uche John Anozia, described as false and a means to heat up the polity, claims by some politicians in the state that dynamites exploded at their homes.

    He explained that he went to the scene of the reported explosion saying he was not convinced that such incidents occurred in the areas.

    The commissioner urged political players to desist from engaging  in political activities that could lead to violence explaining that politicians penchant for engaging thugs was the reason for violence.

  • SEC urges shareholders of defunct Afribank Plc to claim dividends

    The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has asked shareholders of the defunct Afribank Plc to claim their dividends.

    SEC said this is part of its investor protection programme and as well as ensure that shareholders get the benefits of investing in the capital market.

    According to the Acting DG, Ms. Mary Uduk, gradually, the Commission is making concrete efforts to ensure that investors get their dividends as this would reduce the high profile of unclaimed dividends in the market.

    She said: “We have informed shareholders of the defunct AfriBank Plc that unclaimed dividends declared by the bank are being held in trust on their behalf. This will further help reduce the volume of unclaimed dividends in the market and boost investor confidence.

    “Investors that have unclaimed dividends are therefore advised to contact Carnation Registrars to process their dividend payments.”

    Read Also: FMDQ Exchange takes off with trading in all securities – signals paradigm shiftBy

    Uduk said the commission has also directed Carnation Registrars and Meristem Trustees to ensure that all genuine claims of beneficiary shareholders be addressed forthwith.

    “Since the company is no longer in operation, these unclaimed dividends have to be made available to the rightful owners that are the shareholders. That will go a long way in boosting investor confidence in the market. That is why we are calling on them to take advantage of this opportunity and claim their dividends,” Uduk said.

    Recall that recently, the SEC had directed investors in the defunct Skye bank plc to claim all outstanding dividends declared by the bank which were being held in trust on their behalf.

    The SEC also at the time went further to direct Cardinalstone Registrars and STL Trustees to ensure that all genuine claims of beneficiary shareholders of Skye Bank were addressed forthwith.

    These the SEC said were part of its investors’ protection programme to ensure that shareholders got the benefits of investing in the capital market.