Principal consultant/CEO of NECCI Limited Mrs. Nkechi Ali-Balogun has said Juilliard Academy and Berkley Science Magnet School is achieving it mission of producing the crème of pupils the country needs.

Ali-Balogun spoke at the Valedictory Service and Teacher Appreciation Ceremony of the 2019 graduating class, where she urged students to keep updating themselves with knowledge of the next level.

She said: “Keep updating yourself with the knowledge of the next level. Be a solution provider and a problem solver. Explore, experiment, engage, and be emotionally intelligent. This is the time to build yourselves in body, mind, capability and so on. Build yourself and the time to live will come. If you live too early, then you will see later on that you will not have lived a fully-fledged life. Aim for the moon and strive for the best, be knowledgeable.”

Ali-Balogun advised the students to manage their time properly and be their own biggest motivator and cheer leader, noting that they can always be more than what they ever thought they could be.

She emphasised on the challenges facing today’s youths saying, “It’s focus because they get distracted even on social media. They are turned in different ways and so many things are getting their attention, so they need to be focused. If you must be on social media, be deliberate about it, you can use it to better yourselves. You can dream big and try new adventures, stop waiting for things to happen…”

“You can also sit in the comfort of your homes and listen to audio books. Use your time efficiently.”

Group Managing Director of Orglearning Group, owner of Berkley Science Magnet School and Juilliard Academy Dr Maria Onyia said: “This is just a starting point in your life, a part of your larger journey, as such do not rest on your oars. I advise that you stay away from get-rich-quick syndrome and even career choices that will deter you from furthering your education. Even if you decide to become a footballer or musician, ensure your education. While doing that, learn a new skill.”

Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dakuku Peterside has accused Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike of running “an uninspiring and purposeless administration”.

Peterside urged Wike to make the wealth and resources of Rivers available to all, and to urgently arrest the worsening refuse situation in Port Harcourt, the state capital, and environs.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, in a statement yesterday by his media team, was worried that since Wike became governor over four years ago, he has not created any employment opportunity, neither has he engineered any meaningful platform to engage the teeming Rivers youths.

He blamed the governor’s lacklustre performance on the absence of any blueprint to govern the state.

The statement reads: “Wike is the first governor in Rivers State not to have any visible vision or intention on how to govern the state. He just wakes up and does whatever he likes. Everything must revolve around him. He is Mr. know all and does all.

“In a state that has received over N1 trillion in the last four years, what can Wike really tell Rivers people he has done? No employment, no promotion of civil servants, no engagement of youths, nothing.

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“Please, this has nothing to do with politics, but about our dear state. Rivers people are complaining every day. Civil servants are complaining, pensioners, youths and women are complaining. What exactly is Wike doing with our money?

“Go to many public schools, you will weep and wonder if there is a government in Rivers State. Health centres are not any better; roads are collapsing, the state secretariat is in shambles and the governor is simply unconcerned. I have made many suggestions to the governor; if he needs help, we are here as Rivers people to help him. This is beyond politics, but it is the overall interest of the state that matters.

“Despite the huge funds Wike’s administration has received, no scholarship, no bursary, no training and no direction. We must not continue like this. We must help the governor since he has accepted failure on many occasions.”

Peterside also noted that mounting refuse in different parts of the state showed that Wike’s administration lacked the will to do the needful and save Rivers from an epidemic.

He added: “The Rivers governor has admitted failure in terms of sanitation. There are many youths who are ready to work and who have the capacity to salvage the situation. Wike should do the needful by employing them. We must rescue this state from impending collapse.”

Wike’s media aide Simeon Nwakaudu refused to comment on Peterside’s allegations.

A former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), yesterday said he did not abscond from trial, as claimed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The former AGF said he was not on the run, and that the charge against him was filed after he had travelled overseas for further studies.

Adoke said he would soon return to defend himself.

Besides, he claimed that “damning revelations” from the current trial of Shell and ENI in Italy showed that the commission has no case against him.

In a statement, the former AGF said the commission should honourably withdraw the charge.

Adoke said: “How can EFCC say I absconded to Europe? I was already out of the country studying at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands when the persecution started. So, how can they say I ran away? Was there any pending case against me?

“I left Nigeria in June 2015 for further studies. Mr. Ibrahim Magu, who is being manipulated to fight me, assumed office in November 2015. How then could I have run away from him and his collaborators, five months ahead? Did I foreknow that my traducers would put their stooge as EFCC chairman?

“The most ridiculous aspect of this joke is that the EFCC case of money laundering filed against me over a mortgage account I never operated was not about Malabu.

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“Nigerians have been given the impression by the EFCC spin masters that I was charged to court for money laundering over OPL 245 and Malabu. In the real sense, nowhere did EFCC mention Malabu or OPL 245 in the court papers. It was wuruwuru (speciousness) to the answer.

“Their case has crumbled and they know it, but they have become so reckless that they are not ready to stop wasting tax payers’ money on frivolous court cases. I will come home to defend myself after attending to my health. There are no questions about that.”

Adoke faulted EFCC’s claim that it had established a prima facie case bordering on corruption against him on the OPL 245 transaction.

According to him, there is clearly no shred of evidence to convict him of wrongdoing.

He said: “The ongoing trial of Shell and ENI officials in Italy has exposed the lies that EFCC has been cooking up against me.

“Mr. Ednan Tofik ogly Agaev, a former Russian ambassador, said in court that he mentioned my name as one of those who benefited from the OPL 245 deal because of pressure from American Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

“He said the FBI interview cannot be used against him in court. That is an eye-opener for those who are interested in justice.

“A few days later, Mr. Vincenzo Armanna, former ENI manager, told the same court that I confronted ENI officials that if any one gave bribe, they would be arrested and prosecuted.

“These statements were made in the open court and reported by the media globally. Yet, the same EFCC, in a strange press release on Thursday, said the statements in the Italian court are of no relevance to the criminal charge against me in Nigeria.

“Ironically, the EFCC had used the same case in Italy as evidence that my trial in Nigeria should continue, contrary to the advice of the Office of the AGF.

“Suddenly, the trial in Italy is of no relevance again because it does not fit into their predetermined agenda against me.”

EFCC, through its spokesman Tony Oriade, reportedly said Adoke abused his office in granting OPL 245 to Shell and ENI in 2011.

But, the former minister described the claim as “ridiculous, ill-informed and full of ignorance” which Nigerians should treat with disdain.

“OPL 245 was not even awarded to Malabu Oil & Gas Limited by President Goodluck Jonathan, under whose administration I served as Attorney-General. It was awarded by Gen. Sani Abacha in 1998.

“It was revoked by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who later decided to return the oil block to Malabu after an out-of-court settlement.

“The only thing I did as AGF was to advise President Jonathan that legally speaking, the Consent Judgment reached by Obasanjo was valid and subsisting and should be respected,” Adoke said.

According to him, at that time, Shell was making an arbitral claim of $2 billion against Nigeria over President Obasanjo’s decision to return the oil block to Malabu in 2006.

Adoke said he should be praised for helping Nigeria to avoid such a huge fine.

He said: “Nevertheless, it is nothing but unadulterated mischief by the EFCC to say I am being tried for granting an oil block to Malabu. Even a primary school pupil knows that the Attorney-General does not award oil blocks.

“All oil blocks are awarded by the President on the advice of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources. It is part of the evil agenda and vendetta against me that I would be accused of awarding an oil block, as the EFCC shamelessly claimed in its bizarre press release.

“JP Morgan, which made the payments to Malabu, did not mention my name in court as one of those who authorised the payment. These are now public documents. I was not a signatory to the account. I had no powers to order payments.

“All I gave was legal advice on the letters of the Resolution Agreement, but EFCC’s puppet masters were so desperate to come after me that they painted me as corrupt and attributed all the powers I didn’t have to me.

“The Federal High Court under the Hon. Justice Binta Nyako ruled that I was not liable for carrying out lawful presidential orders, but the EFCC has now assumed the role of interpreting the court judgment as it suits their whims and caprices, even openly showing absolute disrespect for the office of the AGF.”

Adoke said it was “shameful that vultures have taken over the system and are now lording it over the constitution” in a democracy that thrives on law and order.

The newly inaugurated Chairman of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Lagos Mainland and District Society (LMDS), Abidemi Olawumi, has pledged the institute’s commitment towards boosting capacity building for the growth of local firms.
Olawumi gave the commitment during her investiture as the 25th chairman of the LMD.
She said the initiative was part of the institute’s project for the 2019/2020-chairmanship year, which aims at developing the accounting profession with a view to helping members sharpen their skills and update their intellectual capacity for relevance.
According to her, the Professional Practice Support Service (PPSS), would ensure the platform for the development of local firms through training and exposure to best practices.

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Other projects the institute would embark on under her watch include: a grassroots programme for the development of accountancy profession, which aimed at encouraging young ones in schools to take interest in accountancy as a career prospect, as well as donation of books and materials of benefit to the schools to be visited.
Mrs. Olawumi added that the district’s corporate social responsibility will focus on attending to the needy and bringing succour to the less privilege through visits to orphanages and old people’s home.
Others, she said, will include annual accountant’s conference, LMD workshops and training programmes to impact their revenue positively and building project, staff welfare and training, among others.
The President of ICAN, Mazi Nnamdi Okwuuadigbo, congratulated the new chairman for her relentless efforts in driving the institute’s district forward in positive light.
Okwuuadigbo, who was represented by the institute’s First Deputy Vice President, Comfort Eyitayo, urged the chairman to ensure she builds on the foundation laid by other chairmen to steer the district to a greater height.

The umbrella body of indigenous carriers, Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), has decried the extra flight frequency granted Emirates Airlines.

The domestic carriers’ body said the extra flight slot brings to four the daily flights into Nigeria by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) carrier.

AON Executive Chairman Captain Nogie Meggison said such approval by the Federal Government to a foreign carrier would put a Nigerian carrier, Air Peace, in a disadvantaged position in the flights to UAE.

Meggison noted that such move by government would also have ripple effects on the economy manifesting in job loss for youth and massive capital flight.

The executive chairman said the additional frequency to the Emirates brought to five the number of daily flights and 150 flights per month from UAE.

He said granting only three weekly flights to a Nigerian carrier into the UAE amounted to an unfair deal.

Meggison said: “Emirates, as of today, operates two daily flights out of Lagos and two daily flights out of Abuja. Etihad, from the same country, also operates daily flights out of Lagos as well.

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“This translates to five flights daily and a total of 150 flights per month from UAE, as against a Nigerian carrier that only just started operating three flights weekly, bringing it to 12 flights monthly into UAE.

“This is a colossal plundering of the Nigerian economy through capital flight and a huge loss of Nigerian jobs.

“And sadly, Air Peace is still waiting to be allocated a dedicated lounge or departure wing at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, to signify that this is a Nigerian airline, as against the case with Emirates that has a huge lounge at the Dubai International Airport, which is heavily branded in the airline’s colours.

“The same goes with Etihad in Abu Dhabi, British Airways in London, Lufthansa in Frankfurt, and Air France in Paris.

“Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) hereby cries foul against the recent commencement by Emirates airline of an additional flight, now increasing its frequency to four flights daily into Nigeria on the eve of when a Nigerian carrier began flights to UAE operated with 100 per cent Nigerian pilots, cabin crew, engineers and dispatchers.

“It is very unfair for Emirates to be allowed such increase barely two weeks after the launch of flights on July 5 to Sharjah, UAE by Air Peace, our very own Nigerian airline.

“The move effectively places our indigenous carriers at a massive disadvantage, the Nigerian economy and the jobs of our youths and huge capital flight.”

Meggison added: “The above scenario is a classic example of domestic airlines crying out against unfair competition and having their government standing behind them with full support to effect change and ensure that domestic airlines with private funds get ‘A Fair Deal’ against foreign competition from state-owned airlines.

“It is unfair to unleash a band of ravenous and voracious wolves against a harmless and privately funded puppy that is still trying to find its feet and doing all it can to survive, create economic impact and jobs for our youths. It is the role of government, therefore, to protect our own Nigerian carriers and preserve the economy and the jobs of our unemployed youths.

“The additional double daily flights given to Emirates, a highly subsidised airline, is not necessary at this time, as statistics shows that half of the flights out of Abuja are half empty and the fact that the Emirati airlines already have an unfair trade advantage of 150 flights monthly out of Nigeria, as against 12 monthly flights for Nigerian airlines that should have been allowed to stabilise and grow its operations into the UAE to a level where the airline can compete favourably on the route.

“We would, therefore, like to use this medium to call on the government to review all existing BASAs to readdress the unfair trade advantage given to foreign airlines against Nigerian airlines.

“This will go a long way to safeguard the Nigerian economy from continued plundering of our resources, preserve the livelihood of workers in the Aviation sector, create jobs for our teeming unemployed youths, promote technology transfer, and significantly reduce capital flight in line with the vision of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.”

People suspected to be land grabbers, popularly known as “Omo onile” in their hundreds invaded Falokun village in Obafemi – Owode Local Government Area of Ogun state, rupturing the peace of the serene villagers with shooting and disruption of activities.

Many were injured, including 34- year- old bricklayer, identified as Abdulahi Olalekan, who was shot in the mouth while working at the site of a property company, Blue Stone Garden located in the village.

The land grabbers who stormed the Falokun village at the weekend were allegedly led by two persons identified as Umar and Bello said to have accused the property company of encroaching on the landed property of their clients.

During the daring raid, they chased the company’s workers away from the site, boasting that they had come to re- claim the land from the company.

Also, it was learnt the attackers, numbering about 159 allegedly carted away three motorcycles belonging to the site workers after shooting Abdulahi and abandoned him in a pool of his blood.

It was further gathered that one person has been arrested in connection with the attack and the suspect is being detained at the Owode Police station in Obafemi – Owode Local Government Area of the state.

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And in a petition by the representative of the company, Alexander Waheed and addressed to the state’s Commissioner of Police, Bashir Makama, he urged him to cause an investigation into the matter and bring the perpetrators to justice.

In the petition, Alexander alleged that one Wasiu Bello planned the attack and called on the Police Commissioner to arrest, investigate and prosecute him and his accomplice, Umar “for act of thuggery, threat to life and malicious damage” among others.

Alexander lamented that the property company had purchased the disputed landed property in six villages of Falokun, Omusokun, Abipagun, Sorin, Penpen and Abule Oru and ratified all the necessary title documents, including the Deed of Sale and Deeds Of Agreement between year 2003 and 2005 but was shock that the suspects could lead some people to attack workers at site.

“When we visited the site in March thus year, we discovered that there were encroachment and that forced us to erect fences on the land. While we were trying to complete fencing, Wasiu Bello suddenly appeared with the hoodlums and started attacking our workers and pulling down our fences,” he stated.

Alexander further alleged that Wasiu’s biological father was among the family members who sold the land and signed the title documents for the company.

Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi said he would make inquiry about the incident from the nearest police station and has not gotten back as the time of filing the report when contacted.