The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Tax fraud: Senate to decide Berlusconi’s fate

    Tax fraud: Senate to decide Berlusconi’s fate

    A cross-party panel of the Italian Senate has gathered to decide whether to expel Silvio Berlusconi over his conviction for tax fraud.

    The disgraced former prime minister, who dominated the country’s politics for nearly two decades, is expected to lose his seat in the Senate, BBC reports.

    He threatened to topple the coalition government over the issue but backed down a confidence vote.

    If the panel votes against him, a final vote will be held in the Senate itself.

    The media tycoon was convicted of tax fraud in October 2012 over deals his firm Mediaset made to purchase TV rights to United States films. The sentence was upheld in August.

    Representatives of both Prime Minister Enrico Letta’s centre-left Democratic Party and Berlusconi’s People of Freedom party sit on the Senate’s committee on elections and parliamentary immunity.

     

  • Onazi sets for Addis Ababa cracker

    Onazi sets for Addis Ababa cracker

    … Scores in Lazio’s Europa League match

    Super Eagles midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi, indicated his readiness for the all important FIFA 2014 World Cup qualifying clash with Ethiopia by scoring a goal in SS Lazio’s 3-3 draw with Trabzonspor in the Europa League match played on Thursday night.

    The combative midfielder, who has been called up by Stephen Keshi for the Addis Ababa assault, scored in the 29th minute to make it 2-1 for the visitors ,after Yusuf Erdogan and Adrian Mierzejewski had given the Turkish team a two goal cushion in the first half.

    Onazi’s joy was however cut short, when Trabzonspor went ahead again through a 35th minute goal by Paulo Henrique as the teams went into the break with the Italians trailing 1-3.

    Supersport.com reports that the second half was for the Italians, as they mounted series of attacks that culminated in a Sergio Flocarri‘s brace in the 84th and 85th minute, to ensure that Lazio got a share of the spoils on the road.

     

  • Plane crash:Those on board

    Passengers

    Feyi Agagu

    Femi Akinsanya

    Akintunde Joseph

    Akeem Akintunde

    Tunji Okusanya

    Chijioke Duru

    Kingsley Amaechi

    Deji Afolabi

    Mrs. E.O. Alabi

    Daji Bernard

    Deji Falae

    Samson Hassan

    Olatunji Okusanya

     

     

    Crew members

    Capt. Yakubu

    Flight officer Oyinlola

    Engr. Saroh Elaiye

    Flight dispatcher Ibrahim

    Mr. Felix Tatoye

    Cabin attendant Owolabi

    Cabin  attendant Samson.

  • Breaking News: 20 feared dead in Lagos air crash

    Breaking News: 20 feared dead in Lagos air crash

    Some persons are feared dead and several others injured in an early morning air crash at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on Thursday.

    The Nation gathered that the crash involved a 20-seater  Associated airline jet flying to Akure, Ondo State.

    The plane is believed to be carrying members of late Dr.Olusegun Agagu’s family to the Ondo State capital where he would be buried later on Thursday.

     

     

     

  • nPDP, CLO disagree with Dickson on foreign loan

    nPDP, CLO disagree with Dickson on foreign loan

    The new Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) in Bayelsa State and the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) on Wednesday disagreed with the state governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, over his explanations on the N13 billion (60million Euros) fund obtained from Poland.

    Dickson had explained that the money was a proposed developmental grant from the Government of Poland tied to the construction of a Maritime Academy in Okpoama, Brass local government area of the state.

    While denying that the money was a loan being processed by his administration, the governor insisted that the Polish government intended to build the academy and recoup their investment within 30 years.

    But the interim leadership of the new PDP and CLO accused Dickson of half truth, saying he was deceiving people in the state with his rhetorics.

    The interim Chairman of the Kawu Baraje-led nPDP, Chief Richard Kpodo, asked the governor to resign for allegedly lying to the state.

    He said: “Dickson lied that the facility is not a loan and the investment recovery plan mapped out by Poland does not have anything to do with the state government.

    Also, the state Chairman of CLO, Chief Nengi James, rising from an emergency meeting of the body, said the governor’s explanation left much to be desired.

    He said such attempt to cover-up the issue was contradictory and a deliberate act to promote falsehood in governance.

    James in 10-point communiqué he signed alongside the Secretary of CLO, Mr. Timi Igoli, after the meeting, said the governor’s attempt to explain the deal had thrown up many questions.

    He said the hurried manner in which the state House of Assembly approved the deal was worrisome.

     

  • Babalakin’s case assigned to new judge

    Babalakin’s case assigned to new judge

    The trial of the Chairman, Bi-Courtney Nigeria Limited, Chief Olawale Babalakin, before a Lagos High Court, Ikeja, could not go on as scheduled on Wednesday owing to the transfer of the trial judge.

    The trial judge, Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo has been moved from the court’s criminal division to the commercial division.

    The Nation gathered that Babalakin’s case file has been forwarded to a new judge, Justice Lawal Akapo.

    It is however not clear whether the matter, which is partly heard by Justice Onigbanjo will start “de novo” before the new judge.

    At last hearing, Justice Onigbanjo had adjourned ruling on the “no case submission” filed by Dr. Babalakin and four other defendants.

    The EFCC had arraigned Babalakin and other defendants for alleged conspiracy to commit felony, corruptly conferring benefit on account of public action and retention of proceeds of a criminal conduct to the tune of N4.7 billion.

    Babalakin was arraigned alongside Alex Okoh and three companies: Stabilini Vision Limited, Bi-Courtney Limited and Renix Nigeria Limited in January on a 27-count criminal charge.

     

  • ‘Why we attacked Nigerian embassy’

    ‘Why we attacked Nigerian embassy’

    Niger-Delta students on scholarship in Peoples Friendship University of Russia have  justified their attack on the Nigerian Embassy in Russia.

    In a statement released by one of the students, Okoriko Maxwell,  he gave an account of the events that led to their action citing the nonchalant attitude towards one of their mates who was in dire need of medical assistance.

    The statement reads: “We were angry because the executives of the students visited the embassy for dialogue, we also put calls through to the Consular  notifying them that two students needed serious medical attention but the embassy refused to take any action or come to their aid even as they await operation.

    “The embassy in a recent meeting represented by the Consular and Deputy Head of Missions promised that we should give them one week to contact the head of education in the Niger Delta Scholarship Office which we did but they have till date refused to give us the feedback. Mr. Raymond Ekpobodo on the 28th of January 2013 gave the embassy the sum of 442,971.62 rubles (more than 13 thousand dollars) belonging to the students as the remains of funds used in paying students tuition fee. This money was received by the consular.

    “According to Mr. Raymond Ekpobodo, he was trusted by the former head of education in the programme, Mr. Patterson Ogon, to help him and pay stipends of students after which the receipt for the payment be given to the embassy  because the man who was supposed to coordinate the students according to the former head of education did not meet the requirements of being awarded a contract, the embassy promised to add some money to the existing one which will be used for payment of students’ stipends, but for more than nine months, the embassy never accounted for this money  even when we told them that we have not paid for medical insurance. We therefore demanded for this money to enable us take two of our students to the hospital which they never provided. Heaven can bear us witness that we have met with the embassy.” 

    “We tabled our problems for four time but they never bring this money to save the lives of these two students who are still unable to attend classes because of their ill-health.

    “We destroyed the furniture in the embassy because, we saw the billboard of the Sokoto state governor very large in the reception hall of the embassy, as civilized students, we see it as betrayal, unpatriotic and uncalled for to hang the portrait of Governor Aliyu Wamako on the wall of the conference hall of the embassy. 

    “The Defence Attache of the Nigerian mission in Russia, Air Commodore OluRotimi  A. Ogunjobi who was the only principal officer pleaded with us the students and did his best by giving us evacuation fee to enable us vacate the premises and transport ourselves home. In that regards, we decided to live the embassy, five students have already left as we were all about to live back to the school. But to our greatest Surprise, a group of police men numbering up to 30 and above drove in through the back door of the embassy, they forcefully arrested us into the police BLACK MARIA VAN, we were then 16 because five persons already left the embassy. That was why every news headline only accounts for 16.” 

    “The police released us after confirmation from the Rector of the university that we the affected students have no records of hooliganism, or any traceable crime record with the university coupled with the efforts and attestation of Patriotic Nigerians for our outstanding records since our arrival in the Russia Federation on the 17th of March 2011. We were released after 19 hours under detention.

    “We appeal to the office to contact the University for Further Investigation about some false allegations which was directed against us. We are proud to state here that we have never exempted ourselves from school and the university is our witness. 

    “We therefore appeal to the president of the federal republic of Nigeria to terminate the appointment of Amb. Assam Ekanem Assam. He is unprofessional and lacks managerial qualities, apart from the fact that he relegated the embassy to the status of a police post.”

  • SEC, NSE fault proposed stockbrokers’ Bill

    SEC, NSE fault proposed stockbrokers’ Bill

    The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Wednesday faulted some sections of the proposed Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment Bill, 2013.

    The two agencies spoke at a one-day public hearing organized by the Senate Committee on Capital Market on a “Bill or an Act to repeal and enact the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) Act Cap. C9 LFN 2004.”

    At the public hearing, the NSE and SEC noted that though the Bill is well intended from an operational point of view but would lead to duplication of regulatory oversight functions.

    The Head, Corporate Service Division, of the NSE, Bola Adeeko, in his presentation expressed concern at the composition of the proposed body’s governing council.

    Adeeko said the board’s membership as proposed contradicted the 2004 Act, where the NSE is permanently represented as the foremost agency in the Nigerian Capital Market.

    He also noted that the scope of the proposed Bill needed to be adequately articulated and defined.

    Adeeko said: “The proposed bill seeks to regulate and control the practice of Securities Dealings and Investment Advisory profession and for related matters.

    “The regulatory functions and powers needed to be clearly defined and restricted to professional standards and ethical conducts.”

    On his part, the Executive Commissioner, Operations, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr. Mounir Gwarzo, said that though repeal and reenactment of the Act is capable of strengthening the capital market, there was need to carry every stakeholder along.

    He said SEC is not comfortable with some provisions in the Bill.

     

  • Nigerian embassy protest: Six students withdrawn from Russian university

    The Presidential Amnesty Office has announced the withdrawal of six out of the 24 former Niger Delta agitators studying at the Peoples University, Russia.
    It said the withdrawal followed the indictment of students as the masterminds of last week’s protest at the Nigerian Embassy in Moscow where 16 Nigerian students were arrested by the Russian authorities.
    The students had staged a protest at the embassy, demanding the payment of outstanding allowances for six months among other things.
    All the withdrawn students were beneficiaries of a special scholarship scheme for Niger Delta youths.
    Announcing the withdrawal yesterday in Abuja, the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Hon. Kingsley Kuku, said the action of the protesting students was uncalled for as their claims were found to be untrue, unprovoked and a gross misconduct.
    A statement from the Presidential Amnesty Office and signed by the Special Assistant (Media), Mr. Daniel Alabra, quoted Kuku as saying: “For going on rampage and violently attacking the Nigerian Mission, these students breached the Code of Conduct for delegates on scholarship that they all signed before their departure from Nigeria. It is also a gross misconduct, which the Nigerian government cannot tolerate. Students on its sponsorship cannot go on rampage on flimsy excuses in a foreign country and damage the image and reputation of Nigeria.
    “Our records show that the students were not being owed their In-Training Allowance (ITA) for six months as they alleged. In fact, the only unremitted allowance was for the month of September 2013, which had been approved and was being processed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) at the time they attacked the Mission.
    “My office had communicated the students on Friday, September 27, 2013 about the processing of their ITA for the months of September and October 2013 and the need for them to be patient while it was being handled by the CBN.
    “We were therefore shocked when information got to us that the delegates had invaded the embassy, destroyed property and attacked the Mission officials over unpaid allowances. This is absolutely unacceptable.”
    Kuku, who is also the Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme, said the school authorities will be communicated on the development.
    He also dismissed speculations among former agitators in the Niger Delta that they will soon be paid the sum of Two Million Naira (N2m) each by the Amnesty Office.
    “There is no such plan to pay any of them such amount,” Kuku said.
    The rumour, he noted, had caused serious tension in some of the Niger Delta states and that his office had been inundated with unnecessary phone calls and enquiries.
  • Apo killings will not be swept under carpet – Mark

    Apo killings will not be swept under carpet – Mark

    President of the Senate, David Mark, on Thursday vowed that the killing of nine Keke Napep operators allegedly suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect by security agents would not be swept under the carpet.

    The nine suspects were killed at an uncompleted building in the Apo District of Abuja on September 20.

    13 others were also reportedly wounded in the incident.

    Although the killing provoked outrage and condemnation, the security agencies insisted that those killed were insurgents planning how to attack certain public places within the capital city.

    Among the security agencies’ chiefs that attended the closed door hearing in Abuja are – the Chief of Army Service, General Azubuike Ihejirika, National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr. Ade Abolurin, Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Prof. Bem Angwe and the representative of the Inspector General of Police.

    The Senate had mandated its Joint Committee on National Security and Intelligence and Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to discreetly investigate the incident and ascertain what really happened.

    Mark, who spoke while inaugurating the committee in Abuja said: “There will be no biases, no sentiments and we have no preconceived idea. All we are interested in is to get to the root of the matter. We are approaching the matter with an open mind in order to get the facts so that justice would be done.

    He urged those with facts about the Apo killings to freely volunteer information on the incident.

    He noted that the Senate was not out to apportion blame but to unravel the truth concerning the incident.