The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Legend Stout leverages with shopping

    Legend is offering consumers a lifetime experience in  Dubai in its ongoing promo. In this report, winners share their experience with WALE ALABI 

    The excitement is in the air. The adrenaline of consumers going to Dubai has shot up. It’s already one month since what many described as “The deal of the year”, The Legend Real Deal National Consumer Promotion, began.

    Of the 25 consumers, which Legend Extra Stout promised to take to Dubai, 17 have emerged in two raffle draws in Lagos and Port Harcourt.

    While on the free trip, the winners would visit some important places and shop for gift items worth N1 million at one of the city’s biggest shopping malls.

    The first raffle draw held in Egbeda, Lagos produced nine winners. Of these nine, seven have gone to Dubai and have returned. They are: Uchechukwu Dennis Chukwu from Ebonyi State, Nwabuoke Ikechukwu Ambrose from Delta State, Oluwabusuyi Kelvin Olubusuyi from Ekiti State, Solomon Okoro Ike from Owerri, Imo state, John Akoji from Abuja, and Temitope Ogunyemi and Austin Nwakaife, from Lagos State.

    James Nweke from Kano State and Aghedo Cyril Sadiq Ehinoria from Lagos could not make the first trip. They, however, joined the next batch of winners.

    The eight lucky consumers are: Ozioko Bethran Ikechukwu from Kogi, Okotie Oritsuwa from Warri, Tom Madaki from Kaduna, Omoleye Folasade Grace from Ekiti, Wilson Prince Osah from Port Harcourt, Sunny Odomoke from Ebonyi, Ishalaiye Ayodele Aghedo from Lagos and Emuejevoke Oputu, also from Port Harcourt.

    They returned from Dubai, where they shopped for items worth N1 million in one minute.

    Twenty-eight-year-old James Nwaoyama Nweke is a bouncer, who relocated to Kano in the quest for greener pasture. He said: “The day I bought the Legend beer that won me the Dubai trip was boring for me. I then decided to stroll down to International Hotel on Enugu Road to have a drink. Getting there, I saw that a promo was on, and I ordered for Legend Stout. I became upset when I didn’t win any of the instant prizes, but a lady sitting close to me persuaded me to send the code on my crown cork, and I just gave it to her to assist me. To be honest, I didn’t expect to win, as I was planning to go back to my home state, Anambra. I was shocked when they called me that I had won a trip to Dubai. I could not hold my excitement.”

    The trip was Nweke’s first outside Nigeria. He also got his first international passport and visa courtesy of Legend Extra Stout.

    He further said: “I neither had an international passport, nor money to procure one, not to talk of travelling abroad. Nigerian Breweries made provision for all our travel documents without collecting any dime from me. If not for Legend, there is no way I could have been what I am today, because all this happened when I was on the verge of losing hope.”

    Wilson Osah, an aluminium fabricator in Port Harcourt, said he was yet to wake up from the dream. He doubted when he was informed that he won. According to him, it sounded like a scam. He was only convinced when he received the money from the Legend brand team to get himself an international passport. Like James, this was his first international passport.

    On his activities in Dubai he said: “I dined with many tourists from around the world, visited interesting places like the museum, the tallest building in the world and a boat cruise before we went for the Real Deal which is the shopping. We dined in two of the biggest restaurants in Dubai – Brazilian and Chinese Restaurants.”

    He described the experience as awesome. He said: “First, I picked a lot of valuable items, such as 39 Inch LG LED TV, a massive LG Home Theatre, printer and other home appliances that will be useful to my family. I think pictures should give people out there an idea of what I got. Again, the trip was an eye opener for and I long for a repeat of that show. It was like a reality show. If I had another chance, I will love to do it again.”

    Twenty-four-year-old Ayodele Ishalaiye, based in Lagos is a Youth Corps member serving in Ebonyi State. When he got the call that he had won in the Legend Real Deal promo, he did not believe it.

    He did not see himself travelling in the year, neither did he have a passport, because he didn’t have any need for it yet.

    He said: “When the call first came in, I thought it was a swindle me.They got me my passport and two months Dubai visa, and flew us on Emirates Airline to Dubai.

    “Initially, I was apprehensive, because I didn’t know what was in stock for me. But I thank God I was able to pick valuables that are useful for my immediate needs. I picked 39’ LED TV, Home Theatre, and other expensive home appliances.”

    He has kind words for Legend Extra Stout.

    Oritsuwa Okotie from Delta State has visited some African countries. Yet, he described his trip to Dubai as an eye-opener.

    “In Dubai, I saw a very beautiful city, with a likeable nationality that has a culture of self-sustenance. The lifestyle of the people and the way they relate, the level of development and many other monumental legacies the city possess.”

    On his experience in Dubai, he said: “Legend is real. As you can see, I just came back from an all-expense paid trip to Dubai where I went to shop for free, after drinking two bottles of Legend Extra Stout.

    Fifty-four-year-old Tom Madaki, a native of Kaduna is a pensioner, who served in the Nigerian Army. He described Dubai trip as the biggest reward of his life. The veteran, after quiting the military service also worked as an accountant in the Kaduna State Civil Service for 10 years. All through these years, he never travelled abroad until Legend Extra Stout offered him the opportunity.

  • NGF imbroglio: Northern governors shun meeting

    NGF imbroglio: Northern governors shun meeting

    … Only five governors attend NSGF meeting

    The division within the fold of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum may be having adverse effect on the Northern State Governors’ Forum as some governors loyal to the Jonah Jang- led faction stayed away from the meeting of the northern governors held on Thursday in Kaduna.

    Prior to the meeting, Bauchi State governor, Isa Yuguda was quoted as saying that he will not attend any of the NSGF meetings  until the chairman of the Forum and Niger State governor Babangida Aliyu tell the whole world whether or not they held a meeting where they resolved to pick the Plateau governor as consensus candidate for the NGF election.

    Inside sources told The Nation that Jang and his Benue State counterpart Gabriel Suswam stayed away from the meeting.

    The sources said the governors felt betrayed by their northern colleague and concluded that there was no basis for a meeting like that.

    “Jang is aggrieved and felt that Aliyu has no moral right to preside over a meeting of northern governors when he stabbed him on the back. It was the same Niger State governor that presided over a meeting where Jang was nominated as a consensus candidate for the NGF election only for him to turn his back against him.

    “Jang cannot attend a meeting presided over by a betrayal and besides, they are having a retreat for government officials in Jos today,” said an aide to governor Jang who would not want his name in print.

    Another source told The Nation that initially, Jang was not interested in contesting the election of the NGF, but was chosen by 18 northern governors at their meeting before the election.

     

  • WCQ: Jonathan hails Eagles victory in Nairobi

    WCQ: Jonathan hails Eagles victory in Nairobi

    President Goodluck Jonathan has commended the Super Eagles on their victory over the Harambee Stars of Kenya in Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier played at the Arap Moi Sports complex in Kasarani, Nairobi.

    The Eagles defeated their Kenyan counterparts by a lone goal scored by Ahmed Musa in the 81st minute.

    The President, who spoke at the Presidential Launch of the “Rhythm N Play” programme of the National Sports Commission in Abuja on Thursday, expressed optimism that the Super Eagles would qualify for next year’s World Cup holding in Brazil.

    He said, “You would recall that late last year, we convened the Retreat on Sports which not only analyzed the challenges in the sector but also came up with a clear road map for its development in the short, medium and long terms.

    “Already year 2013 is turning out to be a successful one for the country in Sports. In February, our gallant Super Eagles won the African Cup of Nations. Two weeks ago, I hosted a joint reception for the Golden Eaglets who represented the country at the African Under- 17 Football Championship in Morocco as well as our Athletics Team which emerged overall winners of the maiden Under- 18 African Athletics Championship in Warri.

    “They were honoured for their extra-ordinary feat and display of talent in their chosen sports at the international arena. So far, we are doing well in our effort to fly the Green-White-Green in the Football World Cup tournament in Brazil next year. This is a great moment for sports in Nigeria. We must build on this momentum and trend. We must take every step to ensure that our successes are sustained. We believe that grassroots sports development and nurturing provide the way.”

     

  • Fulani herdsmen sack Niger village, kill nine

    About 100 suspected Fulani herdsmen went a mock in the early hours of Wednesday at Kushaka village in Shiroro local government council of Niger State, killing nine people and wounded several others.

    The midnight attack on the farming community was reportedly carried out at about 2:00am by dangerous weapon- wielding suspected Fulani herdsmen.

    A survivor of the attack, who spoke to our correspondent in confidence, said the early morning attack caught the villagers napping as they lost valuable possession to the invading forces.

    He said,” All the villagers had retired for the night as early as 8pm but were suddenly awoken by gunshots from the invading herdsmen. The bandit ransacked houses, shot indiscriminately and inflicted cuts on their victims.”

    He said some of the villagers managed to escape to the bush, but the elderly, mostly women and children were not as lucky as they fell to the fire power of the invading forces.

    Appealing for calm in the area, the Chairman Shiroro Local Government Council, Hon. Abdullahi Yerima, called for reinforcement of security agents in the area, assuring that the council would ensure that the marauders are apprehended and brought to book.

    Confirming the attack, the Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Richard Oguche, said it was too early to attribute the incident to any terrorist group, adding that preliminary report said the attack was carried out by Fulani herdsmen.

  • Emergency rule: Senator warns FG on use of state funds

    The Chairman Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism, Senator Hassan Barata, on Thursday warned the Federal Government against spending funds belonging to states under emergency rule.

    Barata, who represents Adamawa South in the Upper Chamber, told The Nation in Abuja that he is opposed to the declaration of state of emergency in Adamawa State.

    He said that leaders from Adamawa State were made to believe that the state would be used as a “buffer zone” to trap insurgents and Boko Haram members fleeing from Borno and Yobe States during the emergency rule.

    The lawmaker, however, called on the Federal Government to restore telephone services in the Adamawa to ease business activities.

    Barata said: “The position of the Northern Senators Forum is that the funds from these states should not be touched and when you look at our votes and proceedings of that particular time the Senate President in his own report of our executive session said we have all agreed that the money from the states should not be touched.

    “We were surprised about all the things that happened later. Based on the agreement we had at the executive session that the money should not be touched, we thought that our agreement will reflect in the emergency law.

    “But later we learnt that our Senate version is saying that we have allowed the President to use the states money, which was not so.

    “You know when you are talking about a version in a situation like this you always talk about what you have discussed and it is not necessary for you to read the complete version.”

     

  • Suspension: Court insists on Amaechi’s suit

    Suspension: Court insists on Amaechi’s suit

    A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt on Thursday ruled that it has the jurisdiction to entertain the suit filed by Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, challenging his suspension from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The presiding judge, Justice Emmanuel Ogbuji, also adjourned the matter till July 8 for commencement of hearing.

    The party’s National Working Committee had on May 27 suspended Amaechi, who was recently re-elected as chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), over his refusal the reverse the suspension of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council executive council.

    The ruling followed two different motions filed by Mr. Donald Den Wigwe and Mr. Emmanuel Ukala, counsels to the PDP and its state chairman, Hon. Felix Obuah, respectively, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the matter.

    Both Wigwe and Ukala insisted that whenever an issue of jurisdiction is raised by respondent/applicants, the court must first determine it before entertaining any other issue before it.

     

     

  • Police exhume body of slain UNIBEN student

    Edo State Police Command has exhumed the body of a final year student of the University of Benin, Ibrahim Momodu who was killed by a Divisional Police Officer in charge of Ogida Police Division, Mrs. Carol Afegbai.

    Ibrahim was killed on May 27 at about 9pm while returning home after he was accosted by policemen on patrol led by the DPO.

    He was buried by the police at the 3rd cemetery.

    The DPO who has since been suspended said she shot Ibrahim on the legs.

    Edo State Police Pathologist, Dr. Wilson, led the team that exhumed the already decomposing body.

    Police in an official statement said Ibrahim was killed in self defence while attempting to bring out Russian made cut to size gun.

    A protest by students and civil society groups made the Edo State Government to set up a judicial panel of enquiry to unravel circumstances leading to the killing.

    Ibrahim was a student of science laboratory technology before his demise.

     

  • Pirates release seized Pakistani ship crew

    Pirates have released five Pakistani crew kidnapped from an oil tanker off the Nigerian coast two weeks ago, security sources told Reuters on Thursday.

    Increasing piracy in the Gulf of Guinea region, which includes Africa’s No. 1 oil producer Nigeria and is a significant source of cocoa and metals for world markets, is jacking up costs for shipping firms operating there.

    Armed pirates attacked the Nigerian-flagged MT Matrix and abducted the five crew members on May 25 about 40 nautical miles off the coast of the oil-producing Bayelsa State, a stretch of water frequently plagued by armed gangs.

    The two security sources said the men, who worked for an oil servicing company, were released unharmed.

    There were two attacks in the Gulf of Guinea in April in which foreigners were kidnapped and released a few weeks later. Security sources believe ransoms were paid – an increasingly lucrative business for criminal gangs who used to take more interest in simply stealing the oil on board the tankers.

     

  • Ogbulafor admits collecting N2m from co-accused

    Ogbulafor admits collecting N2m from co-accused

    The Former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Vincent Ogbulafor, on Thursday admitted he collected N2 million from Emeka Ebilah in the N107 million Independent Corrupt Practices Commission’s suit against him.

    The ICPC is prosecuting Ogbulafor, Ebilah and one Jude Nwokoro, on a 17-count charge of conspiracy and award of fictitious contracts valued N107 million.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the offence contravened Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act, 2000.

    Ogbulafor told an Abuja High Court when he was cross examined by ICPC Counsel Marcus Abu, that the money was given to him after his tenure as minister of Special Duties.

    He said the Ebilah, who is the second accused person in the charge gave him the money as his contribution for his campaign as National Secretary of PDP.

    He also admitted recommending the second accused as a member of the National Economic Intelligence Committee (NEIC) in July 2010 to President Goodluck Jonathan.

    He, however, denied appointing Ebilah as the secretary of the committee after its reconstitution.

    Ogbulafor told the court that he was directed to reconstitute NEIC by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in July 2010.

    He further admitted knowing one Chris Nwoke, who lived in the United States of America and that he did not know if he was the same person the investigating officer was talking about.

  • Subsidy protest: FG seeks dismissal of suits

    Subsidy protest: FG seeks dismissal of suits

    The Federal Government has asked a Lagos High Court, Ikeja, to dismiss a suit filed by Prof. Ben Nwabueze and Dr. Tunji Braithewaite, over alleged disruption of fuel subsidy protest in January 2012.

    The government made the request on Thursday in two separate applications filed against the suit by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke and the Nigerian Army.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the suit was filed by Nwabueze and Braithewaite– alongside 42 others– before Justice Yetunde Idowu on February 1, 2012.

    The applicants had alleged that security operatives had used tear gas to disperse their protests against the removal of fuel subsidy at Alausa, Ikeja on January 19, 2012.

    They had asked the court to declare the action as unconstitutional and an infringement on their fundamental human rights as guaranteed by Section 39(1) of the 1999 Constitution.

    They had further asked the court to order the Federal Government to pay each of them N10 million for infringing on their fundamental human rights.

    During Thursday’s proceedings, Counsel to the Chief of Army Staff and the Nigerian Army, Mr. Musa Ibrahim, urged the court to dismiss the suit.

    Ibrahim said the applicants’ claim of their right to protest was not supported by the Nigerian Constitution.