The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Sudanese jailed two years for drug trafficking

    By Robert Egbe

    A Federal High Court in Lagos, Monday sentenced a Sudanese, Guma Ismail Mahdi Abdalla, to two years imprisonment for drug trafficking.

    Justice Salliu Saidu convicted Abdalla following his plea of guilty to a one-count charge of bringing in 1.44 kilogrammes of Methamphetamine.

    Before he was sentenced, Abdalla, who did not have any legal representation, pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy.

    He told the judge that he was a first time offender and had no any relation in Nigeria.

    Justice Saidu confirmed from National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) counsel, Ali Ibrahim that Abdalla was indeed a first time offender before pronouncing judgment.

    Read Also: NDLEA charges two cousins with drug trafficking

    The judge also ordered that the drug seized from the convict be destroyed by the NDLEA, if there is no appeal against the judgment.

    Earlier, Ibrahim told the court that the Abdalla was arrested with the banned substance on June 24, 2019, at Gate ‘A’ of the departure hall of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, during an outward clearance of passengers on Ethiopia Airline Flight to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

    Ibrahim said Methamphetamine is one of the Psychotropic Substances under International Control.

    The court also heard that the offence was contrary to and punishable under Section 11(b) of NDLEA Act, 2004.

  • Adamawa IDPs protest nonpayment of benefits

    By Onimisi Alao, Yola

    Hundreds of internally displaced persons (IDPs) registered for relief financial packages under Youth Empowerment and Social Support Operations (YESSO) protested in the Adamawa State capital, Yola, on Monday over bogus payments that reached only a small fraction of them.

    They gathered at the Yola branch of the First City Monument Bank (FCMB) on Atiku Abubakar Way, where the fund for them is domiciled, and insisted on being paid.

    In separate interviews, the protesters complained that while a few of them had received hundreds of thousands of naira in bank alerts towards the weekend, a huge majority had not received anything.

    Under the YESSO programme in Adamawa State, each beneficiary should get a total of N170,000 in four tranches: N30 as first relief package to all the IDPs, N20,000 as transport money to those who have chosen to return home; N100,000 as resettlement package when they arrive home; and N20,000 final payout.

    The sudden huge payouts to some of the beneficiaries alarmed the huge majority who got nothing, and evidently prompted them to stage the protest of Monday.

    They laid siege on the FCMB, effectively shutting operations of the bank and disrupting traffic on the otherwise busy Atiku Abubakar Way.

    The bank branch management said they had no authority to speak to the press on the development.

    Read Also: Soldiers rescue 27 IDPs in Borno

    The Adamawa YESSO Office, which has a new management, would also not comment, as they had just assumed duties.

    However, the immediate former state coordinator of YESSO, Mr. Muhammed Jika, told newsmen that the isolated few large payments to some YESSO beneficiaries were unintended IT activities.

    Jika who effected payment of the first tranche of the YESSO package before he left office, said the bogus payments causing the current uproar were infractions and that the FCMB had shut down the system to prevent further infractions.

    YESSO implementation in Adamawa State is done jointly by the state government, the Federal Government, and the World Bank.

  • Kogi recruits 2,200 for school feeding programme

    By James Azania, Lokoja

    The Kogi State Government said it has recruited about 2, 200 caterers in the first two phases of the Home Grown School Feeding Programme (HGSFP).

    The Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Projects and Kogi SIP Focal Person, Mr Abdulkareem Onyekehi, made this known at the “Sensitisation Programme and Official Resumption of HGSFP,” for the recruited caterers in the state.

    He noted that the pilot phase of the HGSFP implementation began in the state on February 8 with 62,559 pupils in public schools in 18 LGAs, but was later suspended due to issues of non adherence to the national guidelines, in some North Central states.

    He however said that Kogi State had been cleared by the national office to resume the HGSFP, which was officially inaugurated on Sunday.

    According to him: “Eight hundred and fifty caterers are already captured, recruited and trained for the programme, while an additional 1, 296 caterers have been recruited in batch B, to join the batch A.

    ”It means that more than hundreds of schools and thousands of pupils will be captured; more jobs created, and many other benefits from the economic value chain of the programme.

    ”A very sensitive programme of this magnitude covering almost the entire state is not one to be handled with levity.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Edward Onoja sworn-in as Kogi Deputy Governor

    ”Hence, we have put in place our Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) team, to monitor the various schools on a daily basis; to see that the caterers perform their work in line with national guidelines.”

    He commended the state governor for the way the New Direction Government, was paying much attention to the programme and ensuring quality education in Kogi.

    Governor Yahaya Bello, who was represented by Deputy Governor, Edward Onoja, called on the women to carry on their assignment diligently and not to “cut corners,” saying that the feeding programme is meant for children and not adults.

    He urged them to give the best of hygienic nutrition to the children.

    The HGSFP manager in state, Hajia Khadijat Karibo
    said that the governor had made it possible in terms of all the logistics required, to make the feeding programme a reality in the state, and has fulfilled his promise.

    ”We thank the governor and the president that this laudable programme has come to Kogi. The women are happy because we have been able to give them jobs in one way or the other.

    ”So, we are here to appreciate His Excellency for the marvelous job he is doing,” said.

  • Alleged N978.4m oil scam: Court grants defendant bail

    By Agency Reporter

    An Igbosere High Court sitting in Lagos, on Monday granted bail to the Managing Director of Nadabo Energy Oil and Gas Ltd, Abubakar Peters, over alleged N978.4 million oil fraud.

    He was charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Justice Christopher Balogun admitted him to bail in the sum of N100 million with two sureties in like sum who must have valuable property to be verified by the chief sheriff of the court.

    Justice Balogun, before granting the bail, showed his displeasure over the attitude of the former counsel to the defendant, Chief Emefo Etudo.

    The judge said that if he found out at the end of the investigation that the court was misled to keep the defendant in prison, he would petition the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), over the conduct of the counsel.

    “I wish Chief Etudo is here, if at the end of this investigation I find out that chief Etudo has misled this court, I will write to NBA to discipline him.

    “He has written two petitions against me but he doesn’t know the law.

    “If he had known the law, he will know that you don’t petition a judge if there is an error of law, the only option left for you is to approach the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court,” Justice Balogun said.

    In his submission before the court, new counsel to the defendant, Mr Olatunbosun Adekunle, said that the defendant was just a victim of lawyer – client relationship.

    He said the former lawyer came to court to arm twist the court to keep the defendant in prison custody.

    Adekunle, therefore, prayed the court to ignore all the claims of the former counsel.

    The prosecution counsel, Mr Tope Banjo, urged the court to refuse the bail application made by the defendant, “because he is a flight risk”.

    Read Also: Alleged scam: EFCC withdraws charges against ex-Oyo HoS, 11 others

    Banjo, however, prayed the court to grant accelerated hearing to the case.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on Sept. 25, the former counsel to the defendant had informed the court that he was no longer representing the defendant.

    The counsel said he discovered that the defendant was paid a large sum of money and wanted to abscond from the country.

    The defendant is standing trial on a 27-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, forgery and use of forged documents preferred against him by the EFCC.

    EFCC alleged that the defendant defrauded the Federal Government of Nigeria to the tune of N978.4 million by supplying 6.5 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) instead of 19.4 litres indicated in the contract.

    The case was however adjourned until Oct. 28, for continuation of trial. (NAN)

  • Business chiefs to fund, mentor startups

    By Victor Odiase

    A group of business chiefs, entrepreneurs and other leading professionals have launched an initiative to support the development of upcoming businesses in Ogun State.

    The Sagamites Club, a group of business executives from various sectors of the economy, will this Sunday kicked off its annual leadership conference and business support initiative during which renowned economic leaders will lead mentoring class for upcoming entrepreneurs and youths in Sagamu area of Ogun State.

    President, Sagamites Club, Mr Seni Adetu, said the group would provide both knowledge and experience and funding to qualified aspiring entrepreneurs as part of its commitment to economic renewal and development.

    He outlined that the mentorship sessions will feature business leaders in the private and public sectors including Prof Toyin Ogundipe, Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos; Mr Tokunbo Talabi, Secretary to the Government of Ogun State, Mr Segun Ogunsanya, Managing Director, Airtel Nigeria Plc and Mr Fatai Folarin, Chief Executive Officer of Deloitte Nigeria & West Africa.

    He added that the group would also announce the award of its business support funds to 10 most qualified would-be-entrepreneurs, who will be selected based on merit and business proposition.

    According to him, the annual event will create a forum for Sagamu youth to experience practical leadership through story telling of personal experiences of highly credible and accomplished business leaders in various fields from across the country.

    Read Also: Ogun seals two buildings, marks 526 for demolition

    The group will also offer business start-up opportunities to deserving youth within by financially and through commercial guidance, supporting quality business propositions.

    “Our commitment to this cause is motivated by our conviction that we have reached a point in our life cycle in Nigeria where the government alone cannot provide all of the economic opportunities required to have self-sustaining citizenry. We can blame the government all day long and sometimes justifiably so, and accuse our youth of being lazy, again depending on your perspective, but our view is that, it’s better to spin our situation positively and change the narrative to what we are doing individually and collectively to make the most of an unpleasant situation. We must create little impact in our own patch leading to a result where the whole is bigger than the sum of the parts,” Adetu said.

    Adetu, a former chief executive of Guinness Nigeria Plc, said while individuals and groups cannot claim to be government or be able to substitute government, they can nonetheless increase their responsibility and contributions to the community through initiatives that empower the youth and help the community to develop.

    Vice President, Sagamites Club, Engr. Funbi Dawodu reiterated the commitment of the club to wealth creation and employment generation.

    Dawodu said that the club was determined to erase the impression of Sagamu as a place with societal vices to an entrepreneurial community.

    He said that the club apart from the leadership empowerment initiative also had a special fund for scholarship.

  • Lagos State, firms to build low-cost innovation hubs

    By Victor Odiase

    Two agencies of Lagos State Government and four firms have announced a partnership towards the construction of five innovation centres across the state. The initiative was designed to ensure capacity building, competitiveness and ecosystem among start-ups and budding entrepreneurs in the state.

    Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK), Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), Versecom Limited, IHS Nigeria, Leadspace by Passion Incubator and Cisco Nigeria would build five innovation centres including: energy and environment hub; financial inclusion centre; smart city and health initiative; agricultural hub; and logistics and mobility innovation centre. The hubs would be located within different public parks around Lagos.

    Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Versecom Limited, Mr. Timilehin Odusina, said the consortium has already constructed an energy and environment hub, a low–cost initiative, located at Rafiu Jafojo Park in Shasha, Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State.

    According to him, the low–cost hub was created to tackle the cost of office and community barrier to business entry faced by most Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and freelancers in the country.

    “This hub offers a seat at N1, 000 per day, 50 per cent to 80 per cent lower than current market rates. The hub is targeted at idea stage – pre-seed startups and freelancers around Lagos,” Odusina said.

    Sales Director, IHS (Nigeria) Limited, Olaitan Ogunbiyi explained that the energy hub would be officially launched on November 1, 2019 describing it as the first-of-its-kind in Nigeria, a feat that made IHS Nigeria the premier sponsor of this initiative.

    Read Also: Behold new Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice

    “The hub will be open to everyone, but the community events, challenges, among others will be tailored only towards Energy and Environment startups. In addition to the 500-seat capacity dome, IHS Nigeria has funded the construction of an energy laboratory with equipment like transformer winder, oscilloscope and others in a bid to remove the barriers inhibiting innovation within the sector,” Ogunbiyi said.

    Head, Startups, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), Tosin Faniro-Dada, commended the firms for embarking on the partnership, assuring that the state government would continue to create enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

    Versecom Limited as the initiator would manage all the partners, while LASPARK as the operator of all public parks in Lagos would regulate the partnership in collaboration with LSETF. Besides, LSETF through its Lagos Innovates programme would handle community engagements through its plethora of tech-focused programmes.

    IHS Nigeria as the sponsor of the construction of the hub would work with Leadspace by Passion Incubator to manage the hub and help entrepreneurs build sustainable businesses, while Cisco Nigeria would support with Wi-Fi equipment for the hub.

     

     

     

  • Youths block Suleja-Minna-Bida highway over deplorable roads

    By Agency Reporter

    Youths under the auspices of National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) on Monday blocked the Suleja-Minna highway to protest the deplorable state of roads in Niger state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the angry youths also blocked the Bida-Minna road as motorists were forced to look for alternative routes into and out of the state.

    The youths, who carried placards with various inscriptions, vowed to continue their protest until their demands are met.

    According to one of the coordinators of the protest, Mohammad Etsu, “we will not stop this protest for good roads until the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola address them.”

    Read Also: Inland waterways can ease pressure on Nigerian roads, says Moghalu

    NAN reports that the Police and other security operatives fired teargas to disperse the youths but they remained adamant.

    NAN reports that heavy traffic has piled up along the College of Education and the IBB Specialist Hospital while articulated vehicles drivers parked indiscriminately.

    A commuter, Alhaji Bashir Mohammad, told NAN that he parked his car at the specialist hospital and took a motorcycle to office close to Government House. (NAN)

  • A’Ibom plans 2 rehab centres for 462 ex-militants

    By Bassey Anthony, Uyo

    The Akwa Ibom state government has concluded plans to establish two rehabilitation centres for 462 repentant militants.

    The Chairman of Ukanafun Local Government Area, Mr. Uko Idiong disclosed this yesterday in Uyo during an interview with journalists.

    According to Idiong, the repentant militants drawn from Ukanafun and Etim Ekpo council areas would be trained in various skills, including shoe making, tailoring, welding and fabrication, carpentry and other petty trades.

    He said they will undergo the vocational trainings at the Government Technical School, Ikot Adaidem in Ibiono Ibom Local Government and Government Technical School, Ikot Akata in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area.

    The council chairman explained that government decided on the move as part of the amnesty it granted to the ex-agitators who had terrorized, killed, kidnapped and destroyed properties in Ukanafun and Etim Ekpo local government areas.

    The two councils were under siege by the militants for about two years (2017-2019, leading to the displacement of over 2,000 local residents, who fled to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Iwukem and other far-flung places in Uyo, Abak and Ikot Ekpene.

    Worried by the incidents, Governor Udom Emmanuel, had granted them amnesty in early 2019, urging the ex-militants who allegedly belonged to different cult groups, to “come out from the bush, drop your arms for your sins to be forgiven”.

    Read Also: Aregbesola to correctional officers: focus on reformation of inmates

    The amnesty deal supervised by the then Commissioner of Police (CP) in the state, Mr. Samuel Ogunjemilusi and other heads of security agencies, according to the Ukanafun Council Chair, has aided the return of peace in the troubled areas with the displaced persons returning to salvage what was left of their properties including farming.

    “We are witnessing the return of peace and everybody displaced by the incidents are back”, he said, but expressed worry that pockets of crime and criminalities were still being perpetrated by the idle ex-militants which he explained, was the major reason for the proposed rehabilitation camps.

    Towards mitigating the incidences of petty crimes by the ex-militants ahead of the major intervention by government, Idiong said “they (the former militants) have been benefiting from handouts by some well-meaning people of the state, disclosing that “recently I also gave them N1million naira to share with each of them got N3,000”.

    He blamed their resort to militancy, kidnappings, armed robbery and other petty crimes by the repentant militants on the decision by the neighbouring Rivers State government to ban motorcyclists which was their primary trade in Port Harcourt.

    “You know these people were in Rivers State and their major pre-occupation was motorcyclists’ business and they had to return to their state after their jobs were taken off them by the ban placed on ‘Okada’

    And to draw government attention to their plights, the Chairman said they took to militancy and killed several people including the sister to the current Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Udo Ekpenyong in his residence in Ukanafun.

  • PTAD warns pensioners against scammers

    By Agency Reporter

    Executive Secretary, Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Dr Chioma Ejikeme has warned pensioners to be wary of scammers who may want to defraud them under the pretence of securing their pension arrears.

    Ejikeme gave the warning on Monday in Ilorin while addressing pensioners during the verification organised for pensioners in the North Central geopolitical zone.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the verification was for pensioners in the Federal Government parastatals under the Defined Benefit Scheme not cover under the contributory pension scheme.

    The executive secretary told the pensioners that PTAD would never ask any pensioner for money before they can get their pension arrears.

    “You must beware of pension fraudsters, you must not be misled by the fraudsters who normally call pensioners to request for processing fees or cash to fast track your complaints for payment of outstanding entitlements.

    “PTAD will never request cash from any pensioner to process their pension, so don’t give money to anybody.

    “PTAD does not take money from anybody, to put you on the pay roll, to pay your arrears or for doing anything. PTAD does not take a kobo from any pensioners.

    “If we are owing you any outstanding, you will get an alert, we will not call you on phone, so you must be careful not to fall prey to these scammers,’’ Ejikeme warned.

    She told the pensioners that the exercise would be the last time pensioners would be assembled in large numbers.

    Ejikeme also assured the pensioners that the exercise would enable them to receive their pensions promptly and regularly.

    She said that pension arrears would be paid as soon as money was made available, adding that the Federal Government was committed to making life easy for pensioners.

    The executive secretary said the exercise would last till Oct. 30, in four centres, Ilorin, Minna, Lokoja and Jos while that of the FCT would hold from Nov. 18 to 27 in two centres.

    Ejikeme said that all pensioners would be captured during the exercise, adding that sick pensioners would be captured on their sick bed.

    Read Also: Pension complaints and solutions

    She said that next-of-kin of deceased pensioners would also be captured once they provide the necessary documents to enable them receive the gratuity of their deceased relatives.

    “We have our mobile verification team for those in the hospital or at home; when I leave this place, I am going with the team to do the mobile verification in hospitals,” she added.

    Ejikeme said about 14, 000 pensioners would take part in the verification in the north central, while about 2, 500 pensioners from Kwara would be captured.

    According to the executive director, there are over 247, 000 pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme out of which over 100, 000 are parastatals pensioners.

    Ejikeme noted that after the verification, there would be a cleanup of the database to make sure that those that were on the database were the real pensioners.

    “The purpose of the verification is to ensure that it is only those that should be on the database are there.

    “The database cleanup will also allow us to know the real number of pensioners, to detect those that have died but their pensions are still being paid,” Ejikeme added.

  • Buhari departs abuja for sochi, participates in Russia-Nigeria Summit

    By Agency Reporter

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday departed Abuja for Sochi, Russia to attend a three-day Russia-Africa Summit holding from Oct. 23 to Oct. 25.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that before leaving the presidential villa for onward journey to Sochi, Buhari carried out some official engagements where he was briefed by some cabinet ministers.

    NAN reports that the presidential aircraft conveying the president and some members of his entourage took off from the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja (NAIA) at about 2.15 p.m.

    The presidential aircraft is expected to arrive Sochi International Airport at about 22.30 p.m. (Local Time) with the temperature out at 22 degrees centigrade.

    An earlier statement by the President’s spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Sunday said the summit would focus on exploring and expanding opportunities in security, trade and investment, science and technology, and gas production.

    Read Also:Nigeria, China to collaborate on production of Nigerian-made transformers by 2020

    During the summit, according to the statement, Buhari will meet with President Vladimir Putin of Russia to further strengthen relations between Nigeria and Russia.

    Shehu said that the two leaders would hold bilateral talks on security, trade and investment, and building partnership that would enhance Nigeria’s huge gas potential following Russia’s remarkable success in gas exportation.

    “The summit, which will be attended by African Heads of State will bring fresh perspectives on some global issues and challenges like nuclear technology, energy development, digital transformation, environment, technical security, mining and steel, education, agriculture, infrastructure and development strategies.

    “An African Business Forum, which will bring together African and Russian business leaders will be held during the event to enhance Russian investments in Africa and promote African business interest in the host country,’’ he said.

    Those on the president’s entourage included governors Muhammad Yahaya of Gombe, Bello Matawalle of Zamfara and Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti state.

    Others also on the trip are ministers of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo, Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite and Minister of State, Petroleum, Timipre Sylva.

    (NAN)