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  • Tech innovators jostle for AFF’s $10,000

    Tech start-up with the best initiative will be awarded a cash prize of $10,000 at the biggest innovation conference in Africa hosted by Africa Fintech Foundry (AFF).

    The AFF event, which is tagged: Disrupt 2019; Digital Gold Rush, will hold on May 16, 2019, at the Landmark Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. Some expected guest speakers are Australian futurist and Moven CEO, Brett King, and Access Bank Plc’s CEO, Herbert Wigwe, who will speak on: The Future of Intelligent Bank, as well as facilitate the launch of Tamada, a conversational and transactional chatbot, which assists with funds transfer, bills payment, book loans, and investments.

    Access Bank Plc Executive Director, Operations and IT, Ade Bajomo, who spoke ahead of the conference, said the forum will feature innovators and experts in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data, Robotics, Blockchain technology, and many other Fintech sectors, all of whom will engage one another, exchange ideas and information.

    Also, start-ups who have growth potential will be identified for acquisition and partnership from prospective investors. The event will also provide a platform for strategic partnerships and collaborations among Access Bank Plc and investors, experts, regulators, innovators and technology companies to create a new era of technological disruption in the banking industry.

    Twenty start-ups attended the Startup Challenge, which held on May 3, where five were shortlisted to pitch at the conference in a bid to win the $10,000. The shortlisted startups are Gricd, SmartTeller, Trep Labs, Kaoshi and Seso.

    According to Bajomo, AFF, through its partner network offers funding of $30,000 in pre-programme investment and post-accelerator programme investment after Demo Day to promising startup cohorts.

    Bajomo said AFF is the bridge  between startups and their capital needs, as well as offer guidance that leads to their growth.

  • Man dupes woman of N320,000

    A 55-year-old man, Waheed Akande, who allegedly obtained N320,000 under false pretence, was yesterday arraigned at Ijede Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State.

    He is facing a two-count charge of fraud and breach of contract.

    Prosecuting Inspector Aminu Isaac alleged that the defendant committed the offence last October 23 at 10:40 am, at Lugbusi town, off Adamo, Ikorodu.

    Read also: Looters won’t go unpunished, says Buhari

    He said the defendant obtained the money from the complainant, Mrs. Victoria Opeoluwa, with a promise to clear one acre of land at Lugbusi town.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty.

    Chief Magistrate Oshodi-Makanju granted the defendant N100,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum and adjourned till February 21.

     

  • Office assistant steals N60,000

    A 26-year-old office assistant, Daniel Olayinka, was yesterday arraigned before an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing his employer’s N60,000.

    Prosecuting Inspector Lucky Ihiehie said the accused committed the offence on January 11 at Demurin Street, Ketu, Lagos.

    Olayinka pleaded not guilty.

    The prosecutor alleged that the accused stole the money from a business centre belonging to the complainant, Mr. Chidi Eze.

    Read also: Sanwo-Olu meets career women for Lagos development

    “The complainant asked the accused to pay the N60, 000 into his bank account, but he converted it to his personal use.

    “Efforts by the complainant to get back his money proved abortive,” Ihiehie said.

    Magistrate E. Kubeinje granted the accused N50, 000 bail, with one surety in the like sum.

    She said the surety should be employed and show evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    The case continues on  March 4.

  • Fed Govt to renegotiate salaries above N30,000

    Workers earning more than N30,000 – the likely new minimum wage – will have their pay renegotiated, the President said yesterday.

    The new pay, it seems, will not be for all cadres of workers.

    It is important to prepare the minds of those to be affected —  that a windfall is not on the way — so as not to be caught unawares, President Muhammadu Buhari said.

    The government will begin talks with the workers after the new minimum wage Bill must have been passed into a law.

    The President spoke at the inauguration of the Technical Advisory Committee on the Implementation of a New National Minimum Wage.

    The development came barely 24 hours after the government and Labour agreed that a New National Minimum Wage Bill will be sent to the National Assembly on or before January 23.

    The unions are demanding N30, 000 for the least paid worker. But governors are willing to pay N22, 500 and the Federal Government is offering N24, 000.

    The President named Bismarck Rewane as head of the panel, which he inaugurated at the Council Chamber, State House, Abuja, before the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) began.

    Mermbers of the committee have been drawn from the public and the private sector.

    It has a month to complete its work and summit its report and recommendations. The members are: Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Chairman Babatunde Fowler, ex-FIRS boss Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru, Dr Ayo Teriba and Prof. Akpan Ekpo.

    Others include: Budget Office Director-General Ben Akabueze, who is the secretary of the committee, representative of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF); National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission Chairman Richard Egbule; Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack; Permanent Secretary, General Service Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Olusegun Adekunle; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Dr. Mahmoud Isa-Dutse; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Olajide Odewale; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, and Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mr. Dayo Apata.

    The other members are: Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, Office of the Vice President, Dr. Adeyemi Dipeolu; Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Economic Policy, Dr. Joseph Nnanna; Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris; Director-General, Debt Management Officer, Ms. Patience Oniaga; Director-General, National Institute of Social and Economic Research, Dr. Folarin Gbadebo-Smith; Statistician-General, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Dr. Yemi Kale; Mrs. Aisha Hamad, Mamman Garba and Tunde Lawal.

    Pointing out that the last time Nigeria’s national minimum wage was reviewed was in 2011, Buhari said that it was evident that a review was necessary, despite the prevailing fiscal challenges.

    He said: “This is why I constituted the Tripartite Committee of government (federal and states), the Organised Private Sector (OPS) and Labour to consider the national minimum wage and make recommendations to the government for its upward review.

    “That committee has since submitted its report with some recommendations. We are currently working on the final steps that will lead to the submission of a National Minimum Wage Amendment Bill to the National Assembly.

    “I want to make it clear that there is no question about whether the National Minimum Wage will be reviewed upwards. I am committed to a review of the Minimum Wage.

    “Also, it is important to explain that even though the subject of a national minimum wage is in the exclusive legislative list, we have been meeting with the state governors because it is imperative that the Federal Government carries the state governments along in determining any upward review of the minimum wage for workers.

    “This is especially necessary considering the prevailing public sector revenue challenges, which have made it extremely difficult for some of the governments to pay workers as and when due.

    “As you know, we, at the federal level, have made adequate provision for the increase in the minimum wage in our Budget 2019 proposals which we submitted to the National Assembly.

    Read also: Minimum Wage: Buhari appoints Rewane to head committee

    “Therefore, we will be able to meet the additional costs that will be incurred in moving up all personnel who are currently earning below the new minimum wage.

    “However, we anticipate that after the new minimum wage has been passed into law, we will be going into negotiations for salary review for all the workers who are already earning above the new minimum wage. It is therefore important that we are properly prepared to meet these demands.

    “We must therefore look at ways of implementing these consequential wage adjustments in a manner that does not have adverse effects on our national development plans, as laid out in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP). The ERGP sets appropriate targets for levels of capital expenditure, public debt, inflation and employment among others.

    “It is absolutely important that the implementation of a new minimum wage does not adversely affect these targets, and thereby erode the envisaged gains for the workers.

    “It is against this background that I have set up a Technical Committee to advise the government on how best to fund, in a sustained manner, the additional costs that will arise from the implementation of the consequential increases in salaries and allowances for workers currently earning above the new minimum wage.”

    Buhari said the committee will be chaired by an economist and financial expert, Rewane, with other experienced economists and administrators from the private sector working with government officials.

    The committee is to advise the government on how to successfully bring about a smooth implementation of impending wage increases and identify new revenue sources, and areas of existing expenditure from where some savings could be made in order to fund the wage increases without adversely impacting the nation’s development goals as set out in the ERGP.

    It is also to “propose a work plan and modalities for the implementation of the salary increases, any other suggestions that will assist in the implementation of this, and future wage increases”.

    “Given the urgency of this exercise, the Committee is expected to complete its deliberations and submit its report and recommendations within one month today.

    “It is now my pleasure to formally inaugurate the Technical Advisory Committee on the Implementation of an Increase in the National Minimum Wage.”

    President Buhari had during the budget proposal presentation promised a new minimum wage which, he said, will help maintain jobs for the teeming unemployed.

  • Panel to propose N30,000, N24,000 minimum wage

    The battle for a new minimum wage remained tough last night, with rhe tripartite committee resolving the knotty issue failing to reach a consensus on the figure.

    Two figures – N30,000 and N24,000 – are to be proposed to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The N22,500 recommended by state governments was thrown out of the bargain.

    But the plan to begin a strike today was shelved. Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) President Ayuba Wabba announced the decision. He said the committee’s report will be given to the President today.

    Before the meeting went into a second session, last night, Chairman of the Tripartite Committee Ms Amal Pepple told reporters that what was left was to persuade the Labour unions to shelve the strike, which they planned to start today.

    Read also: Minimum wage: Workers deserve better wages – AD

    Ms Pepple said the committee would have to submit the N30,000 minimum wage demanded by the unions and the N24,000 proposed by the government to President Buhari for further action.

    She said: “We have concluded and we had a little challenge with what we call chapter five of our record, that is why we resort to negotiation again.

    “The Federal Government suggested N24, 000 and Labour and Organised Private Sector gave the figure of N30,000. There is no stalemate; we have finished and signed it. What we are insisting on is that the strike should be shelved. N24, 000 and N30, 000 were the figures we used for the negotiation. Remember that Labour gave the figure of N52, 500, but when we put that figure together, plus the figures we got from the states when we wrote to them; about 21 of them responded and some of them gave us figures which we put in the basket,” Pepple said.

    Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige said: “We are making progress. The governors’ figure should be the Federal Government’s figure; we are just trying to carry them along that is why we made the discussion tripartite plus, yes the figures are standing, you know that there are other processes. It has to go through the Council of State, through an Executive Bill which will be transmitted to the National Assembly.

    “The Federal Government figure of N24, 000 is noted, because it is based on affordability and the ability to pay.

    “The Labour is satisfied; we are doing the needful. The only aspect of it now that we need to do, is to fix an appointment of handing over the report to Mr. President.”

    ”Yes, we are reconvening tonight (last night) because that appointment had to be gotten. The President has gone home and … as soon as we get the appointment, we will reconvene and know what to do.

    “The state governments have no choice now, because they have attached themselves to us,” he said.

  • Court declines Labour’s request to compel payment of N30,000

    Labour’s plan for a strike suffered a setback in court as its request for an order to compel the government to pay N30,000 minumum wage was turned down.

    Besides, air traffic controllers declined to join the strike.

    Senate President Bukola Saraki and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar cautioned Labour leaders.

    The National Industrial Court of Nigeria in Abuja declined a request to compel both Federal and state governments to immediately adopt N30,000 as the new national minimum wage.

    Justice Sanusi Kado also rejected a request for a fresh order restraining organised labour from proceeding on its planned strike.

    Justice Kado, whose ruling was on an ex-parte motion by a group, Kingdom Human Rights Foundation International (KHRFI), noted that since the court made a similar order on November 2, restraining labour from embarking on a strike, a fresh order was unnecessary.

    The judge also noted that since parties to the dispute over a new minimum wage were still having negotiations, it was unnecessary compelling a party to the talks to agree to an amount.

    Justice Kado on November 2 granted an ex-parte application argued on behalf of the Federal Government and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) by the Solicitor General of the Federation (SGF) for, among others, an order restraining the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and, Trade Union Congress (TUC) from engaging in the planned strike.

    At the commencement of proceedings yesterday, KHRFI lawyer Nnamdi Okere told the court about the motion ex-parte he filed along with originating summons. He prayed the court to grant the prayers contained in the ex-parte motion. He made efforts to distinguish his motion from the one the court granted on November 2.

    But Justice Kado noted that the orders of interim injunction sought by the applicant could only be granted where there was no urgency; there was the need to preserve the subject matter of the dispute and the defendants could not be served.

    The judge noted that since the court, on November 2, granted an order stopping the strike, there was no longer any urgency and, as such, it was not necessary to compel the government to start the process of adopting the N30,000 as the new national minimum wage.

    In view of the judge’s observation, Okere withdrew the first two prayers, leaving the one for substituted service of the court processes on the 36 governors, which the judge granted and directed that the court documents should be deposited at each of the governor’s lodge in Abuja.

    Defendants in the suit are: the President, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the Minister of Labour and Productivity, the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, and the National Assembly.

    Others are: NLC, TUC, United Labour Congress (ULC) and the governors of the 36 states, who are listed as the 10th to the 45th defendants.

    The plaintiff, in a supportive affidavit, noted that “negotiation between the government and the organised labour, according to the NLC, has been concluded and a new minimum wage of N30,0000 agreed by the parties”.

    The plaintiff urged the court to hold that “in view of the economic realities, hardship and pauperised squalor living condition of Nigerian masses, the payment of the paltry sum of N18,000 monthly national minimum wage to the lowest category of workers in Nigeria is adequate to take care of an average worker and his family”.

    It also asked the court to hold that the N18,000 regime was not reasonably justifiable in a democratic society “if juxtaposed with huge, excessive, outrageous and disproportionate salaries, emoluments, allowances, impress and arrears paid to the political office holders, and heads of governments agencies and parastatals.”

    The plaintiff contended that “should the organised labour shut down the entire nation on November 6, 2018, including health sector, it will deny many poor Nigerians access to healthcare, especially those in emergency/accident unit, pregnant women on antenatal and those on post-natal, and will result to avoidable death of many innocent lives”.

    In a statement by his media adviser Paul Ibe, Atiku restated his “support of labour in its struggle for a living wage”, but he urged both the organised labour and the Federal Government “to exercise restraint and avoid creating situations that will plunge the nation into deeper crises.”

    Atiku implored labour “to reconsider its stance on an industrial strike”, saying both sides “should go back to the negotiating table and reach an agreement”.

    He added: “Our economy is already on its knees and escalation of this crisis into full blown industrial action may have dire consequences for our nation.”

    Dr. Saraki said the government and Labour should find a common ground.

    In a statement by his spokesman Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki said: “My appeal is for the two sides to immediately move fast, shift from their extreme positions and create a new middle ground in the negotiations for the new minimum wage.

    “The shift in positions can be done even before the period of the commencement of the proposed strike action so that we do not further create tension within the economy.

    “At this point, the interest of the people should be paramount in our minds. Any labour strike will cause inconvenience and discomfort to our people. While the government and labour are representing the interest of the people, it is important to also ensure we avoid any action that will not show sensitivity and sensibility to the plight of the people.”

  • Ahead of TIFF: Afghanistan- set drama wins $100,000

    AHEAD of its International Premiere at 2018 Toronto Intional Film Festival (TIFF), director Benjamin Gilmour’s Afghanistan-set drama, JIRGA, starring Sam Smith, has taken home the prestigious $100,000 best film prize, the largest in Australia, at CinefestOZ.

    JIRGA is among the films to be showcased in the Discovery section of TIFF.

    Gilmour is quoted as saying, “Winning this prize is such a surprise… the money is extremely helpful for an indie film like this and will really pay off the more people are moved by JIRGA, by the uplifting possibilities of human reconciliation.”

    The writer cum director, Gilmour and Australian actor Sam Smith have created one of the most enthralling films of the year with JIRGA, shot in the starkly beautiful but dangerous landscapes straddling Pakistan and Afghanistan.

    Mike (Smith), an Australian ex-soldier, returns to Afghanistan in search of a civilian family that he knows he wronged three years earlier. His journey from the bustling streets of Kabul to the small village where he hopes to find the family is filled with delays, detours, danger, and, some unexpected respites of beauty and peace. Relentless in his quest for forgiveness, Mike ultimately puts his life in the hands of the village justice system — the Jirga — accepting that the decision of this tribal authority of elders will be binding and irrevocable.

    A simple yet elegantly-told tale with remarkable emotional resonance, JIRGA was as gripping to make as it is to watch: Political censorship resulted in lost funding, which led to Gilmour and Smith deciding to scrape the film together themselves with little money in a highly charged environment, casting real-life former Taliban members and filming in the mountains of Jalalabad.

    While this story of a former soldier returning to the scene of his past battles is deeply felt, another engaging and important aspect of the film is its insight into the rich culture and traditions of Afghan Muslims. Ultimately, JIRGA is a film that rejects simplistic ideas about war, and embraces the human search for forgiveness, redemption, and mercy.

  • Colombia’s gang puts £50,000 price on police sniffer dog after massive drug find

    One of Colombia’s biggest drug gangs is offering the equivalent of £53,000 for anyone who kills a  police  dog after it  sniffed out 10 tonnes (10000 kilogrammes)  of their cocaine earlier this year.

    The German Shepherd –Sombra – has also assisted the police in  arresting  245 suspected drug barons/traffickers in the last  few years.

    Targeting Sombra, which means Shadow in English, are the Urabeños, believed by many to be that country’s  most powerful criminal organisation.

    The leader of the Urabeños, Dairo Antonio Úsuga also known as Otoniel, is one of Colombia’s most wanted men.

    The police have ,consequently, moved the sniffer dog from its duty post in  the Urabeños heartland to the country’s main airport which is  outside the area of the gang’s influence.

    “The fact they want to hurt Sombra and offer such a high reward for her capture or death shows the impact she’s had on their profits,” a police spokesperson said.

    Apart from its usual handler, Sombra is now accompanied by extra officers to increase its protection.

    Colombia is one of the world’s leading producers of cocaine, with an output of around 910 tonnes per year, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

  • I paid €233,000 to Evans for my boss’ release, witness tells court

    Uchenna Okagwu, a witness in the ongoing trial of Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike a.k.a. Evans, told an Ikeja high court yesterday that he paid €233,000 (Euros) in order to secure the release of his boss, Donatus Duru, from his captivity.

    Okagwu who is the second prosecution witness, narrated to the court how the money was paid.

    The Manager of Maydon Pharmaceutical Company, owned by Duru, told Justice Hakeem Oshodi that he sent by courier, the ransom price of €233,000 to a location somewhere in Okota, Lagos.

    He said the money was delivered to those holding his master hostage there. Okagwu was led in evidence by the Director, Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), Titilayo Shitta-Bey.

    He stated: “Following the news of the kidnap of my boss on  February 14, 2017, we waited to hear what his kidnappers would say, so that we may rescue him.”

    He added that being the manager of Idumota branch of his master’s company, he worked to raise money for his ransom.

    He explained that based on the kidnappers’ instruction, he took the sum of €233,000 counted at the residence of the victim’s brother, Anselm, in Anthony village, to the designated point where the culprits picked up the ransom.

    Okagwu said that Anslem who had earlier been communicating with some people on the phone, handed his phone to him and told him that the kidnappers would call him while in transit, and tell him where to deliver the money.

    “Anselm gave me his phone saying that it is with his phone that I will be receiving calls directing me…As I moved out around 8pm that night, I started to receive calls.

    “I just heard the voice saying I should not make any mistake and that I will be shot if I did,” he said.

    “ I was asked if I know the way towards Mile 2 and I said yes. I moved out of the compound towards Mile 2.

    “On the way, I received another call and I asked if I should follow ‘Oshodi Isale or Oshodi Oke and they said I should follow Oshodi Oke. I was driving slowly so I entered the service lane so I won’t cause traffic.

    “I was asked to enter the expressway when I got to Ijesha so they will not collect the money from me.

    “I was asked if I know the eatery at Apo junction and I said yes and was told to park there. I waited for about 15-20 minutes and was directed to move to Apo junction at FESTAC inside. I was asked to put on the inner light of the vehicle and drive slowly.

    “They directed me towards Okota; from there, I was told to enter a street immediately after the canal where okada riders (commercial motorcyclists) usually stay to carry passengers.

    “I was again asked to drive down the street and was asked to describe everything I saw and should tell them when I see a blinking light on an electric pole.

    “I was told to turn back at that point and left from where I entered. Getting there, I was told to turn back again towards where I came from to the end of the street and told to turn back again.

    “At a point, I was asked to park, get down from the vehicle with the ransom money and walk back.

    “As I walked to the back of my vehicle, like three steps away, I was asked to drop the ransom and I did and was told to move immediately after dropping the money.

    “When  I looked around, I only saw a vehicle parked at the beginning of the street with full lights on, the vehicle looked like an SUV.”

    During cross-examination, defence counsel to the first, second, third and fourth defendants, Olukoya Ogungbeje, asked if he saw anybody when he dropped the ransom or gave it to anybody directly,  the witness said he did not see anybody nor gave the ransom to anybody directly.

    Justice Oshodi adjourned the matter to June 22.

  • Offa robbery: Lawyer donates N500,000 to victims

    EX-Governorship candidate of defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) in Kwara, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, and Ibadan lawyer Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) have condoled with the Olofa of Offa, Oba Mohammed Muftau Gbadamosi, on the robbery in the town.

    Fagbemi, who described the attack as a national disaster, donated N500,000 for treatment of the injured.

    According to him, the hoodlums’ aim is to dampen Offa’s resilience, but he said the attack will rather strengthen the ancient town’s resolve to be more united, focused and rise above adversity.

    He promised to assist with plans to provide adequate security to Offa and its environs.

    Fagbemi said: “It is with a heavy heart that I write to commiserate with your Royal Majesty, the Olofa-in-Council, families of the victims and the people of Offa over the unfortunate April 5 robbery.

    “The attack, coming at a time when Offa had enjoyed relative peace and accelerated development due to your purposeful leadership, has cast a dark cloud over Offa and the country. Offa is not just a cosmopolitan town; but home to people of diverse origin and culture.

    “Personally, my history will not be complete without Offa, which provided me with the foundation of a glorious career. As a prince of Ijagbo and an alumnus of Offa Grammar School, my commitment to the development of Offa and its environs cannot be over-emphasised.

    “In the spirit of the ancient tradition of Offa, we, as a people, shall ‘wrestle’ all that seeks to divide us.

    “In view of the above, I shall make available my widow’s mite as a token of love for the treatment of the injured.

    “Kabiyesi, the incident is most regrettable but I don’t want you to see it as a loss only to Offa town, but as a national disaster and a dent on our collective humanity.”

    Abdulrazaq, on his own part, said: “It is with deep sorrow that I commiserate and grieve with the Nigeria Police Force, the Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi (Esuwoye II) and the people on the attack.

    “This attack is not the first, thus I urge the government to emulate other states by providing effective and complementary support to the police to tighten security and protect life and property.

    “I also enjoin the police to work assiduously to bring the perpetrators to justice soon.”