The Nation Newspaper

Tag: 000

  • UBA promotes 2,000

    Pan-African financial institution, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has promoted and elevated about 2000 members of its staff, representing about 17 per cent of the Group’s total workforce as reward for excellence and high performance.

    This is in recognition of the remarkable contribution made to the bank’s business growth, as highlighted by the impressive performance recorded in its 2017 financial year end results.

    About a year ago, UBA promoted 3,000 members of staff, representing 25 per cent of its workforce, while also doling out cash rewards to deserving staff for exemplary conduct and performance.

    This year’s promotion, as with others, has been commended by human resources analysts who have noted that UBA, which was mentioned in a recent survey as one of the “Best 100 Companies To Work For in Nigeria,” has become synonymous with rewarding excellence. The announcement has also been greeted with joy and enthusiasm by the workforce.

    The affected staff that cut across all units, divisions and 19 countries where UBA operates, were selected after the completion of an appraisal system that identified high performers in the bank, among other criteria.

    The Bank’s Group Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, in an email, described the promotion as ‘dividends of hardwork’,  adding that with the recent proclamation of UBA as the African Bank of 2017 by the Banker Magazine; as well as the ranking as Best of Bank of the Year in Cameroun, Congo Brazzaville,  Senegal and Tchad, it is only right to recognise, reward and celebrate the performance of the staff who have worked tirelessly to achieve this.

    Uzoka charged staff to continue to embody the bank’s core values in their endless quest for delivering excellent services to both internal and external customers of the Bank.

    He said: “I congratulate all for their well-deserved elevation.  I also wish to especially thank those colleagues who have not made it on this year’s list.  I implore you to keep up your contribution, as your efforts are recognised.  There are several other ways that we will continue to reward and recognise your contributions and we intend to use all opportunities to demponstrate this.”

  • Osun empowers 350,000 with N15b loan

    Osun empowers 350,000 with N15b loan

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has said his administration gave over N15 billion loans to 350,000 residents, especially women, in the last seven years.

    Aregbesola spoke yesterday in a state-wide broadcast in Osogbo, the state capital, on his seventh anniversary in office.

    The governor said his administration had also engaged over 40,000 youths in public works through the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES).

    He said: “Most of them eventually got soft-landing in teaching, agriculture, information and communication technology (ICT), among others.

    “For this reason, crimes have drastically reduced in the state.”

    On education, Aregbesola said his administration had built 20 elementary schools, 22 middle schools and 11 high schools.

    He said: “In addition, we rehabilitated existing schools and created a decent environment for learning.

    “We have, for more than five years, been feeding 262,000 elementary school pupils with nutritious meals. We also gave free uniforms to all pupils in public schools.”

    On agriculture, Aregbesola said his administration had provided assistance to farmers, sent peasant farmers on training abroad and laid the foundation for agriculture to boom.

    He recalled that in the last seven years, his administration had built over 1,500 kilometres of roads across the state.

    The governor said his administration also provided security and succour to the elderly through health care as well as put them on a monthly stipend.

    Aregbesola said: “We took care of the destitute and the mentally challenged by giving them medical care, rehabilitated them and resettled or reunited them with their families.

    “We have come and seen the challenges and conquered poverty, ignorance, disease and fear of the known and unknown these seven years.

    “In the remaining one year, I will be committed to the service of the people: to accelerate the pace of development and increase our efforts at ushering in prosperity in the state.”

    Aregbesola also said his administration will give the state a worthy successor who will continue with the good job his government started in the ‘State of the Virtuous’.

    The governor, who hailed the people for their support, assured them that they would not be left helpless and vulnerable to political wolves on the prowl.

    He noted that for his administration to be leaving behind a good and enviable legacy in education, physical infrastructure and all aspects of human development, it behoves on such administration to give the people a worthy successor.

    Aregbesola said: “In the remaining one year, I will be committed the more to serving you, to accelerate the pace of development and increase our efforts at ushering in prosperity to the government and people.?

    “We will leave a good and enviable legacy in education, physical infrastructure and all aspects of human development.

    “We will also do our best to bequeath a worthy legacy successor who will continue the works we have started in the best tradition of progressive leadership. We will not leave you exposed, helpless and vulnerable before the wolves.”

    Also, Afenifere chieftain, Senator Ayo Fasanmi, has applauded Aregbesola for implementing programmes that have transformed the state and impacted positively on the lives of the people.

    In a statement yesterday to commemorate the seventh anniversary of Aregbesola’s administration, Fasanmi said: “Your seven years in office is a living testimony for the forthcoming generation to see and appreciate. Your passion for the common man is fantastic.”

    According to him, tough times do not last but tough people, like Aregbesola, do.

    Fasanmi also congratulated deputy governor, Mrs Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, for her loyalty to the governor.

     

  • Three held for attempt to buy baby for N15,000

    Kano State Police Command yesterday arrested a middle-aged woman and two others, who allegedly attempted to buy a child for N15,000.

    The three suspects were nabbed for alleged child trafficking.

    Parading the suspects at Metro Police Command, spokesman Magaji Musa Majiya said: ”A woman living in Sabon Gari, Church Road, reported to the Anti-kidnapping Unit that a woman approached her, requesting to buy her child for N15,000.

    “Based on the report, we drafted detectives to accompany the women. The police officers hid at a corner to monitor the illegal transaction. When the deal was being struck, a woman, who claimed to be a worker with a clinic, who was the intermediary, handed over N13,000, to the mother, promising to pay the balance of N2,000 later.

    “The child’s mother, Fatima, alerted the police officers, who were nearby and the suspect was arrested.

    “The woman confessed that people came from Abuja, seeking to buy a three-month-old baby.”

    The suspect’s husband, Mr. Bob-manuel Mpaka, said: ”We’ve been married for years without a child. We decided to adopt a child through legal means.

    “We are not kidnappers; we came to Kano after receiving information that we can adopt a child here. We came with our marriage certificate and other documents.

    “We were unaware that the woman, who facilitated the transaction, had a hidden agenda.”

    Majiya reiterated the command’s readiness to combat crimes.

    He urged parents and guardians to monitor their children and wards.

  • Father sells two-year-old son for N150, 000

    Father sells two-year-old son for N150, 000

    Cross River State Police Command has arrested a man, Abraham Moses Udoh, for allegedly selling his two-year-old son, Elisha, for N150,000 in Calabar.

    Police Commissioner Mr. Hafiz Inuwa, briefing reporters in Calabar yesterday, said Udoh’s wife reported the matter, after realising her husband had sold their son.

    Inuwa said: “On July 24, a case of child trafficking was reported at Uwanse Divisional Police Headquarters, Calabar by Mrs. Esther Abraham of 2, Amika Utuk Street, Calabar, against her husband, Mr. Abraham Moses Udoh, of the same address, whom she said sold their two-year-old son, Elisha Abraham, without her consent to a woman living in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, for N150,000.

    “The sum of N100,300 was recovered from him and registered as exhibit. Investigation is on to arrest the suspected buyer and recover the child before they can be arraigned.”

    Udoh admitted to our reporter that he sold his son. He said he did so because he did not have money.

    Inuwa said the police have arrested four suspected attackers of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s son-in-law, Prince Godswill Edward, in Calabar.

    He said the suspects, Aniah Godwin Ungwugwaje, 18; Akwagiobo Boniface, 22; Adamade John Ereshie, 23 and Ekuma Ifeanyichukwu, 26, were nabbed at locations in Obudu town, Obudu Local Government of Cross River State, on July 26.

    “They have made statements, which will help us in our investigation.”

    Gunmen attacked Edward on July 7 at 17B, Kasuk Street, 3rd Avenue, State Housing Estate, Calabar while driving into his house. He was shot in the head and taken to hospital.

     

  • EFCC arraigns Justice Nganjiwa for $260,000, N8.65m unlawful enrichment

    EFCC arraigns Justice Nganjiwa for $260,000, N8.65m unlawful enrichment

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned Justice Hyeladzira Ajiya Nganjiwa of the Federal High Court, Bayelsa Division for alleged unlawful enrichment to the tune of $260,000 and N8.65 million (about N81,705,000).

    Nganjiwa was arraigned before Justice Adedayo Akintoye of a Lagos High Court in Igbosere on a 14-count charge of unlawful enrichment and making a false statement to EFCC officials.

    He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail on self recognizance.

    Justice Akintoye permitted the arraignment after dismissing Nganjiwa’s preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction.

    Nganjiwa is one of the six judges who were reinstated on June 3, 2017 by the National Judicial Council, (NJC), following the failure of the government to file charges against them.

    The EFCC brought the charge against him on June 13, 2017, less than 48 hours after The Presidency vowed to prosecute judges that were reinstated by the NJC but with cases to answer.

    But Nganjiwa, who was absent in court on June 13, tried to stall his arraignment on the ground, among others, that the court did not have the jurisdiction to hear and determine the case.

    His lawyer, Chief Robert Clarke (SAN), contended that by virtue of Section 158 of the 1999 Constitution, only the NJC had the power to deal with the allegations of misconduct brought against the serving judge by the EFCC.

    But prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, citing Sections 308 and 35 (1) (c) of the Constitution, said the defendant, despite being a serving judge, does not fall within the category of persons immune from prosecution.

    He said the NJC has only administrative disciplinary powers to sanction the defendant for any misconduct.

    In her ruling yesterday, Justice Akintoye, relying on Section 6(6) of the 1999 Constitution, agreed with the prosecution.

    She said: “It is trite that the court can entertain and determine the right of any citizen. It is therefore not correct that the High Court of Lagos State does not have jurisdiction to entertain this matter.

    “The defendant here is a judicial officer of the Federal Government sitting in the Federal High Court, Bayelsa Division. The EFCC is an agency of government. Is there any law that excludes judicial officers from being charged? I affirm that the NJC has power to discipline any judicial officer, but judicial officers are not covered from being preferred with criminal liability.”

    The judge noted that “the defendant does not have immunity under Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution.

    “The court has been properly constituted and has the power to try the case. The notice of preliminary objection, I hold, is therefore, misconceived and same is hereby dismissed.”

    Justice Nganjiwa was then docked and the charge was read to him.

    He pleaded not guilty to all 14 counts.

    According to the charge marked LD4769C/17, the defendant allegedly unlawfully received the N81,705,000 in naira and United States dollars.

    The agency said the $260,000 was paid into the judge’s personal account with Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) in four tranches including $144,000 and $102,000, between January 18 and December 16, 2013 and January 6 to November 17, 2014.

    The last two payments of $10,000 and $4,000 were allegedly made on March 27, and April 30, 2015.

    The judge also allegedly received through his Access Bank corporate account in the name of Awa-Ajia Nigeria Ltd, the sums of N750,000, N300,000, N5,000,000, N5000,000, N500,000, N500,000, N500,000, N100,000 and N500,000 (totalling N8,650,000).

    The inflows were allegedly received between April 2013, and February 2016.

    The EFCC said the  judge got the money, “so as to have a significant increase in your assets that you cannot reasonably explain the increase in relation to your lawful income.”

    The agency also accused the judge of making a false statement to two of its officers on October 17, 2016 that the Awa-Ajia Nigeria Ltd account “was not operational by the time I was appointed.”

    Following the arraignment, Clarke urged Justice Akintoye to admit his client to bail on self-recognizance being a serving judge.

    This was opposed by Oyedepo who urged the court to impose “serious conditions” that would compel Nganjiwa’s appearance in court for his trial.

    However, in a short ruling, the judge exercised her discretion in the defendant’s favour and granted Justice Nganjiwa bail on self-recognisance in view of his status as a serving judge.

    She directed him to deposit his passport in the custody of the Chief Registrar of the Lagos State High Court within seven days or that the EFCC should deposit same if the passport was still in its custody.

    “Applicant is expected to present himself for trial for the entire duration of trial,” Justice Akintoye added.

    The case was adjourned till October 6 for trial.

     

     

  • Police rescue baby sold for N650,000 in Imo

    The Imo State Police Command has arrested members of a suspected child trafficking syndicate that steals and sells underage children.

    A 10-month-old boy, Tochukwu Okechukwu Peter, who was allegedly stolen and sold for N650,000, was rescued and handed over to its parents, Mr and Mrs Okechukwu Peter.

    The command paraded five women four days ago for allegedly stealing a baby at a burial ceremony in the state and selling it for N600,000 to a buyer in Nnewi, Anambra State.

    The three suspects are: Ogechi Chukwuocha, 42; Calista Igwe, 38 and Chimezie, 32.

    Police spokesman Andrew Enwerem, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the child was stolen from his mother, Udoka Peter, on June 15, at Ogbaku in the Mbaitoli Local Government Area.

    Enwerem said the prime suspect, Favour Nwekem, absconded with the baby after the mother left it in her custody to attend to some domestic chores.

    He said: “The mother of the baby handed over the child to the prime suspect to attend to some important chores. Before she returned, Favour had absconded with the baby to where she sold it for N650,000.

    “Members of the syndicate have been arrested except the prime suspect who is still at large.

    “On June 15, Udoka Peter reported the stealing of her 10-month-old son by Favour Nwekem. Operatives of the Department of Criminal Investigations and Intelligence (DCII) raided their hideout at Orlu and recovered the stolen child.

    “Investigation revealed that Ogechi Chukwuocha bought the child for N650,000 from Calista Igwe, while Chimezie Okafor was the link. Unfortunately, the prime suspect ran away. But we are trailing him and we will soon nab him.”

    Forty-two-year-old widow Madam Chukwuocha said she had been looking for a male child for a long time to retain the inheritance of her late husband’s property.

    According to her, she had two female children for her husband before he died.

    The widow denied knowledge that the child was stolen.

    She said: “The woman who brought the child to me told me that the mother willingly asked her to give the child to anyone who could take care of the child as she needed money. So, I gave her the money and took the child.”

  • Couple held for ‘selling’ daughter for N400,000

    The Cross River Police Command yesterday said it had arrested a couple for allegedly selling their six-year-old daughter for N400,000.

    Parading the couple before reporters in Calabar, the state capital, Police Commissioner Hafiz Inuwa said the suspects were arrested in Ikom Local Government Area on April 26, following a tip-off.

    Inuwa said the couple sold the child to enable them pay their house rent and open up a small provision shop.

    He said: “On April 26, following a tip-off, our men arrested a couple, George-Sunday Udoh and his wife, Victoria, for allegedly selling their daughter for N400,000.

    “The suspects were arrested by our operatives attached to the Ikom Division.

    “The case has been transferred to State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) here in Calabar and investigation is ongoing.”

    The father of the child denied selling the child in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    He said: “It is true that we don’t have money and things are very hard with me and my wife, but we did not sell our baby for N400,000.”

    NAN reports that the police commissioner also paraded 28 suspected robbers, cultists and others for various offences.

    The commissioner said on May 2, officers attached to the Akamkpa Local Police Division arrested five suspected robbers, who allegedly broke into a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members’ lodge at Government Secondary School at Akamkpa.

    He said the suspects stole a laptop, handset and N3,800, adding that the police has begun investigation into the matter.

    Inuwa said: “On May 3, we also arrested a security guard at Ekorinim area of Calabar Municipality for defiling the 11-year-old daughter of his boss.

    “The case was reported by the mother of the girl.”

    The suspect told NAN he had a mutual agreement with the girl before he had sex with her.

    He said: “I did not defile nor rape her; We both agreed to have sex. I was arrested four days after the incident.”

  • 3,000 benefit from food donation

    No fewer than 3,000 indigent residents of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, have received food items from the Jubilee Christian Church International (JCCI). The gesture was aimed at cushioning the effects of the economic recession in the country.

    JCCI, which has its headquarters in Abeokuta, also gave out cash to widows and other economically vulnerable residents.

    The items distributed to the beneficiaries included rice, beans, beverages and cash as part of activities to mark its 25th anniversary.

    The General-Overseer, Rev. Kunle Adesina, said the gesture was the church’s modest efforts towards helping the less-privileged people in the society.

    Adesina appealed to government at all levels to address the pervasive hunger in the country, which he said could trigger a revolution if not addressed.

    He said: “A lot of Nigerians are suffering,” warning that they might revolt if government fails to tackle their problems with relevant policies.

    The cleric explained that the church resolved to give out food items to the people in order to cushion the effect of hunger in the land.

    “My advice to the government is that whatever policy they are evolving; they should take the poor people who are in the majority into consideration. Any policy that would not cater for them is not a good policy.

    “The poor people are in the majority in this country and they are really suffering. I don’t pray that we get to a point where the poor people would not be able to take it again, and that is when you see people revolting and go into revolution.

    “So, I advise the government to do something urgent because a lot of people are suffering,” Adesina said.

    He recalled that the JCCI started 25 years ago “on zero level” but had spread the Gospel to 10 nations, adding that he had a mission to take the church to more countries of the world.

    Adesina noted that he was not yet satisfied with the rate at which evangelism spreads in Nigeria, saying “there are more to be done by Christians.”

  • Beninese chef steals master’s $59,000, N3.4m

    The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Oyo State Police Command has arrested a Beninese chef, Mathew Kudjo, 25, for allegedly stealing $59,000 and N3.4 million belonging to his boss in Ibadan, the state capital.

    Police Commissioner Abiodun Odude spoke yesterday in Ibadan, the state capital, while parading Kudjo and other suspects.

    The police chief said Kudjo was arrested in his hideout in Ibadan after breaking into his employer’s apartment at Ikolaba in Ibadan to steal the money.

    He said: “The suspect, on December 12, 2016, betrayed the trust of his master. After successfully carrying out the criminal act, the suspect perfected sinister plan to abscond abroad with the loot, but through intensive investigation coupled with high level intelligence carried out by the Special Squad, the suspect was arrested before he could escape to the United States of America (U.S.A), having procured an international passport, a U.S.A visa and other travel documents with which to travel out of the country.

    “Upon interrogating the suspect, who was remorseful, confessed to the crime. He disclosed that he had built an edifice in his home country, Benin Republic, with part of the ill-gotten money. Part of the stolen money and other exhibits were, however, recovered from him.”

    Exhibits recovered from the suspect included N1.5 million, one international passport and other travel documents.

    Kudjo said he was able to steal the money when his boss went to play golf in the club.

    He said part of the stolen money has been used to build a house in Benin Republic and he has started planning to relocate to US before he was caught by the police.

    Eight exotic cars were allegedly recovered from a gang of robbers who allegedly snatched exotic cars from their owners at gun point in Ibadan.

    Suspects arrested are: Afolabi Shodipe (32) criminal receiver, Dokun Adewusi (42), Adebayo Abolade (34), Olaseni Bakare (40).

    Also, Exhibits recovered from them are: One Toyo Corrola, one Toyota 4 Runner jeep, Mercedes Benz bus, one Toyota Camry saloon, one Honda Accord saloon, Mercedes Benz C-240, and one Toyota Corolla.

  • EFCC finds $43m, N23m, £27,000 cash in Lagos home

    EFCC finds $43m, N23m, £27,000 cash in Lagos home

    ACTING on a tip-off, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday found $43.4 million (about N13.237 billion), N23 million and £27,000 cash at House 16, Osborne Road in Ikoyi, Lagos Island.

    The anti-graft agency suspected that the cash might have been proceeds of crime kept at the residence to prevent any bank alert.

    But the identity of the owner of the cash was kept under wraps pending the conclusion of investigations.

    It was, however, suspected that the cash might have been laundered by politically-exposed persons and former political office holders through fronts.

    A reliable source, who spoke in confidence, said: “We acted on intelligence report that huge cash in an apartment in Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos.

    “A whistle blower who had insider knowledge of how the funds were kept in some locked up rooms in the house alerted the EFCC.

    “As at the last count, we have recovered about $43.4 million (N13.237 billion at N305 per dollar) N23 million and £27,000. The figures could be higher than what we have counted.

    “But we engaged the Central Bank of Nigeria to mobilise counting machines to assist in determining the total haul. Certainly, we are acting on some clues on how the money came about. We have a lot of intelligence we are analysing.”

    A source within the EFCC said: “This is a major breakthrough for this commission. We will not relent in recovering slush funds.

    “The whistle blowing policy has added value to the anti- graft war. Some of those who looted public funds have been avoiding banks. They kept the cash at home and we are on their trail. Imagine what over N11 billion can do in the life of this nation, while the amount traced to private accounts sums up to N4 billion.

    About N16 billion has been uncovered by the EFCC in the last few days in Lagos, including the N12,360,814,000 recovered and about N4 billion traced to private accounts.

    The Federal Government had on December 22 last year, launched a whistle blowing policy to expose fraud and other related crimes in the public and the private sectors.

    The EFCC is on the trail of a woman who is said to have been bringing in the money in “Ghana-must-go” sacks.