The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Abuja

  • Four men in court over theft

    Four men were on Tuesday arraigned in a Karmo Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, for allegedly stealing items worth N1,040, 000.

    The men- Hassan Ayuba, 37, Adamu Jibril, 40, Zaharadeen Abdullahi, 29 and Mustapha Garba, 26, are standing trial on a two-count charge, bordering on alleged joint act and theft.
    The defendants, all residents of Jahi Abuja, denied committing the offences.
    Earlier, the prosecutor, Zannah Dalhatu, told the court that one Emeka Chukwu of same address with the defendants reported the matter at the Gwarimpa Police Station Abuja on March 30.

    Dalhatu said that the complainant alleged that some times in January 2017, he employed Ayuba as a security man on his site.

    He later conspired with the other defendants to steal the following items: 3 circular glass table, 2 metal protector, 1 stabiliser, 3 shovels, digger, head pan and electrical cable.

    Dalhatu who put the valued at N1,040, 000, said that during police investigation, one circular glass table was recovered from them.
    He also said that the offences contravene Sections 79 and 287 of the Penal Code.

    The judge, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq, granted them bail in the sum of N100, 000 each, and one surety each in like sum and adjourned the case till May 9. for further hearing.

     

  • Abuja Garki International Market shut

    The Garki International Market has been closed by its management following a breakdown of law and order caused by tailors. The fracas started after staff of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) disconnected electricity supply from their blocks.

    According to a statement jointly signed by the Senior Facility Manager, Urban Shelter Facility Management Co. Ltd, Abdullahi Idris and the General Manage, Hamisu Jumare, It took the support of additional: “Police personnel, DSS and Military to bring the chaos under control; after which the market was evacuated and shut down pending full investigation, resolutions and measures taken to avert future reoccurrence.”

    It reads in part: “The general public and all operators of Garki International Market are hereby informed that the market has been shut down following the breakdown of law and order on March 25, 2017 as perpetuated predominantly by tailors who preceded the disconnection of electricity from their blocks by staff of AEDC Garki Business Unit on March 24, 2017.

    “The market management upon getting the report of the disconnection approached the AEDC Garki Business Unit who refused to heed the advice of the management to connect the power and follow later however agreed to come and meet with the management on Monday 27, 2017 on the matter and ways to collect their money from the shop operators who are owing.

    “Means to get them to be patient failed after the officials of the market management and Police personnel from Garki Division intervened for several hours but the tailors decided to take matters into their own hands by insisting to shut off power in the entire market; and were met by their fellow operators in the market asking them not to do such. This continued in spite of all interventions by the Market Management, the Police and members of the Market Association.

    “The situation degenerated into violence resulting in fighting, vandalism of transformers, throwing of missiles and injury to security personnel and innocent bystanders.

    “As part of the investigations, the facts as to why operators who were observing prayers were attached with missiles are also being investigated as it could have resulted into a deadly fracas.

    “In view of the occurrence, the market will remain closed.”

  • Lack of funds may scuttle APC mid term convention

    Lack of funds may scuttle APC mid term convention

    There are uncertainties whether the mid-term national convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) scheduled for April 29, 2017, will still go ahead as scheduled as the party is yet to put machinery in place for the hosting of the convention barely 26 days away from the scheduled date.

    After its consultative meeting with governors of these party in early March,  the party had announced that the mid-term non-elective convention will take place on April 29 to review the activities of the party and the government.

    The party had also assured that it will set up a convention planning committee before the end of March, but there are no indication that the Party was planning the convention as the planning committee was yet to be in place.

    But the National Publicity Secretary of the party,  Malls Bolaji Abdullahi said plans for the convention was still in progress as the party has not taken any decisions. To either cancel or postpone the convention.

    The Nation gathered on Monday that the constitution review committee set up by the National Working Committee to recommend amendments to the party constitution has abandoned the work apparently due to lack of resources to finance its activities.

    The committee which has representatives of the governor and national Assembly was yet to begin its work on the document that is supposed to be ratified at the convention.

    The party, after been criticised for not holding a national convention as stipulated in its constitution, declared in a statement that it will hold a national convention not later than April this year.

    Sources close to the party told The Nation that one of the governors of the party had told the leadership of the party during their meeting in March that the NWC cannot fix a convention for the National Executive Committee.

    The party, through the National Publicity Secretary, had announced that it will hold the convention to review activities of the part and fill positions in the leadership that were vacated by former national officers, saying “the vacancies to be filled occurred principally from political appointments, deaths and resignations.

    The Congress to fill the vacancies would be followed closely by another Congress to nominate delegates into the mid-term non-elective Convention of the Party.

    “The Congresses will be followed by the National Caucus meeting, and finalised with the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the Party, which will consider and set the dates for the National Convention, which is expected to hold not later than April of 2017.”

    According to Article 25 (A)(i) of the APC constitution which state that the National Convention of the Party shall be held once in Two (2) years at a date, venue and time to be recommended by the National Working Committee and approved by the National Executive Committee subject to the giving of the statutory notices to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and at least fourteen (14) days notice given to members eligible to attend.

    It also says that the constitution provides that the National Executive Committee may summon an emergency National Convention at any time provided at least seven (7) days notice of the meeting shall be given to all members eligible to attend.

    It was gathered that the some APC governors and the Presidency has decided not to fund the party, asking the leadership to source its own funds, while dues from political appointees have not been forthcoming.

    Recently, Kano state governor was quoted as saying that the governors will not take state resources to fund the party, saying what the party was going through in terms of financing was part of the change going on in the country.

    The governor was quoted as “It is still part of the change mantra. People were used to getting cheap money, some people struggle to be part of the APC officials in order to make money but the Buhari here is not like that, so if the party has programmes on the ground; the government have no problem to see how the party can be funded but let me tell you the issue of taking government money to fund the party does not arise now.”

    When contacted on phone, the National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi told newsmen that the National Working Committee has not taken any decision to cancel or suspend the convention, pointing out that plans were still ongoing to host the convention.

  • Buhari felicitates with first female SAN at 85

    Buhari felicitates with first female SAN at 85

    The landmark age of Chief Folake Solanke should be celebrated by all members of the Bar and the Bench, her friends and family, President Muhammadu Buhari has said.

    This is contained in a statement by the Special Adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, in which the President celebrated the landmark age of the octogenarian.

    The President noted that she has won many awards and recognitions, including the Commander Order of the Niger (CON), for her courage in pursuing the truth and advocating a better life for the less privileged.

    He extolled the legal luminary for the patriotism, she has demonstrated over the years in speaking against poor governance, and always making herself available in times of need, like working variously as Commissioner in Western Nigeria and Chairperson of the first television network in Africa, Western Nigeria Television Broadcasting Corporation.

    As a leading light in her profession, President Buhari believed Chief Solanke’s achievement has been an inspiration to many Nigerians, especially young women, who earnestly yearn to pursue rewarding careers.

    President Buhari prayed that God will grant Chief Solanke good health and long life to serve her country.

  • Businessman docked for alleged issuance of dud cheques

    A businessman, Sunday Ukabia, was on Monday arraigned in a Gudu Upper Area Court, Abuja, for allegedly issuing four Diamond Bank dud cheques to the tune of N5 million to one Mr Henry Ebuka.

    Ukabia, of Banex Plaza Wuse II, is facing a count charge of cheating.

    The prosecutor, Mr Fidelis Ogbobe, had told the court that one Mr Henry Ebuka, of Suite 25, Emas Plaza, Wuse II reported the matter at the FCT Police Command on March 21.

    He said during police investigation, it was discovered that the defendant issued the complainant with four Diamond Bank cheques amounting to N5 million.

    The cheques were dated Dec.14, 2015, Nov. 10, 2013 and Feb.11, 2014 respectively.

    Ogbobe said when the cheques were presented in the bank, they were all dishonoured for lack of funds in the account.

    He also said that during police investigations, the defendant admitted issuing the cheques.

    He said the offence was contrary to Section 322 of Penal Code.

    The accused however pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    The judge, Mr Umar Kagarko, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N5.5 million, with one surety in like sum.
    He adjourned hearing till May 24.

  • Malabu oil scam: FG seeks arrest warrant against Adoke

    The Federal Government on Monday approached the Federal High Court, Abuja, to seek guidance on whether it could make an oral application for issuance of warrant of arrest against former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Mohammed Adoke.

    The warrant was in relation to charges filed against two multinational oil firms, and others including Adoke in connection to an alleged $1.1billion Malabu Oil scam

    When the matter was called, counsel to the Federal Government, Mr Johnson Ojogbane, told the court that the defendants were not in court because they were not yet served with court processes.

    Ojogbane who is prosecuting for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said that he had been unable to serve them particularly Adoke because he was not in the country.

    “We have been unable to serve the defendants in this case particularly the first defendant, because we have been told that he is outside the jurisdiction of this court; outside the country actually.

    “So I will appreciate if my lord will guide me, because I actually wanted to make an application for a warrant of arrest, so I want to know if I can do that orally or come by way of a motion,” Ojogbane said.

    He maintained that the EFCC had powers to arrest anyone anywhere, but since Adoke was outside the jurisdiction of the court, they required a warrant of arrest to bring him into the country.

    He said that if the court gave the order for a warrant of arrest, it could be endorsed to the International Police (Interpol) who would begin the process of extradition.

    The judge, Justice John Tsoho, however, said that such an application could not be brought orally before the court.

    According to Tsoho, if he is already before the court and is attempting to escape trial, then the court could issue a warrant for his arrest.

    “If he was already arraigned before the court and was trying to run away, then we can issue a warrant, but it is still under investigation, the court cannot make such an order.

    Tsoho adjourned the matter till June 13 for arraignment.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the EFCC in December 2016, charged nine suspects, including Adoke, over the purchase of OPL 245.

    Adoke was accused of illegally transferring more than $800 million, purportedly meant for the purchase of the OPL 245 to Dan Etete, Malabu Oil.

    The Federal Government also on March 2 filed fresh charges against Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company Limited and Agip Nigeria Exploration Limited for alleged complicity in the Malabu $1.1 billion scandal.

    Adoke, Etete, Aliyu Abubakar, ENI Spa, Ralph Wetzels, Casula Roberto, Pujatti Stefeno, Burrafati Sebestiano, and Malabu Oil and Gas were charged alongside the two multinational oil firms.

  • Why FG ignored other options for Abuja airport closure

    Why FG ignored other options for Abuja airport closure

    The Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, in this interview with Abuja Bureau Chief, Yomi Odunuga and Augustine Ehikioya, talks about the closure of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, national carrier and many other issues. Excerpts:

    Let’s start by asking you about the reconstruction of the Abuja runaway. Are positive that the deadline will be met?

    Of course, the deadline of six weeks closure will be met. I am very sure now that we have done a week; everything is going to the plan. The contractor has mobilized since and everything is looking good. As a matter of fact, I just ordered that we should put countdown clock at the entrance  of the Airport, so each time the contractor is going in there, he is conscious of the countdown and the time. I will also put one for him in his office so as he sits in his office, he sees the countdown. Beyond that, that is just a way of spicing it up, just to create some fun. But the truth is that we have three layers, three sets of consultants. We have the main consultant that we engage for the project, which are private sector consultant. We have got the in-house consultant and the ministry of information in my office had also established some team which created another consultant and these are noble people, well trained, well skilled in project management and they are the consultants for the project. I receive a daily brief from them.

     

    Aviation sector, even before you came in, really put people in doubt as to whether Nigeria really has the capacity to run a thoroughly professional aviation sector. Since you came in, we have witnessed some ups and downs; in what ways do you think your ministry can intervene to make the sector more competitive and professional?

    I don’t believe Nigerians don’t have the capacity to run the aviation sector professionally. A lot of Nigerians are well trained aviators, they have seen it all, made names outside the country and have also helped run the industry within the country for a very long time. Of course, it is not perfect just like any other industry. What the ministry is doing to ensure that the industry is run more professionally and also in such a manner that is done very well by engaging the private sector is that we set out our goals. We came in as a government whereby we want to see aviation industry that is forward looking, it is professional, it is led by the private sector, it is in such a way that it is able to connect people and businesses, countries and towns, continents and nations and of course, provides the link to tourism and so on. That is our vision and all of these cannot happen except we do what we think is necessary to put it straight. So, we thought of our airports which are the gateways, we thought of concession to ensure that they are well built. I thought that this is very clear from the onset and we have not gotten there yet but I think we are getting there. We also thought of establishing a national carrier. This national carrier is private sector driven. I don’t even like the name national carrier, may be Nigeria carrier because it is going to be 100 percent private sector. If government will take any stake if necessary, it may not be more than three or five percent. But we will ensure that it is private sector led and driven and that national carrier would connect with other carriers and make alliances and do what is necessary to reach out to other airlines around the world.

     

    Let us look at the human elements that has made the aviation to be what it is in Nigeria today; a situation where airlines that are initially believed to be functioning well suddenly collapse due to probably lack of aircraft or sometimes, they said the government is not helping by giving them soft loans to buy airplanes and all that, what exactly is your ministry doing about that? Secondly, let us also look at the issue of flight delays, people have said it is because there are no concrete sanctioning measures.

    Delays and cancellations are not new to aviation and they are not also unique to Nigeria. What is bad is though is if those delays are things that can be avoided. For example, anywhere in the world, you can have delays due to weather, even in the US, Russia, UK, etc. You can also have cancellations for one reason or the other. And we put mechanism in place from my ministry or Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, they have not made it public on how you are going to seek redress or how a passenger can insist on his rights, may be because we have consumer protection unit in the NCAA which is alive and have treated so many issues. So, we have things in place. It is just that may be information as regarding to delay and so on is that once it is something that is an act of God and not within our powers, there is nothing we can do but if they are things we are caught doing with negligence, for sure we have mechanism of dealing with them. Recently, we fined about three airlines and they paid because those things are there.

     

    Going back to the national carrier, how soon should Nigerians be expecting this?

    Very soon; it is a process, it is not something that once you say now and it happens the next day. By the way there is Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), there is also Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP), there is also Bureau for Public Enterprise (BPE). All of these government agencies were established in a situation whereby once you are venturing into something like this, they will have a role to play. You have to appoint transaction adviser, you have to go to BPP to get clearance, ICRC to get clearance, you have to take it to Council for approval by the presidential council, then the bid, then you get to the process of getting cleared.

    So going through the advertisement, going through the short listing, going through the ICRC, going through the BPE, we are now on our way to the council and once council approved, they come back to us for the transaction adviser to do their outline business case which will now be taken to the government to approve and it becomes full business case and then from the business case we go to the market. So, it is a long process that is why since I came we have been talking about concessioning national carrier and nothing happened. People think we are just sitting down doing nothing. We are going through the process so that we would do it according to the law but it takes time. I am thinking at the end of this year, we should be able to have both airport concession and the national carrier.

     

    When you came up with the idea of closing Abuja Airport for six weeks, did you ever imagined the kind of protest and disagreements from different quarters?

    Yes. People sit there and criticize and they think that you can just wake up from your bed and decide to close Abuja airport, no. Firstly, we saw what was wrong with the airport and the runaway as well, we went there and we thought of all the possible ways we could do it without total shutting down. Some of the options were to work in the night from 12 midnight to 6am, may be an hour before the flights would have been an ideal thing but the 3,600km runaway is completely gone bad. If you do that procedure, you will be doing may be only 10 metres a day across and so, if you divide that 10 by 3,600km, it is 360 days. The minimum you can is one year and within that one year, there will be raining season.

    Two raining seasons and before you finished, the remaining runaway would be so dilapidated that you cannot use it. So, that was out of it. If it was spot repairs, may be five or six portions that are bad, then you can shut it down at night, repair it and by the time you do that for two, three weeks, you would have finished those spots and an overlay which is really pretty simple.

    You can be doing that at night until you finish because the main architecture of the runaway is still intact but this one is gone bad so, we cannot afford that. We called consultants, they went there and saw what it is and advised that there is other way we can do it.

    The Nigerian Society of Engineers met on this and agreed that the procedure we want to follow is the best. I was surprised when we went to the National Assembly, the President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers having earlier agreed said that what we are doing is wrong but he was countered almost immediately by the Council of Regulatory Engineers (COREN) who are regulator of Engineers. The president of Nigerian Society of Engineers never went to that runaway for one day, never carried out studies, he just woke up and went to the National Assembly and said what he said. But for people who have been there, COREN went there to check first, took samples and carried out test on the runaway and that is why they are supportive. I know that there is going to be protest but like I read on the social media, one guy was saying if you want everybody to be happy with you, don’t become a leader, go and sell ice-cream. What we are doing is it in the interest of the country.

     

    After these six weeks, what are the other maintenance that will be carried out at the Abuja airport and other airports?

    Abuja airport closure was for six weeks but the entire work is for six months and they will continue to work until they finish the runaway and make sure that the runaway is good. Government is thinking of doing another runaway so that these kinds of things do not happen. Just like we have in Lagos, we have two runaways in Lagos, we have two runaways in Port Harcourt, there are two runaways in Kano.

    So, it is high time Abuja should have two runaways. We are doing quite a lot of things which people don’t see with the naked eyes but they are the things that make everything to work; the navigation equipment, communication equipment, radars that see every flying object and try to separate one from another one so that there is no collision.

    These are the things that we have been doing silently and people don’t see. But you need something that will improve the security and safety of the passengers and the efficiency by which they travel. If you are able to fix the safety, efficiency and the security of travel, you would have achieved the intent and purpose of aviation. The remaining things are aesthetics- the air condition, the robust fantastic looking and terminal buildings and so on are things that are desirable, must have but they are not critical to the operation of aviation.

     

     It is always said that people in your position work so hard, they don’t have time to relax. How do you relax?

    Well, I used to create time for me to relax by playing polo or swimming in my house or visiting friends. Occasionally, before now, I go for holidays every three or six months. I will check out some places and relax but since I took this job, unfortunately, I have not been able to do any of those. I remember some two, three months ago, there was a polo tournament being played in Port Harcourt and I sent a team there with the intention to play but believe me, in the week long tournament, I was there only once and I landed Port Harcourt, I went to the field, I found them playing, I played for about 30 to 40 minutes and I got up and came back and I never went back until the end of the tournament. It is very difficult. I know that we need it for the brain to function very well.

     

    What’s yours philosophy for life?

    Keep it simple. Everything you are doing keep it simple. You have to be very sincere in what you are doing. I remember you or your colleague once asked me why is it that I don’t have my photos around the airports and agencies and I told them that the best picture I would leave behind is the work I would have done as a minister. My image and what I have done would not be out of the minds of Nigerians but if I become the worst Aviation Minister Nigeria ever had my photo would not change that.

  • Domestic violence: Couple granted bail

    A Grade 1 Area Court in Karu, Abuja, on Friday granted to one Ekenem Aniefiok , 44, and his wife Mercy John, 40.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the couple are standing trial for perpetrating domestic violence against each other.

    The two defendants, who are residents of Karu, FCT-Abuja, were charged with offences of joint act, disturbance of public peace and inciting public disturbance.

    The offenses, according to the prosecution, are in contravention of sections 79, 113 and 114 of the Penal Code.

    The Judge, Mr Hassan Ishaq, granted the bail N10,000 bail to each of the defendants.

    Ishaq also ordered that they produced reliable and reasonable sureties in like sum.

    He said the address of the sureties must be verified by the officer of the Court.

    The judge also directed that the sureties must submit their driver’s license or national identity card with the court registrar.

    He also ordered the couple to write an undertaking with the Court to maintain peace.

    The State Prosecutor, Mr Mahmud Ismail, had earlier told the Court that the defendants were arrested after Aniefiok reported his wife at the Karu Police Station.

    He said the two defendants were in the habit of fighting and disturbing public peace since the year 2014.

    “Several times, both of you have been reported to Karu Police Station by your neighbours because you engaged yourselves in fight and caused apprehension, fear and disturbances to other members of the public.

    “Since 2014, the Police station has received reports about your constant engagement in domestic fights against each other and you even have a pending matter with the Police where you engaged in a public fight,’’ he said.

    Ismail also told the court that the couple had been warned severally by the Police at the Karu Police station to desist from fighting, to no avail.

    However, after listening to the charges, the defendants pleaded not guilty.

    The court adjourned the matter till May 10 for continuation of hearing

  • FAAN gives Abuja airport terminal new look

    The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has embarked on complete rehabilitation of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja (NAIA) terminal ahead of its scheduled reopening on April 19.

    Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who visited the airport on Friday, reports that work was going on at the Terminal B of both the international and domestic wings of the airport.

    The Bureau de change stand at the terminal has been dismantled, most parts of the building were being repainted and the public toilets were also being fixed.

    The Acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu who spoke with NAN said the ongoing renovation was to ensure that airport reopens with well-equipped facilities that would meet global standard.

    Yakubu said the bureau de change stand would be rebuilt into new style to meet with international standard in line with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standard practice.

    She explained that the style being currently used in Nigeria was not in accordance with what obtained in other airports especially in the developed countries.

    The spokesperson added that the authority, being also mindful of the plight of the physically challenged and aged persons had decided to provide lift and escalators at the departure hall.

    According to her, the stand will not be relocated but will be rebuilt to standard as prescribed by ICAO.

    The Minister of State, Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika had on Thursday, disclosed that by April 19 when the airport would be reopened, it would be wearing new look.

    Sirika said that FAAN was doing complete rehabilitation of the terminal B of the international wing with escalators and lift at the departure for the physically challenged and aged persons.

    According to him, the airport is opening on April 19 with better runway, better facilities and will be more efficient and compliant with ICAO protocol on standard and best practices.

    “Also, we are opening a lounge for the physically challenged and elderly and this is a response from the feedback that we get.

    “In terminal B building also, lift, toilets and other ancillary facilities will be provided.

    “The closure of this airport also means that we improve the terminal to be more robust and create a seamless flow of international and local passengers,” he said.

    The Federal Government had on March 8 shut the airport for six weeks to enable Julius Berger carryout complete repair of its failed 3.6 kilometres runway.

    NAN reports that the rehabilitation work has reached 57 per cent completion three weeks after the closure.

     

  • Court jails 49-year-old man for stealing purse

    A Gudu Upper Area Court, Abuja, has sentenced a 49-year-old man, Ibrahim Jibril to six weeks imprisonment for stealing a purse.

    Jibril of no fixed address pleaded guilty and was subsequently convicted on a two-count charge of criminal trespass and theft levelled against him.

    The judge, Mr Umar Kagarko, however, gave the convict an option of N6,000 fine.

    Kagarko said he considered the convict’s age in giving him light sentence, and also because he did not waste the time of the court as he quickly admitted committing the crime.

    Prosecutor Fidelis Ogbobe had told the court that on March 27, the convict “criminally trespassed into the building of the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF).

    “He went into the office and stole a purse belonging to one Mrs Oloruyonu Maria, a staff of the office of the AGF.

    “During police investigation, the said purse was recovered from him,’’ he said.

    The prosecutor said the offence was contrary to Sections 348 and 284 of the Penal Code.