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Tag: Abuja

  • 2019 National Sports Festival: Ambode receives torch of unity

    says Lagos will send powerful delegation

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Monday at the Lagos House, Alaska, Ikeja received the Torch of Unity to herald the forthcoming 19th National Sports Festival coming up in Abuja next month.

    Speaking at the ceremony, the governor said sports remains a veritable tool to engender the unity and cohesion the nation actually needs, adding that he was glad that the Festival after the last edition hosted by Lagos in 2012 was staging a grand comeback.

    He assured that the state would send a strong contingent of athletes and coaches to the Festival, assuring that representatives of the State would be given all the adequate welfare to excel at the games.

    “It is my pleasure to receive the festival torch of unity and this signals the commencement of the 19th National Sports Festival that would take place in Abuja. The last National Sports festival was held here in Lagos six years ago and being the last host, this is the last point of call before the torch goes back to Abuja.

    “We have a very strong contingent that we are sending to the festival because we believe strongly that sports is a veritable tool that we can use to command the unity and the cohesion that this nation actually needs at this time.

    “I believe strongly that we are not just supporting alone, we believe that all the laurels and winning positions would be taken by Lagos State. On behalf of all our sports men and women, I want to encourage them and assure that we would make their entire stay in Abuja comfortable,” the Governor said.

    Ambode also seized the occasion to encourage politicians to embrace the spirit of sportsmanship in the coming general elections, saying that beyond winning at the polls, the real essence of the exercise is to create a stronger bond and cohesion among Nigerians.

    He said like sports where winners and losers would emerge after every competition, those vying for several positions in next year’s election should embrace such mindset.   

    According to him, “Just like any other competition, we are in a period of campaign and election that is coming, it is competitive, but this is unlike national sports were everybody comes with the spirit of unity and we believe strongly that our politicians should emulate our sports men and women, were we should be able to come with the spirit of sportsmanship, there would be winners and losers but in participating, we are creating that bond and cohesion amongst ourselves.”

    Read Also: Lagos committed to industrial growth — Ambode

    Also speaking Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission, Mr. Kweku Tandor said Lagos State would be represented at the Festival by 442 male and female athletes, 81 coaches and 50 other officials including welfare and medicals.

    He said the contingent from Lagos would be made up of athletes that have been training and taking part in State organised competitions over the years, adding that it would be profitable on the long run rather than looking for foreign based professionals.

    “One of the things that we have refused to do in Lagos is to go all over the world and start looking for athletes to represent us because for us we see the festival not just as a competition, but we see it as a developmental tool and it’s for us, a measure of the work that we have been doing over the years in developing our athletes,” he said.  

    Earlier, South West Zonal Coordinator, National Sports Festival, Mr. Olufemi Ajao who presented the Torch of Unity to the Governor, thanked him for according them hospitality, saying that he was hopeful that the State would host the festival again soon.  

    “The torch has been going round the country, it has been to the 36 States and Abuja. Lagos being the host of the last Sports Festival, the torch has to leave Lagos for Abuja straight away.

    “You can remember that after Lagos State hosted, it has been about six years now that we have been postponing it. But with this torch now, it shows that the festival has come to stay, there is no more postponement. I will plead with the Governor if Lagos can host the festival again so that we can come and enjoy the hospitality and the rich culture of Lagos State,” he said.

  • Subsidy probe: ‎Farouk Lawan requested for $3m bribe, Otedola tells court

    …Says he paid $500,000

     

    Businessman Femi Otedola has told a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Lugbe, Abuja that former the House of Representatives member, Farouk Lawan allegedly demanded $3million bribe from him.

    Otedola, who said he did not pressurise the ex-lawmaker to exclude his company from the list of those probed for fuel subsidy fraud, admitted paying $500,000 to Lawan.

    Otedola, who is the Chairman of Zenon Oil, spoke on Wednesday while testifying as prosecution witness in the trial of Lawan for allegedly receiving gratification while serving as Chairman of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on investigation into fuel subsidy regime in 2012.

    Led in evidence by d by Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), Otedola said: “I could not have put pressure on him because Zenon Oil was not involved in the theft of the subsidy fund.

    “He did demand. And if he did not demand, why will he collect and expect a balance of $2.5m?

    “He mentioned to me that the $3m will be shared by himself and some other members of the House,” the witness said.

    Otedola stated that his company was not involved in the fuel subsidy fraud and that there was no basis for it to be indicted

    He claimed that Lawan merely demanded money from him in an attempt to extort him.

    Otedola, who said he reported the matter initially when he found out about the scam in the fuel subsidy regime, also told the court that Lawan “mentioned to me that several companies that were involved in the scam were paying. And I reported to the DSS.”

    Otedola said he watched on the television how Lawan moved the motion for the removal of Zenon Oil from the list of indicted firms after receiving the $500,000.

    He said his company was actually excluded from the list because of the documents it supplied to prove its innocence.

    At the conclusion of Otedola’s evidence-in-chief, defence lawyer, L. Azuka, who stood in for Mike Ozekhome (SAN), sought an adjournment to enable him time to prepare for cross-examination.

    Justice Angela Otaluka agreed to his request and adjourned to January 28 for cross-examination.

    The Federal Government is, through the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), prosecuting Lawan on an amended four-count charge, in which he is accused among others, of corruptly collecting $500,000 out of the $3m bribe he allegedly demanded from Otedola.

    Lawan was equally accused of accepting $500,000 as bribe for the removal of Otedola’s company’s name, Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd, from the list of firms indicted by the Lawan-led House committee for allegedly abusing the fuel subsidy regime in 2012.

     

  • Two men docked for cutting woman’s legs

    The Police on Wednesday arraigned two men in a Karu Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, for allegedly cutting the legs of  one Vera Atule with a cutlass.

    The defendants, Abubakar Hassan, 22 and Abdulrazak Sani, 22, were arraigned on a four-count charge, bordering on joint act, criminal force, causing grievous hurt and theft, offences they denied committing.

    The Prosecutor, Vincent Osuji, told the court that the complainant, Atule of Angwan Tiv, Karu, Abuja, reported the matter at the Karu Police Station, Abuja, on Oct. 21, around 11:p.m.

    “The complainant alleged that on same date, while she was sitting in front of her house at the above mentioned address, the defendants conspired, entered her house with sticks and cutlasses.

    “The defendants cut Atule’s legs with the cutlass, inflicting injury on her two legs, before she was rushed to the hospital where she incurred a medical bill of N6,500.

    “The complainant further stated that the defendants also stole her cell phone, valued at N11,500 in the process,”Osuji said.

    He said the offences contravened Sections 80, 269, 250 and 287 of the Penal Code.

    The Judge, Sani Mohammed, granted each of the defendants bail in the sum of N50, 000 with one surety in like sum and adjourned the case until Nov. 30, for hearing.

    NAN

  • Oni suffers setback in bid to unseat Fayemi

    …Abuja judge withdraws from case

     

    Former Ekiti State Governor, Segun Oni suffered a major setback on Monday in his bid to unseat the incumbent Governor, Kayode Fayemi.

    Justice Babatunde Quadri of the Federal High Court, Abuja withdrew on Monday from the hearing of a suit by Oni, querying Fayemi’s eligibility to participate in the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary, from which he emerged as the party’s candidate for the last governorship election in the state.

    The judge, who had before now, asked parties whether it was not ideal to have the case decided by a Federal High Court in Ekiti, suddenly announced the transfer of the case on Monday.

    Read Also:Minimum wage: Fayemi canvasses upward review of federal allocation

    Justice Quadri had, on October 29 this year when the case last came up, adjourned to November 19 for hearing.

    Parties, who had expected the hearing of the case, arrived court in the morning.

    The court did not sit until afternoon.

    When the court eventually sat, the judge said he would prefer to transfer the suit, marked: FCH/ABJ/CS/663/2018 to the court’s division in Ekiti for determination.

    The judge said he would not be able to hear and write judgment on the matter within the stipulated time.

    He assured parties that he would facilitate the transfer of the case file by the court’s Registry to Ekiti State because of its urgent nature.

    The judge adjourned the case to November 26 for mention before the Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti.

    Oni is, by the suit, challenging the outcome of the primary election that produced Fayemi APC. Oni, who came second, wants to be made the winner.

    He wants the court to, among others, disqualify Fayemi on the grounds that he allegedly did not resign his ministerial appointment as required by law before standing for the primary.

  • Police arraign fake tailor for allegedly swindling woman of N50,000

    The police on Monday arraigned a 50-year-old man, fake tailor Adekunle Meseko in a Karshi Grade I Area Court, Abuja, for allegedly swindling a woman of N50,000.

    Meseko, who resides in Life Camp, Abuja, is charged by the police on two counts bordering on criminal breach of trust and cheating.

    The prosecutor, Ayotunde Adeyanju, told the court that one Blessing of Karu Site, Abuja, on Nov. 7, at about 9 a.m. reported the matter at the Karu Police, Abuja.

    Adeyanju alleged that sometime in October, the defendant went to the complainant’s shop,  claiming to be a professional tailor.

    Read Also: Court jails scavenger for buying stolen goods

    He said that the defendant deceived the complainant and collected N50,000 as salary advance with a promise to work and pay same to her.

    The prosecutor alleged that the defendant, absconded to unknown destination with the money until he was later arrested.

    The prosecutor said the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 312 and 322 of the Penal Code.

    The Judge, Aliyu Kagarko, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N100, 000 with one reliable surety in like sum.

    Kagarko adjourned the case until Nov. 30, for hearing.

     

  • Court jails scavenger for buying stolen goods

    A Karmo Grade I Area Court, Abuja, on Monday, sentenced a scavenger, Ibrahim Adamu, to six months imprisonment for buying stolen 10 pieces of steel plate iron pan.

    The 26-year old convict, who resides at Apo Roundabout in Abuja, was arraigned, tried and convicted after he pleaded guilty to one-count charge of buying stolen property.

    The Magistrate, Alhaji Inuwa Maiwada, who sentenced the convict to six months imprisonment, however, gave him an option to pay N10, 000 fine.

    Earlier, the Police Prosecutor, Mrs Ukagha Ijeoma, had told the court that one Momosani Sumaila,of Deep Cover Security guard Ltd., Abuja,  on Aug. 2, reported the matter at the Utako Police Station.

    Read Also: Court upholds CAC’s rejection of same sex group

    Ijeoma alleged that the convict, being a known scrap scavenger, had on Aug. 2, gone to Ujat Company Ltd., at Idu Idustrial Area of Abuja to buy the stolen items..

    She told the court that the accused committed the alleged offence with two of his accomplices, Mases Ikechukwu and Haruna Usman, both employees of Deep Cover Security Ltd., now at large.

    The prosecutor had alleged that the two accomplices loaded stolen 10 pieces of steel plate iron pan worth N37 million into the accused Golf 3 saloon car marked AA 434 SBG before he was arrested.

    During the police investigation, the convict confessed to have been buying such things from Ikechukwu and Usman,’’ she told the court.

    The prosecution said that the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 317 of the Penal code.

    NAN

  • Buhari assures of credible elections

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday again gave assurances of his determination to lay a foundation for free, fair and credible elections in the country.

    He was responding to a speech by a delegation of Imams and senior Islamic scholars from the 36 states of the federation at the State House, Abuja.

    According to him, a number of measures put in place have seen the gradual improvement of elections, as in Edo, Anambra, Ekiti and Osun States from what he described as “dismal and unacceptable levels witnessed in Rivers and Kogi States.”

    The President, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, said “What I want to assure Nigerians is that I will continue to pressure the Police and other agencies to do their best to ensure a conducive atmosphere for free and fair elections.”

    On the issue of security raised by the religious group, President Buhari said he will continue to nudge security agencies to find lasting solutions, stressing however, the need for community and religious leaders to play a part in identifying criminals in their midst.

    Read Also: Buhari pledges more employment opportunities for citizens

    He thanked the Muslim religious leaders for recognizing the various achievements of the administration especially, in dealing with security, fighting corruption and progress in agriculture.

    “I am not satisfied with the reporting of agriculture.  Millions of our citizens have returned to the farms with many leaving white collar jobs for opportunities in agriculture,” he noted.

    The leader of the delegation, Dr. Khalid Aliyu, who is the Secretary General of the Jama’atul Nasril Islam, had lavishly praised the President’s achievements in key areas of his campaign in 2015 namely, security, corruption and the economy.

    “So far, so good, government has gone a long way in meeting its promises.” he stated

  • Four dead, 13 injured in Abuja crash

    Four persons where killed and thirteen injured in a fatal, early morning crash that involved four vehicles at Ushafa-Bwari road Monday in Abuja.

    Federal Road Safety Corps Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem revealed that three males and one female died while 13 others were injured in the accident which involved a commercial bus, a 2001 Mazda 232 car, 2004 Toyota Corolla and another Toyota Corolla.

    Kazeem who attributed the crash to dangerous driving said that the injured had been taken to the Bwari General Hospital for treatment while the dead were deposited at the morgue.

    He also said that FRSC personnel in Bwari and the police got to the scene shortly after the crash and cleared the obstruction to enable free passage of vehicles.

    “The injured and the dead victims have been taken to Bwari General Hospital, the obstruction was cleared and traffic control handed over to Insp. Linus of Motor Traffic Division, Bwari Police outpost,” Kazeem explained.

  • “God will restore, rebuild Nigeria,” says Okoh

    The Primate, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, on Thursday, said God’s plan to restore and rebuild Nigeria would manifest soon.

    Okoh stated this in Abuja while briefing newsmen on the 2018 Divine Commonwealth Conference (DIVCCON) scheduled to hold at the Ecumenical Centre, Abuja, from Monday to Friday.

    He announced the theme of the conference as “I Will Restore”, saying restoration meant returning to original position.

    According to him, it also means bringing back what existed before, a return of something to a former or unimpaired position and restitution of something taken away or lost.

    “One common denominator in all the meanings of restoration is the return of something to its original form,” he explained.

    The primate said that God had promised to guide, satisfy, prosper, refresh, rebuild, raise up, repair and restore Nigeria and its citizens for greater glory.

    He said that the conference would bring down the mercy of God to tackle the several challenges that had hindered the nation’s economic prosperity, sustainable security and overall national development.

    According to him, God has plans for Nigeria, but sin distorted God’s plan for the nation.

    Read Also: Fuel supply: NNPC seeks to increase retail outlets

    “God is not just a builder, but an architect. He has good plans for Nigeria, but somewhere along the line, something tampered with the plans.

    “Sin came in, the plan was distorted. God being God, in his wisdom has decided to restore and rebuild the nation,” he said.

    Okoh said that the original plan of God for Nigeria was that the people would multiply, be fruitful, have dominion, prosper and be in control.

    “Then signs and wonders will follow,’’ he said.

    The primate said the inspiration for DIVCCON came as a result of serious meditation by clerics.

    “We discovered that most of our meetings, though avenues for prayers, worship and all sorts of things, they are essentially administrative in nature.

    “So, I felt, eight years ago under God’s guidance, we should just gather for purpose of spirituality.

    “We do nothing else but speak to edify people, ministrations, prayers, fellowship and let people who are not necessary Anglicans come to join in worshipping and praising the Almighty God.”

    He assured that the conference would concentrate on strengthening people’s faith, adding that it would feature exposition on sub-themes and seminars in the mornings, with the evenings devoted to revival services.

    Okoh disclosed that more than 7,500 Anglican faithful from Nigeria and Diaspora would attend the event.

    “Speakers and Great servants of God from all over the world will be ministering”.

  • Minimum Wage Saga: Stiff judgment awaits you at polls, Presidency tells Atiku group

    The Presidency has criticised the concocted controversy over President Muhammadu Buhari’s position on proposed N30,000 by some political actors to score cheap political goals, saying “stiff judgment awaits them at the polls’’.

    Mr Femi Adesina, made the condemnation in a statement in Abuja on Thursday while reacting to comments apparently made by the Atiku media office.

    In a statement issued by his media office, Atiku had allegedly claimed that “President Buhari cannot be trusted to implement the ‘new’ minimum wage of N30, 000’’ recommended by the Pepple tripartite committee.

    Atiku, who is the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said “Buhari may not have the political will to implement the new wage’’.

    However, Adesina said: “Those who have latched onto the concocted controversy to play cheap politics, we appeal to them to remember that elections are not won through loquaciousness, and trying to demean the President at every drop of a hat.

    “But then, it is not surprising, as they have nothing else to sell to Nigerians, if they don’t ride on the name of the President. Stiff judgment awaits them at the polls.’’

    The presidential aide therefore frowned at the recurring reports alleging that Buhari had reneged on earlier acceptance of the N30,000 recommended as the new National Minimum Wage by the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Committee.

    Read Also: Salvador urges APC’s unity ahead of 2019

    He noted that these reports were contrary to what transpired on Tuesday when the committee presented its Report to the President.

    He said the president, while acknowledging the concerns raised by government on affordability and labour’s focus on meaningful increase, stated clearly in a speech, which was made available to the media that:

    “In a way, both arguments are valid. I want to assure you all that we will immediately put in place the necessary machinery that will close out these open areas.

    “Our plan is to transmit an Executive Bill to the National Assembly for passage within the shortest possible time. I am fully committed to having a new National Minimum Wage Act in the very near future.

    “As the Executive Arm commences its review of your submission, we will continue to engage you all in closing any open areas presented in this report. I, therefore, would like to ask for your patience and understanding in the coming weeks.”

    Adesina observed that: “From the above, and throughout the report-submission ceremony, the President never mentioned any figure. What he committed himself to was a new minimum wage, and only after the Report of the committee has been reviewed by the executive and legislative processes of government and an appropriate bill presented to him for assent.

    “Until the proposed minimum wage has gone through the whole gamut of law-making, President Buhari, who is a stickler for due process, will not be caught in this unnecessary web of controversy, which amounts to putting the cart before the horse and hair-splitting’’.