The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ahmadu Bello University

  • Civil servant docked for certificate forgery

    Civil servant docked for certificate forgery

    A 30-year-old civil servant, Usman Nasir, was on Monday arraigned before a Lokoja Chief Magistrate court for allegedly forging a Bachelor of Engineering certificate of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

    Reading from the Police First Information Report (FIR) on the arraignment of the accused before the Lokoja Chief Magistrate Court I, the prosecuting police officer, Sgt. Tuesday Ganagana said the matter was reported on August 19, this year.

    The prosecution stated that the case was incidental at the Ajaokuta Police station

    He said that Nasir, a staff of the company fraudulently forged a Bachelor of Engineering degree certificate of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria to secure employment at the Ajaokuta Steel Company.

    He said that luck, however, ran against the accused when the company embarked on verification of his certificate and authorities of the supposed alma mater, ABU, confirmed that the certificate was forged.

    He said that upon interrogation, Nasir admitted that he personally used three different software to forge the institution’s result, with which he secured the employment.

    The prosecutor said that the accused confirmed that he was computer literate and a drop out of ABU, saying that after gaining admission into the institution in 2008, he dropped out as he could not continue due to financial constraint.

    The accused was charged with, “using as true, a certificate known to be false and forgery,” contrary to sections163 and 264 of the Penal Code.

    Ganagana said the offence of forgery preferred against the accused carried a punishment of 14 years in prison.

    He said that the first leg of the offence carries seven years imprisonment, adding that the court had jurisdiction to try the offences, just as he left the issue of whether or not to admit him on bail for the court to exercise its discretionary powers.

    The Chief Magistrate, Levi Animoku in his ruling said, “I am of the view that the accused will stand his bail and consequently, the accused is admitted to bail in the sum of N100,000 with a reliable surety in like sum”.

    He said that the surety must be a civil servant resident in Lokoja, with traceable address, before adjourning the matter to November 10, for the mention.

  • Gas flaring: NLNG generates $90b revenue

     

    The Nigerian NLG Limited on Tuesday disclosed that it has generated some $90 billion from gas flare since 1999 when it was commenced operation.

     

    Its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr Babs Omotowa, disclosed this at the commissioning of a $4 million technology laboratory project at the University of Ibadan on Tuesday.

     

    The project was jointly undertaken by the company and the premier university on equal contribution of $2 million each.

     

    Omotowa also revealed that the company has been a major contributor to Nigeria’s revenue base having paid $33 billion in dividend, taxes and other charges to the government since it commenced operation in 1999.

    Omotowa further stressed that the company is the biggest tax payer in Nigeria and sub-Sahara Africa having paid a sum of $3 billion in company income tax and Education Tax in 2014 and 2015.

     

    On the project, the Nigeria LNG boss explained that the University of Ibadan’s excellence rating in academic and research in Africa informed its decision to cite the $4 million technology laboratory in the institution.

     

    Reeling out its support for science and literature over the years with science trailing behind the latter, Omotowa said the company “reviewed the science prize and took a decision in 2013 to nest further down the chain so as to improve the chances for science research so that more winners can emerge in future with research tha will impact the lives of Nigerians.”

     

    The new decision, he explained, led to the idea of the tech laboratory in the highest rated universities in the six geo-political zones of the country.

     

    He said: “In selecting the universities, excellence was again the key determinant. As a core value, it permeates every work process in Nigeria LNG; we ensured that the selection process was not an exception. The six universities were selected purely based on the top ranked university in each region from the independent rankings by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the World Universities Ranking.

     

    “For the Northwest cluster, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria was selected. Others are University of Port Harcourt, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, University of Ilorin, University of Maiduguri and the University of Ibadan.”

     

    Earlier in his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Abel Olayinka, commended the company for the project, stressing that it would help the institution realize her ambition of becoming the training and research hub in Africa.

     

    The Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji, while commending the Nigeria LNG, called for increased investment in brew of the huge revenue and profits it posts yearly.

     

    The project was commissioned by Oyo State Governor, Abuola Ajimobi, who was represented by his deputy, Otunba Moses Alake-Adeyemo.

     

  • Coomassie, ACF Chairman want President, Governors stripped of immunity 

    Coomassie, ACF Chairman want President, Governors stripped of immunity 

    Former Inspector General of Police and Chairman of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmadu Coomassie is canvassing a drastic reform of the political process and the judicial system.

    Top of the political reform Coomassie wants is the removal of public office holders’ immunity, which, according to him, will help in sanitizing the electoral process and reduce abuse of office.

    He spoke at the International Conference on ‘Deepening Democracy through Elections in Nigeria: An Assessment’ organised by the Department of Political Science and International Studies of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.

    The ACF Chairman who chaired the conference said the political reform has become imperative to safeguard the nation’s democracy.

    Citing the 2015 elections, the former IGP said:”From one source alone, a staggering $2.1billion earmarked for procurement of arms to fight insurgency in the North-east was diverted to secure the electoral victory of the PDP.

    “Indicators suggest that most government agencies and departments were forced to cough out funds to aid in the electoral victory of the PDP, making it the most expensive election in the nation’s history.

    “Now that we have a new government in place, which campaigned for and won because it promised change and is therefore amenable for the reform of the whole political processes. We must avail ourselves with the opportunity to make far-reaching reforms that will safeguard this democracy.”

    On the immunity clause, the former IGP said, “it is time to expunge this immunity clause in the constitution or amend it to give the President and Governors only immunity from civil litigations. This is one of the many steps that will help sanitise not only the electoral process, but reduce the abuse of office that have become the hallmark of elected public office holders in Nigeria.

    “As chief law officers, they are expected to be above board. From 1999 to date, this has not been the case. The democratic process has been characterised by impunity, disregard for service delivery and high levels of corruption.

    “Similarly, the Buhari administration should as soon as possible initiate a major reform of the judicial processes in Nigeria. Nigeria inherited the judicial system from the British at independence and since then, it has undergone minimal reforms.

    “Matters before our law courts suffer long and unnecessary delays. Prosecutors of criminal offenders suffer great frustrations at the court, especially when serious cases before our eminent jurists get thrown out on simple technicalities.

    “Strict penalties should be introduced for all electoral offences. After more than 50 years as an independent nation, and after several tries at the democratic governance, Nigeria must once and for all get her acts together. After 17 years of uninterrupted civil rule, Nigeria’s democracy can no longer be described as an experiment We must strive to consolidate this gain by not only making sure that our electoral processes are fool proof, but that attempt to tamper with them will meet the full wrath of the law,” Coomassie posited

    The ACF Chairman also called for abolition of the State Independent Electoral Commissions saying local government elections should be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which should computerise all electoral processes to allow for absolute credibility.

    Earlier his address, ABU Vice Chancellor, Professor Ibrahim Garba said it was time for the academia to rise up and shape public discuss through conferences like this.

    According to him, the academia, especially political scientists have a duty to examine and analyse the fierce struggles leading to primitive accumulation of wealth and have resulted in contemporary class conflicts, ethnic violence as well as the present phase of insurgency which is threatening national security.

  • Buhari appoints visually-impaired as SSA

    Buhari appoints visually-impaired as SSA

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday appointed a visually impaired man, Samuel Inalegwu Ode Ankeli as Senior Special Assistant with responsibility for his dealings with persons living with a disability.

    It would be recalled that Dr. Ankeli headed the Directorate of Persons With Disability during the 2015 Presidential election campaign for Buhari/Osinbajo.

    He led a team that successfully mobilized more than 24 million disabled persons in the country to support President Buhari and his running mate in the election campaign.

    An indigene of Benue State, Dr Ankeli studied veterinary medicine at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and worked with the Benue State government before quitting to focus on his activist role in the promotion of the well-being of the blind and people with all kinds of disability.

    Dr. Ankeli’s appointment marks the first of such department in a political party in Nigeria.

  • The revolutionary legacies of Customs boss

    The revolutionary legacies of Customs boss

    Author: Musa Omale

    Reviewer: Evelyn Osunbor

    Publisher: Pensrule Communications Limited, Lagos

    Year of publication: 2014

    The achievements of the Comptroller-General of the Customs (C-G-C), Alhaji Dikko Inde Abdullahi has been documented in a compelling new book.

    The book entitled: Witness to a Revolution: The Nigeria Customs Service Under the Leadership of Inde Dikko Abdullahiis a commendable effort at documenting the achievements of the CGC who has been hailed as an unprecedented performer, in the last five years at the helms of Nigeria’s biggest non-oil revenue generating agency.

    Written by an Assistant Comptroller of Customs (AC) Musa Omale, a lawyer and personal aid to the CGC, the 304-page, 43-chapter book captures in a detailed analysis, the strides taken by the current CGC to ensure a radical turn-around in the operations and productivity of the Customs right from his time as an Area Controller at the Seme Borders, prior to his appointment as CGC.

    Abdullahi was appointed as CGC by the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua on August 18, 2009. On resumption, he flagged off a Six-Point Agenda as the road map for his intended reform agenda. In five years, his administration has taken the agency to unprecedented level. Among the many accomplishments documented include a 100 percent salary increment and capacity building programs extended to all levels of officers and men across and beyond Nigeria as part of human capital development and motivation program. Added to that is an aggressive infrastructural development which saw the building of new barracks, rehabilitation/upgrade of old ones, construction of office buildings, printing press, hospitals, schools among others across the country in addition to the magnificent Regional Training Academy in Gwagwalada, Abuja. Besides the purchase of a jet to ease Customs operations, the revenue profile of the Customs also shot to an unprecedented high, with the agency raking in a record N100 Billion a month at a point as against monthly average of N30 Billion in past administrations.

    His supplying of the officers and men of the Customs with hundreds of vehicles, arms and equipments, heightened awareness of importers, and community-based programs in border communities also helped in reducing incidences of smuggling and arresting leakages and corruption as well as conscientious efforts at revamping the image of the agency. His women empowerment program via the Customs Officers Wives Association (COWA) was also touched. These strides among others, earned Dikko as he is popularly called, two National Awards namely the MFR, OFR and CFR by Late President Musa  Yar’Dua and the President Goodluck Jonathan’s government respectively. The Nigeria Customs also, in a historic accomplishment, hosted the 66th session of the World Customs Organisation (WCO)’s Policy Meeting in Abuja in 2011.

    The 54-year-old Bulgaria-trained economist who is known to enthusiastically encourage scholarship also vigorously pursued the E-Customs project in ensuring fast clearance of goods and the general Customs and Exercise procedure so as to meet up with global standards. Under him the Customs also entered bilateral agreement s with Customs bodies of several countries.

    Witness to a Revolutionis truly a page-turner with rich photo illustrations of the various infrastructure, facilities and activities of the Customs under the current CGC and spanning five eventful years. A potpourri of a book, the 43 chapters are divided into various segments on  a wide variety of issues ranging from “The Dikko I know” which profiles the subject’s life and attainments as well as the author’s study of his life in about six-year acquaintanceship, starting from Dikko’s time at Seme where the author served as the command’s Public Relations Officer (Pro). There is “Emergence of a Revolutionalist” which chronicles his achievements in transforming the Customs. Then there is The Rise to Global Acclaim which documents the entrance of the Nigerian Customs into international highlights and accolades following the signing of bilateral agreements with other countries, the hosting of the WCO’s Policy meeting in Nigeria amongothers. While ‘The Importance of CEMA’ contains articles dealing with the Customs and Excise Management Act and related issues, “Other Customs Matters” takes on topics such as smuggling, money laundry, economic terrorism, Trans-National Crime, revenue generation, 48-hour clearance among others. A few officers also contributed   few other related topics under the ‘Other Informed Articles’ section. The elaborate photo session is aptly tagged ‘Images of a Revolution”.

    The book, bounded in hard copy with a combination of green and the Customs’ grey colour,  is quite a commendable effort, first for minimal typographical errors and then for the sheer size of issues discussed. The photo session serve as an appetizer that would help hold down a bored reader considering the intimidating size.

    Perhaps the Chairman of the House Committee on Customs, Hon. Sabo Nakudu, sums up the essence of the book when he wrote in its Introduction: “I appreciate the honour to introduce this priceless book, and I whole-heartedly recommend it to… officers of the Customs, students of the Customs systems, and just about everyone interested in studying the dynamics of leadership.”

    The book’s subject, Abdullahi, who penned the Foreword to the book himself noted that it is an attempt to document an ongoing history as well as preserve the spirit of industry.

    “This book therefore should be seen beyond the pictorials of the realities on ground, the accomplishments which have won us accolades far and near. It should be seen as the triumph of the human spirit, the fact that we can achieve all we set our hearts while leaning on various sources of support, “he wrote.

    The author, Omale, an Ahmadu Bello University-trained lawyer with two previous books to his credit, has succeeded in this book of words, statistics, colourful pictures and analysis, in portraying Dikko as a man on a clear mission to change and whose continuing legacies are held up before the mirrors of History.

  • ABU sacks registrar

    ABU sacks registrar

    Authorities of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, have relieved the registrar of the institution, Dr Isah Mohammed-Abbas, of his appointment.

    This is contained in a letter signed and addressed to Mohammed-Abbas, a copy of which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Zaria on Tuesday by the vice-chancellor, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha.

    “Following the allegation that you did not hand over your duties to the designated officer when leaving for Hajj, you appeared before a panel set up by the Governing Council of ABU.

    “The Council, at its 151 regular meeting held on Jan. 25 and Jan. 26, considered the report submitted by the panel after careful deliberations.

    “The council was satisfied that you committed various acts of misconduct in violation of the condition of your appointment as registrar of ABU.

    “Consequently, upon the confirmation and satisfaction that you have committed the alleged misconduct, the council has approved your removal as registrar, ABU, with effect from Jan. 26, 2013,” the letter stated. (NAN)