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Tag: appointed

  • Popoola, Okpala appointed board members CSCS

    Popoola, Okpala appointed board members CSCS

    The Board of Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc is set to mark a significant milestone with the impending appointment of Messrs Temi Popoola and Nonso Okpala into its board, according to impeccable sources within Nigeria’s financial sector.

    CSCS are the market overseers on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. They are licensed to carry on the depository, clearing, and settlement of all transactions in the Nigerian Capital Market.

    The inclusion of Popoola and Okpala on the CSCS board is a testimony to their visionary leadership and strategic acumen.

    Both men have made significant contributions to advancing Nigeria’s financial sector. Their appointment serves as a testament to their exemplary leadership qualities and unmatched dedication to driving positive change.

    Read Also: Mo Abudu appointed to International Emmys board

    Popoola’s leadership as the CEO of NGX Group has revolutionized the financial landscape in Nigeria. His visionary approach and unwavering dedication to excellence have positioned NGX Group as a leader in the industry, driving innovation and growth.

    Similarly, Okpala’s tenure as GMD/CEO of VFD Group has been characterized by a relentless pursuit of excellence and a commitment to driving positive change. His strategic foresight and ability to navigate complex landscapes have propelled VFD Group to the forefront of the industry, making it a trailblazer in driving social impact while delivering sustainable returns to stakeholders. Furthermore, his multifaceted role as a Non-Executive Director on both NGX Group and the Holdco Board showcases his exceptional capacity to drive growth and create value across diverse sectors. His appointment to the CSCS Board further cements his status as a key influencer in shaping the future of Nigeria’s capital market infrastructure.

    The nomination of Popoola as Chairman of the CSCS Board underscores his exceptional leadership qualities and deep understanding of market dynamics, making him the ideal candidate to lead CSCS Plc into its next phase of development.

  • Patience Jonathan’s $15.5m: I was appointed to represent firms, says Ozekhome

    Patience Jonathan’s $15.5m: I was appointed to represent firms, says Ozekhome

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Mike Ozekhome, yesterday told the Federal High Court in Lagos that he was validly appointed to represent four companies that pleaded guilty to laundering $15.5million allegedly belonging to former First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan.

    Another lawyer, Luke Aghanenu, had claimed that he was briefed by the companies to represent them.

    Ozekhome is praying the court to nullify the guilty plea entered by the companies on the basis that they were not given fair hearing.

    The companies through their representatives pleaded guilty on September 15, 2016, and were convicted for laundering the money when they were arraigned before Justice Babs Kuewumi.

    The companies are: Pluto Property and Investment Company Ltd, Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Ltd, Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Ltd and Avalon Global Property Development Ltd.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned them with a former Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs to President Jonathan, Waripamo Dudafa, a lawyer Amajuoyi Briggs and a banker, Adedamola Bolodeoku.

    Dudafa, Briggs and Bolodeoku pleaded not guilty to the 17-count charge.

    Aghanenu filed a motion for change of counsel, praying the court to hold that he was validly appointed by the companies’ directors to represent them, not Ozekhome.

    But, Ozekhome, in his counter-affidavit, said he was properly briefed by the companies through their secretary, Briggs, to handle their case.

    In an affidavit in support of Ozekhome’s motion, a lawyer in his firm, Chimaobi Onuigbo, said the companies representatives who pleaded guilty to money laundering (Friday Davis, Agbo Baro, Dioghowori Fredrick and Taiwo Ebenezer) had earlier denied having anything to do with the companies or being directors.

    He said the representatives also refused to accept service of processes in a suit by Mrs Jonathan against EFCC and others pending before Justice Mohammed Idris.

    The deponent noted that Justice Idris had directed parties to serve Briggs with the process since he was on record as the Companies’ Secretary.

    Ozekhome said when Briggs was served with the processes, he instructed him to defend the companies.

    “Briggs then deposed to an affidavit…where he clearly stated that Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) was instructed by the companies to undertake the defence of the 4th – 7th defendants (companies) in all legal proceedings they were involved in,” said the deponent.

    The SAN added that there was no resolution of the board or general meeting of any of the companies that authorised change of counsel, adding that companies through Briggs have not asked him to stop representing them.

    “The attempt to appoint another legal representative by the directors is invalid, having regard to the fact that he (Briggs) vide a sworn affidavit and a letter of instruction given to Chief Ozekhome, asked him to represent the 4th – 7th defendants,” he said.

    Besides, he said Justice Kuewumi had earlier ruled on a dispute on representation, recognising him as the authorised counsel for the companies; therefore, the judge had become functus officio.

    “I know that the application to change counsel is targeted at impeding the administration of justice and to prevent the 4th – 7th defendants from obtaining justice before this Honourable Court.

    “It will be prejudicial to the 4th – 7th defendants as well as the interest of justice in this case if the applicants are granted their prayers for change of counsel,” Ozekhome said.

    Justice Kuewumi adjourned till February 14 for hearing.

  • Redknapp named new Birmingham City manager

    Redknapp named new Birmingham City manager

    Birmingham City have appointed Harry Redknapp as their new manager, less than 24 hours after the resignation of former Italy forward Gianfranco Zola..

    The ex-West Ham, Tottenham and QPR manager succeeds Zola, who quit  on Monday after a 2-0 defeat by fellow Championship strugglers Burton Albion.

    Blues are 20th in the table, three points above the relegation zone with three games left, and travel to local rivals Aston Villa on Sunday.

    “Birmingham are a proper football club but they are in a precarious position,” the 70-year-old Redknapp said.

    Redknapp’s appointment was announced just 16 hours after Zola’s departure, and he says he will initially take charge until the end of the season.

    He took charge of Jordan for two World Cup qualifiers last year, and worked as an adviser to Derby County last season.

    However, Redknapp has not managed in England since leaving QPR in February 2015.

    An FA Cup winner with Portsmouth in 2008, he led Tottenham to the Champions League quarter-finals during a four-year spell at White Hart Lane.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in 2016, he was made a director at Wimborne Town and a football consultant for Australian side Central Coast Mariners.

    Redknapp, who will be assisted by former Bristol City boss Steve Cotterill, said: “I got a phone call last night at 7 p.m. from the people at Birmingham.

    “I drove to London and had a meeting of about 10 to 15 minutes with them and said: `I’ll come and do it.’

    “My wife said to me `are you mad or what?’ but I get fed up sitting around doing nothing.’’

    Blues could be in the relegation zone by the time Redknapp takes charge of his first match.

    Should Blackburn and Nottingham Forest both win on Saturday, Birmingham would slip into the bottom three.

    After facing Villa, Blues host promotion-chasing Huddersfield Town before visiting Bristol City on the final day of the regular season.

    “It’s a real challenge,’’ said Redknapp. “I’ll live up there until the end of the season, and if I keep them up I’ll sit down and talk about next season.

    “It’s not really a risk. They have won two out 22. I haven’t got a magic wand. I’m not going to turn them into Real Madrid. We need a win.’’

  • Igesund to be appointed Zambia coach next week

    Igesund to be appointed Zambia coach next week

    Ex-South Africa coach Gordon Igesund will finally be appointed new coach of the country next week ahead of next month’s World Cup qualifier against Nigeria.

    Igesund has been recommended to take over the Chipolopolo from caretaker coach George Lwandamina and he will now be appointed in the new week after all the bureaucratic bottlenecks would have been cleared following a court dismissal of a petition by the opposition party against the election of Edgar Lungu as the country’s new President.

    “Gordon (Igesund) is the new coach of Zambia and with the Presidential petition thrown out, things will now move a lot faster for him to be appointed next week,” a credible source from Zambia disclosed.

    Igesund, 60, is a record-breaking who led four different clubs to win the South African Premier Soccer League.

    However, he was less successful when he was in charge of the Bafana Bafana between 2012 and 2014.

    It was further gathered that the new government in Zambia could see the country’s football icon Kalusha Bwalya appointed sports minister.

  • Ondo deputy governor illegally appointed, says APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has called on Lasisi Oluboyo to stop parading himself as deputy governor.

    It advised him to vacate the office for the impeached deputy governor, Ali Olanusi, or risk jail for false assumption of office.

    A statement in Akure by its Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Adesanya, said: “We have it on good authority with incontrovertible evidence that the oath of allegiance and oath of office purportedly taken on April 27 by Lasisi Oluboyo were administered by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Eyitayo Jegede.”

    It said: “This was against the provisions of Sections 185 (2) and 187 (2) of the 1999 Constitution. Sections 185 and 187 empower the Chief Judge, Justice Olasehinde Kumuyi, to administer the oaths of allegiance and oath of office on the governor and deputy governor of Ondo State.

    “Contrary to these constitutional provisions, Justice Kumuyi delegated his constitutional responsibilities and powers to Jegede for reasons best known to him.

    “The chief judge, thereafter, issued a false certificate claiming to have personally administered the oaths, which the government has been relying on to cover up this constitutional aberration.

    “The CJ’s action is illegal and an abuse of office. In view of this illegality, in the eyes of the law, Oluboyo’s swearing-in is null and void.

    “Therefore, he is not known to law. He should stop parading himself as deputy governor and we advise him to vacate the office or face criminal prosecution that may land him in jail.”

    Adesanya praised the National Judicial Council (NJC) for the query issued to Justice Kumuyi.

    “We appeal to the NJC to thoroughly investigate the matter, and that Justice Kumuyi be punished for abdicating his constitutional responsibilities.

    “Similarly, we are calling on the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee to sanction and debar Jegede (SAN), because he cannot claim ignorance of the law for his action.”

  • Nigerian girl Oduwole appointed ambassador in Tanzania

    Nigerian girl Oduwole appointed ambassador in Tanzania

    Zuriel Oduwole, the 11-year-old Nigerian girl advocating for education for the girl-child in Africa has been appointed Ambassador in Tanzania for the country’s largest foundation focused on gender issues – Wanawake na Maendeleo (WAMA).

    The ‘wonder girl’ was honoured by the country’s First Lady, Madam Salma Kikwete when she attended a United Nations event in Dar Es Salaam.

    Tanzania was Zuriel’s second country stop on her East African leg to launch the acclaimed Dream Up, Speak Up, Stand Up program, aimed at inspiring and encouraging Africa’s girls.

    Senior officials of the Tanzanian State House, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Education, welcomed her to the land of Kilimanjaro as she stepped out of the plane.

    On the first official day of her arrival, the atmosphere was purely festive at the Olympio School, one of the oldest academic institutions in Dar Es Salaam, where Zuriel spoke on her project.

    In the afternoon of October 11, the day designated by the UN to celebrate the Girl Child, she attended the United Nations Food and Population Activities (UNFPA) event in Dar Es Salaam, which focused on reducing the incidence of child marriage in Tanzania.

    She later exclusively spoke with the national ITV network, in an interview for the day’s evening broadcast.

    The next day, she was formally invited to the State House by the office of the First Lady, who praised Zuriel for her leadership at such a very young age, in bringing the issues of girls education to several African leaders.

    Zuriel has interviewed no fewer than nine African leaders, including the Tanzanian head of state.

    The First Lady appointed her an Ambassador for Wanawake na Maendeleo Foundation [WAMA] of which she is the founding Patron.

    During the ceremony, Mrs. Kikwete presented Zuriel with the official attire of the foundation, several gifts, and an intricate three-foot statue of unity, the same type presented to the United States President, to symbolise the effect of Zuriel’s programs in the lives of Africa’s young women.

  • Bello appointed UNILAG VC

    After acting for six months as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Rahamon Adisa Bello has been appointed the substantive helmsman institution’s for a single tenure of five years.

    His appointment was ratified by the Governing Council of the university following its special meeting at the weekend during which members unanimously adopted the report of the Selection Board saddled with the responsibility of appointing a Vice-Chancellor for the institution.

    With the appointment taking effect from today, Bello becomes the 11th Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG.

    The Professor of Chemical Engineering becomes VC after Prof. Adetokunbo Sofoluwe, who died on May 12 while preparing to celebrate the university’s 50th anniversary.

    Bello served as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management Services) under Sofoluwe from April 2010.

    Born on October 6, 1948 in Iboro, Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, Bello attended Egbado College, Ilaro, Ogun State for his secondary education and passed out in 1966 with Grade One in the West African School Certificate Examination. He obtained Ordinary National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from the Technical College, Ibadan, now called The Polytechnic, Ibadan, and bagged a first degree in Chemical Engineering at the University of Ife (now called Obafemi Awolowo University) in 1974.

    Bello started work as a Mechanical Engineering Technician with the Nigerian Tobacco Company in 1969. He served with the then North-Eastern State Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Maiduguri during his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

    He worked briefly at the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources as a Petroleum Engineer before proceeding to the University of Waterloo, Canada, where he obtained his M.A.Sc (1977) and PhD (1981) in Chemical Engineering.

    Bello joined the University of Lagos as an Assistant Lecturer in 1977 and rose through the ranks as Lecturer II, Lecturer 1 and Senior Lecturer, in 1981, 1982 and 1985. He was appointed Associate Professor in 1991 and Professor of Chemical Engineering in 1998.