The Nation Newspaper

Tag: boss

  • Rabiu Ibrahim’s boss risks SFA’s axe

    Rabiu Ibrahim’s boss risks SFA’s axe

    Kilmarnock manager Kenny Shiels was sent off from the dugout during his side’s 1-1 draw with Inverness on Wednesday night risks being banned by the Scottish FA.

    Shiels was dismissed after displaying his anger when he thought his side should have been awarded a late penalty but he believes he would not be receiving a new touchline ban despite making his return from a four-match suspension.

    The coach was sent off just after Borja Perez had earned Killie an unlikely Clydesdale Bank Premier League point with their first shot on target.

    Referee Bobby Madden sent Shiels off but the Killie boss was reassured by the referee after the game that the resulting action will not spark a third ban in recent months – although he may have to go through a Scottish Football Association hearing first, and has a suspended ban hanging over him.

    “I was frustrated he didn’t give the penalty and I turned round and kicked fresh air and there was a bottle lying on its belly and it touched the bottle. I didn’t mean to kick the bottle.

    “But the rule has been changed because Neil Lennon and Steve Lomas had theirs rescinded. Neil Lennon kicked a bottle here and didn’t get anything done against him.

    “But then I’m not Neil Lennon so we’ll see what happens though the referee said it was just protocol because there was someone watching me up in the stands.”

    Shiels was proud of his players for hanging on long enough to snatch a point.

  • Union honours council boss

    Union honours council boss

    Officials of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the University of Calabar (UNICAL), have honoured the chairman of Udukpani Local Government Area in Cross River State, Mr Steven Asuquo, with an award of excellence.

    The award was presented to the council boss during a visit by the students’ leaders to the council headquarters at Odukpani, recently.

    During the presentation, the SUG president, Imah Ayi-Ekpenyong, noted that any award given by his administration was based on the recipient’s excellent achievements in position of authority. He said: “We have seen the achievements of the chairman and his contribution in the state and most especially in terms of education. We have come to honour you because not every leader has the heart to serve even if he has the opportunity to do so.”

    In his reaction, Asuquo said education was his major interest in everything he did. He named his education programmes to include introduction of Skill Acquisition Centre, provision of water for 37 primary schools and provision of lavatories for six primary schools in his domain.

    Asuquo said: “Education is one thing that cannot be taken away from anyone. It is one’s personal property. It is something that grows all through life.”

    He encouraged the students to face their studies with seriousness and promised to extend his hand of support to the students. “I will always support education. I will support the students as much as I can. I will embark on the payment of bursary to students in higher institutions before the end of first quarter of the year,” he promised.

    Ayi Ayi-Ekpeyong, president of Southern Cross River State Students (SOCRISS), who was part of the delegation, thanked the council boss for his support of students’ activities, urging Asuquo to put more effort in making education available to all willing youth in the local government.

  • Capital Oil boss, others refused bail

    Capital Oil boss, others refused bail

    THe detained Managing Director of Capital Oil and Gas Limited, Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, and four principal officers of his company yesterday lost their bid for freedom.

    Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Lagos, refused their ex-parte application in which they sought to be released by the police.

    Also detained were Nsikan Usoro (Head of Trading), Godfrey Okorie (Depot Manager), Chibuzor Ogbuokiri (General Manager, Operations) and Orji Joseph Anayo (Executive Director, Operations).

    They were arrested on October 9 by the Police’s Special Fraud Unit (SFU), Ikoyi, Lagos, for allegedly defrauding the Federal Government of N43.291billion in the fuel subsidy fund.

    Last Thursday, a Magistrate’s Court at Tinubu, Lagos presided over by Martins Owunmi, granted the police request to remand them.

    He ordered that they be kept in police custody for 14 days.

    The police said the accused were being investigated for offences of on economic sabotage, obtaining money under false pretences and stealing.

    They were accused of defrauding the Federal Government “by falsely pretending that the company has imported and sold 538.74 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit last year in 26 transactions.”

    But their lawyer, Joseph Nwobike (SAN), yesterday argued the ex-parte application , challenging their continued detention.

    Named as respondents were the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Commissioner of Police, SFU and Francis Idu Alonyenu.

    The application marked: contained two prayers.

    The first was for an order directing that the applicants be admitted to bail or be released, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

    The second was for an order of interim injunction restraining the respondents and their agents from further arresting and detaining the applicants in relation to the fuel subsidy issue, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

    Nwobike was, however, silent on the earlier proceedings at the Magistrate’s Court.

    He argued that his clients were being unjustly held since they reported at the SFU, Ikoyi, Lagos on October 9.

    Nwobike said by denying his clients administrative bail and refusing to arraign them in court within the constitutionally prescribed period, the police have contravened Section 36 (4) (5), (a), (b) of the 1999 Constitution.

    But Justice Abang held that the orders sought were impossible in nature.

    He said he would hear from the respondents before pronouncing on the application.

    The judge held that there was an “urgent, compelling and deserving need to put the respondents on notice before a decision is taken.”

    The judge, relying on Order 26 Rule 10 of the court’s Civil Procedure Rules, converted the ex-parte application to a motion on notice.

    He ordered that the motion and a copy of his order be served on the respondents.

    Justice Abang gave the respondents till noon today to file their response and fixed hearing for 1 pm .

    Three officials of an oil marketing firm, Matrix Energy Ltd, who were also being detained on the order of Owunmi, filed a similar application yesterday before the Federal High Court.

    The trio are Abdulkabir Adisa Aliu (.Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer), Yusuf Adebowale Oyolola (Operations Manager) and Adewale Akinde (Accountant).

    Their application is yet to be assigned for hearing.