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Tag: dropped

  • dropped icpc nominees deny fraud claims

    dropped icpc nominees deny fraud claims

    BARELY 24 hours after they were dropped as nominees to the board of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission and Related offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Saadu Alanamu and Hajiya Maimuna Aliyu have denied fraud allegations against them.

    The two nominees were dropped on Sunday by the Presidency following a report that they had been under probe by the ICPC.

    But in separate statements yesterday, the two nominees said they were never indicted by the ICPC.

    Alanamu, who was chairman of the Governing Council of the Kwara State College of Education, said he was never indicted for any corrupt practice at any time when he served in various institutions in Kwara State.

    Mrs. Maimuna Aliyu said the allegations against her were cooked up because she stepped on powerful toes while at Aso Savings and Loans Plc.

    She said her travails were in connection with her resistance to use Aso Savings to recover the bank’s N1 billion donation to the campaign funds of former President Goodluck Jonathan in the  2011 elections.

    Alanamu said: “First, I must say that appointment into public office is a trust to serve humanity. I would rather protect my integrity than take any offer that would rubbish the highest standard I have maintained in my public service career.

    “I was never indicted nor convicted of any offence or crime by any institution. The records of my stewardship are there in various institutions I served.

    “Even though I am not a politician, I was chairman of various councils and institutions at different periods, which include Kwara State Council of Supervisors for Health; Kwara State College of Education, Kwara State Scholarship Board, Kwara State Rural Water Supply & Sanitation Agency, Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board, Kwara State Teaching Service Commission, Governing Council, Kwara State College of Arabic & Islamic Legal Studies and Governing Council and Kwara State Polytechnic Ilorin.

    “When I was nominated for ICPC, I was extremely happy to have the privilege to serve humanity with utmost level of commitment, sincerity and honesty. Nevertheless, with the turn of event on the allegations, I strongly believe the government will conduct thorough investigation over the allegations.”

    Asked if he was ever invited by anti-corruption agencies, Alanamu said: “Sometime in 2015, members of the board and management of Kwara State Polytechnic, where I served as the Chairman Governing Council for less than a year were invited over an allegation that they favoured contractors from Kwara State for TETFund projects rather than other bidders from outside the state

    “I, as the chairman, as well as the Rector, Bursar and the Director of Works were invited to defend the approval, which we insisted that we considered realistic and reasonable quotations rather than the lowest bidding that might not be realisable.

    “When the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) intervened over the contract issue, the lowest bidder from outside the state was giving all the seven contracts.

    “Since then, more than two years ago now, I didn’t hear anything from the BPP or the ICPC over the incident.”

    Speaking on her travails, Mrs. Aliyu said two businessmen have sworn to get rid of her for exposing the fraud perpetrated in Aso Savings and Loans Plc.

    Her statement reads: “On the 21st June, 2017, I had written a  petition against Aso Savings and Loans Plc, where I  catalogued the several infractions, frauds and corruption of Mr. Tunde Ayeni and his protégé; Mr. Adekunle Adedigba  over funds that were misappropriated.

    ” I duly submitted  copies of the said petition in June 2017 to Directorate of State Security (DSS), Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),  Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Independent Corrupt Practices  Commission and Related offences Commission (ICPC) and the Attorney- General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

    “It is  interesting to note that two clear months after I submitted  the petition with weighty allegations against the Aso Savings and the persons earlier mentioned, nothing has been  done about it, but they were quick to go to press that I was being investigated to deny me of the appointment earlier  made by the Acting President.

    “No matter how long it takes; the real truth about the plundering and looting of Aso Savings and Loans Plc will be made open, irrespective of the threat to my life and my family. I have been harassed and openly embarrassed as a result of this, but I am resolute that the  truth will vindicate me.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • BATTLE OF BRUSSELS: Salisu Yusuf dropped

    BATTLE OF BRUSSELS: Salisu Yusuf dropped

    Super Eagles assistant coach, Salisu Yusuf will not be part of the delegation that will travel to Brussels, Belgium for the October international friendly matches against Cameroon and DR Congo.

    The former Kano Pillars coach will not travel with six home-based players and backroom staff next week.

    The Super Eagles will slug it out with DR Congo on October 8 in Mons. Three days later, Sunday Oliseh’s men will head for Denderleeuw where they face arch rivals Cameroon at the 12,000 capacity Stade Van Roy.

    SportingLife learnt that the decision was reached at the end of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) executive committee meeting on Tuesday.

    It was gathered that Salisu was told to stay at home and start preparation for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifying match against Burkina Faso slated for the weekend of October 16, 17 and 18 in Port-Harcourt, with the return leg slated for a week later in Burkina Faso.

    The campaign, which is mainly for the Home-based Eagles, will open on October 4 in Port-Harcourt.

    It is understood that the backroom staff has been divided into two; some will travel to Belgium while others will remain with Salisu to prepare the team.

    “The NFF thought it would be very risky to allow the entire Eagles’ technical crew to travel for the friendly matches in Belgium when we have an important qualifying match against Burkina Faso almost three weeks away,” SportingLife source said.

    “There will be no time for preparation for the Burkina Faso match if the technical crew travels to Belgium. The friendly matches are October 8 and 11 and if he goes to Belgium it means we will have just a few days to prepare for the match. So it is important to take that decision in the interest of the team than to take a risk.”

    When contacted to confirm the story, the Super Eagles’ media officer, Toyin Ibitoye said: “There is nothing official yet and I cannot comment or confirm something like that.”

    The 2016 CHAN finals is billed for Rwanda, starting from January 16 through to February 7.

    The home-based Super Eagles debuted at the 2014 CHAN in South Africa, which was won by Libya. They were eliminated by neighbours Ghana in the semi-finals but went on to defeat Zimbabwe in the third-place match.

  • Ejide, Enyeama, others dropped

    Ejide, Enyeama, others dropped

    • NFF shuts out over 30-year old players; insists on code of conduct
    • Akpeyi, Afelokhai, Gabros’ goalkeepers listed
    • Stars with poor disciplinary records ousted too

    Any player who is above the age of 30-years should forget about playing for the Super Eagles under the new dispensation, Sportinglife can reveal exclusively today.

    Sportinglife gathered further that goalkeepers such as Austin Ejide, Vincent Enyeama et al have been quietly excluded from the the Eagles’ subsequent international friendlies to allow the coaches field the home-based goalkeepers with special focus on all the country’s age-grade teams’ goalkeepers, Akpeyi, Afelokhai and the goal tender of Gabros FC.

    Interestingly, those players with poor disciplinary records during the last dispensation will be dropped for much hungrier ones eager to do the country proud.

    Indeed, the NFF eggheads will quietly inform the next Super Eagles chief coach, who is likely to be Stephen Keshi, to expose only those below the age of 30, largely because the new dispensation wants to use the international friendlies to increase the pool of talents from where players would be picked for the country’s  2018 World Cup qualifiers which begin later in June.

     

  • Haruna dropped from Dynamo Kiev Squad

    Haruna dropped from Dynamo Kiev Squad

    Lukman Haruna will not  be on parade at the Stade du Roudourou when Dynamo Kiev face Guingamp in the Europa League round of 32 on tonight.

    The Kievites left their training camp in Marbella, Spain early this afternoon, and the Nigeria international was not among the 23 players that were selected for the trip to France.

    Coach Rebrov has named 10 midfielders in the travelling party, but Haruna has been left out of the squad.

    The former Monaco midfielder has not made a single appearance in the Europe League since the start of this season.

    The 24-year-old last featured in this competition about a year ago when Dynamo Kiev drew goalless with Valencia.

  • Why power supply to Abuja dropped, by AEDC CEO

    Why power supply to Abuja dropped, by AEDC CEO

    Power supplied to Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has dropped from 400megawatts (Mw) to between 260Mw and 300Mw  causing pains to its customers.

    Its Managing Director, Mr. Neil Croucher yesterday blamed the development on a corresponding drop of between 20 and 30 per cent in power supplied to the firm from the national grid.

    He also said the load allocation of 11.5 per cent to Abuja Distribution Company (DISCo) and the penalties charged to it by the Market Operator for energy taken above this ceiling puts additional constraint on the company.

    Croucher told the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo who paid an unscheduled visit to the firm’s office in Abuja. Nebo was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Ambassador Godknows Igali and other aides.

    The minister noted with concern the drop in power supply to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and pledged to review the ceiling placed on the quantum of electricity supplied to the Abuja DISCo.

    In a statement endorsed by its spokesman, Ahmed Shekarau,  Nebo said a situation where Abuja, which is the seat of government, suffers inadequate power supply is counter-productive to the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan,  especially in terms of attracting foreign investments into the country.

    Nebo said the visit became imperative to find out from AEDC’s management what the challenges were and explore ways of tackling them.

    Croucher thanked the minister and the permanent secretary for the visit and commended them for the efforts being made to ensure the success of the President’s Transformation Agenda in the power sector.

    The AEDC boss appealed to the minister to help ensure that sufficient power is supplied to Abuja DISCo to meet the electricity needs of the FCT, considering its strategic importance.

    Croucher told the minister that AEDC is thinking out of the box as it is exploring the option of embedded power generation within its areas of coverage.

  • Babalola: I was not dropped as delegate

    Babalola: I was not dropped as delegate

    Legal luminary Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) has said that he was not dropped as a delegate to the conference. He explained that, when he turned down the offer, he nominated the elders statesman, Chief Deji Fasuan, to replace him.

    In a statement signed by his media aide, Tunde Olofintola, the eminent lawyer described himself as along standing proponent and protagonist of the national conference.

    The statement reads: “Babalola, who was the Chairman of the Revenue and Fiscal Allocation Committee in the 2005 National Conference, remains an unrepentant advocate of one Nigeria governed under a non-presidential federal constitution which concedes only specific powers to the federal government while developmental matters, cultural and traditional, religious and residual matters are left for the states under a new regional or zonal arrangement similar to a less expensive 1963 parliamentary constitution which was made by our fathers.

    “As a further demonstration of his belief in Project Nigeria and his unalloyed commitment to the success of the National Conference, Babalola has volunteered to send a paper to the Secretariat of the Conference, reiterating his views, including some papers earlier sent to the President which were forwarded to Justice Alfa Belgore.

    “He hopes that these views and those of millions of other peace-loving Nigerians will eventually come to be considered at the Conference and form the blueprint for a peaceful and prosperous Nation.

    “From the above, it is eminently and unambiguously clear that the unrepentant lover of Nigeria was not dropped. But, he appealed to the President to excuse him from the Conference and to nominate a replacement from Ekiti for himself in the Elder Statesman category.”

  • “Why I dropped Kalu”

    “Why I dropped Kalu”

    Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi,has explained why he droped Kalu Uche from the Eagles team that would face South Africa next month.While speaking to MTNFootball.com, the Coach said he is not aware of the fitness of the Kasimpasa striker.

    “Kalu has always been part of this team, but he was injured and I have not spoken to him to find out his fitness level, so I don’t think he is on the list,” Keshi disclosed.

    Interestingly, Uche sent warning signals to clubs in the Turkish Super League ahead of the new season as he netted a brace for Kasimpasa in a 4-0 win over Anadolu Uskudar on Tuesday.

    Uche scored 19 goals last season to finish as the second top scorer in Turkey.

    He is expected to lead his team’s goal rush this season.

    Meanwhile, Keshi said he will keep faith with his AFCON-winning squad for the August 14 friendly against Bafana.

    “I have retained the bulk of my Super Eagles squad to the Nations Cup. I think it’s time to focus on my main team now since I already have a picture of what my team should be. I also think they need time together for better team chemistry and understanding,” Keshi stated.

    This means AFCON 2013 goal king Emmanuel Emenike is expected to make a return to the Super Eagles.

    Also expected back to the team is Villarreal of Spain striker Ikechukwu Uche and Real Betis of Spain midfielder Nosa Igiebor.

  • Why Crocodiles dropped Emmanuel Ambrose

    Why Crocodiles dropped Emmanuel Ambrose

    Kaduna United centre back, Emmanuel Ambrose missed out from his side Globacom Premier League Matchday 19 encounter against ABS at the Kaduna Township Stadium on Sunday.

    The captain of his side is still nursing a knee injury he picked in the side home match against former African champions, Enyimba in Kaduna. He did not play any part in the side 0-2 loss at 3SC in the mid-week Globacom Premier League Matchday 18 tie at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan.

    Ambrose said he will be fervently praying for his side to grab the three points at stake against the Oluyole Warriors as the points will greatly improve the side standing on the log going into mid-term break.

    “No, I won’t be available against ABS on Sunday, I’m still nursing a knee injury I picked in my side home game against Enyimba in Kaduna.

    “Although, I’ve started training but I’m being advised against rushing into competitive game to avoid aggravating the injury. Good enough the game against ABS will signal the end of the first term so surely I would’ve been 100% fit by the time the second stanza of the league will be starting.

    “However, I’ll be in the stadium on Sunday ceaselessly praying for my side victory against ABS. That’s a game we must pick three points to churn up our position on the log as well as end the first stanza on a winning note.

    “ABS will come at us tough to redeem their image after the mid-week home defeat to Warri Wolves but our ego, too is bruised after going down in Ibadan to 3SC, so we need the victory more than anybody else,” said the Kaduna United strongman to supersport.com.

    Ambrose assured that his side will come into the second stanza stronger to challenge for good finishing at the end of the season.

    “We may not have done perfectly well as we would’ve loved to do due to problems that beset the side at the start of the season. I think we’ve gone far in solving some of the problems, we’ll be better positioned in the second stanza to fight for better placement on the log. I think second stanza will be better for us,” he said.

    The Crocodiles are 14th on the 20-team primary league on 24 points from possible 54.

  • Woman nominee for Appeal Court dropped

    Woman nominee for Appeal Court dropped

    •New judges sworn in

    The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, yesterday did not swear in Justice Ifeoma Jombo-Ofo listed for elevation to the Court of Appeal.

    She was among the 12 justices approved by President Goodluck Jonathan for elevation.

    Although no official reason was given for the action, The Nation gathered that she was not sworn-in due to a petition against her nomination.

    A source said Justice Jombo-Ofo was opposed because she is not from Abia State which she claims to represent on the bench.

    According to a statement from the Supreme Court, Justice Jombo-Ofo, who was called to bar in 1979, was appointed a High Court judge on November 4, 1998.

    Those sworn in yesterday are: Justice Ibrahim S. Bdliya, who was called to bar in 1976 and appointed a High Court Judge on 20th August, 1987; Justice Abiriya James Shehu, called to bar in 1979 and subsequently appointed a High Court Judge on 17th September, 1993 and Obietonbara O. Daniel-Kalio who was called to Bar and became a High Court Judge in 1981 and October 30, 1995 respectively.

    Others are Justices Onyekachi Otisi, called to Bar in 1980 and sworn in as a High Court Judge in November, 1998; Stephen Jonah Adah, called to Bar in 1982 and appointed a High Court Judge on 12th November, 1998; Tinuade Akomolaje-Wilson who was sworn in on May 3, 1999 having being called to Bar in 1975; and Fatima O. Akinbami who was called to Bar in 1977 and sworn in as High Court Judge on May 12, 1999.

    The rest are Justices Habeeb Adewale Abiru who was called to Bar in 1985 and appointed to the High Court in May 2001; Peter Olabisi Ige, sworn in as High Court Judge on 27th June, 2001 following his call to Bar in 1985; Tijani Abubakar, called to bar in 1985 and sworn in as a High Court Judge in 2004; and Emmanuel Agim who was sworn in as a High Court Judge in 2008.

    The CJN advised the appointees to adhere to the ethics of the profession and to discharge their duties without fear or favour.