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  • Businessman gets 12 months for theft

    A Karmo Grade 1 Area Court in Abuja yesterday sentenced a 22-year-old businessman, Sani Mohammed, to 12 months’ imprisonment for snatching a purse containing N1,000.

    The judge, Mr. Abubakar Sadiq, convicted Mohammed, who pleaded guilty to a charge of joint act and theft.

    He ordered that the purse and phone be returned to the owner.

    The judge advised the convict to be of good behaviour and desist from crimes after serving his term.

    Mohammed, who lives at Utako, Abuja, was charged under sections 79 and 292 of the Penal Code.

    The prosecutor, Mrs. Florence Auhioboh, said Dim Marian of Mabushi Police Station, Abuja, reported the matter at Utako Police Station on August 20.

    The prosecutor said on August 19, about 8:30 pm., the convict and another at large, conspired and accosted the complainant with a knife.

    He said the complainant was trying to board a cab at Nasfat junction, by Yoruba Mosque, Utako, when the convict attacked her and snatched her purse, containing N1,000 and a phone.

    Auhioboh said the complainant shouted, attracting people. The convict was caught, but his accomplice escaped with the purse.

    She said during interrogation, the purse and phone were recovered, but that the N1,000 was not recovered.

    The prosecutor told the court the convict had criminal records and was sentenced by the court.

  • Peace Corps boss gets N10m bail

    Peace Corps boss gets N10m bail

    Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court, Abuja yesterday granted the Commandant of Peace Corps, Mr. Dickson Akor, bail in the sum of N10 million.

    In his ruling, Justice Tsoho said Akor  must produce “one surety in the sum of N20 million and must be resident within Abuja, with title document; must have title of land property and two passport photographs.

    “The defendant must submit his international passport to the Deputy Chief Registrar.”

    Justice Tsoho adjourned till May 23 for commencement of trial.

    The Federal Government arraigned Akor and the Incorporated Trustees of the Corps on a 90-count criminal charges, bordering on alleged conversion of money directly derived from extortion to the tune of about N1.4 billion.

    In the suit filed by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the defendants were also charged for wearing of uniforms and other identification marks, contrary to section 24 (1) of the Private Guard Companies Act Cap P30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and punishable under Section 32 (1) of the Act.

    The charges filed by the prosecution counsel,  Aminu Alilu, accused the defendants of laundering of funds obtained through unlawful activity, contrary to Section 7(1)(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other fraud related Offences Act, Cap A6 laws of the Federation, 2004 and punishable under the same section of the Act.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty.

  • Power supply gets N701b boost

    Power supply gets N701b boost

    •Purchase guarantee for GenCos

    Power supply, which stands at 4,000 megawatts, is set for a major boost.

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday approved N701 billion Power Assurance Guarantee for the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET)—to ensure a better supply of gas to the power plants. This will in turn improve power supply.

    One of the major problems of the sector has been the lack of gas for power plants and the complaints about access to funding by the Generating Companies.

    Minister of Power, Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola announced  the FEC approval after yesterday’s meeting chaired by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo.

    With him at the briefing were Minister of Information Lai Mohammed and Minister of Agriculture Audu Ogbeh.

    Fashola said the  Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) facility will guarantee payment for the evacuation of power produced by Generating Companies (GenCos) for the national grid.

    It will be drawn monthly to tackle the GenCos liquidity challenges.

    NBET will pay GenCos, which have been unable to pay their gas suppliers,  in arrears of electricity generated as a deliberate step to boost their confidence and that of intending investors in the sector.

    Fashola said: “You will recall that a few weeks back we announced the approval of council for early works for the second Niger Bridge. That bridge at some time was part of a PPP initiative. You will also recall that at the same time, some private agreements were signed to build the Lagos-Ibadan express way.

    “The first memo is to brief council on the PPP status of those infrastructure projects and present options to government, which was essentially that where those PPPs are having problems, government must lead and finance the infrastructure while continuing to engage the private sector. Government remains committed to ‎having private participation in infrastructure renewal.

    “But government, as a matter of strategy; thinks that it can continue until financial closures, agreements and all of that are put in place when PPPs become ready and viable to help deliver. So, it was a strategy memorandum, the conclusion essentially which is that government is committed to doing short financing as much as possible and encouraging PPP as much as possible.

    “The second memorandum is in another area of critical importance, which is power‎. Part of the challenges there were addressed in the memo that was presented to Council to solve some of the liquidity problems, especially as it relates to NBET.

    “NBET as you know, is the government’s own company, that is the Bulk ‎Trader Electricity which buys power from the GenCos. The liquidity problems that have characterized the market have affected NBET’s ability to deliver on its PPP obligations through the GenCos.

    “So, going forward, in order to strengthen NBET, CBN is proving a payment assurance guarantee for any energy produced by any GenCos, so that the Gencos can pay their gas suppliers when they get paid. So that the hydros can continue to operate.

    “What we seek to achieve here is to bring some stability to the production side of the power value chain and also give confidence to investors who want to come in, who are concerned about how to recover their money. Payment assurance and also people who are planning to invest in the gas sector, which is being championed by the Ministry of Petroleum, also are saying the same thing in terms of payment for gas produced.

    “So, the approval of Council was to provide this guarantee for NBET, which is a 100 per cent government owned company to pay on a monthly basis its obligations for energy actually produced on to the grid to the GenCos that are its customers,” he said.

    Fashola said the government was expanding transmission capacity regularly because it wanted to generate more power.

    He said: “I have been here to announce to you transmission projects that have been approved by council and over the last one year plus the transmission capacity has grown to almost 7,000 from 5,000 and is continuing to grow with every project.

    “So, it is not the problem of taking power; it is actually a problem of getting power from generation. If you recall just about a few weeks ago, you were reporting that power supply had dropped to a little over 2000mw. It’s back now at over 4000mw.

    “We have solved the transmission problem in Ikot Ekpene largely, to evacuate over a thousand. But the gas suppliers were being owed so they were not supplying gas for the power producers.

    “As to the quantum of the guarantee, it is for two years from January this year right through to December 2018. It is capped at a maximum of N701 billion but it is to be drawn monthly. It is possible it may not reach that. But we are projected on the total cost that NBET will likely to pay. And that is why it is for power generated onto the grid only.

    “So, if the power generated does not meet that cost, we don’t pay for it. It is paid in arrears at the end of the month not in advance. So, it is for actually what gets onto the grid. And this is part of the reforms that we have briefed you about that we were planning to undertake.”

    Fashola said he briefed the cabinet on the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) status of the Second Niger Bridge and Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

    Ogbeh said the FEC approved N263 million for three research institutions to produce gum arabic seedlings for farmers and for export.

    He said Nigeria earned as much as $43 million from export of gum arabic last year, and that more will be earned with increased production, more so as the commodity is in high demand in 17 countries.

  • OPERATION CRUSH CONGO, CAMEROON: Iwobi gets Eagles call

    OPERATION CRUSH CONGO, CAMEROON: Iwobi gets Eagles call

    Arsenal youngster, Alex Iwobi, has become the latest player to be called up by Nigeria manager, Sunday Oliseh, for  next month’s international matches against DR Congo and Cameroon.

    The Nigerian trainer has moved immediately to invite the teenage striker after the world football governing body, FIFA, clarified that he can go ahead and play for the former African champions.

    The 19-year-old has already trained with the Nigerian under-23s currently coached by former international, Samson Siasia.

    “Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Sunday Oliseh, has added Arsenal FC starlet Alex Iwobi to the list of invited players for next month’s friendly internationals against Democratic Republic of Congo and Cameroon in Belgium.

    “Iwobi, who trained with the Nigeria U-23 squad ahead of an All-Africa Games qualifying return leg match early in March , is eligible to represent Nigeria despite featuring for England at youth level,” the official website of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), thenff.com, announced on Tuesday.

    Nigeria’s Super Eagles are scheduled to face the Leopards of the Democratic Republic of Congo on October 8 and three days later, will go up against Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions. Both games will hold in Belgium.

    Iwobi’s invitation now takes the number of player called up for the two internationals to 25.

    The full squad

    Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Lille OSC, France); Carl Ikeme (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Sunshine Stars); Femi Thomas (Enyimba FC)

    Defenders: Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany); Abdullahi Shehu (Uniao da Madeira, Portugal); Elderson Echiejile (AS Monaco, France); Chima Akas (Sharks FC); Godfrey Oboabona (Caykur Rizespor, Turkey); William Troost Ekong (FK Haugesund, Norway); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa SK, Turkey); Austin Obaroakpo (Abia Warriors)

    Midfielders: Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); Paul Onobi (Sunshine Stars); Obiora Nwankwo (Coimbra FC, Portugal); John Mikel Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Rabiu Ibrahim (AS Trencin, Slovakia)

    Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Emmanuel Emenike (Al Ain, UAE); Sylvester Igbonu (FC UFA, Russia); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Victor Moses (West Ham United, England); Odion Ighalo (Watford FC, England); Prince Aggreh (Sunshine Stars); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England)

  • FIFA TOP JOB: Odegbami gets ex-teammates backing

    FIFA TOP JOB: Odegbami gets ex-teammates backing

    The FIFA Presidency dream of Chief Segun Odegbami got a boost as his colleague and play mates at Green Eagles between 1976 and 1981 has pledged their support for his candidature.

    Former Green Eagles and Shooting Stars goalkeeper, Zion Ogunfeyinmi who addressed newsmen in Ibadan on behalf of the group urged Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to give a level playing ground to candidates that signified interest from Nigeria to vie for the football top seat.

    The Ilaje Prince opined that the group of ex-international that played along side with Odegbami both at IICC and Green Eagles were proud to identify with his candidature for the coveted position and are sure of the right winger is capable of doing when it comes to football administration.

    “What we want is for NFF to be fair by giving Odegbami who had demonstrated his acumen in soccer administration for many years since his retirement from active football a level play ground and not exhibit undue favoritism”, Zion Ogufeyinmi told the sporting press at Lekan Salami Sports Complex Ibadan.

    Odegbami, like other aspirants, is professing the need for change in the world body even as he expressed optimism that he would get the necessary backing to take a shot at football’s most coveted administrative position.

  • ANAN gets new president

    ANAN gets new president

    The Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) has appointed Anthony Nzom as its new president for the next two years.

    Nzom, in his acceptance speech,  promised to promote  research in Natural Capital and Peace Accounting; Small and Medium Enterprises/Practice and physical and infrastructural development.

    He noted that capacity building for workers both locally and internationally would be given priority. The new ANAN chief also promised to strengthen the activities of the association’s branches and work more closely with the Nigerian capital market.

    “We must support the Federal Government in the task of national development, aid the Africa Union in charting continental agenda for growth  and boost accounting and financial management in the region,” he said.

    He said the formal admission of ANAN into the IFAC encourages it to stand committed to work in partnership with the ICAN, the continental body, the PAFA and the sub regional body ABWA to promote international best practices in accounting, auditing, education, ethics and good governance

    He said he would employ an all-inclusive leadership approach to good governance by deploying all available resources within reach- the staff, Council members, Past Presidents, Governments in Nigeria and international institutions. “We must hone our skills and develop our practices in the four main strata of the profession – Accounting Education, Public Practice, Industry and Commerce (that is private sector practice) and the Government,’’ the new ANAN president said.

    According to him, this is the time to stand up and be counted in our struggle for greatness and enduring relevance in Nigeria, Africa and well beyond.

    “Today, the rules of engagement are fast changing for the emerging professional accounting organisation (PAO) of our dreams- International Financial Accountants and Edinburg Group which are fast becoming part of our everyday vocabulary in ANAN. As ANAN basks in the euphoria of her new found international recognition, necessity is placed on the association to sustain and improve the tempo of her development,” he said.

  • PZ Wilmar gets ISO certification

    PZ Wilmar Nigeria Ltd, a palm oil processing, packaging and distribution company, has been awarded the International Standard Organisation (ISO) 22000:2005 Certification for food safety.

    At the presentation in Lagos, the Managing Director, West Africa, PZ Wilmar Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Santosh Pillai, said the certification is an affirmation of the firm’s commitment to delivering safe products.

    He said the certification makes the company the first palm oil processing, packaging and distribution company to achieve the feat without extension from any parent company or parent site.

    He said: “ISO 22000:2005 is an international standard on food safety that confirms that a company’s supply chain process is well under control, and safety and quality of all products from its factory down the value chain to the end consumer is guaranteed.

    “To provide a demonstrable food safety management system, PZ Wilmar Limited was subjected to rigorous stages one and two Certification Audit by Bureau Veritas, following documentation and implementation according to ISO 22000: 2005 standard.”

    Its Deputy Manager, Technical, Mr. Nana Damoah, said the company sought the ISO certification to ensure that its products are manufactured in line with international standards and are safe.

    Systems Certification Manager, Bureau Veritas, a global leader in testing, inspection and certification, Mrs. Adenike Akinbote, said the process for ISO certification was not easy and that PZ Wilmar made it after fulfilling all its criteria.

    She, however, said the certification could be withdrawn or suspended if the company’s food safety and quality standard fails in future.

    The feat, which is a demonstration of the company’s commitment to its organisation, food safety and quality policy, came on the heels of an investment of about $80 million in crude palm oil refinery.

    The investment, according to Pillai, was in line with the company’s backward integration aimed at developing local capacity of palm oil production and restoring Nigeria’s position and visibility as a global player in palm oil.

  • Ojukwu gets posthumous honorary degree

    Anambra State University (ANSU) will, next Thursday, honour the Biafran warlord, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, with a posthumous honorary degree.

    Senate President David Mark will also receive an honorary doctorate at the institution’s sixth convocation.

    The former military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, is to deliver a lecture, titled: ‘Nigerian Civil War: No Victor, No Vanquished’.

    Ex-Governor Peter Obi renamed ANSU Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU).

    Addressing reporters yesterday at the institution’s campus in Igbariam, Anambra East Local Government, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Fidelis Okafor, said it was significant that Gen. Gowon would speak for the first time about the Civil War at a university named after his ‘rival’ in the war.

    Prof. Okafor said: “Ojukwu’s wife, Bianca and  Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu (Jnr) will receive the award on behalf of the late Igbo leader.”

    He described the three main characters in this year’s convocation as ‘special military men’, who, in one way or the other, helped to shape the country.

    The vice chancellor said 3,000 students would receive certificates as follows; 2,800 to be admitted to first degrees, 54 to receive  Master’s.

    Fourteen are to be conferred with doctorate and 97 postgraduate diplomas.

  • Buhari gets massive support in Ondo

    Buhari gets massive support in Ondo

    Two political groups working for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State – Heritage Solidarity and Saka Lawal – at the weekend declared their intention to work for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari.

    The Saka Lawal group, which claimed to have worked for the former PDP governorship candidate, Chief Olusola Oke, was founded by Oke’s former running mate, Saka Lawal.

    The groups, with structures in the 18 local governments, said they decided to dump the PDP presidential candidate, Goodluck Jonathan, because the party structures have been hijacked by “aliens”.

    An APC chieftain, Group Capt. Bola Owoeye, said since Buhari’s emergence as the APC candidate, the party has been growing stronger daily.

    Owoeye, who is the state Chairman of Buhari Vanguard and Change-Over Network, said the group would mobilise groups and prominent party members in other parties to their fold.

    He noted that they have successfully lured two vibrant groups from PDP to APC, assuring that more would join the party before the elections.

    The representative of Saka Lawal, Taiwo Saka, urged party members to embark on a house-to-house campaign, particularly by enlightening the aged on the reasons why they should vote for APC.

    “As our groups are known for, we don’t organise rallies, but our political instrument is door-to-door campaign. As at now, our members across the 18 local governments have been directed to begin work for Buhari and before elections, our people will be more enlightened on the need to vote in APC,” Saka said.

    But some members of the old PDP at the weekend vowed to work for President Goodluck Jonathan and other PDP candidates.

    The aggrieved PDP supporters promised to remain committed and loyal to the party.

    According to them, they would not abandon the platform they laboured to build in 16 years.

    The members, who have been watching the unfolding scenario since the merging of the Labour Party (LP) and PDP made the resolutions at the weekend at a stakeholders’ meeting in Akure, the state capital.

    The Central District meeting held in Akure was the second phase of the senatorial mobilisation of old PDP members.

    Oke, former PDP national legal adviser, read the resolutions at the end of the meeting.

    He said: “We have reached the following resolutions. One, we remain active, committed and loyal members of PDP in Ondo State. That we will not abandon the platform we have been on for 16 years.

    “Secondly, we all resolved that we believe in the transformation agenda of Mr. President. He has been able to make our economy the largest in Africa. Our rails are working. The aviation industry is doing well. There is economic empowerment for our people. There is capacity building. Our roads are looking good. Our health facilities are improving. We want him to continue.

    “Thirdly, we resolved to return to our various wards and unit to maximise the returns from these levels for Mr. President. In this regard, it is our belief that Ondo State votes will be the highest in the Southwest.

    “We have also resolved that we would vote for PDP candidates, irrespective of the controversy that surrounded their emergence. We believe that PDP is the best thing that has happened to Nigeria and that we must sustain the party beyond 2015.”

  • Cleaner gets N20,000 pay rise for returning N12m cash

    Cleaner gets N20,000 pay rise for returning N12m cash

    For her honesty, a cleaner who returned the N12million cash she found in a toilet, has got a N20, 000 pay rise. Miss Josephine Agwu was on a salary of N7,500 monthly before the raise.

    She was also promoted a supervisor by Patovilki Industrial Planners Limited, the company handling cleaning services at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos. The cash was in local and foreign currencies.

    At a ceremony at the company’s corporate headquarters at 1, Willy Ikolodo Close, Gbagada, the managing Director, Mrs Rosemary Moji Ikolodo thanked Miss Agwu for returning the cash.

    “She discovered the cash while cleaning the toilet in the airport and returned them. She has done the company proud,” Mrs Ikolodo said.

    She said the company has no option than to reward her in its little way by promoting her to supervisor cadre and increase her salary to N20, 000 monthly.

    Mrs Ikolodo said the company would have done more but had to act in line with existing structure for its workers at the airport.

    She said: “Today we are celebrating good conduct which we have known her for.  One of us has done us proud in Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. While on duty, she discovered a huge amount of money (N12 million) left behind by a passenger in the airport toilet and she, in accordance with the training we give, returned the money to the security.

    “For this conduct, an act of honesty, the company has no option than to reward Miss Josephine Agwu in our little way for doing us proud. She is hereby promoted to the supervisor cadre on a monthly salary of N20, 000 with immediate effect. We would have done more, but we are working within the contract we have with our client. That is the salary we pay our supervisors in the airport.”

    In her response, Miss Agwu thanked her employer for appreciating her conduct. She said her training and her background had always helped her to be of good conduct everywhere.

    She promised to always be a good ambassador of her family and the company.

    “I thank the management of Patovilki Industrial Planners Limited for rewarding me for my conduct in the airport with promotion and salary increase. What I did was the outcome of the training and orientation I received from my family and this company. I am very grateful for this honour. I promise to be a good ambassador of my family and the company for the rest of my life,” Miss Agwu said.