The Nation Newspaper

Tag: impounded

  • 378 bags of ‘poisonous rice’ impounded in Ebonyi

    •Govt suspends rice mill leadership

    The Ebonyi State government has impounded 378 bags of rice suspected to be adulterated, it was learnt yesterday.

    Senior Special Adviser to Governor Dave Umahi on Internal Security, Kenneth Ugbala, said the rice was seized on Tuesday and Wednesday when an investigating committee visited the market.

    Ugbala, who chairs the committee, added that the market has been rid of all the suspected adulterated rice, and re-assured the people that Abakaliki rice is still safe and fit for consumption.

    He, however, said the 10 shops where the adulterated rice was discovered will remain sealed pending the conclusion of investigations.

    Commissioner for Environment Donatus Njoku said a staff of the ministry went to the market on Sunday and saw one of the millers mixing the rice in bags labelled as “not for human consumption” with others and re-bagging them.

    The worker reported to him on Monday and he made preliminary investigations before reporting to the State Executive Council, which ordered the closure of the market and raised a panel to investigate the matter.

    According to Njoku, the committee seized over 378 bags of the poisonous rice which was imported into the state from other parts of the country. Several persons were also arrested for the crime.

    The leadership of the rice mill, headed by Joseph Ununu, has been suspended.

    Ugbala, who announced their suspension, said: “An interim leadership will be set up to manage the affairs of the mill till further notice as nature abhors vacuum.”

    He also debunked rumours that the government’s action was politically-motivated to prevent Ununu from pursuing his ambition to represent Abakaliki South State constituency.

    It was alleged that the closure of the market and suspension of the leadership of the market may not be unconnected to the political battle in his constituency ahead of the 2019 election.

    But Ugballa debunked the rumour, saying the government is only interested in saving the life of Ebonyi people and Nigerians who eat the rice.

    The Rice Mill has also been re-opened after preliminary investigations.

    Police spokesman Loveth Odah, who confirmed the situation, said: “One of the bags of rice has been sent to NAFDAC for analysis to confirm if they are poisonous. The Commissioner of Police, Titus Lamorde, has directed the matter to be transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for proper investigation.”

  • ‘Substandard’ product impounded

    The Standard Organisations of Nigeria (SON) in Anambra State has impounded 1,223 cartons of “EmmaScale” paint for non-compliance to quality standards.

    It also sealed the warehouse of EmmaScale Nigeria Ltd. on Modebe Street and its Operational Office in the Building Materials Market, Bridge Head, Onitsha.

    A SON official, Viginus Omeje, said the seized product was neither registered nor presented for quality assessment.

    According to Omeje, the company also faked SON’s registration logo which was assigned to a similar product, thus misleading the public.

    He said the impounded products would be kept at the Enugu office for further investigation, adding that the firm’s Managing Director, still at large, will face the consequences of counterfeiting the government’s seal.

  • Six vehicles, 68 motorcycles impounded

    The Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit (Task Force) at the weekend impounded six vehicles and 68 motorcycles for driving/ riding against traffic on Apongbon Bridge, Lagos Island.

    Task Force Chairman Olayinka Egbeyemi, who led the operation, said the offences contravened the Lagos State Road Traffic Laws of 2012.

    He said he was surprised that the offenders drove/rode against traffic without fear of collision with on-coming vehicles.

    Egbeyemi warned all illegal commercial motorists and traders operating under the Apongbon Bridge, including those collecting illegal fees, to vacate the area immediately.

    “We are issuing a final warning to all those concerned including illegal touts with uniforms collecting fees from motorists and traders under the Apongbon Bridge to vacate the area immediately.”

    Egbeyemi hinted that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is investing a “huge amount of money” in constructing Bus Terminals across the state for the public’s benefit.

  • FRSC to curb tipper recklessness in Anambra, impounds vehicles

    FRSC to curb tipper recklessness in Anambra, impounds vehicles

    The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) impounded 60 vehicles during a two-day special patrol in Anambra last week, Mr Sunday Ajayi, the Sector Commander, has said.

    Ajayi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Monday that the special intervention patrol was part of the command’s effort to sanitise Anambra roads.

    He said that the measure became imperative due to the recklessness of tipper drivers which had caused numerous accidents with attendant loss of life and property.

    “We had a two-day special intervention patrol on tipper lorry operators in Anambra, it may interest you to know that lots of lives and property have been lost due to accidents caused by this category of road users.

    “Prior to this measure, massive awareness campaigns had been done for them, warning them to reconcile their activities with the law as enshrined in the National Road Traffic Regulation, Nigeria Highway Code and Road Traffic Regulation.

    “Sixty vehicles were impounded for 74 offences during the two-day patrol and 34 of these vehicles were tipper lorries.

    “The offences largely, included overloading, non-coverage of content with tapolin, drunk driving, bad tyres, route violation and non-installation of speed limiting device.”

    The sector commander warned that violation of the laws by road users would be met with equal resistance and punishment.

    He urged motorists to cooperate with FRSC officials in the state in the effort to make the roads safe.

  • 16 herdsmen convicted, 36 cows impounded

    16 herdsmen convicted, 36 cows impounded

    Herdsmen who graze their cattle in the Abuja metropolis are being tried and convicted, report GBENGA OMOKHUNU and GRACE OBIKE

    The Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Task Team on Environmental Sanitation have started arresting and prosecuting herdsmen grazing cattle in Abuja.

    In the seven days exercise so far, 36 cows and 38 sheep have been impounded, while 16 herdsmen have been arraigned and convicted before the Sanitation Mobile Court.

    The AEPB and the Task Team  tendered the impounded cows and sheep as exhibits to secure the conviction of the arrested herdsmen.

    According to a statement issued by the  Deputy Director/Chief Press Secretary, Muhammad Sule, the exercise is sequel to the directive of the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, for the Abuja Environmental Protection Board and the FCT Task Team on Environment to stop forthwith the grazing of cattle within Abuja metropolis.

    Those arrested have been made to face the consequences of their actions as they have paid various fines to serve as a deterrent to others with strong warning to desist from doing same.

    The exercise that commenced about a week ago by the AEPB and the Task Team on the instruction of the Minister is a continuous one.

    Meanwhile, peeved by the continued movement of cattle in Abuja metropolis in despite several warnings to their owners by the Federal Capital Territory Authorities, the Senate, through its Committee on FCT has asked residents of the area to, henceforth, slaughter cows found in the city centre.

    The directive was handed down to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Alhaji Mohammed Bello, by Chairman of the committee, Senator Dino Melaye, (APC, Kogi West), when he appeared before the committee.

    Melaye, who gave the order in a speech read at the session, said it was very disappointing, annoying and embarrassing that despite the ban placed on cattle grazing in FCT by FCTA authority, some stubborn herdsmen were still moving cows along and across highways within the metropolis. He ordered the FCT Minister to go beyond the ban by facilitating the slaughtering order issued by the senate committee. Melaye told the minister, “the Senate is not happy at how herdsmen continue to move their cows across the city centre, which we are aware you had given directive against some time ago. “From now on, get knives and ask your men to slaughter cows found in the capital city or prosecute herdsmen seen with cows in the city centre with a fine of N50,000 per cow. This order must be carried out.”

    Melaye further revealed that the Senate was in receipt of complaints that some residents of the territory were converting their apartments into hotels and brothels, a situation he said was distorting the original master plan of the city. He noted that some people were already undermining FCT authority under his watch, which he said was unacceptable.

     

  • Customs impound 31 containers of rice at Lagos port

    Customs impound 31 containers of rice at Lagos port

    The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has impounded 31 containers of rice that was illegally imported into the country.

    The items, which the market value was yet to be determined, were seized Friday, at the Tin-Can Island Container Terminal (TICT), Lagos.

    Addressing reporters at the venue of the seizure in Lagos Friday, the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Col Hameed Ali who was represented by a Deputy Comptroller-General ( DCG) Dan Ugo said the items were shipped into the from China.

    The importer, he said, wanted to shortchange the government by declaring the items as yeast in his bill of laden.

    Yeast importation, Ali said, attracts five per cent duty, while rice attracts 110 per cent duty and 60 per cent levy.

    For falsifying his document and wanted to cheat the government, the Comptroller-General has therefore, declared that over 40, 000 bags of rice inside the containers as outright seizure without any option of payment  for the importer.

    The measure, he said, was applied to serve as deterrent to other scrupulous importers operating at the nation’s sea ports and border stations.

    Investigation by The Nation revealed that some  of the container number in which the  rice were shipped into the country through the MAERSK LINE include the following: MSKU: 410819 (6) 22 G1, MSKU: 711125 (4) 22 G1, PONU: 033850 (2) 22 G1, MSKU: 339624 (6) 22 G1, MSKU: 753283 (9) 22 G1, PONU: 205422 (8) 22 G1,  MRKU: 857850 (8) 22 G1, PONU:000208 (2) 22 G1, MSKU: 763801 (3) 22 G1, MSKU: 365294 (4) 22 G1, GATU: 054746 (6) 22 G1, MRKU: 715521 (9) 22 G1, MSKU: 741347 (0) 22G1, PONU: 044185(0) 22 G1, CLHU: 30353322 (7) G1, ZIMU: 129944 (6) 22 G1, MRKU: 731946 (2) 22 G1, MSKU: 788942 (5) 22 G1, MRKU: 654641 (4) 22 G1, MSKU: 521748 (4) 22 G1, MSKU: 405022 (1) 22G1, MSKU: 206425 (2) 22 G1, MRKU: 729473 (9) 22 G1, MRKU: 986083 (5) 22 G1, MRKU: 681160 (5) 22 G1, MAEU: 679395 (3) 22 G1, MRSU: 026634 (2) 22 G1,  PONU: 01906722 G1, MRKU:777063 (0) 22G1 and MRSU: 015690 (0) 22G1

    He said that the rice laden containers were ferried by Maersk Line vessel to Tincan Island Container Terminal (TICT) at the port.

    He bemoaned the situation where the importer deliberately made false declaration in a bid to evade duty.

    The CGC retracted that the era false declaration and debit note was over; saying importers with false declaration of imports would be punished by the government.

    “We have told clearing agents and importers to do genuine declaration. We are all talking of trade facilitation at port and some importers are busy abusing the system,” he said.

  • 56 bags of Hemp impounded

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has impounded 56 bags of cannabis or Indian Hemp, calling it a major breakthrough in its fight against criminal activities.

    FCTA Permanent Secretary Mr. John Chukwu, an engineer,  made the disclosure after his meeting with the FCT Task Team on City Management.

    He said that the task team discovered the drugs at a depot during its covert operation at Tura-Bura, behind Apo Roundabout in Abuja.

    Deputy Director/Chief Press Secretary, Muhammad Sule’s revelations were contained in a press statement.

    In the document, Sule quoted Chukwu as saying that the drugs were kept in a bunker by the suspects but were uncovered by members of the task team.

    He stated, “The Permanent Secretary revealed that the Task Team discovered the hard drugs in a depot during its covert operation at Tura-Bura, behind Apo Roundabout.

    ”The FCT Administration is gladdened by the proactive activity of the Task Team for this major discovery which would go a long way in reducing crime in all its ramifications in Abuja and environs”.

    He said, “These 56 bags of cannabis and sundry hard drugs seized by the FCT Task Team will surely have positive multiplier effects on the fight against criminal activities in Abuja because most crimes are committed under the influence of hard drugs”.

    “He disclosed that the cannabis and sundry hard drugs were surreptitiously kept in a bunker by the suspects but was uncovered, thanks to the vigilance of members of the Task Team.

    “While commending the members, Engr. Chukwu seized the opportunity to challenge the Task Team to rededicate itself to an onerous task of riding Abuja of all environmental nuisances and criminal activities.

    “He called for cooperation and understanding of all the residents of the Federal Capital Territory in the Administration’s bid to make Abuja crime-free. The Permanent Secretary also enjoined the residents to always assist security agents by providing information about criminal hideouts and of suspicious person (s) or movements to the appropriate authorities in order to nip in the bud their nefarious activities.”

  • 20,373 motorcycles impounded

    Since the ban on commercial motorcycles in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), some 20,373 of the two-wheeled vehicles have been impounded by the administration.

    The FCT Permanent Secretary Mr. John Chukwu, an engineer, has warned commercial motorcycle operators to stay away from Abuja because their motorcycles will be impounded, if caught.

    Mr. Chukwu also stated that in order to ensure the safety of lifes and property on Abuja highways, the FCT Administration has used its new computerised Vehicle Inspection Scheme to check the roadworthiness of 11,000 vehicles from September 2014 to date.

    He claimed that the FCTA Computerised Vehicle Inspection Scheme is the first and the only one in Nigeria and added that the policy has become very necessary, considering the number of the unfortunate road crashes in and around the 250 square kilometers of the Federal Capital City, Abuja.

    Deputy Director/Chief Press Secretary FCT, Muhammed Sule made the revelation in a press statement where he said that  Engr. Chukwu disclosed that the inspection is ongoing and

    urged the motoring public to take advantage of the scheme to know the status and be sure of their vehicles before using them on the highways.

    He restated that the vehicles’ test would make the Directorate of Road Traffic Services certify such vehicles for use thereby minimizing avoidable road accidents.

    Chukwu also added that in order to improve service delivery, the FCT Administration has  approved six additional Driving Training & Test (DTT) Canters for the FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Services to run driving tests simultaneously as well as the issuance of drivers’ licenses and assured that the FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Services as at today, has the capacity to process new vehicle number plates /vehicle papers within 24 hours except for fancy or out of series numbers that may take longer time.SSS

  • PDP: imported hard currencies ‘ll be impounded

    PDP: imported hard currencies ‘ll be impounded

    THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Organisation has said the ruling Federal Government would impound any hard currency brought into the country by opposition party leaders.

    The ruling party also accused the opposition of not being happy with what it described as President Goodluck Jonathan’s “victory” over terrorism.

    Director of Media and Publicity of the campaign organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, in a statement yesterday, denied accusation by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that the administration planned to implicate the opposition in phantom importation of foreign currencies into the country.

    Spokesman of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, had raised the alarm over hard currencies about to be illegally imported into the country by agents of the Jonathan administration, with the view to implicating the APC leaders.

    But, Fani-Kayode dismissed the allegation, stating rather that the APC leaders should get ready to face the full wrath of the law, if they violated any law.

  • Reps order release of impounded vessels

    Reps order release of impounded vessels

    The House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum (Upstream) and the House Committee on Navy have directed the Navy and the Police to release the vessel, MT St. Vanessa, impounded on allegations of illegal bunkering.

    The chairman of the Committee on Petroleum (Upstream), Muraina Ajibola, announced the directive yesterday after a meeting of the two committees with representatives of the Navy, agents of the vessel and the Police.

    The lawmakers also ordered the police to immediately begin the withdrawal of the court case instituted against the owner of the vessel.

    The committees said it had investigated the issue and found that the vessel had not broken any law.

    The committees’ position is against a September 21 report by the Chief of Naval Staff,Vice Admiral Ola Saad Ibrahim.

    In the report, Vice Admiral Ibrahim said:“Past antecedents that vessels came into Nigerian waters to engage in diverse forms of illegal activities undetected and unchallenged. Some of these activities were human trafficking, illegal dealings in arms, drug trafficking, oil theft, illegal bunkering, poaching and piracy.

    “It is a result of such activities common in the West African coast, that the Maritime domain awareness facilities were installed. Consequently, the arrest of MT St. Vanessa would act as deterrent to other vessels engaged in illegalities or entering the country’s maritime domain without clear purposes.”

    He stated that “activities of the vessels offshore Lome and Salt Pond within Ghanian territorial waters, necessitated that further enquiries be made to ascertain if they were duly authorised by appropriate authorities in Togo and Ghana.

    “Consequently, Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) has been requested to liaise on behalf of the Nigerian Navy and the outcome of this efforts is still being awaited. There is therefore, the need to carefully investigate the activities of MT St Vanessa within Nigerian waters to a logical conclusion.”