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Tag: lagos

  • Zenith Bank ‘Nextgen’ junior Masters begins in Lagos

    Sixteen players served off the Zenith Bank NextGen Junior Masters on Tuesday as Stephen Augustine defeats Emmanuel Jebutu 9-7, while Omolade Adeyemi crushed Kausarat Adegboyega, 9-1 in day one actions.

    The players — males and females — began the quest to emerge the best player of the elite competitions for U-18 players will be concluded on April 28.

    The competition is holding at the Tennis Courts of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

    Godwin Kienka, the organiser of the tournament, told the our reporter during the day one action that the players on parade are the best in the junior ranks.

    Kienka, who is the Director of the International Tennis Academy, said the tournament had always given players the opportunity to develop into the senior ranks.

    “The junior masters basically are for players who have made their necessary marks based on last year’s performance at the other junior cadres of competitions.

    “The top eight in the country have been isolated so that they can compete among themselves to make a quick transition to the senior ranks.

    “The competition is set aside to give players that psychological boost to strive to be among the best eight to be discovered and make it as great tennis player,’’ Kienka said.

    NAN reports that the eight boys invited for Masters are Michael Oshewa boy’s 18 champions, Godgift Timibra, Stephen Augustine, Tochukwu Ezeh, Michael Ayoola, Emma Jebutu, Philip Abayomi and Gabriel Friday.

    Friday is the winner of the boys U-16 title at the just-concluded CBN Junior Championships which held in Abuja, while Mathew Abamu the runner-up will standby as the alternate.

    To slug it out in the girl’s category are Oyin Quadre, semi-finalist at the African Junior Championship Girl’s U-16, Favour Moses winner of CBN Junior Championship, Omolade Aderemi, Omolayo Bamidele and Toyin Asogba.

    Others are Kasara Adegboyega, Mariam Alli-Balogun, and Rebecca Ekpeyong, while Oiza Yakubu, winner of the Girl’s U-14 CBN Juniors will serve as alternate.

    The tournament, according to the organisers, will have the players divided into two round robin groups of four with the top two finishers playing a cross semi-finals.

    NAN

     

  • Man gets N10m bail for N141m China export ‘fraud’

    An Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos Tuesday granted a businessman, Chekwube Okafor, N10 million bail following his arraignment for allegedly obtaining N141.6 million from his partner under the pretext of exporting wood to China.

    Chief Magistrate O. A. Botoku gave the ruling after Okafor was arraigned by the police on a three-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and fraud.

    He pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate Botoku also ordered Okafor to produce two sureties in the like sum, who must also be gainfully employed and show evidence of tax payment.

    She adjourned till May 15.

    Earlier, Prosecutor Inspector Steven Molo alleged that Okafor committed the offences between October 2016 and February 2017, at Alaba, in Ojo Local Government Area (LGA) of Lagos.

    He said the defendant fraudulently obtained N141.6 million from his business associate, Ifeanyi Okoli, under guise of exporting 44 20-foot containers of wood to China.

    “The complainant did not receive the containers of wood which the defendant obtained money for; he did not even pay back the said money to the complainant.

    “The defendant knew that the representation he made was false,” Molo told Chief Magistrate Botoku.

    According to him, the offences contravened Sections 287, 314 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    Read Also: Man in court over alleged N7.1m fraud

  • Nigeria, Ghana rivalry focal point of ICC World Africa T20 Qualifier

    The just-concluded ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers at the Tafawa Balewa Square Cricket Oval in Lagos, without any iota of a doubt rekindled the bitter rivalry between Nigeria and Ghana.

    The event which ran for a week in Nigeria’s commercial capital, paraded The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Ghana and Nigeria; saw the teams jostling for the two available slots that would take them to the main qualifiers.

    After the keenly contested matches, Ghana and Nigeria eventually qualified for the next stage of the qualifiers which will hold in 2019, while Sierra Leone and The Gambia returned home empty handed.

    The rivalry between Ghana and Nigeria dates back to circa 1904, when the Lagos Colony and Gold Coast Colony first played at the TBS Cricket Oval which ended in favour of Ghana.

    Ever since then, both countries have literally been at “war’’ to affirm their supremacy in the sport.

    In their first encounter at the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers, fans came out in large numbers to watch both sides slug it out; in a tension-soaked match which ended in favour of Ghana.

    The Ghanaian side fielded first and ensured that Nigeria was reduced in the first innings to 119runs for 8 wickets in 20 overs.

    The second match which would have served as an avenue for Nigeria to avenge the defeat in the first match, turned out to be a bitter pill for fans.

    Just like it was in 1904, Ghana once again affirmed her supremacy over Nigeria at the same venue where the rivalry started 114years ago, with 4 wickets to complete a double and emerged champions of the qualifying tournament.

    At the end, Ghana finished with 11 points, Nigeria settled for 8 points, while Sierra Leone and Gambia had five points and two points respectively.

    Eugene King, the Team Manager of Ghana, said it was a perfect victory for his team due to the war of supremacy between both countries in cricket.

    King said his team was able to capitalise on the mistakes of their rivals to record their second win against Nigeria and topped the ICC qualifying event.

    “This is a perfect victory for us, winning our first and second match against Nigeria in this qualifiers is a good boost for the team.

    “Nigeria has always had the upper hand against the Ghanaian team in the past, but I think the tide has turned in our favour,’’ he said.

    Meanwhile, Chimezie Onwuzulike, the Captain of Team Nigeria, said he was not happy with the outcome of the matches played against Ghana.

    Onwuzulike said the two defeats will not diminish the team’s morale, adding that qualifying for the main Africa qualifiers slated for 2019 was a consolation for the players.

    “In every game there must be a winner and losers, we will go back to the drawing board and re-strategise.

    “But the good thing is that we have qualified from the North-Western Sub-Regional Zone, we are grateful to the Nigeria Cricket Federation ( NCF ) for its support,’’ he said.

    Prior to the event, the NCF board set up committees piloted by Uyi Akpata, the Vice-president of NCF to ensure a hitch-free event and they performed creditably.

    The event which was the first of its kind for the country, was a leverage for the Prof. Adam Yahaya-Ukwenya-led board in its bid to popularise the sport.

    As part of the buildup to the event, the TBS cricket oval was given a much needed facelift that was befitting for an event of the magnitude of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers.

    Also, the NCF sealed a sponsorship deal with one of Nigeria’s leading, indigenous oil companies — Eroton Exploration and Production Company Ltd.

    The NCF president said that the hosting of the event was a plus for the game in the country.

    “It is unprecedented in our cricket history for Nigeria to be given hosting rights for the qualifying ICC T20 tournament.

    “It’s a measure of confidence on the new board of NCF and Nigeria.

    “We are building a team for the future and we have this same level of freshness running through all our national teams,’’ he said.

    Kuben Pillay, an ICC Africa Representative, said the body was pleased with what the NCF had achieved within a short period to stage the event.

    Pillay said that the country was in the best position to host the sub-regional qualifiers owing to the commitment and determination of the NCF in improving the standard of the game.

    Read Also: Nigeria will win 2019 AFCON – Rohr

    “I am proud of what has happened in the last few months, I remember what I saw when I visited in March for facility inspection and what is on ground now.

    “This only shows that the federation is ready to take cricket to the next level in the region, and the ICC is ready to work with the body with the aim of developing the sport in Africa,’’ he said.

    In the same vein, Michael Aboagye, Captain of the Ghanaian side, said the organisation of the event was a huge success and commended the NCF for the effort.

    “The qualifiers was well organised by the host and I believe they have put in a lot to achieve this,’’ he said.

    Mohamed Monsaray, Captain of the Sierra Leone team, said that the logistics put in place was good for the ICC event.

    “The reception, atmosphere and movement of participants from the venue to hotel and security was well executed without any hitch,’’ he said.

    Also, Tayo Atoloye, who played in the national team for 12 years, said there had been a positive change in the sport since the inception of the new board last year.

    Atoloye, who is the Vice-Chairman of the Oyo State Cricket Association, said that it was long overdue for the country to host an ICC event, adding that the effort of the NCF had paid off.

    “There is a lot of development in the administration of cricket in the past few months, which is a positive sign for the sport and I hope they won’t relent.

    “The board has gone the extra mile to ensure the country hosts this event for the first time in our history, because it is long overdue to host an ICC competition,’’ he said.

    With all the accolades heaped on the NCF, one would expect that the same effort will be adopted to prepare the national team players tactically as they continue their bid to qualify for the Twenty20 Cup in Australia.

    NAN

  • Lawyers to engage Lagos on Land Use Charge

    The Lagos Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) will engage with the state government on the Land Use Charge during the association’s Law Week, its Chairman, Mr Chukwuka Ikwuazom, has said.

    According to him, the forum will provide an opportunity for dialogue.

    He said: “Lawyers have complained about challenges they encounter when they go to register title in Lagos, that there are issues around personal income taxation.

    “So, we’ve made an offer to the Lagos State government to allocate between 30 to 45 minutes to the government to come and engage with members.

    “On the Land Use charge, at our last branch meeting, we had someone come to talk to us about it. One of the things that came out of that engagement was the need for further engagement. That was what further informed our decision to give them the opportunity to be part of the law week.”

    The branch said it would visit the Ikoyi and Kirikiri prisons to show support for inmates as part of activities for the 2018 Law week.

    The Law Week Planning Committee Chairman, Mr Tola Oshobi (SAN), told reporters in Lagos that the prison visitation was aimed at making provisions for the inmates to help improve their quality of lives.

    The theme is: Human capital and the legal profession in the 21st Century. It will hold from May 5 to May 11.

    Oshobi said apart from the prisons visit, the week also include sessions such as health walk, health screening, registration of lawyers for the National Identity Card, technical sessions and a forum for the young lawyers.

    On the prisons visit, Oshobi said: “We will be giving out some gift items to the inmates and make legal representations to some of them, where necessary,”

    He said if the NBA found reasons to make recommendations to the Chief Judge, the Attorney-General or the prison authorities, it would do so as part of ways to aid in prison decongestion.

    Also, NBA Lagos Chairman, Mr Chukwuka Ikwuazom, said the various sessions would be anchored by versatile lawyers in Lagos, while there would be a social event for the older lawyers in the NBA.

    “The human right arm of the NBA ensures provisions of free legal services for indigent prisons inmates, as this year’s law week celebration was a slight deviation from the previous years’ activities.,’’ Ikwuazom said.

    He said some of the dignitaries expected at the event include judges, senior lawyers and some legal luminaries from   some international bodies.

    On the Bar/Bench forum, Ikwuazom said: “We want to discuss the peculiar issues that have come out of the National Industrial Court. We’ll continue to interact with the leadership of the Bench. Not too long we had the Bar/Bench forum.

    “But for the purposes of the Law week, we’re focusing specifically on Labour issues. There’s a sense among employers of Labour that the National Industrial Court has been established to only take care of employees and that its decisions are anti-employers.

    “So it’s those types of issues that we want to have conversations around. Labour matters are extremely important.”

    The NBA chair said the association takes the issue of professional ethics seriously even if it was not listed for discussion at the event.

    “We have a Disciplinary and Ethics Committee of the branch. One of the innovations we brought is the knowledge sharing sessions as part of our monthly meetings.

    “We bring people to address subjects of importance to our members. Ethics was discussed in February. So while we may not accommodate ethics during the Law week, we understand the importance of the subject and we’ll continue to sensitise our people about it even outside the Law week event,” Ikwuazom said.

  • 2019: Police to comb uncompleted buildings, dump sites in Lagos

    The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Imohimi Edgal, says dump sites, undeveloped lands and uncompleted buildings likely to house criminals will be combed as part of preparations for the 2019 general elections.

    Edgal told our reporter on Monday at the command’s headquarters in Ikeja that the measure was to check crime ahead of   the forthcoming elections.

    According to him, many criminals have been living and keeping arms and ammunition at different dump sites as well as abandoned lands and buildings in the state.

    “We have not been paying serious attention to dump sites, abandoned lands and buildings.

    “Intelligence reports show that many criminals live and keep their weapons in these areas.

    “When we raided Olusosun dump site recently, we arrested over 100 suspected criminals.

    “We also recovered many arms and ammunition and Indian hemp from the place. The dump site covers an area of about 50 acres of land.

    “We have decided to take over such lands in Lagos as a proactive measure for violence-free elections in 2019.

    “As part of preparations, we have been having workshops with INEC officials.

    “We are also studying clips from previous elections in Lagos to identify all the black spots during elections.

    “We advise owners of abandoned lands and buildings within the metropolis to ensure that their facilities are not used by hoodlums.

    “We call on the public to report to the police any empty land and uncompleted buildings that hoodlums are using as their hideouts to plan for any crime, ’’ Edgal said.

    Reports have it that the Olusosun dump site at Ojota had been on fire for about a month, forcing the Lagos State Government to seal up all artisans’ shops in the area.

    Our reporter further reports that different police teams were sighted guarding the dump site and preventing residents from entering the area.

    NAN

     

  • Acting is as lucrative as Medicine, Law – Fred Amata

    Fred Amata, the president of the Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN), on Monday says acting is a profession that is as productive as Medicine or Law.

    Amata told our reporter in Lagos that the stakeholders in the acting profession should be accorded same respect accorded to lawyers, engineers, medical doctors and other noble professions.

    Reports have it that DGN are those who direct stage plays and home videos on locations.

    He said that acting had advanced in scope and international acceptability as well as become more lucrative than ever before.

    “With the growth of the industry today, and one film being able to rake in over half a billion naira a year, I believe the sky is a starting point.

    “I know that this massive change will definitely make acting the next best thing,” he said.

    The former actor said that theatricals or stagecraft was a job that a person could do from ones cradle till death.

    “For instance, I can never play the role of a new born or play that of a teenage boy. At every single phase of life, you have a place and an opportunity to venture into the world of art.

    “Once a person becomes an actor, he or she will always remain an actor, regardless of being in or out of the industry.

    “However, it is not easy to reach stardom or remain in limelight, but it is also not impossible, as there are three things that make a person a star.

    “These are how talented an individual is, the person’s structure, his or her readiness to learn the craft and getting as much education as possible as well as the grace of God,” he said.

    The president explained that acting was not only about the looks, but intelligence and ability to grasp whatever script one was given.

    “The X-factor here is God’s grace, opportunity and luck that keep one going in the game.

    “Most times, it is the grace of God that one needs to take one to places beyond ones expectation.

    “Learning is a continuous process; so striving to better ones’ self is very important in this profession.

    “Most of the vocations we hear about today are man-made; and it is the value the society places on it that it gives back,” Amata said.

    NAN

  • Lagos unveils Gani Fawehinmi’s new statue

    The Lagos State Government is set to unveil a new statue of Chief Gani Fawehinmi SAN, sited at the beautiful park in Ojota, which is named after the late legal luminary and human rights advocate, on Sunday.

    State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, with members of the Gani Fawehinmi family, leading voices in human rights and other dignitaries across the state, will unveil the edifying statue in commemoration of the late activist’s 80th posthumous birthday.

    Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, in a statement, said the remodelling of the magnificent Gani Fawehinmi statue was part of the state’s strategy to enhance the aesthetic beauty of open public spaces and parks across the state and to celebrate and immortalise worthy icons that contributed immensely to the development of Lagos State.

    According to the commissioner, the new statue was also informed by the desire of Lagos State government to project and entrench the enduring legacy of the country’s foremost human rights lawyer, activist, philanthropist and one of the icons of pro-democracy movement in Nigeria.

    “Lagos State is proud that Chief Gani Fawehinmi’s courageous voice was loud enough for the world to take notice of socio-political developments in Nigeria. His fearless activism and constant interventions on behalf of the voiceless were legendary and helped ignite global interest on the plight of the masses and on Lagos as a liberal state that created an enabling environment for voices against oppression to be heard,” Ayorinde said.

    The 34-foot high statue will serve as one of the many iconic edifices that highlight the Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration’s quest to transform the landscape of the state with artistic aesthetics, while also signposting the belief in giving honour to whom honour is due.

     

     

  • Lagos set to unveil Fawehinmi’s statue

    The Lagos State Government is set to unveil a new statue of Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN sited at the beautiful park in Ojota which is named after the late legal luminary and human rights advocate on Sunday.

    State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, with members of the Gani Fawehinmi family, leading voices in human rights and other dignitaries across the state, will unveil the edifying statue in commemoration of the late activist’s 80th posthumous birthday.

    Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Steve Ayorinde in a statement, said the remodelling of the magnificent Gani Fawehinmi statue was part of the State’s strategy to enhance the aesthetic beauty of open public spaces and parks across the state and to celebrate and immortalise worthy icons that contributed immensely to the development of Lagos State.

    According to the Commissioner, the new statue was also informed by the desire of Lagos State government to project and entrench the enduring legacy of the country’s foremost human right lawyer, activist, philanthropist and one of the icons of pro-democracy movement in Nigeria.

    “Lagos State is proud that Chief Gani Fawehinmi’s courageous voice was loud enough for the world to take notice of socio-political developments in Nigeria. His fearless activism and constant interventions on behalf of the voiceless were legendary and helped ignite global interest on the plight of the masses and on Lagos as a liberal State that created an enabling environment for voices against oppression to be heard,” Ayorinde said.

    The 34-feet high statue will serve as one of the many iconic edifices that highlight the Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration’s quest to transform the landscape of the state with artistic aesthetics, while also signposting the belief in giving honour to whom honour is due.

    The commissioner quoted Governor Ambode as saying that the relevance of Gani’s struggle for transparent and responsive governance remains the pillar of our progressive leadership in Lagos State in particular and Nigeria in general.

    “It is therefore pertinent to accord him the needed reference and respect in the company of great and revered minds that considered Lagos as home and an integral part of their success story.”

    The statement added that Governor Ambode and his entire cabinet, on behalf of the good people of Lagos State appreciate and congratulate the Fawehinmi family for keeping the flag of what Gani represents to the law profession and the civil society flying through the sustenance of the colloquium to celebrate his birthday annually.

    Sunday’s unveiling is expected to be witnessed by members of Gani’s family,  friends, protégés and loyalists that have sustained the legacy of the late legal icon by keeping the flag of human rights advocacy, fairness and justice flying.

    The Commissioner added that adequate security measures and traffic control have been put in place to ensure that the two-hour ceremony is orderly and befitting of Chief Gani Fawehinmi’s legacy.

  • Maths competition: Unilag student emerges overall best

    Mr Daniel Itsuokor, a 400 level student of mathematics, University of Lagos (Unilag) has emerged overall best out of 56 participants in mathematics competition organised by National Mathematical Centre (NMC).

    Unilag also triumphed over 14 other universities that participated in the competition.

    Prof. Stephen Onah, the Director/Chief Executive of NMC disclosed this during the closing ceremony of the competition on Friday in Sheda.

    Represented by Prof. Peter Onumaiye, the Coordinator, Mathematical Sciences Programme of the NMC, Onah said five participants won gold medals, nine got silver medals, while 14 went home with bronze medals out of the 56 participants.

    The director congratulated the participants for the performance and urged them to remain focused and be good ambassadors of mathematics.

    He advised the participants not to look at what they would benefit from working hard, rather, they should have goal or target and work hard to achieve it.

    Itsuokor, who spoke on behalf of other participants, expressed gratitude to the centre for the opportunity given them to exercise their capabilities in the knowledge of mathematics.

    The overall best attributed his success to hard work and determination and encouraged other students to embrace mathematics, saying studying the course was not so difficult as presumed by some students.

    Prof. Benjamin Oyelami, the Coordinator, Academic Planning, NMC, said the essence of the competition was to encourage students of mathematics to study hard and be ambassadors of the subject in the world.

    He said “Nigeria needs to be developed and to develop a nation, you need trained minds; minds that are innovative.

    “And that is the reason why your parents sent you to the university to develop your minds.”

    According to him, mathematics is the only science course that develops minds of people to be able to reason and develop things.

    “So, you have been trained and I believe that after your graduation as you go into the world, you will make Nigeria proud,” Oyelami said.

    He advised the medalists to continue to work hard “as to whom much is given, much is expected”.

    He encouraged other participants who could not win any medal not to lose hope, but have confidence in themselves.

    A total of 14 Nigerian universities took part in the 2018 National Mathematics Competition for university students which started on April 17.

    At institutional stage, Unilag came first, followed by Federal University of Technology Akure in second place, while University of Nigeria Nsukka claimed the third position.

    NAN

     

  • Lagos community decries poor electricity

    Electricity consumers in Cardoso Awodi-Ora area of Ajegunle Apapa in Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Area, Lagos, on Friday decried the epileptic power supply, outrageous billing and dilapidated equipment in their community.

    They told our reporter in Lagos that the outrageous monthly bills received from Eko Electricity Distribution Company did not correspond with the supply given to the community.

    Mr Joseph Emmanuel, a resident of the area said that electricity consumers in the community were given crazy bills despite having poor electricity supply.

    “How can EKEDC be bringing between N27,000 and N30,000 to a three-bedroom flat in a month when the supply is just about six hours daily?

    “The supply is between 10:30 in the morning to 1:pm, then 11p.m to 3a.m daily, and at the end of the month one will be given outrageous bills.

    “If I am using prepaid meter, I cannot finish N5,000 recharge in a month.

    “We are being forced to pay for electricity we never consumed; this is extortion, we demand for transparency in the billing methodology,” he said.

    Mr Babalola James, a landlord in the area, said all the electric poles, cables and other electricity facilities situated along Ojo Road that supplied the community were due for replacement.

    “Virtually all the transformers are dilapidated and can no longer continue to cope with the load on them.

    “From our feasibility study, more than 89 houses use one transformer, which is grossly inadequate,” he said.

    Mrs Funmilayo Adeoye, another resident of the community, urged EKEDC management to install prepaid meters in all houses in the area.

    Responding, Mr Godwin Idemudia, the General Manager, Corporate Communications, EKEDC, said the company did not bill its customers arbitrarily.

    “We bill according to the energy delivered. It is surprising to hear some of our customers complain about supply brought for few hours on daily basis for for few days.

    “The truth is that the level of consumption for the few hours that supply is available mean a lot of energy could have been consumed within those hours.

    “Due to lack of trust from some of our customers not knowing when supply would come again, they carry out a lot of activities within a short period.

    “They use iron, pumping machine and electric stove all at the same time, so one cannot use availability of supply to determine their bills,” he said.

    Idemudia urged electricity consumers in the area to report cases of dilapidated equipment at EKEDC customer care offices nearest to them.

    NAN