The Nation Newspaper

Tag: MAN

  • Man allegedly kills girlfriend

    A 30-year-old man, Alexander Ogbeije, has been arrested for allegedly killing his girlfriend, Mercy Okoh, aged 27.

    The suspect was alleged to have killed Mercy on July 11 on his farm at Urhonigbe in Orhionmwon Local Government of Edo State.

    The Nation learnt he hid her body at the base of a plantain tree and fled.

    Addressing reporters yesterday when he was paraded at the police headquarters in Benin City, Ogbeije said his girlfriend slapped him twice.

    He denied using cutlass to kill her, claiming he only slapped her and she fainted.

    The suspect said the deceased took the N500,000 he wanted to use to pay her dowry and open business for her.

    He said efforts by him to recover the money failed, adding that Mercy brought thugs to beat him up.

    Police Commissioner Babatunde Kokumo said the suspect would soon be arraigned.

    Two other men, Osarenwinde Iduwanyi and Junior Omo-Shaba, have been arrested for allegedly killing their girlfriends.

     

  • MAN, Lagos to sign MoU on Safety standards

    TheManufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) Ikeja branch is to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Lagos State Safety Commission to ensure that its members comply with accepted safety standard.

    The branch Chairman, Otunba Francis Meshioye, stated this during the private session of the 51st Annual General Meeting of the association at MAN Centre, Ikeja, Lagos.

    He listed agreements contained in the MoU to include the suspension of the use of consultants to audit member companies; registration by the respective companies of all their health, safety and environment managers and officers with the commission at the rate of N10,000 per year.

    According to him, the MoU also provides that registered safety consultants auditing member companies will pay a registration and licence fee of N65,000 while unregistered safety consultants auditing member companies will pay a registration fee of N115,000.

    Safety reports of member companies would only be recognised if submissions are made by registered consultants, he added.

    The MoU would also specify that safety certificate be issued to companies at the cost of N15,000 annually after the companies must have been visited by the harmonised team and found to have met the required standards, the MAN chairman said.

    There would be annual review of safety report at the cost of N10,000, the MAN chapter chairman noted.

    Meanwhile, Meshioye predicted that the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement, if implemented the way it is, will only lead to the collapse of the rest of the surviving manufacturing companies in Nigeria.

    He said this in his address presented at the AGM themed “African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement; Impact on the Nigerian manufacturing sector”.

    He decried poor preparations, lack of consultations and non-inclusion of input by key stakeholders as regards market access and enforcement of the rules of origin during the initial negotiations towards the signing of the trade pact.

    He said that until the grey areas identified by stakeholders were properly addressed, signing the agreement would be inimical to the growth and survival of businesses in the country.

    MAN President Dr. Frank Jacobs, in his address, noted that as a concept in principle, the association was not against the AfCFTA agreement, adding that the original contention was that the National Office for Trade Negotiations did not undertake adequate consultation with relevant stakeholders.

    He said the association would continue to negotiate and ensure that the concerns of manufacturers were addressed and were adequately represented at further negotiations before Nigeria would sign the trade pact.

    In a paper delivered by professor of Economics at the University of Ibadan and Chairman, Centre                                                                                                                                                for Trade and Development Initiatives (CTDI), Bodija, Ademela Oyejide, he said attention should be paid to the projected adjustment costs, the current state of the productive sectors, especially manufacturing in terms of their capacity for absorbing increased import competition as well as for effectively responding to emerging market access opportunities from other countries.

    He said negotiation mandate should include at least the following four key elements: phasing the liberalisation process, offensive agenda, defensive agenda, and balance of concessions.

    He suggested that Nigeria should argue for implementing the trade liberalisation in the AFCFTA through liner tariff cuts in the context of three phases, adding  ‘‘ Each of these phase should cover 30percent of tariff lines that are subject to liberalisation and last five years.

    In other words, tariff rates in Phase 1 should be reduced by 20 percent each year over the first five years period to reach zero at the end of the first five years. Phase 2 tariffs should follow this liberalisation schedule to reach zero at the end of 10 years; and Phase 3 tariffs, following a similar schedule would reach zero at the end of 15 years. Thus, the goal would have been achieved on time, following this staggered sequence”.

  • MAN, others renew call on Buhari not to sign ACFTA

    The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and other experts have renewed their call on President Muhammadu Buhari not to rush into siging the African Continental Free  Trade  Area (ACFTA) deal.

    MAN lamented that four months  after it raised salient issues on the deal, it is still waiting for answers.

    Speaking at a press conference at MAN House Ikeja yesterday, the President of MAN, Dr Frank Udemba Jacobs  said the only way to guarantee positive proposition is to ensure that  the negotiating team is guided by a credible and strategic country specific study. He added that there was no wisdom in rushing to sign only to end up struggling to find space in the accompanying protocols and annexures.

    He said there is need to be certain that the agreement is in sync and not constraining extant economic policies, including the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) of the government.

    Also speaking at a forum titled: Business Environment & Excise Duty: Maximizing Economic Opportunities through effective Anti-Illicit Trade Enforcement organised by the Initiative for Public Policy Analysis (IPPA), a consultant  to the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), Dr. John Isemede; and Dr. Olajide Damilola, a Senior Research Fellow at IPPA and University of Aberdeen United Kingdom (UK),   warned that the country is already already awash with imported goods.

    Jacobs said it is worrisome to observe that the study carried out by the Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiations (NOTN) failed to address the concerns of manufacturers.

    “Although NOTN recently conducted and launched a study, the stakeholders are still considering the study in view of the observed glaring lapses.

    “It is worrisome to observe that the study failed to address the concerns of manufacturers.

    “Moreso is the fact that the outcome of the NOTN sponsored independent study on the potential benefits of ACFTA on Nigeria fell short of standards and lack the much-needed information required to take an informed decision. MAN has since commissioned a study and we expect to have the report about a month from now.

    “In the light of recent developments, we considered it necessary to intimate you that an insignificant number of non-real sector operators in the private sector are tactfully recommending that Mr President should sign the agreement under the camouflage that majority of Nigerians and the OPS agrees with their position.

    “They are essentially not at home with the technicalities of a trade agreement of this magnitude. The pronouncement of this group of actors is not representative of the views of the OPS of Nigeria,” Jacobs said.

    Dr. Isemede said the country is already overloaded with imports, warning that the Federal Government should not sign the deal in a haste.

    “I am not saying Buhari should not sign at all but we must put the necessary infrastructure on ground; something to sell; something to offer before rushing into the agreement.

    “For instance, the tea you sip comes from Kenya, the Titus fish you eat every day comes from Morocco, there is Shoprite here and they’re owned by South Africans, and the apple and majority of the products sold is imported from South Africa and with the South African Airline. What is Nigeria bringing to the table and what are you going to sell?”

  • Man gets three months for possessing Indian hemp

    A Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti yesterday sentenced a 35-year-old man, Isa Yusuf, to three months’ imprisonment for possessing illicit drugs.

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) counsel, Mr. Charles Nwagua, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on March 10 at Dadinkowa village, on ABUAD Road, Ado-Ekiti.

    He alleged that the defendant, on the day, without lawful authority, possessed 500 grammes  of cannabis sativa, a narcotic drug similar to cocaine, heroin and LSD.

    Nwagua said the offence contravened Section 19 of the NDLEA Act. Cap N30, Laws of Federation of Nigeria. 2004.

    Delivering judgment, Justice Uche Agomoh said: “You are hereby sentenced to three months’ imprisonment with hard labour.”

    She said the judgment would act as a deterrent to others.

  • Man kills girlfriend, dumps corpse by roadside

    A 19-year-old boy identified as Junior Omo Shaba has killed his lover and left her corpse by a roadside.

    The incident happened at No. 2, Akugbe Street, Off Siluko road, Ogida, Egor local government area.

    It was learnt the deceased, Matilda Odiri, who is 18 years old was stabbed to death inside her boyfriend’s room during an argument.

    Read Also:Man, 60 drags girlfriend to court over marriage refusal

    The deceased was said to have gone to her boyfriend’s house to spend the night when she was stabbed with a knife on her right upper breast.

    Witnesses said the victim was stabbed at about 11pm after she accused her boyfriend of having affairs with other girls

    The boyfriend reportedly dumped her body by the road side after killing her to cover his deeds.

    He was said to have fled when his father called in the police.

    Police sources said the suspect is currently in custody at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).

    The police source said the suspect confessed that he murdered his lover and dumped her body on the street to cover his evil deed after an argument ensued between them at night.

    Shaba told the police that he killed his girlfriend with a knife which she used to peel some oranges they took that night.

    Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, said it was a case of murder and the suspect would soon be arraigned in court.

     

  • Man, 75, ‘sets OPC against community’

    A 75-year-old man, Alhaji Muazu Adisa, was yesterday arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly attacking an Hausa community in Ajangbadi, Lagos.

    He was arraigned before Magistrate O. Aje-Afunwa on a four-count charge of breach of the peace.

    Prosecuting Inspector Peter Nwangwu alleged that Adisa committed the crime on July 11.

    Nwangwu said Adisa colluded with some Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) and thugs, now at large, to attack some community leaders in Ajangbadi.

    He said on the fateful day, the defendant, who was with some thugs, armed themselves with cutlasses, knives, clubs and broken bottles. They allegedly used the dangerous weapons to threaten Chief Kareem Balogun, Chief Ahmed Balogun, Chief Tajudeen Balogun and Alhaji Memud Jinadu who are leaders in the Hausa community.

    Adisa pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate Aje-Afunwa granted him N250,000  bail, with two sureties in the like sum.

    The matter continues on August 8.

     

  • Man docked for escaping from police custody

    A 22-year-old man, Gerald Ogwu, who allegedly escaped from police custody after being arrested for stealing N75,000, was on Tuesday brought before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court.

    Ogwu is facing trial on a two-count charge of stealing and unlawful escape.

    The prosecutor, ASP. Nurudeen Thomas, told the court that the accused committed the offence on June 16 at No.87, Ilaje Road, Bariga.

    Thomas said that the accused stole N75, 000 and an Itel Phone belonging to his employer- Ozone Water- and also escaped from the police custody during interrogation.

    Read Also: Police  arrest suspected members of fake dollar syndicate in Gombe

    He said that the offence contravened Sections 106(b) and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Kike Ayeye, admitted the accused to a bail of N100, 000 with one surety in like sum.

    Ayeye adjourned the case until Aug.16 for mention.

  • Amosun assures MAN, others of better deal

    •OPS lists challenges

    Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has assured private sector executives that his administration will continue to create an enabling environment to attract more investments and help existing ones to thrive.

    Amosun said the state government was projecting into 30 to 50 years ahead what it wants the state to be and is also working to put in place things that could help it attain the desired height in industrialisation, infrastructure, security, among others.

    The governor spoke yesterday in Abeokuta, the state capital, during a breakfast meeting with private sector executives.

    The event was organised by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to create an avenue for industry players and manufacturers to intimate the governor about issues facing their businesses.

    The private sector executives, who were mainly small, medium and big enterprises operators from various parts of the state, listed the challenges they were facing in their ventures.

    These, they said, include the deplorable state of roads at Atan, Agbara and Ijebu areas as well as the growing challenges posed by the Omo-Onile syndrome, multiple taxation and levies.

     

     

     

  • Man in court over alleged cult membership

    A 20-year-old man, Akinwale Bayo, was on Tuesday arraigned in an Ota Magistrates’ Court, Ogun, for allegedly belonging to a secret cult.

    Bayo, who lives at No. 8 Tolani St. Ota, is standing trial on a three -count charge bordering on conspiracy, breach of peace and membership of unlawful society, to which he pleaded not guilty.

    The prosecutor, Sgt. Abdulkareem Mustapha, had told the court that the accused and others still at large, committed the offences on June 24, at about 2.30 a. m. at Sea Never Dry Hotel, Iju, Ota.

    He alleged that the accused and his accomplices, members of “Aiye Confraternity” launched an attack with dangerous weapon like axe on one Olabode Abiola.

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    The prosecutor also accused the defendant of causing breach of peace.

    .The offences contravened the provisions of Sections 5, 80, 88 (1) and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ogun, 2006.

    Chief Magistrate Matthew Akinyemi, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N300,000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the matter until Aug. 2 for hearing.

  • Man ‘batters wife’ over missing N500

    •Husband: It was a mistake

    A hairdresser, Motunrayo Eweje, has accused her husband, Ayoyemi Eweje, of battering her over his missing N500.

    Motunrayo said the incident occurred last Tuesday after Eweje couldn’t find the N500 note he kept in a carton on the refrigerator in their Baiyewu, Ikorodu residence.

    She said she was making a customer’s hair on June 27, when Eweje, a generator repairer, accused her of taking the money. He ordered her to go and look for it, so, she returned to her customer. When she finished, he refused to let her into the house.

    Motunrayo told The Nation that the next day, Eweje ordered her to pack out of their home, following which she left with her two children, aged 11 and 5 years, to her friend, Mrs Blessing Jacob’s place.

    According to her, last Tuesday (July 3), Eweje trailed her to Jacob’s place, beat her up and threatened to kill her and her friend.

    Motunrayo said: “My husband was looking for N500 that Wednesday. I was making someone’s hair outside the house when he told my children to call me. He asked for the money. I told him I didn’t know anything about it and I went back outside to continue making the hair. When I finished, I returned home but the door was locked. I had no choice than to go to Mrs Jacob’s place that night.

    “The following day (Thursday), I went back home to take care of my children, and do some house chores but the door was locked. I went to where he was to get the key; he returned to the house, opened the door, sat down, crossed his legs and told me to pack my things. I did as he said because I was already tired of the marriage and I went back to my friend’s house with my children.

    “Last Tuesday, he came to my friend’s house around midnight and knocked on the door. My friend and I thought he came to settle the quarrel but he entered the house and beat me seriously, leaving me injured.

    “I am tired of this marriage and I want it to end. It has been full of quarrels, beatings and arguments. I am not in love again. My husband does not take care of me; he only pays the children’s school fess and house rent. I am the one that takes care of my children both in feeding and clothing. He does not give me money for food,” she said.

    Mrs Jacob corroborated Motunrayo’s claims.

    She told The Nation that Motunrayo was her close friend, saying she allowed her come to her house because her husband fought with her.

    Jacob said: “I quarrelled with her that she should go back to her husband (before the day he came to beat her) and make peace with him, but she said the man didn’t want to see her again, that her things had been thrown outside, that if she went home, he would kill her. That was why I accommodated her.

    “I went to her husband to beg on her behalf and that he should accept her, but he refused.

    “He came to my house that Tuesday around midnight. When he was knocking the door, I thought he came to make peace, and to take his children and wife. When he entered, he embarrassed me, saying I was the one discouraging his wife to be wayward. He said he wanted to take his children and suddenly, he started beating his wife.

    “I told the woman to run out, but he said he was going to kill her, that no police could arrest him. He said I should call whoever I wanted to call.  He said for accepting her in my house, he was going to kill her, and kill me as well.”

    But Eweje, who admitted beating his wife, told The Nation that it was a mistake. Recalling the incident, he said she asked him for money for food but he told her he did not have.

    Eweje said: “I later remembered that I put N500 in a cartoon on my fridge in the house. I asked the children for it but they said they did not see it. I also asked her for it, she said she did not take it, I told her no one else could have taken the money and that she should go and look for it; but she turned her back on me and left the house and she never came back home till the next day. I wanted to give her that money for food.”

    He denied asking her to pack out of the house.

    Eweje said: “When I was at a meeting she came to meet me to come and open the door for her.  I opened the door and the next thing was that she carried her load out. I did not tell her to pack.

    “I know that I made a mistake to have beaten her. I am crying now because I have beaten her and I am saying that this will not happen again. I want you to help me ask her if she still loves me or if there is no more love.”

    “My wife was not like this before we moved to Ikorodu, and it is because she is now rolling with people that are bigger than her and they are not advising her to do the right thing; I know she has a man friend.

    “My mother and her mother are now fighting because of this matter. My father has told me to come home, my wife and I are both form Ondo State.”

    He, however, denied being cruel to his family in their over 11 years of marriage.

    “My wife is lying that I have not been taking care of the family. Did you not see how big she is? And she says I am not feeding her. Which work is she doing that she is using to take care of the family? I have a shop where I repair generator and I also earn a salary. I still love my wife and I want my marriage back. I have beaten her before, but since last year I have not beaten her. I beat her that night because I went to her friend’s house to get my children back home, but she was dragging the children in my hand; that was why I beat her; I just gave her a blow and it touched her face.”

    Eweje, who was arrested last Wednesday, told our reporter that he was released on Friday on bail after paying N30,000.

    Police spokesperson, Chike Obi, a Superintendent of Police, said the matter was under investigation.