The Nation Newspaper

Tag: MAN

  • Adams a brave man, says Akeredolu

    Adams a brave man, says Akeredolu

    The Oluwarotimi Akeredolu administration in Ondo State has said the choice of Otunba Gani Adams as the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo-designate of the Yoruba is a testimony to his bravery and broad-minded commitment to Yoruba nationalism.

    In a congratulatory message at the weekend by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Yemi Olowolabi, the “government and people of Ondo State” described the title as “a rare honour bestowed on him by the great monarch, Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi”.

    Adams is an indigene of Arigidi Akoko in Ondo State.

    Olowolabi said: “I write to convey to you the good wishes of the people and government of Ondo State on your recent appointment as the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land.

    “This is a rare honour attesting to your bravery and broad-minded commitment to Yoruba nationalism.

    “You have, in the last two decades, carved a niche for yourself as a courageous advocate of cultural renaissance and a frontline defender of the interest of your people.”

    The letter noted that “having come this far in your career as cultural revivalist and a leader of the famous Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), no one was surprised that you have been so honoured”.

    It added: “It is, therefore, our fervent prayers that God will give you the wisdom to succeed in your huge historic task of fostering unity, upholding integrity and development of Oduduwa sons and daughters.”

  • OPS decries effects of bad Apapa roads on businesses

    OPS decries effects of bad Apapa roads on businesses

    The Organised Private Sector ( OPS )  has urged the Federal Government to find a lasting solution to the problem of bad access roads to Apapa ports in Lagos which is affecting the cost of businesses.

    The OPS spoke on Wednesday at a conference in Lagos on the Petroleum Industry Bill and the impact of bad roads in Apapa on businesses.

    The OPS comprises Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association ( NECA ), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria ( MAN ) and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture ( NACCIMA ).

    The others are the National Association of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises ( NASME ) and the National Association of Small Scale Industries ( NASSI ).

    Mr Segun Oshinowo, Director-General of NECA, said many companies would close shop if Apapa roads remained bad.

    “The OPS is concerned about access roads to the Apapa ports. It is affecting overhead costs of businesses of  our members.

    “Preventable accidents as a result of the bad roads lead to huge loss of revenues; loss of jobs and closure of businesses. This will further worsen trade facilitation,’’ Oshinowo said.

    He advised the government to create alternative roads, put measures in place to free traffic and proffer lasting solutions to gridlocks in Apapa.

    On the Petroleum Industry Bill, Mr Segun Ajayi-Kadiri, Director-General of MAN, advocated creation of two regulatory bodies for the petroleum industry as against one body recommended in the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill ( PIGB ) before the National Assembly.

    Ajayi-Kadiri said that there was the need to avoid “costly mistakes’’ that could work against reforming the sector.

    Read also: Fed Govt to shut depots over Apapa gridlock

    According to him, one of such mistakes is a provision in the PIGB for a single regulator for the industry.

    He said that two regulatory bodies – one for the upstream and another for the downstream – would serve the sector better.

    “A cursory look at some of the provisions of the PIGB revealed the likely emergence of the Petroleum Regulatory Commission (PRC) – an omnibus commission that will be empowered to regulate the entire petroleum sector.

    “We do not share the view of the Assembly on creation of a regulator for a sector that is not homogenous in its activities and deliverables.

    “The idea of a single regulator for the whole sector runs contrary to industry standards which by default already provides for an upstream and downstream regulator, ‘’ Ajayi-Kadiri said.

    The director-general of MAN said that the responsibilities of the proposed commission was too wide as it cut across various value chains in a key sector of the economy.

    He commended the National Assembly for taking steps to reform the petroleum industry through the PIGB, and called for accelerated actions.

    NAN

  • Man accused of N575,000 fraud

    A 39-year-old man, Wasiu Akanmu, accused of N575,000 fraud, has been arraigned at an Osogbo Chief Magistrates’ Court in Osun State.

    He denied committing the offence.

    Akanmu, whose address was not provided, is facing a two-count charge of fraud and stealing.

    The Magistrate, Mrs. Fatima Sodamade, granted him bail at N500,000 with one surety.

    She said the surety must live in the court’s jurisdiction and produce evidence of tax payment to the Osun State government.

    Sodamade ordered that they must submit two passport-sized photographs and an affidavit of means.

    She adjourned the case till December 27 for hearing.

    The prosecutor, Femi Olanibi, told the court that the defendant committed the offences between November 20 and December 4, 2015 in Osogbo.

    He alleged that Akanmu fraudulently obtained, on false pretence, bags of nails, worth N575,000, from the complainant, Mr. Olubunmi Emmanuel.

    Olanibi said the defendant stole bags of nails and absconded, but the police arrested him.

    He said the offences contravened sections 418, 419, 383 and 390 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. 11 Laws of Osun State 2003.

  • Jobless man allegedly swindles woman

    An unemployed man, Uba Okeugo, who allegedly defrauded Mrs. Juliet Ezeola of N100, 000, claiming he will wash and turn it into dollars, has appeared at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

    Okeugo, 32, whose address was not given, is facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence and stealing.

    The prosecutor, Christopher John, told the court that the accused committed the offences with one other at large on October 18, at Pen Cinema, Agege, Lagos.

    He said the accused met the complainant at a bus stop and lured her into an uncompleted building where he collected the N100,000.

    “The accused and his accomplice told her that they would wash it into American dollars.

    “They collected the money and left. Efforts by the complainant to locate them failed,’’ John said.

    He said the complainant reported the matter to the police, who told her that the accused and his accomplice had been on their wanted list.

    “The accused was later seen by the complainant at Agege. She shouted and passersby helped her to apprehend him, “the prosecutor said.

    He said the offences contravened sections 280, 316 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    The Magistrate, Mrs. M. I. Dan-Oni, granted the accused bail at N50, 000 with two sureties.

    She said they should show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State government.

    Dan-Oni adjourned the case till December 11 for mention.

     

  • Jobless man allegedly swindles woman

    An unemployed man, Uba Okeugo, who allegedly defrauded Mrs. Juliet Ezeola of N100, 000, claiming he would wash and turn it into U.S. dollars, has appeared at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

    Okeugo, 32, whose address was not given, is facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, obtaining by false pretences and stealing.

    The prosecutor, Christopher John, told the court that the accused committed the offences with one other at large on October 18, at Pen Cinema, Agege, Lagos.

    He said the accused met the complainant at a bus stop and lured her to an uncompleted building where he collected the N100, 000.

    “The accused and his accomplice told her that they would wash it into American dollars.

    “They collected the money and left. Efforts by the complainant to locate them failed,’’ John said.

    He said the complainant reported the matter to the police, who told her that the accused and his accomplice had been on their wanted list.

    “The accused was later seen by the complainant at Agege. She shouted and passersby helped her to apprehend him, “the prosecutor said.

    He said the offences contravened sections 280, 316 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    The Magistrate, Mrs. M. I. Dan-Oni, granted the accused bail at N50, 000 with two sureties.

    She said they should show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State government.

    Dan-Oni adjourned the case till December 11 for mention.

     

  • Man in court for alleged fraud

    A 39-year-old man, Wasiu Akanmu, accused of N575,000 fraud, has been arraigned at an Osogbo Chief Magistrates’ Court in Osun State.

    He denied committing the offence.

    Akanmu, whose address was not provided, is facing a two-count charge of fraud and stealing.

    The Magistrate, Mrs. Fatima Sodamade, granted him bail at N500,000 with one surety.

    She said the surety must live in the court’s jurisdiction and produce evidence of tax payment to the Osun State government.

    Sodamade ordered that they must submit two passports-sized photographs and an affidavit of means.

    She adjourned the case till December 27 for hearing

    The prosecutor, Femi Olanibi, had told the court that the defendant committed the offences between November 20 and December 4, 2015 in Osogbo.

    He alleged that Akanmu fraudulently obtained, on false pretence, bags of nails worth N575,000 from the complainant, Mr. Olubunmi Emmanuel.

    Olanibi said the defendant stole bags of nails and absconded, but the police arrested him.

    He said the offences contravened sections 418, 419, 383 and 390 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. 11 Laws of Osun State 2003.

  • MAN decries high duties on imported finished products

    MAN decries high duties on imported finished products

    •Osinbajo inaugurates $15m firm 

    The Manufacturers of Nigeria (MAN) has decried the high duty rates on imported finished products.

    The association added that it is capable of discouraging indigenous investors from investing in the country.

    MAN President Dr Frank Jacobs, who spoke in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital on the sideline of the commissioning of Syringes and Needles Complex, put culmuinative duties on imported finished products to the country at 30 per cent.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo commissioned the $15 million syringe and needle production plant owned by HMA Medical Limited.

    The company has an annual installed capacity of 200 million syringes and 350 needles.

    Dr Jacobs added that in some countries, duties on imported finished products are just five percent.

    “This does not encourage indigenous investors; I urge government to reduce the rates. A reduction in import duty rates will encourage more people to delve into manufacturing thus creating more jobs.

    “The environment should be more welcoming and conducive for many other investors to venture into syringes and needles.

    “Highly patriotic people venture into manufactured in Nigeria. It takes large heartedness and risk taking to vent into manufacturing in Nigeria,” he said.

    He hailed Federal Government’s ease of doing business policy, adding that there has been a remarkable changes.

    Prof Osinbajo said the Federal Government would continue to create an enabling environment for indigenous industries and manufactures to thrive and creates jobs even as he commended the floating of the plant.

    The company chair, Ayodele Shittu said the company intends to expand the plant production capacity from the current 200 syringes and 350 per annum to 500 and 700 million respectively in the next three years.

    He said: “We are also expanding into construction of a state of the art intravenous infusion plant ,which we project to commission in the next 24 months .HMA Medical Limited will  at the end of this expansion provide more than 1000 jobs to our teeming youths,’’ he said

    Shittu said the finished products from the plant would also be exported to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)  and African Union (AU) countries, which he said would save and earn Nigeria scarce forex.

  • Man jailed three years for defiling daughter

    A Jos Upper Area Court at Kasuwan Nama, Plateau State, has sentenced a 35-year-old businessman, Hamza Abubakar, to three years for defiling his nine-year-old daughter.

    The judge, Mr. Yahaya Mohammed, convicted Abubakar, as he pleaded guilty to the three-count charge levelled against him.

    Mohammed, who sentenced Abubakar without an option of fine, said the offence contravened Section 157 of Plateau Criminal Procedure Law.

    He said the sentence would act as a deterrent to others.

    The prosecutor, Mr. E. Edwin, told the court that the case was transferred from Bukuru Police “B” Division to the State Criminal Investigative Department.

    He said the convict lured his nine-year-old daughter into his second wife’s room and had carnal knowledge of her.

    Edwin said the convict threatened to kill his daughter if she told others.

    The prosecutor said the offences of incest, rape and criminal intimidation contravened sections 390, 283 and 397 of the Penal Code Laws of Northern Nigeria.

  • Man, 62 jailed five years for possessing hard drugs

    Man, 62 jailed five years for possessing hard drugs

    A Federal High Court sitting in Jos yesterday sentenced a 62-year-old man,  Hyacinth Njoku, to five years’ imprisonment for unlawful possession of hard drugs.

    Njoku was sentenced after he pleaded guilty to the crime and begged for leniency.

    Prosecution counsel to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mrs Ramatu Oketola, told the court that Njoku, a resident of New Layout Quarters in Bokkos, Plateau State, was arrested on July 27, by NDLEA officials.

    Oketola told the court that the suspect was being tried on a one-count charge of unlawful possession of hard drugs.

    She tendered 65g of Cannabis and 29.7g of Tramadol, both similar to cocaine and other narcotic, as exhibits.

    Oketola further told the court that the suspect was a second offender, having been jailed some years back. Njoku promptly confirmed the lawyer’s claim.

    Justice Dorcas Agishi sentenced Njoku to five years’ imprisonment without an option of fine.

    “For being a second offender, I hereby sentence you to five years imprisonment without an option of fine, to serve as a deterrent to others.

    “The law will take its course considering your age and your resolve to be a notorious drug dealer, ’’ the judge said.

    Justice Agishi ordered that the hard drugs tendered as exhibits be burnt by the NDLEA within 30 days after judgment.

  • Man impersonates Okiro to defraud applicants

    A man who posed as Chairman, Police Service Commission (PSC), Mike Okiro, to defraud people seeking recruitment into the agency yesterday admitted to have fleeced candidates whose names were sent by four lawmakers.

    Ebuzoma Emmaanuel, 37, was arrested by operatives attached to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Zone II, Onikan, Lagos.

    Emmanuel, a factory supervisor, claimed to have picked a mobile phone and while browsing the internet, saw telephone numbers of Senators, Governors and members of the House of Representatives.

    The suspect, who was paraded alongside his accomplice, Faith Oregbu by the Zonal Spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent of Police (SP) said he extorted over N250,000 from the candidates whose names were sent by four of the eight legislators he contacted.

    He said: “I decided to see if I could get some cash from them. I picked up my phone and started sending messages to them. I sent to six lawmakers. I told them I was Mike Okiro and they should send four names of their candidates to me for recruitment exercise.

    “When I sent the messages, about four of them responded, while four others declined. Among those that responded was one Honourable Adamu from Bauchi. Then one Chika from Abia State and another man from Kano. They sent four names each to me with the phone numbers of the candidates.

    “I sent messages to those people to pay for their training kits in the bank and  come over to Abuja. I charged between N25,000 and N30,000. I have been able to get over N250,000. I started in September.”

    Asked how he was able to get the account numbers he used for the fraud, Emmanuel said Oregbu assisted him in that regard, adding that she also assisted him with withdrawals.

    “She took her own and I took mine. We have about four account numbers. They blocked most of the accounts after we had withdrawn the money. We have withdrawn about N400,000. But each time, they blocked the accounts, she gets another one,” he said.

    Continuing, the suspect said he bought a preregistered sim card at Onitsha in Anambra State, which he used for the fraud.

    Emmanuel said: “Once you buy the sim cards, you just type the name of the job you want to do on the phone. The thing is automatic and it registers. I feel bad and I advice other youths not to get involved in such act.”

    But Oregbu denied being an accomplice, insisting that she ignorantly supplied Emmanuel her account number and three others.

    According to her, the total money Emmanuel gave her was N26,000.

    Oregbu said: “A friend of mine, Chidiebere requested for my account number and I gave it to her. She had used it to collect N10,000 from her brother. I gave it to her based on trust.

    “She used it. Afterwards, somebody called me and said he wants to use my account to send money to Chidiebere. I said ok.

    “After sometime, I got an alert of N70,000 and I went to tell Chidiebere. She said the man said I should bring the money to him. The guy called and said I should bring the money to him.

    “I told him to meet me at the bank and I gave him the N70,000. He gave me N5,000 and said I should give Chidiebere N1,000 from it.

    “Then, he said the person he gave the account number to said it was not going through and I should get another bank account.

    “Because of his persistence, I got three account numbers and said he should pick one. But he used the three account numbers. He sent money to the different account numbers.

    “I have got four accounts for him. I gave him three accounts, plus mine, making it four. I have withdrawn N290,000 which I gave him. The total money he gave me was N26,000. He was giving me N4,000 or N5,000.

    “When I asked Chidiebere the source of the money, he said it was MMM. So all along, I thought it was from MMM. I feel sorry, embarrassed and ashamed of myself.”