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  • Police arraigns herbalist for duping man of N190m to cure diabetes

    Police arraigns herbalist for duping man of N190m to cure diabetes

    The Police Force Intelligence Bureau ( FIB ) Force Headquaters Annex, Lagos has arraigned a man, Adeniyi Adewunmi, who allegedly obtaining N190million from a businessman to cure his diabetes, asthma and spiritual attack.

    Adewunmi, 43, of Ajao Estate, Oshodi, is standing trial before Chief Magistrate F.O. Botoku on a four-count charge of conspiracy, fraud and stealing.

    According to Prosecuting Sergeant Friday Mameh, the defendant and his alleged accomplices committed the offences between February 2016 and January this year, at Ajao Estate.

    Mameh said: “The defendant and others still at large approached the complainant, Mr Lawrence Akanbi, and told him he was suffering from diabetes, asthma and spiritual attack.

    “The complainant believed them because those were the ailments he was suffering from. 

    “The defendants then persuaded the complainant that they could cure his ailments with herbs for a fee.”

    According to the prosecutor, Akanbi was persuaded to begin giving them money for bogus treatments. 

    The treatments became more and more expensive and continued for several months with Akanbi having to travel to Ekiti to make some of the payments. 

    They eventually obtained a total of N190m, yet the complainant’s condition did not improve. 

    When they sensed that the complainant was becoming suspicious, the defendant and his accomplices disappeared. 

    Sometime last week, the defendant returned to the complainant to request for more money, but Akanbi grabbed him and raised the alarm following which the police was called.

    The claimant was absent in court yesterday. 

    Mameh told the court that the offences contravened Sections 287, 314 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty.

    Chief Magistrate Botoku granted him N20 million bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    She remanded Adewunmi in prison custody pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions. 

    The case continues on February 12.

  • Metuh hospitalised in Nnewi, may be referred to UNTH Enugu – Lawyer

    Metuh hospitalised in Nnewi, may be referred to UNTH Enugu – Lawyer

    The trial of former spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ), Olisa Metuh and his company, Destra Investment Limited on charges of money laundering was stalled yesterday owning to Metuh’s absence in court.

    Metuh and Destra are being tried before the Federal High Court in Abuja for allegedly receiving N400m unlawfully from the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) in 2014. They are said to have also engaged in money laundering to the tune of $2m.

    At the scheduled resumption of the trial yesterday, Metuh’s lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), told the court that his client was absent because he was on admission at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital in Nnewi, Anambra State.

    Ikpeazu noted that the hospital has written a letter dated January 21, 2018 indicating that his client had been on admission since January 20, 2017.

    He read some portions of the letter from the hospital, where it stated that “we are managing him” and that it “may refer him to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital ( UNTH ), Enugu” for further treatment.

    Ikpeazu said he knew that the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital in Nnewi hospital “is not as equipped as UNTH Enugu.”

    In reaction to the reference to a recent Supreme Court judgment on the case by the prosecution lawyer, Sylvanus Tahir, Ikpeazu said the trial judge, Justice Okon Abang has always given the case prompt hearing.

    He said the claim about Metuh’s ill health was not orchestrated by the defence to frustrate the trial.

    Ikpeazu applied for an adjournment to a later date to enable the defence report to the court on his client’s health situation.

    In further reaction to Tahir’ observation that the Supreme Court had, in its January 12, 2018 judgment in the appeal by Destra, order accelerated hearing, the company’s lawyer, Tochukwu Onwugbufor (SAN), said the Supreme Court’s directive for a speedy trial would not have a remarkable impact on the trial.

    Onwugbufor said, “Everybody who has participated in this case knows that your lordship has never tolerated any delay.

    “From my experience, the court has been very expeditious in the handling of this case and matters before it. Even the motion that went to the Supreme Court was determined by your lordship and it never constituted any delay to the hearing of this case.”

    Responding, Tahir said Metuh’s absence would hamper further progress in the trial. He said he would not oppose the defence’s request for adjournment because it was based on health ground.

    Tahir noted that the development would defeat the intention of the Supreme Court in its January 12 judgment. He said, “The apex court was clear and very emphatic on the need to bring the case to a conclusion.

    “The Supreme Court made an order directing this court to treat this case with dispatch. And here we are confronted with the situation that will seemingly defeat the order made by the Supreme Court,” Tahir said.

    In his ruling, Justice Abang observed that the trial was scheduled to resume yesterday for the prosecution to cross-examination Metuh’s 9th witness, Adebayo Bodurin.

    The judge agreed to adjourn to the next day (today) since the prosecution did not oppose the defence’s request for adjournment to enable it brief the court on Metuh’s health status.

  • 2018 budget will be passed next week, Obasa assures

    2018 budget will be passed next week, Obasa assures

    Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa has assured that the House would pass the 2018 budget for the state and send same to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for his signature next week.
    Obasa gave the assurance yesterday at plenary  while commenting on the timely presentation of budget report by the Chairman, House Committee on Budget and Economic Planning, on the 2018 Appropriation Bill, Hon. Yishawu Gbolahan.

    Read also: Lagos Assembly set to review Land Use charge law

    Gbolahan presented the report on the floor of the House at plenary yesterday.

    The speaker said: “I really appreciate the commitment and dedication in meeting up with the time set and you have been able to turn in the report.

    “For your commitment, thank you very much and I am sure with this we can by this week or next week return the budget back to the Governor next week for the people of Lagos”.

    According to him, the House went for a little break to allow the committee do the work in order to return the budget in good time.

    The seven-man Ad-hoc committee was set up on December 18 to scrutinize the state’s N1.046 trillion budget proposal.

    Ambode presented the proposed Budget of Progress and Development to the Assembly on December 11.

    The budget size, which represents a 28.67 per cent increase over the state’s 2017 Budget of N812 billion, had a capital expenditure of N699 billion and a recurrent expenditure of N347billion.

  • PHOTO:Buhari meeting with South East APC leaders

    PHOTO:Buhari meeting with South East APC leaders

    President Muhammadu Buhari meeting with delegation of APC leaders from South-East at the state house in Abuja.

    PRESIDENT BUHARI RECEIVES DELEGATION OF APC SOUTH EAST LEADERSS. . President Muhammadu Buhari, flanked by Minister of technology, Dr Ogbonna Onu, Leader of the Delegation and Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere, Former President of the Senate, Senator Ken Nnamani, SGF Mr. Boss Mustapha, Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen Chris Ngige, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, Former Governor of Old Anambra State, Sen Jim Nwabodo and others during a courtesy call by delegation of APC Leaders from the South East at the State house in Abuja. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. JAN 22 2018
    PRESIDENT BUHARI RECEIVES DELEGATION OF APC SOUTH EAST LEADERS. Minister of Secience and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu flanked by the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince EZE Madumere and others APC Chieftains after meeting with the President during a courtesy call by delegation of APC Leaders from the South East at the State house in Abuja. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. JAN 22 2018
    PRESIDENT BUHARI RECEIVES DELEGATION OF APC SOUTH EAST LEADERS 11. President Muhammadu Buhari chats with APC House of Representative from the SouthEast, Hon Chike Okafor and others after meeting with the President by delegation of APC Leaders from the South East at the State house in Abuja. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. JAN 22 2018
  • ICRC moves to resolve concession disputes between FAAN, MMA2

    ICRC moves to resolve concession disputes between FAAN, MMA2

    The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission ( ICRC ) said on Monday that it will deploy everything within its ability to ensure the concession dispute between the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN ) and Bi-Courtney Aviation Services is resolved.
    The Commission, which is saddled with the responsibility of monitoring and ensuring the efficient execution of all A Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects entered  into by MDAs on behalf of the Federal Government said it has continued to engage Hadi Sirika, the Minister of State on Aviation since his  assumption of office on these challenges and believe they will be resolved soon enough in order to strengthen the relationship between the parties.
    Recall that the MMA2 and the Hotel and Conference Centre concessions awarded to Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited as a PPP project for the design, engineering, procurement, construction, completion, commissioning, operations and transfer has been  experiencing  several challenges.
    The terminal which took off in 2007 was given out in concession by FAAN, as representative of the federal government on Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis, but while BASL insists that the concession agreement was for 36 years and that the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) belongs to the company in cognizance of the agreement, FAAN insists that it did not endorse 36 years for the concession but 12 years and that GAT was not part of the agreement.
    Speaking during a visit by the commission to MMA2, yesterday, Chidi Izuwah, acting Director General ICRC said he was aware of the challenges between the both parties adding that “We want to listen to both parties as an independent regulator, we want to physically access the situation and challenges on ground in order to Bette appreciate the positions by FAAN and Bi-Courtney and thereafter suggest possible line of action in resolving these issues.
    “We are interested in having an update from the parties on the performance of the related projects; we want to understand the challenges facing the operators, as well as the grantor of the contracts and the various steps taken towards resolving these challenges; we want to hear from the parties their requests to the government in ensuring the projects are efficiently implemented for the overall benefits to the government.”
    Also speaking during the visit, Wale Babalakin, Chairman , Bi-Courtney Aviation Services said if Nigeria intends to encourage private sector participation in the infrastructural development of the country it must abide by international regulations; government and its agencies must respect and abide by concession agreements.
    Babalakin denied the allegation that it was Bi-Courtney that drafted the concession agreement and also noted that the company was not the winner of the concession, but Royal Standerton, which was the preferred bidder; however, Bi-Courtney inherited the concession when the later could not meet the pace of work expected by the federal government.
    Also speaking on behalf of FAAN, Monica Alphonse, the Deputy General Manager, Public Private Partnership, said that GAT has never been part of the concession agreement and that the monopoly status that stated that no other airport terminal should be developed during the course of the concession period by BASL may have taken cognizance of the fact that the concession was for 12 years.
    Alphonse described such clauses that gave BASL such advantage as antitrust and pro-monopoly, adding that the agreement should have been renegotiated if the concession was designed for 36 years and noted, that “such agreement is repugnant to natural justice.”
    She said that FAAN was willing to ensure that the problem between it and BASL over the concession was resolved. BASL officials also spoke in the same vein.
  • We’ll deliver on three-pronged campaign promises – Buhari 

    We’ll deliver on three-pronged campaign promises – Buhari 

    President Muhammadu Buhari Monday in Abuja said his administration remains resolute and focused on delivering on the three-pronged promises of securing the lives and properties of Nigerians, halting the pillage of the economy by corrupt public officials, and creating employment opportunities for the youths.

    Receiving the Board of Directors of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group ( NESG ) at the State House, President Buhari said the initial economic challenge posed by recession was already dwindling, with the economy smarting out and posting better results on falling inflation rates, higher foreign reserve and better ranking on ease of doing business.

    According to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, the President said “If you look critically into the 2018 budget, we have already taken into account key issues of more stable electricity, construction of roads and rails, and the airport concession’’ 

    The President said the government will work more to accelerate and increase momentum in agriculture, power, gas, manufacturing and processing, while commending the Chinese government for its support in improving infrastructure in Nigeria.

    “We send our gratitude to the Chinese for all their support to Nigeria. Since Independence, no country has helped our country on infrastructural development like the Chinese. In some projects, the Chinese help us with 85 per cent payment, and soft loans that span 20 years. No country has done that for us,’’ he said.

    The President assured Nigerians that the rising attacks on communities by herdsmen will soon be brought under control by security forces deployed to the vulnerable areas across the country.

    He said the unfortunate incident of attacks, which had resulted in loss of lives and properties, had already brought sorrow and hardship on many Nigerians, with the government deeply affected.

    President Buhari said the government will continue to strengthen its relationship with the NESG, especially in integrating its recommendations into policies that will improve the livelihood of all Nigerians.

    In his remark, the chairman of the NESG Board of Directors, Kyari Abba Bukar, commended the government for the “pragmatic approach’’ in engaging with citizens of Niger Delta region which had translated into steady rise in oil production.

    “Your Excellency, we salute your courage in providing support to the states that have had fiscal challenges. We recognise that without the intervention of the Presidency, many state governments would have been unable to pay salaries last year,’’ he said.

    Bukar said the outlook on the economy remained upwardly positive, projecting a 3.5 per cent GDP growth, urging the President to pay more attention on the herdsmen attacks, which could reverse the gains recorded in the agricultural sector.

  • Mining: FG engages revenue consultants to boost earnings – Fayemi

    Mining: FG engages revenue consultants to boost earnings – Fayemi

    …We intend to surpass projected annual growth rate of 8.54 per cent, says Fayemi

    The Federal Government has engaged the services of about 100 revenue consultants to work on areas of leakages in the revenue accrued from the mining sector, with a view to shoring up earnings from the sector.

    The consultants, who would be deployed to the six geo-political zones of the country in the coming week are to examine financial and production records of companies involved in mining activities in the last six years, to determine whether appropriate royalties were remitted to government.

    The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, who disclosed the new step being taken by government during the opening of the three-day induction and training for the Revenue Consultants in Abuja on Monday, said the main target of the ministry is to ensure that the Federation Account gets its fair due in royalties and taxes.

    According to Dr Fayemi, the project, tagged “Revenue Optimization and Verification Project”. Would assist in blocking leakages  in the mining sector, thereby positioning the sector to achieve its set agenda of contributing significantly to the GDP.

    “Our expectation of this project is that the Ministry would emerge as a lead revenue agency for the Federal Government of Nigeria, in line with the growth projections of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan ( ERGP ), which recognizes the mining sector as one of Nigeria’s most promising growth sectors, and acknowledges that its contribution to GDP doubled from N52 billion in 2010 to N103 billion in 2015. The ERGP further projects that revenue from the mining sector would grow from N103 billion (2015) to N141 billion (2020) at an average annual growth rate of 8.54 per cent (2017-2020)”

    Dr Fayemi said he is optimistic that the ministry would surpass these targets, as all stakeholders work collaboratively to ensure the success of the R.O.V. Project, resulting in improved levels of voluntary compliance of operators.

    The Minister admitted that leakages in government revenue was a big challenge in the mining sector, a development, which he said the ministry was determined to redress with the ROV Project, following its approval by the National Economic Council (NEC).

    He said: The R.O.V Project is an initiative of our ministry, pursuant of one of our core mandates, which is to significantly increase the contribution of the Mining Sector to our sovereign revenue.

     “Indeed, leakages in government revenue remains a big challenge in the sector, which we are working collaboratively with other government entities and sector stakeholders to fix. We have given considerable thought to this challenge and come up with a number of strategies to tackle it, one of which we are witnessing its launch today.

    “I am therefore pleased to announce that following the approval of the National Economic Council (NEC), we are today inaugurating a new model of revenue generation and collection in the mining sector. This entails the engagement of Professional Revenue Consultants who would work with our ministry’s mining officers to identify revenue leakages in the system.

     “The Revenue Optimization and Verification Project essentially seeks to confirm the adequacy of royalties’ remittances made by the various operators in the mining industry. They are mandated to collect and analyse data from 2012 – 2017 in the course of their work, thus giving us the opportunity to demand and receive accruals due to government from the referenced period. It would also ensure compliance of all operators to paying the correct amount in royalties to the government coffers going forward.

    The Minister said the  exercise will be carried out in line with the provisions of Section 17 of the Nigeria Mineral and Mining Act of 2007 which empowers the Mining Inspectorate Division of the Ministry to supervise and enforce compliance of laws and also section 43 of the Nigeria Mineral and Mining Act of 2007 which mandates mining operators to keep and supply records upon request by the ministry.

    Speaking further, the Minister who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Muazu Abdullahi, said the project was not designed to witch hunt anybody, even as he warned the consultants to avoid any shady deals.

    “This is not a witch hunting initiative, but the exercise of the statutory responsibility of the Ministry to determine the adequacy of remittances made by the various operators in the mining industry.

    Dr Fayemi added: “The image and reputation of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, and indeed the entire Federal Government of Nigeria is key during this Revenue Optimization and Verification Project; therefore, we charge all consultants to stand for what this government stands for by avoiding any form of compromise, illegality and unprofessional conduct.

    The Project Coordinator, Mr Makinde Araoye, said the projects is at no cost to the Ministry as the National Economic Council approval stated that consultants and the ministry take a certain percentage of whatever is recovered.

    “NEC approved 15 per cent as cost of collection, out of the 15 per cent. The consultant will be paid a certain percentage of what they recover, the lead consultant will be paid a certain percentage of what they recover and the Ministry will also retain certain percentage as cost of collection”, he added.

    The consultants which have already been grouped into all the 36 states in the six geopolitical zones of the country are to commence work after the training programme.

  • Evans: Lagos court to hear application to quash charge Feb. 28

    Evans: Lagos court to hear application to quash charge Feb. 28

    The late arrival of the defence counsel on Monday again stalled the arraignment of suspected kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike a.k.a Evans, on fresh charges at an Igbosere High Court in Lagos.

    The Lagos State Government had brought a fresh five-count charge bordering on conspiracy to kidnap, kidnapping and attempted murder against Evans and three others.

    The three accused standing trial along with Evans are Emeka Joseph, Linus Okpara and Victor Aduba.

    The arraignment was first stalled on Nov. 13, because Evans’s counsel was not served with the fresh information.

    Also, one of the three persons charged along with Evans had no legal representation.

    However, on the second date of adjournment, the defence counsel was absent in court.

    When the case came up on Monday, the prosecution counsel, Ms Titilayo Shitta-Bey, the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) informed the court that the business of the day was arraignment.

    She, however, said Evans’ counsel, Mr Olukoya Ogungbeje, was not yet in court, adding that an application seeking to quash the charge was served on them by the defence.

    Other defendants’ counsel — Messers Ogedi Ogu, Emmanuel Ochai and Jude Igbanoi — were all present in court and they acknowledged the application seeking to quash the charge.

    Justice Adedayo Akintoye, however, adjourned the case until Feb. 28 for the hearing of the application to quash charge.

    NAN also reports that the alleged kidnap kingpin was arrested on June 10 and was in August arraigned before Justice Hakeem Oshodi at an Ikeja High Court for kidnapping.

    He has also been arraigned before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, who has been transferred to the Ikeja Division. (NAN)

  • NVBF begins plans to host Under-19 Men’s Nations Cup

    NVBF begins plans to host Under-19 Men’s Nations Cup

    The Nigeria Volleyball Federation ( NVBF ) on Monday said plans were underway to host the Zone Three Club Championship and U-19 Men’s African Nations Cup in Abuja.

    Maikano Adamu, the Secretary-General of NVBF, however, told our reporter that the federation was still awaiting the Ministry of Youths and Sports’ approval for the hosting.

    Adamu said the Confederation of African Volleyball ( CAVB ) has already given the federation the hosting right to the two championships.

    “We are expecting a team from the African body of volleyball to come and inspect our facilities ahead of the championship,’’ he said.

    Adamu said the African Club Championship would have teams from eight countries in the zone, adding that the championship has been tentatively fixed to hold in April.

    He added that the U-19 Nations Cup would hold in July or August.

    Read also:NVBF opens camp for Beach Volleyball Under-21 World Championship Qualifiers

    “The federation has already set up a committee to verify the state of our facilities before the team’s arrival. So, it will be easy for us to take them round the facilities.

    “The state of our facilities will give the team the hope that we are ready to host the championship,’’ Adamu said.

    The federation secretary disclosed that CAVB had already sent letters of invitations to clubs which would participate in the championship.

    “In our tradition as a federation, we have also sent letters to clubs and states, to indicate their interest to participate and also to solicit support in terms of sponsorship,’’ he said.

    On the federation’s upcoming national league, Adamu said the federation would hold a stakeholders meeting on Sunday to deliberate on the way forward to having a sustainable volleyball league.

    He called on the media and multinationals to partner with the federation to support volleyball and further develop the sport.

    NAN

  • Auchi polytechnic students seek Buhari’s intervention over rectorship crisis

    Auchi polytechnic students seek Buhari’s intervention over rectorship crisis

    The Students of Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately intervene in solving the rectorship crisis in the institution.

    Their appeal was conveyed at a briefing in Abuja at the weekend by a former President of the Student Union Government of the institution, Samson Okoduwa.

    The students had last year staged a peaceful protest at the Federal Ministry of Education over allegations of high-handedness, mismanagement and corruption against the acting Rector, Mr. Sanusi Jimah.

    The students also urged Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu to make public the outcome of the interview conducted for the position of rector in 2016.

    They alleged that the acting Rector was running the institution as a personal office by giving appointments to his friends and cronies.

    A development a source at the institution confirmed, noting that 95 per cent of appointments made by Mr. Jimah favored people from his Auchi region.

    Okoduwa also alleged that students of the institution were not issued identity card in the 2016/2017 session despite management collecting N1,500 naira from them.

    He also alleged that the acting rector failed to conduct an election into the SUG because he wanted to impose a stooge on the students.

    According to him, Mr. Jimah deliberately fixed the SUG election immediately after the second semester examination when all students would have finished their examinations and technically seize to be students.

    Okoduwa noted that a substantive rector would save the already sinking polytechnic.

    He said: “We are again restating/re emphasizing our demand to the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Hi Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter of urgency, intervene in Auchi Polytechnic rectorship issue.

    “The President should direct the Honourable Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu to as a matter of urgency release the report of the already conducted interview in 2016 at Abuja and appoint a substantive rector for the institution.

    “The delay in the release of the result/report and subsequent appointment of a substantive rector for Auchi Polytechnic is the millennium corruption.

    “The aberration in the appointment of Dr. Sanusi Momodu Jimah as acting Rector by the National Board for Technical Education ( NBTE ) should be withdrawn as the National Universities Commission ( NUC ) has never appointed a Vice Chancellor for any university.

    “This already sinking institution should be salvaged  as it requires an emergency.”

    However, the Chief Public Relations Officer of the institution, Mr. Mustapha Oshiobugie, said elections into the SUG was deferred because of security reasons.

    He also said the students were issued identity cards to enable them write their second semester examinations.

    Mr. Oshiobugie said: “Election into the executive offices of the students union was deferred because of security reasons.  Departmental and school elections which preceed the union election had been successfully held in five schools.

    “There was violence in the sixth school (School of Engineering).  The reverberations could not be contained before the scheduled sessional examinations which was two weeks away.

    “To the best of my knowledge, students gain admission into examination halls on presentation of their identity cards showing that they are bona fide students of the polytechnic.  The Second Semester examination was conducted using this procedure.  And there was no incidence throughout the examination.”