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Tag: Nigeria News

Fake products: Absence of interpreter stalls trial of Chinese men

The absence of an interpreter on Wednesday stalled the arraignment of two Chinese nationals, Mr Zhoung Li Xin and Mr Zhoung Guomin at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria’s ( SON ) accused the two of marking some unapproved products as genuine.

The accused persons had demonstrated to the court that they could only speak in their native mandarin.

The charge had claimed that Zhoung Li Xin and Mr Zhoung Guomin placed an “ABB” mark on receptacle containing products marked as Chiko and Toyou.

The Prosecution therefore alleged that the accused persons committed an offence under Section 378 of the Penal Code Law Cap. 89 Law of the Northern Nigeria.’’

Mr Joseph Olofindare, Counsel to SON, said the defendants’ actions of making false mark on products and making such products to be believed to be of a particular quality was a breach of the law.

He said the alleged action was with the intent to defraud the innocent public.

“Likely punishment is three years imprisonment with or without fine’’, he said.

On why an arrangement was not made for an interpreter for the defendants, Olofindare said it was his conviction that the defendants could speak English language.

“We are aware that the defendants spoke English before now, but they denied speaking or understanding English when we got to the court.

“At the appropriate time that will be sorted out and the interest of justice which we are concerned with will be served.

“The interest of SON is to get rid of foreigners with the intention of bringing substandard items that may have negative impact on the citizens.

“The mandate of SON is to move against that and to ensure that all the perpetrators are brought to book’’, Olonfindare said.

On his part, Mr Amaechi Muonagor, Counsel to the defendants, said his clients were not aware the case was coming up as they were served with the court process on the evening of December 19.

He also said there was no preliminary arrangement for an interpreter.

According to him, the prosecution has the false impression that the defendants could speak and understand English language.

“We were prepared for the trial any way, except that there was no interpreter to interpret the language of the court to the defendants.

“I normally communicate with them through an interpreter but what happened was that we did not liaise with SON to provide an interpreter because of the short notice to appear in court’’, he said.

He said however, that the defendants were presently enjoying administrative bail.

He said it was the right of the defendants to be heard in the language they understand, adding that the prosecution and the defendants’ counsel had agreed to interface to make that happen.

The presiding Justice Sadiq Umar, had earlier ordered the parties to ensure the defendants were provided with an interpreter to facilitate the trial.

However, no date was fixed for the commencement of the trial.

NAN

December 20, 2017
Enugu revenue board seals 5 hotels over N6.6bn debt

No fewer than five hotels in Enugu State have been sealed by the state Board of Internal Revenue ( BIR ) due to huge tax debts.

The hotels are Nondon Hotel, Allen Suites, Villa Toscana, Filbon Hotel and Hotel Codial, which allegedly owed N6.6 billion to the state government.

Officials of the BIR swooped on the premises of the affected hospitality outfits on Wednesday and shut down their operations.

The Chairman of the board, Mr Emeka Odo said the affected hotels had been recalcitrant in fulfilling their tax obligations to the state government.

He said the debts were owed between 2011 and 2016, adding that government was poised at recovering all debts owed it by institutions in the state.

The chairman said the BIR would embark on intensive revenue drive from the first quarter of 2018, adding that tax evasion and avoidance would no longer be tolerated.

Read also: Enugu to recruit 700 teachers

Odo said the creativity of the state governor was enough to encourage residents and enterprises in the state to discharge their civic responsibilities.

The chairman said accruals of the state government from the federal allocation would not be enough to deliver meaningful projects, adding that government relied mostly on IGR.

According to him, the state will take the issue of debt recovery seriously in order to change the mindset of the people toward discharging their civic obligations.

Meanwhile, the state governor, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi had disclosed that the government generated N17 billion between January and November, 2017.

The governor made the disclosure at the recent launch of the automated tax system in the state.

NAN

December 20, 2017
Court docked man over alleged furniture theft

A 30-year-old unemployed man, Timi Daniel, who allegedly stole a set of furniture valued at N65,000.00 was on Wednesday brought before a Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State.

The accused, who resides at No. 4, Dada Street, Idale, Badagry is facing a count charge of stealing.

The prosecutor, Insp. Akpan Ikem, told the court that the accused had on December 8 stole the set of furniture from a complex located at Ibereko area in Badagry.

He said that the accused committed the crime with two others now at large.

“He committed the act by pretending that he wanted to buy the furniture; so, this served as a form of distraction for the attendant.

“So, while the attendant was with him, the other accomplices took the furniture and ran away in a car,” he said.

The offence contravened Section 285 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

Daniel, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Magistrate, Mr Jimoh Adefioye, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N200, 000 with one surety in like sum.

He ordered that the surety must provide evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government, and adjourned the case until January 25, 2018 for further hearing.

NAN

December 20, 2017
We didn’t approve LBIC’s demolition of structures – Anifowoshe

The Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr Wasiu Anifowoshe, has denied giving approval to the Lagos State Building Investment Company ( LBIC ) Plc to demolish structures in some estates in the state.

Anifowoshe spoke with newsmen on the sideline of the stakeholder’s meeting organised by the Lagos State House of Assembly Ad hoc Committee on Housing investigating petitions trailing illegal demolition of buildings in the state’s Low-Cost Housing Estates.

He said the law empowers the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development to be the only agency to remove any illegal structure in the state.

“My ministry approves all demolitions in the state. We have so many papers in our ministry to that effect.

“All government parastatals in Lagos State come to the Ministry of Physical Planning for whatever demolition they want to do in the state. It is now meant for us to charge them or not.

“The demolition (of structures in estates) in Amuwo Odofin, Ogba Ijaiye, Ipaja, Isolo and others were not approved by the Ministry of Physical Planning.

“They were not done by my ministry and I don’t know who did them,’’ Anifowoshe said.

Meanwhile, there has been a running battle between the Assembly and the Managing Director of the LBIC, Mrs Folashade Folivi, over her attitude to the investigation.

The Ad hoc Committeeher Chairman, Mr Olanrewaju Layode, had on Thursday accused Folivi of disrespecting the committee and warned the managing director that it might evoke its powers on her for failure to honour its meetings in the course of its investigation.

Layode said the rescheduled meeting held on Tuesday, which Folivi eventually honoured, was cancelled because the managing director did not come with necessary documents to aid the committee’s work.

He said the committee expected Folivi to attend the meeting with the Memorandum of Understanding of the company.

“Mrs Folashade Folivi did not follow the MOU of the company with the demolition and contravened the law of her company.

“She did what her company ought not to do and built structures on lands where she was not supposed to build, some of which were meant for recreation and social amenities in the estates.

“That is why we want her to appear on the floor of the House to show that nobody is witch-hunting her,’’ the chairman said.

Layode said having failed to honour the call of the committee during visits to the estates and failure to attend the meeting with the necessary documents, Folivi would have to appear before the entire House.

“We are reporting back to the House and she might be lucky and the Speaker would ask us to re-invite her for questioning.

“We just want her (Folivi) to know that she might not be competent for the office. We might go further to take actions when we see the MoU,’’ he said.

NAN

December 20, 2017
NNPC to establish 4,600MW plants in FCT, two others

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC ) says it will establish 4,600 power plants in Abuja, Kaduna and Kano.

A statement in Abuja by the NNPC spokesman, Mr Ndu Ughamadu, said this would be done through the recently-approved contract for the construction of Ajaokuta-Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Gas Pipeline project, dubbed AKK Pipeline.

According to the statement, the AKK pipeline has started yielding early benefits with the commitment by NNPC to build power-generating plants with combined capacity of 4550 megawatts in Abuja, Kaduna and Kano States.

Ughamadu quoted the NNPC Group Managing Director, Dr Maikanti Baru, as saying that the Corporation in partnership with private investors would build power-generating plants to support Federal Government’s effort to providing stable electricity in the country.

“As part of the drive to establish power plants to augment the power supply to the nation, the Federal Executive Council has recently approved the AKK Gas Pipeline project to be financed through Public Private Partnership (PPP).

Read also: NNPC release 300 trucks of petrol daily to Lagos, 170 to FCT

“The project comes with other auxiliary ones which include, 1,350 megawatts, 900 megawatts and 2,350 megawatts of power generation plants in Abuja, Kaduna and Kano respectively,” the statement quotes Baru.

It said the NNPC in partnership with private investors would also build fertilizer plants in some parts of the country, one of which would be located at Izzon, Niger State.

The statement said in line with the presidential mandate on oil exploration in all the frontier basins, the NNPC was well-focused on the exploration in the Bida Basin.

“We have contracted the geological mapping of the Bida Basin to Ibrahim Babangida University, Lapai and the job would be completed in three months,” it stated.

Ughamadu said the corporation would go into more detailed seismic data acquisition in the Bida Basin by August 2018, to be followed by an Environmental Impact Assessment exercise.

He said as part of the corporation’s effort to decongest the highways, the NNPC would encourage private investors to build tanker parking facilities around Minna Depot, Suleja Depot, Tegina, Mokwa, amongst others and charge the users of the facility appropriately.

The statement said talks were ongoing with the Federal Ministry of Works, Power and Housing to re-introduce weight bridges on the highways to checkmate the issue of excessive loading by tankers above the recommended 46, 000ton gross weight.

“The NNPC on its part has already directed all its depots nationwide to stop loading tankers with loading capacity above 40, 000litres,” he said.

NAN

December 20, 2017
Christmas: Lagos begins massive road repair

The Lagos State Government on Wednesday said it had begun massive road repair across the state to ensure smooth transportation during Christmas celebration.

Mr Temidayo Erinle, Special Adviser to the state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode on Public Works and Drainages, made the disclosure on telephone.

Erinle said Lagos State Public Works Corporation ( LSPWC ) had embarked on 24-hour operations to achieve the aim.

He added that palliative works were going on simultaneously daily on various roads across the state.

The special adviser said that the corporation introduced night operations at various sites in order not to cause gridlock.

“The festive period is usually associated with heavy traffic; so, we began working at night yesterday.

“Today, we are planning to work on the Lekki Epe Expressway; because of the festive period, we would be working at night.

“We are also going to work on the Ikorodu-Itoiki Road.

Read also: Lagos agency conducts rape and related crime rally

“Today also, we are working on the Agege Motor Road and Association Avenue in Ilupeju,” he told NAN.

He listed other roads receiving attention to include Alfred Rewane Street, Ikoyi Forshore-Falomo Bridge and Ilasa/Oworoshoki Expressway.

Erinle said the daily work schedule and the total number of roads undergoing rehabilitation could be made available by the supervising engineers.

He appealed for the patience and understanding of residents of Lagos, urging them to pay their taxes for better service delivery.

“We are working little by little; we cannot do all the roads at once; it also depends on funds,” he said.

On bad roads across local government areas in the state, the special adviser said that Ambode had given a directive to all council authorities to repair the roads.

Erinle said the governor also gave the councils the opportunity to request for state government’s interventions on roads they would need assistance in repairing.

According to him, the LSPWC had fixed several of such roads on the instruction of the governor.

“For cases where there are bad roads and the governor wants to intervene, he calls us and gives us directives for intervention; so, it depends mainly on the prerogative of the governor,” he said.

NAN

December 20, 2017
2019 elections: IGP warns officers against unethical conduct

The Inspector-General of Police ( IGP ), Mr Ibrahim Idris, on Tuesday warned officers of the Nigeria Police Force against unethical conduct during the 2019 general elections.

Idris gave the warning at the monthly meeting with officers of the rank of Commissioners of Police and above in Abuja.

He also urged them to avoid temptations from politicians who would want to compromise them, adding that the force was doing its best within limited resources.

“You have to avoid temptations from political actors at the cost of having smooth and credible elections in 2019,“he said.

Idris said there was need for officers and men of the force to be steadfast in carrying out their duties professionally.

He charged commissioners of the various commands to impress it on their officers to be civil in discharging their duties.

The high point of the meeting was the decoration of 15 commissioners of police by the inspector-general, among them was Danjuma Ibrahim, who was recently discharged and acquitted over the killing of the Apo six traders.

Read also: Our plans for 2019 elections, by INEC, AGF, IGP, Rep

Meanwhile, the police said it had appealed a Federal High Court judgment awarding the Peace Corps of Nigeria a N12.5 million compensation for unlawful arrest and detention of its officials.

The Commissioner of Police in charge of the legal department, Mr David Igbodo, who disclosed this, said the force was a law abiding institution.

“We are on appeal and we have transmitted records to the Court of Appeal, until the full process of the court is completed, no action will be taken about the Peace Corps,“he said.

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had on November 9 ordered the Nigeria Police to pay N12.5 million to the Peace Corps of Nigeria as compensation for unlawful arrest and detention of its officials and unseal its headquarters in Abuja.

On the reorganisation of the Special Anti Robbery Squad ( SARS ), the police said it was ongoing.

The commissioner of police in charge of SARS, Mr Haliru Gwandu, made the disclosure at the Inspector-General of police monthly meeting with senior officers in Abuja.

He explained that after reorganisation, the unit would only concentrate on violent crimes such as murder and armed robbery.

Gwandu said at the completion of the ongoing reorganisation of the unit, the issue of extrajudicial killings in the country would be a thing of the past.

He said there would be training and retraining of personnel of the unit to enhance efficiency.

Some group of Nigerians recently in the social media, called for the scrapping of SARS over alleged harassment of innocent Nigerians, using the #EndSARS.

NAN

December 20, 2017
NURTW calls for prosecution of black marketers

The National Union of Road Transport Worker ( NURTW ), Abdulsalam Motor Parks, Minna, Niger State, has advocated the setting up of mobile courts to prosecute “black marketers’’ to serve as deterrent to hoarders.

The union’s Vice Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Na’ura, made the call in an interview on Wednesday in Minna.

He advised the government and all relevant agencies to investigate the sources of supply of the products to black marketers and make them face similar sanctions to address the continued artificial scarcity of the product.

Na’ura said in Minna, many attendants at fuel stations had their agents in strategic locations in and outside the state capital to supply them with the products.

“While motorists spend nights at filling stations, attendants are seen diverting the products to black marketers.”

He lamented that petrol was now being sold for between N190 and N200 per litre in Minna, depending on the location of the station.

Read also: Yuletide: NURTW urges members to drive with caution

The chairman, however, commended, the Niger Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for setting up a task force to monitor the sale and distribution of petroleum products in the state.

“But the task force officers can’t be at the filling stations all the time as soon as they leave, they continue with the illegal business.”

He said petrol queues were becoming unbearable for motorists in Minna and that it costs a lot of hardship to residents.

Some of the filling stations operated by Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria ( IPMAN ) have increased their pump price from the approved N145 per litre to between N180 to N200 per litre.

At the NNPC mega stations and other filling stations operated by major marketers, the queues are longer as they continue to dispense at the official pump price of N145 per litre.

In Minna town, a four-litre gallon of the product in the black market sells for N1,500 as transport fares have also increased due to the scarcity of the product.

NAN

December 20, 2017
Nigerian Legion to provide security in schools – Ambode

Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Wednesday said his administration had given approval to the Nigerian Legion to take over the security of all public primary and secondary schools in the state.

Ambode made the disclosure at the launch of the 2018 emblem and appeal fund in commemoration of the Armed Forces Rememberance Day celebration, held at the Lagos House in Ikeja.

January 15 of every year is marked as the Armed Forces Remembrance Day.

“We have taken it as a policy that all our public primary and secondary schools will now be secured by the Nigerian Legion.

“We keep the safety and security of our children in their hands,” Ambode said.

He said this was in addition to them being employed in all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies as security personnel in the state.

Ambode said his administration was committed and concerned about the families of the fallen heroes of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

According to him, the occasion should remind Nigerians of the gallantry and sacrifice of men and women of the Nigerian Armed Forces who have contributed to the protection of the nation’s sovereignty.

Read also: Lagosians’ safety my top priority, says Ambode

“It is time to constantly remember that our unity has been achieved at the cost of lives, which has seen some homes lose their dear ones.

“It is time to engage ourselves in deep reflection of how such homes have been coping and surviving without their loved ones,” he said.

According to him, it is time to rise in their support, express love to them, and appreciate them for their services to the nation.

“Let us always treat our ex-servicemen with respect and donate generously in support of the Nigerian Legion.

“Let us join hands with the government in improving the welfare of the families of our fallen heroes.

“We must seek a way to pay back to these fallen heroes, and the simple way to do that is to buy the emblem, display it, and this will show some sign of love to both the ex-servicemen and those serving presently,” Ambode said.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Lagos State Council, retired Col. Fola Akande, commended the governor for his support and welfare, and also solicited for more support from the government.

Akande said already, the Legion had trained over 4,000 personnel for the security of the schools.

“We are prepared for the assignment and eagerly waiting for the approval to deploy our trained commissionaire officers to the various schools,” he said.

Also, the state’s Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr AbdulLateef Abdulhakeem, said the government remained committed to the welfare of the families left behind by the fallen heroes of the Armed Forces.

“I want to urge all of us that as soon as the governor launches the emblem, let us as individuals take his directive to buy and wear the emblem and also donate generously to the Nigerian Legion,” he said.

He said there would be commemorative Jumat and Church services on January 5 and January 7 respectively, in commemoration of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day.

The governor announced a donation of N25 million for the welfare of the families of the fallen heroes and for those currently serving.

A trailer load of the locally- produced Lake Rice was also given to members of the legion.

The launch of the emblem was witnessed by service chiefs, members of the legion and members of the state executive council.

NAN

December 20, 2017
Lagos agency conducts rape and related crime rally

Rape, domestic violence and child molestation are silent crimes that eat deep into the lives of victims, destroying all that is good, of joy and peace.

They have defaced the beauty of marriage where couples put out a facade smile and corrupted the minds of the young, rendering them psychologically defective, sexually perverted and socially deconstructive.

Most people, even the elite experience this and these social ills are more dominant in the rural areas.

This fact is drawn from the community engagement currently run by teams of social workers of the Lagos state Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team ( DSVRT ) under the Lagos state Ministry of Justice.

DSVRT Lagos

The mission is to provide sensitive services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence; while promoting healthy relationships as they strive to enhance a coordinated community response to domestic and sexual violence in Lagos State.

The team has engaged individuals in market places, primary and secondary schools, primary health care centres, religious institutions, houses in over fifteen local government areas in Lagos state conducting awareness campaign and field survey.

Read also: Court dissolves 17-year-old marriage over rape

DSVRT Lagos

So far, DSVRT has raised the consciousness of Lagosians to the law against domestic violence, rape and child abuse through its members led by Damilare Adewusi who are on the field sensitizing the public to take actions by reporting perpetrators and others to avoid the acts.

The team has also engaged women and the children in Lagos state about their fundamental rights and what to do when they or someone else they know experiences these abuse.

Also with the support of the team coordinator, Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi and the community engagement team coordinator, Mr Adetayo immediate steps are taken once any case arises from the field.

DSVRT Lagos

“We urge you to please join the movement and help make Lagos state a better society for ourselves and children to live. Thus, be a mandated reporter today, report any related cases to the nearest health care centre or simply dial 112 and 08137960048,” Damilare said.

December 20, 2017