The Nation Newspaper

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  • Abductors kill police officer

    A police search party on Thursday discovered the decomposing body of a sergeant kidnapped about three weeks ago in Rivers State.

    Sergeant Lawrence Igbero, attached to the Police Mobile Force (PMF) Unit 56, was taken away by suspected kidnappers on the Ogoni Road, Rivers State.

    It was gathered that the team, led by the unit Commander, Egbe Sunday, had combed the bush for the sergeant since his kidnap, but could not find him.

    Read Also: One killed in Police, motorcyclists scuffle in Benue

    The Nation learnt that the detectives later tracked his phone, which was being used by a man who claimed to have bought it.

    “Through the ‘buyer’, the police tracked and arrested the ‘seller’. It was then they confessed to have killed the sergeant and dumped his body in the forest.

    “It was discovered that the suspects were responsible for several other kidnappings and snatching of vehicles and motorcycles in Ogoni.

    “The body of the sergeant was evacuated by the search party. He was identified because his uniform was still on the body,” said a source.

    Police spokesman Nnamdi Omoni confirmed the incident. He said the body has been deposited in the mortuary for autopsy, adding that a suspect has been arrested.

  • Kidnappers free Okowa’s in-law

    The younger sister to the wife of Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, abducted last week, has been released, The Nation has learnt.

    Elizabeth, younger sister to Mrs. Edith Okowa, was reportedly kidnapped by gunmen at Temple Clinic junction, along Anwai Road, near Government House in Asaba.

    Read Also: PDP national youth leader ‘kidnapped’

    The victim was said to have been released yesterday after over N150million was allegedly paid as ransom.

    A source at the Government House, Asaba confirmed her release, but denied knowledge of payment of ransom.

    Police Commissioner Adeyinka Adeleke denied knowledge of the release.

    He said: “I’m just hearing it from you. I don’t have that information that she was abducted, let alone have information that she has been released.”

  • ‘Professor’, 11 others arraigned, remanded for alleged fraud

    A sixty-year-old man, Charles Jide-Oni, who claimed to be a professor and lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State, has been arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos state for allegedly obtaining money under false pretences and engaging in Advance Fee Fraud.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan zonal office, arraigned the ‘Professor’ and 12 other internet fraud suspects before Justice Nicholas Oweibo, the Federal High Court vacation judge for the Southwest zone, on Wednesday.

    Jide-Oni’s arraignment was sequel to the EFCC’s damning findings about the activities of an illegal financial outfit he floated through which he allegedly swindled his victims of several millions of naira.

    Some of the victims had earlier written a petition to the Commission which led to the investigations that indicted him in the alleged fraudulent act.

    Among other 12 suspects equally arraigned are Olaleye Kolapo, Madukife Ifeanyi Azuka, Fatanmi Yinka Sunday, Adebayo Bolaji Adeyinka, Adeleke Peter and Adebowale Fadairo.

    Others are Oyewunmi Toulope Michael, Bello Ayoade Jalal Arikalam, Owolabi Toheeb Tolulope, Abdullahi Abdulazeez  Oluwatobi, Temitope Fatolu and Adesina Adewale.

    Read Also: ‘Estate agent to be prosecuted for N65m fraud’

    Fatolu (aka Gold Crumb), however, opted for a plea bargain and pleaded guilty to a one-count amended charge of fraudulent impersonation when he was presented before the court on Wednesday.

    He was subsequently sentenced to one year imprisonment with effect from June 20, 2019 when he was arrested.

    Gold Crumb was also to restitue the sum of $500 (Five Hundred United States Dollars), through the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to his victim, and to equally forfeit his iPhone 6, Nokia 103 and Hp Laptop to the Federal government of Nigeria, being part of the benefit he derived from his fraudulent act.

    Due to the bail application filed and argued by his lawyer on his behalf, Justice Oweibo granted Jide-Oni bail to the tune of N10 million and two sureties in like sum.

    The sureties, the court held, must be of Grade Level 10 in the civil service and must be resident in Osogbo, the Osun state capital.

    The judge also ordered that the accused person be remanded in Ilesha prison pending the time he is able to fulfill his bail conditions as he adjourned substantive hearing to October 14.

    Unlike Fatolu, other 11 suspects, who were charged with sundry internet-related offences including obtaining money by false pretence, impersonation, being in possession of forged and fraudulent documents to defraud people, pleaded not guilty to the respective charges preferred against them.

    Consequent upon their not-guilty plea, EFCC counsel, Dr. Ben Ubi, crave the court for an order to remand them in prison and fix dates for the hearing of their cases.

    The court granted the remand prayer, and also fixed different dates for the hearings.

    He fixed October 7 for the hearing of Fatami’s, Adeleke’s, and Fadairo’s cases as he ordered that they are remanded in the Ilesa prison.

    Olaleye and Azkuka are to be remanded in Ado-Ekiti prison till October 9 when their cases will be opened for hearing.

    For Abdullahi, Oyewunmi and Bello, the hearings would hold on October 14. They are ordered to take shelter in Ilesa prison till then.

    The judge equally fixed October 15 and 21 for hearing of Adesina’s and Owolabi respective cases while both will be housed in Ilesa prison pending the adjourned date.

    Adebayo was, however, returned to the EFCC’s custody.

  • Fake varsity worker ‘defrauds’ USA Internal Revenue office of $770,000

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday arraigned Idris Akande at an Ikeja Special Offences Court, Lagos, for allegedly defrauding the United States Internal Revenue Service of USD 770,000.00.

    Akande is facing a three- count charge of conspiracy and fraud brought against him by the EFCC before Justice Owolabi Dabiri.

    EFCC prosecutor M. K. Hussain told the court that Akande and Gbadebo Adebiyi, still at large, committed the offence sometime between 2013 and 2018 within the Lagos judicial jurisdiction.

    Hussain said Akande fraudulently obtained $ 770,000.00 from the United States Internal Revenue Service by falsely misrepresenting himself to be an official of Bradley University, Illinois, USA.

    He alleged that the defendant demanded tax refunds to be paid into Green Dot accounts fraudulently created by him.

    Read Also: Four men ‘defrauds’ Jumia Int’l of N14.9m

    The defendant was said to have also used his personal identification information to illegally access the university’s data base, which representations he knew to be false.

    Akande was accused of retaining in his control, the aggregate sum of $40,000, being proceeds of criminal conduct perpetrated against the United States Internal Revenue Service as at the time of his arrest.

    Responding to the charge, defence counsel Mr. A. Anaka prayed the court to remand the defendant in the EFCC custody and asked for a short adjournment to prepare his bail application and defence.

    He argued that the defendant is a first time offender and has not been in prison before.

    EFCC counsel Hussain told the court that he is under a strict caution not to allow the defendant to be remanded in EFCC custody and prayed for a trial date.

    Justice Dabiri, after taking submissions of the parties, remanded the defendant in EFCC custody and adjourned the case till September 16 for hearing of bail application.

  • Ponnle hands over to Oladapo

    Former Registrar/CEO of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) Ajibola Ponnle, has handed over to Dr. Olayiwola Oladapo as Acting Registrar of the institute.

    Ponnle is now the Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions.

    Read Also: NDDC gets acting MD, calls on Niger Deltans to work together

    Oladapo, who was the institute’s Director, Strategy, Advocacy and Stakeholder Relations, comes with high recommendation, having over 20 years of professional experience spanning the public and private sectors.

    He is a Strategy, Human and Organisational Development, Policy Management Professional, Transformational thought leader and international speaker who holds a Master’s degree in Research and Public Policy (MRPP) from the University of Lagos.

  • Dickson, PDP begin post-primary reconciliation

    Governor Seriake Dickson and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have begun a reconciliatory process to resolve grievances arising from the primaries.

    A statement by Dickson’s Chief Press Secretary Fidelis Soriwei confirmed that some frontline aspirants met with the governor after the election which produced Senator Douye Diri.

    The governor was quoted as saying that the party’s leadership would contact other aspirants to restore them back to the family.

    Read Also: Results of Kogi PDP primary totally unacceptable – Dino Melaye

    Some aspirants, who met with the governor, are Deputy Governor Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd); Keniebi Okoko, chief of staff in the Government House Talford Ongolo.

    Dickson, who praised the 21 contestants for their maturity and sportsmanship, reappointed Ongolo, who resigned to contest the primaries.

    The governor, who spoke during the delayed August praise night, advised the political class to be tolerant and show maturity ahead of the November 16 election.

    He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant agencies to conduct a credible poll.

  • Diri competent to succeed Dickson, says PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State has described Senator Douye Diri as the only candidate with the capacity and competence to succeed Governor Seriake Dickson.

    The party, while congratulating Diri on his victory, described him as a committed public official with years of exemplary service to the development of Bayelsa, Ijaw nation and the country.

    A statement by the party’s secretary, Godspower Keku, said the party was happy with Diri as its flagbearer, noting that Bayelsa needed a leader with vast experience in public service.

    He explained that Diri had been a commissioner, a principal executive secretary to the governor, a member of the House of Representatives, and sitting senator.

    Read Also: Battle for running mate begins in Bayelsa PDP

    Keku praised the other 20 aspirants for their maturity and respect for the party’s interest.

    He urged the aspirants to support Diri, stressing that the primaries could only produce one candidate.

    The secretary, however,  described APC’s candidate David Lyon as a pipeline security surveillance contractor.

    He said Lyon lacked the requisite credentials, experience and pedigree to become Bayelsa governor.

    A governorship aspirant, Joshua Macaiver, has resigned his membership of the party.

    Macaiver, an ex-militant leader from Southern Ijaw council, sent his letter to chairmen of Olodiama wards and Constituency 4. He got seven of the 1,244 votes.

    Although the ex-militant leader cited personal reasons for withdrawing his PDP membership, sources said Macaiver took the action to support his kinsman and APC candidate Lyon.

    The source said Macaiver had picked the membership card of APC and would soon be unveiled as a member.

    Macaiver’s letter reads: “I, Great Joshua Macaiver, a card-carrying member and … aspirant in the… primaries in Bayelsa, wish to express my intention to withdraw from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    “The reason for this withdrawal …is strictly personal. I am grateful to the party for giving me a platform to be a very active member in its development at the ward level and state in general.”

  • ‘APC primaries mockery of democracy’

    A governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Preye Aganaba, has rejected the primaries,  describing it as a mockery of the democratic process.

    Aganaba, who also referred to the primaries as a political hoax and lacking any semblance of credibility, alleged that the results were written in a hotel in Yenagoa, the state capital.

    He said: “The process leading to the direct primaries was rife with irregularities and has set a bad precedent for a party that prides itself as a progressive, and which should lead by example.

    “Preye Aganaba did not partake in the September 4 governorship primary because there was no election. The degrading votes allotted to him are a complete fabrication, and designed to ridicule him and his supporters.”

    The aspirant recalled that during a stakeholders’ meeting with the Returning Officer and Chairman of the election committee, Mai-Mala Buni, Yobe State governor, few issues were raised by the aspirants to ensure a credible process.

    Read Also: PDP will retain power in Bayelsa, Diri assures

    He said the stakeholders agreed that names of Returning officers should be published at ward levels; result sheets be made available in the local governments, and that tags should be provided for the eight council agents and 105 ward agents.

    Aganaba said although the committee chairman and secretary accepted the demands, they failed to honour them at the election.

    “The Returning Officer, Mai-Mala Buni was not present during the primary election, having travelled back to Abuja same night after the meeting, never to return. In the morning, the secretary disappeared and his phones switched off, thus thwarting any effort by the aspirants to address these discrepancies.

    “The above actions clearly cast a huge doubt on the neutrality of members of the election committee and its commitment towards conducting a credible election …

    “One wonders how a Returning officer and chairman of a governorship primary election committee can endorse a process he never witnessed, and since when can a Collation officer substitute the powers of the chairman  of a governorship primaries committee and declare a winner?

    “It is shocking and impossible to believe the election results can be announced from a hotel without evidence of elections having held; a simple process which is validated by the presence of results sheets signed by ward Returning officers as well as agents to the aspirants.

    ‘’This desperation is inimical to the doctrines of APC. The party is being inexorably drawn towards an absolutism system, where complete power is held by one man who has no qualms to claiming rights over virtually everything.

    “This political fraud perpetrated in the name of direct primaries is a vindication of my assertion at the September 3 stakeholders meeting, about the path the party is being driven by some politicians.”

    Aganaba urged the National Working Committee (NWC) to reject the primaries, which he described as a political scam that has the propensity of tainting the party’s image.

  • Experts seek gender balance in marketing communication

    Experts have advocated the need for gender balance in the marketing communication industry.

    They spoke at the at the Women in Marketing and Communications Conference/Awards (WIMCA) themed ‘’Better the balance in the Brands and Marketing Communications Industry” held at Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

    The convener, Joshua Ajayi, said: “The theme is a reminder to us that the race is on for gender-balanced boardrooms, government, workforces, media coverage and income and wealth distribution among others. Interestingly, the industry, the nation, the continent and the world generally have in the few couple of years recorded history-defining achievements in gender balance, though, there is more to be done.”

    Wema Bank Managing Director Ademola Adebise, represented by the bank’s Chief Finance Officer, Tunde Mabawonku, said women in marketing and communications, were great contributors in the industry. He therefore urged them to support themselves, focused on their goals in the quest to ensure that many of them get to the top in their career and to the boardroom.

    Also, MultiChoice Chief Executive Officer John Ugbe explained that his organisation has more women who have risen to the top in their career. He urged other organisations to deploy creative ways in addressing female-related challenges.

    Also,  the Group Chief, Sustainability and Governance, Dangote Industries Limited, Dr  Ndidi Nnoli-Edozien, who spoke on ‘Better the balance in the workplace: equity or equality?’said  women in business were dedicated and that for them to find the way to the top, they should “define and understand the problem, align with a global movement”.

    She advised women to network, support each other and learn to compete favourably with men.

    The event was chaired by SO&U Group Managing DirectorUdeme Ufot.

    The highlight of the event was the presentation of awards to outstanding women in marketing communications.

  • Edo Assembly crisis will be resolved, says Deputy Speaker

    Former Edo State Water Resources and Energy Commissioner and Deputy Speaker of House of Assembly Yekini Idaiye spoke with Correspondent OSAGIE OTABOR on effortS to reconcile the aggrieved lawmakers.

    How is the House of Assembly coping with the crisis?

    By His grace, we are doing fine with the support of Governor Obaseki. Everything has been moving well.

    What should your constituency expect from you?

    I am wearing a very big shoe. I took over from the former Speaker. I know God will see me through. In the past, nothing has been happening in Akoko-Edo especially my constituency 1. I have 11 communities without roads. There are no major road projects in my constituency.

    There is Somorika, Imogan, Ugboshielg and many like that. I have been talking and appealing to Obaseki. He is giving me hope that something will be done. I can assure my constituents that something good is coming our way.

    What does the crisis portends for the APC in Edo?

    The tongue and teeth quarrel, but it is the ability to manage it that speaks volumes. There is no crisis in Edo State APC. What is happening is a family affair. At the appropriate time, we will settle and things will move on. If you are talking about our brothers (members-elect) that are not here, we will settle.

    There is no opposition party here. We are all APC members. You see what happened during the sallah celebration when Obaseki paid a surprise visit to Oshiomhole. There is no crisis in Edo. It is about one family and something positive will come out of it. Edo State is APC and APC is Edo.

    There are rumours that some of you planned defection, if Obaseki was not given second term ticket.

    I am not aware of any planned defection. There is strength in unity. I am a party man. The kind of leaders we have will come together at the appropriate time. This is a house jointly built by all the leaders, led by Oshiomhole. I know Oshiomhole will not allow the house he suffered to build collapse and by His Grace, it will not collapse.

    Obaseki will soon be marking three years in office. Do you think he has done enough?

    In terms of human development, he has done well. In infrastructural development, he has done well. Look at the Civil Service, reforms in the primary schools, the judiciary and tertiary institutions. In Ekpoma, the state university, there has been uninterrupted academic calendar. Across all sectors, the governor has done well. Obaseki has been paying salaries and attending to needs of workers. He has performed above expectations.

    Some party members said they are not supporting him because he is giving contract to outsiders and not patronising them…

    I condemn such statement. The people making such statements have not been doing well. Before becoming a politician, you must have a second address. You should have something doing. Those saying Obaseki is not taking care of them have no other things doing. The ones they were given before, what did they do with it? Were they able to set up businesses? They squandered what they made before. That is why some of us looked down on the so called leaders because they are not economically viable. When they had the opportunity, they misused it. I have worked in the bank for many years before joining politics.

    Most politicians engage in misplaced priorities. Many of those complaining now are old politicians. In those days when they were making money from all sources, they did not utilise the money well. Many of them had made money from previous administrations. They did not invest, but were building big mansions they can no longer maintain. I am advising them to have a second address. Can Obaseki share money to all Edo people? I feel sad when I hear that somebody has not been patronising politicians. If Obaseki is sharing money will he be able to pay salaries? Will he be able to do infrastructure? Politicians do not need to do what they cannot sustain economically when they are in power.

    What steps are you taking to boost tourism potentials of Somorika and other places in your constituency?

    Somorika is a tourist centre. If you get there, you will be amazed. We are talking to our people abroad. The reason we cannot talk about tourism sector in Somorika is because there is on access road to the place. You can only get there with motorcycle orva big car. Any small car would be finished before getting to Somorika. With the promise of Obaseki, I know the road problem will be a thing of the past in the area.

    If there is no access road, how do the people get quality heath care?

    We have a functioning health centre with nurses and others. We have water and electricity. The major problem is the road and that is why the place is not developing.

    The PDP has said it would stage a come back to power in the state.

    PDP is a dead party in Edo. They can never come back to power in Edo again. Is it because they were able to make serious in road during the presidential election? It is a dead party. I do not see the PDP coming to power in Edo again.

    Will it not happen, if there was sabotage on the part of APC members?

    With what is happening now, the Edo APC will come together as one. By the time we come together, we will be more stronger. In the next election, you will see how many votes we will bring out.

    Are you talking to other members-elect yet to be inaugurated?

    We are talking. We are not quarrelling. The only challenge is political differences which will not translate to enmity. There can be more aspirant but I know with the grass root support, there is not going to be problem about the Obaseki’s second term.

    The National Chairman and others suffered to build this party and I don’t think anybody will allow the house to be destroyed. Oshiomhole is from Edo North and the leader of the party in Edo. He is like a father to me. I have nothing against him. He is our father. Our loyalty is for him. There is no division among the lawmakers over Oshiomhole. Our loyalty is to him. The most important is to win next year’s election.