The Nation Newspaper

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  • Akwa Ibom substation to generate 48MW

    The first phase of the Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel’s vision of steady power supply has further been boosted with the completion of the first phase of the 2x60kva transmission substation in Ekim, Mkpat Enin Local Government.

    The project, Emmanuel had announced last weekend, would be inaugurated by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as part of activities to mark the 32nd anniversary of the state this month.

    Conducting reporters around the station, Special Assistant to the Governor on Power and Managing Director of Ibom Power Company Meyene Etukudo said the station executed in collaboration with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) had a 60MVA power transformer and three outgoing 33KV feeder bays.

    Read Also: Solar hybrid power plant for Bayero varsity

    “As you can hear from the humming sound, the energy is being received from the Ibom Power station. We had done the test-running of the equipment unannounced and everything is set for the official turning on of the station by the nation’s No. 2 citizen.”

    “During the …exercise, the Vice President will enter the control room and load the feeder officially, and thereafter the station will be handed over to TCN”, he explained.

    He said the Ekim sub-station would provide electricity to Ikot Abasi, Mkpat Enin, Onna, Oruk Anam, Eastern Obolo local government areas, maintaining that, Akwa Ibom State University, adjoining factories like the coconut oil refinery, metering manufacturing factory, syringe factory, the flour mill among others will gain more with the attendant reductions in their overhead costs.

  • Tribunal dismisses Ndoma-Egba’s petition

    The election petition tribunal in Calabar, Cross River State, has dismissed the petition by the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Cross River State Central Senatorial District elections, Victor Ndoma-Egba.

    Ndoma-Egba is challenging the victory of Sandy Onor, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Justice Vincent Agbata said the petitioner’s argument that he was unlawfully excluded by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the February 23 election was not valid because INEC acted within the law in obeying the order of a Federal High Court  in delisting the petitioner as a candidate of APC.

    Read Also: Women, youth groups back NDDC appointees in Cross River

    He noted that APC, which was in crisis at the time, had several pre-election litigation, one of which gave rise to the exclusion of their candidates, which the tribunal averred as a lawful act since there was no superior order of the court to the lower court which ordered the exclusion.

    The tribunal also viewed the petition as a pre-election matter, because the exclusion happened before the election.

    Ndoma-Egba vowed to appeal the decision.

  • Diri wins as Dickson seeks support

    Senator Douye Diri (Bayelsa Central) has won the governorship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State.

    Of 1,244 accredited voters, Diri scored 561 votes to defeat his closest rival and former Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Ndutimi Alaibe, who polled 365 votes.

    Keniebi Okoko, a businessman and philanthropist came third with 142 votes in the election, which was contested by 21 aspirants.

    About 16 votes were declared invalid following multiple voting and other infractions.

    Diri belongs to the Restoration Caucus, led by Governor Seriake Dickson. Diri’s election reinforces Dickson’s assertion that his caucus remains a dominant force in PDP and the state.

    The election was adjudged free, fair and credible, besides pockets of violence during accreditation.

    Returning Officer and Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku said Diri satisfied all conditions in the party’s constitution, having scored the highest votes cast.

    A breakdown of accredited delegates according to their local governments showed that 196 were from Southern Ijaw; 169 from Yenagoa; 164 from Sagbama and 150 from Ogbia.

    Others are Nembe (151); Ekeremor (148); Kolokuma-Opokuma (141) and Brass (125).

    Read Also: UPDATED: David Lyon wins APC primary in Bayelsa

    Arrangements for voting began about 11 pm following the arrival of Ishaku, his committee members and observers from the National Independent Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan, who arrived at the Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre venue of the primaries, was given a thunderous ovation by delegates. After exchanging pleasantries with the electoral committee, Jonathan sat in the row allocated to Ogbia, his local government area.

    The committee also distorted the alphabetical order of voting to allow Jonathan the privilege of voting first.

    He led delegates from Ogbia to vote first instead of Brass, which should have come first.

    Dickson was also given a privileged treatment after Jonathan, as he was asked to lead Sagbama delegates followed by his deputy, who led Nembe delegates.

    The Restoration Governorship Election Primary Committee has congratulated Diri on his victory.

    Committee’s Head of Media and Publicity Daniel Iworiso-Markson said in a statement that Diri’s victory was a stamp of his acceptance by delegates.

    Iworiso-Markson hailed the Ishaku-led committee for the peaceful, transparent and credible process, which he said had become a reference point.

    He praised aspirants for their maturity and show of sportsmanship, saying it was the beauty of democracy and proof that PDP was a party of matured minds.

    He said: “We must put our differences aside and work together to deliver victory for the party on November 16. Now that we have a flagbearer, let us rally round him…”

    Dickson has appealed to defeated aspirants to support Diri.

    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Fidelis Soriwei, he said Diri had demonstrated character, capability, courage and the thirst for public service.

    The governor said Diri worked closely with him as his principal executive secretary for years before leaving for the National Assembly.

    Dickson noted that his closeness to Diri afforded him the opportunity to assess and discover him as a man of proven character, high intelligence and competence.

    He reiterated that Diri had demonstrated over the years that he was a genuine believer of the ideals of restoration.

    The governor, who praised other aspirants for their sportsmanship and maturity, urged them to ensure the sustenance of PDP’s dominance Bayelsa politics by working with Diri to ensure his victory on November 16.

  • Bayelsa primaries: Lyon is APC candidate

    Oil magnate and businessman David Lyon has won the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries in Bayelsa State.

    The results, announced by Senator Emmanuel Ocheja, the Collation officer,  showed that Lyon polled 42,138 votes to defeat five aspirants.

    Mrs. Desiye Nsirim came second with 1,533 votes, while Ebitimi Amgbare was third with 633 votes.

    Senator Heineken Lokpobiri scored 571 votes to come fourth while Prof. Ongoebi Etebu and Preye Aganaba got 564 and 354 votes.

    Ocheja said he was standing in for the Returning officer and Yobe State Governor, Ibrahim Gaidam, who was absent.

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

    He said six aspirants contested the election conducted through direct primaries, and ratified by the National Executive Committee (NEC).

    Former Minister of State for Agriculture Lokpobiri has rejected the result. The senator said he would get details of what transpired, insisting he and his team never participated in any primaries.

    Lokpobiri said there was no way he would be defeated by Lyon, adding that many members supported him.

    He wondered why the primary was held in a hotel, saying members gathered at the secretariat in Yenagoa waiting for the committee members to arrive.

    The aspirant queried why a result was purportedly declared by someone other than the Returning officer, who chaired the committee.

    He hoped the national leadership would look into the development and ensure a credible process to throw up a popular candidate for APC.

  • Court remands man for ‘raping’ teenager

    An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, on Wednesday remanded a 35-year-old man, Daniel Okodua, at Kirikiri Prisons for allegedly raping a 19-year-old girl.

    Magistrate Mrs. B. O. Osunsanmi did not take Okodua’s plea.

    The defendant lives at Oko-Oba, Lagos.

    Osunsanmi ordered that the defendant be remanded pending legal advice from the state Director of Public Prosecutions.

    Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of  (ASP) Ezekiel Ayorinde said the defendant committed the offence on July 24 at his home.

    Read Also: Police arrest pastor over alleged rape in Oyo

    He alleged that the defendant threatened the complainant with an object and raped her.

    “The complainant was going home when the defendant accosted her with a dangerous weapon suspected to be a knife. He threatened to stab her if she refused to comply.

    “He dragged her into his room and had carnal knowledge of her.

    “The defendant threatened to kill her if she tells anybody what he did to her.

    “The complainant ignored his threat and reported the case, following which the defendant was arrested,” the prosecutor alleged.

    He said the offence violated Section 260 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The case continues on October 16.

  • Seven family members die in Lagos  

    An electrician, Mr. Kazeem Owojori, his wife, Aminat, their children Aliyah, Faridaus, Taye, Kehinde and a family friend, Wasiliat, died in their sleep on Wednesday in Lagos.

    The bodies were discovered about 7am at 19, Raneem Olawora Street, Mafoluku in Oshodi, Lagos Mainland.

    Aminat’s mother slumped and died when she heard the news.

    It was gathered that the family might have choked after inhaling a chemical substance that was still strongly felt at the time the door to their one-room apartment was forced open by neighbours.

    Initially, there were suspicions that they might have suffered from food poisoning from the rice they ate before going to bed, a position that was dismissed after two of their neighbours disclosed that they also ate the rice.

    The neighbours who ate the meal said to have been prepared by Aminat were identified as the landlord’s grandchild Farida and one Iyawo.

    Some residents expressed fears that someone might have killed them. They cursed those responsible for the alleged murder.

    Read Also: Family of four dies of alleged food poisoning

    While Kazeem, Faridaus, Taye and Wasiliat were already dead at the time neighbours forced the door open, Aminat, Aliyah and Kehinde were said to be unconscious and were rushed to a private hospital.

    But Aminat and her eldest daughter, Aliyah, passed on, leaving only Kehinde, the woman’s youngest child, as survivor.

    It was learnt that their neighbours became suspicious when Mr. Owojori, alias Cool Money, did not turn up for the early morning prayer at the mosque called Subh.

    Residents said the man was a devout Muslim who never missed prayers, adding that his wife was an early riser because she usually prepared her children for school before going to her shop.

    But when neither the man nor his wife was seen, the neighbours reportedly called them without a response, prompting them to peep through the window.

    The Nation gathered that the neighbours saw them all lying down, but they did not respond when their names were called.

    Narrating how they discovered the bodies, a neighbour, Aina Adeleke, said: “Immediately we forced the door open, we found the seven of them lying down as if they were asleep. On closer look, we discovered that Cool Money was dead, Wasiliat had foaming substance in her mouth, while the bodies of Faridous and Taiwo (one of the twins) were very cold and stiff as if they had died several hours ago.

    “As soon as we discovered that Mrs. Owojori, Kehinde and Aliyah were still breathing, we rushed them to hospital. Unfortunately, only Kehinde, one of the twins, survived. Aliyah and her mother died in hospital.

    “I cannot say what happened to them, but we found out that they ate rice last night. Only God knows what happened to the family.”

    At the time The Nation visited the house, the premises had been cordoned off by the police and sealed by health officials from Oshodi Local Government.

    Spokesman Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent, said: “We will investigate the cause of the death.”

  • Police arraign manager for allegedly stealing N8m

    The police on Wednesday arraigned a restaurant manager, Nosa Okupoji, at an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly stealing N8 million from his employer.

    Okupoji, 25, whose address was not given, is charged with two counts of theft and breach of the peace.

    Prosecuting Corporal Godspower Ehizoba told the court that the defendant committed the alleged offence between December 2018 and August 2019, at about 8am and 9:30pm at 18B, Emmanuel Abimbola Cole Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Read Also: Banker accused of stealing customers’ N11m

    He alleged that the defendant stole N8 million from a restaurant, Delta Pot Cuisine.

    Ehizoba said the offence contravened sections 168 (d) and 287 (7) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    Okupoji pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate M. F. Onamusi admitted the defendant to N1million bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    She said one of the sureties must be related to the defendant and must be employed.

    Onamusi adjourned the case till October 8.

  • EFCC arrests 48 yahoo boys

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kaduna Zonal Office, said it has arrested 48 Internet fraudsters and secured conviction of 23.

    It said N198,727,241.5million and $48,000 US were recovered in cash and draft from January to date.

    Addressing a news conference yesterday at the anti-graft agency’s office, the Zonal Head, Mailafia Yakubu, said the commission has collaborated with the Federal Bureau for Investigation (FBI).

    Read Also: Kwara lawyer remains suspect in N20m property scam, says EFCC

    He said: “The collaboration between the commission and FBI has led to the recovery of $314,000 (Three hundred and fourteen thousand USD and about N373, 000,000 (Three hundred and seventy three million naira) from computer related fraud. Perpetrators have been traced and recovery made, while N373million has been traced to commercial banks.

    “The zonal office from January to date received 345 petitions, 286 were considered for investigations, 52 forwarded to legal and prosecution department, 56 cases in court, recovered N198,727,241.5million and $48,000 in cash and draft.

    “The recent joint operation conducted by the commission has yielded tremendous success, while some of the suspects have been arrested, prosecuted and convicted. One of the suspects linked to FBI wanted list was arrested in Kaduna.”

  • Delta communities now battleground for cultists

    Four communities in Udu Council Area of Delta State have reportedly become battleground for rival cults in the past two weeks.

    The Nation gathered that the clashes, involving sporadic shooting and theft mostly in the evenings, have allegedly left several people injured and a few dead.

    Some residents, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they now live in fear and do everything possible to be indoors before 7pm.

    A hairdresser, who lives at New York Street, Owaseh, recalled what happened on August 28.

    Read Also: Four feared killed as suspected cultists resume clash   

    “I was very lucky that day. I had just got home when people started running outside. There were gunshots. Now, one has to be home by 7pm, otherwise only God knows what will happen,” she said.

    Another resident, a young man, implored the government and commissioner of police to rescue them.

    He accused some community leaders of being members of the cults.

    “Many of the chiefs and some youths belong to cults. So, who will really kick against it? Unless the police commissioner does something that can tackle cultism, I’m afraid, you will come here one day and find out that they have killed all of us,” he said.

    Other communities being terrorised are Ovwian, Orhuwhorun and Ekete.

    It was learnt that two vigilance group members were allegedly killed on Monday night at Ekete in connection with the clashes.

    Police Commissioner Mr. Adeyinka Adeleke said operatives were taking steps to end the reign of terror in the area.

    He said the command was scheduled to meet the Chairman of the council, Jite Brown.

    A senior police officer, who preferred anonymity, said: “The way things are going, the command may have to declare curfew because of the violence.”

  • NURTW members protest Oluomo’s emergence as caretaker committee chair

    Some members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Lagos State on Wednesday marched on the premises of the Lagos State House of Assembly in Alausa, Ikeja.

    They protested the emergence of Musiliu Akinsanya aka MC Oluomo as the chairman of the caretaker committee of the union.

    The protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as: ‘We say yes to union constitution, we want the government to save our soul in Lagos’, ‘We say no to Lagos NURTW, we say no to imposition’, ‘We say no to self-imposition as NURTW Lagos State chairman’, ‘We say no to thuggery in Lagos NURTW’, and others.

    NURTW National President Alhaji Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa appointed MC Oluomo as the caretaker chairman, Lagos State chapter of the union.

    Read Also: NURTW officer faults Lagos chair on endorsement of successor

    It was gathered that Baruwa issued a statement on Tuesday dissolving the executive committee of the state chapter hitherto headed by Comrade Tajudeen Agbede, who is now Baruwa’s deputy, and replaced it with an 18- member caretaker committee led by MC Oluomo.

    MC Oluomo, the chairman of Oshodi branch, Lagos chapter of the union, is one of those contesting for the Lagos State NURTW chairmanship.

    Speaking during the protest, one of the leaders, the Chairman of Ojuwoye NURTW branch, Ademola Olanrewaju, alleged that MC Oluomo’s emergence would cause chaos.

    “A meeting was held yesterday and after the meeting, it was decided that MC Oluomo should emerge as the chairman of the caretaker committee.

    “Directly or indirectly, they are trying to impose him on us because there was fracas in Abuja and both parties were supposed to be dealt with, but MC Oluomo’s group was exonerated.

    “What we are agitating for is that we don’t want MC’s government in Lagos State.

    “Lagos State has given us the little it can in terms of empowerment, by giving us what to eat.”

    At press time, no government official had addressed the protesters.