The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian Newspaper

Enugu to spend N42.8bn on infrastructure in 2018

The Enugu State Government says it will spend N42.8 billion as capital expenditure in the state’s 2018 budget to improve infrastructure and amenities.

The Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Mrs Eucharia Offor, made this known at the 2018 Budget Breakdown in Enugu on Thursday.

Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi recently signed the state budget of N103.56 billion, christened, “Budget of Sustainable Economic Growth’’ into law.

She also said the recurrent expenditure for 2018 was higher than the 2017 figure of N55.2billion.

The capital expenditure of N42.85 billion, representing 41.4 per cent was also lower than the 2017 figure of N50.52.

On sector allocation, the commissioner said that economic sector would gulp N24.16 billion; social sector, N13.79 billion; administrative sector, N3.5; law and justice sector, N1.2 billion; and regional sector, N152 million.

On the recurrent expenditure, she noted that personnel cost would gulp N37.5 billion; overhead, N17.23billion and subvention N5.98 billion

The commissioner said that the 2018 budget had been predicated on a recurrent revenue of N89 billion.

She said that N51.06 billion would come Federation Accounts Allocation Committee, N30 billion from independent revenue and 50 per cent or N8 billion from Refund from Paris and London Clubs.

“The recurrent revenue for the 2018 fiscal year of N89 billion, is higher than that of 2017, which stood at N71.37 billion; thus, showing an increase of 24.79 per cent,’’ he said.

On the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), the commissioner said that the state would use improved Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and e-payment platforms to achieve its target of N2 billion monthly IGR for 2018.

“The state government will expand the revenue base of the state by upgrading ICT infrastructure to bring all revenue generating Ministries, Department and Agencies into one platform as well as reviewing and updating relevant laws.

“This will support a robust and transparent revenue administration to realize our target of N2 billion monthly IGR,’’ she said.

NAN

March 1, 2018
Navy confiscates 3,574 bags of smuggled rice in Calabar

Naval personnel attached to the Nigerian Navy Ship Victory in Calabar, have arrested a large wooden boat laden with 3,574 bags of foreign rice worth N53.6 million smuggled from Cameroon republic.

They also arrested three suspects found in the boat that came from Cameroon and heading for Calabar.

Commander of NNS Victory, Commodore Julius Nwagu, said on Thursday in Calabar that the arrest was made along the Calabar waterway in the early hours of Feb. 27, when they got information about the activities of the suspected smugglers.

Addressing newsmen at the NNS Victory Jetty before handing over the items and suspects to the Nigerian Customs Service ( NCS ), Nwagu said that it took the command two and half days to offload the bags of rice from the wooden boat.

“In the early hours of Feb. 27, we got information about a boat laden with rice and my patrol team arrested the boat and three suspects on board. We brought the boat to base and offloaded the rice.

“It took us two and a half days to offload the content. After counting, we got 3, 574 bags valued at N53.6million.

“We will hand them over to the Nigerian Customs Service for further investigation and prosecution.

“I want to tell the general public that the Nigerian Navy under the leadership of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas will not leave any stone unturned in pursuing those involved in any form of criminality.

“We in the Eastern Naval Command, particularly NNS Victory, are all out to fight criminality at any level,’’ Nwagu said.

Mr Joshua Omachi, the Calabar Area Assistant Comptroller of Customs in charge of Marine Command, who received the items and suspects, commended the Navy for the feat.

Omachi said that the rice would be evacuated to the government warehouse of the Customs Area Command in Calabar, while the suspects would be prosecuted.

One of the suspects, Moses Azazi, told our reporter that they knew that what they had on board was a contraband.

“We were bringing the rice from Cameroon and were arrested by the Navy. We are aware it was a contraband.

“I don’t know the owner of the rice. We were just asked to transport it to Calabar from Kondo in Cameroon,’’ he said.

NAN

March 1, 2018
Zuckerberg sells nearly $500m Facebook stock in February

Facebook Inc Chief Executive Officer, Mark Zuckerberg, sold nearly 500 million dollars in the company’s shares in February to fund his philanthropic investment vehicle, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative ( CZI ), regulatory filings showed.

The move is not a surprise, being part of Zuckerberg’s plan to expedite stock sales to fund the initiative he set up in December 2015 with his wife Priscilla Chan.

Two security filings on Thursday showed that Zuckerberg sold 685,000 shares worth 125.4 million dollars in the last three days of February.

This had taken his total sales in the month to about 2.7 million shares worth 482.2 million dollars.

Zuckerberg said in September he would sell 35 million to 75 million shares of Facebook over the next 18 months.

That would amount to up to 13 billion dollars, based on Facebook’s current share price.

The Silicon Valley billionaire has said he will donate 99 per cent of his Facebook shares to CZI – worth about 45 billion dollars when the initiative was formed.

He sold about 1.6 billion dollars of the company’s stock in 2016 and 2017, according to technology website Recode.

Zuckerberg’s foundation is similar to those set up by Microsoft Corp founder Bill Gates and his wife Melinda Gates, and the Buffett Foundation, formed by billionaire Warren Buffett.

Reuters/NAN

March 1, 2018
Money laundery: Bank official gives evidence against Usman, Fani-Kayode

More revelations were made on Thursday at a Federal High Court in Lagos in the ongoing trial of a former Minister of State for Finance, Nenandi Usman, who is facing a corruption charge.

A bank official and witness told the court how N250 million was transferred into an ex-minister’s account from a company.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) is prosecuting Usman alongside Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation and the Chairman of the 2015 Goodluck Jonathan Presidential Campaign Organisation.

Others are a former National Chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Yusuf Danjuma and a company — Jointrust Dimentions Nigeria Ltd.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had slammed a 17-count charge bordering on laundering of N4.6 billion.

They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and were were granted bails.

At the resumed hearing of the case on Thursday, Counsel to the third and fourth accused, Mr Clement Onwuenwuno, began cross-examination of the second prosecution witness, Mr Teslim Ajuwon, who was still under oath.

Onwuenwunor ask the witness to confirm his position in the bank and he confirmed that he was a compliance officer.

Onwuenwunor: Are you the relationship officer or the account officer?

Witness: Neither.

Onwuenwunor asked the witness if he made any statement at EFCC and he responded in the negative.

Onwuenwunor: Before your bank’s letter to the EFCC in February 2016, did your bank raise any query on the account of the fourth accused?

Witness: I am not sure.

Onwuenwunor: Who is a signatory to the fourth accused bank account (exhibit eight)?

Witness: Mr Yusuf Danjuma, the third accused.

Onwuenwunor: In your bank, is it wrong for the third accused to instruct transfer of money to any person?

Witness: It is his mandate.

No re-examination was taken, and the PW2 was discharged.

The EFCC prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, called the third witness, Mrs Shedlis Gana, who swore on the Holy Bible before proceeding to give her testimony.

Gana told the court that she was the branch manager of the Ghana Street branch of Zenith Bank, where the second and fourth accuseds’ accounts are domiciled.

When asked if she knew all the accused, she responded in the affirmative for the accused persons, except the third accused.

Oyedepo: How do you know the second accused?

Witness: He is a former minister and an account officer in my branch, Gloria Chibuikem, opened a personal account for the second accused.

The witness, being directed by the EFCC prosecutor, proceeded to identify instruction letters sent by the accused to the bank for funds transfer to some other accounts.

Gana further matched the debit instruction letters received from the second accused with entries made in Exhibit 7 (second accused’s statement of account).

The witness identified a N250 million debit instruction from Jointrust Dimentions Nigeria Ltd. to credit another account.

Oyedepo: Whose account was credited with that N250 million from Jointrust Dimentions Nigeria Ltd. account?

Witness: Second accused.

In his cross-examination, Counsel to the first accused, Mr Ferdinand Orbih (SAN) asked the witness: Have you ever had cause to complain, that any document submitted to EFCC by your bank, was doctored?

The witness replied: An issue arose like that.

Orbih: That doctored document is it part of the documents you analyzed before this court today?

Witness: Yes it is.

Orbih: Who doctored those documents?

Witness: People photocopying the documents, Mr Peter Alemo and Mr Alozie Alaka.

Orbih: Were they the same staff, that photocopied all the documents sent to the EFCC?

Witness: Yes, they were.

Orbih: Who discovered the doctored documents?

Witness: EFCC did.

Orbih: Do you know if any other document was doctored?

Witness: No, I don’t know.

Orbih: Did you personally carry out any of the transactions?

Witness: No, I didn’t.

Orbih, further asked if the witness could confirm that the cheques, previously tendered into evidence, were not doctored; she replied that she could not confirm.

Orbih: Can you authoritatively say it was the second accused that cashed the cheques?

Witness: I cannot authoritatively say that the account officer told me.

Orbih took the witness through the statement of account of one MFA Research Project, Abuja, in Zenith Bank to identify the outflow of N800 million to the fourth accused.

The witness confirmed that it was also reflected on the forth accused’s statement of account (Exhibit 8).

Justice Aikawa has adjourned until March 2 for continuation of trial.

NAN

March 1, 2018
NB, Dangote Cement record loses on NSE, drag index by 1.12%

Nigerian Breweries and Dangote Cement recorded price depreciation on the Nigerian Stock Exchange ( NSE ) on Thursday, dragging the indices down by 1.12 per cent.

Both companies led the losers’ chart with a loss of N4.90 per share.

Specifically, Nigerian Breweries lost N4.90 to close at N131, while Dangote Cement also dipped N4.90 to close at N264.90 per share.

Lafarge Africa dropped N1.80 to close at N50.10, while Total depreciated by N1 to close at N231 per share.

Guaranty Trust Bank also declined by N1 to close at N48 per share.

Consequently, the All-Share Index, which opened at 43,330.54, shed 487.16 points or 1.12 per cent to close at 42,843.38.

Also, the market capitalisation lost N175 billion or 1.13 per cent to close at N15.374 trillion compared with N15.549 trillion on Wednesday.

On the other hand, Seplat, due to improved 2017 earnings released to the market, led the gainers’ table, growing by N14.50 to close at N675 per share.

NASCON followed with a gain of 95k to close at N22.95, while International Breweries gained 65k to close at N57.65 per share.

Unilever added 35k to close at N51.55, while Union Bank of Nigeria advanced by 25k to close at N6.75 per share.

A breakdown of the activity chart indicated that Transcorp was the most active stock during the day, trading 40.35 million shares worth N80.98 million.

Zenith International Bank followed with an account of 40.04 million shares valued at N1.27 billion, while GT Bank traded 31.04 million shares worth N1.51 billion.

Wapic Insurance exchanged 30.26 million shares valued at N19.67 million, while Royal Exchange traded 29.74 million shares worth N9.52 million.

In all, the volume of shares traded dropped by 35.08 per cent with an exchange of 371.25 million shares valued at N4.87 billion transacted in 4,570 deals.

This was in contrast with a total of 571.87 million shares worth N10.80 billion traded in 5,142 deals on Wednesday.

NAN

March 1, 2018
Customs intercepts smuggled Tramadol drugs worth N4.6m in Sokoto

The Nigeria Customs Service ( NCS ) has intercepted 465 packets of smuggled tramadol drugs worth N4.6 million on Sokoto-Illea road in Sokoto state.

Mr Nasir Ahmad, the Comptroller of Customs in charge of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara Command, told newsmen on Thursday in Sokoto, that the consignment were apprehended in three bales and one person was arrested during the raid.

Ahmad, who handed the items to officials of National Food, Drugs Administration and Control, Sokoto state office, added that each packet consists of ten sachets which was valued at N1000 per sachet.

He said the drug was being regulated by the authorities due it wide abuse as intoxicant.

Ahmad said it was sad that some people engage in smuggling the dangerous drug that has destroyed the lives of many in the country.

“Smugglers conceal it in various forms to perpetrate their illegal businesses. Smuggling such regulated drugs contribute to the rising criminal activities in the country.

“I want to appeal to the people, especially residents of border communities to assist law enforcement agents with useful information on smuggler movements.

“Customs is committed on ensuring a smuggle-free society. Smuggling cripples the nation’s economy and subjects peoples’ lives to various forms of danger,’’ he said.

He recalled that in 2017, the command apprehended high quantity of Marijuana and drugs which were also handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

NAN

March 1, 2018
Kano Hisbah apprehends 48 beggars – Official

Kano State Hisbah Board said it arrested no fewer than 48 beggars in Kano metropolis last month for allegedly violating the law banning street begging in the state.

Malam Dahiru Nuhu , the officer in charge of Anti-Begging Unit of the Board, disclosed this while speaking with our reporter on Thursday in Kano.

Nuhu said that the suspects -10 children and 38 adults – were arrested during different raids in the metropolis.

He said the arrests were carried out in areas around motor parks and hospitals.

He said, although, the suspects were released after confirming that they were first time offenders but they were warned by the officers of the board.

The officer disclosed that 30 missing “street children” (almajiri) were brought by good Samaritan for safe return to their various schools.

He said the board had received 36 cases on matrimonial disputes, disputes between neighbours, prostitution and lost but found.

Nuhu urged people to shun begging and learn to use their hands for productive ventures to better their lives.

Violation of the law banning street begging in the state attracts a minimum of three months jail term.

NAN

March 1, 2018
PHOTO: Buhari receives former Emir of Qatar

President Muhammadu Buhari today welcomed the former Emir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Althani and former Prime Minister of Qatar H.E. Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassin Bin Baber Althani to the State House. Other senior government officials attended the Meeting that followed.

Buhari with former Emir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Althani and former Prime Minister of Qatar H.E. Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassin Bin Baber Althani at the State House

Buhari receiving Emir of Qatar and other senior govt. officials

Buhari receiving Emir of Qatar and other senior govt. officials

March 1, 2018
Eight arrested for child trafficking

Eight women and three men have been arrested in Anambra state for trafficking.

The suspects who were nabbed in different parts of the state, where arrested on suspicion of child Trafficking, abduction and sale of children.

Stating on behalf of the Head, Press and Public Relations Unit, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Adekoye Vincent revealed that operation was carried out with the support of Directorate of the State Services (DSS).

He stated, “The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has arrested 11 persons for suspected child trafficking, abduction and sale of children. They were arrested in different parts of Anambra state in a combined operation carried out with the support of the operatives of the Directorate of the State Services (DSS).

“The suspects comprising 8 women and 3 men were said to have belonged to a criminal syndicate that specialized in kidnapping and sale of babies across the country notably the States of the South-East, Lagos and Abuja.

“Three children whose ages range from 8 months to 4 years were recovered during the operation while scores of other children believed to have been trafficked by the gang are yet to be found.

“Among the children were a 2 – year old girl who was reportedly stolen from Lagos sometimes ago and another 4 – year old boy who was allegedly stolen from his parents in Gudaba area of the Federal capital territory. His parents are yet to be traced.

“The parents of the 8 month old child are yet to be traced while the 2 years old child whose 4 year old brother is yet to be recovered has been identified by her parents. She was stolen from Okpoko in Anambra State and was recovered in Lagos.

“One of the arrested suspects, Rosemary Okafor (30 years old) sold one of her 4 children (New born baby) to one woman simply identified as Madam Pink at the cost of N350, 000. She confessed to have sold the baby to be able to train the other three in school.

“While the suspects are in the custody of the Enugu Zonal Command of the Agency, the rescued children and the remaining 3 children of Rosemary Okafor victims are presently receiving the required services at the Agency’s shelter.
Investigation on the matter continues. “

March 1, 2018
Abubakar signs four health bills into law

Gov. Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi State has signed four health bills into laws for the revitalisation and sustainable development of the health sector in the state.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Zuwaira Hassan, said this on Thursday at the public presentation of the laws in Bauchi.
“Gov. Abubakar for the first time signed four bills passed in to law by the Bauchi State House of Assembly,’’ she said.
According to her, the laws are critical to the health sector revitalisation and sustainable development.
Hassan listed the laws as establishing of the Directorate of Medical Laboratory Services in the state Ministry of Health, and Hospitals Management Board Bauchi.
Other bills signed into laws are Traditional Medicine Board to regulate the practice of traditional medicine, and register practitioners and licence practitioners.
According to her, the governor also signed into law the establishment of the Bauchi State Health Contributory Management Agency and the law for the establishment of Bauchi State Health Trust Fund (BHETFUND).

Read Also: State, community police is beginning of true federalism- Gov. Abubakar

The commissioner explained that BHETFUND would be responsible for the collection, management and disbursement of funds to public health institutions.
She said the fund would be generated from sources but not limited to five per cent of the monthly internally generated revenue of the state.
‎“One per cent from the statutory allocation of each of the local government councils and another one per cent from the amount of all contracts awarded by state and local government councils in the state,’’ Hassan said.
She stressed that the law would ensure sustainable financing of the health sector in the state.
‎Earlier, Dr Aminu Magashi, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of Community Health and Research Initiative (CHR), commended the Bauchi state government for providing laws that would strengthen the healthcare sector.

NAN

March 1, 2018