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  • NGO organises professional snooker competition in Lagos

    NGO organises professional snooker competition in Lagos

    Come Alive Initiative, an NGO, says it is organising a two-day snooker competition to meaningfully engage youths and create recreation for adults, especially in the Obawole area of Ogba, Lagos, as they prepare for the Yuletide.

    The competition is being co-sponsored by Meer Essentials Ltd and Allied Amusement Nigeria Ltd, a leading snooker marketing and manufacturing firm in the country.

    The championships tagged “1st Obawole Professional Snooker Competition’’ will hold from Dec 16th and 17th at Adam’s Gate Hotels and Suites Obawole in Ogba, Ifako-Ijaye Local Council Development Area, Lagos State.

    The National Coordinator of Come Alive Initiative, Victor Enwezor, said on Wednesday in Lagos that the organisation put together the competition as its own way of giving back to the society by engaging the youths.

    “We have looked at the situation of the Nigerian youths and felt that apart from our other activities, use this competition to engage our youths meaningfully and take their minds off vices.

    “We felt so because those that will participate will be busy training to perfect their skills in readiness for the competition and therefore will have little time to think or engage in negative activities.

    “It is also a way of promoting the game of snooker in Nigeria,’’ he told NAN.

    “The competition is also designed to enrich the pockets of the participants in whatever small way and that is why the winner will take the star price of N15,000 and the first and second  runners-up N10,000 and N5000 respectively.

    “There will be lots of consolation prizes as well as other side attractions, including stand-in DJ, live band among others.’’

    The event, he said, would be an annual event and would continue to witness innovations as well continue to promote the game of snooker as a gentleman’s game.

    NAN reports that snooker is a cue sports which originated among British army officers in Etawah, India in the latter half of the 19th century.

    It is played on a rectangular table covered with a green cloth or baize, with pockets at each of the four corners and in the middle of each long side.

    Using a cue and 16 colored balls, each player must strike the white ball to pot the remaining balls into the pocket, first to pot the black ball wins the game.

    NAN also reports that Come Alive Initiative is youth development and empowerment organisation which presently focuses on the rehabilitation and re-integration of drug addicts into the society as well as empowering and giving them a new lease of life.

    The organisation has currently rehabilitated over 30 youths and young adults in different parts of the country.

    It also promotes the importance of effective giving for the development and assistance of the needy in communities and assists rehabilitated drug addicts with stigma and promote their tolerance and acceptability in communities in association with other government and non-governmental institutions.

  • Court docked man for N.26m fraud

    Court docked man for N.26m fraud

    A 49-year-old man, Ademola Adelesi, who allegedly collected N260,000 under false pretences to supply  three trucks of granite to one Olaide Oduwole was on Thursday docked  in an Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun.

    Adelesi, who lives in Tolani Street, Iyana-Ilogbo, Ota, is facing a two-count charge of stealing and obtaining money under false pretences.

    The prosecutor, Cpl. Abdulkareem Mustapha, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on July 27 at Canaan Land, Living Faith Church, Ota.

    Mustapha said that the defendant collected N260, 000 with the pretext of supplying three trucks of granite to Oduwole.

    He said that the offences contravened Sections 383(1) and 419 of the Criminal Code Vol.1, Laws of Ogun, 2017.

    Read also: Two men appear in court for fraud in Ekiti

    The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The chief magistrate, Mrs B. B. Adebowale, granted the defendant bail of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

    She said that the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and swear to an affidavit of means.

    Adebowale also ordered that the sureties should provide evidence of tax payment to Ogun State Government and submit four recent passport photographs to the court.

    She adjourned the case until January 15, 2018 for hearing.

    NAN

  • Trader arraigned for N240, 000 fraud

    Trader arraigned for N240, 000 fraud

    A 28-year-old trader, Chima Akwo, has been docked at an Apapa Magistrates’ Court for fraud after he allegedly obtained power shower worth N240,000 from a businessman under false pretences.

    The accused is facing a two-count charge of stealing and obtaining an item under false pretences, to which he pleaded not guilty.

    The prosecutor, Sgt. Olusegun Kokoye told the court that the accused, who resides in Apapa area of Lagos, committed the offences on Sept.15 at the Satellite town in Lagos.

    Read also: Court docks dispatch riders for stealing N643,388

    Kokoye claimed that the accused obtained power shower worth N240,000 from one Obinna Akanazu with a promise to pay him the following day.
    He said that the accused started using the power shower but refused to pay Akanazu as promised.

    Kokoye said that the complainant reported the case to the police and the accused was arrested for questioning.

    The offence contravened Sections 287 and 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

    Section 314 of the law prescribes a 15-year jail term for offence of obtaining items under false pretences.

    The senior magistrate, Mr M. A. Etti granted the accused bail in the sum of N100, 000, with one surety in like sum.

    Etti said the surety must be gainfully employed and must also show evidence of two years’ tax payment to the

    He adjourned the case until Dec.29 for mention.

    NAN

  • Lagos shuts hotels over N354.75m tax evasion

    Lagos shuts hotels over N354.75m tax evasion

    The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service ( LIRS ) on Thursday shut 11 hotels, restaurants and event centres over alleged failures to remit their taxes under the Hotel Occupancy and Restaurant Consumption Laws of Lagos State 2009.

    Mr Seyi Alade, Director, Legal Services of the LIRS, said this after a state-wide tax law enforcement exercise in Lagos, adding that the firms owed the state government N354.75 million in unpaid taxes.

    Alade said that the government had started full enforcement of all aspects of tax laws on defaulting taxpayers.

    He further warned that failure to file Annual Tax Returns, false declarations in returns filed and evasion of taxes were criminal offences punishable by severe fines and jail terms upon conviction by a court.

    “Any failure to deduct and remit taxes as and when due in Lagos State will now attract very serious monetary penalties.

    “These penalties include sealing of the company, seizure of the goods and chattels and criminal prosecution of principal officers of recalcitrant entities.

    “We are presently prosecuting 52 high net-worth personalities and 20 entertainment celebrities before the State High Court for offences ranging from failure to file Annual Tax Returns, false declaration in Returns and tax evasion,”he said.

    He added that over 200 corporate bodies were currently being prosecuted before the High Courts for failure to file returns and remit their taxes to the government.

    Alade advised that taxpayers should take advantage of the window of opportunity created by the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS), to regularise their tax status relating to previous tax periods.

    Read also: Ambode orders census of worship centres in Lagos

    “In exchange for full and honest disclosure of assets and income, such taxpayer will benefit from the forgiveness of overdue interests and penalties till the 31st December 2017.

    “Declarations made from 1st January 2018 will attract interest but no penalties up to the end of the scheme on March 31, 2018,” he said.

    He appealed to all taxable individuals and business entities operating in the state to ensure prompt remittance of their taxes to avoid the additional payments of interests.

    Alade added that business entities and taxable individuals who failed to remit their taxes promptly would also suffer penalties and disruptions to their businesses as a result of tax evasion.

    He listed Regia Luxuria hotel, Golden Hope hotel, Westown hotel, Liberty Hall, Seven Eagles Spur and El Shaddai Margvee hotel among others as some of the affected companies.

    NAN

  • NYSC DG tasks corps members to adopt entrepreneurship mentality

    NYSC DG tasks corps members to adopt entrepreneurship mentality

    Brig.-Gen. Suleiman Kazaure, Director-General, National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC ) has urged corps members to adopt entrepreneurship mentality to be self reliant after service and to attain financial independence.

    Kazaure made the call while addressing the 2017 Batch ‘B’ Stream 1 corps members deployed to Ogun at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Sagamu on Thursday.

    The director-general, who was represented by Mrs Adetokunbo Idowu, a director in the NYSC, said the scheme had adopted some innovations to ensure that corps members were better engaged after their service.

    Kazaure also advised corps members to develop their potential for entrepreneurship excellence rather than seeking for scarce white-collar jobs.

    Kazaure also called on them to utilise the opportunity provided by the NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development ( SAED ) programme to acquire additional skills for self-employment.

    Read also: Corps members urged to embrace entrepreneurial skills

    “The NYSC has provided all the tools and support you need to develop your capacity to the fullest, it depends on you, there is no short cut to success but hard work.

    “Of all the programmes outlined for you during the orientation, there is none more important that you must fully participate in than the SAED programme.

    “I want you to create your own jobs by being creative and innovative, you must strive to be labour employers rather than labour seekers.

    “Please don’t look for white-collar jobs, your skills and potential can serve you better in the way of realising your dreams,” he said.

    Kazaure said that SAED programme was packaged through a partnership with public and private sector organisations toward building an entrepreneurial capacity.

    He also urged corps members to remain in their states of deployment and contribute toward the promotion of national unity rather than seeking redeployment back home.

    Also speaking, Mr John Okpo, the Ogun NYSC Coordinator, thanked Kazaure for the visit.

    “We will continue to deploy corps members to all identified areas of needs, especially the rural communities where we shall implement advocacy programmes of interest,” Okpo said.

    About 2,442 corps members, comprising 1,270 males and 1,172 females, are participating in the orientation programme in the state.

    NAN

  • Adamu selects 10 players for COPA Lagos

    Adamu selects 10 players for COPA Lagos

    Ten players have been selected at the Brinin Kebbi camp of the Super Sand Eagles for the COPA Lagos Beach Soccer Tournament, opening in Lagos on December 8.

    The Head Coach of the team, Audu Adamu, said in Lagos on Thursday that the new team would represent Nigeria at the CAF Beach Soccer tournament, billed for Egypt next year.

    “These selected players will represent us at the World Cup qualifiers in Egypt. I have so much hope in them and I’m confident that they will deliver.

    “Our performance in COPA Lagos will further reveal to us where we need to work on and improve on,’’ Adamu said.

    The players selected are Paul Danjuma of Kastina United, Arome Isah of Sambrin FC Kogi, Victor Tale (Captain) of Kogi United FC, Emmanuel Oweferia and Taiwo Adams both of Owibeseb FC Ojo.

    Others are Ekujumi Eganosi and Emeka Ogbonna both are of Lead UTD FC in Ojo, Lagos, Abu Azizz of Rangers FC Enugu, Suleiman Muhammed of Ifeanyi Uba FC and Bulangi Umar of Kebbi Beach Soccer.

    The four new players, who made the team are Muhammed, Umar, Eganosi and Ogbonna.

    The Managing Director of Kinetic Sports, Samson Adamu, the organizers of COPA Lagos, said that this year’s event would be huge because of the partnership with the Lagos State Government.

    “We have come a long way and with our partnership with Lagos State, we know things will only get better.

    “Already because of this partnership, one of the most renowned coaches in the world Tehina Rota of Tahiti would help train our home-based coaches,’’ he said.

    The Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde, said that Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode was partnering with the tournament organizers as part of his commitment to making Lagos a centre of attraction.

    Read also: Arsenal Beach Soccer Team Arrives Today as Lagos State Supports COPA Lagos

    “Tourism, arts and sports are sectors that our amiable governor understands to be the oil sector, we have seen Kinetic Sports manage COPA Lagos and the tournament has all these traits.

    “We believe in the future of COPA Lagos and we are ready to continuously work harder to ensure that we tap into every area this tournament comprises of.

    “Talking about sports, fashion, music, tourism, all these and more are embedded in COPA Lagos and will keep our youths engaged during the festive period,’’ he said.

    The Special Adviser to the Governor on Sports, Deji Tinubu, said that Lagos State was proud to be a part of the success story of Kinetic Sports.

    “Samson is a Nigerian youth that has single-handedly organised a tournament of this magnitude for almost a decade now; because of his consistency he is a success story.

    “I want our youths to challenge themselves, nothing is too small as long as you have passion for it and you have a vision that sees beyond your challenges.’’

    The COPA Lagos tournament is to hold from December 8 to December 10 at Eko Atlantic City in Victoria Island, Lagos.

    NAN

  • Jigawa LG partners CPC to end food adulteration

    Jigawa LG partners CPC to end food adulteration

    The Suletankarkar Local Government Council of Jigawa said it would partner with the Consumer Protection Council ( CPC ) to end adulteration of foodstuff in the area.

    The Information Officer of the council, Alhaji Dudau Sulaiman, disclosed this on Thursday.

    Sulaiman said the Chairman of the council, Malam Jafaru Muhammad, made the announcement when he received the CPC’s Chairman in his office.

    Read also: Jigawa Assembly to investigates death of 50 children, increase in child mortality

    He said Muhammad, who expressed concerned over alleged reports of adulteration of commodities in markets in the area, pledged to measures to tackle the menace.

    The council’s boss also commended the CPC for its efforts at ridding the state’s markets of adulterated products.

    The CPC chairman, Alhaji Faruq Abdallah, said the council’s officials were in the area as part of their routine visit to markets.

    Abdallah called on the local council to revive its Consumer Protection Subcommittee to help check adulteration of goods in the area.

    NAN

  • Two policemen, NSCDC staff probed for abduction in Jigawa

    Two policemen, NSCDC staff probed for abduction in Jigawa

    The Police Command in Jigawa says it is interrogating two policemen, a personal of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps ( NSCDC ) and one civilian over alleged abduction of fake money producer.

    The command’s Spokesman, DSP Abdu Jinjiri, confirmed this to newsmen in Dutse on Thursday.

    Jinjiri said that the suspects (names withheld) were arrested in Hadejia Local Government Area of the state after they allegedly abducted the victim, Malam Ahmad Muhammad, also known as “Akrami’’.

    He explained that the suspects allegedly conspired and abducted the victim at his residence at Mahucin Sarki quarters, after they learnt that he produced fake money.

    The spokesman added that they suspects allegedly took the victim to the bush and demanded that he produced money for them.

    “On December 26, we received a report from Hadejia division that two policemen, one personal of NSCDC and one civilian allegedly conspired and abducted one Malam Ahmad Muhammad from his residence in Mahucin Sarki quarters, Hadejia town.

    “They kept the captive for one day insisting that he must produce money for them.

    “This is very unprofessional, as they were supposed to take him to station for interrogation but they decided to keep him with them,’’ the spokesman said.

    He said investigation into the case had begun, and that the suspects would be charged to court if evidence was established against them.

    NAN

  • Restructuring: Northern senators, governors to meet in Katsina

    Restructuring: Northern senators, governors to meet in Katsina

    The Northern Senators’ Forum and the 19 Northern governors would on Monday converge in Katsina for a three-day retreat to deliberate on the agitations for restructuring of the country.

    Chairman of the forum, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, said in Abuja that the retreat would also focus on how to improve the security situation in the country.

    Adamu said that the Forum had written letters of invitation to the 19 governors, leading traditional rulers, top politicians and ex-senators from the region to make presentations at the retreat.

    He said that the gathering would enable the senators, as the peoples’ representatives, to take a common position on restructuring.

    “Northern governors will be attending in solidarity and very eminent traditional rulers, including the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, will attend.

    Read also: Masari presents N211.4bn appropriation for Katsina

    “Essentially, we will be discussing the impact of budget in the north, the issue of restructuring which is now the main issue in politics.

    “The issue of restructuring that the Senate can develop a position on. It is part of preparing ourselves to face that challenge.

    “The issue of security will also be discussed,” Adamu said.

    He pointed out that as representatives of the people, it would be expected that with the retreat, they would be better educated, better placed to consider issues related to the subject-matter.

    “We will be better prepared to face the matter and legislate and make laws over them for the good governance of Nigeria.

    “We believe we are there to educate ourselves to be better informed, to exchange ideas on the subject matter, because we make laws, we don’t make laws out of ignorance.

    “We have to be better informed on anything we are talking about,” Adamu said.

    He explained that meeting in Katsina was not necessarily because of the economic impact it would have on the city and state or how it would energise Nigeria’s politics, “but for some sort of our presence will make’’.

    “There hasn’t been this retreat over time. We are trying to bring back the culture.

    “It makes us have touch with our bases; people who elected us and feel our pulse, we will relate with them in a better way,” he said.

    NAN

  • Customs impound contraband valued N1.59bn

    Customs impound contraband valued N1.59bn

    The Federal Operations Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service ( NCS ) intercepted various contraband with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1.59 billion between the 1st to 30th of November.

    The Customs Area Controller ( CAC ) of the unit, Comptroller Garba Mohammed, said this when he conducted newsmen round Customs’ warehouses in Lagos on Wednesday.

    According to Mohammed, a total of 185 items were intercepted within the period under review.

    “The command intercepted 64 units of various types of vehicles under detention; 13,333 bags of 50kg parboiled rice; 15 parcels of Indian hemp; 205 bales of second-hand clothing and 1,390 cartons of frozen poultry products.

    “We intercepted 1,101 pieces of used tyres; 835 jerry cans of vegetable oil; 17 no. of 20ft containers suspected to be carrying wood under detention and 385 cartons of Tiffany cream biscuits.

    “Also intercepted were: 2,300 cartons of Tiffany chocolate cream fudge and toffee sweet as well as 137 cartons of block engine cylinder,’’ he said.

    The controller said five suspects were apprehended along with the seizures, while one of the suspects had been released on administrative bail.

    Mohammed said some 50kg bags of rice were intercepted and discovered to have been locally-produced.

    He said the bags of rice were intercepted while being re-bagged to deceive Nigerians that the commodity was imported.

    According to him, three bullet-proof jeeps were among the vehicles seized through Customs Intelligence.

    Read also: Customs destroys 700 cartons of seized poultry products – Official

    Report said one of the suspects, Mr Adams Oghenegare, a driver with GPC Truck Transport Company, said he was apprehended by Customs at Otta, along Agbara area of Lagos.

    Oghenegare said he loaded some 50kg bags of rice and used some cartons of Maggi to cover the consignment in order to deceive security agents.

    The controller said that some owners of the 57 vehicles intercepted in Omole Estate, Lagos by officers of the unit had not come forward for identification in order to pay the duty and to release their vehicles.

    Mohammed said smuggled vehicles and rice through the land borders would attract outright seizure following the Federal Government’s directives.

    He said importation of groundnut oil was prohibited through land or sea.

    Mohammed commended the Comptroller-General of customs, Retired Col. Hameed Ali and the entire management team for providing the necessary logistics that brought about this feat.

    He also commended the media for their continued support and for using their medium in sensitising the public on the effects of smuggling on the nation’s economy.

    NAN