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  • Oko Poly wants FG to immortalise Ekwueme

    Oko Poly wants FG to immortalise Ekwueme

    The Federal polytechnic, Oko ( Oko Poly ), in Anambra, has urged the Federal Government to immortalise the first Vice President of the country, the late Dr Alex Ekwueme, for his selfless service to the nation.

    The polytechnic’s spokesman, Mr Obini Onuchukwu, made the institution’s position known in statement in Oko, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra on Wednesday.

    Onuchukwu said that the management, on behalf of the governing council and entire polytechnic community, expressed shock over the news of the demise of Ekwueme, who founded the polytechnic in 1979 as College of Arts and Science.

    According to him, immortalising Ekwueme in acknowledgment of his major role in the nation’s democracy, will serve as a “pat on the back” and a source of encouragement to the community.

    The institution noted that Ekwueme would be remembered for his fatherly role and efforts in attracting development to the polytechnic.

    “The late icon will also be remembered for his political strength in the entire South-East zone and Nigeria as a whole.

    “The news of his demise, which is grievously shocking, has thrown the entire polytechnic community into mourning, especially as the history of the institution can never be told without the name of the late patriarch being mentioned.

    “As a true nationalist, late Ekwueme formulated many political ideologies to advance the country.

    “His love for his people in particular and the nation in general, gave rise to what is today known as the Federal Polytechnic, Oko.

    “We are saddened by the news of his transition at the age of 85 because his wise counsel and tutelage will be greatly missed.

    “We have lost a great man. We have lost a father. We have lost a political giant.

    “We are in deep shock that it happened at a time like this when growing politicians needed to tap more from the wealth of experience and knowledge of the former Vice President.

    “On a different note, the death is also a celebration of a rare gem because the former vice president lived a fulfilled life and laid a good foundation which we all enjoy today.”

    He described Ekwueme as “one of the old generation elder statesmen who lived a peace loving life and a man of courage; and we will miss him so much”.

    The institution prayed God to give the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

    Meanwhile, the polytechnic has opened a condolence register at the institution’s administrative office as a mark of respect for the founder of the institution.

    NAN

  • Importation of rice: Farmers laud CBN

    Importation of rice: Farmers laud CBN

    The All Farmers Association of Nigeria ( AFAN ) has extolled the Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN ) for drastically reducing the importation of rice, wheat and fish, thereby boosting local production of rice and other agricultural commodities.

    AFAN spoke at their Northeast zone meeting held in Gombe under the chairmanship of the National Vice President, Arable Crops, Auwal Tukur.

    They however called for the timely release of loans and other agricultural inputs to farmers at the inception of farming activates (April to May) to make for more effective utilization of the facilities and facilitate timely repayment.

    It also in the same vane called on the CBN to consider removing bank guaranty to frustrate the various state governments’ officials’ total control of the funds.

    AFAN said the difficulty in accessing insurance cover due to bureaucratic bottlenecks and procedural requirements is worrying, and therefore called on NAIC to enlighten farmers on the processes involved.

    The northeast meeting also reinforced the appeals to Federal Government to the recapitalise the Bank of Agriculture in order to reflect CBN current efforts and also aid the funding of agricultural activities and diversification of the nations’ economy.

    The meeting commended the introduction of Accelerated Agricultural Development Scheme ( AADS ), saying it would reduce youths’ restiveness, create jobs and reduce poverty.

    Farmers however agreed on the need to sensitise members to always payback their loans to facilitate the sustainability of the programme and the loans are revolving in nature.

    The meeting also agreed on the need to have a comprehensive database for all its members for proper identification.

    While urging the Federal Government to buy up excess grains from farmers at harvest season to increase their income, members called on AFAN to monitor inputs sold to farmers and report adulteration as AFAN must protect its members in all ramifications.

  • NDE trains 30 youths on sustainable agriculture in Cross River

    NDE trains 30 youths on sustainable agriculture in Cross River

    The National Directorate of Employment ( NDE ) has flagged off a four-month training programme on Sustainable Agriculture Development for 30 unemployed youths on Agri-business economy in Ikom local government area of Cross River.

    Director General of NDE, Dr. Mohammed Ladan, said that the training was designed to help farmers improve on their farming skills through constant practice of modern agricultural skills.

    He said the beneficiaries will be trained at the NDE Agricultural Skills Training Centre in Nde Community in Ikom local government area.

    Ladan, who was represented by the State Coordinator of the Directorate, Mr Gabriel Udam, explained that the training would help local farmers to enhance the quality of food production, improve their income and save cost.

    According to him, the training involves three approaches which are two weeks adaptive field training in crops/livestock, trainee farmers’ mentorship and linkages with development, and money deposit banks.

    He also added that the trainees would also be taken on courses on bee making, cropping, farming, piggery, poultry and other agricultural practices.

    The DG said that the training will empower the beneficiaries with agricultural skills that would transform them into agri-preneurs and employers of labour.

    “The training is in line with the Federal Government policy on agriculture which is aimed at empowering the youths to be self-reliant and job creators.

    “I urge all of you here to make judicious use of the training so that you can turn yourselves into commercials farmers with a view to create jobs and be dependable farm income earners,” he said.

    One of the beneficiaries, Ms. Comfort Ojong, thanked the NDE for the rare opportunity of training them to become self-sustaining in commercial agriculture.

    Ojong, who spoke on behalf of others, said that the initiative will help in reducing unemployment among youths in the state.

  • Lagos Assembly passes regulation to boost state revenue through taxation

    Lagos Assembly passes regulation to boost state revenue through taxation

    Lagos State House of Assembly at plenary on Tuesday passed a regulations on Hotel Occupancy and Restaurant Consumption (Fiscalization) designed to ensure that hotels and event centers remit due taxes to the state government.
    The regulation will also guide against the evasion of taxes by these business concerns thereby boosting the revenue of the state.
    The Regulations includes the registration of electronic fiscal devices, installation of fiscalization software and hardware, power to enter and inspect notifications of points of sale in the hotels and restaurant amongst others.
    The Chairman of the 5-man Ad hoc Committee on Finance, Hon. Oluyinka Ogundimu who said he held series of meetings with the Commissioner for Finance and Chairman, Lagos State Internal Revenue Service stated that the regulations will bring about increase in the revenue accruable to the State and the installation of software and hardware for effective monitoring of sale transactions in hotels, restaurants and event centres.
    Ogundimu said the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Ashade said the importance of the regulation is to have the backing of law for easy implementation
    and also to help the State get the revenue as at when due, including the introduction of the fiscal electronic device which was due to the non-remittance of consumption tax by hotels.
    “Chairman, Lagos State Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Subair who corroborated the position of the Mr. Ashade stated that the State Government is losing heavily in the area of consumption tax because of non-introduction of electronic device. He added that lots of advocacy and enlightenment programs will be needed to achieve the desired result.
    The Speaker the Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa directed the Clerk of the House, Mr. Azeez Sanni to forward the approval of the Regulations to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.
  • PHOTO: CIBN accredits Keystone Bank Training Academy

    PHOTO: CIBN accredits Keystone Bank Training Academy

    PHOTO: CIBN accredits Keystone Bank Training Academy

  • PHOTO: President Buhari presides over FEC meeting

    PHOTO: President Buhari presides over FEC meeting

    PHOTO: President Buhari presides over FEC meeting

    PRESIDENT BUHARI PRESIDES OVER FEC MEETING
    PRESIDENT BUHARI PRESIDES OVER FEC MEETING 3. R-L; P Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SGF, Mr Boss Mustapha, NSA Major General Babagana Mongonu and Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Barr Solomon Dalung during the Federal Executive Council Meeting (FEC) held at the State House. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE/State House. NOV 22 2017

     

    Buhari presides over FEC meeting
    L-R National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Mongonu, Minister of Minister of Mines and Steel, Kayode Fayemi, SGF, Boss Mustapha, Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Barr Solomon Dalung during the Federal Executive Council Meeting at the Presidential Villain Abuja yesterday.PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN
  • Patience Jonathan’s $15.5m: Lawyers disagree over representation

    Patience Jonathan’s $15.5m: Lawyers disagree over representation

    There was a mild drama at the Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday as two lawyers engaged in an argument over who to represent four firms that pleaded guilty to laundering $15.5million allegedly belonging to Patience Jonathan.

    The companies through their representatives pleaded guilty last September 15 and were convicted for laundering the money when they were arraigned in a criminal charge before Justice Babs Kuewumi.

    They admitted laundering the money allegedly belonging to wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Dame Patience.

    But the law firm of Mike Ozekhome Chambers filed an application on May 8 on the companies’ behalf seeking to set aside the guilty plea.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) has filed a counter affidavit opposing the application.

    The former first lady is also praying the court to unfreeze the accounts in a separate suit.

    The companies are: Pluto Property and Investment Company Ltd (represented by Friday Davis), Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Ltd (represented by Agbor Baro), Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Ltd (represented by Dioghowori Frederick) and Avalon Global Property Development Ltd (represented by Taiwo Ebenezer).

    EFCC arraigned them with a former Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs to President Jonathan, Waripamo Dudafa, a lawyer, Amajuoyi Briggs and a banker, Adedamola Bolodeoku.

    Dudafa, Briggs and Bolodeoku pleaded not guilty to the 17-count charge.

    Beside the application filed by Ozekhome Chambers, another motion to set aside the guilty plea was filed by Briggs, who was the companies’ secretary, through his lawyer Ige Asemudara.

    Yesterday, Chima Onuigbo, who stood in for Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), said he was served with the prosecution’s counter affidavit on Tuesday.

    He sought an adjournment to enable the companies respond.

    Another lawyer, Luke Aghanenu, also appeared  for the companies.

    He claimed he was engaged by the companies’ representatives as their authentic counsel.

    According to him, he is the one who ought to speak on the companies’ behalf, not Onuigbo.

    But, Onuigbo said Mike Ozekhome Chambers was engaged by Briggs to represent the companies.

    He said Ozekhome had been appearing for the companies, saying he was surprised by the new counsel’s appearance.

    He described Aghanenu as an “interloper”, saying he should have filed a proper application.

    Resolving the issue after a long argument, Justice Kuewumi asked Aghanenu to file a formal notice of appearance as the companies’ representatives.

    Asemudara said he was also served with EFCC’s counter affidavit on Tuesday.

    Dudafa’s lawyer Gbenga Oyewole (SAN) said he was not served.

    “As long as we’re involved in this proceedings we are entitled to be served,” he said.

    EFCC’s lawyer Rotimi Oyedepo said since the application was challenging the validity of companies’ plea, it could be heard and judgment delivered at the end of the trial.

    This, he said, would be in line with Section 396 (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of 2015.

    “I apply that the trial should continue,” he said.

    But, Asemudara said his client was challenging the guilty plea and not the charge, so it should be taken first and ruling delivered before further proceedings.

    He said Oyedepo’s submission was misconceived, adding the case of the second defendant was “intricately connected” with the fourth to seventh defendants’ (the companies).

    He accused the prosecution of delaying the case, saying previous adjournments were at its instance.

    Urging the court to hear the application and deliver judgment, he added: “We don’t want our client to fear they were not given fair hearing.”

    Ruling, Justice Babs Kuewumi held that the application would be heard and determined before the prosecution witness continues with his evidence.

    “Section 396 (2) which says the delivery of the ruling shall be considered at the point of judgment does not apply to this type of application,” he said.

    The judge noted that EFCC’s late filing of its counter-affidavit necessitated the adjournment.

    Justice Kuewumi adjourned until December 12 for hearing of pending applications.

  • Court jails mechanic one year for stealing Jeep

    Court jails mechanic one year for stealing Jeep

    An auto mechanic, Samson David, 20, is to spend a year in Jail for stealing a Jeep valued at N600,000 by an order of an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.

    David was on Wednesday sentenced by Mrs O. A Gbajumo, the Magistrate, without an option of fine after pleading guilty to stealing the car.

    The magistrate ruled that the convict should cool his feet at Kirikiri Prison in Lagos.

    “This will serve as deterrent to others,’’ she said.

    The convict, who resides at Alagbado area, suburb of Lagos was tried for stealing.

    David was arraigned by the court on a-one count charge on Nov. 8 and pleaded guilty to the charge.

    Earlier, the prosecutor, Sgt. Micheal Unah insisted that the offence was committed at Shoronke St., Alagbado, suburb of Lagos on Sept. 28.

    Unah said that the complainant, Mr Akin Ogundele gave his Toyota Jeep to Alayo Mukaila, the convict’s boss, for repairs.

    “The accused (now convict) stole the Jeep from his boss workshop and drove it away, but on the way, the jeep developed a fault and could not move.

    “It was at the process while he was trying to fix it that he was caught by someone who knows of the missing Jeep,’’ he said.

    Unah said that the convict was arrested while fixing the car and was brought to the police station.

    The offence contravened section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    NAN

  • How Prophet Iginla predicted Zimbabwe leadership crisis

    How Prophet Iginla predicted Zimbabwe leadership crisis

    Respected preacher and Senior Pastor of Champions Royal Assembly, Kubwa, Abuja, Prophet Joshua Iginla, known for his accurate predictions about national and global events without fear, has continued to score higher.

    The televangelist and had predicted the crisis first during the church cross over service this year, again on the 14th of May and 2nd of July, 2017 during his church services.

    In his words, “One of the African country needs to pray against military intervention, I don’t want to say South, North, East or West Africa but one of the African countries should pray against military intervention so that their democracy will not be truncated’.

    “I see military intervention. I don’t know why they are intervening but what they are intervening for is between God and the future.

    “This country has to pray so they don’t go back to where they are coming from”.

    Recall, on 14th November, 2017, Zimbabwe’s military leaders seized control of the impoverished Southern African nation, placing longtime leader, Robert Mugabe under house arrest and deploying armored vehicles to the streets of the capital, Harare.

    Analysts say it appears to be the climax of a power struggle between liberation-era figures loyal to the country’s ousted vice president, Emmerson Mnangagwa and forces faithful to First Lady, Grace Mugabe, wife of Robert Mugabe who is seen as vying to succeed her 93-year-old husband.

    The events on Tuesday 21st November, 2017 led to Robert Mugabe’s resignation as the president of Zimbabwe, ending his 37-year reign.

    Bro. Iginla however, noted that he is not particular about the removal of Mugabe but that the right person should take charge.

    He further commended the military for not staging a coup but simply intervening according to the message God gave to him concerning the crisis.

  • FRSC arraigns 187 traffic offenders in Bayelsa

    FRSC arraigns 187 traffic offenders in Bayelsa

    The Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC ), Bayelsa Command says it   arraigned no fewer than 187 traffic offenders in the last four months for violating various traffic regulations in the state.

    The Sector Commander, Mr Ikechukwu Igwe, who made this known on Wednesday in an interview in Yenagoa, said that the courts convicted 135 of the offenders.

    Igwe, however, said the courts gave the convicts an option to pay fines ranging from between N2,000, to N20, 000, depending on their offences.

    “Between June and September, we have been able to arraign 187 persons through our mobile court, and out of the number arraigned, 135 were convicted.

    “The most prevalence offences were worn-out tyres, speed violation, failure to install speed limiting device, failure to use seat belt, drunk-driving, and use of unlicenced vehicles among others.

    “We have a special campaign on drunk-driving because apart from speeding, intake of drugs while driving has been a major concern, especially in this corridor,” he said.

    Igwe, however, noted that more than 65 per cent of road traffic crashes were as a result of the speed limit violation and drunk-driving.

    According to him, the speed limiting device is a strategic intervention on road traffic accidents.

    “The use of mobile court is part of our enforcement strategy to reduce road traffic crashes not only in Bayelsa but across states of the nation.

    “The mobile court is yielding result and we will continue to prosecute traffic law breakers in the state,” he said.

    He also appealed to motorists in the state to adhere strictly to traffic rules and regulations while driving.

    NAN