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  • We didn’t arrest Chido Onumah, says DSS

    Department of State Services (DSS) has said it did not arrest Dr Chido Onumah in Abuja on Sunday evening.

    A statement in Abuja by its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Dr Peter Afunaya, said DSS officers only interacted with Onumah when they observed that he had allegedly committed an act that could undermine public order and national security.

    It reads: “The DSS wishes to make clarifications regarding reports that Dr Chido Onumah was arrested by the service. To set the records right, Onumah was never arrested by the service. He was rather engaged in an interaction during which an act of his (that was) capable of undermining public order and national security was explained to him.

    “On his arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on September 29, 2019, it was discovered that Onumah wore a T-shirt with “WE ARE ALL BIAFRANS” inscription on it. With credible intelligence that he might be a subject of mob attack, if allowed to go into town in same cloth, the service invited him and drew his attention to the implications of his probable (un)intended action.

    “It was strongly believed that an attack on Onumah would have sparked ethno-religious reprisals with dire consequences for law and order and public safety in the country. He understood the issues and pledged not to engage in activities that may cause disaffection in Abuja and the country at large. He subsequently removed the cloth with the inciting symbols and inscriptions and agreed not to use it.

    “The interaction between Onumah and the service held in a convivial atmosphere. He appreciated the courtesies extended to him. Afterwards, the service arranged for him to go back to his accommodation in town.

    “It is hoped that this clarification has dispelled the erroneous claims and reportage that he was arrested. The service acted within the confines of its mandate and only carried out its routine security duty that could have been discharged by a similar agency in any part of the world.”

    It is not out of place for concerned security agencies to have sought clarification from a traveller concerning a subject of security interest.

    “The DSS reaffirms its avowed commitment to the rule of law and protection of citizens and national critical assets.”

  • Suswam, former commissioner lose bid to stop trial

    Former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam (now a serving senator) and his ex-Finance Commissioner, Omadachi Oklobi, on Monday lost in the bid to stop their criminal trial.

    Suswam and Okolobia are facing a nine-count charge of money laundering and diversion of N3.1 billion belonging to the state.

    The charge was filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, in a ruling, rejected their objection to the transfer of the case form the former trial judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, who withdrew from it.

    Justice Abang said he has jurisdiction to take over the trial and dismissed the objection raised by the defendants against the transfer of the case.

    Read Also: Suswam rules out 60/40 sharing formula with Ortom, others

    The judge said he had seen a letter, written on July 5, 2019 by Justice Mohammed, detailing why he recused himself from the case.

    Justice Abang said the letter formed part of the proceedings in the case, despite the fact that the counsel to the prosecution and the defendants did not make reference to it in their submissions.

    The judge, who read the letter, quoted Justice Mohammed as saying: “What I find disturbing is the continuous attack on my person by Sahara Reporters. How can I continue with the case the same Sahara Reporters has continuously made allusions to? There is no need to continue.”

    He said Justice Mohammed complained that there was no need for him to continue with the case because whether Suwsam is eventually convicted or discharged, he (judge) would still be accused of bias.

    Justice Abang also quoted Justice Mohammed in the letter, saying: “So, I find it necessary to recuse myself from the case.”

    The judge said it would be a risky business, which he was not prepared to take, if he returned the case file to the acting CJ on the account of the defendants’ application.

    He said the matter was reassigned to promote justice, adding that Justice Mohammed voluntarily recused himself, even without a petition.

    Justice Abang averred that the case could suffer more delay and justice denied, if Justice Mohammed was compelled go ahead with it.

  • Confusion over Bayelsa Assembly speaker’s removal

    There were gunshots on Monday at the Bayelsa State House of Assembly in the battle between supporters of Tonye Isenah and Monday Obolo who both claimed to be the Speaker of the Assembly.

    It could not be ascertained last night who started the use of the weapon among the rival politicians in the Assembly.

    But the mace, the Assembly’s symbol of authority, was reportedly snatched away by unknown persons.

    The battle followed the alleged refusal of Speaker Tonye Isenah to resign from his position.

    It was learnt that Isenah had been asked to step aside to enable the governorship candidate of the PDP in the November 16 election, Douye Diri, win the poll.

    The arrangement, it was learnt, was due to the fact that Isenah and Diri are from the same local government.

    Read Also: Controversy as Bayelsa gets two Speakers

    But Isenah remained on the seat during yesterday’s plenary, after allegedly hinting that he would resign for a lawmaker from another local government area.

    Isenah’s colleagues were said to be in shock by his action.

    The Speaker adjourned indefinitely and asked fellow lawmakers to proceed on a recess.

    Shortly after the adjournment, the gun battle started, leading to the violent removal of the mace from the Assembly.

    While some sources said the Speaker left with the mace, others said suspected thugs stole it.

    Isenah was said to have left the Assembly complex with four All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers and a PDP lawmaker, Bonny-Ayah, representing Southern Ijaw Constituency I.

    The other lawmakers, led by Deputy Speaker Abraham Ngobere (Brass Constituency III), reconvened the Assembly and ordered reporters out.

    It was learnt that another mace was brought into the Assembly to move for Isenah’s impeachment.

    Bernard Kenebai (Sagbama II) moved the motion and was supported by unanimous voice votes. Oboku Oforji (Yenagoa Constituency 1) moved for the nomination of Monday Obolo as Speaker and he was seconded by Naomi Igoli of Ogbia Constituency III.

    But Isenah dismissed the lawmakers’ actions, describing it as illegal.

    He insisted that he remained the authentic Speaker.

    He said: “I went to the House this morning and presided over plenary. Since the beginning of the sixth Assembly, all other Houses of Assemblies have gone on recess, even the National Assembly, but we have not gone. We have been working since and we are tired. So, today (yesterday), I adjourned the House indefinitely.

    “If the House has been adjourned indefinitely, nothing can be done that would hold ground again. I presided over the House as the authentic Speaker and adjourned indefinitely…”

    But Obolo, who was elected Speaker in the controversial circumstances, denied the alleged disappearance of the mace.

    He said: “The House of Assembly is a united family. It is an honour to have been elected to lead the Sixth Assembly. We are meant to debate and 18 members elected me. Bayelsans should expect the dividends of democracy.”

    Governor Seriake Dickson, the state chapter of the PDP and the party’s youths have congratulated Obolo.

    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Fidelis Soriwei, the governor described Obolo as a promising, young and vibrant political leader with the capacity to carry out the sensitive responsibility of presiding over legislative arm of government.

    The youths praised the lawmakers for installing the new Speaker.

  • Nwosu: tribunal yet to release judgment copy

    Governorship candidate of the Action Alliance (AA) in Imo State Uche Nwosu has accused the election petition tribunal of refusing to release copies of its judgment 10 days after the verdict.

    Panel Chairman Justice Umar Dogondaji dismissed the petitions filed by AA, All Progressives Congress (APC) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), which challenged the victory of Governor Emeka Ihedioha, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Nwosu, who addressed reporters in Abuja on Monday, said the panel’s refusal to release the judgment was a ploy to frustrate his chances to appeal the judgment.

    According to him, efforts to get the judgment were frustrated by officials of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    Read Also: Court nullifies Nwosu’s participation in election

    He said: “We suspect foul play. It has been 10 days since the judgment was given, but efforts to obtain the Certified True Copy (CTC) have been unsuccessful. It’s one excuse or the other.

    “However, I believe these people are out to sabotage my efforts. They know I have 14 days to file an appeal and I need the judgment’s CTC. This is why I have called you to tell the world what these people are doing to justice.”

    But tribunal secretary Balarabe Garuba said copies of the judgment would be taken to Owerri today.

    Garuba said he spoke to the tribunal’s Assistant Secretary, Muazu Lawan, who said he had copies of the judgment and would take them to those who should have them the next day.

    He said: “He called me that the judgment was given to him, so he will take the next available flight to Owerri to give prospective appellants. He should be travelling tomorrow (today).”

  • CBN sets $10.7b growth target for creative industry

    AFTER announcing the injection of N22 billion seed capital into the creative industry, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Monday gave the movie production and distribution a $10.7 billion growth target in the next five years.

    CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele who broke the news yesterday at the Creative Nigeria Summit in Lagos with theme: “Finance for Growth”, said the intervention of the apex bank in the music and movie industry would be in the areas of support to young entrepreneurs in the development of digital content.

    The project is also expected to create over 500,000 direct and indirect jobs.

    Emefiele said the measures, billed to be implemented over a five-year period, would increase the contribution of the movie industry to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), from one to three per cent.

    It would also result in improved revenue generation of over $300 million from production and distribution of Nigerian movies at cinema locations at home and abroad, as well as the creation of over 200,000 direct and indirect jobs.

    He said the CBN and the Bankers Committee had set up the Creative Industries and Financing Initiative (CIFI). Using the Agric-Business/Small and Medium Enterprises Investment Scheme (AGSMEIS) fund, through which the banks set aside, on an annual basis, five per cent of their Profit After Tax (PAT), to support startups and existing businesses in the creative industry space.

    The plans also cover the development of a creative industry park in three major cities in the country.

    The CBN boss said: With the kind support of the Federal and Lagos governments, the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, is expected to serve as the initial pilot for the Creative Industries Park.

    “Our plan is to develop a 40- acre Creative Industry Park around the National Theatre including giving the Theater itself tremendous face lift; thereby reopening the touring potential the National Theatre offered during the FESTAC 77 arts culture. Following the deployment of the pilot scheme in Lagos, we intend to set up similar parks in Kano, Port Harcourt or Enugu.”

    Besides, Emefiele noted that individuals would have the opportunity to showcase their work at the park, which will expose them to domestic and external investors that can provide them with additional resources that will enable further production and expansion of their creative works.

    Read Also: CBN apologises for cashless policy inconveniences

    He said that a critical aspect of the park would be devoted to supporting the growth of the Nigeria’s fashion industry.

    Emefiele said: “The textile, apparel and footwear sub-sector remain the second largest contributor to Nigeria’s manufacturing (after food, beverage and tobacco) sector. Total output in fourth quarter of 2017 was estimated at $1.3 billion or 23.3 per cent of manufacturing GDP. Sadly today, Nigeria spends over $2 billion on imported textiles, including machine-made cloths imported from Asia which copy popular Nigerian designs. This action has taken place despite the abundant talents in the fashion industry in Nigeria, some of whom are gaining prominence both locally and internationally,” he said.

    He said the initiative will also help to support the growth of the cotton and textile industry by off taking on the products being produced in textile mills in Kano, Kaduna and Lagos.

    “Over the next five years, the park will help support 10,000 young Nigerians with improved design skills, while creating over 100,000 direct and indirect jobs in the Cotton, Textile and Garment (CTG) industry. The Shared Service Facility will also serve as a showroom to the world on quality fabrics being designed and produced in Nigeria,” he said.

    Emefiele said that over 50,000 Nigerians would benefit from this ICT centre, which will create over 25,000 software engineers and 150,000 skilled and unskilled jobs. He added that it could result in potential GDP gains of close to $2 billion while curbing importation of IT solutions that can be produced in Nigeria.

  • Akeredolu greets Adefulire at 60

    Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, has felicitated with the former deputy governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, who clocked 60 on Monday.

    Governor Akeredolu, who described Adefulire as a rare gift to society, commended her dedication to assigned responsibilities and expressed optimism that at 60, her services were more required not just by the people of Lagos State, but the nation at large.

    Read Also: Akeredolu: we’ll include OPC in Ondo security outfit

    The governor said this in a statement by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo.

    According to the governor, it is particularly gratifying that the former deputy governor, whose youthfulness defies her age, has enjoyed the rare benevolence of sound health, the most sought after of all Godly gifts to mankind.

  • ‘Epidemic’ sends hundreds of Queen’s College pupils home

    Hundreds of pupils from Queen’s College, Lagos, have been sent home to prevent the .spread of water-borne infection, The Nation learnt last night.

    The Chairman of the school’s Parents/Teachers’ Association (PTA), Mr John Ofobike, confirmed the development.

    But the principal, Mrs Oyinloye Yakubu could not be reached for comment.

    In 2017, the school had a water-borne epidemic which caused the death of three pupils and led to its closure for months during which the old students association rehabilitated its facilities.

    Ofobike said he could not tell the nature of the sickness but learnt from a parent whose ward had been treated at the hospital that the illness was caused by food and water bacterial infection.

    According to him, he visited the school on Sunday and found out that hundreds of girls were being given exeat to go home for treatment.

    He, however, noted that the principal, whom he claimed did not want the issue to be publicized, refused to allow him see the register of sick pupils.

    Read Also: 24 pupils for story, poetry award

    He said: “I am not a doctor so I don’t know if the problem is caused by water but there is a problem already in the school and parents are calling me.  I was there on Sunday.  So many children, over 100 were waiting for exeat to go out.

    “The sick bay was filled with children everywhere on the beds and benches. You know when people are queuing for INEC registration? That was how it was. And these girls are in exam classes – SS3 and JSS3.

    “I went to the principal to tell her to alert the government but she did not want to alert the government.  The children are sick because the environment is unkempt.

    “I said let me look at the register at the sick bay. But the principal instructed the nurse not to allow me see the register.  I am – as the PTA Chairman – the father of all the girls in the school.

    “I was there when one parent brought his daughter.  He showed me the medical report which stated that there is a bacterial infection for food and water. I have written the Federal Ministry of Education to report the matter.”

     

     

     

  • Ibadan to get trailer park

    The Governor of Oyo State, Mr. Seyi Makinde, has approved a 250-truck capacity parking space in Ibadan to ensure free flow of human and vehicular movements within the state.

    The park, which is sited at Sanyo in Ibadan, would reduce the level of road carnage caused by indiscriminate parking of haulage trucks by the highways in Ibadan metropolis.

    The Executive Chairman, Oyo State Traffic Management Agency (OYRTMA), Dr. Akin Fagbemi, said this at the weekend, when men and officers of the Agency visited the popular Ibadan toll gate usually characterised by haphazard parking of heavy duty trailers.

    The governor’s approval, Fagbemi said, was in a bid to enthrone sanity and discourage disorderly and dangerous parking habit rampant among motorists at the toll gate and other road corridors across the state.

    Read Also: ‘It’s unfair to assess Makinde now’

    Addressing the Chairman and members of NUPENG and other heavy duty vehicle operators at the Toll Gate, Fagbemi expressed the will of the Seyi Makinde-led administration to have safe highways across the state.

    He said: “Vigilance by everyone is safety for all; negligence by anyone is danger for all. It is the quest of the governor to ensure an extremely safe highway for the good people of Oyo State and its environs and this is why the governor recently approved a 250-capacity heavy and light duty vehicle park as our main Operations Center at Sanyo, Ibadan.

    “This facility, which has been abandoned for over eight years by past administrations, can conveniently accommodate about 250 trailers and other small-sized vehicles. If used to optimum capacity, it would significantly reduce the huge traffic jam caused by trailers on our highway, ease traffic congestion and provide safety for the vehicles.

    “The ripple effect of this is that it would enhance economic activities, encourage foreign and local investors as well as boost the overall economy of the state.”

    Fagbemi further expressed immense appreciation to Governor Makinde for granting the approval for the facility, which he said would function as the main operation center of the agency.

  • Lagos to get 149-bed hospital for mothers, children

    The First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, and the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, will on Thursday unveil a 149-bed Maternal and Child Centre (MCC) located inside the Alimosho General Hospital, state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has said.

    Abayomi, who disclosed this yesterday during an inspection tour of the facility, explained that the specialist centre was built and donated by the Federal Government through the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to the Lagos State Government.

    According to him, the three floor facility has two operating theatres, recovery rooms, sterilisation room, delivery room, consultation rooms, private and general wards, scanning room, side laboratory rooms, reception area, lounge, nurses’ room and station, doctor call rooms, scrub room and a board room.

    Read Also: ‘Sanwo-Olu poised to develop Lagos’

    The commissioner said: “Inside the centre are ultra-modern equipment that will aid the prompt delivery of maternal and child care services; this include: patient monitors with EC02, Suction machine double jar, ultra-scan machines, oxygen generating machine, vacuum extractor delivery set, anaesthetic machine and diathermy machine.

    “Others are emergency cart with defibrillator, baby incubators, photo therapy lamps, paediatric ventilators, multi-parameter monitors for mothers and babies, crash cart, theatre monitor, defibrillators and fetal Doppler.”

    Abayomi, who lauded the gesture of the Federal Government for donating the facility, said that the MCC would have an impact on the efforts of the Lagos State Government geared towards promoting the health of the mothers and children, reducing maternal and child mortality and improving the state’s health indices.

    He said: “We are very grateful to the Federal Government to have produced this extra capacity facility for us in our endeavour to look after mothers and children. We already have one mother and child centre at Alimosho, but we have exceeded the capacity,

    “And so, this donation from the Federal government for us to spill over is a great gift to Lagos State and the people of Alimosho. We will maximise its use and it will certainly have an impact in our attempt to improve the welfare and reduce mortality of mothers and children.”

    Speaking in the same vein, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Titilayo Goncalves, said the state government has engaged the services of clinical facility managers through the office of the Lagos State Infrastructure Asset Management Agency to maintain the facility.

  • Ondo 2020: Southwest PDP chair declares ambition

    National Vice Chairman, (Southwest) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Eddy Olafeso, on Monday declared his intention to contest for the governorship of Ondo State in the forthcoming election in the state.

    Olafeso, who is a former commissioner for information in Ondo, made the declaration at the party’s State Secretariat, Alagbaka, Akure.

    He said he made the declaration to run for the state’s governorship to alert and put the leadership and members of the party on notice that he would be taking a shot at the number political office on the platform of the PDP.

    The PDP national vice chairman (South West) said he decided to inform the party ahead of its primaries.

    Olafeso, however, accused the current administration in the state of dismantling all the legacy projects in the state, particularly free education.

    Read Also: Ondo 2020: Who gets PDP ticket?

    He also alleged that the present administration had made education unaffordable for the ordinary citizens in the state.

    Besides, the PDP chieftain said that the debt profile of the state had reached N150 Billion.

    According to him, “You pay fees from primary to secondary and university. The tertiary institutions are far beyond the ordinary man. I am a product of the Obafemi Awolowo era and I wouldn’t have been educated if there were no social welfare programmes for the ordinary man in the street.

    “They have abdicated their responsibility. They have stepped on the head of history. There’s no way we will allow them to continue. They have destroyed everything we ever stood for.

    “When Agagu left office, we had over N38billion in our kitty as savings. When Dr. Mimiko left office, he left a very vibrant maternal care health programme for the state.

    The state Chairman of the PDP, Clement Faboyede, said the party had not zoned the governorship ticket of the party to any zone.

    He disclosed that for now, there were17 members of the party that had shown interest in its gubernatorial ticket.

    Faboyede boasted that PDP would produce the next governor of the state in the 2020 gubernatorial election.

    The former commissioner for community development and cooperative services said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) government had disappointed the citizenry.