The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian Newspapers

  • Five held for real estate ‘scam’

    Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) have arrested five men suspected to be real estate scammers.

    They were nabbed at the point of exchange of money and keys while trying to lease out someone else’s duplex in Lekki Phase II to a house seeker for N4.5 million

    Abolade Oladimeji, 43, Ademola Ayo, 45, Emmanuel Fabiyi, 65, Hakeem Ademola, 49, and Sunday Ayodele, 52, advertised the property on an online platform (jiji.com).

    Leader of the gang, Ademola said he had been using his knowledge of computer to post for sale and lease non-existing landed property, apartments and buildings on various websites. He added that they lure unsuspecting public with attractive prices.

    Ademola said in early September, he posted a vacancy of a four-bedroom duplex in Lekki Phase II which attracted so many people amongst whom was one Obi.

    RRS quoted him as saying: “Immediately he called me through the contact on the advertisement, I knew he was genuine. I mobilised my colleagues and allocated roles to each of them to make the deal seamless. Oladimeji conducted himself as the estate lawyer. He discussed at length with our client on the legal angle as well as visitation before payment. “Ayo was in charge of taking the client on house or land inspection. Fabiyi played the role of a principal-agent and sometimes acted as site engineer while Ayodele assisted Fabiyi to make him look like a big man who is well-groomed and seasoned in the business.

    Read Also: Alleged $8.4m, N4b fraud: Court insists Pinnick, others must appear

    “After the inspection, Obi requested to pay us with a cheque. Initially, we rejected as our mode of payment is through bank transfer. This is to avoid too much contact as we have dedicated account owners who connive with various teams of fraud syndicates that receive deposits into their accounts and collect 30 per cent of the proceed. After much deliberation on the mode of payment, we agreed to collect the cheque.”

    According to RRS, Obi suspected something was fishy.

    “He did a little research which took him to the real landlord of the estate. Together, they played along with the fraudsters while a police team was briefed on the development,” police said.

    A decoy team of the RRS ambushed the fraudsters and arrested the five of them at the various positions at the venue of cheque collection.

    Fabiyi, popularly called Baba said: “my age has been so instrumental in the various scams we have perpetrated. Unsuspecting victims get convinced that a man of my age wouldn’t be a scammer. This makes them want to do business with us and part with their hard-earned money for land purchases, rent or lease of properties.”

    Baba said the police made them repay N3.2 million in one of their recent scams.

    He added that the gang had been involved in many successful property scams both in Lagos and Ogun State.

    While pleading never to return to the business if allowed to go, he stated that his family had warned him not to get involved in any fraudulent deals again.

    He lamented being a disgrace to his wife and children as a father.

    “I am a shame to my family as an elder in the church and a grandpa. My children warned me to desist from fraud after I was arrested last year but I didn’t listen to them,” he said.

    Commissioner of Police (CP) Zubairu Muazu advised Lagosians to be more careful while dealing with estate/property agents and always request to see the owner of the property, and also verify the identity before parting with their hard-earned money.

  • ‘Cultists’ arrested for ‘murder’

    The police in Lagos have arrested two suspected members of the Eiye, Aiye cult groups for alleged murder and attempted murder in Bariga in the metropolis.

    Babatunde Fadairo, 22, an alleged Eiye leader, was said to have led five other alleged members of his group to stone an Aiye kingpin Ahmed Sauls, 32, to death on September 26.

    The incident occurred at New Garage in Oworonshoki around 5:15am, police said.

    Read Also: Cultism: Police arrest cultist for murder of final year student

    Also, Osonye Henrise, an alleged Aiye leader, was arrested around midnight of September 25 in Bariga for attempted murder of one Bosiga, an Eiye member.

    He was said to have made moves to kill his arch rival at Araromi Street following the murder of his leader Adekunle Adesanya alias ‘I don tey’ the previous day at Edo Evans Street.

    Police said investigation was on and the suspects would be charged to court.

  • NITT can design made-in-Nigeria vehicles, says Amaechi

    Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi has said the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT) in Zaria, Kaduna State, has the capacity to design “made-in-Nigeria” vehicles.

    A statement yesterday in Zaria by is Director of Public Affairs, Mr Paul Mshelizah, which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the minister spoke this during a familiarisation and facility tour of the institute.

    It was during the repositioning retreat organised by the institute.

    Amaechi said: “NITT has all it takes to design a car. I am sure the institute could convince the Federal Government that it has what it takes to design a made-in-Nigeria car.

    “From design, to engine to body, then funding will not be an issue. We can create patency for NITT.”

    The minister expressed satisfaction with the facilities but advised its management to ensure proper use and adequate maintenance of the equipment.

    Amaechi also advised the NTT to seek accreditation from National Universities Commission (NUC) to run certain diploma programmes toward metamorphosing into a full-fledged university of transport and logistics.

    The minister pledged the ministry’s support to create more faculties in the institute.

    He called for a holistic perusal of the institute’s enabling law to know the scope of its mandate.

    At its biodiesel laboratory, Amaechi urged the institute to expand the project aimed at producing made-in-Nigeria vehicles by establishing a feedstock farm for renewable energy.

    He told NITT to factor into the 2021 budget the acquisition of about “200 hectares of land” to start the project.

    The minister suggested that in subsequent budgets, personnel and other logistics for effective operation of the feedstock farm might be captured.

    Read Also: Innoson: we enjoy huge patronage from Fed govt

    This, he said, can attract private investors to cue into the project.

    Interacting with NITT N-Power automobile participants, the minister admonished them to be disciplined in everything they do.

    Amaechi assured them of Federal Government’s commitment towards the success of the N-Power scheme, adding: “President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is interested in lifting people out of poverty.

    “As potential entrepreneurs, you can create jobs by training a number of people in your workshop.

    “I, therefore, enjoin you to utilise optimally the skills acquired through the scheme for personal gain as well as for the country at large.”

    Speaking on behalf of the NITT N-Power participants, Mr Abdulazeez Owoseni-Salihu hailed the social investment programme of the present administration, especially the N-Power scheme.

    Owoseni-Salihu noted that the scheme had not only empowered the beneficiaries but also changed their mind-sets toward self-sufficiency.

    He appealed to the Federal Government to “kindly” provide N-Power graduates with “contemporary machines to enable them go into the field to practice the skills acquired”.

    Amaechi, who answered reporters’ questions at the end of the facility tour, said: “I am satisfied with the facilities. All they need is just governance.

    “In terms of equipment, they are doing well. But as professionals, they must put the equipment to use.

    “The Federal Government will ensure that areas where you have infrastructure are properly funded.

    “But you need to show that you are not only able to transfer knowledge but also able to supervise the trainees so that we can create employment.”

    NITT’s Acting Director-General, Dr Bayero Salih-Farah, explained that the institute was accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to run Diploma and Advanced Diploma programmes.

    He said NITT had entered into affiliation with Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, to run postgraduate and Master’s degree programmes.

    The acting director-general thanked the minister for not only attending the event personally but also visiting the institute’s headquarters in Zaria.

    NAN reports that the facilities inspected included the new office of the director-general, main auditorium and the state-of-the-art facilities at the Transport Technology Centre (TTC) among others.

  • Ezeli eyes Olympic Games with D’Tigers

    Former NBA champion Festus Ezeli is eyeing a spot in the D’Tigers team to next year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.

    Ezeli, who won the NBA trophy with the Golden State Warriors in 2015, was in Abuja at the weekend to support the Power Forward Basketball Championship.

    Ezeli, who has been out injured for about two seasons, disclosed that he was close to full fitness after recovering from a nagging knee injury. He also stated that he is now able to run without pains and he is in line to make a comeback with Portland Trailblazers.

    He stated that playing for the Nigerian national team has been his dream and would work hard to achieve his aim at next year’s Olympic Games. “I have always said I wanted to play in the National team but injury put paid to that but I will resume playing soon and I hope to get into the Nigerian team in time for next year’s Olympics.

    Read Also: FIBA rankings: D’Tigers’ progress excite Kida, Ahmedu

    “The Nigerian team has grown stronger and I have teammates in the team. The team did well in the World Cup where they got an Olympic ticket and this shows that we have a team we can be proud of,” he added.

    He also said that winning the championship with Golden State Warriors was a big achievement, considering that he was told he couldn’t play basketball. “I can’t put how I felt into words. It was surreal, I didn’t want to sleep because I could wake and find out it wasn’t real,“ he added.

    Ezeli, enjoined the students who took part in the Power Forward event, to be hardworking, persevere and give their best at all times, assuring that these attributes would take them to the top.

    Using himself as an example, Ezeli said they can get to the top if they take their craft seriously and study hard in school. “I started playing basketball at the age of 16 after getting to the US at 14. They said I couldn’t play but someone spotted me and taught me the game and the rest is history.

    “I am sure you can also attain greater height, not only in basketball, but in everything you set out to do,” he added, while commending ExxonMobil and Africare for supporting the event.

  • ‘States attaching conditions to minimum wage implementation’

    The Chemical and Non-Metallic Products Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (CANMPSSAN) at the weekend accused some governors of threatening to abandon the new minimum wage if their states’ statutory allocation is not reviewed upward by the Federal Government.

    Speaking with The Nation, its President, Comrade Abdul Gafar Mohammed, said the union was  disturbed that workers were being subjected to another round of negotiations after the new minimum wage had been okayed.

    “In the labour movement, we are disturbed and concerned with the continuous over politicisation of the minimum wage issue, which before it finally became law was unfortunately turn into a complex  debacle with state governors threatening not to pay.

    “They have  given conditions that unless the revenue sharing formula is reviewed upwards, they will not comply with the law.

    “We have had to use everything at our disposal to get the bill sent to the National Assembly  and had to deploy even greater pressures in getting to different arms of the National Assembly to pass the bill into law,” he said.

    Mohammed urged employers in the private sector, who still pay below the approved benchmark, to comply with the new law.

    He urged the Federal Government to confront headlong the hydra-headed monster of inadequate power supply that had crippled the nation’s industrial , social and economic growth.

    He said: “The privatisation of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) would have been meaningful, if the needful were done. It could have been profitable if those companies that bought over the electricity sector have thought of building their own power plant from the scratch.”

    Mohammed said unemployment continues to be the number one problem in the nation, adding that the challenges of national development is to manage the economy in such a way as to promote job-led growth rather than the present situation of jobless growth.

    “In our country, many graduates and skilled youths are roaming the street in search of job. All the  promises by the government to create jobs have not yielded any dividend. It is a shame that the government is politicking with the unemployment by releasing spurious figures of jobs they have created only on the pages of newspaper,” he said.

  • 2019 IAAF WC: Oduduru hits semifinal in 200m

    Divine Oduduru has qualified for the semifinal of the men’s 200m after recording one of the fastest time among the losers at the 17th IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019.

    He finished fourth with a 20.40secs behind Great Britain’s Adam Gemili (20.06), Turkey’s Ramil Guliyev (20.27) and Netherland’s Taymir Burnet (20.37) in the first heat in the men’s 200m.

    Among the seven heats, Oduduru remains the fastest among the losers even better that third place finishers in some of the heats.

    Oduduru’s nearly missed competing in the 200m but a quick appeal from the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) to IAAF ensured he took part.

    Read Also: Ndidi scores as five-star Leicester beat Newcastle

    Okagbare and Oduduru failed to show up for the 100m on Friday and they were expected to be prevented from competing in the 200m, but a quick appeal by AFN saved the day as the sprinters were given the go-ahead to compete.

    Just like Oduduru, Okagbare will take to the track today as she competes against her rivals in the women’s 200m with the top three advancing to the semifinal.

    In the women’s 400m, Patience Okon-George and Favour Ofili will battle it out with the best in the world for places in the semifinal.

  • Elumelu seeks $2.5b Japanese investment for Africa

    Chairman, Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu, has asked Japan to invest $2.5 billion representing  five per cent of its $50 billion commitment to Africa.

    Elumelu, African investor and philanthropist, spoke at the seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in Yokohama, Japan.

    “At TICAD 2016 in Kenya, Japan pledged $30 billion for Africa. This year you have generously increased this to $50 billion. If we invested just five per cent in Africa’s new generation of entrepreneurs, following my Foundation’s robust, proven model of getting capital directly to those best placed to catalyse growth and create real impact, we could touch 500,000 lives, across the 54 African countries, broadening markets, facilitating job creation, improving income per capita, and laying the key foundation for political and economic stability”, Elumelu said.

    Read Also: Elumelu challenges global leaders to empower African entrepreneurs

    His statement captured his vision of a relationship between Japan and Africa, which prioritises economic and shared prosperity. He outlined the three key pillars of a bold and transformative structure: investment in infrastructure, partnership with the African private sector, and investment in Africa’s youth.

    He urged Japan to learn from the example of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, which champions empowering African entrepreneurs, as the most sustainable means of accelerating the development of Africa. The Tony Elumelu Foundation, in just five years has assisted over 7,500 African entrepreneurs across every African countries, with seed capital, capacity building, mentorship and networking opportunities through its $100 million Entrepreneurship Programme.

  • Cleric to Buhari: release Sowore, others

    Senior Pastor of the Awaiting The Second Coming Of Jesus Christ Gospel Church in Akure, Ondo State, Adewale Giwa, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to release the founder of Saahara reporters, Omoyele Sowore and other political detainees.

    On September 20, the federal government slammed Sowore with seven charges bordering on alleged treasonable felony, fraud, money laundering and cyber-stalking.

    Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal Court in Abuja ordered his release after observing the 45-day ruling to keep Sowore detained had expired.

    But days after meeting the bail condition, the DSS had yet to release Sowore.

    While describing the action of the DSS as against the principles of democracy, Pastor Giwa called on President Buhari to remember God that saved him from a long medical absence in the United Kingdom and set Sowore and others free.

    Read Also: ‘It’s premature for Presidency to intervene in Sowore’s case’

    “We make plans but the Lord determines our steps, according to Proverbs 16:9. Nobody is greater than Almighty God who created us, and everything is temporary, nothing is permanent.

    “I don’t know whether Christians and Muslims are serving the same God. If we do, president Buhari should think about the God that saved him from illness in the UK and listen to the cries of Nigerians.

    “Since 1999, Nigeria has produced three Presidents before Buhari and none of them is there as a sitting president. Your time shall go, and another person shall come in.

    “Out of the three past presidents, Nigerians today can talk about who did well or not. The most important philosophical question to ask ourselves is that; what can somebody say after you?”

  • OAU collaborates with academy to offer advanced professional certificate course

    Africa’s first Practical School of Integrated Brand Experience and Idea Management, Orange Academy and Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State are collaborating to offer a new academic programme to be known as the ‘Advanced Professional Certificate in Brand Experience Design and Communication Arts’.

    The formal announcement of this collaboration and the new programme was made at the 10th Orange Academy Immersion and Art of Positive Thinking (APT) ceremony held at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja-Lagos.

    The ceremony, which is an annual rite of passage for every graduating Brand Experience Specialist of the Academy, celebrated the graduation of 75 graduands who now join an army of over 5000 alumni that are often referred to as ‘Orange Minds’.

    The event was also attended by family members and friends of the graduands, Orange Academy alumni, Orange Academy board members and stakeholders, who were delighted to warmly receive the team from the Obafemi Awolowo University led by Dr. Adeola Ogunrin of the Department of Adult Education and Lifelong Learning, who made the collaboration officially public.

    Read Also: OAU ex-student wins UNICAF scholarship

    Ogunrin, while addressing the gathering on behalf of the Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof.  Eyitope Ogunbodede, said: “This evening we have come before you to say that Orange Academy has become a part of us. We have studied Orange Academy very closely and believe very strongly that they are worthy of this collaboration. The Obafemi Awolowo University will ensure that the highest standard that we are known for is strictly adhered to during this programme and collaboration. The programme, Advanced Professional Certificate in Brand Experience Design & Communication Arts, fits into the vision of our department which is to fill the gap in vital areas of developing manpower, training, professional and other important components of adult life. The curriculum has been so designed to cater for relevance and advances at the workplace to impact lives positively for a better Nigeria.”

    The Advanced Professional Certificate in Brand Experience Design & Communication Arts programme is a two semester course that spans a six-month duration of major practical sessions, which upon completion will earn participants the Advanced Professional Certificate in Brand Experience Design & Communication Arts from the Obafemi Awolowo University.

    Speaking on behalf of the Provost, Faculty, Management and the entire workers of Orange Academy, spokesman for the academy Femi Odukoya said: “We are so delighted that after such a conscientious journey of creating and offering of the brand experience programme for 10 years, the Obafemi Awolowo University’s collaboration with us is an attestation to our commitment and vision of ‘This One thing’. Our vision of ‘This one thing’ is to discover and nurture the inner creative self to tell stories that can change businesses, brands and people for good.

  • Kogi PDP: Torn apart by primary

    The Kogi State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is battling with post-primary crisis that may affect its chances at the poll. JAMES AZANIA, reports.

    At the end of the governorship shadow election of the Kogi State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Musa Wada emerged as the flag bearer for the November 16 governorship election.

    The emergence of Wada, brother of the immediate past governor Capt. Idris Wada, who also contested for the ticket, upset his co-aspirants.

    Wada polled 748 votes to clinch the ticket. He was trailed by Abubakar Mohammed Ibrahim, the son of former Governor Ibrahim Idris (Ibro), who garnered 710 votes.

    Capt. Wada came third, with 345 votes, while Senator Dino Melaye polled 70.

    Others include Aminu Suleiman- 55 votes, Victor Adoji-54, Erico Joseph- 42, AVM Saliu Atawodi (retd.)- 11, Emmanuel Omebije- 9 votes, Mohammed Shuaibi- 4 votes, Bayo Michael- 2 votes and Jabiru Haruna- 0.

    The counting resumed in the disrupted primary, setting the stage for disagreement. If not well managed, litigation, post-primary litigation may affect its chances at the poll.

    The exercise ended abruptly, following the invasion of the Lokoja Confluence Stadium, venue of the primary, by gunmen.

    Voting by delegates had, however, ended and sorting of ballots under way, when the gunmen stormed the venue at around 1.45am, causing pandemonium.

    Votes in eight out of the 10 ballot boxes had been sorted and counted before the disruption. The Governor Umar Fintiri-led election panel called a meeting of the 13 aspirants and it was agreed that sorting and counting should continue.

    Counting was to proceed at a lodge, adjacent the Government House, Lokoja, with all the aspirants and their agents present.

    Many factors led to Wada’s emergence. Money played a big role.

    Read Also: Kogi PDP’s rubble after electoral storm

    The aspirants, in their bid to outdo one other, shared $1,000 each to delegates, while another was said to have added a motorcycle each, to the $1,000 he shared.

    Prior to the commencement of the shadow poll, an aspirant, on hearing that rumour of his purported withdrawal from the race was gaining ground, retorted: ‘how can I step down; when I gave the highest (money) to delegates?’

    Such was the uneasiness. Rumours pervaded the atmosphere, including an allegation that one of the aspirants ochestrated the invasion of the venue, on seeing signs that voting was not going in his favour.

    Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West), who was initially reported to be heading for the courts to challenge the outcome of the exercise, later rejected his appointment as the Director-General of the PDP Governorship Campaign Organisation, a position that later went to T. J. Yusuf (Kabba/Ijumu Federal constituency).

    The paradigm shift, in the emergence of Wada was near seismic, not jolting the party establishment, but also highlighting some perceived trends that stakeholders questioned.

    Wada’s emergence began to appear more in the shape of setting new trend in dynastic tendencies in the affairs of the major opposition party.

    A member of the PDP and former Acting Governor, Chief Clarence Olafemi, who served as the DG of the Abubakar Atiku presidential campaign organisation, during the general election, kicked.

    Olafemi, whose son was to run as deputy to Abubakar Ibrahim, son of former Governor Ibrahim Idris, if their permutations had materialised, opted for rapport with the APC government, saying he has been short-changed by his party, despite the sacrifices he made for it.

    He gave the hint that he was on his way out of the PDP.

    The primary also turned out to be a Kogi East affair. Kogi East is home to the majority Igala-speaking tribe.

    The Idris and the Wadas played central role in the process. Hence, the inevitable clash of family interests, more so that support crossed filial lines.

    Of the 13 aspirants that contested, the Wada family paraded two; the eventual winner and his elder brother and Idris Wada.

    Before the exercise, pundits had narrowed it to a two-way race between the immediate past governor and the son of Alhaji Ibrahim Idris.

    The PDP had ruled Kogi for 13 unbroken years, before the All Progressives Party (APC) wrestled power from it, at the November 21, 2015 governorship poll.

    While Musa Wada, younger brother of Idris Wada and son in-law to former Governor Ibrahim Idris (Ibro), emerged the candidate, followed closely by Abubakar Ibrahim Idris, another Ibro son, Ibrahim and an elder brother to Musa Wada’s wife, threw his support behind Capt. Wada.

    The initial bad blood between the Wadas was highlighted by a security detail, who spoke under the condition of anonymity.

    He claimed that when the shootings started, he and others made to safeguard the Wada brothers, and after managing to get the younger Wada into a waiting SUV, the elder brother and former governor, bluntly refused to join in the same vehicle, notwithstanding the danger that stared all in the face”.

    The primary panel had a lot to contend with. It called a meeting of the 13 aspirants, paving the way for the conclusion of the exercise, but not the bad blood.

    Between the Wadas, it would appear, however, that all may have been put behind them. The former governor was said to have declared afterwards, that he held no grudge against his younger one, and expressed his readiness to work for the victory of the party.

    “The delegates were wise. They rejected Ibro and Wada (the two former governors), because of bitter rivalry between them, and picked another person.

    “Wada after the election said he would not appeal, and also decided to call his brother to congratulate him and that settles the political feud. It is more complex in Ibro’s family, but I know common sense will prevail,” said a party chieftain.

    Not only is it feared that the rancour within the Idris and Wada clans may negatively affect the electoral fortunes of the party, other simmering and resolved grievances may further bedevil the main opposition party.

    Relations between Ibrahim Idris and Capt. Wada, who was handpicked by the former as his successor, is at low ebb.

    At the last Kogi PDP congress in Lokoja, Capt. Wada refused to acknowledge his predecessor. He did not exchange pleasantries with him, despite the close proximity in their sitting arrangement.

    Another son of former Governor Ibrahim Idris,  Suleiman, was the major backer of the failed return bid of the last Kogi PDP governor, to the Government House Lokoja.

    There is division in the Kogi PDP family. It can at best be summed up as precarious. The management will go a long way in determining the fate of the party in the election.