The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian Newspapers

  • BREAKING: Barcelona’s Coutinho joins Bayern on loan

    Barcelona have confirmed that an agreement is in place to loan Philippe Coutinho to Bayern Munich.

    The Brazilian midfielder has failed to impress since joining the La Liga champions and Barca have been keen to offload their big-money signing as they revamp the squad.

    He was offered to a number of Premier League clubs before the English transfer window for buying players slammed shut but were knocked back, and a move to the Bundesliga now appears to be the next stage of Coutinho’s journey.

    An agreement in principle has been put in place between the two clubs, with the deal almost complete but not formally closed, with the player being left out of the La Liga season opener against Athletic Bilbao as the move inches nearer.

    Read Also: Barcelona, Bayern Munich agree deal for Coutinho

    Barcelona have often used Coutinho on the left wing and have just signed Antoine Griezmann from Atletico Madrid, with the Frenchman joining Ousmane Dembele as an option on that flank ahead of the Brazilian in the pecking order.

    Additionally, the Catalan giants have been heavily linked with a move for former star Neymar, who would be another big name ahead of Coutinho in an already stacked forward line.

    However, when he arrived from Liverpool, the long-term vision for Coutinho was to replace Andres Iniesta as a creative force in midfield. He was not often trusted to play in that position, though, and now Frenkie de Jong has been added from Ajax, joining Arthur and Ivan Rakitic as central options.

  • Why we reversed appointments of Perm Secs made by Ajimobi, by Makinde

    OYO State Governor Seyi Makinde has explained why his administration reversed the appointments of 17 permanent secretaries made at the twilight of Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s administration.

    The governor said the decision became imperative because of the revelations that due diligence was not followed in the appointments.

    He noted that when he came on board, he had to set up machinery to review the appointment and why it was done “hastily”.

    Makinde said it was discovered that a lot of irregularities were involved in the process that led to the appointments of the permanent secretaries.

    Although 15 people were shortlisted, only 14 took the oath of office and allegiance administered on them by the Director of Cabinet, Mr. Fatai Omokemi.

    Five women and nine men were on the list of the appointees.

    They include Mrs. Olubunmi Oni, Mr. Fatai Oladeinde, Mrs. Adejoke Eyitayo, Mrs. Sadiat Oloko and Mr. Joel Ajagbe.

    Others are Mr. Olayinka Alli, Mrs. Abosede Abioye, Mr. Adebowale Balogun, Mr. Ademola Ajibola and Dr. Mufutau Ayoola.

    Read Also: Ajimobi: my wish is for Makinde to succeed

    It also includes Dr. Mercy Popoola, Mr. Akin Funilayo, Mr. Adeyanju B.A and Mr. Gafar Bello (Accountant-General).

    The event got emotional when the governor announced Ajagbe, who was said to have climbed all the rungs of the civil service ladder but was never appointed as permanent secretary as well as the case of Alli, who was mandated to retire three days after he was appointed Perm Sec.

  • Lagos Assembly screens commissioner-nominees Igbokwe, Arobieke, five others

    THE Lagos State House of Assembly ad hoc committee screening Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s commissioner-nominees and advisers resumed the exercise yesterday with the final batch of 13 nominees it received over the weekend.

    On Thursday, the 16-man committee chaired by the Chief Whip, Rotimi Abiru, screened seven of the 13 nominees.

    The remaining six will take their turn today.

    Among those screened on Thursday was the Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe.

    Despite being the party’s publicity secretary and the good work he had done projecting the image of APC, Igbokwe was subjected to questions by the committee members.

    He confessed that as a loyal party member, he had expected that he would just be told to take a bow and go by the committee members, but to his surprise, he was drilled even more than the nominees who appeared before him.

    Answering questions from reporters after his screening, Igbokwe said: “The screening was quite excruciating. I was asked about 15 questions, which I answered.

    “I thought they would just ask me to take a bow and go, having served the party for a number of years, because all of them are party members, but I met a different thing. I thought it was just to go and take a bow and go but I ended up spending more time.”

    Igbokwe said it is difficult for him to disengage from the image-making job, which he has been doing for the party over the years.

    “I have been doing the job for too long. It is almost a part of me, but you know we must move on. I am happy about my nomination; it is a call to service,” he said.

    Though a trained mechanical engineer, the APC image-maker said he can fit in anywhere because “I had an all-round training in my undergraduate days at the university and I can fit in anywhere.

    “My idea about life is that you must add value where ever you find yourself; I will have to continue to work and to continue to render service to the people.”

    He also explained that why his kinsmen had issues with APC in Lagos in the last election was because the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) fielded Peter Obi, an Igbo man, as its vice presidential candidate, saying the people felt naturally drawn to their kinsman.

    He ascribed low Igbo votes in the state for President Muhammad Buhari at the 2019 general elections to ethnicity.

    He explained that there was no way the APC could get much votes from the Igbo concentrated areas in the state during the last presidential elections as the PDP was smart to have picked the former Anambra State governor, as Alhaji Abubakar Atiku’s running mate.

    As at the time of filling this report, five of the seven nominees slated for screening yesterday had been attended to and they are  Mrs. Yetunde Arobieke, Mr. Oluwatoyin Fayinka, Mr. Oladele Ajayi and Arc. Kabir Ahmed.

    The remaining are: Mr. Olanrewaju Sanusi, Mr. Bonu Solomon Saanu, Mrs. Lola Akande, Prince Anofi Olanrewaju Elegushi Mrs. Solape Hammond, Mr. Moruf Akinderu Fatai, Mrs. Shulamite Olufunke Adebolu and Mr. Tokyo Wahab.

  • 32-year-old, ex-speaker, 12 others take oath as Oyo commissioners

    OYO State Governor Seyi Makinde on Thursday swore in the 32-year-old son of a former Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr. Seun Ashamu; an ex-Speaker, Kehinde Ayoola and 12 others as commissioners.

    The swearing-in which held at Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Agodi Secretariat, Ibadan, was attended by top government functionaries, religious leaders, party leaders, government officials, friends and associates of the new commissioners.

    The governor the event assigned portfolios and ministries, where each of the commissioners is expected to serve.

    The list includes Mr. Adeniyi Farinto (Budget & Planning), Mr. Adeniyi Adebisi (Commerce), Mr. Muyiwa Ojekunle (Agriculture), Prof. Oyelowo Oyewo (Justice) and Mr. Olasunkanmi Olaleye (Establishment).

    Read Also: Women entrepreneurs get N5m boost in Oyo

    Others are Mr. Seun Ashamu (Energy), Mr. Rahman AbdulRaheem (Land), Mr. Bayo Lawal (Special Duties), Mr. Funmilayo Orisadeyi (Local Government & Chieftaincy Matters) and Dr. Bashir Bello (Health).

    The lists also include Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun (Information, Culture and Tourism), Prof. Daud Sangodoyin (Education), Mr. Akinola Ojo (Finance) and Mr. Kehinde Ayoola (Environment).

    Governor said he was counting on the appointees’ support to actualise his vision in the next four years, which “is to visit and reverse the negative socio-economic indices that have beleaguered Oyo State over the years and make our Pacesetter state set the pace again.

  • Fayemi swears-in Alawe as chairman of traditional council

    EKITI State Governor Kayode Fayemi on Thursday rebuffed the opposition by the aggrieved 17 prominent traditional rulers arising from the appointment of Alawe of Ilawe-Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Alabi, as the chairman of the traditional rulers’ council.

    The aggrieved monarchs had filed a suit at Ado-Ekiti High Court seeking the nullification of the appointment.

    According to them, Fayemi contravened the Chieftaincy Law, which stipulates that the chairman can only be appointed among Alademerindinlogun/Pelupelu Obas.

    They claimed in their deposition that the promotion of Alawe to Pelupelu status was political and that could not grant him the power to become the chairman of the traditional council.

    As earlier vowed, the 17 aggrieved Pelupelu Obas shunned the inauguration ceremony that was attended by many first-class and other monarchs under the aegis of Majority Obas’ of Ekiti State.

    The governor, who spoke at the  inauguration held at the Conference Hall, Governor’s Office, Ado Ekiti, called on all royal fathers to support his administration’s efforts at bringing development to every part of the state.

    Read Also: Fayemi seeks new formula for revenue allocation

    Fayemi urged the aggrieved monarchs to eschew baseless and unnecessary rivalry that can lead to a communal clash, saying peace was the most important ingredient for growth.

    He said the time has come for the traditional rulers to bring their powers to bear to resolve the vicious insecurity level across the nation.

    Deputy Governor Bisi Egbeyemi said the reconstitution of the Council of Traditional Rulers became imperative following the expiration of the tenure of the outgone council in July 2019.

    Oba Egbeyemi said Fayemi’s approval to reconstitute the council was in tandem with section 2(3) of the Council of Traditional Ruler Law no 3 of 2000.

  • Navy’s ‘illegal’ detention: Falana threatens to sue NHRC

    ACTIVIST lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) on Thursday threatened to sue the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) if it fails to take appropriate actions against the Nigerian Navy (NN) for alleged illegal detention of 67 persons.

    The popular lawyer stated this in a follow-up letter he addressed to the Executive Secretary of NHRC.

    He gave the commission seven days to have the Navy release or prosecute those allegedly being detained in naval, other military facilities, or face a writ of mandamus before a Federal High Court.

    Falana recalled his earlier letter, dated May 19, where he requested for the release of 40 Nigerians allegedly being detained by the Navy without trial.

    Aside the 40, Falana said yesterday that 57 other persons had been held in crowded cells at the Nigerian Naval Ship (NNS) Beecroft in Apapa, Lagos, and 10 others inside a vessel at the Marina Jetty, Lagos, between three and 18 months without a remand order.

    The lawyer gave the names of the 57 NNS Beecroft detainees as: Michael Ovie, Simon Onyisike Mike, Umoren Daniel, James Archibong, Graham Brown, Ifeanyi Osadinizu, Matthew Epiagolo, Taiwo Ayodele, Sunday Ojo, Austin Omonisa, Timothy Ajayi, Adeleke Adewale, Onoja Reuben, Pius Paul, Peter Pulle, Ogunmoyero Oluwaseun, Innocent Sunday, Lejoro Friday, Hamza Yakubu, Segun Yusuf, Adebayo Mayoma, Godswill Umoh, Edu Fidelis, Richard David and Daniel Harrison.

    Others are: Asaiki Okeoghene, Omogoye Bolaji, Victor Uchendu, Oloyede Ademola, Emomotimi Watchman, Ganabel Sixtus, Olajide Enigbewo, Kehinde Labinjo, Godswill Ebbah, Sikiru Adekoya (SK MARINE), Patrick Ogerugba, Emmanuel Oputa, Kingsley Terry, Melvin Jack, Paul Obi, Matthew Pius, Grace Inyang, Okechukwu Iwuoha, Godwin Etiaka, Lukman Salami, Owei Ukuto, Collins Joel, Victor Jeremiah, Emmanuel Eze, Miebaka Iyalla, Firstman Job, Francis Onyema, Austin Abarowei, Nelson Sokaribo, Victor Okechukwu and Olanrewaju Peter.

    The lawyer also identified those allegedly being held in a vessel at Marina as: Oloyede Ademola, Omogoye Bolaji, Umoh Emmanuel, Richard Essien, Edu Fidelis, Umoren Harrison, Simeon Mike, Udom Jerome, Archibong Aniete James and Okeoghene Asaiki Jude.

    According to Falana, the commission has not deemed it fit to sanction the Navy, in exercise of its powers under the National Human Rights Commission (Amendment) Act, 2010, following its failure to respond to his petition on the alleged illegal detention of 40 Nigerians.

    “However, the Nigerian Navy has publicly denied the detention of any person in any of its cells. Despite such official denial, some of the detainees have since been released or transferred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which has filed charges against them at the Federal High Court.

    Read Also: Falana warns against continued detention of El-Zakzaky

    “Meanwhile, the illegal detention of several Nigerians and foreigners by the authorities of the Nigerian Navy has exposed Nigeria to ridicule before the comity of civilised nations.

    “As you are no doubt aware, the Swiss Government has filed a suit against the Federal Government of Nigeria in Zurich over the detention of a vessel and its crew members of four Ukranians by the Nigerian Navy for the past 18 months.

    “It may interest the commission to know that the authorities of the Nigerian Navy have continued to detain Navy Captain Dada Labinjo in an underground cell in the detention facility of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) at Abuja since September 12, 2018, in contravention of the Anti-Torture Act, 2017, which has prohibited the detention of any person in any underground cell in Nigeria.

    “As if that is not enough, the authorities of the Nigerian Navy have refused to comply with the order of the Federal High Court for the release of the detained senior military officer from illegal custody.

    “We have also confirmed, to our utter dismay, that 57 people are being detained in crowded cells at the NNS Beecroft, Apapa, while 10 others are incarcerated inside a vessel at Marina, Lagos.

    “Even though the 67 people have been accused of committing undisclosed criminal offences, they have been detained by the Nigerian Navy for periods ranging from three to 18 months without any remand order issued by a Magistrate Court or any judge in Nigeria.

    “In view of the foregoing, we urge you to use your good offices to visit the aforesaid detention centres with a view to releasing the detainees or directing the authorities of the Nigerian Navy to arraign them in the appropriate courts if there is reasonable suspicion that they have committed any criminal offence whatsoever.

    “TAKE NOTICE that if you fail or refuse to accede to our request within seven days of the receipt of this letter on grounds of interagency solidarity, we shall not hesitate to file a writ of mandamus against the commission at the Federal High Court,” Falana said.

    Contacted, NHRC spokesman Lambert Oparah said he was out of Abuja and should be granted a day to react to the issues.

    He said: “I will need to find out the true situation of things in order to reply you accurately. Falana is a friend of the commission. We have been working together and we respect his views and opinions. There is no way the commission will not take the right action on the matter.”

    Also, the Director of Naval Information, Commodore Suleiman Dahun said he had seen the report and forwarded same to appropriate naval establishments for action.

    He added that the Navy’s findings would be communicated to appropriate quarters.

     

  • Buhari not qualified to run, Atiku insists

    THE presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the last presidential election Atiku Abubakar and his party have insisted that they proved their claim that President Muhammadu Buhari was not qualified to contest the election.

    They also insisted that the results of the election were transmitted electronically to a central server allegedly owned by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Atiku and the PDP, who are petitioners before Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) said they were able to establish allegation of malpractices and non-compliance with Electoral Act in the 11 focal states in which they contest the outcome of the last presidential election.

    They argued that INEC’s failure to call witnesses amounted to its admission of all the allegations raised in the petition and those contained in the evidence provided by their witnesses.

    Their position is contained in a 43-page final written address which they submitted before the court as their final argument in the case.

    The petitioners, in the written address, raised five issues for determination and urged the court to uphold their petition.  The issues raised include: Whether the 2nd respondent  (Buhari) was at the time of the election not qualified to contest the election; whether the 2nd respondent submitted to the 1st respondent (INEC) affidavit containing false information of a fundamental nature in aid of his qualification for the said election and  whether from the pleadings and evidence led it was established that the 2nd respondent was duly elected by majority of lawful votes cast at the election.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Atiku’s son-in-law gets N20m bail

    Others are: Whether the presidential election conducted by the 1st respondent on 23rd February 2019 was invalid by reason of corrupt practices and whether the presidential election conducted by the 1st respondent on 23″ February 2019 was invalid by reason of non-compliance with the Electoral Act. 2010 (as amended) and the Electoral Guidelines 2019 and manuals issued for the conduct of elections.

    As it relates to Buhari’s qualification, the petitioners argued that they have proved their case and claimed that the President’s non-attachment of his certificate to the Form CF001 he submitted to INEC implied that he did not possess they.

    “The summary of the Petitioners’ case on the pleadings in respect of the non-qualification of the 2nd respondent is in paragraphs 388 to 405 of the Petition. The case is that the 2nd respondent did not possess the certificates relating to the qualifications, which he claimed in his Form CF001.

    “The 2nd respondent had listed his educational credentials in proof of his qualification to contest the election in the said form, which he then submitted to the 1st respondent. The qualifications claimed by the 2nd respondent were (a) First School Leaving Certificate; (b) West African School Certificate (WASC); and (c) Officer Cadet (whatever that means). None of the alleged certificates was attached to Exhibit P1.

    “The Petitioners submit that the 2nd respondent was not qualified to contest the presidential election because the 2nd respondent failed to satisfy the mandatory requirements of Section 131 (d) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.

    On INEC’s failure to call witnesses, the petitioners argued that while the electoral body pleaded, in kits reply to the petition, that it found the 2nd respondent‘s educational qualification acceptable, at trial, “the 1strespondent abandoned its pleadings and did not call any of the witnesses it had listed, or any other.

  • Zimbabwean opposition vows to defy rally ban

    Zimbabwe’s main opposition group has said it will hold anti-government protests in the capital Harare, in defiance of a police ban.

    The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has called for mass protests against the government’s handling of the economy.

    About five million Zimbabweans are in need of food aid, according to the UN.

    The MDC has said it has given the authorities assurances the protests will be peaceful.

    But police say they have evidence the protests will be violent.

    There is a heavy police presence, but no protesters, in Africa Unity Square where the march was due to begin at 09:00 local time (07:00 GMT).

    The MDC’s headquarters are also surrounded by security forces and the city centre is subdued, with most shops closed, it was reported.

    A “prohibition notice” banning the demonstrations has been issued by authorities in Harare’s central district, police spokesman Paul Nyathi said.

    “The police will be conducting patrols, surveillance, stop-and-searches to ensure law and order is maintained in all areas of the country,” he added.

    Read Also: Zimbabwean president fires tourism minister

    In response, an MDC official told Reuters news agency that the party was not aware of the prohibition order and the demonstrations would take place as planned.

    The official said, given the party had complied with law by notifying police of the protests, it expected them to “ensure there is peace”.

    The protests were called to protest at Zimbabwe’s worsening economic situation, which has seen power cuts of up to 18 hours a day, rising inflation and the return of the Zimbabwe dollar.

    “Life in Zimbabwe today is worse that it was under Robert Mugabe,” MDC politician Fadzayi Mahere told the BBC.

    “People are marching against the continued hardship that they face. The cost of living has soared exponentially, we’re back into hyperinflation.”

    She said that democratic freedoms were also under threat.

    Earlier this week, at least six civil society and opposition members were allegedly abducted and tortured.

    The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum says the victims were accused of mobilising people to demonstrate.

    Human rights groups blame state agents for their disappearance, but the authorities have denied their involvement.

    The UK and US have expressed concerns about the reports. (BBC)

  • Foundation secures release of 41 inmates

    A non-profit organisation, Musa Halilu Ahmed Foundation, committed to consolidating effort of government in achieving social justice across Nigeria has facilitated the release of 41 inmates serving various jail terms at the Numan Prisons in Adamawa State.

    Founder of the organisation, Alhaji Musa Halilu Ahmed, who also doubles as Dujima of Adamawa the 1st, was in attendance at the ceremony alongside the Controller of Prisons in Adamawa, Mr. Audu Umar and other dignitaries.

    The Founder said the gesture was in the spirit of Eid-Mubarak and in alignment with the Federal Government’s efforts to further decongest the nation’s prisons.

    President Muhammadu Buhari had directed all governors in the country to do everything possible to decongest prisons.

    This, according to Dujima Adamawa, is his commitment to support the government of Adamawa in building a prosperous society.

    Those granted clemency were young men between the ages of 18 and 25 believed to form the productive workforce in the state.

    Read Also: Foundation donates to orphanage

    “The alarming rate of youths in Nigerian prisons is negatively impacting on the nation’s development.

    “This gesture will encourage these young men to become responsible citizens and live a crime-free life.

    “We want them to return back to their families and also contribute to the development of the country and this can only be done when we support and empower them with necessary tools to function effectively in the society and live a meaningful life.

    “Besides release, those granted clemency will be rehabilitated, reintegrated and empowered with Skills Acquisition for six months, thereafter, will be provided with seed grant to stay independent and become self-sufficient,” Halilu stated.

    He further promised continuous support to the prison command to improve the condition of its facilities in the state.

    The freed inmates, who could not conceal their joy, thanked the Dujima Adamawa, Musa Halilu, for securing their release and promised to be good ambassadors of their families and the nation.

    Comptroller of Prisons in Adamawa State, Audu Umar, thanked the Dujima Adamawa the First and advised the ex-inmates to keep away from crime to avoid going back to jail.

  • Moses Simon joins Nantes on loan

    Moses Simon has signed for French Ligue 1 club Nantes on a season-long loan from Spanish La Liga outfit Levante.

    Simon becomes the latest Nigeria international to move to France this summer after Victor Osimhen’s switch to Lille and Henry Onyekuru’s move to Monaco.

    After joining Levante on a five-year deal last August, the pacy winger went on to make 19 appearances at the Valencia outfit with a goal to his credit in his debut campaign.

    The move reunites the 24-year-old with ex-Gent teammate and Mali international Khalifa Coulibaly as he aims for improved playing time in the 2019-20 season with the Stade de la Beaujoire outfit.

    Simon was a member of the Nigeria squad that finished third at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

    He has been handed the number 27 shirt at Nantes and will be hoping to make his Ligue 1 debut against Marseille on Saturday.