The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian Newspapers

Driver docked over theft of maize

A 24-year-old driver, Mansur Lawan, who allegedly stole 600 bags of maize worth N3.3 million from his employer, on Monday appeared before an Apapa Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

Lawan, a resident of Ajegunle area of Lagos, is facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and forgery.

The Prosecutor, Sgt. Olusegun Kokoye, told the court that the accused, who was an employee of MBS Haulage &Transport Company, committed the offences sometime in September at Apapa, Lagos.

Kokoye said the accused was to deliver 600 bags of yellow maize worth N3.3 million to one of the company’s customers, but sold the goods to somebody else.

Read also: Court docks man over alleged manslaughter

He said that the accused forged a waybill of the company and converted proceeds from the goods to his personal use.

The prosecutor said that when the customer did not get the goods, he notified Lawan’s employer.

He said that when the management confronted the accused, he claimed that the goods were delivered to the customer.

The prosecutor said that the company reported the case to the police and the accused was arrested.

He said that the offences contravened Sections 287, 365 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

Report said Section 287 prescribes three years imprisonment for stealing, while Section 411 stipulates two years imprisonment for conspiracy.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

The Magistrate, Mr M.A. Etti, granted the accused bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

He adjourned the case until Dec.19, for mention.

NAN

December 11, 2017
NCC gives out N17m to winners of tennis championship

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has given out N17 million to winners of its Tennis Cup 2017 competition.

The Executive Vice-Chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, said at the grand finale of the tournament in Lagos that the competition had given the commission satisfaction and fulfillment. The tournament which started in July featured 12 teams.

Team Civil Defence defeated Muller 4 – 0, to win the NCC’s Tennis Cup 2017 competition, hence, carting the star prize of N7million.

Team Muller came second, and went home with N5 million, Team Offikwu won the third prize of N3 million, while Team Ndoma-Egba came fourth, winning N2 million cash prize.

Danbatta represented by the Director, Research and Development, NCC, Mrs Iyabo Sholanke, said that the championship had been dubbed the greatest and biggest addition to Nigeria’s sports since 1960.

“We are proud to have used this opportunity to engage a number of Nigerian youths in very fruitful and engaging enterprise with a bright future outlook.

“We are even prouder to have taken quality tennis to different locations in the country and to see the players improving by the day, due to the regular competitions the league offers,’’ he said.

He said that it was gratifying to note that some young Nigerians who were part of the tennis cup had got scholarships and sponsorships to tennis academies abroad.

Read also: NCC seeks partnership of advocacy groups on toll-free 622 line

He said that they would further their studies and their professional tennis careers in those academies.

“The NCC Tennis Cup is a team tennis competition that is open to all, including the very best male and female tennis players in Nigeria.

“I am glad that the cream of the best and promising Nigerian male and female players are all participating in the league and that a good number of them are now ranked on the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Tour.

“These are some of our expectations and we hope that the players will take full advantage of this NCC Tennis League Cup to excel,’’ Danbatta said.

He said that NCC’s major objective in promoting the competition was to contribute to the overall development of the nation through sports, particularly, tennis.

According to him, tennis has the potential to engage, motivate, entertain and keep the youth physically fit and mentally focused.

He said that above all, tennis created opportunities for the players to earn a decent living and a chance to be famous.

The grand finale featured special tribute to the late Dr Alex Ekwueme, a former Vice- President of Nigeria and special awards to some players of the competition, as sponsored by MTN Nigeria.

The corporate relations executive, MTN Nigeria, Mr Tobe Okigbo, said that the company’s involvement in the competition was in line the value addition and youth’s talent development agenda of MTN.

“We like supporting value addition projects. In this case (NCC Tennis Cup competition), we saw that what NCC is doing and it makes a lot of sense to be part of it.

“We saw it as an opportunity to support ambitious young Nigerians, especially, in developing their skills and talents,’’ Okigbo said.

The 12 teams that participated are: Team Ofikwu, Team Ndoma-Egba, Team Goshen, Team CBN Fututos, Team Yetade and Team Tech-Vibe.

Others are Team Civil Defence, Team Kolatari, Team Muller, Team Opti Web, Team VGC Lions and Team Qualifier.

NAN

December 11, 2017
Saraki, Kwankwaso, others should return home – PDP

The Board of Trustees of Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) has called on aggrieved members who left the party to follow the footsteps of former Vice President Abubakar Atiku “and return home.”

The Chairman of the board, Sen. Walid Jibrin, made the call while briefing journalists on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said “as the party joyfully welcomes Atiku back to his home PDP, we are equally waiting to receive more members.

“We are waiting for the President of the Senate, Sen. Bukola Saraki, Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso, other senators, members of House of Representatives and APC governors who left the PDP.

“Let all of us unite and take back power from APC come 2019.”

Read also:I represent new face of PDP – Dokpesi

Ahead of the December 9 PDP Convention, Jibrin urged aspirants to develop the spirit of sportsmanship.

He urged aspirants to accept the verdict of delegates, cooperate with the winners and remain loyal to the party as power comes from God.

Jibrin said the BoT had not anointed any contestant, saying the board was ready to work with whoever emerged victorious.

“I want to assure our party members that whoever emerges as National Chairman, the BoT is ready to cooperate and work with him or her for the progress of the party.

“I will like to reiterate our position that the BoT has not anointed any candidates for now,” he said.

He commended the Judiciary for saving Nigeria’s democracy by putting and end to the crisis in the party.

NAN

December 6, 2017
Imo Commissioner for Happiness and Couple’s Fulfillment blasts critics

Mrs Ogechi Ololo, Imo State Commissioner for Happiness and Couple’s Fulfillment, on Tuesday, advised those critical of her appointment, to `keep quiet.’

Ololo, who is also Gov Rochas Okorocha‘s sister, was among the 28 commissioners sworn in on Monday.

Ololo, on her twitter handle @MrsOgechiOlolo in response to series of criticism on her appointment expressed surprised at the outbursts of young Nigerians’ on Okorocha for such an appointment.

“Let me educate Nigerians on this, for those lacking knowledge, United Arab Emirates has ministers of happiness and they are ahead of us.

“I am truly surprised by the outbursts of young Nigerians on his excellency; Dr Rochas Okorocha. If you don’t understand something, keep quiet, read and research. Make good use of your senses.

The Commissioner said the mandate of her office includes ensuring citizens of Imo state remain happy despite the economic meltdown and Biafran fiasco.

Read Also: Okorocha appoints sister as commissioner for Happiness and Couples fulfilment

Others include ensuring couples in Imo state have a reduced divorce rate and better fulfilled marriages and cater to welfare for the average Imo indigene.

In a time where couple divorce is at an all time high, I will use my good office to ensure couples in Imo will be fulfilled and serve as an example to the world.

NAN

December 5, 2017
2018 Appropriation Bill passes second reading at Senate

The Bill for an Act to authorise the issue from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation the sum of N8.6 trillion passed through second reading at the Senate on Tuesday.

This followed conclusion of a week-long debate on general principles of the Bill by the lawmakers at plenary.

Out of the N8.6 trillion for the 2018 Budget estimates, N456 billion is for Statutory Transfer and N2 trillion for Debt Service.

It proposed N3 trillion for Recurrent-Non-Debt Expenditure and N2 trillion for contribution to the Development Fund for Capital Expenditure for the year ending December 31, 2018.

In his remarks, President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, commended the lawmakers for taking out time to make contributions to the general principles of the Bill.

He urged standing committees to work within the two-week time frame given for defence of the budget, which would commence on Wednesday through December 18.

Saraki called on Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to comply with invitations for the defence of the budget.

“We know that the time-table is very tight and we will be suspending plenary to enable us start the defence. Committee chairmen and members should please ensure to keep to the time-table.

“I want to therefore use this opportunity to issue a warning to heads of MDAs to strictly respect the letter of invitation to attend the defence.

“This is not time for excuse for ministers or heads of parastatals to be travelling and not be able to attend the defence.

“We do not have the time. It is a very short timetable so that the committees can wrap up to be able to present their reports by the time we resume on December 19.

Read also: Senate probe alleged human rights abuses by SARS

“Also, the Appropriation Committee should take note of the comments of the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu.

“The committee should particularly note the aspect where he talked about making it mandatory for the executive to come back to us for expenditure in excess of the budget or the benchmark,’’ he said.

He announced that there would a public hearing on the budget in the course of the week to enable the public have input before its passage.

The Bill was referred to Committee on Appropriation with directive to return it to plenary on December 19 when plenary was adjourned to allow standing committees to commence budget defence.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on November 7, presented the 2018 Budget Estimates of N8.6 trillion to the joint session of the National Assembly.

NAN

December 5, 2017
Nigeria Customs seizes contraband worth N93m

The Compliance Team of the Nigeria Customs Service ( NCS ) said it has seized contraband with Duty Paid Value ( DPV ) of N93.7 million in the course of its operations.

The Coordinator of the Compliance Team, Ahmed Azarema, made this known while displaying the seized contraband to news men in Owerri on Tuesday at the Imo/Abia Command of the service.

Azarema said the compliance team, attached to the office of the Comptroller-General of Customs, confiscated 1,028bags of 20 kg foreign rice with a DPV of N8.22 million concealed with motor spare parts.

He said 1,258 bags of 50kg of foreign rice with a DPV of N74.8 million and 111 bales of second hand clothing with a DPV of N10.65 million was also seized by the team.

Read also: Customs destroys smuggled goods

He said all the items were seized along Aba/Umuahia/Port Harcourt axis adding that two suspects were arrested in connection with the seized goods.

Azarema observed that because of the Yuletide season, smugglers are more desperate and always want to skim their way through but would always fail because of the dedication and ingenuity of the customs personnel.

He, therefore, charged Nigerians against ferrying contraband in and across the country, but to engage in legitimate businesses to avoid their goods being confiscated.

According to the compliance team coordinator, locally produced rice is more nutritious, better and cheaper than foreign rice which are preserved with chemicals.

He said that patronising locally made goods would help boost the country’s foreign exchange and provide jobs to the teeming unemployed youths in the country.

Azarema also urged Nigerians to desist from buying foreign rice to encourage the local producers.

NAN

December 5, 2017
Recruitment scam: EFCC raises alarm

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) has raised alarm over alleged attempts by fraudsters to exploit its ongoing recruitment exercise.

The EFCC spokesman, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, said in a statement on Tuesday that the fraudsters were soliciting payment from unsuspecting job seekers to facilitate their employment into the commission.

“This is a scam and members of the public are warned not to deal with anyone with such proposition as the agency does not collect money from job seekers.

Read also: Saraki blames EFCC, others for FG’s inability to retrieve looted funds

“Candidates that participated in the recent aptitude test by the commission should avoid falling prey to tricksters by shunning any promise of employment for a fee.

“The employment process in the EFCC is open and transparent and cannot be compromised through bribery,” Uwujaren said.

He advised members of the public to report anybody requesting for money for employment into the commission at the nearest EFCC office or police station.

NAN

Read: Navy apprehends recruitment fraudster

December 5, 2017
Kaduna Inferno consumes 700 shops – Market chairman

The Friday fire incident at Old Panteka Market, Tudun Wada, Kaduna, consumed about 700 shops and affected the jobs of about 30,000 youths, the Chairman of the Market, Suleiman Shehu, has said.

Shehu made the disclosure in Kaduna on Tuesday, when Dr Ja’afaru Sa’ad, ( Galadiman Ruwan Zazzau ), visited the market officials to offer his sympathy.

He explained that the fire, which started around 1 a.m. on Friday, affected mostly timber and building materials sections, and consumed an estimated 100 trailer load of timbers and 200 machines.

According to him, about 30,000 youths, doing all kinds of jobs lost their jobs and source of livelihood as a result of the fire.

He said that the estimated total loss to the fire was yet to be ascertained, but added that a committee had been set up to determine the exact lost in monetary terms to the fire incident.

“The committee will also determine the actual cause of the fire and how to avoid future occurrence.

“We are appealing to government agencies and well meaning Nigerians to come to our aid.

“Although Gov. Nasir El-Rufai, National Emergency Management Agency ( NEMA ) and the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency have visited us, we need assistance in cash and in kind to help our members recover from this unquantifiable loss “the chairman said.

Earlier, Sa’ad explained that he was at the market to sympathise with the market officials and the affected shop owners.

Read also: WAEC loses 10 computers to fire in Kaduna

He also called on the state government, NEMA, groups and individuals to come to the aid of the victims to alleviate heir sufferings.

“This is urgent, particularly as the market remains a source of livelihood for thousands of youths in the state and a huge source of revenue for the state.

“One would only imagine what could happen to the 30,000 youths who lost their means of livelihood to the inferno.

“We must do something fast, otherwise we will have a huge problem of youth restiveness in our hands’’, he said.

Sa’ad is a Technical Assistant in the office of the Executive Director of Finance and Administration for the Nigeria Sao Tome and Principe Joint Development Authority ( NSPJDA ).

NAN

December 5, 2017
Convention: Don urges PDP delegates to elect people of integrity

A Don, Prof. Aloysius Okolie, has advised delegates at the forthcoming Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) convention in Abuja, to ensure the emergence of people of integrity as national executive of the party.

Okolie, a Senior Lecturer, Department of Political Science, University of Nigeria Nsukka gave the advice in an interview in Nsukka on Tuesday.

He said the quality of executive that would emerge from the convention would determine the future of PDP.

“The type of national executive elected by PDP on Saturday will make or mar the party’s progress and its ambition to reclaim power at the centre in 2019.

“The party should ensure that those that will be elected are men and women of integrity that have enviable past track records,” he said.

He also urged delegates to “resist attempt by some political money bags to buy their votes’’, adding that “such will spell doom for the party.’’

“I advise delegates to place the interest of the party first as that will help the party to enthrone dedicated, transparent and focused leadership.

“If the delegates have the interest of the party at heart, they must shun all forms of financial inducement and vote according to their conscience.”

Read also: PDP convention: Atiku backs Adeniran for chairman

The don also said the character of whosoever emerged as the PDP national chairman would determine the level of discipline and internal democracy in the party.

“For any political party to survive as well as remain relevant there must be discipline and internal democracy that will give hope to aspirations of party members.

“Absence of disciplinary and internal democracy have ruined many political parties and resulted in some members acting with impunity as if the party is their personal enterprise.

“Saturday’s convention is an opportunity for PDP to get it right and correct its past mistakes, this will strengthen and reposition the party.”

NAN

December 5, 2017
Court remands sexagenarian in prison for raping teenager

An Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo on Tuesday remanded a sexagenarian, Rafiu Olalekan in Agodi Prison for alleged rape of a 14-year-old girl .

The Magistrate, Modupeola Olagbenro in her ruling remanded Olalekan in the prison pending the outcome of the case file at the state Directorate of Public Prosecution ( DPP ) as her court does not have jurisdiction to try the case.

She, thereafter, adjourned the case till January 10, 2018 for mention.

Report says Olalekan, a farmer from Abedo village near Moniya, Ibadan, is facing a one – count charge of unlawful carnal knowledge of a minor.

The Police Prosecutor, Cpl. Oluseye Oyebanji told the court that Olalekan on November 20, at about 8 pm at Abedo village allegedly had unlawful carnal knowledge of the girl in his neighborhood.

According to Oyebanji, Olalekan was alleged to have been having carnal knowledge of the victim mostly on her way back from school.

Read also: Rape: 13-year-old victim’s father cries out for justice

“On the fateful day, the victim who stays with her grandmother, was running errand for her when Olalekan waylaid her and had carnal knowledge of her without her consent.

“When the victim’s grandmother could not see her on time, she raised alarm before the victim was seen with Rafiu with the help of the villagers in an uncompleted building,” he said.

Oyebanji said the offence was reported to the police by the victim’s mother, one Mrs Olaide Kehinde of Sapati area,Yemetu, Ibadan.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened section 218 of the Criminal Code Cap 38, Vol .II, Laws of Oyo State 2000.

NAN

December 5, 2017