The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian

Caught on CCTV: jealous friend bathes Nigerian with acid

I FELT a massive splash on my face. I immediately felt like somebody was trying to kill me’, she said.

This is the moment a university student disguised in a Muslim veil stalks her friend before throwing acid in her face, a court heard yesterday.

Mary Konye, 21, was captured on CCTV using the niqab to hide her identity as she followed her victim home, before allegedly attacking her because she was jealous of her good looks, the jury heard.

Her victim Naomi Oni, also 21, gave evidence about her ordeal yesterday, describing her shock when she was attacked late at night on a London street.

Stalked: CCTV images shown to jurors show victim Naomi Oni, right, being followed by a woman in a niqab, alleged to be her friend Mary Konye who then doused her in acid

Jurors were shown a CCTV image allegedly showing Konye following the victim while dressed in the Muslim veil, moments before the attack

This still shows Naomi Oni holding bags at Barking station in east London before she was attacked

Mary Konye is accused of being the woman in the niqab creeping up of Naomi Oni at Barking station

It is alleged that Mary Konye is the woman in the niqab and followed Naomi Oni before attacking her with acid

It is alleged that Mary Konye is the woman in the niqab and followed Naomi Oni before attacking her with acid

She said that after she saw the damage done by the attack, she thought to herself: ‘I’m ugly, no one’s going to marry me now.’

Yesterday, she described how, on her way home from work at a Victoria’s Secret lingerie store, she got off at her bus stop in Dagenham, East London, and felt a ‘presence’ before turning to see someone in a niqab.

Family doctor ‘cupped patient’s breast in his hands and started breathing heavily during examination for a COUGH’

Star of controversial Channel 4 series Benefits Street is on police bail following drugs raid at her home

She then felt a ‘massive splash’ as the acid was thrown at her, scarring her for life and disfiguring her face, dissolving her hair and eyelashes and burning her tongue as she screamed.

Describing how she felt after the attack, she said: ‘Am I a bad person? Why has this happened to me? I work hard … No one’s going to marry me now.’

CCTV of acid attack victim being followed by woman in niquab

Miss Oli leave the Tubefollowed swiftly by her attacker

Chain of events: Miss Oli, left, left work for home, not knowing her attacker was behind her in disguise, right

Stalking: The prosecution say the woman circled is Mary Konye, who followed her friend on the Tube before dousing her in acid

Stalking: The prosecution say the woman circled is Mary Konye, who followed her friend on the Tube before dousing her in acid

Naomi Oni (pictured) had sulphuric acid thrown on her in an attack inspired by the assault of Katie Piper

Freddy Krueger

Attack: Naomi Oni (pictured) had sulphuric acid thrown in her face by a jealous friend who then changed profile picture to Freddie Krueger, a court heard today

Miss Oni also revealed that when she told her alleged attacker what had happened, her friend texted back: ‘OMG. Can’t believe it.’

She also cried down the phone to Konye, who offered her support, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard.

Giving evidence: Miss Oni, pictured outside court today, is appearing as a witness at the trial

Giving evidence: Miss Oni, pictured outside court today, is appearing as a witness at the trial

She said: ‘I just had my bandages removed and it was the first time I saw my face after surgery and I broke down and I had spoken to Mary that night and I was crying on the phone to her and she was on the phone to me telling me, “don’t worry, you’ll be OK”.’

Giving evidence yesterday, Miss Oni described how she felt a ‘presence’ behind her as she walked home.

She said: ‘I was still on the phone to my boyfriend and I felt a presence. I turned to my left and I saw someone and a black abaya [cloak] or a black niqab.

‘I remember it facing me, staring. A presence directly looking at me. All I could see was eyes.’

She then said she felt the splash as the acid was thrown in her face and ran home shouting ‘acid, acid’.

She said: ‘I immediately felt that someone was trying to kill me and so my instinct was to run as fast as I could to get home.

‘I felt, it wasn’t burning, it was a dissolving type of sensation. It was on my face and I remember, as I had my mouth open screaming, it burnt my tongue.’

The court heard that the pair had a ‘rocky relationship’ and had stopped speaking from April to September 2011 after a row over Konye sending text messages to Miss Oni’s boyfriend.

Miss Oni said: ‘I remember asking her why she wanted to do that and I said she’s a monster or something like that.

‘I said you are a monster, you are an ugly monster. I remember us insulting each other’s looks.

‘She also told me she was so angry she wanted to throw acid at me, but she was advised not to by her friend.

‘Her friend said, “That’s stupid, you could go to jail for that”.’

Asked what she thought at the time about the threat, Miss Oni said: ‘I thought it was quite bizarre, I felt insulted again.

‘But she seemed like she wasn’t serious. I thought she was trying to frighten me a little bit.’

She also said that Katie Piper the model who had acid thrown in her face by an accomplice of her ex-boyfriend was her inspiration, adding: ‘I remember being deeply moved by her story and me and Mary discussed it.’

Attack: Jurors heard Ms Oni (pictured) was oblivious to the fact she was being closely followed by Konye wearing a full niqab, a hooded black coat, gloves and a grey bag

Attack: Jurors heard Ms Oni (pictured) was oblivious to the fact she was being closely followed by Konye wearing a full niqab, a hooded black coat, gloves and a grey bag

The alleged attack on Ms Oni was inspired by the acid assault on Katie Piper (pictured)

Enlarge This photograph shows Katie Piper before her acid attack

Inspiration? The attack on Ms Oni mirrored an acid assault on Katie Piper (pictured), Snaresbrook Crown Court heard yesterday

Konye, of Canning Town, East London, denies throwing or casting a corrosive fluid with intent to burn, maim, disfigure, disable or do grievous bodily harm.

She admits following Miss Oni and to being the person wearing the niqab.

The case continues.

Source: TheMail

January 11, 2014
Nigerian faces deportation from UK

Nigerian student faces deportation from the UK after admitting two charges of placing two young girls and an 18-year-old woman in a state of fear and alarm.

Sheriff Alastair Brown recommended Dennis Ohiomah Ahonsi, 24, of Thurso Crescent, be deported as he remanded him in custody for reports.

Ahonsi had already had his passport retained by the sheriff clerk at Dundee Sheriff Court at a previous hearing after the court was told there was a danger he would flee the country to escape the charges.

Ahonsi admitted that on November 13, at Hilltown, he followed a lone female to her fear and alarm and committed a breach of the peace.

He further admitted breach of the peace on November 16 on Spey Drive by engaging two girls aged 13 in conversation, claiming to be their friend and asking them to accompany them on a walk.

His plea of not guilty to a third charge of, on November 21 on Spey Drive, staring at a 13-year-old girl and placing her in a state of fear and alarm, was accepted by the Crown.

Solicitor advocate Jack Brown told Dundee Sheriff Court that Ahonsi was a student and had lived in Wolverhampton before coming to Dundee to live with his sister in September.

He said he had intended to enrol in a course at Abertay University.

Mr Brown said Ahonsi had not previously offended but accepted what he did were serious offences.

Sheriff Brown said a social work report had indicated Ahonsi was a possible risk and said he would defer sentence and called for a statement from immigration as to their intentions in light of his recommendation to deport him.

He also ordered a supplementary social work report on the assumption that his recommendation was not acted upon.

He added that as the previous report indicates that there “may be a risk” he was against giving him his liberty.

Sentence was deferred until January 21.

January 9, 2014
Our pains, our frustrations —Nigerian graduates in odd jobs

PEOPLE disregard us when we put on this uniform, as if we are nothing. I am very ashamed of doing this job and I don’t tell people I do it. In fact, most people don’t know this is what I do.”

This was how Ibrahim Danjiba, a B.Sc degree holder in Mathematics from the Kogi State University, began the story of how his failure to get a job befitting his status made him to resort to doing an odd job just to make ends meet.

Before he graduated from the university, he had looked forward to working in a telecommunications company. After graduating, therefore, he applied to various telecommunications companies for jobs, confident that he would pass the interviews. After each interview, he savoured the joy of getting his dream job but his employment letter would never come. After years of combing the streets fruitlessly for a job, luck finally smiled on him. He got a job in the industry of his dream but not in a position he desired. Instead of being employed as a core staff of the organisation, he was employed as a security man. He has since manned the gates as a security man along with others who did not go beyond primary school.

In spite of his qualification, some of his colleagues who never attended a higher institution are his boss. Narrating his experience Danjiba said: “I have always loved to work in the telecommunications industry, but they say I can’t get it if I don’t know anybody. I applied several times and passed their interviews, but at the end of the day, I didn’t get any of the jobs even with my excellent result. So, I decided to humble myself by starting with a security job in the hope that I could get a better position later.

“I have been looking for jobs in accounting firms, banks, and so on since 2011 when I graduated. The frustration of being idle finally made me to decide to start with this. The job is not lucrative. I am paid N20, 000 monthly, with which I manage to feed myself.”

He regrets that the society still looks down on security men in spite of the fact that graduates are now taking up the job. “People disregard us when we put on this uniform. It is as if we don’t amount to anything. I am very ashamed of doing this job and I don’t tell people I do it. Most people don’t know that this is what I do. I am so sad with the state of employment in Nigeria. I couldn’t imagine myself being jobless after all my brilliance in school. Students should learn crafts and not rely on certificates only, because they may not fetch them anything in return.

“I am still searching for a job and would appreciate if I get one. I can’t advise people who have money to study here. They should rather go abroad and study. I am planning to see if I can travel abroad and do my M. Sc in Pure Mathematics because I want to become a lecturer, which I may not achieve if I don’t have a master’s degree.”

Tosin Olalekan Ogunseye holds a Higher National Diploma (HND) certificate in Business Administration from Ogun State Polytechnic now Moshood Abiola Polytechnic. After all the parents’ investments and several years of burning the midnight oil, Ogunseye is hustling as a commercial tricycle operator.

He also gave an account of his venture into the unskilled job: “I would say that my condition is a setback because I had once worked in a company before it collapsed. I then searched for a job for good three years before I decided to settle down as a commercial tricycle rider. The business is not lucrative at all. The proceeds are just meant to feed yourself and cater for your family needs. I make N3,000 daily and work seven days a week, from morning till night. My wife is a hair stylist, so she supports me.”

He told The Nation that he had not given up on job hunt, saying: “I am still searching for job in any accounting firm and still wish to further my education if the opportunity comes. It is good to go to school and be literate despite the problem of unemployment. But Nigerian undergraduates should not rely on their certificates to fetch them money, because they may likely find themselves in a field different from their area of specialisation.”

Godwin Elekpo, a native of Akwa Ibom State, has B.Sc in Accounting, but he works as a security officer in a bank in Yaba, Lagos State. He said he had to take the job in order to sustain himself and his family. He said: “There are no jobs, so this is what I have got to sustain myself. It is a shameful job and I keep hiding it from people because they all think that I’m doing well. I have been searching for job even before graduation. I searched for a job as a receptionist, marketer and so on, but I could not get any.

“I started this with the hope of becoming a core employee later. I took the decision because I may not easily get a job if I continue to search for Accounting jobs. It is not lucrative. I am paid N46, 000 monthly with which I manage to cater for my family. There is no prestige in the job; people just treat and talk to you anyhow because of the uniform.”

Owing to his predicament, he said his respect for tertiary education had waned. Obviously, I have a bad feeling for going to tertiary institution in Nigeria because after graduating, you can’t find a job if you don’t have connection, people or money. But I don’t discourage students from going to school. Even now, I am still planning to do my ICAN examination soon. However, students should learn to be self-employed by learning crafts and so on in order to be able to face whatever may come tomorrow.”

Aniete John Ubara, another B.Sc degree holder in Accounting, has a similar unsavoury tale. He had to settle for commercial motorcycle business popularly called okada in order to stave off hardship.

He blamed the rising problem of unemployment on poor management of the nation’s resources by successive governments. “Bad management of public resources by successive governments is the major cause of unemployment in the country. It is not favourable to the masses. This has led to a situation where many God-fearing graduates like us lay our hands on any legitimate job that comes our way because we don’t want to go into armed robbery or other criminal activities. That is why I am doing this today.”

Apart from his academic qualification, Aniete says he is also a professional cook. “I attended a catering school, but when I applied for jobs as a cook, they kept saying they would pay me N15, 000. It made no sense to me because the pay was nothing to write home about. That was why I settled for okada business. I also searched for job for about seven years without any luck. I am not able to fully sustain my family with this, except for my wife who supports with the income she gets from the petty trading she does.

“I still wish to further my education so that I can venture into lecturing. Young graduates should look up to God. After their NYSC, they should learn crafts so as to sustain themselves if they are not employed like me.”

While other respondents are ruing their plights, Nwaokoro seems to have accepted his fate and turned it to advantage. He has worked as a security man for more than 15 years and has no plan to seek employment elsewhere. He said: “I have been working as a security man for the past 15 years. Now, I represent my unit in our union, the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU). I have no regrets so far. I have served as a contract staff here in YABATECH for five years and as security operative for 10 years.

“I chose to do this because at the time I was looking for job, that was all that was available. I took in good faith and have today gone far in it. I was about looking for job before I saw it and took it up instead of roaming the streets. I was earning N8,000, when I started. It was later increased to N12, 000, but now, I earn far above that because I have been promoted twice since then.”

He spoke about the challenges he faces on the job, saying: “People put you down as if you have not gone to school. People who have criminal intentions also see us as enemies. Some of my colleagues who caught people with guns have had their lives threatened by the people when they saw them outside. They monitor and threaten us when they see us outside.

“It is good to go to tertiary institution in Nigeria. I encourage students to continue to study hard. Those who are jobless should not hesitate to apply for security jobs or other unskilled jobs if such are available. It is better to take up such jobs than remaining idle.”

January 4, 2014
‘Why we run British-Nigeria curriculum’

Crownland International School has said it adopted the British and Nigerian curriculum to produce students who can compete globally.

Its Director, Joel Adepoju, who spoke during their end-of-the-year party in Loburo, Mowe, Ogun State, said the school is committed to raising students who would be intellectually, morally and emotionally stable.

He said: “Our school runs a British/Nigeria curriculum. This has not only made us relevant in our local environment, it has also placed us in good stead to impart a multilevel-structured knowledge that creates a seamless relationship with international institutions, thereby providing our students numerous options after graduating from here,” he said.

Adepoju said the school is determined to maintain the highest standards of teaching and learning without compromising discipline.

It plans to adopt more modern teaching aids, build new sporting and recreational facilities, provide more school buses and recruit additional teaching personnel in the new year.

“This is because we hope to be part of the catalysts for the transformation of the educational sector in Nigeria,” the director said.

He urged the students to demonstrate total commitment to their studies. “Time and tide wait for nobody. I, therefore, appeal to you to maximise the gains of the time you spend at Crownland and you will ever be grateful to God that you did,” Adepoju said.

A banker, Stephen Akinbinu, who chaired the event, said he admired the school’s vision. He urged parents to invest in their children through education.

January 2, 2014
Nigerian wins human rights award

DIRECTOR-GENERAL of the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) Mrs Dupe Atoki has received the Human Rights Advocacy Award of the Gusi Peace Prize International Foundation. The Gusi Prize is the Asian counterpart of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Others honoured at the ceremony held in Menila, Philippines, are Mauritus President Rajkeswur Purryag, former Romanian President Prof Emil Constantinescu, former Estonia President Arnold Ruutel, former Sudanese Prime Minister Al-Saddiq Al-Mahdi, Governor of Mecca, Prince Banda Khalid bin Faisal Al Saud, Prof Raoul Weiler, who clinched the Award for Science & Technology (Engineering), Mr. Jerome Binde (Literature), Prof Abdelmadjid Amrani (Philosophy) and Yolanda David Reyes Architecture.

Atoki was recognised by virtue of her advocacy on human rights in the African Union (AU), having served for six years in the African Union Commission on Human & People’s Rights, the regional body for the protection and promotion of human rights in Africa.

She served as the commission’s chairperson for two years , making her the first Nigerian to head an AU organ.

Atoki, the first Nigerian and third African woman to be conferred with the Award, said her advocacy on human rights in Africa was premised on the conviction that human rights is a panacea for peace upon which democracy and good governance thrive.

She said: “It is the inherent right of man as a human being and the basic is the right to food, water and shelter”. I dare say that a hungry man is an angry man, who will steal or rob or even murder and generally cause dis-order in order to remediate his needs.

“For peace to reign government must attend to the human rights of its citizens, without which there will be conflict, which is based on discontent, and conflict leads to dis-order and dis-order sometimes leads to war and genocide with implications on the lives of human beings”.

December 6, 2013
‘Nigerian financial markets susceptible to external shocks’

Continuing decline in government revenue amidst sustained increase in portfolio inflows might expose Nigerian financial markets to undue risks and shocks from the global financial markets, deputy governor, financial system stability, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr. Kingsley Moghalu has said.

He was the special guest of honour and delivered the keynote address on ‘the outlook for the Nigerian economy in 2014’ at the Third Annual Investors Conference organised by CBO Capital.

According to him, Nigeria’s robust external reserves of $45 billion has been supported by massive inflow of foreign portfolio funds, which have camouflaged the decline in excess crude savings and

Aggregate foreign capital inflows stood at $7.79 billion at the end of second quarter 2013 compared with $4.53 billion in second quarter 2012. Out of this, foreign direct investment inflow was $1.47 billion or 18.9 per cent while portfolio investment inflow accounted for $6.52 billion or 81.1 per cent.

“While Federal Government spending overall in 2013 has not been significantly higher than in 2012, oil revenues have continued to decline in spite of the relative stability in oil price and output when compared with preceding years. As a result, Excess Crude savings have fallen from about $11.5 billion at year-end 2012 to less than $5 billion on November 14. External Reserves have remained in excess of $45 billion only because of a massive inflow in portfolio funds. The implication of this is that financial markets are susceptible to external shocks,” Moghalu said.

According to him, provisional data on gross federally-collected revenue from January to October 2013 stood at N8.292 trillion, out of which oil sector accounted for 69.9 per cent and the non-oil sector contributed the balance of 30.1 per cent. This represented a decline of 12.3 and 9.4 per cent below the proportionate budget estimate in 2013 and the actual receipts in the corresponding period of 2012.

He noted that the projected gross revenue of N11.34 trillion by the end of December 2013 is expected to fall below the budgeted revenue for 2013 and actual revenue in 2012 by 10.1 and 12.0 per cent respectively.

The CBN deputy governor outlined that actual Federal Government retained revenue for January to October 2013 stood at N3.19 trillion, representing a shortfall of 21.0 per cent compared with proportionate budget for 2013 while the total expenditure of the Federal Government between January and October 2013 stood at N3.77 trillion, which was lower by 19.7 per cent to the proportionate budget for the same period, but exceeded the cumulative outlay during the same period of 2012 by 2.2 per cent.

“Given the budgeted expenditure of N5.79 trillion and retained revenue of N4.91 trillion, the fiscal deficit for the year is projected at N887.07 billion or 1.9 per cent of GDP. Between January to October 2013, the fiscal operations of the Federal Government resulted in a deficit of N582.11 billion or 1.5 per cent of GDP and financed mainly through domestic borrowing. The major concern of the CBN is its impact on macroeconomic variables. The bank therefore continued to pursue tight monetary policies in order to contain inflationary pressure. These include the introduction of cash reserve requirement (CRR) of 50 percent on public sector deposits with the deposit money banks (DMBs) to stem liquidity surge,” Moghalu said.

He noted that while the overall outlook for the Nigerian economy in 2014 is positive, there are some potential headwinds that may lead to further tightening in monetary conditions.

According to him, it is expected that 2014 will be the year for quantitative easing- tapering in the US and interest rate rises in Europe, both of which will lead to some pressure on the exchange rate and stock prices due to the impact on capital flows.

He noted that next year being the period that election spending is likely to take place, there could be more pressure to bear from the fiscal side, which may necessitate the continuation of the current monetary tightening mode in response to these eventualities in 2014.

He stressed the need to sustain and consolidate current efforts to address the lingering challenges of insecurity, infrastructural deficits as well as the threats to oil production such as pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft among others.

“There is also the need to give greater attention to the diversification of the Nigerian economy away from the current over-dependence on oil export in order to avoid the vagaries in the international oil market and their attendant adverse effects on the domestic economy,” Moghalu said.

He however underlined that the Nigerian economy is expected to grow strongly in 2014 with the growth to be driven by high oil prices and robust domestic demand.

According to him, several reforms initiated and pursued by government in 2013 are expected to impact the economy positively in 2014. These include government efforts to improve transportation network and port reform to strengthen economic linkages between sectors, cities and regions and make growth more inclusive; expected passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), which is expected to improve local content, ensure technology transfer and job creation; modernisation of agriculture through improved seedling and value chain initiatives which will likely increase agricultural output and financial sector reform through financial inclusion which is expected to further enhance economic growth and job creation through access to financial products and services by a large segment of the informal sector of the economy.

Moghalu added that power sector reform will reduce cost of doing business and attract local and foreign investors into the industrial and manufacturing sectors of the economy and open job opportunities.

Other experts who facilitated panel discussions and sessions at the conference included Dr. Doyin Salami, Consultant and Member of the CBN monetary Policy Committee, Mr. Ike Chioke, Managing Director, Afrinvest, Mr. Dave Uduanu, Managing Director, Pension Alliance Limited, Mr. Hewett Benson, Executive Director, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, Mr. John Cross of Mirabaud Bank, Switzerland, Mrs. Sanyade Okoli, Director, Travant Capital and Mr. Raj Kulasingam, Senior Counsel, Dentons, among others.

Speaking on the rationale behind investors conference, executive director, CBO Capital, Bex Nwawudu, said the key objective was to raise awareness for domestic investment activity in private equity.

According to him, in spite of the fact that next year heralds the forthcoming elections, it has become important to highlight the fact that Nigeria still has numerous viable and profitable investment opportunities.

“In essence, what we are showing people is that there is a burgeoning and growing private equity industry in Nigeria, and that we are part of it,” Nwawudu said.

He noted that with this conference, CBO Capital brought together industry practitioners from all spheres to actually sit down together and talk about the various transactions that can be completed in the alternative and unlisted space.

December 4, 2013
Foreign investors scramble for Nigerian equities, debts

•Surplus liquidity depressing yield

Foreign investors have increased portfolio investments in Nigerian equities and bonds with increased inflows from foreign portfolio investors stoking excess liquidity and depressing yield in the domestic bond market.

Market operators in the know of foreign portfolio transactions told The Nation that foreign investors appeared to have increased stakes on Nigerian equities and bonds. They cited recent transaction trends in both the equities and bond markets.

Market operators said the market is awash with liquidity, a technical reference to increased inflow of investment funds. This has supported positive market scenario.

The N87.5 billion Lagos State Bond, which was concluded last week, recorded an oversubscription of 40 per cent while the equity market has sustained average year-to-date return of more than 38 per cent, in spite of recurring profit-taking trend.

Managing Director, Cowry Asset Management Limited, Mr. Johnson Chukwu, said foreign investors have shown stronger interest in Nigerian instruments, which they considered as better growth portfolios because of Nigeria’s relative higher returns and decreasing inflation rate.

According to him, foreign investors believe that Nigerian equities offer better prospects for competitive returns than many other frontier markets.

He noted that increasing foreign interests in bond market were partly responsible for the decline in yields in the segment as yields, even at current levels, were still better than yields in advanced economies and many emerging market.

Chukwu said the positive outlook for the global economy as indicated by the supportive disposition of the prospective chairman of the United States’ (US) Federal Reserve (US Fed), Janet Yellen had encouraged foreign portfolio investors to build up their frontier portfolios.

Third-quarter report on foreign portfolios showed that foreign investors had staked N801.25 billion on Nigerian equities within the first nine months. The latest report on the foreign portfolio investment flow by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) showed that foreign investors dominated transactions during the nine-month period, accounting for 50.81 per cent of total transactions during the period.

The report indicated that total transactions at the NSE within the period stood at about N1.58 trillion, with foreign portfolio investors accounting for N801.25 billion while domestic investors accounted for N775.77 billion. Domestic investors thus accounted for 49.19 per cent within the nine-month period.

In September, total foreign inflow was N26.14 billion as against outflow of N27.88 billion, bringing total foreign transactions to N54.02 billion. Total transactions at the stock market during the month stood at N108.19 billion, out of which domestic investors contributed N54.17 billion or 50.07 per cent.

In August, foreign inflow had stood at N31.12 billion as against outflow of N39.76 billion. Total foreign transactions thus stood at N70.88 billion, 52.26 per cent of the total turnover of N135.63 billion recorded for the month.

Total foreign transactions in the Nigerian market for the seven-month period ended July 31, 2013 stood at N676.25 billion, 50.73 per cent of aggregate transactions of N1.33 trillion by foreign and domestic investors during the period. Breakdown of foreign transactions during the seven-month period showed inflow of N359.47 billion as against outflow of N316.88 billion. Nigerian investors accounted for N656.85 billion over the seven months.

First-half report on foreign portfolio investment flow had shown that total transactions-including buy and sell deals, by foreign investors totaled N582.64 billion, accounting for 49.24 per cent of total turnover at the NSE during the period. Total turnover value at the NSE during the first half was N1.18 trillion with both foreign investors and domestic investors dominating transactions in three months each.

Foreign portfolios were particularly the main drivers of transactions on the NSE in the past two years, with foreign investors accounting for average of two-thirds of equity transactions between 2011 and 2012.

The report underlined the early positioning of the foreign investors, who had saw through the prospects of Nigerian equities amidst the downtrend and the rampant herd instinct of the domestic investors, who mostly usually look at recovering market.

Foreign portfolio transactions increased from N615.6 billion in 2007 to N787.4 billion in 2008. These trimmed down to N424.6 billion in 2009 before rising consecutively to N577.3 billion and N847.9 billion in 2010 and 2011 respectively. Foreign portfolio trades stood at N808.4 billion in 2012.

December 4, 2013
Controversy over death of Nigerian bizman in Ireland-The connection of mother of three

His words were touching. They were such that could have flown from the inner recesses of a heart concerned about the plight of a dear one. They were words of faith and hope posted by Blessing Adeyemi, an Ireland-based Nigerian businessman, on his Facebook wall.

It was an expression of his feelings after his socialite and human resource specialist friend, Taiwo Jamani, went into coma following an attack allegedly carried out against him by one of his friends in Dublin, who accused Jamani of dating his girlfriend and mother of three.

“Please and please,” wrote Adeyemi, the CEO of Lati Solutions Promotions, “the fear of the worst is on people’s minds. Not because they want it to happen. Just fears. All we can continue to do is pray. Jamani is in coma, but he will come out of it in Jesus name.”

In the message posted on October 17, Adeyemi had added: “It is a week today. Loved ones and friends are still praying for you to respond to treatment, to come out of this coma. Please, fight back and respond for the sake of your kids, wife and loved one. Everyone is praying that you come out of this. It’s not your time yet nor ours in Jesus name.

“This kind of issue is not only about having faith, but having a strong belief in God, the miracle-worker. He will, from heaven above, lay His healing hands on you and make you respond. He will work His miracle through the doctor’s hands and answer the prayers that are being said for you all over the world. May your sins not stop the prayers from being answered.”

Jamani, owner of Data Link Company, Dublin, was allegedly attacked by 37-year-old Jooda Akanbi (a.k.a Sharon) on October 10, on Main Street in Dublin town at about 12.20 pm after an argument broke out between them.

An eyewitness, who told the police that the two men began with a shouting march, said: “I think one was waiting for the other because the boot of his car was open and there were two bats in it, even before the fight began. Then, the man with the bat held it high over his head and brought it down hard on the other man’s head, and he just slumped to the ground. It was shocking. It’s not something you expect to see.”

Adeyemi’s sorrow was compounded when 45-year-old Jamani later died at about 4 am on November 12, in a Beaumount hospital, after going into coma for a month. Obviously devastated, Adeyemi, who knew the genesis of the crisis, described as untrue the insinuation in some quarters that Jamani was killed because he was dating a single mother of three named Biola.

He recalled that when the issue of Jamani’s alleged romance with the mother of three came up, he intervened in the matter along with other friends. But he said he never imagined that it could degenerate into loss of life.

He said: “Jooda had accused Jamani of sleeping with his girlfriend, Biola, a single mother of three. But when I asked Taiwo (Jamani) if it was true, he told me that it was a lie. But the boy had been threatening to kill Jamani.”

According to him, at the time Jooda attacked Jamani, he was out of job. So, he could have acted out of frustration. He stated that Jooda had been charged with assault, which carries a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment. “But now that Jamani is dead, he is going to face murder charge,” he added.

Adeyemi, who has vowed to do everything to get justice, also said: “No one else can play his (Jamani”s) role in my life. He was my closest friend. We will do our best. I’m one of the witnesses in the case.”

Adeyemi also revealed that when Jooda first arrived Dublin, it was Jamani that housed him.

Asked what plans were being made for Jamani’s family, Adeyemi said: “It is too early to think about relocating Jamani’s family to Nigeria. The focus should rather be on bringing the guy (Jooda) to justice.

“ Biola, the lady at the centre of the incident, was in court when Jooda was first arraigned, and she is going to be a star witness when the murder case against Jooda comes up in court.

“Biola has never admitted to being Jamani’s girlfriend. She said there was nothing between her and Jamani. She admitted dating Akanbi. We all know and she doesn’t deny it.

“Adeyemi and Jamani had been together for 17 years. They both moved to Ireland from Holland in 1999.”

Adeyemi wondered why someone would kill another fellow because of a single mother of three when there are many single Nigerian ladies in Ireland.

Asked if he would discourage Nigerian single girls from coming to Ireland, he said: “No, I will not discourage them. But that depends on their aims and reasons for coming here.”

Jamani is due for burial today at Flemingston Cemetery, Balscadden Balbriggan, Dublin.

November 30, 2013
Nigerian killed in U.S.

Nigerian has been found dead in an apartment in Colombus, Indiana, United States.

The police are looking for 36-year-old man, Ryan Allen Klug, who they say is the prime suspect in the murder of 26-year-old Adaobi M. Obih, who was found dead on Tuesday.

Police initially said Klug was a “person of interest” in the case.

Police were alerted to Obih’s death after she missed work on Monday and Tuesday without notifying anyone. Concerned co-workers contacted her apartment complex to ask about her. Police also contacted the property manager to request a welfare check, according to the arrest affidavit.

A maintenance worker went to check on the woman and said: “It’s not good, there is blood everywhere.”

A neighbour said he noticed that the door to Obih’s garage spot was open and had been open for at least 24 hours. Klug, who police described as Obih’s roommate, parked his vehicle there.

The maintenance worker told police there were no signs of forced entry at the apartment and that only two people would’ve had keys: Obih and Klug. The maintenance worker told police he found Obih with a “large amount of blood around her head” and said it appeared clear that she was dead.

Police talked to Obih’s boyfriend, who revealed that he’d texted and called her multiple times but never heard back. The last message he received from her was at 12:17 p.m. on Sunday, November 17. When she failed to respond, he went to her apartment, saw her car in the parking lot and knocked on the door. Obih didn’t answer.

A neighbor who lives in the apartment below Obih’s said it sounded like someone was moving furniture during Sunday afternoon. “It went on for more than three minutes,” the neighbor said, adding that it happened shortly before tornado warnings went off for Sunday’s storms.

Police said Klug had texted a pastor, asking him to call. When the pastor did so, Klug answered and said he couldn’t talk at the time.

Further investigation found that Obih had been stabbed multiple times and her throat cut. A blood trail went from the woman’s bedroom to Klug’s, and police said it appeared “the assailant attempted to clean up in the bathroom area belonging to Mr. Klug.” They also found a bloody towel in Klug’s sink. Police located a plastic bag containing a bloody sock and other clothes stained with blood, including blue jeans, boxers and a shirt. Police said the “amount of blood on these items was significant”.

Police found a trail of small blood drops leading from the apartment to the garage where Klug parked his vehicle. His 2008 silver Subaru Legacy was not parked in the garage.

Klug works for the Indiana Department of Transportation, and police contacted his supervisor, who told them Klug’s behavior had been “off” lately. He sent a text message Sunday, saying: “Sick tomorrow, then vacation next two weeks.” His supervisor said the message was out of character and also violated the department’s vacation time policy. Klug did not return texts or phone calls, his supervisor said. He didn’t show up at work Monday or Tuesday.

Klug’s stepmother and father said they hadn’t heard from him for several days.

His brother told police he’d spoken with Klug about two weeks ago. Klug wanted to get back with a girl he’d dated. The relationship ended about a year ago. His brother told Klug to call her; he said Klug discovered she was dating someone else and told him, ‘I’m losing control’.

Columbus police don’t think Klug is still in the area and said multiple law enforcement agencies were looking for him.

November 22, 2013
Nigerian held in Iran seeks minister’s intervention

ANigerian and staff member of MTN, Mr AdekunleAwobodu, has asked the Federal Government to intervene in the restriction order placed on him by Iranian government which prevented him from travelling back to the country since March, this year.

His plea was contained in a petition sent to the Supervising Minister of Foreign Affairs, Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri and acknowledged on November 5, this year.

Writing through his counsel, Jennifer Aburime, Awobodu, a native of Ogun State, who was on secondment to MTN Irancell, since 2005 claimed to have worked with the company in various capacities, starting from a Senior Manager position culminating in being promoted to the position of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the company in October 2009, a position he held until December, last year.

However, due to the delay in finding a replacement for him, he said he agreed with both the Chief Operating Officer of MTN Irancell to return to Iran in January, this year to assist the company on urgent financial matters, including helping MTN Irancell to close the financial period which ended in December last year.

Counsel to Awomodu said on March 6, nine days to when he was scheduled to return to Nigeria, he received a formal summon that he should appear at Evin Detention Camp in Tehran within three days of the summons or he would be arrested and that no reason was stated for this summons thereon.

“Our client immediately contacted the Nigerian Consulate in Tehran on Thursday, March 7, informing them about the summons and was asked by the Consulate staff to lodge a statement on the same day.

The petition also said Awomodu on March 9, in compliance with the summons he was at the camp with one of MTN Irancell Legal Consultants, Mr Farzad where he was interrogated in a cold room for about three hours by some security operatives/interrogators and that the interrogation revolved around MTN Group loans/dividend funds that were paid by MTN Irancell to MTN Group via a swap contract arrangement entered into between MTN Dubai and the Petro Chemical Company of Iran (PCC).

Awomodu was said to have responded to some queries stating that part of his responsibility as the CFO of MTN Irancell was to follow instructions given to him by MTN Group Chief Financial Officer at that time, Mr. Nazir Patel; and to ensure proper records, coordination and reconciliation of transactions between MTN Dubai, MTN Irancell and any other local third party involved but stressed that he was not authorized to sign such funds transfers.

After about three hours interrogation, the petition stated that Awomodu was escorted by several security operatives to his office and home which were thoroughly searched and videotaped for several hours without been shown any search warrant or official documents and that on conclusion of the search, the security operatives took away his laptop and three storages devices, promising to return them to him soon while all passwords on his computers were forcibly elicited from him.

“About three days later, he was invited for another round of interrogation and was asked to come along with his international passport. At the meeting, he was immediately asked to hand over his passport before being told by the interrogators that they had scrutinized his computers and found nothing incriminating on it.

Onwuliri stated that her client was later asked to bring them some documents from MTN Dubai to enable them release his passport and that within 24 hours, MTN provided the information requested for by these interrogators which was given to them by our client the following day.

“At this point, it is clear that both the MTN as an entity and the partners/ shareholders are unable to resolve this matter with the Iranian authorities and our client continues to suffer for each day his ordeal continues. By now, the Iranian authorities have had ample time to conclude whatever investigations relating to this case and should now be able to release their findings exonerating our client.

“The hardship this whole debacle has brought on our client is better imagined. His wife and young children are going through emotional torture, not being able to see him now for months, whilst he languishes in Iran. The question now is “Have the Iranian authorities taken this course of action against him because he is a Nigerian?”

“We are therefore appealing to you, Honourable Minister to use your good offices to intervene in this matter urgently where the rights of a Nigerian Citizen are being violated in Iran without any respect to international law and diplomacy. We urge you Madam to do all in your power and position to ensure that our integrity as a nation that protects its own is not ridiculed by other nations.”

November 12, 2013