The Nation Newspaper

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  • C/River student crushed to death on campus

    A fourth-year Civil Engineering undergraduate of the Cross River University of Technology, Joseph Agbor, was accidentally crushed to death by a car driven by another student on campus in Calabar, The Nation gathered on Wednesday.

    It was learnt that the car driven by a second-year student veered off the road and rammed into Agbor, 21, who was sitting by a gutter waiting for a class.

    He died on the spot it was learnt.

    It could not be immediately ascertained if the driver was drunk or a learner.

    “We were just waiting for our next lecture. We sat where we normally used to sit by the gutter by the road close to the lecture hall when waiting for our classes when we heard the loud sound of the car. Before we knew what was happening, the car which was in full speed ran into him. He did not even have time to react and was crushed to death instantly. It is a very sad day for us,” a student who witnessed the incident said.

    Cross River State Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Irene Ugbo,said the driver is in police custody at the moment, while the matter is investigated.

  • Troops neutralise scores of insurgents in Borno, Yobe

    The Nigerian Army said on Wednesday that scores of Boko Haram terrorists have been neutralized between Borno and Yobe axis when they attempted to overrun a military base.

    The Deputy Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Ado Isa said following the feat the Chief of Army staff; Lt Gen Tukur Buratai sent words of encouragement to the troops for their gallantry.

    Colonel Isa explained in a statement that some of the fleeing terrorists escaped with gunshot wounds, while their gun trucks and weapons were destroyed.

    He said: “The dogged troops of 152 Battalion successfully crushed some members of the Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) when they attempted to infiltrate their location Wednesday, 11 March 2019 at about 1900hrs around Bula – Yobe, Banki axis in Borno State.

    “The Terrorists in their futile attempt came in with several Gun Trucks mounted with Anti-Aircraft Guns and Motorcycles.

    “The troops engaged the terrorists with superior fire power and inflicted heavy casualty on the BHTs and their equipment.

    “The fierce gun battle set confusion and disorganisation in the terrorists’ camp, withdrawing in disarray while the troops gave them a hot pursuit.

    “In that process, unconfirmed numbers of terrorists were neutralized while several others fled with gunshot wounds.

    “A Gun Truck mounted with Anti-Aircraft Gun and several Motorcycles belonging to the BHTs were destroyed while one Gun truck mounted with Anti -Aircraft Gun and Mortar Carrier were captured from the terrorists.

    “The Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Benson Akinroluyo through the Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division Nigerian Army and Commander Sector 1, Operation Lafiya Dole, Brigadier General Abdulmalik Bulama Biu extolled their effort and sacrifice and also conveyed the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai’s special commendation for their dogged fighting spirit and brilliance. He urged them to maintain the aggressive posture and sustain the offensive.”

  • NAF conducts surveillance in Kaduna/Abuja highway

    The Nigerian Air Force ( NAF ) on Wednesday said it has intensified its aerial surveillance and patrol on flashpoints within Kaduna and Abuja highway to frustrate the activities of kidnappers and armed robbers.

    Its spokesman, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola said in a statement that the patrol was a follow up to the exercise “Show of Force” conducted by the NAF in February to send warnings to the criminals that the military is ready for them.

    Air Commodore Daramola said :”In continuation of efforts to enhance security in Kaduna State and its environs, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), working with other security agencies, has intensified aerial surveillance over identified hotspots and flashpoints in the State while sustaining its air patrol along the Abuja-Kaduna Highway.

    “Some of the areas covered in the surveillance missions include Gonin Gora, Kajuru, Kujama, Kasuwar Maganin and surrounding settlements.

    “The air patrols, on the other hand, are focused on portions of Abuja-Kaduna Highway, which had hitherto been susceptible to the activities of armed robbers and kidnappers.

    “It may be recalled that the NAF conducted a “Show of Force” Exercise in Katari village, one of the identified criminal hotspots along the Abuja-Kaduna Highway, on 9 February 2019.

    ” The exercise, which combined aerial and ground operations by NAF Special Forces (SF) and Regiment personnel, sent a stern warning signal to criminal elements, that the NAF and other security agencies are ready to engage them both from the air and on ground to frustrate their nefarious activities.

    “The NAF will sustain its aerial surveillance, coupled with armed vehicular patrols, along the Highway, Rail Line and other areas in the State to ensure security of citizens as well as safe travels for law-abiding commuters.”

  • Davido, 21 Savage, others to perform at Roots Picnic, Philadelphia

    Popular Nigerian singer, David Adeleke a.k.a. Davido is to perform at the 11th Roots Picnic headlining the 20th Anniversary celebration of The Root’s classic album, ‘Things Fall Apart’ on June 1 in Philadelphia.

    The boss of DMW with 9.9 million followers took to his Instagram handle @davidoofficial to announce to his fans with a bold flier of the event.

    The Roots Picnic is an annual music festival created and hosted by American Hip Hop Group cum Grammy Award winners hip `The Roots.’

    The festival which is a sell out every year would be held at The Mann at Fairmount Park, Philadelphia.

    Co-founder, Shawn Gee, and manager of The Roots serve as executive producer of the festival.

    Other artists to perform include 38-year-old New York-born broadcaster, former rapper and songwriter, Joseph Anthony Budden II a.k.a. Joe Budden Podcast and 26-year-old London born Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph a.k.a. 21 savage.

    Read Also: Davido gifts personal assistant Mercedes Benz car

    Others are 24-year-old Atlanta born rapper Dominique Jones a.k.a. Lil Baby, 21-year-old California born R&B singer Gabriella Wilson a.k.a H.E.R., The Roots and many more.

    However, genres during the festival include R&B, Hip Hop, Hard Rock, Blues, and contemporary.

    Others are Jazz, Reggae, Rock, Indie, Bluegrass, country and many others.

    The festival which held on June 7, 2008 is a one-day event but was expanded for two days in 2012.

    Tickets would go on sale from Friday March 15 at noon. However, everyone over two years of age is expected to get a pass and no chair would be allowed, only blanket.

  • Umahi set to join APC?

    Ebonyi state governor, David Umahi is set to decamp to the All Progressives Congress (APC), latest May 29th.

    The candidate of the APC, Senator Sonni Ogbuoji disclosed this in Enugu while rejecting the just concluded governorship election in which Umahi who ran on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was declared the winner.

    In his words: “the information we have now is that while the governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, had acted as a mole in PDP all along, he has started making moves to ditch PDP and cross over to the APC on or before May 29.

    We are aware that the votes that enthroned Umahi were procured with the connivance of the system, a reason there are gloomy faces all over the state after the announcement of the claimed victory.”

    The senator who is representing Ebonyi South in the upper chamber told reporters that having known the antecedents of the governor, they would not accept him in APC.

    He also blamed the failure of the party in the election on the internal wrangling among the members.

    “What rather happened as all party insiders know is that the APC in Ebonyi worked so much against itself. By this allusion, I don’t indict all the members or leadership, I am actually taking about the moles among us that double dealt and made things impossible for us while they cloaked like part of us.”

    Ogbuoji commended those party members who worked assiduously for the party.

    He said: “With this, I also commend and doff my hat for those committed members and leaders of our party, APC that worked assiduously to ensure we made it big and good.

    “I want to assure you that even with the gang-up, I and the party gave a good account of the outing and made the ruling party understand that Ebonyi people can’t be taken for a ride.

    “I therefore call for consolidation and stronger bond in the party, and that none – including the candidates should despair in the face of the development of this rape of democracy.

    “Consolidating a new system takes tenacity and resolute steady effort to achieve and our great party should not relent in giving our dear state the opposition and checks we need in order to stop gangster politicians riding roughshod over our future.

    “I am aware also of those among us that desired the change we targeted to bring, seemingly worked for it but in the actual sense worked in contrary direction and deliberately frustrated the change they claimed to belong to.”

  • Buhari appoints two Executive Directors to NSIA Board

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of two Executive Directors to the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) Board.

    Mrs. Stella Ojekwe-Onyejeli has been reappointed as Executive Director for a second term.

    She is also the Chief Operating officer of NSIA.

    Mr. Aminu Umar-Sadiq, who is NSIA’s Deputy Head of Direct Investments, has been appointed, for the first time, as Executive Director.

    A statement from The NSIA on Wednesday announced that the appointments “followed the realignment in 2018 of NSIA’s strategy with a pivot towards domestic infrastructure, as reflected in the allocation of 50% of future contributions to infrastructure investments.”

    Mr. Jide Zeitlin, Chairman, NSIA Board of Directors said: “These appointments strengthen the Authority’s executive team and are consistent with our focus on maintaining a broadly representative leadership team and workforce so as to ensure that the institution remains a key participant in Nigeria’s economic transformation.”

    He added: “Both appointees are committed professionals who, along with other talented colleagues, have been instrumental in NSIA’s development.”

    In 2018, the NSIA Board established for the first time a Direct Investment Committee for review and oversight of investments in core domestic infrastructure sectors such as motorways, agriculture, healthcare, power, and education.

    Recent NSIA initiatives that reflect this increased focus on domestic infrastructure include the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF), which will fast-track the completion of five infrastructure projects of national priority namely: Abuja-Kano Roadway, Second Niger Bridge, East-West Roadway, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, and Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Plant.

    The NSIA said it is also galvanising investments in tertiary healthcare with the investment in the development of the LUTH Cancer Treatment Centre and is developing advanced diagnostic centres in AKTH, Kano and FMCU, Umuahia.

    The NSIA also co-sponsored the establishment of InfraCredit, a specialized financial guarantor that facilitates the financing of domestic infrastructure assets by domestic pension funds. The Authority remains committed to leading the development of strategic infrastructure initiatives in Nigeria.

    Mrs. Ojekwe-Onyejeli was first appointed an Executive Director in October 2012 and served as the Chief Risk Officer until 2017 when her role was expanded to that of Chief Operating Officer. She has a wealth of experience spanning nearly three decades. She joined the Authority from Barclays where she was Director and Head of Operational Risk and Control at the Bank, overseeing 15 countries across Africa, Middle East and Asia.

    Prior to Barclays, Mrs. Ojekwe-Onyejeli held senior roles at Citibank. Mrs. Ojekwe-Onyejeli received a degree in Chemistry from the University of Lagos, and an MBA from Cranfield School of Management in the UK. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and also a qualified Chartered Financial and Tax Accountant. She is an Alumna of both the Oxford and Wharton Executive Management Programs and has attended many director-level programmes in leading institutions globally.

    Mr. Umar-Sadiq has significant experience in investment banking, private equity and public finance, including his most recent role at the NSIA where he served as a Senior Vice-President and Deputy Head, Infrastructure. Since joining NSIA, Mr. Umar-Sadiq has led the development, execution and management of critical domestic infrastructure projects in the agriculture, healthcare, roads, real-estate and power sectors. Prior to joining the NSIA, he worked in mergers and acquisitions at Morgan Stanley focused on the Energy and Utilities sectors. He also worked with Denham Capital Management, an oil and gas, mining, and power focused private-equity fund.

    A Bauchi-State academic scholar, Aminu holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Engineering Sciences from the University of Oxford. Mr Umar-Sadiq is an Archbishop Desmond Tutu Fellow, a Nigeria Leadership Initiative Associate and a Mandela Washington Fellow.

    Speaking on behalf of both appointees, Mrs. Ojekwe-Onyejeli said they “look forward to continuing our work with the Board, Governing Council and employees in helping to lead the execution of NSIA’s strategy.”

  • Court hears evidence on final forfeiture suit against Patience Jonathan April 12

    A Federal High Court Lagos, Wednesday, fixed April 12, to hear oral evidence in a suit by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), seeking final forfeiture of about 8.4 million dollars, and N7.4 billion linked to former first Lady, Patience Jonathan.

    Justice Mojisola Olatoregun had in a ruling delivered on Feb.28, on the motion for final forfeiture, held that there were conflicting affidavit evidences, which could be best resolved if respective parties were called upon to give oral evidence.

    The case was consequently, adjourned until March 13 (today) for oral evidences.

    On Wednesday, the case could not proceed as earlier scheduled , while April 12 has been fixed as return date

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the EFCC had secured an interim order for forfeiture of the sums on April 20, 2018, before Olatoregun, following a motion exparte.

    It joined as respondents: Patience Jonathan, Globus Integrated Services Ltd, Finchley Top Homes Ltd., Am-Pm Global Network Ltd, Pagmat Oil and Gas Ltd and Magel Resort Ltd and Esther Oba.

    NAN reports that on Oct. 29, 2018, EFCC counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, had moved his motion for final forfeiture of the sums, urging that same be finally forfeited to the Federal Government.

    Meanwhile, defence counsel, Messrs Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), and Mr Ige Asemudara had respectively moved their processes in opposition to the motion for final forfeiture.

    On Jan. 15, the court had admitted electronic evidences presented by respondent counsel, which depicted video exhibits showing various business outfits of the third and sixth respondents

    The court had then adjourned for judgment.

    In a ruling on Feb.28, the judge had first dismissed an application by counsel to the respondents, seeking to set aside the interim forfeiture orders made on April 20, 2018.

    The court had held that it was satisfied that the requirement for the grant of the interim orders was met by the EFCC, adding that it was clear that at the time the interim order was made, there was no pending suit elsewhere.

    Meanwhile, giving its ratio on the motion for final forfeiture, the court held that it finds the affidavit evidences conflicting, adding that same can only be resolved, if the parties concerned were called upon to give oral evidences.

    The court had held :

    “The applicant relied on two grounds (1) That the court has the statutory power under section 17, to grant the reliefs sought and (2) That the monies are suspected to be proceeds of an unlawful activity or unlawful activities, diverted from the Federal Government of Nigeria,”

    The court had asked if having regards to the provisions of sections 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, as well as the available facts before the court, the applicant has made out a case for final forfeiture of the sums.

    The judge noted the various processes filed by parties to the suit which includes, affidavits, counter affidavits, further affidavits, reply affidavits written addresses, as well as exhibits .

    The court had then held :

    “I have examined the issues raised on both sides and i came to the conclusion after exhaustively going through the affidavits filed by parties, and i found the affidavits conflicting on material facts.

    “I believe in the circumstance, that the court cannot rely on its own opinion alone; the conflict must only be determined or resolved by the evidences of parties themselves, particularly as it relates to the source of the funds.

    “I believe parties should be heard and cross examined on this issue.

    “Parties are accordingly called upon to give oral testimonies in support of the case presented, ” The court had held.

  • Ethiopian Airlines: victims’ families to visit crash site

    Family members of the victims of the Ethiopian Airlines crash that killed 157 people were to visit the site of the accident on Wednesday, an official said.

    Asrat Begashaw, Head of Public Relations at Ethiopian Airlines, said embassy officials from various nations would
    accompany the families on the grim trip to the scene where human remains are still being gathered.

    “What we have collected so far is stored in freezers but there are plans to move them to hospitals. DNA work has not started yet,” Begashaw said.

    Meanwhile, officials have yet to decide where to send the retrieved black box for investigation into why the Boeing 737 MAX 8 went down on Sunday shortly after take-off for Nairobi.

    “There is no decision made yet on where to send it. What we can say is we don’t have the capability to probe it here in Ethiopia,’’ Begashaw said.

    Read Also: Investigators recover flight recorders of Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737-8 Max

    The crash, which was the second deadly accident involving that model of Boeing in several months, hit the U.S.
    manufacturer hard – with its share price dropping and much of the world grounding those aircraft or banning it from their skies.

    Boeing has said it is still safe to fly, and the U.S. remains one of few countries that has not temporarily banned the model from its airspace.

    U.S. officials arrived in Ethiopia on Tuesday to help with investigations into the crash, which killed 157 on board.

  • Update: 18 dead, 38 injured in Lagos school collapse

    A three storey building that occupies Ohen Nursery / Primary School Lagos Island collapsed in the early hours of Wednesday and some pupils and staff of the school were trapped in the rubbles.
    No fewer than 18 persons have been confirmed dead, while 38 injured.

    The school situated at Itafaji Street, near Adeniji Adele was said to have caved in around 10:20am on Wednesday.

    The cause of the collapse was yet to be ascertained but The Nation gathered emergency responders have moved to the scene and were evacuating trapped victims.

  • Buhari presides over FEC

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday presided over the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

    The meeting, which started around 11.09am, was the first after the Presidential and National Assembly elections on the 23rd of February and the Governorship and state houses of Assembly elections of 9th of March, 2019.

    Members of the cabinet had paid a courtesy visit to the President on the 1st of March after he was declared winner of the presidential election.

    After rendition of the National anthem on Wednesday, the Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu, said the opening Muslim prayer, while the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, offered the opening Christian prayer.

    Read Also: ‘Buhari must have a workable policy’

    There were 28 ministers in the hall during the rendition of the National anthem.

    Also in the Council chamber were the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, Head of Service, Winifred Oyo-Ita and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno.

    The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.