The Nation Newspaper

Tag: seeks

  • Alleged murder: Witness seeks Fayose’s aides’ probe

    Alleged murder: Witness seeks Fayose’s aides’ probe

    The star witness in the alleged murder of former Ekiti State National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Chairman Omolafe Aderiye has spoken of how he was “tutored” to implicate eight persons accused of complicity in the crime.

    The late Aderiye’s Personal Assistant, Gbolahan Okeowo, revealed that he secretly recorded the voices of the two aides of Governor Ayo Fayose whom he accused of “tutoring” him to write another statement which indicted the accused.

    On trial for the ex-NURTW boss’ murder are: Bayo Aderiye (aka Ojugo), Niyi Adedipe (aka Apase), Sola Durodola, Oso Farotimi, Ajayi Kayode, Sola Adenijo (aka Solar) and Rotimi Olanbiwonnu (aka Mentilo).

    Also implicated in the murder is a security aide to former Governor Kayode Fayemi, Deji Adesokan (aka Jarule) who has been declared wanted for Omolafe’s murder.

    The governor’s aides are Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Owoseni Ajayi and the Special Assistant on Public Communication and New Media Lere Olayinka.

    Both Ajayi and Olayinka have denied any link with Okeowo in a chat with a weekend newspaper where Olayinka claimed that he had never met Okeowo. Ajayi accused Okeowo of committing perjury by recanting his evidence before an Ado-Ekiti High Court.

    In an exclusive interview with The Nation on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti, Okeowo urged the National Security Adviser, the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate the call logs of Ajayi and Olayinka to unearth the conversations they had with him in connection with the murder case.

    Okeowo reiterated his position in an affidavit of facts he deposed to at the Federal High Court, Akure –  that all the seven persons standing trial and Adesokan who had been declared wanted knew nothing about the murder as the second statement he wrote at Ajayi’s office was used to frame them up.

    The late NURTW chair’s aide disclosed that he was shocked to read the claims of both Ajayi and Olayinka in the said newspaper that they had nothing to do with him, adding that all his encounters with the duo were secretly recorded. He is to tender the recording at the appropriate time.

    Okeowo said the two government officials told him that the first statement he volunteered at the state police headquarters “was too weak” to nail the murder suspects, hence the need to write another one to indict them.

    Okeowo claimed that Ajayi, who was Special Adviser on Legal Matters and had not been confirmed as Attorney General at the time he wrote the second statement, called on the DPP to bring the case file.

    According to him, the son of the deceased, Yinka Aderiye, younger brother of the deceased, Wale Ibidapo, the Permanent Secretary, Director of Public Prosecution, were there on the day he was allegedly coarced to write another incriminating statement against the suspects.

    Okeowo revealed that the initial plan was to bring Yinka (the late Omolafe’s son) to court to testify against the accused persons even when he (Yinka) was not present at his father’s office where he was murdered.

    He said somebody called the late Omolafe 15 minutes before he was murdered, adding: “My late boss was enthusiastic that a big man called him. The question now is, who is that big man? The phone with which he received the call was taken away by the killers.”

    Okeowo explained: “At this juncture, I will implore the National Security Adviser, the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of DSS to investigate the call logs of Owoseni Ajayi. I am ready to surrender myself for full investigation to unravel the mysterious death of my late boss.

    “These people saying they don’t know me, how come they have been calling me since? I received a call from (Lere) Olayinka on October 27 and Owoseni has been calling me through Yinka Aderiye, the son of my late boss. Let the NSA, IG and DG of DSS invite all of us.

    “I want the IG to investigate the MTN call logs of Owoseni Ajayi and this will assist the whole world to know the truth. I want Owoseni Ajayi, Lere Olayinka and Yinka Aderiye, who is now Owoseni’s personal assistant, to be summoned to Abuja to explain all they know about this matter.

    “They promised me a local government appointment on behalf of the governor if I could go ahead to indict all the seven persons on trial and Jarule on the murder of my boss but these people are innocent.

    “It is ungodly and wicked for me to say what I have not seen after I had listened to a sermon of my pastor and I have gone to court to swear and depose to an affidavit because God is looking at all of us.

    “Police knew nothing about what happened at Owoseni Ajayi’s office. They submitted their file to the DPP but it was Owoseni Ajayi who ordered the DPP to bring the file and that was where we wrote another statement indicting the innocent souls.

    “Ajayi said all what his boss wanted to hear was that Jarule came down from the vehicle, waiting in company with Apase, that Jarule opened fire on my late boss and that there was a particular Hilux van at the opposite side of our office then.

    “That inside the vehicle were (Bayo) Aderiye, Mentilo, Durodola, Farotimi, Adenijo, (Kayode) Ajayi. All these are fabricated lies; there was nothing like that on that day. I was with my boss on that day and there was nothing like that.

    “I never saw anybody called Jarule on that day, I never saw Adedipe on that day. The statement I wrote at Owoseni Ajayi’s office was done under threat. That was the way I was tutored and coerced that day in his office but he never knew that he was recorded. I have my facts and figures and I will release them at the appropriate time.”

     

  • Buhari seeks closer ties with Hungary

    Buhari seeks closer ties with Hungary

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said he was looking forward to increased bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and Hungary, saying that both countries have a lot in common.

    He made the remark, according to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, while receiving Mr Zsolt Semjen, the Vice Prime Minister of Hungary, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    President Buhari said his administration would welcome the strengthening and expansion of cooperation between both countries in the areas of security and agricultural development.

    He said: “Hungary faces some immigration challenges today, just like other parts of Europe. We also have our challenges in the North-Eastern part of Nigeria.

    “Hungary is able to fully understand our problems, and we can work together.”

    Vice Prime Minister Semjen congratulated Nigeria on its last general elections, adding that Hungary was looking forward to signing agreements with the country on more bilateral cooperation.

    He described terrorism as a global challenge and pledged that his country would support the Nigerian Armed Forces’ efforts to end the Boko Haram insurgency.

    “The extremism of Boko Haram is not Islamic. It runs contrary to all human philosophies,” the he said.

    He also promised that Hungary would deploy its expertise in the area of agriculture to assist Nigeria.

     

  • Corruption: Osigwe Foundation seeks inclusion of Philosophy in school curriculum,

    The Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe Foundation yesterday called on the Federal Government to implement the resolution of the United Nations (UN) on teaching Philosophy from the secondary school level in Nigeria as a major step in boosting anti-corruption efforts in the country.

    The foundation’s Coordinator-General, Mr Charles Anyiam-Osigwe, who made the call at a conference on corruption at the University of Ibadan yesterday, said the implementation would be a major step in institutionalising the fight against corruption.

    The conference with the theme: “The Predicament of Corruption and the Quest for Holistic Development in Africa” attracted several members of the academia within and outside Nigeria.

    Anyiam-Osigwe added that such decision would also help sustain President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s anti-corruption crusade.

    Laying the foundation for the talk shop, the foundation’s coordinator emphasised that the late Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe’s philosophical thought on building a society free of corrupt practices is crucial to the current efforts of the current Federal Government to rid Nigeria of corruption.

    According to him, tackling corruption is only an aspect of issues that undermine Africa’s development. The foundation posited that one sure way out of the doldrums was for academic and philosophers to “provide the rudder and the leading light.”

    “We opine that there has never been development without the philosophical compass. Transcending the primitive stage of early human existence, development evolved from the contemplative insights of thinking minds in our early societies…”

    Aniyiam-Osigwe also underscored the role of the family in building individuals with the capacity to shun corruption by initiating anti-corruption values. “Here we capture the role of the family in its pristine form, nurturing and goading the child on the path of propriety or pious conduct,” he said.

    In his keynote presentation on the theme, Prof. Mogobe Ramose of the Department of Philosophy, University of South Africa, x-rayed the Anyiam-Osigwe’s philosophical thesis on corruption and called for ethical revolution of the entire African continent as a basic solution to developmental challenges.

    Earlier, while declaring the conference open, the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, hailed the initiative, particularly because it was in partnership with the academia, which he said, helps reinforce good government policies.

    Osinbajo, who was represented by the Secretary, Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-Corruption,  Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, emphasised that teaching was critical to building minds and nations.

  • Heidelberg seeks protection for local printing industry

    Heidelberg seeks protection for local printing industry

    The Managing Director, Heidelberg, Mr. Jakob Bejer, yesterday in Lagos,  urged the Federal Government to protect the local paper, printing and graphics sub-sector of the economy.

    He said a situation where finished products from the sub-sector are allowed to flood the local market from China and other parts fo the world is not healthy beacause it creates jobs in the exporting countries while taking jobs off Nigerians.

    Bejer who took a swipe on the restrictive foreign exchange (forex) policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), said it has taken a toll on the sub-sector.

    He lamented that the fortunes of many operators in the business are now hanging in the balance.

    He said: “The sector has been at a standstill for over six months with most businesses hibernating. If it continues, the nation will lose a lot of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). It’s unfortunate that a sector that could have yielded a lot of  economic value  to the government is left unprotected by government as printed books are imported uninhibited from China and India to the detriment of local firms who are creating jobs and growing the economy.”

    He said with a population of over 170 million, Nigeria remains a destination of choice to foreign books producers.

    The Heidelberg chief said part of the firm’s survival strategy is the renewal of its old strategic business relationship with Muller Martini, a Swiss company that has taken over its finishing and bindery industry, spare parts, training and maintenance  including  its core products such as ST-100 Saddlestitchers, Eurobinders and Eurotrimmers.

    He said the synergy will bring to the market experienced service organisation and extensive experience in product marketing. “Such partnership of two world leaders forms a formidable force, to the direct benefit of our clients, who now can come to Heidelberg Nigeria Limited with all prepress, printing and finishing needs. Our company is now responsible for all after sales service of present and future Muller Martini equipment, with our experienced technical service team, clients will now experience a greatly improved service and the best products available anywhere,” he said.

  • Agency seeks end to sexual violence

    Agency seeks end to sexual violence

    Activities to mark the International Domestic Violence Awareness Month kicked off last Thursday in Lagos State, with a call by Hon. Adedamola Kasunmu of the Lagos State House of Assembly, for increased effort to combat sexual and domestic violence in the state.

    Kasunmu, a member representing Ikeja II Constituency, made the call during a Domestic Walk and Street Campaign organised by the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) in partnership with the Lagos State House of Assembly and Ikeja Local Government, to commemorate the month.

    He told The Nation that the Lagos State House of Assembly and Ikeja Local Government are interested in the Domestic Walk and Street Campaign because “it’s a campaign against violence, against rape and all forms of sexual abuse, and it affects everyone; women, men, and children.”

    Kasunmu, who studied law at the University of Wolverhampton in the United Kingdom (UK), added: “Personally, I also feel that the protection of life is the constitutional duty of a legislator, as well as a public office holder, and, as stipulated in the 1999 constitution as amended, we must make sure that the rights of the Nigerian person are protected.”

    The commemoration was flagged off by street campaigns on Thursday morning that took place simultaneously in Ikeja, Lagos Island, Mushin and Alimosho. It featured participants from the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Nigerian Union of Teachers, Civil Society Groups, and members of the public.

    The lawmaker also commended the office of the Lagos State Attorney-General on the issue of domestic violence.

    He said: “Since September 2014, we acknowledge that through this prestigious ministry, the facilitation of the ratifying of the executive order that established the sex offenders’ register and mandated reports policy came into existence.

    “Furthermore, over 2000 school students have been trained on rape prevention, self-defense and preserving evidence attached to this issue. Also trained are mandated reporters ranging from health officials to teachers, school administrators and social counselors dealing with child abuse and violence complaints.”

    Other events for the commemoration include training of Divisional Police Officers (DPO), which will hold on Friday, and will be facilitated by experts on the field on how to make use of the relevant laws and assist in improving capacity, as well as a visit to Shelter and Transit homes to interact with survivors.

    The training of the DPOs will be focused on increasing the level of awareness among users of the Prevention Against Domestic Violence Law, 2007, the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL), as well as the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    It will also seek to prepare users of the relevant laws for the full implementation of the Laws by the Lagos State Judiciary and Ministry of Justice, while assistance will also be provided in improving the capacity of users of the Laws to implement the Law.

    Resource persons at the workshop are Mr. Akingbolahan Adeniran, Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Rule of Law, Professor Ayo Atsenuwa, Professor of Law, University of Lagos and Dr. Princess Oluyede.

    They will focus on topics such as, Process of obtaining Protection Orders under the Prevention Against Domestic Violence Law and Corroboration and Best practices for investigating Sexual and Gender Based Violence Cases.

    The commemoration of the International Domestic Violence Awareness Month will be rounded off with a Dinner/Endorsement to be hosted by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, with members of the DSVRT and relevant stakeholders including traditional rulers, Judges of the Family Court, the Police, the media and market women in attendance.

    Stakeholders that have distinguished themselves in the fight against Domestic Violence will also be recognised.

     

  • Electricity: NBA seeks abolition of fixed charge

    Electricity: NBA seeks abolition of fixed charge

    The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called for the abolition of fixed charge being paid by electricity consumers in the country, saying that it is unjustifiable and illegal.

    It recommended that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (NERC’s) policy on maintenance fees charged on meters amount to oppressive multiple taxation and should be discontinued forthwith.

    The association also called for the abolition of oil subsidy policy in view of the corruption in the process and suggested transparent harnessing and deployment of the nation’s resources.

    NBA, which justified the law prohibiting same-sex marriage, said the law on prohibition of the practice “does not amount to a violation of any individual’s fundamental human rights.”

    On the position of the law on the role of First Ladies, the association noted that although wives of the President and governors could contribute to national development, “there being no constitutional recognition of that office, the first lady is to complement the duties of the President and not embark on any parallel programme already captured within various ministries.

    “Projects of the First Lady should be funded from the private sector and not from public funds.”

    These formed part of recommendations contained in a communique issued yesterday in Abuja at the end of the NBA’s 55 annual conference. The NBA President, Augustine Alegeh (SAN) read the communique.

    The NBA said it would partner with government in the fight against corruption, being critical to national development, and shall work assiduously towards achieving a positive attitude against corruption within the Bench and the Bar.

    “Also critical to national development is the removal of fuel subsidy as it is one of the aggravating factors in corruption in that sector apart from the potential for national development thus afforded if funds thus freed up are duly harnessed,” it said.

    The association called for prompt passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) in view of its critical importance for the nation’s development and noted that there was need for major review to include the removal of clauses which tend to delimit the rights of the access to the courts by citizens who are negatively affected by petroleum operations, reduce the wide and overriding powers of the minister.

    “Oil Companies causing environmental degradation shall in addition to fines imposed by government pay a fair, full and adequate compensation to any persons aggrieved as determined by a Judge sitting in the jurisdiction of injury whether state or federal, provided that the sum payable shall be as determined by an advisory ad hoc multi-disciplinary college of referees appointed by the Judge comprising toxicologists, surveyors and valuers whose fees shall be charged to the polluter,” it said.

  • …as gov’s wife seeks good working relationship with journalists

    Wife of Kebbi State Governor Hajiya Aishat  Atiku Bagudu has appealed to working journalists in the state to support her husband’s administration in the state.

    Mrs Bagudu made this appeal last week in an interactive session organised for the working journalists in the state describing the importance of information dissemination in the society as a very important aspect mostly in making peace and ensuring unity among the people and the government.

    The meeting which was held at the Banquet Hall of the Government House in Birnin Kebbi  was aimed at  increasing good relationship between the journalists and her husband’s administration.

    Hajia  Aishat  Bagudu who founded what is known as Mass Literacy for the Less Privileged and Almajiri Initiatives(MALPAI) said that she is also seeking the support of the media to advocate the issue of child abuse and the cases of rape in the society adding that it is the responsibility of the media houses especially the electronic media to fight the menace in order for them to know the danger inherent in the act.

    “I’m worried about the cases of rape now; please you people should help the society in passing across the information and looming danger in it. Parents should  caution their daughters,” she said.

    She said that arrangements had been concluded through her NGO to establish maternal and Child Mortality Insurance scheme which would be established across the 21 local government

    She said further that the insurance would cover pregnant women and  children under five years as they would have free medical treatment.

    She explained that 1000 women would benefit from the scheme in the state,adding that the scheme would last for one year based on batch by batch.

  • NERC seeks to discharge order on new electricity tariff

    NERC seeks to discharge order on new electricity tariff

    The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) yesterday prayed the Federal High Court in Lagos to discharge an ex-parte order restraining it from implementing the new electricity tariff.

    The new billing rate for power consumption was to take effect from June 1 but was stopped by the court.

    Justice Mohammed Idris made the order following an ex-parte application by a Lagos-based lawyer, Mr Toluwani Adebiyi.

    The judge had restrained NERC and the electricity distribution companies from effecting any increment in electricity tariff pending the hearing and determination of the suit.

    The commission’s counsel, Mr Tonbofa Ashimi, told the court yesterday that he filed an application to discharge the order.

    He said he also filed a preliminary objection challenging the suit.

    Adebiyi said he needs time to respond to the said application on points of law.

    The court had, on June 15, renewed the order so as to preserve the subject matter of the suit.

    The plaintiff had said: “My Lord, everybody is affected. Even this court is running on generator. There is a need to stop them from increasing the electricity tariff because Nigerians can’t afford such and there is no justification for such increment.”

    Adebiyi is seeking an order restraining the NERC from implementing any upward review of electricity tariff without a meaningful and significant improvement in power supply at least for 18 hours in a day in most communities in Nigeria.

    He also wants an order restraining the NERC from foisting compulsory service charge on pre-paid meters not until “the meters are designed to read charges per second of consumption and not a flat rate of service not rendered or power not used.”

    He also wants the service charge on pre-paid meters not to be enforced until there is visible efficient and reliable power supply like those of foreign countries where the idea of service charge was borrowed.

    Adebiyi is further asking for an order of court mandating the NERC to do the needful and generate more power to meet the electricity use of Nigerians, adding that the needful should include and not limited to a multiple long-term financing approach, sourced from the banks, capital market, insurance and other sectors of finance to power the sector.

    The lawyer is also praying the court to mandate the NERC to make available to all Nigerians within a reasonable time of maximum of two years, pre-paid meters as a way to stop the throat-cutting indiscriminate estimated bill and which must be devoid of the arbitrary service charge, but only chargeable on power consumed.

    In an affidavit in support of the suit personally deposed to by the applicant, the lawyer lamented that despite the motto and mission of NERC which were expressly stated as “keeping the light on and to meet the needs of Nigeria for safe, adequate, reliable and affordable electricity,” most communities in Nigeria do not get more than 30 minutes of electricity supply, while the remaining 23 hours and 30 minutes were always without light and in total darkness.

    Justice Idris adjourned till July 21 for hearing of all pending applications.

  • Lawmaker seeks women participation in politics

    Lawmaker seeks women participation in politics

    A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Funmi Tejuoso, said has enjoined Nigerians to give women the opportunities to occupy positions of responsibility. The former Deputy Speaker said the task of preparing the girl-child for the responsibilities ahead is for families to encourage their female children to believe in themselves.

    Tejuoso, who spoke during an interactive session in Lagos for women lawmakers organised by the Lagos State Gender Advocacy Team (LASGAT), said the first step is to arm the girl-child with sound education.

    She said the number of women occupying positions of authorities is not commensurate with the proportion of women in the society and their capacity. She said: “In the House of Representatives, there are not enough women; in the Senate, the situation is the same. We are not really saying that we should be given a chance to occupy elective positions because we are women. No! We are saying; give those positions because we are just as qualified as our men folk and we can do the work.

    Tejuoso noted that the girl-child has the right to go to school and excel in their different fields of endeavour, adding that they must not be seen as people who are meant to stay in the kitchen. She added: “We are not saying that our female children should not learn how to cook, clean and stuff like that. No, a woman can handle all these tasks and at the same time, take up responsible roles in society; women are used to multi-tasking, they are the ones that are pregnant and still go to work, they are the ones that take care of their children and still go to work.”

    The Southwest Regional Officer of the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID), Margaret Fagboyo, said it is sad that there are only four female legislators in the Eighth Lagos State House of Assembly.

    Fagboyo said women make up 49 per cent of the population in the country, which is almost half. She added: “If half of your body is not functioning well, that is paralysis. If women are not involved in taking decisions on issues that affect the society, then, we cannot have a better society. It is the United States’ President Barack Obama that said that, if you want to evaluate the level of a society, go and check how they treat women. Go and check, all the countries where the human capital index is high are treating their women well.”

    Fagboyo enjoined the four female members of the House of Assembly to be more active, by championing issues that would fast track the achievement of the MDGs targets.

    Fagboyo said gender is one of the millennium development goals (MDGs). “There was a time in Nigeria that women could not vote; now we can vote and be voted for. She said gender issues are all about rights and the need to exercise such rights,” she noted.

    The Regional Officer said the next course of action is for the DFID to put the machinery in motion to encourage women to go into politics.

    A civil society activist, Mrs. Olabisi Oghogho, said women legislators should mentor other aspiring female politicians. She bemoaned the gap between the people and their representatives. Oghogho is the State Programme Officer of State Accountability and Voice Initiative (SAVI).

    The four legislators were on hand to interact with civil society activists. Aside from Tejuoso, the others are: Hon. Omotayo Oduntan, Alimosho II, Hon. Mojisola Lawal, Apapa I and Hon. Mosunmola Sangodara-Rotimi, Surulere II.

  • Yoruba Unity Forum seeks support for Buhari, Osinbajo

    A Yoruba group, Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF), has appealed for an unflinching support and co-operation for President Muhammadu  Buhari and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo administration.

    At a meeting held at its secretariat,  Efunyela Hall, Ikenne Ogun State, the group resolved to host the Vice President, Prof. Oluyemi Osinbajo to a very grand reception at Ikenne, Ogun State, his home town.

    YUF also appealed to APC, and the national assembly leadership, to urgently arrest the ongoing feud and to be very magnanimous to resolve it soonest, so that it does not blow beyond proportion, at the expense of the nation’s peace and stability.

    T he meeting also heartily congratulated the Patron of the Forum, Lt. General Oladipo Diya (rtd), on the full restoration on his ranks as the former Chief of General Staff, gazetted recently by the Federal Government.

    Yoruba Unity Forum is a non-Political Socio-Cultural Group, which is the Umbrella of all the entire Groups, Societies and other affiliates in the entire Yoruba Race.