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Tag: SON

  • $2.1bn arms deals: N1.5bn traced to ex-minister’s son

    $2.1bn arms deals: N1.5bn traced to ex-minister’s son

    Dasuki’s ex-aide loses embassy job 

    A bureau de change operator has told the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)   that N1.5billion was paid into his account for the son of a former Minister of Finance.

    Salisu Umaru said he did not know what the minister’s son used the cash for. The former minister and his son were not named “so as not to jeopardise the investigation”. The cash is believed to be part of the $2.1 billion “phoney” arms deals funds.

    Also at the weekend, it was learnt that the army has replaced one of its officers under probe for the phoney arms deals, Col. Nicholas Ashinze, with Col. M.A. Abdullahi as the nation’s military attaché to Germany.

    Col. Ashinze is to refund N7.3million, which was paid to him as estacode and air fares.

    Salisu, who  gave the EFCC details of how the N1.5billion was wired into his company’s account, said he never knew what the cash from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) was meant for.

    He said : “I was invited by EFCC and when I reported, I was shown my company’s account statement with Zenith Bank called Jabama Ada Global Nigeria Limited in which there was an inflow of N500million on 5/2/2015 and N1billion on 16/4/2015 into the account from the Office of the National Security Adviser.

    “On the inflow of N500million into my company’s account  on 5/2/2015, I wish to state as follows : That on the same date(5/2/2015), I paid the equivalent of US$2,380,952 to the son of the minister, being the equivalent of the said N500million at the rate of N210 per dollar.

    “I do not know what he used the money for. My own business is to buy and sell dollars. It  is only the minister’s son that can explain what the money was meant for. The minister’s son signed and collected the said N500million.

    “On the N1billion inflow into my company’s account on 16/4/2015, I wish to say the money was disbursed as follows: $1,000,000, being the equivalent of N220million; and $327,000 (equivalent of N72,600,000) were paid cash to the son of the minister while the sum of N704,400,000 was transferred to various accounts based on the instruction of the minister’s son. He gave some of the instructions through text messages. Some of the instructions were also received from the father.

    “I also want to state that I do not know what the N1billion was meant for and what it was used for.”

    Col. M.A. Abdullahi’s initial nomination for the job was turned  down by a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah.

    Gen. Minimah was said to have favoured Col. Ashinze because he speaks German fluently.

    Col. Ashinze had been ordered by the army to refund N7.3million, including an estacode of N6million and N1.3milion air fares.

    But the embattled former military aide to Col. Dasuki asked the army to prevail on the EFCC to lift the restriction on his account to be able to refund the cash.

    A top source said: “Ashinze has been replaced with Col. M.A. Abdullahi as Defence Attaché to Germany because the EFCC is yet to conclude investigation of some military officers.

    “In fact, Ashinze was replaced as soon a he was shortlisted for interrogation and before the EFCC began his drilling.

    “While in EFCC’s custody, the military police brought the letter asking him to refund the N7.3million allowances. He said the army should lift the ban placed on his account to effect refund of the money.”

  • Retired police officer’s son needs N6m for kidney transplant

    Retired police officer’s son needs N6m for kidney transplant

    Ishola Taofeeq, 18, is writhing in pains from a kidney disease. He was first diagnosed of it in August 2014. He is  on twice weekly haemodialysis at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH). To stay alive, doctors said he would need N6 million for kidney transplant.

    In his medical report from UITH  signed by Dr Ibiyemi M. Ibiyemi, the hospital said: “The above-named patient is being managed for kidney disease. He was diagnosed in August 2014 and will require an urgent kidney transplantation which will cost him about N6 million only.’’

    The son of a retired police officer is, therefore, appealing to public-spirited individuals and philanthropic organisations to come to his rescue.

    He said donations could be channelled through these account numbers: 3060318294

    Name: Ishola Alade, Firstbank, 0020742966; or Abdulkareem A Imama:Access Bank.

    The parent can be reached via this number: 08132150428.

    The report added: “He is on twice weekly haemodialysis. He has requested that a letter be written for him to source for fund for his care. We recommend him for your kind financial assistance.”

    Also, in a Save our Soul (SOS) letter to the state government, Taofeeq’s father and mother, Yunus Ishola and Ajarat urged Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed to save the life of their son.

    The letter reads: “We write to request for your financial assistance towards saving the life of our son. He has been diagnosed of kidney disease and requires urgent kidney transplantation. We cannot raise the said amount and we desire to save the life of our son.

    “We have sourced for fund from various means ranging from the sale of our property to begging for alms in the mosques, markets and other public places not minding the psychological trauma involved to no avail.

    “We are now compelled to approach your office as the last hope. As a God-fearing leader and defender of humanity, we appeal to you to come to our aid financially to enable us carry out the operation so that the life of our son shall not be wasted.

    “We hope you will consider our request with dispatch as you have done to others in the past.”

    Taofeeq, who resides with his parents in Kankatu area of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital is also urging members of the public to bail him out of health challenge by donating generously to effect his kidney transplantation.

    He added that so far, he had done more than 11 haemodialyses without getting over the predicament.

    He added: “I am using this medium to appeal to the general public to help out of this ailment by assisting me financially for the operation to be carried out.’’

  • Autopsy conducted on Ocholi, wife, son as Nigerians mourn

    Autopsy conducted on Ocholi, wife, son as Nigerians mourn

    •Buhari’s wife, others pay  tributes

    Tears were still flowing yesterday for Minister of State (Labour and Employment) James Ocholi, who died on Sunday along with his wife and son in an accident on the Kaduna-Abuja highway.

    The National Hospital in Abuja has conducted an autopsy on the bodies. One of the survivors of the crash has been declared stable in hospital.

    The driver, the orderly, the chief detail and the minister’s personal assistant were injured in the crash.

    Ocholi’s son, Joshua, a Youth Corps member who graduated from Salem University in Abuja, also died in the crash. This is contrary to the information that it was Aaron who died. Aaron was, in fact, one of those receiving visitors at the Ocholis’ home yesterday.

    Among the visitors were the President’s wife Mrs Aisha Buhari and the Vice President’s wife, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo.

    Governors, ministers, top lawyers, government officials and friends of the late minister were at the residence.

    National Hospital spokesman Dr. Tayo Haaastrup said:  ”We have done postmortem on the bodies. We have remained proactive in attending to the survivors. One of those who survived is stable and we are still keeping him around. Some of the survivors are in Kaduna and we are expecting them here today.”

    Tomorrow, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) will hold a valedictory session for the late minister, Presidential spokesman Femi Adesina said yesterday.

    All roads around the Dagash M. Street residence were taken over by heavy vehicular traffic as dignitaries trooped to the place.

    Reporters were barred from the living room of the Ocholis as Mrs Buhari visited. She was received by a member of the family, Paul Audu and Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige.

    Hajia Buhari simply wrote in the condolence register: “It is a terrible shock to us, we pray for the soul of the departed to rest in peace. May the Almighty God condole the family.” Mrs Osinbajo wrote: “May their souls rest in perfect peace.”

    A course mate of the late minister at the Nigeria Law School, Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), recalled with nostalgia, their relationship.  ”I have known James Ocholi since 1985. We were called to the Bar the same day. I took the seat before him, but James was very consistent.

    “He was a man of principle and a Christian to the core who practised what he preached and he was a gentleman. I knew James to be very consistent, hardworking, diligent on the job and a man of integrity.

    “I was in Ibadan when the news came yesterday. The news was so devastating that I could not believe it because he was a pillar of our class. He belonged to that famous Class ‘86 of the Nigeria Law School and those of us who are colleagues know the Class ‘86. They call us all sorts of names but that is the class to be.

    “When James believed in a cause, he will fight it to the last. He was a man of principle and we are going to miss him. My last discussion with him was on Wednesday.

    “There is a matter we are handling for members of the House of Representatives over defection and I was leading him and some other SANs and he suggested that since we have now come to power, we should withdraw the matter. He sent somebody to me and the matter is to come up on Thursday and I promised him that I was going to send somebody to the Court of Appeal here in Abuja”.

    Minister of Youth and Sport Solomon Dalung wrote: “My brother, you left me without a word. What a surprise. Death, you are a great thief. You will always leave sorrows. Rest in peace.”

    Dalung recalled that the last Federal Executive Council meeting held about two weeks ago, was when they last met.

    Others, who were at the late Minister’s residence include Inspector General of Police Solomon Arase, FCT Minister Muhammad Bello, a delegation of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, former Deputy Governor of Plateau state, Pauline Tallen, Deputy National Chairman, (North) of the APC, Senator Lawal Shuaibu, among others.

    The Ministry of Labour and Employment declared yesterday a day of mourning.

    The. Minister said: “We have lost a legal luminary and community mobilizer with exceptional and visionary leadership skills, who has brought his wealth of experience to bear in discharge of his responsibilities as the Honourable Minister of State in the ministry as evident in the complementary role he played in the on-going efforts at resolving industrial crisis in the Oil and Gas including the Health Sectors.

    Ngige said Ocholi left the labour sector at a time when the nation greatly needed his deep experience as an arbitrator and international negotiator, while the vacuum created by his demise will remain difficult to fill

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has sent a message of condolence to President Muhammadu Buhari, the governor of a Kogi state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello and the family of the late Ocholi over the death of the Minister.

    President of the Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said in separate condolence letters that the death of the Minister is a great loss to all Nigerians.

    The letter to the President reads: “On behalf of the Nigeria Labour Congress, I wish to condole you on the tragic death of the Honourable Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr. James Ocholi (SAN) and members of his family.

    “In the brief moment we have worked together, I found Mr Ocholi earthy, humble, lively and knowledgeable. I had no doubt in my mind he was an asset in government-labour relations and certainly, he was going to play a more critical role in the future. His death is therefore a big loss to all of us.

    “Mr. Ocholi was a civil, decent and humble man; a legal luminary; and an illustrious son of Kogi State, who brought to bear on his job, clinical efficiency and humanity. He was a trusted ally of Labour

    “It is a shame, death has robbed us of this irreplaceable and priceless gem.”

  • Minister, wife, son die as SUV somersaults

    Minister, wife, son die as SUV somersaults

    Driver, Chief Detail, orderly, PA injured

    Buhari, APC, Atiku, others mourn

    Minister of State for Labour and Employment James Ocholi (SAN) died yesterday in an accident on the Kaduna-Abuja road. He was 55.

    The accident in which Ocholi’s wife, Blessing and son, Aaron also died, occurred at Rijana, Kilometre 57 on the highway.

    Ocholi and his wife were married for 27 years.

    Kaduna State sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Mr. Francis Udoma said: “The minister and his son died on the spot; the wife died in the government hospital in Doka, Kaduna State.

    “The driver, the chief detail, the orderly and the P.A (Personal Assistant ) were injured.”

    Kaduna Police spokesman Zubairu Abubakar confirmed the accident, which he said occurred because the Lexus Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) the family was travelling in lost a tyre while on speed.

    A source said the Minister was on his way back to Abuja after attending a thanksgiving church service in Kaduna.

    Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Kaduna Sector Command ACM Victor Nwokolo told The Nation on telephone that three persons were confirmed dead.

    He said the accident occurred when the tyre of the Lexus SUV they were traveling in got bust, causing the vehicle to somersault.

    He said bodies of the dead and those injured were taken to the National Hospital.

    He said: “There is an accident involving the minister’s convoy. Our men are on ground at the scene of the accident, but I am not the one to disclose what has happened now since he is a serving minister.

    “It happened at Doka village and I am not on ground there. We have a unit at Kateri and the ambulance is there. I am talking with them on telephone.”

    Residents of Kogi State, where the late minister hailed from, were yesterday thrown into shock.

    The eminent lawyer, who hailed from Ogbabede/Abocho in Dekina Local Government Area, was one of President Mohammadu Buhari’s nominees.

    Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello was shocked by the minister’s death.

    Bello described the late Ocholi as a pragmatic, dynamic, humane and brilliant law officer, who was known around the world for his dexterous approach to legal and political issues and  one of the most unwavering constitutional lawyers Nigeria has ever produced.

    The governor recollected how the late Senior Advocate of Nigeria joined other progressive-minded individuals around the country to drive the intellectual pillars of the All Progressives Congress (APC), just as he described the late Ocholi as a complete gentleman who was irrevocably committed to the advancement of Nigeria.

    He described his death as an irreparable loss to Kogi State, Nigeria, the APC and the legal profession, praying for the repose of the soul of the departed.

    The APC Kogi State chapter, described Ocholi’s death as a great loss.

    Treasurer Ismail Yahaya Adesayo described the death “very unfortunate”.

    He remembered the late Ocholi as a fine leader who meant well for state and Nigeria.

    He lamented that Ocholi died when his service was most needed in the state, praying to God to grant him eternal rest and give his family the fortitude to bear the loss.

    He prayed to God not to take away the state’s leaders again, adding that the party is mourning.

    Ocholi was the defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) governorship candidate during the December 2011 governorship election in Kogi State.

     

  • ‘SON’s food testing lab’ll boost agro export’

    Standards Organisation of Nigeria’s  (SON’s) laboratory  would  provide answers to  Nigeria’s agro produce being rejected by the European Union (EU)  due to  poor quality, the Acting Director- General, Dr. Paul Angya, has said.

    Angya, who stated this  during a visit by ministry officials to assess the lab being built by the agency in Lagos, said Nigeria has lost so much from non-agriculture exports as a result of misclassification of  products, such as yam, beans, tomatoes, mangoes, and soya beans.

    He regretted that the nation has not enjoyed its abundant agricultural resources in the export business because of the continuous rejection of its agricultural products.

    He said: “People take our yams and other agricultural products across the world because they are in high demand but, unfortunately, the money don’t come to us because we have not been able to come up with a standard food and electrical  laboratory to bring the standard of  our product to international standards. Henceforth, the laboratory will test all agricultural produce before they hit the international market including all electronics coming into the country. We will no longer accept a situation where Nigeria is made a dumping ground to all manner of sub standard products”.

    Angya said the laboratory would support  the  diversification of the economy.

    Earlier, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade, Commerce and Industry, Mr. Aminu Aliyu Bisalla, said his team was in Lagos to appraise the extent of work done in the laboratory for its take-off.

    He maintained that in line with the Federal Government’s policy on diversification of the economy, the laboratory remains a key driver of the growth of the economy.

    Bisalla commended the Nigeria Export  promotion Council (NEPC) on the efforts it has made to showcase  agricultural products.

    ‘’Henceforth our nation will enjoy the benefits of the blessings of our natural endowment; it’s in interest of the nation to support the efforts of SON to drive the non oil economy of the country,’’ he said.

  • SON  targets 80% reduction in sub-standard products

    SON  targets 80% reduction in sub-standard products

    The Acting Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr Paul Angya said the goal of the agency is to reduce the influx of sub-standard and fake products into the country by 80 per cent before the end of this year.

    He said this will go a long way in increasing the capacity for local production that will fully help in the diversification of the country’s economy. He said the target is possible if the International Accredited Firms (IAFs) can continue to do their job of stopping the influx of sub-standard products into the country.

    Speaking with reporters in Lagos during a meeting with IAFs, he urged  them to brace for the challenges, stressing that “they either shape up or ship out.”

    Angya said:  “If we can stop the influx of sub-standard products into Nigeria, we will increase the local production of goods as we are taking the war to the countries bringing in the bad products to stop them from coming here. This is also why we decided to meet with the IAFs, to let them know that despite the recent change in leadership, the objective is still the same as the SONCAP  programme is key to us and we intend to strengthen it.

    “SONCAP is pivotal to SON’s mandate to rid the nation of sub-standard products. It is visible and it is an ongoing reform and if SON wants to succeed in ridding the nation of fake products, then the programme must be kept  close to our hearts .That is why it is one of the first things I am doing and why we are meeting the IAFs.”

    He said to achieve the goal, operational meetings will  now be quarterly as  the mandate is  to provide safe and valuable products to Nigerians. He posited that there are no problems with made-in-Nigeria goods because production is subject to SON’s review arguing that the problem is  with goods imported into the country.

  • Father ‘sells’ son for N250,000

    Father ‘sells’ son for N250,000

    A Liberian, Daniel Barnney, is being held by the police for allegedly selling his nine-month-old son Emmanuel to a 43-year-old woman, Ekah Richard, for N250,000.

    Barnney, one Pastor Samuel Osavitu and a worker at an orphanage, Alhaji Sunkanmi Adamu, are being quizzed at Festac Police Station over the matter.

    Barnney’s Nigerian wife Ijeoma Ndoku raised the alarm over his plan to sell their son and flee to Ghana last month.

    The police arrested Barnney at Mile 2 on February 12 and recovered the baby from Richard.

    Ndoku said she and Barnney have been quarrelling because she did not allow him to take the baby to his aunt, who she never saw.

    She debunked Barnney’s claims of abandoning the child, accusing him of fleeing with the boy on their way to buy groceries.

    “It’s a lie! I didn’t abandon my baby. He said he wanted to hand the baby over to his aunt. I said it was okay since his aunt was now in Nigeria. I said it will give me opportunity to look for a job and support the family because he has not been taking care of us.

    “For over three months, he has been saying he does not have money to take care of me and my baby but he usually had money to buy drinks and cigarettes. He could not even bring out N150 for me to buy pampers for our baby. Even when I wanted to take the baby to the hospital, I usually went and borrowed money; other times, our neighbours will give me money to cater for the baby.

    “He used to get drunk and vomit. When I complained, he would bring out iron rod and hit it on my head. I fell down once, tried to go and open the door, but he dragged me back.

    “I didn’t know his plan was to sell our baby. I said I wanted to see his aunt. He said if the aunt knows that I am around, she wouldn’t collect the baby. He asked me if I wanted the baby to die, I said no”, she said.

    Ndoku said she learnt of Barnney’s plan to sell their son from his boss.

    “She (the boss) told me that Daniel was planning to sell my son for N150,000. She said that Daniel said after selling the baby, he would leave for Ghana. I didn’t believe her.

    “The woman said I should come back around 4pm, so that I would hear the story from some of her assistants. I told Daniel’s friend. He doubted the story too, so he followed me.

    “It was in his presence that the woman told us everything. She said she became curious and concerned after she noticed Daniel was always with the baby. When she asked, Daniel told her that I abandoned the baby and ran away. She asked for my number, so that she could speak to me, but Daniel refused. That was when she knew Daniel was lying.

    “I told her that Daniel told me that the baby was with his aunt. She said that was part of the reason she withheld his salary,” Ndoku said.

    Ndoku said on January 29, Barnney called that he was coming to see his son, adding that when he came, their neighbours were happy and advised her to forgive him.

    To effect his plan to take away the baby, she said he tricked her that they were going to buy him things.

    She said when she alighted from the motorcycle (Okada) that they took to enter a store, Barnney disappeared with the baby.

    Barnney, 32, who admitted to have received N250,000 from Richard through Adamu, said the money was given to him to start a business.

    He denied selling the baby, claiming that his wife abandoned the child. He said since he could not cater for the boy alone, he took him to an orphanage.

    Richard, who claimed that she adopted the child, said she never knew the adoption process was illegal.  She said she was advised by the pastor to adopt a child so that God can open her womb.

    But Osavitu, who denied conspiring with others to steal the baby, said he was only trying to help Richard and safe the child’s life.

    He said: “I have known the orphanage guy for almost nine years. He’s a good man. He’s the manager at the orphanage. I used to go to the orphanage to preach there.”

  • SON and Aba tailor

    SIR: The global apparel market was valued at USD 1.7 trillion in 2012 and employs approximately 75 million people. What this means is that there is enough demand for clothing and apparel in the world which Nigeria can tap into for the employment of its millions of job-seekers and as well earn huge foreign exchange to fund further development. This is necessary especially now that the price of oil which is our major source of foreign exchange is wobbling in the international market. This is a fact which I expect that the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) should bear in mind. The agency seeks to enthrone Made-in- Nigeria-for-the-World (MINFOW) concept in the mindset of Nigerians and this is very gladdening.

    Nigeria is embarking on massive diversification of her economy as a response to dwindling oil revenue but for this objective to be achieved; her exports must be accepted in the international market. What this means is that goods expected from this country must comply with international standards. This is where SON should be assisted on its current effort to rid country of substandard products.

    One group SON should work with to achieve the goals of MINFOW is the apparel industry in Aba (Aba Tailors), Abia State.  Thousands of Nigerians in Aba are making a meaningful living through clothing. Now, we hear that many tailors of Aba extraction already based in Lagos and other Nigerian cities are now exporting clothing to Ghana, America, Europe, India and China.

    To encourage the Aba tailor’s march to global renown and wealth, Abia State, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, has moved to gather the widely dispersed tailoring shops in Aba into a cluster located at Umukalika, at the outskirts of Aba. The idea is to engender more sharing of ideas and innovation among the local creators of fashionable clothes.

    SON’s part in the arrangement is facilitative. SON is to ensure that the apparels from Aba and other parts of the country meet international standards in order to guarantee their access to the international market. SON will do well to help in monitoring compliance through certification aided by metrology, testing laboratories and factory inspection. SON and the Bank of Industry can jointly come up with incentives and facilities that will improve the quality of the works of the Aba tailor. Nigerian music is now the delight of the world and the sound of a continent because some musicians upgraded their skills. If international standards for tailoring exist, they should be propagated for the benefit of the local garment producer. Certainly, the Aba man of the cloth sewing machine will benefit from any relevant facilities the national standards body may bring.

    SON should encourage the world-conquering possibilities of the Aba apparel makers and Governor Okezie Okpeazu’s demonstrated support for the industry. This will consolidate the MINFOW that is happening and strengthen another Nigerian industry to feed the nation even better than petroleum.

    • Dr Mezi Onungwa,

    Aba, Abia State.

  • How my son changed my fortunes, by Rivers widow

    How my son changed my fortunes, by Rivers widow

    •Firm presents brand new car to nanny

    Lady Gladys Ogboma could not believe her fortune. Just like that, she was declared the winner of a brand-new Hyundai Accent car in the Mamador oil “cook and cruise promo, organised PZ Welma Nigeria Limited.

    Ogboma and her family members were overwhelmed with joy after she received the keys to the car in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

    It was the maiden edition of the Mamador premium cooking oil promo.

    PZ Welma gave out thousands of gift items ranging from freebies, monetary cash awards, credit cards, and the grand prize- three brand-new Hyundai Accent cars to say thank you to their customers.

    The promo produced three millionaires, over 300 cash award winners, over 1000 free credit (airtime) winners, as well as three proud owners of new cars in three draws.

    Mrs. Ogboma, a widow, former caterer, and a nanny in Port Harcourt, told the Niger Delta Report how she entered the competition: “The jar of Mamador oil that won me this car was given to me by a woman who I take care of her baby as a nanny and my little son entered the competition against my wish.

    “Mamador oil 3.8 litres was one of the numerous gifts she gave to me during the last year’s Christmas celebration.

    “When I brought the gifts to the house, my 12–year-old son came in and said, this Mamador oil people are on promo and I want you to win this car for my birthday; bring your phone, let me text this code to them, and I shouted at him and said, ‘don’t use my phone to text anything to anywhere. I warned you not to touch my phone. Please don’t touch my phone’.

    “He said, ‘mummy this car is for you, don’t you like driving a brand- new car?’ I still warned him not to use my phone to do that.

    “Little did I know that when he noticed my attention had been distracted, my son sneaked into the toilet with my phone and the jar of oil, scratched what I don’t know on the body of the jar and forwarded something to a certain code I do not know and came out, yet I didn’t know he sent the text despite my warning.

    “The following day, I was surprised to receive a text message from Mamador, acknowledging receipt of my entry; that was when it done on me that the boy sent the text to them.

    “On January 26, this year, I got a call from Mamador asking If I was the owner of a phone number they called and I said ‘yes’, and they said, ‘you’ve just won one of our grand prize in the Mamador Cook and Criuse promo, a Hyundai Accent car’. I was surprised, I shouted, ‘poverty N-t- o -o -o –o- o- o!, poverty n-t-o-o-o-o-o-o!!’.

    “I normally don’t believe that all these promo are real, but Mamador has proven that theirs is real. Whether others by other companies are real or not, I can now vouch for Mamador anytime any day that they are real. When they promise, they deliver.”

    She added: “I am a nanny, but I am a professional caterer but because of a health challenge, I have to suspend cooking and picked up the nanny job for now.

    “I took up the job of taking care of my pastor’s miracle baby and I do the job as if it is my last job on earth, and my pastor and his wife spare nothing in loving and caring for me.”

    On her impression on Mamador oil, the joyous winner said:  “Apart from the award given to me by PZ, the makers of Mamador oil, Mamador oil is my oil. I have been using it since I noticed and tried it. I discovered that it does not generate smoke or choke while using it to fry and it is very calm.

    “I encourage other women and families to continue to use Mamador vegetable oil for their family’s delight.

    “The makers of Mamador have lightened my life. They have raised my status in the society. They have made me a proud woman. Before now I used to think that I am Mrs. Nobody, more so being a widow, but today, I have recovered my dignity and pride by this promotion.”

    Sharing in the joy of her mate, Lolo Nkechi Uche-Morgan, corroborated the winner’s story, describing the 12 year-old winner’s son as restless but highly brilliant chap.

    According to her, apart from his optimism that the mother will win the

    “It is still like a dream to me. I can’t still believe that this kind of a thing can be real in Nigeria, Mamador is indeed too much.”

    Speaking before the handover of the keys to the winner, the General Manager (GM), marketing of the company, Mrs. Bukola  Bandele, said the reason for instituting the competition was to identify with women to prove the authenticity of Mamador brand of vegetable oil.

    “We believe that a brand that is in the market must identify with Nigerian women if the brand is really authentic and is what is good for the children, and the family.

    “The brand we are talking about (Mamador oil) is unique for the health benefit that it delivers and all the support we have been receiving from these women in the last two years.”

    Other winners emerged from Lagos, Akure, Port Harcourt, Abuja and others.

  • Son, 25, kills dad in Akwa Ibom

    Son, 25, kills dad in Akwa Ibom

    A 25-year-old  man, Mfreke Aniefiok Archibong, was yesterday paraded by the Akwa Ibom State Police Command for allegedly killing his father.

    Archibong told reporters in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, that the accident leading to the death of his father, Aniefiok, took place on Monday at Ikot Udo Nkan, Ibesikpo/Asutan Local Government.

    Mfreke is the third child in a family of seven children, six boys and a girl.

    He said on Monday when he got home he met his father quarrelling with his mother.

    The suspect said he intervened, but his father tried to hit him with a bottle.

    Mfreke said, in annoyance, “I grabbed a firewood and hit my father on the right hand and he fell’’.

    Mfreke said he left the house, only to come back to learn that his father was dead.

    He said he regrets what happened, describing it as an accident, and pleaded with the government not to kill him.

    Police spokesperson Cordelia Nwawe said the command would not tolerate any form of crime in the state.

    She said the suspect would be charged to court when investigation is concluded.