The Nation Newspaper

Tag: SON

  • ‘Policemen killed our son’

    ‘Policemen killed our son’

    The family of Ikechukwu Vincent Uwagbaokwu, a polytechnic student killed in Umuahia, Abia State on September 10, has accused policemen from the state command of the murder.

    The Uwagbaokwus have also petitioned the state Commissioner of Police Joshak Habila over the killing.

    The police denied the accusation.

    The family of the slain student, in their petition through their counsel Dr. Godwin Chionye, accused the police of the gruesome murder of the 21-year-old Imo State Polytechnic student.

    The petition read in part: “On the 10th of September, 2015, Mr Ikechukwu Vincent Uwagbaokwu, a Marketing student of Imo Polytechnic went to bed at about 9:00pm but at about 10:50pm there were persistent banging on the door of the family house of the Uwagbaokwus.

    “When Mr Anthony Uwagbaokwe [brother of deceased] came out to see who was banging on their door, he saw about ten fierce men in police uniform who had taken strategic positions in all the surroundings of the house.

    “One of the men in uniform who came with a Hilux pickup van and black Camry Saloon car, hit the door of one of the occupants [names withheld] and forced it open, and when the occupant came out, the men in police uniform, who refused to identify themselves, said that he is not the person that they are looking for.

    “The police went to the direction pointed to by the man they first met who allegedly directed them to the place they were looking for and the armed policemen forced the wooden door open and on sighting Ikechukwu Vincent Uwagbaokwu, one of the policemen shot him and he died immediately.

    “Our clients raised alarm but nobody came to their rescue. The matter was reported to Ehimiri Police Station in whose jurisdiction this area falls, but the police could not give any useful assistance as they denied sending policemen out on that day to effect any arrest.”

    The family’s lawyer said that after the incident his clients reported the matter to the Ehimiri Police Station where the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) gave them order to deposit the deceased at Madonna  Mortuary in Umuahia.

    In his reaction, the father of the deceased, Mr. Emmanuel Uwagbaokwu, a 54-year-old house builder, said, “I am not suspecting but those who killed my son were policemen from Ehimiri Police Station, Umuahia”.

    Uwagbaokwu who was crying, said, “Immediately I reported the matter to Ehimiri Police Station and the DPO there denied sending his men to duty to that area that night, he however ordered some police team to follow us to the scene of the incident. On the way, the team dodged us and they did not reach our house”.

    He called on the Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase to order for full investigation in order to unravel the killers of his son.

    “My son Ugochkwu, who was sleeping at the corridor allegedly heard when one our neighbours [names withheld] showed them Ikechukwu’s room”.

    Reacting to the allegation, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Ezekiel Onyeke in a telephone chat denied the involvement of the police in the killing of the student.

     

  • How DVC, son, four others died in road crash

    How DVC, son, four others died in road crash

    FATHER and son parted ways in Lagos on Sunday, with plans of reuniting in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, for the Eid-El-Kabir celebrations.

    But it turned out to be the last time that AbdulAzeez would see his father, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor-designate of Fountain University, Osogbo, Prof. Abdul Hakeem Mobolaji alive.

    The professor of Econometrics died in an accident on the Lagos-Ibadan Express way, with his 14-year-old son, Muhammad.

    He left for Ibadan after a meeting in Ijeshatedo, Lagos on Sunday.

    With him in his black Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) were his sons – the late Muhammad and Abdul-Hafiz – and a friend, Mr Abdul-Rasheed Attah, a lawyer.

    A passenger bus rammed into the late Mobolaji’s SUV after overtaking another vehicle on the narrow road. The road had been partitioned by the contractor working on it.

    [ad id=”403656″]The late Mobolaji, who drove, and Muhammad died on the spot. Attah and the late Mobolaji’s second son, AbdulHafiz were injured.

    Attah immediately called a relative and gave his phone to a woman to inform the person of the accident.

    Shortly after, he and Abdul Hafiz went into a coma.

    The Nation learnt that four persons, including the bus driver also died. Many passengers broke their legs.

    The late Mobolaji and his son were on Monday buried in Akinyele Local Government Area, Oyo State.

    Thousands of people attended the funeral.

    Abdul Azeez described his father as the bread winner of the family.

    He said: “Who will take care of us now that he is late? I was expecting to link up with him at Fountain University today (Monday). I was calling his phone on Sunday when I didn’t hear from him whether he has reached Ibadan where he was expected to pick other family members but he wasn’t picking his calls. I called him severally up to 30 times but no one is picking the call. I called the MD of Al Barakah Microfinance Bank to tell him that I have been calling my father but he was not picking his call that he should help me call him but later he came back with some people to announce his death that Allah has taken him back. I pray to Almighty Allah to grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss because he was the bread winner of the family and no one else.”

    The late Mobolaji was said to have delivered a lecture at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), on Saturday, and came to Lagos for a meeting. He hailed from Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, and joined Fountain University from the University of Ilorin, where he was a Senior Lecturer and Postgraduate Coordinator.

    Described as a respected teacher, the late Mobolaji was a consultant to the 7th National Assembly and several other institutions including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on economics matters.

  • UNIPORT’s new VC’s son abducted

    •Kidnappers use AK-47 rifles, machetes
    •No ransom demanded

    Ejira, the 25-year-old son of the new Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Prof. Ndowa Lale, has been kidnapped in Rivers State.

    His abductors were reportedly armed with AK-47 rifles and machetes.

    He was said to have been taken to an unknown destination.

    It was learnt that the abductors had not demanded for ransom at press time last night.

    The kidnap of the vice chancellor’s son came barely 48 hours after the release of Vanguard columnist, Donu Kogbara, who spent almost two weeks in her abductors’ hideout in the creeks.

    Kogbara, also an Ogoni like Ejira, was kidnapped on August 30 and released at 10pm on September 11.

    Ejira, a graduate of UNIPORT, lives in his father’s house in their hometown in Ebubu-Eleme-Ogoni, Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, where he runs his “small” fish farm.

    Eleme, near Port Harcourt, hosts two refineries, Indorama Petrochemical Company, several oil and gas servicing companies, corporate organisations and business establishments.

    The town is on the East-West Road, on the way to Akwa Ibom State, especially Eket, Ikot-Abasi and Uyo, the state capital.

    It was learnt that the VC’s son was kidnapped at 8pm on Monday, by some youths, who strolled into Lale’s compound, without coming with a car or motorcycle, indicating that they were from the neighbourhood.

    They were said to have taken away Ejira’s mobile phones, laptop and an undisclosed sum of money.

    The kidnappers also robbed Ejira’s younger brother, who visited him, of his mobile phone.

    It was learnt that when the hoodlums stormed the VC’s home, they first met a tenant, who they robbed of valuables and asked to lead them, at gunpoint, to Ejira’s apartment.

    The abductors were said to have cut Ejira all over the body with their machetes before pushing him out of the house.

    They reportedly took him to an unknown destination without treating his injuries.

    Prof Lale became UNIPORT’s VC two months ago and lives at his lodge on campus.

    He urged the kidnappers to release his “struggling” son unconditionally to enable him continue his normal life and contribution to the development of the community.

    The VC spoke through UNIPORT’s Deputy Registrar (Information), Dr. Williams Wodi, who is also a lecturer in the Department of Linguistics and Communication Studies.

    Prof lale said he was not a millionaire or a contractor, adding that he could not raise any ransom the kidnappers might demand.

    The vice chancellor urged security agencies to ensure quick release of his son.

    Police spokesperson Grace Iringe-Koko, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), who confirmed the incident, said no arrest had been made as at press time last night.

    She said the police were on the trail of the abductors.

  • Anambra traders back SON’s fight against fake products

    Traders in Onitsha, Anambra State, have supported the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON’s) fight against fake drugs. The traders described the protests and attacks against the agency as misleading and unwarranted.

    Speaking under the aegis of Anambra Traders Forum (ATF), they said allegations against SON in its war against sub-standard products were false and baseless, alleging that it was an attempt by few persons to malign the organisation’s reputation.

    Chairman of the forum, Chief Daniel Okeke, supported by other officers, noted that some people, led by Benjamin Uzochukwu Nwizu, organised a protest against SON for carting away pirated shaving sticks from Bendusco International Ltd’s warehouse. Nwizu is Bendusco’s Managing Director.

    Okeke firm on Nwizu to apologise to SON and the company he faked its product.

    He enjoined the security operatives to investigate Bendusco International Limited to ascertain the truth.

    His words: “He organised the protest and mobilised his workers to the street in the name of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Onitsha branch, which he is not even a member. “We want to state that SON was right to have raided his company and made some seizures because he was faking the product of another company.

    “He can’t tarnish SON’s integrity. We know what it takes to have a product registered. We challenge him to produce the product’s registration certificate.

    “The police should investigate him because he pirated somebody’s products and the protest is to bring down an Igbo man who has risen to the higher public service.”

     

     

  • SON confiscates substandard products worth N4b, says Odumodu

    SON confiscates substandard products worth N4b, says Odumodu

    The Director-General of Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr Joseph Odumodu, has said the agency has seized substandard products worth four billion naira since the beginning of the year.

    Odumodu said the prevalence of sub-standard goods had reduced from 85 to 40 per cent with the launch of the National Coalition on the Zero Tolerance Campaign.

    He said when he assumed office, he was confronted with an organisation lacking in capacity and a market that was saturated with fake and sub-standard goods.

    He commissioned a baseline study, which showed that the prevalence of sub-standard goods was as high as 85 per cent while the level of awareness about their hazards was almost zero per cent.

    Through a six-point agenda, including consumer protection and engagement, improving the competitiveness of local products, aggressive conformity assessment, global relevance and capacity building, improvements have been made.

    Following the amendment of the SON Act, the agency now has powers to arrest, prosecute and jail purveyors of fake and sub-standard products.

    SON, in a statement by its Director/Head of laboratory Services, Mr. Louis Njoku, said the six-point agenda was  designed to help industries build their quality assurance infrastructure while complying with SON’s zero tolerance against fake and sub-standard goods.

    “These and other measures stabilised the market and reduced the prevalence of sub-standard goods from an initial level of 85 to less than 40 per cent in less than three years, and raised the level of consumer awareness from almost 0 to as high as 65 per cent.

    “Now, the agency’s ‘operation flush’ promises to reduce the level of sub-standard products to one per cent by the end of 2015,” the statement said.

    Under Odumodu, SON has granted country-wide ISO certifications, the ISO 9000, to several firms and public institutions and has enumerated many more standards in the market, especially for local produce.

    SON is spearheading the formulation of a National Quality Policy and is also fast-tracking the establishment of National Quality Infrastructure.

    “In line with this objective, SON midwifed the inauguration of a committee on establishing a National Accreditation Body. This was done in May 2013 in Lagos. The agency secured international accreditation of its food technology test laboratories in Nigeria. The set objective of all these efforts is for Nigerian-made products to meet global competitiveness,” the agency said.

    It added that an aggressive enforcement regime has  curtailed the negative activities of importers and manufacturers of fake and sub-standard goods.

    The statement added: “SON offers free certification for SMEs in the country in order to prepare them for export and put an end to Nigerian goods being rejected in the international market.

    “Now, Nigeria’s local products would henceforth enjoy high patronage at the global market, following the recent accreditation by International Laboratory Accreditation Co-operation (ILAC)’s unprecedented testing and certification of SON food laboratories.”

    It said a new ultra-modern, world class laboratory facility is nearing completion in Ogba; Lagos, which was inaugurated on October 3.

    It also embarked on standardisation of cement as a means to stop building collapse. “The inclusion of labeling, date of manufacture, expiration and other measures will enable SON’s officials towards effective monitoring, enforcement and flushing out of all quacks in the sector.

    [ad id=”403656″]“However, one of the multi-national cement companies operating in Nigeria obtained a Court order restraining SON from enforcing the new cement grade standards.

    “Standardisation exercises in the cable sector have promoted at least N20 billion worth of investment in cable manufacturing in the country.”

    SON said it also pioneered a National Quality Policy aimed at establishing the appropriate framework for the development and publication of national standards and to reposition the country among the top 20 industrialised nations of the world.

    SON has also integrated its e-Certificates with Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS) for processing Form ‘M’ and Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR). The essence, it said, is to facilitate trade by eliminating direct contact or visits to SON office for certification processing.

    It constructed the National Metrology Institute (NMI) in Enugu. “The NMI is one of the missing quality control links required to house the national primary standards for Nigeria and regulate the operations of enterprises and corporations so that measurement systems used for commerce in Nigeria are not subject to abuses and exploitation.

    “After several laboratory analyses, the agency’s enforcement unit has made a public evacuation and destruction of several products ranging from tyres, electrical equipment, diapers, phones, shaving sticks, cables and bulbs, among others.

    “Following SON’s Operation flush drive to ensure substandard, fake, adulterated and counterfeit products are completely flushed out of the nation’s economy and markets across the country, the impact of SON’s activities under the leadership and watch of Dr. Odumodu is positively felt in the nation,” the statement added.

  • Abiola deserves GCFR, says son

    Abiola deserves GCFR, says son

    The presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, the late Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola Abiola, deserved the highest national honour as compensation for his sacrifice for the country, his son Kola, said at the weekend.

    According to him, Abiola, who died in detention following his declaration of himself as president, could only be compensated with the award of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) as a mark of honour.

    “He won the election but he was denied and he died in detention. The award of GCFR which is given to only presidents is what can really show the nation’s appreciation for his sacrifice,” Mr. Abiola said at a reunion meeting of the ex-staff of Concord Press Limited in Lagos at the weekend. The late Chief Abiola was the publisher of the Concord titles.

    His son spoke of plans to bring back Concord, adding that a documentary on the life of the Bashorun of Ibadan and the 14th Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland would be produced soon to properly situate his place in history.

    Mr Abiola said Concord remained a major legacy of his father.

    The call is the latest from Nigerians who are seeking the government’s recognition of Abiola’s role in Nigeria’s democracy. Abiola died in 1998.

    The Concord group, which dominated the scene in the 80s and 90s, was founded by the late billionaire business mogul in 1980. It published National Concord, Sunday Concord, Weekend Concord, African Concord Magazine and a host of vernacular and community newspapers.

    Friday’s occasion was also used to honour ex-Concord employees, who were recently appointed or elected into public positions.

    Among those honoured were Secretary to Lagos State Government Mr Tunji Bello and spokesman of President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr. Femi Adesina.

    Also honoured were Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) President Waheed Odusile, one of his predecessors and House of Representatives member Mallam Sani Zorro; Group Public Affairs Manager of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Mr Ohi Alegbe, Senior Special Assistant (Media) to Niger State Governor, Mr. Jide Orintunsin and Managing Director of The Sun Mr. Eric Osagie.

    Another of the late Abiola’s sons, Deji, attended the ceremony, which was presided over by Dr. Doyin Abiola, the former managing director of Concord and wife of the late politician.

    Dr  Abiola, admonished members of the “Great Concord Press Family” appointed into public offices to use their offices in enhancing greater public good rather than enriching themselves.

    According to her, this would help in rating high the journalism profession and making Nigeria an enviable country among the comity of nations.

    She bemoaned the decline in public and moral values in the country, adding that only a great and sincere effort could bring back the country’s glory.

    The event was attended by former Deputy Managing Director Stanley Egbochuku, Mr Mike Awoyinfa, Lisa Olu Akerele, Alhaji Liad Tella, Mr. Kunmi Olayiwola, Mr Louis Odion, Mr Lanre Arogundade, Mr. Jonas Agu, Mr Aliu Mohammed, Mr. Goke Odeyinka, Mr. Mojeed Jamiu, among others.

  • Group exposes plans to smear SON

    Group exposes plans to smear SON

    The Coalition Against Building Collapse (CABCO) has alleged that there are plans to run a campaign against the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) which include paid demonstrations and continuous attacks on its image.

    In a statement, CABCO General Secretary Clement Orimade, said: “Following several reports in certain sections of the media concerning the recent attacks against SON, CABCO would like to inform the general public of plans to discredit SON by certain manufacturers.

    “First of all we are of the understanding that a certain multinational company is sponsoring the activities of these manufacturers which include the recent protests and are supporting these manufacturers with the intent of fabricating false stories to indict the activities and the image of the agency as corrupt and crooked in the eyes of the public. Mr Orimade enthused.”

    He added: “Secondly, the group plans to undertake a series of nationwide protests and demonstrations by organised crowds in Lagos and Abuja for one week which will be similar to the recent protests, financed by the same people.”

    “Thirdly CABCO is aware that these substandard merchants have been sending frivolous petitions to the office of the president and vice-president in an attempt to tarnish the image of SON.”

    “We have also gathered they seek to do same with the national assembly in order to achieve their selfish interest. He continued”

    “CABCO would like to urge these manufacturers to desist from all of these unnecessary shenanigans or we will expose your operations further because these unpatriotic actions are not of the benefit to the Nigerian economy or citizens in any way”

    The CABCO General Secretary added: “Not too long ago, the different grades of cement was approved and it was a timely intervention because prior to this, there was heavy misapplication of cement by many artisans leading to building collapse, loss of life and property, which is a testament to the works of SON in fighting the influx of substandard products and materials and we witnessed the integrity in their activities first hand.

    “The agency is relentless in its quest in fighting substandard products as I recall SON reduced the level of substandard goods in the country from 85per cent to 45per cent,”  CABCO  added.

  • NUPENG, SON to flush out substandard products

    NUPENG, SON to flush out substandard products

    Fake lubricant and base oil producers have been put put on notice –  the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON)  plans to join forces with National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) Engine Lubricant Dealers Branch, to stop their trade.

    The two bodies have set up a working committee made up of 10 members (five each) to set out modalities  for a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that would set  the framework for  a planned task force that will drive the change within the next 90 days.

    Speaking at the event, which held at SON’s Lekki Office, Lagos the Director-General, Dr Joseph Odumodu said the move is a welcomed as it would enable a cleaner oil and gas sector, adding that there was need to sanitise the sector in the overall interest of Nigeria.

    Odumodu said  it was on the government interest in seeing that the oil and gas lubricant sub-sector is run in accordance with the laws of the land, hinting that collaboration with NUPENG is what SON needs to bring sanity and due process in that industry.

    “I want to assure you that SON will collaborate with you in this battle. Some people bring in base oil and try to  adulterate it. Nigeria cannot be a safe haven for such unscrupulous importers or blenders. We will flush them out with joint collaboration and ensure that genuine business flourish in the sector.

    He assured that  base oil,  which does not meet the quality that  suit our modern day automobiles/machinery in terms of the SAE ranges and API classifications, would be removed from the market.

    According to him,  it is important to  bring in other stakeholders and groups in the sector “so that we can eradicate substandard goods from oil and gas sector”.

    ”We shall sign an MOU by first setting up a working committee and a task force team  that will bring sanity to the sector with in 90 days,’’ he said.

    Reacting, Comrade Braimoh spoke against the damages caused by adulterated products to engines and machines and the attendant effect on the economy, expressing worries over complaints about  poor quality of imported lubricant brands to the detriment of locally produced ones.

    He said this mandated the need that SON and NUPENG should synergise to reduce the incidents of adulterated and substandard products to the barest minimum for the good of the public.

    Other top executives of SON at the meeting, include: Mr Bede Obayi, Director Enforcement, Engineer; Timothy Abner, Head Petroleum; Mr Ofalayo, Group Head Chemical Technology, Engineer Gabriel Abba, among others.

  • PATRICK DOYLE WEEPS OVER LATE SON

    PATRICK DOYLE WEEPS OVER LATE SON

    IT is often said that men don’t cry, but when the unthinkable happens, even the toughest man does weep like a babe.

    The trauma associated with death, the uneven reaper in the lives of men, played out in the life of ace broadcaster, Patrick Harry Doyle, who lost his son recently.

    Blessed with a natural sanguine inability to dwell on past things, Doyle proclaims, “In spite of life’s vicissitudes, I am a very happy man“.

    Unfortunately, the pain of his loss is still too fresh. In an interview with The Nation, the broadcaster turned Narrative Management expert broke down in tears, totally unable to speak of his experience at the loss of his son to Sickle Cell Anemia; the same disorder that took the life of his first wife, and ended the marriage. “That one is harder to come to terms with. I’m sorry I can’t talk about it”, he said in tears.

    The youngest of his mother’s seven children, who grew up without a father, as his father died before his birth, Doyle is a self professed “double prince” of both the Itsekiri Kingdom, in Warri, Delta state, and also the Efik kingdom of Cross Rivers state.

    Blue blood has not precluded the gentleman from the natural emotions of a loving father.

  • MOTHER TO OLISEH: Eagles job na fire, my son

    MOTHER TO OLISEH: Eagles job na fire, my son

    •If to say he easy, na everybody for dey do am
    •Gives son consent to take Nigeria job

    Nigeria’s senior team chief coach Sunday Oliseh shocked his audience last week Monday at the Onikan Stadium’s conference centre when he revealed what his mother told him before accepting to take the Super Eagles job.

    Disclosing this to newsmen at a jaw-jaw session, Oliseh said: “Let me share this with you. When I was to take the job, I told my dad and my mother. I will share what my mum told me with you.

    “I called my father and mother that they are offering me this job, but my mother told me ‘Na fire my son’. But she told me something that I really loved, she said “If to say he easy, na everybody for dey do am” But if I want to succeed, I should work hard to do it well that was what she said.

    ” I don’t have the base to work on but I try to look at it that in the past one year, we have played 62 players and that is practically six teams. I don’t mean those who played regularly but those who were invited to camp. In the national

    teams we have over 11 to 12 games and for now I don’t have a base of six regular players that I can build the team around.

    To tell me now to start performing miracles by winning matches otherwise you resign if you don’t win this. I don’t think Guardiola or Morinho will do that? My job is cut out for me and it is a lot of work. I look at it as a difficult task but I cannot succeed if we are antagonising ourselves.”